Ty stooped next to a crack in the dirt, her nose twitching as she seemed to pick up scents neither Zikee nor Andiz could.
“They were here,” she said. “Perhaps a day ago, at best, but they were here.”
“It’s better than we had before,” Andiz offered.
He glanced at Zikee, who averted her gaze.
“The prey still escaped,” she said. “Halfling, you may continue your search, but do not draw attention from the guilds.”
Ty opened her mouth to say something but seemed to change her mind as her gaze met Andiz’s.
“Could you at least use my name? I know you know it.”
Zikee cracked a smile at that. She could have called her something far worse but decided against it as both she and the halfling caught a familiar scent on the wind. Their eyes met briefly, Andiz seeming to notice as well.
“Is that….”
Zikee would have recognized the scent no matter where she journeyed. It was her favorite.
“Smoked lamb. All the way out here?”
She put a hand on her hilt. Being miles from town, it was just as likely they were catching whiffs from an adventurer out camping. But what normal person would cook freely this close to dragon territory? Did they wish to attract draconic invaders? Or perhaps they were hunting for something even more elusive.
Despite their disagreement, Zikee could see her own thoughts mirrored in Ty’s eyes. Whether this was a foolish adventurer or a draconic hunter, they were a new source of information. And they’d be foolish not to do a bit of interrogating for their benefit.
Andiz sighed, seemingly reading both their minds.
“Let’s at least attempt to be gentle,” the healer said.
Zikee answered with a peck on his cheek before drawing her sword, Ty stalking close behind.
The smells of lamb were an easy trail to follow, the group weaving carefully past thick shrubbery and fallen branches as they kept their steps as quiet as possible. Under the light of the sun, Zikee had to rely on the trees for cover, allowing Ty and Andiz to take the lead while she circled over to the other side to prepare an ambush.
At the end of the trail, they spotted what appeared to be a forest clearing, the light of a fire burning bright next to a matted tent of darkened brown wool. Zikee got as low as she could when she finally spotted their target, her bony fingers prodding at the lump of meat being cooked on the rotisserie.
It was an elder. Will wonders never cease?
The old woman seemed to be humming a song under her breath, a foreign tune that almost sounded bitter to Zikee’s ears despite the bright smile playing across her face. But as she looked closer, she only grew more wary of the camping stranger.
Though hard to notice given the cloak she wore, there was an unmistakable glint to her porcelain skin. In fact, as she pulled a leg off the charred lamb, Zikee realized her hand wasn’t merely pale. It was made of scales.
A halfling!
Before she could so much as signal the others, Ty abruptly jumped from her hiding spot, startling the old woman in the process.
“Vivica! By the gods, you’re alive!”
Zikee barely had time to process what was going on before their halfling ally was suddenly running up to throw her arms around the elderly woman’s neck. She and Andiz exchanged looks of confusion as Ty seemed to squeal at the sight of this lone adventurer.
“I thought I’d never see you again!”
The elderly woman’s hood had fallen off in the chaos of Ty’s greeting, making her reptilian skin much more noticeable, not that she seemed to mind. In fact, she was too busy staring in shock, her eyes watering as she hugged Ty back. Just what was going on? Zikee emerged from her hiding spot with sword drawn even as she heard the two blithering back and forth.
“Tyana. Gods, you’re okay.”
“That’s my line, you old coot. What in the blazes are you doing here?”
“Hunting food, same as you, I’d imagine. Petch, it’s good to see you again.”
As they were going back and forth, neither seemed to notice Zikee or Andiz watching expectingly. It was the former who quickly drew tired of waiting, announcing her presence with a cough.
“Ahem!”
Ty seemed to remember their contract then, breaking the hug as she quickly turned to her newly made allies.
“Oh, how could I forget? Vivica, this is Andy, a human friend I made.” Her smile faltered as she looked at Zikee. “And the big one is called Big One. She’s broody so steer clear.”
The halfling called Vivica laughed at the mockery, which Zikee didn’t dignify with a response. Her sword did return to its, sheath, however. For Andiz’s sake. The healer tried to hide his amused smile before extending a hand in greeting.
“I take it you’re both well acquainted?” Andiz asked.
Ty wrapped an arm around Vivica’s neck.
“Damn right about that. Vivica’s pretty much my Great Aunt. She would always be taking care of me and everyone else at the lab.”
Vivica chuckled. “I didn’t do much, Ty.”
“Psh, no need for modesty, you old coot. If it weren’t for you, I probably would have bit my tongue off a long time ago.”
As the three of them spoke, Zikee soon began to tune out, instead turning her attention to the elderly woman’s camping set-up.
Her tent wasn’t anything special, the fabric crudely hand-stitched and held together by sticks. Had she just made it today? Zikee kneeled in front of it to get a better look, noting how small it was inside. She would barely call it child-sized.
“So what did bring you three out here, Ty?” Vivica asked.
“Oh that-“
“We’re looking for the Silver Dragon,” Zikee cut in as she was scrutinizing the poor excuse for bedding. What kind of savage used logs for pillows? “You actually sleep in this?”
Ty shot her a look, but Zikee ignored it. They could save the pleasantries for the temples. She was more interested in why a halfling would choose to persist under such conditions. Surely a dragon could find better accommodations than a tiny tent made of branches.
“Don’t mind her,” Andiz said. “Kiki is a bit hard at first, but she means well. Mostly.”
Zikee gave her husband an annoyed glare but let the comment slide for the time being.
“But it is as she says. We’re in search of the Silver Dragon and anything to do with the project that birthed it.”
Vivica’s expression darkened. “You mean Ranger?”
Andiz nodded, the elderly woman growing briefly quiet. Given what Ty had told them, it wasn’t an unusual reaction. Vivica put a hand over her face, eyes growing a touch wilder as she seemed to recount the days.
“You certainly walk a dangerous path, Tyana.”
Ty put a hand on the woman’s back, offering a smile.
“And I don’t plan on asking you to join it,” she said. “But any information you could offer would help. We’re trying to bring those founders to justice.”
Zikee resisted the urge to add ‘as brutally as possible’, instead watching as the elderly halfling let her hands fall to her side, the wild look in her eyes diminishing slightly. Whatever the woman had seen, it didn’t seem likely she’d confess to total strangers, even as friendly as Andiz tended to be. Vivica’s gentle smile returned as she stood, making her way over to the still-smoking lamb that had long since been cooked to perfection.
“Unfortunately, I can’t help you there, Ty,” the halfling said. “But if you’re not in a hurry, you’re still welcome to stay and chat for a spell. I’m sure we have much to catch up on.”
Ty seemed to beam at that, though she deflated as she looked at the Andiz and Zikee.
“Oh, don’t mind us, Ty,” the former said. “We were just about to head back anyway. Isn’t that right, Kiki?”
He gave her a nudge, which Zikee regarded with a groan. What good would talking do if didn’t get them answers? She shook her head, turning her back to the two halflings.
“Do as you wish, halfling. I don’t really care.”
She didn’t wait for a response, already leaving the crudely made camp and the useless elder behind.
