Abelbi

"I've found it!"
Ias jerked out of his sleep on the back of sidge and looked around and saw that he was in a different cavern than what he was in when he went to sleep, the number of different caverns was more but just by one and if Ias hadn't seen the difference he knew he wouldn't be able to tell them apart. He got up off of sidge and went to Slas who stood at the entrance to the third cave "What?"
"I've found Alvin, Ias," Slas repeated.
Ias looked at Slas then back at Sidge and Sko and Sidge still slept whilst Sko hovered there looking at them both, "Let's wait for the others to finish, then we'll decide our plan of action and who will go."
"What happened, Ias?" Sidge spoke immediately getting up.
"I think we've found it," Ias told the dragon.
"We have found it," Zazir said appearing and floating around to the side of Ias.
"How did you find out?" Ias asked.
"We questioned the locals, well at least I tried to but some were humans and quite poked fun of me," Slas said and shook her head.
Sidge came over to Ias and he climbed aboard the dragon again laying down slightly till he got a comfortable position and was warmed by Sidge's body. Ias let both hands dangle over sidge's drooping belly.
They all waited for a few moments and slas came over to Sidge and looked into his eyes. Ias did sense that they were telecommuinicating and tried not to look too interested. Sidge then snorted all of the sudden and Slas sighed moving away from them a little bit looking at the workings of the cavern.
'What, tell me what you were thinking about?' Ias thoughtcast to Sidge.
'She is envious to see you riding me,' Sidge thoughtcast back and laid down again his belly pancaking out and almost making Sidge feel more like a bed with flabby edges to Ias.
'That, I can't have that...' Ias said and got up off of sidge which made him start to rise but Slas came over. Ias did something he'd not recall done to Slas and picked her up her weight was not heavy but she was not light. He put her right on the back of Sidge walking away underneath where Sko hovered.
Sko came down before Ias and looked at him, his gaze as vague and cold to Ias as it was when Sko could not very well judge what was going to happen, "You look glum, Sko."
Sko lightened his face up a little and looked at Ias slightly distant but did not say anything. Ias sighed because Sko was sometimes like this it was not something Ias could readily understand.
"Oh Phew!"
Ias whirled and saw that Gesh had came back through the fourth opening, and Ias himself shook his head crossing his arms, "I don't like it when you go alone."
"I... I didn't," Gesh replied and Min floated throught the opening behind him.
"What did you find?" Slas said from behind Ias.
"It is an interesting world all composed of various plateaus evened out with valleys. The Climate is almost extreme in those places, and all the more diverse. You'd have to go there somedays," Gesh explained.
Ias hovered in the air and sat down, "Well, Slas has finally found the world and Alvin. When the others get back we'll discuss it," Ias replied
leaning forward resting his arms in his lap.
Gesh looked at Ias and then at Sidge and Slas. Ias followed his look at Sidge and Slas and seeing them doint not much except resting with Slas sprawled out on Sidge, he looked back at Gesh then around the cavern.
"Alvin's world is called Abelbi, Sko?" Zazir said.
"It is," Sko said not looking at Zazir but lookin straight ahead and, from where Ias sat on the air, it looked as if he was looking down a cave.
Ias followed his gaze and saw in the cave a dark patch and two eyes glowing yellow in it curved up to points. Upon seeing this Ias went rigid coming upright in the air and bringing his hammer staff in front of him.
Gesh looked at Ias and Ias saw him looking at the cave and unsheathe his hammer, "Whoa!"
The others noticed it too and Ias saw out of the corner of his eyes that they were on guard.
A laughing issued from the cave and the eyes dissapeared, then suddenly an old human man dressed in a light silver robe emerged from the crevice.
Ias sighed relief, "You near set me off the edge!"
"Who is this?" Gesh said.
"Have you ever met one before, Ias?" Sko said still staring ahead at the elder man.
"Who...?" Ias asked and saw that Zazir had came down to the ground kneeling in his form.
Ias looked at the elder again and then it hit him, "Elder... Mentor?!"
Sko came down to the ground as well and stood attentive to the Elder man's moves.
"Ias?" the man spoke his voice sounding such that Ias couldn't tell him apart from what an elder human man would sound like.
"Yes?" Ias said and couldn't say anymore.
"Ias," the elder spoke again and all the while moving almost at a glide with his steps Ias noticed to him.
"Yes," Ias repeated.
"Come closer so that I might see you," the elder said stopping as he said it.
Ias hesitated but saw the eyes of the man and not compelled but not resistant he went forth in front of the elder man.
"Ias," The elder man said laying a hand on his shoulder giving him a light shake.
Ias didn't say anything this time but looked at the elder and somehow he knew he didn't have to say anything as the elder's eyes said everything. Was it such a blessing to make you an Eliuser? It was, it was our choice.
"I am here Ias, I come and I am here," the elder spoke.
"What...?" Ias said.
"Do not feel at a loss? Speak!" The elder's last word was enough to jumpstart Ias.
"I don't understand, Elder. Why now? I thought your servant Sko was enough to guide me. To what do I owe your visit?" Ias said.
The elder laughed, "First time you partake of one of us. Not the last of course Ias. I'm not meant to deter you from what you are doing. I give this to you from our contingency."
"You just came to come," Ias said.
The elder nodded and turned away vanishing.
Nobody said anything and Ias dared not try to think of much but his mind was a flutter, "Try to control the uncertainty. Try to understand it..."
"Control it," Sko said rising up again.
"Ah... why so much in high favor. Are they all like that?" Ias said kicking a stone across the cavern.
"Old... you could say, gentle and kind depends on many various instances and times. This was of course one of the kind times," Zazir said.
"Odd..." Ias said.
"I don't know what to say," Sidge said.
"Best say it, they can see into your mind, they always know what you are thinking," Gesh said.
"They want to hear it, they only really go telepathic with the masprits," Zazir related.
"What are you all standing around looking so giddy about?" Vigaush chirped flying through the sixth opening with Redalis trailing behind him.
"Does Vigaush want to know?" Slas said from on Sidge's back standing up and getting down.
'Maybe we can share,' Slas thoughtcast to Ias just after she said her words and glanced at Sidge.
Ias looked at Sidge and shrugged moving to and onto his back. Slas jumped up into Ias's lap as he settled on top.
'Not too heavy sidge?' Ias thoughtcast on a concern to the dragon.
'Not too heavy,' Sidge thoughtcast back though it felt more like a musing than a full thought.
Ias waved his hammer staff over Sidge from tail to snout and his muscles Ias felt firmed up underneath him.
'Permanent increase in strength,' Ias thoughtcast to him.
Sidge became much more firm in his holding them as well and got up standing up quite straight, "Whoa!"
"Who's still missing?" Ias said.
"I think Sedas and Zeck," Slas said.
'This is rich, I wonder since you and sidge so Zeck and Sedas,' Ias thoughtcast to Slas smiling as she looked at him.
Slas chuckled, 'That dolt, he's about had it all with everyone. He's so lazy that us females think it's cute. He's so slow, that's why he's a dolt.'
As Slas finished Sedas came bounding out of the fifth opening with Zeck on his back, "Oh shit!"
Ias got off of Sidge and went to Sedas,"What?!"
"Freakin' Giants behind us!" Sedas cried.
"Oh no!" Redalis exclaimed and moved toward the exit of the cavern.
Ias responded sealing the entrance off of the cave with the help of his hammer staff. Just a few moments later there was a great jolt in the caverns that shook it for a moment and almost knocked them off balance.
