The horses huffed and kept their heads low, with Felix at the front watching them with interest. Reta sat pressed to his side, the pair huddling for warmth with a bnket wrapped around them. She had her eyes closed, head leaning on his shoulder, hugging his arm as an anchor to keep from falling off. He heard her gentle little sigh, chuckling under his breath as he stared at her peaceful expression. He was careful to tuck the bnket over her sky-blue hair, keeping her warm.

  The carriage rocked as Nyitzcha pushed open the door, hanging off the side. "Oi! It's gettin' colder 'ere an' we losin' speed."

  Felix waved at her. "It is getting darker, sure."

  "Ye haven't lost dat scent, aye?"

  "No, it's not that. We're traveling off road, and all of this fog is making it hard to tell the time. Hells, it's been days since I've seen the sun."

  "Das winter fer ya." She wiped her nose, spitting off the side. "Dem horses movin' slower."

  "They're tired, or perhaps it's the weather." Felix shielded his eyes, squinting in an attempt to look further across the cloud of fog surrounding them. He was sure to keep that bnket around him to keep warm, but he couldn't shrug off the icy shiver crawling down his spine. Ever since they stepped into this fogged forest, travelling has been less than steady. Numerous bumps and rough terrain hindered their speed, and admittedly his butt was beginning to ache from sitting for so long.

  Reta nuzzled up to him, blinking her sleepy eyes open as she groggily sat up. "Mm, how close are we?"

  "Not close enough," Felix replied, steering the horses off the side. "It's getting dark, best to set camp."

  Reta looked around, wiping her eyes as the cold forced her up. It took a few moments for them to navigate around a few uprooted vines and crooked wide trees, but they managed to find a small cave along the side of a rocky hill. They settled the carriage down as Felix hopped off with Reta and snagged a torch from their supplies. A brief inspection into the cave showed that it didn't burrow in too deep and was rge enough to fit the horses inside.

  However, as they tried pushing the carriage through, they realized that the entrance was not wide enough for it to fit.

  Felix huffed, hands pnted on his hips as Janette approached him. "How about we leave it there with us inside? We could use it to seal the entrance; it could keep us warm and hopefully keep others away from us."

  Reta gnced around, alerted not by sound but the absence of sound. They expected a forest to be filled with life, such as birds whistling, animals singing, maybe a few cries here and there or at least some grasshoppers or frogs. But this forest remained desote, somewhat devoid of any signs of life.

  "Not a bad idea." Felix agreed.

  Nyitzcha shoveled out a rge bag, swinging it over her shoulder. "Yea yea, just set up a good bze inside aye? 'Less ye feel like freezin' over."

  Reta and Felix paired up, collecting falling twigs and snapping off branches around them. Janette helped Nyitzcha set up the tents in a circle, with Vardare observing them from atop the carriage.

  Nyitzcha grumbled as she gnced up at the owl. "Why don't ye make yerself useful and fp dem wings around, see if ye can find an end to dis fog?"

  Vardare cooed back, adjusting the monocle on his eye. "I am an avatar, an illusion given a faint shape of physical form. But I can only remain so long as my book is within proximity. And I would prefer not to experiment with testing its boundaries."

  "Why's dat?" The dwarf asked, curious as she leaned against the cave wall. "What's it like couped up in dat withered book? Is it like taking a c9mfy nap er somethin' like dat?"

  Vardare stroke the bottom of his beak in thought. "Hard to describe. It's not equivalent to lying in bed, for that would include the feeling of rest and slumber. I have no body and so I had no desire or need to rest or sleep. I would only exist when a user has need of my knowledge. When Tootsie gave me this form, it was the first time in centuries that I had eyes to see again."

  "Huh." Nyitzcha scratched her side, "So ye can't drink either? Sounds like hell for me."

  "It's not for the faint of heart, but it was what I requested." He said in response. Nyitzcha shook her head in disagreement, their conversation put on hold as Felix and Reta returned.

  The horses stood together at the far end of the cave, with Felix offering them some apples to snack on. Reta, Janette and Nyitzcha sat around the campfire with skewers in hand, cooking up some meat with peppers and onions. Janette pulled her stick back, blowing gently at the singed piece of beef before taking a nibble.

  Nyitzcha leaned back, plucking her boots off and pnting her feet up near the fire. "Aaaah, much better."

  "Could you not? I don't want to lose my appetite." Janette frowned, her face twisting in disgust.

  "Oh sod off, ss. My feet are cold." She hummed, leaning back and staring at Reta. "So, foreign girl. Was wit da blue locks? You use some dye to give it dat color?"

  "Blue dye?" Reta repeated in confusion.

  Felix came back around, sitting by Janette and opposite of Reta. "Fortunately, the smoke is being sucked through the cave entrance so we needn't worry about choking on that stuff in our sleep."

