Adventurers

The light filtered weakly through the jagged rocks above the cavern as Aeliana stepped carefully behind Luca. The remnants of sleep clung to her, but the urgency in his movements kept her alert.

The scaled carcass from the night before lay discarded, its charred edges a stark reminder of what had drawn the creatures so close. Aeliana's thoughts swirled as she adjusted the cloak Luca had tossed to her earlier, its rough fabric draped awkwardly over her slender shoulders.

"Are we just going to leave it there?" Aeliana asked again, her amber eyes narrowing slightly at the discarded carcass as they moved closer to the cavern's exit.

Luca glanced over his shoulder, his smirk faint but present. "Yep."

"Don't adventurers normally store the hides of monsters?" she pressed, her tone skeptical. "Aren't they valuable or something?"

"Indeed, we do," Luca replied, his tone carrying a mock seriousness that immediately set her on edge.

"Then why—"