I decided to call a quits and resume the next day. No matter how much my obsession edged me, I had to think of what was best for us all. We started our usual morning routine but with an extra this time. I thought Sizzle would keep me company but they also had their morning routine. While Cyclops took a steam bath, Sizzle lit the tip of their ears on fire and proceeded to burn their own fur off. Either burning old fur or maybe a remedy for pests and parasites I don't really know.
After filling their body with bald patches, they fluttered their ear to put out the flame like a match. Those ears seem highly flame resistant. It was set ablaze and yet I can't find any sign of scorching.
"Very impressive"
I ran our usual bath but Sizzle swore off it. No matter what I tried they won't bath, won't even let water be poured on them and you wonder why you have all them parasites.
SMACK
Sizzle smacked me across the face with their giant ears. I wasn't even mad I just felt like I've been in this situation before. Why do I always get smacked across the face by these companions oversized body parts.
I tried the ancient act of ambushing it with soapy water but I missed and got another serving of a slap on the face.
"yeah yeah I get it"
But I really just saw something interesting. Sizzle was here at some point and somewhere else in the next, I couldn't see what happened.
"We've eaten; I've packed our meals. Let's go!"
We set off for more backyard adventure.
Sizzle is a hand full. I'm starting to think the Buzz hole was the victim in that situation. Hear me out and understand that Sizzle does not listen and would pick a fight with anything that moves. What are you planning to do against a group of Barkdoves? Sigh.
Barkdoves are plant like birds made completely out of vines. The vines are brown in color with a single green leave appearing randomly on them. No leaf positioning is identical.
Sizzle hit one of them with an ember and it turned to a wisp instantly. Seeing one of their kind die set off the rest. Sizzle didn't move to run and wanted to face them alone. I rushed over picked up Sizzle and ran. Luckily we were able to escape.
SMACK
I got another slap to the face.
"you're welcome I guess"
It doesn't really hurt. They might be all stubborn but at least I know they won't hurt me and I shouldn't pick them up.
Alright let's continue on our adventure. We've gotten really deep into the forest. As we explored we found a large tree blocking the way. I called out for Cyclops.
"Cyclops return"
Cyclops turned into a little light beam and transformed into a tattoo on my arm. The tattoo glowed a light blue hue gave me the strength to lift tree and dropped it somewhere else.
Yesterday I found out that I get stronger with cyclops as a tattoo. In fact, even when we're apart my body is way better than it used to, I notice these little things.
I saw a grasshopper fly by and I was amazed, I haven't seen a none companion creature in a while.
"so they are still around"
I wonder what this means for the animals that have to share habitats with these insane creatures. I think they would be okay, companions aren't actually invasive creatures and they're so strong the animals would instinctively avoid them. Just learn to share I guess.
CUKROO CUKROO
A search party consisting of two Barkdoves was passing by. I could guess they were looking for Sizzle but since they haven't spotted us yet we can just let them pass. Where is Sizzle?
Sizzle stood in front of their flight path.
CROOOO
The Barkdoves went insane when they spotted Sizzle. They started making loud noises. Sizzle shot an ember at them but this time they were alert and dodged it. There's no avoiding this one. We have to fight. I came out of hiding with Cyclops immediately alerting the Barkdoves, they quickly linked me with sizzle and the standoff began.
"Sizzle snout ember"
Sizzle shot an ember at the Barkdoves and they dodged with ease. I see this in movies but flying creatures are very difficult to fight.
The Barkdoves saw a chance and swooped us in breakneck speed. Sizzle being nimble evaded the attack but I didn't have that luxury.
"Shield Form"
Cyclops twisted and hardened into a round shield shape. I lifted cyclops to block. The Barkdove just scrapped the shield as it changed trajectory upward but I felt every bit of it. I was slightly pushed back and my hands were shaking.
It didn't just come straight at us, it switched trajectory after seeing the shield. This is going to be difficult. The Barkdoves started circling the area and after a while they did another swoop attack. This time the target wasn't us but the tree behind us. They lightly brush the tree with their becks completely destroying the mid-section and felling the tree on us.
