Fritz found himself walking with Ada and Neva down a long narrow game trail doused in the late morning's shade. On his shoulders was a pack that wobbled with each step on the uneven ground. Over the last couple of days he had managed to create a plethora of survival supplies. Knives, a sleeping bag, water canteen, survival rations, socks, gloves, and new clothes were wrapped within his pack. Neva and Ada marched ahead of him. Both women wore short swords attached to their sides. Ada walked with a spear. Seeing the two other beastkin armed, Fritz wondered about the general danger of the forest.

"We aren't expecting any more necromancers are we?" Fritz asked.

"No." Neva replied as she looked back. "But it never hurts to be prepared. All manner of beasts lurk in the trees, living and dead."

"Necromancers must be rare then. Good. I'd hate to encounter more." Fritz said.

"Afraid?" Ada taunted, waiting for Fritz to catch up, she threw an arm around his shoulder.

"Me? I'd like to think I'm cautious. It never hurts to be prepared." Fritz answered.

"Wise." Neva replied. Looking back towards Ada, the older beastkin frowned.

"Don't worry! I'll get the next one." Ada said with a smug grin. Pulling out her short sword, she inspected it in the air. The edge was nicked. A huge hole opened up on one side of the blade. As Fritz looked closer the blade itself showed wear and damage. "Once, I get a better sword, you'll have nothing to fear! I'm definitely one enchanted with flames! I heard undead hate fire. Fritz, do you think can you make me one?" Ada asked pressing her face closer. She batted her lashes at Fritz.

"Maybe." Fritz replied evasively.

"You're getting ahead of yourself girl. Forget the sword. You were defeated because you went for a finishing blow prematurely. We were very fortunate to have defeated her. You especially so." Neva replied. Shaking her head, Neva muttered to herself. "An encounter with a necromancer this far into the boonies? Strange times, strange times."

"Have you encountered them before?" Ada asked curiously. Neva reached behind her to the side of her pack to grab a pipe. Stuffing a wad of tobacco into the pipe she lit it with magic.

"A long time ago, Ada. Way before we met." Neva replied cryptically.

"You never told me." Ada whined.

"I thought I left that stuff behind me. I never thought it would come back." Neva let out a puff of smoke into the air.

Fritz quickly stepped through the cloud of acrid tobacco, wrinkling his nose.

"Come on! I know you've been on adventures before! Tell me! Tell us!" Ada whined.

"No. It'll just give you dumb ideas." Neva grumbled.

Eventually the noon sun began it's slow arc overhead. Warm sunlight scattered through the green abundant canopy. Refreshing spring breezes swayed the branches overhead. The shady path, rustled as wind passed through. Neva took the lead. Ada and Fritz walked behind within the puffing trail of smoke.

"How long have you had your power?" Neva asked suddenly. Ada froze up, stopping in her tracks.

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"I guess the cat's out of the bag." Fritz said with a sigh.

"It is. Now, answer the question." A large exhale of smoke wormed it's way past her body, following down the trail towards Fritz and Ada.

"Neva! You can't-" Ada started.

"Ada stop. I'm not dumb. No one else is around."

"He's just really good at sleight of hand!" She interjected.

"Not very long. I'm still getting used to it." Fritz replied casually.

"So obviously you can conjure objects. How long can you hold them together? Twenty four hours? Your pack hasn't disappeared yet."

"Indefinitely. As far as I can tell." Fritz pulled out his survival knife. "I've had this for more than five days now." He hefted the material in his hand. Neva stopped and quickly spun around. Both Fritz and Ada stopped watched the graying wolfkin advance towards them.

"Don't lie to me. Your knife couldn't have existed for that long! Eventually the magical matrices holding it together would give, and it would disappear into ambient mana. No one has ever mastered true creation! No one! Not even the elves!" Neva took her pipe out of her mouth and jabbed it towards Fritz.

Fritz frowned as his mind looked for a rebuttal.

"What about a ring?"

"No more than two days."

"Fine then.... Ada, I gave you this correct?" Fritz held her hand up. He positioned her fingers towards Neva.

"You gave her a ring? A gold ring." Neva asked incredulously. Color seeped upon Ada's cheeks. The growing red contrasted against her the dark freckles on her nose. "Did I miss something? Did you propose to her?" Neva's voice cracked. A look of anxiety filled her, as her eyes flicked between Fritz and Ada.

"I was trying to bribe her! I had no idea what the local currency even looked like!" Neva's tensed shoulders slackened with relief. "I wanted to get out of the village. She's quite obstinate, you know." Fritz turned towards the blonde wolfkin. "When did I give you this?"

"Four days ago." Ada replied woodenly.

"It's still here." Fritz taunted towards the gray haired mayor, as he jostled Ada's limp hand. "See?! Still doubt me?"

"Ada, tell me truthfully. Did he slip it from his pockets?" Neva held her breath.

"No ma'am. I saw him create it in front of me. It appeared from nothing, his hands weren't moving." Ada said. Neva let out a deep sigh, as she clutched her face. She put her long pipe between her full lips, and began puffing on it.

"Dear Gods! Fritz! If I don't like Zola's answers, I just might drag you to the guards myself!"

"No! You wouldn't!" Ada interjected!

"I wasn't thinking! I didn't know conjuring jewelry was illegal! I'll never do it again." Fritz laughed awkwardly. He let go of Ada's hand. "You've nothing to worry about! It was just a one time thing!"

"I'm seriously considering it. Especially if you cause me more headache. So try to stay out of trouble. Don't make my life any harder."

"But bread and weapons are fine?" Neva nodded at him.

"Just no money or jewelry. You'll be dead before you have a chance to enjoy the good life."

"No money." Ada reiterated. "But I'll keep this, it's shiny. It was so sweet how you tried to bribe me too."

"Uh...." Fritz groaned. " I was always bad at making deals. That's why I didn't go to business school."

"Ada. Throw it away." Neva demanded.

"What?! No. It's nice."

"You shouldn't accept gifts from strangers."

"Fritz isn't a stranger."

"I'd prefer it if he was." Neva replied.

"You're just mad I've finally found someone who also wants to leave for a life of adventure!"

"Clearly, he's a bad influence upon you." Neva said grumpily. Turning quickly, Neva stomped forward.

Walking down the trail, noon passed into evening. The familiar iron-gray bark of the surrounding trees passed the trio endlessly. Unfamiliar, mushrooms grew on the side of the trail. Brian thorn bushes kissed their clothes like irate lovers. Animal trails crisscrossed into their path like a web of unfamiliar roads. Neva and Ada were steadfast, as if they had walked the path many times before.

Conjuring pieces of a modern crossbow, Fritz was able to make a carbon fiber stock, limb, spring, trigger, string, and bolts. Placing the individual pieces of the crossbow into his pack, he waited for the appropriate time to assemble his creation. Ada watched him intently during the process. Her gray eyes inspected each piece with intensity, as her mind tried to decipher his creation.

Afterwards, the steady rhythm of their hike let Fritz's mind drift. A tug at his sleeves pulled him away from musings and day dreams. Before him in a clearing of trees, was a small run down cottage.

"We've arrived. Hopefully, she's in a good mood today. Goddess knows I need it." Neva said with a long protracted sigh.