Astral's Assembles

Swamp Steps

As Kortazan lifted his owlbear companion into his arms, he couldn't help but smile at the adorable sight before him. The owlbear blinked its large, expressive eyes up at him, its fluffy feathers ruffling with each movement.

Suddenly, the owlbear let out a soft cooing sound, its beak forming into a small, heartwarming smile. Kortazan's heart melted at the sight, and he couldn't help but let out an affectionate "Aww" in response.

Lost in the moment, Kortazan pondered out loud, "What should I name you, little guy?" He tried out a few names, each one falling short of capturing the essence of his newfound friend.

Then, as if in response to his thoughts, the owlbear made a noise, almost as if it was offering a suggestion. Kortazan's eyes lit up with recognition, and he declared, "Joebe! That's it, your name is Joebe!" The owlbear chirped happily in agreement, seemingly pleased with its new name.

Meanwhile, Aneira glanced down at the grass cat struggling to keep pace with her beside her feet. Despite its small size, the cat gazed up at her with bright, eager eyes, its determination evident despite its struggles.

Moved by the cat's perseverance, Aneira couldn't help but smile fondly at the adorable creature. "You need a name, don't you?" she said softly, reaching down to stroke its fur. The cat purred in response, nuzzling against her hand.

Inspiration struck, and Aneira decided on a name that she felt suited the cat perfectly. "Maxinne," she declared with a smile. The cat seemed to approve of its new name, its tail twitching with excitement as it trotted happily alongside her, now named and ready to face the adventures ahead.

As the group reached the exit of the path, they found themselves facing the same three different directions. Ethmosios, did the same thing one last time. With a nod from the rest of the group, he took off once again, his wings carrying him swiftly through the air.

Flying over the dense canopy of trees, Ethmosios soon arrived at the end of the path, where he found himself overlooking a vast swamp. The air was thick with moisture, and the ground below was covered in tangled vegetation.

Amidst the swamp, he spotted another house nestled among the trees. "Another house?" Ethmosios muttered to himself, his curiosity piqued. "Who could be living out in the middle of nowhere?" He asks himself in a bit of disgust.

Descending towards the house, Ethmosios approached cautiously, his keen eyes scanning the area for any signs of life. Beside the house, he noticed a dog's house with a golden retriever inside, its excited barking echoing through the swamp.

He glanced at the dog momenterly before he looked at him, his eyes caught sight of a golden retriever inside, happily wagging its tail. The dog wore a collar adorned with a gleaming gem, and upon closer inspection, the name "Jack" engraved on it. Intrigued by the sight, he continued to circle the house, taking in its surroundings.

After completing his inspection, he made the decision to return to the group and share his discovery. As he approached, he noticed some members of the group nursing their wounds from the recent battle.

Landing softly nearby, listened in on the group's conversation about resting for the night, and so they do so.

As Toroz and Santo settled into their night shift, they exchanged weary glances, their muscles still tense from the day's battles. Toroz leaned against a nearby tree, his eyes scanning the darkness beyond their campsite.

"You hear that, Santo?" Toroz muttered, his brow furrowing in concern as a distant thumping sound echoed through the night air.

Santo nodded, his hand instinctively tightening around the hilt of his sword. "Yeah, sounds like something big moving out there," he replied, his senses on high alert.