Camp for the Night

THE NEXT MORNING:

"It's a shame you're already leaving. I would've happily housed you all for a few more days." Gilla says as she sees the group loading up the cart.

"As nice as it would be to relax here, we need to get going. Not only for Erya, but for us as well. We live in Reduna'zriam, so we're not exactly close to home." Kyuala replies as she puts another box on Virra's cart.

Sydna wraps her arm around Gilla's. "She has a point, dear. Plus, we got to have enough fun for now. It just means we'll have to invite them again some time, preferably when there aren't lives on the line."

"We'll happily take that invite any time. I'd also be happy to host you in my inn. It's not exactly a palace, but there's a lot of grog, and food so bad that it makes you want to drink more."

Gilla, Sydna, and Kyuala all have a hearty laugh as the others continue loading up, but a few moments later, Oliver pulls into the manor with another cart.

"Your saviour has arrived! Another cart at your service!" Oliver proclaims as he drops down.

"Another cart?" Virra asks as she looks as Sydna.

"I figured that with the supplies we've given you, and the amount of people that you have, another cart would be best. You also don't have to worry about returning it, my parents will happily keep it at their home when you arrive at Mulvenscroll."

"So, who's manning that one?" John asks, wiping sweat from his brow.

"We'll take this one, and Amilia comes with us." Kyuala immediately says, giving a look to John who immediately understands.

"Do we need a magic user to bind it to? I thought that's how the carts worked?" John asks Oliver.

"Not this one. It's got a little crystal, so any magic user can charge it. Just make sure that it doesn't get stolen. It did cost quite a bit."

"We'll do our best." Kyuala pats Oliver on the shoulder, earning a laugh from the younger Markana.

A few moments later, Kova walks through the doors, carrying her packed bags alongside the remaining guard that Holvaeth gave her.

"I see you've got everything packed. You ready to get home?" Sydna asks, worried that something's wrong.

"Indeed I am, Syd. As much as I have enjoyed my time here, and as grateful as I am for us finally putting the childishness behind us, it's going to be great to be back. Plus, this way I don't have to deal with unfamiliar guards."

The twins laugh before Sydna wraps her arms around Kova, causing the latter to follow suit.

"You know you're always welcome back, right?"

"I would be happy to insult your choices of decoration any time."

The two sisters laugh before breaking the hug, both smiling as warmly as ever.

"Miss Kova, will you be riding in our cart, or would you like to ride with one of the others?" One of the guards asks.

"I think I'll ride with my sisters, that is, until they annoy the living daylights out of me."

The guard chuckles before the men go to their smaller cart as Kova heads over to Virra's cart.

"Room for one more?" Kova asks.

"Usually I would say no, but I'll make an exception this one time."

Kova lets out a small chuff before being helped up by Terra.

"Glad you're not too high and mighty for us mere adventurers, your highness." Terra jokes.

"Your Highness? I could get used to hearing that."

Virra sighs. "Congratulations, Terra. You've managed to put an awful idea into her head. I shall personally be mailing you the bill for the therapeutic meditation retreat I shall be taking."

The three sisters laugh as Kova settles into her seat.

The three carts get ready to depart, the first in line being the guards cart, the second being Virra's which is carrying Virra (obviously), Terra, Kova, Clarva, and Karray. The final cart being driven by Kyuala, also seats John, Lani, Amilia, and Kira.

"This is weird." Lani says.

"What is?"

"Having my magic connected to the cart. It's like I can somewhat feel the entire thing. It's like a second faint nervous system."

"Seriously? It's that sort of sensation?" Kira questions, genuine curiosity on her face.

"I wouldn't say it's overwhelming, but it's strange. It's like casting a spell for the first time. Virra did say to me that it fades after the first time, but still, it's definitely weird."

"I will say, this cart handles like a dream compared to some of these pieces of shit we had for the Kauldron. I might need to check the finances and see about getting one."

"From what Holvaeth promised us, we'll basically have enough to be able to buy a building each." John jokes.

