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I'm still a novice when it comes to storytelling, I think, but hopefully this one's worth a read.\n\nAnyways...\n\nThis is the first half of my very first story, inspired by a certain NSFW comic with a similar title. Hopefully, I can finish the second half, and post the whole Episode 1. Gotta finish some IRL stuff first.", "description_bbcode_parsed": "My very first post for this site. I'm still a novice when it comes to storytelling, I think, but hopefully this one's worth a read.

Anyways...

This is the first half of my very first story, inspired by a certain NSFW comic with a similar title. Hopefully, I can finish the second half, and post the whole Episode 1. Gotta finish some IRL stuff first.", "writing": "[center][b]CHAPTER 1[/b][/center]\n\nThe sound of the river's rush spreads throughout the forest, with peacefully swaying trees and bushes beside the long straight road.\n\n\"Yay! Another fun adventure begins!\"\n\nA feline girl gleefully walks along the road, her light-brown fur with yellow spots and stripes shines with her brown eyes and sunlit smile. She's wearing a bright green dress that can withstand harsh travels.\n\n\"It's more fun if you carry the same pack as me....\"\n\nAlongside her is a canine boy wearing blue shorts but no topwear, and carrying two large backpacks. His face and dark-blue eyes are as serious as the river's rush, while his fluffy dark-brown and white fur proudly sways like the bushes.\n\n\"Aw, come on babe. Can you still carry it a bit for me, please?\"\n\n\"The river's only a few brick houses away. You don't want me to fall into it.\"\n\n\"Even just a few walks...?\"\n\n\"No.\"\n\nFailing to charm him, the girl pouts, hesitantly grabs a backpack and carries it. Her pouting stops as the boy smiles at her, and in turn she beams back a grin.\n\nNow both walking at the same pace, the duo quietly admires the forest's scenery. After several minutes, the duo notice the clear path between the bushes a few distance ahead of them.\n\n\"There it is! Ya-haa~!\"\n\n\"Hey wait! You don?t have to-\"\n\nThe girl excitedly runs towards the clear path, while the boy worrily but slowly follows suit. He briefly looked at the road continuing to the right before going straight to their intended path.\n\nReaching the side of the wide river, the girl stops and happily watches in awe as the river sparkles under the open sunny sky. The boy stands beside her, takes a deep breath of fresh air and smiles as the light breeze brushes his fur.\n\n\"Finally, resting time\" the girl says then sits in a flat rock, panting. \"I'm tired from the long walk.\"\n\n\"We can rest at the other side, you know\", the boy tells the girl. \"Look to your left.\"\n\nThe girl looks to her left and sees a set of stepping stones silently standing still between the river, a few steps away from them.\n\n\"I'll go first to see if it's safe\", the boy says, then runs at the start point.\n\n\"Be careful, okay?\" the girl says.\n\nThe boy carefully steps at the closest stone, then hops into another stone, then another.... He continues until he safely reaches the river's other side.\n\n\"It's safe to use it, babe!\" the boy shouts at the girl. \"But still, be careful!\"\n\n\"Okay!\" the girl shouts back. \"My turn now!\"\n\nFrom the start point, she immediately hops and steps one of the second sets of stones, skipping the closest ones.\n\nHe gives a disappointed look at her as she graciously hops each and every stones she encounters, and then peforms a cute airborne pose before she lands near his position.\n\n\"Meow!\" the girl exclaims as she lands near the boy at the end point. \"Do you like it, babe?\" she cutely questions.\n\n\"Just... prepare the tent\", he says with a stern face, avoiding the question, then looks away and prepares the cooking area.\n\nThe girl quickly sees the boy's blush and notices his wagging tail, and she giggles as maybe it means a big \"yes\".\n\nSeveral minutes pass...\n\nHaving finished placing the tent and the cooking area, the duo sit close to the river to rest, next to each other.\n\nThe girl touches the river with her feet and feels its cold water and gentle rush, though it doesn't relieve her worries.\n\n\"I hope our research is correct\", the girl says, looking at her reflection. \"We're finally close to getting it.\"\n\nThe boy picks up a long stick nearby, and uses it to check the river's depth; it's surprisingly deep it almost reaches his hand that holds the stick.\n\n\"Don't worry, babe\", the boy tells her with an assuring smile, then lifts the stick with a splash. \"We'll get a relic hours before sunset, just like we thoroughly planned.\"\n\nThe girl nods in agreement and sets aside her worries with a cute laugh.\n\nAfter minutes of chat and laughter, the boy now goes to the cooking area to prepare their lunch.\n\n...\n\n\"Well, shall we eat?\" the boy nervously asks.\n\n\"Uh, this food again...\" the girl mutters.\n\nTwo pots, one for sweet noodles and another for steamed cassava, rests at the center of the duo's sturdy tent. Currently, they are sitting in a picnic blanket next to each other.\n\nThe boy gives the food a disgusted look, despite being proud cooking the meal. The girl displays sadness seeing this food (again), and tears starts to swell in her eyes.\n\n\"Before you ask, I'm not going to cry,\" the girl says, with tears streaming down her cheeks. \"It's just... joy... yeah... tears of joy.\"\n\n\"But, you are... I mean, yeah\", the boy replies, still nervous. \"After cooking this... delicious meal... for the seventh time now, of course you have the reason to.\"\n\n\"Babe\", the girl says in a cheery but desperate tone, \"after we get a relic, let's buy every juicy meats and tasty fruits we see along the way.\" Her smile wobbles as she is indeed crying in sadness.\n\n\"Yeah\", the boy says in a serious but defeated tone, \"and after we get more, we're finally out of this and quietly live far from here.\" Tears now starts to swell in his eyes as his composure slowly falls apart.\n\nWith no other choice, the duo take the share of their meal in their bowls as usual.\n\nThey both chant in sadness, \"Thank you for the meal...\"\n\nWhen suddenly... SWOOSH goes from the bushes! Then, BLAM it drops heavy to the ground!\n\n[b][center]CHAPTER 2[/center][/b]\n\nShocked at the sight of it, the duo set aside their food bowl. The boy grabs a metal pan to use as weapon then slowly walks towards the mysterious object to inspect it, while the girl holds a fork tight as she watches from behind.\n\n\"Be careful, babe\", the feline girl anxiously says, \"maybe it's a monster native in here.\"\n\n\"I don't think so\", the canine boy replies, still looking at the object seriously. \"Every monsters in this area are underground, and none of them will ever go to the surface.\"\n\n\"Well, maybe it's a stray one from another area?\"\n\nHe rolls his eyes aside and shrugs her question off.\n\nThe boy, now near the object, gathers his courage then starts to kick its covering aside, and to his surprise-\n\nGRRRRRRRRRRRK~\n\nThe duo are stunned by the sound so loud it can be heard even far off the other side of the river.\n\n\"Did that sound... came from that thing?\" the girl nervously asks with eyes wide open.\n\n\"I... think so\", the boy replies, his face in a state of shock. \"Also, this isn't a monster....\"\n\n\"Uuogh\", the object groans.\n\nThe duo shockingly stare at the object again as it slowly gains conciousness.\n\nIt slowly tilts its head up, revealing fluffy ears, dark- and light-grey fur, a decent snout, mouth with sharp fangs, and fierce purple eyes resembling...\n\n\"... A male... canine!?\" the girl shouts in surprise.\n\nIn one single sniff the mysterious canine-like creature immediately goes on all fours, his eyes set to the girl's position.\n\nShe watches in fear as his terrifying gaze sends shivers down her spine, while the boy readies his weapon without hesitation.\n\n\"Theo, help...\" the girl tries to shout to the boy but comes out in a low voice.\n\nBefore the boy can swing his pan, the creature awkwardly lunges forward and reveals his sharp fangs in his drooling mouth.\n\n\"Fay!\" he shouts in panic, and attempts to close in on the creature.\n\nIn a sudden reflex, the girl feels the fork in her right hand, and immediately, at the last moment...\n\n\"GET OFF ME!!!\" the girl cries just as she throws the fork with all her strength to the creature.\n\nWith a loud CLINK the fork hits hard then bounces off the creature's forehead, much to his shock, that it throws him off-balance.\n\n\"TAKE THIS!!!\" the boy shouts as he jumps close to the creature and swings his pan with his remaining courage.\n\nWith a loud CLANG the pan hits the creature's head with such force it pushes him to the ground and knocks him unconcious.\n\n\"We... got him...\" the boy says, panting from exhaustion.\n\n\"Is... is he still alive?\" the girl asks with a face full of terror.\n\n\"Yep\", the boy answers, \"and... he's going to wake up... behind bars....\"\n\nA few minutes later...\n\n\"Uh... uuugh...\"\n\n\"Wah!\" the girl exclaims, dropping the cloth to use as a blindfold for the creature.\n\n\"Shit!\" the boy, too, exclaims. He drops the rope then grabs the pan again, ready to strike the creature's head.\n\n\"Please... need... food...\" the creature says in a weak voice. \"So... hungry...\"\n\nThe defeated creature, now with ropes tying him up with a tall tree behind him, helplessly sits a few steps away from the tent.\n\nThe loud growl, or rather the creature's grumbling stomach, is heard again, making the duo nervous.\n\nDespite her fear, the girl inspects the creature; he's full of forest dirt and wearing some kind of tribal topwear and black modern shorts, and he's strong-looking to be too hungry for food.\n\n\"Is it me?\" she angrily shouts at the creature. \"You want... to eat me!?\"\n\n\"Fay!\" the boy worrily shouts at her. \"What are you planning to do?\"\n\n\"Trust me, Theo\", she says with a serious look and a hint of bravery. \"Besides he's already tightly tied up, and if he really is hungry he's too weak to even escape.