Sleep is nice and peaceful for Jingle. Maybe it's the purring? But eventually she's being nudged awake by Tulani. "Up and at 'em time, catbutt," the Sphynx whispers into her ear, and then squeezes her butt!
Grabbing Jingle's butt triggers the time-tested tradition of cat-trapping. She mrowls! turns, and gloms onto Tulani. From there, well, the head-chewing begins.
"You gotta be more relaxed," Tulani claims, standing up despite having a cheetah stuck to her and chewing on her head. "You'll need proper cat training or you'll never pass."
Jingle is, amazingly, still hanging on and chewing even when Tulani gets up. She's either really into it, or being really obnoxious.
Tulani carries her to the dressing area, where the big mirror is, and lights the candles around it to get the best light. Then she poses for it, as if Jingle were a new fashion accessory. "Think I could make this look work?" she teases, despite her head getting pretty damp now from the gnawing.
So, Jingle ups the ante, and starts groping Tulani while chewing. All to see if she gets went in other ways.
In response, Tulani uses her wings to try and tickle Jingle.
So, this goes on for a while with each one upping or altering for a bit. Eventually, Jingle does let go and flops off.
"You drooled all over me," Tulani complains, and starts looking for a brush. "I don't think we have time for a full wash though. You need to return to the bat so I can recharge you."
Jingle sticks out her tongue, then makes sure everything she can remove is removed. She can't do much about the forehead work, though, or the ear grommets. So, those have to stay as she sits down and goes into shadow in order to change back.
There isn't the quite the same amount of resistance to going back to being male this time, but it's not exactly gone either. But Altraum is back in his original form once the shadow withdraws.
Alptraum gets up and stretches a bit. Then he heads to the mirror to check where the studding ended up (hopefully hidden), and how weird ear grommets look in his ears.
If it's there, it's hidden under his fur and skin. So it might be tied specifically to Inala-based forms (but he wonders if that would also include Pierce).
Alptraum does feel his forehead just to see if he can feel it underneath.
With enough pressure, the studs are still there.. they just seem to be inverted, and not attached to his skull.
Alptraum now wonders if they'll take on other shapes in other forms, like Gorphat's wound and so on! But, now's not the time to really worry about that. "Okay, so recharge. Then I have to become a dragon. A girl one or the little girl will be scared." he says.
"Do you mean to be pink with sparkly scales and rainbow colored wings or something?" Tulani asks. "I figured you'd be black."
"Giant pink bow. Remember the big cloth you found?" Alptraum points out.
"That.. really?" Tulani asks, blinking. "Well, so long as no other dragons see you it should be alright," she concedes. "Do you want me to get your bow and 'saddle' and then bring the girl and the witch to you?"
"Probably. I can't exactly go through the town as a dragon and them watching me change might freak them out," Alptraum admits. "Unless you think you can occupy them while I shift."
"No, it'd be hard to hide," Tulani says, as she goes to fetch the Light of Nala. "I'll tell them you control the dragon, which isn't a lie."
"I think they know it'll be me anyway, but feel free to tell them that," Alptraum agrees. He reaches out and sighs, letting himself absorb the energy from the Light.
It certainly wakes him up more then a tankard of Mateh would. There aren't sparks coming off of him, it just feels like there should be (even though his fur doesn't even rise up). "Heh," Tulani comments. "Your expression is cute, y'know. I guess you've gotten used it to the Light by now though."
"What is my expression?" Alptraum asks, "I don't really know what you mean by that. I didn't think I did anything while sitting here?"
"Well, you aren't aroused like you used to get," Tulani claims. "You just have a sort of.. happy smile."
Alptraum smirks. "It just feels nice, I guess," he remarks. "Entirely your fault of course."
"Nobody but me can make you feel nice and relaxed and afterglowy?" Tulani asks, grinning. "Finally admitting it?"
"Something like that. Weirdo," Alptraum says as he gets up. HE almost goes to get dressed, then stops. "Oh, right, I'll be naked as a dragon anyway. And bigger. No point in putting on clothing."
"You need to pack some though, unless you're going to be naked after you change back," Tulani points out, as she works at brushing out her drool-matted fur.
"Or you could just wear the bow," she suggests.
"I'll pack some clothes," Alptraum mutters. And off he goes to do just that.
Tulani dresses in her usual leathers, and picks up the chest with the rope harness and ribbon in it. "Want to do this in the garden?" she asks. "I can have them meet you at the bottom of the hill, in the cemetery. Easier to get to without being spotted."
"That means I'll go through the cemetery. Which means dealing with the guardian," Alptraum sighs, "But yes, it's probably the easiest location for it." He also tosses his pack of packed clothes onto the crate Tulani carries. "Here, you can carry that too, you burly sailor, you," he teases.
"You'll be a dragon, you can just perch menacingly on a cenotaph or something," Tulani points out. "He never bothers me."
"You're not as sexy as I am," Alptraum counters, "Whether I'm male or female!"
