Adventures of Anbieter Immer

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but for the seasoned adventurers, food is saved for once the job is done. Camaraderie is best formed after a hard job with the people you care most about over a steaming hot meal, and maybe something sweet on the side… And the hardest jobs that paid the best were usually first come first serve at the guild. Early to bed, early to rise, and when the work was done, money firmly in the grasp of those that earned it, food was the first choice to spend it on. A hard working adventurer is a hungry adventurer, and it’s not someone you want to butt heads with. Not even over a small slice of strawberry cake.

Excerpt from The Space Faring Adventurers Guide, Chapter three.

After a long morning of exterminating an infestation of roboticly enhanced undead sheep, Richard Reagan Rider (Although his friends all called him ‘Richy’ and he preferred it that way, thank you very much.) with his two cohorts Rithia and Ruthia Cobblestone, stood in front of their favorite diner, Mama Beans, stomachs grumbling from hunger. After a long and drawn out argument that they usually had after every mission, Richy and Rithia had conceded to their fellow adventurer and cohort Ruthia that they would be eating out that afternoon, as Ruthia, despite being the best cook among the three of them, had no interest in cooking after such a long and arduous job.

The three of them stepped through the front door of Mama Beans, home sweet home, and Richy smelled the air around him. The scent of freshly burned coffee stung his nose, he loved it here. Good food, and relatively cheap as well. He scanned the diner around him, cherry colored booths filled with all sorts of unsavory types, with eyes and limbs missing and chatter filling the tiny diner, all with the same mission as them. To get some good grub after a hard day’s work.

“Well, if it ain’t Mama Bean’s favorite customers, Anbieter Immer! Aw Richy darlin’ hope y’all are hungry. Good to have ya’ll back safe and sound. Your usual spot’s taken today, sorry, hun. It’s real busy, so I hope y’all don’t mind waitin’ a- Oh! Looks like a spot just opened up. Right this way hun,” This was Miss Kelly, their favorite server. A youthful country twang loud and proud in her voice, as she led them toward a corner booth towards the back of the diner. Her usual pep in her step and the sway of her hips told Richy she was in a rush today. After all, of course she was, it was more crowded than usual. He hoped that all the other adventurers would tip her just as good as he would tip her today, like he did every time they ate there.

“Alrigh’ hun, go ahead and plop on down right there.” She said, handing the three of them menus as the three of them sat down, sinking deep into the booth. Richy took her pale hand and kissed it. Miss Kelly blushed a deep crimson.

“Thank you, Miss Kelly, You have my utmost gratitude, please, take your time. We’re in no big hurry. Work’s done for the day.” Richy said.

“Oh, you devil. Makin’ me blush like that, Richy Rider. Y’all are always welcome, ’specially after last time with the werewolves.” Kelly winked at him.

“Hehhem” Ruthia cleared his throat and his sister Rithia punched him in the gut with a smile.

“Ruth, don’t be rude.” Rithia said and Ruthia pushed his circular sunglasses back firmly onto his face.

“Oi. That hurt. I was just gonna say, if ye two are done with alla this talk o’ werewolves… And not teh mention all the flirtin’....” Ruthia said.

“Ruth, why do ye have to be so feckin’ rude?” Rithia said, and punched him again.

“Ow!” Ruth yelped in pain. “Sister, I’m sorry love, I’m just starvin’, and I’ve had enough of listenin’ to people yammerin’ on, and I don’t know about you, but we used up a lot of magic on that last job. A half elf’s gotta eat, right?”

And the argument was off. The two half elves, twins, started arguing as Richy and Miss Kelly stared. Yup. Richy thought. Just how a Brother and a Sister should be. Arguing. Richy laughed to himself.

“Sorry, Miss Kelly, give us a bit would ya?” Richy said. Behind him, punches were being thrown not so subtly underneath the table From Rith, straight into Ruth’s arms.

“Alright, I’ll leave y’all be. Just don’t let them fight for too long, Richy. I enjoy a good show of the twins fighting each other as much as the next gal, but we sure don’t need another scrap in here like last time,” Kelly chuckled, scratchin’ at her midnight-black hair. “The waitress’ll be by in a few minutes to take yer order. Y’all enjoy now,” she said, scurrying back to her front podium.

Richy stared at the two of them, bickering back and forth and couldn’t help but smile. Rithia and Ruthia, the twin half elves, and his ever faithful companions. The pair had dark coffee colored skin, but that was the only thing they shared.

