Kevin sat writing notes in the gloomy mass bedroom of the Tiban Home. With a chorus of snuffles and snores around him and his own fatigue though he only occasionally managed to jot down something. Information and facts about all he had learned so far but not theories for he had too many to write down. Blinking he stretched his arms out and looked around at the sea of fluffy bodies sleeping soundly around him. He closed the book, quietly swung his backpack up onto his shoulders and carefully stepped over Lucy towards the upper tunnels. While everybody else slept it was quite the restless night for him and so he did the one thing that he always did when he could not rest, build. 

He exited the tunnels and stood in what the Tiban called the mine. In truth a hollow underground space with many tunnels branching off in all directions. With hard dirt and a pile of rocks on one side to call it a mine was a bit of an exaggeration. He let out a sigh. Hard to build when you have no materials to use. With nothing else to do he picked a tunnel and began to march down it. The darkness and enclosed space not as comforting as it should be as he headed around the twisting tunnels in search of something to occupy the ever present buzzing of thoughts in his head. Down twisting corridors of stone and dirt he went. His path lit by the blue of small mushrooms as he wandered up and down till he hit an end, then he would simply turn around and head down another way. It is remarkably easy to lose track of time and distance when you walk without thinking for so long. He ran his hand along the wall as he went. Tap, tap, tap went his paws as he jogged down the dark tunnels. Tap, tap, tap went his fingers dancing on the warm earth. Tap, tap tep… Kevin froze and traced his hand back. He ran a palm over it and gave it a sharp knock with his knuckles. Stoic he traced his hand down to the floor with knocks and taps. Drawing his knife he plunged it to the hilt in the oddly softer ground. Standing up he took some steps forward, turned, and and kicked the side of the dagger handle. A great crack echoed out and so he dashed forward to pull the knife free just as a small hole in the floor gave way. 
	“Expected. Nothing is indestructible, you just got to find the cracks.” Kevin muttered to himself as he knelt down and peered through the small hole. With the light of the cloudsea long since faded he expected nothing but an inky darkness, instead he got a sea of small lights instead. Little glowing bugs moving in and under the long mossy grass that makes up the Arbor while flowers and even pollan seemed to shimmer in the dark. Grasping the knife in his teeth he carefully lowered himself down head first through the hole. As he fell he spun around mid air and caught out of the long flowers hanging down from the inverted garden growing on the roof. Letting out a groan from the strain of hanging with one hand he looked with wide eyes and caught sight of the shimmers ahead of him and so rocking back and two swung forward to the next tough flower. Several more along he stopped to catch his breath and look around. Nearby was definitely a tree. A giant blot of inky darkness blocking out the dancing lights and shimmering flowers but there was something else, in the smallest of cracks in the bark. An orange glow that radiated from the inside. Kevin swung another two flowers over before letting go. The fall ticking on second after second till suddenly he hit the soft mossgrass below with a roll. Not wasting a moment he began sprinting forward to the tree ahead. The shin high grass getting thicker till at last it reached his knees and suddenly disappeared as he hopped up onto a small wooden outcrop. He exhaled, the air warmer than it was in the day. He headed forward across the outcrop of wood towards the tree and shifting his head from one direction to another saw it again. The smallest of orange flickering from within a tiny crack. It was oddly alurring but any light would be in this creaking wooden abyss. Slipping past a long thorn like spike sticking out of the tree he reached the crack and taking the knife out of his mouth lined up it up. The wood was not as hard as the leaking willow but still as strong as stone. He hammed the knife into it, each strike and stab driving the blade deeper till a thick orange goo started to bleed forth. More amazingly however was that it shon with an intense brightness. Stepping to the right Kevin hacked off one of the long spikes and snapped it into three pieces. With one he jammed the sharper end into the bleeding crack and pulled out a glob of the sap that seemed to be growing thicker. Rotating the stick around to keep the glob in one place he watched as it got thicker and thicker till it stopped flowing all together. Poking it with a finger he found it had hardened into a kind of amber. A type that glowed like fire. With more light at least he could have a better look around where he had landed. From the hundreds of long spear like thorns sticking out of the base of this tree, it must be the Spike Floss that grows north east of Home. Quite the distance to walk. 

