Violet woke up on the floor under his workbench. He groaned as he rubbed sand out of bloodshot eyes. He looked around his studio workshop. Yrryth had left at some point while he was busy enchanting gems. Violet crawled out from under the workbench and stood up. He stretched and cracked his back. "Ow." He said. He felt somewhat sick, which was a sure sign he had been underground too long. He waved his hand to unlock the studio door and stepped into the tunnels. He summoned a visual scanner as he walked. "I need some sunshine." He said. "Green fairies are too cagey about all our weirdness. Why would it matter if people knew we need to photosynthesize?"


    Violet pointed the scanner at the main worldlet, just to check if the coast was clear for him to exit the tunnels without harvesters watching. He paused on his walk as his scanner showed two people hiding near the dungeon entrance. The two were clearly not from the local harvesters, based on their clothing. Why would a trade caravan leave guards inside the dungeon? Are they guards? They look like they are going to ambush someone. Violet wondered. He continued down the tunnel, inspecting the two ambushers and looking for more. When he arrived under the main worldlet, he had located the bandit camp in the acid rain worldlet.


    "Bandits!" He growled. "Bandits in a dungeon. There wouldn''t be any point in a normal dungeon, but of course this dungeon has exactly what they need: interworld trade and no way to enforce the rules." He shook his head and climbed up into the main worldlet. He blinked into the dungeon core hollow space as soon as he could do so safely. The light from the core wasn''t quite as good for photosynthesis as some of the worldlets, but it was so bright that it didn''t matter. Violet donned a pair of dark glasses and approached the dungeon core. He placed his hand on the vine pedestal, over the burned handprint, and tried to re-establish the connection by sending mana and intent into the vine. It didn''t work and hadn''t worked any other time he tried it.


    Violet sighed. "Soon." He said to the dungeon core. "The thinky-talky will be done soon." He turned away from the dungeon core and walked behind the shade wall around his desk. He spent some more time observing the bandits on the wall of visual scanners. The bandits were much less entertaining than the previous group of humans who lived in the dungeon--Violet didn''t spot a single instance of awkward romance or unrequited love. He sighed in disappointment and looked over the scanners for the rest of the dungeon. He spotted something interesting taking place in the dark worldlet.


    <hr>


    Sweat trickled down Chaney''s back as he stared into the eyes of the tree spider moon cat. Chaney felt terror and excitement in equal amounts. Bonded companion! He thought. It might say no and eat me! He thought next. Can I check somehow to see if this creature is friendly enough to say yes? The cat continued to stare at Chaney as he thought.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Chaney slowly reached out and picked up the hook. The cat''s eyes widened a little and it''s body language showed caution. Chaney found himself speaking to calm the cat. "Hey. Hey. I''m safe. There''s no problem." He couldn''t tell if the cat felt reassured in the slightest, but it didn''t run away as he reached out with the hook.


    Chaney snagged the pile of fish guts and skin and pulled it over towards the big cat. The cat looked down with interest at the small offering. Chaney withdrew the hook and waited. The cat bent down and sniffed the offal. Chaney sighed in relief as the cat slurped up the offal in two big licks. The body language of the cat read as satisfaction to Chaney. As the cat licked its lips a few times, Chaney firmed his mind and focused on offering the bond to the big cat.


    "Cat." He said, trying to follow his instincts. "I invite you to bond with me as companions." Chaney felt that last work vibrate oddly as it left his mouth. The cat raised its head high, ears forward as its tail swished slowly.


    _ Creature Companion: Tree Spider Moon Cat Has Accepted Your Bond Offer  _


    _ Description: This tree spider moon cat has a tenuous affection for you. Her affection for you may grow as you interact with her in positive ways. She may sever the bond at any time. You may sever the bond at any time _


    _ Warning: Your creature companion is a dungeon creature. It may not leave the dungeon with you until it has been released by the dungeon. Leaving the dungeon without your creature companion may forcibly sever the companion bond and trigger a backlash _


    Chaney felt a warmth grow in his chest. It felt like an ember the size of a pebble was glowing cheerily behind his sternum. Chaney placed a hand on his chest and smiled at the tree spider moon cat. "Hello, friend." He said. The moon cat stood on all her feet and stepped closer. She sniffed at his knees. The nearness of this deadly creature made Chaney feel giddy. The cat half circled in front of him and flopped to the ground. Chaney held his breath and reached forward to scratch the top of the moon cat''s head.


    The cat''s fur was unbelievably soft and felt more like warm water than strands of hair. Chaney scratched gently around the top of the cat''s head and behind the ears. The cat leaned into the scratching and guided Chaney''s hand to its cheek. The big cat began to make a low rumble, deep in its chest, and Chaney nearly snatched his hand back. The rumble continued longer than any growl could, and Chaney could feel something like ''smug contentment'' through the glowing ember in his chest. "That''s quite the sound you can make, friend." Chaney said with a grin.