Time for another chapter. *applause*

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

The caravan group had just left River Belle Path when they were approached by another caravan.

Two Selkies ran up to the caravan. The caravan from Leuda. Nieta was the first to spot them.

"Hey, someone's coming," she warned the others. Ray looked onwards curiously.

"Oh boy…," Ray muttered under his breath. "OY! Mika! Get out here."

Mika hopped out of the caravan, her eyes narrowed. She wasn't on good terms with this Selkie, or Garrett for that matter.

"What is it?" she asked, then noticed the Leuda caravanners running up to them. "Guys. Let us handle this."

Sam gave her a questioning look. "Handle what?"

"Selkies never really go out of there way for something unless it's important to them," explained Ray. He urged them to shut up as soon as the other caravan got close.

"Oh hey there Selkies," said one of them, a boy with blonde hair. "What's up?"

"Oh y'know…," said Ray. "Getting' myrrh, gold…all that stuff."

"Ah…," said the other member, a girl. "Hey listen, seeing that your on the road and stuff, you must need some items. How would ya like to buy this silver for 800 gil?"

Mika and Ray gave everyone a "WE TOLD YOU SO" look.

Ray walked up to the female member from the Leuda caravan. "And how much do YOU cost, beautiful?"

This act caused Mika to take control. She seized Ray by his hair and dragged him to the caravan. She then returned to the boy and the now-blushing girl.

"Well…the funny thing is…," said Mika. "We actually just BOUGHT some silver from Marr's Pass. And it only cost about 250 gil. Funny, hunh?"

Both Selkies gaped at her.

"Shoot," whispered the boy.

"Speaking of buying things, we need to run and get supplies! Bye!" yelled the female Selkie. The two then left the Tipa caravan, with 6 members watching them run. Ray was busy stroking his sore hair, and Mika just sighed.

"What did you do?" asked Star, bewildered.

"I think they realized that they were overpriced and looked like fools," said Mika. "I think they didn't want us to beat them up for scamming us. They were so worried they didn't even realize that we haven't even BEEN to Marr's Pass yet."

"Well speaking of being places, we should probably get going," said Creston, reminding them all of their duties. Everyone nodded. "However, let's make camp somewhere near. It's getting dark."

As the group searched for a camping spot, Ray scooted up next to Mika.

"What do you want, bandanna boy?" she asked, eyeing him coolly.

"Why'd you yank my hair back there?" he asked, wincing at the memory. "I probably could of got us the silver AND a discount."

"It was instinct," said Mika. "I can't stand to let someone get embarrassed by a moron like you, not to mention it was totally obnoxious."

"Or maybe you were JEALOUS," taunted Ray, smirking. YANK! "OW!"

"Say that again and I'll yank your hair so hard, you'll be bald," growled Mika. Ray took the hint and headed up to talk to Garrett.

"Man…girls are brutal," muttered Ray.

"You've got a lot to learn, kid," said Garrett wisely.

"Kid? Dude, I'm older than you," corrected Ray.

"Shut up, bandanna boy," said Garrett.

"Point taken, hardhead," grumbled Ray.

000000000000000000000000000000000000

"Look over there," said Creston, pointing. Everyone looked over. They all saw it. A Miasma Stream.

"Let's go through it, then we'll set up camp," said Sam. Everyone nodded, although Nieta and Mika both looked nervous.

"Come on, then," said Garrett, walking forward as Creston took control of the caravan. "We can all walk a little further, right?"

Soon they arrived at the Miasma stream.

"Hey, all of the smoke around here is blue. I suppose that means our chalice needs to be Water," reasoned Ray.

"Shoot!" said Nieta, stamping her foot. "We started with fire! And none of us changed it. That means we have to go all the way back to River Belle Path!"

"Actually," said Mog, "I was the one carrying the chalice the whole time. And I changed it to water as soon as we got there, kupo."

"Oh…," said Nieta. "Well, uh…thanks Mog."

"What're we waiting for?" asked Star. "Let's go.

With that, the caravan entered the stream."

00000000000000000000

"Okay, this place is WAY creepier inside then outside," said Mika.

Lianora nodded. "They are known to be spooky. Their appearance even wards away monsters. That's why you never find monster's in a miasma stream."

