darkSpyro

Latnok took one more sip of wine before continuing. "Well, we'll probably stay around at least a bit, see how things are like here. We'll not make trouble for you while we are here. Now that we know of this place's existence, the Ardent Guardians will able to plan and organize accordingly," he decided. "If things are as bad as you say, then we cannot leave you all to rot here."
"I thank you for the consideration," Alithe said gratefully. "We - some of us, anyway - we've waited so long, for this day. A little more waiting... that is no problem at all. I don't know what will happen, but the Queen will do anything to keep her place, and there is one guarantee I can make - we will never be free while she lives."
Latnok was about to reply when one of the islanders rushed onto the deck from the gangplank. He ignored all of the typical protocols, though Latnok and Leoquin could forgive him for his ignorance if he wasn't used to dealing with outsiders. The islander, spotting Alithe, approached the group.
"The Queen would like to speak to one of you," he announced."
"One of us? Which one?" Leoquin asked.
"She said one of you to speak for everyone," the islander explained.
"So, a representative then," Alithe clarified. "Well, then, it looks like our conversation here draws to a close for now. Who will it be that you send?"

Huntress gave an annoyed look at Icestorm, unlike Latnok, not caring if the kaiju saw or not. She was still angry with him. She gave a small bow to Risar once she reached him with the tray, knowing that if she had to be on good terms with somebody, it was the captain. She knew she disobeyed the last order, so maybe this little voluntary serving would mellow down any potential punishment. She was about to get the second batch in the kitchen when she heard about the Queen’s request. Was this it? Could this be her opportunity to slay a dragon? Like Latnok said, they weren’t invulnerable. They all had their weaknesses, so if she could find out what it was, not only would she have the pleasure of killing one of those awful beasts, but she would end up saving these poor islanders and proving herself.
“Well, I can do it. I ain’t afraid of no dragon.” she said spunkily, but the minotaur that sparred with her vehemently refused. Everyone in that ship knew she hated dragons. She wasn’t discrete on that particular matter, but the young minotaur, whom she has come to trust enough to tell of her past, knew the reason, and how deep the hatred went.
“No señorita Huntress. You shouldn’t endanger yourself like that.” Maverick pleaded, not wanting a lady to be caught in such a dangerous task. He also knew of Huntress’ hatred towards dragons, so he didn’t want to risk her letting her emotions get the best of her if she met the creature, and he was certain he wasn’t the only one who thought that way.
“Alright... gentleman. Be the knight in shining armor and you do the talking. You are the best on it, aren’t you?” Huntress dared, practically challenging and taunting him at the same time. Maverick flinched, not wanting to do it.

If there was a risk of the Queen being murderous, he certainly didn’t want to be the volunteer. In the past, he would’ve done it almost without thinking to spare everyone else, but things were different now. He had a family. A wife. Children who needed him. And many friends. They would all be devastated if something happened to him. He didn’t want to cause any suffering. Huntress watched in some amusement how much he hesitated, even if she knew why. It wasn’t mere cowardice if he really cared about the beautiful family he had.
“I... I could try. I mean, I have plenty of experience talking, but... señor? How many people have met the Queen?” Maverick suddenly asked, addressing to Alithe. He had to know if people have met her before... and have come alive. He might be friends with a dragon, but that didn’t mean he would blindly trust any of them just like that. Having tolerated his father for many years and being a merchant, he had both humongous patience and a way with words. He really wanted to try, but didn’t want to risk his life.

"How many of us have met the Queen? Most people here have seen her at one time or another," Alithe answered. "Some, such as scribes like me, have to regularly report on how we're doing our duties - how we note people reacting to what she wants us to teach them, or other things of that nature. The enforcers naturally report to her about how well various tasks - such as the preparation of her fish - are going. Anyone who proposes some new technology or something else must first get the approval of the Queen. Besides that, she has many personal slaves - if there's something related to her personal care, if you can name it, she has multiple slaves for it. Many, of course, don't even know they're slaves, and those who start to question too much get taken to her by the enforcers, and are rarely heard from again."
The more Latnok listened, the more apparent it became just how thorough she was with her control of the island. "I think it best if Raclaw goes," Latnok suggested. "I trust him to be tactful, and he will be able to best feel for what to say to the Queen and how to say it. She being a dragon as well, I feel she might naturally get along better with him than she does anyone else. Besides that, I'll remain connected with Raclaw - I can get the information I need during the meeting, I can communicate with him, and the meeting takes a turn for the worse, I'll know immediately, and we can act appropriately."
For Leoquin, it was one thing to know the sort of thing Aelinon fought to free itself from - but this island, if everything he was hearing was accurate, was almost a time capsule of what such a thing entailed. To think that life on the island had continued in such a way for hundreds of years - he could only hope that what he was hearing was an exaggeration, though he didn't have high hopes in that regard.

Risar, wanting to know all possibilities, listened to each suggestion carefully-- even if the Huntress' suggestion sounded like an almost petty attempt to unvolunteer herself, and that was after already showing up late for the meeting. Icestorm's own suggestion (and at least he volunteered) wasn't too bad either and he liked the little dragon, but he had already unconsciously come to agreement with Latnok.. even if they didn't know it.

He knew enough of Raclaw's capabilities and he knew enough to know that Raclaw could act as their eyes and ears. Hell-- he was practically there when Raclaw gave himself to Latnok; and he had even given some advice to Latnok about Raclaw. They had an interesting perspective from one another, one being a former (albeit bipedal) "pet" himself at one point and other now having become the owner to another current pet. And in some ways, Latnok still reminded him of his old master. In a good way.

"Huntress, Maverick, Icestorm-- your suggestions are sound, but I'm going to go with Latnok on this one. Raclaw.," Risar briefly paused as Raclaw gave an approving nod. "Raclaw, given his skill set and what he has with Latnok, is the best choice for this honor. I believe he is the best choice for the position, given everything we know and everything we don't.," the Minotaur captain then said having seemingly made his decision as captain. He looked at Latnok with a nod. And he looked at Raclaw, whom seemed to be in agreement. He trusted in the now mount and rider's abilities.

Maverick appreciated the answer, though he confirmed many things he feared. All those fish, the hard work, it was all the Queen’s doing, and if somebody defied her, being rarely heard from again was pretty self explanatory. He heard Icestorm’s suggestion, but while he did resembled more a dragon than Raclaw himself, his size meant the dragoness will probably not take him seriously. Plus Raclaw was the only real dragon among them.
“Perhaps... yes, it’s the best choice. But señor Raclaw, are you sure? You’re ready to do it?” Maverick asked, not wanting the sweet dragon to endanger himself. He was aware of the connection he and Latnok had, and he was a dragon after all, so maybe he was indeed the best candidate of them all to speak to the Queen.

Huntress said nothing, but nodded in agreement.
“Hope she doesn’t singe that pretty little fur of his. I wonder if he has scales or skin under it all.” she whispered to Maverick very quietly, but her tone of voice was so vague, he didn’t know if it was actual concern, mere curiosity or if she was sort of making fun of the fur dragon. It was so hard reading her sometimes.

"I'm as ready as I'll ever be and they're right-- I'm the best choice. I want to do this.," Raclaw confirmed leaving little doubt in the air. Latnok could confirm his decision if he so desired, he always had the option to say 'no.' One of his favorite qualities about his owner (and best friend).

He had to admit, he didn't know what to expect but he wasn't afraid of danger either. A big part of his 'training' under Latnok was reducing the effect of an trait he had quickly inherited from the Guardian; the tendency to jump head first into danger without thinking about possibility of bodily harm had, ironically, once stripped him of most of his fur. What grew back became slightly coarser and slightly tougher.. and for good reason. He job as an Guardian's mount and ally wasn't one that guaranteed him from harm. And he was okay with that. He didn't choose Latnok to be locked in a big house or pampered to the point of living in a bubble. Part of it was-- the adventure, the excitement, the unknown. It certainly wasn't a boring life.

