Monster Breeder

143. A Leader in the Making

We spend five times longer than the fight took on containing and managing the ensuing forest fire. I use Bunny Patron Earth Magic and Harpy Matron Air Magic to smother flames, plus Froglin Water Magic to douse them, and Lupine Flamestalker Flame Control to suppress them using my four hands and multitasking focuses. Gale rains on the Twisted Elder’s corpse, Cottontail pulls the end of a functioning firehose from her hat, Sue uses her Froglin Water Magic, Isabella uses her Cactus Water Magic, Jonny/Brenda makes a barrier of nonflammable slime, Suka goes the opposite direction by burning out the fuel hot and fast before the flames have a chance to spread, and Dura digs a trench with my shovels. I sigh in relief when at last it appears we won’t be burning down Charlatan Forest.

Slumping back against the base of a tree, I take a minute to catch my breath. Chris comes out of hiding to stand nearby while I check my tummy mark menu.

*Chopped down the Twisted Elderberry Treefolk – One Forest Mark!*

Success is sweet!

*Forest Marks – Two*

Mandragora Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis (Sundew, Pitcher, F. Dryad)

Twisted Treefolk Twisted Apple

Twisted Elderberries

Twisted Treefolk Roots

Twisted Elder Roots

Twisted Elder Form

Pitcher Treefolk Vines

Sundew Trap Tendrils

Flower Dryad Thorn Whip

Cactus Needles

Mandragora Plant Growth Magic

Plant Growth Magic (Sundew, Pitcher, F. Dryad, Cactus)

Elderflower Plant Growth Magic

Twisted Treefolk Bark Skin

Twisted Elder Bark Skin

Twisted Treefolk Earth Magic

Twisted Elder Earth Magic

Elder Upheaval

Treefolk Cock (Twisted, Sundew, F. Dryad, Cactus)

Twisted Elder Cock

Pitcher Treefolk Stomach Acid

Sundew Trap Sweat

Flower Dryad Fecund Aura

Cactus Water Magic

He’s got a whopping eight abilities associated with him? Hmm, that ‘Upheaval’ option is tempting. I originally thought what he did yesterday was part of his standard Earth Magic, but it seems to be a separate ability in the tree, similar to Megan’s ‘Thunder Crash.’ Regardless, my picks are straightforward and suitably powerful.

*Selected Elderflower Plant Growth Magic!*

*Selected Twisted Elder Earth Magic!*

I raise myself on a dais of earth and stone, lifting myself higher on a thick wooden branch to demonstrate my mastery of the Elder’s magic as the residents of Charlatan Forest are led towards me by my Siren ally. Lucinia ceases her song, releasing her control over the crowd of suddenly terrified plant monsters. They know they’re dead to rights. Their Elder Tree is a smoking ruin, my girls are all scary high-rank second and third tier monsters, and we have them hemmed in like beasts for the slaughter.

“Isabella, come join me,” I say. Suka gives the Desert Rose Dryad a playful slap on the ass, breaking a modicum of tension as the nervous green woman dressed in flowers and spines ascends to stand beside me. I address the crowd, “Your leader is slain,” stating the obvious, “But I have no thirst for further bloodshed.” Audible sighs of relief from the assembled Treefolk. “Look upon your new leader.”

All eyes turn to a shocked Isabella, whose blossoming compounds under scrutiny. There’s awe in the faces beneath us as flowers sprout all around the clearing in a cacophony of color. Whispers of ‘Flower Dryad’ despite her prickly appearance echoes through the audience. She blushes a dark green and stammers, “B-but, I’m n-not…”

“What about Mother Heather?” someone in the crowd says.

I shut that shit down. “That woman will be looking after the Kindergarten from now on. Isabella will lead the plant folk.” Then I pitch my voice to carry beyond the clearing, far into the trees so that anyone lurking nearby can hear me, “Anyone who pledges loyalty to Isabella will be spared. Any who approaches Field Town throughout the day looking for succor can take an oath to join us. After today, the remainder of Charlatan Forest denizens will be killed on sight until these woods are cleared of monsters. Am I understood?”

There’s a bit of a rush among the Pitchers, Busty Willows, and Strangler Figs to ‘bend the knee’ at least as far as their biology is capable. Isabella does a fair job taking on the new role, and Suka looks proud as punch. Quietly, I’d hoped the mantle of leadership would immediately evolve the young Dryad to third tier, but it appears she needs to prove herself somewhat before a proper title reveals itself.

