"I have found out that there ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them."
― Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer Abroad

Their caravan had stopped for the night at the edge of the Aranoch desert. Tomorrow they would cross it and enter Lut Gholein. From there, they would chart a boat across the Twin Seas to Gea Kul. Then the caravan would continue on to Caldeum. At least, that was the path Kormac was able to discern from the map.

He had never traveled so far before, he only knew the land around Westmarch, the Order and New Tristram. He had been intently studying the map of the known world Leah had shown to him, trying to get a feel for where they were going. The Templar was surprised at how quickly their little band had grown. He wasn't quite sure what he had expected, but it wasn't this.

The Order had sent him to retrieve the lost texts stolen by Arch Bishop Lazarus, and he had found several of them already, but that was not his only mission, he had to learn of the sacred prophecy as well. Jack had saved his life in the depths of the old Tristram cathedral, and together they had killed the Skeleton King. After, Jack had taken him to meet Deckard Cain, the last Horadrim. There was much he had wanted to ask the old man, things about his Order, the holy tomes, his knowledge of the Three. There was so much he could have learned from Cain, and now he'd never get the chance to ask.

He would do everything in his power to avenge him.

And now the prophecy was starting to unfold before them as they journeyed in the company of an angel. Truly, his order would be proud of him if they knew.

He was weary from a long day on the road and couldn't think much on the subject of their angelic companion. Lying down on his bedroll, sleep was hard coming, and he tossed and turned on the cold ground. Leah was fast asleep nearby and he could hear Haedrig snoring. The other nameless travelers of their caravan were some distance away. Kormac could see the light of their fire but could not hear any voices so he could only assume they were asleep as well. He sighed in frustration. His back was a little sore from sitting in a caravan all day and he ached for a little action. He almost hoped that some band of thieves would attempt to rob their caravan tomorrow, if only to give him a chance to exercise some righteousness!

Speaking of thieves, he couldn't help but eavesdrop on Jack and Lyndon's conversation at the campfire several feet away. He rolled onto his side so that he could observe them. Jack crouched very still by the fire while Lyndon reclined in a carefree manner against the fallen log at his back. Kormac still couldn't believe that the hunter had taken that deplorable individual along with them. The Templar had already argued with Lyndon many times and had barely known him a few days. He could only imagine how poorly they were going to get along for the rest of their journey. He did not keep company with thieves!

Taking Lyndon with them, was the first poor decision Kormac thought Jack had made since he'd met him. He just couldn't understand his reasons! Actually, Jack hadn't even offered any! Despite this, he did his best to respect the man's wishes, he owed him that much.

"So you're a Demon Hunter." Lyndon said to their brooding leader, interrupting Kormac's thoughts. "I've heard of people like you but never actually met one before. Where did you learn how to fight?" Lyndon asked casually while delicately peeling an apple with his dagger.

Kormac was annoyed by the lack of respect the scoundrel had for their unusual friend. He was obviously a man of great importance amongst his own organization and should be treated as such. It was extremely disrespectful, Kormac thought, to question him about his life. The Demon Hunter rarely spoke unless he had to, but when he did, people listened to him. The Templar sometimes envied the way he could immediately take control of an unruly situation.

"The Dreadlands." Jack responded quietly.

"Dreadlands? Hm. Sounds charming." The thief chuckled, ever amused by his own wit.

Jack was silent for a few moments, but then, surprisingly, he spoke again. "From what I was told, at one time it was. There was an eruption from Mt. Arreat that leveled the landscape two decades ago, leaving many settlements in ruins. It is a desolate, largely uninhabited place." Jack offered hesitantly. His tone begged that no more questions be asked of him. It was obvious he did not like to speak about himself to any capacity. Kormac respected that and so did Leah and Haedrig, but this ingrate didn't seem to care at all!

"Are there many Demon Hunters like you?" Lyndon continued, as though oblivious to the man's antisocial behavior. He took an obnoxiously loud bite out of his apple.

"A few. We number in the hundreds."

"So you were taught by... someone." The thief continued, mouth full, waving his hand in emphasis as he chewed. "Taught how to kill demons like you do... Were you born there? Do people just... show up? Or do you go around handing out advertisement pamphlets describing the beautiful land you'll reside in while you train?" He said with a laugh. By the Gods, Lyndon's disrespect was intolerable! Kormac was so angered that he was tempted to speak up and shout at him.

And yet... Kormac was continuously amazed at how the scoundrel seemed to be able to get their dark friend to speak of himself when no one else had been successful. As kindly as Jack spoke to Leah, she could not get him to open up much either. Why did he talk to that rotten brigand, but not to her? Or even a holy Templar like himself?

"I was not born there. There is a recruitment of sorts. All of us are survivors." Jack replied cryptically, gazing into the fire.

"Mm, then how did you come to be there?" Lyndon asked him, dark eyes glittering with interest. Indeed, Kormac wondered the very same thing and listened intently, eager to know more about this strange man. This Demon Hunter.

Jack was quiet again for a time, then shifted, slowly getting to his feet.

"You should go to bed. It's late and we have another long day of travel ahead of us." He said to the Scoundrel.

"Indeed. And when will you sleep, then?" Lyndon inquired with a hint of amusement, tossing his apple core over his shoulder. But Jack had already moved beyond the perimeter of the fire's light and could no longer be seen.