Filch peeked out of the shadows to make sure that no one was watching before he emerged into one of the derelict, overgrown buildings that marred the edges of the city. He wore a bandana of green and gold cloth upon his head. Antaria had given it to him, saying that if he was going to spend so much time perched on her head, then he should at least wear her colours. She also seemed to find the sight of a raccoon wearing a bandana genuinely delightful.
He liked Antaria. She might complain about him hitching a ride on her head, her back, or her shoulders, but she never shooed him away. She was always happy to give him a cuddle or a belly rub, and she didn't mind if he made a little nest out of pillows to sleep in. Daphne had also asked him to keep an eye on her. Antaria was strong, but she was maybe a little too brave for her own good. Even if she ran into something far too strong for her to beat, that wouldn't stop her from trying to punch it to death. Daphne had asked him to take Antaria and run if something like that ever happened. It wasn't as though he could shadow walk all the way back home with Antaria, but he could definitely go far enough to get them out of trouble.
A smart raccoon knew when to fight, when to run, and when to hide. Filch was a very smart raccoon, so he'd just have to look out for the brave but not very smart human who happened to be his friend.
Contrary to expectations, there weren't fights on every single day. Now that the tournament was down to only the best competitors, there were only bouts every second day. This was to give fighters time to rest and prepare themselves. Nobody wanted to see a fighter lose because they were still carrying injuries from their last bout, and giving them time to prepare made the fights more exciting.
With a bit of free time on his hands, Filch had decided to explore the city. Antaria had told him to be careful, and Doomwing had told him to keep his eyes and ears open. There was a lot a raccoon who could hide in shadows could learn, and he might even come across someone interesting who was worth recruiting.
But Filch had found himself drawn to these abandoned buildings and the animals who lived in them. There were so many of them, from cats and dogs to squirrels, raccoons, and rats. Some had moved in from the countryside whilst others had been abandoned by their owners and had fled here to eke out a living.
Had he been like this before meeting Daphne?
He couldn't really remember his early days. He knew he had once had four siblings, of whom only two still remained, and he knew his family had once lived somewhere else, away from the dryad. There hadn't been much food there, and his strongest memory was hunger. He had been hungry all the time, and his parents had given him their food, even as they had grown thin and weak.
Eventually, they had left that place. Filch wasn't sure how far they travelled, but that was when they lost two of his siblings. Hunger had gotten one, and a hawk had gotten the other. He couldn't even remember their names… or perhaps they hadn't even had names. He and his family had been different then, lesser in so many ways than they were now.
But they had crossed the blighted lands where only weeds grew and had reached the crumbling courtyard where Daphne's tree was. Had her magic drawn them to her? Probably. His parents had never been able to explain how they knew where to go, but they had gone all the same, drawn to the dryad by some inexplicable force, whether it be instinct, magic, or simple good luck.
There, they had found sanctuary. The dryad had welcomed them, and Filch had never felt so safe as when she had picked him up and held him in her arms. They had been given fruits and nuts to eat and nourishing sap to drink. His parents had already been old by then, and they had died soon after. But they had died with full bellies, safe in the knowledge that at least some of their children had made it to this place of safety.
The seasons had passed, and Filch had found his thoughts growing clearer and swifter. He was… more than he had been, changed by the food he had eaten, the sap he had drunk, and the magic his young body had absorbed. The world became clear, and his mind sharpened. He knew. He learned. He understood.
He had begun to ascend, turning from a humble raccoon into something more. That was why he was smarter, and that was why the passage of a few years hadn't left him frail and weak like his parents. He would live longer than them – much, much longer. He would live twenty or thirty years, perhaps even longer if he could ascend further.
But with his newfound intelligence and wisdom came a stark realisation. Daphne was dying. It would not be any time soon, but with the blight growing ever stronger, it was only a matter of time before the dryad perished without the magic she needed to sustain herself. She never said anything about it. Instead, she continued to shelter all of the animals while asking the birds who visited to speak of nearby forests and groves.
She was preparing for the day she was no longer strong enough to shelter them.
If Daphne had been older and stronger, she could have dispelled the blight entirely and bent the currents of magic to her will. But she was young, and the soil and magic were so poor that she could not grow stronger. Filch was only a raccoon, but he knew he had to do something. But what could he do? He might be smarter and a bit stronger than a normal raccoon, but he was still far too weak to deal with the blight or the lack of magic.
And then the dragon had come.
Filch had been scared. All of them had been. What could even Daphne do against a dragon? And yet the dragon had not come to destroy them. He had come to make them an offer, one that Daphne had accepted.
And they were all much better for it.
Their new home was everything Daphne had ever wanted. There were rich fields as far as the eye could see. The soil was so good and the magic so plentiful that Daphne had grown at an astounding rate. She had even started to produce relay trees, which were supposed to help her project her influence further. They were extensions of herself and would be able to do many of the same things, like making special fruit, nuts, and sap. She would even be able to project her humanoid form from them too, which would let her travel around a bit more.
