Day in the Wilderness
There's a little... well, you could call it a camp if you like; a sort of half-circle clearing bisected by a low-burbling stream. The trees and shrub surrounding it back casually into the mist issuing lazy birdsong. A shallow pit has been dug for a small fire next to a small, mossy boulder that makes for a good, dwarf-sized seat. There's one considerable pile of black furs near the fire opposite a much-smaller pile of clothing.
Bar stands in the stream, naked to the waist with water up to just below his knees. He stands stock-still, bent over with one hand on his knee and the other holding a spear above the water mid-haft. "Oh, sure. Get your fill and leave me to this. Don't offer to help. It's not like I brought you a gigantic sea-fish as a gift just a week ago." He doesn't shout but his voice carries, a steady rumble that rolls out over the water, the clearing, and into the mists. He doesn't appear to be speaking with anyone in particular.
There is a splashing from downstream. Something large and heavy wading through it. A moose?
No. Not a moose. A white-scaled Sith'Makar woman, who is a little on the overdressed side for swimming. The water isn't collecting much in her legwraps, and her corset and belt seems integrated into her one piece bathing suit. The cape is a little much.
A pinkscale youngling rides on a backpack and watches over her shoulder. In addition to her child, she's not alone and calls back to her small group.
"Oh! See! That's why the water tastes like dwarf." She points at Barclaiigh.
Behind Cryosanthia by only a small measure is a blue-scaled sith-makar whom shakes his head at the female's words. He seems both exasperated and amused in equal measure. After a moment he bows his head to the man, nodding low and offering a polite greeting of the sith-makar kind. "Peasssce on your nessst." He offers this and then looks around a little for the companion that the man is speaking to, but that personage is not immediately apparent.
His own Deus robes have been switched out for a pair of kapri-like pants that lace up the sides and have arrangement for his tail. Other than that he is carrying the rest of his clothes and a picnic basket on his right side so as to not tie up his crystal limbs. Of which he has two on the left side.
Travelling in the general vicinity of at least two of the scaled, Aya walks along the streambank rather than in the water. While she isn't overly inclined to make random treks in the wilderness, there are times when a break from the city (or another) are refreshing. Given the state of various events Alexandria, this seems a prime example of one of those times.
"Thank you for the warning," she states to Cryosanthia before dipping her head to the one seasoning the stream. The Sith-makar greeting is left to the Sith-makar, thus she offers a simple, "Good day."
"This one was telling you, it was definitely a dwarf, coming from the upstream river." Seyardu offers in explanation, squinting over to where the dwarf was. She had a large satchel at her side, but aside from that, was only wearing a short kilt as she walked through the shallows. She was a bit behind, as they were always a bit more clumsy, but they too reach where Barclaigh was, and she offers a wave to them.
"Peace on your nest! This one hopes the day is finding you well." She greets.
At second glance of the area might lend one to realize that there is an odd yellow... gold leaf hanging from the tree branch closest to the dwarf. A leaf which is in fact a tiny golden dragon peering down at him with sharp interest. She looks up as you all come closer, tilting her head and making the branch wiggle. For the moment she says nothing, but rather bobs on the end of the branch precariously and blinks her golden eyes only to turn them back on the fishing dwarf with hope in her gaze.
Barclaiigh straightens at the sound of others, smiling a wide, genuine smile at the familiar faces. He lets the spear slide through his grip, then flips it over to brace on his shoulders. It's difficult to tell where his chaotic mop of hair and beard end, his shoulders, chest, and back a patchy sweater of the same auburn. He waves with his free hand and then rests the same with a smack on his considerable belly, shifting aside the leather necklace of boar tusks. "Hello, hello!" He blinks, craning his neck and moving his lips silently to count the band. "Yes, well enough but with the ability to be better if SOMEONE hadn't forgotten to share the river's bounty." He calls back over his shoulder towards the camp.
The furpile shifts in response, sitting up lazily in the mist in the shape of a black bear. He opens and closes his mouth lazily, pushing his tongue out and back as he issues a mumble of contentment. Porter watches Bar for a moment and then sighs, flopping back down into the mists hugging the ground.
"Tia Ay-aysss!" Lily hisses happily. This is followed by a >twinng!< of her hand crossbow. Aya is struck by a foam dart. It bounces off her chest and lands in the stream to be carried away by the current.
Since shooting at a Fey Goddess, the little Kobold youngling has felt empowered to shoot at just about anyone. Especially Auntie-Nemesis.
"Not in the woods, Lily, those darts are hard to find." Cryo cautions. Her left hand tracing sigils, her whitescale gloves glowing. The dart lifts from the water and drifts over to her grip. "Peace on your Nest, Aya. Barclaiigh as well."
"You were correct, this one's nose is not as refined as yours." Cryo bobs her head at Seyardu, turns to Zeke, "Did we bring enough to shar... oh!"
The whitescale is transfixed by the golden glittering in the trees, a wide smile on her mouth. "Hello Porter," she adds as an afterthought.
