It felt kinda strange to be towering over people.

Plus, judging from how these people reacted, including that one behind her, it was clear as day that they were from the real world as well.

"I uh... thought you had your sidearm. Stannis Krolikov, formerly of the 75th Ranger Regiment, United States Army Rangers." The man started speaking. "I was hiking, went to sleep for the night, woke up, got lost and then found this dirt road. Not long after he found me," Gesturing to the scared man down the road with his head, "Then you showed up."

"I see. Juno Aulia, police officer." She looked around at them, noticing the spearman, Stannis, was sneaking looks at her horn. "I assume everyone here is heading to the village on account of some dream?"

All of them seemed a bit... young.

Chad began walking, farther and farther into the woods it seems. No sign of any humans anywhere. This was until he hurt a scream, a bit of murmuring, something about a sandwich, and some yelling. Chad gave a smile. Finally, people. He didn’t stop to think that the yelling was a sign of anger. He was just happy to hear voices, voices he could understand.

    After walking a little ways the voices grew louder and clearer. He got there just in time to hear a woman say something about being a police officer. Along with saying something about a dream and a village. Chad immediately stepped into ring of people. “Hey everybody.” He gave a bright smile and a wave. “I’m Chad, Chad Formost. Please to meet you. I’m really sorry for butting in but I’m a little lost and could use some help. Do you think any of you could help me?” He looked at the woman and spoke, “I heard something about you being a police officer. You also said there was a village near. Could anybody take me there?” Chad felt embarrassed. It wasn’t like him to butt into a conversation uninvited. He didn’t like interrupting people while they talked, but he need the help. He waited for a reply.

Linnea hadn't flown very far, but high enough where she noticed smoke from the nearby village. As she was about to head off, she heard the commotion by the dirt path, and turned around to see more people showing up. Becoming curious, Linnea floated as close as she dared, but staying inside tree cover to see what they were talking about.
A policewoman? A soldier? They looked scary, but maybe it would be safe to be with them. At the very least, they were the closest to being authorities as she was going to find out here in the forest. It was after the happy looking young man asked for the village that Linnea made a decision. These were probably the others from Earth, so might as well work together. If anything bad happens, she can just fly away.

Linnea floats over to the group, revealing herself, but keeping above them so that they cant reach her (through normal means).
"Hi, um- hi. Eh-Excuse me, the village..." Linnea stops to take a deep breath, and points, "The village is over that way. It's not far, but maybe it will take us a while to get there... maybe."

"...Rickie, was it? Why does it feel like there's some sort of meeting going on?" Kirrian asked him while they both walked down the road.

Dusty yawned, slowly shifting in his sleep. He reached to his side to scratch his leg and felt something furry. He opened his eyes and looked down at the small furry intruder that was climbing into his lap. It was some sort of rodent, similar to a mouse, but different from any he had ever seen. He calmly brushed it away, and leaned his head back against the tree he was propped up against. But he didn't fall asleep. He went to sleep in his bed, not against a tree. He opened his eyes and surveyed his surroundings.

Raising his hand to his forehead to block out the sun, Dusty looked at the wildly large trees, and the local wildlife, completely different to the largely reptile population of home. He slowly stood up, talking to himself. "I didn't know there were forests like this in Arizona..." he said, turning around, and almost tripping over the rifle at his feet. Dusty bent down and picked it up. It was a musket, only capable of firing a single round a time. Not very high tech, but it would do. He grabbed it by the strap and slung it over his right shoulder.

Dusty then looked to his clothing, which was a distinct change from the boxers he went to sleep in. He was wearing some sort of uniform or working attire, and a pistol sword combo around his waist. A voice had told him in his dream he had been brought here with others, but Dusty didn't know there others. Could he trust them? He didn't believe in leaving it entirely up to chance. He unslung the rifle and loaded it, tightening the wheel lock, and pouring in powder from the small horn he was wearing around his belt. It came very naturally to him.

