Dododex
ARK: Survival Evolved & Ascended Companion
The Arks: Over Heaven (by Ben)
Chapter 58: Moonflight
Original Post Date: Apr 23, 2024
Note: Story starts in Wyvern, Aerial ABC backwards filter and has a Prologue. Last chapter in Otter, next chapter in Piranha.
~
Gary mounted his newly tamed Sabertooth, Lynx, hauling a dead Stegosaurus corpse with a piece of rope. He let out a sigh as he cracked his knuckles and hooked his pistol on his belt. Just another average night for the master gamer. And the full moon was out tonight too, which was always a plus.
It had been a few days since Samuel and his crew left for their scouting mission, along with Chris. They hadn’t returned, nor was there any sign of them being safe. Then again it wasn’t like they had walkie-talkies or anything, but still, it made him a little worried. Mostly about Chris.
“That guy might get himself hurt out there,” Gary thought to himself as Lynx began to find their way back home, “Especially if he’s alone. I really hope he’s safe…”
As for the other group, Gary was not too concerned about them. Samuel seemed very crazy, Aurora was just a little emo girl, and Ruby and Neddy were pretty normal people with nothing crazy going on for them. Out of those four, Gary was most concerned about Neddy and Ruby. They seemed like good people. And Neddy was a big fan of Gary too (he even asked for his signature!).
As for their plan to find Tiffany? Bonkers. Tiffany left for her own reasons and if she wanted to leave that was that. No one could stop her or bring her back. Besides they were doing just fine on their own without her or her book, what more could it do bringing her back?
Gary entered through the front gates of the Book Club’s camp, but things seemed a lot quieter today. There wasn’t much activity going on, and it was so silent you could hear a pin drop. Gary could have sworn a tumbleweed passed by.
“It’s like a ghost town in here,” Gary muttered to himself. He gave Lynx a quick pet, then afterwards the two pushed the corpse toward the campfire area to prepare it.
As they reached the area, he saw Skyler sitting on one of the logs. She had her head buried in her hands, and she was heaving up and down, her white silvery hair rising up as she sobbed. A hiccup echoed, and she continued to weep.
Gary wasn’t too sure what to say. He reached his hand out to comfort her when someone grabbed his wrist. Gary turned to the left to see Sunny standing there with an unapologetic look on her face.
“Leave her alone,” Sunny whispered, “She just needs time by herself.”
Gary dropped his hand, and Sunny let go. She nodded her head toward the other side of the camp, “Everyone’s eating over at the other side of camp. We’re having potato soup.”
“Wow, so yummy,” Gary said while rolling his eyes. Sunny biffed Gary on the arm.
“I made it, you know,” Sunny sneered, “Don’t give me that attitude.”
“Sorry, SORRY,” Gary apologized. He gave her a grin back in apology, “Let’s go eat your delicious dinner now.”
The two made their way to the other side of the camp, where everyone was conversing and talking like good times. Everyone held crudely made wooden bowls filled to the brim with a hearty soup, and a baby Phiomia was roaming around trying to get scraps. As it made its way to Paige, Paige looked at it with disgust and began to nudge it away with her boot. Sunny gave an annoyed look at Paige and began to walk toward her.
“Paige! Quit that!”
Gary sighed and chuckled to himself. He looked around and saw a pot that was filled with boiling soup. He grabbed himself a bowl and poured himself some for himself. As he settled on the grass with everyone else, he spotted Ben leaning against the wall of a hut nearby. Ben always leaned against something, for some reason.
“I haven’t seen him in a while,” Gary thought as he took a sip of his soup. As it entered his mouth he could taste potatoes. At least Sunny actually made it taste like the original ingredients this time around.
Ever since that day those two went out to tame the Kaprosuchus, he had been acting very moody. He had refused to come on the expedition to the obelisk, and after that he refused to go out or do anything else. Some days Gary wouldn’t even spot Ben outside of his hut. It was a bit odd, actually. He was always talking to someone.
One time, Gary was getting dinner for Ben, but when he entered his hut, Ben instantly shooed him away.
“What are you doing in my hut? GET OUT OF HERE,” Ben had roared. He was sitting on the ground and clutching a flower to his chest.
“I was just delivering dinner man-”
“Don’t care. Out. Now.”
But now he seemed a lot better. He no longer had those bags under his eyes, and he had a bright smile on his face. He seemed to be already finished with his soup, and was staring off into the forest beyond the spiked walls, planning something.
Then, he got off the wall and began to walk away. Gary spotted him going toward Skyler out of the corner of his eye. Gary put his bowl of soup down and followed him.
Gary quickly snuck around, and eventually made his way to Skyler’s hut, hiding behind the wall. He saw Ben walk up to Skyler, and he put his hand on her shoulder. He knelt down and began to speak to her.
“Chris has been gone for a really long time,” Ben said, “It doesn’t make sense. He has the Pteranodon, he should’ve finished his scouting mission earlier than the others.”
Skyler was wordless.
“What does it matter, Ben? I embarrassed myself out there and now they won’t even care to look at me.”
“Your mistake doesn’t matter to me. Our safety is most important.”