GAME: Seyardu rolls survival: (15)+3: 18 GAME: Zeke rolls perception: (7)+4: 11
Zeke doesn't seem to notice the tiny golden dragon, his eyes more locked onto the bear which is stirring lazily beside the river. Caution tells him that such a large animal is something to be careful of. The blue-scale blinks at Cryosanthia's words and looks at the basket in his hand. "With another guesst yessss, but not with a... Animal of sssuch sssize." He shifts the basket in hand as if it weigh it. Then shakes his head. It's a large picnic basket but certainly not large enough for /that/.
Aya reacts appropriately to the fired foam; a fairly flamboyant flailing farce of faux fatality. Only after does she step to possibly retrieve the ammunition, only to find the whitescale is far more adept at such.
The movement of the furpile draws her focus with a start, though she relaxes some as the bear yawns and flops. "You seem to have a hungry mouth to fish for..." she comments to the khazahd, then notices the glinting, by way of Cryosanthia's exclamation. And her staring. "Perhaps more than one?"
"It is alright, this one will give up their share if there are other guests. And I may have some to spare even for a bear of such size." Seyardu adds with a splashing swish of her tail through the water. She had decent luck, perhaps it was the sparkling silver tail that was almost reminiscent of fish scale in the water that had led fish close enough for her to spear with the pointed tip of the polearm. They were strung up and held with a wire as they walked.
"Besides, this one has had good luck with fishing. Perhaps it was not just luck when this one caught more than Sjach that one time. It is hoped they are doing well." She continues, giving a small sigh and looking around the area, to find the small creature in the trees, watching. "Peace on your nest, dragon, is Barclaigh here, catching fish for you?" <Draconic>
The little golden dragon is hovering now only a little bit above the dwarf's head. Easily within reach were she noticed. However she manages to elude some eyes by merely sitting still. That is until she draws attention to herself with a sudden awareness of something which she desires very greatly. Namely... she notices Seyardu's fish. Launching off of the branch she flies across the space to hover neatly in place very near Seyardu. Little wingbeats keep her held aloft in spite of physics and she looks hungrily at Seyardu's haul. "Fish!?! Iwantfish! CanIhave? Ihaven'thadanyyet." She looks at Seyardu with wide begging golden eyes.
"Porter already had his fill. Which is why he's sleeping; he needs his rest to get big and strong." Apparently Barclaiigh doesn't think the three-hundred pound animal is proper big yet. He scratches at his belly and just marvels idly at all the differently-colored scales and fantastic dress. "He's also used to it being a bit cooler so he can be a little grumpy. I hope the little pink miss knows better than to try climbing on him."
After offering the mild warning, the Khazad-aul finally notices all the glances up to the tree and follows them himself. He laughs in disbelief when he sees the dragon, "What a day indeed. All this company and the place is a mess," he jokes, belly bouncing in his good humor.
GAME: Cryosanthia casts Haste. Caster Level: 11 DC: 17
"We could fish all the streams of Alexandros empty, we would not have enough." Cryosanthia says, her head turning to follow the little gleaming golden reflections as the tiny dragon moves. She's about to speak, when a sudden thought crosses her mind. She does a little dance step in the stream, splashing and somehow finding the footing.
"This may help." Her chest is sparkling, even parts of her back, tiny points of light that coalesce together then stream down her left arm. She taps herself, Lily, Zeke then Seyardu.
The world seems a little slower.
"HelloTanithariairisixchelPeaceonyourNest! Thisoneenjoysseeingyou. Wewilltrytofishthefishforyou."
The little pink miss, meanwhile answers Barclaiigh. Her tradespeak is naturally slow, so when speeded up her pitch increases almost to inaudible levels although there remains some spacing between the words. "Yes. Avoid Mouths. Like Torrent."
"Zekelook," Cryo says, turning to touch her Cihuaa and moving so she isn't blocking his view, also forcing her speech to slow down, "It's Tanithariairisixchel!"
The blue-scale could not possibly miss the golden dragon at this point. He looks remarkably shocked by her appearance, mouthing her name to himself and then incling his head to her. "Thisss one isss ssstill sssurprisssed by how sssmall ssshe isss." He says softly, moving gently out of the stream and onto the bank. Though he gives a huge berth to the encampment with its bear.
Aya takes a slight sidestep as the dragon flits nearer, regardless of size nor target. Perhaps it's simple reflex, though it also gives the semi-dozing bear a wider berth as well. "I take it that the small one enjoys fish..." she states the presumably obvious, which could be the extent of her knowledge on dragons; certainly of little ones.
Speaking of little ones, there is a flash of concern at the khazad's mild warning. Her eyes snap to Lily, wondering if he may have just implanted the very idea that should be avoided. Fortunately, the carnation one yet again proves most wise. Even as Aya begins to feel rather slow in comparison. Thus she addresses Barclaigh once more, giving some assurance (or condolences?) "This is hardly the place to expect sudden guests. There's no need to worry over housekeeping."
"Thank you for inviting this one out today, as well. It was unexpected, but nice." She replies. Seyardu was focused on the curious dancing and glowing magic, and the small dragon hovering next to her. And then they were tapped, and she blinks.
