David sprawled across Claire's frill like a furry, winged hat as they made their way back to the Observatory. His wings dangled limply on either side of her massive head, swinging in time with her steps as he forced himself to relax despite his anxiety.

"You know," Claire rumbled, her voice vibrating through David's entire body, "I really don't like that we couldn't smell her coming. It's...unsettling."

David lifted his head slightly, his mind still racing from their encounter. "Hmm? Oh, yeah. It's pretty creepy being on the receiving end of the sneakery for once."

Claire snorted, a puff of warm air ruffling David's fur. "That's putting it mildly. I mean, I'm used to you popping up out of nowhere, but at least I can smell you coming. Usually. Even if it's hard to smell through your new tricks."

"Hey!" David protested weakly, though there was no real heat in it. "I'll have you know I smell like a delightful mixture of fruit bat and existential dread."

Claire chuckled, but the sound quickly faded. "Seriously though, David. If she can mask her scent that well at a lower Evolution?"

David sighed, his wings drooping slightly. "I know, I know. The whole encounter... it kind of threw me off balance, if I'm being honest. I can't shake the feeling that I whiffed it somehow."

"How so?" Claire asked, her tone genuinely curious.

"I don't know," David admitted, frustration evident in his voice. "Maybe I said too much. Or not enough. It's like... I feel like I was playing chess, but I'm not sure if I won or lost."

As they approached the base of the mountain, Claire suddenly paused. "Hold up. You said we don't have to worry about them for now. How can you be so sure?"

David's ears perked up, and a sly smile spread across his face. "Ah, right. I may have neglected to mention that I've got one of your favorite ratty Cuddlebug friends keeping an eye on them."

Claire's eyes widened slightly. "Really? Clever bat. What are they up to?"

David closed his eyes for a moment, focusing on the faint impressions coming from his furry spy. "Well, best I can tell from the vague fuzzy-vision I'm getting, they're still hanging around that ridge where Azanah's friends showed themselves. And from what I can gather... they seem to be yelling at eachother."

Claire resumed her climb, a low chuckle rumbling through her. "Oh, to be a fly on that rock. Think Azanah's getting an earful for her little improv session?"

"Probably," David grinned. "I can just imagine it now. 'You did what? Omega? Are you insane?'" He affected a high-pitched, squeaky voice for the last part, which sounded utterly ridiculous coming from his bat-like vocal cords.

Claire snorted, her massive head shaking with amusement. "Your impressions need work, bat boy. But seriously, what are they actually doing?"

David closed his eyes again, focusing more intently on the impressions from his furry spy. The mental image sharpened, like tuning an old TV antenna.

"Okay, so... picture this," he began, gesturing with his wings. "Our electric ferret friend? She's making herself about as small as a tiger-sized weasel can. Which, let me tell you, is not very small at all."

Claire rumbled thoughtfully. "Trying to look non-threatening?"

"More like she's trying to become one with the ground," David chuckled. "And that big ol' snake we saw? It's giving her the mother of all ass-chewings. I mean, if looks could kill, Azanah would be a crispy critter right now."

"Huh," Claire mused. "Guess name-dropping Omega didn't go over well."

David nodded, his ears twitching as he processed more of the Cuddlebug's impressions. "Oh yeah, big time. The snake's practically doing loops around her, all coiled up and hissy. I'd feel bad for her if, you know, she hadn't been planning to ambush us and all."

"What about the bug?" Claire asked, her pace slowing as they neared the Observatory.

David focused again, his brow furrowing. "That's the weird part. It's just... pacing. Round and round in circles, like it's trying to wear a groove in the rock. Doesn't seem to be paying much attention to the snake's tantrum or Azanah's best impression of a ferret-shaped puddle."

Claire chuckled, the sound rumbling through her massive frame. "Sounds like quite the dysfunctional little group they've got there."

"No kidding," David agreed. "You know, I'm getting the feeling they had no clue the Overseers actually interacted with anyone. The way they're reacting, it's like I told them I had tea with the Easter Bunny."

He paused, a thought striking him. "Must be nice not getting Overseer attention all the time, you think? Lucky bastards."

Claire snorted. "Given how that snake's reacting, I'd say they're not exactly thrilled about the idea. Maybe they prefer their eldritch horrors to stay nice and distant."

David nodded, his mind racing. "Yeah, but do they even know it's an eldritch horror?" He shook his head. "Man, how messed up is it that we're 'prepared' for that kind of thing now?"

"Welcome to the new normal," Claire deadpanned. "Where horrors are just part of the weekly schedule."

As they approached the Observatory's makeshift entrance, David took one last peek through his Cuddlebug's eyes. The scene hadn't changed much, though he could swear the snake looked even more agitated.

