Goblin Town -- Logs

Josie gets out of the van the moment Veles seems to call the all-clear, and Shane does the same, smiling around. Despite being who he is, however, the young beansidhe gives absolutely no sign of martial bearing. Cinnamon slides out of the van as well -- but then, in a sudden fit of shyness, she hesitates, waiting for... her friends to be there too? For Veles to call her over? She's... not sure, but she does know she feels very young and inexperienced, even if she is a dragon! Spice is slow to exit the van; it is perhaps the first time any of them have seen her apparently shy. Thorn steps out as well, hoping he remains non-threatening -- though then again, that's just the healer state of mind. Veles smiles and motions to all of them to come around to his side of the van.

Cinnamon pads along with her friends, struggling with the sudden urge to hide behind Shane and Josie. She scolds herself lightly, internally: she's a big, bad dragon! Everything will be fine, even if the people here don't like her kind of dragon... sheesh! The old lady comes down the two steps from her raised porch, slowly and with the careful movements of someone with arthritis, as she says something to Veles. Cinnamon catches 'tea' and 'come in,' though the pronunciations are odd. Veles smiles at the woman -- who is a full head shorter than him; even shorter than Cinnamon! -- and replies, "Da, Baba." He turns around and adds, "She wants you all to come in for tea and cakes." Thorn smiles warmly and nods his thanks to Veles and his Baba.

Cinnamon's uncertain smile is shy, and despite telling herself not to, she's sort of sidled over so she's partially obscured by Josie and Shane. She murmurs, "Blagodarya ti," in thanks; her Bulgarian is soft and accented. Veles speaks quietly with a pair of young men that look enough alike to be twins. They nod and start taking luggage into the building immediately across the dirt road from the old woman's house. After that, the former mercenary ushers them all inside, where there's room for all of them to sit -- and even a few seats left over. It's clear this particular lady is used to having a lot of people visit.

As Veles said she might, his Baba -- who touches her chest and murmurs, "Lyudmyla" -- smiles in wrinkled delight at Cinnamon's attempt to speak the language, then motions at the sofas and chairs with one curved hand. Even with the language barrier it's clear she's saying, "Sit! Sit, sit, sit!"

Cinnamon grins shyly at the elderly woman, and settles near her friends if she can. Fortunately Josie sits on one of Cinnamon's sides and Spice sits on the other. Shane settles near the little group, and Thorn as well. Veles himself helps his grandmother to her seat as the pair of them have the sort of gentle argument that elders sometimes have with younger members of their family, along the lines of: 'I can do it! I'm not that old!' and 'I know you can, but we have visitors. You sit with them! I will bring the tea.' Cinnamon has to cover a giggle at that! Once the Baba is seated, the nervous young dragon carefully introduces herself and her friends, then grins shyly again as she points at herself and adds, "Cinnamon: kanela!"

Lyudmyla says each of the names as they're told to her -- a little accented, but perfectly obviously the right names. She looks to be thinking hard for a moment, then says in that same softly accented voice, "Welcome to our home."

Thorn bows his head to Lyudmyla and murmurs his thanks to her, smiling. Cinnamon brightens, then beams, "Blagodarya ti, Baba!" A heartbeat later she blushes hotly -- was that too forward?!

Lyudmyla laughs warmly, and a moment later Veles comes back with a tray. The "cakes" he brings them all are actually something like a shortbread cookie: buttery and rich and quite crumbly, dusted with sugar that's not quite fine enough to be confectioner's sugar. He sets the tray on a low table that all the company can easily reach, then goes back to the kitchen. He returns a moment later with another tray -- this one with a teapot on it, accompanied by small, colorfully painted and lacquered tea cups. He settles next to his grandmother and smiles around at everyone, "She's not talking your ear off only because she does not speak English."

Cinnamon grins shyly again, "She's been very welcoming, though. Can you tell her that for us, please?" She isn't quite confident enough to try saying it herself in her half-learned Bulgarian -- she'd be mortified to discover she'd accidentally told this nice old lady something ridiculous like, 'My hovercraft is full of eels!'

Veles smiles and translates; it's the role he plays for the entire time they're there for the lovely little tea. Admittedly, it's neither a long visit nor one with a lot of serious discussion -- it's more the friendly type of conversation which occurs between people who are just getting to know one another; feeling out where they match and where they don't. Lyudmyla, for example, asks them all about their families... and when Veles translates that, he adds, "She still is interested in heredity, even through my Aunt Tatya keeps the histories now."

Cinnamon sighs as she quietly murmurs, "I... don't really, um... talk to my family. They... er, we... sort of... diverged in interests?" She considers, then adds with more energy, "However, I have a new family now!" She brightens as she smiles at Spice and Veles, "We're the Elgan family -- Veles and Spice and me!"

Veles translates this and his Baba nods, saying something with a smile. Veles laughs, then says, "She says sometimes fosterage is what is needed."

Cinnamon's voice is wry as she nods, "Yeah, I think maybe I'm better off with this family rather than my birth family." She smiles with quiet happiness at Josie and Shane too -- it was they, after all, who strongly encouraged her to not take her birth family's beliefs about her as unquestionable truth!

Thorn smiles quietly at Cinnamon's comments, then adds, "My own family is the trod of the Elm."

Cinnamon nods brightly to Thorn, then smiles at Veles' Baba, "Jaeger, who helped Veles too, is of the Elm as well!"

Veles repeats all of that and his Baba beams. She's got all of her teeth and they look to be strong and solid. She says something quickly and Veles says, "She says thank you all again." He looks at his wrist, upon which he is wearing a rather old-fashioned wristwatch, "Ah. The boys will be done getting your rooms ready. Please, come." Cinnamon rises to her feet and smiles as she gives a small head-bob to the elderly woman before following Veles out of the room. She wonders a bit bemusedly when they'll get asked about dragons... and wasn't there a woman that was the priestess of the old, deceased smok-dragon? Perhaps that person can tell Cinnamon a little about dragonish behavior... maybe?

Lyudmyla hugs everyone as they get up to leave, and Veles speaks quietly, "She has old fashioned manners. The priestess will want to speak with you when you have all rested. After all, it has been, what? Seven hours travel today?"

Thorn hugs Lyudmyla back warmly, thanking her for her and her family's hospitality. The rest sounds like a fantastic idea! Cinnamon is happy to gently return the hug -- she's come to realize that this is something which good families just do, after all! She blinks and nods interestedly at Veles, "About that long, yes... though I am curious to hear what the priestess has to say, too!" She worriedly removes her glasses and polishes them on the edge of her shirt as she mutters, "Hopefully... hopefully she, um... won't be disappointed or anything..."

Veles laughs quietly, "The zmei -- he used the name Vladimir here -- in human form was a stout man with gray hair and a very dour expression. But he was very loving to us all. We know better here than to rely on someone's looks to judge them."

Cinnamon puts her glasses back on and smiles a bit wryly up at Veles, "I was actually more worried that she wouldn't think me a really silly little girl, honestly?" She sighs, padding along with everyone else as she adds, "But... I'm probably just worrying over nothing. Yeah. That's it... probably..."

Without any hesitation at all Veles replies, "Da, you are worrying about nothing." He leads them across the road and into the little house there. It too is very clean and, much like Lyudmyla's house, has a very comfortable look. Veles shows everyone around, explaining, "This is my uncle's house. He is an old bachelor and inherited from his mother. There is room enough for everyone if at least two of you share a room."

Thorn nods, smiling, "That won't be a problem."

Cinnamon blushes a bit at Veles' reassurance to her, hunching her shoulders slightly as she follows along. She hopes she's not appearing stupid and silly to Veles too... then realizes she's still worrying, and feels vaguely guilty about that as well. She sighs at herself, then glances at the rooms and sighs softly again. She suspects Josie and Spice will want a room to themselves -- which, honestly, she doesn't begrudge them at all! Shane and Thorn will share a room too, she bets... so hopefully Veles' family won't mind if she has to have a room alone. As she drops her backpack on her bed, Cinnamon wonders a little crossly at herself: must she overthink and worry about everything?!

