Enter the Cackling Woods.

Though the room between trees is spacious, the canopy of the woods is wide and dense, blocking out much of the sunlight. The forest floor is dimly lit by the minimal rays able to pierce the leafy ceiling above, and the air is filled with the scent of blossoming flowers, wet grass, and the songs of birds. Despite the natural beauty, you can't help but feel on-edge. It's as if you're being watched at all times by unseen eyes. By the anxious expressions on your party members' faces, you aren't alone in that feeling.

Niki walks slightly ahead with her mace and buckler fully equipped. On your left is Eva with her wand in-hand. It looks pretty much the same as always, though she surely had to purchase another one after what happened a couple days back. Amara is on your right with her staff being used as a walking stick to support her over the coarse terrain. Meanwhile, Rabbit's Foot remains up near Niki with her quarterstaff fully extended, which is also being used to steady her steps.

In your free hand, you hold your compass tightly--the only item keeping you from becoming completely lost. It isn't such a large forest to where you can't just head one direction and arrive. You just need to keep northwest.

"So how much longer?" Eva asks, keeping her voice down.

"We just began." Your attention is taken by rustling above, but you quickly see it's nothing but a bird flying away. "We should be out of here, or incredibly close to it, before it's time to sleep."

You hear another noise. This time, however, it isn't the flapping of a bird's wings, or the wind blowing through the leaves above. It sounds like distant, quiet giggling.

"Did you guys hear something?" you ask.

Eva, Amara, and RF all seem to agree simultaneously. Their hearing is sharper than yours.

"It sounded like laughter," RF says.

"The Cackling Woods..." Eva speaks quietly. "Maybe the pixies are near."

Amara glances upwards. "Wings like that of a butterfly, but the body of a girl. They are here indeed."

The giggling picks up enough to where you all clearly hear it--the sound of tiny girls lurking in the canopy above. You only spot the odd colour flicker by, like flowers. Your sight isn't quite as keen, so you're unsure of what exactly Amara was able to make out.

"We mean you no harm!" RF shouts, and strikes a confident stance. "I am the great hero of luck, Rabbit's Foot, and these are my companions. We only seek passage through this forest to take out an evil foe!"

You hear a few, "Oooo"s, followed by more giggling.