*Arity's POV*
I lifted Sarial, wishing she was anywhere but with me. I also wished I could find some place safe for her. It's the Middledark or Lowerdark. Food will be incredibly rare. How will I take care of this poor girl. Water is often not safe here. Not poisoned, just... There are things that live in the water here that are incredibly dangerous..
I wanted to make us invisible, but that was useless here. Many things had tremorsense, blind sight, or true sight. What was worse, I couldn't sense anything nearby. I switched back to my Adaptive Body. I felt I'd need it. It pushed away the tiredness I'd taken on.
I couldn't tell how long I'd walked. My legs were actually sore. Of course I was also carrying Sarial up a steep incline at the same time. Different muscles and all that. Or maybe I'd just gotten used to the easy life of sitting with the Hearthry family.
While I was thinking things over, I realized I still had my things. I set Sarial partially down, worried bout how she was still asleep, and grabbed my communication device. I started to open it, and realized with significant horror.. It was broken.
I felt a bubble of panic. I squashed it. I wouldn't be able to keep Sarial and her unborn baby safe if I was panicking. With a calmer mind, I looked for the insight and understanding that would help me fix the item. It was possible to fix, however I didn't have the means to do so.
I pictured Dirthin's face, I knew I would not be seeing him for a very long time. This fact made me weep. After I'd spent my tears, I put away my item, picked Sarial back up and continued the walk. I had to get her to the surface.
Some time later, Sarial finally began to wake. She couldn't see and seemed to panic because of it. "You're with me. Tyra." I told her.
"T-Tyra? You didn't say, 'You're safe'. It's not safe?" Sarial asked.
"We are deep in the Underdark.. I cannot say that we are safe. I'm sorry." I said.
"I understand. Do you know where we are? Have you contacted Father?" She asked.
"The communication device is broken. Magic is also warped down here." I tell her. "I don't know our location. I only know we aren't safe."
I set her down as she mulled this information over. She said, "It's alright. Father and Uncle will be trying to find us."
"Scrying magic is skewed down here. I have no idea how long I was unconscious, nor do I know how long I've carried you. I can only say I've walked for thirty-eight miles." I say.
"Tyra, that's over eight hours. Walking fast, a person can travel thirty miles in an eight hour period. Twenty-four miles would be considered comfortable." Sarial was shocked.
I placed my hand on her shoulder and gave her dark vision. "Is it? I've never estimated things in such a way."
"Aren't you tired?" She asked.
"No. I can also say that we'd stopped for a bit earlier. I figured you could use the rest after that painful experience." I said.
Having reminded her, her hand dropped to her stomach. She teared up. "Did I lose it?"
"No. I managed to save your baby." I said.
She sobbed with relief, cuddling into my shoulder. I let her. For the first time, I wrapped my arms around the girl, hugging her gently. Hugs and cuddles are her favorite activity. She's cuddlier than any kitten.
"I do think we should change your clothes and clean you up. You bled." I told her when she'd calmed down.
"I haven't any gear. Oh gods, I haven't any gear!" Panic entered her voice.
"Calm, Kitten. Shh. We will go through my bag and see if there is anything useable." I tell her, soothing her and petting her hair.
Once she'd calmed a bit and was rational, she said, "I'm sorry. I can't seem to stay in control of myself."
"It's fine. Your hormones are going crazy and this is a terrifying situation. Even I am scared." I replied.
"You don't seem scared. You seem cool as a cucumber." She pointed out.
"I've had time to adjust." I said, then a heart wrenching sound shrieked through the tunnels. Eyes wide, I took Sarial's hand and we began to run. I gave her no time to ask questions. When I noted her difficulty, I picked her up, continuing my pace. She held onto me tightly without protest.
Eventually, we reached a type of building. I paused before it. It was empty, no signs of life within. We entered. There was a cistern in the middle. I checked to see if the water was safe, then searched around the area. I found a bucket and scooped up some water for us to bathe with. We'd explore this place for any clues as to where we were.
I let her wear a set of my Kingdom clothes, they were short on her, but the warmest option I had. Plus, they weren't bled in. She cleaned her clothes as best she could, then we left them to dry. I started going through the things in my bag while she was busy. I took them out, then my ability enhancer. Channeling Item Lore through the enhancer, I mass identified my collection. Despite my Adaptive Body I became quite tired due to this. It was a huge drain on me.
