James lounged lazily, his arms crossed behind his head with one foot propped up on the knee of the opposite leg, as rode on the back of a massive spider that followed Mary through the nearby field. The spider James was riding had obviously grown quite a bit since the boy had created a magical bond with it. The pink fur on its back was brighter now, and it looked fluffy and clean. The talent James had developed for taming beasts created a symbiotic relationship between the two. The creature would follow his commands and protect him, while James' magical ability empowered it over time.
The field they were currently walking through was discovered to still contain a variety of vegetables, including spinach, carrots, beets, and lettuce.
Mary reached down, gently cupping a wilted leaf in her hand, "Its working, I think I can get them healthy again in a few weeks."
She had found that her Blessing of the Healer aura was also quite useful for healing sick plants, and the crops in this field were suffering from some kind of fungal infection. She had set aside some time each day to walk through the rows of crops, letting the magic slowly increase their health. James accompanied his mother out of a sense of duty—she was one of the weakest fighters in the community, and the young boy would not allow any ill fate to befall her.
"I don't mind that you are spending so much time with those creatures. I understand that your talent makes it impossible for them to harm you, but I don't like the idea that you've become someone the community looks to for defense."
The young boy rolled his eyes and tilted his head away, looking toward the forest perimeter as his mother began to lecture him on her favorite topic.
"I know you think I'm wrong, but I know you, James. How are you going to react when one of your pets starts losing a fight? Will you be able to stand back and let it happen, or will you throw yourself into danger? You've been influenced way too much by Jack and Lucius. Life is not a video game, and I won't allow you to treat it as such."
"You have to stop, Mom. You can't keep me safe—not anymore. Besides, I'm not dumb. I won't run right in front of an angry monster."
James ran his hands through the soft fur of his favorite spider. He had named her Ellie. She was one of the only females of the bunch they had stolen from the goblins, and her potential for growth was immense. Plus, he just liked her the most. For whatever reason, James could feel Ellie's emotions much stronger than he could with the other spiders, so he couldn't help but grow increasingly attached to her. Although at the moment Ellie was agreeing with his mother, which frustrated James to no end.
"I know you aren't dumb, James, but what you are is loving, and that can be far more dangerous."
"Be quiet."
Mary turned back with narrowed eyes. "What did you say?"
"No, Mom, I heard something!" He sat up from his relaxed position, cupping his hand behind his ear as he turned his head toward the noise.
The boy and his mother stood quietly for a moment as a faraway ringing drifted over from the direction of the farmhouse, ding ding DING.
"It's the warning bell! Mom, get on!"
James reached out his hand to his mother, helping Mary climb onto the large creature's back before sending a mental command urging Ellie to quickly return home. The spider lowered its head to the ground, slightly lifting its abdomen in a running position, before taking off like a racehorse. Leaves and bits of dirt were flung into the air by Ellie's powerful steps as she followed her master's command. It only took a few minutes for the farm to come into view, and they were able to see a group of people armed with spears and shields running toward the far side of the building. James sent Ellie following after them, and when she rounded the corner, he saw Jack leading the group of people toward the two distant guards who were currently holding off a large pig-like creature.
The creature was the size of a Clydesdale, with thick gray hair follicles that resembled porcupine spines running down its back. Its eyes were humorously small, set in on both sides of its snout like was common in herbivore. The creature was currently spinning it's body to keep it's spiked rear facing the guards, preventing them from getting any closer to it, as it angrily growled and hissed at the offending humans.
As he watched the group of people surround the creature, James suddenly felt a familiar feeling rising up inside his body. His talent, Beast Tamer, was giving off a reaction. This was a creature that he might be able to tame! James eyes shot open and a smile found its way to his lips, he clenched the reigns eagerly as he look at the creature, before shifting his gaze to the people moving towards it.
"Oh no!"
James watched from a distance as Jack led the group of well-armed villagers rushing toward the beast. If Jack made it there before him, the creature was as good as dead.
"Sorry, Mom, I need you to wait here!"
Ellie quickly tilted her body to the side at James's command, causing Mary to slip off the spider's back and gently plop into a grassy area. Mary jumped up from the ground with as much haste as she could muster. Her face had already begun to turn pale as she felt her heart drop into her stomach.
"What are you planning! James!" she shouted, her rising anxiety clear in her tone as she scrambled to catch Ellie before James got too far away.
Ignoring his mother's desperation, James stood up on Ellie's back as his eight legged companion sped away, he crouched low on her back for stability while leaning forward and holding the reins with one hand. There was no time to explain things to his mother. Jack and the others had nearly reached the creature, and with the power of Jack's hammer, it would only take a single well-placed hit to end it's life.
"Wait!", He called out to the people in front of him but the mixture of danger and adrenaline caused them to be totally focused on the task at hand, his shouts could not get through to them.
"Please, Ellie, go faster!" he begged, and she did her best to please him, running at full speed over the hill in front of her with wild abandon. Her massive body shot through the air for three meters before her long legs felt the ground beneath them again. As they closed in on the group, James watched as the people began to execute their tactics for dealing with situations like this. Three of the strongest men walked forward with their shields up, making as much noise as they could. They banged their spears against their shields and threateningly feinted attacks at the beast. All the while, Jack moved around the opposite side of the creature to deliver the killing blow.
Jack scoped out his opponent for a moment, carefully deciding where to attack for maximum damage, before nodding to himself and raising his heavy hammer up over his shoulder. His tense muscles flexed as his arms swung forward, but his eyes shot open wide as he felt his empty hands moving through the air. He spun around to look back, only to see Ellie grasping the head of his hammer between her massive teeth, as she waved a leg at him playfully.
"Sorry Jack! Let me handle this one please!" James shouted quickly as he rushed past a stunned Jack.
"Everyone, get away! Stop scaring her!"
The men drawing the beast's attention heard the command and looked to Jack with furrowed brows. Only after receiving a nod of approval from the powerful young man did they follow James' orders. As the men backed away, the beast's aggression shifted fully to James. It snorted and ripped at the grass beneath its hooved legs, but James ignored the display, walking toward the creature with his hand outstretched and focusing all his attention on the magical connection budding in his chest.
With one final snarl, the creature lunged at James, knocking him to the ground as it raising a hoof up above his face, preparing to stomp the life out of the small boy. As the beast brought it's leg down with great force, James moved his head to the side narrowly avoiding his death, as he lifted his hand and pressed it against the monster's underside. The creature's angry eyes suddenly regained their calm as it's movements slowed down, before stopping completely.
Silence filled the surroundings. The only sound was Mary's distant scream, she could only see James' figure disappear under the massive frame of the beast. Jack had nearly intervened, but James had held one hand up, urging him to wait even as he lay on the ground dodging hooves. Now it seemed the boy knew what he was doing; the creature's sudden stillness was proof of that. After a few tense seconds, the large beast stepped away from James and lay down beside him. As it lowered its self to the ground, it exposed its soft belly, revealing the dozens of tiny, pink, hairless bodies laying half-exposed in the fleshy pouches on its underside, the infant creatures began suckling milk from her udders as soon as their mother lay down.
"I'm not stupid enough to jump in front of an angry monster... Isn't that what you said to me!?!"
James looked up, past his mothers crossed arms, at her reddened face, he had enough experience with her to know that she had moved far passed the stage of being upset, and was now truly enraged. James put one hand over his face as he sighed, he would not be able to talk his way out of this.