Glancing vaguely in Kelsi’s direction, Suzie called out, “hey, come out!”

Kelsi jumped down from her perch, a black shape dropping from the branches and instantly disappeared into a bush. Whitler immediately turned to her, half raising his crossbow.

Kelsi popped out of the bush with her hands up and twigs and leaves stuck in her wavy brown hair, “I’m with them!” she squeaked.

Whitler hugged and lowered the crossbow.

“Why don’t you lead us to your village?” Suzie asked, looking to Eli as the friendlier of the two.

“You really planning on helping us?” he asked, looking between the members of the Phi team of the Three-Winged Guild.

Alphonse glared at the back of Suzie’s head as she smiled at him, “of course!”

...

Whitler marched on ahead not waiting for the others, partially disappearing into the trees. Eli trailed behind, helping Suzie, Hiro, and Kelsi while Alphonse trudged even further behind. Hiro glanced back and saw him falling behind and stopped to let him catch up. Alphonse’s cold glare at the forest floor softened when Hiro’s feet came into view. He looked up at Hiro with a smile as he fell into step beside him. “Do you really want to help these people? They pointed a crossbow at you?”

Hiro shrugged, “they just seem a little desperate and Suzie said we’d get paid.”

Alphonse sucked his teeth, “do you really think we will? I think she just has some sort of problem with the Heroes Rock Guild.”

Hiro’s face scrunched up in confusion, “you think?”

“It’s obvious as shit.”

Hiro chewed on his bottom lip, “well if that’s the case, doesn’t it just make it more important to help her.”