story_asbest_1_1

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.

What? How is that exciting? We're happy enough just living here and getting our three meals a day.

Yeah, this is where we live. Plus, what if there's a bunch of poisonous bugs up there? You'll die! That's not exciting.

Yeah, you'll die! Don't be silly!

Er... I...

We saw you eat bugs. Did you spend all your money shopping a few days ago? But you can make money if you catch a bunch of fins!

Yeah, follow Inam and you'll make lots of money!

And your parents will be sad if you die!

Parents? They ain't around anymore.

Oh.

But what's with all this death talk? Never said I was gonna die.

Oh, that's good.

Then let's keep singing! Do you want to learn our songs?

You farm—♪

(Deep breath)

Oh for god's sake stop talking already even that girl wasn't as noisy as you people I should've gotten some duct tape to shut you up for good!

Whoa! What did she say? That wasn't Sargonian, was it?

Did one of her eyes just change color?

Argh! Ugh! Uhhhh...

Finally! She's awake! Now you can take her and scram!

Are you alright?

Ugh... guh...

Shit, and out like a light again.

Whatever. You have doctors, don't you? Stop wasting time with me.

Now piss off.

Alright, thank you, miss!

(Doesn't change the fact that she's weird through. Maybe we should knock her out and take her away in a sack if things don't go well.)

Hell no!

Oh, it's morning.

Yesterday was so tiring... I should go before those guys come back.

Looks like that's everything. Time to move!

And here we are.

It's even more daunting up close. What am I getting myself into?

Well, here goes nothing!

The surroundings are silent, save for the deafening roar of the waterfall. Asbestos climbs against the raging current, tugging at her rope, the top of which is swallowed by the splashing foam.

It is always the same—climbing towards unknown heights, or descending into unknown depths.

She knows that there is a stunning view at her destination, but not what difficulties that she might encounter on the way.

It could be a slip, a fall, wild beasts, snowstorms, or perhaps some disaster or challenge she could never imagine.

(The current's too strong. I can't find my footing!)

(There's a branch there!)

(Good, it's pretty solid. I should be able to avoid the currents by following it...)

Ha!

So slippery!

She knows how it feels to lose her balance in rapid currents, pushing her lungs to the limit in suffocating whirlpools.

She knows how it feels to keep climbing through the night after breaking her arm from a fall halfway up, just to catch a glimpse of the sunrise from the top.

She knows how it feels to slip and fall on a glacier, the ice chips ripping through her skin.

But she also remembers seeing the rays of the setting sun reflect upon the icy surface when she stood up again, accompanied by a sweet icy breeze.

At that moment, Asbestos no longer cared about her bleeding wounds. All the pain and suffering, all the hardship—it was all worth it.

*Cough* *Cough*...

Aye, that was one hell of a shower... good thing there's a gap here.

But I'm still alive! And almost there!

Here we go!

Every time she gets up again, she is thinking the same thing.

It was bloody worth it.

Half an hour later

*gasp*... *gasp*...

I'm exhausted...

I took a look around. No poisonous bugs, so she won't die. Oh, and these vines grow here too? Wow, there's a lot of them!

It's such a great place up here! So many vines growing here!

Haha, you may be fierce, but you're pretty darn good!

Hey, back off!

I had my eyes on her first!

Oh, and sorry about the other day. Kanna told me you outsiders don't like fighting. I shouldn't have hit you.

But your tail is really cool!

Oh, for the love of—!

Just shut up and take in the view!

The Archosauria are wet and muddy, with pieces of grass in their hair.

A wind from the canyon blows the grass into the sky, until it disappears in the distance.

They see a sight they have never seen before—their own home.

Look over there!

Wow! Look at that!

Their hearts are filled with myriad emotions. Beautiful, stunning, spectacular—or perhaps something beyond what any word could describe. Just like the outsider who gazes at the view in fascination, their cries of joy echo through the canyon.

Woo!

Wahoo!

Wow...

It's beautiful.

Wow...

I want to sing.

Let's surround her! Join hands and sing!

Your waterfall is rushing, there's fins for your plate~♪

You swing about your tail, so the fins take the bait~♪

Climb up your waterfall, it's such a pretty sight~♪

It's such a pretty sight, oh, such a pretty sight~♪

Ha. Fine.

Such a pretty sight~♪

Hey, stop spinning!

Cheer and laugh, till we make the sky sing~♪

Make the sky sing~♪

We'll be going!

Goodbye, friend!

Yeah, yeah, later guys!

So tired.

Where do they get the energy for all that noise? I'd rather climb ten waterfalls.

Now, what should I write for this one?

One month later

Magazine delivery from Asbestos! There's one for everyone! Her travel journal's inside.

A travel journal is a record you keep of what you see and experience when you visit a new place.

Wow, she grades the sights pretty harshly. And she looked so happy when she came down from the waterfall.

It's in Rim Billitonian. I'll translate it. There's a new section: 'Meet the Locals.' You guys are in it!

We're in a book!

Ahem! It opens like this:

'They're noisy, but fun.'