Shrieks’ face had indeed been a picture when I told him the news. His mouth had gaped open a little in surprise, his spikes had rippled with multiple colours, and the Bond between us had gone silent for one frozen moment. After that moment, though, it had practically exploded in emotion as the samuran clearly considered all the implications of two Tier threes coming with us.

Are they intending on attending the actual events? he had asked delicately. I’d have phrased it as ‘are they coming to crash the party’, but maybe that’s just me. I reassured him on that point – explaining that both were coming to ensure the safety of their respective offspring. I didn’t tell him that Kalanthia might be intending on greeting the Tier threes whose territory we might happen to pass through, figuring that it wasn’t too relevant.

I’m regretting that now as we face a creature who can only be another Tier three on our second day travelling.

So far, it’s been very easy. We haven’t been attacked at all. I’d assumed that that was because of our combined numbers and the average tier of the travellers, but I’m now starting to wonder whether it’s actually because of Kalanthia and Raven. More the former than the latter – Raven hasn’t actually been travelling with the group much, only coming by to check on his hatchlings a couple of times a day.

Apparently one of his objectives today was to meet the local Guardian beast since, as the mammoth Tier three approaches us, its hooves almost making the ground shake, Raven walks by its side. They don’t even pay attention to the rest of us, their eyes fixed on Kalanthia. As they are approaching from the front and she’s bringing up the rear, they have to pass the whole party to reach her. The samurans part to let them through like Moses did the Red Sea.

The creature is truly massive, bigger even than Kalanthia and frankly dwarfing Raven. It appears to be a more powerful version of the cyrans currently pulling the cart and as it passes them, its gaze lingers. The samurans directly next to them who have been leading them back away rapidly – even Warriors don’t appear confident when faced with this creature. Not that I blame them – regular cyrans are tough at Tier one. I’d hate to know how tough and powerful this one is. Hopefully it won’t come down to a battle.

Kalanthia taps on the earth and it parts beneath her paw. In the area now revealed, I see a collection of Cores, all of them bright with power. I recognise a few as Energy Hearts I’ve given her in exchange for various favours; others are clearly Cores from beasts which she’s hunted.

Curious, I wonder how she’s storing them in the earth. Is it like a pocket of treasures which she brings with her through the earth, or at her level is there some way of creating a pocket which she can access from anywhere? Either way, it answers a question I didn’t even realise I should ask about where she keeps her precious things. I make a mental note to talk to her at a good moment – even if I have my Inventory, storing items in the earth like that might be better for some things or useful for someone else.

The beast stops in front of her. For a moment, the whole scene is frozen. Kalanthia stares intently at the Enlightened cyran and the Guardian stares just as intently back at her.

They must be communicating mentally, I say to myself. Either that, or it’s the world’s most intense staring contest. I cast Inspect at the beast, focussing on not alerting it. As the seconds tick by without anyone daring to move, information filters back to me.

It’s not very detailed – it can’t be without risking alerting the Guardian, which is the last thing I want to do. I wouldn’t have dared even try if I hadn’t known that, as long as my intention is to keep the probe undetectable, it will be. It will just limit the information it gives. Experiments have shown that even if the target is aware that I am sending a probe, they won’t detect it, but then the information is very limited.

Here, it’s enough information to tell me that I do not want to fight this beast. Unsurprisingly considering its size and species – a Tier three cyran, as I guessed – it is extremely strong and has a high health pool even for a Tier three. I know that because I’ve tested my Inspect against both Kalanthia and Raven – unbeknownst to them. While this kind of secretive probe doesn’t give me any sort of numbers, it does give me a sense in comparison to my own pool.

Raven’s health pool feels like a pond in comparison to my puddle. Kalanthia’s health pool is an even bigger pond. This cyran’s, however, feels more like a lake. And a lake that is being fed by a wide and fast-moving river – its regeneration. It doesn’t have a lot of mana in comparison, by far the smallest between the three Tier threes present, but I guess it doesn’t need it. Its special abilities all feel like things that affect its physical form, and anyone who manages to get through its thick hide to actually injure it will then have to deal with its regeneration.

As I proved when facing Raven, a being who can regenerate injuries quickly can be even more dangerous than one with a larger health pool.

Finally the staring contest ends, but that apparently only opens the field for a new kind of contest. A domain sweeps over me, the sense of indomitable force, of unstoppable movement. In the old paradox of an unstoppable force coming up against an immovable object, this is definitely the first – and I do not think that any of us qualify as an immovable object. I wouldn’t stand a chance.

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And then a more familiar feeling sweeps through me, replacing the sense of unopposable force with that of a watchful predator. Kalanthia’s domain is no weaker than the other’s, piercing me with the feeling of being eyed up as prey, my life dependent on whether the predator decides that I’m worth making a meal of.

