Deonora, Queen of Dragonia, Empress of Dragons, and the second most powerful woman to exist; second only to the Demon Lord herself. A lonely woman that stood at the top of the world, unrivaled by family and peers alike. She stood at the top of her domain, far above the kingdom she conquered nearly single handedly two millennia ago. There she stood mighty, arrogant, and alone.

The door's creak sounded from behind her, but she didn't turn to greet the Elder. So, focused on the night sky that hovered over her world that she would simply allow the newcomer to approach her instead. She turned her fiery gaze to the distance twinkles of light down below her palace. Dragonians loved their night-time merriment, especially her Dragon Knights. She set her sights on the distant wilds, and the uncanna that preferred the untamed country resting upon the horizon.

Deonora slid her claws along the marble railings, she turned to see the one-eyed dragon staring at her. He had yet to move from his spot, and he refused to come any closer. He was just as Lilith had described him to her, beautiful beyond belief. From his noble stature, to the near reflective carapace that covered his form, to the single blue orb that glared her way. She would be lying if she said she didn't like what she saw.

Yet she saw the one thing she found repugnant in men, fear. He viewed her the same way a hare would view a fox, a prey to a predator, a human to a mamono, but she couldn't for the life of her understand why. And even despite this cowardice, she found herself interested; fascinated in his person, his demeanor, the way he walked, the way he talked, even now while they stared each other down. She found herself completely and utterly enthralled.

"Come," Deonora beckoned, "I asked for you, so that we may speak.", She turned back to the world below, "Or should I add 'the fearful' to your title, hmm…? How about 'Old Cowardly One-Eye' how does that sound to you?"

He growled, his once cautious gaze changed to an expression of fury, "Do you take me for a fool?!", She smirked as the satisfying clicks of talons on tiles followed his voice, "You are very aware of your presence, and yet you mock me?!"

"So, you are saying I am your better?", She grinned, expecting even greater anger from the old Elder.

"Of course!", The queen did not expect that answer however, "Your presence is suffocating. Do you expect me to just ignore your strength?", He now stood beside her, his rage seeping into his every word, "Now, out with it already! What do you want?"

She blinked, genuinely surprised, and slightly disturbed. The Elder duo had proven themselves to be far different from their kin. Most of the lesser uncanna, the wyverns and the beast alike, would recoil to her presence, but they would relax after a moment. But these two were constantly on edge, as if they expected their fellow dragons to pounce on them at any moment.

"I see," she nodded glumly as she turned her gaze back to the city lights, "if I had known that you found me so… oppressive. Forgive me, I shouldn't have teased you."

"Well, I'm here now," the creases in his metallic skin softened, "so what is it that you wanted to know?"

Deonora pushed off the railing, and moved to sit on the couch. Bright red velvet cushions were knocked to the side as she took her seat. She gestured for him to sit in the opposing chair as she crossed her legs, "Please sit, I wish to speak with you on your… views, so to speak."

The Elder eyed the chair, before carefully sitting himself down. The queen could tell he was anxious, not nervous, but anxious. His claws stressed in preparation, poised to attack, they were not closed into fist, but prepared to rip and tear. Another inhuman trait she found herself fascinated by, 'Was I like this when I changed so long ago?'

"My views?", He grumbled, "I'm not sure what you mean by that."

"I was referring to your views on humanity, Dragonia, the mamono, and what have you.", Deonora relaxed into the cushions, "I want to know what to expect from other Elder uncanna. Your kin have been more than just a little destructive."

Kushala watched her carefully, before moving to rest his claws on his knees, "Where should we start?"

"Your views on humanity interest me the most," she began, "you have been… less than charitable to my staff, during your stay.", He rolled his eye, "Must I mention Lescatie, or the Order villages you and that plucky little dragon destroyed?"

He chuckled, a sad mirth in his voice, "No, no, no I don't hate humans, if that's what you're trying to say.", He sighed, "In truth, my feeling for humans have been… conflicting. I find myself growing fond of their company as of recently. Am I to assume this is Lilith's doing?"

"Yes," the red dragon nodded, a faint smile growing across her face, "that is an effect of the Demonic Energy flowing through your soul. It is something that I too found disturbing... When she took up the mantle of Demon Lord the entire world changed, not just our form, but our perspective along with it.", She smiled to herself, thinking back to the day she met with Lilith in person. Shrugging off her nostalgia, Deonora asked, "What about before, before you came to our world?"