"Thatisgoodbarclaighthattheyhavehadenoughtoeatandthisistheforestsoitisalright." She replies rapidly to the dwarf before she turns back to the small dragon. "Thisonehasfishtospareandwouldbehappytosharewhatwehaveandanythingelsewemaygatherwithyou!"
"ThismagiciscuriousCryosanthia."
These words delight Tanith, for she eagerly attaches to Seyardu's wrist and peers down at the string of fish with an eagerness that can barely be contained by her tiny form. Her tail lashes back and forth and she wiggles her paw down a time or two to get at one of the fish being held just outside her reach. So far, it has been lucky that she didn't just attach to one of the fish instead and try to eat it while it hung on the string. "FISH!" She exclaims happily. "Down?" This is asked more politely but with no small amount of eagerness as well.
"Please, please. Come and be comfortable. The fire was meant for cooking supper so please help yourself. There's a few twigs to spear the fish, too..." Bar gawps at the rapidfire language of the enchanted Sith and finally shrugs unable to follow, then laughs again and nods his head at Aya's reassurances, waving people to follow as he quits the stream and tosses the spear towards the pile of clothes. He calls something in his native tongue, his voice taking on a different, more business-like tone with the bear. The Khazad uses his leg to make room and sits crisscross-applesauce in between the animal's legs, his back to Porter's underside. The bear makes to sit up again but Barclaiigh rumbles an ursine purr and reassures the animal with a few hearty pats.
"She's bigger in her home." Cryo says, quicker than usual, shifting to be closer to Zeke, suddenly stiller than usual even while under a haste spell. Her mouth flickers from a smile, to a frown, and her eye ridges crease up. She blinks it away. "Ithink."
The whitescale continues to be captivated, grinning,"It'scombatmagic. Itwon'tlastlong. Shemgightlandonyouifyougiveherfish. Don'tlookatherwithmagic."
Lily hears this, then positions herself; she launches off Cryo's shoulder. A long pink arc of scales that splashes headfirst into the stream. There's a flurry of motion, much splashing and her tail whipping around.
She surfaces with a fish in her mouth, one that's struggling to get free and flapping so hard the little Kobold is thrown off balance. Fortunately, no where near maws of dragons or bears. Eagerly, she shouts to attract Tanith's attention, "FISH!"
It flops out of her mouth and splashes into the stream, swimming away. 'Wrrrrp!' Lily dives after it.
"Lily, come back." Cryo says casually, watching for now and moving towards the offered space around the fire. She's still watching her youngling, her attention doesn't waver.
Zeke shakes his head again, moving to join Bar, setting the picnic basket down and watching the youngling as intently as is Cryosanthia. The blue-scale begins removing things from the basket with care, one eye always on the child in the water trying to get the attention of the golden dragon. He supposes that it's not surprising that she'd want the attention of the adorably sized dragon, and yet it'd be best if Lily didn't drown trying to do so. "Be careful Lily." He murmurs almost in time with Cryosanthia's warning. Shifting his tail back and forth in amusement that this is so.
Aya is unsure whether to be bemused or worried at Lily's carnation cannonball into the stream. Correction: carnation, catching, carnivorous cannonball, as proven with the caught fish. That then escapes momentarily. With the diminutive dragon attracting the attention of many, Aya's remains on Lily. Not that others are ignoring her, but another set of eyes cannot hurt. Mayhap Aya simply prefers pink scales to gold?
"Ohokaywellitisinterestingforcertainbutitistoolateforthat." Seyardu replies rapid fire as she gestures to the tiny dragon on her wrist. The magic is already wearing off, and Seyardu sighs, shaking her head and moving a bit slowly for a moment. She gently pats the dragon's head while she watches Lily as well, stepping closer to the fire. "This one is hungry now for certain. Aya, Zeke, Cryo, Barclaigh, would you prefer cooked or fresh? This one has a few, their bones should be edible if cooked, for Cryosanthia, and the oils are good for you. Would Porter be alright with the cleanings from the fish?"
She pauses, and glances to Cryosanthia. "Why should I not look with magic?" They ask.
It seems to Tanith, that the fish on the string while promised, are not immediately forthcoming. She does enjoy the pettings though, rubbing her head into the offered attention and purring low in her throat. Her sharp eyes are actually on the little one that is playing in the water however. Her gaze intent as the fish comes out... only to escape! "Catchfish!" She offers helpfully to the pink-scaled young one.
Barclaiigh sits forward and rests his elbows on his crossed legs, flanked on either side by a pair of bare bear paws that seem a bit too large for the snoozing juvenile's body. "Oh, that's well kind of you, miss. Cooked, please and thank you. But Porter will take whatever you can sneak past Tanith Ari-Ari Sicksel."
Cryo trills happily when she hears Zeke's warning, gazing at him with glittering eyes. She leans close rubbing her cheek, then herself against his sides. Her tail matches the swaying cadence of his, though they both metronome more quickly than usual because of her spell. Her thrumming is likewise more a piccolo or flute than a clarinet. Her scents are happy and strong.
A thought, a request of her big brother rises in her mind, "Seyarducometothisone." Cryo opens her arms for an embrace, interrupting her previous instructions. Well, she is thinking faster than usual.
