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Description

    Across the swamp to the west was a dense forest. Unlike the woods that surrounded the area this forest was dark and overgrown. The trees were rotted and twisted, reaching out and nearly blocking out any light that tried to penetrate to the ground. The terrain was broken and ragged with thin bushes and dense corrupted foliage making any sense of the forests scale or configuration nearly impossible to gauge. Cutting through this overgrown wasteland was a path of stone, similar to the one that shot through the swampy muck but this carving through the tress and bushes. The path was clean and untouched as if the trees and plants of the forest feared to touch it.

    The group of six foxes moved cautiously through the forest, keeping safe to the path, eager to reach the end and reunite with the others at the ruin they had set off to together.

    Shina was the leader of the second group, and she was tall and thin, almost lanky. She had black wavy hair to her shoulders and dark brown eyes. Her face was round with a bud nose and an innocent always smiling type of mouth. She wore a black sleeveless top and black padded fingerless gloves. Her arms were well muscled and her knuckles red from hits from previous battles. She wore double crisscrossed belts and a small white skirt. Her long legs were bare and her feet adorned with nothing save an anklet on her right ankle. Shinas feet, unlike her hands were flawless. When standing still her heels naturally lifted, exposing the soft looking skin of her soles. This was her first time leading a unit and she was eager to prove to Leeka that she was ready for it. She took up the lead position and was focused on the direction they were going. She took a moment to look back to the others and gave them a reassuring smile. “We seem to be making good progress. Should not be too much longer.”

    “I don’t how you came up with that estimation.” The next fox replied behind Shina. Her name was Chex and she was a well-muscled feminine fox with long hair braided into buns framing her face. She had pale blue hair and mismatched eyes, one silver the other blue. A long scar cut into one side of her face leaving her with limited version in her left eye. She wore a simple red leather halter and tan leggings that ended mid calf. She had a sword on her back, attached with a black leather strap. Her feet are small and slender with a high arch, her toes are short but not stubby. She wore no nail polish but keeps her toenails well maintained. On the second toe of her right foot rested a toe ring, a gift from a past lover that will not seem to come off no matter what Chex tried. She looked to Shina, realising her curt nature was not necessary in such a time. “Sorry Shina, I know you are doing your best.”

    “Thanks Chex.” Shina replied as she looked back at the others. “I don’t think anyone can really be used to this place so we can only strive to do our best.”

    “We always do.” Titanya added as she reached the front of the group. She was a buff and grizzled fox with a hard stern face that no one had ever recalled seen smiling. She was older than most of the other foxes but could easily outpace most with her speed and strength. She had shoulder length black hair and her hard grey eyes reflect wisdom beyond years. Her skin was nicely tanned from years of outdoor activity and her outfit was s simple bathing suit style outfit that showed off her strong yet generous curves. On her back was a massive full moon axe that looked like it had seen a lot of action. Her feet were heavily used yet well maintained and smooth looking. She wore a toe ring on each toe, each for someone special to her and all enchanted to not come off. She was a woman of few words, preferring action over conversation.

    Behind Titanya was Mango, a cuddly charismatic young fox girl with yellowy orange hair and a short curvy body. She wore a pale white tank top with small shoulder and arm armor, a small orange skirt over booty shorts with bare legs completing the look. Her feet were small and cute with bright orange painted toes and a series of anklets on her right foot. She was the most inexperienced of the foxes, not yet having chosen a weapon and instead carrying a long knife on her hip. She was enthusiastic and looked up to the other girls with admiration and excitement, which was how she held back her fear of the mission. “You have seen places like this before, right? This is no big deal to strong seasoned adventurers like you right?”

    “What would be the fun of that?” A fox girl said as they walked up behind the others. Drell was a short and spunky fox girl with short curly brown hair and bright blue eyes, she wore a brown sleeveless jerkin and short pants cut off at the calf. A pair of daggers rested behind her hips that were worn with use. She carried an extensive pack of thieves’ tools and was an expert in using them. Her feet were cute with round heels and cute toes, her pinky toes always stuck out slightly when she put weight on them. “Every adventure is new and something we haven’t seen before, anything else would be boring.”

