We were out the Six Dice burrows before sunrise.

  Today was overcast, a slight chill was in the air, and the crops were covered in a fine morning dew. I suppressed a yawn as we walked to the eastern edge of town.

  Windthrow and I were quiet, not from any sense of awkwardness…we just wanted to stay longer.

  Last night had already taken on a dream-like quality. Had we really enjoyed a steamy bath underground? It was absurd! But it was real. Windthrow’s touch had made an indelible mark on me. Now, with the comforting feeling of his hand around mine, I wasn’t about to dismiss our time together.

  The fields were on either side as we walked the path out of the village. Soon this path would stop, and we’d be back in the wilderness. But first there was one last familiar face, one last familiar set of droopy ears.

  Standing by the path, just as it faded away, was Matriarch Sasha. She was hunched over, her hands behind her back, with a buck toothed scowl.

  “Took ya long enough,” she shouted as we approached. “What? Ya exhaust yourselves in the baths last night?”

  “It was very relaxing, Matriarch,” Windthrow replied. “Thank you again for your hospitality, and for seeing us off.”

  This man knew exactly when to take the lead, since I was already thinking of snarky responses to lob at the “Matriarch”. She’d been nothing but rude to me our entire stay!

  “Hmph, yeah yeah.” The Matriarch hobbled over to us, staring up at me with her gray eyes. “You’re too tall, kneel down.”

  Oh no, what was she planning this time…

  Windthrow nodded, gesturing downwards with his eyes. I let out a long sigh, and lowered myself onto one knee.

  A fluffy paw slowly rubbed the top of my head, between my horns.

  “You’re a good kid, don’t go dying out there…”

  Aww, she liked me! She really cared about me!

  “I won’t! I’ll be more careful and–”

  “Yeh fecking wreckless idiot,” she added.

  Spoke too soon…but she wasn’t exactly wrong.

  “Love you too Sasha!” I laughed, and gently batted at one of her droopy ears.

  “Oi! Now get going, yous got a long walk ahead.”

  Windthrow watched the exchange with a bemused smile. He bowed one last time. Then we left Six Dice behind, back into the unknowns of the Emel Weald.

  From the Harengon, we’d learned of a larger settlement on the eastern side of the Weald; perched on the shore of a small lake. It would likely take us a week to get there. The upside being that it should be close to the site of the Federation meeting. And the best part…no more damn swamps!

  Windthrow led us confidently forward. Weaving around twisting trees with shimmering blue leaves. Huge flowers sprung up everywhere, each brighter than the last.

  From time to time, he pointed out even more unusual fauna: Pockmarked mushrooms that rattled like a baby’s toy. Long razor sharp grasses with anticoagulant effects –that one made me particularly squeamish. Huge green clovers that shriveled up at the slightest touch.

  While we weren’t dealing with the stinking muck of the swamp, this part of the forest still held lots of dangerous surprises.

  During our first night, just after I sent an update to Cleyre with the Silver Raven, Windthrow let me know that he’d keep the first watch. Back to keeping watch! Great…it’s not like I was looking forward to a cuddle session!

  “What’s the look for Vylet?” He kneeled in front of me, illuminated by the campfire. “Are you pouting?”

  “I am not! It’s just– is it really that dangerous?”

  “Let’s see.” He held up his hands and started counting each finger. “Flesh eating twig monsters, giant wasps, several types of Fae-”

  “Alright! And I’ve fought the twig monster before; I kicked its woody ass!”

  “We’ll have plenty of time together once we reach the meeting.” He scratched below my chin and rubbed behind my horn.

  With not a hint of shame, I pushed myself against his touch.

  “Now go to bed, I’ll wake you in a few hours.”

  The next few days followed that pattern. In the day, Windthrow would lead us through this fever dream part of the Weald. Then he would –probably wisely– rebuff my advances come nightfall.

  Until, not long before we’d set up camp for the night, Windthrow held a single finger up to his lips.

  “Quiet, do you hear that?”

  I didn’t hear it, but I smelt it. Carried on the wind…burning wood, campfires, grease and meat, the arid sweat of multiple people. I nodded affirmatively. He lowered his hand, the signal for us to stay low and sneak.

  We crept forward. I carefully placed each talon, avoiding dry leaves or stray sticks. While Windthrow, in his almost supernatural way, moved with imperceptibly silent steps. Closer and closer. I finally heard them, people speaking –no, they were arguing.

  “For the last time! I’ll not send my Rangers on your risky fool’s errand!” said a smooth female voice.

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  “What risk! There’s no risk! Only glory! Imagine arriving at the meeting with gifts and treasures to celebrate the founding of the Federation!” replied a gruff male voice.

  “Um, if I might make a small interruption. I have several suggestions for your consideration,” said a small nasally voice.

  “Shut up! Outsiders don’t get to suggest anything. You’re lucky we don’t gut you like a fish!”

  Wow, she was a feisty one. My kinda gal.

  Looking towards Windthrow, as he hunched behind the foliage, I saw him mouth the word “friendly.”

  He stood up, brushed some stray leaves from his tunic, and held his hands high in the air.

  “Stay behind me and follow my lead. It should be fine but remember…not everyone is used to you,” he said.

  “Not used to my radiant scales, perfect horns and cute tail you mean?”

  “I’m serious Vylet, stay behind me.” He walked towards the voices. “But I do agree, your tail is cute.”

  We emerged from between the twisting trees, into a clearing. Five green tents were positioned around roaring campfires. On a hill in the distance, behind the camp, I saw stone ruins. Outlined by the light from the twin moons, they looked hella cursed.

