darkSpyro

Angora ate pleasantly, giving herself an extra ration to compensate the lack of lunch earlier. She would have to tidy up this place later. For now, all she wanted was to be alone in her thoughts. Draikon... what a strange man. Creepy even. But even so, he looked genuinely interested in her, and seemed very passionate about his job. He claimed that he only needed an assistant, but the reason why Angora was doubting his offer was her worry about being used as a test subject for his experiments, even if he promised he wouldn't do anything against her will. Even though he was rude to her earlier and was in denial about her and Veris' friendship, it was nice to know that someone looked concerned for her well being, even if there might be an ulterior motive for that. Their fight earlier was a bit justified after all.

In that while, Draikon returned home, too distracted to see if the neighborhood kids had been trying to get into his home again. He arrived to his messy abode, needing a long time to compose himself. He didn't know who was stupider. Angora for working there or Sere for failing to see what a great creature he had in his base. The only smart one there was that wyvern, keeping Angora alive so that she would serve him. His only hope was for the troll to be smart enough to follow his advice about not telling Veris anything... but he was having some serious doubts. After so many years of research, a troll, one of the most hated creatures in the history of humanity, was living among people without issue, just like he once said it could happen. And where she was? Working at a place that could easily kill her. Why did he had such bad luck? He was even tempted to murder the dragon mount somehow, maybe with a disease or something similar, so that Angora could be spared... but he had to resist such temptation. Guardians were not easily fooled. Plus Angora had magic, so with some luck, she would be able to use it if Veris attacked her. He had to believe that or he would go crazy with these thoughts.

In his home lab, Draikon examined the quick sketches he made of Veris. He was bigger than ordinary wyverns, that's for sure. With a bigger and better proportioned head, indicating his intelligence. No doubt that he could surpress even the most basic instincts if he managed to keep his natural prey alive for so long. He had examined Angora's bites, and he could safely conclude none were caused by Veris himself, so at least that was the truth. He was a wyvern that you would never find in nature. Aelinon altered wyvern genetics to make them more deadly, but at the same time obedient. Veris took those traits beyond. Made Draikon wonder what insane alteration those dreadful Guardians did inside that nasty base. He was a scientist, but he didn't want to mess with nature. Just study it. The only alterations he made was when he made vaccines for the different diseases that has plagued Aelinon, and more recently, the hexphage, but only because he recognized what a danger Ishulgites could be, so quicker, better effects were needed in only to stop them, even though it pained the scientist to think that the new concoction would be abused. Which is why he tried keeping the supplies as limited as possible.

The three former pirates rendezvous in a bar not too far from Maverick's home once they were done working. Tomorrow, the three of them would be free at the same time at last, so it was the perfect moment to visit their friends. They knew Maverick would be going on a journey soon, but not even the faun man knew when was the exact date. The trip was hoping they could catch him today before he left.

Tyrus, in the meanwhile, was settled comfortably on his bed, passing the time with a story story about a child who wanted to learn magic, in a fanciful land with many unique species that would be little more than footnotes on the mainland. Though he didn't have the easiest of times, the child's curious and relentless nature led him to find achievement in the face of doubters who claimed that only the select few could ever achieve anything with magic.
It was a very interesting tale - almost reminiscent of the history of magic with humans. Humans, not being inherently magical, don't have the innate to intuitively use magic like other sapient species; despite this, however, humans were able to, with enough dedication, turn magic into a science, allowing those who had a solid grasp of it the ability to cast spells. Though the ranks of humans have far fewer mages than, say, elves, that just made magic users all the more noteworthy; you knew that a human who had even very basic spellcasting abilities knew exactly how the magic worked, far more than the inherently magical species who took spellcasting for granted, and human mages on the battlefield were just as much of a force to be reckoned with as the mages of other species. Perhaps even moreso; powerful "white magic" anti-magic spells, so-called because of the bright light they created as a result of catalyzing the magic energy in the area, were something humans who specialized in it could cast with impunity, as, with the exception of the Ascended and other magically augmented humans, they didn't risk the injury resulting from violent catalysis of magic energy within their own body.
Tyrus was part merman; merfolk were more innately magical, with the mermaids moreso than the mermen. Given that he had that advantage, when even humans could cast magic, he was really hoping to become a great spellcaster one day. With enough devotion to his studies, he figured he could do it; most human mages had roots in nobility, due to the educational access they had facilitating in-depth magical knowledge, but if he was ahead of his peers, then it would hopefully not take him as long.

Alana was also into a book, but very different from the one Tyrus was reading. It was about creatures that were considered the most dangerous. Among them, trolls, and their closer relatives, orcs. Ogres were considered the most dangerous of the three, but trolls weren't that far behind.
"Hah! Can you believe all the stupidities that are written here? Trolls are ravenous, bloodthirsty beasts that scavenge everything they can. They are better off dead or as slaves. Their violence knows no bounds. They ransacked villages in large groups, rivaling the damage done by rampaging dragons. Nothing about their lifestyles, genetics or even intelligence. Talk about outdated. How are we suppose to learn anything useful and helpful with garbage like this?" Alana complained, finding the information insulting. True, she hasn't met any other trolls besides Angora, so perhaps most were indeed violent, but the book made it look like all of them were, when Angora and some others she had mentioned were different.

At Tal Rojas, a carriage with tourist was making it's stop. Among them a most peculiar girl. It didn't take long for her find where mighty king Seraos lived. Tourists were only allowed on the outside of the palace, the rest being forbidden.
"Those... are too many guards." she said to herself, knowing that must be where the monarch lived. So... many... humans. Seriously, how come they are so many? How fast do they reproduce? It was making her nervous, but she has come this far. There was no turning back. Clearly the guards wouldn't mind a little girl... right? She walked around casually, trying not to look suspicious. She looked around to see if there were any signs that could indicate where king Seraos could be...

Meanwhile, the siren boy has been captured by merfolk patrol. Misty the whale was currently contained after trying to defend him. General Lyon was made aware of the apprehension, and asked his warriors to leave the boy alone. He could tell immediately this was no merman.
"You... what are you doing here!? Siren!? No no no! You shouldn't be here!" the general said, knowing very well that creatures like him only existed in the secret island. Sirens were among the many creatures that were part of the Old Myth. Not only was this boy was very far away from home. He was... well, just a child. He refused to answer Lyon to protect his home, not knowing that he was friends with one of the Old Myth itself.

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"Bueno... so... we had a talk, and I think she should be given a chance. I mean, gender and reputation shouldn't be a problem, right? Um, yeah... señor Risar, we are ready to depart whenever you're ready. I got everything we might need." Maverick said meekly once they returned to the group, showing his hyperspace bag. It pained him to leave his family behind, but this was for the sake of a friend, and if Huntress was who he thought he was, this was the perfect opportunity to improve the life of someone his father likely ruined.

"Very well-- we shall depart once as soon as she joins us or failing that, day's end at the latest.," Risar responded not wishing to delay the journey for any longer. Any preparations the Huntress wanted to make beforehand would have to be made before that time; Maverick and Raclaw were counting on this trip. 'Why did she want to go this job in particular?,' Raclaw's thoughts still wondered echoing Leoquin although now more out of curiosity than concern. The fact that she already knew their rough destination despite them not telling anyone was.. intriguing. And the fact that it was because of a factor other himself/dragons was also intriguing. Still, they had said yes and had no 'real' reason to deny her not that she would get far should she try to cause trouble.

Huntress was already ready... almost at least. She didn't think they would accept her, but she was always prepare for a battle. As for supplies, it was only natural to assume the ship would have everything they needed. The only thing she would need were clothes.
"Very well then. I shall get some belongings ready." she said, regretting not having a hyperspace bag to make things easier. How come a nobody like Maverick had one and she, the foster daughter of an Aelinonian soldier, didn't? The bags were not easy to make, so the soldiers that had them were few. Even though Maverick's bag was consfiscated once, he was left with it in order to make his merchandise being handled easier. The bag wasn't made by any Aelinonian sources, but since it was determined it was not dangerous, and since Maverick received it as a gift, it was his by right, something that infuriated Huntress quite much.

