[Evolution available for Kin: Andvari. Would you like to evolve him into a Jolly Ditty Smith? ]

What should I do...

While I stared at the new notification boxes that continued to pop up like popcorn, the others continued to celebrate all around me. Greenie excitedly offering Andvari a large wooden hammer.

Stop watching us, you perv... I mutter, shaking my wings to clear my thoughts. Watching us doing our best to survive and meddling when they felt like it. I wanted a confrontation, figure out why I was here and being watched.

Another notification window pops up in front of me.

[Ildrig offers you a gift and an offer of exchange.]

And another one pops up.

[A conditional exchange for the evolution path. Limited time offer expires by the next sunrise!]

[Your Kin: Andvari will evolve into a Jolly Ditty Smith in exchange for one of the below skills.]

[Exchange: {Mimicry} {Odd Weapons Crafting} {Appraisal (Unique)}]

Who the heck. Is Ildrig?? Why did he or she want one of my skills in exchange ? Not just any skill, but some of the skills I used the most. Was this a trap?

Ildrig was a strange name too...

The pronunciation of that name rolls over my tongue when I practice it a few times.

First things first. Appraisal!

{Crude Dwarfsmith: A primitive species of dwarf. Passably proficient in all forms of metalwork with an exception to jewelry-work. They are often used by dwarves of the High Mountain to handle miscellaneous duties. A somewhat rare race due to their low libidos.}

{Jolly Ditty Smith: A jolly, jolly fellow. By chanting happy rhymes this dwarven species can imbue their work with pun unusual results.}

That description.. was interesting to say the least. And suspicious.

The questions roils in my mind while I plant my behind down on the ground. No one seems to notice my sudden silence. The other wolves continued to howl, Crixus pounding out a beat with his hooves and Greenie dancing like one of those inflatable men at the car wash.

Except for a stout presence I feel drawing closer to me.

A low voice interrupts the turmoil of confused, angry thoughts swirling around my head like the extra-large speedy drum of a laundromat.

Lady. What did you say, just now?

Feeling my bones creak as I slowly turn. Andvari stood behind me, hands tightly clenched into fists at his sides. Over his tunic there was a green braided vine belt with a hammer hanging at his hip.

You mean Ildrig?

Andvari recoils when he hears the name, stumbling backwards with his hands swiftly buried within his armpits. All his fingers were cleanly hidden inside the tunic, with only the ends of his wrists showing.

By Hrothgar's fires!

Turning, he spits over his shoulder. With a stern expression, the dwarf crouches, his blind eyes no longer hidden by knotted thick hair looming towards me. Do not say that name around here!!

Did I do something wrong?

Leaning closer, he whispers. The flickering firelight made the hollows of his face appear ghastly, twisted as it was in strong distaste.

That...name will make the fires burn strangely. Best not to even think of it!

Blinking back up at him, I ponder Andvari's words. That made me even more curious about Ildrig.

Why? What's wrong with it-?

Lady, it is better not to think of it. He pats the ground until he finds me, gently readjusting the small crown atop my head.

Come with me. It is time to start the First Flame in the heart of the hearth.

Thud.

Andvari's knees creak as he stands back up, using a spear he stabbed pointy side into the dirt to support his weight. The design of the spear was strangely-familiar.. It had round brown feathers decorating the base of the point. Like the spear Greenie used to have!

I fly up, landing on Andvari's shoulder to get a closer look.

Did Greenie make this for you?

Yes, Greenie did. Andvari nods, running his hands over the length of it. I blink again. Andvari called Greenie by name! That was a good development.

Well-made for a goblin at such short notice. And a good choice of wood. Now, if you could guide me to the hearth. How many steps do you surmise it will take me to reach it?

Pride blooms seeing the evidence of Greenie's growth. That scaredy-cat goblin could help others now! Greenie hadn't earned the skill Odd Weapons Crafting for nothing.

Well, first, Andvari, you gotta turn around.. It's behind us.

I survey the distance when Andvari turns around. Maybe around 15 steps? But we'll have to detour, there's a few wolves lying about here and there.

Though I do my best to show Andvari where to step, it was difficult. The layout of the clearing within the circle of vines had changed often while we built the forge. Often enough that Andvari couldn't remember where everything was.

Instead of tapping the ground around us, try waving the stick in front of you in a sweeping back-and-forth motion. I advise, remembering how it was done in my old world.

Andvari puts my words to motion somewhat clumsily. But it worked!

This is interesting. I never thought a spear could have it's uses for a dwarf. He quips, moving along faster now. The deep frowns around his eyes lighten as he curls his fingers around the spear. We skirt around a mass of pups play-fighting, Andvari puffing out his chest in pride as he strides by.

A spear is a good weapon. I agree, nodding. In my world, people would argue about whether the sword or spear was better. I was on the spear side, by the way. You might like it the more you try it out-

As I prattle on to fill the silence, I can see Andvari processing my words, testing out different ways he could wield the spear as we walked.

If you don't mind me asking, didn't other, um blind folk use a stick too?

