Zeldritzon [Cycle 4] - Morning
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Current Location: [Crystal Shelter]
[Glades of the UvoSath Forest of the UvoSath Realm]
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The next morning, KiAera woke up early to start her work for the day. First on her list was to make weapons for herself. She had already decided on crafting a spear but was unsure about what gear would be best for the Osseods.
|'Good morning, Miss KiAera. How did you sleep?'| GamaGen chimed as the book floated over to her.
She stretched out her muscles, yawning. "Good morning," she replied, nuzzling the Liorex egg nestled at her side. "I slept well, thank you."
|'You intend to make armor for the Osseods? I believe that will be a prudent course of action.'|
KiAera nodded, her tail swaying.
"Well, they are small," she murmured to herself, glancing at the sleeping creatures. Then she spotted the Big Osseod curled up in a corner, snoring softly. "Except for the big one," she mused.
"Big Osseod is Big Osseod," it chirped, opening one eye to look at her. "Osseod is Osseod."
KiAera shook her head with a smile. "Yes, you are," she said, looking at the smaller Osseods. "But would armor actually be beneficial? Especially when you already have a crystal carapace?"
The smaller Osseods chirped and bounced around excitedly at her words.
"Armor. Osseod has armor," Big Osseod chirped.
"You're right, you do," KiAera said, peering at the smaller ones again. "But what about you guys? I don't think armor would help much."
The smaller Osseods seemed to consider this before one piped up, "Osseod is Osseod. Osseod need no armor." KiAera had named that particular Osseod Epsilon (ε)—her ears twitched in amusement. The mini formation of its tail reminded her of the symbol for epsilon.
KiAera chuckled. "Fair enough," she said, standing up and stretching. "Then I think we can skip the armor for now."
"Alright, I guess we should get started on the day." She observed the Osseods individually, gauging each of their powers—the creatures' [Accumulated Particles].
૮꒰˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶꒱ა
Big Osseod's Status:
Accumulated Particles: 39 Units
૮꒰˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶꒱ა
Osseod β Status:
Accumulated Particles: 22 Units
૮꒰˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶꒱ა
Osseod π Status:
Accumulated Particles: 26 Units
૮꒰˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶꒱ა
Osseod δ Status:
Accumulated Particles: 21 Units
૮꒰˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶꒱ა
Big Osseod, Beta, Pi, and Delta were the four most notable members of KiAera's party. They were the strongest and most capable members of the group, and she was deeply grateful for their assistance. Then there were the other nine Osseods: Epsilon, Zeta, Eta, Theta, Iota, Kappa, Lambda, Mu, and Nu. Each had unique abilities that complemented the others. Together, they were a formidable team, and KiAera felt fortunate to have them by her side.
With that accomplished, her paw held up a sheet of paper that GamaGen had handed her from its pages. Written on it were the following words, listed by priority:
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"KiAera's To-Do List for the 4th Cycle:"
* Search for and collect edible crystals (light-blue Zeldritzonian crystals preferred)
* Search for and harvest materials for personal clothing
* Search for and gather materials to craft a spear for personal defense... and perhaps other weaponry if time permits
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She nodded as she reviewed the list. "Okay, that should be enough for now," she said, folding the paper and placing it on a makeshift table. "Let's get started."
Turning to the Osseods, she said, "I need you guys to help me find some crystals and materials for clothes."
The Osseods squeaked and chirped in excitement at the mention of crystals—their primary food source, after all.
"Osseods, eat! Crystals! Crystals!" Beta cheered, bouncing around. This small Osseod had a marvelous mix of dark blue and bright red hues, with a fin reminiscent of a betta fish back on Earth.
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"Eat crystals!" Pi chimed in, copying Beta's energetic dance. This oval-shaped Osseod was the second largest, right after Big Osseod. Its tail and ears were different in shape compared to the other Osseods; its light blue crystalline carapace was smooth and round, almost like a gemstone. KiAera frowned at its gluttonous behavior. She could almost see saliva dribbling down its mouth as it chanted, "Crystals, crystals, crystals."
"Osseods, collect. Find! For KiAera!" Delta cried out with an enthusiastic bounce. Its triangular, bladed ears swayed left and right in excitement as its eyes darted around the room. It seemed more poised to fight than to collect.
Delta had an elliptical shape with a dark green tint, contrasting nicely with its bright yellow ears. It was the quietest and most serious of the group. It had a sleeker body than the others, and its tail was thin and triangular.
The rest of the Osseods hopped around excitedly, chanting, "Crystals! Crystals!"
KiAera smiled. "I appreciate the enthusiasm, guys," she said, looking at Big Osseod. "But I'm going to need you to lead them and make sure they stay focused on the task."
Big Osseod blinked slowly, seeming to process what KiAera had just said. After a moment, it let out a loud squeak and nodded. "Big Osseod, leads! Osseods, work!"
KiAera nodded, pleased with Big Osseod's response. "Alright then," she said, looking at the smaller Osseods.
