Ordna opened her eyes, and could hear the beautiful song birds singing their morning greetings. She always loved hearing the sounds of the world around her. To her, everything was beautiful. She arose from her cot, and rolled it nice and tight. She stretched, and placed what very little protective clothing back onto herself. She never figured herself much of an adventurer, but she also needed to protect the world from the dangers that lurk in the dark. She watched Akahsha, the newcomer, and Stenson, her companion, walk into the woods.

Quinta opened her eyes, and could see a bird nest above her hammock’s perch. She looked towards the camp to see Stenson and the new one gone, but Ordna looking around like she always did. Quinta thought that the bird’s nest wasn’t too far above her, and that she could just reach up and grab it. At first she leaned up and attempted to reach, but it was just too far from her grasp. Next she placed one foot on the hammock, and her other leg she let hang off. She didn’t quite make it all of the way, so she decided to put both legs on the hammock. When she did, the weight of her body one one side made the hammock flip her over and slam her from her perch and into a bush.

Ordna looked over and just caught the end of the spectacle and couldn’t help but laugh. She walked over and clutched her stomach from the amount of laughter. She leaned over Quinta who could only look up at the sky and tree in disappointment, and saw Ordna’s red face. Quinta desperately tried to get out of the bush and failed. Ordna kept laughing.

“Ordna! Help me out of this bush!” Quinta said in a frustrated manner.

“I will! I will! I’m just catching my breah,” Ordna finally calmed down enough. “Take my hand.”

She helped her Warlock friend out of the bush, and onto her feet. Quinta brushed leaves and twine off of herself, and Ordna just watched with a grin on her face. Quinta squinted at her and climbed up the tree to sit on the sturdy branch she tied one side of her hammock to. She began to untie it from the tree.

“You know, I’m not happy you had to save me,” Quinta murmured.

“You’re never happy,” Ordna smiled. “I think Stenson took the kid to the woods.”

“I hope they’re grabbing food for us.” Quinta climbed the tree again, and jumped to the other tree branch and untied her hammock, successfully rolling it up and jumping down from the tree.

Stenson pushed some brush aside and continued walking through the woods. Akahsha kept up with him, having to pick up his pace a bit when Stenson would move far enough away. They passed underneath different trees, and they stomped through the snow which had gathered a few inches. The sky was turning into a shy a blue, and Akahsha looked up towards it. He noticed Stenson stop, so he too stopped. Ahead of him was Stenson crouched over, looking at some tracks.

“Can you read these tracks, boy?” Stenson said in a hushed tone.

“Yeah,” Akahsha tried to make as little noise as possible, and crouched next to the older man. He observed the patterns in the tracks, noting that the markings were that of a deer. “A few deer have passed through here.”

“How long ago?” Stenson kept his eyes on the tracks.

Akahsha looked closer, seeing how they were deep, they must be fresh. “No longer than thirty minutes, I’d say. They must be close by.”

Stenson reached into his bag and pulled out a hand-crossbow. Akahsha’s father had used a normal sized crossbow before, but never before had he seen one of this size. Stenson handed it to Akahsha. Stenson gestured for Akahsha to lead.

“Show me where those deer are,” Stenson looked around. “You’re going to get one for us.”

Akahsha wanted to protest, but it wasn’t in his best interest. He realized that in order to stay with this group of people, that he would have to provide for them in some way. Akahsha swallowed and he loaded the crossbow the best he could. Stenson watched him fumble with the loading, but when Akahsha finished, he simply turned his gaze back to the tracks ahead of him.

Akahsha started to follow the tracks, going through treelines, up hills, and eventually they led him to a creek. In the middle of the creek were half-a-dozen doe, and a buck that stood on the outskirts keeping lookout. Akahsha found a nice log and leaned himself up against it.

“I’ve never fired one of these before,” he admitted.

“We’ll see what your luck brings,” Stenson smiled. “Use these points here to aim, and then account for drop distance. We’re sixty feet away, so aim up just a tad - yes, like that. When you’re ready, pull the trigger.” Stenson helped him aim the hand crossbow, and pointed at a deer’s behind.

Akahsha took a deep breath in and out. He knew that if he was going to be anything like his father that he would have to be fine with taking the life of a creature. He already took the life of a mind flayer, and now he would take the life of this deer. With this, he’d be able to secure his young life, at least for a while longer.

Akahsha fired. The bolt quickly jolted from the crossbow and flew through the air. It whizzed and landed in the hind of a doe, and the others looked up and took off. The doe that was hit also took off, but was visibly limping.

“Let it get some distance, and then lead us to it, boy.” Stenson stood and grabbed the crossbow back from Akahsha, then put it in his bag. He stepped over the fallen over log. Akahsha walked across the creek and followed the mixture of deer hooves and blood that was falling from the wounded animal. He’d been with his father on hunts, but this was his first time with anyone else. He tried to not let it bother him, but he couldn’t subside the pain entirely.

