Back together again.

Yu don't know how long you were in the forest, your sense of time is off, but as you find yourself at a familiar clearing you see your campsite and Ixy heating something by a fire. She waves you over and you take a seat across from her.

Ixy gives you mischievous smile, "Look who's alive? Would be a shame if you kicked the bucket this early. Don't know enough to write a good eulogy."

"Write from the heart. He was the biggest and best I've ever had, I'm turning his femur into a dildo to remember him by." Your retort grants you a chuckle as Ixy hands you a plate.

"Forest pheasant and wild rice," she says proudly, "Better than nuts and berries I hope."

You smile and help yourself to Ixy cooking, "Spicy. It's delicious."

Ixy beams at the praise and helps herself to a plate. It occurs to you that she waited until the two of you were back together before eating.

As you finish your meal and help with the clean up you ask some questions, "So, this world is about fighting and fucking?"

Ixy corrects you, "This continent. it's different in other places, other lands where chaos doesn't seem to be in charge."

You nod, "Interesting, so more or less anybody who isn't up for this life has a way out. I imagine this forest, this lifestyle could be difficult."

The sound of shuffling around the campsite stops and you look up to see Ixy looking at you, slightly a paler red. She drops what she's doing and walks over, rubbing her arms as she does, "Sigh, I keep forgetting how new to all of this you are. It just seemed that you adapted so well in the village and you didn't freak out and go into shock seeing mom and me. I'm sorry, being out in the wild must really make things set in about how dangerous this is. Look, I'll bring you back to the village and we-"

"For what?"

Ixy lifts her head to look you in the eyes, confusion on her face, "Didn't something happen in the forest that-"

You turn to her fully, "Whatever happens I handled it. I had an idea of what I signed up for and at the very least I promised to get you out of the starting dungeon before you start your grand adventure. No need to turn back on my account, you're stuck with me."

Ixy smiles, the colour returning to her face....and then getting darker as she blushes, "Does your hand need to be on my ass for this?"

"Yes."