Between 3: Sins of a King

Chapter 16: One Last Meal

It becomes nightfall. Our heroes have been running for a few hours and finally take a break.

Ruby: "(panting) Can't take another (breathes deeply) step."

Jay: "(panting) I have to agree."

Jake collapses.

Jake: "Sore..."

Alyssa: "(snoring) Food..."

Sam: "Are you all right?"

Jay: "(panting) How can you handle that run?"

Sam: "I have to deal with runs like that to get items like medicine."

Jade set up the tents while the others were in pain.

Jade: "Quit complaining. The tents are ready."

Jake stands up.

Jake: "(sweating) I'll handle food."

Jake regulates his breathing.

Jake: "Now for some flames."

Jake switches to gauntlet from and sets up a light flame using dead plant matter as fuel.

Jake: "Now for the fun part."

Jake begins to cook the last of the food while in a state he calls, "The Zone," as Jay regulates his breathing.

Jay: "I'm gonna go lie down."

Ruby: "Go ahead."

Jay walks into the guys tent and lies down.

Jay: "(in head) I have to let the voices go, they're fucking with my fighting."

Jay stares at the roof of the tent.

Jay: "(in head) I can't let one thing fuck the mission."

Jake finishes food.

Jake: "Come and get it! (in head) I gave it my all."

Jay: "Better get some before Alyssa eats everything."

Jay leaves the tent and sits between Jake and Jade after grabbing some food.

Jade: "(chewing) This is really good Jake."

Jake: "I used a different set of seasonings than usual. (in head) I'm just glad that I used this seasoning right."

Alyssa: "You gonna finish that?"

Alyssa had already eaten everything else.

Sam: "Yes, you already ate all the seconds and we are going to need as much food in our stomachs as possible."

Alyssa: "(yawning) I'm going to bed."

Alyssa goes to her tent and begins to snore.

Sam: "I'll go join her."

Sam goes to join Alyssa.

Sam: "Of course you take my spot."

Ruby: "I'm going to bed too."

Ruby enters the second girls tent.

Jade: "This is the last time doing this with them."

Jay: "Are you sure you want to save Reith with us?"

Jake: "I can see that you would have issues being away from Ruby."

Jade remains silent for a single minute.

Jade: "I know it's gonna hurt me, but..."

Jake: "But?"

Jade: "Ruby is the main thing I care about. I can't lose her and if saving Reith can save her, I'll do it."

Jake and Jays jaws drop.

Jake: "Guess we fight for a similar reason. My brother was the only one there for me and my only friends back in Toriph had my back. I'm not losing them."

Jade: "What about you Jay?"

Jay: "I don't know."

Jade: "Really?"

Jay: "I just thought that Jake needed more help and if we lose Reith, then our time is up."

Jade: "We have our reasons, but I can't lose my sister."

Jade stands up.

Jade: "I'm going to bed."

Jake and Jay stand up.

Jake: "I'm gonna crash too."

Jay: "Alright."

The heroes enter their tents and step out the next morning.

Jake: "Let's get to our last stop."

Jade: "Alright."

The heroes pack up their things and book it to Agnonia until they see the town over a hill.

Jade: "Let's finish this."