Author's note:Before anything else, the original work belongs to its original creator.
So, this is my first MGE fic and it possess heavy AU elements in certain aspects that would be explore in later chapters. Not 100% but noticeable enough to guarantee the label. The main inspiration of this fic is Fish on Land's Fourth-Born's Conquest and other similar MGE fics in the net but with my own spin on many aspects of the setting. Anything that this story has that is different from Canon!MGE will be clarified in the following chapters.
Tone wise, it would be more serious than canon MGE but it's not on the other extreme. There is a focus on adventure, friendship and comedy, with drama on the mix with the main premise of exploring unknown territories, finding strange sights, resolve incidents (both serious and not so serious) and everything in between.
With things clarified, let's get started.
"Does the baby has a name?" a man asked to her wife, seeing the toddler warped in soft clothes, his expression was of deep concern.
"The mother told me her name before she perished," the woman said as she comforted the child. "But she never told me hers"
"So that it will be then," the man said with a sigh. "It's a shame that we couldn't save the mother on time, she was already on her dying throes when they brought them here, it was a miracle she managed to survive as long and to care for the child at the same time"
"But at least it will her legacy," the woman said as looked at the baby with great love. "She will live through her, now under my care…
…Eleni"
-OOO-
In a world of many continents and a large history of conflict and sudden changes, there were many parts that were forgotten by many, of all species and cultures, and that which life went to different directions. Very few ventured such places and less even made their lives there.
But some great adventurers dared to challenge such places in the same way few went into the depths of the sea for its secrets.
Indeed, the strange and peculiar lifeforms that existed in such unexplored territories made for certain scholars to try and report their discoveries.
In a dark forest, an ordinary (or at least she considered one herself) Human girl in the prime of her life tried to observe the habits of a species she heard rumors about them but few ever saw them close enough. But that day she risked herself and made some incredible discoveries regarding them, in which she tried to record.
"It seems this species of birds are as intelligent as the corvid family, with impressive deductive capabilities and to solve problems and conundrums in creative ways. Crows living in urban places are known to observe the pathways of carriages and take advantage of it by letting nuts on the ground and to wait until a carriage breaks the hard shell, on which the crow would pick up their food.
These ones tho seem to not need such things as their inherent and instinctual magical capabilities permit them to shoot mana projectiles on their own and to hunt bigger prey and to ward off intruders for not saying that…"
"Eleni! To your right!"
The Human girl dodged the energy shot that was directed to her head in time, seeing the angry black bird (one of many), a seemingly crow or raven but of the size of a great eagle, it's eyes full of contempt for the woman that dared to trespass their nesting territories, and not to mention the others that were behind her.
Of course, she was running from them at full speed in the deep forest, with her backpack barely hindering her movement. Her black hair in a ponytail and fair skin getting dirtier and dirtier with leaves and dust, for not saying the occasional small tree branch that hit her body, leaving soft bruises. Her traveling outfits, a dark green dress, a blueish cloak and brown leather boots, made little to confuse her pursuers, but she wasn't alone in her predicament.
"Sorry Daiana, I was just analyzing these fascinating specimens, they are so unique and…" Eleni tried to say to her companion on her left. She had a complete set of dark clothes, from dress to boots, with special, subtle slits that could close magically when needed in special situations.
"You can update your stupid journal when we get away from these goddamn birds and…" Daiana said as she blocked another mana shot with her twin daggers.
The other girl was only similar to Eleni in one aspect, her hair was also of color black. Everything else was radically different to Eleni, because Daiana wasn't human in the first place (and Eleni herself noted, shorter than her by one head and a half).
On principle, humans are born with two eyes, while Eleni had two eyes of grey color her partner had one big single eye yellowish eye with red iris on her head, for not saying multiple tentacles (ten in total) that ended in one eye each (these ones were searching for any avian pursuers on her back) of the same color and finally a tail that normally for her species was quite bushy but Daiana routinely cut it and trimmed the hair off to permit better movement.
"I understand your point of view but research and investigation doesn't stop even in the middle of the action," Eleni argued as she dodged another mana projectile. "For not saying that…"
"That's not scientific investigation, you are daydreaming!" the Gazer said as she jumped away from three projectiles.
"I was not daydreaming, I was in deep thought," Eleni replied.
