The forest is quiet and peaceful. Early afternoon sunlight filters through the canopy and forms warm golden pools between the roots of the towering trees.

The path here looks... not exactly well-kept, because that would imply some sign of a keeper. It looks like it just naturally happened to turn out very convenient and aesthetically pleasing. There are no holes in the ground or stray roots or fallen branches lurking in the leaf litter to catch an unwary ankle. The trees are adorned with climbing vines that dangle brilliant golden flowers like lanterns alongside the gently curving trail. Up ahead, the path opens out into a large clearing, half-shaded by the surrounding trees and populated by a selection of round mossy stones that one might sit on if one were so inclined.

"Where are we? This looks almost like one of the Forteri's gardens, but it's not," Korafen murmers in Ikrifiss's language.

Ikrifiss doesn't ask if she's sure. If she weren't sure she wouldn't have said it. "I didn't know that Haresz had any kind of teleportation magic at all. A wild power, probably. Is there any reason to think we're still on the same continent?" she replies in Korafen's.

"None that I can think of. Damn. At least he has no credibility, not where you're concerned. If it takes us months to get home we shouldn't have to deal with that, at least."

The forest offers no commentary on their troubles, and no evidence that there are any other people in it. An unfamiliar bird swoops past, tweeting melodically.

"A path probably mean civilization relatively nearby, anyway. Pick a direction?"

"Clearing looks well-kept. Might find some people without having to walk who-knows-how long. I have no idea how long this path is in either direction--and it has water, not to be discounted in this kind of situation. It would probably make sense to stick around a bit."

"Your logic is sound. Clearing it is."

There is indeed a tiny stream winding through the clearing, bridged by a large flat rock near the middle, although in most places you could cross it with a single extra-long step. It's all extremely lovely.

Quaint. The effect is probably better appreciated by consenting visitors. Not that it's the forest's fault Ikrifiss has a violent would-be suitor. Ikrifiss kneels by the stream and drinks water from cupped hands.

The water has a subtle, pleasant taste, and seems clean and fresh.

A creature steps between the trees into the clearing. It's definitely some sort of ungulate, resembling a horse in its hooves, mane, and tail, but with a body structured more like a deer's. A single straight horn grows from its forehead. Its fur is deep black; hooves, horn, mane, and tail are all a pale gold just this side of white, and all glowing faintly in the same colour.

It greets them hesitantly in an unfamiliar language.

It's gorgeous.

Do they have a different Basic on other continents? Maybe it's speaking a more specific local language. It's not totally implausible that if someone had randomly ended up in a Forteri garden they would be addressed in High Court.

"Hello, we're very lost," she tries in Basic.

It swishes its beautiful tail and says another indecipherable thing. So apparently they do have a different Basic here.

Which is really ignoring the more important question of why is there a talking ungulate. Some kind of shapeshifting magic? She can't recall anything relevant but that needn't mean anything. Well, they'll just have to learn this language, and maybe initiate some kind of linguistic merger--no point in Basic if everyone can't speak it, after all. ...It's not speaking its personal language, is it, that would be awkward.

Korafen: Is way ahead of her, cheerfully pointing at things and naming them and soliciting translations.

The talking ungulate seems slightly nervous at first, but after a few iterations his nervousness abates and he's happily naming objects for Korafen.

Here's a word for 'sun', and one for a beam of sunlight, and one for the illuminated spots the sunbeams make on the ground, and when the talking ungulate says that word he stops and swishes his tail and rears up slightly and says it again, arching his neck in the way you might if you wanted to point at yourself but your best pointing apparatus was inconveniently sticking out of your forehead.

Gosh what a pretty language. Is this even a Basic? That seems awfully specialized for a Basic. Whatever, she can deal with social repercussions when they can communicate better. She points at him and repeats the word queryingly.

Nod nod. "Sunpatch!" he repeats, with that awkward self-pointing gesture, and then ducks his head to point at Korafen and asks a question, which in context is probably 'and what's your name?'.

"Korafen. Korafen al Midera." She points at Ikrifiss. "Ikrifiss al Alezi."

Nod nod. "Nice to meet you, Korafen! Nice to meet you, Ikrifiss!"

"Nice to meet you," she parrots sincerely.

"Would that it were under better circumstances," Ikrifiss mutters (in Basic, since the vocabulary hasn't gotten nearly that complicated yet). "Nice to meet you. Less nice to be here," she says in the local language.

Sunpatch shifts his weight uncertainly. "Why are you here - how did you get here - where did you come from?" he wonders, although they've only covered about half these words so far.

The rest are pretty easy to guess, under the circumstances. "I don't know if you know words for where," she tries. "You don't speak Basic. We thought everyone spoke Basic."

"Why would everyone speak Basic?" he wonders. "This is the Forest. We speak Sylvan."