PreludeIn a cozy office room, comfortably appointed with a variety of plush, royal blue cushioned seats and dark wood furnishings, sat a man. Brigire Are, a nobleman – for today at least – of little note y on a thickly padded couch facing a floor to ceiling window. The window was accented by thick blue curtains with gold trim. Within the window, framed by it’s dark cquered wood, was a forest. An endless forest beyond towering white walls which glimmered in the setting sun's golden light.

  Brigire y on his back, head on one armrest, feet up on the other. From the sleeve of his thick, warm blue frock coat over a cream frilled tunic, extended two completely normal hands. Completely normally, one of his hands propped his head up as he looked ahead at his other hand. That hand, also completely normally, was extended in front of Brigire.

  What wasn’t normal about it, was that it was glowing. Brigire moved his glowing left hand through the air, slowly drawing symbols in the air with the trails left by their motion. Though that isn’t technically true. For anyone of this world the Solux natural ability to make their skin glow would actually be quite normal. So would the arcane sigils he was drawing be normal, though indecipherable to most.

  Brigire stopped drawing for a moment, turning to the open window and smiling as a cool Autumn breeze filled the room. Brigire took a deep breath, closing his eyes.

  “Fairies? In my lifetime? Haha!” Brigire shouted and his hands moved faster, altering the Inscription he had been working on. A head popped in adorned with rge furry angur ears, each as big as the head of the straight faced girl they belonged to.

  “Everything alright, Sir?” The girl asked, one ear twitching around the room.

  “Yes yes, everythings fine, just something exciting drifting on the wind.” Brigire waved the hand under their head at the door. The girl nodded and her head disappeared out of the room. Brigire’s hand ceased glowing as his inscription reached completion. He pressed his hand through one of the circles of the Inscription in the air. Light bent around his hand and he grabbed it as if it were a physical thing, he pulled it through the circle then looped it back through the other circle.

  “There.” Brigire said, standing up his rge coat fring around his legs as he walked over to the window. His hand traced the light, gently bent into the room through the window as he grinned. He stopped before the window, putting both hands behind his back as he stood straight, enjoying the warmth of the thick carpet on his bare feet.

  “That should ensure I have front row seats to the show.” He ughed, a soft ugh, an excited ugh. The kind of ugh a child might make when they get a new toy.

  “I think this is going to be an interesting Gildernacht.”

  Force2reckon

  “Are we sure it’s a magical world?”

  “Aye, it’s magical alrigh’, lights bendin’ northwar’ ya see?”

  “No Pip, I don’t see, see?! I’m a human girl not a Spiras!”

  “An’ who’s faul’ is tha’ ss?”

  Temate half smiled as his two companions argued, quietly after the dressing down he gave them earlier. The two were maybe 10 feet ahead of him as they followed Pipuck, who insisted that the light was flowing North. They also insisted that meant there was civilization to the north. Toni kept trying to get Pipuck to expin it in more detail and Pipuck insisted that if she couldn’t see it, they couldn’t help her.

  Temate looked around and had to agree with Toni to some degree. This forest was old growth but it wasn’t remarkably magical. Alright, the tree’s were significantly rger than he thought trees could grow, but the forest was normal otherwise. Towering conifers covered the sky. Algae, moss, fungi and other clinging pnts grew from old rotten fallen trees or up the sides of living ones. Here and there resilient undergrowth stuck up from between the carpet of needles fallen off the trees. All things considered it’s exactly the same as the forest Toni and Temate first entered to go camping in before all this began.

  As their little party continued onward Toni gave up her fight with Pipuck and slowed to walk beside Temate. Pip was perfectly happy with this, leading the party on as they began to whistle softly. Temate was going to tell them not to do that but stopped, it almost perfectly imitated the bird song going on around them. So Temate changed the target of his slowly opening mouth to the cross-armed grumpy girl slowly sliding into step beside him.

  “How are you doing?” He asked. Toni gred at him without any real anger then sighed.

  “It’s…” She trailed off into thought, Temate gently bumped her shoulder with his fist.

  “Now who’s trailing off.” He said, smiling at her annoyed face until she snorted and ughed quietly.

  “Shut up, I just don’t wanna go dumping all my stress and frustration on you, especially since I’m mostly just grumpy. It’s just,” Toni sighed, “I was hoping we’d find a city, or a town, or a vilge or… or… some form of civilization! But we’ve been walking for hours now and we- hold on.” Toni cut herself off.

