- Chapter Sixteen -

We all couldn't fit around our dinner table inside, so we decided to eat outside. Cherry and Firefly made some kind of stew and I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. Freya brought over some familiar berries she got from a quest and Firefly made a pie from it, serving Thad first of course. It tasted EXACTLY like blueberry pie.

Sampson, being the winged "dog" he acts like, was sitting at my feet begging for food. I mean, I couldn't just let him beg so I picked out the biggest piece of meat in my bowl and gave it to him.

After eating, we all sat around a fire and talked about life before SAO. Sampson was laying at my feet, Cherry was cuddled up to Ronin, Thad and Firefly were lost in a whirlwind of hugs and kisses, and Parks and Gojira were putting all of the empty ale bottles in a tree and seeing who was the better archer.

Freya and I were sitting next to Ronin and Cherry reminiscing about where we used to work, our families, and really anything to get our minds off of the game we're currently trapped in.

Freya looked over at Thad and Firefly and smiled. Then looked back at me and said, "Thanks for inviting me."

"Oh, no problem." I replied. "You guys are welcome here anytime."

She smiled and nodded. That's when Ronin spoke up, "So what's the story with you and Milo?" He asked. "I noticed some animosity between you two."

Freya scoffed. "My guild was helping them with a quest yesterday. The boss turned out to be a lot harder than we thought, so instead of staying and helping us, he told his entire guild to retreat. Leaving us there to fight it alone." Her face changed from a scowl to relief as she spoke again. "Earlier that day I asked Dozer to go and do another quest while we helped Milo. He finished it a lot earlier than planned and came to help us...thank God he did."

"What a piece of shit!" Parks yelled. "Who the fuck leaves a guild full of chicks to die!?"

"A coward." Thad replied.

"I knew there was a reason why I didn't like him." I said.

Freya chuckled, "Yeah, I could tell. There's one guy in his guild that thinks the same way. I think his name is Callisto. I saw them arguing after that happened and he threatened to beat Milo's ass and quit."

"Sounds like we need to introduce ourselves." I joked.

"He's an assassin like Ronin, but he uses a bow." She replied.

"He's a fuckin stealth archer!? That lucky son of a bitch!" I yelled.

Everyone started laughing and Thad began to stand.

He gave Firefly another hug and walked over to me. "Thanks again, bro." He said shaking my hand.

"No problem. You guys want to get the guilds together tomorrow at the hunting grounds? Maybe figure out whose going to party with who?" I said to Freya and Thad.

"Sure, what time?" Freya replied.

"I can get everyone ready and over there for 10." Thad said.

"10 it is." I replied.

We all said our final goodbyes and the guild and I wobbled inside, still drunk on ale.