Chapter 1712: Tribal Party - Hurricroak

[Wait a minute, I just realized something important,] I said once a certain thought had crossed my mind. [What are we going to do with all the lindwurm meat?]

[Not to worry, I checked with the curators on this, it’s actually edible] Nepherage answered. [So we can just peel off the skin and feed it to the people.]

[That...seems a little fucked-up,] I noted. [Isn’t it weird to feed these guys the meat of a beast who probably ate several of the members prior to now?]

[Nah...] Frosttusk answered. [It’s...how...we reclaim...our...stolen songs...eat the...beasts...who...killed out kin...steal the...lovers...of those who...killed ours....]

[Damn, your people are vengeful as fuck...I kind of dig it.]

[Closer to say...we’re...stubborn.]

[Aye, aye,] I said in an understanding voice before I redirected my attention towards the [So...I guess we’re going to carve this fucker from the inside-out to maintain the integrity of the skin and scales?]

[Nah, I think we can just prepare it like we would a giant roasted snake,] Nepherage stated.

[And we do that...how?]

[Well...]

...Time Skip because trying to cook a giant snake/dragon thing is weird...

I haven’t been to many parties in my new life.

It should be noted that this lack of partying wasn’t due to a lack of trying, but rather, it was due to the fact that Maestro preferred to maintain a "low-key" lifestyle...despite the fact that we caused disaster wherever we went.

Or would it be more accurate to say that we always arrived at a disaster zone?

Anyways, being the eternal party girl that I am, I couldn’t help but be slightly annoyed at the lack of rowdy parties in our lives.

There was that party a few weeks back in Soot Snail, but that was such a long time ago.

As such, this victory celebration by the Storm Singers was more than welcome.

The Storm Singers, despite the losses taken as of late, were in an understandably good mood this evening.

The Tremorscale Tribe had been dogging them for days until this final battle, so their defeat was the mental equivalent of having a giant speaker removed from one’s back.

Our arrival, my fellow Ragnarockers and I, meant that their enemies, and the crazy bitch who led them, would now have a much harder time in attacking the Storm Singers.

It’s one thing to fight one and a half kaijin, it’s another thing to fight four and a half kaijin!

And of course, the biggest reason to celebrate was the return of their chieftain’s child, Hakon.

Reunion between loved ones was always something to celebrate, even if it was slightly tainted by the stains of loss and war.

•My son has returned!• Chief Heindril declared. •And with his return, he has brought mighty allies who will help us restore our lost honor and peace to the Echoing Valley! Our losses have been great, but for now, for this night at least, we celebrate! •

•HOORAH!•

In a truly tribal fashion, the Storm Singers had set up a large bonfire, passed around questionably fermented alcohol, and sang songs accompanied by rather unusual instruments made of wood and bone.

And of course, the main meal for the evening was passed around with fervor.

•This is the best meal we’ve had in days! •

•OOOOOHHHH! I CAN FEEL THE POWER SURGING IN ME! •

•I think that’s just the flavor. •

As kaijin, neither I nor my fellow Ragnarockers needed to eat, sleep, or even breathe unless our powers necessitated it. However, we could still enjoy the things that came along with the act.

We could still taste and feel full, I think we can dream, and I had yet to actually test whether or not we could get stoned, but I’m fairly certain we could.

After all, these were all things stemming from [Desire], and we were its incarnation.

The Citrine-Horn Lindwurm meat was surprisingly fatty and sweet despite having very little seasoning applied to it.

I couldn’t help but to wonder if this flavor was unique to the breed, unique to dragons, or just how lindwurm tasted in general.

Either way, it was delicious.

[Do you think this stuff tastes better or worse in comparison to that giant sea serpent thing we took out back at Soot Snail?] I asked my fellow Ragnarocker as I bit into my lindwurm steak and allowed the fat to melt on my tongue. [Because I think I prefer this over the giant grilled shrimp.]

At this moment in time, only Nepherage and I were the only kaijin enjoying the literal meat of her labor.

Slug-at-Arms was busy partying with the Storm Singer tribesmen while Frosttusk had...well, I wasn’t entirely sure where he was.

He had started the party with us, watched the people dance and sing for a bit, but he eventually decided to excuse himself to go and find somewhere quiet.

When I had attempted to contact him via our connection, I had noticed he had blocked us for the moment.

He had done this before in the past, but this was the first time in a while he had done so.

[If you recall, I had only managed to taste the Violent Dragon Prawn’s meat long after the party had ended and for only moments before we had to fight those knock-off Crusaders.] Nepherage responded as she ate a piece of lindwurm meat. [So I am actually pretty biased here when I saw I prefer the taste of this stuff over the last time we feasted.]

[Fair enough,] I conceded to my rocky companion. [I suppose on a more important note, I wonder what the hell happened that the situation had gotten this bad.]

[That’s the million coin question, isn’t it?] Nepherage asked with a knowing look in my direction.

Zhen Long, Zhen Hai, Grandpa Zhen Shi, and Great Granny Zhen Xun Tian were some of the most dangerous warriors from both branches of the Zhen Clan. As such, they should’ve been able to handle groups like the Tremorscale, which should’ve been easy to handle. Then again, they did look like they were going to win anyway without our intervention...the victory just would’ve been a bit harder to earn.

A part of me wanted to ask some of the tribal people outright about what had been going on in recent days, but I also didn’t want to ruin the partying mood. Thankfully, when it came to eavesdropping, I was second to absolutely no one.

[Nobody is approaching us to offer thanks or whatever, right?]

[Aye.]

[Cool, be out for a bit.]

After informing Nepherage of my activities, I closed my eyes and began to filter out the unneeded noises.

The sound of partying was nice, but it was too frantic.

The sound of feasting was oddly comforting, but the constant slurping made one forget what one was doing.

And while the songs were nice, the melody had a way of drowning out the words.

As soon as I filtered out the noises, I began to hear the mutterings and mumblings of people who didn’t want to ruin the mood...but also couldn’t save what they were saying for later.

...

•Are we sure now is the time for a party? So many of our kindred are still—•

•Lighten up! If we focused on the doom and gloom all the time, then we won’t be able to fight as hard to save them when the time comes.•

•But...how do you know that time will come, if at all?•

•I just do.•

...

•You know...seeing how Hakon returned to us safe and sound...it gives me hope that maybe my own little girl is somewhere out there.•

•Maybe, but...Hakon was found by chance and by someone who had a big enough heart to care. Are we sure there’s someone else that nice out there?•

•I need to be sure of that belief.•

...

•Alright, as tasty as this lindwurm meat is, are we sure the Collectrix doesn’t have any more of these beasts coming our way?•

•We don’t. But...I think if she does, then we’re going to have more feasting days like this.•

•Huh...I can dig that.•

...

Most of what I heard was mindless, emotional chatter.

Sparks of hope, mutterings of despair, and small talks meant to distract for an equally small amount of time.

But then, amongst the din, I heard something...strange.

Imperceptible to most mortal ears, and even the senses of aether warriors themselves, I heard a spark.

A strange, rhythmic spark that sounded familiar to my ears.

A short beep, a long pause, a long beep, and several short beeps in a row...ah.

After a couple more moments and the sudden stopping of the beeping, I realized what the sound was.

Morse Code.

[Nepherage, what did the maestro order for us to do again? Simply escort Hakon back to the Storm Singers?]

[No,] Nepherage answered, playing along with my little game. [It was to make sure that Frosttusk’s family and his family are safe from harm.]

[So...do you think going for a midnight stroll will count?]

[Yes.]