More troubles

"The supply wagon was attacked!"

David suddenly burst into the tavern.

David was one of the older townsmen who'd been charged with escorting the wagons to and from the village, through the sometimes disorientating forest between here and their traders on the other side.

"The whole carnage was ransacked in an instant, they took everything!"

Here I was told by a certain someone that this was a peaceful place... boy were they really full of it...

Mai was sitting in the small back alcove, with her admired and respected status keeping her company-less, but she had attempted being a little social, coming in for perhaps a drink or two, but it hadn't worked, and then she'd ended up having another couple.

David strode up to the bigger man and reported in to the chief, also present, but surrounded by his gang of regulars on the other side of the small establishment.

"I looked away for mere seconds and... the whole lot was stripped bare!"

Brian was mid-guzzle and continued to drink as his man proceeded.

"Before you ask; I was awake, and it was only a few hours back, but they didn't even make a squeak of a sound either...!"

The village chief finished his drink.

"Go from the top..."

"Everything was fine..."

"But then?"

"About two hours out; I stopped to give the horses a little break, and made a quick stop too, but when I turned back - everything had been scooped out of the back in an instant!"

Mai could clearly hear all this, as could everyone else in the place, but while it didn't seem possible, back in her last world, perhaps some magic was at play here.

"We really need those supplies; we're already running low on ale..."

Ian added from behind the thin bar, the local keeper of the stronger beverages.

His words brought a small murmur from the room, while Brian weighed his options.

"You'll just have to make another run, but this time no final stop on the way back, alright?"

"Yes sir."

"Come on. We'll get you restocked for another swap."

Many of the little group got up and went out with the frazzled wagon driver, while Brian noted Mai's sour expression from the far side of the room.

"Just letting you know; that my next plan was to stake out the area, or send out a little search party, just in case we've got a rouge gang of bandits... or worse. But by your expression there... I assume that doesn't have your approval?"

Mai had been having more frequent 'glimmers' of the town in ruin, or in flames in the recent days, which had partly brought her to the bar to try and drown out the near constant bad feelings she'd had for a little while now.

"What do you think?"

Brian asked her opinion a lot nowadays, but Mai didn't have any better grasp on which was right or not than the more experienced man did.

She certainly hadn't had a definitive showing to any effect, if it was a result of his plan or not, but going into the forest with any kind of force from the village just didn't sit well with her.

"Sorry, it's probably not such a good idea."

"So sending another wagon...? And with just another escort too?"

Mai had neither a good or bad feeling about that action.

"That should be fine."

Hopefully...

Brian gave her a nod and exited out like the others.

Mai however felt fairly useless and not at all satisfied with her drinks, that had all gone, but were given to her 'on the house', without her needing to help out with any task in return, like any of the others, which also added to her grown dissatisfaction.

With many of her unintentional or casual watches busy with an urgent task, Mai decided to slip out of sight for a while, which led to her wandering toward the forest's edge, before finding herself further in than even she'd expected to go.

I don't know why... but I feel I need a good walk today...

Taking herself out into the forest, without letting a single other person know about her reckless actions, probably had to be the single most dangerous thing Mai had ever done, especially knowing a potential unknown danger lay about nearby.

According to the villagers; there was also the possibility of stumbling onto large wild animals out in the woods too, so more potential dangers could be lurking anywhere, and as Mai hadn't any hunting equipment on hand, she was taking a large risk indeed.

Maybe my decisions have been influenced by that booze I had before...

Doing this all alone didn't bring any more of those bad 'visions' she'd had, so was this the right course? Only time would eventually tell.

But what am I doing... perhaps I'll find...?

Wandering about the forest wasn't really the goal, but that was exactly what Mai was doing, following a 'hunch' she had from time to time, that seemed quite random, but she persisted.

Even a little turned about in all the greenery; she still held a firm general sense in the correct direction back toward the village, somehow.

Perhaps all my time there has given me a 'home locator' skill or something...

Another, perhaps two hours, of randomly stumbling about, left her quite weary, so with a short break in order, she rested briefly on a fallen log, and while drinking all of her brought water bottle, Mai's eyes scanned about a little more.

With a inkling about the two taller trees, on the nearby hill, spearing on some kind of beacon for Mai, she got right back to pushing through the underbrush and small leafy ferns, till she reached another clearing and finally stopped.

This was the place I saw, in my little 'sight' I had this morning...

With the two tall trees against the steeper hillside, a small open grass and tiny fern field sat amongst the forest, it was a nice little spot; calm, quiet and empty.

So now what...?

Standing in the stillness for a little while, she looked about, feeling like she'd found the right spot, but not seeing anything to confirm it, left her a little disappointed, until...

{So - a lone human has tracked me down... how unsightly.}

The words didn't come from a direction, but more like they bounced inside her head.

"Uh, may I ask who's out there, please?"

Mai still didn't see a trace of anyone or anything else.

{So brave and polite too... I guess I shall entertain you then.}

Something very large suddenly dropped from the sky above, landing delicately, but still with a heavy thud in the centre of the wide clearing.

It's a massive silver skink lizard... with great wings... and big teeth... Oh, I think I know what this is...!

{Greetings human.}