With the rifle loaded and in this hands he set out to find the others. Quickly he found a trail through the woods. Something big and strong with human feet had been through. It left a trail like an elephant, rampaging. Or maybe it wasn't. Dusty just found it easy to track, almost as easy as breathing. He followed it, quietly, almost completely silent at all points, and only audible within a few yards. He followed the trail to a small brook and then to a clearing where a large group of people and something Dusty assumed made the trail conversed. He stayed yards away in the tree line, listening without intervening, rifle lowered as he tried to discern the intentions of the group and if they were ultimately friend or foe.

Edwin thought he heard the man with the spear mention that he was some kind of Army Ranger... that didn't ring true to Edwin, the man looked barely older than him. Still, best not argue with the man holding a spear. It's probably good for my health.
Edwin plastered an awkward smile on his face and slowly walked forward keeping his hands spread out and away from his body.
"Hi, Soldier...Krolikov? Am I pronouncing it right? That is a very big and sharp looking spear you have there. I must admit it is quite intimidating, certainly much larger than the dinky little crafting scalpel in my left pocket. Well I suppose size isn't everything, or am I saying that to make myself feel better?" giggling in nerves Edwin took one last hesitant step forward, now to the left of the tall officer, thinking it best for him not to be behind an officer of the law with an admitted potential weapon.

"And yooooooou are a... tall drink of water Officer Aulia. Might I say that is a very fetching dress you are sporting. The colour suits you." Edwin stalled for a moment once his eyes locked on to Juno's horn. "I can't say that I am here for any particular reason, I'm not in the habit of taking advice from my dreams."

"Now where are my manners, my name is Edwin Gordon, artist by passion and by trade, it is a pleasure to meet such... strong, capable looking individuals, but I really should be looking for my little Clay Tiger." as Edwin was about to beat a hasty retreat a little girl's voice sounded above him inquiring about a village. Nerves now thoroughly frayed Edwin started wondering if his imagination had left him playing without a full deck of cards.
"Oh, hello flying girl. I don't suppose you got here by taking the second star to the right, and heading straight on till morning? I am so sorry, that was in bad taste..." coughing awkwardly Edwin asked "I, uh, didn't catch your name?" Edwin only slightly regretted asking, since now he was certain that his Clay Tiger was getting further away from him, but felt that manners demanded that he stay and listen to the floating girl.

Linnea looks at the man with exciting hair and becomes curiously excited about this supposed clay tiger.

"Ah, my name is Linnea Falk. Now that we're together, maybe we shouldn't split up too much? I'll can help you look for your tiger, if that's ok?"

"You surely aren't implying the monkeys are out of there to kill us, right?" Rickie said, half in jest, half in worried sentiment. For the record, he better not do witty one liners again. He seemed to suck this.

He remembered what Kirrian said about focusing better. "Actually, this whole thing feels odd. I mean, I have something into the corner in my mind, like it's clawing in there, ever since I came here." Rickie added to Kirrian. He continued walking along the path, wincing and pinching his nose.

How was it? I remember the voice, and then strange knowledge, are those related? He thought to himself, and then added to Kirrian. "You know, i have to describe it like..."

And then all that came from Rickie's mouth was ominous gibberish. For some reason, it felt natural, and very weird. He wasn't supposed to know arcane words before. And how he did know about those being arcane words? Then, an ugly knot in the stomach built up, and Rickie tried to wave the anxiety off by waving his hands.

BOOOOM

The fireball impacted clearly on a tree, which then promptly and messily made wood snapping sounds as it tilted and fell to the ground. Birds and monkeys, panicking, went scattered in every single direction. Rickie still had one of his hands on fire, but he wasn't registering the pain, he just stood still, processing the utter nonsense of magic he had just done. At last, a single sentence came from his mouth.

