"Krinn, we're in a dirt hole. We can get out. Either with magic or without." He kicks the floor again, his tail sweeping the dirt behind him. "If only I'd paid more attention to my sister. She can see if there's magic barriers around something... I can only sense if magic made something." He moves over to where Krinn was punching the wall, making sure his wings didn't hit the cursed male. "I suppose we could dig ourselves out... I imagine he'd have anticipated that though."

Kiyoshi scans the room for the sack of food, finding it near the bottom of the steps. "I could fly up to the ceiling if you want. See if I can find something that would help us?"

In the distance of the room, a door opens in the darkness, releasing a type of evil that can exist in any town across the world, and existed in this one too. It squirmed out of the hole, not really knowing what to expect from what was dropped into it's lair. It moved slowly, laboriously, on thousands of pointed legs. Each leg contained a spike jutting out at each joint, no less than three per appendage, all of them curved wickedly. It's body, more than twenty feet long, was thick around the middle and rounded, like several hundred balls joined together to make a line.

Had it not been so round, it might have moved faster into the main room, but it's size prevented it from moving too quickly. Along the back of the body, hair-like feelers waved all ways, as though looking for something in the darkness. They nearly wrapped the creature, each bundle of 'hair' hiding a barbed whip. The thing didn't have any eyes to speak of, nor what might have been called ears, but it did feature spiked horns about halfway between the legs and the path of 'hair' along the back.

It did have one feature that could be easily identified, a gaping mouth full of barbed teeth that were always moving, as though it were attached to a turbine, always spinning. Nothing on the creature sat still for more than a few seconds, everything was always moving. Behind the creature, where it's 'behind' would be, was a tail like thing with a curving blade that constantly dripped glowing green slime.

"Whaaat haaasth that slug dropped fooor Guuurlrich?" The voice seems to echo in the heads of anyone in the room. Nothing about the voice could be seen as pleasant or even tolerable. It was like a high pitched squeal mixed with the sound of a sword being drawn through flesh. With each syllable, the creature spat orange acid that burned all that it touched.

He shook his head. He didn't think it would be that simple. "I don't think it's that simple..A dirt hole, maybe..but you don't just shove someone into a dirt hole and not expect them to be able to get out.." Already Krinn was on edge. There had to be more to it than just a 'dirt hole'. He was pacing. He was twitching. He wanted out and they hadn't even been in there for more than a few minutes. "What could possibly be on the ceiling that would help us?" That had stopped his pacing and he stared at Kiyoshi. Or rather, stared at him for a few moments.

He heard something and that head turned quickly in the direction of the noise. It smelled horrible. And Krinn smelled it before he saw it. That nose wrinkled and he stepped back a bit. A shiver ran down his spine and already he was reaching for that dagger that was behind him. The one that stayed hidden next to his hidden coin purse. Krinn growled. He'd had almost as much as he could take. People just kept coming between him and a nice breakfast. "I don't know what it is..and honestly I don't care. You distract it and I'ma try to stab it." His words had been low hopefully only loud enough for Kiyoshi to hear..but even before the dragon could respond. Krinn was dashing towards that monster with that dagger held tight in his hand.

"West? Oh, that's the other way." After purposefully going around one building before turning around, Yuzo did a temporary barrel roll before remembering his passengers may not really be able to hang on properly if he kept on spinning. Soon enough, they flew past the edge of town and after a while of searching for a tree that was possibly the oldest, the dragon landed at the base where large roots were emerging from the ground. "All right, here we are. How long do you think it'll take for them to get here?" He cast his emerald gaze back towards the town. Perhaps the two were already walking through one of the streets on the way to the western outskirts.

Gurlich moves forward, nearly lunging at Krinn, the previously laborious movement to escape the tunnel was gone as it nearly flew toward the attack. It, for it had no gender it was aware of, deflected the blade with a hidden whip in it's fore-hair, pinning Krinn to the floor with a spiked leg. "Thaaat waaaasn't veeeery nice, chiiild."

Korai, who'd been hiding very well on Kiyoshi, flies out toward the monstrosity. You leave him alone!!!

