The carriage pulled to a stop near a rather sinister looking forest entrance. The road very clearly tapered off into dense foliage where a carriage, especially one of that size couldn’t enter. Kito pulled the cart from the back and to the side of the road as the carriage turned and started back towards the city.

“Getting the cart through here isn’t gonna be easy…” Seiko rubbed the back of his neck, his voice tired. Kito could understand Seiko was a little antsy, he was too. This forest was notorious for drawing people in and getting them lost. Unfortunately, it was the only way to get to Fille village, the fishing village that could take them to the island Talya’s mission took her.

“We’d best get started then,” Katy said, shrugging and taking the first step into the trees. That first step proved to be the easiest. Kito opted to be the one to take the cart through the woods to the other side, and it was a decision he regretted more and more as they made their way through the dark woods. The underbrush was overgrown with briars and other plants that seemed determined to fight them as they made their way through. The trees also grew far too close together, so close that Kito thought they had to be fighting really hard for sunlight and water, though they all seemed healthy enough to be able to bar their passage effectively. He was glad he had tucked his jeans into his boots, otherwise, they’d probably be in tatters about now. His shirt thankfully had enchantments to stop that happening, though it didn’t stop those few brave branches from trying to snag him. He clearly wasn’t the only one being fought by the trees, either.

“Son of a bitch!” Katy yelled, turning and punching the air. A loud boom resounded, a flash of light blinding Kito for a split second as he threw an arm up to shield his eyes. When he lowered his arm, he noted one less tree and a new tunnel made from charred branches and brambles. Electricity still arced from Katy’s fist as she lowered it, rolling her shoulders.

“I think the tree’s dead now.” Seiko blinked, eyebrows arched.

“Aye, definitely not gonna try and snag you again.” Kito nodded.

Katy looked between them, frowning, though it only took a few seconds before she sighed, a smile returned and the three of them laughed. Kito grasped her shoulder and gave her a reassuring peck on the cheek as Seiko took the lead this time, leading them once again through the wood. The mood had lightened as they went. Seiko had always had a knack for finding his footing, so following him was making things a little easier at least. Kito was making good time when suddenly he felt a snag. He cursed under his breath and looked back. Every snag he’d felt so far had just been the wheels of the cart, though he knew his luck would have run out eventually. This time a series of branches had caught not only the wheels but also the tarp over all of their luggage. Kito sighed, motioning for Seiko and Katy to keep going as he turned around to assess the situation. His eyes glowed blue, the world appearing sharper, in focus suddenly as he activated his sight. He took note of each of the branches snagging the points locking the cart in place, and when he had them all they lit up yellow in his vision.

“Okay…” Kito said under his breath, “Let’s see if I still got this…” With that he settled into a low stance, knees bent as he took hold of his sword scabbard with one hand, the handle with the other. He kept those yellow spots in sight as he exhaled deeply. In one fluid motion, Kito drew his blade, blue flashing around him as he slashed outward. Each of the branches and bushes halting the cart’s progress was sliced by a small blue ribbon of energy, breaking and allowing free movement once again. Kito took a deep breath, smiling slightly as he sheathed his blade. That was good practice for a technique he hadn’t tried in a long while. Seems it worked pretty well. Kito took the handle of the cart up once again and made his way through the trees, it wouldn’t take him long to catch up with Seiko and Katy. Though he had no idea how far this forest stretched since he’d never actually needed to trek through it before. He couldn’t tell what time of day it was either, the tree coverage was so dense. He just decided to pick up the pace, and hope the cart didn’t get stuck like that again.

As luck would have it, the cart did get stuck like that. Several times. A couple of times even worse. But each time Kito had been able to sever the hindrances and free the cart, and before long, he caught a glimpse of waning sunlight. His smile growing, Kito broke through the darkness and stepped out into the burning orange of a sunset. Shielding his eyes, he looked out over the surroundings, and saw Seiko and Katy not too far from his position, setting up the basics for a campsite. Katy laughed at something Seiko said before heading off back to the forest. Probably to come in and help Kito if he’d gotten trapped or mauled. Kito dragged the cart out the last few metres, the foliage and the trees falling away to reveal bright green grass. They were situated at the foot of what looked like a hill, the incline wasn’t steep, but it wasn’t exactly inviting either. Katy caught sight of him and started a jog. Kito picked up his pace, still with the cart trundling along after him.

“Hey!” Katy grinned, wrapping him in a hug that Kito graciously returned.

“I see you guys got started on a camp.” Kito looked back over to see Seiko snap his fingers and create a rather large fire between two long logs. A classic campsite.

“We just need the tent,” Katy said, falling back slightly and rummaging in the cart as they moved. She fell back in step with Kito carrying a huge backpack and several long poles.

“I’ll trust you to set that up,” Kito said, letting the handle of the cart fall, “I need a sit down.”

“Hey slowpoke,” Seiko said without looking up from a pot he had set over the fire, “What took you so long?”

“Shut up.” Kito said, smiling as he dropped two eggs into the boiling water. He had another four, but the pot wasn’t big enough to boil all of them, unfortunately. Katy busied herself setting up their tent as Kito sat back, watching as the sky became progressively darker. They’d made pretty good time. According to the Rebellia, they should have gotten through the forest well into nightfall. Here’s hoping they’d stay ahead of schedule for the foreseeable future.

Katy eventually fell onto the log next to Kito, sighing as she took one of the boiled eggs and ate it in two bites. The tent was all set up, the sun had vanished completely, and the fire was still raging in the pit before them.

“A mission, eh?” Kito said, looking into the flames absentmindedly.

“A mission.” Seiko raised an eyebrow, leaning back against the log opposite Kito and Katy.

