Chapter 3: Embracing the warmth of life.

●== Day: 12, Afternoon => Evening ==●

As Kyle hauled the meat across the vast plains.

Mica dabbled on the cutting table near the kiln. It was where all the tools were stationed. From the hammers to the knives to even the needles. The needles were made from switchblade panthers whiskers. They were actually quite unusually firm for whiskers.

With these tools, she was able to fashion a pair of short bottoms with a tail slot. She also managed to give her gown a bit of a design, giving the sleeves and lower half a bit of a frilly design.

"I feel like I'm back in school doing arts and crafts. But is all this really necessary?" She pondered why she we going to this extent. She told herself it was simply to hone her skills into crafting more functional clothing. Realistically, what she designed wasn't anything functional, but was rather something more fashionable. Actually, it was something that would captivate a male gaze.

She realized afterwards as she gazed into the lake's reflection. Deep down, she knew Kyle was distracted by her rat-like appearance. Therefore created something that would bolster her attractiveness.

"Ah.. what am I thinking?.. why am I so concerned about what he thinks about me? Geez, I'm acting like a horny teenager.."

Mica lowered her head intona crestfallen state. "Hm?"

Her nose caught a scent in the wind. She turned her attention back to the plateau to see a large figure stomping about. "Wait.. is that?.."

She could recognize the figure as Kyle, carrying a massive bag on his back. She could see that he was struggling to carry with every ounce of his strength. She quickly rushed over to him, shouting. "Heeey! You're gonna break your back carrying all that!"

Once she reached him, he collapsed from exhaustion onto his back, breathing labored breaths. "Hah.. hah.. that.. was a bad choice.. but atleast we'll be set for some time."

Mica approached with anxiety in the breath to see the massive sack full of meat. "What the hell did you hunt!?"

"Something that was worthwhile." Kyle slowly leaned up and showed Mica the rolled up pelt. She thrusted her forearms to her chest with concern in her breath. "That's great and all, but I'm more concerned for you! Don't overexert yourself like that!"

Kyle raised his tired eyes up at Mica and found himself somewhat stunned at her appearance. His heart staggered momentarily with his eyes widened. "Oh? Someone's been busy, I see." Kyle said.

Mica became somewhat embarrassed. "O-oh? Y-yeah.. I admit I got carried away.." She said sheepishly but not long after continued her concerns for Kyle.

"But, forget that! You need to get some rest! I'll help carry what I can!"

"How much CAN you carry?" Kyle jokingly remarked as Mica attempted to lift the bag to no avail. "How much does this weigh!?"

Together, they carried the rest back with little exertion.

○== Day: 12, Evening => Nightfall ==○

Fire crackled with the sizzle of meat filling the air. Mica shouted as Kyle resists. "Can you sit still for a moment!"

Kyle protests. "Look, I'm fine! All I need is some rest! I don't need a back rub" He stood in the doorway of the hut, facing outside away from Mica.

"Why are you being so stubborn about this?" Mica asked then began to shout with worry in her voice. "Look, I have no ulterior motive to this! I just want to do something for you to ease your pain!"

Kyle sighed as he turned to look at the little doting rat on the newly placed pelt bed. With a stubborn yet determined look on her face, she awaited Kyle's reply.

He instead let out a light chuckle. "Hehe! I can't say no to that face."

Mica would blush, but instead the fur on her face became fluffed and dispersed. "Oh. Uh.." she wasn't expecting such a response from him. She thought to herself if the outfit she made was working it's magic?

Kyle pulled off his shirt and laid on his belly on thebefore her. "Okay.. do your thing, doc."

Mica was hesitant since she wasn't exactly sure if she knew how to give a back rub. "Now.. how do I do this?"

"Are you kidding me? This was YOUR idea and you're telling me you have no clue on what you're doing!?" Kyle barked in disbelief.

Mica pouted in response. "Don't be so rude! I'm just trying to do you a favor! Just relax that glib mouth of yours."

*sigh* Kyle gave a slightly annoyed sigh as he rested his head back on his forearms. Mica then laid her hands on Kyle's lower back and pressed down with some of her weight on him.

"Faa.." Kyle blurted uncontrollably as Mica struck a sore spot. "I take it this is where it aches the most?" Mica asked as she remained kneeled next to him.

"Yeah.." Kyle exhaled. "My lower back took the brunt of the weight."

