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.
Veter: "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.
Raion: Why is he looking at me? He does that a lot.
Raion: "Baskia, we should listen to Veter. He knows what he's doing."
Baskia: "Alright, Raion. This is for Fourth."
Veter: "Now, as I mentioned, she knows Theo and me, but she still can be skeptical about all of us."
Theo: "Yeah, she only helps people if there's something in return for her."
Baskia: "What do you have for her?"
Veter: "Well, that's for her to decide. She gives us five days to retrieve the item she wants."
Raion: "What if we fail?"
Veter looked at Raion, and at that moment, he knew. "Oh, I understand."
Veter: "Let's go in now."
They finally enter Shiri's place.
Veter: "Shiri, are you here?"
A young woman in her thirties comes out of the back room.
Shiri: "Who invited you in?" she said angrily.
Raion: "The door was opened..."
Shiri: "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."
Baskia: "Wait, what! No, eat him!"
Shiri: "I don't plan on eating any of you. Plus, I already had dinner. "
Baskia and Raion exchange nervous looks.
Shiri: "What's with him?" points at Raion.
Baskia: "What do you mean?"
Shiri: "I thought... Never mind, it must have been something else."
Theo: "Shiri, we need your help. Will you please assist us?"
Shiri: "This helps you seek. What does it entail?"
Baskia: "We need help rescuing our friend."
Raion: "He got taken under the water by something."
Shiri: "I see. This is like last time then, Theo?"
Theo: "Yes, it is."
Shiri: "You do remember what happened before?"
Theo: "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. "\