I breathed in, a stench waking me from my comfortable sleep. I shook my head to clear it, something tickling my nose, and sneezed.

I opened my eyes to see what the offending particle was.

A ball of fur sat in front of me. Tucked neatly up into a fluffy ball, and pressed against my chest, was the gorlen.

The fading light coming in through the leaves hit his body, barely illuminating the dark fur. Light snores came from him as his chest rose and fell.

He was snoozin’.

I couldn’t help but smile a little as I watched him. Then I breathed in the stench once more.

Ick!

I pushed away from the gorlen, sliding off my nest and across the stone floor a bit.

A light giggle sounded out from behind me, and I twisted my head in surprise to look.

There, sitting on the chair, which I could now see was made out of woven sticks and roots, was a girl.

Locks of lucious green hair cascaded down from her head, interwoven with feathers, flowers, and jewels. Her blue eyes sparkled in the dim light, her radiant smile warming my heart.

She wore a white dress, trimmed with silver lining, cinched around her waist, but hanging freely over the chair’s end.

She had one pale leg resting over another, swinging a naked foot playfully.

Then I frowned. Who was this?

She giggled again, probably because my confused expression didn’t suit a giant lizard very well.

[I can see why she likes you!]

Woah. Was that in my head? Her mouth didn’t move, but I heard a voice, happy and pure.

Did she just use telepathy or something? And… she?!? The gorlen is a female??

The girl’s smile grew wider, and I heard the voice once again.

[Yes, she.] Her expression changed to one of curiousity. [I was intrigued when she came to me begging for help. And for a predator that would normally eat her, no less!]

There was no way she just read my mind.

If that was the case, then… I slammed my eyes shut hard.

Don’t think about the hard drive! Don’t think about the hard drive!

Her melodious laughter rang out again.

[No need to worry, virtuous one, I cannot read your mind. Only your emotions.]

My shoulders sank in relief as I glanced back to her.

[You are… not like others of your kind, are you?]

She stood up, her bare feet tapping on the floor as she walked to me. She crouched down to where I lay on the floor, pressing her hands lightly across my body, first down my spine, and then, under my belly where the knife had pierced.

[It seems you’ve recovered completely! Then,] she said, turning towards the exit. [My job here is done. See you around, virtuous one.]

I grumbled a little bit, not wanting her to leave.

“Raag.” She spun back to me, her lips pressed together into a playful smile.

Who are you? I thought, not sure if she would understand my curious gaze. I observed her with my skill.

Elder Nature Spirit [Lvl ???]

She brought a hand to her chest.

[Me?] I nodded. She paused, thinking to herself.

[Didn't you just see for yourself?] She coyly asked, before continuing. [Well… I’m sure I had a name once, but that’s been lost to me. I am a being of life.] She looked towards the sleeping gorlen, gesturing with her head. [That creature once saved something precious to me. It was a debt I could never repay. She sometimes visits me with food, but it was never until now that she’d asked me for help.]

She appraised me for a moment.

[You are special, virtuous one. She was trapped in a human’s net at night. And when they took her, she’d nearly given up on life. No other Saurian would’ve saved her. Well,] her gaze turned upwards as she paused. [Almost no other Saurian would’ve saved her.]

She touched my chest, a light spreading out from her hand and a coolness washing over my body.

You’ve unlocked the [Nature’s Embrace] trait!

[If you ever need me, please call.]

And with that, I watched as the elder nymph(?) exited my cave, fading into the leaves, and leaving me alone with the gorlen.

Who, by the way, was just now waking up.

So you’re a girl, huh? I thought as I watched her rub her eyes with her stubby hands. She turned to see me laying on the floor and met my gaze with her wide eyes.

Then she jumped and rushed towards me, hugging my neck and nuzzling against me.

Yeah, yeah. I thought, pulling free of her. I’m happy you’re alive, too.

The creature smiled, showing eerily humanlike teeth, the only difference being the two larger fangs towards the sides of her mouth, before rushing towards the back of the cave. She returned moments later with a large leaf covered in some kind of paste.

Then she held it towards me.

I looked at her, confused and decided to observe what she was holding.

Crude Health Packet

This crude packet of restorative herbs blended into a paste can be ingested to provide minor healing.

I shook my head.

I don’t need that anymore. Thank you, though.

I wasn’t sure if she could understand me, but as she stood there, looking at the packet, and then at me, my stomach growled.

She leapt into the air at the fearsome noise, and ran back into the darkness of the cave.

Oops. Sorry…

But moments later, the gorlen returned, this time holding a leaf with meat atop it. I observed the meat.

Giant Tree Worm Meat [Experienced]

This meat comes from a fearsome beast, capable of taking on some of the strongest monsters. It is possible to eat, but it is an acquired taste

Oh. So she must have scavenged some from Sailboat’s meal. Or maybe she’d found another one. But I doubt this tiny creature had actually killed one herself.

She held the meat before me, and without a second thought, I snapped it up, swallowing with delight.

It actually does become tastier after you get used to it…

I licked my chops as the gorlen pushed the bowl of water, completely refilled, towards me.

What, are you like my butler now?

Actually, that didn’t sound like a bad idea.

If you’re gonna own a Dino Cave, might as well have a butler, no? Should I call her Alfred? No... Frieda?

Yeah, why not. Frieda the gorlen.