More than a year soon passed for the crew of the Last Crux. In this time, Rorack has finally gotten Viper to be a halfway decent sailor, and Dustin is now a competent fighter. The three have had many adventures, from fighting rogues to making supply runs for terra. They also made a few discoveries and were making a name for themselves as an explorer team. With all their savings, Dustin has also spent a lot of time at his work table, thinking hard at times and drawing. Viper and Rorack are unsure what he is doing most of the time and just left him to his own devices. Now they were heading for Raptor territory to visit Viper's tribe. Viper feels the need to return to show the tribe his triumphs.
Dustin, as much as he understands Raptor culture, still can't fully wrap his head around certain things. Such as the need to not heal the scars of the kills he has gotten, nor the idea of using the skull he has gained from the giant cat creature on the Blizzarian terra. Mainly, he does worry that if he and any others that will be part of the crew have to wear armor to protect themselves in a fight, would the need for trophies and pride get in the way of safety.
As for Dustin's end of things, he has hardly changed much besides growing bigger as he passes his birthday and cutting his hair down to a manageable size as they get in the way of his work. He did get a nice flight jacket from Suzy that would keep him warm enough if he revisits her terra. A very poofy and stuffed thick coat would travel a foot below his waist seems to be doing its job whenever he visits a cold climate terra or flies the ship up higher than the clouds. Something Rorack and Viper complain about whenever they get the chance.
"How is the landing gear, Rorack? Is it still holding up?" Dustin asks.
Rorack huffs as he comes up onto the bridge with a large wrench over his shoulder. "Hardly. I had to lock some parts to make it stick. You can still retract, but don't expect all gears to be down at the same time."
Oh yeah. That is another thing. Their ship is becoming worse as the flights take them through many different climates and environments, taking their toll on the old beater. Dustin, and even Viper, admit that if it weren't for Rorack, they would have fallen out of the sky at least six months ago.
"After this trip, we are heading to the Aquanos shipyards," Dustin informs as they start to land, feeling the shift in the ship after the landing gear touches the ground.
Loud creaking seems to agree with them as the ship settles into place. "We need to brace it all in the meantime," Viper hisses while walking up and looks toward the only central docking bay on the terra. "I will lead you two into my tribe. They would not be friendly that much otherwise unless you have a good offering or deal," he warns before walking off to his room.
"Right, I will go check our water supply real quick," Dustin says, grabbing the longsword next to the controls as he goes.
"I'll start locking down the ship," Rorack mentions as he starts with his room to grab supplies. "And if I see a big fat rat on this bridge when we come back, I am blaming you two!" he warns in a fatherly tone that makes the two younger crew members flinch.
"That was all Viper, and you know it," Dustin calls.
"And yet you are the captain," Rorack reminds.
"And you are the quartermaster," Dustin fires back.
Viper grunts as he pulls a sled of supplies and his trophies along the desert terra with Dustin and Rorack walking behind him. The trek, which is going on for at least three hours by Dustin's account, is long and strenuous on account of them hardly being made for walking this long in this style of terra. Viper, though, rarely shows the more troubling signs of exhaustion and damage because of the added pulling effort he is doing.
As they crest over a small hill, all three come upon circles of huts surrounding a much larger one. All of them seem to be made of thick hides and large branches as if like round rib cages as taut rope and strings are tied at the center pillar out of the top to other central posts from the other huts. Dustin measures how the home is made and figures it can hold up in a fierce sandstorm and possibly some attacks. With the ropes and strings tying the huts' tips, he can think it's for stability and comfortable reparability if something happens anyway.
Viper laughs and, with renewed vigor, he travels down the hill to the settlement. When Dustin looks to where Viper was standing, he notices a deep cave that reaches down into the sand. Though it seems to be reinforced by hard sandstone and some massive rocks, which he bets the raptors have found on their travels around the area. Dustin peers closer and sees thick colored smoke spilling out of the hole.