Lily is a rippling streak under the water. She's not natural to it, but has learned how to use her tail to propel herself along, and scales are suitable streamlining. She surfaces again with the fish in her mouth, and this time moves towards the shore to pick her way back along it.
"ThereismoretoTaniththanthereseemsatfirstlook." Cryo replies, still gesturing for the silverscale to come closer. Her attention keeps switching rapidly, Tanith, Lily, Tanith.
The whitescale sits opposite Barclaiigh, so she can watch Porter and that when her youngling returns, she'll likely do so furthest from snapping range.
Zeke's amusement only grows, and he quickly has a repast set out before himself. A cup covered for tea which he is now pouring out, food of various assortments with meat being a main ingredient. Though no fish. He arranges the dishes to suit his pleasure and keeps perhaps an even sharper eye on Lily as she exits the water than he had when she'd been in it. Mainly due to his memory of the last time that Tanith had tried to take a fish from Lily. "Cryosssanthia believesss that the dragon isss far more than sshe appearsss to be. Peering at her with the ability to sssee magic sshe hasss desscribed to thisss one asss if one were looking at the sssun."
Aya relaxes once more as Lily emerges from the water, and even with the fish. (This was supposed to be a relaxing diversion, yes?) She greets the returning hunter with a smile. "Is that for yourself, or the other small scaled one?" she inquires, brow lifting. She obviously has suspicions that the dragonette may claim the catch, regardless... which makes her in agreement with Zeke? That could make this venture even more novel than expected.
Seyardu pulled a knife from a side pouch, and had quickly cleaned the fish, tossing the guts and head to the snout of the bear, and began slicing the remaining filets into strips that would be possible for the small dragon to swallow. She takes one piece for herself to eat, turning to listen to Cryosanthia as she dropped her arm so Tanith could hop off for the food. The silver sith-makar tilts her head. "What is it, Cryosanthia?" They ask while walking a bit closer after wiping off her hands.
"PeoplescallTanith!" This correction is for Bar. Then, there's a moment, where certainly the dragon is /thinking/ about leaping off of Seyardu to chase after the other fish. But then! There are tasty morsels dangling right in front of her. She complains a little bit about the pieces being tossed to the bear, but... it's hard to argue long when there are such delicate morsels dangling in front of her snout! She falls to silence to eat the bits and then! With all of the pieces gone in a flash she flies over to the little pink-scaled one and lands nearby, wiggling and conjoling the child to part with her fish. "Fish! Fishforthisone? Sharefish? Icansharefish!"
"Oh, just, I'm sorry... I'll just... clear, these... away," Bar rolls forward on his knees, stretching out one one hand to snatch up the spear and use it awkwardly to push aside his piled clothes. He tries that for longer than seems reasonable before finally scrabbling up to stand and scoop the pile and make room. He wrangles the simple clothes using his gut as a platform and takes them all around behind the bear to drop unceremoniously over the rest of his piled kit. "There," the Khazad sighs, dusting his calloused hands off and moving again to take his seat. He idly draws a finger on the shortfurs in between the pads of Porter's paw, making the bear kick them away and issue a quiet, half-asleep huff of warning. There's a snort followed by a curious sniff and the offal has the animal's full attention.
"Now-- oof," Barclaiigh is jostled as Porter rolls to a seated position and inhales the fish leftovers, acting as if he hasn't eaten in months. The Khazad puts his hand to the ground and shifts, making extra room for his companion. He laughs a few half-words but doesn't quite manage to complete a thought before "Is this a special occasion or do you often come outside the city?"
It's a large and dangerous world for Little Fang, more than most might imagine, especially those of large stature. Small bushes tower over her, trees even more-so. A ten pound fish might be more than half her body-weight. She's quick and light, allowing her to step on rocks and walk on mud that would never support something larger. It's still slow going, even with her hasted, as she works along the stream edge.
Approaching Aya, the little pinkscale looks up, the fish securely held in her mouth and tiny claws. It flaps, throwing her balance off, but she's quick to recover. Carefully, she answers, "For otherssscaley," then bites the fish's back again.
In time for Tanith to land beside her. Lily eagerly turns and thrust the flopping fish towards the tiny dragon, "Yes Fissh for you!" She squeaks.
"Just come," Cryosanthia says. She laughs, "There'snoneedtocleanorslicethemsmallerforTanith." The bluescale's explanation has her nodding along. "LookatLittleFangandTanith!"
Settling herself, she paces out her words, "this one will take fillets. Did you bring breading and oil?"
Facing Barclaiigh, Cryo answers, "We have experienced... unsettling things in the city. The environment is not natural for us. These wilds are not Am'shere, but they are comparably safer and this one wished to share the waterfall pool I like to lie in with my friend." A nose thrust in Seyardu's direction, followed by more flute-like sounds and another nuzzle of Zeke, "my cihuaa has seen it before."