  That concerned Temate. He hadn’t known the younger woman long but she liked to talk. Once she got talking typically she didn’t stop unless someone else cut her off, or the situation changed. So cutting herself off was out of character. That wasn’t all that was concerning to Temate. It was also her behavior.

  Toni had suddenly changed the way she was walking, one hand came to rest on her right hip just under the fur jacket she was wearing. Where Temate knew her handgun was hidden in its holster. Her eyes narrowed and her face went ft as she surreptitiously gnced around us.

  “Somethings following us.” Toni whispered, Temate didn’t react, outwardly at least.

  “Any more details?” He whispered back, one hand resting on the hilt of his machete as he loosened it.

  “In the tree’s, about 7:30, details are hard to make out. Tail, leaping from tree to tree, moves quietly. Monkey maybe? I’m assuming it's not that simple since we were told the world would be magical but I don’t know much about monsters in fantasy stuff. Do goblins climb trees?”

  “They can, sure but if it's following us in these trees. Hmmm…” Temate began to think, there were a lot of things it could be. “Let’s catch up to Pip and see if they know.” Toni nodded back and they picked up their pace a bit.

  Toni called up to the child sized Spiras as they approached, “Oi! Pip! Question for you!”

  “Wha’ now!” Pipuck shouted back.

  “Serious question this time Pip.” Temate added as they caught up to Pipuck.

  Pip looked over his shoulder and lifted one eye inquisitively, “Oh? No’ gonna ask abou’ if it’s a magic worl’ again?”

  “It’s not that obv-” Toni began.

  Temate cut her off quietly, “Still 7:30 Toni?” She blinked and nodded.

  “Closer to 8 now if I’m tracking it right.” She said Pipuck was now looking between the two of them with clear confusion.

  “7:30? 8? Wha’ are ya on abou’?!” They grouched.

  “Pip, do you know if we’re headed north, south, east or west right now?” Temate asked, ignoring him.

  “Aye, north, bu’ what’s th-”

  “West, south west there’s something following us in the tree’s, tailed, leaps between them. Any idea what it may be?” Temate cut him off and asked quietly as he looked firmly into Pipucks eyes. Trying to convey the seriousness of the question to the small Spiras. Pipuck frowned and leaned over backwards to look at them. It was subtle, but Pipuck used that opportunity to also take a gnce in the direction Temate had mentioned. When they unbent they shook their head slowly.

  “Sorry ’, ss. I can discern rules, natural elements see? I don’ know anythin’ abou’ the creatures of the realm tha’ you don’.” That caught Temate’s attention, and he was already asking before he could stop himself.

  “What do you mean by that?”

  “I mean I don’ know anythin’ you don’ know abou’ i’.” Pipuck said, a hint of irritation to their voice.

  “No, before that, discerning rules and natural elements?” Temate asked.

  “Oh.” Pipuck ughed awkwardly, “Sorry abou’ tha’. Wha’ I mean by tha’ is simple. Every worl’ ‘as rules to their magic see? To ‘ow individuals interac’ with their worl’ as well. Spiras ‘ave a natural instinc’ for these things. It’s no’ like I get a book with all the rules expined to me, bu’…” Pipuck looked over their shoulder and smiled broadly at the two humans. “When we fin’ a spo’ to camp I’ll ‘ave an opportunity to dig into tha’ an’ give ya some ‘elp startin’ tomorrow.”

  “Interesting. Speaking of, you wouldn’t happen to be able to take us to water so we could camp by that tonight would you?” Temate asked, Pipuck nodded.

  “I can, aye bu’ it’s no’ necessary. There’s a river in our path. Shoul’ be there a shor’ while before sunse’.” Pipuck informed them.

  “That’s great!” Toni cpped her hands, “at least we’ll have fresh water, and rivers tend to wash up branches and stuff we could use for firewood though that won’t overall be an issue considering how much dry wood I’ve seen. Should have some good sized stones we can use for a firepit though, OH and maybe some fish so we don’t have to use the dried food you brought big T, save those for an emergency! Oh and-” Toni went off, a dozen different ideas spewing out of her mouth. Some good, some bad, some nonsensical like

  “Maybe we could use the water to set up like a water pot trap! That way if something sneaks in, a pot of water will spill on their head.” That came after suggesting they make soup in a pot. Which they could actually do.

