The morning was cold and gray. Lynn was already awake, as was his usual, busily scribbling on a dozen papers. Sythe tended the fire nearby, answering a few questions. "No, I'd rather avoid fighting. I like to put on the facade that I'm tough, but I get scared so easily, it's embarrassing." Raine listened from inside her tent, and a smile touched her lips, but then the memories of thousands of horrible images filled her mind, and her heart sank. She exited the tent, trying her best to hide what she was feeling.
"Morning Raine, sleep alright?" Richard said, shivering as he yawned. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm a jealous of that fur, for no reason other than staying warm." Raine was quiet as she sat by the fire. Richard noticed, and sat next to her. "Hey, what's wrong?"
"Have you ever heard of someone called Arunn?"
"Can't say I have, why?"
"I… had a… dream last night. I thought they were talking to me, trying to show me something."
"Like, a vision?" Maren yawned. "You have those?"/
"No. Well, I haven't before. Just- just forget about it. It was just a dream." Raine crossed her arms, turning away.
"Arunn? Like the dragon?" Madelyn asked, like usual, appearing out of nowhere.
"Gah! Stop doing that!" Raine said angerly. "Wait, dragon? Like, dragon dragon? Like Reni?"
"Yeah, he's not well known, but there are records of dragons interacting with dreams." Madelyn explained. "They watch people they think will be influential in the times to come, and can even try to influence them to do different things, change the world for the better or worse. I used to read about them in my free time between missions. Basitin records are rather thorough and detailed. Most dragons are passive watchers, and ones who get deeply involved in the world normally are very well known, but put themselves at great danger. Because they have such power and influence, they are targets for those who want to forcibly change the world. There are plenty of lesser known dragons that stay out of the world as much as possible, normally disguising themselves as whatever they like the most, be it animal, human, or Keidran. Arunn's name is one that shows up very few times, but they were always before extremely significant moments in history, like the Treaty of the Western Seas and Fall of Nem-"
"Madelyn." Lynn interjected. "I know that dragons fascinate you, but clearly Raine is troubled. Perhaps it would be wiser to not overwhelm her." Madelyn fell quiet.
Richard leaned over to him and whispered "I didn't realize you held that much power over her. Maybe you could tell her to stop going through our stuff?"
"Oh, I have no power over her. She just knows that I'm older than she is. It's not power, it's respect. Perhaps if you treated her the same way, she would come to respect you. Now, you were an ex-Templar?"
"No, I never was a Templar. I dropped out of training before I was indicted into the order."
"I see… excellent. With any luck, I should be ready for any diplomatic situation." Standing up, he walked around the camp, passing out papers to everyone. "Take these and do not lose them. I have copies, but would rather not have to remake them. They will have your 'role' in our 'diplomatic convoy', and if there is trouble, they should get you out of it. Just don't do anything particularly… stupid-" He glared at Richard "and we should be set to stay in Valinos as long as we please."
"Hey, why does mine say 'hired grunt'?"
Just as the sun was peeking over the hills and through the trees, Natani got up and stretched. She smiled, and walked over to the fire, where Zen was already up, with a pot over the fire, the smell of coffee mixed in with smoke. He simply looked up and smiled. "Did you figure things out?"
Natani smiled as she retrieved a metal cup from her bag. "I think so."
"You think so? You aren't sure?"
"What, afraid I'm not going to treat her right?" Keith said as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
"No, not that. I just want to make sure you both think things-"
"Zen." Natani reached over and grabbed his shoulder. "I know you're my older brother, but I'm able to make my own choices. And right now, I chose Keith." Keith blushed, and poured himself a cup of coffee.
"I'm… I'm glad." Zen said, leaning back. "You've grown up. And you know that if you ever need someone, I'll be right there to help." The camp was silent for a while as they enjoyed just sitting together.
Barret eventually woke up, wandering over with his bag. "Did I really just sleep past sunrise? And is that coffee?"
"You did, and it is. Here, have a cup." Keith tossed him an empty cup as Barret sat down. "Have you ever considered what you would do if you found your family?"
"I… I haven't. I suppose it would be different now than it would have been back then. I'm not even sure if they would recognize me, or if I would recognize them. It's been 13 years, after all. I wanted to have things go back to the way they were, but I was so young then. I'm an adult now, I've grown up without them, without anyone. But if I stop looking for them, then I feel like I'll have given up."
"There's no shame in shifting your focus." Natani said kindly. "If it gives you drive, then let it drive you. If it gives you focus, then pursue it. But don't let it consume you. Sometimes you just have to let life lead you where it will, and sometimes Fate has a mind of it's own." Barret said nothing, opting to sip his coffee and just listen. For a short while, they sat around the fire, enjoying the strong coffee, and trying to keep their backs to the wind. Trace and Flora woke up, and walked out to the fire together.
"Oh, I was just thinking about coffee." Trace said groggily. "How is everyone feeling today?"
"Cold." Keith said, scooting closer to the fire. "But other than that, fine."
"We ought to pack up soon and get moving." Barret said. "It's early November if my days aren't off, and I'd rather be in Lyn'knoll when the winter weather hits."