Chapter 33: CHAPTER XXI – What Tears Won’t Wash Away

Cekell seemed so small, howling like a dropped infant. His eyes were squeezed shut and the noises he was making were as loud as they were incoherent. “Hey, it’s ok! I’m ok!” Rhystea tried calming him down. She was surprised to discover that his eyes were dry, apart from his face still being splattered by arachnophage blood; he didn’t seem to be pouring tears, even as Rhystea’s fell upon him.

“I can’t stop crying if you don’t, you’re supposed to be the strong one!” Rhystea half squealed out as she attempted to not further fall to pieces. This got him to finally fall silent, but his face was still wracked with grief.

“That’s better!” Rhystea announced gently, “I’m really not hurt at all, you kept me safe through all of that, really it was my-“

Cekell’s tiny body clenched up like a fist. “Cekell sorry.” He repeated once more, cutting her off. He started to tremble as raw fury twisted his visage. “Cekell no let Ritsy hurt!” Rhystea lost her voice as the warborn offered one final apology, apoplectic from his most minor of failures. “Cekell sorry.” Unable to say anything more, she wrapped him back up in an embrace as tightly as she could.

They sat there in silence like this for a while, until Sphaere called out from a short distance behind them, “Ever’thang alright?”

“No.” Was the only word Rhystea could form.

“Couldja be more specific?” Sphaere requested.

“I’m covered in bug guts.” Rhystea acquiesced, wiping her tears away on her shoulders.

“But yer okay?” Sphaere pressed.

Trying to get angry in order to conceal her emotional collapse, Rhystea’s voice cracked when she yelled, “Would you be ok if you were covered in bug guts?!”

“…Are ya hurt?” Sphaere reiterated after a thoughtful pause.

“No.” Rhystea sniffled, trying to suck it up.

“Is ‘e’ hurt?” Sphaere continued.

“Yea, but not physically.” Rhystea stated as she turned her puffy eyes to meet the gaze of her friend.

Sphaere’s mouth hung open as she searched for words, “…well what’s wrong?”

“One of those bugs managed to cut a few strands of my hair, and he kind of… overreacted.” Rhystea explained.

Sphaere forcefully frowned hard in an attempt to fight back a smile. Not knowing what else to say, she again asked, “But yer both… unharmed?”

“He’s really shaken up, it’s made me a little emotional, but we’re both whole and hearty.” Rhystea insisted as she climbed to her feet and faced her friends, noticing A212, R208 and R248 were a short distance behind Sphaere, with the rest of the scale squad a few steps behind them.

Sphaere peered at them curiously a moment before turning back to the rest of the group, scratched her head and announced, “That’s jus’ the nectar talkin’. I toldja ta go easy on it.”

Tension broke as she was offered a way out, and immediately Rhystea moved to capitalize, “Ha ha… yea… Can I have some more?”

Sphaere shook her head and snickered before turning back and asserting, “Hey scalehead, ya heard ‘er, get the girl a drink!”

“What was with that racket he was-“ Devose started but was nigh instantly subdued when Sphaere clapped a hand over his mouth and snuggled him with a headlock.

Seeing that everything was in fact alright, R010 turned and ushered the rest of his series along with the Aves that had joined them back within the gate, commanding them, “Bring the nectar and the meat! We’re going to have to enjoy it near the gate if we want a chance at the next group that shows it’s ugly face!” And erupted into laughter.

Sphaere and Rhystea walked silently behind the group back to the fire. Fortunately, the scale crew talked enough for both of them, clearly impressed by the display that Cekell had put on; from unflinchingly enduring a mighty onslaught from the largest of the arachnophages, to splitting the very same beast right down the middle with a mysterious blade that had returned to orb form and currently hovered just above Rhystea.

Every time she blinked, Rhystea had to will away images of Cekell brutalizing the smallest of the creatures. She quietly made her way to the Lion’s Court rock with Sphaere and leaned up against it, still trying to sort out her feelings, when Sphaere presented to her the still half full container of Nectar.

“Thank-… Thanks.” Rhystea stammered when she received the pod, as Verakry’s words came flooding back to her, causing her to cringe as if struck. She stood in silent disbelief as she stared down at the nectar.

After a long moment, Sphaere stated, “It works a lot better if ya drink it.”

“I think I’ve had enough.” Rhystea insisted. “I only asked for more because I didn’t know what else to say, but everyone seemed to be waiting for me to say something.”