“Seems so long ago that we used to do this every few nights,” Katy smiled, “Get the fire ready, hunt down something to eat. Deep in enemy territory.”

“Maybe for you.” Seiko chuckled.

“That’s right, Iaetria was the tail end of a long camping tour.” Kito smiled as well, still looking into the flame.

“The longest for me.” Seiko looked up, “Was it the longest?”

“Not by a long shot.” Katy laughed, shaking her head.

“Iaetria was what,” Kito looked up into the sky, “Two months in the western reaches, then that boat trip to the town.”

“About that.” Seiko nodded.

“Only a short while after that,” Katy sat forward, arms on her knees, “We spent about four months passing through the dragon graveyard. That was just to get to Tiamat, by that point the whole continent had been taken over by Xan’s forces. So we spent another what. Seven? Eight months?”

“Around that,” Kito continued, “Eight months, trying not to get discovered by Xan’s forces. Eventually, we had to withdraw. Ended up in Sylvan territory.”

“Damn…” Seiko blinked a few times.

“We’ve talked a bit about the war…” Katy looked down at her hands, “It got a lot more intense after we lost you.”

“I’m beginning to sense that.”

“The battles got longer, more people died,” Kito sighed, “By the end, the battle of Yhor’Dheel alone took three days and nights. But getting that position and holding it took closer to four months.”

“That was par for the course by that point,” Katy added.

“I still can’t believe we won.” Seiko smiled, looking down at the ground.

Kito looked back into the flames. Those bright, orange flames. “I don’t believe it sometimes, either.”

“I know that feeling.” Katy’s gaze fell on her husband, her smile reassuring.

“I guess it goes around,” Chuckled Kito, “It doesn’t feel like that long ago for me.”

“I still have a question,” Seiko looked up, at Kito, “What were you doing? The first few decades of the war?”

Kito felt Katy stiffen slightly next to him, though he merely met Seiko’s gaze, “A lot of people asked that,” Kito smiled lightly, “After the war, obviously. No time during.”

Seiko raised an eyebrow, he’d clearly noticed Katy sitting a little straighter and looking very intently at her boiled egg, “Well?”

“I spent some time in Magistratia, actually,” Kito explained, “There were other battles to fight.”

“Magistratia, huh?” Seiko sat back again, realising Kito wouldn’t go any more in-depth than that.

“Aye,” Kito kept his smile, “Met all kinds of colourful people. Most of them weren’t too fond of me.”

“We have that effect around those parts.” Seiko chuckled.

“There were a few areas I thought would be quite nice for the wedding, though.” Kito shrugged, “The Morsan countryside is especially beautiful.”

“Where did you decide on eventually?” Seiko asked, grabbing his second egg, “What kind of ceremony was it?”

“Sylvan, actually.” Kito pulled his shirt down to reveal a dark green tattoo, an intricate design that looked somewhat like stylised wings on his chest.

Katy did the same, showing off an identical blue tattoo, “We have rings too, of course, the tattoos are just for the bond. Also, the wedding itself was held at the Gleaming City to the south.”

“Awesome,” Seiko grinned, “I’ve always wanted to see the Gleaming City for myself. I’ve heard it’s beautiful.”

“Indescribably,” Katy smiled widely, “Cold though. My dress didn’t do a lot to keep it at bay, either.”

“A kilt doesn’t do much either…” Kito sighed, smiling himself.

“What’s this ‘bond’ you mentioned?”

“It’s a lifeline kinda thing,” Katy explained, gesturing wildly, “Kito and I had our souls linked by some ancient sylvan spell. If we’re apart, we can feel if the other is in trouble, or in danger. We also get a jolt if the other feels any kind of physical pain.”

“It’s pretty helpful, actually,” Kito added, “I know whenever Katy stubs her toe when I’m out.”

“That must mean you had a sylph presiding, though?” Seiko blinked a few times, a look that was becoming more and more common.

“We did,” Kito laughed, “I have some friends in relatively high places these days. Namely a lovely sylvan woman I met a long time ago. Some nyxen. A couple of paladins posted at Vestige. It’s come in pretty useful over the years.”

“I bet.” Seiko smiled again, eyebrows arched dramatically.

“I think I’m gonna turn in, in any case,” Katy said, making a show of yawning, almost punching Kito in the jaw.

“I’ll follow the lady,” Kito said, “Early rise and all that, for those of us who sleep.”

“You got it.” Seiko grinned, standing and waving his hand. The fire was immediately reduced to embers as he walked over to the edge of the campsite, “Get rested. This journey starts in earnest in the morning.”

The tent flap fell as Katy entered, letting her hair out of the ponytail, running her hand through the locks. Kito sighed as he tossed his shirt aside. The tent definitely wasn’t lacking for space, it was tall enough for them to stand up straight and wide enough for seven people at least to lie shoulder to shoulder. Kito kicked his jeans off, falling onto the futon and lying back, his fatigue rushing to catch up with him. It was beyond obvious he hadn’t done anything like this in some time. Katy didn’t look nearly as tired as he felt. In fact she… Kito blinked as Katy raised an eyebrow. Her bottoms fell and Kito’s lips parted with a slight, almost inaudible “Oh.” Katy placed a finger to her lips as she gripped the bottom of her T-shirt and slowly, teasingly peeled it from her. She walked over to Kito tantalisingly, and he watched her come. In one fluid movement, Katy dropped to her knees, straddling Kito with her lips against his neck, hair flipped over to one side. Kito inhaled sharply, smiling as he let his hands settle on her hips. Katy flipped her hair back, sitting back up with the motion and looked down at Kito, a playful smile appearing on her lips. Looked like he wasn’t getting any sleep just yet.