  “I’m taking my Rangers back to our guild house tomorrow and that-”

  The slender, light-skinned elf, with a huge crossbow strapped to her back, stopped mid-sentence. She dove into a roll, taking out the crossbow mid dive.

  “Who are you?!” she shouted, pointing the crossbow at Windthrow.

  “Hold on there, him and his lady friend are peaceful. Isn’t that right?” said the man.

  He was an older orc, with a long white beard. Bulging muscles were visible between his plate mail. A skinny young gnome with thick glasses peeked at us from behind his leg.

  “Yes! We’re friendly! Both of us are heading to the Federation meeting from the western side of the Weald. A town called Sapwood,” Windthrow said. “My name’s Windthrow, and her name is Vylet.”

  “Good to meet you both! I’m Delemin, of the Warrior Guild and she’s Lancet, of the Ranger Guild.” He shook the gnome fellow off his leg like a gnat. “He’s Lec. From outside the Weald.”

  “Eh, Ms. Lancet. Could you put down the crossbow?” I said, finally deciding it was safe to speak.

  “No! What are you?!” Lancet shouted. “Your Dad fuck a dragon or something!”

  I shrugged, “Maybe. It's a long story. I’m from the Weald.”

  “Fine.” She restrapped the crossbow to her back. “Let no one say the Rangers Guild is unfriendly.”

  If that was “friendly” I’d hate to see what it was like when she was mean. And now that I was looking, she was almost as tall as Windthrow, and the way the crossbow strap accentuated her breasts under her low cut top…she was a bombshell!

  Now that we weren’t risking a crossbow bolt, we approached and sat next to the campfire. Delemin, Lancet, and Lec settled down next to us. A few more men and women were around the other campfire, eating and chatting with one another.

  “Sooo, are you and your friend good fighters? I see you have a bow, and Vylet a spear,” Delemin said, taking a bite out of a big slab of roasted meat. “Ah excuse me, there’s more hanging by the tent if you want a piece.”

  An elk carcass hung on a stick next to the tent, a jagged knife stuck out of it. Don’t mind if I do…

  “We can defend ourselves, but I wouldn’t–”

  “Nah, he’s being humble. We’re good fighters and a great team,” I interrupted, while cutting a slab of meat from the elk’s neck.

  “Actually, she’s exaggerating. We haven't even fought that much together,” he countered.

  I finished cutting off my meal, holding it between my claws, I sat back down next to Windthrow. Why did he look so annoyed?

  Delemin grinned widely and stroked his beard. Lancet looked at him and rolled her eyes.

  “Don’t even think about it Del,” she said. “They have nothing to do with this.”

  “See the spooky looking ruin on the hill, it’s occupied by a few dozen undead. I suspect they may be holding onto something worthwhile, problem is we don’t have enough men and women to take them,” Delemin said. “Unless we had a couple more stout fighters to help us…”

  Between bloody bites of the raw meat I said, “We…can help…with that.”

  “Vylet! I’m sorry but we can’t,” Windthrow interjected.

  “What do you mean, we can’t just not help!” I licked the tasty blood from my claws. Lancet grimaced at me.

  “Sounds like the little lady wants to fight,” Delemein said.

  “Dammit, fine. We’ll help,” Windthrow said. “But don’t expect us to be on the front lines!”

  He unpacked his bedroll and walked to the other fire, “I’m going to bed early.”

  “I’ll join you later!” I shouted after him.

  He didn’t respond. Lancet and Delemin shared a knowing look. The gnome, Lec, was furiously taking notes on a roll of parchment.

  “So Lec, if you’re not from here. Where are you from?” I asked.

  He looked up from his notes, peering at me from behind his thick glasses.

  “THANK YOU, for asking. I’m an explorer from the recently founded nation to the east called the Allied Resistance of Administered Constituents, ARAC, President Hearthtooth sent several explorers out to get a-”

  “Don’t talk to him,” Lancet said. “We agreed to keep him safe for the night. That’s all. And don’t you talk to her either Lec.”

  “Okay, my bad,” I replied. “Mind if I get some more of that meat.”

  She scowled, “Feel free”.

  Later that night, I threw down my bedroll next to Windthrow. We were by the fire, everyone else had retired to the tents.

  I dived onto the bedroll. Wrapping my arms around Windthrow from behind, I kissed his neck while rubbing his chest with my tail.

  “Windthrow Windthrow Windthrow! I know you’re awake,” I whispered. “Sorry for getting us involved.”

  “No. No, you’re not Vylet,” he said. “You just want to fight, haven’t you learnt anything? We don’t always have to put ourselves in danger”

  “I have, but I’m not gonna…not fight.” I kissed the side of his head, and moved my hands lower feeling more of his body.

  He lifted my hands off him, and scooted a bit further away.

  “Not tonight Vy, I need to be well rested. The battle at all.”

  “Shit. I only have myself to blame for that one.” I moved closer and pushed my body against his. “This much is fine, right?”

  No response, already asleep I guess.

  I woke up to the clatter of pots and pans, and to the sound of swords being sharpened. A few confused Rangers and Warriors gave me odd looks. Windthrow wasn’t beside me.

  Delemin barreled into the camp, a massive stone hammer was on his shoulder.

  “Come on! We’re about to discuss the plan for the assault on the ruins,” he bellowed.

  Oh god, in another world and still sleeping in late.

  I quickly packed my bedroll and jogged to the other side of the camp, where Lancet and Windthrow looked over a crudely drawn map. She was laughing and massaging his shoulder with her hand. And I barely noticed as she tapped his foot with hers.

  Looks like I’d be fighting two battles today.