Cliff Town.

If this world could attribute its fame to anything, that honor would either go to the vast desert at its western borders, the river of violet tar cutting through it, or the local tavern run by Halvor.

Considering two of these had a pesky habit of cutting life expectancies, you could probably guess which of the three folks enjoyed most and not only for that. For all its dusty weather-worn exterior, the tavern provided such a perfect blend of warm and inviting and rustic inside that one'd be damned to keep a sour mood there.

Damned be Magnus then.

The usually boisterous warrior sat atop his stool while leaning over the bar, strong arms supporting the bulk of the heavyset dragon whose face bore a pensive expression. Even after Halvor returned with his ordered drink and departed, Magnus had only gone as far as two sips before staring down into the amber ale, swirling it every so often. Something heavy weighed on his mind and the homey atmosphere of this place could not hope to quell it.

"A little surprising to see you here by yourself after that last raid."

Magnus stole a peek from his peripherals at Gunnar, who stood over him with his extraordinarily toothy maw set in a familiar smile. He didn't bother to return the smile and instead shifted his eyes back to mimicking whirlpools in his cup.

The lack of response took Gunnar for a loop. Silence from Magnus of all people? Usually the sumo fighter spoke his mind without hesitation so him acting so mum meant serious business. Gunnar cast a concerned frown as he took a seat beside his comrade, arms crossed on the table as well. "Okay fess up, Mags. What's eating ya: young ones get uppity again; see something that bugged ya; worried about the others?" The glare tossed his way did not alter his smirk. "I can do this all day, buddy."

Ugh, Magnus griped. Unless he wanted to sit through a litany of annoying questions, there was no other way out of this. The portly dragon huffed smoke out his nose and tilted his head back, eyes closed.

"The Ecologists are visiting us next."

Cue two blinks from Gunnar. His face reflected curiosity, but he nodded to show understanding. Titan notified all Peace Keepers of this news after returning from a leaders' meeting the other day, so why did Magnus feel the need to point it out? What about it bothered him?

On cue, Magnus hung his head back down with a sigh. "Think about it. We're practically slapping a big red target over our hindquarters doing this." He held up a hand at Gunnar's disapproving frown and incoming retort. "This isn't me pulling the 'oh those heretics' spiel" – he even threw in a faux posh accent on that phrase for effect, a faint smile present – "heh, I ain't that old fart Cosmos ya know."

Good to know. Gunnar scoffed in good nature. At least his good pal hadn't lost his sense of humor.

"It's just after what happened in Artisans, there's no telling if the precautions we're setting up will be enough, ya know?"

And make no mistake, the Peace Keepers had gone all out on those precautions: bidaily sweeps of the hub and branch worlds, consistent flyover surveillance on the outer reaches of their regions for suspicious activity, guards around all key points of dragon interest with rotations, heck even inviting one of the Magic Crafters to run a triple check for hexed items because nobody wanted what almost happened in Artisans – or at least a reading rainbow dragon with no gag control (nobody enjoyed cleaning that much).

Yet even with all this, the Peace Keepers know better than to think their caution is foolproof. A real soldier knows better than to think any caution is foolproof.

This fact of reality, of course, some Keepers took to easier than others.

Gunnar snorted, not unkind but empathetic. "If it's not, we'll find another way. That's how our clan rolls." At Magnus' half-attentive nod, he crossed his arms on the table and leaned forward on them. "And if you're worried over whether not the Ecologist coming over here will be safe with us, need I remind you that they'll be part Peace Keeper too?" Meaning whoever their guest was would have the advantage of both the strongest and smartest dragon clans in one. A force to be reckoned for sure.

Magnus rolled his eyes. Oh yes, as if he'd never considered that before. Mother Serpent, what did Gunnar take him for?

Fortunately for the chubbier dragon's pride and sanity, his olive-green comrade got the hint and softened his visage. "But that ain't the heart of what's bugging you, is it?"

A statement, not a question. Magnus rubbed his eyes. Then again, he thought ruefully, my pride and sanity could stand to take a few more hits.

