[img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/873323135649320971/1003400578132623420/huiyin_banner.png[/img][indent][indent][right][h3]t h e 
 f o r e s t[/h3][/right][/indent][/indent][hr][indent][indent][indent][indent][color=silver]	Without wavering, Yan Huiyin replied to Na Jiayi immediately, [color=white]"Mmhm."[/color]

	If not weak, then definitely a bit dumb, at least for wanting to take this challenge on so young. To prove her point, she plucked the bag from Na Jiayi's shoulder in a quick swipe. For a second, she considered it in her grasp. What all was there to bring on a camping trip? Surely nothing more than a blanket, right? Having came from an affluent family & having never slept in the outdoors, if Yan Huiyin had set off toward the forest by her own plan, there was no doubt that she would've brought much more than herself & a snack. 

	The younger girl let out another whine, reaching for her stolen bag. Like a playground bully, Yan Huiyin rose her brows & dangled it above her. In doing this, she added: [color=white]"It's as Shixiong said: none of us are strong yet."[/color]

	She didn't wait for a reply & slung the bag across her furred collar. Turning on her heels, she walked in Feng Tai's direction. Just barely turning her chin back, Yan Huiyin called, [color=white]"Coming?"[/color]

	Na Jiayi bit her lip, but couldn't find the strength to retort. That was her stuff! First her plums, now her bag. To Feng Tai, she now found him easy to play with, like one of her brothers, but Yan Huiyin was... distant & she'd never had a sister. Not someone she wanted to mess with. Shijie could have the bag if she wanted, so the smaller girl called after her, "Y-yes!"

	With a nod, Yan Huiyin cupped a hand around her mouth to call after the boy ahead: [color=white]"Shixiong, take care of us!"[/color] 

[hr]
	Though she'd skipped her lessons — or they were cancelled after that day's address; either way she hadn't been there to find out — that afternoon, she could already feel the fatigue that came from a long day coming on. The urge to yawn was overwhelming her &, every so often, she'd succumb, muffling the sound into her collar. Were did the energy of these two come from? Had that Feng Tai napped? Knowing this girl, she likely did. Curiously, she squinted at the back of their forms.

	She was the tagalong here, without a doubt. Still, she supposed it couldn't be helped. Yan Huiyin didn't feel any sort of kinship towards the girl, but she hardly expected the two before her to have exchanged many words prior to today. Were they all something of strangers? Their peak was only so big, so of course they'd all met before, but... effectively, she supposed they were. Right now, though a bit awkwardly, Na Jiayi was idly chatting to herself as kids often did, turning to gauge Feng Tai's reaction every so often. 

	Yan Huiyin bit her thumb's nail, as she darted her eyes between Feng Tai's retreating form & the girl beside her. No doubt could Feng Tai handle himself, but did he know how to use that brutish strength to protect others? Initially, she couldn't identify her reasoning for tagging along, but she supposed this was it. Tagging along tonight was infinitely better than to hear her name come up at the end of the next week in the address of deaths within the peaks. The mere thought made her feel heavier, her shoulders drooping a bit.

	Not wanting to further depress herself, she skipped up to squeeze herself between the pair. A bit uncharacteristic of her usual composed self, but she was tired, alright? She rested her arm on Na Jiayi's shoulder & gestured ahead with her chin.

	Still one of few words, her clarification came only as a single word: [color=white]"The forest."[/color] For how vast it was, the forest could always have been seen from their walk down towards it, but only now did its trees begin to enwrap their path. They stood a little ways away from its entrance. marked by an archway overtaken by greenery: The Spiritual Beast Forest. At the top were the three characters engraved into a bronze nameplate, framed perfectly by twisting branches & vines.

	[color=white]"Alright,"[/color] She started, turning to Feng Tai, [color=white]"What's the game plan?"[/color][/color][hr][hr][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent]