Dungeon Life

Chapter Three-Hundred Thirteen

Zorro

Being a scion is a lot to get used to. He’s still trying to adjust, not only to the increase in intelligence, but also to how differently Thedeim runs things. Take the meeting, for example.

The Southwood would never have a meeting like this of his scions… not that he had enough to even allow for a meeting until very recently. He would command it, and it’d be done as he commanded.

With Thedeim, things are suggested and prepared, but it's on the scions to follow through. The entire forest is a great example of that in action. He actually let Goldilocks and himself pick where their spawners go, and named the two on top of that! At least the other scions’ reactions to his incredulity helped him not feel insane.

But though his spawner is in the Autumn section, he still doesn’t feel like he has a place. That apprehension is why he spoke up about his concerns about the cost of the new areas. Even with the influx from the Maw and the arena match, can his new home afford to spend that much at once? Teemo reassured him, and he could even feel the warmth of the dungeon on his fur as he tried to comfort the vulpine, but he still worries.

The meeting soon adjourns with nobody else seeming to have too much to discuss, at least as one big group. The attention of Thedeim wanders, and Zorro watches as some of the scions chat amongst themselves, while others head off to do whatever it is they need to do. It’s a surprise to him when one turns to him and speaks.

“Walk with me, pup,” speaks Leo, and Zorro is quick to heed him. They might both be scions and have similar status, but the wolf is not one Zorro intends to slight. Even if he wasn’t more physically powerful than Zorro, he still remembers the strategic acumen displayed to protect the Southwood.

“What do you need, Warden Leo?” he asks as he hurries to his side, earning a chuckle from the wolf as he leads the way through a shortcut into the woods.

“Just Leo is fine, pup. I mostly wanted to talk. You and Goldilocks are still adjusting, and I wanted to make sure you’re doing alright. I remember when I first joined and had to find my own place in this pack.”

Zorro tries to minimize his discomfort as he answers. “It’s… a lot to take in, but I’m sure I’ll live up to Thedeim’s expectations of me in time.”

The large wolf smirks. “Ah, you really are having a bit of difficulty adjusting. Goldilocks seems to be settling in and starting to work with Titania and Poppy, but you’re still following a meandering scent in circles, pup.”

Zorro lowers his tail and whimpers before getting poked in the side by the Warden. “I’m not tearing you down, just pointing out the facts. A lot of his other scions took a lot longer than you are to find their place. Jello, for example, only recently found her passion with metalworking, and Coda tried a lot of different things before being inspired to build. If you want to try something, I have something you can try.”

“You do?” Zorro quickly replies, not needing to think about the offer. He can’t imagine anything around that actually needs doing. Despite the chaos and lack of orders, things really do seem to run smoothly in the dungeon.

Leo nods and sits down. “Let me call some of your potential coworkers, then I’ll explain.” Zorro watches in confusion as Leo throws his head back and howls, the sound carrying through the forest and probably beyond. Before Zorro can even ask what is going on, Poe wings through the trees and lands beside the two. He eyes Zorro for a moment before nodding to Leo.

“Warden. Have you explained it to him yet?” asks the raven, looking formal and intimidating to the fox scion.

“Not yet, but we can do that while the denizens gather.” He turns his attention to the fox before continuing. “Poe and I are in charge of a lot of things outside the Alpha’s borders. He handles reconnaissance from the air, while I coordinate with our ground forces. If the Alpha ever expands to the ocean, I’d bet he’ll want one for under the waves, too.”

Poe nods and picks up the thought to continue. “However, most of our efforts are close to Lord Thedeim’s borders. Patrols are one thing, but the Warden and I both have felt something has been missing for some time. Young Violet’s scion Nose, however, was who finally showed us what we were missing.”

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Zorro tilts his head at that. “Nose? That’s… that’s the mole, right? I haven’t had much of a chance to meet her scions yet…”

The two don’t berate him for his lack of knowledge, and instead nod as Leo continues. “That’s the one. He got a title that I think could be very useful to the Alpha: Explorer. It’ll involve a lot of going on expeditions.”

“It’s not a request either of us makes lightly, Zorro. You’ve hardly found stability here, yet we would be tasking you with venturing beyond the borders to investigate and explore,” adds Poe, looking apologetic at asking so much from the new scion. For Zorro, however, the idea has some appeal.

