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Memoirs of Dragora

Chapter 13: Unpaid Hardships

Dragora had a hard time going to sleep, just lying there in quiescence. The draconian was used to sleeping on his stomach, which was now bandaged and bound for another scar to his collection. He just laid there, finding his right arm still hurting a little from yesterday's floor desecration and now today his underbelly from an attempted sabotage accident. He thought about all that happened, how his dreams came into play at multiple times in the journey and how the elements completed certain roles. Dragora's mind soon came to rest on thoughts about Slypnir and Zerion, how they've been through so much and seeing that they would stay at his side no matter what came to befall them. His eyes closed and he soon faded into pleasant dreams, his last thought being a happy one.

Waking up earlier than everyone else, he opened his eyes reluctantly to the lack of noise coming to his ears. Immediately blushing deeply, he repositioned himself so that his garments weren't tented from his fantasies. Sighing in quiet relief no one else was up to see his manhood poking eagerly upward to the thoughts of interaction he had with Zerion, he got up cautiously and slowly, not only to avoid waking anyone else up, but to go easy on his heavily injured body. He crept toward the kitchen, feeling his stomach growl but being unsure whether it was a good idea to eat or not. Suddenly a gentle hand grabbed onto his shoulder and he felt another at the back of his knees. He looked over in surprise, seeing a familiar face look at him as Dragora was picked up.

"You seem to be on a quick path to the twilight plains again, take it a little easier would you? After all, the harvest is gone at this time of year and the isn't much sightseeing to be done." The fox giggled, seeing Dragora's face as full of astonishment as when he was a mere child.

"How did you find me?" Dragora asked feebly, being carried down the hall quietly and resting his drowsy head onto S'kria's muscular furry chest, hearing his heartbeat and smiling as he heard it pick up tempo.

"A weasel came by, rather nasty one at that. Wasn't very talkative, just kept saying how his plans were foiled by a meager purple-eyed draconian..." S'kria stated, remembering the unnoticed hospitality and raising an eyebrow to it.

"Am I really the only one with purple eyes, besides my father?" Dragora inquired, looking up at the fox's chin, noticing a few silver hairs among the orange.

"The only one I've seen," S'kria replied reassuringly, looking down and kissing the top of Dragora's muzzle softly, "So where were you headed at this late hour? I'm surprised no one woke up from how heavy your steps are."

"To the kitchen, but I dunno whether I should try eating or not with this wound..." Dragora trailed off, seeing S'kria look down abruptly and letting a short wisp of air rush into his mouth as he saw the gaping wound that was caused from the shrapnel.

"Why didn't you tell me about this!? I wouldn't have picked you up and slouch your belly in like now," S'kria said, repositioning his arm to support the scrimpy draconian's back, "I hope it didn't hurt..."

"I didn't want you to worry, and no it didn't hurt, but I still don't know whether I should really eat or not with my stomach being in this state." Dragora answered comfortingly and reminding the worried fox about his previous question that had yet to be fulfilled.

"Eat light, and drink small amounts slowly, I was wondering why the edges of your scales looked so pale when I came to assist you, by the position it didn't strike anything but muscle." S'kria retorted knowledgably, relieved to see no harm in Dragora's face and inspecting the wound more calmly while continuing to walk down the hallway toward the kitchen.

S'kria made other comments about the draconian's surrounding scars, all the while focusing on the main one which seemed to have connected to other scars and reopen them slightly. When they finally got to the kitchen, the fox pulled out a few strips of jerky, leaving the lettuce in the cupboard knowing Dragora mainly preferred meats and breads and did his best to avoid in his opinion "tasteless" food. Dragora ate them eagerly and followed the canine's advice of drinking the cider slowly, taking in only enough to wet his mouth at a time. After they both finished, the two talked for while, catching up with what's happened to the other during their absence. S'kria clenched up a little from hearing how Dragora got his stomach wound, and wished he could just send the weasel all the way to the other side or cast him into the void itself. Seeing the fox tensing up, Dragora changed the subject by asking about a name that startled S'kria from it being mentioned by the one who cast the name's owner to him.

"Why would you want to know Elevrity's fate!?" S'kria replied dumbfoundedly, stopping for a moment in mid-stride while carrying Dragora more comfortably back toward his room.

"If he was reborn, perhaps he's joined the UMU's army and is one of the mages tormenting us..." Dragora answered sleepily, his head resting on the fox's soft chest and feeling his lungs expand and contract in relation to his metronome-like steps.

"He was in your nightmare wasn't he?" S'kria asked, assuming he never told his friends about that incident.

