Welcome to Gaia! ::

Shun had his arm as well as the multitude of smaller cuts he had sustained bandaged up prior to leaving. He rode upon a black steed as he approached Johan and offering a curt nod of greeting. It was almost time to embark on their quest.

He took a quick glance at their supplies, trying to see if they had everything set.

Johan grimaced slightly. Conversation was delaying their quest. As soon as Estel arrived, he swung Fee about and began trotting out of the gate. Moments later, he had a pang of conscience. The Code of the Stallion.

"I feel well enough, thank you, Lady Estel. Please... forgive my impatience." he called back to her. "Once we've left Camelot's borders, we head for the Forest, I believe?"

The last was directed toward Shun, whom Johan considered the de facto leader, having received the Quest from the Great Knight.

Outside of the walls of the castle, the terrain quickly became perilous. Fee gamely traversed the winding trail downward. Johan had been confused when the stable master insisted that this mare was his. Apparently, he'd ridden in on her, and she was quite friendly towards him... He felt a little guilty that he didn't remember her. He silently promised that he would take care of her, and reached forward to pat the side of her neck.

Hold on. What was that buzzing?

Ten minutes later, Johan, horseless and stung in a dozen places, rejoined his companions on the trail, expression thunderous. He slung the extremely heavy pack of food over his good shoulder, and continued down the path.

"Of course. It's no trouble." She turned her gaze to the road.

Soon, Estel began to cough quietly from time to time. She didn't say a word of complaint, but soon it became clear that she was having difficulty riding and breathing at the same time.

When Shun's and Johan's horses fled, Estel dismounted from hers. "Here... one of you should take Ashes." She doubled over, her body shaking slightly as she coughed. "I'll go find your horses..."

When Estel began to cough, Shun turned towards her and raised his brow. He was hardly a medical expert, but it wasn't difficult to see that she wasn't feeling well. Catching Johan's gaze, he tilted his head, then looked back towards the girl.

Without a word, he stepped forth, as if to take the horse. But. No. Instead, he attempted to hoist her back onto the saddle.

"Go."

As he watched Estel disappear up the path, Johan guiltily considered that he could have escorted her back. However, he knew that this Quest was simply too important to go back now. Only if he absolutely had to would he return to Camelot without the King with him.

Hoping the stitches in his wounds would hold up the strain, he shrugged on the pack and trudged forward.

Much later, they'd made it to the Forest. Johan was both glad and frustrated to think that this was still the beginning of their journey.

However, his fears in regards to the weight of their provisions proved true. He was forced to use more of their provisions just to keep up his strength.

[crossing fingers nearly get chopped off]

And now he was alone. Johan struggled under the load of provisions as he watched Shun start the long, slow trip back to Camelot. Giving a deep sigh, Johan shouldered the remainder of the provisions. It was almost more than he could bear, but he persevered, knowing it would become lighter in time.

Foot-sore, he continued through the Forest until he reached a deep, dark hole in the side of the mountain. As he entered, and began following the twists and turns of the cave, he came to realize this place had been made. It was a maze! Johan wasn't at all reassured by the number of bones littering the tunnels. Had these Knights gotten lost, or had they met a more sinister end?

Johan got his answer when a bit of stone shifted beneath his feet. The sound of rushing air was all the warning he got as massive axes fell from the darkness of the ceiling. Frantically rolling, leaping, and diving out of their way, Johan managed to avoid being chopped in half, sustaining only minor cuts and scrapes.