As general Lyon interrogated the siren boy, his friend arrived at the capital, trying to talk to the king. Naturally, her presence didn't go unnoticed, and while she was hoping she could pass by without drawing attention, the guards noticed her, being trained to think of anything as suspicious, to a dying old man to a newborn baby.
"Excuse me miss, but there's no entry here. I suggest you return to your parents." one of them said, grabbing her by the arm.
"Ow. That hurts. I'm not doing anything to you. I'm just... exploring." she explained, not sure if it was such a good idea to say she was going to see the king.
"I'm sorry little lady, but you have to go back. Where are your parents?" the soldier insisted, still grabbing her but trying to be as gentle as possible. As another soldier came to help, he saw something on the girl's foot. That was... some strange shoe. But... a shoe within a shoe?"
"Alright alright. I'm here to see the king. Please." she said, deciding to come clean if that made the visit faster.
"Nobody sees the king unless they have special permission. And you're just a minor, so you can't go without parents." he insisted, but the satyr girl took offense.
"Please! Let me go! You're hurting me! I just want to see the king, nothing more!" she insisted, forcing the soldier to grasp her harder in order to escort her out, but just as his aid arrived, the girl llifted her legs in an attempt to escape, giving a nasty kick to the face to the soldier that was about to help. Despite wearing a helmet, the kick got him mostly in the unprotected parts. The force, combined with his armor, made him fall on his back. That... those were, goat legs?

The shock of the soldier escorting her was the distraction she needed, but she lost her shoes in the process, making her disguise useless. Now everyone could see her feet, and the reason why the kick was so powerful. The soldiers got ready to capture her despite some of them still being shocked by what they were seeing. Many of them have seen many strange, fascinating creatures before, but never a satyr. Unlike fauns, there wasn't any records or evidence suggesting they were extinct, but they were still something too uncommon to see, to the point many people didn't even know what a satyr was. In desperation, the girl grabbed the pam flute she carried, and started playing. The music was beautiful. Mesmerizing enough to stop the soldiers in their track. The girl stood below a giant tree that was one of the many decorations of the king's palace, and suddenly, many leaves started surrounding her to the point where she... disappeared. Literally out of thin air. With the music stopping, the soldiers returned to their senses. Did they just let a suspicious creature get away? Were they... hypnotized? Right there in the palace so heavily guarded? How could they let that happen? How could they let themselves be fooled? They were trained to withstand many pains and hypnotic attempts, but this music was different. They were not trained for... whatever that was. They had to warn the king... but... what will they tell him? There wasn't much time to dwell about that, especially since one of their own was heavily injured and in urgent need of medical care.

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"Very well then. I shall get some belongings ready." she said,

"Very well-- Meet us at Raging Serpent when you're ready. I suspect you already know where it is.," Risar responded.

Indeed, the ship would be ready to leave once everyone else was. The ship had plenty of space given its primary job with sizable enough cabins with everything an minotaur or other guest could need. Each guest could get their own cabin (of varying size) if they wished, unless they preferred shared arrangements depending on their individual situations. Each room would include the 'standard' features (armor rack, bed, etc) plus some more 'civilian' offerings such as mirrors and an wardrobe. Such things had already come with the ship and most of retrofitting done on Risar's part was ensuring that things like bed frames could handle impressive weight/mass of minotaur-kin. Raclaw, Chester, and Latnok were already planned to get one of the larger rooms onboard while someone like Icestorm (assuming he wanted a room) wouldn't need nearly as much space. The ship had options and a massive cargo hold to boot. With luck, they wouldn't even need to stop for supplies for a long time to come given the journey's length.

"Yes, I know." Huntress replied, almost scoffing. She has lived there most of her life, so she knew almost every corner of that city, but of course, the minotaur wouldn't know that. Coincidentally, they, or at least one of their friends, did know about her repuation.. Talk about annoying gossipers. It didn't take long for her to return with everything she needed. Most of her clothes had some form of protection, whether they were from bullets, animal bites or even fire. As a bounty hunter, she needed all the protection she could. It would be wrong to choose the same room as a married man, but Huntress was going to make sure she would at least stay close to him so that she could catch him in the act. He had to flinch somewhere. He was the son of one of the most dastard pirates that ever lived, and she was certain he had some of the evil somewhere. It was only a matter of time before she could expose him for the evil creature he was. But she had to be a witness. Even if she wasn't believed, there were spells that could make the magic users see what she saw and believe her.

The three funny men made way to Ilasi's house. Sand Dune bowed to Ilasi. Random greeted in sign language while the cassanova Opium kissed her hand.
"Aww. Don't tell me we missed Maverick? Shame. If only one of us could've come with him." Sand Dune lamented, their jobs being too compromising to be able to take long voyages. Plus they promised Maverick they would take care of his wife and kids, and he already had friends that will be with him in the journey, so there was that.

After drawing straws, the loser soldier made way to king Seraos' throne room. He was signing some documents. The young soldier barely began his job last year, so he was quite nervous.
"Sire? Um, I'm sorry for the interruption, but... we have some bad news." he said before taking a long breath. He wanted to be out of there already, so he immediately went to the point.
"This girl... outside the palace. She had... well, you'll think I'm crazy, but she had... goat... legs. The one who detained took a close look and they were no clothes. Corporal Lombar was kicked quite hard in the face. She... escaped somehow." the soldier explained, knowing that it was going to be embarrassing news if today's event went out in public. A girl with goat legs, escaping from them, somehow evading each and every single trained soldier that protected the palace where their beloved monarch resided? If word got out, there was no doubt the people would question their competence, not to mention make the king a bigger target for his enemies.

The report of the soldier left Seraos wondering - what could this all possibly be about? "Goat legs, you say? The only ones who would have them do not, to my knowledge at least, live on this continent. And they've come to see me? This is either some multi-layered trickery, or some group from another continent is acting clandestinely to reach me.... for whatever the reason may be. Either way, I need you and everyone else involved to brief the Silent spear - they'll look into the matter and find the escapee. The head of the castle guard will make arrangements for replacing the injured corporal while he convalesces."
This was a little girl, but that was no reason to underestimate her if they did not know her intentions. The Silent Spear, fortunately, had experience in spades regarding these types of matters - Seroas had full confidence in their abilities.

Ilasi warmly welcomed the three men, though she wish there was a meal she could prepare for them immediately. "I appreciate you coming here," she said, "though it'll be awhile until I can prepare something proper. I can have some tea going in the meantime, however, and there are fruits if you're interested in them." Maverick's absence would take some getting used to, though Ilasi had finally accepted it. She remained blissfully unaware of the recent addition to the crew.

Latnok's own hyperspace bag had everything he would need - including the magical device designed by Vellune, and a set of more traditional leather armor. It would be hard to make a good first impression on an island potentially inhabited by various dragon species while wearing their hide.
Leoquin had already moved most of his own equipment onboard the Raging Serpent in the days before. He was hoping there wouldn't be too much fighting, though there was never any guarantee of that in that line of work, between pirates and potentially hostile natives.

The young soldier obeyed, going with a couple of comrades to alert the Silent spear. King Seraos was taking the news remarkably well, even if one of his own just got injured.
"Thank you my liege. We will do everything we can to find this... girl." he said, not knowing how to address to her, and leaving immediately. He went to visit the corporal, and while the kick has been quite hard to the skin, thankfully, there were no broken bones. He was going to be fine. He went with the pair and alerted the more experienced men, who were always ready for anything. The little girl was closer than they thought. Using her pam flute, she transported herself to the mountain that was under her view when she hypnotized the soldiers. Unlike adult satyrs, she couldn't transport herself by thinking of a place. The flute could only take young satyrs to a place that was under their line of sight. They had to train hard to take their ability to the next level. Still being near the palace, she knew she had to run away as far as she could.

