New bonds and characters appear. But do they have the best intentions?
And a rescue mission puts loyalty and a new goal to the test.
Enjoy.
The leafbook was something Eva has never heard of.
And she feels a bit dumb about the whole thing.
The nice shopkeeper of her kind was generous enough to lend one to the both of them. But she couldn't accept a gift without giving anything in return. Since she couldn't reward the shopkeeper with money for the first product, she decided to buy whatever equipment he had selling on him.
He did have a great variety of swords that took Eva a moment to wonder which one would be the right one to have-
But that quickly turned into buying one sword of very kind.
Roland simply watched her buy their new weapons. Maybe he thinks they'll be great in battle too.
Eva, however, was thinking instead how a variety of swords would be a great collection in the future. The Jade Katana was excellent against dealing with nature monsters and the Bleeding Edge looked ready to deal with some swift heavy damage. The Sirens Saber looked graceful yet cunning. The Greening Glave held an elemental and healing touch in her hold. And the Cloudcutter was a swift blade for easy light enemies to handle. They weren't stronger than her damp broadsword but they all held an enchanting strength in their possession.
She paid the shopkeeper with the amount of gold she had on her after Nella gave her new clothes back at the castle. The pockets in her skirt held a decent amount of gold that was meant for emergencies.
Nella had given it to her probably when she thought she'd join them in their new journey.
She pushes the rest of her thoughts away.
Eva decides to give the leafbook to Roland to experiment with. She doesn't know why he looks so amused as he flips through. Maybe he's had something like that before…
Her thoughts turns to the device in his hands. She hasn't heard of it till now and she's trying to figure out why. Did Nella have one before? Was she not allowed to have one until a certain age? She couldn't help but to wonder if it would have helped her more in figuring out about the other countries and it's rulers. Knowing about the occurring news was helpful too.
But right now, she didn't want to read it.
Eva rather not hear about the people of the world are wondering if she's dead or not.
She turns to Roland and…... he's still grinning? For what reason, she doesn't know…. The smile never leaves his face. She'll ask about it later.
They say goodbye to the shopkeeper and she hopes they run into each other again. The sign of seeing a another grimalkin alive made her feel normal after the past 24 hours. Now that Mausinger was in control…who knew what he was doing to the grimalkin. She only hoped her kind wasn't dead.
The only things in their way throughout the maze of the canyon are the hopping glob monsters made from a gooey substance. Eva couldn't help but to touch it to see what it felt like-
Then it jumps her and knocks her to ground. She sees green for a second and then it's Roland's deadpanned why did you do that face. She chuckled nervously as he continued to stare down at her. The Higgledies around her are also in a ditzy confusion, giving her cute head tilts.
She knew the consequences….. but she was too curious. And she has to admit….the feeling of danger is becoming rather...exciting.
….Only a little.
She has to make sure not to tell Roland that.
Eva gets up to keep moving when she sees a certain plant on the ground…is that a-
She runs forward, past a clueless Roland and surprising the Higgledies, and towards the plant she's been dying to see from the books she's read.
"A propped Leaf Clover!" He hears her squeal.
Roland isn't sure what he knows what going on but all he's sees is a plant besides her.
"What is it?" Was it magical?
"A Propped Leaf Clover. It grows only in Cloudcoil Canyon. The leaves spin, giving off a small little breeze." She enjoys the wind sailing towards her face as she's crouched down. The Higgledies around her are mimicking her. He grunts for her attention.
"The is hardly the time for a botany lesson Eva…." He sighed. The girl is being carried away lately. She's still a child. So her childish nature is expected but at a time like this…..
He couldn't help but to scold her for her antics. At times, she was very easily amused and curious.
Don't get him started with the glob monster. He looks away for one second, knowing she can take it on, and it jumps at her as she tries to get closer to touch it.
Why? He doesn't know, but he feels like his job got a lot harder around Eva….
