As soon as the longboat touched the shore, Lucy hoped into the water and helped Tashina pushed the small vessel further on the beach. After they stopped, Lucy glanced around, feeling her heartbeat race into excitement.

Bengar was more beautiful than the small island she got stranded on after surviving the attack at Oyster Haven. If she got stranded on Bengar instead, she would have stayed longer. The tropics were her favorite places to visit. When her father brought her to a tropical island to collect herbs for his brew, she begged him to stay longer. But as always, her father declared so he could return to his boring tavern. She suggested they should build a tavern on a beach on one of the tropical islands. Her father thought about that, but he said the business was better in Oyster Haven. Perhaps because many sailors visited the floating town for trading and getting drunk. When Lucy retires, perhaps she will settle on an island with a gorgeous rainforest where she would never leave.

“I always dreamed about living on an island like this,” Lucy mentioned, “my father never accepted that. He preferred his business first at Oyster Haven.”

Tashina glared at the jungle. “Mi like di darkness. Di tropics aren't right fi mi.”

Lucy glanced at her. “Then why do you visit this place?”

Tashina shrugged. “Mi care ongle fi useful herbs an chrang pantha men who cya gimme gud pleasure! But mi still live fi di darkness.”

“We won’t be sailing through darkness a lot, just so you know.”

“Heeheehee. Di darkness inna mi heart, an inside mi new quatas. Mi still tank yuh fi bringing mi wid yuh.”

“It isn’t a problem.” Lucy gazed at the jungle. Between two trees, she spotted a clear path through the jungle, shielded by the tree shadows. “Let me check to make sure I brought enough equipment.”

“Suit yourself.” Tashina faced the ocean with her arms closed while Lucy opened her equipment list.

Equipment: The Vanquisher (Cutlass AP-10) White dress (DP+5) Health potion x 2 Elixir x 2 Fear bomb x2

Based on the number near her strength attribute, Lucy could only carry seven items except for her dress. Tashina crafted two fear bombs which contained the gas she used on the mob in Tarrin. The effect lasts for one minute, making the targets see hallucination for good distractions. Lucy has to be careful with the bombs, or else she would go insane too. It would be better to throw the bombs at the targets from a long distance.

Lucy closed the screen. “I’m ready now. You take the lead.”

Tashina stepped toward Lucy with a grin. “Does dat mek mi yuh leader?” She flexed her eyebrows.

“No, but I don’t know where the Black Moon village is at. You are only leading to show em the way.”

Tashina shrugged. “Follow mi princess.”

Lucy glared as she strolled behind the witch toward the jungle. “Is that supposed to be a bloody insult?”

*****

Further from the beach, the sweet jungle fragrance was almost cloying. Moving through the dense vegetation wasn’t easy as walking through the palm tree forest. Here, Lucy cut through the trail with her cutlass in her right while her left was free to catch the branches. Although she wanted Tashina to be leading, the pathway wasn’t being friendly to her. So Lucy took charge of being a grass cutter while Tashina directed her from behind.

The moisture grew so thick it didn’t cause Lucy to sweat, it only drenched through her dress, accomplishing her to pant with her tongue hanging out. In the green laid water, dripping from leaves and landing in small pools on the wet cold ground. More noises of crackling insects couldn’t keep her ears separated. Hums and chirps were like music from prey or predators. Whatever they were, Lucy doesn’t want to meet them unless their levels were low.

While walking, Lucy took the time to explain her story to Tashina. Where she came from, how she met Charles, and their quest to find the player who murdered her father. Charles wanted to find Ghost Island for some reason, and he needed the map from the player. After she lost her home, Lucy somehow received the power of a player. She could level up and earn new skills to become stronger. For now, she was at level seventeen, and she hoped to gain more levels before facing Captain Flipper again.

“Dat impressive.” Tashina pushed a branch up from touching her face.

Lucy slashed her blade through a vine. “Yes, that is why we are on this journey. Captain Flipper will suffer for what he did.”

“ An wah yuh ago duh afta yuh kill him? Hmmmmmmm?”

Lucy stopped to think about that. “I don’t know…..”

