The trip back had been.. interesting. They hurried, to avoid the next set of night cycles, and to get to the settlement while Karmis was still able to function well enough to stand on her own. Her slow deterioration was worrying, but they really only needed her for a few appearances. Wersa had pulled a veil and a large robe for Karmis to wear from the Storage. They would be able to hide her broken illusion spell at least.

The added strength from the new bond helped Dem move better through lowest tier of branches. Graf had stayed mostly on the ground, his bulk not able to easily move from branch to branch. Graf was able to keep up with them with the help of a few of Dem’s stamina spells, despite being on the ground. Moving along the ground wasn’t much slower than moving through three branches. Dem hardly opted to travel on the ground this far out because it carried more risk of attack. Both methods of travel, in the branches and on the ground, required some backtracking around tree trunks and thick vegetation.

The beastman had been mostly quiet, except for the occasional long meaningful look at Wersa. Did the beastman resent being beaten? Did he want a rematch? Was he fearful? Dem couldn’t get much from the taciturn boar over their new bond. His old Tamer grimoire had said each bond would be a little different and would require the Tamer to learn something new. Where Ina’s emotions were a placid pool with strong currents, Graf was more like a boiling lake where emotions rose to the surface in big bursts. He couldn’t yet understand what each emotion meant, but over time Dem would come to understand the beastman’s moods.

When they had stopped for rests, on several occasions Dem had tried to start up a conversation, usually asking about basic information. Dem had only moderate success getting the beastman to talk about himself, but didn’t have much reason to push the issue when their conversations dried up.They would be working together for some time, and would be able to learn about each other eventually. Their conversations had been awkward for many reasons. Dem had made something of a fool of himself.

***

As Graf sat leaned against a large tree root that jutted from a small hillside, Dem decided to sit next to him and strike up a conversation. While the beastman recovered from their hike, his broad chest still heaving with the exertion, Dem asked a question.

“Graf.. How old are you? Are you an elder greater beastman?”

The boar beastman turned Dem’s way, and simply snorted. Eventually Graf did speak though, with his usual slightly slurred speech, “Older than you, it looksss like. I am nearly an elder, I would havvve been, had the shhhadow not commme.”

“What was the shadow? How long did it last?”

“There was nothing to seee, it was just a shadowww. It lasted lesss than sixteeethhh.”

“So short! How could it have caused the fall of your clan?”

“Masterrr, I do not wissh to speak of itt.” Graf sounded mostly just sad, as he made his request. The beastman’s eyes took on a long stare, as Dem’s question had clearly hurt a fresh mental wound.

Dem winced at the obvious pain he had caused the beastman. He tried to change the subject quickly.

“Ah, you don’t have to call me master. Call me Dem. It is what Ina calls me.”

“Thhank you, Demm. Mayyy I ask a quessstion, Dem?”

“Of course, Graf.”

It cost Dem nothing to be cordial to the beastman. Graf’s life had just been destroyed, and making him feel comfortable could only help. Their relationship was based on the beastman’s honor and Dem’s Tamer bond spell, but it would better for both of them if they were able to work together smoothly.

“You ssmell like the mannny-tailed, sshe iss yourr matee, yess?” The boar beastman asked, his eyes focusing on Dem.

Dem’s thoughts were now racing. Where was the beastman going with this line of questioning? Suddenly, Dem felt he could sympathize with not wanting to answer questions.

Dem’s voice was full of confusion as he spoke, “Uh.. yes. She is my mate.”

“Youu, mate with beastfolk, yess?”

Dem’s mouth dropped open. What was Graf going to ask him?

“Ah, yes, I do. Is that a problem?” Dem’s voice was a bit higher than he meant it to be.

“I do nnoott wissh to mate with youuu.. Dem”

Dem coughed loudly, has he choked on his own spit.

Getting a hold of himself, Dem responded, “Ahhh.. Wha.. Don’t worry Graf, I’m only interested in the many-tailed, Ina.”

Graf’s voice, suddenly full of respect, responded in turn, “You’rre a braave man, Dem, I wouldd not mate withh a many-tailled.”

“Thank you, Graf. It has been difficult, but I get by.”

There was a low growl above them. Ina had been listening in.

***

As they returned home, even more embarrassing than the question and answer session, there had been a worse moment for Dem. Dem shied away from thinking about this incident as much as possible, but he was afraid it would haunt him for the foreseeable future.

They had to stop to sleep at least a couple times on their journey. The stamina spells they used came at a cost, and so at least some rest was necessary. They also needed to prepare a decent meal for themselves, as traveling through the Wilds also left one hungry. Even if they didn’t need rest, most any Classed individual would want time to examine their spell templates and Path to keep themselves at the peek of their ability. This was the best way to ensure everything could and would be successfully cast as fast and easily as possible. Classed individuals would also try to work on their Paths given free time. By refining the intent, the unified idea that drove the Path forward, a person could make their journey down their Path easier. This was especially important for combat Classed individuals who often needed as much power as their Path could provide. A Classed individual used meditation, or just plain thinking time to work through these things, and so some downtown time was ideal for any Party.

