In only two days, Gussie has graduated from an NPC to a full-fledged PC. As proof, she leaps from Lamant's shoulder and does a loop-de-loop around the arena, just because she can. When she completes her circle, she times it just right so that she's directly above Demos and his less-than-perfect mosaic design.
Drifting down, claws extended, she doesn't make a sound. Although she's been talking nonstop since she arrived and since Lamant bonded her, she is a silent diver, a stealth bird on a covert mission. She doesn't want to startle Demos or just barge into his space, because she has seen that he doesn't respond well to that.
She's in range. A few feet and closing. Now just inches away. Slowly, she circles, swooping around, concentrating on the gaps in Demos' pattern.
[Time Limit Engaged. 2 Minutes.]
WHAT?
I didn't know this was a timed task! Sure, I knew that we'd have to finish fairly quickly, and that we didn't have all day. But an unexpected time clock?
[Hurry, Gussie!}
She begins circling faster, beating the air with her wings, ruffling the fur on Demos' ears. With a loud growl, he looks up...and sees what everyone else has already seen. What is glaringly obvious to all.
With a huff and a snort, he rocks back and forth, never letting his feet leave the floor. I can practically feel his heart chakra filling. The stars flow out of his paws and fill the mosaic pattern.
[Time Remaining 31 Seconds.]
Just in time! Both our mosaic patterns look perfect. Glowing maps full of stars. This is more fun than when I learned to finger paint. Amazed. Demos shakes his head as if he can't believe what just took place.
I don't bother him. I just bask in the warmth of knowing that I just saved his butt.
[Time Expired!]
Superfluously, Ser Maartenwitz proclaims, "The task is finished! Both Blaze and Demos have succeeded. Glory to Mistresses Kaline and Vedette!"
Demos and I slowly step outside our mosaics and rub noses. Kaline coos. "That's so sweet. They're happy for each other."
Why wouldn't we be? We both managed to pull this off without making a complete mess of it and mortifying Kaline and Vedette.
Demos growls. [You did it.]
[So did you. You really succeeded! You know what you're doing!]
I don't point out how I saved him. If he didn't notice or put two and two together, I'm not going to showboat and brag about my good deed.
Demos and I admire our star-painted mosaics, making a big fuss out of them.
[Your shines more brightly than mine.]
[But yours has that nice consistency.]
[Yours looks like actual stars. Like I'd be walking on starlight.]
I ask, [How long before it fades?]
[A few hours. I vote we come back in here and admire it at least once.]
[We could eat here! Take naps here. We have to enjoy it!]
Joining in our celebration, Gussie swoops down on both of us, and pulls both our fur with affectionate tugs. [These are the most beautiful star mosaics I've ever seen. You both created natural wonders. It almost looks like a reflecting pool filled with stars in the jungle.]
I smile with faux modesty. [I guess all the training and pills we've taken have paid off.]
Her big eye winks when Demos isn't looking. She knows that we were the ones who helped Demos succeed. And that, in itself, is worth celebrating. Because it's the three of us now. But it's a shame Gussie doesn't get a boost of her own.
"What are the scores?" Kaline tugs on Ser Maartenwitz's long, bell-like sleeve. How does he avoid not getting it dirty every second?
"I haven't finished calculating them." His voice is as proper and smooth as his sleeves. If this guy ever got so much as a parking ticket for his carriage or maybe his horse, I'd be shocked.
Hold on.
Something thoroughly unpleasant just occurred to me. Something dark and twisted and cynical. How did I not see it before?
[Scores!] Demos beats the floor with his paws. [What is taking that human so long?]
[We have bigger problems than scores!]
Demos stares at me, his brow crinkling. [Since when did YOU not care about scores?]
The Game System breaks into our important discussion with scores. Which, of course, are important for me and my well-being and for Kaline and the House of Riddlehoeven. But some things are more important...
However, I smile and manage a proud purr when the scores are announced.
[Name: [Blaze]
[Class: [Novice]
[Race: [Common Tiger]
[Level: 2/10 [XP 40/100 STATUS: Full
[HP: 6/6 [MP: 0/0 [Stamina 100/100
[Strength: 11
[Defense: 12
[Magic: 15
[Resistance: 7
[Speed: 14
[Charisma: 22
[Luck: 12
[Skills: [Bite (Attack Skill] [Pounce (Attack Skill)] [Sprint (Skill)] [Camouflage (Skilll) [Escape Power (Skill) [Telepathy(Skill Not Yet Acquired)]
___________
[Name: [Demos]
[Class: [Journeyman]
[Race: [Common Brown Bear]
[Level: 3/10 [XP 45/100 STATUS: Full
[HP: 6/6 [MP: 0/0 [Stamina 100/100
[Strength: 13
[Defense: 16
[Magic: 17
[Resistance: 13
[Speed: 18
[Charisma: 20
[Luck: 12
[Skills: [Bite (Attack Skill] [Pounce (Attack Skill)] [Sprint (Skill)] [Camouflage (Skilll) [Escape Power (Skill) [Telepathy(Skill)]
_____
Lamant joins us on the floor of the arena. "Exceptional performances! Why, I do believe those are the fastest times ever recorded in this family by any beast tamer."
"Yes, thirty-one seconds under the time limit," Ser Maartenwitz reports. "Most singular. Even better than your own time. Master Lamant. Twenty-five seconds under the time limit. Mistress Minette twenty-four."
"Well, she's always been the brains of of the two of us," Lamant declares with pride. "And thirty-one seconds! My daughters surpassing me. That calls for a special surprise."
"A feast?" Kaline asks. "With lots of fruit pudding?"
"Better, my darlings."
With Gussie resuming her lofty queenly perch on his shoulder, Lamant strides with his daughters out of the arena, Ser Maartenwitz and Tomas following. I purposely bump into Demos to slow him down.
[Hey!]
[Demos. This has to stay between us...but I think that Ser Maartenwitz might have been the poacher that made Lamant's and Minette's beasts disappear!]