“Well hand it here, I ain’t had enough yet! Hell, I’m still playin’ catch up!” Sphaere laughed. “Ya did put on a dramatic show. Everyone was surprised the way ya jus’ rushed out ta greet it, started chewin’ on it, then sicced Ceke on the poor thing. ‘E was even takin’ it in stride, ‘til the others showed up anyways. ‘E went a li’l nuts when that small one shot in like a rocket though. The big one plowed the ground with ‘is face, an’ ‘e didn’ even seem ta notice!” She continued as she received the nectar from Rhystea, which she lifted to her lips to drink.

“I’m still trying to wrap my mind around it all.” Rhystea admitted.

“I cain’t believe ya spit in the big one’s face, I’m still tryin ta wrap my mind ‘round that!” Sphaere laughed before taking another drink.

Rhystea opened her mouth to immediately deny the comment, when recollection set in. “Well it sprayed us with some type of acid. I don’t know why, but it seemed like a good idea at the time.” She grinned sheepishly as she recalled her actions.

“I bet. We done spent ‘nough time cowerin’ away from the things, starin’ it down must o’ been… revitimizing.” Sphaere cracked a smile of her own.

Rhystea sighed and closed her eyes, and lifted her hands up to slide her fingers under her glasses to massage them. “Revitalize.” She spat out.

“Yea, I think yer gonna be ok.” Sphaere chuckled before nudging her friend with the nectar’s container.

Rhystea pulled her hand away from her eyes to see what she was being prodded with, then looked disdainfully at Sphaere and blinked with aggravated intent.

“C’mon, it’s been a long day… week? Month? How long we been here now? It’s been crazy, an’ I cain’t imagine ya pullin’ any more crazy stunts after that. Drink with me an’ relax!” Sphaere insisted.

Rhystea relented after a scoff, took the nectar and sipped it slowly. “We were having fun before they showed up.”

“’Xactly! Now ferget about ‘em an’ let’s get back ta the fun!” Sphaere pressed.

By now, the Reptilia series had packed up most of the cooked meat, refilled the spit, and started relocating themselves to the gate. R208 with R248 beside him approached Sphaere and Rhystea with a pair of unopened nectar pods which he proudly offered to them, along with a bit of scaly wisdom, “Nothing better to wash away a bitter battle!”

“That’s the truth o’ it!” Sphaere replied as she received and carefully coddled them in the same arm she was holding Devose in, who surprisingly wrapped his arms around them to help secure their place while wrapping his tendril around her neck to secure himself. As if to offer gratitude, Sphaere squeezed down tightly on him.

“Have anything I could use to wash away the foul blood of my enemies?” Rhystea retorted.

“A good sweat will wash off anything!” R208 bellowed and laughed.

“Ugh.” Rhystea groaned and rolled her eyes. “I want a shower.” And lifted the nectar to her lips for more than a sip.

“Oi! Wanna go ta the hot springs?” Sphaere suggested.

“No!” Cekell blurted out almost angrily.

Sphaere’s eyes went wide and her attention whipped around to him, then widened further when an empowered barrier shot up around them. Before she could ask any, all her questions were answered by a dull humming sound the harbingered in a round of rain bequeathed from the barrier above them, afterwards Cekell’s barrier was erased.

An equally surprised Rhystea squeezed down on him tightly, stating, “Wow, that big bad rain’s got nothing on you. I think I almost would have liked a short shower, but to answer your question, yes, let us go for a dip!”

“Yer commin’ too!” Sphaere declared as she turned to face a surprised R248.

“Now why would I do that?” R248 asked aggravatedly.

“Cuz with us gone, them bugs are less likely ta show up here, an’ because the Reptilia will wanna keep an eye on us ta make sure we ain’t up ta any funny business, ain’t that right R208?” Sphaere surmised.

“What? You don’t need to leave! As a friend of the Reptilia, you’ll always be welcome here!” R208 insisted.

“Thanks, that means a lot! But we’re goin’ ta them hot springs, an’ I have a hankerin’ that she’s gonna enjoy it ever bit as much as we do!” Sphaere asserted.

“Hmph!” R248 replied, looking her up and down, then turning to give the same treatment to Rhystea when she noticed the girl gawking at her. “What?”

“You’re a girl?!” Rhystea spat out in disbelief.

“Derogatory!” Sphaere gasped and held back her laughter.

“What is with you? Of course I’m a girl! Why is that so surprising?!” R248 yelled out her question in true Reptilia fashion.