    “Ummm, guys I think I found something new and not boring.” A voice said from the rear. Riffen was a tall thin fox girl with short dirty blonde hair and small glasses perched on her nose. She was dressed in a tight long sleaved top with a large pouch belt with multiple pouches filled with potions and components. She wore long pants and a small backpack just above her tail. Her bare feet were long and elegant her toes long enough to get her teased when she was younger but currently a thing, she was secretly proud of as she kept them painted with a sparkly silver polish. “The path is doing something weird.”

    “What do you mean weird?” Shina asked as she walked to the back of the group, finding Riffen facing back the way we came. “Is everything ok?”

    “Well, I saw some bushes nearby when I took a look back that had a rare blossom.” Riffen explained. “Decided to go back and take a closer look and I discovered something troubling and I’m hoping it’s not just me.”

    Shina looked at her with a confused look. “What did you discover.”

    “Try and walk past me.” Riffen commented. “If you don’t mind.”

    Shina shrugged and took a couple of steps but when she reached where Riffen was her feet locked to the path and prevented her from taking another step. Shina gasped as she looked down at her feet. “I’m stuck!”

    “Shina!” Chex said as she went to rush to her side but Titanya put out an arm to stop her.

    “Relax she’s not stuck.” Riffen commented as she took a step toward the rest of the group. “It only seems to be preventing us from going back.”

    Shina gave her feet a few more experimental tugs to confirm her feet could in fact not make any progress forward before stepping back freely. She let out a sigh of relief. “Yeah, I’m free now.”

    “Let me try.” Chex said as she marched forward but once she reached the edge of the group her feet locked as if set in cement. “This is so strange as long as I am trying to go forward nothing moves.”

    “I don’t want to get caught up in that.” Mango commented. “My feet are so sensitive.”

    “You already are.” Titanya said as she looked down at her own feet. She lifted one off the ground and tried to go up on the heel of her other foot, the curse grabbing the foot still on the path and locking it up. “This path likely took hold of us the second we placed soles upon it.”

    “No!” Mango said, nearly turning in place, feeling the curse keep a hold of one foot at a time and ready for any of her attempts to escape. “Get it off!”

    “Calm down!” Shina said as she walked over to Mango and put her hands on her shoulders. “This is just part of the adventure and getting our feet uncursed it just one challenge we need to solve.”

    “I would imagine this is to keep us heading to the ruins.” Drell added. “The way to undo it is there.”

    “Another challenge.” Mango said as she took a deep breath. “I can deal with that.”

    Chex released her feet by heading back to the others and after Mango seemed calmed down and was able to continue, they headed off again toward the ruin. Despite the ideas that they were close the path seemed to go on and on. The group continued forward until they saw a strange sight ahead. It was a tree grown up to the side of the path, on it was a tall pale skinned woman, she was strung up like an X her hands and feet seeming to sink into the very wood of the tree.

    “A favor if I might ask?” The pale skinned woman asked.

    “Ummm, sure.” Shina said as she walked up, still trying to figure out the situation. “What is it?”

    “I have an itch in my armpit like you would not believe.” The woman commented. “Scratch it?”

    “Stuck I take it?” Chex asked.

    “Oh, I’m stuck alright.” The trapped fox girl responded. “My name is Yara, the itch is killing me I’m afraid…left armpit.”

    “Can’t you use your tail?” Chex asked.

    Yara looked down to her tail and flicked it, revealing the tip of it was indented into the trunk of the tree, locking the tail in place, allowing it only to squirm. “Sorry, that’s stuck too.”

    “I’ll do it.” Titanya said as she stepped forward. “Any reference to what I scratch with?”

    “Anything.” Yara responded.

    Titanya unsheathed her claws on both hands and leaned in. She gently stroked the girl’s armpit. Yara moaned loudly as if she had endured it for hours, her itch finally relieved.

    “I’m sorry about that.” Yara replied, “But that felt so good.”

    “Don’t mention it.” Titanya said as she looked to the others. “Not the weirdest thing we’ve discovered today.”

    “I’m sorry.” Yara replied. “I don’t suppose you could get me out of this mess?”

