Pi Osseod nudged KiAera with a question. It raised an ear towards KiAera. "Osseod? Sees trees blink eyes?"

KiAera glanced back at the trees, observing their rigid, unchanging form, and the lack of movement from either tree. Were these trees monsters—like the Tropiruth she encountered in the UvoSath Plains? They seemed stationary, unlike the previous monster tree she encountered.

Wait, was there a difference between a sentient tree monster and a regular tree?

What if... they could all move? Or were the trees always meant to be stationary, regardless of being a monster?

Was this a Zeozon thing...? GamaGen had informed her that all Tropiruths were ambush predators. Thus, it was plausible that all tree monsters possessed similar attributes.

Should she observe the trees for a little longer?

No. It would be a waste of time. Then again...

If they were indeed monsters, she should investigate thoroughly and destroy the threat before it has an opportunity to harm herself and her friends. Her previous experience with a Tropiruth was when it ensnared Amber, almost devouring the LeapLeap that stood alongside her currently.

KiAera shook her head as her fur bristled. The sight of an impaled Amber by an enormous, thorned mouth of a monster tree still haunted her. If not for KiAera, Amber would have been dead.

However, luckily, KiAera was able to rescue Amber with the blue and black flames flickering from her tail tip and claws.

KiAera swallowed as she balled her paws. She felt a shudder travel through her spine as her ears drooped. She really hoped those trees weren't monsters.

There had been too many near-death experiences to count during her stay in Zeldritzon, and she wished to avoid any further confrontations with monsters.

Amber placed her talons onto KiAera's shoulders to stabilize her as she addressed her worriedly. "LeeLee! Is something wrong?!"

"Yeah, everything is fine." KiAera said with a grim smile as she looked into Amber's eyes. She patted the side of the LeapLeap's leg before nodding, giving a reassuring squeeze to Amber's clawed foot. "I just remembered about an unpleasant experience, is all. Don't worry, Amber. I'll be okay, so let's keep moving. We have crystals to hunt, remember?"

Amber tilted her head with a chirp. "LeeLee! Okays! Crystals hunts!"

"Crystal hunts!" KiAera affirmed with a beam.

KiAera didn't miss the slight smile and soft, content look Pi Osseod sent towards her when she wasn't paying attention. However, her ears perked to the rustling sways of the two towering trees and her whiskers twitched, her heart sinking.

She spun around on her feet, paws stretched and ready to ignite blue and black fire in self-defense, eyes narrowing and pupils dilating.

A large figure loomed from the shadows, its mass obscuring the sunlight streaming from the canopy, and the entire sky seemed to darken, as if an eclipse was occurring. KiAera lips curled in preparation to unleash a hiss.

"Hello, our miniature pals! How do you fare this fine afternoon?" A booming voice greeted from above, sending KiAera to jump with a shriek. She flinched, her heart racing at the sound of a deep, unfamiliar voice.

Oh, goodness gracious! Who was speaking to her?! She swore, the owner of this voice was practically looming over her like a shadow, the darkness of their form blotting out the sun rays.

"Sapkin buddy, you're scaring the minis! Don't sneak up on 'em like that, it ain't nice!" An even deeper, growlier voice reproached the first speaker. "The tiny ones are sensitive, after all."

"Sorry, Sapkin! It seems I gave them quite a scare." The first voice, a smooth, and much lighter voice apologized, sounding a tad embarrassed. "It wasn't my intention. Apologies, little ones, for frightening you!"

KiAera took a couple of seconds to calm her frayed nerves with a couple of breaths. She forced a weak chuckle with a glance to the two towering forms. "Uh, hello..." KiAera hesitantly greeted with a small wave.

"Greetings!"

"Hiya!"

KiAera jumped and stiffened once more, ears rising sharply and fur standing on end as she clutched her satchel protectively. The trees' voices echoed loud and deep, yet, surprisingly, had a friendly tone.

Well, they certainly weren't hostile monsters. Thank goodness for that!

Amber hopped closer to KiAera, her feathers ruffled, and her teeth bared. "LeeLee! Scary tree noises! Bad!"

