Nimbor – Great Eastern Forest

A few days had passed since Alex had tamed Cera the Juvenile triceratops, and the loss of the friendship of Elizabeth Davis. But things were looking up for the Forrester Siblings, they had gained experience in the shared skills of Path-Finding, Spotting, and tracking up to Level 3. They avoided as much as possible so as not to run into Elizabeth, as the rumours stated that started forming her own guild within the city.

“So when are we going to return to the city for a resupply or move on to the next nearby settlement?” Kate asked of her brother, only to have silence as an answer, “Earth to Alexios?”

“Sorry Kate, what are you asking?”

“When do you want to return to Ever Hold for a resupply as we are getting low on everything,” Kate said making a show of pulling out a half-bag of dried meat and an empty water-skin from her digital inventory.

Alex sighed in acceptance, “I know Kate, believe I know. But do you really want to risk running into Elizabeth and her gang after our fallout is still fresh in her mind?” Alex said as they watched Lara and Cera play Tag along a well-travelled path.

“I would like to think that our survival is worth any risk, plus we could make some new friends in the process,” Kate said attempting to sound confident they could avoid Elizabeth while making some new friends.

Alex knew that the time had come for them to make a return trip to the city, he had put it off for as long as he could to avoid running afoul of his ex-best friend. He hoped that luck would be on their side just that little bit longer once they reached the city, but even he wasn’t holding out for that outcome.

***

After travelling for two days, the Forrester Siblings and their animal companion at least found themselves standing before the eastern gate of Ever Hold, joining the crowd as they moved through the massive stone structure. Among the mass of players and NPCs was a dark-haired woman standing upon a large platform that was strapped onto the back of a 39-foot tall, 82-foot long titan of an animal.

“Make a hole people!” the dark-haired woman bellowed, as the giant herbivore stomped through the crowd.

The long-necked titan bellowed out a warning as it stepped into the main street of the city.

“No way! I-It’s a brachiosaurus!” Kate called out pumping a fist into her other hand, “So making taming one of those a goal.”

Alex could only shake his head at his sister’s excitement at seeing her second all-time favourite dinosaur, “Well since we can’t log out you’ll have all the time in the world to tome one, but first the marketplace is calling.”

Both his sisters nodded in agreement, breaking from the main crowd to continue their journey within the Brachiosaurus’ wake. Walking through the street with Cera at his side and his sisters close behind, they came across many NPCs as well as one or two players who had animal companions. Most were that of the herbivore-type similar to Cera, but a few had small meat-eaters like the fully-feathers Archaeopteryx or the chicken-like Compsognathus.

Soon they found themselves at the entrance to the grand-central marketplace of Ever Hold. All around them, people were moving from stall to stall, some were followed by a dinosaur while others simply moved around just taking in the sights.

“Right, first we need supplies like food and water and not just for us but for Cera too,” Alex said looking down at the three-horn who turned her large head in a dog-like style.

“Well Lara and I can go get the food and water supplies, while you go see if there are any jobs that need doing dear brother,” Kate said linking her arm with her twin’s.

“HAHA! Sure thing boss, I’ll take Cera here as my bodyguard.” Alex replied at the seriousness of his sister's voice, “While I’m doing that I’ll check in with the blacksmiths to see if they have anything for our little Ceratopsidae here.”

The twins nodded in agreement as it made sense if they were going to get into more fights the longer they stayed inside the game world or made enemies.

While the siblings were talking and making plans, Cera was looking around at all those moving about the great marketplace. Alex sudden Cera lean against as a large animal came walking close by, looking up at the large creature Alex’s H.U.D. flash with new information.

Name:

Allosaurus

Status:

Tamed – Phoebe of Ever Hold

Tier/Rank/Level:

Adventurer/14/68

Diet:

Carnivore

Movement:

Bipedal

Length:

12.2 Meters (40 Feet)

Height:

5.2 Meters (17 Feet)

Weight:

1,814 Kilograms (4,000 Pounds)

Alex was in awe that the sight of a large Allosaurus standing there surrounded by all the animals it would normally count as prey but didn’t even blink in their direction.

“She’s a beauty isn’t she?” The woman in the saddle called out before dismounting and landing in front of the siblings.

As the woman rose to her full height of 6 feet, she ran a hand through her waist-length wild rose-red hair with natural spiral curls that framed her olive-toned face.

“Greetings to you friends and welcome to Ever Hold, I am Phoebe, Captain of the Ever Hold Rangers and this here is Armas, The Fast One.”

