While Tudor manages to find Nico, Veje, and Shaniqua but receive an ill surprise upon their return, Dióntan finds himself wondering what the upcoming night will bring as the storm continues to draw closer…
Soon after, Veje is close to touching down after the long glide during which he had his eyes closed. This moment of zen is heavily disturbed when he feels his loosely hanging paws rapidly start going through some tall grass. He startles. His eyes are now wide-open. The first thing he spots is a tree, right in front of him!
Veje slows down as quickly as he can. He touches down and sinks his claws into the ground. He finds himself sliding toward the tree. At just one foot away from its robust stem, Veje manages to come to a grinding standstill. Adrenaline rushes through his body. The brown-and-taupe jaquin starts wheezing from the near-collision. *Ay, ay… That was a close call. If I did not open my eyes in time, my snout would be shorter. Chasing after motionless objects is never a good idea…* Veje thinks to himself with the latter being a way to get his mindset back to a laid-back one.
As he takes his time to recover from the near impact, a familiar voice reaches his ears: "Veje! There you are!"
Veje looks up and spots Tudor, who says in a jeering manner: "We finally have found you. They thought you were far into Nautíca. But you are only so far as – here, and gazing at a tree like that… Are you trying to lure food to you, instead of going after it? Hehe, besides being slow you are being lazy also."
"Yes, yes…' Veje replies droningly as he'd heard this many times over but reminds himself that he heard Tudor say something weird, 'But who is them?"
As if by coincidence, this 'them' now arrive as well. Nico and Shaniqua approach the two from behind Tudor, both holding food items as part of Shaniqua's quota. Tudor had found them quickly thanks to some speedy flying and with the help of some Flaringos, who directed him toward the two. Seeing all that food reminds Veje that he came here to do the same. He wonders whether all of them can be persuaded into helping him. Before he can opt this idea, his stomach gives off a loud rumble that everyone can hear. "Did you not eat breakfast?' Nico asks perkily and shares a relieved expression with Shaniqua as he throws Veje some of the food he collected together with her, 'Here, take a bite. Now we can finally head back home… Come on!"
In the meantime, Avira finally makes it to the Palace. She wheezes of exhaustion from the walk across the rugged area filled with loosely grouped trees and different elevations in terrain, which at the edge of the Palace Perimeter turns into one comprising of jungle brush that's difficult to navigate through. It's not that far a walk but she just isn't used to this. Avira, like any other jaquin, would normally fly over this terrain and not consider what difficulty it poses to floor-bound creatures. It makes her appreciate the ability to fly greatly; it simply makes life so much easier.
Once Avira and her rescuers get close to the Palace, she's lifted inside the grand hallway by two Royal Guards. "Thank you." she says to them softly.
Her way through the grand hallway isn't made alone: the wounded tangerine-and-lemon jaquin is aided by Sienté, who's holding a wing over Avira's back while walking beside her. She guides the early juvenile into one of the storage rooms. This one stands out from the rest as its contents are clearly different. Instead of food items, there are medicinal parts of different plants, a collection of boughs, and vines laid out across this room. Going through some of it, Sienté scrapes together some things she combines into a make-do splint. Then, she cautiously puts it on Avira's broken wing. The beige-and-yellow jaquin nods happily and says gently: "This will hold for now. It is not ideal, I know. My mother never had to take care of such injury herself. So I must admit I never was taught this type of technique well. We will go and visit her. Together, we will come up with something more comfortable for you. Considering the stormy weather outside, there is not much else we can do now anyway."
Avira releases a happy sigh. With her wing supported more properly now, she feels better already… She gives her Soothsayer maestra a heartfelt nod and receives an amiable smile in return. As Avira and Sienté go back into the grand hallway, they stumble upon butterfrogs, peabunnies, snurdles, and spinkeys who make their way into the Palace. Some of them display a frightening look of uneasiness as they've never been in here before, whereas others show a relaxed posture of comfort now they're no longer subdued to the weather conditions. With its sturdy foundation and walls, the Palace is able to ward the smaller species from the intense gusts of wind that would otherwise hurdle them around.
At the same time, Dióntan is looking at the sky. He's standing at the main entrance of the Palace, his head tilted to one side of curiosity. Having arrived here right after Avira did, he observes the sky and notices clouds forming in the near distance. They generate a massive front of what seems an enormous, single cloud covering the now twilight sky. It nearly mesmerises him.
While some peabunnies and snurdles pass him by, Dióntan suddenly spots a spinkey he has come to know recently. "Hey, I know you! You are that spinkey that stole my food yesterday."
