The space beyond them would have been empty if not for the few roaming monsters scattered about.
"We could have an easy time of sneaking past them," Byrd noted gruffly, "but I suppose that's out of the question."
"Looks like we're up against ants," Cathryn reported, "not a lot of them, and prairie dogs."
"I suppose we should leave them for you, this seems personal." Kokoso remarked teasingly.
"Do you really have to?" Cathryn frowned.
"The teasing shall never end for thee!" Kokoso cried, a wide smirk plastered to his face.
"I think I see some bunnies too," Cathryn remarked humorlessly, "think they might be some of your kin? Maybe Kokoso should go out there, he's all dressed for a cowboy style family reunion."
Kokoso merely smiled wider, "Well let's introduce ourselves and see if they fight like a Leporidae!" Kokoso drew his blade and swung it through the air, producing a sharp swoosh.
"Did he just say leopard?" Byrd turned to Cathryn, "It sounds like he said leopard...unless it was just me."
"Hmm, so if they fight like leopards then they're rabbits?" Cathryn teased, shaking her head, "Then we better hope these aren't rabbits."
"I mean my family," Kokoso corrected, "though I wouldn't know if our family actually has a distinct fighting style."
"What should we fight first?" Byrd inquired, crossing his arms.
"Let's take out that ant up ahead, first." Maria decided, "We probably want to avoid it's jaws, or drawing attention from the others."
Noel followed close to Maria, and turned to find Byrd and Kokoso close behind, followed by Spring and Autumn, Cathryn was in the back, warily watching out for any monsters who would complicate their arrangement. She was confident that they could take on any danger together, but was uncertain when her mind turned to Unseason, it was mere weeks before they found Summer and Winter and took the fight the Company, and the masterminding spirit behind their plots, whatever that may encompass.
The group when through snapping ants, gnawing rabbits, and tunneling prairie dogs that through themselves at the team, swiping at them when close. Exhausted, they did their best to avoid any other encounters until they regained their breath.
"I think we should stop here." Cathryn advised, "There's only a few monsters close enough to notice us."
"Great, we should try to take a nap." Spring stretched her arms and yawned, "Man, I'm wiped out."
Autumn nodded as she watched the spear wielding spirit lay on the ground, "I wasn't expecting such a tough fight either, but this isn't an ideal place for a nap."
"They're not enough to bother us, besides, half of us will stay awake." Spring sat up an eyed Autumn meaningfully, "You know it's a good way to heal, resupply our magic reserves, and get refreshed, an hour nap for everyone will be good. Maria, who's napping and who gets first shift on guard duty?"
"Well, I think the spirits have more magic than the rest of us," Maria began, "so Byrd, Kokoso, Cat, and Noel can have the first hour nap, Spring, Autumn, and I will have the second hour."
"I'm not tired, I feel like I can fight a while longer." Noel informed.
"Well, you can nap in the second hour with us, then!" Spring concluded.
"I'm fine, really," Noel assured, "this only feels like a warmup, and we're going to make camp before crossing to the Winter lake, right?"
"Noel, please get some rest, right now there's few monsters," Maria pointed out, "later on there might be more, and if that happens we'll need more than half of us ready for battle, not to mention later tonight when we make camp and take shifts again."
Noel considered, frowning slightly before nodding slowly, "I understand, so I'll rest now, in case more enemies show up in the next hour or so."
"Yes," Maria confirmed, "even if right now you feel like you could protect us all, it's better not to take risks."
Kokoso sat up and chuckled, "Kokoso's Maxim of the Day: Risk nothing, protect everything."
Noel smirked and nodded, "Goodnight, then."
"Um, you don't have to say goodnight if you're just taking a nap." Spring pointed out uncertainly.464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSCmt4wOKG
"Well it's kind of cute?" Maria offered, as Autumn spoke.464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsY42KZSCm
"It's novel, like sand...witches?" Autumn giggled at Maria's remark, "I...suppose it's cute?"464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSlBAyxKxh
"Like how sand witches are cute!" Spring suggested.464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcn2QMvnId
"This sandwich joke isn't going away, is it?" Maria wondered.464Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwT62wccf7
