Mange and I make it back to the group. They all stare at us with a look of contempt. The air feels very heavy. I see the leader and speed up to catch him. I reach out and touch his shoulder. He quickly jerks away to avoid me. I’m sure he seen us save Gibson, but it shouldn’t warrant this behavior! I grab his shoulder again with much more force. The leader pulls away even faster. “Do not touch me with that filthy hand, “Laoch!” I stop walking. Why… is he acting this way? I uses to appreciate the leader for allowing me such a comfortable spot in the dungeon. I admired his power. Felt honored when he treated me as an equal to himself. But now… all I can see is a spoiled child… Is this… why Mange doesn’t treat him with respect?

Mange steps up behind me, placing his hand on my back and pushing me forward. “Don’ think too much on it. The dragon boy looks like he ‘as some baggage. Let’s jus’ give’im time ta unpack it.” I look around to see the intense glares of the others. I understand that I helped Gibson, but does helping a human… no, helping ANYONE warrant this kind of behavior? Maybe… it’s the newfound power, or the sense of duty that came with it, but I… just don’t feel the same animosity that I once did. Seeing how Gibson treated us, despite us being monsters, makes me think that each human may have their own personality, much like us monsters. They don’t all seek to kill us, nor do they all instinctively fear or hate us.

I looked around the group for someone who would be willing to talk. After a moment, I notice the Viperion girl from before. I work my way through the group to her, hoping she could shed some light on the situation. As I approach, she seems to avert her eyes from me, intentionally avoiding eye contact. I tap her arm to get her to look back. She glances my way. “W-what do you want, traitor?” I could tell in her tone that she was both nervous, and struggling hard to avoid interacting with me. In other words, she’s far too nice to avoid me. That’s perfect! I wave my hand, pointing to the group, then shrugging my shoulders. “If you’re asking why they’re upset, it’s because you saved a human.” She confesses without hesitation.

I grab my shield off of my waist and tap it, then wave my hands out to everyone, trying to tell her I defended all of them. I then shrug once more, wondering why that suddenly doesn’t matter over something so trivial. The Viperion girl looks at me with a saddened look. “Nearly everyone here has lost a loved one to a human Hero. They feel as though you’ve trampled on their feelings by saving a human! Do you truly not understand?” I look away from her. I… do understand. I was the only skeleton in the dungeon because my family was vanquished by Heroes as well. They are not alone in the fear and hatred. I just… understand that not all are alike. A wolf can be a pet while another can be vicious. I just… don’t know of a way that I can express this sentiment to them…

I feign back for now with nothing more I can say. I go back to Mange and walk beside him since he’s the only one who seems to understand. I look to the sky to see the sun setting. The day has nearly come to a close. Most of the children in our group are crying due to hunger or exhaustion. This must be quite taxing on them. I look to the leader in hopes that he will stop. It appears he’s too fixated on moving forward. I look around, searching for a spot suitable to rest. Amidst the vast forest, there was a single spot with a large clearing. I rush over to it, collecting sticks on the way. The others watch as I proceed into the clearing.

I collect some dead leaves and throw them in the middle of the pile of sticks. I look around for the Feline man. I spot him watching me from the outside edge of the group. I wave to him, then point at the pile, and gesture my hands as though we can sleep here. The Feline looks around as if he’s nervous to join me. After a moment, he sprints over to me. “You know the leader won’t appreciate us stopping like this!” I point to one of the crying children. The Feline looks at them and lets out a sigh. “I know… we can’t just walk without rest…” The Feline hesitates for a moment, then raises his hands, unleashing fire onto the pile of sticks.

The fire crackles and burns. Others take notice of it, but continue following the leader. Mange pushes his way through the group. “Guess now’s as good a time as any ta get some rest!” This is perfect! Without Mange or I in the group, the leader knows he can’t continue! As others begin to realize this, they all start branching away from the group and making their way over. Before long, the leader takes notice that monsters have walked away. He stops and storms over to us with an irritated look. “We do not have time for this! We must keep moving!” Mange takes a drink from his bottle as he lays back in a pile of fallen leaves. “Now, now! Rest is good fer th’ young’uns! Adults can keep walkin’ on an empty stomach, but kids can’t!”