\"\n\nFirst, the girl sits at the front of the creature, her face upright.\n\n\"Here! Food!\" she says to the creature in a serious tone.\n\nToo weak to open his eyes, he sniffs what's in front of him.\n\n\"So?\" the girl shouted.\n\n\"...\"\n\n\"Speak, damn it!\"\n\n\"No... food...\" the creature replies, still weak from hunger.\n\nThe girl pouts in anger, then stands up and walks towards the tent to prepare for the next step.\n\n\"I'm... sorry...\" the creature says while his stomach loudly grumbles.\n\n\"Shut up and your tummy\", the boy says, with a bonk to the creature's head.\n\nNext, the girl places the pots of warm noodles and steamed cassava between her and the creature, then sits at the front of him.\n\n\"Uh, Fay, that's our lunch\", the boy tells the girl.\n\nWhen he hears the word \"lunch\" from the boy, the creature?s ears twitch.\n\n\"But for him?\" the girl replies, still angry and serious. \"There, we'll see what he smells as lunch.\"\n\nThe creature's mouth drools from the smell, and his body trembles in excitement, much to the boy's disgust.\n\n\"Okay, let's knock him out\", the boy says as he prepares the pan.\n\n\"No!\" the girl shouts.\n\n\"This... smell... could it... be...?\" the creature says, breathing heavily.\n\nShivers run down the girl's spine again as he opens his eyes, its gaze haunts her again. But now, her face isn't filled with terror, but with anger.\n\n\"Fay!\" the boy shouts at her, ready to strike.\n\n\"Theo, not yet!\" the girl angrily shouts back while resisting the creature's gaze.\n\n\"This is... THIS IS...!\"\n\nThe creature, with his eyes wide open, and mouth drooling from hunger, aims at the thing he wants, then prepares to swiftly strike.\n\n\"... FOOD!\" the creature excitedly shouts with an adorable face.\n\nHe effortlessly breaks free from the rope tying him up, immediately grabs the bowl of steamed cassava and munches all of its contents.\n\nThe duo are now in a state of confusion, disbelief, and intense shock, all at the same time.\n\nWith the pot of steamed cassava empty, the creature now grabs the one with sweet noodles and the thrown fork beside him, and easily takes big slurps and sips.\n\nBUUUURP!~\n\nThe creature happily pats his stomach in satisfaction while the empty pots, with a fork inside one of it, sit still at the front of him.\n\n\"Ah, finally stuffed\", he says. \"Oh, thank you for the delicious meal!\" he continues, then touches the girl's right hand.\n\n\"Huh?\" the girl says in shock, but, with the boy, finally snapped out of it. \"I mean, you're welcome, I guess\" she replies to the creature with a confused smile.\n\n\"So, tell me\", the creature goes a bit close to the girl's face, \"what is your name, pretty girl?\"\n\n\"Fay\", she blushingly answers, then points at the boy with her whole right hand, \"and this is Theo, my boyfriend.\"\n\nThe creature's eyes go teary and his heart breaks after, in his thoughts, a giant pan drops atop his head. His body then trembles at the sight of a terrifying giant canine with glowing eyes standing behind him and holding the pan that broke his heart.\n\n\"M-my name's Roshanka'iynur, or... Kiyu\" the creature says to the boy with a nervous smile. \"Please forgive me for holding the hand of your loving partner....\" he continues while his face starts to sweat.\n\n\"Nice to meet you... wait\", the boy nonchalantly replies, then he recalls what the creature said to him. \"DID YOU JUST HOLD MY GIRLFRIEND'S HAND!?\" he shouts in a fit of rage.\n\n\"Um, I'm sorry...\" the creature says in a weak tone, tears starting to swell in his eyes as he kneels.\n\n\"How dare you!\" the boy cries, then swings his pan and hits the creature's head so hard it creates a loud CLANK.\n\nDespite being hit again, the creature does not fall unconcious, but now holds the top of his head in pain as tears starts falling down his face.\n\nWith a confused smile, the girl can't help but to watch this weird spectacle of her boyfriend repeatedly and angrily smashing the head of the poor kneeling creature.\n\n[b][center]CHAPTER 3[/center][/b]\n\nSeveral minutes pass...\n\nUnder the tent, the duo finish their lunch they set aside earlier and, after drinking two cups of fresh water each, discuss on what to do with the male creature.\n\nAfter less than two minutes, their discussion ends with an uneasy conclusion and they walk outside the tent.\n\n\"He caused too much trouble to us in just a span of ten or less minutes\", Theo the canine boy says. \"We can't just let him travel with us.\"\n\n\"But, he also apologized to it a lot\", Fay, the feline girl replies. \"He seems to be a good guy, though he has that scary eyes....\"\n\nThe duo couple look at Kiyu the male canine-like creature, suspiciously for Theo and worrily for Fay.\n\nKiyu quietly sits at the same spot where he was previously tied up. He curiously watches the couple now looking at him.\n\n\"I'll go talk to him first\", Theo says as he glances at Fay.\n\nFay glances back and worrily nods to him.\n\nAnd so, Theo approaches and stands at front of Kiyu, while Fay stays behind and quietly watches the two.\n\n\"So, Kiyu was it?\" Theo asks in a serious tone while he crosses his arms.\n\n\"Yes\", Kiyu calmly replies, \"and you're Theo.\"\n\n\"Glad you know\", Theo says as he glints at Kiyu. \"We'll accept your apology if you do these things for us, and I think you've already heard all of it.\"\n\nWithout hesitation, Kiyu nods and agrees.\n\n...\n\nThe sound of the swaying trees and bushes spreads throughout the forest, with remains of the dead monsters that eerily sit still along the straight narrow path.\n\nQuietly, the duo and the creature behind them walk their way into their final destination.\n\nTheo pulls out a pocketwatch from his wristbag and checks for the time; it is already 2 PM, almost four hours has passed since he and Fay started their journey together, he thought.\n\nDespite her excitement on finally getting close to their target location, Fay frowns and grows uneasy on the long silence, and so she starts to think of questions she will ask to Kiyu.\n\nCuriosity never left Kiyu while he quietly looks at the couple from behind, even the two large backpacks and the pain inflicted from Theo do nothing to deter it.\n\nUnable to take the silence anymore, at last, Fay breaks it.\n\n\"Kiyu, are you a creature person, just like us?\" Fay glances at Kiyu then asks her first question.\n\n\"Fay...\" Theo annoyingly looks at her.\n\nKiyu stays silent, but he answers her question with two nods. Fay smiles at him for giving an answer.\n\n\"So, Kiyu's a canine boy too, just like Theo\", Fay says, her smile continues as she looks forward.\n\nTheo only crosses his arms and frowns in annoyance.\n\nThere's a moment of silence, then Fay breaks it again.\n\n\"After this, is there any place, team or group to return to?\" Fay glances at Kiyu again then asks the second question.\n\nTheo growls at Fay, now more annoyed than ever.\n\nWithout a sound, Kiyu ponders for a bit, then frowns at her and shakes his head, answering the second question.\n\n\"Oh, okay\", Fay frowns in worry as she looks forward again, \"that's too bad.\"\n\nTheo is unconvinced and his face frowns in anger.\n\nAnother moment of silence, then Fay breaks it...\n\n\"So, Kiyu, how did you end up hungry-\"\n\n\"Why do we even care!?\"\n\nJust as Fay glances at Kiyu again, Theo snaps and interrupts her third question by angrily shouting at her, much to her dismay. The duo abruptly stops walking, then Kiyu who is surprised at them and takes two more steps.\n\n\"But I have to break silence...\"\n\n\"... By asking questions from a complete stranger!\"\n\n\"He's following the conditions you gave to him at least!\"\n\n\"And he might betray these conditions anytime!\"\n\n\"He's not going to do bad anymore, so you have to trust him!\"\n\n\"I'm not going to trust someone who almost put you to great harm!!!\"\n\nKiyu lightly shakes the backpacks enough to create noise and to draw the duo's attention.\n\nBoth surprised, Theo and Fay looks at Kiyu like they almost forget he's there. Theo's look turns to anger and approaches Kiyu, while Fay's turns to worry and gasps as she tries to stop Theo.\n\n\"You want to say something?\" Theo says as he grabs Kiyu's topwear. \"Then say it at once\", he continues and stares at Kiyu full of rage.\n\nKiyu keeps calm and silent, withstanding Theo's stare.\n\n\"Come on!\" Theo insists. \"Say it to me, damn it!\"\n\n\"Stop it, Theo, please\", Fay pleads, hugging Theo from behind. \"He can't speak until we find it, remember?\"\n\nAfter a brief pause, Theo, with his face still full of anger, lets go of Kiyu who then takes a sigh of relief.\n\n\"Fine\", Theo says, hitting a brief glint at Kiyu before looking forward.\n\n\"Don't worry, I'll stop asking questions for him\", Fay tells to Theo after letting go of him, and proceeds to look forward as well.\n\n\"You better be\", Theo says to her with a grumpy face. \"Let's move.\"\n\nAnd so, Theo, Fay, and Kiyu continue to quietly walk towards their destination.\n\n\"Sorry for scaring you again, Fay\", Theo whispers, his anger finally gone. \"And in front of a stranger again, so embarrassing...\"\n\nFay glances at him with a cute smile, to which he notices then looks away with a blush.\n\nAfter a few minutes, Theo sees to his left what appears to be an ancient structure from a distance, behind the tall trees.\n\n\"That thing, could it be...?\" he mutters.\n\n\"What is it, Theo?\" Fay whispers to him after hearing it.\n\nTheo gasps, his eyes go wide, and starts to run towards the structure, much to Fay's surprise.\n\n\"Wait, Theo!\" she shouts, then runs towards him in an attempt to catch up.\n\n\"I think this is it\", Theo says as he slows down his running, and when Fay catches up he points at the direction he is running towards. \"Look, it?s an ancient ruin, not marked by any of our maps!\"\n\nFay gasps, her worry turns into excitement, as she sees what Theo is pointing at.\n\n\"Ya-haa~!\" Fay happily exclaims.