"MADRE DE DIOS!"¹ He stood there, mouth agape. He finally managed to take notice on his hand which he frantically waved to put out the fire."AH!" He then stared at Kirrian. Then at the tree. Then at his feet. Then at the sky. Then at himself. Then at Kirrian again.

"What the hell did i just do...?"

---

¹ Mother of God

Kirrian... Couldn't believe what the fuck just happened. All he's registering is his back against the rough bark of a tree and a mouth that doesn't want to close itself. "Jeeeezus fuckin' CHRIST Rickie, the hell did you just do?!" The stutter from earlier had vanished as well as any anxiety the boy may have head, him double checking that it, yes, DID just happen. "I couldn't even hear that thing..." he suddenly mumbled under his breath. Kirrian tried to turn it off and sure enough, the crackling of wood rang in his ears. "...We should get out of here. No idea what this might attract." The boy seemed a lot more confident now, although still in awe... They hurried off farther down the road, breaking into something slightly faster than a jog. Then the settings of sound returned to him: Footsteps, Voices, Danger.

"I don't know Kirrian, this is more weird than the time that I catwalked on heels due to a bet!" Rickie forced to talk, seemingly pressed to keep up Kirrian's fast pace. So much for the composed, responsable adult. Well, responsable adults didn't wave fingers and blew up trees! He kept pacing after the nimble boy, the weight of his body burdening him.Ah damnit i really need to lose weight! He thought.

Maybe I should call myself the magnificent El Wizardo from now on? Rickie pondered. But that didn't matter much. He just wanted to leg it like Kirrian. Just in case they did attract something.

Stannis Krolikov, Juno Aulia, Edwin Gordon, Linnea Falk
Unknown Forest, by an unknown dirt road.

---

"I see. Juno Aulia, police officer." She introduced herself. "I assume everyone here is heading to the village on account of some dream?"
"Some sort of half-asleep voice, but it's close enough. Good to meet you Officer Aulia." Stas replied, he leaned over and picked up his spear again, shaking it a little to get the dirt off. He noticed the other man, with rather impressive hair approaching him, rather awkwardly smiling and keeping his hands away from his body like Stas was some sort of enemy pointing a rifle at him.

"Hi, Soldier...Krolikov? Am I pronouncing it right? That is a very big and sharp looking spear you have there. I must admit it is quite intimidating, certainly much larger than the dinky little crafting scalpel in my left pocket. Well I suppose size isn't everything, or am I saying that to make myself feel better?" The man nervously laughed, then he turned towards Juno. "And yooooooou are a... tall drink of water Officer Aulia. Might I say that is a very fetching dress you are sporting. The colour suits you." He paused and glanced at her horn, "I can't say that I am here for any particular reason, I'm not in the habit of taking advice from my dreams." Stas sort of looked at him with a mildly concerned look. "Now where are my manners, my name is Edwin Gordon, artist by passion and by trade, it is a pleasure to meet such... strong, capable looking individuals, but I really should be looking for my little Clay Tiger." The man with the impressive hair introduced himself. As he was just about to leave, a small child came over. Flying. Stopping just above them hovering. Stas blinked twice, rubbed his eyes and poked himself to make sure he wasn't dreaming. He wasn't sure how she was flying, but she was.

"Hi, um- hi. Eh-Excuse me, the village..." She said, then pointing up the road, "The village is over that way. It's not far, but maybe it will take us a while to get there... maybe." Edwin and the girl began to talk, using that as his cue, Stas walked over to Juno. Inhaled deeply and let out a hearty exhale.
"Well. Despite the uh... Flying girl," Pointing back at the artist and the flying one with his thumb, "And Edwin's missing small clay tiger. We have a direction now to the village. What do you think we should do?" He asked, looking up at what he could describe as a paler, horned Amazon.

Despite himself, Coco couldn't help but giggle. He had managed to take hold of the tiger, but in his nervous petting accidentally heated up its other ear- when the precious thing tried to walk around, it hobbled from side to side, each ear landing on the ground.