    “We are going to try.” Shina said as she started to examine the tree. Behind her Titanya flicked her hands, trying to retract her claws.

    “You ok there Titanya?” Chex asked.

    “I cant get my claws to retract.” Titanya replied as she flicked her hands again. “Both hands.”

    “It’s this forest.” Yara commented, “It messes with everything.”

    “Titanya held her hands up and strained, finding her claws quite securely locked in the kill position. “Well claws are stuck out it seems.”

    “Well use them to get me out of this tree!” Yara commented. “It just grabbed me and now I’m stuck like this.”

    “No one else use your claws though.” Shina added. “We cant risk us all getting our claws locked and loosing out dexterity.”

    “I’ll help in another way.” Chex added, she stepped forward and grabbed the branch closest to her and heaved, it was like stone, not even budging. Chex’s arms flexed and her underarms dripped with sweat but the branch would not even sway. Titanya began to scratch at the tree, the bark scratching but the underneath surface refusing to give way. Drell drew a knife, bent down and began to tear at the wood surrounding the girls feet that had its wood locked around her ankles. Titanya carefully drew her axe and struggled to get a good grip. She swung it at the tree and though she managed to cut into it a bit she was completely unable to withdraw her axe.

    “My axe is stuck!” Titanya called out in shock. “It’s like its welded to the tree by a blacksmith!”

    Riffen tok out her kit and began to examine the material of the wood, trying to find a weakness. “Can you move your hands or feet at all?” Riffen asked to Yara.

    “I can’t actually feel my hands or feet at all.” Yara admitted.

    “Nothing at all if you try and strain them?” Mango asked.

    Yara grunted. “Nothing! Its like I don’t have hands or feet.”

    Riffen prodded at Yara’s ankles. “The tree has become petrified and it seems to have petrified your hands and feet as well.”

    “So you cant get them out?” Yara asked.

    “Yara….” Riffen began. “You don’t have hands or feet anymore. They are now fused and part of the same stone as this tree is. “Your hands and feet cant be saved. Even if we could get through this wood there’s no way to find where it ends, and you begin.”

    “Amputation then?” Chex offered. Mango gave her a death glare at the simple suggestion.

    “I’d never get out of her without them.” Yara sighed. “I’d bleed out before we got to a healer.

    “Yeah and since we cant walk back along the path because of the curse we could not even try.” Drell commented.

    “I’m stuck.” Yara sighed. “I will have to wait for the rest of my group or you guys to solve the ruins riddle and come back for me."

    “I’m afraid that’s about the most of it.” Shina replied as she walked over to the girl’s tail. “Most of your tail is out I could probably rip it free.”

    “Do it.” Yara commented. “At least I will have something.”

    Shina and Chex grabbed Yara’s tail and braced their feet against the tree, they pulled with all their might, straining the bones in Yara’s tail as they bulged their muscles. They tried at first to dislodge the tail but seemed the tip was as petrified as the rest. The pair strained harder, trying to break the stone or the tail, whatever would give first but neither would.

    “Hey, you might want to get your feet off of that tree.” Drell commented. “It has one victim and an axe and there’s nothing to stop it from claiming another of us.”

    “I’m sorry.” Shina said as she was let go and stepped back. “You are too tough I’d tear every bone of your tail apart trying to free it and the tip would still be stuck.”

    “So, my hands and feet are forever frozen, and my tail is locked in indestructible stone?” Yara asked.

    “Yes.” Chex admitted as she stepped back. “You will likely never ever be as you were before”

    Yara grunted as she strained. “I have to get out of this.”

    The group stood back and watched the girl stain, watching her muscles fight a battle they could not win. They knew that they could not free the girl…nothing could.

    “Just go!” Yara called out in frustration. “Leave me!”

    “No matter what happens we will come back for you.” Shina explained. “We will find a solution to this I promise.”

    “Then do it!” Yara shouted. “The sooner you leave the sooner I get out!”

    Shina looked to the others before beginning to walk. The group followed her, not daring a look back even as they heard Yara strain and struggle against her impossible bonds. Though the girl was not part of their team no one liked leaving her behind, but the solution was ahead and not behind…besides not like they could walk back to her anymore if they wanted to.