"What you're thinking about isn't them but is something that relates to them." And considering recent events, Gunnar could fathom well. An amused chuckle escaped while Halvor, who knew Gunnar too well as a customer, set a second mug of ale before him. "Not that they wouldn't be flattered over you worrying over them like this but Athena and Kallisto aren't exactly dainty flowers."

Gunnar ducked to miss the halfhearted slug at his head. "OK, not them either then." Which didn't leave much else to ponder – other than one person in particular. He raised a hand a curled his fingers forward in a 'cmon' gesture. "Help me out here, man."

Magnus, still glaring, squeezed his eyes shut and huffed a puff of smoke. One moment passed in silence before he reopened them and looked to Gunnar.

"Kai."

Hearing that name caused the green warrior to roll his eyes in incoming exasperation. He should have known. "Woo boy, what did your goofball nephew do now?"

Hopefully, nothing that would take more than an hour to clean up.

Magnus kept to himself how Gunnar hadn't asked how his fretting over the boy related to the Ecologists. Instead he shook his head. "Ain't so much what he did as much as what he's turning into." He caught Gunnar's look of concern and sharply retorted, "Little guy isn't turning into his old man! What I mean is," his dark eyes darted away for a vulnerable second, "he's turning into the complete opposite."

So, Kai was turning into a nice guy who looked after others? Gunnar scrunched his face in confusion. That translated into a problem how exactly?

Magnus rolled his eyes. "Look, it's not that the kid sucks as a fighter. Hell, he's pretty damn tough!" That last part the chubby reptile admitted with a proud smile.

Gunnar craned his head, expectant. "So, what is the problem?"

The question sent Magnus' smile downcast in a heartbeat. For a moment, the sumo dragon alternated between nursing his drink and keeping a heavy gaze on the selection of alcohol behind the bar. So many words danced on the tip of his tongue and he despised how he struggled to speak out his mind, least of all about someone he'd looked after for so long.

And as is common of a warrior, the uncertainty riled his temper. Without warning, Magnus slammed his cup onto the table, ale sloshing dangerously against the edge. "HE'S TOO INNOCENT AND NICE, DAMN IT!"

There! There, he said it! At least now he could feel guilty out in the open!

Make no mistake. Magnus had no qualms telling people off when necessary. Hell, even Titan couldn't escape his bluntness when the larger dragon deemed a tongue lashing necessary – but he wasn't cruel either. He just struggled in showing emotional sensitivity, which would explain the difficulties that came with raising someone like Kai.

Thank goodness everybody that frequented this tavern was used to roughhousing and outbursts. Otherwise Magnus would have been stuck with more attention than he needed. He took a deep calming breath. "S-Sorry about that. It's just – the thought of sending someone like that into battle. Do you know how different he is from the other Peacekeepers his age?"

Gunnar perked a brow in amusement. "You mean actually using his head instead of charging headfirst into a fight? Isn't that a good thing?"

Yes. That was the problem.

Sighing, Magnus dragged a weary hand down his face.

"Even more different than that. Look, when that Rhynoc popped out of nowhere during a patrol last week, the first thing that kid did was wave and try to make friends with him." Even after all the stories Magnus shared with his nephew about the tragedies that dragons suffered at their hands, about all they lost over the years because of them. That boy truly was his mother's son – and that scared Magnus the most. "If I sent someone like that into battle, let alone to keep the Ecologist safe, he'd get torn apart in an instant."

And Magnus couldn't have that. Not after what happened to the boy's mother, to his own little sister.

A strong gentle hand grasped his shoulder, breaking his downtrodden thoughts.

"Hey," Gunnar waited until Magnus turned his way, "Don't take this personally but I don't think you've got as full a picture of the kid as you think you do."

Magnus's eyes narrowed in a challenging fashion. "I've raised that little goober for most of his life, Guns. How could I not have a full picture of him by now?"

You'd be surprised, Gunnar mused with a chuckle. "Cuz he ain't the same little butterball you used to toss into the air."

Angry smoke burst from Magnus' nostrils. That statement did not sit well with him.