"Alright. Sorry, I just haven't seen them in person…." She pulls herself up, taking her eyes off the plant. "Yes, we should get going." She walks off deeper into the canyon. She may be easily amused but she truly knew how to pick herself up. He eyes the plant once more and walks away.
Besides the monster fighting, the canyon in a sight to see.
Eva takes a moment to awe the view, walking around the edges of the canyon to see the huge asymmetrical boulders of dangerously sharp edges and skulls belonging to creatures unknown. She may be reckless but Roland knows for sure she won't bungee jump.
"That's quite the view."
"Yes…Its breathtaking." He sees her walk in the distance to get an eye full of the surrounding. He follows her like one of the main Higgledies trailing behind her. He thinks it's the one with the red scarf that's the leader, or somehow acts like it.
Something catches Eva's eye and hurries to inch closer. He does the same. But it's not trouble, but a disappointment. A large wooden ladder leading to the higher level ground is broken.
"Damn, there's no way up." He inspect it to see if it's even stable. "But we need to keep moving…." Eva stared upward.
Then a bubbly squeal catches their attention. The higgedly with the red scarf is jumping around, it's tiny arms flapping, almost dancing. He can never tell if their always excited or love to just move.
Or they want something? The higgedly was inching away, motioning them to get closer with its wailing arms. "Its looks like it wants us to follow." Eva catches on, following behind once it's noticing her movement and sprints into a run. He and Eva have no choice but to catch up fast. Their up and down the canyon for a moment and stop at a dead end. The little guy is around a pile of rocks and summons his friends to huddle around the top. What are they-
A green of their kind pops up from above. One with a scarf of it's own..
"Ah so that's it. It wanted to help it's pal."
"Ah we have more now!" Her eyes are back to shining again. She really adores these things, doesn't she?
The green hiddlegy that was dancing with it's friend coming towards Eva. A green aura surrounds it body and he senses a strange familiar atmosphere from Eva. She takes in her breath.. "Oh! A spell? Is this how you pass it around?"
A spell?
Did it give her magic?
"Thank you." She smiles at the new hiddgely and tells him she earned a new spell. Noticing the bright look on her face as if a bulb flashed inside her head, she told him to follow her to the same plant they had found earlier nearby. She waits for the higgedly to go in front. The neon green little guy summons a glowing aura of green towards the plant and a vortex of wind appears, disappearing he plant inside. The higgedly jumps in the vortex, and immediately is propped into the high air, landing in one of the higher grounds. "Guess we know how to reach up there now."
Tracing back to their steps all the way passed the broken ladder, they make it back to the original propped Leaf Clover. They were exploring new ground they couldn't reach before to go deeper into the canyon. New monsters and heights at every turn, suddenly they were nearing a plain land full of empty space.
The entire trip to canyon was quiet, she noticed. Hardly anyone but her and Roland were around. She wondered why was that when she hears a buzzing sounds belong to an engine a mile away. Her feline ears twitch and alarm her entire nerves system.
Grimalkin, as she remembers her father's words, start to gain higher senses as they grow older. Since she was half grimalkin, her senses weren't at full capacity like a normal grimalkin. But her senses were sharp enough.
These acute senses happen only the grimalkin almost becomes a teenager, around the age of 16. But there was another way to gain your abilities quite early.
By unforgettable experiences.
If a grimalkin faces a series of severely emotional events they can easily trigger their higher senses sooner regardless of age.
She thought it was strange back then when she could hear things from a far angle. After Mausinger's takeover, she feft something change and evolve inside. Almost facing death must have brought out her senses. But she wonders if her sight and touch will change soon. Eva remembers her father eyes practically glowed in the dark once.
Night vision. Only a rare breed of grimalkin can do that. Grimalkin were nocturnal people, yes. But navigating in the dark was a technique. A normal grimalkin could see the night as it was, with the night's stars and silhouettes around them. Night vision was an ability to hide and sneak in the dark like your own playground. Some mouse-kin even had it.
