a collection of tales [[ chronocompass writing ]]

Teeba remembered when, just a few months ago, his home had just been one shack, built out of metal in the middle of the woods. The forest reaching out on one side of the clearing, a river bordering a large field on the other side - it was majestic and wonderful. Nowadays, it felt that new dragons or people came by every day, seeking a home. New buildings had sprung up as needed, and he was starting to lose track of everyone under his protection. It was like being the mayor of a chaotic city - though thankfully one with very few problems between people.

Every so often a dragon would run up to him to let him know about some important issue or another, or something they had just noticed. Today, it was Cairo, with the sword strapped to his waist, that approached and gave him a story about seeing some suspicious movement down by the river. Teeba couldn’t help but fear that the Abrendese had come to get Alf back, and that chaos would follow, so he decided to head down to the river himself, with Gemma flying above as backup, to check out what was up.

He made his way to the river on creaky legs - walking around was a bit more difficult these days - and held his walking stick protectively. He could only hope that whatever, or whoever was down by the water, had no bad intentions.

- - - - -

Aren and her motley crew had moved in to a small cave by the river perhaps a few days ago. She prided herself on her ability to stay hidden and stay low. Quirrel had made sure that everyone stayed quiet whenever someone came by to cross the river, or to get some water, and things had been going quite well.

Usually the cat wouldn’t have been hiding out so close to such a large group of people, but her newest dragon, Quantum, had run into some trouble and ended up with a broken leg that she didn’t know how to fix. She’d heard that the leader of this odd ragtag group was a kind soul who might be able to help. Aren didn’t trust rumors, not by any means, so she had packed up everything and brought her group here, where she could get her own impressions of this growing community.

At first, she had hidden in the shadows herself and watched the interactions of everyone from afar. There had been so many odd people she had seen, and odd dragons - but they all got along so well.

The first time that she saw the town’s leader, the grey-scaled tsotska, she’d been impressed by the way he carried himself, the way he stopped to talk with everyone he passed by. He was definitely a kind soul, that was for sure. After a while of watching, and a short time where Stonefalls snuck into town and did some more looking around, she decided that it would be quite easy to get the sympathy of the tsotska, gain the help she needed for Quantum, and go on her way.

When the yellow dragon with the sword came by the river the next day, she made herself known. Just a shadow in the long grass on the other side of the river, a presence there long enough to be noticed, but not recognized. When the dragon jumped and ran back towards the metal buildings, she knew that she’d been seen. Aren sent a message out to her dragons - Looks like this could work out. Quantum, get over here. The rest of you, just don’t cause any trouble, alright?

In return she got a chorus of mental agreements and a frustrated huff from Quirrel, who sent her a mental image of taking the tsotska into the sky and just shaking him until he agreed to help.

Well, that was certainly one way to go about things. But that would be more of a last resort.

By the time that the tsotska himself arrived, she was on the field side of the river, looking over Quantum’s leg and acting very concerned - which she certainly was, though she turned up her actions so that she looked pretty desperate. That would probably convince the fellow.

Predictably, thankfully, the tsotska hopped across the river on a couple of rocks and approached her cautiously. “Everything alright?” he asked.

“No - it’s just, Aren and her dragon, we got into a fight, and Quantum here’s pretty hurt - or so this one thinks,” Aren replied, glancing up as she spoke.

The tsotska kneeled by her and took a look. “You’re right, it’s pretty bad. But I could certainly help out, if you’d be willing. Could even call up my brother, he’s got some pretty good ocean dragons. Great healers, them.”

“Whatever you can do,” Aren said, and she really meant it.

- - - -

Teeba-ei was the tsotska’s name, she would find out later, as he patched up Quantum’s leg until it was good as new. He worked quickly and spoke almost the whole time, going on about things that Aren didn’t really care about, but nodded along to anyway, biting her tongue so she didn’t snap at him to stop.

At the end, when Aren and Quantum were on their way out the door, Teeba offered them a place to stay in the rapidly growing village. She paused at that. She had planned on heading out on her own once more, just her and her dragons, but this Teeba fellow, and some of the other folks around here - she had heard about them before. And she knew that someone was looking for them.

“Sure,” Aren’dra agreed, with a fake smile and a plan forming in her mind.

- - - -

“You’d really do anything to find him,” said the Militia agent later that night. Aren sat in a cold room, Stonefalls on one shoulder, and shrugged.

“He and the dragons are the people Aren cares most about in the world. Of course she would. Is it a fair deal, or no?”

The agent laughed, and Aren resisted the urge to knock him out and steal all his stuff just to teach him a lesson.

“It certainly is. You’re right, he’s not dead. Just wandering. And we know where. For information on that rascal Teeba-ei and his allies… we’d gladly tell you where he’s hiding.”

Aren smiled, all teeth and no eyes. “Great. This one will be in contact with you soon, then.”

She pickpocketed him on the way out. Just because she could.

- - - -

The world was a weird place. She’d been outcast in her youth for the odd way she spoke, hadn’t met an innocent soul in her life, and now that she’d finally found a whole bastion of them, here she was, betraying them all. Life was just a bundle of laughs. She discussed that quietly with her dragons once she’d returned from her secret meeting.

Briefly, during the conversation that followed, she considered heading right back in to the small town and letting Teeba know what was going on. But quickly, Aren remembered the point of why she did things. It was all for her dragons. And having a semi-permanent home here, with folks that were nothing but nice - it could be good for her dragons. Certainly she was enjoying the odd change of pace.

“Where do you think we’re headed after this?” Blizzard asked her, after the rest of the group had gone off to the land of dreams. Aren shrugged. “Nowhere? Everywhere? You know this one doesn’t plan that far ahead, Bliz. It’s all about the journey with all of you. At least you’re reliable.”

Blizzard hummed, thinking. “Do you think that Teeba is, too?”

Aren headed out on her own for a little 2 in the morning stroll after that, frustrated that everyone seemed to be doubting her in this, even herself. The moon was just a sliver in the sky, and as she headed out into the tall, thin, grass, she appreciated the feeling of being hidden and safe.

What was she going to do in the future? Blizzard always asked the interesting questions. All that Aren knew was that it would have to be big, and that it would have to involve her own little family. Quirrel had been with her almost her whole life so far, and the other dragons had soon followed. They all trusted her, even when she didn’t completely trust herself. So she thought about a hundred different adventures, exploring far off places, finding huge treasures, and doing it all with her family.

She thought about finding her dear old missing friend.

Treasure was good. Treasure shined like a thousand stars, drew her in like catnip or a promise. It didn’t lie - gold was gold, and it didn’t change. It was special, and when she got her paws on a shiny trinket, the whole world was good for a bit.

But, of course, her dragons - her family - they would always be better. No matter what happened in the future, she was determined to look out for them.

Aren’dra snuck back inside with an actual, honest smile on her face. Things would be okay - maybe not for others, but for her and her crew - definitely.

High above in the sky, the moon shone of trouble, adventure, and change to come.