Rith (As she liked to go by) had short, curly, dirty blonde locks put up into a bob with solid gold earrings that matched her eyes, someone with a face like hers, usually wouldn’t look the way she did. Built like a bodybuilder, with muscles even more toned and muscular than his own, let’s just say you wouldn’t want to be caught in a back alley with her chasing you down. Those muscles aren’t the only thing their targets had to worry about. Rith was also, like most elves and half elves, a magic user. Magically enhanced punches will do a number on just about anyone and Richy knew he would never want to take one of her punches to the face.

As for Ruthia… Or Ruth, liked to wear his blonde hair in a tight ponytail, really goes along with his circular sunglasses. Richy never understood the point of wearing sunglasses inside of all places, but that’s what Ruth liked to do. Inside, outside, daytime, nighttime, hell even in the vacuum of space, those damn glasses never left his face. But, all things considered, he did understand why he of all people never took them off. A nasty scar, or should he say scars, ran down the side of his face from the top of his eyebrow down to his cheek. If Richy was in his place, well… He wouldn’t take off his sunglasses either. Ruth was a magic user, and a proper magic user at that. Had his own spellbook that he was now using to block his sister’s punches, and a stave sticking out of his pocket, ready for anything.

People were starting to stare and Richy knew he was going to have to leave an even bigger tip than he thought before.

“Alright, Alright you two, knock it off. We’re in public for goodness sake.” Richy said with his arms raised. “Listen, I appreciate your enthusiasm in trying to bring your brother in line, Rith, I really do, but could ya at least wait until we don’t have all these…” Richy got in real close, “Mercs around? We got a reputation to uphold, remember?”

Rith and Ruth stared at each other for a moment and both lowered their weapons.

“Finally. Some peace and quiet from you two.” Richy sighed and grabbed his long blue and black long sword that hung at his side and placed it in the empty spot of the booth.

“You two were arguing so much I almost forgot to take off my guns. It’s impolite to wear guns at the table.” He unbuckled his utility belt and set it down next to his sword that he called Siegfried. The two pistols Lancelot and Galahad shined underneath the lamp that hung above their heads.

Rith blushed in embarrassment, “Aye, sorry, Richy, just tryin’ to keep me blunt brother in line, is all. He don’t need to go about sayin’ nonsense like that, especially to Miss Kelly.”

“Well, if Richy here didn’t flirt with everything that moved, those obnoxiously buff muscles o’ yours wouldn’t need to- OW!” Ruth winced, Rith punched him in the arm again, and Ruth stared daggers at her.

“Ah, quit your whinin’ and slap a healin’ spell on it, four-eyes, like ye always do,” Rith teased.

“Do ye have any idea how much mana I’ve already burned tryin’ to keep yer weaponless, reckless self alive today?” Ruth snapped, “Practically drained meself dry! I may be a healer, but that don’t mean yeh can jus’ get hit all willy nilly! I mean, look at me! I’ve only got two Elven healin’ spells left in me now, and the rest? Just low-level Consuete combat spells. So don’t be gettin’-”

“Both of you, enough.” Richy said. “I thought this was going to be a nice family outing. Not more arguments. Heal yourself up Ruth, and Rith, please, stop hitting your brother, would ya? I know I’m not the monk that raised you, and I’m not your father. But you’d think I would have taught you some table manners by now.”

Rith didn’t meet Richy’s eyes and looked down, blushing hard.

“Sorry, Richy.”

“And apologize to your brother too, he’s right, he’s our only mage and we tend to just jump into trouble and expect him to save us. We gotta be smarter than that.”

“Sorry Ruth.” Mumbled Rith.

“Thank you-”

“Ruth, apologize to your sister too, she was right. You do tend to have a bit of a sarcastic streak. Can’t blame her for punching you.” Richy said.

“...Sorry Rith.” Rith muttered. A soft glow appeared in Ruth’s hand as he waved it over his arm. An Elven healing spell in the Irish language, and one that Richy hardly understood but knew what it did. Ruth’s bruised arm was back to normal.

“Now that’s better.” Richy said. “Now, I’m hungry and we’ve wasted enough time bickering, not civil to bicker like the two of you do. Let’s see here…”

Richy studied the Today’s Specials menu, occasionally glancing up at the twins’ and remembering their comical exchange, letting out a quiet chuckle. “Ah, twins. So alike, yet so different. You two crack me up.” He turned the page and heard footsteps on his left.

“Howdy y’all! I’m Becky, I’ll be your waitress today. So tell me, did we need a little bit more time? Or are we ready?” Becky said.

