Quest Accepted: There's no place like home

Type: Repatriation

Details: The ColoColo have been forcibly driven from their ancestral home.

Objectives: Drive away the invading monsters and restore the ColoColo's patrimony.

It was an awfully small notification for the undertaking it represented. Don had no idea how he could accomplish this goal. Maybe he could gather enough SkunkWeed to cover the entire jungle in smoke, but there was no way that would be sustainable, even if he could stomach the smell.

Grey didn't thank him, she just nodded as if there was no other way their confrontation could have plaid out. Kat was likewise unmoved by Don's lukewarm declaration of commitment.

"Sik wanted to see you" Grey announced flatly before turning back into her den -slash- supply cache, dismissing Don and all of the questions he still wanted to ask her. "Kat, be a dear and show him the way," she said in a muffled voice from somewhere under the debris and then fell silent. Kat and Don filed out of the Dome, a half dozen pairs of black eyes watching them as they went.

Don spent the first half of the uncomfortable trip worrying about what Sik wanted. He still had a couple of bite marks from his last encounter with the tribe's alchemist. Was he going to receive some kind of punishment for revealing the refuge to the tribe's mortal enemies? Don came up with a dozen horrifying scenarios in his head before he tried to distract himself.

"What were those things?" Don asked

"Bad" Kat replied tersely

"I figured out that much. What are they called?"

Kat rounded on Don with a ferocious hiss that stopped Don dead in his tracks.

"We do not call them. We do not speak of them. They are bad. We avoid them and they do not find us. Even Gaz knows not to anger them. You..." Kat bit back his words with a visible effort before turning around. "You are young, you did not know."

The duo lapsed back into silence. Don felt even worse than before.

Do you know anything about those beasts? Don asked Cel. He couldn't solve a problem he didn't understand after all and Cel was his best source of information at the moment.

She didn't answer and when Don looked back to where she was padding silently along behind them on her bare feet. She had a troubled expression on her face and Don had to repeat himself before he got an answer.

"They could be one of a hundred different kinds of monsters. I didn't get a very good look at it and the ape archetype is pretty common."

Do you know anything useful about them? Don asked. Cel shrugged.

"No more than you do."

While Cel was a veritable fountain of information, there was apparently a lot that she still didn't know. Don reviewed his memories of the night. He was surprised to find that they were fuzzy, unclear. Some details stood out but most of it was a blur. He clearly remembered the abnormal length of the arm that reached through the entrance. It was nearly as long as Don was tall. He thought he was safe in the cave only to have that meaty hand, nearly the size of his torso slam down next to him. It was also clear from the way they were driven off that they have a keen sense of smell. Don didn't really see a way to take advantage of either of those details.

Carrying something smelly might keep them at bay, or it might just advertise his position. Maybe if he got his CON high enough he could match their size. Long before that happened though, he would be too big for the refuge. That was a non-starter. Don couldn't think of anything else and went back to dreading his confrontation with the ornery alchemist.

As the group neared the alchemy round, Don started smelling an acrid, cutting stench. It was entirely unlike SkunkWeed but equally unpleasant. They rounded the last curve and Don saw the alchemy round was a complete mess. Many of the cracks in the ceiling had widened and the plants that were neatly organized and stored there were strewn all over the floor. Before he could make out any more details, a shadow launched itself at them. Don cringed, expecting to be attacked again but didn't know how to react when the feathery monster gave him an undersized hug instead.

"Ohhhhh! You made it back! I was so worried about you." It crooned in a nasal voice as it rubbed its face against Don's neck. "I'm sorry I chased you out!"

This didn't make any sense, Don thought Sik was furious with him. It released him and took his hand, leading him into the round a ways. It was awkward trying to crawl after him with one hand occupied but they stopped before long. Sik rummaged around in a pile of plants before turning and stuffing a few up Don's nose.

"Gah!" Don exclaimed as he fell away from the monster even more confused. He went to yank the stems out of his nose but stopped when a clean floral scent masked the biting smell from earlier. Sik continued speaking.

"After you left I went to throw away the salves you made but I tested one on a whim. It was perfect! Then I tested another and another. They were all perfect! Of course, I tried to find you but you had already left! I went to Grey but all the others were already out for the night too. We had to wait for someone to return before sending them after you."

