The next morning came way too early for Katsuki. He didn't mind being up late but the last weeks those times seemed to accumulate. With the whole shit from last night he dearly wanted to stay in bed for once. Let the others deal with their stupid problems themselves.

He exhaled and cuddled closer to the body next to him thinking the younger might make it up to him in one way or the other and buried his nose into his bed partners hair. His tired brain needed a moment to register the thick smell of damp wolf and how his arms seemed to be encircling something furry. Dreading, he opened his eyes to a pair of golden ones staring down at him seemingly disgusted and screeched throwing himself backwards.

Meanwhile Shuichi was cackling on the ground, holding his belly from the pain. The only thing that kept Katsuki from kicking the damned dog right out of his tent was the small dragon seated atop Moros head gazing at him curiously head slightly angled to the side.

"Katsuki! Are you allr… gah! Stop it! Nooo!"

Groaning Katsuki stood from the ground, kicked the still laughing younger's side and peeked out his tents flap to see what all the commotion was about. Despite the awful wake up call, seeing his best friend on his back and being pulled along the dirty snow mud by four angry wolf breeds that clung to his boots made him smile just the tiniest bit.

Shuichi had more trouble hiding his amusement, and pain from the earlier kick mind, as he tried to whistle the dogs off of the red head between chuckles and groans. His ribs hurt and it didn't help that most of the people around were laughing too. Katsuki guessed that Eijiro had wanted to walk into the tent after hearing his scream and the dogs had stopped him which was a lucky thing because of the dragon.

He would love to tell his friend about the little being because of different reasons but since Eijiro hardly would be able to keep this secret from showing on his face it would be safer if he told him after the little dragon was gone. He still felt guilt ripping at his heart for not letting him at least once see it. Eijiro would be downhearted for missing this chance for weeks but he couldn't give Shuichi any good reasons for telling anyone else besides his parents and the witch, who had objected too.

After pulling Eijiro away a good distance the dogs had let him go and returned to the front of the tent all but for Blue who was now vigorously washing Eijiro's face and hands as he tried to shield himself from her tongue. Katsuki bet it was her apology for the rough treatment. These two had gotten along well since the first day. With the help of Mina Eijiro finally managed to get Blue to release him and he stood up groaning and trying to wipe the mud and dog slobber from his clothes and face.

"What was all that about Katsuki? You're naked by the way."

"I like the view very much. Did Shuichi do anything rough to you or why did you squeal like that? You sounded like a village girl being scared of a spider."

Mina gave him a wink and Katsuki only snorted before closing the flap again. He wouldn't tell them the reason for his loud voicing of discomfort, it wasn't a squeal mind. Barbarians didn't squeal and they would just laugh at him if they found out the reason for his 'loud voicing'. At least they now knew that he was alright and after the show with Eijiro he bet no one else would dare try enter the tent at least as long as Shuichi's dogs sat in front of it. Well, anyone but his parents and the witch who apparently needed to make sure the young dragon was fine.

They took their time preparing for the journey. Shuichi was mostly fitted but both Bakugo's still had to pack their things and the food supplies. Shuichi meanwhile filled the black volcanic sand which the young dragon seemed to like very much into a slightly bigger, hardened leather pouch. He didn't want to squish the youngling which is why he used the hardened leather but he carefully lined it with wool and fur to keep it warm and soft on the inside.

Masaru was readying the horses as they ate breakfast in the tent. Finally it was time for them to leave and they said their farewells to the rest of the tribe. The dragon's new pouch with the little one fast asleep inside was safely hidden within the folds of Shuichi's clothes. For a moment he feared the jostling bear hug he received from Eijiro had woken the dragon up or squished the pouch but all was fine. Only Eijiro didn't seem to understand why he had to stay in camp, despite being practically grounded, and it had taken Katsuki a long time arguing before he relented.

They were just about to mount their horses when a loud horn sounded from outside the wooden walls. It was answered by one of the guard's horns. Shuichi frowned at the sound and the three Bakugo's either growled or sighed, whatever fit their character.

