After a few hours, Lydia found herself lounging at the edge of the cliff, watching Horizon and Von with a mix of frustration and disbelief.
Sprawled out safely on her belly, she had a perfect view of the chaos below as the two worked tirelessly to build their makeshift hut.
The sun had dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the clearing, but neither of them seed to notice the ti slipping away.
"Looks like we did it," Horizon said, dead serious, as he surveyed their creation with a look of pride.
Von nodded, a wide grin spreading across his face. "Yeah. Just in ti too — it's going to get dark soon."
The two of them stood shoulder-to-shoulder, admiring their handiwork.
The "hut" they'd crafted was small, triangular in shape, and barely half their height. The structure was held together with haphazardly gathered sticks serving as the fra, while layers of mismatched blankets, old clothes, and wide leaves made up the walls.
It looked like sothing a child might build in a forest, a far cry from the shelter they had envisioned. Still, the two stood tall, faces alight with accomplishnt.
Then, without warning, a sudden gust of wind swept through the clearing. They watched in slow motion as the fragile structure wobbled, creaked, and then, with an almost comical motion, collapsed to the ground in a heap of sticks and fabric.
For a mont, there was stunned silence.
Horizon stared at the pile of rubble, his expression blank, while Von's grin slowly faded, replaced by a look of pure bewildernt.
Cappy was rolling its eyes while Nyx was too lazy to care and rested at a nearby grass, rolling around.
"The sticks won't cut it," Horizon suddenly said, breaking the silence.
Von scratched his head, glancing at the sad remains of their hut. "Ah . . . maybe we should use rocks?"
"Good idea," Horizon agreed with a serious nod.
"IDIOTS!" Lydia couldn't take it anymore. She leaped over the cliff, landing gracefully and pointing accusingly at the two. "Of course it wouldn't hold! Sticks?! And what's with all these logs over here if you're not going to use them?!"
She gestured toward the pile of perfectly chopped logs, stacked neatly to the side.
"We couldn't use them," Horizon replied, unphased. He wasn't surprised by Lydia's sudden appearance — he'd known she was tailing them. He just didn't want to deal with her because he felt like it would be a lot of trouble.
Von shrugged, equally calm. "We realized we don't have the tools to turn them into anything usable, so . . . we went with the sticks."
All eyes turned to the pathetic heap that was their "hut."
Lydia smacked her forehead in frustration. "Are you serious?"
Nyx perched on Horizon's shoulder, and ruffled its skeletal wings. "Anyway, thief, what are you doing here? Still dreaming of getting that egg back?" The little beast let out a snicker. "Forget it. You'd have to take down Horizon before you touch my treasures."
"Why ?" Horizon deadpanned.
Lydia pressed her lips together, realizing she'd just blown her cover. "Damn it! You idiots made reveal myself!"
"Weren't you the idiot for following us?" Horizon muttered under his breath.
Von was all over Lydia and squird. "By the way pretty lady, where's my bag?"
Lydia sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Anyway, if you two clowns can't figure out how to build a house, why not go to town and ask a builder?"
Von and Horizon's eyes widened simultaneously as they smacked their fists into their palms. "Oh! That's a good idea!"
"Of course it is," Lydia said, almost getting out of his skin in frustration.
~WhHoOosShH!~
A gust of wind blasted through the clearing, whipping their hair and rustling the grass.
"Interlopers! How dare you enter our territory!"
The forest ca alive as haunting, lodic voices filled the air. Dozens of Harpies descended from the skies, their long, flower-like hair flowing in the wind. They had humanoid faces, with large, bird-like eyes and feathers cascading down their arms. The lower halves of their bodies were that of birds, ending in sharp talons.
"What are you doing in our territory?" one of the Harpies hissed, her voice laced with a singsong tone, though her eyes glead with malice.
"Oh crap, they're here!" Lydia muttered, taking a cautious step back.
Von was unfazed. His eyes lit up with hearts as he stepped forward. "Ladies, relax! There's plenty of to go around!"
A volley of razor-sharp talons shot toward him, slicing through the air and grazing his cheek. He quickly ducked, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. "On second thought . . ."
"Keep it up, and you'll be killed by won again," Cappy chirped from the side, shaking his tiny head.
Horizon took a step forward, calm but firm. "We ca in peace. We only want to build our territory here."
The Harpies' eyes widened in disbelief. Peace? They were claiming their land! It's war!
"Intruders! This is our land! Leave now or face death. This is your last warning!" a Harpy screeched, her feathers bristling with anger.
Nyx let out a dark chuckle, his wings fluttering. "Tell , when you build a house, do you ask permission from the beasts and trees that live there first? If not, then don't be surprised when a dragon stakes its claim in your territory. It's the natural order."
"What did you just say?!" ca a furious shriek from above, as the skies darkened with the wings of more Harpies.
"Dragons?" the other Harpies looked at each other and shifted their attention to Nyx's tiny skeletal form before their mocking laughter filled the air.
Nyx glared at them. "You wouldn't be laughing when I decent here in my true form."
"Enough talk! Everyone, charge!"
The air was filled with the sound of flapping wings as the Harpies swooped in, claws outstretched.
Lydia, who had no interest in joining the chaos, quickly leapt to the side, hiding behind a nearby rock. Stealth was more her ga — direct combat wasn't her style.
Horizon braced himself, his grip tightening around his weapon, while Von raised both hands in a mock gesture of peace. "Now, now, there's no need to be jealous, ladies," he called out with a cocky grin. "There's enough of for everyone!"
The Harpies shrieked in fury, they charge with anger.
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