For now he had other matters to do at least as Kevin started to head around the massive Spike Floss. He hopped up onto one of the spear like thorns and then another, the density making climbing fairly easy. Up and up he went till finally he sat at the highest one. He looked upwards in search of a vine and found one growing just a dozen spikes over. Carefully he climbed hand over foot across the thorns till he got close enough and with a sharp tug pulled one end of the vine free. Bracing himself against two thorns and the tree itself he pulled it hard. The snaking vine slipping free of the dozens of little anchoring points that held it up on the ceiling till finally it went taunt. Once more he braced himself and pulled as hard as he could when the vine snapped and the force sent him reeling off balance. He fell down only a short way, breaking several thorns as he did, till finally he landed on one with a thud. Winded and with several bruises along his body he took a breath and dropped down onto the next below him. Looking below he could spot his amber torch still glowing brightly and so looked up to see how the vine was doing. He gave it a tug and it slipped from the spikes down below as well.

Hopping down from thorn to thorn he picked up his torch at the bottom and started to reel in the long vine that, now freed from the ceiling, had fallen like an endless snake across the grasslands. After reeling in a good length Kevin cut the vine, placed the spool of it down, and started to reel in the next. He found it to be relaxing almost, sitting here in the dead of night with only a small light keeping him company doing some mindless work for once. 
	“Wish I had Lucy to keep me company though or Alex to help out…” He whispered under his breath as he reeled in the last of the vines. With three large coils neatly piled up Kevin let out a yawn and fanned himself. It was so warm, so stuffy. Still there was work to do as he left the coils of natural rope on the side of the cropping and headed towards the thorns. He picked up the several that had broken in his fall and cut them into thirds, each one being a little longer than his arm. Smooth, strong and with a bit of bend these thorny spikes were perfect for building many things with after all. Placing the amber torch into his backpack so the glowing end stuck out of the side he took one of the thorns in hand and with his knife hacked into it till it broke cleanly. Lifting it up to lean on the side of the tree he then brought the knife to the side to cut the long spear down into three neat pieces. With those left in a pile Kevin moved onto the next and then the next. With the pile already stacking up to his knees Kevin brought each of the vine coils over before sitting down and thinking. This was getting to be a lot. Cutting up some of the sticks he laid them out over two longer pieces and found them together with a weave of twice cut vine to form an L shaped board with two straps. Kevin then laid it flat on the ground and loaded all the long sticks he had left over so far. Nodding to himself he dropped his backpack near the pile and headed over to the glowing crack now hardened with amber. He struck the edge with his knife and managed to pull both a chunk near the size of his fist loose but also open up the wound once more. With a spare stick in hand he rammed it as far as it would go before waiting half a minute and pulling it out to have half the stick covered in thick glowing amber. Heaving the board full of sticks onto his back he threw the coil of vines over a shoulder, the other over the sticks and his backpack on top.

Materials now found and tunnels mapped out in his mind he stepped down into the long grass with knife drawn and nothing but an amber bar of light leading the way. The mossy stalkers that hid underneath the grasslands surely would either be asleep or distracted even so Kevin made sure to keep a brisk pace as he started the journey home. The mossgrass grew shorter and shorter and with it so did the protection from the beasts till finally it was barely over his ankles. The cargo heavy and the road winding he marched on into the night, the long light bar he wielded kept low to the ground to help him see anything that might be in the grass or under it. His ears twitched to the echoing sound of creaking wood shifting in the warm air. The croak and hiss of what he could only hope were bugs singing out in the distance while high above a garden of flowers shimmered like water. Below him however sat any number of stalking horrors just waiting for him to step out of line. Kevin curved to the right and with a twinge of relief felt safe once more as he arrived at a tree. Nothing special, one of the countless Greenwoods that made up the fill of the forest with emerald leaves and a rainbow of flora. More importantly though it had the path home as much like the Leaking Willow once he had headed around it he found a large hole that led down beneath the Arbor. Even from here he could see his target, the Leaking Willow that was lit up in a rainbow of pinks, blues and whites from all sorts of glowing mushrooms and insects. Hopping down the uneven wooden path that had formed almost like giant steps his mind raced to work out the way over to it. The grand Lush was a huge maze of twisting branches and hanging islands so there would be doubt on there being a way over, the question came back to safety and time. For now he kept walking along the dark branches stained blue and white by glowing plants. His ears flicked to the chorus of buzzing and chirping insects in the distance but he paid them no mind. Taking a sharp right he headed away from the tree itself and down a huge branch that stretched across the vast distance towards another Greenbark. He slowed to catch his breath from all the jogging. A hand tugging at the rough straps digging into his shoulders. His eyes fell low and noticed the branch under foot was covered in a very thin moss, looking up, there were many flowering bushes growing all the way along it too. Kevin stopped to run a hand over one, the tiny star shaped leaves and large white flowers proving to be quite pretty and thankfully not toxic. With with a grin he put away his knife and started to pluck a few of the shiniest as he continued slowly on his way. With a rather radiant bouquet in hand he tied them together with a piece of the split vine like string and placed them carefully into the backpack. Increasing his pace once again he only got some steps when he froze, nose giving a twitch. Something was on the branch ahead of him. It smelled like a chain of squares… Sour, light red, according to what Lucy had been teaching him this meant it was an unknown creature that had a high chance to be harmless but gross. 

