"Wow," Kitty said. "I'm impressed. That's a really useful power to have, Anthony-kun. Not crazy powerful or anything, but handy to have."
"I know that. I mean, there are spells that make light, and just about anyone can cast them, right?" Anthony asks. "But I like it. I don't need to turn on lights to get around at night, and that helps me sneak out, so it's already useful. Plus, there are things you can only see at night out here, if you're watching."
"Really? Like what?" she asked, fascinated. "This place is so different from anywhere I've been before."
"But I'm glad you're feeling better enough to be threatening to beat up the other guy," she said, giving Taron a quick hug.
"Ow, ow, hugging hurts. Still want to punch him."
"So you really are okay? That flame of yours... someone told me he couldn't block it, but it was almost out by the time we got there."
"Really? Like what?" she asked, fascinated. "This place is so different from anywhere I've been before."
"Nocturnal animals mostly, but sometimes you can see fey. One time I saw..." Anthony stops and his face goes red. "Uh, never mind that. You should see some the really big owl colonies."
"But I'm glad you're feeling better enough to be threatening to beat up the other guy," she said, giving Taron a quick hug."Ow, ow, hugging hurts. Still want to punch him."
"So you really are okay? That flame of yours... someone told me he couldn't block it, but it was almost out by the time we got there."
"Sorry, Taron. Didn't mean to hurt you."
"Yeah, I'm okay. In...Inside the coccoon thingy....there was this horrible mist," she said with a shudder. "It was...like a parasite, but it was eating my spirit. And one of them was so latched onto me that it followed me home. But Lysander took care of it, and made it give me back the energy it stole. So I'm totally okay now."
"Really? Like what?" she asked, fascinated. "This place is so different from anywhere I've been before.""Nocturnal animals mostly, but sometimes you can see fey. One time I saw..." Anthony stops and his face goes red. "Uh, never mind that. You should see some the really big owl colonies."
Kitty giggled again. "It's okay you know. I have brothers, so it's not like I'm shocked. Kyuu used to borrow uncle's spyglass to try and see mermaids because they don't wear any tops. You should have seen him blush when he got caught. His ears even turned red."
"And owl colonies...that sounds really interesting."
"He is the weirdest Hunter I know." Taron admits. "I don't think he was the one who showed me how to find you using the flame though. I remember... a woman's voice, maybe? I think there was a garden..."
"He is the weirdest Hunter I know." Taron admits. "I don't think he was the one who showed me how to find you using the flame though. I remember... a woman's voice, maybe? I think there was a garden..."
"A garden? Like maybe one with really tall hedges? Like might be used for a maze?"
She tilted her head and studied him coolly. "A year ago I would have run away screaming. I like to think I've grown up a bit since then."
She stood up and hesitated. "May I?" she asked, waiting for his assent before reaching out to touch his fur.[/] "It's soft."
[i]She sat back down. "Well, as you can see, no running or screaming. Since you didn't run from me even when I told you the whole truth about me, I will return the favor."
"And as a point of clarification, the entire staff isn't dragons. But there are dragons among them. It's complicated, and honestly I never was quite able to entirely untangle the truth of who is or isn't what in Ephebe's family. But her mother is definitely a dragon. And the Headmaster definitely is not even though he's her uncle. Since you seem to like brutal honesty," she said with a half-smile, "I would not want to end up lying by omission."
Changes back to human form, and laughs
"So you're gonna humor me for the rest of the date becasue I didn't run screaming? Too cruel! Thou dost wound me..." has a mock heart attack, and falls down. After lying still for a second, he rolls over and props up his head on his hands, looking at Nala."Ah, I do enjoy brutal honesty. No shades to hide in it."
Krays just pretty much hangs back and nods when appropriate, grinning like an idiot, but looks concerned when Taron mentions the woman...and Ephebe asks about a maze.
"A garden? Like maybe one with really tall hedges? Like might be used for a maze?"
"Yeah, like a maze. How did you know that?"
Kitty giggled again. "It's okay you know. I have brothers, so it's not like I'm shocked. Kyuu used to borrow uncle's spyglass to try and see mermaids because they don't wear any tops. You should have seen him blush when he got caught. His ears even turned red."
Anthony's ears turn red as well, when he realizes Kitty knows what he was talkig about, more or lees.
"And owl colonies...that sounds really interesting."
"You're not just saying that so I'll stop looking like a human tomato, are you?"
"A garden? Like maybe one with really tall hedges? Like might be used for a maze?""Yeah, like a maze. How did you know that?"
