The Wisp examined its menu, torn between its options.

[Pipes! Engines! Golems!] Hazel’s signals bounced around the Wisp’s core, her consciousness positively buzzing with excitement. [We’ll be building for an orbital once we find some!]

[Hazel.] The Wisp interrupted. [Can we at least stay in agreement that the first use of metal should be in fortification? We came so close last time…]

[Yeah, yeah, yeah.] Hazel replied. [But after that? A proper fountain. Maybe two?]

[Your priorities worry me sometimes.]

[I mean, we won’t be able to do too much metal trapping anyway, not with how corrupted the engineering templates are.]

[Indeed.] The Wisp admitted. The duo had found out that the Signalling templates were sadly not the only corrupted tab, with both the engineering and the golem templates missing the majority of their number. [Only emergency engineering templates survived, and only 3 golem templates. Defense fabrication will require creativity.]

The Wisp had to thank the light that any engineering templates survived at all, as the only ones left were apparently stored in a separate packet on the Wisp’s soul, apparently to be used as part of the ‘Starfall Scenario’.

Neither Hazel nor the Wisp were sure what the actual conditions of that scenario were, accompanying a general ignorance of everything not directly related with building a fortress refuge. The Wisp was really starting to hold a grudge with its creators by this point, what with all the information they had decided against spellcoding into the Wisp. It couldn’t understand why they would leave such critical information as that out. They must’ve thought the Wisp’s coded desire to build would leave them uncaring to such matters.

[Then they shouldn’t have built such a faulty soulbinding ritual.] The Wisp thought glumly.

[You won’t hear any complaining from me!] Hazel responded.

The Wisp sighed and set up another one way mental barrier. In the time since the ritual, it had become blatantly clear that sharing one core made it extremely hard to keep thoughts to oneself, requiring the use of several shields so that one wouldn’t be read like a book. The Wisp knew it was somewhat silly to waste mana on something so trivial of course, but on the other hand it was sure that the privacy gained by such measures was the only thing keeping it sane so far.

The Wisp spun for a second and refocused on its menu, where the engineering tab was brought up.

Engineering Emergency Simple Forge (5 Mana, Force) Manapulse Signal (14 Mana, Force; 2ne Electrum, 10ne Low Metal) Crystal Irrigation Core (7 Mana: 6 Water, 1 Force; 2ne Low Metal) Ambient(Ingels) Engine (30 Mana: 15 Force, 15 Umbral; 2ne Electrum, 20ne Low Alloy) Growth Lamp (50 Mana: 5 Force, 45 Stellar; 1ne Starglass, 2ne Low Metal) Page (⅓)

Pages 2 and 3 were mostly small things like wires, piping, and hand tools from the coming refugees, leaving the Wisp disappointed in the small selection. The only really relevant machines they could build were related to underground farming, very simple mana engines, or the signal which would apparently serve as a beacon for those who could intercept the pulses.

They wouldn’t need another engine for a while, nor did they have the mana converters or the metal for it. The same was true for just about everything there actually, now that the Wisp thought about it, on top of everything requiring at least a little metal. The Wisp was even more weary about building the signal, which worked by sending out highly concentrated pulses of mana. After seeing how the ‘wolf spider’ had been able to detect the mana in their fight earlier, the Wisp wasn’t sure if he wanted to risk summoning more of them like that.

[What’s wrong, Azu?] Hazel asked.

The Wisp sighed at the nickname as it inspected the forge requirements, wondering how worthless it would be in comparison to an actual mana forge. The small version would require mundane fuel sadly- this forge was exceedingly simple and unsuited for magical fire- but the Wisp was assuming that would be easy enough to acquire once the storm ended outside.

If the storm ended of course.

[Metals and fuel are necessary.] The Wisp finally broadcast. [We should commence a mining operation.]

[Aw, that’ll be no problem.] Hazel thought smugly. [A storehouse first? And then we’ll connect some workshops and the mine entrance?]]