Several more jolts came and passed making dirt and debris fall from the top of the cavern.
"What did you do?!" Vigaush squawked fluttering around, the jolting not seemingly effecting him much.
Zeck stumbled off of Sedas as the cave jolted again and getting up replied, "We just stepped into one of their village and that world is truely oversized, they saw us and started talking in a language we couldn't understand and the next thing we knew we're getting chased, we got an edge flying but just barely."
"One thing I don't understand is how are you all getting back without teleporting?" Sidge said stumbling as another jolt reverated through the cavern.
"On every world there seems to be a cave that exits to here," Gesh answered.
"You're lucky you found it. Did you take a masprit with you?" Slas asked.
"No, they didn't splite up evenly, they all went with with Nellms and Elaejia,"
"Ooo shoot," Ias said from his crouched position on the ground, to keep from stumbling.
"Don't worry, Ias, it seems there being kept out of here," Zeck said crouched down as well looking over at the entrance they just came from.
After a few more moments the jolting stopped and Elaejia and Nellms came in from the 1st cave followed by a medley of Ias's masprits.
"For a lot of help, you took long enough," Vigaush chirped.
"Sorry, that world was another of dragons called Dagonis, they accepted us warmly. I wish I was born there," Elaejia resonded.
"So, tell us what's going on," Vigaush said.
After Elaejia and Nellms got situated Zazir began, "We've found Alvin and the world Abelbi. It's quite centralized and very warm and tropic. We were deposited from the entryway here right on a beach on the coast. We couldn't see any except for some creatures down the beach from us a good walk. I split up with Slas and tried to reach them but they all got up and moved further away. When I finally got too them it was probably near evening.
They were all an odd assortment unlike anything I've ever seen before. One was a wolf that was human around the abdomen and was unusually fat it's belly at least a double pot in size near touching the ground. Then an equally really fat dragon having it's scally bulk rolling and overlapping around it's body as well as it's belly. There was this odd small humanoid chubby and like a little kid but it's arms and the cheeks on it's face had pointed spines patruding back. Then, probably the oddist creature i've seen in all my existence. It was a rolly polly sac of flesh that was probably about the size of Sedas here having one opening at one end and a whip like tongue. These creatures all were touchy-feely to be quite sure always touching and hanging off of one another. When I got there I wasn't too sure I wanted to address them but I did.
"'What are you?' the wolf-human said and I figure it was because of my floating.
"'I am Zazir, I'm a masprit,' I replied and they all crowded around me and started to try to touch me but thankfully I am what I am because they were sorely dissapointed and the dragon and the kid went back to swimming in the blue ocean.
"'Where do you come from?' the wolf-human continued to question me.
"I was of course reluctant to tell him so I substituted this place for my homeworld when I was a first form, 'Garbondego.'
"'Never heard of that place before,' the fleshy blob gurgled in good clarity.
"I figured i'd be best to fake the rest of my story, 'I seem to have gotten lost in a cave and plop, i'm right here in this world wherever it is.'
"'You are on Abelbi. It seems we are products of the same fate. We got lost in a cave to after coming from another world which we aren't sure about what it was either but we do know what this world is called,' the fat wolf human told me and I knew from what the others said that this was where Alvin was supposed to be."
Slas started just after Zazir finished, "I will sum mine up as I didn't have much happen like Zazir did, mainly I passed humans and didn't find any halfbreeds of other creatures but I did find another of my own kind, surprisingly. What the humans did tell me out of the poking fun of me was of Alvin so I stopped my search then as the dwardra said the same thing whom I passed on the way back."
Ias had listened to the details of Zazir's report taking it in mildly until he reached the four creatures which made a chill go up his spine, they were his creations. The other didn't realize it and Ias was thankful and he didn't want to tell them that, at least until it mattered.
"So, at least this place is a good diversion for you all," Sko said glancing at them all.
"Now, I want to know what we all are going to do next," Ias responded.
"What do you mean? The place sounds relaxing," Vigaush chirped.
"Elaejia and Nellms, you can go to Dagonis," Ias said.
Nellms shook his head, "I was planning on it but the mention of Alvin has piqued my own interests."
Ias looked at him surprised in himself to hear it from Nellms, "Elaejia."
"Although I fear it may go somewhere, it probably won't," Elaejia responded.
"Don't bother asking me, Sir Ias, I'm going anyways as your personal blacksmith," Gesh said.
"Me too. I expected to once I signed on with this exursion in itself," Sedas responded.
"Then I am oblidged to follow my master," Zazir said bowing though from Ias's opinion, overly elaborate.
"Any challenges at all," Ias asked them all.
"Oh Jeez," Redalis cried running back into the middle of the cavern from the entrance as bats started pouring in. Ias ducked down covering his head and looking around saw the others react similarly.
"Anything to get out of these caverns!" Redalis squeaked amid the screeching of the bats.
"Anytime you're ready!" Ias called and noticed the bats were settling around the top of the cavern. He got up on the back of sidge and slas hopped up as well. Sidge moved to the third cave and passed through.
Immediately Ias was battered by the warmth of the sun. He put his hand up to it and looked around. They were on a beach which sands were golden and white surf of the blue ocean all around washed up on the shore receding back as another wave of surf came in. Up the coast there Ias saw a line of trees mostly large palms their leaves moving to a gentle wind which came by them for a moment. Down the coast there were less trees and more grass until Ias saw gold sand join gold sand.
Sidge moved a little back onto the embankment and Ias saw a grove of trees not to far off so he told Sidge to make for it as he and redalis were panting because of the heat. The shade of the trees was cool and calm to Ias with a faint brr of the wind coupled with the light sound of the surf meeting the shore.
The others including Sko came in a few at a time until they were all assembled in under the shade of the grove of palms.
"We're at the tip of the coast, I believe, the farthest southern point of the continent must be not to far down coast there," Zazir told them.
Ias was moreso concerned with Sidge as he was severly sluggish but he noticed that Sedas and Zeck appeared moreso as well. They were both panting and laid down.
"Sheesh it's hot here," Redalis said panting on her own but she wasn't as down and sluggish as Sedas and Sidge was.
"This is not good, I didn't expect this to happen to Sedas and Sidge," Ias said crouching down beside Sidge.
"We... we are dragons... you know," Sedas panted.
Ias suddenly wondered about Nellms and Elaejia and turned around but couldn't find them so stood up exlaiming, "Where are Nellms and Elaejia?"
They all looked around until Vigaush exlaimed from in the trees, "I think they may have our solution."
"What?" Ias called up to Vigaush.
"Look from where we came see them," Vigaush said and Ias looked and saw their bodies sleeking about in the water.
"That makes more sense," Redalis said and bounded for the coastline.
"They're not going to make it just to the water," Ias said and gasped as Sidge started looking discolored.
"They're drying out," Gesh exlaimed and went over to Sedas.
"How do you stand it by the way?" Vigaush squawked from above.
"Grihlish is subtropical, it's as hot as it is humid, you'd die of thirst there before you'd dry out. I've seen drying out a lot, we need to bring them water," Gesh replied.
"Here," Ias said and raised his hammer staff toward the coast concentrating on the water until it had formed into a jet. He moved the jet until it was shooting up over the grove at a slant and as Ias did the water began raining down both onto the palm leaves and onto them at a steady downpour. Ias waited and hoped and wasn't dissapointed for Sidge and slas's color started returning gradually as the water drenched him and the ground became damp. Ias looked over at Sedas and Zeck and saw it was having a similar effect. It wasn't long before the dragons and dwardras stirred getting back up.