“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!” Rhystea apologized, “It’s just that you’ve watched us with such a distrusting eye, and I’m used to girls being the friendly ones!”

Popping out of no where as though she had been summoned, F120 giggled, “That’s just because of R208 taking such an interest in you!” R248 turned and aimed the fury in her eyes straight at the young Feline series and growled menacingly, prompting F120 to dart to Sphaere’s side and squeeze between her leg and the Lion’s Court rock, with Lucky following suit and hiding behind her legs.

“Ritsy! I never took ya fer a homewrecker!” Sphaere blurted out as seriously as she could, but was unable to hold back her laughter when Rhystea turned and dropped her jaw, but Sphaere stopped cold and held her free hand out to stop the girl when she reared back to throw the nectar at her. “Ya spill any o’ that, an’ yer gonna be in trouble!”

R208 shook his head as he watched the spectacle. R248 regained her composure, but kept F120 pinned behind Sphaere with a sharp glare. Cekell could comfortably discern the difference between embarrassment and anger or fear, and kept curled up against Rhystea’s heartbeat.

“Before we go anywhere else, we need to return to the scene of the battle.” Devose insisted.

Sphaere concurred, “Actually, I agree with that. I wanna check out that webbin’. Hey, F120, could I getcha ta do me a solid an’ have A212 meet us out there? Bring yerself out there, too, I gotta reward ya fer all the help ya’ve provided!”

“Okay!” F120 exclaimed before darting off to do as she was bid, sticking her tongue out at R248 as she passed by with Lucky trailing behind her.

The group started heading back towards the gate when R208 expressed his curiosity, “This should be interesting. What do you have planned for that stringy stuff?”

“I think A224 will be able ta use it fer somethin’ the Aves are workin’ on – bows, a ranged weapon that they can use ta hunt an’ defend themselves. They’ll work great from atop the gate! They’re no grenade launcher, but I’m still waitin’ on Ritsy ta conjure up a tube fer that… Though, with ‘er scribblin’s, I suppose she could turn an arrow inta a rocket!” Sphaere rationalized.

“I really wish I could just snap my fingers and conjure one up for you, that would be something to see.” Rhystea stated sharply as she glared daggers at her friend.

“Ya’d love it, believe you me! A delivery system ta use yer rocksplosives as ordnance!” Sphaere insisted.

“I meant conjuration, that would be something to see. I have mixed feelings on making any kind of cannon, even one that just shoots potatoes.” Rhystea said snobbishly.

“Yea, ya have gotten rather skilled at siccin’ Ceke on our problems. What happened ta makin’ ‘im inta a shield?” Sphaere riposted. This knocked the wind out of the girl’s sails, who’s pace slowed slightly as she lowered her visibly saddened visage to the ground. “Sorry…” Sphaere added, “Weren’ tryin’ ta be mean.”

“No. I deserved that.” Rhystea owned her mistake, “I should’ve been more cautious, there are any number of ways I could have handled that better.”

Sphaere tried to console her friend, “Don’ beat yerself up! Ya didn’ let any o’ them bastards make it ta the gate! No one could o’ predicted what happened, an’ some o’ us were keepin’ an eye out fer more ta show up; we jus’ weren’ prepared fer ‘em ta blast in like a missile! Yea, shore, it could o’ been better, but who cain’t say that in hindsight? It shore could o’ been a whole lot worse, too!”

Rhystea perked up a bit and took a deep draw off the nectar pod. “Ya better share that!” Sphaere insisted.

They made their way through the crowd of Reptilia gathered together, which parted at their arrival and cheered their contributions to both the festivities as well as the safe keeping of their hole in the ground.

“See, ever one’s thankful an’ no one actually got hurt. How much better could it really have gone?” Sphaere pointed out.

“You’re right, I need ta lighten up.” Rhystea admitted before taking another big drink before passing the nectar to Sphaere, who smiled and shook her head.

“Lighten up, but don’ float away!” Sphaere laughed. “Gotta keep them feet on the ground!”

“Nope! Cekell is going to fly us to the hot springs, these feet need a good soaking!” Rhystea declared as she attempted to squeeze agreement out of Cekell, who abstained from making a peep, which prompted Rhystea to squeeze him tightly. “I sure miss you being a goofball, I don’t like seeing you all depressed.”

Cekell chirped softly as if to apologize.

They made their way to the location of the battle where Sphaere bent down to retrieve some webbing and almost dropped her cargo when Devose wriggled from her grasp, plopped down to the ground and darted over to the cleft sides of the heavy arachnophage.

