Coye Vol 3 Ch 7

I'm behind on posting these, I'm actually done with up to ch 10. Sorry for that, will post more tomorrow.

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Coye found Byng waiting for him on Suzette's porch, just as she said she'd be. His companion was in the middle of squatting, sharpening an arrowhead with a primitive yet pretty-looking knife. The blade was pure black and glassy, while the hilt was made of carved bone and had intricate, tribal patterns inscribed on it.

Byng stopped what she was up to as soon as she noticed Coye. She sheathed the knife inside her right stocking, put the arrowhead back into a pouch, and hopped upright to face him.

"There you are! Man, I'm surprised it took you so long. Suz' sure is one hell of a knockout. If I had a dick, I doubt I'd be able to stop myself from nutting the second she came within ten paces of me!" Byng said, greeting him with her distinctive brand of chattiness while being seemingly nonplussed over Coye's recent stress relief session. "Anyway, are you good to go, or what?"

"U-Uh, yeah... I don't think I'll get slowed down or anything, now." Coye nodded, put off by Byng's bluntness and her lack of tact, just as he always was.

"Awesome!" Byng smiled ear to ear, then walked off the porch onto the road. "Before we go, though, I wanna set something straight. Are you cool with that?"

'Oh boy, this sounds like it could be juicy...' Shayla said, observing with great scrutiny.

"Sure, I guess?"

"Cool. Anyway, stop being a pussy about the whole seeing two women thing. Good? Good. Now, lets-"

"W-Wait," Coye stopped her just as she was about to begin her strut. He couldn't just move on from the topic as easily as she wanted him to. "I don't mean to be weird about it. It's just... a lot to take in."

"Yeah? Is that so? Weird. I grew up around Orcs. Do you know what that means? Sex, sex, sex! It's fucking everywhere- literally! Each male Orc fights to build big harems of females and us Gengaggi, and so as far as I see it, you fucking around is totally normal to me. Nah- scratch that. It ain't just normal. My kind are built to find that attractive! The more mates a man has, the stronger and worthier he must be! And hey, if you're worried about getting off during our date, go ahead and forget about that, too. Some hunters back home get ritualistic blowjobs before a big hunt, y'know? It sharpens the mind, polishes the spear, and honors the Gods, gahaha!"

'Now those sound like Gods I could get behind...'

"Are you starting to understand that I don't give a shit about you being a perv, short stuff?"

Having just had an entire shovel-full of Orc culture force-fed to him, Coye grappled with it and stood there in a daze. "Uh... huh..."

"Good. Now, I know I'm not your mate or anything like that, but if I were..." Byng snickered, suggestively stroking her chin. "I wouldn't care how many other chicks you stuffed your bed with. Especially not Suz'! She's sweet as hell. Kinda weird and a little creepy, though, but in a good way!"

Coye found it amusing that Byng had the nerve to call someone else weird. "I like Suzette exactly the way she is... b-but, um... aren't you getting a little ahead of yourself with all of this talk about being my mate...?"

A little ahead of herself? Byng was offended at the thought.

She raised an eyebrow, making a devious face as she leaned over and put her hands on her hips. "Am I, now? Hm, how strange. You mean to tell me that even after besmirching my honor with your humping and pumping that there's a chance you won't take me as one of your mates? That's cold, short-stuff, colder than the frozen peaks of Vurralkhan..."

"Gah-" a fresh wave of guilt lashed against his heart, piercing it like a volley of Byng's finest arrows.

'She's got you there, baby. I didn't know you were that kind of man... for shame!'

"W-We'll see what happens, ok?" Coye was quick to placate Byng once the accusations came flying, which brought a fresh round of laughter from his crass companion and his Pixie.

"That's what I thought," Byng said, enjoying how it felt to have him by the dangly bits. Then, she echoed her actions earlier in the day as she raised her hand and gestured for him to take it. "C'mon, now! Gotta make sure you don't get lost, don't I?"

"I-I wouldn't get lost," Coye insisted with pouting cheeks.

The Gengaggi rolled her eyes at him, saying, "Duh. It's called a joke. I just wanna hold your hand again, doofus."

"Oh," Coye reddened before meeting Byng's request and enmeshing his hand with her own. Together, the two started walking down the main road once again. It didn't take long until Coye found the experience significantly more embarrassing than their earlier stroll.

The villagers of Cransmere had started to awaken, some of them leaving their homes to begin their busy days, emerging here and there. No small number of these smallfolk had their eyes trained on the pair of adventurers who walked hand in hand. Heads turned, people whispered, some girls blushed, and a few even pointed at them as they passed. Coye tried in vain to listen to what was being said about him and his date, but it was to no avail even with his long, Elven ears.

As things stood, he was uncomfortable over being in the spotlight, yet he didn't want to be rude and pull his hand from Byng's. If only they weren't staring so hard, then Coye might've been able to ignore it. Their eyes brought with them bad memories.

