Hattie woke and groaned.

What had she been thinking?! This adventuring idea was ridiculous, crazy, a misguided notion! Her back ached. The ache in her back ached. Even her teeth hurt!

“Oh, Monte,” she muttered into his gold fur, “I want to go back to Derington. Everything pains me so.”

Sunlight filtered from the leaves above. Hattie sat up, her joints popping. Everyone else was still asleep, since no one had needed to keep watch thanks to a handy spell Trina knew, which set up an alarm perimeter around them. Though--Ally, Alex, and Balewin had slept holding their weapons, and to a degree Hattie guessed she had done so as well, what with Monte curled up next to her so.

Monte let Hattie know that he didn’t understand what was not to like about Valehdart Forest. They had good food, allies, and they were breathing in sweet, simple, air, not the dizzying scents of the city. Though he did like the city, too.

“I know, I know,” Hattie said.

Several paces away, Alex sat up and yawned, “Good morning. Who were you talking to?”

“Monte,” Hattie said, “He doesn’t agree with me, ungrateful whelp,” Hattie’s tone was warm, though.

Alex’s eyes drifted to the gold wolf, “Ally did mention that…”

Monte stared back, and Alex decided to leave it alone.

The rest of the group got up, and Hattie stretched her aches out. When her muscles were warmed, she set about making breakfast. Hot porridge with apples, and water from the stream that Trina purified. Then the young adventurers set out to check their traps, while Monte stayed behind with Hattie.

Hattie got to work, but the misery she’d woken up with lingered. She banged the pots and pans, and the noise was enough to chase away the animals nearby.

“Humph.”

She cleaned up the area, made lunch, and grumbled some more. Monte was disgusted with her. He tugged at her to explore with him. “Oh, fine,” she said, when he wouldn’t stop nudging her.

Hattie batted out the fire, but left the pot in the heat of the pit to stay warm. Monte led her to the edge of the clearing and Hattie threw her leg over his back. He kept at a slow pace, so Hattie could see what the forest was like. Valehdart was beautiful, with so much more greenery than in the city. There were chittering creatures and the fresh scents of plants and dirt, and the occasional vibrant blossom, which Hattie would stop to smell.

Monte’s movement was silent enough that he felt comfortable approaching a giant spider’s nest. The spider’s torso was bigger than Hattie, all long hairy arms and fangs. It’s multitude of eyes were closed. It was probably having a post meal nap, after having eaten what looked like an antelope, since all Hattie could see were it’s horns poking through the cocoon it was wrapped in.

Even so, she wasn’t scared of it. Her personal policy at Derington was to catch any critters she found and let them go. And she felt strongly that if you didn’t bother them, most wildlife would leave you alone. Well, except for wildlife gone mad, like the agnibear. But that was an unusual case.

After seeing the spider, Hattie asked Monte if they could return to the clearing. Their outing had taken quite a while.

“Thank you, Monte,” she said, “That was lovely, and I enjoyed it very much.”

Monte sent over a sense of satisfaction. Monte turned around, and they headed back. Hattie’s mood was much better. He ran fast this time, unlike the languid pace they’d taken before. When they arrived back at the clearing, the adventurer’s had returned from checking their traps. They were eating the lunch Hattie’d prepared, and talking amongst themselves.

“Hello,” Hattie said, “Were you all successful?”

Baldwin grinned, “Yes. I’ve got the highest count.” He indicated to a pile a few paces away. Hattie was surprised to see a collection of bushy tails.

“Proof of the job,” Trina said.

“Ah,” Hattie sat down and ate lunch as well. The group went out again to set more traps, and this time everyone went, since Hattie didn’t need help setting up camp. Hattie took care of business. There was dinner to be made and plates to clean and little odd and ends that needed to be made neat.

The next day was much the same, but again, the pervasive misery dogged Hattie. When Monte offered to take her out again to see the forest, she refused this time.

“Go hunt some roggs,” she said. Monte slunk off, sending a tinge of annoyance towards her.

After the group came back from checking their traps, they packed up to head back to town. Through Monte’s efforts, Hattie got the credit for taking out several roggs herself, with her own belt of tails to prove it.

Back at the Adventurer’s Guild, Ally handed in the tails and hearthstone to verify they’d completed the requests, and within the hour they were given the items back, as well as their pay. Ally divided it up, and Hattie was several gold coins richer. She didn’t protest the high amount.

“We’re going to Delina’s to celebrate,” Ally said, a smile on her face, “This was a really successful mission.”

The group walked to the cake shop and placed their orders. They sat outside, next to the table where Ally and Hattie had sat on their first meeting. It was already evening, and the area was illuminated with strings of light that gave the whole place a magical feel, even in the middle of the city.

“To many more!” Ally and the others each had a drink, but Hattie stared into the depths of her glass of milk for a moment before she took a sip. Her heart squeezed in her chest.

“Thank you for taking me with you,” Hattie said, “It was one of the most interesting trips of my life.”

“It was great having you,” Balewin said, “The food was edible!”

“I’ve never slept so well,” Trina said.

The young adventurers chattered for a bit, and finished off their desserts, before getting ready to depart. Ally and Alex stood in front of the shop with Hattie, after having waved the others goodbye.

“Would you be interested in joining us on our next mission?” Ally asked, a smile on her face. Her hair gleamed under the moonlight.

“I don’t think so,” Hattie said, only somewhat surprised at her own words, “Well, not immediately. But perhaps another time?”

“That would be fine,” Ally said, but Hattie could see the regret on her face that she wouldn’t be joining them.

“I do appreciate you inviting me. And you and your friends are lovely. I had a wonderful time,” Hattie wasn’t sure how to explain what was holding her back. Monte sidled up to her, and she ran a hand through his fur.

Alex stepped forward, “If you need to contact us, we have a box at the guild.”

Hattie’s eyes softened at the taciturn boy who’d so disliked her at first. Now he was making sure she could keep in touch.

“Thank you, young man. Please take care of those burns, and your arm, and do be safe. Good night.”

She reached over and gave Ally a hug, and Alex a pat on the shoulder. Then she turned towards the inns, and walked away.