In his eagerness to avoid Rikki, Crow spent the remainder of the day with Alistair. It had been a while since he had done anything with the thief, since they didn’t have much in common. Alistair was fond of sinful pleasures like drinking, gambling, and flirting with women in bars; and while Crow didn’t mind partaking in such activities, he preferred to keep a clear head and a full coin purse. Fortunately for him, his friend was willing to compromise today.
The two settled on going hunting near the Younisian border, since it was exciting enough for Alistair and engaging enough for Crow. They were also encouraged because if they were successful, they would be able to postpone raiding the knights’ camp for food for a few more days.
Each thief took a bow and a knife from their weapon supply and headed out into the woods. For a while, they saw nothing and the forest remained quiet. However, they eventually came across a herd of elk grazing in a small clearing. Ducking down silently behind some bushes, they watched the animals for a moment before Alistair turned to Crow and whispered, “Do you think it’s worth it?”
“No,” Crow frowned. “We have nowhere to store the meat. It’ll just spoil.”
“Pity,” Alistair sighed, staring longingly at the elk. “We’re so close to having venison, yet so far.”
“We could try again in the winter,” Crow suggested softly. “If we get enough snow this year, we can bury it.”
“Maybe,” Alistair shrugged. “Last year was pretty dry though. I’m not going to get my hopes up.”
Crow nodded and turned back to watch the elk for a moment longer before nudging his companion and rising to his feet, “Come on, let’s keep moving. There’s bound to be smaller targets out here somewhere.”
Leaving the herd of elk behind, the two thieves walked further along the border. Crow’s eyes swept observantly over the trees around him, and he spoke little as he kept his attention on searching for movement near the ground. Eventually, their patience paid off as he spotted a rabbit in the distance. He raised a fist, signaling silently to Alistair to stop walking, and drew an arrow from his quiver. Keeping his gaze trained on the animal, he raised his bow and pulled back the string, letting go quickly to loose the arrow before it could run. The projectile hit its mark, and the rabbit collapsed in the grass with a startled squeal.
“I’ve got it,” Crow glanced at Alistair, shouldering his bow and drawing his knife as he made his way over to the fallen animal. When he reached it, he knelt down and dealt a swift blow to finish it off. After that, he pulled the arrow from its side and put it away, picking up the carcass by its hind legs and turning back to the other thief. “Not bad,” he smirked. “One more of these will be enough to feed us for at least a couple meals.”
“I hope I find the next one,” Alistair sighed exaggeratedly. “If I have to spend this whole trip watching you hunt, it’s going to be a long day.”
“If you want, I’ll let you carry my kills back,” Crow elbowed him teasingly as they began to keep walking.
“Alright, big shot,” Alistair snorted. “Just you wait. I’m going to hunt twice as many rabbits as you do.”
“Sure you will,” Crow chuckled.
The two thieves continued bantering casually as they circled back around to look for targets on their way back to the camp.
--
By the end of their hunt, they managed to kill one more rabbit each—Crow naturally rubbed it in his friend’s face that he’d been the one to catch more—and returned to their hideout feeling rather accomplished. They spent the rest of the evening skinning and gutting the carcasses, and Alistair went on to prepare a stew for supper while Crow salted the leftover meat. After living in the woods for over a year—and getting sick on more than one occasion from eating spoiled meat—he had gotten skilled at preserving his food to last for at least a few days.
Once the stew was ready, Alistair went outside to call in the others for supper. Meanwhile, Crow sat near the hearth, leaning back against the cavern wall as he waited for his companions to come back so they could all eat. Fortunately, it didn’t take long before someone stepped into the camp to join him.
Unfortunately, that someone was Rikki.
Crow stiffened slightly and averted his gaze as she walked over. He suddenly wished he had volunteered to go out and find everyone instead. He had let Alistair do it because he hadn’t wanted to speak to Rikki, but he hadn’t thought about the possibility that he might be left alone with her if he stayed behind.
To his displeasure, she sat down at his side, hovering just close enough to set him on edge. “I see you and Alistair had a successful hunt,” she commented with a friendly smile. “It’ll be nice to finally eat something that isn’t bread and fruit.”
“Mhm,” Crow grunted noncommittally, avoiding her gaze.
Rikki eyed him for a moment before going on, “I heard he caught more rabbits than you. Must be embarrassing to lose at something you’re so good at.”
“He didn’t catch more than me,” Crow snorted, finally looking up at her, only to falter when he caught sight of the mischievous glint in her eyes. “Very funny,” he muttered dryly, shooting her a glare.
“Well, it worked,” she smirked at him coyly. “Now I get to see those handsome green eyes of yours.”
“You just don’t know when to quit, do you?”
“What?” she shrugged. “Am I not allowed to compliment you anymore either?”
“We both know that’s not what this is,” he said coldly.
Rikki opened her mouth to retort, but luckily for Crow, Alistair came back with Simon and Hazel before she had a chance to speak. He quickly turned away from her to address them, “It’s about time. What took you all so long?”
“Ask them,” Alistair lifted his hands in a shrug and sat down heavily. “They said they’ve got some sort of announcement for the group.”
“Really?” Rikki raised a curious brow. “What is it?”
Simon and Hazel exchanged a glance before the thief turned back to the others and cleared his throat, “I asked Hazel to marry me today.”
“No way,” Crow blinked in surprise. “Congratulations, you guys.”
“I don’t believe it. Our little Simon’s becoming a man,” Alistair sniffled with mock emotion and got up from the ground to wrap his arms around the couple in an embrace. He glanced back over his shoulder at Crow and Rikki. “Come on, you two. Get in here.”
“Please don’t,” Simon groaned, trying to shove Alistair off of him.
“I swear to gods, I’m going to punch you in the throat,” Hazel growled.
“Oh, come on. You know you like it,” Crow teased her, getting up to join Alistair in embracing them.
With the addition of Rikki, the three thieves trapped the unhappy couple in the middle of a huddle, until Hazel kicked Alistair in the shin and successfully ended the moment. They all separated again, and the herbalist vainly smoothed down her dress. “Anyway,” she grumbled irritably. “What we were trying to say was: We’re going have the handfasting ceremony tomorrow afternoon, and we want you three buffoons to be our witnesses.”
“Of course,” Crow grinned.
“I’d be honored,” Alistair said excitedly.
“Can’t think of a better way to spend my day,” Rikki nodded in agreement.
“Great,” Hazel sat down by the pot of stew with Simon. “Now that that’s settled, we’d like to enjoy our supper in peace.”
“Whatever you say,” Crow shrugged, pouring a bowl of stew for himself. Honoring her request, he spent the rest of the evening dining and talking with Alistair—and intermittently with Rikki so Alistair wouldn’t notice the tension between them—until he finally grew tired and headed off to get some sleep for the night.
