Caius's hackles raised, beloved? Aiya, that could be a problem… the humans were influential enough on his Little Snack. Caius examined the now snow white feather… he'd heard no rumors of another, or of mates left behind…
Ashton glanced around the clearing with a tight smile, "As I said, soup would not be needed." Ashton made eye contact with the narrowed eyed fox, "Any questions?"
Caius held eye contact, tails waving behind him as he thought… his Little Snack seemed… off. Not angry, not irritated… something about him was just unnatural. This might not be the best time to make inquiries, "Not at this time Little Snack, though I am curious if they were worth even a single of your beautiful feathers. Aiya! Such a waste."
Ashton tilted his head back and forth as he started walking to his nest, "Worth removing the taint before it spread. Who knows, that single feather increased their numbers tenfold in just the last few months."
Zane felt his gut tighten… that single feather, and 27 sacrifices… increased the goblin numbers 10-fold? In a few months… goblins were already prolific breeders, gestation periods sometimes as short as 3 months with 2-8 offspring each time. How many times had they given birth… there were cases that goblin shamans could shorten the gestation period to three weeks but the mothers almost always died.
Ashton glanced over his shoulder, "Ah yes, they had four such shamans. The only reason their king was not in residence is because he was negotiating with another tribe. Due expect his return sooner rather than later. Now, come collect your rewards for a job well done." Ashton added as he reached into the nest. He'd prepared the feathers between bouts of weaving fox fur into his nest.
Zane flinched, had he spoken aloud? When Rommel gave him a nudge Zane stepped forward to accept the small pouch. "I didn't mean any disrespect Young Song, I was… merely horrified at the implications."
"You muttered under your breath about goblin shamans," Ashton remarked seeing the prince's concern. "Now that I'm done removing that particular thorn, I imagine the days to come will be a little less rushed." Ashton stated glancing over the necromancer.
Jakub had been circling around the foreign prince since his return and hadn't really been interested in the women until the nobles were staring at them in fascinated horror. He walked up to where the women had been, trying to see past the ground to where the women had been sent…
Novak remained by the prince but tensed as the young beast settled on the edge of his nest to watch Jakub curiously. "Lord Reece?" Some semblance of humanity had returned to his expressions, but there was still something off with the way he was watching everyone. Like… an invested observer watching ants. The thought was not a pleasant one.
Ashton turned his head to look at the assassin, but more interesting was what he'd brought back… a tiny venomous snake had just leapt from under his cloak. Having realized it was noticed, it was making its escape. Ashton didn't hide his amused smile, if a snake had entered Ru's line of sight it would have graced his plate.
Novak followed the beast's line of sight and saw a… black string? For a moment he thought wind had shifted the string, but no… it was alive and moving away! Novak immediately drew a blade to kill whatever it was but it dodged. Disappearing into the grass. His heart was racing as his gaze darted around…
Ashton wasn't surprised the small snake was whisked away the moment it was out of sight. "It would seem your new companion had other places to be." Not a single speck of dirt had shifted… impressive for one so large.
Novak clenched a second throwing dagger, "What was that?" Novak asked with his usual courteous tone, but his eyes continued searching the grass.
Ashton blinked, "That was a snake, I'd almost believe it was an imantodes cenchoa, but its intelligence and venom are more akin to a basilisk. Such interesting company you keep." Ashton returned his gaze to Jakub who was inspecting the fading mist.
Novak felt his palms sweat, interesting indeed. "I'm surprised such a beast made it into the territory, even if it didn't have nefarious intentions." Letting someone in and noticing someone had come in were two very different scenarios. Perhaps this territory wasn't as safe as he believed.
Ashton tilted his head as he returned his gaze to Novak, "So long as they don't harm any I protect, they are welcome." Ashton paused as he glanced forlornly to the setting sun, "I also had… other reasons to ignore the little one."
Jakub caught the look, "What were you hoping would happen?"
Novak wanted to pull Jakub's ear for his tactlessness, Beast Gods above, some things were better left alone. Not to mention… what if the snake attacking someone, specifically himself, was needed to trigger those reasons?
Ashton let his gaze settle on Rahm, "Seeing if the Sun would make an appearance, what are you looking for Jakub?" Ashton asked shifting the subject as several were now glancing curiously at Rahm.
Jakub stared pensively at the ground, "That mist… where did it come from? Or, more specifically, where did you send those women?" The mist wasn't water vapor, it was mana that was so concentrated you could physically interact with it.
Ashton gave an approving nod as he graced the mage with smile, "Good eye, but I must disappoint you, as once a human soul enters, it will not leave." It was also where most of his… bodies ended up. Originally it hadn't been so rich in mana but after a few millennia even a baren desert would have become a lush forest.
