A high difficulty quest for The-monster-makers! Showing how Shast met Flit.

Upon entering the world, Shast found himself wandering aimlessly. It's so different from what he's used to. A lot more plantlife to be found at every turn, for starters. The grass under his feet is cool and tickles between his fingers and toes like the sand of the desert never had. It's colorful, too.

His attention is called to a frantic buzzing sound, and he follows the noise to a small circle of mushrooms. He stared once he found the source; a strange creature hovered within the small ring. He drew closer, curiosity sparked. "What manner of being are you?"

He received no answer, but the small seadragon did not look away from him. The sphinx gazed back, remembering tales of fae folk and the dancing rings they set out as traps. He wondered if this were something similar. "Are you a fairy?"

Angry buzzing met his inquiry, the seadragon turning away from him. It was then he noticed the pink leaf lashed around its exoskeleton. He leaned closer, squinting. "...A saddle? A fairy steed, then."

The creature's small tail curled up tightly as it turned back toward him, but he could somehow tell it was agitated. Impulsively, the sphinx reached out and crushed several of the mushrooms beneath his hand, sweeping them to the side. The bluish tint within faded, and the small creature burst forth from its tiny prison, flitting around the sphinx happily.

The seadragon came to hover in front of Shast, turning its back on him expectantly. The sphinx smiled and reached up to carefully severe the tiny saddle from its back. "There you are, my friend. You are free."

Shast gave the small creature a nod, glanced once more at the destroyed fairy ring, and stepped around it to continue on his way. He'd made it no more than twenty feet when buzzing was suddenly very loud in his ear, startling him. He turned his head sharply, catching sight of the seadragon with its tail reaching for the hole in Shast's ear plug.

"...Do you wish to accompany me, little one?"

The little beastie's tail curled tighter against him until it was settled right close to his face, leaning against him in what appeared to be exhaustion. The sphinx wondered how long the seadragon had been left to hover in that tiny prison. He smiled and continued onwards.

Art, Flit, Shast (c) Scott Francis