"I thought you were angry at me for making too many," Don said. The flowers buzzed and tickled in his nose. Sik waved off his concerns.

"That was because I thought you wasted all my ingredients. Do you know how many other ColoColo have been able to make a salve? None! I thought you were just like the others but you have even more talent for Alchemy than I do! It took me months before I learned to make salves properly every time!"

Sik Beamed at Don. Apparently, Kat didn't approve.

"Do you know how many ColoColo led Them back to the nest? None!" He snarled from the entrance. Sik tossed an empty gourd at him. Kat easily sidestepped it and the gourd clattered noisily down the tunnel.

"Go away, Kat. This is a discussion between Alchemists."

Kat sniffed, turned tail, and darted down the passage, but not before Don remembered his guilt. The warm swelling of pride in his chest faded rapidly.

"He's right you know." Don admitted, "Those monsters followed me back here."

Once again, Sik waved his paw through the air like it didn't matter. "Our scouts should have found you long before it ever came to that. They had a whole night's head start on those things. There's no need to blame yourself."

Don wasn't sure about his reasoning but he was glad he hadn't alienated all of the ColoColo with his mistake. Sik must have sensed Don's reservations because he sighed before continuing.

"If you still feel like you need to make amends, start by helping me clean up this mess" Sik swept a paw, indicating the preserved ingredients scattered all over his workspace."

They set to sorting the various herbs. Don had Cel use her [Natural Resonance] to speed the process along. It was simplicity itself to sort the plants by the different colors they let off. Even though there were a few dozen that Cel was unable to resonate with, they finished in no time.

Sik explained the different uses of the plants as they hung them back on the dome where they wouldn't be crushed underfoot. There were plants called Blue Bells, Moon Grass, Blood Moss, Creeping Strangler, Myrtle's Wort and a dozen others, each with their own unique properties and preparation methods. Don was embarrassed when Sik caught his eyes slipping out of focus but the ColoColo unexpectedly took pity on him.

"You have had a long night, rest and we will continue your lessons when you are ready."

Don nodded. His head dipped lower than he meant it to and he yawned out his acceptance "Okay"

You have discovered a quest branch!

Alchemy Lessons (failed) has become Alchemist's Apprentice (active)

Details: You have exceeded Sik's wildest expectations. As a result, he has taken an active interest in your training.

Objectives: Learn from Sik until your Alchemist level surpasses that of your teacher.

Branch Bonus: All Alchemy skill exp increased by 10% when in proximity to your teacher.

Cel, who had been getting bored with only hearing Don's side of the conversation perked up at the notification.

"All right! Way to go Don!" She cheered as she soared into the air. Don winced at the light that only he could see.

Don was confused again. His eyes ached from the sudden flare of light, and he was exhausted both physically and mentally. He nodded through Cel's enthusiastic explanation of branching and evolving quests without understanding any of it. Maybe that was because he was asleep before she finished.

---------------------------------------------

When Don woke up, he felt refreshed and energized, until he moved. Dried blood cracked on his itching legs, Tender bruises made themselves known and every single muscle he had was stiff as a board. His bones ached where they were pressed against hard stone all night and his throat felt like it was lined with sandpaper. Don's stomach complained loudly too. He was only at the first rank of hunger and the second of thirst but now that Don recognized them for what they were, the symptoms seemed much more acute.

He didn't try and sit up at first. He started by just wiggling his toes and fingers. Then he rotated his wrists and ankles. He slowly warmed up his extremities, getting his blood flowing and loosening up his rigid muscles. Eventually, he worked himself into a sitting position. He rubbed his neck as he stretched it one way, then the other. Everything still hurt but at least he could move now. With the widened cracks, more light filtered down through the ceiling making it a bit easier to see than usual.

Sik noticed his groaning and hopped over with a gourd. "Just drink a sip" he warned as he proffered an unknown potion. Don took it without question and raised it to his cracked lips. He swallowed half a mouthful and almost instantly, a warmth started radiating from his stomach. It soothed Don's aches and chased away the tingling numbness in his extremities. In minutes he could barely feel the myriad superficial injuries he accumulated over the previous night.

