The party lapsed again into silence as they walked.

  “So.” Kilek said suddenly. Just trying to break the silence. “A monastery?”

  “Yeah,” Shaynen nodded. “The Temple of Dreams.”

  “Nice place? I mean, it sucks losing everything in a fire but did they take good care of you?” Mayhem asked.

  “I think so,” Shaynen said, “It was a bit rough at first, getting used to a new environment. But I was well educated, taught faith in a higher power, self defense, lots of important things.”

  “How young do they start on the fighting?” Jiit asked, a little suspicious.

  “Uh, we had physical education from the day I arrived. But that was more like cardio training and flexibility.” Shaynen said, looking up into the canopy as he recalled life in the monastery. Though it had a layer of haze over it. “I think we started sparring and learning actual fighting techniques at thirteen? It was optional either way, for extra credit.”

  “Oh good. I was worried.” Jiit said with a relieved sigh. “Lots of people train that way?”

  “On and off, I think Jay and I were some of the few that actually took all the classes from the time they were offered.” Shaynen laughed.

  “Friend?” Mayhem asked. Skipping a bit closer to nudge him.

  “Kinda? Depending on the day and the class we could be tenuous allies or bitter enemies.” Shaynen said. “He had some kinda obsession with beating me at everything. Tried to be in every class I was in so he could surpass my grades.”

  “Ooh,” Mayhem said and nudged him harder. “Sounds like a crush.”

  “What? No.” Shaynen said. “Evgeni had the biggest crush on Barrett for years and believe me that was way different.”

  “Not everyone acts the same way when they have a crush.” Mayhem rolled her eyes. “Poor guy was trying to get your attention for years.”

  “No, we were rivals.” Shaynen huffed. “We can be rivals without having feelings like that.”

  “Mayhem, stop teasing him.” Kilek said. “Kids compete with each other. It’s a normal part of growing up.” Mayhem snickered and stuck her tongue out. Shaynen stuck his tongue out back.

  “Speaking of kids.” Thunder mumbled.

  “Shaynen, I do have another question.” Jiit said.

  “Is it about Jay?” Shaynen asked, looking very frustrated.

  “No, I was just wondering why you left.” Jiit said. “How you ended up with us in the manor.”

  “Oh,” Shaynen nodded. “It’s complicated? I guess I’m on a pilgrimage, the monastery is meant to help connect you with a spirit guide and mine’s called me out this way.”

  “Ah,” Jiit nodded.

  “Tough spirit guide,” Kilek said. “Testing your mettle out on a cult.”

  “Must be a fun thought exercise.” Jiit said. “Trying to figure out what your spirit guide is.”

  “I think I’d be an owl.” Kilek said. “The quiet but listening. Being able to fly. Wisdom. That’s important in a guide I think.”

  “You aren’t the guide itself?” Shaynen said, confused.

  “Mine would be a sloth.” Jiit said. “I like to take my time, and I can be a bit slow.”

  “Your guide doesn’t have anything to do with your behavior?” Shaynen corrected.

  “I would be a stallion!” Mayhem said, beaming with pride.

  “Isn’t a stallion a male horse?” Shaynen asked.

  “I’d want mine to be a fox.” Thunder said. “I think they’re very cute and sweet.”

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “Also not how that works.” Shaynen shook his head but gave up on trying to explain it.

  “Well, what’s yours?” Mayhem asked. “Mr. I have a problem with every answer.”

  “I don’t know. I haven’t seen it, not really.” Shaynen said, looking at the ground sheepishly.

  “I’d guess a deer. Like a stag. You got that whole, prince of the forest thing going on.” Mayhem said, waving her hand around at him. “Like that fairy tale, y’know? The one with the mom and the fire?”

  “Descriptive.” Jiit said, deadpan.

  “Shut up,” Mayhem said.

  “Uh, thank you for the compliment? I think?” Shaynen said.

  “I think it’d be a rabbit.” Thunder said, “he’s got the fast jabs and the quickness.”

  “Right, right!” Kilek agreed. “But my vote is a butterfly. Floats like he’s weightless. Very gentle.” Shaynen listened to all of the opinions, confused more than anything else.

  “You have an idea. I see it.” Mayhem said. “Come on, spill it. What do you think?”

  “It’s… it’s stupid.” Shaynen said. He straightened up and focused on the path ahead. “You’ll laugh.”