Kushala glanced back at the door, where a human guard shuffled in place, "Still no, I had conflicted feeling toward them from the very beginning… In part, I found them to be… absolutely infuriating… and on the other… I appreciated their resilience, they're ability to adapt and overcome. Humanity, before and after the Hunter's Guild has not been kind to me.", He touched the ever-closed eye lid, "I do not believe they should be allowed to progress, to advance to their original status, to become what they were before the world ended."

"The end of the world?", Deonora blanked, "Can you…?"

"No," he interrupted, "I do not wish speak of THEM. They are better off forgotten, lost to the annals of time. They are little more than dust and ashes now, and in the dust and ashes they shall remain."

Both of them fell silent, Kushala out of defiance, and Deonora out of decency. She looked to the hanger, the massive cave that once held her kind as prisoners. She remembered the day of her release, the day she burned the empire to the ground. She turned back to Kushala, a renewed interest in the Elder took hold, yet she found herself hesitant to share the violent beginning of Dragonia.

The red queen nodded tentatively, "I too, know what it is like to suffer at the hands of humans," she leaned closer, "and I can relate to your conflicted feelings for them.", Kushala focused on her, his tension lessening as she continued, "Dragonia has not always been… Dragonia."

He stayed silent, seemingly interested in what she had to say. She watched him carefully, noting his noble posture, and the way he observed her. She wouldn't call it predatory, nor the fear of a prey animal, but the look of an elder. He was like a dragon of old, the kind of dragon that watched the rise and fall of kingdoms and empires; The kind of dragon that offered both wisdom and scorn to his kin and the younger races.

Despite his sleek appearance, he was far older than perceived. He was her elder by a couple thousand years for sure, but that meant little to the both of them. What was a thousand years to ageless beings, after all. Deonora smirked, "The Great Dragai Empire was ruled by a vile man, someone better off forgotten to the annals of time.", Kushala snorted, "We dragons were his work horses. We fought and died, enslaved to an empire that hated us, and we could do nothing but take it till the day the king fell."

Kushala listened closely, thinking back to his own history. He remembered his cage, a musty dark hole with rusty bars, and what remained from the last Daora resident. His only auditory stimulation was the clang of metal and hammer and distant pained shrieks. The memory was perfect, almost surreal in its familiarity. Even while she spoke of times long past, he thought back to his first glimpse at the real world. The spire stretching beyond the clouds and into the world he called his.

While Deonora reminisced on the downfall of a kingdom, he relived his first moments of life. He winced, if only slightly, and turned his gaze back to the fire wreathed queen, "I suppose this tale of yours ends with this tyrant's death? I doubt this human king would be without his detractors."

"Indeed," she grinned, "a man by the name of Dell lead a resistance against the lord… Of course, he failed," Kushala snorted again, which made her smile widen, "though his little revolution fail. He did manage to release a particularly RED dragon, one with an axe to grind. A very beautiful dragon…"

"I understand," Kushala nodded, "you killed the tyrant, and I suppose that this Dell took up the crown?"

Deonora shook her head to his confusion, "No, that little man wanted not the crown, nor the power that came with it… He wanted reconciliation... For years I lived among these people, I fought alongside them, and now the dragons who saved us on this day must rule this land… Even after all these years… I still remember him, his voice is so clear, yet it was so long ago... Tis a blessing."

"And a curse," Kushala added, a growl rumbling in his throat, "but never mind that… Where were we?"

She locked eyes with him. A brief moment of understanding passed, and she continued, "Hmm, I believe I asked for your opinion of Dragonia. How much of my fair kingdom have you seen so far?"

"I would say your… kingdom is impressive," Kushala reluctantly recognized, "the walls are tall and strong, the countryside is varied and healthy, and the people have been more than hospitable. In honesty, I wish to see more… if only to sate my curiosity."

"Good, good," her smile brightened, "I'm sure my Knights would love to escort you to wherever strikes your fancy. Is there anything else?"

Kushala looked back at the door, "I find your guards nosy and impolite.", An audible thud sounded from the entrance. Leaving both dragons amused, while the human scrambled.

Deonora snickered, "I will see his wife 'punish' him tomorrow morning," she chuckled, while the Elder quirked a brow, "If that is all… I suppose the mamono would be our last topic for," she yawned, "for tonight."

He cleared his throat, feeling some of his own tiredness coming to surface, "I find these mamono to be… amusing."

"Quite," she nodded, "but I was referring to what you see in them. Are they to your liking? Are they appealing to your eye?"

"Why do you ask?"

She shrugged, "Lilith asked me, to ask you," he glared, "she said you were stubborn and proud... and that you didn't trust her.", Her smile fell, "That you didn't see her as your lord, and that she paled in comparison to your own."

