Yeh.

(For spicy stuff)
I like cat gals because of TES IV: Oblivion. Khajiits!
I like lizard gals, also 'cuz of TES IV: Oblivion. Argonians!
I like alien gals 'cuz of the District 9 movie. Really liked those Prawn / Poleepkwa aliens!

I like dragon gals and cyber gals 'cuz of Angela-45.
I like kobold gals 'cuz of Sefeiren and mca_jabberwocky. Rezzic Malik!
I like horse gals 'cuz of Furryjibe. Elaine!
I like cow gals 'cuz of Monty / Po-ju and their comic. Milk Cow!

I like orc gals cuz of Delita and his Orc OC. Vem!
I like goblin gals 'cuz of Incase. Great goblin gals!
I like dwarf gals 'cuz of Ninja_8004. Solid adoptables!
I like gnome gals 'cuz of Kuder. Sybil Ashcraft!

(Honorable mention to the artist 68, and their "Let's Eat" anthro stories)
(Along with the Halo and Mass Effect games and fanart)


...

1. Raku x Senjira, Irene and Vukrem... (3)

2. Ragnor x Vukrem :( ...
Ragnor x Maeve, Lady Paulina, Vivian, Wynnie, Diana, Deineth, Shaki, Azel, Chelsea and Gertrude (11)

3. Calem x Deliah :( ...
Calem x Heidi (2)

4. Sen x Lina, Myra, Sally, Wicco and Tabitha (5)

5. Joey x Patty, Saroni, Gemma and Glency (4)

6. Pace x Noka, Felicity, Thelma, Chloe, Neeah, Niah, Bella, Sofie, Gooly, Cha and Emmie (11)

7. Uppa x Oko, Zaukree, Reida, Bren, Vert, Abscondita, Baluk, Lady Gala and Caya (9)

/

Hugo x Kesnaut - Filbert x Verona - Blondie x Ginger

Janine x Billie, Blondie, Darko, Dillon, Gil, Huddy, Iggy, Marcus and Oliver (9)

(Party 1)
Once upon a time, there was a blue demon imp by the name of Baithos.
She used to work for a greater demon, but then they died and she was out of work.
She found other ways to keep busy, though, like when she learned to make different potions and uncommon concoctions through alchemy, as well both enchant and disenchant a variety of items she either found or was given. She charged people for these skills of hers, and was able to live off of this way of life for a time.

However, despite her skills, she did not feel adequately safe by herself.
Along the way, she decided to ask a wandering kobold mercenary by the name of Arweg if she would be willing to keep her protecting as she utilized her skills to get money for her continued survival on the road. Arweg was also blue like Baithos, but she was a darker blue than her. Arweg could also use a crossbow well, along with some liquid-based sorcery whenever needed.
Arweg decided to accept the only offer anyone has bothered giving her in a while.

As they traveled, they met all sorts of people. But during one day, they found an odd moth woman by the name of Millie far away from her odd home. She had been trying to get some rare materials not common in her city for a special outfit she was creating, but she was ambushed by outlaws trying to mug her for whatever coin she might have on her, which wasn't much.
Because the outlaws saw Baithos and Arweg, they tried to include them in their mad mugging, which ended very quickly. Arweg responded to their actions quickly with a crossbow bolt straight through their leader's leg, and a few others in the other outlaws' legs. Millie was too terrified to move, and then tried to pretend to play dead. It was not very effective.
As soon as they asked if she was ok, she got up and tripped over herself. On the ground, she looked up and nodded at them.
They escorted her home, with her given the two her thanks. Baithos and Arweg decide to do some business in the city for a while. During that time, Millie decided to make an outfit for her two saviors and make it as well and as quickly as she could. She didn't tell them she was making it, but did talk to them from time to time to understand the type of outfits they liked as well as their sizes.
When the outfits become complete, she meets the two near the end of their business in her city and offers it to them for all the good they've done for both her and her city.
Baithos and Arweg hesitate at first, but they eventually accept the outfits which were well-made and comfy.
A day after, Millie decides she no longer wants to live at home and doesn't want to see the same relatives being sad and moody for the majority of her life, and while Baithos and Arweg didn't look much different, she preferred being with them over what she was stuck with for many years.
So, she asked if she could join the two and offered to serve them with anything they might need.
Again, the two were hesitant, not helped by how odd and awkward the moth woman was, but they eventually believed she genuinely wanted to come along and make herself useful to them, so they let her come along on the condition that she would defend Baithos as much as Arweg does and learn how to engage in combat the same way Arweg does.
She is not a great ranged fighter, but she ends up an overall better moth woman than she was in her city.


(Party 2)
Once, there was goblin woman by the name of Taski that was cast out of her goblin village for her oddly upbeat personality, preference for peace and happiness, and strong faith in the good gods and spirits that she claimed was always among them. Despite her expulsion, she kept her hope that she would be fine and find others that shared in her faith.
Her prayers were soon answered after travelling far enough to encounter the Golden Raindrop temple, a temple unique for recognizing and respecting all known gods across the land, as well as recording and preserving the tales, myths and artifacts associated with them.

The people there were kind and understanding, more than the majority of people that kept their distance from her when she had traveled alone, before finding this wonderous place.
Taski wanted to offer support for this wonderful temple, but the early work given to her as support toward the temple started out with labor and menial tasks, more than she had expected. However, there was meaning behind each task (mostly, anyways), and a fair number of them had some relation to a god or spirit elsewhere that went through an experience with a meaningful lesson by the end of it. Through this, Taski earned a clearer understanding of the gods and spirits around her that wasn't just her own. She also learned more about the people that worked at the temple, as well as the people that visited every other day.

However, if Taski wanted to further her support for the temple, she would have to pursue a greater position beyond labor and knowledge through informal conversation.
She would have to understand the specific rituals that went into honoring each known god. She would have to read many holy texts and attempt to understand the meaning behind the ancient words written on them thousands of years ago. She would commune within herself a spiritual connection with the forces beyond and share within their power so that she might be able to share that exact power with others through faith, care and understanding.

This was indeed difficult at first, as Taski was not a great reader. She understands knowledge better through word of mouth and the verbal interpretation of it. And there were many, many rituals she was required to understand as well. She had to train herself to remember these things, if she wanted to give what she felt was the best support for this temple and its people.
Some years pass, and one day, Taski receives a dream from the gods above and among her. They felt her faith would be better put to use if she actually left the temple with what she knew and attempted to share in her faith in them with people outside of the temple. Visitors were becoming few as time went on, including some of the temple staff members.
Her role was to travel far and wide, inform as many people of the Golden Raindrop temple, and either establish or bolster the faith of the greater gods and spirits in other individuals.
This is to be shared, like a kindness. Where a kindness is earned, it shall be given back.

And so, Taski went onward to fulfill her lifelong role as an informer of the greater gods and spirits above and among.
A task Taski would not do alone, of course.
One of the temple visitors was a quiet, lute-playing unicorn woman by the name of Bethany. She mentioned to Taski how she used to be a famous child singer, but left that life beyond as she wasn't satisfied with singing and being a public figure of sorts as she grew older. Bethany became a wandering music-player, instead, as well as a regular visitor for the Golden Raindrop temple. Bethany enjoyed Taski's company, as Taski enjoyed hers, so they agreed to travel to certain towns and cities Bethany was familiar with so that they both might share in their faith, while playing some music on the side. Bolstering faith and earning money at the same time.

Some visits go along well enough, but trouble eventually comes their way, unrelated to the religious faith of others and dependent on the strong greed of criminals.
Muggers attempt to take from Taski and Bethany, but a mercenary that had been tailing the group makes herself known and fends off the muggers with her grit and weaponry.
Their defender is a bovine mercenary ex-knight by the name of Etrian.
Etrian is shocked to see the two wander the country without any protection against exploiters or criminals, offering her services to them at a discounted price (for the first few months).
Bethany fears Etrian but Taski is so grateful of Etrian's interruption and offering that she accepts her offer, allowing her to travel with them and provide protection as they share their faith and music with the world around them.
Etrian respects Taski's efforts with sharing what she believes in, along with Bethany's skill with her instruments, even if she may not believe as strongly as they do (nor can she play a lute to save her life).
And ever they go on, the faith, the music, the defender, on the way forward to elsewhere and anywhere beyond.


(Party 3)
One day, there was a wandering, whimsical monster-cat lady with a skull-exterior face whom was named Wicco that was doing anything and nothing in particular, until the other monster-cat people in her village became concerned one day because someone's son named Overn did not return from their trip east to their favorite tree.
Wicco went east to find this tree, which took longer than expected but was eventually discovered, only to find a letter inside the tree that Overn was tired of living in the village and wanted to go north in search of a better, more exciting life.
After telling her fellow villagers, they did not understand Over's reasoning, but Wicco agreed to go north of that favorite tree so that she might find Overn and ask him to come back if only to let the villagers know that he's fine and well, along with his mother and father Sondil and Waurkern that are worried about him.
So, Wicco goes north, stumbling upon a unique group of monster-goat folk with skull-exterior faces and slimmer bodies than hers. The first friend she seems to make is a nervous monster-goat woman by the name of Sohshem. She seems very good at running and climbing on things, so Wicco asks Sohshem if she could help her move around as good as she does on mountains, since she struggles going up certain parts of the mountains. Sohshem doesn't know if its a good idea to teach her anyone anything, but Wicco manages to persuade her to give her some advice to help her on her journey finding Overn, whom did pass through Sohshem's village but went further north in the colder parts of the mountains.

So, Wicco goes into the snowy parts of the upper mountains, but despite the advice given to her, Wicco still struggles greatly with going up the mountain and finding signs of Overn and wherever he might be. Due to some clumsiness, Wicco loses her equipment tumbling down the mountain and the bare clothing she had to withstand the cold and snow were torn apart. She didn't want to turn back, however, because she was determined to fight Overn. She felt like she was very close to finding him.
But the cold was getting to her. The safe way down was a very long way. If she didn't find something quick....
Finally, she finds a clue of Overn's latest plans in a distinct, snowy tree. On it is a carving that shows random images on it, and the last carving says, "I like drawing".
Wicco, sad, distraught and freezing, doesn't understand what this message means. She slowly makes her way down, fighting back tears nearly coming out of her eyes.
But below her, Sohshem had gotten the courage to go to Wicco after getting worried about her. Seeing that she had lost all of her clothing and equipment, Sohshem helps her find a nearby cave to warm up and eat some food for her long journey up the mountain.
Wicco is grateful to Sohshem and appreciates all the things she brought, but then tells her she didn't find Overn up the mountain. She went as far north as she could, but could only find carvings saying "I like drawing".
Sohshem is a little confused by this, too, but tries to think back to her village. There is only one person who likes drawing the most out of anyone else there: Kelnum.
Sohshem thinks that Kelnum might be able to help with finding Overn somehow.
They make their way down the mountain, as safely as they can with Sohshem guiding Wicco and with Wicco talking cheerfully to Sohshem, and eventually find their way to Kelnum's home.

After knocking on Kelnum's door gently, no one responds. After knocking a second time, but slightly louder, still no response.
This seems unusual to Sohshem. Even though she doesn't really talk to Kelnum, and Kelnum doesn't really like talking to most people, she would still respond to whoever knocks at her door. She rarely ever leaves her home, if at all.
Now concerned that someone else may have left their village, Wicco goes to find an elder or guard to help with getting Kelnum to open her door to them.
Wicco seems to find a guard to help them. After the guard shouts to them and pounds on the door, they seem to then treat it like a serious situation and decide to break her door open and search her house with the other guards for any signs of Kelnum.
She isn't on the first floor, and after some searching they discover she has a basement underneath a specific carpet. There was recent activity in that basement, but after further searching this time, the guards don't find anything extra regarding Kelnum's whereabouts.
It takes Wicco interacting with a random object for a hidden door to open underneath them, leading directly to a secret chamber filled with Kelnum's drawn art on sheets of paper.
Some ways in, they find Kelnum and a strange monster-cat man looking intensely at a piece of paper with a drawing on it.
Wicco greets them and asks if they're Kelnum and Overn.
Kelnum tells them to be quiet because they're trying to improve upon the drawing Overn made.
Overn, half-focused and half-looking away, answers that it is him.
Wicco, smiling widely, goes to hug him and tells him how happy she is now that they found her. Overn feels awkward about this sudden hug from a strange loud lady he doesn't really like, but doesn't say anything until some seconds after she's still holding onto him. And what he does say is, "Please let go of me."

After Kelnum leaves her state of focus, she demands everyone leave her home, including Overn. The guards and elders didn't appreciate her having secret chambers and withholding the information from them, as well as taking so long to respond to them, but eventually let her be.
Overn goes with Wicco to return home. Sohshem, hoping for them to have a safe trip home, goes to accompany the two on their way back.
After a long walk back, Overn returns to his family. Wicco is happy that the journey is over, and thanks Sohshem for her support and company.
Sohshem seems to give a small smile at Wicco's kindness and gratitude, and accepts her thanks.
Wicco and Sohshem give their goodbyes to each other, and return to their homes.

Sometimes, Wicco might go and visit Sohshem in her mountain village.
Other times, Sohshem might go and visit Wicco in her forest village.
And that goes on for a good, long while.


(Party 4)
?

(Artists of Interest)

~  Sefeiren ~  mca_jabberwocky

~  Murasuke ~  Etheross (Journal + Auction)

~  Onta (NO Notes, Email instead. However, also organization/admin email so avoid unnecessary spam)

~  MukiHyena

~  BuckdaSystem ($75-$120)

~

~  Lady-Darkstreak ($45 Flat Colour, $75 Shaded Color)

~  Llythium ($50 Sketch Page+$5 for added Flat colors on Fullbody. $60 Fullbody Shaded, $70 Illustration, $80 Ref Sheet)

~  Starit

~  Meatboom

~  TeolleAzazelMarithe

~  Red-Izak ~  Inert-Ren

~  Keel_the_Equine ~  Oniontrain

~  sirphilliam

~  Glor666 (Detailed, more semi-realistic style)

~  Devilbluedragon (Euro-cash)

~  Phantastus

~  Igazella ($130 Full Render Fullbody Com., $? Animation)

~  unousaya ($60 for One Character with no Background, but +$40 with Background)

~  Shamerli

~  Jhinbrush (Full Scene with Character+BG: $60)

~  Crescentia-Fortuna (On DeviantArt, Anime-ted Artstyle: https://www.deviantart.com/crescentia-fortuna)

~  B-epon ($100 per character, complex backgrounds add more)

~  DesertKaiju ($100 for a Fully Shaded Colored piece)

~

~  Greivs (Distinct Muscular+Extra-rounded artstyle. Send Email. $25 for Full Color-Single Character, $55 for Comic Full Color Page)

~  captaincob (Distinct Expressive and/or Gritty Artstyle. $70 Full Color, +$10 NSFW )

~  felice-chan (EMAIL ONLY! Neat animated artstyle. Commission Info: https://www.mallowkitten.com/ )

~ michiko_chan (Good animated artstyle. Commission Prices: https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/9569742)

~ PolarBearAnimation ($30 Com. and $100 Animation)

~ _Keplen_ ($40 Com.)

~ proann ($50 Speedpaint, $100 HD Full Body)

~ zdragoon ($40 Shaded Fullbody+$10 for Background)

~ PrnBillion ($60+?)

~ Vant_Talon ($65 Cell Shading, $70 Soft Shade)

~ Sanfingulipunrapin ($80 Full Color Shaded)

~ andytakker ($70 Full Color+$15 for Background)



~ Baxter13 (Full Color $5 Com.)

~ Eyeball6300 ($30 Full Color piece. $50 Ref Sheet. Simple stuff, Good stuff)

~ Donya ($35 Fully Detailed Com. but Email only, NSFW)
Or ArtesDeRatzyu (Same but for SFW)

~ shredded-wheat ($40 B&W Only Com.)

~ zdragoon ($40 Shaded Fullbody Com.)

~ Pawpadcomrade ($40 Fullbody Pose Com.)

~ Pinabble ($40 Full Body Com., more depending on background complexity)

~ SamashTommy ($40 Full Illustration Com.)

~ Ikakins ($40-65 Com.)

~ YoungJinja ($45 Realistic Headshot Com.)

~ Recurrent ($?? for multiple choices)

~ AnnaDark ($50 Fullbody Com. and added Detailed Background is +$15 more)

~ slimefur (Full Shaded $50-80)

~ Carniscorner ($45-85 Com.)

~ Arkman ($55 Full Color Com.)

~ Ursk ($60 Com.)

~ krapinka ($60 Full Body Com.)

~ NotNBars ($60 Full Body Com.)

~ BiteTheRock ($60 Full Body Com.)

~ DrZombie ($65 Cell-Shaded Full Body, $110 Full Shaded)

~ Dutch ($65 Com.)

~ VileKeyKeeper ($60 Full Body. $90 Ref. $25 Icon/Headshot)

~ Quanlain ($60-$100 Full Body Com.)

~ Onomari ($65 Fullbody Usual Style Com.)

~ Nexivian ($69 Full Body Com., or cost range from $28 to $83)

~ Valeria_Fills ($70 Rendered Full Body Com. Also, Animation slots)

~ rebrokota ($70 Full Body + $30-50 Background Com.)

~ SiriussLy ($70-150 Full Shading Com.)

~ LazyOllie ($100 Full Body)

~ AngART ($150 Full Colored Scene)

~ UPOV ($? Animations)

~ Leklek ($200 Fullbody Rendered Com.)

~ Soft.Dilo ($35 ‘per hour’ Com.)

~ Leonifa (?+90 Fullbody Com.)

~ deadrussiansoul ($63-100 Detailed Colored Sketch Com.)

~ TEKILAO ($75-100 Full Body Com.)

~ Hini ($120-270 Fully Rendered Illustration Com.)

~ Morrigan_The_Marwari ($? Horsefolk Com.)

~ Nocsis ($110 3D Render+Background)

~ HelavisKrew ($140 Full Com.)

~ shushup ($150 Full Illustration Com.)

~ Margony ($150+ Com.)

~ Naive_tabby ($180 Fullbody Com. and added Background is extra $40-$80)

~ Tacoma ($??? Com. + Pixel Art)

~ Phoenix-of-Starlight (SFW only, a little bit of everything)

~ Jenery (SFW only, equines, dinosaurs, some anthros, too)

~ azakui (Solid art, but inactive? €45 - €90 Com.)

~ (Off-site) https://www.deviantart.com/myritharts

~ (Off-site) jesonite ( https://www.deviantart.com/jesonite.....IONS-232779307 )
(High-Tier 2D Artist. $160 Detailed Sketch, $420 Digital Ink + Tone Shading, $990 Full Digital Color + Minimal/Abstract Background)

~


~ idsaybucketsofart ($500-800 3D Scult, $1400-2500 Game-ready 3D Model w/Blender, Daz and FBX...)

~ DoraDaraya (3D Artist, $85 Full Body)

~ TailsUp4Tyranno (Animation/Models/Figurines Com.)

~ VinVulpis (Art + Animation Com.)

~ Giik (Pixel Art + Animation)

~ Carowouine (Art + Icon Com...But No Copyrighted Characters nor Fanart of them + No Human/Elf Faces.)

-

~ PalanteanWriter (Story Text Com.)

~ TikTikKobold (Story Text Com.)

~ Amethyst_Mare (Story Text Com.)

~ Princess_Lil (Audio+Text)


Artists open for Shiny Donations:
lady-darkstreak - Starit - Etheross - Llythium - Wyntersun

Meatboom - Red-IzaK - Inert-Ren - Vant_Talon - Dsurion123 - Ikakins -

aDogNamedWad - neurodyne

-

(First typed April 19, 2018)

“Hello again, journal. Netza here.

So, I mulled it over and decided to venture out again, but this time, with Crepzis and Iglo at my side. Crepzis has been itching to see more of the wealth, wonders, women and wine the world has to offer now. He’s ventured before, mostly after we saved the kids since he probably didn’t have the patience to deal with them and would love another go at it.
Iglo wants to hone her archery skills and see what the world outside has to offer if me and Crepzis are so keen on leaving again.

What was my goal? Do as much as I can for a year or two until I decide to come back! Plus, staying alive, of course.
And so, we’re off!

We’ve already met a fellow party on the move. It consists of two other kobolds.
The leader is a yellow-scaled male kobold called...um...”Sir Knight Squiggles.”
You gotta say the whole thing or he won’t acknowledge you.
Other than that, he’s a fairly outgoing fellow, almost as much as Crepzis, and kinda odd at times, but that’s alright.
His accomplice, though...

Agh! She just asked what I was doing and demanded, whatever it was, that I better not write bad things about her.
Right. His friend is a carn-oh, sorry. I forgot it was a different party.
His friend is a pink-scaled female kobold called Spaffy. Interesting names all around.
I was under the briefest of assumptions that she would be as cheery and soft-spoken as the last pink kobold I ventured with.

She’s watching me right now.

Spaffy is...unique, in that she states most sentences not with the standard generic volume pitch, but with a high pitch for everyone to hear her as clearly as possible. So, there’s no mistake or error as to what’s being stated.
She doesn’t seem to be a skilled fighter, and outright refuses mock fights with us, but she makes up for that by holding onto Squiggles’ valuables and providing moral support for us whenever possible.

She just nodded her head with a big smile and skipped away merrily to chat with Iglo.

To be frank, I have no idea why the heck she’s here. We can’t afford anti-adventurers, and whatever extra bulk we have that slows us down and don’t plan on trading, we leave behind, anyways.
I think younger me would’ve liked having a companion like Spaffy. But that fellow is no longer here.
Crepzis doesn’t even like her, and you’d be hard pressed to find a female kobold he didn’t hit on. “Thunder thighs, regardless,” he uttered to us in an annoyed tone.

So, our first adventure! We were to save a kobold princess locked in a tower chock full of evil warriors and monsters. What was the princess’ name and where was her kingdom? I have no idea. SK Squiggles seemed to know all that but didn’t want to indulge that information with us for whatever reason. Private contract details? No clue.

Credit where credit is due, SK Squiggles knows how to handle his blade in tough situations. He’s got a better parry hand against bigger foes than any of us.
Spaffy kept activating traps and blaming it on the tower. How she survived, I have no idea.

We got through our obstacles fine enough and managed to save the green-scaled royal kobold from her chained prison.
“Lucky hussy,” were some words that came out of Spaffy’s mouth when she saw the princess bound in place.
Iglo didn’t understand what she meant.
“Oh,” was all that Crepzis said.

Both the princess and decent knight thanked us for our efforts and gifted us with gold and gems.
“That’s too much, you guys,” Spaffy yelled behind them, “We did all of the work, after all!”
That was the first time Iglo was compelled to let out a swear in over a decade. Her politely shutting her mouth was the only thing that prevented the sharp words from falling out.

Crepzis, Iglo and I decided we weren’t fond enough of the new party we spent two weeks with, nor were we sure we would grow to like the members more, so we gave them our most respectful farewells and went on our way.
Thank goodness.

Crepzis and Iglo had been using cheap fishing rods to catch some fish. I never had the patience for the activity. I always tried using spears to catch them, with moderate success.

The other day, we stumbled upon some supposedly famous yellow female kobold names Rezzic. I guess she’s famous for single-handedly taking on a dragon or something? Among other deeds?
The whole ordeal was rather odd. The way she described the story sounded more like what someone else did as opposed to her. This Rezzic didn’t have the physical prowess or expected mannerisms of a monk.
More like a thief.
Our suspicions only increased when she asked if we had any gems on us she could borrow, claiming to give back double the amount if we were kind enough to share.
We did, but neither of us felt comfortable about the situation and doubted the credibility of this supposed “hero” of the north we were talking to, so we claimed we didn’t.
The stranger merely smiled, thanked us for the conversation she initiated, and went her own way.

I asked Crepzis if he knew about this celebrity of sorts. He said he heard a few stories from his last adventure, but that he never had the privilege of meeting such an amazing individual, if what he heard was true.
I never heard about her during mine. Guess I was outta the loop of gossip at the time.

We were right to be suspicious! Last night, that Rezzic vagabond came to our campsite to see if we were awake and tried to loot our gear from us.
Iglo did not take kindly to that and shot an arrow in her backside before she could accomplish her thievery. But before we could apprehend her, she ripped the arrow out of her side, drank a healing potion and ran far into the woods.
Hero, indeed.

We met Rezzic again at a blacksmith’s shop, but something was off about her appearance. She seemed bulkier, but with a clear love for blades and throwing knives. She didn’t recognize us, nor did she know who we were.
Almost like it wasn’t the same person.

Crepzis was curious to see if this Rezzic had the honed martial skills of a monk and challenged her to an unarmed battle outside the shop. Thankfully, this Rezzic was ardent to battle with my brother and took him on his challenge.

It was as we suspected.
This Rezzic was a hard hitter and notable boaster, but not a precise one. There were no special hand-to-hand techniques she was utilizing that Crepzis couldn’t already do. If anything, she was sloppier with her hits.
In the end, Crepzis won the fight, but the second Rezzic wasn’t sore about her defeat. In fact, she thanked Crepzis for the good fight and hoped to see him again for the next one.
Knowing my brother, he’d want to see her very soon. Unfortunately, we wouldn’t be able to because the next time we visited that town, she wasn’t there.
Probably ventured somewhere, but still.
Curious.

The third time we met Rezzic was when we officially knew something strange was going on.
This Rezzic looked more like the first Rezzic, but the kicker wasn’t that she was a thief or a fighter.
She had wings! And she was a bard that actually played pretty good music regarding her deeds and the few deeds of our race.
How much pull does this monk have if she’s able to get dragonwroughts to look like her and praise us, of all races?!?
I...I guess it’s not so bad overall, if there are more folks learning about some of the good we can do through her actions. It just worries me that the few that take advantage of her fame are going to end up making us and her look worse from the crimes they try to get away with.
For now, we’ve gotta keep our eyes open for these look-a-likes until we find the actual monk.

So...we stumbled upon a cult of Rezzic followers that trapped all of the look-a-likes and attempted to execute them so that the only Rezzic left would be the grim leader of the cult, the supposedly real Rezzic.
But of course, we put a stop to that and freed the imposters. And of course, this wasn’t the real Rezzic. The light hammer and martial skills were convincing, but she used deadly spells no monk devoted only to their craft would be able to cast.
Against all odds, we defeated the cult leader and her followers with the help of the imposters. On her knees, the leader was stabbed with daggers by the first imposter we met and decapitated by the second imposter.

Most of the imposters thought it was best to get rid of the yellow dye on their bodies (The ones that weren’t naturally so), change their attire to something different, and travel in groups to their homes to share the bizarre chaos they underwent.

Today, we met someone claiming their name was Rezzic, but with an actual air of legitimacy to their word. Although, she wasn’t quite what me, Crepzis or Iglo imagined. Maybe because of all the imposters’ differing personalities rubbing off on us?
She was well-spoken and genial, but also outgoing and a bit profound at times.
She was physically strong, but at a balance of strength so as to not be too heavy or too light in weight.
She carried a few simple weapons with her, including a light hammer, but unless she personally maintains them to near-perfect conditions, it seems like they’re barely ever used.

