Looking around I could see a few others had decided to turn in early. There were still empty bunks, maybe I should move? But Sslaras’s stuff was still here, and he had been quick to help me last night. Besides, he was fun and easy to talk to. I was looking around trying to see if I could guess who had moved in next to me.

  Stalker sensing my unrest, emoted, danger? I explained my worries and Stalker huffed a bit and then looked at me and emoted, tree hunting pack, move den it was mixed with amusement and also pride in the growing pack. I almost deflated onto my bunk with relief. My lumber crew!

  Besides Stalker, who was more than family to me at this point, the crew were the closest things to friends I had here in Limbo. Sure, maybe only work friends for now, but it was a nice feeling to have that again! and the pragmatic side of me liked the not so subtle signal this sent to the rest of the camp, I was not alone.

  Stalker had joined me on the bunk and was using my pillow as bed, he looked comfortable and smug, the tail folded elegantly around his feet. I marvelled at Stalker's newfound powers. The calm and confidence I had felt last night, when Kwanlo attacked, had come from him, I was still worried about the source of that strength, but also secretly glad it was there.

  Speaking of worries, it was time to talk about the immediate future with my pack leader.

  Keeping my voice low, I whispered to Stalker, “What do you think about Deggan, the boss of the camp?”

  Stalker looked at me with his amber eyes, hard to read, but I imagined they were serious, as he emoted, Strong viper predator, pack leader false pack! Yeah, I did not like him either. I smiled and nodded in agreement as I said, “We need protection from him and the other crews, they are looking at us as if we are prey” he growled softly, not happy at being seen as prey.

  “Deggan has access to information and resources that we don’t and he may be the leader of a false pack, but he does lead and as long as we are useful to him, he will keep us safe”

  Stalker got up from my pillow and with a soft growl and tail between his legs he moved under the bed, where he emoted, tall pack, wrong pack and I could feel his confusion and disdain for the way we humanoids worked. After a few moments he added, Tiny protector protect pack, pack hunt tall dreams?

  I got up from the bed and crawled under and lay next to him, so I could see him and whispered, “Yes, he will help me hunt the stories and dreams” looking around under the bunk, it smelled and the dust was here in force, it struck me that it needed something for Stalker, and reaching up with an arm I pulled down my pillow and pushed it towards Stalker.

  He graciously accepted my offering, and as he made himself comfortable, I said, “Soon we will be stronger, and we can leave this pack if we want to…” and because honesty was important, “but maybe we can follow this pack to richer hunting grounds first”

  Stalker looked over from his new pillowbed and emoted, Tiny protector hunt tall dreams as pack.

  While still under the bunk I could hear commotion as a group of people entered, before I could get too anxious, I hear Sslaras distinct voice, “Look at that! So famous that he is trying to hide!” followed by a hissing laughter from the lizardman, others joining in as the sight of a grown ass man “hiding” under his bunk was a novel sight in the barracks.

  The laughter got louder, when I stood up, covered in dust and Jack joked, “Our hero does not hide! He is just doing some spring cleaning, using his body as a mop” I looked at Jack, Nelly, Barlo and Sslaras sheepishly, as I tried to get some of the dust off me.

  “Hi guys, are you my new neighbours?” Still grinning the group looked at me and then around the barrack, making sure people were listening in. “Yeah, after last night we thought it would be best if we slept as a group,” Jack said. Nelly, interjecting, “Something like last night should never have happened!”

  I sat down on my bunk, yawning and then with a smile said, “Thank you guys, this means a lot to me!” Looking around the room, I added, “I was beginning to worry that coming back was a mistake”

  Barlo shaking his head, “Never a mistake, without you we would not have known what a hero Frino was, or heard his last words to us… for that I will gladly guard you in your sleep, even if it means sleeping close to Sslaras’s farts!” At this everybody laughed, even Sslaras, which to be fair, did have some vile nocturnal gas issues.

  The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  The following days went by in a haze, I worked with my crew, the peace continued, I got closer to my class quest being complete and the camp rumor mill was going about some sort of excursion taking place soon.

  I managed to really enjoy myself even though the work was hard, my new physique was up to the task and I found that I liked using my new body. I also made time for Stalker and we often went on small walks around the camp, exploring everything close by. But never without a few from my workcrew.