Tashina shrugged. “Well yuh duh ave plenty of time tuh tink bout it. Just suh yuh kno, eff yuh become stronga dan yuh enemies, dem wi find a way tuh defeat yuh. Every playa wi cum afta yuh tuh tek yuh frame an fortune. Dat happens tuh many playas who gain too powerful It a waah competition. Suh eff yuh plan tuh kip leveling up yuh betta be ready. Cuz yuh wi become big game fi di rivals out there. Beware of dat.”

Lucy felt the butterflies stir up inside her stomach. She gulped down big saliva down her throat, hoping it would calm her nerves down. “Thanks….. For the warning.”

Tashina frowned and padded Lucy’s right shoulder. “ Mi nuh mean tuh scare yuh. Mi did ongle trying tuh kip yuh head chriet. Eff yuh let yuh confidence overcome yuh, yuh wi face death. Mi right?”

Lucy licked her lips. “I believe so.”

Tashina smiled and poked Lucy’s nose. “Good! Good! cum wi kip pan walking!”

Lucy took a breath and continued chopping down the branches in Tashina’s way. “Tell me, what did you do to make the people at Tarrin hate you?”

“Everyone afraid of witches at Blackmare.” Tashina picked up a weed and sniffed it. “Mi keep miself concealed as possible.” She tossed the weed into a bush. “But sum kid spotted mi practice an ratted mi out. Dem blamed mi fi dem unfortunate problems inna dem town.”

Lucy waved a fly away. “Was there a curse haunting Tarrin?”

“No dem just being stupid. Blaming dem fears instead of fixing di problem themselves. Mi try reasoning wid dem, but yuh see weh dat leave mi.” Tashina growled.

Lucy stepped over a thick tree root on the trail. “Why were you living there in the first place? Not to insult you, but I believe living with witch haters as a witch is kind of dumb.”

Tashina laughed with her mouth wide open, displaying her sharp yellow fangs. “Mi did bout tuh move out before mi get ratted. Too much suspicion did raining across di town. But it dida mi ongle home. Mi mada raise mi there afta shi escape from mi grandfatha. Mi neva sure mi cud survive inna di swamp alone afta mi mada pass away. Di town did gud before di darkness drive dem inna fear.” She shrugged. “Yeah, maybe mi did being dumb an lazy tuh move out wen mi had di chance. But sometimes it haad tuh lef a place weh yuh happy memories duh lie.”

Lucy frowned. “I’m sorry about that.”

“Thanks but mi still cool Wait til yuh si di men Heeheehee dem wi nuh waste yuh time.” Tashina licked her lips while making a slurping sound.

Lucy grimaced. “I’m not really in the mood for….. Pleasure, Tashina. I only want to recruit them for our ship. More crew means we have a better chance at surviving.”

Tashina giggled. “Yuh lose den.”

*****

After walking on her arching feet, Lucy sat down on a root beneath an enormous tree, almost big as a house.

Tashina crossed her arms. “Aready tired? Wi still ave two miles fi guh.”

Lucy brushed the tiny rocks off her left foot. “Give me some slack. This is my first time walking here.”

Tashina blew through her lips. “Mi cya waak foreva an neva get blistas pan mi feet. Wah mek yuh neva wear boots?”

Lucy rubbed her other foot. “I walk better without shoes on. How about you?”

Tashina pointed her finger at her black feet. “Mi luv feeling di natural elements below mi feet. It also helps mi feel di spirits round mi. Eff mi cyaa feel dem, mi wi neva sense any dangerous spirit near fi wi position.”

“Oh.” Lucy glanced around with little super suspicion on her face. “Can you feel a spirit here, now?”

Tashina rubbed her feet in the mud and shook her head. “No there nuttin here right now.”

Lucy sighed until she felt a long vine wrapped itself around her waist. “What the-”

It yanked her up off the ground and hung her high above. While screaming, she spotted a giant mouth opening on the tree, full of razor-sharp thorns, shaped like shark fangs.

Carnivorous Tree Level: 10 Race: Plant HP: 100 Mob

The mouth roared, unleashing a woody, acidic sulfur stench into Lucy’s face.

She struggled. “Tashina! Help me!”