The only room with a double bed is very neat and tidy, with fresh bedclothes. Josie considers for a moment, then says, "Spice, do you mind if Cinnamon stays in here with me?"

Spice shakes her head, "Don't mind at all, babe. I toss and turn for hours after I've been traveling." Shane takes the room across the hall from that one. The other two rooms are of the sort that might have been built on as a family expanded. One is in the attic, while the other is on the ground floor. To reach it, one has to walk through the kitchen, in fact.

Cinnamon blinks in astonishment at the two women, "Wait, what?! Uh, I mean... wait, I d-don't want to get betwee- er, I mean, you guys d-don't have to -- because of me, I mean -- er, don't have to b-be... alone? Er, separate, I mean?" She blushes hotly a moment later, muttering, "Oh, that was smooth, girl!"

Spice snorts, "Bosslady, take the invitation to snuggle with Josie. She's the best teddy bear there is! -and you've been sleeping on your own a lot."

Cinnamon sighs and smiles, pushing up her glasses, "I guess... what I'm trying to say is... well, er..." She looks suddenly extremely shy, studying her fingers as she twists them together, "Y-you... don't have to go...? Maybe... maybe we all could fit...?"

Spice grins, "Not in that bed, we couldn't." It's true: the bed is a double, not a queen. Beds for two people used to be fairly small, after all -- folks could expect to be pushed up against someone else. Spice grins again, "We can have a slumber party when we get home!" Her eyes get a little mischievous as she adds, "Maybe even Shane and Thorn can come." Cinnamon blushes and giggles, but privately thinks that could be fun! She's blissfully clueless, of course, as to any intended subtext by Spice!

Once everyone has their things in their rooms, Veles looks around, "Rest you tonight. In the morning, my cousin will cook us breakfast and the priestess will come." Cinnamon finds she's actually more tired than she realizes, as she thanks Veles and bids him goodnight. Veles smiles and admits, "Baba was fussing all day. We don't get visitors here. She told everyone we were to be nice." This makes him laugh, and he adds, "Sleep well, everyone."

Thorn also thanks Veles and wishes him a good night, then settles down to sleep. Cinnamon giggles as she waves goodnight to Veles, then closes the door with a yawn. It doesn't take her long to use the bathroom to brush her teeth, then get changed and into bed. She tries a bit fumblingly to apologize again to Josie for not being Spice... but starts to drift off partway through the very warm cuddling.

It's very shortly after the sun comes up that there are knocks on everyone's doors. Whoever chose the one off the kitchen is the first to be roused by Veles. He sounds almost contrite for waking them, but explains that the whole valley wakes early. In many ways it's a farming community. Thorn doesn't mind waking up early; travel has definitely thrown off his inner clock as it is, but it's best to be awake and active to try to reorient the body's cycles with the new time zone. He politely asks Veles, when he's up and around, if there's anything he can do to help.

Cinnamon yawns and stretches, then gives herself a tiny, happy smile -- she kinda really loves cuddling, she decides! Maybe... maybe she should get a cat or something? It's not like poor Josie can always be available for sleepy cuddles, after all... oh! And also: today she gets to meet the priestess! Cinnamon hugs Josie, "Morning, JoJo!" -- then slides excitedly out of bed, adding, "Breakfast, then hopefully I'll finally get to talk to someone who can tell me a bit about how to be a good dragon!"

Josie snorts, "You are a good dragon!" The wolf shifter dropped her human guise the moment it was safe to do so -- and no one here made any comment at all about it. She hugs Cinnamon and then heads downstairs, though she does have to duck under a door or two to do so. Veles has coffee going, but tells the gathered folks that he's been forbidden from touching the actual kitchen. Cinnamon patters in after Josie, beaming at the scent of coffee and giggling at Veles' comment.

People have barely found seats around the sturdy table before two women arrive. One is late middle-aged and starts both the stove and the oven going. She says something cheerful that can only be a greeting and before long, there's a lot of food out and not much empty counterspace. The other woman smiles and introduces herself as Olga, shaking everyone's hands. She takes the cup of strong black tea that Veles offers and settles into one of the chairs at the table. There are still a couple of empty chairs, even with everyone seated. It's obvious this table is meant for a large family. Cinnamon glances around, then leans to whisper a bit nervously to Veles, "Can we, umm... is there anything we can do to help?"

Veles stage-whispers back, "You can try, but she won't let you."

That makes Olga laugh, "You're guests." Her accent is thick, but she's perfectly understandable, "Ivanna will want to do it all herself." She turns her head and says something to the woman cooking that makes Ivanna laugh and wag her finger at the visitors in a playfully scolding manner.

Thorn smiles sheepishly, and will let Ivanna handle all that she wants to. He has some coffee, which is much stronger than he's used to and erases any lingering doubt that it is daytime and he is AWAKE. Cinnamon blushes, but grins shyly at that! She glances around a bit ruefully... then simply sits back and slowly drinks her coffee. She's not sure what to do... oh! To Veles she says, "Who's the priestess, Veles? What's her name? Will she be here at breakfast with us too?"

Olga's dark eyes dance as she says, "I am. Olga. And I already am."

Cinnamon blinks at the woman... then smiles in embarrassment, "Oh, sorry -- I didn't mean to be rude. Umm..." she glances around again, then decides best to just fall silent. She sort of hides behind her coffee cup... she's not good at friendly chatter, unfortunately!

Olga smiles, "Yes, but I did not tell you that I was the priestess." She's holding her cup of tea in both hands as she adds, "Dmitri tells me that you all are the reason that we have him alive and back in his right mind." She's looking much more serious.

Cinnamon grins shyly, "Well, um... actually, Jaeger was the one -- I mean, he's not here, sorry -- but he... well, it was him that, uhh... kinda... started it?" She wonders a bit frantically how one politely says something like 'I set him on fire but I didn't mean to sorry about that'?! -- and hastily decides that yes, this is quite the fascinating mug!

Dmitri leans against the one small part of counter that isn't being used; he smiles, "Jaeger gave me sanctuary. Thorn gave me healing. Cinnamon shocked me back to my right mind. Purification, you might say."

Cinnamon winces slightly at that! 'Purification'... yep, that's the absolute nicest way she's ever heard of someone saying she pretty much torched them! She gabbles a bit hastily, to change the subject, "Oh, uh, a-and Sh-Shane! He, er, he t-trusted Ve- uh, I mean Dmitri... right?!" She glances at Shane, desperately hoping everybody will look at him instead!

Veles nods and adds, "And Shane treated me like a friend." His dark eyes have a glint of humor as he smiles, "And Spice let me know no bullshit would be tolerated."

Cinnamon blinks at that, tilting her head curiously at Spice -- this is something she'd not heard of? Spice looks unrepentant, but still grins at Veles. Olga nods, "He mentioned there was an injury that reminded him there are still sacred things in the world. That there are still beings that use their gifts to protect others."

Cinnamon wonders what happened with Spice and Veles -- but at Olga's words she blushes and hunches her shoulders a little, hiding behind her coffee mug again. She's really not sure she's as wonderful as that statement sounds, honestly! All she really remembers is seeing the knife coming at her and panicking, after all. Shane says quietly, "Cinnamon is not violent by nature and I think she may see the, ah... injury as something horrible she did." Cinnamon gives Shane a tiny, grateful sideways glance! -- then goes back to staring rather intently at her coffee.

Olga nods, "Our zmei, Dragan, talked much about the fact that love should be solid and gentle but have the ability to be strong in the protection of others."

Veles grins and says, "Dragan actually means Beloved."

Cinnamon blinks at Olga... then turns to confusedly ask Veles, "I thought you said he went by Vladimir? Or is that just a title Olga used for him?"

Veles nods, "Title, yes. Honorific. Dragan. Beloved. Like you might call a priest Father. Except this one is heartfelt. His name was Vladimir."

Cinnamon nods at that, "Okay." She glances shyly sideways at Olga for an instant, then back at her mug... and sighs softly. She wishes they'd serve breakfast so she doesn't have to sit here and do nothing any more... she's terrible at chattering, and she's starting to feel more and more like a fraud, compared to Dragan Vladimir!