"Amber, shh! Not everything that scares you is bad," KiAera reassured Amber with a nuzzle to the bird's leg. She stroked her friend's feathers until they lay flat once more. "We don't know them, but they don't seem malicious. Let's just be cautious, alright?"

Amber blinked towards KiAera, and a little glimmer of understanding flittered within her amber eyes. She bobbed her head towards KiAera in a nod. The darkened sky slowly receded to normal once more.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Amber turned towards the trees and growled with a flap of her wings. "You! Trees! LeeLee scared! Yous not good!" She berated with a glare.

"Ah, apologies for startling your companion! It was not our intent. We only wish to say hi, little one. See? Your friend here does not seem to mind!" The taller of the two towering trees exclaimed with a wince.

Amber blinked and chirped upon the two trees explaining themselves.

"Scary Trees! Sorry!" Amber finally replied with a few hops and a ruffle of her feathers.

Pi Osseod tugged KiAera's sleeve. "Osseod! Trees talk! Big! Voice! Scary! Trees not eat Osseod?!" It asked with a flick of its ears.

KiAera glanced towards the crystal creature with a sigh. She dropped to a knee, ears drooping. "No, Pi Osseod. They aren't going to hurt us. It was a misunderstanding."

"Osseod! Loud trees! Tree monster, no!" Pi Osseod proclaimed with a tilt of its head.

KiAera turned away and observed the tree monsters before her with a hesitant stare. These two differed from the other tree monster she had met before. They were obviously much, much larger. She'd call them gigantic, if anything, and were probably double, or maybe triple the height of the other Tropiruth she had encountered.

໒꒰ྀིっ˕ -｡꒱ྀི১૮꒰˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶꒱ა૮꒰⸝⸝★ ̫ <⸝⸝꒱ა

★ Zeozons Detected!

★ Detected Numbers: 2

Creature: Sapkins

Species: Sapkins

★ Sobriquet: "Looming Saplings"

★ Evolution Stage: [Fledgling] (F)

★ Variant Grade: [Common]

★ Attribute Influence: [Plant]

★ Destruction Scale: [Localized]

★ Alignment: [Praieon] [Neutral]

Accumulated Particles: [930 Units] & [1010 Units]

໒꒰ྀིっ˕ -｡꒱ྀི১૮꒰˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶꒱ა૮꒰⸝⸝★ ̫ <⸝⸝꒱ა

Although, judging by the width of their trunk, KiAera guessed they were likely young.

And while the first tree monster had a feminine, yet gruff voice, the second tree monster sounded distinctly masculine.

They were both about twice the size of the Tropiruth in the UvoSath Plains. Which was... concerning. Did all tree monsters in Zeldritzon share this feature?

She sighed at the thought. Regardless, she should give these trees the benefit of the doubt. They seemed to be harmless, and besides, the more allies she made in this world, the better!

"So, uh, what are your names?" KiAera asked.

"Our names? Oh, of course! You need to know how to address us properly!" The shorter tree spoke. "My name is Sapkin!"

"And I'm Sapkin!" The taller of the two announced. "It's nice to meet you! May we ask for yours?"

Alright. To make things easier for herself. KiAera nicknamed the shorter, feminine voiced Sapkin, Sapshorla. Then, the taller Sapkin, Saptal.

"Nice to meet you, Sapshorla and Saptal." KiAera responded with a tilt of her head. "The name's KiAera. It's a pleasure to meet you two." She smiled.

Amber hopped to KiAera's side with a chirp. "My Name: Amber!"

"Osseod!" Pi Osseod greeted with a flick of its ears.

KiAera plucked a light-blue crystal from the satchel on her waist. She scampered and offered two of them at the Sapkins's roots. "Here, a gift!"

"Wow, thank you for the offering!" Saptal remarked with a rumble.

Sapshorla dipped her branches towards KiAera. "That is very kind of you! We appreciate the gesture."

"Osseod! Crystal Foods, tasty! Sapkins eats crystal foods too!" Pi Osseod exclaimed with a hop.

KiAera peered towards Saptal and Sapshorla curiously.

Would the Sapkins eat crystals like every other Zeozon?