Filch was happy for her, and he would be lying if he said he wasn't happy there would be more space too. None of the animals wanted to live in a normal tree after living in Daphne's tree for so long. The relay trees were the next best thing, and some of the animals had already begun to relocate, especially those with families who wanted extra space.
But even with the relocations and their increased numbers, there still weren't enough animals for all the relay trees. Filch knew how much Daphne loved having animals around – she doted on them like they were her own children – so why not get some more? He was smart. He could tell which animals were good and would fit in and which should be ignored. Plus, now that Daphne was stronger, it wouldn't take as long for her to form bonds with new animals, allowing them to begin ascension. They even had a Pool of Ascension now, so once the new animals had formed a close enough bond, they could throw them in to see if they developed any useful powers.
After all, if they were going to live in Daphne's trees, it was only fair they do their bit to help out.
Well, he wasn't too worried about that part. Any animals he brought back were the kind who would appreciate the opportunity they'd been given and the affection that Daphne would lavish on them. They wouldn't have to force them to help. They would be eager and grateful to help, just as Filch and the other were.
Filch peered down at a family of raccoons making their way back toward an abandoned building. There wasn't much food here, but there was plenty available in the rest of the city if they were willing to take risks. They could swipe food from stalls or paw through garbage. There was always a chance they'd be caught, but raccoons were quick and clever.
No, the biggest danger came when they returned here with their prizes. Anyone with food was a potential target. The dogs were probably the biggest threats, especially when there were groups of them. The trick was to get into one of the abandoned buildings and then hide somewhere safe where the dogs couldn't get at them.
The family of raccoons had almost reached safety when a group of dogs emerged from the ruins of another building. The raccoons realised the danger at once and tried to flee, but there were three kits with the adults, and they weren't going to be nearly fast enough. Filch's eyes narrowed, and then he sprang from his hiding place.
He was no match for some of the monsters that Antaria commanded, but these dogs were not those monsters, and he was far stronger than any normal raccoon. His paw struck the first dog and reduced the canine's skull to pulp. The second reached him a moment later and lunged, only for his jaws to close on thin air as Filch fell into his own shadow. He reappeared next to the dog, and a swipe of his tail sent the dog flying into a nearby wall. The other dogs were wary now, and Filch stood on his hind legs, arms spread wide, inviting them to attack.
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Two of them backed away, but the largest of the dogs – probably the leader – accepted the challenge and lunged. Before his ascension thanks to the pool, Filch would never have dreamed of fighting like this. He would have looked at these dogs and seen his own death. Now? All he saw were overgrown mutts who needed to be taught their place.
He heaved an uppercut into the dog's jaw and then slammed a kick into his exposed belly that folded him in mid-air and tossed him back to skid through the muck of a nearby puddle. The dog snivelled and tried to rise, but Filch knew very well that his blow had been placed perfectly. All those days he'd spent watching Antaria train had not been in vain. His old body would never have been able to perform the moves he'd seen. His new body was made for them.
The dog gave a low whine and then fell still, and Filch rounded on the two remaining canines. They fled, and he turned back to the family of raccoons. He had watched this family – and several others – and he liked what he saw. They took care of one another, helped out others when they could, and worked hard to survive, doing anything they could to make ends meet.
They cowered as he approached, and Filch reined in his magic. He didn't have a lot compared to Antaria, but he had way more than a regular raccoon. They relaxed a little, and he reached into the small pouch at his side and pulled out an apple from Daphne's tree. The pouch was a gift from Doomwing, who had told him to make good use of it. It was much larger on the inside than the outside, and the weight of the objects it carried was massively reduced to the point that Filch often had to check to see if it was still there.
It would be almost impossible to explain himself to the raccoons as they were now. They weren't stupid for normal raccoons, but they lacked the wisdom and understanding that came from forming a bond with Daphne. The apple was special. It wouldn't make a bond on its own, but it would temporarily grant them some measure of the intelligence that a bond could provide.
They were startled but polite once the change came over them. Filch explained himself as simply as possible. Even with the apple, they just didn't have any real frame of reference for more complex concepts, not the way he did with years spent alongside Daphne.
He wanted them to come with him. He lived somewhere much better where there would always be lots of food – and much better food than anything they could find here. They would safe, protected not only by Daphne but many others. They could form a bond with Daphne. They would be able to stay as smart as the apple made them. In fact, they'd be even smarter. And when they were ready, they could try the Pool of Ascension and grow strong like him.
The raccoons discussed the matter briefly, but he already knew that they would agree. Who wouldn't? He also added that it would not be long before these abandoned areas were put to work again. Enarion, the king, had plans to revitalise the city, and he would not leave these areas alone for long. Sooner or later, humans would come and drive them away, so the buildings could be torn down, the land cleared, and new buildings put up in their place. It was better to leave with him now and go to somewhere better than to stay and then be driven off without anywhere to go.
