An hour went by. Samara, Lurisa and Arthur chatted, narrowing their eyes every time they looked upon the trio. They couldn't believe Bill just abandoned them like that. They were the party of the chosen one, not the party of a pervert sasquatch and a random girl too young for him.
"Bill. You're the only guy I can trust. The patriarch sasquatch is far stronger than me. He'll be coming to kill me since I broke the code. Do you have friends who can help us?"
Bill winked at Dante, "I think I know some people." He walked twenty feet back to his first group. "Guys, Dante needs our help."
"No," they all said.
"Why?" Bill was genuinely confused. Dante was such a nice guy. And poor little Quiver.
Arthur rolled his eyes, "Bill, he acts like we don't exist."
"Then prove to him you do. I'm trusting you guys," he smiled and travelled back to the lovebirds.
Samara was depressed, having to listen to them idiots was tough and then add on Dante and Quiver to that. She knew there was a town nearby called Raren. Ironically it had rare in the name but could have been anywhere else in the world. She was just waiting until they left to really continue this journey, she questioned why to even keep bothering since the chosen one was gone but then again, what else was she going to do?
"You know, Quiver. You're the type of girl poets write about."
Blushing, she waved the compliment away but invited more, "You're so silly, Dant."
She's even shortening his name by one letter, Arthur fumed. Why did this bother him so much? Was he jealous? Surely not! This was utter drivel.
"I–" He shook his head, "nevermind," he chuckled painfully as he wanted her to ask what he was about to say.
Playing stupid, Quiver asked, "Dante. What is it?" She was on the verge of giggling.
What is so funny! Arthur looked to Lurisa for emotional support but she just rolled her eyes. She was trying her best to ignore them.
"I actually wrote you a poem," Dante handed over a note which was folded many times over.
"For me? Dante. I never knew you wrote."
"You probably never knew that I used to shelter disabled animals and knitted clothes for the ones who lost their fur either." He turned his gaze, "Why am I saying that? So embarrassing," he shuddered at his own comment, laying his palm on his face.
There is just no way any of this is true. That just can't be real, Arthur fumed. "No, I'm sorry but I can't stand this lying."
Dante thoughtfully viewed the ground, "Don't read it yet. I want you to wait until it feels right."
Quiver agreed silently. Even Lurisa had to step in as she felt her blood beginning to boil, "Sorry. Are you ignoring Arthur?"
"Sorry, Miss Lurisa. Did I do something to annoy you?" Dante asked sincerely. Too sincerely for Arthur's liking.
She sighed, "I guess not."
They wandered on, Lurisa felt as if she lost a fight. And Arthur was in the three hells.
The group walked for long enough to find a small residing town. Samara was sick of the towns. After a few they all seemed to look like each other. This town looked like it hardly had an economy. Scummy buildings with mould winding around and signs for shops that just had no style to them. Even Bits 'n Bobs had more soul. Samara said she knew someone in the town and got a discounted price for somewhere to stay. But Lurisa found it odd. She kept just saying different names until the man recognised one and agreed with her. The hostel was presentable. Dull but clean. So strange. There is literally nothing unique about this town. Even the people are boring, Lurisa thought. All they did was talk about the weather. And they complained regardless. If it was warm, they'd give out about it being too hot and humid and they can't stop sweating. But if it were cold they'd keep complaining that they're frozen and will become ill. Dante and Quiver had been together since arriving, only talking to Bill on occasion. Thinking long and hard about what to do, Arthur finally came to an honourable conclusion. "Lurisa. We have to break them up."
Lurisa eyed all around her, "Arthur. No, that's terrible."
"But then that other guy would leave them alone," he grinned cheekily. Although his reasonings were purely selfish, what he was saying was technically for the greater good.
She leaned into his shoulder, "How?"
"I have a plan. Trust me."
Undercast spread over the town, Arthur strolled toward Dante who seemed to shine his own light. Every woman in the town stared at him. Just because he was so dashing. They were in the centre where most of the food stalls operated. It was excruciatingly annoying. Some of the stalls just offered free food and supplies to Dante saying if he had it in public it would convince others. One of the men working even said, "Nothing attracts people more than beauty." Ridiculous, Arthur thought, I'm a prince! And they don't even bat an eye toward me.
"So, Dante," Arthur placed his hands behind his back, ready to execute his master plan. He had witnessed politics for most of his childhood, one advantage was them knowing your name and power.
Dante twirled around, raising an eyebrow, "Archer? Right?"
"Not quite. Anyway. I heard Quiver talking. Said she didn't know if she could ever be with a dirty hairy sasquatch. Find that worrying?" He pulled his lips inside his mouth.
Dante laughed, "Quiver has such a great sense of humour doesn't she. Feels like I've known her all my life."
"Which is over ten times longer than hers," Arthur raised his brow.
He bobbed his head, "She's so mature. I'd swear she was the one over a hundred years old."
"I think she's fallen for somebody else!" He said desperately. Surely this would seed some doubt in his mind.
"I know," he looked away stoically…too stoically as if he knew people were watching, "you're so right Archer–"
"Arthur."
"She fell in love with me and she doesn't even fully know who I am." He raised his head and his eyes met the clouds, "I have to let her know everything about me." Dante stormed off, faster than most men could ever dream. His run was closer to a leap than a sprint. Lurisa. Please. I hope you got through to her.
Quiver held a drawing of Dante to her chest. Lurisa used magic for it, it was essentially a photo. She had done it for them before the two became so annoying. Although, that really should have been the first obvious sign. She hugged the sketch, "Oh, Lurisa. I miss him so much."
She rolled her eyes, "It's been twenty minutes."
"You obviously haven't been in love have you?"
"No. I suppose not." She said, And you're putting me off of it. "Quiver, girl to girl. I need to be honest with you."
"It's about Dante isn't it?"
"Yes," Lurisa furrowed her brow, acting her best to seem disheartened by producing this news.
"Lurisa, it's fine. I know you love him too." Lurisa's eyes grew huge. "The way you keep ogling him, honestly, its just disrespectful. But I get it. I mean I'd do the same if I were you. But he'd never be into a girl like you."
"Excuse me?" Lurisa gasped, offended and now her fragile ego had cracked.
"Don't get me wrong, you're beautiful." Lurisa brushed her hair to that compliment. Quiver added, "But your heart, it's ugly. The second you found out he was a sasquatch I noticed you didn't look at him the same. That's the difference. While I fell even harder for him, you built walls around yourself, away from him."
Yeah. Certainly not because I found you two OBNOXIOUSLY ANNOYING, she thought. "Yes, it was hard to process," calmly Lurisa exhaled. "I suppose it's–"
"True love," Quiver whispered. She looked outside the window of the hostel, "I need to tell him!"