The sun shines down beautifully on the little hamlet of Middletown City. Clusters of little flowers and bunches of tall grasses blew in the light breeze, saltwater misting over the farmland that covered the vale. Middletown’s Volcano, sitting high at the center of it all, almost also seemed to bask in the nice weather. Its rocks glinted with little flecks in the light of the sun, that light fading only when clouds passed over.
Until the rocks are suddenly kicked aside in a raucous clatter– A ball of fur comes bolting through the square then, taking a shortcut across the volcano’s bedding, leaving a trail of dust billowing up in his wake.
“YOU–!! Little boy, you skimped out on some chips! Get back here–!!”
“–Soorryy!”
He rounds back just as fast, a little piebald furball of a Malcian skidding back to the market stalls and dropping some more chips into the waiting hands of the older Malcians, a pair of grocers selling some foodgoods at the same stall. The other one nods its head at him, looking him up and down,
“Hey, you… Relax, will you? You don’t gotta be goin’ so fast,” The little Malcian then pulled his big lop ear over his shoulder, smiling up in response as he began to run his paws down the fur with some excitement. The bread-seller who had taken the chips turned away with a bit of a grumble to count them, while the fish-seller tried to soothe the lad with their brow raised. “... What’s the problem?”
“There’s no problem. I’m just excited to get to training today. They’re having some exploration programs,” He almost, almost looked bashful as he tried his best to contain his excitement with a small grin. “And I wanna be first in line!”
The fish-seller looked over their shoulder at their partner, blinking as the other ignored the commotion. More explorer-types up and coming, huh? “Well… Relax, will you?” They repeated, not sure what else to say to the young man now bouncing on the balls of his heels. “The ships are going all day, but they don’t take just anyone anywhere. You won’t be able to-” They wave their paw around. “Go anywhere except The Wastelands to the south, if you have to go with the other adventurers… Hey, what’s your name?”
“Xī Gǒu,” The little Malcian says, having been chewing on his fish sandwich as quickly as possible while the fisherman spoke. They shake their head.
“Don’t go so fast around here anymore, ‘kay? You’re disrupting business! And double-check your chips next time!”
“ ‘Kaaay,” Xī Gǒu smiles and waves as he finishes his meal and begins to skip away. The merchants shake their heads once again in disbelief, some other local Malcians migrating over to the stall to giggle at the interaction and poke fun at the sellers. Kids!
And a kid Xī Gǒu may as well have been… In the grand scheme of things, anyway; He was new to this world, and the world was new to him. In the while that he’d been around, he tried to get his footing by watching the merchants and workers do their business, offering to help where he could so that he might learn the tricks of the trade and pick up a craft as he continued along and learned more of what the world had to offer.
But… As the days went on, it became clear to him– He just wanted to explore! To see the world! To make a name for himself seeing and felling monstrous beasts! … Even though he looked nothing like the famous hunters cheered about on the streets, Xī Gǒu of course needed to wonder if he had what it took!
Really, though, what excited him was adventure.
See, he was much quieter when he was born, but not that much less curious about the world, eyes big when he nodded along to the stories Aiko liked to share about Remia and the rest of the world, and playing games with the others. The savannahs of Spavida was where he came to be, and as he explored the kingdoms and became more and more animated, he became known to locals as Xī Gǒu, the Playful, Frolicking Puppy.
He didn’t mind that name, but he thought it could be better. And to get a better name, you have to do a grand thing to really have it remembered! (That was how it worked, right?)
And see, this is how he’d gotten it into his head that he needed to go out and explore, and he needed to start now!
𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ ☁️་༘ …
So here was Xī Gǒu, talking with the others on the ferry off to The Wastelands. Some were more used to the grind, it seemed, taking the opportunity to rest up and enjoy the summer sun, or to check their rations and ensure their vine-cutting knives were sharp. And others…
“He’s so cool,” He hears a Malcian whispering about their expedition leader nearby. To make sure that civilians stay safe, with each expedition a more experienced Malcian would join them on their adventure, at least early on until they are able to handle themselves– This time, it seemed to be a Malcian with a man-sized scythe (What is a man? 🍷) and large bone horns. He appeared to be simply resting against the railing of the ship.
