The Mushquatch

"So this is the Fungallands." I said.

"Yes and you don't really have to worry, but Erika, I would advise you to avoid touching anything."

Cal seemed like he knew this place well.

"Yeah whatever, Cal."

Erika was drenched head to toe. Judging from her facial expression, she was in an awful mood.

"We probably shouldn't stay here for too long. Some of the more hostile wildlife happens to be near here." Cal said.

"Alright, then let's get moving."

I forced Erika up. She stubbornly drug her feet as she walked.

As we continued on, I observed our surroundings. The landscape here was completely alien, unlike anywhere else I've been in Circino. There was a stark difference between the scenery from the other side of the wall. There were no trees, but in their place were massive towering mushrooms. They varied in color and pattern, but the most common was red with white spots. The ground was an orangish color, which seemed to be a layer of mossy textured fungus.

"Hey Arno, have you ever been here back when you were alive." Cal asked.

"No, I've been all over this continent, but I never came here. It was even fortified back then, so there was never a reason."

Cal stopped every so often to put samples of mushrooms in his bag.

"It's a shame the kingdom is so defensive of this area. There's a lot of rare fungi here."

"How did you even end up getting this gig in the first place?" I asked.

"It all started a few months ago. I was at a pub in a nearby town, when I got into a drunken discussion with a soldier assigned to this area. Once learning of this place, as an Alchemist, I knew I had to get in here at any cost. I ended up contacting an associate of mine in the Western Mafia and I made a deal with Gino. Essentially, they gave me the help and resources I needed to find a way in. In exchange, all I had to do was resupply them from time to time with extra magic mushrooms, which are abundant here...

And that's pretty much how I ended up a smuggler."

"Was it worth making a deal with the mob?" I said.

"I'd prefer to not be tied down by obligations, but without them, there's no way I could have gotten in here."

After going a bit further into the mushroom forest, I realized something.

"I don't understand why this place is made out to be so dangerous. It doesn't seem any more dangerous than a regular forest."

"Oh trust me it's just as dangerous as they say, if not more."

"Why's that?" I asked.

"Well first of all, the really dangerous fungus is deeper in. Then there's one animal in particular we have to watch out for… the Mushquatch."

"What’s a Mushquatch?"

"It's a regular sasquatch, but this one is infected by parasitic mushrooms that enhance all its senses."

I burst out laughing.

"What's so funny?" Cal asked.

"You honestly expect me to believe that? Everyone knows sasquatches aren't real."

"I'm telling you. I've encountered it a few times."

"I'm sure you both are just mista-"

*Rustle* *Rustle*

Suddenly as I was mid-sentence, an ape-like creature, probably about 10 feet tall with blue mushrooms growing all over its body, casually strolled directly in front of us. It didn't seem to notice us at first. In all honesty, it was more goofy looking than scary.

*Sniff* *Sniff*

It smelled something, which caused it to turn and face us. For a few moments it just looked at each of us one by one, until it noticed Erika... Without hesitation it ran forward and grabbed her under its arm like a piece of luggage.

"Raaaaaaaeeeeeeehhhh" It yelled.

It tried to make a break for it. Cal and I pursued closely behind. Erika was stiff with an expressionless look on her face. She probably wasn't entirely sure what was happening.

"Do you believe in the Mushquatch now?" Cal said.

"I hate to admit it... but I guess it was real after all..."

It out paced us with its massive stride. We had no choice but to follow its tracks.

"Don't you have any potions that can knock that thing out?" I asked.

"No, trust me I've tried everything I have on it before. It's immune to everything. It's a bit odd that it grabbed Erika. The last few times we encountered it, it just threw rocks and logs at us. There was one time though when it threw one of Gino's guys and broke his legs."

That got me in a bit of a panic.

"You don't think it's going to eat her, do you?" I said.

"I'm not sure, I have no idea what they eat."

Eventually we tracked it into a clearing. We peaked in from behind the stalk of a giant mushroom to scope the area out. I assumed this was where it lived. In the center there was a hollowed out mushroom. Directly next to the mushroom house was Erika. She was buried up to her neck in a brown pile of... hopefully mud.

The Mushquatch came out of its home.

"What is it doing?" I said.

"I have no clue."

It was just staring off into space and spinning in circles while it flailed its arms around.

I turned to Cal.

"I'll distract it. You go get Erika."

"Sounds good."

He snuck off to the side. I ran up to the beast with my dagger and staff in hand.

"Reeeeeeeee!" It screeched.

I stood in place, hoping it would come towards me. I was going to try something, but I wasn’t sure if it would work.

"Ahhh! I don't think this is mud."

Cal was digging Erika out of the pile. She sat silently with a blank stare on her face.

The Mushquatch suddenly turned its attention towards them and started making weird noises.

"Tatattatatat." It clicked with its tongue.

I had to stop him. I gathered what little mana I could at the top of my wooden staff. It wasn't much, but I managed to form a tiny fireball.

I launched it at the beast. Surprisingly, the mushrooms growing out of it were extremely flammable. It's entire body went up in flames.

"Reeeeeeeeeaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh." It moaned.

It panicked and ran off into the forest. I went over to Cal and Erika.

"Are you Okay, girl?" I asked.

"..."

She seemed to be in shock. I waved my hand in front of her face.

"Come on, let's get going."

"...I"

Erika seemed like she was trying to say something.

"What was that?" I said.

"...I think this is...poop!" She exclaimed.

"I think she might be right, Arno. She reeks." Cal said.

I was grateful that I didn't have a nose.