Upon remembering his dream, Coye chose to tough it out. He wasn't a kid anymore. He was a grown-ass man on a date, and he just had a blowjob, too, damn it- he could do this.

Coye squeezed Byng's hand tighter, which Byng took as a sign of affection. She smirked and gave him a squeeze back, inadvertently easing his nerves.

And then there was Shayla, enjoying seeing Coye's effect on the people around him. Shayla desired to help increase the boy's standing in the world and improve his reputation, so the more eyes on him and the more people talking about him, the better. Sooner or later, that shell was coming off.

Both of them were unaware that Byng was enjoying the situation, too. She especially loved that they were being watched. In a way, this huntress was showing off her prize to the town. Having trailed him from afar plenty of times, Byng was well aware of the popularity Coye 'enjoyed' around these parts, and now they were strutting together like they were mates.

Everyone else could suck it.

On top of loving the thrill of showing him off, Byng enjoyed holding Coye's hand. It was as simple as that. She'd decided that Karnallians knew what they were doing when it came to this weird courtship ritual of theirs.

Now that Coye was at her mercy, it was all Byng could do to stem the tide of her curiosity. The biggest question on her mind, aside from the more intricate details of Coye's condition, was Suzette. She wanted to know how they met and hooked up, but even Byng, in all her lack of social graces, knew that was probably a topic best served for later.

In the meantime, the two started chatting about the sorts of quests they'd been on recently- or the unpaid hunts in Byng's case. Coye filled Byng in on his two most significant highlights of late, Jack o' the Pumpkins and the pair of Owlbears from yesterday. She congratulated him on both while Coye considered giving her the sack of feathers he'd saved for her. In the end, he decided against it, wanting to wait for a more opportune moment.

As for Byng, her hunts were going great.

"The Guild's always got plenty of good intel for me to plan out hunts, and sometimes I just head out without a goal in mind and see what comes up, y'know? Never a dull moment out there."

"Do you ever get in trouble for not accepting quests?"

"Eh, Dotty's not too happy that I don't make the Guild much money compared to all the work I actually put in, but that's not really my problem."

"I still think it'd be good if you went on more official quests," Coye thought aloud.

"Why? I don't need the money, and you heard me earlier, didn't you? I don't like turning in parts of my hunts. It's a waste."

He remembered what Byng said to Dorothy and inquired further about her religion. "Your, um, your hunting God doesn't approve of it?"

"I dunno, never met the guy!" Byng shrugged. "But that's what I think, at least. Kuhrkakk is a pretty chill God, especially compared to some of the others back home. So like, there was this thing called the Urfuhkahng, right?"

"Uh, right," Coye nodded, trying to follow along.

"All life in Grurguhrohk came after that happened, and all the different animals dreamed up Kuhrkakk later on."

"...Animals created a God who hunts them?"

"Hey, don't ask me! I'm not super religious. I just respect Kuhrkakk like my Dazhak taught me to. I think he kinda represents the circle of life or something like that? All I know is that he blesses hunters and beasts alike, so you can never be too careful. Of course, he's also really serious about making sure you use every part of your hunt."

'This sounds confusing,' Shayla rubbed her forehead and grumbled. 'Makes me really glad that we Fae don't have any Gods of our own to worry about.'

Coye cupped his chin with his free hand. "I have a question,"

"Sure!" Byng smiled right at him, genuinely enthused to share her culture with him at any opportunity.

"What if you killed a monster in self-defense that was trying to eat you? Would your God still be upset if you didn't use its parts?"

"Nah, that's different. I didn't kill it for a hunt but to preserve my life. I would probably still try and find a way to use the parts, though!"

"Ok, then," Coye thought that made enough sense. "It doesn't offend you if other people don't use all of their kill, does it? I sometimes strip the pelts and other parts that I can sell from monsters but, uh... not always..."

"You do you, short-stuff. I couldn't care less! Why the heck would my religion apply to you?" She cackled.

"That's good," the boy said with a sigh of relief. The Luxist Church of Karnalle could be a little too pushy for his taste, even if they generally meant well. It was comforting that Byng wasn't some diehard true-believer who insisted on correcting everyone around her.

Coye was ambivalent towards the Gods and planned on keeping it that way unless they had something to say about it. Thus far, they'd remained mum on the matter.

"There's, um, one more thing I've been wondering, if you don't mind?"

"Shoot,"

"Why don't you consider submitting a proof of kill as 'using' a part of the monster?"

Byng stopped walking and took her hand from him, installing a worry that he had just messed up. It proved not to be the case as she said, "Eh, it's complicated. It's less that I think it's a waste and more that I think it's not a good use, if you get my drift. Like, let's say I turn in a Direwolf's severed paw. Then what happens? Dotty will send it to some nerd, they'll check a box on a piece of paper, and then they'll do who the fuck knows what with it! Meanwhile, I could've used its claws and bones if I kept it for myself."

