Gonna be posting these for the next while, been waiting to upload them once I had a break in commissions long enough so I could get all the chapters finished and posted in order on here :) there will be 16 chapters. I've been using this as a means to practice drawing full scenes, and to renew and practice writing skills that have been left abandoned for a long time.

"Saurian" is the title, and also the name of the world in which it takes place.
The main characters Nomminus and Khaz are an unlikely duo, she's an adventurer, always on the move and prefers a solitary life. He is a bright-eyed and excitable kid who ends up tagging along with her on her adventures due to unfortunate circumstances.
They will learn to work together as they deal with whatever dangers or challenges they might face while wandering the world.

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Comments appreciated, thanks in advance for faves
characters and story © myself, please be respectful and do not copy, alter, or repost without permission. Thanks!

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The rest of the way to Salthaven after the incident at the mines was quiet and uneventful. Khaz remained silent the whole time, trying to process everything that had happened, he knew it was bound to happen eventually, killing someone…he didn’t expect it to be so soon. He kept to himself, trying to collect his thoughts and attempt to figure out how he felt about all of it, was he scared? Completely, those bandits were mean and intimidating, what happens if one of them finds him, will they know it was him who did it? He was uneasy, there was blood everywhere. Maybe he should have just ran and let Nommy deal with it? What about the act itself, how did he feel about that? He was happy to have helped his friend, but the awful feeling of taking someone’s life was weighing down on him like a bag of bricks.

Nomminus saw no point in trying to speak with him, it could only make things worse if the wrong thing was said. Which, is why she was happy they were headed to Salthaven of all places. She knew the elder as a wise and dear friend, who always had just the right thing to say to encourage weary and distraught explorers.

They arrived to their destination, greeted by the giants that called Salthaven home. Khaz should have been delighted, he was so excited before to meet all of them, but he couldn’t bring himself to even smile, even when greeted by the elder of the settlement and her apprentice. Both of them soothsayers making use of their gifts of foresight.
As they sat down to talk, Khaz excused himself and sat away from everyone, curled up tight with his knees to his chest, and tail tucked closely beside him head resting on his arms folded over his legs. He still wasn’t ready to interact.

“Welcome back, Nomminus. Always so wonderful to see you.” Nili said with a smile, shakily reaching out for a hug before sitting down. She wore minimal clothing, as it was hard to find enough material to cover her wide and tall frame. A large piece of brown cloth covered her chest, while she donned a collar and skirt of sorts made out of light tan coloured straw and furs. With darker blades of straw protruding from them.
“Of course, Nili. Always a pleasure to see you as well.” Nomminus said and gave her a hug, then proceeded to help her sit down, before sitting down herself.
“Now, who is your travelling companion? He seems distant, has something happened?” Asks the elderly Rebbachisaurus.
“That is Khaz, he’s my new partner in my travels I suppose. His family was killed, and rather than going to an orphanage, he’s been adventuring with me…though I think he may be reconsidering. It’s been just over a week, he’s already been kidnapped by bandits and killed their chief.” Nomminus explained.
“Should we share with him that it was part of his fate? His life is vivid to me, and that event was a key point in it.” Says a younger, brightly scaled Saltasaurus, as she joins the two in their sitting spot. Nili beside her, and Nomminus from her. The outfit she wore consisted of black fabric and light brown straw and fur, similar to that of Nili’s, while also donning a head covering of sorts, giving somewhat of an illusion of hair atop her head, and a similar bit at the end of her tail. “Wonderful to see you again Nomminus” she added.”
“As to you, Adhara.” Nomminus replied, “It eases me somewhat to know this is something that shouldn’t have been avoided, but I am still worried for him, to be given what might be taken as a hint to his life ahead, may scare him more.”

Khaz had by now picked up a small stick, and began drawing lines aimlessly in the dirt, he wasn’t so far away that he couldn’t hear the adults talking. When hearing those words, that he was destined to kill that chief. He buried his head in his sleeves. Not sure how to feel about it. All he could think of doing was crying, a soft quiet cry so that the others might not notice from where they sat.

Nili looks at her young apprentice, “Adhara, it is not our place to outright say what is to become of someone’s life, nor to sway them one way or another, but rather, act as a voice of clarity, wisdom, and calming, someone who understands what lies ahead, and provide words of encouragement for the long journey.” She takes pause and then turns her attention to Nomminus.
“But, this I will share; there’s a fire in that boy’s heart, burning just as bright as yours Nomminus, it will take him time to cope with the events that have transpired, but, he’ll be back on his feet and ready for the grand adventure you two will have together.”
Nomminus nods, “Thank you, Nili. It is good to hear that there is a high chance of him remaining by my side, while it’s taken some getting used to. I will admit to having grown fond of having a companion, and dare I say…I’m beginning to consider him as a son.”

At this point, Khaz was able to find his smile, though it was soaked with tears. To know he wasn’t a burden, and that he mattered to her still despite his actions, that she cared for him enough to worry. And to have someone call him son again, well that was icing on the cake. It began to make everything not hurt as much. Though he was still pained.
Another hour passed by, the conversation between the adults had changed from him, to just general catching up. By now, Khaz has run dry of tears, and rather than sitting cold and alone, he takes a deep breath and finds the strength to get up, and join the adults, completing the circle around the fire they had built for warmth and light as the cool evening turned to night. He sits down across from Nili
“I…I was cold.” Is all he says.
“That’s perfectly fine dear, plenty of room around the fire.” Nili responds with a warm grin. Her head shaky and the hanging skin of her jowls and neck wiggled as she spoke, one of the many signs of her age.
Khaz wanted to stay quiet, but his curiosity had won over his distress, “so…you can tell the future?” he asks.
Nili gives a small short laugh. “Well, I can see some of it if I look hard enough, telling it, well I haven’t really too many individuals to tell it to.”
“…you could tell it to me?” Khaz suggested.
“Well then…I suppose I could. Hmm, ah yes. I believe, you are about to have a small tickly feeling on your nose.” Nili said with a grin.
“My nose?” Khaz wasn’t sure what to think, he assumed maybe she thought he was about to sneeze? He didn’t have the urge too. A buzzing sound was soon heard, and a firefly floated around him eventually choosing his nose as a good spot to land. Walking around on it and causing the tickly feeling.
Khaz smiled a little and wiggled his nose, shooing the firefly off of it. “That was neat.”
“I think it can be kind of neat too” Nili said with a smile.
The night went on, Khaz began to ask more and more questions, his natural sense of curiosity becoming the perfect distraction he needed from his own thoughts.
Once it was time to sleep, he shared a tent with Nomminus, they made a plan before closing their eyes that they’d stay here for a while, as he had far too many questions for all of the giant sauropods that just had to be answered.
As they slept, Khaz eventually woke from nightmares, in a panic and breathing heavy. Nomminus, though groggy and barely awake, pulled him close and comforted him until he fell asleep once again.

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TL;DR: Nomminus and Khaz arrive in Salthaven and meet with the elder and soothsayer of the settlement, Nili, as well as her young apprentice Adhara. Khaz takes some time to himself, to further think about the events prior to their arrival, but soon finds himself bubbling with endless questions for their giant hosts.

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