The salty aroma of the sea enveloped Luluhawa Island, tendrils of brine permeating the very air. Though some found the acrid odor unpleasant, Tōga relished the foreign scent, inviting it to wash over his senses. He had seen oceans before during his time in Joya, but the waters of the world each had their own distinct smell and flavor. This was something new, something to be experienced and memorized. As he strolled the beach, Tōga breathed deeply, his augmented olfactory abilities detecting nuances in the tang. He let his nostrils flare, wanting to capture every iota of this novel smell and lock it away in his mind's vault. The intrepid adventurer knew each new place offered sensations as unique as fingerprints. Here, on the shores of Luluhawa, he was determined to thoroughly catalog and preserve this sensory keepsake.

Tōga took a deep breath, the crisp mountain air filling his lungs. As he exhaled, a wide grin spread across his face. He stood at the base of the mighty Ahi Mountain, eagerly awaiting his companion's arrival. They had come to the island on a quest and completed it with aplomb. Word of their exploits had reached the ears of Chief Kahuna Wailani, who implored the pair to stay longer and undertake another task. The promise of glistening treasure was enough to entice any adventurer, but for Tōga, the true reward was the experience itself. He sought not riches, but worldly wisdom.

His mind wandered as he gazed up the sloping foothills before him. What mysteries lay hidden in Ahi's craggy cliffs? What ancient secrets or fabled beasts called this land home? With his new friend at his side, he would uncover it all. The mountain beckoned them onward, daring the two to unravel her secrets.

The volcano simmered before him, bubbling with heat and inevitable destruction. Though peaceful for now, it was only a matter of time before this sleeping giant awakened. Plumes of smoke curled skyward, hinting at the inferno churning deep within the mountain's core. When at last it erupted, the Dragon Slayer would be waiting, ready to gorge himself on the magnificent flames and molten rock. He could practically taste the fire already.

But such pleasures would have to wait. For now, the Slayer stood alone, his gaze fixed on the volcano's smoldering caldera. He had arrived ahead of the others - Michael, Samuel, and one more, though he couldn't be bothered to recall their name. It mattered not. All that concerned him was the promise of ash and ember.

---

wc: 422

It would not be long before the werewolf and his feline friend joined the Dragon Slayer. As Michael's voice rang out behind him, Tōga turned, a hand raised in eager greeting. In the distance, two small shapes grew steadily larger, gaining definition as they closed the gap.

"Ready for another adventure?" Tōga grinned. "I was born ready...well, okay, I was born wailing at the top of my lungs, but you get the idea." He gave Michael a hearty pat on the back.

The pair set off from the mountain's base to meet with the chief once more. Upon arriving in the village, they were greeted by the chief's daughter, who provided the final details of their quest. They were to scale the simmering volcano and retrieve a rare lunar blossom that only grew in the hostile volcanic soil. Securing the delicate flower intact and returning safely - that was the sole condition for completing their mission. Simple enough in theory. As they turned towards the looming peak, Tōga felt a thrill of anticipation. What surprises lay in store this time? Fiery eruptions, smoldering lava, unexpected foes? He lived for the excitement of the unknown. With Michael stalwart at his side and adventure calling, the dragon slayer was in his element.

"Let's get moving, my friend. We have a flower to find and memories to make!" Tōga declared. This is what he lived for - facing the impossible, cheating death, and laughing in the face of danger. Just another day for a warrior like him. With a wild grin, he led the charge up towards the mountain's smoldering apex, ready to take on whatever came next.

The foursome returned to the volcano's base, ready to begin their perilous ascent. Tōga wasted no time, charging ahead and leading the way up the steep, heated slope. Gravity and the mountain itself seemed to push back against their efforts, but they would not be deterred so easily.

---

WC: 323 [745]

Tōga sensed an undercurrent of tension in Michael's demeanor, but did not take offense. Even in their brief interactions, the werewolf had shown himself to be a serious man - one who valued accountability and had little tolerance for frivolity. This made for a stark contrast to Tōga's own free-spirited, joyful nature.Yet the dragon slayer did not view Michael's solemnity as a flaw. It was simply a part of the man's individuality - one facet of the stoic but decent were-human and skilled warrior that he was. Tōga knew that each person must walk their own path in life, and Michael's happened to be one of rigid discipline rather than lighthearted abandon.

The mountainside ascent proved arduous for the group. Though peaceful in this moment, Ahi Mountain's volatile nature still made itself known. Despite years of dormancy, it remained an active volcano destined to erupt once more in days, months, or years untold. Even now, remnants of its fiery heart pulsed within. As they climbed, heat emanated from the very rocks beneath their feet - a reminder of the molten forces churning below. One day, smoke would again billow to the heavens as rivers of lava spilled forth. Stone and ash would rain down on the surrounding lands and distant ocean.

