Finding the way back was taking far longer than finding the way there. Without their guide and without the sun, the group took things slower. Though they still stumbled around like blind clumsy children for the better part of their trek. Except for Nyrette of course who lead the group with ease. Tiny slivers of moonlight poked through the trees onto the ground illuminating the seemingly vanished trail. There was no point in keeping their voices down in case of predators. Their feet were making enough noise as it was.

"That actually went far better than I expected," Quin broke a momentary silence, "If that guy makes good on his end of the bargain we'll be set for some time. At least I hope that will be the case."

"Yes. Was much better than supermarket." Cheshik exclaimed, stepping over a fallen log and perching for a moment while Iisska caught up.

Iisska made a long quiet growl while struggling over the log Cheshik was on.

"Sh-... sh-shut up," he panted, "It wasn't... funny."

"It was pretty funny." He chuckled.

"Mm. No, I have to agree with Iisska on this one. Those are dark times which I would rather forget," Quin shuddered.

"So many pregnant women and tentacles..." Nyrette shuddered.

"Damnit!" Iisska spat, "Stop! I want to sleep tonight."

"We all know you're going to sleep for a week once you get back to the ship." Nyrette chuckled. "We're not that far now. You can make it."

"It's hard doing this sort of thing with no aid from the Force isn't it? You see? This is why you need to exercise," Quin chimed in.

"To be fair, Zen, whom is incredibly fit last I checked, is in a coma because the force isn't here. Iisska's doing really well considering." Nyrette said.

Quin gave her a sideways glance, "Maybe. He could still do with a steady regiment though. I'm thinking of changing mine up as well."

"Quin! Sh-shit" Iisska cursed after one of his gauntlets slipped out of his hand and struck the ground heavily. He picked it back up in the other hand, "For your sake, just shut up."

Cheshik stopped for a moment and took one of Iisska's gauntlets. "I hope muck is sticky and not...gauntlet." He said disturbingly. "Do not get down, Iisska. At least you are not Marquis now, angry and stuck home."

Meanwhile

The puppy was bounding about the camp, making a mess of everything  as it explored and sniffed at everything possible, yapping like mad. "I hate Nyrette." Marquis said, his head between his hands as he sat on a stump. The puppy then decided to piss on said stump. "I really hate Quin. I hate everybody."

Back at the group

"Heh," Iisska snorted, "I'd rather be angry and back at the ship than angry and tired out here... Not against you. Didn't mean... just not out here. Like this. You know what I mean... Still feel bad about him, I guess, though... Should probably do something for him."

"We'll get him another puppy. I'm sure he'd LOVE that." Nyrette laughed.

And suddenly, in the back of all their heads, they felt a strange presence full of hate and metal angst.

"OR," Quin interjected, "We could pick up a few antiques for him from the armory. As a reward. Maybe if we ask nicely."

"What would he like? A cane? Longbow? Longsword? He might like longsword." Cheshik said.

"Marquis might like longsword, or [i]you[/i] might like longsword?" Iisska asked.

Cheshik stopped for a moment and looked at Iisska. He pointed at his Zweihander and laughed. "Longsword is for baby."

"Never mind," Iisska said.

"Hey, good news," Quin chirped back at them, "I think I see torchlight."

It was faint. Ever so faint. But up ahead a bit lower into the valley was the unmistakable warm glint of fires and lanterns.

"That's got to be it," she added.

"Well. Bazaars that Cynthia left agree with that, Quin." Cheshik said.

"The what?" she asked.

"He means markers." Nyrette sighed. "And don't ask how I know that. I don't know either."

"Oh... Cheshik. You mean markers," Quin told him.

"Yes, hun. I just said that." Nyrette pursed her lips.

"I know you just said that. I was simply passing on the information. This crew has obvious communication obstacles and you can never be too clear."

"Language barrier only minor problem. I hear Nyrette fine, and Iisska hear everything ever." Cheshik agreed with Nyrette. "Sometimes, choose not to listen to you though."

"It's a gift," Iisska shrugged and knocked on a montral, "Also. If you two could keep it down at night... You know. That would be great."

"Iisska. I am over three hundred pounds of muscle and scales. 'Keeping it down' is like you like complaining. Will not happen." He said in a snarky manner.

Iisska smirked at his friend and nudged him with a weak elbow, "I wasn't talking to you."

He took a moment to look at Quin and Nyrette and chuckled. "If I read the book that Nyrette gave me for christmas correctly, this is time for "Bow chika bow wow" right?" Cheshik laughed.

Quin could have easily burst into a beacon of bright red to guide all lost travelers on their way through the night within a fifty mile radius. Her nostrils flared, her eyes shot open and she turned on Iisska so fast she nearly creatied a sonic boom.

"You shut your god damn, shit spewing mouth, you knob gobbling, clown faced--" She began.

"Oh Quin. You are a bit of a squeaker." Nyrette said.

"WHAT!? No! I-- How do you-- We haven't even done anything yet!" Quin sputtered.

"Yet." She chuckled.

"Why the fuck not!?" Iisska yelled at Quin, "I don't get-- WHY!? What's wrong with you?"

"Love! Augh! Her one weakness!" Cheshik yelled.

"We all almost died, and you didn't take advantage of that?" Iisska was legitimately dumbfounded.

"It doesn't work like that, asshole," Quin hissed.

"Yes, this is not some bad movie or book. This is life, love is slow and tedious and actually fun, not stupid." She said.

"Pfft. Love [i]is[/i] stupid. Some garbage emotion that people use to take advantage of you and then spit at your face and step on your passions," Iisska argued.

Crickets could be heard chirping loud and clear. The river too. And someone sniffling.

"Wow," Quin whispered.

"You need to lay." Cheshik quipped.

"Aaauugh! No I don't! I just... It's stupid alright! I don't want to talk about this. Wanna go to bed," Iisska stomped his way over a small ravine ahead of the girls.