Dododex
ARK: Survival Evolved & Ascended Companion
Tribe of Shadows: Alternate Timeline
Chapter IV: Bounty Hunting 101
Quint leaned against an empty note board and rose his eyebrow at Dilath. ‘Took you long enough, kid.’ The man said, a faint smile on his face. Dilath grinned. ‘Nice to see you, brother.’ The hunter replied. ‘So, how’d you get away from the Imps? I didn’t see you in the Yurkhall.’ Quint asked. Dilath retold his tale of the last few days, and Quint nodded. ‘And speaking of getting away from those idiots, how’d you escape?’ Dilath himself asked. ‘Well, I swiped a sword from one of their guards, killed him, and jumped out the window. Swam for a few minutes until they lost track of me, and ended up near the Redwoods. I got here yesterday. Thought you were dead, Dilath.’ Quint replied. ‘Then, I did that bounty, and got this Rex-scale armor.’ Quint continued, pulling away a part of his cloak to reveal a gray Rex-scale cuirass. ‘Anyways, I assume you came here for the bounties, and to destroy the Imperials, as well?’ Quint concluded. Dilath nodded. ‘Well, you’re gonna need better arms and armor. You’re more of a ranged fighter, so a longbow and obsidian arrows would work. And a short-sword or something.’ Quint muttered, scrawling the words down on a piece of parchment. ‘And maybe some hardened leather armor? Definitely gotta get steel for your thylacoleo, though.’ The bounty hunter said, writing down the last of his list. ‘Quint?’ Dilath said. ‘What happened to Joe and the others?’ Quint turned to him. ‘Joe was the first guard to fall. A couple of our guards escaped, though. Killed a good few of Imps, too. Most of ‘em are here with us, continuing their jobs as guards. Some hired themselves out as mercenaries.’ Quint replied, his smile fading at the mention of Joseph. ‘I killed the raider commander.’ Dilath replied, drawing his dagger. Quint’s grin returned, a savage satisfaction in his eyes. ‘Good.’ The former Head of Guard replied, drawing his own sword. ‘The Imperials shall fall!’ The crowd around them cried, most of them drawing swords and axes, though one person raised their fork in the air.
‘I have enough gold to buy the armor and weapons, but you’re on your own with the thyla’s armor. Sorry, kid.’ Quint said, sheathing his blade. ‘Meh. The guards said I’d probably get enough money to rent a room in the inn. Could probably get armor for Jumper, too.’ Dilath said, indicating the silent thylacoleo next to him. Jumper chose that moment to yawn loudly and climb up the walls of a warehouse nearby. ‘It’s gonna take a long time to get him down.’ Dilath said, speaking from experience. ‘I’d guess that. Now, shall we go get your arms and armor?’ Quint replied, waving his arm at the weapon store literally just across from them. ‘Thank you, Captain Obvious.’ Dilath said with a snort. The bounty hunter indicated the sword at his side. ‘You want this sword up your nasal cavity? Then shut it.’ Quint said, dark gray eyes showing his words were a joke. ‘Tell the Federation Commander that you killed the captain of those Imperials. I’ll get the armor for you and your thylacoleo.’ (Sooner or later, I’ll make another Alternate Timeline where Dilath joins the Imperials). After around thirty minutes, Dilath returned with a large-ish bag of eight hundred Gold Tycroni, the currency of Valenfell, hidden under his cloak. (Roughly equivalent to around 6000 dollars). Dilath kept his dagger, but had managed to buy a two quivers of twenty-four obsidian arrows, a recurve bow, and a durable steel sword. Quint walked by shortly after, carrying a backpack with Dilath’s armor, a set made of durable, yet flexible and lightweight, spinosaurus scales. ‘Thanks, Quint.’ Dilath said while strapping one of the two quivers he had bought on his back. The dagger was still sheathed on Dilath’s chest, and the sword hung at his side, as with Quint. The former Reagath guard snickered. ‘I knew you were more of a long-range guy!’ Dilath rolled his eyes. ‘I do both, you old man.’ the hunter said, jokingly punching Quint on the shoulder. ‘Oh, I’M old? You’re the one with the gray-lookin’ hair!’ Quint retaliated. ‘Alright. I’mma get a room at the inn, you go back to whatever hole you crawled out of.’ Dilath said with a slightly mocking look of superiority that Quint would’ve given him before the raid. The bounty hunter snorted and walked away with what little dignity he had left, while Dilath stepped inside the inn, tossed a few coins on the counter, and walked into one of the empty rooms.
Jumper sat outside in a stable designed for thylacoleos; three large trees connected by branches, still keeping watch.
-Ranger