"No, Slypnir did, that's what frightens me. I've never mentioned the name around either of them and he never came across my mind until Slypnir spoke his name," Dragora retorted explainitively, "It's this room right here..."

S'kria opened the door with his foot and continued to walk inside, his pads muffling his already quiet steps on the well finished floor. He stepped over the hole Dragora had left, seeing now that the draconian had indeed done himself harm. After they reached the bed, Dragora already half asleep, the mentor-like fox kissed him on the head and took his leave of the snoozing group.

It was late morning when Dragora opened his eyes again, this time his ears greeted by activity outside and opening his eyes to see Nij looking over him. He completely threw away his knowledge of the common tongue, speaking to Dragora purely in the archaic language they both knew. S'kria came to visit again, with Zerion accompanying him cautiously, catching both draconians while they were in mid-conversation with the other. Both the fox and the newly entering dragonkin stood there for a few minutes, letting the father and son finish their current point it seemed before they interrupted.

"Do you know him? He almost barged in without saying anything, and I assumed that he was one of your older friends considering he has no scars..." Zerion stated, looking over the canine again and still catching no sights of him being scathed in any way.

"Of course! He's the one that's helped me in the twilight plains twice, once when I was a child and the other when I passed out at the tower!" Dragora replied happily, being able to see S'kria more clearly now that it was broad daylight.

"See? I was telling you the truth, and why are you checking me out so much?" S'kria asked perplexed at Zerion's eyes travelling all around his body and following his physique intensely.

"It's just amazing how you have no scars whatsoever, it's as if you were preserved all your life." Zerion replied, noticing how his eyes accidently traced down to S'kria's hips and tail, admiring the rump that had perked up a little in experimentation as it sensed the oculi locked onto it, and lifted his gaze in embarassment.

"It seems you were looking at a little more than inspecting for scars..." S'kria retorted, blushing deeply and relaxing his glutes as he continued to walk toward Dragora, "here, this is for you, someone slipped it under my door as I was asleep." He finished, handing an ornate letter to the draconian laying down, seal up.

"Hm? I didn't expect any mail, and why would they put it under your door if I'm in here?" Dragora, who perked up into a sitting position hastily, asked inquisitively, seeing how exquisite the leafing on the letter looked and the seal unbroken.

"I dunno, it's all strange, and the sender isn't marked on there." The fox answered sincerely, seeing Dragora reach for the dagger at his father's side and using it carefully.

He slipped the missive out of it's casing and unfolded it, looking over before reading aloud.

"Dear Dragora,

I'm sure you would remember me if I could capture an image of my face and send it, but words shall have to do for now. As you are aware, this continent is in peril of being destroyed by those who supposedly follow unity, a massive army of mercenaries that have come together for a great amount of pay. I have an idea of how to counter this, but you must meet with me before you travel to Lothgrenier, for I have valuable knowledge that could help with negotiations and self-defense. Please, you are the only one that I've observed in interest that has the power to stand up to this threat.

I shall wait for you in the lost kingdom, where the broken walls have formed crystalline skins to shed the dark grey husk. In the area coated with alabaster and where Aerinia's harshest Frostfall is commonplace. You must find the only dock that is out of the reach of being scarred by battle in order to land safely.

Sincerely, F" Dragora read aloud, wondering where the place described was and perplexed by who this "F" was.

"Somewhere cold, that much is apperent, but a crystal kingdom? Nothing in the entire history I've read has mentioned such a sight..." Slypnir said, walking in with his glasses resting on his muzzle and a tome that dwarfed his frame in his slightly shaking hands.

"You read that whole thing!? And here, let's set that down over here." Zerion stated hastily, grabbing the book out of Slypnir's hands and almost going off balance, the book being heavier than he imagined, "How did you get this thing all the way up here!? It weighs a ton..." he grunted, setting the book down onto a sturdy looking table that creaked under the weight in the corner.

"Let me look through it then, if that's the complete history, it has to have some reference to crystalline structures or snow covered, war ravaged lands." Nijraketo said bluntly, going over to the book and saying an incantation under his breath.

Slypnir watched in wonder as the cover flipped open, unassisted, then page after page followed. The flapping of the pages become quicker as Nij continued chanting, almost picking up speed in chanting at the same rate. He put his hand down, quickly and firmly on a page, snapping everyone out of the entrancing sequence. Dragora hopped up out of bed to quickly and cringed in pain, his stomach wound and arm throbbing from the sudden strain and knotting up, causing him to bend over and feel wobbly in his knees. He let out a small breath of air as he gritted in pain, but continued walking over to the book unhindered, with S'kria, Zerion, and Slypnir rushing to his side in worry.

