You continue on your trek for a few hours as Morook guides you down an admittedly-steep shortcut and out from the mountain you didn’t even know you were on. You’d like to say it’s gotten easier to traverse the darkness, but Morook, well… that guy’s on a whole other level!

Speaking of, after tripping over a branch and tumbling halfway down the mountain like a loose rock, your stinging sinuses get some relief from the brisk, dry air when they’re instead met with…

… sweetness. Pure, unadulterated sweetness! As you and your pals descend into a copse of thick vines and shrubs with leaves reaching high enough to poke Volka in the cheek, you can’t help but suck in a few hefty breaths of candy-flavored air… this… this smells NOTHING like where you grew up! Is… is this what those hippies mean by ‘Fresh Air’?

“Intoxicating! Invigorating!” Purrs TT as she stretches out like a cat on Volka’s shoulder! “MmMM, imagine refining this into a perfume! I could BATHE in this stuff~” One of her lime-green eyes locks onto you twinkling with mischief! “Ant… crazy business idea-”

“Kinda reminds ya’ of the baths, don’t it?” Smiles Volka, the Skog’s tail thumping happily behind her! “Oh, that reminds me, Mor–we all went to-”

While the three of you bask in the ambrosia-scented air, Morook’s disco ball-sized eyes show little, if any, enthusiasm…

… unless Morook is enthused? Man, these Chytree guys are so hard to read! You have no trouble telling when TT’s happy-

… Err, anyways, the ranger cuts you all off with a sharp CLICK--one that stings your ears a bit, but does a good job of shutting you up! Before you can ask, you get a hushed, but curt answer:

“Sweetrope Vines. Beasts steer clear of these groves for a reason. Tread lightly and we’ll be fine.”

Your guide doesn’t have to tell you twice! Falling in behind him and Volka (and by extension TT), the latter’s claw resting on her blade slung over her back, you keep your ears peeled for any sign of movement amidst the tangled terraces surrounding you…

The passage widens the further you travel… the saccharine scent growing stronger with each step you take. Emerging into a core of the copse, you nearly trip over Volka’s tail as the odor goes from pleasing to downright DIZZYING! Running face-first into the Skog’s hip, you barely have time to recover before Morook’s eyes start to flicker like strobe lights!

“KNEEL! QUICK!”

>CONTD.