Through mushroom forest

An unpleasant start.

The forest floor was thick with underbrush, the trees tall and the further you went the harder it was to see into the collection of trees and plants. Almost everywhere you looked you could see a brightly colored mushroom. The place was beautiful, yet the only way through the forest was a thin dirt path. Night had fallen in the forest, and the only light was the gas lamps along with it. A small cart rattled around on its course, sending its passengers forward every time a rock big enough came under its wooden wheels. The cart was filled with small leather-wrapped cases. And in the corners sat small piles of goods covered in worn-down blankets. Two women sat facing each other in the back.

"Rei, wake up." She slowly opened her eyes and watched as tsuyo sat back. Seeing that Rei was awake. "What?" "He's about to tell a story, so get up." The two had only met a few hours or so earlier, and now Both girl's eyes were searching deep into each other. "Well, what are you staring at me for?" "...apologies." They both turned to the old man steering the cart. "You two kids ready? Rei rolled her eyes and waited. The old man soon began his story when tsuyo nodded.

"Before the city of steel was made, There was a small group of people settled here. They made towers to view the night stars and existed peacefully here with the creatures of the forest. But they say that as soon as the last brick of the city wall was placed, something changed the forest inhabitants. They became increasingly more hostile towards people. Until one day a small group of travelers was attacked by the creatures. This forest is magical you know?"

"Heh, Magical?" tsuyo scoffed. He continued, "Really, I've heard crystals were growing in caves here larger than these trees!" raising his arm pointing at the redwoods currently looming over the trio. He let out a small chuckle. This forest was the only existing path to the city, and it was surely older than all of their ages combined.

All of a sudden There was a small rustling noise. It had only the two girls now how quiet this trip was, the only sounds were them talking. Otherwise, it was deadly quiet. The two women turned their heads in its direction. "Huh?" The old man didn't seem to notice and just continued to steer the cart. His ears must be shot, he does seem old enough to be a great grandfather anyway. But the rustling was getting louder and louder. The cart was abruptly launched forward, Rei's head smacking into a corner. What in the world was that? "Oi. Old man?" Saying nothing, He began fidgeting around with the cart reins in his ragged hands. But from behind tsuyo, came the sound of a loud twig snap. She stood up and jumped out in a smooth movement, black coat tail whipping behind her. It looked like she glided over the cart lip.

It's too cold to be doing this right now

Rei thought, but picking herself up, she began to look around from the cart.

Wait, I feel something? My ankle.

Looking down at her feet she saw a small hand-like shape wrapped around her ankle. The touch was cold like ice, but it was as if someone had dumped her lower half in water, for she was now cold and face first in the dirt. Letting out a small yelp, It felt like a foot was pressing deep in between her shoulder blades, pressing her chest harder into the ground. Tsuyo on the other side of the cart, whipped around, hearing the sound of Rei fall. Seeing something on top of Rei, she had a realization.

We're being attacked?!

She started to run towards Rei but was tripped. Heading face first towards the ground, making a horrifying noise as a rock-cut her forehead. Knocking her out.

Rei's arms flailed around her, trying to get any sort of traction on the forest floor to pull herself up. She finally found the root of a tree to her left. And used it to push herself as she rolled over. Squishing whatever was on her backside. She quickly sat up, looking at the terrible scene in front of her. Tsuyo, face first on the ground with thick red liquid seeping from her face. And encircling the both of them, mushroom-like creatures with crooked white smiles plastered onto their faces. The other mushrooms had now taken notice to rei. She attempted to get up. She was stopped quickly as the creatures that were once on top of tsuyo were now on top of her. Attacking her with their odd strength and using their bodies as an extra force. Trying to push them off of her, she got increasingly tired, and her vision was blurry. The only thing she could see now was the creatures and a small blur of Tatsuya's dark green hair. She reached a hand out towards her as a final effort before finally passing out.

Sun had risen in the forest, and although traces of the events of the night before remained, the forest remained incredibly peaceful. The forest floor was still dark, but the light was slowly gifted to the forest through sunrise. and small rays of amber glow struck through the tree canopy. It was relatively quiet here, the only sounds now were the wind brushing through the leaves and bushes around them. And there was also the occasional chirping of a warbler.

Huh...?

Tsuyo awoke feeling nothing but confused, the side of her face coated lightly in fresh soil. She tried wiping it off but as soon as she touched her face she felt intense pain. Not knowing what had happened to her face, she tried remembering the night before.

There were these mushrooms-? I was going after Rei... I don't remember, I think I tri- Oh.

She looked down at the small dried puddle of crimson liquid below her.

I must have tripped and fallen onto my face. How dumb honestly. But, where is rei?!

Tsuyo began to whip her head around, quickly getting up to try and find Rei. She spotted a lock of her silver-white hair and ran towards its spot. She found rei curled up on a pile of moss with a few bruises over her arms. Kneeling next to her she began to shake rei.

Wake up wake up wake up

Rei awoke just as confused as tsuyo when she had awoken earlier. "Rei? You good?" "mhm, how about you?" Rei asked with a smile. "I guess I'm ok, just the face cut that's all" Tsuyo got up quickly and reached out a hand for rei to grab. She took her hand and lept up off the ground. "Thanks"

Well now what.

Rei was deep in thought, In her mind, they are now both already dead. Whatever those creatures are, they're probably coming back sooner or later. And they are by no means strong enough to fight something like that.

Without saying anything more, they walked back to the path. They hadn't gone far. They were only about a minute's walk away from where they started. Stepping out of the undergrowth, they came upon the cart. The wood was broken and splintered, the goods stored in it spilled all over the ground. But most noticeably yet, the old man was gone. "What..the hell?" Both women were horrified. "So now, we have to walk god knows how long before those things come back." "you aren't a very optimistic person are you, Rei." tsuyo remarked, and with that, Rei didn't say anything else. "Well if you truly believe those things are coming back then we should prepare should"t we." Tsuyo stated, "and besides you need a change of clothes." "Well so do you, you look like bloody mary herself." Both of them laughed and started rummaging through the bags they packed for anything useful.

After searching every bag, both women had found an outfit of sorts that they liked. Tsuyo was sporting a tank top, collared pinstripe jacket, and brown-grey trousers. Rei was wearing a navy blue T-shirt with baggy Dark green pants and black combat boots. Tsuyo had just noticed that the white fingerless gloves that Rei had on before were now gone. Revealing an assortment of tattoos on Her arm. One that stood out was a tattoo that seemed to be her initials in bold: R.Z. It simply was like she was beautiful in whatever she wore. Her messy hair was resting on her shoulders and she was staring straight back at Tsuyo. "Eh, you look nice," Rei said, feeling slightly uncomfortable. "Thanks, you too."

"Well, we obviously need to arm ourselves, I'm not very good with hand-to-hand combat." "well, we could make spears? It shouldn't be hard. We'll use the mop sticks as our shafts?" the two went on for a bit on how they could construct the perfect spear, finding an old book and quill in the cart to draw out a sort of blueprint. Rei rummaged through the cases to find some sort of cord or twine. She ended up pulling the shoelaces out of her old shoes. Tsuyo came back with flattened sharp river rocks. Using the twine, they tied the broomstick to the rocks. "Finished" Tsuyo yelled over her shoulder, throwing a spear behind her back to Rei. "alright, let's go."