Zephyr returned earlier than normal at camp. He didn't bother experimenting for one night. He'd exhausted himself after the others left their spot with his own rigorous training, going through techniques and his usual push-ups, press-ups and the like. He was now hitting 90 reps in all of the exercises.
Arikig was sitting beside Dain, the Draegorths gathered around the fire, and Fig was beside them, acting overly flirty. Something he knew now was her version of wiggling her way back into their good books. He was pretty sure sleeping with them wouldn't earn their trust back, but who was he to tell her otherwise?
"Listen up." Garzon turned to the Slinktails sitting by their own pot of stew on the side. "We have a meeting tonight. It is more than likely that we're gonna move out tomorrow, so prep and be ready by first light.."
"How come?" Zephyr asked, pausing when he realised everyone stopped to stare at him.
Silence, thick with growing tension, followed his question. All eyes flicked between the Slinktail, who foolishly asked more than his level had any right to, and the Draegorth in charge, whose temper had grown worse recently.
"Because I fucking said so," Garzon snapped and pointed a grubby finger in Zephyr's direction. "Continue questioning us like you actually hold some important role here and see what happens."
For the time being, Zephyr grits his sharp teeth, holding the Draegorth's gaze, or so he thought he was, the fucker still didn't have eyes where he could see them. He held his tongue but made it clear he wouldn't submit and beg for forgiveness because he asked a simple question. Garzon spat on the ground, chest heaving, a cruel smirk growing until Maz's hand clamped down on his shoulder.
"We don't have time," he said sternly.
Garzon shook him off and kicked the bigger stew pot the Draegorths had been using. It tumbled over the fire, putting it out. "Clean that up and get more firewood," Garzon growled his order at Zephyr. "Nobody fucking helps him." He looked sharply at Fig before storming off, his feet stomping through the snow and making the ground shake.
Tez followed him without another glance in their direction.
"Fig, stay in my tent tonight." Zephyr forced himself to focus on his plate of food, ignoring the conversation between Maz and Fig and the dying embers of the fire Garzon put out.
Zephyr had to return to the forest at the worst possible hour. He'd been training and growing stronger, but he wasn't foolish enough to believe he could survive again in the Dark Forest, especially now that the haunting melodies of the forest seem to have come to life more.
Putting his food aside, he figured risking a chance with Maz. He rushed to the Draegorth's side before he could catch up to the others. "Maz, fancy giving me a boost over the wall?"
The Draegorth snorted, making it apparent he would not throw him over the wall and help him. "Don't bother. We'll be moving tomorrow. Just clean this shit up," Maz ordered, turning away and disregarding Garzon's order.
Zephyr watched him walk away, contemplating the minotaur's command. He didn't fancy going into the forest and returning with firewood they wouldn't carry with them anyway, but he also didn't particularly want a beating from Garzon.
"Gaz won't care after his meeting," Fig encouraged him to follow Maz's words.
"What's the meeting?" Zephyr questioned again, but Fig shook her head and disappeared into the tent Maz instructed her to go to. Zephyr sighed, gaze flicking to the sneaky Slinktail on the snowy ground. Arikig was already cleaning up after the Draegorth's tantrum like a good little dog.
Zephyr shook his head and took the Slinktail's plates instead to clean up. Dain scowled at him and followed him, casting a look behind him at Arikig, but he was focusing on the task at hand.
"Zephyr," he whispered harshly, catching up to him with a cloth and wiping the bowls after he cleaned them. "What was that?!"
"Hmmm?" Why was Dain so transfixed by the following rules? He was still a demon... Well, he wasn't as bad as Arikig.
"What's going on with you? You and Fig… there's something you're not telling me." At Zephyr's confused expression, he continued. "And you're returning like you've been murdering people every night, then this… Speaking back to Garzon and asking for favours from Maz, Maz of all demons!"
Zephyr shrugged. "You can come with me if you like? I've been testing a theory, that's all. And I don't have to follow their orders."
Dain's eyes blazed into Zephyr's as he gripped the plate tightly between them. "Yes, you fricken do, kid. If you don't, that's it. Dead. Don't be an idiot-"
"I'm not sitting on my ass waiting for the next beating," Zephyr hissed, releasing his hold on the plate, making Dain jolt back and glare at him. "I'm useful to some extent for them, and Maz… is a little more reasonable than Garzon."
"I've told you before and today… It's not so simple to level up. You won't be a Draegorth any time soon. All you're doing is toeing the line to death."
"You know I don't appreciate your pessimistic attitude, Dain." Zephyr turned to him, golden eyes fixed on him. "Maybe there's a reason you're taking so long to level up."
Something didn't feel right about Dain's words, or it was because Zephyr was beginning to piece together that the dark energy was possibly linked with levelling up. It had to. Zephyr could feel his strength growing, yet he hadn't dedicated enough time to training to warrant feeling so fit and healthy.
Dain dropped the plate into the snow and stepped up to Zephyr, tilting his chin higher because of Zephyr's height. "You think I haven't tried my hardest?" He grabbed him by the collar.
"I'm saying I'm already surpassing you in training." Zephyr inched his face forward, glaring straight back at the Slinktail. "Think outside the box a little here-"
"You tall prick," Dain hissed, his ego dented from Zephyr's words. He balled his hand into a fist and tried to strike Zephyr, but he blocked it easily and punched him in the gut.
Dain sputtered, his body flopped over Zephyr's fist, wheezing for breath. Zephyr sighed, staring off into the snowy wilderness, the only light of the black canvas of night from the stars and silver moon. "Try harder or don't. At the end of the day, it's up to you."