—{Location}—
—{06:46AM}—
They arrived at the location where the lotus is supposed to be, a swamp-like area. The mist present blocked the sunlight and it was hard to see. Their boots sunk in the mud and were already dirty with the muddy water below them. Algae had covered most of the river, and made the rocks slippery.
Shirin's hand tightly held Riven's arm as they navigated behind Calira who constantly glanced at the surroundings. The cloth wrapped object now in her hand. And a long pole-like stick on the other hand, (she found it lying on the ground) that he inserted onto the ground before each step.
As they got to a river-like stream Calira stopped before it. She handed the pole to Shirin. "Hold it." Then, looping a strap from the weapon (object wrapped in the cloth) around her wrist, she flicked a switch. To which a blade came out from the other side. Shirin and Riven had their sword on their hip and Shirin had her dagger in the other hand.
Calira then gestures to Shirin to hand back the stick. Calira checks the depth of the water then shakes her head, "Too Deep. We take the other way around."
Calira turned to look at them, "Stay close." With that they continued in a different direction.
Shirin and Riven were staring at the object with its elongated blade. "Told you that's not a sniper." "yea yea, whatever."
Just then they heard a noise coming from the shallow water, their heads turning in a frenzy. Calira backed off and shifted between them and the source of the splash.
Calira: "Back off." As she motions them to. "I'm not in the mood for animal harvesting."
Just then the water started splashing, something was moving… and it was fast. Suddenly!
A loud splash and something emerged from the water and jumped towards them. Calira was quick in her actions, she tugged below, raising the weapon's blade in the direction and…
Slash
The monster was cut in half to the waist.
It fell on the mud splashing it on them. The flesh inside was coloured with red blood but it didn't bleed a heavy amount. It had an amphibian like body, and a colourful texture. Green body, purple spots, and light blue on the belly.
"What's that?" Shirin asked.
Calira turned to look at them with a scene of disbelief, "That's the Gloomspine lurker." She said with her jaw clenched. The two of them shared a surprise, "Oh…"
Calira got her eyes back at the creature and muttered, "Did I pronounce the name right…?" After asking herself she glanced back at Riven and Shirin they just nod.
They continue with their exploration of the swamp, with Calira shoving the stick on the mud to see the depth. "Be prepared for any more lurkers. And don't step on the algae."
Hearing that Riven unsheathed his sword and held a tight grip on it. As well as a grip on Shirin's arm.
The water had ripples again, but this time beside Riven and Shirin. Another jump, another slash from Calira.
"Be careful, they're also venomous." Calira warned. And continued her walk.
Shirin: Whisper to Riven, "Is she gonna carry us?"
Riven: Whispers back, "Seems like it."
Moments later the mist grew even more and it got harder and harder to see. And colder.
Shirin: Huffs out a smoke of warm breath. "It's getting colder."
"I know." Replied Calira without missing a beat as her eyes scan their surroundings. Shirin and Riven shared a glance but said nothing.
As time passed, they'd walked by the edge of the river avoiding stepping on algae and slipping off. But they didn't seem to find any way to cross to the other side. No shallower path.
Calira: Stopped before at a point and so did the two. She turned to look at the two "We'll have to cross it from here."
The two shared a gasped. And shared glances at each other.
Shirin: "Miss Rustwood, what if there's another way around?"
Calira: Didn't look at them, "Could be. But it's better to not waste any time."
Saying that Calira went first into the water followed by Riven saying, "Careful—" His eyes widened and he glanced at Shirin who side-eyed him.
Shirin: Without saying anything got into water after Calira, pulling Riven with her.
In the water, Shirin being the shortest had the water level up to her waist, followed by Riven with water just below the waist and Calira being the tallest didn't reach the waist…
Calira: Uses the pole to navigate through the shallow waters. "Be careful, alright. Look for any ripples around us."
Saying that she grabbed a hand behind her…
Riven.
Shirin gasped. Riven shivers.
Calira without glancing, "Careful."
Shirin took a step too fast to see Riven's reaction and was pleased to see it. Shocked. Mouth hanging. Wide eyes. Shivering. Shacking. And visible veins on his arms.
Shirin tried her best to hold a laugh or a giggle.
They navigate through the shallow water infested with algae. They safely got to the other side. As soon as they did Calira let go of his hand and Riven almost slipped on the algae rock taking Shirin with him in the water but Calira again caught him.
