Strange sounds in the night.

It would seem that this Queen lives quite deep in the forest. Definitely much farther than Tara's house. You have already been traveling for three days, although it is difficult to tell exactly how far you've managed to go each day. So deep in The Great Forest, large knotty roots cover the ground along with thick shrubs. There is no clearly defined path....no path at all. Part of you wonder how Tara navigates through it, but she has lived here for awhile and probably has visited wherever you're going on multiple occasions. With the thick canopy, only the occasional glimmer of sunlight tells you whether it is daylight or nighttime and the day begins later and ends sooner.

The night starts normally enough. You and Tara find a clearing. Well, as best of a clearing as one could find in this region. It is a small patch of grass barely enough room for the both of you. Sitting down, the two of you have some idle chatter and eat some trail rations that Tara packed. She insisted on no fires so there was little more to do after it got dark, but to lay down on the bedroll and sleep.

Suddenly you wake. It's hard to tell how long you were asleep. There is barely enough moonlight peeking through the trees to see very far outside of your little clearing. A quick look to your side shows that Tara is still peacefully sleeping and you contemplate what woke you. You haven't been sleeping well since...well, since you first woke up in Tara's little hovel, but you never woke with a start like this. Straining your ears, you hear the standard forest sounds. Crickets, nighthawks, and owls all going along their way. There's also the sound like that of a small animal off in the distance rooting through the bushes.

You were just about to lay back down when you hear it. A faint giggling far in the distance. Something sapient out in the darkness. The sound emanates only for a moment before disappearing again. Listening intently, the sound appears again. This time slightly close and you can almost make it out. It sounds like the voice of a girl having fun. It fades again before reappearing not too far off to your right. This time you hear it clearly. A woman's voice shouting in excitement "Yeah!"

Looking back at Tara, she seems unfazed. No doubt, she is used to the strange noises in the forest at night. Perhaps you should wake her and ask her about it. Then again, the sounds aren't coming from too far off. You could go investigate them yourself without too much trouble. It could also be some strange monstrosity trying to lure something or someone into its trap. Whatever it is appears to be going past you and doesn't know you're there. If you simply go to bed, whatever it is will surely leave.