Ias brushed the water off of his brow and stood up to sidge, "Wow, that was close. Are you still sure you want to go through with this?"
Sidge did not utter a word but looked at Ias for a moment.
"This downpour can't be anygood kept up like this," Gesh said.
"Okay, then, Sidge and Slas, you should make for the beach there and get in the water. I'll be right behind you," Ias said.
Sidge and Slas moved off at a quickened pace followed by Zeck and Sedas. Ias turned to Gesh smiling more relieved than happy, "I've lived on an Island before but it wasn't no tropical one like this."
"Well, then, this is your first lesson in it," Gesh replied.
Ias desisted the rain and Sko, Gesh, Ias, and his masprits moved for the beach. They'd not gone far when Vigaush's squawked behind them from the trees, "They're some creatures down the coast a ways, they're coming here."
Ias stopped cold and looked and saw the creatures that Zazir had discribed coming from down the tip of the coast toward them, "OH geeze."
"What is it?" Gesh said.
"Can you keep this to yourself?" Ias said to Gesh still looking at the creatures.
"What?" Gesh said.
"I created them," Ias replied with a low voice feeling vague at uttering it as he was half contemplating how to conceal himself so as not to be seen by them.
"You what?" Gesh matched the lowness in his voice.
"They're my design. Not much for it actually, they're more my personal creations. They didn't respond very well when I created them so I released them. Mainly, the reason I did was because they were wild. I mean, when I constructed Sidge he was wild... but these creatures... they were ruthless each after I constructed them, all up until I released them," Ias replied and passed his hammer staff in a circular motion in front of him and it vanished along with his arm.
"Ias, where did you go" Gesh exclaimed looking around.
"Sorry, Gesh, it's just that serious. Don't tell the others, I must not let them see me, they don't know my name so you can talk about me, just don't go into extreme details," Ias said.
Gesh looked directly at Ias for a moment then with his head bowed he moved off to the beach with the other who were swimming around.
"This is not going to work very well Ias," Sko responded.
"I agree, Ias, you know they're going to reveal to the creatures about you," Zazir said floating around in a circle before stopping in front of where Ias was.
"When the time is right you two," Ias replied still in a low voice and moved to the beach and stood amongst the others just clear of the surf.
"Where did Ias go?" Redalis asked moving around letting the surf brush past her legs and splashing it around as it did.
Gesh still had his head bowed and didn't answer.
"What's wrong?" Redalis said coming up to the sandy bank clear of the surf where Gesh was standing.
Gesh immediately looked at Redalis and smiled, "Oh nothing. Ias said he was going to Pranoke to check something and he'll be back."
Redalis laughed but didn't say anything else, instead she went back to trauching around in the surf.
Ias watched and saw Sedas and the dragons with Nellms and Elaejia flitting above and below the water out a little ways into the sea. He looked back at the creatures on approach and they were about half way near them, they were aged and not quite as Ias remembered creating them but they were very similar to Zazir's description. Zazir as if he had heard Ias's thoughts spoke then, "You see, they're near exactly as I described."
The only thing Ias noticed was on the Woldron on his wolf with a human pot belly the creature only had human skin over it's belly. It swayed quite similar to Sidge's. Ias noticed suddenly that the Lumpa or the big sagging sac-like creature Zazir had described was not entirely there. Ias wasn't surprised as he saw it's head sticking up out of the sand. They could move through such elements with ease. The
"Yes," Ias whispered and moved toward them.
'Ias, what are you doing?' Sko thoughtcast to him.
'Well, I should keep my powers in sync or I'll have to perfect with them again,' Ias thouhtcast back smiling.
'Oh, Ias, what are you going to do?' Zazir thoughtcast.
'They are from mine own power, let me just have some fun with them.' Ias smiled thoughtcasting and he joined the group of them walking toward Gesh and the others.
"Ho there, what manner of creatures do we have here!" The woldron called to them.
Gesh waved at them, "We saw you coming! What brings you here?"
"The same, we saw you here swimming so we wanted to get your acquaintance," the wolfdron replied and they continued moving toward Gesh. Ias waited there and watched them move ahead a little before Ias moved within a distance to hear them.
"Hey, Sidge Sedas Zeck Slas Nellms Elaejia! Hey, come on in for a few minutes!" Gesh called out to the forms slinking around in the water.
Ias saw the woldron back up and stare as the forms of the dragons sleeked back to shore. The other creatures held their ground.
Zazir thoughtlaughed, 'I don't think they realized they were there. No one really messes with a medley of dragons.'
Vigaush swooped in and landed on Gesh's shoulder and this brought attention of the creatures back to Gesh.
"A lot more creatures than we originally saw," the wolf said.
Vigaush chuckled giving them all a deep stare one by one, "They are a motley crew."
The woldron cocked his head looking at Vigaush, "What sort of creature is this?"
"What do I look like you stupid fat wolf?" Vigaush squawked.
Gesh laughed at this and then realized what he was doing and stifled it.
The Wolfdron looked at Gesh and laughed too and then he went up to and put a paw on Gesh and Ias cocked his head surprised and started toward Gesh but stopped looking at Gesh who was surprised and backed off.
The Woldron smiled and Ias felt more than ever to go up to and to touch the creature as he was interested by this contact. Ias's mind speculated about this but he couldn't find that he was any more indiferent to it. It's what contact he wanted with sidge and most of his other creations but Ias backed up from this at the same time as he still was apprehensive about letting this wild crew know about him again. This wildness may be only created by the reasons being that the Woldron was so bold in his touch.
Sidge and the dragons were already ashore and Sidge looked over the Woldron and across at the others, "Where's Ias, he should see this?"
Gesh became wide eyed and shook his head at Sidge. Sidge caught his gaze and nodded.
"What is it?" the woldron asked.
"Oh nothing," Gesh said smiling.
"What's your name?" Redalis asked coming up beside Gesh.
The Woldron looked down at Redalis and smiled, "Nootai."
Ias snapped his fingers smiling.
"This," Slas said on the other side of Gesh, indicating the Gludra standing back beside him.
"Mattis," the dragon growled.
"This is Iaus," Nootai said indicating the small child.
And, Ias thought to himself but Nootai said nothing else.
'There is the Lumpa, that other creature,' Ias thoughtcast to Gesh.
Gesh blinked but did not move so Ias came closer and was almost behind the Wolfdron between him and the Gludra. He came closer quietly and found the lumpa. It was in the sand with it's opening of a mouth peeking above the sand. Ias looked at the creature for a moment seeing that it hardly moved much at all, it's mouth just opening and closing all regular colored skin.
"And I see a familiar face," the woldron said and moved toward Zazir.
Zazir came down to the ground and walked over, "Nootai?"
"Have you found these others?" Nootai said.
"Ah, yes Nootai," Zazir said.
"Yeah, right," Sedas said.
Nootai looked at the dragon, "He didn't?"
"It's more like I sent him," Sedas replied.
"Ah, so who are these, are they after your own kind," Nootai said looking over at Sko and Ias's masprits hovering there.
"Yes, they are after my own kind," Zazir said.
Sko came up to Nootai, "I am Sko, the ones you see behind me are Bik, Kif, Sco, Min, Gyu, Tyi, Eko, Llo."
"A Medley," Mattis said.
"The others here, these dragons," Iaus said looking at them with a gaze that set Ias wondering about him. The gaze to Ias was a gaze of hunger.