I see the domains’ effects on those around me. The same fear which clutches at my belly and bids me to run away before this beast decides to sweep me out of its path or before the dangerous predator decides it might as well kill me clearly has a hold on those around me. I see several samurans jerk as if to run, only to be grabbed by one near who has more sense. Many of the non-samurans who are part of our party quail, either crouching down to the ground in fear, or turning to run.

Through the Bonds I have with everyone present, I send feelings of calm and reassurance, urging everyone to stay where they are. The Warriors and Pathwalkers who have kept their heads soon join with me in sending out instructions to stay still and slowly the group calms down. Those who broke and ran come back, though linger as far from the three higher Tiers as possible.

The battle continues to be fought – both the battle of domains between Kalanthia and the Enlightened cyran, and the battle among my network of Bonds to keep order and stop anyone from running again in blind panic. Fortunately, the Tier twos don’t seem as badly affected as the Tier ones and almost all of the party are Evolved.

Finally, both domains withdraw. It’s not like what happened between Raven and Kalanthia where the nunda completely suppressed the alcaoris, stripping him of his domain. Instead, it’s like both beasts have acknowledged each other as worthy opponents and have decided not to push the battle to an outright conclusion.

The cyran stomps forwards, the ground reverberating once more beneath its feet. I can’t help holding my breath – is this where they test their strength against each other in other areas too?

Fortunately for us, the innocent bystanders who would be injured or killed in a battle between Tier threes, it doesn’t appear so. Instead, the cyran just leans forwards to sniff at the Cores. It grunts, then licks them up, apparently content with the gift.

I let out my breath silently – if I remember what Kalanthia said, this should mean that the Guardian will let us through without harm.

Sure enough, after it has taken all the Cores, the Tier three just huffs, snorts, and then turns around, stomping away without a backwards glance. The silence and stillness in our party continues until it has pushed through enough of the forest growth for its form to practically disappear.

As soon as the spell is broken, the whole party erupts in chatter, colours flashing all over spikes, clicks and grunts filling the air. I eye Kalanthia.

“The negotiations went well, I take it?”

I know Unstoppable well, she says casually, stepping closer to me and nudging me for chin scratches. Not one to be left out, Lathani also pushes close to me so I sacrifice my other hand to rubbing at her ears too. In fact, if you had chosen to go to another Guardian instead of staying at my den that first day we met, it would have been to him that I sent you.

“To that Guardian?” I ask incredulously. “Wouldn’t he have just killed me immediately?”

Not if I sent you with gifts, she answers. Which I would have considering the service you rendered to me. He is rather difficult to enrage, however, you do so at your peril as he is equally difficult to placate afterwards. I was lucky enough to be able to help him with a matter small to me and big to him soon after my arrival. He and I are allies of a sort, though since I moved further up the mountain, our connection has lapsed a little. I was glad to reconnect with him.

“Well, I’m happy that you’ve had the opportunity, then,” is all I can say.

Glad that I didn’t decide to go with the option of seeking out another home, I am reminded by Tarra from her place in the cart that we ought to get moving – Tier threes are not the only threats in these woods.

As we start moving – both Kalanthia and Lathani displeased when I am forced to stop stroking them – Shrieks comes to jog next to me.

Perhaps I was wrong in asking you to dissuade the Great Predator from joining us, he says thoughtfully.

Oh? I send back to him mentally.

We have to move through the Great Charger’s territory every year. This is the first year we have done so with no casualties.

My eyebrows rise on my forehead. I had kind of assumed that the Tier three would just ignore the party of samurans. Apparently I was wrong.

What normally happens, then?

A small group of Warriors volunteer to hold its attention while the rest of us run past as quickly as they can. Those who survive join us later. It’s never more than three out of five who rejoin us; some years, none of the party who remained behind make it through. Meeting Kalanthia’s eyes, the nundu trotting at a relaxed pace near me, the samuran lifts his chin while still running. Great Predator, I thank you for the lives you have saved today.

Kalanthia eyes the samuran for a long moment – long enough that I fear they might accidentally run into something while they aren’t looking at where their feet are going. Then she dips her head slightly.

Your thanks are received, but unnecessary. I did not do it for you, she dismisses. Shrieks isn’t offended.

I offer you thanks for your actions, regardless of your motivation. Kalanthia meets his eyes again, and I see a glint of respect there. When she looks away again, Shrieks turns his attention back to me. With your permission, Honoured Tamer, I will check on everyone to make sure no one has been adversely affected by the experience we have just undergone.

Yes, go ahead, I tell him, belatedly realise that I should probably do the same. You start on the left of the group, I’ll start on the right?