His salamnder-kin friend turned to him and looked hesitant to speak before Egosum gave her a nod.

“Well, it’s just that I saw some of them…ya know…drinking and I was planning on having a couple to have some fun.” He glared at her as she flinched back.

“You remember what happened last time you got drunk, right? Because I sure do and I had to fight a bunch of assassins off by myself. Let's avoid it this time, okay?” He left her with the request that wasn’t really one and watched Coyotl hop after a few children.

The crowd scattered, getting rowdier and rowdier than he thought was even possible as howls and yips of varying loudness filled the air.

The parade of children darted around tents with the frog in hot pursuit until they slowly fell out from overwhelming exhaustion.

Egosum shimmied his way into the soil to hunker down while the moon filled the sky. The cool dirt welcomed him in the same way his soul domain did. A few of the older adults came over and spoke to him of his future plans and made him promise to come visit in the future.

It was as pleasant of a time as he could have hoped. It was very different from the tiring feast that the Elven Kingdom put on and he was glad about it.

A low stumbling figure caught his attention as the time for the blessing came closer and closer. Cinera forced herself back off the ground where she had taken her fall.

The unsightly figure turned in his direction before sticking her tongue out and screaming at him.

“I drank anyway. What are you going to do, suck it out of me? Hahahahaaah. You can’t do nothi-” Her tirade cut short as she walked straight into chair.

‘I don’t know why I even tried.’

Children and parents alike slowly gathered to the largest part of the clearing. A circle many arm widths across began to form as Morgal dguided the drunkards in place.

A small group of children came running over with Coyotl following. The frog launched itself forward and latched onto one of the older children’s arms with his sticky tongue, causing him to erupt in laughter at the strange feeling.

He slowly dropped off the kid's arm and turned to look at his friends that watched on with confusion.

The kid wiped his arm dry and instructed the amphibians to enter the center of the circle.

A small gap opened up as they slowly made their way inside. The strange effect of being at the center of attention did nothing to his two companions but made Egosum increasingly uncomfortable the longer all eyes were on him.

‘Am I developing a new fear?’

After a few moments of low talking between the beastmen, Morgal walked into the gathering.

“Everyone, tighten up the circle and pay attention. The peak of the Moon is about to arrive.”

As the hairy humanoids huddled in, Egosum watched as mana began to funnel in from all around them. The lunar mana he had grown accustomed to was quickly increasing in concentration as the clearing went silent.

The sight reminded him of watching nightfall on the massive treetops that covered the Elven Forest. Where the mana had infused the world, now it all came pouring into the circle.

Morgal closed her eyes and threw her arms into the air.

“On this most holy of nights, all the beastmen of the tribe have come together. We wish to call upon Luna for our goddess to hear our call.”

The lunar mana slowed to a trickle as the density was nearly blinding to Egosum’s enhanced vision.

“I want to ask the great and benevolent Meztli for her attention. Our families have been reunited and we finally can call to you once again. Three great heroes came to us in our greatest time of need and I wish to ask for your interference.”

The mana seemed to still as if something gripped it tightly. The sheer power of the control caused spit to catch in his throat.

“The pack leader, Thunkar, brought them to our doors and they set us back on the path you intended for us so long ago. We can finally hunt, live, and continue on as one great family. The evil has been purged and our hope has been revived.”

The other beastmen followed her example as their hands lifted to the moon.

“We all ask that you provide them with your protection on their dangerous journeys. Their purpose is honorable and their dreams of fair. The night should offer them comfort, not concern.”

The mana began to concentrate more and more by the second. Blue wisps of energy began to form outside of Egosum’s mana vision as pure power condensed into light.

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He heard a light smacking of lips as Cinera rapidly opened and closed her mouth, unsure of was she was seeing.

“Please, grant them your blessing!” Morgal shouted as all of the beastmen lowered their hands in the amphibians' direction.

The blue light swirled around the trio before plunging into them and disappearing. A bright pulse of silver covered the clearing and the intense presence was gone from Egosum’s sense.

The mana exploded from them just as quickly as it infused them.

Morgal peered over to the group with a tight expression. A pained look covered her face as she appeared to rack her mind on a problem.

The other beastmen appeared similarly uncomfortable with what had just happened.

“Um..what’s wrong?” Egosum asked Thunkar who looked more amused than anything.

Morgal spoke up before the young man could answer.

“She said ‘no thanks, try again later’.”