She pondered for a moment before deciding. "I think we should split into two excavation groups for now," she asserted. "I'll take Beta, Pi, and Delta with me, and the rest of you will go with Big Osseod."
Her gaze shifted briefly to the Liorex egg. "Mu and Nu will remain here and watch over the Liorex egg, in case any predators come sniffing around," she added.
The two Osseods chirped happily as they hopped over to the Liorex egg, settling down beside it. They seemed content with being assigned such an important task.
KiAera turned her attention to GamaGen, floating nearby. "GamaGen," she said, "I'll leave the Liorex egg in your care while I'm gone."
|'Ah, an interesting request. It shall be done. Kawkawkaw,'| the book laughed.
"...Thanks. Just don't make me regret leaving the task to you. I'll leave a couple of Osseods here."
|'It is my pleasure, Miss KiAera,'| GamaGen responded with a slight bow of its cover. |'I shall do my utmost to ensure its safety.'|
KiAera smiled warmly. "Thank you," she said before turning to face the Osseods once more.
"Alright, everyone," she said, looking at the two groups. "Let's get started."
With that, KiAera exited the shelter. She could hear the chattering and chirping of the Osseods as they followed her.
As she stepped into the morning sunlight, she was greeted by lush red and blue foliage stretching as far as the eye could see. The forest teemed with life, and the air tingled her ears with birdsong and the buzz of insects.
KiAera took a deep breath, savoring the fresh air. Her ears twitched in delight as she glanced back at her companions. Now, it was time to rehearse the rules for their expedition.
"Here's a quick rundown of some basic safety rules," KiAera began. "First and foremost, always stay in pairs or groups. This is especially important when foraging for crystals."
The Osseods nodded in unison, their precious ears twitching in acknowledgment.
"Secondly, don't stray too far from the group," KiAera continued. "Remember, if you get lost, call for help. The others will come find you."
The Osseods chirped in agreement, and KiAera could see the glinting determination in their eyes.
"Thirdly, and most importantly, if you encounter anything too dangerous, immediately flee in the opposite direction, report back to the group, and return to camp," she finished. "But if you find yourselves with no other options, defend yourselves. Do not hesitate to use your powers against potential threats."
The Osseods bobbed their heads as they listened intently.
"Any questions?" KiAera asked, scanning their faces.
Silence. None spoke up.
"Good," she said with a nod. "Let's get going then."
"We'll be back in a bit," KiAera said to Big Osseod and its team. "Please return before sundown."
"Big Osseod returns!" the creature chirped confidently, raising one arm in a salute.
KiAera chuckled at the display before heading out into the forest with her team in tow. It was going to be a long day, but she was ready for it.
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
KiAera led her team deeper into the forest, the chirping and chattering of Beta, Pi, and Delta filled the air. KiAera's ears twitched, catching snippets of their excited conversation.
"Beta, eat! Eat! Lots of crystals!" Beta cheered. "Eat!"
"Pi, eat! Eat!" Pi echoed, its light blue carapace glistening in the sunlight. "Pi, eat lots!"
"Delta, hunt! Hunt! Hunt!" Delta added, its triangular ears flicking with excitement. "Hunt!"
KiAera smiled, warmth gushing in her chest at their childlike enthusiasm. Their innocence was endearing, filling her with an overwhelming urge to protect them. An urge, she hissed.
Her muscles felt taut, coiled, ready to spring. Then it left. Why did her body react this way now?
Huh? Weird.
"Let's do our best today," she purred in encouragement, turning to face the little ones.
The Osseods squeaked and chirped in response, bouncing around her in excitement. "KiAera, Aera, Aera!" they sang. "Aera, Aera, Aera!"
She shook her head in amusement, her ears fluttering. How they had picked up on the nickname she had once given herself was a mystery, but she was glad they liked it. Yet, the sound of it made her wince. Her little sister, Aria, had always called her "Aera" back on Earth. The memory made her ears flatten momentarily against her head.
KiAera turned away from the Osseods, taking a deep breath. The guilt that had been weighing on her heart felt heavier than ever. She closed her eyes, exhaling slowly, trying to banish those dark thoughts. She knew she had done what was necessary to protect Aria, but no matter how often she reminded herself, the shame and regret lingered.
"Aera, Aera!" the Osseods chanted hauntingly. KiAera's heartbeat quickened as she sighed, swallowing her conflicting emotions.
There would be time later to dwell on the past. For now, she had to focus on the task at hand.
She took another deep breath, the scent of the forest filling her nostrils.
Each sound sharpened in her ears—the rustle of leaves, the scurry of tiny paws, the scent of earth and prey. For a split second, she swore she caught a hint of something... different.
SPECIES SKILL obtained:
[Howl]
Beast: Intimidates foes, lowering resolve.
Scales with APeX.
TECH: +1
Her eyes snapped open as she ventured farther into the forest with a fang glinting sprint.