"Well, doesn't he prefer the rat?" Tulani points out. "Clearly he prefers long wiggly tails."
"And nice butts," Alptraum counters. He shakes his head a bit. "I should go shift. I'll do one more check on what to take, then head topwards to change."
"I'll meet you there," Tulani says, looking around. "There should be a Rakhtor saddle bag somewhere, otherwise I'll have to strap on the chest again."
Alptraum nods. "Sounds good, see you in a few," he says. One more walk through and thinking through everything they need to bring, he double-checks the packing, then makes his way up and out of the Next. Naked.
It's a bit chilly in the former garden, and it's early enough that fog still cloaks the bases of the Seven Sisters. But there's plenty of room to stretch out for a dragon.
Alptraum heads to center of the garden quickly and sits down. Going into the shadow will help with being cold! So, soon he does that, and seeks out the quad dragon form he 'wore' earlier, and carefully overlays it back over his body. He also doesn't insist on it being male, so allowing for the drift to female in the slow shift.
It's one less thing to have to focus on, certainly. When the shift is done, Alptraum no longer feels the cold at least, thanks to scales and a thicker hide.
Alptraum stretches out a few times, legs, wings tail. Also does a quick gender-check with its nose as it's sometimes hard to tell when being a dragon!
Nothing feels like it's going to pop out, so most likely female! "Are you done?" Tulani asks, setting the chest down. "I've been a dragon and even I can't tell the sexes apart unless someone is excited."
"Well, nothing is popping out, so I think I got it right," Alptraum says. "So, yes, I'm ready to get going. Fit everything here, or at the bottom when we meet up?"
"I'll do it now," Tulani says, as she starts taking the harness out of the chest. It isn't even tangled, since Tulani knows how to handle rigging. Primus is still beneath the eastern horizon (although the sky itself is brightening) when Tulani is done. The bow is trickier. "How is this supposed to not just droop?" Tulani complains. "Is there a special sort of knot involved?"
"You're the sailor, don't you know all the knots?" Alptraum chides. "There are some we used in costumes that helped hold some shapes, though." She tries to describe it by drawing on the ground using claws. Might help hold a bow more, might not.
Tulani folds bits over according to the diagram. The result isn't likely to hold up in flight of course, but by then Cedra will either be too excited or too terrified to notice.
"Well, not perfect, but it'll work," Alptraum concedes. "And why is it pink bows actually do make me feel more, er, girly?"
"I always thought of pink as a masculine color," Tulani says, giving the harness another inspection.
"Well, that's because you're insane," Alpstruam claims.
"No, I have my reasons," Tulani says. "When a boy pokes out, it's pink!"
"I'm not pink when I poke out!" Alptraum points out.
"You aren't a Rhian, either," Tulani counters. "Sometimes they have blotches."
"No, but I can be one," Alptraum counters and grins at Tulani. "Like 'em big, then."
"I grew up Rhians, is all," Tulani notes, crossing her arms. "I never slept with one! Never went that far, before I became a sailor."
"Riiiiight," Alptraum says as she bobs her head. "Gotcha. It didn't count until you became a sailor..."
Tulani slaps Alptraum's flank. "Beasts of burden shouldn't talk," she claims. "I'll go get the witch and the girl now."
"You want me quiet, get me a muzzle or a bit and bridle," Alptruam jokes. "Seeya in a bit." And off she ambles, down the mountain's back side, through the cemetery area.
Mist is still thick down here, and dragons don't have sonar. Still, she manages to only bang a knee on a sarcophagus that was completely hidden by it.
Alptraum remains alert, in case her 'friend' makes an appearance. Still, slowly onward she goes through the mist.
There's statue that might provide cover, at least for one side of her, until the mist disperses. She doesn't sense anything else moving in the cemetery yet.
Alptraum breathes out. Looks clear. Perhaps it's just too early. So, she relaxes and continues onward, weaving through the cemetery as she heads down.
As she walks along, a stone lid shifts just as she's over it, and a massive body rams up into her side! Oof!
"Oof!" goes Alptraum and she ends up going sideways and then falling over! "Hey!" she growls.
Another head-butt gets her onto her back, and then she's pinned down by Rugharo! "What manner of beast are you?" the demon demands, ending with a clack of his large teeth.
"Dragon!" Alptraum growls back! "You've seen me before. It's Alptraum in here. You know, the shrine maiden!"
The monster sniffs at Alptraum's throat a few times. He must recognize her, because he starts humping shortly after.
Alptraum squirms around! Trying to get him to at least aim instead of poking her painfully in weird spots with that thing!
The natural armor stymies such attempts.. until suddenly things line up and in the monstrous Rughrat goes! It's still a stretch, as Inala hasn't blessed any dragon forms yet.
And that makes Alptraum sort of roar-burp! It's not comfortable, but then any but a blessed form can take him without pain! She tries to be still, but in spite of her attempts, she starts, well, humping back.
