PA   *<( pat!

PA   *<( did you hear that just now?

You freeze. A very tall idiot bumps into you from behind.

PC   <( :?

PA   *<( i said there was some kind of noise from the trees

PC   <( animal?

PA   *<( no! it was definitely a person!

PA   *<( or a spirit

They nod, smiling.

PC   <( forest friend :)

They continue walking forward, leaving you staring at them with disbelief. You jog to catch up with them, making sure to keep your volume down.

PA   *<( that? it hardly sounded friendly to me

PA   *<( in fact it seemed pretty hostile

PA   *<( i really think we should turn back

PA   *<( im sure you can find those mushrooms somewhere else

PA   *<( are you listening to me? you get so tunnel-visioned someti-

The ground beneath you cracks and crumbles.

PA   *<( wh-whah?

You manage to stumble onto solid ground, landing painfully on your hands and knees. You're sure your stockings are torn and dirty.

PA   *<( ugh

PA   *<( what was that? a sinkhole?

As you stand up, patting your knees free of grime, you look around.

PA   *<( pat?

There's a patting noise from below that draws your attention.

PA   *<( ....

They stare up at you from at least 10 feet down. They're tamping on the walls of the hole, maybe to test its durability as well as get your attention. But it's firm. Strange, since it seemed to crumble so easy when you stepped on it.

In fact, now that you're taking a closer look, the hole is remarkably clean, aside from some grass and sticks that fell with your magician friend. You initially felt a spike of worry thinking of them landing so far down, but they seem more winded than anything. There aren't any jagged surfaces or stones lodged into the dirt.

PA   *<( who... did this?

??   kehehe

You whip around. The voice echoes, so much so that you can't trace back where exactly it came from. Your hands ball into fists.

PA   *<( whatever you are

PA   *<( come out and show yourself!

PA   *<( i know youve been watching and following us... and now this?

PA   *<( youre a coward and a creep!

??   big words for someone who came to my domain

A stick breaks somewhere, and you quickly turn to face it. In the shadows of the tree foliage, you swear you see something moving. Something approaching.

PA   *<( i said come out already!

PA   *<( dont play with me!

??   aww why not

You feel a presence at your back, and this time you summon your staff and swing as you turn. But it makes contact with nothing but air.

??   whoa

??   figures youd have something thatd fit your witchy garb

??   does it actually shoot spells or what

Is it coming from the hole, now? You feel like you're going insane. You sequester your staff and take some steps back until you hit a tree, and you slide down until you're on the ground. You grab a rock, just to feel the rough sensation on your hand.

PA   *<( is this some mythical... forest magic?

??   forest what now

You look up. And crouched on one of the branches, staring right at you, is a raven-haired stranger in a peculiar red jacket.

PA   *<( gah!!

You scramble to your feet and back away from the tree. Meanwhile, he jumps down, his shadow larger than he is.

??   its called throwin your voice

??   what you think i cast a spell or somethin

PA   *<( that was - if it wasnt -

PA   *<( who the hell are you??

He shoots you a wide grin. Like he was waiting for you to ask all this time.

??   the prankster king

??   the big bad

??   the bane of all who call themselves heroes

RW   rowan chaudhary

RW   who else

PA   *<( ...

RW   obviously youre still stunned from all the -

You hurl the rock at him. He just manages to duck in time to avoid getting knocked in the head. He looks back at you, incredulous.

RW   rude

You growl and lunge, grabbing the front of that stupid hoodie. He tries pushing you away, but you dig your nails in and refuse to let go.

PA   *<( rahhhh!!

RW   what the hell is wrong with you

RW   let go

PA   *<( you did all this and for what? your little performance?

PA   *<( you - couldve - seriously - hurt - us!

Your fists are making contact with his head, but it isn't enough. He's still fighting back.

RW   theyre not meant to be life threatenin ow

RW   you think i want a body on my hands

PA   *<( a hole that deep? if someone landed the wrong way...

PA   *<( youre horrible!!

RW   ok in my defense ow it was really fun diggin that one

RW   mightve gotten a bit carried away but who among us hasnt gotten swept up in the uh

RW   ow oww youre not lettin up huh

Before you can hit him again, a burst of red flashes before your eyes. You jump back, squinting, and the dark evening air returns. Except he's no longer there.

RW   kehe

You look down. A white fox is snickering at you and your dumbfounded expression.

PA   *<( a shape user!

PA   *<( no wonder i couldnt... you...

PA   *<( ...

PA   *<( im not above fighting an animal

And there he goes, scampering off to who knows where. You catch your breath and glance back into the hole.

PA   *<( patricio! are you doing okay?

PC   <( :I

They've summoned their Specter, and now they're both... trying to climb out? But Patricio keeps slipping on the Musmushutu's soft appendages and landing in the mud. They're both covered at this point.

PA   *<( ...

PA   *<( i have some rope

PC   <( :o

One resizing and difficult vertical tug-of-war session later, the two of you stand a safe distance away from the pit. You give them a meaningful look.

PA   *<( i hope you heard everything that was happening up here

They nod.

PC   <( forest friend :)

PA   *<( no! forest enemy!

PA   *<( forest demon! barbarian and coward!

RW   it was a tactical retreat

And here he comes, sauntering from the shadows with his hands behind his head again. You barrel your fists, but Patricio steps forward before another fight breaks out.

PC   <( you said you were rowan?

RW   ...

PC   <( its nice to meet you

PC   <( and your hole

RW   huh

He tilts his head and glances at you.

RW   this guy not graduate from talkin school or somethin

PA   *<( ...

PA   *<( you really dont know sign language?

RW   last time i checked they write on signs

You groan and look at your fellow mage.

PA   *<( i cast a we-are-not-making-friends-with-this-one hex

Unfortunately, that spell is one Patricio is really good at mitigating.