Kael, Vera, and Lyssa settled into the clearing to wait, finding comfortable spots against a large tree that provided shade from the midday sun. The forest around them was peaceful—birds chirping, leaves rustling in a gentle breeze, the stream burbling softly nearby. It was the kind of tranquil environment that made it easy to forget about the dangers that could lurk in less friendly forests.
"So," Kael said after a few minutes of companionable silence, deciding to make conversation while they waited. "Do you think we'll work together on more quests after this? Or was this just a one-time thing to see if we're compatible?"
Lyssa considered the question, her fingers idly playing with a blade of grass she'd plucked from the ground. "So far, so good," she said carefully. "You haven't run screaming when pots fall on you, and you actually seem to know what you're doing despite being new to all this. So... probably yeah. I think we could work well together."
She paused, then added with a slight grimace, "Let's just hope nothing unlucky happens to change your mind."
Before Kael could respond, Vera padded over and lay down beside him, her large form pressing against his side. Through their bond, he felt her meaning clearly—even if Lyssa decided not to continue working together, even if things went wrong, he would always have Vera and Ember. They were his first companions, his family, and nothing would change that.
Kael felt warmth spread through his chest at the sentiment. He reached over and scratched behind Vera's ears, exactly where she liked it most. "Thanks, girl," he murmured. "I know. You two are always going to be here."
Vera's purr was answer enough, a deep rumbling that vibrated through both of them.
Lyssa watched the interaction with an expression that was difficult to read—something between wistfulness and approval. "That's a strong bond you have with her," she observed. "Most new tamers take months to develop that kind of connection."
"We've been through a lot together in a short time," Kael said honestly. "That tends to strengthen things."
They lapsed into comfortable silence again, occasionally making small observations about the forest or discussing what types of mythbeasts Ember might find. Time passed slowly but pleasantly—there was something peaceful about simply existing in nature without immediate danger or pressing concerns.
About thirty minutes after Ember had left, Kael started hearing sounds from behind them—rustling, the snap of small branches, the soft padding of many feet moving through the underbrush. He and Lyssa both stood, turning to face the direction of the noise.
Through the trees, Kael could make out colors moving—flashes of browns, greys, greens, small forms weaving between trunks and undergrowth. And getting steadily closer.
Through his bond with Ember, he suddenly felt her presence growing stronger, her excitement and pride radiating across their connection. She was close, very close, and she was definitely not alone.
"It's Ember," Kael said to Lyssa, who had tensed and moved her hand to her crossbow. "She's coming back. With friends, apparently."
"How many friends?" Lyssa asked, her eyes fixed on the approaching group.
"I'm... not entirely sure," Kael admitted, his own surprise growing as the sounds got louder and the number of moving shapes increased. "More than five, I think."
That turned out to be a massive understatement.
Ember burst into the clearing first, her flames blazing brightly with pride and joy. She was flying in an exaggerated manner, almost like she was leading a military formation—chest puffed out, movements deliberate and commanding. Through their bond, Kael felt her immense satisfaction at what she considered a job well done.
Behind her came the mythbeasts. And they just kept coming.
Small creatures of every description poured into the clearing—rabbit-types with earth-stained paws and crystalline eyes, bird-types with feathers of various colors, canine species ranging from fox-like to wolf-pups, even a few feline creatures with spotted or striped coats. They moved as a loose group, following Ember like she was some kind of pied piper made of fire.
"Oh no," Lyssa breathed, her eyes wide as she took in the growing crowd. "Oh no, that's way more than five. That's—how many is that?"
Kael was trying to count, but the mythbeasts kept moving, making it difficult to get an accurate number. "Forty? Maybe more? They're still coming."
"How are we going to fit forty mythbeasts in the cart?" Lyssa asked, genuine concern in her voice. "Granite's strong, but there are physical limitations to how much space—"
"We'll figure it out," Kael said, projecting more confidence than he felt. "If they don't all fit, we'll make multiple trips, or we'll find another solution. But look—they're all friendly, healthy, exactly what we need. This is a good problem to have."
He waved at Ember, making his movements slow and welcoming, trying to project friendliness to the gathered mythbeasts. Vera, recognizing that there was no threat here, had settled into the least intimidating position possible—lying down completely, her head resting on her paws, regarding the newcomers with calm curiosity rather than predatory interest.
