Page 98 of I Ran Away to Evil 2
They were making such good time, in fact, that within another day or so, they would clear the forest. Brownie and Rufus discussed plans for their night’s lodgings, but decided to simply sleep in the wagon. The option of a detour into the dwarven post or the beastfolk village came up, but it would mean hours off route.
So instead, they laid out bedding next to each other in the back of the wagon and looked up at the stars. It was a warmer night. The summer solstice mere weeks away.
Rufus asked, “So … was Brightstar an encounter?”
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?”
“I don’t know.” Brownie shuffled uncomfortably and readjusted her pillow. “It’s not like a system quest. More like how your Commander General title gives you recognition among the Dark Enchanted Forest and perks. Except my perk is more bandits.”
“I see.”
Brownie explained, “So everything is a potential encounter, and even if it isn’t, I’ve been trained to approach it like one. My parents said I should always be ready. It’s in the bloodline.”
Rufus suddenly sat up and flung open his sleeping roll, asking “What’s that?!”
Brownie looked up in time to see the shadow of a creature in the night sky blotting out the stars. It circled overhead. “It kind of looks like a tiny griffin?” she offered, eyeing the creature. There’d been a few baby griffins born last month, and one of them could have flown astray.
The creature swooped down. Rufus raised his hands, presumably to enact a barrier, when a familiar voice called out above them.
“Meow.”
CHAPTER 59
Steal an Ogre’s Dinner
Rufus
I caught the grimalcat as he landed square in my arms.
“Commander General,” the cat greeted, sliding down onto my lap and circling once as if he hadn’t just landed on me from the night sky.
“Slake,” I replied, reaching out a hand and gently rubbing his head down to his tail—being careful of his wings, of course.
“Brownie,” said Bronwynn, not wanting to be left out. We each gave her a wry look, and she grinned.
The grimalcat kneaded his nails in the blankets and made a pleased purr as I continued to give him gentle rubs. After four, the grimalcat freed himself and tromped to the space between Bronwynn and my headrest.
“You traveled much farther than I’d anticipated.” He circled three times then lay down comfortably, showing off his soft stomach. “I’m impressed.”
Bronwynn lay back down first and then reached out a hand toward Slake. “May I?”
Slake rolled to give her better access to his fluffy chest and inviting tummy.
I saw the trap for what it was, but it was too late to give warning; Bronwynn had placed her hand down on the temptation and was promptly mauled.
Still, she didn’t seem all that perturbed. I relaxed when she swept her fingers up to the grimalcat’s just below the chin and started scratching the tuft of hair on his fluffy chest. Slake immediately released his hold on her flesh and flopped back to let her continue her adoring administrations.
Rufus wondered if she would be tempted to pet him with such fervor in his beast form…
The next day dawned damp with dew and a little cold. The dry, hot spring had been threatening drought, so the weather was a welcome sign. They were packed and on the road before the rain started.
Slake was not amused and hid in my cloak.
The sun peeked its head out of the clouds by noon, and the rest of the day flew by. It helped that we had the famous Slake Drakeford to regale us with his stories between Bronwynn singing songs. Donna didn’t seem that impressed, but Donna was a horse.
The border to Peldeep drew closer and closer …