"Zeck, Slas, Sedas, Sidge, Nellms, and Elaejia," Gesh said indicating each in turn.
"Nellms and Elaejia? Interesting dragons. I've never seen the like before," Mattis said coming closer to Nellms and Elaejia and looking them over.
"They're called Cades," Sko replied.
'I like how you're helping Sko, we need to get them gone Asap. This may end up like you said, the sooner the better so it doesn't,' Ias communicated to Sko.
Suddenly Gludra Mattis gave a belch and cluched his stomach with one foreclaw. A loud gugle came from himself and he sunk down to the sand muttering and whimpering.
"What's happening?" Slas replied coming over to Mattis.
Nootai came to him as well followed by Iaus, "Mattis is a Gludra... they constantly hunger and if they don't eat then their stomach will digest itself! We need to put something at least, water or anything quickly!"
'Llo, fill him up with some mush, make it hard to digest even with the hard stomach he has,' Ias thoughtcast at Llo.
In response, Llo came flying up to Mattis and came down upon him making everyone but him back off. Llo came right down to Mattis who was lying on his stomach pushing his belly into the sand. Laying a hand on Mattis, a white energy enveloped him making him glow and at once moved completely into Mattis. In reply, Mattis belched again and Ias balked though smiling at the same time as the dragon's belly became larger sagging full out pancaking almost like Sidge's belly did.
"Uuuuggghhh... mmmmmm thanksssss," Mattis hissed and laid there for a while not clutching his belly anymore but letting his arms legs and tail sprawled out around him but brought his head an neck in close to his belly on his left side.
Ias went and sat down beside Mattis and restrained himself from reaching out and caressing the creatures head, 'I hope you can stall a lot longer,' Ias telecasted to Gesh and Sko.
Sko came over to Mattis and came down beside the creature putting a hand under his chin, "I've seen a similar prediciment before in this creature. Ladolai, it's called. The dragon's there that have it are cursed by a great Kellsdracontai. They hunger and through the great dragon's influence they are filled to bursting and are plum knocked out of strength when they get filled with food."
Mattis moved his head in response giving a low his and hardly moving at all otherwise. Sko took his hand away from under the creatures chin and Nootai addressed Llo, "Thank you. I was quite concerned there. Usually we are back in town by this time around some freshwater where Mattis can glut on that himself."
"Town?" Elaejia asked.
"Well along the outskirts, it's a good sized town. We have buildings to suit the size of most creatures, even dragons though they prefer a hole in the ground or some domain dug underground. It is getting high sun here, even swimming around won't help. We should try to get some shelter out of it, but now I don't know how Mattis is going to get going," Nootai explained.
'Llo!' Ias thoughtcast and Llo came before Mattis and suddenly Mattis floated off the ground hovering in the air.
"Wow!" Iaus remarked.
"Are we going?" Llo remarked.
Nootai nodded and they were off making a trek to the grove of trees and then north east of the palm trees until they met a mid-sized sandy path bordered on both sides by grass and trees and very close to the shoreline of the coast there. They followed the path slowly but surely north east until they were off the tip of the southern land and the path continued into thickening trees and tall grass ahead. Ias looked off through the tall thin grass there wondering what may be beyond them, he felt a strong needs to explore it as his wilderness instincts seemed to reawaken in him, and his sense of adventure into it. They continued along at any rate, with Ias staying the farthest behind but his masprits and Sko followed him as well so that he wasn't totally behind them all. Then Ias became aware of another presence he felt when he was in other worlds, an eliuser was some distance off. Ias shook his head in wonder why he didn't sense it to begin with.
'Sometimes you can, sometimes you can't. You'll have to get more used to it,' Sko remarked telepathically to Ias and Ias stopped looking up over the grass but to no avail as it was taller. He felt another presence now that was vague but enough to put him on alert.
'You feel this,' Ias remarked telepathically to Sko.
Ias recognized the feeling, it was when the Elder was talking to him originally.
'Yes... yes I do...' Sko drifted in in out of his telecast to Ias.
Suddenly he felt a touch behind him and turned an found himself staring at a naked human man and Ias backed off even more his eyes going wide. The man was just in the likeness of Ias, though, he was chubby. Indeed, his belly was round and hung down slightly above his pelvic area half covering it.
"Elder...?" Ias struggled not hardly able to take in what he saw but just as much as he was surprised he felt very intrigued by his own form standing before him.
"Now... Ias, take off that silly invisibility. They're all gone ahead of us," his mirror form told him sounding exactly like him.
Ias hesitated balked still at that which stood before him but he obeyed though looking down the path at first but he saw no one ahead or behind so removed his invisibility, "Sir Elder..."
"Oh no no... don't call me sir or anything, I've no need for it. I'm not with the general Ultin Council of Mentors or Elders for that matter. Call me Belly." The elder replied.
Ias blinked and looked closer at his mirror standing before him, "Eh... what?"
The elder gave a wry smile and touched Ias on his shoulder with his hand, "Belly or The Belly."
"I... I don't understand," Ias shaking his head replied.
"Masprit Sko, you can explain, no need to fear my wrath," The Belly replied.
"I am governed by the council, I am unauthorized to tell him. Tis' not your wrath I'm worried about and you should realize the same for your actions, Belly," Sko replied sternly crossing his arms.
"Sko..." Ias whispered looking at the masprit.
Sko shook his head and Belly threw up his hands, "But I will tell this admirable Eliuser what I am."
Ias balked as The Belly said Eliuser and looked around to see if anyone was listening, "Then, tell me, but be careful about identifying me."
"Egelmathudah is my full Ultin name but my specialization is Belly. I'll get to Alvin later," Belly started.
"Alvin!?" Ias replied his mind in a flutter about the idea. Was it Alvin that? Could Alvin have ties with this Ultin?
"Realize, I can still read your thoughts, Ias. Yes, Alvin, I watch over him. The council of Mentors doesn't see fit to assign him a masprit and I felt he needed some guidance possessing the level of power he did. I joined him as a fellow Synthician. I called myself Wovelmlos, I travel as a white furred short haired half wolf human standing upright and walking with him. I helped him cultivate his practice and helped him realize his dreams of peace and common association. No, I didn't directly help him, he is truely a masterful one and has great courage in and of himself.
"But enough of Alvin. I am the mentor of Belly or body, preferably bigger bellies, bodies, fatness, and others. I am distinctly specialized, It is hard to be a ultin and not be specialized. That's why there's so many rogues off of the council. If I was in it I'd be in my own sub-branch organized under The Life and similarily broken down. I am just a freelance mentor, I go around doing things here and there yet there isn't a race that is soley prescribed to bellies. Most living things aren't fat or don't have bulk and if they do it usually is hardly realized by mainstream. Alvin is by far my favorite to hang around with but... oh Ias..." The Belly suddenly reached out and drew him into an embrace. Ias reacted tensely not wanting to do anything against the Ultin and really not knowing what he would do if he could.
"MMMmmph," Ias said into The Belly's shoulder and he let Ias go giving him a broad smile.
"The Mentor council has kept you hidden and locked up. I've heard that you have taken up a similar liking to me. You like the big and bulky creatures. I saw your handiwork with Sidge and those others that went by. I felt you in them and as soon as they came here and I've waited for so long. Now, you're here, I've so wanted to meet you and help you if I can. What say you?" The Belly said all the while smiling brightly energy in his voice.
Sko chuckled, "Aye... he hasn't changed in as long as I can remember. Even the Elders act so much like the first forms."
