Each step through the measurable heat only gave Charlie one thought.

“Why is it so hot?”

She voiced this many times during the days the spent under the grueling sun. Charlie never thought she would miss air-conditioning more than she already did. Her sweat-stained clothes were constantly dried and scratched against her skin.

“It’s a desert, babe,” Piper wiped the sweat off her brow, “It’s going to be hot.”

She took her hat off and fanned herself with it, “The Oasis wasn’t this hot!”

“The Oasis has protective magic to keep the temperatures tolerable. The rest of the desert isn’t protected by water magic,” Puddles yawned, “Be glad Gabby has a cart for our things.”

A tiny horse-like creature snorted. It was comparable to a hairless rat stretched into a pony with only tuffs of blue hair for a mane. It pulled the tiny cart full of luggage. The goblin woman rode it as they traveled along in the rutted, cracked sand. The cart had a plethora of bags compared to its size, but it could only realistically fit the little green goblin.

“Pixie is sweet, isn’t she?” Piper chuckled, “Got her off of the last client we visited. He bred these little vorcha things. I think she’s come in handy, so I don’t have to carry everything.”

Pixie neighed as she pulled her tiny cart. Jonah perched on top of the luggage and ruffled his feathers as he slept.

“We’ve been traveling for seven days. We’re nearly at the Mixus. Once we get there, we can take a few days as a break,” Davon rolled his eyes, “You can wash your clothes then.”

“Squirt, more water please,” She scratched under his chin as he rested on her shoulder.

He airlessly huffed and sprayed her face. She sighed and leaned her head against his. His pathetic squeak of misery echoed her own.

“I know, baby boy. We’re almost somewhere to rest.”

“Speaking of rest,” Puddles stretched, “I’m hopping in the mug.”

“Really? Can’t we just use you to do more mist? You’re making it tolerable.”

“I need to rest too and if I have to be up because I don’t sleep, then you have to let me rest somehow,” The watery girl crossed her arms, “Plus, I’m hot too. I’m basically evaporating.”

Puddles dramatically laid across Charlie’s arms and cooling water soaked into her grey traveling jumpsuit. The water soaking her outfit made the heat bearable. The light material made for a breathable outfit and Charlie was glad she listened to Gabby’s advice.

“Fine, but don’t take up all my water,” She slid the bottomless mug off of her arm and pressed a glowing blue rune, “Hop in.”

Puddles slid her arm into the mug. It quickly slurped her up. Once she was completely in the mug, Charlie slid it back up her arm. The watery haze around them disappeared and the heat of the day baked them more. After a few hours of traveling, the bottomless mug got passed around for drinking water. Charlie made sure to differentiate which button was water and which was Puddles. She poured small bowls of water for their animal companions to drink from.

Once the sun set, Davon pulled out a bundle of blankets from their cart and laid them on the ground. Piper pulled out dried meats and fruit for dinner. Charlie poured wine, water, and beer into small mugs for everyone to drink out of. Jonah squawked and cozied himself into a mug of beer as Squirt laid in a bowl of water to hydrate. After a mumble from the inside the mug, Charlie pressed the cerulean “P” for Puddles. Water crawled out of the mug before it laid along the warm sand and formed into the goddess.

“So, Davon, what story are you going to tell us tonight?” Piper chewed on a stick of meat.

“I’m still interested in how you two were cursed,” He said, “You keep avoiding it. Puddles, Charlie, Gabby, and I have taken our turns.”

“Not my story to tell. Ask Jonah,” She pointed the stick of meat at the bird, “He started it.”

The bird burped as his head whipped around to look at his sister.

“Besides, your story doesn’t count because Charlie and Puddles were in it,” She chuckled, “I can tell a different story.”

“I will allow you to tell Jonah’s story,” Gabby grabbed her small goblet of wine and drank, “It becomes yours and mine towards the end.”

“Really?” She raised an eyebrow, “It’s unforbidden now?”

The tiny green goblin stretched and laid on her back, “I am interested in your side.”

“What exactly…?” Charlie cleared her throat, “Your relationship is weird.”

“Gabby purchased the rights to Jonah’s curse. So, when I found her,” Piper stood and stretched, “I asked to be cursed under contract. So, we work with her until we find the fae that cursed my brother then my curse is over.”

“And what exactly do you get out of this?” He asked.

