Dillyweed | Söl

After their, to put it lightly, failure of an exploration they all decided to head back for a rest. Söl was eager to get back to camp to make sure that the beetle, the Coleoptera Auruvm, he had found was all safe and sound. And he was eager to study it. Make sure that it has everything it needs. He was also eager to check all the other bugs. He had a couple of lying bugs he was hoping we're still fine. They had flown straight into his face and he had let them hang around until he could get them into a safe enclosure. He felt like the fact that they were hanging around so long was a sign that they didn’t mind hanging around in an enclosure for a while. A big jump for sure but he was gleeful when he thought about the fact that he had them. So close by.

The group was all a bit dizzy from the previous trap. It was a good trap. They had not seen it coming before it was too late and when it was too late there was no stopping the trap from happening. It felt like a miracle that none of them were hurt enough to need to be carried out, or even worse. He sighed in relief to himself. Not loud enough for anyone else to hear him. He was in the end happy that the adventure wasn’t quite over yet. After a bit of rest he was sure they all could run out and explore again. Hopefully with better results this time. Even if he was pretty happy with his find. Though he hadn’t dared to check on it yet after the spinning room. Hopefully it was completely fine as well.

They slowly made their way towards camp. The turns weren’t anything specific but they still had to make sure that they took the correct turns. Everything looked weird when they walked the same way backwards. It tricked their minds. The way it looked so different yet they had walked it before. It played around with the part of the brain that recognised the pattern. They took their time, the three Coursers. Getting lost when they were slightly hurt could easily lead to more damage and pain. 

As they turned the last couple of turns the entire party seemed relieved. They all knew their camp, while quite small, was set up in the next cavern. But before they even turned the last corner they could hear the sound of stuff getting thrown around. There was stuff banging against the walls of the cave and the sound easily echoed around. Söl pinned his ears backwards. This had happened to him before and unlike the entire trip he was suddenly at the front of the lead because he knew when they turned around the corner they would meet other Coursers and those Coursers would be busy going through all of their things. He hoped it wouldn’t be the same Coursers but in his gut he felt like he recognized the voices that echoed in the cave.

“Well. Well. Well.” The voice was loud and taunting when he turned around the corner and got in full view of the other Coursers. He recognised them. Their voices.
“Look! I told you! It's Insect boy! The little weirdo. Are you back crawling with your little insects again?” The two Coursers laughed at him when they spoke.
“Funny, I remember how you ran away last time.” Söl grabbed the knife that hung on his upper front leg. It seemed to put a bit of fright on the other two Coursers faces. The vampire bat Bart crawled up at the top of Söl’s head and hissed angrily.
Söl waited for the others. Attacking two Coursers, even if he had a knife and they didn’t, alone was stupid. At least for Söl. He wasn’t that good of a fighter. But this time he wouldn’t let them taunt and threaten him with the lives of his bugs. This time he knew they needed to fight them off to get them away or else they would wreak havoc on their things until there was nothing left to destroy. He just hoped that all the others would realize this as well. 

714 words

Ari | Jack / Cirrus

After a long time of coming back from the dizzy room and the dungeon, they found their way to their camp. But, of course, their trip cannot be eventless. They cannot take a breather. Jack’s ears perked up, when he heard new voices. With his good nature in heart, he thought that some adventurers got lost and just needed help. But the moment Söl stepped in as the leader, Jack knew something was wrong. Cirrus felt it too, as she hid behind other Coursers, shaking a bit. Jack corrected his stance, looking at the intruders. He was strong, he hoped. He was a workhorse! He was carrying supplies to Deerling, which required strength. He could beat some guys, right? 

The words of the Coursers pierced Jack’s heart, as he was looking at Söl with a bit of pity in his eyes. He knew someone making fun of chosen hobby could hurt real bad. He huffed, a little bit of mist flying from his nostrils. 

“Y’all real pathetic, nothin’ else to do than makin’ fun of others?” he said, narrowing his eyebrows and looking up and down at intruders. He was ready for attack, whenever Söl was ready.

When it comes to Cirrus… She could be an emotional support. She could add some bruises to the intruders and stuff, but truly, she wasn’t much of a fighter! Just hoping Jack, Söl and Simon can beat them up no problem.

238 words

AberrantKapro | Simon

Simon was no stranger to altercations, he had been in many fights before, though nothing too serious. This time, it looked like it could be rough, he wasn't a fan of it, but it was what it was. 

It seemed like these ruffians had encountered Söl specifically before, and the cream Courser was not sure whether it was for better or for worse. From his understanding, that encounter had been just as awful as this one played out to be. 

Simon noticed that Cirrus didn't seem too confident or willing to fight, though Söl seemed oddly vindictive and Jack was quick to back him up. Simon nodded to Cirrus, as if telling her it was okay that she stood back, and took a defensive position with the other two himself. 

Söl drew his blade. Simon had no such luxury as a weapon to his name just yet, but Jimmil sat on top of his head and hissed, as if to cheer the group on. 

“You will regret setting a hoof in our camp!” Simon almost growled and lunged forward to initiate the fight. It was not going to be pretty, he already knew that. He was ready to lose, but not without putting up a worthy fight for his team. 

Simon managed to land a good first blow to one intruder's head, causing the stranger to lose balance briefly and stumble backwards a bit, but it didn't take long until he recovered enough to lunge back at Simon, who avoided ro get cut by a hair. When did they draw a knife!? He was not sure, but his heart beat fast, this was serious, and they could end up really hurt if things went south.

Simon wanted to look around and make sure the others were okay, but he couldn't leave his opponent out of sight, not now, not when a weapon was drawn. He could not afford to lose focus. 

321 words