Reysha pulled her knife across the twig one more time, before sliding the utility blade back into the adventurer’s pack. Using the now sharpened piece of wood, she picked whatever remains of her last meal that were stuck between her teeth. Once that was done, she pulled a thin strip of linen from her bag and dunked it into the little pond the group had spent their night next to. After she had washed it thoroughly, she wrapped it around the tip of the twig and stuck it into the ash of yesterday’s campfire. The fine remains of thoroughly burned wood stuck to the wet cloth. A moment later, the ash-covered tip disappeared into her mouth and Reysha dragged the rough surface over her teeth.

“Itsh noht thaht interishting,” the tiger girl told her two staring party members. “Shome people here havhe normahl teeth that need caring for.”

“One person here does,” Aclysia corrected. Her own teeth were metal, so even in the rare cases she ate anything, they weren’t susceptible to damage. While Apexus’ teeth may have been the usual biological components, his mouth lacked the bacterial cultures to attack their outer layers. Constant acid washing kept the sharp, oddly human-like, teeth cleaner than they had been in the mouth of the snake Apexus had copied the Growth from.

Reysha’s teeth were mostly normal. Sure, her particular race had teeth a bit sturdier and noticeably sharper than the humanoid norm, but she only had the one set. With her particular diet, them rotting away due to sugar was the least of her concerns, but it still was best to give them the occasional cleansing.

Once she had scrubbed all of her teeth thoroughly with the ash-covered cloth, she took a mouthful of water, swished it around, and then spat into the grass nearby. The grey-tinted liquid slowly seeping into the wet ground, as she took a second mouthful. After gargling that one, she spat it out as well.

“If I may be of assistance,” Aclysia offered, taking the strip of cloth from Reysha after she washed it again. Conjuring some of her magic, she exposed the linen to heat that would accelerate the drying process.

“Thanks, babe,” Reysha grinned and sat against a nearby tree. There had been light rain over the night, combining with the morning dew to make everything not covered by a canopy an uncomfortably wet place. Even under the roof of leaves, the tiger girl wasn’t quite secure. A drop of water fell on her naked shoulder. At the moment, the tiger girl was completely bare. Despite the rain, the night had been quite warm. Under the cover of Apexus’ wings, it was pretty difficult for a night not to be. Reysha had decided to enjoy some nudity. She didn’t feel like dressing again yet.

Aclysia had also stripped down over the night, just to enjoy more skinship with the two people she loved so dearly. Unlike Reysha, she had put on her clothes first thing in the morning. A simple, casual dress, with a long skirt, open at the back to allow her wings to stretch out. Wearing the robe would have only attracted additional attention to herself.

They had reason to be less paranoid than before, but that didn’t mean they shouldn’t be careful.

Which was also why Apexus had to keep his robe on through the entire night and currently covered his face with the wooden mask. Nobody would ask questions why people camping out in the woods were sleeping nakedly. Some may find it odd, most would be too busy ogling Reysha’s curves, but nobody would think much about it. However, Apexus’ muscle-free, sexless, noseless body was a different matter, even if he mimicked a human skin tone with his membrane.

The slime was walking around randomly, absorbing moisture through his feet. “We’ll head east next, right?” he asked.

Aclysia nodded, giving the now dry cloth back to Reysha. “That is correct, darling. If we are to eventually head into a more frigid area, we are best advised getting you a Growth that can keep you warm.”

“I wouldn’t want to be slowed to a crawl,” the cold-slimed chimera agreed. “Also, the cuddles are going to be nicer if I am warm, I think.”

“The cuddles will be amazing,” Reysha agreed. “Have a couple of questions though. What do we do if we don’t find anything that has a heat producing organ? Likely as it is that some god decided to place a fire monster close to the volcano, it isn’t guaranteed.”

“In that case we will have to rely on the White Ice dungeon supplying such an organ,” Aclysia responded, having already considered this. “The surrounding areas would also do. There should be at least one animal or monster in any of these three biomes that has adapted in a way that darling can exploit for his own survival.”

