Today, the trio were going somewhere none of them were familiar with - L'Hatzif, a land of swamps and mushrooms. Marchus, Depths, and Lairi were here to hunt some nukap, hoping that the mushroom-loving creatures would be plentiful here.

…If the trio could survive the bugs, first.

"We don't get bugs like these in the mountains," Depths complained, swatting at the mosquitoes with one hand while trying to avoid the puddles.

Lairi seemed to be far more at home with the water, wading with little care to her damp fur. "Oh chin up," she said cheerfully, holding her gear above the water and ignoring the bugs, "they won't kill you."

"Feels like they'll suck me dry," Depths sighed, and turned to look for Marchus. He was studying the muddy ground for prints, ignoring the strange sight of the mushroom trees towering around. Depths found himself intimidated by their height and alien looks, used to the shorter fir trees at higher altitudes. And normal sized mushrooms, not these monsters…

He tore his gaze away, and instead focused on seeking out tracks, occasionally smacking himself whenever a bug landed on him. He glanced up when Lairi pointed to some of the strange, fruit-like things hanging from the mushroom trees.

"Do you think those are edible?"

Marchus snorted, not lifting his gaze from the ground. "We have supplies. Why risk it?"

Lairi tilted her head. "I can be curious, Mr. Boring."

Marchus just shook his head, then pointed out some trampled grass. "We should go this way."

Lairi bounded over, navigating the water as if it was her home - which Depths supposed it was, in a way - and examined the tracks.

"Smaller than I expected."

Depths piped up, following more slowly, unsure of his footing. "Don't let that fool you. They can be terrifying when they want to. I read about it."

Marchus tilted his head and then nodded, and Lairi tilted her head curiously. "What else did you read about?"

Depths shuffled his feet embarrassedly, stepped in something that squished, and moved on quickly, trying not to think about that. "Oh, just their eating habits and general things. I wanted to be prepared."

Lairi nodded thoughtfully, then followed Marchus as he moved off, following the tracks in the soft ground and supple grass.

The environment here was so far removed from the dry mountains Depths was used to - humidity made his pelt feel like it was sticking to his skin, and he felt like he couldn't cool off. Not to mention the wealth of biting, flying, pests.

Marchus' ears perked as they followed the trail, and he motioned ahead, moving slower and trying not to rustle the strange mushrooms around them. Though they didn't quite have leaves in the normal sense, they had moveable parts that the trio had brushed against occasionally.

"Up ahead," he whispered, and Lairi and Depths fell silent, listening intently.

From up ahead, came a snorting, grunting noise, followed by some rustling and digging sounds. It seemed there were a few nukaps, digging in the rich earth for their favorite snacks. Depths couldn't see them, but tilting his ears… he thought he could imply where they were. Marchus and Lairi pulled out their spears and knives, and Depths scrambled for his own, holding it in trembling hands.

Marchus motioned for them to split up and move around the group, and pointed for Depths to stay here and wait for their signal. Depths nodded, adrenaline making his heart race, and waited for what seemed an eternity for the others to get into place. The sounds ahead continued, unconcerned and unknowing of their danger, and Depths tried to breathe quietly so as to not disturb them.

With a shout, there was a crash and a blur of movement, and Depths leapt forward, stabbing at the nukap that raced through the foliage, squealing. He missed and his knife bit into the dirt, and as he yanked it out and turned to try again, crashing and squealing noises told him that his opportunity had passed.

But Marchus and Lairi stood triumphant over their kills, so hopefully there would be enough to bring to the royals, despite his miss. He inhaled and tried to feel accomplished as they packed up the carcasses to head back, but still couldn't help feel a sense of failure.