But this is how we knew it had to be her, by the end of that day:
Rezzic never brought up her deeds. Not once. She was far more curious as to whom we were, what we were up to, where we’ve been, what we liked, disliked, all that stuff.
Those imposters weren’t nearly as curious in the people they stuck themselves around as they were at telling them what they supposedly did.
I brought up that Crepzis was one of my brothers and this seemed to make Rezzic smile a bit bigger than usual and close her eyes. She mentioned having a distant brother she missed dearly and that she envied us being able to travel together.
Not sure why they wouldn’t, but we appreciated the words nonetheless.

Rezzic was outright amazed to hear about the one dragonwrought imposter, though. More so that they were a good lute player, as she admitted she wasn’t as good with musical instruments as she could be.

Speaking of imposters, we did tell her about the cult business we dealt with.
It was the only time in the conversation Rezzic frowned. She was aware of the look-a-likes but considered them harmless for what they passed down.
I take it she never had to deal with the few bad apples?
She admitted that the events of her deeds were exaggerated by passersby that hadn’t heard her full stories or intended to use them for alternate means, and if someone legitimately asked her about her deeds that she would tell them exactly what occurred.
But Rezzic had no idea it would lead to someone rounding up the imposters and becoming the only one fit to hold the name in their own twisted way. It was almost bizarre to her that anyone would go that far to pretend to be someone else.
Imitations of original ideas stop being flattering once they go out of their way to destroy other imitations.

Despite that, she was glad we informed her of the cult business and its resolution. Or, most of it.
And from there, we went our separate ways. I kinda hoped we’d meet again, since the yellow fellow’s a pretty good talker.
Crepzis hadn’t made any passes at her as he actually respected the monk well enough to abstain from doing so.
Iglo agreed to wanting to meet again, too, in an oddly hushed tone.

I can spot Crepzis sharpening his longsword from where I’m sitting. It’s one of the few times I see him be completely relaxed whenever he isn’t talking to someone.
Iglo’s a bit opposite. She always has a worried face of concern whenever interacting with anyone that’s not us. Her peace comes from the general quiet ambience of the environment. Not pure silence. The kind that’s enough to hear the smaller sounds like the light winds blowing or leaves rustling from contact.
Where’s my peace? Believe it or not, it’s not when I’m sitting here writing in this journal. It’s whenever I’m traveling in a group consisting of at least three people and accomplishing as much as we can together. This journal just assures that we won’t be forgetting our exploits anytime soon.
Or, I won’t. Crepzis doesn’t really care about my journal writing, and Iglo, while she inquires a few times, never asks to see what I’ve written down. I’d show them, if they asked. But it’s okay now.

Oh, goodness. Crepzis is talking about females again.
He’s going on about these wild twins he met last week and the tools they used on him before they would let him commit full copulation. That sounds familiar. I asked for their names, but Crepzis said he had forgotten them. Or didn’t ask, like a true gentleman.
Then, he asked why I hadn’t mated yet.
“Lemme guess,” he started, “You want it to be special. Keh. You haven’t changed one bit, Netza. You wanted your first sword fight with me to be special, you wanted your first gem to be special, and of course, you wanted your first adventure to be special.”
He chuckled before he continued.
“And look how that turned out!”
Indeed, I hadn’t retained as much as I should have during my first practice sword fight, and the first gem I ever procured was a busted chunk of sapphire that I swore up and down was a rare gem no one had ever seen before. And the first adventure...that could have been better.
In truth, I don’t know why I hadn’t contributed to our population this late in my life. I like females, but I suppose I felt there were more important things I should be doing than chasing wombs like Crepzis did. Like taking care of those kids he avoided.
I responded with, “Hey, you focus on getting those ‘wines and womens’ and I’ll worry about whatever wonders we gotta deal with up ahead.”
He laughed, saying “Sure, sure,” and walked away.
It’ll happen, sooner or later.

We stopped by a tavern after a successful dungeon clearing earlier that day. Not too long after we ordered our drinks, a party of human and dwarf adventurers angrily stomped into the tavern and complained about an empty dungeon they planned for weeks on plundering.
Whoops.
Crepzis tried very hard to contain his smile while the angry man went on a rant claiming that he and his accomplices had to have been cursed with bad luck for this to keep happening to them.
“Oh, that’s a bummer, huh?” Crepzis uttered while the ranting man went on.
I hit him on the shoulder for his unheard taunt and he only smiled more. The last thing we need is the ire from other adventurers on account of a snarky fool.
We left the tavern not too long after that.

Today, we met a rather sultry green-scaled female kobold rogue called Ivisska.
She seemed like a friendly sort. Perhaps too friendly.
And barely dressed. It’s okay to be proud of your body, but pride won’t stop you from being more easy to stab.
No surprise that Crepzis warmed up to her as soon as he did. The two were major flirts and spent most of their time admiring each other’s skills and particular attributes.

Iglo and I were still weary about this recent rogue we had let into our party. We kept a close eye on our valuables for the next two months until we were sure they weren’t going to try anything funny with us.

Surprisingly enough...Nothing happened.
We had to sit through a few nights of Crepzis’ distant mating, but not much else beyond the usual.

I suppose that Ivisska was an all-right fellow. She stayed cordial with me and Iglo, so I didn’t have many complaints.
She even brought in some extra loot every other week from what she called her “provision runs.” I didn’t question them as long as Ivisska covered her tracks well.
Although...There was one oddity I couldn’t help but chuckle at.
At one point, Iglo asked Ivisska how she was so good at getting other males’ attentions. Ivisska actually went and showed her a bunch of different walks and stances she used to appear as provocative and inviting as possible.
Then, what topics to divulge in during a conversation, in what ways, what form to hold while listening to another male, all these different strategies and tricks I had never heard of.
And the conclusion to that whole lesson was, “Above all, be yourself!”
Uh...What?
But what were all those tricks and mind games she was going on about for the past few hours? If someone isn’t naturally assertive or provocative and still does those things, what exactly is the end result?

Crepzis and I got to see when Iglo asked to visit another campsite.
With bolstered confidence, Iglo went up to the kobold males there and attempted to act as seductive as she learned to be from the master flirt herself.
It was a wonderfully awkward sight to behold.
I-I’m sorry, but it was!
Iglo tried talking all sultry toward one of the males but ended up tripping over her words and accidentally insulted his physical build. This seemed to hurt the fellow’s feelings because he left the campsite and didn’t return.
After that, Iglo tried doing one of those alluring walks and ended up falling over a shield and stumbling to the ground.

Now, listen here.
We love all of our sisters dearly and treat them with the same amount of respect and affection as they give us.
But Crepzis burst out laughing when Iglo stumbled to the ground and swore under her breath at what she tried to do.
And...I joined him.

I felt guilty when Ivisska was the one to run in to help Iglo and tell her, “It, uh, takes a lot of practice before you get the walk down, but I’m sure you’ll master the swing in no time!”
The male kobolds were concerned and asked if she required a bandage for her wound. She lowered her head, thanked them for their kindness, and said she was fine.

I’d add more sympathy, but what did they expect? Iglo didn’t inherit the flirtatious traits the way Crepzis did. Even with all the knowledge given to her, she’d need more experience before being anywhere near Iviskka’s level of attention getting.
And I’m not sure I’m willing to visit more campsites just to watch Iglo fail at hitting on more guys. Crepzis might be. It would mean an infinite source of entertainment on his behalf.

Iglo didn’t try nearly as hard the second time we visited a campsite. Still some stutters and odd stares wondering why she was walking like a wounded animal, but nothing confidence-breaking.

Too bad for Iglo and Crepzis that the walks stopped after Ivisska proclaimed she would be leaving soon. More adventurers to meet and riches to claim and such.
Her parting gift for Iglo was an amulet with an encased ruby at the center. She would always wear it after each camp site we set up.
And like that, it was the three of us again.

Feels off not camping by a small cave or rocky alcove like we usually do. The sky’s too cloudy for my liking. Rain is the last thing we need. I write that since Crepzis and I hate the rain.
Not Iglo. She finds the drops falling upon her cathartic. Of course, before heading straight to the fire to warm up.

How did we get ourselves in this mess?
Today, we collided with a fearful orange-scaled male kobold named Drip, running for his life from a black dragon called Skargos. He was seeking shelter because he was forced by his clan to become the dragon’s plaything so she would stop stealing males of all races from nearby villages to abuse.

We saw the massive dragon flying in the cloudy sky above us. We immediately hid elsewhere to question Drip further. He was frenetic with his explanations, saying how she would use otherworldly tools, potions and spells on him to please her and keep him going long after the point of natural exhaustion. He was allowed no breaks. He was used whenever she wanted to use him, for as long as she desired. He couldn’t leave her domain, and not only that. He was forbidden from interacting with any other females, lest she threaten to eat them.
Crepzis could not think of a worse fate. Unending copulation was a concept both alluring and terrifying to him, but not being able to do as you please with other females? Forced into a single relationship with one person for the rest of your life? That is true terror.

However, none of us were keen on taking on an adult black dragon, so we tried to convince Drip to keep with the sacrifice and go back to Skargos so no one else would have to suffer her wrath.
He was personally hurt that we would out him the same way his clan did and cursed at us before we could apprehend him.

This was a terrible mistake.
As soon as he started running, Skargos landed on the ground as she sensed he was nearby.
But it wasn’t him. It was a nearby caravan fearful of the dragon that decided to rush its horses at a tremendous speed down the road.
Drip ran out of the forest and accidentally tripped on the road, where he was met with stampeding horses that instantly stomped the life out of the miserable fellow.

Skargos saw what happened and became enraged at his sudden death. She began destroying trees and using her terrible breath against the forest surrounding her.
As we were running away, there were loud shouts of Skargos cursing Drip for running away, but also lamenting the lost soul for no longer staying among the living.

We weren’t sure what to do next. There was a black dragon on the loose that we had no chance of quelling and was likely going to terrorize those villages again. And if we offered someone to her, she would simply torture him the way Drip was. And the cycle would continue.

No...What could we do?
This was a job for adventurers stronger than the likes of us.

We went to a town and warned the locals of a terrible dragon on the loose. A party of adventurers ran to us to hear the extra details and decided they would track the dragon down and slay it.
This was the best we could hope for right now.
After that, we tried to ignore the issue and focus on our journey. It was a difficult task. Crepzis hated the idea of becoming a dragon’s slave and Iglo was terrified of dragons altogether. I didn’t want to think about it further. Writing the points in this journal doesn’t help. I’ll put something else down.

The-

Skargos was here. Right in front of our camp site.
She was aware of Crepzis and Iglo’s presence, but that wasn’t what concerned her.
It was me.
Skargos seemed a mixture of upset and depressed, but didn’t say much.
I tried to make an awkward greeting commenting on the unpredictable weather as of late. She nodded her head briefly, and asked for my name.
I obliged.
She accepted the response and asked what I was doing.
I told her I was on a journey around the country and was about to go to sleep.
I never slept that night.
More nodding.
Skargos said she left her home to chase after the adventurers that meant to kill her but were not skilled enough to finish the job. They happened to flee in our general direction, but we never saw them.
She asked if we saw anyone suspicious and we told her the truth. We hadn’t.
Another slow nod.
Then, she said she would get out of the hair I didn’t have, raised herself up out of alarm to everyone and flew away.
I was never as scared as I was at that moment. Did Skargos know we sent them? Did she care? We all could have been slain right then and there, but the greatest surprise was that we were not.
We were all tense for the next three months after that, because Skargos didn’t stop with one visit.

The more times she visited, the more questions she asked. It came to a point that I was putting a lot of people’s lives at risk because of Skargos wanting to know about my home, my family, the places I’ve been to, the adventurers I’ve met, and what I’ve done. I didn’t dare lie to her. I couldn’t risk losing my siblings that were by my side the whole time.

Sometimes, she would ask if I was hungry, so she would kill a dozen animals with her teeth within minutes and bring them back to camp.
Sometimes, she would ask if I was low on supplies, so she would bring entire caravans to us and “ask” the people to give us free items. We only asked for a few essentials, nothing more.

It was on the third month that I knew my fate was sealed.
“I have the strangest feeling that are fates are intertwined, Netza.”
This was the last thing I wanted to hear.
“We are to be at each other’s side until one of us perishes forevermore. And hopefully, not for reasons of unnecessary lust or greed. For I can supply you with the pleasure and riches no other can.
If you only...swear to me.”
I made a dumb joke about Iglo telling me not to swear as much as she did. Why did I do that?
Somehow, this made Skargos laugh.
“If not swear, then state. State to me that you will be mine, and we can return to my domain and relish in our times together, that we shall indulge within the present and future.”

I...I have no choice.
Skargos knows too much about me now. About all of us.
If I run, she will search for me and everyone I know.
If I lie, she would not accept the fables I’d make up.
If I offer another tribute, I cannot risk the possibility of her retaliating against my actions. It wouldn’t just be wrong to her. It would be simply unacceptable.

I think this is where my journey ends, journal. It was fun while it lasted, but now that we have this issue looming over us...
I don’t know what will become of me.

But I do know about you.”

“...Hello?
So, this is Netza’s journal, huh? Judging by the last few paragraphs, he’s really improved his handwriting over the years.

I’m sorry, I should introduce myself first.
My name is Iglo. One of Netza’s sisters.
But I guess he already wrote about us ages ago. Looking at the early entries...
Yep, that’s right.
By the gods, did he really write like that? This crap is barely legible!
I’m sorry. “Mess.”
Like this whole situation.

Netza made me promise him that I would continue writing about our exploits for as long as I had his journal. No doubt that it would be useless in the hands of Crepzis. Bastard can barely write, let alone hold onto something for long than isn’t a weapon or a body part. Intact. He’s not that depraved.

That’s a promise I intend on breaking, unfortunately, because this journal is going right back into the hands of my youngest brother. That black mega bitch took him away from us, but not for long.
I plan on getting a whole horde of our kind to swarm Skargos and tear her piece by piece until she can trouble this land no more!
...Geez. A horde? I think that might be cutting it too far. Maybe, like, a few good parties? That sounds more realistic.
And, uh, maybe not piece by piece? Generally dead would be fine.

Crepzis agrees that we should take the fight to the dragon. This is a long shot, but Netza wrote about a bunch of other kobolds he met on his first adventure, as well as this one. If we could convince them to help us and save our brother...

It is done. Gods damn.
It took ten months, some quests, a few lies and promises, but we managed to get four clans, some old accomplices of Netza and other offshoot adventurers we met to storm Skargos’ Lair.
I took it upon myself to follow a secondary path of the druid to help with this future fight.
This may have been the toughest fight we ever dealt with because the dragon didn’t want to die. But neither did we.

We were victorious in our goal! The fearsome dragon lay dead in a pool of its own blood. Before her end, I gave Crepzis the honor of slaying the vile prick with my bow. He said he wished he used a sword instead.
Her home was wrecked good, too.
Except for one area.

One chamber held a nest of eggs and young half-dragons awaiting Skargos’ return. The tired voice attempting to calm them down was the nuthead himself, Netza.
He was absol-freakin’-lutely bewildered by all the old friends and organized parties standing beside us. There was some brief happiness, then fear, as he asked what happened to Skargos.
Crepzis shouted first.
“Brooother! We sent that beast back to the hell it came from! It was slain in less than 30 minutes! Only we could make that time! Only we could be so...bold!!!” Cheers of pride were heard all over the chamber.
Crepzis was in the best mood he had ever been in his entire life.

Netza frowned.
The five young half-dragons grew nervous at the kobolds that surrounded them and the realization of their missing mother. Netza tried desperately to ease their stress and told us to keep our distance, since the kids get nervous if they don’t see their mother for long.
Us! To keep OUR distance! When we had tried to save HIM from his hell!

We debated slaying the unborn eggs and young half-dragons, but Netza defended them, stating they were his children and that he didn’t want them to share the same fate as their mother, which, he admitted was a careless witch of a dragon most days that deserved to die.
The only good things she ever did, he said, was bear his children and not kill him.

Some groups were very vocal on destroying this vile bloodline for all eternity.
Other groups were satisfied with one dead dragon and one saved brethren, and saw no need to kill the half-spawn of one of our own.

The final call, of all kobolds, was that monk Rezzic. She claimed she had fought besides the half-dragons in her younger years and found them to be a brave, valiant kind that didn’t always see fit to follow in the footsteps of their draconic parents.
She made it clear they weren’t always good souls, but that their lineage alone didn’t guarantee a path of chaos. And if it did, well, that’s one more tale to add to our kind’s renown in the future. How we slayed the great black dragon, how its children vowed for revenge and how we fought a great war against the loathed half-dragons with our strength, cunning and overwhelming numbers.

Rezzic’s word was not law, but it may as well have been because after that small speech, no one wanted to slay the half-dragons. Even the hardiest of adventurers stayed their blade and made their way to the dragon’s horde to see if anything else of value was left.

All of the clans and adventurers celebrated our victory in the cleared lair, then went our separate ways.
I overheard this conversation between Netza and Rezzic:
“I’m grateful that you stopped the others from slaying my kin. Honestly. I am without a doubt indebted to you.”
“I would see this as more of a paid due. You helped me with one past incident, so I helped you with yours.”
“That’s fair. So...You actually fought beside half-dragons?”
“I suppose I have, at one point or another. You wander as long as I have, the faces of particular adventurers blend in after a good time. Not to say I forget people, but faces aren’t my strongest suit.”
“Indeed. That’s one of the reasons I used to keep a journal, to help remember the folks I’ve encountered.”
“And I must say, I’ve heard of all sorts of strange tales regarding dragons and prisoners of interest, but a red kobold prisoner as well as a forced mate for a black dragon inadvertently causing separate kobold clans to band together to fight said dragon and save him...Well, that’s a new one.”
“I never thought anyone could work up the nerve to save me. But siblings are something else.”
“Indeed.”

...”Oh, dear journal. I’ve not seen you in a long time, my old friend.
It’s good to see Iglo add as much new content to you as she could, since-

Oh.

Ah.

Hmm.

Those sections were...quite a wild ride. My siblings went above and beyond simply to secure my fate. Perhaps too far. The whole lair’s trashed from the battles and is barely livable for my kin.
I suppose it’s back home for another ten years. Maybe longer? My children need a better environment than what is currently available.

Crepzis asked me a million questions on what breeding with a dragon was like, the ever curious soul, but I told him that’s not exactly how it worked. They transform into the same species as you, copulate and go about their business. Of course, Skargos was never as simple. There was always something extra she added to the sessions, and then added things upon those things, and further complications would occur, to keep increasing the level pressure put against me, and...rinse and repeat.
I’m relieved I never have to go through that again. It wasn’t special. It was wrong.

It took some time, extra to relay my information to the others regarding half-dragons, but we returned to our cave.
All the other family members were shocked to see us look as...hardened as we did. There were also questions as to what the half-dragons were and what we were to do with them.
Before I could explain, Ned looked at them and shrugged, saying, “They’re living beings. Treat ‘em like the rest of us.”
Those two sentences eased the initial tension we had before I explained everything that had happened so far.

So, my unborn eggs and young half-dragon kids have been allowed to live here. They’ll grow and learn as we did, hopefully without as much trouble as the last batch of kids we had.
But only time will time.

...20 years had passed before my children grew into maturity and more-or-less decided their own futures. Like the last batch of kin, most left and some stayed with us.

Can’t believe I’m 52 already. It didn’t seem too long ago I left these caves for the first time, as many others after me have.
Let’s be honest. My destiny was not a perfect streak of great decisions and thought-out plans that couldn’t have been improved. But I’m happy with how things turned out in general. Especially for the rest of my siblings, children and accomplices.

I’ll stick around these caves for a while, detailing anything of minute interest while I still can.
Until next time, journal.”

(First typed April 18, 2018)

“Hello, journal. Netza here.
A lot of unfortunate things happened since I left the cave a few years ago.

A large group of new kobold miners kicked out the older parties and took control of the greater chunks of our caverns. The three main heads of the mining party, Gheegzo, Muknan and Ulraazral run the whole operation.

Gheegzo was threatening to push my family out of our home before he decided on a deal: They work for him and provide his party with new children to train into miners and they let them stay in the caves.

This isn’t wrong. It’s simply unacceptable.
The old minors didn’t demand so much from us.
We’ve lived here far longer than these fools had and had more say at what we could do than anyone else.
If only the others followed through with that conviction, because my sisters Iglo, Lessru, Ersek and Sirguk had actually been supplying them with newly born eggs to do as they saw fit. Even Deerka, our own mother, was giving in to their demands and giving them more eggs than her daughters could.

And what did the others do?
Ned, our father, swore to get outside help to kick these loathsome miners out of our home, but he was taken by the miners before he could set foot outside and disappeared ever since.
Crok, polishing his usual monocle, had been devising plans to deal with the miners since, but had not the courage or experience to act upon them.
Crepzis was itching to take the fight to the evil miners, but no one was willing to support him in the deadly battle he wanted, so he stayed, sharpening his longsword until the time to act came.
Udisk didn’t want to fight or deal with any harsh conflicts, but agreed that what was being forced upon them, if ever so slightly, was wrong.

So, I stepped in.
At first, I offered to teach everyone the basics what I learned on my travels, which led to the proper handling of swords, shields, daggers, axes, hammers and bows.
Then, the different light armors and heavy armors, which I had to procure deeper inside the cave along with the weapons.
Then, battle stances and special attacks.
A few months of training passed before everyone was as versed in combat as I was. The extra experience outside of our controlled environment would have to come from the deeper caves.

When we ventured deeper into the caves to face off against the general rats and monsters that roamed about, we were an unstoppable party. We checked all our sides, moved with a careful pertinence and made sure no one was too wounded or left behind. We even managed to clear a few dungeons, of all things!

We had some experience. We had some courage. We were almost ready.
It seemed the rash miners were aware of our frequent ventures and acted first by destroying our home as we were returning to it.
No one was pleased to see our home finally destroyed, most all Deerka and Crok, grasping the destroyed remains of their items close to them before realizing the futility of the situation and letting them go.
I wasn’t so unfortunate. I take my journals everywhere with me.

We didn’t want an outright siege against the miner strongholds, but we did want a few things as the final family decision:
The head miners gone.
The rest of their followers gone.
Our eggs returned to us.
Our home finally as ours.

After some snooping, we found out that Gheegzo and Muknan were at odds with one another over presumed stolen ores and tools.
We decided to increase this conflict tenfold by not only stealing extra ores and tools from one side, but trespassing on their personal chambers and leaving false clues to convince them that each side had done wrong.
They took the bait.
The leaders didn’t fight one another, but their followers were so agitated by the opposite sides that they formed parties and fought hard to quell the opposing sides for good. Gheegzo and Muknan were simply caught in the crossfire by some stray arrows and explosives that no one could spot the original locations of.

Ulraazral was a tougher rock to crack.
He was the one that managed the newborns with his followers and had tighter security in his facility than the other two.
Distractions would have to be made.

Three parties went out.
One small party would create distractions for the guards to investigate while a larger party snuck through to take as many eggs and newborns as they could.
The third party consisted of one person actively searching for Ulraazral to put an end to him. It was me.
Ulraazral cared for the children he watched over to a fault. If they ever suffered an accident or were in danger, he would blindly leap in and attempt to help as best as he could.
So, I staged a situation in which a fake child was about to fall off a high cliff while he was in view. He ran toward the fake child, only to activate a trap which destroyed the weak platform below him and sent him falling to his death.

I wasn’t sure how or why it happened, considering it wasn’t planned and most of the rash miners were gone by the time we got to Ulraazral’s facility, but someone incited a battle in which the two parties fought against the entirety of the facility.
The children were gone to safer grounds, but for some reason, my family returned to kill everyone else left here. I could only participate.
And...they found our father? Ned was alive, after all!
The battle was a terrible display of bloodshed and violence, but a glorious one as well, because we were winning the fight.
Crok and Iglo shot their bows so darn efficiently into the heads of many foes.
Deerka was there throwing spears alongside them.
Crepzis, Lessru and Ersek fought with valor and many swords.
Ned, in a daze from past incidents, struggled to use a dagger to fend off anyone that came after him. Sirguk tended to him when he dropped the dagger and suddenly fainted.
Udisk has stayed to watch over the children while we fought our battle.

They were dead.
We were alive.
The cave and children, even the ones we didn’t bear, were safe from their grasp.
We were victorious!

I was informed about Ned after the battle.
He was used as Ulraazral’s plaything after Gheegzo and Muknan broke him down to an obedient servant. The fire of certainty he once had was reduced to darkened eyes and spread legs begging to please his master.
It took a year before he was close to the man he once was.

In the meantime, we built a new home from the scraps of the battles we fought and established to any passing adventurer that we were here to stay.
No masters for us today.

Only one fourth of those eggs and children were ours. Ulraazral was kind enough to have records of each kobold procured and where they came from.
He was very good at his job, just not at staying alive.
We returned the 120 to their families, which showed their gratitude in their own ways.

We had a monumental task ahead of us for the next 10 years: Take care of 80 kobolds and share as much knowledge with them so they can figure out what to do for the rest of their lives. Many of us stayed here, but there’s no telling what path the next generation will pave.

It was sad, but not unexpected to see that number 80 shorten to 50 in the first four years. Some could not survive the caverns. Some refused to eat or to listen to us and left. They wouldn’t get far as evidenced by their corpses some miles away from our home.
A few would get ambitious and attempt to swarm us with what few materials they had, but Deerka and Ned were quick to put an end to the meager rebellions, and let all of the others know what happens when you try to slay the hand that raises you.
I asked at one point if we could say a few words for our slain siblings before we placed their cooked limbs in our bellies. I guess the rituals I spotted during my old ventures got me thinking such a way.
All Deerka said was, “Sure. You take the thigh and Crepzis can have the arm.”

Out of the remaining 50, 30 left at a more mature age to pursue their own ambitions in the world beyond.
20 were comfortable enough with the life they had in the caves and made their permanent residences known to everyone else.
Goodness, so many names, but here’s a list of those that remained:
The 10 Males are Kold, Brumzan, Qipzul, Emarral, Grosk, Zulp, Rig, Ezzas, Rhirkeark, and Ghatorgob.
The 10 Females are Pazkar, Valre, Uthrol, Tithe, Dossa, Penthrithra, Faskri, Gego, Metri, and Suze.

It was nice to see some old accomplices from my last-first (?) adventure stop by and tell me how they’ve been. Seeing Deerka tense up and immediately raise her spear against the taller Udovroth before I could introduce him was both an alarming and amusing incident.
All my other brothers, sisters, nephews and nieces were in awe when they first saw him. Very few stepped up to him to ask whom or what he was. Ol’ hunter had that effect on people.
“He doesn’t look that tough,” were Crepzis’ first words when he saw him. He still had his hand close to his blade just in case.

I’m 31 now. I can’t believe it’s been so long since I first left these caves all those years ago. When I was, what? Barely 17?
It’d be nice to head out again, with people I can trust or, at least, learn to. Watching the others leave may have added to some wanderlust of mine over the years. Although, I wouldn’t go with the young ones. They had each other, and the ones that stayed still needed help here and there. And I wasn’t sure I could bear being responsible for their deaths if something went wrong during an adventure. Knowing this world, “will go wrong” sounds more appropriate.

I’d have to think it through, but not like Crok or I’d never get anything done.
Maybe.
Maybe.”

