Chapter 4: Side Quest; Or, Natsuki Gains a Companion

"Those orcs are sure in a hurry," Natsuki observed from their concealment behind a bush.

"They're moving away from us," Mai observed, "Should we follow them or put more distance between us."

"I'm kind of curious where they're going," Natsuki said, "But moving the whole group could be trouble."

"Well, your elvish cloak makes you difficult to spot," Nao said, "And I have an actual invisibility cloak. So, we can check them out, yeah? Leave the others here. If we need them, you can shoot a flaming arrow straight up."

"I'm coming, too," Alyssa, the Halfling spoke up, "I'm good at stealth, so…"

Natsuki smiles at her, "Okay. But keep up."

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"You having fun, Alyssa?" Natsuki asked her half-sister.

"It's entertaining," Alyssa said, "I'm glad we were able to join in."

"Well, Shizuru and Haruka are having to work on papers for their economics classes, so we had an opening. But we're still saving the main quest for when they're done, to be fair to them."

"Well, Nao told us it was a good deal of fun, and so we thought we'd check it out."

"You sure you don't want to join in, Miyu?" Midori called to the android.

"I think it is important that Miss Alyssa have her own activities apart from me," Miyu said, "Besides, I find this film most interesting."

Just for safety's sake, Natsuki glances over to see which film Miyu had put on the television. It was bad enough when it was Mikoto was in the room. But having her half-sister, who was still in grade school, tagging along? She noted, with a bit of moderate relief, that Miyu was watching her copy of The Terminator.

"These cookies you brought are delicious, Alyssa. Hm," Mikoto grinned, smears of chocolate all over her face.

"I can't believe you've never had chocolate chip cookies before," Alyssa sighed.

"She'd eat the entire batch if you left them in her reach," Mai sighed, "Mikoto, you're going to ruin your appetite. Anyway, we're glad you could join us, Alyssa."

"You guys are totally going to love this side-quest I came up with," Midori grinned.

"Hey, Midori, what character did you used to play when you were in college?" Mai asked her.

"Me? I played a Monk."

"Specializing in drunken mastery?" Natsuki grinned.

Midori scowled, "Fujino's right. You really are a meanie. Besides, I have it on good authority that there was underaged drinking going on in the dorms not too long ago."

Mai, Natsuki, and Nao all flushed scarlet.

"Wh…Where did you ever get an idea like that?" Natsuki tried to play it cool, which, when it came to her personal life, was not a skill she was suited for.

"I told her," Mikoto smiled innocently.

"Of course you did," Mai sighed.

"Hey, let's not talk about stuff like this when my kid sister is in the room!" Natsuki stammered, and Nao nodded her hasty agreement.

"Naturally. We can't allow your bad behavior to stand as an example," Alyssa grinned.

"Don't be precocious," Natsuki chided.

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The sounds of battle reached them before they caught up with the orcs, as well as a strange, animalistic noise.

"I know that sound," Natsuki's eyes widened, "Quick, Nao, go grab the others. Tell them to come running and be ready to fight."

Natsuki and Alyssa cleared the ridge, and saw the orcs fighting a Dire Wolf. The creature lashed out at the orcs as they attacked and tormented it with blade and bow.

Natsuki didn't wait for the others to arrive. She had an arrow nocked and flying before she had even begun descending the craggy rocks to the woods below.

She drew and fired arrows as quickly as she could. Each one found a target in an orc's head or hide.

So fast were they dropping that they were actually confused about the source of the attack until they saw Natsuki striding towards them, still drawing and firing arrows. They turned to attack her, which turned out to be a mistake. Alyssa the Halfling was not as skilled as Natsuki at the bow, but she wasn't any less dangerous for that. And then there was the matter of the Dire Wolf, who seized orcs who had turned their backs on him and shook them in his mighty jaws until there was a snap, and they stopped moving.

After she was out of arrows, Natsuki drew her sword, and struck one orc square in the head with the pommel, dropping him like a sack of potatoes. Then, she barely dodged a strike by another, only for him to be felled by a burst of lightning. Mai, Mikoto, Yukino, and Nao had arrived.

The few remaining orcs, outnumbered and facing a very strong foe, turned tail and ran.

Natsuki sheathed her sword and started walking to the Dire Wolf.

"Natsuki, are you crazy!" Mai shouted, "He's a wounded animal! He'll…"

Natsuki held up her hand, indicating she wanted silence.

She fixed her eyes on the great beast, who was still snarling and snapping his mighty jaws.

"Shhh," she cooed gently, "Shhh. It's alright. No one here is going to hurt you."

She knelt in front of the Dire Wolf, holding out her hand.

The Dire Wolf rose as if to strike, only to fall face first, it's forelegs unable to support its weight due to injury. It yelped in pain.

"Shhhh," Natsuki reached out, and put her hand on his muzzle, "It's okay. We won't hurt you."

The wolf looked Natsuki in the eyes, his own brown eyes staring deeply into her emerald ones. She smiled softly.

"It's okay. We're going to help."

Mai quietly cast a sleep spell on the wolf. They then quickly set to work, binding his injuries and casting various healing spells.

The wolf woke shortly, not one hundred percent, but far better off than he had been when they'd arrived.

"You'll heal the rest of the way on your own," Natsuki said. She'd successfully retrieved a full compliment of arrows by looting the orcs, "Good luck, and stay away from orcs."

She started to walk off, her cloak flailing in the wind, when she suddenly felt a tug. She turned to see that the Dire Wolf had put his paw down gently on her cloak, halting her progress. She turned, not sure what was coming next, when a huge pink tongue covered her face.

"I think he wants to follow you," Nao looked amused.

"You want to stay with us?" Natsuki asked. The wolf's unwavering eyes answered her.

"Then…come along, Duran."

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"I'm stuffed," Mikoto said, rolling over.

"Wow, today really is a day for miracles," Nao grinned.

"Don't be mean, Nao," Mai sighed, "Mikoto is a growing girl, after all."

"Ara, but is there still any food?" Shizuru came in to the apartment, "That was a most grueling library session, and I am famished."

"Let me make you a cup of tea," Natsuki rose from her seat, "And I ordered a chef salad for you."

Shizuru slipped into her chair like a poured liquid, "Ara, but Natsuki is a godsend. So, Midori told me she had a special quest for you to share with Alyssa. Did it go well?"

"It was fun," Alyssa said, "Thank you all for having me. Miyu, why are you crying?"

"The movie had a sad ending, Miss Alyssa."

"I hope you're talking about Kyle Reese dying," Natsuki muttered.

Miyu smiled cryptically, "If you say so."

"Same time next week?" Nao asked.

"Better make that two weeks," Midori grinned, "It's time for all good girls to get studying for their midterms."

Nao looked at her, then turned to Natsuki, "So, same time next week?"

"Now, now, Yuuki-han," Shizuru grinned, "Be kind. Your poor teacher does still have to grade all those tests. And she's our Dungeon Master, so it's only fair we give her time to recover."

"How is it that you can be so charming and utterly insulting all at once?" Midori scowled at her.

"It's a talent," Shizuru smiled.