"The way these specimens arrange their nests seems to have an intentional purpose, in these wilds competition can be quite harsh for not saying relentless, as such they seem put false nests in the lower trees to confuse potential predators…"
"You are doing it again, don't you!?" Daiana accused the human girl, glaring Eleni with her single eye in her face while the ones in her tentacles were watching over the birds behind them.
"It's introspection! Not daydreaming!"
"For you it's the same and…" the Gazer tried to say when she saw that now the great birds now began to charge magical energy. "Watch out!"
Suddenly there was a barrage of projectiles behind them, both Human and Gazer jumped and dodged at best as they could.
"Incredible, so much energy and coordination," Eleni said loudly. "It seem that they are quite angry at us!"
"You don't say!" Daiana shouted exasperatedly, "I swear in the name of your mother that if we don't survive this I will personally punch you in the face in the afterlife!"
Eleni smiled, despite the insults and threats, she was glad the Gazer was far more conversational than the first time she found her a couple of years ago.
And there was a reason that Daiana had sworn in the name of her mother in such a way.
After all, Eleni was the adopted daughter of the Mamono Lord (or Demon Lord as they called her in the Order countries) but such titles were secondary for what the Human girl saw Lilith for what she was, a kind and doting mother that taught her so much about the world.
"Dammit! Where are Seela and Ashely!?" the Gazer interrupted Eleni thoughts. "We got separated since these stupid things began to chase us!"
"You don't have to worry; they are quite capable on their own" Eleni pointed out as calmly as she could in the middle of the intense chase. "They are well trained and they can hold quite well on dangerous situations"
"I know that, but it would far better if those two were with us, specially Ashely!" the Gazer pointed out. "I admit that the Shoggoth has quite the magical aptitude and Seela is…"
"Seela is Seela, I know," Eleni said as she had shivers in her spine. Despite being a Kikimora with a kind personality as most of her kind was known for, Seela was quite the powerhouse in direct combat and her skills with her spear were not laughing matter.
"Still, we have to get away from these birds before…OH SHIT!"
Both the Human and the Gazer were too distracted in their conversation and dodging enemy projectiles until they realized that they went a little too far in the same direction.
As in the border of a cliff going down towards a wide river.
The two girls had barely any time to scream as they fell down rapidly, but luckily Eleni spotted two nearby figures on their left that were also on the same situation (as in, falling down too) as them some distance away, and before they knew it she could feel her and Daiana's bodies being enveloped by two spells, one that slowed down their fall and a magical shield to protect them.
"Look, there they are!" the Human pointed them. "I knew they would be nearby!"
Her companion didn't seem to appreciate the situation, as she left out a cascade of insults and screams that sounded quite similar to that of an angry little dog more than anything else.
Eleni sighed and hold her breath, preparing for submersion. The impact to the surface of the water was thankfully mitigated by the spells but they had to swim to the other side. However, the Human girl didn't have to worry much, as most her companions were trained for survival skills, otherwise they wouldn't have been permitted to wonder in such places.
When the four arrived to the river bank, she inspected her travelling clothes and possessions. Thankfully, the protective spells woven upon her precious journal (the most important part) was still intact.
She praised Shirokuto's skill in silence as well as Greilia bag of medical equipment that Seela always carried on for any emergency.
But it wasn't time to remember the leaders of the various Sabbath's that were in Royal Makai (that Eleni considered them as part of her family) because she could hear the voices of her other companions coming to her direction.
One was a woman made of a purplish substance that had curious yellow "spots" scattered around her body, her "clothes" actually were her body shaped to a simulation of one. She was holding a staff made of special wood on her right hand.
The second woman, carrying another backpack, was far more Human looking girl except she had big furry ears, feathers in her arms and a tail that also was covered in feathers. All of them were of a bright red color, something not very common for her species. Another uncommon sight was the weapon she was holding on her right hand, a spear made of the highest quality steel. She was wearing her own travelling outfit, a similar set to Eleni's in design but all in humble grey colors.
"Are you alright? I tried to do my best but I don't know if it worked…" the nervous Shoggoth tried to say as she checked Eleni and Daiana, the Kikimora on her side only gave a serene smile.
"You did great Ashely, I was quiet impressed to have casted two simultaneous spells while in such a situation," the Human girl praised the Shoggoth while patting her head.
"Indeed, since you have joined us, you became quite an indispensable part of our group," Seela added too to the compliments.
