[PP-F2] Earning a Living-Cook [Claim]

[BlackBell 0]

Once on the ground, Hikari felt a little bit of disappointment well up in her chest. Although, that all ended when Claim started to scan the ground for the mushrooms that he had seen earlier. Figuring that she was be no use above his head, since mushroom tended to grow in dark, moist places, she figured that she would ask if she could be let down to help look. Plus, at such a smally height she could easily get to places that he could not.

"If you let me down I can help look."

[claim 0]

He would jump a bit as she said that she could help. He'd smile a bit " Oh sorry " That's right she was on his shoulders to him he really couldn't feel the weight difference As he when down to one knee he held up his right hand if she need it to help off.

[BlackBell 0]

He reminded of one of those princes in the movies she use to watch.

The ones that were gentle, always smiling and willing to help someone whenever they needed it. Of course, Hikari was the furthest thing from a princess. If anything she would probably be the servant to the family, or even just a towns person. This thought process caused her to smile inwardly. Realizing that he had been waiting for her to take her hand, Hikari quickly took it and helped herself down.

"Thanks." She uttered while dusting off her still beginners clothes.

Once that was done she too started to search the ground. Even going as far as to peek under giant plant leaves and in the shadows of trees. So far, no sign of them.

[claim 0]

He walked around a bit more as he scratched his head as he thought to him self i know there were around here some where hope they don't just disappear. He would have a confused look on his face as he pulled out his sword to move the bigger plaints out of the way put not finding them. He let out a small sigh. " You think there on a timer maybe ?"

[BlackBell 0]

"They could be, but the book didn't mention it..."

Claim had brought of a good point though.

Pursing her lips and rubbing the back of her head Hikari thought back to the book on vegetables that she had been reading only a day ago. There had been no mention of these mushrooms being on a timer. Could it be possible that the book just didn't give that kind of information? Perhaps. Or maybe someone else had found these ones already? There were too many possibilities to even think about.

Double checking under some more nearby leaves Hikari was disappointed when they weren't here either. They had to be in this forest somewhere. That was what the book had specifically said.

"Do you know if is there anywhere else we can search?"

[claim 0]

He checked his map again and look around at the closest one and would see a few more he'd zoom out just a little and see a massive clump. he zoom in on the spot and if it wasn't the zoom messing with him as he zoomed up on it he had realized were that was it was more of a pain to get to not that is was hard just so much forest to cut throw. " yeah" He'd tap and wave point it on his map before he closed it and walked over to her and though I'd like to check there than the other spots that they would pass along the way.

[BlackBell 0]

((OCC: Just wanted to let you know that I am changing her name to Hikaru.))

Letting him lead the way though the dense forest Hikaru was sure to watch her step as they went along. With branches sticking out of the ground, and rocked embedded in the soil floor it would have been easy to trip and fall. Not only that but as they went along she started to check any place she could think of. Under leaves, in the roots between trees, everywhere.

"How did you find all these anyway?" Hikaru questioned while picking up a nearby elephant leaf; only to find nothing but dirt and a small bug.

[claim 0]

A slight cold breeze cut throw the throw the forest as they walked to him it would feel good. He stepped in a patch of mud and loses his balance for a few seconds till he stuck his sword in the ground to regain his footing. " Most people I guess stick to the beaten path and are lucky enough to find them or plow through enough monsters till it drops." He let out a sigh and would continue walking trying to keep an eye out for some mushrooms. It had seemed they have been walking forever as he stopped open up his map as he hovered over the date as he thought to him self he was being greedy over his map data he would copy it and send it over to her.

[BlackBell 0]

Kneeling and searching behind a nearby tree Hikaru suddenly heard a noise in front of her.

Automatically she thought that Claim had run to the Crazed Wolf from before. Wheeling around, hand on sword, the young girl found that Claim had actually tripped in some mud. Placing a hand over her mouth to cover the slight upward tilt of her mouth Hikaru. It was funny to see someone who was so graceful in the trees trip and fall on the groud. Perhaps that was her crude humor kicking in.

-Several Minutes Later-

It felt like they had been walking for ages. It didn't help that the same lush scenery surrounded them no matter where they when. Claim had stopped, but Hikaru had not noticed, which caused her to run smack dab into him.

"Sorry." She instantly replied.

The sound of something snapping sounded behind her right when she stopped. It wasn't her. She was sure of it. Tensing, she placed a hand on the sword and then instinctively turned in the direction of the noise. She tried to listen, but with poor listening skill she could not hear anything.

[claim 0]

He stumble a bit as she ran in to him. " its ok" he saw that she seem a little tens and had her hand around her sword he looked around and took a few steeps to the side so that he had a clear view to see what had gotten her worked up. Not really seeng anything but it was harder to see mobs on the forest floor with out him being up high in the trees he would shrug it off as it being the forest noise. He turned his head and looked a head and saw what looked the ground started to elevate and smiled a bit " hey were almost there."

[BlackBell 0]

Hikaru could feel Claim turn around, but he neither said anything or did anything.

