It was quite the normal venture up until that point.
***
The Elizabeth Paradise’s B team was just going out on what was planned to be a 2 day journey to check the border with the Moolesh Mountain Range to scope out which beasts were about.
Afterall, a lot of activity had been occurring on the borders lately so it was good to look out for any changes in habitats and if there was any particular reason for it. Just a simple scouting mission for the guild itself.
Of course, the guild selected Eel’s team for fairly obvious reasons – Eel Jr was a great hunter despite age and who better to map out the place than the highest ranked hunter in the guild.
Some even consider hunters to be the ideal representation of the guild itself due to their use – though some classes naturally look down on them by other professions. Many reasons such as being a ‘commoners class’, the fact they often avoid straight up fights to instead rely on tricks and the fact they’re a hybrid class that mixes elements between the warrior, rogue & possibly even mage.
Though, nobody looked down on a certain little lizard.
The plan was for the team to arrive in a half day’s journey on horseback followed by Fuka and Emily setting up camp for the trio. During this time Elizabeth Jr would do what she does best – make a general map of the creatures around the area while also getting lunch.
Currently the trio were just on horseback – Fuka by herself with her horse’s reins firmly in her grasp while her horse was carrying half the gear.
Eel Jr and Emily were also on their own horse but the riding style was ‘unique’ as Eel had Emily in her arms as the little cow succubus snuggled into her chest. Softly using one hand to pat the head of the cow succubus while the other wrapped around her waist. Eel’s own back rested against the soft mane of the horse
The question of ‘well then, who’s guiding the horse’ and the answer was no one.
The reason was simple; if you had a crazed, bloodthirsty predator using you to carry her would you think about disobeying them? As such the horse followed firmly behind Fuka maintaining a steady speed in order to ensure not to disturb the little monster on it’s back.
“You don’t need to ride a horse do you, I’m sure you’d arrive faster if it wasn’t due to us holding you back…” <Emily>
Her soft voice barely audible under the hammering of hooves, the whistling of wind and the fact her usually quiet voice was coming from Elizabeth Jr’s bountiful chest – resulting in it being more muffled and thus softer.
Elizabeth obviously could hear a pin drop so it wasn’t too difficult to hear the voice of her little cow.
“It’s best to not waste energy before I arrive though, right? Not to mention I get to spend some more time with you so I think this is ideal~.” <Eel>
That usual smug, self-confident smile was present on her face as she lowered her head slightly to kiss the tip of one of Emily’s horns; causing the girl to blush softly under the dragon’s actions. Her arms that were draped around the dragon’s waist tightened to bring their bodies closer.
Though it didn’t take long for Emily to start breathing heavily – that cow tail ending in a heart shaped plume wagging while erect.
Eel just gave a self-pleased smile as she continued to softly pet the cow in her arms.
<Shouldn’t take too much longer to arrive, if only Emily would grow up faster~! Well and me as well but I just need to evolve…>
Letting out another sigh as her lack of progress on that front.
Even with her bonus’ as a Hero she still struggled to evolve – though she was doing fine in improving her connection with magic and her senses were already maxed out. Closing her eyes for a second she would open them again but this time her view was far different.
Glancing over the forest the previously quiet scene lit up with life as she could see all forms of flora and animals hiding around. Even some monsters were keeping a careful eye on the horses. Usually they wouldn’t come this close to a path within a half day of a large city but with this path being for adventurers and with war further westward causing a rush of monsters to become aggressive it became a more popular destination for the last few years.
<This’ll be a good hunting ground to teach Kesa how to focus more on avoiding other beasts interrupting or fighting with you for gains… And just a good hunting ground for me due to the lack of people~!>
Two reasons why she liked the lack of people.
Less people get in her way, messing things up with their inexperienced assumptions and it also increases the likelihood that someone will send some men to try to deal with her.
Although less common after she improved her standing in the adventurers guild; thus preventing most adventurers from accepting any private requests going against her; she still saw some foreign adventurers or black mercs coming after her. Though often they received far less information about her, they thus looked down on her as nothing but a child – ending up just becoming more meat for her to grow up healthy.