"Wha...? Korai! No!" Kiyoshi leaps after the little green dragon, missing him, but crashing into the leg holding down Krinn instead, knocking it free. "Krinn, Korai followed me, he's here, but I don't know where he went..."

Guys, we have a problem... Korai was rocketing back to Kiyoshi and Krinn, the angry mob from the Inn above hot on his tail.

Gurlich was sensing Kiyoshi, using its feelers to read the air around the purple dragon. "NyteFyre... Guardians of the dark, masters of the deep, protectors of the light." It was the first and only time it's words didn't slur as it spoke around the constantly gyrating teeth. "Myyy apologieees, loord of the shaaadoows." What consisted of its head was bowed to the dragon before it. "Apologiieees, frieend of NyteFyre loord." It doesn't turn or otherwise move it's front, but the back, where the tail extended from the end of it's huge body, whips out at the mob.

Well, don't see that everyday. Not that I can actually see anything down here. Not everyone has full night vision, you know. Korai was hovering over Krinn, getting ready to heal the male again. Jeez, can't you stay uninjured for twenty minutes, Krinn?

Krinn growled when that thing deflected his dagger, and had sent it tumbling from his hand. A low grunt and then another growl emitted from him when that creature pinned him to the ground. He wriggled beneath that leg and squirmed. Then Kiyoshi had somehow managed to knock that leg off of him and Krinn was on his feet in moments and in a crouch. Those sharp pointed teeth were bared, and that creature spoke.

Krinn blinked, those glowing light blue eyes filled with confusion for a moment. He glanced at Kiyoshi. "You know this...thing, cousin?" Another look of confusion crossed his features as Korai came back into view and that creature attacked the mob chasing him.

He blinked, looking up at Korai. "Wha..?" Krinn shook his head a bit and shrugged. "I'm not injured, just hungry and eager to sit down to a very nice breakfast with my friends." Krinn growled lightly, "When I see that inn keeper again..I'll make him wish he were dead." Those hands clenched and unclenched, but his eyes were on that creature, and he watched it warily.

"I don't know. Kiyoshi only said that he'd lead Krinn to us. Something about being able to sense other dragons or something. He didn't really explain it to me." Kenji was stretching in the sun, the fur still tingling from the ride through the wind.

Merisa, who was thrilled by the ride but even more thrilled to be on the ground again, was chasing random butterflies in the sun. "They'll be here. He said he wouldn't leave us again."

Kenji, laughing at the cat's antics, sits down near the old tree, leaning back against it's trunk. He relaxes his mind, allowing it to float with the essence of the tree's thoughts. The tree was old, it remembered when the elves were everywhere in the woods around the world. It remembered when elves would talk to the trees on a daily basis, when they would sing them to grow in glorious ways. The tree missed the singing elves, the elves that grew it from a seedling to the large creation it once was. The tree missed the feel of the elves running from branch to branch.

Kenji was so caught up in the tree's thoughts that he'd begun to sing the song of growth, something the tree remembered, that Kenji didn't know until the tree told him. Under the power of the elven words, the tree's ancient wounds healed, it's former beauty was at once restored, and it was gnarled and nearly dead no more. In a language heard only by those that could listen, the tree expressed it's gratitude to the wolven elf, imprinting the song of growth in Kenji's immediate memory for later use.

----------

"Freeeind of Nyte...Fyre. Youu shaaall not haave tooo attaaack hiim. Heee wiill diiie by one whooo he haaas tooortuuured for decaaades." It's voice seems to be slowing down, almost petering out, even as it's body seemed to have been put into hyper-speed. The tail was slashing and whipping the mob and destroying every trace of it. Nothing survived the beast's attack that wasn't standing with the NyteFyre dragon. "There is a waay out in the tunnnnel. Iit iiisssss how hee pickksss the booodieees of theeir valuuueabless."

"I think that means we can go, Krinn. Do you know where the food sack went?" Kiyoshi was looking at the pile of what once was an angry mob hell bent on their destruction. He looks at the abomination before him, confusion in his eyes. "How do you know me?"