Dem had been thinking on his understanding of Domination, and focusing his mind through the spell templates he had been given by the grimoire. On the one hand he never really wanted a reason to cast them again, and on the other hand he wanted to be able to cast them at moments notice if the situation required. During Dem’s time lost in thought, considering his Path, Ina had left to hunt them some dinner, while Wersa and Graft had left the campsite together.

Wersa and Graf had barely spoken to each other as they traveled back to the settlement, but when they finally made camp Graf had immediately offered to spar with the intimidating Warrior woman. Dem had been slightly worried this sort of situation might crop up. Did the beastman want revenge or was he just seeking a challenge? It was hard to tell over the bond. After some hesitation, Dem decided to just the two be who they were, which was, of course, angry destructive Classed Warriors. Dem did order them them not to hurt each other greatly, and that they would not have time to stop and wait for wounds to heal. Both had accepted his request easily, though a look of, not anger, but conflict was in their eyes when they looked at each other. They clearly had a further score to settle, the previous battle hadn’t been enough. Dem knew Classed Warriors were, well, Warriors, and would need to work things out their own way, so he put their spar out of his mind after they as he considered his Path and Class spells.

Eventually, his revery was interrupted. He could hear the sounds of their battle take place. They were fairly far away, he could tell, but no so far he couldn’t hear rumbles of their attacks.He listened intently for a while, wondering if he needed to interceded, but eventually he gave up. After a little while longer he was able to tune them out, and focus again on his Path.

A sixteenth or so later, after nearly exhausting himself mentally through focus on spell templates, he noticed that sound of their battle had changed. It was now a steady smashing sound, too rhythmic to be true battle. He stood up, worried that Wersa was beating the poor beastman over and over again. He couldn’t help himself but be instantly angry. They were supposed to be doing what he told them and yet they had clearly gotten carried away, or at least Wersa had! This was strange because between the two of them, Wersa was the one with absolute loyalty to him. If she had hurt the beastman, they would not have time to heal the beastman’s wounds, and so he would have to make Wersa help carry the beastman as punishment. They would be too tired for more sparing that way, though the party overall would be slowed. He signed in resignation, and decided to go check out the damage being done.

As he rushed to the scene, he could tell something was not quite right. The smashing sound was more of a smacking sound, and not really what he was expecting. It was a little off, and the grunting noises he was hearing, as he got closer, were not sounds of pain. There was musky, disgusting smell in the air. He was genuinely confused, had they found someone else to beat up? Perhaps another beast or beastman? Were they using this other beast as a punching bag? Had it shit itself?

As he crested a small hill, he spied the wide space between two massive trees Wersa and Graf had used for their spar. The vegetation around the area was thick, but by pushing a leafy bush out of his way, he was finally able to see Wersa and Graf. He immediately closed his shut, squeezing them as tightly as he could, as he backed away. Wersa and Graf were engaged in a different sort of ‘battle’ than he imagined. The sort of ‘battle’ he and Ina had many times. The sight of which would was burnt into his eyes. It was said that Classed Warriors would generally only spend ‘time’ with other Classes that had reinforced bodies because otherwise they would be likely to damage their prospective partners. It made some sense that two Classed Warriors, finding themselves on the same side, after a long bout of loneliness, might find each other.. engaging, but this was.. perhaps the worst thing he had ever seen.

The slam of flesh on flesh, each with enough force to crush him, was too much. He backed away further to think, far enough away that he couldn’t hear the sounds of their grunting. The smell of the two of them seemed to follow him. Should he stop them? Was it wrong? It was gross, he had to admit, but wrong? Would this cause a problem down the road? It did explain why Graf kept looking at Wersa, apparently the beastman had something else on his mind other than a rematch. Was it the other way around? Was Wersa taking advantage of Graf? Wersa had been ‘winning’ the ‘battle’ between them clearly, from what he had seen. The poor beastman was giving his all, but Wersa clearly had technique that Graf did not have. Then again, the look on Graf’s face, such as it was, wasn’t angry, but something else entirely. It was doubtful this was non-consensual. He would have to ask them later, if he could figure out how to bring the subject up. He couldn’t bring himself to interrupt them now.

Suddenly he felt shame, realizing his initially thoughts had betrayed his old way of thinking about such things. His immediate judgment had been negative, about something he himself was also guilty of doing. He couldn’t judge either of them considering where he liked to bury his face to win his ‘battles’ with Ina. Shame lit his face, as he slunk away, back towards the campsite, while considering his own hypocrisy.