“Is that our leader this time?” Xī Gǒu asked with a tilt to his head- The others nodded their heads ‘yes’. When did a group gather around him? Malcians big and small seemed to be getting their bearings and gathering around. It seemed like the shore was coming up on them pretty fast.
“It ain’t that dangerous, though. ‘Specially for someone like Celios! It’ll be a walk in the park for him, I bet.”
Xī Gǒu nods, taking a glance at the explorer. So… If he wants to make it as an adventurer in the Kingdom, he has to be someone like him! He’s got this.
𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ ☁️་༘ …
Xī Gǒu plods through the mud and muck with only a little bit of disgust. He was an outdoorsy kind of guy, sure, but… It was sticking to his fuuuurrr!! How gross.
Their little expedition crew had been dropped off at the old village on the eastern side of the isle. Most of the Malcians had broken off, some diving right into the heart of the swamp the moment they touched ground in search for treasures, while others went to set up their camp for the day, and others yet went to do business at the market or meet up with friends.
Xī Gǒu did a little bit of exploring of the town before delving into the swamp. Of course he can stop by the market anytime! He’s never been this far out of Malcion, and he wanted to explore.
The fresh taste in the air, the towering heights of the trees, even the feeling of the water on his paws were so much more different than anything he was used to. Crovita had forests, but not trees with drooping leaves much like a Malcian’s ears. And of course they had flowers and bushes back home, but nothing with leaves or flowering buds so massive they could practically eat his paw… So to speak. The water Xī Gǒu waded through felt like sludge compared to the sea’s, and a green film stuck to his fur; The water he was used to normally left a salty tang in the air, in his nose, but this was just different. The animals, too– The Wastelands were proving to be home to some creatures Xī Gǒu had only heard about in stories before now, when he had almost been sure that his friends were lying about such creatures!
It was all different. It was all so amazing!
Xī Gǒu had stepped out of the water at some point and finally shifted into a form more capable of traversing the lands. Hopping from rock-to-rock in the middle of the swampy lake, he was really just making the most of his stroll.
It was clear to Xī Gǒu that he didn’t even have to stock as much as everyone else, his rations still full and not having had to use his tools much at all. What were they all so worried about?
His destination now is a particularly large rock in the center of the still lake, humming a hometown tune to himself as he skips along. Xī Gǒu nearly reaches it, before–
“Grrgggrrlllrrrgrrrr……”
Xī Gǒu has to stop his movements short. He blinks.
… He could’ve sworn he just saw that big rock move!
Lowered now to this little stepping stone that his feet could barely fit on, he glanced over his shoulder, then down at the pool below him. When did the water get so dark? Xī Gǒu dips a hand in and it comes away with algae, he peers down into the window his hand makes as he swishes the greenery away.
The hairs on the back of his neck raise as he peers down into the clear, very very clear spring– How deep down did it go?!! He was sure he saw fallen trees, roots and all settled at its bottom, but no fish to be found. Xī Gǒu suddenly finds himself that much more hurried to get to the big rock, regardless of whether or not it happens to be moving. They’ll cross that bridge when they get to it!
Taking the last few hops, Xī Gǒu lands safely on the surface of the rock, paws scrabbling as he breathes out in relief. He’d just sit here for a while!
Of course, “a while” in Xī Gǒu’s world is only a couple of seconds, except this time it’s certainly not from any impatience he happened to be feeling. Almost just as soon as he landed on the stone, and pat the surface of it a few times to feel its taut, warty flesh, was as soon as he felt his center of gravity begin to shift. Panicked, he sticks his claws deep into the flesh and heard that rumbling again– Closer, and angrier.
