The Adventures of Skink and Dunekit

[SunrypeSlim]

The Adventures of Skink and Dunekit

Once upon a time, in a vast desert wasteland, there lived two unlikely friends named Skink and Dunekit. Skink, the tiny and adventurous skink, scurried across the sandy dunes, his curiosity leading him to new discoveries, his ebon locks flowing in the breeze. Dunekit, the playful dunecat with a blunt personality, trotted alongside Skink, always ready to join in the day's adventure, but often just too good for it if you know what I mean.

One sunny day, as Skink and Dunekit met at their favorite basking spot atop a sun-kissed dune, Skink looked up at the sky, flicked a tiny hand through his rich black mane, and exclaimed, "Dunekit, look at the endless possibilities that lie before us! I wonder what mysteries this wasteland holds."

Dunekit stretched lazily and replied, "Mysteries? Ha! All I see are endless sand dunes and scorching heat. But if you're up for it, let's see what trouble we can find today." With that, he discarded the eaten corpse of another skink nearly indistinguishable from his friend and the two set off.

After briefly setting on again when Skink forgot his sandals, they set off again on their exploration, Skink noticed a group of colorful birdos fluttering above. Skink's eyes widened with excitement, "Dunekit, look at those birds! I wonder what stories they could tell us."

Dunekit scoffed, "Stories? They probably just squawk about their next meal. But let's see if they know any shortcuts through these dunes."

Skink approached the birdos and chirped cheerfully, "Hello, beautiful birds! Have you traveled far? We're in search of adventure and knowledge."

One of the birdos, a flamboyantly-appointed rainbow owl named Hooth, hooted with a mewling passion and replied, "Indeed, little Skink. We've seen many wonders in our travels. If you wish to find answers, seek the ancient ruins hidden deep within the desert. But beware, for strange beings are drawn to those sites."
Excitement filled Skink's tiny body as they relayed the owl's message to Dunekit. "Did you hear that, Dunekit? Ancient ruins and strange beings! Let's go and uncover their secrets!"

Dunekit narrowed his eyes and said cautiously, "Skink, I smell danger. But if you're determined, I won't let you face it alone. Just promise me you'll stay close; you're barely a morsel for the threats we'll face."

Skink grinned, "Of course, Dunekit! We'll face this together, like true friends always do. I'll enchant your steel, enhance your strength, enflame your tail, and ward you against, just, everyone. All of it."

And so, Skink and Dunekit ventured deeper into the desert wasteland, encountering treacherous sandstorms and scorching heat along the way. Spurred on as they were by the fiery passion of finding something to do, finally, they reached the ancient ruins, where eerie whispers echoed through the air.

Skink shivered, "Dunekit, do you feel that? Something's not right here."

Dunekit's ears twitched as he sniffed the air, "You're right for once, Skink. There's a peculiar energy in the air. Let's proceed with caution."

Skink bobbed his little lizard head in agreement. "Okay; we'll rest here and I'll put the spells on you again. Do you have oil?" But it had only been twenty minutes, so their rest was a fitful and restless affair that was more like a chore than a proper break from action.

As they explored the ruins, they stumbled upon an ancient lizardfolk named Zara, who had been trapped within the ruins for centuries. Her mummified remains were soiled with centuries of fell sorcery and sanitary neglect. Zara's voice quivered as she spoke, "Brave travelers, please help me escape this eternal prison. I can guide you through the treacherous paths."

Skink's heart filled with compassion, "We'll help you, Zara. Dunekit, what do you think?"

Dunekit's eyes narrowed, but he nodded, "Fine, but if you try anything funny, you'll regret it."

With Zara's guidance, Skink and Dunekit navigated through narrow passages, avoiding hidden traps and escaping ancient curses. Along the way, Skink saw things he had never seen before: mighty obelisks, ancient runic scripts, defaced paintings of once noble figures, all relics of an age long since passed. Zara proved to be an invaluable ally, sharing her wisdom and ancient knowledge.

In the end, as they emerged from the ruins, free from their ancient confines, Skink turned to Zara, gratitude in their eyes, a song in their heart, and dusty black tresses bobbing in the faint breeze, "Thank you, Zara. We couldn't have done it without you."

Zara smiled warmly, "And thank you both, Skink and Dunekit, for your courage and friendship. Remember, strength comes in all states of living, and true friends can conquer any challenge."

Skink and Dunekit nodded in agreement, before realizing they didn't understand what Zara said. Dunecat had certainly learned the value of being big or small isn't measured by physical size but by the size of one's heart, but then he'd learned that every week or so. Skink had discovered a fondness for relief carvings but otherwise remained unchanged as a person. And neither of them could fathom the complex moral quandries of intelligent necromancy, or the disconcerting legal liabilities which stem from their newfound friendship.

Their hearts filled with joy and newfound wisdom, Skink, Dunekit, and Zara ventured forth, ready to face whatever wonders and challenges the desert wasteland had in store for them. Together, they would continue to explore, learn, and make new friends, cherishing the values of bravery, compassion, and the power of undeath.

And so, their journey through the desert wasteland continued, reminding them and young readers alike that no matter how big or small, each individual has unique qualities to offer, and that you should not trust any skink with black hair.

THE END

[SunrypeSlim]

In the heart of the desert, amidst towering sand dunes, the notorious outlaws Skink and Dunecat found themselves embarking on an intellectual journey. They assumed the roles of esteemed lecturers in the prestigious University of Colors, and readied to engage in the most spirited debate of the century.

Skink, perched atop a rock, adjusted their tiny spectacles and began with a mischievous grin. "Greetings, fellow scholars! Today, we shall delve into the profound realm of colors and their impact on our perception of the world. As an adventurous skink with a zest for life, I must express my undying affection for the mesmerizing shade of emerald green!"

