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The group was relieved to take a rest stop where the weather was pleasant. The breeze was cool and shook the leaves of green grass and trees, but the sun was just warm enough for comfort. It was a convenient break from the stress of their latest and upcoming mission.
A particularly energetic someone was especially thrilled this time around.
In a grassy clearing sat the team's ball of sunshine herself, soaking in the pleasant afternoon sun. All was quiet besides her hums of contentment and the rustling of leaves.
"A mighty pleasant day to endure the outdoors!" She exclaimed to nobody in particular. The team had dispersed quite a bit — and she hit the jackpot being the first to find this quiet clearing.
Her peace was undisturbed by not a single creature in the forest, blissfully in solitude surrounded by the trees and—
A flash of red from the corner of her vision struck her attention. Immediately, she spun around, looking back and forth frantically to discover its owner.
"Who goes there!? What vile creature dare interrupt my restful sunbathe!?" The questions received no response. She must stay on high alert now!
With an effortful huff, she jumped to her feet, already in a defensive stance with her hand hovering the shaft of her lance.
Another sharp spin around and she caught glimpse of it again. Its bright red and feathery texture glittered in the sunlight before disappearing from her sight again. She gasped, turning again to find it.
Left. Right. Left again. She'd spun in circles where she was standing several times, but each time now proving more successful at tracking the unidentified feathery red thing. For some reason, it was circling her too only when she moved. Was it playing tricks on her with her own seemingly foolish behaviour!? How dare! She must pin it still with her mighty lance and—
"Humph—!"
Until she got dizzy and fell on her back in the grass.
She let out a deep sigh of exhaustion and accepted her position in the grass. The sunlight felt so nice, maybe just one more moment's rest...
Then she saw it again! There was no time to rest in a fight! The glimmering red feathers waved in the corner of her eye once, then twice, before she pounced.
"Hyah!! Got you now, you mischievous trickster!" She exclaimed with victorious excitement.
Upon closer examination, the creature she had finally pinned down was no longer moving. Or seemed to possess any living qualities at all. Regardless, her body thrummed with adrenaline and dopamine, her tail wagging as a result of the energy— "Eh?"
Oh... 'Tis of mine own...
Somewhere at the edge of the clearing, she could hear barely-stifled laughter directed her way. "Uh... Chiquita, you out here chasing your own tail again?" The taller brunette woman teased, watching from a fair distance away. The blonde was sitting in the middle of the sunny clearing, dumbfounded like a cat that got caught misbehaving.
"L-Lady Rodya!" She quickly recomposed herself, "A-art thou enjoying this fine weather bless'd upon us? I-I have been indeed!"
"C'mon, drop the act. I already saw you, girl." Rodion waved dismissively. "Better than making a scene on the bus though."
The blonde's tail laid flat on the ground now as she huffed, head hanging low and sounding dramatically sad. Woe be me, she thought, accepting defeat, for I hath been defeated by mine own tail... And caught in the act by a fellow companion...
Oh well, there would be more opportunities to catch actual monsters once their outdoor break is over.