But for now, the slumbering giant lay quiet. So the group continued their careful scaling, winding ever upwards through switchbacks carved into the mountain's flank.

The group had been climbing for about fifteen minutes when Kohana called out. She directed their gaze further up the mountainside, where faint shadows seemed to multiply the more they looked. At first indistinct, the shapes soon proliferated, darkening the rocks as if cast by a gathering crowd.

“Wait? Are those people?”

---

wc: 288 [1033]

The mountain rumbled beneath their feet as the group made their arduous ascent up the active volcano. Dust and ash swirled around them, stinging their eyes and coating their tongues with the bitter taste of sulfur. Still, they pressed on, determined to fulfill their quest.

At last, the peak was in sight. Their goal - a rare flower said to bloom only in the hostile environment found at the volcano's summit - was within reach. As they climbed the final stretch, the mountain shuddered, as if challenging their resolve. Suddenly, Samuel broke away, spreading his wings and taking flight. The others watched as he soared upwards, eventually disappearing into the plumes of smoke. After some tense moments, he reemerged triumphantly clutching the precious flower, its vibrant colors a stark contrast to the ashen landscape.

"How beautiful!" Tōga exclaims, his auburn eyes alight with wonder as he drinks in the sight of the exotic blossom. Though eager to secure their prize and be off, he catches the weariness in Michael's voice and sees it mirrored in the faces of his companions.

"A short rest won't hurt," Tōga declares with an encouraging smile. He settles beside the others, content to share in easy camaraderie for five minutes or so as they catch their breath and gather their strength for the next leg of the journey. Conversation flows lightly as tensions ease. By unspoken accord they linger a few moments more, strangely loathe to leave this tranquil oasis they have chanced upon. But the quest calls, and with renewed vigor they take up their packs and press onward, the memory of success rejuvenating their spirits.

"Should we get goin’?" Tōga declares, too eager to wait for a response. He springs up from where he had been sitting at the cliff's edge, peering over to gauge the descent. This next leg would be the true test - the climb was but a warm-up compared to the perilous descent ahead. One misstep on the treacherous slope could send them tumbling to their doom. But Tōga felt only thrill, not fear. Danger was the price of adventure, and he gladly paid it. Back on solid ground there was safety, yes, but also boredom. Up here was where he felt alive.

---

wc: 373 [1406]

As they descended the mountain, Tōga sensed danger approaching. "Gotcha," he growled, his eyes blazing as ten assassins materialized out of thin air, blocking their path. Clad in shadowy garb, the sinister group was armed with both magic and steel, clearly intending to skewer the Guild Member and Rune Knight before day's end. But they had made a fatal miscalculation in targeting these particular mages. Tōga's eyes flashed with fiery anticipation for the battle ahead. The assassins may have come prepared with deadly weapons and deceitful magic, but they were no match for the power and skill of Tōga and his companion. Outnumbered but undaunted, the pair readied themselves to teach their shady assailants a sharp lesson about picking the wrong foes.

"Don't take too long," Tōga called out cheerfully to Michael, eyeing the divided band of assassins as a delightful challenge. They wordlessly divided the opponents - Michael would take five, while Tōga relished facing the other five himself. Without hesitation, magical circles flared beneath Tōga's feet before he rocketed towards his adversaries, propelled by the explosive force of his fire magic. His first devastating strike bowled over the assassins like pins, his momentum carrying him through them like a fiery cannonball. Though outnumbered, Tōga was in his element. He battled on, the assassins proving mere fodder against his magical onslaught. His fight lasted slightly longer than Michael's, but soon enough, Tōga overcame the final attacker, emerging with only minor bruises to show for his efforts. The thrill of victory flooded through him as he turned to see Michael dispatch the last of his own opponents.

Tōga's triumph was short-lived as Michael's voice cut through his revelry. "Sadly, I don't have healing magic, but heat should help sprains, right?" Michael hurried to Kohana's side, kneeling to inspect her injured ankle. Working quickly, he fashioned a makeshift compress from his clothes and used his magic to heat it. After a few tense moments, Kohana's ankle was stabilized under Michael's careful ministrations. With the injury tended to for now, Michael gently lifted Kohana onto his back to carry her the rest of the way down the mountain. Tōga watched his friend's skilled caretaking, gratitude welling up that Michael had been here to assist Kohana. There would be time to celebrate their victory later - for now, getting Kohana safely down the mountain was their priority.

“I’ll carry her from here, let’s go Michael and Sam!”

---

wc: 404 [1500+]