Chayn: *Tilts head* Of a human? I suppose not. But in some ways I can see it in you. Not all humans are dramatic. I know a few Dragon Keepers who are not. Emeer isn't sometimes, too.

Kaida: Dragon Keepers? that's a bit of an ostentatious notion, isn't it?

Chayn: They don't actually keep us. We let them learn our secrets, transcribe them, and keep them secret and hidden. That is a Dragon Keeper. But to be one, a dragon and keeper are connected, in a sense. We become battle partners.

Kaida: Interesting. I am allied with several dragons but we each have our own business to see to.

Chayn: Allied how? Do you ride them?

Kaida: Two of them do give me rides on occasion. Others are too small. Our territories cross each other, so we do what we can to keep the place suitable for each other as well as ourselves.

Chayn: Too small to ride? I have never seen those in Allare before. Are they hatchlings?

Kaida: They are called Pyrausta. Most are rather small, the old ones can grow to be about as big as I am, but it takes them years. They are simply a naturally small variety. They do like their music though.

Chayn: *Nods* Do you enjoy their music? You seem rather find of them.

Tynx: *Prowling in the flowers, his tail waving high like a flag* I am a hunter... Tanner, how do humans hunt?

Kaida: I do. Their melodies have an odd quality to them, and their rhymes are very unique.

Tanner: That depends on what sort of humans.

Chayn: *Cocks head* Rhyme? Isn't that the outer shell of a melon?

Tynx: There are different kinds of humans?

Kaida: No, rhyming is a sort of game, you play with words that sound the same.

Tanner: Well, no, but there are different ways humans hunt...

Chayn: *Blinks* You just rhymed, didn't you? Is that rhyme?

Tynx: They do? Do they chase prey like wild cats or wolves do?

Kaida: Yes, it is.

Tanner: Well, we mostly use tools or traps... We're not really fast enough the chase most animals. I guess it we do, it's sort of like how a badger does it, where it just keeps following so the animal doesn't have time to rest.

Chayn: *Looks excited* What other rhymes are there?

Tynx: Traps? Like you dig holes?

Kaida: However far you go, over the land, for every new language, you understand, to number the rhymes would not stop at a thousand.

Tanner: Sometimes holes, or we use rope or nets, or small trees, or metal teeth that spring shut when stepped on.

Chayn: *Shifts eagerly* There! There was rhyme! Do you like rhyming in your free time?

Tynx: Metal teeth? Those sound scary. The others are quite clever. Do you hunt?

Kaida: Not so well as my dragon friends. Their skill follows a deeper trend. For in the songs that I have heard, they never repeat a single word.

Tanner: *glances over at Kaida and gives an odd look* No, I don't hunt. I buy my food from markets and stuff.

Chayn: *Looks even more excited at this new thing* Why is that? Surely they can't just pull so many words out of.... what do you call it? A hat?

Lilly: We have a Dr. Seuss!

Emeer: A what? Chayn, what are you doing?

Chayn: Rhyming!

Emeer: She's gone mad.

Tynx: Markets? What do you trade for them?

Since when did my Tynxie become so sheltered?

Kaida: *rolls eyes at Emeer* Singing is one of their few pastimes. They sit in fires and they make rhymes. But that is easy for them to do, so they came up with something new. And now it is to them a little feat, to sing a song where no words repeat.

Tanner: Pieces of paper that have pictures of famous people on them.

Lajh: *cracks his eyes open to peek at Ivy* what will you do if I don't die?

Alastair: where did everyone else go?

Emeer: *Sticks tongue out at Kaida*

Chayn: You just did something similar, didn't you? Not many of your words were the same. *Looks at Emeer* For shame! Be nice to Kaida

Emeer: *Grumbles* My dragon is giving me sass in rhyme.

Lilly: It's high time.

Emeer: Oi, not you too!

Tynx: *Ears prick* Are they green? I've never understood the worth of them. Little green pieces of paper.

Ivy: *Jumps and looks at Lajh* Um... I will hug you. And give you a kiss and say thank you for not being dead.

Kaida: *smirks at Emeer and fingers her sword hilt casually* Well, it is rather hard since they know many more words than I.

Tanner: Yeah, they are. You're supposed to be able to trade them in for silver, but I don't think you can anymore. But people are so used to using them that they don't notice.

Eliana: Hello! We've missed a lot... Wow!

Iliren: Ooh, you're discussing poetry! Exciting.

Emeer: *Glares*

Chayn: But you must have had plenty of practice with them, though.

Emeer: Why don't you Ever compliment me?

Chayn: Because your head is big enough already.

Emeer:

Tynx: *Tilts head* Paper for silver? That's silly. It's just paper. And it smells funny.

Chayn: *To Iliren* Kaida showed me how to rhyme.

Lillian: Hello Eliana! I'm Lilly!

Kaida: Yes. We like to talk by the campfire at night. *laughs when Chayn insults Emeer*

Tanner: Well, the government is supposedly holding our silver so that it doesn't make our pockets too heavy or something. And the little piece of paper is like proof that we have silver, but now we don't have silver, but we still use paper... My dad made sure we still have some gold though.

Iliren: Good for her. I take it you enjoy the new skill.

