Looking over, Alicia saw a tall Beastkin standio the table. She looked exactly like an arctic fox, with snow white fur and delicate, triangur ears atop her head. Small dashes of light gray fur highlighted her sharp nose and her bright, blue eyes. Her pants were as white as her fur, ging tightly to her shapely, muscur legs. Her shirt was a mix of blue and gold ats, loose and billowy with open sleeves that floated down her arms. She gracefully pulled out a chair opposite them and sat down, smiling at them both.

  “N-nothing really, we were just killing time. You’re Tabitha Kithkin, I presume?” Katrina asked.

  “The one and only!”

  “I must say, Tabitha, this restaurant is geous, and the staff seem to be quite familiar with you. Do you e here often?”

  Tabitha grabbed a napkin, spreading it across her p as she listeo Katrina speak. Alicia couldn’t help but notice that the Fox girl seemed to be sizing them up, her eyes quickly darting over them. She couldn’t be certain, but she swore Tabitha’s gaze lingered for lohan it o on Katrina’s promi cleavage. “I’m definitely a regur. The food here is amazing, and whenever fans win dates with me, I bring them here.”

  “I’m sorry, fans?” Alicia asked.

  Tabitha seemed surprised. “Oh, you don’t— never mind, I assumed you were more familiar with my… chosen profession. No matter, I uand we’re not here to talk about that anyways. I’m curious what makes you think you vince me to delve when every uild in the Ameri Midwest has tried, and failed, tless times.”

  “Are you sure you don’t want to order first? We’re in no rush,” Katrina said. Alicia took the opportunity to look around the room and noticed that they had a fair amount of space between them and the other patrons. Katrina didn’t seem to be stressing about staying in trol, and that was likely why.

  “Eager to try the foht? God, it’s amazing, yoing to love it,” Tabitha said, fgging down a waiter.

  “We’re actually not going to be eating tonight, our Races ’t really handle food,” Alicia said.

  “Well, shoot, then why did you agree to meet in a restaurant? Now I feel rude for making the suggestion.”

  Katrina spoke up . “Just trying to make a good first impression, that’s all. Like I mentioned in my email, this matter is… sensitive, and I figured buying you dinner might be the only way to catch a few minutes of your time.”

  “You’re a shrewd iator, Katrina, I respect that. Though, I seem to have fotten my manners, who’s yirlfriend here?”

  Alicia’s hand had, somehow, found its way to Katrina’s arm again, and she quickly pulled it back. “N-no, we’re not… we’re just friends. I’m Alicia!” She held out her hand, which Tabitha grabbed and lightly shook.

  “Friends?” Tabitha looked at them both again, then shrugged “Sure, if you say so.”

  At this point, the waiter arrived and interrupted the versation. Tabitha ordered a rge cut of steak, along with a bottle of wihe waiter turo Katri. “And for you, ma’am? We have several bottles of pig’s blood, though other animals might be avaible if you wish.”

  Katrina seemed genuinely shocked by his offer, and took a moment to think of a response. “N-no, I ’t handle animal blood.”

  “Ah, would you like me to check if we have any Human?” the waiter asked.

  “That’s… that’s an option?” Katrina asked, swallowing nervously.

  “Absolutely! Let me ask the kit, I’ll see what we have avaible.” The waiter nodded softly, then walked away from the table.

  Alicia leaned close to Katrina. “Why would they have Human blood? I thought everything was being rationed out?”

  “They only ration out what gets doo them. There’s nothing stopping people from donating blood to private panies instead, especially if they’re getting paid for it. Getting a lise to sell blood costs a lot of time and money, so pces that offer it always charge a ridiculous price. There’s no way we afford any, even if they have some.”

  As Katrina looked at Alicia, there was an obvious look of defeat in her eyes. Alicia wanted desperately to help Katrina out, but she had no idea how much human blood might cost. After learning the true nature of the Key Dungeon, she’d looked through her fio see what state they were in, and had been surprised to find a sizable amount of savings. Still, after remembering the expensive purchase that now sat in her front hallway, she retty sure she didn’t have the money for fancy human blood.

  Tabitha cleared her throat, quickly bringing the attention back towards herself. “Well, we’ve ordered. I’m ready to hear your pitch.”

  Katrina looked over to Alicia, silently asking if she wao share the details. The Dyrad hesitated for a moment, then nodded and began to speak. “We found the Key Dungeon. It’s much further away from the city than normal, and because we discovered it, we get exclusive rights to it for three weeks. However, we’re not delvers.”

  “So you sell the rights off, happens all the time,” Tabitha said.

  “It’s not that easy. I’m a Dryad, which means my life is tied to my Heart Tree. If it’s damaged, I could very easily die. The Dungeon is underground, and when it opened up, huge ses of my roots were exposed. If a fight breaks out, and people get careless with their abilities…”

  “Ah, I see your problem. o keep Tarkowski as far aossible. The uilds aren’t as bad though, why not them?” Tabitha asked.

  “I ’t risk it. I don’t know any of them, and I won’t feel fortable unless I’m down there myself. Even if they mean well, all it takes is one mistake, one sed where they’re forced to choose between their lives or mine.”

  Tabitha went silent for a moment, her eyes doing their best to stare into Alicia’s soul. She leaned back, interg her fingers as she picked her words. “Just the two of you? What Csses are you w with?”

  Katrina spoke up this time. “I’m a Bard, Path of Magic, though I have regen buffs instead of stat buffs. Alicia is a Bulwark.”