"Come on. Don't just stand there," Viper calls in a warning tone.
Both Dustin and Rorack rush down to catch up, fearing they could be speared or have something deadly thrown their way. As they walk up the village, they start to see other raptors in either hide as clothing, with some having skulls and bones on various parts of their body as a form of basic armor or rather the stitched clothing Dustin and Rorack are used to seeing. Another raptor with a crossbow standing between a large gap of the huts spots the three and aims. But when Viper raises an arm and waves, the guard raptor takes another look and lowers his gun.
"Viper…you have returned, and…" the raptor stops when he notices the giant skull on Viper's shoulder that has large fangs wrapping around his arm.
"I need to see the shaman, now," Viper demands, putting the rope to the sled down.
The raptor growls before huffing. "Go on. Your companions have to relinquish their weapons, though."
Dustin indistinctly places a hand on the handle of his sword, and he hears a rope strain and creaks. When he looks to the side, he notices another raptor aiming at him with his crossbow. Dustin slowly takes his hand off the handle and sees the crossbow lowering down, but still watched by the new guard.
"Do it. We hardly trust outsiders a lot," Viper instructs, throwing a glance back at the two.
"Think you can handle this weapon, little one?" Rorack asks, showing his hammer.
The first guard hisses at him as if daring him to use the thing. "Watch your tone. They would kill for less if you weren't with me," Viper hisses in a whisper tone to the massive wallop. "Just take it away," Viper answers for them.
Rorack huffs as more raptors start to approach, and he drops the hammer to one, and the guard grunts as he falls to the ground under the heavy weight. Dustin snarks as he hands his longsword to another raptor who looks at the hammer in the wonder of the load. Then that wonder turns to surprise as more and more raptors join in lifting it off the ground to end up with five able bodies needed to move it at all.
"You know where the shaman is," the first guard says, nodding his head in the direction of the cave that Dustin saw.
Viper gives a hissing acknowledgment before walking off towards the cave. Both Dustin and Rorack start to follow as Dustin looks back to the sled to see where it is going. He then becomes surprised and sees another set of raptors walk up to take the sled, but they weren't like the other guys. They seem more female. The most significant telling sign of this is their large hip size and even chest size with some of the new group. Sometimes their hair in many takes and forms like how any other terran wears them. As for clothing, it does match the style of the guards with either hides or stitched clothing for a select few. A glinting shine blinds Dustin for a second or two, and he notices the gold jewelry pieces on various parts of their body to show off, but only a few had them. Dustin keeps watching as they look over the sled before taking the rope and dragging it into the village.
"Surprised?" Viper asks, stopping and noticing the stare Dustin was giving the raptor females. Dustin blushes a little and nods. Viper gives a hissing snark before smirking. "Yes. They are our females. How else are we born from eggs?" he remarks before going into the cave down carved steps.
"I thought you came from a stink egg," Dustin guessed.
Viper gives a low growl at that remark before they end up in a small round room, and an old-looking viper is sitting on the other side of a little fire eye them. Dustin then notices the two pelts wrapped around his neck and shoulders of sky shark hide and a stitched scaled lizard pelt. "Based on your scars and skull there, I assume your hunt was a success," he notes, sounding gravely with sand rubbing against his vocal cords. "Sit," he breathes out while reaching over to the side to grab something from a crate.
All three sit down in front of the fire, with Viper directly in front of the flames. The old raptor hums and takes out a few bottles with colored powder inside. He then grabs a fire crystal as well in his other hand. "I also assume that the proof of kills were taken off your hands?" he guesses.
Both Dustin and Rorack eye each other at that one, as if they wonder why Viper didn't take his kills with him. "Yes. Left at the entrance gate," Viper says respectfully.
'That was a gate?' Dustin thinks humorously as he didn't see any sign of doors or walls in that wide path.
"Good. The females shall bring the real kills," the shaman says hopefully as he brings out a small stone dish and sets it in front of him.