Mica readjusted her position where she sat over him with her legs wrapped around his lower body. Kyle felt this and didn't really protest since she is easing his pain somewhat. Mica felt the sides of Kyle's waist and realized he had a real lean body. She became somewhat nervous as she continued her procedure.

Kyle decided to make casual conversation to avoid the awkward atmosphere. "So I might have a plan on how to deal with that thing if it engages us. Thing is, I need to make preparations before that comes to pass."

Mica worked her way to Kyle's kidney area as he continues. "I'm thinking of setting up a trap or an escape route. Anything to avoid unnecessary conflict with an absolute monster.. Or maybe a way to direct it away from camp.."

Mica halted her hands movements. "I.. I don't even wanna think about that 'thing' right now.. Not only that.. thinking of you risking your life to protect me once again makes me feel like I'm just another weight on your back."

Kyle chuckled with a sarcastic smile. "Aptly put. Don't think that way, I would've devised this regardless of your presence here. I'll admit on thing though. I appreciate your company more than anything right now. And I wouldn't want it to come to a premature end.."

Mica's heart skipped a beat when Kyle said that. She wanted to ask something, but couldn't think of the correct words.

"Kyle.. do you.." Mica let slip some unintended words and flinched back a bit.

"Do I, what?" Kyle ask, looking over his shoulder at her. Mica panicked and jolted to her feet. "Uh! Nevermind! Forget I said anything!"

Kyle had some idea of what she was gonna say and decided to tease her. "Oh~ I will mind and remember everything you said. You got a crush on me, am I right?"

Mica twisted and scuddled away to the other side of the hut. "N-no! Don't be silly! I'm not in the mood for your games, hehehe!" She let out a anxious chuckle after her words and began averting eye contact from his side of the hut.

Kyle slowly stood up with an audible wince as he turned his attention back to the crackling firepit where the meat sizzles on a spit. It was plenty cooked and ready for consumption.

"Food's ready, pip-squeak, if you're done sulking you have some."

Mica returned her sight his way and pouted. "I'm not sulking! I'm just.. thinking.."

In the light amber flicker of this dark and dank hut. The red fox approached Mica with her half of the cooked meat on a stick. She was embarrassed since his chest was still exposed, he seemed comfortable with it, so she didn't say anything about it. Although Kyle could easily tell it distressed her.

"How about we take this meal outside in the night air, it was warmer today." Kyle asked as Mica agreed.

The two creatures chewed on tender cooked meat under the stars above. The stars were extra vibrant with a mysterious nebulous haze in the sky, filling in with dark purples and pinks. The moon and it's younger brother sat in the sky watching over them. Most notably, that very moon was suddenly a deep green, lighting the open fields with a faint alien hue.

"Curious." Kyle remarked openly with his eyes fixated at the night sky. "I don't remember the moon being that color."

"Maybe the smaller moon had different phases that result in different colors?" Mica responded with an equally curious gaze.

After they finished eating, Kyle rested on his back looking up at the sky in wistful wonder. "It's quite something, isn't it?" He said with his arms behind his head.

Mica laid next to him also looking up, lost in the vastness of the endless stars. "It really is.. I don't recognize a single one of these constellations either.. we truly are in a completely different world.."

Kyle nodded as silence passed for a moment. "Say.." Kyle's voice carried. "What was it you were going to ask me?"

Mica turned her head away. "O-oh.. nothing you should be concerned with.."

Kyle playfully chuckled, fooling with the innocent rat. "Come ooon~ it's not like there's any reason to be embarrassed! It's just us out here!"

Mica awkwardly clenched her teeth and readied an answer. "What I wanted to say.. is that do you find me disgusting?"

"Is that all? That's why you've been acting so distant in the past hour?"

Mica gripped her arm with a tense exhale. "Sorta.. I've just been getting the feeling that you're treating me like a child or something.."

She continued. "So what's your answer? Do you find me disgusting? No games, please.."

Kyle turned his head at her with his eyes rolled to the side. "Well.. I don't find you disgusting at all. I'm just not comfortable pursuing anything beyond platonic with our bodies being so.. different." He said with his hand waving around in the air with a twirl.

Mica felt confident to elaborate further on her inner thoughts. "I see.." Mica sighed. "In all honesty.. when I felt your chest, I thought it was so warm and cozy. What I wanted to really ask. Is if we can share the same bed tonight."