(First typed April 6, 2018)

“Hi, there! My name is Netza!
I just got started with this weird ‘writing’ thing one of my brothers got me into, so sorry if my words look all strange and stuff! I promise I’ll improve to make it better!

I should start like this! I was born in a big cave 17 years ago with 3 other brothers and 4 other sisters! I’m the youngest fourth brother!
I got parents, too! I spend more time with my siblings, though! They showed me all kindsa stuff to help me better myself and all that! Reading, writing, talking, the works! Um, I’m not actually sure what ‘works’ means, but it feels like it makes sense to write it that way, so I’ll keep it in here!

Oh! I just saw that I was writing in those big lines with the dots on the bottom at the end of my sentences! Crok told me to call them ‘exclamation points’, so I think I should!
Exclamation points.
Wait.
Exclamation points!
There we go! I like those.

So, I love my family and all, but I think that some of the things they do to live is kinda...slow. Not all exciting, ya know?
We could do so much instead of that mining work. Like I’m doing!
I’m trying to find a good party of adventurers to take me along and go on great adventures with them! I wanna make lots of money so I can bring it to our cave and give it to everyone there!
I try to do that when no one else needs me for anything, but my parents call me back and tell me to go back to the cave! I like the cave, but I don’t know why they want me there whenever I try to go outside. Sometimes it’s my brothers, and then sisters. I was finally able to leave a few days ago, and now, I’m here writing in this little journal I have!

I’ve been looking for the best party I could in the nearby villages, but no one is able to take me, they said. One party said I was too green to go with them, but that confused me, cuz’ I’m not green, I’m red. Another party said they wouldn’t dare bring a dirty kobold with them, but I’m sure I cleaned myself in the morning. The next one said they would only let elves in their party. What are elves? I asked them, and they said it was people like them. Pointy ears, skinny bodies, supper affine tee to magic compared to any other race. They have magic for supper? I wonder what that tastes like!
So, uhh...I couldn’t join a party today, but I’m sure I’ll have a better time tomorrow! I’m sure of it! Have a good sleep, journal!

Wow, wow, wow, I was able to join a party, today! With kobolds, too!
There’s four of them, all girls. No boys? That’s weird! I’m sure we’ll find more later on!
The main leader...wow. She has wings! On her back! Her name is Vorel and she can fly and stuff and it’s the coolest thing I’ve ever seen! But she’s not like those big scary dragons from those stories my sisters used to scare me with.
She’s nice! I mean, I think she’s nice. She tells me what I should and shouldn’t do cuz’ I’m new to adventuring, which is a pretty nice thing to do. And she’s blue, too! I’ve never seen a blue kobold before, and with wings. Who knows what else I’ll see here. Oh, she said she was looking for an important item stolen from her clan and that she offered to track it down. Brave, too!
The pink one with the bow and arrows-Oh. I’m sorry, she not pink! The leader told me Aesthyr was corner-carner-shun. Carnation! That’s the word! Her name’s kinda hard to say, too.
And she’s super-nice, too. I saw her set up hunting traps a while ago. It looks really complicated, but maybe I could make my own traps someday, too. I gotta eat, too!
Too, too, too, I like the word, too!
The green one...Aww. I kinda feel sad about her. Miirik said she lost her sister a while ago from a scuffle in her clan against another one and she’s trying to get her back. Goodness, I don’t know what I’d do if I lost one of my siblings. I guess the same thing!
Hey! She just gave me a round metal ball and said that if I pressed the button on it and threw it at a dangerous undesire bow that it would make it go away! Wow, that sounds like magic! Another thing I wanna know about, one of these days!
The black one, um...The black one kinda scares me. Baeshra’s got these big creatures she calls weasels and she takes care of them. But, uh, she doesn’t really talk a lot. Does she know how to? Oh, I’m sure she does! The blue leader and the carny trappy lady know how to!

I’m learning all sorts of words from my party! Provisions, loot, contraptions, upwind, invigorating, neat! Oh, no, I already knew what neat meant.
None of my siblings ever said these words. I wonder why?

Huh? The leader’s calling me over right now! I wonder what Vorel needs?
...
Yeouch! She wanted to see how well I could handle myself in a sword fight, so she put me against Baeshra, our weasel handler.
I know that adventuring means lots and lots of fighting, so I gave it my all and used the short sword I borrowed from Crepzis to fight her.
I-I did my best!
But the weasel handler beat me.
Baeshra said I had acceptable dodging capable abilities, but that I lacked the strength to survive in an actual one-on-one sword fight for more than a minute.
The leader, er, Vorel said she expected as much and said to go see our carn friend.
She meant Ester, right? I mean, Acer! Um, Aesthyr.

Friend...That’s another word I’m not that familiar with. For some reason, I think of my brothers and sisters when I hear that word. But it feels like the kinda word that could be used for more than just kin, ya know?

Aesthyr showed me how to properly handle a short bow. This was kinda weird because she was using the bow and pulling the arrow with her left hand, and I tried to do the same thing but it didn’t feel right. She giggled for some reason and told me to switch my hands so I was pulling the arrow with my right hand. It felt much better now! When we shot all our arrows, she said “Clear!” and told me we could get our arrows now. But why couldn’t we get them before? Who else did she say clear to? I asked her and she said that’s what archers do so everyone knows it’s safe to get the arrows back. Oh! Now, I get it.
I asked Aesthyr if I could give her a nickname since I’m not good at saying her actual name. She frowned from the question for some reason and asked what I wanted to call her. And I said, “Umm...Ace!” And she breathed a bit and smiled and said that was okay. Ace, it is!

After that, Miirik called for me and said she could show me a thing or two about detecting and creating metal traps.
I-I tried to pay attention to what was being said, honest! But I found myself accidentally daydreaming as she was explaining how each trap worked.
Miirik would say, “Did you get that?” and I would say, “Could we please go over that again?” and I think I said that too many times because the fourth time I said that, she frowned and said that was it for today. I think she meant three days since that was when Miirik called for me again.
I felt bad about last time, so made sure to pay extra attention the next time. Miirik liked that, I think.

Baeshra showed me how to feed and order one of the three big weasels around. I don’t like giving orders to anyone, but Baeshra told me to, so I did. And the weasel I was with did exactly what I asked it to! It took a few minutes of walking around and scratching itself, but it did it.
Baeshra didn’t like how long the weasel took to follow my order and start saying mean things to it. It started hissing, which scared me, but then it lowered itself to Baeshra and rubbed itself against her.
Weasels are weird. I wonder what other animals are out there?

I’m starting to wonder, why are Ace and Bash on an adventure, too? I’m here to go on a great adventure like all the tales I heard before. Vorel needs to find an important item and Miirik needs to find her sister.
Ace told me she didn’t really have a reason the way I did. She simply felt safe and appreciated following someone like Vorel around. I guess it’s not bad reason if it makes her happy.
Bash told me this was a favor for Miirik’s sister, Vaeri, who had given her some wonderful tools and saved some of her kidnapped weasels from bandits. That’s one good favor.

I wonder what Ersek’s making in the cave today. Probably Meaty Rat Stew, her specialty! No one could cook as good as her, not even Deerka! Well, Miirik is pretty good with food making, too.
Miirik, Miirik. I can’t think of a good nickname for her. Same with Vorel.
Just Miir? Or...Vor? Nah. Doesn’t sound right.
But I already got one! What was it? Nuthead! Yeah! I like it cuz’ it’s silly, like, my head isn’t made of nuts! Haha!

Hi, journal. I’m kinda sad today. There was this pretty animal called a dog that I saw and I wanted to give it a few berries I found, but before I could do that, an arrow went straight through its head and killed it. I fell back to a bush cuz’ I was so shocked by it all happening so quickly. Somewhere else, I heard someone running after me saying they were so sorry that they didn’t see me trying to feed the dog. It was Aesthyr.
She tried to explain that she hadn’t done long-distance shots in a while and tried to get the dog she was tracking. She was so fixated on it that she didn’t see me behind the bush near the huge tree. I said it was okay. I know she was just hunting for food cuz’ that’s what she does. But I’m still sad about the dog. It had pretty hair, more pretty than the weasels. I didn’t feel like having a piece of it for dinner that night.

I don’t know if Miirik is still nice. She pulls pranks on me with her weird metal things and scares me silly half of the time. She doesn’t do it to the others, so why me? She said she only pranks green grass patches on their first adventure to keep them attentive of their surroundings. I understood some of that, but I told her I wasn’t green grass. I’m red.
Miirik then explained the use of the phrase, and then I understood. I think.
All I need is experience, and she’ll stop pranking me! I should see if someone needs help in the next village we pass.

Someone did! A weird-looking person taller than me and without elf ears told me his cat was missing. I found it lying on a tree branch almost a mile away and showed them where it was. They brought a sword, but I don’t know why. They weren’t gonna harm the cat, were they? If not, I hope Ace doesn’t shoot at it.
I guess not. The weird person gave me their thanks and a few silver coins, then went away with their cat. I just noticed the weird person had a tail, too! How strange.

Another person had me deliver some small boxes while two humans covered in odd markings followed me. I tried talking to them while we were traveling, but they told me to focus on the errand at hand and stay quiet. So, I did. The other people that got the boxes had some odd markings on their clothes as well. Was there a special occasion going on? I dunno, I just gave them their boxes, they checked them, and we went our separate ways. Before they left, one of the humans following me gave me a pretty looking sapphire gem for my errand. Oh goodness, it was so pretty! I thanked them and said to have a great day, and they said they’ll do what they want. Uhh...Okay!

This gem is really nice, but...It’s not nice to keep things and never use them. What would I use it for? Getting coins! But, do I really need them more than the others here?
Hey, Vorel might need it! She’s always talking about supplies and preparations, so maybe she could sell it to get more! Plus, she’s blue, too!
Vorel said she didn’t need anything at the moment but appreciated the gesture. I said she could still keep it, just in case. For some reason, she was deciding if she should take it or not. Who would ever say no to a free gem? Not me! Eventually, she did, and thanked me for it.

Miirik was still pranking me, but they bothered me less as time went on. I was getting smart enough to avoid the more obvious ones, so she started making more complicated contraptions to eventually trip me over. She got me a few times, but I was sly enough to dodge the latest ones she put against me! I’m getting better, all right!

Hey, it looks like Vorel keeps a journal, too! I saw her holding one the other day. I asked her about it, but she told me it wasn’t like what I had. It was a journal showing all sorts of words and creatures with wings on them. It was kinda scary, especially the, um...dragon? But she seemed to enjoy the journal, so I said it was kinda neat and left her to it.

That’s strange. I haven’t been getting pranked by Miirik lately. I searched for her to see why that was. I found her, half of her body slumped over a tree stump with her fingers holding cords and metal parts dangling around each other. She seemed sad, so I went toward her and asked what was wrong.
Miirik said she hadn’t seen her sister or her clan for months and wasn’t sure if she would ever see them again. I didn’t know what to say right away. Looking for her sister meant being away from her clan, but staying with her clan meant maybe never seeing her sister again. Those are both cruel thoughts I would never want to deal with.
I told her I was sure we would find Vaeri, we just needed a little more time and to look through even more dungeons. There is always a chance we could find her!
Miirik smiled for a few seconds, then returned to her original frown. She said she wished she shared my eternal enthusiasm for the currently impossible. That it was the pranks that kept her mind off of her own sadness, but as of late, they didn’t quite have the hold on her as they used to.
I was about to frown, too, but it didn’t feel like the right thing to do. What Miirik needed to do was smile! But how? Maybe if I ask about-
Oh, wait. I remember now. She told me that she wanted to be alone when she noticed that I was asking about things I normally wouldn’t in the hopes of changing her mood. I told her I was sorry, and left her alone.
I saw Baeshra come shortly afterward. I told her Miirik told me she wanted to be alone, but Baeshra went, anyways.

I searched for Ace today and met a new person I hadn’t seen before. He was a hunter. He was scary, too, because he looked like a dragon but smaller and on two feet. Ace seemed to really like him, but he didn’t say much. Like Bash.
I was wondering when more males would appear in the party, but I was expecting kobolds. Not dragon people.
No, he wasn’t with the party, Ace said. The two just crossed paths and passed some time before going their separate ways.
Thank goodness. What if he tried to make himself leader and he and Vorel fought over who would order us around? That wouldn’t be good. I’m with Ace, I prefer following Vorel over anyone else.

Bandits are a hard obstacle to deal with! They’re bigger and tougher than us. They use whatever they have to rob people or kill them and take their stuff. Thankfully, they aren’t as organized or as strategic as us! Vorel scouts them out to let us know how much of them there are and where, Ace uses her bow to kill them one at a time, or if they’re bundled together, Miirik can use her contraptions to blow them up or cause a lotta damage and Bash can send her weasels to swarm them while we attack from behind.
It’s good working in a team.

Today, something not so good happened to Baeshra. Or rather, one of her big weasels. We spotted a tough-looking gryphon in the sky following us around. We didn’t want to fight it, but it was searching for a meal. And it found one in one of the weasels it managed to swiftly slay with its sharp talons. Ace wasn’t able to get the first shot in before it’s sudden strike. The second arrow hit, but it simply made it switch its priorities from one meal to the next. When it flew down again, Baeshra practically grabbed ahold of the gryphon and stuck her dagger deep in the flesh of the bloody bird. She didn’t stop stabbing until the gryphon stopped moving.
We all feasted on the remains of the gryphon, but only Baeshra ate her fallen weasel.

Some people don’t like us very much. I could do some work outside of the group early on, but the further we go with our adventure, the less people want to see us around. I hear some humans and elves make gestures with their arms and call us mean things. Words like rabble, troublemakers, bottom feeders and thieves are often used. But we’re not rabble, or thieves or bottom feeders. We’re adventurers that find our own ways to survive.
It’s not nice calling other people names. What if I went around telling humans that they had long hair, pink skin or...weird feet? That wouldn’t be very nice.
There were worse things I could say, but I promised one of my sisters that I wouldn’t use swear words like she did while on my adventure. I think it was Iglo.
Darn, now I’m starting to forget the names of my own siblings. It’s been so long since I’ve seen them and so much has happened. Like, 6 months? Goodness...Is this what Miirik feels when she thinks about her clan?

Vorel...I’m sorry...I’m so darn sorry...
I invited a group of friendly male kobolds in a close cave to meet our party. I thought it would be very helpful to have more members than we currently did, that we would be more safer, that Vorel would accept them and so I wouldn’t always be the only male here.
But I was wrong. None of the other girls liked them. Not even Ace could extend her kindness to them. They tried their best to be nice to the girls.
Or so I thought.
When Vorel demanded they leave our camp site, they became furious at the opposition and stormed off back to their cave. Vorel warned me about bringing in random people, but...Why me? Why was it okay for the others to do so? I mean, they never did, but Vorel was never as critical towards them so much as making an absurd suggestion.
We left the area fast, but didn’t go far enough. The angry kobolds from before came in higher numbers and caused as much damage as they could. Many goods, tools, and food items were destroyed. We couldn’t even keep the clothes on our backs because they tore at them with such a harsh relentlessness I rarely ever saw from another kobold.
If there was one good thing about the incident, it was that none of them survived to be able to do that much damage again.
Yet...
Vorel gave me a very harsh chastisement for what I had done against everyone. I was told that, before I showed up, whenever more than one male tried to join the party, strife would always occur between the males from petty jealousy or competition or against the females for not adhering to their excessive needs. It always ended with the males leaving and the party with more discomfort and less enthusiasm prior to receiving them.
No more strangers. Never again.
Baeshra spoke more that night than she ever did, but it was to utter the harshest swears I had ever heard one yell and ended them off with her spitting near my feet.
Miirik refused to talk to me for another month. No more pranks, either.
Only Aesthyr remained kind to me, but I could tell, with each sentence, with each pause, with each unspoken word, that there was a secret frustration toward my actions that was not being shown. I was fearful for every time she held a bow and released an arrow anywhere near my general direction.
I only...
I only wanted to help, but I ended up making our lives worse.
Sorry.”

...

“It’s been a few weeks since I turned 18. Not that it’s important. No one celebrates the year when you become a new age. No one I know, anyways.
I’ve been trying to keep myself busy ever since that incident two months ago. Lots of errands to run for the girls, some I make up for myself. I made sure to stay away from strangers we don’t know, even those of our own kind. Cruelty extends beyond races, Vorel told me, and I don’t question her anymore.

I don’t talk as much now. Nor do the other girls. Everyone’s on edge about the next possible incident to make us lose all our valuable items again. Or, that’s what I think to explain all the frowns and lack of talking.
I wish they would talk. I wish they would smile and joke, like they used to. It’s what made half of the adventure fun. But this doesn’t really feel fun now. It feels tense. It feels lonely.

I want to cheer everyone up. But how?
I could try delving in more ruins and dungeons to get enough valuables to replace what we lost. That...that could work! But I won’t last by myself. I’ve become a better fighter over the months, but not good enough to stand against a horde of criminals and monsters alone. No kobold is.
But I couldn’t ask that of the others. Not yet.
For this one, I’ll have to be as sneaky as Miirik to get what I need. Sneaky, sneaky, I must become sneak incarnate.

Hello, journal. I almost died today.
I found some good loot from a horde of bugbears, but they spotted me on my way out of their dungeon entrance. I ran as far as I could, but they caught up to me.
I remember the bomb Miirik gave me a long time ago that I forgot about. I used it as they were closing in and suffered the most bizarre sound I had ever heard. And because I threw it so close to me, I suffered from some wounds from the explosion. But, it was enough to keep those bugbears away! So, I managed to keep my life and my goods, and I told the girls all about it!
They were not happy.
Ace and Bash were looking all over for me, but somehow, never followed my small trail to the bugbear entrance. Have I gotten better at trail concealment?
Anywho, I got a speech of not delving into dungeons alone from Vorel. I told her I knew I shouldn’t and also that I felt no one would have gone with me. She asked why that was, I made an excuse that everyone looked too occupied to, and shook her head.
I know I should have asked, anyways, but I didn’t. That wasn’t nice of me. Darn it.
I showed her all the valuables I found, but she had no interest in taking it. Share it with the others, she said, but not her. She didn’t need it.
I told Ace about what Vorel said. She admitted that Vorel was lying about not needing the extra valuables, but that she didn’t approve of what Ace agreed was a dangerous act. I thought about asking more questions, but decided against that. I didn’t want any more answers.
I offered Ace the loot. She took a few rubies, then dropped them and took some sapphires instead and thanked me with a small smile. Then, said to ask for help the next time I wanted to get loot.
I offered Miirik the loot. She took some rubies and emeralds and uttered a small thanks before lumping her head back to her contraptions with a slow sigh.
I offered Baeshra half of the remaining loot. She broke her nonchalant pose and threatened to send one of her weasels after me the next time I ran off again. I told her that was an acceptable consequence.
Bash glared at me, chuckled, took the amount and nodded her head.
...Lessru would go crazy seeing all those gems in one place. She loves shiny things, but she never shared any with us. Only with Ned and Deerka when they told her to.

Last night, I woke up to Bash staring at me in my sleep. Somehow, I was convinced I had screwed something up and that she was here to chew me out for it. Did I mishandle one of her weasels by accident again? Had I annoyed her with a question I probably shouldn’t have asked? Or did she need someone to utter swears at out of frustration of some incident unknown to me?
...No, it was none of those. She simply told me she was sorry for lashing out at me after that old incident. I don’t know why she would apologize. She wasn’t the one that wronged everyone.
Bash said it bothered her because she knew how sorry I was to see that group I brought turn against us. She knew I was in the thick of the battle and trying to fend off more of our foes that anyone else could. To a reckless extent, she saw fit to remind me.
I told her that the reckless part wasn’t what bothered me, it was that I let everyone down and nearly caused everyone to die on account of my...recklessness.
So, I guess it did bother me.
She was right to be upset, I told her. It was fine if she called me a...dirt-sucking, scum-guzzling, moth-jumping, weasel-pecking, gryphon-loving rancid pile of minotaur waste.
That, um, wasn’t actually what she said, but it was along those lines.
Bash shrugged, shook her head, said letting me know would “help her sleep better” or something, and went back to her sleeping pile.
No chewing out for me, at least.

Today, we stumbled upon an odd dog that kept barking at us until we followed it to a big cave. Ace had her bow ready, but Vorel used a hand gesture to keep her at bay. Something was off about this dog.
Inside, we found feeble, poorly-dressed kobolds lamenting at the loss of their kobold queen Sazkozo. Or rather, that their queen was turned into a dog by Vhog, one of her ex-followers, when she found an item of “divine importance”. Whatever that meant.
Vorel was curious of where Vhog was and they told her he was busy throwing away the queen’s personal valuables to make room for his.
We came up with a plan to incapacitate the guards of Vhog as we advanced until we found his chambers and attempted to force him to turn the dog back to her original self.
Unfortunately, he had wings like Vorel did and was tougher to take down due to his magic spells. But after some intense aerial combat, Vorel was able to cripple Vhog’s wings and force him on the ground.
I only wish I was able to contribute more to the final battle. Vorel ordered me and Bash to keep our distance if something went wrong, but we were practically standing between the entrance and the fight the whole time. Vhog didn’t care about us. Even the weasels got a few hits in despite Bash snapping at them to stay back.
That is, until the very end. With our blades on Vhog, he turned the dog back into Queen Sazkozo. Then, was promptly scratched and bound in shame by the queen’s followers.
The people and the queen were happy!
Vorel was not.
Apparently, the item Vhog took from Sazkozo was the item Sazkozo stole from Vorel’s clan, claiming it to have special powers and “make its wearer fit to rule all kobold kind”. That last part was how Sazkozo described it, which Vorel dismissed as a foolish assumption.

So, we finally found that item Vorel was looking for! It looks like some kind of ceremonial mask. Huh? We traveled for miles on end for a mask? Surely, there’s more to this adventure than that...
I asked Vorel what happens now that she finished her quest. We take an alternate route back to her clan and continue with Miirik’s quest in the meantime. Bash and I weren’t the only ones concerned, it seemed.
But, hey. If we were able to finish our leader’s quest, I’m sure we’ll get our smith’s quest done in no time!

...We were attacked by tentacles today.
We heard about some valuable ore in a deep cavern and decided to check it out.
We had our pick axes ready, but in reality, we should have had our blades unsheathed. Below the suspicious piles of rocks we stood over were tentacles grabbing at our limbs. Everyone was trapped and getting choked by tentacles except me and the giant weasels. I was thrown to the side after they rubbed against me. I guess they weren’t interested in my misery. The weasels, on the other hand, were being suffocated until I intervened and slashed at the slimy arms. Soon after, we slashed at the other tentacles, freed the girls and ran far from the cave.
The girls were covered in slime and other substances I wasn’t familiar with. No one was happy, except Miirik who was laughing hysterically the entire time until she had a brief pause and collapsed to the ground.
A wondrous trap, she uttered.

I had grown worried about Ace’s random disappearances one day and decided to search her out. When I followed her trail, I found that hunter guy I saw on occasion. His bare back was to me, with what appeared to be Ace’s hands rubbing against his lower back.
I walked up and introduced myself. The hunter froze for a moment and slowly covered himself up. Ace shook in surprise and rushed to do what appeared to be putting her clothes back on. Why were they off to begin with? Did she have a scar or wound he was tending to? Maybe I could help her!
Umm...No, that wasn’t it. Ace kept stumbling over her words trying to explain what they were doing while the hunter placed his hands behind his head and lowered her eyes to Ace. She noticed, had her face grow more red, and said she had an errand I needed for her to do. I asked if she was hurt, but she assured me she was fine and sent me on my way. I’m glad she okay, at least. Guess that hunter’s not so bad, after all!

There was this gryphon bothering Vorel for a while that she thought no one else knew about. I was worried that it might hurt her, so when I saw it pick her up suddenly, I rushed in and swung my sword at it. This scared both Vorel and the gryphon, but instead of flying away, it placed itself to the ground and smiled at me. I nearly killed the thing! Why was it smiling? Then, it jumped on me and started nibbling at my arms, like we were playing around! I had no idea how to react. It wasn’t attacking me and Vorel wasn’t ordering me to slay me. In fact, she grabbed my short sword from the ground and was...laughing? What in the world? She rarely laughs at anything.
Vorel didn’t own the gryohon, she explained, as she gave me my sword back. They had a rough encounter, whatever that meant, but after that, he visited her from time to time to see how she was. Couldn’t be all the time. I never saw him help us during that one old incident.
Regardless, it was nice to see her smile for once. I just hope nothing happens to alter this small bit of joy.

We stumbled upon a gnoll campsite today. Everyone tried to keep their distance and were mostly successful in doing so. Miirik, however, started getting more daring with her quest and checked to see if they had captives there. They did, but they weren’t what she was looking for. A few humans and elves. Among them was a bare white kobold that swore out her captors and flung herself around while bound to a pole. Miirik snuck in without telling Vorel to save the humans, elves and white kobold. She was successful...
The humans and elves fled the area.
Once the white captive got ahold of the nearest blade, she took random objects from the campsite, lured each gnoll chasing the former captives away from one another, and stabbed each one to death. She had no qualms for her own deep wounds. Their blood and sudden shrieks of pain were all that mattered to her.
Covered in blood, she was almost as red as me. I saw the terrifying smile she gave Miirik and me before she fell deeper into the overwhelming forest.
We did the right thing saving one of our kind...Right?

We found where Miirik’s sister was. She was brainwashed, wearing a maid outfit of all things, by a powerful human mage named Glazin Chuv to make him otherworldly contraptions for his impenetrable fortress.
Vorel and Miirik tried to negotiate with him to return Vaeri to Miirik, but what he asked of us was an impossible task.
He wanted us to kill a nearby bronze dragon giving him trouble, take its scales, take its treasures, and bring all of them to the mage. They said they would consider the offer.
How could they?!? No matter how good we are, how could we take on a bronze dragon by ourselves? There had to be another way...
There was. I asked around the nearby town about the mage, and of all people, the bartender in the pub told me there was only one way we could could break his specific spell. We had to travel to a nearby ruined crypt and find some ancient words to break the spell. Apparently, the mage owed the bartender some tabs he never paid off, so he wants us to pick up the check for him.
We went to the crypt, fought off the undead there, and found the wall with the words on it. But in front of the wall was a small opening that demanded an “ocular sacrifice to save that which matters most to them”.
“No one look through that hole,” was the first thing I said before anyone else. Although, I guess I didn’t have to.
We decided to test the legitimacy of this mysterious hole by kidnapping an elven bandit and forcing him to look through it.
And what happened next...
A blast of energy burned his left eye in an instant. It almost physically hurt just to watch it happen. He was screaming so loud and fumbling all over the place, we had to pin him down to stop him.
But after the pain left, he saw in his left eye the words to break the spell, before it was nothing but darkness.
‘Mojisconsukai’t’
The bandit’s left eye then turned to stone and fell out of his eye socket.
I would suffer many nightmares a few nights afterwards.
Vorel took a step back.
Aesthyr shrieked at the broken stone eye.
Miirik stared in fascination.
Baeshra picked up a few stone pieces and flung them to the side.
The bandit was left unconscious.
On our way back, I recited the words the bandit told us about before it was destroyed. Such a mysterious phrase that probably has more importance that I will ever know!
To be allowed in, we told the guards we would have to see the mage again to accept his offer. In the meantime, I snuck off to the brainwashed Vaeri and uttered the legendary words.
“Mojisconsukai’t.”
It worked! Vaeri was surprised to see herself in her outfit and in the strange establishment she found herself in. I explained to her we needed to get out as fast as we could to see her sister.
She questioned how I was able to save her. I explained what had happened, and felt a sudden sadness toward the bandit we had forced to suffer. She was shocked, asking why I’d go through so much trouble to save a single soul such as herself. I simply told her that her sister spent months looking for her, and that if I lost one of my own sisters, I’d spend as long searching for them.
“You’d make someone lose an eye for them?” Vaeri asked.
“Not my preferred choice, but if it was me, I’d be more upset if I lost my right eye,” I said, “That’s my favorite.”
Speaking of eyes, I noticed that one of Vaeri’s eyes didn’t always look to where the other one was. The right was actin’ crazy while the left was straight at me. I never brought it up, just thought it was an interesting observation.

