Chapter 15: The Spark-Tail Marmot
The silence left behind by the trackers was a palpable thing, thick with relief and the faint, metallic taste of the Sky-Iron. For two days, they did not leave the cavern. It became their sanctuary, their forge, their home. Tunnel, empowered by his new trait, [Pangolin's Loyalty], had not only confirmed the extensive Sky-Iron vein but had also discovered a second, narrower tunnel leading to a small, hidden hot spring, solving their fresh water and hygiene problems.
Leo spent his time studying the ore. The [System Shop] offered a [Basic Metallurgy] skill for 300 SP, but he hesitated. It felt too generic. He was a Whisperer. His crafting should be as unique as his taming.
He observed Zephyr. The gryphon's [Lightning Call] was a violent, magnificent discharge, but it was wild. Uncontrolled. The Sky-Iron, according to the system, was an affinity conductor. An idea, dangerous and brilliant, began to form. What if he could create a focus? Not a weapon for himself, but a tool for Zephyr. A way to refine the storm.
But to work the metal, he needed heat. A lot of it. A campfire wouldn't suffice.
"Tunnel," he called softly. The pangolin scurried over from its favorite licking spot. "I need you to find something else. Not just metal. I need... fire. Or the potential for great heat. A forge stone, volcanic glass, anything that holds or creates intense energy."
He pushed the concepts of heat, magma, and concentrated fire through their bond. Tunnel's head tilted, its mineral sense shifting to a new frequency. After a moment, it chirped and began digging at a seemingly unremarkable section of the cavern wall. Within minutes, it had unearthed several chunks of a black, glassy stone.
[Resource Identified: Everflow Obsidian]
A volcanic glass that retains latent geothermal energy. When struck sharply, it releases a brief, intense burst of heat. A primitive but effective forge-stone.
It was perfect. But wielding it was another problem. Striking it would require precision and force, something his injured shoulder and Zephyr's blunt strength couldn't provide. He needed a third beast. Something small, fast, and precise.
He explained the problem to Zephyr through their bond, painting a mental image of a creature that could strike the obsidian with sharp, rapid blows. The gryphon, after a moment of contemplation, sent back a memory—a fleeting glimpse from his fledgling days in the wild peaks. A small, furry creature with a lightning-quick tail that cracked against rocks to break them open for the grubs inside.
A Spark-Tail Marmot.
The "taming" hook was set. A new, specific beast for a specific, non-combat role.
Leo immediately tasked Zephyr with the hunt. "Find one. We need its help." This was a crucial development—the beast was not just a fighter, but an active participant in solving problems, sending its own partner on a scouting mission.
Zephyr departed through the main tunnel, leaving Leo and Tunnel in the cavern. The wait was tense. This was a test of their entire symbiotic dynamic. Could Zephyr, a apex predator, locate and—crucially—not eat a potential new pack member?
An hour later, Zephyr returned. Clamped gently in his beak was a squirming, indignant ball of brown fur with a long, bushy tail that ended in a bony, hammer-like tip. It was chittering furiously. Zephyr dropped it carefully onto the sandy floor, and it immediately scrambled back, baring its teeth and thumping its powerful tail against the ground in a threat display. Thump. Crack! A small stone near its tail split in two.
[Beast Insight: Spark-Tail Marmot]
Rank: F (Earth-class)
Potential: D+ (Medium)
Status: Terrified, Aggressive.
Traits: [Reinforced Tail], [Geological Sense], [Nervous Energy]
Taming Chance (Standard Method): 5% (Extremely high-strung, will fight to the death if cornered.)
Taming Chance (Whisperer Method): 35% (Approach with an offering of food and a demonstration of a non-threatening, useful purpose.)
Leo didn't move. He sat cross-legged and had Tunnel bring him a piece of the Everflow Obsidian and a small, shiny piece of Sky-Iron. He placed them on the ground in front of him. He ignored the marmot's panic and began the careful, patient work of a Whisperer.
He pushed a wave of [Calming Aura], not to subdue, but to soothe. He then picked up the obsidian and the ore and clacked them together softly, creating a dull, non-threatening sound. He projected an image to the marmot: not of capture, but of purpose. An image of its powerful tail striking the obsidian, of the heat that would burst forth, of the shiny metal softening and being shaped into something new and beautiful.