"Iii do nooot knooow youuu, NyteFyre Lord. I knooow youur kinnd. Youur claan hasss fallen inntoo darknessss. Ooonlyy a NyteFyre ooof the light caaan savee a speciiies frooom deeestuction." The great lumbering beast moves out of the way, sweeping aside the bloodied mass of bodies from out of their way. It's tail was dripping more than the green slime when it had finished it's task.

"You're wrong. I'm not like them. I will never be like them. They are a hateful breed." Kiyoshi had shifted back to elf as he said that, not wanting to look like the dragons he hated so much.

"Yeees. Thaat isss why you will saaave themm. Youuu knoow the poooweer you haave, and yooou feear it. Thaat issss what wiiill end theeeir reeign of teeerrooor in the west." The thing had moved in front of it's pile, fully intending on devouring it once the party of three had departed it's company.

Krinn blinked. Another shiver ran down his spine and he sighed softly. Shaking his head a bit, moving away from Kiyoshi and towards the sack of food. Those glowing eyes of his full of anger, confusion and sheer annoyance. "Gods this whole morning has been annoying as all hell." He muttered under his breath. Inspecting the sack for a moment, it seemed undamaged on the outside and he was sure it's contents were fine, if not a little mixed up. With a light grunt it was slung over his shoulder.

He moved towards their way out. His eyes lingering on that creature for a moment, as if he wanted to say something. Those lips parted but for a few moments Krinn was silent before he whispered. "Good hunting." To that creature..almost as if he weren't sure what he should say, if anything, at all. He started down the tunnel, glancing at Kiyoshi. "Come on cousin, we've kept the others waiting for too long already."

"Song of growth..." Yuzo remarked, looking up at the newly restored tree. "It's even more fantastic than the books describe." He slithered around the tree as he inspected it, the leaves were brilliant and healthy. It's branches were no longer desiccated and the bark of the trunk was smooth and youthful. He was used to the fact that healing magic existed in the world but the kinds of healing magic were as varied as the fish in the sea. "That's some pretty ancient magic. Was that something you learned in your village?" he asked Kenji, finally stopping at the end of a full circle. He could still feel the energy of the spell emanating from the tree. That meant the process of rejuvenation was still in progress, the song's effects would continue long after it was sung.

"And just think, it isn't over yet..." Kiyoshi follows behind Krinn. "Did I ever mention how NyteFyres got their name?"

~X~

Gurlich had begun to devour the pile even as the two males were leaving by way of the tunnel. It wasn't until the monster was done, that the innkeeper had made his appearance once more, showing up beside the monstrosity. He stared at the remains of the angry mob, his own anger showing clearly on his face, not that Gurlich could actually see it. "The NyteFyre haaas freeeed meee. I am yooour slaaave noooo mooore." With it's words, Gurlich rears back and lands upon the Innkeeper. With a pained scream, the innkeeper vanishes into the monster's maw. Upon the innkeeper's death, all the wards and spells keeping the monster in the dark hole break, allowing it free roam in the city it'd grown to hate.

~X~

On the edge of the city, Kiyoshi's elven mother and halfling sister pick up on the disturbance just a few miles away. Fearing the worst, they pack up their belongings and wares quickly, abandoning what is at the shop for the loss it is, and leaves their most recent home, praying that Kiyoshi is safe, where ever he is.

~X~

Kenji doesn't get a chance to answer before Merisa interrupts and denies that they might know any elven songs. "No, they never taught us anything like that before. Mostly we just know prayers for the seasons."

"That song is from this tree that remembers when elves would sing to it often." Kenji was standing beside the tree, his hand on it's trunk. "I will remember, old one. No worries, I'll spread that knowledge once again."

Krinn shrugged. Honestly he didn't really care how the NyteFyres got their name, but he wouldn't be rude about it. "No..I don't think you have." he spoke the words almost absently. His mind was on something else. He shifted that sack a bit and stopped almost suddenly infront of Kiyoshi, half turning to look at the dragon. "That thing..Girlish, or whatever it calls itself...What do you think it's going to do now?"

Krinn's body was tense. His muscles bunched as if he thought he might need to rush off somewhere at a moments notice. He had a very bad feeling, something nagging and nipping at the back of his mind. He shivered.