And so, Miirik’s quest came to an end. We regrouped at our campsite with smiles about.
I was happy to see Miirik and Vaeri holding each other as close as they did. Kinda makes me miss my own siblings!
Baeshra offered a few words of relief to Vaeri, gave the biggest smile I ever saw, and went back to tending to her weasels.
The two smiths gave me their thanks, but I told them I was only the word giver. Vorel was the one that truly kept Miirik’s quest alive. I told them the only thing they could do was let us return them home safely.

They did more, though! During our time going back, they made some inventions ask thanks for Vorel’s efforts as the party leader.
The first was a custom pair of goggles that protect the wearer from blinding lights and help the wearer see farther.
The second...was an extraordinary contraption! It was a metal gauntlet with a cylindrical opening on the side that shot metal objects from within itself. Good for causing distractions or stunning enemies at close range!
Vorel was absolutely appreciative of their gifts, claiming no one has ever made such amazing contraptions for her before.
It seems they really liked her reactions to their gifts, because near the end of her praising, each of the smiths licked the sides of Vorel’s face and smiled at each other. It looked weird when they did that, as reflected by her immediate reaction.
No one’s ever licked her before, I take it.
Later, Vorel promised to put them to real good use. I would hope so!

It was kinda strange to see Vaeri wear those goggles the entire time before we went back to her clan, but also not. I don’t know how I’d feel about having a wandering eye for everyone to see, so I think I understand. And they were some cool-looking ones, too, like the custom goggles she made for Vorel.

It was a hard day when the smiths returned to their people. We had some crazy adventures with, well, one of them, and their return meant having two less companions. No, three, actually. Baeshra went on her way, too, but she let us keep one of her weasels.
“Don’t let him die on you, ya hear?” She told Vorel.
I remember that odd stare Bash gave me before leaving us for good. I could barely hear the words she uttered and turned around as, “Stay safe, Nuthead.”
So for adventurers, it was just Vorel, Aesthyr, and Netza (Me). I, uh...Aww.
I miss everyone already.
And...Vorel has to go back, too. Doesn’t she?

Sure enough, she did. There was less celebration for Vorel’s return, but she seemed grateful to us for staying with her for as long as we did.
“Now, Aesthyr. It’s all up to you, now. You’ll have to be the master scout. I expect you to excel at your job,” and she turns to me, “And I expect you, Netza the Nuthead, to take her word to heart. No lone runs, no acts of estranged heroism. The usual. After all, no one ‘bold can take on a bear of a world by themselves. Agreed?”
“Agreed.”
Then, she gave us the gifts Miirik and Vaeri made for her.
“These should help you two more than me, I think.”
Aesthyr got the custom goggles and I got the custom gauntlet!
I had issues with the leader before, but now? Best leader ever!

Afterwards, Ace and I talked and she pretty much stated that she wasn’t comfortable being the party’s leader, but she didn’t have the heart to tell Vorel that.
So, I was promoted to leader.
Oh.
I asked her what leaders did.
Ace told me what she saw Vorel deal with and it sounded really difficult, but for our sakes, I’ll do my best!

One night, when the dragon man hunter came to visit, we started talking about our families.
I obliged.
“So, there’s Crok, Crepzis and Udisk, my brothers, and Iglo, Lessru, Ersek and Sirguk, my sisters! And my parents, Ned and Deerka! They’re all real swell! I wish I could show them to you if they weren’t so far away.
Oh, but I can’t wait to show them my gauntlet!”
The hunter, smoking his brown pipe, admitted to me that his name was Udovroth Ecauth. I don’t know why I never asked before. He didn’t seem to mind being called ‘hunter’ the whole time, so that might be why. However, that was as far as he went with with discussing his bloodline. Maybe some other time, he said.
We ended up learning more about Aesthyr’s family, too! Her history, was, uh, kinda sad. I now understand why Vorel didn’t want a red kobold like me teasing her about her color and name so much. But despite any of that, I’m glad she’s here with us now!

Morning time!
And so, we were off!
To...Uh...Huh.
Where do we go now?
I didn’t really feel comfortable traveling far without extra company. Ace is the best at what she does, but even she needs support for her weaknesses every now and then. Like me!
Maybe we could...carefully bring new adventurers into our party if they really wanted to join, and if we’re really sure they’re worth bringing in? We don’t want a repeat of last time.
We’ve got a fighter and a ranger.
Let’s try getting people different from those!”

...

“No luck so far.
We’ve met lots of kobolds, but none that see joining us as a worthwhile endeavor.
One male wasn’t convinced we would last even with him in the party.
One female didn’t want a party with other females.
Another male threatened to stick his sap in my left eye if I didn’t let him be.
Another female said she would join, but changed her mind a second later.
Gosh. Before adventuring, I never realized how difficult it was to deal with folks the same kind as me just on a social level. We should keep searching...

Oh, no.
The strangest act of fate somehow dictated we would briefly encounter the elf bandit we forced to help us. He was slumped against a big tree, biting at the slightly burned meat he cooked over his small campfire.
Ace suggested we avoid him. It would be a wise move. Something within me felt pity for the lonesome soul lacking a left eye, but I knew he would try to kill us if he spotted us. So, we let him be.

We were trapped!
For the last week, Ace and I were stuck in an abandoned castle after trying to help a group of kobolds loot it. Our weasel had to wait behind since the group didn’t trust it.
But we were separated due to the unforeseen trickery of the castle walls. The group died to complex traps and lack of organization on their part.
There was a madman watching over us and noting our progress the further we went into the massive castle.
As it turned out, the elf bandit was stuck in here with us. I wasn’t keen on witnessing his end, so I did what I could to help him get past his traps, which I could only assume then that he appreciated.
The craziest point was when Ace was stuck in a small room with a roof descending downward to crush her. The only way to open the door was to lift up the chains on my side. The only problem was that there were two chains and only one of me.
I tried desperately to pull each, but I was not strong enough. Suddenly, the elf bandit appeared from nowhere and pulled the other chain so we could free Ace.
We tried to track the madman responsible for the traps, but he was never found. The most we could do was escape the castle grounds via an underground sewer system connected to his abandoned quarters.
That was one harsh incident.
I never learned the name of that elf bandit. When I asked, he simply shook his head and walked away through the forest.

Today, (Struggling marks) a day after that incident, we were attacked by a small pack of wyverns. We were sure, so sure, that we were safe where we were camping. Far from any (Dropped pen) sign of danger. But our luck wasn’t shining upon us that night.
We attempted to keep them at bay with our bows, but one of them got brave and went straight for Ace. Her bow was des-destroyed trying to stop it from ripping her throat out. When I intervened, I got a few hits in with Crepzis’ sword before it and one of its accomplices attacked me with their stingers. I resisted the pain from them as best as I could, but I wasn’t in (Lighter marks) any shape to keep fighting.
I threw Ace my bow and she was able to kill two of the five wyverns as we made our escape. Our weasel ally was able to distract them, for a short time.
I’m...I’m hurt bad. I don’t know why I’m still writing like this. Ace tells me I need more rest. I know I do, I just...I’ll be there in a min-

It’s all right! I know the stains on the journal say otherwise, but I only collapsed for a few minutes. Ace is literally over my shoulder begging me to drop the pen and rest. I will, I will, I only...Okay, Ace.

I can’t forget Crepzis’ sword! He said he borrowed it from a busy adventurer, so if they ever needed it again...No. Crepzis would never steal from another person! Not from one of our kind. He’s too loyal.
Or, was Crok the loyal one?
Ugh. It’s been too long...

I’m not sure what to do now. We tried getting new companions but aren’t having good luck with that, and without others, traveling for a long period of time with a party of two kobolds and one weasel isn’t a realistic situation that would end well. We couldn’t survive that castle at the end without outside help.
We barely survived those wyverns, and we didn’t even kill most of them.
This was so much easier when we were following Vorel’s lead, someone whom already had combat experience, an explicit goal and returned home upon accomplishing it. But I can’t return now! I’ve been through a lot but don’t have enough to prove for my experiences.
Hmm...
Just need the right adventure. One good one, with no dead companions or overwhelming odds. No, no, it wouldn’t be an adventure unless there were deliberate odds we would need to overcome and be immensely rewarded for.
But...I don’t want to risk losing Ace again, and another dead weasel wouldn’t help anyone but our sad bellies.
What to do...

This is it! We found papers detailing the lost treasure of a renowned human noble known as Beralved Amretryavya.
The amount he was offering for the retrieval of his marked treasure box was astounding to a small party like us!

It took many months, countless rumors, multiple followed trails and too many close encounters for us to procure the location of the marked treasure box.
Luckily, Ace and I got out relatively fine.
Our big weasel, however, sacrificed himself to keep a mercenary leader from tracking us down. He will be missed.
But it was all worth it! Yes!

When we made it to the noble’s esteemed mansion, the guards and other nobles weren’t sure of what to make of us. But they saw that we were returning the box back to the Great Lord Amretryavya, so they left us alone.
The noble was happy, extremely happy, to have his box back, but his praise lasted for no more than 20 seconds, then he gave us our reward and sent us on our way.
I don’t know why, but something inside me told me to inquire what exactly we had returned to him. It wasn’t my business, but it was bugging me the entire time we held onto it.
The noble was happy to oblige to my request, however, and what was inside were multiple complex locks that many had attempted to break through but were not successful. Behind them was a sophisticated-looking box that had contained...Art pieces of barely clad females from multiple races. Beralved was particularly fond of the ones with the odd humans with horns and tails.

Drawings.
We saved drawings.
...Not a precious crown or legendary weapon from olden times, or a book containing lost knowledge, or an important souvenir from his ancestors to hold on to and pass down, or a potion for everlasting life.
It was drawings.
...

We were paid very well for our recent quest, but something about the outcome disappointed me to such a grave extent.
Ace asked me what was wrong. She seemed pretty satisfied about our reward, our adventure.
But I still felt...unfulfilled. The grand adventure I wanted three years ago was nothing close to what I ended up with. Not at all like the stories my siblings shared with me.
I was better than what I once was, but I didn’t feel better. I was richer than I had ever been, but what would I ever do with that money? Share it with my siblings, of course. So, I wouldn’t keep much, anyways. Nor do much with it.
I had met some wonderful companions, but they were all gone a long time ago. They all returned home.
I...I guess I should do the same.

I did as I said I would.
Crepzis got his lucky short sword back. I tried to make it look as good as when he gave it to me. It saved me from a lot of possible deaths. It was the least I could do.
Ace met my family, all of which were glad to meet her. But she said it was time for her to go. Where? I hadn’t asked.
The last time I saw her was by our cave entrance, waving goodbye while Odovroth stood by a nearby tree behind her. Waving at us along with her.
I felt something really strange I hadn’t felt when I saw her leave. Like, I didn’t want her to go. But I couldn’t force her to stay. I had no reason to. None that I could think of right away.

I suppose that’s the end of my tale.
Thanks for being with me to the end, journal.
Oh, that’s right.
The original was destroyed at one point, so I had to start all over and rewrite everything in another one identical to you.
I hope Crok doesn’t notice.
Goodbye.”

(Uneventful Finale)

(Day 5-23)

V: Ah, Mr. Montaine. There you are.

H: Queen?

V: I've come with the instruments from yesterday in the hopes that we could engage in musical affairs again today.

H: Ugh...Kindle?

K: Ohhh, whatever. Just let me lie in peace...

H: Okay, we can play again.

V: Superb! I hope you don't mind teaching my daughters as well, as they'd love to learn, too.

LA: Wait, we're actually learning? Mother, you really need to stop talking in innuendo.

LB: Hi, Harry! Oh. Hi, Kindle.

K: MMMmmm...

LB: Okay...

H: Lily?

K: ...HUH?!

LB: It's okay, Kindle! Above the waist and below the knees, right, Harry?

V, K, and LA: (Look confusingly at H)

H: Uhh, yeah, but he looks like he's trying to sleep, so maybe another time?

K: Ugh, useless brat, get off!

LB: Oh, sorry...

V: Come, now. That's no way to treat your sister, Kindle. Oh, look, she's sad now.

LB: No, I didn't mean to...

K: Ughhh, what a drag.

H: Umm, Kindle?

K: Yeah. Yeah.

LB:...

K: (Heavy sigh)...Lily?

LB:...Yes?

(Big hug)

K: (Half-heartedly) Sorry.

LB: ...Sniff...

K: Oh, don't do that. I just woke up.

LB: Sorry, I just...wanted to make you happy for once...

...

K:...You already make me happy, Lily.

...

K: And I don't mean that. I mean now.

...

LA: Ugh. I think I'm gonna be...Gonna be...

V: (Quietly sheds tears)

K: All right, that's enough hugs for one day. Let me sleep...

LB: Okay. I'll be sure to come back tomorrow for the next one!

H: Oh, my heart!

K: Huh? What's wrong?!?

H: I think it just...doubled in size from the amount of cuteness I just witnessed.

K: Oh, shut up...

LB and V: (Giggle)

LA:...Is it over? Oh, finally.

V: What's the matter, Lilith? Does genuine affection disturb you?

LA: I should be asking you that.

V: Oh, you better expect a good backhand by the end of this session...

LA: You can't backhand what you can't catch, old hag!

V: TCH! To hell with you...Forget about her, let us begin.

H: Right. So...

...

H: Woah. Wait.

LB: Ah, so, like this?

V: Or like this?

H: Guys, be careful playing with "those" kinds of beats. Play them a certain way and you'll summon-

V: Or, like this!

H: No, wait!

G: SKAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

H: Gerald!

(24)

V: AH! Filthy beast! I told you to keep away from my son!...Wait...

G: Nghaaaa...

LB: OH NO, OH NO, OH NO, OH PLEASE NO!

H: Friendly, Gerald! Friendly. They are friendly people, okay?

KI: What's all that screeching-Oh.

G: Skuck.

LB: DADDY! MAKE IT GO AWAY! PLEASE!

KI: Hi there. Welcome to our kingdom.

V: Welcome?!? This thing is Unblessed! Do something! Call for extra guards!

KI: Nah.

V: P-Pardon??

KI: You've been pardoned.

V: I'm in danger, you fool! Do something before-Ugh! Keep away!

G: Ngaaaaaah...

KI: I think he's taken a fancy to you.

LB: Daddy, I think he's gonna-Oh, no-He's gonna hurt mommy!

H: No, Lily, he's not gonna hurt anyone, I promise!

V: Yes, he's going to hurt mommy! And he'd better keep away if-

G: (Lick)

V: GASP! DID-DID-DID-

LB: Did the gryphon-Did it just-

KI: Oh, this should be entertaining!

V: What kind of husband are you?!? I've been assaulted-Assaulted, I tell you!-And you do nothing to help me?!?

KI: Well, it's only fair.

V: Only fa-FUCK YOU!!!

G: NGHAAAAAH!!!

V: No, not you, I mean-UGH, GET OFF OF ME!!!

LB: Harry, puh-puh-lease, tell the gryphon to go away!

H: I-I-Gerald! Gerald!

G: Skaaaaa?

H: Down, Gerald!

G: ...Ska.

V: Oh, it's crushing me!

H: NO, Gerald, I mean, down FROM her!

G: ...Ngha.

V: GET. OFF. YOU. VER-

G: (Lick)

V: ...min...

G: Nghaaa...(Continues licking)

V: Ohh...You're all monsters...All of you...(Sobs to herself)

LB: (Sobs along with her)

KI: (Slow clap that gradually increases)

H: Oh, my goodness. I'm so sorry.

KI: Don't be! This is the best entertainment I've had with this damn family in years!

G: Skuck.

KI: Skuck, indeed!

LB: Daddy, is-is-

KI: Don't you worry, Rose. Mommy is just fine.

LB: But-She's crying...

KI: Tears of joy, sweet Lily Rose! Tears of joy.

V: Ohh, bleh...You're awful...

KI: Never claimed I wasn't.

H: ...What the hell have I gotten myself into?

KI: The worst family in the entire dragon country. Pleasure to make your acquaintance.

H: Gerald...Come on, Gerald....

G: Fluuuu?

H: Come on. I need you, pal. Come on.

G: ...Fluuuuu.

V: HUH! It...It...

KI: Aww, it's over.

V:..It...

LB: Thank goodness! Are you okay, mother?

V:...

LB: Mo-Mommy?

V:...

KI: I think your mount just broke her will to live.

H: Queen Vera?

V:...Harry...Lily...

H: Yes?

LB: Are you okay, mommy?

V:...

...

V:...I'm gonna need a good, long bath after this...

(Looks at KI)

And I'll be needing you for a Good...Long...Talk.

KI: Oh. How romantic.

V:...When I'm done with you, you won't be able to walk for an entire year, so you'll have no choice but to stay here.

K: Neat, now everyone GET OUT of my room!

V: YOU SHUT THE FUCK UP BEFORE I DO THE SAME TO YOU!

K:...

V: Yeah, I thought so. Now...

(Walks up to Gerald)

...You don't ever lick me until I say you can lick me, understand?

G: Nghaaaa....

V: We are leaving. Now.

KI: When did you decide to grow a pair?

V: When you decided to put yours elsewhere.

KI: Hmph. You won't last a minute.

V: And you won't last a second.

...

LB: Is it-Is it over?

H: Yeah, it is.

G: Milaaa...

LB: Gasp!

H: It's okay, Lily! He's not gonna hurt you, see? He's friendly. Right, Gerald?

G: Fluuuuu...

H: Friendly.

G: Fluuu...

H: Fluuuuu...

LB: Fluuuuu?

H: Yeah, fluuuu.

LB: Hah, that's kinda silly.

G: Fwa!

LB: Oh, he's on his belly like a dog!

G: Fwaaawaa...

H: I think he's tired now.

G: Fwaaaa...aaaa....aaa...

LB: Oh...

G: Neeaol...neeaol...

H: Shhh, quiet, Gerald...Quiet...

G: Neeaol....ooool...oool...

H: (Hums gently)

G:...Oll....

LB: (Quietly) ...I have a blanket he could use. Hold on...

...

LB: ...Here.

H: Thank you, Lily.

G: ...Oll...

...

H: Thank it all that's over with.

LB: It was terrifying at first, but then it was weird, and then it was terrifying, and then...I don't know.

...

LB: The way you caressed Gerald...I wish mother and father caressed me like that...And when they tried to, it was never gentle...

H:...

LB: Harry?

H: Hmm?

LB: Can I feel...what they feel like?

H: Feel what?

LB: Your hands. Can I feel them?

H: Umm, sure.

LB: Ohh...I always thought Novun hands would feel rough and hard, but they...They feel nice.

H: Like a maid's hands, Jed once said.

LB: Hm?

H: Ahem. Don't know why I remembered that...

LB: ...Harry?

H: Yes?

LB: Are there any other people out there that you're close to?

H: There are a few. Jedediah, Hakin, Gerald. Maybe Nijla and Beryn, too. And, hmm, perhaps Ahzanol as well. And Malek...

LB: They're good people like you, right?

H: Mmm, most of them.

LB: Most?

H: A few of them are mercenaries and one I barely got on good terms with again, but yeah, they're relatively good people.

LB: If they're like you, I'd love to meet them someday.

H: Oh, they're nothing like me. But I appreciate their company anyway.

LB: That's odd. How can you enjoy their company if they're nothing like you?

H: But you just answered your question.

LB: You like them because they're nothing like you? Then, how do you get along? How can you find things to relate to?

H: We're more different due to what species we are and more-or-less different due to how we act around each other.

We're often bounded together through, hmm...self-interests, favors, and social capital. And through all that, we learn to get along and relate to each other in our own ways. Since there is no one way to relate to someone.

...Sorry if I sound like an unspecific stiff or a teacher while saying this stuff. I don't know how else to explain it.

LB: It sounds kinda complicated, but I think I get it. You don't get along right away. You learn to get along, right?

H: Basically. I mean, there's more to it, but-Basically.

LB: Kinda like us, right? You learned to get along with all of us despite what you learned.

H: Ohhh, that's not even worth mentioning now. Mistakes were made, but everyone's learned from them, right?

LB: I hope so.

H: I hope so, too. Because I do like some of you guys and I don't...I don't want to stop liking you because of past mistakes.

LB: ...

H: And it wouldn't be fair to you if I always held you in a negative light for what was done amongst yourselves, but not done to me. I think that's what your father meant when I first talked to him, that I still call Kindle "friend" in spite of anything else.

LB: Da-Father said that?

H: Yeah.

LB:...

H: Your father is something else.

LB: ...He is.


(25)

LB: Ohh, he's still sleeping?

K: Mmmmm...I was.

LB: Sorry.

K: So many sorries...Mphm. Okay, I'm up.

H: Morning, Red.

LB: Good morning, brother. Oh!

(Hug)

K:....Morning, Rose.

LB: But it's not the next day yet.

K: Never promised you a hug the next day. Although, if today goes well, I might.

LB: Promise?

K: Hell no. You know how unstable everyone is here, me included.

LB: Hmph. Fair enough.

K: Sigh. I just...

H: What?

(Looks outside)

K: We really suck, don't we?

H: Huh?

K: I mean, our species really sucks. We can't breath fire, we can't fly, we can't cast spells, we struggle to walk on all twos, we just...suck.

H: I think your species is really cool.

K: Really? What is it you admire about us?

H: Well, you're really big. And you got horns. And scales. And long ears. And...

K: And?

H: Uhh, you...

K: Most of the other drakkens already have all that, and then some. Even some of the bloody kobolds can fly. We're as far away from the definition of "cool" as we can be.

LB:...I think you're really cool, Kindle.

K: Oh, shut up..I mean, thank you.

LB: You are welcome.

K: Ugh...Still getting used to this "decent brother" act...

H: You're doing well so far.

K: Am I? I honestly haven't noticed.

LB: I think if you want to get better with that, you have to talk to Lilith, too.

K: What? No! I don't want to talk to that slimy bi-I mean, I'll think about it.

LB: That's good. Because she kinda cares about you, too, Kindle.

K: Sigh...I fell for that thought before...

H: So, what do you wanna do today, Red?

K: What's with the nicknames?

H: I always give people nicknames.

K: Always?

H: Well, not always, but when I'm in a good mood, I try to think of a nickname to give someone.

K: And I'm Red?

H: Yeah.

K: ...Because I'm red?

H: Never said I was creative with them.

LB: Hey, what's my nickname?

K: It's "Nosey".

LB: Hey!

K: Heh heh.

LB: You? I'm not sure. Can't call you "Hot Pink" because I already gave Kindle a color nickname. And it doesn't sound right.

K: Indubitably.

LB: What?

K: Oh, something I heard mother say.

H:...

K: Don't look at me like that.

H: I heard your father call you "Lily Rose". Is "Rose" your middle name?

LB: No, that's just a term he gave me when I was a pup and it kinda stuck with me.

K: "Lily Rose, my dear Lily Rose! Where have you gone to, now?"

LB: Kindle?

K: "Have you gone to the forest to talk with the other flowers, Lily Rose?"

LB: Stop it, Kindle!

K: "Did the lonely fox and the one-eyed hound fight over you again, my dear Lily Rose?"

LB: You're embarrassing me...

K: Relax, I'm just giving Harry some inspiration for your nickname.

LB: That better be it...

...

K: "Lily Rose, did you release yourself in mother's chambers again?"

LB: KINDLE!

K: HahahahahHA!

LB: You're terrible...

H: Eh, when I was young, I made my fair share of mistakes with release, too.

K: Oh, but it wasn't a mistake! She was pissed that mother didn't give her a new toy, so she pissed in her room!

LB: OH MY GOODNESS, KINDLE, STOP IT!

K: But this is so much fun!

LB: AND I WASN'T MAD ABOUT THAT, I WAS MAD THAT MOTHER GOT YOU A TOY AND NOT ME!

K:...Oh, right...

LB: YOU ALWAYS...You were always the center of her attention. And I hated that...

K:...

LB: I...I really didn't like you back then, Kindle. You were a gem in her eyes. And I was just a plant.

Something to look at, to give water on occasion. But not to...

K: You didn't seem to dislike me back when we became degenerates.

LB: I did as Lilith did. Because she was my superior when mother and father weren't here. As were you.

K:...

LB: Believe me, I hated every second of it. If you only you saw the tears. But you couldn't, because you were too busy releasing your frustration on us to notice.

K: I wasn't...frustrated.

LB: Then, what were you?

K: I...I don't...

...

K: I don't know what I was! I still don't.

LB: Of course.

K:....

LB:...

K: Lily...I won't ever do anything like that to you ever again. As long as I live, I'll...

...

K: ...I'll try to be the best brother to you that I can possibly be. Okay? Because I know you aren't rotten, not like the others. And you deserve better than that, than what we did.

...

K:...You deserve better than me...

H:...Sniff...

LB: ...Promise?

K: I promise.

(Nuzzle heads gently)

K:...So, what do you think, Harry? A real improvement over "Thank you", wasn't it?

H: That was...That was really good of you, Red.

K: Damn straight.


(26)

H: You know...You remind me a lot of me, Kindle. Parents weren't always home, lacked meaningful relationships with siblings...

K: Yeah?

H:...Not a very great attitude...

K: Thanks.

H: And, perhaps, had my own share of desires...

K: Oh? So, tell me...

H: Oh, no.

K: What were your share of desires?

H: Oh, well, I don't really have them the same way now...

K: But what were they?

H: I dunno...Tall, dark-skinned, long, black, thick hair...

K: Ah ha! You liked 'em exotic, huh?

H: I mean, I liked light-skin, too. But not pale-skinned. Or super-skinny. Like a skeleton.

K: Skeletons kill the mood, I agree.

H: Why am I telling you this?

K: It's our way of bonding.

H: Bonding, huh?

K: It lets me know you aren't the perfect "good guy" stiff I thought you'd be when we first met.

H: Yeah, I thought you'd be like a worse Jed when I met.

K: Jed?

H: Friend of mine outside of dragon country. Socialite, energetic, upbeat...

K: I was nothing like that. Except maybe the ride, but...

H: No, right when we met. I thought you'd be somewhat like that, but pessimistic.

K: Well, you got the "pessimist" part right.

H: But I don't think the same way, just to make myself clear. I say that because I told Jed what I thought of him back when we first met and he was furious.

K: Why?

H: Because he actually treated me well when we met and I totally overlooked it.

K: Wow. You dick.

H: I...Yeah, that's fair.

K: Dark-skinned, long hair...

