A/N: Please go check out Karovie's art! There's more of it now, and it's all amazing. I've linked it from my tumblr, tagged c5l, and at AO3 as well.

My intention is to post a chapter for this story every Sunday. I have a pretty good idea of what's going to happen in this installment, and I'm very excited to share it with you.

Hunk took a deep breath and reminded himself, again, and that a hero couldn't refuse a quest just because it was icky.

"You're with me, right, Sunny?" he murmured to the yellow lion perched on his shoulder.

Sunshine Boy made a sound deep in his chest and throat. Mow. Hunk could feel assurance radiating off his small, sturdy body in waves, pushing away the edges of Hunk's anxiety. He drew in a deep breath, feeling like he was pulling in sunlight along with the air, taking Sunny's steady presence into his own.

Hunk wrinkled his nose and looked ahead at the swamp that stretched in front of them, moss-covered trees rising from scummy liquid, a pungent scent making his eyes water. The sun was high, and wisps of noxious mist were rising from the stagnant water where the heat hit the hardest, causing a low fog that continually burned off in the sun. That was probably the source of the scent, all of that nasty water evaporating and spreading through the air.

Hunk hoped there weren't any bad diseases in it. He could heal pretty well, but he still hated getting sick, and there were some illnesses that he couldn't handle on his own. Even the smell of this place was making his stomach wobble, and he knew if he got sick he would probably be vomiting. Hunk hated vomiting.

But he had a mission here. The people of the nearest village suspected that there was a cult of the Frog operating in this swamp. Lately some of the corpses of local farm animals had been raised as undead and wandered back to their owners. It was just a gross nuisance, right now, but anyone experimenting with necromancy was bad news. Eventually their powers would grow until they could raise people, too, or even dead goblins or bugbears, and then the rural community would be in real trouble. It was better to destroy the cult before it got that far.

Most likely it was just one low-skilled necromancer, but knowing the way the Frog enjoyed dragging people in, there were probably some followers, too. Crazy, swaying people with wild eyes and mud in their hair, singing insane songs and laughing at jokes no one outside their cult could understand. Hunk shuddered. He had never encountered a Frog cultist, but he had heard plenty of stories from other adventurers. This was going to be unpleasant.

Well, there was nothing for it. It would be better to have back-up, most especially a cleric who was better at turning undead, but Hunk was the only one here. He was a paladin. He was suited for this kind of mission. He didn't have to like it, he just had to do it.

Hunk grimaced one last time, then stepped into the knee-height water of the swamp. His foot sank deep into the mud, and his armor filled with nasty water. He had left Big Bart behind with a friendly farmer, not trusting that his mighty steed wouldn't get stuck in the swamp, but now he wondered if he might not be in danger of sinking all on his own. He could take off his full plate, maybe, but that would leave him vulnerable. Hunk made powerful attacks with his broadsword and his spear, but his main asset was his defensive capabilities, and his armor was essential for that. He wasn't fast or agile, so he wasn't good at dodging, but he could block and he could take a hit. Heading into an unknown situation like this, he couldn't afford to reduce his defenses.

Hunk took another step, the swamp sucking around his feet as he moved. He discovered that if he moved quickly enough, he didn't sink. Now and then he found firm patches of ground or a fallen log where he could stop and rest for a moment, but for the most part he had to keep moving. He held his broadsword loose in one hand, ready to sweep it up if danger presented itself. His other hand found purchase on the slimy branches of the trees to pull himself along and offer some purchase if his feet slipped.

Insects hummed and buzzed, obscuring his hearing, and the trees thronged so thick and laden with green that he couldn't see very far ahead, either. He considered asking Sunny to fly above and scout for him, but the fairy lion wouldn't be able to see through the foliage any better than he could. They just had to move forward, keeping watch as best they were able.

Sunny was a good traveling partner, the best, but at times like this Hunk couldn't help wishing for an adventuring party. Someone who was light on their feet to scout ahead, someone strong and tough to have his back in battle. A ranged fighter would be welcome, and perhaps someone with more healing capabilities than a paladin could call upon. Hunk was doing his best, and the past year of wandering around the countryside helping the common folk had been a time of great growing and learning, but he wasn't cut out for this life of solitary questing. Sure, he was a literal knight in shining armor, and it felt great when he entered a village and kids ran out to meet him, waving their arms and cheering him as a hero. He liked his current life, but he couldn't help the sense of longing in his chest pulling him toward something more.

Eventually, another sound drew his attention, something different than the insect and animal noises. Hunk paused with his hand holding another branch, listening as hard as he could. That sounded like...voices.

Hunk exchanged a glance with Sunny, both wary and tense, then began moving toward the voices. He avoided lifting his feet out of the water so as to make as little noise as possible, moving slowly so his armor wouldn't clank at the joints. There were two voices, one male and one female, he thought, both sounding lively and...somewhat annoyed. It wasn't what he'd expected from Frog cultists. They didn't sound deranged or full of mad joy, laughing and singing in high-pitched praise of Babel, the god of insanity, entertainment, and the undead.