The leader grabs his horns, pulling on them aggressively in frustration while grunting and cursing under his breath. He turns back to us and exhales to calm himself down. “Alright! Fine! Have your rest! But if any Heroes appear, you WILL take responsibility for it!” As the children lay down near the fire, the parents and some of the others rummage through their bags for any food they had brought with them. Mange sits up from the leaf pile. “Oi! Don’t worry yerselves wastin’ yer rations here! I’ll find us somethin’ nearby!” Mange stands up, lifting his shield before running into the woods. I thought for a moment that I should join him, but if there was anything he couldn’t handle out there, I’m sure I’d be of no assistance.

While we waited, we sat near the fire. I could hear spiteful whispers from those nearest to me. Many had complaints about us saving Gibson. The Feline sits down next to me. “I’ll be honest. I’ve lived in this dungeon much longer than most people. I’ve never seen anyone go from loved to hated with one act before.” I shrug my shoulders. It’s not like I did it because I aimed to save Gibson, but I’m not going to regret doing it. He was very kind to us, despite us being monsters. The Feline looks up to the sky. “I’m… sure you had a good reason.” I look back at him, curious about his sudden change of heart. “As someone who kept the dungeon lit, seeking no fame or fortune for it, I understand wanting to do something just because you’re capable, and it’s the right thing to do.”

Heh. Interesting. Here I thought that the only one who may understand would be Mange since he’s also a Hero like I am. I guess even the others could be Heroes, in their own respective fields. We sit, watching the sky as it fades to night and the stars begin to shine. The gleam of moonlight shining off of the snowy mountain cap in the distance looks immaculate. As everyone begins to loosen up and wind down, a ruffling sound from a nearby bush is heard! Everyone goes silent and stares intently at the darkened area of the woods it was heard from! I stand up, taking out my sword and shield, preparing for whatever may come!

As we watch, the shadow of two large sets of antlers raise well above my height! Taller than even Mange’s height! I raise my shield, nervously creeping closer to the creature! The thing rushes towards me, shouting loudly! “AHHHHH!!!” By the time I realize what was happening, Mange steps into visible range of the fire holding up two large elk by their heads. “AHHHH HA HA HA HA! I got ya, didn’ I?!” Everyone sighs or lets out a relieved chuckle. My body loosens as the fear leaves me. Mange carries the two elk over to the fire. “Here ya go! Jus’ cut’em up thin s’ they cook fast! The young’uns ‘re probably starvin’!” The adults of the group begin passing around the elk, cutting flanks from them and cooking it over the fire for their children.

As everyone eats, the conversation picks back up with a lot more laughing. The tension is dying down as the monsters have a good time eating and talking. I sit down near the fire, watching the flames dance and crackle inside the wood. Mange sits down next to me with a cooked piece of meat sitting on a cut of the elk’s skin. He bumps my arm and flicks his head to the left. The leader was sitting alone, away from the fire. I understand what Mange wants me to do. I stand up and carry the meat over to the leader. I sit down next to him and hold the meat up. The leader glances at me. “No thank you.”

I pull my hand back, looking down at the meat. “You know…” I look at the leader as he speaks. “I-I apologize for snapping at you. I’m sure… you had your reasons for saving a human.” The leader looks down at his hands, clenching his fists. “We all… have lost something precious to humans at one time or another… The wounds run too deep for me to feel you had made the right choice.” He loosens his clenched hands and stares into his open palms. “Perhaps this weakness is why… you became a Hero… and I did not.” I… want to respond to his inquiry so bad, but… I really can’t. I have no answers to why I was chosen to become a Hero.

The leader leans back, looking up at the stars. “I must reflect on my purpose and reevaluate who I am. I must become better than I am now.” I think Mange said it best. The leader has his own baggage. It’s up to him to unpack it himself. I have faith that he will find the answers he seeks. I set the meat on the hide down in front of the leader before standing up and returning to the group. I’m not sure how long we will be traveling for, but rest in the peaceful times will become valuable. As the children begin laying down to sleep, the parents and other monsters begin laying down as well.