Kiyoshi stops, looking at the ground, suddenly embarrassed he'd asked Krinn that. "Uh, sorry, never mind. That was stupid of me to ask that." He continues on after the cursed male, staying at least a step behind him. "If Gurlrich does what all monsters of the dark do, he'll go out and wreck havoc on the town, turn the signs backwards, break the glass in shop windows, steal everyone's left shoes. It's the creatures of the dark that take your sock out of the washing barrel before you're done with the laundry." Kiyoshi was still looking down, not noticing that Krinn had stopped, even though Kiyoshi himself had stopped too. The halfbreed knew what Krinn was asking, but he didn't know if Krinn really wanted to know or not.

~X~

Mika, Kiyoshi's older sister, was standing before the creature of the dark that her brother was speaking about with Krinn. "I don't know where you came from, beast, but you do not belong in the world of the light." She was in her own dragon form, slightly taller than Kiyoshi as a dragon, more lithe, and very much more graceful looking. Her wings were raised behind her, her tail whipped back and forth in anger, and her finger was pointed at the creature, the claw ending with a wicked looking curve. "You will cease all attacks upon these people. They did not know of your imprisonment, and they do not deserve your punishment. Leave now and never return!"

~X~

Korai, who had been slowly following Krinn and Kiyoshi, finally catches up to them and lands on Krinn's head, panting heavily. Thanks for waiting for the tiny green dragon, guys... His tone was clearly sarcastic as he took deep breaths, trying to calm his racing heart.

"I see. Elves are such mysteries. Your kind have a deeper connection to this world than we of the elements." he said before looking towards the town. Yuzo lowered himself closer to the ground in a more relaxed position as he kept an eye out for their two comrades. Many minutes passed before he would raise his head up again. "Hmh? What's going on in the town?" He rises up a little higher to get a better view. "Hey, the people are panicking and running from something." Concern was evident on his inhuman face. "Should we go back? What if Kiyoshi and Krinn are in trouble?"

Those light blue eyes narrowed. "He's going to destroy the town. That's what you mean when you say 'havoc'." That body was so tense, he couldn't ignore what he felt. That feeling that still nipped and nagged him, and Kiyoshi had practically confirmed his suspicion. "Something must be done." Already Krinn was shoving that sack into Kiyoshi's arms, not even waiting to see if the dragon grabbed it before he picked Korai up and set him on Kiyoshi's head.

Krinn bolted.

He wasn't fast enough..true he was fast, but not fast enough. At least. Not in this form. Krinn's body changed as he ran. Going from man to wolf in only a few seconds. He would chase down that creature and he would stop it. Or at least, he would attempt to stop it. A growl was caught in his throat as he raced as fast as those four legs would carry him. Ears flat against his skull and once he was out of the tunnel he turned towards the city.

He was panting slightly when he did come upon that creature. That creature and another dragon. Krinn's form changing as he moved closer to them. A man once again in mere seconds. "This will stop now." Anger was in that voice, and that voice itself a throaty growl. Those light blue eyes narrowed and fierce.

Mika turns slowly to stare at the intruder. "It has already stopped, mister wolf. You needn't worry yourself. A guardian of the dark will handle the monster from the dark whence it came. You need not concern yourself and may continue on your way to whatever you shall find when you get to your goal." She turns back to face the nightmarish beast that hadn't moved since Krinn showed up. "Gurlrich, your kind was not meant for the light. You are a monster of the dark and the dark needs you back."

Kiyoshi, who had followed behind Krinn at a slower pace, steps out from behind him now to face his sister. "Hi Mika. Sorry about the thing, but I figured you could handle it..."

"KIYOSHI! I should have known! How you could let this beast run free is beyond me! Wait till Mom hears about this. Ooooh! Just you wait! I'm totally telling!" Mika was fuming while glaring at her brother. "Do you know what havoc this thing caused? Where am I going to find that many left shoes?! Huh? Did you even think? Did it even occur to you?! None of the socks match, none of the signs go the right way, and the entire village is freaked out!"

"I said I was sorry..." Kiyoshi was looking down again, holding Korai against his chest, almost as if to protect him.

