*I reached a milestone with writing chapter 100 of this series, making it more than 300.000 words at the minimum of 3000 a chapter, and not counting the bonus chapters.
I have no idea how much more will follow, but there are still plenty more events and characters to come (pun unintentionally intended).
I've also drawn a few more quick portraits of the characters, which I'll post as well.
Thanks to everyone reading, commenting, and supporting me. Those are the things that push me to keep on writing.
*
88 - A Quick Walk
The party halted their capri at a lake after a day's ride. Ulric and Susi stepped off of Harry and stretched their legs. 'I think we're far enough from those vampires now for my comfort.'
Elzbieta looked over the lake and the far side covered with forest. 'Yes. This also seems too nice a place to not take the time to enjoy it for a short while, darling.'
Iphigenia stretched with her hands up in the air and moaned. 'I can definitely do with some time off. As comfortable as it is to ride our capri, sitting still for a long time is murder on my body.' She gave Ulric a sly smile. 'Although I'm sure you have a cure for that, Wolfie.'
He grinned and growled a little playfully. Camp was set up quickly, and Valdys checked up on Handil after she was laid down on a thick and soft underground of pillows and blankets. Ulric went up to her and Rachael, who sat at her side. 'How's she doing?'
Valdys slowly poured a strengthening potion made by Kaui and reinforced with her binding spell into Handil's mouth. 'She hasn't regained her conscious yet as you can see, but her condition hasn't become worse. Her recovery is progressing slowly.'
'Anything more we can do?'
Valdys looked at him. 'It's all up to her now, but it'll help if we can stay here for a while and lessen the burden of travel.'
He nodded. 'Yeah, I think we can stay here for now..' he said, and sniffed the air for prey. 'I'll go and hunt for some fresh meat with Susi on the other side of the lake.'
Susi ran energetically at his side on their way to the forest side. 'Susi loves hunting with daddy!'
Her joy lifted his still dark mood from leaving behind a mess, and he sniggered. He noticed she had grown again, even if it wasn't quite apparent. "They grow up fast." he thought, but also expected it from a predator species.
He let her chase the prey and drive it towards him waiting in ambush, and killed them with a fast hit breaking their necks. She sat wagging her tail while he tied the deer and boar together in a bundle to carry it all back to camp, then pat her head. 'You did very well, honey.'
Susi rubbed her cheek against his chest. 'Susi will always do her best for daddy.'
He cuddled her and kissed the top of her muzzle. 'You're such a good girl.' he said, and sat with her for a moment in the gentle quiet of a breeze and relaxing trickle of a nearby small stream ending in the lake, and wondered if the likes of the original owner of his body also had moments where he simply took in the wonders of the wild landscape. He hoped the world would stay as green as it was forever.
He nudged Susi's muzzle with his, who had snuggled tight against him. 'Time to return and eat, honey.'
She rubbed her cheek against his chest again. 'Susi wishes she could stay longer with daddy.'
He chuckled softly and pat her head. 'We still have to cook before we can eat, and I'm beginning to feel hungry already. Besides, we're staying here for now, so we'll have more time to relax.'
She nodded slowly and reluctantly pulled away. 'Okay, daddy. Susi does want to eat too.'
Ulric carried everything on his back, and Elzbieta and Kaui went to work on preparing the prey as soon as they arrived at the camp. He sat next to Iphigenia, who took care of her weapons, and silently watched her work. She glanced sideways at him. 'You're a little down, Wolfie.'
He let out a soft sigh. 'I'm not happy with the situation we left behind, and the danger Kaui and the others went through, with Handil almost dying if it wasn't for Valdys and her knowledge.'
She put away her clean sword and ran her fingers slowly through his neck fur. 'We did the best we could under that volatile situation. I think something bad was about to happen anyway with such internal strife.'
'Yeah, but we kind of triggered it to happen at that time.'
She caressed his ear. 'Many things have been triggered with your arrival.'
'Unfortunately.'
She pulled his muzzle towards her. 'I don't think so, sweet Wolfie.' she said, and kissed him. 'I think we can avoid things becoming worse because you're here. And I'm very happy to have met you, as is every one of us who loves you.'
He smiled softly at her and kissed her. 'Although I didn't know what to think when I first came here, I am now also happy that I did.'
She ruffled the top of his head. 'Rest now and let what happened drift from your mind, Wolfie, you still have to charge most of our tallies soon.' she said, and giggled.
He sniggered and nudged her playfully. 'You're just using it as an excuse to fuck me.'
She grinned wide. 'So what if I do? You're not stopping me.'