Some of the items were non magic. Many were amazingly powerful. Others were hat tricks. And a few were very cursed. I put the cursed and non magic items away. I put a scarab of protection on her shirt, it was a pin, and hunted through the rest of the things for whatever could be useful. The item lore took a full hour to complete. I picked up various needles. These would help.
I pricked Sarial with the Shadowfell Brand tattoo, an inky black tattoo spread across her right arm and shoulder, tribal in look. Then I used the Ghost Step needle on her left wrist. White ink formed phantom shaped across her left arm. The final one I pricked her with was the Lifewell tattoo. This one took on yellow and green ink that formed a tree of life.
The first would make her better at hiding in the dark, as well as be capable of seeing in the dark, so I wouldn't need to keep making her capable of seeing in the dark, a good thing because my energy would need to be conserved. It would also give her a change to half damage inflicted upon her once a day. The second one will allow her to phase through walls, or people, and not be restrained, but also half any and all damage against her. The third would let her live once a day if she was nearly killed. But also made her resistant to necrotic damage.
She was looking at me irritably until I explained to her what each tattoo could do. She calmed considerably then. The rest of the things I'd checked so far wouldn't do us much good, so I put them away. Unfortunately, I needed a nap. I ordered her to wake me if something happened. Then I found a small place to curl up in, and fell asleep. Having completely forgotten that Sarial needs to eat.
I woke some time later. Sarial was nearby. "Hey, anything happen?" I asked, trying to shake the sleep off.
"No. I'm really freaking hungry. Couldn't find anything to eat nearby." She said.
"I'm sorry. I neglected you." I felt immensely guilty. "I'll find something."
I came out of my hidey hole, my back wasn't tense or painful as I stretched. It was an odd sensation. Then I recalled James had fixed my back. Why hadn't he gotten Sarial back home? If it was just me I'd be fine, but I was fearful for her. How was I going to take care of her? With this thought, I stored plenty of water for Sarial and we started walking. We left this building and headed up a path. After an hour she became unsteady and was dizzy.
I picked her up, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I don't have anything to feed you, I haven't anything on me that you can eat. I'm so sorry."
"We didn't know this would happen. It's ok." She said.
How long had it been since she last had a meal? Longer than a day at least. She's had access to the cistern for water at least. But with her metabolism and pregnancy she was at a much higher risk of starvation. I summoned my Phasing Eye to scout ahead, keeping a literal eye out for anything edible. An hour later, there were still no results.
"I'm pathetic," Sarial said meekly. "I'm so sleepy."
"It's ok. I'll find something for you to eat soon. Take a nap, it will help you conserve energy." I told her.
She did slowly close her eyes. A pained hour later, and she'd fallen asleep. Then, I finally spotted something. Giant spiders. Taking the opportunity to attack from the mile away we were from my Phasing Eye, I used Detonation on them. They, confusedly, began to attack each other while burning, and that gave me the chance I needed to attack them again with Detonation. This time, I killed them.
Now, I just needed to reach the bodies before anything else did. I didn't sense anything, but I was being incredibly cautious. Just when I'd reached the bodies, I discovered Drow were on their way. Vicious slaver Elves that serve Lolth, the spider queen. A goddess in her own right.
With a quiet growl of frustration, I set Sarial down, hacking the bodies to pieces small enough to fit into my bag of holding. Then I lifted her up and fled, quickly, in a different direction. Avoidance was the best option right now. If they followed.. I'd deal with them.
Once I'd gotten us an hour away from where I'd killed the spiders, I managed to find a space for us to shelter in. It was another abandoned building. There were old cooking things in here. One resembled a mortar and pestel. I was drawn to it. I set Sarial on a for cushion and picked up the mortar, setting up a small fire.
I cleaned the mortar and pestel as well as I could, then set it on the fire poured a small amount of water into it. Next, I started adding chunks of spider into the water. I was wishing that I could add some herbs to the soup. As I thought over what I should add if I had it, like star anise and other seasonings, they began to appear.