Once they entered, Random approached Ilasi, saying something in sign language.
"Don't worry about that my sweet lady. Random has offered to help you. He has improved his cooking quite remarkably." Sand Dune translated, knowing that the only reason why he would even cook was to impress Huntress. Even though she was a hard to get lady, he and Opium were happy that their big friend managed to find love again after the tragedy that struck him.

Angora slept soundly despite everything, even if her mind was still on her friends. Shade was still improsoned, Veris would know the truth tomorrow, and Maverick would go to a potentially hazardous journey. He however, felt quite pleased. He hated the fact that he had to leave his family and Angora behind, but this voyage was worth it. Both Leoquin and Raclaw could benefit from it, and on top of that, he could try befriending Huntress and make up for whatever pain his father caused her. He didn't suspect her ill intentions at all, believing her to be a very good person, a little bitter maybe. He didn't actually blamed her though, especially after the way the others judged her.

Risar nodded-- already having planned for the possibility; he didn't expect Icestorm to want to stay with him on a permanent basis nor would he force such a thing. "Of course my friend. I've already had my men pick out something suitable for you. Follow me.," the minotaur responded motioning for the small dragon to follow. He would lead the dwarf kaiju to an oddly shaped room, with smaller 'entry hallway' but opening up to a slightly larger hexagonal room with a large window. The room included a small bed, a wardrobe, a standalone mirror, and even an crystal ball meant for scrying.

Scrying wasn't an usual skill set among Minotaurs and as thus-- the oddly shaped room had mostly gone unused, an leftover from the ship's previous captain. His men didn't know if Icestorm had any use for it, but didn't see the room going to anyone else given its oddity. And Icestorm's smaller form factor made him an ideal candidate for it. The Huntress may had also been a possibility, but she was a last minute addition and had already chosen her own room anyway.

Random helped Ilasi in the kitchen, though he had to be very careful cause his big size made him crash with the counter several times, almost breaking a few dishes in the process. His kitchen was bigger than that. Alana went to the kitchen to get a snack after the scent of the cooking got her hungry, and hugged the three men in greeting. She barely knew them, but she already loved them. The trio planned to stay there and keep Maverick's family company and protection. Random being bigger, would take the guest room, while Sand Dune and Opium would take the two sofas. Before they would go to sleep, Random offered a free examination to Dahlia, knowing how beloved she was. It would give him some time to get to know the famous dirt buffalo better.

As the rooms were being assigned, Maverick looked at the city of Redwater in what would be the last time in a while. He would go to sea yet again, a place he came to hate, but just like last time, it was necessary. There would be time to return to his family and help his other friends, but for now, this moment, this voyage, was what was important. Sand Dune, Random and Opium would keep an eye on his family from time to time. Shade, while still imprisoned, was well taken care of. If there was someone he was worried about, it was Angora. She was still working in that awful place, and was certain Veris wasn't going to take lightly her leaving him behind to get a new job, but he would just have to trust she would be alright. With or without him, Angora could take remarkable care of herself, so he just had to believe this time would be no different.

The incident left Seraos wondering - what if there was some connection between the recently reported shapeshifting dragon and this creature? Was it something that warranted more concern? The Silent Spear would - hopefully - sort out the matter of this girl that attacked one of his soldiers while attempting to reach him. The dragon, he could count on the help of the Guardians for, such a matter falling into their scope - and he doubted the dragon would stay around with its presence and modus operandi revealed.
Still, why was a little girl - one with goat legs - making such an effort to get close? Was there, perhaps, some more shapeshifting magic at play, to get his men to lower their guard? If so, what would be the best way to address the threat? Unfortunately, not only would checkpoints to expose shapeshifters be, at the very least, inconvenient for merfolk, it would also require extensive aid from the Ardent Guardians - tracking down shapeshifters was in their wheelhouse, and the magic and technology behind the resonating chimes was a guarded secret. Besides that, though more experienced mages - particularly diviners - could identify shapeshifters, they generally had to be actively looking for differences. Their willingness of the Guardians to help in such a matter, outside of tracking down a creature like a dragon, was highly doubtful.

Once on board the ship, Latnok found the room designated for him and his furry companions. As the room was prepared beforehand (courtesy of Risar), he only had to worry about minor details. He was ore concerned with the others, and how they would fare - especially Huntress. What was her interest with Maverick for? Perhaps setting a ward on his door while he was in his room wouldn't hurt...

The satyr hid in an underground cave that was a couple of miles away from where she transported. She had to get away. Get back at sea. She was regretting this plan. Who was she kidding? If Sergeant Farlo was unable to arrange peace, how could she be any different? Perhaps... humans were impossible to make peace with. She wasn't doing anything to them, yet they treated her so badly. Why? Little did she know that her problems were barely starting. After much insisting that he came with nobody, General Lyon ordered the siren boy to leave on his whale and never return, not knowing he had a friend out there. But the boy knew he couldn't leave. He had to wait for his friend... somehow. The Silent Spear was already in action, though some were bitter that they had to find a little girl on top of the shapeshifter. Like the king, some of them believed they were one and the same... a goat girl was too impressive to be true. One of the higher ranked officers however, doubted it. If it had been the shapeshifter, it would've chosen a much more subtle disguise. A little girl with goat legs was bound to draw attention, and he didn't believe the creature was that stupid... although maybe it was? Who would shapeshift into a dragon knowing how much they were hunted? Unless it was new to the place? It was hard to tell...

Unable to sleep, Draikon settled to study the minotaur hair he gathered from Risar's crew when he interviewed them. He already studied Veris' sketch for far too long, and the more he saw the image, the more stressed he became. He was, like, the perfect killing machine. Smarter, bigger and likely more stubborn, maybe even someone willing to kill those who displeased him that wasn't his master. Angora was his caretaker. Very different position. The thought was making him crazy, and the fact that he couldn't do anything about it made things worse, so in order to distract himself, he resorted to studying the minotaurs. Maybe reading about the old mythical creatures again later would calm him down...

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“Nice room. Perfect for me and contact to Orion if needed.” Icestorm said as he put his things down.

"Thank you-- Risar thought you would like it. Seemed the perfect fit when you told me you were coming along.," the minotaur responded with a nod appreciating the dwarf kaiju's approval of the odd room. Minotaurs had no use for magic. Perhaps there might had been a magic-wielding minotaur at one point, but said magic user would've been quickly wiped out upon their discovery. And the kin that remain, partially the ones were still enslaved, were left completely unable to use magic in any capacity. There were once rumors about one doing his time in the homeland, but word was that the very much in power humans in charge of the whole operation quickly/quietly took care of what could've been an potencial uprising. One less thing to worry about.

Meanwhile...
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Once on board the ship, Latnok found the room designated for him and his furry companions. As the room was prepared beforehand (courtesy of Risar), he only had to worry about minor details. He was ore concerned with the others, and how they would fare - especially Huntress. What was her interest with Maverick for? Perhaps setting a ward on his door while he was in his room wouldn't hurt...

Raclaw read and shared very similar concerns about the newcomer; noting how she specially chose a room close to Maverick's own room. Risar hadn't rejected the choice, but it was still something to think about. "Nice room at least. Must be one of those 'VIP' rooms he mentioned the previous captain leaving.," the Fur Dragon noted with Chester adding an "Agreed!" bark. The room was somewhat curved as per the shape the shift and had almost everything their own room back at home had, including but not limited to a nice big dog bed that seemed very spacious and comfortable. A couple bowls for water/whatnot were also notably included, as per Raclaw and Chester's specific needs. And the room offered large windows with generous sunlight.

That night, Angora barely managed to sleep a wink. She only managed to get two hours of deep sleep. Maverick was leaving, Shade was still in prison and she still had to tell Veris about her resign. Despite the worries, she didn't have any dreams or nightmares in the two hours she managed to sleep, although it was probably because of the little time lapse.

