Caridad
```Small critters, five apples tall... No, they're not Smurfs.```

***The forest chimed and creaked life, all animals seemed to be in harmony, completing the circle of life and the survival of the fittest.***

***Grass is eaten by a grasshopper, one later caught by a rat, later a snake, and a hawk... Once he dies, vultures arrive. Simple as that, isn't?***

***Sometimes nature can be odd, with colorful deadly things or the scariest of animals being quite pacifist.***

***By a tree, there were a few squirrels. A tall pine, it seemed like its leaves were vibrant dark green... Spring season, maybe? After all, look at all those sprouting flowers, birds tweeting and! ... Mushrooms?***

***Oh yes, how could we forget about the mushrooms... Important for decomposition and the ecosystem. Yet one of them seemed a bit larger than usual... Red, almost like a mature apple ready to be harvested.***
Michael
*Lachlan had been traveling out of the desert for the first time in many years. He needed a break from the heat and sand that seemed to reach every crevice and unreachable part of the body. The forest seemed like a good choice.*

*The forest around him seemed even more alive that he remembered. The tall trees swayed in the wind and birds sung their sweet songs. Lachlan crouched by a small creek to refill his canteen*
Caridad
***As you fill up your canteen, everything seems fine... A bunch of birds and butterflies were flying around and— Wait a damn second, why are there a bundle of mushrooms at the corner of a tree?***
Michael
"Hm, interesting."

*Lachlan had noticed the bundle of mushrooms and went to investigate. He'd never seen mushrooms like this before and he was curious if they could be added to his ration pack.*
Caridad
***It was obvious those were the classical red with white dots mushrooms. Aren't- Aren't they poisonous and hallucinogenic?***
James
[ Sorry I forget ping2reply LMAO ]
Michael
*Not knowing any better, Lachlaninsprected the mushrooms and looked around the tree they were bundled under*
Caridad
***One of the mushrooms seemed bigger than expected. Would you try examining it?***
Michael
*Lachlan reached out amd poked the larger than usual mushroom, curious as to why it grew so much larger than the rest*
Caridad
***...Did it just move-?***
Michael
"What the..."

*Lachlan took a few steps back picked up a small rock. Tossing it at the mushroom lightly*
Caridad
"Owie... Why did you do that-?!"

***IT SPEAKS?!***
Michael
"Uhm... Who said that? Where are you?"

*Lachlan drew his shield and club and looked into the forest around him*
Caridad
"Uhhh me-?"

***A pop sound was made and... THE FUCKING MUSHROOM IS WALKING?!***
Michael
*Lachlan lowered his weapons and breathed a sigh*

"Not the weirdest thing I've seen I suppose... Uhm, Hello little mushroom... Thing..."
Billy
"Kinoko is not a little mushroom thing! Uhh... Kinoko is Kinoko, and she likes to watch people!"
Michael
"Kinoko is your name? I guess I should introduce myself, I'm Lachlan Dayn, it's.. A pleasure to meet you I guess.."

*Lachlan scratched his head trying to comprehend the events that so quickly unfolded.*
Billy
"Oooh what's this all about?"
***She started climbing up his clothes to the top of his head.***

"Kinoko has never seen someone like Lachlan... Is Lachlan a species? Or maybe a mutation?"
***She moved around his hair.***
Michael
*Lachlan tried to remove Kinoko from his person but to no avail.*

"What? No, Lachlan is my name. I could ask the same thing about you. What even are you?"
Billy
"Kinoko is Kinoko! People called her a mushroom before, so I guess that's it?"
Michael
"Mushrooms don't usually talk, or move, or think for that matter. At least in my experience..."

*Lachlan still tried to grab Kinoko*

"What are you doing up there anyway?"
Billy
"Mmmm then Kinoko is a special case!"

***She giggled, burying herself in his hair.***

"Kinoko is looking at Lachlan's hair! It's sleek and soft!"
Michael
"You are indeed a special case. I wouldn't be surprised if you found any sand in there though."

*Lachlan chuckled*

"So, Kinoko, what do you do for fun around here?"
Billy
"Kinoko lives in the forest with her friends! There's a lot of cute animals around here, though the night creatures can be scary..."
Michael
"Night creatures? Well, I can be pretty scary too. Plus, I've seen some pretty dangerous creatures where I'm from so they can't be that bad."
Billy
"The skinny long critters are the scariest... Some are friendly tho!"
Michael
"You mean a snake? They're not too bad. We have plenty of snakes where Im from. As long as you leave them alone they'll leave you alone."
Billy
"Nono, they look like... Humans... But as well a bit of a dog? Or a horse?"
Michael
"Wait... You mean like this?"

*Lachlans body morphed into that of a Hyena, with Kinoko on his back*
Billy
"WOAH! Lachlan is an animal, so cool! ...But still no. They don't have eyes, they're reeeeaaaaally skinny, almost skeleton."