"Why not, we were once one of them?" The Belly said eyeing Sko.
"Wh... what exactly do you want me to ask? I've just met you... I... I... don't have anything to ask." Ias struggled.
"Of course you do. Oh let me help you up with it. I mean, I can help you get to see Alvin, I'm his right hand Huwolf, he'll be up at the village in a few days, give or take. I've, as Wolvelmos that is, have went ahead of him to get everyone ready here," The Belly replied.
"Remember, you can't be directly involved Belly, the Mentors will come down and carry you off kicking," Sko warned him.
"With their business with Ias, the rules are stretched to a finer point. I can't just wave my hand and here is Alvin. I can help but I can't grant dreams and wishes with a snap of my fingers," The Belly replied.
Ias remembered the others, "I cannot let them see me, my old creations, not yet."
"They will have to eventually be addressed, Ias, they know Alvin as much as the others do. They won't be able to be within too far a distance from him, he's like a savior, a magnet. It must be the Eliuser bit about him. First forms are stigmatized but they naturally are atracted to the essence. These creations of yours, they may act haughty and be assured they will if they know who you are but they so desire to return to their creations source, it's deep embedded in their skin. Social contentions even if they aren't present are embedded as an anti-thesis to it. Alvin has been able to bypass that for those who accept it. They all want to touch him and to lounge and hang all over him. He's usually mobbed when he comes to anyplace that widely supports him. He loves it and it's such a joy in his eye to see it. But, Ias, just become something other than yourself, the first forms are fooled in this sense they can still detect you on a more subtle level but they are mostly fooled otherwise," The Belly replied and became his snowy wolf form standing still at Ias's height his eyes blue, ears pointed, with a long snout and black nose and white teeth as he drew his lips back to smile again.
Ias shrugged, "What? I like dragons and your form seems to inspire something at the whiteness so a wolf dragontaur."
"Wow! Interesting choice," The Belly replied.
Ias smiled and he morphed himself feeling his form extending and his blood boiling and changing. His pelvic area stretched and formed the body of a green scaled dragon the size of sidge pot-bellied as well. Where the head should be Ias's upper body was furried gray and brown wolf extending up and out. Ias felt extremely different, his vision was black and white which he immediately tweaked to color and his sense of smell was strong and he made that back to a human caliber. Taking a step with the dragon's legs Ias stumbled and near fell over but righted himself. He tried several practice steps and stancing laying down with the dragon body. He also moved his wolf paws of his upper body and took a claw swipe at the grass cutting some of it off.
"Very good. It looks like you sample the pot belly dragon form" The Belly said looking Ias over.
"I should've thought of this before," Ias said smoothing out his fur on his arms and sides.
"Not to worry now, but shall we make for town," The Belly said indicating the way ahead of them.
"Let's meet up with the others and talk, I would like to get affirmed with my creations now that they won't be able to tell me apart," Ias replied.
"With me?" Sko said and Ias's heart sunk.
"Oh no, they may find something wrong with them following us," Ias replied.
"Perfectly logical. Easy to get by explaining the gap between us. They merely met us along the way," The Belly said.
"I hope you will play along Sko?" Ias asked him hopefully.
"Well I won't!" The ground started to shake sligtly and just behind Ias the lumpa surfaced through the dirt and sand sending it everywhere. It was indeed chubby and saclike. Sko immediately can between Ias and the lumpa as Ias turned to address the creature.
"Oh no!" The Belly replied and vanished appearing right behind the Lumpa.
"Wovelmlos indeed!" The lumpa gurgled loudly and rolled literally toward The Belly.
"Eesnessss..." The Belly said his voice echoing and carrying. The lumpa stopped dead froze on the spot and just as quick became a hand sized red ruby which fell to the ground with a chink.
"No direct interference?" Ias said.
"What would you have been able to do?" The Belly retorted.
"Let me see that," Ias replied snatching up the crystal from the ground.
He looked upon it and saw the image of the Lumpa embedded into it's heart. Ias sensed something coming from the crystal, an identifying power that he felt he could address. It told him the name of the Lumpa, Glug Bellover. It continued on saying what it was and finally what power could be harnessed from it and used. The power wasn't hardly anything great and could probably only set a small brushfire or create a gust of wind before the creature inside would be drained of it's life and thus die, "This is cruel. I can't imagine using this creature this way, please let him go."
"Oh! Are you sure Ias?" The Belly replied coming to the ruby and snatching it up taking a look at it.
"Please release him. I will talk with him I'm used to it and I know how," Ias said.
The Belly tossed the crystal down on the ground and Ias started as he did but stopped as the crystal dropped shape and recollected back into the form of Glug.
"Now listen, Glug, or this wolf here will put you back into a crystal. Why do you want to fight us?" Ias asked the creature.
"You're a bunch of liars and cheats. I'd heard enough, I owe my existence to Ias, and I remember after you created me, it was the most painful time afterwards why did you do it?" Glug said.
"He did it because he could, he did it because he wished to. Would you do the same if you were him?" The Belly explained.
"Would I?!" Glug chuckled.
Ias decided to follow this up, it may be the key to getting to the creature, "Would you?"
"I don't know, no ones ever asked me that before. I would have to be one before I would know for sure," Glug mused stopping and easing up a little.
Ias wanted to take this seriously, it may be the key, "Is that your wish, to be like me. You will accept the reprecusions and responsibilities of what it is?"
"Will I? Do I wish it? Why do you ask me these things?" Glug gurgled moving his whiplike tounge out of his hole of a mouth and licking the sides of it before bringing his tounge back in.
"Ias? You do don't you, how very generous," The Belly smiled at Ias.
"What? That's what I want to know?" Glug insisted.
"He'll give you one wish," Sko snapped arms still crossed but he was sitting in the air as well laying back a little.
"A Desire? A Wish?" Glug mouthed and was silent for a while, "Well, I'll have to think about it for now. Maybe after a few days. Now, let's meet up with the others."
'That was quick,' The Belly thought commented to Ias.
"Before we go, I should've said this at first. I'm sorry if I offended you," Ias said.
"Oh no. You don't need to apologize, now at least. I'm okay with my form now. I've grown accustomed to it," Glug replied.
Belly looked at Ias directly and just moved past Glug to their side, "Well, we'd best keep up with the others before they come back looking for us."
"Do I need this now?" Ias asked and he realized before that he would be able to tell the others he felt some courage come into him due to how the dealings with glug went.
"If you want to leave the form off and return to your true form," Belly said.
Ias nodded and returned to him human likeness.
"I could introduce you, it will leaven of the harsher blow," Glug said and tipped over to the sand coming down to it mouth first and before their eye he starting gulping it up in such quantities that he sunk into it and soon there was nothing but a large hole there that started to fill in with sand from the wind.
Ias turned to Belly then to Sko in the others and waved them on. They headed up the path thus forth and Ias noticed the trees of palm and various thin leafed trees almost like grass and some other non-broad leafed trees started becoming more frequent and closing in around the path making the air cooler and shady around the path but still humid. Then farther along the path started dipping and rocks started jutting out here and there. Then Glug was surfaced ahead of them where a small path let off the path to the right, "Here is where we turn."
