The guards chase me through the coastal city of OceanShore. I hold my bag close to my chest. I really shouldn't have robbed the king's palace. I knew it was a bad idea.

I push past the villagers as I continue through the city. They yell at me as I pass by. I can't stop now. The guards are right behind me. At the worst possible moment, I trip. My bag flies out of my hands and slides off the dock into the water. You have to be kidding me!

I leap up to my feet and continue forward. I turn left. A tavern ahead wouldn't be such a bad place to hide. There will be plenty of people to hide amongst. I pull my hood over my head and enter. I take a seat next to another elf and her troll friend. The elf has white hair and silver eyes.

Fifteen minutes earlier

Luna's POV

My friend leans against the wall while I inspect a map. The map shows the path to a cave filled with gold.

The yelling in the tavern won't stop. Why are people such obnoxious drunks? As much as I don't want to be here this is the only place for travelers like us to stop and rest.

"Come on, Luna. Don't bother with that!

Everyone who has tried to walk that path has either died or given up. It's a waste of time," my friend, Valor, says.

He's twice my height with pale grey skin. Short horns and tusks grow slowly as he ages. I hate the way people silently judge him because he's a troll. Everyone thinks of trolls as hideous, violent beasts. Valor is the exact opposite. He's been my friend for years. He's been my only friend. I'm not very social and I'm fine with that.

"Maybe we could be the first to claim this wealth," I say to him.

"Thousands have died trying. I don't want to be a part of that number," Valor replies.

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An elf walks in the door and sits down with us. She has brown hair half down and half up in a messy bun. Her eyes are dark green.

"Who are you and why are you sitting here?" I ask.

Three guards walk in. The elf turns away from them and pulls her hood up.

"So, you're a criminal? What did you do? Robbery, murder, assault?" I ask.

"Will you shut up?!" She snaps at me.

She rolls up her sleeve. A black fox tattoo is on her wrist. The first time you're arrested here you're given a tattoo that lets others know what you did. The fox means thievery.

"Are you here to rob me? If you are then you're looking at the wrong person. You see...I have nothing, but I'm going to gain quite a hefty sum pretty soon," I say before getting up and walking away. The elven woman follows after me.

"Wait! What do you mean by that?" She asks.

"Well, you know that story about a cave of gold? My friend and I are going to try to make it there," I say.

"Can I...can I come with you?" She asks.

"If you promise to split whatever we find amongst the three of us evenly," I reply.

She sticks her hand out.

"Deal. My name is Hazel by the way," the elf replies.

"I'm Luna," I say.

The bartender walks over and joins the conversation. She's a half-human half-mermaid. Her nose and cheeks have patches of blue, green, and black scales. Her hair is a bright blue. Human and mermaid hybrids are typically born without tails.

"I wouldn't mind getting in on this deal," she says.

Valor lets out a low grumble. I don't like having strangers help us, but Valor and I won't make it all the way by ourselves.

"You are?" I ask.

"Marina,"

"And I'm Flynn," A voice from behind us says.

Come on! I turn around to see a tall elven man with light blond hair and blue eyes. He's got a smug grin on his face.

"Fine, anyone else wanna come along?" I loudly say.

No responses...good. The five of us exit the tavern. It's a relief that we left that loud space. I couldn't stand it. Hazel pulls her hood up and keeps her head down.

"What's up with her?" Flynn asks loud enough for

her to hear.

Oh boy, I knew you were going to cause trouble.

Rain droplets start falling. Up ahead two guards are standing watch at the docks. One stares at Hazel trying to figure out who she is.

"Stop!" The guard calls out.

Hazel takes off. The guards look at us next. We better get moving before they arrest us too. I sprint forward with Valor and Flynn keeping the same pace. Marina outruns all of us. Hazel turns towards the stone wall. A small tunnel is carved out at the bottom.

"Screw it!" She says as she jumps down. Valor isn't going to fit.

"Go! I'll meet up with you outside the wall," Valor says.

"No, I'm not leaving you," I say.

"Will you people move it?" Flynn yells as he pushes me out of the way and crawls into the tunnel.

You didn't have to be a jerk about it. I crawl into the tunnel. I emerge on the other side of the wall. This is it. We're really doing this. We will survive this journey.