Her father didn't know If she could do it too, being half grimalkin took some strength away,…but if so, her eyes would have to glow yellow.
But even so, she needed to test out her sight.
The buzzing engine is coming close.
It's worrisome for some odd reason. And the fact Roland that can't hear it, he's staring forward but he glances at her just at the moment. Not her, but specifically her ears.
"What's wrong?"
She looks back and there's nothing there. Then she feels a twinge of a sound go upward. Her eyes widened. It's coming from the sky-
Before she even calls out for Roland she steps back as a gush of wind fiercely flies past them.
Oh no.
Those idiots.
Honestly, its just straight to the spear and ambush with these two! It was code to take anyone in that wasn't part of tribe. But there was no need to scare people away.
They're not viscous monsters for crying out loud!
He steered his automobile downward, away from the clouds and towards the four people on the ground. The two knuckleheads had them wrapped in nets they use only for catching meat and fish.
And then he's sees her.
The frightened look she has when she turns to the helpless older man as she's clawing the net. Her eyes shadow itself until she looks up.
And then there's the look of murder.
He starts accelerating, fast.
Roland knew something was wrong the moment he saw those cat-like ears twitch. He heard a sound just now but he saw her ears move a couple of minutes ago. He's seen what Eva's ability can do for them in times of need, back when they encountered Aunt Martha. But the look on Eva has him questioning what's about to happen.
Before Eva could open her mouth, a gush of wind almost pushes them to the ground. The sound of a propeller and an engine in the wind ring in his ears. Two planes, he sees, flying forward and making a swift turn their way. He sees the mischievous look on their perpetrator's faces.
Eva's behind him look wearily at the strangers in the air. Two planes come their way and split in opposite directions, circling around them.
"This doesn't look good."
"What are they?..."
Roland manages to guess they could be the sky pirates Aunt Martha mentioned. But these guys being on planes wasn't a good sign.
And then the net spirals from above them..
Their hands are tied down. Or, well locked in place by a mini guillotine, just without the blade. Their perpetrators are two guys with loose bright garments. One's muscle bearing and big and other is slim and lanky. The two start talking and the first thing he catches is the savvy abbreviation in their words.
"Ye're brave indeed wand'rin into these parts uninvited….that, or ye're never have heard o' the Cloud Snake."
Yeah, their pirates alright.
He takes a sneak glance at Eva and she has a cold stare to the older men. While her eyes are dead straight her mouth is wavering, trying to hold it still by her teeth. She's still frazzled by the net he guesses. She was clawing it earlier. He wasn't so sure but her nails looked sharper than usual when she was trying to escape.
Or maybe it's grimalkin thing.
He glares up at their ambushers, "Sorry, but we're not from around here." He says dryly.
"We have something important to do beyond this canyon. Let us go through." Eva demanded. Even in an unfortunate event, she was acting like she was their boss.
The two pirates raises their eyebrows and look at another. The lanky one smiles with a glint in his eyes.
"Oh do ye? I'll tell ya lassie what we simply must do. String ya up for comin' to spy on our secret base!" The burly man exclaims.
The lanky pirate nods. "Aye, Ye've broken rule 7, section D o' the Pirate Aviation Code. An' the punishment for breaking a crime…"
"-Is death!" He announces with glee as if he's wants to scare the crap out of them. He tried to cough up the words of reason when Eva speaks up.
"Is that so?...we'll go ahead." The challenging look on her eye has him do a double take.
He's seen it before, but at a time like this-
"Because if you think death is the worse thing you can do to me, then your severely mistaken."