“Ohhhh no, no.” He hissed, quickly reaching over his shoulder to dig into his bag for a knife, or anything he could use as a weapon– Before he’s dragged under the clear water’s surface, holding his breath as he watches the frog’s wide webbed hands swim them along just ahead of them. Xī Gǒu feels it begin to thrash in response to his claws, and he has to quickly make a decision–
Xī Gǒu’s head breaches the surface and he takes in a big gulp of air, flipping his big ears behind his shoulders and out of his way as he quickly attempts to paddle to shore. It wasn’t much use, though– As the massive swamp frog emerges from behind him, he could feel himself getting careened away by the waves even further from shore, his form breaking, and it was all he could do just to stay afloat.
Desperate times… He turns with a grimace to watch it’s approach, before opening his mouth to take a deep breath, and,
…
…
…
𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ ☁️་༘ …
…
Left dripping on the land, Xī Gǒu isn’t too sure of what had just happened. One second he was about to start screaming for help, for any of the expedition party to come rescue him, but… Well, he was alive, wasn’t he?
He could still hear the sound of thrashing waters just ahead of him, though. Xī Gǒu scooches forward on his knees, falling to his arms as he watches with awe.
It seemed that Celios had found Xī Gǒu and the predicament that he was in, and was now brandishing his scythe at the squealing, gurgling swamp frog. He seemed to have landed a gnarly hit with the blade of his weapon as he had rescued Xī Gǒu from the deep waters, leaving a diagonal gash across its face.
Celios had to stay balanced on top of the rocks that Xī Gǒu was playing on for fun as the frog lunged at him repeatedly with its massive body. To Xī Gǒu, it seemed like he wasn’t even breaking a sweat, swiping at it from afar and successfully landing blows on it while dodging this way and that.
“Watch out–!” Xī Gǒu gasps. The Malcian had been backed into a corner, on the little stone furthest out into the water, and was about to be pushed into the cold deep with one last leap–
Instead, Celios seemed to have steeled himself, his expression hardening as he finally laid the last blow on the Echo. It cries out as it slips off the rocks and escapes into the deep, but not before leaving a trophy for those who remained.
Sighing, he leans down to take his prize before he carries himself back to shore where Xī Gǒu waited. Despite looking worse for wear, Xī Gǒu was mostly just covered in grime and couldn’t look any happier.
“That–!! You were so cool!” He gasps, clasping his claws together as Celios stopped in front of him. “How’d you know that I was here?!”
Celios blinked, his ear flicking in… probable annoyance as he then shot him a look, “I didn’t. I was hunting down the Echo.” Despite this answer, Xī Gǒu didn’t look deterred at all, nodding at him with big, wide eyes. “You should be more careful next time. You’re lucky I was here.”
“You can hunt. You know how to explore–” Xī Gǒu ignores him. “Can you, can you show me how to hunt…?”
𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ ☁️་༘ …
As Xī Gǒu began to learn the ways of the explorer and the hunter, he grew more witted, and learned to slow himself and pay more attention to his surroundings. A Malcian should never be caught unawares if they value their life, after all.
Still, he couldn’t change that much. As Xī Gǒu learned, he took it upon himself to rename himself to Páo Láng, the Roaring Wolf, after the battle cry he cheers whenever he lands his first hit on an enemy.
“I did it! I took it down! Did you all see me?”
…
…
𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ ☁️་༘ …
This story features very briefly MALC-065, Celios who is owned by Nyxeikhor and was so so kind to let me borrow them as Páo Láng’s mentor! ^_^ Thank you soso much again! By the way, my writing for the swamp lake that he finds himself in is based on Kitch-iti-kipi in Michigan, which isn’t exactly a lake but a freshwater spring. You can see straight to the bottom, which is 45 feet deep and the center of the lake is a little over freezing temps year-round. Scary! :D
Wyverncult
𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ ☁️་༘ …
The sun shines down beautifully on the little hamlet of Middletown City. Clusters of little flowers and bunches of tall grasses blew in the light breeze, saltwater misting over the farmland that covered the vale. Middletown’s Volcano, sitting high at the center of it all, almost also seemed to bask in the nice weather. Its rocks glinted with little flecks in the light of the sun, that light fading only when clouds passed over.
