There was a certain issue with Daiko’s good idea slowly transforming into a not-so-well-thought out plan. It was a nice idea to seek the high ground, because that gave you the upper hand against many types of hostile animals and monsters. However, that idea suited more a leafy forest like that of Orchidia or Worth Woodsea, but for a forest with almost only dead trees and naked branches like these in Dahlia, such a plan would likely backfire. Since the branches were naked, little to no cover was obtainable, and they would likely have had to search for a long time before finding a suitable tree. Also, if the branches couldn’t hold their weight, then they would most likely find out way too late as he could imagine Kai or himself falling to their deaths.
It was a good idea to start walking, then. He wouldn’t want to waste any more time in this forest, so if he was able to find a good place to settle for the night that approached, then he and Kai would more likely be able to escape this forest’s grab once and for all. They both still had their magical bracelets around their necks, though - Shahrbaraz gave those to them in order to find out where they were at all times. It was a signal that Shahrbaraz was somehow worried about them - so obvious of a theory, given that their Guildmaster tried to sound all carefree with his ‘well, it was nice knowing ya’. Daiko knew that their Guildmaster was a Master, and every Master had some kind of care in their underclassmen… otherwise, they wouldn’t be classified as Masters in his eyes. Then they would just be idiots.
One of the trees were investigated by Kai’s hand as she suddenly stopped up. He was about to bump into her, but he stopped just in time to see her facial expression. She looked terrified… he took a look lower towards her hand where she was feeling a tree. Were there marks on them, or was his field of vision tricking him? He was having a little trouble seeing things like this in the dark. Kai spoke up about something being nearby, and Daiko quickly readied himself in a battle stance with his arms stretched out and held up ready. He wasn’t about to be taken by surprise again, and his wings suddenly expanded in size. He was so ready to fight, his blood began pumping through his veins, boiling and causing his feathers to bristle. However, Kai’s warning caught him by surprise; she called for him to hurry up and climb up on a tree nearby them. The one in particular was across the one in front of him, and he quickly reacted by running towards it.
He launched himself onto the log of the tree and climbed up on it quickly. He made sure not to make too much sound, because for now, he heard very little of any threat heading towards them. Clearly, he would have listened to Kai, because she was the authoritarian voice and a trusty company. Upon reaching the top of the tree, he realized that it suited well for the plan that he put together before; a large, tall tree for high ground, a thick branch to lay on, and… well, it had little vegetation on it because of whatever that roamed in this forest, but Daiko was content with it… for now.
Envisioning large Lycans jumping around in the distance almost felt… relative. He wasn’t scared now, more like annoyed. A vein popped up on his forehead as he heard their distant howls of hunger. Their large claws were visible from his angle, even, shining from the reflection of the moon. Kai suggested that they descended now, and Daiko slowly stood up on the branch as he leapt down silently.
A dark figure cut the line between him and the ground, and Daiko was kind of losing it. He furiously sent a heavy elbow to the Lycan’s neck as well as a knee up its throat to take it out brutally, before he landed on the dirty ground. It landed heavily on the moss with its tongue out in defeat and with a dying breath as it passed away. Somehow, these Lycans triggered Daiko a lot… he couldn’t figure out why, though. Normally, he wasn’t that wild with wolves - they were relatively easy to deal with in Worth Woodsea, but giant, humanoid beasts with heads of wolves scared and terrified him. It was almost as terrifying as snakes… Snakes weren’t even that scary - he just detested them mildly unlike any other animal. As a matter of fact, he didn’t normally dislike wolves at all.
In the end, he would follow Kai and do the best of his abilities to fend off the Lycans following them. Mark his words, the two Lamia Scale Wizards would make it through the forest to 6 am with not a single scratch on their bodies…!
WC: 837
TWC: 2165 + 837 = 3002
-exit-