Olga smiles at Cinnamon and says, "I can tell you are beloved, too." As she says that, Ivanna starts putting food on the table, "Dmitri tells me you have questions. That all of you do. That you are new to knowing you are zmei... but you are not quite like our zmei."

Cinnamon blinks confusedly at Olga... then wonders if Olga thinks someone else is the dragon? She looks up at Ivanna's placing food down and murmurs soft thanks, then sets her mug down and waits until the food is passed to her. She's feeling a little embarrassed -- she doesn't really want to admit that she's utterly clueless as to how to do well at being a dragon! Still... she sighs internally: it's not like these folks here either already know her, or would likely hear about her confusion from Olga, in later discussions... so... here goes nothing, she decides. She takes a deep breath, then says as steadily as she can, "W-well, I, uh, I-I was wondering... if, um, if... your dragon had any advice for me, maybe? Please? L-like... like how t-to be good at b-being a dragon m-maybe?!" She winces slightly at how her words sort of tilt up onto a squeak at the end there... then just stares resignedly at her coffee mug. She's just not... really the impressive sort of dragon, she guesses. Best these folks learn that ASAP...

Olga smiles and then turns to Ivanna and asks something. Ivanna nods and bustles off to the front room of the house as Olga continues, "Vladimir would say to be a good zmei, you would listen more than you speak. You would be humble and learn the things you do not know. You would teach the things you do know. You would learn from the things you stumble over. You would not whip yourself over things you cannot help or cannot fix." Thorn nods as he listens to Olga, thinking that it sounds like Cinnamon is already well on the way to being a good zmei -- er, dragon.

The food on the table is all very hearty -- there are fried eggs, cottage cheese dumplings, blini, slices of something almost... bologna-like? Hearty cheeses, bread and butter, jams... Cinnamon fills her plate with relief when the platters of food are passed around -- she's hungry, and this will give her something to focus on while she listens! She nods interestedly to Olga... then grins wryly and sighs a bit. That not whipping thing? ...yeah, not so good at that yet... she sighs, then chastises herself internally: mustn't give up! She takes a breath, then nervously asks, "S-so... er, b-but, I mean... how, uh, how are you supposed to learn the things you don't know yet... when you don't even know what they are yet?! Y-you know...?"

Ivanna comes back carrying a very old-fashioned kind of photo album. Olga moves things around on the table and opens it up, flipping through a few of the pictures. The one she stops on is in sepia. It looks like it's at least eighty or ninety years old. The man in the picture is short, stout, round of cheek, and thin of hair. He has a bushy beard and long moustaches that are something like Jarek's -- only much less elaborate. He is in no way impressive or imposing.

Cinnamon stares in silent fascination at the... daguerreotype? She's not sure what it is precisely, though she knows it likely doesn't matter that much. "Is that him?" She delicately touches the edge of the photo album page with a light fingertip, and sighs softly. Will there someday be a book like this for her? Will people she lived with and people she'll never know both lean together to look at a modern photo of her, now... and think how incredibly old and archaic the technology and the person both look? She smiles faintly at that thought, realizing that she'd be okay with that. It'd at least mean someone loved her and missed her after she was gone, after all, wouldn't it?

Olga taps the picture, "This is Vladimir in... nineteen..." She peers at the bottom of the picture, squinting, "Eighteen. He had gone with some of the villagers to Sofia to bring back a shipment of stone we needed. The photographer was asking for people to pose for pictures so he could have advertisement. So he took this picture of Vladimir." Her eyes twinkle, "People not of here would never have guessed that he was a sacred zmei, I do not think." Cinnamon smiles quietly, almost visually devouring the photo. Can she spot any similarities between Vladimir and her greatsire Liam?

Olga adds, "You cannot see here, but his hair was a little reddish. It is unusual here to have red hair. His was not so very obviously red all the time." Olga sighs, adding, "He protected us. There have been people that tried to invade our little valley and take it by force. We do not have many weapons. He stopped them." She sighs again as she continues, "He mourned that. To have to kill? He hated it. But he said that if you cannot talk your way to peace, sometimes you must make peace by removing the threat."

Cinnamon grins at that, murmuring quietly, "Like Liam! His hair was red too!" She smiles a bit wistfully, but then reminds herself: she's got the size and strength and abilities of a dragon! Having boring hair is a really small price to pay for that, really. She blinks at Olga's sigh, glancing up at the woman, "Er... recently? Invaders, I mean?" She pauses, considering that... then frowns, "Hope not. I mean, what will you all do now, you know?"

Olga shakes he her head, "I do not know. Now that Vladimir is gone, we pray that one of the women will bear a smok -- or that we will find one. It has been so long that we have had a small one... Vladimir was very old and it has been generations..."

Cinnamon looks a bit guilty at that, glancing quickly back down at the photo... then at her food. She's... not sure how she can help these people, honestly. She'd be happy to encourage supernatural friends to move here to help them, but... she's kinda already promised to do Liam's job, herself! She glances thoughtfully at Josie and Shane, "Do you... either of you know anyone that might like to move here... to live?"

Shane laughs quietly, "Honestly? Jarek would adore it here. He could drink coffee like this every morning and keep things running steadily."

Cinnamon grins wryly, "Well, yeah, but... he's a Councilor too, like me? I was thinking maybe more... someone that was looking for a job, kinda?"

Thorn fidgets a little. He'd be willing, but it would mean leaving Coblyn Street and the Trod of the Elm... but maybe more importantly, he's more useful as a roving healer, he has to admit. Actually, that might not be a bad idea. He'll have to think on that more....

Josie considers, "It's something to keep in mind."

Olga nods, "Vladimir seemed to think that we would find one... or that one would find us." She pats Cinnamon's hand, "He told me that you would be scared. That being young is scary for zmei and dragons and all the sacred serpents. He said that the things to remember are that fire is a tool. That strength is good if it is not lorded over others. That flying is a joy. That all dragons are different... and that you should visit Iceland. For that, he did not tell me more. Sometimes he was quite infuriating."

Cinnamon smiles shyly up at Olga... then blinks, "...Iceland?" She's still a little -- well, a lot! -- unsure about fire... but figures she'll think more about that later. Then she blinks again at another thought, "Oh! Did he fly here? Over the valley, I mean?"

Olga says, "Iceland. I think he did. There are volcanoes there. Did you know that? I did not."

Cinnamon wonders who covers Iceland... probably Hilde? She grins at her friends, "I'll have to ask Hilde about Iceland!" Then she looks confusedly at Olga, "He... you think he flew here, or you think he knew about volcanoes in Iceland?"

Olga laughs, "I think he flew there." Then she beams, "Oh!" and flips through the photo album again... until she comes to another picture. This one is very wide and is of a creature that make Shane laugh, "Oh my god. It's Falcor!"

Cinnamon pushes up her glasses as she leans to look. Her voice is soft, "Are there really luck dragons? I loved that movie!" Then she gives Olga another confused look, "Wait, he -- you mean Vladimir flew to Iceland?!"

Shane can be forgiven for his exclamation, since the creature in the picture is long and coiling, and has six legs along its length. The photo is in black and white, so the dragon could be any light color... but does seem to actually be white. Even in monotone it's obvious the scales are iridescent, and the almost-blocky head has tendrils around the mouth that are reminiscent of Vladimir's moustaches. There also seem to be something like feathers around the ankles and at the very tip of the tail. Olga smiles, "Yes. When he was young and exploring."

Cinnamon's eyes grow wide, "That's Vladimir?! Oh my gosh he's beautiful!"

Veles grins and nods, "That is Vladimir, da. He was beautiful in that form. He said it made up for him looking like a human boulder."

It actually takes a bit to notice the wings that are folded close against the sides of his long and sinuous body. Cinnamon stares for a few seconds... then looks up a bit wistfully at her friends, "Do my scales shimmer so pretty like that too? I've always been too busy to really check...?" Josie snorts and scowls, "You're pretty in both forms! I told you, there's something wrong with your parents' eyes!"

Cinnamon giggles self-consciously at that, leaning to hug Josie's furry arm, "Thanks, Jo -- you always make me feel better!"

Thorn grins to Cinnamon, "Oh, they definitely do."