In conclusion, the noise that she had heard behind them was probably nothing. In fact she was still willing to believe that she was still more than a little spooked about the run in with the wolf before. Having another person around helped for the most part though. Letting herself relax Hikaru spun back around just in time to hear Claim say they were almost there.

"Really?" She asked, more out of disbelief than anything else. Peeking around Claim's leg she found that there was an upward incline that they were about to head up. So they were just up there? Fighting the urge to run ahead of him to investigate for herself, Hikaru let herself fall back more than a couple steps.

[claim 0]

He did notice that she had pit a little distance between them. In the back of his mind he would think about the noise that she heard and the forest noise, He tightened the grip he had on the hilt of his sword as he played back the sounds of the forest it kinda bothered him a bit. He would kick up a stone and with his sword, sending the rock flying by Hikarus face and curved to the right of them bounced of a few tree. He noticed that the forest was quit. " I was hoping that we could save the battling for the way back. Seeing as they made it this fare with only one wolf." Knowing that they were fare from a real save spot.

[BlackBell 0]

Next thing Hikaru knew a rock was flying right at her face.

Closing her eyes out of pure reaction, she waited to feel the impact and her hit points go down. Only, the impact never came. Instead there was some strange bouncing noise and then complete, utter silence. The forest was never silent at home unless there was a predator nearby. Then Claim said something about being close to the save point.

"If were close, can we run and try to make it?" Hikaru questioned just barely above a whisper. Just in case, a hand had been placed on the sword at her hip. This time, she would fight. With the two of them, and most of her HP back, then they should be able to take the monster.

[claim 0]

He would look back at to where the safe spot was at" we might make it but its fare and if what ever is following us is this close it might get a few hit in before we make it" He would look back at her as the grip on his sword would tighten a bit more. He knew that her heal was good enough to travil but wasnt sure if it was good enough to fight.

[BlackBell 0]

So that means fight.

Pivoting so that she was now facing the direction of the noise, Hikaru let her eyes take in their surroundings in order to get a better idea of where whatever made that noise was. Suddenly, there was a shift over in leaves a few feet away from the duo. Narrowing her eyes at the spot Hikaru tightened her grip on the sword in preparation for what was about to come.

Out from the foliage of the forest walked a...deer.

Without meaning to the young girl let out a breath of relief and then righted herself. Just at that noise alone the deer's head shot up, spotted them and then took off into the depths of the forest.

"I can't believe it." Hikaru whispered softly.

[claim 0]

Feelling dumb for getting worked up over a deer he put down his guard and sigh of relief. He tapped Hikaru on the shoulder and walked along to the the wave point. Kinda of glade that they didn't have to fight now. He knew it was coming soon. "I don't mind walking but doing this by yourself would have to suck. I'm glade i ran in to you."

[BlackBell 0]

For just a second Hikaru paused, staring at the back of Claim as he wander further away.

Yeah. me too.

Of course, due to the pride that coursed heavily though her veins those words would never make it past her lips. She wouldn't allow them. It would mean that the wall that she had so carefully constructed over the five years of raising herself would fall. And that couldn't happen.

There was something she could do instead though. Mustering up all the courage she had Hikaru then ran to catch up with Claim. Upon reaching him she then tugged the back up his pant leg to his attention. Once she was sure she had it, Hikaru offered him the one thing she did not give out to just anyone, hoping he would understand.

And that was a small smile.

[claim 0]

As she tugged on his pants leg he looked down at her and see her smile and nodded back. He knew that mostly that people had there pride and was hard for them to put it aside every time he talked to people it was a little hard to open up to them but that was why he was so comfortable in the city it was easeir to be away from them and kill monsters or a peacefully spots were no one was around. He contined to walk to the incline and thought to him self as if walking for ever wasnt enough there was the damn hill but there being so many tree and vegetation it seemed like a mountain.

[BlackBell 0]

Luckily, Claim seemed to understand her predicament. Wiping the smile off her face like it was never there Hikaru's face returned to it's normal bored expression. Coming to the incline too she started up the hill. Who knew that there would be a hill in the middle of the forest, which was normally pretty flat. It was strange, but she took it even strides.

Between them, things fell silent. The sounds of the forest clearly echoed though the air; the sounds of birds calling and bugs buzzing. It was rather peaceful. Back in the real world Hikaru never had time for this kind of stuff. It felt like she was constantly doing chores; cooking, cleaning, doing wash, homework and the list goes on. But while being stuck in SAO, it almost feels like she had nothing but time.

It was almost relieving.

[claim 0]

As they would get to the top of he hill as he stuck his sword in the ground to help him keep his blance on the other side it was a cove of with a small a small pound in the middle the the thick canopy made this small spot see like it was night time even in the middle of the day. The last time he was here it seemed over populated with animals and mods as fare as the eye could see now there was nothing around. He scratched the back of his head as he said quitly to him self " Where did all the animals go? There was so many mods here last time it was as if they had all gone.." He looked back at Hikaru with a slight smile on his face.