“I’m ready—the squash soup, if you please—and you got some more coffee? I could use a cup of that with a glass of water with ice and a lemon,” Richy slicked back his dark brown hair. “Guys? Do you need more time?”

Rith shook her head. “I’ll take the same as Richy, minus the coffee. Ye mind askin’ Mama when she cooks it to toss in some chicken? Need my protein an’ all.” Rith said.

“Toss in a whole bird for her, she worked up a good sweat. We’ll pay extra.” Richy said. Rith blushed and couldn’t meet Richy’s eyes.

“N-n-no that’s-”

“Oh would you stop fawning over him, Rith?” Ruth said.

“Fawning? What are ye-”

“I’ll take Mama Bean’s famous strawberry cake and a coffee, black,” Ruth said sharply, sliding the menu onto the pile.

“Y’know, I think I’ll have a slice too, Becky. Strawberry cake. Sounds tasty.” Richy said.

“Alright! Just give us some time and we’ll have that out for ya as soon as we can.” The waitress turned and walked away, their orders scribbled down.

“Cake? Yeh ordered cake? That’s not like yeh, Ruth.” Rith said, smirking.

“Well, I need a bit o’ sweetness to drown out the sour taste of talkin’ and workin’ with you two all mornin’,” Ruth said. “It’s the little things, dear sister, that make it all worth it.” Ruth pulled out a book previously hidden from his genuine cow leather skinned jacket. A massive tome that must have weighed him down all day and began to read.

“Soooo, Richy.” Rith began. “About that ship…”

“Ah, yeah, the ship!” Richy said.

“How close did this job put us to getting ourselves a new one?”

“Well. Closer than we were before, that’s for sure,” Richy said. “Not as close as I would like to be though.”

“It’s because you keep taking all the low paying jobs, Rider,” Ruth said, looking over the edge of his book. “What about that other job this morning? Paid a lot, but you didn’t want to do it. We’d be a lot closer and a lot happier if we had just done that.”

“I took the low paying job, and I stand by that. These folks need help, and besides, that job was there yesterday too. Everyone always goes for the high payers. Leaves the little guy out in the rain. Besides, we really made a difference today, don’t you think? Those undead sheep-”

“Were easy to handle, and yet you two still get injured every possible chance you can, leaving me to heal you as your backup,” Ruth said. “You should have listened to me when I said-”

“I did listen to you, now don’t be unfair Ruth,” Richy began. “I did listen to you.”

“After I said I was running out of healing!” Ruth said.

“Ruth, please, not this again. We’re sorry for taking your healing for granted.” Rith said.

“…Apology accepted.” Rith saw a hint of a smile creep along Ruth’s face. “But seriously, I want to get back out there. Where the real work is. I want to see the stars again, Rider.”

“And we’ll get there. It’s just gonna take a bit more time than we thought it would. That’s all.” Richy remarked.

“If only you just took a higher paying job…” Ruth said.

“If we can’t work together well as a team on a low paying job, what makes you think we’re even going to survive a high paying one, Ruth? C’mon, think about it, this is team building One oh one. All about building trust in one another! Right? How can you be against that? Just be patient. It’s just gonna take some time, that’s all.”

“If it’s team building yeh want, Richy…” Rith said, twisting a strand of her hair with her index finger, which was wrapped in white combat tape. “Since ye didn’t bother plannin’ anythin’ else for us today, how about we make our own fun later, eh? A real team buildin’ exercise, Just me... and you. Hm? How about that?” Rith teased, leaning in closer to Richy.

Richy’s fair face flushed a deep crimson as he fidgeted with his collar, flustered. Richy cleared his throat., “Ah, well, you see, Rith, I do believe I’ve got some errands to attend to for our apartment. Perhaps we could, ah, revisit this... suggestion another time?” He couldn’t meet Rith’s eyes.

Crash, click, clack!

The three of them looked once again at the front door, and in walked two tall, lanky, hairy, werewolves. Their paws scratched the flooring as they walked, guided by Miss Kelly, who had a look of death on her face.

“Werewolves!” Ruth said, gripping his charcoal painted stave tight, but Richy raised his hand.

“It’s alright, Ruth, we’re not here to pick a fight. We’re here to eat, and we don’t do a job, unless we’re paid to.”

“But-”

“No buts, and that’s final. Who knows, they might be nice folks.”

“No werewolf is nice.” Ruth said, holding his sister, who was shaking.

