The first place Aaba and Delga went to was the sooterfly hive. Just a day's travel away! The sun had just skimmed the edge of the land, it was almost sunset. They had just enough time to set up camp, which were just two blankets laid on the ground. They did not, however, have enough time to build a fire. So, they were exposed to the night chill until they could start a proper fire.

 Aaba laid back, looking up at the stars, while Delga took the flint they had just lying around their house, and she hit it furiously with a rock. A few sparks here and there, but not enough to ignite their pile of sizable sticks and leaves. 

 “Do you want me to try?”

 “No, I almost got it. Just got to hit it a bit harder.” Delga said.

 Aaba shrugged, and turned back to the sky. She never understood those people who always point out constellations while stargazing. She can't even pick one little dot to focus on in that jumbled up mess. Still, it looked pretty, and it was a good way to relax.

 “Hey, um, thanks for helping back there.” Delga said.

 “It's no problem. I've never seen you kiss ass that much before, so I had to step in.” Aaba said. “I think he only helped us cause he's cursed too, though.”

 “I think your talk did something to him.”

 “What makes you say that?”

 “He talked to me before we left, said he was sorry for what before. Y'know, with the jobs and stuff.” Delga said. She swore a twig had caught fire, but the autumn winds had blown it out. “You are totally right though, the curse is what pushed him to do it.”

 “Told you. Here, I'll sit here, to stop the wind.” Aaba said. 

 “Thanks.”

 Her clothes and the blanket did help, but she was about to grab the rocks from Delga and just do it herself. She probably won't have anymore luck, Delga was much stronger than her, but she was just so cold, dammit! Might as well give it a shot.

She missed her fireplace back at home that was automated by magic. It was installed by elves, which made it cheaper, but at times she felt it didn't work as well as she needed it to.

 Delga did eventually get a little fire going, and they went to sleep. The fire had gone out sometime during the night, and they woke quite chilly. With frost nipped skin. They packed up, quickly, and went the rest of the way to the sooterfly hive.

 Wow, it was actually pretty close! About an hour away, or the time it takes to fully cook a nice thick cut. 

 “So, what do we do?” Aaba said. “Just talk to them?”

 “Yeah, that’s what Frackus said. It should be pretty easy.”

 Easy indeed. Just tell the guards- yes, they had little guards- you're looking for some of their sooterfly syrup.

 Apparently, they've got a little guy -thing? They didn't seem to have gender- that handles their exporting affairs. They spoke into what looked like a bluebell flower, but it made their tiny little voice into something human ears could pick up. 

 “What is your reason for asking for our syrup?” They said.

 Just be honest, Frackus said. Though, try not to mention that they tried to rob somebody.

"To break a curse.” Aaba said.

 “A deadly curse,” Delga said. “The only spell that can break it needs that syrup.”

 “Why, of course!” They said, and they dug into some pockets that did not seem to exist, and pulled out a bottle that was about a third the size of their body. What was inside it was green, and goopy. “We hope you get that curse settled out!” 

  And just like that, the transaction was over.

 Wow, I really thought I’d spend more time on that.