“But I put the others at danger with the stunt I pulled back then.”
“That doesn’t matter to me,” Ben replied, “I care about everyone here. That includes you. You need good rest, Chris needs help. So I will go out and find him on my own.”
“But we can’t afford to lose any more people-”
“I’ll be FINE. That’s why only I am going out there. No one else will get hurt and this place will not be left unattended. I’ll use my plant powers to create a path through the swamp west and search for him there. You have my word we will meet again safely.”
Skyler looked at Ben, her eyes bloodshot and red.
“Promise?”
Ben’s eyes wandered away. He sighed, before nodding.
“I promise.”
A glow seemed to come from Ben’s breast pocket, but it quickly faded away. Ben got up from the ground and began to walk away. Ben looked toward Gary, and he jumped in shock.
“What are you doing back there?” Ben asked.
“Oh, me? Nothing much, just getting some fresh air, cause, uh, that soup wasn’t very good,” Gary said, trying to fake barf. Ben squinted his eyes, then stared right into Gary’s.
“Sure… you were watching me, weren’t you?”
Gary groaned, and nodded honestly.
“Yes. I was. But I was just curious about what you were gonna do, capiche? Sheesh, I still don’t know how you do that, it’s FREAKY.”
“Capiche,” Ben muttered back. He rolled his eyes and turned away,
“Just don’t tell anyone I’m leaving, kay? And if you do, just say I’m going on a business trip.”
“Okay, okay, goodbye. And good luck, alright?”
Ben paused at those words, and his eyes twitched for a moment, before he began walking off for good.
~
“Ben’s right,” Skyler murmured, “I should get some sleep.”
Skyler got up from the log, rubbed her eyes, and made her way inside her hut. Home sweet home. She walked over to her bed and crawled onto the thatch mattress. She pulled the thin blanket over her body, her eyes closed shut and her mind wandering.
For a moment, she could see her dog’s face in her vision, the laughter of her family, and the sing-song of a poem, before eventually she entered a dream.
Everything was wrapped in darkness. Skyler couldn’t find her way around, her body trapped in a milky void that made her limbs feel like jelly, and her head feel like a heavy weight. The void around her began to spin around her, and the stars began to sparkle one by one, forming the constellation of a dragon’s head.
“Uh,” Skyler groaned as the stars sparkled in her eyes. The woosh of wind passed by her face, and a gigantic dragon with three heads came into view, flying in with all of its might. The stars faded away, and a divine glow radiated from the dragon as it stopped its flight. Its three long necks intermingled with one another, each one telling whispers to each other in a language Skyler couldn’t understand.
“- .... . / .--. ..- .-.. .-.. / .. ... / --. . - - .. -. --. / ... - .-. --- -. --. . .-. / -- -.-- / ... .. ... - . .-. ... .-.-.-” the middle head clicked. She wore an emerald crown on her head that resembled the Obelisk. The left head glared at her and bared her teeth.
“... .. ... - . .-. / -.-- --- ..- .-. / ..-. . .- .-. / .. ... / .-. ..- .-.. .. -. --. / -.-- --- ..- .-.-.- / - .... . / -.-. --- -. ... - . .-.. .-.. .- - .. --- -. ... / -.- -. --- .-- / - .... . ... . / .-.. . ... ... . .-. / -... . .. -. --. ... / ... .... .- .-.. .-.. -. .----. - / . ...- . .-. / .-. . .- -.-. .... / - .... . / ... - .- .-. ... .-.-.-”
“.. .-. .- . / .--. . .-. .... .- .--. ... / .-.. ..- -. .- / .. ... / -.-. --- .-. .-. . -.-. - .-.-.- / - .... . / .-- --- -- .- -. / .-- .. - .... / - .... . / .- .-.. .-.. -....- ... . . .. -. --. / . -.-- . ... / .. ... / -... . --. .. -. -. .. -. --. / - --- / ... . . / - .... . / ...- . .. .-.. / --- ..-. / .-. . .- .-.. .. - -.-- / .- -. -.. / .-- .... --- / .-- . / - .-. ..- .-.. -.-- / .- .-. . .-.-.-” the right head whispered.
“- .... . -. / -.-- --- ..- / -.- -. --- .-- / .-- .... .- - / -- ..- ... - / -... . / -.. --- -. . / .- -- .- .-. . .-.-.- / - .... . / .-- --- -- .- -. / .-- .. - .... / - .... . / .- .-.. .-.. -....- ... . . .. -. --. / . -.-- . ... / -- .- -.-- / ..-. .. -. -.. / - .... . / - .-. ..- - .... / .- -. -.. / -.. . ...- .- ... - .- - . / - .... . / -.-. --- -. ... - . .-.. .-.. .- - .. --- -. ... , / . ... .--. . -.-. .. .- .-.. .-.. -.-- / .-- .. - .... / .... . .-. / -.-. --- -. -. . -.-. - .. --- -. ... / - --- / - .... . / -- .- -. / .-- .... --- / .... .- ... / - .-. .- ...- . .-.. . -.. / -... --- - .... / .-- --- .-. .-.. -.. ... .-.-.-” the left head barked.
