Track down the missing girl.

"So what does your friend look like?" you ask.

"And what took her away?" Niki adds.

Raina explains, albeit in a much more subdued tone than her ally. Her voice is gloomy, and difficult to hear through the cacophony of footfalls through cracking roots and dense underbrush. "Her name is Susie."

"Lady Susanne," Jessabelle corrects her.

"Ah, yes. Lady Susanne. She has short, golden hair, and is incredibly pure and beautiful. She belongs to a wealthy house, and--"

"The creatures who took her were demons of the woods. They control the trees and the grass, so they can bind you in a matter of moments. We must stay attentive. If anything begins to move in an irregular way, cut it down, or run."

"Any idea what those could be, guys?" you ask.

"Uh, I feel like that could maybe be a number of things," Eva responds. "There are creatures like Delphi who reside in deep forests, but they're mostly mischievous, not nefarious. Sometimes you just run into living trees. There are definitely evil things too, of course. I've even heard of demons capable of corrupting and manipulating nature, though I don't really remember what they're called. Either way, it sounds bad."

"It reminds me of Peony," Amara comments.

"But dryads don't drag people away to kill them. Maybe if their trees were threatened they might."

"It matters little," says Jessabelle. "They're monsters to be slain. Now come. Spot is getting ahead of us."

"He's speeding up," says Raina.

It seems the dog got a whiff of something strong. Suddenly, he begins to bolt between the trees, over roots, and under branches, as your party struggles to keep up without becoming lost. If stealth was ever part of the plan before, it's certainly not now.

"Ghost Hand!" shouts Jessabelle. After the orb on her staff flickers, a spectral hand appears ahead of her, just above Spot's back. It reaches down and takes hold of the dog's collar, giving it a pull in an attempt to show him down.

"I've got him." Rabbit's Foot bolts forwards. She kicks off a nearby tree, flipping over Raina's head, before beginning a full sprint, even through the dense forest. Sharp stones and pointy twigs narrowly miss her, either by incredible dexterity or sheer luck, and in a matter of moments, she's able to wrap her arms around the belly of the dog and lift him up.

At first, the dog panics, flailing about, but then he begins to lick her on the face.

"Aww." Amara smiles.

Wherever you may be now, it isn't even a clearing. You can hardly find a place to stand between the trees and your allies. Though not far away, you can hear a stream. It's so close that it may only be a few steps away, even if you can't yet see it.

"You stupid dog! We don't even know where we are now!" Jessabelle shouts.

RF turns her back on the girl. She glances back--a single eye, through the mask. "I don't just protect people, you know. This dog is my responsibility as well."

"Excuse me? That's my dog."

Raina clears her throat. "Uhm. Actually, it's my--"

"I hear something," says Amara.

RF perks her ears up as well. "Me too."

Swiftly, Snow climbs up the tree next to her, and perches up on the first branch. There, she reaches back and withdraws her bow, nocking an arrow just in case. Niki raises her shield and squeezes her mace. Eva whips out her wand. Amara readies her staff. Then slowly, you withdraw Lauo from its sheathe.

Rabbit's Foot bends over, placing the dog down as she briefly remains down.

As you bring the tip of your blade forwards, you watch as it flickers pink for a moment while passing by Raina. You look to her, and notice her eyes staring straight at the perked up, spandex butt of Lalarin. However, after a moment, she notices your attention.

"Ah. Is that blade detecting evil?" she asks.

You stare back at her. "... No."

"I see."

Suddenly, a root grabs your ankle! Before you can even react, however, an arrow flies down from the tree above, severing the root to pieces. You glance up to see Snow already grabbing another arrow. You give her a nod before pivoting around into combat, wherever your opponents may be hiding. "Stay sharp, everyone! Something is here!"

"Bless!" Amara places a warm hand over your shoulder. She bestows a boon upon you, and shivers slightly as the mana tingles between her legs. "Stay safe, Kyle," she whispers.

Another root comes at the party, though this one is through the air. Niki lunges forwards, causing the strike to break apart against the face of her shield. "Nice try!" she shouts.

"Come out and face us!" you yell. "We're here for Lady Susanne! If you know where she is, tell us. Otherwise, we'll have no other choice but to defend ourselves."

"Oh I've had enough." With puffed out cheeks, Jessabelle step forwards with a fist in the air. She focuses her mind and withdraws a moderate amount of mana from within her. A heated, sparking energy dances up her arm, through her body, and then to her staff as the orb illuminates with power. Then she grasps it with both hands and swings it like a baseball bat, shouting, "Burning Stream!" As she does, fire roar out from the end of the staff and scorch the trees in front of the party. Not only that, but it all ignites into flames.

"You must not!" Amara shouts. "You will potentially burn down an entire part of these woods."

"Frankly, I don't care. Give back Lady Susanne, you freaks!"

"If Amara thinks this is bad, then it must be," Eva says. "Then it's time to use a new spell. I am Eva, expert universalist, gorgeous sorceress, and--"

Jessabelle snickers. "Universalist? Really, that's the path you chose to follow?"

"I don't like you." She huffs, but ignores the girl and grips her wand tight. "But I don't need to prove anything to you with my words. I'll prove it with action, by destroying your spell with my own!" The bunnyfolk whips the tip of her wand to the side and conjures forth the mana required for her spell. She takes a deep breath, raising her chest for Raina to once again glance not-so-subtly at, before clenching her teeth and roaring out, "Tidal Wave!" What was once a nearby, delicate stream, becomes a torrent, and while you didn't see it before, you certainly do now. Eva pulls all the water forth, between the trees, and sends out a devastating wave through the flames. Your party is showered in a refreshing mist. Instead of the tidal wave colliding with a target, Eva steers it right past, as it crashes against some stones in the distance.

After a moment of silence, neither side attacks. You watch the remaining smoke rise, but all the flames have been put out.

Suddenly, a figure makes its appearance.

Looming in the shadows is a woman to appears to be made entirely of plant-stuff. Her flesh is dark green, nearly black, and her incredibly long, leafy hair is covered in tiny white flowers. She doesn't approach, but she remains in the open. Her voice is deep but smooth. "Why do you seek out Susie?" she asks.

"Lady Susanne!" barks Jessabelle.

"Oh wow. You were right, Amara. She's just like Peony. She's gotta be a dryad, right?"

The woman turns her gaze to you. "Who is this Peony you speak about?"

"Oh. She's another dryad, one who lives with me."

She stares for a lengthy moment. "You are husband to a dryad?!"

"Well, I--"

"I will hear you out, if you promise not to start any more fires."

You look back to Jessabelle. "Your friend was taken by dryads?" you ask.

She shrugs. "I told you that it doesn't matter. They're monsters for taking her from us."

"Dryad," you say. "If you know where she is, please take us to her. We only want to talk."

"Very well, dryad-husband. Come. You may stay close, as may the hound, but the others must follow from a distance."

"Excuse me?" Jessabelle scowls. "I will not--"

Spot hurries out of RF's arms, past her, and to right beside your legs.

"Oh. Hey, boy," you say.

Albeit disgruntled, Jessabelle remains back with Raina, along with the rest of your party, as you all move deeper into the woods.