The Journey Continues! (DragonSong)

[Kalak8538]

Eihmo'tei ran down to the river, and looked around. If he could familiarize himself with his surroundings, he could remember exactly what part of the river he was at. The sun was setting directly behind him as he looked to the flowing water and swaying grasses.

In the distance, there was an old dead tree. After some observation, the Zerdani found thet he remembered it. It was one of the trees his people would take wood from. He was confident that he could find his home from it. He made his way over.

"This way! Come!" he said with enthusiasm. His strides over the sandy earth started off slow, but soon began to pick up in speed.

[DragonSong]

Well, he was certainly excited about something. "Come on, let's follow," Kiara said over her shoulder. "Kids, why don't you ride Kit? That'll be easier."

That dragon gave her a look that quite clearly said Easier for who?, but otherwise didn't complain as the young soon-to-be-ex-slaves climbed up onto his back and they set off after the little Zerdani.

He started to run, and Kiara had no idea how. She wasn't used to sand shifting under her feet, having to adjust for every step she took. Kit seemed to be faring better, but then his clawed toes were much better suited to this sort of thing.

"Eihmo'tei, wait up!" she called, cresting a dune behind her smaller friend.

[Kalak8538]

Eihmo'tei stopped at the tree, and continued to look around. Before long, he had the trail home. All that was left before going was to wait for his friends.

"I know the way! Here it is!"

The overjoyed Zerdani pointed in the direction, towards the setting sun. As the rest grew near, he began up the sandy slope of a dune.

[DragonSong]

Kiara followed as quickly as she could.

"Where are we going?" Bibi called from Kit's back. She glanced around at them to see all four looking curiously at both her and Eihmo'tei and realized she'd never actually explained that part.

"To Eihmo'tei's home," she said with a smile.

Ras frowned slightly. "Where is that?"

Kiara laughed and shrugged, then continued after the Zerdani.

[Kalak8538]

Eihmo'tei continued to lead, saying nothing as he made a bee-line westward. He could not get far before the sun began to disappear behind the horizon.

With the last light of day, he slid down the slope of a steep dune. He paused in the middle of the sandy valley. There, he looked around for something in the new darkness.

[DragonSong]

Kiarqa caught up to the Zerdani and stopped next to him. "What is it?" she asked as Kit and the children joined them, the dragon translating her question.

[Kalak8538]

"It is dark now..." said the little Zerdani in his native tongue. He dropped his pack to the sandy ground and opened it up. "This is a good place to rest."

He rifled through it until he found some dry sticks. "Let us make a fire, alright? It gets cold at night..." He continued to look through the pack for the small stones he needed to make a spark.

[DragonSong]

Realizing they were setting up camp, Kiara sank onto the sand with a sigh. It had been a long day. Kit settled back onto his haunches, allowing the kids to slide down to join her on the cooling ground. Arching his neck, the dragon coughed a brief jet of flame onto the kindling, lighting it instantly.

Kiara sighed, closing her eyes and stretching her arms above her head. She opened her eyes at the four soft thumps of four smaller bodies thumping onto the sand next to her.

[Kalak8538]

"Woah!" the Zerdani exclaimed. He had almost forgotten that the dragon could do that.

Eihmo'tei closed up the pack and secured it once again onto his back. He was obviously not settling down. Walking over to the others, he said "Make yourselves comfortable. I will go for more wood!"

Without waiting for an answer, he was off again. In his mind, he hoped his friends would forgive him for his sudden and seemingly odd behavior once they saw what he had planned for them. He knew he would be gone for a while, and hoped that the humans and dragon would be asleep before he came back.

Then he disappeared between the dunes.

[DragonSong]

Kiara blinked, watching him dart away. "What...just happened?"

Kit chuffed, curling up the way he usually did when preparing to sleep. "I think he said something about firewood," the dragon muttered.

The four children started, looking at the dragon curiously. Ras exclaimed something in Essyrni that Bibi translated for Kiara as, "He can talk!"

She laughed, realizing they had only heard him grumbling and growling translations at Eihmo'tei before. Their understanding of Common must have allowed them to realize what he was saying without him speaking directly to them, unlike with the Zerdani. "Yes, he can," she said, smiling. "Introduce yourself properly, Kit," she told him, patting his side as she wandered over to lay down in the curve of his body.

"Hello," the dragon grumbled at the children. They stared at him in awe for a moment, then murmured quiet "hello"s of their own, creeping toward them both slowly.

"Well, come on," Kiara urged, beckoning them closer. "It gets cold out here at night, and Kit's a good windbreaker." With smiles from Bibi, Tala, and Perryn and a grudging nod from Ras, they edged closer and spread out thin sleeping mats in the crescent of Kit's body.

Kiara yawned, arching her back in a stretch before settling down again. "You okay with first watch, Kit?" she murmured, already drifting. It had been another long day.

The dragon rumbled an affirmation, nudging her fondly with his nose. Kiara smiled and closed her eyes. "If Eihmo'tei isn't back soon...wake me. We'll need to go...find him..."

The soft breathing of the children sleeping surrounded her, lulling her into unconsciousness.