People, common folk and myths alike, are so often focused on achieving their dreams that they often forget the simple pleasures of life. Like breathing. You think I jest, and yet so many of them hold their breath in anticipation hoping for the moment when fate comes knocking at their door.

                                              -Still Breathing

“So, what’s the plan exactly?” asked Alice as Davin rummaged through his wagon, looking for his hunting gear.

“There it is,” Davin smiled as he found his beloved cloak. It was splotched with dark greens and dull browns, ideal for blending into the nearby forest.

“Davin, I’m serious. We’ve never hunted this thing before. Not to mention we haven’t told Gaius nor the rest of the guard about any of this. Let alone mistress Elly.” Alice chirped.

“Are you saying, we shouldn’t take the job?” Davin asked with a raised eyebrow?

“Of course not. We are getting that gold. So, you’ll be able to buy me all kinds of delicacies.”

“Your wish is my command,” Davin spoke as he strung his bow.

Alice raised her grey feathered head high, her crimson crest standing tall, “Of course it is. But, that’s not what I’m getting at. What I want to know is how you plan on slipping from the Convoy unnoticed. And then how we are going to catch this warwolf.”

“Werewolf,” Davin corrected. “Don’t worry about the first part. As to catching the werewolf, well, I don’t know much about them. Just a couple of horror stories people told around campfires up North.” Davin grabbed his lucky pair of steel daggers and began to strap his quiver. “You know the usual. Monsters that lurk in the shadows, come for your children, deadliest beasts in the wild. Not, that I believe half of them mind you. Most of these common folk mix up the stories of sprites with stone spiders, or pearl snakes, the werewolf stories I’ve heard differ greatly with one another.” He raised a finger. “Although, there has been one consistent theme.”

Alice cocked her head to the side. “Which is?”

Davin grabbed the wild flowers he had picked up earlier today, “They always come out at night.” He walked out of his wagon, Alice nesting on his head, and took in the surrounding view. The sun was setting and his fellow caravaners were closing up shop. Most of the common folk had left for now. Though, some would be back later tonight when the festivities began. Davin had closed up shop earlier, to prepare for this excursion. He moved through the crowd with a quick pace. He sidestepped the wooden stalls, walked around the large wagons, jumped above a few sprites, to their annoyance, and made his way towards a trio of bright green wagons. A woman in a white apron stood behind a large table. She was cutting a variety of vegetables strewn about the table.

“Good evening, Xee, you look radiant tonight.” Davin gave his most charming smile and presented her the flowers.

Xee looked up from her cooking, a few strands of amber hair had slipped through her bun and fallen on her forehead, just above her soft forest green eyes. She glanced at Davin for a brief moment then continued chopping, ignoring the flowers. “Well, if it isn’t the huntsman.”

Alice cawed. Xee looked up and smiled, “And Alice of course.” She paused her cooking, picked up a grape that was on the table and raised her hand above Davin’s head. Alice craned her neck down and gladly accepted the gift. Xee scratched her crest feathers as Alice cooed in delight.

Davin cleared his throat, “I’m happy to see you too.”

“Oh, you’re still here?” Xee smiled whimsically, as she continued to pet Alice.

“I just need a moment of your time,” Davin asked, trying to ignore the arm in his face.

“Sorry, Davin, but I’m a bit busy at the moment. I’ve just started cooking and I’ll need to work fast if I’m to have enough food for everyone by the time they crack open the barrels of wine the sprites brought.” Xee spoke in a mild manner, while finally moving her hand away from Alice.

“Ah, so it was wine, I was wondering. Anyway, I’ll be quick. I was hoping to do a bit of hunting tonight. We could have some fox for tomorrow, if you’re willing to cook it, I mean,” said Davin with a smile. He knew it was her favorite.

Xee laughed, a beautiful melodic tune, “Is that so? But, I have an inkling there is something else you might need from me, ey sly huntsman?”