The pirates are taken back by Eva as she bravely stands up on her two feet, waiting for their next move. Unknown to them, Roland picked up a tone of grief in that last part. But they're armed, this was no time to-
The pirates looking insulted, spoke. "An' we we're begin'nin to think to spare the lass since we don't harm little gals. But now…." They pulled out their crossbows aimed at Eva, who still didn't flinched. He was about to stand to be in front of her when he notices her staring at him. Her feline ears are moving slightly. What is she-
And then he hears It. Another engine coming from right behind the two pirates.
"Sad thing really…." One of them starts. "Ye' the same age as-"
He doesn't finish as he abruptly stops to turn back coming almost face to face with a plane in between his partner and himself as they narrowly duck for cover. The plane flies in front of the sun until a figure leaps high, landing in between them.
A boy from their group. Roland takes a guess from the clothes he wears. A half open green sleeveless vest with a sharp tooth necklace around his neck. Aside from the short unruly maroon hair, he has a few painted marks on his face….. The only normal thing he's wearing is white baggy shorts.
And the animal fur cape. What's up with kids wearing capes in this world?
The pirates stand back in shock.
"Master Tony?!"
Tony pulled himself up and stared down at the two dimwits. "And who gave you two the right to enact death?"
"Why they're trespassers Tony. They-"
"What would The Boss think if you two pulled something like that without his permission, hm? I'd bet he'd enjoy hearing what you two would have to say."
He crossed his arms. His back was facing the older man and the girl. First, he has to deal with these two.
"Well? Did you think they're spies?" He outstretched his arms to prove a point. "Do they look like spies to you? Honestly, they wouldn't act this hostile if you two didn't throw a net over them!"
He let his voice echo over the canyon. The two older pirates in front of him slumped over in defeat. He sighed. The older man and the girl were unaware of where they were heading into. Even if they had managed to clear some of the monsters in the canyon, he can tell by the direction these two were going, that their final destination isn't their base. But near it.
But the newcomers are still strangers. So they had to be at base right away to know if they had good intentions. He knows they do, after all she doesn't look harm-
"So you're the one I heard coming by." A soft voice rings behind him, belonging to the only person he thinks of as he spins around to see her.
And her eyes are a wonder up close.
Just like the sky.
Wait. "You heard me?"
"Yes. I heard the sound of a plane coming again." The blonde grimalkin tilts her head. "You were….going really fast." Her eyes look up really thinking about the moment.
She knew he was rushing to get here? He feels the warmness glow from his cheeks and to his ears.
That's embarrassing…. Tony looks away to hide his face and lightly scratches his hair. "Well…., it's my job to make sure these guys aren't too harsh. Because bloody heck-we're not a bunch of animals!" He barks at the other two still unable to look him in the eye.
"Oh!" She's back to into his view. "I see…You we're trying to save us…. Thank you."
She smiles at him and he can't help but be giddy and grin right back.
He's never met a kid completely different from him. Sure, there are kids at the base but they we're hardly any his age and hardly interesting to talk to.
And he's never had a friend that was a girl before. He's staring at her in fascination. It feels like it's just her and him there-
"Ahem. If your not a threat, would you mind letting us go?" Another voice pops up. He hardly noticed the other man next to her still on his knees. He's giving him a weird look…and sends him back to reality.
"You have to be taken to Batu first." He address this as a matter a fact. "But don't worry, my dad will do the right thing. He'll make sure your okay." He says that line in particular while facing the girl. She stares back. "One way or the other, we will make it to The King's Cradle." Her determined eyes stood by her answer.
So that's where they're going. Tony wanted to know more but he needed to get back to business. He turned back to his fellow pirates and called out to them. "Take them back to base, before I tell him you've forgotten whose in charge!"
"Yes Sir…." Tony smiled to himself. Everything was settled.
Eva observed the way Tony handle everything.
Like a ruler.
Even though she suspected that he wasn't the one in charge,...and yet he still took care of the problem. She sense that when he was younger like her, he also had the power for control. And the status of a ruler besides them.
She wonders what his father is like.
She sits on the ground next to Roland. "I think we can trust him Roland."
