Dungeon Hunter: Act I

Meat Cute

"Fancy digs you guys got," Jye noted, staring at the tents as we walked through the store, or rather their base. The redhead was being completely genuine but to any other person it probably would've come off as sarcasm.

I went to elaborate, but Killian let out a little chuckle. "Aren't they just? I bagsed the biggest and best one." He pointed to a ridiculously large tent that stretched the size of a master bedroom. "It's a Zempire Delta Force V2."

Jye's green eyes lit up.

"Oh, dude, my family always used to dream about buying the V1!"

Killian nodded enthusiastically. "They had good taste. But the V2 is a slam dunk on improvement, if you ask me."

Even though no one was asking him, the mulleted man went on to explain all the updates they'd made on the design to an enrapt Jye as we exited through to the employee parking out back. The mouth-watering aroma of grilled meat all but swept me off my feet. It was crazy to think but it was as if I'd forgotten how freshly cooked food even smelled.

The person manning the barbecue, tongs in hand, and an apron saying "Kiss the Chef," turned to us. Their reaction was a stretch to call a greeting.

They blinked defeatedly at us. "Six more mouths to feed, huh?"

Seemingly about my height, the chef in question looked to be no older than fifteen. They still had the chubby cheeks of a child though their face was dotted with the telltale signs of puberty; a fresh reddening of acne and a wispy scattering of facial hair.

Almost cartoon-like, the six of us hovered closer to the barbecue area, leering at the sizzling steaks with salacious gazes.

"I'm guessing you're hungry?" the teen asked, voice completely void of any emotion.

Killian introduced her as Phoenix before listing off all our names. How he'd remembered them in such a short time, I didn't know. It made me wary of him. What else about us was he committing to memory? It was suspicious. Not to mention he got along with everyone in the party so well. Too well.

He'd had Wren and Gigi smiling within moments of talking to us and had even managed to finagle Tam into something resembling a conversation. Well, the fact that he and Jye got along didn't mean that much. Jye's hyperfixations of anime and k-pop, and tents apparently, were easy ways of winning them over. It was like feeding a stray their favourite treats to lure them in. And then there was Axel, who Killian apparently was on a middle-name basis with.

Thus, I maintained a neutral distance from him, remaining sceptical of his ulterior motives, wishing I knew more about him and Carrie and Phoenix. That said, part of me was relieved Carrie wasn't with us.

She had replaced Killian on lookout duty so he could take a break for dinner. I doubted she would have any appetite tonight either. I hadn't eaten for just over forty-eight hours after I learned about Chrissie. It would probably be worse for her, I imagined. Maybe I'd try and bring her something easy to eat if I could find anything still in our stash later tonight.

I told myself that wasn't guilt talking.

"That smells so good," Wren said, rubbing her hands together like a praying mantis before its prey.

"It's just meat," Phoenix said.

Jye exclaimed, "I never understood the phrase 'I could eat a horse,' but I am not playing right now. I could eat a horse."

Phoenix replied, "Well, this is cow and kangaroo."

"He was talking about the amount."

Jye smiled. "Quick note, dude, I use they/them."