"Real kills?" Dustin asks without thinking.
Viper's tail smacks against Dustin's legs, making him grunt. "Hahaha. I like him," the shaman chuckles before coughing. "You will not believe the number of raptors that come in here with other raptors' kills or fake creatures. I was fooled two times. Never again. Our females can see which ones are fake even. Of course…if family, no."
Dustin raises an eyebrow, and Viper looks back at his questioning gaze. "I have a sister. She helps with certain details most can't see."
"And she cannot participate in this," the shaman points out while mixing the powders.
"Master, the kills are authentic," a voice informs, standing behind the group, and they turn to look to see a young female raptor smiling at Viper. "All kills, shields, and bones are not fabricated in any way," she explains, showing the hide of the feline he killed on the Blizzaria terra.
"Perfect. We can continue. Please bring all trophies to Viper's sister for her to look over and place in their home," the shaman instructs, throwing the fire crystal into the flames. The crystal explodes and creates an even more massive fire that almost singes the three. "Now. Tell your friends to wait outside. My assistant can help lead you to the chief."
"That would be me. Please follow," the female raptor says, leading Dustin and rorack to get up and follow her outside. "Sorry for the long rituals and lack of interaction. We hardly have any of our clan out on hunts in this generation," she apologizes as they walk back into the village.
"It is okay. This seemed very important to Viper, so we didn't make much of an argument when he told us," Dustin explains, smiling while looking the girl over and sees how much she is walking in a strut that shakes her hips. But he averts his eyes when the raptor looks back at him.
"Well, the chief shall be more inviting as we have told him of the kills that Viper has made. He is very proud of one of his clanmates making such kills. It is usually those on the terras or sky sharks. So many sky sharks," she voices before smiling. "And with a captain like you, you will be highly respected for leading him to such kills."
Dustin silently nods as Rorack chuckles a bit, seeing the raptors be reduced to dragging his hammer along the ground now. "Be nice, Rorack," Dustin instructed. Rorack keeps chuckling before clearing his throat to quiet down.
The raptor giggles and leads them to the center hut. She gives a wave with her tail to the guards on the side of the entrance while Dustin notices that the tail is very thick at the base while ending at a point at the end of the long tail. Rather than the males who have small tails that are thin already. "Right this way," she says, leading them past the guards who pull the leather flaps to the side to let them inside. "The chief is somewhat eager to talk to you," the raptor explains while the two walk inside.
Inside the larger hut, the two crewmates can see a much more open interior than what they could spy from their time walking past other homes and the shaman cave. Pelts and designs of fine threads almost cover the floor while bones, skulls, and weapons of various types hang from the wooden walls. Dustin steps aside from the fire in the middle of the area and then looks ahead to see the one raptor curious about him and Rorack.
The large muscled and bulky raptor, which might rival Rorack's strength and height, sits on an intricately carved stone stool covered by another small animal pelt. The scaled body is adorned with pieces of metal armor and stitched clothing, making it appear the chief can have sky knight levels of skill and strength. The slit eyes watch the two peer around his home before standing to almost the height of Rorack. He looks between the two before looking at Rorack. "Weapon," he calls, and the two becomes confused before they hear grunting and look to the entrance to see the five raptors struggling to drag the hammer in.
Rorack snickers under his breath, but a quick slap from Dustin, looking annoyed, makes him stop and clear his throat. The chief hisses in annoyance before walking over and grabbing the handle. "A wallop hammer. Useful for work in mines and buildings. But also for fighting," the chief prattles off as if reading the weapon description. He then grabs and hefts it over his shoulder while grunting a little. "Seems normal weight for a wallop," he summarizes before dropping it to the ground with a heavy thud as it leaves a sizeable hole to embed itself in. Another raptor approaches, this time with Dustin's longsword that the chief takes out and looks closely at the blade, even sliding his finger across the edge. "No real signs of battle. Only hunts. Yet, it still shines as if it was made yesterday," the chief finishes before throwing the blade at Dustin's feet, making him take a quick step back. "Hunts are one thing. Courage to do so is another," the chief recites before walking past the two and sits back down on his stone stool. "Did you drop or lead Viper into his hunts?" he asks, looking to the two, but Dustin can feel a denser air around him. It is almost as if the chief is looking towards him more than anything with a sharp gaze.