"Hm…or we could wait for an opening, and run-"
Tony's voice took command "Alright! You too take this lot back to base. I'm going to scout some more. And quick, the wyverns are on the prowl…."
"Too late…" Eva lips slowly curved up. Roland next to her dropped his head in a sigh. Out of the corner of her eye, Tony's waving at her.
The pirate's base is a gigantic looking fortress. It's bigger then what he thought it'll be. Roland looks around and can tell a lot of years went into the making of their "base."
He's impressed. Greatly, if he wasn't cuffed.
The pirates take them inside, where the villagers look at them at awe and fascination at the "trespassers" who dare cross their land. They stop in front of a hut and a few villagers. The residents asked what trespassers want until their captors interrupt them to call for the boss.
No one knows where the guy is at the moment and but he slowly sees the one of the villagers freeze and gasp. Heavy footsteps stomp behind him. As more villagers step back in fright, he and Eva turn to see their captors step to the side as a huge pirate man with a mustache appears before them.
"Well' what ye' have here?"
Well now.
Batu was having a nice stroll until he heard a commotion in the distance.
Who in the darn blazes is making such a racket?
Batu walks over to one of the huts of where there's a crowd of his people gathering around. He can't see what's going on but he sees some blue and someone really pintsize. Or is that a little runt?
He makes his way, where two of his fellow pirates went out this morning to scout came back. They were blocking the view of the strangers he never laid eyes on. He comes really close when the thunderheads finally realize he is right next to them.
They clear the path-and it's man with a coat and-a little lassie?
A grimalkin lassie. From the land of Ding Dong Dell, probably.
The trespassers are forced on their knees. "Ye must be the trespassers loitering around the Canyon, or so as I hear."
"With good reason, if you hear us out." Goes the older one.
"We have to go the King's Cradle. Please let us through." The short lassie looks up, a fire he sees in her eyes.
Well now, from what the others are saying there were up to no good the moment they set foot on their turf.
The code must be obeyed. So obviously the penalty for these straddlers is death. The two of them try to reason or impress him.
So the lassie was royalty. That could have come in handy if they had a random deal,...but there was no point in it now regarding the coup, she isn't that important anymore. Their needless efforts die down when he hears Chingis from behind.
"Oi Boss, its Tony!"
His son?
When it comes to his blood lad, everything gets put on hold just for him. He'll one day take over the tribe in his stead. Even at this age, his boy holds reigns just like him. He's proud of the little scamp. Once he knew how to fight and fly, he should be off well on his own.
Tony never needed much help from him.
His boy was independent and strong. Just like himself, he thinks proudly.
Chingis breaks his thoughts. "The Wyverns have held him hostage! They said they'll let him live-but only if we up sticks right away an' never come back!"
Snakes alive! "The devils!" They have his son locked up this time for sure now. Those devil flying snakes have always tried to run them out of the land. "They pick my boy where he's lower his guard, haven't they?" He growls.
In return, those monsters want him and his people to high tail out of here.
The situation is too dire. Once those devils notice they go and leave to retrieve his boy, for sure they'll take the chance to wipe out all the woman and children at base.
No. He can't risk it. His boy may be his only by blood, his only son given by his passed wife, the only one he had raised to become a strong lad like himself-
He can't save him.
Batu pushes aside his heart for his duty. His duty to become the chief.
Except the nagging part of him is telling him that his wife will soon be disappointed.
He shut his eyes. He dreaded something like this. Where he can't save his son, because sooner or later he'd have to grow up to save himself.
Kunblah objects to his decision, and by the sounds of the others, so do they.
But he's made his decision.
Until a lassie pipes up.
"You can't!"
Eva can't take this anymore.
The boy who helped her and Roland get a chance to keep living is being left behind by his own father!
She knew why the chief made his decision. But he couldn't completely overlook saving him another way! Tony was his son. His family. If there's one thing she knows is that losing family is not something anyone should experience.