Pulling my inner council aside, I brief them, “Unfortunately, we can’t hold Charlatan Forest. We’d be spreading ourselves too thin, and we have too much to do today.” I came to this realization after looking over the surviving members of the Elder Tree’s court. There’s no way for us to manage them without Lois and Aello supplying some third-tier punishment to any transgressors. Add on top of that the fact that any number of rebels could be hiding throughout the forest, and there’s just no way. “Have this group of captives lead you to any other Prisoner Pens or Nurseries we might’ve missed yesterday. Herd them and the pregnant Busty Willows we saw yesterday back to Field Town.

“I think we earned some loyalty among the captured predators with last night’s orgy, but I’m not counting on it. Regardless, between Aello, Lois, Gabby, Isabella, Mulu, Drosera, and especially Lucinia, they should be able to keep things under control while we’re away.” Having a Lesser Siren to quell potential riots is a major blessing! “The rest of you can divide yourselves into two groups. One heads for the Misty Grove to collect Slime Cores while the other suppresses the Servitor population under the Mountain. The last thing we want is another army joining the battle tomorrow. I’m going home,” a wave of homesickness suddenly washes over me that I shake off and power through, “To speak with the mayor.”

I finish without losing my composure, but I know my eyes are sparkling with unshed tears. The others absorb my words and consider.

Jonny/Brenda steps forward, “We’ll lead the expedition to the Misty Grove.” Flou and Olindia silently move to join them.

I agree with their decision. “While I’d have liked to spread Flou between the groups like yesterday, our ability to coordinate is still too limited to take advantage of her communication range. Better to lend her strength to the Misty Grove team.”

“I’d rather not go underground,” Gale regretfully admits to her mousy partner, “So I should stay with them.” Rosie the dark-skinned flamingo Harpy and Monal the colorful pheasant girl both shadow Gale without a word.

Megan kisses and hugs her wife before replying, “Go with my love.”

“Follow your instincts,” I agree.

“Then I’m going that way, too. It sounds safer,” Chris says.

I produce the kegel-ball-sized Brand Summoning Token and present it to Gale. Her team is the one I'm most concerned about if things go wrong. "Break this in case of emergency. I think you can use it to summon whoever's name is on here." After demonstrating how to change the indicated Branded on the crystal ball's display, I hand it over. "Um, can you, uh, handle it?"

Gale puzzles over the orb, still slick with my pussy juices, and I realize she doesn't have hands. I may be an idiot.

Then the Rainbird displays her brilliance by grabbing the Token with her wing using a tendril of Water Magic as a 'thumb' to hold it in place. She brings it to her face for a closer examination, sniffs it, licks it with a contented smile, and then bends over to shove it up her hoo-ha where it'll be safe and secure.

“I’ll lead the Spider Suppression mission,” Suka announces, slamming a fist into her palm. “My flames are perfect for burning away cobwebs.”

Cottontail joins the wolf girl while attempting to project confidence, “That seems like the more dangerous of the two, so I should probably do that, considering I’m a third tier, now.”

“Damnit,” Chris cusses under her breath as she realizes she’s being separated from her Warren Mistress.

Megan, meanwhile, pumps her fist in victory, “I need to follow my source of static electricity to maintain my power. Not to mention my glow can illuminate the darkness. Looks like I’m headed underground.”

“Double-damnit.” Megan winks at Chris, who brushes her white angora locks from her face with a sigh. “And, to top it off, I feel silly for coming along when we’re headed back to Fieldton first, anyway.”

Sue and Dura both go to stand by their respective partners.

"Lastly, I have one more asset to hand out. It's called, 'Sympathetic Link,' and I have no idea what it does. I didn't want an unknown factor complicating our battle with the Elder Tree when I figured we already had it well in hand, so we're doing this now."

My companions exchange glances, everyone seeming covetous of the opportunity knowing how strong Power Bond ended up being.

"Draw straws?" Suka suggests.

Cottontail doffs her hat and pulls a box decorated with enticing illustrations from inside. It seems like she got what she wanted first try this time! Inside the 'P*cky' box are a handful of long, candy-coated biscuit sticks. A bite from the bunch randomizes the lengths of each stick, and then everyone pulls a piece from her closed fist.

"You're so lucky, Cottontail!" Gale cheers. 

"Luckee bun," Dura grunts.

Yep, Cottontail just won again.

I shrug. It doesn't especially matter if magic is at work, since I don't have a clue what this thing does. We'll just leave it up to fate today.

*Selected Cottontail for Sympathetic Link!*

I give the teams a once-over, then nod in satisfaction. Their strength may not be split evenly but is divided proportional to the tasks at hand. I extend my fist into our circle. “Alright. See you all tonight.”

My girls raise their fists in turn to bump mine. Here we go again!