Day by day, life in the cave gradually settled into a routine.
Every morning, at the first hint of dawn, Loa got up. He would stretch at the cave entrance, then head into the forest with Wangcai.
Hunting was their main task-killing magical beasts. The group had quite an appetite. Occasionally, they also gathered edible wild fruit and mushrooms.
Wangcai had a keen nose and found things much faster than Loa. Every time they returned, Wangcai had something in his mouth, which he proudly deposited at Loa's feet, his tail spinning like a windmill.
"All right, all right, I know you're amazing." Only after Loa said this each time would Wangcai contentedly sit off to one side.
Wuzhui's wounds healed slowly.
Although a Dark Nightmare Pegasus had powerful regenerative abilities, the cost of burning blood essence and a Magic Crystal Core had been too great. Wuzhui spent most of the time resting on the cave floor, dark-gold eyes half closed, occasionally standing to take a few steps and stretch.
Every morning and evening, Loa applied bone-strengthening medicine to Wuzhui's wings.
Wuzhui was quiet, lying still whenever Loa treated the injuries.
Bob's wounds had also mostly healed. Thick scabs covered the wounds through his shoulder blades, and new, pink flesh had grown over the torn wounds on his back, standing out against the surrounding bronze skin. Most of his battle-qi had recovered as well, and his presence as an Eighth-level Warrior had stabilized again.
But he still barely spoke.
The boisterous Bob who used to slap tables and curse at the slightest provocation was gone. He no longer said "you little brat," roared with laughter, or smacked his lips while eating. He had grown silent, like a piece of iron soaked in water, heavy and incapable of ringing when struck.
Mia