\n\nMeanwhile, Kiyu follows suit, but the volatility of the backpacks compells him to run much slower. Though, he still hears the two's conversation even at a distance, and from it his curiosity seems to pay off.\n\n\"I knew it\", Kiyu tells to himself. \"These two are no doubt relic hunters.\"\n\nAfter less than a minute of running, he can now see the two standing still together between the two trees, but notices something feels off. He finally catches up, and then his face turns serious as he looks at the terrible sight ahead of them.\n\n[b][center]CHAPTER 4[/center][/b]\n\nThe duo couple stand still in shock at what they just see.\n\n\"It... can't be...!\" Fay says, her voice trembles due to shock.\n\n\"The whole building... is completely destroyed...\" Theo says, his face sweats in despair.\n\nStanding between the two, Kiyu seriously scans every part of the ancient ruin in front of them, then with the two large backpacks at his back, proceeds to walk towards it.\n\nFeeling hopeless, the duo rest their backs to their respective tree, Fay sitting to the left one, Theo standing to the right.\n\n\"I can't believe it\", Fay says in a melancholic tone, tears starting to stream down her sad face. \"I thought we can finally find a relic for our own.\"\n\n\"I thought so, too\", Theo replies, his head hanging low. \"We had this trip thoroughly planned, still continued despite the setbacks, but it all went to fucking waste.\"\n\n\"I guess... we have to...\" Fay tries to complete her saying, but her sadness holds it back.\n\n\"... Give up all this?\" he asks and completes her saying. \"Well, I would.\"\n\n\"Not me, I don't want to give up!\" she weakly shouts at him. \"This is what we agreed on when we became mates, remember?\"\n\n\"Yes\", he replies, \"a week ago, then we spent all our time and resources just to find a ruin for our own, and all that we found is this.\"\n\n\"But... Theo...\" she whispers, but is surprised when she sees Theo's annoyed look at the ruins. Then, in another surprise, she sees Kiyu seemingly inspecting the middle of the destroyed ruins.\n\n\"Enjoying what you see?\" Theo shouts in annoyance as he approaches Kiyu. \"I think you heard us back there. We're done with this.\"\n\nKiyu doesn't reply, much to Theo's further annoyance, and continues to search for something within the rubble.\n\nCurious at what Kiyu is doing, Fay wipes her tears away, stands up and approaches the two canines.\n\n\"Are you listening?\" Theo asks again, his annoyance cranking up again as he sees Kiyu sniffing atop the rubble. \"You look ridiculous doing that.\"\n\n\"Found it\", Kiyu says with confidence.\n\nHe starts to grab a big chunk of rubble with both hands, carries it, then throws it into another pile.\n\nTheo's annoyance quickly disappears as he watches Kiyu in shock, while Fay, now at the right side of Theo, is surprised at Kiyu's strength.\n\n\"Stand back\", Kiyu tells the duo, who then steps a bit far back, and then takes a deep breath.\n\nOne by one, Kiyu grabs then throws away big chunks of rubble, until a familiar pattern enters the duo's line of sight, much to their surprise. A big odd square tile is revealed, and now he signals them that he's finally done.\n\nThe duo nods and proceeds to approach the square tile, with excitement slowly growing in Fay. She kneels and immediately takes a closer look at the pattern at the bottom side while Theo goes at the center to check.\n\n\"These are... ancient symbols...\" she says as her eyes go wide on it. \"Let's decipher this quick.\" She stands up and runs to Kiyu resting at the right side to take a backpack.\n\nAt the center, Theo's eyes widen as he looks at what seems to be a dial with symbols in it, but then is disappointed when he notices the sun's current position.\n\nHe checks his pocketwatch again, and the current time confirms his disappointment; it's now six minutes past 3 PM, and they still haven't obtained a relic.\n\n\"It's too late for that\", he says to Fay before grabbing a backpack. Kiyu looks at Theo in surprise just as he says it.\n\n\"But why?\" she asks and looks at Theo in shock.\n\n\"The sun's close to setting\", he replies as he looks at her and briefly notices Kiyu seemingly thinking about it. \"We'll come back here again tomorrow.\"\n\n\"Oh, okay\", Fay says, smiling in disappointment while her head hangs low. \"I understand.\"\n\n\"Don't worry babe\", Theo says with an assuring smile. \"Tomorrow we'll finally get a relic from this ruin, and I'm sure of it.\"\n\nHis smile turns into an open frown as he panics hearing Fay's sobbing. He rushes close to her and gently puts his hands between her shoulders.\n\n\"Before you ask babe, I'm not crying\", she says, then lifts up her head to look at him with tears swelling in her eyes and a face brimming with excitement. \"It's just... tears of joy!\"\n\nTheo takes a sigh of relief as his panic dissipates, and with a smile he gently caresses Fay, to which she blushingly takes.\n\nBeside them, Kiyu scratches his head. He can't help but to not disturb the couple, and with his hands holding his hips, he smiles as the warm sunlight shines at them.\n\nSeveral seconds later...\n\n\"Okay, let's wrap this up before we retreat\", Theo says in a serious tone.\n\nFay nods in agreement.\n\nAt the right side of the odd square, the duo sits in front of each other to start another discussion, with Kiyu now joining them at the side.\n\n\"First of all, and I hate to say this\", Theo continues, then reluctantly looks and bows at Kiyu, \"thank you so much.\"\n\n\"You're welcome\", Kiyu replies after a bit of surprise, with embarrassment in his face.\n\n\"Don't be like that\", Fay says, smiling at Kiyu. \"We should be instead, and we could have not find it without you.\"\n\nKiyu scratches his head and blushes as his embarrasment goes up.\n\n\"You found it using your keen sense of smell, I think\", Theo tells to Kiyu, recalling his actions earlier, to which he nods. \"Anything else you discovered there?\"\n\n\"Yes\", Kiyu replies. \"From what I sensed, there's an underground pathway below, with walls and a floor that smells differently than the ones from villages.\"\n\n\"Anything else other than that?\" Theo asks again.\n\n\"No\", Kiyu replies again while lightly shaking his head, \"nothing else.\"\n\nTheo frowns and crosses his arms in dissatisfaction.\n\n\"So, if Kiyu is right... if there really is some sort of underground passage\", Fay says and thinks of Kiyu's statement, then glances at Theo, \"then this odd square tile might be a cover of some kind.\"\n\n\"Maybe, or just a clue that reveals the true entrance\", he tells to Fay. \"We're going to find out tomorrow.\"\n\nFay nods in excitement.\n\n\"Well, that wraps it up\", Theo concludes. \"For now, let's retreat back to the village.\"\n\n\"Ya-haa~!\" Fay exclaims.\n\nKiyu smiles and silently nods.\n\nThe discussion has ended, and the three now proceeds to walk away from the ancient ruin.\n\n[b][center]CHAPTER 5[/center][/b]\n\n\"In what village do you stay in?\" Kiyu questions.\n\n\"Aldea\", Theo answers, now carrying a backpack. \"We rented a room at an inn there for three days. You can stay with us for a night.\"\n\n\"No need\", Kiyu says. \"I also had a rented room there, and the deal will expire tomorrow.\"\n\n\"But you said you have no place to return to!\" Fay shouts at him in disappointment while also carrying a backpack.\n\n\"Sorry\", Kiyu replies with a nervous look, \"I can't answer it properly due to the conditions you two put to me.\"\n\nThe duo looks at each other in embarrassment.\n\n\"Well, at least that settles it\", Theo frowns.\n\n\"Can you join us again tomorrow?\" Fay glances at Kiyu then asks him. \"Your sense of smell and great strength is a big help to us.\"\n\n\"I'll think about it\", he ponders for a bit, then replies to her.\n\n\"Um, okay\", Fay frowns.\n\n...\n\nReaching and crossing the river's other side, Fay sits at a flat rock to rest, Kiyu stays with her to guard the backpacks, and Theo stands at the roadside impatiently waiting for a ride.\n\n\"You two have a tent\", Kiyu tells Fay. \"Why not spend the night here or at the ruin?\"\n\n\"We don't have the equipments for it\", she embarrassingly replies. \"Our budget's not enough.\"\n\n\"Oh, that's bad\", Kiyu says, then crosses his arms. \"If that's the case, then you might not be able to hire me to join you two again.\"\n\n\"What do you mean by that?\" Fay questions in surprise.\n\nBefore Kiyu can answer, he hears a sound seemingly coming from a vehicle.\n\nAfter a few seconds, a truck appears at the left side view from the clear path. Theo jumps out from its back and runs toward the two.\n\n\"Our ride is here!\" Theo happily shouts, then stops beside them.\n\nThe two looks at him in bewilderment.\n\n...\n\nThe sound of the truck spreads throughout the forest, and the trees and bushes stop swaying as the sun starts to set at the horizon.\n\n\"Ah, you two went through a lot indeed! I guess you two are getting as lucky as me, haha!\"\n\nAn elderly reptile girl is sitting at the cockpit's right side and calmly drives the truck moving fast across the road. Her light-blue skin is marked with many experiences, and her grey narrow eyes can still see where she's going to.\n\nAt the left side sits the feline girl Fay, who also laughs at the elderly driver's sayings.\n\nSitting at the back are the two canine boys Theo and Kiyu, with the former feeling the breeze and the latter meditating with closed eyes.\n\nAfter several minutes, the truck makes it out of the forest, and through the open fields Theo and Fay watches the sunset in awe.\n\n...\n\nThe truck has reached Aldea Village, and as it slowly drives past the moving crowd the duo are puzzled at the sight of its locals seemingly in high spirits.\n\n\"It seems that they reached their end goal for this month\", the elderly girl tells them.\n\n\"Was it about the harvest?\" Theo asks.\n\n\"Are they going to have a festival?\" Fay also asks.\n\n\"Yes\", the elderly girl answers Theo, \"and it's just a simple celebration\", she answers Fay.