"So I think I understand this now. I'm here and back home at the same time." I said after some back and forth with both Tom and Kaz. "Geeze that kind of makes my head hurt," I complained and Tom chuckled as I rubbed the bridge of my nose.

"I had the same reaction the first time I ported here, Ashley. You'll get used to it after you port back home again." Tom replied as I crossed my arms, leaning back against the chair for a few seconds.

"Still feels weird but I'll take your word for it," I replied after a pause, giving my new friends a grin. "Now how exactly do I scan creatures in Perim?" I asked, finding myself outside the Beta Drome and as I followed Tom I couldn't help being a little overwhelmed by everything, especially when we entered a forest a few minutes later.

"This is the Forest of life in case you're wondering, Ashley," Tom explained, waving me to follow him and as I did I stared around me at all the greenery. "When you find a creature you want to scan you just hold your scanner towards it and that's it. Unless the creature decides it doesn't want to be scanned." Tom added and I raised an eyebrow at him, pausing behind the Chaotic player who grinned back at me.

"What happens then?" I asked Tom, snorting at the answer he gave me. "Run as fast as you can away from it? Gee I never would have thought of doing that." I replied rolling my eyes at him, keeping pace with Tom as we wandered further into the forest. Despite my earlier nerves I began to enjoy the fresh air and flowers especially some purple flowers.
Tom hadn't even noticed I'd wandered away from him too busy looking towards a pond though when he went to point out something to me he blinked after he finally realised I wasn't close by.

"Ashley? Where'd you go?" He called out, moving around in a circle until he finally spotted me standing near a bush containing some purple flowers with yellow spots. "Ashley, those are poisonous!" He yelled at me and I jumped, darting backwards so fast I tripped over my own shoes and Tom cracked up as I landed on my backside.

Picking myself up I cleaned the dirt smeared on my jeans, glaring at Tom as he chuckled at me. "Why didn't you tell me those flowers were dangerous?" I demanded to know and Tom snorted, shaking his head at me when I crossed my arms.

"Those are harmless but the look on your face," Tom answered and my eyes widened before I spun around, my shoulders hunched as I stomped away from him heading deeper into the forest. "Hey, I was just kidding around!" He called out, grimacing when I ignored him in favour of getting as far away as I could.

"This is my first trip to Perim and he thinks it's funny to scare me like that. Should have known not to trust someone I barely even know." I grumbled, pushing a branch out of my way before I stepped through moving quickly as soon as I heard Tom calling out to me. "I'll come back once he apologises to me," I muttered, ducking behind a tree when Tom grew closer walking right past my hiding spot.

As he walked straight past me I bit back a giggle moving in the opposite direction before Tom had a chance to turn around, keeping my eyes on the ground beneath me just in case I tripped on a vine. I made it back to the spot where we'd first arrived in the forest and with a smile I carefully sat, crossing my legs while I waited for Tom to catch up with me.

Tom eventually walked back in time to find me sitting on the forest floor, one eyebrow raised at him the second he wandered into view. "Next time don't wander off, Ashley," Tom said and I rolled my eyes pushing myself up before I crossed my arms a second time. "Perim's dangerous for a beginner."

"Maybe next time you shouldn't trick someone who asks for help," I replied and Tom sighed, shaking his head before he gave my left shoulder a light pat.

"Okay okay, fair's fair. Would you like to meet a few friends of mine?" Tom agreed and I nodded, curious as he flipped through his scanner until he came across one of his scans. "Do you have a scan called Kiru City?" He asked me, immediately knowing the answer when I tilted my head at him.

"I have a location card called Kiru City. Is that any help?" I offered and Tom nodded, giving me a quick explanation before he tapped one of the buttons on his scanner. When he vanished in a flash of light I blinked, quickly copying him and when I reappeared I found myself not far from Tom.

Seeing the whole building behind him my eyes widened, knowing our exact location but it was still surprising finding that Kiru City actually existed. "Yeah it takes a little getting used to but you'll understand it better once you meet Maxxor and Intress." Tom told me, jogging towards the city before the shock of seeing Kiru City there in front of me wore off.

"Hey wait for me!" I called out, racing after him after Tom made no effort at slowing down and waiting for me to catch up.

Passing through the gate I kept running catching up to Tom when he stopped at a gate where two guards blocked his path. "You could have slowed down a little, Tom," I grumbled, catching my breath and Tom just shrugged. "So how do we get in?"

"Easy just go through the front gate," Tom replied though when he tried to step forward both guards blocked his path and he frowned at them than me when I giggled.

"Or not. Guess we have to find another way to meet your friends, Tom." I said and Tom just rolled his eyes at me looking towards the gate when it started to open and I held up a hand when he opened his mouth. "Okay, I was wrong about getting inside there."

Stepping back I watched on as the gate fully opened and the guards stepped back themselves, allowing two OverWorlders I knew very well to pass through the gate. "Is that Maxxor and Intress?" I whispered to Tom, who just nodded at me.

"Tom, what are you doing here in Kiru City?" Maxxor asked and I swallowed, unable to form words as my favourite OverWorlder, Intress stood over me looking at me curiously.

"I just thought I'd bring my new friend Ashley to meet you. Ashley, meet Maxxor and Intress." Tom said and I blinked, still not sure what to say until Tom cleared his throat and I finally shook myself.

"Sorry, just a little overwhelmed. I'm Ashley and it's great to meet you both." I managed to answer and Tom snorted, finding the wide-eyed stare I was giving his friends funny for some strange reason. "Especially you, Intress. Huge fan by the way."

Intress just gave me a nod, puzzled when I narrowed my eyes at Tom who had a smile on his face right now even when I lightly punched his shoulder for making fun of me.