As Tsukiko watched the battle progress, she didn’t notice the ensnaring roots until it was too late, the magical entanglements racing up her long legs and squeezing her thighs, restraining her temporarily. Before she could tear the bindings off her legs with brute force, the priestess stopped, realizing that she was surrounded by large, humanoid beings. The jungle trolls, huh? Eyeing them warily, she wondered just how Ophene was unable to hear them coming at all, but kept her comments to herself.

From above, the leader of the trolls dispatched of the ‘sacred bird’ and reprimanded Tetras. Soon the bindings disappeared, merely suggesting that the party leave before any other, less friendly tribes found them.

Tsukino closed her eyes, before loosening her grip on the weapon at hand. The Pheran had decided that the giant bird was the only cause of the disappearances, while the dark-skinned girl was as indecisive as ever. It would be easy, really, to say that the giant bird did it, but the Priestess of War was sharper than that. There were too many questions. And the trolls were too valuable just to give up on for the time being.

[b]“Wait,” [/b]she called out, walking up towards the leader of the trolls, [b]“What’s this about other tribes? Have they been attacking caravans? And your sacred bird, is it something that is raised and trained by your kind? We’re here to investigate the disappearance of supplies travelling from Oar’s Rest to an outpost. If you have information, explain.”[/b]