A half hour later, they had arrived at Talmam forest. Where a small, seemingly perfect cottage was at the end of the beaten-down roadway, in that cottage was where Shiri would be found, and their journey would officially begin.
"Here we are." Facing the others, Veter points at the small cottage, surrounded by Lyiones, a flower that resembles that of a lion's mane; hence the name of the flower. With that, a white fence wrapped itself around the cottage, and a stone pathway led all the way up to the white, pristine door.
They stood there for what felt like an eternity.
"So are we going to knock or?" Baskia asks reluctantly.
"Yeah, one of us should go up there and knock. Does she know we are coming?" Raion asks, mainly steering the question towards Veter.
"She does not, no," Theo says as he looks at Veter, awaiting for him to knock. Baskia and Raion both then join in on staring at Veter.
"Oh yeah, my bad. I'll go and knock, seeing how this was my plan." Veter walks down the stone path and knocks on the door, but it slowly opens. He turns around and looks at the rest of them.
"What now?"
"Should we just go in?" Raion scans around the rest of the group, awaiting to see who would make the first move. Because he knew damn well it wasnt going to be him. Baskia's can see Raion focusing on him, his eyes keep jolting back to his; pleaing for him to take the first move. Baskia blatantly ignores him. As Raion continues to give him those puppy dog eyes, Baskia can never seem to ignore him.
Rolling his eyes and shaking his head, he turns away from Raion. He heads towards the door. "We came all this way for Fourth, we might as well." Baskia moves past Veter and enters the cottage. "Is there anyone there?"
"I don't think this is a good idea." Theo says, as he reaches out his hand to try and stop Baskia form entering.
"Why do you say that? It's not like she's a witch or anything." He says, laughing while standing in the doorway of the cottage.
"Actually, she is," Veter says all nonchalantly.
Baskia runs out, nearly tripping on a broken stone that leads a pathway up to the cottage. He catches himself and eventually tumbles onto Veter, who catches him. Baskia looks up at Veter, who is smiling down at him. Baskia then pushes himself off of Veter, yelling, "Why didn't you say anything!"
"It kinda just slipped my mind." Says Veter as he smiles admirably at Baskia, who is trembling slightly.
"So it just slipped your mind that the person we are seeking help from is a witch!?"
As Veter and Baskia are having their onesided argument, Theo and Raion are standing there waiting to see what happens next.
"They're like a married couple." Raion says to Theo, who nods his head in agreement.
"Yes. I didn't think it was important." Veter says.
"Not important! In what scenario could this not be of valuable information to us?" Baskia is shaking his head in disblief at what he is hearing. " Raion, are you hearing all this?" Raion knowing to agree with Baskia, simply shakes his head yes.
"She doesn't take kindly to strangers, but she knows Theo and me; we need her help. Do you want to find your friend?" As he says all this, he keeps his eyes on Raion.
Why is he looking at me? He does that a lot.
"Baskia, we should listen to Veter. He knows what he's doing. We didn't travel this far with him, just to stop now." Raion stands there with a stern pose, his arms crossed, and standing his ground.
"Alright, Raion. This is for Fourth. Just so you're aware."
"Now, as I mentioned, she knows Theo and me, but she still can be skeptical about all of us," Veter says as he begins to walk up to the door again.
"Yeah, she only helps people if there's something in return for her," Theo says, following behind Veter.
In a peculiar tone, Baskia asks, "What do you have for her?"
"Well, that's for her to decide. She gives us five days to retrieve the item she wants."
"What if we fail?" Raion, asks Veter.
Veter looked at Raion, and at that moment, Raion knew. "Oh, I understand."
"Let's go in now."
They finally enter Shiri's place.
"Shiri, are you here?" Veter yells as his voice echos through the rooms.
A young woman in her thirties comes out of the back room.
"Who invited you in?" Shiri said angrily, whilst wiping her hands against her face. Removing some form of gunk.
Hesitantly, Raion apporaches and speaks up, "The door was opened..."
"Does that give you the right to barge in?"
Raion frightened. Quickly respond with "No ma'am! We're sorry! Please forgive us. It is all his fault." Raion points at Baskia. "If you eat us, please eat him first."
In a state of panic and unrational thinking, Baskia shouts, "Wait, what! No, eat him!"
Shiri rolls her eyes and waves her hand back. "I don't plan on eating any of you. Plus, I already had dinner. "
Baskia and Raion exchange nervous looks.
"Shiri, We are here on important matters, we wouldnt have barged in, if the situation didnt call for your assistance..." Shiri stops Veter mid sentence putting her hand up to him, "What's with him?", she asks pointing at Raion.
A sudden shock comes to Baskia, Raion and even Veter. "What do you mean?" Baskia asks right before casting Mind Control: Forgotten thoughts. Again with the use of Baskia Mind control magic, he was able to make Shiri forget what she had seen.
Standing there for a brief moment Shiri shakes her head, pulling herself back into the moment, "I thought... Never mind, it must have been something else. So what is it that you need my help with, you do remember there is a price to pay for my help. "
They all stand around waiting for the other one to say a word, the room stays silent.
SHiri breaks the silence between them, " You are aware that i wont know what you need if you dont speak up, I cant stand around waiting for one of you to speak. So...this help you seek, what does it entail?"
"We are well aware, that whatever we asks of you, comes at a cost, and we all decided that we are willing to do whatever it takes to rescue Fourth; myself included." Veter turns his head towards Raion and Baskia and lets out a slight chuckle, whilst a smile forms over his face. " So what will it be, Shiri, will you please assist us?"
"Veter said it all, we need help rescuing our friend." Baskia puts his hand on Veters back, as a way of thanking him.
Raion steps forth, adding in his two cents in. "He got taken under the water by something."
"I see. This is like last time then, Theo?", Shiri says.
"Yes, it is." Theo says, with his arms folded and his head positioned downward.
"You do remember what happened before?"
Without moving or making eye contact, Theo responds, "I do."
Raion: "What happened?"
Veter: "It's best to leave it for now."
Raion: "But."
Veter: "For another time."
Raion looks over at Baskia, waiting to see if he says anything. But he doesn't.
Baskia: "Can you help us, please?"
Shiri: "I can, on one condition."
Baskia: "I'll do anything."
Shiri: "There is a village about a day's walk from here. I need you to take these herbs to a man in exchange for the whistle rub."
Raion: "Seems easy enough."
Shiri smirks, "Yeah, easy."
Veter: "It shall be done."
Baskia: "We will get him back, Raion. Don't you worry."
Veter: "Shiri, do you mind if we make camp outside, as it's getting dark out?"
Shiri: "Not at all. Just don't make a ruckus of the place, or I will turn you into a chicken and eat you for dinner."
Raion laughs.
Shiri: "I'm not joking." Shiri walks away.
Veter: "We should get some rest. We have an early start tomorrow."
Theo: "I must get going. This is as far as I'll go."
Baskia: "Are you sure?"
Theo: "Yes, I am. I have important matters to attend to."
Baskia: "Understood. We appreciate the hospitality and help."
Raion: "Thank you, Theo."
Theo: "Thank you, everyone. I hope you find your friend in time. "