It's a terrible ache that pains you forever.
Not only that, Tony saved them.
The favor had to be returned.
"I'll do it! I'll save him and bring him back!" That way Batu and his people can be safe and guard their land.
Batu doesn't take well to this but she doesn't stop. "You have to let us save him. Let us try. Tony saved our lives after all." Eva tries her hardest to hold her ground.
Bur Batu is a challenge. "Somethin' tell me that's not what ye' after lassie."
He thinks they'll run away once their set free. "We won't run." She standsa bit straighter to mean it. "We promise to bring him back. You have my word as…"
What was she now? She wasn't a princess anymore and she wasn't queen yet until she had her kingmaker. But nonetheless, knowing her family lineage and oaths, keeping a promise was an essential trait that should be treated with the utmost respect and will.
"You have my word."
She doesn't break eye contact with Batu. He's staring at her. Almost looking for a crack in the shell of her eyes to lose it's focus.
His look becomes suspicious. "Just what are you plannin' lassie? I won't stand for any more o' yer trickery."
She grounds her teeth. "Its not trickery!" Eva takes in a breath to calms herself. "I…..I have to live. I have to become a queen to rule a kingdom where everyone can be happy and live without worry!"
Batu scoffed. "You had yer' chance lassie. And ye' ran all the way up here with your tail between yer' legs, didn't ya?" He crossed his arms as he made his point. "These lands are rife with war an' misery. No one here is buildin' a happy realm around here anytime soon. Especially not some livy-livered princess who mislaid her crown."
She lets the last part struck her in the chest. As if a lighting bolt pierced heart. Her crown had been mislaid. Yes, it was true.
No matter how she looked at it, Eva will never deny the feelings of doubt of deserving the crown in the first place. She eyes her hands still cuffed by the wood.
Have I been misused again? She thinks.
She clutches her fingers in a fist.
No. Because I refuse to do nothing this time.
"Fine then." She looks up at those challenges eyes of his. " I will create a kingdom to end war and misery. I will seek out to unite the kingdoms in peace!"
Her new mission. Peace for all. Not just her future kingdom, but for everyone who won't suffer any more.
"What's that now? Not just a princess are you? But a princess of the whole blessed world, eh lassie?" She doesn't let his mocking tone hold her down.
Eva nods. "I'll do it. I will be the Queen to bring peace back to the world! No matter what!" Her final statement she delivers to him is her goal to accomplish.
And it's met with met laughter of the people around them. She stares up at Batu who isn't laughing among them. But giving her the challenging stare if she meant her words.
She sharpens her eyes for her answer.
And then Batu silences his people. Goes to ask her one more time if she states the truth.
She givers her answer, but she decides to struck a deal. "Of course I do. I will be a Queen that will bring peace to all. And if I can't save Tony, then I don't deserve it. What ruler would let someone die before they can bring peace? Let us go in search of him, and if we can't save him, then you have every right to kill us." Eva can't bring peace if Tony can't be saved. Her goal and will as Queen would mean nothing if she couldn't save people nor keep her word.
Nor return the favor.
Slowly, Batu grins. "Alright then, ye've got yourself a deal."
Roland let out a sigh once it was all over.
They had miraculously dealt with the stubborn pirate and was impressed by Eva's negotiations. He almost thought it was over for them, but luckily Eva pulled through. Roland didn't mind saving the pirate kid. After all, he did save them, only partially to live for a little longer.
He came to the conclusion that Tony was a good kid. He guessed that he takes from his old man, but doesn't entirely. After all, by his words they aren't immediately killed.
Roland asks Batu where they can find his son. The buff older man tells them they have to go the Wyverns Cave. But before they go they're allowed to get some supplies before they set off. Eva hurries him saying that they have to leave right away if they want to save Tony faster. As he agrees with her, Roland catches Batu studying Eva as she spoke those words.