-

Description

    Across the swamp to the west was a dense forest. Unlike the woods that surrounded the area this forest was dark and overgrown. The trees were rotted and twisted, reaching out and nearly blocking out any light that tried to penetrate to the ground. The terrain was broken and ragged with thin bushes and dense corrupted foliage making any sense of the forests scale or configuration nearly impossible to gauge. Cutting through this overgrown wasteland was a path of stone, similar to the one that shot through the swampy muck but this carving through the tress and bushes. The path was clean and untouched as if the trees and plants of the forest feared to touch it.

    The group of six foxes moved cautiously through the forest, keeping safe to the path, eager to reach the end and reunite with the others at the ruin they had set off to together.

    Shina was the leader of the second group, and she was tall and thin, almost lanky. She had black wavy hair to her shoulders and dark brown eyes. Her face was round with a bud nose and an innocent always smiling type of mouth. She wore a black sleeveless top and black padded fingerless gloves. Her arms were well muscled and her knuckles red from hits from previous battles. She wore double crisscrossed belts and a small white skirt. Her long legs were bare and her feet adorned with nothing save an anklet on her right ankle. Shinas feet, unlike her hands were flawless. When standing still her heels naturally lifted, exposing the soft looking skin of her soles. This was her first time leading a unit and she was eager to prove to Leeka that she was ready for it. She took up the lead position and was focused on the direction they were going. She took a moment to look back to the others and gave them a reassuring smile. “We seem to be making good progress. Should not be too much longer.”

    “I don’t how you came up with that estimation.” The next fox replied behind Shina. Her name was Chex and she was a well-muscled feminine fox with long hair braided into buns framing her face. She had pale blue hair and mismatched eyes, one silver the other blue. A long scar cut into one side of her face leaving her with limited version in her left eye. She wore a simple red leather halter and tan leggings that ended mid calf. She had a sword on her back, attached with a black leather strap. Her feet are small and slender with a high arch, her toes are short but not stubby. She wore no nail polish but keeps her toenails well maintained. On the second toe of her right foot rested a toe ring, a gift from a past lover that will not seem to come off no matter what Chex tried. She looked to Shina, realising her curt nature was not necessary in such a time. “Sorry Shina, I know you are doing your best.”

    “Thanks Chex.” Shina replied as she looked back at the others. “I don’t think anyone can really be used to this place so we can only strive to do our best.”

    “We always do.” Titanya added as she reached the front of the group. She was a buff and grizzled fox with a hard stern face that no one had ever recalled seen smiling. She was older than most of the other foxes but could easily outpace most with her speed and strength. She had shoulder length black hair and her hard grey eyes reflect wisdom beyond years. Her skin was nicely tanned from years of outdoor activity and her outfit was s simple bathing suit style outfit that showed off her strong yet generous curves. On her back was a massive full moon axe that looked like it had seen a lot of action. Her feet were heavily used yet well maintained and smooth looking. She wore a toe ring on each toe, each for someone special to her and all enchanted to not come off. She was a woman of few words, preferring action over conversation.

    Behind Titanya was Mango, a cuddly charismatic young fox girl with yellowy orange hair and a short curvy body. She wore a pale white tank top with small shoulder and arm armor, a small orange skirt over booty shorts with bare legs completing the look. Her feet were small and cute with bright orange painted toes and a series of anklets on her right foot. She was the most inexperienced of the foxes, not yet having chosen a weapon and instead carrying a long knife on her hip. She was enthusiastic and looked up to the other girls with admiration and excitement, which was how she held back her fear of the mission. “You have seen places like this before, right? This is no big deal to strong seasoned adventurers like you right?”

    “What would be the fun of that?” A fox girl said as they walked up behind the others. Drell was a short and spunky fox girl with short curly brown hair and bright blue eyes, she wore a brown sleeveless jerkin and short pants cut off at the calf. A pair of daggers rested behind her hips that were worn with use. She carried an extensive pack of thieves’ tools and was an expert in using them. Her feet were cute with round heels and cute toes, her pinky toes always stuck out slightly when she put weight on them. “Every adventure is new and something we haven’t seen before, anything else would be boring.”

