Gardaina, And The Living Land
Even with the extra brain power that I could pour into worrying about Mex, I just couldn't find a reason for him to do all of this. I mean, besides the reason that he had actually given me, like him thinking highly of me and saying that I would do a better job of it.
That could just be Silvery Mex sugar tonguing me up with smooth words and reasonable promises to get me pinned into a trap. There was something big in the bush, but It was only watching me, and I was almost to the first clearing where I would meet with Grogvel.
It was some kind of cat, but very big, and black with red stripes. It almost reminded me of a tiger, but from hell, and a lot bigger, but I think because it knew I could see it hiding, it didn't want to attack.
I walked into the clearing and then stepped around where Grogvel tried to open up the ground under me. Then I had to hop six more times before the Earth Elemental burst from the earth, sputtering in anger.