Skink's tail wagged with excitement, resembling a miniature green flag fluttering in the wind.

Dunecat, with an air of scholarly poise, gracefully walked to the front of the "lecture hall," tail swaying gently behind. "Salutations, my esteemed colleagues and curious minds! While I appreciate Skink's adoration for the vibrant emerald green, I find solace in the soothing embrace of azure blue."

Dunecat's whiskers twitched as they spoke, adding an air of thoughtful contemplation to their presence.

With lively banter and a touch of wit, Skink and Dunecat engaged in a spirited dialogue, presenting their arguments with enthusiasm and intellectual fervor.

Skink, leaping from rock to rock, exclaimed, "Ah, but dear Dunecat, green is the color of life and vitality! It symbolizes growth, harmony, and the very essence of nature itself. Imagine the lush green foliage and the joy it brings to our desert home."

Dunecat, reclining in a sunbeam, countered with a calm yet determined voice. "Indeed, Skink, green has its merits. However, azure blue represents tranquility, serenity, and the vast expanse of the sky. It invites us to dream, to ponder the mysteries of the universe, and to find solace in its cool embrace."

Skink's scales shimmered with excitement, ready to present a counterargument. "But Dunecat, think of the verdant oasis and the respite it offers to creatures weary from the scorching sun. The vibrant green of life's tapestry holds the promise of abundance and rejuvenation."

Dunecat's eyes narrowed playfully. "Ah, my dear Skink, while the oasis may be a delightful sight, let us not forget the tranquil blue of a peaceful night sky, adorned with twinkling stars. It invites us to reflect upon the vastness of the universe and our place within it."

As their debate continued, the sun began its descent behind the dunes, casting a purple glow over the desert sky. Skink and Dunecat, engrossed in their discussion, found themselves meandering through the shifting sands, their voices echoing in the twilight.

[SunrypeSlim]

Skink and Dunekit were the absolute best of friends in the wide wild wastes. They had trekked together through unfathomable leagues of dune and debris. They had combed the deepest crevices and climbed the highest of sunny rocks. Everyone from the oasis knew them as adventurers supreme. But one day, a letter arrived with a very different sort of mission attached.

"Magistrate duty?!" they exclaimed, reading in parallel the letter that Hooth the Postowl had delivered.

"Why, first of all, neither of us are eligible to vote in Lily's Basin," continued Skink, his wild unkempt hair frizzing in a panic, "Nevermind the fact we're both wanted for brooking!"

"Which, I insist, is a false charge," added Dunekit, sitting tensely on the basking stone with his paw on the letter. "We've not seen Zara since the day all those squirrels came back to life. We certainly didn't eat any of them and if we did I'D LIKE TO SEE THE EVIDENCE."

Hooth, who'd remained nearby in case the pair had questions, as they often did, stretched his long rainbow wings and gasped. "Okay, so like, are you going to do it?"

"We can't go, or we'll be arrested. It's obviously a trap." Dunekit dug his claws into the letter, imagining his father's portrait on its face.

Skink, however, was less concerned with consequences. "I kind of want to see what happens. It says here: we're supposed to oversee the trial of two entomologists, each claiming they've discovered a new type of beetle. If it is a trap, Dunekit, then it's a cunningly-devised one."

"Hooey!" vented the perturbed postowl, "You're both, like, not going 'cause, like, you're both, like, Cosmic Chickens, and you're too scared to face up to the truth."

That did it: the pair had a fragile sense of self-image that couldn't stand the challenge to their bravery. Skink and Dunekit looked at each other, nodded, and resolved to go and face the summons to serve as Magistrates-for-the-day.

The pair set out from the basking stone before setting in to a leisurely pace across the dunes. Along the way, Skink tried talking with the bugs he found instead of eating them right away, discovering that most of them had keen legal insights from their years as articling students. Dunekit, meanwhile, was grateful for the break in the pair's dynamic of always bouncing every thought off each other and enjoyed the relative silence.

By the afternoon, Skink and Dunekit arrived at the oasis called Lily's Basin, a crescent-shaped sliver of silvery water glistening in the sunlight, pushed up from an underground spring. Their they took in a drink before asking directions to the Magistratium where the trial would be held.

Skink was the first to notice on arrival just how big a crowd was gathered outside. "Wow Dunekit, you'd think finding a new beetle would be some really big deal around here!"

Dunekit began to reply, but Skink's voice had drawn the crowd's attention. They turned, revealing torches, pitchforks, and expository signs calling for the pair's imprisonment.

"Oh shit, it was a trap after all!" yelled Dunekit, shortly before a net was thrown over the both of them. They were cast into a deep dungeon in a flurry of a hurry, leaving their heads spinning from the suddenness of it all. Eventually, after some hours had passed, they looked at each other, ready to accept their fates and discuss it frankly.

"Hooth set us up; that rainbow son of a bitch." Dunekit growled with impotent fury and dragged one razor-sharp claw across the uneven brick floor. "I'm going to pull his eyeballs out through his as-"

Skink interrupted, "We can't know that for sure! Hooth is our friend, and he may have goaded us into showing up here, but it's our own fault for choosing to have fun. The law matters."

"The law does matter," agreed Dunekit. "We were fools not to see our culpability in these crimes. Those squirrels would still be dead if we hadn't let Zara out of the cave."

All of a sudden, the creaky metal door of the dungeon cell swung open, revealing the silhouette of a massive man. "It's time," he uttered, before stepping back and gesturing out into the hall.

And so, Skink and Dunekit were summarily executed, not for brooking with dark forces (which only they knew about), but because they were intellectually and culturally devoid of any value to anyone. Who did I even write this for?


The End