\n\nThe duo look at the locals again and think of the elderly girl's answers.\n\nMeanwhile, Kiyu quietly observes his surroundings; a crowd of rodent farmers almost fill the streets, with shops of differing types lighting up the area.\n\nFinally reaching the village inn, the three passengers go out the truck and stands at the right side to talk to the elderly girl more.\n\n\"I will stay at a friend's house for another day to gather up their goods, then deliver them to another village at the far north at noon\", the elderly girl tells them. \"Do you plan on exploring there tomorrow?\"\n\n\"We would love to\", Theo replies, \"but we have other plans to do here and that area.\"\n\n\"Oh, too bad then\", the elderly girl says. \"Anyway, good luck on your exploration.\"\n\n\"Thank you so much for taking us here\", Fay bows.\n\n\"Take care\", the elderly girl bows back, then looks at Kiyu with a smirk, \"and may the Savage Wolf howls at your determination.\"\n\nHe performs a strange gesture to her and she performs it back, much to the duo's confusion.\n\nAfter this, they wave goodbye at her as she drives away, then walk inside the white inn. They discover that the rooms they rented are next to each other, and they both laugh about it.\n\nA few hours later...\n\nThe duo looks at the food atop their dishes in amazement, and drools from its tasty scent.\n\n\"Finally... MEAT!\" Fay gleefully exclaims, then takes and eats a slice of it.\n\n\"So... juicy...\" Theo says with an adorable face after he does the same and then chews it.\n\nThe three have their dinner under a white food stall a few walks away from the inn. While the duo sitting next to each other happily eat their juicy meat, Kiyu sitting next to Theo gladly watches them.\n\n\"It's my way to repay you two after saving me at the forest\", Kiyu tells them. \"Well, sort of...\" he scratches the top of his head with an embarrassed face.\n\n\"I'm sorry for thinking you're a monster\", Fay says to him after swallowing her food, and looks at him with tears swelling in her eyes.\n\n\"I'm... sorry for bonking your head... a lot\" Theo nervously says while chewing his food, and then his face sweats in embarrassment.\n\n\"I forgive you two\", Kiyu smiles at them.\n\nThe duo smile back, then happily continue eating their delicious food. He now starts to eat his meal and chews it with an adorable face.\n\nThe two rodents that served the food are now the ones gladly watching their customers eat.\n\n[b][center]CHAPTER 6[/center][/b]\n\nThe three return to the inn after finishing their dinner. Kiyu sits alone at the rooftop while the duo have a little conversation at their room wearing bedtime clothes.\n\n\"Is this it?\" Kiyu mutters to himself. \"Are these the people I'm looking for?\" he continues as he rattles something between his palms.\n\nA white triangular die and a tiny black bone pops out from his opened palms and drops into the floor. The die stops rolling, and he looks in surprise as he finishes interpreting the answer from the two objects.\n\n\"Maybe... just maybe...\"\n\nHe wonders and looks up at the starry night sky while a slight breeze brushes his fur and the crescent moon shines down at him.\n\nAnd then, his face blushes in surprise as he barely hears the duo's love-making below him.\n\nA new morning comes...\n\nThe sun has risen up from the horizon and is casting its warm light at Aldea Village. The rodent farmers are fired up to work again, and some of the locals continue to prepare for the upcoming harvest celebration.\n\nMeanwhile, the duo walks along the white street's left side in their travelling outfit, with large backpacks at their backs and disgust on their faces.\n\n\"I'm getting sick of those noodles, babe\", Fay gloomily says. \"Can we have a very different breakfast next time?\"\n\n\"After we get that thing, babe\", Theo also gloomily says. \"Don't worry, those noodles may be cheap, but they're nutritious and easy to cook.\"\n\nTheir disgust doubles after Theo's saying, but they blow it off with a deep sigh.\n\n\"Hm, I wonder what Kiyu meant by that\" Fay tells him.\n\n\"Was it about last night at the food stall?\" Theo asks .\n\n\"No\", she answers as he looks at him. \"It's from our short talk yesterday at the riverside, about 'hiring' him.\"\n\n\"Hm?\" he raises his eyebrows in surprise. \"I never thought about it...\" he puts his right hand under his chin and thinks.\n\n\"What about it, Theo?\" she asks with a curious look at him.\n\n\"We're going to find out...\" Theo replies with a serious face, \"at the Adventurer's Hall.\"\n\nTogether, they both look at a big wide grey building ominously standing from afar.\n\n...\n\nCreature people of various species around the world come and go at the seemingly futuristic Adventurer's Hall. Its vibrant interior contrasts its ominous exterior, and its employees are at hard work to assist all types of adventurers.\n\nAt the Hall's ground floor, Theo and Fay make their way through the noisy Meeting Ground and enter the magic-powered platform that levitates to and stops at the top floor.\n\n\"He told us to wait for him there\", Theo tells Fay, \"so that means he's also an adventurer, just like us.\"\n\n\"Oh!\" Fay gasps in surprise. \"And now we have to know what kind of adventurer he is!\" she says as she seriously looks at Theo.\n\nHe nods at her. Looks like she gets it, he thinks.\n\nRelic hunters, some tall and others bulky, occupy much of the Hall's top floor. Filling its walls are magical panels that displays names of locations, relics, and adventurers.\n\nThe duo walks past the crowd of these big tall adventurers, who some mockingly laughs at and talks about them, then stop at a counter with a moving picture of a moth girl in its small panel.\n\n\"Welcome, Mr. Haim\", the insect girl gladly says after a pleasant beep from the panel. \"What are your plans here today?\"\n\n\"I'm looking for the Meeting Room arranged by...\" Theo says, then his head hangs high deeply thinking. \"Uhm... I believe his original name starts with 'R'...\"\n\n\"Roshanka'iynur...\" Fay tells Theo, looking at a panel in shock. \"His services... are expensive...\"\n\n\"Fay, what's with him-\" Theo says after he worrily gets near her. \"Oh...\"\n\nAt a panel containing a list of adventurers, Kiyu's original name is written in it, followed by his registered type and service cost. Theo takes a blank stare at Kiyu's adventurer type, and then he nervously says:\n\n\"He's a mercenary... for hire...\"\n\nA few minutes earlier...\n\nOn a balcony, somewhere at a side of the Hall, Kiyu quietly stands while he is raising his right hand. Still in the same outfit, he patiently looks afar at every direction, seemingly waiting at something.\n\n\"It's been several minutes now\", Kiyu says to himself. \"I hope it did not get into anything nor anyone...\"\n\nHe then holds his hips and closes his eyes to think, and after a few seconds he decides.\n\n\"Well, time to talk to those two\", he says after opening his eyes. \"Maybe they're now bored of waiting.\"\n\nAnd so, he walks out of the balcony and into the top floor. He goes to an area that contains the Meeting Rooms and enter a room that he borrowed, but the duo is nowhere to be seen inside, much to his worry.\n\n\"Hm, maybe they're at the counter?\" he thinks out loud.\n\nAfter he exits the room and closes the door, he's surrounded by a group of five menacing adventurers standing right in front of him.\n\n\"Oh will you look at that\", a hulky light-grey canine boy says in a confident tone with crossed arms, \"it's the wolf pup!\"\n\n\"Nice to see you again, pup\", a tall red-and-pink avian girl beside him says. \"Ready to have your tail pulled again?\"\n\nAt the right side of the hulky boy are two blue-and-yellow feline boys, while at the tall avian girl's left side is a dark-blue and white-spotted rabbit girl. The four of them look and grin at Kiyu in mockery, while the rabbit girl frowns and angrily stares at him.\n\n\"I have no time for this\", Kiyu tells them.\n\nHe quickly leaps atop the rabbit girl, then immediately runs toward the main area after he lands, much to the girl's shock. Enraged, she runs faster towards and successfully tackles him to the floor, then repeatedly and rapidly stomps him while he's down.\n\nUnfortunately, her tackle and stomps are like soft touches to his body, and so he easily pushes her off aside and quickly stands up to run again with an apology afterwards. He finally reaches the main area, but several adventurers there blocks his path, much to his annoyance.\n\n\"I have no time with all of you\", he tells the crowd blocking his path, his anoyance starting to increase, \"so please-\"\n\n\"But we do\", the tall avian girl interrupts.\n\nThe menacing gang, minus the hulky canine boy, finally catches up to and surrounds him while the crowd spreads out to give a place for them. The avian girl stands at his front, the feline boys at both his sides, and the rabbit girl at his back.\n\nBefore Kiyu can react, the avian girl casts a wind magic without hesitation. A symbol of some sort appears and glows light-blue at her right hand, and after a split second a burst of wind shoots out from the floor exactly at where he's standing, knocking him airborne.\n\nThen, the feline boys pushes up their hands directing towards him, and another type of symbol appears and glows yellow at their forehead. Their hands also glow, and with that Kiyu is stuck levitating in the same place.\n\nHe tries to compose himself, but the rabbit girl removes any chance of composure by softly kicking the back of his head. He now spins fast while being levitated in place, and there's no way for him to stop spinning but to wait until either the feline boys runs out of essence, or someone comes to help him.\n\n\"Move out of the way!\"\n\nA strong male voice is heard at the front of him. Unfortunately, at a quick glance, it's not help coming for him, but a hulky canine boy rushing towards him to deliver a straight big punch.\n\nWithout any ways to dodge, Kiyu braces for its impact.\n\n", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "
CHAPTER 1


