Alex was either going to get a cake baked for her by the time she got back, or a wack on the back of her head. Or maybe both. Making me the leader of her territory, then taking off into a rift unknown all to rescue poor Lenna. Definitely both.

Days later, a scar hung in the air floating almost like an eight-point star. It hadn't changed, and nothing else had come out of it, but we hadn't heard anything from Alex or Lenna, either.

"Alpha lives, Lenna lives," said Dengu from beside me near the lake. The velociraptor had seen better days. While his shoulder had healed, his arm hadn't. He sniffed at the air and nodded in my direction. "Lenna ranked."

"Can you find her?" I asked, putting a hand on his back. He leaned toward me and I patted his neck.

"Yes, follow, but too weak."

A large creature moved within the waters, heading our way. The Spinosaurus pinged on the edges of the territory, like he tested the boundaries. So, I'd headed down here, and Dengu had followed. He followed me everywhere. So lonely.

Water trickled off Grizzle's back as he stepped out of the water. Something glittered in his mouth.

[Grizzled Spinosaurus, Level 48, Alone.]

"Welcome, Grizzle, Alex mentioned you might stop by."

The dinosaur paused and then lowered his long snout to the ground. When he lifted it, a crystal sat on the shore.

"Crystal. Dungeon time," he said in a low deep voice.

I nodded my head and smiled. "Yes, that is the trade."

I stepped closer and picked up the stone that was the size of my head, thankful for my extra strength.

Grizzle started at Dengu.

"Hurt…" He sniffed at the Raptor.

Dengu chirped at him, speaking in a way I couldn't understand.

I added, "During an attack. He protected the settlement. Alex went after his bonded, to save her."

"You protected Alpha family. Strong," said the Spinosaurus, before he nodded at the Raptor. His shimmered, then his form shrunk down until he was only slightly bigger than Dengu.

"Congratulations on the new skill," I said with a smile. That'd make going to the dungeon easier.

The sound of others coming down the path caused me to turn. Hammy and Sang walked carefully down the path toward the group of us.

"Oh, it's Grizzle." Sang gasped seeing the crystal in my arms. "You brought it! You are so amazing!"

The young woman quickly came to relieve me of my burden.

Grizzle blinked at the woman, who didn't even wait around but raced back up the trail with her new prize.

"I brought something for Dengu." Hammy blinked at Sang like an owl, before shrugging and turning back to the raptor. "We can't fix your arm, but I can replace it. Can I strap this onto you?"

Dengu nodded, sniffing at Hammy. From what I knew the two were close, but Dengu disliked the workshop. Too many noises.

Hammy latched a few different straps around Dengu's chest and placed something over the nub that was left of his arm. When he stepped back, I saw the entire thing. It was a metal arm. Similar to what he'd had, with a talon on the end. It connected to a small metal plate that wrapped around his shoulder with two belts holding it in place, plus the nub itself.

"It isn't perfect, but it might help."

Grizzle huffed. "Warrior join team, dungeon."

Dengu chirped, staring at Hammy. "Dungeon!"

"You two have this without me," he replied with a smile. "And don't worry if it breaks, I can make you a new one."

Dengu nodded then led the way with the much smaller Grizzle behind him.

"That was good work," I said to Hammy, as the pair marched out of sight up the well-worn trail.

A cool breeze from the lake drifted over me and I hoped that didn't mean bad weather.

"Dengu deserves an arm," I added. He blushed.

"He saved so many people. Alex would approve," the young man replied.

Then I felt it and froze. Fear trickled down my spine for a moment, then vanished. Something approached from the north. It crossed over the clearing near the cavern and then hung in front of us, but nothing was visible. I only knew it was here because of the Territorial senses.

"You must be Abby," said a small buzzing voice.

It was that mosquito that Alex had spoken to in the shuttle. The one that could squash us all like we were bugs.

"Strange to find another one of you here," said a soft voice from behind me in the water. Nessetra floated near the shore, staring at the area near me. Right were the voice had come from.

"Lady Nessetra, it's good to see you again," I said. "This is Alex's friend…"

I didn't know his name.

"Noseen," said a man appearing out of nowhere. He stood taller than me, with pale white skin and pitch-black eyes without any whites. Sharp pointed teeth filled his mouth. He reminded me of a vampire, only far more terrifying. "Alex has agreed to let me link our worlds with the rift that is connected to her territory."

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"Interesting," whispered Nessetra.

I felt like Hammy and I stood between two powerhouses and should get away from this as soon as possible. Then his words sunk in.

"Wait, you spoke to Alex? When?" I asked, turning to look at the vampire.

"Recently, in her dreams. She is as safe as she can be while growing." He glanced at Nessetra. "You are, of course, welcome to watch the progress on the gate, or use it yourself. The Knowledge Bearer is always welcome on the twin sisters."

"Ahh, now I recognize you. I apologize, you are not in your usual… form. I am needed elsewhere, but the offer is appreciated. There are those here who might want to go."

"That is the idea. This world is not a place for those who reach beyond Rank Two. My worlds are, yet some born there cannot survive long."

"Sneaky devourer," whispered Nessetra. "Protecting the little one."

Noseen froze, and his eyes narrowed.

"Still your anger. I offer no harm to the little one. She is my best neighbor after all."

Silence lingered on the lakeshore as the two stared at each other. The water lapping on the sand was the only faint distraction.

"Do you need anything from us?" I asked, unable to stay silent any longer.

