Dododex

ARK: Survival Evolved & Ascended Companion

Monarchy's Plight

Chapter 9

Goon halted as the bright white snow cut suddenly into burning golden sand. It amazed him how it could go from freezing cold to sweltering heat here so easily, but then, nothing really made sense here, did it? His shadow went on, changing shape from a yutyrannus to a large, snake-like creature with horns as it hit the sand.

The shadow snake slithered across the dunes towards the cactus tree in the distance. It stopped and turned, beckoning with its tail for Goon to follow. He hesitated, already beginning to sweat. What was he supposed to do? Run blindly into the scorching sun with pounds of thick feathers on his back? He sighed. Alisa had hunted for him; she'd kept him alive. The least he could do was repay the favor.

He took one last deep breath of the frosty air and charged into the desert, making a beeline for the cactus tree. The bird had flown off, but as he drew closer, Goon could see a nest on top of the cactus. The shadow snake slithered up the tree and into the nest. A second later, Alisa's head poked over the nest. "Goon! Up here!" she called down.

"Can't you glide down from there?" He shouted up.

No sooner had he spoken, than the two featherless heads of baby birds pulled her back into the nest, out of Goon's view. Even just hatchlings, they were large enough to be dangerous perit could be dangerous. He could hear screeching and roaring, and the nest rattled as Alisa fought with the hatchlings. Goon looked around for something he could use, but there was nothing but sand around him. He was drenched, and the heat had begun to haze his vision.

His shadow slid down from the cactus and curled up on the sand perion the sand. Goon looked down, watching carefully. The shadow was making a striking motion towards the cactus tree. It took a few moments before it clicked with Goon.

He backed away from the tree, took a deep breath, and rammed the cactus tree. The nest shook above, tilting a slight bit. Goon staggered back and winced as needles stabbed into skin, but he ignored them and rammed the tree again, and again, moving the nest a little more each time.

~CL1