That will probably help things along at least. The main worry is that Rugharo keeps trying to bite her as well. His teeth may be flat, but they're bigger than her's. Actually.. is the demon getting bigger overall? Maybe it just seems that way.
Alptraum tries to figure out if he is getting bigger or not? Or is she getting smaller? Also she frets, is ge going to, uh, switch holes on her at some point too? There's also some squirming, and whining. Lots of whining, really, it feels like she's humping a tree in size.
He's definitely getting bigger, his bulk blocking out the sky and his hands are much bigger than when they started. He also thrusts harder. At this rate it feels like she's trying to give birth to a very clingy egg. Without the blessing using the other hole would rip her apart. Wasn't this how the demon was used to execute people for Inala?
"What are you ... doing?" Alptraum cries out at one point, given how it feels like she's laying a huge clutch of huge eggs, over and over!
"Hrm?" Rugharo grunts in confusion. "You are my toy from the goddess. So I play with you."
"I am not a toy!" Alptraum squeaks like a ... toy? It really hurts too, and she's still even, well, humping back and making it hurt. What is wrong with her?
"You not blessed?" the demon asks. "You supposed to be." Despite the comment, he doesn't slow down.
"It doesn't feel like it!" Alptraum whines! "You're massive!"
"Gotta be bigger den you, dat's the rule," Rugharo chuffs. "Tried praying?"
"To Inala?!?" Alptraum whines out? So, she does that? Well, tries. "Inala, your demon is ravishing me. Would you bless me such that I can take it without agony? Please?" she lamely thinks.
"A blessing is quite the boon," Inala seems to whisper in the mist next to Alptraum. "You will repay me with a special service, yes?"
"... what is it you want?" Alptraum asks, worriedly. Also in a lot of pain! She feels stretched past her limits, and possibly ruined!
"Oh, I'll tell you when I decide on something," Inala says. "Do you want to wait, or...?" she prompts.
The agony of the next thrust forces an unfortunate answer. "I agree! Anything!" she mentally screams.
And just like that, the pain goes away.. but there's a bit of whiplash because it isn't replaced by relief but by intense pleasure.
There's more noise from Alptraum! At least this time it's not caused by agony, but by nearly pure bliss! As if Rugharo is the only perfect male for the dragon to lay with.
Just when it's getting good, there's a warm explosion, which makes it better. But it also means that the demon stops.
This leaves Alptraum blinking, and seeing stars, and feeling like a water balloon. Also, she ends up whining and moving her own hips to try and get it going again!
"Mmph, yer alright," the demon grunts, then pulls out and wanders off into the mist. Not one for cuddling, that Rugharo.
Alptraum bucks when he pulls out. That's relief in itself, she 'laid the egg!'. So, she lays there a moment, then dares to check herself for damage. Hopefully the blessing prevented, well, that.
Some of her scales are cracked around the zone of entry, but the only fluids are her own, and none of them smell like blood. The Blessing was just in time though, or things could have been worse. There is a gurgling feeling though, and she needs to clean up before her passengers arrive. At least the harness and bow survived.
Alptraum gets up and tries to shake any debris off. Then looks for a place to clean up. Worse comes to worse, she makes a face as she realizes she could, well, lick.
There should be a reflecting pool somewhere. All this mist must collect in anything basin-shaped before it burns off.
Alptraum does spend some time, well, licking, to clean up the worst of it. Then she's off looking for a basin to finish up with; there can't be that much water around, right? Otherwise, well, the licking, ugh . Wasn't necessary.
There's water to be found in the marble flower holders adorning the tombs and crypts, just not the cleanest water. An ornamental fountain's middle basin is the cleanest, although the fountain itself is neglected.
The fountain it is, and it's there the dragon thing is washing herself up a little. (As well as out if needed!) She's grumbling the entire time over the promise she had to make, too.
The high pitched ping of an Eeee pierces the mist, but as best Alptraum can tell it's still a ways off. Dragons have good ears, even if they're tuned more towards the lower wavelengths.
Alptraum tries to place where that came from. Age, maybe? Probably not possible with these ears, though. It's her cue to hurry on and get to the bottom soon, though!
She makes it before the pings get closer. By then even the mist at the bottom is starting to burn off as Primus becomes visible. For half of the population of Babel, this would herald 'evening' while the other have begins the day. Tulani is above the mist, but not by much, with Aunty next to her and already looking fatigued.
And Alptraum is busily trying to look not-disheveled or questionable! She even tried fixing up the bow a little!
Tulani and Aunty land, and it's clear that little Cedra is clinging to Tulani's back. Aunty has a small pack that must all of their possessions. "Wasn't expecting a legged Ptera-thing," Aunty notes. That must be what she pictured when told about a dragon.
"That can talk," Alptraum remarks a bit dryly. "I hope both of you are in good health and ready for a day flight to the Estate?" she continues as she lowers herself to seem a bit less imposing. "I will not harm either of you. See? I even have the bow you asked for."