“-... ..- - / .. - / .. ... / -. --- - / .-. .. --. .... - / - --- / .. -. - . .-. ..-. . .-. . / .-- .. - .... / - .... . / .-.. .. ...- . ... / --- ..-. / - .... . / .-.. . ... ... . .-. / -... . .. -. --. ... .-.-.-” the right head muttered.
“.- -- .- .-. . / -.-- --- ..- .-. / .-.. --- ...- . / ..-. --- .-. / - .... . / .-.. . ... ... . .-. / -... . .. -. --. ... / .. ... / .- -.. -- .. .-. .- -... .-.. . , / -... ..- - / .-- . / .- .-. . / .- .-.. .-. . .- -.. -.-- / .. -. - . .-. ..-. . .-. .. -. --. / -... -.-- / .... . .-.. .--. .. -. --. / - .... . / .--. --- . - .-.-.- / ... .... . / -- .- -.-- / -... . / --- ..- .-. / -... .. --. --. . ... - / ..-. .- -. / -... ..- - / - .... .- - / .. ... / .- / -.-. .-. .. -- . / .. -. / --- ..-. / .. - ... . .-.. ..-. .-.-.- / - .... . / .-- --- -- .- -. / .-- .. - .... / .- .-.. .-.. -....- ... . . .. -. --. / . -.-- . ... / -- ..- ... - / -... . / -.- .. .-.. .-.. . -.. .-.-.- / - .... . .-. . / .. ... / -. --- / .-- --- .-. -.- .. -. --. / .- .-. --- ..- -. -.. / - .... .. ... , / .. .----. -- / .- ..-. .-. .- .. -.. .-.-.-” the middle head said. The right head looked down into the void with pouty eyes and a sorrowful frown. The middle head nudged the other two heads, her eyes staring right at Skyler. Skyler’s eyes widened.
“- .... .- - / .. ... / . -. --- ..- --. .... .-.-.- / .-- . / -- ..- ... - / . -. - . .-. - .- .. -. / --- ..- .-. / --. ..- . ... - / -. --- .-- .-.-.- / - .... . / .--. --- . - / .... .- ... / .- .-. .-. .. ...- . -.. .-.-.-” the middle head announced. All three heads’ eyes began to glow green, and the middle head’s crown began to shine.
“Skyler,” all heads said in unison.
“Moonflight,” Skyler whispered back with rage. She clenched her fist. Her lip began to waver, and her eyes began to fill with tears.
“You said your story was the key,” Skyler rumbled, “But now I’m shunned by my peers. You disgraced me, your biggest fan. Why? That Obelisk was the key, right? So HOW COME THERE WAS NOTHING THERE?”
All heads closed their eyes, opening them again to reveal a bright green.
“You must not be so irrational, Skyler,” the heads warned her, “We have come to warn you for a reason. You are the brightest we’ve seen. And of course, you are loyal to us. The obelisk is the key. But perhaps we should have worded it better. It is less of a key, and more of a door.”
Skyler’s vision flickered, and she was back at the green Obelisk’s metal podium.
“Do you remember what you found at the obelisk?”
Skyler’s head involuntarily looked down, and three engravings were marked on the ground, each one its own shape and size, as if something needed to belong there.
“I need to find keys to activate the obelisk,” Skyler murmured with realization.
“Precisely. Find the keys, and you shall activate the obelisk. Find the keys, and you shall regain the trust of your companions. Find the keys, and you will find your way home.”
Skyler seemed speechless.
“You said the obelisk would be the key to survival,” Skyler said.
“It is,” Moonflight replied, all the heads said, “But bringing everyone home is the true might of the obelisks. Confide trust in yourself, that is the only way you can find the keys.”
Another vision flickered in Skyler’s head. It was a foggy picture of a small ravine in a jungle. Vines and all sorts of tropical plants grew everywhere, and a small cave was jutting out of the corner. A green glow came from it.
“The first key shall be found south. Bring the allies who trust you most and only then will you succeed. Only then, will you find your way home. Only then…”
The vision flickered from Skyler, and the middle head smiled gently at Skyler.
“You will always be my biggest fan,” the middle head said to her. The three heads turned away from her, and continued to speak to each other in that unknown language.
“-- .- -.- . / .... .- ... - . , / ... .. ... - . .-. ... .-.-.- / .. / -.-. .- -. / ..-. . . .-.. / - .... . / .-- --- -- .- -. .----. ... / . -.-- . ... / .--. .. . .-. -.-. .. -. --. / -- . / .- .-.. .-. . .- -.. -.-- .-.-.- / -- .- -.- . / .... .- ... - . , / -. --- .-- , / -... . ..-. --- .-. . / .. - / .. ... / - --- --- / .-.. .- - . .-.-.-” the middle head declared.
The three-headed dragon began to fly away somewhere, and Skyler looked on to see the planet Earth in all its glory, spinning around slowly, the light reflected by the Sun.
As the stars faded away from the void, so did Skyler’s vision. She felt herself shrouded in darkness once more, the only thing she could hear being her own heartbeat, and her own steady breathing.