It seems Aya's concerns are validated by the darting Tanith, though she doesn't register that immediately. Rather, she's left blinking and flummoxed and/or bamboozled by what occured immediately previous. Recently, she witnessed The Void, Itself, consuming the very Sea of Mana... and yet this dragon-ette, whatever she is, seems to put It to shame, at least where fish are concerned.
Lily's offering breaks her from her awe and her smile returns as she watches the pair, joining in the sentiment of Cryosanthia's note. A somewhat distracted nod follows as she adds her own answer to Barclaigh. "It began as something of a special occasion, and looks to become moreso as we speak."
Zeke watches the pair of Lily and Tanith for a moment longer before nodding to himself and deciding that the pair is safe enough for the moment. "Thisss one brought every-thing we need." He says with a pleased shift of his tail. His scents are all happiness and pleasure. Comfort and security. He offers the dwarf a cup of tea first since this is his campsite. "Would you like some tea Lily?" He clearly only half expects a response.
Seyardu nods and looks to where the dragon had fluttered off to, already having devoured the fish she had prepared. "Perhaps so." The silver Makari chuckles. "This one has pans and cooking supplies in their bag to be used.
She looks over to Aya at the mention of friends. They were within a few steps of Cryosanthia and Zeke, and the happiness made their tail swish a few times behind them. "This one was surprised to be invited. It was unexpected, but nice. Thank you. There has been much in the city." They say.
Immediately pouncing on the fish, there is suddenly one less of those in the world. It takes seemingly no time at all for the dragon who is notably not much bigger than the fish she just ate to devour a second fish of comparable size. She hums happily in the wake of being finished and climbs into the air to land neatly on Lily's shoulder. She's only the size of a moderately sized cat so it's not that bad a perch for her to choose. Though the variation in size does make her look much larger than she usually does. "Fish!" She chirps happily.
Barclaiigh's lips make an 'o' of surprised excitement when he's offered tea and takes extra care to accept the cup with a delicate touch. He leans low and inhales deep through the nose with his eyes closed, eager to try something new but patient enough to wait for everyone to get their own serving before drinking. Once Porter has sniffed the ground to make sure there's no more fish sprouting up from the earth, he turns to lumber through the brush, his head low and swaying. The business of the camp is too much and he wants to nap.
"It's beautiful out here," the Khazad agrees with Cryosanthia, bobbing his head, "but I do miss the mountains. And the waystop. A place can be nice but not be home." He glances between everyone and can't help but grin a little. "Good company can help make up for that, though!"
"Noo." Lily answers Zeke. She's been chasing fish in the stream and likely swallowed half of it trying to catch one in her mouth. She's about to dive in again when she becomes the perch. She freezes in place, except for her tail, which shows she is one happy lizard!
Reaching her arms out for balance, she walks with the cat-sized dragon perching on her shoulders. Each step has a bit of a stagger as she deals with the weight, and she has a huge grin showing off all her tiny teeth and the mis-matched fangs that inspired her name.
Cryosanthia watches, an equal grin on her face, "Yesss, this one will have tea." Her spell fading enough she'll simply have to speak faster now, "this one agrees, this one will toast when she has her cup."
While she may not be able to detect the subtleties of sith scents nor the full significance of tail posture, Aya does get a distinct impression of ... contentment, at present. Her own posture finally, fully eases, as she moves to accept Barclaigh's offered hospitality. En route, she returns Seyardu's glance and echoes some of the sentiment, "As was I, but I do no regret it."
"Indeed," Aya notes in agreement with Barclaigh, followed by, "and thank you." After she settles, her attention shifts to Zeke and his implied potential offering. "I would accept a cup, if offered."
Zeke politely begins to hand out tea to everyone who wants some. He is the last person served tea of course, and he puts the nearly empty container holding the tea off to one side after returning its lid in place so that he can save some of the heat. With his own tea in hand he offers a small salute of it to the others, before toasting can begin. It is clear to him that everyone is quite at their ease, and the enjoyment of being able to relax for a change has him at his own ease. His tail beats that comfortable metronome alongside Cryosanthia's and he glances at Lily occasionally, amused to see her carefully moving about with the dragon now riding her. "Peassce sssuch ass thisss isss ssometimess hard to come by, but a worthy persssuit thiss one thinksss. We appreciate you ssharing your ssspace with usss sssir. Thisss one isss Zeke. Thiss one doesss not believe that we have properly met before." He offers this last to the dwarf since the others of course know him.
Seyardu looks to Cryosanthia, tilts her head again, to her arms that had been outstretched, before looking to Zeke, and accepting the cup of tea.
"It is nice here, yes. This one is called Seyardu, Barclaiigh. Thank you for inviting us to your camp."
Tanith rumbles a low purr. Clearly also a very happy - well dragon. She is very careful not to move on her new perch save for the little rolling motion that helps her stay seated properly. She is quite warm to the touch. Not hot, but comfortably warm like a sunny day.
"Barclaiigh Stoutbrew of the Redridge Stoutbrews, brewery, fields, and waystop." He smiles wide and lifts the cup at Zeke and Seyardu in turn. It's clear there's no small amount of pride he takes in the familial association even so far removed from their holdings. He pats the air at the assorted thanks, blushing and looking to one side as he rocks back on his bum. "And I'd be a poor dwarf of the Word if I thought I had a right to bar others from this place-- and a greater fool to deny myself the company!
