Chapter 4: "An Abridged Forest"

Alaylle happily hums as she walks through the valley at the entrance to Geffen Forest. Sighing softly, she walks over to a tree and sits down next to its trunk. "Whew... traveling sure is tiring! Time for some lunch, I think!" Fishing through her basket, she pulls out an apple and the book, flipping through the pages as she takes small bites out of the red apple.

"Hmm... huh?" Alaylle blinks her eyes quickly as she finds the "Apple" entry. "Clover family?... Huh?" She quickly looks back and forth at the apple in her hand and the picture in her book. "What a strange book... listing apples..." Alaylle shakes her head as she continues eating.

"I wonder what else I can find that this book has listings on?" Alaylle looks around slowly, spotting and identifying Fabres, Lunatics, and Pupas. She finishes eating three apples and puts the cores in her basket. Fishing through the basket again, she pulls out her father's map and takes a look.

"Daddy... honestly... This part of the map... I can't read it at all... its all squiggles! I can't tell where the hills and water are different than the route I'm supposed to take!" Alaylle sighs and glances down at the ground, spotting a worn stripe on the grass, indicating frequent travel. "I guess I'll follow that... and hope that it takes me to Geffen..." Alaylle gets to her feet and follows the stripe...

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Meanwhile, back in Prontera-

"Achhoo! Ungh... not again..." Alaylle's father blows his nose on his shirt sleeve.

"Dear... are you sure you're not coming down with a cold? That's the sixth or seventh time you've sneezed all day." Alaylle's mother glances concernedly at her husband. "That's it... I'm going to make you some lunch-you rest now!"

Alaylle's father pales somewhat and follows her as she walks into the kitchen, "Oh no dear... no need to cook... really, I'm fine!" "Achooo!"

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"Daddy... your map doesn't help at all... and this forest... it's a maze!" Alaylle sighs as she glances at a bridge that she has passed about two times already. "I'm not getting anywhere at all... I'm just going in circles!"

A large pink butterfly suddenly flies out of the trees and over to a flower growing from a tree. In mere moments after, a large bee flies out of the same trees and over to another tree flower.

"Gosh... what are those?" Alaylle quickly pulls out her book and looks them up... surprisingly, the entries are on the same page. "Hmm... Creamy... A once docile butterfly that has grown from a Fabre to a Pupa, and now into its current state. Very dangerous, as recent species have developed a dagger-like proboscis that is used to drink nectar from flowers and defend itself from prey. In certain cases, the Creamy will also drain the life out of its victim. A natural rival of the Hornet." "Umm... what's a Pro-oh... here it is..." "A proboscis is a tongue-like tube that butterflies and many other insects possess." Alaylle looks up at the Creamy. "Doesn't seem so dangerous..."

Alaylle shrugs and looks at the entry for the large bee. "Hornet... a drone of the queen bee, Mistress. Collects nectar from flowers to be made into honey. Has a small, gentle appearance until it is threatened. Then, it defends itself with its poison stinger. Has a tendency to swarm predators. Natural nectar-gathering rival of the Creamy." Alaylle looks over at the Hornet. Then back at the Creamy. Back... forth... back... forth... "Uh oh..."

Sure enough, once the two bugs end their distraction with the flowers, they simultaneously turn towards each other. The Hornet charges at the Creamy, stinger first, while the Creamy flutters wildly, preparing to dodge and counter.

Alaylle watches the butterfly and the bee fight for a moment, and then quickly shakes her head. "Stop! Stop it you two!"

Of course, they don't bother listening to the strange girl with pink clothes... and ended up knocking each other out.

"Oohh! See? Now no one gets those flowers!" Alaylle sits down next to the two stunned bugs. "Now apologize to each other!"

The Hornet buzzes rather dully and the Creamy hums in the same tone.

"Okay... I think that'll do!" Alaylle fishes through her basket and takes out the red potion she brought along. She uncorks it and turns it on its side, with the lip facing the two bugs. "Here you two... share!" Alaylle watches the two bugs carefully and none gets more potion than the other. "See? That wasn't so bad was it?"

The Creamy and Hornet quickly fly back up into the air after drinking from the potion. They both stare at each other, seeming ready for Round 2.

"Oh no you two don't! Stop it this instant! I didn't give you that so that you two can start fighting again! You know... you two could have gathered a lot more nectar instead of fighting like this!"

The Hornet and Creamy glance at each other, exchanging a few hums and buzzes. They fly over to the flowers and gather the rest of the nectar from them, then fly back to Alaylle.

"Um... say... do you two know where Geffen is?... I'm kinda lost..." Alaylle looks up hopefully at the two. More buzzing and hums are exchanged... and the two nod and then start flying at a steady pace. Alaylle hops to her feet and follows the two. "Yay! Thank goodness, I thought I'd be lost here forever!" The two bugs sweatdrop and then pick up the pace a bit.

"Yay! The way out of the forest! Thank you so much you two!" Alaylle quickly runs out of the west exit of Geffen Forest before she gets lost again.

The two bugs watch Alaylle until she's out of sight, and then look at each other... If they could grin or smile, they would. The two charge at each other, proboscis and stinger ready and willing to inflict grievous harm upon each other. Naturally, the two knock each other out again. The two bugs twitch on the ground, with swirlly eyes, buzzing and humming loudly in laughter and pain. Soon, the site of battle is filled with Creamys and Hornets rushing each other, and ending up being very much like the two that lead Alaylle.

Oh well... can't change everything.

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"Whaa! Geffen is right there!" Alaylle smiles happily as she walks along the plain that curves around a river to Geffen. The large spire of Geffen Tower is easily visible, as are the city walls.

End of Chapter 4
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Chapter 5 Preview!

Alaylle: "Geffen... the city of magic... it sure took long enough to get here!"
"Umm... now what was I supposed to do here again?... Oh yeah! Daddy's blue gemstones!"

In the next Chapter: "Grumbling in Geffen!"

: "Eh? Hey Rootfoot! Never thought I'd see you here!"

Alaylle!
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