Yeesh, sisters are scary... Korai wasn't speaking openly, but to Krinn privately.

"Oh my god, is that a little green dragon?! Oh! He's so cute!" Mika, like any female, can't resist the adorable baby dragon look.

Okay, she just reached a new level of scary... Uhm... I think I'll be needing help soon... Maybe? Please...?

~X~

"It's just a simple relaxing technique. Anyone can do it. It takes almost nothing to listen to nature, you just have to be able to let go of yourself long enough to let your mind wander around, let things in that you wouldn't hear otherwise." Kenji still had his hand on the tree, almost as though he were still listening to the forest around them.

"I know that Korai can do the mind talky thing, Yuzo. But can you do it in dragon form too?" Merisa sits down near the old, newly restored tree. "If you could talk to Korai, you might be able to find out what's going on."

Kenji was looking at the other trees in the area. "I'm pretty sure that if it was something big, we'd hear something from the town, right? Like a bell or a whistle of some kind? I heard from a wild cat once, that it had snuck into a town before, looking for a quick meal, and this shrill whistle started and all the villagers were on the streets with weapons to chase him off." The furry elf sits down next to Merisa. "Krinn is very good at handling himself, and Kiyoshi seems to be the strong fighter."

Merisa pulls the rusted sword off her back, examining the sheath like she'd done so many times before. "You know, I've never even pulled the sword free..."

Krinn blinked. For a few moments he only looked from the girl to Kiyoshi and back again. Shaking his head as if to clear it, his lips twitched slightly. He felt as if he were missing something, but never mind that. Once again he glanced between those two dragons and looked once to Korai before his eyes were on Gurlrich.

"So..it wasn't eating people?" That was really all that Krinn cared about, he was a little uncertain. So the monster was stealing shoes instead of taking people's lives? Or was it doing both? Monsters. They were always so damn confusing. Krinn blinked. That head jerking to the side and those nostrils flaring abit as he sniffed the air. Another shake of his head and he shrugged off that familiar and unwanted scent as his attention moved back to the others.

Mika looks at Kiyoshi, a demanding glare in her eyes. "What have you been telling your friend, that all creatures of the dark are monsters that kill the innocent at heart?"

Kiyoshi shakes his head, still not looking at his sister. "No, Mika. I didn't tell him anything, not about NyteFyres, not about our job, just about what our father was doing to the NyteFyre clan."

"That man is a disgrace to the name 'dragon'." Mika looks at Krinn, a sad look entering her face. "I'd love to correct your thinking, but I'm afraid I have to clean up my brother's mess. Again. A sister's work is never done... Mom is so going to be pissed with you." With that, she was off, ushering Gurlrich out of the town limits, and toward the hills beyond.

"I tried to tell you earlier Krinn, but monsters of the dark and monsters of the night are two different things. Monsters of the dark feed on darkness of the heart. That's what a NyteFyre does. They keep the darkness at bay. We got our names for being a light in the darkness. Our flames are meant to keep the monsters of the darkness, all monsters of darkness, from entering the light. It used to be that a NyteFyre that was pure of heart, like my sister, could use their flame and send the heart of darkness into the dark where it belongs." Kiyoshi makes it a point to examine the ground fully and completely. He was embarrassed to have been yelled at by his sister in front of Krinn, and also embarrassed to have to tell Krinn how he's failing in his job as a NyteFyre dragon. "A dragon who has darkness in his heart, like my father, uses his flame for a dark purpose. He uses it to kill and destroy life and light."

So the monsters you see in the woods at night, they aren't monsters of the dark? Korai was looking up at Kiyoshi as the elf was looking down.

"No, monsters of the night are commonly mistaken to be evil and are actually just animals or people of various types. Not all things that avoid the light of day are evil." Kiyoshi shuffles his feet, still not looking up. "Monsters of the dark, when in a place where darkness is devoid, are tricksters. It's all in good fun, mostly. They really do hide left shoes, change street signs, hide socks so you don't have a pair set. But they don't kill the innocent. They aren't evil, even if they look like they would be."