"There's a page missing. Based on the index, it would have been on this page also..." Nij said disappointed,wondering who could have torn out the page, "Where did you get this book from?"

"I got it from a book seller in the bazaar, it was actually very good priced considering what's all in it." Slypnir replied feebly, cursing himself for not checking through the book for missing pages.

"Let's go find that merchant then, they usually group up in one area so the marketplace becomes sectioned." Luxi said abrasively, having walked into the room unnoticed by anyone crowding the booking in curiosity and wandering over to it himself, "They really didn't want that to be noticed, there's barely a trace of a page ever being there."

The band rushed to the bazaar, almost catching Midnight coming upstairs off guard as the flood of companions burst down the staircase. All 7 of them looked around hastily, and split up with Zerion and Midnight going off east, Slypnir, Luxicitius, and S'kria going west, and Dragora going north accompanied by Nij. They all scrambled about, looking at every stall to see it's wares. Zerion and Midnight found nothing in the smaller east part so they joined with Draora and Nij to scour the main bulk af the marketplace. Slypnir's trio was also not having any luck, only seeing food and jewelry among the stalls. Dragora's band of 4 searched every nook and cranny for every stall, not finding anything for books and the one merchant they did find sold illustrations for them. So they all joined in the west side, the party stretching the width of the street as they walked and looked around. Finally S'kria spotted it, seeing a large pile of books causing the crowd to bubble around it. They all weaved over to it, seeing the merchant trying to pack up eagerly.

"Oi! We need to ask you a couple of questions..." Dragora trailed off, walking around to the entrance and crossing his arms in impatience.

"Do you remember the book you sold me? It's missing a page we need, but I think there's more than just that page. You tried awfully hard to make it seem like that page was never there." Slypnir stated walking over to the front and setting his hands on the counter.

"P-Pleassse, don't hurt me! I don't know about any misssing pagesss! I got the book from a peddler who came to town not too long ago..." The snake whimpered, backing into a corner and hunching.

"We won't hurt you, do you know where the peddler is now?" S'kria whispered calmingly into the serpent's ear and touching his cheek gently, picking the fragile chin up with his index digit.

"I-In an upper-classs inn, sssomewhere near the t-temple..." The ophidian stumbled out frightenedly, looking up at the fox's serene eyes and relaxing a little from the brink of tears, his tongue slipping out a little to see if the fox's scent was safe.

"You seem traumatized by us approaching you, have others done similar and assail you?" Luxicitius stated looking at the marks on the serpent's face that he didn't see at first.

"It'sss fine, I've been through worssse..." The snake retorted in shame and hiding the rest of his body in fear of them seeing the other marks under his shirt and along his legs.

"Wait a moment..." Dragora said gently, walking over to the snake with silent steps, "These marks are recent, look at this one, the bruise hasn't even fully come in. And that wound hasn't even scabbed, it's dry blood..." He finished waving his hand above the light discolored spot and a cut wound on his forearm as if he blocked his face from the assailants.

The snake cringed as the draconian's hand approached his marks but relented when they stopped above them. His tongue slid out a bit to test if this individual, too, was safe. Dragora looked up in reassurance and continued inspecting the damage. Soon enough, Luxi and Slypnir were tending to the ophidian, using balms and magic to tend to the pain and scathes the merchant had endured. Not long after, he felt comfortable to tell them who the attackers were, and also telling them the specific inn the peddler was at. Dragora closed his eyes in anger that the monks would attack an honest merchant because of a book he was selling, and harming him for his seemingly exotic preference. The snake relaxed more when he realized that 3 out of 7 people around him were gay, S'kria being bisexual, and Nij, Luxi, and Midnight being straight. The snake, who's name was Orrik, talked to them about how he had moved to the town after saving up for 13 years to buy a home and have a better life than back in his previous town, where he was cast out by his family after coming out to them while they were pushing an arranged marriage onto him.

"The unknowing fools... don't let anyone get you down, just keep in mind, they're just trying to drag you to their level because you're on a better path in life, and also you might wanna tell a guard about it, so that they'll post one outside your store." Dragora said after letting Orrik finish his tale, and merely nodded to Slypnir as he went off toward the temple.

"Dragora! Wait! You can't just go beating up half of the damn monastery! It's illegal, at least think this through a little... If we get into any trouble it will stall our advance to that place of ice and crystal!" Slypnir shouted out after Dragora, running after his companion that was walking at an unnatural pace.