Ashely face blushed for a moment before she made a muffled sound that seemed of both happiness and embarrassment before realizing that everyone's clothes got wet.
"Wait, I almost forgot," Ashely said as she prepared another spell with her staff. Before long, the rest of the group received a quick rush of hot air that quickly dried the clothes of everyone.
"You are really a natural with magic," Daiana confessed. "At least there weren't any giant carnivore fish living in the river or something like that"
"But there could be," Eleni theorized. "I heard that in some great swamps there are certain specimens capable to go toe to toe with crocodiles"
"But this isn't a swamp," Daiana pointed out at the river. "So I don't except to see some ugly swamp creature trying nimble my ankles over there"
"Speaking of fish, it's time for lunch," the Kikimora said as she looked upon the sky to calculate the time of the day.
"You are right, after all that chasing and running from those troublesome birds, it gave me quite the appetite," Eleni said as she undressed herself without any hesitation in from of her companions. "Shame we never brought some fishing rods with us"
"At least those damn things stopped chasing us," Daiana said as she also proceeded to do the same, as well as Seela. They put all clothes and bags away from the river in a neat way. "And besides we can hunt some dumb fish with our own skills"
The only one that didn't need to undress was Ashely because technically speaking she was always naked.
In the end there were three women in their underwear, ready to catch some fish. While Eleni and Seela had "standard" skin tones, Daiana had the characteristically pale-gray skin of her species, together with another unique feature being the concentrated mana in form of a black gel that covered her legs and arms while Seela showed her hard scales in her legs and feet.
The three girls had toned bodies that corresponded to their daily activities for not saying their own particular trainings. While Daiana was lean, agile and very flexible, Eleni had more visible abs and toned legs. However, the most notable of them all was Seela herself. The Kikimora's muscles were far hard toned, mostly hide it by her clothes, with hard abs and arms that indicated a great deal of upper strength.
While many others in the Order territories and many nearby neutral countries would have found the situation quite scandalous, for the three (except Ashely) of them that had grown in quite different cultural norms was nothing be ashamed off and even then the Shoggoth didn't flinched upon the sight.
Even then, they didn't have to worry for much, as the type of underwear that they had completely covered the chest, was made specially for traveling outside, it was flexible and didn't reveal much except the legs and arms and was comfortable for going into bodies of water.
"So, who goes first?" Daiana asked first but her answer came in the form of a cheerful scream as Eleni jumped directly into the water, splashing the liquid over her. The Human girl immediately submerged herself in the river and a few moments later she raised holding a fish on her left hand.
"Got one!" Eleni proclaimed as she looked to her prey. "Sorry little one, but today you are going into my stomach!"
With that proclamation, the human girl gave a quick bare handed punch to the fish, killing the creature instantly. She went outside the water and put the fish on the surface.
"Dammit girl, can you at least wait!" the Gazer said in frustration as she also jumped into the river with her twin daggers, her multiple eyes seeing only small insignificant minnows until she found something more substantial.
Moments later, Daiana raised from the water with two fishes impaled in each dagger.
"Hah! Got two!" the Gazer bragged to the rest.
Seela meanwhile didn't say anything as she entered the water in a calm manner holding her spear, accompanied by Ashely as she began to thing for the right spell.
The Kikimora simply watched carefully into the water until the right moment, then she rapidly thrusted into the water in quick succession with her weapon. When she raised the spear into the air and they all saw that Seela had managed to catch three fishes, their scales shining in the clear sky under the sun.
"Water bubble!" Ashely suddenly shouted. A sphere of water raised from the river contained three fishes that were swimming inside it.
Soon the two girls went to put their catch together with the first fish.
The Gazer saw in total dismay as she compared the ones she had against her competitors, even Eleni. She realized that she had the smaller ones. She left out a sigh of resignation as she went outside the water to put into the growing pile.
One hour later, thanks to the Kikimora's skills and the Shoggoth's arcane knowledge, the four of them were enjoying their food on a timely manner surrounded by a bonfire.
"Sorry about the whole incident," Eleni apologized while eating her food. "I was so excited when we found the nesting ground of those birds that I began to climb thinking the nests on those lower branches were the real ones until…"
"Until you realized those were the fake ones and then they began to chase us…damn you Eleni, why we always end up in these kinds of situations," the Gazer said as she ate her fish in a bitter manner.