Amazed, I didn't question it like I probably should have. Sarial woke when it was half done. It did smell amazing. I found a bowl for her and cleaned it and a spoon as well as I could. I told her I was extremely sorry, but she needed to wait a little longer. It wasn't ready to be eaten. Her eyes didn't leave the food as it finished cooking. She scarfed the meal, and I was glad I'd made it a soup. She ate three bowl fulls. When she was satisfied, she took a nap again.
I was utterly miserable. I missed Dirthin a lot more than I expected to. Maybe I was overly clingy after all. Or maybe it was just because I had no way of contacting him. It was an unexpected separation. Maybe that was why. Surprisingly, I also had begun to worry about Sky. But I knew he was in good hands.
I decided to distract myself by using Item Lore on the mortar and pestel, but I was distracted by the Drow coming close. Were they hunting us? The food scent may have drawn them. Shit. Leaving the house I strode towards them, leaving my Phasing Eye watching over Sarial.
There were fifteen Drow in total. Mostly men, with two women. "Go back the other way. I don't want a fight." I told them.
"That's fine, you don't need to fight. Just submit. You're alone, after all." One replied.
"Never." I told them. "Back off."
Weapons were drawn, so I withdrew my axe. The fight was grueling. They were swift and skilled and the battle was costly. But not a single one of them escaped it. Mess with a lion, and you'll get more than you wish for. I took all their things, even their armor, and left them. Thankfully, the armor was exceptional and the clothing would fit Sarial. One of the cloaks even caused a shrouding effect.
Pleased, though wounded, I returned to Sarial. Sending the eye back out and around. Sarial woke while I was healing my wounds. She was alarmed.
"What happened? Why are you so wounded?" She asked.
"I took care of a potential problem. Don't worry." I told her. "I am healing. Have some more soup."
She nodded, obeying me. Unwilling to press me. She also saw the various weapons and such I'd left laying around. She selected a longsword, long bow and a crossbow. She also took the quivers for them. She declined the armor, but did take clothing.
"We can sell the armor at a good price back home. The weapons, too." She told me. "A lot of this stuff has high worth."
"Sell it for your town, then." I told her. "Or for anything you want for your baby."
"Are you sure?" She asked.
I nodded. "I have enough money to fund your town all the way through your great grandchildren's lives. And I'll be alive for those times, too."
"Looks like I should convince you to be an investor." She joked.
"Ask it, and I will supply." I replied.
She nodded, thoughtfully. "How long will we be down here? How long to return?"
I shook my head. "Days, months, years. I don't know. It's very hard to say."
This caused her to weep. I hugged the slender girl and cried, too. After we'd calmed she asked, "Are you in a relationship with Uncle?"
"I believe so, yes. He's essentially told me he loves me and that I make him happy. I feel safe and secure with him. He makes me happy, just by glancing my way. I'm finding this forced separation very hard to bare." I explained to her.
"Fell hard for Uncle then, huh?" She teased. "You're deeply in love."
"Am I?" I asked, surprised. "I wouldn't have thought so."
"That's alright." She said, "Mom says there is no thinking to love. It just sneaks up on you and bashes you over the skull and you are left with thought of that persons smile only. Or, in other cases, it just is fact. Without notice they become your reason for breathing." After a moment she continued. "Mom's been abandoned, like I was at four. But unlike me, she was alone for five years. Once Alexander, her teacher, met her, he was like family to her for six years. He dropped her off at a mayors mansion. That mayor was a filthy man. Took Mom's armor and Sword for 'his safety'. Would have taken her claws if he could. She had to stay alert for the three years she lived there. Alexander's adventuring group eventually collected her. They traveled together for four years before Bibs introduced Mom to Dad. They dated for a year before Mom got pregnant with Jasper. They married just before adopting me twelve years ago. Mom's greatest fear is that Dad will leave her alone. I wonder if Mills is ok. He's had it rough, too. His family mistreated him, mostly."
"They are lucky to have you. You're truly a wonder to be around." I said.
"You don't seem surprised that Mom was abandoned." Sarial notes.
"I'm not. She's albino. And I was technically abandoned, too, due to favoritism and my genetic mutation." I replied.
