Travel and Camping

The lovers set out at a leisurely pace since Venus had completed her job and there were no pressing matters to attend to. As they left the village, she noticed that several people were watching from windows and doorways, but no one tried to stop them. Rondo had been training to be a blacksmith, so he was a well known person, and word of what he had become would be common knowledge to the villagers.

It had taken three days for her reach Casval when she had first taken the job. She had stopped once at a small village for one night and spent the second at a road side inn. With the easy pace they were traveling, it would take at least four or even five days to get back to Namina city.

"We probably wouldn't have made it to the inn this late anyway," Venus spoke her thoughts aloud. Rondo huffed in answer.

"I know we're headed back to your home city, but I'm not so sure how smart it is for someone like me to be in a town or city."

"You'll be fine. Shadow Hunters only go after dangerous monsters. We can't chase every monster out there so we take jobs people have posted. With you being in control, you could probably even talk Tychus into letting you join."

"Tychus? Who is that?"

Venus shook her head and held back a chuckle. Tychus was well known in Namina and the surrounding areas, but she wasn't surprised that a werewolf didn't know him.

"Tychus is the Elder for the Namina branch. That's where I'm registered remember? I report to him when I finish a job and he pays me. Each branch recieves payment ahead of time for a job, but if it isn't completed within a certain time period, the person who posted the bill is given their money back. Tychus is a good guy. I'm sure he will understand our situation. He might even let you join up."

"Right, I'm sure he will be fine that you married a were." Venus noted the slight change in speech pattern and could tell even without looking that Rondo had stepped aside and Lobo was now walking with her instead. It still baffled her how two souls could live in one body and change out at will. Lobo wasn't as comfortable in the human form and his posture and movements were a little stiffer than Rondo's.

The pair traveled the mostly empty road for a few hours until the sun was low on the horizon. With only about an hour of daylight left, the lovers found a suitable spot and set up camp in some trees along the road. Rondo gathered wood as Venus took stock of their supplies and began dinner preparations. After a light meal Venus laid out the bed roll for them. They still had a lot of travel ahead of them the next few days and she was ready to get some rest. She turned to Rondo to tell him that the bed was ready, only to find him standing completely still, staring into the darkening woods around them. His powerful muscles had tensed and she could see his eyes starting to turn gold.

"What is it," She asked as she reached for her sword.