[Confirmative.]

[Then let's get started!]

The two worked quickly following that, Hazel pulling up a small hall from the templates to carve adjacent to the engine room. It was a simple hall, roughly half the size of the engine room and a quarter as furnished. Smooth pillars supported the arched roof at even intervals, though the Wisp knew the room didn’t actually need them for support.

As well, four small square rooms were attached, two to a side, to serve as small workshops and maybe extra storage. Most of these stayed bare in furnishings, though the Wisp did take the time to create a small forge in the room closest to the end of the storage hall to serve as a makeshift foundry.

Upon finishing those, Hazel began cutting an exploratory tunnel into the far end to search for minerals.

It wasn’t likely they’d find anything just digging randomly, but with the destruction of most of the engineering templates neither the Wisp nor Hazel had been able to come up with a better plan.

The first vein of metal was the most important in any case however, no matter the composition. The reason for this was twofold. The first being that metal was notoriously mana conductive in most useful forms, and with a sample of any they’d be able to create a scanning engine to look for more, and the second being that by studying the composition of found metal the Wisp was sure it’d be able to compose small amounts using excessive amounts of mana. And thankfully, a small amount of mana was all that was required for most of the templates left.

Unfortunately, any amount of usable metal would require a great deal of digging.

And so dig they did.

…

[AH-HA!.] Hazel shouted. [A cave!]

The Wisp’s consciousness stirred from its idle state. It had been a long few days, and the monotonous work of digging straight tunnels day and night had started to get to the duo, leading to a system of shifts with the digging.

The Wisp had just switched off of its own…

[Come on, there’ll be plenty of time for that later!] Hazel sent a mental probe to shock the Wisp awake.

The Wisp sighed as it reasserted control over the core, to which Hazel gave a shout of indignation that the Wisp ignored.

The view ahead however, gave the Wisp pause.

To call the space ahead a ‘cave’ seemed to the Wisp as such a gross miscommunication that it concluded it to be a joke. Cavernous ravine was a more accurate term. It stretched several times the length of the engine room, and was at least twice as wide with what the Wisp could describe as a completely unique ecosystem compared to what it had seen of the surface.

The glowing mushrooms the size of the forge was the first thing the Wisp focused on, with translucent blue caps overlooking tall ghostly stalks as wide around as two wisp cores and as bright as a force lamp. Beneath these groves was an explosive multitude of alien life that the Wisp couldn’t entirely categorize despite a passing knowledge of life templates. Flighty rays drifted through the air on invisible currents of mana and underground wind while foxes made of solid stone flickered through the silk-like mycelium hugging the ground. Crackling birdsong from winged constructs of what looked like pure electricity chirped through the air, only to be answered by the deep hums of crystalline minks that nested in the same mushrooms.

[This…] The Wisp’s core spun in amazement. [This is…]

[Unprecedented?]

[Unbelievable.]

The two stared at the ravine for a few minutes, the Wisp taking in and memorizing everything it could. The stone foxes in particular seemed to be cautiously interested in the Wisp, with a couple of nearby foxes eying the aperture Hazel carved, only retreating when the Wisp approached.

[This ravine should not be able to support this biodiversity.] The Wisp floated past a mushroom, sending a flock of rays further up the cliff.

[This means we won’t have to leave for wood though, right? Hopefully at least.] Hazel thought. [But you’re right, how does this exist?]

The wound of water was noticeably absent from the Wisp’s audial senses, but it couldn’t see the far end of the ravine anyway, such was its length. There had to be some sort of source somehow, something to explain the humidity and growth.

[Current hypothesis predicts an aquifer.] The Wisp responded.

[Hmmm… Aren’t we above the water table right now though?] Hazel asked. [It’s not like we’re that far from the halls.]

[Soil content could potentially be structured differently here.]