Maverick wanted to believe it would be as easy as Icestorm said, but if the dragoness has been doing this for a very long time, it’s very probable she wasn’t going to disrupt the way of life she knew so much for a bunch of strangers who just barged into her home.
“Ok. If you say so señor Raclaw. Buena suerte.” Maverick commented, knowing there was nothing he could say or do to avoid these turn of events. The dragoness wanted to see one of them. They were in her home, and if they hoped to save these people from her, the only way to do it was to meet her and find out what they were dealing with here, and there was no better than Raclaw, a fellow dragon, to do precisely that.

Huntress remained silent, a bit disappointed that Maverick wasn’t going. If the beast had to eat somebody, it might as well be him. She knew that would devastate Ilasi and the children (something that she didn’t intend), but the mermaid could always find another man in her life, maybe a merman this time or one the three former pirates. Despite their past, she found them more likable than Maverick, and the fact that no poster of them existed anywhere, as far she knew, meant that their crimes, whatever they were, were nowhere near as great as Maverick’s or his father’s.

"I trust you're not immediately going to poke the hornet's nest per Icestorm's suggestion," Latnok telepathed to Raclaw with a hint of slight annoyance. "Let's not do anything to challenge the Queen's authority just yet."
The queen's messenger looked somewhat perplexed at the choice. "She said 'someone', not... well, I suppose thing are different on the outside," he conceded. "Please, follow me..."
The messenger began leading the way off the ship. The immediate path would show nothing exceptional; the most notable thing would be people hard at work at various tasks, from agriculture to food preparation.

Huntress listened to the messenger and knew where he was going with that. As Raclaw was escorted, she voiced her own concern.
“Well now, let us pray the beast is pleased enough with his presence. She probably expects a human, or a minotaur if she somehow knows about most of the crew already.” she said, not overly concerned but still quite disappointed with the decision. Even if Raclaw was a dragon, or so everyone said, he was likely nothing compared to the enslaving monster. Dragons, or at least most of them, were proud creatures, and Raclaw’s appearance could be an insult to the Queen, that is assuming she managed to associate his species with something close to her own. Maverick realized she made some sense, but he was still convinced Raclaw was the best choice. Icestorm wasn’t a dragon, and he was too small, not to mention he had the fame of being reckless. It got him kicked out of the Enduring Legacy all those years ago, so it was better if he stayed here. He wished he could’ve gone himself and spare Raclaw the dangerous moment, but he didn’t want to endanger his own life. He had people that needed him back home.

Quote: A Guy

"I trust you're not immediately going to poke the hornet's nest per Icestorm's suggestion," Latnok telepathed to Raclaw with a hint of slight annoyance. "Let's not do anything to challenge the Queen's authority just yet."
The queen's messenger looked somewhat perplexed at the choice. "She said 'someone', not... well, I suppose thing are different on the outside," he conceded. "Please, follow me..."
The messenger began leading the way off the ship. The immediate path would show nothing exceptional; the most notable thing would be people hard at work at various tasks, from agriculture to food preparation.

"Agreed.," Raclaw telepathed back as he allowed himself to be led. He let the comment about him being a 'thing' go for now, so as to not immediately poke the hornet's nest per Latnok's own words. He watched the various peoples at work as they walked and a part of him wondered-- was this 'lifestyle' what it was like for humans before their various wars and methods of controlling/partially taming dragons? He had visited the museum and he had heard stories of the past, but he had never actually seen such a scene in person. He wondered what the so-called dragon queen would think of him, of his being a dragon albeit a very different dragon of his willingness to work and even be collared by humans. They already knew she had her own servants, but none of them were her own kind. No matter, he would find out in due time...

"So--," he began to ask. "How many people do you have here on New Shiavara?," he asked partly to distract himself and partly out of curiosity/to gather information. He made sure to observe everything he possibly could, such as what kind of weapons the 'regular' inhabitants had at their disposure and what the overall level of magic/technology appeared to be. "You know-- this place almost reminds me of somewhere I once lived, I've seen the ins and out of agriculture albeit on a much smaller scale than what you have here. It's actually quite impressive, and the manpower you have here would increase your gains tenfold I would I imagine.," the Fur Dragon complimented and compared the operation to that of his old caretakers; back when life was 'simpler.'

"How many people?" the islander repeated. "I, uh, I believe it's over one thousand. That's my best estimate, anyway. The Queen says that we shouldn't worry about such details. The scribes probably know exactly how many we have. That sort of knowledge is their responsibility."
The plants grown around the island were species which were not typically seen on most of Galadar, being adapted to a more tropical environment. "The Queen needs much in exchange for her blessing and protection, so we all have to work hard to provide it to her," the islander continued. "We each do our part, and in exchange, we survive here in spite of everything going on outside. Hard work and dedication are what you need to survive in this world."
The islander led Raclaw towards the center of the island, up the rugged, inclined terrain, into a sizable opening in the face of a rock wall. Heat emanated from within - given no obvious smoke, the source was probably not a burning fire, but potentially something else.

Maverick watched with worry as Raclaw disappeared with the messenger. He dreaded to think what’ll happen. Although he, Raclaw and Latnok have faced much worse. He couldn’t let his optimism slip away. That was not him. Huntress watch with some amusement how worried he was.
“Worried about the dragon? Or the other one? Always worried, aren’t you? I know you’re friends with the Scourge of Redwater, and also a troll. You’re like a dread magnet, aren’t you?” Huntress taunted, with Maverick not getting angry but still slightly annoyed.
“Escucha señorita, I don’t know what you have against dragons or me, but...” he started saying, but he saw Huntress leaving.
“I’m sorry, can’t stay. I have a second batch of snacks to serve.” she said, suddenly remembering that the minotaur cook had a second batch ready for the reunion. She has completely forgotten, but conveniently remembered again when she needed an excuse to leave and not have any conversation with Maverick.

The faun man could only sigh as she left, not believing there was a second batch and that Huntress made up an excuse out of the blue to avoid him. It was pretty clear that she hated him. But was it truly because of him? Or his father? He really wanted to make amends, but how could he if Huntress kept avoiding him and he still didn’t know exactly what happened to her to make her resent him so much? But he couldn’t force her into a conversation, so he could only wait for something or someone to mellow her down and let her give him a chance. As Huntress left with the trays, Maverick continued looking at the horizon, feeling very sorry for the people working hard, and for the Queen to some degree, whom he didn’t want to believe was evil.

Quote: A Guy

"How many people?" the islander repeated. "I, uh, I believe it's over one thousand. That's my best estimate, anyway. The Queen says that we shouldn't worry about such details. The scribes probably know exactly how many we have. That sort of knowledge is their responsibility."
The plants grown around the island were species which were not typically seen on most of Galadar, being adapted to a more tropical environment. "The Queen needs much in exchange for her blessing and protection, so we all have to work hard to provide it to her," the islander continued. "We each do our part, and in exchange, we survive here in spite of everything going on outside. Hard work and dedication are what you need to survive in this world."
The islander led Raclaw towards the center of the island, up the rugged, inclined terrain, into a sizable opening in the face of a rock wall. Heat emanated from within - given no obvious smoke, the source was probably not a burning fire, but potentially something else.

Raclaw wasn't surprised when the islander wasn't able to answer his question in a precise manner-- if knowledge was power, these people were truly powerless. And it had become more clear that fish wasn't the only thing the queen was taking and demanding from these people; seemingly *everything* went to the queen with presumingly just enough left for her 'workers' to survive another day. Those few 'lucky' individuals presented with slightly more honorable roles presumingly had access to slightly more, but.. just slightly. Or at least, that remained his general impression of the overall situation.

He thought back to his own childhood-- his original caretakers (a term he now substituted for 'guardians' now being in the presence of the actual 'Guardians') weren't perfect and had initially brought him up like a dog or canine-like creature, training him in the usual manner and occasionally taking greater precautions while he learned how to use and not use his claws. They did not consider declawing or neutering an option, fortunately for him. Once Julian had gotten involved (having secretly 'given' him) and explained to them what exactly he was, he was presented with a slightly broader perspective. He still had his canine roots, but was given more options and more freedom within the farm/town/surrounding area in which he resided. He recalled the day the town invited him to partake in their 'human' sports despite him definitely not being human. But that wasn't the point-- they recognized that he was sentient, was *more*, and such was capable of more. Now that he thought about it-- having his tail artifact would've been a great deal of help, neglecting the need for a specially-made racket. He recalled how Julian had also attempted to teach him to write, but alas no specialty tool could be made for him.

