Okuagu and Boaruss appeared from the bushes with their hands in the air as they signaled to the ladies that they posed no threat. "We mean no harm ladies" Okuagu said with a bow. The rest of the ladies eased up their posture except the archer who still aimed her bow at the hunters. Rose with a sigh spoke up: "You sure do look like dangerous men, that aside how long have you been stuck here? "Not for long. I mean we had no idea that there wasn't a way out" Okuagu replied because he knew that from the way they sounded and looked; meant they must have been stuck here for some time without any way out". "It's okay Catherine" Rose said as the archer lowered her bow. Boaruss who hadn't spoken since finally talked: "Nice to meet you girls but have you by any chance encountered any beasts in the vicinity? "Why the hell would you be looking for monsters! Screamed Rose as she wondered why in tarnation anybody would want to purposely search for beasts. "We are simply searching for food'' Boaruss replied with a smile. "Didn't your group bring supplies with them? Catherine asked for she had a hunch that they weren't the only ones in the forest. "When you are being chased by monster beetles I guess supplies can get lost" Okuagu said scratching his head. "Anyways the beasts stay in a blue patch of the forest" Another lady who identified herself as Fiona replied. "No beasts reside in the crimson forests" Catherine added "For it is an entity itself". "An entity? Boaruss asked for that explained why there seemed to be no exit. "Yes the crimson forest is an entity not to be confused with a beast though. You see Fiona here has a gift that enables her to notice anything paranormal or demonic" Catherine said out loud with a smile that later turned to a frown when she noticed that the rest of her squad seemed to dislike the idea of her entrusting information like that to strangers. "She's right the forest is a demonic being that slowly feeds on one's desires. For now, it seems we can only defeat it with fire" Rose added looking at the two of them intently. "How do you know it's weakness is fire? Boaruss asked looking at Okuagu. "OH it seems you have not tried starting a fire here" Fiona remarked with a shake of her head. Rose with a cough continued: "Because if you had, monstrous beings would have appeared from the ground beneath trying to destroy you though they would never approach the flames which seem to be their weakness". "Very well I have a proposal that would suit all of our interests" Okuagu said after much thinking. "Our squad and yours can try to work together to defeat this forest though we might need some food" he added as he scratched the back of his head. Rose after taking a look at her group smiled "Sure our both groups can work together to defeat this evil forest and who knows maybe the entire labyrinth "Then we must get going, there are some people you will have to meet" Boaruss said as he and Okuagu led the girls to their camp chewing happily on a loaf that the ladies had given to them. After much walking Boaruss broke the silence with a question. "What desires does the 'entity' feed on". "Since it is a demon I will say it probably feeds on evil, malicious and violent desires which is probably why it doesn't try to get rid of the beasts that populate the blue area" Fiona replied brushing a branch from her face…. Gale and Lee raised their heads up as they heard some approaching footsteps, neither of them seemed alarmed for judging by the voices, they knew that the girls had come back from their 'trip'. "Welcome back how was the bath? Lee asked nonchalantly with his eyes still closed. "Quite fine though the water source was located in a clearing some distance from here" Emerald replied as she sat down on the bare ground. "Though for some reasons the forest didn't spread to anywhere near the lake" Emerald added. "Strange, this forest is indeed really strange" said Gale who was glad that he didn't go through with his 'visit' for it meant that he wouldn't have had any hiding place whatsoever. "Once again I am saved by Lee" he thought as he let out a huge sigh.