[Yeah but this is still a lot…]

[Rainfall extrapolation indicates it doesn’t ever stop raining.] The Wisp chuckled at the resulting metaphorical eye roll. [Depending on how long it has poured, this level of diversity might not even be uncommon in places.

A stone fox approached the Wisp for a moment, almost coming close enough to touch. If the core had hands that is. Before the Wisp could inspect it too closely however, it skirted off a short distance, looking back as if asking for the Wisp to follow.

[Local fauna intelligence is…]

[Let's just follow it alright?] Hazel interrupted. [Maybe it wants to show us something.]

The Wisp continued to float down the ravine, occasionally stopping to inspect interesting plants and animals. The fox seemed to wait patiently each time, sitting on nearby rocks and mushroom caps until they were done.

[The fauna is more patient than you are, Unit Hazel.] The Wisp remarked after the third such event.

[It doesn’t have to deal with you constantly.] Hazel responded. [He’s just more considerate than you, that’s all.]

[My mental state templates will corrupt if you keep this up.] The Wisp deadpanned.

[You see, normal wisps would say ‘I’m hurt’ or something.] Hazel said.

[Wisp extrapolation implies that normal wisps would be at least half like me.]

The fox chittered before Hazel could answer, drawing their attention to something ahead. Breaking through the grove of mushroom trees they had wandered into, they found an explanation for the life ahead, in the shape of an underground spring. Water seemed to trickle down the walls and from below, somehow quiet in the face of the cave’s depth. A group of crystal minks danced atop the water, somehow not breaking the tranquil surface, while ghostly rays floated through the air on an ethereal wind, reflecting the light into a rainbow through their bodies. Their eyes however, were drawn to the group of stone foxes clustered around a body at the edge of the spring.

Was that a human?

The Wisp rushed down immediately, causing the foxes to yip and growl as it hovered above.

It seemed to be a young girl, having the correct number of hands and feet for the Wisp to recognize it as a refugee. They’d finally done it! They’d found a refugee!

The Wisp flared as it inspected her, dashing from limb to limb. Head? Check. Four limbs? Check. Two fox ears on the top, and two normal ones on the side? Errr…. Check? The Wisp wasn’t so sure about the last part being part of his human template, but that was a small difference, right? As long as it was close enough, the Wisp was sure it counted, and its primary objective could be fulfilled! And they might even get some answers…

[Azu, stop. She’s hurt!] Hazel’s concern sobered the Wisp up immediately, and it took a closer look at the specimen in front of it. The cause of the outburst became clear, and the Wisp switched back to its analytical mode, noticeably sputtering as it did so.

[Subject is suffering extensive blood loss from two…] The Wisp levitated the body a few core lengths to check completely. [... three deep apertures opened. One confirmed dangerously deep, though none of the internals are damaged. Templates suggest skin closure through mana knitting, or binding if supply reports indicate a deficiency of force mana.]

Hazel didn’t say anything as the Wisp worked from template, conjuring an ethereal needle and thread to use. Interestingly, the foxes stayed clustered around, paying rapt attention as the Wisp sewed, lightly growling whenever he punctured her skin. After a tense few minutes, the Wisp closed the last wound, only then thinking to check for life signs with mana sense.

Inside a dense flow of sanguine energy swirled. The Wisp’s new resident was alive.

The Wisp looked to the foxes around, each one staring with sapphire eyes and basalt limbs. Inside each one, the rare green candle of spirit magic burned.

“Well?” The Wisp snapped aloud. “Can you at least help me bring her back?”

…

[We’re keeping her, right?] Hazel asked excitedly. [We’ll need to get some actual bedrooms, and food, or maybe something comfortable to sit on?]

The Wisp, Hazel, and about 3 dozen stone foxes sat around a stone alcove in one of the workshops, while the refuge’s first resident lay sound asleep.

