Ch 7: Even in the next world, I'll always follow you

The next morning was bright and sunny, few clouds but enough to where there was warmth. If this world has a season it would be spring.
Zen and Rin walked along a set path that was led to their destination, However.
     “So… we're going the correct way, right?”
Zen questioned Rin, but her expression gave a confused face, as if she couldn't remember how to get there.
     “Hmmm this way!”
Panicked, she chose to go right along the pathway.
But there was another pathway, a few minutes later. Will she choose left or right?
     “Uhhh this way?”
She chose right again, then another few minutes. You guessed it, another pathway.
     “You don't remember where to go do you?”
Zen questioned her yet again, her face full of doubt.
     “I swear I knew where to go before, why is it so hard to find a way there now?!”
Zen thought about it for a second then came to a conclusion.
     “It could be that this forest is like some sort of maze. Each point is resetting us further from the destination.”
     “W-wait really?”
They were at a loss for a few moments. In their sorry state Rin remembered something.
     “Wait, no that can't be true. If it was then those guards would be stuck here with us as well as the people who put me here.”
Zen thought to himself some more, his posture changing to his hand pressing against his chin.
     “Perhaps there's some sort of passcode or thing we have to do in order to get outside?”
Rin sighed as if she had lost hope in this.
     “How are we ever gonna find something like that?”
     “Well, so far it's only been dark elves who have made it back, maybe there's something original to your kind that can lead the way.”
Rin’s eyes wandered off, thinking of anything in particular that could be the key. However she was thinking so hard that it looked like steam was coming out of her head.
     “...Don't think that hard.”
Zen could tell that it was bugging her.
     “Rin, open your mouth.”
Rin did a blank stare towards Zen slowly backing away.
     “What are you gonna do? Weirdo—”
     “IT'S NOT LIKE THAT!”
Zen sighed.
     “Just do it…”
Hesitant to do so, Rin opened her mouth anyways, closing her eyes.
Zen hovered his hand above her mouth, but what came out was a blob of water landing in her mouth.
     “THIS WATER TASTE SO GOOD. Wait— ohhhh so that's how you haven't dehydrated yet.”
Zen just smiled away getting an ego boost from what she was saying. Oh look, his nose grew bigger.
     “Why are you just now doing this? There were a few times I needed water.”
     “You never asked. Anyways, let's see if the soldiers from before are still here.”
Rin nodded in agreement and they had a plan in motion.
Meanwhile back with ichinose.
Just like with Zen and Rin it had also begun to be morning for her. 
“Arf arf!”
The pup woke Chi up from her slumber.
Her eyes were still drowsy and the campfire she lit before had dulled out overnight.
The pup had repeatedly licked her as well to get her up.
     “Okay, okay chippy I'm up. Geez you're one energetic pup.”
Chippy wagged his tail to no end hurrying up ichinose.
     “Do you wanna show me something?”
     “Arf!”
     “Okay, okay I'm coming.”
Ichinose followed chippy nearby a river for there to be several fish out in the open from what seemed to be caught by chippy.
     “W-what is that? There's about 18 fish in that pile. This will last me some time…”
Ichinose had realized at the time that this was no ordinary pup, but she didn't think much of it at the time. Right now she's just enjoying her time with a friend.
     “So you did this huh?”
Chippy looked at Ichinose with confusion. She pet the pup and just wondered to herself.
     ‘I wonder if I could make a bag with some spare vines from somewhere.’
     “Chippy do you wanna help? You must look for anything looking really long and wavy.”
     “Arf arf!”
     “I'll take that as a yes!”
After some time, she was able to gather enough vines and successfully make the bag to toat all the fish chippy had gathered.
She made it so it could be carried on her back. After refilling the water bottle given to her by the mysterious ball, she headed for the city.
It took awhile, but she was able to get to the city before the sun set.
     “Looking at it from up close it sure does look like a city. Okay, it's now or never.”
There was a guard at the gate. He looked to be a dark Elf, but he wore clothes that were like a medieval knight.
     “You, human with weird clothing. Why have you come here?”
     ‘You’re the one with weird clothing here.’
Chi thought to herself. Thankfully she didn't let those thoughts leak out.
     “Oh, uhm I'm not from here so I was wondering if you could tell me where I'm at.”
The guard looked at her with a fierce glare, it was as if she was being seen through.
     “Where did you learn our language?”
     ‘Oh crap.’
     “A friend taught me…”
Chi tried to not make eye contact. It sounded like she was lying, but you guard can't deny that she can speak their language.
     “You may pass.”
Chi walked by him letting out a sigh of relief.
     ‘I guess he didn't care about chippy, that's good.’
As she walked beyond those gates what she saw was a lively city with trees everywhere and most of the population being dark elves.
     ‘I guess that really does prove it, I'm in a fantasy land. Is this the same world Zen is in? Hopefully I get to see him soon.’
Chi held onto a necklace she had before she arrived in this world. Clinging onto it tightly, she called back that time Zen gave it to her.
     “I'll always follow you Zen, even if you do go to another world.”