[Choose Your Own Adventure] Part 10

The last one was pretty split...

[Part 10]

“Hey!” you shout. “I know you’re out here! I’ve come to bond!”

Your voice echoes off the rocks, bouncing down the narrow walkways between boulders. A handful of seagulls take to the sky, squawking at you as though cursing your existence.

Then the silence sets in. For a brief moment, it seems nothing will answer your call… but then it gets hot. Too hot. Water on the rocks begins to evaporate in front of you, becoming steam that fogs the nearby area.

You turn around and spot the source of the heat—an adult salamander.

And you recognize him! The caves near your hometown, West Jin, are inhabited by three adult salamanders, all of which have lost their arcanists. This one is Linne, one of the males.

At least… you think it is.

Linne is large. He’s nineteen feet in length, and you’re pretty sure he weighs more than 2,000 pounds. His body is much like a crocodile—thick, wide, and with shorter legs. His tail swishes behind him, leaving a trail of embers that float on the ocean breeze. When he opens his giant maw, his throat is alight with flame.

His eyes…

They’re bright blue. Like the ocean. A cold and harsh juxtaposition to the brilliant red of his sturdy scales.

When Linne lumbers toward you, his back leg nearly gives out. He’s “limping,” basically. Injured? No blood weeps from the injury, but [Academic Knowledge] you’re aware that salamanders can sometimes close wounds with molten rock to prevent excessive bleeding. They melt stone and patch it over injuries.

“You’re a long way from home,” Linne says, his voice deep and gravely, but also laced with sadistic amusement. “Since when do library assistants make it out into the wilds?” The salamander laughs and dark smoke gushes from his throat and nose. “Pretty foolish of you to call out like that. You never know what will find you.”

You’ve seen Linne multiple times throughout your life on the Isle of Haylin. Linne has always conducted himself as a protector—he guards the salamander caves, and watches over your hometown. He’s a hero, not a thug or bully…

The heat causes you to sweat.

Linne stands only ten feet away from you, his claws hot enough to wrap the stone under his feet.

What do you do?

A) “Oh, oops. This isn’t where I parked my boat. I gotta go!” Run away.

B) “You’re not Linne. You’re that mischief maker!”

C) “Enough games. What’re you doing here?”

D) “Right. Awesome. Look, I need a mystical creature, and you need a human. Let’s make a deal.”

E) “Hey, just give me your Trial of Worth and let’s get this over with.”

F) Pull out your knife. “I’m not going to be intimidated.”

G) “Oh, great and mighty creature, please let me take your Trial of Worth.” Bow.