The little hand-puppet peeks out from behind Tulani's shoulder first, then enough of Cedra's head that she can see. "It's a pretty bow," the puppet relates. "C'mon, you need to be strapped in for safety," Tulani tells the girl and approaches Alptraum. Aunty also looks her up and down. "What, on the netting?" she asks.
"There's a saddle too, I ... think. I didn't see everything Tulani attached to me," Alptraum says. She also sort of lays down to make it easy to get on and look smaller for the little girl
"It's a rope saddle," Tulani explains. "It flexes with her back, and that way it doesn't chafe," she tells Cedra as she places the girl onto Alptraum's back. "You want to kneel down, since you can't straddle her back. These little straps go around your ankles once you have a good grip with your toes.."
"Never rode anything before," Aunty tells Alptraum. "Not in the air, anyway."
Alptraum for her part, holds still and waits. "It's more tiring than you might expect," she tells Aunty. "But with this setup you shouldn't need to exert much force to be safe. Really, none."
"And what's the landing gonna be like?" Aunty asks. "Do we need to jump off to avoid gettin' rattled?"
"Shouldn't need to. I can land gently," Alptraum promises. "No jumping off, that would be much worse."
"Yeah, prolly don't want to get smacked by one of these sails you've got for wings. If you had some gas bags you could be an airship, and just sail where you wanted to go," Aunty says, and clambers up to sit behind Cedra. She gets a waist belt, since she's big enough to actually straddle and hook into the netting with her feet.
"You make me sound huge. I tell you now I'm small comparatively for those of my kind," Alptraum claims as she cranes her neck back to watch them get secured. Even that one there is larger than I when she's in her scaled form," the dragon adds and nods towards Tulani. "And could come with us if she wished."
"Everyone is secure," Tulani reports to the pilot. "I thought you didn't want me to come along?"
"I don't recall saying that. You can if you wish. You just have to dragon up too," Alptraum says with lots of teeth in that grin.
"I can keep up without doing that," Tulani claims. "I'm built for distance and stamina, remember when we flew to Cataract village?"
"But I'd like you as a dragon," Alptraum admits.
"I'm not sure anyone else would though," Tulani says, switching to Sylvanian. "My self control has been getting worse every time."
"We need to work specifically on that," Alptraum points out in Sylvanian too. "If not this time, then when we get back. You can't be afraid of that form, it's useful, and we will need it."
"Perhaps Cyprian can help with the control issue," Alptraum adds.
"I can use the biped form, that doesn't have the same urges," Tulani negotiates. "That one shouldn't have any issues keeping up."
"That doesn't get you away from practicing quad too at some point," Alptraum insists. "You need to master it, not let it control you."
"Sure.. just not around a bunch of orphans," Tulani concedes.
"On that we can agree, but I am holding you to you practicing more as that aspect of yourself," Alptraum says. "For good or bad, it is a part of you, and denying it makes it worse."
"I'm just as dangerous as I am, you know," Tulani claims as she flexes, but then starts undressing.
"But sexier on all fours with your tail up," Alptraum teases, thankfully in Sylvanian.
After packing her clothes in with Alptraum's, Tulani goes behind one of the dragon's wings to change. She comes back bigger and silvery, but also with hips and boobs and standing on two legs. "Well, let's get going!" she nearly roars.
"I hope the people where we're headed aren't so weird," Aunty notes.
"On we go, then!" Alptraum counter-roars, and after a graceful sort of running bound, she's taking to the air!
It's slightly easier for dragons to remain stealthy at dawn, at least for certain directions. In this case the sun is behind them from the perspective of the main airship route and lets them fly a bit lower. There may be some on the ground engaged in actually farming or ranching that notice the shadows, but if so there's no reaction that reaches Alptraum or Tulani. Cedra and Aunty are quiet, but that may be out of necessity from the wind.
The south field of the Summerland Estate becomes visible around mid-morning, so the open space at the front of the manor will be coming up quickly.
Before landing, Alptraum has to make a circle of the fields again to find the one that was clear enough to land in. Then he calls out, "Alptraum returning with others, ally and friend. Accompanies by my ally Tulani as well." just to be safe that those down there are aware of him and reminded who it is (if they could forget). Then he's diving down and curling his wings back to change his weight shift before alighting upon his legs.
Aunty makes an 'oof' noise despite the gentle landing. "Jes' a bit stiff s'all," she notes. Tulani lands to the side of Alptraum opposite the door, and attempts a quick shift back to normal. Because she's hurrying and out of practice, it leaves her a bit damp. She gets her clothes out before trying to unstrap the passengers.
The first person out of the manor door is Dravitz, who half-flaps his way over. The other children follow, along with Chives and Cardamom.
And Alptraum lays belly-down on the ground to make it easier to get the passengers and supplies off. "See? Gentle landing all around. Jump off, indeed," he mutters to aunty.
