ray

Follow me, Sandbeast!

Wraw!

These sandbeasts... sometimes when they are digging underground, they will dig into the mines.

Is that how they learned that these mushrooms and moss... remove toxins?

The sandbeast pack, of course, aren't able to answer the Cautus's question, even though she's wearing the same mushrooms and moss that they are.

They happily jostle to and fro, lighting up the mushrooms and moss hanging from their bodies, before ravenously gulping them down.

In the darkness the pack seems to float effortlessly across the desert, like a huge school of fins swimming slowly toward the glimmering moonlight.

Ray stands there, watching them.

This is the first time I've ever seen anything like this. I guess the 'Fins on the Night Desert' is a real thing.

I guess... they were talking about sandbeasts...

And my Sandbeast.

Ray starts running... and her faint glow returns.

She catches up to the sandbeasts, like a wayward fin returning to its school.

(Whistles)

*huff* *huff* ... Sandbeast!

Sandbeast! Should I give you a proper name?

A name for my first sandbeast!

What's a good name for you?

Hmm...

Wraw?

I'll call you... 'Glowy'?

Wraw...

Don't like that name?

'Shiny'? 'Lighty'?

Wraw...

Haha. No. You don't like any of those names...

I don't think I'm too good at picking names.

Let me noodle on it a bit more...

Well you keep saying 'wraw' 'wraw'... how about I call you 'Rory' for now?

Wraw?!

Relax! Relax!

Oh come on! Jerry and Keira just explained everything to you—it was all a misunderstanding! Ray didn't hijack the ute to run off with Jerry, and she wasn't trying to commit suicide in the wilderness!

She just wanted to take her sandbeast out to have some fun. It's no big deal. You don't need to worry.

If you don't believe me, ask Potlid!

Yes. Lanns is right. Ray said she'd be back in time for the banquet.

The banquet is scheduled to start at 21:30. She still has two minutes to get here.

Is she really going to come back safely?

We really don't need to go find her?

Believe me. Ray promised me that she'd be back!

It's almost 21:30. Listen to me...

Let the banquet—begin!

*huff* I'm back.

Let me think... oh right, I'm seated at pavilion 3, near the geyser, table 12, seat 6.

Potlid is sitting to my left, and Lanns is sitting to my right. There's also a wooden crate for Rory.

Right. This is the place.

Wraw!

Wow. The barbecue smells wonderful. The stew doesn't look half bad either...

Hm?

What's wrong? No one wants to eat?

Uhh... We'd like to ask...

Go ahead.

You didn't drive that truck into the no-man's land... because you suddenly lost your marbles and wanted to do something stupid?

You didn't go into that terrifying hut to buy poison, and/or something equally awful?

You didn't have some kind of mental breakdown, get lost, and end up in that abandoned mine?

What are you all saying? Of course not!

I took it out on a picnic.

Look.

Ray holds up the sandbeast at her feet, whose belly is now full and round.

The little sandbeast fidgets just slightly.

*burp*

See! I told you!

Well, let's eat!

Don't mind me, little one. I might not be able to move my body, but that doesn't mean I can't budge a bit.

Since you took so much effort to come all this way, I have one more question for you.

If I am the Feranmut, if I am the light you were seeking...

Considering how far you've had to come to get here, what exactly were you hoping I would help you with?

I...

Hiya there, mind if I ask if... you've seen Ray around?

Ray? Saw her just a minute ago!

As soon as I gave her her food, she walked off while munching out of her lunchbox...

It looked like she was chasing after a hairy little shadow. Must've been her sandbeast?

Thanks! Sorry for troubling ya!

Mind if I... *huff*... phew... Mind if I ask if you've seen Ray?

I've actually seen her a bunch of times today... I was just baffled.

While I was in the office this morning, I saw her turn that corner lots of times, and she seemed to be walking faster every time she did it.

Now that I think about it, I've seen you a lot today as well, Alanna...

Be... Because I'm looking for her!

Hah... Hah... Hoo...

A-Are you alright, Alanna?

I... I'm fine...

Hey.

Whoa—?!

What's up? Everyone on the ship's been telling me you were looking for me, so I came over.

Is that so... Been spending the whole morning looking for ya, nearly turned the entire ship over while I was at it!

...Sorry. I was taking Rory out for walkies.

(Feeble bellyflop)

Is it just me... or is your sandbeast a little plumper than before?

Wraw?

I've been busy with work lately, so I asked some friends at Logistics to feed it for a few days.

By the time I got back, Rory had become a ball.

Umm...

So that's why I'm taking it on walkies when I'm free.

Ray suddenly seems to remember something, rifling through her jacket pocket.

This month's installment... Not enough.

Here's my meal card. Take it. Call it... interest.

You seriously still on about that? I'm not here to get my money back... I just hadn't seen posts about your 'adventures' on the local forum in a while, so I wanted to see how you were doing.

Mmm. Haven't been any safety violations lately, so haven't had to sign any guarantee letters.

That's great.

(Long sigh of relief)

What is it?