CDupre

At 7:15, Damian pulled out of the gravel drive, and the group finally left for the airport. When they arrived, it was chaos. With four young children to keep track of - though Damian counted Talon as five, the way she behaved - plus someone as small as Louise, who couldn’t fly, Damian and Velebeth had their hands and minds full of children and bags. “This way,” Damian stated, as if he actually knew where he was going. Ten minutes later and several promptings from Velebeth that they needed to go that way, they found the proper plane. As they approached the metal detector, Damian looked back at Velebeth with a subtle wink. They passed through without issue. Talon looked terrified. “Oh no, that means I forgot my-“ “Shush,” Damian silenced her quietly as they made their way through to the gate. Louise had made herself as small as possible in Sayah's hands. She didn't love being around so many enormous people, many of which eyed her a bit too curiously. People her size had been

At 7:15, Damian pulled out of the gravel drive, and the group finally left for the airport. When they arrived, it was chaos. With four young children to keep track of - though Damian counted Talon as five, the way she behaved - plus someone as small as Louise, who couldn’t fly, Damian and Velebeth had their hands and minds full of children and bags. “This way,” Damian stated, as if he actually knew where he was going. Ten minutes later and several promptings from Velebeth that they needed to go that way, they found the proper plane. As they approached the metal detector, Damian looked back at Velebeth with a subtle wink. They passed through without issue. Talon looked terrified. “Oh no, that means I forgot my-“ “Shush,” Damian silenced her quietly as they made their way through to the gate. Louise had made herself as small as possible in Sayah's hands. She didn't love being around so many enormous people, many of which eyed her a bit too curiously. People her size had been

Snell stood right where he had been left, unsure whether Aiken would be returning or not. Aiken and his human friend had been in such a hurry with Louise that it seemed they hadn’t even noticed him. He shifted his feet back and forth, at lack for what else to do. Aiken would be back, he told himself. They’d been in the middle of a conversation after all. Simon carefully approached where Aiken and Louise had been. He squinted. One of his least favorite activities was trying to locate a yunwi tsunsdi' in the dark. "Snell?" he called. "Are you there?" “Here,” came the gruff reply. Simon knelt close to where he heard the voice. He could just barely make out the small figure. "The council wants to speak with you," he said. Snell grunted his acknowledgement. Simon hesitated. Was that a grunt of acquiescence or...? He tentatively held out his hand to the small man. With nary a word, Snell placed a boot on Simon's hand. He had only ridden with the human once or twice, and

After walking for hours, Sardonix finally spoke up again. "By midnight, we should find a place to set up camp. It'll take a day or two to get there on foot." Kavela could barely keep her eyes open. "Midnight?" she said. "Yeah. Unless we find a good place to rest before then." She leaned on Elihu as they walked. "You're the expert, I guess." Sardonix grinned. "I've never been to Ibris before." Phyllis groaned. "Tell me you brought the map." "I brought the map." He spoke with a monotone voice. "Are you lying?" He looked away, grinning. "No..." "Sardonix, I swear, if you forgot the map..." "What would you do?" He was genuinely curious. Trudi looked up at him from her new perch on Zidryn's head. "I would slit your throat," she murmured groggily. "Would you really?" he questioned Trudi. She glared daggers at him. "Wanna try me?" "Sardonix, quit patronizing them!" Elihu scolded. Sardonix laughed. "Yes, ladies, I really do have the map." Trudi stuck her tongue out

Tasina stirred as the birds chirped. Her eyes were caked shut from her dried tears, and her body still ached from her latest fits. She rubbed the heels of her hands in her eyes and yawned. But as memories from the previous day flooded back to her, she did not move any more than that. Cautiously, she peered around the room and froze. Brontide was awake and stoking the fire. She could only see the back of his head. Her body shuddered and she closed her eyes. Was he still angry with her? She let out a silent but shaky sigh. She would never give him reason to be angry with her again. She would obey. She would listen. She would be the perfect daughter. A grumbling came from Cairo's bedroll as he stretched and rolled over. Finding Ka still asleep, he raised his brow. This was new. Hauling himself to his feet, he padded over to the giant's head. "Wakey, wakeeey!" he chimed, pushing on his thick brow. Brontide looked over at the human upon hearing the surprisingly loud voice. His eyes