"What now!"

Mitsuki pressed the reins of her horse into her sons hand and stomped towards the gate as it opened. Katsuki and Shuichi stood back, waiting. It took some time till the reason for the horns signal reached the gates. The young barbarian sighed as he caught sight of the dozen men and women walking into camp and pulling a big sled behind them. Three rode on horses, the rest walked afoot. They stopped before Mitsuki. One of them dismounted and stood himself in front of her.

He didn't bow as the rest of them did. He was lean built with long, slick blond hair running freely and had a grin of victory on his face as he seemed to measure the smaller woman in front of him as if she was some kind of dessert. Masaru who had come to stand besides his wife didn't even flinch nor did Mitsuki seem to give the look she received any mind. From what he had overheard by the evening fires Mitsuki was used to it and fast to prove the men wrong once they challenged her. They talked but Shuichi couldn't hear them very clearly.

"What the hell is going on there?"

Katsuki had a sour look on his face as Shuichi looked to him for an explanation. The barbarian didn't like what was happening, but there was no way to easily get out of it. Of all the times for this to happen it had to be today. In the end they might have to delay their departure for another day or leave without Mitsuki.

"This is the youngest son of one another tribe, the Kuri clan, and it seems like he wants to challenge her for leadership. You know that the Bakugo clan currently is the leading tribe of all barbarian tribes within the northern mountains, right?" Shuichi nodded. "If another tribe wishes to earn the title then their leader has to challenge the current tribes leader, which is my mother. Well, it needs more than just winning against her because the other tribes have to accept it first or challenge him in return."

"You didn't want to be clan leader yet, did you?"

Katsuki growled lowly, it was still a sour point for him even if he had come to terms with the delay to his leadership.

"I do want to be clan leader of our, as well as the other tribes but the time wasn't right yet. Besides, with my mother being a dragon of her own I don't think I will stand a chance unless she actually wants me to win. There are also many traditions to consider. For me especially since I am her son. We don't simply pass on leadership to our offspring like the rest of the kingdom does. I can explain you the details later if you like while we're riding. But one of the traditions is to bring in a significant … well … 'catch' as offering for the spirits, may it be a creature or treasure, or do a special deed but you need to know that it is the right thing to offer or do. I didn't encounter such an eminent offering as of yet but apparently this shit head did … I didn't even knew he was the Kuris current clan leader. Two months back it had still been his old man and I always thought his older brother would take leadership."

Katsuki glared at the sled covered by woolen blankets and strips of leather, whatever the young man had killed it was big and he had an ominous feeling about it. Something inside him made him want to scream and chop that man's head off. He did have a temper and prominent hate for other human beings but never in his live had he so badly wanted to kill someone. It was as if the spirits of the mountains themselves were screaming at him, tearing at his heart and trying to make him succumb to their wishes filled with a pure and deep hatred towards the still smugly smiling male.

It wasn't just himself that seemed to feel the rush Katsuki noticed. Everyone in camp was eerily silent, fists clamped around halfway drawn weapons and faces scrunched up in confusing hate. Taking a closer look he noticed some of the Kuri clans people being restless, even scared as they pressed different little good luck trinkets between their hands muttering and staying as far from the sled as possible. He swallowed thickly wanting to warn his mother but she seemed to have noticed the atmosphere as fast as him.

"Say, what happens if someone else than a Bakugo challenges your mother for the Bakugo clans leadership? Are you still the Bakugo clan then?"

It was a sorry excuse for a distraction to the tense atmosphere to keep asking about the tribes handling of politics. Katsuki wouldn't be angry about the attempt but he didn't want to talk right now. He kept his answer short making sure his tone mirrored his mood.

"Of course not dipshit, the name changes with the leaders."

The horses grew more restless by the minute and Katsuki took notice how Shuichi's dogs seemed to circle the group of strangers. Their stances made him want to draw his own sword now: they were stalking, teeth's bared and heads held low. And the strangers were their prey. Still, they mad no sound and kept their distance waiting for something to happen.