Cinnamon blushes with pleasure at Thorn! She sighs a bit more happily after that, relaxing a tiny bit. She smiles up at Olga, "So... how can we help you all, please?"

Olga says, "This will sound perhaps strange... but the crops need to be blessed, and we have no zmei now to do it."

Cinnamon nods thoughtfully, "Well... can you tell me how the ritual goes, and what the dr- er, zmei would have to do? Er, I mean... if y-you want? I, er, I d-don't want to get in the way or anything...?"

Olga smiles and describes the ritual. It actually sounds quite simple. Of course, most paganish rituals often are. Part of it apparently is a sort of controlled burn of particular fields to enrich the soil. The priestess adds, "That should be the night of the full moon, if possible. Could you stay that long?"

Cinnamon thinks about that... it'll be a week if they want the actual night. She worries about Fraser for a moment -- but then smiles to herself as she realizes he'll be fine -- he'll likely be on board the Valkyrie at that point! She looks at her friends, "It's a week away. Is that okay with all of you?"

Olga says, "If it cannot be that night, any night of the waxing moon will work. Growth."

Thorn nods, "That'll give me more than enough time to help with medical checks, if they want it."

Cinnamon smiles and nods to Olga, "And it's waxing now, right. Fine by me!" She smiles at Thorn too, then glances inquiringly at everyone else.

Shane nods, "I'm good. My job here is to keep an eye out. Quinn told me I'm to make sure everyone comes back in once piece." He grins, "I think he was mostly trying to tell me not to get in trouble myself." Josie too nods, as does Spice.

Olga sighs and smiles ruefully to Thorn, "Yes. Please. We have two young women that are pregnant and might need medical help. The others that are pregnant seem to be going along fine. One of our older men has a cough he cannot shake."

Thorn nods to Olga. "I'll be glad to have a look at them!" he says warmly.

Cinnamon giggles at her friends, then smiles at Olga, "Awesome. Okay, I'm happy to help too, then! Though, umm..." she hesitates, looking a bit embarrassed, "I... haven't actually ever flown yet? I, uhmm... I, er, I've only b-been a d-dragon like, uhh... m-maybe not quite six months yet?"

Olga says warmly, "You have been a dragon all your life, sladurche! Perhaps you have not had full use of your powers until recently. But it is like being a woman -- you are born with all the equipment, but it does not wake up until puberty, da?" She smiles, "So, we will have test flights for a day or so while Thorn talks with people?"

Cinnamon looks first relieved, then worried, "I, ahh... okay?" She winces slightly, mentally hoping she doesn't (literally?!) crash and burn!

The rest of the morning is spent meeting people, all of whom are warm and welcoming. There are a lot of hugs and Cinnamon gets a lot of greetings and thanks -- apparently Veles/Dmitri was quite missed. Any time she seems abashed about her part in his return, she is told that sometimes pain is needed to wake you up if you are doing something wrong. Cinnamon always nods politely at being told that, and valiantly tries to hide her growing dismay. The idea of deliberately hurting people is rather repugnant to her! She's starting to wish she could go hide somewhere, as more and more people seem to be staring cheerfully at her. She finally turns a little desperately to whomever is standing next to her and doing the introductions -- she's lost track by now -- and inquires a bit frantically, "So! Uh, so... w-wasn't there supposed to be f-flying lessons?!"

Thorn makes sure to arrange days and times, with Veles, to visit with the people who have medical conditions. He'll be seeing the two women that night, and the man the next day. After that, Veles brings the whole group together to a field for Cinnamon to try out flying. The field has been fallow this season, so she's not going to damage any crops with her attempts. Veles points to the edge of the field and into the forest at the edge, "Vladimir's house is back there a bit. He said he liked the quiet sometimes. But he often stayed with one family or another."

Cinnamon nods, rubbing her hands together a little anxiously as she glances around... then takes a deep breath and nods, "Okay. Okay, I... I can do this..." She feels quivery with nerves on the inside, but at least there's no one around that will laugh at her if she bellyflops or something! Just her friends and Olga are here right now. She squares her shoulders, staring out at the field... then changes shape to a dragon. Another deep breath... and then she tilts her big, triangular head to stare down at Veles with one eye, "I d-don't suppose you have any, uhmm... flying advice f-from Vladimir?"

Olga looks quite interested -- Cinnamon is an entirely different shape, color, and conformation than Vladimir! Different number of legs, and everything. Veles shakes his head with a smile, "No, I don't."

Shane says, "Did you ever fly a kite?"

Cinnamon shakes her head at Shane, "N-no, that..." she bites back on saying that it wasn't athletic enough for her family, instead simply adding, "we... w-we never did anything like that?" She experimentally spreads her wings, though, as she adds, "Did, like... the wind just sort of... pick Liam up? Or did he flap a lot?"

Olga smiles, "What Shane..." which comes out almost like 'Shine' in her accent "...says is nearly right. Spread your wings and..." she holds her arms out and shifts them as if she's rotating them, "until you catch the wind in them."

Spice grins, "Sounds like stickin' your fuckin' hand out the window when you're drivin' down the interstate at 80."

In the sunlight, Cinnamon's hide does indeed sheen iridescently -- the gleaming scarlet scales shimmer with rich purple, shining gold, and delicate green highlights. She blinks her very large eyes -- eyes that can pick out tiny movements on the ground when she's flying high above, though she doesn't yet know that -- and nervously coils and uncoils her tail a few times as she tries to feel that remembered sensation, "Oh, that's a good idea, Spice -- thank you!" She flexes her wings, testing how the musculature works as much as feeling for the wind.

Shane stands a little clear... not because he's afraid something bad is going to happen, but because he wants to make sure Cinnamon feels like she's got plenty of room. He knows she's often afraid of hurting people. The young dragon feels an abrupt wind tug on her wings, much like the sensations Spice described... so she gives an experimental little hop -- then nearly shrieks with shock and delight as she's suddenly airborne! Thorn beams, shielding his eyes from the sun as he watches Cinnamon pop up into the air. She's so surprised, however, that she almost forgets to flap -- and then, when she nervously remembers, she flaps so vigorously and hard that she almost rockets away from the field! Josie bounces and howls happily as Cinnamon takes flight for the first time. Spice puts her pinkies to the corners of her mouth to whistle sharply and loudly before laughing delightedly.

It takes Cinnamon several minutes of experimentation before she figures out how to ease back on the frantic flapping, then level out, and then glide easily. After that she tries a slow horizontal turn -- and accidentally stalls herself out again! Mad flapping ensues, along with a few accidental flips and rolls -- and some personally embarrassing squeaks and chirps! Finally however, heart pounding and almost panting with excitement, she manages not only to make a successful turn... but also to spiral in a slow and controlled fashion back down to the field where the others are standing. She lands carefully in the middle of the field, coughs and waits for the chaff to settle a bit... then nearly bounds excitedly over to her friends, "Wow, did you see did you see I flew I did I really did it!"

As is natural for all Josies, there is a large bounding, howling, tongue-lolling hug from a wagging seven-foot-tall wolf-shifter upon landing. Josie does seem to enjoy being able to pounce-hug people she isn't going to bowl over. Thorn applauds heartily when Cinnamon lands! There are many hugs and much laughter as Cinnamon first nearly frisks around them -- causing the ground to shudder slightly under her unwitting pounding -- and then tries to carefully hug or nuzzle her friends, "Oh my gosh I wasn't sure I could do it but I did! I really really did!"

Olga is beaming and applauding. If there's a hug or a nuzzle aimed her way, she returns it with enthusiasm, "You did beautifully!"

Shane is the only one to tease slightly, "And the squeaks were adorable!"

The skin between Cinnamon's scales, all over her face, flushes almost as brightly as her scales at that! She finally grins down at her friends and cheerfully announces, "I'ma go practice s'more! Anyone want to come along?" She pauses, thinking about that for a moment... then looks curiously at Olga, "Hey, that's a thought! Did Vladimir have a carrying harness or something?"

Olga says, "He did, but it would not fit you. He was... more slender? He was snakelike. You are sturdier." This comment has absolutely no judgement attached to it, of course.

