The forest was alive with the quiet stir of day. Shafts of sunlight pierced through, tinting the wet leaves with a golden hue. Birds darted between branches, their wings flashing in the light, while insects buzzed in lazy arcs over the damp undergrowth.

'After everything that happened from night to dawn, the forest is pretty quiet.' Amon thought to himself. 'I guess it's no wonder. Animals, Beasts, and Monsters that weren't concerned must have run to get as far as possible from the fire, the Corrupted Draconic Spawn, and everything else.'

Amon and Akane walked side by side… For a bit.

The distance between them was slowly widening. Akane was trying to keep her distance, always a few steps behind.

' We're going together… Sticking together… But keeping a safe distance.'

She repeated the words in her head continually, her tail twitching restlessly behind her.

Her fingers brushed the bark of a tree as they passed, her claws dragging shallow grooves into its skin. 'To make sure we're not walking in circles… And that I can come back here if something happens.' Her lips pressed into a thin line. 'I have to live more carefully from now on. Caution. Caution…'

Yet the thought didn't sit well.

Suspicion was survival, she knew that. She had learned it the hard way. And yet, she couldn't shake the unease. Because, right now, the only one she could aim that suspicion at was the only one who had helped her, fought for her, and carried her when she needed it.

Akane clenched her fists tighter. Balancing it would prove a very difficult task.

Amon had noticed pretty quickly.

He didn't miss the distance she kept, the way her ears tilted toward him, her steps carrying her away whenever they got too close for too long.

It felt like Akane was being pulled in two different directions.

He'd already caught her sneaking glances at him through the corner of her eye more times than he could count.

'It is what it is…' Amon thought with a sigh.

His mind drifted back to the pond, to the warmth of her body pressed against his, to the suspicion in her eyes warring with embarrassment. But beyond that, further back, to her time in that cage.

He thought of the way the Goblins had spoken. The way the Hobgoblins had leered. The way she had been given away, traded like an object.

The threat of unconsensual acts had hung over her head for a long time.

Amon's lips curved in a wry smile.

He did want something to happen between Akane and himself, but it would take a while. He would have to move slowly.

Teasing her or flirting with her too much could be a problem.

'Still, I don't want her to see me as a dickless brother-type.'

He sighed softly, letting his gaze drift up through the branches.

'I also don't want the idea to even pop in her head that she has traded Goblins and Hobgoblins for me… It's completely different. I hope she doesn't ever think that I expect something because I helped her or something… Though I guess I couldn't blame her for thinking that, Goblins have fought and died for a chance at sniffing her. It wouldn't be a stretch for her to see me as something similar to a Goblin, green skin and all-'

His ears twitched.

Growl—

The sound was faint at first, barely more than a rumble.

His eyes flicked down to Akane. Her steps were steady, but her tail was twitching sharply.

Another growl. Louder this time.

He blinked. "Hungry?" Amon asked with a chuckle.

Her ears shot up and she looked away, embarassed. "I'm fine." She quickly answered.

"You're sure?"

"Yes-"

Growl—

"I'm fine."

Amon's grin widened. "Your stomach seems to be-"

"I said I'm fine." Her cheeks colored, her voice stubborn.

"Alright." Amon shrugged, and turned back to face the direction they were walking in.

After leaving the pond, they had to trace back the path to the village, then move north.

Through Syl, Amon knew that the Hobgoblins had passed the pond on their way to the Goblin village. Of course, Akane, who had been brought by the Hobgoblins, knew this too.

They settled on moving in the direction to the Hobgoblins, even if that meant not seeing Syl again.

'Well, it is what it is…' Amon thought, teary-eyed at the thought of not seeing the green-skinned, muscular, busty-

"What are you sniffing for?" Akane asked, her eyebrows twitching as if having read his mind.

…

Minutes passed. The forest opened slightly, revealing a small glade. Mushrooms clustered around fallen logs, and faint tracks cut into the earth.

'Oho.' Amon thought as he noticed those tracks.

He crouched low, picking up a sharpened bone from the belt at his waist.

"I hope you're not the princess type."

Akane tilted her head. "What do you mean-"

Following the faint crackle of grass and the shuffle of small paws, Amon's arm snapped forward, the sharpened bone whistling through the air.

It was a hit.

Amon stood, brushing dirt from his hand, and walked toward the brush. He crouched, grabbing the limp Horned Hare by its ears.

'I hope she isn't the -Let's not kill animals- type.' Amon thought to himself with a sigh, before straightening his back and turning around while raising the Horned Hare from the ears.

"Lunch is ready-"

He barely finished the words before something barreled into him.

"...?!"

Akane slammed into his chest, arms wide, eyes wide, lips drawn back to reveal sharp teeth.

"You're the best, Amon!" She shouted, her voice bright and unrestrained.

Her eyes were locked entirely on the prey dangling from his hand, saliva glistening at the corner of her mouth.

Akane's stomach growled once again as her claws flexed dangerously close to his chest. Akane did not notice that, though. Her focus was glued to the Hare completely.

Amon blinked, then barked a laugh.

"So you are hungry."

"Really, really hungry!"

…

Akane's tail swished impatiently, her eyes following every shift of the hare as Amon skinned it. She tried not to drool, which was no easy task.

Amon smirked, dangling the skinned hare in front of Akane.

She was perfectly hypnotized by his meat.

Each swing of his meat made her pupils dilate further. The thought that they might even turn into hearts crossed Amon's mind.

"W-W-W-We're sharing, right?" A stuttering Akane asked, licking her lips.

"I'm not in the habit of sharing my meat."

"Please, please, please, please!"

Amon was confused by the begging. It was obvious enough to him that Akane was more than capable of catching her own prey.

Still. Seeing her so lively and earnest, he couldn't refuse her his meat.

Her stomach growled again, louder this time.

"Food is coming!" Amon said with a slightly raised voice, as if arguing with Akane's stomach.

She groaned, covering her face with her hands, and remained silent. She wasn't about to argue. It was between her growling stomach and Amon!

Amon tilted his head back with a chuckle, before pointing at the collection of wooden branches put together.

"Alright." He nodded. "Light the fire."

"Okay!" Akane nodded enthusiastically before grabbing two sharp stones and-

"Not like that!"

"Okay!" She grabbed a wooden branch and started-

"You've got to be kidding me." He sighed.

Akane stared at him with blinking wide eyes.

"How then?" She asked, her head tilted.

"With Magic."

"I…" Her head tilted further, as if this was the most obvious thing in the world. "Can't do Magic though."

Silent seconds passed as they stared at one another.

"Do you want to eat?"

"Yes, please!"

"Then learn how to do Magic."

"..." Calculations took place in Akane's mind for a moment. "I can take it raw!"

"...?" Amon's eyebrow twitched. "You like it raw?"

"I love it raw!"

He stared for a moment before shaking his head.

"Just light the fire however you want." Amon surrendered with a sigh.

"Alright!" Akane shouted in celebration.

Having her use her powers properly would take a while.

Let alone having her use her Kitsune Form.

'Let alone having her teach me Magic...' Amon sighed, glancing at Akane's wide grin as she stared at the skinned hare cooking above the fire. 'Oh, well. It is what it is.'

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