Midday, and Hanna and Rob are ready to leave for home.
"That's everything packed," Rob confirms, securing the last of the luggage to his ATV. "No idea when we'll be able to see you guys again. I get the feeling the next week or so will be pretty chaotic for all of us."
"No worries," Danny assures. "Perils of being a Red Scarf."
With one last wave, Hanna and Rob fire up their ATVs and begin their journey home.
"Hanna's gonna be so mad with me when she gets home," Maria sighs.
"Why?" Xander asks.
"I might have put glue on her saddle," Maria explains with an impish grin.
Late afternoon, and Hanna and Rob arrive home in Rage Ravine.
"Good to be back," Hanna sighs as she parks in the garage, killing the engine.
"And with plenty of time to kill before we head to Shang Mu," Rob adds, dismounting.
"I'll make drinks while you-" Hanna begins, halting when she realises she's stuck in place. "Darn it Maria!"
"What's she done this time?"
"She's glued me to the darn saddle!"
"That'll be the payback for the oven mitt trick you played on her yesterday!" Rob laughs, unstrapping the luggage.
"It's not funny!"
"It is, and you know it!"
Hanna pauses a moment. "Yeah, I guess so. Still, to get free I either have to wreck a perfectly good pair of capris, or strip below the waist…"
"Let me know what you decide," Rob chuckles as he takes the luggage into the house.
Ten minutes later, with the luggage unpacked and sorted, Rob settles down in the chair with the morning newspaper. Before he can start, the front door opens. Rob looks up to see Hanna, sans capris, carrying her boots.
"Thanks for the help," she quips sarcastically.
"You're welcome," Rob smirks.
"At least there's no-one except you to see me walking around with no capris," Hanna sighs, closing the door.
"Worried about your figure?"
"My figure's perfect!" Hanna flirts.
"I know," Rob winks. "What took you so long?"
"It's surprisingly difficult to remove a pair of capris when they're glued firmly to the saddle of an ATV," Hanna explains. "Oh, and by the way, you can be the one to figure out how to unglue them without ruining them."
"I'll have a look after I've finished with the paper."
"Want a drink?"
"The usual, thanks."
Hanna drops her boots and disappears into the kitchen, returning a few minutes later with a hot chocolate and a green tea.
"Huh," Rob mutters as he finishes the headline article.
"What?" Hanna asks.
"Danny was right about Shang Mu, but for the wrong reason."
"Hm?"
"Seems there was a battle between some sort of giant robot… panther, and your favourite dragon-girl and three of her mates."
"See? She's always there to save the day, that traitorous do-gooder!" Hanna growls. She then stops growling as abruptly as she started. "Wait, did you say three mates?"
"Yep. Seems she's recently befriended both Milla, a ginger-haired puppy, and Torque, a…" Rob pauses to find the words he's looking for. "Shell‑duck?"
"What on Avalice is a 'shell‑duck'?"
"No idea, never heard of one before." Rob tosses the paper onto the table. "But it is another one of these strange coincidences…"