A New Adventure

[DragonSong]

"Hm?" She looked up, saw what he was pointing at, and blinked mutely. She was so tired, it actually took her a moment to realize what she was looking at. "Oh. Oh. Yes, good idea. Here, I'll take him."

Laying Mahina down in her cradle, she moved to take Hau from her mate's arms and place him carefully into his own cradle--usually the twins slept together, but her father had made the two cradles for those days when on went down faster than the other.

[MadEmperor]

Kah gave her a peck on the cheek and a tired smile before heading out.

Outside, he went around the cabin to intercept the message flame. He wasn't very surprised to see it float over to meet him halfway.

[DragonSong]

As soon as Kah was in earshot, the fireball piped up cheerfully, "Heya, lovebirds! Thrax and I are heading north, and we thought we'd pop in for a few days. River told us how to find the cabin--we should be there within three days of you getting this message. Can't wait to meet those pups!"

It pulsed twice, then dissipated into the air.

[MadEmperor]

"Still traveling together are we?" Kah chuckled to himself as he headed back inside to share the message.


Three days later, a very tired Thrax lagged behind as the pair exited the pass that marked the final leg of their journey. "You'd think... I'd have more stamina by now... after all the places... we've been."

[DragonSong]

"I told you, I can give you a ride as a fox, but noooooo, you're too tough for that," Hana laughed lightly; wearing significantly less armor than her companion, she was quite a bit lighter on her feet and so not nearly as tired. She was actually--infuriatingly--downright bouncy.

[MadEmperor]

"Hey, a man's gotta have some pride." Thrax smirked playfully.

Watching her move around so energetically, he frowned. "At least slow down so I can keep up, showoff."

[DragonSong]

Hana laughed and doubled back to take his hand, lacing their fingers together. "You better be ready for lots of energy when we get there," she chuckled. "Can't say I've had much experience with them myself, but word is newborns are a handful."

[MadEmperor]

Thrax huffed defensively. "Hey, I have plenty of energy when it doesn't involve climbing."

"Do you think we're almost there?" he asked with a groan. "I don't know if I can take much more mountaineering."

[DragonSong]

"You suuuuuuure you don't want that ride?" Hana teased with a smirk up at him. Sobering a bit, she added, "And I think we're close--River's directions said the cabin is in a clearing about an hour's hike from the pass. We got through it near an hour ago, right?"

[MadEmperor]

"Has it been that long already?" Thrax asked, honestly surprised.

He scratched his ear. "I thought we'd have run into one of her pack on patrol once we got that close." Though, since they were expected, maybe the wolves didn't bother making themselves known.

[DragonSong]

Hana shrugged. "Who's to say we haven't? They could be failing us. Or herding us, even. Wolves can be stealthy, we might not even notice—"

"Clever."

"Gods!"

She jumped and spun to face a smirking wolf shifter in human form, some dozen yards away, leaning against a tree trunk. He chuckled and raised a hand in greeting. "You must be Hana and Thrax. Name's Shadow."

[MadEmperor]

Thrax yipped in surprise and whirled, growling slightly for a moment before registering the greeting. Clearing his throat, he answered, "We are."

"I take it you're our escort?" he inquired.

[DragonSong]

Shadow nodded with a crooked smile. "I am indeed. I'm also River's brother—it's nice to officially meet you."

He held out a hand as he approached, which Hana took after the briefest moment of hesitation. "Likewise," she said with a small smile.

[MadEmperor]

Thrax grinned as he vigorously shook the offered hand, which practically vanished in his giant mitt. "Agreed."

"What are the odds we'll be mobbed by all the pups that we've been warned about?" He smirked.

[DragonSong]

"Are you a gambling man?" Shadow chuckled. "Because those odds are all but guaranteed. The twins aren't quite able to manage that just yet, but they'll certainly babble at you."

He grinned, winked, then fell forward into wolf form. Other than being slightly heavier in the shoulders, his wolf shape looked remarkably similar to River's as he started trotting off, leading them through the scrubby mountain trees.

[MadEmperor]

Upon reaching the cabin, Thrax gave an impressed grunt. "They weren't kidding when they said it was big."

Before Shadow could announce their arrival, Kahroan emerged from the door. "They're here!" he called inside.

[DragonSong]

"Kah!" Hana bounced onto the balls of her feet and waved, beaming, as she caught sight of the dragon shifter.

Behind her, Shadow chuckled. There was already a babble setting up behind Kahroan in the cabin as the pack seemed to be gathering to get a look at their guests.

[MadEmperor]

Kahroan jogged over, greeting them each with a quick hug. "Hana. Thrax. It's good to see you both."

"It wasn't too rough getting here, was it?" he asked.

Thrax groaned. "Gnolls aren't built for uphill slogs. But other than that, it was problem free. Not the deathtrap you had to endure during the winter."

[DragonSong]

"I offered a ride," Hana said with a theatrical roll of her eyes. "Multiple times."

Grinning, she peeked around Kahroan at the curious faces clustered in the windows and door of the cabin. "I take it we finally get to meet the family?"

She gave him a wide smile, eyes glinting. "How's parenthood been treating you, by the way?"

[MadEmperor]

"Yeah, we've told them a lot about the both of you. So they're eager to meet you." Kah chuckled. "Of course, we don't get many visitors, so it's always a special occasion."

"And, parenting? Oh gods, it's exhausting. I'm a dragon and I'm tired. I don't know how anyone survives," he groaned tiredly.

Thrax shuddered, hoping yet again to never have kids. "I don't think I could, for sure."