Once the sun was up, she was yawning a lot, with bags under her eyes and still very tired. But she still had work to do. Veris was at his hungriest in the morning for obvious reasons, and he could get slightly cranky if she came too late with his breakfast. As she went to get his food, she was pondering. Should she tell him the news right there in the enclosure? Or should she take him outside and tell him while free? If Veris got too upset, the tension could rub off on the other wyverns, so she decided it was better to tell him after a meal and with some good exercise so that he could be in the best of moods and mellow down the weight of the bad news. Once she got his meal, she went to the always hazardous task of delivering it to him, with the other wyverns eyeing her, though thankfully, they didn't attack this time. Fortunately since she was quite exhausted.
"Morning Veris. How are you? Breakfast." she greeted briefly, not with the usual cheerfulness or joking matter she often displayed. There was Veris, as mighty as usual, and always looking ready to swallow something.

Maverick slept in what would be his cabin for a while, not even knowing if the ship was on the move. He wanted to see the city of Redwater as it disappeared into the horizon, but he was afraid that such a scene would only make him regret coming and miss his family more than he already was. He knew they will be fine, even Angora hopefully, but that didn't stop him from being worried. But if they found Leoquin's family, and even Raclaw's, the journey was going to be very worth it.

Though Veris noticed that Angora didn't seem quite as enthusiastic today, he didn't immediately think anything of it. He gave an eager grunt and waited in anticipation for the food Angora would provide to him. Everything was just fine right now - Angora was just a little tired. it was time for breakfast, and then some fun.

With the room settled, Latnok would begin exploring the ship to become familiar with all of the different facilities. He noted Maverick's cabin as he passed it - was Maverick inside and sleeping right then? Latnok would see if he could find Maverick elsewhere around the ship first, and place the ward if not.
The minotaurs didn't immediately come off as the most gregarious bunch, though Latnok figured that it would probably take a little bit of time to break the ice. He would be interested in getting some training done with them - their strength was greater than that of even trolls, which generally outmuscle, so it was bound to be a much different experience than sparring with other weapon-wielding humanoids.

ilasi couldn't be more grateful for the continued help and company she would have while Maverick wasn't around. She still had all of the usual work to do - but, at the very least, this work was much more pleasant than most of what she was doing before. It was actually fulfilling - something she did because she wanted to rather than because she had to. There was no boss to talk down to her and treat her like filth. There was no master to get frustrated over every little mistake she made in a craft she was learning.
Despite that, she still appreciated the extra hands - and the children were very pleased, as well, to have the three men over. Ilasi hoped Maverick would be back within a few months at most - but she would manage just fine.

Much like Latnok, Huntress familiarized herself with the ship, though she avoided approaching or talking to anybody, especially Latnok and his two beasts. She saw Maverick enter his cabin, and since she couldn't spy him in a closed room, plus it wasn't like he could escape or do anything in particular on that ship, she settled with exploring. She almost stepped on Icestorm at one point, but she only gave a fake apology and continued walking while giving him the cold shoulder. She wasn't open to anyone's friendship, not especially after the way she was treated, so whenever she needed entertainment, she knew she had to be creative. She had her own cabin, and she could have some privacy whenever she wanted.

Meanwhile, Angora changed Veris' water as he ate. Once she was done, the food was already gone. She rolled her eyes at how speedy the big wyvern was when it came to food. If only he could learn to be more patient and enjoy his meals properly, but she guessed it was part of the dragon's nature to eat that way.
"No food at noon Veris. Once you rest from this meal, you're hunting." she informed him, knowing he also loved to hunt, plus it was the best exercise for any predator. Once she left his enclosure, nice again ignoring the eyes of the other wyverns, she headed to Sere's office... after taking a quick detour to the cafeteria once her own stomach let her know she hasn't eaten yet. After she finished, it was time for the the next step. She had to tell her boss first about her plans so that he would have time to find a replacement, if he could. She didn't remember if she mentioned it before, but whether she did or not, she still intended to tell him today. But he was not in his office. Apparently, he was in a conference. It was still early and Veris would be fine for a while, so she waited for the Godfather there at the hallway... falling asleep on the floor after a while...

Alana was the first up in the morning, waking up the three men eagerly. Random was already in the process of waking up, but Sand Dune and Opium were still asleep, although the former was grateful for the wake up call since he had to work soon. Random helped Ilasi in the kitchen so that breakfast could be done sooner and his friend and children could arrive to their destinations in time. Alana was already missing her father, but having his friends there really filled the void. If only Angora could've been there as well.
"Time for us to leave. Thanks for the meal my good lady. Opium, you behave..." Sand Dune said, acting as if he was going to say the last sentence to the children, but playfully shifted to the cassanova man instead. Opium had work today too, but he had the afternoon shift, so he was going to stay a while more. Before leaving, Random attended Dahlia so that Ilasi would be spared of that morning chore. Afterwards, it was time for him, the children and Sand Dune to leave to their respective destinations.

Latnok concluded his exploration; Maverick didn't appear anywhere else on the ship, so it seemed reasonable to assume that he was comfortably in his room. Finding the door, Latnok briefly focused, casting a warding spell on the door, before heading back his own way. It wasn't anything too big - just something to inform him if some other person entered the room. With everything else taken care of, he was ready to leave and start the journey.

Angora was woken up by none other than Sere himself with a quick shake. "Not exactly the best place to take a rest, don't you think?" he said jokinI assume you were waiting for me. Just business as usual - well, not quite, but nothing we're not going to manage. What do you need me for?"

Maverick continued sleeping for a while longer, unaware of the spell. Huntress didn't try entering his room, correctly assuming the faun man would be well taken care of if they suspect her of anything.

At the Guardian base, Angora was startled by the sudden wake up call to the point she hit her face on the wall she was lying her head on. The brief sleep had been so deep she was even starting to drool, which she quickly cleaned up when seeing Sere.
"Oh, oh, my apologies sir. Had trouble sleeping last night... being too worried about Maverick leaving, and... I know he'll be fine with Latnok, Risar and the other minotaurs, but still..." Angora stated, entering his office after cleaning her face and rubbing the sleep off her eyes. It was so embarrassing being caught in such a pathetic state, but surprisingly, Sere didn't seem at all upset for her sleeping on what was technically work time.

After sitting on the chair, Angora went to the point.
"True, the reason I'm here, well you can call it business. There's still two months and three weeks of my contract, and while I renew it every year... well, that will not be the case this time. I want to try a new job. I love Veris and I enjoy taking care of him, but... well, this job is becoming too stressful. It's a lot of work, and, the other wyverns attacking me often doesn't help either. I know it'll be hard for Veris to adapt to a new caretaker, which is why I'm letting you know now beforehand." Angora explained, not sure how Sere would take the news, but certain that Veris would be upset, and possibly devastated once he knew.

Though Sere was mostly composed, his face betrayed a very slight hint of disappointment. The other wyverns, the danger - that was the concern Angora had. "Do you feel that the hazard pay is not enough?" he asked respectfully. "If so, I am willing to increase it, though I wish you would have told me sooner. I don't want to have the reputation of shortchanging workers." Sere gave Angora a slightly hopeful look - if that was the issue, then it could be addressed easily.

Angora was rather confused by Sere’s attitude. He looked upset, but at the same time remained kind. Perhaps part of his professional image? He was even offering a higher pay to make her stay. Maybe Veris wasn’t the only one who wanted her around. It flattered her that he was offering a raise, but at the same time it was kinda offensive how a wyvern caretaker was all she was seen as.
“It’s not payment issue sir. It’s... also because I wanted to try something else for a while. Something... less dangerous, and maybe that can help my species.” Angora stated, not going into detail about the matter, though willing to explain if Sere asked.