H: Yeah.

K: So, I take it Lily's out of the question?

H: WAS what I liked, Kindle. Was.

K: That's not a yes.

H: Not a no, either. Wait.

K: Oh, Lily!

H: That's not what I-Oh, you bastard.

K: Heheheh.

H: Laugh it up, wingless.

K: Oh, that was uncalled for and you know it.

H: Sorry I hurt your feelings, you sensitive boy, you.

K: Apology accepted. Smoothie.



(27)

KI: ...Son.

K: Father.

KI: Your mother and I...

K: Please don't.

KI: No, I demand you listen! Okay...We discussed some things and...

K: You decided to act like a real father now?

KI: Now, listen here, you little-Hmm.

To pertain to your form of dialect, I will say that I will now start acting like a real father and stay here for...longer periods of time.

K: Woah. The fuck was that good, huh?

...

KI: Godlike.

K:....

KI: No, she had me realize some things. Where I was truly needed. Convinced me that my adventures, as she called them, were in vain. And that...what I really desired...wasn't out there...

K: Good for you.

KI: Perhaps mistakes were made. Perhaps. And we cannot change that. But...we can't change yesterday or what we think tomorrow will be like. But we can change today. Atone for our wrongdoings. Not abolish them, but attempt to bring ourselves beyond them. We can't do this alone. We...need each other, whether you or I like it or not.

K: You may need me...

H: Kindle...

K: Sigh.

KI: So, I've come to ask you for your cooperation. When the time comes, we need to come together and address the issues of our kingdom and our family alike. No one will be denied. No one will be left to stand idly by as the day passes before them.

K: Father, you know I want nothing to do with politics.

KI: Neither do I. Why do you think I left? Because I didn't want to deal with that crap. But...It took some persuasion to see that I can leave no longer. I could accomplish what I needed to do and, perhaps, what I wanted, here. And it was not just your mother that made me see that.

...

KI: So, I guess you don't really don't have a say in the matter. You're royalty, after all. There are things expected of you as there are of me. And there's a reason those expectations exist, I suppose.

K: To restrict us from our own individual lives for the betterment of the kingdom?

KI: To do what no one else wants to do. But what still needs to be done.

...

K: Sure picked a helluva time to become responsible.

KI: It's not like I plan these things.

K: So, that's it, then? No more traveling the world, no more neglecting responsibilities, no more lust tales?

KI: I don't know how I'd do it myself, but that's because I won't. We will all do this.

K: All of us?

KI: All of us. I'm sure as shit not suffering alone, so I expect you be right there, beside me...Suffering with us.

K:...When?

KI: We could start today, if I really wanted to. But I'd rather not, since I've only discussed this with your mother and you. I'm about to discuss this with your sisters after I'm done here.

K: Actually discuss it?

KI: Yes. Actually discuss it.

K:...Promise me. Promise me you will actually discuss this with them. Promise me we will get together and discuss this. And promise me that this will happen, but only two days from now.

KI: Why two days?

K: In two days, Harry's contract here ends. After that...

KI: Of course.

K:...I'm gonna miss being a lazy, good-for-nothing son.

KI: Don't think I won't miss being an irresponsible, good-for-nothing father. This burns me as well as it burns you, you know.

K: Oh, I'm sure your deep in heat right now.

KI: Hey. Don't be weird.

K: Is there any other way than being weird?

KI: I guess we'll find out. In two days.

K: Promise?

KI: Promise.

K:...Okay.

KI:...Hmph.

K: What?

KI: I...I thought you'd be less agreeable to the idea, but-

K: Did you have that strange feeling, too?

KI: What strange feeling?

K: I dunno. The kind of feeling you hardly ever feel or the kind you've never felt in a long time?

KI: I've felt no such thing.

K: You didn't? Right...

KI:...Just an odd sensation of indigestion...

...

K: Harry?

H: Yes?

K: I need you to visit my sisters' rooms in twenty minutes. Check up on Lily and, if you want, Lilith. See how they are.

H: Are you...

K: They would appreciate the company, I think.

H:...Will do, boss.



(28)

KI: Mr. Montaine?

H: I'm not interrupting, am I?

LA: I'd rather you did.

KI: And I'd rather you be less of a bitch. You came out of your mother's womb, but that doesn't mean you should act like her.

LB: Oh, hi, Harry...

H: Hey, Lily. What's wrong?

LB: Oh, just recovering from what da-father told us.

H: Oh.

LB: Still can't believe you're leaving us in two days. It was a lot of fun, but I guess we have things we need to do.

H: A part of me would love to stay a bit longer, but I have to get back to my group. A week is as long as they'll let me go on less than three standard contracts without bringing home money.

LB: And I bet you miss them, too?

H:...You could say that.

...

H: Except maybe Udeeno. He's kinda...rough...

LA: Rough, huh?

H: I mean, he's more stern and less apologetic than the rest of my group members. And a brutal teaser.

LA: Oh, you don't like being teased, Mr. Hairy Mountains?

KI: You can outrun your mother, but you can't outrun me.

H: ...Son of a...

KI: Ignore her, Mr. Montaine, she-

H: Haha.

KI: Hmm?

H: That tease. That tease was the first thing that came up when I chose that name. And Udeeno didn't even make it.

It was friggen' Kellun. Heh.

LA: How fascinating.

H: I swear, Kellun's the only one that could do that and get away with it.

LB: Kellun? What's he...she...your friend like?

H: She's one of the more mellow kobolds I know. You could tell the world to her and she'd just smirk and take a drink out of whatever she bought at the pub that day. Not because she doesn't care, she actually listens more than we give her credit for, but that's how she better evaluates the events of our particular days.

And she also has these particular skills-

(Rambling)

And then, there's that warhammer-

(Rambling)

...and she has this fancy smoking pipe-

(Rambling)

...I mean, I don't like smoking or smokers, but I make an exception to her even though the stuff she smokes is pretty rancid in smell when you're close enough to notice it. So...Uhh...Umm...

KI: ...Mmm? Were you saying something?

LA: Zzzzzz...

LB: She sounds...just...incredible!

H: I'm sorry, was I rambling?

LB: Huh?

H: I forgot what we were originally...

LB: Oh, keep talking about your friend! Tell that story again, the one where she scared all the hoodlums in the bar away by using that one broken wine bottle! Or how she tamed that dragon with that special powder she got from the Northern Mountains!

H: Uhh...Wow, it's late now...

LB: Or how...how...yawn...

KI: You said something about a kobold and a...bone club? Was it a bone club?

H: No, it was a warhammer. Fighting vigilantes with a bone club...how silly...

KI: Mmmhmm, right. Anyways, I should be heading to my chambers now.

(Looks at Lilith)

Hope your nightmares are worse than mine...

(Looks at Lily)

I hope you have a good night's sleep, dear Lily Rose. Although, with Harry here, that shouldn't be too difficult.

LB: A good night to you, too, father.

KI: Now, then...

LB: Okay...

KI:...Huh?!?

H: This again?

LB: Mmmm.

KI: Oh, you...

(Fairly rough nuzzle)

LB: Uff!

KI: Oh, dear! I didn't mean to hurt you, sweetheart!

LB: I know, daddy...

KI: I just...tried to show you affection properly. Like your mother used to. But...

Guess I lost my way...

LB: You...yawn...lost something?

KI:...Yeah. Yeah, I may have lost something.

LB:...I think I lost something as well, but I forgot what it was. Kindle and Harry helped...yawn...jog my memory a little, but I think you can help me, too...

KI: We've all lost something, Lily. But, I think I can help you find what you lost.

LB:...And I can help you with...yawn...with...

Wait.

KI: What is it, dear?

LB: I forgot to...say goodnight to Harry...

KI: Of course. Harry?

H: Yes, my lord?

LB...Harry?...

H: Lily Rose?

(Slow hug)

LB: Good...night...

H: Good night, dear Rose.

...

H: Oh, she...

KI: Hold on. I've got her.

H:...

KI: You know, it's moments like this that make me hate myself for leaving.

H: I'd never leave at all, if I knew someone like her was who I was coming home to.

KI: I never pictured you the emotional type, Mr. Montaine.

H: It's just during the rare moments like these that I can't help but get...I dunno, sentimental.

KI: You do know. Don't say you don't.

H: Sorry, bad habit of mine.

KI: "Sorry..."

H: Sigh.

KI:...It's going to get hard a few days from now. But I suppose that's the way these things eventually end up.

H:...

KI: And I don't think I could bear to see my children in such stress, gryphon incident notwithstanding. Even Lilith, I have the smallest amount of pity for.

H:...

KI: But that's enough rambling for today, eh? I bid you good night, Mr. Montaine.

H: Right...


(Day 6-29)

H: Hey, Kindle.

K: Mmm, how's it hangin'?

H: I'm gonna take a walk around the mountain for a while if that's okay with you.

K: All right, just don't walk too long. There might be a few things I want to do before today ends.

H: Right.

...

V: Well, if it isn't Mr. Montaine.

H: Oh. Hi.

V: A wonderful day for a stroll, is it not?

H:...I'm really sorry for what happened, I-

V: Never mind that. Or rather, perish the memory entirely.

H: I tried to...Very well.

V: A lot has happened in the past week, wouldn't you say?

H: Without a doubt.

V: Secret meetings, attempted assassinations, unchaste summons....Yes, quite a lot.

H: I'd say this is probably going to end up being one of my more memorable contracts.

V: Of course, for there is no royal family as refined, as sophisticated, and as spry as our family.

H: I agree with the "spry" part.

V: Indubitably.

H: Indubitably.

V:...

H:...

V: How is my son doing?

H: He's doing well.

V: No. I mean, how is he?

H: How?

V: He shares details with you that he keeps away from me. For many reasons, I'm certain. I would appreciate if you shared such details.

H: Why don't you go talk to him?

V: Harry, if you did terrible things to your son and had them exposed to the rest of your family, would you consider it wise to talk to him right away? A mere few days after the exposure?

H: I think it'd be a difficult thing to think about, but I wouldn't have a choice but to get it over with.

V: What makes you think you wouldn't have a choice?

H: Because, in that context, he's my son. I wouldn't want my son to hate me for the rest of his life over some stupid...something. I didn't become what I became to be someone's burden, but to be a benefit.

V: I would prefer if this was some stupid thing. But it's not.

H: I know.

V: It would be foolish of me to expect someone's mercy at the hand of my...desperation. This is why I came to you, Mr. Montaine. You've been with him longer than I have this week, spoke to him more, learned about him, shared with him, comforted him...

H: I don't think I did all that, but okay.

V: Sometimes, I would watch you two talk from a distance. The expressions he makes toward you are ones I know he will never give me. And if that be so, then so be it. But, as long as you are here, could you at least inform me of his current mental condition?

H: He's just trying to get by. At least, until that meeting happens.

V: So...Same as before?

H: I mean, I think he's a little closer to Lily and his father, now. But by how much, I don't know. There are some things even he doesn't tell me.

V: At least he puts some effort into bonding with them.

H: He tries. Even if he may not want to, he tries.

V:...Does he mention me?

H: Before my third day here, he mentioned you a lot. Now, not so much.

V: I trust it was nothing positive?

H: He want on a rant at one point, but beforehand, implied that if you weren't alone here, you would be a lot happier.

V: I'm surprised he actually considered my happiness for once.

H: Hey. That's not fair.

V: Pardon?

H: What he did for you. Was that not him trying to make you happy?

V:...

H: Granted, he could've tried other ways, like not actually committing to penetration and, perhaps, preserving his semen in a container of sorts to give to you so as to not perform full intercourse...

V: Are you actually...

H: I've been desensitized, so it's cool. Anywho, you could've done this a lot better than how you went about it. Or, at least, less immorally. Did you know that semen can actually last a minimum of 1 hour and a maximum of 6 days? So, there's not much need for immediate ejaculation from an immediate mate if all you desire is pregnancy. Now, I don't know if your species handles that much differently than humans or if the conditions in the mountain would lessen the survival rate of...

V: I thought we were past this. For the moment, anyway.

H: Sorry, I just really wanted to say something after thinking about what I learned.

V: Have you said everything?

H: Not everything. But I don't think the rest of what I want to say is anything you don't already know. Like, it's not the scientific stuff I mentioned right now.

V: Good.

H: I mean, I already told you about inbreds, right?

V: I'm leaving now.

H: Oh, wait!

V: If you are going to continue berating me for my actions, I will leave.

H: Look, I...Can I ask you for a favor?

V: A favor?

H: I just want this one thing. Nothing else.

V: I suppose a favor is fair. You did stop my son from killing me in a blind rage and introduced to me the joys of musical instruments, albeit at the cost of my dignity...State your favor, and I will consider fulfilling it.

H: I can only do so much for Kindle, you know, considering my time left here. He's, eh, somewhat happy when I'm beside him, but I know I'm not enough. I'm just a best friend. What he wants, what would truly make him happy, is something I can't give him.

V:...The gryphon?

H: Can you please allow Thistle free access to the mountain when I'm gone?

V:...

H: It would make Kindle happy to have her here, beside him, for as long as they want to be here. And it might garner you some respect to see you, out of everyone, allow their relationship to, well, flourish?

V: This...This is all you want?

H: That's all I want.

V: Why does it matter to you that they're together or not?

H: Because I know what it's like to feel like you're impossibly far from the closest friends and family you've ever had.

V:...

H: It's not a good feeling, not at all. And to deprive someone else of the happiness they desire-no, NEED the most, well, I think that's the worst thing you could ever do to a person.

V: So...I must be the worst queen in your eyes, if that's the case.

H: If you do this, you just might not be.

V:...You think I deprive my son of happiness?

H: If you make him happy, it must be when I'm not around. And that doesn't count. Lust and happiness are not always coterminous, after all.

V: You have some nerve, coming into my mountain under the guise of servitude, only to take control of the hearts and minds of my kin and use them against me!

H: I am not trying to be your burden, Vera! I'm trying to be a benefit to you. And I feel like the only way I can help you is if I suggest for you to help your son by doing this. If you do this one favor...
I'll never interfere with you or your family ever again.

V: You won't come to this mountain ever again?

H: I won't. No visits and no unchaste summons. If you allow Thistle to visit here freely, I will never bother you or your kin ever again.

V: You know I could just as easily not follow through with this favor? You leave, you never visit, and neither does she.

H: You don't realize how much you're breaking that man's heart by doing this? Do you think this is just a phase? Something he'll grow out of? Even if it is, he should be the one to choose to grow out of it. And if it isn't? He should be free to love her, just as you should be free to love your husband. As you have.

And what does it matter if you don't have dragon children to lead the kingdom? I, for one, would be totally cool with knowing that my son's sons and daughters are gonna be, say, these cool-looking dragon/gryphon hybrids to rule the kingdom! I mean, isn't that the coolest thing ever? I've never even heard of that!

V:...

H:...My point is, you can prefer a kingdom to be run by dragons only or gryphons only, but you shouldn't oppose the idea of them coming together to make something new, something different. Something with a bit of diversity. And, yeah, even diversity has its problems, but it's not lesser than anything else because of it. Nothing is perfect, after all.

V: So...

H: So...I won't make demands. I'm just saying to you: The second you go up to Kindle and tell him you'll allow Thistle here, I promise I will never return and attempt to "control" the minds of your kin again. And if you don't?

V:...

H: I won't be the one to see the end result. You will.

V:...

H: Thanks for the talk, my queen.



(30)

K: ...Why did you tell her that?

H: To see if she's as rotten as you claimed she is or if your father really did change some things with her.

K: But...

H: I see it this way: If she's still rotten, maybe you'll be able sort things out with her once and for all when that meeting comes up, and I'll be able to visit, at least.

If she's changed, you'll hopefully be able to see Thistle whenever you want and maybe, I mean "maybe", be able to have some sort of basic relationship with your mother that isn't based on pure spite. A sort of "rekindling" of lost kinship.

K: But if...I...How do you not see anything wrong with this?!?

H: I don't see anything wrong with this.

K: How...How could you tell her that so casually? Like its nothing?

H: Because, either way, you win.

K: How do I win?

H: If she doesn't comply, you'll have something extra to use to chew her out when that meeting comes. If she does, you and Thistle can be together peacefully. At least, in theory.

So either way, you win, Kindle.

K: You-IDIOT! Is that all you can think of? Winning? Is that all that matters to you?

H: All that matters to me is that you're happy, Kindle.

K:...

H: That's all that really matters.

K: Just...Shut up with that sappy stuff.

H: I will not.

K: Why do you care if I'm happy, anyways? You know I'm not a good person. I've never saved a village from bandits or Unblessed monsters, I've never donated to the poor, I've never created schools or libraries, I've never done anything beneficial for my kingdom or my family. So, why is it so damn important to you that I'm happy? And if you bring that contract up, I swear to the gods, I will tear it up!

H: Take out the contract.

K:...What?

H: Take it out.

K: Why?

H: Now, rip it apart.

K: What, no! I was just saying that-

H: Rip it, Kindle. If you think I was wrong for doing what I did, rip it. My group won't like me returning with no money, but that doesn't matter right now. Rip it.

K: But you aren't-

H: Kindle, rip it.

K: Harry, you-

H: Kindle, rip it!

K: No! I won't rip it!

H: KINDLE! RIP IT!

K: AGGGGHHH, DAMN YOU!

H: Ugh!

K: YOU-YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE, WHY DID YOU SAY THAT?!?

H: To show you I care!

That this matters to me!

That what you desire most is beyond me!

That I am minuscule compared to you and Thistle!

K: You...sniff...you fucking prick...

H: Do you understand why I did it now, Kindle? I liked hanging out with you, I did, but I am nothing compared to the two of you. What you have...It's special. Can't you see how special it is? That's something I don't have! Something I don't think I can ever have!

K: What the hell...are you talking about?

H: I...I envy you, Kindle! In spite of screwing your sisters and mother alike, in spite of you being a useless son, and in spite of you making all of the mistakes you've made...I envy you. All because you have one thing I value the most yet don't have with my group.

K:...A best friend?

H: (Gets close, quietly)

Love.

K:...Ugh! That...That feeling.

H: What you've been feeling for those certain moments, I presume.

K: Ew, but I don't...

H: It doesn't have to be sexual, you know. To be close to someone without wanting to be extremely close to them, that's platonic.

K: The words again...

H: Do you understand what I'm trying to tell you, Kindle?

K: You claim you don't have it with your group, but how do you know what it is?

H: My old group. With them, I was able to feel it. But when they left...I had to look elsewhere. I didn't want to abandon them, but I didn't want to stop exploring this world, either. I didn't want to stop being useful. So, I found a new group. And they...Well, it's taking a while...

K: Is that why you're here? To feel it?

H: No. I'm truly here to help any way I can with the contract. And maybe I've felt a few things...But that doesn't matter. Not compared to the contract, and not compared to you.

K: But..It does matter, man. It does! Don't make stupid favors just because of me. I'm not worth that!

H: Maybe not you, but the both of you...

K: Fucking forget about us, Danny! Forget about us! I mean-Don't forget about us! I mean-Shit! I don't know anymore! I...I...

H: You need her, don't you?

K: I...

H: Call for her. I'll distract your-

K:...Mother?

H: Yes, I'll-

V: My son.


(31)

V: A shame you valued our past conversations as mere distractions, Mr. Montaine. And worse, you've caused so much stress to my poor son. What was that you said about burdens and benefits before?

H: He's just not taking our prior conversation well.

K: Who...Who invited you?

V: My conscious, apparently. I've a proposition just for you, my dear Kindle.

K: Don't call me dear...

V: Oh, but you are my-

K: Spill it! I'm...not in the mood to hear your nonsense.

V: Tch. Very well. As you know, our kingdom requires strong males to rule out kingdom-

K: No, it doesn't.

V: Pardon?

K: Look at me and father. We were here and we let it go to shit. You and your daughters were here and were no better than us.

V: Another one of your brooding episodes, Kindle?

K: No, I'm actually trying to make a point. We need more than just us. We need something beyond us. Not just males or dragons or bloodlines or anything like that. We need something...more.

V: What could we possibly need beyond each other?

K: Something for us to all want or need. Something we can all work toward or believe in, like a doctrine or a religion. But not exactly like that, I think...Or, I don't think...Uhh...

V: I'm not following.

K: Look, we-We need something more, is what I'm trying to say. You can't just want children to succeed us, and...I can't just want Thistle to be here whenever I get stressed out...

V: If you've something to suggest, then suggest it.

K: I...sigh...Damn it! I had it, but now, it's gone now!

H: Like a...commitment? Or a discipline?

K: Yeah, like that, but not called that. Or is it called that? Ugh, I hate thinking about this stuff!

V: It's no favored past time of mine, either, but it is necessary to discuss so long as there are those to discuss it with.

K: But what is "it"?

V: It comes in many terms. Responsibilities. Duties. Commitments, as your stress-inducing friend has said.

K: Things beyond our common perceptions of "rules" or "expectations". But, aren't they exactly that? We need something beyond our current rules, beyond our traditions. Something more. Something new.

V: Why break traditions that have maintained our kingdom for so long?

K: For how long? We've been here for a few centuries at most, but how long until our old rules become too old to adapt to our ever-changing country? They've already become old, if anything.

V: They have not become old, our siblings have simply become too young.

K: The balance of the world is changing, and we're almost completely oblivious to it. Mother, have you heard of the mixed marriages in the other parts of Echlonvale? Or the machine beasts the mages have made? Or the tale of the kobold woman with the soul-sucking flower?

H: ...I didn't know Ace got her own tale...

V: So, you have been paying attention to the events of our world?

K: Sometimes. I mean, all that change...It keeps me up at night. Sad that my only form of participation in that change is a relationship with the best gryphon friend I've ever had...Maybe rivaled with another particular friend...

V: So...Change? You want change to occur in our family?

K: If it wasn't obvious. I mean...Yeah. That's what I want. No more redundant, spiteful crap between all of us, no more spying on each other, no more forced distractions, just...I want things to change now.

V:...You want a family.

K: No. I already have that. I want a slightly less messed-up family. I want to see Lily's smile again. I want to introduce Thistle to father and hear them exchange stories about each other. I want Lilith to stop acting as fucked up as I used to be. I want Harry to visit us from time to time, keep things a little more interesting or chaotic. And I want...

V: Yes, my son?

K:...I want you to admit you were wrong. Even if you don't believe you were.

V: Admit I was wrong about...

K: Just say it to me. Lie to me. Whatever. That's what I want. It won't make me forgive everything, but I think it would be a good start at getting to the thing beyond us.

V: Is that all?

K: I'm a simpler person than you give me credit for.

V: Simple, he says...

K: Sigh. So...

V: I will not apologize.

K:...Do I have to get the spear out again?

V: Which one?

K: Oh, my god...

V: The long, impressive one or the other long one?

K: THAT'S IT! Out, now!

V: Heheheh! Oh, but I jest, my son! I jest!

K: Go be a fucking clown somewhere else, yeah? And not in front of friggen' Harry! Right when I'm trying to be serious, too...

V: I won't apologize. Not here.

K: What?

V: When we all meet. Tomorrow.

K: Is that a promise or are you screwing with me again?

V: It's a promise.

K:...Really?

V: My pride and reputation are on the line, but seeing as they've already been tainted not too long ago, I won't have much to lose now. So, yes. Really.

K:...Okay, then.

V: And Kindle?

K: What?

V:...If the feathered beast must be here, promise me you'll clean up after her, will you?

K: YOU FU...She can clean up after herself.

V: So, she's well trained? There may be hope for her after all.

K: Lady, you're really pushing it.

V: Harry, did you hear that?

H: I heard.

K: Damn it...

V: We'll be expecting frequent visits from you after the completion of your contract. So, don't forget us right away when you leave dragon country.

H: I wouldn't be able to forget even if I tried.

V: Quaint. After all, who could forget such a beautiful queen?

K: That's one way of putting it.

V: Well, how would you put it?

K: Don't think I should say. It'd ruin this wondrous moment between us.

V: Indeed.

...

K:...How the fuck did you do that?

H: Manipulation. I think.

K: You mean, you don't even know?

H: Looks like she has changed a bit.

K: I...have a new respect for my father now, if he could do that. Actually, ew, forget I said anything.

H: So. You're on slightly better terms with your mother now, your girlfriend is now tolerable to her, and you actually want to become involved with your kingdom now. This...is a better outcome than I thought we'd get.

K: What'd you-You know what? Not even gonna ask. I'm calling Thistle over here right away.

...

T:...Wow.

K: You should've seen how ANGRY I was with her, that she didn't give me what I wanted right away! She sent ALL these guards in my way, but I made myself clear that I would not stop until I was allowed to see you again!

T: Is that true, Harry?

K: What, why you askin' Harry? He KNOWS it's true as much as I KNOW it's true, right Harry?

H:...Really, we just talked it over.

K: FUH-KIN SNITCH!

T: Still, it was a pretty fun story you made there.

K: It was, wasn't it?

V: Ahem.

T: Oh. Hello.

V: Ms. Claw Mark.

T: I'm sure I can complement it by creating another.

V: That won't be necessary.

T: That's good to hear.

V: Indeed.

T: Indubitably.

K: Heh. It's the damnedest thing, seeing you two have a civil conversation.

T: Civil, he says...

V: He's always had a way with misplaced words, hasn't he?

K: Only around you, for some reason.

V: Oh, you...

T: Wow, Kindle. All these sentences and I've yet to hear you say the words "Hate" and "Mother" and "Fudge".

K: You mean "fuck".

T: You know I don't like swearing, Kindle.

V: That's good. This kingdom has enough loose lips as it is and we certainly don't need more.

T: Yeah, we need a law against swearing in this kingdom.

K: I'd sooner have a law outlawing public displays of affection before a law outlawing swears! I mean, I can't go a day without swearing at least once.

H: I wonder...

K: Hey, Harry. Speaking of swears, I don't think I've heard you swear once outside of "damn" or "screw".

V: Kindle, please, he's too refined for that nonsense...

T: Yeah, don't listen to him, Harry.

K: C'mon, swear with me! FUCK! SHIT! ASS! CUNT!

H: No, Kindle.

K: Repeat after me: UTERUS! VAGINA! TITTIES! COCK! BALLS! DILDO!

H: Uterus isn't a swear, though.

K: VORE! SCAT! YAOI! SHOTA! NIGHTMARE FUEL!

H:...What?

K: I'll stop now.

T: Finally.

V: I don't know what those last five were, but they sound rather unhealthy.


(32)

H: Hey, Kindle.

K: Heya.

H: What was it you needed me for?

K: Oh, yeah. Everyone!

H, T, and V: Hmm?

K: I want to have a big party at the Blue Oyster Pub today in celebration of the arrival and, hopefully, long-term stay of our good king! I don't care who we invite or how much money we spend, I wanna have the damn best time of my life before my life is ruined! And I wanna have it with my best friends and my closest family members! What do ya say?

T: At a pub?

H: Uhh...

V: You know I deplore alcohol, son.

K: Aw, come on, guys! You don't have to get wasted if you don't want to. That's what I'll be doing!

T: Is the pub gryphon-friendly?

K: It will be when we come in!

V: I, for one, resent this idea for multiple reasons. But if it will make you happy...

K: Whaddya say, Harry?

H: I mean, I don't drink. At all. But I'll be there if you want me to be.