“Walking advertisement,” The goblin waved at her, “Beautiful woman wears my clothes and walks about town. Tells others where to find me.”

“Why would you voluntarily…?”

“One must know a fae to find a fae,” Puddles grabbed a piece of fruit and popped it into her mouth, “Most do not interact with non-fae. Gabby is a famously cooperative goblin.”

The fruit slowly descended in her eatery body until it dissolved with little wanting.

“Why?”

“Because I like money,” The goblin laughed and rubbed her fingers together.

Piper flicked the bird’s beak, “Do you want to tell the story or should I?”

Jonah shyly shook his head and put his beak into the beer. Bubbles floated from him as he sadly played in his drink.

“Should I start at the parents or you being an idiot?”

He cawed at her.

“Someone is feisty,” Charlie teased, “Let’s start with being an idiot, then.”

“Jonah took after our parents. He wanted to go to the priesthood of Knowledge. When we were ten, my adorable twin brother became an acolyte because of his skills. Whereas I’ve always been a shapeshifter, so I declined that role. Not much to learn from me,” She shrugged, “After our parents died, we lived at the orphanage in Sarorr. Brother dearest would keep his nose in books to learn new spells.”

“He has the system administrator’s talent,” Puddles agreed.

“He would have become one, if he wasn’t an idiot, huh kid?” Piper teased him.

“What’s that?”

“The ability to translate gods’ wills and transcribe spells,” The goddess answered, “It’s a rare talent –similar to your… pop ups, as you called them.”

“Anyway,” Piper continued, “One winter I saw Jonah feeding the birds. He said they kept talking to him. Then, one day he was gone.”

“Gone?”

“Well,” She motioned towards the bird, “All the other birds left but this one. We were twelve. I went to the head mistresses, and she told me the fae probably got him, because we were on the outskirts of their territory. After a few weeks, this bird wouldn’t stop following me around, so I asked him where my brother was. Jonah found a piece of chalk and wrote his name out.”

He chirped shyly.

“I asked him what the hell he did. I talked to the head mistress about how we could save him. But, she said it could only be done by the family of the fae that cast the curse. So, I set out trying to find them. Popped into my own set of wings and we flew off to the nearby woods.”

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“Then, five years later, I found a pair of black birds following me between cities,” Gabby crossed her arms, “Squawking at me insistently.”

“Seamstress was quite surprised when I returned to my human form,” She shrugged.

“Yes. Piper asked if she could help me find the fae that cursed Jonah. I asked if she wanted him to return to his human form. After six years of being just a bird, he didn’t feel comfortable yet. So, I cursed her to share the form with her brother,” She shrugged, “She can only turn into the bird, and he can become a human. Once we find the ravenfae and Jonah’s curse is broken, then Piper’s will be too.”

“And you just… accepted that?”

“Fae will find fae,” Piper shrugged, “Plus, I was seventeen without any money and my brother was a bird. What else could I do? It’s been a good seven years since. We’ve nearly tracked them down.”

“Yes. We are heading back to Arrigan after we get you to Vlaminer,” The little goblin yawned, “We will meet my family and find the ravenfae to get a name.”

“How exactly did you get cursed, Jonah?” Charlie asked.

The bird shyly turned from her and shook his head.

“Oh, that’s the funniest part!” She laughed, “Apparently, the fae asked him if he wanted anything and this idiot said he wished he could fly.”

“We are known to be sneaky folk,” Gabby chuckled, “Bad for business, though. I am honest with my clients. They pay more money for goblin-tailored things because they last. I am much less expensive than raiding where fae might have been to find remnants of their clothes.”

“Arrigan is the…” Charlie closed her eyes and thought.

> Map uploaded. Arrigan is the lower most continent and primarily occupied be the fae or “small folk.” Most cannot enter Arrigan without an escort, but all can exit as they please.

The map highlighted in her mind as she tried to figure out where it was.

> Current location: Eastern Ferigor desert. At current traveling speeds, the river Mixus is approximately one day away. Vlaminer is approximately twelve days away.

“Is it your mind thing, again?” Piper raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah,” She ran a hand down the back of her neck, “I’m still trying to figure out how it works.”

“Jonah’s the one that would know but he’s…” Puddles chuckled, “Can a bird be drunk?”

The black bird cawed defensively.

“Davon, are you ready for bed?” Charlie yawned, “I think it’s time.”