"This Holvaeth, the elves' father, he's that rich?" Kira asks.

"According to them, he's one of, if not the richest man on the entire continent. Now, we didn't do it for money, but I will admit, its certainly a nice bonus."

The group laugh as they start heading for the road out of Nillork, finally beginning their journey back to Mulvenscroll.

---

A LONG DAY LATER:

The convoy have come to a halt, ready to set up their camp for the night.

"This is a great spot. Nice open space, no trees for some little bastards to hide behind. You've got a knack for this, Kyuala." Clarva remarks as she looks around the plains.

"If I didn't by now, my father and uncle would never let me hear the end of it."

"Well, you've definitely done them proud. I just hope we don't run into that damned group they've been talking about."

"The Banished Brood." A guard says as he brings over some of the equipment. "That's what the freaks have been calling themselves. They say it's cause they've been 'abandoned by society'. I say they wouldn't have been abandoned if they weren't fucking nutjobs to begin with."

"Out in the wilds, who isn't a nutjob?" Clarva jokes.

"Too right, madame." The guard agrees, placing the equipment on the ground.

Over by the carts, Amilia is grabbing a box when Terra comes over. "It's quite the land, isn't it? It'd be perfect for a little cottage."

"If the land wasn't in psycho territory." Amilia replies somewhat bluntly as she walks over to the tents with the box as Terra follows.

Terra looks at Amilia's face, seeing that she seems different. "Are you okay? You seem a little off."

"Just... slept wrong." Amilia answers, hoping it'll be enough for the one 2ho has captured her heart.

"Ahh, I was the same. I'm still not quite the drinker that my sisters are. Good thing we've got a few days before we return to Mulvenscroll. I can sober up enough before we get fed enough wine, ale, and mead to fill the seas."

Amilia kneels down, removing the supplies from the box. "I'll be happy to teach you some of my drinking tips."

Terra smiles. "I'd like that."

Just then, Clarva walks over. "I heard drinking tips. We doing some training?"

"Yes! Amilia is going to teach me some of her tricks for drinking. Would you like to join?"

"I'd love to! I always love a good drink! Plus, I saw what Amilia put away at the party, I wanna know how she was able to stand after drinking like a fish that just got back in the water."

Clara nudges Amilia a little, causing Amilia to let out a single huff of amusement. "Well, suppose I could show you a thing or two. After all, if you drenched your tits in any more ale, you could get drunk just by nursing from you."

"Doesn't sound like a bad night." Clara retorts, making all three of them laugh.

As the trio are laughing, John is over by Kyuala and Kira. "Guess they're getting along now, huh?"

"I heard something about ale, so chances are Amilia is gonna try to out drink Clara."

"I've seen how much the cat put away at the celebration. Do you think she could conquer the giant?" Kira asks as she finishes the final touches of her personal tent.

"We could always put a bet on? Five gold says Amilia beats Clarva." John offers.

"Five gold that Clarva bests the kitty." Kira responds as her and John shake hands, solidifying their bet.

The night goes on, and everyone is settled in their own ways. Kyuala and John are training as the orc is trying to help John perfect his sword technique. Virra is sitting by the fire, whittling away as she crafts some more arrows. Kira is sitting in her tent, reading one of the books she was given as a gift by Sydna, and Amilia, Terra and Clarva are drinking away, the cat and half-giant trying to help Terra with her **** tolerance.

Kova excused herself earlier on, wanting to go to bed early, yet a few hours later, she still can't sleep. She sits up, sighing in annoyance as she curses her body for not wanting to follow orders. Kova grabs her diary from her bag, opening it up to a fresh page when she gets an idea. She flips through the pages, getting to the back of the diary as she decides to do something she's been thinking about for a while.

Kova's pen touches paper, and she begins to write away, doing something she's wanted to do for a while.

Back with Kyuala and John continue their training. Kyuala moves forward, forcing John to take a knee. She eventually relents, letting John get up as a question rushes to her mind. "John, I've been meaning to ask. Back in the volcano, you mentioned that Xanvetl wanted you to rile her up. Why would he want that?"