"Thank you." Don croaked. Sik smiled

"Drink and wash up." He indicated to one side of the round then hopped back to the mortar and continued working on some Alchemical concoction. Don moved in the direction he indicated.

His constant awareness of his Status informed him that the soothing potion lowered his DEX by 10% but that was more than a fair price to pay for the relief it provided. His HP recovered some during the night, but not much. He was only at 32/95HP now. Don kicked himself for not applying some salve before passing out.

When he reached the far wall, Don found a pocket in the stone. It was too dark to see inside the alcove but when Don reached inside hesitantly, he found rushing, icy water. Don drank his fill, splashed water over his face and did his best to clean the wounds he could reach.

His stomach grumbled again and Don opened up his inventory with a thought. He saw the Saween fruit there and the events of the previous night flashed through his mind. They were vivid and clear. Don stopped breathing. He remembered the chase, the clearing, and the stars. Don looked back at the cracks in the ceiling with dread. He was too close to the surface. Don started hyperventilating and scrambling toward the tunnels. They were at least a little less exposed. Don tried to ignore the fact that he was already doomed.

Don's agitation woke Cel from her sleep. She jolted up, sensing danger but not able to pinpoint where it was coming from.

"What's happening?" She asked, alarmed.

The stars, the radiation. Don tried to explain through his panic

"What stars?" Cel was confused now

The ones out there! We need to go deeper. We're not safe here! Don was already in the tunnel and their Soul-bond forced Cel to follow. She tried to calm him down but Don was beyond reason. He crawled through the tunnels, searching for the lowest point he could find. When he finally exhausted himself Cel was able to get his attention again.

"There's nothing to worry about! This planet has a magnetic field. Only a little radiation makes it to the surface. You're totally safe here."

Don wanted to believe her but something deep inside him just kept screaming that the stars are dangerous and he would only be safe deep underground. Before he could get moving again however, another danger presented itself.

"Big loud stupid weakling shouldn't have come back." Don squinted into the darkness but there was nothing but the glowing moss beyond the small circle of light cast by Cel.

"I tell you go, not go and come back! You bring bad things to nest! We is not wanting you here. Go, and no come back this time. Get eaten, make bad things forget nest" Gaz crept forward, a crowd of like-minded ColoColo clustered behind him.

Gaz's intimidating posturing had an unintended effect. It reminded Don that the ColoColo have been here for years. They all survived until now. It wasn't just the ColoColo either, there was an entire jungle, bursting with life just above him. There was no way something like that could survive prolonged radiation exposure, not unless Cel was right. Even the guards had no issues standing under the open sky on that night that felt like it happened weeks ago. Don mastered his breathing, thankful for the bully's timely arrival. Sik caught up with Don moments later and the ColoColo creeping towards him stopped.

"Where are you going? We have lots of work to do. There's no time for-" He stopped when he spotted the gang of monsters on the other side of Don. He snarled. 'What are you doing here Gaz? You know you're not allowed in the Alchemy round."

"This not your space, this tunnels" Gaz objected "I getting rid of big loud stupid useless hatchling"

"Like the abyss you are." Sik scoffed "Don is a talented alchemist. He's way more valuable to the nest than you."

Sik's comment did nothing to calm down the posturing idiot, especially because he had an audience to impress.

"I bring foods, He bring bad things! We knows it! Big stupid must go!" A chirping chorus of "go" echoed behind him

"You were the one who brought him here in the first place!" Sik squeaked back exasperatedly "Any problems he causes are your fault! Just because you're too short-sighted to see his value beyond the meat on his bones doesn't mean he is useless."

"He bad!" Gaz insisted "He too big, too hungry, too loud, too stupid, can't see. Why feed him? Why keep him? He should go!"

"No," Kat corrected "He's an Alchemist, that means hands off if you ever want help healing in the future."

Gaz scowled but he knew when he was beaten. With Don protected, his anger turned on his companions. "Why you just stand there? Scared of big stupid hatchling?" They squeaked in fear and retreated. Gaz chased them down the tunnel hurling insults at the ones he couldn't reach and nipping at the ones he could. Sik sighed.

"I hate that guy," he muttered before turning and leading Don back to the Alchemy round.