"Porter got into a spot of bother helping himself to a merchant's wagon." He makes that exaggerated 'well this is awkward' face, lifting his eyebrows and pulling back one corner of his mouth. "So we quit the city for a few days. After paying that little goblin fella back it's not like we've the money to do much anyway." He grins and shrugs, undeterred.
Lily has overheard enough of Cryo's conversations with other Ceinaraians and actors to understand 'being on stage'. The mount or support for a dragon would certainly qualify. She is also quite appreciative of the heat. She does not have her Ssassa's tolerance for cold, and isn't resistant to it, which can make for some drowsy days when Cryo's temperature is down.
A nice warm shoulder pad is therefore awesome! "Look at meeee!" She hisses, walking close the everyone seated, and parading in front of their legs as she circles the fire. "Feed Fisssh! To Tanisssth, To Little Fang!" She nods, to get Tanith nodding, this will perhaps add the aura of command to her request. Dragons must be obeyed, after all.
Cryosanthia takes the tea, offering her toast, "to good company, friends and family." She noses at Zeke after, smelling and inhaling, still astounded in a small way that he is back, and back for her. Her own scents are happy and calm, a rare enough event in its own right.
"This one has heard of those issues with animal companions." Cryo says after Barclaiigh gives his story of Porter and the Wagon, "Even non animals. This one's scale-sister had to wear a sign declaring she was not a monster in the city, to avoid scaring the citizens."
"I am called Aya," the mul'niessa lifts her cup somewhat in a gesture to the khazad (as the others are known to her). With a toast pending, she does not yet sip, instead glancing up and around at their surroundings, and finally returning to those immediately around her. "It is a pleasant spot. Peaceful. Respite such as I rarely encounter." The parading Lily-Tanith amalgamation draws forth a smile.
Her cup lifts with the toast. "To company, friends, and family."
The blue-scaled sith-makar shakes his head at Lily, amused, but not inclined to help her in her quest for gathering fish for the dragon. Or for herself. "Have a sssandwhich." He offers instead, holding one toward her. "Or would you like sssome-thing elssse we brought?" There is a lot of food in the basket to choose from, and he is willing to give the youngling as much as she can eat.
Seyardu holds out her cup of tea, nodding and looking away with a small sigh, sampling the warm cup of tea. She sits down next to the other two Makari. From her bag she opens the main pouch, immediately pulling out a large cast iron pan, and a few bowls. Then, she gets back to work with cleaning the remaining fish, setting the fillets aside with a few left with bones in. The work goes quick enough, the silverscale well used to preparing food.
"Too good company and kin." Seyardu offer in toast herself, finishing the tea quickly so she could work, and not daring to step past any boundaries. The offcuts were set aside in a neat pile for the small dragon. "This one is still confused why you asked me over, Cryosanthia." She adds.
Noticing the fish being divested over by the pans, Tanith is - regrettably for the little girl wanting her attention - easily distracted and she makes her way back over to Seyardu in order to steal what she can from the pile of offerings... and if some goes missing from the pan as well... well Tanith looks perfectly innocent sitting there cleaning her paws with her tongue like a cat in whom's home a canary is missing.
"This one wishes to give you a hug." Cryosanthia says, embracing Seyardu. She is cool and she is strong, a strong presence and power to her. "This one believes you do not get them often enough."
Lily approaches Zeke, holding out her hands, "Yess. Ssandwissh." She looks over at Barclaiigh and hisses something in draconic, "Little Fang," followed by "Lily," in tradespeak.
In her moment of hunger, she lost the dragon. Oh no! She's torn between food and fame, such a terrible decision to make in her young life.
She's been hungry before, she chooses food.
Cryo snorts a giggle, watching this go on, and then she too simply gazes at Tanith, lost in wonder. Her memories of the little gold dragon are a delight, a true shining spot in the dark moments of her past, and she's elated to be making more now.
"And a peachess." Lily adds.
"Cheers!" Bar agrees, sipping the tea noisily and then looking up while he pushes his tongue around in his mouth behind closed lips. 'Tpt-tpt-tpt' he goes, smacking his lips then after he's swallowed, 'mmm.' He has another, less-noisy drink and just smiles easily. "Miss Aya, Seyardu," he repeats the names for his own benefit, offering a long, level gaze as he commits them to memory, "Zeke."
"Now I thought you were the Little Pink Dragon?" Bar asks of Lily, taking on that exaggerated surprise and mock confusion that one sometimes does with children. "Or is that simply an honorific you hold, Miss Lily?" He glances at Tanith, considering the dragon's insatiable appetite and then looks to his spear, debating another trip into the river.
Zeke nods politely to Bar, acknowledging the name as his though nearly everyone here knows that he has another. He hands Lily her sandwich and then a peach from the basket for good measure. Offering her a seat by himself for her to sit at. "Would you like to sssit by thisss one Lily? Or by Cryosssanthia?" He will move over for the latter, to allow the youngling to sit beside her adoptive mother. "You can sssit between usss if you like." He motions with his crystal claw to the place, though both he and Cryosanthia will have to move for that last one to work. Zeke enjoys giving the youngling options, as it encourages her to be thoughtful of her choices.
