Stalk

Fulcher coughed again as he sat up. Several of his personal items scattered on the ground around him as he sat still, still feeling nauseous. The King offered a hand down to him as Arrow set about smelling the jungle air around them.

“Welcome to Ubuk,” he said with a smirk.

What did Akaj call this guy? Mnguni? Fulcher thought as he took the offered hand. “I thought your city had a longer name? Ubakaz… hazik?”

“Ubukhazikhazi,” the King corrected, patting Fulcher’s shoulder. “Indeed, the entire city is named as one. But you see, it is not a city founded and built at one time. It is three, built across time itself upon the same foundations. The city you left was Hazi. Now, you are in Ubuk.” The King’s eyes wandered away from Fulcher, looking down at where he had been laying. Fulcher followed his gaze to find two rings in the dirt. It had seemed his ringcasters had slipped from his pocket when he had fallen. And now Arrow was smelling them with a curiosity that worried Fulcher.

“Hey!” Fulcher said, snapping his fingers. “Leave those alone, Arrow.” He began to reach for the artifacts when Arrow dipped onto his front paws, ready to play.

“No, Arrow,” Fulcher insisted. Before he could say anything else, Arrow scooped up Crimson Vigor into his mouth and bounced off. Fulcher grabbed Glacial Core and tried to lunge for the wolf, but the furball was too fast. Arrow growled playfully, bounding around while he clattered his teeth against the magical ring.

“Such poor discipline, it makes me wonder if you are capable of completing this challenge,” the King chided. Fulcher scrambled after Arrow, slipping Glacial Core back into his pocket. The wolf dodged and wiggled his way around Fulcher’s hands, tongue hanging between his teeth as the slight golden shine of Crimson Vigor flashed in his mouth.

“This is different! I can do your stupid dino-test!” Fulcher wheezed, finally managing to grab onto Arrow’s harness. The wolf let out another growl as his mouth fully closed around the ring. Fulcher grabbed his muzzle and tried to pull his jaw open.

“Hey, hey! Spit that out! Drop it Arrow!” Fulcher commanded. Arrow’s head bent and craned as he tried to free himself, but Fulcher finally managed to pry his teeth apart. Looking into the wolf’s mouth Fulcher failed to see Crimson Vigor. He groaned loudly as he freed Arrow from his grasp.

“Oh come on, you have got to be kidding me,” he said, wiping his hands off on his pants. Arrow licked at the top of his mouth in response to the intrusive grab.

“If you’re quite finished,” the King said. Fulcher looked over at him and trudged over.

“Right, right… your trial,” Fulcher said. “You want me to…?”

“You will venture into the wilds and recover a thunder lizard. We have ventured to two moons before the Great Purge,” The Chronomancer explained.

“Great Purge?” Fulcher repeated. The King nodded and pointed up in the sky. Fulcher followed his gesture, his eyes finally locating a bright red star in the afternoon sky.

“Whoa, what is that?” he asked.

“The Wrath of the Gods. They saw fit to remake the very world itself. That began with the destruction of all that lived before. Soon, Ubuk will be purged, and Hazik will be built. But you needn’t worry about such things,” The King assured. “Simply retrieve a thunder lizard before the Great Purge begins, and you will earn our blades for your cause.” Fulcher thinned his lips as he stared up at the burning star.

Two moons, that’s about two months right? I can’t imagine it’ll take that long, Fulcher thought. I’ll just grab an egg or something. No need to try and wrangle some massive adult.

“Alright, I’ll do it.” Fulcher said as he slipped Glacial Core onto his finger. The King nodded as he turned to walk towards one of the fancier huts in the jungle village. The Chronomancer offered a bow to Fulcher.

“You may gather supplies in the market before you leave,” he stated simply before walking to join the king.

Fulcher sighed and looked around at the village he now found himself in. He noted many of the structures he had seen in the present time were here as well, recreated in thatch and fallen palm fronds. He reached down and gave a pat to Arrow’s head as he began walking towards the market.

“Come on buddy, let’s get ready,” he said.