D.A.B, day 17
Regrets
It's damn early but we need to get into position for the pillars of light, so we eat while we repeat the plan for today, with contingencies.
"Your deeds have earned you compass vision; Say 'Mighty Spirits, show me compass' to see it."
Wow. Guess the damn alien bastards finally granted me something, and from Xuela's reaction I think she got something too, but Reiley grabs my hand and say:
"Arne! I just got a vision called compass! 'Mighty Spirits, show me compass.'" Reiley turn her head back and forth. "I see a line pointing up to the middle and cardinal directions below the line changing as I move my head and eyes."
Xuela straighten up and say: "The Spirits have given me seven more locations to set for a total of eight."
Guess I got right about that exploration accomplishment, and again that number 8. Reiley and Xuela looks questioningly at me, but I just shake my head pretending I didn't get any vision, and Reiley looks sad. Will it annoy the damn alien bastards if I ignore the vision and pretend I didn't get any? That compass isn't really that useful, so I can just not use it. The DAB's might take it as I stubbornly refuse to use the 'Mighty Spirits' wake up phrase. Eh, I might whisper to Reiley that I did get the same as her, but I refuse to use that wake up phrase, so the DAB's know I am making a point. Who knows? They might upgrade me just to lure me to start to using it.
"In the future you probably should be careful about sharing information about which visions you have or get, as it might be very valuable information. Sure, personally I would be happy to know, but if you want to keep it secret I will respect that."
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The sky is clear and pretty. Again we sit beside each other but up on the lookout, and this time in our coveralls with Xuela in my cloak to limit her visibility. I'm facing south towards Tiola's river while Reiley looks north, and Xuela's head is on a swivel and scans as she huddles under the cloak. She never noticed the previous Pillars of light, but Xuela doesn't seem to be a night or morning person, and it might have rained a bit too where she was. The exact days are a bit fuzzy to her. As she didn't know to be up and looking, she simply didn't see it a week ago, and the message just awoke her. I would have been the same if Reiley hadn't told me, and I didn't get a vision last time. Reiley gives me another kiss and smile and rest her head on my shoulder as we wait. She is happy that I finally got a vision, even though I won't use it, and the vision we both got is clearly as a result of me doing a compass and teaching her.
"Light! There is light on the ground on the side of that hill, just at the edge of those trees!"
Xuela excitedly whispers and points but I can't see any light. Hell, I can't really tell which trees she is pointing at, and from Reileys expression, neither can she, so there is no doubt that Xuela have really sharp eyes. Anyway, that is far, but we continue to look around, and we see another faint light in the flatland beyond the ridges to the north and we all point at. Xuela instantly sees another further away in the north, but neither I nor Reiley sees that one. According to Xuela the closest light is more like a blob than a pillar. We just look at each other and nod.
Reiley say: "My the Spirits guide your path and keep you safe." As Xuela shrugs of the cloak and fold it before giving it to me. Xuela smile to us as she dive and take off while aiming for the closest light to the north. Man, the way Xuela just dives out from a high cliff like that. If she ever have any ache or gets a strain or something while unfolding during the fall, she will crash and die. I should tell her to be careful and stretch a bit first and unfold, before taking the plunge.
Xuela is using the wind and clouds to gain altitude and stay hidden. She will stay high and discreet. If the person seems dangerous, or have weapons, she will move to the next. If the person seems weak and scared and is in danger of being eaten, she will try to shout a quick update and guide the person away from immediate danger while staying well out of reach of anything. Xuela have two Sanctuary bottles she can air drop or bomb in front of dinosaurs, but should be careful about using them since we will have a limited amount. Once the person is in a safe spot, Xuela will try to have a short conversation from afar to get info about the person and character, and give quick information before leaving with the excuse to try and help others, and that she will try to return before noon. If she isn't back by then don't expect her to return, since this is Dinosaur planet, and there are dangers even in the sky, and Xuela can only wish good luck. Xuela will return to us via a detour, and together we will decide if we're going to try a rescue or not. If not, Xuela might still leave a pottery water bottle and a stone knife in a safe location before informing that she sadly can't help the person more, especially if we want to give the person a chance, but it's just too risky for us to get to the person and the person have to come to us or a spot we can reach.
This day will be hard on Xuela, but probably not psychologically as she have already seen gruesome things - both here and in her former life with duels and gladiator style games and such things - and Xuela definitely prioritize her own life and safety than unknown others. She have secured her own spot here, and any other person might be a threat and they have to get in line to get their own hut. It's not all bad that Xuela is a bit selfish and used to handling ruling class machinations, treachery and deceit.
Oh, well, for us it will be another work day, and we need to collect material, and make a wood ash lump firing to try and start building with it, but we will do a few material runs until Xuela returns. Starting with a kiln firing if we have to do a rescue is just stupid.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
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We're returning from the second clay and slate run when we see Xuela waiting on us.
"I couldn't locate the closest person to the north, but there is forest and hiding is sensible, so I continued north. I've yet to try and locate the one far to the south, but I think the furthest northern one might be a candidate for rescue. It is a woman about Reiley's size with skin like dried grass and short brown hair along the head and back. She was being chase by a pack of dinosaurs, but was running away from them as she is a very quick nimble runner and can jump far and high. I don't know if it is good or bad, but she doesn't seem to be bright, and it was frustrating to get her to run in the right direction. She is on the other side of Raider river up north, up in a large tree - that she is eating. Her name is Bokyli and she claim she always eat when stressed, and the leaves have a weird but interesting taste. She doesn't eat meat, although she have some kind of large knife strapped to her front. Honestly, she doesn't seem to be horrified that she is on another world and being chased by large predators, and was far more interested in that I was flying and talking her language. I think Bokyli believes she is in some kind of exciting adventure tale."
