Chapter Two

Sitting on the log, skewer of burnt dead rabbit in one hand, Vex soaks up the moment of respite. The noise of camp bubbling away behind her as she gazes towards the darkened plains.

In a slick motion, her teeth tear into the meat. Charred flesh harsh against her taste-buds. Really need someone with cooking skills. Vex sighs in displeasure before tossing Pip the rest. Pip, swallowing it whole, taste not bothering the fox.

Vex tries to chew on the rubbery meat, distracting herself with the vision in front of her. Night had crept fast over the plains, only the moon, and lantern providing decent light. Not a star in the sky. A soft screech from Sanka echoes across the night sky, as she circles the plains in search of the scout team.

Pip relaxes by Vex’s side. Head resting on her boot. The fox doesn’t flinch as Sanka dives to Vex, landing on her shoulder. Vex shifts under the added weight. Sanka lets loose a short high-pitched shrill as her claws dig into the leather armor.

“I know, I know,” Vex grumbles, her hand delving into the pouch attached to her belt, retrieving the dead wood mouse. “here,” she mumbles, throwing the carcass up to the Merlin.

Sanka snatches the mouse in thin air before taking off.

“You know you have a master, right?” Vex shouts after the bird, slumping back onto the log. Closing her eyes just for a moment, allowing slumber to lightly take its grip over her.

In an instant, her body jolts, as the weight of Pip’s head disappears from her boot. Vex's eyes snap open to the horizon. Three lights bobbing up and down in the darkness.

Shit. Where’s the fourth? Vex flicks her hand up to notify Grey of a potential missing member. Before she can put forth the call, the familiar system notification box flickers onto her screen.

System Notification

Incoming communication from Colette

Accept?

Vex doesn’t hesitate, tapping on her ear accepting the call. “Let me take a wild guess Letty, you’re not with the group?” Vex sniggers.

“Fuck nugget! They back already?” Letty curses harshly.

“About five minutes out. Do I want to know where you are?”

“It’s a long story, V.” Letty sighs as if defeated, “But now I have a crossbow!” she adds cheerily.

“A crossbow? So you…”

“It’s all Bozak’s fault,” Letty exclaims. “We were headed on the way back, and there was a ravine. And the bridge that we crossed over before was like a ten-minute walk away. Then Boz started being a real bastard. Being all snarky at me! Taunting me with the fact that if I wasn’t there, they could have just jumped over it. I said I could completely jump it. Then he said he would give me five coins if I jumped it, cause it would save so much time…”

“You jumped the gap and missed?” Vex says cutting Letty’s babble.

“I jumped the gap and missed,” Letty replies dryly. “But now I have a crossbow so it’s a complete win!”

Vex tries to hold back a laugh. “Your brother is going to kill you. You know that right?”

“Please try to buy me some time Vex!” Letty pleads. “I’m only about ten minutes out. I need to tell him about the little incident before Bozak spins it into one of his stories.”

Vex laughs at the thought of calling jumping into a ravine a ‘little incident’ “Really, Letty?”

“Please! You know you love me.” and with a click, Letty’s voice disappears.

Vex lets out a breath of air, observing the closeness of the scout group. “Come on, Pip, let’s go.” She tells the fox, nudging her with her boot before heading towards the scouts. Waving them down.

“I hear there’s a cause for celebration? The Bann has already done the announcement,” Vex calls out, trying to coat her voice in excitement.

“He must be happy then?” The voice of Bozak travels from the darkness. His form becoming clearer as the distance closes between them.

“There’s mead already flowing through the camp.”

“Good cause after today we need a drink” Bozak booms as the two other men laugh behind him.

“Well, you better have a drink or a few before you go see him.”

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“What do you mean, lass?” Fear wavering in Bozak’s speech.

“Letty has beaten you back. She’s telling him what happened.” Vex says coyly.

The group halts in their tracks. Bozak’s face whitens in the light of his lantern. “She’s… she’s… already back?” he stumbles.

“Yep, speaking to the Bann this very moment.”

“Bloody heck,” a man in the party mumbles.

“Like I said, have a drink first.”

“Does he know we’re here?”

“Nope, not yet,” Vex chimes with the satisfaction of her deception skills.

“How about Grey’s fucking bird? Would’ve of seen us for miles!”

“Sanka? She had her feed and is resting.” Vex nods her head towards the black raven perching on Bozak’s shoulder. Eyes closed, losing the fight to stay awake. “Why do you think I’m out here?”

“Right, well, thanks.” Bozak turns and nods to his party. “We might have that drink then.” He mutters making his way past Vex into the camp.

Vex pauses for a few moments before turning to follow them. Watching as Bozak turns back towards her.

“Why are you so nice today, Lass?” he shouts to her.

“We’re near the entrance, aren’t we?” Vex calls back. Bozak shrugs his shoulders turning back, satisfied with her answer.

“Now we deal with Cal,” Vex sighs out loud.

“This isn’t my fault Pip, it’s just a favor.” She answers, sensing the fox’s disapproving stare. “Blame Letty, this is her mess.”

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Dodging their way through the sea of celebrations, Vex and Pip make their way to the large foreboding tent. The shadow of a large wolf lying dormant by the entranceway shifts as the beast raises its head at the sight of Vex.

Its tail slowly wagging side to side as Pip bounds towards it. The fox letting out a small squeak, nuzzling into the wolf. The friendship is still strong I see. Vex cannot help to remark.