"That would be Kronos. Or at least one of his/her/its aspects. Kronos makes a spot...a landscape I guess for each Champion. He still uses the others, but each one of us has one that is specific to just us. Mine is the garden maze. I think there used to be a different maze, but it changed for me."
Kitty giggled again. "It's okay you know. I have brothers, so it's not like I'm shocked. Kyuu used to borrow uncle's spyglass to try and see mermaids because they don't wear any tops. You should have seen him blush when he got caught. His ears even turned red."Anthony's ears turn red as well, when he realizes Kitty knows what he was talkig about, more or lees.
"And owl colonies...that sounds really interesting.""You're not just saying that so I'll stop looking like a human tomato, are you?"
"Not at all," she said, cheerfully. "I really love animals and want to learn as much about them as I can. The owl colonies really do sound totally fascinating to me. I hope you'll show them to me. I'm really looking forward to it."
Changes back to human form, and laughs
"So you're gonna humor me for the rest of the date becasue I didn't run screaming? Too cruel! Thou dost wound me..." has a mock heart attack, and falls down. After lying still for a second, he rolls over and props up his head on his hands, looking at Nala.
"Ah, I do enjoy brutal honesty. No shades to hide in it."
"Well, so far it seems to be working out better for me than when I was always trying to hide the truth."
She looked away. "You should expect cruelty from me, you know. I've certainly shown plenty of it before now."
"That would be Kronos. Or at least one of his/her/its aspects. Kronos makes a spot...a landscape I guess for each Champion. He still uses the others, but each one of us has one that is specific to just us. Mine is the garden maze. I think there used to be a different maze, but it changed for me."
"That doesn't make me, like, the runner-up Champion of Time, does it? Because I've got enough stuff to worry already."
"That would be Kronos. Or at least one of his/her/its aspects. Kronos makes a spot...a landscape I guess for each Champion. He still uses the others, but each one of us has one that is specific to just us. Mine is the garden maze. I think there used to be a different maze, but it changed for me.""That doesn't make me, like, the runner-up Champion of Time, does it? Because I've got enough stuff to worry already."
"Not at all. There's no rule that says that patrons can't talk to non-Champions. They just don't usually bother. So Kronos gave you a hint on how to find me. Probably because he really doesn't want to have to break in a new Champion so soon. So no added worries for you." : )
Looks relieved
"It doesn't suprise me that Kronos interceeded. They can, if they use mortals..."
"Not at all," she said, cheerfully. "I really love animals and want to learn as much about them as I can. The owl colonies really do sound totally fascinating to me. I hope you'll show them to me. I'm really looking forward to it."
"Okay then. Michael might want to go too, he always liked traveling the Anderail roads."
"Traveling those roads are probably the only reason I got nothing worse than a dislocated shoulder in Advanced PE." Michael says as he returns, using the door instead of just going through the wall. "It's been a while though."
"Grandpa's ring is right where it's always been, if you think you're going to need it."
"Nah, I'll be fine."
"Well, that's good. Wouldn't want to steal your thundzzzz." Taron trails off and falls asleep again, snoring softly.
"Looks like no one has to worry. I think Taron is going to come back from this and be better than ever."
Changes back to human form, and laughs
"So you're gonna humor me for the rest of the date becasue I didn't run screaming? Too cruel! Thou dost wound me..." has a mock heart attack, and falls down. After lying still for a second, he rolls over and props up his head on his hands, looking at Nala.
"Ah, I do enjoy brutal honesty. No shades to hide in it.""Well, so far it seems to be working out better for me than when I was always trying to hide the truth."
She looked away. "You should expect cruelty from me, you know. I've certainly shown plenty of it before now."
He gets up and sits down next to her, turning her face gently towards him.
"Not to me, you haven't."
"Not at all," she said, cheerfully. "I really love animals and want to learn as much about them as I can. The owl colonies really do sound totally fascinating to me. I hope you'll show them to me. I'm really looking forward to it.""Okay then. Michael might want to go too, he always liked traveling the Anderail roads."
"Traveling those roads are probably the only reason I got nothing worse than a dislocated shoulder in Advanced PE." Michael says as he returns, using the door instead of just going through the wall. "It's been a while though."
"Grandpa's ring is right where it's always been, if you think you're going to need it."
"Nah, I'll be fine."
"Is there something I should know about the roads? Are they not safe for some reason? Or do they go through the tops of the trees or something?"
Krays looks at Kam oddly, then nods.
"I hope so. Are you ok Kam?"
"Well, that's good. Wouldn't want to steal your thundzzzz." Taron trails off and falls asleep again, snoring softly.
