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!