The spinkey starts displaying an uneasy expression. It quickens its pace to stay away from the blue-and-green jaquin. Just as Dióntan wants to go after the eight-eyed monkey, a figure sits down next to him. Verago saw him sitting all by himself. He decides to approach him. "You seem occupied with your thoughts. What troubles you?" he asks calmly.
"Ow, uh…' Dióntan replies quietly and hesitantly as he's caught off guard yet recovers and replies cautiously, 'I was just wondering about those clouds. Why are they so dark? They look so much darker than the clouds I saw earlier. It kind of looks scary."
Verago knows Dióntan's behaviour can be one of playful deceit, a result of being galvanised by Tudor quite often. Though Verago notices sincerity in the blue-and-green jaquin's voice. He looks up and sees the young jaquin is right: a widely stretched cloud, darker than those around it, looking like a rolling wave as if observed from underwater, looms over the Palace grounds as it slowly draws near. It's a squall line approaching the Palace Perimeter. In the front of this formation, a few clouds lighter in colour drift peacefully. As the ominous-looking front draws closer, they're violently pressed away by it and slowly become stretched out along the squall line. Verago eyes it and then turns his head towards Dióntan. "That line causes the cold and stormy weather. Soon, those clouds will reach the Palace. It will be quite cold tonight." he says using a single intonation.
"Cold? How cold?" Dióntan asks full of surprise.
"Well… You may want to find someone to cuddle up with tonight." Verago proclaims curtly while looking at the front once again.
"How – do you mean?" Dióntan asks curiously as he looks up at Verago.
Verago remains silent as he continues watching the incoming squall line. However, he does respond to Dióntan in thought: *Usually I call for Zephyr in times like this. His wisdom always aids us… But all others would realise the situation is troublesome when he needs to reside here in Vallestrella. Now this task befalls me. Though this cold spell likely will last for a single night, Dióntan has no idea what it feels like to carry the burden of preparations for troubling events like this. Even so, we all have our part to play. So will you, Dióntan. Of this I am su–*
"So… Where is Veje?' Dióntan asks worryingly over his brother's absence and thereby interrupting Verago in his thoughts, 'Is he out there? When will my brother return, or – shall I go look for him?"
"No. You shall not. I will not have your life at risk in these troubling circumstances… You desire to see your brother return safely. This, I understand. I know your struggle, Dióntan. Like you fret for your brother, I do for Nico. I want him to be here now. But I know that Tudor, one of our fastest clan members, is already looking for your brother, Shaniqua, and my Nico. Surely, the weather in the Nautíca region must be calmer than it is here." Verago states droningly as he's lost in thoughts still.
As if aiding Verago in his decision, the chilly winds around the Palace now reach the rocky structure as well. It makes Dióntan feel uneasy and cold. He sits down and contemplates his king's response. After all, Verago's intonation gives way to a feeling of perfunctory, which leaves the blue-and-green jaquin in doubt. Uncertainty hits him and he knows not what more to say. Unwilling to agitate Verago by bringing up his brother once more, Dióntan decides to move into the Palace to find shelter from the stormy weather.
Inside this spired structure, all jaquins residing in it start experiencing a drop in temperature. With the wind reaching into the grand hallway and throne room, the living conditions here decrease to unpleasant levels, albeit it being temporary. Dulce, for one, cannot seem to obtain herself a comfortable position to lie in and avoid getting blasted by the gusts. After some struggling as to what position is most suitable and ultimately decides to move into Migs' lee side, she notices Sienté and Avira walk past. Unable to see Avira's new asset to her broken wing as it's in between her tangerine coloured body and herself, Dulce tries to desperately get her mind on something else than the cold draft and says: "So, how are you two holding up with that wind? If anything, I am freezing at these temperatures. That is why Migs and I will definitely be sharing body heat tonight."
"I certainly do not mind at all." Migs comments with his face displaying genuine happiness.
Listening to Dulce and hearing those words make Sienté have a feeling of ecstasy come over her. A look of alacrity starts radiating from her face as a thought crosses her mind: *You have no idea what good reason you gave me just now! Tonight I am going to cuddle up with Veje… For the very first time! I am so looking forward to it right now! I hope he does not mind.*
"Maestra.' Avira suddenly inquires cautiously and glances at king Verago before looking back at Sienté again, 'Do you think I should tell king Verago what happened? Will he – scold Skylar for this?"
Sienté shows her trainee an amiable smile before replying: "That is all for you to decide upon, Avira. I can give you some advice, though. If you want to tell him that kind of news, bring it cautiously. Give him both sides of the story so he can think it through, allowing him to judge according to the information received."