"Then I'll single out the ones who did it, I got enough of a description, and I'll coax the others to show me their chambers, and I've got one name to start off with, a female named Terochria." Dragora said grimly, continuing his relentless pace without any sign of fatigue that was getting to Slypnir.

"You're... crazy... that's... the head... of the town...!" Slypnir panted out, jogging behind his friend and losing his breath as he proceeded up the hill.

"Then what do you suggest I do!? Let them proceed on their destructive path of casting down innocents for petty differences, let them assault who they damn well please to exert their power? I'm acting, I may not be able to leave a mark on her, but I can at least use binding magic to keep her corrupt ass in a closet for a couple of days and have it wear off then so she gets out unharmed." Dragora half-yelled to his friend and immediately lowered his voice seeing Slypnir right behind him panting heavily and bending over slightly in fatigue.

"That... sounds more... reasonable... go get her...then, I'll be heading... back now..." Slypnir breathed and coughed, starting to walk down the hill slowly to get back to the group which followed slightly.

Dragora opened the doors to the monastery quietly and walked in toward the center of the room. He spotted a large hallway with smaller ones on each side, so he followed the main one knowing that the rich showed off with the biggest and the best of everything. He opened the door quietly to find the bat asleep, seemingly heavily for she snored quite loudly, and walked over to her, preparing a binding and silencing incantation Slypnir had taught him when they were young to use on bullies. Now with the bat not moving or making any sound at all, Dragora went to the back of her and picked her up off the hanger quickly and dragged her over to the large pantry, which was full of food. She woke up immediately, and couldn't do anything but look around wildly, not even knowing who had silenced and/or bound her for she was facing frontward and being carried to her pantry. Before she caught wind of what was actually going on, she was set down facing a corner of the interior of her pantry upright, and heard the pantry door close behind her.

"Excuse me, do you know who all was out at the bazaar today? I have a couple of letters I need to personally deliver but I don't know my way around..." Dragora asked the nearest monk politely, showing a few false envelopes he picked up from Terochria's office and seeing that the monk didn't have the mark of silence.

"It was only Terochria and Oteranchi out today, we only get to leave on week-ends, but it's fine, most of what we need is here in the monastery." The monk replied informatively, falling for Dragora's ruse with no suspicions to his actions.

"And where may I find Oteranchi? I've just come out from delivering the needed letters to Terochria." Dragora asked, still being as polite and professional as he could.

"The door by the main entrance, right over there," The monk motioned over to the small doorway off to the side of the main entrance, it could easily be hidden from view if one were to open the main doors all the way, "Is there anyone else you're looking for?"

"Nope, he said to just deliver all these letters to him..." Dragora said confidently, knowing any uncertainty in his voice would tip the scales out of his favor, "Thank you though, I must be on my way."

Dragora went straight for the door, opening the door just as quietly as he did Terochria's, hoping this bat will be asleep as well. The chiroptera was passed out on his desk, barely snoring. Dragora took extra precautions as to not wake him, drawing the binding circle and silencing him before he completed the etchings. Right before Dragora said the last word, Oteranchi jumped up as if out of a nightmare in his seat and sat straight up as Dragora finished the last word. The bat froze in that position, making Dragora giggle a little while he was standing behind his helpless victim.

"That's your own damn fault, I was gonna get you while you were comfortable, but I guess this serves you right for assaulting my friend without thinking of the repercussions of your actions," Dragora said still chuckling and picking up Oteranchi facing away from him, "this would be hilarious if there was a toilet in your pantry..."

Oteranchi eyed around wildly trying to move and shout, but when he realized it was in vain he merely looked straight ahead and cursed his captor in his mind. Finally he was blindfolded and Dragora set him against the wall, the bat propping up pefectly against it and found a large canister of parmesan cheese to hang in front of the bat's nose. He opened it up and hung it quickly, being unable to stand the smell himself and closed the pantry door quickly, leaving Oternachi sitting against the wall tortured by a repulsive smell for the next 2 days.

Dragora came down the hill in an almost skipping manner to meet up with his friends, seeing all of them standing at the bottom with the snake there also. They all crowded around him wondering what had happened and how there was no drama that had unfolded. After a minute or so, Slypnir remembered Dragora mentioning the binded silence spell he taught him when they were younger, and caught onto what his friend had done.

"You stuck them in their pantries for them to be surrounded by food and out of sight for the next two days!? And you hung a canister of parmesan in front of one's nose?" Zerion asked, laughing uncontrollably at the fates of both assailants.

"Told you that spell I taught you would come in handy one day..." Slypnir said giggling to himself while imagining a bat sitting up against a wall with parmesan in front of his nose in a closed space, "And that's a strange way of meditating if someone finds him!"

