Amon's gaze, previously carefree, was now cold as ice and threatening to the point that Syl felt her life was in danger.

"...!

Her lips quivered. He hadn't moved at all, but she could tell that it would only take a moment for him to end her.

"What… Are you talking about?" Syl asked with a shaky voice. "Threatening-"

Syl and Akane were interrupted at once.

"...!"

"...!"

"That's enough for today." Amon said, having just shoved a drumstick into each of their parted mouths. "We're in a dangerous enough situation right now. Let's deal with the past when we're a bit safer, alright?"

Akane frowned and took the drumstick out of her mouth as if it were a lollipop. "Alright…" She muttered before bringing it back to her mouth.

Syl couldn't do the same. With it in her mouth and her hands tied, she couldn't speak.

Amon got closer, staring at her coldly.

With an anxious expression on her face, she shook her head while shrugging repeatedly.

'Syl said that the Werebeasts were paying for protection from others. Akane says the Hobgoblins were threatening war against the Werebeasts and forcing them to pay…' Amon scratched his neck before letting out a sigh. 'Seems like Syl is being truthful enough. Neither of them seems to be lying, but one of them must be wrong.'

He slowly pulled the drumstick out of Syl's mouth.

"I swear I-"

"Eat." Amon interrupted, holding the drumstick in front of her mouth.

Syl gulped before sinking her teeth into the meat, chewing slowly, staring at Amon the entire time.

"That's better." He sighed. "The two of you have your differences, but I'll need you to set that aside for now."

Akane, who had been tearing into her food with sharp bites of frustration, stopped at once.

"Set that aside? Differences? Are you serious?"

"Yeah." Amon nodded.

"Why should I set them aside?" Akane asked defiantly. "Just because you're into her doesn't mean I-"

"Once I'm done feeding her, I'm going to sleep."

"...?"

"We'll need someone to stand watch at all times. I'll be sleeping first, considering my nap was shorter."

"Fine." Akane sighed.

Syl swallowed. Her gaze lowered momentarily. "I can stand watch."

"Like I'd trust you." Akane muttered mockingly.

"You sure you can do that?" Amon asked. "You've only napped too."

"I've trained myself to stay up for little over three days." Syl nodded confidently.

"Alright, then."

"What do you mean 'alright'? I said that I'm standing watch." Akane complained.

"You can do that together." Amon said, bringing the drumstick back to Syl's mouth. "Quietly."

Just when Akane was about to interpose further, "The ropes stay on," He added. "If something happens, the two of you wake me up, alright?"

"Fine." Akane answered.

Syl nodded as she chewed.

A drop of juice slid down her chin.

Amon's thumb brushed it away, before popping it into his own mouth.

Syl froze, her jaw tightening, a faint blush creeping up her cheeks.

"Don't… Do that."

"What?" Amon tilted his head, grinning. "I'm just making sure nothing goes to waste."

Meanwhile, Akane was sitting with her arms crossed, mumbling and grumbling.

Despite saying that it was fine, Akane didn't think it was really fine, but she just couldn't get into it.

Having already eaten her portion of the food in full, all she could do was mumble and grumble.

"Here." Amon said, handing her a piece of meat.

"I'm full." She said.

"Are you really? Or is it like last-"

"I'm full." Akane interrupted.

Amon slowly turned towards Syl. "I think she might be feeling sorry for you."

Akane's eyes opened wide, and her mouth parted.

The meat was inserted into her mouth before she could get the words out.

"I can feed both of you by hand, if you'd like."

"No, thanks!" Akane said after quickly swallowing.

"You're sure?" Amon grinned, holding up a juicy strip of meat. "You're not going to complain afterward?"

"I'm not!"

"You're doubly sure?" He asked, swaying the meat in her face.

"..." Akane suddenly leapt like a shark, stealing the strip of meat from his hand. She chewed, swallowed, then nodded. "Doubly sure. Except if you wave it in my face."

"Eating from someone's hand willingly…" Syl sighed, looking away.

"What did you just-"

Akane was fed again before she could protest.

Syl barked a bitter laugh. "I thought I was the one acting like a baby?"

"You shut it!" Akane snapped, then gasped as the next bite was slipped right past her teeth.

"Good girl." Amon said as he patted her head playfully.

Akane's face went scarlet as she chewed. "Don't pat me." She muttered, but didn't swat his hand away.

Eventually, Amon tossed the stripped bones aside and stood. "Alright, I'm sleeping."

"Now?" Akane frowned.

"Yeah," Amon replied. "You two can wake me up in a couple of hours, or whenever you start getting sleepy. Make sure you stay awake."

Syl shifted in place. "I can handle it by myself." She suggested. "The two of you can go to sleep."

"Not happening," Akane shot back. "I'm not letting her take the first watch alone."

"Why? Scared I'll attack you in your sleep with my feet?"

"If something happens, she's more likely to run away than wake us." Akane argued. "She's already left the Hobgoblins behind. Who's to say she won't leave us behind?"

"Listen here you-"

"Good," Amon said, brushing his hands off. "Then it's settled. Both of you, eyes open. And quietly, please. If anything happens, wake me up. If you feel sleepy, wake me up. Got it?"

Syl hesitated, then gave a stiff nod.

Akane crossed her arms but finally muttered, "Fine."

Amon stretched and lay down on the warm earth surrounding the burned branches and logs, folding one arm beneath his head.

It took a surprisingly low amount of time for him to fall asleep.

Pretty quickly, only Akane and Syl remained.

"What you said about-"

"Don't talk to me." Akane interrupted.

"Fine." The annoyed female Hobgoblin answered. She wanted to cross her arms as well, but couldn't.

He never really looked at you, huh?

For about twenty minutes, Syl sat quietly with her thoughts, looking into the darkness that had overtaken the forest.

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