Cinnamon hmms thoughtfully at that... then grins, "Okay! Maybe we can check it out later, though? Like... maybe build one like it but fitted to me? Would that be okay?" Coaxingly she adds, "I'd be happy to pay for it, if so?"

Olga waves that off, "It will be a gift. An..." She looks at Veles, "What is the English word?"

Veles smiles, "Honorarium. A thank you, not a payment."

Cinnamon blinks slowly at Olga, considering... then smiles, "Well, then... then thank you so much! I'm happy to help all I can, considering how helpful you all have been for me!" She grins a bit shyly at her friends as she adds, "Maybe we should wait on me carrying anyone in flight until there's a harness, okay? I do- er, it might be safer that way, you know?"

Everyone agrees that it makes sense to have a harness of some sort! Riding a dragon bareback doesn't seem all that wise. Josie grins, "There's not even a mane to hold onto!"

Cinnamon giggles, then grins, "Well, I'll try to plan better for next time!" She laughs, then excuses herself to go fly some more -- she'd like to practice a bunch between now and the time of the ritual! It will, in fact, be a few hours before she returns -- she practices gliding and flapping, takeoffs and landings, flaming while flying without blowing the fire back into her own face, low flight so she doesn't crash into trees, and (though she doesn't currently know the correct terms) how to properly roll, pitch, and yaw as she flies.

Veles laughs and says, "I'll show people around while Cinnamon is playing, da?" He knows it will be a few hours. Olga, however, stays in the field with the young dragon, cheering and laughing as she encourages Cinnamon in experimentation. It's half in English and half in the obscure dialect, which Olga usually tries to translate, so she can hopefully help the young dragon learn the little valley's native tongue.

The little village turns out to have most of what it needs to be self-sufficient. There's a sawmill, a gristmill, and several different crops being grown. Different people make textiles, and there's a seamstress as well. There's a carpenter and cabinetmaker, along with a glass maker -- though the raw materials for her craft have to be brought in. There's even a blacksmith. There's a wainwright, who they find in the midst of making one of the brightly-painted wagons they've seen here and there. This one, however, is enclosed like a Romany caravan. There is a church, though it's by no means Christian -- in fact, it's almost more a meeting hall. The windows are large and mostly stained glass, depicting harvest scenes and other natural panoramas. There's also a building which Veles says is the archive. He goes on to explain that it is where the genealogies and histories are kept -- then smiles wryly, "When you are so insular, it is important to know who is related to whom and how closely."

Later, Thorn attends to the pregnant women, giving them a routine checkup and making sure nothing is going wrong with their pregnancies. He's not a real doctor, but he's learned a lot in the infirmary of Coblyn Street. He's reluctant to rely on his magic for this only because he doesn't know how it will affect the fetuses.

The two pregnant women have apparently been put on 'light duty,' meaning that they're in the home of one of them, doing some handiwork -- embroidering bodices for the year's harvest festival. It allows them to sit and be relatively quiet, yet still productive. It's quickly obvious that they aren't being made to be productive, but apparently neither of them wants to be 'lolling about.' A little bit of checking finds that they're both having fairly normal pregnancies, as well... it's just that one of them is having either twins or a rather large child. The other is having a moderate case of gestational hyperemesis -- basically extreme morning sickness. That's something Thorn would like to treat herbally, in a manner that won't disturb the pregnancy. He tries to remember if extreme morning sickness is a sign of anything. Hmm... no, nothing bad -- but she'll need lots of fluids, and to get more magnesium and potassium. Possibly supplements would do it, though that may need to be something they get from town. He informs the woman of this, and also checks the other woman, just to make sure.

There's some muttering and grumping about it. The woman that seems to be having a large child sighs and then makes a joke about this is what happens when your lover is over six foot four. The rejoinder from the other woman makes her laugh and makes Veles snort -- but he doesn't actually translate. Thorn smiles as they joke with each other. That's a good sign, of course! They're both healthy and hale, and there are no problems with the pregnancies that he can see. Veles chuckles, "Well, we can pick up other supplies in town while we're there. Electrolyte supplements, mm? This is one of the few things that makes me worry about my family here. We have so few medical people and the closest real doctor is back in town... and you've seen how far that is."

Thorn nods soberly to Veles, "It is far, yes. But fortunately closer these days, thanks to the van. I'm not sure what to recommend, except I'm sure you have a midwife in the village who'll help when it's time."

Veles nods, "Yes, that we have."

That night there's a big dinner in the church/meeting hall and the visitors get to meet more of the villagers. Quite a few of them speak English, though it is mostly heavily accented and slightly old-fashioned. Veles and Olga do a lot of translating, and people seem to sort of rotate in and out as if they are coming by as they finish, or have to leave for, chores. Cinnamon listens intently and with fascination to both the native tongue and the translations -- she's starting to pick up bits and pieces of the language, much to her pleasure! She grins and thanks Olga for sticking by while the young dragon practiced flying, too -- then apologizes if it was boring to wait on her!

Olga laughs and says, "This is not meant as, uhm..." she makes a motion at her mouth as if the word is not coming out, "patronizing? -but it is wonderful to watch a child learn to walk. It is like that -- you are young." Cinnamon blushes, but nods... then grins and turns back to her food.

The dinner is going well with laughter and chatter, so it's a shock when the doors slam open and two young men come running in, breathless and a little wild-eyed, obviously looking for someone in particular. Cinnamon blinks as she looks up, then glances curiously at Veles and Olga, to see how they react. Thorn too looks over at the doors when they slam open, frowning... then glances at Veles and Olga for guidance.

Veles pushes to his feet, as do Olga and two other older men, as the two young men rush over. Since Olga and Veles are near the visiting party, the visitors hear most of what's said: the young men had been in town, basically on liberty -- most of the village's young people will go into town every couple of months or so, just to explore, as young people do. The difference this time is that the two young men overheard some people asking around about the legends of the zmei. Veles translates this as it goes and explains why the boys were in the town -- not the city, but this smaller town closer in.

Thorn frowns at that -- he's guessing the people asking were not Cinnamon's group. Who else would be coming to Bulgaria so soon after Vladimir's death, asking about the legends of the zmei? Cinnamon nods curiously to Veles, pushing her glasses up as she wonders why the young men are so upset. The legends of the zmei aren't secret, after all, if she can read about them on wikipedia? Veles is nodding and frowning as he says something similar to the young men. But then one of them says something else and motions at the ceiling. Veles' eyes narrow, "Ah. They were asking of sightings -- not just legends."

Cinnamon looks surprised at that, glancing at Olga, "When was the last time Vladimir flew? Surely it wasn't recently?" To Veles she adds puzzledly, "Can you ask the boys what the questioning folks looked like? Like... were they foreigners or something?"

Olga considers, "He... flew every harvest -- for the ritual -- and sometimes he flew for the joy of it, but we have much land here, and we patrol... it is private. Safe... we try to make it safe..." She's looking very worried.

Veles sighs, "Yes, but even the most private and safe place can sometimes be invaded." He speaks with the boys a bit longer, continuing to translate. The questioners spoke Bulgarian, but the young men thought it seemed accented. They didn't know what accent, however. Veles, having been a mercenary, keeps asking questions: haircuts? Clothing? Tattoos? Eventually the listeners get that all of the questioners were men and all of them had short haircuts. None of them had any visible tattoos, but they all wore long sleeves. They did speak together in some other language... and one of them did have a scar on the side of his face. When it's all put together, they sound almost military... or paramilitary.

Cinnamon is starting to get worried as she listens -- to both the young men and the translators. Only once Veles has finished questioning them does she turn to him and murmur softly, "Could they be... tracking off of you, maybe? Did you talk at all about the smok while you were, um... a mercenary?"

Veles holds up his tattooed hands, "I said these were just snakes. As a mercenary, you don't even trust your best friends with things like that. But there are groups out there that search for rare things. Poachers... people will pay for rare things. Some hunt for so-called cryptids..."

Shane says grimly, "Or maybe they're very much aware of the hidden world."

Cinnamon nods slowly... then tilts her head at Shane, "So they're searching? Do they need help, maybe?"

Thorn says worriedly, "It may be that they need the opposite of help."