  Temate had stocked the bags thoroughly with every camping necessity or quality of life tool he could find online. A year ago he wouldn’t have been able to afford that, but his patreon for his various projects had grown explosively since then. Pure luck, multiple unassociated famous people in completely disparate circles, found and enjoyed his random projects and promoted them.

  That didn’t matter, what did is the bags were well equipped. If you thought he would have it, amongst 4 bags worth of stuff, he probably did. Anything not contained or on Temate or Toni’s bags would have been in one of the others. That kind of stuff was exactly what Temate had asked Pipuck to carry in the bag he carried slung over one shoulder.

  That included a colpsible cooking kit made of aluminum. Two pots with lids, a frying pan, 4 cups, 4 serving bowls and sporks and even a kettle all tightly condensed into one 4 inch thick discus. Modern miracle’s of efficient packing. It was expensive, but especially now it was probably worth it. Though Temate would have preferred stainless steel for its durability in these circumstances. Nobody in their right mind would have predicted or prepared for this, though.

  There was a bunch of other gear too, most of it decent or high quality. Temate went all out when he did something, because he rarely did anything. All that preparation was definitely not going to waste now. Though they’d have to ration some of it, like the propane cooker. They could use that instead of making a campfire but that’s not smart right now.

  “How’s that sound Temate?” Toni was asking him something.

  “Sorry, was going through a mental review of our gear. What’d you say?” He replied, Toni made an insincere pouting face at Temate.

  “I was asking about the distribution of camp prep work when we set down. I can handle the tent and set up the fire pit, if you want to grab firewood, refill the water and maybe get some fish if you can. Sound good?” Toni crified, Temate was confused.

  “Tents we have two, we should use them both.” He asked.

  “Oh? I figured we could just… sleep together y’know. For safety and warmth and stuff?” Toni looked away from Temate, suddenly very interested in the woods around them.

  “I mean, we could. My hammock tent is a 2 person tent, so we could fit all three of us in there but that’s not wise.” Temate replied.

  “I don’ nee’ sleep.” Pipuck said.

  “WHAT?!” Toni excimed.

  “Huh, I thought the Righ stripped you of most of your Spiras magic to prevent you from going back?” Temate asked

  “Keywor’ there is mos’ d. Mos’ of my magic, I don’ nee’ foo’ either, by the by. Though I do enjoy i’. Spiras gather energy from the ligh’ of stars like the sun. Day or nigh’ we can gather energy, easier during the day true bu’ still.”

  “Woooow, that’s so cool, that’s just like a thing you do?” Toni asked, Pipuck smirked and put their hands on their hips.

  “Aye, Spiras even withou’ our innate magic are pretty goo’!”

  “Hmm, even then having us both in the same tent makes it easier to target us. I’d prefer multiple ten-” Temate started expining himself but Toni cut him off.

  “Same. Tent. I’m in a strange nd with probably dangerous wildlife I don’t know. I won’t get a wink of sleep if I’m in my own flimsy tent alone.” Toni pointed out

  Temate sighed, “That’s fair I suppose. If you’ll feel safer that way, then we’ll do that. Though I don’t think it is safer I…” Temate was about to start expining, in detail, why it would likely be more dangerous when he saw Toni. She’d pulled the fur coat up over the lower half of her face, arms wrapped around her shoulders. She was shivering, and not from the cold.

  “Toni?” He asked.

  “Hmm?” She looked over at him, releasing her shoulders and clearing her throat, her voice still shook despite that. “Y-yeh Temate?”

  Temate scratched his cheek and asked, “Do you… want a hug or something? I know you’re dealing with-” He didn’t get to finish the expnation for why he was asking before she had leaned over and into his stomach. She was too short to reach his chest, more than a foot shorter than him. So small. She nodded into his stomach and mumbled as they walked.

  “Yes please.”

  He hugged her, an awkward walking hug. One arm wrapped around her as the other rubbed her head gently. So small, so strong, yet also so fragile. She’d killed that Hedgeling they’d fought. If he’d been alone…

  “Awwww, ain’ you two cute, can’ wai’ to see wha’ your babies look like.” Pipuck said with a smirk ahead of them. Toni practically exploded off of Temate’s stomach, he didn’t resist, releasing her as he felt her move.

  “Pipuck you little!” She chased after him, grabbing a stick off the ground and wielding it like a sword. The two ran off ahead.

