Garoth sniffed in the thick forest air and took in the veiled environment with wariness. Who could know what awaited him and his party within the trees.
Jarint coughed from behind. "I hate forests."
"Quiet," Garoth said over his shoulder. "We aren't out yet."
"They say that this is the dominion of one of the Goddesses," Jarint continued, quieter this time. "I cannot recall which one." He then took his bow from around his shoulder and notched an arrow.
"Don't tell me you believe that dross, Jarint." Shel said from beside him. Her heavy armour clinked with each step as she walked with her hand resting on the pommel of her great sword.
"It's safer to believe than be surprised when your disbelief is smashed," he said as his eyes scanned the trees with renewed desperation.
Garoth chuckled. "That's an interesting outlook. What do you think Dor?"
The man at the back growled in annoyance. "Human or God, if anything comes near me it had better be prepared to taste my steel."
"Tasting your steel huh?" Shel grunted. "Is that because you're going to fuck them?"
Jarint sniggered and Garoth couldn't help but smile. Somehow the only woman in the party had the dirtiest mind. Garoth assumed that had something to do with her sexual prowess. No matter what he did he could never get a say in, it was all about her pleasure and her pleasure only. Not that he really minded. It was a good change from the usual submissive whore he took to his bed in the city.
Dor growled again.
"Let's just stay quiet," Garoth said. "If only to please the pussy cat with the bow."
Jarint's face crimsoned. He placed the arrow back in its quiver and slung the bow over his shoulder, but didn't take his hand too far away.
Shel laughed. "It's too late for that kitty."
"Shut it," Jarint sneered through his teeth. "That's just how I was trained. Better to be safe than to be sorry and dead."
"Quiet now," Garoth put an end to the situation. "Did you forget that the enemy has been spotted in his forest? They could be anywhere, waiting for us to let our guard down."
"Who put you in charge?" Shel asked.
Garoth turned to see a playful grin over her face. She flicked her head and her red bangs flew back. A long scar ran from her forehead, over her eye and down to her cheek. It only added to the fire that burned Garoth's loins. Perhaps it was the way she handled her great sword in battle. It was intoxicating to watch her run a man through while she screamed almost erotically as blood spattered over her body. Making love to a woman who still reeked of blood and battle was beyond ecstasy. He had to shake his head to bring himself back to reality.
Darkness was beginning to thicken over the forest and Garoth was keeping an eye out for a place to safely set up a small camp and rest. They had been travelling for a whole day and they all needed rest, though you wouldn't find any of them admitting to that. "We should think about making camp soon."
Jarint rumbled. "I was hoping that we would be out of this cursed forest by now."
"Don't worry pussy cat," Shel said. "We've camped in plenty of forests before and what's the worst that has happened? Attacked by bandits? Wolves? We can take a Goddess if she comes to claim your soul."