Cedra has to be unbuckled first because she's too excited, and once on the ground immediately trips and gets back up again to meet Dravitz. There is hugging and crying when they make contact. Aunty takes Tulani's hand getting down. "Well, it was a very smooth ride," she tells Alptraum. "Just got a little bit of cramping in my hands."
The reunion of Dravitz and Cedra takes most of Alptraum's attention. His eyes even close for a moment and he smiles, that scene giving him some modicum of peace from all that this had him go through. His attention is drawn back and he looks to Aunty to say, "Well, that would happen on any transport more or less, not just mine."
"I was holding onto the rope too hard," Aunty admits, then turns her own attention to the other children, and sighs. "Well, here I go," she says, and makes it a few steps before the other children surround her and start crying as well. Now that an Official Grownup from the village has arrived, they're back to being traumatized children, which is probably for the best.
Alptraum watches this, too. "That tells me no one else has yet to have been found as a survivor," she mentions to Tulani quietly. "I was hoping at least one more would be found, and I know it's still early, but ..." That scaled head of hers shakes side to side slowly.
"It has only been a few days," Cardamom tells Alptraum, and bobs her head to Tulani. "The traders don't travel fast."
"I know, but i can hope. Sometimes hope is the most important thing to have," Alptraum counters and bows. "Now, if you'll all unstrap me, I can see about being something not as huge and scary."
The Fnerf and Tulani work to remove the harness, while Chives talks with Aunty. "The bow too?" Tulani asks. It's rather limp due to the wind.
"The bow too, yes. It's a bit big for my normal body," Alptraum points out.
So Tulani removes that as well, while Cardamom spreads the harness out on the ground so it doesn't get tangled up. The other cargo (such as it is) is set next to it.
So, Alptraum looks around for a place to change, privately ... while asking, "Can you unpack my clothes, Tulani?"
The clothes are unpacked and passed to Cardamom (who isn't damp), the Tulani partially spreads her wings to provide a sort of dressing screen for Alptraum.
And with that, Alptraum disappears into a blob of shadow. That might be, well, unnerving! Or not. On the inside means not knowing. In there now it's a slow shift back to Eeee form, then even with the slight urge to be female, Alptraum encourages the shift to male as that is how the children know him. How long he can hold that form will be telling.
Once the shadow retracts, Cardamom is ready with his clothes. "That looks weird when you shrink," she notes. "The black shape sort of blobifies in the middle of it."
"It feels just as weird on my side. Mass changes are disturbing to feel," the now bat claims as he accepts the clothing. He dresses quick, an advantage of travel garb. It's made for easy on and easy off.
"Well, now that you're dressed and all.. are you going to introduce your friend?" Cardamom asks.
Alptraum smacks his own forehead. "I'm an idiot, sorry. This is my faithful minion and servant, Tulani!" he declares, grinning. "Or being serious, her name is Tulani and she's a trusted friend and ally."
"So you're Alptraum's girlfriend?" Cardamom asks Tulani. "I'm Cardamom," she says, offering her hand.
"Special friend," Tulani says. "But we argue like we're in a relationship."
"So you can share a room without issue then!" Cardamom says, smiling.
"Family," Alptraum agrees. "We can share fine. She's not much to look at, after all."
Tulani swats Alptraum with a wing. "I'm better when I'm not soggy."
"You're sometimes dry?" Alptraum asks while dancing away from swatting wings!
"Yes, more like family I see," Cardamom giggles. "Well, we should head inside and get everyone settled again. I'm sure that Aunty will need a place to work and such.
Alptraum helps fetch one of the crates to carry along. "So, feeling okay, besides wet?" he asks Tulani.
Tulani rolls her shoulders after folding her wings, and even rubs her chest a bit. "A little sore from the flight, should be fine though," Tulani says. "No weird urges. Flying with bare nips makes them harden a bit though."
"Bare nips in general get hard. I know that well," Alptraum agrees and ends up rubbing at his own in sympathy. "Glad to hear no major urges."
"Hungry though!" Tulani says.
"We're still serving breakfast," Cardamom notes.
"Problem solved!" Alptraum quips.
Aunty is hanging back a bit while Chives ushers the children back inside.
"Are you okay?" Alptraum asks of Aunty. That seems off.
"I need someplace away from the manor house," Aunty notes.
"Why?" Alptraum asks, brow arching. "You are a guest here too for now."
"I'm a witch, I don't do my work in a kitchen," Aunty explains. "I need someplace a safe distance from everyone. I don't want to get soft."
"Ask if you can have a cottage built on the edge of the manor grounds, then. There's got to be a few old farmer ones you could repurpose," Alptraum points out. "But for now, stay in the manor."
Everyone ends up in the kitchen, with the long table covered in food, with the Eeee and Lapi kids fighting over apples. Samson is at the end, looking a bit more lively than he had previously, even if he's only eating some porridge.
Alptraum is sitting a bit away from them to encourage the reunion of those who are family and friends, and less strange savior. While he likes that they care and like him, he has to be careful they don't cling as he cannot stay forever.