"I never said that beast was my lord. To answer your question; the mamono are attractive by appearance," he grumbled, "I cannot say much otherwise, though I find their persistence… concerning."

"Explain."

Kushala huffed, his breath taking the form of minor wind currents, "They tend to fawn over Pluck and myself when we pass… the issue is that there's no courting involved, no show of strength… There's plenty of passion," he scratched his metal chin, "but it appears that they're just females in heat."

"So, you would rather be courted than lusted after?", Deonora leaned in, her intrigue was plain to see.

He glared at her in turn, "It is simply an observation of mine. I don't think I have the time for mates either way."

'We'll see about that.', She thought to herself, "Well, I believe that should suffice for now. I hope that this meeting was at least pleasant."

"I didn't hate it.", Kushala's monotone response was painful to hear.

"Then you may take your leave," she stood tall, flexing her wings and tail as she did so, "if you would like, you may visit me again."

Kushala cautiously stood as well, his height putting him on par with her, "I'll come to you if I have any questions my guide can't answer.", He edged away from her and towards the entrance, "For now, I think I will head back to my… room."

Deonora opened the door for him, leading to an awkward exchange between the guard and Kushala. She watched the two head back to the Dragon Knight barracks with an amusement she had not felt in such a long time. Closing the door, she turned back to the open air, thinking back on the Elder's reaction.

Tapping her claw against the railing she picked up her quill and quickly wrote a message for her advisor. A thought occurred, one that proved worrisome if anyone found out what she had planned, but she waved it away, content with whatever consequences that came her way. Pinning the paper to the door she took flight, her goal known only to her and her alone.

-0-

Ace struck with surprising force, his small felyne body leapt from side to side, avoiding thrusts, and spinning kicks, while swiping with powerful overarching attacks. Mersé, despite her throbbing arm, moved with even greater grace. She struck and slashed, stomped and kicked, and for every attack she missed, her frenzied attacks only escalated in power.

Both grinned as adrenaline surged through their systems, and all Mia could do was watch as the love of her life and one of her greatest fears fought. Her fear only rising with every trade, and all she could do was curl in on herself.

"Come on," Ace flipped over the hero's thrust and onto her back, "you can do better that this!"

Mersé grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and flung him through the air. The palico simply landed without injury, he slid for a short distance, before front-flipping back onto his paws. The hero growled, "I can take you, ya little shit! Come at me!"

He swiped the boomerang off his back, and began channeling his energy into it. An action both Mersé and Mia were surprised by, but Ace didn't seem bothered by the flowing mana in his paws. He flicked the boomerang the hero's way, before seemingly summoning another from thin air. She blocked the projectile as if she knew it was coming, and then blocking the second when Ace launched at her with both a third boomerang and his axe in paw.

She caught him with the pole of her spear, the bar only preventing the sharpened edge of both weapons from cutting into her. Mia moved to help, to perhaps push them both away from each other, or to somehow end the fight in Ace's favor. But she stayed her hand, fear gripping her heart as the hero turned her gaze from the palico to her. She fell back, clutching her chest as her heartbeat thundered in her ears, and as Ace was chucked, Mersé turned her fury to her.

"What are you doing, you stupid monster BITCH!", The hero dwarfed the cat girl, "Are you going to help your boyfriend or not!"

Mia shivered, the hateful gaze of the hero glaring down on her, and as the fear took hold, another more personal feeling consumed her. Shame, a sense of self-loathing overcame the mamono, and all she could do was weep as Mersé jabbed her with the blunt side of her spear.

"Get up and fight you shit!", She roared.

Ace pounced onto the back of the hero, leading the warrior woman away from the crying cat girl. Through watery eyes, Mia watched as Ace was thrown back to the ground, no worse for ware, but he was still very much vulnerable. And it was there, that the image of a hero glowering over her loved one that broke her.

The forest around them disappeared, replaced with plains, and the village she once called home surround her. The bodies of humans, mamono, and Order soldiers laid out in the fields and road. A pyre erected at the center of town, where men of the Order dragged bodies of both monsters and men alike. While, their leader, a woman named Grau, executed prisoner after prisoner.

Her golden locks shined with the morning dawn; even while blood dripped from her hair and sword. Her bright silver armor glistened in the sunlight; not a hint of blood dared to taint the hero's plates. Her beautiful green eyes glared down at the mamono before her, and with a swift flick of her blade their head's rolled from their shoulder and into the mud.