  “Hey! Don’t go running- fuck.” Temate chased after them.

  A little over an hour ter the trio had found their campsite, and the River. The campsite was retively straightforward. A ft stretch of ground at a spot along the water which was elevated enough that if the river rose it wouldn’t flood their campground. The River however was definitely a River capital R. Temate could barely see the other side in the dark and the only reason he could was because something within it was glowing.

  To be clear, the sun was still setting, the sky was red above but here amidst the towering tree’s it was basically night already. It had been dark for awhile to be honest, Temate was worried. The thing that was following them had continued to follow them, he’d gotten a few gnces at it but nothing that could help him figure out what it was. It was small though, so they should be able to take it.

  In fact, since it hadn’t attacked them yet itself, Temate was almost certain that it wasn’t confident in beating them itself. So when you take into the account it has no idea Toni has a gun. They probably have a good chance, that was ter though, they had a pn to lure it in come night time. For now he needed to finish his part for night prep.

  Temate picked up a thick branch, cutting it into reasonable chunks with his machete. He added the pieces into the canvas foraging bag now on his back. One of the many handy things he’d bought for this, now very extended, camping trip. Originally it was gonna be a week and Fred was gonna teach him foraging techniques and such.

  Temate bent down and used a mushroom knife to cut away several varieties of mushrooms which joined the pieces of wood. Mushrooms, berries, anything which looked remotely herbal. He had asked Pipuck if their little trick let them determine edibles and Pipuck had looked offended.

  “Any Spiras worth their sal’ can figure ou’ whether a pn’ is edible or no’! Tha’ ain’ even a magic thing, jus’ natural instinc’!”

  “Sorry, I’ll gather up what I find then, in case we have to live off the nd for awhile.” Temate said apologetically.

  Pipuck nodded and smiled, “Aye, goo’ idea tha’. I’ll ge’ some fish for the po’ ter!”

  So here Temate was, a full forage bag of anything he even remotely thinks could be useful. Plus a whole lot of wood for a campfire both in the bag and under his arm. He trudged slowly back to the campground looking around carefully.

  He couldn’t see the creature stalking him, so either it was focused on the campsite, or it was very adept at hiding. Considering all the gear they were setting up at the campsite it wouldn’t surprise Temate if they were still there. He couldn’t imagine much of what they had was normal to this world.

  Temate stepped into the campsite setting the wood near the hole ringed with river rocks, the fire pit dug by Toni. He stepped over to where Toni was working next to a few smaller trees closer to the river. Just to enjoy the chaos of her bors.

  “I thought you offered to do this cause you knew how to set up a tent.” He said. Toni jumped and gred at him

  “Don’t sneak up on me like that! And it’s not my fault you have this… this weird thing you call a tent. You sure we can't use the tent on the bag you lent me? It’s a NORMAL tent.” She tossed some pieces down exasperatedly. Temate ughed, earning himself a sharper gre from Toni.

  “DON’T LAUGH! IT’S HARD!” She shouted at him, he raised and lowered his hand indicating she should watch her volume.

  “Sorry, it’s just the ‘normal’ tent, as you call it, would be just as hard to set up. It’s got all the same stuff the only difference is it’s pinioned to the ground where this one is strapped to trees.” Temate stepped up next to her and knelt down next to the array of parts.

  “What are you doing?” She asked, kneeling next to Temate.

  “I’m helping of course. I’m done with my stuff, sooner we get set up the better.” He smiled at Toni and got to work. He didn’t see the blush on her face as she pointed to the parts.

  “I couldn’t figure out how these go together.”

  “I thought you said your family hunted?” He asked.

  “I-w-when did, I don’t remember telling you that.” Toni looked confused

  “You mentioned it to Pipuck while we were hiking.” Temate shrugged, “Sorry, I do that a lot, hear little things and make notes.”

  “Awwww, that’s kinda sweet, in a way that could be super creepy in certain contexts as well I imagine.” Toni giggled.

  Temate coughed to clear his throat, “Yeah it’s uh… I’ve gotten some weird looks and reactions from people in the past.”

  “Well as long as you don’t do it over really personal stuff,” Toni hugged Temate, and she didn’t miss the slight blush he got. “I don’t mind if you pick stuff up like that. Honestly, like I said, kinda sweet that you pay that much attention to the people around you.

