The forest canopy was thick and warm as Sataro led the group down a narrow deer trail.
"Eyes open," he warned quietly. "We're low on food. Two weeks of supplies max."
Ren complained instantly.
"What if we find a bakery instead?"
Sataro didn't stop walking.
"That's not how wilderness works."
Nova snorted,
"Tell that to the pastry forest I dreamed about last night."
Haruto laughed.
Lira giggled.
Ren nodded seriously.
"Honestly? Sounds magical."
Sataro sighed.
"I'm surrounded by idiots."
Nova grinned.
"You love it."
Sataro ignored her.
Mostly.
The Noise
They were halfway to a berry grove when they heard it:
CLASH!
SCREAMS.
HORSES NEIGHING.
Sataro froze instantly.
"DOWN. Hide. Now."
The group jumped behind heavy roots and fallen logs.
Ren climbed halfway up a tree like a squirrel.
Haruto pulled Lira close beside him.
Nova crouched next to Sataro, whispering,
"If this is bandits, we can slip past.
If it's soldiers, we run."
Sataro nodded.
They stayed hidden.
Minutes passed.
The clashing stopped.
The screams died down.
Then silence.
Complete silence.
Sataro waited longer just to be sure.
Nova whispered,
"You overthink everything."
Sataro whispered back,
"And you don't think at all."
Nova smirked.
"You're cute when you're stressed."
Sataro stiffened.
Haruto bit back a laugh.
The Caravan
When it was silent for several minutes, Sataro finally nodded.
"Let's check it. Slowly."
They stepped out and moved toward the clearing.
What they found stopped them all.
A slave/prisoner transport caravan, royal insignia on it, was torn to pieces.
Bodies of guards.
Bodies of bandits.
Broken cages.
Horses running loose.
A full massacre.
Lira's eyes widened.
Ren inspected a shattered wheel.
"This wasn't normal bandits… this was a war zone."
Haruto whispered,
"Who could do all this…?"
Nova pointed.
"There."
Someone was sitting on a pile of crates, swinging his legs casually.
A giant blond teen with a ripped shirt, giant muscles, goofy grin…
And blood everywhere — none of it his.
He waved.
"HI!!"
Haruto jumped.
Lira squeaked.
Sataro grabbed Nova's arm instinctively.
Nova rolled her eyes.
"He's waving. Calm down."
Bjorn the Goofy Destroyer
The kid hopped off the crate, hammer over his shoulder.
"I AM BJORN!" he announced proudly. "SON OF OLAF!"
Ren whispered,
"Son of who??"
Haruto whispered back,
"Olaf, probably."
Bjorn flexed so hard his shirt sleeve exploded.
"I WAS CAPTURED BY THESE MEN— BUT THEN BANDITS CAME.
AND I GOT MAD.
AND THEN BANDITS DIED.
ALL OF THEM."
He pointed to the KO'd/destroyed bandits everywhere.
Lira covered her mouth.
"He beat… all… of them?"
Ren whispered,
"I want him."
Nova whispered,
"I want to survive, so yeah, let's keep him."
Haruto laughed.
"He's perfect."
Sataro: The Only Logical Adult
Sataro stepped forward.
"Hold on. No.
We don't know him.
He's loud.
He's reckless.
He's another mouth to feed.
And we don't even know why he was in that wagon."
Bjorn scratched his head.
"Oh! I stole a fish once. Just one."
Sataro blinked.
"…That's it?"
"Yes."
Nova snorted loud enough to echo.
Ren whispered,
"This dude was imprisoned for a fish?"
Haruto nodded.
"Justice system sucks."
Lira frowned.
"Poor guy…"
Sataro held up his hand.
"We're not adopting every random person we find."
Nova folded her arms, rolling her eyes.
"Oh relax, General Buzzkill."
Sataro:
"Nova—"
Nova interrupted with a mocking impression of him:
"NoOoO Nova, we must stay hidden.
NoOoO Nova, we can't trust anyone.
NoOoO Nova, I'm the smartest man alive—"
Sataro glared.
"Are you done?"
"Nope."
Nova stepped closer, leaned in, eyebrows raised.
"He's strong.
He survived a full slaughter alone.
He's hilarious.
And we could use someone who can punch a tree in half."
Bjorn:
"I CAN DO THAT!"
Sataro exhaled, annoyed.
"Nova. It's risky."
Nova smirked.
"Oh? Afraid he might steal your spotlight?"
Sataro froze.
"…What?"
Nova shrugged casually.
"I mean, you're the broad, moody, strong, mysterious leader type.
Then THIS guy shows up—"
She waved at Bjorn proudly standing on top of a crate like a superhero.
"—and suddenly he's stealing all your thunder."
Ren gasped dramatically.
"Oh my god he IS."
Lira nodded.
"He totally is."
Haruto grinned.
"Bro he's like… Sataro but blonde and dumb."
Bjorn:
"THANK YOU!"
Sataro rubbed his temples.
"I hate all of you."
Nova leaned forward, eyes half-lidded.
"And yet you still listen to us."
Sataro sighed deeply…
…and finally said:
"…Fine. He can come."
Bjorn cheered so loudly birds fled the trees.
Nova winked smugly.
"You're welcome."
Sataro muttered,
"Remind me why I let you talk again."
Nova smirked.
"Because I'm irresistible."
Sataro coughed.
Nova instantly blushed, caught off guard.
"W-wait— I didn't mean— SHUT UP—"
Ren whispered,
"Oh yeah. She's finished."
Haruto nodded.
"Sataro wins."
Bjorn happily lifted all their supplies by himself.
Thus, the Eclipsed Order gained a new member:
Bjorn.
Loud.
Strong.
Goofy.
And surprisingly perfect.