The forest was quiet. Animals went about their business, and two travelling merchants rode their horses and cart along the road. That is, until suddenly the ground started trembling. The merchants looked around them nervously, as if they had already expected something like this to happen. Though soon the trembling started causing cracks to form in the ground. And a moment later the small cracks connected and ripped open the earth. The crack was heading straight for the merchants, albeit at a slow pace. This finally scared the merchants enough to make them run. "Start running! Just go! They already said there's an angry spirit here and they weren't kidding!" One yelled, spurring his horse to start galloping. The other merchant soon followed suit, the two of them racing away as fast as they could. Once the merchants had left the area, the ground calmed down again. And the crack that had formed quickly closed as well. The culprit, however, was not a spirit. As hidden behind the trees and bushes stood a young man, grinning at his little accomplishment.

"Just another two days and we should be okay to move again." Ansel spoke to a second, smaller and even harder to see figure. "I just feel sorry for all those people, being scared away like that." Valier replied. "Anyway, let's get back to the cave. If the road stays this busy I'll need all the rest I can get." The man spoke with a sigh, turning around and heading back. 

The last two days had been pretty difficult for Ansel. He couldn't make a campfire. As people would see the smoke outside, or if he made one inside the cave he wouldn't be able to breathe after only a few minutes. So he had been eating berries and roots to at least keep his energy up a little. Valier was lucky in that regard, since he loved raw fish. Once they were in the cave again, the little cat couldn't help himself, and asked the same question he had asked since they had arrived there. "So...thought of where we're going next yet? We can't keep wandering aimlessly forever..." Ansel let out an annoyed groan, shaking his head. "I told you, once I have a place in mind I'll tell you! It's hard to find places where everyone isn't immediately suspicious when someone like me walks in you know!" "Then start bathing more often and wear shoes for once!" Valier retorted. "Oh shut up!" Ansel exclaimed with a slight grin. "Just keep a lookout like usual okay, Valier?" "Yea yea, just go to sleep already. Just don't 'accidentally' slap me again when I have to wake you up." The cat replied before moving to sit at the entrance a few feet away.