"What are you two even doing in this cave to begin with?" Erik asked. "Do you live here?"
Sulfene shook her head. "Can't say we do. We simply had to make due for the time being."
Moira chimed in, "We didn't even know there was a town until you told us."
"Where are you two from?" Dober asked. "I hear hydra hail from the north."
The twin sisters nodded in unison. "Sulfy and I decided it was time for us to migrate," Moira replied, with Sulfene following up by adding, "But during our flight, we were struck by a terrible storm, and had to take shelter."
Tyrel couldn't help but chuckle. "Perhaps if there wasn't a town so close by, you could've made this your home. Seemed awful comfortable, after all."
Sulfene responded, "We were actually hoping to make our way towards the Tandim Mountains. That's where our fellow hydras often go when they choose to leave their brood."
Erik turned to Tyrel. "Where are the Tandim Mountains?"
"They're in the southeastern region of Esteri, right around the Gorken Territories I believe. Never actually been there myself."
"Neither have I," Dober added. "How 'bout you, Sim?"
Simeon simply shook his head in response.
"Seems like we're to make our way there now," Sulfene said. "Sorry again for the disturbance. We'll be sure to leave right as you exit the cave."
Tyrel shot his hand up. "Actually, I have a proposal, ladies."
Sulfene and Moira just blinked in surprise, then looked at each other. "Proposal?" Moira asked with a questioning eyebrow. "What are you playing at?"
"Well, if it's no issue to you two," Tyrel answered, "we would like to join you on your little trip!"
"Wait, what?" Erik and Dober said in stereo.
Tyrel turned and addressed the adventuring party. "Well, I would like to join them, at least," he clarified. "You three are more than welcome to come along though!"
"Hey, we didn't agree to this yet--!" Moira said before Tyrel promptly ignored her.
"This could be our chance to explore a part of Esteri that's new even to us - and for our guest, Erik, I'm sure sure flying on the back of a hydra sounds mighty exciting!"
Erik paused as he looked down at Drake sitting on his shoulder, who looked back up at Erik and simply blinked.
"Uh, excuse us, Sir Tyr--" Now it was Sulfene's turn to get interrupted by the humans.
"What about the quest?" Erik asked.
"Oh, from the Quest Board? No worries!" Tyrel exclaimed. "See, the request came from that very town that's nearby. All we have to do is meet with the mayor of said town and tell them that the quest has been completed! They should be more than able to provide us with our reward, and we can use it to get whatever supplies we may need for our journey. They'll send word back to the tavern and have that flyer taken down."
"Hey!" both sisters yelped in unison.
The party then looked at the hyrda. "Listen, we didn't say we'd take you up on that little offer!" Moira barked. Sulfene followed up with a much softer tone. "No offense meant, but it would be rather... cumbersome, to carry all four of you."
Tyrel seemed defeated... at first.
"... Well, what if we told you that we have business in the Territories?"
Now it was the party's turn to be surprised at what Tyrel was saying.
Business? Erik thought. You JUST said none of us have ever been there before!
"What kind of business?" Sulfene inquired in earnest.
"Simple, Sulfene. We are adventurers! We have reason enough to believe that the Territories will provide plenty of opportunity for us to find all manner of quests and treasures! After all, a traveler still needs coin if he wants to survive." Tyrel then stepped closer to the sisters. "That's not all - we'd be more than willing to provide any protections necessary for your travels to the Tandim Mountains. Or, at least, I will."
Moira squinted at Tyrel. "What sorta protection could you provide for us?"
Tyrel winked at Moira and replied, "I'm a skilled archer. With me perched atop your back, there's nothing I won't be able to hit with my arrows. And, should the others decide they wish to join, we have a powerful fighter and a ingenious mage."
"...And him?" Moira said, pointing at Erik.
Tyrel then looked back at Erik - as well as Drake, still perched on Erik's shoulder - and answered, "He's the reason we're here at all. It was at his behest that we took this specific request to see to the suspicious noises and foul poison hidden in this very cave. Had it not been for him, we would not be here, ad you would have never known that there was a town nearby in the first place."
Sulfene leaned over to Moira and said quietly, "He has a point."
Moira gave a sigh and a smile. "Alright, I admit - you put up a good argument. Plus, we kinda owe ya one. But, if we're gonna do this, we gotta do it soon. We've stayed in this here cave long enough, and I'm itching to get back to the flight."
It had occured to Erik that he had yet to see the hydra's wings. They must have blended in with the rest of their body.
"Of course!" Tyrel said with a clap. "Tell you what - we'll take care of our business at the town, and meet back at the entrance to the cave by sunrise. I'll be there for certain, and bring along anyone willing to join us. Sound good?"
The sisters nodded.
"Great! Then we'll see you then!" With that, Tyrel turned on his heel and made a confident strut back towards the entrance of the cave, leaving Erik, Dober, Simeon, and Sulfene and Moira to themselves.
Erik gave a look to Dober and Simeon, who simply shrugged their shoulders in response. Erik then look at Drake a second time, only for Drake to blink at him once more. Erik then shurgged his own shoulders and followed Tyrel out of the cave alongside Dober and Simeon.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------
Once the four made it out the cave, it was nighttime. The party had spent several hours in the cave after their arrival. Simeon waved his hands in a routine motion, and the magical bubbles protecting all their heads dissipated, indicating that Sense Protection had been disabled.
Dober couldn't help but laugh. "Nice of you to let us in on your little plan, Tyrel."
"And you say I run headlong into things," Erik added with a smirk.
Tyrel chuckled at Erik's sly response. "Now now, this is different. I simply saw an opportunity and seized it. Any archer worth his bow needs to be quick on his feet. Of course, you all are more than welcome to decline - it was never my intent to force your hands."
Erik crossed his arms. "You're really willing to go alone?"
"Not my first time," Tyrel replied. "I was on my own before I met Dober and Sim. And while we may be a party, I'd never forgive myself if I was a tether holding them back. And I would surely not forgive them from stopping me either!"
Tyrel approached Dober and Simeon with a warm smile. "Besides... we're always together. No matter the distance, our bond keeps us whole. We will no doubt reunite."
Dober and Simeon gave Tyrel a warm smile of their own.
Tyrel turned back to Erik. "And as for you, again, don't feel obligated. You said you'd be good on your own once you got your hands on a map. I'm certain they're selling them at the town. If you wish to join us, you know where we'll meet up come sunrise."
Erik nodded, and gave it some thought. I suppose this is as good an opportunity as ever. Once I get myself a map, I should be fine on my own. Oh, I suppose I have Drake now too.
"I say we make our way to the town now, and see to our reward," Tyrel remarked. "Once collected, we can make our decisions."
The four men shared a nod, and returned to their horses, who waited patiently for the return of their riders. Once mounted, the four made their way into the nearby mining town of Dulldrom.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Upon their arrival at the town proper, Erik was greeted by the sights and sounds of people cheerfully talking amongst themselves, and a collection of wooden buildings lined up next to each other. He was also greeted wit that same familiar scent. It was the same one as back in the tavern - the smell of ripe flatulence.
Goodness, I still need to get used to that, he said to himself.
"Heya there!"
Erik, Tyrel, Dober, and Simoen were all greeted by--
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