We have completed chopping the head off the minotaur and cutting out the heart. We also packed the heart in one our bags. We walk with Nathe dragging the minotaur's head. Lucky their skin is thick and even more so with all the hair. Unfortunately for us, the process was not simple and clean. When cutting, smashing and tearing is involved… well. Sadly, Nathe and I, despite being careful, got a significant amount of blood on us. I had to take my coat off and wipe my face to get rid of the blood. Nathe… Nathe doesn't care. He just wiped his face and hands with a handkerchief that he hid in his pants.
I pause, hearing a carriage not too far approaching us from behind. A large one with passengers. A bus! I smile and share the news.
"Woohoo!" Nathe drops the head to raise his hands in the air. "I was getting sick of dragging this thing."
Lucky, we removed the corpse from the road before we left. And by we, it was mostly Nathe and I. And because of that we left the charismatic Alex to convince the bus driver to let us on. It took a bit of effort due to Nathe's appearance and my bloody coat that I hung over my shoulder, but we were eventually let on.
We had managed to find good enough rope and tied the head to the back of the bus wagon. People were scared at first, not having seen a minotaur before. Let alone a decapitated one. And let me assure you, their facial expression aren't peaceful. If a child were to suddenly gaze upon it, that poor child would have nightmares for a month.
We all sat on the bus, still with remnants of blood on our clothes, in silence. There are a total of three children on the ride. All three sitting together as to keep each other company. All of them looking at us in wonder. Nathe gives them a big bright smile and holds up a peace sign with his right hand.
The children laugh. It seems Nathe has this bright charisma that can make any child smile, despite being a tall, bulky man. Perhaps it's because of his blonde hair and happy-go-lucky smile. But he seems to be a natural with kids… with adults however. They only see him as someone terrifying. Someone who could crush them at any moment.
I suppose it's because of the blood, everyone is nervous to talk to us. They even made room for us, squashing each other to get as far away from us as they could. It took half an hour before anyone spoke.
"Mister, why aren't you covered in blood?" One of the children ask Alex.
"That's because I'm the shooter. I don't need to get close."
"Woah." The child exclaims, then asks another question. "What weapons do you two carry?"
"Hush, Adam!" His mother scolds.
I give a light smile. "Well, I use a sword and dagger."
"And I use mace. Wanna see?" Nathe says with a friendly smile. He reaches behind his back to grab it out, but I stop him.
"You haven't been able to clean the blood off yet." I say quietly through gritted teeth. We weren't near any water source for him to do that. Whereas with my blades I can just simply wipe it off with a cloth.
Nathe pauses for a second, his lips shut tight and eyes wide. I guess this is his expression of when he realises something that's obvious. I'm finding him easier to read than Alex. Alex tends to hide behind wit and sarcasm most of the time.
The bus wagon is silent again. Bored I look behind and watch the minitour's head be dragged. Hopefully we get a decent amount from it.
It would be nice to wash the blood from my clothes. If it even can be washed. If not, I'll have to go shopping for clothes again. Which was a pain the first time. Finding female attire for adventuring isn't easy. For example, pants. Pants that fit nicely around my legs and hips.
Though since I've started this journey, I've gained more muscle, as well as weight. I'm no longer thin and delicate like a stereotypical princess. Instead, I've gained some weight which has gone towards my muscles. They're not big. Which is good. I still want to be feminine. But I feel and look stronger. And in my opinion, there's nothing wrong with that.
Suddenly I hear something. A rustle. It's faint. I move my head so my ears face the direction of the noise. Another rustle. A snap of a twig. 12, no… 40. 40 foot steps? I think. And they're so close together. They're light as well. It's a pack.
I adjust my head again as they move.
"Hey, Rose. What is-"
"Shut up. Everyone."
The pack has split and they've moved ahead of us. They're waiting. I hear a few growls from them too.
My senses are sharpening.
"There's a pack ahead." I say. I look at everyone in the bus. "We have to stop. Now."
One of the passengers doesn't hesitate and knocks on the back slide window, made of wood, in a panic. It opens.
"What is it, sir?" The driver asks.
"The lady at the back says we have to stop."