37. King of the hill

Nest. It was a nest. Ivory made him a nest out of pillows and blankets and anything else he could find. Jone just gave up resistance at one point.

He was carried back, and Ivory got Blaze and Cid holding him in stretchers until he was done setting up his bed properly, as he said, before he was laid down. Ivory forbade him to move a muscle, arranged him like a doll, asked a dozen time if he was comfortable.

Now, as he was leaning on a pile of pillows, with his leg properly elevated, he was being fed a special stew Ivory made for him. Goat meat is good for healing, he said. Warm food will help him relax, he said.

It was all true, in a way.

Yet, the way Ivory fussed around him made Jone bewildered.

It was just an accident. Even if he did not push Ivory, that stone would probably not hit him, as it bounced anyway. It was not Ivory's responsibility.

But it was true, his leg was broken. And even if it will be all healed up tomorrow, for tonight he should just stay put. If Ivory feels responsible, whatever he says will not make him change his mind.

So, Jone gave up, settled down in his comfortable nest, and let Ivory feed him spoon by spoon.

Luckily, it was late by the time they got back, so after brief tidying up, they dispersed into their cottages. It was still raining lightly, not letting up completely. Jone got fed to bursting, then Ivory finally left him alone.

It was indeed a rough day. In many different ways.

How rough it was, they realized next morning, when they found rain still falling, and a brand new creek running between their cottages. It was just one step wide, but yet, it was a whole new creek!

After checking up, they found a fresh mudslide uphill from them, slightly towards west. It diverted an existing gully and forced it to make a new path, winding down the slope, and dividing their camp before flowing into river downstream. Amazing feat of nature.

"You know, living outside is fun and all, but it sure can be dangerous."

Blaze stared at the flowing water, wondering what would happen if that mudslide was slightly towards their position.

"M mm.." Echo agreed, rummaging through remains of his kitchen gazebo.

They did bring inside most of the things, yet.. that was his kitchen! That Blaze made for him! Gone now..

Blaze saw him looking like a wilting plant, and quickly approached and hugged from behind.

"Don't be sad, I am going to fix it for you right away" he pecked a comforting kiss on top of Echo's head and bounced to get his tools and get to work.

Echo again ended frozen in place. Did his domestication strategy worked too well? How did it came to kissing stage already?

Floreo came from behind and patted his shoulder "If you get stuck, you know where I am."

Cid and Floreo helped Blaze straighten the roof of collapsed kitchen on the ground. It was not completely destroyed, wind just pushed it over and broke one of the columns. The structure was made light, a grid covered with tent canvas, just enough to make some shade.

They stretched canvas back in place, and fastened it with wooden pegs this time, making it taut. Replaced broken column, lifted it up, and now they had a big umbrella over the kitchen patio.

Even with continuous drizzle, they could make a fire and grill meat outside today. Sure, if it starts to blow like yesterday, it's likely that it will topple again. They hoped it would not.

Yax took Mani to check status of the valley. All that lumber that was almost dry enough to burn, was now soaked wet again. They were almost done with clearing the area, and once they burn down all the wood, it will be leveled enough for pyramid to land on it.

Sure, it was not perfectly flat, but considering size and weight of that thing, once it docks on cornerstones and central obelisk, everything under it will level out.

They walked to the cornerstone closest to their camp. Big square block had some branches stuck on it, likely blown over by wind last night.

They cleaned it, and Mani marveled again at endurance of this artifact. It was not made of stone, or concrete as that cave like shelter on top of the hills. It was made of same materials as their pyramid, and whatever it was, it was indestructible.

Even after over fifty cycles being exposed to elements, there were no traces of wear and tear. Mani wondered how it was made. It was gray, square, and had no visible markings.

It looked dull and uninteresting, half buried in soil and plants. After digging it out, it still looked dull. It's whole purpose was just to mark landing spot for corner of their station.

All important infrastructure was in the middle, under obelisk. Hidden under that were shafts and pipes, drilled and prepared while pyramids were first made.

There was supposed to be a pyramid here as well, but country which was building it ran out of money and resources after just preparing the foundation.

By then, most of their population was gone as well, leaving only half a million people that could still be saved. They made a deal with neighbors, to pay for room and board for those people in the pyramid just across the border, and donate their pyramid location as reserve just in case. That's how Station Relocation Protocol came to be.

Mani read about it while he was picking a location for his descent. In actual fact, this location here was where his ancestors were originally from. Well, supposedly.

Though, they did not go to the pyramid shelters. Those were for the poor and unskilled. His ancestors moved up, to the orbit. And became gods, through their merit, skills or wealth. He did not really care about that part, as he himself was not a god.

Yax approached him and nudged with his shoulder "Penny for your thoughts." Whatever a penny is.

Mani smiled and pecked his face. Then he turned, hugged his Yak and kissed him properly. Their kissing exercises paid off, and he could now even initiate it on his own.

"I'm just happy that I am here with you." He said while nuzzling into Yak's wide chest.

"I am happy you are here with me as well." Yak said ruffling his short hair. Still too early.

There was nothing much to do. They confirmed that lumber was wet, and it still drizzled. So they walked hand in hand back to their camp.

When they approached the river, they saw a huge brown animal sitting on the gravel, eating.

"Is it eating a goat head?" Mani asked curiously.

"What is that animal?" Yax asked at the same time.

They looked at eachother, then quietly stepped back and turned to walk around the snacking bear.

By the river, big brown bear scooped last of the goat brain out of its skull, then got up on all four paws and started to follow them.

"Do not run" Mani said "it's just curious."

Yax glanced over his shoulder, that snout was still red with goats blood. 'Yup, curious.'

Well, he had his knife in his boot, and laser on his belt. If needed he could take on that bear.

They somehow managed to reach the camp, bear still trotting behind them, not really trying to catch up. Just, casually strolling same way as them. Yea, right.

"Who left the goat head out yesterday?" Yax asked casually.

"Me and Cid." Blaze was confused, "what does it matter, animals will clean it up."

"Yeah, so be a pall and explain to him there's no more goat heads left." Mani said while pointing behind his back.

"What's that?!" Blaze never saw anything like it.

"A brown bear, Ursus arctos, omnivorous mammal, considered to be largest land carnivore." Ivory said from the doors of his cottage, then went back in and bolted the doors.

He will protect the weak, sick and wounded.

"Don't move." He said to confused Jone.

Outside, Blaze straightened his back, walked towards the bear with a measured gait, then when he passed by Yax and Mani, just stood akimbo, watching the bear in it's cute small eyes.

"Hello there, sweetie."

Bear walked closer and tilted its head at Blaze.

Cid got his laser ready, and Yax did the same, pushing Mani towards their cabin.

Mani pulled Echo and Floreo with him, clearing the field so they don't get in the way if bear decided that it did not liked being called 'sweetie'.

Bear indeed did not looked pleased, it stood up in front of Blaze, showing off over two meters height and almost 300 kilograms of muscles. Blaze spread his arms as if going for a hug.

Bear roared and went in with a slap of its huge paw.

Blaze sidestepped and slapped the bear with his own huge paw.

Then roared back at it.

Cid glanced at Yax, who shrugged. They were roughly equal in size so, valid strategy, perhaps.

Bear swung again, so Blaze hit it's muzzle with a fist and pushed it back.

Bear went down on all four, shook its head, turned and left.

"I'm the king of this hill!" Blaze yelled after it, then heard snickers and laughter from behind.

Blaze felt his face heat up now that everything was over.

"Please, don't tell Xul."