Okay, it's a pretty sure bet that the adventurers have pretty much
seen or heard about the flashing changes that have occurred overhead in
the skies of Terra. It's isn't every day that the sky turns turquoise!
Frederigo D'Honaire tenderly reaches underneath the table as he stare
at the nervous faces in the various mirrors and gems that Carradene and
Manbear Synizn had thrown together for this meeting. His furry, leather
padded hands feel the slight swelling of Alicia's stomach….which denotes
the two kits inside (a month and a half along since that fateful first
night when the Moon shined her soft light on him and his lovely Alicia)
. He Senses their presence, and secretly smiles as his heart fills with
love for them and his wife. His vulpine face doesn't show the smile, however,
for this meeting is hardly something to smile about.
"I'd say that we know now that….something is up," Fred 1 says, stating
the obvious bouncing little Malachi and Synizn on his lap (drawing delighted
chuckles from the tots). "It scared everyone here in Wallants who saw it….except
for the children present….who thought it was a great magic show or something.
Heck, my and Fred 2's children were giggling and waving their hands well
after the show was over."
"Same for my children," murmurs Astra 3, who is rocking little Thomas
asleep. "It seems to say something about either them….or the fact that
they are the offspring of adventuring folk."
"They have the blood of heroes within them," Duke Dredrick smiles. This
brings a murmurs of laughter to the group, just as the proud duke wanted.
"Honestly, however, I was only halfway joking when I said such a thing,
for these children ARE special….as my sons…..all of them….can attest to!"
There's a gleam to the old man's eyes, and Fred's tail droops in surprise
as the actual meaning sinks in.
Good grief! the manfox thinks to himself as his wife starts to
laugh. I've just been adopted! A feeling of…..warmth floods the
fox's chest, and he feels a tear come to his eye. He then coughs and composes
himself.
"Thanks Dad," Fred says with a slightly ironic bow.
"Well, the family reunion was nice, but does anyone know of what happened?"
Astra 1 asks from the side. She notes that Dredrick's eyes grow a little
cold as he looks upon her, but….there's nothing for it now. At least the
same look isn't coming from Queen Astra's face, for if it was…….Astra 1
knew that she might as well not even plan on returning to Aqualaria….ever.
"What's happening, from what I've heard from my companions here," Probe
says over his magic mirror (the ultimate in flatscreen technology…he quipped).
"What's happening is that somebody out there has two other Crystallics….and
THAT seems to denote….."
"That perhaps the slipgate system is breaking down as feared," Malachi
sighs. "I've got news that should confirm our worst fears.
"Just a few moments ago I had returned from a strange incident," she
explains. "It dealt with a ship called….Kattie's Smile. That's with
two 't's. It had been abandonned for quiet a while, but it shows sighs
that…..another Pack was on it….and a dead body had been left behind……"
"Who's?" Loam asks, feeling a chill run down his spine and out his tail.
Malahchi pauses, and shakes her head.
"It looked to be Carradene's…..and it looked like he'd been lynched,"
Malachi whispers. The living, much alive Carradene seems to grow a few
shades paler in the fur department, and then shivers himself. It felt as
if somebody had stepped on his grave.
"I also came across a manwolf who calls himself Rafeal….who could use
a few leasons in manners!" Malachi goes on, motioning and bringing forth
a humanoid brown furred manwolf who was struggling against his magical
bonds. Fred and the others blink in surprise at the sight of where his
left eye should have been….which was a mass of scar tissue. "I can't get
him to calm down, and only through luck were none of my people hurt! If
you would be so kind……"
Rafael suddenly finds himself falling from a few feet up in the air,
and falls flat….on his butt!
-
 He looks up, and begins
to growl at the sight of the traitor from Suffex. He leaps and……
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