Cardamom asks Alptraum, "When do you want to do the memorial service?"
"A day or two from now? Let everyone get reacquainted and settles into a room or cottage, then we can head to the place by the river for the service," Alptraum suggests.
"Should I put Aunty in a room next to yours for convenience?" Cardamom asks. "The children so far like to stay together."
Alptraum looks to Aunty. "This is your choice," he says, "Do you want to ask about a cottage on the estate now, or just stay close?"
"I'll want a tour of the grounds," Aunty says. "After a good night's rest. I'm still recovering a bit. I'll want to see the river site."
"That can be arranged," Alptraum agrees, nods.
"I'll go meet with the Lord of the Manor now then," Aunty says. "He looks like he can use some witch attention."
"Seems pretty lively," Tulani asides to Alptraum, smiling. "A big family."
"He could use company, yes, of one who has seen as much as he," Alptraum agrees with Aunty. And there he has to switch his attention to Tulani and smiles. A nod and he agrees, "Yes, it is. I wish I could have found more and brought them, but I am at least relieved I was able to find a few and give them hope."
"Well, any others would be scattered," Tulani suggests. "You've probably seen abandoned villages in Sylvania. Once there's a disaster, the people are reluctant to return to the scene."
"Well, of course, but we always looked for each other to regroup," Alptraum notes. "Which can be difficult depending on what happened."
"Could check out the scene of the crime, if you think people would have returned," Tulani says.
"It's unlikely, but I might at some time," Alptraum agrees. "Right now, though, I don't think I could take it."
"I need to dry off a bit then," Tulani says after taking some sausages. "And take a nap. How about you?" she asks Alptraum.
Alptraum considers. "A nap would be good. That was a longish flight and a bit tiring. I could use some rest as well," Alptraum agrees. He has to stick to liquids for his meal, though, so he's mostly just drinking tea.
"I'll set you both up in your usual room then," Cardamom says, making it sound like Alptraum stays over all the time.
"I have a usual room? Why can't my room be unusual?" Alptraum jokes.
"It's the closest to the bathroom though," Cardamom points out.
"Good if I need to pee," Alptraum quips.
"And you do enjoy your baths," the Fnerf says with a grin.
Who doesn't enjoy baths?" Alptraum asks, innocently.
"Especially with fluffy bubbles," Tulani adds.
"Children, in my experience," Cardamom replies.
"No children in the bath, please," Alptraum requests.
"Well, just follow me then!" Cardamom says, and guides the pair out of the kitchen to the stairs. "I unjammed the door to the balcony on that side of the house, in case you want to use it," she explains as she leads the way to the familiar guest room. "Cozy!" Tulani remarks.
Alptraum follows along. "No throwing me off the balcony, Tulani," he quips as he goes to actually take a look at it.
The door to the balcony is glass-paned, and the balcony beyond is.. narrow. It will flare out over the main entry though, from what he recalls of the outside of the manor.
"Well, at least it's a good lookout," Alptraum admits, "And I could fly from here."
"There used to be some perches, but they got ruined in a storm a long while back," Cardamom explains, and opens the door to let the morning breeze in.
"Is there a clothesline?" Tulani asks.
"For Eeee, I assume. Tulani wouldn't be able to use them, no grabby feet," Alptraum says. The question surprises Alptraum a bit, too, "Why do we need ... oh, you want to dry your clothing?""
"Down on the ground," Cardamom says, south yard. "I can take your clothes and bring them back when they're dry. Are they the only ones you brought?"
"I may just need them aired out a bit to avoid mustiness," Tulani claims.
"Yeah, we don't want em to be all kittystink," Alptraum jokes, grins. "I don't think that's the only set she brought, though.
"Is there a towel in the bath?" Tulani asks.
"I'll fetch you one," Cardamom says. "Be back in a tail flick!" Then she turns and flicks her tail as she hurries down the hall.
"She's very perky," Tulani says, and starts taking off the clothes she had just put on when they landed.
"They're friendly," Alptraum agrees. "And yes, she's very perky. All the time, really."
"All the time?" Tulani asks, folding her clothes while looking over her shoulder at Alptraum.
"Well, when I was here last, yes, pretty much all the time," Alptraum claims. She's stretching a bit now here and there, and does a quick check on body stability.
It hasn't been that long since the transformation, so things seem fine so far. Tulani attacks when he's in mid stretch though, going for the armpits.
Alptraum acks! "Hey!" Alptraum complains, and envelops her completely in wings!
This gets some of his own clothes damp where the cat is pressed up against him. "I got you!" Tulani claims, and purrs.
"Or do I have you?" Alptraum counters and now grumbles since he's wet. "Why do you even want me, hmm? what are you plotting?"
"I just couldn't resist when you were wide open like that!" Tulani claims. Cardamom returns with the towel, and asks, "Do you need a towel now too, Alptraum?"