Katsuki wanted to tell Shuichi to call them away but his throat couldn't make the words work as he looked towards him. Shuichi had his right hand pressed to the dragons pouch and muttered quietly and obviously pained in what Katsuki recognized to be his whispering. His face showed great confusion and withhold fear. Still standing close together Katsuki could now hear the little dragon emitting sounds close to a low whirring. It sounded awful and made the hairs on his neck stand up as well as his bones and teeth ache the louder it got. By the look on the others face it was even worse while having the dragon close to ones chest.

It was then, as the blankets were pulled from the sled that they understood: on it lay in a heap the dead bodies of two celestial, skin turned to an ashen gray and eyes white and staring accusingly.

It took less than a second for a scream sounding more like a roar ripping through the silence and everything after was too fast for them to react to. Mitsuki had drawn her sword and in a clean swipe she beheaded the new leader of the Kuri clan. In the same moment Shuichi's wolf hounds shifted shape growing nearly as big as pure breed dire wolves, smaller but still big enough to easily carry a human on their back, to everyone's utter shock.

They jumped the surprised Kuri clan's people and easily ripped them to pieces. The camp dogs and even the four lonely cats keeping the tribe company had meddled between them as if they had never feared each other. The act didn't last longer than a couple of seconds and the silence afterwards stretched on till the heavy burden of the situation seemed to bury them alive.

Katsuki's mother, the current leader, had just executed a murder on these men and women. She had crossed a line. Shuichi was in just as much trouble. Whatever the reason his dogs had to attack, if it was Mitsuki's order or instinct, they belonged to him in human terms. He would be taken responsible for their actions.

Mitsuki was kneeling before the sled her face buried into the side of a celestial. She was openly crying as was Masaru standing behind her and many others of the tribe. Katsuki tried to stay composed. Only a single tear slide down his face before he wiped it away but Shuichi wasn't doing as well. He was shaking having to hold onto his horse's saddle to keep from falling to his knees as his tears streamed down his face. His hand was still clasped around the bulge beneath his clothes were the dragons pouch was hidden. The little ones parents were dead he was sure of it.

A loud whining voice made them both jolt. The young dragon was mourning its parent's murder, Katsuki could tell, but it was being too loud. It would attract attention and not everyone in the tribe was as downhearted about the celestial's death as them. He had to act, fast.

Soon there would be trouble arising with his mother's choice of murder. The clan would be disunited about it and the outcome was doubtful. Frantically, Katsuki looked around and met his father eyes. Masaru gave him an assuring nod strengthening his grip on his wife's shoulders. She had to stay back and face a trial, if she left now it would be considered as attempt to escape.

Katsuki didn't waste any more time and heaved the protesting Shuichi on the horse. Leading them closer to the gate were Eijiro was bawling he grabbed his neck pushing him on Mitsuki's horse and giving him a sign not to ask till later. He wouldn't have any of his own things but the clothes he wore and his swords but they would make do with the things in Mitsuki's backpack which was already fastened to the horse.

Hurrying the blond mounted his own horse taking in the sight of the sled again. He could now see that the dire wolf breeds, their lineage was more than obvious now, hadn't killed everyone of the Kuri clan. Two men and one woman were huddled by the sled surrounded by growling camp dogs. One more woman was huddled beneath Blue. She was petit and looked foreign, probably not one of the Kuri clans fighters, but he couldn't think about her now or why Blue seemed like she protected her.

They needed to get away from the camp fast. The rest of Shuichi's pack was already out the gate walking around restlessly with the blood still fresh on their muzzles. They didn't shrink back to their smaller size yet and Katsuki was glad about it. They looked intimidating and might stop most people from trying to follow them.

The dogs also gave him a good excuse as to why he left the camp with Shuichi in spite of the current situation. He would simply say he didn't want the younger to be pulled into the tribes hassle as it were his dogs which killed most of the Kuri clan. He bet his mother would follow the same line of thought and plead for the dogs and Shuichi's innocence pretending she had ordered the attack. But this was a sort of trouble he could deal with later. Currently they had more pressing matters at hand.