The marmot stopped its frantic thumping. Its nose twitched. It was confused. This large, scary predator had brought it to a place that smelled of good, deep earth. And the two-legged thing wasn't trying to grab it. It was... showing it a puzzle.
Leo then took a piece of dried fruit from his meager supplies and placed it next to the stones. An offering.
Curiosity began to overpower fear. The marmot took a hesitant step forward. Then another. It snatched the fruit and scurried back, devouring it in seconds. It watched Leo again.
Slowly, carefully, Leo initiated the [Soul-Link].
The marmot's mind was a frantic, buzzing hive of energy. It was all quick impulses, sharp fears, and a deep, ingrained need to break things. But beneath that, Leo sensed a profound intelligence, a creature built for solving physical problems—namely, how to get at the food inside rocks.
He didn't try to calm the energy. He redirected it. He showed it the image again, of the tail striking the obsidian, but this time, he linked the action to a feeling of immense satisfaction, of a job well done, of the shiny metal being a reward in itself.
The marmot's beady eyes fixed on the Sky-Iron. It loved shiny things.
It took a step forward, then another. It stopped in front of the obsidian. It looked at Leo, then at the ore. It raised its powerful, reinforced tail.
Crack!
The tail struck the Everflow Obsidian with pinpoint accuracy. A wave of blistering heat erupted from the point of impact, washing over the Sky-Iron ore Leo held ready with a pair of makeshift stone tongs. The dull metal glowed a sudden, brilliant cherry red.
Yes!
Leo poured encouragement and approval through the link. The marmot, thrilled by the success and the positive feedback, did a little happy hop and struck again. Crack! More heat.
The "comparison" was clear. A standard tamer would have broken the marmot's spirit, forcing it to obey through fear. Leo had given it a purpose it inherently enjoyed, turning a high-strung liability into a willing, enthusiastic partner.
[Taming Successful!]
New Bond Forged: Spark-Tail Marmot (Unnamed).
Reward: 100 System Points.
[New Trait Unlocked: [Artisan's Apprentice] - Beasts with high dexterity or unique physical traits can now assist in crafting projects, slightly improving success rate and quality.]
"Your name is Anvil," Leo said, the name feeling perfectly suited.
With Anvil providing the heat, Leo used a heavy stone as a hammer and another as an anvil, carefully shaping the glowing Sky-Iron. He didn't know how to smith, but the [Whisperer's Forge] quest guided his hands, the system providing an instinctual understanding of how the conductive metal wanted to flow. He wasn't creating a sword or armor. He was creating a torc, a curved band meant to be worn around the neck.
But this was for Zephyr. He worked the metal, and as he did, he poured his intent into it. He focused on the image of Zephyr's lightning, not as a chaotic blast, but as a focused beam. He imagined the storm's power being channeled, refined.
As he hammered the final shape, with Anvil providing one last, precise burst of heat to anneal the metal, a notification flashed.
[Quest Complete: The Whisperer's Forge.]
Reward: 500 SP, [Storm-Focus Torc] created, [Basic Crafting] Skill unlocked.
[Storm-Focus Torc] (C-grade Accessory): When worn by a beast with Storm/Lightning affinity, it increases control over their abilities, allowing for more precise targeting and reduced energy waste. Unlocks ability: [Lightning Javelin] - A concentrated, spear-like bolt of lightning.
Leo held up the finished torc. It was simple, unadorned, but it gleamed with a latent, powerful energy. He approached Zephyr.
The gryphon lowered his head. Leo carefully placed the torc around his neck. It fit perfectly.
Zephyr shuddered, a cascade of sparks running over his feathers. He lifted his head, and his eyes, always lit from within, now held a new, sharp clarity. He looked at a stalactite hanging from the cavern ceiling. Instead of a chaotic arc, a single, thin, blindingly bright javelin of lightning shot from his beak. It struck the stalactite with a deafening CRACK, vaporizing it into dust without touching the ceiling around it.
The control was absolute.
The "development" hook was fulfilled in a spectacular way. Zephyr wasn't just stronger; he was smarter, more precise. A force of nature with a sculptor's touch.
Leo looked around the cavern. At Zephyr, now a master of his storm. At Tunnel, the faithful provider. At Anvil, the enthusiastic artisan.
He had his pack. He had his forge. And he had a new, terrifyingly precise weapon.
The Aviary had no idea what was taking shape in the heart of the mountain.
[System Points: 1185]
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