Wolf stepped outside with Tiger. The pair basked in the pre-noon sun, the cool breeze that flowed through the town caressed them like a mother’s embrace. Wolf glanced over as Tiger inhaled a lungful of air, then lead the way to the gates and out.

“Tiger.” Wolf called out. “Are you sure you want to leave?”

“Eh?”

“You have found a home here.”

Tiger smirked. “I have.”

“I am taking you away.”

“Why are you making it sound romantic?”

“…”

“I guess adventure is a romance.” Tiger chuckled.

“Are you not going to say goodbye to the children?”

“I already have, don’t worry abou-”

Tiger stopped when he approached the gate. The orphans stood in two lines on either side of the road, though not quite uniform.

“Hmm?”

He walked over to them and the children waved. Some were crying and others were smiling. They were all saying their goodbyes to him. He embraced Garr, the damn rascal, and all the rest pounced on him. He hugged each and every one as the others clung to him.

With the goodbyes said, Tiger roared with laughter and then began to chase a few and they scattered. Wolf watched silently at the gate.

Then Tiger finally returned still laughing. He walked out without looking back at the town.

“You can cry if you need.” Wolf said, walking ahead.

“Huh?” Tiger kept chuckling but soon went quiet.

Wolf’s ears twitched as he heard Tiger’s breath caught in his throat. Eventually he sniffled.

Night fell quickly. Tiger leaned against a tree in the small forest a little ways away from the road.

Wolf was reclining on a fallen log.

“Dragon met you.”

Tiger groaned in response. “He beat me pretty good.” He rubbed the side of his neck and then his jaw.

Wolf frowned. “He took the ring…” Wolf went into thought for some time. ‘Dragon… What do you need the ring for?’ Wolf couldn’t help but wonder how hard Dragon was grieving if he wanted to take the rings.

“Don’t think about it too much. If he’s gone for that, it’s fine, right? We know where it is, and it’s Dragon… It’ll take him a while.” He laughed.

Wolf nodded. “What is he thinking… To do such a thing…” The question hung in the air like death’s grip. He sighed and then crossed his arms.

“Eh, I don’t really care too much. If he needed to do it, then he needed to do it.” Tiger yawned.

“Don’t you understand?” Wolf threw a glance towards Tiger. Tiger had always been like this, he would take it easy for almost anything, and laugh about it even if it was terrible.

“Eh, I get it. He’s going to get your ring and then he’s going to want to use them to open up the-.” Tiger yawned and then shrugged. “If he wants to do it, well, why not let him?”

Wolf sighed again.

“Now, let’s get some sleep.” Tiger leaned back against the tree.

“We should take watch.”

“Watch?” Tiger chuckled and shook his head. “If you want, but I think we’ll be fine. It doesn’t matter.” Then he fell asleep.

Wolf watched him and then sighed. ‘Tiger…’ He took watch for some time before finally falling to sleep too.