With his fingers wrapped around the handle of his sheathed blade Kevin crept ever closer and that is when he heard it. A disgusting sucking noise both wet and gluttonous could be heard from the darkness ahead but Kevin did not falter in his approach. The sickly sucking and gurgling noise only got louder and louder but as there was no glowing flowers down the way Kevin could not yet see what was causing it. He tasted the air, sniffing occasionally to try and paint a picture but scent seeing was much like having a thousand eyes looking in every direction at once. So hard to focus. The branch was made up of light green squares, a long string of them all stretched out in front of him. Each bush a series of green half circles and ovals, the more he tried to focus the more distracted he became. Every inch of something had a shape and color, every speck of dust and pollen in the air… Kevin shook his head and opened his eyes a bit wider. Waving his amber torch up high he got a glimpse of what was causing that foul sucking noise. A slimy and smooth looking worm with not a single feature across its head, its body or possibly its neck, stretched along and down the side of the branch. It sat there contently suckling on whatever small bits of moss it could pull from the wood. Kevin relaxed and let out a sigh. At least it was not something out on the hunt. Adjusting the strap digging into his shoulder he placed his hands ready for any danger and started to move forwards slowly. The creature did not seem to even take notice as Kevin crept closer and closer till he started to head around and past the slimey sucker. It was as he started to head along the incredibly lengthy neck that Kevin heard the sucking stop and so he froze as well, slowly turning he found the creature to be facing his direction. Kevin’s body tensed but he did not move as the creature extended out of nowhere two long stalks that waved over and around him but never touching. A glowing blotch on the end of the stalks flickered for a second and then it retreated to continue its suckling. With a sigh of relief Kevin made haste to continue along his way. 

At the end of the branch Kevin made a sharp turn and hopping down a few branches started to head across a thick chain of tangled vines to a familiar looking island lit up in pale blues. Stopping only for a moment to get a drink of water Kevin made sure to keep moving briskly lest anything else catch up to him. Along the second chain of vines he arrived at the crossroads of sorts he had stood at yesterday. Looking up to the outgrowths, branches and hanging vines he yawned. This was going to be a lot harder now. Slotting the amber torch into his backpack so he had a free hand he withdrew his knife and gave a hop as hard as he could upwards to a branch, only to find himself go sailing up into the air. Managing to land on his two paws he looked down to where he had once stood amused. Tapping his paws this time he got a short run up and leaped over to an out growth just above him and from there to another wooden platform. With the next few being too high up he took hold of a vine and started to climb up while using the tree for easier paw holds. 
A good while of climbing later and Kevin managed to reach the Arbor once more. Only a short walk over and he would be at home but since the mossy beasts could be hiding in wait he chose to take the higher tunnel instead. Stabbing his blade into the tree Kevin took the first step to climbing up the Leaking Willow when his ears flicked by reflex. Blue, hexagons. Kevin dropped down from the tree just as a spike struck the area he had been hanging onto. Dropping the large backpack of wood and materials he snatched up his torch while keeping on the move. A loud whoosh of air rushed past as something narrowly missed his head. Ducking low he swept his torch across the air and inhaled deeply. An insect of exceptional speed and agility but also of such a dark coloration that it was like fighting a shadow. Kevin straightened up started to walk slowly in a wide circle till he finally reached the tree. Reaching up he carefully grasped the blade and with a splintered crack pulled it free from the wood before continuing to circle the small area. His breathing slowed and ears stood tall. Hearing the faintest of fluttering wings in the darkness he gave a sharp hop straight up and over the unseen creature. With a flick of his arm the amber covered torch shattered across the face of the dashing insect, sending it crashing into the hard bark of the tree nearby. Kevin hit the ground running and just as the creature managed to get back in its feet Kevin’s blade slipped smoothly between the plating on its neck. Grasping with both hands he tore the blade away in a hail of sticky pale blood. He wiped the mess off his blade and sheathed it before walking over and with a groan picking up his heavy pack, along with the biggest chunk of the glowing amber. He yawned.

