<30 August 2024, GRAND MESA OF SUMMER, A+> [Theo and Julia] Theo and Julia had gone back to sleep until sunrise after receiving the middle-of-the-night notification. Now, with the sun shining down on them and a meal in each hand, Theo and Julia were listening to Kreldar.

"So that's why I think ye' should let me start on finishin' the tunnels off nice an' neat." Kreldar finished what had been a five-minute speech about why tunnels were the most defensible and best way to traverse an area.

"I mean, I am not opposed," Julia said, looking at Theo.

"I'm not either," Theo said, "do we still have that map you said you would make Kreldar?"

"Unfortunately, apparently, that ended up with one of the dwarves ye' sent away with Yordo," Kreldar said awkwardly. "I can try an' get it back if ye'd like."

Theo waved a hand. "Why don't you make another map? Actually, we should figure out paper first."

Julia nodded. "I need paper and writing in my life."

"Well, that should not be an issue." Ordus, who had been eating in silence, said. "The System usually sends out merchants after a few weeks on a newly inducted planet so that the people there can have a way to spend their hard-won money."

"So that should be happening soon?" Theo asked, and Ordus nodded.

Julia looked excited. Theo raised an eyebrow at her questioningly. She looked hurt. "You know that I love stuff! Do you know how hard it is for me to limit myself when we don't sit down, and just go through all the things?"

"Oh, that's right," Theo said playfully, "you are a loot goblin."

"Yes, and I want to know what's in the hoard!" She said indignantly. "I am sure that we have a lot of things that are very cool that we just have not used Identify on, and that bothers me."

Theo raised his hands in a placating manner. "Fine, fine. We can take a day here soon, and we will just identify everything."

"Really?" Julia asked, looking like a kid on Christmas morning who had just been told they were getting a puppy and a trip to their favorite place.

Theo chuckled and nodded. "Really, really!"

Julia looked happier than she had moments ago, and Theo turned back to Kreldar. "As to the tunnels. Let's hold off until we can get a map together, and then you can plan and plot to your heart's content. For now, how are we doing in the basement?"

"Well, as I said, it's slower goin' now." Kreldar said, "But 'tween ye' and the lady. It's goin' all right. I hope to have it done in a week. Any time ye' wanna come an' move a bunch of blocks, ye' feel free to do so."

Theo nodded. "I can do that."

They were about to plot out their day when a familiar disconcerting voice called out from the edge of the Ward runes. "User Theo Sorrin, User Julia Sorrin, We have returned as promised."

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Theo and Julia looked up to see Oreburn standing there with someone who looked like a cross between an octopus and a minotaur. Its head had both horns and tentacles. The horns sprouted from the soft, pulsating head of an octopus and came down to a longer bovine-esk snout that had tentacles in the form of a beard.

Theo and Julia rose up and walked to Oreburn. Julia spoke first. "Oreburn, it is good to see you."

"And you as well, User Julia Sorrin." Oreburn said, "And our congratulations to you both on the successful forming of your family."

"Thank you, Oreburn," Theo said with a smile.

Julia gestured for them to cross the Wards. "Please come in. We don't have much, but I am sure that we can find you something."

Oreburn walked across the runes, and the strange bovid-Cephalopod squelched across the Ward runes. Julia continued. "I know that you said you would come back when we had completed a keep, but we haven't completed much of anything. So what brings you back?"

Oreburn was silent, but the strange person was not. They let out a strange, bubbly, mooing sound that Theo quickly recognized as laughter. The voice that came from the strange entity was not unpleasant, but it did evoke a sense of caution in Theo. "You have completed much, Lady Sorrin; I have heard that in just under a month, you have befriended gods, fought hordes, established a Family, and who knows what else."

Theo tensed. "That is true. May I ask who you are and how you know of us?"

Oreburn stepped up. "We apologize. We have failed to perform the introduction of the guest you told Us to bring. This is Gus."

Theo and Julia looked at each other, and Oreburn continued. "That is, of course, not his real name. His real name is..."

What followed was a set of sounds that Theo simultaneously had to fight not to cover his ears, and he wondered how he would ever attempt to describe the sound to another. Oreburn completed the several-second-long name and continued his introduction. "...but we both decided that it would not do for him to use a name that you could not pronounce. So he is Gus."

Gus extended a hand that had three tentacles, each with a small hoof-like nail on the end. "Hello I am Gus."

Theo grabbed the slightly slimy hand and shook it. "Hello Gus, I am Theo Sorrin; this is Julia Sorrin. It's good to have you here."

Julia bowed her head to Gus, who imitated the action. She straightened up, "We were not expecting guests, so it might take us some time to get some food together."

"We understand," Oreburn said, "if you wish, We can return at a designated time later today."

Theo nodded, "that would probably be best."

Julia smiled, "You are more than welcome to stay here, and we can eat later."

Oreburn shook his head, "We have business with someone nearby. We will attend to that and return shortly before sunset. Gus, will you accompany Us."

Gus nodded and suddenly vanished. Oreburn nodded to them, "We shall return."

Oreburn squatted and shot into the air before heading to another location at ludicrous speeds.

The rest of the day was spent in a rush trying to put something together that wasn't a System meal. Theo harvested a bunch of berries. Julia pulled up a couple dozen wild carrots from the woods, and they worked together to come up with some kind of food.

When it came down to a matter of waiting, Theo stepped away, and with Ordus's help, he stacked bricks to then lay some rough-hewn planks on and set makeshift seats in place. The temporary table was on the edge of the Overlook, facing the sunset.

Theo then helped Julia move the small amount of food that they had made to the table and waited for their guests. It didn't take long for Oreburn and Gus to arrive. Julia smiled and motioned for them to take a seat, "Please have a seat, and I hope you enjoy what we were able to scrape together."

They ate a berry medley and some boiled carrots, and then when they were still hungry, Theo pulled several system meals from his pouch and placed two in front of both of their guests while splitting one with Julia to finish off their meal.

When they were finished, Oreburn nodded. "Again, you have provided hospitality for Us, and We thank you. You are Our valued humans."

"I thank you as well, Lord and Lady Sorrin," Gus said, bowing his head to them slightly.

"Now, before We depart, We have a message for you," Oreburn said. "And this time, it is from the man who you once knew as the President of the United States, Joshua Armstrong."

Theo and Julia looked at each other with raised eyebrows, and Oreburn began to speak.

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