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_ Val _

He'd done his best to appear confident, back in the hut they'd hidden in, but the reality of what he had proposed was fully setting in. Alert Caezu... Against his homeland? Overthrow the king? Well, at least that was a ways away. The first challenge they would have to face was getting out of the city. After that, dealing with the countryside, and the path to Caezu. All the gates were guarded, and the alert would definitely have spread about a wulf, ursari and vulpine party who commited crimes against the king. He blamed himself, if he'd actually dealt with his problems in a normal manner, they could have snuck out of the city just after it happened! But no, he had to go into shock. Good job, Val, you're definitely going to be the glorious leader who saves the day.

Despite all his worries, the plan actually ended up being fairly simple. Let one person go, with a few gold prepped in case a bribe was needed, wait 5 minutes, then send the next person. Tobi pilfered off a clothesline they found, and got some clothing to replace the Ranger's cloak Val had, as it was simply too recognizable, as well as the purple robe Tobi loved, though he folded it, and hid it somewhere on his person. He couldn't do anything about the color of his fur, but hey, there had to be at least a few other dirt brown wolves in the area, it was a big city. First, Rengar went, and he got through easily enough. Tobi got through, flirting with one of the guards, even getting... A scrap of parchment? Did the guard write down his place of residence for the fox? Wow. He waited a bit before walking through himself, wishing he had his hood to cover his head, but the normal, commoner's clothing was a disguise in itself. No one would expect a noble's son to dress in simple homespun. The guard, another wolf, barked out at him as he got up to the gate, "Name, and reason for leaving?" Luckily, he'd already thought it through, and was prepared, "Richard Fern, going to the nearby forest to get some herbs for my master, the apothecary." The wulf raised an eyebrow, looking Val up and down, "Old H'ren, huh? Interesting, I'd heard she was a stern taskmistress, but you look very well fed..." his eyes narrowed, Val could feel his heart leap into his throat, brain racing, did he know? Should Val run? "If I ever catch you stealing, just know it'll be the lash on you... Be off with you, and be careful, there's dangerous creatures out there." Oh thank Pelor. He responded, "Yes sir, thank you sir, understood." and quickly made his way through the walls, and down the path, making his way to the second tree, looking around and... There they were. Excellent. While walking, he spied a caravan making it's way to the gates. Interesting, he hadn't known there was a group coming through today, not that he'd been in the loop for the last few days. As he got up to them, he was already talking, "We probably shouldn't use the road for much longer. As nice as the trampled ground is to walk on, if there's people looking for us - which, if there aren't, that's equally strange - they'll be following that way." Tobi countered with a point of his own, "What if he sends Rangers? With the reputation you guys have, you would know of their skill at tracking, right? Couldn't they follow us through the plains just as easily?" Val was already shaking his head, "Tobi, I know their plan of attack. I can help hide our tracks, I've studied, and practiced that pretty extensively." The vulpine nodded, Rengar following with them as they started their travel, cutting an angle to the road, starting to blaze their own trail. It was a fairly easy walk, despite the slight unevenness of the ground, it was solid, and they made good progress, eventually Rengar, with his good hearing, heard rushing water, and they found a river, gratefully refilling their waterskins and hydrating themselves. Tobi sat down, panting heavily, declaring dramatically, "I don't think I can take another step without collapsing! I haven't walked for so long in ages!" Rengar snorted, getting an annoyed sideways glance in return. Val looked up at the sun, judging the time, before shrugging, and sitting down nearby. Rengar spoke up, "Should we not try to make it further before camping, given the likelyhood of guards chasing us? This seems like a bad idea..." The young wulf tensed at the thought of the guards, and reluctantly stood back up. "I would certainly rather avoid the guards, and... The Rangers." he suddenly felt a wetness on his face, and realized a tear was sliding down his muzzle at the thought of the King's Rangers. The band feared all over the country for their skill, and he had almost become one, however incorrect his training had been. Or, then again... Maybe he had been doomed from the start, from what the king had said. He felt a hand rest on his shoulder, and, shockingly, saw it was Rengar. "It does not make one any less of a man to cry. Your heart can only be at peace once you let go of your sorrow." He blinked up towards the ursari's face, comforted by his words, but at the same time, shame rose to his face, burning his cheeks. He stepped back, away from the support, and said, "Well, since we're going to be traveling together, I should probably actually tell you about myself. I am the son of Count Carlo, and the Countess Fiona," (He heard a satisfying gasp of awe from Tobias, who knew of those he referred to,) "They oversee some of the largest parts of the king's estate, and have a high seat on his council. I had decided from an early age I wanted to be a Ranger, and, despite my mother's protests, father loved the idea. Perhaps he wanted a spy in the king's organization? He was always pushing for greater things, maybe even wanting to be the king someday. However, he made the request to the king, and my mentor was sent. I studied extensively, however, my mother is... A protective woman. She didn't want me handling weapons, or even just going out into the wild, where feral beasts could maul me. So, my "training" mostly consisted of studying, and archery, purely at still targets. Even that we could only do because father was so enamoured with the idea. So, yeah, if I don't seem up to the... standard of the Rangers, that's why. I didn't even have the right training, it was over before it even began." Tobi and Rengar both nodded, the vulpine's face filled with understanding, "I expected something like that, if I'm honest. However, you still have the relevant knowledge, and, quite frankly, are the best we have. So, stop thinking about how good you are now, and just focus on improving for the future, okay? We don't expect you to be able to handle everything yourself." Val smiled in relief, taking a moment to hug both of them, to Tobi's surprise, and Rengar's confusion, the ursari having to awkwardly bend down so the wulf wouldn't be hugging somewhere else. "Thank you, guys... I don't know what I'd do without you. Let's keep moving then, we've got daylight left to burn!"