“You guys personal problems with werewolves aside, we have not been paid to take down werewolves. So we’re going to act like civil individuals, and keep our cool. Got it?” Richy stated.

“...Fine.” Ruth hissed.

“Don’t go picking fights now, you’ll live longer, trust me,” Richy said. “Ah! Food and drink for the hungry workers! Finally!”

Becky the waitress was handling two trays, one for drinks, and the other filled with food. A whole chicken lie on a platter next to a bowl of soup. She was actively avoiding eye contact with the werewolves that licked their lips when they saw her.

“Excuse us! Waitress! Service!” They shouted.

“Just a moment! I’ll be right with you.” Becky said and stopped in front of their table. “I got the whole chicken, two bowls of squash soup, your drinks, and lastly-”

She laid down two fat slices of Strawberry cake, white on white, with strawberry jelly, warm and wet staining the cake. “Two slices of Mama Bean’s famous Strawberry Cake.”

“Waitress! Service!” The werewolves howled.

“I said, I’ll be with you in a moment!” Becky shouted, more brave than she felt. “Sorry about this loves. Enjoy your food.”

The group known as Anbieter Immer stared at their waitress as she walked away towards the two werewolves that were making a scene. Ruth fiddled with his cake, his eyes pointing daggers at them.

“They’re so rude, and awful.” Ruth said.

“Ruth, it’s okay, just eat yer cake,” Rith said. “Like Richy said, we’re just adventurers, best not to make waves.”

Richy slurped on his coffee.

“Right you are, Rith, best to just-” There was a slam that came from behind them as the three of them looked back at Becky, holding the menus tight on her chest.

“What do you mean OUT?!” One of the werewolves screamed.

“We’re out! Like I told you.” Becky said.

“Well, who’d ya give it to? Out with it!” Becky pointed at Richy, Ruthia and Rithia. The werewolves stood up out of their seats, Becky backing away.

The once lively diner had gone silent, as the werewolves’ feet pounded onto the floor beneath their feet. Richy continued sipping his coffee and Ruth with his balled fists, stared at the now approaching night creatures.

“Hey.” The werewolf said. Richy did not look up from his cup. “Hey!” A great big paw slammed the table in front of them.

“Yes?” Richy said. “Fine day, isn’t it?”

“We want your cake. Becky over there said she gave the two of you the last of it.” The werewolf said.

“Sorry to hear that gents, early bird gets the worm and all.” Richy said.

“You haven’t even started eating it, let alone paid for it yet.” The other werewolf said, it’s fangs bared at him. “You’re gonna give it to us. Both of ’em.”

“If it’s a matter of not having eaten it yet…” Richy placed his coffee down onto the table, and grabbed his fork and cut a small piece off the end. He stabbed downwards onto the spikes of the fork and brought it closer to his mouth.

Wrong move. The werewolf gripped its massive claw around Richy’s arm and squeezed it tight and if it hurt Richy, he gave no signs.

“Just what in the hell is goin’ on here?!” It was Mama Bean, owner and proprietor of her namesake, Mama Beans, the diner they were now eating in. “You two werewolves, get outta here, you’re not welcome anymore. No cake for you today. No siree.” The fat on her arm jiggled with anger as she pointed toward the front door.

The werewolf that had not grabbed Richy gave one look at Mama Bean and bared its fangs. Mama Bean, understood quite well.

“I said, you two are outta-” The werewolf knocked Mama Bean to the ground with a sickening crunch, her arm had broken from the impact. Her coconut colored face furrowed from the pain as she began to sob.

“Y’know-” Richy began, his mouth full of cake, “You really ought to try this, it’s famous for a reason!”

The werewolf holding Richy picked him up by his arm and in its fury tossed him out the window.

Crash! The glass flew everywhere as Richy fell to the ground outside.

“Ow!” Richy cried and the werewolves laughed and turned towards Ruth and Rith. Only, they weren’t in the booth anymore.

“Hey, yeh hairy idiots! O’er here!” They turned and saw Ruth and Rith, two half elves waiting for their moment to shine, poised and ready to fight. “You really shouldn’t have messed with Mama.”

A giant glow emanated from Ruth’s hand as Rith rushed forward, reeling backwards for a punch. Her arm coated in a bright glow. With a crack, Ruth and Rith knocked the werewolves back, through the table, through the booth, and through the wall they had just sent Richy through.

Richy’s guns and sword flew through the air with the werewolves and clattered on the ground outside.