    “Ummm, guys I think I found something new and not boring.” A voice said from the rear. Riffen was a tall thin fox girl with short dirty blonde hair and small glasses perched on her nose. She was dressed in a tight long sleaved top with a large pouch belt with multiple pouches filled with potions and components. She wore long pants and a small backpack just above her tail. Her bare feet were long and elegant her toes long enough to get her teased when she was younger but currently a thing, she was secretly proud of as she kept them painted with a sparkly silver polish. “The path is doing something weird.”

    “What do you mean weird?” Shina asked as she walked to the back of the group, finding Riffen facing back the way we came. “Is everything ok?”

    “Well, I saw some bushes nearby when I took a look back that had a rare blossom.” Riffen explained. “Decided to go back and take a closer look and I discovered something troubling and I’m hoping it’s not just me.”

    Shina looked at her with a confused look. “What did you discover.”

    “Try and walk past me.” Riffen commented. “If you don’t mind.”

    Shina shrugged and took a couple of steps but when she reached where Riffen was her feet locked to the path and prevented her from taking another step. Shina gasped as she looked down at her feet. “I’m stuck!”

    “Shina!” Chex said as she went to rush to her side but Titanya put out an arm to stop her.

    “Relax she’s not stuck.” Riffen commented as she took a step toward the rest of the group. “It only seems to be preventing us from going back.”

    Shina gave her feet a few more experimental tugs to confirm her feet could in fact not make any progress forward before stepping back freely. She let out a sigh of relief. “Yeah, I’m free now.”

    “Let me try.” Chex said as she marched forward but once she reached the edge of the group her feet locked as if set in cement. “This is so strange as long as I am trying to go forward nothing moves.”

    “I don’t want to get caught up in that.” Mango commented. “My feet are so sensitive.”

    “You already are.” Titanya said as she looked down at her own feet. She lifted one off the ground and tried to go up on the heel of her other foot, the curse grabbing the foot still on the path and locking it up. “This path likely took hold of us the second we placed soles upon it.”

    “No!” Mango said, nearly turning in place, feeling the curse keep a hold of one foot at a time and ready for any of her attempts to escape. “Get it off!”

    “Calm down!” Shina said as she walked over to Mango and put her hands on her shoulders. “This is just part of the adventure and getting our feet uncursed it just one challenge we need to solve.”

    “I would imagine this is to keep us heading to the ruins.” Drell added. “The way to undo it is there.”

    “Another challenge.” Mango said as she took a deep breath. “I can deal with that.”

    Chex released her feet by heading back to the others and after Mango seemed calmed down and was able to continue, they headed off again toward the ruin. Despite the ideas that they were close the path seemed to go on and on. The group continued forward until they saw a strange sight ahead. It was a tree grown up to the side of the path, on it was a tall pale skinned woman, she was strung up like an X her hands and feet seeming to sink into the very wood of the tree.

    “A favor if I might ask?” The pale skinned woman asked.

    “Ummm, sure.” Shina said as she walked up, still trying to figure out the situation. “What is it?”

    “I have an itch in my armpit like you would not believe.” The woman commented. “Scratch it?”

    “Stuck I take it?” Chex asked.

    “Oh, I’m stuck alright.” The trapped fox girl responded. “My name is Yara, the itch is killing me I’m afraid…left armpit.”

    “Can’t you use your tail?” Chex asked.

    Yara looked down to her tail and flicked it, revealing the tip of it was indented into the trunk of the tree, locking the tail in place, allowing it only to squirm. “Sorry, that’s stuck too.”

    “I’ll do it.” Titanya said as she stepped forward. “Any reference to what I scratch with?”

    “Anything.” Yara responded.

    Titanya unsheathed her claws on both hands and leaned in. She gently stroked the girl’s armpit. Yara moaned loudly as if she had endured it for hours, her itch finally relieved.

    “I’m sorry about that.” Yara replied, “But that felt so good.”

    “Don’t mention it.” Titanya said as she looked to the others. “Not the weirdest thing we’ve discovered today.”

    “I’m sorry.” Yara replied. “I don’t suppose you could get me out of this mess?”

