Private Eastern Brisshal Exploring the Unknown (?) Forest Depths!

[Chako]

Chako came to Arcia with a goal in mind today... Today, she wanted to go a bit further than just the direct surroundings of Honeyhome!

It was inevitable... Eventually she would run out of places to explore near the small village. Sooner or later she would have no choice but to go further ahead!

... Which well, she had done before when getting lost, but this was the first time it was going to actually be a conscious decision.

So... There was Chako. Right at the border between the village and the surrounding forest. Staring at the trees in front of her.

... She was trembling.

Come on, Chako. You have done this a million times. Just step out and explore. You can do it!

... But it was scary. Like... In previous explorations she at least knew she was close to the village if she found something scary there... Like wolves!

And just thinking that far already sent shivers down Chako's spine.

Come on... You've learned how to echolocate just to avoid that... You can do it... Just step ahead and start moving!

... Chako was not moving.

@Harper

 

[Harper]

Another free day back in the real world, another free day that the Atlanta-resident decided to spent inside the illegal game. She had done most of her chores for the day, and had already knocked her daily run and exercises, so at least in her mind this was certainly a better use of her time than studying topics she already felt good on or lazying away in bed.

A part of her mind questioned if she was still treating this whole situation too lightly, even after all this time. This was a game that could lead to her death, after all. And while she had not felt the cold embrace of death just yet, she's had close calls. Worst of all, she knew she was getting attached to this game and the people she's met here, much as her common sense urged her to not do it.

As when her lives ran out, it would only make it harder to stay away.

Still, as any good young adult who's way too high on life, she decided to just put that off for now. Future Nicole problems, she thought! And thus she found herself once more on Honeyhome, planning out what her daily routine would be. Step one was asking around the town for any unpleasant people or creatures that needed a good walloping. Then, she could go to her usual training spot to figure out what to try this time.

Last time she climbed 50 trees using only one of her hands. Maybe this time she can try breaking down a large boulder with only her fingers? Perhaps try to cover 50 meters in a single leap and still land safely? Her mind raced with ways to push her own body to its limits, but her line of thought cut itself short at a rather peculiar sight by the ends of town.

A small felis, seemingly frozen in place as she stared at the entrance of the forest. Maybe she needed help with something?

"Something the matter, kiddo? Mom ain't back from the forest or something? Maybe your favorite teddy bear went missing? Tell your pal Harper here and she'll help you out!"

Harper said as she approached Chako, a warm smile on her face. For the budding starcalled, Harper's looks might certainly be on the unique side: Felis usually didn't get that fluffy. Once that was out of the way, something that also stood out was her physique. Harper might not be that much taller than Chako, but her frame was certainly a good bit larger.

"Wait... You don't look so unfamilliar to me. Hmm..."

"Aha! You that maid from the baby party! Didn't know you were from around these parts. Oh god, don't tell me it was Emmie that went missing?!"

@Chako

 

[Chako]

"Nyaaaaaaa!?" Chako shouted jumped away as soon as she was suddenly called out. She was too focused on her own thoughts to even realize that someone was approaching her.

... Following that, she also massaged her ears, because they started hurting from her own shouting... I really should be more careful with that.

Then, she looked at the Felis speaking to her... She wasn't sure if she recognized her body, but she definitely recognized the voice. Who was it again...? Oh, Harper! Right! That was the name! Harper's outfit today was quite different from the one she wore when they were together with Emmie, so it was hard to recognize her... At times like these, Chako could really appreciate her extra sensitive ears not forgetting voices easily... Even if those same ears were still in pain right now.

"H-hi, Harper..." Chako spoke after Harper finished her question barrage, "My mom isn't here, and I don't own any teddy bears either.

"Emmie hasn't gone missing as far as I know, though I haven't really worked there with miss Clarissa in a while." It was probably not Chako's best idea to openly badmouth her employer, but... Well, it was not her fault that miss Clarissa was a bad babysitter!

"I was just..." Chako fidgeted. It was embarrassing to admit it, but... At the same time, it was easier to admit it to an almost complete stranger, "I'm kinda scared... I wanted to try exploring a bit further from Honeyhome than usual, but... Well, I can't help it! What's scary is scary! I wanted to see some pretty sights, but I don't wanna get too far from the village because I don't know if I'm gonna be able to safely get back!" She blurted out in one breath.

"... Just imagining what would happen if I found some wolves" her whole body trembled as she said the word, "while being too far from the village to run back here made me freeze in place... So... I was trying to get the courage to move, I guess..." Chako averted her eyes after saying this much... It really was embarrassing after all. Such an explorer she was...

@Harper

 

[Harper]

Well, she certainly was louder than she was tall…

Harper's ears flopped in reaction to Chako's sudden yell, but she still tried to keep a welcoming expression nonetheless. Maybe a tap on the shoulder might've been a better way to catch her attention without startling the girl so much, but retrospect is fifty-fifty anyhow.

What was more important is that, through meeting the felis, she was able to get an update on Emmie's condition. Upon hearing the news, Harper let out a visible sigh of relief, resting her own head on one of her hands as she shook it gently.