  “So you’ve got a Tank, and some limited heals. If I join, you get a damage css. Not a terrible team p.” At this point, the waiter returned. Before he could speak up, however, Tabitha gestured for him to e closer, and she whispered something into his ear. He nodded briefly, the without a word. “Still, only three of us? Not very encing.”

  “I’ve met with several other didates, and all of them have turned me down. Well, one was ied, but he’s a Mermaid, so he has no way to travel outside of water.”

  “ I be forward for a moment?” Tabitha locked eyes with Katrina, her gaze intense. Kat nodded, and Tabitha tinued speaking. “You’re a Vampire. How do I know I trust you? It’s pin as day that the blood she is making your life difficult. What happens if we’re down in the Dungeon, and I get hurt?”

  “I handle myself,” Katrina said, her voice tense. “Plus, Alicia helps. She doesn’t have blood, and knows how to keep me distracted if things get hectic.”

  “Of course, because you’re subsp;good friends,” Tabitha said, chug to herself. “Look, I’ve got a fession to make. I like to push people’s buttons, I love figuring out what makes everyoick, and it means I’m great at my job. Tell me, Katrina; have you ever sidered being a cam girl? You’ve certainly got the body for it.”

  The question surprised both Katrina and Alicia. Kat began coughing, and thankfully her ck of a drink spared the table a spit take. Alicia, oher hand, began blushing profusely at the thought of the Vampire slowly taking off her clothes, doing everything she could to seduce whht be watg.

  “What? No!” Katrina said. “I have nothing but respect for sex workers, and I’m legitimately thrilled everything is legal now, but I’m far too shy for something like that. Should I assume that’s your line of work?”

  “It is! I happen to love what I do, and I pletely uand where you’re ing from. Now, cards oable, I registered as a Delver because I had a very wealthy patron that wanted me to. He paid for everything, even bought me some equipment, and he frequently asked me to rolepy as a lost Delver, trapped and alone, in need of a big strong man to e rescue me. Although, sometimes the monsters got me, and that’s when the really fun toys would e out… but I digress, I’m losing my train of thought. What I mean to say is that I enjoy my work, and delving puts me at risk of serious injury, if not worse. The rewards of delving never seemed worth it, in my opinion, but… you’re not in this for the money. You o save a life, and that’s a wonderfully romantic idea.” As Tabitha spoke, it almost seemed like she eaking to herself as much as Katrina.

  “What do you want?” Alicia asked. “Assurances? Money?”

  “Holy, what I treasure most is y. I ’t deny, delving would be something new, a ge of pace. I wonder…” Tabitha paused again, tapping the side of her snout as she thought to herself. “Alright, I’ll help on one dition. You do something for me in exge.”

  Katrina seemed suspicious, but clearly wao accept the offer. “Like what?”

  “Hm… I don’t know yet. I’ve got a few ideas floating around, but I don’t know which would be more fun. If you’re willing to give me a bnk check, I’ll join your little adventuring party.”

  “Is this bnk check from me, or Alicia?” Katrina asked.

  “Both. A favor from each of you, to be discussed ter.” A devious grin appeared on Tabitha’s face, and she eagerly looked between both girls.

  “I’ll do it,” Alicia said. “No price is too high.”

  With a heavy sigh, Katrina spoke up . “I guess I’m in as well. A bnk check from each of us.”

  Tabitha cpped her hands together, beaming in exuberance. “Perfect! Oh, this is so exg! Just in time too, looks like the food is here.”

  Katrina pulled her hands off the table, watg as the waiter set dote of food in front of Tabitha. He also had three gsses, one of whided in front of each girl. He filled Alicia’s gss with water, and Tabitha’s with wine. He then reached for another bottle, ohat looked quite different from the wine, and poured a drink for Katrina. She nervously reached for the gss, bringing it close and smelling it.

  “Tabitha, this is… what did you tell them? We ’t afford this,” Katrina said.

  “It’s on me, love. After all, we o toast in celebration, don’t we?”

  Katriated. “I-I don’t… normally drink in public…”

  Tabitha said nothing this time. She held her gss up, her expectations obvious, and simply stared at the Vampire. Katrina looked back to Alicia, who reached out and squeezed her arm gently in reassurance.

  “ Kat, it’ll be okay. I’m here with you,” Alicia said softly.

  With one final sigh, Katrina raised her gss, and all three girls toasted to their new partnership. Tabitha happily downed about half her gss, while Alicia set her water down and sank her fingers ihe gss. Small roots pushed out from her fiips, eagerly abs the water, and she looked to Katri.

  The Vampire brought the gss of blood to her lips and began to drink. Alicia watched the blood pour into her mouth, casg over her beautiful lips, and wondered again what they might feel like on her skin. As Katrina drank, her skin seemed to glow with newfound strength and vitality. Her eyes were closed in appreciation, and Alicia swore she heard Katrina’s breath qui as she fihe gss. She lowered the gss slightly, opening her eyes, and Alicia couldn’t help but stare at the deep, glowing irises that she saw. Before setting the gss down, Katrina slowly licked the edge of the gss, eagerly searg for the st few drops. Alicia’s eyes were glued to Katrina’s tohe whole time.

  “Now that,” Tabitha said, “was hot. If that’s how you drink blood, I only imagine how you’d look doing other things…”

  Katrina immediately snapped out of her moment of bliss, blushing intensely at Tabitha’s innuendo. “I, um… thanks for the gss, Tabitha. It’s been years since I’ve had that much at once.”

  “Believe me, the pleasure was all mihe Fox girl said. “Now, I’d love to hear more about what’s going on, why don’t you tell me everything while I dig in.”