The ride to get to the higher mountains known as The Winter was long, it would be about 5 days. Bonk began to eat a ration and Ulrich looked at him, causing him to stop eating.
"What?" He asked him.
"Do you eat chicken?" Ulrich said I'm genuine confusion. Everyone stopped what they were doing to listen to this.
"N-no." Bonk said continuing to eat his rations. Ulrich looked at him doubtedly
"If you say so." He said shrugging and laying down. Before the group could continue this bizarre adventure, they had to clean off since Klepto and Bonk were covered in sap. They found a small lake that cleared out into the ocean. Oh yeah boys get ready for the beach episode.
They stopped the cart and Klepto walked into he water and descended until only his nose and eyes were above water. Bonk jumped out of the cart and did a cannon ball off a small rock. He swam to the middle of the lake and started splashing around and laughing. Kelpto looked at him in disgust. He got out soon after as he was still upset from the sap incident. Bonk continued swimming until a large rock hit him on the head causing him to go underwater. He came up and saw Ulrich and Zanithar laughing as Ulrich threw the rock at him. Bonk saw Ulrich try to pick up another one so he dove down and waited. Him having small lungs came up after only 13 seconds and Bonk. He goes under again. He decides to swim underwater back to shore. He got out and looked at the two wheezing idiots. An almost silent laugh echoed throughout the camp, yet no one heard. They sat there for a while just sitting at the edge of the water. Ulrich suddenly. Sat up and looked at Bonk who was eating a ration.
"How is it, bud?"
"Good."
"Y'know what's in that right?"
"No." Ulrich scooted closer to the bird.
"Chicken." He whispered before howling in laughter. Bonk threw the ration and started spitting out what was in hit mouth. He ran to the cart and started crying. He overheard the conver outside.
"I have to go. I need to complete my quest in Shanty Side. I hope our paths cross once more."
"As do I." Klepto and Zanithar came back to the cart and began to go on the direction of The Thicket. There was silence the whole way there. Aside from the ceiling creaking every so often. They reached the village from before.
"We need to go to the blacksmith again." Klepto said.
"That's fine." Zanithar said petting his mold, which was now taller than Bonk. Klepto got out of the cart and walked into the blacksmith. He came back out almost immediately. He got back in and began to explain everything to Zanithar.
"We have about an hour before the sun sets and we need to go half a kilometer into The Thicket."
"For what?"
"The screaming wood." He started the cart and had the horses run into the darkness. Unfortunately they could only get half way there. Everyone leapt out of the cart and hauled ass the rest of the way, Bonk on Zanithar's shoulders. They ran for what felt like hours before stopping and resting up a bit. Bonk decided to go exploring and noticed the face on one of the trees. Out of curiosity he swung his great axe at it. Upon hit a scream echoed from the tree. Upon each hit the pitch of the scream got higher until the group could no longer hear it. Except Klepto. He could hear it. By the time they gathered enough wood for the arrows, it was completely dark. Zanithar was in charge of holding the wood as he was the largest of them all. They slowly began walking back to the cart when earth shattering thuds approached them. Klepto turned around and froze. He began fumbling with a lantern, trying to light it on fire. The party looked at him, confused. He finally lit the lantern and threw it into the darkness. They watched the lantern fly and illuminate the face of The Green Dragon. The group recoiled. The dragon spoke to them in draconic. Fortunately, Zanithar knew dragonic. They had an unintelligible conversation that ended with Zanithar drawing his gun and shooting her directly in the right nostril. She drew back and roared in pain.
"Run!" Zanithar yelled grabbing Bonk and hauling ass to the cart with Klepto in front. The Green Dragon yelled profanities and swore to killed them all as they ran. When they got to the cart, the horses were spooked and started running. Zanithar threw Bonk through a window and leapt in after Klepto. Safely, the group made their escape. They stopped at the tavern in town for the night. Kelpto couldn't sleep though and tossed around from his encounter with the dragon.