  “And yes, I did hunt, but we usually went out in the morning and came back by night. We didn’t camp, I was doing this trip to get experience so I could join my dad and brother on a weeklong hunting trip next year…” Toni trailed off and Temate saw her hands shaking.

  Temate reached over and cupped both her hands in a single of his massive ones.

  “I’m sorry.” He whispered to her apologetically.

  “What? NO this isn’t your fault, it’s fine, I’m fin-” Her words choked off as he stared into her eyes.

  “It is my fault. I took off, you followed. Yes you could have turned around, but by the time you realized it was dangerous… Well, you saw what happened to Jake.” Temate was looking away by the end of his apology. He was about to turn and continue when she punched him in the shoulder.

  “You’re an idiot, you know that?” Toni said.

  “Wh-” Temate started, confused.

  “You didn’t know anymore than I did what would happen.” She cut him off.

  “Well yes bu-” He began to expin, to argue the point, she cut him off again.

  “No buts. I am to bme, I ran off after a stranger who went tearing through the woodnds. I don’t know why I did that, and I shouldn’t have but…” Toni smiled sweetly at Temate. “I’m gd now I did, in some ways at least.”

  The two humans, both lost and alone with complete and utter strangers, looked into each other's eyes. They were still lost, but suddenly they didn’t feel quite so alone. They were still strangers in some way, but no longer were they total strangers either. Their struggles were different, but each of them could tell, they weren’t struggling alone. After a long moment Toni coughed

  “Now, how do we-” she turned their attention back to the tent.

  An hour ter Temate, Toni and Pipuck sat around a campfire. A small pot of stew made from mixing some of Temate’s forage and Pipuck’s fish rested above it. Pipuck filled a bowl and handed it to Temate while Toni slurped down her own bowl. She sighed in delight and looked up at the alien sky.

  “So, who knew Spiras could cook huh?” Toni said, looking pointedly at Pipuck.

  “I dunno abou’ other Spiras, bu’ like I sai’, I like foo’. I try an’ learn new tricks anywhere I go!” Pipuck stuck their chest out, looking proud.

  “Good thing one of us could cook, I feel stupid not thinking about that.” Temate added causing Pipuck and Toni to both ugh. They ate their dinner and an hour ter Toni was blushing wildly as she settled into the hanging tent with Temate. Thank god he couldn’t see her face in this darkness, they’d agreed to sleep in the same tent. She wondered if he’d do anything, she wanted him to, but also based on what she’d seen, he probably wouldn’t. Not unless she made it very obvious what she wanted, which wasn’t an issue, but also wasn’t in the cards for tonight.

  They had a pn, and they also probably shouldn’t get that distracted in the middle of woods in a brand new world. So she would wait, she wouldn’t deny him if he did make any moves though, but she was certain he wouldn’t. She waited there, arms wrapped gently around him, so red and hot she was surprised she wasn’t glowing.

  Beneath him, her hand was wrapped around her gun, safety on, finger covering the trigger to be safe. Dad drilled her on firearm safety and usage, she doubted she’d need her gun but she grasped it anyway. She thumbed the polymer case of the gun, a Sig P365XL, her father bought it for her for her st birthday. It was comforting to have with her so far from home, likely never going back.

  She felt the tears coming to her eyes, stop that. Stop. She can’t cry yet, not here, it’s too dangerous. She squeezed Temate without thinking about it and then felt a hand on her head. A big, warm, comforting hand, and suddenly she was crying and shaking. She had to be quiet though, otherwise this wouldn’t work. A few minutes ter, she’d stopped her shaking and though her eyes were still wet, she was no longer crying.

  She whispered, “Sorry, I’m better now.”

  “No apology necessary, little T” Temate’s warm voice came quietly to her and she giggled.

  “I like that, big T and little T, together we are TT!” She snickered, and they went back to waiting quietly. So quietly. Honestly Toni was having trouble staying awake which was yet another surprising thing about this tent. It was sooooo comfortable. When Temate had called it a ‘hammock tent’ she hadn’t really known what to expect, but it wasn’t this.

  The tent hung a bit below her chest, higher than it would have if she’d hung it just for herself, and was strapped between three trees. A triangle of thick ‘dacron’ – she had no idea what that was but Temate had insisted on that name – made up the base. Temate had mentioned something about an ‘underfloor tension strap system’, which made sure it remained tense and firm beneath them as they slept. Yet it felt like ying on a memory foam mattress, perfectly molding to her shape. It was absurdly supportive and, as was already pointed out, comfortable because of this.