Krinn just kindof..blinked. Looking slightly less confused but only slightly. "Um..right." He rolled his shoulders abit. "But...I saw that thing kill a mob of people." He scratched the back of his head abit and sighed lightly. Shrugging. "Anyway...whatever." It was almost clear that Krinn was feeling rather inadequate and stupid at the moment. He looked down at the ground and scuffed the toe of his boot in the dirt. "So...we should get back to the others, yea?"

A look of annoyance passed over Krinn's features as that head jerked up and to the side. Looking. Those eyes narrowed. Searching. Two scents in the air, both he recognized. One of course was that tiger that constantly hounded his footsteps, an unwelcome and annoying scent. The other..the other was one that shouldn't have been there. Distinctly feline but not that tiger. Krinn shook his head hard and turned his back to the direction he had looked in. "I'm losing what's left of my mind...C'mon. The quicker we leave this place, the better."

"I guess so." The dragon broke of his staring contest with the people running about and looked at Kenji and Merisa. "It looks pretty old. I wouldn't be surprised if it broke while you try." Yuzo said before closing his eyes. Yes, the mind talky thing....The dragon suddenly chuckled before recomposing himself. "Sorry, one more try." Once again closing his eyes to focus. "Korai, can you hear me? Where are you guys?" The sounds he was hearing were not the ones he should be paying attention to. But it was hard for him not to pick up on the cries of confusion from the town. Not in his dragon form and not as long as he was a protector at heart. Still, he had to concentrate on the green dragon's voice. At least the commotions have settled down somewhat. Something about missing things....

Kiyoshi bows his head, assuming he'd said too much, but it immediately jerks back up again as he catches an odd feline-like scent. "You wouldn't happen to know any were-cats, would you? One or two of them seems to be following us..."

Korai raises his head and immediately looks to Krinn. Krinn, it smells like that tiger. Does he always follow you everywhere like that?

"Yeah, safety in numbers, I'm sure..." the purple dragon in elf's skin was looking around, but discreetly so, as if looking at the scenery.

When Korai hears Yuzo, he nearly falls off his perch on Krinn's head, where he'd flown to once again. Digging his claws into Krinn's scalp then healing the wounds when he was settled again, he stares wide eyed at Kiyoshi. Did you hear Yuzo? Kiyoshi shakes his head. He asked where we are. But he said it the same way I talk to you guys. I thought I was the only one that had to talk like this. Do you think I can speak out loud like you guys too?

"I don't know, Korai. Maybe when you're older you'll be able to. Are you able to talk at all now?" Kiyoshi had gone back to walking with his head down, trying not to draw more attention to himself.

"Cuh-Kuree! Kuuuur..." He was trying, anyone who looked at him could see that he was definitely trying, but he didn't know how to shape his mouth to make sounds turn into words. "Kooorahieee... Kooo..." I can't do it! Why can't I talk? I want to talk like you guys can...

~X~

"Or if just the hilt came out and nothing more than rust fell out after it." Kenji had moved next to Yuzo, trying to get a look at what was going on in the town. "Just looks like something spooked them a little. See? The people seem to be calming down now."

Merisa, putting the sword back over her head so it was against her back again, pokes Kenji in the arm. "Maybe they're looking for the troublesome wolf pelt."

"Hey! It's not my fault the angry mob was waiting for me in the Inn..." Kenji looks to Merisa, who was looking at the town, an odd look crossing his features as he watches her.

Krinn shifted on his feet almost nervously. Looking around a bit and shivering lightly. He had nodded slightly. "He follows me everywhere....even when you think he isn't around, he usually is." That other scent though..Krinn frowned, jerking slightly when Korai dug his claws in to keep from falling. He reached up to pull the little dragon from his head. Holding him against his chest with those arms around him protectively.

"Don't worry too much about it. You communicate just fine the way you are now, listen to your uncles." He lowered his face and nuzzled the top of Korai's head. "Uncle Kiyoshi says maybe when your older, and I think he could be right. Sometimes things take time. So just be patient." He lifted his head, looking around again. Alderan was close, as he often was..but that other scent, it couldn't be real. Shaking his head a bit he moved briskly. Catching up with Kiyoshi and reaching over to lightly smack the back of his head.

