I closely examine the tracks of the doglike monsters and sniff at the ground. I can smell several other somethings, too mixed to be a herd, all headed in the same direction. I’m hoping that means a watering hole. I’ll follow them for now. If nothing pans out, I’ll go in the opposite direction. I still have the form of a dusk hawk to search from the air if I need to but I rather not take on such a weak form with much larger predators about.

I follow the tracks, capping my speed. Don’t want to scare the little beasties off. My pace is closer to a brisk walk rather than a run. Hmph. Who would have thought the day would come when I could consider monsters slow? Wish they’d hurry up.

It does give me the chance to explore. The few plants around are interesting. The majority are a mixture of shrubs and small grasses in muted shades of gold and brown. Ugly things. Someone might see beauty in the twisted appendages and small leaves but I’m too accustomed to neatly trimmed gardens full of colorful blooms. These plants seem pitiful in comparison.

The trees are interesting. Stunted trunks that make up for their lack of height in the width of their branches. Healthier looking grasses grow in their shade. Isn’t that backward? I’d have thought the tree would starve the others but it is a meagre shelter in this wasteland.

A flash of movement draws my attention and I dash over. Whatever it is notices me and tries to run but is slow, far too slow. I grab a warm, fuzzy body, holding it up as it kicks its little legs.

Aw, it’s cute. It resembles a bunny but is small enough to fit in the palm of my hand, with soft golden fur and big, brown eyes. It lacks the long ears that I’d expect. I can’t find any ears at all. There are thicker patches of fur on the sides of its head. I try to feel under one but stop as the little cutie lets out a series of panicked squeaks and kicks like mad.

“Okay, it was my fault.”

It doesn’t calm down, kicking its little legs frantically. “What’s got you in a fit?” I glance around and quickly notice it. Perched on the end of my boot is a bug. Two pinchers attached to a small, bulbous body and a tail currently curved into a crescent with a wicked stinger at the end.

The moment I notice it, the scorpion strikes, its tail jabbing at my ankle. It pierces the fabric of my pants but is stopped by my skin. I casually reach down and grab the little bug around the middle. Its stinger hits the back of my hand with no effect but it’s not smart enough to realize when its beaten, continuously trying to break down an impenetrable wall.

The little cutie twitches so much I think it’s going to have a heart attack so I slip the scorpion into my pocket. It’s good bait according to Cloud. If that doesn’t work, I’ll drop it on Arthur and Cloud if they get frisky, heh.

With the scary scorpion out of sight, my new friend finally starts to settle down. As much as it can. The timid thing can’t help trembling, shutting its eyes tightly. I absently mutter nonsense to it as I resume following the doglike monsters.

It takes forever, or at least it feels that way, but I reach my goal. In the distance, I can just make out a swath of color. A quick drop of a ‘film’ and my vision is magnified to the point I can make out individual reeds lining a small pond.

Thank the saints, I’ve found water.

And I’m not the only one.

Aside from the doglike monsters, all manner of creatures have found their way here. Some are small, including family to the ball of fluff that has settled in my hand and other tiny bodies that dart through the plant life. I’d count the dogs amongst the ‘small’ life in the face of the bulky wildebeest that have claimed a corner of the watering hole for themselves, baring their horns toward anything that approaches.

Then there’s the massive bastard who has claimed the entire far side of the watering hole for his own.

I want to call it a lizard but no lizard can grow to that size. It towers over me, with a bulky body that feels like a house on four legs covered in dark green scales. A heavy tail swipes the earth behind it, kicking up dirt and scattering any creature with thoughts of getting close. A giant frill at the base of its neck, a paler green with streaks of yellow and pink, trembles with each massive breath the creature takes.

Two massive bull horns sprout from the sides of its head, too far up to be a threat to anything here. The problems are the spikes on its hoof-like feet. They are small on the beast but small to it is enormous to everything else. They’re as thick as my head and as long as my arm. Saints preserve anything unfortunate enough to be kicked by it.

I thought the instructors were bastards sending us after a burrowing species. Now I see that they were a being lenient. They could have sent us after these walking hills. I can’t imagine how many bright-eyed initiates would be crushed under those flat feet or pin-cushioned by those spikes. I know I have nothing to fear but I’m a little hesitant to do anything to it. That size is intimidating.

Good thing I don’t have to fight it. My job was simply to find the water. Bell, status. And point me in your direction, straight shot if you will.

[Master Lou, the others have encountered a team on the road. For the moment, they are speaking but negotiations seem to be breaking down.]

[Nothing of concern, my summoner. I have eyes on the situation.] My worry is smothered before it can gain any strength as I hear Geneva’s voice. [I think your friends are going to have fun.]

And the worry has come back. Geneva’s definition of fun is nothing I want Alana involved in. Following her words is a pull, a voiceless whisper giving me direction. Holding my new friend close to my chest, I sprint back to my team.