Zeldritzon [Cycle 3] - Late Afternoon
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Current Location:
[UvoSath Forest of the UvoSath Realm]
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Nosily, crystals crunched softly under the Osseods' eager jaws as they worked through the boulders with surprising ease. KiAera watched them for a moment, marveling at the sight. Who would've thought these small creatures could tear through such dense material as though it were bread? It reminded her, in a strange way, of her father and his projects.
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Osseods [Numerous] [13 Total!]
[TECH] increased!
[TECH] increased!
[TECH] increased!
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
[Bite] - Beast - TECH: 2 → TECH: 3!
[Bite] - Beast - TECH: 2 → TECH: 3!
[Bite] - Beast - TECH: 2 → TECH: 3!
[Bite] - Beast - TECH: 2 → TECH: 3!
[Bite] - Beast - TECH: 2 → TECH: 3!
[Bite] - Beast - TECH: 2 → TECH: 3!
[Bite] - Beast - TECH: 2 → TECH: 3!
[Bite] - Beast - TECH: 2 → TECH: 3!
[Bite] - Beast - TECH: 2 → TECH: 3!
[Bite] - Beast - TECH: 2 → TECH: 3!
[Bite] - Beast - TECH: 2 → TECH: 3!
[Bite] - Beast - TECH: 2 → TECH: 3!
[Bite] - Beast - TECH: 3 → TECH: 4!
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Osseods [Numerous] [13 Total!]
[STR] increased!
[STR] increased!
[STR] increased!
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
[Osseod #1] - STR: +1!
[Osseod #2] - STR: +1!
[Osseod #3] - STR: +1!
[Osseod #4] - STR: +1!
[Osseod #5] - STR: +1!
[Osseod #6] - STR: +1!
[Osseod #7] - STR: +1!
[Osseod #8] - STR: +1!
[Osseod #9] - STR: +1!
[Osseod #10] - STR: +1!
[Osseod #11] - STR: +1!
[Osseod #12] - STR: +1!
[Big Osseod] - STR: +1! STR: +1!
Work smarter, not harder, she mused, whistling as she hefted a log into place.
Suddenly her peripheral caught GamaGen floating nearby. | 'I will apply another softening spell on the remaining crystals.' |
Spells. The book had plenty of support ones. They had limited use, but they worked. She nodded, flicking her tail. "Thanks, GamaGen. Make sure it's gentle. We don't want these walls crumbling down on us later."
Her head flicked to the Liorex egg beside her. It continued to radiate a warm, golden light over their worksite. The little guy's soft glow reminded her of the lanterns her sister used to hang up in their shared room after the invasion. Those nights Aria would chatter endlessly about anything and everything, refusing to go to sleep. Stop.
KiAera blinked, pushing the memory aside. There was work to do. Her gaze went to the Osseods scampering the field.
Playfully, the Osseods labored tirelessly, as they moved the logs into position. KiAera chuckled as she watched them. Their teamwork was almost childlike in its enthusiasm. They reminded her of herself and the younger recruits back in the days of the N.E.O. Resistance...
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Without a second thought, she dashed over to aid the Osseods. Her ears extended, grasping a log and lifting it above her head. "Take a break. I'll handle the rest."
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
[STR Boost: +1]
Eventually, the campsite began to take shape.
When the last log was laid, and the final crystal had been smoothed down, KiAera stepped back to admire their work, only to chuckle with a grin. What stood before them was a structure of unexpected beauty—a crystal shelter.
The shelter rose from the ground like a crystal monument, its walls gleaming in the twilight. The structure resembled a large igloo, the crystal boulders forming its base while UvoSath logs crisscrossed overhead to create the roof. A sliding, circular door made from the trunk of a fallen tree completed the look.
It was crude, yes, but effective. The kind of place her younger self might've designed for one of her camping trips.
Anyway, they hadn't intended for it to have an igloo shape. However, it looked cozy and spacious, and she felt proud of the results. The [Crystal Shelter] was complete!
KiAera sat down, wiping sweat from her brow. Her long ears twitched as she exhaled a well-earned breath. "Congrats!" she exclaimed, clapping her paws together. "Thank you, everyone. Do as you please."
"Osseod happy!" Big Osseod chirped, waddling around the shelter. The smaller Osseods bounced excitedly, their tiny ears flopping as they circled the structure.
KiAera let herself laugh. It felt... good. Not like those hollow chuckles she used to force. This was genuine. This was peace.
Time to do some checks. Rising to her feet, she walked around the shelter, checking its sturdiness, tapping her paw against the crystal walls. They held firm.
She let out a deep breath, satisfied after examining the shelter's details. It wasn't perfect—not yet—but it was a start. The crystal structure would hold up for now, and later, she'd make improvements.
Perhaps she should add windows, reinforce the walls, maybe even installing a chimney...? Or spikes... If there was one thing her old life had taught her, it was that no shelter was truly safe until you made it your own.
"I think this'll work," she murmured to herself, imagining what the space could become over time. Maybe some fireplaces... a way to bring in more light, she thought. Speaking of sky.