As Raclaw was led through the smokeless heat (perhaps borrowing from/similar to Guardian tech?), he briefly pondered his next question. "Has the queen ever permitted people to leave-- either for trading purposes or for information gathering? Has anyone asked to leave before?," he then asked turning his question into two questions. He suspected he already knew the answer and that if the answer surprised him, that the islander would be unable to answer with specific dates or specific names. Such answers would not be widespread, even if they were true. Or so he presumed based off everything he had heard so far about New Shiavara. At least when he left his 'home'-- they had allowed him the opportunity even if only to end up 'owned' under different circumstances. Did these people even have a chance to leave, setting aside the fact that most of them couldn't read or write (and thus would be at a major disadvantage)? The 'technology' to make a boat was simple compared to everything else societies had achieved, but they had to *ask* to make anything.

"Leave?! Anyone who wants to leave is insane!" the islander said in shock. "No one would know where to go, anyway. Any land is too far for anyone here to find in any of the watercraft we have. Perhaps now that you are here, you will come to understand the sanctuary this place is compared to where you are from. Maybe the Queen will explain things to you once you talk to her..."
As they entered deeper, one could see that, despite the area being within the mountain, there were several places within the walls that were broken open in order to allow the entry of light. The islander guided Raclaw through an open pathway, leading up to a hallway with a thick indentation in the ground, and a pulley device past it, featuring an iron chain. The Queen waited in the chamber immediately below. Though she wasn't immediately visible, the smell of a dragon would be hard for anyone with a sharper sense of smell to miss, and her mental presence would be highly apparent to Raclaw, reflecting a mix of curiosity, impatience... and anxiety.
"You're going to want to step clear past that spot you see on the ground, and then pull the chain so that the door in the ceiling drops... uh, you can do that... right? Operate the chain?" the islander asked nervously. "The door can only be operated on one side, and the Queen does not want any of us to be present for the meeting." His main thoughts were about not wanting to be seen as failing in his duties, for bringing this seeming "animal" to the Queen in lieu of a person, and having to be there because said animal couldn't work the pulley. However, given that this creature could talk just fine, perhaps things weren't as whimsical as they seemed.

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Though she wasn't immediately visible, the smell of a dragon would be hard for anyone with a sharper sense of smell to miss, and her mental presence would be highly apparent to Raclaw, reflecting a mix of curiosity, impatience... and anxiety.
"You're going to want to step clear past that spot you see on the ground, and then pull the chain so that the door in the ceiling drops... uh, you can do that... right? Operate the chain?" the islander asked nervously.

"Yes-- I can operate the chain. You don't have to worry about me.," Raclaw responded in a somewhat insulted tone. How was it that Aelinon of all places treated him more like an actual person than here, a land was supposedly supposed to be a refuge for lost and discarded souls? He soon positioned himself in place and-- partly to show that he wasn't some mere 'animal' or beast to be someone's burden --used his tail artifact to pull the chain, all while not even lifting a paw. He was no mere helpless pet, even if applicable laws dictated him to be one. The sentient pet, an true irony. And one irony he was proud to be.

The scent and mental presence of the anxious dragon hadn't been unnoticed on Raclaw's part, but it hasn't exactly been a secret from the start either. And she could clearly smell him by now as well. It was time to meet the queen...

As Raclaw operated the pulley, the thick, metal door would descend with a thud. The pathway was dimly lit with torches, slowly inclining downward in a spiral. After several circles, it would expand into a widely open room, with holes broken in the walls to allow light to enter, like other places. The steam exhausting from some parts was evident of geothermal heating. This room seemed to be rather plain, with some pillars to support the weight of the area above despite the massive section caved out. A large pathway on the other side indicated a space even further down.
Most importantly, there was the massive, unmistakable creature currently present and waiting - the grey-scaled "Queen", Kesivara, currently standing. Latnok and Alithe were not making an understatement when they commented on her size - she was at least several times the size of the Scourge of Redwater. Despite her bulk, her wings were less defined for her size than they were on many other dragons - which Latnok suspected was likely as a result of disuse. As Raclaw entered the chamber, she ominously trained her gaze on him.
"So you are the 'big winged fur creature' I was told about..." she started, with a hint of disappointment. "It seems you travelers are not from Galadar, then, but some other land? What are you, and what are those you travel with? I can only surmise minotaurs from descriptions of 'bulky, hoofed, talking bipedal creatures with horns', and can make little of the descriptions of the others." The Queen maintained her incessant glare as she asked her question, as if demanding an answer.

Raclaw looked up at the massive creature and, despite their size difference, attempted to speak in a calm and collective manner. "I-- I am a Fur Dragon and we hale from Aelinon, a large country within Galadar. It was founded many years ago and has flourished since, holding within it a wide variety of species and peoples. We weren't all born there, but it acts as a hub and as a port-- allowing us to take part in this voyage of exploration. My horned traveling companions, as you so cleverly surmised, are indeed Minotaurs and your description is quite befitting of them.," he paused ever so slightly. From what he gathered from seeing the queen, she made little use of her wings unlike his own. The benefit to being a mount; plenty of exercise and flight time.

"My other companions comprise of Humans, a Human/Fawn Hybrid, a Merfolk, a Dwarf Kaiju, and an Canine of the Beagle variety. We have come in search of something, of someone rather-- of family. Family lost to two of us long long ago. We believe that we may find them somewhere out here on one of the islands of the archipelago.," Raclaw then spoke carefully choosing his words. He perhaps said more than he needed to, but he figured that the queen would sooner ask for their purpose or reason for being there. He hoped his answers were at least satisfactory.

Kesivara's look changed from one of curiosity to one of disgust when she heard where the travelers were from. "So... a 'fur dragon' is it? From Aelinon..." she answered, not bothering to hide her contempt - though beyond her confident outward appearance was well-concealed panic and dread. "I've seen fur dragons before - rare. They wisely sought to avoid fighting. However, they were nothing like you. You wear a collar not unlike what I've known humans to put on their dogs, and have features that resemble their dogs more than any of the fur dragons I've ever seen. Coming here on their behalf... do they have you track down game for them to kill, as well? Fetch them the carcasses after a clean arrow, getting a treat after you're done? Or is that what the beagle is for?"
Kesivara gave a small chuckle, that nevertheless filled the room as a result of her stature. "Just like a dog! Tell me, were you bred like one, too? Picked from the most docile fur dragons, the least capable of putting up a fight? The product of two selected dragons shoved into a cage with nothing to pass the time but each other, while some humans or mermen watch to make sure everything is going as planned? If that is what dragons have degenerated into, then it is a vindication of everything I've established here." Kesivara looked eagerly at Raclaw, anticipating his own defense, eager to see what he was.

As Latnok relayed what he was witnessing, Alithe helped provide a little more information.
"The chamber beyond that is the Queen's so-called 'private chamber', though it is much less so than the one the two are meeting in right now," he explained. "It is similarly set up with pillars - it also has spots for a bath, drinking, and the like. A big crater to pour large amounts of wine or beer in, if the Queen is in the mood for drinking. Most dragons are not adapted to alcohol like the relatively more omnivorous species, so she does not need much to get drunk." Alithe had already noted that he wouldn't be around for too much longer, as he had to prepare a report to the Queen - he urged a meeting with some of the group later, at night.
Latnok considered it - and it did make sense that dragons would not be heavy drinkers. Although alcohol evidently wasn't as lethal to them as other animals, they would be considered lightweights by the standard of most sapient, omnivorous bipeds. After all, they would not have adapted nearly as much to eating anything fermented. Raclaw, however, was a clear exception - which indicated that fur dragons generally ate more plants.

Huntress came back to the meeting room with the second batch of snacks, distributing them starting from the captain this time. So she wasn’t lying at least. Despite his concerns for Raclaw, Maverick remained quiet, really wishing this dragoness wasn’t too bad. She was enslaving people, but what if it was simply the life she knew? He knew he was thinking naively, but when he signed up for this voyage, the last thing he wanted was for him and the rest of this beloved crew to face yet another giant creature and have their lives in danger once more. He was really hoping that after the Ishulgite attack, things would be easier, with the occasional wildlife battling maybe, but not... this. Huntress would see him whenever she had to amuse herself, if only to distract herself from her momentary waitress job...