"Careful."
She said when their eyes met…
Riven was saved.
But then they hear a splash. Looking behind him, they saw Shirin half sitting in the water, wet, hair somewhat drenched, frowned, jaw clenched and glaring at Riven.
All three of them were wet by water… But mostly Shirin.
Looking at Shirin, fear appeared on the face of Riven, Calira sighed and with a careful descent extended her hand to Shirin. Shirin accepted it and Calira pulled her up.
Shirin sneezed, Calira looked at her wet form and took off her jacket. "Here. Wear it." Shirin accepted it with a quiet, "Thank you."
Calira: "What are you wearing inside the jacket?" (asking about Shirin's own jacket)
Shirin: "A shirt."
Calira: She tilted her head a bit, snapped her finger, "Is your shirt also wet?" To which Shirin shook her head. "Alright. Take the wet jacket off. You'll catch a cold."
After changing into Calira's jacket she side eyed Riven. He flinched. Inside the jacket Calira was wearing a Black T-Shirt. The half sleeve displayed her somewhat muscular arms, the two didn't pay attention to it as they were busy in their own silent scolding and getting scolding thing.
Calira continued ahead with the path. Shirin and Riven followed behind her. Shirin roughly, aggressively elbowed Riven.
Riven: Look at her, "What?"
Shirin didn't answer. And avoids his gaze… only to elbow him again and this time Riven said nothing about it… Just looked at his own wet pants.
It was just then Riven noticed Calira's arm. Even in the dim lit swamp her defined veins were somewhat visible. It didn't look like a tree root system but something that hinted at a strong grip.
Another elbow. His focus is disrupted.
They soon arrived at a pond… and saw tiny creatures. Their body is pink, slug-like, and looks too soft. Swimming at the edge of the pond. It wasn't easy to see anything due to the mist. The pond let out a thin layer of steam as it met the cool air.
Shirin: "What are they?" She asked. Riven tried to get a closer look and again only to get an elbow. Groans in pain.
Calira: "Babies of Gloomspine lurkers."
The two shared a surprised awe face…
Riven: "Looks disgusting."
Shirin: "Yea."
Calira: "... They are."
Then she spots the lotus ahead of them. On top of a lily pad, barely visible. "There." She muttered.
Shirin: "How do we get there?"
Calira: She scanned the surroundings, the mist didn't make it easy for her to see very much, "By the water."
Riven: "W–wait! Isn't that dangerous? Like, what if the parents are also here?"
Calira: Already stepping forward, "They probably are. Be prepared."
Holding onto her weapon tight she stepped into the water. "Be prepared on the edge. Do not step into the water." Dropped the pole near them.
A ripple near her, with fluid motion, takes out a revolver from her belt and shoots in the direction. Hearing the sudden gun shot Riven flinched, but Shirin was captivated at the moment.
Without a second to waste she bursts ahead after the gun shot, stepping on one of the babies and killing it at the moment she reached the lotus. She kneeled tried to lift it up but realised the roots went even deeper than the pad and into the mud. She starts digging the soft mud around it.
Just then, a few creatures start to surface at the edge of the pond, the Gloomspine Lurkers. Teens probably.
Riven: "Oh crap." He backed off.
Shirin: In a hurry she sheaths her dagger and pulls out her sword.
Their backs touched. There were only three, "Three." said Shirin.
Riven: Glanced at Calira's direction as she was digging up the mud with her fingers. "Shirin, I think she needs the dagger."
Shirin: "Wha—"
One of the GSL (Gloomspine lurkers) jumped at her, Riven stepped forward raising his sword, rotating his hip and swinging the sword. Slicing clean through the GSL whole body.
Riven's structure broke as he slipped and legs apart in the mud. The other two GSL saw the chance and jumped. Shirin stepped forward, swinging her sword while muttering something under her breath and a clean flow of water cut through the creatures.
After the GSL drop dead Shirin extended her hand to Riven. "Are you hurt?"
Riven: Takes her hand and gets up, "No, I'm fine. Thank you."
They turned to look at Calira's direction, she wasn't very visible but they knew she was still there just by the shadowy figure present.
Just then more ripples started in the pond. And something moved near the spot where Calira was. And Riven noticed it first "Miss Rustwood behind you!"
Shirin noticed it too and her eyes widened, but then more ripples started coming, "Riven!"
Shirin's girl tightened on her sword.
Calira glanced back.