"Looks like no one has to worry. I think Taron is going to come back from this and be better than ever."
"I'm glad," she said with a soft smile. "We'll get out of your way now. Obviously he still needs his rest. Plus we have to tell the rest of the family. I'm pretty sure Grandma will be happy. She's always liked Krays," Ephebe said, not quite able to keep a silly grin off of her face when she looks at Krays.
She looked away. "You should expect cruelty from me, you know. I've certainly shown plenty of it before now."
He gets up and sits down next to her, turning her face gently towards him.
"Not to me, you haven't."
"That doesn't mean I won't. I don't mean to now, but that's no guarantee. I get scared and I lash out. If you stay close, you'll likely get hurt," she said, but she didn't pull away from him.
Krays looks at Kam oddly, then nods.
"I hope so. Are you ok Kam?"
Now that Krays, mentions it, Kam does look a little burned out.
"Yeah. I was so worried, I didn't get a lot of sleep. I couldn't sense anything from here for what seemed like forever... I can't describe how it felt to wake up and be able to feel his mind again."
"Or do they go through the tops of the trees or something?"
"Your girlfriend is either really good at guessing or really smart."
"A bit of both, actually. You see, Kitty, the branches of the trees around here are close enough and big enough you can walk or jump on them. Anthony and I had to wear Grandpa's ring when we were learning how to do it in case we fell. It makes you kinda float down to the ground if you fall too far."
Krays looks at Kam oddly, then nods.
"I hope so. Are you ok Kam?"Now that Krays, mentions it, Kam does look a little burned out.
"Yeah. I was so worried, I didn't get a lot of sleep. I couldn't sense anything from here for what seemed like forever... I can't describe how it felt to wake up and be able to feel his mind again."
Ephebe hugged him. "I can only imagine. I'm so glad that he has you. You get some rest too. And if there's anything you need, you just tell us."
"Or do they go through the tops of the trees or something?""Your girlfriend is either really good at guessing or really smart."
"A bit of both, actually. You see, Kitty, the branches of the trees around here are close enough and big enough you can walk or jump on them. Anthony and I had to wear Grandpa's ring when we were learning how to do it in case we fell. It makes you kinda float down to the ground if you fall too far."
"I thought maybe they might be after we ended up in the tree branches to go and see Cait. It was only logical."
"Well, I think I should be alright. It can't be that much worse than walking on rooftops right?"
"Will do." Kam replies, returning the hug. "But right now, I'm just going to stretch my wings out and take a nap."
"That doesn't mean I won't. I don't mean to now, but that's no guarantee. I get scared and I lash out. If you stay close, you'll likely get hurt," she said, but she didn't pull away from him.
He smiles and leans in closer
"I think you're worth taking risks for. Are you scared now?"
"I...hope I'm never severed like that. You're very brave, Kam. I'm glad Taron has you."
"That doesn't mean I won't. I don't mean to now, but that's no guarantee. I get scared and I lash out. If you stay close, you'll likely get hurt," she said, but she didn't pull away from him.He smiles and leans in closer
"I think you're worth taking risks for. Are you scared now?"
"A little," she admitted. "But I trust you. That isn't an easy thing for me to do. I may forget sometimes."
"Do rooftops sway or snap when you walk on them?" Anthony asks.
"She'll be fine. She's got two experts at Anderail road travel going with her after all. But first, we need to go back home. I reminded Mom and Dad that the caves were unstable, and I think they're more than a little worried. We might actually have been gone long enough that they might be thinking about making a search party..."
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"I...hope I'm never severed like that. You're very brave, Kam. I'm glad Taron has you."
"I can think of no one better than you for Ephebe. Now we just need to get Feiri and we can make a Sunwake Protection group, so they don't do as many stupid things."
"I...hope I'm never severed like that. You're very brave, Kam. I'm glad Taron has you.""I can think of no one better than you for Ephebe. Now we just need to get Feiri and we can make a Sunwake Protection group, so they don't do as many stupid things."
"Hey! I resemble that remark," she said, laughing.
"Speaking of, I'm going to go see if Jimmy is awake."
"A little," she admitted. "But I trust you. That isn't an easy thing for me to do. I may forget sometimes."
He cocks his head to one side
"I suppose I'll have to endeavor to give you reason not to..."
"Do rooftops sway or snap when you walk on them?" Anthony asks.
"She'll be fine. She's got two experts at Anderail road travel going with her after all. But first, we need to go back home. I reminded Mom and Dad that the caves were unstable, and I think they're more than a little worried. We might actually have been gone long enough that they might be thinking about making a search party..."