"You know," he mused, "part of me almost feels bad for them. They're out there, freaking out over the idea of Overseers, while we're just... used to it."

Claire rumbled thoughtfully. "It's not exactly a comforting thought, David. Being 'used to' entities like Omega. Or Xi for that matter."

David sighed, his wings drooping slightly. "Yeah, I know. But what choice do we have? It's not like we can just... opt out of this whole mess."

As they entered the Observatory's grounds, David gave his Cuddlebug one last mental nudge. "Keep an eye on them, buddy. Let me know if anything changes."

He felt a faint pulse of acknowledgment from the enhanced summon, a mixture of determination and what he could only describe as furry pride.

"So," Claire rumbled as they made their way to the main building, "what's our next move? We can't exactly pretend this didn't happen."

David's expression turned thoughtful. "No, we can't. But for now, I think our best bet is to lay low and keep tabs on them. We've got the advantage of home turf, and they don't know exactly where we're based."

"And if they try to follow us back here?" Claire asked, a hint of worry in her voice.

"Then they'll have a very nasty surprise waiting for them," David replied, his tone uncharacteristically grim. "I'd rather not have to use Miasma on people if I can avoid it, but if they force our hand..."

As they entered the Observatory proper, David couldn't shake the nagging feeling that their encounter with Azanah was just the beginning of something much larger. But for now, surrounded by the familiar sights and sounds of their makeshift home, he allowed himself a moment of peace.

Gotta take the wins where you can get them. Even if those wins come with a side of electric ferret drama.

As they reached the lean-to, Claire rumbled contentedly and immediately began squeezing her massive form into the shelter. David slid off her head, bouncing lightly to the ground. He watched, amused, as she contorted herself to fit into a space clearly not designed for her bulk. With a final wiggle, she settled into a low crouch, her scales scraping against the makeshift walls.

"Comfy?" David quipped, dropping to the ground outside.

Claire's only response was a satisfied grunt, her eyes half-lidded in contentment.

David couldn't help but chuckle to himself. For all her tough exterior, Claire was definitely a homebody at heart. The way she claimed and fiercely enjoyed 'her' spots never failed to amuse him. It was like watching a house cat try to fit into a shoebox, only scaled up to 11.

The Cuddlebugs scampered past him, eager to join Claire in the shade. David, however, remained outside, his gaze drawn to the crude map he'd scratched into the Observatory's wall. Boss locations, hastily sketched and annotated, stared back at him.

With a sigh, he approached the wall. His talons traced the outline of the Brute's marker before suddenly digging in, gouging deep furrows through the image. The scraping sound was oddly satisfying, a physical representation of crossing another task off their seemingly endless to-do list.

Task complete, David stepped back, eyeing his handiwork. The wave of satisfaction was short-lived, quickly replaced by a tidal wave of pent-up stress and frustration. Without warning, he flopped dramatically to the ground, not caring about the cloud of rust-colored dust his action kicked up.

For a moment, he just lay there, staring at the sky. Then, as if a switch had been flipped, he began flailing wildly, wings and limbs thrashing in a ridiculous display of pure, unadulterated frustration. He didn't care if anyone saw him acting like an idiot. For once, he just needed to let it all out.

After what felt like an eternity (but was probably closer to thirty seconds), David's tantrum subsided. He stood, shaking off the sandy dirt that clung to his fur, and took a few deep breaths.

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"You good there, bat boy?" Claire's amused voice drifted from the lean-to.

"Peachy," David replied, his voice only slightly strained. "Just... redecorating the yard. With interpretive dance."

Claire's rumbling laugh was her only response.

As David dusted himself off, he couldn't help but reflect on their recent encounter. He'd kept his cool, more or less. Handled the situation as best he could. But damn if it wasn't stressful.

A part of him longed for the relative simplicity of their time in Riverport. Sure, it hadn't been easy, but at least the people there had been... well, people. Decent folks just trying to survive and figure things out, like them.

But he knew that was wishful thinking. The world had changed, and not everyone out there was going to be as welcoming as the Riverport crew. Viktor and the Owl had made that painfully clear.

"You know," David said, loud enough for Claire to hear, "I really wish everyone we met could be as cool as the Riverport gang."

Claire's head poked out of the lean-to, her expression a mix of sympathy and resigned amusement. "Yeah, well, if wishes were fishes, we'd be eating sushi instead of mystery meat. The world's not exactly handing out friendship bracelets these days."

David nodded, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "True. Though I gotta say, the mental image of you trying to braid a friendship bracelet is pretty hilarious."

"Keep it up, and I'll braid your wings together while you sleep," Claire retorted, though there was no heat in her words.

