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[color=DCD1FD]【Ｔｉｍｅ】[/color] Morning
[color=DCD1FD]【Ｌｏｃａｔｉｏｎ】[/color] Southwest of Roshmi City
[color=DCD1FD]【Ｉｎｔｅｒａｃｔｉｏｎｓ】[/color] Mister Luum [@FunnyGuy], Bardulf [@Lava Alckon], Rue [@Potter], Bowyn [@Helo], Brigitte [@Tae]
[color=DCD1FD]【Ｅｑｕｉｐｍｅｎｔ】[/color] Travel bag with essentials (money, rations, fist aid, etc), twin daggers.

[hr]
[color=DCD1FD]“Ouch!”[/color]

Zeva flinched as her fingers pricked the pointy end of a branch from an alaberry bush, drawing a bead of blood at the site. She instinctively brought her hand to her lips as she gave the bush a little kick in frustration, almost spilling the already collected berries in her other hand. Nearby was Zeva’s makeshift campsite she had set up last night, with a thin trail of smoke lifting towards the rosy skies as the last embers of her fire died out. The alaberry bush was a lucky find, as Zeva was growing increasingly tired of the few remaining rations she brought with her on her journey to Roshmi City.

Happily munching on her hard-fought spoils, Zeva crossed her legs and sat down by the ash pile that had by now fizzled out. She had been traveling through the Avalian wilderness for about a week now, with the goal of buying high-quality daggers in Roshmi City and getting some fighting experience on the way. Two birds with one stone, as they say. Through many shifts at The Oak Tree, she managed to save enough to upgrade her equipment and she was determined to not hold back on her spending. 

Once Zeva finished her snack, she wiped off her mouth with the back of her hand, her fingertips still stained in berry juice, and quickly sprung up. She dusted off the dirt from her clothes, and picked up the travel bag that had been leading against a tree trunk. [color=DCD1FD][i]Back to training on the road![/i][/color] Zeva joyfully skipped away from her discarded campsite; with two daggers in hand, she swung her arms from side to side as she pranced across the forest floor. Her goal was to get deeper into the woods where creatures hid, so she could encounter some challenging foe. Nothing like live combat to improve fighting skills! For most of her journey, Zeva had been fighting small prey, like rabbits for food and the occasional almiraj or Joverine boar. But she was ready for a real challenge now, and she was sure she could take it on.

Fifteen minutes out, there was a distinct rustle in the distance. Zeva crouched down, eyeing the foliage a few yards away, where blushed rays of light danced upon the dewy leaves, casting patterned shadow on the dense forest floor and shorter fauna. [color=DCD1FD][i]Steady, steady…[/i][/color] Zeva’s hand gripped the hilt of her blade tighter as she leaned towards the sound. 

Zeva’s left foot snapped back instinctively as the silhouette of a sturdy creature pounced out of the bush and rushed towards her. She managed to dodge its first lunge and distanced herself enough to get a good look at the beast. 

[color=DCD1FD]“Really? Another damn [i]boar[/i]??”[/color] Zeva sighed in disbelief. Her shoulder dropped, disappointed in the difficulty level of prey. Sluggishly, she regained her composure and readied herself for the battle. [color=DCD1FD]“Guess we’re doing this again!”[/color] She raised her draggers in front of her face and bent her knees. The boar charged. The wind caressed Zeva’s frame as she flipped through the air, landing on the other side of the boar’s onslaught. In a swift motion, her body twisted to build momentum, her arms swinging both daggers towards the boar’s body. It squealed in pain as the blade grazed its hind legs, a shallow scratch. Angered, the beast charged again, directing its sharp tusks towards Zeva’s exposed midriff. 

[color=DCD1FD]“Chill, boar, chill,”[/color] Zeva mused as she skipped away right before the boar’s tusks impaled her, an enthusiastic grin on her face. She swung again, landing another wound on the beast’s side. It was easy to hit such a large target, especially when it charged so honestly and eagerly. 

After several more bouts, Zeva finally felled the beast and it collapsed in a puddle of its own blood. [color=DCD1FD][i]Haha! I did it again![/i][/color] She knelt down to the beast's head, ready to take a tusk as her trophy. Her dagger dug into the boar’s flesh, when an ominous shadow suddenly darkened Zeva’s view of her catch. 

[color=gray][i]"Grr.."[/i][/color] A low rumble sounded behind Zeva’s ears, a little too close for comfort. Slowly, she turned her head towards the source of the noise.

An owlbear stood behind her in a menacing stance, on the prowl as if about to strike. Zeva let out a soft nervous laugh, before cautiously standing up. No doubt the creature was lured by the sounds of their earlier scuffle and now was tempted by the meal, no, [i]meals[/i] standing before it. Quietly, Zeva lowered into a fighting stance and her lips tugged into a cocky smile. [color=DCD1FD][i]Let’s fucking go.[/i][/color]

The owlbear snarled and hurled its massive frame towards the elf. Zeva wasn’t so lucky this time, and managed to put her arms defensively in front of her to brace for the impact. Her body flew several feet backwards and her back slammed on a nearby tree. [color=DCD1FD]“Ouch, ouch, ow…”[/color] Zeva grimaced but quickly recovered and rebounded on her feet, dashing towards the owlbear, then shifting rapidly to its right side. Her daggers barely nicked its skin, being shielded by its plentiful fur coat and feathers. Her performance was being affected by the blow the owlbear landed on her earlier and she could still feel the pain pulsing through her body with every step she took. 

[color=DCD1FD][i]Cough,[/i][/color] Zeva’s slight pause to regain composure gave the owlbear its next opportunity to attack. A large paw adorned with rigid claws swiped towards her. She barely managed to dodge, sustaining a sizable gash on her upper right arm. [color=DCD1FD][i]Fuck, fuck, fuck!![/i][/color] Zeva hated losing, and she hated admitting it even more. She kept focus on dodging the owlbear as she considered her next move. Fight or flight? As the battle drew on and Zeva grew more and more tired, the latter became the more rational option. 

[color=DCD1FD]“UGGHHH, fine! FINE!”[/color] Zeva shouted in exasperation as she began to dart the other way, clasping tightly at her injured arm to try to stop the bleeding. She was forced to learn the hard truth in that moment, that she in fact, [i]could not[/i] take it on. The owlbear followed diligently in pursuit, growling as it went, undistracted by the free meal of Joverine boar that Zeva so graciously prepared for it. It seemed to value taking down Zeva more, who offended it with her aggressive behavior. Zeva jumped from tree to tree, and before long, she saw a clearing ahead. As she drew closer, she could make out a group of people gathered on a dirt path who looked robust enough. [color=DCD1FD][i]This is it!! This is my chance!![/i][/color]

[color=DCD1FD]“OWLBEAR INCOMING! HELP!!”[/color] Zeva glanced behind her, and the beast was still following closely behind. [color=DCD1FD]“Holy crap, GET OUT OF THE WAY!!”[/color] She launched off a tree trunk and somersaulted out of the clearing and ran straight in the middle of the group. Thinking fast, she saw another light elf in the group and instinctively sprinted to his side, her weapons drawn in preparation for the owlbear’s next attack.