"Don't walk like that. Raise that head. You look like an old, tired, beaten dog...and I'm the only one in this group that's allowed to look like that." There was a smile on Krinn's lips, but a small bit of worry in those eyes.

"One of my position is not to raise one's head while walking in the presence of a superior being." Kiyoshi doesn't make a move to raise his head, and even when he did speak, it was quietly. He knew his place, and he wouldn't anger anyone by stepping out of it. He was a bodyguard as a dragon and a slave as an elf. His kind usually are slaves to the higher beings, his sister was the exception to the rule. Her intellectual brilliance made her a higher being, despite being half NyteFyre. "We are here to serve." This last sentence was choked off, and to cover the sound, he coughs, as though he'd swallowed a bug.

Korai looks up at Krinn. "Kuurrinn."

Krinn had stopped walking, and nearly dropped Korai at Kiyoshi's words. Those arms tightening around the little dragon for a moment and Krinn didn't move. Just watched as Kiyoshi kept moving. Like a beaten down dog. Krinn growled. Not really at Kiyoshi, more a growl of annoyance. Those lips parted, about to say something and he blinked. Stopping and looking down at Korai.

"Hi?" He blinked again. "Here..wait.." He set the dragon on his head, bent down, picked up a rock. "Watch this." A hint of mischief glinted in those light blue eyes of his as he stood back up with a small rock in his hand. Aiming, he threw the rock hard, but not quite as hard as he could. "Kiyoshi.." His aim was true and the rock went swiftly, if Kiyoshi turned around at the call of his name the rock would hit him in the forehead. If not..then it'd smack him in the back of the head.

Kiyoshi steps to the left and looks back, his eyes widening when the rock goes whizzing by. "Wow, thanks for alerting me to that rock, Krinn. That could have hurt." He looks after the still flying rock. "I can't imagine what kind of person would throw a rock like that at someone. Thank you for looking out for my safety." He continues walking, not actually looking at Krinn, his head still bowed down.

Korai buries his face in Krinn's hair. I like him, but he reminds me of the birds that chased me a couple days ago. Not too bright. He was speaking privately to Krinn only, not letting Kiyoshi hear him. "Kurrinn kuun." He was still trying to talk, starting to figure out how to mix sounds to make words. "Kosi doof." He didn't feel he needed to clarify that mentally, figuring the tortured words summed up what he meant.

Ahead of them, Kiyoshi stops and looks back at Krinn and Korai. "Why did you throw the rock anyway?"

Well...that didn't go as planned. Krinn just watched Kiyoshi as the dragon watched the rock before it finally fell out of the sky. Harmlessly, not hitting anyone. Especially it's intended target. He shook his head a bit, chuckling softly to himself for a few moments. When Kiyoshi asked why, Krinn suddenly went all serious and blinked. "I didn't throw anything...It was Korai."

Shaking his head again he moved towards Kiyoshi when the man stopped. Walking up to him and throwing an arm around his shoulders. "Because, you, my cousin, need some semblance of common sense knocked into that brain of yours. All that talk about 'positions' and 'superior beings' it's nonsense. Everyone is equal, it's just. some people don't like to see it that way because it makes them feel..'special' or 'important' when they can lord over people." He shook his head slightly, smiling a bit. "You young people. I swear..you know how to make an old dog feel all his years."

"You're not that old, Krinn." Kiyoshi walks with his head bowed, this time from Krinn's arm on his neck. "Man, throwing a rock to knock in some sense, that seems backwards somehow."

Hey! Don't pass it off on me... "Karinn doofs koo." Korai grabs a lock of hair and tugs it with a forepaw.

"Wow, Korai, you're getting better at talking out loud. I'm sure with practice, talking mentally will be a memory." Kiyoshi steers them to the old tree on the east side of the village. "Korai, can you call Yuzo and ask them where they are?"

Korai, being the cute little baby he is, sets a glowering look on his face, and shakes his head. "Nuu. Kyuu."

Kiyoshi laughs and shifts into dragon form, since it was easier to speak to a dragon as a dragon. Yuzo, this is Kiyoshi, sorry for the interruption, but where are you guys? I thought I told Kenji to meet us at the old tree on the east side of the village.