"Unfortunately. This one is being trouble. I'll have to paint her nostrils in the night," Alptraum grouses, ears a bit flattened.
The Fnerf offers the towel, and asks, "Are you sure you can't share the one?" Her tail is swishing as she says it.
"But she's all stiiiiinky," Alptraum whines. He does reach out and take the towel, though.
"Should I draw a bath then?" Cardamom offers.
"I am not stinky," Tulani sniffs. "You're thinking of a canine."
"If she wants a bath. I'm still good, I cleaned before coming and the shadow shift does a good job cleaning me too," Alptraum replies as he untangles himself from Tulani, then drapes the towel on her head.
Tulani starts drying herself off with the towel. "Maybe later, Cardamom." Once dry she offers up the towel and her clothes, looking a bit fluffy. "After I've had a nap."
Alptraum yawns again and goes to look out the window for a bit. "Sorry for the teasing," he comments. "I like to keep things light and I don't want them to have any weird ideas."
Cardamom collects them, and looks to Alptraum, asking, "Are you going to nap as well? I can wake you up later if you like."
"I'll take a short one, yeah. Nothing too long. Maybe wake us a couple hours before dinner or sundown," Alptraum requests.
The Fnerfette salutes, and says, "Will do!" She then backs out of the room and closes the door. Tulani claims the bed of course.
Alptraum looks up and tries to claim a rafter or functional perch. He doesn't need a bed!
The room is warm, probably just from body heat, and it's easy to doze off.
Amelia says, "FF?"
Dinner is a bit more formal, at least for the adults, and takes place in the dining room. Samson is at the head of the table, with Alptraum and Aunty to his right and left, and Tulani next to Alptraum. None of them have clothes suited to the occasion, but Samson is just wearing a dressing gown anyway. Alptraum even gets served a bowl of warm blood soup, with some oil and spices to keep it from clotting. He's also given bread, because everyone gets some. "I don't recall how many buildings are scattered around the estate," Samson admits. "But you're welcome to any that strike your fancy and can be made habitable, Aunty," he offers.
Alptraum is grateful for the meal, and Tulani is also probably grateful to not be bitten. He's actually minding his manners and not slurping while drinking, either. And he tries some of the bread, just making sure it's mostly, uh, liquefied before trying to swallow it. "And if you have any immediate needs you know of, we can take notes and ask a caravan to bring you things on the next pass through," he offers Aunty.
"I've brought what I need for now," Aunty claims. "I'll see what's available in the surroundings as well. I used to forage pretty far afield from my ingredients up in the mountains, so this terrain should be much easier."
"Given your age, that's a good thing," Alptraum says before he catches himself.
"I'll have help," Aunty says after Alptraum's blurt. "It's time I started passing on my knowledge."
"To whom? Cedra? I thought you wished to spare her that life?" Alptraum asks.
"To whomever shows an interest and aptitude," Aunty claims. "The older girl, Harper, has a proper attitude for it."
"It's not my place to say or be involved on who you pick. I am just glad someone will continue the knowledge and traditions. They're important too, as much as progress is. Where we came from helps ground us," Alptraum claims.
"They'll need to come up with new traditions too," Aunty says. "It'll be up to them to start everything up again here."
"Indeed. This is a cycle of rebirth, and it should be embraced. Which is why I wanted to arrange a special memorial to help with the transition and farewells," Alptraum says.
"I've brought what's needed for that," Aunty says. "And it may tell me if any others survived as well."
"This is what you planned to do at the riverbank, near the old gamekeeper's shack?" Samson asks.
"I am the Barsunala. My role is to guide the dead to the sea. It makes me innately attuned to helping bring them and find them, and it will allow for closures and farewells, things that they did not get the chance to do," Alptraum explains. "I know it will also be hard, but the chance to say goodbye is a powerful healing moment."
"And there are many traditions I know of from other places that add beauty to the act. In Sylvania, small lit boats upon the water to symbolize the travel of souls in the procession, or the sea. Symbolic actions are important to many old magicks."
"Something they can have a hand in will help," Aunty agrees. "We can be certain that those children have lost their families, alas, if they had been captured."
Alptraum nods. "And what happened to them, I do not wish to speak on. It was a horror," he admits. "I've seen a lot, but that cut me to the core."
"Were there any remains?" Aunty asks. She isn't put off her stomach by such subjects, apparently.
"Yes. Small fragments were collected, the majority was not. They used them as food," Alptraum finally admits. "The entire ship was an abattoir and a larder."
"were they interred, or do they need to be recovered still?" the witch asks.
"They were interred in a crypt at the castle where I took down the mages. They could be recovered in needed, but I did try to see them to a proper resting place," Alptraum explains.
"That should do then," Aunty nods. "I think I can trust the Barsunala on that."
"I would hope so," Alptraum remarks dryly.
"I'm not familiar with ceremonies suitable for children, in this situation," Aunty admits. "You have something specific in mind?"