“Mama Bean!” Ruth cried and ran over to her side. “I’m sorry ’bout the wall and everything, oh, yer arm, let me fix that for yeh.” Ruth whispered in his native tongue, it was an Elven healing spell directed to Mama Bean’s arm, ”lámhaigh stitch.” The broken bones healed instantly.

“Oh, Ruth, now, don’t you start, go and get the fellas that did this to my poor diner!” Mama Bean said. “Ya’ll better make ’em pay for it!”

Rith smiled at Ruth, her fists raised and ready.

“You got it Mama Bean! After all, what kinda tenants would we be for you if we didn’t defend the place where we live!” Rith said.

“Go, you two! Help out your friend! Looks like he’ll need it.”

Ruth and Rith locked eyes and sprinted through the hole in the wall towards the werewolves, and their dear friend Richy.

“Y’all be careful now, and make sure ya come back in one piece!” Kelly hollered.

Ruth and Rith stood outside of the diner, and stepped with care over the rubble, the werewolves were already back on their feet and there was Richy. Standing tall with his weapons at the ready.

“You guys really want to do this? Really? Over two pieces of cake?!” Richy said. “Not a great plan.” Richy dug in his jacket pocket and slipped on his leather black gloves with a crimson red tint on the palm.

“You alright, friends?” Richy smiled, extending a hand towards the sky.

“Don’t be worryin’ about me Rider!” Ruth Shouted. “Tell me, why are those two mangy mongrels not dead yet!”

The two werewolves turned around and saw Ruth and Rith, staring at them, battle ready. They were surrounded.

“Wanted to be polite and wait for you two to join the party! Not my mission to kill as many werewolves as possible! Last I checked, that was your MO, Ruth!”

“How thoughtful.” Ruth said.

“Ruth, we’re gonna take them out, by the book. Don’t get cocky, yeah?” Rith said. “Don’t care what these types of creatures did to us in the past, don’t lose your cool, and don’t lose your head.”

“I’ll kill werewolves as I please, sister,” Ruth snarled, touching the scars on his eye. “No mercy.”

The two werewolves howled long and deep into the midday sun, Richy recognized that type of howl. They were calling for reinforcements. This was going to get ugly, and quick.

“Pardon me, you two, I do hate to interrupt this tender moment, but I do believe those two wolves may have summoned their father!” Richy interjected. A massive shadow leaped over the three, cast by a towering werewolf standing nearly nine feet tall.

“Hey there Padre! We just had a bit of a misunderstanding over some cake, no need to get hostile now.” Richy said.

The new gray coated werewolf, the other two’s father, looked at Richy, and snarled. It’s long sharp, gleaming fangs radiated anger in waves.

“Anyone that has an issue with my boys, has an issue with me!” The father shouted. “What have they done!”

“Well, y’see, sir. They made a giant hole in the side of our favorite restaurant and ruined our weekly family dinner!” Richy exclaimed. “We can all walk away from this, but I need those boys to pay for the damages. I’ll wave the dinner, just pay for the wall!”

“They will do no such thing! All you sun dwellers are the same, causing trouble for my kin! I won’t have it! Kill them!” And the other two werewolves charged at Richy.

“That’s all I needed to hear.” Ruth began running in place, his feet moving at a rapid pace to generate electric friction. With a burst of energy, he cast a Consuete lightning spell, sending a crackling jolt through his finger tips that stunned the two charging werewolves, freezing them in their tracks. Ruth fell to one knee, his mana reserves depleted. He looked at his sister.

“Finish ’em off while they’re stuck, sis!” Ruth barked.

“Don’t gotta tell me twice!” Rith shouted.

Rith dashed forward, closing the distance to the stunned wolves in an instant and dodged around the father werewolf. She positioned her open hands just an inch away from their abdomens, and focused her breathing. She closed her eyes and channeled all her mana, power, and energy into her fists. Rith’s eyes snapped open, exhaled and with a precise and brutal one-inch punch, her strike unleashed a shockwave that tore a gaping hole through the wolves stomachs. The force rippled through the air shooting a heavy breeze rustling across the blades of grass. The two werewolves collapsed, their lifeless bodies slamming the ground in front of their father.

“What on earth did you do that for!? They just needed a little bit more convincing that’s all! ” Richy ran his hands through his hair again. “All this over two slices of strawberry cake… Man.”

“Are yeh KIDDIN ME Richard Reagan RIDER! They were going to rip your bleedin’ head off! More convincin’... my arse, like that would have ever happened.” Rith said, wiping the blood off her pink compression crop top and white combat pants.