Until the rocks are suddenly kicked aside in a raucous clatter– A ball of fur comes bolting through the square then, taking a shortcut across the volcano’s bedding, leaving a trail of dust billowing up in his wake.
“YOU–!! Little boy, you skimped out on some chips! Get back here–!!”
“–Soorryy!”
He rounds back just as fast, a little piebald furball of a Malcian skidding back to the market stalls and dropping some more chips into the waiting hands of the older Malcians, a pair of grocers selling some foodgoods at the same stall. The other one nods its head at him, looking him up and down,
“Hey, you… Relax, will you? You don’t gotta be goin’ so fast,” The little Malcian then pulled his big lop ear over his shoulder, smiling up in response as he began to run his paws down the fur with some excitement. The bread-seller who had taken the chips turned away with a bit of a grumble to count them, while the fish-seller tried to soothe the lad with their brow raised. “... What’s the problem?”
“There’s no problem. I’m just excited to get to training today. They’re having some exploration programs,” He almost, almost looked bashful as he tried his best to contain his excitement with a small grin. “And I wanna be first in line!”
The fish-seller looked over their shoulder at their partner, blinking as the other ignored the commotion. More explorer-types up and coming, huh? “Well… Relax, will you?” They repeated, not sure what else to say to the young man now bouncing on the balls of his heels. “The ships are going all day, but they don’t take just anyone anywhere. You won’t be able to-” They wave their paw around. “Go anywhere except The Wastelands to the south, if you have to go with the other adventurers… Hey, what’s your name?”
“Xī Gǒu,” The little Malcian says, having been chewing on his fish sandwich as quickly as possible while the fisherman spoke. They shake their head.
“Don’t go so fast around here anymore, ‘kay? You’re disrupting business! And double-check your chips next time!”
“ ‘Kaaay,” Xī Gǒu smiles and waves as he finishes his meal and begins to skip away. The merchants shake their heads once again in disbelief, some other local Malcians migrating over to the stall to giggle at the interaction and poke fun at the sellers. Kids!
And a kid Xī Gǒu may as well have been… In the grand scheme of things, anyway; He was new to this world, and the world was new to him. In the while that he’d been around, he tried to get his footing by watching the merchants and workers do their business, offering to help where he could so that he might learn the tricks of the trade and pick up a craft as he continued along and learned more of what the world had to offer.
But… As the days went on, it became clear to him– He just wanted to explore! To see the world! To make a name for himself seeing and felling monstrous beasts! … Even though he looked nothing like the famous hunters cheered about on the streets, Xī Gǒu of course needed to wonder if he had what it took!
Really, though, what excited him was adventure.
See, he was much quieter when he was born, but not that much less curious about the world, eyes big when he nodded along to the stories Aiko liked to share about Remia and the rest of the world, and playing games with the others. The savannahs of Spavida was where he came to be, and as he explored the kingdoms and became more and more animated, he became known to locals as Xī Gǒu, the Playful, Frolicking Puppy.
He didn’t mind that name, but he thought it could be better. And to get a better name, you have to do a grand thing to really have it remembered! (That was how it worked, right?)
And see, this is how he’d gotten it into his head that he needed to go out and explore, and he needed to start now!
𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ ☁️་༘ …
So here was Xī Gǒu, talking with the others on the ferry off to The Wastelands. Some were more used to the grind, it seemed, taking the opportunity to rest up and enjoy the summer sun, or to check their rations and ensure their vine-cutting knives were sharp. And others…
“He’s so cool,” He hears a Malcian whispering about their expedition leader nearby. To make sure that civilians stay safe, with each expedition a more experienced Malcian would join them on their adventure, at least early on until they are able to handle themselves– This time, it seemed to be a Malcian with a man-sized scythe (What is a man? 🍷) and large bone horns. He appeared to be simply resting against the railing of the ship.
