Runa scratches the top of her forehead with a claw. "Err, let's see..." She began counting on her claws. "There was Runa, brother..." She begins mouthing what seems to be other names to herself before saying, "And four others?" She looks back towards Fellwing. "we were on our way to have a talk with... Roth-scar?" she says. "Been having trouble with them for some time. They wanting to mine in our mountains, say we have a lot of precious minerals and stone. Colony elders not sure what to do. Roth-scar very insistent, sometimes mine around our territory either though we didn't tell them they could." Her face falls. "Things turning a little nasty. Other trolls worried about invasion, don't think we could take dragons in fight. Trolls strong, but dragon magic stronger."
There is a pause, as if she's thinking about something she'd rather not be dwelling on, and her eyes then light up, a glimmer of hope in them. "But other dragon came to our mountain some moons ago. Not like others. Very kind, cares a lot about trolls. Wants to make things better. It was her idea to come here. She says that Roth-scar are getting new leader, and she wants to try and either get the role herself or appeal to new leader for help." Runa nods affirmatively. "Seems very sure we can avoid war, and Runa would very much like to avoid war. Runa knows war can take toll. Lost parents in fight with other troll colony some time ago. Doesn't want to lose anyone else."
"Wait, did he just say unicorns?" Lazward said. He'd been staying quiet while Coryn had been talking to the other drakes, focusing all his attention on fighting back the plant invasion. However, Skobeloff's last words seemed to have struck him as odd enough to give him pause.
Coryn just shrugged in response, clearly also confused by what the trickster had just said. He glances over to Stargaze questioningly. "Your friend is a little strange," he comments.
It wouldn't take long for Skobeloff to return to the clinic. Upon entering, he would find most of the dragons had left, leaving only Heliotrope, Fogdance, Pleexem and, of course, the still unconscious Maug. Maug was still in the same nest, with Fogdance occupying another one nearby. Pleexem was standing near Maug, eying him him with mixture of anxiety and deep contemplating. Meanwhile, Heliotrope was at the other side of the lab, mixing some sort of solution together as one of her desks.
None of them seemed to notice Skobeloff enter.
Rudrick gives a big smile. "Yeah, he's a softy alright, though don't tell him I said that," he says. "He was probably really worried you'd hurt yourself because he wouldn't really know how to help you in that scenario. He's no healer, though he has some basic medical knowledge, and has no longer got a connection to the spirit moon. If you had actually gotten hurt, he'd be beside himself with worry. Trust me, I'd know." Rudrick chuckles. "I'm glad you noticed my brother's not all that bad. He tries so hard to keep others at wings length, but he does care deep down." There is a moment where Rudrick's smile falter slightly. "I mean, that's probably why keep others at wings length."
Before Rudrick could really elaborate, the pair had finally reached the exit of Snouthold, and Rudrick quickly turned his attention to scanning his surroundings. "Let's see," he mutters, more to himself than to Shieldwing. "If I recall, the old mine is somewhere..." He glances over to his left. "That way, I think." He indicates with a wing. "We don't really usually let drakes out over there. Mines aren't really all that stable." Again, his smile seem to lessen as worry creeps into his eyes. "I really hope Garrock hasn't reached them already."