~Chapter 1- Low on funds~
Aero looked out on the horizon as the great sand-ship ferried them across the desert. After their own ship was destroyed, they had to pay these nomads for safe passage. The hyena Kelvin's tongue was out while it looked out the landscape from the ship's wooden rails. His sister Corri occasionally mounted her bird Rojo and flew alongside the ship. Nout did his best to cool himself in the humid desert heat. Ruben was anxious to leave that terrible desert behind.
Aero's cousin Jirro was rummaging through their remaining supplies. They still had a handful of potions left, but when it came to money they were running short. The two boys had relied on prize money in their travels up until now but they had nearly spent all of it.
"When we get back to land, maybe we should try to earn some money before heading home?" Jirro posited.
"We'll just have to see what comes up," Aero replied as humid winds from the desert blew through his rough black hair.
The tall and slender Temp stood at the starboard rails of the wooden ship next to the boys. The sun bounced off the purple tint of his metal looking flesh
"I'd check out the job board at the next town we reach. With how strong the two of you are, I'm sure you could handle anything," Temp suggested.
Aero wasn't used to him being this straightforward helpful. Usually he'd only help if he benefitted in some way, "Would you make some money off it with us or something?"
Temp shook his head, "Nah. I've made some good money off you boys already. I'm honestly just trying to help."
Jirro squinted his eyes at him, but began to smile, "You're not as bad as I thought you were."
Temp nodded, "The first time we met, I did attack the two you. That tends to give a bad impression."
Aero and Jirro laughed. That felt like so long ago.
Temp wrapped his arms around the two boy’s shoulders, "So, your families are on Platt Mountain, right?"
Aero nodded, "Yup. Our dads."
Temp said, "Considering how tough you two are, I can only imagine how strong your dads are. You're like twelve years old, right?"
"Thirteen," Jirro corrected, "And our dads are incredible. Probably the strongest people in the world."
Temp raised an eyebrow, "There are a lot of people in the world."
"We haven't met anyone anywhere near as strong as our dads. Not yet at least," Aero replied.
The sand-ship pulled through the sands into a dock at the northern edge of the desert. As soon as Aero saw firm ground below, he jumped from the side rails of the ship, falling several meters through the air until he landed solidly on his feet. Jirro did the same. The others instead took the safer way down. The sand-ship undocked and returned back to the desert as the group headed out.
They were in the Saran plains, dry grasslands that sat between the great desert and Platt Mountain to the north. Aero, Jirro, Corri, Nout and Ruben were all excited to finally return home. But even with the mountains in view, the kids knew it'd still be a few days’ travel. Temp guided them to nearest town in the Saran Plains to stay.
As they traveled, they noticed a Phantine tribe living around a watering hole. Many of them used their trunks to suck up and expel water as they wished. The tint of their skin was much more tan than Nouts', and they were more accustomed to the heat of the region. Nout waved to his brethren before they continued on.
There was a modest town in the plains, with only about of dozen small homes around a fountain at its center. Near the fountain was a busy inn, it seemed that people were always coming and going from the area.
Corri left her bird Rojo near the fountain, the red sparrow hopped into the water and began to clean itself off. Temp's hyena Kelvin lapped at the fountain water while the group headed into the inn.
From inside the inn the group could hear a harmonica playing at the counter of the inn. It was old man with white curly hair, a heavy coat and cap. His skin was dark and as he saw Aero and the others he smiled, revealing a golden tooth.
"Noel!" Aero greeted, recognizing the man, "I didn't know you worked here too."
Noel simply shrugged. He spoke with a soothing voice, "Lookin' for a room today kids?"
They nodded. Aero and Jirro picked at their money to decide who would pay for the inn when Temp intervened, "I'll cover for all of you."
While Noel brought the others to their rooms, Aero and Jirro took a look at the job board in town. There was a bounty board near it, but the boys had no interest in that. The job board had a few construction projects in town, but those would take some time.
One of the jobs read,
Take care of the Chihuahua(5000 Ivases)- Speak to Gus for details
The inkeeper pointed the boys towards Gus, a balding man with a gut enjoying drinks with friends at one of the tables.
"We saw something about a Chihuahua on the job board. Mind telling us about that?" Jirro interrupted Gus and his friends.
Gus turned to the two with a smile and a pint in hand, "Ah that. That job has been sitting there for years. A Chihuahua keeps causing trouble for travelers. He's always hanging around a canyon around here."
Aero cocked his head, "A Chihuahua?"
"It's a canine, but larger than any I've ever seen. Much bigger than a shepard or even a beagle. The thing must stand at least three meters tall. It's got great long legs that gives it long strides, and a round bulbous head too. The thing has a terrible temper, attacking anyone that enters its territory. So far everyone that’s tried to kill the beast has come back scared."
Aero thought for a moment, that description seemed familiar to him.
"We can take care of it," Jirro said flatly.
Gus and the other men at the tables eyes grew wide, and they broke into a hearty laugh. Jirro gave them a knowing smile.
"I'm sorry kid, but that’s way too dangerous."
Jirro gives his own hearty laugh, "Not for me. The two of us are really strong."
Gus gave the two of the boys a look down and raised his eyebrow, "Really?"
Jirro confidently answered, "Want me to prove it?"
Jirro insisted on showing Gus and his friends what he was capable of. He walked them out of the inn to a boulder sitting on the periphery of the town. It wasn't a particularly heavy one, probably 100 kilograms or so. But it'd demonstrate his point fine. Jirro dug a hand beneath the boulder and with one effortless move yanked it out of the ground and lifted it over his head.
"Aero, catch!" Jirro tossed the boulder through the air to his cousin and he caught it with a single hand. Aero began juggling it through the air between alternating hands.
"Still think its too dangerous for us?" Jirro asked rhetorically. Gus and his friends watched amazed, giving the sort of look Aero and Jirro had seen many times before. Because they were kids, people always assumed they couldn't be as strong as they were.
Gus told them the approximate location of the terrifying Chihuahua. When Nout and Corri heard they intended to kill it, they couldn't help but protest.
"I don't like this guys," Nout said, clearly sickened by the idea.
Corri adds in, "Yeah, its just an innocent animal!"
"Its not innocent, it keeps attacking people. Besides Corri, you've hunted with us before," Jirro pointed out.
Corri vehemently replied, "That was before I had Rojo. I've tried to avoid eating meat since then."
"Fine, you don't have to come then," Jirro explained.
All while they had been talking, Aero was reminiscing. He remembered having a pet dog when he was little. He really liked that dog... Missed it too.
"I don't like the idea of killing a dog either. It's different from hunting." Aero added.
Jirro narrowed his eyes at his cousin, "Not you too Aero! Come on it's good money, and it'll be easy for us."
Aero nodded, "Yeah, I guess you're right."
Nout and Ruben decided to stay behind in town while Aero, Jirro, Corri, and Temp went to deal with the Chihuahua. 408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcDuWV9Rp4