Cinnamon hesitates, then adds, "I mean... I know I'm very young, so it's likely you're all right, but... how would they find help if they were themselves supernaturals that didn't know it?" She pauses, then adds more worriedly, "Though... good point that paramilitary guys probably are up to no good..."

Veles scratches his chin thoughtfully, "Tonight we are doubling patrols all around the perimeter. All three gates are to check in twice as often. No one gets past that is not one of us. Tomorrow I will take the visitors into town. We will play clueless tourist, and speak to these men."

Cinnamon glances at Olga, murmuring quietly, "Olga, do you... maybe want to do the ritual a little earlier than the full moon?"

Olga nods, her expression tight, "Yes. Earlier would be good. Safer, I think."

Cinnamon takes a deep breath, then nods once, "Okay. I think I can do it, then, whenever you're ready. Sound good?"

Olga nods again, obviously worried, "Tomorrow. At sunrise. Before people go into town."

Cinnamon nods, clasping her hands tightly together, "Okay! C-can you have someone wake me up early then, a-and... please, if it's not too demanding -- could I have a big breakfast too?"

Olga takes Cinnamon's hands and gently unclasps them, "I will wake you. You can have anything you like for breakfast."

Cinnamon blinks bemusedly down at her hands... then grins sheepishly at Olga, "Sorry. Um... okay. Just... like, eggs and bacon and juice and toast, like today... that'd be fine? I just know I'm always extra hungry after dragoning, you know?"

Olga squeezes Cinnamon's hands -- she seems to have taken the clasping as a nervous gesture and is trying to reassure the young dragon, "Of course you are. It takes much energy." She smiles serenely as she adds, "You will be perfect."

Cinnamon sighs and smiles, relaxing a bit at Olga's faith in her. She thinks for a moment, then adds as firmly as she can while still worried, "I p-promise, Olga, I'll try my best on the ritual -- even if I'm not a sacred dragon l-like Dragan Vladimir!"

There is some anxiety amongst the villagers, but Veles -- along with some of the other folks of his age and slightly older -- take over and get things settled and relaxed. It's easy to see how Veles could be a sergeant or higher in a military organization: he stays calm and is good at calming the others. Shane and Josie both offer their services in walking patrols or keeping guard, but they are gently turned down, as they are not of the community and therefore might accidentally be mistaken as of the interlopers. Thorn quietly reminds Veles that he's a healer, but understands the need for them to be out of the way. He tells Veles that he'll be available all night if there's any medical needs. Veles embraces Thorn and then holds him out at arm's length to smile warmly at him, "You, my friend, are a blessing on us all."

Cinnamon watches silently and wistfully... and hopes she doesn't mess up tomorrow. Olga puts her arm around Cinnamon's shoulder and smiles, "You are going to do us a very large favor. You know that all of this..." she gestures in a wide, sweeping gesture, "was to keep Vladimir safe? To keep the smok and the zmei safe?" Cinnamon pushes up her glasses as she nods silently to Olga. The older woman looks at her, voice soothing, "Just as he also kept us safe. Kept us fed and healthy. I can see you are doing that also with your family... even those ones that you brought that do not carry the name you have made. They are your family."

Cinnamon nods silently again and gives Olga a very small smile. Quite honestly, she hasn't a clue how to tell this nice woman just how... ineffective and unready she feels, compared to all these really competent people around her. She once again unhappily wishes she could have made it here before Vladimir died. Even if there's no such thing as 'sacralizing' a person, maybe he'd have known the right thing to say to help her be... a little more confident, a bit better, at being a dragon?

People begin to go to their appointed rounds for the night. Olga stays close by the visitors, as does Veles, once he's done his bit with the organizing. It seems he wants to be with his new family... he is, after all, Cinnamon's self-appointed protector! When they are sitting in the parlor of the house the visitors are using, Veles says, "I do not like that the known dragons are all quietly passing away. It is not good for the world, I think."

Cinnamon blinks at Veles, "Known... oh! Do you know of more besides Liam and Vladimir?"

Veles shakes his head, "Personally? No. But... there have to be! Didn't someone say there are Eastern dragons? The Chinese ones?"

Cinnamon nods a bit sadly, "Yeah. But they're sacred too... not like me or Liam."

Shane says, "What makes you think you aren't sacred, acushla?"

Cinnamon wonders nervously if that will affect how successful the ritual is... she jumps a bit at Shane's query, which knocks her out of her stressing, and blinks at him, "What... oh. Qadan, actually... and everything I've read about Welsh or other UK dragons doesn't include anything about sacrality. If anything, dragons in the western world are more traditionally connected with evil and greed."

Thorn provides, "Are they? Or is that just how jealous and envious humans have written about them? I know the sidhe are only partly how they are described in myths... but we've been traveling with several of them. And werewolves? Either the mad, flesh-tearing kind or the Norse berserkers. Josie is fierce, but she hasn't, you know, gone fuzzy and tried to kill us all." He doesn't even feel the need to add a 'yet' to that.

Cinnamon stutters along her previous thought still, "Which, like, I think is likely just people being scared of them -- the greed and evil, I mean -- b-but... the rest of it? I... I don't know?" She glances towards the priestess, then leans to whisper to Shane, "It's... kinda scaring me -- like, will my doing the ritual mess it up somehow?!"

Josie snorts, "Yeah. After the stupid Christians came in and tried to make everything thing evil and greedy." There's a bit of chuckling and agreement at that.

Shane grins at Cinnamon, "It's what's in your heart that matters. What was it C.S. Lewis said? All the service done for Tash?"

Cinnamon thinks about that for a bit... then says slowly, "I... sort of hope that's right, but at the same time... doesn't it kind of... sort of negate human free will?" She sighs, pushing her glasses up again as she forces a smile at her friends, "I'm sorry. I'm just... being overly stressy, I'm sure. I think... I think I'm just gonna go to bed early, ok?"

Josie hops up and nods, "Good idea. Up early for flying and then going into town!" She's beaming as if the flying is a really awesome thing. She didn't get to see Cinnamon doing much of it, after all! Cinnamon smiles more genuinely up at Josie. She's really relieved the happy young werewolf is there -- Josie always makes Cinnamon feel a bit better!

The next morning, it proves a good idea that they went to bed early -- because they are indeed awakened before dawn. The food is already cooking and is even more hearty than the morning before: sausages, bacon, ham, eggs, toast, preserves... some kind of dumpling Olga tells them is made with cottage cheese, along with blini, juice, tea, and coffee rich enough to stand up a spoon in it! Cinnamon sighs in relief, quietly thanking Olga for the incredibly fortifying breakfast! She eats well, quietly determined to do her best regardless of what sort of dragon she is.

Instead of it just being Olga and Cinnamon this time, Veles and the others come along. Olga quietly lets Cinnamon know that it would normally be most of the village but that she has not told them what time it would be because she did not want to put pressure on the young dragon, "You are going to do beautifully, but you seem worried. You can show off for us all later!"

Thorn also reassures Cinnamon during breakfast: "You're going to do fine, Cinnamon. I saw you yesterday, you'll be perfect today."

Cinnamon smiles a little shakily at Thorn and Olga, "M-maybe next year they can all come out...?"

Olga beams, "You would come back! And maybe bring our Dmitri home to visit?"

Cinnamon smiles and nods, pushing her glasses up as she continues eating. At Olga's query, though, Cinnamon stops eating and smiles uncertainly, "Er... yes? I, er, I mean... I thought you said these were yearly ceremonies... d-didn't you?"

Olga smiles, "Yes. Yearly. We pray there will be another smok... and that the smok will grow into another zmei. Vladimir had his lovers, after all." She also assures Cinnamon that even though the rituals are yearly, the young dragon and her family are always welcome at the little village!

When they're all done eating, Olga leads them through the sleep-quiet village and to the edges of the fields. It's only really morning by the fact that it's after midnight and before noon. When they reach the edge of a field of wheat, the sun is just barely beginning to rise and wash in reddish-gold rays over the fields of crops. The dusky twilight of the sky holds a breathless, sweet, waiting quality... the kind of moment of potentiality that says anything, anything is possible, if only you believe it. Olga murmurs, "You fly that way..." she motions east, "toward the sun... the shadow of your wings needs to pass over each of the fields. They go until the edge of the forest in that direction. You will then turn south and fly until you hit the forest. Turn to your right and fly again until you come to the edge of the fillage, and turn to your right again. You will be coming back to us, then. I will take you next to the fields to be fired."