They all watched curiously as he stood in place and gathered the drops of mana that Cekell had bled out by calling them to him and forming a small ball of the stuff, then made his way to his brother who was in Rhystea’s care, and offered the mana up along with some words, “I can’t give you an excuse for losing when I thoroughly trounce you.”

Cekell pretended not to notice and just kept listening to Rhystea’s heartbeat. Devose’s eyes went wide with anger, and Rhystea was quick to lean forward, accept the mana and offer her, “Thanks!” Before tucking the mana orb under Cekell’s chin, who looked up at her in acknowledgement, but otherwise didn’t respond as the ball of mana seemed to melt into him.

“You’re welcome.” Devose grumbled as he returned to Sphaere and lifted his arms up expectantly.

Sphaere eyed Devose a moment before turning to his brother and requesting, “Oi, Ceke, wouldja mind carryin’ these fer me?” And held the two pods of nectar she had been carrying out to him. Without making a sound, Cekell took them off her hands and levitated them up next to his dark orb above Rhystea’s head. “Thank ya kindly!” Sphaere stated before scooping Devose up and returning her attention to the webbing.

Lifting up an end of the webbing, Sphaere stepped on it several feet down and tugged hard to test it’s durability, and found it to be quite strong with only a slight give. She then tried separating strands of the webbing from the end, and found them fairly easy to separate. “Oh yea, this stuff will work great, but it’s really thick, so it’ll need ta be split apart. There’s quite a bit o’ the stuff, too, way more than they’ll use fer some bows. Could use it fer a number o’ things, from alarms ‘round the openin’ o’ the baskin’ chamber, ta simple trip wires fer traps. I bet I could make a lasso ya could use ta get a hold o’ an iron hoof with… then we could watch it drag ya ‘round the jungle!” Sphaere burst into laughter, but not before piquing R208’s curiosity.

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“How would that work? Would we just cast a line around it’s neck?” R208 pondered out loud as he scratched the scales on his chin.

Sphaere was blown away. “Actually, that’s exactly what ya’d do. Tie one end ta a tree first ta anchor it down. Those things are big though, might take more than a single line. Get ‘im tied down an’ it’d shore be easier ta deal with ‘im, though!”

“That’s not a bad idea! When we were up in the trees, they were rather oblivious to us. It wouldn’t be too hard to prepare a few set ups, and maneuver an iron hoof to the right spot. Even if it did break the line, it would probably wear it out considerably. I bet we could even capture a younger one alive!” R208 was getting louder, which made him even more excited; or perhaps it was the other way around.

“Yea, yer definitely more likely ta survive a run in with a smaller one.” Sphaere chuckled, only somewhat concerned that she was roping a hapless scalehead into a painful death.

R248 scoffed and shook her head, “I still can’t believe you tried jumping on one from out of a tree.”

“Well ‘e didn’ jus’ try, ‘e rode the beastie fer almost two consecutive seconds!” Sphaere laughed.

“That I did!” R208 confirmed with a self satisfied snort. “And next time I plan on making it for at least three seconds!”

“That would fit the bill for progress.” Rhystea stated snidely. “Is this something we should really be encouraging?”

“Well that was just our first attempt, and we’ll get better each time we try!” R208 asserted.

“Unless you die first!” R248 shot back.

“That’s why he needs you out there with him, watching his back and making sure he’s not biting off more than he can chew.” Rhystea insisted.

R248 whipped around to face her, but was eluded by any suitable words and instead stared curiously at her. She liked the idea, but wasn’t so sure about it’s source.

“You would be surprised at the size of bite I can chew!” R208 threw his head back and guffawed.

“Ya shore do have a big mouth!” Sphaere described.

“That makes it easier to be heard!” R208 rebutted.

“For better or for worse…” R248 pointed out. “Reptilia are the loudest, and take the biggest bites.”

“Speakin’ o’ big bites…” Sphaere stated as she strode up to one half of the heavy arachnophage and poked it with her foot, “Don’tcha revel in eatin’ the strongest prey, such as this guy?”

R208 and R248 turned at stared blankly at her, with R208 breaking the silence after a protracted moment, “We decided they’re too much like bugs, and we Reptilia are many things, but we are NOT bug eaters.”

“Perhaps you’re wiser than I had given you credit for.” Rhystea announced with a smirk.

“But it’s THE strongest prey EVER!” Sphaere contended.