Lucy woke up quite groggy. She blinked the blur from her eyes and yawned, rolling over to the soft fluffy body to her right she wrapped her arms around it happily. Running her fingers through the soft neck fluff of her beloved she buried her face into his fur and inhaled that exotically spicy scent she loved… only to find a generic and sweet scent instead. Pulling away she noticed it was not Kevin, it was Alex. She sat up more and looked around the sea of still sleeping bodies but could not see or smell him anywhere. She stood up but felt a twinge of pain and had to stand bowed for it to pass. Her body felt heavier than normal, slower too. She scratched the side of her head and eyes wide in realization ran a hand over her ears to find the ring missing. Looking around she could not spot it on the bed and glancing over to Alex noticed that her ring was also missing. Her eyes locked to the tunnel heading up to the mine and with painful progress made quick steps towards it. She slipped and winced at the entrance but forced herself up and continued along in fear that Kevin had took back his gifts or worse. Hitting a cloud of smoke near the end of the tunnel she left out a cough but pushed through it to find Kevin sitting in the middle of the open mines area next to a huge fire. He stood and with a stick began to poke at something he had placed over the roaring fire with stones. Lucy tried to call out to him but found she could not speak his words anymore, the fading fragments in her mind too scattered and complicated to put together. Instead she let out a happy chirp and hobbled over to greet him. He met her with a smile and while he said something she could not understand it. He raised a hand to let her know to wait and headed around the fire to where a sizeable amount of new supplies sat. He reached around the wood and stone and brought out a green parcel. Handing it to her she looked it over to find it a sort of cube made of sticks and leaves, a thin glowing vine and an even brighter glowing flower serving some decoration. She shook it to find it rattled. Puzzled she pulled at the flower and the entire thing came undone in a smooth motion. Inside was her ring! Polished and shiny but also studded with a small orange gem that glowed against her fingers. She slipped it on carefully over her white fluffy ears and embraced Kevin in a wide hug.
	“Lucy really likes it!” She whispered to him as she nuzzled her face against his. 
	“Thanks, I felt like the ring was not really a gift before so wanted to personalize it a bit. How are you feeling?” Kevin answered back not able to do much but dangle in her arms. She put him down and squinted. The pains inside her had already faded and her body did not feel as heavy anymore. 
	“Better.” She simply stated. He nodded back and raising a hand for her to wait slipped around the fire once again to the stack. He moved wood around and tossed coiled ropes to the side before he found his backpack. Throwing it over his shoulder he hopped back to Lucy and reaching one hand inside it pulled out a glowing bunch of the same white flowers. She accepted them and gave them a sniff. A happy, content look gave back but it quickly faded as she looked over to the large pile of stuff in the corner, then to the large fire and finally Kevin himself.
	“Kevin been out all night?” She asked worried. 
	“I could not sleep so decided to do something productive.” He answered back casually. “This fire right is the basics of a unique forge I had in mind, I used it to refine yours and Alex’s rings. Oh I need to give hers back soon as well…” He spoke till Lucy cut him off with a strong hand placed on his shoulder. 
	“Kevin not sleeping. Does danger things. Feel warm? Feel full?” She asked with an increasingly concerned expression. Kevin debated lying but instead just nodded. “Kevin needs to rub fur with Lucy.” She then said that took him by total surprise. He gave a chuckle. 
	“Nice to feel so wanted but we do have much more important matters to do than…” He tried to wave her off but she pulled him around and pressed her nose to him causing him to push her back. “Lucy please, control yourself.” She shook her head.
	“Tiban need fur rubbing, you will d-die!” She all but shouted causing Kevin to stand stiff. He ran through his actions in his head but could not quite work out her logic. 
	“What do you mean? Fur rubbing, it means sex right?” He asked. Lucy gave a nod and took his hands in her own. 
	“Tiban that no fur rub for days go strange. Sad, angry. They seek danger. Get ill… fade. Kevin, all Tiban, need talk and fur rubbing. Even just with self at least but that only slow it.” She tried to explain. Kevin’s eyes fell to the floor in thought. With such clear sense of hearing and smell he knew that Tiban were exceptionally sexually active at bed times in some way or another but to know there was such a point behind it… He bite his lip. 
