Chapter Twelve: Beastly Gains

We had been traveling for a week on quadruped vines that resembled horses. The hungry flowers they had for heads snapped at anything that looked like food. Fiery rhinos accompanied us to provide protection, while twenty sentient minions tagged along, ten from Hekin and ten from Jopp. Penny Lee decided to watch the fort while we were gone.

It felt strange without her soft fur to pet, but she assured me that the demon brothers would protect me. I held the dark blue feather she had given me before we left.

"Keep this on you all at times," she had commanded. "Don't lose it!"

Jopp had growled at her before mounting one of the horse vines. He had sped off on it, leaving Hekin and I scrambling to catch up.

I sighed with relief as we stopped to rest at nightfall. Hekin rounded up the fiery rhinos and let them burn like an enormous bonfire. The sentient minions set up patrols and chatted amongst themselves.

I shivered in the cold night as I set up my tent, feeling lost without Jopp or Penny Lee to keep me company. After I was done, I looked up at the night sky. The crimson moon was full again.

"Relax," Hekin urged as he sat beside me. "Sit down. Let's play."

Hekin seemed to enjoy the board game as much as I did. Whomever lost had to deal the cards, and we gambled rations with the sentient minions.

Hekin was a beast at gambling. I made a note to myself to never visit a casino he sponsors. He made it a point to teach his minions a lesson. A demon cheats and plays dirty.

By the end of the night, he had amassed most of the food from the minions, even their prized magic mushrooms.

Hekin rubbed his hands together as he stuffed everything in his satchel. "Nice game, boys! Better luck next time!"