Glug burrowed into the ground or rather ate into it as Ias was starting to relate to the creature it's sacklike form squeezing and stretching with it to fit into a smaller hole he ate out this time. Ias led the way moving off the path and at once saw it led up onto a steep embankment and up and to it climbing on top of it. They followed it and got to the top at no time at all. Out over the embankment the trees still stretched out to make fair shade around it but the ground itself was clearer and a small creek ran not to far away from the embankment through a mixture of sand and tall grass and thin white and green leafed bushes. The path from the top continued down the other side of it and came curving right back around in front of it where it stopped. Ias bent down there to see over a small outcropping on top of the rock and sand top but knew he'd have to come down in front of it so hovering he glided slowly down it's face and found himself staring into a mouth of a cave that was size in of itself to fit two dragons and that was just the mouth. The outcropping and embankment overhead stretched in equal points to accomodate this. Glug surfaced while the Belly scrambled down the path. Sko and the other masprits hadn't moved since Ias had went down the face and hovered there looking down at them.
"I'll go talk to the others and be right back," Glug said and burrowed down into the ground again and was gone.
"I suppose he went to talk to them," Belly said joining him breathing a little harder from the effort, the path down to the front of the rock face was steep, easy to slip on and was littered with different size rocks.
"There goes nothing," Ias confided looking half anxious and half curiously into the cave studying the countours inside the mouth. It was proving to be a large opening not only outside but inside with the countours of rock Ias followed
"Don't worry, i mean you thought so yourself that it would go better. It may be some getting used to. They'll come around, they can't blame you forever," Belly said and Ias looked at him finding it somewhat uncanny for the ultin to keep sensing his thoughts.
They waited for a few moments and then Ias thought he heard some growls coming from deep within and this set him a little on the offensive but after a few minutes he shrugged as nothing happened. A few more minutes passed by then suddenly Ias heard scratching and just as quickly Mattis shot out of the cave mouth hurdling towards Ias teeth barred snarling. Ias immediately summoned his powers to him cartwheeling out of the way.
Mattis braked in the sand and dirt sending clumps of each up but he couldn't stop and crashed sideways into a palm tree a little bit away from the mouth, the action uprooting it slightly.
The Gludra staggered and half collapsed in a head yelping yet is sounded half gurgly. Ias flew literally to his side and assesed the creatures wounds but after taking a glance at the impacted side Ias turned away half covering his mouth as one of the creature's ribs had punctured through his side bent back in an odd shape. A wave of disqust and sympathy was over Ias and looking back slightly Mattis was into convulsing now. With a slight moan and almost reching Ias put his hand right onto the end of the wound suffering Mattis jerking which made the patruding rib near slice into his skin. Ias concentrated as he had to empty the disqust out of his system and at once he felt the wound recede slightly as well as the bone back inside him but it stopped and Ias opened his eyes not sure what was wrong.
The Belly was upside Mattis as well immediately concentrating on the creatures other side and he turned his head as well exclaiming with a choked voice, "Oh sheesh... it's... a..."
Ias increased his vision looking into the creature's abdomen and came close to vomiting this time. Mattis's insides were a mess. Ias wasn't sure whether he was angry at himself, the whole incident, or Mattis but Ias moved the creature with his abilities floating the convulsing body that was starting to convulse less and caused Ias to work quicker, over away from the tree and into the open setting him down on the ground. A Clear ichor of blood oozed from the still open wound where the rib punctured. Ias looked at it and shook his head kneeling down beside the creature looking at the ground more than it, "This is beyond me to heal."
"Probably one bit of respect you can do..." The Belly echoed.
Ias sighed and tried to comfort the pain as best he could but couldn't tell whether it was helping or not. All he could see was that the body of the creature culvulsed less and less till it was twitching slightly and then not moving at all.
Then suddenly Sko was beside them saying, "He's gone."
"Do you know what he ascended to?" Ias muttered looking up at Sko. It was the only thing he could think to ask.
Sko responded dropped his head shaking it. The others had filed out as it had happened and had not moved during the time Ias tried to help Mattis. Nootai only then moved up beside Ias and laid down beside Ias looked at Mattis then back.
No one said anything for a while then they all solemly decided what to do with Mattis and with Ias and his masprits helping the moved him off to the beach and set him out where it started getting deep and let him sink down into the depths.
Ias solemnly came back to shore and gave a glance to everyone that was there and went past them back toward the cave. Suddenly, Ias froze feeling as strong synth sense come over him. The sky and everything around him grew ruby red for a moment and the wind picked up slightly but the atmosphere started becoming grippingly tense and surreal. Ias turned around slowly to look around fearful and alert ready to move in a seconds notice. Then, Ias saw it coming from up in the sky overhead of the sea not to far from the shore. It was a peculiar sight in slow motion. A type of pointed ear fair skinned human-like creature was mounted upon an undistinguishable creature that Ias thought looked half like Nellms and Elaejia. The only trait about the whole scene that gave Ias a chill was the shadow that hung around it as the creature flew across the sky swooping down and up in slow motion. Suddenly, the sky and everything around turned back to it's original colors and the tenseness left along with the creature leaving no a trace.
Ias didn't move for a few moments but stared ahead trying to believe he saw what he saw but the half of him saying he didn't see it so that he found himself muttering, "Did I..."
"Yes... you did... I did..." someone said from behind him making Ias whirl with his hammer staff in front of him on guard but as he faced the origin of the voice he felt faint and almost fell backwords him feelings and emotions swirling through him of shock, joy, doubt and disbelief. There, stood Mattis exactly as he had been before he had died.
Ias was speechless now, he knew that if he attempted to say anything only a squeak would come out.
"Yes, Mattis is dead, Ias. But I am him, here as you see me. I've heard myths and legends about such things. It's a belief in the dragon tradition that only those of distinction can become one. Yet, here I am, I know I am one. My senses far outdwarf yours. I can sense thoughts and energy from things I never thought had the capability of thoughts and energy. Ias don't look at me that way, I was just as much at fault as you were, I can say this now gone and reborn as a catapillar goes to a butterfly," the form of Mattis spoke.
"What are you...? Mattis.... you can't be... how is it possible," Ias stammered feeling weaker as the words left him.
"But he is Ias. A Kellsdracontai," Sko said appearing with them.
Ias stepped forward on a whim and then followed through on it coming and hugging the ressurrected gludra.
Ias looked over at the others and saw that they had hardly moved and seemed frozen on the spot. He came off of the hug on Mattis and waved the others to come over. They hesistated exept for Nootai and Iaus who bolted over and wrapped themselves around Mattis.
Ias though shook his head dropping down, "This is too much, he was a creation of me, why then was he choosen to ascend as such."
"Ascention is a lottery in and of itself. I guess the council of the Elders felt a need to intervene because I was about to bring him to ascention myself if they didn't bother at first. I can see the merit though not the anger and forcefullness but the blind determination is a trait that suits him as such," The Belly said appearing with them as well and patting Mattis on the back.
"You! Heh, I know your... hey your not what you seem... hey! You're Alvin's right hand but in you I can feel the great pulsing of... wow an Ultin!" Mattis exlaimed.
The Belly chuckled, "Still it does take time to get used to. But shouldn't we get back under cover, the sun is still murder to the first form dragons."
"Quite," Mattis agreed and they moved back toward the others who still didn't make a move.
"Oh stop it!" Ias snapped feeling relief creep back into him fully and this made him even more relaxed since it came out of his mixed feelings. 
"Stop what," Redalis squeaked.
"Can't you recognize an ascention when you see one," Ias replied.
"Uh nooo..." Sedas mused looking at Mattis.
"I'm still nettled over that flying creature. It was so surreal," Elaejia said looking out to sea into the sky.
