Chapter 374 Set of Tracks in the Dirt

He sighed deeply, his shoulders sagging as he admitted, “It is smart. Smarter than any beast I’ve ever encountered. It knows how to avoid traps, how to ambush." 

Zalthar's voice grew heavier, his tail twitching with unease.

 “That’s why we’ve been running for so long. We manage to lose it for a few months, but every time we think we’ve found safety, it finds us again.” 

“No matter where we go, it’s always there eventually. Watching, waiting. When it’s not tormenting us, it’s likely gone off to hunt other tribes of my kin, terrorizing them, stealing their eggs for its twisted appetite. It takes what it wants from them, just as it does with us... then returns when it craves another meal of our eggs. It’s toying with us. Never letting us forget it’s out there. Never giving us peace.”

He let out a heavy sigh, his broad shoulders slumping slightly. 

“This is the life we’ve been forced into—fleeing, hiding, watching it steal what is most precious to us, over and over again. I hope you understand why we cannot join you.”

Suzuka waved her hand dismissively. 

"What? It’s just one monster? Pshhh! Come on, we can deal with that. Soon I’ll have walls up around my lands, and the moment that oversized pest steps in, it’s going to regret its life decisions. For god’s sake, I crushed a whole damn mountain, remember? One beast doesn’t stand a chance." 

She leaned forward slightly, her red eyes glinting with confidence.

 "How about this: you join us, and if anything happens, I won’t hold it against you or your tribe. I’ll handle it personally. It’ll be on me. No strings, no guilt-tripping later. How about that?"

She gave a playful shrug, as if daring Zalthar to try and say no. 

"All I’m asking is a little trust. You want a place to settle? I’m offering you that and a monster-free zone as part of the deal. Heck! Invite all the tribes around these parts to join you, you can be their leader, and you will have a position as one of my town founders. I can't get you a better deal than that."

Zalthar’s sharp, reptilian eyes softened as he looked at Suzuka, his tail swaying slightly behind him in a rare display of vulnerability. 

“Human... will you really do this for us? We bring danger to your lands, and you are promising a paradise for us—safety, shelter, even a future for our young—in return for nothing.”

He paused, his scaled hands curling into fists at his sides, his mind clearly racing to process the sheer generosity of her offer. 

“Not only that but you are ready to shelter other tribes as well. To give hope not just to my people, but to others who have suffered?”

"All that and more!"

Zalthar’s massive frame shifted, and he slowly dropped to one knee, bowing his head low in a gesture of deep respect.

 “If what you say is true, then I accept your offer. I swear my loyalty to you, my kin’s loyalty to you, and I will stand by your side to protect this land you are building on. From this moment forward, you have my word as a leader, and the strength of my kin.”

He looked up, his gaze steady and filled with newfound hope. 

“May this town of yours be the safe haven you dream of, and the home we have long sought.”

Suzuka grinned and crossed her arms, leaning slightly to one side with a playful glint in her eyes.

 "Alright then, now that it’s settled—when can you move in? Tomorrow? Tonight? How about right now? The sooner, the better! I’ve got a town to fill, and you’ve got eggs to keep safe. Seems like a win-win to me."

She smirked, giving Zalthar a cheeky glance.

 "Unless, of course, you lizards need some extra time to pack up your... what? A few baskets and a tent or two? Come on, chop-chop! Let’s get moving before that creepy egg-stealer shows up for dessert."

Zalthar bowed his head deeply, his tone filled with gratitude and caution.

 "Human, your generosity humbles me. I am grateful for your offer, but I must ask for a day or two before we can move. I must pass the word to my kin—some are out hunting, others scouting, and we cannot abandon them. But the most critical reason is our eggs. They are close to hatching, bringing new life into this world. It is a delicate moment, and we must prepare carefully to ensure their safety during the journey. Moving them carelessly could risk their lives, and I will not gamble with the future of my people."

Zalthar placed a clawed hand over his chest in a gesture of sincerity.

 "But rest assured, we will come. I know where you are building your town, and in a few days' time, my kin and I will arrive. We will bring our strength, our loyalty, and our gratitude. Until then, I ask for your patience."

Suzuka crossed her arms, a satisfied grin spreading across her face.

