KiAera stood on the edge of the construction site, her paw tracing the rough lines of the blueprint she held. The Kobolbos moved as a well-rehearsed team, hoisting massive logs over their shoulders with surprising ease, stacking the timber into place near the framework of the incomplete cabin. Their gruff voices exchanged quick commands, their claws digging into the earth for stability as they worked.

She glanced up from the blueprint now and then, eyes flicking between the diagram and the real-life construction. The Kobolbos’ den had to be just right—spacious enough for all fourteen of them, with room to grow.

Her focus narrowed, KiAera was lost in the details. The scratch of her charcoal against the blueprint, drowning out the sounds of the forest and the rhythmic thud of logs hitting the earth. Her vision blurred between ideas and reality, imagining the completed structure: sturdy, safe, and homey for her companions. So absorbed was she in this imagined reality that she didn’t register the subtle tremor that began under her feet, nor the slow ripple of earth shifting just a few paces away.

A sudden, earth-rattling plop broke her trance.

“Yo, KiAera! Whatcha lookin’ at?”

Startled, she jerked her head to the side just in time to see the ground bulge upward like a soft wave. Dirt scattered as an enormous, grey head popped out—large ears flapping, a long trunk curling up like a question mark. The Plelepun, an elephant-like calf monster, had surfaced from the ground with an easy grace that belied its size.

Its wide, curious eyes blinked at her, trunk already reaching for the blueprint in her hands.

KiAera instinctively pulled the parchment close to her chest, raising a brow. "A blueprint, Plelepun. You know, for the den."

The Plelepun sniffed at the air, its trunk giving a playful wiggle as if it found the whole situation amusing. “Ahhh, gotcha! Thought you might’ve been planning something cool. Den looks pretty cool though, huh?”

Suppressing a grin, KiAera glanced at the Kobolbos, who had paused briefly to cast the Plelepun an exasperated glance before resuming their work. The logs thudded into place, the framework of the den slowly taking shape. "It will be," KiAera said, giving the blueprint one last glance before folding it up.

The Plelepun let out a booming laugh, dust kicking up as he settled back into the soil, half-buried again but still watching with unblinking interest. “They’ll get it done. But hey, what’s next? Maybe I could help!”

KiAera grinned, shaking her head. “Maybe once you stop bursting out of the ground like that. You almost gave me a heart attack.”

The Plelepun trumpeted in delight, causing a groan of exasperation from the nearby Kobolbos. “Yo, seriously, I’m useful!”

KiAera tilted her head, paw under her chin. “Oh really, Plelepun? Prove it.”

Without another word, the Plelepun's emerged completely from the earth to stand at her side. The elephant calf grinned as it examined the blueprint. Then the kicker came next.

Its trunk lifted, raising a column of earth beside them. KiAera watched in fascination as the soil shifted and twisted under the Plelepun’s guidance, reshaping itself into a small-scale replica of the Kobolbo den. Every detail was perfect, from the timber walls to the angled roof, all formed from the pliant earth beneath their feet.

KiAera blinked, genuinely impressed. "Okay... that’s actually helpful."

The Plelepun grinned. "Told ya! Now, what do you say?"

KiAera let out a low chuckle, but during her laugh, she gave the replica substantial consideration. What else could this odd little elephant-monster bring to the table?

Her fingers brushed over the earthy model, feeling the ridges where the trunks had been carved out, the slight rise of what would be the Kobolbos’ den’s sturdy walls.

For a moment, the construction around her—the real one—faded. She could see it, the finished structure standing proud against the backdrop of the UvoSath Forest. And the Plelepun, of all creatures, had shown a spark of genius that pushed her vision forward. There lied potential in assigning the elephant calf a role as an architect. It made her wonder if that had been the norm for its species—a child constructed this. She gave the creature’s head a pet.

“Alright, alright. You’ve earned your spot on the team, Plelepun.” She expressed with a thumbs up.

The calf's ears flapped in glee, and he trumpeted so loud that the Kobolbos shot him a glare. Unfazed, Plelepun lumbered away, his trunk snaking out to point at the half-constructed cabin. "Yo, I’ve got ideas! Big ones! We can make this den, like, way stronger, and check this out..." He spun back toward the Kobolbos, who, with visible reluctance, parted to let him approach.

