“So, uh, what do we do now?” Luke asked to everyone and no one.

The four of them stood on Belbuk’s porch. Deus had disappeared over the horizon.

“Second breakfast?” Eins suggested.

“We’re not eating another breakfast.” Ash chided.

“Aww.” Eins whimpered.

“Maybe brunch.” Ash conceded.

“I guess we should leave?” Ave scratched her head.

“She didn’t say that we had to leave.” Luke added.

“Do you really think we should wait here after everything that just happened?” Ave asked.

“It does feel weird to stay.” Luke admitted.

“Alright then. Brunch, then we pack up and leave.” Ash declared.

“Yay.” Eins clapped its paws.

#

Ash emptied the stove. Ave rolled up the blankets. Luke opened the chicken coop. Ash swept off the porch. Ave shuttered the windows. Luke packed up lunch. Eins took a nap.

Finally Luke shut the door to Belbuk’s Cabin and latched the door.

Luke turned around and shouldered his backpack.

Eins sat down on the porch. “I suppose this is it then.”

The others looked back in confusion.

“What are you talking about?” Luke said.

Eins shuffled. “You all are setting off on your adventure again. I think that I will… head back to the dungeon. The Shadowbeasts should be gone by now.”

Ave crouched down. “Eins, no. You’re welcome to come with us.”

“I don't want to cause any trouble. You saw what it was like for Belbuk. Spirits always cause problems for mortals.”

“Eins. You’re not a problem for us. You’re our friend.” Ave said.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

“More like a pet.” Ash smirked.

“Ash.”

“Ave.”

Luke waved a hand. “Please Eins. You’re our companion. We want you to come with us. As long as you do too.”

Eins looked at its paws. “You’re sure you won’t mind? I haven’t been around people for a long time. I might cause you problems later.”

Ave patted the dog’s head. “It’s fine. Trouble isn’t so bad when you’ve got friends to share it with.”

Ash nodded. “She’s right. Besides you’re our backup god. You never know when that’s going to come in handy.”

Eins scratched its nose. The dog hopped down off of the porch and joined the others. “Okay then. Let’s go.”

The four of them set off down the path from the cabin to the main road.

Luke absentmindedly turned for one last look. “Huh.” he mumbled.

“What is it?” Ash asked.

“I never really noticed before now, but when I look at Belbuk’s Cabin, the way the porch is angled, and the second story landing with the triangular roof… it kind of looks like a duck.”

“Wow. You’re right.”

“You all never noticed?” Eins spoke up.

“No. You did?”

“It’s very obvious.” Eins gave them a piteous look. “I guess you all were too distracted with your own problems.”

#

“I hate to be that guy, but what should we do now?” Luke looked at the rest of the group.

Ash, Ave, and Luke stood on the side of the road. Rolling green pasture land stretched off in every direction to the horizon. The three of them shuffled their boots.

“Which way?” Ash sucked his teeth.

Ave scratched her shoulder. Eins sat on top of her backpack. A scarf was wrapped around the dog to hide its tiny wings.

Luke looked up. He shielded his eyes from the sun with his hand. He stared at a cloud. “Nice day for travel. Very low chance of rain.”

A bird flew overhead.

*Chirp*Chirp*

Ash itched his neck.

“Guess we should pick a direction.” Ave observed.

*Cough* “Right” *Cough* Luke cleared his throat.

Eins yawned.

The wind ruffled through Luke’s hair.

*Sigh*

Luke put his hands on his hips. “I’m just going to say it. I don’t know what we should do.” He held out his right hand. “We could go west.”

They all turned west.

“That will take us to the Capital. It’s a long road. There are probably Guards looking for us. Maybe we’ll stop the Demon Lord or maybe we won’t.” He held out his left hand. “We could also go east.”

They all turned east.

“Back to Star Town. We can hide out there. Maybe it really wasn’t a Demon Lord. Maybe we all pretend like this never happened.” Luke put his hands down. He stared at his boots.

Ash sniffed.

Ave tapped a finger against the strap of her backpack.

Eins chewed a paw.

#

*Put*Put*Put*Put*Put*

All four of them turned their heads. A carriage car rolled down the road in their direction.

“We could also just get on that carriage.” Ave suggested.