“I… wouldn’t mind exploring, but I don’t feel very prepared to go far beyond the borders just yet. I’m… not very strong,” he admits, but the two experienced scions don’t look bothered by that limitation at all.

“The best way to get stronger is to do,” points out Leo. “And an explorer is supposed to look, not fight. With your illusions, you should be able to get into places and out of them without even being noticed, and easily give others the slip if you are discovered.”

“And you will not be alone,” follows up Poe, as a few smaller ravens and crows land nearby. A couple beats later, a wyrm pokes its head out of the earth, and a rockslide quietly breaches the surface, too. “Lord Thedeim has many denizens experienced in gathering information from outside. The Warden and I would ask that you work with them, join them on their patrols and gain the knowledge and experience to advance. Once you have a firmer grip on yourself and your abilities, you can use them to seek whatever discoveries Lord Thedeim may require.”

The denizens greet Zorro as he tries to process the opportunity being given to him. He’d have to go on expeditions a lot… but he’d be lying to himself if the idea of seeing more of the outside wasn’t tempting to him. It’s part of the reason he volunteered to even join Thedeim in the first place!

“I want to try,” he answers, trying not to let his nerves show.

“Great!” Leo smiles at the smaller scion, his tail wagging. “I’ll leave you to Poe for your first expedition, then. I need to organize the wyrms and rockslides to check the foundation of the forest. Be nice to him, Poe.”

“I’m always polite and professional,” replies the large corvid, before turning his attention on Zorro. “Do you know the path to the war room?”

Zorro thinks, trying to recall the labyrinthine tangle of shortcuts Teemo has made, but he’s apparently too slow for Poe’s liking. Without a word, the large raven takes flight, grabbing Zorro up in his talons before smoothly entering a shortcut.

“It may be prudent to have you get more familiar with the shortcut system before sending you on expedition, but I really would appreciate a scion’s eyes on this one.”

Zorro can’t even think to scream as he’s carried through the strange space, and soon he’s deposited atop the table in the war room. He takes a few minutes to gather himself, wondering if he may have gotten in over his head, but Poe doesn’t rush him now that he’s here. Once he looks around, he sees the delay might not just be for his sake, as Poe is looking through the drawers for a specific map. He gives a small caw of triumph once he finds it, and quickly spreads it over the table for Zorro to see, and taps a talon on it.

“This is the location Fourdock wishes to build their Hold, in case something happens that requires the town to evacuate. As far as I’m aware, they have done their own surveys, but I don’t know how detailed they are. The snows should have receded enough to make the trip possible, though it will likely still be arduous. I intend to send you along with a wyrm, several rockslides, and a flock of ravens as support. The rockslides should be able to ensure their namesake doesn’t occur and injure anyone, while the wyrm can provide warmth and quicker reconnaissance of the underground area. The ravens will be able to see if anything else has happened in the area over the winter, while you will help direct them all in detail while there.

“Lord Thedeim supports the idea of this hold, and Coda especially is looking forward to aiding in its construction. I want you to make sure this location will be suitable, as far as you can ascertain. The mountain must be stable here, water must be available, and if the path leading to the site is unstable or unsuitable, I want you to chart a better one.”

He stops speaking and looks at Zorro, finally noticing how overwhelmed he looks. Instead of frustration at the inexperienced scion, Poe’s demeanor instead softens slightly.

“I know it’s a lot, but please, just try your best. I don’t expect perfection from you, especially not for your first expedition. There will be multiple follow ups as plans progress, so don’t think you’ll need to spot every potential issue that could arise. Just focus on the obvious ones. Coda will likely accompany you on later expeditions, and that is when the two of you will focus on the details. For now, just try to learn. I can forgive mistakes, but I will not forgive refusing to learn from them.”

“But… what if I make a lot of mistakes? A lot of big mistakes?”

Poe tilts his head in a smile, laying a wing over the smaller scion. “Then you simply have a lot to learn. We all started knowing nothing of our purpose, Zorro. Before you know it, you’ll be helping a different new scion, wondering what you did to make it seem like you may have any answers, let alone all of them. You’ll do fine, Zorro. And if this isn’t your purpose, you’ll simply have to keep looking. You’ll find it eventually.”

Zorro looks at the map, wondering if it’s his purpose. There’s pressure to do well, of course, but Poe’s encouragement strikes a chord in him. Exploring may or may not be his purpose, but sitting around doing nothing definitely is not it. He’ll take those risks, make those mistakes, and learn those lessons.

“When do we start?”

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