"They give us the creeps, kupo," said Mog.

As the caravan walked toward the center of the stream, they felt strong, violent winds attempting to push them back. Ray took the chalice from Mog, who was too light and was being buffeted by the winds. The group moved continuously forward, until finally, the winds let them through. They soon made it out of the Miasma Stream, and it was bright again.

"Phew…that was scary, but it's all over now," said Star to Nieta.

They then heard a voice behind them.

"Yes…," said a rasping, whispering voice. "It is all over…FOR YOU!"

Two hands grabbed both girls by the legs. Nieta and Star both screamed loudly. The others turned around to find…

Garrett clutching both of their legs, laughing hysterically. Ray was also laughing, leaning against a tree so he wouldn't fall over. Creston took the chalice from the Selkie, regarding him with disdain.

"Oh GOD!" choked out Garrett. "The look on your faces!"

"Dude…that was…great," gasped Ray, tears coming out of his eyes.

Sam was angry. He went over to comfort Star and Nieta. Lianora, meanwhile, bonked Garrett on the head with her hammer.

"OW!" he yelped. "C'mon! It was just a joke." Ray, meanwhile, was now laughing at Garrett. Mika walked over and stomped on his foot.

"HEY! WHAT THE HECK!?" yelled Ray, clutching his throbbing foot. "What did I do?! Garrett was the one who grabbed them!"

"Insensitive assholes," Mika muttered.

"Agreed," said Lianora.

Sam sighed. "Let's just set up camp here, guys."

"No…let's get a little bit further away from this thing," said Nieta, still trembling slightly.

The eight travelers moved on to find a camping spot.

"Girls are brutal," grumbled Garrett.

"Told ya so, kid," said Ray.

00000000000000000000000000000000000000

Soon, after they were far enough away from the sinister stream, the group made camp just as the sun went down. Lianora lit the wood that Ray and Garrett gathered (as punishment) to create a campfire. As the members of the caravan got out there sleeping bags, they huddled around the warmth of the campfire.

Creston stood up. "I'm not tired, so I guess I'll take the first watch."

"Watch?" asked Sam.

"You think the monsters are going to leave us alone just because we're asleep?" asked Creston. "No. So I'll stay up and keep an eye out for any trouble.

"Alright…," said Sam. "Wake me up in two hours. Then I'll take over."

"I'll take over next," muttered Ray, before anyone told him he had to. Everyone looked shocked.

"What? Ray actually doing something for others?" asked Mika, shocked.

"No, I'm going to watch you sleep," said Ray, giving her an unsettling grin. Mika tensed.

"I'LL take the third watch," said Nieta.

"Ray, that was uncalled for," scolded Lianora. Ray's smirk stayed on his face.

"You really shouldn't aggravate others for your own enjoyment," said Star. "You really are a selfish person, you know?"

Ray's smile slid off his face. Selfish? That's what they thought? That comment actually made him feel bad a bit.

"Who says I do that?" he said, determined not to let it show that comment had hurt him.

"You really are a selfish bastard," said Garrett, gnawing on some meat.

"You're just as bad," said Lianora. "Scaring others, than laughing at them."

"Pssssh," said Garrett, rolling his eyes. "I suppose you think we ought to be like Sam, the perfect leader who gets annoyed if someone has fun."

"At least Sam has consideration for others," said Nieta, giving Garrett a hot glare. Garrett's eyes widened at that.

"I'm going to bed," growled Garrett.

"For once, Garrett, you've made a wise decision," said Nieta, yawning. Soon everyone was asleep, except for Creston. It was dark and gloomy around them, but the warmth of the fire and the light of the crystal helped them feel safe, driving away the nightmares as they slept soundly.

0000000000000000000000000000000000

End of the chapter. Sorry! I know I was supposed to start Mushroom Forest in this Chapter, but I didn't have the time. It will be in next chapter, though.

Well, now we know more about the characters. Ray and Garrett are quite the troublemakers, eh? But we have Lianora and Mika to kick their butts.

They'll get better eventually. But for now, we will let them scare the girls in peace.

Next Chapter: Mushroom Forest (for real this time)…and PLOT/CHARACTER DEVLEOPMENT.