The morning sun filtered in through the waxy leaves casting patchy shadows throughout the small den. It was not a magnificent dwelling, but it was cozy and sheltered from less favorable weather. Most importantly, it was hidden. Camouflaged in bed of dry moss and grass, Titan slept. Sleep was a luxury of late. The constant running from other territorial groups had left him in need of a permanent home and dead tired. Even the old dewtle that wandered into the den hours before in search of something to eat had not waken Titan.
Trudging through the leaves and thick lichen, the dewtle mistook a twisted stick for a tasty morsel, crushing it with its strong jaws. Snap! Titan woke from the noise with a jerk. Eyes thick with sleep and temporarily blinded by the sun, he unsteadily stumbled to his feet, smashed his head into the dirt above, and sat back down with all the grace of a young kit learning to walk. The ancient dewtle, oblivious to the presence of the Elykosi feet away decided that there was nothing worthwhile to eat in the small den and slowly began the climb out.
Titan sat watching the dewtle leave. In the past few months, this was the most peaceful place he had found. Yes, it was at the outer reaches of the world tree and food was in places less abundant, but the earth sang of the life that thrived just out of plain sight. Several dry river beads cut through the grassy meadows, parched with drought. Scattered groupings of old trees abutted the fields, drooping from the heavy tan-colored moss and booming with the chatter of birds. It was a good place, a safe one. While Titan was by no means a push over, the constant struggle for more territory left him alone and outnumbered. This was a fresh place to start over.
Shaking the dirt out of his fur, Titan eased out of the den into the mid-morning light. The dewtle was still close by, slowly trudging through the grass and fallen moss. Titan briskly jogged past the dewtle into the small field. Several etherquails leaped into the air at the disruption. Playfully giving chase, Titan relished the early morning sun warming his fur. He ran faster and soon outpaced the etherquails. As they began to regroup. He turned and gave chase again, this time with a bit more gusto. The largest eatherquail decided enough was enough and ran at him instead of away. While the others fled, it fluttered around his feet, scratching with its short stubby talons. Perhaps it meant to bide time for its companions or maybe it was looking for a fight. Regardless, Titan did not wish to bother the creature any longer and backed off, allowing the bird to dash after its frazzled flock.
Titan watched the etherquails leave with mild interest. He licked his lips and glanced around in search for a pool or some other water source. It was obvious that this area received some rain but not nearly as much as the world tree. Here, the trees had smaller leaves, the grass was dry, and the plants were less lush, yet despite all that, life thrived. Where was the water? It was crucial and unfortunately hidden. Mana and food could only help for so long before true thirst became dangerous. Water had to be found if he wanted to stay.
Out of need, Titan scoured the landscape surrounding the small den, thankful that he had drank his fill at the last stream. That stream was over a day's hike away, and uphill. While more lush with rivers and meadows, the grottoes in the area were already inhabited. It was not viable for his purposes. As he thought of his options, a patch of taller, greener shrubs sprouting between large boulders to the west caught his eye. Although not a full-proof indication of water, Titan decided it was his best bet. Gingerly, he picked his way through some of the saplings and thorny undergrowth towards the west.
The sun beat down between the leaves onto Titan's fur. Earlier in the morning, it felt good, gently warming his skin, but as the sun rose it became hot on the dark patch of fur on his neck. The greener area with the promise of water seemed farther away the closer he got. Initial thirst turned to concern. Elykosi were used to far more resource abundant environments, especially those around the world tree. If this dry land could sustain small creatures like cottonbuns and dewtles, could it support a creature much larger? As the thought crossed his mind, he reached the outskirts of the green patch of land.
Finally, he thought and searched around, hoping to find a stream, or even better, a river. He strained his ears, listening for the sound of running water. Nothing. With rising disappointment and growing fatigue, Titan took another glance around and saw a glint of some reflective material. It was curious in this overall uniform landscape. Walking forward through the thick ground cover and between striated rocks and heavy-set trees, he searched for the source of the light. From a distance he made out the outcropping of mica across what appeared to be a small dip in the landscape. It was worth some investigation, at the least. Within a minute, titan stood perched on the edge of a deep slot canyon. The mica, a relic from some past flooding event was on the other side.
Although the canyon was deep, it was quite narrow. Titan had heard of slot canyons, but had never beheld one personally. Such features were formed in stony landscapes by flowing water. This was proof of waters existence in what he hoped was his no home. Proud of his discovery, Titan decided to venture into the canyon to look for water, which at the time felt like a quest for liquid gold. A small slope led to a ledge that extended down into the canyon. Carefully, Titan made his way down. His foot touched the silt at the bottom and he eagerly dug his warm toes into the cool earth below. Looking up, the rock walls surrounded him. Only a thin jagged line of sky was visible down there. The light glistened off the striations in the stone, rich with mica. Each small piece of mica cast mirror-like reflections over the walls. It was as if many fireflies lined the walls. He soaked in the beauty.