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Kesivara's look changed from one of curiosity to one of disgust when she heard where the travelers were from. "So... a 'fur dragon' is it? From Aelinon..." she answered, not bothering to hide her contempt - though beyond her confident outward appearance was well-concealed panic and dread. "I've seen fur dragons before - rare. They wisely sought to avoid fighting. However, they were nothing like you. You wear a collar not unlike what I've known humans to put on their dogs, and have features that resemble their dogs more than any of the fur dragons I've ever seen. Coming here on their behalf... do they have you track down game for them to kill, as well? Fetch them the carcasses after a clean arrow, getting a treat after you're done? Or is that what the beagle is for?"
Kesivara gave a small chuckle, that nevertheless filled the room as a result of her stature. "Just like a dog! Tell me, were you bred like one, too? Picked from the most docile fur dragons, the least capable of putting up a fight? The product of two selected dragons shoved into a cage with nothing to pass the time but each other, while some humans or mermen watch to make sure everything is going as planned? If that is what dragons have degenerated into, then it is a vindication of everything I've established here." Kesivara looked eagerly at Raclaw, anticipating his own defense, eager to see what he was.

"Actually--," Raclaw began to speak considering his words. "I was found, not bred-- at least not by these humans. The Ishulgite, I was saved from them. By humans. They had never even seen my kind before and yet.. they saved me. Had they not delivered my egg from that hellhole, I would've never had the chance to live anything close to a normal life. I would've never had the chance to develop, to learn how to read, or to even speak the common tongue. Humans, these humans-- they gave me that opportunity. And when they offered to set sail with me on an journey to find my own parents or even a single member of my own kind, I said yes. I had neither the resources or the money to pay for such a voyage, but they offered anyway. And I said yes. Humans wanted to help me. Humans wanted to help the only known Fur Dragon in existence and.. I said yes.," the Fur Dragon spoke seemingly not ashamed of his past. He could sense contempt, but he could also sense something else. 'Fear? Panic? Dread?,' he thought as he processed the emotions. Was Kesivara.. afraid? Afraid of being found perhaps or perhaps of even being hunted down and killed? The queen clearly did not like the sound of outsiders finding her.

"My collar--," Raclaw began again placing a paw upon the bandana-wrapped loop of sturdy leather. "It serves as a symbol of the bond I share between myself and one of these humans. During this long journey.. we looked, we failed, and we began to grow close. We started to work together, we started to fight together, and we started to grow. Together.," he removed his paw from the collar and placed it back on the solid ground below him. "This bandana, my tail artifact-- they were gifts.," Raclaw lifted his tail and briefly activated his 'spikes'.. their gold appearance perhaps giving away that they were technically fake; an artificial replacement for something his species once lost. "And when we were offered the chance to set sail again and look for the very thing which I still desired, *we* said yes. We see and we treat each another as equals-- neither one of us considering ourselves above or below that of the other. A dragon and an human, working together-- as equals. When was the last time you heard of that?," he then asked posing a possibly controversial question upon the queen. He wasn't afraid to admit that he was collared, the queen had already seen it anyway. And he wasn't afraid to admit that he was bonded with a human, the collar serving as a powerful symbol of such an act. He only hoped the queen saw the good in his explanation and not the bad.

"...is that what the humans have convinced you of?" Kesivara asked rhetorically, not buying what she was being told. She certainly wasn't expecting the fur dragon to so readily confirm what she had suspected. "Humans saved your egg - when they wouldn't have hesitated to smash a dragon egg before. And why should they have? We were a threat to them. But you - your breed would be useful to them."
Kesivara shook her head. "You don't even have the pride of other dragons. Perhaps that is a good thing. Other dragons were determined to fight that war to the bitter end - out of a 'dragon's sense of pride' or the like, they called it. Stupidity is what I'd call it. I heard the wail of the banshee. The cracks had already shown in the Empire.
"Dragonkind went from being a force of nature to being a force that could be matched and undermined. Over time, rebels were only improving their capabilities. They learned - created - more and more advanced magic. And the technology on top of that - over time, the rebels went from being unable to harm us with their bows at our normal altitude, to being able to skewer us with giant arrows from hidden machines before we even saw them. Once dragons could not show up freely on the battlefield, the integrity of the orc leaders they supported would begin to falter. The rebels were getting stronger, and the Empire was fragmenting and becoming more desperate as food from human agriculture was vanishing.
"Even if we had stopped that rebellion, the damage had already been done - the desperation of the Empire was already plain to see, the magic and technology already discovered. Even if we won, we would have no answer for the inevitable famine, and there would be little to stop another major rebellion from finishing the job."
Kesivara gave a long, wistful sigh. "So I left, skipping the orc middlemen and directing humans and mermen to create a sanctuary. To the inhabitants of this island - New Shiavara - there is no possible better living than this place. In the end, as long as everyone here is happy, there is nothing wrong with them believing that. To try to convince them otherwise would be to destroy their happiness for no more reason than your own sense of morality, and that would not be fair to them. Maybe the ship should stay awhile, so you people can see that things aren't as bad as your first impression might be." Kesivara spoke calmly and confidently, but behind all that was the lingering panic and anxiety, as she was at a loss for what to do in this situation.

As Raclaw listened, he could still sense the dragon queen's fear. And he couldn't blame her-- she knew her history and she knew of the Void Breaker/Void Locator even if she did not directly know their names. What she spoke of confirmed much of what they knew about the history between man and dragon, from the rebellions to the famines. And in a way, she was almost right-- Raclaw's breed being 'useful'.. accurate. Raclaw resembling more of a dog than a dragon.. possibly quite accurate. They knew or at least suspected his breed had once had spikes and a stronger flame, but what else was he missing?

His horns were not in a ideal arrangement for easy combat purposes and he had a clear weakness to electricity (and thus shock collars). Perhaps those traits were once altered to suit another's purpose. And his 'job'-- was it a bad thing to have a purpose? And was getting occasionally rewarded for your efforts really all that bad? Latnok took care of him and in turn, he took care of Latnok. They both served their purposes, their *roles.* And together, they were more than the sum of their parts. Their were a team, a family even. And was that really a bad thing, a dragon and a human working together?

"You know your history--," Raclaw began to speak again. "What you don't know is after the conflicts and the war, some humans and dragons tried to work with one another, rather than against. My human and I, we are part of an organization whose leader ultimately strides for peace between man and dragon. Latnok and I, we found one another independently of the Guardians. I was alone at the time-- I was alone and at times starving. He helped me, he helped give me a purpose, and together...," Raclaw paused. "Together-- we help others and not just humans. We, Latnok and I, have created a sort of sanctuary of our own. We have created a place where humans and creatures can learn to help one another. We work side by side to hopefully create a better future for everyone, my kind included. Every decision we make is a partnership, a friendship. I believe you would find our work quite.. admirable even. We seek peace in our own way, in the spirit of cooperation. And you seek peace in your own way, in isolation and protection from the outside world. We are not here to conquer. And.. and perhaps you're right. Perhaps my people could use the rest. I will have to talk with them, discuss options.," he then suggested.

Kesivara's eyes widened very slightly. "These things you say are quite peculiar, compared to what I know of the world before we left," she said. "Please, stay awhile; let your allies know that I will try to make sure they are treated with as much hospitality as we reasonably can provide. I am no threat to you, so no need to run away; take the opportunity to relax."
Kesivara began to turn around. "We may discuss more tomorrow; and I'm sure there will be much you wish to discuss amongst yourselves. I'll see you later, then."

"I will-- thank you.," Raclaw responded offering a slight bow out of respect. As he soon turned to leave himself, he was surprised that.. he did it? And if the queen's words were true, then perhaps it couldn't hurt to stay a little while longer. Risar's crew, minotaurs or not, surely wouldn't mind the R & R. And Chester would sure be glad to be back on land. "That was-- impressive.," a voice could be heard in his head-- the voice of Damon. "Thank you.," Raclaw responded in his thoughts as he backtracked his way to the exit.

