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Sitting next to Kion, Reteh ate in a daze unable to focus on the conversation happening around her due to the intoxicating scent engulfing her.

Not long after Reteh finished her last bite of food she was brought out of her daze at the sound of her name being called sharply. Looking up from her bowl, she stared into Yineh's sky blue eyes in a frozen panic having no idea what had been asked of her.

```

Yineh: I'll take that as a yes.

Reteh: Y-yes?

Yineh: You sure you don't want to join in Lina?

Lina: Quite. I realize I'll have to do it eventually, but I really don't want to do it already.

Yineh: We'll catch the rest of you tomorrow then. Let's get going you three.

Vivica: I'll grab what we need here and meet you below.

Yineh: Check.

```

Reteh nervously followed Yineh and Kion to a warehouse.

```

Reteh: What do we need from here?

Yineh: Phhst~ a tree tent, of course. I'm not sleeping on a branch again until I have to.

Reteh: *hard gulp*

```

Reteh watched uneasily as Yineh walked over and flung one of the tree tent backpacks over her shoulder. As Kion reached for another she stopped him.

```

Yineh: We only need one.

Kion: *blushing heavily* Bu-

Yineh: Don't worry, none of us kick, bite, or scratch in our sleep. Though I might lick. *devious smirk*

```

Reteh couldn't help but giggle as she watched a mixture of emotions wash over Kion's face as he appeared to try and think of a rebuttal but ultimately just followed behind Yineh looking adorably nervous.

At the forest floor Vivica gave everyone their supply satchels then the group began making their way through the forest.

After couple hours of awkward chit-chat, Reteh realized that they were getting close to the Ojeri tree and began to worry that she had inadvertently agreed to camp out in its branches.

Her fears were fully realized when the group came to the base of the gigantean tree.

```

Yineh: Alright, so the rules are simple. First one to the bottom branches gets to set up the tent.

Kion: *bewildered* Shouldn't that be the last one?

Yineh: No, since whomever is setting up the tent gets to pick the location. *mischievous grin*

```

Reteh did her best not to panic as she watched Yineh take the tent backpack off and hold it towards Vivica.

```

Yineh: To make this fair you have to carry the tent.

Vivica: *smug smile* To make this fair you'd have to give me everyone's supplies too.

Yineh: Alright here ya go.

```

Reteh cringed as she watched Yineh toss her satchel over to Vivica.

```

Yineh: Once everyone's handed their satchels over to Viv I'll count down.

Kion: I don't feel right making her carry everything.

Yineh: Don't overthink it and hand over the satchel.

Kion: *hesitant*

Vivica: Don't worry about it, let me show off a little. *reassuring smile*

```

After Kion handed over his satchel, Reteh disheartened handed hers over as well.

Once everyone had spaced out around the tree, Yineh counted down from three and the race began.

Reaching the first branch Reteh pulled herself up and looked over nervously towards Yineh and Vivica who had arrived first.

```

Reteh: Who won?

Vivica: Yineh... I almost dropped a satchel and it cost me too much time.

Yineh: I feel a little bad winning by technicality, but not bad enough to concede. Which means me and Viv are going to go ahead and set up the tent at the top. You two tree snails can enjoy your leisurely climb.

```

With that Yineh and Vivica darted up the tree.

```

Kion: *awestruck* Vivica's ... amazing. The way she caught that satchel was incredible.

Reteh: *disappointed* Yeah.

Kion: Something the matter?

Reteh: I-it's nothing. We should get going...

```

Reteh carefully climbed up the tree, doing her best not to look down. Upon reaching the layer Yineh and Vivica had set up the tent, she clung tightly to the tree's trunk and watched in horror as Kion casually made his way to the tent hanging further out than seemed safe.

After a couple of panicked moments Reteh's attention was caught by a rope dangling in front of her.

```

Yineh: You can do it. *supportive smile*

```

Grabbing a hold of the support rope, Reteh tied it around her waist then inched her way down the branch towards the tent as much like a caterpillar as she could.

Upon reaching the side of the tent, Kion reached out his hand and helped her inside.