She then had an idea on how the issue could be solved.
“Is there a contract that lasts less than a year? I’m... willing to stay a while more to give you enough time to find a replacement, but also to give Veris time to... get used to the situation. I know he has become too attached to me and the last thing I want to do is disappoint or affect him somehow.” Angora then assured, knowing that Veris wasn’t going to be at all happy with the information. She still remembered vividly how upset he got in the Enduring Legacy when she told him her caring wasn’t going to be forever. She has gotten five annual contracts always, but if there was one that lasted less, would be better for both Veris and his master, although unfortunately, it would mean she would have to stand more indifference from both Guardians and coworkers and more potential wyvern attacks.

At school, Alana was blossoming. Ever since her meeting with Shade, she has become more confident, more studious, and in a way, more cocky. She kept the scale Shade gifted to her, always looking at it when she was completely alone, like in her room or a bathroom. She still kept the secret from her parents and friends about the secret meeting, since it would mean admitting that she successfully sneaked inside a supposedly well guarded prison, the one where the Scourge of Redwater of all creatures was being kept. But Alana didn’t think she could keep the secret for too long, so was thinking it might as well be the time to tell her mother the truth since her father was away for who knows how long.

Some time later-- the Raging Serpent would peacefully depart while many slept, with Risar watching over the initial departure and soon getting some sleep himself. The Minotaur would take off his armor and take one last look in the mirror (a common feature among the cabins) before allowing his head to read. The symbol, the 'brand', the 'rising phoenix'; the marker under his shoulder plate would once again remind him of where he came from and what he one day eventually hoped to find. His brethren were still out there somewhere, perhaps living 'decent' lives or perhaps not even living at all. The nose ring, the loop turned seamless implant, the visual sign of his 'value' as seen as of a child; it once again reminded him that he was fortunate to have received the 'cushy' life he had under his old master. Sure he could've died from some powerful poison (taste tester) or perhaps in combat (fighting for entertainment), but at least he hadn't been forced to labor in some mine or even been subject to experimentation if seen as useful for nothing more. Perhaps this journey might help more than just Maverick or just Raclaw. Perhaps they all might find some answers...

As the sun rose, the smell of food would fill the ship and knocking would be heard on Risar's door. "Morning Capt'! You wanted us to remind you when the banquet was ready. We've set it up in the communal dining room as requested. Tizen is to formally meet our new guests, is he not?," the minotaur spoke in a somewhat cheery tone.. erm for a Minotaur anyway. "Yes-- that's right. You all agreed to go, but my friends shall be more than just mere passengers. Find our finest wine that's not marked for sale and with luck.. they shall become an extended part of the family.," Risar quickly responded already mostly dressed. "And the last minute newcomer?," the Tizen than asked. "Ah yes, her. We shall see. We shall see indeed...," Risar responded not wanting to dismiss the possibility. "Yes captain!," Tizen responded quickly leaving so that Risar could finish getting dressed. They would have a *long* journey together, each and every one of them. And now was a better time than any to break the ice while the journey was still young.

Maverick was still asleep, being a very heavy sleeper. He opened his eyes several times during the night, so his body was trying to recover some of the lost sleep. Huntress was one of the first one up, having a protein bar as breakfast until the official one was ready... if it ever arrived. She didn’t know how things in a ship worked, but she assumed food was brought to the crew. At least the protein bar, which were common among Redwater soldiers who lead a rushed life, were great hunger killers in the meantime. Maverick’s cabin was still locked up, making her assume the lazy fool was still asleep. The objective could wait. For now, she went to look at the sea as the ship moved. It was so peaceful. And such a beautiful view. It made her wonder why she never tried a voyage before.

At Tal Rojas, the tension was increasing. Not only was Redwater unsuccessful in tracking down the shapeshifter, but not even the Silent Spear has been able to locate the satyr girl right there in their city. How was that possible? If word got out, it could be bad for their reputation. Whatever magic the satyr girl was using, they weren’t trained for it. Whether she was a faun or a satyr, she was likely using ancient magic whose knowledge has been mostly lost. They would need outside help to prepare for these new threats.

The shapeshifter could be anywhere... and be anyone. As for the girl with the goat legs, the pursuit was getting harder to avoid. She has found refugee in some old tunnels, but she has barely eaten. She was getting weak. She didn’t even know where she was. Why did she think this was a good idea? If Sergeant Farlo couldn’t make peace with the humans, why should a little thing like her be any different? She was lost and alone, and hungry. Perhaps... delivering herself to the humans would make things less worse? She didn’t think she could survive too long like this...

Sere took a deep breath before slowly exhaling. "if that is how you truly feel, then so be it," he acquiesced. "I will begin implementing a plan to help Veris transition to a new caretaker. Depending on what we decide in the end, this may involve having your replacement shadow you. has been able to manage somewhat with your absences during your days off; hopefully, with a little time to adjust, he'll be able to accept the new arrangements."
finding a worker who could replace Angora would be exceedingly difficult, due to her unique nature and Veris' familiarity with her; however, it was a task they would have to manage nonetheless. Sere knew the day would come; still, he was reluctant to prepare for it.

Angora was still feeling bad about her decision, but knew it would be for the best in the long run.
“I... still intend to return if this doesn’t work out sir, if you... and Veris will have me back that is. I’m willing to stay as long as it’s needed to give Veris time to adjust and you to have a proper replacement. Also, I do intend to visit him from time to time so that he doesn’t get too depressed.” Angora assured, knowing that visits wouldn’t be enough to satisfy the wyvern, but he will just had to adapt. He could live without her in his life before, and he will be able to do it again.
“Oh, also, I will need this day off. I have... something special to do that day. Someone to visit.” Angora then said, showing the date in the calendar Sere kept after suddenly remembering the day she would be able to visit Shade in the prison. She let the old Guardian figure it out. She had been hoping the day would fall in one of her free days, but it was not the case, which meant she either lose payment from that day or she would have to substitute one from her weekly time off.

At Tal Rojas, the weak and hungry girl had turned herself in, pleading for the guards to go easy on her. One of them hit her on the back of her head, knocking her out.
“You imbecile! That wasn’t necessary!” one of the soldiers scolded the culprit, furious how his subordinate would treacherously hit someone like that, especially a little girl.
“Come on sarge, she sent one of our own to the infirmary, remember?” the soldier said, excusing his action.
“You don’t hit anyone like that, especially if it’s someone turning themselves in peacefully!” the sarge said furiously, finding despicable and cowardly what he just witness. His subordinate would get the proper punishment later. For now, it was time to take the strange girl into custody. He sent someone to deliver the message to the king...

Latnok had been up for a good part of the night, but got some sleep at the later part. He was already up when the smell of fresh cooking hit him. It wouldn't be long now; he would just wait for Raclaw and Chester to awaken. He trusted that the smell of freshly prepared food would soon work its magic on the two.
Besides that, the ward hadn't been disturbed. At least Huntress wasn't being stupid on the very first day. Latnok hoped he was just being paranoid.

"I appreciate the extra consideration for Veris," Sere answered. "Past the end of your current contract, we shouldn't need a new one - just a normal agreement to pay based on time worked if we need you on board a little longer. As for that particular date - I'll make sure it's accounted for in our scheduling." Sere was glad that Angora was at least considering staying as long as Veris needed in order to allow him to adapt, though he wasn't particularly counting on it - he would try to make the adjustments as soon as possible.

Angora gave a genuine, heartfelt smile at the response, happy that Sere was taking thing so remarkably well and that his consideration was likely more than just professional courtesy to an employee. Perhaps Sere finally grew just a tiny bit fond of her, which was more than she could ever hope for from Latnok.
“Thank you so very much sir. I won’t take any more of your time now. Will eat something and get back to work.” Angora said, leaving his office to let the ever busy Guardian leader to work in peace. She had the important day free and Sere, while he didn’t seem incredibly happy with her resign, was willing to let her go. But now there was the matter of telling Veris himself, and she was certain he wasn’t going to take it as well as his master. Angora would take him to hunt later to have him in the best of moods. There would be time to worry about his reaction once she has eaten better than the quick breakfast she had earlier.

