Step after step, Avery and the team of five climbed up the slope toward their long-awaited destination. Deep inside his heart, Avery couldn't wait to get there, wherever "there" was.
Since waking up hours ago, all he had seen were shrubs, grass, leaves, animals, and trees. However, now he was about to encounter a form of civilization in this new world he had found himself in, and he couldn't wait for the culture shock.
As they moved further from the forest, Avery began to experience something that Centshuu had warned him about – the intense cold at night.
Although he had always felt the cold, it had never been to this degree. Now, he finally understood the validity of Centshuu's words.
Within the forest, the thick canopy of leaves and the dense trees acted as natural windbreakers, tempering the intensity of the cold breeze. However, outside the forest, the cold became unbearable.
To protect himself from the biting cold, Avery clasped the collar of Centshuu's jacket, fastening it shut to shield himself from the low temperatures. His bare chest was particularly vulnerable to the cold, as that's where his heart was, and he didn't want to risk developing hypothermia.
Centshuu, hearing the ruffling of his jacket and sensing Avery's discomfort from behind, turned and asked, "What's the matter, pug? Is the weather too cold for you?"
Centshuu had a smug look that said "I told you so."
Avery exhaled from his mouth to warm his lower lip, which had gotten dehydrated because of the cold dry weather, and then smirked at Centshuu.
"Just a minor inconvenience, but I'll manage." He said with his teeth trembling slightly.
Centshuu examined Avery from head to toe. "I guess that even though your body looks fine, we shouldn't forget that you had fallen from a significant height when we found you. Your insides might still be sensitive."
In most cases, injuries or strain to the body and muscles result in symptoms of fever, which seems to be what Avery is experiencing at the moment.
Avery replied, "I guess you're right."
Centshuu said confidently, "Of course I am," then changed to a reassuring tone "Don't worry about it too much. We're almost at our destination and once we get there, the warm ambiance and sheltered walls will fix you right up."
Avery, who had heard about their destination multiple times now but had never actually been told what that destination was, grimaced.
Curious to get answers about their destination, Avery finally asked, "I know I want to see it just as much as all of you, but what exactly is this place we're heading to?"
Immediately, Shieve, who had been harboring resentment towards Avery, turned and sneered at him. He couldn't resist making a snide remark, and so he said:
"Ungrateful prick! Is that how you talk to the people who helped you out of that mess you were in?!"
Avery, unwilling to worsen the situation, gave him a tired look. He had wanted to say something back but no matter how much he thought about it, there just wasn't anything he could say to the man.
Not that he couldn't say anything back, but he didn't want to because he didn't know a way to speak his mind without coming off as being ungrateful towards the people— including Shieve— who saved him from the forest.
Unfortunately, Shieve didn't care about that.
Out of all the members, Shieve had maintained the most hostility towards Avery. Initially, it was driven by fear, because of what happened when he touched Avery back in the forest, but now, Shieve had shifted to condescension as he deemed Avery incapable of posing a threat.
The behavior change took place after seeing Avery struggle with walking on his own while also presenting himself in a weakened state during their entire exit from the forest.
Now, brimming with confidence, Shieve had no problem letting Avery know how unwelcome he was in the group, especially after he concluded that Avery couldn't hurt him like he once thought.
If the others didn't want to say it, then Shieve had no problem revealing that he didn't want to bear the weight of another person in their group when there already wasn't enough to go around.
He knew that because of Centshuu's promise, Avery would have to be in their care until they were successful in their mission of hunting down the Mystical Beast of species, Ferallith, and Shieve, who was already terrified as is, didn't want a situation where his life is put in danger because of an inexperienced extra.
Even they, Centshuu and the rest, had never hunted a Mystical Beast before. All they were going by was knowledge passed down through stories and instructions from books. So, why bring someone who on this particular task is way worse off than they are? Shieve thought.
The only thing that separated them from Avery was their knowledge and healthier bodies, which in the grander scheme of things isn't that assuring. Hence, Shieve was scared out of his mind about what would happen to them— most especially him— when they eventually faced their prey.
What else could the weakest-looking, less skilled, less talented, and less capable member of the group do if not worry and lash out on his concerns, which, unfortunately for Avery, he was one of them?
"Just shut up and keep walking. When you get there, you'll know what the destination is—" Shieve said, but was cut off when they all started hearing the sound of music.
"What's that coming from the top of the slope? Is that music?" Avery asked, ignoring Shieve's hostility and staring at the top of the slope with curiosity-filled eyes.
Centshuu smirked "I guess we're close enough to hear that darn forsaken music," he said.
"What are you saying, Centshuu? You love that song" Mosey said, then they, minus Shieve and Avery, all smiled.
Centshuu chuckled "Whatever," he said, rolling his eyes playfully, then looked at Avery from over his shoulder.
"Looks like you finally got to find out what the Joint is, pug. I won't say much 'cause you'll see it for yourself, but what I will say is that the Joint is a wonderful establishment where you not only find shelter but your thirsts get satiated too. Isn't that right, boys" Centshuu said, and Mosey grinned from ear to ear.
"A real thirst quencher it is... Hehe," Mosey said cryptically, and as they finally got to the top of the slope, Avery saw what the Joint was.
He grimaced, filled with doubt about his original assessment of what his eyes saw while still trying his best to grasp what the Joint actually was.
After some time, he gave in and accepted his assumption of what type of establishment it was.
"Wait, our destination, it's… a Brothel?" Avery said.