"I told you, these regions are quite interesting, there are barely any settlements, either for humanoids or monsters" the Human explained. "There is very little known about these parts"
"Your Highness is quite the enthusiastic scholar of obscure lore," the red haired Kikimora nearby pointed out as she cooked the rest of the fish. "Maybe one day you would appreciate such fields of knowledge"
"Bah," Daiana simply left an exasperated sigh, the Gazer just knew that behind that smile there was mockery for her opinions on such matters.
"I told you Seela, you don't need to call me that in these places," Eleni reminded her friend. "And the same goes for you Ashely"
"But…but you are part of a royal family, and most importantly, of the Mamono Lord's" the female figure composed of dark solid purplish slime said in a nervous tone while holding a magical stuff in her right hand. "Is your rightful title after all"
"You don't have to worry Ashely, is not like my mother would personally teleport here to punish you if you don't address me as princess Eleni or something like that, we are not on court or on a diplomatic meeting" the Human girl reassured the nervous looking Shoggoth.
"Are you sure, we only have been together for like a…month?" the semiliquid mamono tried to count with her fingers…and tentacles that she formed out of her too to help her.
Eleni left out a heartfelt laugh while Seela had a politer chuckle. Daiana in the other hand simply continued eating in silence, not having the mood for more conversation.
Some hours later, they resumed walking through the deep forest. Eleni was holding a map while the other three were behind her.
"If my calculations are not wrong, we will be arriving in a neutral country in three weeks at this pace" Eleni said. "But it would be a shame we don't see another unusual species"
"I hope is not as aggressive as the last one," Daiana commented.
"Hardly any creature in these parts are absolutely passive," Eleni explained.
"She is right, even the boars that live in Royal Makai will defend themselves if hunted," Seela added. "Even herbivores can be quite dangerous when threatened"
"I heard that there are some big plant eaters with long noses and big…fangs?" Ashely tried to remember. "They live in parts of the continent were the pharaohs live and some others in the eastern lands"
"Tusks, and yes, those are called elephants, quite the amazing creatures," Eleni corrected her. "And very intelligent, I heard they even like to play with people"
"But you aren't looking for elephants, aren't you?" Daiana asked. "The last thing I want is to suffer skin burns under the scorching sun of that continent"
"Nope, if my info is correct I'm searching for something similarly big but different," the Human girl explained herself. "The reckels were quite the specimen but this one is the grand prize"
"Reckels?" Ashely asked with curiosity, tilting her head to her side.
"The name of those birds, I came up with it like…right now," Eleni suddenly pulled out her journal and began to write. "There, for posterity!"
Daiana simply put a palm to her face and left out a sigh while Seela gave her approval. "Quite imaginative your Highness"
"Thanks Seela, and please, you don't need to call me your Highness over here," Eleni said. "Now, for out next target, a strange unknown creature to most of the world awaits us to discover!"
"And what kind of creature we are looking for?" Daiana asked.
"For what it is rumored, it's a creature that is quite big, very hairy, slow and apparently smells very bad," Eleni explained remembering her interview with certain locals. "In fact, most tales say that you will smelled before you see it"
"Oh…oh great, now we are looking for a stinky animal, don't we?" Daiana commented with exasperation. "Now you are going to tell me it's a predator?"
"Nope, for what they say, it only eats plants and fruits…mostly" Eleni clarified.
"Mostly…" Daiana repeated.
"You don't have to worry, we are already quite prepared," Seela said as she adjusted her grip on her spear.
Ashely nodded silently in affirmation, the Shoggoth holding her staff with determination.
"And besides, you are our best tracker," Eleni said. "It would be your job to see if there are any traces that would indicate if there is any specimen nearby"
The Gazer left out another sigh, this one of resignation.
"Dammit, it's only because I had chosen to be on your direct service that I'm doing this," Daiana said. "Well, not time to complain, let's search for that hairy bastard!"
And with that, the group went into the search of the elusive creature.
However, they didn't manage to find anything during the rest of the night, nor the next nine days.
The first three went normal, with the Gazer on the lead with the Human giving clues and hints. Seela and Ashely simply followed them, with the Kikimora acting as the rear guard while the Shoggoth provided with spells that helped with navigation during the night.
But things didn't go well, as they wasted time going for false directions only to find dears, normal bears and boars (the last ones serving as source of food apart from any edible berries or mushroom they could find), nothing remarkable as far as they went in such an unknown region.
