One quest, two quests, three quests?

John’s eyes shot open once more at the familiar feeling of getting licked by his two pets. “Can you guys maybe not lick me when I am knocked out?” he asked with a soft groan, Toph patting his head with one of her claws as Jack shook his own head. “Yeah… Thought as much,” John mumbled, giving both of them a pat, once more finding himself face first on the floor next to the offering brazier in front of the temple. He let out a low grumble as he got himself into a sitting position. A trio of pop-ups appeared in front of him as he pulled his two pets in for some cuddles.

Quest unlocked
The road to pawberty
Together with Jack, hunt the nightmare of the endless forest and let Jack eat it's heart.

Reward: one pet related spell

Quest unlocked
Shameless Pangolindering
Together with Toph, hunt the tiny turtle princess of the monumental mountain and let Toph eat her heart.

Reward: one pet related spell

Quest unlocked
You are not prepared!
Prepare for your foray into the unknown by gathering things that increase your survivability.

Traps 0/3
Extra weapon 0/1
Extra set of ammo 0/2
Food 0/1

optional:
Climbing pick 0/1
Rope 0/1
New armor 0/1

Reward: 2 health potions, 2 mana potions, 1 uncommon accessory
Optional reward: 250 exp

John looked at the quests, dismissing them with a shake of his head. “Alright, that is doable,” he nodded softly at his pets when a small snake popped up around the brazier.
“Are you dead?” the small snake asked him.

“No. I am very much alive,” John replied with a chuckle, seeing two larger snakes slither around the other side of the brazier.

“Are you sure?” the little snake asked again.

“Quite sure, why do you ask?”

“Well, if you were dead, then I could play with Jack and Toph to infinity! You promised after all!”

“Mimi, get away from the brazier, you might burn yourself,” John answered with a wry smile.

“Will you let me play with Jack and Toph more then? You promised! You promised!” the childish voice of the gorgon rang out.

“Yes, I will,” John answered as Mimi popped her head out around the brazier, running with small steps to him and his pets.

Toph cheered and raised her claws, seemingly wanting to hug the girl. Mimi smiled and picked up Toph, lifting her for a small kiss on her head when her eyes suddenly started to shine with a cold, gray light. “No! Nonono! No! No!” Mimi cried out, seeing as small hints of petrification started to move over Toph’s body. “Get Toph away! It's happening again, please, help!” the little girl cried out. She forcefully closed her eyes as Toph’s body slowly got covered by a growing crust of stone. A small sound of rocks hitting rocks chimed out from her body when it was done.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I didn't mean to do it. My old teacher told me that we gorgons only learn to control our gaze when we hit pu-ber-teen. This is the second time I stoned a friend, please, I am sorry,” the little gorgon girl sobbed loudly, her tears flowing from her eyes which had lost their gray glow, Toph’s statue still in her hands.

“Well, lucky for you then that Toph is part earth elemental, isn’t that right, Toph?” Arnold’s voice came from behind the two of them, a small crack appearing in the statue. Toph was shaking her head as more cracks appeared, the petrification effect falling off of her in a pile of dust. Toph licked Mimi’s teary face, cuddling her chin as Mimi held the pangolin closer to her body.

“I am so sorry, Toph! So sorry, please, forgive me,” the little gorgon sobbed louder, feeling Toph’s small claws tightly hugging her, nuzzling the girl. Jack jumped from John’s lap too, patting the sobbing snakes, John for the first time realized that snakes could cry. The derpy little snake on Mimi’s head laid down while shaking slightly as the larger ones wrapped around each other, comforting each other.

“And Mimi, next time you petrify a creature, there is a very simple remedy to it. Gorgon saliva, in other words, spit on them or lick them. That should counteract it,” Arnold said with a smirk, ruffling her head and patting the small snake.

“C-can I take Toph and Jack to get a snack, John?” Mimi asked while still sniffling lightly, having pulled Jack into the tight hug too.

John smiled at the gorgon; she really reminded him of a little girl, a cute one at that, the way she seemed so innocent, so genuine, it made him happy. “Sure you can; I need to go and see our resident smith anyway. Don’t overfeed them, okay?” he asked with a wink, patting her on the head as he nodded at Arnold who winked his way.

“You’re a good kid, John,” the older man said as he led the little gorgon away in the direction of the tents.

“Snack! Snack! Snack!” Mimi cheered, having seemingly already forgotten the fact she was crying just moments ago.

John smiled as he watched them leave, starting his walk to Old Fred’s place. He took out his old bow as he saw the chimney smoking at the shop. It was evident that the dwarf was working. The loud sound of a hammer meeting steel was ringing out across the clearing around the building, with soot whirling around, covering the forest in an even thicker layer of black than it already was.

John pushed open the door, a wave of heat hitting him square in the face as he walked in. Ilis and Old Fred were working together at the furnace, Old Fred hammering a glowing piece of metal while Ilis held it down with tongs.

The furnace was blazing harder than John had ever seen it, and yet the piece of metal was only dimly glowing. John wiped his brow as he watched the dwarves hunched over the anvil.

Old Fred lifted the hammer above his head, bringing it down one last time, a loud ting sounding out as the hammer split and fell onto the anvil in two pieces. The metal then got quenched by Ilis. A huge cloud of steam filled the smithy as John called out. “Old Fred, do you have a moment? I need to do some shopping.”