[center][img]https://images2.imgbox.com/58/e5/jrKhVDm8_o.png[/img]
[color=fff200]◉ ◉ ◉ ◉ ◉[/color]
[i][color=b99e6b]Level:[/color] 5
[color=b99e6b]EXP:[/color] 1 / 50
[color=b99e6b]Location:[/color] Frozen Highlands[/i][/center]

According to Fleamaster Mooshka, the caravan was making good time to its destination. Layton wasn't familiar with this part of the region despite residing so close, but he was sure Mooshka knew what he was doing. As the caravan's leader said, the route they're traveling will take them someplace along the Midnight Walk without having to traverse it. The result was a safer, if longer, journey. Layton certainly didn't mind the pace.

The caravan had stopped in the middle of a stretch of woods [url=https://i.imgur.com/aAcfuuG.png]covered in a layer of snow[/url], the odd section of fence or abandoned wagon hinting at some presently-missing denizens. A mystery, perhaps, though not one Layton was occupying himself with.

The caravan's carriages formed a rough circle in a small clearing, large enough for the young ones to flap about away from the group. The older fleas gathered near the center, where a large ridged pot bubbled with a viscous yellow brew. Layton politely declined having some for himself (he'd tasted it before and felt it too [i]energizing[/i]), instead having a pot of tea from his set that any other fleas were welcome to a cup of as well.

It was a nice moment of relaxation. Which, of course, couldn't last.

Near the fringe of the circle of carriages, one of the fleas stood up suddenly. Vog - a [url=https://i.imgur.com/HCPN7cx.png]larger flea[/url] and the caravan's lookout - trudged off into the woods without a word to the rest. Layton watched her leave, no doubt after something her keen senses picked up, and decided to follow. If danger was near, he'd be remiss not to lend a hand.

He didn't need to go far, as only a few paces from the clearing came the sounds of a fight. As Layton approached he took a moment to survey the situation; Vog was fending off a small pack of [url=https://i.imgur.com/ucRJdnT.png]armed assailants[/url] that glowed an unnatural blue and seemed almost mindless in attacking. She was more than capable against them, keeping them at a distance with her long tusk-like weapon, but there were quite a few of them. Even as she fought, one of their numbers rose up out of the snow behind her and started to advance.

[color=b99e6b]"Behind you!"[/color] Layton called as he rushed in, putting his weight into shoulder-checking the Hel-walker. It was thrown off-balance, and before it could retaliate, Vog spun and swung at it, swatting it away from the two of them.

"Grr..." She addressed Layton, standing nearly eye-level with him. "Bug not flea, protecting ours is mine to do. You stay back."

[color=b99e6b]"I don't mean to intrude on your duty,"[/color] Layton said, kneeling to pick up the flung Walker's sword off the ground, [color=b99e6b]"I only wish to help."[/color] Vog growled again, though instead of continuing to argue she turned her attention back to the Walkers. Layton, too, pivoted to face a few others that were approaching their flank. Back-to-back, the two prepared to face their adversaries.

Vog advanced on her quarry while Layton stood his ground, waiting for them to come to him. Two Walkers rushed him, one raising its sword to strike. Layton met the attack with a swing of his own, deflecting the blow, and used the momentum to parry the next Walker, swords clashing as they fought. Normally a defensive fighter, Layton acted more aggressively. After staggering the Hel-Walker he struck again, disarming the undead warrior before following it up with a quick double-slash across its chest, sending it to the ground. The Professor's eyes gleamed as he sidestepped the next Walker, aiming a kick into its side to send it back.

Now it was just these two left. Layton kept his defenses up as the Walker that hung back joined the fray, magical blue sparks flying whenever their swords met. The other warrior recovered, and now both were on him, Layton starting to lose ground as he tried to keep them at bay. Trying to gain the advantage again, Layton kicked off a nearby tree, a Hint Coin spent ([color=fff200]-1 ◉[/color]) to leap over his foes and land at their backside. Before they could turn to face him again he spun, slashing his sword across their backs, putting in some extra effort ([color=fff200]-1 ◉[/color]) to make the strike land harder. The result sent the two flying forwards, skidding along the ground as they landed on their fronts.

Once more Layton lashed out more than he otherwise would - he leapt onto the back of one and drove the tip of his sword into its spine. The spirit flinched and shuddered as it was defeated. And before his friend could recover, Vog ran up and delivered a very similar final blow to its fallen form.

The fight was over, and for a moment Layton and Vog stood there, gripping their weapons and looking for more. When it was clear that they'd felled them all, Layton relaxed, letting the sword drop from his hand. [color=b99e6b]"My word..."[/color] Layton brushed snow off his jacket and fixed his hat, looking at the bodies of the Walkers dotted around them. He folded his arms and rubbed his chin in thought. [color=b99e6b]"Some sort of... automatons, perhaps? What would they be guarding?"[/color] His Gleaming mind seemed satisfied with this justification, so he turned to his compatriot. [color=b99e6b]"Are you alright, Vog?"[/color]

Vog nodded. "Too little to be much to me. Bug not flea fights well."

Layton chuckled. [color=b99e6b]"Yes, well, I suppose I have more experience in combat than it seems. Let's return to the caravan, shall we?"[/color]

So they did, trudging back through the snow to where their fellow travelers were, where Mooshka and the rest of the caravan were preparing to return to the road. The woods weren't as safe as they appeared, after all.[hr][center][color=b99e6b]Word Count:[/color] 955
[color=b99e6b]EXP Gained:[/color] +2[/center]