	“Lucy. I understand but I still want my first time to be after I have made something more of this place. I just do not feel right, even as a Tiban, to indulge myself so strongly without… Never mind. It does not matter.” He took a deep breath to calm himself and looked up at Lucy. 
	“Lucy… show Kevin how to help himself? A promise yes? First time, of us both, once Kevin ready but till then Kevin keeps self healthy?” He looked away at the crackling fire then back into her eyes, so rich and blue. He nodded. 
	“A bit later. I need to return Alex’s ring, get breakfast, make a more private room… I accept that promise Lucy. I am sorry to have to keep you waiting though.” He said with a grin that was quickly returned. One last embrace to seal the deal. 

Alex sat in the main hall of the Home Stump chewing on whatever odds and ends they pulled from the stew pot today when Kevin followed by Lucy sat down beside her. She tried to speak some complaint but lacked Kevin’s words much like Lucy once did. Kevin chuckled and handed her a box exactly like the other. She eyed it questioningly. Handing her bowl to Lucy she plucked the flower off and watched amused as the whole thing unraveled to reveal her ring. Now braided and made of a gleaming orange metal. She threw it onto her ear and twisted her neck to out a crack, followed by a relieved sigh. 
	“So much better. Why take ring back?” Alex asked giving Kevin a glare.
	“I wanted to personalize it a bit, and an upgrade. I used a rather odd sap to harden the the metal however yours turned orange. I hope you do not mind.” Kevin stated rubbing his neck.
	“Ring stronger. Ring now truly Alex. Did good.” She said breaking out happily and rubbing Kevin’s head affectionately, if leaving his fluff all messy. Grabbing a bowl that has been handed down the line of Tiban she passed it to Kevin before keeping the next for herself. “What we doing today?” She asked next. 
	“You two need to rest and heal. The rings help but need time, and food, for best effect. I need to do some private things later but after that… We build. So much can be improved, the Tiban need to start learning as well to keep up with the changes.” Kevin answered sipping on the strangely thick and oddly salty soup. 
	“Building helps us live? Keeps food, water. Safety yes?” Lucy asked her eyes glued on him. 
	“Yes, exactly right Lucy. The better technology we have the more population we can have but also the general quality of life goes up… speaking of which. Do Tiban have music?” 
	“Music? No.” Lucy responded. 
	“What about games? Fun ways to pass time?” Kevin tried next. 
	“Rub fur and give chase is fun.” She answered back so very innocently. Kevin had to hold in his sighs and chuckles alike. Such a boring life indeed but at least there was much to do. 

Breakfast sorted Kevin first went to check on his makeshift forge. Using the most flammable of materials he had found so far he was using an oven of stones to heat up a lump of metal but the heat could not yet melt it, only soften. Leaving the fire to die down on its own he stepped over to the pile of supplies. A bowl, an odd shaped leaf, a vine. White stones and black wood. Long sticks, vines and very broad leaves. He organized and combined various things together before grabbing a pile of the sticks and large leaves and taking off. Down the tunnel and into the bedrooms he headed over to the far side. With the knife he carved out little holes in the wall and floor, then he tied several of the long sticks together tightly. Slotting them together and bending them under pressure he quickly had a frame set up. Then he strung the large leaves together on another pole and fit it over the frame to form a very basic curtain. His own little corner of the bedrooms hidden away from any eyes, although he did wonder if it went against the nature of Tiban to even introduce the concepts of privacy. Questions for later. He kicked some of the loose leaves away from the curtain and took a great armful to make his own bed as well. Slipping past the leafy curtain he looked at his private corner. Not a bad start. Stepping over the makeshift bed he struck the knife deep into the wooden wall and sawed down, then across and up to cut out a large triangle outcove. Placing his backpack on the floor in front of it he took his book out and placed it on the ledge followed by some of the flowers he had picked, a lump of the glowing crystal and his knife center place. Sitting down on the leaves he fell backwards and shuffled back and forth to spread the pile more evenly. He yawned but still could not find any rest.
He lay in thought putting shapes and colors together in his mind until he picked up the scent of Lucy. A pang of his heartbeat felt in his chest over the sudden rush of excitement. He swallowed the lump in his mouth and became conscious of himself. He had not even bathed in days… but neither had she. He shook his head to free the piling dreads. It was only some… practical education. Nothing he could not handle.
	“Hey!” He called out, with a crack to his voice, to Lucy as she stepped through the curtain. She giggled and walked forward with a swish to her tail. With a flick of her fingers telling him to sit up he did so. She slipped around him and sat down behind him. Legs going past his and two large arms pulling him back to rest against her belly. It was exceptionally comfy. He felt her nuzzle against his head.
