Body tensed, Jake held out the small trowel in his hand, while creating a barrier around himself, covering himself in a semi-solid shape. Brown light glimmering slightly from the shield, it illuminated the beings face as it approached closer.
A dark black leather hood covered the top of its head, four insectoid eyes gleaming from within the dark reaches. The cape, connected to the hood, trailed down through its shoulders, covering the rest of its body. It's four arms, though, were sticking out from specified ports cut into the cloak. What gave its race away were the legs. Three toes peeked out from underneath, covered in soft, blue fur.
Jake knew immediately that it was a blue Mothuras, known being the calmest of their kind. Being universally known as the 'Helping Hands', they are welcomed everywhere for their benevolence and habit of helping others in whatever that may afflict them.
Also, they look very cute.
Relieved, Jake breathes out. He was worried that it was someone who had come with the intent to kill him for his supplies, as he had been seen standing around with Strados. Although not common, murder for loot still occurred inside the ruins, especially if an artefact of importance is found by someone. He was relieved that it was someone of the kind like the Mothuras before him, for he knew that no harm would befall him, given their good nature.
Knees weak, he held his hand up. The Mothuras, understanding the message, naturally obliged to hold his hand, and yanked him up. wincing slightly, Jake thanked him with a nod, before holding the backpack with his other hand, and following it back to its camp.
As Jake got closer, he saw a smoke coming from the top of a cluster of bushes. As he got closer, he started to smell the unmistakable stench of slightly burning cotton, along with the sizzling of metal. "You're burning the damn thing! Thise are my only good underpants!"
"What do you mean good? You obviously have more!"
"Well... these are my lucky ones."
"Lucky ones? I didn't know ow even know toy were superstitious at all H'ugahn."
"Enough already. Remember where we are now: any loud noise canard will kill us. By the way, where is Swilde?"
"Think he said he heard a slight rustle coming from far away. Said he'll check it out real quick, buuurp."
The last sentence sounded crude, yet it held valuable Intel for him:
One, the Mouthuras' name is most likely Swilde, the... man that is guiding him.
Two, that he was nearly killed.
Swiping his forehead, he swore that he would thank him once they were in the clear. Pepping himself up, he headed into the camp, where he hoped that he would be a bit safe so that he could rest after all that running.
After passing through the bushes that sepeartedbthem, Jake laid his eyes onto a large campsite:
One mega tent laid in the centre, the fire pit set in front of it, where all the food was being cooked.
Five smaller tents formed a small circular cluster, with enough space remaining for maximum freedom and security.
A small spatial crate hill, filled with daily necessities and space for loot they catch.
Just as Jake was marvelling at the camp, out of one the tents came four beings: three Panthusians and a hunchbacked goblin, who appeared to be the leader if the small band, made especially clear by his very expensive laster pistol and armour.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here? A small itty bitty boy? Well run along now, go back to your parents. This ain't no space for kidd. Ahahahah!" Laughing uproaringly, the goblin laughed at his own joke, before turning his head to Swilde, admonishing him "Why bring this waste of space? Don't you know that this ruin was just recently opened, and that we have just started exploring it? What would we do if something happens to the young master? Leave him-"
A clear voice cut him off "Enough, he shall join us until we leave. This is my decision. Now move!" A very familiar voice called out from the central tent. Jake, trying to find out who it was, got his answer, when out of the central tent, a very familiar goblin came out:
Hoisting a shotgun in hand, Grud emerged from tent, sandwich in mouth. Both looked at each other, shock and surprise visible in their eyes.