Chapter 36 - Talking with Ivan

Jamie grabbed ate a free meal that came with renting the accommodations, a bland pasta. He spent two hours holed up in the apartment complex afterwards, trying to teach Blackwing the English language, by sending an image of something, and saying the corresponding word out loud, and afterwards running through fist exercises. Once he was done, he went back to the enclosure to check how the alien creatures were doing.

Disregarding the pitter patter sounds that could be heard as rain started striking the building encompassing the enclosure, Jamie entered the grassy enclosure, with Blackwing and Eve following behind. He could see the Yellow Fur Black Stripe Bear cub taking a nap, while the Zaututor's were walking around. Jamie tried, and failed, to whistle, and resorted instead to make a clicking noise with his tongue to get their attention, ignoring Eve's snickers in his mind at his failure. The Zaututors gazed in his direction, and slowly made his way over to him.

Jamie smiled, and slowly approached them. Once he reached a distance of two meters, he stopped, and held out his hands. The Zaututors slowly approached and sniffed his hands. After a moment, they started licking them. Jamie slowly took a couple of steps forwards, and started rubbing their heads. The male Zaututor watched him, while the female Zaututor's eyes half closed in contentment.

"You like that, don't you."

A mewling sound came out of the female Zaututor, while the male continued to watch him while accepting the pat. Jamie took a couple of step back, and sat on the ground, gesturing for the Zaututors to join him. The female ran over and lay on Jamie's legs, causing him to grunt, while the male ignored him, and focused his eyes on the two bonded beasts behind Jamie, it's eyes flickering over Eve and lingering on Blackwing. It slowly, cautiously started walking towards Blackwing, sniffing the air as it did, as Blackwing stood shock still. Jamie watched the interaction, sending to Blackwing "Don't harm it. It's friendly, it means no harm."

Blackwing let out a soft growl, and stayed still, as the male Zaututor slowly approached it, sniffing Blackwing's nose before giving it a lick. Backwing jerked his head back after getting licked, and the male Zaututor jerked back and ran a few feet, and the female Zaututor started to get up, about to run back. Jamie hastily tapped into his Astral Energy, sending soothing messages to them, trying to calm them down.

The female Zaututor stopped a couple of steps away, and after a moment turned around and grunted, then took a couple of steps forward and went to lick Jamie's face, as the male Zaututor started to cautiously approach Blackwing again, sniffing the air as it got closer. Heavy footsteps could be heard behind Jamie as the male Zaututor that was approaching Blackwing froze, and turned it's head to look at Ivan as he approached the entrance of the enclosure. It let out a loud grunt, and looked towards Ivan, staying still. The female Zaututor looked up to see Ivan entering the enclosure and rushed towards Ivan, ignoring Eve and Blackwing, bleating as it rubbed it's head against Ivan's hand.

"Blackwing, move next to Eve, on her left."

After receiving Jamie's mental command, Blackwing moved aside, and the male Zaututor ran towards Ivan. Jamie got up, rubbing his hands together, and turning to see Ivan rubbing the Zaututor's necks, as they made bleating noises.

After a moment, Ivan looked towards Jamie, rubbing the Zaututor's necks.

"How did it go?"

"The female was fairly relaxed around me. The male showed some wariness towards Blackwing."

"Just Blackwing? Not Eve or you?"

"Yes. The male would not fully relax around me though."

"The reaction towards you is normal. Rather, it is already good that they are willing to approach and be touched be you." Ivan turned to look towards the male. "The mixed reaction towards your dragon is interesting though."

Ivan looked up at Jamie. "How has the trip been so far?"

"Some of the creatures look awesome. The Two Winged Lunar Snake is pretty interesting, and it has some awesome abilities. If I get the chance, I would like to use my quota on that to keep it for myself."

Ivan smiled. "It can certainly be arranged. But did you go exploring around this area?"

"We went to Snacker's Attack on the day we arrived. The Gredidine burgers were quite nice. Expensive though."

"How much?"

"400 mystic credits for a burger with fries."

Ivan's eyes widened. "The burger better taste good at that price. Did you visit Goxuboon's liquor?"

Jamie jaw tightened. "No. I don't plan to either. I don't like the taste of alcohol. "

Ivan chuckled. "Most people drink it to get drunk, not for the taste."

"Still, not interested."

"You don't know what you are missing. I plan to check it out before we leave tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?"

"Amelia led a team to investigate where the Gredidine blade gauntlet was found. She said she found traces of Gredidine and humans around the location that the Yellow Fur Black Stripe Bears was killed, and there is a trail of destruction leading ten miles away before vanishing. She thinks there were six Gredidine initially, fighting the bears, and were ambushed by humans and fled. It's best to avoid encountering the Gredidine."

"Are we still going to look for beasts?"

Ivan smiled wryly. "Of course. While the Zaututor pair was a good find, it's best to get more. Tomorrow, we are going to head for the City Fortress of Ragas, located in the center of this continent. The Gredidine incidents around there are rare. "

"The conquered Gredidine city? Wouldn't the area around there be almost cleared of creatures?"

"It would be. Lennox almost threw a fit when I came to the decision with Amelia. He's still adamant about getting those eggs. Still, safety first. A Gredidine Warleader has more at their command then just their honor guard, and we may have just taken their Zaututor. Whoever they are, they will be pissed.. We are going to transport these creatures back to Brouis today."

Ivan looked down at the beasts around him. "I need you to give me a hand transporting these creatures to the truck, and helping to pack up around here."

>>>>

Jamie, Emily, Eve, Scott, Lennox and Taylor stood on the slightly muddy parking lot, watching the truck drive away under the cloudy sky. As it was driving away, Lennox remarked "I think this is a mistake. Those eggs are all incredibly valuable. "

Taylor frowned. "I don't know. Ivan is right to be concerned."

"He's overly concerned. The three of us are Battelpet Masters. Surely we can kill them all before they can flee. Or at least, get the eggs and run before they return with help."

Taylor looked hesitant.

Lennox paused. "How about this. Lets go check out the situation room. We might be able to convince him if we show him information on the rarity of beasts around Ragas. At least, to grab grab those eggs before going to Ragas."

".....Fine"

Just as the truck moved out of sight, Lennox walked towards the grey building containing the Situation Room with Taylor. Emily looked towards Jamie. "So what are we doing now?"

"I think I will check out the situation room. We have both been given an allowance to keep one beast for ourselves that we tame, and I wan to see what beasts are around Raga. It's where we will be heading next."

"Okay, I think I will join you. I want to get another beast."

As they walked towards the grey building with the Situation Room, their bonded beasts following, Emily looked hesitant, before eventually asking "Do you really have to spend so much time with your Black Dragon?"

Jamie looked at her, and was about to open his mouth, before Eve sent Jame a mental message."You may as well tell her the truth. I don't even know why you lie about why you don't want to hang out."

"Highschool. Saying I don't want to hang out doesn't work out too well, especially when they find out why I don't want to hang out."

"Your not in Highschool any longer."

"....I dunno."

"She may very well decide not to grab a second beast if you continue your lie."

Jamie sighed, then answered Emily. "Yes and no. It's true I do have to spend a decent amount of time with the beasts, and to teach Blackwing the language to make it easier to communicate, but I may have exaggerated how long I spend."

Emily's eyes widened. "What?? Why??"

"I don't like to mingle with large crowds, and people in general. It serves as a convenient excuse to turn people down."

"Why?? You seem to get along well with people."

Jamie gave a self depreciating chuckle. "Do I really?"

"What do you mean by that?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

Silence fell between them as they approached the Situation Room, the occasional squish sound ringing out as they stepped in a puddle of muddy water.