Gunnar pat his comrade's shoulder in assurance. "Just sayin'. People change as they grow up. Not that you're wrong to feel protective and all – cuz you're not – but ya gotta let the kid figure out how to do things his way, even if it means watching him sink on his own. Hell, just ask Spyro. Who do you think helped the little guy out during that Gnasty Gnorc nonsense when he and Sparx were getting chased by all those vultures back in Dry Canyon?"

Wait what? While they were all crystallized? For the first time since this conversation started, Magnus shot around to cast a face of utter shock, one that took Gunnar off guard completely.

"He...He never told you?" At the responding head shake, Gunnar stared off into space and released a baffled 'huh'. "Seems like the sort of thing he'd gush about to you. I only found out cuz I overhead Spyro talking about it with Sparx." He shrugged. "Since he couldn't do much to help thanks to that crystal spell, he compensated by helping Spyro strategize how ta trick those vultures into splitting up so he could flame 'em one by one."

And since Spyro and Sparx were still around and kicking, one could see how successful that plan proved. Gunnar scratched his nape in thought. "Guess Kai told those two to keep what he did between them. Can't imagine why."

"I bet I can," Magnus responded at last in a low voice.

"Hmm?"

Even though the concern did not leave his face, the sumo dragon eased up at this newfound realization. As much as admitting this hurt, Gunnar spoke the truth. The little guy…wasn't so little anymore. He'd only been through a few scouting missions and even one or two battles alongside senior Peace Keepers and had come out fine so far – and the worst his silly nephew ever came back with were tall tales about how he 'unleashed epic butt-whoop'.

So far.

Only a matter of time, a matter of time before the kid ran afoul of an enemy or an attack he couldn't fend back in time and wound up hurt. Just another fact of life for Peace Keepers and one Kai would have to face sooner or later – and the thought scared Magnus senseless.

Discovering his little man had already done so in a way, knowing hushed that fear. Not all the way but enough.

"He never helped those two to brag about it to me later like he often does. He helped them because he could. The only one who needs to know what he did is himself and that's enough for him." Like a true hero. No words could capture the sheer pride Magnus felt in his heart nor the smile conquering his ruddy face. He'd also have to squeeze in a family talk on self-esteem but that could wait.

For now, Magnus faced his comrade with a smile more befitting him. "You're right: he is coming into his own. He's got a long way to go but he's getting there. It's still gonna hurt something fierce watching him go up against the world and come back all bruised and scratched up."

A gentle elbow met his ribcage. "Such is life, buddy. But hey, what makes you think you're the only one in this guild looking out for the kid?"

Magnus scuffed a fist across his face. As if he could ever (would ever) forget.

Speaking of forget, Gunnar cleared his throat. "By the way, I just remembered why I came in here looking for you before our little heart-to-heart distracted me."

"And what's that?" Magnus asked right before he picked up his drink to take a sip.

Face going sheepish all of a sudden, Gunnar sucked a wincing breath through his teeth. "Kai got stuck in a canyon wall using the bowling ball technique for a game...again. Me and his friends got him out, but you might wanna schedule a refresher course with him sooner rather than later to be safe."

Mother Serpent save them all. Magnus paused mid-drink, grunted before gulping down and setting his cup back on the table, and facepalmed with a resigned sigh. Why did I teach the boy that move?

XXX

In a shadowy corner against the ceiling, sheltered by the wooden rafters, eight miniscule eyes surveyed the scene below.

Data acquisition complete.

Generating profiles...

Profiles for Magnus, Gunnar, and Halvor complete.

Relaying report to mother computer...

Relay complete.

All profiles for Peace Keepers achieved.

All data for Phase 2 achieved.

Returning now for further instructions.

A near inaudible whoosh and nothing more.

For reference pictures of my OCs:

Artisans - ~professorrat/submissions/1927291/artisan-residents-ocs

Peace Keepers - ~professorrat/submissions/1927292/peace-keeper-residents-ocs

Magic Crafters - ~professorrat/submissions/1927294/magic-crafter-residents-ocs

Ecologists - ~professorrat/submissions/1944688/ecologist-residents-ocs

Beast Makers - ~professorrat/submissions/1927295/beast-maker-residents-ocs

Dream Weavers - ~professorrat/submissions/1927289/dream-weaver-residents-ocs