_ Rengar _

They made it up to sunset before deciding to camp. Rengar was surprised by the notion, he wasn't even tired yet. Walking was easy. He agreed to help set up camp while Val perched by the river to try and catch dinner. Tobi lit the fire using his magic, quickly rolled out his bedroll close by, then laid down in it almost immediately. The ursari glanced down at him with a little bit of interest, and slight disappointment. All this magic, and the vulpine couldn't even walk for a day. He knew there were advantages to magic, but, frankly, it never seemed as good as the feel of a solid, well balanced axe in his hands. He wasn't sure what caught his attention, a sixth sense? But he turned just in time to see Val suddenly disappear, pulled? Into the rushing water. He charged forward, footpaws pounding the dirt at the edge as he splashed forwards, grabbing at the outstretched paw Val had up, and bodily lifting him out of the water. Along with the wulf came some sort of gelatinous shape that slowly fell and molded into a jellylike shape, bigger than the usual feral dog found in cities. Tobi stumbled up behind him, "I heard the yelling, what's happening- oh." As he watched a couple more of these slimes drag themselves out of the water. Val coughed and sputtered, in slight shock, "My... Mana!" referring to the source of magic in people, that is drawn off of for magic, but also composes part of the core of every living thing. "I could feel it draining my mana! Be careful, don't let it get a grip on you!" they proved to be difficult to fight, at least for Rengar. As much as he loved his battle axe, hitting a slime with it really didn't do that much damage, more just dividing it for a moment. Same with Val's arrows, only serving as a distraction for the beings. Tobi had the best of it, his firebolts burning away the very essence of the creatures, who tried to get close enough to latch on with a pseudopod and try to drain the energy of their prey. However, finally, they were beaten down enough that they stopped moving, and melted down into one large light blue puddle, almost looking like water, except for how it was still congealed in the grass. It almost looked like a mirror... He could see his reflection in it, panting heavily. Val walked up, catching his attention. "Hey, thank you for saving me back there. I stuck my fishing spear down at a cod moving extremely slowly, and then all three latched onto me, pulling me down. I wasn't sure I was going to make it, thank you again- What the?!" The wulf jumped, looking behind him, then back at the puddle, where the reflection of the ursari was now... A beautiful woman? Long silky hair formed of vines, leaves adorning her dress of woven moss, the humanoid lady seemed almost a statue, made of various greenery, but the expression of annoyance on her face made it clear this was no mere reflection. A voice came through, melodius, beautiful despite its sting, and Rengar suddenly smelled flowers, bringing his mind back, and instantly he knew who this was as the spoke. "Finally, you reached a point I could contact you." she raised a hand as Rengar started to speak, cutting him off completely, "Don't, it pains me to speak plainly already, and we don't have much time. I am the Archfey Anastasia, and there is much to discuss in this time. As you know, the king of your city has made alliances with the criminal underworld of the city, and seeks to take over the rest of the country, and from there, the world. However, he knows this is not all the manpower he needs, so he has made deals with the real underworld, scorning all things natural, and seeks to bring everything under his heel. My influence on the material plane is limited, but I have servants, and associates, who were able to help me, help you in your impossible task. One of you has already met one of them," She gestured to the larger male, who simply nodded in understanding."Now, as much as it pains me, I seek your aid. Stop this man who has overstepped the boundaries of nature and life, and bring his plans to an end. Be my influence in this plane, for this matter, and I will give you gifts beyond compare. If you do not, however, you will feel the pain of a thousand scourges in every part of your being. Understand?" The other two looked to Rengar to answer, as the lady seemed to know him. He looked at the others, then back to the mirror puddle, and nodded. "We will do what you ask. What can you give us at this time to aid you?" She inclined her head in return, and said, "Normally, it is customary for mortals to bow in my presence, but I will overlook it this once, for the sake of this plane. For the vulpine," she clapped her hands, and the puddle rippled for a moment, "The trickster, you will receive your spellcasting focus, with the ability to cover the ground with a spiky growth, to harm and hamper your foes. For the ursari, the fighter, the one I view most favorably of you, he will receive a pair of boots, formed of tree bark, that increase his natural speed, while protecting him from anything that might prevent easy movement across the ground. And now, the wulf. The leader. You will receive a new bow, of finest oak, that will help make up for the training you lack. For you to succeed, you must make every effort to improve yourselves, as, yoh may have already figured, but your journey will not stop at Caezu. This plane will either survive or fall by your hands, as it has been seen by the Circle of the Fey. You must become the heroes you need to be, and not be able to be prey of simple mana slimes. They were sent to impress this message upon you, and remind yoh that this area is not without it's monsters and challenges - especially with the blacj magic the king is employing. I wish you luck. When you struggle, remember I will aid you in every way I can." and slowly the slime itself faded into the ground, disappearing. They all sat there stunned for a moment, before the ursari recovered first. "Well, that was the person I had spoken to you of. It seems our mission has grown a bit bigger than intended." Val nodded dumbly, and went back to his tent. Tobi spoke up happily, "Well, as bad as the stakes seem, at least we aren't alone in this! All we can really do is camp, and move forward in the morning! I call last watch!" ...Nothing really phases him for long, does it? With a sigh, he made his way back over to the camp, and started his watch, thinking on what was learned this night. How had things gotten this way? The fate of the plane on their shoulders? Or just a ploy by the Archfey lady, if that was even who she was? But... In his heart, he knew it was true, somehow. His intuition was typically good, but this felt different, like a weight settled in his stomach. Theoretically, they could pull it off, according to this prophecy, so all he could do is step forward like always. So, he settled down, and prepared for a long watch, ready to sleep, and bring forth the next day.