A flicker of movement caught her eye. A shadow, lurking behind a massive mushroom, vanished from sight. She turned her gaze back on the road and threw the orb between the mushrooms, to her side. Then she continued on her way, as if nothing had happened. Few steps later, the orb sped across the street with a terrifying speed. A wet, heavy thud was heard. She looked back again.
A half cow with ripped, mushroom-made clothes lying on the ground unconscious. The orb was flying a few steps ahead of it. She moved closer and kneel down.
There is no traumatic brain injury from the trap.
Looking closer the mushroom clothes were just like silk. Threads were made from peeling mushroom stems like strings and woven together to create this smooth fabric.
Excellent craftsmanship, they are not primitive. She might be of use.
She lifted the half cow into a sitting position and clasped her hands to the body's chest. Dragging her to a mushroom house, she looked like she was dragging a sack of potatoes. Because the muscle tone was completely gone the cow felt heavier. The spores lifted up in a dense cloud; then a strong, musty odor hit Amy's nose. She turned her face away from the half-cow.
One of the problems of lacking reliable water.
Grabbing her by the mushroom clothing, she dragged it to the house. And dropped her on the wall. By inspecting her surroundings she spotted a long cloth, using the cloth to bind the half cow's hands and feet together.
I cannot take any risks.
She sat on the other side of the room. Her gaze changed upwards; the house was spiraling towards the sky, connected with a carved ladder and the fire stones were used as illumination. She looked at the carved counter; only primitive tools were on display, stone heads with mushroom fibers connecting them to yet another hardened mushroom. There wasn't much to do in the wasteland of mushrooms, so she dropped her backpack on her lap and started counting what she had left.
After half an hour, the half cow slowly opened her eyes. Her eyes met with Amy's cold and blank gaze, staring directly at her soul. She flinched back violently, making her head hit the head with a low and wet thud. Amy's gaze was unbroken; after a long minute,
She slowly blinked and asked "Can you talk?" with a weary, small sigh.
Between her shaky voice and ragged breaths "Do... can..." She said.
Amy's gaze changed to the bowtie translator.
Did it break along the way? She checked the bowtie There is no visible damage
She looked at her again, her gaze scanned every corner of the house. Some of the words were translated yet others didn't even register. She took a glance at rotten patches and primitive tools. They couldn't be isolated overnight.
It should be a diverged dialect of the OldNortherner.
She grabbed the orb from the air and tapped on its surface, creating a new entry.
I should be thankful to the professor; for teaching me all those tedious, ancient languages.
She moved her fingers across orbs surface. Suddenly a colorful light escaped from the orb and a image appaired.
Amy whispered "Sizana" Old Northerner word for 'water'. She brought the orb closer.
The half cow stared at Amy for a minute. "Sizn" She said in a shaky voice.
Phonetic shift noted.
She ran her fingers across the orb again, now showing a throne.
"Apatys" she said, Old Northerner for 'King/Emperor'.
The half cow's breath hitched "Katn" she said, her voice in uncertainty.
That's closer to the word for 'seat', maybe the word was lost.
After they go over basic words, like "yes/no" and establish a basic communication. Amy pointed at herself. Before she can open her mouth
Boom.
World outside echoed with an instant and deafening ripping sound.