Cinnamon nods tightly, repeating back Olga's instructions -- then glancing hastily at the sky, "Is there enough sun for shadows?"

Olga puts her hand over her brows and looks to the east, "There will be by the time you're in the air. It's more a metaphor. Vladimir did this once in a heavy rainstorm."

Cinnamon sighs in relief, "Oh, good!" She's still a bit nervous... but she takes a deep breath and straightens, "Okay... now?"

Olga nods, "Now. Yes." She steps back and folds her hands, smiling serenely

Cinnamon shifts first into dragon form, then takes another deep breath. Curiously, in this shape she feels more confident, even though she's been actually flying for less than 24 hours. She grins down at Olga and rumbles, "Be right back!" With that she jumps happily into the air, her wings beating powerfully and a trilled, "Wheeeee!" trailing behind her.

Cinnamon glances up to reassure herself: yep, heading directly into the east, just like Olga wanted! The young dragon stays fairly low, just above the treetops so she's sure she's overflying each field. Straight towards the forest... there it is! Okay, this is the last field to cover before the forest... and now... wingtilt so she turns south! A few wingbeats, and she's steadily overflying yet more fields. She sings quietly and happily to herself -- a sort of wordless humming until she hits the forest again. Time to turn right now -- another easy, gradual wingtilt... and now she's supposed to fly just to the edge of the fillage, and right again... yay! Cinnamon's very pleased -- this is going really well!

Thorn looks up, watching Cinnamon's progress and smiling, shielding his eyes from the sun as needed. It's really incredibly remarkable, he thinks. Seeing Cinnamon like this, it makes him wonder what the world would be like if the supernaturals could come out of hiding. Josie giggles and bounces, clapping happily. That makes Spice laugh, because she finds her over-seven-foot-tall sweetheart adorable when Josie's being enthusiastic. It also makes Shane laugh, and Olga is beaming as well.

Up in the air and some distance away, Cinnamon turns her massive head on her long neck, sighting to where her friends are waiting, and grins happily to herself. Last right hand turn -- and back to her companions! After that will be the fields that need burning... but Cinnamon knows quite well how to do flame -- she's not worried at all about that one! A few seconds later she backwings strongly as she settles carefully to the ground, beaming toothily, "Hihihi, everyone! Okay, how was that, Olga? Did I do it right?"

Olga smiles, "Perfectly! It is a simple but important thing. It is the beneficence that is important!" She motions, "Follow me. The fields to be flamed are this way."

Cinnamon beams again, "Yay! Sure, lead the way!" She carefully folds up her wings and curls her tail so she doesn't accidentally whack anyone as she paces along behind Olga. A moment later a thought hits her, "Hey, Olga? Would it be okay of me to ask someone in your family to start working right away on a sort of backpack or something for me? Especially since those mercenary types were in the town yesterday? I'd love to be able to take one with me, after all, in my luggage... if we can't stay the entire week, you know?"

Olga smiles, "They are already working on it. Not a saddle or harness, though we may have to send that along after you."

Cinnamon blinks down at Olga... then smiles, "Awww! That is so sweet! Can you tell them thank you so much from me, please?" She thinks a moment, then grins, "Oh! Also, can I help pay for it, please?"

The tract of fields they reach after a while is as large as the others, and has lain fallow. There are some people waiting here; Olga explains, "Burning the stubble and the rest creates good fertilization for them to be planted this coming spring. The other fields will lie fallow then. We rotate so that things do not die off and make it hard for the land -- and therefore hard for us." At Cinnamon's query, however, Olga looks almost scandalized, "You are already paying for it!"

Cinnamon nods at the explanation, glancing around the fields... then turns her big head to blink down at Olga again, "I am? Er... how, please?"

Olga motions around, "You are helping us stay alive for another year!"

Cinnamon looks around again, then realizes what Olga means and grins down at the priestess again, "I'm totally cool with doing this, Olga -- I'm really happy I can help! But isn't leather, like... expensive?"

Veles smiles, "Not when you raise the cows."

Cinnamon thinks about that, padding along silently with her tail waving slowly behind her -- the morning is just too beautiful for her to not be in a good mood! She grins at Veles, "Well, okay... but promise if there's something else useful I can do, you peeps will tell me about it, right?"

Olga laughs, "As Dmitri says: we raise the cows. We do not buy the leather. I promise we will tell you."

She waves and a young man trots over. He's very sunburned and he smiles up at Cinnamon, "We have set up places for you to set the fires. We will tend them so they do not go into the forest. This is something we learned many years back -- Vladimir, he read about it and thought that it was a blessing from the gods."

Cinnamon tilts her big head at the young man and smiles back, "Hi! Er... Vladimir thought what was a blessing, please?"

The young man, who is introduced as Piotr, replies cheerfully, "Controlled burns!"

"Oh!" Cinnamon thinks about that, then grins, "Okay, that should be easy to do! Lead the way?" She pauses then, glancing back at her friend and getting a mischievous glint in her brilliantly cerulean eyes, "Anyone want a ride instead of walking?"

Shane immediately grins! "Hey, why not. How often do you get to have a dragon-back ride?"

Cinnamon giggles and settles down into a seated-sphinx position, "Hop on! Let's see how it works!" She grins, turning her big head on her long, sinuous neck to watch her friends scramble up onto her back as she adds, "After all, if I can carry Killa then all of you should be no problem at all!" Spice and Josie both climb on as well, leaving room for Thorn too. He's a little trepidatious about it, but clambers onto Cinnamon's back with the others. "That's a very good point about Killa," he observes, realizing they all should be able to fit and be carried well by her. Cinnamon waits for Veles, Olga, and the young man to climb up as well -- she's happy to carry everyone! Once they're on board, Piotr points out the places they've set up as ignition points. There are a couple dozen people here to tend the fires.

Cinnamon pads more swiftly now that she can walk at her own pace rather than follow someone else. As she goes, she cheerfully inquires, "So what do you want me to do exactly, please? Like, should I just blow fire on the pile of stuff, and then head for the next pile?" Piotr agrees that this is exactly what they need doing -- they have basically created bonfires for her to flame into burning life. There are, effectively, stellar patterns radiating out from each one that will consume the different fields and firebreaks at the edges of the forests so that the trees themselves don't catch fire. Cinnamon glances around and grins, "Okay, cool!" With that she heads to the first pile Piotr directs her to, and cheerily greets the attendants there. Once she's sure no one is in the way or downwind of her, she stretches out her neck and gusts a hot gout of flame on the waiting bonfire material. She curls her head back once the heap starts burning merrily, "How's that? Good?"

One after another, the igniferous piles burst into flame and are encouraged to start spreading along the rays. Piotr keeps her moving from one to another, assuring everyone that it will be a slow smolder and not a roaring blaze. In all, there are a couple hundred acres that are going to burn over a few days. By the time they're done the sun is well up and Veles sighs, "We need to go into town soon."

Cinnamon whews as she settles into a sphinx pose again, so everyone can clamber off by the little valley's main hall, "Can we have lunch first? I'm hungry!" She grins as she adds to her dismounted friends, "So how was the ride?"

Thorn grins to Cinnamon, "Very smooth!"

Cinnamon giggles, then beams, "Yay! You were all very nice and calm too!"

Olga laughs softly, "We can get you food!" There's hearty food ready -- mostly sandwiches and salads. Through translators, Ivanna explains that a too-heavy meal in the middle of the day is bad if you are working agriculture. Too heavy a meal can make you logy and cause you to make a mistake -- which can be bad if you are working with dangerous tools!

Cinnamon nods in agreement even as she wolfs down her sandwich -- she wasn't kidding about being hungry! She thanks Ivanna for making a big meal despite the little village's usual light lunchtimes, too... and then, after drinking another glass of water, she grins a bit nervously at Veles, "So. Shall we, er... head on into town?"

