Fred stares at the mechanical contraption that is hovering over the
deck of his ship. The brissles on the back of his neck are standing on
end....as well as the other manimals. Astra is looking up at the floating
contraption with a mixture of anxiety....and hope?
"Well," Fred says to the gaping crew. "Look alive ya lubbers! Be a fine
thing to dash the ship into the cliffs while ye watching that thing overhead!"
Alicia smiles at her husband. He's slipped into his "sailor" hat to snap
the crew out of it's shock, and it's working. Crewmembers go about their
business, but keep glancing up nervously at the floating object. A door
opens, and a figure carrying a tightly bundled person drops to the deck.
Before them stands.....a Golem.....but the creature caries himself a
bit differently than his kin. Stiffer in some ways, and yet looser in other
ways. However, the first to speak is the bundle that the Golem is carrying.
The man's speech is slurred, as if drunk.....or drugged, but one member
of the entire crew recognizes it IMMEDIATELY. Recognizes it, despite not
having heard it for more than....five years.
"My baby.....," Natthias moans. "Why....are you still....here? You....
need to be in the......Happier place! Daddy....wants you to be....happy
there. I.....want you....send you there..... So tired. Why am I.....so
tired?"
"DADDY?!" Alicia screams in shock. The vixen's heart fills with sudden
joy as she leaps forward, only to be stopped by a cautioning hand of the
Golem. A whiff coming from the moaning man explains to Alicia exactly just
WHY her father is bound. The other manimals gasp as they smell it in the
air: were-jackal!
"What did you do to him!?" Alicia demands, standing nose to nose with
the suddenly befuddled Golem. Her tail is thrashing furuiously about. Her
tone demands compliance! The Golem finds him responding to her like he
would to an angry human officer.
"Ma'am!" Probe shouts, snapping off an salute with his free hand. "Found
bundled party in desert and while offering assistance, was attacked! After
subdueing, test resulted in positive find of local viral strain known as
lycanthropy! Determined that the best course of action was to contact locals
and see what treatments are available to victim, Ma'am!"
Fred steps forward, ears perked forward in curiousity.
"Why is his Highness.....so.....out of it?" Fred ask calmly as he hugs
Alicia's furry shoulders. Alicia visably calms at the mere touch of Fred,
but is still clearly angry at the Golem.
The Golem's stance become less rigid, but still all business. A look
of....regret crosses his face.
"I'm afraid that my....passenger became violent when he saw Alicia and
the boat, Lord Frederigo." Probe states after his database updated him
as to exactly who these people are. "I had to tranquilize him.....drug
him before I could come down."
Fred blinks, then smiles a small smile.
"So those who pull your strings still remember me and the Pack, I see."
Fred says. "I don't know if I should be flattered, or worried."
"You and the Pack made quiet a stirring on the ship, as far as I can
tell," Probe says in a neutral voice. "From the records, it was mostly
good."
"Nice to see he has a fanclub," growls Synizn. "Would you be so kind
as to lay him down so I can see to him?!"
Probe quickly, but gently lowers the deck. The manbear's magical examinations
reveals that this man is indeed infected with the were-jackal strain of
lycanthropy....and is also quiet insane.
"I see," Alicia says in a low, tight voice. Fred feels with his heart
and soul that his soulmate is just barely keeping herself in control. She's
on the verge of flying into hysteria fits. "What can you do for him?"
The mage's heavy brow wrinkles, and then he seems to make a hard decision.
"Yes," the manbear murmurs. "Know of a method to mend the mind of the
mad. It was taught by me.....by my close Circle of friends."
Ananka blinks, realizing there was only ONE group of beings who could
lay claim to such a healing talent. And that group.....did NOT share that
knowledge with anyone NOT of the reptilian persuassion!
Fred blinks, catching the referance to the emphasis on "Circle." The
manbear was talking about Dragon Circles! This was told to Fred by the
new.....eldritch part of him that was part and parcel to his new species.
A quick warning glance by the former dragon at the Golem prevents any from
start blurting out damning questions (and releasing God knows what kind
of mischief with the Golem in their midst)
After a half our of chanting, and of head holding, the former king of
Ethiopia's head glows blue....and he stares up into the tearful face of
Alicia. Though his child wears the face of a fox, Natthias' Inner Sight
shows him who she truelly is!
-
 Daughter and father cry
in reunion. Neither care about royal decorum.....both never thought to
see the other again....
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