A Surprise at the Door

We're lost...

Rafael and his other Knights in training had been trekking the wilds for a couple of weeks now, roughing it through the fairly thick and sometime dangerous forest, and while it was a necessity for their desires of becoming proud and protective Knights of the land of Arclania, this trip had gone on for too long already, in distance and time.

The small group had set out from the big town of Druik and headed west through the forest, in search of the old relics of the formerly grand Kingdom of the Dwarfs - long abandoned, but a rite of passage for aspiring Knights.

"We are so lost."

Isabella, Rafael's younger sister admitted aloud, breaking the long quiet march.

"We were supposed to find these ruins days ago... now we're way off I'm sure."

"Who's fault is that?"

Glen, a good friend and burly guy spoke up as well.

"Well sorry for wanting to continue on..."

Rafael cut in before Isabella could defend her brother, admitting his wrong doing rather than let her try and refute or brush the comment aside.

"You guys did put me in charge though..."

Wanting to earn the appoint, but mostly gifted the leadership of their small troop, Rafael had wanted to be the quickest rookies to ever do the task, but they had probably passed by the hard to find valley sometime during one of the nights they had also plodded through.

I'll hardly impress the girls back at the training halls... especially if I get the group killed in this unending forest....

It didn't help that he had changed their direction, searching for the ruins amid the thick tree cover, rather than just doubling back and starting anew, and now their way was really up that foul creek.

Doesn't help that this is the first time we've gone into a proper forest either...

He paused at the next slight opening to try again to get a sense of their bearings, even though they wouldn't help at that point.

"Brother... are your feet tired?"

Isabella asked, coming up beside him.

"I'd be lying if I said they weren't..."

"Want me to rub them for you?"

Eh.. no...!

He didn't answer her, since lately she'd been acting extra weird, not so demanding and clingy like she'd used to when they were younger, but inexplicably odd at random times.

It had always been Rafael's dream to be an exceptional knight, relied upon to provide peace and protection, and the moment he'd been old enough to start training he'd set forth for nothing less. His sister soon followed, but seemingly without too much effort she quickly excelled, before suddenly reaching a plateau and so got lumped amongst his struggling group, even though he knew she actually did have the capabilities, skills and strength to rise higher and probably already become a true Knight herself.

We probably would have been there and back if she'd taken the lead...

He reluctantly admitted to himself, but it had been her that rallied the others to follow him, but now after this fiasco, he was sure that would change, and he'd not fight it either.

That's if we get out of here...

Wandering almost aimlessly a little further, while keeping the sun on their backs, it was soon time for another needed rest, and break out what little rations and water they had left.

"I small something..."

Rafael's sister paused and looked a different direction from the small huddle of exhausted souls that shared what amount they had remaining.

"We haven't bathed in at least a week..."

Glen uttered, but was disregarded.

"Not that."

Isabella stepped away from the group anyway, to sniff the fresher air again.

"I smell smoke."

She immediately set forth, after gauging the winds direction, and since she had the best nose amongst them, and smoke meant civilization of some sort, probably, hopefully, at least it was their best option.

The others around him waited for Rafael still, even after all their misfortune and added expenditures under his command.

"All righty, let's go that way."

A tiering half an hour later, they stumbled across something else.

"Here, looks like a trail."

True enough, a small track that had seen plenty of foot traffic wriggled away from the thicker forest, and more importantly, it went downhill, which lifted all their spirits.

We've been marching along on this 'little' quest for days now... I need a good bed and somewhere to put my feet up for a while...

After a short trudge along this small track brought them to a quaint home, that appeared amongst the clearing trees.

"Finally, a house... Tell me you're seeing it too..."

Glen sighed with relief.

"Yeah I see it."

Coming to the little house first, Rafael stepped up to the doors front and gave it a good tapping.

"Oh, yes just a moment..."

That sounded like a young lady... better make myself presentable then...

He flicked his brown hair with his gloved fingers, parting it evenly and neat, while also making sure no lingering leaf littler remained.

It had been a while since his last real date - well actually it had been his whole life, despite his fair looks, good manners, friendly attitude, Rafael hadn't ever actually gone out with anyone before.

Maybe my luck will finally change...

"Sorry to keep you..."

The door opened inward as a single female figure answered.

"Greetings, we... Uh-!?"

Clearly enough a pretty young girl opened the door; standing in a nice yellow and white dress, with some cute frilled edgings, while a green headband, with multiple sunflower pins, pulled back her fine blonde hair off her pale skin - but something was amiss.

She had a nice figure and a cheerful expression, with green sparkling eyes, and an honest smile - that had a few extra sharp teeth in it. But most telling was above her bright eyes; on her exposed forehead just below the headband, sat two small upward-pointing horns, also green like her fingernails and lips - that clearly showed she was not so human at all.

"Hello, how can I help you?"

He voice was soft and clear, but her words weren't really heard.

It can speak... but it's an Oni...!

The short Oni's smile whined as she waited, then looked past him at the others and then back to the closer and still paralysed Rafael.

"Uh...?"

Rafael was well aware that he was within its striking distance, but the fair and seemingly polite figure inside the house didn't attack the human at the door... yet. Actually she wasn't threatening in anyway, as she shied some more from the many eyes who watched her carefully.

Just my luck... we find a home - with a terrifying Oni in it... Well at least she's a cute one...

"Raf!"

Isabella's urgent voice broke the catching surprise, and he leaped away from the stair, while bringing out his sword before him.

"Creature - where are the people who live here? Or have you already eaten them?"

Isabella accused.

The Oni looked completely shocked by the other woman's assertion and immediately slammed the door shut in the armed group's faces, before calling out through the woodwork.

"Good lady... I've never eaten anyone! And this is my own home!"