“Do you guys have to swarm up to me again? Every night its—”

“You have a bunch of women snuggling up to you and you’re complaining?” Piper teased.

“For warmth,” He snorted, “Except for you. Keep your hands where I can see them and out of my mane.”

“No fun,” She winked, “But I agree with her. It’s time to sleep.”

The lion grumbled as he laid in the center of the blankets. Charlie curled up against his stomach and Piper laid against his back. Gabby crawled on top of the group and nestled where she fit. Jonah hopped over and nested in the lion’s mane despite his protest. The final member of the sleeping pile was the turtle that grabbed a blanket to pull over them before crawling up by Davon’s hands to make sure they didn’t grab his summoner.

“Squirt, she started this. You should know by now I’m not going to assault her,” He laughed and scratched his shell, “We’re going to bed. Stand watch with Puddles if you want to protect her.”

The turtle snorted and snuggled up against Charlie. She yawned once before she closed her eyes one last time. Despite the devilishly hot days, the nights were bitterly chilly. Davon acted as a radiator for all of them to stay warm as he slept. Piper and Jonah’s immediate snoring became the white noise she had fallen asleep to for the past week. It was almost endearing how Davon would turn her to make both of them comfortable in the group. Gabby’s gentle giggles would wake her up sometimes, but other times it seemed childish in her own sleep. As Charlie concentrated on the new sleeping arrangement, Puddles put a hand over her face.

“Goodnight, Charlie.”

“Goodnight, Puddles.”

> The spell “Sleep” has been cast on you.

“Now, this is Roman. He’s going to be your escort for the ball.”

The young man bowed at the waist. Charlie curtsied back in her white gown as she waited for her turn to be called.

“Thank you very much,” She grabbed the small white corsage from him, “May I ask to which family you belong?”

“Watkins. You may have met my older sister, Taylor. She seems to always want to help with the new girls,” He pulled the corsage past her white gloves, “I am typically assigned to the girls that—well…”

“Don’t know anyone else?” She chuckled, “I assumed as much. Still, thank you all the same.”

“Of course.”

Charlie played with her white dress and looked at the other girls with jealousy. Compared to them, she felt like a cheap imitation of what a debutante should be. She nervously ran a gloved hand over her arm as they stepped towards the stage to announce the girls.

“So, Charlotte, isn’t it?”

“Oh, yes. Sorry,” She tucked a stray hair behind her ear, “I forgot to introduce myself. How rude of me.”

“Technically, it was rude of my sister to assign me to you before she introduced us. But –” He winked, “I won’t tell her if you don’t.”

Charlie blushed, “All the same… I prefer to go by Charlie.”

“Well, Miss Charlie, you look dazzling.”

“Thank you, Mister Roman,” She blushed, “I was worried I would stand out too much today. I don’t have the same budget that everyone else seems to have.”

“Oh, you definitely do,” He laughed, “You’re not as bitchy as any of my sister’s friends, either.”

She snorted and covered her face with her glove, “Roman!”

“What? They are all stuck up! I can tell you were thinking the same thing when Taylor just threw me over here without asking if you even had an escort,” His face paled, “Am I in the way of your boyfriend?”

“No,” She took a step forward with him, “No boyfriend.”

“Really? I’m surprised.”

The teen pulled the sleeves of his suit and tried not to make eye contact. His crystal blue eyes and dark hair caught her attention as he smiled at her.

“Why’s that?”

“I mean, you’re a gorgeous girl. Who wouldn’t want to date you?” He cleared his throat, “If you’re even allowed to date, that is. My sister wasn’t until she was sixteen.”

“My parents feel the same way,” She looked away from him, “Plus, we just moved her to help on my grandma’s farm.”

“Oh, the Smith’s farm? You’re Mrs. Smith’s granddaughter? The ballerina? She brags about her quite a bit.”

“No… that would be my little sister,” She looked away as he scrambled to interject, “I’m the other one that isn’t spoken about, really. That’s why I’m here, I guess. Nothing too special about me.”

“Nothing special with you? I doubt it,” He playfully elbowed her as he regained his confidence, “If that we’re true, you wouldn’t be here.”

“My grandmother’s the whole reason I’m in this debutante business,” She blushed and looked away from him, “Once it’s done, I can start taking guitar lessons.”

“Guitar? I could always teach you if you’d like.”