"How in the bloody name of all the gods such a big thing is so hard to find," the Gazer shouted in frustration. "You said it was as big as an elephant, right?"
"Yes, as the rumors said," Eleni explained. "And generally goes in four legs and has big claws"
"But I didn't found any footmark," Daiana said. "I didn't smell nothing particularly nasty"
"Well, these are dense forests, so even a creature of this size could get quite difficult to find," Seela added. "Is not matter of how fast you find it but to persevere"
"I know you can do it Daiana," Ashely said with energy. "I never saw someone so well versed in navigating in a forest"
"Eh…is not that much," the Gazer adjusted the hood of her cloak to hide her slight blush "But thanks…I guess"
With those encouraging words, Daiana resumed the search with a higher morale than before. As they went into the deeper parts, the forest became somewhat darker even in the middle of a day with clear skies.
Then, suddenly, the Gazer raised a hand. Her tentacle eyes now fixed on the same direction.
"Wait…can you smell that?" Daiana asked.
"I think…yes, I smell something" Seela said, using her beastman senses to perceive it. "And is not anything that I ever smell before until now"
Eleni's eyes shined in excitement as she tried to use her nose to perceive the smell as Ashely was somewhat confused.
"Yes, maybe it could be the thing we are searching for," Daiana said as she came closer and closer to the source of the smell only to stop for a moment, her face now contorted in disgust. "Ew! What the bloody…ugh!
Seela came to the Gazer's side, only to make a similar expression but with a lot more composure.
"Is not very pleasant," the Kikimora admitted.
"Common, it can't be that bad…" the Human said as she advanced only to be taken aback. "Ew!"
"It can't be that…oh my" Ashely tried to say as she also went to their side only to be assaulted by the strong odor. "Is not very good, doesn't it?"
"What in the…how does a creature that mostly eats plants and berries can be so stinky, it's like a walking living bag of sewage and bad manure!" the Gazer shouted as she pinched her nose. "No wonder they said you can smell it before you see it, the bastard probably never took a bath in its bloody life"
"Is not a carcass?" Ashely asked. "It seem to be something similar"
"Definitely not, even rotten meat doesn't smell so bad," Eleni tried to contain her disgust. "At least it seems we are in the right direction"
"Nah, is not a dead animal, that's for sure," Daiana said as she advanced as the rest followed her.
As they advanced, they tried to contain their breath as long as possible, the horrid smell getting stronger and stronger.
"Dammit, I'm going to puke at this rate," the Gazer complained. "Wait, I can see footmarks"
"Finally!" Eleni said with clear happiness despite the terrible odor. "It's big?"
"Yes…bigger that I expected," the Gazer pointed out at the ground, the three girls saw clearly a very recent mark of an animal's foot.
"And denser," Seela pointed out "The rumors said it was as big as an elephant but to actually be as big as one is quite the surprise"
"That means it exists!" Eleni jumped with excitement. "Another fine discovery is awaiting us!
"Be quiet!" Daiana said in hurry as the Human covered her mouth.
"Sorry," the girl whispered.
"Ashely, can you confirmed it?" Daiana asked.
The Shoggoth nodded and by holding her staff firmly she tried to search any signature energy.
"I think there is one notable lifeform ahead of us, but for some reason I couldn't determine how far it was, only the general direction"
"The sooner we finish this we…" the Gazer tried to say when suddenly something called her attention. "Over there!"
"Where?" Eleni asked.
"There, the big guy is quite camouflaged, "Daiana explained. "But I can see its movement"
"Yes, I can see it too," Seela said as she focused. "There it is"
"I see it now," Eleni said as she looked it too.
"Where…where it is?" Ashely asked nervously.
"Between those two trees, that thing that looks like a big green bush," Daiana said.
The Shoggoth tried to focus as hard as she could until she finally saw it. As the Gazer said, it looked like some sort big bush until she realized it was moving. Slowly but still moving.
Suddenly, the big shape raised on its hind legs and the four girls finally saw its complete outline. It was a creature of big dimension and seemingly quite heavy but moved with an uncannily silent manner, incredibly quiet despite its size.
It had enormous claws that helped it in graving its food while the head was curiously shaped, not quite like a carnivore but not as an herbivore. It's green tinted fur helped to blend in the forest despite its size.
"Look at it," Eleni now didn't even complained anymore from the strong smell. "It looks like a cross between a bear and a beaver, and that tale, it helps to balance when going in its two legs as it reaches for the higher branches"
"But it moves so slowly," Ashely pointed out.
