When I was eventually freed from my parents concerned cuddle puddle, I was able to enter the town through the "gate". The town.... hamlet... yeah, hamlet might be a better word for it.... is quite nice. Marcus and his group seemed to follow me around, minus 1 couple with no kids who went to the market place to sell their goods. Luke seemed to hate the silence, randomly butting in and describing various structures. He told me what each building was and what it was used for, which I could appreciate, even though I already knew a lot of the basics. Inn/Tavern for traveling people to rest at, Blacksmith for the toolworks, tannery and tailor shops, most things you would need for essential living, but nothing of note for luxury goods. The people seemed happy, although avoided me like the plague at the moment. Can't say I blame them... I do have a small detachment of guards watching me while I travel with my new friends.
Marcus decided to give everyone a break from Lukes non stop rambling about the random buildings and walked along side me to chat.
"So beasty, I assume you have a name, figured now would be good a time as any to ask..."
I started for a moment, stopping in place then looking at him. "My parents named me Dranau."
He just nods his head, hand reaching up to idly scratch at his beard.
"You realize what your parents did, yes?"
"No... well, kind of... they killed the 2 men with weird clothes."
"Those men...." he seems to hesitate to use the word. "... were cultivators. Human ones, following the path to immortality."
With my blank stare at him he seems to decide it best to elaborate.
"Humans have to do a thing they call Cultivation to get stronger and more able to handle the more dangerous beings in this world. Least that is what they say. To me, it seems like just greed."
He leads us over to a bench, sitting down with a slight sigh of relief before grimacing and continuing, looking like he ate a sour berry.
"Cultivators chase immortality like a moth to a flame. Cultivators are born able to absorb the energy of the world. We humans call this energy Qi. I say born to do it because that seems to be how people are chosen to join the clans or sects... I don't really know which term is correct."
He looks at me before smiling softly and slowly reaching a hand out towards my head before stopping himself half way. "I don't want to be rude, or presumptuous, but may I pet your head. You remind me of my old friend Brutus. He passed away on me 2 years ago... I miss him, he was such a good boy."
Oooooohhhh, I wonder what type of dog Brutus was to be almost as big as I am... I nod my head and scoot closer to him before sitting down again. "You can do so as long as you keep telling me things about humans."
"I can agree to that. Before that though, I was serious earlier. When talking to you and your parents outside the gate. You all, including your other siblings if you have any, are more than welcome to visit Alvin's Rest. That's what the founder of the village I live in called it. I don't know who Alvin was, but hopefully he liked the village and would be proud to see where it is now." He stares into the distance at that statement, his eyes staring into the early evening sky, the soft stroke of his hand on my head ceases. With a shake of his head and the resuming of his tale, as well as the gentle pets, he continues. "We owe you our lives. We live in that forest, not anywhere near the center, for the founder feared the spirit beasts who lived there... I don't know if it was your parents, but they were described as angry large birds in the tales passed down by the old gossipers in the village. Do stop by some time, ya hear?"
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
I nod but gently prod his leg with a paw for a bit of emphasis "You were talking bout Cultivators?"
"Right .... right, well, every year, a Cultivator comes to any town around this size, where upon all the nearby villages and the town itself bring the children who turn 5 that year to visit them. The Cultivator does something to them... "Testing their spirit roots" is what he called it. If any kid is found "acceptable" the cultivator tells them he will return for them when they become 10 years old. Most find this as a reason to celebrate. The cultivator usually gives the parents some money or a generous donation of preserved or spiritual foods.... This gift in my opinion is just a bribe for you to not stop them..." His other hand clenches on the bench he sits on. "Poisoned fruit is all it is.... Oli...."
He stands at this time, brushing off his pants. "Anyway, that's about all I can easily tell you about the cultivators... you should probably expect some form of payback or retaliation, but from what little I could see of that fight, I don't think the local sect will have anyone capable of matching your Dad's strength. I wouldn't worry to much about it..." The smile on his face looks forced to my eyes.
"I'll definitely come visit your village. Maybe I can stay for a while every now and then, I do like to hunt after all... I doubt anyone would say no to some free food..." I give him a wolf grin, but based on the way he flinches back, it must look scarier than I intended. Ooops... "Well, being as there isn't much else to really see here, what do you normally do? Sell the goods and leave or wait a night?"
"We usually just wait a night, if'n you and your parents don't mind.... we'd like to rest here for the day, and start the treck back tomorrow." I just nod and give him a boop with a paw before heading towards the hamlet's "gate" "We will meet you at the gate in the morning. I think I need to speak with Mom and Dad anyway..."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mom and Dad were waiting at the gate itself, seemingly having removed the cultivators bodies. If my nose is correct, the meat wasn't wasted. Dad speaks up as soon as I am within Qi Speech range that would be private speech.
"Dranau, how did you hide from us earlier? We were talking about it while you led the humans on a good walk through town. We can't figure out how you did it. Neither I or Nasha have any affinity for hiding."
This is news to me... What did I do?
With a questioning tilt of the head followed by a plop of me sitting down in front of the 2 of them I just admit the truth. "I have no idea what you mean... I was sitting there, you guys were fighting, I figured I should not be there. My Qi seemed to agree with this and did... whatever it is that it did..."
The non answer doesn't seem to help them at all as they speak privately to each other for a moment. Mom, with a bit of concern, looks at me before sitting next to me.
"Little moon, you have been born with a gift it seems. Normally spirit beasts inherit the powers of their parents, either Mother or Fathers powers usually. Your Dad there was gifted with strength and durability, same as his dad, and his dad's dad, and so on and so on. I inherited my dad's agility and grace. Neither of us can do.... whatever that was." She nuzzles my head, letting out a soft chuff into my fur, leaning into me a bit more for her own comfort.
"We might need to seek .... help ... from a .... friend." This is either hard for her to admit, or the relationship is complex based off her hesitance... I should reassure her...
"It'll be ok Mom, I can figure this Qi stuff out. I've been doing great this far!" My tail wags behind me with my own enthusiasm, earning a chuckle from Dad, and what I can only describe as a chuff of sheer exasperation from Mom.
"Oh Little moon, I wish anything about what you just said was true.... When we get back we are going to have to go visit your grandparents, and then maybe my Dad or your Dad's Dad can figure out which friend to call upon. Those old fools should know someone who will be able to help us.... well, at least they should be able to help me and Talloe... I don't think there is any way to help you at this point...."
I want to take offense at her prodding but just wolf grin while my tail starts to speed up, kicking up a bit of dust behind me. "Mom, I had a great idea just now" Dad fails to restrain his laughter at this and Mom just deflates. "Little moon, that just makes me worry more."
