“You don’ understan’… ah had no choice.” The bandit called to him. It was the same bandit with the curved swords that had taken such good care of him this entire time.

“You always have a choice.” Dragon replied, staring at him through the bars.

“My life was a’ risk.” The bandit sighed. “He was so much strongah than ah.” He shuffled slightly, and the metal cuffs around his wrists and ankles jingled.

“It’s your own fault for being so weak.” Dragon continued to stare down at him. He didn’t know why he was there really… He could have at least seen the little lady. Yet something drew him to the bandit, an inescapable feeling, one of destiny.

“Those words… you can only say them cause yer so strong.” The bandit shook his head.

“Become strong.” Dragon turned his back and left the bandit, and departed. The bandit couldn’t protest, for this was the rule over the strong.

Dragon thought about going to see Tiger or Wolf, but decided against it. There was no need for that, he could just leave… He looked at the ring he had swiped from Tiger twice now, and squeeze it within his hand.

Dragon swiftly left, leaving Tiger and Wolf behind. He followed the road for a short while, finding himself around the plains. Behind him there were the sounds of hooves. He stopped and then turned to see Tak.

“…”

The pair exchanged a moment of awkward silence before Dragon spoke.

“What are you doing here?”

Tak didn’t reply.

‘That’s right…’ He thought back the past day. He had never heard her speak once. He thought it was because she was uncomfortable, but she could just be mute.

He was uncomfortable with someone following him, especially since it wasn’t Tiger or Wolf. His glare remained on her for quite some time.

She didn’t withdraw, instead she sent back her own stare, which was cold but neutral. When he finally realised she wasn’t going to back off, he sighed and turned around. His body had recovered a little, but he didn’t want to weaken himself trying to lose her. Instead he resigned himself to this watchdog that the pair had probably sent to follow him.

It hadn’t been even two hours when he felt two familiar forms speed their way towards him. He didn’t slow down even when they neared.

“Oooooi!” Called out Tiger from afar, charging at him. “What are you playing at, eh?” He threw a punch at Dragon once he was close. Dragon ducked under it as casually as he could.

“…”

Wolf stopped near them and Tak waited beside him. Wolf exchanged a greeting with her as Tiger continued to assault Dragon, the pair of fighters sparring together. Their strikes combined together into more of a dance than actual fighting, ducking and weaving each other.

“You were trying to leave us alone, huh? You bastard!” Tiger chuckled as they withdrew from one another finally.

‘Tiger, honestly…’

“You think we were going to let you escape after we spent so long trying to find you?” Tiger punched at Dragon’s face, stopping an inch away. “You come and beat me up and then steal my rin-” Tiger froze. He blinked a few times. “My ring! Shit! Did we leave it back at town?”

Dragon reached into his cloak and then flashed Tiger the ring. “I have it.” Tiger had gotten it back from the bandits, and Dragon had taken it back from him easily enough when he returned from bathing.

“Oh!” Tiger wiped his brow and sighed in relief. “Damn, that would have been bad…” He muttered, crossing his arms.

“I’m not returning it.”

“Eh? Did I ask for it back?” Tiger raised his brow. “You won it fair and square. I won’t take it back without beating your ass, don’t worry. Well, I did take it back, but still… We don’t have to count that.” Tiger then turned and kept walking, laughing at himself. “Come on, you want to head back to that cave, right?”

“You’re coming along?” Dragon asked as he followed.

Wolf stepped beside him. “If you want to open the gate, you’ll need our help.”

“Yeah, you think you can handle the guardians by yourself?” Tiger shook his head. “First getting caught by slavers, now this… I forgot that you were such a moron.” Tiger laughed even harder.

Dragon’s lips curled upwards ever so slightly, though the sun would have needed to be directly above them for them to see the shadow cast under his smile.

‘To think someone like Tiger could call me a moron…’

Tiger glanced back, as if he had heard those thoughts.

“Sorry for imposing this on you.” Dragon bowed his head.

“Don’t worry about it.” Tiger started to whistle a tune.

“The three of us are brothers, there’s no need to be so shy.” Wolf said. The three then stopped.

“Speaking of which…” Tiger said as the three turned to look at Tak.

The three stared at her, and she returned the stare. After some time, the three turned and continue walking.

“You didn’t say bye to the little lady either.” Tiger mentioned.

Dragon stared forward, stepping onward. “There’s no need. We’ll see each other again.”

Tiger snickered. “How romantic.”

Dragon punched him.