David chuckled, feeling some of the tension easing from his shoulders. "Alright, alright. I'll be good." He paused, glancing back at the scratched-out Brute marker. "So, what's next on our 'try not to die horribly' agenda?"

Claire hummed thoughtfully. "Well, we could always take a nap. Naps are good for not dying. Doesn't look like Kozlov and the others are here at the moment."

"You know what? That actually sounds perfect right now," David agreed, already making his way towards the lean-to. "Scoot over, you overgrown gecko. Make room for your favorite bat throw blanket."

As he settled into his usual spot atop Claire's scales, David felt the last of his stress-induced adrenaline fading. They'd faced down another challenge, made it home in one piece, and even picked up some valuable intel along the way.

All in all, not a bad day's work. I just wish everything wasn't so high-stakes all the time lately. I miss having days off where I could just lay in bed, do some laundry, and listen to Utube videos about crap I barely care about.

As David nestled into his usual spot, his mind drifted to the Trait Upgrade Token still burning a hole in his metaphorical pocket. He'd been putting off using it, always finding some reason to delay, but now seemed as good a time as any to give it some serious thought.

Nocturnal was out, at least for now. Sure, he'd been getting into more nocturnal scraps lately, and he was damn near certain it would scale beautifully with an upgrade. That +12% boost to damage, stamina regen, and XP gain at night was nothing to sneeze at. But something held him back from committing to it just yet.

Small was... well, complicated. David wasn't even sure if upgrading it would make him bigger or smaller, and both options came with their own set of pros and cons. Bigger might mean more health, but at the cost of his precious stamina. Smaller could amp up his speed and stealth, but might leave him even more fragile. He filed that one away under ‘maybe later, when I'm feeling brave or stupid.’

That left Echolocation and Flight. Both were pivotal to his fighting style, cornerstones of his bat-tastic arsenal. If push came to shove, though...

Flight. It had to be Flight.

David's wings twitched involuntarily at the thought, a small smile tugging at his lips. Flying wasn't just a means to an end for him. It was freedom. Pure, unadulterated joy. The one thing that could make his anxiety and constant mental chatter just...evaporate.

He thought back to his first awkward attempts at flight, how terrifying and exhilarating it had been. Now? Now it was as natural as breathing. More so, even, given how often he held his breath to avoid a bug up the nose with the speeds he could reach.

But it wasn't just about the zen-like state flying put him in. It was tactical gold. Mobility, verticality, a shield against ground-based threats, and a force multiplier for his ranged abilities. Half the time, he felt like he was cheating just by being airborne.

"You're thinking awfully hard over there," Claire's rumbling voice broke through his reverie. "I can practically hear the gears grinding."

David chuckled, shifting slightly to get more comfortable. "Just pondering the mysteries of the universe. You know, the usual. Like whether I should upgrade my ability to fly or my ability to see around corners."

Claire snorted, a puff of warm air ruffling David's fur. "Tough call. From what you’ve told me, though, empowered Echolocation is already really good. Might as well work on your flying, give the rest of us a chance to keep up."

"Ha ha," David deadpanned, though there was no real annoyance in his tone. "You're just jealous because you're stuck down there with the ground-bound plebs. I can empower Flight too, you know."

"Keep talking, bat boy. I'll show you 'ground-bound' when I launch you into orbit with my tail."

David grinned, his mind already made up. "Alright, alright. Flight it is. Let's see what kind of frequent flyer miles I can rack up with this upgrade."

He closed his eyes, focusing on the familiar sensation of accessing a Token, which almost hummed with potential, ready to be applied. With a mental command, he directed it towards Flight, bracing himself for... well, whatever was about to happen.

For a moment, nothing seemed to change. Then, a tingling sensation spread through his wings, starting at the base and radiating outward. It wasn't painful, exactly, but it was intense. Like every nerve ending in his wings had suddenly decided to wake up and throw a party.

"Uh, David?" Claire's voice held a note of concern. "You okay there? You're kind of... glowing."

David's eyes snapped open, and he realized Claire wasn't exaggerating. A soft, pulsing light emanated from his wings, visible even through his fur. As he watched, fascinated, the glow intensified briefly before fading away.

"Well," he said, flexing his wings experimentally, "that was...weird. It didn't do that for Kai."

Claire craned her neck to get a better look at him. "Feel any different?"

David paused, taking stock. His wings felt... lighter somehow. More responsive. Like they'd shed some invisible weight he hadn't even realized they were carrying.

"Yeah," he said slowly, a grin spreading across his face. "Yeah, I think I do. Wanna see what this baby can do?"

Before Claire could respond, David was already darting outside and launching himself into the air, his wings cutting through the sky with newfound grace and power. As he soared higher, faster than he'd ever flown before, a whoop of pure joy escaped him.

