Novels2Search

Chapter 21

Cyrus and Merlynn finished cooking as Gloria assisted Fyri hanging hammocks between nearby trees still within the warmth and safety of the fire. She then followed Fyri, who insisted they check the perimeter. After embarking into the wood Gloria was hard pressed at first to keep up with Fyri until she started using her power shifting through the pitched darkness. Her attempts were rocky at first, but as she calmed her nerves, she managed to out-maneuver Fyri, appearing just in front of her. “Not bad girly.” Fyri whispered with a smile. Gloria squinted once trying to make out Fyri’s expression. With a quick rub of her eyes her vision suddenly flashed brightly, spooking her and causing her to stumble. With a lightning-fast reflex Fyri reached out stabilizing Gloria who blinked then slowly looked at Fyri, the irises of her eyes softly glowing with a golden hue. “Toil and Trouble! I can see everything!” Gloria spoke aloud shocked at what was happening. As she looked Fyri over she couldn’t make out exact color per say, but she could clearly see Fyri’s face including the absurd stare Fyri twisted her face into. “Seriously, I can see you doing that.” Gloria chuckled as she noticed the intricate scale work in Fyri’s breastplate. “Jesus, are they really that big or is it the armor?” Gloria asked prodding Fyri with a finger. Fyri doubled back snatching her breast protecting it. “Thats not important! Were supposed to be scouting!” Fyri stammered in a hushed voice blushing vibrantly.

“It's important to me dammit! It’s padded right? It must be there's no way your tits are that big.” Gloria consoled her jealousy as Fyri lamented, wishing she could have afforded the padding. “We should get moving then I guess.” Gloria whined sounding defeated. Fyri shrugged, falling back into rhythm as she led them once more in silence. The two didn’t spend much more time scouting, feeling they were relatively safe and returned to the clearing where they found two large fish carcasses and Cyrus fumbling with chopsticks determined to eat with them. “Holy crap you made sushi!?” Gloria exclaimed, immediately taking a seat and a healthy portion from the massive display of prepared fish. Merlynn giggled tossing Gloria some chopsticks. “Mind your manners, Gloria.” Merlynn snickered as Cyrus patiently watched Gloria break them apart and promptly inhaled three pieces in one breath. “What’s so special about this?” Fyri asked, picking up a piece and squeezing it slightly. As a couple grains of rice fell Fyri blushed slightly then popped the morsel into her mouth. “Gods! These are amazing!” Fyri screamed in astonished pleasure as she piled more on a metal plate. “Eat up there is plenty.” Merlynn smiled happily as she dunked one of her pieces into a white sauce. Cyrus watched again in awe as Merlynn and Gloria both happily picked up piece after piece eating to their hearts content. Even Fyri, who had sat between Cyrus and Gloria was able to pick up a piece and eat it after a few tries.

After a couple more moments Fyri noticed that Cyrus still hadn’t managed to pick up a single piece as his stomach growled fiercely. “Cy, what's wrong?” Fyri asked concerned. “Merlynn mentioned its rude to eat this with your hands, then told Gloria to mind her manners.” Cyrus spoke up, then continued. “I wanted to honor that, seeing as Merlynn did make most of this and even taught me how to make it. The weird looking ones I made.” Cyrus admitted blushing slightly. Fyri looked down giving more attention to her plate. She realized that over half her plate was made up of uniform pieces, however she found several that were shaped, chaotic neutral at best. “Cyrus, please call me Lynn. I would prefer it that way.” Merlynn asked, setting her plate down and coaxing her smokes out of her coat. “Alright, again thank you Lynn, for making this.” Cyrus bowed his head slightly. “Don’t worry about it! Where I come from there’s a fish that tastes quite similar, just way smaller.” Merlynn dismissed him with a flirty giggle. “Cyrus!” Fyri chimed in suddenly, her voice rattled with slight jealousy. Cyrus turned to see Fyri holding one of the pieces of sushi he made with chopsticks. “Yours are amazing too! Try some!” Fyri beamed in a warm smile as she held out a piece for him.

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Merlynn and Gloria audibly cooed as Fyri hand fed Cyrus, both blushing. As Fyri motioned to feed him another piece Gloria snuggled up to Merlynn reaching for her hand. At that moment Fyri stopped snapping her head towards Merlynn and Gloria. “What! Why are you two staring at us for?” Fyri snapped, her voice cracking as her face turned red. “Don’t mind us! Yeah, you do you boo boo and think were bushes or something.” Merlynn and Gloria respectively teased Fyri and Cyrus whom both realized the situation they were in and became exceedingly embarrassed. “What are you grinning for idiot!?” Fyri exclaimed shoving a fist full of food into Cyrus’s mouth then shot to her feet spouting Elven curses while walking towards her hammock. With a leaped, grunt, and an audible huff, Fyri settled into her hammock facing away from the fire. “What did I do?” Cyrus bemoaned after swallowing the mass of food lodged in his throat. “Don’t worry about it too much Cyrus. I’m sure she will be better by morning.” Merlynn giggled, hauling herself to her feet. “That’s wishful thinking. Fyri’s not a morning person let’s just say.” Cyrus moaned again as he stretched a bit. “Come Gloria, I'll help you get settled into your hammock.” Merlynn smiled at Gloria holding out her hand. “Mom, I don’t need you to tuck me in.” Gloria yawned but accepted her hand all the same.

“Good night, ladies. I’ll be up a bit longer I've got some things on my mind.” Cyrus bid them well as he fed the fire another log. “Wake me when you get tired. I’ll take the next watch.” Merlynn told him as Gloria shooed her away so she could climb into her hammock. Moments after Merlynn had settled herself in a loud scream followed by a thump, startled everyone. “Gloria...you good?” Merlynn asked lifting the brim of her hat with a finger. “You didn’t hear shit!” Gloria barked in embarrassment. “Sounded a lot like someone fell out their hammock. Landed on your ass didn’t you?” Fyri hazily taunted as she rolled over without falling out her own hammock. “Goodnight!” Gloria barked once more in embarrassment. “Thought so.” Fyri sleepily snickered.

After two more attempts Gloria finally managed to crawl into her hammock without immediately falling out. Merlynn’s eyes felt hazy as she glinted them around the campsite. She watched briefly as Cyrus continued to feed the fire, his eyes never wavering from its flicking flames, buried in thought. Her eyes fluttered open wider as Fyri tossed once more, positioning herself where she could watch Cyrus. Merlynn felt that strange familiarity again as she looked in Cyrus’s eyes once more, the light flickered battling against silent questions screaming to get out, wrapped in worry. She then shifted her gaze as she watched Gloria’s heaped form draw in slow breathes worn out from everything that happened. The slurry lurch of sleep crept up once more drifting to sleep with the slow rise and fall of Gloria’s back.