Zelak patted himself clean of dirt and stone, just outside of his new tent. Finished, he glanced back at the tent, confused. "
"Morning." Donovan yawned. He walked past Zelak, quickly stopping and turning back. "Huh? What the… What the heck happened to you?"
Bretta reached her hand from inside the hole in the tent, grasping and pulling at Zelak's leg. "
Zelak, speechless. He couldn't bring himself to be angry. Without another word he relented to Beretta's desire and slowly slithering back into the hole.
"O- okay…"
Behind Donovan, Charla looked upon the scene like a hopeless romantic. "" Charla's mind drifted off to space, and a drool slipped from her mouth.
Donovan glanced back with narrowed his eyes aimed at Charla. Seeing her lewd expression, it was too easy to read her thoughts. "Is sex really the only thing that succubus's think about?"
The sound of dragging was heard, interrupting his thoughts. Donovan turned in the direction of the dragging and watched as Kalika threw a couple of deer by the campfire. Not long after, Kalika also pushed forward an enormous creature with bear-like muscles, a lengthy body, and a feathered tail, alongside the deer. Upon closer inspection, the creature had huge, round eyes and a beaked mouth.
"Kalika? Why are you up this early? A- a-and what the heck is that!?" Donovan gazed at the strange bear creature in utter shock.
"Kalika glared back and swiftly averted her gaze. "I got bored, so I went hunting, that's all."
"B-But what is that???"
"Like the heck I know. It was creepy looking, so I killed it."
"That there is a Krefon," Bjorn explained. "It looks to be a young one, too."
"I-I see. I guess it's appreciated, but butchering these will take all day, and I don't think there's enough room on the cart for all… this…"
Kalika sighed exhaustedly. "Then I'll help with it too. I've got nothing to do anyway."
Charla quickly raised her hand. "
Kalika saw a glint in Charla's eyes, aimed toward the newly discovered beast. Without hesitation, Kalika gave her seal of approval. Pleased, Charla took Krefon, the biggest of the three. She dragged it away and with a sadistic smile began her butchering, starting with the prize she had her eyes on.
********
Zelak passed the clopsin skin to Bjorn, who tucked it away into the cart, by him. Then, one by one, he took the bags of newly preserved fresh meat and skin, fitting the supplies as best he could while leaving just enough room for everyone to have a seat.
"I think that's everything."
"What about Charla's bag of… Erm… balls?" Donovan couldn't help but keep his distance from Charla as she lovingly embraced the bag in her possession. Even Kalika was left unsettled by Charla's estranged behaviors. She couldn't wipe the glee the succubus showed from her mind. The event of her happily removing the family jewels of the Krefon didn't sit right with her.
Uncomfortable memories of Lillian tortures resurfaced and swirled around in her head. With those thoughts Kalika couldn't help but shudder at the memories.
Kalika quickly forced her mind back to the present and glanced back at Charla. She could tell with just her smile alone that she was up to something. It was the very smile of a woman with a devious plan in mind.
Donovan, trying to ignore Charla, quickly brushed past her and hopped into the cart. "C-c-c'mon, we still have ground to cover, so let's go." He said.
Charla followed close behind Donovan, joyfully, sitting across from him, leaving Kalika to be the last to join and sit by Donovan.
Sitting by Donovan, Kalika couldn't help but look back at Charla, who watched with excitement as Donovan immediately started training his magic. Reluctant, Kalika followed suit, pouring a treasure trove of magic crystal.
"What is she up to…?" Kalika wondered.
"H-hey Charla, could you sit in the front."
With a disappointed groan Charla obeyed with her pushing to the front where Zelak manned the reins with Bretta.
"Hrrmm…"
"Is something bothering you?" Donovan asked.
Noticing Donovan's gaze, Kalika averted her eyes, turning her focus back to the magic crystals, absorbing the magic from them, one after another. "It's nothing."
"If you say so."
Shortly after, Kalika pushed over the pile of grey crystals to Donovan, who was already done and bored.
"Y-you should probably take more time with these. If you keep going through these like this, you'll probably never figure out how to control your magic." Donovan took the first crystal and began infusing his magic into it..
"Fine. I'll see what I can do."
Kalika's eyes returned to the front of the cart, watching as Charla whispered something in Zelak's ears, and piquing her curiosity.
********
With the glow of the magic crystals dimming all around, The cart pulled to the side of the rough dirt forest road and stop,. "That's as far as we go today," Zelak announced.
Trees by the road fell one after another. A new campfire sparked to life with caws and clucks of the garu's strung at the trees looking for their feast. Without hesitation, Bjorn threw chunks of meat from the cart, allowing them to fight and snack on their meal.
"Hey, Charla, help me fill this with water," Donovan ordered.
On his command, Charla brought sacks of water, filled a large pot, and hung it over the fire.