"And they'll be wondering why the female's standing up right facing a corner of her pantry as well..." Nij replied in a humorous tone, glad to see Dragora a little more lighthearted and optimistic.

"It's perfectly legal, no doors locked, no marks on them, neither caught a glimpse of my face, no suspicions were risen, the only thing they'll be is hungry and thirsty... if no one finds them beforehand." Dragora stated quickly, starting to pick up his pace toward their new caravan, refitted to hold 10 people in case they pick up more individuals along their journey.

"Where are you going? We still gotta go to that inn..." Slypnir pointed out abruptly, seeing Dragora heading for the new carriage and giggling at his disapointed look as he turned around.

They headed to the hotel, with the snake gladly leaving his stall unattended, guiding the group with ease though the winding crowds and streets. Only Dragora really kept up as the serpent had a quick pace to his step as well, leaving them to wait up ahead for the others to catch up. The hotel doors caught Dragora off guard at first, never having seen revolving wicker doors and studied it curiously, pushing it and after two more times finally followed the path through. Slypnir did almost the same thing, but instead went through the doors rather slowly to examine where the hinges were. Zerion and Nij walked through the door unphazed by the exoticism, followed by Luxi and Orrik, then S'kria and Midnight, for the doors were meant for couples which made the last three pairs slightly uncomfortable. Once they were all in, they moved away to respect each others' comfort bubbles and all went to the reception desk, all flooding the clerk with one question.

"Where's the peddler?"

"There was one who checked in not to long ago, had a quite large selection. The peddler's in room... 341, i'll send a message to unlock the door." The clerk responded with ease, being used to large groups of people it would have seemed.

The lot of them checked the nearest door which was 1, so they proceeded up 3 floors to find room 301, followed by later rooms, confirming the party was going the right direction. They walked down the extensive hall it would seem a quarter when they found the room: 34, as the number itself was curiously missing off the door, but the imprint stayed, a dark outline on the door symbolizing a 1. The door was already unlocked, surprising Dragora and his 2 companions about the hastiness in which the message must have arrived. The peddler was in its sleeping wear: a single lined robe and velvet nightcap. Dragora's eyes traced the muscularity of the body in the thin robe, along with Zerion's, Slypnir's, S'kria's, and Orrik's eyes following suit. After Dragora snapped out of his naughty fantasy and recomposed himself, he began to ask the questions.

"We bought a book from this merchant who bought it from you, and there's a missing page we need." Dragora inquired, still entranced by the cheetah's shape and physique.

"Ah you must mean the page about the crystal kingdom. Yes, I have it, and I'll give it to you on one condition, I can accompany you there on your ship." The cheetah replied in a female tone, shocking Dragora out of his fantasy that was playing in half of his mind.

"Wait, how do you know we have a shape- I mean 'ship'?" Slypnir blurted out, looking down in embarassment.

"Well Dragora's eyes dictate who he is, and his ship is known in the trade world..." The cheetah replied in the same female tone, confirming Dragora's thoughts that it was indeed a well defined woman with an impressive height of 6' 1" to his 6' even, which became more emphasized as she walked over to the group, "I also know which dock it speaks of, the only dock a martyr sacrificed himself saving, and that crystal kingdom lies a ways past Dauntae's Freezer, in an even older empire site."

"Dawn's second fortress, it's location was lost to the tides of time, which piques my interest on how you are so sure about where it is." Slypnir replied suspiciously, gaining his composure finally.

"I know the dock because I've had a couple shipments to deliver to researchers, and I know the castle because it's also mentioned in some of the writings I found at Dawn itself." The cheetah retorted defensively, sensing Slypnir's mistrust.

"Alright, Alright you two, no need sparks fly! Instead, what harm could it do to have another join our endeavors?" Nij stated, intervening between Slypnir and the feline.

"Okay, I'm just curious..." Slypnir said apologetically.

"Finally, a female to join us, a welcome change!" Midnight said jokingly, seeing Dragora blush a little from instinctively rounding up males.

"Okay let's get our things packed and be off toward claw bay, where my ship is docked, but first thing's first..." Dragora trailed, looking out the window toward the silt sea, "we gotta cross that with a ferry that'll support the caravan and all of us and our supplies."

"The way around isss much farther than a week, but we need not crosss by ferry." Orrik said happily, seeing everyone look to him, "There isss a bridge under conssstruction that isss very nearly finished. In fact, I heard it wasss due today or tomorrow, leading me to think that if we sset off along it now, it should be finished by the time we reach what would be the consstruction zone."