K: Ha! Spoken like a true pal!

T: Don't start making out, you two.

K: That'd be an awkward threesome.

T: Kindle! Not in front of your mother!

K: Oh, relax. She's just as dirty as I am. Ain't that right, ma?

V: That, I will not disagree with. And neither will his father.

T: You people are a bunch of pervs. Is Harry the only decent one here?

K: Oh, you should hear what he thinks about dark women...

H: Why did I tell you that?

K: Absolutely crazy for them! Especially the thick ones!

H: Now, hey, I never mentioned that...

K: Ya did now! Ha!

H:...Like a different person now...



(33)

K: I was...hic...amazed with what that Feurset did with that...pineapple...

H: Yeah, that-Woah!

K: It's cool...It's cool...I'm up...Hey, Thistle...

T: Urghhh...Yeah?

K: It was...a good time, wasn't it?

T: No...

K: Oh...

T: My head's killing me...from all that yelling...and that ale...

K: Oh...Sniff...Sorry...

T: Don't start crying again...You'll make me cry...

K: I love you, Thistle...

T: I thought that was a given.

...

K: Ma?

V: Yes, son?

K:..You're a dirty, son-fuckin' bitch.

V: Verily.

K:...But a part me kinda...sorta...pities you. You know?

V: Hmm. Well, that's a start, I suppose.

...

K: Dad?

KI: Hmmhmm...Yes, my son?

K:...

KI: Son?

K:...You're a wretched daughter-fuckin' dick.

KI: Love you, too, son.

K:...Like, really, why do I tolerate you more than mother? You're...just as horrible...

KI: Have I screwed you, too?

K: No...

KI: All right, then. Don't be bitching about it.

K: Is that...all you have to say?

KI: Were you any more gentle with them?

K: Uhh...I forget...Hey, Lily? Lilith?

LA:...Hic...

LB: Yes, Kindle?

K:...Was I gentle with you two?

LB: Umm...No.

LA: Fuck you...You're dead ta me...All o' ya...

K: Oh...Sorry about that.

LB: But then, we kind of made up after that. Remember?

K: Oh...Right...Dad's still a dick, though.

KI: Sigh...Gonna be dealing with this, huh...

...

K: Harry?

H: Yeah.

K:...I can't feel my wings, Harry...I can't feel...my wings...

H: You don't have any.

K: Oh...I thought I did...Thistle, you lucky bitch, give me your wings!

T: I don't love you enough to do that, my prince.

K: Heheheheheh. Oh, you cruel bird, you...

Ohhh....

...

K: Harry?

H: Have you sobered up now?

K: Nope, heheh...I gotta...I gotta give you somethin'.

H: Give me what?

K: Lemme...Lemme give ya somethin'...Hold on.

H: Where are you going?

...

H: That toy.

K: Yup. The same one ma gave me...

H: Why did you bring it here?

K: Why do ya think...heheh...You silly sally...

H: Umm...Thanks for the present, Kindle. I appreciate it.

K: That's what best friends are for, you know?...My best friend...

H: Kindle...Please don't cry again.

K: My very good, nearly one-week-old best friend...That I'll likely never see again...

H: Hey. I'll visit again. Eventually. Things get busy over where I'm at, though, so I can't do it frequently. But, I'll visit. Write to you, too.

K: Don't think you'll be able to visit. Remember? I'm a bona-fide prince now...Got responsibilities now...Things I'll need to do...I'll be too busy to spend time with you...Hey, that rhymes...

H: Oh. Shoot, that's right.

K: Yeah. Sucks, huh?

H:...Just like Jed.

K:...Who?

H: Another close prince-friend of mine. Similar situation as you.

K: Shit, that's rough...I mean, at least I have a best friend to keep me company while I'm here, while you have...Gerald, was it?

H: Yeah. My gryphon mount.

K: Heh. Hey, we're like the same, aren't we? Well, not the same, but...

H: Sigh...

K:...

H:...

K:...I'm gonna miss you, man. Gonna...miss all the weird conversations we've had. And dumb stuff we did. And crazy situations we got ourselves into. And...All that.

H: I'll miss you, too.

K:...I can't make you stay, can I?

H: Sorry. I need to return to my group.

K: That's right. Gotta...make yourself useful and such...

...

H:...Kindle?

K:...Yo.

H: I hope things end up working out for you. For everyone else, too.

K:...Thank you. I hope so, too.

H:...

K: I...hope so, too...

H:...

K:...Harry...

H: Yeah?

K:...Your payment is behind that rock...four favors...four times the payment...

H: Aww, that's too much beyond the contract amount...

K:...First and last time I'll be able to be a frivolous spender...Go on...Take it...You don't want me to cry again, do you?

H: Never again.

K:...Good...Good...


(Day 7-34)

H:...

(Looks at a sleeping Kindle)

H: Sigh...

(Rubs Kindle's upper body gently)

T:...I know I said it before, but...Thanks for being here for him when I couldn't.

H: Yeah.

...

H: Take good care of him, will you? Goes without saying, but...

T: I will.

(Snuggles close to Kindle)

H:...

...

H: Come on, Gerald. Let's head home.

G: Skaaa...

LB: Harry?

H: Lily?

LB: So, you're leaving now?

H: Yeah.

LB: Aww...It wasn't too long ago we became friends.

H: I hope you don't mind distant relationships.

LB: I'm used to it.

H: Heh.

LB:...I'm kinda scared now. I have no idea what'll happen once that big meeting happens.

H: Best-case, you'll all make a compromise and decide how to best manage your kingdom and yourselves. Worst-case, everyone lets their flaws get in the way and everything reverts back to how it was before I came here.

LB: We've come this far. I don't want things to go back to what they were.

H: Me, neither.

LB:...

(Walks up to Gerald)

LB: Good bye, Gerald.

G: Nghaaa...

LB: Take good care of my blanket, will you?

G: Fluuu...Uuu!

(Hugs Gerald)

LB: (Whispers)...And Harry, too...

G: Fluuneaol...

LB: And Harry?

(Hugs Harry)

LB: Take good care of Gerald.

H: I will...



(Story End)


EDIT 1: Looking back, this story seems more self-indulgent than I wanted it to be. This Harry isn't the same Harry as in his original story. This one is too exaggerated and outspoken, traits I intended for another character after being properly developed.

EDIT 2: Hmph. It was only last year that I had an odd conversation with someone involving the purpose of making a fanfiction as opposed to making an original story inspired by an already existing story. Then, I go ahead and make my first ever fanfiction. More than likely, my last.
I remember the social partner in question stating that fanfictions were made by fans to relate to the fan "first" before focusing on staying close to the source material, concerning themselves with things like keeping continuity with the original story or maintaining the personalities or assumed personalities of the characters involved (The latter, I tried to do, anyways).
So, in other words...Fanfiction is meant to be self-indulgent.

EDIT 3 (12/18/2017): Kindle was actually into guys?!?
What.
How has it taken me years to learn this?
I mean, I've seen some art, but...
Dang.
I could've added lots of fun (or awkward) situations of him hitting on Harry (or Gerald) and Harry either being too oblivious to recognize his implications or telling him straight that he's, well, straight.
Gerald would simply wreck his stuff for even trying to lay a paw on him.

(Abundantly Explicit)

(You ever look at a long piece of work you made, like, spent countless hours working on, and think "Wow, this was a lot better as I was making it compared to now. Hell, anyone could've made this"? That's me and this substory in a nutshell.)


(20-Day 4)

...He's the only reason you aren't dead, you owe him that much...

...For once, we're actually doing something not atrociously terrible...

...Harry! Mother, what happened to him?...

...Hush now, Lily. He requires rest. Quiet rest...

...Who is this puny Novun?...

...I brought you this talisman. Thought it might help. I don't know why you defended the Queen, but Kindle said you had good intentions, whatever they were. Well, at least you stopped him from making a terrible mistake. I hope you get well soon, Mr. Novun...

H: H..Huh?

KI: About time you came to.

H: W-Who?

KI: What, you've never seen a king before?

H: You...

KI: So, you know all sorts of stuff you probably shouldn't now.

H: I...I didn't want to know. But...I pressed on. And Kindle...

KI: Yeah, I know. So, you see why I never spend much time here.

H: Right...

KI: Family's a mess of lonely fools, tools, perverts, crazies, and degenerates. And you know that I'm no different.

...

I never believed that purity nonsense, but to think she's taken it so far...That crazy...Nearly driving my son insane, causing so much stress to my daughters...Was she so desperate? Was he so weak?

...

Got nothing to say now, huh? You were talking just a while ago, and now, not a word. As if you're judging me. Or you're afraid of me.

...

Go on, say something. Strike a conversation. All of my kin agree you are at least good with that.

H: What...What should I say?

KI: I dunno, what should you say?

H: I don't know.

KI: Because this is all unnerving to you, isn't it? Not common where you come from?

H: Not at all.

KI: Yep. Culture shock's a bitch, ain't it?

H: What they did...It's not culture. It's perverse and...

KI: Yeah?

H: ...Wrong.

KI: It is wrong. We know it's wrong. Yet, do you know why we continued with our ways?

H: No.

KI: Have you ever heard the phrase, "I don't care"?

H: Many times.

KI: Then, there you have it. We know we've committed acts of corruptions, yet no matter how hard you try to convince us to change, well, we don't care.

H: But...You should care.

KI: Why? The world tells us to care and we tell the world to go fuck itself. What makes you telling us a special snowflake?

H: Do you care about them? Your family?

KI: Say, I do.

H: If you really care about someone, you do whatever it takes to make them happy. Right? Because their happiness is all that matters. It's like...Being a good person.
But...Being a good person doesn't mean doing the right thing. It means making compromises in order to do the right thing, even if it means denying your own self interests or desires.

KI: What a speech, boy. Do you actually practice what you preach?

H:...I haven't done what you've done, so...

KI:...So, if I were a good husband, I'd deny all my personal joys and pleasures to make my wife happy?

H: No, that's the thing. Making your wife happy should make you happy, too.

KI: But, you said I'd need to deny my self interests to make her happy. What if my self interests involved making her happy? And, what if making her happy means allowing her to molest my son?

H: I...I don't know, then. Normally, most people's self interests or acts of happiness aren't like that.

KI: And we aren't most people.

H: I know.

KI: That's where the good phrase comes in: I know, and I don't care.

H: But...

KI: Forget it, boy. Forget trying to change us.
...There's a name given to our soldiers due to their older tactics of hiding in dirt and filth to surprise their enemies: Filth Dragons. I'd say that describes us well.

H: Ugh....

K: Just be "happy" that my kin has been talking more about you than me.

H: They have?

KI: They're actually meeting each other, face to face, in a stable group, talking about things that are still petty, but somewhat better than the boring crap I come home to.
...Even got my wife talking about more things than politics. I don't know how you accomplished that...

H: All I did was ask her how her day was.

KI: Are you serious?

H: Yeah. But, I'm sure you already ask her things like that, so...

...

KI: Smartass. Just like Kindle. I can see how you two became fast friends.

H: I talked to him. That's how it happened.

KI: And mounted him, apparently.

H: Wha...

KI: He told us. He'd never admit something so embarrassing, so pathetic...

H: He's a...I don't even know what to call him, now.

KI: Before you learned, he said you were his "friend". So, call him that.

H: But-

KI: Call him that. He doesn't have many, the antisocial fool, so don't stop calling him that.

H: Hmm.

KI: Don't "Hmm" me, boy. Say, "Yes, my lord."

H: Yes...My lord.

KI: Damn straight.

...

KI: Oh, I heard you denied my daughters sexual pleasure? Yeah, I'm gonna have to kill you now.

H: Wha...!

KI: Oh, I'm joking. I don't know how you had it within you to put them down.

H: I didn't want to be rude.

KI: Ha! You think free love is rude?

H: Only amongst strangers. And blood.

KI:...Your loss...

...

KI: Lily seemed the most worried about you. What did you ask her?

H: It was more like she asked me questions about me. She didn't want to go along with Lilith, so she-Well, she tried to have a good conversation with me. Not that I was any better...

KI: Lily tries. Oh, she tries.

H: I've only talked to her for a while, but she seems like a real sweetheart.

KI: Good that you still willingly think that. Just don't forget to call Kindle "friend" and we won't have any issues.
Oh, hey, if you're really fond of Lily...

H: I'm still recovering, so please...No ostentatious thoughts.

KI: Way to kill the mood.

H: It was already dead before we started talking.

KI: Hah! It was, wasn't it?

H: Yeah...

...

KI: Shit, we're bonding, aren't we?

H:...We are?

KI: Didn't think we'd get this far in the conversation. Just wanted to explain a few things, but then...

H: So much for that speech of not caring.

KI: Yeah...That's another thing about me: I may or may not be full of crap at times.

H: I take it that's the trait your wife gravitates the most toward?

KI: Wow. You are the only Novun to talk smack about me and my wife at the same time and still not be dead. Why aren't you dead yet?

H: You appreciate a realist when you see one.

KI: GOD. DAMN IT. Why couldn't YOU have been my son? You're more lively than the brooder I got stuck with.

H: Hey, Kindle had his moments.

KI: Does he? Hard to notice when he's always such a depressing dick.

H: He's the most...normal?...out of everyone, so please cut him some slack.

KI: Oh, yeah? What makes him the most normal?

H: He wants to primarily mate with things not related to him.

KI: Despite the exceptions?

H: Yeah, same with you.

...

Seriously, it's like a mirror with you two.

KI: Hmph. Thanks for the talk, Mr. Montana...

H: No problem, my Queen.

(21)

V: So, the Novun's returned from his state of delirium.

LA: Took him long enough.

LB: Oh, Harry! We were so worried about you!

LA: C'mon, we weren't THAT worried.

K: Ahem...It's good to have you back, man.

H: I think it's good to be back.

K: Hey...Are you sure you're all right now? I mean...I know you aren't all right with everything if that sudden collapse is anything to go by, but...

H: This all feels so...bizarre...now.

K: You don't know the half of it. Wasn't too long ago I let a Novun ride me, threw two fits, assaulted my own guards, attempted to murder my own mother, rushed everyone to get together to help you, witnessed mother snap at my father after a year of absence, and just...This is all a mess. A big, freaking mess.

H: In no less than a week.

K: I bet you've never had to deal with a dysfunctional group like us before.

H: Not on your level, by no means, but I've met my fair share of strange folks.

K: Hmm. So...Are we...I mean, are you still staying for the contract?

H: It's gonna be...an experience, but I think I can handle a few extra days.

K: Look, just stay away from everything female here and you'll be fine.

H: So, your dad's fine for me, then?

K: Tread at your own risk. Who knows what the hell he's been through?

H: I had a talk with him a while ago. He's not too different from you, actually.

K: Until he leaves mother for a gryphon, I won't believe it.

H: Officially, you mean?

K: Heh.

H: So, you guys patched things up after yesterday?

K: Barely. Though, I've noticed mother take a few steps back whenever I enter the room now. A nice bonus, I'd say.

Lilith's still a spiteful bitch who's gonna get it coming one of these days.

Lily's the least rotten out of us, but too submissive for her own good.

And father? Father just doesn't give a fuck.

Sigh. What a family.

H: It's gonna take a lot of contracts to sort these matters out.

K: Not enough, more like. Well, at least we started talking to each other now.
...But it's really awkward, seeing each other frequently as opposed to certain moments.

H: Yeah, let's not talk about those for now.

K: Agreed...

...

LB: So, Harry. Are you still gonna stay here for a while? I heard about mother breaking that contract for you.

H: Your brother, erm...made a new contract for me after the last one was broken, so I won't be leaving yet.

LB: That's good. It's good to have other people around.

H: It is...

LB: And it must mean Kindle really likes you if he hasn't demanded you to leave yet.

H: Well, I don't think he "really" likes me. I think he's just glad that the one person forced to spend most of the week with him isn't someone familiar.

LB: Yeah, it gets really boring around here. I only have two people to play with when mother and father aren't away.

H: Hmph. Reminds me of a close friend of mine.

LB: Who?

H: Ever heard of the royal Darius family in Hikanim? I'm an associate to the prince there, Jedediah Carnello Darius, and his situation is, well, slightly similar to yours.

LB: So, his parents are almost never around?

H: Well, that's the thing. They're always busy working in the castle while he's left busy learning how to be a king through scholars, political figures, and personal trainers.

LB: So, what makes us similar?

H: He loves his parents, but he's never able to spend much time with them. He told me once that he could tell me the names of a hundred soldiers but that he has to remind himself daily of his own parents' names.

LB: Wow. That's a lot of names.

H: Yeah, I can't even remember that much.

LB: That is kinda sad, though. I feel bad for him.

H: ...It's one of the reasons I continue writing to him.

LB: What are the other reasons?

H: Huh?

LB: Why you still write to him?

H: We...traveled in the same group together, over a year ago. We explored lots of places, went on a few adventures, and learned a lot from each other.

LB: Oh! So, he's your best friend?

H:...Yeah. Yeah, I believe he is. He's brash and outspoken, but he's a good soul.

LB: Um...Like the gryphon is Kindle's best friend?

H: OH, GEEZ, NO!

LB: Woah!

H: Nothing like that at all!

LB: Oh. Sorry.

H:...No, I should be apologizing. I'm just...really sensitive about that, I guess.

LB: I'm sorry, I-I didn't know...

H: No, it's okay.

LB: Please don't be mad at me.

H: No, really, Lily, it's fine-

LB: 'Cause I don't want you to be mad at me. I already have enough people mad at me.

H: Aw...Don't worry about it. Even if I tried to, I don't think I could be mad at you.

LB: Even after what me and my sister tried to do?

H: That was an ugly situation, I admit, but at least you refused to go through with it.

LB:...

H: That takes a lot of guts, to stand up to your sister. I respect you for that.

LB: Um...Thank you.

H: Hey...

LB: Huh?

H:...I'm willing to forgive and forget if you're willing to do the same.

LB: Really?

H: Really. No sense holding a grudge, right?

LB: Yeah. Um...Do you forgive me?

H: I do.

LB: Oh. That was easy.

H: But it feels good, doesn't it?

LB: You know, it kinda does. So...Does this mean we can be friends now?

H: I thought we were already friends.

LB: Huh?

H: Oh, nothing. It's just a thing I say.

LB: So...

H: Oh, yeah, we can be friends, now.

LB: Oh. Okay. So...What "do" friends do? I mean, your kind of friends?

H: We've already been doing what friends do: Talking to each other, expressing ourselves, asking each for forgiveness when we mess up, all that stuff.

LB: Oh. So, they don't...

H: They don't what?

LB:...Get close to each other or...

H: Sometimes. But the close acts of affection are purely platonic.

LB: Plu-what?

H: Like, not questionable or sexual.

LB:...

H: No nasty things.

LB: Oh! Okay...Well, that...kinda makes me sad.

H: Why?

LB: 'Cause I wanna get close, but I'm afraid I might do things I shouldn't.

H: Uhh...Wow...Let me say it like this: Getting close to anything above the waist and below the knees is fine. And, uh, no matter what, no kissing.

LB: What about licking?

H: (Long sigh, thinks to himself) As long as it's friendly, you know, not too much of it, it's tolerable.

LB: Okay, then!

H: Uff-Hey!

LB: This is okay, right?

H: Uff-Yeah, it's fine-UGH, NOT THE INSIDE OF THE EARS, THOUGH!

LB: Oh! Oh! Sorry!

H: Ahem. Anywho...Yeah, that's about right.

LB: Giggle.

H: Ahem.

...

H: Hey, Kindle.

K: Yo.

H: So...

K: Nice day today, huh?

H: Yup.

...

H: Someone slipped me a talisman while I was out.

K: Thistle wanted to bring you something after she heard what happened, so while my folks were arguing, I snuck her in and showed her to you.

H: Oh.

K: "Snuck" is not really the word. Those two were were like schizos, yelling at each other, nuzzling each other, giving glares to each other, too busy to notice us waltz on by.

H: It was that easy?

K: Yeah. They should argue more often. Might give me some actual privacy.

H: I'm glad I wasn't there to hear it.

K: You hate arguments?

H: I do. I might've gotten away with a few speeches, but in truth, I hate arguing.

K: Let me guess. You never win them?

H: There's that, and the fact that I don't like people raising their voices at each other. I never have.

K: Did your folks argue?

H: They did. I never got used to it.

K: Huh. Well, what doesn't kill you...

H: Right. Anywho, give Thistle my regards.

K: I certainly will.

H: Hmm. Now that your dad is here, does that mean...

K: Yup. No more arranged marriages for me.

H: That's good to here. And...You and your mother...

K: Anything can happen at this point. She might be too overwhelmed by father's "I don't care" attitude to try anything, or she could send guards to kill us in our sleep. You never know.

H: You're very nonchalant about this.

K: I decided to act like my father for once. Well, maybe not once.

H: Huh.

K:...Look. It got real heated back there and...Just to be clear, I'd never stab you just to get to her. Mother isn't worth that much. But...Why did you defend her, really?

H: I've encountered a lot of scum in my time here. But she's a different kind. She's never done the terrible things I've fought people for, but that one mark, that one terrible mark puts her on their level. But...I don't think that's fair. To them or to her. That that one sin forever holds you to the level of scum, no matter who you are or what you accomplish...It justifies nothing but...I don't know.

K: No, before you learned. You knew I hated her, yet you sprung toward her like I was the bad guy.

H: Remember what I tried to say about one of the rules of my contracts? No bloodshed unless it's absolutely necessary. And I didn't know yet, so I didn't see murdering her out of spite as a sound idea.

K: But-Sigh...Okay. That's fair...Barely.

H: I'm glad you showed restraint, even with what you've been through. It makes you the stronger person, you know?

K: To you, maybe. Father was kinda pissed I didn't go through with it. Ha, like I guessed. Then, mother got pissed at father for saying that and...Yeah.

H: Still...I'm strangely proud you, Kindle.

K: You're making me blush.

H: Heh.

...

H: So...You haven't been...I mean, with your...

K: I've stopped ever since I met Thistle. Well...Okay, that's not entirely true, but...We started occasionally, um, indulging a few years ago. It was an occasional thing, we were all deprived of certain desires and...It doesn't make it any better, not at all. But once I met Thistle, we started engaging less. After a while, we stopped entirely. That was when we stopped talking, too.

H: And nothing, um, else happened? No pregnancies or dis-erm.

K: Diseases?

H: No, I-

K: Nope. We lucked the hell out, we did, and bitterleaf helped, too, but...When people talk about spending quality time with your family, I know our way was certainly not the right way. And, after seeing what happened to you...I'd rather it doesn't happen again.

H: I don't think it will. I haven't fainted yet during this conversation, so I think it's getting me desensitized and such.

K: It's like I said. What doesn't kill you...

...

K: Hey, Harry?

H: Yeah?

K:...Thistle doesn't know.

H: She...

K: I told her the battle caused you to get extremely fatigued, that you fought most of the guards with my support and still managed to defend mother, just to pass out by the end of it.

H: Did she believe you?

K: It's a stretch, considering you didn't have any major wounds, but she believed me. You're like a hero in her eyes now.

H: I don't detect a hint of jealousy, do I?

K: Hmph. Get over yourself. I was her hero long before you came along.

H: You sure it's not the other way around with you two?

K: Heh. That's not a bad question. She is pretty awesome. And pretty...pretty.

...

K: I can't imagine what she'd say if she found out. Harry, promise me-

H: There's no need for promises. Since there's no need to tell.

K:...Damn it. That's four I owe you.

H: Four?

K: The two visits, stopping me, and being decent. And I don't care what you say, the first two aren't on the mountain.

H: You know you don't owe me anything, man.

K: That's a dirty lie and you know it, Mr. Montaine. The contract, remember?

H: Oh, right.

...

H: You guys got any drums? Or guitars?

K: Drums?

H: Yeah.

K: We might have an old pair or two somewhere. Why?

H: Do you guys play music?

K: I haven't played anything in years. No idea about the others. You?

H: I had some beginner classes for drums and guitars years ago. Kinda fixin' to practice a bit, if you have either.

K: Hmm. Let's check in the lower areas...

(21)

K: Father?

KI: Son.

K: What brings you to these lower areas?

KI: Absolutely nothing. I followed you two to see what you were up to, so here I am.

K: Oh. How did we not notice you?

KI: I've gotten extremely skilled at vanishing at will. It's why no one notices me until I make myself known.

K: Well, look, we came down here to find if we had any musical instruments.

KI: What the hell for? Did you become a bard while I was gone?

K: No, Harry knows how to play drums and guitar.

H: Just some beginner stuff, really.

KI: Oh? Well, play me a song, oh mighty musician.

H: I don't really know songs. Maybe one military cadence for the drums, but that's it.

KI: Bah! Some bard.

K:...Well, let's take them up.

...

K: So much for privacy.

KI: I figured you two amateurs would appreciate a royal audience to judge your work.

K: This isn't a professional practice session, father. Just us hitting drums like crazy idiots. And maybe a guitar, too.

KI: Just pretend I'm not here. You do that anyways, don't you?

K: Sigh. You shouldn't be here, you'll likely drag mother over here.

KI: The horrid sound of your shoddy playing skills will do that, not me!

K: Which is why, if we had doors, loud sounds wouldn't be a problem!

KI: We are NOT discussing this again!

H: Guys! Can we please play?

K: Yeah, whatever...Hey, Harry, what was that cadence you were talking about?

H: Oh, I think it goes like this...No. Nope. No, that's not right.

...

H: Uh, close but not perfect.

K: It doesn't have to be perfect, just play it.

H: Okay...Not great, but not bad.

K: Huh. So...That was a thing.

KI: Hmm. This sounds like the kind of thing you play during military ceremonies.

H: That's what it was used for in my wor-uh, country.

KI: Pardon?

H: Wow, I'm horrible at this.

KI: Playing or lying? I'm wagering both.

H:...I should probably be more honest with you guys now.

K: Remember where you can get to, Harry, if you haven't been.

H: No, I have been but-Not completely honest.

KI: Well, go on! You know of our sins, so inform us of yours.

H: It's not that, it's...I'm not from this world.

...

H: I was brought here by this purple stone over a year ago. I've tried to figure out how to get back, showed lots of people it, but no such luck.

KI: Are...Are you serious?

H: I am. After a while, I kinda stopped asking about it. Preferred doing contracts more for my group.

KI: Wha-But-You're so casual about this whole thing, like parallel world traveling is just a typical occurrence to you.

H: It's not, but I don't know what else to say about it. I mean, it happened, and that's that.

KI: That's that? No worries about your family or friends in your world?

H: Not really family, and no friends. I wasn't much use to them, anyway.

K: That's a hell of a thing to say. Not just the world traveling thing, but that "you" consider yourself a useless son to your kin.

H: Well, I wasn't the most productive or loving son. Not compared to the others. So, it's not totally unbelievable that I'd think that.

K: Well, I...guess I can't change anything about that, can I?

KI: You...are full of crap, Mr. Montaine.

H: The world traveling thing does sound insane, doesn't it?

KI:...You are not a useless son.

...

Not if what I've heard about you from my kin is correct.

...

Do you want to know a terrible fact? You've done more for my family in less than a week than I have in a year.

...

I know they hate me for abandoning them. My wife, for never consoling her. My son, for setting a terrible example for him. My poor, sweet daughters, for...for...