Not hesitating any longer Katsuki slapped the rears of Eijiro's and Shuichi's horses with his reins making them surge forward and spurring on his own mount after them. He chanced one last look back to see Mina and Sero blocking the path of some older clans men who seemed inclined to follow them and drag them back. They might have trouble with followers later and would make sure to camp far away from the road.

They also had to pass the crossroad leading to the Kuri tribe's winter quarters two days ride from here. The crossroad was too close to the Kuris, less than a day on foot, for Katsuki to give it a chance. They would have to find another way down to the plain.

The three companions rode in silence till noon and as fast as they dared without killing the horses. As the beasts needed a rest Katsuki lead them away from the road up around a bend on a mountain ridged where the horses could drink from a still ice free spring and eat frozen grass on a clearing.

They didn't bother putting up a fire and ate their meal cold in silence. It didn't last long as Eijiro struck a tree log with his fist nearly making the horses rear as he screamed out. He was still angry about the dead celestials and Shuichi knew it wouldn't get better once they told him everything.

"How could they do that Katsuki? Why in the gods name would anyone do that? Tell me!"

Katsuki kept calm besides his seething friend even if he himself wanted to hit a tree till the blood from his knuckles would dye the pure white snow in red.

"I don't now Eijiro."

Kirishima screamed again, a sound closer to growling than even Mitsuki's, making birds flee from the surrounding trees and pulled at his hair in desperation.

"How can humans be this greedy and blind! It's disgusting."

A fist full of snow right to his face made the red haired man turn his raging gaze to his best friend. The snow seemed to melt just by the pure rage he felt.

"Now stop it, you are insulting yourself. Do you want to know why we made a head run from there or not?"

Katsuki was pointing to Shuichi who took it as sign to pull out the dragons pouch. Well, they had no choice but to tell Eijiro if he was to travel with them. Carefully he untangled the pouch's cord from around his neck and sat it in his lap. Eijiro, even though the anger still showed on his face, was overpowered by curiosity and scooted as close as possible.

Shuichi hesitated, during the ride he had felt the beings cries resonating through the pouch right into his chest but he could do nothing to console it. Now the young dragon was silent. Sighing, he carefully reached a hand inside the pouch and hissed as sharp teeth bore into the tender junction between his thumb and index finger, as well as the small claws digging into his skin. The dragon was either angry or scared and he wouldn't hold it pass the creature to hiss at them the moment he pulled it out. It had any right to do as it did.

Seeing Katsuki's worried gaze he took some deep breaths and very carefully pulled his hand out. The young dragon wound around it still clamping its jaw on flesh. It wouldn't let go anytime soon and Shuichi winced as it clamped down harder making blood drip onto his trousers as he pulled it fully from the bag. It glared at them with his eyes hissing just as Shuichi had predicted.

Eijiro seemed to want to say something but Katsuki clamped a hand over his mouth. They needed to calm down the youngling first. Shuichi tried not to move his hand to much as he started to coo at the dragon in a comforting manner. It wasn't long till Eijiro pulled away the hand over his mouth and gave his own series of trills and coos. Katsuki nearly had forgotten Eijiro could speak the dragon tongue and let them do their work.

Soon enough the dragon let go of Shuichi's hand and liked over the wound allowing Shuichi to carefully stroke his head before sliding onto the offered hand of Eijiro, who cradled it close to his chest. He was on the verge of tears again as Katsuki had predicted and his voice nearly broke as he spoke.

"Why wouldn't you tell me? Why keep her from me? She is as much kin to me as the great dragons in the high mountains."

"Her?"

"Yes, she is female."

