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> Explore the cottage to the north
Mel looked out past the tombs. The thought of poking her head into the strange structures looking for old treasures buried with the dead crossed her mind but she shelved it for the moment, it was probably pitch black inside. Her gaze settled on the cottage where a gentle plume of smoke drifted upward. A chimney perhaps? Outright charity was probably a rarity in these parts, but there might be some favor or exchange she could make. Or theft if it came to that, but anyone she met was probably more experienced than herself.
With a plan in mind she headed out and off the hilltop, through the forest. It wasn’t long before she stumbled across a simple well trod path, probably forged by the owner of the cottage. Ten minutes of travel lead her to a fork, one path most likely leading to the cottage, the other veering off to the side. Even from here Mel could see the vegetation of the side path shifting in strange ways, with vibrant and lurid colors creeping in and strange multi-color flowers. Something to explore another time.
Another five minutes down the path lead to a thick hedge of rose bushes, red and yellow blooms flourishing. A low drone of bees, many bees, filled the air, some visible wandering the blooms. The path cut through a small opening in the hedge and led to the cottage, now plainly visible, several smaller sheds and coops a short distance from the cottage and nestled against the hedge. On the other side a chicken squawked angrily.
Mel passed through the hedge cautiously, looking around until her eyes fell on the owner, a young woman, smiling as she worked her way through a patch of sunflowers, pulling weeds, trimming dead leaves, and outright cutting down a few of the golden flowers to add to a basket. Mel raised a hand to say hello when something a giant black blur slammed into her.
