Claris turned to Chloe. "Where are you guys headed?"

"Verdon City," she said. "It seemed like we'll have the best chance of being accepted there, but I'm starting to doubt if we'll make it." She looked at the wolf carcass.

"I can keep you safe if you come with me." Claris stood up. "The monsters in the area and its proximity to different borders kept anyone from laying claim to it for now. And there's a lot of resources to live off the land."

A merchant woman gasped. "How can we stay with the Cala-"

"Bitch I didn't invite you," Claris retorted. "I'm only here to check up on Chloe. I don't care what happens to the rest of you."

Silence dropped over the group.

Chloe held her chin. "It would be easier than trying to cross the desert without a proper escort team. Thanks to Duke Trenta these guys were the only ones willing to work with us. I don't want to be the only one safe though, do you think you can take in the rest of us too?"

"Huh?" Claris snorted. "You know they resent me."

Chloe turned to the crowd. "I've known Claris since we were kids. Believe me, she's not the kind of person who would bring a calamity - heck she and her healer friend just saved us. I'm going with her. Who's with us?"

"Just to be clear, it'll be my turf you're living on." Claris smirked and threw her weight around. She didn't want many people to live with her, and tried to make it sound like a bad option for the rest of them. "My word is law and you will help build up the village. Give me any shit and you better say your prayers." 

 In the end there were more people who favored going with Claris, to the point that the leftovers likely wouldn't be able to travel anywhere safely. Some even bowed down to Claris, asking for her protection and guidance. Claris didn't expect them all to come with her, and internally she worried about where to put everyone.

She led the caravan through the mountain forest towards her lake, and the adventurers helped her dispatch any hostile animals they came across. It was night by the time they arrived at her clearing.

"Clariiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis!" A bolt of pink tackled Claris to the ground. "What took you so long? I thought you abandoned me!"

"Dammit Stella get off me," Claris grumbled and kicked the clingy demon off. She got to her feet and pat her butt.

Everyone gasped as they saw Stella, and were slowly backing away.

Claris mentally kicked herself for forgetting that Stella was here. She had been too occupied with saving Chloe. "Oh, right, yeah, Stella's a demon. I saved her from some other demons so she got attached to me."

Stella hugged Claris' arm and shoved her boobs forward. "Hello, I'm Lady Claris' very own personal love slave!"

Claris backhanded Stella's face with her fist. "Like hell you are!"

Chloe crossed her arms and approached Claris. Her mouth was smiling, but an evil shadow was cast across her face. "Claris. Since when did you get a love slave?"

"She's not my love slave!"

Stella collapsed to the ground and sobbed. "Hrk... even though you were so rough and demanding last night..."

"THAT WAS ABOUT COOKING!" Claris held her head in her hands. "You damn perverted demon, look, everyone's looking at me with eyes of disgust now. And Dale lower your goddamn sword."

Dale changed his stance slightly, but didn't sheath his sword. "I can trust you after you helped us out, but I don't think I can ever come to trust a demon. They're all vile and crafty."

"How can you say that about a beautiful girl like me." Stella pouted.

"Stella shut up." Claris chopped Stella's forehead.

"If I may interrupt." Lenili raised her hand and walked to the front of the group. She turned to face them. "I've seen a lot of people from various races during my travels, and I don't sense any malice from her. I doubt she will turn on us."

"What do you see in her?" asked Claris.

"Well..." Lenili's mouth twisted and she looked away.

"Why are you all so mean to me?" Stella wailed. She straightened herself and cleared her throat. "I don't know if my words will mean anything to you, but I do not have anything against humans. Us demons aren't all in the same group, and while some do hate humans, others don't. I already swore to stay by Claris' side from the moment she saved me." She held a hand to her chest and bowed.

The crowd murmured, but they seemed to still look at Stella with suspicion.

Lenili sighed and lowered her hood. Another round of gasps went around, this time directed towards her. Lenili swept some of her hair behind her ear. "As you can see, I am a half-elf. So if you insist that everyone here is human..." Her voice trailed off.

Worried looks went around. After Lenili saved many of their lives, they didn't have any justification to deny her and Stella.

Claris clapped her hands for attention. "Remember, this is my territory, and if you're going to be here you have to respect these two as much as you would anyone else. Is that clear?" She waited for them to nod before continuing. "There's fish in the lake, and if you go west enough you'll find a large river. I have some vegetables planted as well. For now Stella will make some temporary housing, so start scavenging or chopping trees for wood. If we can expand westward and reach the river then we'll be better off. Get to work people!"