...

So, don't you go telling us you're not a useful son, because you are. I know I told you my saying, and I don't know why in the world I'm going against it, but you...You helped out for some things. Understand?

H:...Yes, my lord...

KI: Of course, that's not gonna change things, because I don't care enough to change anything.

H: I'm sure you'd be able to accomplish a lot more if you did.

KI: Hmph. If I did...

...

H: Kindle?

K: Oh. For a second there, I felt that strange sensation again.

H: You all right now?

H: Yeah. Now.

...

K: So, anything else you'd like share before you get the suggestion again?

H: Harry Montaine is my contract name.

K: Well, of course it it. It's there on the bottom, see?

H: I mean, it's only a name I use for contracts.

K: To protect your real name?

H: Yeah.

K: You can't make an exception now, can you? I mean, you made a few exceptions during mother's contract, so...

H: I'll say this: You can call me Danny if you want.

K: Danny?

H: Not exactly my true first name, but I'm sure you can glean what it is if you think hard en-

K: Daniel.

H: If that's what you believe.

K: Oh, don't play the ambiguous type now, Mr. World Traveler.

KI: It doesn't help that you're a terrible lier.

H: If that's what you believe.

...

Doo-Dooooo...

...

Doo-Doo-Dooooo...

...

Doo-Doo-Deh-Doooo-Doooo...

...

Doo-Doo

Doo-Doo

Doo-Deh-Dooo

Doo-Doo

Doo-Doo

Doo-Deh-Dooo

Doo-Doo-Dehh-Doo-Dehh-Doo-Dehhhh

Nah-Nah-Dehhh-Doo-Deh-Doo

Doo-Doo

Doo-Doo

Doo-Deh-Dooo

Doo-Doo-Dooo-Doo-Dooo-Doo-Dooo

Doo-Doo-Deh-Neww-Neww

Doo-Doo-Deh-Neww-Neww

Doo-Deh-Newww-Neww-Newww-Neww-Newwww

Doo-Doo-Deh-Neww-Neww

Doo-Doo-Deh-Neww-Neww

Doo-Deh-Newww-Neww-Newww-Neww-Newwww

KI: Why are you singing about "new crap", Mr. Montaine?

H: What? Oh-Heh. It does sound like that, doesn't it?

KI: What sort of chant is that?

H: From an old game I used to play. It was, like, the menu theme to it.

KI: A board game with a food menu played this "theme" to you?

H: No, it's-Think of it as like an electronic board game that plays music throughout the game.

KI: An electronic board game that plays music to you? Why have I never-Oh, of course. Traveler.

H: Yeah...

KI:...I should invest in that...

(22)

V: Why are you all huddled around each other here?

K:...Mother.

KI:...Deshira.

V: Don't call me that!

H: We were just discussing music.

V: That explains the horrid sounds in the distance.

KI: Hmph.

V:...I only came by to give you my thanks, Harry.

H: Don't mention it. Really, let's forget the whole thing even happened.

V: It's already been forgotten.

H: That's good.

V: I may have been mistaken. Perhaps it was my son that created those terrible sounds.

K: Better than the terrible sounds you created!

KI: Shit, I didn't know my son could breath fire.

V: Tch!...So...Are you a competent player, Harry?

H: Barely. I know just one military cadence.

V: Really, now? Let me have a hear.

...

V: How intense. I could feel the vibration of your thrusts from over here.

K and KI: (Stare)

H: Umm, thank you.

V: And I don't just say that to anyone, you know.

K and KI: (Rolls eyes)

H: Queen Vera, now that everything is...less of a mess now, I want to ask you something.

V: Oh, this should be either stress-inducing or entertaining.

H: ...How are you feeling?

K and KI: (Stare at H)

V: Hah! Is that what you really wish to ask me, Mr. Montaine?

H: It is.

V:...Surely you jest?

H: No, I'm a pretty terrible jester, actually.

V: Oh, what a delicious lie! You should become one. You'd look just ravishing in one of their outfits.

KI: JUST FUCK ALREADY!!!

...

V:...Please excuse my dear husband. He can't seem to stop thinking about such questionable activities even among us.

KI: Don't get mad just 'cuz I don't give you any every damn day.

V: Getting any is not what I require AND YOU-...Ahem...Please excuse my outburst, Mr. Montaine. What I meant to say...

Is that I feel well.

H: You do?

V: Indeed, I do.

H: Well, that's good to hear.

V: Such a minor question to ask. Is there not any other question you wish to ask me?

H: As a matter of fact, there is.

V: Ask away.

H:...Do you play drums?

V: (Facepalm) No, no I do not play drums.

H: You wanna learn?

V: Why, I...I've never met a Novun quite like you before, Mr. Monotonous.

H: What, don't Novuns ask you on a daily basis if you want to learn drums?

V: Drums...Of all things...Drums...

Okay, fine. I'll humor your request this one time.

...

V: My, my...

Everyone: My?

V: I will admit, that was quite...fun. Somewhat abhorrent to the ears and unconventional at times, but not exceedingly terrible.

H: Nothing gets the heart pumping quite like the beat of the drum.

V: Oh, I can think of-

K and KI: DON'T!

V: Hah. If you insist. Well, I think that's enough of this recreational activity, I've got a kingdom to run. (Looks at KI)

KI: What does it look like I've been doing-(Nuzzle) Oh.

K: Absolutely disgusting, Harry. We should outlaw public displays of affection while we're here.

V: And smart-aleck sons, too.

K: AND HORRID MOTHERS!

V: Only as horrid as the offspring I produce.

K:...Touché.

V: Sorry, I don't speak Feurset. I'm a proper queen, after all.

K: Proper, she says...

V: Heh.

...

H: Did...Did you two just have a moment?

K: What? No, of course we didn't! I still hate her guts!

H: Then, why did you smirk after she left?

K: I didn't smirk, I-I was thinking about a joke I heard.

H: If you say so.

K: Hmph.

...

K:...That might've been the first real mother-son moment we've ever had...

H: There's a first for everything.

K: And...I felt that feeling again...

H: Indigestion?

K: Yeah. Had to be.

H: Even though we didn't eat yet.

K: Hey, let me figure it out on my own.

H: Yes, my prince.

K: Ugh, don't ever call me that! Thistle calls me that and it drives me insane!

H: Well, you are.

K: A prince or insane?

H: That is the question.

K: God. Damn it. I'm gonna hate when you leave us for good.

H: It's just as well. Even a good joke can get stale after a while.

K: Daniel.

H:...Sorry.

K: Dude. You're like...my best friend.

H: I SHOULD GO.

K: No, no, not like that! I mean...The kind of best friend I don't get confused feelings toward. I mean, I do get those, but not in the same way as Thistle.

H: You mean, the kind of best friend you can drown your heart out to and not be afraid of them rejecting your thoughts?

K: Yeah. What you said.

H: See, that's better. Although, I'm fine with just being a "friend".

K: Friends don't let friends break the rules of their mothers. Friends don't continue to talk to friends when they realize they went down on people they shouldn't have went down on. And friends don't tell other friends they're from other worlds when the other friends could easily exploit them for information about their world.

H: I suppose.

K: You are not a friend anymore. You are a best friend.

H: I'm...honored.

K: I'm sure you are.

H: Hmm.

K: Careful, Danny. It only took you two days to be my friend, and four days to be my best friend. Who knows what you'll be on the sixth?

H: Hungry?

K: What?

H: I mean, that's what I am now. Hungry.

K: Oh. Well...Yeah, me too. Let's go get something.


(End of part three)

EDIT: Wonder if anyone can guess what menu theme song Harry was humming.

(Fairly Explicit)

(14-Day 3)

K: Harry, I might need to have a word with Thistle again. Tomorrow, though, not today.

H: About what, if you don't mind me asking?

K: I don't. It's about why you're here.

...

K: I know mother wants me to find some broad to knock up just so, well, you know, so I...I think, after I talk with Thistle, I'll...I'll do this.

H: Kindle, we still have the rest of the week for that. We don't have to do this right away.

K: No, I want to do this. You've still got a contract to fulfill, right?

H: Yeah.

K: And you still need to get paid, even though the amount she's offering is likely a lot less than what she can give you?

H:...The money wasn't really the issue.

K: What? Then, what's your purpose for being here?

H: To make myself useful.

K: Useful?

H: I mean, yeah, I need money to eat and to send to my group, but I just wanted to see how I could help with the situation at hand. And, I've helped at least a little bit, right?

K: Absolutely. Thistle wouldn't be able to visit me during mother's attendance as often without you here and...ahem...yeah.

H: That's good. I'm happy to hear that.

...

H: I guess I'm happy you two are happy. You, Thistle, even your mother, for how short the moment was. It's...Good to be here.

K: Really? You're happy to be here?

H: Yeah.

K: Even with my mother?

H: When she isn't being a psycho mantis, yeah, I enjoy portions of her company.

K:...Psycho mantis?

H: Yeah, like a praying mantis that goes crazy.

K: I've never heard anyone use that phrase before.

H: It's not really a phrase, anyways. I just stole the original term from someone else to make it a phrase.

K: Neat.

(15)

K: I think I need to have a word with my mother about some things. Alone.

H: You'll be okay? I know I won't be able to help much, like last time, but-

K: Yeah, I'll be fine. Just-Don't leave the mountain. If something does go wrong, I'll need you by my side...Bodyguard.

H: Roger.

...

H: Oh...Hello. Are you two Lilith and Lily?

LA: Why, hello, there, Novun!
LB: How do you do?

H: Umm, fine. Hey, what are you two doing in Kindle's room?

LA: Waiting for our poor, dear brother!
LB: As we know how hard mother can be on him.

H: Oh. Well, it might take a while before he comes back.

LA: Mother does love her long-winded speeches, doesn't she? You should know, Novun, since you've witnessed quite a few already.

H: I have. With all due respect to her, I'd rather not witness one again.

LA: Oh, but nothing gets her heart pumping quite look a good argument. Among other things.

H: Right. Well- I'm sorry, I forgot to introduce myself-

LA: Harry Montaine, is it?
LB: A pleasure to finally meet you.

H: Nice to meet you, too.

LA: Got it right on the first take!
LB: Yeah, just like the gryphon.

...

LA: We know all about your particular conversations, Mr. Montaine. I mean, you guys aren't exactly out of earshot when you talk.
LB: At least, from where we were.

H: Is that so?

LA: Don't act like you aren't worried, Harry. You should feel honored about the fear of blackmail from us.
LB: Yeah, honored!

H: What is it you came here for?

LA: For the company of our brother. Honest!
LB: And for your company as well. I think.

H: Well, here I am.

LA: Yes, you are.
LB: You are, yes.

H: Yeah.

LA: Yeah.
LB: Yeah.

...

H: Please keep whatever you think you've heard here to yourself. Kindle already agreed to meeting another drakken.

LA: Oh, good on him!
LB: He's finally grown up, hasn't he?

H: In a manner of speaking.

LA: And aren't you so fond of our brother, so loyal? Like an Unblessed Feurset to his loving Novun.

H: He has his moments.

LA: Don't be so modest! We overheard him whimpering like a pup when he announced you were his only male Novun friend. And how you comforted him with your claim of honor.
LB: He's never cried like that since we were kids.

H: Well...I was just trying to help.

LA: Helping others. It brings you pleasure, doesn't it?

H: When I can help someone, that is.

...

LA: Then, maybe you can help us.

H: Write a contract and I'll see what I can do.

LA: Oh, this isn't about contracts or jobs. This is about something else.

H: If it's not a contract, I can't do anything for you. My group doesn't like me doing free favors.

LA: You don't need to do anything. Just sit back, relax, and let us keep you company.

H: That's it?

LA:That's it. That's all you need to do. Simple, isn't it?
LB:...Wait, that's not what we're really doing, is it?

H: What?

LA: Hold that thought-

LA:...You idiot, why did you say that?

LB:...Well, you seemed really genuine about it-

LA:...It's called a facade, Lily! You didn't forget about those, did you?

LB:...I was just going along with you, though. I mean, we haven't really been using facades lately, have we?

LA:...Uh-That's besides the point!

LB:...And I don't really like Novuns, anyway...

LA:...Would you rather settle for the usual?

LB:...But I don't-

LA: Lily!

LB:...Ugh...Fine...

LA: Novun!

H: Yes?

LA: It seems the circumstances have changed-

LB: Lily wants us to have shameful intercourse with you.

H: Wha-Wha-WHAT?

LA: Oh my god, are you FUCKING kidding me, Lily?

LB: What?

LA: Have you ever heard of "subtlety", you moron? Like, how long have we been doing this?

LB: I just do whatever you do. Don't get mad at me.

LA: No, you aren't! Because you're telling him EXACTLY what we came here to!

LB:...I don't like lying anymore, Lilith.

LA: That doesn't even-We aren't LYING, Lily! We're...Telling the truth with style!

LB: Isn't that still lying?

LA: NO, IT IS NOT STILL LYING!

H:...I think I should go.

LA: Huh? No-Wait, Harry!

LB: Maybe we should-

LA: YOU SHUT UP, YOU LOST YOUR RIGHT TO TALK NOW.

LB:...Sniff...

LA: So, Harry...What do you say?

...

H: I'm flattered, but no thanks.

LA: WHAT? Do you know who we are? What we can do? What we can give you?
LB:...Sniff...

H: I know who you are, but I think I'm fine with my current financial situation as it is.

LA: Wha-NO, you fool! I mean...Here you are, with two rich, beautiful dragonesses at your disposal, and you're telling me you're FINE with not taking advantage of us-uh, that?
LB:...Sniff...

H: Why would I want to take advantage of you two? It would be disingenuous of me. I don't need the extra money, and I barely know you.

LA: But look at us, how beautiful we are! We are beautiful, aren't we?
LB:...Sniff...

H: I guess.

LA:...Pardon?
LB:...Sniiiiff...

LA: I mean, I don't see anything physically wrong with either of you, like no horrid defects or detrimental aberrations upon yourselves, so I guess you'd qualify as physically beautiful.

LA: Those are your standards for pure beauty?
LB:...That's it?...

H: Not pure beauty. I mean, what is pure beauty, anyway? Just someone's preferences, really.

LA: And what are your preferences?
LB:...Yeah, what are they?...

H: I...That's a good question. I mean, I'm not out looking for ideal women when I already have a good selection of friends outside of dragon country.

LA: But, surely you must have preferences! Novuns are some of the most vain people out there, after all.
LB:...That's kinda mean...

H: I dunno. I guess...I dunno.

LA: Like, which species do you prefer? Yours? Ours? Feursets?
LB:...Please say ours...

H: I don't think-Hmm. I guess it doesn't really matter to me. I like all species.

LA: But-Sigh. You aren't making this easy, Harry.

LB:...Hey.

LA: What I did JUST say, Lily?

LB: Why don't we just, I dunno, hang out with him or something?

LA: Wha-NO! I came here to consummate, and I'm gonna consummate!

LB: I mean...He seems nice, but I don't really wanna do nasty things with him.

LA: Are you...No. You can't mean...

LB: Just hang out. Like...you know. Without the sex part.

LA: Like...

LB: Friends?

LA: Like...

LB: Yes, friends.

...

LA: Like...

LB: Lilith?

LA: Sigh...Fuck it, you're useless...Guess I'll go consummate with a tree or something...

...

LB:...Hi.

H: Um, hello, Lily...

...

LB: ...How are you?

H: I don't know how I am. Not sure if I should be confused, terrified, flattered, or worried.

LB: Please don't be worried. It's just a thing we go through on occasion.

H: Stuff like this happens here?

LB: No, just on occasion.

H: Oh.

...

LB: So, uh, what do you do for fun?

H: A few things. Reading, writing, sometimes talking, all that stuff.

LB: That's nice. I like talking, too.

H: Umm, I like to take Gerald, my Unblessed gryphon, out for soaring sessions, sometimes feed him, sometimes bathe him...All that stuff. Wait, didn't I already say that?

LB: You have a gryphon?

H: Yeah.

LB:...I'm kinda scared of gryphons...

H: Yeah, they are kinda scary at first, but they're very-Hmm, usually very loving once you spend enough time with them.

LB: I'm not sure I could do that.

H: Not everyone can. They're a very niche species.

LB: Do you ever get afraid one will try to eat you?

H: I'm afraid everything will try to eat me, but that fear is sometimes used to fascinate me even more about these different species. Like spiders. I used to be afraid of spiders-Still am, actually-But now, when they aren't on my gear or on me, I watch them and see what kind of things they do.

LB:...Are you afraid I will eat you?

H: Not unless you try to.

LB: I don't want to, I just wanted to know. Like, what you're afraid of.

H: Why?

LB: Because I'm afraid of things like that, too. Things that will try to eat me.

H: Well, let's see...Slow pain, torture, death...

LB: Uh huh.

H:...Jump scares, human gore, water slides...

LB: Huh?

H: Like sudden jumps. Think of things coming out of nowhere and really close to you.

LB: Oh. And, water slides?

H: Those aren't things in this wor-country?

LB: No. Sounds fun, though.

H: I used to loath being on them, so I'm kinda glad they aren't here. Same with mosquitos.

LB: Mos-what?

H: Little blood-sucking insects that can give you irritated bumps and sometimes transfer diseases. Believe me, this mountain's a lot better without them.

LB: I believe you.

H:...Hey, Lily?

LB: Yes?

H: You said you didn't like Novuns, right?

LB: You heard that?

H: Yeah, I was about a few feet away from you when you said that.

LB: I apologize. I mean, thinking of-yeah. But for talking? I think I'm okay with.

H: You aren't going to tell your mother about those other things, are you?

LB: I'm not the one that does that. Lilith is the tattletale.

LA:...You slime...

H: Oh.

LB: But I won't tell her about today. Even though Lilith might.

H: Thank you, anyways.

...

LA: Hey, Novun?

H: Yeah.

LA: Now that you're done talking to Lily, how about we have a good fu-mhmh-versation?

H: Have you been telling the queen about the other things?

LA: What other things?

H: You know what I mean.

LA: Oh, those? Yeah, I totally told her everything.

H: You-What? Why?

LA: She threatened to disown me if I didn't. And I can't survive for long out there, without my kingdom! It's a world full of brutes and killers and I wouldn't last a day. Can't you see how fragile I am?

H: And Kindle is talking to her right now. And you-You came here, to wait for him. To, what, comfort him when he comes back? Gain his favor?

LA: No, just spend some time with him, since we rarely spend quality time together anymore.

LB: Harry, please don't get mad.

H: I can't believe that "you" would do this, and that "you" would allow this!

LA: You ought to go tell him what we did, make him give us the punishment we deserve!

LB: I...I feel terrible now...

H: Ugh! Damn it!

(16)

H: Kindle! Are you-

K:...Hey.

H: Damn it, man, your sister, Lilith, she-

K:...Figures.

H: I-Are you okay?

K:...Yeah.

H: You look sick. Are you hurt? Do you need medicine?

K:...No. It's fine.

H: Ugh, and what's that smell?

K:...It's fine.

V: Mr. Montaine! I require your audience.

H: Oh, no...

V: So, it seems, thanks to your efforts, my son has decided to finally propose to a woman of proper disposition. Nacatua of the Hillside Wares! I always had a good feeling about that one.

H: That's right.

V: Yet... It also seems that you have been allowing illegal visits of a particular VERMIN that is not allowed to be here. So, I am afraid I must break our contract as my very lenient way of forgiving you for your transgressions.

H:...That's fair.

V: Such a shame. And I just began to get used to your presence here. It was certainly a breath of fresh air compared to the monotony of my kin. Now, guards! Please escort our former guest away from our premises.

K:...Hands off of my friend, you two.

RG: Excuse me?

K:...Let him go before I hurt the both of you.

RG: But, my prince?

K:...I said-Hands! OFF!

RG: Gasp!

(17)

...

V: Why? Why did you hurt our guards like that, Kindle?

K: I told them to let him go. They didn't. I only saw fit to properly discipline uncoordinated slags.

V: And...And me? Why did you hurt me, my son?

K: You know why.

V:...Sniff...

K: You fucking know why. Hey, Harry. I want to make a contract with you.

V:...What?

H: Whatever you want.

K: I want you to kill my mother.

V: Wha-No, Kindle, what are you saying?!?

H:...Kill her?

K: Yes.

V: Please, stop this at once!

K: Use that spear of yours, thrust it right through her filthy white neck.

V: I bore you, my son! I created you, raised you, loved you-

K: You never loved me! I was just a means to YOUR end!

H: What?

V: Think, child! What-What do you think your father will do when he finds me dead and not ruling this kingdom?

K: He'll piss on your grave and piss on his useless daughters, too.

V:...Our...Our bloodline-Our kingdom...What of our kingdom, Kindle? Did you forget about that!?! What matters more than you, than me, than us? Than ALL OF US?!?

K: Fuck our kingdom.

V: So...So, that's your answer, is it? Fuck this, fuck that, fuck everything and everyone?

K: And fuck you.

V: You...You're just like your father. Screwing the rest of the world and denying me in my time of need.

K: You don't need me.

V: No...You're wrong, son. I need you, now more than ever.

K: You need me (Takes Harry's spear), but I don't need YOU!

H: Kindle, WAIT!

(18)

H: Ugh!

K: Harry, what are you doing?

H: Please...Don't.

K: She's damaged goods, Harry. Extremely damaged goods, more than you know. I'm doing the kingdom a favor getting rid of her.

H: This isn't the way, Kindle. You know it isn't.

K: Is there...Any other way but this?

H: If she's committed crimes, you can-

K: What, jail her? She IS the jailer, Harry! Even if that worked, she'd just screw her way out of jail. Or beg father to come. Which, she already has.

H: She has?

K: Yes. She thought he'd be the only way to "straighten" me out even though he'll just say the same thing: He's your son, you straighten him out. I don't care who he wastes time with. Call me when there's a real emergency next time.

H: And you want to kill her before he comes?

K: I wouldn't be surprised if he wanted to do it himself. He was tired of her after a few decades. I was tired of her after six months.

H:...What did she do, Kindle?

K: Get out of my way, Harry!

H: What did she do?

K: Too much! She did too much!

H: I can't go until you tell me!

K: Shut up and get out of my way!

H: Please, wait!

K: Stop-Stop covering yourself over her and just get out!

H: Kindle!

K: GET OOOOOUT!!!

(Throws spear on ground)

K: We...We're all going straight to hell for what we've done.
...
We are filthy. All of us. None of us are fit to rule the kingdom...You and Thistle are the only clean ones here. The "pure race" mother keeps babbling about...It's not gained through blood and courtship. It's gained through...Anything but that stuff.
...
Isn't that right, Harry?

H: Technically, there is no "pure race". Because, for all our benefits, we're all still dealt with some indisputable flaws that we can only repress at best. No matter what species we are, our flaws hold us back, make us stronger, and define us, for better or for worse.

K: Heh...Nerd...Always have to explain things...

...

V:...Mr. Montaine?

H: Yes?

V: Why are you defending me, after all I"m sure you've heard of me?

H: I haven't heard enough, though I don't think I want to.

V: You won't want to. And you won't understand. Because you haven't dealt with what I've dealt with. Or felt what I've felt. You will be completely oblivious to my position once you learn more. And you won't want to learn more. So, I question why you don't let him kill me and continue to live the rest of your life ignorant of my intentions. Of me.

H: There's a saying where I come from: "You aren't guilty until proven otherwise." But, nothing's been proven yet.

K: Hasn't everything I've said about her up to this point been more than enough?

H: No. Has she murdered anyone?

K: No.

H: Has she stolen countless, precious artifacts from indigenous groups or museums?

K: No.

H: Has she conspired to overthrow other kingdoms?

K: No.

H: Has she drowned orphans or eaten other peoples' dogs?

K: ..No.

H: Has she taxed her people to extreme, poverty-stricken conditions?

K: No.

H: Then, what has she done?
...
K: She manipulated her son into copulating with her for the perfect male breed.
...
V: Now, you know the truth.

K: Harry...

H: I...

...

H: I need my spear back.

K: Are you-

H: No. I...I don't know what I'm going to do...

K: Look, we used to-Before you came. And...

...

K: But it never worked. We tried everything we could: Medicine, Potions, Magic. But there was nothing. Pregnancy never came.

...

K: We wondered if she had become sterile, cursed, or forbidden by the gods to give birth. Then, we wondered if I was sterile...The entire time...

...

K: But we kept at it. For six long months, we kept degrading ourselves to lower levels of degeneracy, hoping, someday, it would end. But the day never came. Then, you came along, when you weren't meant to.

V: ...I assumed myself to be...Inadequate, for what I needed accomplished. So, I saw fit to find another mate. To succeed where I...Sniff...Could not...

H: You...You guys know about inbreds, right?

V: The myth created by the Novuns?

H: No, it's no myth. It's a very real thing where I come from. Children with parents of close relatives that are born with terrible physical and mental defects that they can never grow out of. Their DNA-Their insides and outsides are all screwed up because two lovers happened to be too close in terms of blood.
You don't strengthen a bloodline by mating with those of the same blood. You destroy it. For they are too similar, too relative. And the body craves variety, not uniformity.

V: How poignant. So...What does all this necessary information mean?

K: In other words, LET ME SHAG MY GRYPHON WOMAN IN PEACE. ITS A HELL OF A LOT HEALTHIER THAN SHAGGING YOU!
Is that about right, Harry?

H:...Ye-Yeah...

V: Well, you've certainly done no favors for your sisters, either.

H: What?

K: Forget it, Harry. Come on, I have a new contract for you.

V: Why don't you tell him the full truth while you're at it, Kindle?

(19)

H: What full truth? I thought I already received the...full truth.

K: I'll tell you more when you sign this contract.

H: Kindle?...

K: Harry?

...

K: Okay, the award's much greater, time minimum is much more flexible, and for four days...

H: What's the full truth?

...

K: Okay, look, I'm not a saint, I never said I was, but compared to her, I'm an angel-

H: Kindle...

K: I...May have done a few things with them. But-Only a few times, and they made more advances on ME!

H: Ohhh...

K: And apparently, my father's doesn't limit himself from them, either...

H: Ohhhhhh...

K: This may be a lot to take in, I know, it's all terrible, but-H-Hey. Are you okay?

H: I feel...Ill...

K: You're not gonna faint, are-Shit!

(End of Part 2)

"FF" as in "Fanficton"...ahem.

(Super-late edit: My first ever uploaded fan fiction. A shame my later works won't likely ever be as humorous or quick-witted as these were. Well, at least Sefeiren got a good laugh out of it on DeviantArt.
Of what kind, I dunno. I can only assume it was a genuine good laugh.)

(Call it...Unlike Normality: Somewhat Explicit)
(I was never known for making creative names)

---
Author's Word

I began creating this "substory" immediately after I finished reading what was initially the end of the "Family Matters" comic by Sefeiren. I was conflicted with what I had witnessed, uncertain if I should be entertained by the story or disturbed by the context of it.

Nevertheless, uncomfortable reactions of sorts were had.

I had been constantly adding to my story since I read theirs, though I feel most of mine is essentially all dialogue with very little detailed descriptions of environments and expressions, one-liners, sex jokes, incest jokes, and not-very-balanced moments of dissonance between humor and seriousness.