“Heads up Rider!” Ruth yelled.

Richy reacted just in time, his instincts kicking in as he reached over his shoulder and drew his sword in one swift motion. The blade clashed against the father werewolf’s massive, razor-sharp claws, the force of the impact reverberating through his arms.

“I suppose an ‘I’m sorry’ isn’t going to cut it… Is it?” Richy said.

The father swung in wide, brutal arcs, his rage palpable after losing his sons.

“KILL YOU! KILL YOU!” He screamed.

“For what it’s worth, I am sorry!” Richy stepped into the fray, blocking and countering with his blade, meeting the oversized werewolf blow for blow. A powerful punch from the beast sent Richy crashing against a tree in the center of the parking lot of Mama Bean’s Diner. Dazed from the impact, he looked up and to his right, and saw the crowd of other adventurers he had been eating lunch with not moments ago.

“A knight’s gotta look good in front of a crowd. But that last one really hurt.” He pushed himself to his feet just as the werewolf launched into the air, hands raised for a crushing double ax-handle attack. Richy rolled aside, narrowly avoiding the strike as the beast’s fists obliterated the tree.

Richy drew his guns, Lancelot and Galahad. His trusty pistols he had made himself. He pointed it at the beast and fired at its ribs. The bullets struck true, Lancelot’s rash nature showing in the spread in the werewolf’s skin while Galahad’s straight accurate shot, struck straight through its flesh causing it to howl in pain. Richy was sure he got some of its internal organs. In its fury, the beast uprooted the fallen tree and wielded it as a massive club. It swung the tree towards Richy with a devastating force. Richy locked his eyes on the werewolf’s neck, his mind focused on one decisive strike and shoved his guns back into their holsters.

As the wolf brought the tree down, Richy leaped forward, and met the attack with his own. His blade, quicker than a flash, sliced clean through the werewolf’s thick neck. The body, still holding the remains of the tree in its thick paws, wobbled, and tumbled to the ground. The tree crashed with a thunderous smash.

Richy stood over the lifeless beast, his raven colored blade Siegfried dripping with blood, a frown reflected on his young face. The fight was over.

“My upmost apologies for this,” he murmured. “I tried to give you all an out, but you chose this fate.”

Richy frowned harder as he saw, smeared on the ground, the remains of their cake. He approached it with measured steps and crouched down deep. He scooped up what he could, mixed with the dirt and gravel beneath it and held it within his hands.

“Hey, Ruth! Got something for ya.” Richy said.

Ruth sighed and shook his head, Rith couldn’t help but laugh.

“Rider, if you think I’m eatin’ that.” Ruth said. But Richy extended the cake toward Ruth anyway.

“What about you Rith?” Richy asked.

“I… Think I’m good, Richy.” Rith said. Richy sighed and threw the cake back on the ground, the frosting splattering onto his boots.

“Dead over nothing.” Richy exhaled. “Hey, Mama! Sorry about the mess. Don’t think these guys had money to begin with. We’ll pay for any-”

“Rider! Don’t yeh dare say another word!” Ruth stated. Rith laughed and threw her arms over both of them.

“Aww, me fine, handsome gentlemen, havin’ one of yer rare wee civil disputes! It’s a sight to behold!”

“Rithia, really! You’re staining my suit with your blood-soaked hands,” Richy exclaimed, his face twisted in sheer distaste.

“Ah, quit yer ramblin’, Rider! Sure, you’ve plenty o’ suits at home to switch out of,” Ruth teased with a grin, pushing up his glasses.

“But this happens to be my favorite for afternoon wear, I’ll have you know,” Richy huffed. “And it takes an inordinate amount of time to remove these stains by hand.”

Rith rolled her eyes in exasperation.

“Oh, you boys and your spats.” Come on, you two, I’m far too hungry to be listenin’ to yer squabblin’,” Rith chuckled.

“Mama Bean! I’m serious! I’ll pay for any of the damages!” Richy said.

“Oh no you don’t! We earned that money today, Richy! This wasn’t our fault!” Ruth shouted at him. “In fact… They should pay us for taking out the werewolves! “Well… “ Rith said. “It is kind o’ our fault for antagonizing them. Let’s pay for it Richy, got teh stay in Mama Bean’s good graces, ay?”

“I’ll drink to that.” Richy said.

The three made their way out of the parking lot and headed back toward the diner. Each step carried a quiet anticipation as their minds drifted to whatever adventures might await them next.