Mia hid beneath the foundation of her home, while her father was dragged out of the house by his hair. Though his face was blurry, his bright purple eyes stuck out like a sore thumb, if only because it was her eye color. He was thrown to Grau's feet, she didn't even turn to regard him, before decapitating him. His death was quick, painless, but unceremonious. He didn't even get the chance to curse the hero before she mutely gestured for the soldiers to continue looking for more villagers.

Her mother came out next, weeping into her paws, while the soldiers jabbed their spears into her back. Forced to kneel, the only thing Mia could recognize was her blonde hair before she too died in a flash of steel. Her body was tossed into the pyre along with her father's. Those who would mourn them had already joined the fire. Trembling Mia could only watch another man was brought forward.

The werecat's vision blurred, the figures of Grau and the next man were replaced with Mersé and Ace. She watched in horror as Grau's sword was raised high into the air. Mia could only scratch at her ears as the blade descended upon the palico. When she dared to look back at the scene, she could only quake in terror as Ace's head was crushed beneath the hero's heel.

Mia screamed, clutching at her ears and shutting her eyes so tight that they might have popped out of her head. Something grasped onto her arm, pulling her from her beneath her home, and into the daylight. Mia scratched, and clawed, and screamed her lungs out as she was shaken. Only when her claws found purchase did a familiar voice ring out.

"What the hell Mia! You scratched me!", Ace yelled.

Her reddened eyes shot open, seeing both Ace and Mersé staring back at her. Ace now sported three streak cuts on his arm, while the hero blankly watched over the two of them. Both were mostly unharmed; Ace was fine, sides the new cuts, and Mersé was without injury. This didn't stop Mia from screaming one last time before burying herself into Ace's chest.

"Well… shit," Mersé cursed, "that didn't go as planned."

Ace nodded and brought Mia closer, not entirely sure as to why she broke down like that. He had planned this little fight with Mersé in hope that he could get Mia to step up. Based on the balling werecat in his arms, he had failed, and based on the fact that she wasn't responding to his nudging; he failed very badly.

"I didn't think she would react like this.", Ace kneeled down, and scooped her onto his back, "Let's just head back, we got enough meat for everyone anyways."

"Fine by me," the hero sighed, "you still owe me that favor though. I want access to that blacksmith of yours."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Ace, now piggy backing Mia, started heading back, "you could have just asked to meet The Man, you know. He's not our exclusive smith."

Mersé's smirk fell, "Damn, I was hoping that he was some legendary smith that only worked for you guys… Waisted my fuckin favor!"

Ace would have chuckled if Mia hadn't squeezed him tighter, "Eh, you can keep that IOU if you want, but I want your help with Mia later. She still needs to get over whatever this is, and I need a hero to do that."

Mersé nodded, satisfied with the deal, and so she began thinking of potential options for her favor. Tapping her spear on her shoulder as they met back up with the major hunting group. Slapped Elt's ass playfully, before moving on to greet her other subordinates. Until she spotted the felyne chef sitting by himself, a smidge of guilt crossed her mind, and she decided to make her way to him.

Tatsuo watched her take a seat beside him, she placed a hand on the male werecat's shoulder, and she took a deep breath. She coughed into her other hand and said, "I'm sorry I was shitty to you. I hope there's no hard feelings."

His squinted eyes leveled on her, and he shrugged, "Apology accepted."

"Really?", Mersé blanked, "Why?"

"You apologized and understand why you were wrong. We're both adults, and we should act like it.", Tatsuo's focus switched to Primera as she made her way back, "At least that's how I think thing should be."

Following his gaze, Mersé rolled her eyes, and patted the felyne's back as she got to her feet. The hero grinned and gave him a thumbs up, "I'll take care of her! That half-elf may be a piece of work, but so am I!"

With Mersé taking her leave, Ace sat himself down beside Tatsuo. Mia, who was still attached to his back, moved back to his front for comfort as soon as they hit the ground. The chef gave his friend a weary look, and Ace could only respond with a nervous smile while he stroked her hair. Tatsuo shook his head and leaned back, deciding that he would be better off dealing with the chaos later.

"Why am I the only normal one here?"

"Tatsuo, my friend, my chef, in a world of wierdos. YOU'RE the odd one out."

The both of them sat there is silence, and watched as the rest of the hunting party packed up their kills. The chef eyed each corpse in annoyance, noting the soiled meat around each kills' wound. He sighed, realizing he will have to cut off a good third of the meals.

"Ace…"

"Yeah?"

"You're an idiot."

"…I know what you are but what am I?"

"I'm not going to entertain you."