"Alright," said the dark skinned man, cradling the mewling tiger in his arms, it being too big for his childish hands. He'd already apologized about not being able to end it's misery by heating up the rest of it and evening it out. Sadly, Coco hadn't been given much of a chance to try and figure out his special abilities. Petting the hardened clay parts of the tiger, the man nodded- "I suppose I'll take you in till I figure out to fix you."

He made his way through the greenery, wondering aloud if- "Do clay animals need to be fed?"- when the sound of distant, echoing cracking raised his small head. He was too small to see much above the great trees, by he did see a plume of smoke. Dark and ominous, Coco wondered what couldve caused it, and if he should be standing around instead of running.

It seems as though he had little running to do, two other figures starting towards him. They looked panicked, for the most part, and Coco was confused but already backing away in case whatever caused the smoke in the sky was right behind them. Large almond eyes narrowing, Coco waited until he felt they were close enough before calling out a curious- "Who are you running from?"

"Fire! Lots of fire!" Kirrian called out to Coco when they asked the question, only stopping his running briefly to stop and inform them of the situation. "Okay, so, Rickie here," The white haired boy pointed behind him, hoping the guy who played with fire didn't collapse already. "somehow managed to set a tree on fire. We're now running like hell because who knows what we might've attracted with that."

Rickie was panting by the time Kirrian reached the new guy, and he set his hands on his knees, breathing with difficulty. He held up a hand to confirm despite his red face and panting, that he was okay.

"...waitamin..."Rickie managed to get a few words."how...you...do...Name...Rickie..." He took a deep breath."And yeah, it was weird, I just did some stuff like this."

Arcane words were pronounced again, the Fireball spell coming in a fast gout of flames from his hand again, describing a fast collision trajectory to a tree.

BOOOM

"Huh" Rickie scratched his back. "Well I wanted to ...eh...do a example. Well, that's it. Let's start running again..." Rickie added, and started to run again.

Ah, it was clear as day now. All of them who was here was going to the village, regardless of that person's er... compliments? Whoever it was that pulled them here was horrifyingly indiscriminate in their choice. One of them was but just a kid. What sort of sick person sends a kid to help with matters involving a whole realm? What if they died? Or even worse? That Chad person certainly didn't have any sense. He just waltzed into their group without so much as checking whether they were hostile or not. Fortunately for him, they weren't a bandit ring. Not a person she could count on.

But she can't just leave the kid either, or any of them. Some of them looked like they can fend for themselves but still...

"Well. Despite the uh... Flying girl," The soldier guy, Stas, pointed back at the artist and the flying one with his thumb, "And Edwin's missing small clay tiger. We have a direction now to the village. What do you think we should do?"

Juno looked at him for a moment, before looking towards the others. At the very least, they should be somewhere safer, like in the village.

"Alright." She spoke loudly, slamming her fist into her palm. "I'm sure most of you have your own questions to ask, I know I do, but for now, we need to get to the village. We don't know what's in this forest that might have a hankering for us, and I sure as hell do not want to find out. That clay tiger can be replaced, but if you die, you die, so we best move. Now," She looked up towards the sky. "Before it gets dark."

With that, Juno led the way, towards the village.

"FOR CHRIST'S SAKE RICKIE!" Somehow the overweight magician managed to shoot ANOTHER ball of flames onto ANOTHER tree, causing a second wildfire. "If you keep this up the whole forest's going to burn down!" Suddenly a very sick feeling came into Kirrian's stomach. It started twisting and turning, clumping together. But it wasn't because he needed to throw up. No, instead, it was a gut feeling of something really nasty going to happen if they stuck around here. "Ugh! Yeah, I agree. We need to run. You better run too," Kirrian adressed Coco ", before we get eate by some stray animal that noticed the fire. Introductions can happen later!" After that last bit Kirrian followed closely after Rickie and managed to easily get ahead of them.