After our conversation we rested a little longer. Then we set out once more. hunting for a way home. A week passed with no luck. We found no way to fix my communication tool and no way to get us home. I even ventured into a couple of cities. They weren't friendly so I had to leave pretty quickly. We'd been collecting more items, too.
We'd entered some ruins when I found an item that would potentially restore my communication device. We just now needed to find an area that was filled with magic. Not an easy task by any means. The Underdark is filled with spaces that the Shadowfell and Underdark bled into.
Excitedly, I informed Sarial about the tool. She smiled brightly and asked how we find such a location. That was the hard part. But we'd manage it. With this hope, we trudged on. I carried her while she slept, and in this way, we really only stopped to make her meals. I declined eating because I didn't need it. When possible, we just made food that was easy for her to walk and eat.
Another occurrence, we'd ran into three bands of slavers and a few random enemies. I took on the brunt as much as possible, but Sarial had to fight, too. I just made sure her baby was unharmed each time.
A misfortunate thing, aside from the item I'd found, we didn't find much else in these ruins. Just a few odd bits that Sarial like the looks of. I'd also noticed she had this golden egg she'd whisper to and clean. This time when Sarial took the golden egg out, it was cracked. She mourned that and still tried to tend to it.
We continued on after a bit. But I noticed a pattern. Any time I got a minute and thought about checking out the mortar and pestel, something occurred and I'd have to stop. An odd pattern. I wasn't even sure why I'd suddenly notice this pattern. But it troubled me. I made a mental note to research it.
I began carrying Sarial again once she got tired enough. She'd adjusted pretty well to being carried while she slept. She'd said it was easy cause my fur was comfortable. A few hours after she'd fallen asleep, some things occurred. One, we'd entered a magic filled zone. Two, something began to loudly crack.
Sarial woke, and at first we were both alarmed. Then she said, "My egg." and pulled it out. It was hatching rapidly. I set her down, took out the communication device and item that could repair it. Then I took out the mortar and pestel and activated Item Lore.
While I preoccupied myself repairing my device and checking out the mortar and pestel, Sarial's hatchling had fully emerged from it's shell. She showed me it. In her palms, and no larger than a mouse, was a lion cub. Fully formed, just tiny. It was gold and red with a sparkling oval-shaped blue diamond on it's forehead that was ringed in silver.
"That's an interesting little thing." I said.
"Can you give him some food?" She asked.
"... Can he eat meat? He looks like a very small cub." I pointed out.
"We have to try. Neither of us are lactating." She replied.
An excellent point. The answer, we learned, was that yes he can eat meat. That was a relief. She played with it and telling it how cute and wonderful it is. Until she started getting sleepy. She made a type of carrying sling for the cub, tucked it inside, then cuddled against me and fell asleep.
I worked on the item for a bit. The knowledge I gleaned from Item Lore, was that this was Baba Yaga's mortar and pestel. It had a variety of uses. I already knew it could expand. The pestel can become a weapon, which I hadn't known. It can be used as an alchemist's supplies, brewer's supplies, cook's utensils, an herbalism kit, and a poisoner's kit. It can crush or grind anything put inside it, and separate the bits.
There was something else... But I couldn't figure it out. It would take further study. The devices repair was slow going. After working at it for a few more hours, I had to move on. There were enemies approaching, so I lifted Sarial and her new ward and left the area. I'd continue fixing it as soon as we could find a different magic space.
For another week we traveled. The cub had grown significantly in this time. It was already too large for Sarial to carry, being the height of my hips. A luscious red and gold mane had grown in, too. The silver that had ringed the blue diamond had expanded. It covers it's body like armor. This cub also speaks. She named him Dia.
When we got close to a magic area, Dia said, "The Fey bleeds into this space."
"You can tell?" I asked.
"I can tell." Dia said, nodding. His eyes were red, but when there was light they were golden.
"Good. Maybe I can finish fixing the communicator." I said.
"That would be good." Sarial said. The constant travel was wearing her down.
We reached an area surrounded by all sorts of beautiful fey things. Mushrooms and vegetation. I steered us away from there and into a safe place.
"Who shall we call first when it's fixed?" I asked, sitting and taking out the items in question.
"You want to speak to Uncle. Try him. Dad may be busy, but either Uncle will bring the conversation to Dad, or we can call Dad next." Sarial suggested.
