Shadow Sun Progression: Shadow Sun Book Four

by Dave Willmarth

  “I’m going to spit in your food next time you eat here.” She grumped at him.

  “Does that give it extra buffs?” He gave her his most innocent face.

  “Out of my kitchen before I skin your walking bear rug there and feed you the meat.”

  Fuzzy looked hurt, taking two steps back and eyeing Meg, a small whine escaping from his throat. She looked down at the bear, and instantly felt bad. “I’m just kidding, Fuzzy bear. I would never hurt you.” She tossed him one of the pastries, which he caught and swallowed whole. His tiny nub of tail wagged slightly.

  Allistor and his bear left the kitchen, Allistor slightly jealous that the cub had gotten a pastry, and he hadn’t. He was tempted to eat one from the paper bag, but thought Daigath might be suspicious if he showed up with eleven treats, rather than a dozen.

  They teleported to Wilderness Stronghold, and after confirming with Nigel that Daigath was not inside the walls, they headed out. Their walk around the lake went more quickly this time, as a path was beginning to form from the traffic back and forth. They crossed the stream and were a few hundred yards from the large clearing when Fuzzy froze. His nose went into the air, moving back and forth as he scented something on the wind. Spinning around, he huffed quietly and peered off into the brush. Allistor moved closer to his bear and whispered, “What is it, buddy?”

  Fuzzy huffed again, sitting on his haunches and looking up at Allistor, then back into the brush, his nose going a mile a minute. There was a low growl deep in his throat, but Allistor thought it was more curious than hostile.

  Setting a hand on his bear’s head, he followed Fuzzy’s gaze and squinted slightly, trying to locate a forest creature or monster. Failing to find anything, he closed his eyes for a moment and just listened. To his surprise, two things happened at nearly the exact same time.

  First, he heard a rustling in the underbrush ahead of them. A half a second later, an image came to him. More than an image, actually. It was live, and moving, like a feed from a camera. He could see the trees and shrubs he’d been looking at before he closed his eyes, but from a lower angle. His vision darted to where the rustling sound originated from, and suddenly his sense of smell told him what was coming.

  A bear. A female bear.

  Allistor gasped as he realized what was happening. He was somehow seeing and smelling what Fuzzy was seeing and smelling! Removing his hand and opening his eyes, he looked toward the same spot Fuzzy had shown him, and sure enough there was a brown muzzle with a black nose poking through some shrubs about forty yards away. He could no longer smell her without the connection to Fuzzy’s nose, but he was sure she was female.

  Fuzzy let out a small, confused roar that sounded like he couldn’t decide whether he was claiming territory or calling out an invitation. The nose quickly disappeared amidst some additional rustling. The cub looked up at Allistor, a question clear in his beary expression.

  “Go ahead, bud. Say hi if you want to.” Allistor motioned toward the shrubs.

  Fuzzy sat there for a another several seconds, clearly unsure what to do. Allistor had found him when he was a young cub, and Fuzzy had had no experience with other bears since. Allistor didn’t push him, just stood next to him and waited to see what he’d do.

  The oversized teddy bear snorted a couple times, shaking his head as if trying to rid himself of the female’s scent. He got to his feet and took a few steps forward, then sat down again and sniffed at the forest floor. Another reserved roar, and this time he got an answer. A much louder roar erupted from the bushes, and the female stepped out into the open.

  She wasn’t as large as Fuzzy, but Allistor got the impression she was older. The lines of her head and jaw were harder, more defined. Allistor wondered whether that was because she was more developed than Fuzzy, or just because his bear was overfed.

  Fuzzy got back to his feet and hopped forward, bobbing up and down in a playful manner Allistor had seen him use with the kids. He grunted a few times, and gave the female his best bearish smile.

  For her part, the other bear seemed confused. She halted, standing on all four feet, and tilted her head to one side as she watched Fuzzy’s antics. She briefly switched her gaze to Allistor, who took a few steps back and sat down, making sure she knew he wasn’t a threat. As soon as she turned her attention back to Fuzzy, Allistor Examined her.