BOOOM
The tree fell to the ground kicking up leafs and dust. The Barkdoves looked satisfied when the tree fell but they didn't let up. They kept hovering around to confirm the attack worked. An object flew through the dust. The Barkdoves immediately moved out of the way but the object wasn't what they were expecting. It was a round object, the Barkdoves looked over at the origin of the thrown object and saw a human with bright red light emanating from its legs.
"Cyclops now, Steam cover"
Cyclops turned back to normal and a large amount of steam gushed out of its scale, covering Cyclops and both Barkdoves.
"Cyclops, Sizzle, tail smite and snout ember"
Cyclops knocked one of them down and Sizzles flame hit the other. The one hit by the flame turned into wisp and the other could hardly stand. It weakly tried to stand from hit but it was having some troubles.
"Sizzle snout ember"
Sizzle Shook its head that's when I realized that its bright nose were dull. Luckily Cyclops was still airborne.
"Cyclops, tail smite"
Cyclops coiled up before releasing and smiting the Barkdove with its tail. The Barkdoves lit up and turned into a wisp. I walked over to pick up the wisps. Cyclops jumped onto me as usual, I've gotten used to it. I picked the wisp up and they lightly floated on my hand. I learned this from watching the helper bird yesterday.
I offered the wisps to my two companions, that absorbed it. Both bars went up by an 8th of its size. I ran my hand across their body. They enjoy this moments of intimacy. Though Sizzle acts like it hates it but never moves or rejects the petting.
"I guess yesterday's training wasn't a waste"
Since the companions can understand me, creating a voice command system was easy. By exploring their new abilities and practicing our whole synergy, I was rewarded with a single bar filling.
…
"Have you heard from Tenka?"
"I've been calling but no answer. What are you doing Tenka?"
…
"I feel like I've been running a lot these days'"
"Cyclops steam cover"
Cyclops created a steam cover.
It was another search party of Barkdoves. Unfortunately, this one has manifested their first ability just like Sizzle and Cyclops. Now not only can it fly it came equipped with a long ranged attack. It has been chucking hardened vines at us. Destructive little things capable of going half way through a tree.
The Bark dove looks a bit different from the other ones I've seen. There was a green wisp floating at its midsection and it was a bit larger than the rest. If not for the fact it hates my guts, I would have loved to have it as a companion.
"Sizzle return"
Sizzle popped into my legs and with the added speed I found a new hiding place before the Bark dove blew the steam cover away. The number of options I have in this fight is too low. Cyclops just used Steam cover and can't harden for a while. Sizzle can't use snout ember and I only have a few seconds to use sizzles agility.
My options are Tail smite, cyclops return and the Sizzle return I'm using at the moment.
"cyclops, Tail smite"
I had cyclops knock down a tree but this alerted the Bark dove to our location.
"EEP"
A vine pierced through the tree I was hiding behind.
"Cyclops, Tail smite"
Cyclops destroyed the tree I was hiding. Cyclops had destroyed the tree from the stem so the Bark dove couldn't really see what was happening. It hovered around the area to identify the target. From behind the falling tree was another tree flying directly at it. It moved out of the way. It tried launching a long range attack but nothing happened.
"From how willy-nilly you used that attack I bet you didn't know you can only use it a few times"
Truth be told there was no prove that the Bark dove is the same as Sizzle but every time it attacked I could see that the green wisp grow dimmer. After the last attack the wisp completely disappeared so I took a chance. There was also the fact that this particular Bark dove just awakened this ability a while ago. My brain just kept ringing this information in my head and it was right.
"Don't just stare at me"
Sizzle jumped off the tree I threw wrapping the Bark dove with its ear. With its wings enfold within sizzles ears the two creatures fell to the ground. Without a time to waste I threw Cyclops, who coiled themselves up as the spun in the air.