"I think I understand," Coye said, relieved not to have upset her after all. Once they stopped walking, even more people started staring at them, trying to determine if the two adventurers were having an argument or not.

Byng leaned in and made a suspicious expression, her hands on her hips as she cocked her head. "Why're you so worried about my career, anyway? I'm doing alright for myself, thank you very much!"

Feeling awkward, Coye looked away and rubbed the hand that Byng was just holding. "I-I'm just trying to make conversation... I'm not very good at it, and, um... work is all I really have to talk about." Coye didn't feel like getting into personal details about himself, so the only other things he could discuss were Shayla, Suzette, and his newly developed hobby of collecting RealMonsters cards- none of which he felt were appropriate.

"Hey," Byng leaned in closer, giving him a relaxed smile as she reached for his shoulder and clapped it. "Don't force it, ok? I know you ain't a people person and that you suck at this, but trust me. You're doing your best, and I love to see it. I'm having fun talking to you, ok?"

"...Yeah, thanks," Coye said, relieved once Byng's delightful grin warmed him from within.

"Don't mention it! Now come on, we're almost there!" She exclaimed as she held one hand for him, her other pointing towards the looming ruins of the Forest Gate further down the street.

Taking her hand, Coye and Byng put aside their chatting for the time being long enough to leave the town and head down the straight dirt road to the forest. After passing the twin forks that led to a pair of logging camps on both sides, they arrived at the mouth of the Gnarled Woods in no time at all.

Before they dived in, Byng stopped them and crooked her neck to the side. Coye followed her off to the grassy side of the road, where Byng sat down on a convenient tree stump and Coye leaned against a moss-covered rock. It was time to go over the plan for the first round.

"Alright, I've been stringing you around long enough, I'd say. Are you ready to hear the details, or what?"

"Yup," Coye balled his fists, eager to begin today's adventure.

Shayla was raring to go, too. She cracked her back and stretched, saying, 'Let's find out how you're gonna whip Byng's butt, baby!'

"Nice," Byng unfolded one of the quest fliers she brought along with them, then extended it toward Coye. "Have you ever brought in any of these furry little bastards before, short-stuff?"

Coye looked the flier over. On it was an artistic depiction of a monster that he did, in fact, recognize. It was a D-rank mustelid known as a Reaver Weasel. From what Coye remembered, these monsters were nothing terribly special. They looked like an average weasel, save for their large, fluffy tails filled with sharp spines like those of a porcupine.

The quest details explained that it was breeding season for Reaver Weasels, and as such, they've been active in more significant numbers than was ideal. There have already been several violent incidents at Logging Camps Girrum and Lucassi, so a cull is necessary. Thirty kills are requested, but there are so many weasels that there's no upper limit listed.

"Yeah, I've done a few kill quests for these before..." he said, remembering the experience to be routine if mildly annoying because of their speed and deadly projectiles.

'Agh- I was inches away from one of those fuckers skewering me, once...' Shayla grumbled at her own memory, hoping she'd have a chance to make things even with one of the damnable rodents.

"Good! That saves us some time, gahaha! I thought we'd start off simple for round one and see who can get fifteen the fastest! What do you think?"

"Sounds reasonable," Coye said, having no objections. "We'll be meeting back up here when we're done?"

"Yep, yep, yep! Any other questions before we start?"

"Wait... actually, yeah- hold on a second. I don't really have a way to carry fifteen dead weasels with me..."

"Got you covered, short-stuff," Byng was in the middle of untying one of two identical bags fastened to her bandolier. She then passed it to him, saying, "I picked up a couple of these from Dotty a while back."

'What is it?' Shayla asked, leaning forward to get a better look.

"Oh," Coye opened the satchel and looked inside, confirming his suspicions by shoving his fist inside it. Not only did it fail to find the bottom, but there was plenty of wiggle room for his entire arm up to the shoulder. "Nice... I've wanted to get a Bag of Holding for a while now... this is really handy!"

"Right? I can't imagine going hunting without them anymore!" Byng cackled approvingly. "You gotta give that one back, though. I like you, but even those small ones are pretty damn expensive!"

"Got it," Coye said.

Shayla was on the verge of reminding Coye not to spend more money on the Guild, but then Coye stuck his head inside the bag, and they saw how big it was for themselves. Roughly, it matched up to the size of a sturdy treasure chest, which meant it was significantly bigger than the pocket dimension Shayla used to store her clothes. It wasn't hard to imagine the utilities, so Shayla decided she'd give him his blessing if he wanted to pick one up.

The boy tied the bag to his own bandolier and then stood up. "Anything else I need to know? I'm ready to go now, so..."