"Yes, we do indeed consume the crystalline bounty found within our forest. That is why the UvoSath Forest is known for its plentiful harvest!" Saptal explained with a rumble.

KiAera grinned upon hearing the confirmation. "Oh? You two eat crystals as well?"

"We do!" Saptal affirmed with a nod of its trunk.

Sapshorla bent down to KiAera's level, her face looming close. "You are new to these parts, aren't you?" she asked. "We've never seen you around before."

"I am! I'm from a faraway place called Earth," KiAera answered with a tilt of her head. "I arrived here about…two weeks ago." Despite the tree monsters's friendliness, she didn't trust them enough to disclose the Crystal Shelter's location, for now.

"Ah, so that is why we haven't met you before! We are sorry for startling ya earlier, it was not our intention," Sapshorla apologized with a dip of her branches. "You see, we were just curious about the little ones who entered our forest."

Sapshorla then proceeded to blink her singular eye, as she seemed to fail to comprehend what KiAera said beforehand. Her branches rustled as she spoke once more. "Earth? I have never heard of such a place! Where is it located?"

"It's in another world, far beyond the stars," KiAera explained, she too was unsure of how to explain where exactly Earth was located. She had no idea how Zeldritzon worked, or how this dimension functioned.

Saptal hummed with a rumble that shook the very earth beneath their feet. "Ya must have traveled quite a distance to arrive here! How did ya get here?"

KiAera sighed and shook her head. "I don't know. I was transported here against my will."

"How horrendous!" Saptal exclaimed with a wince.

Sapshorla frowned with a tilt of her branches. "We are sorry to hear that, KiAera. It must have been difficult for you to adjust to this new environment."

"It has been, but I'm getting by," KiAera replied with a weak chuckle. She glanced towards the two towering tree monsters with a smile. "Thank you for your concern."

"Of course! We would like to help ya in any way we can," Sapshorla said as Saptal nodded. "If ya ever need anythin', do not hesitate to ask us!"

"Osseods! Trees! Crystal Foods! Help Osseod?" Pi Osseod asked with a tilt of its crystal head.

"Yes, we will be happy to assist ya!" Saptal answered with a rumble and a dip of his branches. "What are ya looking for particularly? Perhaps we can help you find it!"

KiAera blinked upon being offered assistance from the two tree monsters. She smiled at the thought of having more allies. "Well, we're actually looking for some edible crystals right now. Do you happen to know where we could find some?"

"Crystals? As in these yummy light-blue crystals you've offered? Yes, there is plenty of those within our forest!" Saptal confirmed with a nod of its trunk.

Sapshorla turned her gaze to the Osseod by KiAera's side. "Oh! Is the little-littler one of your companions?" She asked as she peered towards the crystal creature curiously. "It's quite adorable! What is its name?"

There was an impression that Sapshorla gave off… KiAera found it difficult seeing Sapshorla as a teenage girl, given how massive and towering she was along with her gruff voice and monstrous tree appearance. But she tried her best to envision the image, nonetheless.

"Pi Osseod!" The crystal creature introduced itself again with a flick of its ears.

"Pi Osseod! It is nice to meet ya! I am Sapkin." Sapshorla greeted with a dip of her branches.

"Sapshorla! Sapkins!" Pi Osseod exclaimed with a hop, it then turned towards Saptal and blinked. "Osseods! Trees! Crystal Foods tasty! Yum, yum!"

"Yes, they are quite delicious!" Saptal replied with a rumble and a sway of his branches. "We can lead you to where they grow, if you wish."

KiAera nodded at the offer and smiled. "That would be great. Thank you for your help." She said as she glanced towards her companions. "Would you two be fine with the offer?"

Amber chirped in response. "Crystals!"

Pi Osseod flicked its ears as it performed a little bounce. "Osseod? Crystal Foods tasty! Yums!"

Saptal rumbled with a nod of his branches. He turned towards Sapshorla with a dip of his trunk. "Shall we, Sapkin?"

Sapshorla hummed and nodded. "Yes, let's." She answered with a sway of her branches. She then turned to KiAera with a dip of her branches. "Follow us!"