"...I don't think it matters whose fault it is," the male voice said when Hunk got close enough to make out the words. It sounded like a youngish man, perhaps, and yes, his tone was full of annoyance. "We got nabbed. Let's figure out how to get out of it."

The female voice sounded even younger, almost childish. "Fine," she snapped, "we'll talk it about it later. But this was definitely your fault. You were supposed to be keeping watch. You kept going on about how sharp your eyesight was, and like a fool I believed you."

"C'mon, don't be that way," the young man whined. "I think they cast some kind of confusion spell right before they grabbed us. I couldn't tell which way was up. Now can we please concentrate? We gotta get away before they come back."

The girl sighed. "Can't you use your Ray of Frost to break the ropes or something?"

"I've been trying. They were smart, dumping us in water up to our waist like this. It keeps dissipating the ice. Though my hands are starting to hurt from the cold."

"Okay, stop that," the girl said, a note of worry creeping in. "If it doesn't work, it doesn't work. Don't hurt yourself with your own magic. That's just stupid."

The man had made a conciliatory noise when she told him to stop, but now his voice rose in irritation again. "Yeah? Well, it's stupid that a rogue can't get free of a simple rope. Isn't that, like, part of your thing?"

"Yes." Hissed through clenched teeth. "They must have a rogue, too. Ugh, I hate that this keeps happening. If I gotta be a rogue, I should at least be the best rogue."

Suddenly, the man's voice went soothing. "It's okay, you'll get there. We just gotta keep trying."

Hunk had to pause and press the back of his hand over his mouth to muffle his laughter. He'd never heard an argument quite like this before. The two kept alternating between accusing and comforting each other. They must have been good friends, or at least have been traveling together for a significant amount of time.

He was close enough now to see that he was coming up at their backs, two young adventurers sitting in the swamp. He couldn't see much from this distance, but they did seem to be tied up with a great deal of sturdy rope. The young man was quite a bit taller than the girl, he wearing bright clothes and a feathered hat, she in a dark cloak with a hood the matched the image of every rogue Hunk had ever heard of, though this would be his first time meeting one in real life.

Hunk crept closer, wondering what to say to avoid startling them. Then the young man turned his head to speak to the girl and froze when he saw Hunk approaching out of the corner of his eye. His face went blank for a moment, jaw dropping open, and Hunk halted, too, staring at him in stunned silence.

It had been...years. How many? And he was only seeing the other boy in profile, so he could be wrong, but... Hunk shook his head, blinking. It certainly did look like... It couldn't be, could it?

The young man blinked, hard, then craned over his shoulder and twisted his upper body so Hunk could see more of his face. He looked just as shocked as Hunk felt, but happiness bloomed over his expression, a broad grin taking over his face and his eyes wrinkling up. "Hunk!"

The girl turned too, voice sharp. "Lance, shut up, don't draw their attention..." Then she saw Hunk behind them, and she blinked, too.

It was. It was Lance. Hunk gulped, then ran-splashed to them as quickly as he could, mud sucking at his heels but slowing him down not at all. He was shaking, his sword rattling in his grip, but he couldn't tear his gaze away from Lance's face. He felt loose-limbed and weak, and his face was probably gray, but if this was, if it really was Lance...

"Lance. Is it you?" He reached them and moved around to face the two sitting in the swamp so Lance wouldn't have to crane around to look at him anymore. Lance beamed up at him, bright as a sunny sky. "They said you were dead, they said you were lost in a storm..."

Lance's face fell. "Oh, I forgot. They must have told you when they visited your village..."

Hunk nodded limply. He sheathed his sword into the scabbard on his back and splashed down to his knees, reaching out to grab Lance's shoulders with both hands. He tried not to grip too hard, knowing his gauntlets would hurt, but he couldn't help himself. He wanted to hug Lance until he couldn't breathe, but he still couldn't quite believe he was real.

Lance looked into his face, more on level now. His expression was solemn. "I'm sorry, Hunk. I was swept overboard in a storm, that's true, but I washed up in Sura City. I've been alive this whole time. I tried to contact my family, but never quite managed it. I didn't even think about trying to send a message to your village. At first I was just struggling to survive, barely had the money to eat, let alone spend on post. And then I just...forgot, I guess. A lot of things happened, and... Still. I should have thought. I'm really sorry."

Hunk felt the tears well up, then fall down his cheeks. "You idiot," he sobbed. He surged forward and wrapped his arms around his lost-and-found friend.

Lance couldn't hug him back, his arms still bound, but he leaned his head on Hunk's shoulder and murmured gently in his ear. "Yeah, yeah, it's okay. I'm okay, big guy. I'm sorry I was gone for so long. I missed you, honest. That first year, when I was so hungry... I thought about your cooking all the time. I missed you so bad."

"You're alive," Hunk said, still trying to believe it. His voice came out wavering and high-pitched. He leaned back and held Lance's shoulders in his hands again, looking him up and down. "You're a bard, just like you planned."

