Belk

"What is this place…" Vagnis muttered under his breath. He pushed through the thick undergrowth, the sharp edges of leaves brushing against his arms. The forest here felt wrong, like it wasn't just alive but watching him.

The ground was a mess of junk—broken metal, charred planks, and glass that crunched softly under his boots. Some of the pieces looked oddly complex, like they were part of something important once. Now discarded, forgotten and rotting in the damp air. 

The smell of rust and mildew hung, making him wrinkle his nose at the pungent smell.

"Does Belk really spend time in a place like this?" he asked no one in particular, the unease creeping into his voice.

 He couldn't shake the feeling that the trees were too close together, their shadows pressing in, though it was no problem for him to navigate through.

"What're you doing here?" a voice snapped from above from an area that held no noise before.

Vagnis startled, his hand instinctively going to the hilt of his dagger. His head shot up, and there, perched on a branch, was Belk.

The chief's son looked every bit the part of someone who didn't care what others thought of him. His dark red eyes glinted with annoyance, and his messy black hair fell into his face, giving him a perpetually defiant look. His deep blue skin stood out starkly against the black fur jacket he wore—a heavy, wild thing that seemed too warm for the weather but fit him somehow.

"The chief sent me to get you. We're going on a mission, and—"

"I'm not going!" Belk cut him off, standing on the branch like it was solid ground. His fists clenched at his sides, his tail twitching sharply behind him.

"How many times do I have to tell you annoying apes? I'm not going to be a scout or a hunter. I'm staying here, and I'm working on my science."

"Science?" Vagnis spat, glaring up at him. "Again with that crap? You're wasting your time, Belk! You're going to be an adult soon, and no one respects you anymore.

 You know that, right? No one!" His anger started to bubble over and it felt like he was gonna break his own wrist from his own strength. "Does that not bother you at all?! They see you as a nobody! Someone not fit to even rule!"

For a second, Belk's expression wavered. He looked away, his eyes dropping to the branch beneath his feet. But just as quickly, he snapped back, his stance firm.

"I don't care what anyone thinks," he said flatly. "I've already told you—I'm not going. End of discussion."

"Fine." Vagnis turned away, his frustration spilling into his steps as he stomped through the debris. A broken contraption clattered as he kicked it aside. "I'll just track the creature myself."

"Wait." Belk's voice stopped him, curiosity breaking through his stubbornness. "Creature?"

"Yeah." Vagnis didn't bother looking back. "Some weird creature has been spotted near the village. No one knows what it is, so the chief wants it tracked."

Belk leapt from the branch, landing lightly beside him. His arms were crossed, but the spark of interest in his eyes was impossible to miss.

"Okay, I'm coming," he said, his tone lighter now. 

"What…" Vagnis murmured, slightly taken aback by his sudden change of mind.

"I said I'm interested, need me to say it again? You dumb ape—" Belk said a little louder.

Vagnis shot him a sideways glare. "Fine. Just don't pull any of your crazy science stunts."

"No promises," Belk said with a grin, falling into step beside him.

"Not much longer!" Astra said, her voice bright with excitement. She pushed forward through the undergrowth, the crunch of leaves under her boots breaking the forest's stillness. Every few steps, she'd glance up at the volcano ahead, its dark silhouette growing closer.

[Did you really think saying your plans out loud was a good idea?]

"Hm?" Astra tilted her head up as if looking at the sky, her expression a mix of curiosity and amusement at Celi's sudden question.

[Back at the site, you spoke your plans aloud in Aelvarian, knowing full well you were being watched. Why?]

She chuckled, crossing her arms as she walked. "I had no idea!" Her tone was light, almost playful. She spun on her heel, her steps turning into a carefree twirl.

[huh?]

"Both just sound like English to me now!" She argued but soon regained her cool at an almost cartoonish speed. "But it's ok…"

[But what if they do follow?]

"Then they'll see what I'm doing and run back to report it."

[That makes no sense. Wouldn't it be better if they didn't know your plans? Your strategy defies logic.]

"Oh, Celi, you sweet, naive thing." Astra smirked, her eyes flashing with mischief.

 "The best way to win is to make them think they can't. Shatter their confidence. Crush them when they've given it everything they've got."

[I still think this is a terrible idea—]

"We're doing it anyway!" Astra declared with a laugh, skipping a few steps ahead. "Besides, they don't even know what gunpowder is. Once we have it, I can move on to stage two!"

[Stage two?]

What's an Aelvarian natural enemy?" she asked, her finger tapping her lips in thought, waiting for an answer.

[Neo wolves,]

"Well, then we'll tame them," Astra said, her tone casual, like she was suggesting something as simple as breathing.

[Tame neo wolves? That's incredibly dangerous!]

"We'll figure it out," she said with a shrug, her grin widening. "And once we do, we'll release them into Aelvarian territory. Taking over their hunting grounds! They'll be desperate without a food supply, and with such a high hunting culture I doubt they cultivate."

"And when they're desperate, that's when we offer them a deal to live, a life of famine, or a life devoted to technological innovation!"

[This plan is reckless at best.]

"Reckless?" Astra said, stopping to glance upward again. "No, Celi. It's brilliant. Just wait—you'll see."