OOM All Skate Skellig Dream Magic Weirdness -Part 10

[brave_kreyu]

Kreyu has taken a different shape than is usual for her. A dragon, yes, but one of quite different build and coloration!

This shape is more serpentine, although it still has four legs and wings. Her body and her wings are covered in feathers that are all the colors of the rainbow. She fusses with some of her wing feathers, the claws of this shape far smaller, as dexterous as human hands.

"How do I look?" she asks, a little nervous about her appearance.

Comments

[brave_kreyu]

"Yes," Xenophon replies. "I, we, will never be able to thank you and Kreyu enough for your help."

The sun is nearing the horizon when Kreyu brings them in for a landing. Time to camp for the night!

"I had hoped to make better time, but I think we will make it by mid-day tomorrow, if the winds cooperate," she grumbles as they are unloading their gear.

[27_53]

"Flying into a headwind is not an easy task, my heart. I think we are both grateful for a safe passage and forward progress."

The last of the gear unloaded, he presses a kiss to her leg where he is nearest.

"We can set up camp," he offers. It will be a simple affair - a bedroll for each and a fire, which Xenophon is already gathering wood for. "I can hear a stream not far off, we can boil some water."

He isn't sure if she wants to hunt again or just curl up in cat form on his 'pillow' and lounge to relax.

[brave_kreyu]

"Thank you, love. I would appreciate that." Xenophon has a good eye for finding firewood, so they should have plenty of fuel to cook and get through the night.

Kreyu shifts to her cat shape, represses the urge to lick her fur into order. "Ugh, I'm all....disheveled," she complains. There are a few combs in their supplies that could sort that problem out!

[27_53]

"I will tend to your fur in a moment. Here," he unroll his bedding and fluffs it a bit, patting a space for her to lie down. "Let me get the water gathered, and I'll be back shortly."

By the time he has returned the fire is going, and getting water on to boil and finding something to cook - there are dehydrated things that will come easily back into a more edible form with hot water added - and he fetches a comb from his bag, settles in to stretch out his legs, patting his lap now.

"This will at least be easier than trying to preen all those feathers."

[brave_kreyu]

"MUCH easier," Kreyu agrees. She settles onto his lap, careful to keep her claws retracted. She rubs her cheek against his leg, purrs.

Xenophon is working on dinner, this kind of food is the kind of thing he does know how to cook!

[27_53]

(Skellig also knows that Xenophon already feels indebted to THEM, and while he would argue that is unnecessary, he could go until he was blue in the face. So allowing him to cook, at his insistence, helps him feel as if he is at least doing SOMETHING.)

Starting with her chin makes the most sense, so he rubs at that bare handed before moving to work the comb through her fur.

"It is good fortune that the winds have kept the worst of weather at bay," Skellig comments. "We should be able to simply sleep out without needing cover."

[brave_kreyu]

Kreyu is purring up a storm, eyes closed. This feels so good, his touch, his warmth, so much more immediate in this shape than it is in her draconic one.

"Most fortunate," she agrees. "Getting soaked again would be quite a miserable experience."

Xenophon is busy working with dinner when Kreyu speaks only loud enough for Skellig to hear. "I hope his sister is still alive and still where she's supposed to be."

[27_53]

"A concern of mine as well," he whispers softly - with both their hearing much better than standard human, they are easily able to speak between themselves.

Skellig has a feeling that this cat shape of hers will become a favorite of his, of only for the closeness it allows when she cannot show her 'true' self.

"I do not know if it would be wise to worry too much until we have arrived in Mycenae," he adds. "But a plan should be considered."

[brave_kreyu]

"I could always stick the claws of this shape in some sensitive bits of the contract holder's anatomy," Kreyu offers, tone dark.

She sighs. "If she is already dead, there is nothing we can do. But if she is alive and merely elsewhere, there are many ways information can be acquired."

Kreyu is also enjoying the ability to freely cuddle with Skellig!

[27_53]

"You have many tricks to encourage cooperation at your disposal."

Skellig cringes slightly at the thought of having CLAWS embedded DOWN THERE. Very unpleasant. He most certainly would give up info if that was the case!

