Vetusberry

After making sure Rhefia, Camara, and Aethisia were all as comfortable as they could be, I gave each of my girls a kiss before exiting our house, my heart pounding in my chest as worry flooded my system.

Stepping out into the forest, I checked the sun and oriented myself appropriately, using what Rhefia had taught me to start my long journey to Aoak Mountain.

When I entered the forest I felt my heart clench, and I had to take a deep breath and attempt to clear my mind to take those steps forwards.

I hated the idea of leaving my daughters and wife alone while they were suffering, but when Rhefia said that this wasn't some common disease that would just pass, that it could potentially claim the lives of our two girls...

Gritting my teeth, I raced through the sprawling underbrush, rushing towards the Mountain.

They were NOT going to die.

Not when Rhefia told me there was a cure so close.

Trees, shrubs, animals...

They all flew past me, and I weaved through the thick forest as best I could, occasionally climbing a tree to make sure I was on the right heading.

Rhefia said that they had a week, but I couldn't let my girls suffer any longer than I could allow.

Every second was precious, and I needed to reach the land behind the Mountain as quickly as I could.

Rabbits hopped away when I hurtled through the dense brush; birds chirped and flew away, afraid of the noise I was making.

Deer and even wolves avoided me as I trekked deeper into Geard Forest, the larger animals giving me a wide berth.

The sun slowly climbed to its peak, eventually reaching directly overhead.

Stopping for a moment, I panted and pulled out a waterskin, taking a gulp from the cool water as I rested.

My muscles screamed at me as I leaned on the tree, and I could feel hints of exhaustion reaching towards my mind, tempting me to sit and allow myself to recover.

However, I beat those thoughts down, my mind filled with the scene of Rhefia and our girls panting and groaning in pain, their bodies drenched in sweat.

That reinvigorated me, and I took another sip of water to wet my parched mouth before resuming my journey, adopting a more steady pace.

While I might want to barrel towards the Mountain, I needed to reserve some energy and create a pace; Rhefia had always made that a number one priority when we were hunting.

After all, if you were exhausted, even the weakest monster or a hungry wolf could kill you, snuffing your weakened flame with ease.

Maintaining my jog, I eventually reached the base of the mountain, before groaning slightly as I started running around it.

I wasn't worried about not finding my way home; there was some kind of...

Tether, linking me to my two daughters.

I could feel where they were at, as well as how they were feeling, but nothing more.

They would be my guides home, after I harvested a large amount of these Vetusberries, to add to my garden just in case.

Glancing up at the towering Aoak Mountain beside me, I widened my eyes as I recalled the Quetzalcoatl that attacked us, making me strain my senses as I continued my journey.

I needed to be much more careful now, as I knew that there were monsters on the Mountain, and I didn't know if they traveled down to the base of it or not.

The journey around the base of the Mountain took another hour, and I frowned as I saw the sun slowly descending.

With how long it had taken me...

Cursing, I continued onwards, realizing that I would need to set up a camp; traversing the forest at night wasn't a good idea, as I was more likely to harm myself or run into wandering predators than make any good progress on my way home.

Eventually feeling the tether between my daughters and I pointing behind me, I started traveling further into the forest, taking in the different vegetation.

It wasn't as lush as our side of the forest, and there was more thorny bushes and prickly vines then the soft, gentle plants we had.

Slowing down, I started sweeping my gaze from side to side, searching for the berry that Rhefia had described.

Large, round, and purple.

Considering there was nothing of any color besides green around me, I should know it when I find it; and when I put it in my inventory, I'll know for sure.

Scouring the wooded area around me, I slammed my fist into a tree as my search continued to yield no results.

"Damnit! Where in the hells could it be?!"

Keeping my eyes peeled, I traversed deeper into the forest, occasionally using the trees to search the wider area on my sides.

Pushing aside a bush, I peered into the small bundle of shrubbery before my eyes went wide.

Deep in the center of the bush was a few bundles of a dark, purple berry.

Grinning widely, I reached forwards and gently snapped off the branch that they hung from, putting it into my inventory.

{Vetusberry x33}

I continued to harvest more of the berry, eventually getting a few hundred thanks to my [Forager] skill.

Wiping the grime from my hands, I stood up and stretched, glancing up at the sun.

I still had an hour or so left of sunlight, so I turned around and started my journey back towards the mountain.

Keeping my guard up, I checked the various shrubs I came across for more berries, finding a few more as well as some new herbs.

I even found a scallion!

However, as I slowly approached the Mountain again, I froze.

I had been lost in my foraging that I hadn't noticed it, but...

The forest was silent.

No birds cawed out, no wolves howled...

No deer cried to one another...

It was utterly silent.

Glancing around, I gulped, wondering what had happened here.

Grabbing my spear, I resumed my journey remaining on high alert the entire time.