	“Relax.” She whispered in his ears. Her hand slowly rubbed around his fluffy chest. The motion indeed helping him to put him at ease. Her tail curled around his and there they lay. Minute after minute of gentle petting slowly softened up Kevin till he was all but purring under her arms. Her other hand slipped down from his belly till it was on edge with his pelvis. 
	“Kevin is… warm.” She whispered to him. Kevin had to think but glancing down understood her meaning, yet did not agree with it either.
	“I am?” He asked clearly confused at the lack of an erection.
	“Tiban males have, two sides. Warm and hot. Warm is hidden, to make hopping easy. Hot is not…” She explained and her hand slipped a little lower. Gentle fingers running circles around his protective sheath. “Need a bit of pressure and…” She whispered as her words came true before his eyes. Pink and smooth it grew harder and harder till Lucy carefully ran a finger down it, causing Kevin to shiver against her. Wrapping a hand around the base of his sensitive flesh she squeezed down for a few seconds and let go, then repeated. It was not the movements he had been expecting but even so it had his tail twitching from the pleasurable feeling. “And down here…” She continued letting her other hand free from his chest to move down past the other. “Buck orbs, hidden too but sensitive…” Lucy whispered as two fingers felt through the fur and with just the slight bit of pressure drew a line upwards across the blank area causing Kevin to mindlessly cry out from the feeling. She left her hand there to very gentle massage the area while the other was brought to her mouth. Lucy could not help but inhale that musky scent as she wet her palm for the next part, the education of this act quickly being lost. As one hand leisurely slid its way across his exposed pink flesh the other drew circles in the thick fur below. 
	“Have you done this before?” Kevin managed to get out between the head spinning and panting breaths. 
	“Kevin first but Lucy watched others. Lucy do good?” She asked speeding up her efforts.
	“Excellent.” Kevin whispered back with a hiss. His head nuzzled into her heavy, pillow like chest as she ran circles with his body. Her fingers tightened their grip as she pushed down hard, causing a soft muffled smack of fur on fur only to loosen and slowly work her way back up. The rhythm quick and bouncy. Kevin’s paws flexed, his body tightening as a line of drool ran down the corner of his muzzle. His hand quickly snapped to hers.
	“Stop.” He managed to stagger out and without delay she pulled her hands away instantly. He lay there panting for a moment more as Lucy pleasantly licked away at her palm. “Don’t forget the promise.” Kevin managed to continue to which Lucy froze. She placed her dry had over his chest but before she could state her apologies her cheeks lit up red as Kevin placed his own hands where hers once were and continued on himself. She nuzzled against him, arms holding him tight against her flushed body as he shuddered and stiffened under him. His paws curled, tail flicking as his hand clamped down hard and his body rolled in waves of release. 
	“Kevin better?” Lucy asked wiping some of Kevin’s seed off his belly. He did not answer however and instead just lay there collecting his breaths, head spinning. Lucy let a smile and ran her sticky fingers over her tongue before taking her time to clean him. The heated mood turned peaceful as his breathing slowed and body relaxed. 
	“I feel all, tingly.” Kevin eventually spoke raising a hand up and looking over it. “But I can think clearly again, I know what to do but…” Kevin suddenly broke out into a wide grin as he pulled forward and jumped up onto his feet. Turning he grabbed Lucy’s hand and pulled her up to him. Holding her head in his arms he suddenly shouted. “We need jump start this psycho synchronization!” Before hopping up and smashing his head into hers, causing both to stagger back. Lucy almost tripped over the leafy bed and so put an arm out to lean on the wall as she rubbed the bruise forming. 
	“Ow! Kevin that really hurts you… know.” She blinked at the sudden realization that she could speak his words even better than before. “Oh I get it!” She added. Glancing back to him she watched as he smoothly slipped past the leafy bed and grabbed her head once again. She closed her eyes to brace from the impact but only found his nose pressed to hers instead, then his lips. Pushing, warm and soft she left her mouth open just a crack and in a snap he had her tongue wrapped around his. Her nails left a streak in the wooden wall as a thick bead of wetness ran down her leg. He pulled away from his embrace to leave her stunned. 
	“Sorry Lucy, hope that makes up for it.” He whispered before giving her nose a small lick and heading off with a spring to his step. A new found purpose burning in his eyes while Lucy stood stunned about what that act was and why it left her inches away from her own climax. 

