Chapter 12

"I'm tired," Autumn complained for the nth time that morning.

"I'm hungry," Ember chipped in.

After spending some time together, Autumn and Ember realized that the adventurers, although obviously interested in forming a blood pact, had no interest in harming them. Under close watch, they were walking in the midst of the adventurers, all of which who were getting tired of their antics.

The swordsman sighed, running a hand through his hair. Exasperated, he yelled, "Well, why didn't you eat the sparrows?!?!"

"The scales get stuck in our teeth," Ember leisurely answered.

Autumn nodded in agreement.

"No, they don't," The archer grinned as he flashed his annoyingly sunny smile.

"Shut up. Stupid adventurer." They both said in unison.

The archer turned his head, "Hey! We have names, you know. I'm Sol, the mage is Sage, the swordsman is Ace, and the assassin is Azura. What are your names?"

Autumn and Ember looked at each other, contemplating whether they should tell them.

Sol grinned before saying, "It's alright if you don't want to...We can just make up a name to call you! Let's see, you can be Fluffy, and I think I'll call you Marshmallow."

Ember sighed, "I'm still hungry."

Autumn laughed, "What a coincidence, that's my name too."

Sol facepalmed and shook his head.

Chuckling, Ace replied, "Let's stop here and get something to eat."

....

"Here," Azura said as he placed the carcasses of two horned rabbits in front of them. "Please don't tell me that it's too furry, ugly, or too cute to eat."

"Why would I ever do that?" Autumn questioned.

Azura sighed, shaking his head.

"You act as if you haven't rejected a whole pile of prey for those exact reasons," Sage pointed out.

"Did that happen?" Autumn blinked innocently before shifting into her wolf form and tearing into the prey ravenously.

"So, now that you've eaten, mind telling us your name?" Sol asked hopefully. "Believe it or not, I don't want to call you Marshmallow."

Ember blinked. "I'm still hungry."

"Me too," Autumn piped in.

Sol pursed his lips, "Fine, fine, fine. Stuff yourselves with this."

Sol placed two clear circular crystals in front of them.

Autumn tilted her head, "A rock? Is this even edible?"

"I dunno," Ember replied, nudging it with a paw.

Stunned, Sol asked, "You don't know what this is? It's called an Energy Core. Ordinary animals can evolve under certain conditions and create an Energy Core. As the name implies, it contains a lot of energy."

Autumn's eyes brightened up. She quickly pulled the Energy Core closer and took a bite. The crystal-like substance broke away easily.

"How is it?" Ember asked.

"Crunchy." Autumn quickly answered before taking another bite.

Ember blinked at Autumn's blunt answer. Glancing at Autumn quickly gulping it down, Ember took a hesitant bite. Ember blinked before similarly crunching down on the Energy Core.

A few moments later, Autumn shifted back and licked her lips in satisfaction. Ember quickly tossed the last bite into her mouth and shifted back as well.

"You actually finished that?!" Sol questioned as he blinked incredulously.

"...I have a condition?" Autumn said as she provided an excuse.

Sol rolled his eyes. "And you? What's your excuse?"

"...I also have a condition?" Ember laughed nervously before yelling out, "Fine! I just like food."

Sol clapped his hands. "Alright, now that you're both full...you are full right?"

Autumn and Ember nodded.

"Great! Names please!"

The other adventurers had walked closer and looked at them expectantly.

Autumn rolled her eyes. "I'm Autumn."

"And I'm Ember."

"And I'm ready to start leaving," Ace said.

"Please stop. It's not funny when you do it..." Ember said, wincing.

Ace sighed, "Fine. But we have to start moving. We're already behind schedule."

"Where are we going anyway?" Autumn asked curiously.

"Greyrose City, the capital of Silversky."

Autumn glanced nervously at Ember. Ember nodded, conveying her words through her eyes. The plan was still on. Autumn took a few deep breaths a forced herself to calm down.

The sharp-sighted adventurers caught their subtle exchange, thinking it was nothing more than the reluctance to travel so far away from their homes.

"No worries. You can always visit Leafwind Continent if you get homesick," Sage comforted.

"Mhmm," Autumn replied absentmindedly.

The adventurers quickly packed up and continued walking.