Kraken had their snout buried in the map, checking the progress of the wagon as it took off full speed towards their next stop. Daikon had placed himself in a corner as En’mat used a soft song to slowly clean him off. Enoki looked around at the trio, debating what ze should say. The captain before had said Enoki was basically the ‘real leader’. Moments like this didn’t make hir feel very confident about that idea. 

“So…” Enoki glanced over to hir original companions, “Daikon. What did you ah, pick up? At the market.” 

“You mean stole.” Kraken spat out with a growl. 

Daikon cleared his throat. “I am a bandit. I never said I had stopped being one, in all fairness.” He reached over to the bag. “But I have a few things. Some tracking spells. A text on how to reach out to the gods through old ways. A teleportation scroll.”

Enoki’s eyes went wide at the mention of the last one. “Wait, could we use that to get to the next place? That’d be great!”

Daikon shook his head. “You need soil from the location that you wish to travel to. And that one, my dear, is for personal use later.”

While the two spoke, En’mat carefully pulled out the various items. Books, scrolls, some loose papers. She arched her brow looking at a specific paper. “This seems to be a map for the dwarven mountains.”

“Well,” Daikon said with a shrug, “We will need that eventually won’t we? It may be out of date anyway. You know how much they dig. But at least it can keep us from getting too lost.”

He carefully took each paper and put it back in the bag, only leaving out the recipe books and the tome for En’mat. He paused, looking at the teleportation spell before tucking it back into a small pocket deep within the bag. Enoki wished he’d say what that was for. Ze already knew what the others were thinking. At some point, he was going to use that to steal something big. Possibly betraying them all.

Enoki was certain that wasn’t the case but what could ze do about that? Other than reassure the others as needed. At some point, Enoki knew, ze’d need to help the five of them work better as a team. But everything felt like it was happening so fast, it was hard to tell what needed to be done. Flock or no flock, they’d fall apart if they couldn’t find a balance at some point.

At that moment Crackle poked her head back into the wagon. “We’ll run out of power in about two hours. Then we have to recharge.”

A snort came from Kraken. “Well. Can’t be helped. Daikon, you got people chasing us. You can help with guard duty.”

“No need.” En’mat spoke up, her eyes looking over the pages of the tome. “We can charge it as we move.”

Crackle’s face changed from her normal amusement to one of worry. “We don’t have enough food for you to charge it with your own magic.”

“Correct. But this tome isn’t a book on how to connect to the gods. I’ve seen one like it before. It’s used to give energy to people, making it look like they've reconnected to them.” 

Daikon frowned. “What? No. He purposely told me not to bother with that book. The old man swore it was only for the godless that wanted to find their way again.”

Kraken motioned for Crackle to go and watch the driver's seat again as they walked over to get a closer look at the book. The dragon kin leaned forward giving a soft sniff, their lips curling in disgust. “Sulfur. That comes from the dwarven volcanoes for certain. And that phrasing I’ve heard at the dwarven ports. Centaurs don’t refer to those that leave the gods as the godless. Too many believe the gods are around you no matter what you think or feel.”

A new growling was heard. Enoki thought for an instant someone had stepped on Noodle’s tail again in the small space. Instead, Daikon’s body was trembling with barely contained rage. “Then we can do without it. We don’t need dwarven magic for this.”

“It’s the Old One’s work, not theirs. And you know it, Daikon.” En’mat sang using the gentle notes to coax runes off the page and onto the walls of the wagon. 

Normally Enoki would have paid close attention to the magic at work. But Daikon’s reaction was concerning. There was something going on. Kraken went back to their corner muttering something about being a rock bigot. That was going to be fun to deal with later. All Enoki could do was pull out the curtain from hir bag and set it on the wall. 

“Hey Daikon, help me get the food ready? I’m sure everyone that skipped the books is still hungry.” Enoki said, lightly pulling on Daikon’s tense arms.

With only a grunt he followed hir into the time freeze pantry. Enoki slowly walked around looking at all the options. Daikon was dragging his feet. His normally cobalt blue face looked more like a deep navy blue, while his red hands had turned a dark blood red. Small wonder other races got the wrong impression when they met orcs. 

“So, how long ya gonna be pissed off?” Enoki slowly asked, picking up some of the leafy greens.