Avira nods and says: "Okay. I know what to do…"
Meanwhile, Dióntan heads into the throne room and away from the entrance from where the wind finds its way into the Palace. When arriving in the middle of the throne room, he sits himself down in front of Verago's throne. He starts wondering what he can do to kill some time until nightfall. As a shiver runs down his spine from the cold draft, he quickly wraps himself up by folding his wings around his body neatly. He then starts looking around but isn't necessarily in search of anything in particular. Dióntan does notice how other J
jaquins wrap themselves up like him. This method of insulation makes him think of Desolate Peaks region, the harsh mountainous area to the northwest where Monte Grande Garra is located, where it's customary to wrap oneself up like this when spending time in idleness to prevent loss of body heat. *Undoubtedly, this must be where the cold spell originates from. I cannot think of any other region that can be so unbearably cold.* Dióntan ponders that gives him chills so he starts thinking of something else to get his mind off the cold, *Many faces around me but somehow not much to see. Pret-ty dull. If Tudor was here, things would be fun…*
Suddenly, from the corner of his right eye, a wing quickly envelopes his head which robs him of his sight. He also feels two paws start pressing against his back, effectively preventing him from moving backward and away from the enveloping wing. Dióntan startles by both the wings and paws he feels, as well as the sudden voice he hears. "Guess who!" the voice states frisky that's coming from behind him and is followed by a giggle.
This truly comes as a surprise to him, especially since he'd been observing his surroundings yet hadn't noticed anyone standing behind him. This also makes him inattentive to the voice he's hearing. "Uh, eh… What? Eh, who is this?" he says somewhat taken aback.
"You must guess, silly. Otherwise, it is no fun!" the unknown voice says filled with joy.
Tudor enters the Palace Perimeter with Nico, Veje, and Shaniqua following suit. All of their mouths are a little dirty. *That was once more a nice meal!* Tudor thinks happily while licking his lips still.
As the group makes their way toward the Palace, they're being greeted by Luna who tries to find her nest after delivering the flung-away cub back to its parents. "What are you all doing here together?" she asks with a frown.
All suddenly startle from nesting material being flung by in front of them. Tudor and Shaniqua look at it in anguish as they might have an idea to what nest this material belongs. Tudor's suspicion is confirmed when he looks over to the tree his nest is located on but finds an empty spot on top of the canopy where the nest should be. "¡Nuestro nido!" he cries out in disbelief.
"Our nest!" Shaniqua shouts right after the green-and-red jaquin.
Oh… That is bad. I feel sorry for you guys." Nico says with a sad tone to his voice.
Skylar now also finds them. Going after Luna to tell her Verago wants everyone inside the Palace for the night to come, it's easy spotting her hovering above canopy level now. "Luna! Hey, you guys! So great you are back now. We need to go back to the Palace! The trees cannot hold up against this wind. It is dangerous going there now."
"No kidding…" Luna responds quietly with some trembling to her voice after seeing parts of the nest belonging to Tudor and Shaniqua fly by.
"Ah! No worries, then.' Veje says calmly as he looks at the Palace and then back to the two jaquins who are just made homeless before adding, 'Tonight you will have a safe place to sleep. There will be enough time to rebuild that nest tomorrow, especially if all of us lend a paw."
As the group continues making their way toward the Palace, Shaniqua replies hesitantly: "I guess. But the speed race is tomorrow. Can we rebuild it that fast?"
"Sure we can! If we work together, nothing can stop us! Right?" Skylar adds gleefully.
"Always, big bro!" Nico adds exuberantly as they fly into the Palace.
Once inside the throne room, they immediately spot Dióntan sitting in plain sight. Someone's sitting behind him, who has a wing effectively enveloping his face. Veje flies up towards him with Tudor following suit. Veje quickly makes a manoeuvre away from Tudor and lands silently behind the two. "What are you doing to my brother?" he asks out loud to instill a startled response.
"Brother!" Dióntan says relieved of hearing his Veje's voice again.
Avira indeed startles as she looks behind her with utter surprise radiating from her face. "Ow, hey. Veje… Hi. I, uh – did not notice you there." Avira says timidly and releases a nervous chuckle.
"Easy, it is just me. I do not bite or anything." Veje adds calmly.
Tudor, now having landed next to Veje, quickly adds: "Sienté says otherwise, hehe."
Avira and Tudor chuckle while Veje glances at Tudor, his face showing indifference. At the same time, Dióntan feels the pressure against his back having weakened. He manages to step aside, freeing himself from Avira's wing that kept him blind until now. "Hey, you." he says to her flirty.
"Hihi. I saw you sitting there. You had this look of indecision all over you. So I thought to lift your spirits by surprising you with this little game." Avira says happily and expresses a tender smile.