With the pot boiling, Donovan added chunks of meat, allowing them to cook.
"That ride was shorter than expected…" Kalika noted.
"Well, a good part of the day did go into skinning and butchering your game."
Kalika pouted and grumbled. At the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of Zelak and Charla entering the forest together, along with a bag of supplies.
"I'll be right back…" Kalika said
"Sure." Donovan waved, preparing mushrooms and other assortments of ingredients. "Make sure not to go too far."
Kalika followed the two through the forest, silently hopping from branch to branch of the trees that hid her presence.
The two eventually came to a river, where Zelak refilled pouches. Not long after, Charla pulled a small pot from their stuffed bag, filled it, and placed it over a fire pit they created, letting it boil.
"
Charla smirked. "
"< You're going to have to remind me.>" Zelak watched as Charla opened her personal pouch and dumped its contents inside the boiling pot.
"
"
Charla leaned in, whispering in his ear to Kalika's annoyance. "Seriously?"
"
Charla squealed in delight. "
""
"
"
Kalika herself raised a brow at Charla's statement, prying a confused glance from her.
Charla crossed her arms unamused. "
A smirk formed on Charla's face. "" Charla blushed even harder as she inked out the last word. "
An uncontrollable stream of giggles poured from Charla."
Zelak looked at Charla pitifully. "
Zelak sighed exhaustedly, ""
"
"
"" Drool began to slither down Charla's mouth as she lost herself in a daydream. "But, his fiery nature and his hair are so unique and cute~! I want to bear his children with hair like his.>"
"
"
"
"She's a pervert." Kalika thought.
From the tree, Kalika averted her gaze, grumbling. "How can a woman like her exist!? S-she's so embarrassing! "
After a moment, Kalika peeked back at the two, watching as Charla stirred around the pot. After a while, she took the pot off the fire and grabbed a few empty corked glass vessels from her bag.
With a cheerful hum, she gathers the water in each vial, corking it up with he yellow liquid,
"< Would you mind explaining what this is?>"
With a sly smile and giggle, she answered. "
Zelak rolled his eyes. "
"
Kalika was wretched and held her stomach, startled by what she was witnessing. "These demons truly are savages."
With only broth left in the pot, Charla emptied the contents into the river and left shortly after, taking their supplies with them.
"
""
"
Kalika leaned on the tree, defeated. "Why did I follow them again?" Her brain felt as though it would overheat at any moment.
Kalika's face flushed red, forcing her to cover her face. "This is so embarrassing! Why is this stupid dream becoming weird!?"
********
With the growing darkness looming, Kalika returned to camp.
"Hey there you are!" Donovan held up a wooden bowl of meat porridge. "I made the porridge you wanted."
"I-I'm not hungry."
Kalika quickly turned away and prepared her bed. All the while, Donovan stood speechless. He glanced at the bowl, thoughts running through his mind. "O…Okay…"
Charla quickly raised her hands and spoke with glee. "
"The woman wants more food," Bjorn explained.
Without hesitation, Donovan passed Kalika's rejected bowl.
With the food in hand, Charla gazed at Kalika and slowly cocked her head out of curiosity. "
Charla smirked, amused.
"Hm… I wonder what's gotten into her." Donovan quietly wondered.
"Don't think about it too much," Bjorn said. "You should continue training."
"Yeah. You're probably right…"
Concerned, Donovna shouted. "Hey, Kalika. If you get hungry, just help yourself from whatever's in the pot!"
A shiver ran down Kalika's spine. "I-I'm not hungry!" She repeated.
Kalika pulled her bedding further away from the camp, sleeping behind the trees.
"O…Okay…"
Charla, watching the event unfold, happily took her first bite of Kalika's food. "Mmm~~"
********
Goblins charged through the forest path with their small clubs and stone knives. With horror, one watched as a red bubble floated past them. It moved its arms, too late as the bubble of blood exploded, splattering them and their group with acidic blood that burned them.
Stunned, the group screeched in pain, before having their head smashed in with a huge hammer.
An Icy gaze blazing with fury glared at the group. A blue skinned demon gilt bared her fangs at the group . "
Like the foolish monsters they were, they continued charging in only. The demon girl, Mae, pulled her hammer and swung it, smacking the goblins to the trees.
She twirled to the other side of the hammer and smashed the head of another goblin in.
Sensing another horde, behind Mae, raise her finger projecting several bubbles of blood at the monster.
Without hesitation she leapt and aimed for the new horde, and with her hammer, smashed open the bubbles and goblins alike, creating a festivity of red blood and melted goblin chucks.
In an instant many of the goblins dissolved away, leaving Mae standing covered in a sea of her blood.
Slowly the blood that once covered her, receded back into her body leaving her in a clean state, as though nothing had happened.
Just like the blood that covered her, the hammer she wielded receded back onto her body. "