k_a_webb | The World Walkers: Athare: Electra: Meeting a Rabbit (part 5)

“Why does your sister make game boards?” Alexis asked, sounding betrayed.

“All three of us were interested in the games when we were children. Brendan buys and sells creatures, I fix any that have been damaged, and Menolly makes boards, because we all realised, as we got older, that we wanted to be a part of it all, even though none of us are happy with the way the creatures that are used for the games are treated. Menolly… she’s good at what she does and the boards she makes are beautiful. She’s also in the process of working with one of our mutual friends to create potions that the creatures can use if they get injured while they’re in battle or training.” Electra bit her lip. “There are creatures who enjoy the games, Alexis.”

“I’ve met them,” the horse said, and Electra felt grateful that he was there to help her. “The games aren’t something I’d want to be involved in and I don’t doubt that the majority of the creatures you’ve helped have been damaged due to them, but their bad treatment isn’t the way a lot of gamers treat their creatures.”

Electra nodded. “One of my best friends is a gamer and he treats his creatures like they’re his children. If any one of them gets hurt in any way he pulls them straight out.” She ran a hand through her hair. “You can take a certain amount of damage before the actual clay is affected. It’s only if something massive happens, and I have seen it before, that a creature loses a limb.”

“It’s actually the sculptors who treat the creatures they make the worst,” the horse continued. “Life clay isn’t easy to get hold of, so it’s expensive, and every damaged creature is a little more money lost. All they really care about is making a good profit, while the gamers want to make the most of the creatures they’ve bought, because the creatures are even more expensive than life clay.”

“Okay,” Alexis replied, his voice thoughtful. “I know there are gamers who didn’t treat their creatures well.”

“I’d put money on them not being gamers any longer.” Electra smiled. “All of the gamers I know, and I do know quite a lot, do everything they can to look after their creatures. Sometimes they aren’t successful, but when that happens there’s actually a retirement place for creatures who were once in games and that’s where the creatures go if something bad happens to them.”

“Normally the gamers will bring the creature to Electra first.” Electra could hear the horse smiling too. “I’ve been here twice when gamers have brought their retiring creatures here to be fixed, so they can have the best retirement. They’ve all been very happy with their treatment.”

“They’re right, Alexis,” a voice said from in front of them, and that was when Electra realised they were nearly at the sheds. She looked down to find a badger there. “Gamers, in general, care about their creatures. It’s the minority who view us as expendable.”

Mirrored from K. A. Jones Writing.

The World Walkers: Athare: Electra: Meeting a Rabbit (part 5)

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