[TOT] Cali and Isa Explore the Forest (part 2)
“Oh, I thought maybe the woods would give me some cool ideas for my graphic novel! I’m not so good at coming up with settings. Or character designs. Or…. well, the point is I’m trying to learn!” Cali shook their head. “Why are you here? What are you digging for?”
A few "hmm"s of dubious interest were sprinkled in by Isa as Cali explained their intentions. At least she was paying attention? Yes, a writer type, not confident in their present setting at all. Isa could almost laugh at her initial reaction of thinking Cali might have been a threat. The larger stature, the fur coloration that made it seem like they were a native to the forest, and thus may have had an advantage over her... Yeah, no.
"I am searching for very specific ingredients," Isa tapped at the disappointingly empty satchel slung over her shoulder. "It has been a fruitless endeavor so far."
Cali frowned. “Ingredients? Like, for cooking? Or for… witch things?” Her eyes widened, half excited half fearful.
Isa laughed out loud, but didn't reply, muttering in amusement to herself, "'Witch things'..." Well, at least her face was more friendly looking now?
Cali sped up so they were matching Isa’s pace. Even if she was a witch, she didn’t seem like she meant any harm, and she could probably protect them from any spooky critters in the forest.
“I could help you look, if you’d like,” Cali offered in the most casual voice they could manage. As they slithered along, a gap in the trees opened up beside them and Cali pointed excitedly at what she could only think to describe as a huge mushroom. “Are giant mushrooms one of your ingredients?”
Isa remained quiet until the huge mushrooms came into sight, at which point her stalks flew up straight with excitement and she rushed over to touch the fungus, saying "Yes~" much more audibly, and also... Creepily. Yes to Cali helping you look? Yes to that being an ingredient? A very delayed yes to being a witch?
"Very good, Cali!" Isa reached over to smack them roughly, put good-heartedly on the shoulder (which wasn't very rough at all with Isa's noodle arms).
Cali peered at Isa pensively. Okay, so maybe she was a witch, but that was fine. “T-thanks!” Cali puffed out their chest and pinned their ears back sheepishly. Giant mushrooms could be a cool idea for her graphic novel….
"Come on, there should be more close by. As they get more clustered, we'll be one step closer!" Indeed, as the two continued on, there were more and more of the magnificent shrooms, so many that they began to form a path of sorts.
Gliding along beside Isa, Cali couldn’t believe how many of the huge mushrooms they encountered. It was almost as if they were leading the duo through the forest. They had to admit, they were intrigued. “Why are these here?” Cali wondered aloud. They didn’t really expect an answer, but something about Isa’s excitement made them think she might actually know.
A large rocky outcropping appeared from the shadows ahead of them, stopping Cali in their tracks. “Huh?” Squinting through the gloom, they realized the mushroom path was leading up to the outcropping and into a yawning black opening in the stone. “Is that a… cave?”