“Really? I haven’t met anyone that could play before.”

“Where exactly did you move here from?”

“Thornville. The town with—”

“—only six hundred people. That might explain it,” Roman nodded, “No wonder you’re a bit shy.”

They took another step forward as the couple in front of them were announced on the stage. Roman lightly turned her shoulders to give her a once over check. He dusted off some frayed strings and gave a dazzling smile.

“I’m just making sure the other girls won’t have anything to complain about with you,” He nodded reassuringly, “You look perfect.”

“Th-thank you, Mister Roman.”

“Now, remember to smile and wave,” He extended his arm as her name was called, “This is the first moment to the rest of your life.”

“Charlotte Leah Smith, of the Smith’s family.”

Lights blinded her as she stepped past the curtain. As she raised her hand to block the light, Roman whispered to her.

“Smile and wave.”

Charlie grinned proudly and properly waved as they stepped down the small catwalk. Roman whispered encouraging words to her as they crossed the other couples. At the end of the catwalk, she curtsied. They turned back and she noticed how hard she clinched his arm in her hand.

“Sorry,” She whispered, “I was very nervous. Thank you for escorting me. You’ve been a big help.”

“It was my pleasure,” He dipped his head in a nod as they made their way to their spot off the stage.

“Doesn’t your girlfriend hate you escorting and flirting with other girls?” She lowered her eyes, “I can’t imagine she enjoyed watching you with me.”

“No girlfriend. Not yet anyway.”

“Not yet?” She squeaked, “What are you waiting for?”

“For you to turn sixteen,” He winked.

Charlie’s face turned red from embarrassment, “Oh.”

“That is, if you still want to speak to me after this. I can always leave you be,” He shrugged, “But you seem like someone I’d love being friends with.”

“I… I would like that too, Mister Roman.”

“Just call me Roman,” He grinned wide enough that she saw his braces.

“Okay. Call me Charlie, then.”

“The day after your birthday, I’m going to ask you on a date,” He boldly claimed, “Mark your calendar.”

“What if I say no?” She giggled.

“Well, how long do I have to plan the perfect date?”

“Three months.”

“Three months? I’m sure I can find the best way to make every other date seem like child’s play,” He smiled, “At least, until the second one.”

“You seem very sure of yourself.”

“Hasn’t failed me yet.”

> New ability discovered. Passive ability: Heightened Awareness.

>

> Heightened Awareness: You passive perception is heightened to give you a better sense of your surroundings. You are alerted to more danger within an ERROR radius around you.

Charlie slowly opened her eyes to see a sleeping Puddles against the sand. She slowly looked over to everyone else. When everyone was asleep, she looked out into the darkness of the night.

> Heightened awareness identified potentially dangerous situation.

The familiar feeling of dreadful anxiety washed over her like a wave on the shore. She looked around again before she remembered the wererabbits in the cave.

“Identify,” She whispered.

> There are currently eighteen unidentified creatures in range: twelve Clockwork Collectors, five Clockwork Enforcers, and one Clockwork General. All unidentified creatures are under level 25.

“Shit. Davon,” Charlie elbowed him, “Wake up.”

“Huh?” He grumbled and rubbed the sleep from his eyes, “What is it?”

“What the hell is a Clockwork Corrector?”

“A what?”

“Puddles!” She whisper yelled and kicked the girl, “What is a Clockwork Corrector?”

“When did I…?” She shivered.

An ominous tick approached them.

“Identify.”

> There are currently twenty-seven creatures in range.

“Fuck. We need to move,” Charlie threw Davon’s arm off of her, “Everyone! Get up! Something’s wrong!”

Puddles eyes grew wide, “Forty…”

“Forty?!”

Davon hopped up and grabbed his bow. He looked around to try and find anything to shoot. Piper quickly morphed into a bird and shot into the sky. Jonah followed after her.

“Charlie, get your backpack and grab your dagger,” Davon spoke in a low tone, “I feel something coming.”

“None of them are above level 25,” She whispered.

“That doesn’t matter if there’s forty of them,” Puddles whispered, “We’re about to get in a fight. Are you ready?”

“I don’t even know what I –” She stopped when Squirt stood in front of her, “Squirt, are you ready?”

He cawed with a nod and dug into the sand to brace himself. Charlie clutched her dagger in her shaking hands as she waited for the danger to finally appear.