Fire? As in, flames? Hot? Coco was too shocked to register the sudden gibberish out of the older one's mouth, too shocked to scream at the appearance of flames. His hands rose as the blast hit a tree, it cracking and splitting as it fell. Fire.

They did this somewhere else, too? They were in a fucking forest- with trees and birds and COLOUR- and these two... children were setting forests on fire! "Augh!" screamed Coco as the heat registered, flames licking at his cheeks. He stepped away in shock, the clay tiger leaping from his arms into the flame.

He couldn't fix the fire problem. He didn't know how. So, Coco did what he did best when in a situation he didn't understand- he ran. The clay tiger leapt out of the flames, fully cooked if you will, and throughout evened out. "Come on," called Coco to the small tiger, as he ran ahead of the two others, not willing to spend a moment with them. They were crazy, causing forest fires. And Coco had enough to worry about.

In the middle of his run he picked up the clay tiger, his body heating up from the running. He'd never run so much before, not without eating. But he was doing pretty well. And he could see it was there- light. In the distance he could see- wait, wait. Break time.

Coco slowed to a stop, his new little tiger friend stopping in front of him before backtracking. "Thanks," wheezed the boy, wiping sweat off his dark skin. "Short break first. I'm pretty hungry- do you know what hunger is?"
The tiger looked up at him with annoyance, it's ear flicking before it stepped towards a dirt path in nonchalan-

Wait dirt path?

Roads meant people. People meant cities. Looking back to see if the two lunatics had followed, Coco burrowed after the tiger through foliage, his very small body leading him towards a path. "Jesus Christ, what am I doing here."

Linnea flinched a bit from the power Juno emanated. Juno and Stas still made her anxious, but she needed to get over that if they were to work together.

"Yes ma'am. I'll stay higher to make sure we are going the right direction."
Linnea flies up, looks around, and almost immediately flies back down with renewed anxiety.

"Officer! I, I see 3 men running towards us! They'll be here any second now!"

Things were strange. The police officer had a horn and was over two meters tall, there was a self proclaimed soldier with a spear and a flying girl that could fly like out of a story book. Despite all this Edwin surprisingly calmed down.
Huh, I must be in shock, so many silly things have just shut me down.
Shaking the stray thoughts from his mind Edwin finally responded to Linnea's offer of help regarding the tiger
"Sorry about that, I'd appreciate the help. I last saw it heading..." pausing Edwin sniffed Is that burning? Am I having a stroke? then Juno slammed her fist, shocking Edwin out of his thoughts, while giving orders.

"I'm sure most of you have your own questions to ask, I know I do, but for now, we need to get to the village. We don't know what's in this forest that might have a hankering for us, and I sure as hell do not want to find out. That clay tiger can be replaced, but if you die, you die, so we best move. Now, before it gets dark."

Edwin was a bit offended by the dismissal of his art as something that can just be replaced, it was a work of art after all, but he bit his tongue and rummaged through his pockets for anything that might be useful, finding only his scalpel and a lump on clay unused in his tiger piece. Glancing up at Linnea a stray thought crossed his mind
I suppose Wendy could do with a Tinker Bell. then something struck Edwin as odd. Officer Juno said something about it getting dark? But over there it looks kinda bright... and it's getting brighter! biting his lip Edwin debated speaking up about the situation then Linnea mentioned people running this way from the direction of the light.

"Officer Hightower, Colonel Klink and Wendy Darling, I think we should really pick up the pace. I smell burning and it doesn't exactly look like it's getting any darker." with that he took his own advice and started off at a slowly increasing pace after Officer Juno.

Kirrian heard voices off in the distance talking, clicking his tongue on the upper lip. They're too far away to properly hear what they're saying, but if Kirrian has to guess they're going for Rickie's improvised bonfire... No more attention needs to be drawsn to the two. He jumped into the woods, out of sight, and then tried to find a different route to the village through it.