The Kim [Addams] Family

FOUR.

Jennie inhales, taking in the murky, sewer scent of the pond along with the smell of rotting leaves.

"Ah, fresh air."

Jennie strolls along the edge of the water, an indescribable opaque brown colour. The pond was bordered with thick, grey stone bricks. In the center was an old fountain, dirty and grey, with the head of a screaming lady at the top, where water should be spurting out of her screaming mouth. However, the fountain has been out of commission for years now, but Jennie thinks it can be truly appreciated this way. The terror in the woman's eyes is more noticeable.

The pond was installed a few generations ago, in the forest just beyond the graveyard. Centuries old trees surround the pond, fencing it in, hidden from the world. The trees extend high into the sky, fragmenting the view of the blue expanse. The leaves create a thick green canopy, shading Jennie from too much harsh sunlight. The trunks underneath look like bare pillars supporting the ceiling from collapsing.

Jennie had decided to come for a stroll to distract herself until her Lisa comes back. She might as well make good use of her time in the forest and forage since she wouldn't mind some more mushrooms. It would be nice for dinner as well.

She leaves the clearing, made for the pond, and enters the surrounding forest with her parasol in one hand and a wicker basket in the other. Her thick boots are softened by the layer of fallen leaves and soft ground.

"What do you think, November? Think we'll find some nice mushrooms today?" She says outloud, voice lost in the wild expanse of the forest.

She feels her moving along her web that was currently wrapped around her ear, mixing in with her earrings.

"I hope we could at least find some Chanterelle, that would be a treat."

Patches of sunlight stream through the foliage, bathing the forest with a golden glow. Jennie shades herself with her parasol, the black contrasting greatly with the bright greens and yellows of the forest.

Jennie loses herself to the outdoors. Her shoulders soften, sturdy feet walking over the terrain, leading her to wherever they choose. She brushes past branches and leaves, eyes trailing on the forest floor for a potential mushroom. Her thoughts settle, they're no longer flying through her mind, hundreds of thoughts and emotions clashing together in a giant whirlwind. The heavy fog that usually clouds her mind dissipates, allowing Jennie to solely concentrate on the moment.

Here, everything seems to stop. The movement of the sun is hard to tell above the canopy, sunlight constantly streams through the leaves. Jennie doesn't know if it's been only a few minutes or a few hours. She's managed to find a few mushrooms, her basket half filled. She was currently circling a few fallen logs. She had a feeling there was some here, she just had to find it.

She crouched down, parasol falling to the side, as she used both hands to sweep around some leaves.

"Hm, I'm sure there's some in here. It's a perfect spot for some mushrooms to grow..." Jennie mumbles to herself.

She feels November stir on her ear. She had gone quiet for a bit while she was walking, probably napping or something.

"Hey November, do you see anyㅡ"

Jennie stills as she feels November tense and recoils. November acting like this could only mean one thing; she was preparing to pounce on prey. If November was on her ear and prepared to attack it meant something was a threat to Jennie.