Once inside she cling tightly to him.

```

Kion: I'm getting the feeling you might be afraid of heights.

Reteh: D-d-do we really have to be this far out!?

Yineh: No.

Vivica: So~ we're moving the tent inwards?

Yineh: *dismissive raspberry* No. I was trying to be like Mirra-su. We don't--have to be this far, but we're going to be this far out because I say so. Speaking of Sneaky-su. *low yell* You may as well come out.

*long silence*

Yineh: Huh, I thought for sure she'd been following us...

Vivica: I don't know, I kind of assume her secret mission is to watch over Lina. Especially since we're not doing anything dangerous.

Reteh: Tree feathers!

Yineh: Ye~ah tree feathers Viv. *playful smirk* There's lots of dangerous stuff out here. An Olapo could snatch us right out of the tree this far out and carry us away to its nest, or we could get whisked away by a Wisparo.

Reteh: *hard gulp*

Vivica: *unimpressed* Stop trying to scare Re-re.

Yineh: Phsst~

Kion: What are Olapo and Wisparo?

Yineh: *devious smile* I'm glad you asked. *maniacal laughter*

Vivica: Ye~ah, no scary stories. Olapo is a--mythical shape shifting bird that lives behind the Alethean wall that flies out to snatch up people who sleep too far out on tall trees. And wisparo are another mythical creature that supposedly lurks in the shadows waiting to spirit away anyone you're trying to protect if you fall asleep while on watch.

Kion: Spirit away?

Yineh: Vanish without a trace. Sometimes they come back days or moons later with no memories of where they had been. Of course some never come back at all. *maniacal chuckle*

Vivica: *eyeroll* Are you done?

Yineh: What the moldy leaf Viv? You're being extra stick in the muddy today.

Vivica: *deep sigh* Sorry... I just found out that I'm not going to be a trainee soon.

Yineh: *excited* Luck~y! Any idea who your primary mentor's going to be?

Vivica: *pouting* Not Kylola-su ... that's for sure.

Yineh: *epiphanic* Oo~ Though you know if you get Mirra, Teran, Sharon, or Isalla, you'll probably get to spend more time with Kylola-su than you do now.

Vivica: *intrigued* You really think so?

Yineh: Like jsha.

Vivica: You're going to be talking like Lina all night, aren't you?

Yineh: Jsha! Nee ... who am I kidding I'll either forget or get bored quick. *bombastic laughter* Anyway let's decide on who's going to be heading down to find food.

Vivica: I packed food pellets.

Yineh: *unamused stare* Viv ... half the reason I became a rammu was because of how much I like foraging for food. I am--not eating food pellets unless I'm completely out of other options, which is exactly what they're meant for.

Vivica: In that case do we really have to decide on who's going? You clearly want to be the one that goes, and you're supposed to be mentoring Kion, so it's kind of obvious it should be you two.

Yineh: Sounds good to me, though you may have to pry Re-re off him for me.

```

Reteh waited until Vivica got close then let go of Kion and grabbed a hold of her.

```

Yineh: What exactly do you think clinging onto someone like that is going to do for you if something happens?

*short silence*

Yineh: Whatever, enjoy your cuddle session. Let's go Ki.

```

Reteh watched as Kion began following Yineh out the tent but turned back to look at her at the last moment.

```

Kion: I... Uhm... *awkward chuckle* *gulp* A-any requests?

Reteh: N-no. I'm just going to eat food pellets. They're easier on the stomach. *awkward chuckle*

Kion: Alright.

```

A couple of moments after Kion left Reteh loosened her grip on Vivica and did her best to try and relax.

```

Vivica: So, what made you decide to come along on this impromptu camping trip anyway?

Reteh: *nervous* Uhm...

Vivica: *somber* Right, Ye~ah, I wouldn't want to share anything with me either. *awkward laughter*

Reteh: I-it's not that Viv... I don't mind sharing things with you... Honestly, it's nice when you blurt out things I feel embarrassed about... It's usually relieving not to have to say them myself. *awkward chuckle*

Vivica: Still...

Reteh: Anyway... I don't have a special reason for coming along.

Vivica: *surprised* Really? With the way you've been acting, I thought you had a crush on Kion.

Reteh: A little bit, but that's not really it. It's more the combination of his scent mixed with Yineh's that's getting me.

Vivica: *epiphanic* Oh~ *awkward chuckle* They do seem to have some chemistry between them that smells nice. I always forget I'm not as affected by that as other people.

Reteh: I seem to be extra sensitive to it.

Vivica: Does make sense, you weren't around much lust scent before becoming a rammu.

Reteh: Where you around a lot?

Vivica: Not really, I'm just not very interested in people physically. *somber* Which I know is part of the reasons I don't bond as well as everyone else...

Reteh: *hesitant* You bond with people better than you think you do, you're just unwilling to see it for some reason. Everyone cares a lot about you Viv. I haven't been a rammu long, and yet you already feel like a sister to me.

Vivica: *dismissive* Anyway, since they could be gone for quite a while you want to do anything special?

Reteh: *contemplative hum* I'm happy with just cuddling.

```

While holding gently onto Vivica, Reteh stared out over the forest towards the otherworldly wall that magically faded into the scenery yet unmistakably stood out and that stretched so far into the sky that it was impossible to tell if it ever stopped or simply faded out of view.

```

Vivica: It's a really nice view up here.

Reteh: Are you--really sure the Olapo is a myth?

Vivica: If it wasn't then there would be no way trainees would be allowed near the Ojeri tree on our own. You know how protective the seniors are, and Mirra-su of all people didn't even give us any warnings nor feel the need to follow us out here.

Reteh: Suppose that's true...

Vivica: Now that said I do think there are good reasons for the scary stories. It's a good idea not to set up tents too far out on high branches... That said, I checked this spot out thoroughly before I agreed to let Yi-su set up camp here and am quite certain of our safety.

Reteh: That makes me feel a lot better.

```

Vivica pulled out a jar of food pellets and sat them down in front of her to share.

Hours later when the sun began to set Yineh and Kion returned looking well worn.

```

Vivica: Did you two have fun, "foraging"?

Yineh: Best forage I've had in moons. *satisfied smirk*

Kion: It was a very informative experience. *bashful smile*

```

Bonus - new places mentioned in this chapter:

Ojeri Tree

The Ojeri tree is the largest tree in the giant shiba forest and is considered a sacred place. It is a common feature in many ancient squi myths and legends. Despite its historical significance, however, it is a rarely visited by normal citizens due not only to its inconvenient location but also its inherent and superstitious dangers.

Alethean Wall

An otherworldly wall built by the ancient Aletheans. The wall encircles the Aletheans territory and appears as a highly detailed mosque landscape. Well, the landscape the wall projects is obviously false, it produces seemingly natural light that keeps the wall from blocking sunlight or producing any shadows.