Ereshk plunked himself down on a log stump near the campfire. He was breathing heavily and trying his hardest to calm his racing pulse. A bead of sweat oozed down the side of his face. How many more bags were left? Barst and his pegasus should only have maybe one or two more to carry, right? Ereshk had clearly carried all the rest already! ...Right? 

The mage glanced around the campfire and groaned, wincing as his sides ached from the strain. The food preparation area had two whole bags in it; the apples and the corn. Despite Ereshk's best efforts, almost all of the food was still with Barst and the pegasus. Then, of course, someone would have to go to town to get more. Ereshk had spent all day gathering nothing more than tonight's appetizer. If these newcomers ended up staying for dinner then there would be yet another handful of mouths to feed, and all the stuff Ereshk had brought would be even less of a meal for the camp as a whole. 

Ereshk propped his elbows up on his knees and buried his face in his hands, still wheezing from exhaustion. His sore fingers grasped onto his wiry black hair in irritation. He was trying his hardest here! Why couldn't they see that? He was trying! He was trying.