Lance grinned. "And look at you! A real paladin, shining armor and all." He grimaced. "Well, it's kind of mucky at the moment, but still."

The girl cleared her throat, and they both jumped and turned to look at her. She grimaced. "Sorry to interrupt, but if you could..."

Hunk started. "Oh! Yes. Sorry." He pulled out the knife at his waist, usually reserved for skinning animals he caught along the way for campfire meals, and made short work of the ropes around Lance's arms and wrists. Lance stood up, sighing and stretching, then reached down a hand for the girl as soon as Hunk freed her as well.

They stood up facing each other in a little circle, and Lance grinned and put an arm around the girl's shoulders. "This is Pidge. She's a rogue I met in Sura City, and we're on a quest to rescue her family."

Hunk bobbed out a nod and reached out to shake her hand. "Pidge. Hi. I'm Hunk. Well, that's a nickname, just like Lance is a traveling name, he probably told you..."

Lance's eyes widened as he shook his head, but Pidge gave him a confused head tilt. "Lance isn't your real name?" She sounded like she was trying for outrage, but couldn't quite make it.

Hunk gasped and covered his mouth with his hand. "Oh, sorry, I forgot that was a secret. Lance's family works as sea traders, see, and they..."

"Hunk!" Lance burst out, and Hunk apologized again and slapped his other hand over his mouth as well.

The girl was almost doubled over laughing, though, hands holding her stomach. After a moment, she straightened up and faced Hunk, grinning and wiping a tear from her eye. "It's okay. Pidge isn't my real name, either. We'll have to share everything later. Right now, maybe we should get out of this swamp before those crazy Frog people come back."

Hunk looked over his shoulder, suddenly paranoid that the cultists were right behind him. He didn't see anyone, but visibility was still limited. He looked back to Pidge and Lance with a sigh. "That's why I'm here, actually. To break up the cult. The nearby village sent me."

Lance tilted his head. "Maranth?"

"No, Omoro. I think Maranth is on the other side of the swamp from where I came in."

Lance nodded. "Makes sense. Yeah, Maranth is the village that sent us. They were offering a reward to stop the steady supply of animated animal corpses that have been bothering them lately."

"Same here, except Omoro didn't offer a reward. They're too poor."

Lance grinned and knocked his shoulder with his fist. "Good ol' Hunk the paladin, huh? Not in it for the money, are ya?"

Hunk grinned sheepishly. "Money is nice, though." His last few tasks for the countryfolk hadn't provided any coin, and he was starting to be in need of some supplies. Plenty of folks had been willing to put him up in their houses, but they didn't usually have a bed big enough to suit him. He missed staying in an inn.

"We should team up..." Lance was saying, when Pidge suddenly gasped and grabbed his arm with both hands tight enough to make him yelp. She was staring over Hunk's shoulder, her pale face even paler, and Lance turned to her, then looked where she was looking. His voice caught, stopped, then breathed, "Oh, Dragon's claws. Can you believe..."

Hunk glanced over his shoulder, but it was just Sunny, hovering in the air and watching their reunion with a look of deep contentment and pleasure on his furry face. He was always happy when Hunk was happy, and being around other people made Hunk plenty happy, let alone an old friend he had thought was dead. It was perfectly normal.

Except... Hunk turned back to face Lance and Pidge, his eyes wide. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. You can see Sunshine Boy?"

The other two looked into his face, eyes wide. "We sent Blue and Holly off to find help, if possible," Lance murmured, voice hushed with awe. "I'm surprised they didn't find you, if you were here in this swamp the whole time."

"Blue and Holly..." Hunk blinked, long and slow. Lance and Pidge had fairy lions, too.

Pidge reached out and grabbed their wrists, tugging urgently. "We gotta get out of this swamp. Something is wrong here. We gotta put our heads together and make a plan." She looked at Hunk. "You just ran in here without knowing the situation, right? You didn't have anyone to scout for you? Well, consider me and Lance your scouts. We've seen the Frog cult, and we know what we're up against. It's not a group we can take down without planning. We need to fall back and regroup, then come back tomorrow when we're prepared."

Hunk nodded. "Yeah. That makes sense."

Pidge sighed and looked around, letting Hunk and Lance's wrists fall from her hands. "Fortunately, I think they stashed our gear nearby..."

She started slogging through the swamp, and the others followed her. Sure enough, not far away was a tree with two adventurer's packs slung up into the branches. The cultists would have been smarter to take the gear with them back to their hideout, rather than leave it near where they'd dumped their prisoners. But then, this was a cult of the Frog. They probably did it on some weird whim, or because they thought it was funny.

Pidge scrambled up the tree with a boost from Hunk, then tossed the packs down to Lance's waiting arms. They geared up without further words, then began the slow, sluggish trek out of the swamp, Hunk leading the way.

They didn't talk much, afraid of drawing attention and oppressed by the damp heat and the continual insect noise. But Hunk's heart was light, even so. He'd been longing for some friends, some companions. An adventuring party. And it seemed that he had found one exactly where he least expected it.