Tashina held up her hands while green flames appeared on them. “Dat tree no match fi my-”

She yipped as another vine pulled her up from the ground on her ankle. The tree held her up while she hung upside down, shaking in fury. “ Put wi dung, poop eater!”

The tree lingered Lucy toward its mouth.

“Tashina! It’s going to eat me!” Lucy cried.

Tashina held up a green fireball. “Nyam this!”

She tossed straight into the tree's mouth. The tree chewed on it until he groaned and spat it out, dropping Lucy and Tashina

The hyena rose and brushed pieces of mud off her dress. "Yes! Juat like hat green pepper!"

The tree coughed as it tapped its vine below his mouth as if it was pounding its chest. Its throat must be burning inside.

With her chance, Lucy raised her sword and charged. Before she reached it, the tree swung its vine toward her, knocking her away.

Lucy Longsilver HP: 165/170

After landing on the ground, Lucy rose and raced toward Tashina's side. Getting hit by the vine felt like a papercut slashing her skin. "Can you burn that thing?"

Tashina grew a cannonball size flame between her palms. "Mi cya try."

Before she threw the fireball, a volley of fire arrows flew from the bushes and struck the Carnivorous tree. The fire spread all over it and it screamed very loud. Soon, the tree flashed away, leaving a small pit in the ground.

Carnivorous Tree killed!

Lucy and Tashina looked around, wondering who shot the arrows. Without warning, a net landed on them, pushing to the ground.

As the girls struggled, a tall black figure rose over them from the bushes.

It only took a few seconds for Lucy to realize he was a panther man, wearing a loincloth and leather gauntlets on his upper arms. He was muscular and tall with shiny dark fur that glimmered in the sunlight. He held a bow with a basket on his back. That explained where the arrows have come from. And he has a scar across his left eye.

The panther pulled out a dagger and pointed it at the girls.

Byron Level: 10 Race: Panther HP: 100 Non-player character

"I finally got you slavers," he said in a flat vocal deep tone, "you won't live for long."

Tashina smiled at him. "Byron! Memba me? Mi Tashina!"

The panther rubbed the back of his head. "Tashina?"

The hyena nodded.

"Jumbo gumbo!" After he pulled the net off the girls, Byron helped Tashina up and hugged her. "HAHAHA! My favorite witch doctor! You have been gone too long."

Tashina chuckled. "It did haad leaving di swamp. But things now different."

"Hmm." Byron glanced at Lucy. "Who is she?"

"Mi new, bredren Lucy." The hyena glanced at her. "Lucy, dis a Byron. Him di chief's high warria inna fi him tribe. An mi charming seduca."

Lucy held out her hand toward the panther. “I am pleased to meet you.”

Byron shook her hand and kneeled his head. “Me too, beautiful.”

Lucy blushed. Maybe her charisma had touched him. She shook her head to cool herself off. “Why did you think we were slavers?”

Byron sighed and placed his bow behind his back. “There be slavers on our island now. They took half of our tribe two days ago. My chief sent me to find their settlement to rescue my people. But I am sorry for ambushing you both.”

“Wi forgive yuh.” Tashina giggled and approached Byron. “Eff yuh gimme a special treat inside yuh hut. Heeheehee.”

Byron smiled with red cheeks. “Allow me to take you both back to my village. Either the slavers will get you, or my own tribe will. With me, you will be safer.”

Lucy narrowed her eyes. “We can handle ourselves.”

“Wah shi seh, honey,” Tashina agreed.

“Very well, but I know the way faster.” Byron walked down the trail. “This way.”

While the girls followed him, Tashina snarled a grin at Byron’s macho back. “Isn't him exotic?”

Lucy shrugged. “He looks fine to me.”

Tashina giggled and tilted her head close toward Lucy. “Eff yuh like him too, wi cya share him togetha. Hmmmmmmmm? Byron wi kip yuh awake all night lang.”

Lucy shuddered as if Tashina’s voice was touching her through her wrong places. “Ehhhh….. I told you we didn’t come here to fool around. We need a crew.”

“Wi cya duh di same wid di crew. Heeheehee.”

“Just keep your head straight, okay? No fooling around!”

Tashina glared and turned her head around with her eyes closed. “Hum! No beefcake fi yuh den.”