"Then let's get to packing, who knows how many will be in line if we don't get there first!" Dragora exclaimed in eagerness, already heading for the door in his usual pace.

"Why does he never catch a breath or take a break? A marathon would have trouble keeping up with him..." Zerion muttered to himself, seeing the same expression on almost everyone else's face as the walked out the door and seeing Dragora turn to go down the stairs.

Dragora just kept going toward the inn they were staying at, unaware of how far behind everyone but Orrik was, but then the serpent split off toward his own dwelling, getting what he needed and could carry, leaving Dragora to hear only his own steps as they compacted the sand down to the street, ringing on the masonry as the steel-clad pads of his feet made contact. About halfway to the inn, he started slowing down, realizing he was alone, and started thinking of how he always moved ahead of everything else, always ended alone due to his rushing, and slowed down to a crawl, his steps becoming softer and keeping him on top of the sand layer. Suddenly he felt a hard object hit his calf. Dragora coiled his leg down and snapped his leg straight again out of instinct and relfected the strike path into a bat's head that he saw as he swung around to see who attacked. The chiroptera lay there, unconscious from the surprising recoil and the force it had come back at. Looking closer, Dragora bent down and took his wallet out of punishment for a futile attack, and looked through it curiously. To his surprise, It was Oteranchi's wallet, but he looked at the bat and saw that it was just some other monk that probably pickpocketed the time-frozen fool. He searched the other pockets, finding terochria's wallet as well and the thief's. Putting all three in his jacket, he walked off in a happier mood, back into his fast walk.

"What the hell!? There's a bat laying out on the street!" Zerion yelled, looking toward the chiroptera which was actually unconscious.

"...He's out cold... it's obvious Dragora passed through here, but he wouldn't take someone's wallet unless they attacked him first, I know that for a fact." Slypnir stated, looking closer at the sprawled out mammal in the sand and seeing it's pockets open.

"Well I noticed he slowed down considerably in the distance between his steps back there, and right after here it picks up again at his usual pace distance." Nij stated confidently, seeing the space covered increase after the shuffled patch of sand.

"He's probably at the caravan by now, why don't we ask him ourselves when we get there?" Zerion replied bluntly, starting to walk forward again. S'kria, Midnight, and Luxi followed suit before Slypnir and Nij caught back up to the pack, all the while the feline was walking at her own pace behind everyone, unfazed by the commotion around her.

They reached the inn to find the caravan already being packed out front. They moved curiously toward it, with Slypnir and Zerion wondering how the magic propeller was working and all the others not used to there being no manticores to pull it. Dragora came out with another couple armfulls of supplies, softly pinching Zerion's rump, getting him to jump to the side and smile suggestively to Dragora as he set down the load of supplies, while Midnight went up to see if there was anything else to be carried down, everyone else aside from Zerion, Dragora and the cheetah started packing the supplies vigilantly to help.

"Not just yet, a little public for my tastes..." Dragora blurted out, whispering and giggling at the same time.

"Doesn't mean I can't do a little dry-humping while you sit on my lap as a booster seat," Zerions replied in a low tone, tipping his brow in suggestance to the lithe draconian, who was now couldn't help himself from giggling aloud, "Besides, I made the front seat to my ass, so you're gonna need to have something to prop you up a little anyway." he finished seductively, groping Dragora and making him jump while they kissed affectionately before helping with the supplies.

"So Dragora, how did you get the caravan out to the front of the inn?" Slypnir asked curiously after a couple minutes of packing.

"A little... test and go, why?...What, no one was injured this time!" Dragora blurted out loud, laughing a little from Slypnir's shocked face.

Almost immediately Slypnir packed the box he had and went off to the side of the tavern to see what damage was done, knowing Dragora was stubborn in getting things done and was going to try again even after he crashed into a stall or knock a few bricks and people out of the way. Just as he suspected, the street to the craftsmen's round was littered with splintered wood, the odd bit of mechandise left, and everyone crowded against the walls of the building for dear life, afraid to look to see if the terror had passed. The draconian merely shrugged his shoulders and returned to them group shaking his head and smiling faintly.

"No one was harmed, sure, but now the entire walls along the road are plastered with people trying to hug the wall and avoid being ran over, with anything that was protruding trampled... you're dangerous when you're determined..." Slypnir laughed loudly, seeing his knowledge of Dragora hadn't failed while he looked at his guiltily shrugging companion.

"What? It's not like I have a manual or any kind of reference, plus I had to get it back somehow." Dragora replied feebly, seeing Zerion now walk off to the side to see the carnage.