The light was unusually brilliant and the air hummed with something other than echoes from further up the chasm. There had to be a mana ley-line nearby magnifying the already stunning landscape. He allowed himself a moment more to bask in the canyon's light and to wonder about the ley-line. Shaking himself, he resumed his task to find water. The soil was cool and ever so slightly damp. It's worth a shot, he thought to himself and started scooping earth out into a neat pile. He dug for several minutes and the deeper the hole became, the more sure he was that water was near. His eagerness left the hole messy and soil from above began to slide back down, hindering his progress. But that did not stop him. Digging with newfound fury, the small hole rapidly became a small ditch. Finally, several feet down, his paw struck water. It bubbled into the ditch and rapidly filled it with several inches of liquid.
Titan reveled at the exciting find and drank greedily. His front paws were in the water but his back were firmly planted at the top of the ditch. A noise alerted him to some unseen force. He twisted his head around and stepped out of the ditch. The echoes in the canyon confused him. It was almost impossible to locate the area where the noise originated. He stared North. Nothing, but then his feet felt a trickle of water. As he turned to look, a small rivulet of water flowed carving a small channel in the canyon floor. There had been no rain for the past few days in the general region, so fresh flowing water shouldn't be possible unless it was raining elsewhere. Titan sat next to the new water stream and stared out towards the sky. At that moment, a flock of etherquails erupted into the sky with a chorus of shrill, panicked squawks, and then he heard it.
Water rushed into the canyon, swallowing everything in its path. Titan ran but it was futile. The water was very swift and quickly swept him into the current. At that moment, Titan could see everything in clear and crisp detail. It was as if the entire world had slowed to match the pace of the dewtles of this world. Struggling to remain afloat, Titan examined the passing rock faces. A rocky outcrop was far ahead hanging dangerously over the canyon floor. Titan knew his magic was far from constructive, rather it was destructive. He changed direction and paddled against the current until he was up against the canyon wall. The ley-line was close and he drew upon it, feeling the magical charged air and earth. Bobbing in the water and trying his best not to be dragged down by undercurrents, he turned to face the approaching outcrop and struck the wall with a mix of magic and brute force.
Whether it was the magic or the pure adrenaline filled force coursing through his veins, the blow caused a massive fissure to open along the canyon wall, just next to the rocky outcrop. The current pulled Titan along and he watched the rocks suspended above. Fall, he wished. Fall! Weakened by the fissure, the outcrop fell, plummeting into the churning water below. Titan was whisked past a bend and lost sight of the falling rocks. Despair began to set in as the current raged unstopped. But then it unexpectedly slowed. Gradually the water mellowed and then dissipated, soaked into the silty floor below. It had worked! The falling rocks had stopped the flow of the water.
Titan searched for a way out. Bruised, drenched, and exhausted, he found a small ledge that had natural steps leading to the grassland above. He climbed wearily, but with purpose, just in case the rocks did not hold back the mass of water. After surveying the land, he realized that the water had swept him farther from home than he could have ever imagined. The large tree that covered his den was barely visible in the distance. He grimaced and shook off the excess water. His ragged appearance must have either posed a pathetic or intimidating air. He pondered the thought and decided upon pathetic. No drowned rat was intimidating.
Walking back the way he came, the make-shift dam was visible in the canyon below. Water gushed through newly formed voids in between the rocks. "I was lucky," he thought, knowing that in a few minutes, the rocks would likely give way allowing the water to swallow up the rest of the canyon floor. As he turned to see the water breach the fallen rocks caused by his swift blow, he saw rain clouds in the far distance. It was the source of the flood water, many miles away. Titan felt foolish. In his quest for water, he found some, perhaps too much. He had heard stories of flash floods, but in his excitement to explore, he had ignored them. That was not a mistake he would make again.
The walk home was long, despite his quenched thirst. He knew there had to be another source of water nearby. The canyon couldn't have made the entire area that green, but at the moment he didn't care. Sleep was all he wanted. As he day dreamed, thinking of his new bed of dry moss and grass, he stepped into a puddle of mud! He was surprised. There shouldn't have been that much mud there, and yet there was. It surrounded the edge of a natural spring. Several dewtles swam in the cool, muddy water. Titan surveyed the area, slowly realizing the significance of the spring. It was close to his den and did not require a dangerous trek into the slot canyon. Water was nearby and plentiful. Greater news couldn't have been had. He took a small sip of water and with newfound energy trotted to his den. This would be his new home!
