It was a cold and dark morning when Tim awoke to the soft chirp-screams of the Karura bird. A low roll of fog had crept up from the ground. A fresh layer of dew left him feeling clammy and dirty. The dense mist that swirled around the trees added another layer of surrealism to his first morning in a new world.

The ropes of the hammock strained as Tim stretched out and put his hands behind his head. He looked up at the trees and used his analyze skill on them again. Still a variety of Gaonokki with silver leaves. He wondered how photosynthesis worked in this world. And he wondered how this world was connected to his own. How could it be so familiar yet so different? Were there other worlds as well? There must be. Are they like this too, familiar yet strange? As if the blueprints for his world were photocopied and then copied again until it became like this? Was his Earth the original or was that a copy too?

A few of the others had gotten up and were quietly getting their morning started. But Tim wanted to relax for a little bit more, and so he watched them as they moved through the morning mist. Soon Ikko had come by to make sure everyone else was up and getting ready. Tim waved as he came by, then he watched as Ikko went to wake up Genzo. Genzo, of course, did not take this well. He was having a wonderful dream about his VR girlfriend, who looked a lot like Yuma. But, with that so rudely interrupted he flung himself from his hammock and stomped off to the communal bush.

Katsuki was trying some earth magic. With great effort, he and raised two stone pedestals near the wash area. He then carved basins into the tops and filled them with water. Satisfied with his work he then used it to wash his face and hair.

Perhaps it was due to his “Precise Mana Manipulation’ skill but Tim could almost see the magical formations being drawn as Katsuki worked. The magic for earth and water seemed very similar, yet the spaces they existed in was completely different. Both formulas grew in the space in front of Katsuki, where he was directing the energy. But, they also existed elsewhere. In a place that Tim couldn’t quite identify.

Yuma and Emi came up next and pushed Katsuki out of the way to wash. Tim watched for a moment, then finally feeling the call of nature rose to meet the day. He wiped himself down, threw on his favorite leather jacket, and packed up the hammock. After getting everything in his backpack he settled down by the campfire to warm up.

Hayata had the morning watch so he had eagerly rushed over to Tim to get his spear enchanted. Tim took the weapon began the process of twisting and shaping the flow of magic inside it. By the time Tim had finished with the spear and two other swords Emi had come back with three horned rabbits. Hayata had to give up his fun playing with the freshly enhanced spear to bleed and prepare breakfast.

“What are these things?” Hayata talked to himself as looked over the catch. “Uni-rabbits? Uni-hare? Oh, I know, Uni-bunnies!”

“They are almiraj,” Emi interrupted haughtily, “and they should be safe to eat.”

“Hey, Mr. Nelson? Could you make this knife magic too? Skinning and dismantling would be a breeze with a magic knife!”

“No,” replied Tim flatly as he focused on enchanting McKenzie’s bow.

“Come on, I bet it would make the meat taste even better!”

“Maybe later,” Tim cracked open one eye, “But I need to get our weapons ready first. And I don’t know if I will have the energy to do them all today.”

“Oh,” replied Hayata, who did not hide his disappointment.

Then Tim pulled his knife from the small sheath on his side and handed over to the boy.

“But you can use mine today. Let’s see if it really does make it taste better.” Tim said with a small smile.

Shortly after breakfast had started cooking McKenzie came running up with Randal.

“Y’all get ready, we need to skedaddle,” Randal said loudly.

“What did you do now?” asked Genzo.

“The Technicolor grass done picked uproot an’ followed us,” Randal pointed to the road they came from. “Maybe it drank too much of your blood and came for more.”

Everyone turned and looked up the road they came down. Off in the distance, the fog slowly strobed yellow and red. Tim shuddered. It was the same color and same pattern that had followed them for miles yesterday.

Genzo stood up, his eye twitching. “I, I think you are right.”

The group left after a hasty breakfast. They went westward along the road as quickly as they could, hoping to leave the vile plants behind. There was much speculation as to how the grass caught up if it had grown overnight or had walked on its own power. And, most importantly, how long it would follow them.

