Roy was searching for some decent lumber to craft. He couldn't find any in town or on the ground, so he decided that the best course of action would be to cut down a tree or two in Trieste forest. He could handle a couple of monsters, no problem, so the plan seemed flawless. He wandered around the forest, defeating monsters and picking plants, trying to find a decent tree. He came upon a beech tree near the deepest part of the forest. Satisfied with his choice, he swung his axe at the tree, slowly hacking it down. Eventually the great tree fell, and he tied the rope that was previously slung over his shoulder around the trunk of the tree and attached it to his buffamoo. They were trudging through the forest when the buffamoo stopped suddenly. Roy, being the total, but lovable, ditz that everyone knows he really is, walked straight into it. Clambering from the ground, he glared at the buffamoo, raising his arm, ready to strike the monster, when something wrapped around his arm and pulled him up into the air so that he was dangling.
A girl, looking to be a bit younger than his mother's assistant, Jake, hovered in front of him. She had a fishnet shirt on over a black spaghetti-strap top, baggy black trousers, a pair of soft-bottomed black flat boots, and a mask which covered the lower half of her face. Her red hair, held up in a loose bun, glistened in sharp contrast to the green vine she was currently shimmying down. Her blue eyes glared at him over her shoulder as she walked over to the poor buffamoo. As she slowly petted the monster, Roy caught a glimpse of her ears. They were elfin.
The buffamoo wandered off after the girl had cut the tree loose. She than sat on the trunk and pulled something out of the shoulder-bag hidden in the lower branches of the tree. It was a small box, which she opened to reveal a small portion of rice. She devoured the food quickly with the help of two thin twig-like things she removed from a separate pocket in the bag. She then wandered off to a separate part of the forest, leaving Roy still hanging there. Moments later she returned, but Roy only realised this when he fell from his hanging place. He plummeted to his death, because he'd been hanging pretty far up. However, the ninja caught him and put him on the trunk of the felled tree, and handed him a bundle before darting out of sight into a nearby elm tree. Roy looked around curiously, trying to spot her, but it failed epically. So he opened the package to reveal 4 of the juiciest apples he had ever seen. They were unique to Trieste forest, and he loved them. However, he only got them when he managed to sneak one from Tanya's fruit bowl. He dug in eagerly, devouring the sweet delicacy with gusto which would put Herman De-Sainte Coquille to shame. When he had finished, the girl dropped back down behind him. In one, smooth movement, she slung him over her shoulder and started walking out of the forest.
Once they were back on Falling Star Path, she put him down and turned towards Padova Mountains, a small frown on her face. "Hey, kid. You mind if we take a little detour?" she asked, then headed towards the mountains without waiting for an answer.
Roy followed, keeping close behind her as she ploughed through the crowds of monsters. One of them growled at her, and she growled back, making it cower in fear. Roy was amazed at the level of control she had over the monsters. She led him through a cave and to a large ice platform, where two massive monsters were fighting. One was a massive apple tree with claws and evil eyes, and the other was a great crystal mammoth, with tusks the size of a human. Roy, scared, shrank back as the girl walked calmly into the middle of the battlefield. "DUDE! Get back to your room!" the tree made a funny gurgling noise, but she cut him off with "I don't care what Isabella said to you, room. NOW!!" the tree shook its head, but shook slightly with fear too. She marched up and grabbed one of its gnarled hands, and started dragging it towards a cave at the back. Roy followed, watching in amazement as the mammoth gave a satisfied smile when the tree glared at her and stuck his tongue out. He assumed the mammoth was Isabella and the tree was called Dude.
A sudden crash was heard from inside the chamber. "OW!" shot out of the girl's mouth, along with a long string of swear words, as Roy and Isabella turned the corner to see Dude stood there looking horrified and the girl lay on the floor, now motionless and silent. Isabella ran up to the girl, closely followed by Roy, and picked her up gently with her trunk before placing the unconscious girl on her back. She then charged out of the cave, scooping up Roy on her way past, and headed towards the town. She stopped on the Falling Star Path and put Roy down before handing him the girl and running off, silent despite her bulk.
Moments later, Jake passed Roy as he headed towards Messhina Valley. "Jake, JAKE!!" Roy yelled, despairing when the elf didn't turn around.
So he ran, trying to pass Jake, and tripped. Roy managed to regain his balance, but dropped the girl. Jake, heartless as he may be sometimes, turned around at the sound of a stumble. Seeing the girl flying towards him, he quickly dropped into a defensive stance and caught her. He glared at Roy, the girl still held protectively in his arms. "Why did you just throw this girl at me, little human?" he growled.
Roy giggled. And to think he once found that growl scary. Jake stared at him confused, then looked again at the girl. Her hair had come undone, conveniently hiding her ears, and was flowing to Jake's knees. Stupid brat. What the hell was the point? Then again, she is so pretty….NO NO NO!! my heart belongs to Ceci. I'm not gonna give it to anyone else, this human no less. Then again, she is beautiful. I wonder……(insert inappropriate thoughts)……NO NO NO!! Mind out the gutter! Hey, why is my hand sticky? He stared at the substance on his hand. OH SHIT!! ITS BLOOD!! Gotta get her to Egan and Natalie! And without another word he took off towards the village, leaving Roy stood there like an idiot.