"I do, to a degree. It is the sort I adapt and flow based on how they respond. This is to be healing for them, not deepening wounds," Alptraum explains, "So after it starts, where it goes is driven in part by them."
"Are there any special preparations to be made?" Aunty asks, looking curious.
"For them to be well rested, and they should try to write, if they can, the names of those they lost on paper, along with two words about each one that remind them of happy times with them," Alptraum explains. "They're children, so I can't expect anything complex, I just need a focus."
"I'll help them with the writing," Aunty says. "I think Dravitz learnt from his father, but writing was rare in the village."
"We have plenty of parchment," Samson adds. "And ink."
"It can be a picture too. It's not the form so much as the meaning and feeling they put into it. You know that spirits are drawn and influenced by strong feelings, and if these are happy memories, I am hoping to help then see the happier times, and be able to say goodbye and have their last memories with their family to be a good one, not the nightmare that it was," Alptraum says.
"And I know there will be hurt too, knowing this is the last time and all, how can there not be? All farewells are moments of immense sorrow, but they can be more, and I will help them have more. So ... maybe they'll start to heal," he adds.
"The loss is fresh in their minds now that I'm here," Aunty notes. "An early start will be best, I think."
"Either at the crack of dawn, or the fade of the sun, is the best time. When light is shallow and the world in a moment of peace," Alptraum says.
"Do you need to go on ahead to prepare anything?" Tulani asks Alptraum.
Alptraum thinks on this, then nods. "Honestly, probably, if we want to do it early. I could go tonight and sleep there, and meet you in the morning," he offers.
"The path to it the shack should still be usable," Samson says. "And Chives knows the way."
"Everyone wants to get rid of me already, eh?" Alptraum jokes.
"Ah, I meant for the children in the morning," Samson assures. "You already know the way, after all."
"The evening also works if you wish me to stay the night," Alptraum points out. "Either time is good for the act. Evening has a bit more prep time to it."
"We'll give the children the day to prepare their words then," Aunty says. "They may struggle a bit, even if it seems a simple task. Writing things down is serious for them."
"For anything with true meaning, it's always serious," Alptraum claims. "Words and symbols have power when properly expressed."
"Writing is the oldest magic," Aunty nods. "It gives power over names, and time."
"Just so. And the transfer of knowledge across generations," Alptraum adds, lifts a glass, then takes a drink.
"I never thought of it that way," Tulani admits. "I mainly kept log entries for the lookouts."
Alptraum taps his chin. "I suppose i could make some small toy boat bottoms while they're working on their papers for them A good use of the xtra prep time," he musess.
"You know how to make toy boats?" Tulani asks in surprise.
"Yes? Doesn't everyone?" Alptraum asks.
"I do not," Aunty notes.
"Why not?" Alptraum asks.
"My town didn't have a pond where the birds wouldn't attack one," Tulani claims.
"And you didn't have a bathtub?" Alptraum asks.
"I remember fashioning airship gondolas," Samson adds.
"If anything, wouldn't you make little caravan wagons?" Tulani asks Alptraum.
"Not always. We made lots of stuff. We weren't that one-track, oy," Alptraum mutters.
"Wow, all I know about your childhood is your best friend," Tulani says. "But you were an actual kid once. I can't really remember what I was like as a child."
"Why not? Fall on your head too much?" Alptraum jokes.
"Well.. nothing much happened until I was older," Tulani says. "I think I broke my foot at some point."
"So, you were a boring child," Alptraum concludes. "I'm sure plenty happened, you just didn't pay attention..."
"It was a boring town," Tulani claims.
Alptraum mmhmms.
"I take it you had an exciting youth?" Samson asks Alptraum.
"Well, if you call crazy as exciting, yes," Alptraum admits with a sheepish grin.
"What do you consider to be crazy then?" the elder Eeee asks. Chives arrives to refill everyone's wine.
"I spent it as part of a caravan, commonly called gypsies, in Sylvania. Dodging zombies, monsters, and angry mothers with cookware," Alptraum remarks dryly.
"Zombies?" Samson asks, eyebrows raised. "And monsters? I'm surprised anyone would live in such a place."
"Some people don't have a choice," Alptraum says, shrugs, and drinks more wine. "That place has seen worse wars than Babel, which is why I was hidden there. No one would dare look."
"Well, we reap the benefit of such prudent action then," Samson says, and raises a somewhat shaky hand in toast. "To the return of the Barsunala."
Aunty raises her glass, even though it's already mostly empty. Tulani follows suit.
Alptraum now looks suitably embarrassed. "Here's hoping I don't screw up too badly," he says lamely.
Glasses clink, and conversation turns to the history of the estate and former vineyards that produced the wine.
And as drinking and light eating continue on into the evening, his mind drifts to simple boats that can be made quickly. From there, what he will say and do, how he will try to encourage the memories and spirit remnants to come forth so that the children can say goodbye to those they love, and send them on their final journey. He knows there will be tears, but this time ones of hope and healing, and not from the shadows and nightmare.