Maverick was finally up after having a handful of weird dreams, mostly about his family. So adamant he once was to leave his seafaring days, and there he was, yet again, in another voyage. Circumstances have once more left him part of a ship’s crew. It seems like no matter how much he wanted to leave the ocean, something always happened that made him come back. Only this time, he didn’t have a close friend accompanying him like Angora. There were familiar faces alright, but he still would’ve preferred someone closer. But anyway, it was time to start the day, and no better moment than with a quick breakfast. He could smell the air. Someone has already cooked. A minotaur? He wondered what they cooked, hopefully something that could appeal to his limited diet.

At king Seraos’ castle, someone arrived to his chambers to deliver a message.
“Sire, the goat girl has been captured. She’s being delivered here as we speak.” he said, with the custody girl being delivered to the infirmary at that moment to treat her head wound and give her some food. She was quite malnutritioned. These were very specific circumstances, and the soldiers were certain their monarch would want to talk to her before her fate could be decided.

As expected-- it didn't take long for Raclaw and Chester to be awoken by the fresh scent; the two furred companions had slept quite soundly on the comfortable bed. Risar (or Risar's crew) had done their shopping and had seemingly sourced out a comfortable surrounding for Latnok and co to rest their heads. For a brief moment, the pair was reminded of being woken by Latnok's fresh cooking except this cooking smelled... meatier? The Minotaurs no doubt had a very meaty diet, but hopefully they were aware of their guests and what some species could not or would not eat. "Morning.," Chester yawn-barked greeting his 'human' and fur dragon 'brother.' "I'm glad to see that Risar remembered our *unique* living arrangements. This place isn't all that different from home, aside from the view of course.," Raclaw complimented the room once again getting up. "On another ship to another destination. Perhaps the second time will be the charm.," he then added with a slight smile keeping hopes that they would find something.

Risar, after fully getting ready, would leave his room and head down to 'inspect' what would turn out to be a semi-open ship galley with a large attached communal dining space. Various foods were already prepared including various meats, but also other options including some greens and options more friendly for the canine appetite. An older Minotaur-- the cook presumingly --would greet Risar as soon as he entered the large space. "Morning Captain! As you can see and as you can smell, the feast.. is ready! I've had to use some of our less common ingredients to account for..," he began to speak getting interrupted by Risar. "It's alright, it's alright-- my friends are worth it. We have a long journey ahead of us and a good meal is always a great way to break the ice as a former captain once said.," the minotaur captain spoke. The cook, an minotaur with a bronze nose ring, quickly nodded in response. The nose ring, as compared to Risar's own nose ring, was not a seamless one and had a visible open slit where such a ring would normally allow for something to be attached. It was at times a reminder that his own ring still had a link of attached chain despite how much time had passed. It rarely bothered him, but every Minotaur's circumstances were different and it was quite rare for a master to actually willingly fullingly let a Minotaur go in such an matter.

After some brief discussion, the two agreed to wait a bit before informing any asleep stragglers. Some had no doubt already noticed.

Maverick went to the source of the scent, a bit disappointed that most of the meals were meat, as was expected for a minotaur crew. Fortunately, he found a fish dish that looked like it was made especially for him. Latnok? It was a sweet gesture. The Guardian wasn’t so bad if he had friends like Raclaw and Chester. If only he could make amends with Angora. As he ate, he wondered where Huntress was. He wanted to make her feel welcomed, especially after the way she was treated yesterday. The woman in question had retired to her room after grabbing her own meal, not wanting to be bothered by anybody. She would deal with the idiot Maverick another time. There would be time for that. For now, she had to lay low and let suspicions cool off. Almost everyone, especially that stupid Latnok, seemed keen on keeping an eye on her like some criminal. Once they returned to the mainland, she would try to persuade the king to give them some form of punishment for the treatment.

Angora was another one eating at the moment, this time a better dish than before. As usual, she was alone. Other caretakers were also at their lunch break, and gossiping among each other. Sometimes jokes were made at her expense, and she didn’t know if they knew she was listening or if they were unaware of her good hearing. Two caretakers actually felt sorry for her and almost considered sitting alongside her so that she wouldn’t be alone, but afraid of their companion’s opinions, they desisted. Angora has seen many caretakers come and go in the years she spent there. She has been the only one who has lasted more than three years, but soon, she would leave as well. Although the caretakers never bullied her directly, their indifference and jokes were still hurtful.

Seraos seemed satisfied with the news, though he remained wary. "Apply hexphage to her and give it some time to grow before bringing her in here," he ordered. "Besides that, make sure she's in good enough condition to talk to when she gets here. It'll do us little good to ask questions to someone who isn't coherent. If she really is just a little, misguided girl, we wouldn't want to abuse her now."
Seraos had heard that the Silent Spear had difficulty following her trail, but this was a pleasant turn of events. He assumed he would be briefed as to all of the details of her capture later.

Latnok gave a pleased smile as Raclaw and Chester awoke to the pleasant aroma of cooking. Smiling - something Latnok did only rarely previously, but found himself doing more and more, both as a result of his companionship with Raclaw and Chester, and from the satisfaction of the work he was doing. "Well, time to see what they have cooked up for us now. We wouldn't want to get there after all of the food is already gone now, would we?" he said.
As they made their way to the cafeteria, Latnok pondered about what minotaur cooking was like. He didn't expect anything that smelled as good as what he was smelling right now - perhaps that was a misconception borne of some prejudice that he needed to discard. Risar always did mention his master's more refined tastes, after all. He himself would be able to eat anything that wasn't poisonous (and even some things that were), but good cooking was always appreciated.

As Angora left, Sere considered her scenario - she definitely did not come to meet the Guardians on good terms. Even during their first ship journey, after the Darkmatter incident, they ran into their share of issues, and Sere almost had her killed on one occasion. Now, however, she was one of his most valuable workers - moreso than any other contracted work on the base - and she was willing to stay as long as possible for Veris' sake.
Sere wondered what Latnok would think of her - despite his efforts, he was never able to reconcile with Angora. Everything he knew now indicated that Latnok had, if not forgotten, at least stopped considering her - she was an old acquaintance in a chapter of his life that he was past. He put more of his effort into the Salvation House - a project which was greatly appreciated wherever branches were established. He had certainly earned his promotion. Latnok had become a much more... sensitive? No, that wasn't quite the right word. Empathetic. He had become more empathetic over time, and this empathy had facilitated the project which now gave abandoned children and dogs a fair chance at life.
The Draconic Ascension ritual... it made the Guardians cold, calculating killers, more akin to living weapons than humans. The only Guardians who had families were those who had them before their ritual - not only were those few, most of them had abandoned their family in at least some capacity before (or after) the ritual. This coldness allowed the Guardians to exercise extreme pragmatism where emotions would cripple them, but perhaps it limited their potential in ways that had to be explored.
The emotional dulling, naturally, proved greatly beneficial in certain circumstances; Sere struggled to think of how he would have confronted Rigel, his own younger brother, if he was anything like a normal human. Would Rigel have successfully appealed to him? Or, if not, would he have hesitated in critical moments? Would the death of his brother proved to render him incapable of remaining levelheaded in the future? It would certainly be quite harder to negotiate with a nation whose monarch had killed his brother if he was a normal person. However, he was able to compartmentalize those misgivings into just one factor among many more important factors to consider in his actions.
As of now, Guardians, while they didn't completely lack empathy, were often quite numb to things other people would consider significant. Has that caused them to downplay many of the most severe issues plaguing the world? The easiest emotions for Guardians to understand were disgust and indignation; but there were far more problems in the world than things which simply made people feel those.

