Dododex

ARK: Survival Evolved & Ascended Companion

Under Nirvana - An ARK

Chapter 5: Without You

Story by Bria!

Find the last chapter in TROPEOGNATHUS and the next chapter in SUMMONER!

Nova, Ruby, Borealis, Neddy, and the dodo bird. The five of them were sitting on the cliff’s edge and looking out at the lands below them. Below the cliff’s edge was a treacherous-looking swamp. The water was murky and filled with algae, and the trees covered everything beneath it, stopping Nova from seeing any further. Nova could smell the swamp’s stench from where she was sitting. They had traveled as far and quickly away from the boulder where the raptor tried to attack Borealis and Neddy, but now they were at rest.

The trees were giant, as large as buildings. Along the way nothing tried to attack them, luckily, except for those weird venom spitter creatures: the Dilophosaurus. But fortunately, with Nova and Ruby’s bows and arrows they were nothing more than inconvenient pests.

“This hasn’t been so bad so far,” Nova reflected, her sparkly black hair gently blowing from the breeze. She ran her fingers along the fine strands. No doubt they would get dirtied soon. She cursed under her breath at the thought. If only things couldn’t get worse than her hair losing its spark.

“Language,” Borealis corrected her again. Nova didn’t bother arguing at this point. It wouldn’t get anywhere with someone as thick-headed as him.

“Can’t he see that something like language doesn’t matter in a land like this?”

“We’re at least not going to go in there, right?” Nova questioned, pointing at the swamp, “The place looks like a death trap.”

“Good question. We’re going to travel through there soon,” Borealis declared. “It’s imperative we find a way out. If not the beach that was our ticket out, then something inland surely will be.”

“Oh come on, Borealis!” Neddy moaned. “You can’t be serious. I bet there’s tons of creepy-crawlies in there.”

“If you’re strong enough, you won’t perish,” Borealis decided. Nova wondered if she should bring up how close Borealis was to getting eaten alive by a raptor, but she decided not to push it. Borealis stood up from the ground.

“Come on. Let’s go now. No time to waste, especially as the day is coming.”

Nobody budged from their spots at the cliff’s edge. Borealis clenched his fists.

“Come on—”

“Oh face it. If we’re going to risk our lives, at least give us an hour or two to rest. And maybe say our last words while you’re at it. You’re free to join us too,” Nova snarkily replied. Borealis seemed shocked at Nova’s blunt response. He seemed ready to spill out another lecture on language and manners, but Ruby suddenly intervened.

“Just sit your ass down, Borealis,” Ruby sneered. Borealis glanced at Ruby defiantly, a scoff exiting his mouth. He sat back down on the grass, looking out at the horizon without looking at anybody else.

“So be it. We shall rest, and we will not travel inland through the swamp. But we will reach the center, no matter what you say. Unless you wish to part and end this alliance.”

“I won’t argue on that,” Nova said.

“Good. Ruby,” Borealis motioned toward Ruby. Ruby looked back at him with a squint.

“What.”

“What materials do you require for a fire?”

“Just some firewood. Why do you ask?”

Borealis snapped at Neddy. “Teddy. You go into the forest and get the firewood.”

Neddy screeched, shivering in fear, “But— ah… and— my name’s Neddy, not Teddy.”

“Go. Stop wasting time.”

Neddy quickly hurried up from the grass and rushed into the forest, pulling his underwear up his stomach. Ruby looked at him with pity.

“You send the guy without weapons into the forest where you two almost died?”

“Yes. You have a problem with that, Ruby?” Borealis said. He seemed neither smug nor arrogant when he spoke. It was as if he believed every word he said with all his heart. “If he survives, perfect. He deserves to be my ally.”

“I shouldn’t expect much from you,” Ruby spat. She walked off into the forest. “I’m going to make sure he doesn’t get an atomic wedgie by anything or anyone out there.”

She quickly looked back at Nova. Nova nodded at her in approval. She’d watch over Borealis and the dodo while they were gone.

With the two gone, it was just Nova, Borealis, and the dodo bird left. Nova looked at Borealis, who had a cold unsympathetic look on his face. His black graduation robe blended in with the night perfectly, the stark opposite of Nova’s white graduation robe. Studying Borealis’ face more simply made Nova more disgusted than she thought she could ever feel at somebody in her life. He really had a face only his fallen lover could cherish.

“Have you innate thoughts you wish to share?” Borealis asked.

“No. And even if I did, I wouldn’t tell you,” Nova replied, looking away. Borealis was a bore to her. She had gotten her fair share of interesting people throughout her time in high school. There were some immoral folks, to say the least, but at least they all had something in common— their failures. But Borealis? To Nova, Borealis was irredeemable.

“I can’t understand how someone like him gets to be successful,” Nova thought, “When actual good people like Ruby fall from their legacies.”

“Why are you so arrogant?” Nova asked, “Is it because you were the valedictorian? Or is it because you genuinely think you’re better than everybody else?”

Borealis gave no reaction to Nova’s comment.

“Because I really am better than everyone else, that’s why,” Borealis stated, “I sacrificed everything for my glory. I deserve to have pride. Especially when people like you challenge my authority.”

Nova was completely surprised by Borealis’ audacity. She didn’t even know how to properly respond. She could only spit,

“Your karma will come for you one day. I know it.”

The dodo watched from a distance anxiously, back and forth between Nova and Borealis. For a moment, its eyes landed on Borealis’ right wrist. Borealis looked at the dodo and then back at Nova with a scowl.

“Why do you keep that creature around?” Borealis questioned, “It doesn’t appear to serve a purpose.”

“I’d rather have that dodo as my ally than you.”

“If that is the case, then I don’t see why you don’t just go on and leave? Nobody is stopping you, pitiful girl.”

Nova chuckled, “I’m only putting up with you because I have to. Not because I want to.”

“I am happy for you, especially since I reciprocate a similar feeling.”

Borealis stared off into the lands below the cliff, as if he was trying to figure out an alternate path. Nova stared at him, and suddenly her vision flickered, showing him leaned back laughing, but it quickly went away. Nova turned away.

“I really wonder what his attribute is that makes him this cocky.”

Borealis soon faded from Nova’s mind. Instead, it wandered off to someone a bit more comforting to her. Her best friend, Samuel. By now, the sun had fully risen, and it seemed brighter than usual. Despite this, the heat was still gentle, like a blanket covering one during a chilly night. She could bask in it for hours. Maybe she could get a deeper tan if she bathed long enough.

“I wonder what Samuel would do if he met Borealis,” Nova chuckled, closing her eyes in deep thought. “We’d probably make fun of him and laugh about it the rest of the time here…”

Her chuckle slowly faded into a frown. She turned over to see the dodo slowly walk up, plopping down on the grass and giving Nova a comforting peck on the cheek.

“Guess you and Ruby will have to keep me company until then,” Nova thought, “I will just have to survive (without you) for now, Samuel. But wherever you are, no matter how much of a loser you are… I know you’re smart enough to handle yourself.”

Nova’s eyes were getting heavy. Would Borealis yell at her for falling asleep? She frankly couldn’t care anymore. She just needed rest after such a long night. Her head rolled over to study Borealis. His right wrist was visible…

“Why so arrogant when…” Nova grinned in thought, her eyes fluttering close,

“You don’t even have an implant like the others?”