After the meal, Hitirus emerged from a nearby home. Her eyes panned away from the outside sun, trying to shield itself from the bright light.
"You're about ready to continue your trip to Nestres' city," Zeek commented. He held a bag in his hand, heavy from all the supplies inside. "I've got just what you need here."
Hitirus shook the sensitivity out of her eyes, allowing her to get a better view of what bag Zeek was holding. It was brown leather, held together by a brown strap made of the same material.
Metal clamps held the two pieces together, allowing the wearer to throw it on their back and continue. A silver zip stretched from end to end, closing the bag.
"Be careful with this bag," Zeek added. "There are gifts I want you to give to my fellow Noble Minds if you see them. Give Otres the empty book, if you find a manifestation of Gatruda, give them the doll. If you find Senestis, the metal tools."
After he was done explaining, Zeek handed the bag to Hitirus. She threw it over her shoulder, making sure the bag was secured around.
Her chest expanded, then compressed. Taking in the sweet smell of Vukuey one last time before making her way out of town.
"Come, I'll bring you to the right side of town. Do not get lost in this place," Zeek offered.
Hitirus followed him through busy roads. Workers plopped stone slabs in small diggings so the road becomes easier to travel on.
The sound of troopers learning Codes stuck out among the commotion. Many grunted and laughed, enjoying the competition.
When they turned the corner, they got a better look at the troopers. Hitirus watched a female pin a male against the wood patio.
She wrapped an arm underneath his chin, then pulled back. Stretching the male's back and testing his endurance before he snaps.
"Enough, enough!" an overseer called out. "Good job, now get up and do it again."
Zeek grinned, enjoying the sight he saw. "Hitirus, can I let you in on a little secret?"
The Variant walked faster, catching up to Zeek. She leaned in, waiting to hear what he had to say.
"You see that overseer? She was made six days ago," Zeek whispered.
Hitirus frowned, unsure of what that meant. She didn't look young, that overseer seemed like she's in her waning years.
"I can tell you're confused, but you're going to understand someday. Anyway, here it is, Zeek stared down the narrow path. "Straight to the next city, goodbye."
Knowing it was best to continue rather than talking, Hitirus stepped away from Zeek's side. Striding further away with every step.
She paused, feeling something strange was nearby. Her eyes connected with a large Scaler Feral, larger than any she had ever seen before.
Her instincts instantly told her this was Befehlnadir, ready to cut her up again. She gritted her teeth as her body morphed into another strange abomination.
"Not going to let you dice me up again, especially after getting this new outfit. So come on, animal, let's do this," Hitirus murmured.
Befehlnadir charged at her, careening over the path with ease. He slammed beside Hitirus, knocking her down. She coughed, trying to keep dust out of her system.
"You've made new friends," Befehlnadir grinned.
Right as he rose his leg to stomp on her, a flash of blinding light struck Befehlnadir. The impact left nothing behind, only a shadow that mimicked Befehlnadir's last moments alive.
Hitirus breathed heavily, rattled by what just happened. The shock wave accidentally triggered her flight-or-fight response.
She tried to say something, but nothing came out. Even when she made sure she was speaking. Hitirus glanced up at Zeek, who loomed over her.
He pointed at his ears, then shook his head. Trying to tell her he accidentally broke the sound barrier.
Minutes passed, by then, the only thing everyone in Vukuey, along with Hitirus and Zeek, could hear was a loud screech. Their ears were recovering from the trauma.
"It should wear off soon," Zeek's voice was muffled out by the screeching.
Hitirus stood up from her grassy bed, then checked over the bag. It was still safe and shut. She nodded at Zeek as a thank you, then took off.
Dusk washed the sky in a warm orange taint, bringing a sense of comfort and ease to most Variants. However, Hitirus was still as restless as ever.
"Do not mistake me for your equal, Feral!" a Thawed snapped back.
"Yeah, I'm your superior. Better than you, who live so high up above danger. You don't have the right to talk about hardship until you've finished sucking the Nine's breasts clean of all their nourishment, creature."
The Feral and Thawed argued about who was better, trying to impress Hitirus. Just in case he ever learned how to control himself, they'd be favored over the other.
Except Hitirus wasn't impressed. He was annoyed, ready to scream at the voices to shut up like always. Until an instinct told him it was best not to.
A strange beast devoured handfuls of grass and berries from nearby bushes. Hitirus paused, trying to get a better look at what it was.
But no matter for how long he stared at it, he never recognized where it came from. It sat in a squatted position, mindlessly feeding.
It suddenly stood upon its legs, revealing its short, but chubby body structure. The beast was green, with pure yellow eyes.
Hitirus glanced down at his legs, checking to see what Variant it belonged to. A Zegus. Despite it not being what he wanted, he still went with it.
Wind kicked up around him as he charged straight past the creature. It growled and barked in Hitirus' direction, but didn't give chase.
The beast sniffed the air, then turned around. It didn't recognize the smell of four different Variants fused together, let alone the three outsiders.
So it listened for a while longer, than sat back down to continue its meal.