I tried to make the tone of this substory somewhat consistent to the tone as that story, but I may have made it more comedic than it should be and downplayed the underlying grimness of the situation at hand.



(Spoilers and such)

Day 3 is when it becomes the most momentous, yet I fear I may have made it more pretentious than proper, especially with the speeches. In fact, Day 3 may be my least favorite day because of how heavily it depends on speeches and such, when Harry Montaine was not initially planned as being a "preachy" character.
(Spoiler end)


It's a strange thing, being inspired by such a work of heavily questionable content that hasn't even been finished yet to create a story that is both not mine and mine (But, mostly not mine)

(OLD) As for the small changes in names...I don't know, they're meant to be the same characters but I wasn't comfortable with using the original names (But that doesn't make much sense since I still used the Thistle, Lilith, and Lily names for some reason, even had Veramundis suggest to Harry that he call her "Vera", which he eventually does. And the king doesn't even have a name yet, I don't think, which is why I had the characters not address him directly unless with terms such as "My Lord", "Father", "Daddy", and "Husband". Also start calling Kindleih "Kindle" at a point with Lily). (OLD)

I thought to combine this world with another world I created, Echlonvale, with the mentions and involvements of the side characters of that world, as I assumed it would fit the kind of world Echlonvale was, but that was before I went crazy with the constant attempts at humor and realized, hell, Harry isn't nearly this comedic or outspoken and these characters used the F word very frequently in the original comic while the people in my story hardly swear beyond "damn" and "hell". Sex isn't even the main focus of Echlonvale.

Come to think of it, what the hell was I thinking?

And why are there so many damn ellipsis? I tried to emphasis the short or long breaks between each person speaking, to sort of give an idea of what I thought they talked like at each particular moment, but it just looks obnoxious now.

All these signs on this phone, and I couldn't find a better way to imply importance or individual expression.

Well...All that being said, despite the flaws, I really enjoyed making this...this. It's not an original story, of course, more like a "non-canon substory". I know there's already an existing term for that, making it seem like I'm prettying up what many would just wave off as useless, self-indulgant fan trash since the term that best describes what this is is considered as such. Call it stubbornness, but I can't go beyond calling it a substory, which it might not even end up being due to how much crazy it ended up having. Wouldn't fit my world, don't know if it would fit the world of FM, either.

Though, there wasn't much dignity in making this anyway. It was just something I really wanted to make and had a lot of fun making, even if it did suck up most of my free time that I could've spent finishing up some college work sooner or playing Drakengard 3. Or actually completing my Echlonvale story since that's not even done yet.

So, yeah. Enjoy. I guess.
---


Story Start


(1)

V: A Novun visitor? I was not expecting to have one today. Welcome.

H: Hello. I believe you are Queen Vera?

V: I am. What brings you here?

H: I received a request to come here, to help with a, uh, nondescript family matter?

V:...A male Novun accepted my contract?

H: I'm sorry?

V: I believe I wrote on it that I requested a strong, sleek, well-bred, royal, female drakken to come here?

H: It says you "recommend" that the contract-taker be all this, but...They were requirements, then?

V: Yes, they were requirements! I'm afraid 'you' will not be able to accomplish my task.

H: I'm sorry, I was always told these bits were optional.

V: Wha-(Facepalm)-Okay, listen here, boy. Our kingdom here is in possible danger because we are in need of male children to succeed us, yet the only male born from royalty here is an unchaste excuse of a feather-loving son by the name of Kindle.

I mean, I swear, I don't know why he bothers wasting his time with gryphons...

H: Gryphons?

V: Yes, "those" things. They are unworthy of being a part of our lineage, yet he still bothers being with that, uh...The name of that plant, what is it? Thestle? Thotstle?

H: Thistle, you mean.

V: Yeah, that! And I've been trying to convince him-Believe me, I've tried-That his wife should be one of the indisputably superior Drakken kind.

H: Blessed or Unblessed?

V: I can't find the difference.

H: Well...What's wrong with gryphons?

V: Pardon?

H: I mean, gryphons are tough, stubborn bastards, I'll admit, but they 'eventually' make for great traveling and social companions. I would know, my mount is a gryphon and-

V: What?!?

H: What?

V: Remove that beast from our premises immediately! Gryphons are NOT ALLOWED here!

H: Oh, I'm sorry. The contract didn't make that clear. And no one stopped to tell me-

V: NOW, Mister...Um, your name?

H: Harry Montaine. See, it's down there on the contract.

V: NOW, Mister Montaine.



(2)

H: Okay, Gerald's far away from here now.

V: Gerald?

H: Yeah, the Gryphon.

...

H: Mmm, I'm not the best when it comes to naming things, so I just gave him the first thing that came to mind.

V: Well, it's only fitting to give an unworthy creature such an unworthy name.

H: Thanks.

V: I'm doing you a favor, really. There are so many better beasts out there than "those" things.

H: But can any of them slam themselves over five bandits at once, throw them in the sky, and juggle them like jester balls with their heads?

V:...I don't know why they'd want to.

H: Anywho, now that you've cleared things up, yeah, I think I'm pretty limited in what I can do for you, so...

V: Hmm.

H: Hmm?

V: Perhaps you can be of "some" use. Not much, but some.

H: How can I help you?

V: I'll need to modify that contract. Let me see it...This may take a while, come back in an hour or so.

H: Okay.

V: I mean it. Don't leave this mountain. I may need you after all.



(3)

H: Oh. Hi there.

K:...A Novun?

H: We aren't common around here, I take it?

K: Nope.

H: Along with gryphons, I assume?

K: Ha. Yeah. Wait...

...

K: Did you talk to "her"?

H: Who?

K: My mother.

H: Queen Veramundis, right?

K: Sigh. Yeah.

H: Oh. I take it you're Kindle?

K: Maybe. Who wants to know?

H: My name is Harry Montaine. It's nice to meet you.

V: And why are you here?

H: Someone sent me a request, but there were some technical difficulties, so I'm just waiting until they get cleared up.

V: Waiting here?

H: Yeah.

V: Why here?

H: I was just told to wait in the mountain.

V: No, why are you waiting HERE?

H: What is this place?

V: My room.

H: Oh. I'm sorry, the rooms in this mountain kinda...look the same.

K: Didn't you read the sign?

H: I can't read this kind of Drakken well. And there are no doors in this place, so I don't really know what's restricted and what's not.

K: Of course. Look, I'm expecting a friend over-

H: Thistle, right?

K: Tch, she told you about that, too? I mean-Damn it.

H: Uhh..

K: Forget it, I'm-expected somewhere-

H: Wait, hold on!

K: What?

H:...I won't say anything.

...

I'll head to your mother now and see if she's done with-Whatever. In the meantime, we'll talk, discuss some things, and you...

K: So, she made a contract for you, huh?

H:...Yeah.

K: What's the job?

H: It's private.

K: I'm sure it is. Well...You better get going.

H: Yeah.



(4)

V: There you are, Mr. Montana.

H: Montaine.

V: Sure. I've changed the terms of the contract. I'm sure that you're at least capable of doing "this". Though, I wouldn't hold my breath.

H:...Okay. So, you want me to help your son get a drakken girlfriend?

V: Unless that's too much to ask for.

H: Within...A week?

V: He's not a hard boy to please. Just look at whom he associates with.

H: Right.

V: And don't be afraid to chat and converse with him every once in a while about irrelevant topics unrelated to the contract. He has so few friends-None worth mentioning, anyway-So, I believe it would be good for him.

H: Oh, well, I'm sure I can do that, at least-

V: Lies help, too. Tell him about your nonexistent sexual encounters with drakkens and how wonderful they are. Anything to lead him to a proper elopement.

And anything to keep the "plant" away from him.

H: I'll do what I can. But I think it'll take a while before he'll want to discuss that stuff, especially with a stranger like me.

V: Do what you can. I have "all" the faith in you, Mr. Montague.

H: Montaine.

V: Off you go! Oh, and-Not a word of this to him, hmm? Goes without saying, but a reminder never hurts anyone.



(5-Day 0)

H:...I probably shouldn't interrupt him...

Um, hello?

T:...Gasp, who's that?

K:...No, don't worry. It's just a Novun.

T:...Novun? What's it doing here?

K:...Private business, apparently.

T:...In the middle of our private business?

K:...Heh. I know, right?

H: Ahem.

K: Can I help you...Harry?

H: Yeah. Sorry to interrupt-

K: Which, you did.

T: Kindle!

K: Sigh. Sorry. I forget to tell you, he's the reason we were actually able to see each other in peace today. Or, in better peace, anyway.

T: Oh...Er, thank you.

H: No problem. Anywho, I came to tell you I have a new contract now.

K: From my mother or from someone else?

H: That's...Private.

K: Of course. But, why are you telling me?

H: It involves me spending about a week with you.

K: Are you serious?

H: I am.

K: Why?

H: Well, the situation dictates that you haven't acquired...The proper social skills amongst the fellow men and women of your kingdom, so I've been sent as a supporter of sorts to help you, uh, better mingle with those of your particular kind.

K: Really?

H: No, but I'm not getting paid if I tell you the real reason.

K: I already know the real reason. Mother?

H: It's classified.

K: I thought I made myself clear-Look, Thistle, maybe you should go now. I need to explain a few things to smoothie here and don't want another awkward walk-in.

T: You really should get doors installed so this stops happening, Kindle.

K: Would if I could.

...

H:...Smoothie? Is that a thing here?

K: Look, Mr. Classified, I have all the social support I need, so I don't think I'll be requiring your services.

H: Even if you don't need me, the contract requires that I stay alongside you for a minimum of 18 hours a day for the entire week. Also, I have to send a report each day of any progress we've made.

K: What are you, a freaking psychiatrist or something?

H: Think of me as your temporary bodyguard for the week. That likes to go to public places and meet lots of people.

Particularly, females.

K: No...more like a leech.

H: That's not a nickname I mind.

K: Ugh! Look, it's getting late, so if you don't mind, I'd like to get some shut-eye. Alone. So, just, go away and sleep wherever you Novun sleep.

H: Shut-eye? It's late-afternoon, though.

K: That's extremely late for me.

H: All right, guess I'll sleep...Over here.

K: That's just a few feet away from where I'm sleeping.

H: It's my way of staying loyal to the contract.

K: Okay, that's it! I need to have a word with the "queen" about this contract!

H: Ah, no-Wait!



(6)

K:...Unbelievable.

H: I didn't know she could scream that loud.

K: That's not her full pitch, either.

H: Woah. Well, I'm glad that's over. And that I'm still on the contract, somehow.

K: Glad? Why are you glad about that?

H: Well, first, it means I still get paid by the end of all this.

K: Oh, of course.

H: And secondly, it means I can learn a little more about you, your kingdom and your species while I'm here!

...

I'm not gonna learn a damn thing, am I?

K: Nope. We're not even that interesting, anyways. A few blackmails here, and few massacres there, just the usual.

H: I'd hate to see what you consider above-usual.

K: You would.



...



K: So, why'd you try to help me out back there?

H: During the arguments?

K: No, I mean, before that. When we just met.

H: You want me to be honest?

K: You can get the hell out of here if you haven't been.

H: My mount's a gryphon, and he's not the nicest or the friendliest, but we have our moments. I know that's different from a Blessed gryphon, but I felt like the queen was rather harsh on the species.

K: Wow. So, the only reason you helped me get laid is because my best friend reminds you of your pet?

H: Pretty much. And there's a few other sentimental reasons, too, but that's the gist of it.

K: Thanks for that. I think.

H: No problem.



...



H: But, uh, you mean girlfriend, not friend.

K: Huh?

H: When you said "best friend" and mentioned the "laid" part, you meant she was your girlfriend, not your best friend.

K: Wha-No, she's my best friend. She's been a lot better to me than my own kin has.

H: But you also engage in other activities with her that aren't common among friends, too, right?

K: What do you mean?

H: You know, like, what you said.

K: What did I say?

H: The "Laid" part.

K: Well, that's just a common thing among my friends.

H: And how many friends do you have?

K:...One.

H: So, girlfriend.



K: No. Girlfriend just sounds so, I dunno, subservient. Thistle is anything but subservient. Did you see the claw marks on my mother? Yep.

H: Damn, she did that?

K: She'd do more, too, if the guards didn't get in the way. Oh, the look on her face when she pushed her to the ground like that was priceless.

H: I take it you aren't very fond of your mother?

K: No, I'm not.

H: What about your father?

K: Who?

H: Huh.

...

K: Good night, or whatever you Novun say.

H: Yeah, that's right.



(7-Day 1)

K: So, I'm guessing you'll want to know why I said what I said last night.

H: I was more concerned about saying, "Good Morning" first, but, mmm, if it's not a touchy subject for you.

K: It's not. I could care less.

H: Okay.

K: So, my mother's a sociopathic fool who's only here when she gets too concerned about old-people talk like "racial purity" and "maintaining the bloodline" and my father's a faithless muff-chaser who's also almost never here. That's the long version.

H: Oh. So...You're here alone most of the time, then?

K: Yep. Plus one. Actually, maybe plus three.

H: Who are the other two?

K: Sisters. Lilith and Lily. But they don't do anything, which is why I said maybe.

H: What do you guys do, then? Surely, there are classes and sessions for you all to prepare you for when you're rulers and stuff?

K: Why would there be? My parents are still alive and not well, so they just let us do whatever we want with our wealth, basically.

H: Like, buy doors?

K: The one thing they won't let us buy. It's based on some stupid things with "pride" and "not showing fear to our enemies" and "allowing everyone, whether rich or poor, free access to our mountain." It's idiotic, but I can't do anything about it.

H: Very little privacy here, then.

K: I don't want to deal with my parents when they do show up and see them, and I got used to the lack of doors anyways. Thistle keeps bringing it up, but I know it's just her venting about the situation.

H: I know I shouldn't be saying this, since I was told specifically not to say something like this, but...Thistle seemed nice.

K: Thank you. One person besides me that thinks that.

H: What about your sisters? How are they?

K: Pfft. Forget about them. They're just as useless as I am.

H: They also have gryphon significant others?

K: Not if my father has anything to say about that.

H: He doesn't like 'em, either?

K: No, just doesn't want them with other males.

H: Is he...I dunno, overprotective of them?

K:...Something like that. But, he's never like that with me...Ah, forget them. Sisters suck.

H: Huh.

K: What about you? You have any siblings, Henry?

H: Harry.

K: That's what I said, isn't it?

H:...Not in this world.

K: Excuse me?



(8)

K:...All because of that stone, huh?

H: Yeah.

K: What a story.

...

That's one hell of a thing, being completely separated from your entire family.

H: It's definitely an experience.

K: You know...I envy you, Harry. No parents, no relatives, no anyone to tell you what you should or shouldn't do. You're free. You don't have to worry about "maintaining" anything but yourself.

H: I guess that's one way of looking at it.

K: Is there any other way?

H:...Why don't you leave if you aren't happy here?

K: I am happy here, just not happy with my kin.

H: Well, I...guess I can't do anything about that, then.

K: Not unless I make you a contract, right?

H: Depends.

K: On what?

H: I don't commit bloodshed unless it's absolutely necessary-

K: Sh/t, Harry! I wasn't talking about murder!

H: No, that's just one of my rules.

K: Not toward my sisters, anyway.

H: So, you do care.

K: Hardly.



...(In town)...



H: She seemed nice.

K: Yeah, maybe if you like old hags.

H: You don't like older women?

K: I think that goes without saying, Harry.

H: What about the one at the clothing store?

K: Good talker, easy on the eyes, but...

H: Not a gryphon?

K: Not a gryphon.

H: Geez, will only THEY do it for you?

K: No. Only Thistle will do it for me.

H: Heh. Sounds like love.

K: What's that?

H:...You're not serious, are you?

K: I thought I was the one that asked that.

H: You know, love! It's like...That permanent amount of affection you have for someone.

K: Figures. I never felt that around my folks.

H: Ouch.

K: What, did you get wounded by my serious edge?

H: Yeah. Ya cut too deep, man.



(9)

K: I'm getting sick of this town. Come on, let's leave.

H: Yeah, I'm with ya.

K: Hey, how heavy are you?

H: Huh?

K: I want to do something, hmm. Something weird.

H: Like?

K: I want to see if I can carry you on my back all the way to the mountain.

H: Well, I'm kinda heavy, so I don't think-

K: Let's just try it. I'm in a less shoddy mood right now, so come on. Before I'm less agreeable.

H: Uh. Okay. Let me get the saddle.

K: No saddles and no reins! Just hop on!

H: If you insist...Mmm, Hmph! Ugh, that-That's kinda rough.

K: No, I-I think I can handle it. Just a few miles to go, shouldn't be a terrible time.

...

That was a terrible time. Let's never do that again. Ugh! Sore up here.

H: So, do you usually let people mount you on the first date?

K: Shut up.

H: Hah! Sorry, I couldn't resist.

K: Will you be putting that terrible time in that report of yours? Please don't. The last thing I wanna give that witch is a good laugh.

H: No promises.

K: Oh, you're as cruel as a kobold.

H: Hey, now. What's wrong with kobolds?

K: What's wrong? What, were you raised by kobolds? Oh, wait. The mentor, right?

H: Yeah.

K: So...You spent all that time with her?

H: I did. Learned a whole lot during those months.

K: Anything of interest?

H: It was all of interest. Surviving in multiple environments is no laughing matter.

K: That's not-Hmm. What's she like?

H: Vasha's blunt, methodical, cunning and anti-social at heart.

K: She doesn't talk about race or bloodlines or anything like that?

H: She would often give me detailed information of certain species, but never discussed superiority or any of that. I mean, outside of our training sessions, we never really discussed casual things.

K: She sounds infinitely better than anyone else I know.

H: She's a good soul. A hard soul, but a good soul.

K: You must miss her, huh? I mean, here you are, wasting your time with me when you could be free, out there, making the most of your life.

H: Kindle, have you ever heard the phrase, "Time you enjoy wasting isn't wasted time at all"?

K: No. Sounds like something my father lives by and my mother may need to be told, though.

H: Well...Yeah.

K: What, do you actually enjoy spending time with me?

H: Not to get sentimental, but...Yeah, I do. It's only been a day and I'm having the time of my life.

...

What's wrong?

K: Huh? Oh, nothing. I just felt something strange for a second there.

H: Did it pass?

K: Yeah. It's fine.



(10-Day 2)

K: You know, being stalked by a Novun twenty-four/seven isn't as bad as I thought it'd be.

H: It's not?

K: Yeah. Beats the monthly visits of mother and father. Let me rephrase that: Monthly visits of mother and yearly visits of father.

H: I'll bet.

K: ...You know what mother's problem is? Father's hardly here, so she's constantly lonely without anyone to be by her side.

She tries with my sisters, but their conversations usually end in arguments.

She tries with me. But ultimately fails.

No matter what we do, what anyone does, she'll always be the same unsatisfied hag that only cares about herself.

H: Uhh. Okay.

K: It's like...No matter how hard we try, we can't satisfy her. She asks for more and more, takes and receives. But what does she really give back to us? Love? Happiness? No. She gives us spite and contempt for our efforts. And she wonders why we hate her!

H: Um, Kindle?

K: What about us, huh?!? About what "we" want?!? About what "we" feel?!? Where is OUR legacy, huh?!? OUR kingdom?!? OUR future?!? And she tells us that our bloodline, our FUCKING bloodline, matters the most, beyond anything else?!? ARE YOU SERIOUS?!?!?

H: I...Oh, my.

K: I hate her, Harry! Hate her! Hate her! Hate her! HATE HER!

H: Kindle, please calm down!

K: I have no one, Harry! No one! Except...

...

...What the hell am I doing? Losing myself like that.

H: Do you...Do you need a minute alone, Kindle?

K: No! I...Can-Harry, can you do something for me?

H: What do you need?

K: I need to you to distract mother for me. I need...I need Thistle.

H: I'm not sure how I could distract her. Besides that blood stuff, what else does she like to talk about?

K: I dunno. Just...Ask her how her day is or something.

H: Ask her how her day is for 20 minutes?

K: Heh, 20 minutes, he says. Be a pal and...Go for the full hour, would you?

H: Like last time?

K: Just like it.

H: I'll do what I can.

K: ...Hey, Harry?

H: Yeah?

K:...That's two I owe you.

H: Those were on the house, you know. Or, mountain, in this case.

K: That. Just keep doing "that" for an hour, okay?

H: Okay.

(11)

H: Queen Vera?

V: Oh, Mr. Monologue. You've come to return your report?

H: Yeah...

V: What seems to be the problem?

H: Well, I...I wanted to know how your day was going.

V: Is that so?

H: Yes.

V: Well, what of my son's day? You should want to know that more than my day.

H: No, ma'am. Your son is fine, but I really wanted to know how you were holding up.

V: Holding up?

H: I'm sorry, I meant how you were doing.

V: No need to deceive me, boy. I know what you really meant to ask. I suppose dear Kindle has informed you of my history?

Or how little he truly understands it?

H: He's told me a few things.

V: Indeed, he has.

...

He's a fine specimen, my son. But he's misguided and unchaste, with no thanks to his father and his-

H: I'm sorry, my Queen, but I really think we should discuss something else.

V: My, my, my, you've got a spark in your heart, don't you, boy? Well, don't let the spark die, let it burn like a wildfire!

H: You lost me at spark.

V: Go on! Discuss with me what you really want to discuss, before you lose your nerve.

H: How is your day going?

V: (Facepalm) Really, now?

H: Yes, really. I want to know.

V: Quaint, Mr. Montaine. It's been quaint.

H: Now, how are you feeling, as opposed to how you are going?

V: What sorcery is this? A soul, a Novun, no less, is concerned with my current emotional state?

H: Is it so uncommon to ask how someone's feeling out here in dragon country?

V: Sadly, yes, it is.

H: So...How are ya?

V: Slightly irritated, mildly entertained. That's about right.

H: That's...A good thing or a bad thing?

V: A little bit of both. Irritation is bothersome, but entertainment is distracting, so either or.

H: Oh. Well, I'm glad you are...The way you are now.

V: What a thing to say.

H: I'm sorry, I didn't mean-

V: Sorry, sorry, sorry! You're always "sorry" about something, Mr. Monolith. Why can't you just stand by what you say?

H: I just don't want to be rude when I don't mean to be rude.

V: But it would be safe to assume you also say the same thing when you do mean it, don't you?

H:...Sometimes.

V: Such a lack in confidence. My husband could teach you a thing or two about confidence if he were here.

H: Confidence...uhh...isn't immune to discrimination, however, and that's something I try not to be...?

V: But is that not a lie? We rely on discrimination to keep ourselves safe from undesirables, as I'm sure you do on a daily basis.

H: Anyone can be an undesirable, but it takes a special kind of discrimination to truly be able to see who is desirable and undesirable. And what about those of us that are neither or both?

V: We call them "indecisive". In other words, my son. And you.

H: And who are you?

V: A modest queen with a loving family and a stable kingdom. HAHAHAHAHA!

...Ahem.

H: What were we talking about?

V: I forget, but whatever it was, it was fairly entertaining. We should do this more often.

H: I suppose.

V: Oh, and Mr. Montaine?

H: Yes?

V: I really do appreciate you asking me how I am. It's something my own children refuse to do, so it's nice to tell someone besides the random guards around here.

H: No problem.

V: Talking to those alike should never be a problem, yet how seldom some souls desire such contact. How seldom.

(12)

H: Your hour is up, Red.

T:...Is that the Novun again, Kindle?

K:...Yeah, but it's fine. He's not just some stiff working for my mother. He's actually a decent guy.

T:...Decent enough for you to let him walk in on us?

K:...Better him than anyone else, Thistle.

T:...Woah. That's a lot of trust for a guy you met two days ago.

K:...He doesn't even want me to get with another drakken. Oh, and he said you seemed nice, too.

T:...Really? Well...Tell him I said he seems nice, too.

K:...I mean, he's right outside. He can practically hear us.

T:...WHAT? Uh-Oh, right.

K:...I love it when you figure out the obvious.

T:...Yeah, I was never the brightest bird in the nest.

K:...But you are my shining star.

T:...Stop it, Kindle! You aren't allowed to be this corny! And he can hear us, can't he?

Hey, Mr. Novun, can you hear us over here?

K: Thistle! Not so loud.

H: I could hear a few things, yeah.

T: Well, I just wanted to say thank you for keeping my best friend company while I was away. I know he's a real pain in the backside sometimes, but...It kinda has its charm, doesn't it?

K: Keep talking and I'll give you a pain in your backside.

H: Ugh, that just gave me a disease.

T: Kindleih!

K: Oh, we talk about it all the time! Don't we, Harry?

H: No...No, we don't. It's mostly you complaining about your folks, actually.

K: Oh, right.

T: Well, I'd better get going. It was...Really good to see you again, Kindle. And nice to me you, uh, Harry?

H: Yes! Someone finally remembers it right on the first take!

T: Guess my memory isn't as bad as I thought it was.

H: Also, you meant "boyfriend", not "best friend", right?

T:...What's the difference?

H: Wha-All of it is the difference! They're completely different in terms of intangible value!

T: "Best friend" just sounds better than "boyfriend" to me.

K: Damn straight.

H: Oh...Fine.

...

K: Wait. Harry, I said your name on the first take, remember?

H: You did? Oh, yeah, you did. Guess I'm the one with bad memory.

K: Heh.

(13)

K: Hey, Harry, before we go to sleep, can I say something?

H: Sure. What is it?

K: Look, I'm not good with these kinds of things, but I just wanted to say...You didn't have to do this. You didn't have to take this contract, or cover up for me, or talk to me, or hear me spurt my nonsense out. But you did it anyways. I don't know why you did it, but you did it. And I just wanted to say...You're a...

H: What?

K: I mean...You have to understand where I'm coming from. How I've lived. How I've been treated. What I've done. All of it. You have to understand all of that so that the next thing I say doesn't come off as lame or forced, which I'm sure it will, anyway, because I really do mean it. I just wanted to say that you're...Sniff...

...

You're a...sigh...decent...person.

...

And I'd...urgh...be honored to call you...sigh...my friend...if you would...sniff...let me...

H: No. The honor is mine.

K: Okay. Well...Sniff. That settles it. We're friends now.

H: You mean, we weren't before?

K: Hmph...

(End of Part 1)

EDIT: I feel the ride bit felt more forced as it happened so soon in the story. The ending bit could be worded a lot better than to have Kindle be outright crying at proclaiming Harry his friend. Perhaps more annoyance at the attempt of proclamation than tears? But, that would possibly conflict with the moment being referenced later on, so I'm not sure.

It's not likely, but if someone wants to commission fanart for any of my characters, then there are some conditions.

1. Ask me first. There are some things I will and won't allow.
I also prefer to just know about it beforehand, surprises are neat but not all of them are good.

2. Generally fine as long as:
-No Hate Art
-No Vore
-No Inflation
-No excessive Foot Fetish
-No Futa nor Herm
-No Non-Con nor Snuff
-No Mind Control/Hypnosis
-No Diaper/Scat/Watersports
-No excessive Blood/Gore/Guro
-No Cub, Minor/Underaged, Loli nor Shota younger-aged characters in NSFW sexual situations
-No AI-generated stuff

3. Do it for the love of the character(s). Or like/lust, that's ok, too.
Don't do it expecting fanart commissions, watches or donations in return.