The trek through the wooded mountains would have already been exhausting enough, but added on to that, Maeve and Sokanon both had to carry their camp supplies along too.

       "Do you know how much farther this Oiguina is?" Maeve asked as she trudged along through mud, leaves, and sticks. "...You must have the route memorized, surely?"

        "Oiguina always moves camp. She never keeps her camp in the same place for more than a few days. ...Given how the lack of that impacted her before," Sokanon told Maeve as she led the way over twisted roots and under gnarled branches.

 "Before?" Maeve repeated with slight curiosity. "What happened before?"

       Sokanon slowly exhaled. "Yes... People—-hunters... foragers—-from coastal settlements... They'd raid her camp. ...take everything. Even threaten her. ...Now, it seems that her moving locations so constantly will help lessen the threat from it."

     Maeve listened to Sokanon's words and then nodded. "You're right. ...She shouldn't be actively threatened by the people in the settlements. What they do to her... Your people... It's cruel and unfair. ...Had justice systems been fully installed, they'd be properly punished. ...I'd make sure of it—-"

      Sokanon then told Maeve, "While that is a very kind sentiment of yours, I don't really need that sort of help."

      Maeve raised a red eyebrow as they continued walking. "Are you sure about that?"

       Sokanon nodded. "Yes... I assure you, I would be fine. I've got methods in place for that actually."

       "Care to share?" Maeve asked as a small, thin stick cracked underneath her boot.

       Sokanon then told her, "Yes, actually. Whenever someone tries to raid my camp, they think they have the upperhand. ...Because all they see is just me there. ...But I know stealth. ...And I know how to hide from men like that."

     "Do you set traps for them?" Maeve asked.

      Sokanon replied, "They think I do... They nervously—-but still with slight confidence in their performances—-navigate through the camp and its outskirts."

     "Then what do you do? ...if there's no traps... No nets and arrows."

      Sokanon sucked in a breath. "Well, I get up high, right? Vantage points give you the upper hand in these sort of situations. For me, that usually consists of perching myself in a tree... Getting nestled in the branches. Then... as they pass by, I take a knife and angle it just right... Aim it down, precisely. ...then I throw. It usually gets lodged in their ankle or calf. They freak out and take off running, thinking they 'pissed off the spirits of the land'. ...Never to be seen again."

     "Never to be seen again?" The witch questioned Sokanon. "What do you mean?"

       Sokanon shrugged. "Well, I meant that I don't ever see them dare step foot in my camps again but..." She inhaled. "...Who knows. Maybe I nicked one of their arteries or veins and they bled out and got eaten by bears."

      Maeve tried to hold in a laugh at that. "Maybe. ...It would be well deserved for them."

       "It would," Sokanon nodded in agreement as they made it up the hill. She inhaled and told Maeve, "This... This is Oiguina's camp."

       And as if on cue, as Maeve began to take in the entire sight of it, a shorter, young woman approached, giving Sokanon a smile.

       "Soka," the woman greeted, only for Sokanon to greet her back.

        Maeve's glance trailed over to the young woman who had just approached them. 

         The woman's posture, stance... Voice... the glow of her... She was... human.

         Sokanon told the witch, "This is Oiguina... My old friend." She looked over to her friend and said, "This is Maeve. She needs our help."

       Oiguina looked at Maeve with a polite grin. "...What can we help you with?"

        Maeve didn't speak. She was still in awe that her friend was... human. Sokanon's friend was mortal.

        Sokanon spoke for Maeve, "We're looking for her friend. Trying to track him down. He left the settlement and no one has heard from him since."

       Oiguina nodded. "Alright. We'll start the search. Come on... into the camp. Your trek must've been long. You should give yourselves a moment of rest." She led the way down into the camp.

     Sokanon gave Maeve a glance before following Oiguina.

      Maeve stood dead in her tracks for just a moment, blinking away the thoughts she had whirling about in her mind before following them both. Maybe she was starting to trust Sokanon... just a bit.