"Some people use weapons, but 'mon are easier to learn to use and more culturally standard and cheaper, and less likely to actually kill the wild ones, which is usually considered preferable."

"I'll still miss my guns. You are better than that arrogant princeling. So you may put me in the ball if it makes it quicker to find Rangers who might like me."

"Well, we can try the nearest town without me having to fly anywhere, if you don't mind a long walk. Maybe we'll get lucky."

"How long is the walk? I seem to require less food for time spent inside the ball, which may become a concern."

"I gave you everything I brought. It would take maybe fifteen minutes if I let Fireflower gallop it, but you don't go that fast, so a few hours."

"You seem to think I am slower than I am. I can run reasonably fast, I just take a while to get up to speed." It demonstrates- it's about twice as fast as a running human, mostly thanks to its sheer size.

Bella puts Juu in her ball and urges Fireflower along. She easily catches up to the Hiver. "Fireflower is fast."

It has no comment but to speed up a little more, then settle into a steady pace. THUMP-THUMP-THUMP-THUMP.

"We're actually going the wrong way," Bella says. "Follow me." She steers Fireflower around.

"I can eat almost anything, I just find it unpleasant. I like large quantities of simple carbohydrates, and sugar is probably the cheapest. I also need protein and fats and vitamins. One measure of that disgusting food from earlier for every four measures of sugary things will be good for my health, though still unpleasant."

"Hmm, I wonder if you could eat a whole egg. You probably could. I can afford another bag of sugar and an egg, but I'm not rich, you're huge, and I have other 'mon to feed."

"I could eat a whole egg, though I might prefer it hot. But the cost of food is why I mentioned the ball. Though mildly unpleasant, it is less unpleasant than being reduced to eating sticks and grass. I have noticed that my hunger is slowed to a crawl when I am in it."

"Yeah, that's normal, but 'mon still need to eat a full meal at least once a day even if they're in their balls the entire rest of the time. If you can wait a few hours we can try the local rangers and if we have to go to another town I can put you away, fly there, try them, and feed you an egg and a bag of sugar if that doesn't work either."

"Are the rangers not here? Out on patrol?"

"It might take a few hours to convince them even if they eventually agree they want you."

"I see."

"So do you need to eat before we try that, because of all the running, or are you good for now?"

"Hiver warriors have an awareness of their own bodies, so I know I am in acceptable condition. I will become uncomfortably hungry in about five hours, and uncomfortably thirsty in about four."

"Well, water's cheap. There's a fountain over here, you're allowed to drink from it." She nudges Fireflower along until they're at a fountain in a city square.

"I am tk'tlz." It still can't really be pronounced by humans, the closest they'll get is 'tektools'.