The sound of the river's rush spreads throughout the forest, with peacefully swaying trees and bushes beside the long straight road.

"Yay! Another fun adventure begins!"

A feline girl gleefully walks along the road, her light-brown fur with yellow spots and stripes shines with her brown eyes and sunlit smile. She's wearing a bright green dress that can withstand harsh travels.

"It's more fun if you carry the same pack as me...."

Alongside her is a canine boy wearing blue shorts but no topwear, and carrying two large backpacks. His face and dark-blue eyes are as serious as the river's rush, while his fluffy dark-brown and white fur proudly sways like the bushes.

"Aw, come on babe. Can you still carry it a bit for me, please?"

"The river's only a few brick houses away. You don't want me to fall into it."

"Even just a few walks...?"

"No."

Failing to charm him, the girl pouts, hesitantly grabs a backpack and carries it. Her pouting stops as the boy smiles at her, and in turn she beams back a grin.

Now both walking at the same pace, the duo quietly admires the forest's scenery. After several minutes, the duo notice the clear path between the bushes a few distance ahead of them.

"There it is! Ya-haa~!"

"Hey wait! You don?t have to-"

The girl excitedly runs towards the clear path, while the boy worrily but slowly follows suit. He briefly looked at the road continuing to the right before going straight to their intended path.

Reaching the side of the wide river, the girl stops and happily watches in awe as the river sparkles under the open sunny sky. The boy stands beside her, takes a deep breath of fresh air and smiles as the light breeze brushes his fur.

"Finally, resting time" the girl says then sits in a flat rock, panting. "I'm tired from the long walk."

"We can rest at the other side, you know", the boy tells the girl. "Look to your left."

The girl looks to her left and sees a set of stepping stones silently standing still between the river, a few steps away from them.

"I'll go first to see if it's safe", the boy says, then runs at the start point.

"Be careful, okay?" the girl says.

The boy carefully steps at the closest stone, then hops into another stone, then another.... He continues until he safely reaches the river's other side.

"It's safe to use it, babe!" the boy shouts at the girl. "But still, be careful!"

"Okay!" the girl shouts back. "My turn now!"

From the start point, she immediately hops and steps one of the second sets of stones, skipping the closest ones.

He gives a disappointed look at her as she graciously hops each and every stones she encounters, and then peforms a cute airborne pose before she lands near his position.

"Meow!" the girl exclaims as she lands near the boy at the end point. "Do you like it, babe?" she cutely questions.

"Just... prepare the tent", he says with a stern face, avoiding the question, then looks away and prepares the cooking area.

The girl quickly sees the boy's blush and notices his wagging tail, and she giggles as maybe it means a big "yes".

Several minutes pass...

Having finished placing the tent and the cooking area, the duo sit close to the river to rest, next to each other.

The girl touches the river with her feet and feels its cold water and gentle rush, though it doesn't relieve her worries.

"I hope our research is correct", the girl says, looking at her reflection. "We're finally close to getting it."

The boy picks up a long stick nearby, and uses it to check the river's depth; it's surprisingly deep it almost reaches his hand that holds the stick.

"Don't worry, babe", the boy tells her with an assuring smile, then lifts the stick with a splash. "We'll get a relic hours before sunset, just like we thoroughly planned."

The girl nods in agreement and sets aside her worries with a cute laugh.

After minutes of chat and laughter, the boy now goes to the cooking area to prepare their lunch.

...

"Well, shall we eat?" the boy nervously asks.

"Uh, this food again..." the girl mutters.

Two pots, one for sweet noodles and another for steamed cassava, rests at the center of the duo's sturdy tent. Currently, they are sitting in a picnic blanket next to each other.

The boy gives the food a disgusted look, despite being proud cooking the meal. The girl displays sadness seeing this food (again), and tears starts to swell in her eyes.

"Before you ask, I'm not going to cry," the girl says, with tears streaming down her cheeks. "It's just... joy... yeah... tears of joy."

"But, you are... I mean, yeah", the boy replies, still nervous. "After cooking this... delicious meal... for the seventh time now, of course you have the reason to."

"Babe", the girl says in a cheery but desperate tone, "after we get a relic, let's buy every juicy meats and tasty fruits we see along the way." Her smile wobbles as she is indeed crying in sadness.

"Yeah", the boy says in a serious but defeated tone, "and after we get more, we're finally out of this and quietly live far from here." Tears now starts to swell in his eyes as his composure slowly falls apart.

With no other choice, the duo take the share of their meal in their bowls as usual.

They both chant in sadness, "Thank you for the meal..."

When suddenly... SWOOSH goes from the bushes! Then, BLAM it drops heavy to the ground!

CHAPTER 2


Shocked at the sight of it, the duo set aside their food bowl. The boy grabs a metal pan to use as weapon then slowly walks towards the mysterious object to inspect it, while the girl holds a fork tight as she watches from behind.

"Be careful, babe", the feline girl anxiously says, "maybe it's a monster native in here."

"I don't think so", the canine boy replies, still looking at the object seriously. "Every monsters in this area are underground, and none of them will ever go to the surface."

"Well, maybe it's a stray one from another area?"

He rolls his eyes aside and shrugs her question off.

The boy, now near the object, gathers his courage then starts to kick its covering aside, and to his surprise-

GRRRRRRRRRRRK~

The duo are stunned by the sound so loud it can be heard even far off the other side of the river.

"Did that sound... came from that thing?" the girl nervously asks with eyes wide open.

"I... think so", the boy replies, his face in a state of shock. "Also, this isn't a monster...."

"Uuogh", the object groans.

The duo shockingly stare at the object again as it slowly gains conciousness.

It slowly tilts its head up, revealing fluffy ears, dark- and light-grey fur, a decent snout, mouth with sharp fangs, and fierce purple eyes resembling...

"... A male... canine!?" the girl shouts in surprise.

In one single sniff the mysterious canine-like creature immediately goes on all fours, his eyes set to the girl's position.

She watches in fear as his terrifying gaze sends shivers down her spine, while the boy readies his weapon without hesitation.

"Theo, help..." the girl tries to shout to the boy but comes out in a low voice.

Before the boy can swing his pan, the creature awkwardly lunges forward and reveals his sharp fangs in his drooling mouth.

"Fay!" he shouts in panic, and attempts to close in on the creature.

In a sudden reflex, the girl feels the fork in her right hand, and immediately, at the last moment...

"GET OFF ME!!!" the girl cries just as she throws the fork with all her strength to the creature.

