(Note: Due to an error on my part, both this and the preceding chapter should have been posted after Chompy's second section. (The one above the previous branch) Just read that particular path if you want to see Jon's side of things as of this update, at least)
"Oh, COME ON!" Jack shouted once he entered the empty field. Even from here, he could tell that for the past few hours they had been walking through the heavily wooded forest parallel to the relatively open field. Groaning, he scanned the field. He still couldn't see much through the fog, but he had a rough idea as to which direction the girl had flown, and that should be enough.
He found her curled up in a ball of feathers practically on top of a stout haystack. Dashing over, he saw the body shivering in the cold mountain air. She mumbled something, but he couldn't hear.
"You alright?" he asked, kneeling down next to her. The girl had some pretty striking features, not the least of which were the massive wings that emerged from her shoulders and the cruel, sharp talons where her feet should have been.
"Hungry" she stated.
"Here," Jack said, pulling a strip of smoked pork out of his pack. "Take this."
The girl's bright blue eyes instantly focused on the offered food, and managed to somehow rise halfheartedly and take it with sharp, pointed teeth.
"Can you walk?" Jack asked, trying to help her up.
"Barely." She replied, as Jack took hold of her fragile wing and gently lifted her off the ground.
"Christ, you're light. Okay, if you need help, just tell me."
"Sure." The girl stood unsteadily on her massive talons.
"Ah, hell. Let me guess, you've been at this for all of five minutes, right?" Jack asked bluntly.
"You mean-" Her eyes lit up.
"Jack Wilson, formerly of Wayne, Michigan. Just west of Detroit. Don't worry, I've got a friend back at camp that got hit the same way."
"You mean he didn't have boobs before this?" She growled, pointing at her chest with her free wing.
"Incidentally, yes. That 'Random Character' setting must have one sick sense of humor." Jack said, growing more worried. Sam could barely fight and this new girl, or guy, whatever looked like she could barely even walk. Rachel was suffering from constant headaches, probably from that magic crap, and in any case would probably be about as much of a danger to herself as she would be to an enemy in a fight. Despite his growing number of companions, Jack was feeling more and more alone.
Fortunately, the girl seemed to be getting the hang of walking about, and by the time they reached the forest edge she no longer needed any support. They continued on for a few more silent minutes before they got back to camp.
Sam and Rachel were sitting by a small fire, absentmindedly tossing in small twigs. Jack saw they had managed to find a small indent in the cliff face, and as such the meager camp would be sheltered from the rain if, or when, it started pouring down.
Sam looked up from the small fire. "Found her alright?"
"Yeah" Jack replied, seeing the new girl wince at being identified as such. "And Sam, looks like you're not alone."
"Really?" The fox girl examined the harpy. "You mean-"
"Yeah, I used to be a guy." The harpy replied sheepishly.
"One more and you can start your own support group." Rachel cracked. Sam and the new girl ignored her and gave each other a knowing look.
"So, what's your name?" Jack asked, sitting down on the ground next to the fire.
"Jon." The girl said, moving slowly as she followed John's lead, carefully trying to move her tail out of the way.
"As I said, my name's Jack." Jack replied, pointing at himself.
"Name's Sam."
"Rachel."
"I hate to ask, but do you have any food?" Jon asked hungrily.
"Sure." Sam went over to his bag and pulled out a large slice of smoked ham. "Help yourself, there's plenty more."
Jon eagerly grabbed the pork with one talon and, before he could stop himself, was gorging on the strip of meat, his sharp teeth savagely tearing into the ham.
As soon as he finished, he stopped, and looked at his gristle stained torso. "Did I just-"
"Don't worry about it." Sam waved a paw. "First thing that I did, too. I think it's instinct or something."
Jon still looked embarrassed, and shrunk back from the fire a bit.
"So," Jack said after the rest of them had some dinner, "There was a small farm near where I found her-" he corrected himself "Him. I think that we, or at least I, should try to see if anyone's there. If there is, we can ask for directions. If there isn't, we can spend the night there."
"I don't know. You think we should all go?" Rachel asked.
"No, and here's why. God knows if there's racism, or speciesim or whatever around here, but if there is, I don't want to give the local equivalent of a Klansman a black guy, a catholic, and a yankee all in one group."
"Makes a bit of sense." Sam replied. Let me guess: the rest of us stay back and wait for your signal?"
"Seems like the best plan to me." Jack said. "Any objections?"
No one said anything, so Jack rose.
"No sense wasting time, then." He said. "Let's go."
