Monthly Prompt - Interesting Encounter - 📝

Water bottles, turned out to be the key.

Their new travel companions, Klez the irrabask and Abalone the (false) pterrabble, had been stuck in Croei due to the trabble's sensitivity to humidity and hydration. According to the duo, they had made multiple trips into the Irre Desert but had been forced to turn back each time when they ran low on water, which was essential for keeping Abalone's aquatic-suited skin from overheating.

So, between the five of them, they devised a plan involving a lot of water bottles and moss.

With the three trabbles, and their void-space stomachs, they should be able to carry a huge amount of water. However, most of the water would be absorbed by the trabbles during hottest parts of the trip (as both Alicanto and Abalone attested). Thus, Semi suggested using water bottles to contain the water as is was carried in the trabble's void-space storage space.

The containers would slow down how fast the trabbles absorbed the water, allowing the group to ration their supplies, and between Alicanto's expertise in desert travel and their ability to shift into desert-suited forms, the group would likely be able to make it to Karramesh.

Furthermore, Croei famed sponge-like moss could be used as a way to hydrate Abalone's skin for a prolonged time ...and it was while Semiplume and Buttercorn were collecting the moss that they ran into Morton

The exchange was friendly at first. Semi and Morton traded info about happenings in the wider Ranebo, research and some leads to pursue, as well as travel advice. Their conversation continued until Buttercorn approached and shyly peeked out from behind Semi, with her ichor Squim by her side.

A curious look came over Morton and he slowly looked between the human, pterrabble, and the ichor. Buttercorn, perhaps intimidated or annoyed by the large Bakiri's presence, bristled and puffed her feathers.

Morton chuckled warmly and reassured he meant no harm. He had simply been surprised to see a "matching set" such as themselves. He asked about rifts. Semi gave him a location off the coast. Butter, when asked, gave Semi and Morton a puzzled look.

Morton wished them safe travels and was off.