"Weird for me to say this but it's fun to be out scouting again." Willow said as she and Wilson made their way around a desert terrain. "Then again, least we know we have a place to go back to when we're tired."

"That does make quite the difference." Wilson noted, drawing things down on his map. "We still need to exercise caution but least we know we have a stable environment we can go back to. I'd like to say death isn't constantly hanging over our heads but I don't trust this world all that much even if Grandmother is in charge now."

Willow frowned, moving closer to him, hugging his arm a little.

"Wilson…"

Wilson stopped, frowning a bit himself.

"H-Hey… I… I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that, honest."

"I know just…"

Wilson rested his head against hers, nuzzling her gently.

"I'm not going anywhere. I never want to leave you behind like that again."

"Good or I'd have to burn all your science equipment."

Wilson chuckled, pulling back from her gently.

"Come on. Let's finish up mapping this area."

"Right."

The two carried on, making note of certain formations and plants to use as landmarks for the area. Then it started to get hot. It was already warm to begin with but now it just felt scalding hot all of sudden.

"Good grief what is with this heat?" Wilson tugged at the collar of his shirt. "It's like we stepped into a furnace."

"I'm not sure." Willow fanned herself a little with her hand. "I like warmth but even this is too much-" She stopped short as her eyes caught sight of something. "Uh… Wilson."

"Yes?"

"Look."

He looked to where Willow was looking, eyes widening at what he saw. There were four big pools of lava spread out over the terrain.

"... That would explain the heat."

"They're nicely set up though, like it was arranged this way." Willow made her way over to the pools.

"C-Careful now! Get any closer to those pools and you'll get cooked!" Wilson cautioned.

"I'll be okay." Willow looked back, giving him a reassuring look before taking a closer look. The way it was set up, there was at least a bit of space between each pool, almost in a circular pattern and Willow was right in the center.

"This… reminds me of how tallbird nests are setup." She mused out loud. "Like, whatever set these up had them set up to keep something safe and warm."

"You think it might be a nest?" Wilson asked.

"I think so. Though why open pits of lava? That one's a mystery." She leaned over one of the pools a little, looking into it. "Too bad it'd burn me alive. It looks so warm and cozy. It's liquid fire." Willow gave him a grin. "Isn't it neat?"

"It'd be neater if you'd move away from it. You're giving me anxiety."

"Okay, okay." Willow moved away from it. "Better?"

"Better. Though… isn't it bothering you?" Wilson tilted his head. "Being that close you'd be sweating up a storm yet you look only a little warm."

Willow gave him a confused look.

"It's pretty warm but I'm not that uncomfortable."

"Hm, intriguing." But I'm still making sure she keeps plenty hydrated.

The young woman shrugged before looking around again.

Wilson did what he could to observe as well, noting scorch marks in the ground that looked claw like… as well as a roasted skeleton.

"... Something was here." He said, some worry coming over him. "Something dangerous."

"Yeah and it looks like it was huge." She walked the span of the claw marks, confusion coming to her eyes when she noticed something.

There were smaller scorch marks in straighter lines moving away from a dugout part of the ground.

"Hey, Wilson. What do you make of this?"

Wilson walked over to her, noting the odd marks.

"With the way these ones are patterned… it kind of reminds me slime paths slugs or snails would make."

Willow knelt down, moving some of the dirt aside, confusion in her eyes before alarm as she moved back.

Egg shells.

"We're disturbing something we shouldn't."

"We better move then-" Wilson stopped short as he noticed something along with the scorch marks. There was dried up blood and what appeared to be some kind of slash and skid marks made by something that was human sized. "... There was battle here."

"Someone who knew what they were doing." Willow looked around. She noticed another dug out area, making her way over. Whatever was previously there was gone now so she felt no need to hurry.

On top of that, the dirt was moving. Her hand tightened around the spear in her hands, ready for a fight… when something small and reddish poked a tiny head out.

"Creee…" The little creature squeaked, looking up at Willow with dimly lit orange eyes. "Cree…"

"Well hi there." Willow knelt down to its level. "What might you be?"

"Cree…" The creature made its way out of the ground, inching its way to her. It had little legs and it resembled a bug of sorts. It glowed a little but not very much. "Cree…" It nuzzled her leg, Willow feeling the warmth the creature gave off.