  Grizzly Bear, Female

  Level 27

  Health: 31,000/31,000

  Allistor relaxed. She was roughly half Fuzzy’s level, and only slightly more than half his size. Even if she decided to get hostile, Allistor doubted she was any threat to his bear.

  The two bears approached each other, Fuzzy practically prancing, wanting to play, while the female was more cautious. Eventually they got close enough to touch noses, and spent a little while sniffing each other. Eventually, the female relaxed. Fuzzy raised a paw and swatted at her, much like a kitten taking on a ball of yarn. She gave a growl of protest, rearing up on her hind legs before smacking Fuzzy on the head with both forepaws.

  “Stay here and play, Fuzzster. You know where to find me.” Allistor turned to continue his journey to Daigath’s home, wanting to give Fuzzy his privacy. Just in case the phrase “bears do it in the woods” took on a whole new meaning for Fuzzy. That wasn’t something Allistor wanted to see. Fuzzy barely acknowledged him, pouncing on the female and chewing on one of her ears.

  It didn’t take long for Allistor to complete the trek through the woods, across the large clearing, and up the hill to Daigath’s new tree home. He spotted the ancient elf sitting on a branch about thirty feet up, both hands on the tree trunk, eyes closed. Not wanting to interrupt whatever the elf was doing, Allistor took a seat on the same root as before. While he waited, he pulled up his list and reviewed it. Everything was already either checked off, or underway. He resolved to make a new, updated list when they returned from visiting the giant spiders’ planet.

  “I hear you had quite the evening.” Daigath’s voice drifted down, followed a moment later by the elf himself. He dropped to the ground in front of Allistor as gently as a falling feather.

  Allistor handed him the bag of pastries. “If you mean the araneae, yes. We averted what could have been an ecological disaster near one of our Strongholds, and still sent them away with the resources they need. Though, as Harmon explains it, the cost to them will be high. Will the Collective really kill the crew?”

  Daigath nodded. “And many more of their brood will starve when the planet they departed from is sanctioned. Thankfully, they were wise enough to send the harvester from a colony world, rather than their homeworld.”

  Allistor shook his head. “I wish there was some way I could help them. If I were Earth’s emperor, I could have given them permission to harvest, or so I’m told.”

  The ancient master caught Allistor’s eyes with his own. “You can not help everyone. And not every race conforms to the norms of your world. For example, the sacrifice of a thousand, or even a hundred thousand araneae means little to their queen. And that crew willingly made the sacrifice, knowing their lives were forfeit, in order to save millions. The harvester is of more importance to her than the lives lost, or even those that will suffer deprivation on the colony. The loss of the harvester makes it more difficult for her to gather the resources needed to feed the next wave of hatchlings. Araneae are a thinking, civilized race, except for their overriding imperative to reproduce and expand.”

  Daigath paused, then added, “The fact that you, as a noble whose interests lay in preserving your planet’s resources, assisted her harvester crew… That is of more significance to the queen than the loss of lives or her ship. Few nobles in the Collective now would act in such a manner. She will be very curious to meet you, to find out for herself if you are sincere, or insane.” The elf grinned at him.

  Allistor thought he understood. He was going to have to learn not to make assumptions about other species, factions, or civilizations.

  “I told them I was
hoping for a trade agreement, but I spoke before I knew anything about them. Do they have anything we’d want, that I can’t just purchase through Harmon?”

  Daigath chuckled. “There are few things you cannot purchase through Harmon. But yes, they are a worthy trade partner and ally. Araneae are builders. They are experts at large projects, be it planetary structures, space stations, or large ships like their harvesters. The queen has a nearly unlimited labor force to draw upon, with each laborer able to carry heavy loads, perform multiple tasks at once with their separate appendages, and the ability to pass on their basic knowledge from brood mother to hatchlings. This means that within a few months of their birth, they are functioning adults able to contribute to their society.”

  “So if I wanted to purchase a space station to orbit Earth above my territory? Or more colony ships?”

  “They could certainly provide you with both.” Daigath stared at Allistor for a moment. “I assume you didn’t come here just to ask about the upcoming visit. You wish more knowledge of the Battlemage class.”

