The morning of the first day of adventure was a dewy affair. The temperature had dipped quite a bit in the night, though by the time the four adventurers converged, their excitement kept each of them plenty warm. The rising sun promised to chase away the cool before any of that excitement could wear off.
Michael and Hera had gathered at the meeting place, and spotted Viv and Ella approaching. Viv and Ella were kitted out with fancy backpacks and bags and pouches strapped to themselves, and Viv w

Viv greeted the woman by startling her. She jumped and looked up from her deskwork, toward the owner of the hand grabbing her thick, cherry-blonde hair.
"Ella!"
"Vivie! Gods, I didn't know you were back!"
The other clerks and the pair of clients in the room looked over at the sudden commotion. They mostly chuckled to themselves and carried on. Viv's unhuman appearance earned a couple of curious stares, as it usually did in Jorgsberg.
Ella stood to greet Viv and give her a hug, and Viv returned

The hearty whisper of the wind coursing over the hills and the tall grass upon them could not inspire languid contentment as readily as could the long chestnut body laid out in that grass, whose human end was holding a teacup, gratefully inhaling the delicate aroma.
Viv found that funny to consider, seeing as her own mind was in no way prepared to set aside the many dancing thoughts inside it. Still, she admired how peaceful and content her friend was. She took the centaur's lovely presence as a

"Viv," Michael asked. "Are we on a date right now?"
The upward quirk at the corner of Viv's mouth was promising. Her comfortable smile, complete with the stubby canine teeth that usually protruded a bit over her lower lip, was as heady for Michael as the mugs of ale he'd been drinking or the hot serving of this tavern's beef and mash she'd ordered for them earlier. He couldn't help but feel, or perhaps hope, that she'd been trying to butter him up all night. The liquid courage was was doing its