Kire looked behind her at Ruli and Ysaryn, and she wondered if the elf was only pretending just so she could talk to Ruli and tease him some more. And Ruli, what would he say about her in her absence? She faced forward instead, sighing. Gods, when was the last time she had been this nervous? 
Narda looked down at her and shook her head. “You are a million miles away, little Wyvernling. What’s wrong?” 
“Uh. Nothing big,” Kire replied, waving it off. “So, how have the two of you been faring while we were gone?” 
“Not too badly, the second time around, especially since we mild-mannered ones were left behind, eh, Zeke?” Narda responded with a chuckle. 
Kire shook her head at that, though she kept her objections to the statement to herself. “But why are you out here? Didn’t they give you lodging?”
 “They offered, but we do miss meat, hence the hunt today.  It wasn’t because they wanted to starve us, mind.”  
“Ahh. Makes sense.” 

Kire fell silent as they walked back to Lithilote. “Tell us about the gate, woman!” Narda needled, clicking her tongue. 
“Oh! Sorry. I should probably start with what happened when we got separated.” Kire rubbed her nape, then did her best to retell their side of yesterday: how she emerged from the gate separated from the others. How Ed and Ysaryn were found, and then later, how the crew of the [i]Wench[/i] stumbled upon Ruli. Her jaw clenched at the memory of the parlay with the Gemini emissaries, and she recounted how she and Ruli worked to tear apart the gate. [i]And when that was done…[/i] Kire paused her retelling right where they had gone back to Elva’s manor in the North. “Your turn,” Kire said afterward, looking at them. “Did you have to fight your way through the thicket again?” 

Kire listened, determined to distract herself from her thoughts, falling silent afterward. Narda looked down at her old friend, frowning. When Kire noticed the look on the giantess’s face, she sighed. “Narda,” Kire began, hesitating. “[i]When you and Ed…the day after. Was it awkward? Did it feel like you had destroyed your friendship?[/i]”
Narda’s brows rose in surprise. Now [i]that[/i] she hadn’t expected. She glanced at Zeke momentarily. “[i]For a while. We had known each other a while already by then, and it took a while to navigate that new terrain. But once we were clear on what we wanted from each other, as bedmates and as friends, things went easier. But, Wyvernling,[/i]” the giantess’s tone was gentle, “[i]this sounds like a conversation that needs a drink. And a more appropriate venue. And if I am to offer you advice, I would perhaps needs better details on your end, no?[/i]”
“Yeah.” Kire sighed.