With a loud CLINK the fork hits hard then bounces off the creature's forehead, much to his shock, that it throws him off-balance.

"TAKE THIS!!!" the boy shouts as he jumps close to the creature and swings his pan with his remaining courage.

With a loud CLANG the pan hits the creature's head with such force it pushes him to the ground and knocks him unconcious.

"We... got him..." the boy says, panting from exhaustion.

"Is... is he still alive?" the girl asks with a face full of terror.

"Yep", the boy answers, "and... he's going to wake up... behind bars...."

A few minutes later...

"Uh... uuugh..."

"Wah!" the girl exclaims, dropping the cloth to use as a blindfold for the creature.

"Shit!" the boy, too, exclaims. He drops the rope then grabs the pan again, ready to strike the creature's head.

"Please... need... food..." the creature says in a weak voice. "So... hungry..."

The defeated creature, now with ropes tying him up with a tall tree behind him, helplessly sits a few steps away from the tent.

The loud growl, or rather the creature's grumbling stomach, is heard again, making the duo nervous.

Despite her fear, the girl inspects the creature; he's full of forest dirt and wearing some kind of tribal topwear and black modern shorts, and he's strong-looking to be too hungry for food.

"Is it me?" she angrily shouts at the creature. "You want... to eat me!?"

"Fay!" the boy worrily shouts at her. "What are you planning to do?"

"Trust me, Theo", she says with a serious look and a hint of bravery. "Besides he's already tightly tied up, and if he really is hungry he's too weak to even escape."

First, the girl sits at the front of the creature, her face upright.

"Here! Food!" she says to the creature in a serious tone.

Too weak to open his eyes, he sniffs what's in front of him.

"So?" the girl shouted.

"..."

"Speak, damn it!"

"No... food..." the creature replies, still weak from hunger.

The girl pouts in anger, then stands up and walks towards the tent to prepare for the next step.

"I'm... sorry..." the creature says while his stomach loudly grumbles.

"Shut up and your tummy", the boy says, with a bonk to the creature's head.

Next, the girl places the pots of warm noodles and steamed cassava between her and the creature, then sits at the front of him.

"Uh, Fay, that's our lunch", the boy tells the girl.

When he hears the word "lunch" from the boy, the creature?s ears twitch.

"But for him?" the girl replies, still angry and serious. "There, we'll see what he smells as lunch."

The creature's mouth drools from the smell, and his body trembles in excitement, much to the boy's disgust.

"Okay, let's knock him out", the boy says as he prepares the pan.

"No!" the girl shouts.

"This... smell... could it... be...?" the creature says, breathing heavily.

Shivers run down the girl's spine again as he opens his eyes, its gaze haunts her again. But now, her face isn't filled with terror, but with anger.

"Fay!" the boy shouts at her, ready to strike.

"Theo, not yet!" the girl angrily shouts back while resisting the creature's gaze.

"This is... THIS IS...!"

The creature, with his eyes wide open, and mouth drooling from hunger, aims at the thing he wants, then prepares to swiftly strike.

"... FOOD!" the creature excitedly shouts with an adorable face.

He effortlessly breaks free from the rope tying him up, immediately grabs the bowl of steamed cassava and munches all of its contents.

The duo are now in a state of confusion, disbelief, and intense shock, all at the same time.

With the pot of steamed cassava empty, the creature now grabs the one with sweet noodles and the thrown fork beside him, and easily takes big slurps and sips.

BUUUURP!~

The creature happily pats his stomach in satisfaction while the empty pots, with a fork inside one of it, sit still at the front of him.

"Ah, finally stuffed", he says. "Oh, thank you for the delicious meal!" he continues, then touches the girl's right hand.

"Huh?" the girl says in shock, but, with the boy, finally snapped out of it. "I mean, you're welcome, I guess" she replies to the creature with a confused smile.

"So, tell me", the creature goes a bit close to the girl's face, "what is your name, pretty girl?"

"Fay", she blushingly answers, then points at the boy with her whole right hand, "and this is Theo, my boyfriend."

The creature's eyes go teary and his heart breaks after, in his thoughts, a giant pan drops atop his head. His body then trembles at the sight of a terrifying giant canine with glowing eyes standing behind him and holding the pan that broke his heart.

"M-my name's Roshanka'iynur, or... Kiyu" the creature says to the boy with a nervous smile. "Please forgive me for holding the hand of your loving partner...." he continues while his face starts to sweat.

"Nice to meet you... wait", the boy nonchalantly replies, then he recalls what the creature said to him. "DID YOU JUST HOLD MY GIRLFRIEND'S HAND!?" he shouts in a fit of rage.

"Um, I'm sorry..." the creature says in a weak tone, tears starting to swell in his eyes as he kneels.

"How dare you!" the boy cries, then swings his pan and hits the creature's head so hard it creates a loud CLANK.

Despite being hit again, the creature does not fall unconcious, but now holds the top of his head in pain as tears starts falling down his face.

With a confused smile, the girl can't help but to watch this weird spectacle of her boyfriend repeatedly and angrily smashing the head of the poor kneeling creature.

CHAPTER 3


Several minutes pass...

Under the tent, the duo finish their lunch they set aside earlier and, after drinking two cups of fresh water each, discuss on what to do with the male creature.

After less than two minutes, their discussion ends with an uneasy conclusion and they walk outside the tent.

"He caused too much trouble to us in just a span of ten or less minutes", Theo the canine boy says. "We can't just let him travel with us."

"But, he also apologized to it a lot", Fay, the feline girl replies. "He seems to be a good guy, though he has that scary eyes...."

The duo couple look at Kiyu the male canine-like creature, suspiciously for Theo and worrily for Fay.

Kiyu quietly sits at the same spot where he was previously tied up. He curiously watches the couple now looking at him.

"I'll go talk to him first", Theo says as he glances at Fay.

Fay glances back and worrily nods to him.

And so, Theo approaches and stands at front of Kiyu, while Fay stays behind and quietly watches the two.

"So, Kiyu was it?" Theo asks in a serious tone while he crosses his arms.

"Yes", Kiyu calmly replies, "and you're Theo."

"Glad you know", Theo says as he glints at Kiyu. "We'll accept your apology if you do these things for us, and I think you've already heard all of it."

Without hesitation, Kiyu nods and agrees.

...

The sound of the swaying trees and bushes spreads throughout the forest, with remains of the dead monsters that eerily sit still along the straight narrow path.

Quietly, the duo and the creature behind them walk their way into their final destination.

Theo pulls out a pocketwatch from his wristbag and checks for the time; it is already 2 PM, almost four hours has passed since he and Fay started their journey together, he thought.

Despite her excitement on finally getting close to their target location, Fay frowns and grows uneasy on the long silence, and so she starts to think of questions she will ask to Kiyu.

Curiosity never left Kiyu while he quietly looks at the couple from behind, even the two large backpacks and the pain inflicted from Theo do nothing to deter it.

Unable to take the silence anymore, at last, Fay breaks it.

"Kiyu, are you a creature person, just like us?" Fay glances at Kiyu then asks her first question.

"Fay..." Theo annoyingly looks at her.

Kiyu stays silent, but he answers her question with two nods. Fay smiles at him for giving an answer.

"So, Kiyu's a canine boy too, just like Theo", Fay says, her smile continues as she looks forward.

Theo only crosses his arms and frowns in annoyance.

There's a moment of silence, then Fay breaks it again.

"After this, is there any place, team or group to return to?" Fay glances at Kiyu again then asks the second question.

Theo growls at Fay, now more annoyed than ever.

Without a sound, Kiyu ponders for a bit, then frowns at her and shakes his head, answering the second question.

"Oh, okay", Fay frowns in worry as she looks forward again, "that's too bad."

Theo is unconvinced and his face frowns in anger.

Another moment of silence, then Fay breaks it...

"So, Kiyu, how did you end up hungry-"

"Why do we even care!?"

Just as Fay glances at Kiyu again, Theo snaps and interrupts her third question by angrily shouting at her, much to her dismay. The duo abruptly stops walking, then Kiyu who is surprised at them and takes two more steps.

"But I have to break silence..."

"... By asking questions from a complete stranger!"

"He's following the conditions you gave to him at least!"

"And he might betray these conditions anytime!"

"He's not going to do bad anymore, so you have to trust him!"

"I'm not going to trust someone who almost put you to great harm!!!"

Kiyu lightly shakes the backpacks enough to create noise and to draw the duo's attention.

Both surprised, Theo and Fay looks at Kiyu like they almost forget he's there. Theo's look turns to anger and approaches Kiyu, while Fay's turns to worry and gasps as she tries to stop Theo.

"You want to say something?" Theo says as he grabs Kiyu's topwear. "Then say it at once", he continues and stares at Kiyu full of rage.

Kiyu keeps calm and silent, withstanding Theo's stare.

"Come on!" Theo insists. "Say it to me, damn it!"

"Stop it, Theo, please", Fay pleads, hugging Theo from behind. "He can't speak until we find it, remember?"

After a brief pause, Theo, with his face still full of anger, lets go of Kiyu who then takes a sigh of relief.