Lara looked up at the large meat-eater, “Why is she called the fast one?”

“Armas has been recorded as the fastest for her size, and is able to outrun a few of the larger carnivores.”

“Impressive, I’m Alexios Forrester or just Alex and my twin sisters Katelynn and Lara.”

“Kate is fine,” Kate added.

“And who is this little one, attempting to hide within your leg Alexios?” Phoebe asked leaning down to get a better look at Cera.

“Oh, this is Cera, The newest member of our little family,” Alex said while placing a hand upon Cera’s head.

“Triceratops… Pennatus?”

“Horridus, but you were close,” Alex said with a smile.

“Ah, now I can see it. Well, Cera here will be a large and beautiful young lady once she is fully grown and from her markings, you’ll have a lot of Three-Horn owners looking to breed her with their bulls come the mating seasons.”

Armas choose that moment to let out of closed mouth growl drawing Phoebe’s attention.

“Right, well it was great meeting the four of you, but I’ve got to go and continue my patrols.” Phoebe said before jumping up Armas’ leg and back into the saddle, “Ya, kalo vra-thi.”

With Phoebe’s parting words she flicked the reins and Armas move deeper into the city. Alex watched as Phoebe’s red curls caught by the wind as she turned and waved at them.

Kate saw the way that her brother was looking at the woman, “Do I detect that our big bad brother has a girlfriend at long last?”

“Shut it, Kate, come on we need to find an Inn for the night.”

“Sure thing lover boy,” Kate said not even attempting to hide her sarcastic tone.

“Are we going to see Phoebe again, Alex?” Lara asked innocently.

Looking from the younger of the twins to the older only to be greeted by Kate’s Cheshire cat-like grin, then back to Lara and see the inquisitive hazel eyes. “I’m sure we’ll run into her seeing as Phoebe is a Captain within the Ever Hold City Guard.”

They chose an Inn that was close to the eastern road that led out and away from the Marketplace, they were greeted by the Innkeeper who was a large man with a father Christmas-like beard that reached the middle of his barrel-like chest.

“Kalispera friends, and welcome to the Old Three-horn. What can old Kadmos do for ya’.”

“Well meant Master Kadmos, my sisters and I would like two rooms for the night, a place our triceratops and a meal each with something to drink.” Alex while pulling one of his money pouches from his inventory.

Kadmos scratched at his greying beard as he added up everything in his head that Alex asked for. “Well young Master, for the rooms for a single night is 8 drachma per person. For the young three-horn there I could have her stabled for about 5 drachmae, and for the food and drink you are looking at 5 drachmae per person or animal along with a pitcher for 2 drachmae.”

Alex looked at his coin pouch adding the numbers, “so 51 drachmae.” Alex reached into and removed 60 silver coins, “here is 60 drachmae, 51 for everything and 9 extra for your help Master Kadmos.”

“Thank you, young lord, I’ll have my daughter Althea look after you three while my son Theron attends to your animal companion.”

A Notification flashed into Alex’s vision as he placed the 60 silver coins into the hand of Kadmos.

60 Silver Drachmae removed from inventory, 9,940 Silver Drachma remain.

Smiling at Alex’s generosity Kadmos called for his children and true to his word, Kadmos’ son led Cera to the stables where she was placed within a comfortable-looking enclosure and given plenty of healthy fern leaves to feed upon. As for the Forrester Siblings, they were well looked after by Kadmos’ daughter Althea. Who served them massive plates of thick Apatosaurus steaks with sides of vegetables. And to wash it down Althea placed a pitcher of her father’s best wine which gave off a nutty-sweet aroma that reminded Alex of the times when their mother would bake her chewy butter cookies.

After the meal was finished Althea led them to their rooms, Kate and Lara in the room on the right side of the corridor and Alex on the opposite side.

“Thank you for your patronage my Lord and Ladies, and I hope you enjoyed your meal,” Althea said bowing.

“Thank you, Mistress Althea,” Alex said before watching Kate and Lara enter their room and close the door, Alex entered his room and looked around.

***

On the other side of the city close to the western gate, within a large warehouse-like structure sat a blonde-haired young woman.

“Mistress they are within the city.” A male voice said within the darkened structure.

Ice blue eyes were revealed as the young woman looked out into the darkened room that surrounded her. “Continue to wait and watch Master Lysandros, do not engage do I make myself clear.”

“Of course my Mistress,” Lysandros answered.

“Leave me,” the woman said flatly.

“By your will Mistress Davis,” Lysandros said before bowing and leaving.