R208 trembled ever so slightly as he tried to find the words, “…but it’s a buuuug…” He finally whimpered meekly, causing everyone to fall silent in sheer surprise at his lack of volume.

“But it’s THE STRONGEST prey EVER!!” Sphaere reiterated with excitement. “Wouldn’ eatin’ that make ya even stronger?!”

R208 frowned, “Us Reptilia have standards. We aren’t Aves, after all.”

“You’re too slow, loud and dumb to be an Aves.” A212 called out from behind them as he approached alongside F120 and Lucky.

“You mean we like meat too much!” R208 scoffed.

“So it’s your diet that prevents you from being able to sneak up on the blind?” A212 laughed.

“Reptilia don’t sneak!” R248 insisted.

“And that’s why it was the Aves that brought down today’s iron hoof!” A212 announced with both confidence and pride.

“Fair point.” R208 conceded. “And it was the tiny one that brought down yesterdays. That just means the Reptilia will bring down two tomorrow!”

“Alright, but no nectar tomorrow until you do!” A212 added.

R208 dropped his jaw as he realized he had stuck his foot in his mouth and coincidentally found a bite too big for him to chew.

A212 turned his attention to Sphaere and inquired, “So F120 tells me you wanted to see me, what’s up?”

“I wanted ya ta get yer flock ta take some o’ this webbin’ ta yer boy A224, I’m thinkin’ ‘e’ll be able ta use it fer ranged armaments.” Sphaere started to explain, and quickly continued when R208 opened his mouth to interject, “But some o’ it goes ta the Reptilia, R208 was already in the midst o’ plannin’ out tomorrow’s hunt!”

“You know as well as I that Reptilia hunt plans have all of two stages. One – find prey, two – run screaming at said prey. What’s he going to do with that webbing? Drag back his injured brethren?” A212 inquired with a wry smile.

Without disputing his Aves ally, R208 insisted, “We have added a whole new stage to our plan where we first anchor the prey to a tree before we run screaming at it! This prevents it from fleeing and saves much time, which is why we’ll get two tomorrow!”

“I don’t know…” A212 admitted doubtfully, “You’re just as likely to get tripped up in the order of operations and beat your prey into submission before tying it to a tree.”

“Not true!” R208 declared as he thumped his tail on the ground for added emphasis, “We’ll certainly tie it to a tree first so I can have a better chance at riding it!”

A212 threw his hands up in surrender and laughed, “Still haven’t given up on that idea, huh? Would have thought the ground would have knocked some sense into you by now, but apparently I’m overestimating the ground.”

“I guess we’ll find out tomorrow!” R208 insisted.

“Please don’t die!” Rhystea beseeched him.

“Please…” Sphaere added.

A212 doubled over in laughter at his disgruntled friend, and after a moment spent collecting his composure, stated, “He may be a nut, but he’s a tough nut, I’ll give him that. He won’t die that easily or he never would have made it to this point.”

Taking the remark as praise, R208 folded his arms and snorted with satisfaction.

A212 added another condition, “But no nectar if you have to be carried back!”

R208 pondered for a moment before blurting out, “If we bring in two iron hooves, I’ll have my nectar and I’ll drink it too!”

“You’re words do not inspire confidence…” R248 retorted.

A212 shook his head and held back more laughter before reporting, “Well you’ll be happy to know that several wasps, determined to be workers, are already laboring to repair their hive; so we may yet have ourselves a steady supply of nectar.”

“That’s great!” Rhystea announced excitedly.

“So long as they don’ start drinkin’ ‘fore the hunt!” Sphaere added.

“As I said before, nectar is for ending the day! We like to go into the hunt with a clear head.” R208 insisted.

“Well it’s starting to get late, and we’re going to the hot springs, I have GOT to wash this shirt!” Rhystea declared as she tried to squeeze agreement out of Cekell who stayed depressingly quiet, causing his spark to pout out her lower lip at him.

“Yer comin’ too!” Sphaere told her feline friend, who’s eyes lit up.

“Are we going to fly there?!” F120 asked with bated breath.

“We’ll never make it back before dark if we walk, but don’t get too excited, Cekell will be obeying the speed limit this time, won’t you, little one?” Rhystea asked as she coddled the warborn in her arms, who still didn’t make a peep.

“’E was really rattled, weren’ ‘e? I bet the hot springs’ll perk ‘im right up, though!” Sphaere stated.