"Fine", Theo says, hitting a brief glint at Kiyu before looking forward.

"Don't worry, I'll stop asking questions for him", Fay tells to Theo after letting go of him, and proceeds to look forward as well.

"You better be", Theo says to her with a grumpy face. "Let's move."

And so, Theo, Fay, and Kiyu continue to quietly walk towards their destination.

"Sorry for scaring you again, Fay", Theo whispers, his anger finally gone. "And in front of a stranger again, so embarrassing..."

Fay glances at him with a cute smile, to which he notices then looks away with a blush.

After a few minutes, Theo sees to his left what appears to be an ancient structure from a distance, behind the tall trees.

"That thing, could it be...?" he mutters.

"What is it, Theo?" Fay whispers to him after hearing it.

Theo gasps, his eyes go wide, and starts to run towards the structure, much to Fay's surprise.

"Wait, Theo!" she shouts, then runs towards him in an attempt to catch up.

"I think this is it", Theo says as he slows down his running, and when Fay catches up he points at the direction he is running towards. "Look, it?s an ancient ruin, not marked by any of our maps!"

Fay gasps, her worry turns into excitement, as she sees what Theo is pointing at.

"Ya-haa~!" Fay happily exclaims.

Meanwhile, Kiyu follows suit, but the volatility of the backpacks compells him to run much slower. Though, he still hears the two's conversation even at a distance, and from it his curiosity seems to pay off.

"I knew it", Kiyu tells to himself. "These two are no doubt relic hunters."

After less than a minute of running, he can now see the two standing still together between the two trees, but notices something feels off. He finally catches up, and then his face turns serious as he looks at the terrible sight ahead of them.

CHAPTER 4


The duo couple stand still in shock at what they just see.

"It... can't be...!" Fay says, her voice trembles due to shock.

"The whole building... is completely destroyed..." Theo says, his face sweats in despair.

Standing between the two, Kiyu seriously scans every part of the ancient ruin in front of them, then with the two large backpacks at his back, proceeds to walk towards it.

Feeling hopeless, the duo rest their backs to their respective tree, Fay sitting to the left one, Theo standing to the right.

"I can't believe it", Fay says in a melancholic tone, tears starting to stream down her sad face. "I thought we can finally find a relic for our own."

"I thought so, too", Theo replies, his head hanging low. "We had this trip thoroughly planned, still continued despite the setbacks, but it all went to fucking waste."

"I guess... we have to..." Fay tries to complete her saying, but her sadness holds it back.

"... Give up all this?" he asks and completes her saying. "Well, I would."

"Not me, I don't want to give up!" she weakly shouts at him. "This is what we agreed on when we became mates, remember?"

"Yes", he replies, "a week ago, then we spent all our time and resources just to find a ruin for our own, and all that we found is this."

"But... Theo..." she whispers, but is surprised when she sees Theo's annoyed look at the ruins. Then, in another surprise, she sees Kiyu seemingly inspecting the middle of the destroyed ruins.

"Enjoying what you see?" Theo shouts in annoyance as he approaches Kiyu. "I think you heard us back there. We're done with this."

Kiyu doesn't reply, much to Theo's further annoyance, and continues to search for something within the rubble.

Curious at what Kiyu is doing, Fay wipes her tears away, stands up and approaches the two canines.

"Are you listening?" Theo asks again, his annoyance cranking up again as he sees Kiyu sniffing atop the rubble. "You look ridiculous doing that."

"Found it", Kiyu says with confidence.

He starts to grab a big chunk of rubble with both hands, carries it, then throws it into another pile.

Theo's annoyance quickly disappears as he watches Kiyu in shock, while Fay, now at the right side of Theo, is surprised at Kiyu's strength.

"Stand back", Kiyu tells the duo, who then steps a bit far back, and then takes a deep breath.

One by one, Kiyu grabs then throws away big chunks of rubble, until a familiar pattern enters the duo's line of sight, much to their surprise. A big odd square tile is revealed, and now he signals them that he's finally done.

The duo nods and proceeds to approach the square tile, with excitement slowly growing in Fay. She kneels and immediately takes a closer look at the pattern at the bottom side while Theo goes at the center to check.

"These are... ancient symbols..." she says as her eyes go wide on it. "Let's decipher this quick." She stands up and runs to Kiyu resting at the right side to take a backpack.

At the center, Theo's eyes widen as he looks at what seems to be a dial with symbols in it, but then is disappointed when he notices the sun's current position.

He checks his pocketwatch again, and the current time confirms his disappointment; it's now six minutes past 3 PM, and they still haven't obtained a relic.

"It's too late for that", he says to Fay before grabbing a backpack. Kiyu looks at Theo in surprise just as he says it.

"But why?" she asks and looks at Theo in shock.

"The sun's close to setting", he replies as he looks at her and briefly notices Kiyu seemingly thinking about it. "We'll come back here again tomorrow."

"Oh, okay", Fay says, smiling in disappointment while her head hangs low. "I understand."

"Don't worry babe", Theo says with an assuring smile. "Tomorrow we'll finally get a relic from this ruin, and I'm sure of it."

His smile turns into an open frown as he panics hearing Fay's sobbing. He rushes close to her and gently puts his hands between her shoulders.

"Before you ask babe, I'm not crying", she says, then lifts up her head to look at him with tears swelling in her eyes and a face brimming with excitement. "It's just... tears of joy!"

Theo takes a sigh of relief as his panic dissipates, and with a smile he gently caresses Fay, to which she blushingly takes.

Beside them, Kiyu scratches his head. He can't help but to not disturb the couple, and with his hands holding his hips, he smiles as the warm sunlight shines at them.

Several seconds later...

"Okay, let's wrap this up before we retreat", Theo says in a serious tone.

Fay nods in agreement.

At the right side of the odd square, the duo sits in front of each other to start another discussion, with Kiyu now joining them at the side.

"First of all, and I hate to say this", Theo continues, then reluctantly looks and bows at Kiyu, "thank you so much."

"You're welcome", Kiyu replies after a bit of surprise, with embarrassment in his face.

"Don't be like that", Fay says, smiling at Kiyu. "We should be instead, and we could have not find it without you."

Kiyu scratches his head and blushes as his embarrasment goes up.

"You found it using your keen sense of smell, I think", Theo tells to Kiyu, recalling his actions earlier, to which he nods. "Anything else you discovered there?"

"Yes", Kiyu replies. "From what I sensed, there's an underground pathway below, with walls and a floor that smells differently than the ones from villages."

"Anything else other than that?" Theo asks again.

"No", Kiyu replies again while lightly shaking his head, "nothing else."

Theo frowns and crosses his arms in dissatisfaction.

"So, if Kiyu is right... if there really is some sort of underground passage", Fay says and thinks of Kiyu's statement, then glances at Theo, "then this odd square tile might be a cover of some kind."

"Maybe, or just a clue that reveals the true entrance", he tells to Fay. "We're going to find out tomorrow."

Fay nods in excitement.

"Well, that wraps it up", Theo concludes. "For now, let's retreat back to the village."

"Ya-haa~!" Fay exclaims.

Kiyu smiles and silently nods.

The discussion has ended, and the three now proceeds to walk away from the ancient ruin.

CHAPTER 5


"In what village do you stay in?" Kiyu questions.

"Aldea", Theo answers, now carrying a backpack. "We rented a room at an inn there for three days. You can stay with us for a night."

"No need", Kiyu says. "I also had a rented room there, and the deal will expire tomorrow."

"But you said you have no place to return to!" Fay shouts at him in disappointment while also carrying a backpack.

"Sorry", Kiyu replies with a nervous look, "I can't answer it properly due to the conditions you two put to me."

The duo looks at each other in embarrassment.

"Well, at least that settles it", Theo frowns.

"Can you join us again tomorrow?" Fay glances at Kiyu then asks him. "Your sense of smell and great strength is a big help to us."

"I'll think about it", he ponders for a bit, then replies to her.

"Um, okay", Fay frowns.

...

Reaching and crossing the river's other side, Fay sits at a flat rock to rest, Kiyu stays with her to guard the backpacks, and Theo stands at the roadside impatiently waiting for a ride.

"You two have a tent", Kiyu tells Fay. "Why not spend the night here or at the ruin?"

"We don't have the equipments for it", she embarrassingly replies. "Our budget's not enough."

"Oh, that's bad", Kiyu says, then crosses his arms. "If that's the case, then you might not be able to hire me to join you two again."

"What do you mean by that?" Fay questions in surprise.

Before Kiyu can answer, he hears a sound seemingly coming from a vehicle.

After a few seconds, a truck appears at the left side view from the clear path. Theo jumps out from its back and runs toward the two.

"Our ride is here!" Theo happily shouts, then stops beside them.

The two looks at him in bewilderment.

...

The sound of the truck spreads throughout the forest, and the trees and bushes stop swaying as the sun starts to set at the horizon.

"Ah, you two went through a lot indeed! I guess you two are getting as lucky as me, haha!"

An elderly reptile girl is sitting at the cockpit's right side and calmly drives the truck moving fast across the road. Her light-blue skin is marked with many experiences, and her grey narrow eyes can still see where she's going to.