After distributing the snacks, Huntress helped herself for one as well, but only managed two bites since they were so terrible. Minotaur palate was outrageous! Maverick waited from a corner to see through a window, waiting what other news Latnok gave about Raclaw’s progress. Finding it pathetic, Huntress approached him.
“I seriously don’t know what you’re worried about. Why do you think they sent a dragon after the other one? Cause none of them matter. If the fluffy one can survive and find a weakness, then good, but if they kill each other, then better. Their lives won’t matter. Nobody will miss those awful beasts once they’re finally extinct.” Huntress said coldly, knowing that Latnok was too focused on his connection with Raclaw to pay attention. Plus they were both a few feet away having the conversation. But even if he did manage to hear, she didn’t care. The man already seemed to hate her anyway.

Despite the harsh words, Maverick kept his cool.
“Why do you hate dragons so much? Not all are bad you know. I’m friends with one.” Maverick said, not going into detail, but Huntress already knew whom he meant.
“The Scourge of Redwater. Yes. I know. You and that awful troll are friends with the spider dragon. Makes sense. All those extra legs... nasty. I don’t know why king Seraos hasn’t executed him yet. All those dead people. Families destroyed forever.” she said angrily, remembering her own past. Maverick remained calm, but was slightly frustrated.
“That was an accident, and he’s willing to pay for it! He knows he can’t undo what he did, but he’s trying his best.” he insisted, but Huntress put a hand on his mouth.
“I don’t believe you! That was no accident! Dragons are naturally evil! This fluffy one is friends with a Guardian cause only someone like him can control him, and because he’s not a real dragon! Fur? That pathetic size? It’s sad! And this! Just look at this island! All these people enslaved! Forced to work to keep her fed instead of hunting to get her own food like any real animal! Killing those they displease her! I think the old man explained that clear enough! And besides, even if the Scourge’s action was indeed an accident, well, doesn’t that just show how dangerous dragons are? If they kill without meaning it, imagine when on a rampage! And that is IF you’re right and it was indeed an accident!” Huntress pointed out, no dragon ever showing her a reason to NOT hate them. She despised everything about them.

Maverick knew that all that hatred had to come from somewhere. Was it because of what Shade did? It seemed to go deeper than that. Did she lose someone in that explosion? However, he didn’t want to dwell on the matter and risk putting more salt to whatever wound was there.
“Dragons are just big, with power that can damage, but that doesn’t mean they’re evil. I was with Osc... Shade. The... Scourge for months, and he never hurt me! It was just that, an unfortunate accident, cause we were forcefully separated. Señor Raclaw is good because he wants to, not because he’s being controlled! As for the dragoness here... maybe, she’s disabled or something and needs the people? Perhaps this is the only way of life she knows. But if she sees we mean her no harm if she doesn’t either, things can be different.” Maverick said, full of optimism.

Huntress paused for a while... and snickered. How could someone with Maverick’s way of thinking possibly exist? If he was faking everything like she believed he did, he was clearly the best actor she has ever seen.
“Oh my. Now that’s... that’s cute. Life she knows? Disabled? Hah! Is that the best you can do? Boy, you are trying too hard. If only you were the one visiting the dragoness instead of that big dog with wings. Maybe if you have a few teeth stabbing you, you’d feel different.” Huntress taunted, feeling sorry for Maverick’s naivety, that is IF he was being genuine. Maverick blushed in extreme embarrassment, feeling humiliated. He felt like Huntress was treating him like an ignorant little boy. If only there was something he could do to prove her wrong and get that big tongue in check...

Maverick was working on something to say to Huntress, but Icestorm beat him to it. While Huntress didn’t have a volatile reaction, she clenched her fist, almost as if she was strangling an invisible neck.
“You again!? Didn’t your mother ever taught you it’s rude to interrupt private conversations?” Huntress scolded, Icestorm not winning any points with her. First he dislikes her at first sight just like Latnok, now he had the audacity to butt into a conversation that is not meant for him. Even though Huntress wasn’t being violent and not moving too much, Maverick could feel the heat of the tension coming from her. It made him feel uncomfortable.

Huntress remained calm, but her frown indicated her anger quite clearly.
“First of all, Orion is no dragon! He’s a deity, and anyone educated enough knows they can change appearance at will! A dragon is just the one he uses the most, or am I wrong?” she asked with a smug air, not having believed in deities at first even though she was taught at a school about them. But she didn’t let Icestorm answer that question and continued.
“Second, first you say you are not a dragon, now you say you’re part of it? Third, why shouldn’t I want dragons to suffer and die... when that’s EXACTLY what one did to my family!? The Scourge of Redwater killed many people too! The furry one is controlled by a Guardian! And YOU, you’re a rude little imp who judge people immediately and can’t help butt into other people’s conversation! And of course, let’s not forget THIS island! The dragoness who enslaves people and kill those who displease her or burst the bubble of lies she has implanted on them. Or what? You’re going to tell me that’s not evil? Just asking, now that you insist so much on being in this chat!” Huntress asked, with a more forceful voice but with her body still relaxed.

So that was it? She lost her family to a dragon? She didn’t specify it was Shade, so she must be talking about another dragon. Now Maverick was beginning to understand where the hatred was coming from. That dragon, Shade’s accident, the Queen’s regime here, no wonder she was getting such a bad view of them. Such a beautiful woman Huntress was, yet she was so full of hatred and bitterness. And then there was whatever his father or him did to her, but he didn’t know yet. He gave a begging look to Icestorm, wanting him to choose his next words carefully. She was angry enough as it was. He didn’t want anybody to make things worse. It made him sad how such a young and pretty woman like Huntress could have so much anger inside.

As Latnok reported Raclaw's dismissal, Alithe gave a farewell. The Queen was going to ask for a report, and he had to be prepared. He had made arrangements for a meeting at his home at night. In the meantime, taking the Queen up on her suggestion seemed a very reasonable idea.
While waiting for Raclaw to return, Latnok briefed the others - those who hadn't gotten distracted from the meeting.
"So yeah - Kesivara is very big," he explained. "Not to the point of being invulnerable to our weapons, but she is dangerous, and I don't want to fight without a team of specialists."
"Well, that makes sense," Leoquin said. "Merfolk on this island... ugh, I probably should've asked Alithe about them. It's a slim chance, but it's possible the currents might've brought some here - some who might have leads."
"Possibly, I guess. I'd temper your hopes, though," Latnok said.
"Don't worry, I'm not counting on any miracles," Leoquin replied. "Besides that, maybe I'll do a bit of exploration today, and map what I can of this area."

As Kesivara returned to her lower quarters, her mind raced. She had stayed hidden for centuries... but, by chance, outsiders happened to find her, while looking for something else. Outsiders who, at the very least, traveled from Aelinon (if they didn't all live there.)
There would obviously be some conflicting values... but what would happen once they left? The island would no longer be unknown to anyone - and outsiders would be free to plan accordingly, if they decided that her island could not be allowed to stand.
Settling down in the wide, heated pool, Kesivara tried to relax, as her workers groomed her scales. What could be done? What if she could convince the travelers to avoid revealing the island? Or, what if she could convince them to stay?

Huntress ignored Icestorm once Latnok started talking, but a small scowl did show she heard what he said. Still, she was glad Latnok talked to get out of that conversation, It was refreshing to hear a fight was being planned, but it was disappointing to hear they probably weren’t going to do it themselves. She knew Guardians were specialized in slaying dangerous creatures, especially dragons, but just one Guardian with ridiculous pets and a crew that had no experience with dragon slaying weren’t the best team to go against one of those beasts. Very big didn’t say much about the dragon’s actual size, but it must be something quite miraculous to have a show-off Guardian think twice about battling it. If only there was a weak point they could exploit and kill the dragon immediately. She wanted to have the honors.