Kevin strode down the bedroom with a new found claraty. With not an ounce of shyness he walked past several Tiban doing the exactly same thing he and Lucy had been only moments prior before heading down the tunnels towards the main room.
	“Alex!” Kevin shouted. His sniffing unable to pick up anything but the scent of Lucy still clinging sweetly to his fur. The main hall had Tiban all over laying or sitting looking relaxed if a little bored. Crouching down near a trio of stone and mud colored Tiban he let out a wonky chatter, a single word, Alex. They looked between each other as if they just saw a ghost before all pointing towards the mine. Kevin chattered what he hoped was a thank you and turned tail with speed. Rolling past a Tiban in the tunnels he popped out into the mines to indeed find Alex looking over his practise forge. He grinned.
	“Alex!” He shouted causing her to turn to face him. Kevin began running to which Alex dropped an ashy rock she was looking over before doing the same. The pair of them screaming at each other as they collided face on with a resounding crack that echoed that along the halls of the Home stump. Lucy entered the mine to find the pair of them laying on the floor both laughing and crying while clutching their heads. 
	“I like this form of teaching!” Alex called out as she sat up and continued her laughing. Lucy could only shake her head at how silly the pair of them were. Stepping out from the wood and onto the dirt she gave Kevin a head standing back up as Alex pulled herself up right. 
	“Sorry, I know it is painful but it is the quickest way I could think of for getting the gears turning. So to speak.” Kevin explained rubbing his now extra sore head.
	“I do not know what gears are but you can spin mine anytime.” Alex added causing Kevin to glance her way before continuing. 
	“This speak Tiban do yes?” Kevin spoke in a chattered voice that took them by surprise. “The effect works both ways. You two are now fully synced so while you are blessed with a piece of my knowledge, I also get the same from both of you two.” He added in his own tongue.
	“I have so much gratitude. Such a higher blessing is truly a wondrous gift and one I shall not spoil.” Lucy was quick to speak softly as she wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace that Kevin realized was done out of respect more than pure affection. Tiban apparently having many different meanings to their hugs. He felt Alex wordlessly give him the same treatment. The two girls pinning him from either side but with such soft bodies he could not complain. Wrapping an arm around the waists of both girls he returned the hug with a squeeze. 
“I should apologize as well. I have been treating this like I am stranded but I am not. There is nobody coming to save me and no, I do not need saving. I am already home.” He spoke out loud. The female pair loosened their grip and Kevin was quick to slip away. He took a few steps forward before stopping. Stretching his arms out a chorus of cracks and pops from his stiff joints rang out that made even Alex raise an eyebrow. He turned with a stoic gaze and nodded for them to follow before heading to the tunnel. “I am not the best at speaking Tibish yet so I want you two to help me speak to the others.” He called back in the gloom as he headed past the spare rooms and bedroom alike. Stopping just outside the main hall he took a breath and bounced a little on his heels before slipping into the room. Heads turned to face him in a wave from closest to farthest. An unseen bead of sweat ran down Kevin’s face as he headed along the wall with a stride forced to look as casual as it could. Back straight, arms not too stiff or too loose. Kevin stood tall and looked out at all the still hungry faces looking back at him. 
“Name is Kevin.” He began in Tibish. “Kevin smart. Kevin… came from metal. Been sick, tired. Weak from long sleep but Kevin awake now. Kevin can build. Kevin smart but weak. Need help. Work be hard, long. Food and water? Ha, Tiban could bend Nerrow to our needs! Who will work?” He spoke out to the sea of fuzzy faceless who was staring back wide eyed and intensely. He raised a hand up. “Who will work!?” He shouted again and this time the crowd one by one repeated his actions, throwing a hand up and calling back. He began to walk around the crowd with head high. “Who will stand with Kevin? Who will refuse to fade?” He shouted as the crowd roused themselves and started to clamber to their feet. The cheers and chatters loud as they waved arms and called, cried, begged, to help. “Then follow!” He shouted as he slipped into the tunnel and made quick speed make to the mine before he gets stuck with the large mass of furry bodies following behind him. 

As they pooled into the mine he would order them to go sit in neat rows and columns. There being just enough space to squeeze them in while some extra sat on the edges of the room. Kevin himself sat on the farthest edge of the room on top of a little platform he had set up. To his sides sat the piles of materials. Taking an armful of sticks and rocks and he handed them to one Tiban.