Now that they had all calmed down, the Wisp had to admit that the specimen was pretty unusual compared to what it had expected to find. The girl was pretty short, probably in early adolescence if it had to guess, and her short fox ears looked eerily close to the foxes surrounding her, who had refused to scatter even in the face of the Wisp’s threats of a fire burst. Not that the Wisp was immune enough to their charms to carry such a threat…

The girl had long black hair as well, and emerald eyes. She wore a layered green and black tunic over a similarly coloured skirt, brown boots that came up to her calves, and one of the foxes had brought a decidedly not rain-proof hat along as well as a side bag. If the Wisp had to describe her in one word, it would probably be…

[Cute!] Hazel buzzed again, for the third, and probably not last, time.

Well, the Wisp would’ve used ‘underprepared’ or ‘trying to die of hypothermia’, but it didn’t try to debate that with Hazel. It normally wasn’t worth it.

[This unit is not of working age.] The Wisp responded, trying to switch Hazel’s focus to something useful. [Its family is in all probability not far off. We should find them as soon as feasible.]

[What if she wakes up while we’re gone!] Hazel protested. [I don’t want her to think she got abducted by anyone weird…]

[But that’s incorrect.] The Wisp responded. [You’re here.]

[Rude!]

[But I agree we should stay anyway.] The Wisp thought back to the monster breaking down the exterior gate and the resulting battle. [We will need to shore up our defenses before we leave. I wouldn’t care much for the local wildlife settling in and setting ambushes while we are gone.]

The Wisp looked around the makeshift sickbay, suddenly feeling a strange flash of discontentment at the thought of the girl waking up in such a plain room. They were a new fortress, and spartan accommodations would probably be expected, but the Wisp felt that they should at the very least design a residence hall for coming guests. After all, what would be the point of surviving an apocalypse just to live in a small plain cube?

And it wasn’t like stone was particularly expensive either.

Shouldn’t they show their guests the best they could? The Wisp didn’t think it would want to stay in a refuge that didn’t even have a proper bedroom…

[Hazel.] The Wisp promptly broadcast.

[Wha?]

[How much mana is left?]

There was a second of silence as Hazel searched her menu. [Looks to be around 35 and slowly rising. Why? Something we need… oh.]

Hazel trailed off as the Wisp felt her examine the room again.

[Yes.] The Wisp confirmed. [It's time for residences.]

…

The hunter flinched as the water touched the injury, scoured flesh burning as painfully as the day it was received, but the hunter continued. As the water completely covered the wound, it felt the intense tickling of healing at work as his flesh knit itself together.

The hunter growled in response to the sensation, planning his vengeance with his fury. The others would be furious if they learned that he had failed in a hunt, and let one of the Uncalled live, but he knew he had tried his best. It was a lack of information that had done him in, not effort, he consoled himself. The next time would be a success.

Still though, the Uncalled in that cave had behaved strangely. Aberrant even, though the hunter knew that those had been declared all destroyed. It had reacted unnaturally fast in the fight, moving mana flows, dodging, and firing off spells as if it had two or three minds controlling the defense.

Perhaps one of the Enemy had gotten inside to help?

The hunter shook its maw and sunk deeper into the pool, letting the water cover the top of its many legs. That wasn’t possible, the hunter had made sure to stalk the entrance once it had formed, there was no time for the Enemy to get inside, let alone be granted access to the cave flows. No, that fight was entirely from the one defender.

The hunter breathed in deeply, appreciating the calm flow of the rain hitting the pool. Though he never neglected in his hunt, even to the point of his littermates calling him senseless, even he indulged in the pure life infused in the sacred pools when he wasn’t needed. Now, he began to relax as the pain softened, and he tried to remember all he could about the fight.

He would try again of course, such was the way, and hope he would be successful in at least one. It was a matter of consuming enough of the Enemy to overpower the cave, but he would do it.

No matter how many attempts it took.

The hunter rose again and looked towards the direction of the fort. Raising onto his newly healed back legs, the creature roared at the skies, his thundering voice echoing across the water drenched plains, carrying one clear message for all who could understand it:

The Tempest hunts.