 "Great, I’ll be waiting. Just don’t take too long, alright? Time is precious, and I’ve got a lot to do." 

She turned to leave but paused, throwing a playful glance over her shoulder.

"Oh yeah, one more thing—you're not at war or something with the Cat people, are you? Because, spoiler alert, they’re my next destination. I’m planning to ask them to join too, just like I did with you. So, no bad blood I should know about, right? Let’s keep things friendly, hmm?"

Zalthar’s expression softened as he shook his head. 

“Oh no, human, we are not at war with the Cat people. Quite the opposite—we keep friendly connections with them. When our paths cross, we sometimes even trade supplies or share information. There’s mutual respect between our tribes.”

He paused, his tone sincere and almost hopeful.

 “If your offer extends to them as well, we would be honored to live in the same town as them. It would be a sign of true unity among us all.”

Suzuka grinned, her hands resting confidently on her hips.

 “Good to hear! That’ll make things a lot easier. By the way, could you point us in the right direction? I’m going in blind here—I’ve got no idea where I might run into them.”

Zalthar tilted his head as he pondered her question. After a moment, he spoke thoughtfully.

 “The Cat people are nomadic, always on the move, but they favor open areas near dense forests, places where they can both hunt and avoid being hunted. If you head east from here, you might cross paths with one of their roaming groups. That’s where they’ve been seen last, but they could have moved by now.”

He met Suzuka’s gaze, a hint of concern flickering in his eyes. 

“They are wary of outsiders, though. You may have to earn their trust before they listen to your words.”

Suzuka smirked and cracked her knuckles. 

“Wary of outsiders, huh? Well, I’ve got a goblin and charm on my side. I’m sure we’ll figure it out. Thanks for the info, Zalthar! I will be going then, can't waist the daytime, see you soon.”

With that, Suzuka turned on her heel and left the lizardmen camp, the cool cave air brushing past her as she stepped back into the sunlight. She nudged Hermit forward with her elbow, grinning playfully.

 “Good job finding them, choom! Things went great. Honestly, I’m impressed.”

Hermit blinked up at her, his nervous expression softening just a little under the rare praise, but before he could say anything, Suzuka's grin shifted into a mock-serious pout.

 “But, and this is a big but, the only problem was that you were silent through the whole thing. Like, what was that about? They’re gonna look down on you if you keep quiet. Next time you see them, don’t just stand there like a rock, mouth shut as if it’s full of water. Talk back! Speak up for yourself!”

Hermit stammered a weak response, but Suzuka waved her hand, cutting him off with a light chuckle. 

“Yeah, yeah, we’ll work on that later. I’ll save my scolding for another time. For now…” 

She turned toward him, hands on her hips, her playful grin turning into a more serious one.

 “I need you to track me some Cat people. Think you can handle that? You’ve done it once, so let’s see if you can go two for two.”

Hermit gulped, scratching the back of his neck nervously, but he nodded.

 “I-I’ll do my best, Master Helen. Cat people move around a lot, but... I’ll sniff out their trail somehow.”

Suzuka clapped him on the back, making him stumble forward slightly. 

“That’s the spirit! Come on, choom, let’s see what you’ve got. Lead the way!”

As they headed east, Hermit's anxiety began to mount with every step. He wrung his hands nervously and muttered under his breath, his voice barely above a whisper. 

“Oh boy, oh boy, I hope it’s some other Cat people. Oh boy. Please let it be some other Cat people. Please, goddess Lusseria, I beg you, let it be different Cat people…” 

His prayers continued, growing more frantic with each passing hour.

Suzuka, strolling confidently ahead with her arms swinging at her sides, glanced back occasionally, a grin tugging at her lips.

 “Relax, choom. We're just going to talk not wage a war. Aren't we all friends?”

Hermit’s eyes widened at the question, and he opened his mouth to respond, but instead, he just whimpered quietly and trudged forward, his ears drooping. For hours, he led the way, murmuring his desperate pleas to the goddess, until finally, he froze in his tracks. His yellow eyes scanned the ground, and he pointed a trembling finger at a set of tracks in the dirt.

“M-Master! They’re close! These paw prints—they’re fresh! Oh no, oh no. I think they’re hiding nearby... watching us. Ready to attack if we provoke them. We should—”