Michael
*Lachlan morphed back into his human form.*

"Then I guess I don't know what your talking about. Still, you shouldn't worry, I didn't even see you there so I doubt they'll be able to find you.*
Billy
"Oh nonono, Kinoko is worried about Lachlan being eaten alive by them!"
Michael
"Oh well, then we'll be fine. I'm a trained warrior and a skilled one at that. Even if they could best me, they couldn't catch me."

*Lachlan smiled confidently*
Billy
"They're reaaaally tall... The babies are 12 to 15 feet! Adults are crazy, the average is 25! And they have these big teeth and claws... Their necks stretch too!"
Michael
"Maybe I'll have to stick around and see one of these things for myself."

*Placing a hand on his chin he thought for a moment trying to imagine this beast*
Billy
"Okie dokie! So, what does Lachlan do for a living?"
Michael
"I'm a guide. I help people cross the desert. As well as a teach them how to survive on their own in the harsh environment. What about you little one? What do you do to occupy your time?"
Billy
"Kinoko lives... And observes people!"
Michael
"That's it? You don't explore the tree tops or caves within the forest? Never wanted to swim in the creek? There has to be something you do that you enjoy more than most?"
Billy
"Oh nonono Kinoko does that, that is what she calls living!"
Michael
"Oh, I understand. Well anyway, Kinoko, do you know where I can find some food? I'm starving."
Billy
"Uhhh... Oh, there!"
***She pointed up to a peach tree.***
Michael
"Nice spotting Little one."

*Lachlan began climbing the tree to grab a few peaches*
Billy
***Girlie literally chillin on his head.***
James
[[Im fine if you wanna continue or stop it

[[All good we can cut it short here then!

[[Gimme some time bcs I'm going to the airport rn

[[Ill let you know when I can

[[Aight so I have a bit of time rn
My
*Shoila was walking through shifting forest. She heard before that there was a fairy around these parts. She was determined to hunt her down.*
Caridad
***So far, you couldn't see much things... A few animals around, and a bundle of mushrooms.***
My
*She would travel deeper into the woods, having feathers ready for eventual danger. It must be nearby...*
Caridad
***More and more mushrooms... It's funny because at this point, you were surrounded by them.***
My
*She would get a bit suspicious of mushroms and decided to throw feather at one of them*
Caridad
***Did one of them just move-?***
My
*Sensitiv to movement as a hunter should, i quickly look at the one moving and throw my feather there*
Caridad
***It moves again***
My
Show yourself. I see your movement.
Caridad
"Huh? Did I do something wrong..?"

***It was an anonymous voice.***
My
Depends. Show yourself, so i know who i speak to.
Caridad
***The mushroom seemed to walk out the environment.***
My
Huh... Thats new...
Billy
"So is Kinoko okay..?"

"Kinoko is Kinoko, what do you mean?"
My
...What is your name?
Billy
"Kinoko said it already!"
My
Ok... Kinoko. Sure. *Sighs at how dumb this creature must be to refer to itself with their name* Alright, can you point me to the fairy? It should be in this forest...
Billy
"Fairy? Kinoko doesn't know if any faeries..."
My
Huh... *Then she got an idea what might be happening* Alright then, Kinoko. What are you then? Just a living mushroom?
Billy
"Kinoko is Kinoko, mushroom!"
My
Most mushrooms dont talk though... And here you are, talking. You even have a name. Are you "Just" A mushroom?
Billy
"Kinoko assumes so!"
My
Ugh... Can i look on your back then?

Cause i wanna check if you are what im looking for

*I go around her and look at her back. Does this thing have wings?*
Caridad
***...There aren't any wings?***
My
Ughh... Even if you are a fairy i was looking for, you have no value for me... Note to myself, get more info on what im hunting...
Billy
"Kinoko has no value...?"
My
Not for me, no. You wont die today *I smile, as if that was the normal thing of me to say*

Not today. Anyway, what are you even doing here?
Billy
"Kinoko lives here!"
My
Huh... Anything to like... Kill your time here?
Billy
"Uhhh Kinoko observes the wanderers, collects fruit and stones, sometimes fresh bones, and builds a house!"
My
Really...? Who even lives in your houses?

What do you need multiple houses for then?
Billy
"Kinoko only has one house tho?"
My
You-you said you build multiple houses...
Billy
"Kinoko can build many, but right now she only has one!"
My
I have a couple of questions still... One of which is what do you even eat?
Billy
"Kinoko is a mushroom, so she provides energy by herself! Kinoko sometimes eats plants and insects, but she gets food mostly from dead thingies!"
My
That is cute but also so disturbing...
Billy
"Disturbing? It's nature!"
My
Yeah well, you are the only talking mushroom i met, so i dont think its nature
Billy
"All shrooms do this! It's decomposing nature to gain nutrients! Like how you eat food."
My
*Sighs* I cant argue with that... How come you are the only one that can move and talk though>
Billy
"Kinoko doesn't know!"
My
Thats... Unhelpful... Alright, nothing for me here anymore... Ill go unless you have some questions little shroom

Alright. Ill be back when someone detects fairy activity here. See you around. *With that Shoila walked away, dissapointed*