By the time they returned to the cottage, it was mid-afternoon. Dulce immediately went off to begin preparing, not caring for Kath'tan because he knew that once the sun set, the Demon would forcibly remove him from the cottage.
He went to deal with his animals first, taking them food for the first time all day. He emptied out the bag of grain for the hens, leaving the doors to the coop open.
The food would only last them for a week or less, he needed to make sure they could leave to find food for themselves.
There was grass everywhere, springing up after the winter thaw, so he wasn't worried about their feeding. Water was a more pressing concern.
There was a pond in the meadows, but the animals would have to walk a distance to get to it. He explained this all to the hens, cows, and sheep as he tended to them.
His detailed explanation on how to care for themselves and what to avoid went unheard and not at all understood by the farm animals, save for the hulking red shadow that followed him around.
Kath'tan thought there was no height to the Vampire's foolishness, but he didn't leave, following him around as he comforted his animals and informed them of the journey he had to make.
It was already nearing sundown when Dulce returned to the cottage to pack up his bags. He stopped at the broken wall in the guest bedroom, sighing. He had to do something about it, or the spring rains would soak his house.
However, that was easier said than done. He had not the faintest idea how to go about building a house, and he doubted he had the materials for it.
So he went in through the Demon-sized hole in his wall and pushed an antique wardrobe up against it. The wardrobe could not handle the elements well, but it was a necessary sacrifice.
He then went to his room and busied himself with packing a travel bag, taking with him important things such as a tent.
Dulce had been a victim too many times to the elements not to own a decently made tent. He had saved up to buy it, and was very proud of it, even though he hoped he wouldn't have to use it because using it meant that he was on the run again.
For the first time, though, he would be using it without being on the run. He couldn't say which circumstance he preferred, because a journey with an incensed Fiend wasn't much better.
He gathered up rations and what few changes of clothes he had, as well as taking the tome he had purchased and the items he used in summoning, hoisting up his heavy bag with ease when he was done.
"It's sunset," A low demonic voice came from behind him, making him flinch.
"I'm ready to leave," Dulce straightened up nervously, wondering how the Demon had gotten into his cluttered room.
Kath'tan looked down at him with disdain in his proud purple eyes and then vanished away.
Dulce merely headed for the door, knowing that the Demon had by no means gone. And just as predicted, Kath'tan was standing on the cobbled path again, waiting impatiently.
"I-It might be best not to go through the village," He spoke up nervously.
Kath'tan once again didn't question this, letting the Vampire lead them through the meadows.
They went around the outskirts, the trees sparse and the grass plentiful. It got quieter as the sky darkened, chirping insects flitting through the tall grass.
With their superior strength, they could easily walk through the night, quickly leaving Dewmire behind.
Dewmire was a little, out-of-the-way village, so it was quite some distance from the next town, a harmless stretch of woods separating both places.
With a fast carriage and the well-maintained road connecting Dewmire to the next town, it would take only a few hours, but by foot, it could very well take all night.
Dulce didn't have the unlimited stamina the Demon seemed to possess. He always drank animal blood sparingly, and he had been gravely injured just a few hours ago, coupled with the heavy travel bag he held, by the early hours of the morning, he was already falling behind.
Kath'tan stopped for the umpteenth time for the Vampire to catch up, a vein pulsing on his jaw. It was rather hard to follow his lead when he dragged his feet.
"We'll set camp here." He decided when the Vampire walked up to him, walking a short distance to sit on the thick roots of a tree.
The woods had gotten denser the deeper they got in. Closer to Dewmire, it had more grass than trees, but here, there were thick old trees everywhere you looked.
Dulce was so happy to hear those words that it nearly brought a tear to his eyes. He had been ready to take a break since midnight, but he didn't dare voice his opinions at the risk of decapitation.
He hastily dropped his bag and got to work, taking a deep drink out of the flask of water he brought. He didn't dare offer anything to the Demon again. They were resilient, dangerous creatures and could go for months without eating or sleeping.
Dulce right away set up his tent, they had gotten clear skies for the past few days, but that would only last for so long. He had a few rations of salted, dry meat, but food was the furthest thing from his mind.
After the tent was set up, he made a fire in the middle of the clearing and placed the water flask next to it, in plain sight of the Demon.
"I need to go hunt," He straightened up to say, "You're welcome to use the tent and whatever else you like." He offered generously.
Kath'tan turned away in response, the roaring campfire throwing sharp shadows against the hard lines of his face.
Dulce didn't try to convince him further, he felt guilt for summoning the Demon, but he knew better than to push and risk a grave injury to himself. So he equally turned away and walked into the trees.
Not even a few minutes after the Vampire left, the rain started pattering down, slow, deliberate drops like their sole purpose was to drive Kath'tan mad with anger.