She peered up as several birds sped through the sky. Silver speedsters. A feathery wyvern mawed with a beak gave chase.
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Creatures: Acewrens
APeX: [Too Fast] [???]
Attributes: [Wind]
Variant Grade: [Common]
Evolution Stage: [Fledgling]
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
[Insight] - [Rank: F] - TECH: 5% → TECH: 8%!
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Creatures: Skyrawltal
APeX: [119 Units]
Attributes: [Wind] [Deino]
Variant Grade: [Common]
Evolution Stage: [Fledgling]
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
With the suns beginning to set, KiAera sighed, content as she looked around the campsite. "Well, I think that's enough work for today," she said, settling down onto the soft ground. The Osseods were already exploring the shelter, bouncing with excitement as they tapped the structure.
"Osseods curious," she muttered with a smile, watching them try—unsuccessfully—to figure out the sliding door. Despite their knack for construction, they seemed utterly baffled by the concept of doors. It was almost endearing.
"Come on, guys," KiAera called softly, chuckling as she walked over to the door. "Let me show you how to get inside."
She slid the door open, ushering the Osseods inside one by one. They chirped and bounced around, exploring every corner of their new home, touching the crystal walls with wide-eyed wonder.
Inside, the space felt open and inviting. The walls gleamed softly, reflecting the light from the Liorex egg. Logs lined the interior, smoothed and polished to prevent splinters. The floor was covered with thick rugs made from plant fibers KiAera had woven together.
In the middle of the shelter, GamaGen floated, inspecting the structure with its usual meticulousness. | 'This is a most satisfactory domicile, Miss KiAera. Is this the norm for human dwellings?' |
"Yeah..." KiAera laughed lightly, her ears drooping a little. "Something like that," she settled onto the soft floor with a small yawn. "Humans usually live in houses made from wood, stone, and glass, though this is a bit... different."
Her gaze drifted upward, taking in the primitive yet functional lighting they’d installed—symbols provided by GamaGen etched the ceiling that glowed faintly, supplemented by lanterns lit by her own tail flame. It was a far cry from the buildings she had once dreamed of designing, but there was something deeply satisfying about it nonetheless.
Her mind trailed to building a cabin for an old deer. Earnestly, she did not know why.
| 'How fascinating,' | GamaGen mused, its tone quivering ever so slightly, as though the concept of a house—something so simple and yet so essential—was a puzzle it was just beginning to grasp. | 'Cawkawkawkaw… *ahem*, yes, most fascinating.' |
It hovered close to the walls, as if trying to memorize every detail.
KiAera ignored it and curled up on the floor, her tail wrapping protectively around the Liorex egg. Once again the egg's light was warm, its golden glow sent her back. It reminded her of nights spent camping under the stars with her father, back when astronomy had been a passion they shared.
Aria had always loved things that sparkled—whether it was the stars they used to camp under with their father or the glittery stickers she collected in her diary. There was something about this moment that made her feel connected to that simpler time. Before the world fell apart. The memory brought a brief pang of sadness, but she pushed it aside, focusing on the present. Why so sentimental, KiAera? They're gone. Like everyone else.
"I just wanted to build a safe place for us to sleep," she murmured as sleep began to tug at her.
| 'Yes, and you have done so admirably, Miss KiAera,' | she noted GamaGen's shadow casting upon her. | 'And I am grateful to be included in your endeavors.' |
KiAera paused. She glanced up at the hovering book. For a brief moment, she thought of Emma who had once told her that sometimes, the things we build aren't just for shelter—they're for hope.
Thanks, grandgen. She smiled at the sentient book. "Thanks, GamaGen. You can hover off now."
The book remained still for just a moment. It drifted away without a word, but radiated a soft blue glow, humming.
KiAera surveyed her surroundings as the book exited the shelter. But to where?
She shook her suspicions, lowering her head to a crude pillow.
Otherwise, the shelter fell into a comfortable silence, save for the soft, rhythmic snoring of the Osseods as they piled together in a corner, their bodies curled around one another. Big Osseod yawned, flopping down onto its side, clearly exhausted from the day's efforts.
"Osseod sleeps," it muttered, its voice already heavy with slumber. "Love new home."
KiAera chuckled softly, her own exhaustion pulling her under. The shelter was warm and secure, the flickering light from her tail providing a comforting glow as she drifted off.
Her last thoughts, before sleep claimed her, were of the home she had once known—of Aria's laughter, of Derek's smile, of the stars she used to trace with her father. And for the first time in a long while, she felt at peace.
The night passed quietly, the soft warmth of the Liorex egg and the gentle hum of the Osseods' slumber surrounding her like a protective cocoon.
Suddenly, another thought cut through her with the cold shift in the room. Despite her fur keeping her warm, she bristled.
For the first time since arriving, an urgent, feral cry rang in her head... She felt exposed—very exposed. Clothes. I need clothes!
She hummed, deciding that tomorrow's task would include making a makeshift weapon. A spear, perhaps? And a way to regain some modicum of modesty...