Planet Zar: Nexus

⦿ Lantessama is a beautiful island, sunny and warm. Elwis and Korgym arrive well before the clutch is set to hatch and decide to make the best of their stay, exploring the forests surrounding the various sands and bays. It's great fun, trekking through the woods together. Korgym never seems to get hot or tired despite all the ridiculous leather.

⦿ They decide a seaside picnic is in order. Korgym is strange about a lot of food: cucumber sandwiches are met with skepticism until he tries them. He's much more interested in the roast fish with truffle oil and walnuts. The selection of native fruits drizzled with honey are eaten with such enthusiasm Korgym's beard gets sticky.

⦿ They don't remain in solitude for long.

⦿ Something chirps above their heads.

⦿ Korgym leaps to his feet, teeth bared, and swipes at the chattering thing.

⦿ Elwis surges after him and yanks Korgym's arm down.

⦿ Elwis: it's just a flitter, look!

⦿ Korgym calms a bit. The flitter, which had backed off in response to Korgym's aggression, drops to the sand and skitters quizzically toward them.

⦿ Elwis: She just wants some food

⦿ Korgym: our food?

⦿ Elwis: we've got plenty. Go ahead, toss it some fish.

⦿ Korgym does, if a bit reluctantly.

⦿ The flitter eagerly pounces on the shred of meat and gobbles it down. She chitters and takes wing, fluttering closer. Korgym stiffens but Elwis pats his arm until he calms down, then reaches out toward the flitter.

⦿ She lands on his arm, chirping for more scraps. Elwis chuckles and feeds her a piece of fruit. She's an even messier eater than Korgym! She shallows the piece of fruit and rustled her wings, head cocked to and fro... looking for more.

⦿ Elwis: Do you want to hold her?

⦿ Korgym: Why's she such a friendly little bugger?

⦿ Elwis: She probably gets a lot of treats from visitors to her beach

⦿ The flitter takes off, chirping louder, and zips away from them... only to dart back and nip at Korgym's ear. Korgym swats at her and bears his teeth.

⦿ Korgym: What's it doing now?

⦿ Elwis: I think she wants us to follow her! Maybe she has a nest.

⦿ Elwis grabs Korgym's hand and takes off after the flitter. Running is exhausting in the sand and Elwis fights a cramp from his recently filled belly, but despite all the pitfalls he's laughing. It's a beautiful day and he's having a lovely time. Korgym chuckles too, getting into the swing of things, and they make a race out of it, stumbling over each other in the sand trying to chase the flitter.

⦿ Korgym is faster by far. Elwis yanks his arm and tries to trip him, playing dirty to catch up. He succeeds and Korgym tumbles to the sand with a hearty oomph, breath knocked out of him. Elwis runs a few feet more before he realizes Korgym isn't following. He turns backed, worried and embarrassed he's upset his friend.

⦿ Elwis: Korgym?

⦿ Korgym doesn't budge.

⦿ Heart pounding, Elwis rushes to his side.

⦿ Elwis: Kor-

⦿ A hand darts out and grabs Elwis' leg, yanking him down. Elwis squeaks and Korgym lets out a howl of laughter as they roll about the sand, clothes and hair irreparably messy.

⦿ Elwis: You scoundrel!

⦿ Korgym: You cheated first

⦿ They tussle playfully for a moment before the flitter drops down near their heads and bleats, puffed up and angry.

⦿ Elwis rolls over to see what the fuss is about and immediately spots the source of her distress. They're roughhousing a few feet away from her nest! Half a dozen eggs peek out of the hot sand, some already twitching, ready to crack. Elwis gasps and scurries toward them. Korgym follows a little more slowly, cautious.

⦿ They sit side by side as the eggs shake and begin to crack. The first few hatchlings are bright gemtones that take a moment to warm their wings in the sun. They take no interest in Elwis or Korgym and ramble off as soon as they can. The mother sits proudly on the jut of a ocean-smoothed rock, just above them, churring encouragement to her little ones.

⦿ A tiny pale-pink head breaks through eggshell. Elwis heart soars at the sight of her, so petite and precious. She seems to feel the same. Once she rids herself of her egg she waddles down the sand toward Elwis and Korgym, holding her wings out to dry them.

⦿ Elwis heart sank as he realized they'd left the remains of their picnic behind.

⦿ Elwis: Oh! I wish I had a bit of food! Flits might bond with you if you feed them.

⦿ Korgym: Just a tic'

⦿ Korgym begins patting his pockets frantically. He pulls out a scrap of dead fish and hands it to Elwis.

⦿ Korgym: There we go!

⦿ Elwis: You kept that in your pocket

⦿ Korgym: Never know when you'll need a snack, mate

⦿ Fair enough. Elwis shoots Korgym a bright smile then holds the bit of fish toward the hatchling. She pounces and devours it ravenously, licking the remaining taste from Elwis' fingers. Bonding a flit isn't quite the same as bonding a dragon, but Elwis is certain she's imprinted on him.

⦿ Elwis: Do you have any more? You could get a flitter too

⦿ Korgym: I don't think I should

⦿ Elwis: Don't be silly, you'd be lovely at it

⦿ Korgym: I don't think a flying beastie is really my type. In the ocean too much for that, y'know?

⦿ Elwis huffs

⦿ Elwis: I'm a ship captain. I'm at sea all the time!

⦿ Korgym: Not at sea, in the ocean. Under the water.

⦿ He mimes a fish swimming through the surf.

⦿ Elwis stares. Blinks. He has no idea what Korgym is talking about.

⦿ Korgym sighs.

⦿ Korgym: I'm Korgym. Eater of All. Lord of the Depths. The Black Serpent

⦿ Elwis laughs, it's a little nervous.

⦿ Korgym: No, really, mate

⦿ He leaps to his feet and bounds for the ocean. He takes a running dive into the water. Elwis stands, clutching the little pink firelizard to his chest, and toes nearer to the shoreline to watch Korgym's shape move out beyond the waves.

⦿ And suddenly... it's much larger.

⦿ Elwis promptly faints.