KiAera watched as the Plelepun’s trunk waved dramatically through the air. She’d never seen it so focused. The ground rumbled softly, not like before—this time it was deliberate. The soil began to rise, lifting around the cabin’s base as Plelepun worked its strange magic. KiAera’s eyes widened as she realized what it was doing: fortifying the foundations, creating earthen supports that would stabilize the cabin even against the fiercest storms or attacks. The earth seemed to mold perfectly into place, guided by Plelepun's gentle touch.

It was a sight to behold. The Kobolbos paused mid-lift to watch. One even gave a low whistle, clearly impressed despite their earlier grumbles. KiAera crossed her arms, watching as Plelepun moved with surprising precision, its trunk shifting soil and stone with an innate understanding of structure and balance.

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"You’ve been holding out on me," KiAera teased.

The Plelepun looked back at her, wide-eyed and proud. "I told ya, I’m useful! Yo, I bet I could even—"

"Easy," she laughed. "Don’t get too carried away just yet. But I have to admit, you’ve got some serious skills."

The Plelepun beamed and turned back to the task at hand. KiAera’s thoughts began to drift again. What else could they build here? What other improvements could be made to their Crystal Shelter, or even around this site?

The Plelepun’s display made her realize how much untapped potential there was, not just in the creatures she led, but in the land itself. If the Plelepun could manipulate the earth this way, could they shape the entire landscape to suit their needs? To protect them from whatever threats still lingered in the UvoSath Forest and beyond?

She glanced back at the blueprint in her paws, suddenly feeling its limitations. This was only the beginning. Her mind spun, developing defensive fortifications, hidden tunnels, an entire domain that could grow with them.

The Kobolbos would have their den, sure, but why stop there? She imagined Amber’s space next, something suitable for her LeapLeap’s size and temperament. Maybe a sturdy roost, high and safe, where she could nest and nurture the Liorex egg. The Osseods deserved their own domain as well, perhaps burrows or dens hidden within the crystal formations for protection.

And Kyrawl? The wyvern required an open space, perhaps a perch atop the tallest UvoSath tree where he could stretch his wings and watch over them all. Could they really transform this glade into a village?

The sound of the Plelepun’s triumphant trumpeting drew her back, and she found herself smiling without even realizing it. "Okay, okay," she said, raising a paw in surrender. "You’ve proven your point, Plelepun. You’re officially on the construction team."

"Yo! Sweet!" The Plelepun's eyes sparkled as he practically skipped over to a nearby pile of logs. He lifted one and handed it to a formation resembling her Merecritt ears. The Plelepun was already using its trunk to shift the soil beneath the Kobolbos' feet, helping them stabilize the heavy logs as they worked.

The feel of shoulder being tapped caused her head to swivel. Her gaze fell on a Kobolbo. A she, yeah. The Kobolbo twitched and held her gaze to her tapping toes, refusing to meet her gaze. “I’m sorry for stop working…” KiAera’s ears barely caught those words.

KiAera gave the Kobolbo a warm smile. “Pardon? I did not catch that—”

The Kobolbo dipped her head further. “Kobolbo, sorry for stop working,” she collapsed to the floor, hiding her face with her hands.

KiAera heart felt heavy, uncertainty knotting her heart about how to proceed. “Hey now, don’t get worked up. Let’s ease ourselves.”

KiAera crouched down to the Kobolbo’s level, her gaze warm and steady, like she was speaking to a dear friend. She reached out, gently brushing the Kobolbo's shoulder with her paw. "Listen, you’re not messing up. You’re here, you’re helping, and you’re doing great work. Just because you stopped for a moment doesn’t mean you’ve done anything wrong."

The Kobolbo fidgeted, her eyes flicking back up briefly before dropping to the ground again. KiAera’s brow furrowed slightly. There was something deeper going on here. She placed a paw on the Kobolbo’s small shoulder, feeling how tense the creature was.