    “We are going to try.” Shina said as she started to examine the tree. Behind her Titanya flicked her hands, trying to retract her claws.

    “You ok there Titanya?” Chex asked.

    “I cant get my claws to retract.” Titanya replied as she flicked her hands again. “Both hands.”

    “It’s this forest.” Yara commented, “It messes with everything.”

    “Titanya held her hands up and strained, finding her claws quite securely locked in the kill position. “Well claws are stuck out it seems.”

    “Well use them to get me out of this tree!” Yara commented. “It just grabbed me and now I’m stuck like this.”

    “No one else use your claws though.” Shina added. “We cant risk us all getting our claws locked and loosing out dexterity.”

    “I’ll help in another way.” Chex added, she stepped forward and grabbed the branch closest to her and heaved, it was like stone, not even budging. Chex’s arms flexed and her underarms dripped with sweat but the branch would not even sway. Titanya began to scratch at the tree, the bark scratching but the underneath surface refusing to give way. Drell drew a knife, bent down and began to tear at the wood surrounding the girls feet that had its wood locked around her ankles. Titanya carefully drew her axe and struggled to get a good grip. She swung it at the tree and though she managed to cut into it a bit she was completely unable to withdraw her axe.

    “My axe is stuck!” Titanya called out in shock. “It’s like its welded to the tree by a blacksmith!”

    Riffen tok out her kit and began to examine the material of the wood, trying to find a weakness. “Can you move your hands or feet at all?” Riffen asked to Yara.

    “I can’t actually feel my hands or feet at all.” Yara admitted.

    “Nothing at all if you try and strain them?” Mango asked.

    Yara grunted. “Nothing! Its like I don’t have hands or feet.”

    Riffen prodded at Yara’s ankles. “The tree has become petrified and it seems to have petrified your hands and feet as well.”

    “So you cant get them out?” Yara asked.

    “Yara….” Riffen began. “You don’t have hands or feet anymore. They are now fused and part of the same stone as this tree is. “Your hands and feet cant be saved. Even if we could get through this wood there’s no way to find where it ends, and you begin.”

    “Amputation then?” Chex offered. Mango gave her a death glare at the simple suggestion.

    “I’d never get out of her without them.” Yara sighed. “I’d bleed out before we got to a healer.

    “Yeah and since we cant walk back along the path because of the curse we could not even try.” Drell commented.

    “I’m stuck.” Yara sighed. “I will have to wait for the rest of my group or you guys to solve the ruins riddle and come back for me."

    “I’m afraid that’s about the most of it.” Shina replied as she walked over to the girl’s tail. “Most of your tail is out I could probably rip it free.”

    “Do it.” Yara commented. “At least I will have something.”

    Shina and Chex grabbed Yara’s tail and braced their feet against the tree, they pulled with all their might, straining the bones in Yara’s tail as they bulged their muscles. They tried at first to dislodge the tail but seemed the tip was as petrified as the rest. The pair strained harder, trying to break the stone or the tail, whatever would give first but neither would.

    “Hey, you might want to get your feet off of that tree.” Drell commented. “It has one victim and an axe and there’s nothing to stop it from claiming another of us.”

    “I’m sorry.” Shina said as she was let go and stepped back. “You are too tough I’d tear every bone of your tail apart trying to free it and the tip would still be stuck.”

    “So, my hands and feet are forever frozen, and my tail is locked in indestructible stone?” Yara asked.

    “Yes.” Chex admitted as she stepped back. “You will likely never ever be as you were before”

    Yara grunted as she strained. “I have to get out of this.”

    The group stood back and watched the girl stain, watching her muscles fight a battle they could not win. They knew that they could not free the girl…nothing could.

    “Just go!” Yara called out in frustration. “Leave me!”

    “No matter what happens we will come back for you.” Shina explained. “We will find a solution to this I promise.”

    “Then do it!” Yara shouted. “The sooner you leave the sooner I get out!”

    Shina looked to the others before beginning to walk. The group followed her, not daring a look back even as they heard Yara strain and struggle against her impossible bonds. Though the girl was not part of their team no one liked leaving her behind, but the solution was ahead and not behind…besides not like they could walk back to her anymore if they wanted to.

-