Dododex

ARK: Survival Evolved & Ascended Companion

KOTW

Chapter 12

“Wait!” said the blue deinonychus.

The carcha looked at her, as did Malston and the other deinonychus.

“What is it?” Malston growled. “We need to hurry this up. You’ll be paid soon enough.”

The blue Deino stepped forward. “It doesn’t seem right to kill her. She’s only, what, a year old?”

Cleo was actually two and a half; she didn’t have the heart to correct her savior, though.

“I mean, what evil crime did she commit?” the deinonychus asked. She walked over to Cleo and extended a feathered arm. “I’m River. Because the white stripe looks like a flowing River.”

The other deinonychus said to River, “What are you doing? She's a criminal and you’ll be an accomplice. We’ll just collect our pay and head out.”

River turned towards them. “I won’t kill a little girl, Smolder.”

Malston turned and sighed. “I didn’t want to have to do this. Kill them both.”

The carcha grinned.

River looked at Smolder. “You’re gonna let him kill your mate?”

“Sorry,” he replied, not sounding sorry at all.

The carcha bent down, his jaws open. Cleo cringed but River stood tall. The carcha’s breath reeked of spoiled meat.

And then, he flipped Malston onto the ground and with four of his giant teeth, broke Malston’s left wing.

For the first time, Cleo heard the carcha talk. “You do not tell me to hurt my master.”

Malston howled in pain.

River laughed. “I was the one who fed him the food, which put us in a master-servant position.” River looked at Smolder. “In other words, I own the carcha.”

Smolder eyes went frantic. He turned and ran off, screeching for help.

River turned to Cleo. “Whaddya say we get our tails out of here? Smolder may run to that Fjordhawk and snitch on us.”

Cleo stood shakily. “You’re gonna leave your mate? And come with me? A fugitive?”

River shrugged. “Smolder was willing to let me die. He doesn’t deserve me.”

Cleo smiled. “Thank you, River. My name’s Cleo by the way.”

River nodded and turned to the carcha. “You’re free to go now, carcha. I trust you know your way back to Balheimr?”

The carcha nodded. He spoke in his deep gravelly voice. “Thank you, milady.” He plodded away, humming a tune.

River looked at Cleo. “Can you pick me up?”

Cleo nodded. Her strength was draining from lack of food. She figured she could manage for maybe two hours.

“Well, where are we going?” River asked. “We have to be snappy, y’know?”

“We’re going to Wyvern Central.”

Cleo hefted River with her claws, and started to fly off. Malston crawled after them.

“Wyvern Central, huh? You’ll never get away, Cleo. You and Ares will die.”