  A wire frame was erected around the center and held, what had Temate called them? A ‘grade 4 insect mesh‘ and a ‘hydrostatic waterproof rainfly’? That sounded right, he’d used a lot of numbers and technical descriptions but Toni understood mostly what he meant. Bug proof, water proof, comfortable.

  With the mesh and rainfly slung over the central frame and attached to the three points of the tent base it had an interesting appearance. It looked like a cartoon depiction of a futuristic fighter jet, or a space pod of some kind. It had a net beneath as well for storing their gear in, and pouches inside the tent for various smaller things they want at hand.

  It was complex, and expensive, and brand new, like everything Temate had brought with him. Not for the first time, she began to wonder if he was some super rich kid. Or a famous person she just didn’t know. She was in the middle of wondering what he might have done once when outside, Pipuck had begun snoring.

  That was the signal, Pipuck didn’t need sleep, so they would feign passing out when the creature began to move. Temate shifted, she felt his hand grasping what she knew to be a knife near his chest. She narrowed her eyes at the entrance near the narrowest point of the tent. A rather abnormally normal entrance for such a unique tent, she felt.

  Her heart and body jumped, not at the door opening, but at a small thing thumping softly off the top of the tent. It scrabbled and screeched slightly as it slid off the rainfly and thudded harder into the ground. Temate was already moving to the door and Toni was right behind him. Panic from outside the tent as Toni heard whatever it was begin whining, it padded away and then she heard a thunk and a groan.

  Temate was already out the door and moving, how could he move so fast when he was usually so slow?! That thought distracted her, and the strange footing of the tent shifting beneath her tripped her as she stepped out the door. She would have fallen face first into the dirt but some instinct took over and she tucked. Rolling up into a kneeling shooting position Toni turned to face where the noises had come from.

  She paused, gun not even raised yet, as Temate managed to grab the thing by its tail. A screech filled the air and she felt her body cringe. Temate’s reaction was more violent, his body shook and he began to tense, dropping the creature and his knife to bring his hands to his ears. The thing began to bolt away but Temate, through some unknown will power, was already stepping and…

  WOOSH

  Temate’s foot sailed over the creature’s head which threw itself to the ground to avoid the massive boot. Yes, he’d worn his boots inside the tent. Hell he was still fully clothed because they had pnned to do this, hoping the creature would come down. They had expected it to sneak into their tent but this worked as well.

  Toni unfroze and took a quick sprint to cut off the creature’s escape, holstering her gun. She didn’t want to waste a bullet here if she could help it. She had extra ammo with her, but she doubted she’d be getting anymore anytime soon. She intersected the creature's path and pounced, throwing her body onto the fuzzy thing.

  It was small, about the same size as Pipuck, who Toni just now realized she hadn’t seen. She tried not to worry about that and threw the smaller girl, and she was a girl Toni knew now she was close. Light, soft fuzz covered her body and big pointed bat-like ears stuck out from her head. Toni grabbed those with one hand while her other arm wrapped around the small girl-bat’s throat.

  After a short struggle Toni was beneath the girl-bat, legs wrapped around the small girls waist, with her in a choke hold. The girl's hands came up and scratched at Toni’s hands as the two struggled. She was still screeching but it wasn’t nearly as impactful now. Eventually, the girl-bat thing rexed, passing out in Toni’s arms. She let the small girl go and sat up. A brief moment ter, there was a whistling from one of the smaller trees the tent had been attached to.

  “Well I’ll be damne’, you’re one ‘ell of a fighter girl.” Pipuck said, their head peeking out from behind the tree.

  “Were, were you hiding Pip?!” She looked at the Spiras, mouth agape.

  Pipuck shrugged and stepped out, stoking the low fire so they could see. “Look a’ ‘er, she’s the same size as me an’ vicious! I ain’ a fighter, an’ withou’ my magic I ain’ go’ much I can do beyon’ punchin’. An’ I ain’ goo’ a’ tha’.”

  Toni blinked, she raised a finger and opened her mouth to object when Temate spoke.

  “Makes sense, rather you be safe and she get away then you get hurt, or even killed.” He was nodding. Toni looked at him and then back at Pipuck, then at the girl. She had to admit then they were right.

