Raffin nestled into his chair of necessity, sculpted from the remnants of a wagon once lost to the snows that now served as a stark reminder of the fragility of man’s creations against the relentless whisper of the wildness.

His gaze, sharp as a falcon's, cut through the smoke's veil and locked onto the awakened man. Hidden beneath his sleeves, daggers lay in wait, while his right foot subtly shifted, ready to react if the need arose.

Brian's stance, rigid and eager like a green recruit, belied a youthful fire in his eyes — a fire fueled by naive dreams and the echoes of a simpler life before the call to adventure.

Asdras, the ever-watchful hawk, muttered a silent homage to Joe, whose teachings had become the lifeblood of his caution and the unseen armor against the unpredictable world. "Never let your guard down, even if the man looks like it couldn't kill an insect."

The man's gaze remained fixated on the tantalizing aroma wafting from the stewpot, his stomach audibly protesting the delay. Slowly, he shifted his attention to the trio surrounding him, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, whether from hunger or unease. His eyes darted between Raffin's poised posture and the weapons aimed at him.

Raffin's eyes narrowed to slits, and his voice was cool and probing. "What shadows follow you, stranger?"

The man flicked a wary glance at Asdras and Brian, acutely aware that one wrong move could escalate a threat into a deadly certainty.

However, his attention was soon drawn to Raffin, whose eyes held an unsettling, ghastly pale blue hue against his brown irises. A lump of nervousness threatened his resolve, yet he mustered what he hoped was a confident tone.

Even so, the growling hunger in his belly betrayed his voice, causing it to crack and quiver like an out-of-tune violin. "Strain," he said.

As the word "Strain" left the man's lips, Raffin abruptly halted his movements, his eyes narrowing as he scrutinized the stranger's body language with greater intensity.

Then, as if it were the grand finale of a play, Raffin's body convulsed with hearty laughter, his shoulders shaking and his boisterous mirth echoing through the campfire. Confused, Asdras and Brian exchanged puzzled glances, their eyes darting between the enigmatic man and their eccentric companion.

In contrast, the man breathed a sigh of relief at the laughter, realizing that, at the very least, his sweat-slicked skin would not meet any menacing sharp objects that night.

Raffin inhaled sharply, his eyes drilling into the stranger. "Proof, then. Show me."

"Proof?"

"You claim the life of a merchant?" Raffin's finger flicked toward the man's uniform. "Then let your proof speak."

He fumbled through each pocket of his worn leather clothing, each crease and texture now etched into his memory. His trembling hands moved frantically, exploring every small bag secured to his belt. Anxiety pulsed through him like a drumbeat, and his breath came out in shallow, hurried bursts. The desperation in his search was palpable.

Asdras and Brian remained vigilant, their weapons poised, muscles tense, and eyes unwavering. They mirrored each other's posture, their senses heightened, prepared for any abrupt movement that might signal danger.

At last, the merchant's shaking fingers grazed the unmistakable shape of something concealed in his left pocket. With a sudden, jerking motion, he retrieved the token, clutching it tightly. His actions were swift enough to trigger Brian's instinctual reaction, but Raffin intervened just in time, preventing a potential dead merchant.

"Here!" He said, clearing his throat as he threw the token to Raffin.

He examined the merchant's token closely. It gleamed in the firelight, a polished circle of golden metal. Etched into the token's surface was an intricate pattern, creating the image of an hourglass. At the bottom of the token, a name was engraved in bold capital letters.

Raffin looked up at the man, his fingers holding the token at a diagonal angle, and he asked, his voice carrying a hint of curiosity, "Javier?"

"By the way, my good sir. It's me, this well-fed man," Javier said, not knowing where to look. "A merchant from the guild; it's a pleasure, sir."

When Raffin heard the man reveal his name, he signaled to Brian and Asdras to lower their guard. He then beckoned Brian to fetch a stool for Javier to sit on, and he tossed the merchant's token back to him.

Rising to his feet, Raffin moved closer to the stewpot, stirring its contents with a wooden spoon.

With a casual air, he inquired, "So, Javier, what brings you to these parts?"

Javier, grateful for the stool, struggled to find his words as the tantalizing scent of the cooking meat filled the air. He mustered the courage to make his request, his voice trembling slightly. "May I have a bowl, sir?"

Raffin paused, glanced at the moon above, and a mischievous grin crept across his face as he responded, "One dark yellow coin for each spoon, my friend."

"One gold! How 'bout a silver?" Javier nearly leaped from his stool at the price, and he attempted to negotiate with Raffin, his voice filled with desperation and a touch of disbelief.

Raffin, however, remained steadfast, dismissing Javier's attempts to haggle. Brian chuckled heartily at the exchange, while Asdras tended to the horse, feeding it corn and apples as they all awaited their supper.

"I only have four golds, sir," Javier said as he scratched his neck. "Alas, as Mama always told me, every blessing is a curse in disguise."

Raffin ran his hands through his hair as he told him. "So, four spoons, then. See, almost a full bowl, my good sir."

Javier reached into a small bag concealed within his clothing, carefully avoiding any prying eyes, and counted in his mind four unmistakably polished gold coins. With a faint nod, he handed the precious metal over to Raffin, who received them with a warm, grateful smile that seemed to light up his mood.