Kyle slowly turned her way with a look of indifference on his canine face. Mica quickly rushed out an answer. "-nothing sexual or anything! It's just that my hands and feet get cold during the night and I can't stop thinking about- wait.. Nevermind, forget I said anything-"

"-I wouldn't be against it." Kyle blurted with Mica's flattened round ears perked back up. He continued. "If that's all you wanted to ask, you should've said it earlier and saved us the valuable time and air wasted."

Mica pouted. "I'd barely call it wasted time. I don't easily speak my mind like SOME people who like to mess with others for fun."

"Tis true, ya got me there!" Kyle jokingly remarked as he leaned up with a smile.

Mica sighed in bitter annoyance. "Ah.. I'm changing my mind~"

Sensing her sarcasm, Kyle let out a chuckle. "Hehe! Nice to know my behavior and mannerisms are rubbing off on ya!"

Some moments passed of their banter until it was time for them to call it a night. Kyle retreated to the fur bedding and gave a stretch with his chest still exposed. Mica sat across from him with a nervous expression on her face.

The anxious grey rat was still fully clothed in the handmade dress she made earlier today. She had no plans on removing it, but it was comfortable enough to sleep in.

Kyle looked her way and waved her over. "Well? Didn't you say you wanted to share the same bed?"

"Yeah.. but. I'm nervous." Mica said as she shuffled about in an attempt to muster the bravery to approach.

Kyle sighed and rolled on his back. "Whenever you make up your mind, feel free to- hm?" As he was speaking, the meek little rat-girl curled up to his side, nuzzling her nose and hands against the side of his chest. This caught Kyle by surprise as he giggled aloud. "Hehe! Are you comfortable there, Pip-squeak?"

She let out a sigh of relaxation. "Very.. thanks for humoring my silly desires.."

"Don't mention it. Its only understandable since you must be afraid of the beasts that lurk this world, right?"

Its true that Mica embraced him not only out of fear of the world they found themselves in. But.. she also embraced him because she simply desires to feel the warmth of a another. It was something she'd been craving ever since arriving in this world.

The the previous world, she spent many nights alone in her bed. After the many breakups in her life, she felt little interest in pursuing another relationship. However that changed when she ended up in this world.

She wanted to atleast feel that warmth once more. To share the warmth next to a person she can trust. Maybe it was a mental desire this new body of her's, but she felt overwhelming jubilation and her heart raced upon snuggling up to Kyle's side.

Kyle could sense that she strongly enjoyed herself as she cuddled up to him. He had to admit, her body contact relaxed the stress his mind and body endured today.

Her warm breath on his chest was enough to banish the demons that lingered in his mind and bring forth blissful tranquility.

○== Day: 12 => 13, Nightfall => Morning ==●

Day approached with the warm embrace of the sun settled in the doorway of the thatch hut. Kyle awoke from peaceful slumber with the small rat-girl still clenched to his side.

He quietly turned his eyes at her small head pressed up against him. She gently stirred in her sleep as Kyle set his gaze on such an adorable creature clinging to his side.

Kyle was hesitant about disturbing Mica's peaceful slumber. By the light flooding the doorway, he determined its been morning for quite some time. He decided to wake Mica with a light nudge to her shoulder.

"Mhm!?.." She mumbled as she slowly awoke raising her emerald eyes. "Is.. it morning?"

"Just look outside." Kyle said as he casted his gaze at the doorway.

"Oh.." Mica muttered as she leaned up, rubbing her eyes with a yawn. She turned her dopey gaze at Kyle who leaned up next to her. "Thanks.. you have no idea how much I needed that.. I haven't slept like that in a long time."

Kyle nodded with a soft smile. "Glad to be of service."

Mica returned a gentle smile. "So what's on the agenda today?"

Kyle thought for a moment before giving an answer. "Not sure. For now lets just get some fresh air- hm?" His ears caught something from outside and his nose caught a distinct scent. The meat he caught from yesterday was stored inside the hut within clay jars, so I shouldn't of attracted monsters.

He fixated at the entrance with Mica also doing so. "You catch a whiff of that too?" Kyle turned at Mica realizing that she too had a gifted sense of smell, so he knew it wasn't just him who sensed it. "Stay put." He said as he stood up, grabbing his machete, braving the doorway.

Kyle poked his head out into the light of the morning sun.

*sniff*

*sniff*

He took two quick whiffs, trying to catch the scent from moments earlier, but it seems to has passed.

Mica stood near the doorway, whispering cautiously. "You recognized the scent.. didn't you?.."