They agreed, and he told them to follow him while he approached the other animals he had in mind. They knew these animals. They could add their voices to his and help him to convince them. It was a good thing that Daphne had given him many such apples although she had been a bit worried that none of the animals would take up his offer. He chuckled. The dryad had a habit of underestimating herself. She would be very happy indeed when he turned up with so many new animals!
As the night drew to a close, he was about to return to the palace with his new recruits when a cat slunk forth out of the shadows of an alley. His eyes narrowed. He hadn't sensed her.
"You are no normal cat," he murmured. "Who are you?"
"And you are no normal raccoon," the cat replied – the first animal to speak without eating an apple. "My master called me Patches," the female cat said. "Because of the black and white patches on my fur."
Filch motioned for the other animals behind him to stay back. One of the raccoons whispered that he should be careful. Patches was one of the strongest animals in the area, and she was incredibly intelligent too. "If you have a master, why are you here?"
Patches's amber eyes were sombre. "My master was an adventurer. He would take jobs in the surrounding countryside. Some time ago, he left but never returned. The person he had left me with put me out."
"You can speak," Filch said. "How?"
"When I was thrown out, I spent time around the places where adventurers would gather, hoping to find my master. I survived by eating the scraps that were tossed out. I don't know why, but someone threw out flesh from a monster. I ate it, and I was different."
"Ah. You began to ascend. But I can feel how much magic you have. You never went any further." Filch could defeat her if need be, but he was curious now. "Did you learn what happened to your master?"
"I overheard people talking about it. They mentioned his name and said that he and a number of other adventurers perished while trying to drive off a hydra." Patches frowned. "But how could that be? I remember that my master was strong. If there were others like him, how could they lose?"
"Do you know what a hydra is?" Filch asked.
She shook her head. "No."
He winced. "A large reptile, usually bigger than a house, with many heads. It can heal from almost any injury instantly. It can also spit acid, has deadly venom, and its blood is so corrosive that being splashed can kill you within moments."
Antaria had encountered one while clearing out monsters. She had killed it by throwing boulders at it until it was completely crushed. Doomwing had congratulated her on not being stupid enough to try punching it since that would only have doused her in its toxic blood. He had also mentioned that her ancestor had made that mistake, and he had let him scream himself hoarse for half a minute before healing him to make sure that he never made that mistake again. Honestly, Filch had heard about how incredible Elerion was, but who thought punching a hydra was a good idea?
"Oh." Patches sagged. "I can see how he might have lost then." She glanced at the animals behind him. "Where are you taking them?"
"Why do you want to know?" Filch had not noticed her at all while watching the other animals. She must either have come from far away or have hidden herself expertly.
"I have kittens and a mate," Patches said. "My mate… he is not well. I have been tending to him as best I can, but I cannot care for him and the kittens for much longer. If you are taking them somewhere better, I want to take my mate and kittens and go with you."
"Hmmm…" Filch nodded slowly. "Take me to your family. I'll see if I can do anything for your mate."
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Antaria woke up and then leapt out of bed. "What the…?" She stared at the assortment of animals that were now in her room. There were raccoons, squirrels, a few dogs, some rats, and even a family of cats! What was going on? "Filch!" she shouted. "I know you did this. Explain!"
The raccoon emerged from her shadow and scrambled up onto her head. As usual, he had a fruit to munch on. "They're the new recruits."
Antaria plucked him off her head. "Recruits? Since when were you recruiting? I thought you were just snooping around."
"I've done plenty of snooping around," Filch said. "But I've also been recruiting." He puffed out his chest proudly. "These are the best of the bunch. Daphne will love them, and they'll fit right in."
Antaria found her gaze softening. Daphne was very fond of animals, and with those new trees of hers growing, she wanted more animals to put in them. "And you're sure they'll fit in? Daphne would be sad if they came along but didn't like her."
"They'll be fine." Filch nodded. "I've talked to all of them myself." He lowered his voice. "I've got a good feeling about some of them too. I bet they'll get some really interesting abilities from the Pool of Ascension if we throw them in."
"Really?" Antaria couldn't help but grin. It had taken a bit of getting used to, but once she'd seen that none of the animals were actually being harmed, the whole thing had been quite fun. "Doomwing will be happy about that – but only if he's the one who gets the animals with good abilities." The dragon had been quite put out that the animals he'd thrown into the pool hadn't gotten abilities as good as the ones Daphne and Antaria had thrown in.
"Anyway, I thought I'd bring them here. The tournament will be over soon, and I didn't want to risk any of them getting attacked or worse before we leave." Filch made a face. "It's dangerous out there, especially if you're weak."
"Okay. They can stay, but you need to introduce me to them." Her gaze locked onto the family of cats with the adorable kittens. "Start with the cats."