Eijiro stroked the dragon's neck carefully with a finger as it rolled itself up in his other hand closing its eyes in exhaustion. Shuichi was watching him but didn't ask how he knew the gender. It might be Eijiro's magic just as Shuichi's magic allowed him to communication more or less with any animal. The old witch had called it whispering and interrogated him a little about it. She thought at first he was a wolf whisperer like Mitsuki but he could also whisper to other animal species. Not all though.

It was the first time he heard about the concept of whispering. The village people weren't very eager about magic, unless it was small, and he hadn't bothered telling them about it not wanting to get shunned. He once thought about going to the palace because most people with more than a bit magic would go there to learn and serve the king. But he didn't believe his ability with animals to be important but for working in the stables. So why bother if he liked roaming the wild more than looking after horses.

Meanwhile Katsuki was tending to the bite on Shuichi's hand. It was deeper than he expected and still dripping blood. He bandaged it firmly after smearing a healing paste on it. Shuichi went to explaining Eijiro the same story he had told him just hours past. Occasionally Bakugo would throw in some thoughts of his own but otherwise he kept quiet. He did not want to show the worry he had for his parents and the tribe.

Much to his surprise Eijiro was satisfied with the story and didn't ponder any more on the thought of being left out. They packed up soon after sliding the half asleep dragon back into his pouch and mounting the horses. Katsuki had wondered if Eijiro would press them to let him carry the dragon but he said he was content with Shuichi doing it. The parents had chosen him after all. The mentioning of the dragons parents brought the tears back to their eyes but they rode on. The way was still long and they would soon need to find a safe spot for the night with daylight being short.

The rest of the day had stayed quiet with no other travelers on the road but should they met any their fake story would already have been decided on. Katsuki just hoped that his parents could stall any messengers sent to the Kuri tribe long enough for the three to get enough distance between them. If a message runner was on his way he would probably pass them tonight and one of the trained messenger crows they used between the clans would be even faster.

During their short stops Katsuki had removed any signs of the tribe they belonged to from the horses tack and their clothing making them look like travelers from further south. He and Eijiro would wear hoods and scarfs to hide their faces since many people knew Katsuki and the red hair of Eijiro was sure to be recognized too. There was nothing Katsuki could do about his telltale red cape, he needed it because of the cold. But he made do with a thicker, brown wool shirt with long sleeves to wear beneath it instead of his short sleeved shirt and hide his tattoos. Eijiro did the same, rummaging through Mitsuki`s back and finding a wide wool coat with sleeves which barely fit his size.

Shuichi didn't have to bother with hiding himself and he assured the barbarian that his pack would smell anyone approaching them. The dogs had had fanned out around them with only Moro and Blue staying by their side and the rest somewhere in front and behind them in the woods. The barbarians first thought about sending the dogs away should they met other travelers on the road but agreed that having people see them, in their small form mind, would chase away anyone thinking them to be easy prey for stealing.

Shuichi taught Katsuki and Eijiro the words to tell the dogs to shift size, even if he was sure they would do that on their own, and some others they might need like 'guard' or 'fetch'. He hardly needed to use them, his pack always knowing what he wanted from them, but he taught them anyway in case they needed to listen to someone else.

For the night they took shelter in a small forest some minutes away from the road. They followed a track of deer to hide their mounts hoof prints. The half wolves didn't have to bother, there were enough of dire wolves running around the forest that their paw prints wouldn't be suspicious. They had kept to their current, bigger size till now which Katsuki appreciated.

The evening was spent in silence. They had no choice but the make a fire with the cold and the dogs, now again about the size of normal wolves, had caught a hare for them to eat. It wasn't long till they rolled themselves up in their sleeping bags. Katsuki did think about crawling into Shuichi's bed roll, but neglected the idea as soon as it came. He was simply too worn out by the current events to even think about teasing the younger. Perhaps tomorrow.

AN: Actually this was supposed to be a much shorter story. Like, the egg hatches and they give the youngling back to its parents somewhere in the mountains and share some more time ... and then I started writing the last two chapters and everything went downhill. Still can't believe I actually killed them ending up in the story needing to be continued and becoming far more complicated than I planned.