Campfire

Raz poked at the campfire they had made, along with several soldiers sharing a drink quite literally. No bottles were passed and only a select few carried their own personal flasks, leaving the majority to make use of a barrel of rum to themselves. Not that they had set camp out in the woods, they had settled at a distant village that was unknown to him. Fortunately for the hunter, they indeed had someone with both the knowledge and tools to properly treat him. The Nekomatas were kept tucked inside the carriage to keep them from environmental harm and safe from the increasingly lowering temperature. Perdilius had his own private tent with several layers of fur to keep him warm, while the soldiers were given sleeping bags and large tents composed of a rather thin and fragile material. It was cheap, but served its purpose regardless.

Once he figured the fire had enough prodding around, he brushed the growing frost from his eyes before realizing that there was water in the air, albeit to a very light degree. The air was certainly fresh, but the days had gone colder with every falling sun. None of the villagers were interested in conversing, in fact he had noted they seemed rather rattled and intimidated. He had sworn there were several people outside when they had arrived. Where are the playing children, they had disappeared as well?

No matter, it was only a passing observation he had noticed.

Deciding to check in on the hunter, he approached the small bunker of a house and walked through the curtain. The healer was an elderly looking woman with ashy gray hair and a dirty face. She was busying herself stacking away numerous utensils on a wooden board before piling them atop an empty barrel. Leone was laying back with bandages wrapped around his chest and waist, the blankets beneath him stained with dry blood. She made a passing remark as she wiped her hands clean.

"Needs rest, he'll be fine in a few weeks. How long?"

Raz continued staring at the hunter laying on his back. The healer poked his ribs.

"Oh, pardon?"

"I says how long?"

"Oh, we leave come sunri-"

"Good enough." She muttered, passing through another curtain which led presumably into her private bedroom. He watched her leave before turning to look back at the hunter, thinking back on past events. Making his way back outside, he quickly walked by the camp of soldiers sharing the barrel and belching with obscure or crude remarks.

"Then I says, I says well missy I got me nothing but a pint of love in me hand and a stick in me trousers!"

They laughed in a rather hoarse voice, echoing from such deep throats with several of them wiping their noses and scooting closer to the fire.

"Oi, Raz! Sit o'er here, take a load off."

"Yea, ya so uptight!"

"Hahahaha!" Another one smiled and nudged his friend.

Raz shook his head, dismissing the offer with the wave of his hand.

The guard watched with a shrug. "No rest for the lil pup I see."

"Leave him be ey, he's just tryin' to make his Father proud."

"Aren't we all, gods I be freezing my trousers off in this ice hole!"

"Just prod at the fire more, stick some wood into it."

"Thas right, stick yer wood into it haha!"

Raz shook his head, heading back to the carriage to check on the girls. Opening the door slowly as he could, he poked his head in to find them cuddled up together in a corner for warmth. The oldest one remained stuck in her human form and surprisingly outside of the pile, choosing instead to sing softly to the kitty trapped in her cage. He raised his eye, she was singing? It was very quiet, quite like a low whisper. It was faint but he was close enough to hear it. She paused, her eyes darting to his alerting him. He looked away and shut the door, allowing Dimyri the privacy to comfort her sister through the night.