“Is that our leader this time?” Xī Gǒu asked with a tilt to his head- The others nodded their heads ‘yes’. When did a group gather around him? Malcians big and small seemed to be getting their bearings and gathering around. It seemed like the shore was coming up on them pretty fast.
“It ain’t that dangerous, though. ‘Specially for someone like Celios! It’ll be a walk in the park for him, I bet.”
Xī Gǒu nods, taking a glance at the explorer. So… If he wants to make it as an adventurer in the Kingdom, he has to be someone like him! He’s got this.
𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ ☁️་༘ …
Xī Gǒu plods through the mud and muck with only a little bit of disgust. He was an outdoorsy kind of guy, sure, but… It was sticking to his fuuuurrr!! How gross.
Their little expedition crew had been dropped off at the old village on the eastern side of the isle. Most of the Malcians had broken off, some diving right into the heart of the swamp the moment they touched ground in search for treasures, while others went to set up their camp for the day, and others yet went to do business at the market or meet up with friends.
Xī Gǒu did a little bit of exploring of the town before delving into the swamp. Of course he can stop by the market anytime! He’s never been this far out of Malcion, and he wanted to explore.
The fresh taste in the air, the towering heights of the trees, even the feeling of the water on his paws were so much more different than anything he was used to. Crovita had forests, but not trees with drooping leaves much like a Malcian’s ears. And of course they had flowers and bushes back home, but nothing with leaves or flowering buds so massive they could practically eat his paw… So to speak. The water Xī Gǒu waded through felt like sludge compared to the sea’s, and a green film stuck to his fur; The water he was used to normally left a salty tang in the air, in his nose, but this was just different. The animals, too– The Wastelands were proving to be home to some creatures Xī Gǒu had only heard about in stories before now, when he had almost been sure that his friends were lying about such creatures!
It was all different. It was all so amazing!
Xī Gǒu had stepped out of the water at some point and finally shifted into a form more capable of traversing the lands. Hopping from rock-to-rock in the middle of the swampy lake, he was really just making the most of his stroll.
It was clear to Xī Gǒu that he didn’t even have to stock as much as everyone else, his rations still full and not having had to use his tools much at all. What were they all so worried about?
His destination now is a particularly large rock in the center of the still lake, humming a hometown tune to himself as he skips along. Xī Gǒu nearly reaches it, before–
“Grrgggrrlllrrrgrrrr……”
Xī Gǒu has to stop his movements short. He blinks.
… He could’ve sworn he just saw that big rock move! Lowered now to this little stepping stone that his feet could barely fit on, he glanced over his shoulder, then down at the pool below him. When did the water get so dark? Xī Gǒu dips a hand in and it comes away with algae, he peers down into the window his hand makes as he swishes the greenery away.
The hairs on the back of his neck raise as he peers down into the clear, very very clear spring– How deep down did it go?!! He was sure he saw fallen trees, roots and all settled at its bottom, but no fish to be found. Xī Gǒu suddenly finds himself that much more hurried to get to the big rock, regardless of whether or not it happens to be moving. They’ll cross that bridge when they get to it!
Taking the last few hops, Xī Gǒu lands safely on the surface of the rock, paws scrabbling as he breathes out in relief. He’d just sit here for a while!
Of course, “a while” in Xī Gǒu’s world is only a couple of seconds, except this time it’s certainly not from any impatience he happened to be feeling. Almost just as soon as he landed on the stone, and pat the surface of it a few times to feel its taut, warty flesh, was as soon as he felt his center of gravity begin to shift. Panicked, he sticks his claws deep into the flesh and heard that rumbling again– Closer, and angrier.