“Hardak,” She nods at the wolf before entering the tent.

The brightness of the multiple lanterns in the tent staggers Vex for a fleeting moment.

“Pup,” Grey’s voice welcomes her as she blinks away the temporary blindness.

“Grey,” she responds, noting his poised demeanor. Bann Cailan next to him. His muscles tightly pulled, leaning over a large table lying in the middle of the tent. Scrolls, papers and maps sprawled across, in an ordered chaos.

“Where have you been Vex? You took your time coming back to camp.” Cailan’s voice hisses, eyes remaining on the map in front of him.

Vex’s eyes dart to Grey. Returning her look with a stare that can only mean one thing. He’s in one of his moods again.

“Silverwoods, if you really want to know.” Vex bites back. Her eyes return to the Bann, seeking for his reaction.

“You need to stay closer. We all agreed that there would be no more goofing off. We need to stay together and keep the camp safe.” She can feel him trying to control his anger. Trying to keep the upper hand. “What if there was another raid, and we lost half our players again?”

“You know I have the Hunting Perk right?” Vex fights back, trying to hold her own. “Unless you want me to hunt bugs, I have to actually leave.” Vex eyes shift back to Grey, trying to gain whether he has told Cal that she logged out. Better get it over with. “Plus, I needed a break.” Cal’s eyes catching her’s in a fleeting moment.

“Maybe something you should try,” The words slip past Vex’s muttering lips. Catching them both in surprise. Cal’s eyes pierce into her, catching Vex’s breath. Anger emitting from his body like a thick smog.

The sound of the wolf and fox padding their way into the tent breaks through the thick tension. Out of the corner of her eye, Vex can see the risen hackles and baring teeth of the beast. Waiting for its master’s command. Pip winding her way between Vex’s legs nervously.

The Bann hisses out a deep breath, unclenching his hands. Gaining composure and control. “Next time tell someone.” His voice claps into the silence.

Vex bites onto her lower lip, refraining from adding anything else to say.

“And Colette doesn’t count,” Cailan adds, reaffirming that he has the last word of this conversation.

I’ll be the least of your problems in a minute. Vex tells herself, winning her own version of the conversation’s end. In the perfect moment, a faint hissing announces Colette’s arrival.

“And where have you been Colette?” The harshness Cailan’s words visibly stinging into Letty. The snake wrapped tightly around her arm, hissing angrily. “Is that? Did you fucking die!” Cailan screams, losing all control he had just regained. “What did I tell you, Colette. We can’t afford to lose decent Healing Perks! Not now!”

“It’s not my fault Cal,” Letty meekly squeaks out.

“Really, then tell me what happened.”

“Okay, well maybe it was my fault. But I only changed weapons. I still have the Perk.” Letty tries to defend herself. Vex seizes the moment of distraction from herself, slowly backing herself up to the tent’s exit. Grey following her, escaping the feud.

“And what about the levels Letty! You had the highest level in all the camps. What do we do now?”

“You need to chill. You take this game too seriously.” Letty’s voice gains momentum as Vex and Grey exit the tent into the night.

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“What the fuck crawled up his ass and died?" Vex exclaims to Grey safely distancing themselves from the tent.

“He received a system notice this morning. The Golden Guild have reached an outpost.” Grey replies, voice colder than normal.

“So, we are the last guild to find an outpost?”

Grey’s eyes glance around the camp, searching for any eavesdroppers. The occupant’s now each in their own tents or huddling around different fires.

“Worse, they already found an entrance.” He mutters in a low voice.

“Already!” Vex hisses out. “We haven’t even sighted the kingdom yet!”

Grey lowers his head to the ground, shaking it slightly. “We are so behind, it’s not even funny.”

“Did they give any information or clues for us?”

“No, he tried. Hell, I tried calling in a few favors. All they said is that it's more complex than what we believe. And we may have a chance of catching up.”

“Do you think they mean that?”

“Who knows, it could be a false hope, for all we know.” Grey large shoulders shrug. “We have to try though.”

Vex searches his eyes for a split second. The hopeful sparkle in Grey’s eyes nowhere to be found. “Yeah.” Is all she can muster out. Questions bouncing around her mind, begging to be answered. What happens if the hamlet isn’t an outpost. Should we just give up? Should we defect to the other guilds to at least have a chance? Vex looks up to Grey, his face telling her not to voice her concerns.

Moments pass as they silently reflect on the news. Watching as the scouting party tumble into the Bann’s tent.

“Pup. You’re part of the party tomorrow.” Grey’s voice breaks the silence.

“Fight or support?” Vex sighs already knowing the answer.

“Fight.”

“Why?” the whining of her voice catches her slightly off-guard. “I am twice more efficient as a sniper. Why not use that?”

“You know him.”

“He still doesn’t believe the Hunting Perk is as valuable as others. I am not a high-ranking member. I can be a casualty.”

“Mm hmmm,” the sound from Grey agreeing with the decision, irks Vex. “And you're efficient enough in a fight for him.”

Vex snaps a look at Grey. Suggesting to not push it.

“His tactics are changing though, splitting us up into smaller groups. Not storming in. Using surprise and advantage… his skill must have increased.” Grey’s voice trails off. “One positive thing though, you're with me.” He booms once more, hitting her on the shoulder.

“See you at sunrise, Pup,” Grey calls out, leaving to enter back into the tent with the Bann.