The party head off towards the woods, it's late afternoon when they arrive on the edge of the woodlands.

Here the trees are far apart and the dappled sunlight still reaches the forest floor, around them the trees and bushes are still in leave, and the song of birds and hum of insects could be heard.

Ruvik checked his map "I think we need to go deeper in, I'm pretty sure those mushrooms are found in the deeper part of the forest," he said.

"Yep!" Mao said. "It's a really nice day today."

Ruvik chuckled, "Maybe we can come out here for a picnic," he suggested "Just the two of us,"

Xiao pulled a face and grabbed Heather's hand dragging her forward "Come on or your brain will turn to mush too," she said.

"Xiao, come on, no need for jealousy," Mao said.

Xiao sniffed "I'm hardly jealous of you and that lump," she replied. Heather laughed as she watched the pair "You two  get on really well," she said.

"I suppose you could say that," Mao said before turning to her boyfriend. "Well, you're one sexy and caring lump."

Ruvik just grinned "You're not too bad yourself," she said giving Mao a quick kiss. Xiao pulled a face "Really?" she said and the turned and started walking.

It didn't take the group too long to move through this are of the forest, and soon the trees began to get closer together, they could see the sun less and less and the plants looked wilder.

"This place feels dangerous," Heather said clutching her staff closer, "I'm not sure how to describe it, just an ominous feeling."

"It is more dangerous here, if it helps," Mao said.

"Maybe that is what I am feeling?" Heather agreed "So this is where we can find the ingredients?"

Ruvik nodded "Yeah, most of them at least. Deer we might find further out. But easier to do that on the way back." he explained.

Xiao chimed in "Why don't we have a completion then? See who can find the most herbs and mushrooms?" she suggested.

"That sounds fun! You and Heather versus me and my man," Mao said.

Xiao narrowed her eyes "You sure you're not just wanting an excuse to be free to make out with him?" she said her tail swishing back and forth "Fine, loosing team pays for food tonight then," she said.

"You're on! Good luck, Xiao," Mao said, with a smile on her face, before turning around, smile dropping and dragging her fiancé away.

(OOC: Give me a Insight + Insight Roll please, see how well you do at the gathering. You'll get a +2 from Ruvik helping)

(OOC: Insight + Insight - Mao Hitcher rolled 1,6 using d10,d10+2. Reroll - Mao Hitcher rolled 5 using 1d10. For 11)

With Ruviks help Mao was able to gather a large amount of mushrooms and herbs, as they finished the latest batch they heard cries of distress from nearby.

"Damn it, where did they come from?" she heard Xiao shout "And where is that idiot sister when I need her."

Mao called Ruvik over and went to help.

Mao arrives on the scene to find a group of plants attacking Xiao and Heather, Xiao was covered in something and was trying to clean it off.

A large almost pumpkin-looking thing was attempting to bite her, while two smaller plants were
trying to strike Heather with vines. Another Pumpkin looking thing was also present but not yet engaged.

((OOC: Init with + 3))

(OOC: Initiative roll - Mao Hitcher rolled 5,8 using d6,d6+3)