Mia giggle, her mood lifting for a moment, before she went back to sulking into Ace's chest. The palico grimaced and went back to comforting her, while Tatsuo eyed them in confusion. Patting Mia's back, he asked, "What happened?"

"I don't know," Ace frowned, "Mia didn't react the way I wanted her too, and the plan didn't go as… planned. So uh, I guess I'm gonna ask her why when she come out of this."

-0-

"Gods it's cold here!", Lowen complained.

Pluck and Lowen found themselves walking the halls of the Dragon Knight barracks, though they were alone, they were still being watched by the guards. The halls, while hidden from open air, were relatively well lit with lanterns placed at each corner with post that listed room numbers and their occupants. The guards themselves consisted of both humans and mamono, but it was more common to see a human with their wife rather than without as the made their way to their room.

Pluck peered at each dragon they passed in interest, though said mamono would blush when he did; he never looked at them with any sign of lust. His claws were still dirty from supper, and his inconspicuous finger licking only made it weirder for everyone involved. Lowen herself had actually used her utensils, but had decided to ignore the fact that Pluck and Kushala didn't in hope that everyone would as well.

"Lowen," the Valstrax nudged, "why do you mamono wear clothes?"

The griffon deadpanned, her annoyed glare leveling with his innocent curiosity. She would have smacked him, but the sheer absurdity of a fully grown dragon sucking on his claw made her hesitate. Sighing she pulled his claw away from his tongue, and dragged it against the wall, "Stop licking your claws, and we wear clothes because it keeps us modest and covers our privates."

"Isn't a mamono's soul goal in life to find a husband?", Pluck question, while eying the smeared sauce on the wall.

"Well yeah…"

"Then why would you cover yourself?", He poked her breast, "You told me men like mamono that are properly endowed, so why would you cover yourself and prevent them from seeing your endowment?"

She smacked his pointer claw away, "We're not whores, Pluck. If we just showed just any man our… things, we would be going against the teaching of the Demon Lord. We should only show ourselves off with someone we really care about."

"Is that why you got mad at me when I saw you changing?", He asked, completely unaware of the blushing guards passing them.

She covered his mouth with her claws, an embarrassed grin plastered across her face as the guards took their leave. Once out of earshot she glared at the Elder and whispered, "Don't say stuff like that when others are around! Do you know how embarrassing that is?!"

"Why is it embarrassing?", Pluck pulled her claw from his mouth, "I saw you naked and then you slapped me. What's embarrassing about that?"

"That happened in private!", She whispered back.

"Oh," Pluck nodded, seeming to finally understanding what she meant, "when something important is involved… the situation becomes private, and you should not talk about it in public."

"Yes… yes, you flying fool.", She dragged her face down, while scrunching her eyes in exhaustion. The griffon had gotten used to Pluck's ignorance, but that didn't mean she wasn't going to have an aneurism every time she had to explain basic concepts. If it wasn't so cold down in the halls, she would have been sweating from the blood rushing to her face.

"Hello Skeermes," Pluck waved, though the motion was robotic and went unreciprocated by the Seregios. He was more than giddy when he turned back to Lowen, "did I say hi right this time?"

Lowen sighed and was about to verbally pat him on the back, when the other uncanna began arguing with his escort. The discussion was heated, both parties proving just as stubborn as the other. With her interest taking hold, Lowen pushed Pluck around the closest corner, and began listening in.

"What was that for?", Pluck questioned, but only received a hush in turn.

"I need… to go… I need to… take care of… somethings.", Skeermes complained, trying his darndest to leave despite his escort's protest.

Lyra, the dragon Lowen had only just met recently, pushed him back into his room. Sternly she reiterated, "Take care of it tomorrow morning. You have a curfew now; you can't just waltz on out of here like you own the place. You work for the crown now."

"This is… important!", He growled.

"And this is what you agreed too!", Lyra shoved him back in, "Now, you're going to stay here, and sleep till five in the morning. If you want to leave immediately, by all mean leave, but you better be back by seven. If you aren't, I'll be held accountable, and you'll get kicked out, capeesh!"

"You said… they were lenient," he shoved, "I can miss one… two days… and be fine."

"We're lenient with married staff, Skeer!", She grabbed his wing arms, and pushed him back in, "Now if you're not going to listen, I'll tuck you in myself, and make sure you sleep!"

The door slammed, leaving both Lowen and Pluck in near silence. The only noise coming from the room where the wyvern and dragon continued to argue with one another. The griffon tried to listen closer, her interest piqued. She would have moved closer to the door if Pluck hadn't grabbed her by the ear and held her back.