Sizzle left the Bark dove and the creature immediately tried to fly off but it was too late. Cyclops tail Smite hit with a boom. The Bark dove sank into the ground but was still very much alive. Cyclops hit it again with a tail smite pushing the bark dove deeper into the ground. The Bark dove still didn't turn into a wisp but it was weaker than it was. Finding it even more difficult to spread its wings to fly. Sizzle lifted Cyclops into the air with their ears. Cyclops coiled up and slammed its tail on the bark dove turning it into a wisp.
I had Cyclops absorb the wisp and the bar was filled to the half point.
"huh"
The stronger the enemy the stronger the wisp. Good to know.
"let's continue"
We got into more fights with our sworn enemies the bark doves and a few Buzz holes. I was able to fill the bar to about 80%. But I've started seeing more fallen trees. I don't know what kind of creature caused this damage but I'm starting to think the bark doves are urging us to it.
KRIIIKKK
Just as I thought of retreating I heard a weird sound. Escape was out of the question until I'm able to identify the creature and its location.
Sizzle who was leading the party turned around and with a head butt I was pushed back. Cyclops swatted an unidentifiable creature with its tail. The creature was knocked to the ground but never stuck to one place, it bounced off the ground, off the tree stem and into the canopy. I never got to see it, only Cyclops and Sizzle have identified the creature. Which is a good thing but if we are to have any chance of beating it, I must identify it too.
But I don't know what's happening. Cyclops tail is moving in high speed and I can tell it was making contact with something but I can't tell what. Sizzle also started its attack by lighting the trees on fire. I want to tell it to reduce the usage of snout ember but it was actually a good plan to reduce the creatures hiding spots.
Snout ember was again usable after Sizzle absorbed a wisp. Now I wish I had saved some of the wisp for extra ammo. You live you learn I guess.
Cyclops tail stopped moving and Sizzle started dodging. He took off running occasionally moving left to right and every place Sizzle have been imploded with a boom. Slowly I'm starting to comprehend what was happening. Sizzle was escaping from a transparent attack. Now I'm not the center of the attack I can see everything unfold a bit better.
Cyclops smacked me on the face and pointed at a tree close by.
"I understand"
I rushed over and Cyclops struck the tree branches, tiny flints travelled to other trees and shrubs around and set them on fire. Cyclops pointed at another one and we did the same thing. The transparent attacks intensified again. Even though Sizzle was still getting attacked they still had a lot of leeway to use snout fire. But it casting of snout ember was interrupted again and again.
I tried to move an inch closer to our next tree destination but instead created a loophole in Cyclops tail defense and took a hit to the leg.
"Damn it"
Immediately that happened the hit on us intensified giving Sizzle the time to cast Snout Ember. I could tell that Sizzle only had one charge left. But the enemy didn't know this. Before Sizzle could cast the attack on them intensified. Sizzle dodged at the best of its ability but I could tell that it was all a lie. Sizzle wasn't having any problem dodging it was all a plan to reduce the use of Snout Ember. If Sizzle had used it while getting hit by the intensified attack when the charge is empty and Sizzle stops attacking the enemy would realize there was a limit. I had to make this chance for Sizzle to attack to better solidify the illusion. I coiled up like a caterpillar and slowly moved to the next objective.
The fact that it can keep using its long range ability means that it doesn't manifest it but just control it. Using the Bark dove as an example. The Bark dove generates a vine and shots it at a target but this creature is basically collecting an unknown item and throwing them at us. I have to find out how it attacks but it keeps dashing into different tree canopy without letting up on the attack. At least with this I can tell 2 things; 1. This was prepared prior to our confrontation, 2. The catalyst for the attack is naturally abundance at least in this area of the forest.
If it's the former, then we can just wait it out but if it's the latter, then we have to bring it out of hiding as soon as possible.
I made it to the tree and hid behind it.
"Cyclops tail Smite"
As soon as I hid behind the tree the creature adjusted its position, while Cyclops attacked the tree I took another of its attack to the sides. The attack pierced through my side and it hurt like hell.