Maverick however, was very worried. Did the Queen said something that made Latnok believe a fight was in order? Dragons were such magnificent creatures. Plus he was friends with one. True, she has killed people if Alithe was to be believed and everyone was practically enslaved, but he still wanted to believe it was because it was the life she knew rather than believe he was doing it for the evil. It pained him to think that killing her was the only way to free and bring these people peace.
“How is señor Raclaw? She didn’t hurt him, did she?” she asked, wondering how the fur dragon was doing right now. Once he comes back, he would have to ask details about the meeting. It wasn’t the same having Latnok explain their conversation than having the one who experiences it in the flesh telling it.

It wasn't long until Raclaw had reached the level-and-door system and allowed its mechanical mechanisms to lift him to where the islander prior was presumably waiting for him... or perhaps not. "So you return.," the islander's voice could be heard just as he almost came into view. "Yes-- I return.," Raclaw responded with a neutral tone. "I presume our Queen has properly explained things to you?," the islander asked in a somewhat mocking tone. "She has offered my crew and I the chance to stay awhile, to give my people some much needed R & R.," the Fur Dragon then responded. "Good, good-- perhaps you and your people will see that our sanctuary works. Do you need me to lead you back or can you walk yourself?," the islander than asked once again mocking the collared dragon. "I can find my own way back. Thank you.," Raclaw simply responded offering a slight nod before continuing onwards.

It seemingly didn't matter with this particular islander, it wasn't that he was a dragon (unlike most places prior) and it wasn't that he wore a collar. No-- it was because he was a thing rather than a person. Perhaps not having (not that he had the option anymore) the collar would've helped slightly, but he very much doubted it. It mattered not; the bandana was never meant to fully hide the collar but rather to present it in a different light. It was supposed to represent that yes he was technically a pet (an companion), but also much much more. It was a symbol of friendship and that Latnok wasn't just some 'master' or owner to him. He recognized that fact, it wasn't lost to him that Latnok was legally his owner. It simply didn't matter, it wasn't the point. As for the islander-- it was the simple 'fact' that he was a quadruped rather than a biped, thus he was an "animal" and thus he was not "a person" no matter his life choices. Collar or no collar, owner or no owner, fur or no fur... none of it would've mattered. And he wouldn't want to hide who/what he was anyway.

As he began to approach the ship, Latnok would no doubt sense that he was getting close again. The 'spying' as some might call it wasn't necessary for such things-- they naturally felt one another's presence and more based off the passive effects of their bond alone. Besides, Chester's barking would soon give him anyway. "Raclaw-- you're back!," the little Beagle barked running up to him as he stepped foot onto the Raging Serpent. "Yes yes, I'm back. And no worse for the wear.," Raclaw said with a smile and an ever so slight nuzzle with the small canine. Indeed, Raclaw seemingly looked physically unharmed. "Welcome back.," Risar greeted with a slight grunt and a nod. "How does that work, anyway? Your bond or connection or whatever that allows you two to see one another?," an Minotaur with a slightly broken left horn asked. Notably, a few onboard (although not too many) had incomplete horns. Another had what looked like a partly artificial horn, as if part of it had been replaced by metal. Only one notable example was missing their horns entirely-- that of the cook, whose horns appeared to be cleanly sliced off just at the base. No-one on board seemed to question it, perhaps out of respect or pity.

Despite Maverick's worry, Latnok was not fretting about Raclaw's safety, having been able to remain connected with him throughout the ordeal. After all, if Raclaw was in danger, Latnok wouldn't have remained on the ship.
"It involves very strong telepathy," Latnok explained to the minotaur, "as well as a strong sense of familiarity. Magic. It was a bigger learning process for me than him - telepathy comes innately to him, but it's a learned ability for me."
Leoquin could only imagine how much something like that would be useful - being able to tell where his family was, anywhere he was.
"So yeah - I don't think most of us are on board with the whole slavery deal," Latnok said, "but we have to play this smart. The Queen doesn't seem to be a threat to us right now, so we'll just rest here, and avoid rocking the boat. In the meantime, we'll see what we can learn. We'll take notes, and the Ardent Guardians will decide on a course of action once I get back and inform them of everything. Besides that, Raclaw certainly has things to share, so let's hear him." As Latnok remained focused on the mission at hand, he remained cognizant of Huntress. She was already proving to be quite problematic, and Latnok considered whether it wouldn't be safer to just leave her here...

Maverick didn’t need an answer once Raclaw entered the ship. Like the beagle, he was happy to see him, and came to greet him.
“Hola señor Raclaw. So glad you’ve come back. You’ve gotta let me know later how the meeting went. I want to know all about this Queen.” he said, curious on how a dragon from an island would look like. Latnok said she meant no harm to them, but that could quickly change. It would be rather easy to just burn down the ship and strand them there, so it was better to just keep on her good side. While he doubted Huntress would be stupid enough to try visiting the Queen herself, it was still better to keep an eye on her, given her deep hatred for dragons. Fortunately, Huntress was smart enough to know that wouldn’t be a good course of action, and she rather have others weaken the beast first. She knew how to play it safe, which is how she has managed to stay alive all this time, especially with a job as dangerous as bounty hunting. Despite not greeting Raclaw directly, she acknowledged his presence with a small smile and hand wave, wanting to show that despite what everyone likely thought about her, she had manners.

Back in the mainland, Angora gave a wide smile and jumped in happiness as soon as Julian appeared through those doors. He was done with whatever business he had at the volcano-like forge, and he was finally returning to the base.
“Hey Julian. Sir. I... have the rest of the day free. We can... spend some time together maybe? I can help you with jobs. Errands. It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other.” Angora said as she walked alongside him, not wanting to talk about what happened in the wyvern pens. He would find out sooner or later anyway. The Guardian that kept an eye on her was relieved that he was finally free of babysitting the little beast, but it was funny, bizarre even, how a troll seemed to idolize a Guardian so much. He gave a small thumbs up to Julian, silently congratulating him for managing to tame a troll of all animals, even if this one was just a baby, a rather smart one given her great ability to talk and even do magic. Most trolls spoke little, with long pauses and in third person.

Angora was an unexpected visitor - but Julian would not object to her company. "If you would sincerely prefer not to rest, then an extra hand in the lab would not be unwelcome," he said in acceptance of her offer. Though he thought it would behoove Angora to rest, he hunderstood that some people always wanted to keep occupied in a meaningful way. "While we are working, I suppose it would be a good opportunity to acquaint each other with how we have been faring." As he spoke, Julian dismissed the other Guardian with a hand gesture.

Angora was pleasantly surprised that Julian was so willing to accept her presence in the lab. There were a few times the work he was doing was dangerous and didn’t want her to get in harm’s way. It could’ve also been because he was afraid she would get in the way but was too nice to say so. Nevertheless, whatever the work, it was going to be better than being locked up in her room, bored and feeling miserable for what happened. She politely waved goodbye to the Guardian that watched her, shocking him quite a bit but not making a huge deal of it afterwards. Angora truly seemed to transform her behavior when Julian was around.
“Sure. Yeah. Great! That’s a good idea!” she said, Julian not being the talkative type, but she imagined not seeing her in a while made him miss her.

While she wasn’t planning to tell Julian about the incident right now, Angora decided to tell him something else first.
“It’s... well, we might as well enjoy the moment while it lasts. I’m not sure if you already know, but I got another job offer, so I might leave in a few months. A scientist named Draikon offered me a position. Not sure if you heard about him. He seems... nice enough. It would be a huge break from this hard job I hope. I’m still not entirely certain though. The last thing I want to do is hurt Veris. He has bonded with me a bit too much.” Angora explained, gaining a whole new level of respect for the wyvern for saving her life, but at the same time making her decision even harder. Even if he still resented her a little for leaving, it was calming to think that he still loved her enough to put himself in harm’s way for her sake.

Raclaw nodded at Latnok's explanation of their bond. It was accurate-- at least as accurate as most needed to know. "Latnok is right-- there is much to share.," the fur dragon spoke as he began. Most of the crew gathered around or at least kept within ear's distance. Chester sat next to Latnok and just so happened to be conveniently within petting range.