The messenger nodded and bowed to his king, leaving his chamber and heading to the infirmary where the goat girl was being kept to deliver the new message. The soldiers that attacked her would spend twenty four hours in a prison as punishment for the assault. It was forbidden to assault someone when they were surrendering willingly, especially a minor. Plus she was examined and there was no weapon on her, and assaulting someone who had no means of defense made things worse. The only thing confiscated from her was the Pam flute that she used to escape, but it was just that. A magical musical instrument... one that was mysterious to them. Some even tried playing it but they couldn’t activate the magic she used. She could’ve used it to escape, but didn’t. Still, even if she had no weapons on her, Aelinon soldiers knew better than to lower their guards. They applied hexphage on her as ordered, normal means since they didn’t completely trusted the new mix Draikon came up with. It was very embarrassing that a seemingly harmless goat girl managed to escape the Silent Spear themselves, and probably would’ve remained that way for a while if she hadn’t come to them willingly. They waited for the fungus to do it’s work and for her to recover consciousness before she could be taken to the palace...

Maverick ate with the rest of the minotaurs, even if he didn’t feel completely comfortable with them. They were a friendly enough bunch, although they didn’t seem open to pursue a friendship. It was clear that they kept a professional profile at sea. It was almost impossible to imagine most, if not all were once slaves. While eating, he wondered how his family and friends were handling the first day of his absence...

Back at Redwater, Gereral Lyon caught the siren boy near the beach where Misty the Whale brought him and his friends. After much pressure, the young one had to confess why he stayed there. Lyon was horrified. A satyr... in Redwater? NO! If Aelinon knew what she was, or worse, where she lived, king Seraos could be tempted to invade the island, full of magical creatures and untouched resources. It could expand his power, and such a sacred place had to be protected. He hid the boy in his house, under the care of his daughter.
“Lydia my darling. I’m going to Tal Rojas. I need you to take charge of the warriors if something happens in my absence. And please take care of this boy.” He pleased, too much in a rush for a proper explanation.
“But Papa... wait...” she said, but he reached the door.
“No time to explain love. I know you’re ready to take charge should something happen. Keep the boy hidden, and wait for me. I’ll try to be back tonight.” The general explained, having groomed his daughter into being the next leader of the warriors. Women soldiers weren’t common in Aelinon, human or otherwise, but Lydia had the makings of a great warrior and a fantastic leader. He trusted she would be able to handle it.

"No-- we wouldn't.," Raclaw said with a smile. "Agreed!," Chester barked in agreement.

As Latnok and co followed the source of the smell and entered the large room-- Risar would light up. "Ah, there they are! For those who haven't met them yet... this is Latnok, Raclaw, and Chester. And those already eating are Icestorm and Maverick.," the minotaur captain then announced motioning towards each respective individual. "Human, Fur Dragon, Canine, Dwarf Kaiju, and Fawn Hybrid respectfully. These unique individuals, although each diverse from one another, are my friends and former traveling companions on a previous voyage. Please, treat them with respect and treat them no worse than you would our own family here onboard the Raging Serpent.," he began to say taking a ship from a mug of ale. "We also have another guest among us who has respectfully chosen to eat in their own room. May the 'Huntress' eat among us when she feels comfortable!," he then said with the crew taking sips from their own mugs. "Here, here!," several of them shouted in what sounded like a small outroar of booming voices.

Maverick felt happy with the announcement and was already feeling like one of the crew. He was even happy that Huntress was being acknowledged despite the bad first impression. Risar truly knew how to treat his guests and crew mates. Perhaps later, he would find her and visit her in her room. Unlike many other women, she wasn’t very fond of him, and if it was indeed because something his father did to her, he would make things right somehow, or at least give her some peace back if he could.

As General Lyon, now with a full set of legs, headed to the city and to the first wyvern stable he could find, the satyr girl was still being attended. While she was recovering consciousness, she was assigned to one of the best nurses in the area while all but one of the soldiers left to examine the Pam flute and how it worked. This kind of magic could be very useful to those who needed to make a quick retreat in any battle. And if it was the object itself that was magical, then perhaps it didn’t take a mage to use it.

General Lyon took the fastest wyvern available once he reached the first stable. And as he flew off in the airborne steed, Angora finished her meal at last, having taken a while in fear of what she had to do today. There was no point in continuing to postpone it. Sere already knew now, so there was no point in keeping the secret to Veris any longer. It was a little after noon, so he was likely very hungry again. No attacking attempts right now thankfully, but the other wyverns glared, which Angora did back. Finally, she reached the main dragon’s pen.
“Good afternoon Veris. Back, but with no food. You will have to get it this time.” Angora said as she opened the door, leading him out of the stables to head to the valley where he always hunted, but by now, Angora had to do little to guide him since he already knew the way. Such routine would be over in several months most likely, and she was certain Veris wasn’t going to like it one bit. But the troll wasn’t going to follow Draikon’s advice about not telling Veris anything, for if she left without explanation, it was going to be far worse, with Veris probably hating her more than he will after he knows the news.

Though Veris was a little disappointed at not immediately getting some more food, he didn't complain, since he would have the opportunity to hunt. Following the path as he always did, he prepared himself for the hunt, unaware of what would follow.

Latnok was somewhat surprised - he wasn't expecting Risar to go through such lengths to welcome the new members of the crew. "Thank you, everyone," he responded politely to the warm welcoming. "I am looking forward to our work here, and have full confidence that we will have a successful journey. Believe me - you can count on us."

Angora held on as Veris flew off, having learned to ride him without the harness Maverick gifted her, though she still had it with her just in case. She felt bad for many of the animals Veris hunted, since most of the time, he didn’t bother killing the smaller ones, but such was nature. Some had to be killed to feed others. Sometimes she wished they could all just eat plants, or toadstools, but that would mean overpopulation and a damaged environment, so everything had to remain in balance. If only humans and certain other creatures could learn that.

Huntress finished her meal, getting bored of being in that ridiculous room. She wondered if the other minotaurs were done as well. She was too far away to hear the touching toast Risar of all crew mates dedicated to her. Once she left her room, she did arrived just in time to overhear something Maverick has been thinking of saying ever since breakfast started.
“I would like to propose and extra toast, for mi querida amiga Angorita. These years haven’t been easy for her. She doesn’t make the best of impressions often, but she always works on getting better, and is always there for her friends. She has few friends, but they are true, and I’ve had the privilege of seeing that big heart she hid for many years. She’s a survivor, and despite all the harsh trials, despite even her own blood family hating her, she has always prevailed. So cheers to her, the most decent troll that ever existed, and sí, there is such a thing.” Maverick said as he raised his cup, knowing most of the ones present didn’t know who or what Angora was, so he made sure they knew. If there was someone there who knew how great Angora could be, it was Raclaw. He and Angora could’ve been great friends if Latnok hadn’t been in the way. Part of the reason why he made the new toast was so that Latnok could also hear it, and understand that if he didn’t want her friendship, it was his loss. Plus she already had him and other dear friends like the three former pirates and his family, so Angora didn’t need the stubborn young Guardian’s approval anymore.

Huntress heard the toast, and was almost moved. The friendship between Maverick and Angora was almost legendary in Redwater, and they have been friends for so long Huntress doubted it was fake. She believed Maverick capable enough to fake a friendship to get what he wanted, just like his father before him, but there was little he could gain from befriending a troll, except maybe popularity? Angora wasn’t any troll after all, but Maverick was still unique in his own way. But despite the toast, she wasn’t going to let mere words get to her. Maverick was the son of a former pirate, one of the most heartless ones that ever existed, and even if his crimes were never acknowledged, they were still there, and they shouldn’t go unpunished, even if he has a family.

Veris hunted down prey in the routine he enjoyed so much by now. In the end, he found an elk buck grazing on its own.; descending too quickly for the game to escape him, it quickly fell in his grip despite its size, with its antlers failing to penetrate his scales in its final struggle.
Settling down to feast on the corpse, Veris left a small piece of it alone, in case Angora was interested in it - if not, more for him. Getting some rest after the hunt was always something he looked forward to...

