As the Ay Brotherhood rode from the fort, the rhythmic sound of their horses' hooves echoed through the forest, mingling with the rustle of leaves and the occasional chirp of a bird. Ayberk led the way, his posture strong and confident as he guided his companions through the dense foliage.
"The forest of Shadowfen, honestly I don't like them that much," Bareek remarked, breaking the silence that had settled over the group.
Kevin chuckled, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Oh, come on, Bareek. Where's your sense of adventure?"
Ayberk glanced back at them with a grin. "He's got a point, Bareek. Besides, what's the worst that could happen here?"
Bareek shot him a skeptical look. "I've heard pretty bad things about here you know" he replied, his voice tinged with apprehension.
Luke, riding alongside Ayberk, rolled his eyes playfully. "Oh, please. Don't tell me you believe in ghost stories, Barry"
"I've never been to this side of Shadowfen before, so I don't know, Barry," Ayberk interjected, trying to ease the tension.
Kevin, ever the instigator, couldn't resist adding fuel to the fire. "Hey, Bareek, once a fellow soldier at the camaraderie told me a story from here."
Bareek raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite himself. "Go on," he said reluctantly.
"He said there's a spirit of a lady in this forest whose husband left here her for some other woman so she hanged herself to a tree. According to him she comes at night and seduces men," Kevin began, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "And then she takes their hearts and eats them."
Bareek's eyes widened in horror, and the other members of the Brotherhood burst into laughter.
"You're full of it, Kevin," Luke said, shaking his head in amusement. "Don't listen to him, Bareek. He's just Messing around "
"Atleast I'll have sex " Bareek retorted, attempting to mask his unease with bravado.
As they ventured deeper into the heart of Shadowfen, the forest seemed to envelop them in its embrace. Shafts of sunlight pierced through the dense canopy, casting an ethereal glow on the forest floor. The air was thick with the heady scent of pine and earth, and the sounds of rustling leaves and chirping birds created a serene backdrop to their journey.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the forest, the Ay Brotherhood decided to make camp for the night. They tethered their horses to nearby trees and set about gathering firewood and foraging for food.
Ayberk and Luke ventured deeper into the forest to collect firewood, the dense canopy overhead filtered the golden sunlight, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor. The air was alive with the gentle rustle of leaves and the distant chirping of birds, lending a sense of tranquility to their task. "Aren't you excited?" Luke's voice broke through the serene ambiance, his gaze fixed on Ayberk . "Ayberk paused, his eyes scanning the surrounding foliage before meeting Luke's. "About what exactly?" he inquired, a hint of curiosity in his tone. "about home"Luke replied, his voice tinged with nostalgia. "It's been quite some time since we've returned."These negotiations with the barbarians and smiths going crazy, never had time to go back and just wander in the streets of Skarvaria " Luke remarked, his voice carrying a hint of frustration. " Yeah, man "Ayberk's expression softened, understanding Luke's sentiment all too well. "i almost forgot how much fun it was" ayberk said. A fond memory sparked in Luke's eyes as he turned to Ayberk. "Remember the mischief we used to get into?" he asked, a playful grin spreading across his face. "Do you remember that one time when we snuck into the royal stables and tried to ride the uncle's prized stallion? "luke shook his head, a fond smile tugging at his lips. "And got caught by the stable master, who chased us halfway across Skarvaia!". "We were 13 and quite the troublemakers" Ayberk recalled, shaking his head in amusement.
Luke's laughter echoed through the forest, blending seamlessly with the rustle of leaves and the chirping of birds. "Mother was furious when she found out," he reminisced, a twinkle of mischief in his eyes. "And Aunt Dakota wasn't too pleased either." Ayberk said.
They collected enough woods and got back.
As they returned to camp, Ned greeted them with a wry smile. "Took you long enough to gather firewood," he remarked, his tone teasing.
Ayberk chuckled, shaking his head. "Well, we wanted to make sure we brought back enough to keep you warm, Ned," he replied, his smile infectious.Bareek, with a triumphant grin, proudly displayed his prize catch—a boar slung over his shoulder.
Luke raised an eyebrow, impressed. "You're a crazy man, Barry," he quipped, admiration lacing his words.Kevin couldn't resist jumping into the conversation. "I spotted it first!" he declared, a mischievous glint in his eyes.Bareek shot him a playful glare. "I'm the one who brought it down," he retorted, a proud smirk on his lips.Kevin smirked back. "Well, I should at least get credit for keeping an eye out," he countered, his tone lighthearted.
Ayberk chuckled, interjecting with a hint of sarcasm. "Oh, Kevin, you'll get his ass to eat. Isn't that enough credit for you?" he teased, earning a round of laughter from the group.As they settled around the fire, the tantalizing aroma of roasting boar filled the air, making everyone's mouths water.
They feasted on the savory meat, their laughter and banter filling the night air.Bareek, patting his belly contentedly, couldn't help but comment on the meal. "That boar was absolutely delicious," he proclaimed, a satisfied grin on his face.Kevin couldn't resist poking fun. "Looks like you enjoyed it a bit too much, Bareek," he teased, earning a playful shove from his friend.
Bareek chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Can't help it if I appreciate good food," he replied, his tone unapologetic.Kevin's sarcasm returned full force. "Well, your chances of fucking sexy ghost tonight are pretty slim now, I'd say," he remarked with a smirk.Bareek raised an eyebrow, feigning offense. "And why's that?" he asked, playing along.Kevin shrugged, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Who'd want to bed a fatass like you?" he quipped, earning a chorus of laughter from the group.Ayberk joined in the merriment, shaking his head in amusement.
"Why is it always you two?" he chuckled, his voice filled with fondness.With their bellies full and spirits high, the members of the Ay Brotherhood eventually settled down for the night, their laughter fading into the peaceful sounds of the forest as they drifted off to sleep.