A Ride to the Big City

The sun was just beginning to rise as Zearon and Lotran walked through the dense forest. Birds chirped in the trees, and the air was cool and crisp.

“Lotran,” Zearon said, rubbing his growling stomach, “I’m starving. How much farther to the city?”

Lotran sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. “Zearon, we just started walking an hour ago. The city is at least two days away on foot.”

Zearon groaned. “Two days? I can’t survive that long without food! We need to do something about this.”

“Well,” Lotran said, glancing over at him, “we wouldn’t be in this mess if you hadn’t eaten all the supplies in one day.”

“Hey, don’t blame me!” Zearon huffed. “You’re the one who didn’t pack enough food. Besides, I’m a growing...uh, whatever I am.”

Lotran rolled his eyes. “Fine. If you’re that desperate, why don’t you summon Terra? He could get us to the city in no time.”

Zearon hesitated, scratching the back of his head. “You mean that tiger guy? I don’t know...it feels weird to call someone just for a ride.”

Lotran smirked. “Weird or not, it’s either that or you starve.”

“Ugh, fine!” Zearon said, pulling out the whistle Terra had given him. He blew into it, and a low, melodic sound echoed through the forest.

Within moments, the ground began to rumble. Trees swayed, and birds took off in a flurry as a massive figure emerged from the shadows.

Terra, the tiger son, padded into view, his golden fur gleaming in the sunlight. He bowed his head slightly. “You called, my lord?”

“Uh, yeah,” Zearon said, feeling awkward. “We need a ride to the city. Think you can help us out?”

Terra nodded. “Of course, my lord. It would be an honor to serve you.”

“Great,” Zearon said, climbing onto Terra’s back. He turned to Lotran. “Come on, let’s go!”

Lotran hesitated. “Are you sure it’s safe? I mean, he’s a tiger...”

Zearon smirked. “What’s the matter, scared of a little kitty cat?”

Lotran rolled his eyes but climbed on behind Zearon.

Terra glanced back at them. “Hold on tight.”

---

The ride was fast—so fast that the wind made Zearon’s ears flap wildly.

“This is amazing!” Zearon shouted, his voice barely audible over the rush of wind.

Lotran held on for dear life, his face pale. “I think I’m gonna be sick!”

“Don’t puke on the tiger!” Zearon yelled back, laughing.

After a while, the ride slowed, and the forest began to thin out. The sun was higher in the sky now, casting dappled light on the ground.

Lotran, finally catching his breath, spoke up. “Zearon, can I ask you something?”

“Sure, what’s up?”

Lotran hesitated, then said, “What’s your story? How did you end up in this world?”

Zearon grinned. “Oh, you’re gonna love this. So, I used to be a normal human kid in another world. Pretty lame life, actually. Then, one day, boom! Car crash. Next thing I know, I wake up here as this cute little furball.”

Lotran’s eyes widened. “You mean...you were reincarnated?”

“Yep,” Zearon said, puffing out his chest. “Pretty cool, huh?”

Lotran looked thoughtful. “I didn’t even know reincarnation was possible. That’s...incredible.”

“What about you?” Zearon asked. “What’s your story?”

Lotran’s expression darkened. He looked away, his voice heavy. “I lost my family a long time ago. My parents, my sister...all of them. It was a demon—one called Dark. He possessed my brother and used him to...to kill them all.”

Zearon’s ears drooped. “Whoa. That’s...really rough. I’m sorry, man.”

Lotran nodded, his jaw tight. “I’ve been hunting Dark ever since. It’s the only thing that keeps me going.”

There was a moment of silence as they rode on. Then Zearon said, “Well, you’re not alone anymore. You’ve got me. And hey, if we ever run into that Dark guy, I’ll bite his butt off.”

Lotran couldn’t help but chuckle. “Thanks, Zearon. I appreciate it.”

---

As their conversation ended, Terra slowed to a stop.

“We’ve arrived,” he said, nodding ahead.

Zearon and Lotran looked up, their eyes widening. In front of them stood the city—a sprawling metropolis with towering buildings, bustling streets, and vibrant markets. The gates were made of shining silver, and the walls were lined with banners fluttering in the breeze.

“Whoa,” Zearon said, his jaw dropping. “This place is huge!”

Lotran smiled. “Welcome to Eldoria, the biggest city in the region. If we can’t find supplies here, we won’t find them anywhere.”

Zearon grinned. “Alright, let’s go shopping!”

Terra knelt down, letting them climb off his back.

“Thank you, Terra,” Lotran said, bowing slightly.

“You’re welcome, my lord,” Terra said, bowing his head to Zearon. “If you need me again, just use the whistle.”

“Got it,” Zearon said, patting Terra’s side. “See you around, stripes!”

With that, Terra disappeared into the forest, and Zearon and Lotran walked toward the city gates, ready for whatever adventures awaited them.

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