What the off-worlder’s didn’t know was that the Oni Tongue Grass had never intended on letting them escape. It was just playing with them until they could be lead to the Jubokko tree, where they would gladly sacrifice themselves. However, in the plant world grasses are not considered to be particularly intelligent. A single plant by itself can’t do much, and even when gathered in groups they can’t form complex thoughts. So while there was a goal, there was no real plan to execute it. And by the next morning, the Oni Tongue Grass had forgotten what it was doing.

After a few hours and several miles, midmorning had come. The air was wet, and every breath Tim sucked in made his lungs feel a little bit heavier. The sky was overcast and the fog seemed thicker than ever. The blankets of clouds were not quite suffocating, but they did make him feel a little more miserable. He lost himself in his thoughts and trudged on as quickly and silently as he could.

Eventually, the faint glow in the sky had reached higher. Soon it would be lunchtime. A few voices started up a conversation as to where and when they would take their next break. The road took a slight incline and after another mile or so the fog settled down into a thick blanket upon the ground. As the elevation increased so did the light. A layer of fresher air skipped over the fog and revealed the treetops in the distance.

As the off-worlders were looking for a place to take a break, a wooden structure rose up out of the fog in front of them. Tim squinted, and it took a moment to recognize what it was. A large black carriage lay in the road, toppled on its side. A pair of wheels hung loosely in the air about seven feet up. He thought for a moment that they had an accident, but then he noticed the damage. Many of the black lacquered boards were smashed in and the roof was completely torn open. Tim wondered what could have done this, and then he noticed the smell.

Like the fragrance of hell, the stench of copper and viscera lingered in the fog. Tim almost retched at the feeling of death which permeated the area. Others could not hold back. Several bodies were trampled in the road. Not at all like the cute little mummies in the temple they were summoned in, these were bags of shredded meat. Entrails and bone were broken and sprayed about, limbs were torn free or chewed off. It was hard to even tell how many people there were.

“Mr. Murphy, Mr. Inoue, grab the weapons and anything that looks valuable. Everyone else circle around and keep watch. We cannot stay here.” Genzo said quietly before climbing into the hole in the roof.

Randal and Ikko did as they were instructed without complaint. Being given instructions seemed to give everyone their willpower back. The others circled around with weapons drawn. McKenzie jumped up and landed lightly on the side of the carriage, her bow at the ready.

Tim recovered enough of his resolve to examine at the scene with Analyze. With the help of the skill, he was able to identify four male bodies and one female. But he could tell little else about them or who they were. Three of the males wore steel armor, although it did them little good. One body had a gaping puncture through its breastplate. One male and the female were in worse shape. Only shreds of them remained. What scraps of the equipment he found was made of green Tanzlewyrm Silk.

A crunching sound came from underfoot as Tim stepped away from the deceased. He lifted up his foot to find something sparkling ground into the earth. Carefully he pulled out a silver ring and necklace, both studded with jewels.

“I get the feeling like these people were rich,” Tim said as he pocketed the jewelry.

“I think they must have been nobles, a merchant would have more goods.” Replied Ikko.

“Yeah, look at the quality of this ride, I’m sure it didn’t come cheap.” Interjected Katsuki.

“Wait, where are the horses?” Asked Emi in a shaky voice from the front.

“Um, it looks like they were dragged different directions. There are a couple of blood trails leading off to either side of the road.” Replied McKenzie from her perch on top of the carriage.

Genzo stepped out of the hole with a large coin purse in his hands. His furrowed brow turned sharply to look up at McKenzie. “Different directions?”

“Yes, there and there” she pointed.

“Shit. Everyone drop what you have, we need to run!” Genzo’s voice raised an octave.

“But you just told us to…” Replied a confused Ikko who was scraping blood off a fine steel sword.

“Different directions you fool!” Replied Genzo who was visibly shaken. “Whatever did this, there is more than one. Now let’s go!”

“No need,” Interrupted McKenzie flatly, “they’re already here.”