“Ohhhh no, no.” He hissed, quickly reaching over his shoulder to dig into his bag for a knife, or anything he could use as a weapon– Before he’s dragged under the clear water’s surface, holding his breath as he watches the frog’s wide webbed hands swim them along just ahead of them. Xī Gǒu feels it begin to thrash in response to his claws, and he has to quickly make a decision–
Xī Gǒu’s head breaches the surface and he takes in a big gulp of air, flipping his big ears behind his shoulders and out of his way as he quickly attempts to paddle to shore. It wasn’t much use, though– As the massive swamp frog emerges from behind him, he could feel himself getting careened away by the waves even further from shore, his form breaking, and it was all he could do just to stay afloat.
Desperate times… He turns with a grimace to watch it’s approach, before opening his mouth to take a deep breath, and,
…
…
…
𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ ☁️་༘ …
…
Left dripping on the land, Xī Gǒu isn’t too sure of what had just happened. One second he was about to start screaming for help, for any of the expedition party to come rescue him, but… Well, he was alive, wasn’t he?
He could still hear the sound of thrashing waters just ahead of him, though. Xī Gǒu scooches forward on his knees, falling to his arms as he watches with awe.
It seemed that Celios had found Xī Gǒu and the predicament that he was in, and was now brandishing his scythe at the squealing, gurgling swamp frog. He seemed to have landed a gnarly hit with the blade of his weapon as he had rescued Xī Gǒu from the deep waters, leaving a diagonal gash across its face.
Celios had to stay balanced on top of the rocks that Xī Gǒu was playing on for fun as the frog lunged at him repeatedly with its massive body. To Xī Gǒu, it seemed like he wasn’t even breaking a sweat, swiping at it from afar and successfully landing blows on it while dodging this way and that.
“Watch out–!” Xī Gǒu gasps. The Malcian had been backed into a corner, on the little stone furthest out into the water, and was about to be pushed into the cold deep with one last leap–
Instead, Celios seemed to have steeled himself, his expression hardening as he finally laid the last blow on the Echo. It cries out as it slips off the rocks and escapes into the deep, but not before leaving a trophy for those who remained.
Sighing, he leans down to take his prize before he carries himself back to shore where Xī Gǒu waited. Despite looking worse for wear, Xī Gǒu was mostly just covered in grime and couldn’t look any happier.
“That–!! You were so cool!” He gasps, clasping his claws together as Celios stopped in front of him. “How’d you know that I was here?!”
Celios blinked, his ear flicking in… probable annoyance as he then shot him a look, “I didn’t. I was hunting down the Echo.” Despite this answer, Xī Gǒu didn’t look deterred at all, nodding at him with big, wide eyes. “You should be more careful next time. You’re lucky I was here.”
“You can hunt. You know how to explore–” Xī Gǒu ignores him. “Can you, can you show me how to hunt…?”
𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ ☁️་༘ …
As Xī Gǒu began to learn the ways of the explorer and the hunter, he grew more witted, and learned to slow himself and pay more attention to his surroundings. A Malcian should never be caught unawares if they value their life, after all.
Still, he couldn’t change that much. As Xī Gǒu learned, he took it upon himself to rename himself to Páo Láng, the Roaring Wolf, after the battle cry he cheers whenever he lands his first hit on an enemy.
“I did it! I took it down! Did you all see me?”
…
…
𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ ☁️་༘ …
This story features very briefly MALC-065, Celios who is owned by Nyxeikhor and was so so kind to let me borrow them as Páo Láng’s mentor! ^_^ Thank you soso much again! By the way, my writing for the swamp lake that he finds himself in is based on Kitch-iti-kipi in Michigan, which isn’t exactly a lake but a freshwater spring. You can see straight to the bottom, which is 45 feet deep and the center of the lake is a little over freezing temps year-round. Scary! :D
2026-07-19 06:35:17
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