"Yeah.. someone- maybe even someone's share a similar scent to us are somewhere nearby.." Kyle answered as he looked around aimlessly.

"Then why did you grab the machete?" Questioned Mica with a look of unease. Kyle glanced over at her with a look of apprehension gracing his face. "Because.. they are also carrying the scent of blood on them.. the same scent of blood ruthless killers bathe in."

Mica held her hand to her chest, knowing she did smell blood, but does Kyle somehow detect something she doesn't? "Kyle, you're scaring me.."

His sharp gaze resembled that of a predator sensing danger with teeth curled. "Mica.. Pass me the bow from within.." Kyle whispered inside at her.

"N-no.." Mica shook her head. "I don't want you to hurt other's who are like us.."

"Trust me.. They're NOT like us.. we don't carry the scent of death with us. Now.. pass. me. the bow.. NOW!" Kyle words were firm and daunting. It resonated with resolute certainly, causing Mica to believe his warnings and did as he commanded.

"Thank you.. Now, stay inside and do NOT even poke your head out. We don't know what kind of people they might be. As far as we know, they could hunger for women.." Kyle said with firmness, gripping the bow and readied an arrow.

He called out into the wilds, towards the treeline on the other side of the nearby river. "Come out! I know you're hiding, so show yourself!"

"Shiff pshh"

Whispers could be faintly heard with his astute hearing, however the sound of the river and the distance was too great to understand what's being said. It almost sounded like an incantation was being recited as the whispers grew louder.

Not long after. A single figure emerged. It's fur was a solid black which was as dark as midnight. Is was hunched over, looking down as it whispered to itself.

"I'm g-gonna kill that fucker for this-" It said just before stumbling and falling face first to the ground.

"A trap?.." Kyle quietly assumed that this was a trap to lure him closer using altruism as bait. He waited for a moment until he caught the scent of the creature. He could determine the creature was in critical condition from serious wounds inflicted upon it.

"Goddamnit.." Kyle lowered his bow and cross the river to the side the creature collapsed. He approached with his machete drawn and observed the man on the ground. It was amazing that this creature was walking around with such grievous wounds up and down it's back. This man resembled a black panther with a relatively fit and sturdy frame.

Kyle kneeled down slowly to check the pulse.

"Graa!" Suddenly without warning the man sprung to his feet with eyes red with blind rage. It look like it took every ounce of its being to accomplish that as it remained hunched forward in pain. "Stay the fuck away from me!.. I'll kill you for what you did!-"

Kyle raised his hands in an attempt to quell the wild beast. "Whoa there! I'm not who you think I am. What the hell happened to you?"

The round eared panther huffed and growled in pain. "And who the fuck are you?! Whoever you are, stay the fuck away from me! I don't need your fuckin' charity.."

Kyle could smell that the wounds are at risk of infection if not treated soon. He responded calmly with a touch of glib "Aren't you a mouthy kitty. On the contrary, You are in dangerous need of medical treatment. Your wounds are on the verge of getting infected."

"FUCK OFF!" The panther shouted, swiping his hand through the air. "I don't need any help! I can handle this by my self! So shut up and get lost!"

Kyle shrugged helplessly. "You got quite an attitude for someone whose on the verge of death. You got moxie, I'll give you that. However it would be foolish to die of infection before exacting your revenge on the one's who did this to you. Just saying."

The panther hunch forward in exhaustion. "Hah.. You don't know me.."

The being collapsed and fell unconscious once more. Kyle turned his attention back to the hut where Mica remained, peeking out the doorway. "Come on out, pip-squeak! I need a hand hauling this stupid cat!"

With some struggling, they managed to haul the panther across the shallow end of the riverbank and all the way back to the camp.

Mica questioned Kyle endlessly as he explained what happened moments earlier. After stitched the wounds covering his body, the placed his shivering body inside the hut next to the firepit.

"Bastard's got a strong will to live, I'll give him that." Kyle muttered as he hunch over the unconscious panther man. "Although he might be suffering from an internal infection, and without penicillin, a full recovery could be difficult."

Mica stood nearby as Kyle explained. She had a look of unease written all over her face. "Is there anything we can do to help him?"

Kyle glanced over his shoulder outside the hut. "Under normal circumstances, we could get penicillin from moldy bread. However, It's hard to say if this world has a similar bacteria that treats infections."

"So.. does that mean there's nothing we can do for him?" Mica asked with urgency.