Latnok found it rather odd that Maverick was taking the opportunity to hail Angora here of all places when she had no involvement in the journey. In addition to failing to acknowledge the hospitality of the crew, he figured that, if anything, Maverick thanking his own wife for her support would have been a priority - but he wasn't a family man, so perhaps the connection wasn't as deep as he assumed.
With that done, Latnok waited for any further words from anyone else who wanted to toast. This was going to be the perfect opportunity to get to know his colleagues, and make his first impression - and, perhaps more importantly, it would help normalize Raclaw's presence.

Angora watched as the talons captured the poor animal, the wyvern rarely failing to hunt. She could probably count with just one hand the number of times he has actually failed. She left her piece to Veris, already full from what she had in the cafeteria. She smiled warmly, finding it touching that he has learned to share food on his own, without the need for her to ask. Although she knew he was happy when she refused, cause that would mean an extra portion. After a while, Veris was happy, with a full belly, leaving nothing but antlers and some blood on the grass. The little troll settled down alongside him, waiting for him to digest part of his meal before she could hit him with the news.
“Say Veris? Um... so I... we’ve been friends for a while. I... I can trust you with anything... anything at all, right? No matter how big, or... awful it is?” Angora asked first, needing to make sure Veris would mentally prepare for whatever she had in store. He was likely going to be offended for asking such a question, but she needed to hear it from him.

As Maverick and the rest of them finished, the faun man was left wondering if he should’ve mentioned his wife and kids in the toast, even if it was just a brief one. All of those minotaurs and likely Raclaw himself will probably never know the pleasure and grace of forming a family of their own, so perhaps it was for the best that he didn’t mention them, at least for now. He had been thinking of mentioning Shade as well, but not too many liked the Scourge of Redwater, and he didn’t want to sour the mood on the first day. Maybe another time too.

Once they were all finished, Maverick went to one side of the ship where Redwater disappeared on the horizon and looked at a silver locket that he kept along with the gold medallion that protected him. Inside, a picture of Ilasi hugging Tyrus and Alana, and in the other side, Angora, alone and evidently forcing a smile. Maverick had wanted Angora to be besides Ilasi and the kids, but she refused, believing it would overcrowd the picture. Maverick knew that wasn’t the real reason. As he glanced at the photo, he was already starting to miss them terribly. He knew Ilasi and the children would be fine with the three former pirates keeping an eye on them and with the extra money he left, but he still missed them. Angora as well, but hopefully soon, she would leave her dangerous job and find a new, easier one, and he will be glad to keep her in his house. As he almost cried at the locket, he made sure nobody, especially Leoquin, was seeing him. He didn’t want the merman to feel bad if he believed he was keeping Maverick away from his family for his sake.

Icestorm’s words put Maverick in a better mood.
“Gracias Icestorm.” he said.
“You know, if you’re ever in Redwater for a while, you can come home. I’m certain my kids would love meeting you, and Ilasi will be pleased to see a familiar face. Angorita sometimes stays too, and I know it’ll do wonders for her seeing you again.” Maverick invited, knowing that Icestorm would be a welcoming presence. He was a kaiju (or so he claimed) that was adorable and small like Angora, and that looked like a miniature dragon. No doubt Tyrus and Alana would want to meet someone like him. Plus Icestorm was one of the very few individuals who was kind to Angora from the very beginning, which was something he didn’t forget.

At the informary, the satyr girl was gaining back her conscience. The nurse gave her the best care.
“Easy little... girl.” she said, not wanting to be disrespectful but not knowing how else to address to her.
“Are you alright? What is your name?” she asked as she attended her wounds... but there was a huge problem.
“I... my name? It’s... it’s... umm... it’s.... I don’t remember.” the satyr girl answered, with the nurse growing pale. She lost her memory? This was bad. The hit must’ve been harder than she estimated. If the girl couldn’t even remember her name, how would the king know why and how she was there, in their city? This was very bad. Amnesia was something that was unpredictable and not easy to cure, not even with magic. The brain was delicate, and trying to cure it meant tampering with delicate memories. The solution was always to give the patients some time, but success was not always within grasp. The scientist Draikon suffered the same ill years ago when he was found, and despite making a life of his own, he could never recall his past life.

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Latnok found it rather odd that Maverick was taking the opportunity to hail Angora here of all places when she had no involvement in the journey. In addition to failing to acknowledge the hospitality of the crew, he figured that, if anything, Maverick thanking his own wife for her support would have been a priority - but he wasn't a family man, so perhaps the connection wasn't as deep as he assumed.
With that done, Latnok waited for any further words from anyone else who wanted to toast. This was going to be the perfect opportunity to get to know his colleagues, and make his first impression - and, perhaps more importantly, it would help normalize Raclaw's presence.

After Maverick and some others left the room-- most of the Minotaurs remained, Risar himself included. The captain was curious as to how Latnok and more Raclaw would be received by the crew. One of the younger crew members would step up and ask the first question. "So--," the minotaur began to speak. "Tizen.. erm I've been wondering. I've seen the museum, at least before it partly shut down for renovations. I've heard how some view you two and how.. how others have a different perspective entirely. So I'll ask you. What are you and what are you to each other?," Tizen then asked correcting his initial dialogue in a manner not unlike what Risar no doubt went though. The third-first person perspective/point of view was clearly an issue among Minotaurs adapting to a free life. Risar nodded to Tizen, as if to almost reassure him. It was a question that had been bound to come up at least once.

The nurse told a messenger to deliver the girl’s condition to the king, the palace being very close. The messenger was very nervous about telling such a thing, but the girl’s condition wasn’t his fault, so there was nothing to worry about. The nurse also made sure that before he left, would told the guards to bring back the girl’s musical instrument to her as soon as they were done with it. If something should help in resorting her memory, chances were it was going to be that Pam flute.

Maverick left the minotaurs talk to Raclaw and Latnok while he spend time with Icestorm. He really wanted his kids to meet the little creature, but in a change of subject, somebody’s absence reminded him he wanted to ask something.
“By the way Icestorm... why were you so rude to that blonde señorita yesterday? I mean, she looks... a little bitter, maybe? But I don’t think she deserved the harsh treatment.” Maverick asked, still feeling bad for Huntress. He didn’t witness the entire scene, but based on what little he saw and how upset the woman was, it must’ve been a big deal. She could’ve been overreacting, but he knew how Latnok could be, and how spunky Icestorm was, so he doubted she was exaggerating.

Maverick pondered a moment, wondering why Icestorm would be upset about that. Was it because of Shade?
“Um... doesn’t almost everybody in Redwater hate them anyway? It’s kinda normal. Seen it myself. I even read in a library once that Aelinon eradicated many dragons to the point of near extinction because they were considered a pest. And after what Oscurito himself did... well you know what I mean.” Maverick pointed out, a bit confused as to why would Huntress be treated so harshly for such a trivial and somewhat understandable opinion. It made him sad she would be one of the many people who hated dragons, but he couldn’t entirely blame her. He didn’t know what a dragon did to her, yet he still believed she didn’t deserve the treatment for something that should be considered normal for a citizen of Redwater like her. Like Huntress, Maverick knew for a fact even Guardians have killed dragons, yet he has never seen Latnok being treated differently because of that. Although it was probably because of his position and what he could do to those who opposed him, like Angora has proven many times in the past, but it was still unfair the way Huntress was treated yesterday.

At the city, Draikon was up to his usual experiments. He had a large quantity of hexphage mix stored away, which he put most of it in small bags that could be thrown similarly to smoke bombs so that whatever magical beings attacked, whoever possessed them would be saved from the magic in time, especially since the mix worked much faster than ordinary hexphage. He would even improvise weapons that could be used as giant slingshots so that they could be thrown at a longer distance. He then would examine the plants he was growing in the tunnel of his wall. Then more studying the Minotaur hair. Anything to get him distracted from Angora and her possible demise and his missed chance of proving something he has tried to prove for years. He put away his sketches and notes about Veris away so that he wouldn’t be reminded of any of them. Perhaps he should come today and once again insist Maverick on the study too. That should be another great distraction.