"To start-- the dragon queen, Kesivara, is massive... at least several times the size of who most of you know as the Scourge.," he briefly projected a flash image to those who were listening. He would've said Shade's true name, but knew that most didn't know it anyway. "The queen resides in a underground 'lair', a chamber with a spiral pathway and pulley-levy system to allow individuals to enter or leave. Geothermal heating is evident throughout, the idea perhaps primal or perhaps borrowed from the outside world. She didn't hurt me, didn't even touch me. From what I could gather, Queen Kesivara wasn't expecting us or anyone to find New Shiavara-- I could sense lingering panic and anxiety, as if she was at a loss for what to do in this situation.," he briefly sent a few flash images of the area. Those who knew what telepathy was would recognize them as such, while even the layman could at least recognize that they were based off what he was describing.

"Beyond that, she simply wanted to know about me and about us.," Raclaw paused deciding what to reveal or not reveal. "I told her the truth to a point, where we came from and what each of us was. She had heard about Minotaurs, knew plainly what a canine/dog was, and had recognized my own kind-- but was less familiar with the others. Or at least, she didn't reveal what she knew about those subjects. Suspecting what she would want to know, I revealed what our basic objective was (finding family) and that our mission was one of peace (helping not conquering). She, in turn, revealed a little bit about what she knew; she is ancient, is older than any of us, and chose to leave the mainland once the 'rebels' had began to produce catapults and began to partake in advanced magic. She recognized that the great conflicts, the war-- was coming to a close and, in her own way, wanted to 'protect' the empire/its people from an inevitable famine by taking them into isolation far far away from known lands. This is the limit of her historical knowledge, she knew nothing of what came afterwards or of organizations such as the Guardians. She knows a little more now.. but just a little. And she seemed somewhat perplexed at the idea that the world she knew had changed during her absence. She knew nothing of attempts at peace or cooperation, only being able to compare the idea to that of a dog and its master. I.. I suspect you all already know the offer she presented me, for us to stay 'awhile' and that she may call upon me again tomorrow. Which brings me to our other subject of interest. Me.," he paused not revealing the specifics of what he had revealed. The others could ask more if they wanted to.

"From the moment she saw me-- she recognized who and what I was. She recognized that I was a Fur Dragon, but not like any Fur Dragon she had seen. She compared me to the canine 'version' of a Fur Dragon, inferring that my feature set is incomplete or at least different than the counterparts she had seen prior.. albeit rarely. I, unfortunately, did not think to ask more at the time.," Raclaw admitted immediately regretting not asking more about what Kesivara knew about the 'wild' Fur Dragon, an description that would most likely reveal more about what his own parents would look like. "She described my kind as docile and seeking to avoid fighting, while inferring that one could adapt my species into a more docile variant.. an variant in which she well immediately suspected me to be. The collar was a giveaway, as I'm sure you will have suspected. And from there, it didn't take much for her to infer my 'job' or that I regularly spent time with humans. I don't know if she truly believed that Latnok and I were equals, but I hope she now sees that dragons and humans can work together in such an capacity. But the important thing? She's seen Fur Dragons. And that means.. that means that I may not be alone in the world.," Raclaw than spoke.. an glimmer of hope visible in his eyes. He wanted to know more, to know more about what she knew. "You may ask questions if you wish-- I will answer to the best of my ability. And if need be, Latnok can add his input.," he then concluded with a nod anticipating questions of either a positive or negative light. Perhaps he shouldn't have revealed the Guardians' existence, but what's done was done and he wanted to be there first rather than let her find out second-hand. And as long as what happened to her sister remained a secret...

Maverick listened carefully, finding the details very intriguing. So Kesivara was humongous? He thought Shade was big, but he did read in the tome Sere gifted him that dragons did get much bigger than that if they managed to live enough centuries. Shade was a space dragon and nowhere near as big, so perhaps his species grew and aged differently.
“She’s very perceptive it seems. At least she was kind enough to tell you there are other fur dragons.” Maverick stated, so far relieved that the dragoness seemed hospitable... but perhaps it was because of fear rather than actual kindness? It was impossible to know at this point, but strangers on her land that came from the continent that has driven dragons to near extinction was bound to make any dragon nervous no matter the size. Or at least that was the only conclusion he could come up with. Latnok was the only Guardian there and not of them had much experience battling giant creatures, so the dragoness could probably kill them all if she wanted, but perhaps she was simply too lazy or too afraid to attempt? Or maybe she was kinda nice despite dining on some islanders?

Huntress didn’t care much about Raclaw’s details and hopes, only listening about Kesivara’s parts. She smiled.
“And what is so funny?” Maverick asked, finding her smug smile quite out of place.
“Oh nothing. It’s just hilarious how a massive dragon seems to be so afraid of us. Of course, it should be.” Huntress stated, refusing to refer to the Queen as a she.
“Well she’s wary of strangers. That’s a natural reaction.” he replied, Huntress’ overconfidence being enough to annoy him. Though truth be told, he felt more pity than annoyance.
“Of course it’s wary! We’re Aelinonians... well, most of us anyway. We get rid of pests like that. I seriously can’t believe you’d try defending that beast! It kills her own subjects when they displease it! If you’re such a dragon lover, why don’t you go visit it yourself next time?” Huntress challenged, Maverick sighing hard. He wished he could do that, but didn’t want to take any unnecessary risks. He was tempted to do so though, if it managed to keep Huntress’ big mouth shut for a while. Raclaw came unharmed from that ordeal, probably because he was a dragon. But will he have the same treatment? Such a hypocrite that Huntress. King Seraos also killed his own subjects... well criminals, but still subjects, and most were fed to those awful behemoths. Angora was innocent and almost died because of a false confession. While he was grateful to the young king for sparing her, he couldn’t help but to think how many weren’t so lucky.

"The Queen is aware that there is no small chance that it is unlikely that she would be able to win without severe collateral damage," Latnok noted. "More importantly, she does not know the extent of our capabilities, and realizes that there's a significant chance that she could either suffer a fatal wound in the course of battle, or an injury crippling enough to leave her at the mercy of her people. She'll want to avoid fighting - she hasn't lived this long by not being careful."
Leoquin figured he had a good enough idea of the place to continue. "So basically, we play it safe, don't do anything stupid to make the Queen feel we're a danger to her, and leave once we've had some rest and a good idea of what this place is like," he summarized.
"Exactly. Some of us will meet with Alithe tonight, and see what else there is to learn," Latnok replied. "Besides that, I'll be making some preparations for battle - ideally nothing that would prove necessary, but something that will be useful in the event that someone here fancies themselves a dragon slayer and decides to start trouble anyway." Even when battle was preferably avoided, Latnok was not one to be caught unawares by being unprepared.

Huntress agreed with Leoquin, being one of the few in the crew she genuinely liked. Being an animal, a predator no less, it was instinct to always avoid battles where they could be severely injured, so the Queen’s caution was to be expected. She’s had enough hunting experience to know that. She was calming down until Latnok made that comment, quite certain that he was referring to her. That stupid Guardian had it in for her ever since laying eyes on her. She really wanted to give him a piece of her mind. She hasn’t been alive this long by being stupid, and while she did hated dragons with a passion, she was smart enough to know it would be complete suicide to venture into such a protected den to face a fire breathing beast hundreds of times her size. She really wanted to tell Latnok how she felt, but resisted the urge, not wanting to make a scene, especially not in front of the captain, her boss. She was calming down again until Icestorm opened his snout.
“Oh, you’re still here? Ah, leave the islanders here, living under it’s rule. Abandon them to their happiness and let the dragon do whatever it pleases with them for centuries more. Yeah. That’s a good plan.” she said with overwhelming sarcasm, finding his views even worse than Maverick’s. At least the faun man was careful enough not to suggest something completely stupid like leaving the islanders under her stern rule.

Maverick rolled his eyes, not surprised that she was at it again with Icestorm. It was almost a routine by now, and Icestorm didn’t seem to know how to use his words better to avoid frustrating her. He really wasn’t helping his cause, but the good thing he did was distract her so he could move away from the bickering and closer to Raclaw. As outrageous as it sounded, Huntress made him feel nostalgic. She was so much like Angora when he first met her. But there would be time to reminisce on the past later. Right now, there was another matter at hand.
“Señor Raclaw? Think it’s possible I can come with you for the next visit? I would... like to meet the Queen.” Maverick whispered, wanting to meet the great highness in person if she truly meant them no harm. Not only would that probably shush Huntress for a while, but he wanted to know in the flesh what they were dealing with. He wished she could come, but he didn’t want to risk her hatred overcome her common sense. It was pretty obvious how much she hated the flying reptiles.

