Zeldritzon [Cycle 5] - Afternoon
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Current Location:
[Crystal Shelter]
[UvoSath Forest of the UvoSath Realm]
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KiAera hadn't deemed Big Osseod as the charismatic type, let alone the type to befriend something that could swallow it whole in one bite.
Amber, still nestled near the Liorex egg, let out a confused chirp. "LeeLee?"
KiAera shook her head, trying to wrap her mind around it. "I... don't know, Amber. I think... Osseod tamed a Skyrawltal? Somehow?" The words felt ridiculous even as they left her mouth, but the evidence was right in front of her—massive, feathery, and breathing.
"Osseod brings back crystals!" Big Osseod squeaked again, sounding far too pleased with itself, as if this was a normal Tuesday. KiAera couldn't help but chuckle. Of course it did.
But that nagging feeling at the back of her mind wouldn't leave. This didn't add up. Skyrawltals were not known for being friendly. Territorial? Sure. Aggressive? Absolutely. But tameable? Especially by a smaller crystal mouse?
She stepped forward, her eyes narrowing at the wyvern. Its feathers rustled, golden eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her instincts flare. Was it truly under Osseod’s control, or was this some kind of strange, temporary alliance?
Her heart thudded in her chest, and she felt GamaGen floating close by, quietly observing. "GamaGen," she whispered. "Is this... safe?"
The book simply chortled in response. ⎾'I cannot say for certain, Miss KiAera, but this situation is highly unusual. Skyrawltals are not known for companionship with lesser creatures. There may be more at play here.'⏌
Of course there's more. There always was.
KiAera shifted her gaze back to Big Osseod, who was now beaming with pride, as if it had tamed the mighty beast. The sky itself had barely settled from the wyvern's dramatic entrance, and here was Osseod, acting like it had just gone on a simple grocery run.
"Osseod... how did you...?" KiAera started, not even sure how to finish that question.
Big Osseod tilted its head, blinking up at her with innocent, hollow eyes. "Osseod and Skyrawltal friends. We bring back crystals. Fly very fast!" It repeated the same words, but this time with a slight squeak of excitement, like it was telling her a secret.
This is insane. I… I'll head to bed after we have our dinner…
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
[Current Power List]
[Cycle 5 End]
૮꒰˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶꒱ა
★ KiAera's Status:
Accumulated Particles: 81 Units > 91 Units!
[{10} Crystal Consumption Limit Reached]
૮꒰˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶꒱ა
★ Big Osseod Status:
Accumulated Particles: 154 Units > 164 Units!
[{10} Crystal Consumption Limit Reached]
૮꒰˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶꒱ა
★ Osseod β Status:
Accumulated Particles: 36 Units > 46 Units!
[{10} Crystal Consumption Limit Reached]
૮꒰˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶꒱ა
★ Osseod π Status:
Accumulated Particles: 45 Units > 55 Units!
[{10} Crystal Consumption Limit Reached]
૮꒰˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶꒱ა
★ Osseod δ Status:
Accumulated Particles: 39 Units > 49 Units!
[{10} Crystal Consumption Limit Reached]
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
૮꒰˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶꒱ა
★ Amber the LeapLeap's Status:
Accumulated Particles: 68 Units > 78 Units!
[{10} Crystal Consumption Limit Reached]
૮꒰˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶꒱ა
★ Scarbol the Kobolbo's Status:
Accumulated Particles: 62 Units > 72 Units!
[{10} Crystal Consumption Limit Reached]
૮꒰˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶꒱ა
★ Skyrawltal the Skyrawltal's Status:
Accumulated Particles: 260 Units > 280 Units!
[{20} Crystal Consumption Limit Reached]
૮꒰˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶꒱ა
★🌱KiAera's Stash:
[Light-blue] Crystals: 450 (Foraged) > 60 (Leftover)
૮꒰˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶꒱ა
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Zeldritzon [Cycle 6] - Late Morning
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
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Current Location:
[Crystal Shelter]
[UvoSath Forest of the UvoSath Realm]
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KiAera rose from her rest, watching the Osseods shake themselves awake. When they noticed her, they chirped greetings in their own language.
"Good morning," KiAera replied in the Zeozon tongue. It slipped from her tongue awkwardly, but she pushed through the discomfort.
"KiAera, morning. Osseod wake!" Big Osseod gave her a nuzzle.
KiAera nodded. "Yes, I can see that. Did you sleep well?"
Big Osseod nodded. "Osseod sleep good. Morning, morning KiAera."
The other Osseods gathered around her. "Osseods, search. Find crystals. Food, crystals, food."
Unfortunately, that would have been crucial. KiAera nodded. "That's a good idea. I'll gather Scarbol and the others. Today, we'll search elsewhere." Not Ungroot. Her tail curled her leg as she recalled the unpleasant events which transpired in that zone. She placed her crude map on the floor as she trailed her paw against its coarse parchment.
So far, the Ungroot Zone had Zeozon’s in the power range as low as [20 Units] and up to [258 Units]. The monsters listed so far: Mosscolts, Wsarmtacts, Scabbaroks, Shugmoks, and Skyrawltals. Many more might exist, but at the same time, she refused to find out.
