By the time we get back to the cave, the sun is well on its way down to the horizon. I didn’t want us to get back too late because I wanted to work on the tree trunk before dark. That plan obviously failed – we ended up travelling further and for longer than I’d anticipated. Not to mention the unexpected double Battle of Wills. Not that the second one really counts as much of a ‘battle’.
Persephone had requested a few moments to communicate with her mate before I started the Battle of Wills with him. Though I was a bit wary, I figured that she wouldn’t gain anything by betraying me at that point, so I gave her the time. As it turned out, she had clearly been somehow communicating what had happened as her mate very quickly accepted my Bond when I initiated the Battle of Wills.
She carries my unborn offspring, he’d told me. I will follow and protect her now and in the future. Since she has decided to accept a Bond with you, I must do the same. There had been no resentment, no antipathy. No sorrow, actually, about the loss of the other kiina; I have to wonder what their relationship was like – allies, rivals, or a mixture of both. Either way, I think it’s probably the shortest Dominate I ever conducted.The shortest successful one, anyway – the failure with the salamander probably set the record for the shortest overall.
After successfully Binding both kiina, I had to do some stop-gap healing to get them able to travel at all. At least, without attracting every scavenger in the forest around us from the smell of their blood. That, of course, took more time and exhausted my mana pool. I had a nasty, nauseous headache until it ticked back up to ten units.
I’m feeling pretty happy with the trip, despite not now having much time to work on the tree trunk. Not only do we have two new members of our group, who I suspect are going to fill important roles, but we’ve also got a fair number of bodies to feed all the hungry mouths. In addition to the bisonisans which River and I downed, we’ve also brought back two of the three bisonisans that the kiinas took down before they decided to attack us. The third has already been consumed.
The uneaten bodies are tied to a couple of branches which River and I are carrying between us. I’d considered using the kiinas as pack beasts too, but decided against it considering their continued injuries. Actually, I’ll need to focus some time into healing them; at least it should improve my Flesh-Shaping Skill. It already has – from Initiate one to Initiate two.
So, we have meat for at least a couple of days, especially since none of my Bound who came out with me are at all hungry by this point. I am a bit, especially since I didn’t want to take the time to make a fire, so I didn’t actually eat the hearts as I normally would.
Anyway, I decided that it was better for my Bound to make progress towards evolving by eating the Energy-dense meat. With what happened to Bastet, I’m keen to see how the others will change once they reach that point. The kiina, of course, are already evolved; it will be interesting to see what happens to them. Actually, I realise that I haven’t yet checked out their stats.
Bound – Dominate – ‘Persephone’
Health units: 613/920
Mana units: 100/100
Stamina units: 565/600
Progress to Tier 3: 17%
Lifespan remaining: ~32y
Bound – Dominate – ‘Hades’
Health units: 721/880
Mana units: 110/110
Stamina units: 529/550
Progress to Tier 3: 19%
Lifespan remaining: ~31y
Yes, I decided to call them after the Ancient Greek power-couple. After the loyalty Hades showed to his mate, willing to follow her into a Dominate Bond just to continue protecting her, I figured that that would be a good name. I’d briefly considered Artemis and Apollo – that would have suited the female quite well with Artemis being a goddess of hunting, but Apollo wasn’t so appropriate.
Besides, Apollo and Artemis were siblings, not lovers, so Persephone and Hades sounded like a better option. They both seem rather indifferent to names, not showing any particular preference, or joy. It’s interesting how each of my Bound has had a different response considering none of them were used to having names before I came into their lives.
Now it remains to be seen how they each fit into the team. I’ll need to see them in action to get a better idea of what their advantages are – while actually fighting against them myself helps, that they clearly weren’t used to fighting against creatures with weapons means that they were automatically at a disadvantage. And there was no point in setting up an encounter with them still injured. Maybe some sparring would help, though I’ll have to be sure that they understand what ‘sparring’ means.
Our trip out into the forest has had another benefit: my three Inspect Skills have increased significantly. Inspect Environment and Inspect Flora have both advanced to Beginner seven and even Inspect Fauna has reached Beginner four, which considering how there were far fewer targets to use it on than the other two Skills, I’m still pleased about. I do wonder whether I should be levelling them together, though: what if a combination is possible, but only if they get to the next rank up at the same time?
As well as that, I have gained another two percent in progress to the next level. Though it might not seem like much, the amount of objective Energy I actually need to gain to raise it by a single percentage point just speaks to the killing spree we’ve been on this afternoon.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
Bastet trots over to greet us, rubbing her head against my thighs and then moving on to do equivalent actions with the rest of our group.
Good hunt? she asks, sending a questioning feeling over with a picture of the kiina. Clearly she’s realised that they are new additions to the team. I’m glad not to sense any antipathy from her towards them – she hadn’t liked the snake from the get-go. For good reason it turned out.
“Yes, it was a good hunt," I respond with a smile and a reassuring feeling. That’s what I love about Bastet, I realise suddenly. She just accepts what I throw at her and does her best to roll with it. I’m far more used to complaints and resistance to suggestions. As for what happened when I had to deliver an edict to the office workers which didn’t even come from HR, but from the board? I’m suddenly glad I’m here – suddenly being attacked by rabid beasts in the forest seems positively relaxing in comparison.
River approaches her and holds out an item.
A gift for you, Bastet, he says and I transfer his words to Bastet without thinking about it.
