...and then some spending.

Strangely uneventful days pass, leading to the start of a new week; mostly consisting of learning about Earth from Klyde, or having joint lessons on Ruyanei alongside Sammy. The first thing I heard upon waking, however, was a bellow from the room just next to mine; Scott's room.

"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!" Comes from the room; alongside a variety of furniture being smashed to pieces by an enraged Barbarian.

I rush out to see what's the matter, only for a steaming Scott to be just outside his room; staring at the wall with enough rage to possibly burn a hole into it.

"Scott, what's..."

"Not now." He says through clenched teeth. "I need to think... talk to me later."

He storms off towards the record room, leaving me confused.

It's Kare today... maybe he died this week in a different loop. He isn't as depressed as when we first found him, so maybe it's only happened once...

As though popping into being just behind me, Ashes sudden wraps her arms around me; pressing into my back. "Hey Monster, what's all the racket?"

"Scott stubbed his toe." I say; not wanting anyone else to freak out about Scott's possible ****.

She winces, saying. "Ow, first Klyde, then Scott. This place is a toe killer. Anyway; have you heard? The lockdown has been ended! So Gabbie, Zana, and I are gonna go shopping for fresh travel supplies while Fluffy is sleeping. You in?"

"Doesn't 'Fluffy' usually handle the supplies situation?" I ask; seeing as Cilla's brain seemed hardwired for the logistics of travel.

"Yeah, but she's been kinda busy ever since she registered herself as Sammy's handler... by the way, did you ever ask her why she did that?" Asks Ashes, pulling back from her impromptu hug.

"No, I just assumed you guys voted on Sammy joining, and she needed a Runacathy Operative for paperwork reasons."

Looking confused, Ashes says. "Uh... we didn't have a vote. Cilla just kinda did it."

Wait, is that why Gabbie was mad about Sammy joining? She's usually sides with Cilla on things...

"Oh... anyway, about that shopping?"

Not long after, I'm rummaging through my clothes to get properly dressed to go around town. I've finally been provided with the proper brown cloak of a Runacathy Initiate; under which is one of those plain white blouse that Ariel provided, now with holes for my wings, and a pair of blackish blue trousers I had found in the "spare clothes" area of the Runacathy; where donations of mismanufactured or outgrown clothing are sent. I still had the issue that any boots I tried to wear would be a bit uncomfortable, due to the claws at the end of each of my toes, so I decided on going with a pair of sandels found in that same dumping ground of apperal.

I even started thinking that I looked rather nice; despite the scales, claws, and sharp teeth.

"Monster! Hellooo..." Says Ashes, knocking on my door. "If we don't hurry, Cilla's gonna wake up."

Leaving the room, I'm a tad surprised to see Ashes out of her armor; instead wearing that same casual grey outfit from Saltmoore. Zana was wearing her usual dim-brown, student-esq clothing, standing at the exit with Gabriella; who was the most altered in apparel of any of us. She was wearing casual clothing, rather than her handmade Priestess garments. She's wearing a purple blouse, the same shade as that makeshift uniform of faith, beneath which are a pair of pants not unlike that of the sailors we accompanied to Bounty; airy, very free of movement. Her shoes were the same, a pair of buckled, brown, worn pieces of footwear. Seeing her without that garment with the head of a lion emblazened on it was a oddly mistifying experience, as I had only ever seen her wearing that cobbled together dressing.

"If you keep staring, I'll have to ask for tithe." Says Gabriella; shocking me back to reality.

"Sorry! I just..."

Ashes interrupts me, giggling. "Aren't three girls enough, handsome? Do you need the whole set?"

Yes! What!? Ugh, stupid dragon-brain!

Blushing, Gabbie looks to the other two girls. "Oh, so he really... you, Zana... and Cilla?"

"Not all at once!" Yelps Zana, seemingly seconds away from retreating into her hat.

"Yet." Adds Ashes, winking at the Priestess.

I do the only reasonable thing; sprinting out of the exit while pulling the hood of my cloak over my head. "Ok. Great. Wow. Let's go!"

The slanted roads of Bounty are as tiring as ever; everyone who lives in Bounty must have incredibly calf muscles to walk up and down this hillside time and time again. I wonder why they even have the flat road separating the street...

Scott said he knew about this city, I should ask him to explain it once he cools down.

We arrive at the first top. A potion shop, according to the sign out front; a bottle, holding the whole world. Before we even have the thought of entering, I hear the chattering of fearful teeth; Zana, shaking in her proverbial boots.

"I... don't want to go in. I'll stay out here..." She whispers; leaping to hold my arm and hide behind me, as though the shop were a monster.

Ashes gently reaches for her dear friend. "Zana... They won't try to..."

"It's fine, we can leave her and Monster out here. We just need a few of the usual for traveling." Says Gabbie, looking over to the mousey mage behind me. "Do you need anything special, Zana?"

"No..."

"Then you two stay at that bench. Monster, you have your hook, right?"

I nod, rubbing the harnessed weapon latched to my arm.

"Ok, so you'll both be safe. Come on, Ashes!"

Looking a bit worried, Ashes hesitantly follows, leaving me with a shaking shoot-em-up to care for on the bench. I question myself as to why she hasn't decided to simply hide in her hat, but pass it aside for another question; one asked of Zana.

"What do they mean by the usual? Soul Sedative for sure, but what else could we need?"

Processing my question, Zana inches closer before saying. "Well, Healing Salves are a must. Who'll do the healing if Gabbie is knocked out, or separated from us? What if she's stricken by Vibrosis after we run out of sedative? Then there's treatments for common illnesses or infections; Gabbie isn't a powerful enough Priestess yet to learn any of the spells to cure specific diseases. A few utilities, like oils to make quick campfires... and the big one, since there's women in out group."

"The big one?" I ask; what's so important, even compared to medicine, that it's called "The big one"?

"...Contraceptives. In case we get... you know... c-caught; by any monsters..." Zana quiets herself to the smallest whisper, not wanting to finish describing the acts of violation.

I feel an anger that nearly challenges that of which I felt when Ariel told me of my deception; the very idea of what Zana implies causes my hands to clench tightly into fist.

"I won't let that happen." I say sternly; trying, and nearly failing to keep my voice unfettered by my indignation.

I hear Zana's heart-rate heighten at my words; sent a flutter by some aspect of my protective reaction.

She pulls even closer, nuzzling into my arm. "Ashes said that you helped her fight of that Hydracle, even though you weren't armed... and that it was going after me and Gabbie first. I never thanked you."

"But, I didn't stop it." I say, fists clenching tighter; from indignation, to shame. "If it weren't for the Dark's infighting, it would have..."

"I d-don't care." She interrupts, looking me in the eye as she begins squeezing my arm; her prosthetic in particular actually clenching hard enough that it hurt ever so slightly. "Thank you."

The door to the shop opens; causing Zana to quite literally jump into her own hat in surprise.

"Zana, it's just us." Says Ashes, carrying a leather case which clattered with glass bottles.

Gabriella giggles. "Silly little Elf."

"Where too next?" I ask, pulling my hood further down to hide an newly sprouting blush.

Ashes smiles, flicking off my hood; clearly having seen the moment with Zana. "The parts shop. Duh. I need to turn in the spare parts left over from making Zana's arm. Turns out, I couldn't fit in the flamethrower like I wanted."

"Flamethrower!?"

"Oh hush, I'm joking... partially."