William placed his would be dinner in the fridge and returning to his capsule, John returned to first.

He was greeted with a backdrop of endless clouds and a clear blue sky. The three moons of Eden could be seen though the Sun was still high enough to clearly light the sky.

“Welcome back John.”

It was a mature female voice that sent shivers down your spine. If it had not come from a half foot tall flying pixie looking creation, it may have flustered him.

She was the ship and the ship was her. One may describe her as an AI that controlled every part of the ship but as this world had no science, it was not the case. She simply had a name…

“Thank you Icarus.”

“Shall I head a new course?”

“Set course for Avalon.”

“Understood, we are now on route to Avalon.”

The ship began banking ever so slightly, heading on its new course.

“Is there anything else?”

“No, but I may need some extra hands in the lab, care to join me.”

“You need not ask such a thing. Please lead the way, I will follow.”

John did just that as he was facing a problem. On him was a baby skytiger and he was not its mother. He was definitely not in the position to feed it naturally.

Entering his lab, he saw it was as he left it. Vials, tools and materials strapped in place to keep them from falling over and smashing if Icarus had to perform hard maneuvers.

John reclaimed the card that held the skytiger from the nothingness he once placed it. Laying it down on a corner of the table, he kept it aside for when he was done.

He needed a list. This would be his first attempt in making baby formula so what did he need? Digestible calcium, antibodies, protein, vitamins, and mana.

“Icarus, please fetch me some raw meat and dragonroot from the stores.” That would take care of the necessities.

Then elixir and marrow for the rest? He couldn’t pass on antibodies but hopefully he already had enough to last him. An elixir should skyrocket his vitality and help him get through anything unexpected. He had both in this lab as they were both important bases for most alchemic creations.

Icarus scurried back in with the requested items. It didn’t take her long, the ship wasn’t that big.

Icarus dumped all the items in a small pot and with a few drops of alkahest, it was well on its way to becoming a goopy mess.

Luckily John didn’t need a syringe as with magic coursing through his veins, he only need will it and it would rise and shape to his thoughts.

Placing a hand on the card, “unseal.” The card returned to its former state and above it the skytiger appeared, the light now working in reverse to reveal its feline form.

It was tired. So young and surviving such a display of nature, it was no surprise.

Skytigers could grow to be larger than the size of his entire ship given enough time. As this one was no larger than his forearm, it would still have its first coat of hair.

John made motions with his hands over the pot and the mixture rose. Drawing his hand closer to the tiger, the mixture followed and slowly the tiger was fed.

It was cute, in a way; the tiger didn’t even open its mouth or eyes. Its nostrils simply flared and a pink tongue slipped out, dragging with it some of the mix into its mouth. John opened a vial of water and saw it delivered and consumed in a similar fashion.

Full and out of danger, it fell asleep.

John moved his mixture to a jar with enchants so that it would not spoil while the water was fine to return to its former vial.

“That’s a skytiger!” Icarus spoke in a hushed yet excited voice.

“It is.”

“But why? How?”

“It kind of just happened. I went down to see some natural disasters and somehow this guy got saved by my arcane shield. Then I brought him back with me.”

“You came across a baby skytiger by accident? In that situation?”

“Bizarre right? But that’s how it was. I’m thinking something else was in play but I don’t have any idea what or how.”

“I see.”

John picked up the tiger and held it in his arms. It was surprisingly light. It was a girl.

“Here, come closer Icarus, you can touch her.”

“Can I?”

“Of course.”

“She’s soft.”

She really was. Her fur wasn’t wiry like he had expected it to be at all.

“Well, she’s asleep so I’ll leave her in your care. I’m going to fly around and see what there is out there, seems we are in a new area.”

“Yes. We just entered Sector 178, it’s a mountain region. Should I slow the ships drives?”

“No need. I’ll be armed this time so I don’t expect resistance.”

“Understood. I’ll maintain course and heading but still, be careful.”

John took the skytiger and laid it upon the lab’s bed. John sometimes never left his lab so there was a benefit to having one nearby. Today it would serve this little creature.

Next John lifted a spear from the wall. Heavy for most, it was very light for him. A simple creation made of enchanted metals that he could throw or thrust into an opponent. This, in addition to the heavy and rapid fire spring action stingers strapped to his left and right forearms respectively, he had the means to fight at any range.

Standing at the side of Icarus and looking down, John opened his wings and fell. The ground began to rush towards him but as he caught wind, began his flight.