Chapter 22: Chapter 21

The members of Team Phi of the Three-Winged Guild trailed behind their leader as she followed the fox off the beaten path, deep into the woods.

“Are you sure this isn’t a- eep!” Kelsi’s nervous voice was cut off when she got her foot stuck in a bramble. She hopped on one foot, shaking her other foot until the thorns dislodged from her pants. Once free, she pressed a hand to her chest, took a deep breath, and tried again. “Are you sure this isn’t a trap?”

“90%” Suzie answered without hesitation and without looking back, her eyes staying focused on the little fox as it moved forward at a steady pace.

“That’s not 100%.” Kelsi pouted.

“Come on, Kelsi! We’re adventurers who’ve cleared a dungeon! We can handle a little trap or two!” Hiro laughed.

“I’m not.” Kelsi muttered.

Alphonse flicked the back of Hiro’s head, “you’re letting yourself get overconfident, dumdum.” His tone was harsh but his expression was soft.

Hiro rubbed the back of his head and glanced back at Alphonse, who quickly looked away and pushed past him. Hiro stuck his tongue out at Alphonse, “having a bit of confidence isn’t a bad thing, you meanie!”

“But you have way too much, Mr. couldn’t-do-anything-against-the-first-boss-and-got-knocked-out.”

Hiro’s face turned red and even a few tears formed in his eyes but before he could come up with a retort Suzie interrupted them. “Guys, shh.” She had gotten low to the ground, her back pressed against a tree as she furtively glanced around it, “we got poachers.”