"Oh! Yes, we should hurry back. We don't wish to worry your parents....okay, I don't wish to worry your parents. I'd like them to think well of me. Since I'm hoping to be around for a while."
"Use status spells. They help most of the time" he says with a wink. He bows to Kam, then follows Ephebe out.
"A little," she admitted. "But I trust you. That isn't an easy thing for me to do. I may forget sometimes."He cocks his head to one side
"I suppose I'll have to endeavor to give you reason not to..."
She swallowed nervously and abruptly handed him his lunchbox. "We should eat."
She looked down nervously. "You were too close. It felt like you might kiss me. And part of me wouldn't mind. But it scares me too. I'm sorry."
"I really don't think you should worry about that. Dad likes you, or he wouldn't have asked if I was being gentlemanly, and Mom did make a nice snack for us. Well, you and Dad I guess. I was too busy running away from the broom." He glares at Anthony when he laughs. "You know I can make a rock hit you in the head, right?"
"You'll have to catch me first." Anthony replies, not missing a beat as he takes off.
"How about we let him feel like he's won by just walking back, what do you say?" Michael asks Kitty. "Unless you want to chase him down yourself, or send Saffire to do it?"
Ephebe opened the door to Jimmy's room. He was still out cold, and snoring loudly. She closed the door again.
"Well, I guess we'll have to tell him later. So...next is Grandma and whoever else happens to be downstairs."
She headed downstairs. She was mostly cheerful, but a little nervous.
"Ok, where you go, I go...I think somehow she already knows, though."
"I really don't think you should worry about that. Dad likes you, or he wouldn't have asked if I was being gentlemanly, and Mom did make a nice snack for us. Well, you and Dad I guess. I was too busy running away from the broom." He glares at Anthony when he laughs. "You know I can make a rock hit you in the head, right?"
"You'll have to catch me first." Anthony replies, not missing a beat as he takes off.
"How about we let him feel like he's won by just walking back, what do you say?" Michael asks Kitty. "Unless you want to chase him down yourself, or send Saffire to do it?"
Kitty laughed and took his hand. "Walking suits me fine. It gives us a little time to be alone together, which I'm guessing will be in short supply while we're visiting your family."
Kitty laughed and took his hand. "Walking suits me fine. It gives us a little time to be alone together, which I'm guessing will be in short supply while we're visiting your family."
"Oh good, you can read minds too." Michael says with a laugh. "Things will be so much easier now." ;)
She swallowed nervously and abruptly handed him his lunchbox. "We should eat."She looked down nervously. "You were too close. It felt like you might kiss me. And part of me wouldn't mind. But it scares me too. I'm sorry."
He smiles
"I totally was, too. We'll go as fast or as slow as you want, no worries. Ok, thn...lets see what we've got..." as he opens his lunchbox...and retrieves a sloppy joe."Not quite the ramen noodle fare I'm used to, but here goes..."
He takes a bite, and makes a face...not sure if it's good or bad...
"Interesting flavor. What'd you get...?"
He'll spend the rest of lunch like normal, flirting and being himself, letting Nala relax as much as possible...
"Ok, where you go, I go...I think somehow she already knows, though."
"Well, yeah...I guess I'm worrying about nothing. Just...things haven't been that great between Grandma and I recently. But she was as glad to see me come home last night as my parents were, so I'm sure I'm being silly."
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Ryleh smiled at Ephebe and Krays as they walked into the kitchen. "Well. I was starting to wonder if you were planning to get out of bed today at all."
"Would you like a cup of tea while you tell me what I already know? It doesn't take a diviner to see what's going on with you two, you know," she said, amused.
She swallowed nervously and abruptly handed him his lunchbox. "We should eat."She looked down nervously. "You were too close. It felt like you might kiss me. And part of me wouldn't mind. But it scares me too. I'm sorry."
He smiles
"I totally was, too. We'll go as fast or as slow as you want, no worries. Ok, thn...lets see what we've got..." as he opens his lunchbox...and retrieves a sloppy joe.
"Not quite the ramen noodle fare I'm used to, but here goes..."
He takes a bite, and makes a face...not sure if it's good or bad...
"Interesting flavor. What'd you get...?"
He'll spend the rest of lunch like normal, flirting and being himself, letting Nala relax as much as possible...
"Er...ham and cheese on rye it looks like. I think I definitely got the better lunchbox. The sloppy joes are definitely not my favorite. Next time you can ask them for something that's more to your tastes....and I'll share my sandwich if you like. Since you don't look like you like that at all."
She slowly starts to relax as they continue to talk normally and he doesn't give her any grief about getting weirded out earlier.