First that came to mind: The Kobolbos were known for their hard-working nature, but also for their strict self-discipline, always fearing failure or disappointing their leader. It struck a chord deep within KiAera—how many times had she felt the weight of responsibility crush her when she was just a survivor on Earth? How many times had she feared failure in front of others?

"You’re doing great work," she said softly. "In fact, I’m proud of all of you. You’ve been working so hard to build something that’s not just a den, but a home. And that’s special."

The Kobolbo fidgeted, her tail wrapping nervously around her leg. "But... but if it fails, if we build it wrong, then we’re useless... just like before."

Before? KiAera’s ears perked at that, curiosity mingling with concern. She wanted to ask what the Kobolbo meant, but now wasn’t the time to push. Instead, she leaned in closer and whispered, "Hey, you see that big lug over there?" She gestured towards Plelepun, who was still happily arranging the logs with the Kobolbos. "You think he knows what he’s doing all the time? He’s just making it up as he goes along. We all are."

A soft chuckle escaped the Kobolbo’s lips, her eyes flicking up to meet KiAera’s for the first time. There was still doubt there, a deep-seated fear of failure, but at least now there was a glimmer of hope.

"You’re not useless," KiAera continued, her tone firm but kind. "You’re learning, and that’s what matters. Mistakes happen, but we’ll figure it out together, okay?"

She assisted the Kobolbo to her feet as she continued.

"You know when I first got here, I had no idea what I was doing. I thought if I made one wrong move, everything would fall apart. But that’s not how it works. You learn as you go, and sometimes... it’s okay to just stop and appreciate what’s happening around you. Like the Plelepun’s earth magic—it’s amazing, right?"

The Kobolbo gave a tiny nod, her fingers unclenching just slightly.

"And we’re a team," KiAera continued, giving her shoulder a small squeeze. "We’re all figuring this out together. If you mess up, we help. If I mess up, I hope you’ll help me, too. That’s how we get stronger."

The Kobolbo blinked, her ears twitching, and then finally met KiAera’s gaze, a small glimmer of relief flickering in her eyes. "Thanks... KiAera. I just... I don’t want to be weak."

"Hey, strength isn’t just about lifting logs or finishing work fast. It’s about knowing when to ask for help, too." KiAera smiled warmly, standing back up as she noticed the Kobolbo standing a little taller. "Now, let’s get back to it, shall we?"

The Kobolbo nodded, her confidence visibly growing as she returned to work, this time with a bit more spring in her step.

KiAera’s thoughts churned. There was more to this than just construction—a history of failure or abandonment that lingered in these creatures.

Her gaze drifted back to the Plelepun, who had now taken it upon himself to "supervise" the Kobolbos’ progress, barking out half-joking instructions in his booming voice. "Yo! That log’s crooked! Straighten it up, Kobolbos! We’re building a fortress here!"

KiAera laughed under her breath, shaking her head. "Plelepun, you’re not helping as much as you think you are."

Just then, the ground beneath them trembled—not in the subtle, controlled way Plelepun had demonstrated, but a deep, jarring quake that rattled the bones and sent the loose timber rolling across the site.

KiAera stumbled back, her heart pounding as the tremor intensified. Her eyes snapped to the Plelepun, whose trunk was lifted, waving wildly in confusion.

"Yo! That wasn’t me!" Plelepun shouted, ears flapping in alarm.

The Kobolbos scrambled, grabbing onto whatever was nearby to steady themselves. KiAera’s instincts kicked in, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the horizon. Something was wrong—this wasn’t natural. A distant rumble echoed from deep within the forest, and the ground lurched again, harder this time.

Without warning, a massive crack tore through the earth at the edge of the construction site, and from it, something began to emerge. At first, it was just a shadow—a hulking silhouette against the backdrop of the UvoSath Forest. But then the shape grew clearer, rising from the depths of the earth like some ancient beast waking from a long slumber.

There levitated GamaGen, the book perched above the rectangular structure, shimmering and sinking back into earth. Meanwhile, the Osseods scrambled up its slope.

KiAera sought to question GamaGen. But it shot back first with its quip. ⎾'Ah, greetings Miss KiAera. Thanks to the Plelepun, the Osseods and I were able to excavate this facility. Enter, please. We start today. I shall be your guide.'⏌