The trek back took half a day.
The creature limped beside him—still weak, but mobile. Toren had rigged a crude sling from rope and cut vines, looping it beneath the beast's belly to take some of the weight. It didn't resist. It simply followed.
By the time they reached the village perimeter, sweat soaked through his tunic and his arms trembled from exertion. But the creature—silent, regal, wounded—walked behind him with a strange dignity.
It hadn't tried to run.
It hadn't tried to kill him.
Yet.
The moment they crossed the outer fence, a shout went up.
Wess, ever vigilant despite being asleep under a tarp five seconds earlier, pointed from his chair. "Toren! What in the—Is that a kralladon?!"
"No," Toren said, exhausted. "I don't think so. It's... it's a Chirrissk."
He wasn't sure why the name came to him. It just did.
Behind him, Mira emerged from the workshop with an oil-smeared rag and a frown already forming.
She took one look at the beast and froze.
Then she dropped the rag, grabbed her wrench, and stormed forward.
"You brought that here?!"
Toren held up a hand. "It's injured. I found it in a trap."
"It's a predator. That thing kills other things."
"Most things here do. Including us."
"It's not a pet, Vale. You don't domesticate something with claws bigger than my arm."
"It let me help it. It's walking with me."
"It's stalking you."
"No. It's following."
Mira stopped a few paces away, eyes darting between Toren and the creature. Her fingers twitched against the wrench.
"If it so much as looks at a child—"
"I know," he said. "I'll take responsibility."
"That's not how danger works."
"I don't care."
That stopped her.
Toren took a breath, then stepped between her and the creature. His tone changed—lower, sharper, more grounded.
"We live here on borrowed land. Everything we use, we rip out of this jungle. If I can build something with it instead of just around it—why wouldn't I try?"
Mira's mouth opened. Closed. She looked at him—really looked.
Then, slowly, she lowered the wrench.
"You're lucky it's you."
"I am."
She pointed a finger at the Chirrissk. "First sign of teeth, it's barbecue."
"Fair."
The creature flicked its tail once, then lowered itself onto the dirt like it understood.
Mira gave it a long, assessing look.
Then muttered, "I still hate this," and turned away.
Toren crouched beside the Chirrissk, watching it breathe.
Behind him, Kora's voice hummed softly:
Task progress: 92%.Stabilization pending. Behavioral bonding in progress.
He smiled.