There seemed to be at least five different groups of creatures at that one stream, each of them cleaning different materials of their own in the clear water.
As Lucius and his group passed by them, they would whisper something in their tongues -languages that seemed impossible to him. Perhaps it was because the creatures had developed completely different vocal cords, but they didn't even seem to be forming words as they spoke.
The group picked out a spot at the very end, and the shroom got to work. Meanwhile, Lucius stood on guard, literally standing on two feet for the first time in a while to show his full size. He was a bit wobbly, but with his hand on Pagan's shoulder, he gained some stability.
Though he wasn't the biggest out of the creatures present, his horns and tail made him monstrous, not to mention his obsidian black eyes that seemed to stare at everyone with mild killing intent.
Lucius made special care to check out a specific group of what seemed like humanoid lizards. They were a little taller than Lucius, but thinner. Their tails were also considerably smaller, but what caught Lucius's attention were the objects that they carried.
They seemed to be carrying make-shift spears with what looked like a metallic needle-like tip. They also had minimalistic armor, made from what looked like reptilian flesh, that covered their forearms, chests, and shins.
They were looking suspiciously at Lucius's group and exchanged words with every glance. After about a few minutes of them exchanging words, one of them approached, leaving its spear behind.
Lucius wondered if that was perhaps a gesture of amity, however they completely destroyed the gesture as Lucius spotted several lizard-beings pointing spears at him from the top of a few trees just barely within of eye-shot.
~Can they even throw it that far?~ Lucius wondered as he waited for the lizard-being to get closer.
"Thůwoi můthujůtoi nouha thoia," it uttered. However, the sounds it made were so complex that Lucius could hardly understand what it was saying.
"Do you understand it?" Lucius asked, looking to the shroom. The shroom shrugged before continuing with its work, even faster than before.
"Be careful. That's a tier 3 creature," the shroom whispered, his hands shaking a little.
~The same level as the Arachnid?~ Lucius thought doubtfully.
"Athoi gůbůjadou," the lizard-being added, taking a step forward. On instinct, Lucius's tail rushed forward, grabbing the lizard-being by the neck in reaction to its movement. The lizard-beings on the ground moved to attack, while those on the trees seemed to tense up.
"Gůbůjaha ou!" the lizard-being shouted, holding out its hand in a halting gesture. The other lizard-beings immediately halted, though Lucius could tell from their body language alone that they were ready to attack at any moment.
"Don't approach us carelessly. We don't want trouble, but we won't hesitate to defend ourselves," Lucius said to the lizard-being, hoping that it would somehow understand some of what he was saying.
The lizard-being seeing that there was an apparent language barrier began using hand gestures. It pointed to itself, and then to Lucius, before folding its arms in a cross, touching its shoulders with the opposite hand of each arm.
~Peace?~ Lucius thought to himself, and his tail slowly let go of it.
"Athoi gůbůjadou," the lizard-being said again, this time pointing at the meat that the shroom was working on, before pointing at the needle that its people were working on.
At this point, all the other creatures at the stream were watching on in expectation, and Lucius noticed that several of those gargoyle-like creatures were watching intently as well.
"Trade?" Lucius asked, using his hands to make a give and take gesture as best he could. The lizard-being took a moment to process it, then nodded its head.
Lucius took one of the pieces and gave it to the lizard-being, who then returned to its people, and began counting a few of the needles that they were cleaning.
"Are you sure you should've done that? That's some high-quality meat you gave away," the shroom said as he watched the lizard-beings fawn over the meat Lucius had just given them. In fact, all the creatures in the stream began talking more loudly, pointing at Lucius's group as they chattered.
"I thought you said they were the same tier as the arachnid. This shouldn't be a big deal for them then, right?" Lucius asked. After all, it only made sense that they would be able to get much better.
"They are the same tier, but they can't hunt an arachnid. The arachnid was a dark forest hunter, these ones are from here. Besides, they wouldn't even know where to go looking," the shroom explained.
"Then how can you tell that they're of the same tier as the arachnid?" Lucius asked as the lizard-being returned with a huge chunk of green meat.
"The marks on its forearm, three straight lines, just like the arachnid," the shroom explained.
~Three straight lines?~ Lucius had never seen something like that before, even on the arachnid.
"Vuthadů ujůma, vuthala," the lizard-being said once it arrived. As it spoke Lucius looked at it's forearm -unlike all the other lizard-beings, this one only had a forearm armor on one hand- and there it was, three white lines.
After finishing what it had to say, it bowed and presented seven needles to Lucius. On closer inspection, the needles seemed more organic than metallic. Though sharp and shiny, they had very small groves that formed intricate patterns along their lengths.
After it was done, it began spouting even more indiscernible sounds, before pointing at the sky.
~Is it pointing at the sun?~ Lucius thought, looking at where it was pointing. It then pointed at Lucius's meat, then the meat from its group, and repeated the same give and take gesture Lucius had done earlier.
"Ah, it wants to trade again, same time tomorrow," Lucius made out.
"This place is dangerous Lighted One," Pagan said, looking as the other creatures stared greedily at the meat that the shroom was purifying.
~It is dangerous, but these needles look like they will be useful. They're considerably strong,~ Lucius thought to himself, as he tried to snap one in half but found himself failing. ~ And besides, it might just be needles today, but soon they might be offering even more useful things.~ he continued, before nodding and bowing to the lizard-being.
The other lizard-beings saw this and began ululating, before starting the purification process on the arachnid flesh Lucius had just given them.
"Hmm, it seems they see you as an equal," the shroom said as it worked on the arachnid meat.
"Oi, those lines, do I have them? Do you?" Lucius asked once the lizard-being was gone.
"Mine are here," the shroom said, pointing under his head cap. It was in a spot that Lucius would've never seen otherwise, unless he was looking for it of course..
"As for yours, it's at the center of your back," the shroom said, pointing to Lucius's back.
"I always wondered what that was," Pagan said, apparently aware of the lines.
"So that's why I never noticed it," Lucius whispered in realization.
"How many lines do I have?"
"Two, but there's an extra symbol, I don't know how to describe it," the shroom replied as it worked
~I'm a tier two? Makes sense, my last evolution didn't seem to be based on growth but was an event caused by Pagan's evolution.~ Lucius reasoned.
"So every creature is born with these lines?" Lucius asked after some thought.
"Probably. But if you're thinking that this is a viable way of sizing up prey, it won't work. Finding those lines isn't easy, and most creatures make sure to hide them. I don't know why that one is flaunting his," the shroom replied.