The mythbeasts seemed to appreciate these efforts. Most of them were young—not quite babies but not fully grown either—and they moved with the curious energy of creatures who'd never encountered humans before but weren't inherently afraid. They sniffed at the air, at the ground, at each other, their attention constantly shifting as they took in their new surroundings.
Through his psychic bond with Vera, enhanced by her connection to Ember, Kael received impressions of what had happened. Ember had found a few friendly mythbeasts early in her search—a pair of rabbit-types who'd been curious about the strange fire creature. They'd led her to others they knew, showing her spots where small mythbeasts congregated. Word had spread somehow, through methods Kael didn't fully understand—animal communication was more complex than simple sounds—and it had snowballed into this massive gathering.
Most of the mythbeasts were gravitating toward Kael specifically. He felt them approach, small noses sniffing at his hands, paws brushing against his legs, eyes examining him with open curiosity. Through Ember's bond, he realized she must have communicated something about him—that he was her tamer, her friend, safe and trustworthy.
"Alright, everyone," Kael said, raising his voice to address the crowd of small creatures. Some had ears that perked up at his words; others seemed to respond to his tone more than the actual language. "I know Ember brought you here, and that's great. But I want to make sure you all understand—we're looking for mythbeasts who want to bond with humans. People in the city who would love to have companions like you."
He paused, watching for reactions. Most of the mythbeasts seemed attentive, interested, not showing any signs of fear or desire to leave.
"If you want to come with us to find a human partner of your own, you're welcome to join. But if you'd rather stay in the forest, no one's going to force you. This is your choice."
Kael waited, half-expecting some of the mythbeasts to take the opportunity to return to the forest. But none moved toward the treeline. Instead, they all remained focused on him, on Ember, on Vera and Lyssa. Apparently, they'd all decided that the prospect of bonding with humans was more interesting than staying in the familiar forest.
Well, almost all of them.
At the very back of the group, partially hidden behind a larger rabbit-type, was a small bird—an eagle, from the look of it, though significantly smaller than the thunder-horse Kael had fought days ago. Its feathers had the characteristic blue-grey sheen of a thunder-type, and tiny sparks occasionally danced between its wing tips. But unlike the others who were exploring and approaching, this eagle simply stood still, staring directly at Kael with intense, unblinking eyes.
Kael noticed it but didn't push. Some creatures needed more time to warm up to new situations. The eagle could approach when it was ready.
"Alright then," Lyssa said, having done her own count. "I make it about forty-three mythbeasts total. That's..." She did some quick mental math. "That's over two hundred basilisks if we can get them all back safely. The bonus alone would be worth more than most rank two jobs."
"Then let's get them back safely," Kael said. He looked at Ember, who was still basking in her achievement. "Ember, can you lead them back to where Granite is? Keep them together, make sure none wander off?"
Ember chimed affirmatively, immediately taking on her troop leader role again. She began flying toward the forest edge, making encouraging sounds, and the mythbeasts followed. It was honestly adorable—forty-plus small creatures trailing after a fire fairy barely the size of a forearm, like ducklings following their mother.
Kael, Vera, and Lyssa followed at the rear, making sure no stragglers got left behind. The eagle remained at the back of the group, still watching Kael but now following the crowd at least. Progress.
The walk back to the forest edge took about twenty minutes, slightly longer than the trip in because they had to move at the pace of the smallest mythbeasts. When they finally emerged from the treeline, Granite was exactly where they'd left him, standing guard over the cart with patient dedication.
The crystal ox's eyes widened—about as much emotion as Kael had seen from the gentle giant—when he saw the sheer number of small creatures emerging from the forest. Lyssa hurried over to him, stroking his neck reassuringly.
"I know, boy. I know. We're going to need to fit all of them in your cart. Can you handle it?"
Granite rumbled, a sound that suggested he was up for the challenge even if he was surprised by it.
The real test came in actually loading the mythbeasts. The cart was large, designed for cargo rather than passengers, but fitting forty-three small creatures required some creative arranging. Kael and Lyssa worked together, gently lifting the smaller ones into the cart bed, encouraging the slightly larger ones to hop in themselves, distributing weight as evenly as possible.
The mythbeasts were remarkably cooperative. Whether because Ember had somehow communicated that this was safe, or because they were naturally trusting, or simply because they were excited about this adventure, they settled into the cart with minimal fuss. Some curled up in groups, others claimed individual spots, but they all fit.