The monsters on the other hand didn’t make anymore moves on the trio – mainly because Eel casually eyed them up.
It didn’t take much longer for the group to arrive at a clearing often used by others for camping. There was a simple well with a fair amount of moss built up on the stone bricked walls and there was a nest in the bucket.
The grass had even started growing over previously barren areas due to foot traffic – causing a strange scene where the length of grass varied depending on how popular somewhere was in the past.
Fuka soon rode up to the side with a soft pout on her face under her helmet. Having to spend the whole journey listening to those two flirting while having no outlet for a full night was torture!
Well… Thanks to Emily’s help she did make an outlet. Shaking the brewing thoughts in her head; Fuka spoke up to catch Emily and Eel’s attention.
“We’re ‘ere miss Prince Charmin’, time for ya to do ya thing!” <Fuka>
Eel would softly sigh in disappointment and scoop Emily up into a princess carry as she easily leapt from the horse. Landing softly on the ground she continued to carry her towards the clearing as the horse fearfully followed behind.
Emily meanwhile would have a perverted, crimson gleam on her face with a crooked smile – the honorary ‘hearts in her eyes’ would of course be present – as her arms draped over Eel’s neck. Lifting her head up she would kiss Eel’s cheek before moving down to burry her face in the crook of Eel’s neck.
Placing Emily down by the well and coercing her a bit with some whispers, Emily finally let Eel out of her death grip. Revealing a bright red mark on Eel’s neck which just caused Fuka to shake her head.
The two slower roles continued on to set up camp while Eel did what Eel did best…
Stalk other creatures in a dark and dank setting, making note of everything about them while deciding whether or not to forcefully leap onto them!
Leaping up into the tree’s before vanishing from the view of the campsite. Leaping from branch to branch as she moved fluidly through the forest as if a fish was swimming downstream. In a simple notepad she began to make use of her taught skills as a courtesan in order to sketch out the surrounding area in a simple map.
While doing this she looked out for the nests of the bigger creatures in the area – mapping out their general territory based on markings then marking the different species of note.
She could have noted the flora as well but that wasn’t her job for now as they already had a general idea of that. It was more important to keep note of the changes in animal behaviour and location – that and the page was too small to fit in all those details. Afterall, most plants were useful for something or another even if not medical. It was usually just about context. This would mean that the map would need to be very large and her little notepad simply wasn’t enough no matter how fine she could make it.
That’s not even expanding on the expenses involved with using paper. She only had it because she was planning to use this map after the fact and had very little to spend money on currently since all her equipment and clothes are managed by the best girl.
Finding something simple but with a good amount of meat – a E rank horned-boar – Eel would be able to make quick work of the beastie.
It was as easy as jumping down and skewering it’s head just above the horn with her superior strength. Tying it up by the trotters, Eel would then sling it over her shoulder, heading back to the campsite after a day of hard work.
<I’ll probably need to do a bit of a look over at night since nocturnal monsters will have their own territory to worry about…>
Eel thought to herself when she headed back, being greeted by two tents – one for Emily and herself and the other from Fuka.
<A grown girl needs her privacy I suppose~!>
Throwing the boar onto the floor by the foundation of a prepared fire – only needing to be lit – as Fuka and Emily would head out.
“Going to hit the sack in preparation for night time hunt~! Don’t need to worry, I’ll hunt some more at night as well so enjoy the snack~.” <Eel>
“Is there any point in us bein’ ‘ere?” <Fuka>
“To make sure I don’t wake up looking at a wolf or in the grasp of some bandits. Base camp is important for these expeditions after all.” <Eel>
Emily would just nod as she would begin to set the fire alight.
Eel in comparison walked into her tent and collapsed on the bedding. Only being one since even if they slept at the same time they would share.
<Ah, it smells like vanilla milk~♥>
Thought Eel as she soon fell into the land of dreams…
Though, compared to most she considered just about every ‘sleep’ of her life up to this point nothing but a nap.
<Feels like it’ll soon approach my time to hibernate but apparently most young dragons sleep for about 5 years after they live their first 10…>
Her last thoughts before darkness took hold – though what she considered normal dreams for others would come across as something else.
Inheritance.