No. He responds, prentending to stab a attacker in the air.

What did they usually do?

If it were a wealthy being, a caretaker would guide them. If not....

I see. I read well enough between the lines to understand. If a poor person was blind, then a bad end probably awaited them. Probably like how I would have ended up if Greenie hadn't found baby me and healed me.We were almost at the edge of the trench, where Boudicea, Capo, Crixus and Greenie all waited.

It is easier to die destitute, than blind and destitute. Andvari suddenly adds.

Feathers flick on my back as I flinch. He'd read my mind!

Muttering in a matter-of-fact tone the dwarf continues forward, one hand fiddling with his beard. It was clear that to him this was a fact of life.

What is this conversation about the poor? We are here to celebrate our comrade's new forge, are we not? Crixus interrupts, grinning with his green arms splayed wide to welcome us.

The ceremony to light the First Flame, as Andvari called it, was a success. After having me drop a torch atop the small wood pile stacked in the center of the trench, the forge was deemed officially open.

Which left me stuck with a slew of notification boxes, each conveniently counting down how many hours I had left.

[Remaining time left: 11h 27m]

Including the part where Ildrig was involved, I'd given Andvari a quick rundown of the evolution options he had. For some reason, the others were all listening in, sitting in a ring around the newly lit forge. Except for Greenie. He had no interest in this conversation.

I do not want to be a Crude Dwarfsmith. But I do not trust this- this Folly Sh*tty Smith either. Especially from that twisted philanthropist.

Andvari drops his head into his cupped hands, groaning.

What is the trouble? Pick the strongest sounding one and be done with it.

Capo interjects, shrugging his wide shoulders, then wincing when it pulls at his wounds. He and Boudicea were quite invested in this discussion. To the wolves, evolution was everything.

Is that how you did it? Andvari responds with a cynical smile.

How else? Boudicea bristles, sensing the negativity in the dwarf's tone.

But that's the problem. We don't know which one is stronger. I add. Maybe it's better to keep things as is? Let Andvari stay as a Mountain Dwarf?

No. It is wrong to reject a Becoming. Will you be satisfied if he remains as he is forever? Becomings are hard to come by as is. Don't you know the story of the Ungrateful Minotaur?!

Crixus' long tail thuds into the dirt behind him as he sits up. The dark ridges of his brows draw together as he rubs his jaw, struggling with his thoughts. The last bit I wasn't too sure about, but he did have a point. He becomes a hornless, livestock bull! Crixus continues to cry.

The small one does not want to be the crude one. Boudicea interjects, rolling her eyes. Let him be weaker then.

After Andvari's explanation we all knew the possible dwarf evolutions. Ranked they were: Mountain Dwarf

I don't WANT to be weaker! Andvari bellows. The flames appear to leap higher into the air before us, drawn by the dwarf's rising emotions.

Don't worry about strength, Andvari. I pat his knee with my wing to comfort him. There was no way of knowing what results any of these choices would bring. But since it was Andvari's body, I left the choice to him. He stares at me unseeing, hands clenched tightly into fists atop his knee, frozen in thought.

Patting his knee again, I add: Um? Choose what sparks joy? No that wasn't what Andvari said to me before. Sparks the flame, like what you said. Choose with that.

Flying atop his knee, I point to his chest. Quietly I ask, returning the same words he'd asked me. With my words, the others grow quiet with their bickering. Listening. Waiting for the choice the dwarf would make.

Here. What desire makes your flame to burn?

Lifting his face, Andvari reaches his hand towards me. Would it be wrong of me to be curious?

No, there's nothing wrong with that. If that's what you desire.

Then- I won't be picky on the method.

Grunting, Andvari lifts his thin arms towards the sky, as if he could grasp the stars, shimmering above him in the night sky, in his palms.

I want to create. I want the High Mountain to quake in fear of my creations-

He clasps his wide hands into thick fists, the veins popping over his knuckles.

in return for what they did to me.

I choose the Jolly Ditty Smith.

Then I exchange my Skill: Odd Weapons Crafting for Andvari's evolution!

The multiple notification windows shatter into a million white pixels, floating up into the black of night, joining the flickering stars above. For a moment, I see the shape of a smiling mouth in the kernels of light. With a blink, they disappear.

.

.

.

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Raven's Current Status:

---Status---

Name:

Raven

Race:

Nachkrapp (Night Hunter)

Title:

??? , Perseverant, Champion, Progenitor

Magic:

N/A

Abilities:

Skill [Raven Call]

Skill [Peck] LV2

Skill [Taunt] LV2

Skill [Razor Bite]

Skill [Scent Detection (Blood & Decay)]

Skill [Peripheral Vision]

Skill [Berserk] (Passive)

Skill [Flight]

Skill [Evasive Manuevers] LV2

Skill [Hide] LV2

Skill [Appraisal (Unique)]

Skill:[Pet Detection]

Skill:[Call Mimicry] LV2

Skill:[Night Vision] LV 2

Skill:[Odd Weapons Crafting]

Resistances:

Sleep Resistance, Pain Resistance, Rot Resistance

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