Cover:
https://imgur.com/amRfRso
***
People
Colin (Me / Traveler)
Katrin (J-Knight / Farmgirl)
Gave me Raiki to save me from the Green Men.
Jonah (Traveler), Alicia (Traveler), Larry (Traveler)
These three go everywhere together and don't like me.
Rita (Traveler)
Likes to talk a lot when she gets excited.
Henry (Traveler. Satrox's brother)
Got caught by the Green Men and can't remember it.
Phillip (Traveler)
The eighth guy who's being hunted by Green Men.
Satrox (J-Knight / Breeder. Henry's brother)
Taught me a lot and asked me to join the Justice Knights.
Michi (Scientist Breeder)
Gave me Shiro, taught me lots and helped save me too.
Edward (Farmer)
Gave me a room to stay on his farm.
---
Comrades
Shiro (White Wolfcat Cub)
Command Type, Sonic/Direct
Raiki (Dark Blue Stormcat Cub)In recovery
Long-range attacker, Sonic/Electric
Fireheart (Red Panther Cub)
Front-line attacker, Direct/Fire
Rall (Light Brown Honey Bear Juvenile)
Front-line defender, Direct/Earth
Bubba (Light Blue Bubblesaur Hatchling)In recovery
Long-range defender, Water/Earth
Meek (Orange Common Lynxmouse Adult) Pregnant
Scavenger, Food-hunter and looter, Direct/Geo
Warc (Blue-beaked Rainduck Adult)
Air Scout, waters plants and lay eggs, Water/Wind
---
Prologue
"Wow." Colin said. "This is my room?!"
He was looking in on it with Katrin and Farmer Edward. He brushed a hand through short brown hair as he turned to them, equally brown eyes alive with amazement.
Farmer Edward nodded, making his floppy hat slip over his brow. Katrin grinned at Colin from farther behind, green eyes shining. She pushed back loose black hair from her face. "Like it?"
Colin's new room was spacious. It was on the first floor, looking out toward the barns. It had two rows of four windows each.
Until now, Colin hadn't even looked at his room… but when he got to Green Badge, most of the badge's new functions had to do with a Home Base.
"This looks huge." Colin said.
"Remember, your Home Base room is not just for you to rest in. It's for all your Comrades too." Edward said. "Tap your badge and say you want to register this room as your Home Base."
Colin did just that. His Green Badge swept a beam of green light all over the room, and then glowed a while. Edward got an auto-call offering him a report when he took it, and he pressed a space marked 'approve'.
"It's done. This is your Base, now." Edward told him.
"Are you sure you want to give me this much space?"
"You'll need it." Edward said. "This can take maybe twenty Comrades, if you have them share Habitats. If they all have their own Habitat, then I think ten is the most you'll be able to fit. If you want more space, well, we'll have to renovate."
"Yip." Shiro moved in cautiously, sniffing the air. The little white wolfcat pawed the solid wood floor, then pounced forward at nothing, as if testing his footing.
"Mew." Raiki put one paw on the wall. The blue kitten then put her ear to it as if listening.
"Mik." Meek, the Lynxmouse, went straight to the window and looked outside.
"Wuark." Warc, the Rainduck, flew over to join her.
"Rawrl." Rall said. The Honey Bear that was half as large as Colin simply ambled over to the corner in front of them and settled down.
Colin looked at his two newest Comrades, Fireheart and Bubba.
Fireheart, the Red Panther, was half as large as Rall, but a good deal thinner. She looked around the place with intense eyes, then slowly walked in to the exact center of the room.
Bubba was a Bubblesaur (blue-green dinosaur with a short neck and a very round head), just a bit larger than Fireheart. He had only just joined Colin. He had been excited earlier, but had become a quiet after officially bonding him. Right now, he looked rather lost.
That sort of thing happened when Comrades were transferred. Even though Bubba had wanted to go with Colin, and Edward had allowed it, being given away by his Dreamer had its own effects on the Bubblesaur.
Bubba, like Raiki, would need time and care to recover… and this room was the best place for him to recover in.
Colin picked up the Bubblesaur in both arms and said, "Come on in, Bubba. We're making this our home base."
"Bubba." Bubba replied, nervously.
"Bubblesaurs like warm and wet habitats, I was told." Edward said. "Like a steamy swamp."
"Is something like that even possible?" Colin asked.
"Well…" Edward scratched his head. "Maybe a hot water bottle?"
Colin sighed. "Maybe I'll get one next time I go to market."
"Oh, that reminds me… I haven't paid you for your work and the stuff you brought us." Farmer Edward handed Colin a pouch. "There's a thousand Clira in there, all told."
"Uh… thanks." Colin said, frowning. "That should help me get this room started. Rall, Meek, unload the backpacks. We'll store our food in here."
"Bears and Lynxmice prefer cave-like habitats… dark and cosy." Edward went on. "Wolfcats and cats go for caves or treetops. Ducks go for water."
Colin shook his head. "I should get a warm water bath on one side and a cave on the other. That would solve everything."
"It would, if your Comrades were all willing to share. I'm not sure if they are, though. You'll have to find out for yourself." Edward said.
"Thanks, Farmer Edward." Colin said.
Edward shook his head. "Call me 'Ed', like Katrin does. Any other questions?"
Colin thought about that. "Actually, yes. Can I bring some hay in here?"
"Hay?" Edward blinked.
"Yeah. It would be perfect for Meek's Habitat."
***
Katrin went with him to the barn and helped him carry loads to hay to his new base. As they made their fifth round, their alarms went off.
"It's time to Wake Up." Katrin said, regretfully.
"Right." Colin sighed. He looked around. "You know, I think there's actually enough hay in the room already. We might as well take a break."
It had been a long day. Colin and Katrin lay back on either side of the haystack, stretching out in the cosy shade of the barn, surrounded by relaxing animals.
Katrin spoke first. "Colin?"
"Hmm?" he murmured.
"What are you going to do tomorrow night?"
Colin stretched. "First, I should go get my clothes back."
He was still wearing Farmer Edward's spare clothes. His own were hanging to dry on the fence outside. White t-shirt, brown vest, blue jeans.
"Then?"
"Then I'm going to get habitats for my Comrades… and find out what Traveling is really about." Colin told her.
"Traveling…?" she blinked.
"Satrox told me that the Journey we are on is actually to reach somewhere. I want to find out more. I'm here for a reason, Katrin. I need to know what it is." Colin said, his voice sounding serious and far away.
"Before it's too late."