asbest

Here. Gavial told me you're with Rhodes Island too.

My lieutenants are all businessmen. I've taught them a little Sargonian. Talk to them if you need anything.

Alright. But why's that one staring at me?

We don't get many guests here, so it's a bit of an occasion.

It is for me, at least!

Look at that tail!

Long and fleshy... It looks so soft and flexible too... Are those orange patterns on it?

Look, she's carrying all that stuff with her tail! And lifting that heavy door with one hand! Wow!

She must be really good at wrestling. That tail looks like it could break a tree in half. She's so beautiful!

I've never seen someone like that. I wanna be friends with her!

Wait, you're going up to her just like that? I, I'm not sure... whoa...

Metal Crab armor, Metal Crab greaves! Their hard shells stop any attack!

Sawfin tooth hammer and Sawfin bone sword! Their sharp edges cut through anything!

(She's coming...!)

Hey, hello!

Something wrong?

Oh! Well, I like your tail!

My tail? The hell are you talking about?

I'm busy. Outta my way!

(Whoa! She's scary...)

Oh, wait!

No need to be angry, right? I said I like you!

What about you? Don't you think my tail's nice? People say I've got a cool tail!

Ha? What're you on about now?

Go play in the mud with your friend.

You speak our language? In a pretty rowdy way, though...

I'm not playing in the mud! Did you think I'm a kid or something?

...We'll have a fight!

Seriously, what's wrong with you?

Outta my way!

Are you nuts?

Fine, you're nice, your tail's nice, super nice!

Oh? C'mon, gimme a break!

It's a fight!

Hey, watch out—woo, that's right, get your tail round her neck!

Oh no, my oil—hey, that was neat, using oil to slip out!

Woo! Fight! Fight!

Quick, this bush will hide us.

Haven't you guys fought enough yesterday? Why do I have to be here too?

And what about you two?

She bought a bunch of stuff. Of course we want to check it out.

She took a few scales off my tail last time!

She bought all that stuff, but she's living in a shed out here instead of in the village?

Not a bad spot though. That tree isn't too far from the river, but not so close that it would get flooded.

S-She caught a huge bug!

She's frying it!

She's putting it on bread!

She ate it!

Ughh...

Look at her, she's putting rocks in her soup.

That's the kind of salty rock that gives it more flavor. How did she know about them? I don't think anyone in the village told her.

Hey, she knows about those vines that you told me about too. The ones that have a tangy sweetness when you chew them.

Is she going out to catch fins?

Maybe striped fins, but sawfins aren't so easy to catch. I've caught a few with my tail, but it hurts quite a bit.

Maybe outsiders can learn about the rocks and vines, but when it comes to fins—

Ha!

How did she do that?

She... I....

Pff.

Let's go and find some vines.

Two hours later

Um, uh...

Still tailing me? Did you think I didn't see you?

What about your friend? Eaten by fins?

Er, no, she saw you eat the bugs and got hungry too, but—

Looks like she ate the wrong kind!

C-Can you help us out?

Eh?!

What is WRONG with you people?

It was because you ate them...

So what kind did she eat? How many?

Not sure... and just a few.

Did she vomit? Is she conscious? Are there any spots on her skin? Swelling?

Er...

Forget it, I'll take a look myself.

No fever, no rashes. Take this herb and boil it in water. It'll make her throw up.

Give her plenty of water.

She threw up three times until there was nothing left, then fell asleep.

Is she gonna be okay?

Just give her more water and stop yapping already!

The fire is so warm.

I want to sing.

Heh, me too!

We love a muscle that's big and whole~♪

You farm, and I hunt~ There's teeth white and tough in my little runts~♪

Hey!♪

Seriously, why are you people still here? What am I, your mom?

Are you saying you're our mother? What do you mean?

Maybe it's the tail? She's got a tail too. Maybe we're relatives!

Where are you from, Mom?

W-Why do you eat bugs, Mom?

And why come here? You bought my stuff too. Are you gonna live here?

Just— *Sigh*... I...

I'm not your mom, and I'm here to climb the waterfall.

You've gotta be kidding, no one's ever climbed it!

Yeah, yeah, whatever.

Then why are you climbing it? You'll die! And what for? Are there more fins up there?

...For the view.

The view? From the waterfall? Can't you find those anywhere?

It's exciting. Climbing it'll be fun.