Patty followed close behind Kaito, nearly clinging to his shoulder in fear. "How are we meant to find these thieves?"
Kaito drops low to the ground, "that shouldn't be a problem," he says spotting things in the forest floor, most people wouldn't notice. "I'm actually a great tracker!" He proudly declares.
Patty took a sigh of relief. "That's very comforting to know."
Behind them Jin walked with his usual cold air, arms folded into his sleeves, watching as Patty carefully stepped around every obstinate.
Bein lingered nearby, clearly the most irritated one here, as his stubby little body, made traversing the thick jungle floor more difficult then he would've liked.
"Must we be in such a rush?" Jin muttered. "Your obsession with the girl is exhausting."
Kaito smiles faintly without looking back. "I just wanna see Rika again."
Jin scoffed loudly at this. Which Kaito again chose to ignore, "there's a lot I wanna tell her," Kaito's voice softened, as it often did when Rika was the topic. "Without her, we can't be a guild."
"That relationship is revolting," Jin replied flatly. "You're attached to a theif, they're notorious for being distrustful."
Patty shot him an annoyed look. "You don't have to say it like that!"
Kaito turned to him. "Hey, watch your mouth!" Kaito shouted.
Jin rolled his eyes. "I refuse to bite my tongue in a matter like this, if you have a problem I welcome you to attempt to solve it."
As Kaito walked forwards towards him, Patty shoved them apart. "No fighting, we're here on business remember!"
Though the two never broke eye contact, until the air began to buzz. A low vibration trembled through the trees. Then the forest erupted!
A massive huge hanging between the trees burst apart as enormous black-and-gold bees paired into the air in a furious swarm.
All of Patty's bravado vanished and she yelped.
Run!" Kaito shouted.
The horde decided instantly, Jin burst into action slicing two of the bees in quick succession. Though the horde was much to dense, forcing the group to take cover.
Kaito grabbed Patty and pulled her tightly against him as several bees slammed toward them. Their stingers were the size of daggers, punching into tree trunks hard enough to splinter wood.
Patty trembled against his chest. Kaito took note of her shaking. "It's okay," he said quickly, sheilding her with his body. The chaos split the group apart.
"Hey!" Bein shouted. Two of the giant bees had seized the demon by the arms, dragging him violently into the air. Bein's expression twisted with disbelief and disgust. "Put me down you oversized insects!"
Kaito looked up just in time to see Bein disappearing into the forest canopy. "I'm going after him!"
Jin grabbed his shoulder immediately. "Don't be stupid, it's a demon we have more important matters."
Kaito tore free from his grip. "He's still my friend!"
Without another word, he sprinted after the swarm. Bein struggled furiously as bees carried him toward a massive opening hidden in the cliffs.
The hive itself was monstrous, an entire cavern hollows into the golden was structures that stretched high into darkness, the sound inside was unbearable. Thousands of wings, and crawling legs made Bein feel sick.
They stuffed him into the wall, sticking him in place with honey.
"Oh this is just my's luck, of all the humiliating ways to die, being eaten by insects is the worst!" He whined.
Then he heard footsteps echoing through the hive, seeing as a human figure burst through the entrance.
Bein blinked in shock. "Kaito!?"
Kaito skidded to a stop, breathing hard summoning the hunters bow. His arm still trembled as he drew the string back, but he forced it steady anyways. "You seriously thought I'd leave you!?" Kaito shouted to him.
Bein nodded vigorously. "That is exactly what humans do!"
A massive bee lunged toward him. Kaito knocked an arrow, taking a deep breath, then he released it.
THUNK.
The shot pierced through the side of the creature tearing it's wing. Sending it crashing from the air. Kaito felt bad for the creature as he was disabling it, but it was trying to eat his friend.
Kaito rushes forward, cutting a bein free before another pair descended from above. "Let's get out of here!"
The two ran through the hive tunnels as furious buzzing exploded behind them. Bein stared at him as they ran. A human risking his life for a demon. It made no sense. Humans feared demons. Hated them, yet Kaito had come anyways.
Bein looked away before Kaito could notice his conflicted expression crossing his face. "Don't misunderstand," he muttered. "I didn't need savin especially from no human!"
Kaito smiled. "Sure you didn't!"
The two burst from the hive entrance, but deep inside, something must more dangerous had awoken.
Outside, Jin immediately stormed toward Kaito. "You absolute idiot!" He shouted. "I told you not to go after him!"
"You're not the boss of me, and I wasn't going to let them eat my friend!" Kaito barked.
The word made Bein pause. "Friend?" He questioned the implications.
Jin looked ready to explode. "He's a demon!"
"And?" Kaito shot back.
The tension between them flared instantly until Patty once again shoved herself between the two. "Stop it! Both of you!"
Jin clicked his tongue and turned away. "Let's continue."
Kaito returned his bow, still catching his breath. Bein stares at him quietly for a moment before walking past. He didn't say thank you. He couldn't.
But for the first time in a long, long while, the demon found himself strangely unsettled by human kindness.