That should be enough. Cyclops started getting pressured, they could hardly keep up.
"Cyclops, Shield Mode"
Cyclops rolled up and hardened into a portable shield. As I took my first hit, I immediately regretted it. Every single hit was heavy and I could hear the bones in my hand breaking. I know how strong companions are but I didn't think the weaker projectiles would still pack this much of a punch.
I tried my best to hold out but it was too much for me. My hand gave out and I was pushed back as the Cyclops shield was knocked out of my hand. I took four projectiles to the chest.
Tenka fell to the floor losing all signs of life. Cyclops flew through the air and just as they were about to hit to the floor, Cyclops unhardened and used Steam cover, covering the entire area. With the lack of visual, the enemy halted their attack without noticing the large eared creature that was behind it.
"Sike, Sizzle, Snout Ember!"
Sizzle set the enemy on fire. With a screech it fell off the tree and started rolling on the floor to put out the flames.
I walked through the insanely hot Steam to identify the troublesome opponent. It was an insectoid that looked like a beetle with an protruding mouth like a large proboscis. It had a sac at the back of its neck linked to the mouth via two tentacle like organs. As the creature squirmed in pain I could see the sac inflate and deflate. There was an opening at the top and within were leaves shredded into tiny bits. It's greenish color continued to darken due to the flames, I had to put it out of its misery.
"Cyclops, Tail smite"
Cyclops slammed their tail into the creature and it instantly turned into a wisp. Even though it had a single ability like my companions, by itself it almost defeated a three-being team. I guess if the conditions are right companions can be way stronger than they normally are.
"Sorry Cyclops I know you delivered the final blow but I need Sizzle to have this one"
With me like this, I can hardly stand we need our one and only long ranged attack active. I bet Cyclops understood this and Sizzle too did that's why they're filled with so much pride. You could just tell that they were mocking Cyclops with strides and ear movements but Cyclops didn't care and was busy consoling.
"Thank you"
Sizzle after what looks like a victory dance absorbed the wisp. The bar was filled up and regressed to empty. I was reminded again that this creature was on the same level as the Green Wisp Bark dove we fought.
After absorbing the wisp, sizzle stared towards and empty space.
"what's wrong"
I was scared since Sizzle was my perceptive Companion and They normally act like this when there was an enemy approaching. I couldn't deal with any new altercation.
Sizzle stood still like that for a few seconds before its nose brightened up like they were about to use snout ember. Sizzle shot a snout ember and flapped their ears at the same time. The single wisp of fire was spread covering the areas preceding Sizzle.
"A new Ability?"
I was surprised. It's true that Sizzle already had Snout ember before they became my companion but it still feels early to be getting a new ability. Well, why rock the boat a new ability is always a good thing and this AOE (area of effect) ability would really help our retreat.
"I'm happy for you Sizzle, please lead us back I have to rest and heal up"
Without Sizzle starting shit up, we got home pretty easy without much trouble. Except for the Bark dove we ran into on the way but it was dispatched with ease by the new AOE attack.
With all my remaining strength I got into the house. I made my way to the drawer with the first aid supplies but I heard a knock.
KNOCK KNOCK
I've heard this style of knocking before.
"Cyclops, help me with the door"
Cyclops grabbed the door handle with its tail and opened the door. As expected Helper Bird was at the other side of the door. It walked in, stared at Cyclops and Sizzle but it couldn't see any major injuries. Its gaze fell on me and it was visibly surprised. It slowly waddled towards me. It put its wing on my shoulder.
"Thanks, I'll be o…"
Before I could finish talking its grip tightened as it lifted me up and put me into its mouth.
Truth be told I can't really tell what I saw. It was dark and before I knew it I was out of its pouch naked with my injuries gone and a goo that disappears in a few seconds.
I slowly climbed out with the help of Helper Bird. My clothes came out good as new and well pressed.
Is their a pressing iron in there?
It put its wing on my shoulder, turned and left.
"I guess I'm friends with Helper Bird now"
Hahahahahaha.