Sleep gave Eric a chance to process, a chance to slow down. Though good sleep was far from reach, the dark quiet of the cave with the dribbling of sleep kept Eric in a semi-wakeful state, mind active and moving. 

His first moments on Auron came fresh to Eric’s mind, first meeting Clanker, then coming to terms with reality enough to leave the cave. From the moment he left that cave, Eric began facing events and choices that he had never once done so before or ever dreamed to.

Then he remembered the blood on his hands.

The shock of it returned, and though the moment was quick, being unconscious so to speak during the brutal event, it would haunt him forever. 

“Rose,” Eric whispered. “Why did you suggest that I use the ring’s power like outside the cave?”

The blue ball of light appeared above him in Eric’s vision. I wonder if others can see her…

“My purpose is to protect you,” Rose said. “To keep you alive, to help you find peace, perhaps even love.” Her voice faltered just for a second, but then she continued, unphased. “If a choice such as using your other power fulfills that, then I will take it into account. Also, feel free to think your words, since I can access your mind’s voice as well. And to answer your question, no. My appearance and auditory presence is only for your benefit, forevermore.” She again took on a caring tone as she finished speaking. 

Are you sure you’re not Rose? Eric thought, far more emotion entering into his heart at the question.

“I…” Rose began, then answered methodically. “Due to the nature of your transfer to Auron, along with the likelihood that Rose was affected by it, I estimate the chances of her survival to be incredibly minimal. If she did, however, severe damage was likely taken by the eruption of energy around you.” 

Eric thought of a possibility that had never occurred to him.

What if she’s here? 

Rose was silent for a moment as if she were calculating, thinking. 

“The chance that she came here with you is near zero, yet I do estimate it to be a higher chance of happening than surviving in your world.” 

So the question isn’t whether she survived, Eric thought. It’s whether she survived on Earth after the transfer, or if she survived a transfer herself. 

“I do not have enough information to corroborate such claims,” Rose said.

Eric nodded, a slight weight lifting from him, a chance for hope settling in that weight's place. He noticed a bit of light from the cave entrance and realized that day wasn’t far off. So, Eric tried to sleep just a bit before the next day’s problems sought his life as well. 

***

Eric woke with a start as a slight kick nudged into his back. 

“Ow!” Eric said, a little angry from the sudden yank from slumber. He rubbed at his back where Sophia had kicked him. 

“I’ve had time to grab a rabbit and a rat since the sun broke the peaks,” Sophia said. “I’m not cooking everything myself.”

Eric sat up and groaned. “I don’t really know how to cook,” He said. 

With a start, Eric realized that Clanker was sitting right behind him, staring at him intently. 

“Why are you right next to me?” Eric asked. 

“Got nothing else to do all night,” Clanker said, shrugging. 

“What do you mean?” Eric said. 

“I require very little sleep,” Clanker said. “So, I sit and wait. I’m good at that, as you know. You also talk a lot in your sleep, which was entertaining.”

“What did I say?!” Eric asked, shocked. “I don’t remember ever sleep-talking before.”

“I would imagine that would be hard to figure out for yourself since it would require an outside observer, sleep claiming your consciousness and all.”

“Eric,” Sophia said. “A little help?” 

Eric groaned again, then sat up to go and help where he could with the breakfast. 

“May I have the blood?” Clanker asked. 

Both Eric and Sophia looked at him with disgust. 

“I do require some form of energy to subsist,” Clanker said. “And the blood of an animal, likely full of nutrients for my bones, will suffice. Not to mention their potential for power.”

“Not much to get, though,” Sophia said, throwing the rat at Clanker’s feet. “Have at it.”

“What do you mean?” Eric asked. 

“Animals don’t have very useful blood for spells. It tends to be a lot less potent, not carrying a ton of power, so I’m told. Bones and sinew though are very popular for wards and defensive magic, some strengthening as well when utilizing larger animal remains. Rabbit bone, for example, is great for warding off low-level monsters, specifically cave wolves.”

“What the heck is a cave wolf?” Eric asked. 

“Nasty pack creatures, usually hairless and very aggressive. There are always at least five more where there is one. They have big long ears with thick tufts of hair on the tips, and they are usually pretty small. Not much bigger than a cat. Get twenty running after you, though, and you’ll wish it was some kind of bear instead.”

“Sounds like there are a lot of common animals on Auron as back home.”

“Ever heard of a gryphix?” Sophia said. Clanker raised his hand enthusiastically. “Not you, bones. Sheesh. Not from the same world, right?” The skeleton lowered his hand and shrugged. 

“That kind of sounds like a phoenix,” Eric said. “In name only though.”

“Ah, so you know what a phoenix is,” Sophia said. “Though, a gryphix is pretty different. It is birdlike but has vibrant red talons and beak, feathers as black as night. They can somehow take the blood of their victims and use it to cast basic speed enhancement spells. They’re quiet as owls, too. So you’ll never hear them coming until their talons are digging into your shoulders, trying to rip our arms off.”

Eric stared forward. “That sounds lovely…”

Sophia turned to skin the rabbit and realized it was gone, but in its place was a small fire with the rabbit skewered on a rotating spit above it. The rat seemed to have already been cooked. She looked at the fire in confusion. Eric noticed when she did and stared at it wide-eyed.

Clanker looked at the two of them in confusion. 

“Is there something wrong?” The skeleton asked. “Did you want the rat raw? Sorry, I did that one first.”

