act16mini

And you're Infected too. Whew, look, we can't afford that sort of hassle here.

No answer? You deaf or something? Or you just some fool bugger who got her sandbeast killed?

Alright, get going. Better not see you again.

Medicine for sandbeasts? I don't have any, and to be honest I've never even heard of such a thing.

Well, you don't always take meds for your average cold, right? There's even fewer people who would want to give them to a sandbeast.

Best to just buy a new one. These little fellas don't live long anyway, but I can guarantee that this lot were born real healthy. Won't die of the sickness before you get to the pit.

If you're not going to buy, best get out of my store then. I'll say it once more, there's no medicine for sandbeasts. That's just common sense.

You were going to buy a sandbeast to be a pitsinker without even knowing the basics? If the sandbeast dies and you don't, that's called a good day.

Sandbeast, I didn't—

Daybreak.

The dawn light weaves between the bars of the empty beast cage before it stabs her, ending a long, long nightmare.

And yet it's hardly an improvement.

Never mind.

Hear me out, empty cage.

I didn't get it killed.

I tried my best. But when you're down in the pit, it runs into toxic gas. The whole point of the sandbeast is to see how the air's doing.

Deep in the pit, where it's always darkest...

Why, why am I shaking?

Mate, d'you know which one of these transport trucks is heading out first?

You want to go see it?

Yeah, I still remember where I first saw it. Just need to head back thereabouts to find it again.

I still remember... the ray of light.

Other than the dark, what should I be feeling for?

You will remember.

It... actually rescued me, let me keep living on.

It exists, right?

Yeah, it exists.

—The sandbeast opens its eyes.

Wait, Sandbeast, where are we going?

To find the thing you want to find.

You can bring me there?

No, it's no good if it's just me.

But I've only got...

Whoa, let go!

Hood, hood...

...Hood?

Why is it holding on to the Doctor's hood so tightly?!

Atop the rock wall, among the sand dunes, streams of water flow out from holes all about, converging into a pool in the center.

Please let go, if you don't, it's going to tear—

The rock walls and stone columns come together to form a rocky barrier, blocking the oncoming sandstorm and protecting those on its leeward side.

Hey, sandbeast, bet you haven't eaten one of these before! It's a radish biscuit!

The general goods storekeeper mentioned it before, and the animal almanac wrote about it too. So it's this kind of place...

A sandbeast digging itself out of a small hole, two sandbeasts leaning against a branch, three sandbeasts soaking in the pool... no, four, five, even more than that.

Their backfins are all arced, their blood vessels showing a healthy glow.

This here is sourberry pie! We've got some grasspot crispycrusts too!

Heheh... It looks like the sandbeasts get along with me a lot better than the Doctor!

Amiya, help me figure something out here...;......;Potlid, you sure are laughing a lot...

Ghh... I keep patting its head, but it still won't let go...

Don't worry, Doctor, I won't let it rip your hood!

Well, it's obvious right—Hey, wait a second, you're calling me Potlid because you're trying to get back at me! You can't call me that!

...Why?

Why are there so many sandbeasts living here?

There's even more sandbeasts jumping up here!

Doctor, try not to get overwhelmed...

Here, let me have a try.

Oh, I knew Ray would figure it out!

The way that you chased after those sandbeasts just now, I told everyone you're definitely a little critter lover!

Just now...?

It looks like Ray didn't realize we've been following her all this way...

We really just got off the truck for a break, waiting for the braking device to cool down, but then we saw you looking like you were in some kind of daze when you got off. We were worried, so...

...Sorry.

Keep calm, Doctor. Try not to move too much...

Wow...

That was a huge sneeze...! It let go!

That was... using a pointy leaf to poke around in the holes on the sandbeast's back... to tickle it?

Thanks, I can finally think straight again.;So that's the sandbeast's breathing holes.

Alright, little fellas, you're all safe. Run along now.

That sandbeast's reaction is pretty simple to explain. They use their backfins to support their breathing, and are very sensitive to changes in airflow and temperature.

These sandbeasts and the ones bred in captivity are just as small. Look like cubs around three to four months old.

They should grow up to be pretty chunky, and live for a decent amount of years.

What about the one with you, Ray?

Now that I can give you a proper look in the rays of light, your coat's a bit brighter than I thought. My mistake.

Though I have to ask, why are you following me?

Oi!

I've been looking for you lot for half the day! Why'd you all run this way anyway...?

What are all these critters doing here? What are they?

Sandbeasts.

I know they're sandbeasts.

These things... No, that's not important right now. Doctor, didn't you say you could actually read the data from the survey equipment atop the truck?

That doohickey's pumping out fluctuating data, ninety-nine times out of a hundred whatever it says doesn't happen, and I don't understand a thing about the pattern it's spit out...

—Everyone, get back in the truck!;We need to leave immediately.

...Eh?

You saying it could be... a Catastrophe?

The Doctor looked into it. The Catastrophe Messenger who was on the truck with us for a little while had a very limited survey range. We can't rely on that data to provide us an accurate picture of the situation.

And since the Doctor's judgement says to leave as soon as possible, and not to try and take cover here...

That means that we still have time.

Alright, got it.

Let's get a move on, before the Catastrophe wrecks everything here! The farther, the better!

Everything here...

Wh-Whew... From running over to tell you lot the news, then running back... I gotta say—whew... I gotta say that I definitely broke the factory district record!

Potlid, did you manage to get my time?

You need to time your own runs, Lanns... Wait for the others next time!

You guys were playing with the sandbeasts too long, turned you into slowpokes!

I can wait, sure, but the Catastrophe won't!

C'mon, be a good girl, start up already...

Doctor, Amiya, you two ready?

I'm all set...! Eh?

The Doctor ran too hard, still isn't up for talking! ... Right, yes... I understand. The Doctor says 'I'm all set too!'

Alrighty, if everyone's buckled up, off we go! Tootleloo, Catastrophe!

Will we be alright, going at this speed?