The Dark Forest children ignore their usual games of testing the adults' observation skill and gleefully chase the prancing golden-eyed black-furred cat around the small clearing, each trying to get a turn at riding the shapeshifting creature. Kaiden is clearly enjoying the attention as he gives his next passengers a wild ride.
"He's going to wear himself out," Hermia sighs. "Would you be willing to offer us shelter for the night? I doubt Kaiden will be able to take us home once he's through playing."
"No problem," Marianne chuckles. "With any luck, he won't be the only one tired. Did you get the information you wanted?"
"Yes. Griselda sufficiently answered my questions of the little one's care and I don't think any of my clan will protest your adoption," Hermia reassures before laying her black-furred white-tipped ears back. "There is one more thing, though. But you've had such a stressful day and it can wait until tomorrow."
"They won't mind. Go ahead and ask them now," Griselda encourages.
"Ask us what?" Bog questions.
"Is there a place in your kingdom for imps?" Hermia asks.
"That shouldn't be a problem. Bog and I were planning on asking you if one of your own would be willing to come here to help us with raising Puck," Marianne mentions.
"I don't mean just me and my own kin but the other imps in the Great Mountain as well," Hermia murmurs. "You see, as prosperous as the Great Mountain is, it's dangerous. Almost all the other creatures that live there are so much bigger than we imps and much more so compared to our little ones. That doesn't include certain dangerous inhabitants that even we adults try to avoid as much as possible."
"We'd have to look into everything needed for the change but I don't see a reason to say no. Provided that you'll obey the laws of the Dark Forest," Bog states.
Hermia gives a fierce nod before trilling happily. It is such good news. Despite the dangers Griselda had informed her about the Dark Forest, it would be a far safer home than the Great Mountain. Predatory animals are nothing compared to the larger fae. She quickly tells the news to her daughter when the younger imps abandon playing with the others to run over and investigate.
"Your welcome!" Marianne laughs as Lysandra jumps up to give both Bog and her a hug. "This means that you're going to have to behave, though. No more tormenting Puck."
Puck crosses his arms and nods repeatedly before squealing as Lysandra hugs him tightly. Turning pleading eyes to his parents do no good. They're obviously not that concerned if their amused looks are anything to go by. He heaves a sigh at his bad luck and pats Lysandra's head, refusing to return the hug. Females are bothersome. At least she's not kissing...ARGH!
Lysandra giggles at Puck's growl, giving him another kiss before pushing him and running away with him in angry pursuit. This is so much fun!
Marianne joins Bog's laughter as their son chases his tormentor back to where the other children are playing. There's a bit of worry at the snarls and nips when he manages to catch the other imp but Puck quickly shows he's only playing when he stops and comforts Lysandra when she starts crying. The tears only last a short time before the little female is ready to play again, this time pouncing on Puck.
"We're going to have to check the maps to see which areas would be safe to put such active young," Griselda chuckles.
"I can ask Dad about offering shelter in the Light Field as well," Marianne comments.
"No time like the present," Dagda remarks, walking closer.
Marianne hums as her father envelops her in a hug and places a kiss on her forehead. She can feel the urge to hold him tighter when he pulls back but she forces herself to let him go. It's the same desire she had felt when she and Bog had joined the others around the Lughnasa bonfires and she found herself in Griselda's firm embrace. She can't help wanting to keep them with her a little longer, not after nearly losing both of them today.
"Now, what's this about offering shelter and to whom?" Dagda questions after Marianne reassures his accompanying guards of her wellbeing.
"The imps of the Great Mountain want to leave that kingdom because of the larger denizens but they stopped looking after the last scouting party never returned," Griselda explains. "I told Hermia that there shouldn't be any problem with having more imps here."
"I don't see why there should be any problem," Dagda murmurs. "It might be best to have a council meeting between both kingdoms to make sure we can support a larger amount of denizens and where to place them. Bog?"
"I agree but there's going to be a lot of work for us to do for the next few weeks. Not only do we have to clean up this mess but we also have the meetings with two different idiot kings," Bog comments, smirking at the laughter.
"It's alright. There's no need to make decisions or arrangements right now," Hermia reassures. "We still have three months before we imps start to hibernate for the winter, after all, and even if you don't make a decision this year, we won't cause a fuss."
"I'm sure it won't take us that long to figure out where to put you all," Dagda chuckles. "It might help if we have an idea of how many of you there are and what you need but we can discuss that tomorrow if you're willing to stay the night."
"We're not going to have much choice but stay the night," Hermia giggles, pointing to the yawning cat-pooka. "The young ones managed to tire even the energetic Kaiden."
"In my defense, I've had a busy week," Kaiden mutters as he approaches before curling up next to the nervous squirrel mounts.
"A week that would have been less busy had you asked Plum two days ago instead of going through all that trouble to keep her from noticing your presence until you flew away," Dagda points out.
"Don't remind me. King Dirk is going to blame this whole mess on me, I just know it," Kaiden groans.
"He probably will," Hermia agrees.
"That's hardly just," Marianne comments. "Didn't Plum say that King Dirk knew what you were doing and gave his approval? Therefore, he is as guilty as the rest of you, if not more so since he is your king. It's his responsibility to deal with any matters concerning the other kingdoms."
"That's not how it works in the Great Mountain. Each denizen is responsible for their own actions and as long as it doesn't disturb them, the royal family doesn't care what happens. We wouldn't even have had to inform the king at all if it wasn't for having to venture so close to the Light Field," Kaiden explains. "Of course, we weren't actually supposed to step foot into the Light Field, what with the geas and all, but when we noticed that Lady Aura had left and that you were staying a long time in the Light Field, we figured that it'd be easier to free the baby imp there instead of waiting for nightfall to enter the forest."
"I suggest that you don't call Plum by that name within her hearing distance if you want to live long," Dagda warns. "She stopped going by Aura decades ago and she might not abide by Marianne and Bog's leniency if you bring it up. In fact, you just might bring back those bloodthirsty tendencies she used to have."
"Dad!" Marianne scolds softly as Hermia looks around apprehensively and Kaiden's golden eyes widen in fear before disappearing in a shivering ball of black fur.
"Just saying," Dagda defends unrepentantly before sighing. "Marianne, we need to talk. Alone."