Davin spread his arms out in surrender, “Guilty. I was wondering if I could have a bit of meat for bait.”

Xee shook her head, “So, you want me to give you meat from the Fyre’s storage so you can potentially give me back meat?”

“Potentially? You doubt my skills?” Davin asked in mock distraught.

Xee looked at his nether regions, “I doubt more than just that.” She continued to cut the vegetables, with an expertise speed.

Davin winced, “I was very drunk that night, I wasn’t at my best performance.”

“Best?” Xee’s thin lips curled into a smile.

“I mean I wasn’t in good performance. I was in bad performance, I mean?” Davin thumbled.

Alice laughed, “Just stop while you can. Actually, on second thought, please keep going.”

Davin ignored her jab, glad Xee couldn’t understand Alice. “What I mean to say is I’ll pay you.”

Xee’s slit pupils narrowed, “Pay me?” She pointed her knife at his throat.

“For the meat! I mean for the meat, of course.” Davin laughed awkwardly.

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Xee held her knife up for an agonizing few moments before finally relenting. “Alright, but it’ll cost you extra.” Xee placed the knife and began walking towards one of the three green wagons.

“What? But, why?” asked Davin.

“Don’t push it. Follow me.” Xee said without turning around.

Davin got the que and followed her up the wagon’s steps. Xee turned the large lock on the metal door and pushed the door open. Cold fog seeped around them. They both walked into the cold cellar. Alice puffed up her feathers to fight off the cold. Meat hung on large hooks dangling from the wagon’s ceiling. Bottled milk lay in boxes on the floor, with vegetables, fruits, and various other food. Davin looked at the wagon’s interior metal plated walls, sigils carved all over them. Even though he had been in here plenty of times, it never failed to amaze him with the wonders of magic. Xee went straight to the back, with an expert knowledge of the cellar, and picked up a small slab of meat with her gloved hands.

“That’ll be one silver.” Xee said as she prepared to wrap the meat.

“Um.” Davin said nervously.

“What now?” Xee asked impatiently.

“I was hoping I could get a bigger slice.”

Xee’s eyes narrowed, “How big?”

Davin slowly pointed to one of the cow ribs.

“Are you serious?” Xee shook her head. “No fox needs that much bait. What are you up to?”

Davin raised two fingers, “I’ll pay you double if you don’t ask any questions.”

Xee laughed her delightful laugh, “Triple.”

“Deal. But, only if you don’t tell anyone about this.”

“No, dice. That’ll be extra. Not to mention the price of an entire set of cow ribs, hmm. I’m not even sure you can afford it.” Xee smiled.

Davin sighed in defeat, “Will a gold coin do?”

Xee stuck out her hand with an expectant look. Davin, unsure but, without much choice, slowly reached into his coin pouch and brought out a gold coin and placed it in Xee’s open hand.

She smiled, “Deal.”

Alice laughed, “She’s robbing you blind. I like her.”

Xee made quick work of packaging the cow ribs. They both walked out of the cellar, Davin with a few pounds of meat, and Xee a bit richer. Davin regretted having to part with the coin. Still it was a necessary investment. Quill, the sprite, had only given him three golden coins, promising the rest when the job was done and Davin had brought the werewolf’s head back.

“Davin.” Xee called out before he left.

“Hm?” Davin turned to her.

“When you’ve finished your little scheme, you best tell me what this is all about,” said Xee.

It was Davin’s turn to smile, “That’ll cost you.”

“Oh, you want your gold back?” Xee’s lips curled up slightly, her leaf green eyes grew sharper.

Davin flicked his hand towards her, “No.”

Before Xee could respond, Alice cawed sharply and flew straight at Xee’s face. She flinched as the large silver-tailed hawk swooped right at her, only for Alice to make a sharp turn away at the last moment. Davin wasted no time and closed the gap between Xee and himself. Davin lowered his neck and kissed her lips before she could react. She stood stunned for a brief spell of a moment.