"And you are not afraid to use them," he adds, rubbing at her ears.

[brave_kreyu]

"I do," Kreyu replies, slightly smug.

Oh, ear rubs are bliss! "Feels good," she murmurs, nearly boneless in his lap.

[27_53]

It is also a very good thing that they got most of their 'quota' for activities handled before they left the Lair - otherwise her purring might cause a bit of a
...stir.

"Are you going to want to eat anything? Or just thrive on my company for the evening?"

[brave_kreyu]

"I am still full from my hunt," she murmurs. "And I am most comfortable right here with you."

She's a bit sleepy already, actually. Maybe it's this shape, cats sleep so many hours of the day! She yawns, stretches, then settles herself again.

[27_53]

Xenophon notices that Skellig's lap has been claimed by his wife, so once the meal is done - an easy 'stew of sorts, meat and vegetables and herbs along with another flat bread - he brings over a bowl and a cup of watered wine from a skin flask.

"Thank you," Skellig says as he accepts the bowl and cup.

"I could tell she was not keen on moving," Xenophon laughs softly as he sits to eat his own. "Even as your wife, I figured...cat."

[brave_kreyu]

Kreyu is dozing already by the time Xenophon is seated.

"I had heard tales of dragons," he says, voice soft. "But I would not have wagered on them being true."

He shakes his head. "I know after meeting your wife that some of them are lies. She is a person, not a ravening beast."

[27_53]

"As with people, there are all types," Skellig says honestly. "Dragons certainly have strength, power, can hold grudges for millenia. They covet and desire treasures, some will go to great lengths to guard and hoard them. And they are fierce warriors, unafraid to fight or defend. So your are wise to use caution, should you ever meet another."

[brave_kreyu]

Xenophon nods. "I do not think I will ever meet another," he says. "I am but a farmer's son. That fate saw fit for me to cross paths with such wonders as you and Kreyu ONCE still seems unbelievable.

[27_53]

"We will aid you as we can, so that you might return to what you enjoy most. Be it farming or another trade, wherever you and your sister may find yourselves."

Skellig is choosing hope in this instance, that his sister is still alive, unharmed.

[brave_kreyu]

"I am not certain what it is I enjoy," Xenophon admits. "I know farming, was raised to follow in my father's footsteps as his only son."

"There is a peace in it, tending the land. But the farm is gone, the legacy of my father, and his father, and his father's father."

[27_53]

"You will find it, when you have less to worry about. Once this 'debt' has been dealt with and your sister freed, you will be able to truly LIVE, not just survive."

Skellig stirs the contents of his bowl with his spoon.

"It is an adjustment. Like grief at times, oddly enough. But you will learn how to live once more."

[brave_kreyu]

Xenophon nods.

"I do not mean to pry, Sir," he begins. "But that sounded, sounded like you were speaking from experience."

"Was it from before...." he glances at Kreyu, sound asleep on his lap.

[27_53]

"It was," Skellig nods softly, glancing down at Kreyu. "I was in a rather rough state when we first met, and I have grown quite a bit since that time. I am grateful for the things she has helped me discover."

He lightly runs his fingertips over Kreyu's ears, smiling as she shifts towards his touch, still fast asleep.

"Both through this world in our travels and on a more personal level."

[brave_kreyu]

"They do say that three color cats are lucky." He chuckles softly. "Perhaps she is your luck, and mine," he quips.

He gives a small yawn, frowns at his own 'weakness'.

[27_53]

The frown is noticed, but Skellig does not comment outright on it.

"You have done well to gather firewood, this will last us easily until daybreak," he says. "With the wards Kreyu has put around our camp here, we will not need to keep watch."

Nevermind Skellig could hear people or creatures coming from a mile away...

He glances down at Kreyu. "The trick will be getting myself into my roll without waking the sleeping cat," he muses.

[brave_kreyu]

"You might be able to shift her a bit, into your arms," Xenophon suggests?

Xenophon will slide into his own bedroll and fall asleep fairly quickly.

So long as he's careful, he can shift Kreyu into his arms without fully 'waking' her.