  In the growing light of the campfire she could make out the creature more clearly. It was the same size as Pipuck, as she’d not only seen and felt, but been told. That’s where the simirity ended, with any of them. The girl at the feet of the three was dressed in an oversized tunic and not much else. It was a nice tunic to be fair, a deep green like the trees around them, brown stitching used to repair the tears and damage of long use.

  There was some crity to add to that. The only article of clothing she was wearing was the tunic. Two rings were set into one of her rge bat-like ears, each half the size of her head, three into the other. They weren’t earrings however, each looked like it should be on a finger the size of the small girls wrists. That was what Toni saw first, because it was the only stuff she could really describe in her own head.

  “I guess it could be…” Temate started as he bent down picking the small girl up and setting her by the fire. Pipuck grabbed some rope from the bag of gear he carried and began tying her up.

  “Is that necessary?” Toni asked Pipuck

  “Wha’ you wanna see ‘er wakin’ up an’ cwin’ your eyes ou’?” Pipuck asked, pointing down at the creature's sharp cws. Toni shivered and looked at her hands where the creature had scratched her and gulped. She was bleeding, and it was bad.

  “Oh, fuck how did I not-” Then she was screaming in pain. Shock and adrenaline faded, and the pain smmed into her.

  “Breathe, breathe. Sit down, palms down, bleeding area up. Pip, there’s a bag in the tent, red cross on it. Grab it.” Temate was pushing her gently down as she hyperventited.

  “In there bu’ i’-”

  “NOW Pip.” Temate’s voice brooked no argument and Pipuck’s spine straightened as they ran off towards the hanging tent. Toni barely noticed any of that though, she was looking at the blood running down her hands and freaking out. Why? This wasn’t that big a deal, it wasn’t even that much blood… Was it? A hand covered her vision and fingers touched her chin dragging her vision up to look at Temate.

  “Deep breaths okay, follow me.” He held up his hand and started breathing in slowly.

  “In.” 1 finger went up.

  2 fingers.

  3 fingers.

  4 fingers.

  5 fingers.

  “And out.” 1 finger went down.

  2 fingers.

  3 fingers.

  4 fingers.

  5 fingers.

  “And in.” They repeated this two more times before Pipuck came back, holding a white canvas bag with a big red plus sign on it, handing it off to Temate.

  “‘Ere ya go big man. Wha’s in ‘ere?”

  “Thank you Pip, sorry for shouting. Toni, look up and keep breathing, got it?” He smiled at her again, that small soft smile. Toni smiled back and kept breathing. In. Out. She felt a lot better and a few moments ter he spoke again.

  “There. Done, how you feeling little T?” Toni ughed, and then ughed some more.

  “I feel better, little light headed but okay.” Temate’s smile was so comforting. Her hands in his. Before she knew what she was doing, she leaned in and kissed him. It wasn’t a deep kiss, or a romantic one, just a soft peck on the lips and she leaned back.

  “Thanks big T. This whole situation is… weird, but I’m gd you’re here. I’d be fucked if I were here alone.” She smiled back at him. An expression of amusement crossed his face and then he coughed. Was he blushing? It was hard to tell in this light.

  “Sorry, just thought of a terrible joke. Anyway, if you’re doing fine.” He paused to look her over and she nodded

  “I’m fine big T, I’m not dying or anything on you.”

  “Then we should probably do something about this… Goblin maybe?” Temate turned to look at their guest.

  If Temate was honest with himself, he wasn’t sure this was a goblin. Sure it was small, had big pointed ears, and had sharp teeth and cws but that was it. It was fuzzy for a start, short soft brown fur with stripes of green down the sides and face. Its face wasn’t scrunched or ugly, it was retively normal, mature even.

  Then there was the body, overall it was sleek, lithely muscled, the body of a creature surviving in the woods. It had digitigrade legs and its feet had three rge toes on the front and one rge one on the back. More like talons than a paw or cws, speaking of it had only 4 fingers, including a thumb.

  Next was the tail, that’s right a tail. It was long. Long enough to extend down to the creature's feet then back up over its shoulder and still reach the tip of its breasts. That Temate had carefully avoided studying, mostly because it felt invasive somehow, to stare at someone like that. Toni clearly didn’t have the same problems.

  “These are almost as big as mine.” She said, poking one finger into one of the things breasts.

  “How old do you think it is? It’s small, but is it actually a child or…” Temate was just thinking out loud.