"I don't know. I basically got shouted at to do it, but whether it was an angry shout or an excited one, I'm not exactly sure. He's kinda the same volume all time."

"Oh yeah, just brag about being Buddy-buddy with angels while us mere mortals are around." Kyuala jokes as she strikes, but John blocks it. "Can you get answers about it tonight?"

"If Elliyah is listening, which she apparently always is, then yeah, I'll get some tonight."

John's words cause Kyuala to pause. "Wait... She's listening all the time?"

"Not when we're... y'know. At least... She says she isn't."

Kyuala smirks at she drops her training sword. "Well... Let's go give your angelic voyeur a show!"

Kyuala drags John to their tent, both training weapons left on the ground as John is pulled by Kyuala's eager form. John sighs, but also smiles to himself, knowing he's gonna be in for a long night of being claimed by Kyuala.

Amilia, Clarva and Terra are all drinking, Terra obviously sloshed, but the other two are barely tipsy.

"I mean, it's an improvement from the other times we've drunk together." Amilia jokes.

"Sssshu urp." Terra slurs back, accidentally spilling the remaining contents of her cup.

"C'mon, Terra. You're spilling the good stuff. It's a party foul to spill your drink." Clarva says as she finishes the rest of her ale.

Terra goes to clean up her mess, but ends up slipping, falling onto the ground. "I'm okay!" She calls out as the other two don't even budge.

"Good, cause I wasn't rushing to pick you up." Clara jokes.

Amilia helps Tetra up, and the elf sits on the cat's lap, surprising Amilia. "You have reeeeally pretty eyes."

Amilia is stunned by Terra's compliment, the elf's face being very close to hers. She swallows the saliva that built in her mouth. "Thank you. You... have pretty eyes too."

Clarva looks at the interaction between the two and smiles to herself. Tetra eventually calls it a night and stumbles off to the tent she's sharing with Amilia and Virra.

As Amilia stares at Terra's retreating form, she hears a chuckle coming from her right. She looks and sees Clarva smirking right at her. "You've got it bad, huh?"

Amilia is flustered. "W-w-what do you mean?"

"Oh, c'mon. A blind ratfolk could see you've got feelings for Terra. Have you told her?"

Amilia looks down into her drink, looking at her reflection in the ale as she sheepishly says. "No..."

Clarva chuckles again. "Ahh. I've never understood how people can't just admit their feelings to one another? Surely rejection has to be better than pining over them, thinking about futures that could be."

"Well some people have trauma with rejection!" Amilia says sternly, finishing her drink before walking off to her tent.

Looking at her massive friend from a good distance away, Karray shakes her head. "Putting her foot in her mouth. Classic Clarva move."

Lani looks over. "She seems... frustrated at her herself."

"Yeah, she gets like this from time-to-time. Clarva is great when talking about fighting or killing things, but when it comes to regular stuff, she struggles. It's not for a lack of confidence either, she just doesn't know how to navigate conversations that might be uncomfortable."

"If its anything, I think she's a great addition to the group. All of us have our quirks. Even you." Lani says with a smile.

Karray smiles back. "Thanks, Lani. I appreciate that. I'm glad we got past the rocky start."

"Being nearly killed will tend to do that. Truth be told, I didn't really like Amilia all that much until we killed Imoga."

Karray chuckles. "Speaking of, I'm gonna go talk to Clarva. See if I can help pull her giant foot out of her mouth. Goodnight, Lani."

"Goodnight, Karray."

Lani watches as Karray flies over to her giant friend. It gives Lani a perspective into her own relationship with John.

He could've been difficult, rude, aggressive, even downright evil, but he wasn't. John was willing to accept his strange surroundings and even embrace them. It's something she really admires about him, and it makes her want to work even harder as his guide. Although, from the noises she can hear coming from his tent, that's an endeavour he can overcome on his own as she heads to her shared tent with Terra to sleep.