Lullyn

The Dragon Empire

Kestrel was smiling now as the cub seemed determined to make her smile.

"I'm okay," she said softly, petting hin, the pup giving her amother lick and then looking at her intently.

It wasn't exactly words she got from him, but it was like colours and feelings. There was boundless energy and the desperate want to play,but also concern.

"I'm fine," she said again, wondering how to make him feel it, but maybe the problem was she wasn't fine and the Wolf cub was picking up on that. She felt disorientated, but she was starting to understand that it was partly down to Lupo.

"I'm not hungry," she called to the other 2. "I'm going to sleep."

She felt a strange longing to be closer to Jube, but that would mean being closer to to he food, which was turning her stomach.

Lupo trotted back to Milo and Jube as Kestrel lay down again. He sat in front of Jube and stared at him, completely transfixed like he'd never seen him before. He whined a little, like he were begging for food.

The Dragon Empire

Lupo didn't seem at all disturbed by the small act of magic, eating normally and happily as ever.

Kestrel managed to get outside where it was cooler, feeling still queasy and sick. She touched anything that felt cold, eventually finding a rock to rest her face against. She felt like she'd flown for miles and the thought made her wretch. She felt mostly better once she was actually sick, her stomach having nothing more to give us, but she didn't return until she was sure and even then, she only entered the very edge of the cave.

Lupo sensed her and bounded to see her. She felt intense happiness, like a warm glow, coming toward her, and turned expecting a fireball.

"Lupo?" She said, staring at him as he got close. As he got closer, he gave a while and then jumped to lick her face enthusiastically. She could almost hear words.

you are sad. Do not be sad. I will make you happy.

The Dragon Empire

She tried her best not to frown, but she didn't succeed. She didn't want him to worry but she did feel sick. The smell of food wasn't helping.

Carefully, after releasing his hand, she rolled onto her side and pressed her face against the cold ground.

"I need to go outside," she said after a few minutes, once she stopped feeling light headed, carefully opening her eyeS. "I can try the other bit in a minute, okay?"

She didn't trust herself to walk, so very carefully she moved to her hands an knees and crawled a little toward the entrance.

"Stay here," she added when she paused, the words half at Jube and the other half at Lupo.

The Dragon Empire

She managed a smile, but it was more for Jube's benefit than because she actually felt any other than weird.

She gave let her hand tighten just slightly. His hand made her feel more grounded.

"Should I feel...... well, what should I be feeling Jube?"

She didn't want to worry him, and she was sure this would pass, but she wanted to know. She knew Jube hadn't don't this before so he probably wouldn't know either.

Her grip, whilst not hard didn't loosen. She didn't want to let him go just yet. She hadn't dared open her eyes.

The Dragon Empire

It took longer for Kestrel to come around than Lupo. He woke with a lazy yawn, ears floppy rather than up, blinking at them. He gave Kestrel's hand a licky but when she didn't respond, he merely scratched his ear and trotted to see what Milo was doing.

Kestrel felt strangely relaxed, and safe. She also had the feeling of being in more than one place, which then made her feel a little dizzy. When she opened her eyes, she gave a soft moan, closing them again and putting a hand to her mouth. She swallowed hard and focused on her own breathing, but she felt off balance, despite not being on her feet.

"Jube?" She murmured, not trusting herself to open her eyes incase everything began to spin.

The Dragon Empire

Lupy whined, then barked, moving closer to her. Kestrel put a hand on him to soothe him, making sounds rather than speech. She didn't want to affect what Jube was doing.

As it grew more intense, the cub growled and yipped, clearly trying to protect her. It was a little fun y to see his reaction, but all she could do was wait and keep hold of him, like Jube had told her to.

When the lightning hit, it surprised her so much that she might have let the pup go, but instead she tightened her grip and suddenly she had the sense of 2 minds, 2 sides. She was afraid and calm at the same time. She saw colours but they weren't right, floating in the air as well as the things around her.

Then the darkness took her and the lights were gone.

The Dragon Empire

She gave Milo a small wave as he left and Jube a smile, but she didn't go for the bag. She completely trusted Jube.

So instead she played with Lupo for a bit, then calming him down. She knew he'd most likely need to stay still with the ritual. That would be easier if he was tired, and since Milo had already tired him out a lot, it would just need her to keep him relaxed.

"You are just going to have to trust me that I trust Jube," she told the pup, stroking him. "There's not many people in this world you can trust with your life, but you can trust me, and I trust Jube more than anything."

The pup gave her a yawn.

"I know this is a lot for you," she continued, as if the pup was listening. "I think wolves normally stay in their territory, but we are going to have to find a new territory for us all."

She smiled to herself. They were a very odd pack, but a pack certainly.

She laid the pup on the floor and pulled on some clothes. She'd been wearing underwear and whilst she didn't exactly see any problem in letting Milo or Jube see her dressed that way, the temperature would drop.

Once dressed, she began tying hee string into 2 loops, one each for her and Lupo.

The Dragon Empire

She grinned.

"I always have string," she said, gesturing to her backpack.

She collection ed it and, sure enough, there was string inside. There was actually quite a bit of string, tied in a ball. They didn't even need to cut it, because the ball was made up of pieces tied together.

"Here boy," she called to the Wolf, who looked from her to Milo, then trotted to her, cocking his head.

She scratched his head, then pulled him onto her knee.

"Stay," she said, stroking his head gently. "What about a wishbone, Jube?"

The Dragon Empire

Kestrel looked at the pup, who seemed completely fascinated by Milo's changes. He gave a yip and turned in circles, his tail wagging like a dog.

"I trust you, Jube," she said simply, looking back at him. There were some things that she knew better than him, like how to sense danger, read moods, but Jube understood magic and if he thought this would help them, she'd follow him.

"What do you need us to do?"

The Dragon Empire

Kestrel sat oposite him, her face watching him like she had when he used to read to her, all interest and wonder. At times like this, it was almost as if they were back in his home, and not out on the road.

He spoke about it getting harder as they went, and she couldn't doubt it. What they'd faced so far had been challenging and only their faith in each other had kept them together. What came might even push that to breaking point.

"Can you do that?" she asked, not doubting him, but more curious than anything else.