Eliana: Hello! It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. *curtsies* Lady Eliana has told us a little about you. She's read what your author has posted of your story, you see. It seems you have a rather exciting life.

Lajh: *puts his hands behind his head and stares at the sky, as if to ponder the offer* mmm....sounds fair enough. *sits up*



Alastair: *wanders over to a corner*

Since when are you introverted?

Alastair: *shrugs* *draws*

Timothy: *had fallen asleep in a sunny corner* *wakes up when Alastair comes over to the corner* *props his head up on his hands* What are you doing?

Chayn: What else do you enjoy doing?

Emeer:

*Pats Emeer* No be annoyed. She's only teasing... With a grain of truth.

Emeer: I do not have a big head.

Tynx: What happened to all the silver? *Eyes narrow, trying to understand* Gold? But isn't the money in place of silver?

Chayn: *To Iliren* I do. It's fun.

Lillian: *Smiles and manages an awkward curtsy (in jeans)* I suppose. It's more worrying about Gabriel, though...

Ivy: *Smiles and wraps her arms around Lajh's neck and kisses his cheek* Thank you! For not being dead.

Kaida: Hunting, mainly.

Tanner: I'm not sure if there is even any silver left. We buy gold with the pieces of paper, because you can still trade the paper for things, it's just harder to get gold and silver for it.

Iliren: Good, good. It's funny, my whole adventure started because of a poem.

Eliana: Yeah... That must be really hard for you.

Alastair: hi, Timothy! I was just going to draw...how was your nap?

Lajh: *rises when Ivy's still hugging him, takes her by the waist and spins her around* you're welcome, little princess!

Chayn: What do you like hunting?

Tynx: That's weird. Don't people know there's no more silver?

Chayn: *To Iliren* Did it? How did that happen?

Lillian: *Nods* Yeah, it is. But I'll find him, and I'll kill whoever took him, whoever hurt him.

Uhh.... you forgot somebody already did that.

Lillian: Oh...

Ivy: *Squeals with laughter* Whee!

Kaida: Anything I can eat, or that would want to eat me, or both.

Tanner: I don't think most people know. The ones that do don't really think about it a lot though, except that we try to buy things that will be worth money if the paper stops counting as money.

Timothy: It was nice. I love the sunshine. *sits up and slides over next to his friend* What are you drawing?

Iliren: Well, it was a rather mysterious poem about a fellow who never dies. It was claiming to be truth-

Eliana: *cuts in* So being the crazy scholar that he is, he went on a quest to learn more about this guy. Or to find if his translation of it was correct.

Yeah... And I really don't think being a crazy scholar is enough to start the adventure. A hero is supposed to have the quest thrust upon him. I may have to change it...

Chayn: *Blinks in surprise* What would want to eat you? You would be too fearsome an opponent worth losing a limb or two for a meal.

Emeer: I... Can't tell if that was a compliment or not.

Tynx: *Nods* That's clever. It will probably be bad when everyone finds out, won't it? Why not find more silver? Or gold?

Chayn: Interesting. We do not have immortality in Allare. The closest that come to it are the Elves.

I don't think it has to be thrust upon him. Being a crazy yet curious scholar would be enough to go out and learn, and meet the quest on the way.

Kaida: Stupid creatures want to eat me. But I don't mind. Their skins are very warm and their skulls fetch a good price.

Tanner: I don't know why. That's just the stuff my dad told me.

Chayn: Skulls? What use is a skull? All those do is break into shards and get stuck in your teeth, not to mention the slivers.

Emeer:

Tynx: Your dad is smart, if he knows about it and makes sure he has silver to back up his green paper.

Kaida: Rare skulls. Of a different sort of material than ordinary bone. Very few know how to acquire them so they are worth a good amount.

Tanner: Yeah. *smiles* He was really good at what he did.

Iliren: Thank you, Miss Annor. I, at any rate, think it's a good reason, if my authoress doesn't.

Fine. I'm convinced, Mister Iliren.

Iliren: Good. (And please don't call me Mister!)

Eliana: Eww. Who would want to buy a skull, even if it was stronger bone? Well, I guess your people don't consider bones impure, like the Narunine do.

Chayn: What do people do with them once they have them? Or do they just continue to trade them?

Tynx: *Ears twitch* Was?

*Curtsies to Iliren* Happy to be of service.

Kaida: The material is very strong, but if ground to powder it is supposed to have healing properties.

Tanner: *gives a short nod* Heart attack, five years ago. I was thirteen.

Alace: I haven't drawn anything yet...

Timothy: What are you going to draw?

Chayn: Interesting. Have you tried it before?

Tynx: Oh, I'm so sorry. No one should have to go through something like that...

Kaida: No, I get on well enough without it, and it trades well for more important things.

Tanner: No, they shouldn't...

Alace: *staring thoughtfully at Kaida and Chayn* I might draw them. *motions to Iliren* but I might draw him. I'm not sure yet. What do you think?

Chayn: *Nods* But wouldn't grinding it into the powder be worth even more?

Tynx: *Approaches Tanner and rubs against his leg comfortingly*

Timothy: Is it hard to draw dragons?

Kaida: No, usually traders like to see what they're getting. Otherwise you could be selling them any sort of dust.

Tanner: *smiles a little bit and puts his hand on Tynx' head*