"Ouch, what the heck, Pluck?", Lowen turned back to the dragon, anger in her eyes. Only to feel her heart sink when Pluck glared back down at her.

"What did you just say to me?", Pluck growled, his vents vibrating with the action.

"What are you talking about!"

"You said that important things are private," realization slammed into her like a hammer on an anvil, "and that these things should be kept to ourselves."

"Well yeah, but…"

"Well yeah but what?", Pluck lifted her ear a little higher, "Do the rules only apply to everyone or just me when it's convenient?"

Lowen could say many things about Pluck. He is terribly innocent, he is ignorant to the world at large, and by the gods is he bluntest speaker she had ever met. But the one thing she couldn't fault Pluck for was his intelligence. For all his questions, for all his confusing interests, he still managed to surprise her every now and then. In this instance he exhibited an understanding of hypocrisy.

The griffon's minor frustration died in her throat, and she simply nodded as they went back to trying to find their room. Pluck's aggression left as soon as it arrived, and they went back to searching. Lowen ran their room number through her head as she counted the door after door. The room, as was explained, would be plenty spacious, while also housing two large beds, a comfortable carpet, and a drawer attached to a large mirror for clothes.

Now that she thought about it, she didn't have any other clothes, and her companion didn't even wear any. Lowen silently groaned, 'Why are both of them walking around in the nude… Wait a second,' she made a quick glance at Pluck's crotch and was thankful to see that nothing had appeared yet, 'maybe they don't need clothes. It's not like they aren't already covered.'

Now that she looked at him, Pluck didn't even have visible nipples, nor skin at all for that matter. His scales covered most his body, and while his pitch-black skin was there and present; it was only visible specifically around his face, neck, and along the small line of black running down his chest. It was a complete inverse of the way mamono dragon scales formed.

Eventually they stumbled upon their room, Pluck awkwardly opened the door, and they entered to find a near pitch black room with nothing, but a window at the far wall for light. Lowen took out the complementary lighter, a device which held the minor essence of a fire elemental, and she lit a candle. Though both of them had excellent night vision, neither wanted to sit in an entirely pitch-black room.

The carpet, as advertised, was pleasant on their feet and had a light red coloring. The beds each had white floral-patterned sheets and blanket, though based on Pluck's reaction, he didn't care to use them. The drawer was exactly as described to them. And the walls, while consisting of the usual stone grey, had been shaved down so that their surface had the texture of river rocks. From the relatively wide window they could see the northern section of Dragonia's capital.

Pluck, heedless of everything else, sat himself on the bed, and began pushing his claw into the plush mattress. He had never slept on anything other than the hard ground of mountain tops and forest floors. So, his annoyance with the incredibly plush bedding made more sense than Lowen wanted to admit. The Elder took a seat on the carpet, seeming to find it more appealing to the bed, he laid himself down.

Lowen had slept in an overhanging tree, one that stuck out from the side of the mountain, before she met the dragons. The griffon too, found the bed to feel off putting, but unlike Pluck she quickly got into the covers to try and warm herself back up. For all her fur and feathers, she was still terribly cold, and would rather not freeze throughout the night.

"Gods why is it so cold.", She muttered, still feeling the biting chill.

"Maybe it's because we're super high in the air and winter is coming,", Pluck added from beside her. His seat happening to be right beside Lowen's side of the bed, "I'm sure the bed will get warmer with you in it."

They fell into silence, Pluck dozed but didn't fall asleep, while Lowen shivered, too cold to properly fall asleep. The young Elder took notice, he stood up from his spot on the ground, and checked Lowen's cheek with his claw. Her skin was cold, far colder than he expected, but she seemed to relax when he made contact.

Pluck has a natural warmth to his body. The Dragon within his body made him warmer than most of his kin, and seeing that Lowen was freezing in the autumn night air. He decided that he wanted to help her out. So, he got into the bed with her, and wrapped his arms and wings around her. Lowen screamed in half lucid confusion, before realizing Pluck was the one touching her.

"Pluck what are you doing?", Lowen blushed fiercely as the dragon's forelimbs surrounded her.

"I'm keeping you warm," he responded, as if he were stating it as matter of fact, "now hold still… I need to moved my wing under you."

"Stop!", Lowen punched his chest, though the distance between them prevented her from actually hitting him.

"Why?"

"This is weird," she pushed away from him, "friends don't spoon."

"I'm not scooping food, I'm keeping you warm!", Pluck growled back, "Now do you want to sleep, or would you rather shiver all night?"