As he accepted the gold, the flickering firelight from the bonfire cast intricate shadows over the meal, turning it into a mesmerizing and captivating image, a masterpiece of his cullinary skills. The dance of the flames highlighted the colors and textures of the rabbit meat, potatoes, and fragrant seasoning herbs as if they were in a well-planned painting.

With great satisfaction, Raffin handed Javier a bowl brimming with the savory dish, the rich aroma filling the air. Then, he distributed full bowls to Brian, Asdras, and himself before turning to Javier and asking, "So, Javier, what happened to bring you to these parts?"

Javier attempted to explain that the events leading up to his current situation were a lengthy tale, but the combination of his voracious hunger and the enticing aroma of the meal left him struggling to form coherent phrases.

Raffin, seeing his plight, sighed and reassured him, "Eat first, my friend. We'll talk later."

Brian, his voice a muffled anthem of gustatory delight between generous mouthfuls, couldn't rein in his exuberance as he praised the meet's goodness. "This is the tastiest thing I've ever et in my whole life."

Asdras, eyes closed and a serene smile gracing his lips, inhaled the stew's savory scent and whispered a quiet prayer, sending a wish of prosperity to the belly of the rabbits.

They continued to enjoy their supper, the bonfire's flames now gently flickering, casting a soft, warm glow that outlined their figures in the night. Asdras, mindful of the dwindling fire, retrieved more dry sticks from the wagon and carefully added them to the flames, causing them to dance and crackle, bathing the camp in a renewed and comforting light.

Javier patted his belly, chuckling with contentment. "A meal to remember! Ah, my dear man, while the dish was indeed a delight to your taste buds, the cost does cause a slight pang in your wallet. Just like Mama used to say, every silver lining, it bears a cloud..."

Javier settled into the stool, his gaze shifting upward to the night sky, a vast expanse of darkness with no stars in sight. He cleared his throat and mumbled something under his breath before mustering the courage to speak about the events that had befallen him.

"You see, gentlemen, fortune's wheel has spun me into misadventure. I am, alas, a well-fed man cursed with an unlucky star."

Javier lifted a finger, his manner grave. "Ah, my dear friend, let me regale you with the tale of my grand expedition, a journey that commenced from the western realms and ventured forth towards the majestic northern lands. On the journey, destiny, with its merciless grip, snatched away the group of mercenaries under my employ. Ah, a cursed beast, it did! It snatched away both them and my precious goods, all in a single swoop, my friend."

"It were a beast, I'm tellin' ya, a monstrosity from the depths o' nightmare. The lizard, as big as six wagons parked together, loomed outta the darkness like a livin' mountain. Its scales, black as coal, glinted with a malevolent gleam."

"A ranked beast?"

"Probably ranked two."

"Boy, I wish I was there to see it. I hope in the future I can take down one myself."

"Its jaws," Javier continued, "be wide enough to gulp a man whole, clamped down on my comrades, one by one. The most unpleasant crunch of bones resounded in my humble ears as they were being devoured, my dear sir. Oh, sir, by a hair's breadth, I escaped with life in limb, but that day my luck had truly abandoned me."

"By some fortunate twist of fate or the blessings of the gods, I chanced upon a caravan that was making its way towards the nearby outpost, my dear saviors. They graciously took me in and extended their humble abode to shield me from the wretchedness of this cursed weather. Ah, it was at that very place where I came to use the Jumper."

Javier paused to look at their faces and asked with a dry tone. "Does this region take us to Martimus, my dear chief?"

"No," Raffin said, shaking his head. "Baurous!"

Javier stared down at the floor. "By the by, what a shame!"

"And how y'all get unconscious 'round these parts?" Brian asked, as he remembered finding him.

"That dammed Jumper," Javier said, his shoulder curled over his chest. "It failed in a most crucial part and, may I add, caused me to take a tumble in this vicinity, my good sir. Oh, what a fortunate turn of events! It so happened that I found myself tumbling into a bed of fluffy snow."

He looked at the trio before him, weighing the consequences of his plea. Finally, he mustered the courage to ask, "May I, perchance, be a part of your esteemed company until we arrive at the outpost, kind sir?"

Even as the words left his lips, a pang of regret coursed through him as he wondered if this decision might cost him more than he could bear.

Raffin, ever the experienced wanderer, gave a welcoming nod and replied, "Of course, friend. You're welcome to share our camp for the night."

He then turned to Asdras, instructing him to fetch more fur blankets, providing extra warmth for their unexpected guest. Then, he beckoned Brian to take care of the fire, erasing its glow, and to retrieve the stewpot and bowls as they prepared to retire for the night.

As they began to settle in, Brian approached the dwindling bonfire, ready to extinguish it, when an odd noise pierced the stillness of the night.

From the distance a sinister chorus arose — a crescendo of metallic whispers, akin to daggers parting the earth's skin, joined by a growl deep enough to stir the very darkness.

The horse whinnied in fear, nearly breaking free from its tether, but Raffin's quick reflexes managed to calm the frightened animal.

"Hey, what is that, sir?" Javier pointed his finger in the direction of their backs.