Xuela seems genuinely horrified that this Bokyli person isn't horrified at being on the ground with the dinosaurs, but Bokyli might be used to large predators hunting her on her planet, especially if she is a grazer or vegetable eater. I look at Reiley who nods and I nod back.
"Okay, lets try to rescue this Bokyli. It will take about 3 hours to get there in the canoe, and we have to keep it light with just belt kit if we're going to have a passenger."
"I might get her to cross the river and head south to save time?"
"Please do, as it would save a lot of time, paddling and danger. You have to coordinate us meeting as you will see us and any large dinosaurs."
"Should I do a sweep south and see if I can locate that person before catching up with you?"
We look at each other and just nod.
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We have the wind slightly against us, so it is hard work going through the waves that try to turn the canoe around and we're getting drenched, so we have to stop at the Salt Boon just to empty the water in the canoe. The canoe is not made for waves and is something we have to consider for future trips. Just some kind of kayak cover or wave breaker to stop water ending up in the canoe would be nice. Adding an outrigger and possibly a small sail would really help if the wind is right, but doing a dugout might be better. Sadly I don't remember seeing any tree that is large enough, so we might have to travel up river to find one. Anyway, as long as we stay within a couple of hundred meters from the beach most of the shoreline seems to be too shallow for the big and probably dangerous animals offshore. There is the possibility of some kind of shark, orca, huge crab or squid making a rush to try to eat us, but there are no larger prey in the water around us, and Xuela haven't see any thing like that happen, but it is still a risk.
Xuela circle without landing: "I couldn't locate the southern person, but there are forest and hiding is sensible, and I didn't want to waste too much time!"
"We're having bad problems with the waves! So if you could get that person... " Reiley helps by saying 'Bokyli' so I continue, " ... Bokyli to us, it would really save time and danger! We probably have to beach the canoe several times just to empty the water!"
"I will try! Good luck with the canoe! That looks horrible!"
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We fight the waves, and they get worse as we clear the ridges outcrops and the open sea hits us. We need to get ashore to empty the canoe, but the crashing waves and rocky beach makes this hazardous, and we really shouldn't be out in this canoe in this kind of wind and waves. There is a real chance we loose the canoe through sinking or hitting a submerged rock and cracking the frame or ripping leather.
"Reiley, can you swim?"
"Not well."
I can hear that Reiley is worried. I never even considered if she could or not. Shit. Shit!
"My fault for not checking. If we end up in the water, I will rescue you. Avoid panic if you can and try to float on your back. Try to have your lungs filled with air and breath shallow. I will try to grab you from the back under your arms and tow you to safety. It will be very hard with our clothes and gear, but worse if you fight me. Avoid panic."
"Will try."
"There might be a suction force even in shallow water as the waves flow out to sea and try to drag you back out with it. Be very careful even in waist high water!"
"Will try."
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We make it ashore without damaging the canoe and we are kind of knackered. I really hope there isn't any dinosaurs sneaking up on us, but we have those sanctuary bottles and will just have to leave out to sea. We have to try and get back the same way or leave the canoe and try climbing the ridges. Shit. Well, at least we will go with the waves instead of fighting them, but we will be three and heavier, and I don't know if Bokyli can swim.
"Shit, this was a bad idea in this weather. My fault. I should have known better."
We see Xuela heading towards us, and pointing down, so I guess Bokyli is just running the beach towards us. We really need to make some kind of sign language with big arm movements, although Xuela will be able to see ours from a long distance. Xuela swoop down and shout:
"Bokyli is running along the beach and will be here soon! You need to leave once she do, as there are a pack of dinosaur predators not that far from here! I'll keep watch! If you hear me shouting or see me do this just go! Don't wait for Bokyli as I'll guide her away! Just go!"
"Understood!"
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It's very nerve wrecking, but having Xuela gliding back and forth far above makes a heck of a difference. We see a running shape leap over a grassy crest and just continue going as she lands, and we soon see Bokyli in all her glory as she is approaching very fast. Yeah, dry grass green is a good description of her colour and she do blend in quite well in this terrain, and she is naked except for a bandolier like strap with a big knife. She have small dark horns on her forehead, and is again fairly human looking, but obviously not human. Bokyli have a wide happy smile as she do a sliding stop that throw up a bit of sand in the wind.
"Oooh sorry! Hi! Oh, wow! You look so different from me or Xuela Yge no Zhara! Hi! I'm Bokyli! Thank you for coming to my rescue! I've never been rescued by a boat before! That is so nice and brave! That lake is sooooo huge and I never seen waves that big before! And it smells funny. I really want to swim in that!"
First impression? I almost regret being here.
"My name is Arne Svensson, and this is Reiley of Clan Tomol. Staying here is dangerous so lets talk later, okay?"
Bokyli nods as she stretches a bit and just looks at us excitedly as she bounce on her toe... hoofs? Like her fast 7-10 kilometer run wasn't actually hard for her. She doesn't actually look to be breathing hard.
"Lets get in the canoe and leave. You will sit low and still on the wood in the middle, and you are responsible for scooping out water with the cups."
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