Lowen eventually gave in, and allowed Pluck to encompass her in his wings. At this point, the cold air was more of light breeze in comparison to the warm embrace. The griffon sighed in relief and annoyance, "This is something that stays between us, Pluck. Don't tell anyone about this, or they'll get the wrong idea."

He nodded, unsure of what she meant, but willing to trust her on this occasion. They remained there, in the bed, somewhat comfortable and somewhat bothered, while trying to fall asleep. Lowen curled into herself, her wings folding allow herself to warm up against the dragon's chest. And Pluck waited for her to fall asleep before he did the same.

"Why are you doing this?", The mamono asked as she took in more of his warmth.

"You were cold," he answered, as if it were obvious, "so I'm giving you my heat."

"But why do this?", Lowen knocked her forehead against his chest, "This isn't a thing friends do."

"You mean… spoon?"

"Yes.", She chuckled.

Pluck clicked his tongue, and shrugged, "I don't see why friends couldn't do something like this. If I must spoon to help you, then I will spoon."

"You don't know what spooning means, do you?"

"No, I don't, please explain."

-0-

"Okay," Estrid rubbed her eyes, trying her best to understand, "Druella put the refugees to sleep because they were going stir crazy?"

"Well, it was more of a spiteful rebellion, but yeah that sums it up well enough.", Chloe nodded.

"That's fine and all, and no one looks like they're corrupting. So, how about we get back to why we actually came back!", Shizuka cut in.

Estrid blinked and then nodded rapidly, before the both of them raced off to the wagon. Leaving Francesca, Chloe, and the non-present Druella to shuffle, follow them out of the sleeping crowd. The hellhound had to keep herself from occasionally pouncing on one of the sleeping boys, though some of the girls also caught her attention. She waved the thoughts away as she remembered the only actual rule her new Alpha gave her.

"You're not really a hellhound now that I look at you.", Druella commented, seeing the temptation in Chloe's eyes.

She gritted her teeth, and whispered back, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You're very submissive… very loyal… pretty cute too, now that I look at you. You're like a puppy dog," Druella droned into her ears, "yeah, you're less of a hound, and more like a cute little puppy."

Chloe ignored the lilim, and called for the kids to return to the wagon. They waddled out from behind the bushes, some crawled on all fours for the fun of it, while the older kids carried the infants. She sighed, happy to see that none of them had gone missing.

"And like a puppy you only listen to your master…"

The hellhound whistled happily in spite of the lilim's words, and helped the boys and girls into the wagon. Marnie waddled on over to her, and lifted her arms as if to ask for 'ups'. Chloe obliged by picking the little girl up and placing her onto wagon's top step.

"It's just an observation, I'm not trying to be mean here.", Druella added, though she didn't really believe her, "A puppy is a lot more useful than some mangy mutt."

Chloe remained silent as she hopped into the wagon to find that the bunyip and the minotaur crowding around the hunter. He appeared drained, entirely human, but lacking the fullness that made up his features. His once tan skin was now pale, his breathing shallow, and his mana fleeting. He wasn't dying like the two above him believed. With the feeling of lilim mana forming in her eyes, she could see Dawn's own soul; a mix of red and white substances running alongside each other, but what she assumed to be his Spirit was fading.

"Chloe, I need you to get closer to the hunter," the lilim begged, "I need to see more."

Cautiously, the hellhound approached, and as she grew closer the worried whispers of the two grew louder. They were terrified, the minotaur more so than the bunyip, but both were quickly cleaning his face of sweat and carefully helping him drink what water they had. Neither action seemed to wake him, and their panic only grew more audible with hushed gasps and breaths.

"That doesn't look right… That can't be right… where is his mana, he had it before?", Druella subconsciously pushed Chloe closer, "That red mana, it's like the felynes, but there's so much more."

"He's breathing… that go-ood.", Shizuka shuddered as she ran her claw around his cheek.

Estrid opened the hunter's eyes, trying to find some aspect of awareness. When she found none, she panicked, "Oh gods what did I do to him."

"We don't know if you're responsible Estrid," Shizuka guided the terrified minotaur away, "he's okay… just out of it."

"No, he's not, he's fading… Chloe I need to use your voice.", Before Chloe could even try to stop her, she had already lost control of her mouth, "He's not dying, his mana is just taking too long to replenish."

Chloe covered her mouth when they turned to her. She gave them frantic looks, but she began talking again, "Dawn has been in contact with more Demonic Energy than a human can handle without transforming. He should have turned into an incubus, but he hasn't."