They walked over a couple of hills, but ultimately they found the deer on its side, breathing heavily, lying in the snow. Stenson knelt beside it, and then looked up to the young hunter. He pulled out a knife and handed it to him. Akahsha took the knife and looked at the deer.

“You must finish the job,” Stenson mournfully said. “You’re nearly there.”

Akahsha also knelt and placed the knife over the throat of the deer. Its eyes looked up at him, and he could feel his heart wrench. No, he thought to himself. I have to do this. He plunged the knife into its neck, and after a quick violent shake, it exhaled its last breath.

Ordna had stoked the fire so that it was a bright, blazing heat-source for her and her Warlock friend. Quinta was leaned back against a log, and created small trinkets in her hand with a simple spell. She spun the three metallic-looking balls in a clockwise shape, letting them touch but just barely. They looked up simultaneously to find Stenson and Akahsha returning with a dead doe. The men were both carrying it in their hands, so as to lighten the load. They placed it down next to the fire. Ordna nodded and dragged it over to her. She took a knife from her belt and began to carve the skin off of the animal.

Quinta eyed Akahsha up and down, and then looked at Stenson.

“Was this you or the boy’s doing?” She said, quizzically bored.

“The boy, and his name is Akahsha.” Stenson sat next to Quinta and looked at the boy with promising eyes. “He has potential, and for that I know he can provide much for this group. He’ll be travelling with us for the next while.”

Quinta rolled her eyes and shook her head, but kept a smile on her face. “Of course. Thanks for the meat kid,” She chuckled. “Try not to die.”

Some time passed, and he watched the group do what he could assume was their typical activities. Ordna cured and cooked the meat; Quinta found a spot with some shade, pulled a board with some paper on it, and used an ink and quill to write something; Stenson found a clearing and began to swing his sword in controlled, fluid motions. Akahsha laid his father’s sword on his lap, and drew it from its sheath.

The blade had runes that were intricately marked into it. Akahsha had never closely looked at the sword before, as it was his father’s best friend, so to say. His father wouldn’t leave home without it, and it was a weapon most likely crafted through arcanic-means. He placed it back in its sheath. There was no way for him to unravel the mysteries of his parent’s legacy. He’d just be glad to carry it on with him, through any way he can.

The food was made, and a nice chunk of deer meat made its way into Akahsha’s lap. He looked up and saw the rest of the group huddled around the campfire eating it. Quinta was cutting pieces off with a dagger she had, eating more diligently. Stenson was tearing it apart using his teeth. Ordna was tossing it between her left and her right hand, then took a big bite out of the side of it. Akahsha took a decent-sized bite into it and felt the hearty, tough flavor of the deer-meat. His mouth watered from the taste, and when he looked up he saw the others looking at him. They smiled and laughed and went back to eating away. Akahsha smiled.

After they finished eating, they packed all of their things into their bags. Akahsha followed behind with what little he had. Stenson led the way, followed by Ordna, with Quinta behind her. They walked East, according to Ordna’s directions. They walked for some time.

“There, a snow leopard.” Stenson pointed to an incline where thick brush sat, and beyond it, a pair of eyes looking at them.

“Don’t worry, they won’t bother us. Now if it were just a single traveller, they might look like food. We’re a group, so it won’t want to try anything.” Ordna smiled and strutted along.

The terrain changed from the plains road to a mountain-terrain. The mountains were taller than anything Akahsha had ever seen. It was to their north, and a road went around its south side. The south side had a drop that went at least a hundred feet down. Akahsha looked over, and was grabbed by Quinta. She looked at him close, and he had his mouth open in shock of her grabbing him.

“Don’t be so careless. You don’t want to die this early on,” Quinta dragged him back onto the road and let go of him. “Keep up, kid.”

Akahsha clutched his shirt where she had grabbed and his heart beat quickly. He wasn’t sure if he was more afraid of heights, or of her. He kept his pace up, and didn’t fall behind so quickly this time. He watched the sights around him, admiring the world that he’d only heard about for so long. The cold made it uncomfortable to walk after a certain while, since his toes had become numb. His fur had now become covered in snow, and the party looked around for a place to camp for the night.

They set up camp along the mountain-side, and Stenson called for everyone’s attention by banging on his shield with his gauntlet. Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to him.

“Tomorrow we’ll be in Vlandon. We’ll be able to rest up in a real bed there, and maybe we can collect a job. Our newest addition will take a list and some gold and purchase our necessities.” Stenson said, hands on hips.

Quinta audibly scoffed and stood. “Sten, you think that the kid’s really that trustworthy? You’ve known him for a day.”

“Quinta, I’m sure the boy will do well. If you’re so worried, why don’t you go with him?” Sten furrowed his brow.

“Well, maybe I will.” Quinta folded her arms and looked at Akahsha. Her green eyes were squinted at him. “I’m gonna make sure you’re not going to pull a fast one on us.”

Akahsha looked at Stenson and Ordna who shrugged and went back to their duties. He looked back at Quinta who took her middle and pointer finger, pointed at her eyes, and pointed back at him. He looked away and looked at the ground.