Wilson took note of the creature, eyes widening a little but relaxed, seeing it wasn't causing any harm.

And hopefully it has no intentions of doing so.

Wilson looked at it carefully, humming a bit in thought.

"... Weird comparison but it resembles fly larvae. Just… much bigger and less slimey."

Willow petted the creature carefully.

"It looks more like it's made out of lava though… A lavae!"

"Creee!" The creature nuzzled her hand, working its way up her leg and into her lap. "Cree!"

"Well, it seems fond of you." Wilson chuckled. "And I think that's what we'll call it. A lavae."

Willow giggled continuing to pet the lavae, the creature even rolling onto its back for her.

"And it likes belly rubs. How adorable is this?"

"Really adorable." Wilson smiled.

The lavae sighed in content as Willow pet it. Though started coughing a little, its glow fading a bit.

"Cree…"

Willow frowned.

"Not feeling well, huh?"

The lavae coughed again, shivering, burrowing into her skirt a little for warmth, the glow dimming more.

"Hm…" Wilson looked at it carefully. "Well… from you said about it looking like it's made of lava, maybe it needs warmth?"

"Yeah, though I'm not dipping it in the lava pools. That would be way too hot for it." Willow cradled the lavae, wrapping it in her shirt a little. "Or least too hot for us to pull it out. Maybe we could set up a small campfire? It is gonna get dark soon."

"True. We should stop for a bit till day comes. Though I might take advantage of the lava pits for some cooking. But, none the less, let's set up a campfire."

It took a bit longer than usual due to Willow having to juggle the lighter with the lavae and trying to be sure it didn't try to get out of her arms but soon enough, a large fire was lit, the two residing beside it.

"I just wonder what this thing's gonna grow into if it even lasts that long."

"I wonder that myself." Wilson said as he stirred a pot he had hanging over one of the lava pits, minding his footing and distance. "Though the only guess I have is whatever made these claw and scorch marks. Which means it might actually become something huge."

"Yeah, though hard to imagine something this tiny getting that big." Willow was concerned still as she tried to keep the lavae warm. It's light was still dimming. "Poor baby."

"Looks like it might be sick." Wilson mused before lifting the pot away from the lava pit, setting it near the campfire to keep it warm. He got a bowl ready, scooping some of the contents of the pot out into the bowl. "We'll do what we can but for now, dinner." He offered the bowl to her. "Your favorite, spicy chili."

Willow smiled, taking the bowl.

"Thanks, Wil." She sighed happily as she took a taste of it. "I swear you must put some kind of magic in your food."

"Just a lot of practice. Cooking is a type of science after all."

"Still, it's wonderful."

Wilson smiled, getting up.

"I'm gonna cook up something else real fast then I'll join you."

Wilson hurried over to the lava pit, getting to work. Willow watched him work for a moment before focusing on her food again.

"Cree?" The lavae looked at the food in her hands. "Cree?"

"You want something to eat too?" Willow asked it. The lavae sniffed at her bowl, grabbing at it a little with its tiny legs. "Alright alright." She giggled, scooping out a bit for the lavae, offering it. "Here you go."

The lavae took the offer happily, nibbling at the chili.

"Cree!"

Willow smiled, continuing to feed the lavae, feeling it start to warm up after a few bites.

"You must've been starving, huh?"

"Cree! Cree!"

"I got ya, I got ya. Keep eating, have all you want."

The lavae squealed, falling right into the bowl, devouring the chili within seconds.

"Cree!"

Willow laughed. tipping the bowl out carefully moving to fill it again from the pot… Only for the lavae to squirm its way right into the pot.

"H-Hey!"

"CREEE!" It dove right into the chili, nibbling at it quickly, being completely buried by the rest of it.

Willow wasn't really sure what to do. She just stared blankly… though stumbled back a bit as smoke came pluming out of the pot, a small explosion being heard.

"E-Eh?"

The smoke cleared and out of the pot came a different creature. It had green and yellow scales on it and had a reptilian like body, yet it's eyes and wings looked more bug like. It climbed out of the pot with its black claws, sneezing before flying up a little with its wings, looking at Willow with its small red eyes.