"Drakknight." Belly said.
Sko gave a grimace at The Belly.
"Ah yes!" Mattis said smiling.
"What is it?" Nellms asked.
"Drakknight, part of the maginean race, sort of their darker half, they'll be no record in many libraries about them, at least any non-ancient library. They're a reclusive dastardly race almost recognized as demons by some. As much stigma attached to them as an Eliuser," Belly told them.
"Ha, yes, an Eliuser, Ias... Yes of course, it all makes sense now." Mattis said with glee.
Ias grimaced looking around to see if anyone had heard in not in their group. He noticed that Sko wasn't any more happier in his expression either.
"Let's go," Belly said after a moment and the others started following them except Ias and his mentors.
"Damn it!" Ias said as they were out of earshot crossing his arms.
"They'll be the death of themselves, I am going to see what the Elders want with that Kells, whether they are goind to train with it," Sko said and looked into the distant horizon for a moment while Ias looked at him waiting for an answer but Sko shook his head at length.
"I don't like it. They'll let him be taken in by that foolish delinquent. That's what he seems anyways," Ias remarked looking after them
"A delinquent?" The Belly said reforming before them making Ias jump.
"What is it with you Belly? What do you have up your sleeve? You know the power of that Kellsddracontai or any will surpass yours three fold," Sko said.
The Belly smiled then Mattis appeared behind him frowning but Belly didn't seem to be aware of it, "I'll just befriend him and hopefull be able to get him work on my side and finally get on the side of the council."
"Oh that's it. That's what you want. Yeah right. The elders are going to accept you with open arms. Why don't you crawl back to Alvin and finish with him first," Sko said floating up and looking down upon him.
"Heh... with the Kells on my side, even the council will have to reckon with my power. They may be able to override it but the cost may be far more willing than the risk and now I can have a voice in the Kells council," Belly chided giving them a wry smile chuckling as he finished.
At this point Mattis was smiling too and Ias saw him wink over at him and hit Belly across his back. As Belly whirled around to see who it was Mattis displaced and stood behind Belly once more and tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around slower and took as step back when he saw mattis. A quick motion of the talons on the Kellsdracontai followed and he breathed upon Belly and a pink colored smoke came out and enveloped him. Mattis reached in the smoke and withdrew something and turned to Ias and Sko as the smoke cleared. Ias saw immediately that Mattis had shrunken The Belly and now had him in his hand. In reply Belly sat down looking and hung his head letting his feet dangle over the talons.
Sko chuckled and Ias found he rather liked the ideas and went over to look closer at Belly.
"Stop gloating..." Belly said his voice a small squeak not looking up at Ias as he did that.
Mattis breathed on his talons a green smoke and withdrew his talon putting it by his side. The smoke cleared abruptly and The Belly was back to normal but was a yellow haired human very fat such that his belly would be able to be held by his long meaty arms much like a large sack. He was in the nude and as he looked around he immediately knew he was and tried to cover himself up.
"Kay Chesserman, this is who he was. A particular race of creatures that had special third wrist bones that extended much like a sharp pointed rod out of their wrists. Thus, they could puncture anything and draw power from it. Nasty little things they are. It seems his taking in of energy made him so fat as was a little side effect in the race. The fatter then the more energy.
"He was killed by his own kind! Ha... Uiolis. I guess he was an evil cheat and lusted for more power. Power associated with Bellies and now he is The Belly somewhat of a so called master of it. Ha Ha... well take a look at this..." Mattis delved into an explaination and at the end he stood up on his hind legs so that his belly slumped down in his scales toward his hind legs and then he shook it's bulk from side to side at The Belly which size more than dwarfed the size of the Ultin, giving a toothy grin as well. He settled back down on all fours quickly still smiling and The Belly still looked down and away from them all. "I think I shall have some fun with this. But later." Mattis came up to Ias and put a forepaw on his shoulder cluching him and giving him a light shake, "Thanks, Ias. You may think badly of the situation but I not only forgive you... I can't express my gratitude. If you need anything..."
Ias shook his head and smiled upon Mattis who took his hand of Ias's shoulder still smiling, "I'm sure you would, Mattis. I may sometime but don't worry about it now. Thanks for forgiving me."
"You welcome," Mattis said.
They promptly walked over and caught up with the others, "What happened?" Redalis squeaked when they caught them.
Ias noticed that the others were not there, "Where did they go?"
"They're back at the place, I stayed to wait for you," Redalis replied.
"Okay, lets not keep them waiting," Mattis said.
Redalis didn't move and looked at The Belly as Kay, "What happened to him? Where's The Belly?"
"He," Mattis said pointing at The Belly.
"Can I change back Mattis?" Belly asked.
"Things are starting to settle down from when I became a Kells. I soared through time and space but now the understanding has hardened in me.... In short as I am perceiving what I just said to have an effect so yes Belly," Mattis mused half not looking at them and toward the horizon.
The Belly became his Wovelmlos form instantly, "Thanks."
"Let us go Redalis," Ias insisted and they went to the entrance to the cave and entered. It was hardly so much a cave as it was just a wide tunnel underground because they'd not gone far in when the cave ended a little bit farther into the cave. The stone all around there was smooth compared to the rough jagged look nearer the entrance. Lazing about was the others.
"Glad of you all to join us," Sedas said as they came in.
"Not bad," Ias mused and he noticed it was the coolest in there mildly different than out in the sun.
Immediately Mattis stopped as they came into the end of the cave and stared ahead a moment to where the others were and past them. He breathed a cloud of white smoke around himself until it well covered him from Ias's view, then stopped. It slowly cleared but he was gone.
"This is not good," The Belly said and vanished as well.
Ias turned to Sko but he shook his head, "Sorry, Ias, I just cannot be a foresight to vision for you. All I can say is that you will find out soon enough."
"It must have enough proximity to start Ultins," Zazir remarked from his hovering position above Sedas intermittenly feeding her morsels of glistening meat and dropping a glob of water from his hand which he got out of thin air, into into her open maw. She lounged on her back eyes closed and forepaws behind her head.
"That is quite startling, Mattis going to a Kellsdracontai. There so full of mystery. Your library only had scant details. He uses breaths but they don't have to," Sidge said.
Ias shrugged and looked over at the others. Redalis had went over to Vigaush who was sitting on a ledge looking around with quick movements of his head. She looked up at him and he winked back at her. Gesh, was sitting in a corner snoozing. Nootai, Iaus, and Glug were conversing in the center. Elaejia and Nellms however were nowhere to be seen.
"Where's Elaejia and Nellms?" Ias asked.
"Oh I'm sorry Ias. They went to the town. It's not to far a walk from here," Redalis said turning around.
"What?" Ias said looking back out through the entrance.
"I wouldn't worry, Ias. There are more creatures than just humans on the Reandha," Nootai said coming over to Ias.
"What did give them a start about going away so abruptly?" Redalis said.
"Sko won't say and Zazir..." Ias started.
"Tell 'em," Sedas said still in her lounging position accepting a morsel of water after she spoke.
"I am not as powerful as Sko is literally but since I am truely secondary. It had to do with Alvin coming," Zazir said.
"Yes, but that hardly seems worth the while for the Elders attention," Ias replied.
"I can't possibly explain it other than, even the seemingly ones that need no entertainment still look for it," Zazir said.
"Oh yes," Ias said as he understood and it was rather stupid how they could pine over such a celebrity as Alvin was turning out to look to Ias.
