“Take care! May the moon watch over you!”

“You as well. Thank you both so much for your help!”

And like that they were gone. After enduring the storm and cleaning up her mess with the spilled tea, Quynh had finally made it into town with Marama and Oryn. While she hated to say goodbye to the pair of shifters she knew that their journey had to end since they all had their separate paths. But at least she could hopefully see them in Neued in the future, especially once she settled back into Jahaur. Now that she had a reason to linger around Chibale instead of roaming the world with her mothers, Quynh was more than ready to figure things out for her own future. As much as she enjoyed traveling there was something nice about the idea of having a home and of doing her own thing instead of wandering from hunt to hunt in the wilderness. “But can I find my mothers?” Quynh tilted her head thoughtfully as she roamed the markets of the smaller village, trying to gain any information on a pair of roaming Aishans.

“Oh yeah, there were some of them in the tavern last night. Might still be there if you hurry.” One merchant advised; the petit shifter pointing down the road so that Quynh could find the way to the tavern. It was a smaller place, one that Quynh had never visited before since her mothers rarely stayed in such places but she was hoping the group of hunters would at least recognize her mothers if she asked. Though now as she approached she wondered about that, her expression full of disdain as she recognized the trio of Alkidikes as those who had once tried to bully her as children.

“Vel, Yone and Trisk.” The names slipped from her lips as easily as a curse as she looked between the three. “I was not expecting you here at a tavern.”

“Oh?” Trisk looked towards Quynh with disdain on her own features. “Neither would we expect to see you here. The storm pushed us to seek shelter and we stayed a couple of days while getting our bearings.”

“Is that so? Well, I would ask if you’ve seen my mothers but you would need to know about actual hunts to have spotted them…” Started Quynh, turning as if to leave since she didn’t want to deal with this particular trio today. Things were going so well and she didn’t want to ruin her mood with their antics after all.

“We did see them. They were headed back towards Chibale.” Replied Vel lightly. “Since we are hunters, not some decorative priss.”

“I see.” Quynh’s fingers tightened at her sides. “It’s nice knowing that you can see my decorations considering how awful your aim was last time I checked.” She managed after a moment, a small smile crossing her lips as she looked over her shoulder towards the Alkidikes. “Thanks for the info.” At least if she could trust their words that would help her to locate her mothers.

“H-hey!” Vel frowned. “I can definitely shoot an arrow. I doubt you could do any better!”

“Why? Because I have Elaria blood?” Quynh addressed them this time, taking her bow from her shoulders. “Want to try me?”

“Fine. If you can’t beat me in a shooting contest then I dare you to do something I want.” Vel replied, standing up as she challenged Quynh.

“Count us in as well.” Yone stood with Trisk right behind her. “If you lose I can’t wait to have you do something embarrassing.” She grinned, pushing Qunyh out the door with them until they stood outside of town by a ring of trees. “Hit those knots, whoever gets the better shot wins.”

“Fine.” Quynh bristled but she knew that she had to keep her composure else the trio would actually have a fair chance. Archery took calm, that much she knew even though she had picked up dual blades as well. Still, she was confident since both of her mothers had put her through years of harsh training for the hunt and Quynh simply nodded as she gestured for the other Alkidikes to go ahead. “I’ll let you proud warriors go first. If you lose then I’ll get something for myself.”

“Heh, as if.” Still they moved to shoot the spot in question, Yone getting the best shot out of the three before Quynh raised her own bow. And needless to say, less than an hour later Quynh was returning down the road to head back towards Chibale with a new travel bag and goods tucked neatly inside. It was a much more profitable option than having them do something stupid like kissing her feet or something, as tempting as that had been once she hit bullseye and defeated them all.

[810]