  "Sounds good, now take a load off." His half-pint friend sneered, passing him a freshly cooked skewer. "Have a bite. I say we pass some time around, kill off de silence."

  "Any suggestions?" Janette asked, intrigued.

  Nyitzcha happily sat up, dug into the bag in her tent and returned with a green bottle in hand. "Drinks, anyone?"

  Janette sighed heavily in disappointment. "And here I thought you left the bar behind, but instead you bring the bar with you. What is it with dwarves and drinking alcohol?"

  "Oh sod off! Dis has a nice kick to it." She licked her lips, biting the cork off and taking a quick swig for herself. "Mm, gods das good! Here's a fun game, I only know Jay and heard bout you lot. How's dis, we pass da bottle 'round and share a bit 'bout ourselves?"

  "Could we do that without the alcohol?" Felix asked shyly.

  Nyitzcha caught onto his look and smirked. "Not one to handle your liquor, aye?"

  "Is it saki?" Reta asked.

  "Uh-uh, dis stuff is a favorite o'mine!" She beamed, reading the bel on the bottle. "Mystra's Kiss! Tastes so sweet, you'll find yerself polishing off a few bottles in no time. Here's da rules, whoever has the bottle is asked a question from one of us."

  "Does it end after we finish the bottle?" He asked.

  "Oh hun, it ends after we pass out or finish our supply." She giggled mischievously, rubbing her hands like a scheming fly. "I got plenty more in stock after we empty dis one. Here, I go first. ask me anything, but only one question at a time, aye?"

  Janette sat up, hugging her knees against her chest. "She and I are good friends, so it's only fair that you guys get to ask first."

  Felix and Reta traded looks, with Reta nodding as the first volunteer. "Are all the people of your kind as small as you?"

  "Reta!" Janette snapped.

  Nyitzcha's eye twitched as she forced a smile on her face. "Hrmph, not all. No. Just me."

  She tipped the bottle over her lips and took a wide gulp, rubbing her tummy as she passed it over to Reta. "Yer up next."

  Reta pressed the bottle against her nose for a sniff. "Hm, fruity."

  "Actually, I be the one to ask first." Nyitzcha scooted forward. "Why is yer hair blue? Dat stuff isn't dye, is it?"

  Reta brushed her hair back, its growth reaching to her shoulders. "It's natural, no different from brown or bck color."

  "S'not natural here though." She mentioned in a low voice, watching as Reta took a sip and passed it to Felix.

  Felix grasped the drink with caution, his mind reeling back to the st time he had a drink. It was months ago back home, when they celebrated with some wine Janette had. That night ended in intimacy between them, reminding him of the time shared between him and Reta. He looked up at her, locking eyes as she shared the same feeling back. It left him with a slight blush, which he tried to hide by taking a heavy gulp from the drink.

  "Mm." Not bad, he thought to himself, licking his lips as he marveled at the sweet aftertaste it left. Maybe this game won't be so bad.

  Janette shuffled closer to the fire, clearing her throat. "Tell us how you got that house of yours. It looks nice and homemade."

  "Oh, it's not my house. I don't recall mentioning before but it belongs to Auguste, my employer." He expined, passing her the bottle. "I was a beggar at the time with no one to turn to. Auguste found me in the street begging for work and took me under his wing."

  Vardare snickered in amusement, observing everyone while he sat in Janette's tent.

  "Did he pass away?" Janette asked, careful not to overstep his boundaries. But he seemed casual with her question, showing no signs of discomfort.

  "No no, he uh- you see, his son had just become a father. Auguste wanted to go see his grandson. But the travel meant being gone for a good time and so he trusted me under it's care."

  "Hm. Fascinating, he found the right man." She smiled, taking a quick sip. "Oh, cherry."

  Nyitzcha gave him a questioning look, cocking her head. "Oi, I don't mean to be pushin' but... dat tattoo ye hidin' d'ere tells me ye weren't just a beggar."

  "Nyitzcha!" Janette shouted in anger.

  "No, it's fine." Felix waved her off, taking a deep breath before presenting his back to them. He closed his eyes, his hand trembling as he brushed aside his locks of brown hair to expose the ink marked into his skin.

  "Damn." The dwarf murmured under her breath, both she and Reta inching forward for a better look. Janette hesitated, pulling back and staring at the fire instead. "Five three one one dash X. When was dis?"

  "It was my earliest memory." He sighed, turning back to face them with a sad look. "I don't remember if I had parents or siblings, or where I came from. Only that I had someone to serve and a cage to call home to."

  Nyitzcha stuttered, biting her lip as she stared into the fire momentarily, catching her thoughts. "Ye broke free dough, right?"