"Just another reason for me to assist you." Zerion stated, coming back and winking to Dragora subtly and hopping into the packed transport.

"Everything is in, the room is empty. I'd like to see that bridge for myself as well, this place has changed a lot since I've come here last." Midnight said to the bunch as he began hopping into the caravan, "Shotgun!"

"You wouldn't want the shotgun seat if I were you..." Dragora giggled to himself as he got in after the panther and sat on Zerion's ready lap.

"We might want to clear out quickly, considering the amount of damage we've caused in such a short time." Both Nij and Luxi said, also coming back from glimpsing around the corner.

Everyone else jumped in after, with Orrik being last and using all his meager weight to close the heavy door behind him. Zerion began showing Dragora how to drive, waving at individual switches and showing him which pedal was "go" and "slow down" in his terms. Dragora quickly began catching on, practicing the pedal work by stopping gently at each turn toward the bridge as Orrik became the designated back-seat driver and shouting out turns as he swung open the door and held onto it to see out.

When they finally got there, Zerion heaved a sigh of relief it was a straight path and told Dragora to put a little more power in to make it up the slope. It was halted, however, with Orrik hanging on the door in enjoyment blurting "road-work'ss sstopped" into the interior.

"Well it's probably a bit early to try this... move your feet please, I'll take care of this. Orrik, close that door and everyone hang on!" Zerion commanded, nudging the soft ankles aside and literally putting the pedal to the metal.

"Wait, wait! What are you doing!? What the hell!? Oi! HOLY-" Dragora and Slypnir shouted out, gripping tightly enough to turn their knuckles pale as they were drowned out by the "wee~"s from everyone else as the caravan took off over the gap in the bridge.

The caravan's weight almost didn't clear the jump, with the back wheels just barely half catching onto the bricks and knocking a few off. Zerion's eyes widened as the town drew closer and faster as the momentum of the massive vehicle caught the downhill and he pressed on the breaks as hard as he pressed on the acceleration. It threw everyone forward and Dragora sliding off the draconian's lap onto the break pedal, his ass making contact with the hard floor and his tail being pulled slightly.

"Crap, off the pedal! We don't have enough room to slow down in time! I'm, going to have to free-wheel it out of here!" Zerion yelled out in adrenaline as everyone flew to the side from the turn to avoid the wall they were headed toward.

Dragora scrambled under the passenger seats faster than a frightened rat in energy and held on tightly to the siding as the caravan weaved heavily through the crowds and stalls of the almost mirror-image town. Zerion turrned this way and that, avoiding stunned people and stalls while approaching the exit. The gates were closed and Zerion had no choice but to step on the gas further and break through, charging the vehicle into the closed arch and barreling through stunned marauders, sending everyone into more "wee~"s as the maniacal ride became very bumpy.

The villagers cheered behind them as they saw ¾ of the invading army was swathed through in less than 10 seconds. The remaining bandits were hastily brought down by the guards who jumped out of the way and charged through after the cannon-like blur.

Zerion finally brought the caravan to a stop at the entrance of a canyon, the momentum having finally worn off.

"Is everyone alright? Where's Dragora?" He asked concernedly seeing his purple-eyed love nowhere to be found.

"U-under here..." Dragora whimpered feebly, having taken a serious beating from the trip, and slightly shaking in fright.

"Are you okay!? How did you get so roughed up!?" Slypnir asked hastily, rushing down to the bruised and scratched draconian under the seat.

"I-I'm fine... I'll be fine..." Dragora breathed out heavily, obviously struggling to keep consciousness and still shaking.

"Oh my, those wounds need to be tended to, he could bleed to death. Slypnir go get your balms and potions. Nij, go get something to set him on outside. Zerion, get out some Samarkin coffee to keep him conscious." Luxi ordered firmly, sending everyone to their duties quickly.

Zerion came around the corner with a tankard of coffee that made him cautious to sip himself, accompanied by Slypnir carrying his overcoat in a large bundle. Nij used the butt of a nearby sword to put a tailhole into a long casket and brought it over after crafting it a bit further. Luxi was carrying Dragora and chanting, doing his best to heal what he could on short notice.

"Alright, here, sip this... sip it! Aw screw it, whatever works..." Zerion said as Dragora took in a half gulp and seemed unphased.

Nij set the casket down and took the cushions out of it, setting them on top to pad Dragora's beaten body. Slypnir already had one large canister of balm ready, having sped through the process with surgeon-like dexterity.