Aya drinks from her tea promptly following the toast, then simply holds the cup in both hands. A source of warmth that isn't a flitting little dragon, not that the day doesn't provide enough of it. Her eyes shift to said dragon who, again (always) hunts for more fish, then to Lily, and back. "I wonder... if all dragons were this size..." she muses aloud, perhaps for the group. "Would they invoke more or less awe than they otherwise would?"
Seyardu had been working on cleaning the rest of the fish, and just when she was in a bout of confusion of the number of pieces she had already cleaned, squinting at the small dragon nearby, she was pulled into the hug. The silver sith-makar freezes up, before she sighs and leans back against Cryosanthia, closing her eyes. A bizarre mixture of surprise, sadness, and happiness, their tail flicking against the grass, and fish unguarded, though perhaps not uncounted.
"This one, thank you." they speak after a moment. <Draconic>
Not one to ever, ever sleep on a moment to eat a fish, by the time that Seyardu returns to her station to cook the fish... There will be none left. Nor will there be a Tanith in sight to blame for the missing fish (surely it was the bear in any case). She leaves nothing in her wake to remember her by. Save perhaps the memories.
"You are safe. You are protected." Cryosanthia hisses. Words she was taught to reassure new mothers during her Egg-watcher training, words that she can say with confidence, certain of her training. She continues to embrace Seyardu, a solid statue of ice.
Lily takes a bite of her sandwich and chews at it, contemplating the choices Zeke has outlined. Beside her Ssassa it is always cool, she would have to choose to be squished between Seyardu or Zeke, depending on the side. Or, just Zeke, which would be warmer, but further from her Ssassa. She does want to see everyone. She bites at her sandwich again, then requests a fouth, unoffered option, "On Zekess lapss?" The bite of sandwich unswallowed and visible in her mouth.
She turns to Barclaiigh to agree, "Yesss, pink dragons like..." and points to Tanith. Or, where Tanith was. "Awwss."
Cryosanthia squeezes Seyardu firmly again, releasing her to see what sparked Lily’s sigh. Tanith is gone. Oh. "Awww." She joins her youngling in lament.
Barclaiigh issues a sharp, barking laugh of disbelief when he notices the food preparation area has been robbed of its bounty. Draining the tea cup, he leans over and hands it back to Zeke, then stands and goes to collect his spear. "You all stay there, please. Chat. Relax. Truffles and I can sort this out no problem." He jogs back towards the stream and trips over his own feet in the rush, rolling and popping back up almost without breaking stride. He skids, slowing deliberately before easing himself down into the stream further up from where he was before.
GAME: Barclaiigh rolls Survival: (10)+11: 21
And, like that, it seems that Tanith has vanished. Aya quirks a brow. "I suppose that could be an answer..." she offers a somewhat bemused answer to her own idle musing. 'Aw' is close enough to 'awe,' afterall. She doesn't join the verbal expression of it, though her features show something quite similar... albeit at Zeke following Lily's proposed additional seating option.
Zeke nods in affirmation to Lily's request, setting his mostly cool tea aside and spreading his arms to make room for the youngling to sit with him. It is perhaps a bit more awkward to sit in such a way with a sith-makar than it is to sit with a human. Given the digitigrade legs. However Zeke makes it look easy, he is so practiced that it hardly seems anything. The blue-scale accepts Barclaiigh's empty cup, putting it with the things in the basket so that it is not mixed up with the clean cups or the ones currently in use.
Once Lily is settled, Zeke looks toward the pair of Seyardu and Cryosanthia. He doesn't comment on his cihuaa offering the other sith some comfort. He as a healer knows how important that can be. He is however glad of it, his tail giving a soft thump behind him of approval without his thinking about it.
Seyardu did not mind the cold, welcomed it, and it was almost too soon when the hug was released. Though strangely, at the words that were supposed to be reassuring, instead there was a not of distress that passed quickly.
She looks to the ground, to the empty bowls, and the missing dragon. "Did Tanith take the fish?" She asks, looking confused. "This one is sorry, they should have been more mindful." She says. Though she looks up as a thought crosses her mind. And just a touch of embarrassment.
"Ah, the hug, the invitation to join you here today. Did River Stone mention anything to you?" They ask.
<Draconic>
Cryosanthia tilts her head and observes Seyardu, choosing her words carefully. "Big Brother hass ssaid nothing to thiss one." There are of course other ways among the Sith'Makar to spread messages. Body language and scents can sometimes be enough. "You have been speaking with River Stone?"
"Tanith does eat a lot of fish." The whitescale confirms, "You have seen this one freeze the fishing boat holds? This one has agreements with the boats, should this one request, they will sell me the whole catch to feed Tanith."
She looks towards the stream, "Our host fetchess more."
Lily happily wriggles in place on Zeke's lap, sits with legs sprawls and eating her sandwich with both hands.
