In a side pocket within the Lucid Altar’s cavernous reaches, Scurlock settled down on a flat stone as he watched over a pack of Geodes wrestle and play with each other. A single, bright lantern cut through the dim gloominess of the cave, revealing its flattened floor. Few small stones or even pebbles jutted out of the ground, making it a perfect arena for the Geodes to sharpen their claws on each other. The walls, rounded and smooth, glittered with hints of precious stones and metals. Even the stone that Scurlock laid on flashed every once and a while as the lantern moved subtly, its light touching the stone with brief caresses.

“I’m the leader of the Strata now!” declared Mantella, a young Geode who was visiting for the day from Fluorspar. She glowered at the others from atop a small rock. As she struck a valiant pose, inhaling to puff out her chest, the rest of the Geodes screamed and chirped in protest. Kt threw themselves onto the stone without hesitation, claws screeching against the hard surface as they clambored to shove Mantella off.

“No! This is my rock!” yelled Mantella.

“You just kicked me in the snout!” huffed Valentine.

“You can’t use breath in Leader of the Strata! No fair!” wailed Kt.

Galahad, unseen by the others, snuck up from behind rock and bit down hard on Mantella’s tail. She yelped in response, slithering off the rock. Scurlock lifted his head, making sure the bite hadn’t drawn blood. As he watched the Geodes, now running in circles around their rock, he grumbled as he saw a bruise developing around the bite mark.

“Hey!” he shouted, and immediately the Geodes stopped in their tracks, piling into each other as they all turned their attention to Scurlock.

“Be careful,” he growled, the light swinging to accentuate his face perfectly. He let loose puffs of his pneumir from his wispy ears. “You’re playing with other Geodes, not a Fugulisk!”

“Sorry, Mister Scurlock…” echoed all of the hatchlings in unison, some more earnest than others. For a heartbeat, they all stared at each other, trying to avoid his gaze, but it didn’t take long before Valentine playfully swiped at Kt’s ears. The play fighting resumed immediately, though they avoided the rock now. A movement in the corner of Scurlock’s eye caught his attention. A red, black and cream Geode approached him from the side, looking up at him with wide, curious eyes. Scurlock quirked an eyebrow and waited for the Geode’s next move.

“I-I’m Olivin!” the Geode finally said, his voice cracking a little towards the end. He stretched himself up on his tip toes, ears just barely reaching over the rock. “I’m gonna be a knight someday. Just like you!”

Scurlock couldn’t help but crack a smile at the little scrap in front of him.

“You’re gonna have to do a lot of growing, then,” Scurlock said, pulling himself up on his paws to stand at his full height, his coiled tail bobbing up and down. Olivin’s jaw hung open as he stared up at Scurlock. “And a lot of training.”

“I can do it! I’ll grow big and I’ll do all of my training!”

Scurlock chuckled heartily, and then swooped the star-shaped tip of his tail down to scoop up Olivin. The Geode squeaked in surprise, instinctively biting to get a grip. Scurlock deposited him on the stone next to him, sitting down on his back legs. Olivin gazed at his new view, staring down at the other Geodes scrambling around in the cave.

“Do… Do most knights babysit hatchlings?”

“Not all the time,” Scurlock said. “Most of my days are patrolling and drills, practice and exercise. Sometimes, though…”

“You said you would be the seeker!” Galahad snapped.

“Did not!” Valentine shouted.

“We can’t play hide and seek without a seeker!” Kt growled.

Scurlock smiled.

“Sometimes I get to envy how carefree you Geodes are!