Curator POV

-Whoof that's aloooot of 'mana'. When I told Poppit to go ahead and snack, didn't expect him to raid a buffet!. But hey, can't complain, and how's that one anime phrase go, eat a daki masku? Not sure why you'd eat a pillow cover with a mask but he...wait, moth people could and those might exist here! No, stop it, focus, no more wild hair brained plots for now.-

Seems whatever he had, he really enjoyed cause I can still 'feel' him. Even outside my domain the connections there but it's slightly muffled, like with tin can telephones when one's a kid. That aside, if they're getting even half this energy, things are gonna get even more strange before getting more normal! Up to a full ring and change, a second is at that fuzzy 'proto-ring' phase!

In other things, watching that yucca I shoved some energy into, it's been changing more than growing. The leaves are now a more blue-green color, widening massively and growing longer. Even spikes on the edges of those leaves, reminds me of an honest to goodness agave at this point! They're related, but if pumping energy like that causes such a change, care will be the word of the day, as agave don't produce edible fruits. Even if more of the plant is edible, at the cost of killing the plant, it's not a good food source for anything due to that and the growing times.

Babe is still snoozing pretty well too, which is no surprise calming. Just watchin' her body swell and shrink as she breathes is adorable. Oh, and I'm bigger too now that I look at it, she could probably rest inside the hollow of my ring at this point. Hmmm....if I keep growing like this, it might be a problem pretty soon, so really need to start on a more permanent structure to house me. I doubt the elements will cause any grief, but, would rather still be more 'out of sight' that fully exposed to everything every where.

Lets give a proper check on Poppit though, if they're still felt, then it stands to reason I could focus my attention on or through them, like with seeing through Babe's eyes that one time. With that simple thought a...bizarre sight would greet me, accompanied with the strange sensation kind of like being drawn through a long crazy straw. Not painful or, necessarily unpleasant, just....off. Looking through the sand, it'd be like looking through clear water, slightly wavy, but able to still tell what's above and below the surface. Seeing the oblong boards, and their riders as I can feel those claws gently digging into the wood of one board only one thought comes to mind.

'Oh, you clever clever fur noodle!'

Poppit POV

We can feel when the Curator looks through us, as we ride along with the scaled things. At first it's clear that seeing through our eyes is a new experience for Curator. Then they give us a complement! We are clever! This is good! The joy of that would result in an involuntary wiggle, shifting the other ones, they seem to know it too. It's too late though, we can see their burrows on the sand, even if still a bit away!

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Taking this as a good chance to drop off and move on our own, we'd do just that. Sliding off silently in the sand as they come to a stop. What they do doesn't mater to us at this point, as we need to take a look at what they are up to.

Vahlu POV

We're almost back to our little camp, normally the group sail is much faster than this. Until the final stretch of our journey, I'd have chalked it up to the apprentice leaning too far forward and digging the sandboard in slightly. Then my board wriggles violently, almost throwing me to the sands, so we stop. That panic from earlier turning into a horror deep in my bones.

"It followed us....it road our boards and followed us"

After the quick bit of shock, everyone's faces going pale, I snap into action. Pulling out the signal whistle, and pushing it to my lips I blow. I blow as if our lives depend on it, and they very much so might. The high sharp trill being held for a good bit of time, only to stop, and play three short trills. The sign of those dangerous diggers being around, hopefully, they'll get the hint in time.

"We need to hurry!"

With that, it's time to pick up the boards and simply run the remaining distance in a mad dash for camp.

Shaman POV

It's close, whatever it is, it's close. I can feel it, and the remaining mana gems all glow faintly. Something powerful is here. Ever one knows it's here too. You can see it in how they stiffen slightly as it's power washes over them.

Then the signal whistle rings out. Playing the warning for sandtrap ferrets. I know better though. Sandtraps don't carry this sort of aura to them. Nor, this much passive power or presence. This narrows down the possibilities quite a bit, all of them could be a horrible thing. Only one has a chance to be good. Scurrying as quickly as my old bones can take me, it's time to visit the chieftain once more. This time to offer wisdom, not a warning.

Curator POV

'Sorry buddy, seems I ruined your solid snaking, if that shrill whistle is any indicator. This could work in our favor though. See if can't slide up under that big tent there. Normally the leader of a group like this has the biggest place. Keep hidden for now, until we can get a lay of the room okay?'

With that I ride along, and if the décor and single chair facing the tent's entry, my hunch was right. After a moment of observation, another of those people would burst in, chattering, something to the one in the chair. They are moving stiffly, almost mechanically, but it's hard to make exactly what they are out. It's kind of like looking out from under the water to see what's on the surface, when the suns hitting the surface. Only really basic shapes and such. After they have a bit of back and forth, I'd really focus on the new one, paying proper attention to what it's saying and after a moment, it starts to make sense.

"...ftain, we should show caution. I know you feel it's presence in the camp too. This could be a paragon sandtrap ferret, or a dungeon and it's scion. These are shifting sands we are on, and a single misstep could cause all to sink."

"You speak with wisdom shaman. Your words shall be heeded, unless it attacks first, this powerful...thing, shall not be attacked but...."

'Well that's all I need to hear! Hey, Poppit, you know what would be reaaaally funny? Slide up behind that chair, pop your head slowly over the top and move like you are lounging your slinky self over the top.'

With a sudden, rapid movement to get into position, it doesn't take Poppit long to start cresting the top of that, essentially throne. Looking through his eyes, it's so easy to see the shock, surprise, fear...even some excitement, in the shaman's face as he stops mid word. Looking down at the chieftain now as they look up to follow the shaman's gaze, eyes wide. I'm honestly a bit caught off guard, lizard folk, or kobolds would have been expected, but seems I'm in the land of noodly things and arachnids, cause who would have guessed skink-le. Look at those short lil arms an' legs, and those long bodies, honestly reminds me of slightly less worm like Poppits, but with scales instead of fur. And no mandibles...oh and those cute lil outfits.

As I calm down after my initial surprise as they both still look at Poppit in abject terror. There's only one thing to say to break the silence.

'Well, hello there!'