"Maybe that's why it smells so badly and has such a curious pigmentation on its hair," Eleni pondered. "As a defense mechanism to warn off any possible predator"
They didn't move from their position as they observe the creature feeding upon the leaves, it's slow movement and way of feeding remind them that of a cow, a very big and strange cow. They watched for a few minutes before the creature went on all four again.
"That was interesting," Eleni said as she watched the creature moving away from them. "Now we must go slowly and…"
"Hey, it is me or it's the smell getting more intense," Ashely commented.
"You are right," Seela confirmed as she finally pinched her nose in discontent. "For some reason it seems that, despite getting away, the smell is getting stronger"
"Do you think it farted?" Eleni asked curiously.
"Wha…What the hell are you saying!?" Daiana tried to shout as silently as possible, moving her head and tentacles towards the Human, glaring at her.
"Maybe it's a way to mark its territory?" Eleni suggested.
"What kind of things go to your head you…WATCH OUT!" the Gazer suddenly screamed as she saw something behind the group thanks to her tentacle eyes, at the same time they hear a deep bestial scream.
Everyone in the group moved away on time. Seela and Ashely (the Kikimora hold the Shoggoth in her arms thanks to her strength) to the left while Eleni and Daiana went to the right, the four girls saw another of the same species as they were watching a few moments ago, it's massive frame on its hind legs, displaying it's claws in a dangerous manner.
Each pair climbed to a particular tree as high as possible to get away from the dangerous animal, observing the creature from a safe distance. Now they were in branches big and strong enough to hold them.
"What in the hell we didn't noticed it before!?" Daiana now shouted loudly. "What in the actual fuck!?"
"I'm so, so, so sorry, I only could detect one for some reason!" Ashely apologized from her position while holding her head in shame. "I should have been more careful!"
"Maybe it has some sort of magic resistance to camouflage its presence" Eleni speculated. "I heard some animals have such a capacity"
"We should wait to see if there are more of them," Seela said as she watched below.
"Dammit, the bastards sure like to blend much, eh?" Daiana said as she focused her multiple eyes in search for more. "They were so silent it managed to sneak up on me"
"Look!" Eleni suddenly shouted while pointing something. "I think I found the reason why it tried to attack us"
The three other girls watched as they saw a strange third form moving together with the first animal that they didn't saw earlier thanks to their natural camouflage. It was like a miniature version of the same species, moving closely with the first creature while the second moved to reunite with the other two.
"So it was their young," Ashely said with curiosity as the small family moved away from them.
"That's simply their paternal instinct, they immediately lost any interest in us after we got away" Eleni said as she began to write on her journal. "And also I have a name for them"
"And that would be…?" Daiana asked.
"Slowclaws!" Eleni said with enthusiasm.
"That's quite the appropriate name, your Highness," Seela said.
"I don't object it," Ashely agreed.
"You know what, it's an appropriate name," Daiana said without objection.
"Really? Thanks!" Eleni said as she patted the Gazer's left shoulder in open gratitude.
"Ah, so our dear Daiana can truly developed her manners and accept other's opinions without a complain, that's quite the progress," the Kikimora pointed out as she gave a serene smile.
"Shut up!" the Gazer shouted as she adjusted her hood in shame.
"So…were are going next?" Ashely asked.
"Well, if my info is correct, there is more to see forwards, I hear that there is some interesting rare flora that prospers in a particular sector of this region," the Human girl said. "But don't worry, its ahead of us so we will always advance regardless"
"Well, I guess the smell of flowers could make us forget about that odor," the Gazer said as she tried to contain her disgust. "I will have nightmares remembering it from the next couple of days"
The other three girls laughed on their own way. Despite the dangers and strange occurrences they faced, they always ended up in a cheerful mood if it was possible. And even if things didn't go well, they always had each other.
So, what do you think? I'm kind of nervous as it is my first time diving in such a way in this kind of setting and wanted to make the characters' personalities pretty clear from the let go. There is a lot more to them (and their pasts) that meets the eye that would be explored later on.
Also, before I forget, the "slowclaw" is based on the Megatherium or giant sloth, with a few touches from my part. And if anyone is confused, the ages of the characters as they are in the present: Eleni and Daiana are 21, Seela is 20 and Ashely is 19.