Gentle rays of the morning sun filtered through the forest's canopy. Fritz was past the point of exhaustion. Ada, as if sensing his fatigue, finally called a halt to their march. Fritz flopped to the ground of the forest. His torch had burnt out deep in the night. Relying on Ada's keen senses and the bright moonlight, they were able to keep moving towards civilization.

A trickle of sweat dripped down Fritz's face. Reaching up, he wiped it away. Closing his eyes, he counted his own heartbeats as he caught his breath. Ada hovered nearby. Slowly she lowered herself down onto the forest floor next to him. Even with his eyes closed, he could feel her watching him.

Tired, thirsty, and somewhat annoyed at the events of his first day, Fritz thought of a bottle of water. He felt the familiar surge of magical energy leaving him as the water materialized in his outstretched hand.

"By the goddess!" Ada exclaimed. Her gray eyes were as wide as saucers, as Fritz looked over. Taking a deep swig of the water. He offered it to her.

"Want some?" He said with a tired voice. "I don't mind sharing." Ada seemed to be stuck, as she considered what she just saw. Fritz took another greedy drink, before tossing it over towards her. She caught the water bottle with ease. Turning it over in her hands, she inspected the plastic bottle. Fritz closed his eyes again, as he imagined some simple food. Within a second, a loaf of bread materialized in his hand. A large throbbing headache descended over his exhausted mind. Fritz wasted no time as he began tearing off chunks of the bread.

"Simple is better. Keep it simple stupid, and nothing will go wrong." He muttered to himself between mouthfuls.

"How did you-?" Ada started before trailing off. Her brows furrowed in confusion, as she looked between the water bottle and Fritz.

"Magic." Fritz replied. He waved a free hand in the air as if to dismiss her question. "Though, I certainly wasn't a believer in it till today." Fritz let out a chuckle.

"You shouldn't be able to-" Ada said. She shuffled on her knees towards Fritz. Seeing her approach, Fritz tore off a piece of the bread.

"Want some?" He offered it to the beastkin. She reached out. Her hand dodged past the bread and slipped underneath his tunic. Her hand moved quickly as she felt around his chest.

"Hey! What are you doing?" Fritz said hurriedly. Dropping the bread, he tried to grab her wrist.

"Making sure! Calm down." She clamped her other hand over his shoulder to keep him still. The iron grip of her fingers gave him pause. Dull pain radiating from her long fingers kept him still.

"Making sure of what?" Fritz asked indignantly.

"That you're really a man! I mean you smell like one. Alive too." Ada replied.

"You're not making any sense. I'm not some zombie. Get your hands off of me, weirdo." Fritz protested.

"I'm not weird! I'm perfectly normal! I'm investigating! So stop struggling! I need to make sure you're a man!" Ada withdrew her hand from Fritz's shirt. "What's so hard to understand?" Fritz held out his hands defensively, as he watched the suspicious beastkin.

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"What's it matter in the first place?" Fritz asked sternly. "Though, I'm thankful you didn't go straight for the crotch, you freakishly strong pervert."

"Maybe a ring? A necklace?" Ada mused as she looked Fritz over. "Hold out your hands."

"What? No." Fritz said defensively. Ada grabbed him by the wrist and turned his hands over.

"Maybe on the toes?" Ada muttered to herself. Her quick hands reached for his boots, grabbing the black leather, and pulling them off in a swift movement. His socks were thrown off next as Ada continued on her rampage. Fritz did his best to push her away, yet the blonde swordswoman was unstoppable.

"What is wrong with you? Stop! Jesus Christ!" Fritz exclaimed.

"Take off your shirt." Ada demanded. Her face was deadly serious. Her gray eyes locked onto his with a look a supreme determination.

"Not until you tell me what you're trying to do!" Fritz said.

"I'm looking for any magical items."

"What? Are you trying to rob me?"

"No! I'm investigating! Magical items would explain why objects are suddenly appearing! Do you have a bag of holding?" Ada asked.

"No! What's that?"

"It's an extra-dimensional bag. Take off your shirt." Ada demanded.

"No?" Fritz held out an arm defensively.

"You might have a magical locket. I haven't checked that yet. Empty your pockets too." Fritz pushed his tired legs away from Ada. The blonde wolfkin grabbed him by the ankle, dragging him back. Fritz pulled against away with all his remaining strength. Ada held him still, barely shifting in the slightest against his futile escape attempts.

"Just how strong are you?" Fritz complained as he struggled to break Ada's hold of him. "Help! Someone! Help!"

"Be quiet! Take your shirt off." Ada demanded again.

"Let go of me." Fritz said. "Then I'll take my shirt off." Ada's grip loosened. Sensing an opportunity, Fritz tried to scramble away. A vice-like grip held him in place. Eventually, Fritz was stripped to his underwear as Ada searched him for anything magical.

In the early morning, a sad, exhausted, sweaty man in only his underwear stood under the withering eye of a blonde beastkin. Her tall frame walked around him, inspecting every inch of him.

"Just how long will I need to be naked for?" Fritz asked.

"I can't find anything. There's nothing. No tattoo's. No equipment. Nothing. All of his teeth. No jewelry. Nothing." Ada poked him in the belly button.

"That's because there's no magical items."

"Then how did you conjure the water and the bread?" Ada asked. "Are you really a male? I've never met a human before. You could just be really ugly."

"Yes, I am. Are you gonna ram a hand down my underwear to check?" Fritz asked sarcastically.

"No! I would never." Ada said defensively. Her gaze turned away as she refused to keep eye contact with the nearly-naked man.

"What was even the point of this? " Fritz asked.

"Because!"

"Because? You're some kind of predator?"

"Because, men can't do magic! Why am I even explaining it?! You should already know this!" Ada said. Her face was flushed with embarrassment, as her eyes darted between Fritz and the ground.

"But I clearly can." Fritz replied. "Do you doubt I am a man? Wanna check?" Fritz cocked his hips forward.

"No!" Ada shouted, as she backed away.

"What? I didn't expect you to be so bashful, after you spent the last thirty minutes stripping me down to my underwear." He said teasingly. Ada crossed her arms, as she looked away. "You owe me after this, Ada."

"I apologize, but I had to...." Ada trailed off as she finally looked back towards Fritz. The faint hint of blush appeared underneath her tired eyes.

"Strip me down to my undies? In the middle of a forest, where no else can hear me scream? Make me beg and scream, and have it all fall upon deaf ears?"

"I'm not a pervert! I needed to inspect you. To make sure of things. It was important and necessary, and...." Ada trailed off again.

"Sure, whatever you say." Fritz responded. Ada took a deep breath.

"We can rest here for a couple of hours. We'll need to keep moving soon." Ada said quickly changing the subject.

"How far is the nearest town?" Fritz asked.

"Falken is still at least two days away. We'll need to keep moving. I don't want anything catching up to us."

Fritz nodded at her pragmatic response. Gathering his clothes, and shoes he redressed himself. Conjuring a tiny pillow, Fritz nestled back into the trunk of a tree.

"It's magic. Try not to make a big deal out of it." Fritz said smugly.

Ignoring Ada's bewildered stares, he did his best to fall asleep undisturbed.