Down below, Claire watched with a mixture of amusement and exasperation. "Show-off," she muttered, but there was no mistaking the pride in her voice.

As David put his upgraded Flight through its paces, he couldn't help but feel a surge of optimism. With a mental twist, he poured his Wildsoul into his wings, trying to attain the same sensation he'd achieved during the battle with the Herd Lord. It clicked into place within a few wingbeats, and he smiled ferociously in response.

As David soared through the air, he felt a surge of exhilaration unlike anything he'd experienced before. The upgraded Flight almost hummed through his body, begging to be pushed to its limits.

"Alright," he muttered to himself, savage smile slowly morphing into a mischievous grin that spread across his face, "let's see what this baby can do."

He started with a series of tight corkscrews, spiraling upward at a dizzying speed. The world blurred around him, but his new-and-improved sense of aerial control kept him perfectly oriented. As he reached the apex of his climb, he suddenly reversed direction, plummeting towards the ground in a steep dive.

Just before impact, David pulled up sharply, his wingtips barely grazing the dusty earth as he shot forward in a low, ground-hugging flight. He weaved between the scattered equipment and debris around the Observatory, taking turns so sharp they would have made a fighter pilot jealous.

"Woo-hoo!" he whooped, narrowly avoiding a collision with a defunct truck. "This is amazing!"

David rocketed upward again, climbing almost vertically before abruptly cutting his ascent and dropping into a backwards somersault. He hung motionless for a split second at the top of the loop before gravity reasserted itself, sending him plummeting once more.

This time, instead of pulling up, he spread his wings wide at the last possible moment. The air caught beneath them with an audible 'whomp', and David found himself skimming just inches above the ground, riding the cushion of displaced air.

He might not have Kai's raw diving power or Dallas's insect-like omnidirectional flight, but when it came to rapid direction changes and pure straight-line speed? David was in a league of his own.

As he zoomed past the lean-to for the umpteenth time, a crazy idea struck him. Without a second thought, he banked hard, aiming straight for the Observatory's wall.

Claire, who had been watching his aerial display with a mixture of awe and exasperation, suddenly tensed. "David, what the fuck?!" she bellowed, her head poking out of the shelter just in time to see him become a dark blur hurtling towards certain splatterhood.

But David had no intention of becoming a bat-shaped smear on the wall. At the last possible second, he executed a maneuver that would have been impossible just minutes ago. With a twist of his body and a precise flick of his wings, he killed his forward momentum, flipped upside-down, and readied himself for... art.

The screech of talon on stone filled the air as David traced a long, curving line on the Observatory's exterior with a rapid wing strike at the same moment he snatched with his hind claws. He touched down a mere few feet from the lean-to, landing with a flourish and spreading his wings wide in a victory pose.

"Ta-da!" he exclaimed, beaming with pride and more than a little adrenaline-fueled giddiness.

Claire stared at him, her expression frozen somewhere between shock, relief, and the dawning realization that she was going to have to deal with an even more aerially ambitious David from now on. After a few seconds of speechless gawking, Claire's motherly instincts kicked in. With a grumble that sounded suspiciously like "Fucking David shit," she roughly pushed him over with her snout.

David let out an undignified squawk as he toppled, his victory pose crumbling into an ungainly sprawl.

"Hey!" he protested, spitting out a mouthful of dust. "What happened to appreciating my artistic expression?"

Claire just shook her head, retreating further into the shade of the lean-to. "Your 'artistic expression' is going to give me a heart attack one of these days," she muttered.

David cackled, dusting himself off as he got to his feet. "Aw, come on. You know you love it. Where else are you gonna get this kind of top-tier entertainment in the apocalypse?"

"I'd settle for a nice, boring game of charades," Claire retorted, but there was a poorly hidden amusement in her words.

Still grinning from ear to ear, David sauntered into the lean-to, plopping down next to Claire’s head with a contented sigh. "You gotta admit, though. That was pretty awesome."

Claire rumbled noncommittally, but David caught the hint of a smile in the way her jaws hung slightly open. "Just promise me you won't try to create some sort of… bat signal with your new sky-writing skills."

David's eyes lit up. "Ooh, now there's an idea..."

"David, no."

"David, yes!"

As they settled into their familiar banter, David couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of optimism. After a little bit of goofing off, he felt ready to take on whatever challenges lay ahead.

Even if those challenges involved explaining to Kozlov why there was now a giant, claw-carved smiley face on the side of the Observatory.

Alright, I should let Claire get a nap in while she can. Not going to sleep myself just yet, someone needs to be awake in case Sparky has another sneaky friend we just don't know about. Hmmm. You know, I do have something I could work on in the meanwhile.

David slyly turned his attention inward, pulling up his Readout…and a few other things. With a mental crack of his knuckles, he got to work.