D.E.M.O.N.S: Getting Summoned Weekly isn't so Bad

— Kat —

Kat bent down and examined the vine wire spread out across the forest floor. *I have a strong desire to strum this like it’s a guitar string for some reason.* Standing back up and ignoring the urge Kat jumped clear over the traps… and the floor instantly gave way. Kat let her wings catch her as she took a brief moment to breath.

Only for a log to come swinging in from the left. Having had enough of this, Kat slammed her hand into the mycelium trunk, shattering it into pieces but keeping her guard up. A moment later set of three logs came flying through the air just above her head. Two coming from the front on either side and one from the back where it would’ve slammed right into her.

*Ok. Clearly I underestimated the trap here. How did they even hide the logs though?* Kat flew off to the side of the pit and carefully put her foot down… grimacing when the grand started to sink under the negligible amount of force. Not wanting to set up another cascade of traps Kat carefully flew herself back to the spot she was in before.

*Now how do I get through this? Flight might not have been expected but some aerial movement clearly was. At the very least it’s a good indication that someone lives around here… but do they live right here or just somewhere nearby? And am I safe to fly over? I’d go up to the top of the mushroom caps… but honestly that HAS to be expected.*

Kat examined the area closely, even taking note of the thin string that really shouldn’t be able to support the weight of those logs. Worse, looking up, it seemed like the string had been threaded in through the mushrooms to distribute the weight… but they were pretty weak as well.

Moving back Kat poked at one of the mushroom caps and it easily gave way. *Are the logs just really light? I don’t really know what they’re made out of. I assume the same stuff mushroom stalks are but the fact that it shattered instead of squishing and tearing means that it might not be the case?*

Kat shrugged and decided there was nothing to be done about it. She carefully placed her bag down on the forest floor and started to fly forward for a bit. No sense in risking her orbs all getting destroyed. A few metres and no traps were triggered. A few more metres. Still nothing. Kat glanced around and did note a few more tripwires some more obvious than others but… now she knew to look her eyes were able to zero in on a few. Alright seems safe enough.

Flying back Kat picked up her bag and carefully headed deeper into the mushroom woods, being extra careful to avoid touching the ground and the various vines that may or may not have been traps. It was really slow going and she frequently needed to lower her raise herself down in addition to scrunching her body up but she made progress.

Eventually she came across a little campsite, disguised by mushrooms placed over as a combination of roof and camouflage but to a sentient being it was rather easy to see-through. Kat listened in for a moment but didn’t hear anyone speaking. The only sound she might have been able to hear was breathing but that was too mixed up with the wind to properly pick out.

Kat flew over slowly, and just as she was about to move so she could see the entrance to this little hide-out a shadow fell over her. Kat reacted and whipped her hand around as she looked up to see a fae woman dropping down towards her with a knife. Kat considered fighting for a split second but remembered her orbs and flapped her wings to dash away.

“Woah, calm. I’m just here on Elly’s Grandpa’s behalf!” stated Kat as she dodged a thrown knife that looked to be about to go through her wings. The girl paused at that. She was wearing… well basically nothing. She had what might have been a shirt once upon a time covering her shoulders and just barely her boobs. Her bottoms were somewhat better… but it was just boxers that seemed to be in acceptable condition. Her skin was tanned and her hair was blue. Honestly she was cleaner than her clothes were.

“You friend of Elly?” asked Char.

Kat shook her head, “No I’m just someone her grandpa saw walking around. I was asked to find her and bring her home for dinner,”

“She not here,” stated Char. Kat waited for some sign that this was a lie… but she didn’t feel anything wrong. That was… not good.

“Um… that’s… really not good. Her grandpa was quite sure she’d be spending the night here with you, or at least attempting it, and has been rather worried. You say she’s not here though?” said Kat slowly.

“Yes. Me no see her at all today. No give signal,” insisted Char.

“Can you tell me what that is?” asked Kat.

Char shook her head. “No want to share that. If Char does, wing-ed lady might use signal. How wing-ed lady get through traps? Did you fly? Dat cheating,”

Kat wanted to shrug but this was serious. “Yes I did fly and I don’t personally consider it cheating.” Char frowned. “Look, can we not get stuck on that? Elly is missing and if she’s not here she could be anywhere! Her grandpa was only a little concerned when he thought she was here… but if she’s somewhere else? She could be in real trouble,”

Char exaggeratedly considered this for a moment, even going so far to drop to the ground and rest her fist against her chin for a few moments as ‘drops of sweat’ started to pool on her face as if she was struggling with the thought. Of course… Kat’s eyesight was good enough to tell that the drops of water were forming a bit above the skin and then falling down it instead. *That’s some impressive water control. So she’s a water mage… and probably having some fun with this.*

“Yes. Elly weak. If Elly lost without me she likely dead soon. We go find her yes?” stated Char. *Do I really want a to take a strange mostly feral fae along with me? Or at least, a girl… or maybe woman that’s having too much fun with this?* Char glared at Kat. *And one that can apparently tell what I’m thinking. Yes. Yes I think I will. I don’t know these woods at all.*

“Yes I guess we are, you need anything?” asked Kat.

Char nodded. “I have old shirt of Elly. I check it for scent,” Char then proceeded to dash off into her hideout without waiting for a response from Kat. A bit of rustling around later and Char pulled a small pink shirt with blue mushrooms all over it. Char had it pressed against her face for a few moments before nodding. “Ok I remember scent. We go find Elly yes? Know where she was?”

“You can track people by scent? And… I guess I know she was with her grandfather a few hours back but that’s in the town across the lake,” said Kat.

“Yes. Can you not? Is wing-ed lady stupid?” asked Char.

Kat glanced over at the fae who was giving no indication at all that she found this amusing… yet Kat could swear there was an extra sparkle in her eyes. “No I can’t,”

“That okay. Elly stupid too but she still friend,” insisted Char. “No want to go to city… but if friend in trouble Char will accept it. You carry Char across lake? Swimming not fast,”

“I’ll need to test if I can. I’m strong but flight is hard if I’m carrying too much,” explained Kat. She was expecting a bit of backtalk, or a comment about ‘asking a ladies weight’ but Char instead just nodded and leapt at Kat, apparently finding her statement to be completely reasonable.

Kat caught Char and started to float upwards and she could FEEL the bracelet trying to do something but… mostly just that? Like it didn’t know how to properly handle this. A few motions from side to side, up and down and it all seemed fine. “It seems I can fly with you,” stated Kat with a smile.

Char flexed her midsection and then flung herself from Kat’s arms. “Good. We run through forest to lake, then you carry Char over. Char watch for dangerous fish. If dangerous AND tasty fish we keep for dinner,”

“Sure…” said Kat with a nod.

“Ok. You follow Char. Char step around traps,” stated the other girl before sprinting off. Kat dropped to the ground and followed the winding steps of Char. Sometimes she’d take a hard right angle turn, other times she’d backtrack a bit. Kat saw quite a few traps along the way… but still not all of them. There were a few times they turned away from what seemed like nothing and Kat had to wonder… was Char just messing with her? Or was there actually something she’d missed.