  Allistor nodded, changing his focus. “I do, Master Daigath. The spells you’ve already given me were extremely helpful.”

  “Those were lower level skills and abilities that you could have learned when you achieved level twenty. I have in mind another for today. One of my favorites. You just barely meet the level requirement, having reached level fifty. But you have already learned the Dimensional Step spell, which shares a good bit of the required knowledge for this one.” He placed a hand on Allistor’s head, and closed his eyes.

  Allistor’s mind began to swirl. It felt as if a low flame had been ignited inside his brain, steadily growing warmer as seconds ticked by. There were flashes of visual input that came and went too fast for Allistor to consciously comprehend. At the same time, he could feel connections being made, almost like a flow chart forming in his head, tying the new information to knowledge he’d already picked up from Dimensional Step, and a few other spells.

  When it was all through, his brain hurt. The pain was about as severe as your average migraine, and he’d dealt with much worse. Blinking a few times, and grabbing hold of the root for balance, he read two new notifications.

  You have learned: Dimensional Manipulation Level I

  Dimensional Manipulation I allows the caster to circumvent the barriers between dimensions, manipulating the void to create pocket dimensions with stable openings. Mana cost: Variable depending on size and quantity of pockets created. Cooldown: N/A. Advancing this spell to higher levels will allow caster to create larger and more complex structures.

  Quest Received: Master Manipulator Part I

  Advance the Dimensional Manipulation spell to Level II by creating stable dimensional rifts and pocket dimensions. Don’t die in the process.

  Allistor snorted when he read the last bit. “Don’t die? I take it there’s some special risk involved in casting this spell?”

  Daigath nodded. “Every time any spell is cast, there is a small risk of failure, and an even smaller risk of backlash. This particular spell literally rips a hole in the fabric of our reality, so yes. There is some risk involved. At level one, you are able to pierce only one other dimension, that being the one known as the void. It is exactly as it sounds, a null-space where time holds no sway. You can create and stabilize a pocket within the void, useful for storing inanimate objects, among other things. Should you fail to stabilize the spell before you cease channeling, you will be drawn through the rift you created, and perish.”

  Allistor thumped his hand on the root next to him. “I can make storage rings!”

  “Eventually, yes. It takes some practice to be able to create a compartmented pocket dimension. The higher your skill level, the more compartments you’ll be able to create within the same space. But that is not the spell’s only practical use. As you practice, you will see.” Daigath looked around briefly. “Now… go someplace far from me before you attempt your first cast. And away from others, as well.” He pulled one of Meg’s pastries from the bag and took a small bite. Allistor wasn’t offered one.

  Not sure if the elf was kidding, Allistor thanked him and headed back to where he’d left Fuzzy. He could hear the two bears long before he could see them. There was much thrashing about in the bushes, and growling. When he was as close as he could get without intruding, he called out. “Hey, Fuzzy bear! Time to head home.”

  There were two surprised growls, and Allistor chuckled. Normally he’d never be able to sneak up on a bear. But the two had been so distracted, neither had heard or smelled him coming. Fuzzy emerged from behind a large tree a moment later, with the female right behind him. Both bears’ muzzles were stained a deep purple shade that indicated they’d found some blueberry bushes. “Ooh! I love blueberries. Did you bring me some?”

  Fuzzy shook his head, looking momentarily ashamed. Allistor just chuckled. “We’ll have to figure out some kind of harness for you, with pockets. So you can carry stuff.” Even as he joked with his bear, he kept a wary eye on the female, who was still approaching. She was, after all, a wild bear. And at least twice his size. Fuzzy approached and sat at Allistor’s feet, headbutting him to demand ear scratches. The female halted a few feet behind and sat down as well. She watched Fuzzy close his eyes and growl softly as he enjoyed the scratchings, and Allistor could swear the female’s face adopted a look of longing.

  Looking down at Fuzzy, he asked, “What do you think? Is it safe to pet your new friend?” He closed his eyes, and immediately got a vision from Fuzzy of himself scratching the other bear’s ears. “I’m gonna take that as a yes.” Trusting his bear cub’s instincts, he motioned toward the female. “It’s alright, come here. I’ll scratch your ears, too.” He held out a hand and wiggled the fingers at her.