Roland's no fool. He saw the hurt and grief in the pirate's eyes and tone when he made the decision to leave his own flesh and blood behind. He has a son of his own, it's not easy to disregard your kid like that.
Thinking back to son, he hoped he was alright. He gmhas no idea what's happened to him.
He sighed. Too many deaths are just aching to happen in this world.
It's good thing he and Eva are going to change that.
Roland and Eva meet with Gerel, who runs the weaponry and supplies shop for them to get ready. Unlike everyone they meet throughout the base, she doesn't immediately tell them their goal is useless and their fighting for naught. Instead she politely asks for what weapons we'll be needing against the Wyverns. Roland notices she keeps looking at Eva with an interesting and sorrowful gaze. They get a couple to Cutlasses and head off when Gerel tells them to bring Tony back home safely.
Eva smiles and reassures they will. The green haired shopkeeper smiles back. It seems like she's the only one worrying in the outside. He thinks she may be Tony's governess or his caretaker when he was a lot younger.
He looks to study her again.
She looks oddly like another green haired woman...
"Roland! Let's go! We have no time to waste." Eva's tugging at his coat before he's pushing his thoughts away.
"Right." He follows her as they head. He lets his thoughts be kept to the side as he comes back to find out later….
They run into multiple enemies.
Pintsize enemies that is. There isn't much competition or worry when they run into hostile five inch hamsters with bats a little higher than themselves. Roland has to aim and swing lower.
Or bop them on the head.
Whichever works for these guys. The only problem is that there's loads of them. If there happens to be dozens, then Roland takes out his gun while Eva fires up her damp broadsword with fire magic.
They can't waste too much time.
"You think Tony is okay?" Eva asks while he's finishing his last set of shots at his foes.
"He's fine. They wouldn't negotiate a deal if they didn't keep him alive."
Up above the road they a find steep narrow passage leading downward. They slowly make their way down when they see a green dragon like creature upright like a human being.
Their close to the Wyverns Cave. Roland peers behind the mountain wall and sees three Wyverns outside. It was like their fight back then to save Aunt Martha, only they were a bit outnumbered. He turns to Eva, "Let me head in first, then come to help on the offense."
They managed to take down a Wyvern before, sure, but having a surprise attack could really benefit in their advantage.
"Alright. And I'll take the last one off your hands while you surprise it."
He blinks. What? There was only three of them. One for each and one last one to handle…..
"You think this is a competition?" The recklessness in her just pop up whenever it pleases, doesn't it?
Eva stretches her smile slowly, almost intentionally sly. "It could be."
Nope. Her recklessness was always there.
And yet, he can't help smirking at the thought of beating the last one first. "That depends who gets it first, you know."
She stares at him for a moment before she declares war. "Your on!"
Immediately forgetting his plan, she runs into battle. He shakes his head but chuckles as follows behind.
Next up, we get our kingmaker.
Notes:
Before I move ahead. The relationship between Eva and Tony will be just be friendship. They're preteens, I think its more appropraite here. I'm not a fan of love or romance at a young age. Puppy love/crushes? Sure. But not for this story. I don't want to distract them.
That doesn't mean I won't tease some bits... It is a cute ship after all.
I was struggling to find a good name for Tani so I went with the obvious short name for him. I hope it sticks here?...It was the shortest and easiest name close to the counterpart. Sorta like Eva/Evan.
New features and benefits for the grimalkin race will be added in the story. I feel like they didn't emphazise enough in the game on what makes them unique aside from the cat ears and tail.
There's less fighting here-I plan to have that saved for the next chapter when the team rescues Tony. And going through the trial. I settled for some light humor here. And more character angst/
(Maybe it's just me but while playing throught the game did Gerel remind anyone of Aranella? It's almost as if she had a pirate sister. It's probably just me...)
And our man Roland will have a bit more perspective/insight than this chapter after he sees how Eva and the new party members get along...and has thoughts about home.