Jakub continued to look at the ground, "Can you… just open the portal? Even if I don't go in just having it open would be enough." That much mana wouldn't just enrich the land or let mages recover their mana faster. Even if they couldn't reproduce the phenomenon, just having the spill over would benefit the area and people.
Ashton raised a brow in amusement, "I could, but I won't. How did your hunt go Prince Terrence?" The sun was slowly setting and… it was going to be a long night more many reasons, best to move the children along.
Jakub didn't hide his disappointment as he went back to inspecting the grass… already it was greener and taller than other patches, the soil was also… richer. If Jakub had come across the area without any information, he would have thought there were mana crystals to be mined.
Terrence gave formal bao, "To be honest Lord Beast, I feel as if I were the one being hunted… was there something in particular I did to upset the satori? Or a reason you urged Mage Jakub to go with us?"
"Tut tut young prince, I don't intend to meddle in political schemes, though I might throw a wrench into someone's plans if I find them shameful." Ashton rebuked with a deliberate glance over Theodore and the others of the Seibel delegation.
Terrence clenched his jaw, "I understand Lord Beast, I will endeavor to not need such assistance in the future but am grateful for your wrench. Is there any part of the satori that would be useful to you? Or another beast you would prefer?" Damn Theodore… as soon as they finished dinner he would inspect all his gear, his horse, and bathe. Twice, perhaps a few warriors of the Inago might be able to point out something he'd missed.
Theodore as aghast! "You are accusing me unjustly! I didn't even go with them or speak to Terrence about his plans since being rejected." Nothing happened at the camp site, not by anyone of his party. There weren't any links. All his plans had been made on the spur of the moment.
Ashton didn't even bother to acknowledge the denial, "I see you've gained a companion Sebastian, hopefully he's had some useful information between his chattering?" He asked as the cat had curled up into a ball behind Sebastian who hadn't yet dismounted his horse.
Sebastian grimaced as he looked over his shoulder, Leonard looked even more exhausted than he felt with more than two dozen pages of notes, "I do hope so. Then again, I might not appreciate such information until after a long soak in a hot bath." There were forced chuckles all around.
Ashton glanced at Sebastian's knee… now wasn't really the time. "A hot bath is rarely an unwelcome pastime. I plan to keep dinner short, it has been a long day for many so if there are any who retire early, I will be doing the same."
Sebastian nodded, "I believe I will retire for the night," he didn't wait for a dismissal as he nudged his horse toward the palace grounds. It was going to take a force of will for him to dismount.
Calix followed his grandfather to help him dismount, as much as grandfather had tried to hide it, he'd been limping throughout the day. The others followed him in, and so did the chattering cat. Well, not chattering anymore, Vigan had acquired a pillow and towel. As they examined his grandfather's knee, Vigan had found himself a pillow. Calix was just grateful the cat was sleeping in the corner rather than continuing to chatter away endlessly.
Caius slowly moved forward to curl around the large nest. The fur his Little Snack had brushed out was now like a soft pelt lining the inside, while feathers of all sorts were woven around the rims. Aiya! Just big enough for two! Now… to be invited was the problem… if this beloved was going to make an appearance Caius had to get all the brownie points now. His first step would be to claim his territory!
Ashton was almost too small to lean over the edge of the nest comfortably, "Hmm, fox it will be a long and cold night, perhaps you'll take shelter in here with me?" He asked with a lazy smile as the groups settled in. The tiger royals, Zane, Rommel, and Lucera were all splitting the feathers as food was served.
Caius didn't need a second invitation as he leapt into the nest behind his Little Snack, then turned several times as he made sure it would be a comfortable place to rest. "Aiya, yes, so cold at night! We will have to huddle close. Share warmth!" It was unfortunate birds didn't scent mark their territory, nonetheless, Caius fully intended for even the most nose blind of birds to smell him.
Ashton grunted as a giant fox head nearly crushed him, forcing his head up to continue watching Alexei and his ember flirt. It was good, their bond was stronger than he'd ever seen… a mate, a family, people to call her own. Ashton wasn't sure if what he had could really be considered family… even Thomas and Samantha were… carriers. All birds had to eventually leave their nests. Ru was family, but also the God he'd dedicated himself to. His memories… were still vague. The beings that eventually grew from pieces of his soul… could they be considered family? Children? Siblings? Others of himself?
Caius didn't disturb his melancholy Little Snack… something about that white feather had changed him. There was a distance… no, not a distance… a broken illusion. Caius watched his Little Snack observing the humans… was he…???
Talvi walked over with a large basket, she had selected the largest of Father Caius's mana fruit, and about half a mana fruit from the Dolquist tribe's that had been sliced and preserved in honey. Papa bird had been so engrossed with watching the humans he almost didn't notice her until she lifted the plate onto a pillar.
Ashton nodded in thanks to Talvi as he started picking at the fruit slices, a long, cold night indeed.