Dulce hastily put a new shirt on, a simple cotton shirt that was comfortably dry, unlike his pants. He didn't bother with it, though, knowing that it would dry in a matter of hours, instead he busied himself cleaning up the spilled blood and the empty bowls.
The rainfall was incredibly useful; after washing the bowls, he could use them to collect water to fill his flask, as well as clean the rabbits out. He found a little crumb of rock salt in the bag that contained his candles and tome, stuffing the rabbits with the juniper berries he found and patiently roasting them over the fire.
His pale hair grew frizzy as the heat from the fire dried it, creating a halo around his delicate features. The rain had started to wrap up when the rabbits were ready, the savory scent filling the cave. The rabbits had been strung up on sticks to make them easier to roast, and holding one in each hand, he inched closer to Kath'tan.
"K-Kath'tan would you like-" His question got caught in his throat when the Demon opened his eyes to glare at him, quickly putting distance between them.
He went to the other Demon, just as cautious. "My apologies, I haven't gotten your name. Would you like some roasted rabbit?"
Asael had been watching their interaction, so he sat up as the Vampire timidly approached, pale hair like spun cotton around him. "Asael." He he said, taking the offered meal, an indecipherable expression in his eyes. Shadow Demons were mostly treated with hostility, for good reason - this was a first for him.
"I am Dulce Monteserrat," Dulce introduced, offering the second skewered rabbit that Kath'tan had turned down. "You can have bo-"
His words were interrupted by the Fiend in question stomping over to grab the rabbit. He then warped back to where he had been seated, holding the skewered rabbit without any intention of eating it.
Asael glanced over at the Fiend, disapproval in his gray eyes. He bit into the surprisingly tasty meat, polishing it off with relish.
Dulce was just pleased that they had both accepted the meal he made, going back to the fire to nibble on his own roasted rabbit, occasionally feeding the fire. When he was done eating, he packed up his travel bag; the rain had stopped falling, sun shining through the foliage.
Kath'tan glanced down at the skewered rabbit that had cooled down, biting into it because there was little else to be done with it. It tasted of musk and salt, a terrible fair. He forced the mouthful down and then tossed the rest over his shoulder, rising to his feet to exit the cave.
Asael glanced at the discarded wild game that had been carefully roasted, stepping out of the cave as well.
Dulce was the last out of the cave, too much in a hurry to notice the roasted rabbit lying on the stone floor, his tent carefully packed up in his travel bag.
"Where are we going?" Asael asked as the Vampire walked forward, keeping pace with him.
"Fairwyn, it is a few towns over." Dulce was happy to explain, excited to have a conversation.
Asael frowned when they walked for a few minutes and didn't seem to be leaving the woods. "Why aren't we going through the town?" He questioned.
Kath'tan had been walking a distance behind them, his gaze dark as he watched the two ahead walk familiarly next to each other. Despite his justified distrust of the Shadow Demon, he couldn't help but show interest in his question.
Dulce's eyes darted around shiftily, "It's better to go around..." He excused shakily.
Asael stared at the Vampire who couldn't hide his expression even when he had been paralyzed. "Are you just saying that because you have no money?"
Kath'tan was next to the Vampire in the span of a second. "What?"
Dulce held onto the wrist that had him in a chokehold, his apologies and explanation restricted in the constricted bones of his neck.
Asael's flat eyes were fixed on the red-clawed hand around the Vampire's neck. He had no obligation or care for the Vampire's well-being, but the noble Fiend was an offensive sight. "Wringing his neck isn't going to provide coin."
Kath'tan ignored him, he had been doing a good job of keeping his anger in check. "How long would it have taken us to get to Fairwyn?" He demanded, realizing that he hadn't bothered to ask for the finer details.
Dulce could scarcely breathe, much less speak, pain radiating down his spine as the bones in his neck cracked.
Asael intervened, barely touching the Fiend before he was pulling away like his touch burned. He clicked his teeth and turned to the Vampire who had crumpled to his knees, gasping for breath. "I could kill him, and then you would be free of us both." He offered through gritted teeth.
Fiends were so haughty for creatures who acted without reason- things were made worse by the fact that he didn't have to keep his word, but it was a matter of his own principle. He wouldn't give the Fiend more reason to be condescending.
Dulce's neck was a horrifying dark purple, the marks healing rapidly at a speed visible to the eye. "There's no reason to," He said with a grimacing smile, "I owe Kath'tan the inconvenience of summoning him."
Asael stared down at the Vampire, wondering if the repeated attempts to kill him had deeply affected him. He was their summoner, they were obligated to obey him. He took a step back, he was getting too embroiled in this, and that wouldn't lead him closer to his goal.
"Take us to the nearest town, I have human currency." He said flatly.
Dulce scrambled to his feet, adjusting his travel bag. They were already on the outskirts of the next town, so in less than an hour, they were walking through busy streets, both Demons forced to walk close to him so they didn't lose each other.
He was nervous as he led them to the station so they could hire a carriage, expecting soldiers to charge at them at any moment. It did help that he had two towering Demons walking behind him, and he was by no means short.