  “We won’t!” Mayhem said. Grabbing onto his arm and yanking him back to her. “C’mon, tell!”

  “I.” Shaynen started but he felt his jaw lock up.

  “Mayhem, stop teasing him.” Thunder said again. “The way you’re acting, people are going to think you have a crush.” Mayhem immediately shoved Shaynen away with an exaggerated gag.

  “No way! He’s way too young for me.” Mayhem stuck her tongue out. “He’s just a kid. Gross.”

  “What.” Shaynen said helplessly standing where Mayhem had thrown him.

  “You’re like. Classic baby brother.” Mayhem said. “Fun to tease and to roast a little but like… You are not. At all.”

  “Oh. Okay?” Shaynen said.

  “Back to the topic at hand.” Kilek said, and he gently pushed Shaynen into walking again. “Spirit guides.”

  “Right.” Jiit said. Mayhem huffed and crossed her arms. Looking off into the forest.

  “I do have an idea.” Shaynen said slowly. “When I was a kid, I could swear my guide was a… dragon.” There was silence. Shaynen felt every muscle tense as he waited for the laughter.

  “Wait. Dragons are an option?” Mayhem asked, “We could pick dragons!?”

  “Well, you don’t pick your-” Shaynen started.

  “I want to change my answer.” Jiit said, speaking over Shaynen.

  “Is it only dragons or are all legendary beings on the table?” Kilek asked.

  “I am very interested in Pegasi.” Thunder said.

  “And Unicorns!” Kilek said.

  “And g- wait Unicorns?” Jiit asked. “Really?”

  “They are majestic.” Kilek said and there wasn’t any arguments to that.

  “It’s starting to get late.” Thunder said, looking up at the sky through the trees. “We’ll be in darkness soon. Should we camp or try to push through?”

  “We should camp.” Jiit said. “There’s no way for us to know the cult is an actual threat. There’s a very significant chance that the local law enforcement has already neutralized them.”

  “True.” Kilek nodded.

  “I’ll forage for some dinner for us, if someone else wants to worry about the fire.” Thunder said.

  “I can worry about the fire.” Jiit said.

  “I can light it.” Mayhem pulled out a tinderbox.

  “Guess that leaves you and me to rustle up some beds.” Kilek said, giving Shaynen a little nudge.

  “Guess so,” Shaynen said. The party started off in their own directions. Thunder vanished into the bushes, Jiit and Mayhem digging out and making a rock circle around a fire pit, lastly Kilek and Shaynen smoothed out the dirt and laid down moss and leaves to make soft beds. Thunder came back with a canvas sack holding a pair of rabbits, some mushrooms and other wild roots and herbs.

  “Good hunt?” Kilek asked.

  “The forest has plenty to offer, but the game was very skittish.” Thunder reported, she sat down and pulled out the rabbits to prepare them.

  “I’ve got a stock pot.” Kilek said. He rummaged through his bundle and pulled out a small cauldron.

  “You carry that around with you?” Mayhem asked.

  “It comes in handy, like now.” Kilek put the pot on the fire. “We can roast the roots and mushrooms in the pot and turn it into a hearty stew.”

  “Sounds good, we’ll spit the rabbits until they’re cooked through then toss them in.” Thunder said.

  “What? And waste what little fat they have on them?” Kilek said shocked.

  “The organs should be thrown in the pot first to cook them through.” Shaynen said.

  “You eat the organs?” Mayhem scrunched her nose and stuck out her tongue.

  “Food is food and you can’t let it go to waste.” Shaynen said. “The organs are food too.”

  “Gross. I’m not eating that.” Mayhem said and sat back.

  “Shaynen is right, and when they’re cooked and in pieces you won’t even notice.” Jiit agreed. “Hasn’t your mother ever made a giblet gravy before?”

  “A WHAT?” Mayhem gagged. “I have never been so happy to not have a mother.”

  “I am… sorry?” Jiit said, “Just try it, if you don’t like it you can eat the hardtack.”

  “Ugh. Fine. But only because the hardtack is worse than whatever rigor mortis stew this turns into.” Mayhem said. She curled her knees to her chest and hugged them in a pout. Her tail curling around her.

  “It’s not rigor mortis. They were just killed.” Thunder said. She finished skinning the rabbits and cut them open to harvest the innards.