Finding Objects

After they stole the Eye of the Storm from the pterodactyl's nest, they found a tree branch shaped like a large hollow, on top of a big tree, protected by dense leaves.

They collected wood and dry leaves to make the branches comfortable to sleep on. Maya also brought out a small stove that burned coal, and Ash took out his eating and drinking utensils.

With the meat of the animals they hunted and the fruits they gathered, they spent several days lazing in that tree hollow.

"What is your second quest?" Maya sipped her soda and asked Ash, on the second day.

Ash answered while wiping his sword, "Get the magic ring inside the Giant Spider of Kulam Cave. The cave is not that far from where we are now."

"I see, will we go straight there tomorrow?" Maya asked, excited.

"Yeah," Ash answered a little dreamily. He still didn't understand what 'inside the Giant Spider' meant.

***

To get to Kulam Cave, they had to go around a lake, which was still in the tropical rainforest area. 

Tall and dense trees grew around the lake, so Ash and Maya had to cut down branches and bushes to make their way through.

They walked, taunting and joking with each other, oblivious to their surroundings.

Suddenly an arrow appeared aiming at the tree in front of them.

Ash and Maya stopped and turned in the arrow's direction with frightened faces.

A beautiful woman, around twenty-four years old, aimed her arrow at them. She wore a black Ming dynasty dress with a thigh-high slit, and her black hair was tied up with an ivory-white, bone-shaped hairpin.

Behind him appeared several men carrying shields and swords. Their ages ranged from thirty to forty years.

Ash didn't know what the people wanted and didn't want to take the risk. But he knew from a glance that those people were trained to kill. He immediately raised his hands in surrender. Maya followed suit.

"Good kids," said the woman in the Ming's dress. She smiled and signaled to the men behind her to tie up Ash and Maya.

One of the men wearing a tiger skin vest and carrying a greatsword approached Ash and Maya. He tied their hands behind their backs with a rope.

Maya looked at the woman angrily and asked, "Who are you?"

The woman laughed in a sweet voice. "You'll find out later," she said.

***

Ash and Maya were led through a narrow path covered with thick philodendron leaves.

They bickered along the way, pretending to argue about how to escape.

Ash whispered to Maya, "Don't fight. I want to confirm something about them."

Maya nodded in agreement and gave him a thumbs up.

A man behind them pushed them to walk faster. Ash didn't resist, but Maya glared at the man who pushed her.

That man, with a bushy mustache and a greatsword on his back, stared back at them fiercely.

They continued walking until they reached a clearing with several simple houses made of wood with roods made of leaves

About twenty people were there, some sitting by a dead campfire, the male were sharpening their weapons, while the women sewed animal skins from tigers, bears, etc.

Those people looked at the incoming group with interest, their eyes shining with a murderous glint.

"Got another catch, Molly?" asked a man with messy shoulder-length hair, wearing only knee-length trousers. His body was muscular and his beard was unshaven. He grinned widely at the woman who had led them there.

Molly pushed the man aside with her bow.

"Don't get in the way, David. Mind your own business," she said, wrinkling her nose, "And you better take a shower. How many days have you not showered?"

David grinned and laughed, "Come on, b*tch. Why don't you relax and shower with me."

Molly clicked her tongue and left David, who was still laughing annoyingly.

They headed for the largest wooden house in the clearing.

Molly knocked on the door three times, and from inside came a man's voice telling them to come in.

"Come in."

Molly opened the door and entered.

Two men who had been in the group pushed Ash and Maya inside.

"We found them on the edge of the lake. What do you want us to do with them?" Molly asked the tall, big man.

Ash, who had not resisted until now, had been quietly observing all the movements and situations since they were first tied up.

He knew that it was impossible for them—no, him—to fight the entire group. He looked for a way to escape, which unfortunately he hadn't found yet.

Now, he was confronted by the leader of this group.

The leader of this group was big and stocky, with blonde hair and a beard. His dark blue eyes stared at Ash and Maya from his throne-like seat, placed on a wooden platform.

He stroked his beard while examining them.

Ash wanted to know if this group was just a group of robbers, or if they had various professions. If the latter, he intended to work with them, to learn other skills and expertise from the players, and other information.

The man asked arrogantly, "What are your names, and what are your professions?"

"My name is Ash, I'm a Hunter. And she is Maya, she's a Thief," Ash answered confidently.

"Oho, you have some guts," the big man chuckled. "My name is Gunnar, and I am the leader of this group."

"Nice to meet you, Gunnar," greeted Ash briefly. He had a feeling that this person was not a good person.

"Hahaha, well, we need to recruit new members. But, we have to select everyone who will become our members. So, we will give you a test," Gunnar smiled faintly. His eyes shone slightly with slyness.

"But we don't want to be a member of your group," Ash was a little defiant.

"Oho, you will and you must. We never let anyone who knows about our base live," he said with a grin, showing off one of his missing front teeth.