	“Pass them on, one stick, one rough rock, one smooth and a length of vine.” He instructed. Lucy and Alex joined in to passing down the materials as well, the neat rows and columns allowing the task to be done within a minute. 
	“Kevin show how make tools. Tools let do job easier.” He called down to the hundreds in front of him. “Copy what Kevin do, learn. Think.” With that he raised his stick up to which all copied. Grinning he set to work instructing and showing how them to smooth the wood, chip away the larger smooth stone into an axe, pick or shovel and bind them together into a simple useful object. The last bit of vine then wrapped around the handle for grip. A hundred pickaxes and fifty shovels, twenty five axes, twenty five knives and fifteen small hammers. Every Tiban built their tool with so little struggle that Kevin could hardly believe it. It was exactly like how he had seen with Lucy and Alex, able to copy what movements he does to a near perfect degree. Hopping down from the platform he looked over the crowd quietly chatting to each other as they proudly showed each other how they did and what tool they were chosen to create. So much noise made it hard for Kevin to filter out the words but he could pick the whisperings of tips and the sharing of information that only made him happy. 
	“Everybody! That tool now yours. You protect, you fix, you make new. Tool is your job. Pickaxes and shovels dig out mine. Make bigger.” He explained waving around the dirt and rock area. “Axes and knives go widen Home tunnels. Then go Spikefloss for wood, spikes. Hammers are builders.” Kevin then waved over to Lucy who stood holding a pickaxe. “Now go watch Lucy, how to use tools.” He shouted to the pickaxes. “Axe and knives go with Alex, she show to carve.” Kevin pointed to the tunnel were Alex was waiting already. “The rest, hammers too, with Kevin.” He finished calling out. The crowd quickly split with many all but bouncing from excitement as others whispered and chatted to each other. For the first time since he had woken up here he could smell the energy in the air. The next couple of hours was spent with the builder crew, teaching them how to use the hammer of course but also a wide range of general things to build. From framework using wooden beams and pegs to strengthen tunnels to carving wood, how to make a wide range of tool including ones that they did not yet have a use for and even a bit of how physics work although that mostly went over their heads. With the last of the materials used up they had opened up the hole to the Spike Floss tree and set up a few tunnel bracers to keep the place from collapsing. As they hammed the wood together Alex’s group reappeared, the tunnels now smoother and wider than ever before. It had been a long day but even so Kevin was not yet done. Grabbing a piece of charcoal from the cooking fire he led the axe and knife groups down the new tunnel to the Spike Floss tree. Picking out a small looking girl with eyes of green and fur like grey he handed her a piece of bark and the charcoal. He leaned and whispered his instructions in her ear. She stood still and listened intently before lighting up and padding around excitedly. Seeing Kevin’s amused reaction she calmed herself and gave him a passing fist pump as she ran over to explain that she was now the first Tiban accountant of sorts, to keep stock of everything brought in via tally marks. Sitting on a large root snaking its way around the tree he watched as they carefully cut and hacked at both the spikes and large pieces of the bark.
	“This not the most exciting of training.” Alex chimed in as she sat down next to him. 
	“But it is necessary. Even the strongest people need to eat and sleep safely.” Kevin replied before letting a yawn. “Tomorrow we train, I promise.” Kevin added as he wrapped an arm around Alex. She leaned against him but kept watching the others work. 
	“Why you so good at talking to Alex… Me, or Lucy but not the others?” Alex asked.
	“I do not handle crowds well.” Kevin replied simply. He yawned. “Keep an eye on them, make sure that Braid girl keeps a right tally on things.” He spoke getting up. 
	“And what of you?” Alex asked giving him a glare. 
	“I am going to rest, been up for several days so far.” Kevin replied as he wrapped the vine around his hand and hoisted himself up. Alex watched as he went before a smile broke out across her face. 
	“You are stronger than you think fluffy.” She whispered to herself before hopping of the root and heading to help the woodworkers. 

Kevin was feeling the pull on his body as he reached the tunnel. Ever step back getting more and more hazy, his body hurt. His head spun. Any and all energy that had been plaguing him had now left at quite the inappropriate time. Keeping his eyes opened despite the burning he matched his way through the dusty gloom till the sound of picks and shovels could be heard. He headed past almost blindly and stepped down into the now thankfully larger tunnels. Kevin let out a yawn put kept going till he finally reached the bedrooms. Slowly he stepped over to his private corner before slipping past the curtain. He took a step forward and fell both into sleep and the plush floral bedding.