As they walked to their supposed destination, Valeria Suddenly stopped. Her hand instinctively fly to the grip of her sword. "Celeste, stop!" Valeria shout, she seems to be hearing something lurking in the bushes. "We've got company." She said to Celeste, her voice firm. Celeste hearing the words, grips her staff tightly "Do you know who or what is approaching?" Celeste asked, her voice is a bit shacking and panicking, but she maintain her confident posture.
"Right there, in that bush, I hear something. And it is something big. It could be a bandit, or worse, a beast." Both of the girls are unsure what lurks inside the bush, but it is one thing for certain. Danger.
The bush shakes even harder this time, when suddenly, a wolf lunges out of the bush towards Celeste. "Celeste, on your left!" Valeria shout a warning at Celeste, urging her to move out of the way, the sudden lunges of the wolf startled her, but she managed to dodge the attack just in time and landed on the ground. Valeria seeing the wolf also falls to the ground after failing to attack Celeste, seize the chance to make a counterattack."You outstayed your welcome!" She lunges towards the wolf with her sword, killing it in an instant.
The wolf drop dead on the grass, as blood flows from it's neck where it has been cutted. Valeria, panting from the sudden tension, looks at Celeste. "Are you alright?" She asked her with a hint of concern in her eyes. Celeste nods. "I'm.. fine.. just a bit startled.." Celeste slowly rises to her feet, using her staff as a crutch.
Just when they thought they were out of danger, a pack of wolves comes out of the bush, ready to attack at any moment. "Tch, those bastards just won't give up will they!" Valeria quickly take a defensive stance "No matter, I'll-" Her words were cut off by Celeste "There's no need for that, Valeria, stand aside." Valeria looks at Celeste, confused. But she choose to trust her companion judgement. "Fine.."
Celeste nodded, standing between Valeria and the wolves, she tap her staff to the earth as she chants "Noctis vincla, silex mens." As the chant ended a ray of light shines from her staff, putting the wolves in their slumber. "That'll do the trick, but not for long, we shouldn't delay any longer."
"We.. should keep going, or else there will be more danger coming our way." Celeste urge Valeria to quickly get out of the forest. Who knows what monstrosity lies beneath the peaceful surface of the forest.
Then, both of them resume their walk towards their planned destination.
[---To be Continued---]