"Osseods, go, go, go!" Big Osseod chirped to KiAera.
KiAera smiled. "All right," she replied. "We can go."
The Osseods paused. KiAera gulped from within, although she believed her words had been vocalized properly to the crystalline creatures. Doubt began settling in.
Fortunately, Big Osseod and the other Osseods turned and began waddling out of the Crystal Shelter. KiAera watched them go, feeling proud of herself. It felt neat to have had successfully communicated with the monsters in their language. Otherwise, raising her proficiency remained a major hanker for growth. With or without, GamaGen.
She turned to Amber who continued to nuzzle and cuddle with the Liorex egg.
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
★ Amber the LeapLeap's Status:
Accumulated Particles (APeX): 78 Units
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Her [Insight] worked after concentrating and focusing on the LeapLeap's presence. For today, she would leave Amber and GamaGen behind, just in case there was any danger. Besides, Amber was deserving of the vacay after what they had gone through. Perhaps, she would leave some Kobolbos here. They could become useful as guards.
And for the Skyrawltal—she glimpsed outside the window—to catch the feathered beast perched high in the trees, its feathered wings wrapped tightly around its body like a feathery cocoon.
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
★ Kyrawl the Skyrawltal Status:
Accumulated Particles (APeX): 280 Units
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
She wasn't so sure. But even if it wasn't a perfect guard, the Skyrawltal’s sheer presence was enough to scare off most smaller predators. Apart from that, leaving it behind meant it could keep an eye on Amber and the others too. She'd rather not risk losing the egg or her companions to an unexpected threat.
KiAera walked over to where Amber was curled up protectively around the Liorex egg. The LeapLeap gave her a sleepy look, still half-drowsy from the night. Gently, KiAera reached out to pat Amber’s soft feathers. "You're staying here today, okay? You've earned some rest. Plus, someone's gotta look after the egg, right?"
Amber cooed softly, nuzzling the egg even close. "Amber, stay. KiAera, go. Amber, stay with egg."
Turning her attention back to the map on the floor, KiAera traced her paw along the edges of the safer zones she had explored so far. The Ungroot Zone was dangerous, but it wasn't like they had much of a choice. They needed more crystals and supplies. She didn't relish the idea of running into Mosscolts or Shugmoks again, but staying in the Glades would only yield so much.
She sighed, her tail flicking in mild irritation. Just need to be smart about it. We stick to the edges, avoid the deep parts, and we'll be fine, she reasoned.
"KiAera, come, come, come!" Big Osseod called out from outside the Crystal Shelter.
KiAera took one last look at Amber before heading out after the Osseods.
"I am right behind you!" she called back. Swapping out of her nightgown into something more suitable for exploration; she grasped her [Clear Crystal Spear] with her ear and sheathed it on her back.
KiAera followed after Big Osseod and the other Osseods as they wandered about the glades in front of the Crystal Shelter. Whistling to gain their attention, she poised herself to split themselves into two teams.
"Mu, Nu, and Pi Osseods will go with me. Big Osseod, you lead the rest," KiAera insisted.
"Osseod, yes. Osseod, go, go, go," Big Osseod replied, nodding to the other Osseods.
The Osseods chirped in agreement. They divided into two groups, following their respective leaders.
"Big Osseod, go to the left. You three Osseods are with me, we go to the right. We'll cover more ground that way."
Big Osseod and the other Osseods chirped and nodded, heading off into the UvoSath Forest. Her heart race quickened when the Skyrawltal landed before the crystalline mice. However, it surprised her when Big Osseod chirped a few times to the talon-clad beast. The Skyrawltal, who was now pacing back and forth with its wings half-open as if itching to leave, tilted its head as if intrigued. "I. Go. With. Osseods."
KiAera winced from such simple words. Despite it all, she sighted a gentle glimmer in its eyes, that enticed KiAera to finalize her decision. "Alright, Kyrawl, you're going with them. Protect them, please. Do not harm," at her warning, it seemed to peek at her, subtly to her back. She imagined catching a flick of fear in its predacious eyes. "I'd appreciate it. You'll be rewarded substantially."
The Skyrawltal gave a soft screech, lowering its head in acknowledgment.
KiAera then shifted her focus to the Kobolbos, who were lounging in a corner of the glades, sharpening their claws on nearby rocks. They perked up when she approached. She nodded to them, motioning to the shelter.
"Scarbol, you're in charge while I'm gone. Keep the shelter safe, and make sure Amber's taken care of. If anything happens, fall back inside."
Scarbol, the Kobolbo leader, gave a sharp nod, tapping his chest in acknowledgment. The other Kobolbos grunted and gathered closer. KiAera felt relieved they understood her.
KiAera felt a small weight lift from her shoulders. She adjusted her spear and slung a pack over her shoulder, the crude map tucked safely inside.
"Alright," she took one last glance at the Crystal Shelter. "Let's see what trouble we can avoid today."
KiAera set off with her team, following the Osseods into the forest as Kyrawl glided above in silent watch.