"Nope, just that we gotta enter the woods at the same time but in different directions. We won't step on each other's toes during the hunt. Make sense?"

"Yeah," Coye agreed, thinking not much of it.

"Welp, come on then!" Byng stood tall, crossing her arms and giving Coye an intense, competitive stare. She was taking this seriously to the point where her soul radiated a blazing aura of determination. Her restless spirit was so fierce that it made Coye shrink back momentarily.

Shayla grasped onto Coye's hair and pulled soft enough to get his attention but hard enough that it snapped him back into the game. 'I know it's hard, baby, but you should tell her you're gonna win! Remember what I said. Confidence is key- girls love confidence!'

Coye took this in stride and took a deep breath, then met Byng's gaze with his own. "I'm gonna do my best, so..."

"So what?" Byng asked, looking amused yet also pleased. "I'm gonna be doing my best, too, gahaha!"

'C'mon, show some balls!'

"Well... um..." Coye paused, shit-talking being an entirely new experience that he struggled with the very thought. "I'm trying to say that I'm gonna win today, Byng. I mean it!" He declared, forcing it out of him. Although it started off scary, the after-effects of confidence flooded him, rewarding Coye for setting such a lofty goal.

'There you go,' Shayla nodded.

Satisfied with her rival's outburst, Byng gave him two things. The first was a punch on the shoulder, and the second was a toothy grin.

"That's the spirit, gahaha! I'm still gonna beat your sorry ass all the way from here to the Jakhallarr Shores, but hey, that doesn't mean I don't love seeing you standing up for yourself, short-stuff!"

Trying to keep the friendly rivalry going, Coye said, "Talk is only gonna get you so far, so... are you, uh, r-ready to do this?" It didn't sound natural, but the boy was trying his hardest, bless his heart.

"You bet your butt I am! You head in from the west, and I'll take the east." Byng cracked her knuckles as she strutted toward the forest. Coye nodded back to her and headed to the opposite side of the road.

Both adventurers were at the starting point. Coye waited for Byng's go-ahead, but she had something to take care of beforehand. Grasping one of her necklaces- a piece of robe with three distinct, sharp-looking fangs dangling from it- Byng closed her eyes and spoke in a language Coye had only heard in bits and pieces before. Hearing Orcish in full was an experience. Her words sounded like she was close to hacking up a lung after pronouncing every syllable, and it downright pained him to listen to.

'Yeesh, no wonder her voice is so scratchy...' Shayla said as she rubbed her throat. Watching someone speak Orcish was somehow enough to install a sensation of overwhelming phantom pain in the poor Pixie's esophagus.

Byng let go of her necklace once she was done. After looking over at Coye and witnessing his confusion, she asked, "What're you looking at? I'm just getting my prayer out of the way!"

"So now your hunt is blessed by your hunting God? Isn't that a little unfair?" Coye asked, partially joking.

"Heh. Coye, whoever said that I was playing fair...?" Byng replied with a knowing smile. "Anyway, good luck out there!" The girl knelt down into sprinting formation, giving him no warning that it was time to go. Her feet glowed with bright green energy, and then she was gone- vanished into the forest of darkness faster than his eyes could follow.

Coye did a double-take, as he'd never seen Byng move so fast. He realized that she might even have him beat when it comes to sheer speed, which startled him.

'Get going already!' Shayla bopped him on the head, focusing him with her tiny fist.

"R-Right," Coye shook his stupor off and turned his attention forward. He took off running, but his sprint didn't last long. A few seconds after taking off, the grassy ground beneath his feet caved in, and he sank into a pitfall.

Coye fell face-first into the earth below, startled and embarrassed. Neither of them had noticed the trap. An expertly crafted layer of forest camouflage was applied to the top, masking it from anyone not already on the lookout for deception. Who would've thought there'd be a trap only a few steps past the starting line?

Coye kicked himself up off the ground and jumped out of the hole like nothing had ever happened. He fared better than a certain Owlbear, but now he knew what to expect from this challenge.

"She really isn't playing fair," Coye said as he came to terms with the situation.

Shayla emerged from Coye's hat and hovered out in front of his face. "I had half a feeling that tricky little gob was planning a stunt like this... ah, well. Not like you'll be playing fair, either. How about we make this two on one, baby?"

Now that Byng had shown her hand, Coye knew precisely where he stood. He doubted this would be the last trap she put in his way, so he found no reason not to take advantage of his Pixie partner and all the advantages she offered.

"Sounds good to me, Shayla," Coye smirked, pointing to his pauldron with his thumb. Shayla wasted no time in saddling up to her designated battle station. Once she was holding on tight and ready to go, Coye poured energy into his feet and bolted into the Gnarled Woods, keeping a watchful eye on the road ahead to avoid being taken off guard from here on out.