/Time: After the beginning of Chapter 2, when the party departs from their camp site/

/Millick Meadows, Aetia Region/

"Hey, take a look at that sparkin' bruiser; he's massive!"

For how crudely Lanz had put it. Taion couldn't help but agree.

"Whoa," muttered Eunie, her head wings twitching briefly as she leaned over the edge of the ridge to get a closer look. (He wondered if that signalled possible shifts in mood for Kevesi with head wings; truth be told, he was somewhat miffed that he couldn't recall much Agnian literature on the topic.) "Queen's heels that's a snuffing big Gogol."

"It's unusual for Gogols to be found in the Aetia Region at all, much less one of that size," dryly remarked Noah.

"Indeed," agreed Taion, finding himself somewhat appreciative of how at least one of their new Kevesi 'compatriots' had an analytical disposition. "They're most commonly found in the Maktha Wildwood...although, Agnus Castle has put out warnings regarding monsters of unusual size on certain islands within Erythia Sea." (He'd mentally caught himself, making sure to preface 'Castle' with 'Agnus'; after all, their party consisted of people whose loyalty was split. The Castle that Noah, Lanz, and Eunie were loyal to...was not his.)

(Even if you're not entirely sure if that loyalty should remain, in light of how things have changed. You have to keep open to new possibilities, now.)

"Wow, you're a regular bestiary, Taion!" exclaimed Sena with a pump of her fists.

Taion impulsively adjusted his glasses. "Well, I did work with our Colony's Survey Branch. It's only natural." That he'd lived and fought many terms adjacent to the Maktha Wildwood, courtesy of his tenure at Colony Lambda, went without saying. (After all, it wasn't truly relevant to their current circumstances.)

An unfeminine snort burst his proverbial bubble. "Snooty fellow, ain't ya?" brusquely remarked Eunie. "If that head of yours gets any bigger, your glasses won't fit anymore."

Patience Taion, don't sic your Mondo on your...teammate. Let your professionalism condemn her by proxy. With a brief huff, he ignored the comment. "I recommend we stay far away," he said, watching as the crimson beast turned around to walk back up the river, as though maintaining a patrol. "Gogols can be deceptively swift in spite of their great size." (The brief grunt in the back of Eunie's throat — seemingly annoyed that she hadn't gotten a rise out of him — elicited a small twinge of mental satisfaction.)

"Good idea," agreed Mio, moving further downward along the grassy slope. That was the signal for their party of eight to continue on...but the silence wouldn't stay for long, alas.

"Say, you guys got any big monsters of your own around your Colony?" asked Lanz. "Our old Commander had warnings posted to salvagers about working in Svinne Cavity; always warned 'em to be on the lookout for a massive Crustip named Zelnika." To emphasize his words, the large man made pincer motions with his hands. "'It'll snap you up just like that with its well-plated claws,' he'd say!"

Sena ooh'd at the description. "Oh, there's actually an enormous Vollgull that we could see flying over Coolley Lake, even from Colony Gamma! Commander Teach would tell us to never draw the attention of Perilwing Ryuho; it could snap up a whole Levnis in its talons!"

Mio's ears actually flattened with a dread that could be called primal. "Please don't remind me..."

"Ah! Sorry Mimi-"

As the comparison of enormous monsters and unique beasts continued to fill the air amongst them, Eunie annoyingly got up in his space once more. "So, got any space in that noggin for those baddies they're talking about?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact," remarked Taion.

"And? You got any useful tips?" she asked.

"I actually do."

"Yeah...?" A few seconds of silence. "Come on, don't leave me hangin', here!"

"Simple: stay far away. There's little to be gained in fighting a giant beast that's not threatening your Colony." After all, smaller monsters were more easily killed, and could fill up the Flame Clock more safely...not that they had to worry about that sort of thing, anymore.

Eunie narrowed her eyes. "Well some snuffin' good you are, Captain Obvious."

A swift glance over the shoulder from Noah was enough to stifle their argument before it could go any further. (The force behind the swordsman's gentle eyes could be surprisingly fierce; perhaps Noah could weaponize it...?)

"Meh meh, baddies incoming!" yelled Riku.

Then they had a bunch of bellicose Brogs to tend to, and there was no more time for arguing.

xx

Hours later — after fighting their way through the aggressive wildlife of Millick Meadows, clearing away the beasts around an old Ferronis Hulk, and refueling the spent ether cylinder to reboot the derelict device — the topic of giant monsters once more came up, courtesy of the Nopon Caravan, of all people.

"Shillshill see Gogol you speak of. Beastie has name of Jingoistic Gigantus!" With a strangely haughty huff, she added, "Not impressed."

"...um, really?" said Taion with a blink. "It's certainly large enough to be a threat to any Nopon, I would imagine."

The pink fuzzball harrumphed. "Threat is not point! It about presence, expectation, and reputation! Gigantus is nothing compared to Immovable Gonzalez, for example."

"...I...see." Strangely, he was glad that Mio and Noah were practicing on their flutes, whilst Lanz and Sena were distracted with weapon maintenance, because a conversation this confusing didn't need to spread.

"That being said, if you ever come across red Gogol by name of Territorial Rotbart, do spread the word, yes-yes? Would make members of caravan very happy."

"...why?"

"Insider knowledge, friends would not understand." And with that, Shillshill waddled away towards her fellow traderpon.

Eunie, eating from a bowl of Manana's soup, idly remarked, "So, what was that all about?"

"...I'm not entirely sure, to be honest," he couldn't help but admit. (Life had become so troublesome over the past few days.) "...I think I'll take you up on your advice."

Eunie's blink of confusion was surprisingly endearing. "Eh, wot? When did I give you advice?"

"About the 'baddies'," he said with emphasis. "I have the strangest feeling we won't be able to play it safe forever. I should probably start thinking of some general tactics to deploy if we find ourselves up against any unique monsters."

"...well, duh," said Eunie, quickly masking her surprise with a smug tone. "We're a spark short of an empty Flame Clock, with all the trouble we've gotten into already; best to be prepared for the worst. It's only 'logical', after all."

"...are you mocking me?" he grumbled.

"No way; I swear by the Queen's pearly white feathers," she said with a sincere tone that did not match the smirk on her face.

(...maybe you'd be better off trying to fight Jingoistic Gigantus by yourself than trying to figure herout...)

xx

The very next day, their group ended up stumbling into both Indiscreet Gombaba and Migratory Circe within minutes of each other.

Taion pointedly did not acknowledge Eunie's knowing grin.

xxxx

Author's Note: I can imagine Z looking at the memories in Origin revolving around Territorial Rotbart, and deciding to...muddle with his manifestation in Aionios, because of the bad time he gave so many.

Nia and Melia find themselves not minding this change.

(Though I'm calling it now: Territorial Rotbart will be a Challenge Battle whenever the Nopon Archsage appears again. You mark my words!)