Julian gave an acknowledging nod. "It sounds like you've found another opportunity worth exploring. I support your decision - especially in the pursuit of science. And... I wouldn't worry too much about Veris. I don't think a wyvern would care too much as long as the new caretaker keeps them appropriately fed." Julian had clearly not gotten the news about what had happened yet...

"I-- I don't know if that's the best idea. The Queen seems comfortable enough with me, but I don't know how she'll react if I start bringing company. She may think we're trying to size her up and prepare for an offense. Or she may doubt my claims if it seems as if I'm unable to be trusted to see her without supervision.," Raclaw admitted responding in kind to Maverick. He didn't like that the Huntress was seemingly tempting people to go 'see the Queen' possibly to start some kind of conflict *before* they were ready. And he didn't want to make Kesivara's impression of him any worse.

Angora lowered her ears, Julian clearly not understanding just how deep the bond went, and if that was the case, it meant he still didn’t know about what happened earlier.
“I wouldn’t underestimate the bond. Veris is... well, he’s different. I know now wyverns eat trolls, yet he never attacks me. It’s... amazing. I... do hope you’re right though.” Angora responded, deciding not to tell Julian about what happened just yet. He was going to find out sooner or later. If nobody else told him, then she would. Maybe later today, or tomorrow. Just not right now. She didn’t want to dwell on the unpleasant event with him, not while it was still so recent. She was touched that Veris loved her so much to the point of defending her the way he did, even after finding out she’s leaving, but it was still a very awful scare and didn’t want to ruin this special moment with Julian by bringing him such dreadful news. Right now, she just wanted some peace with a friend she barely sees. His laboratory was also a welcoming sight. Very different from the tiny room she stayed in.

Maverick nodded, not having any objections.
“Ok. I trust your judgement. Still, in your next visit, maybe you can mention me? Tell the Queen that I’d like to meet her, and that I’m part faun if you want. That could get her interest. Who knows? If she has seen fur dragons, maybe she has seen fauns as well? I know it’s said they’re extinct, but maybe that’s not the case.” Maverick asked, feeling a bit hopeful. This journey was to find Raclaw and Leoquin’s family, but since he was already involved, it would be amazing to know and see that tiny part of his heritage in it’s pure form if it was possible.

With the matter of how to proceed settled - for the time being - the group went about their business. For most, that would be rest and relaxation to some degree; for Leoquin, that was more cartography.
Some time later, Alithe met with the Queen in the meeting chamber, having been summoned by her.
"How may I be of service to you, my queen?" he asked deferentially. "I take it this is in reference to my meeting with the visitors?"
"That is correct," Kesivara acknowledged. "What have they told you of the outside world?"
"They have told me that they have journeyed from the nation of Aelinon, though most of the ship's crew do not seem to be its citizens," Alithe explained. "They say dragons are not widespread on Galadar, and see the state of affairs here as unusual. However, after we spoke, they were willing to stay for some time to get an understanding of how we are happy with this lifestyle."
"That is good. Very good..." Kesivara said. "What have you noted of their crew?"
"Most of the members of the crew consist of a race I am unfamiliar with - inotaurs, they are apparently called," Alithe answered with a hint of uncertainty.
"Bulky, bipedal creatures with hooves and horns? Those would be minotaurs," Kesivara noted - though neither of them had seen the race before, Kesivara was familiar with what they were.
"Yes, that is accurate," Alithe answered. "Thank you for corroborating. Besides them, I identified a... fur dragon - which I believe you may have met already - as well as a merman, a human, and... well, someone else who looked similar to a human, except their skin seemed far too dark and discolored to be one."
Kesivara didn't feel like guessing who the odd one out was - that was something she could figure out later. "And what of their equipment?" she asked.
"I noted a few axes, but any further armament was hard to identify," Alithe answered. "It seems they don't really make a show of having weapons about, unlike the enforcers here."
"...I see. That is all for now. Thank you, my loyal scribe," Kesivara said gratefully. "You are dismissed."
"Very well, my Queen," Alithe said, as he walked away as quickly as he could.

Angora stayed at Julian’s laboratory for a while, helping him with experiments, equipment and even food delivery. The Guardian usually had a small ration with him that would last him during the day so he wouldn’t need to go to the cafeteria and interrupt his precious time. She really admired Julian, and if he heard the other Guardians speaking unfavorable things about her, he would see that they were either lying, were too racist or Angora was simply a very different troll when she was with him.

Their conversations weren’t as long as Angora wished, but they did managed to catch up on a couple of things and entertain themselves, passing the time pleasantly. Their lives had a very heavy routine, so there wasn’t that much to catch up to, except the incident that happened. Angora wanted to tell him tomorrow, but she would resume working by then if Sere allowed it, and it would again mean very limited visits.
“Sir... since you’ll find out anyway, something happened in the wyvern pens. Veris... I was taking him out when another wyvern returning attacked me out of nowhere. Veris nearly killed him. I... don’t know if wyverns defend their caretakers the way they do their masters, but Veris... he’s too attached to me. Which is why it hurts me so much to leave him, even though I do want to take this new job. I sincerely hope Mr. Sere can find a suitable replacement. I will still visit him, and you, when I have the chance.” Angora assured, wanting Julian to be aware of both the situation and her predicament. As a scientist, Draikon refused to believe that such a bond could exist, but Julian was more open minded, and knowing she has worked here for half a decade without Veris turning on her meant he was more aware of their relationship.

At the Raging Serpent, Maverick occupied himself with some basic chores. He wanted to cook dinner, but minotaurs ate very differently, and the cook was always giving him instructions, making him feel like an amateur. Their palate was very different for sure, so he instead cooked for the people that he knew loved his meals, Latnok, Raclaw, Chester and Leoquin. He wanted to cook for Huntress as well, but he had no idea what she liked, and doubted she would accept anything from him anyway. As for the woman herself, she also kept herself busy with some ship chores, keeping a low profile and avoiding Latnok and Maverick the most. There would be times where she would pet Chester, but only after looking around to make sure nobody was looking. The beagle always seemed hesitant to approach her, making her wonder if the dog didn’t like her either, but with the master he had, it was no wonder.

Julian listened carefully as Angora explained her situation. Though it was certainly unusual, such a bond was clearly not impossible, as evidenced by the fact that such an event occurred. "That's most interesting," Julian commented. "Wyverns don't usually bond with anyone other than their riders very much. Especially to the point where a fight with another wyvern escalates to such a level... I can see now why such a decision is definitely not easy for you. Godfather Sere certainly has quite a lot to deal with regarding Veris in the aftermath of all this." Julian knew the vent weighted on Angora, evidenced by her delayed revelation, so he didn't want to press her too hard.
"Regardless, Godfather Sere can figure something out, I'm certain," Julian added confidently. "Even if such a plan does inevitably take away time he usually spends on other business... I'm sure he can manage."

Angora nodded, knowing Sere was indeed going to have a very hard time finding a good replacement, and even if he did, he doubted Veris would want to bond with them very much. She has been very important as Veris’ caretaker, not only because of how close they were, but also cause it meant Sere didn’t need to take care of him himself and thus take time off his important Guardian duties.
“I know he can. He could before, but still... it’s such a difficult decision. If only the big idiot hadn’t bond with me so much. But... it’s not entirely his fault. I mean, I didn’t even know wyverns preyed on trolls. Maybe if I had known sooner...” she sighed.

“...But none of that matters now. I don’t think Veris will be able to bond with another caretaker the way he did me. Even this Draikon guy believes it’s outrageous, mostly because, well, I’m a troll. If only there was a way to make my departure easier on him. I mean, I don’t want him to hate me. Just, maybe... something else...?” Angora started pondering, knowing she still had about a couple of months to do just that. Even if Veris had finally witnessed firsthand why it was so dangerous for her to work there, she didn’t believe that would be enough for him. It would make him more understanding perhaps, but it would still hurt. She was afraid that her departure might even give him trust issues, or worse still, make him refuse to bond with anyone else ever again...