#talldarkandpyshic

[logan-pkmn-archive]

PAC Odyssey - Trees and Bears

Characters: Logan, Cherise, Adina, Natsuki, Benji, Adina

Set after To The Skies! and before Late Night Nerds

"So that's a Geomagnetic Pole?" Logan asked, staring in awe at the pillar of light before him.

"Yup," Benji answered, as he finished doing... something. "There. Now we can access a warp between here and Tharsis."

Ever since their completion of the entry test for their guild and acquiring of their airship, the Nightseeker, Venturis had been soaring above the plains around Tharsis, and at the direction of Benji, landing here, at an area known as the Lush Woodlands. It was a thick forest, full of monsters, some of which they had recognized from the mine, but some new ones as well. Before they had gotten very far, Benji had spotted the pillar of light and directed them to it, the Runemaster recognizing the Geomagnetic Pole instantly.

"What about the airship?" Cherise asked, glancing back from where they'd come, Nightshade tied down at the entrance.

"That's what it's attuned to, a special crystal in the ship. When we activate this one," Benji held up a small pink crystal, the same colour as the Pole itself. "It activates the one on the ship as well, sending all of us back to town. We can port straight here as well."

"But how-"

"Magic, it's magic, let's not get into the details, please," Logan cut off his sister as he began to lead the group away from the Pole.

He led everyone through a door and into a small clearing with… nothing. Nothing but some big, fallen trees blocking what looked to be a path leading deeper into the labyrinth.

“Guess we can’t go this way,” Natsuki mentioned off-hand as they spread out around the room.

“Why not?” Cherise asked, prodding one of the logs with her weapon. “I can climb these easy, here watch!”

“Cherise, no!” Adina shouted suddenly, but not fast enough.

The Nightseeker had already started clambering up on the logs, an action she immediately regretted. “Ewwww…” She said with a wince, pulling her hand off the log with some effort.

She worked at her foot next, but it popped right out of the boot, her footwear clinging to the fallen log. Adina had to suck her lips into her mouth and bite down to keep from laughing. Logan had no such problem and broke out into a chuckle as his sister glared daggers at him.

“That is not funny.”

“Says you. Come on, grab your boot we’ll think of something else,” Logan did his best to stifle his laughter as he scanned the logs. “Ben-” He snorted, failing his efforts for a moment, before continuing. “Benji, can you burn the logs?”

Both the Runemaster and Adina shook their heads together. “Not a chance,” he said. “Even if I could burn them away, to do so cleanly, without risk to the surrounding foliage, would be incredibly risky. We could end up burning a large portion of the forest down, and that’s assuming we still get through the logs.”

“Not to mention the smell of burning honey - that’s what’s covering the trees, by the way, and why it’s so sticky - could attract large numbers of monsters,” Adina added just as Cherise finally unstuck her boot.

“So a different way around,” Logan summarized.

“Different way around,” Benji and Adina both said with a nod.

With all footwear properly replaced, the guild set out again. Over the next week progress through the woods was slow. A few more fallen trees were found, but no way around ever presented itself.

It wasn't until the end of a full week since they reached the woods that they came across the other side of the fallen trees.

"So this is where those paths lead..." Adina mumbled to herself as she looked around the the area. Three paths and three sets of sticky, sweet smelling fallen logs were nearby a small pond. All the blocked paths led here.

"But there's nothing here," Cherise complained, scowling at each set of trees as if they had personally offended her.

Benji shook his head. "Often paths like these are utilized as shortcuts to reach deeper parts of the labyrinth. We j-"

"Useless shortcuts if there's no way through, where did these logs even come from!? I mean..."

The red head's complaints continued, ignored, as Logan, with a sigh, lead the guild back north, through an unmapped area of the woods.

"...like, shouldn't there be someone who comes back to clear these paths, why else would they be here!? Look, here is yet ANOTHER blocked-"

"Quiet!"

The sudden outburst from the typically silent Dancer had everyone freezing mid step in front of more fallen logs to stare at Natsuki in confusion.

"What is it?" Logan whispered after a moment.

Natsuki shook his head and continued to stay still and silent, the guild following suit. "I think I know what clears the paths," he finally said.

A loud thump, cushioned by the soft forest floor came from behind the fallen logs. Everyone turned to look just as a loud roar sounded, followed by scraping, creaking, cracking, and then the shattering of the fallen logs. Behind it was a very large bear, claws big enough to knock a man's head clean from his shoulders, and claws to match. It glared down at the wide-eyed adventurers and roared again.

"RUN!" Logan shouted, turning back the way they'd come and booking it.

The rear of the guild didn't need to be asked twice and Venturis found itself being chased through the woods by a very angry bear.

"Logan we can't go this way!" Cherise shouted. "What about the blocked paths!?"

Sure enough the sticky logs came into view, blocking an easy escape.

"The doors are back north!" Benji panted as Venturis skidded to a stop.

"Left!" Logan ordered.

The bear stomped up behind them, keeping pace easily with the humans, around the pond, arms raising to slam down on anything it could maul. Logan readied his shield to try and save whoever would get hit, but unable to look the monster in the eye.

And then there was a scraping, a creaking and a loud cracking. Logan looked up to see the bear thourghly distracted by the fallen honey trees.

"Bears really do love honey..." Logan muttered, slackjawed and staring until Adina's call jerked him back towards the guild. "Keep near the trees when you run past!"

As they retreated to the doors, the bear lost ground, feeling some kind of need to destroy the fallen logs whenever it came close. When the guild was safely behind the solid labyrinth doors, the paths were all clear.

"My guess is THAT'S why no one clears the trees," Benji said between laboured breaths. "Why bring in tools when you can get a giant bear to do it for you?"

"Why do you have to sound so excited when you say that...?" Cherise panted in return.

"Everyone has their interests..." Adina said as she wiped her brow from her position on the forest floor.

Cherise shook her head and Logan smiled. They may have nearly been bear chow but they had cleared a path and come away safe from a deadly situation. Maybe this would work out after all.

"Let's just get back to the inn for now. I think we've earned a rest."

There were no arguments as Venturis packed up and headed back to their airship.