At the left side sits the feline girl Fay, who also laughs at the elderly driver's sayings.

Sitting at the back are the two canine boys Theo and Kiyu, with the former feeling the breeze and the latter meditating with closed eyes.

After several minutes, the truck makes it out of the forest, and through the open fields Theo and Fay watches the sunset in awe.

...

The truck has reached Aldea Village, and as it slowly drives past the moving crowd the duo are puzzled at the sight of its locals seemingly in high spirits.

"It seems that they reached their end goal for this month", the elderly girl tells them.

"Was it about the harvest?" Theo asks.

"Are they going to have a festival?" Fay also asks.

"Yes", the elderly girl answers Theo, "and it's just a simple celebration", she answers Fay.

The duo look at the locals again and think of the elderly girl's answers.

Meanwhile, Kiyu quietly observes his surroundings; a crowd of rodent farmers almost fill the streets, with shops of differing types lighting up the area.

Finally reaching the village inn, the three passengers go out the truck and stands at the right side to talk to the elderly girl more.

"I will stay at a friend's house for another day to gather up their goods, then deliver them to another village at the far north at noon", the elderly girl tells them. "Do you plan on exploring there tomorrow?"

"We would love to", Theo replies, "but we have other plans to do here and that area."

"Oh, too bad then", the elderly girl says. "Anyway, good luck on your exploration."

"Thank you so much for taking us here", Fay bows.

"Take care", the elderly girl bows back, then looks at Kiyu with a smirk, "and may the Savage Wolf howls at your determination."

He performs a strange gesture to her and she performs it back, much to the duo's confusion.

After this, they wave goodbye at her as she drives away, then walk inside the white inn. They discover that the rooms they rented are next to each other, and they both laugh about it.

A few hours later...

The duo looks at the food atop their dishes in amazement, and drools from its tasty scent.

"Finally... MEAT!" Fay gleefully exclaims, then takes and eats a slice of it.

"So... juicy..." Theo says with an adorable face after he does the same and then chews it.

The three have their dinner under a white food stall a few walks away from the inn. While the duo sitting next to each other happily eat their juicy meat, Kiyu sitting next to Theo gladly watches them.

"It's my way to repay you two after saving me at the forest", Kiyu tells them. "Well, sort of..." he scratches the top of his head with an embarrassed face.

"I'm sorry for thinking you're a monster", Fay says to him after swallowing her food, and looks at him with tears swelling in her eyes.

"I'm... sorry for bonking your head... a lot" Theo nervously says while chewing his food, and then his face sweats in embarrassment.

"I forgive you two", Kiyu smiles at them.

The duo smile back, then happily continue eating their delicious food. He now starts to eat his meal and chews it with an adorable face.

The two rodents that served the food are now the ones gladly watching their customers eat.

CHAPTER 6


The three return to the inn after finishing their dinner. Kiyu sits alone at the rooftop while the duo have a little conversation at their room wearing bedtime clothes.

"Is this it?" Kiyu mutters to himself. "Are these the people I'm looking for?" he continues as he rattles something between his palms.

A white triangular die and a tiny black bone pops out from his opened palms and drops into the floor. The die stops rolling, and he looks in surprise as he finishes interpreting the answer from the two objects.

"Maybe... just maybe..."

He wonders and looks up at the starry night sky while a slight breeze brushes his fur and the crescent moon shines down at him.

And then, his face blushes in surprise as he barely hears the duo's love-making below him.

A new morning comes...

The sun has risen up from the horizon and is casting its warm light at Aldea Village. The rodent farmers are fired up to work again, and some of the locals continue to prepare for the upcoming harvest celebration.

Meanwhile, the duo walks along the white street's left side in their travelling outfit, with large backpacks at their backs and disgust on their faces.

"I'm getting sick of those noodles, babe", Fay gloomily says. "Can we have a very different breakfast next time?"

"After we get that thing, babe", Theo also gloomily says. "Don't worry, those noodles may be cheap, but they're nutritious and easy to cook."

Their disgust doubles after Theo's saying, but they blow it off with a deep sigh.

"Hm, I wonder what Kiyu meant by that" Fay tells him.

"Was it about last night at the food stall?" Theo asks .

"No", she answers as he looks at him. "It's from our short talk yesterday at the riverside, about 'hiring' him."

"Hm?" he raises his eyebrows in surprise. "I never thought about it..." he puts his right hand under his chin and thinks.

"What about it, Theo?" she asks with a curious look at him.

"We're going to find out..." Theo replies with a serious face, "at the Adventurer's Hall."

Together, they both look at a big wide grey building ominously standing from afar.

...

Creature people of various species around the world come and go at the seemingly futuristic Adventurer's Hall. Its vibrant interior contrasts its ominous exterior, and its employees are at hard work to assist all types of adventurers.

At the Hall's ground floor, Theo and Fay make their way through the noisy Meeting Ground and enter the magic-powered platform that levitates to and stops at the top floor.

"He told us to wait for him there", Theo tells Fay, "so that means he's also an adventurer, just like us."

"Oh!" Fay gasps in surprise. "And now we have to know what kind of adventurer he is!" she says as she seriously looks at Theo.

He nods at her. Looks like she gets it, he thinks.

Relic hunters, some tall and others bulky, occupy much of the Hall's top floor. Filling its walls are magical panels that displays names of locations, relics, and adventurers.

The duo walks past the crowd of these big tall adventurers, who some mockingly laughs at and talks about them, then stop at a counter with a moving picture of a moth girl in its small panel.

"Welcome, Mr. Haim", the insect girl gladly says after a pleasant beep from the panel. "What are your plans here today?"

"I'm looking for the Meeting Room arranged by..." Theo says, then his head hangs high deeply thinking. "Uhm... I believe his original name starts with 'R'..."

"Roshanka'iynur..." Fay tells Theo, looking at a panel in shock. "His services... are expensive..."

"Fay, what's with him-" Theo says after he worrily gets near her. "Oh..."

At a panel containing a list of adventurers, Kiyu's original name is written in it, followed by his registered type and service cost. Theo takes a blank stare at Kiyu's adventurer type, and then he nervously says:

"He's a mercenary... for hire..."

A few minutes earlier...

On a balcony, somewhere at a side of the Hall, Kiyu quietly stands while he is raising his right hand. Still in the same outfit, he patiently looks afar at every direction, seemingly waiting at something.

"It's been several minutes now", Kiyu says to himself. "I hope it did not get into anything nor anyone..."

He then holds his hips and closes his eyes to think, and after a few seconds he decides.

"Well, time to talk to those two", he says after opening his eyes. "Maybe they're now bored of waiting."

And so, he walks out of the balcony and into the top floor. He goes to an area that contains the Meeting Rooms and enter a room that he borrowed, but the duo is nowhere to be seen inside, much to his worry.

"Hm, maybe they're at the counter?" he thinks out loud.

After he exits the room and closes the door, he's surrounded by a group of five menacing adventurers standing right in front of him.

"Oh will you look at that", a hulky light-grey canine boy says in a confident tone with crossed arms, "it's the wolf pup!"

"Nice to see you again, pup", a tall red-and-pink avian girl beside him says. "Ready to have your tail pulled again?"

At the right side of the hulky boy are two blue-and-yellow feline boys, while at the tall avian girl's left side is a dark-blue and white-spotted rabbit girl. The four of them look and grin at Kiyu in mockery, while the rabbit girl frowns and angrily stares at him.

"I have no time for this", Kiyu tells them.

He quickly leaps atop the rabbit girl, then immediately runs toward the main area after he lands, much to the girl's shock. Enraged, she runs faster towards and successfully tackles him to the floor, then repeatedly and rapidly stomps him while he's down.

Unfortunately, her tackle and stomps are like soft touches to his body, and so he easily pushes her off aside and quickly stands up to run again with an apology afterwards. He finally reaches the main area, but several adventurers there blocks his path, much to his annoyance.

"I have no time with all of you", he tells the crowd blocking his path, his anoyance starting to increase, "so please-"

"But we do", the tall avian girl interrupts.

The menacing gang, minus the hulky canine boy, finally catches up to and surrounds him while the crowd spreads out to give a place for them. The avian girl stands at his front, the feline boys at both his sides, and the rabbit girl at his back.

Before Kiyu can react, the avian girl casts a wind magic without hesitation. A symbol of some sort appears and glows light-blue at her right hand, and after a split second a burst of wind shoots out from the floor exactly at where he's standing, knocking him airborne.

Then, the feline boys pushes up their hands directing towards him, and another type of symbol appears and glows yellow at their forehead. Their hands also glow, and with that Kiyu is stuck levitating in the same place.

He tries to compose himself, but the rabbit girl removes any chance of composure by softly kicking the back of his head. He now spins fast while being levitated in place, and there's no way for him to stop spinning but to wait until either the feline boys runs out of essence, or someone comes to help him.

"Move out of the way!"

A strong male voice is heard at the front of him. Unfortunately, at a quick glance, it's not help coming for him, but a hulky canine boy rushing towards him to deliver a straight big punch.

Without any ways to dodge, Kiyu braces for its impact.

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