Daikon made Enoki put them down before handing hir different ones. “I know you want sandwiches. You like them better when we’re moving. These will go better with the meats.”

“Gotcha. But, being mad?”

Daikon sighed. “I will be angry for a long time. I will behave myself. Don’t worry, Enoki.”

Ze blinked hearing hir name properly. “Ah… right. Serious mode I guess. You want to talk about it?”

“No. But it shouldn’t affect you getting what you need. What I need and want to do will wait, for now.” He reached up and sniffed some of the bread, giving a sad smile. “This is an old gnome recipe. You make it by keeping a live culture in your home.”

“Oh! Like sourdough starter? I wonder if that’ll be one of the things. I love a good sourdough.” Enoki looked at one of the higher shelves, seeing some promising looking cheese. Ze climbed up the 6 shelves quickly, peeking at the options. “I don’t want to pry, Daikon. But if what you are feeling interferes with things? We’ll need to talk about it at some point.”

“Maybe. We’ll see. I got some good fruit for the sandwiches. What were you thinking of to go with it?”

Enoki finished looking at the cheeses and grabbed one that smelled like a brie but was a soft orange, like a summer sunset. There were even some holes in it like swiss. Ze had to wonder what the flavor profile would be like. 

Dropping down, Enoki grunted before speaking. “I think some salad would be good. I can use that dressing I made up that Kraken liked last time.”

“Still trying to get the dragon to warm up to you? Some dragonkin don’t like to be all that friendly.” He smiled, the color on his face fading to the soft cobalt ze normally saw. “But I suppose that won’t stop you trying to get a harem.”

“It’s not a harem. It’s a collection of friends.” Enoki said firmly as ze turned on hir heel. “Totally different. And dating is after the world is saved, remember?”

“Yes. Something I look forward to, my chaos.” The humor in his voice returning. “And then we shall settle the matter of who is a rival versus an additional love.”

There was a soft chuckle from Enoki as ze set down the cheese near some of what Diakon had already picked. “Of course. But as long as we’re friends too if we do date. That’s important to me. Even if you don’t like my other friends.”

Not noticing hir own sad tone, Enoki started towards the hard rolls, hoping there were enough for everyone to have a sandwich. Planning a meal was a good way to shove out the sadder thoughts. Especially when it involved making a good meal for friends of hardy sandwiches and salad. Though ze supposed having just little snacks would be good too. Like a charcuterie board. Lost in thoughts about what fruit and vegetable pairings would go well for that, and if they had anything pickled yet that would further add to the selection, Enoki realized the orc hadn’t said anything in a few minutes.

“Enoki.” He spoke, his voice tinged with worry.

Ze looked back to him, giving him hir full attention. Daikon’s expression was filled with a firm resolve. A look that didn’t show on his face very often. Not without his classic lopsided grin. 

“I won’t let anything happen to what you find important. I promise.” He briskly walked over to Enoki. It was with such speed that ze didn’t realize they were nose to nose until he was already knelt down. 

“Daikon, look. It’s ok. We-”

“Enoki, I swear it.” He interrupted, putting his hands on hir shoulders. “Dating or not. Flirting or not. Our fields will be joined. Not just for the season. We will share the pollinators. Gain seeds from each other. And help defend against the unwanted. It will not stop simply because you wish to keep the boundary fence. Do you understand?”

“I… yeah. I think so.” Ze put a gloved hand on his own shoulder. “But just remember, I can help you too, ok?”

“When it is time. I’ll remember. Now.” With a swift movement he picked Enoki up by the waist and stood to full height. “The bread you probably want is up there. The elves believe in keeping bread high.”

“All tall people keep things high.” Enoki chuckled. “Now I know how my brother felt at least.”

“Ah then perhaps I should try to put things up higher for your brother’s sake. Get revenge on you on his behalf.” He gave a mischievous grin.

“I thought you said you were fine if we didn’t take down the fences.” Enoki gave him a smirk right back. “Sounds like you are looking for a fight anyway.”

“Friends can fight platonically.” He said as Enoki wiggled down with the bread in hand. “And fighters to lovers sounds like one of your home’s tropes.”

“Sounds better than the real one.” Ze tossed Diakon the bread and gathered everything else up. “Now come on. Lunch.”

“Ah yes. The true way to your heart. Your stomach.”