"Creee." It churred, flying up to her, nuzzling. Willow giggled a bit, nuzzling it back.

"Aww… Is this what you really look like?"

The creature nodded, laying itself over her shoulder, churring louder.

"Creee…"

"I got you." Willow nuzzled it gently, stroking its back.

"Willow?"

Willow turned around, seeing Wilson rushing over.

"I heard an explosion. What-" He stopped when he saw the new creature on Willow's shoulder, stumbling back a bit. "Wah! What is that!?"

"I don't know but it used to be the lavae. Little thing was so hungry it gobbled up all the chili and then." Willow gestured to the creature as she kept stroking its back, the creature purring.

Wilson's eyes were wide as he came closer looking at it.

"A mix of dragon and fly if I had to guess… A dragonfly."

The little "dragonfly" churred, huddling close to Willow, sneezing a bit, spitting out some small embers.

"... And it breathes fire. Yep. Definitely like a dragon."

The dragonfly scrunched its nose up, snorting at Wilson.

"... I don't think they like being called an it, Wilson."

"He?"

Another snort and a growl. Wilson put his hands up.

"Alright, alright. She!"

"Cree!" The dragonfly snuggled up to Willow, churring happily.

"With the way she's acting, it's like you're her mother."

Willow smiled softly, nuzzling the dragonfly.

"I don't mind that one bit. My kind of kid in that case!"

"Creee! Creee!"

"Well… she seems safe enough. So long as she doesn't get embers on anything."

"I think she'll be just fine. Sooo… I can keep her?" Willow grinned excitedly.

"Hm… Well…"

The dragonfly flew off Willow's shoulder, nuzzling Wilson under his chin, purring.

"H-Hey!" He laughed.

The dragonfly continued purring, clinging to his vest with her small claws.

"I think she's saying "Daddy"." Willow giggled.

Wilson blushed a little at that but collected himself, bringing his arms around the dragonfly.

"I guess she's trying to wrym her way into my heart… and it's working." He petted her head.

The dragonfly looked up at him, giving her best cute look.

"... Alright. You can keep her but she'll need a name."

"A name… Hm..." Willow hummed in thought, looking at the dragonfly. After a moment, she grinned. "Delphi."

"As in the oracle from Greek Mythology?"

"Darn right." She grinned.

And she's well read.

"Very well. Delphi it is."

Delphi cheered, flying back over to Willow, curling up to her in her arms.

"Creee!"

"I got you." Willow held her close. "My little baby girl."

… That is adorable. Wilson thought as he grinned at the sight.

Delphi curled up, letting out a squeaky sounding yawn, drifting off to sleep in Willow's arms.

Willow rocked her gently, kissing her head.

"I'm here."

Delphi relaxed entirely, falling fast asleep.

"Aww…" Wilson smiled.

"Can't be helped. I have such a soft spot for babies."

"Guess that makes two of us." Wilson rubbed the back of his neck.

"Yup." Willow giggled. "Used to be allowed to help with the babies back at the orphanage when I was little. Couldn't help but love them after that."

"Really now?" Wilson took a seat by the fire.

"Yeah." Willow sat down across from him, rocking Delphi still. "Something to keep me out of mischief - even though I found it anyway."

"I see." Wilson smiled. "Well, looks like it's come in handy for you now with Delphi there."

"Yep." Willow grinned. "I'll take real good care of her too."

"I have no doubt in my mind you will."

Willow blushed a little, giving a sheepish smile.

"Ehehe…"

Wilson chuckled before getting up.

"I need to go check on the thing I was cooking. Keep an eye on Delphi now." He hurried off, leaving Willow by herself with Delphi.

Willow was content where she was. Delphi was warm and occasionally purring in her sleep. Combined with the warmth of the fire and hearing Wilson hum to himself as he cooked, Willow found herself curled up beside the fire, dozing off.

Wilson returned, smiling gently at the sight.

"All tired out." He said quietly, sitting beside her, setting his food aside, stroking Willow's back.

Willow smiled, relaxing, moving her head to rest against him.

"Warm."

Wilson blushed a little but smiled more, letting her head rest in his lap.

"I got you. Both of you."