Ethan did not rush into the valley.
The discovery was exciting, but excitent was not a reason to make careless decisions.
The expedition remained hidden on the ridge while he continued observing.
The creatures below showed no signs of unusual aggression.
Groups moved between feeding areas.
So rested near clusters of trees.
Others wandered across the basin.
Everything appeared surprisingly peaceful.
At least on the surface.
The Fire Sprite clearly wanted to investigate imdiately.
It repeatedly looked between Ethan and the valley.
The Water Sprite eventually pulled it back.
The Fire Sprite reluctantly settled down.
For almost an hour, Ethan simply watched.
Patterns gradually erged.
Certain feeding grounds attracted more creatures than others.
So species avoided each other.
Others seed comfortable sharing the sa area.
Nothing looked random.
An ecosystem had ford here.
That realization was important.
Until now, most of his experience on Planet 042 had involved wolves.
The valley reminded him that wolves were only one piece of a much larger world.
Eventually, Ethan made a decision.
A small survey.
Nothing more.
The expedition descended from the ridge.
Carefully.
Quietly.
The Air Sprite moved ahead as usual.
The Water Sprite coordinated the main group.
The Earth Sprite stayed close to Ethan.
The Fire Sprite attempted to stay close.
Attempted being the important word.
Several tis it wandered away before being redirected.
By midday they reached the edge of the basin.
The nearest creatures imdiately noticed them.
A herd of deer-like animals raised their heads.
Several stared.
One snorted.
Then the herd slowly moved away.
No panic.
No attack.
Simply caution.
Ethan relaxed slightly.
That was encouraging.
The expedition advanced further.
Soon they reached one of the lush green patches that had attracted so many creatures.
The difference beca obvious imdiately.
The grass here was thicker.
Healthier.
Greener.
Even the surrounding air felt fresher.
The Earth Sprite crouched near the ground.
It examined the soil.
The Water Sprite did the sa.
The Fire Sprite mostly poked random plants.
The Air Sprite landed nearby.
After several minutes of observation, Ethan still couldn't determine what made the area special.
Then a notification appeared.
[ Resource Detected ]
The ssage vanished almost imdiately.
Ethan's eyes widened.
A resource.
Another one.
Not iron.
Not the glowing pillar.
Sothing different.
The system provided no further explanation.
As usual.
Still, the notification alone was valuable.
It confird his suspicion.
The valley wasn't rely a gathering place.
It contained resources.
The creatures weren't here by accident.
They were benefiting from sothing.
The Earth Sprite suddenly tugged on his sleeve.
Ethan looked down.
The sprite pointed toward a nearby section of exposed soil.
Several small crystals protruded from the ground.
They were tiny.
Barely larger than pebbles.
Faint green light shimred within them.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
The Earth Sprite carefully dug one free.
The mont it left the soil, the crystal began dissolving.
Green particles drifted upward.
A familiar notification appeared.
[ Low Grade Origin Fruit ]
[ 5 Origin Energy ]
The crystal completely vanished.
Ethan froze.
Origin Fruit.
His mind imdiately raced.
This was the first naturally occurring Origin Fruit he had discovered outside his own world.
The implications were enormous.
Not because five Origin Energy was a large amount.
It wasn't.
But because it represented a renewable developnt resource.
The Earth Sprite excitedly searched the surrounding area.
Within minutes it located another crystal.
And another.
Small clusters were scattered throughout the patch.
Not abundant.
But present.
The valley suddenly beca much more valuable.
The Water Sprite quickly organized a collection effort.
Several elentless sprites began searching the surrounding ground.
The results were promising.
By late afternoon they had discovered multiple crystals.
Each dissolved into Origin Energy upon collection.
Each confird the sa thing.
This valley produced Origin Fruit.
Ethan couldn't stop smiling.
This was exactly the type of resource his civilization needed.
Not a weapon.
Not a treasure chest.
A developnt resource.
Sothing that directly supported growth.
The best kind of discovery.
As the collection continued, the Air Sprite suddenly returned from a scouting flight.
Its expression looked unusually serious.
It pointed toward the far side of the valley.
Then pointed again.
Repeatedly.
Ethan imdiately beca alert.
The Air Sprite wasn't excited.
It was warning him.
The expedition gathered together.
Everyone turned toward the indicated direction.
For several monts, nothing happened.
Then movent appeared in the distance.
A large group of creatures was entering the valley.
Not wolves.
Sothing else.
The creatures moved in an organized formation.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
And as they advanced, many of the valley's inhabitants began moving away.
Ethan narrowed his eyes.
That reaction alone was enough to tell him sothing important.
These newcors mattered.
And for the first ti since arriving in the valley, he felt the familiar sensation that accompanied every major discovery.
The feeling that he was about to learn sothing new about Planet 042.
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