Ren stood in front of a section of the massive tree trunk that looked exactly like every other section of the massive tree trunk. It was a wall of gnarled bark, completely choked by thick, thorny overgrowth and aggressive ivy.
It was perfectly hidden. If Vex hadn't pointed a clawed finger and said, "It's right there," Ren would have walked past it a thousand times without guessing a cave lay beyond.
Ren gulped. Suddenly, her nerves spiked. Her palms began to sweat, making them clammy despite the freezing air biting at her exposed skin.
"Is... is he really in there?" Ren asked, her voice small. She was tired of Vex's games, his riddles, and his perverted tactics.
"Just follow me."
Vex pushed through the thicket of vines effortlessly, his height and strength parting the green curtain like it was nothing.
Ren scrambled behind him. But unlike the Fox Shaman, Ren was short, soft-skinned, and wearing a dress made of scraps.
"Ow. Ouch. Hey!"