Noseen smiled at me suddenly, his teeth much less sharp somehow. "No, though Alex's brother, the one with the shuttle, and this one might find the work at the portal interesting." He pointed at Hammy when he'd said 'this one.'

"Me, sir?" asked Hammy, taking a step back.

"Of course. We are setting up a teleportation archway to link two worlds together, wouldn't you find that of interest?"

Hammy blinked, then it was like a lightbulb suddenly went on. "Heck, yes! We'll be there. Are you heading there now? I'll go get John."

Noseen chuckled and the sound sent a shiver down my spine. "I will meet you at the rift."

Then he vanished.

Hammy raced off, leaving me with Lady Nessetra.

"He means your people no harm," she whispered, drawing my attention back to the water. "You are… rather far beneath his notice, to be honest."

"Even if he did, we couldn't stop him, so why worry?"

"That's one way to look at it." She chuckled. "Grizzle and Dengu have entered the dungeon. I will take my leave."

I bowed in her direction as the Loch Ness monster floated out toward the center of the lake before vanishing.

What had Alex gotten us involved in now? I was definitely leaning toward less cake, and more the whack up the back of her head. Just as long as she was safe, and came home.

***

"I don't answer to you!" Jabba spun around, searching the darkness, but his eyes passed right over me.

I chuckled after moving to a different mushroom cast in darkness. The strange blue light still drifted from above the canopy.

He tried searching for me, but he couldn't break my stealth. Given his level, that was interesting.

I didn't mind, since my goal was to slow down whatever he was up to. Something about him stank, and he was shady as heck.

The others reached the edges of my senses and vanished. They needed more time, since the path to get here had taken me a while and I moved fast in the forest. But they were on their way.

Good.

"Why help the Forgers?"

"You wouldn't understand! We've already lost, it's about survival now." He moved closer to a tree trunk and whacked it with his staff before I could move.

Once, twice, three times.

The sound echoed out much louder than I could have anticipated.

"Dumbass," I whispered under my breath. To the others, I sent a message. "Get the trail hidden as soon as possible."

Already, strange music drifted from the east, and I steadied myself in the shadows.

Jabba strode to the semi-cleared area and waited with his staff. Yet, he trembled. His hands, clutched on the staff, shook. It broke the image of a strong older man into one who was acting only for himself, out of fear, and a need to survive.

I sensed the Harvestor before I saw it. Energy streamed through the air in waves, riding the eerie music. Its aura glowed a deep brown, then it came into view from behind a tree trunk. It roared.

Jabba held up the staff. "I've found the others, and I can lead you to them."

It paused for a moment.

[Harvester, Whispering Trap, Level 80, Prey, Chicken.]

I readied myself, but then it leaped at Jabba.

"What…" His words got cut off as the creature knocked him over and crunched the old man's shoulder in its sharp pointed beak.

His screams echoed through the forest. From there, it didn't take long for for the Harvester to tear him apart.

This one had that skill I wanted. My fingers tapped on my thigh as I weighed the risk. The others still fled toward Cekta and Shelli.

"How far do you guys have until you reach Cekta?"

"We need more time," grumbled Kabi.

Decision made.

I leaped, spear slamming into the side of the Harvester, knocking it away from its meal. We both hit the trunk of a tree, but I stabbed again with my blade. This time I focused on ice cold as I pushed the blade deeper.

Energy pushed out of me and into the center of the creature.

It shook and stabbed me with a leg.

At the last second, I yanked my shoulder back, but my armor slowed me slightly and it grazed the edges of my back, skidding along the hardened plating beneath.

The creature shoved me back, but thankfully I had a great grip on my spear and it came with. Well, the end of it came with, stretching out another three feet. The tip was still embedded in the Harvester's side.

It snapped at me with its beak, but I took another step back, the spear getting a smidgen longer. I switched from cold to molten lava.

The creature screeched, and I yanked away seconds before it started climbing up the side of the tree trunk. I quickly rolled under a mushroom, then dove under the next, staying in the dark.

The harvester slammed into the first mushroom, bits of the plant going flying.

I was prepared for this, and stabbed it again, this time hitting its neck area. My spear tip sliced in deep, sending energy once again into the harvester's body.

Molten Lava flooded the tip with heat again. This time, I twisted and it went still.

[You have gained bonus experience from combat for surviving against a level 80, Harvestor.]

[You have gained a level.]

I moved as fast as I could even as my stomach growled. All that mattered was getting the heart and then getting out of there. I yanked my spear out and cut into the dead creature's belly. Chunks of meat went into my inventory as I kept moving as fast as I could. Once I found it, I cut it free and tossed it inside, not waiting to eat it here.

Another Harvester crossed into my senses and leaped through the underbrush toward me.

I stabbed with my spear, but missed.

It landed nearby, then waited, staring at me.

[Harvestor, Bound, Level 84, Predator, Chicken.]

Bound. That made all the difference.

I needed to get the heck out of here as soon as possible.

Again, I stabbed with my spear, but this time it snapped at my weapon, grabbing it with its beak and yanking back. It caught me completely by surprise, yanking the spear from my fingers.

A leg stabbed at me, but I rolled under a different mushroom, hiding in the shadows. Again it waited, staring at the location where I'd vanished.

I didn't dare stay put, and moved several mushrooms away, yanking the bracelet on my left hand off and tossing it on my right.

Still, it waited.

Unease crept along me, but I wanted my spear back.

Claws grew from my left hand and I wrapped my fingers around the ring of crystal, readying to launch myself at the creature. I'd get my spear, then I'd get the fuck out of here.

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