Search for Niki.

You step into the woods and look around, but there doesn't seem to be any sign of her anywhere. "Niki?" you call out. "Did nature call or something? I won't come any closer, just let me know you're here."

There's nothing but the sound of birds and bugs. I should let the others know.

Before going any farther, you step back, though you just bump into the trunk of a tree. You look around confused, and go farther, but nothing looks familiar. You know you didn't travel far at all, yet the camp isn't there. You're surrounded by trees in all directions.

"Guys!" you shout. "Where are you? I think I was turned around!"

Yet again, there's no reply.

"Shit!" You start pulling away branches and bushes as you hurry back in the direction you're certain you came from. You run, and run, and run. All the while, you call out for your party to come--for Lady Tesgella to come. But as you go, you can't even find a trail to follow. You're all alone.

Don't panic. This has to be some kind of spooky magic. What happens in games and stuff when someone gets lost in a cursed forest? They, uh... climb a tree! That's it. I'll climb up high and try to spot the smoke from the camp's fire.

It's difficult, but you manage to yank yourself up one branch at a time, until you finally reach the very top of one of the trees. You take a deep breath as you look up at the sky--at the sun over halfway across. And as you look around, you see a tiny bit of smoke in a direction ahead, and it looks like it's coming from a clearing. You hurry back down, and start stomping through the woods towards it, hoping you don't get turned around once again.

Finally, you reach the clearing, but it's an entirely different one. There's a quaint wooden cottage with smoke rising up from the chimney up ahead.