Everyone did as TayDrigin had asked and one by one they each took a straw. After which they all showed it to her so she now knew how to sort out the Seedlings under her Watch.
The red-headed twin would go first, then her sister, then the gloomy blue haired boy CalisVon, then SaiDrigin, and lastly MorDrigin.
MorDrigin stared at his straw, he did not think about the fact that he was last to go but was instead lost in thought. Just like the last four times, each time he saw this straw, it reminded him of his first day here.
A day he would have otherwise not liked to remember.
"Okay everyone, follow me." TayDrigin said with a cheery tone and smile that resonated with everyone. One way or the other, no matter how anxious or frightful most of the Seedlings here were, Tay's gentle smile had a way of soothing them. Even Mor, and...the strange gloomy boy who looked to blend into the shadows.
Looking at the boy, Mor felt something familiar about him. But the frightening part about it all was that Mor knew exactly why he was familiar. The boy reminded Mor of himself.
Not lingering any longer on the gloomy boy, Mor took in a deep breath, then he threw the straw away and followed behind.
Making their way through the ethereal forest with glowing plant life that came in all shapes and sizes, the Seedlings couldn't help but have a field day. The sights, the smells, the sounds and the sensations. It all felt very liberating and exhilarating. To the degree that most of them even forgot why they were here.
That was until the Whispers which had sounded very distant for a while now, drew up so close they could each swear the sound was right next to their ears.
Stretching out an arm, Tay halted everyone.
MorDrigin stood at the far back. An attempt at getting a good view of the front and also to be the one to guard their backs as he was somewhat experienced in this field. Then again, most of the children here were probably equal to if not stronger than he was, so he doubted they needed it.
But since he was the oldest, he couldn't help but feel this guardian instinct.
Freezing in place, Mor found just beyond the immediate trees in front of them...a creature made of stone. It stood three meters in the air, and it bore tentacle-like arms, a bulky humanoid body with no head, and four legs that looked like those of a crab.
Once more, there was a strange blackness that shimmered in its joints, crevices, and any open spot on its rock body. As it moved, a strange Whisper emanated from it, which sounded like the allure of a siren, mixed together with the very distant moans of thousands in pain.
The sound was strange, to say the least, and uncanny in every way possible.
Seeing this creature, the vigor and enthusiasm pouring out of the children disappeared, so that now all that was left was unease, anxiety, fear, and deep caution.
The creature was moving at a slow pace, walking toward one direction like it was being mind-controlled.
Turning to the children, TayDrigin pointed at one of them, pulling Mor's gaze.
She had picked the one with the shortest straw, said one being the red-haired twin LoriHaden.
Freezing for a moment, LoriHaden gulped, before taking her steps toward TayDrigin.
"You can do this Lor." Her sister MayHaden said to her in a hushed tone.
Now standing in front of Tay, she waited as Tay spoke.
"Which weapon are you well versed in?" TayDrigin likewise said in a hushed tone.
"A hammer." The red-haired twin LoriHaden said, so Mor almost choked on his spit.
'She said what?' Mor had thought, as he stared at LoriHaden.
TayDrigin smiled, then she diverted her gaze to the space in front of her so that she was momentarily distracted by her Inventory. Tapping on midair, a spark of light shot out in her hand, so a hammer had formed out of the light.
Staring at her, Mor didn't notice when his sister SaiDrigin had come to stand beside him, and she said, "That's quite the weapon of choice huh brother?"
"Right?" Mor said with a grin of disbelief. Then he realized something. "Hey, what are you doing back here?"
"I could ask you the same thing." SaiDrigin said while trying to get her mother's Ethos comfortable in her hands. It would seem Helai was being moody and wanted to go back to TayDrigin. But Sai didn't want to let him go just yet.
"I'm the oldest, so I'm watching the rear." Mor had said as he stared at LoriHaden who took the ornate silver hammer which was almost as big as her, and plopped it over her shoulder while staring at the creature and taking in deep breaths.
"Whose?" Sai said with a giggle.
Mor did not respond immediately because he did not understand what she was getting at. Then when he finally got it he frowned, after which he responded.
"Oh, Mom's of course. Just wondering if any of the little girls here would grow up to boast a rear as big as Mom's. Or they'll just continue to have legs growing out of their backs their whole lives." Mor had said with a grin.
"Hey!" Sai almost yelled.
"Shush, she's getting out there." Mor had said, both in an attempt to escape Sai's wrath and also because he was genuinely excited to see what LoriHaden was capable of.
In truth, no matter how he had grown to hate most of this, he still couldn't deny how this part always made him feel. Euphoric.