"Chloe?", Shizuka asked, a tinge of confusion in her voice.

"No, this is Druella," the hellhound simply waited her eyes moving between the two, while the lilim talked away, "I took control of the pup's mouth for a moment. I figured my expertise in magic would prove beneficial."

"You're not touching him," Estrid was about to grab the hellhound, but stopped herself when she the fear in the girl's eyes, "we can take care of this on our own."

"Oh, can you?", Though her voice was smug, the rest of her body portrayed a panic when the minotaur leered over her, "I doubt you two know any Spirit magic, or even the basics in mana transfer."

"Sasha and Wilmarina can take care of that."

"Oh, so you would rather explain to the heroes that your husband is undergoing a corruption and that he needs a soul cleanse?", Druella grinned with her puppet's mouth, "Do I need to tell you what kind of chaos that would entail? Remember little minotaur, these people hate you."

"Then what do you suggest we do?", Shizuka piped in, "You, a lilim, an extremist lilim, are asking us, to put our HUMAN husband's life into your hands! Do you expect us to just let you whatever you want with his body?!"

"Oh, no you misunderstand," Druella smirked, "I'm doing this out of the goodness of my heart."

"Sure, you are…"

"So, what will it be?", Druella took control of her legs, and began walking Chloe over to Dawn, "Let me save your precious husband, or would you rather let the heroes in on your… intimacies."

Shizuka looked to Estrid and Estrid looked to Shizuka, neither enjoyed the idea of letting a lilim, let alone Druella, into Dawn's head, but both dreaded the thought of him dying; by sickness or by righteous dogma, they refused to allow either to occur. They nodded, and gave Druella the okay. And though Chloe wasn't exactly keen on letting Druella puppet her around, she decided to nod as well.

Druella grinned and ordered Chloe to kneel next to the hunter, as she began drawing Spirit Energy from the world around them she said, "It will only take a moment in real time, but to replenish the human body will require delving into their being. I'm only telling you this now to put you at ease."

"Will I be brought in?", Chloe asked.

"No just me," the lilim moved the glowing ball of soul stuff above the hunter's heart, "see you soon!"

That ends the chapter. I'm glad most of you guys are enjoying the story. I'm doing much better, and you guys don't have to worry about me. I hope you guys continue to enjoy the story moving forward. Now onto the review responses.

Review Responses:

Proud Parent:

You don't have to worry about any of the main characters getting raped. This is Dragonia; they, from what I read, do not condone rape and the act is not common unless it's a zombie dragon, and they're pretty rare outside of graveyards. And no, they are not taking orders from Lilith; there has yet to actually be a case where they were forced to do anything she told them to do.

As for Fatalis, I won't spoil. : )

Prazda and Antonio Manco:

I'm glad you guys are taking interest in the other main plot, but I hope what happened in this chapter keeps your interests too.

Nightwatch 7:

Yeah, that was my bad; I forgot that Fran becomes a Roper-queen not a Slime-queen. I've already fixed it.

EvoWizard25:

Lilith, the Judaic myth, is also known as the mother of demons, so it makes sense for her to be every mamono's mom by extension.

Steve Guest:

You don't know how bad I wanted to name him Steve, but I wouldn't be able to take him seriously if I did. I will accept this sin, and acknowledge that I will burn in whatever form of hell I find myself in. (Joke)

Bucio:

Don't worry about making reviews. I appreciate that you and everyone else leave them for me to read, but you don't have to worry responding at all.

Guest 02:

I don't like elves too; outside of LOTR (basically angels), MonHon (dragon / elven people, but kind), and Warhammer (best version of arrogant elves), and I can understand your distaste for them. That being said, I have something planned for Primera, something I think would be better appreciated over wanton violence.

I know not everyone cares for lemons. I just want to reiterate that they exist because they have too, and because they contribute to the overall story. There are important sides to most of the lemons (before and after), so I would suggest reading them, if only to get the important details out of them. I also try to at least make them entertaining for those uninterested in the sex scenes themselves.

For the doom slayer comment (I'm not going to cover that review). I think it is best to ignore the guest / readers like him as they will not be reading the rest of the story let alone reading responses towards their comments, unless they're trolling. Besides, I don't believe mamono are deserving of the hatred people on this website typically have for them.

I won't argue that the common depictions of them is as rapist, but that is because they are practically wild animals if they're not a part of a larger community. They literally don't know any better as weird as that sounds. Why do you think I started the plot in a neutral territory?

The Greenworm: Yes, the baby cat-erpillar will be a reoccurring side character.