  "Yes. Spent a few weeks moving as far as I could while asking for food and work. That's when Auguste found me." He smiled, recalling the vivid image of him sat beside the road, hunched over with a muddy face and tattered rags to hide his naked self. He looked up as an old, portly man presented him a loaf of bread, the first time he ever met Auguste. "I owe him my life."

  Reta nodded in agreement while Janette reached out and held his hand to comfort him. Nyitzcha sat back, taking in the reveal. "Damn, not to worry den, d. Yer safe wit us. Never been a sve me-self, dat service is banned where I'm from. If it means much, ye got me to protect ye. And d'ese sses 'ere, d'ough dey ain't as good fighters as I am, heh."

  Everyone took a moment to themselves, enjoying the peace they had until Janette gave the bottle a quick shake to continue their game.

  Reta hunched forward, her legs crossed as it was her turn to ask. "Have you ever slept with a man before given your interest in women?"

  "Oooo, finally some good stuff!" Nyitzcha cackled, cpping her hands together. "Go on, sis. Tell us the goodies!"

  Janette turned red feeling that all eyes were on her. "I uh, I slept with one man before yes. It was awkward, neither of us had bedded before."

  "Did he have a big prick?" The dwarf asked with a smirk.

  Janette scoffed, pulling back in disgust. "The size was not the issue."

  "Ah, d had a small prick." She said as she nudged Reta in agreement.

  "It is not the size of the weapon but how a user wields it." Reta replied back.

  Janette snapped her fingers and pointed to her. "Words of wisdom there!"

  "Pfft, spoken like a ss who hasn't experience big dick." The dwarf muttered, unamused.

  "I suppose that your size offers that benefit for you to experience, all sizes would look grand to your eyes." Reta calmly stated.

  "Ye wanna feel how hard I can punch?"

  "Okay, behave yourselves both of you." Felix chuckled, shaking his head. "Let's just get back to this game with kinder words, please."

  "Whatever." Nyitcha whispered, reaching for the bottle to take a swig. "Ask away!"

  "Why the interest in elven men?" Janette sneered.

  "Bout the same reason ye got into women." She hissed back, passing Reta the bottle.

  "You sure this has nothing to do with your past husband Zik?"

  "Nope, next!" She gnced around, noting the curious looks from the others before resigning with a deep sigh. "Look, I was married to a handsome bloke by dat name. He just happened to be an elf, is all."

  "It's a fetish of hers." Janette giggled.

  "S'not a need, more of a preference!" She barked, "Blue girl, yer next!"

  Reta gave the bottle a quick sway, weighing how much of its contents remain.

  "Okay, I've got a question." Janette scooted in. "You never told us about where you're from. Like how do you know how to fight? No wait-wait, scratch that. Are the women in your cn trained to fight just like you?"

  "Cn?" Nyitzcha raised her head with a look of interest, eyeing the young woman. "Just where exactly are ye from?"

  Reta calmly took her drink and gulped it down, passing the bottle over and wiping the trickle of juice residue on her lip. "My cn follows an old tradition where women are to be raised as brides and mothers, to keep her husband happy, their home tidy and to raise their kids."

  "But then how come you were allowed to fight?" Janette pushed further.

  "Our numbers were fading and so our traditions were challenged in favor of survival. My brother was a proud warrior and a skilled swordsman; I looked up to him. I chose to follow his footsteps. To answer your question, no. Not all women are trained to be warriors as I am. Some volunteered, many did not. Only a select few were accepted, I was among them."

  "Did ye see any battles?" Nyitzcha beamed, bouncing up and down. "Ye ever hear of the war for Mellow Peaks?"

  She shook her head. "No. My home is far from here, spanning several weeks journey east over the ocean."

  "Damn." She whistled in awe. "Das far. Welp, yer turn d."

  Felix took a drink and offered it to Janette. "Alright, I'm ready."

  "Tell me more about dat scent thing ye got going on." Nyitzcha asked, pointing at him. "Ye got a nose dat can track, dat ain't normal. I heard somethin' bout dat, how sleepin' with monster girls change yer body. So tell us what changes ye got on ya?"

  Felix sighed, "Janette knows more about this stuff than I do. But so far, my eyes have adjusted so I can see in the dark, my senses have gotten better and my reflexes are faster."

  "Do not forget your physique." Reta added, reaching out and pulling his tunic up, revealing his chest.

  "Whoa!" Nyitzcha cheered, leaning in and staring with her mouth open at his toned chest. "Not much fat at all. Gods, dat chest looks yummy."

  "Not necessary." Felix frowned, pulling his tunic back down. "Yes, my body has grown lean over time."