For me? Smells yummy! I look away as she starts tearing into it. The item is, indeed, a pylobus which River saved for her. By this point the Energy must have practically disappeared from the body, but she seems to like it well enough.
As I’d planned, I also have the carapaces of the other pylobuses, and resolve to clean them out and turn them into serviceable bowl-plates. I was already using one to carry the pile of plants I collected which were unable to be fitted in my pockets, and which I didn’t want to put in my Inventory.
Moving over to Kalanthia, I pull out two Cores from my Inventory. One is from the kiina we killed. Persephone expressed discomfort with the idea of cannibalism, but was indifferent to others eating his body. Perhaps she’s like Bastet: sorrowful about his death, but not trying to deny it like humans usually do. The other Core is from one of the pylobuses which had managed to evolve. How a bottom-feeder like that is able to evolve when more than half of River's people aren't, I don't know, but the Core is the proof that it had, if any was needed considering the description.
I regret in a way that I killed the third kiina. Not only would Persephone have been happier to have her other mate there, but having three kiinas was sure to be better than having two. Then again, I’m not sure if I could have conducted another Battle of Wills – after doing two in a row, I was feeling rather fatigued in a way which doesn’t seem to be related to stamina. Not physical stamina, anyway.
By this point, I’m feeling fine again, but it took me most of the way back to get to that state. I wouldn’t have wanted to begin a third Battle of Wills in such quick succession for fear of not having enough energy to see it to its conclusion. Besides, my battle with Persephone might have been harder if we hadn’t so clearly revealed our power.
Still, it’s good to know that there’s that limit, especially with Kalanthia’s suggestion about River’s village. Unless something significant changes, I won’t be Binding all of the members of the village in one go.
“For payment of River’s debt,” I tell Kalanthia about the Cores. She eyes them speculatively.
A little small. I shall count the two together as one, she decides. It’s a bit annoying, but since she’d asked for fist-sized ones, I suppose I should count myself lucky that she’s willing to take two giant-marble sized Cores instead. That means three down, twelve to go. They seem to be fairly rare in creatures around here; perhaps deeper down into the valley will be more productive.
“Would you accept this body as another Core?” I ask her hopefully, waving to the corpse of the kiina which is on top of the two branches holding the bisonisans by their feet and tails. Kalanthia moves over to sniff at the body. Persephone and Hades back away fearfully as she gets closer.
It’s OK, I send to them mentally. As long as you are my Bound and you don’t attack her or her cub, you’ll be fine. Persephone sends a feeling of mistrust down the Bond to me – it’s understandable since we’ve only been allies for a few hours. Bastet had difficulty too. Heck, so did River, but that was for another reason. And Sirocco. In fact, only Fenrir has taken Kalanthia’s presence with complete equanimity.
You’ve been collecting, Binder, Kalanthia sends to me, a hint of amusement in her mental voice. I shrug.
It was a good opportunity. And they’re already evolved.
Yes. It’s unusual to see members of their species this high in the valley.
I think the vine-stranglers have chased them up the mountain-side, I tell her, based on what I read in the description from my Inspect Fauna Skill.
That seems like a good explanation, Kalanthia remarked. I will accept this body towards another Core. Supply another two like this, or a small Core, and we will call it even.
“Alright,” I say aloud with a shrug – she’s the boss when it comes to River’s debt. Kalanthia sends a mental message which I can’t decipher, but a moment later Lathani comes running out. She rubs against me briefly in greeting, then leaps straight at the body.
I nod at Kalanthia and then move away. I’ve got plans for getting the rest of River’s debt: once I’ve got my armour, I decide we’d better do a hunting trip further down into the valley. Certainly, there seem to be more evolved beasts there, and those are the ones with the Cores. But for now, I need to do some more healing on my new Bound and then do some more experimentation. At least I don’t need the light for that.
I walk over to the two kiina, rubbing the heads of the three raptorcat cubs en route. They’re already eating one of the bisonisan carcasses which is still tied to the branches.
“Can you get these knots undone?” I ask River. “If you can aim not to cut the cord, that would be good.” Then I remember him trying to do such a thing a few days ago and failing. “If you can’t do it, let me know and I’ll get to it when I can,” I add.
As you wish, he responds, lifting his chin briefly, then stooping to get to the task. I send him the feeling of my appreciation down the Bond.
“Thanks both of you for your help,” I say to Fenrir and Sirocco, turning to them next. “Do you need anything?” Both of them send across feelings of negation so I reply with feelings of gratitude then walk off to my newest Bound.
“OK, my mana has regenerated a bit, so I’ll continue with your healing.” I can tell that Persephone in particular is in pain. Hades’ injuries were mostly dealt with on site, though I do want to do another round on his bones. Frankly, I suppose I ought to be glad that Flesh-Shaping does seem to consider bone as ‘flesh’. Then again, I suppose its use would be pretty limited if not.
Fenrir had done a number on Hades’ legs, and although they hadn’t been snapped, they’d certainly been cracked a bit. Plus, it seems that bone takes more mana to repair than flesh; natural, I suppose.
As for Persephone, my mana pool only managed to seal the worst of her wounds so they didn’t keep leaking; I hadn’t really managed to properly deal with them.
Sitting down and directing them to come down to my level – which they do with some reluctance, something putting them on their guard – I put my hand on Persephone’s chest and get to work.