I nodded, a little relieved. I truly did wish to see him. Speak to him. Anything. After a couple of hours, I completed the repairs on the device. As far as we knew, we'd been down here for two and half weeks. I was sure they were all worried sick about Sarial.
Dia walked over and pressed his nose to the communicator, sniffing at it. He said, "It does appear to be in working order. Give it a try."
"No kidding." I replied to him sarcastically. Holding my breath, I opened the communicator and set it to contact Dirthin. I pressed the button and it sent the notification along.
There was a moment when I thought it just simply wasn't working. Then it connected. "Location. Are you safe? Who has you." Dirthin immediately asked once his image had appeared, I assumed mine did to.
I hesitated, then answered. "I know we're deep in the Underdark. We're as safe as I can make us. No one has us."
He sighed audibly. "It is good to see you again."
"Likewise. We had to find a place with bountiful magic to repair the communication device. It'd gotten busted somehow. Sarial's safe." I tell him.
"Well, thank the asshole gods. We'd had no idea what happened to you two, or if you were even together." Dirthin replied. It seemed like a weight off his shoulders.
"I don't think it was that idiots intention. Unfortunately I can't tell if we're going the right direction. We've stuck to heading up, but the near hundred miles I can manage in a full day hasn't been sufficient. The cities have all been illithid filled or slavers." I told him, looking at Sarial and listening for danger.
"May I speak with my daughter?" James asked.
I nodded to Sarial, for her to speak, but said, "Not alone. I won't leave her unattended down here."
"That's perfectly alright." James said.
Sarial said, "I'm listening, Dad."
"Young lady, I don't believe I gave you permission to leave the Capital." James said.
"Well, just let me poof on back then. Oh, wait. Can't do that. And frankly, I'm a little terrified to use that method. It was quite painful." She said, going pale at the memory.
"Is everything alright?" James asked.
"Yeah, yeah. Tyra made sure of it. It was probably a close call though." Sarial said. It had been indeed. "How is everyone?"
"Everyone here is still.. hanging on." James said. "We've all been going a bit stir crazy. We'd run out of leads... and people to.. ask."
"Ah. Tortured some people?" Sarial asked, nonchalantly.
"Tortured would mean it's past tense." James replied.
"Is Mom and Mills ok?" Sarial asked. "I can imagine Mom's panic."
"Mills has been digging through his families estate. Looking for any clue anyone may have missed. He has found some things, but nothing related to where you may have ended up." James told her. "Your Mother has been forming search parties all over the kingdom."
"Ah. I can see where that would be done. Hm? What Dia?" Sarial was looking at Dia, watching him. Seeing he was about to be up to mischief, she scolded him. "Don't you even. Go over there."
"Who's Dia? Did you two pick up a companion while you were out?" James asked.
"No. I hatched him. You damn cat. Tyra's gonna bust you one! Don't-" Sarial was cut off as Dia knocked into the wall, chasing imagined prey.
"Dammit." I snapped, setting down the device and keeping the ruins from collapsing on us. "This space is to small for you to play, you overgrown brat. Sarial, pick up the device, we'll have to relocate."
Sarial did as I said, her father's eyes showed anxiety as she got out. She sat on the sulking lion as I let the rubble down slowly. I checked on her, she was fine.
"Is your head ok?" Sarial asked. When I nodded, she said, "Dia is a lion thing. He hatched from a golden mystery egg I picked up on the way to East Haven. He was the size of a mouse not to long ago, and now he can wreck a house."
"I was just playing." Dia said, sulking. "I didn't know it would collapse."
With my ears back and a scowl on my face I said, "You are only around a week old. Try to channel your energy into more constructive things. Like hunting actual prey."
"Incidentally, Plight used to live down here. Maybe his sister would know how to reach their old home, and we could try and meet up there? They could lead us up." Sarial said suddenly.
"Is it possible to contact them while you are still talking to us?" James asked.
"Yes." I said. "I just have to add them in."
"Are you in a safe enough spot to continue this conversation?" James asked.
I mulled that over. I looked about and said, "I'd prefer an enclosed location, but this area that the fey leaked into does seem to be devoid of life at the moment."
"Then I suppose we should contact them, and see if we can't get something found out." James suggested.