"We help Viper with some hunts, but those he requests no help with or it's his business are ones we don't interfere," Dustin informs.
The chief turns his gaze towards the boy as he seems to stare Dustin down before giving an amused hissing grunt. "The courage to ask. We were never good at it. I don't even care much about that aspect at all as long as you can fight just as much as if fighting by yourself. Now, I also hear that Viper has gathered a kill from the Blizzarian terra. One of a cat type creature. Is this correct? If so, this might be wholly interesting to me."
"Viper has a bit of momentum to show from that hunt. You can see his leg if you want," Dustin informs.
The chief let out a curious hiss before snarling and smiling. "For a captain such as yourself to vouch for him…I'll believe you. It's not the first of his nest to do something so courageous," he laughs.
"Viper hasn't told us of what happens now. Would you care to explain?" Rorack requests.
The chief smirks. "He would become a respected member and one of our own to call upon in a war. If the call happens, you must rush him back to us. As for the rest of the time, he can continue to hunt and work for you. At least he would be making money to send back to us, and his sister can help spend it around our little village. Nothing too egregious if your time is thinking of us is based on the crazy Raptor crew. The rest of us tend to receive bad reps because of those slime tails," he huffs before smiling more. "After this, you should see Viper and, if he allows, meet his sister. She would be excited to see his new crew."
"Before or after he chases us out for getting too close to his sister?" Rorack asks.
The chief keeps smiling before the entrance is pushed aside, and they all look to see Viper step inside. Only now, the two crewmates spy the stylized colored markings on the skull and the side of his head and arm. "Viper. Congratulations. How about you show your friends around? I am sure your sister must be done with your home right about now." Viper looks like he wanted to refuse but nods and motions them to follow. The chief laughs as they leave before grabbing both weapons left in the ground. "This hammer is shitting heavy," he mutters after making sure they are gone.
"What's so special about your sister that everyone keeps mentioning her?" Dustin finally questions, and he can see Viper's tail flick. He even sees other raptors eye them from those within earshot.
Viper groans as he leads them all to the farthest hut in the village. As they step closer to the shelter, a female raptor step outside for a few seconds and grabs a small crate nearby before noticing the three. She then smiles and waves at them happily while Dustin sees how bland the hut looks compared to most of the ones near the chief. "Brother, congratulations on finally finishing your hunt."
'She doesn't seem that bad. Why is she considered by both the shaman and chief in such regards anyway? She looks capable of fighting even,' Dustin thinks to himself in confusion.
"Yes, seen many things as well," Viper greets, smiling to her as something catches Dustin's eye.
The raptor grins before looking at Rorack and Dustin. "I'll say you are my brother's keeper. Well, thanks for keeping his dumb tail out of obvious trouble," she says before giggling mischievously as Viper groans. "Oh, ignore the older lizard. Nice to meet you two," she says, shaking their hands. "Name's Salv. Viper's younger sister," she introduces while Dustin notices a glint in her eyes that doesn't seem familiar when he looks at other raptors, Viper included.
"Crystals in your eyes?" Dustin asks, unsure.
Salv eyes Dustin before leaning over to Viper. "Hey, you didn't…"
"Not a word of it," Viper whispers back as they now both eye the young merchant.
Salv hums before slowly smiling. "What the heck? The word should have spread by now," she shrugs before shaking his hand again. "Hello. I am Salv. The only raptor to have crystals for eyes. And yes, I passed my trials despite what other tribes and nests say."
"I would never question that part. But I am wondering, how did this all happen?" Dustin questions as Viper eyes him heavily, daring him to do something else.
