A silence stretches between us as we catch up to the others. If left to Alana, it might drag on for the rest of the qualifier. She seems uncomfortable around me now, though she can’t keep her eyes away, sneaking little glances over her shoulder as she keeps pace with Marthe.

I let her be. Things between us got a little…tense earlier. I’m still processing how I feel and what she said, turning her words over and over. Luckily, I have a distraction in the form of my little friend.

The cutie has tired itself out, lying on its side with tightly shut eyes. At first glance, I’m afraid it’s dead, but I can hear its tiny heart pumping if I focus. What am I going to do with this thing? I picked it up on a whim but I can’t keep it forever. I don’t even know what it is.

Why am I thinking about this? I could close my fist and end this thing’s life with no consequence. Or drop it and let it get on with existing. Yet I’ve been carrying it for over an hour.

…maybe it’s the fur. That burnished yellow. Reminds me of the sun. Reminds me of Alana.

I scoff. A cute pet isn’t going to bring us together.

…will it?

I stare at the little creature. Maybe feeling my gaze, it opens its eyes and lets out a pathetic squeak. “You’re a sorry bastard, aren’t you?” I whisper to it. “I guess it’s the same. I’ll give you a gesture and let you decide. Bell.”

In a moment, the little imp scampers over to my side.

“Can you get inside this thing’s mind? Communicate that I want to take it home and take care of it. Otherwise, I’m leaving it to do what it wants.”

“Coo~” [A simple thing.] A pause. [It’s done.]

“Alright.” I bend down and place the little thing on the ground. It shivers, big eyes blinking rapidly. “Make your choice.”

For a long moment, the cutie looks off into the distance. My shoulders come down as it takes a few hops away. I guess that’s it. What isn’t meant to be won’t—

A squeak interrupts my thoughts. I look down to see the little cutie perched on the end of my boot, looking up at me. It’s still trembling but it lets out another loud squeak, as loud as its little body can manage.

“Heh.” I carefully scoop it up, cradling it gently. “Knew I’m a catch. You’ve got good eyes.”

It squeaks softly, settling onto my palm.

“Coo!” [Fortunately, the creature is a social animal. It currently sees you as the alpha female and is awaiting transport to your den.]

Ah, did you explain we aren’t going to live underground?

[Vaguely. It is unable to understand what a house is. It will be fine as long as it remains close to you, its instincts telling it to follow the strong. However, should you leave the thing alone for any length of time, it is liable to die of fright.]

“Great. Just make sure you don’t wander off, hm?” I gently pet it with my thumb. It leans into the touch rather than stiffening up. “You’re going to need a name. And I’m going to have to find out what you are.”

I jog over to Cloud who is following the others at a distance. “I need some help.”

“For you, I am always willing, honored sister.” I hold up my new friend for her inspection. She takes a hasty step backward. What? What happened? “You are very brave carrying that thing in your palm.”

Don’t tell me she’s afraid of the little fluff ball. “I don’t know about brave. It’s harmless.”

“A single one, yes. Flocketts operate as a horde. As many ants may hollow a tree, they attack their prey in droves. Unlike most predators, their teeth are flat but they have a deceptive strength in their jaws that allows them to gnaw through the toughest hides. Also bone. They leave nothing behind of their victims, very efficient eaters.”

“Oh, so you eat meat.”

“No,” Cloud is quick to correct. “They eat everything. Animals. Plants. Men.”

“Just like people then.”

She laughs. “Truth.”

I scoff. “You’re just trying to scare me but it’s not going to work. Who could be afraid of this fluff ball?” I present my companion to her, urging her with my eyes. Her smile turns into a smirk and she obligingly reaches out a finger to pet it. The little cutie trembles but accepts the strokes.

“Perhaps I exaggerated their menace.” She removed her hand. “They have little fighting power. Their true threat lies in the fact that they will decimate an environment. Prey migrate from a lack of food, their predators who aren’t quick enough to follow turn feral. The flocketts are nuisances.”

Good. It wouldn’t be a problem if they were savages that attacked anything that smelled like a good meal but it might complicate a few conversations if it tried to gnaw faces off on a continuous basis.

“Though you may have a problem with that specific one. I would assume you found her alone, near a source of water?”

“Yeah, and how do you know she’s a girl?” She, if she’s a she, is covered in so much fluff it’s impossible to see anything under there. Maybe that’s how she knows?

“Similar to the mamaroon, when their den gets too large, they divide. Though the way they do so is unique. You are holding a rare progenitor, a female that is capable of reproducing without a mate.”

Eh?

“She and the other progenitors would have feasted on the weaker members of the horde before leaving to establish their own dens. I would imagine she is already with litter so you can expect kits in five to eight weeks.”

Eh?

“Progenitors tend to have larger litters than average, up to eight kits at a time. They are fertile for all of their life, which can be up to ten years.” She chuckles at my dazed expression. “Your house will have many blessings in the future, honored sister.”

I raise my little friend to my eyes, staring at the golden ball of fur suspiciously. It, or rather she? Is it a she if it can get pregnant on its own? Her own? There has to be a word for this. Oh, forget it.

She’s going to be a mother soon. Damn. Eight little fluffs each year over ten years. That’s an extra eighty mouths to feed. Not to mention the kids, or kits, are going to grow up and make more of themselves the old-fashioned way. What have I gotten myself into?

“Should have never picked you up,” I grumble. She squeaks. How can something so small and cute cause so much trouble? “You wouldn’t want to share in those blessings?”

Cloud shakes her head. “I wouldn’t dare. I wish all the fortune in the world to my honored sister.”

“Of course you do. Ah, I’ve got something else.” I reach into my pocket and grab the scorpion. It snaps its pincers but doesn’t move to stab me anymore. Must have gotten tired. “This work as bait?”

Cloud takes another step away, this one larger than the other. “I teased you about your new pet but I am serious when I say that the creature in your hand is dangerous. Do not let it sting you.”

“No problem. Can’t get through my skin anyway Would the mamaroons eat this?”

“Eat? Yes. Engage? Never. If you are seeking to lure them from their dens with the scorpion, you will surely fail.”

“Cheh. Then it’s useless.” I crush the bug, the poor thing’s life snuffed out in a second with a soft crunch. Before I toss it to the ground, I hear a squeak. The little cutie is squirming, pink nose twitching in the scorpion’s direction. “You want it? Sure, sure.”

I put my hands together. The cutie edges closer, squeaking softly as it sniffs the twitching scorpion. Then, with the swiftness of a striking viper, it takes a bite off the bug’s leg, mashing it with relish. Don’t know how I know but I can feel her enjoying the meal and she eats with gusto.

“Eat up, little thing. Apparently, you’ve got eight mouths to feed.” I sigh at the reminder. I hope Kierra likes pets.

[My summoner, you may want to come here.]

Ah, we’ve fallen behind. The rest of my team is standing atop a hill, staring into the distance. I increase my pace, careful not to jostle my little friend as she enjoys her lunch. I stand next to Alana. “What’s going on?”

“We’ve got company.”

She points at the sky, drawing my attention to a rapidly approaching shadow.