Well, almost all of them.
The thunder-type eagle refused to get in the cart. It hopped closer to the wheels, examining them with its sharp eyes, but made no move to join the others. Instead, it kept staring at Kael with that same intense focus it had shown in the clearing.
Vera had noticed. Through their bond, Kael felt her awareness of the eagle, her curiosity about why this particular creature was so fixated on him. But she didn't communicate anything specific—just watched and waited to see what would happen.
"You can ride in the cart with the others," Kael said gently to the eagle, crouching down to its level. "It's safe, I promise. We're just going to the city."
The eagle tilted its head, regarding him with those sharp, intelligent eyes. It took a hop closer, then another, until it was right next to Kael's boot. Then it sat down, clearly indicating it intended to walk alongside the cart rather than ride in it.
"Stubborn little thing," Lyssa observed with a slight smile. "But if it wants to walk, it can walk. Just as long as it doesn't get left behind."
With all the mythbeasts either in the cart or positioned nearby, they were finally ready to head back. The small creatures in the cart were looking around with wide eyes, many of them seeing beyond the forest for the first time. The open sky above, the distant sight of Thornhaven's walls, the well-traveled road—everything was new and fascinating.
Granite began pulling the cart, his immense strength making the loaded weight seem manageable despite the sheer number of passengers. The cart's wheels creaked slightly but held firm—it was well-constructed and designed for heavy loads.
Ember flew proud circles around the group, still acting like she'd personally orchestrated this entire successful operation. Which, to be fair, she kind of had.
Vera walked beside Kael, her presence steady and reassuring.
And the thunder-type eagle walked next to Kael's other side, its eyes constantly flicking between him and the path ahead, never straying more than a few feet away.
"That eagle really likes you," Lyssa noted, observing the small bird's behavior.
"I noticed," Kael said, glancing down at the small bird. "I don't know why, though. I haven't done anything special."
"Maybe it just recognizes something in you," Lyssa suggested. "Mythbeasts are more perceptive than people give them credit for. They can sense things about people—intentions, emotions, potential."
Kael filed that information away. The eagle was welcome to stay close, to stare at him all it wanted. If it had decided he was interesting or trustworthy, that was fine by him.
The road back to Thornhaven stretched before them, and Kael found himself feeling genuinely good about how this job was going. They'd found not just five mythbeasts but over forty—all healthy, friendly, perfect for the bonding program. The payment would be substantial, enough to keep them comfortable for a while and fund future adventures.
And maybe, just maybe, Lyssa's bad luck really had been fixed by Divine Restoration. Nothing catastrophic had happened in the forest, no freak accidents or equipment failures. Just a surprisingly successful quest that had gone far better than expected.
Vera had been watching the thunder-type eagle with increasing curiosity throughout the loading process. Through their bond, Kael could feel her attention focused on the small bird, analyzing its behavior with that sharp intelligence she possessed. Finally, she padded over to where the eagle stood near Kael, lowering her large head to the bird's level.
The eagle didn't shy away from Vera's approach. If anything, it seemed to have been waiting for this—for someone who might understand. The two mythbeasts regarded each other for a long moment, and Kael felt something pass through his bond with Vera—a flash of understanding, a sudden clarity about the eagle's intentions.
Vera's head lifted, and she looked at Kael with an expression he couldn't quite read. Through their bond, he felt... amusement? Understanding? Maybe a hint of approval? But no explanation came. Whatever Vera had figured out about the eagle's behavior, she was keeping it to herself for now.
"What was that about?" Kael asked her directly.
Vera simply bumped her head against his hand affectionately and returned to her position, offering nothing more than a sense of patience through their connection. All in good time, her emotions seemed to say.
"Alright team," Kael said, deciding to let the mystery be for now. He looked at his companions—Vera, Ember, Lyssa, Granite, and their cargo of eager mythbeasts. "Let's get ready to head back. We'll take it slow and steady—no need to rush with this many passengers."
The mythbeasts in the cart were settling in now, some curling up together for warmth, others still excitedly looking around at the new sights. The thunder-type eagle remained at Kael's feet, its intense gaze unwavering.
Everything was prepared. The cart was loaded, Granite succcesfully pulling the cart, and the path back to Thornhaven was clear.
They were ready to begin the journey home.