"Brother, be cordial," Salv says before bopping him in the snout.
Viper blinks and rubs his nose while Salv lets them inside the hut. "He's a handful, your brother," Rorack laughs as he steps inside with Dustin.
Salv rolls her glinting eyes. "Trust me. I know how he is," she remarks while Viper slowly steps in in front of her. "Okay…where to start?" she asks herself as Dustin and Rorack look at a wall lined with all of Viper's kills and trophies during his time with them. A fire in the center cooks something in a large pot that fills the room with a musky meaty stench.
"Oh, look. What did you name this one again, Viper? Catty?" Dustin jokes, spotting the skull of the feline that Viper had used as a pauldron for a long time.
Viper groans and covers his face with a hand. "Wait. He named the kills?" Salv asks, interrupting her thoughts, and starts to laugh while Viper groans in embarrassment.
"He names those that are memorable, like, for example, this tooth here is the one that made the scar on his leg," Dustin points out, tapping the right fang.
Salv snarks and tries to calm down her laughter, but it wasn't helping the least bit as Salv hisses in the pure embarrassment of agony. "Big brother is so adorable."
"So, what will you do now, Viper?" Dustin asks.
Viper gives a low growl while they sit around the cooking pot. "Keep working with you. I might get bored standing guard around here."
"Then, if you two are ready and our gracious host doesn't mind, I will share with you the plans going forward," Dustin says before waiting for Salv's answer.
Salv shrugs. "Go right ahead. You are the captain, after all."
"The Last Crux has been good to us, but it's time to expand, and unfortunately, our ship won't be able to support that many people," Dustin informs the two.
"You wouldn't have a plan for that besides buying a bigger ship?" Rorack asks curiously.
"No, not buy, build," Dustin says, surprising both of them.
"Build? A new ship? Big enough for all the cargo and a bugger crew?" Rorack asks skeptically.
"Yes, have neither of you ever wondered where most of the money that isn't your wages go?" Dustin asks.
"Hardly. We are busy keeping the ship in functional conditions," Viper huffs.
"Well, it's all gone into saving for this or emergencies. So when we go to Aquonos, it will be to build a new one," Dustin informs.
Salv smiles gently at the three. "A brand new ship. Come on, brother. You hit the jackpot here."
"It's not as easy as it sounds, though," Viper points out.
Salv waves him off. "Details. You can make things work. It got you this far," she points out, gesturing to the wall of trophies.
"How big?" Rorack asks.
"Cruiser size, I am thinking," Dustin clarifies as Rorack seems to be mulling it over in his mind.
Rorack hums and taps his chin. "Can be possible. Where are the plans?"
"Right here, but I am still working on some. The first draft is too unrealistic to work," Dustin admits, patting his pockets.
Salv smiles gently at him. "Can't be that bad."
"I would rather not show it. It's a bit embarrassing," Dustin adds to that.
"Come on," Salv encourages. "We are good friends. And two of them are your crew. I doubt they would be angry at you."
The young captain sighs. "Fine. Here," Dustin says, pulling out some papers from his pants.
Salv gives a roll of his eyes that seem to provide a slightly unnatural look when Dustin watches it. She takes the paper and opens up the blueprint papers before freezing in place. "Well then…that's something…"
"Ah…" Viper says, looking at it, trying to make sense of it, but not so much is being understood.
Rorack leans over and scratches his head in confusion. "Okay. We believe you," he notes, trying to make sense of the designs and parts.
"It's going to take time to make, though," Dustin adds.
"What ship doesn't?" Salv asks rhetorically as she gives the plans to Rorack to look over.
"What is this at the back? Some sort of new weapon idea?" Rorack asks, pointing to an area on the plans that looks like half a circle with turret barrels sticking out of it. The only reason he knew it's a weapon is because of the preliminary crystal shot power levels estimation to the side.
"That, my friend is a secret for now," Dustin informs.