"Ah... I could sleep for a week now," Sedas said waved Zazir next morsel off and turned on her side. Ias noticed that when she did this her stomach stuck out and jiggled similar to what Sidge's did. Soon, she was snoring.
"What did you do?" Ias asked Zazir more intrigued than astonished and he watched her bloated sack of a belly move in and out as she breathed.
"Temporary effect. I mean I'm still a demon underneath this guise. Some call us fallen masprits but it is so much more. Don't worry, she won't feel an aftereffects. She'll sleep like a dragonlet and wake up with a tight trim dragonbelly," Zazir said grinning from ghostly ear to ghostly ear.
Nootai laughed his own pot belly jiggling with him while Redalis and vigaush stared at Zazir and Sedas for a moment before turning back to their own play that had started but which Ias had picked up out of the corner of his eye.
Sko gave a hmmmph and looked indifferently into the wall of the cave staring for a moment then he vanished suddenly.
"Something is up, must be more than some simple alvin matter," Iaus related.
"Iaus," Ias said turning to him.
"Yes," He replied.
"Have you?" Ias gestured toward him.
"Oh have I gotten into anything? Several. In fact, Sedas," Iaus said and moved toward her and stood before her contained pool of a belly and looked up at Zazir.
The Demosprit shrugged saying in a mock voice of Sedas, "She didn't say protect me. Why don't you give her a little awakening, from one parasite to another."
Iaus smirked and slipped into her literally passing into her water belly and vanishing inside. She didn't do anything and instead just continued snoring and before their eyes her belly receeded into her and Ias balked as Iaus's face appeared slightly impressed out from inside her belly for a moment smiling before it was gone.
Then she did look slightly different in her belly, it didn't receed all the way but still sagged a bit. Though Ias shrugged his shoulders as it wasn't greatly noticeable.
"Ias, are you just going to let him do that," Redalis cried starting toward them breaking contact with Vigaush who gave disgruntled chirp.
Ias raised his right hand at Redalis, "I engineered the creature, remember, same as I engineered you. A Stoniter is a type of body parasite that inhabits the body not the mind. It was meant to clean out gunk that otherwise hinders the body. Other than a slight sag in the midsection she'll wake up feeling much younger. Over time she'll probably be in prime condition and be able to break trees down with a talon without breaking her hand."
"If that's the case then I want one. Are you coming back Redalis?" Vigaush squeaked.
Ias turned to Vigaush a little disgruntled himself, "Is that official?"
Vigaush looked at Ias sharply, "No... No way I don't want those things in me."
"Suit yourself," Ias shrugged.
No one else said anything but looked at Ias a moment then went back to what they were doing.
"We're back," Slas said coming into the cave followed by Slas.
"Where have you been?" Ias said feeling vaguely sorry that he'd forgotten all about them.
"Just scoutin' around," Slas replied and Zeck who was a little behind her shook his head and brushed past to collapse beside Ias.
"In the sun," Ias said looking down at Zeck and kneeling down beside him.
"Of course not, in the shade. We stayed under the trees and found something interesting, Ias come here with me," Slas said turning from casual to enthusiastic.
Ias took a glance around at everyone and seeing that he'd get not much more in with them he went to Slas and she lead the way. They exited the cave and beared back left to the pathway but instead of stopping and following it Slas trudged right through the tall broad leaved shrubbery glistening with violet and yellow colors in the center. Ias trudged through and caught himself on a few briars but plowed on through the thick leaved plants there not able to see anything but the ground and the sky amidst the sea of the thick. He just had time to watch his step before putting right upon a serpent that was moving across his path. Ias stopped and waited till it slithered past and then looked around not able to see where slas went she was so small she easily slipped through the brush.
"Hey!" She reappeared a little off to the side ahead of Ias and he trudged right along with her.
The ground started becoming muddier as he went along following trying to keep up with Slas that he slipped and slid down an embankment and into a pool of mud that came up to his waist. Not wanting to chance anything that was there he moved right back out trying to scramble up the bank but slid right back down in and just as he did he heard a loud bubbling from the pool and looking back he saw two eyes bubble shaped peeking out of the muck at him. Ias was frozen by the sight and he just stood there awaiting what it was bringing his hammer staff over and into the water in front of him. Then it rose right out and Ias blinked at the creature which now stood in front of him.
He'd seen a Hudra in his life before as it walked down the street in his town and in his wilderness of the island he saw a tropical breed cross his path but it was momentarily and Ias never got a glance. There was no mistaking it it was a dragon in the shape of a human about Ias's size and well saturated with mud so that it was just about a brown blob. It's horns and it's tail peeking out from the mud on his head and the pool of mud coupled with it's shape gave it mostly away.
"Shhhwhat arr youuu dohing hearrr?" It hissed and raised a hand from the muck and Ias saw it held a wooden hand crafted spear with a metallic head.
"I... I just slipped," Ias said and the creature regarded him a moment and replied, "Bess lllet youu out."
It suddenly moved toward him and Ias was struck for action for a moment. He turned around and said back to the Hudra, "It's okay, thanks, I can manage myself."
"Youu ssshhhure," It asked stopping.
"Yes, thank you," Ias said regarding him as he mustered the synth and was lifted out of the muck and back into the brush where he'd slipped before.
"Ias... what... did you..." Slas said reappearing and looking over Ias's mud soaked robe and features.
"Aye," Ias replied and Slas stood there for a moment and continued on.
It wasn't too long following her now until Ias found himself at a shack in a slight open ground underneath a covering of broadleaved trees.
"Where? What?" Ias said to Slas who was standing close up regarding it.
"Interesting is it," Slas said giving a grin at Ias then moving it over to the house.
Ias looked at it and the shack was made of nailed boards warped and weatherbeaten. Some chunks were missing on the sides. It had one window on the two sides that faced Ias and both of them had a pane broken out of four possible ones. The roof was triangular and on the side that faced Ias he could see the most of the side of the roof from where he stood and it had several small holes about the side as well, "Slas, this isn't very nice intruding like this even if we're just outside looking in."
"I don't mind it."
Ias turned around quickly and was looking into the face of a human. Very unkempt and scraggly. His hair soiled, long, and uncombed, his face hairy. He wore a tattered robe soiled gray with patches of white showing through it. In his calloused dirty left hand he held a staff that must've been taken off of an odd tree since it was knotted at least eight times giving it a crooked overall appearance. Ias though this sight wasn't overly ordinary to him brough back memories of his time in the wilderness when he could say he looked no better.
"This little dragon here is quite energetic. I heard her and you coming since you started from where you were. Not too long till I find you," the human said coming past Ias and to Slas caressing her head which she accepted moving so that she could get the full of his caressing.
"His hand is so cool and just right," she commented.
"Now, forgive me if I seem a little forthcoming. You seem to be used to this sort of thing. Those from the city who've happened across my home and me here don't regard me very sightly. I don't mind it. I'd rather live outside rather than in most of the time as too many together can bring too much together than what is apart. Bustling and against the rhythm of the flow of the sea or the wind," The human spoke his voice slightly deep, smooth, and fluent, not what Ias was expecting and he was all the more drawn in, "I don't mind it as you can see." Ias indicated his own robe and brought his hammer staff up centered in front of him and bringing up synth the wind picked up flapping his robe and rain suddenly poured down on them at a steady downpour washing away the mud and grime on the both of them, "I used to live outside, myself but ever since I've been up and about I guess I've lost that lustre."
"I would not take well to it," The human said brushing the water from his weathered cheeks.