  “I didn’t know you were into monsters Temate, having moral qualms with your brain right now?” Ton looked over her shoulder and smirked at him. Temate blinked.

  “No,” –maybe… Yes, stupid degen brain– “and also, where did that come from?” Toni blinked and then blushed as if she just realized what she’d suggested.

  “I dunno, it just popped out alright, I’m not the one thinking about it!” She looked away, she was thinking about it, but Temate didn’t know that.

  “I think she’s wakin’ up you two.” Pipuck said, Toni slid back and stood next to Temate. The creature opened its eyes and looked between the three of them then opened its mouth and-

  “Scream and I cut an ear.” Temate said, drawing the machete out swiftly, ying the sharp edge of the bde against the base of its ear. Its eyes widened at the action but its mouth didn’t close. Instead, it spoke.

  “Suh-renn-dar” the word cracked out, as if the thing hadn’t had water in ages. Temate blinked.

  “Surrender? You, you surrender?” Toni asked.

  The tip of the creature's tail rose and fell with its head as it nodded at them. “Ye-ehs”

  Prehensile tail, good to know, Temate watched the tail carefully. He slowly lifted the bde. Not far, just enough to prevent the creature from cutting itself should it shift position. Immediately the ears twitched quick rapid gestures like when you tap the tip of a cat's ear.

  “You speak our nguage?” Temate asked. Another nod, then a look like she was thinking hard.

  “Lit-til, yehs.” The creature said, smiling proudly.

  “Huh, well that’s useful.” Toni crouched next to the creature and asked a question that made Temate snort. “How old are you?”

  The creature thought for a moment, “grrr-oh-dih” it said and shrugged.

  “Growed? You mean grown? An adult of your… uh… species?”

  A nod.

  “Giving me shit for being into monsters were you?” Temate smiled as Toni turned with a smirk on her face.

  “Just giving you a helping hand big man, gotta be safe if you’re gonna be stupid!”

  Temate sighed and looked at the creature they’d captured, it sat there. Unmoving, it didn’t gnaw at its bindings, try and wiggle its cws into the rope, nothing. No struggle. It just watched them. He felt there was a sort of curiosity in those eyes, god he was bad at reading normal people. Toni seemed to see something as well, she stepped closer and sat down crossing her legs.

  “So, what are you if you don’t mind me asking?” Toni asked.

  “Ya sure that’s wise ss?” Pipuck was eyeing the girl nervously.

  Toni shrugged, “She’s not dangerous, she could have gotten out if she wanted, isn’t that right?” Toni looked at the girl who was thinking hard, one tongue out and an eye squeezed closed. It was weirdly cute and when she finished transting, or so Temate assumed, she looked at the bde he still held to her ear.

  “R-ohp, ye-ehs. Sh-arrp…” She shook her head slowly, careful not to cut herself on Temate’s bde.

  “Temate, could you pull the machete away?” Toni looked at Temate with a sweet smile.

  “What? No, she just said she can escape the rope.” Temate didn’t gre at her, not intentionally. He was worried and confused. Toni stood up and walked to him whispering in his ear.

  “I think she’s just… curious. I mean can you bme her.” Toni motioned towards the hammock tent, then the fire pit with the cleaned pots next to it. Then Toni pulled on Temate’s poncho.

  “She cwed your hand open Toni.” He whispered back calmly.

  “Yeah. I panicked and my brain made it worse than it was, but somebody” – she put a hand on his hand – “helped me calm down and I realized it wasn’t that bad. I don’t want to hurt the first person or monster or whatever she is we might be able to learn from just because she might hurt us.” She began to pull his hand back. Temate didn’t stop watching the little creature, but he also didn’t resist Toni’s hand as it pulled the machete off the creature’s ear.

  “Alright, just be careful, we don’t know anything about her.”

  “I suh-renn-dar. No h-ert!” The little thing shook its head emphatically. Temate blinked and Toni ughed.

  “See! She surrenders! It’ll be fine, plus look how big you are compared to her, bet you could just gobble her up.” Toni poked Temate in the chest, he sighed and strapped the machete back to his side.

  “Fine, but if she steps out of line…” Temate picked up one of the fire pits rocks. “I really rock at throwing.”

  Pipuck ughed and Toni snorted, trying not to, then she sat back down across from the creature – No, the young woman – they had tied by their campfire.

  Force2reckon