  I still got calculating looks, but the show of support from my crew went a long way to discourage random acts of aggression and a big factor was the unknown, no one was sure if I had a class or classes, what they were and how powerful I might be, here Deggan actually helped just by doing nothing. His inaction was being seen by some as a sign that he too was wary.

  On the fifth day, I was called in to a meeting with Deggan. Stalker opted out of the invitation, emoting to me that he was going for a solo hunt. This time the invitation was just for coffee, and some insanely delicious cookies! I’m afraid that I lost my decorum as I munched cookies like a barbarian fresh from the desert. Deggan's initial reaction to this was disdain, but it eventually turned into a little smile that would haunt my nightmares if I had seen it back in my old life.

  “I think it is safe to say that the forest has been appeased” Deggan stated, and continued, “I am a man of my word, so I consider your debt to me paid…” Deggan looked at me expectantly.

  “Thank you, sir” I continued, “I find myself in need of a friend as it were…”

  Deggan nodded, all smiles now, “Wise decision! I think we are going to get along nicely!”

  He rang a little bell and within moments a server entered to remove the coffee and cookies, although I did manage to snatch a few at the last moment.

  Deggan smiled, “there will be time for more cookies when you return from my family’s mansion in Sweetwater.” With some regret I tried to let the last cookie last and focus on the briefing.

  The briefing was short and lacking in details.

  Deggan wanted me to go to Sweetwater, a town overrun with undead. It was around 2 days travel upstream from here and once there he wanted me to find their mansion and rob the vault… Simple, easy and just to make sure I didn’t get any ideas, he would send Luka and Celine with me. Or as he put it “I know you can handle yourself, but it is a dangerous trip, so I’m sending Luka and Celine with you, as guides and for safety.”

  Coming out of the meeting with Deggan, I was met by Celine. She was lounging on a sofa, with a cup in one hand and a plate of cookies resting on her stomach… So that's where the cookies went! I am not normally so fixated on cookies, but these cookies were absolutely delicious, so I might have stared a bit.

  Celine, following my gaze, made an understandable mistake and with cookies in her mouth said “Eyes up here!” Stammering, I said, “...uhh I did not… I mean.. Cookies! .. I was looking at your cookies”

  She did not look convinced, nope not in the slightest, as she growled back, “Keep your eyes and hands of my “Cookies” if you want to live”

  Knowing that I couldn’t win this, I reluctantly raised my eyes from the plate and she sighed, as she put the cup and plate away and got up from the sofa. “Follow me” she said, as she walked out of the waiting room.

  After a short, but uncomfortable silent, walk we ended up in a small locked storage room, where Celine quickly located a bundle of prepared gear for me. I got a knife of decent quality, some sturdy travel clothes, a breastplate of hardened leather, bedroll, flint and steel, some rope, some empty sacks, waterskin, tent and a good lumberaxe… Basic gear, but since I had nothing, this was great!

  Celine looked at me, her expression of disdain, changing slightly at my reaction to getting handed some basic gear. She looked at me for a minute, while I fiddled with the breastplate and admired the knife and then she said, “we leave at dawn tomorrow, meet up at the mess hall”

  Taking my riches back to the barrack, I ran into Jack, Nelly and Barlo playing a game of dice at our bunks, Stalker was lying on my bunk watching the game with some interest. As I came in with all my gear, the group went silent and then Jack said, “so the rumors are true? You are going on an expedition?”

  Looking at the three, all trying to look casual, hiding their curiosity, I answered, “yeah, we are in a good news, bad news situation.” The good news is that Deggan has decided that I have paid off my debt to the camp, I am a free man!” At this they cheered and congratulated me, and then went still waiting for the bad news.

  I looked at them somberly, and then said, “the bad news is that you guys will have to endure Sslaras night farts alone for some time…” I smiled at their disgusted faces, and continued, “he wants me to go to Sweetwater and check it out” I figured that the rumor mill would spread the destination soon enough, so this was hardly top secret.

  Nelly gasped softly, Jack and Barlo looked slightly puzzled. Nelly appearing worried said, “My family was from Sweetwater, although I have never been there…” dumping my stuff on my bunk, and getting Stalker to scoot over a bit, making room for me as I sat down and looking at Nelly, I said, “Sounds like there is a story there?”