"The only thing we can do is give him fruit that's high in citrus. Unfortunately, I haven't found anything of that type in this world yet." Kyle aimed his gaze at the treeline where the panther collapsed.

Mica and Kyle continued to converse back and forth "Do you think anything like that would be anywhere here?"

"Not here on the plateau, but maybe in the forest. I haven't chanced that place ever since I first saw that monster lurking in there."

"Wait.. you're not thinking of going there, are you?" Mica asked with apprehension in her voice.

"What choice do we have?" Kyle shrugged. "Just feeding the guy meat won't be enough to treat his insides. If he is to recover, he must have atleast a small serving of something other than meat."

"Then I'm going with you!" Mica raised her voice.

"No. You must monitor him in my absence." Kyle bluntly said, casting his hand into the air.

Mica however, stubbornly protested his demands. "No! I'm not letting you go out alone! What if something happens to you and you never come back!? What then, huh!?"

Kyle shook his head and his voice grew agitated. "Your acting like a child! This is not a game! This man's life is on the line and you need to make sure he doesn't die in my absence!"

Mica then began to shout back. "I'm more concerned for your safety than this stranger we know NOTHING about! How can you be so insensitive about my feelings!"

Kyle let out a sigh. He knew one thing that might settle down the stubborn rat. He then slowly approached her with a veil over his eyes. Mica sensed something was off and retreated slightly.

Kyle quickly grabbed her by the arm and pulled her into a close embrace, wrapping his arms around her small body. Her heart began to race and her stomach fill with butterflies. His firm grip around her made her body relax and melt.

Her arms reached around Kyle's back in return. To her, the world fell to a standstill as she pressed her face against his chest.

He whispered gentle words, encouraging her to do what needs to be done.

"I promise you.. I'll be back before you know it. After that, I'll take you with me wherever I go. If that is truly what you want.."

Mica's heart overflowed with questions she wanted to ask but didn't have the strength to put them into words. She found herself clinging to him desperately and didn't want to let him go. "More than anything. Okay, I'll stay here.. just be careful and be back as soon as possible.."

"Yup!" Kyle responded with a cheeky smile as he backed away from her warm embrace and hunch forward to her eye level. "I'll be back before you know it. With my nose, tracking things like this should make this easy."

Kyle grabbed most of his things. His machete, knife and ofcourse his trusty longbow. Mica watched him walk away until he was out of sight. Her heart raced with trepidation and impatience. After a few minutes of his absence, she kept glancing at the treeline where he left, hoping to see him returning.

Kyle couldn't explain the feeling.. He initially intended to keep the relationship platonic. However, even he felt his heart swayed by leaving her behind. It was a longing sensation that he hadn't felt in a long time.

He stopped and took a look back in the direction of where he came and ceacked a warm smile. Quickly putting aside those thoughts, he then focused on the current situation.

There were plenty questions that lingered in Kyle's mind as he ventured forward. The panther spoke as if he was familiar with his kind, referring Kyle as a beastmen. Kyle figured Mica didn't peice it together, but the wounds the panther had wasn't caused by any animals. It resembled wounds caused by blades- possibly could also be from switchblade panthers.

However, his mannerisms suggests it was caused by a third party. Kyle mainly desired to hear what this stranger has to say.. If he survives from his wounds ofcourse..

○== Day: 13, Morning => Afternoon ==●

A forest of azure leaves, endless cries of foreign wildlife filled the air. Within the shade of these massive wooden giants, a red fox walked freely in this holy place.

The small wildlife scattered upon his arrival, as if he was an unwelcome guest. Kyle pressed his hand against the massive sturdy tree in an almost respectful manner.

"These tree are immense.. these are almost like the majestic redwoods in our own world.."

*sniff*

He stuck is nose in the air and attempted to detect any edible fruits and so forth. Kyle's eyes flickered from the overwhelming stimuli. There was so much to detect within this forest it was too much for him to handle.

Kyle learned something about his new body. He referred to this as 'opening his senses'

When he focuses his mind on his sense of smell, he can detect a whole array of smells. However, it can be exceptionally overwhelming with the many scents and smells of life itself.

He recoiled and covered his nose. "Damn.. this'll be more difficult than I imagined.. there's just too much here for me to discern. How can I track anything if I can't tell the difference between fruit and bird shit.."

He ventured about, carving markings into trees as he went along. He followed what smelled like the faint smell of fruit, but more often then not was led to anything but what he was looking for.

After an hour or two of searching, he finally found something of interest.