Rhystea turned to R208 and requested, “Would you mind lending us one of your esteemed R series for an escort? It will help us stay out of trouble, and I’m sure the other series would prefer to keep an eye on us.”

“Well, I’d go with you myself, but with the gate in it’s current state, along with the wasps, and everything that just happened, it’s probably best if I stay here…” R208 explained.

“Nope, girls only. I must insist on this point!” Rhystea demanded, with Sphaere nodding in silent agreement.

R208 turned and eyed R248, who threw her hands up and conceded, “Fine, fine. I’ll go with them. I’m always stuck on guard duty anyway, at least this time it won’t be with the smelly old elders; and I won’t have to deal with any Amphibia series jumping on and off of my shell, the little bastards!”

Something buzzed by, then turned and stopped as if eyeing them. Sphaere’s eyes lit up when she recognized it, “Wow, that’s a big ol’ dragonfly! Been a long time since I’ve seen one, but never half that big! I wonder what this guy does, I hear they eat pest bugs, like the kind that bite people an’ make ‘em itch; but with the world in the state it’s in, there jus’ ain’t many o’ any kind o’ bugs left. Yer big ‘nough ta be delivering packages, but I don’ think anyone out here gets any mail… Maybe yer related ta them wasps?”

“I’ve never seen one either.” A212 added.

R208 playfully slapped his feathered friend on the back and asked, “Really? I’m pretty sure I’ve seen at least one of your feather headed friends chewing on something like that!”

“We don’t eat just any bug, that thing looks crunchy, but we prefer…” A212 scoffed and rebutted, pausing a moment to find an acceptable description.

“Slimy?” R208 questioned with a grin.

“Well the crunchy kind has less filling, and just don’t taste as good, not to mention their shell gets stuck in your teeth. Gravity wasp larva and eggs, though, now those are a treat! They don’t even need to be cooked, and it’s easier for the body to digest them raw.” A212 detailed.

Rhystea made an awful, guttural sound, and turned away from him as she covered her mouth. “Oi, TMI!” Sphaere declared, “I’m with R208 on this one, persimmatoes sound better than that!”

R208 turned to her and frowned before spitting his tongue out along with a, “Blech!”

“I know they are healthy, but I don’t know how anyone can put one of those in their mouth.” A212 riposted.

The large dragonfly that had seemingly been observing them lost interest, turned and darted off into the trees.

“Nothin’ grown outta the ground can be that bad! The beasts in the field shore eat ‘em up!” Sphaere contended.

“Mindless creatures, you mean?” R248 inquired as she side eyed Sphaere doubtfully.

“You think the animals have good taste? Don’t they eat dead things?” F120 inquired, disgust writ across her face.

Rhystea lifted nature’s unnatural draught to her lips and drank deeply to wash away the imagined tastes that soiled her mouth.

“Okay, lets save this discussion fer another time, Ritsy’s lookin’ green ‘round the gills, an’ she’s liable ta make a mess if we continue.” Sphaere suggested.

“Alright!” R208 burst out with laughter, “You be careful out there, I know you’ve got Cekell and… what’s the other one’s name?”

“Devose!” Devose spat out bitterly.

“Yea, him too; but it’ll only take a second for the jungle to gobble you up, so don’t let your guard down! Especially as the sun starts sinking below the horizon!” R208 insisted.

“Yes, dad!” Sphaere waved him off.

A212 whistled loudly and a pair of Aves rushed to his side from behind the gate, who were quickly instructed to, “Help me gather this up.” As he started collecting the webbing. Not wanting to miss out, R208 quickly started reeling in his own strand of the stuff that stretched back to where the medium arachnophage had launched it from.

“Cekell, could I please get you to project a barrier that the four of us could comfortably ride on, and transport us to the hot springs?” Rhystea requested.

Without moving, Cekell acquiesced, and a large, flat, round platform was erected at knee height, and spread out to a size that a dozen people could comfortably ride on. Rhystea hesitated when she moved to climb aboard, adding, “Not too fast, now! Let’s take a leisurely cruise!”

Cekell squeaked lightly up at her in reply, to which Rhystea looked down at him, puzzled. “He asked which way were they?” Devose grumbled out his translation.

Pointing at the nearest plume of steam, Sphaere announced, “That way!”

With that, the barrier lifted up into the air and pressed forward, slowly at first, but accelerating to a running speed. F120 gasped in excitement, and even R248 couldn’t help but to look down in wonder as the very ground seemed to sink away as they ascended.

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