He tilted his head back and grinned, “This will do.”

He quickly stepped back before she managed to high kick him. She still managed to graze his cheek, as he ran away.

“Get back here, you ass!” Xee shouted. She quickly lost sight of him as he ran pass the wagons. Flowers fell onto the table right next to her. She glanced up to see Alice flying away.

Xee sighed, “Damn, huntsman.” A faint smile touched her lips.

-----

Davin continued to run until he was sure Xee wasn’t chasing. He then changed to a brisk walk as he aimed towards the outskirts of the caravan. He spotted Lady Lorelei’s bright red hair, her back was towards him. He drew up his hood and quickly decided to go a different route. He rather not have to deal with her. He always felt uncomfortable around her. Alice flew by, noted Davin’s hair had been covered up and opted to land on his shoulder instead.

“Drop complete,” said Alice.

“Thanks, love,” Davin scratched her belly. “Wait, you did give her the flowers directly, right?”

“Close enough.” She looked away.

“What does that even mean?” He knew he shouldn’t have trusted the bird.

“It means you owe me, now shut up. We’re at the border perimeter.”

Davin turned to look at the fence. It consisted of large wooden stakes planted ten feet apart from one another. Each stake was connected to the other, by a long rope, with pieces of paper interwoven throughout it. The fence was placed around the entire Fyre Convoy. When common folk came by they were told it was for good luck, though Davin new it was some sort of magic. He had to cross the fence if he were to leave. Problem was, Davin noted, as he stood in front of the fence, guards patrolled the fence at all times.

“Stop, who goes there?” asked Gaius, captain of the guard. Gaius gripped the hilt of his sword. He was a tall man, heavy set shoulders, covered in leather armor. He had short salt and pepper hair that framed his weathered face was in stark contrast to his vivid dark eyes that glared at Davin. Many a man had underestimated the captain because of his age and each one of them had paid the price. Davin had a scar on his chest to prove it. He had once been foolish enough to challenge the men to a spar. It was only when he woke up that doctor Clover had informed him that Gaius had once been sword champion of the Southern capital. And somehow, one of the finest blades in the entire world had become the captain of the Fyre Convoy.

Davin cursed his luck. He knew Gaius would report this exchange to the mistress.

“There goes being discreet,” cawed Alice.

Davin pulled down his cloak’s hood and smiled. “Hello, captain Gaius.”

The captain relaxed the grip on his sword. “Ah, Davin. Thought it was you.” He glanced at Alice pointedly. “What brings you out here? I thought you’d be drinking by now.”

“Normally, I would, but, I’ve decided to go hunting tonight, hoping to catch an elk. Maybe impress a woman, or a few.” Davin pointed to the bow he had strapped to his back.

A pitied look crossed Gaius’ face, “Not going to well with Xee, huh?”

Davin became wide-eyed, “What?”

“Come on, don’t act so surprised. Everyone in the caravan knows about you two,” said Gaius.

Alice laughed.

Gaius looked at Alice, “And if my guess is right, your hawk agrees.”

“Well, if you must ask, things are going great,” said Davin with indignation.

Gaius pointed at his cheek, “She give you that scrape?”

“...Maybe.”

“Uhuh,” Gaius nodded solemnly.

“Look it’s not what you think.”

Gaius raised his hand, “No need to explain to me. Not like I really want to know how she kicked your ass.”

“But-”

“Just go. Maybe, you’ll get lucky and catch an elk by itself.” Gaius ushered him across the fence.

“It’s not what you think,” Davin tried to explain.

“Davin, no one cares about your hurt ego. It’s getting dark, let’s go,” said Alice.

Davin sighed in frustration, “Nevermind.”

Gaius watched as the young man scurried into the forest. He shook his head and wondered what Xee saw in him. A piercing howl echoed across the forest. Wolves? He hadn’t known there were any around these parts. A pack of wolves could prove dangerous. He looked back at the forest, Davin was already gone. “Damn.”