The demi-foxes are so nervous that they have accidentally shifted to
their hybrid form. After this happening several more times, they both conclude
that they might as well just stay that way until they calm down…..like
after their Astra delivers their offspring.
The human Fred chuckles in sympathy. He remembers all too well how his
body shifted from one form to another during times of certain emotions.
It had been most ackward during that one night when his body had gotten
aroused at the thoughts of foxes and Astra (don't ask). Apparently, the
same unententional shift happened during times of extreme stress (such
as a father awaiting news about his wife's condition….and the children
from childbirth).
"Fred?" the human Frederigo calls out, and then chuckles ruefully as
both demi-foxes turn.
"Yes?" they call out together. Then they both laugh at the absurdity
of it all.
"Do any of you have any word yet about the Synizn's finding a way home
for us all?….after we find a cure, of course." The human asks.
The demi-fox Fred on the left sighs and sits. A look of intense frustration
is plastered on his vulpine face.
"I've been talking to your Synizn, Fred" the seated demi-fox says, looking
up at the others. "The one who's a demi-fox…and used to be a dragon?…..Anyway,
what he told me was pretty bad.
"The demi-fox mage…..Well," the seated demi-fox swallows and looks like
he's trying to eat something sour.
"What did he say?" the standing demi-fox Fred demands, tail swishing
in dread.
"He said that can't find our way home," the human Fred sighs, suddenly
feeling a hundred years old. In the time that the young human knight had
known his Synizn, the one thing he had come to admire was the former dragon's
vast knowledge of the arcane arts. If a former elder wyrm admits HE can't
do it…..
"Actually," the seated demi-fox hurries to reassure his…..brothers.
"We can't use the Crystallic to get back, but there might be a way out
there….something Atlantian. We just need to go out and find it."
"No," the standing demi-fox says, surprising the human and the other
demi-fox. "No, not until we have established ourselves here so we have
enough resources to go out and actually find…..this supposed way back to
our homeworlds. Maybe if we ask nicely, if we do ever discover a cure for
this Phage…..these Golems could give us a lift home? They say that they
come from different….universes than ours….." The Freds fall into excited
discussion about this, only to be interrupted by their host, the Leader
of the Pack, and their manfox brother…..Frederigo D'Honaire of this universe.
"All fine and well gentlemen," the manfox says with a sly, foxy smile.
His tail twiches as he walks over to the suddenly silent ohterworld Freds.
"But let us not forget our vows of knighthood..
"Let us not forget we are here to help those who need aid." The manfox
says softly. "This worlds people have been beaten, battered, all but pissed
upon by Minestus….the Lizards….. Gentlemen, I come to you with a task that
neither of you sought out, but through a spell gone wildly wrong, has been
placed upon you.
"Now, I know that even a D'Honaire can't cure all the ills of my world,"
chuckles the manfox without a trace of humor. "But each of you can use
your skills….your gifts to lessen the suffering of those people around
you. I do what honor and duty dictated and the Golem destroy what I thought
was any chance for a cure of my condition and a cure for the Phage. Turns
out that the Crystallic could have been a cure for me and the other manimals…..if
I and they were still interested in being human….But that's to the side.
I and the Golems agree on one thing: Minestus was a deadly threat who had
nearly killed one world and could possibly be a threat to others. The dragon
HAD to die, even at the cost of what was in his Hoard since it's destruction
would pretty much destroy the wyrm (Re: 2231). I couldn't take the chance
of him walking away from this fight. He had won the last one, and while
I turned into a manimal he was out murdering the world! Honor demanded
his death….shear deadly necessity for the human race's survival demanded
it.
"Do the honorable thing. Help those who are left. Help them for yourselves….and
your children. Go out and help my father-in-law, Natthias, to help bring
some order to the town of Wallents, just as you said you would awhile ago."
The manfox's ears twitch….as does those of the demi-foxes. They hear
some tiny yippings in the next room……
-
"Speaking of children,
lets go see them " murmurs Duke Dredrick, who had come in at the end of
the manfox's speech.
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