Kat PoV
When I awoke the following morning, I quickly checked to see if the items I laid out and the arrows I carved were still present and unmoved.
ƥαṇdαηθνε| The items were, but the arrows were almost completely gone from the frost; it seemed that the chill last night added to the frost coating the roots, covering up what I carved.
That wasn't a good sign, since that meant I needed to make sure my items were in a spot that wouldn't be moved by my sleeping body, as well as under cover so that any winds or other factors wouldn't move them either.
Of course, I could always climb a tree and locate the sun, which would allow me to orient myself to the way I need to go, since I still remember where the sun was when I managed to activate the Soul Bond back then.
Problem with that was that I didn't know what lived up in the canopy of this frozen forest, and considering that alchemist told me one of the tribes that lived here were Harpy's, well...
That could very well be their domain.
So after getting up and preparing for the day ahead, I collected the items I used as a marker, popped a scent diffuser, and set out once more, beginning my journey at a steady, solid pace as I moved through the cluster of enormous trees.
Keeping my guard up as I ran, I made sure that my spells were running at constant effectiveness while keeping my speed manageable - yet quick - for the confines of the forest.
Time passed by slowly as I ran in a straight line, my breathing even in the frosted air, and I welcomed the bone chilling breeze as it kept my body cool.
The forest remained a silent place as I journeyed through it, only adding to my desire to remain on guard as I scanned the various roots and shrubbery for hidden enemies.
For a place inhabited by many nomadic tribes, there seems to be a severe lack of life past floral life inside this forest.
No fauna, no monsters, no people.
That was both a worrying fact and a relieving one, as the longer I could go not encountering anything inside this untouched forest, the less I had to deal with as I tried to escape it and reach the plains that awaited me north of here.
I managed to travel another day and a half like this, weaving through the undergrowth silently as the forest offered no resistance to my movements, but by the end of my third day traversing the root system, I felt a pair of eyes - or multiple - watching my movements closely.
Considering the forest was still silent around me, I couldn't tell what was watching me, and I decided to not take any risks.
Keeping my actions calm, I continued to run through the undergrowth, eventually slowing my pace so that I could reach for a dark vision potion and a stamina potion to use when it grew darker.
Gripping them in my palm, I sped up once more, wondering if I had been just unlucky enough to come across one of the tribes while I had been running or if they had somehow smelt me despite the scent diffuser pills, which would be really bad going forwards...
As the sun slowly fell, I grit my teeth as I uncorked the dark vision potion first, downing the concoction before uncorking the stamina potion and draining that next.
Placing them into a separate pouch, I grabbed another set and began to resume my prior speed, rushing through the darkened forest.
I could still feel eyes on me as I ran, and I felt a shiver go down my spine as I traversed the roots, not knowing who or what was following me.
Would they be the worst tribes that inhabited the forest?
Maybe some kind of monster that enjoys the thrill of the hunt?
Or would I luck out with one of the more neutral tribes, where I had the ability to negotiate peacefully and come to an understanding that didn't end with me dead.
Because, if they tried to sully me, I would take my own life...
After going through all the options available to me of course.
My feet silently glided over the compact snow floor, and I maintained my pace as I constantly checked the area ahead of me, all while my hearing was focused on behind me.
For a few more hours, that was how I traversed the forest, and I consumed three more dark visions - bringing me down to seven more - another two stamina potions, and two mana potions, all while something followed behind me.
My mind was slowly fraying once more, the constant stress of keeping my spells active as well as my senses strained wearing down at my mind, resulting in a dull aching that throbbed in the back of my skull.
Not knowing what was behind me only added to that stress, but I needed to persevere despite that.
My desire to reunite with my loved ones gave me strength here, but strength wasn't the only thing I would need.
Well into the fourth day inside the forest, I eventually felt my body falter slightly, my mana no longer circulating in the most ideal of ways, which lowered my speed slightly and resulted in a few of my steps leaving behind footprints.
Gritting my teeth, I decided that I needed to make a choice; continue forwards until I collapse, likely nowhere near the end of the forest, or stop and recuperate, all while I prepare for a fight.
Taking a few deep breaths, I sighed as I gradually slowed my pace, finding a root to rest on as I carved the arrow towards the direction I needed to go.
Keeping my eyes open, I focused on my surroundings as I breathed in the mana filled air, refilling my Core with what felt like premium mana.
Minutes passed, and I felt my muscles burning from the shift from constant movement to rest, and I allowed my Water Mana to pulse through my body, knitting the torn muscle back together.
With my dagger resting on my knee, I gnawed on some jerky as I waited, wondering if my watcher would show themselves.
Tapping a finger on the metal blade, I slowly rested myself back to my peak physically, but my mind remained aching.
Getting up, I was about to resume my journey when someone stepped out from behind one of the trees, a small smirk on their lips as they looked at me.
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