"I don't know how well this will work without being fermented, so I put in a little bit more aloe and silverleaf." The worried draconian said, handing Luxi the canister, "Please tell me you don't need disinfectant, what I have on hand made him pass out last time.

"Only the ointment right now, get to making a gentle disinfectant though, he's on his threshold of pain and any more could tip him over the edge!" Luxi commanded grimly, setting down Dragora on the lengthy crate and taking the oitnment quickly.

"Here, move aside for a moment..." S'kria said gently to Luxi, his hands emanating a gentle blue light with an undertone of red.

S'kria held his hands over Dragora's body, the aura emanating onto the fatigued draconian and cauterizing the open wounds while doing nothing for the bruises. Dragora flinched in pain, but relaxed as S'kria lifted his hands a little more to ease the intensity. The reopened stomach wound stopped bleeding as well as the cuts and scrathes on his chest and arms by the time Slypnir came around the corner, holding the almost processed disinfectant in a retort.

"I don't know how well this will work, normally I use my lunarshine as the dilutant but I used antidote this time to replace the burn." Slpynir whimpered gently, feeling his knowledge of alchemy shrink considerably.

"That should work, put it on the cauterized parts very gently." S'kria retorted, concentrating on keeping a steady level over Dragora.

Luxi began applying the balm to the wounds and bruises, the jar being almost empty by the time he was done. When the lifted him up a little to turn him over, he cringed in pain but relaxed and allowed them to inspect his back. Zerion looked tearfully upon the rectangular casket as they revealed the blood-soaked top of it and looked away in shame, feeling the whole thing was his fault.

They had laid Dragora on the turned over cushions on the ground and made fire from the crimson boards by nightfall, being sure to keep the peacefully sleeping draconian warm. The party had made small talk around the fire as they cooked their meals in turn, each tending to their own bruises and passing around Slypnir's lunarshine to tend to their small cuts. Zerion had retreated into the cold caravan and sat there alone, blaming himself for all that had happened.

"Zerion? May I come in? I know how you're feeling about this whole thing but don't isolate yourself from the rest of us for a mistake that he himself probably would've done." Slypnir said gently through the thick door, hearing a light rustle followed by a soft click.

"It's all my fault, I shouldn't have told him to move, I should've told him to get back up on my lap..." Zerion cried out in guilt as Slypnir shut the door behind him.

"Actually it wasn't your fault. It's feline instinct to draw their claws in fright and I haven't exactly trimmed my talons in a small while either... If it was anyone's fault it was ours, for tumbling around recklessly, rather than holding on like you said." Slpynir reasoned, inspecting the blood patch where Dragora was. "Luxi and S'kria couldn't have done it either, so it's really between me, Nij, Midnight, and that cheetah..."

"But I chose to jump that gap anyway rather than wait, I chose to tell him to move away rather than sit back up." Zerion retorted, his eyes red from the amount of weeping.

"Ah, here it is, see? It looks like those guys forgot to do the interior of their side as well, that would explain the scratches on his back. Also, we all make mistakes, how terrible do you think I felt when he chased after the bullies who picked on me and got beat up? How do you think I felt when I could only sit there at his side in the orphanage?" Slypnir said, starting to tear up as well and sitting down next to Zerion and looking him in the eyes. "He doesn't know, but I actually lost my hope for him the night before his birthday. How do you think I felt about that even to this day?"

"I'm just not used to it all. I was always the one who would endure all the beatings, I'm the one who's supposed to be getting injured, I built up a tolerance to it, but instead I can only sit on the side and see Dragora get injured, faint, and pull close to death on multiple occasions. I can see how sensative he is to it all, he doesn't have the tolerance to keep going through this..." Zerion cried, digging his muzzle down toward his knees, hiding his swollen eyes.

"You may think you're tolerant, but you'd be surprised, let Dragora wear your armor for a few days until he heals, I can guarantee you'll be as battered as the rest of us." Slypnir said, holding out his hand as if he was making a bet.

"I don't think he'd fit in my armor, he's too small." Zerion said, pulling his muzzle up and resting it on his knees.

"Well let's try then, now come, grab a hammer and let's smooth out the interior shall we?" Slypnir stated in an uplifting tone and holding out his plant-stained hand to the muscular draconian.

"Alright, as long as it contributes in the end..." Zerion replied taking up Slypnir's hand and pulling him into a hug, "thank you for helping me."

They took a couple of hammers and Zerion's suit of armor out from the side of the caravan, carrying it all inside and setting the armor aside so they could work on the rough parts of the sturdy frame of the vehicle. It was dawn by the time they were finished, and the interior had almost no sharp edges throughout.