Syl's wrists throbbed against the ropes holding them together. Her gaze followed Akane's hands as the Fox girl took the strip of cloth previously used as a threat, and carefully wrapped it around Amon's palm.

'Tending to his wounds? Well, isn't that cute…'

Syl clicked her tongue.

'So that's it, huh? I just… Followed them without thinking things through. Offered myself up prisoner without a real reason.'

The thought gnawed at her. For years, she'd lived resisting the tribe's chains, clawing and bleeding to keep herself from being reduced to a commodity. And here she was, sitting with her hands bound behind her back, having willingly joined the two.

'Despite everything, I remained with the tribe because it was my best chance at survival. Right now, I am with the strongest around… She clicked her tongue again. 'Am I not doing the exact same thing?'

She briefly thought of warning them about the Hobgoblins and Goblins on her trail, but the memory of their fight the night before made her decide against it.

'They don't need my warnings. If those bastards catch up, they'll only die faster. As for me, I need to think things through. I can't just go with the flow.'

And, of course, the critical piece of information for someone in her position is,'

"So… Where are the two of you going?"

Amon and Akane froze mid-step. The Fox girl's ears twitched. They stared at each other for a moment.

"What's your plan?" Syl pressed. 'If I learn what they're planning, I can better-"

"It's none of your business what we're planning or where we're going." Akane answered.

Syl arched a brow. 'What's with that insecure tone…?'

Before she could push, Amon's voice cut in. "The sun's setting. It'll be night soon. Here should be safe enough to sleep, don't you think?"

Akane gave a nod.

Syl instantly dropped to the ground, crossing her legs. Akane turned toward her, frowning deeply.

Growl-

"I'm kind of hungry," Syl muttered, her face as blank as she could keep it.

Akane's tail bristled. Her annoyance was obvious. She wasn't a prisoner, yet she had kept her hunger to herself. Where does Syl get the gall to-

"I could eat as well," Amon added. He tilted his head toward Akane. "Your turn, right?"

The Fox girl scratched her head in irritation. She turned in Syl's direction. "Don't get too comfortable." Her ears twitched once more, then she slipped into the treeline, vanishing.

The clearing grew quieter. Amon walked closer, leaning against the trunk of a nearby tree before glancing at Syl.

"Excuse her," he said with a half-smile. "I haven't known Akane long, but… I feel like it takes a lot out of her to be mean to you. Just like it takes a lot out of her to be suspicious toward me."

Syl studied him carefully, her amber eyes lingering on his strange frame and the clothes that weren't his own. "It's not her I'm worried about."

"Oh?"

A silent moment passed.

"You told her you gave me the key," Syl said slowly.

Amon's lips quirked. "I did. Sort of. Give them to you."

"What happened to Ron?"

He looked away, preferring not to answer.

"Were the two of you close?" Amon asked.

"You know exactly who I'm talking about, don't you?" She muttered.

'She's sharp.' Amon sighed as he scratched his head.

"You didn't just appear out of nowhere." Syl continued. "You didn't just kill him. Why would you know his name?"

"I was eavesdropping, when you gave Akane that knife. That's how I learned of the guy's name. It's also how I knew that you would help Akane, were I to provide the key."

"So you heard all that, huh?" Syl sighed, doing her best to act composed and unbothered. "Can't say I appreciate being spied on."

Amon almost chuckled at that. While he hadn't exactly spied on Syl, his gaze had previously lingered a bit too long on her naked body. Seeing her in torn clothes, he could vividly picture that curvaceous body of hers.

"So what are you?" Syl ended up asking. "Monster, Beast, Demon?"

"What happened to you?" Amon ignored her question. "Did they turn against you for helping Akane?"

"Something like that." Syl answered, trying her damnest not to appear weak. "They sucker punched me to get these on. They knew that they couldn't take me in a real fight."

"So they knocked you out, huh?"

"They did." She sighed.

"Guess we have something in common after all."

"Do we?"

Amon nodded.

"We've all been knocked out in the past 24 hours."

"Huh." Syl slowly lowered her gaze. "So we've all had a particularly shitty day."

"Not really." Amon shook his head. "I'm having a particularly great day."

After losing consciousness, Amon had devoured the Black Stone, seen Akane naked, felt her naked body against his, befriended her, and met Syl again.

It was a particularly great day.

Syl stared with a raised eyebrow. The knotted piece of cloth around his hand caught her attention.

"She's a loudmouth, that one." Syl muttered. "She used to beg and shout a lot." She explained, slowly looking away. "Each time, they threatened to beat her up. When they almost did, I had to put a gag around her mouth. She doesn't know what's good for her…"

"Is that so?" Amon chuckled while staring at Syl. It seemed like she was almost blushing, but he couldn't be sure. "The rope will come off soon, Akane is just trying to be more careful, after everything that's happened."

"If she knew what was good for her, she would have run away instead of fighting by your side. And she certainly wouldn't let me join you."

"You don't trust people easily, do you?"

"Look what trust got me." Syl said, turning slightly to expose the rope around her wrists.

"Fortunately for you, Akane is a good person." Amon chuckled.

Syl stared at the ground for a moment. "I know." She sighed. "That' why I'm not worried about her…"

"Oh. Hello, honourable lady." A crouching Akane whispered with a chuckle, offering her hand to the ladybug. "Another day of freedom, in the forest, huh?"

Syl let out another sigh.

"She's a goody two-shoes."

"You're being awfully honest." Amon muttered, surprised.

"Do I have a choice, if I want the rope to fall?" Syl asked, pursing her lips.

"No," He smiled. "You do not."

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