  She just sat and stared for a while, clearly unwilling to approach any closer. After a minute or so, Fuzzy walked back and retrieved her, pushing at her with his snout until she got to her feet and moved next to Allistor. He held out his hand for her to sniff, which she did, before carefully lowering her head slightly. Grinning, Allistor proceeded to gently scratch behind her nearest ear. She almost immediately leaned into his hand, her way of telling him to scratch harder.

  Fuzzy resumed his previous spot, and Allistor found himself standing in the woods, bracketed by softly growling grizzly bears. “I wonder… can I bond with more than one bear? What do you think, Fuzzy? Should we bring her into the family?”

  He closed his eyes again as Fuzzy shook his head and growled a bit more loudly. A mental picture of the female bear getting headscratches from Amanda came to him.

  “Oh, so you don’t want to share me, but you want to keep her around? I’m not sure Amanda would want a bear companion. But let’s head back to the Stronghold, and we can find out. Maybe if Amanda isn’t interested, Helen would be.”

  Fuzzy looked thoughtful for a moment, then grunted his agreement before getting back to his feet and walking toward the gates. Half an hour later they stopped outside, the female unwilling to walk through. They were close enough to the structure that Nigel could hear them, so Allistor called out. “Nigel, please ask Amanda to meet us here. And tell her to bring some meat.”

  “Of course, sire.”

  Allistor sat down with his back against the wall, watching as Fuzzy and the female resumed their play in the clear space between the wall and the forest. She had just tripped up Fuzzy and knocked him off balance, causing him to roll a good distance down the slope, when Amanda walked through the gate. She took a moment to watch the bears at play, then laughed.

  “I thought you’d found more murder chickens you wanted to try and tame.”

  “Nope. Not murder chickens. Though, that’s a good idea. We should try to find more. And it isn’t me that’s going to be doing the taming. Fuzzy found himself a girlfriend, and he told me he wants you to try and bond with her.” He watched her face as her eyes widened.

  “What?? He told you? Me?” She spluttered a bit, then crossed her
arms. “Explain.”

  “Well, it seems that my bond with the Fuzzmeister has grown strong enough that we can talk through images he shares with me. He sent me an image of you scratching her ears. She likes ear scratches quite a bit, by the way. Anyway, that’s his way of telling me you should bond with her. Or if you don’t want to, Helen is apparently an acceptable substitute.”

  “That’s why you had me bring meat.” Amanda surmised. “Was that part of your bonding process with him?”

  “Yep. I fed him. I mean, first I made him fall off a cliff, knocking him unconscious and drowning him. But I saved him, then fed him, and we sort of took a little nap on some warm rocks… So I’m not sure exactly which parts matter. But in most of the games, bonding with a pet involved feeding them. I’m hoping that’s all it takes, because she’s a little too big to dump in a pond.”

  Amanda absent-mindedly smacked his arm as she watched the bears growl and tumble, swatting at each other. “I’m… not opposed to bonding with her. She’s beautiful.” She took a step toward the bears and paused. “We should talk to Helen. I don’t think Fuzzy’s old enough to be mating yet, and he’s not behaving that way right now. He’s still acting like a playful cub. But if we’re not careful, we might have a litter of cubs romping around before long.”

  Allistor snorted. “Yeah, William and Chloe would just hate that.”

  Amanda had more concerns. “You tamed Fuzzy as a cub. He learned to live around people, to go outside when he needed to… go.” She looked around. “What if she can’t learn those things?”

  Allistor shook his head. “I don’t know. She was pretty quick to accept me, once Fuzzy told her I was okay. And to be honest, I didn’t really housetrain Fuzzy or anything. From day one he let me know when he wanted out. I think the bond made him smarter pretty much from the beginning.” He watched her face carefully, trying to see what she was thinking. “Listen, you don’t have to do it. Like I said, Helen, or someone who lives here at Wilderness, could bond with her. Or we could just let her roam free out here in the forest, warn the hunters not to kill her. Fuzzy can visit her here easily enough. I don’t think there’s anything in these woods that could harm him at this point.”