Shortly after, the three went back to the party. They can hear them talking loudly. It seemed like there was a commotion going on.
"I told you, we should follow my brother. Damn it! What if something happens to him? That wolf seems strong." Vaissien was talking with Feldor.
"Calm down, Vaissien. Cimmerian is a capable hunter than you think, you know? Let's just wait for a bit."
Ferm, who was also worried, agreed with Vaissien. "I think Vaissien is right. It's taking longer. Chief. The two, Alfredo and Mado, may also be in danger!"
"Yeah. It's too dangerous."
"Cimmy, please be safe."
Rayha and Elaine were also worried.
"Lower your voice. I recognize a few footsteps." Chief Feldor put his left ear of the ground. "Oh, it's just them."
It was Feldor who first sensed the three walking. They emerged out from the dense side of the forest. All of them were relieved, but, when they saw the fox tailing behind, they were dumbfounded.
"What!!?" Vaissien panicked
"What's going on???" Waldo followed suit.
"Why is it still…" Ferm was immobile again.
"Watch out, you three! The wolf…" Chief shouted.
"Calm down, you all." Cimmerian stopped them when he saw them drawing their weapons. "This isn't a wolf, but a male fox. I've domesticated it already. So it's fine. I've thought that it's regrettable to kill it. So I took it in."
By the way, Cimmerian advised the fox not to talk in front of the people, in order to avoid trouble and unnecessary confusion. In return, the fox agreed to the letter.
"Really??? You tamed it?" Vaissien asked.
"Yes. It won't attack people anymore. If it does, I'll just kill it without delay anyway. Simple, right?" He firmly pronounced in a simple, yet, sadistic manner.
(Hey, that's just cruel. I'm not a brainless wild animal, okay? I understand warnings.) The fox thought.
"Are you sure it's safe? I hope you're not jeopardizing our safety." Waldo, whose eyebrows furrowed in skepticism, warned Cimmerian.
With few more convincing that the fox had already been innocuous, the party accepted eventually. Furthermore, everyone continued to march of where their chief destination was located. They traveled farther through the thick forest. When they arrived, it was already noon. Still, they paid close attention to the cave-like perforation from afar, and waited for a few minutes. For the mean time, they ate their lunch.
"Vaissien, please stay here. I wanna go somewhere for a while. Guys, please excuse me."
Cimmerian asked the fox to follow him. He gave a signal by flicking his eyebrows. Vaissien didn't come along with him. Rayha, Elaine, and Ferm just continued eating while watching the two leaving.
When they were already far enough from the crowd, the two began their rhetoric.
"Hey, Mr. Fox, I have a favor to ask. Please, lay low as always, okay? I think you will be staying at our house when we get home. Also, here," he took a sliced and brewed meat from his lunch, "have some."
(We already have a pact that he doesn't have to feed me. Why's he doing this? You're a kind kid, huh?) He thought while looking at him.
"You don't have to feed me, you know? I thought it's part of the agreement."
"Don't be stupid," Cimmerian hit his head slowly. It wasn't something hard. It seemed like a unique form of caressing someone. "Although I said that, I have my conscience as well, you know?"
(So, he's also affectionate sometimes, huh?) The fox further thought.
He was happy that Cimmerian seemed interested in him too. But a moment later, he felt something warm and blinding in his eyes.
He actually compared Cimmerian and Vaissien on his head. And he sighed. He never liked the attitude of those on the likes of Ferm and Vaissien.
(Oi. Oi. What's wrong with that kid a while ago? He's so bright. I couldn't stand being with people like him.) He imagined the fact that he'd be staying in the house.
"Thank you fo this, my friend," he ate the charred meat, "I promise to be a useful friend to you."
"You're welcome!"
"Oh, I know. You're a great schemer, right? How about I'd be your intel gatherer? I can supply you with the needed information. I only have one condition: feed me with this meet every time I come back from my intel mission. How's that? I also feel bored staying at your house like a shut-in pet, you know?"
"Are you sure? You'd be in danger. Can you really do that?" Cimmerian didn't expect his proposal.
"Of course. I can do that." He swayed his fluffy tail side by side.
"Oh, then, it's a deal. I'll give you double slabs, okay?"
"Yes. Now, give me my first mission."
"Here you go…" Cimmerian narrated his next mission. This would be a big one.
"Right. After this current mission of yours, I will depart immediately."