Apexus nodded. “If all else fails, I’m sure there are items we could buy that can keep me warm. Adventurers have to have some way of surviving trips down there. You’re warm blooded, but I don’t think you just rely on clothes to keep out this ‘freezing cold’.” Still not knowing how cold that was supposed to be, Apexus made that point purely from what he had gathered so far. “Would be bothersome during combat to wear several layers.”

“Right, there have to be some enchanted pieces of gear that people use,” Reysha hummed. “We might have to save for that.”

“Fortunately, our expenses remain minimal,” Aclysia declared and then looked back and forth between Apexus and Reysha, expecting them to laugh. Both tilted their head in confusion. “Fortunately,” the metal fairy repeated.

“It is fortunate, yes?” Apexus continued to be confused. “Are you attempting a joke, my melody? Because a sum of money is called a fortune and fortunately is a closely related word?”

“Your explanation eliminates the potential of the joke having its proper impact,” Aclysia pouted.

“It’s not funny either way, Clysia,” Reysha said and moved her hand as if she was throwing a fistful of something at the angel.

“It is an entertaining pun,” Aclysia insisted. “What is it you’re trying to do?”

“Throwing imaginary salt at you to see if anymore of it can dissolve inside your aura,” the tiger girl giggled. Apexus joined in the quiet laughter. Crossing her arms, Aclysia gave displeased glances to both. “See, I am funny, leave the jokes to me.”

“Any further questions?” Aclysia steered the conversation back, to end this situation as quickly as she could.

“Alrighty, so let’s just assume that we’re in luck and find what our slime-lover-mind-reader needs to-“

“When did I turn into a mind reader?” Apexus wondered out loud.

“When you somehow deciphered that awful pun,” Reysha swiftly responded and went on. “-needs to survive the cold. What do we do if Apexus can’t acquire it permanently there? Rush through the next available dungeon?”

“That’d be my idea,” the slime responded and the metal fairy just nodded along.

“And if we out level the Myrm Nest by then or are too slow? Apexus can only hold Growths in ‘storage’ for about a month. Do we go back to the volcano, have him eat it a second time, then head to the Drowned Altar?” She was met with quiet. “I see I’m answering my own dumbass questions here. I thought either of you big brains had some secret super plans.”

“Are bigger brains a sign of higher intelligence?” Apexus asked.

“Bigger dicks are certainly better than small ones,” Reysha responded, “I think the logic still applies.”

“I don’t have a brain or a dick though.”

“Nah, ya have several tentacles that effectively are dicks, and they are way fucking bigger than what normal males can provide.”

Aclysia sighed, “I feel obligated to remark that, although I enjoy your tentacles myself darling, I do not think that enjoyment stems from size. Our badly behaved Reysha-“

“Love it when ya talk about me like an unruly pet. Imma keep it in mind when I spank ya the next time.”

“-our kinky, sassy, sadistic, badly behaved Reysha,” Aclysia added to the list of adjectives, “is what would be commonly referred to as a ‘size queen’. She does not speak for womankind.”

“Oy, don’t you exclude the gays from liking big dick,” Reysha laughed.

“The amount of attitude you display at this early hour is thoroughly unappreciated,” the metal fairy responded.

“I love ya too, bubble butt,” Reysha winked. “Anyway, since I’ve been reading all our plans successfully so far, I guess we’re heading to that big city north of the volcano, enter the local Adventurer’s Guild outpost, ask if they have a monster compendium, look through it to see if they have something we want and go from there?”

“That is a splendid idea,” Aclysia responded in an overly cheery tone. “If only someone had thought of it sooner and created the entirety of our travel route with that in mind!”

“Sarcasm really isn’t a good look on ya.”

“I don’t know, I kind of like it,” Apexus put a hand to his chin, as if appraising an item of great worth. “Something about the aggressive attitude is attractive. It is part of why I am so fond of you, Reysha.” After a second of thought, he added, “I appreciate your diligent side more, though, Aclysia.”

