"Ah, so you're the Clan," the nu mou exclaimed. "Bunch of pigsy commoners," he sniffed.
Gukko flushed. "We're here to escort the mission. Who are you?"
"Don't speak to me like that," he chided harshly. "I am Babus Swain, Runeseeker. We seek out a legendary warrior hidden in these mountains."
"And you, a big powerful mage, are afraid of a few little bandits?"
"No!" Now it was Babus's turn to flush under his white fur. "But the recluse has a significant resistance to magic..."
"What was your name? Babus Swine-"
An Explosion ripped out towards him. Gukko felt a crack under him as he was thrown of his feet.
"What? You're unburned?"
Gukko nodded. "Must be the armor."
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"So..." They had stopped for the night. "Swan, are we there yet?"
Babus scowled. "We're not even close, Commoner!"
Gukko scowled too.
"Hey!" Bialiese was dragged into camp by a Coerl. "Hey!"
Everyone turned to look.
The Archer smiled sheepishly. "I couldn't resist. Satalan!"
The Coerl whined.
Bialiese laughed. "He's going to come with us now!"
"Bialiese, you can't keep every single monster you meet-"
Bialiese laughed. "Don't worry!" She patted the Coerl's surprisingly fine fur.
"Bialiese..." Thane warned but sighed. "Let her keep it."
"Cool!" Bialiese grinned.
"Gukko?" Hejaat looked troubled but excited at the same time. "Gukko?"
"Yes?" He sat down next to her.
"Well, you resisted Swine's magic?"
"Must be the armor."
"No!" Hejaat sat up suddenly. "Platemail offers no absolute protection against fire nor magic!"
"So I'm immune?"
"Maybe. Stand right there... Good!"
Hejaat's hands began glowing. A large ice crystal formed above her as she let a Blizzard loose.
Gukko felt a soft tingling. But nothing else happened.
Hejaat's eyes sobered. "You're immune."
Gukko looked up, squinting. "Well, I don't know... I mean, remember the engagement with the mages? I wasn't immune then."
Hejaat pondered this. "Maybe it's an on-and-off thing."
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Dawn found them all travelling over the terrain, the Hunt-Hounds sniffing the trail and whining.
"Nothing?" Babus demanded to the Hunter.
Crout shook his head. "Nothin'."
"What do you mean then, that these are the best Hunt-Hounds in Ivalice?"
"I meant that they were the best. They can track a Kudik Tiger," he snapped.
Babus merely growled back.
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The Hunt-Hounds suddenly stopped and began to roar. Not bark, but roar, like an enraged Panther.
"She's here!" Babus screamed. "Everyone! Get ready!"
One of the Hunt-Hounds stopped roaring.
"Huh?" Crout knelt beside the dog and tugged out an arrow.
"Attack!"
Everyone instantly readied into position.