"I'm glad... Those two are as dysfunctional disasters as parents get, so I couldn't help but worry."

Harper's routine in Terrasphere left her quite unable to go about visiting the infant, so it was nice to get some form of confirmation that she was doing alright, even Chako couldn't confirm it 100%. This also meant that her conscience was clear to help her fellow Felis with whatever was keeping her frozen in place all this time.

And upon hearing it... Harper closed her eyes as she nodded in understanding of her plight. Though always a reckless firecracker even when she was brand-new to this game, the tigress could at least sympathize with her worries about her own mortality. And it was nice to meet a adventurer with their heads screwed on tight now and again.

So with a hearty laugh, the tigress gave a "comforting" slap on the back... That is, if Chako found being almost flung out of her feet comforting.

Harper meant well, really. But it was hard to keep that power in check, and it sometimes felt like the world was just one big antique shop.

"It's okay to be scared of getting hurt, you know? Means you haven't lose your mind just yet, unlike some folks I've met. And I definitely don't believe in that "sight to die for" crap! What good is a memory if you die for it?!"

If Chako had lost her feeting from earlier, she would help her up by her side before pointing towards the forest.

"But like... No way you can swim without getting your feet wet first, you feel me? You are going to have to go, look in the eyes at whatever the world tried to throw at you, and beat them up! There's no beaten path, ya gotta earn it!"

Continuing her encouragement, she stood upright and proud, beating her own chest with a closed fist as she smiled.

"But I'm not a believer in the "Throw Little Jimmy in the middle of the lake so he learns to swim" method, mind you. You want a rock, a anchor to give you courage? Let me be it! I won't move your arms and legs for you, but I'll be there to not let you drown!"

After that little bolsterous display, she took a small breather before extending a closed fist towards Chako, inviting her for a fist bump.

"I can't force you into this, Chako. But if you really want it, I'll be there for you. And besides, this world's meanest wolf walks on two feet and I'm her pal! So long as I don't break too many trees while in there, she shouldn't scream at us. Compared to her, anything those woods can throw at me are puppies, HAHA!"

@Chako

 

[Chako]

"Right!? I'm kinda worried for little Emmie too... I hope miss Clarissa didn't put her unattended in a high place again..." Chako muttered. She kinda wanted to be there for Emmie more often, but at the same time she was kinda glad that miss Clarissa hadn't called on her again... It would be hard for her to enjoy all that Arcia had to offer if she was tied up to little Emmie.

Then, after she finished explaining the situation, Chako saw Harper close her eyes as she seemed to think about it... Until suddenly, as Harper started laughing, a strong slap on her back flung Chako forward, "Nyaa!?" and made her fall face-first on the ground, "W-what was that for!?" She asked while sitting up... At least she could still remember how to move her legs properly this time, so it wasn't hard to sit up... Progress is progress, I suppose.

Then, Harper started talking... Was that meant to be a friendly slap on the back or something? Chako concluded as she saw that Harper was showing no hostility at all... Chako could hardly believe it, but that seemed to be the case... So, she just sighed, left it at that, and took Harper's helping hand to get up, "Yeah... No point in dying for anything. I don't want to make mom see my own funeral." Even if the idea of living permanently in Arcia was actually pretty appealing, but Chako chose to not voice those thoughts.

Chako wondered if the 'folks who had lost their mind' that Harper mentioned were people that reached the same conclusion as Chako that Arcia was a better place to live in than Earth, but she decided to not ask.

Instead, she focused on what was said next, "I'm not exactly any good at beating anything up, but... I get the idea of needing to get your feet wet... I was just... Trying to get the courage for it?" It was harder than she wished it was.

"Oh..." She heard Harper's proposition... It was... Not exactly what Chako wanted. Chako wanted to be independent in Arcia, not to rely on others like she had to all the time on Earth... But right now, that was probably for the best. She couldn't have any real level of independence if she couldn't even muster the courage to go a bit farther from the village than her usual trips, "Well, if you're okay with me..." Chako went ahead and meekly accepted the fist bump.

She was about to say that she would be in Harper's care, but Harper's next words made Chako's whole body tremble, the fur in her tails go up, and her pupils dilate. Chako was suddenly seeing herself in that clearing again, with the wolves approaching, the jaws opening... Deep breaths, deep breaths, her breathing was ragged, she wanted to run...

However, the sensation of lingering touch on her fist managed to bring her back... Harper's smell that was a bit too close to her helped as well... Chako tried again... Deep breaths. One after the other... Slowly trying to calm herself down.

"L-let's not talk about that pal of yours again, please?" Chako really didn't want to have that mental image come back to her... She hoped that Harper would get what was it that triggered her though, because she certainly didn't want to explain it. Not when she was like this.

"W-what I meant to say was... If you're okay with me... I-I guess I'll be in your care...?" Chako meekly stated. It was a good thing that there was nothing inherently scary about Harper, so Chako could at least try to collect herself as she talked, even if her body still displayed open signs of fear...

@Harper