  "Is that the transformation or just the life of a farmer?" Janette chimed in, "All of that heavy lifting and walking, plus your diet. You don't really consume more than you need."

  "Well, ever since I took KuliKuli in, we've had salmon." He made a face, staring at the fire. "Lots of salmon."

  "Ha! Not a fan?" Nyitzcha chuckled.

  "It's good in quantities, but she preferred it often. Oh, and I can do this." He raised his hand, scrunching his eyes together in concentration. It took a moment before his nails grew out and curved into cws, startling his friends. Nyitzcha jumped back, while Janette gasped and cupped her mouth. Reta eyed him, her eyes darting from his hand to his face.

  "It's uhm, it's a recent thing." He expined, feeling a tingle surround his hand as it reverted to normal.

  "Can you do that whenever?" Asked the curious dwarf.

  Felix shook his head. "I don't know how to keep it that way. It's like tensing a muscle."

  Reta scoffed. "You've known this for several days, yet you chose secrecy rather than to tell me?"

  Felix looked at her with a puzzled look, about to reply when he caught a look in her eye. It was more than anger that held her, the way she curled her hands into fists while keeping them hidden between her thighs showed signs of agitation. There was more behind her words than she intended, he wondered if any of the others caught on.

  "Now that's fascinating." Janette cooed, leaning in for a closer look. "The books stated that being chosen as a mate with a monster girl meant changing your body to adapt to their physical needs."

  "Yer not sprouting a tail are ye?" Nyitzcha eyed him, stretching around to look behind him.

  "No tail, no." He answered quickly. He noticed through his peripheral vision the discomfort in Reta's face, she looked away averting her eyes as when he gnced in her direction.

  Reta tipped the bottle over, managing one st drink before giving the bottle a brief shake. "Empty."

  "Gotcha covered." Nyitzcha snickered, coming back with a second bottle. "Ye ever been in any wars, sky head?"

  Reta blinked, baffled by the nickname. "Erm, yes?"

  "Oh really, did ye win?" She sneered as Reta shook her head. "Darn shame, we won our war. Guess dat makes me da better soldier."

  "I did not see any weapons in your belongings." Reta stated, crossing her arms. "What exactly did you do as a soldier?"

  "Ay, gd ye asked!" She didn't waste time grabbing a handful of powder from her bag. "Explosives expert! Ignite this stuff and kabmo! Watch your enemies disappear!"

  "C-could you please not wave that stuff near the fire?" Janette stammered out, crawling backwards wide-eyed.

  "Eh, don't soil yerself sweetheart." She chuckled, stuffing the powder away. "You two are off training 'bout magic, I got a little dash o'dat myself. Fire is more of my element. Watch!"

  She stood up, cpped her palms together, and rubbed her fingers together before shouting out, "Ignis!"

  Everyone expected to see a ball of fire summoned on her hand, but instead she collected a small portion of fme from the campfire in front of her. It was faint, losing its light over time before sizzling out.

  "That's it?" Reta asked. "What use is that?"

  Giving Reta a smug look, Nyitzcha tossed a pinch of power off near their carriage, then with a snap of her fingers she directed a spark of fire snaking through the air before igniting the powder, setting it into a brief bze behind Felix. He hunched forward, shielding himself briefly while even Vardare fpped his wings and screeched.

  "My word!" The owl hooted, flustered as he composed himself.

  The others stared at the singed bck line in the dirt behind them.

  "It's not much, but a spark is all I need to ignite my beauties." She grinned, wiping her hands before pnting back down with her legs crossed. "Good thing we got a fire 'ere for me to borrow its fme. Can't conjure up heat when the environment is cold. Let's get some spiciness back. Oye, Jay! I see lover boy and sky head here got a thing goin' on, and we doin' dis fer his cat girl. Have ye slept with him as well? I'm thinkin' he got himself a harem 'ere-"

  "The answer is no!" Janette shouted, accentuating her response with a drastic wave of her hands to end the conversation. "He and I did not happen!"

  "Ahem, she's right." Felix added, rubbing the back of his head as both he and his friend blushed.

  Nyitzcha couldn't help but smile from ear to ear. "Hmm, makes me a bit jelly."

  "Anyways," Felix cleared his throat. "My turn I suppose."

  "Ever slept with a dwarf before?" Nyitzcha asked, eyeing him with a needy gre.

  "Ahem, can we ask a different question?" He asked with a red blush across his face.

  "How big is yer dick?"

  "How about another question?"

  "Can I see it?"

  Janette waved her hands in the air, turning around. "I'm done. Game is over, thanks for the drinks."

  "As am I." Reta sighed, gring at Nyitzcha. "And he is not permitted to answer."

  "Touchy." She giggled, taking the bottle back as everyone turned in for bed. "Can't bme a ss fer tryin' now."