“I must apologize, but that side will have to take a backseat until you admit my pun was entertaining,” Aclysia demanded.

“Can’t do that without lying,” Apexus responded truthfully, then put his arms around Aclysia and embraced her deeply. “I can do this though. Is this enough?”

As much as she tried to say it wasn’t, the metal fairy’s dislike of lies prevented her from doing so. Answering the hug with her own arms, the two soon swayed on the spot, the angel humming a little, happy melody. Loving hands and soft feathers enveloped her. Her own wings fluttered at a high frequency, as her tantrum melted away and was replaced with her deep love rising to the surface.

Reysha locked her fingers behind her head and gave them a moment. ‘Can’t tease the poor adorable thing all the time,’ she thought with a grin. ‘I might make her grow and pop a vein.’

Once her patience batteries had been recharged through cuddles, Aclysia finally announced their plans for the direct future. “Given our recent discovery, I deem it optimal for us to fly. My concern was that we would get spotted while doing so or shortly after landing. While these remain valid, the people spotting us should only feel it odd to see Apexus’ flight form in movement. Without further context, they shouldn’t be alarmed. If someone spots us on the ground and sees darling in more detail, we may have an issue, but none that will necessarily lead to us being hunted down immediately.”

“I don’t know if I’m happy we’re saving travel time or annoyed that I’ll have to keep sitting on Apexus’ back,” Reysha groaned and got up. “I guess I’ll be happy. Let’s get going then. Transform, my loyal steed! This may not be my favourite kind of ride, but I’ll take it!”

“Aren’t you forgetting something?” Aclysia asked, even as Apexus began the process of turning into his four-legged shape.

“What would that be?” Reysha stretched, her nimble body and delicious, light brown skin a tasty display in the early morning sun.

“Clothes, Reysha, you are heavily advised to wear clothes,” the metal fairy pointed out.

“Oh, right,” the tiger girl scratched the back of her head. “Wouldn’t want to freeze my nipples off thanks to the wind.”

“Decency would be another factor.”

“Yeah, sure,” Reysha just laughed out loud.

______________________________________________________________________________

“We will be by that fountain,” Apexus promised and pointed at the impressive piece of carefully shaped stone and metal. After only five days of travel, four spent flying and one on foot, they had arrived in the city. Before going to the Adventurer’s Guild, the group had the drops from Myrlight to sell. Finding people who would buy them wasn’t going to be difficult. Elven dominated, the city north of the volcanoes was as large as the two on the Summer Rest island and teeming with trade that flowed from east to west.

The streets were brimming with people busy to get somewhere. Barely, the group had entered those busy roads when Reysha said that she wanted to take a stroll through those streets – alone.

“I’ll come back if I have to,” she promised.

Apexus just nodded and, together with Aclysia, watched the redhead step away. They got to a slightly elevated position, keeping watch over Reysha’s unusual hair.

‘You can do this. You can do this. You can do this,’ the tiger girl kept repeating to herself as she walked down the street. Side stepping everyone was easy at first. The broad business street gave ample space to the busy people. Shops were largely confined to the insides of the tall houses. Chatting groups of friends walked together, clumped several paces away from her. ‘You can do thi-‘

Suddenly, the crowd became denser. People rammed into her, in a hurry to get to the side of the road. Loud, animalistic noises and surprised exclamations accompanied the angry screaming of a man. The sounds blurred together with memories. Reysha felt the panic rise in her chest. Through rough motions, she made her way through the crowd.

Breathing heavily, she made it onto a side street. It was far from a hidden alleyway, and several people looked at the agitated redhead in the casual shirt and tight pants with confusion. Reysha leaned against the wall and watched the horse cart roll by as quickly as the chauffeur could get the crowd to part in front of it.

She managed to keep her panic from overtaking her and as the situation relaxed and the crowd dispersed again, the tight feeling in her chest slowly dissolved. ‘You can do this,’ she told herself and resumed her walk.

Only after thirty minutes, did she return to the rest of her party.