"I think Tanith would have taken the fish, regardless," Aya suggests to Seyardu with some amusement between sips of tea, "even were it secured in a khazadi vault. There is no reason to blame yourself."
"Indeed. In the meantime there are sandwiches, and some meat." Zeke offers quietly, trying not to disturb Lily as she eats her sandwich. "You are all of you welcome to eat." He nods to Seyardu where she stands with Cryosanthia and then to Aya who sits close enough to serve herself should she choose.
It was hard to tell for Aya, or Barclaigh to tell exactly what was going on, other than the silver tail flicking a bit behind Seyardu. But Cryosanthia's response only made the embarrassment grow in demeanor and scent. The offer from Zeke makes her nod, and look to her hands, finding an easy out for just a moment.
"This one would like a sandwich if possible." She requests. "I will be back after washing up." <Draconic>
And with that she stood up to walk over to the stream, cleaning off her hands in the running water, and splashing some of it into her face.
"River Stone said nothing." Cryosanthia repeats, detecting the scents of embarrassment. "This one has seen you in distress much lately, but has been too preoccupied to address it. The waterfall was to offer the swim that was promised."
The whitescale has been worried about her foundling and her cihuaa of late, amongst other things. So many things. Releasing the silverscale from the embrace she settles down beside Zeke, her thigh pressing against his. Against his artificial leg, so perhaps not the comfort for him it might be, but it is for her. She stares into the flames.
Her head shakes lightly as she dismisses a thought.
Zeke slides his tail closer to Cryosanthia's tail, offering his body as support for his cihuaa. Sith-makar are not usually very publicly affectionate, but Cryosanthia is, and seems to him appreciative when he is also. Her presence, against his crystalline side or not, is a comfort. Her scent calming and happy, which makes him happier in return. It is good to see everyone so at ease. "What isss on your mind?" He asks her the question quietly, so that she might be asked and answer it in a modercrom of privacy.
Aya's attention shifts casually between the twin sets of embraced scales before she reaches to retrieve a portion of sandwich for herself. A bite or two before Seyardu moves to wash and Cryo relocates, leaving Aya looking to the trio across the fire. While not staring, they do hold her attention, though she's quiet as she eats.
Washed up and cooled off slightly, Seyardu returned from the river, and sat down back where she was next to Cryosanthia, after taking a sandwich and giving Lily a pat on the head. There was...
"This one was, a bit overwhelmed recently." She finally offers in explanation. "This one was in the gardens, and River Stone was there, to offer comfort." "The waterfall was nice. It was a pleasant swim, so thank you, for that." <Draconic>
Cryosanthia looks at Aya, then Lily, finally turning towards Zeke. Her breathing is calm and steady. "This one does not wish to think or speak of Her, she wishes to put it in the past."
She stares at Zeke, "this one tried to tell your Kin, and is worried you are not settled either. This one is unsure if She should be ignored, or the experience stared at until the upset has faded."
The edges of her mouth curl, "Lily shot at her, this one is so proud." She leans to nuzzle her daughter on her cihuaa's lap.
Lily keeps working on her sandwich.
Zeke nods, understanding suddenly the momentary melancholy that had overcome Cryosanthia. It's difficult for her. Difficult for them both. To have had her return. To know that she was still out there, and that there is no real end for their memories. "Thisss one... Iss not sssettled where ssshe isss conscerned, and yet..." He looks down at Lily, looks at Cryosanthia and there's softness in his eyes. "Thisss one isss more happy than thiss one ever imagined. Let her passsss into the passt if that isss her wissh. Her memory will fade, and thisss one will be happy. With you."
He looks up as Seyardu joins them, offering a flick of his tail at her words and the approval of a nod. "Thisss one isss glad you came Sseyardu. It isss good that you took sssome time to relax. Onesss sssuch ass you, and ass Ssseldan do tend to get too caught up in fighting evil to take care of yoursselvesss."
"It was, nice." Seyardu admits once she sits back down, staring at the sandwich for a moment as she listens to the talking. "To take my mind off of things for a moment, to have someone to speak to my worries about. And the hug was pleasant." She says finally.
"If that is what you wish, truly, then it is understandable. It seems not worth the memory, to remain in the past, when you have those here, Zeke, Lily, Aya, and so many others who genuinely care about you."
The comment of Zeke makes her pause, and sigh. "It has taken up so much of my time with worry. So much that it was necessary to take some time to process them, and gather my thoughts. The help was needed, to have someone to speak to."
"You are wise, cihuaa," Cryosanthia says, "this one should not have spoken Her shadow into existence today. It has been a pleasant one, full of wonder. She is the past and cannot hurt us anymore. Will not. We are released. Saving Her saved us."
Her voice grows more confident, her words more firm as she speaks them. The epitaph is made for the memories.
Lily starts in on her peach.
Cryosanthia smiles again, turns to look at the Silverscale, "This one is glad you found someone to share words and thoughts with. Big Brother is solid."
"From where I sit, " Aya looks across the four, ending on the conglomeration of white-pink-blue, "the view of now, yesterday's future, looks far more pleasant than yesterday, or the days before it. I would suggest looking ever ahead."
-End