“That can’t be what she actually said.” He found it hard to believe a deity would be so uncouth in its response. “Are you sure?”

“That was the message, word for word.” She sighed before looking down to think again.

“Meep!” Coyotl’s glorious call filled the clearing in some bid to ward off the uncomfortable silence.

“Well…thanks for trying I guess.” Egosum turned to flee from the circle when Morgal’s raspy voice stopped him.

“Hold it!” Morgal rushed to her tent and returned with a strange rock.

Egosum gazed at it and struggled to place the weird feeling it gave off. The numinous quality to the stone drew his attention more than the speech she declared.

“Everyone, get back into position! I want to call on one of her daughters.”

The mana once again concentrated within the circle and the old woman began her call.

“Muluk, I beg of you. Heed our call in place of your mother. These travelers are the most deserving of a blessing. I know how magnanimous you are and I beseech you to take this stone home and give them your favor in return.”

Egosum watched as dark mana he struggled to recognize rose from the earth. It reminded him of a mixture of moon and rock mana melded together in the most natural way her could fathom.

The waves of energy funneled into the amphibians directly before finally slowing down as the beastmen lowered their hands to the ground once again.

The lunar mana surged into the air and connected with the thing in the old woman’s hand.

The strange stone shot up into the sky and disappeared from Egosum’s enhanced sight within seconds. He watched on with interest as the world returned to normal once again.

Silence rained over the clearing before Morgal spoke up.

“It is done. I congratulate you on your new blessing. While it isn’t Meztli’s blessing, you should feel invigorated during the night as long as you are touching the ground. Exhaustion should melt away faster than ever before and beastmen will look upon you favorably.”

“I thank you for this boon but why didn’t it work the first time? It felt a little strange and your reaction spoke volumes.”

She looked to the side awkwardly before speaking again

“Meztli can be a little lazy at times. She fled to the great Luna when fights broke out amongst the gods and blessed certain forests so she could sit back and relax without worrying about her people. She still isn’t too happy or interested in getting involved.”

Egosum looked ready to say something rude when Cinera elbowed him in the gut with an intense gaze.

“Her daughter, on the other hand, is always more than happy to help in exchange for some Luna rocks. She gave you the blessing we often ask for when a hunter is born. It makes hunting much easier at night.”

Egosum compared his newest blessing to the elvish one and didn't find it lacking in any way.

“We appreciate it. Our time here has been fantastic, and I am glad you all are united again. I can tell the village will be in good hands while Thunkar is the pack leader.”

He looked to the young man and saw his lip quivering at the compliment.

“With the parasites keeping the humans at bay, you should be safe within the confines of the forest. They said they aren’t interested in much else beyond living so if you guys stay out of each others way, I don’t see why it can’t be a great citation for everyone.”

A rough cough drew everyone’s attention. Thunkar stood up and put his fist into the air.

“I believe they have said their piece. Hunters! Are you ready for the hunt?"

All of the villagers perked up under his call to action and the men stood at attention.

The packleader looked to the trio of amphibians with an intense gaze.

“I hope you guys will give us your blessing on this hunt as you see us off for the last time.”

“Of course. I am certain you guys will be successful. Get some big game to bring home and make your granny happy.” Cinera spoke for the group with Egosum nodding along.

Thunkar thanked them and turned to the entrance before commanding his hunters to head out for their first outing as a pack.

Without turning around, he addressed them one final time.

“I….I really am thankful for everything you guys have done. I just wanted to say that you will always be welcome in the village. Maybe the next time you return we will be more than just a wild tribe in the woods…Um, Egosum, Cinera, and Coyotl, thank you.”

His head dipped slightly before heading off with his fellow pack members into their hunting grounds.

“Try not to eat many amphibians. You never know when they will start talking!” Egosum called after him, earning him a few snickers from the remaining beastmen.”

Morgal followed him to the forest edge and watched his back disappear behind the trees.

“I think he put it well, but I think I should say it too. Thank you.”

The old beastman looked ready to cry as she addressed them.

She fought back gasps before finally speaking again.

“I hope you guys know where you're headed off to now. Make sure you stay safe and make sure to come back sometime. Preferably before I kick the pale.”

“I think I know where we will be going after this and you don’t need to worry. It won’t take long for me to rule the world. I’ll visit you once I have brought the humans and dwarves to their knees.”

The trio turned their backs to the beastmen and headed off into the forest with the children and parents waving them off.

‘Softer by the day.’

“Now let's go find those parasites.”