A small clearing with a tree in the center. There appeared to be bulbs that resembled fruit, but had a rather unappetizing appearance.

The fruit was a dark blue with bright green dimples covering them like warts. The tree itself looked different aswell. The bark was a creamy white akin to birch. The leaves however were black as midnight with two pointed ends.

However, the fruit was out of reach.

Which means Kyle gets to embrace his inner child began to climb. The tree was relative to the size to a standard apple tree, if not slightly bigger.

He stretched out and plucked one of the fruit and gave it a smell. His nose doesn't lie, the fruit is indeed safe to eat. "But somethings off about this fruit."

Kyle took a shallow bite and was hit with a strong flavor he couldn't describe. It was almost like a sour strawberry flavor with a hint of something else entirely. Regardless of it's questionable flavor, it was definitely something edible.

Kyle began gathering a few and loaded a decent amount into a sack. He took a breather, resting his head on the bag looking up at the afternoon sky with a huff of relaxation. "I should really make my way back.."

*Snap!*

Suddenly Kyle's ears caught a noise in the distance. Sounded like a branch was stepped on. He quickly jumped to his feet and looked in the general direction of where it came from.

"Is anyone there?" He asked aloud in the direction of the noise. Kyle could sense the presence of someone watching him. They must've been upwind from him, he couldn't smell who or what it was. But he somehow knew it was someone.

*clack*

The sound of a hooves clacked on the ground nearby. "Is that? Horse hooves?" He muttered to himself until a large creature rounded the corner. Kyle's blood ran cold upon seeing the massive creature. It's eyes were red with anger, gripping a two-handed axe. it's gruff voice fell. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING ON MY LAND!"

"It speaks?" Kyle thought to himself. "Is it another one of us?"

Kyle cleared his throat and responded in a respectful manner. "Sorry, I had no idea I was on your land. If you don't mind, can I borrow some of these fruits? I have a wounded person who could use-"

"-ENOUGH BABBLING!" Shouted the massive brown beast. "YOU'RE ANOTHER ONE OF *THEM* AREN'T YOU!"

"Them?" Kyle responded with his ears folding back in a submissive manner. "Hey, I have no idea what you're talking about. Who's *them*?"

"DON'T PLAY PRETEND! YOUR KIND IS ALWAYS TAKING THINGS WITHOUT ASKING!"

"Shit.. looks like I can't talk my way ouy of this one.." Kyle said to himself in defeat.

The beast let out a roar and began to charge Kyle like a reckless bull. Luckily his moves were predictable enough for Kyle to easily evade. However, if he was to get hit, the wounds would more than likely be fatal.

As he slipped past the mad bull's strikes, he tried to quell the beast's rage with words. "Hey! Calm down, big guy! There's no need to kill me over this!"

The bull halted for a moment and let out an annoyed huff. "You're one slippery bastard!"

Kyle jumped back out of reach and tried to reason with the beast. "Listen! I don't know what happened to you to make you so hostile to strangers. But I'm not your enemy!"

The bull fell silent for a moment and lowered his head. He could sense that his words were sincere. Not to mention he made no effort of fighting back even though the bull held nothing back against Kyle.

The bull relaxed his stance slightly. "So.. You're not one of them?"

Kyle questioned back. "Who's THEM?"

"The scoundrels that ended up in this world alongside the rest of us." The bull answered, relaxing his massive axe over his shoulder. "But nevermind that. I apologize for attacking you. It's just that you initially gave off a similar vibe as William's gang. But after hearing you talk, I don't sense any ill intentions"

"William? You need to explain a few things to me." Kyle aaked with urgency in his voice.

"Fair enough." Rodameir concurred. "Let me first introduce myself; I'm Rodameir Wolfgang. As you may have guessed, I am an outworlder like everyone else seems to be. I imagine you are aswell."

"Outworlder?" Kyle folded his arms with a look of amusement on his face. "That's one way to put it. But yeah, guess that means we're in the same boat."

"Care to this conversation back at my place? I'm sure the others will have endless questions to ask you."

"Others? You live with others like us?"

"Well, yeah. There are five- erm.." Rodameir stopped himself than muttered under his breath. "Well.. I guess we're four now."

It seems that this has venture has taken an unexpected turn. Kyle agreed to meet these others that Rodameir are living with. He did overhear what Rodameir muttered to himself. He didn't fully understand what that meant without any context, but he does indeed have a hunch or two.