“How…” Sophia began. “Nevermind. Less work to do means more time to brew.” 

“What does that mean?” Eric asked. 

Sophia stopped ruffling through her bag and stared off at nothing. 

“Didn’t mean to say that,” she said, then laughed. “My grandma used to say that after I had done some chores around her small cottage. She’d brew some herbal tea for me as a reward.” She shook herself, then pulled out a folded piece of paper. “Anyway, here’s a map.” 

She unfolded a map to reveal a large continent at its center in a rough oval shape with two peninsulas to the south, one in the center to the south, and the other jutting out the east side of the landmass. 

“Map of Northern Continent, received,” Rose said. “Explore Wilderlands to find points of interest in each area.” As she spoke, a blue window opened with a close representation of the map on the paper in front of him. Cities, roads, mountains, and rivers were outlined and marked as they were on the map.

“I don’t see a name for the continent on the map,” Eric noted. 

“There really isn’t one,” Sophia said. “There’s no central power up here and none of the city-states and towns can really come up with a name. Most refer to it as the Free Lands, or Wilderlands, which is pretty fitting since the areas outside the city-states are treacherous and dangerous to travel due to monsters and lawlessness. Hunters like me get a lot of work up here. Can’t down in the southern band, since the Dracula and his Blood Kings rule there.”

“Interesting,” Clanker said. “It has since lost its previous name, then?” 

“What was it called before?” Sophia asked. 

“Scandaria, after the great city of Scandar, famous for their towers of starlight that would glisten in the moonlight.”

“Never heard of it…” Sophia said. 

“Time is a very efficient eraser, it seems,” Clanker said, placing a hand on his chin. 

Sophia knelt over the map and pointed. 

“The Alchemist is in these mountains here.” Sophia pointed to a mountain ridge called Bonetip Peaks. “It’s not too far from us near Golstadt, but there are a handful of cities we may need to pass through. I suggest we move on to Bracharest, and then make the bulk of the journey from there after preparing more. We’ll likely need it. Maybe even take on more help.”

“Do they have a library?” Clanker asked. 

Sophia shrugged. “I dunno. It’s one of the largest city-states in the free lands, so I would think so. Probably at the university, though. Likely not open for public use.”

“Why do you ask?” Eric said. 

“I have come to the conclusion,” Clanker said. “That I am woefully underprepared to assist you, and thereby assisting myself in the removal of this curse, in what you are seeking to do. Perhaps a library of books on the ongoings of the world will be of assistance.” 

“There’s also a sizeable hunter’s hall in Bracharest,” Sophia said. “Could probably find a decent fighter or maybe a beast master.”

“Will it be safe there?” Eric asked.

“About as safe as it can be,” Sophia said. “Though in Auron that is…questionable sometimes.”

“So how long should it take to get there?” Eric asked. 

“Walking,” Sophia said. “Probably two days. If we can find a cart or hire someone to take us, maybe a day. It’d be best to make our way to the main road from here and hope we come across a way to speed up the path.”

“How are your wounds?” Eric said. 

“I could take out a few dozen cave wolves,” Sophia said, shrugging like it wasn’t an impressive feat on its own. “Should be fine by midday. Still sore, but most likely just scars at this point now.”

A sudden roar bellowed into the cave from outside, shaking and reverberating over and over around the stone walls and stalactites. The roar sounded like that of a bear, yet had a high-pitched screech that weaved through the powerful sound.

Sophia stood, looking around the cave and peering farther into the dark maw. The party had stopped in the best spot they could find that would be fit for a camp, flat enough to sleep on the stone. 

“I didn’t see any remains,” Sophia said. “Or any nests that a harpy bear would make.”

“A what?!” Eric said, eyes wide with terror. He could hear stomping and scratching near the entrance of the cave, which was out of sight around the corner.

“Those I have heard of,” Clanker said. “They are kind of intense.”

“No shit, bones,” Sophia said. “Imagine a crazy bear that can fly.”

“Can fly?!” Eric said, sweating and heart threatening to leave his chest. 

A huge creature rounded the bend in the cave, slowly and deliberately. It likely had heard them talking, so it took steps cautiously. The harpy bear walked on four legs toward them, mostly feathers, with some fur enveloping the legs and chest. Two huge wings were tucked away on its back. Feathers and fur were a light brown, but its face was a different story. 

The harpy bear’s head was more like a bird’s than a bear's. It had dark, black eyes and white feathers all across its head that tapered into brown fur and feathers down its long neck. A short but dangerous black beak twisted down from the center of its face almost looking snub-nosed. The head twitched and turned much like an eagle’s would eyeing its prey. 

“Why is it here?!” Eric said, hissing as loud as he dared to. 

“Probably looking for a new roost,” Sophia said. 

“Hello bear,” Clanker said, then walked up to the harpy bear. 

Sophia nearly choked on her own breath watching the skeleton nonchalantly walk up to what had been deemed by most respectable hunters as a certified murder-beast. 

Clanker then proceeded to place a hand on the harpy bear’s twitching head.

“Who’s a good harpy bear?” Clanker said, voice shifting to a doting pet owner. 

“Harpy bear did not appreciate the pets,” Rose said.  

In a swift motion, the harpy bear twisted its head and snatched Clanker’s forearm bones, then ripped them off. Clanker then looked at his missing forearm and hand, then screamed, eyes nearly popping out of his skull.