Sitting in silence, Hope looks out to the distant sky, taking a deep breath. "Amadeo, can I ask you something?"

Amadeo looks up. "Hm? Sure, what is it?"

Hope thinks for a moment and nods. "I could be wrong, but you seemed perturbed by the idea of these will-o-wisps. You took a sword to the chest yesterday, and it barely fazed you. But these things...I hesitate to think it, but I'd almost say you're afraid of them."

"Spirits are nothing to fool around with. Especially evil spirits. I learned that the hard way. It's why I left home." Amadeo closes his eyes, shivering.

The cold wind blows across the fields. The moon passes behind clouds as he wanders home from visiting a friend. It's foggy, as it always is in his village. When the moon comes into view once more, his path is blocked by a figure in a white dress stained red, floating just a few inches off the ground. Her face, bruised, bloodied, cut and beaten in. Those eyes like hot coals, burning with the rage of ages. Her twisted mouth cracks open to reveal a row of sharp fangs no human should have. "What I granted in life-" She seems to whisper, a thousand voices echoing around her like the cries of the tormented. "-I shall take in death!" Her whispers turn to cackles as she leaps toward him!

"Amadeo!" He snaps back to reality. "Huh? What?"

Hope frowns. "You really spaced out there. Are you alright?"

"Admittedly, no. Ghosts are not my favorite thing. I grew up with a ghost story back home...Turns out it wasn't just a story." Amadeo shakes his head and sighs. "Like I said, if we encounter them-"

"I know, run." Hope takes some solace in the fact that he's ok for now, certain he will explain on his own time, then takes a minute to pull her hair up into a bun, fanning the back of her neck. "Ok, this is ridiculous, even for me."

"It's your armor. It's roasting you." Amadeo points out, adjusting his cloak and rolling up the sleeves. "You should find something a bit easier to move around in."

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"He's right. You're gonna cook before the day's over if we continue at this pace." Tyrion stretches, snacking on a handful of berries.

"So what do you suggest? We're still-" Hope checks the sun's position. "-half a day out."

"I'm suggesting we wait until evening, maybe even nightfall. Anna's going nuts under the Sun, and you're frying like bacon. If we get caught by something bad, we need you two in top shape." Tyrion suggests, with Amadeo nodding approvingly.

"Well sure, but...I..." Hope groans, pouring a little water from her canteen onto her head. "Alright, ya got me there. I guess I need to look for better armor when we get a chance. Maybe our next job will provide good enough pay." She ruffles the chain mail a bit, listening to it clink about. "We'll wait here then, at least until Anna can move about with little to no issue. I know we ladies can see in the dark, but what about you guys?"

"I've got torches if need be." Tyrion responds, ducking behind the tree as a noise erupts above him and peeking back out before sighing. "Just a squirrel."

"I have my own light source." Amadeo flips through his book, running his fingers over the pages as he reads.

"Oooh, do you glow in the dark?" Anna muses, sipping her water.

Amadeo waves his hand dismissively. "Not at all. I have magic."

Anna tilts her head, holding up a glowworm from her pouch and waving it through the air. A shine comes off it, a single light that spreads into four globules of pinkish coloring. "Like that?"

Amadeo chuckles. "Yes, like that. Not that I think we'll need it with your sight."

"Yeah, I'm good in the dark, sneaky sneaking through the shadows. Like a...a sneaky thief!" Anna grins widely, and Tyrion chuckles. "You're no thief, lass."

"Psh, you haven't seen me in action yet. I can be very graceful and elegant when I want!" Anna stands, hands on her hips, before she sits down again. "Ugh, not a good idea."

"Get some rest. It's a few hours till sundown." Hope pats the elf's head, and Anna lays down with her head in the devilkin's lap. After a few minutes, she drifts off to sleep.

"She's like a child." Amadeo notes with a chuckle, getting a bit of charcoal and paper out and sketching the scene before him.

"Does that make me Team Mom?" Hope raises an eyebrow. Tyrion laughs. "You've got the personality. You're a very calming presence when you're not freaking out yourself."

"I'm too young to have a kid." Hope snickers, resting a hand on Anna's shoulder. "You're quite the voice of wisdom yourself. Does that make you Team Dad then, Mister Summerwind?"

"Sorry, you're not my type." Tyrion retorts, popping a bit of jerky in his mouth as Hope's jaw drops.

"I know you're good with fire, but we should probably still get some ointment for that burn." Amadeo offers.

"Don't you start in on me too!" Hope giggles.

They remain in that well shaded space for much of the afternoon, the sun cresting overhead and passing beyond the horizon to herald the coming of night.