Veles took some time to go speak with the people that headed up the patrols and gate guard to make sure there were no attempts at incursion in the night, though he's returned by now, "Yes. Town. I believe that, between all of us, we will be very safe." Cinnamon nods and smiles, unworried -- Shane and Veles will be there, and Josie too! She's sure that Thorn, Spice, and she will be perfectly safe. It doesn't immediately occur to her that she herself has the potential to be a ferocious defender as well. Thorn nods soberly at mention of going to town. He tries to draw on Cinnamon's confidence that things will be safe in town.

The drive into town is a little more tense than it was before. Everyone knows that Shane has been provided with a sword, for example. It's not quite the same as the one he carries on Coblyn, but he seems fine with it -- and Veles too has a blade, though neither of the men wanted a gun. Both blades have sheathes that can be put down along the carrier's spine and both Shane and Veles have long jackets that will cover them. Cinnamon is a bit more nervous at spotting the swords... but she's just taking deep, slow breaths and silently repeating her internal mantra: 'Everything will be fine... everything will be fine...!'

When they get to the more rural 'town' closer to the village, Veles pulls up in front of what can only be a farm supply store, then gets out with Shane. He settles his heavy jacket into place so the scabbard is all but invisible, and Cinnamon can see that Shane's is much the same. Perhaps it's that both men are quite used to walking around armed. Cinnamon knows she, at least, has seen Shane walk down normal city streets with a sword in a sheath down his back -- it was when he went to help her pack up her old human apartment. Of course, Cinnamon doesn't realize her calm about this sort of hidden weaponry is unusual -- but then, her attitudes on bladed weapons are all informed by either urban fantasies or her friends! She just patters along with the two men and all the rest of the group, looking around with interest at the little town, "Can we get a Coke here, or is that a rude, touristy thing to ask?"

Veles chuckles, "You can get a Coke here, but it may taste unusual to you. It is made with cane sugar here, not the corn syrup it is made with in the United States. But you will get that at the grocery store. This is the farm supply store..." They walk into the store and Veles raises a hand as he calls a greeting to the man behind the counter, who greets him with surprise. He obviously knows Veles, though he calls the ex-mercenary 'Dmitri.' Cinnamon nods to Dmitri, following him into the store and looking around with curiosity. She figures having a drink is a good excuse for spending some time in town, after all! There's some conversation in normal Bulgarian, which Cinnamon is pleased to be able to pretty much understand. Dmitri is explaining that Cinnamon and Shane are cousins and have brought some friends over to visit from the US. This makes the proprietor laugh and say there are a lot of strangers in town. Cinnamon tilts her head curiously at the man and smiles in a friendly fashion.

Veles chuckles and says, "Really? Out here? Hunters, you think?"

The proprietor shrugs, "Maybe? They were asking if we were seeing strange birds or something. Or maybe snakes? They were talking to my daughter. She did not like them much."

Veles nods and snorts, "Stupid tourists!" He then goes on to make sure that an order was made properly, and to pick up a couple bags of seed that he gets Thorn and Shane to help him carry back out to the van -- it's his excuse to be in the building, after all. He doesn't scowl until they're back out of the building.

Thorn of course doesn't know what they're saying, so he remains close by and simply waits to be told to do something. He also keeps his attention on the doorway, looking outside and alert for any of these strangers that have been mentioned. Cinnamon grins in shy teasing at Veles, "Shane and I are cousins here? OK, but we might want to tell Shane too?"

Veles gets the seed stowed in the back of the van and shakes his head, "I'm sure he was trying to get information on Vladimir. Strange birds, my ass." He has them follow him down the road a little to a general store type place with dry goods and coolers. As he walks he laughs and says to Shane, "You and Cinnamon are my cousins. But you can be a couple if you want. One of you can be cousin by marriage, da?" He sighs, "They are asking about strange birds, he said." There are coolers in here that hold soft drinks. Some of them are unfamiliar, but Pepsi and Coke logos are completely unmistakable.

Cinnamon blushes at the thought of being a couple with Shane -- she doesn't think that'd be at all believable, though she doesn't say so. She knows he's far, far too pretty for someone plain like her! Instead she quietly asks for any diet drink they may have, then adds softly, "Cousins is fine... we shouldn't push it." Shane grins and squeezes Cinnamon around the shoulders at the blush -- which causes Cinnamon to blush even more hotly!

There don't seem to be diet drinks, though Cinnamon is still able to get a soda. Veles hands Josie a shopping basket and tells her to just pick up some groceries -- any old thing! Just need to look busy. He brings Shane, Cinnamon, and Thorn with him to the counter, and again introduces his friends to the proprietress. She is small, apple-cheeked, white-haired, and cheerful. Her name is apparently Bilyana. She speaks English, though it is very thickly accented; she seems delighted to try it out with these visitors! Yes, she spoke to the other strangers. She laughs as she describes how they were trying very badly to seem casual as they asked if she had seen any strange birds, "Or big animals. I ask if they mean moose or squirrel." Her dark eyes twinkle at that, "They did not think it funny. Then they start asking about your village, if there are people back in the forest. I tell them that it is not smart to go into the mountains alone -- it is not safe, I say! People get lost."

Cinnamon giggles in spite of herself at Bilyana's 'moose and squirrel' comment! Then she glances at Veles, wondering if Bilyana knows about the people of the village... and their secret. Veles smiles softly, "Thank you, Bilyana. Alina, she is doing well. She says she will bring little Yuri to visit soon. These strangers. What did they look like?" Bilyana describes two of the same men that the boys did, including the one with the scarred face. She's a little more observant, however -- she can describe the scar better. It's on his cheek and goes from the corner of his mouth, almost to his ear. That makes Veles scowl again, "Thank you, Bilyana." He pays for the groceries and carries them as the little group heads for the van.

Cinnamon gives Veles a thoughtful glance once they're at the van, murmuring, "Do you know the scarred man?" She doesn't really register on the irony of her asking this of the heavily burn-scarred Dmitri, however... since by now that's just part of who he is to her.

Veles frowns, "I might. That kind of scar... if you have two of them, it's called a Glasgow smile. If you have one, it's called a buck-fifty... from the number of stitches it supposed requires. I know one man that needs it." He tips his head, "Bilyana's granddaughter Alina married one of the young men from the village. She has a grandson, Yuri, that lives there. She did not know about Vladimir... just that there is a village, and that we are insular -- that it is not good to intrude."

Cinnamon nods slowly as she glances around, her murmur soft, "So... do we want to meet them or not, now?"

Veles snorts, "Want to? No. Need to? I believe so. I do not want violence to come to my people. We will stop one more place because I believe they will know where these men will be staying."

Cinnamon nods again, hopping into the van, "Okay, then... let's go." They drive a little further toward the edge of the town, and this time they stop at a garage. Or maybe a junkyard... or possibly a tire shop -- or maybe all three... plus some! Cinnamon ponders as Veles drives, then curiously asks her friends, "So... if you wanted to capture a large and dangerous creature like a dragon... would you head out at night or during the day?"

Veles replies steadily as he drives, "Depends on the creature. Some dragons are said to be nocturnal, so I would go during the day -- just as I would for a vampire. But if it were a diurnal creature, I'd sleep during the day and go at night."

Cinnamon nods thoughtfully, "And Vladimir? Er, zmei and the smok? They're supposed to be diurnal, right?"

Veles nods, "They are, yes. So these men, they could be sleeping or resting today." He smiles somewhat bleakly, "Meaning this would be a good time to go see them. They will be less likely to be belligerent."

Cinnamon nods more briskly, "Okay! Well, you're the person in the know here, Mitya, so... we'll just follow your lead?"

Veles smiles as he knocks on the side of the garage door, where there are a couple of men with torches working on taking apart a car. He calls to them and one of them turns off his torch and walks over. There's a quick conversation and the man with the torch waves vaguely across the road to what looks like the kind of motel you see in bad horror movies. Veles nods and snorts as if he expected that, then thanks the man before he returns to the little group, "They're staying there. It is mostly for hunters who come here for bear. We will go and pay them a visit, da?"

Cinnamon nods quietly, her eyes a little wide. She's not sure if she's excited or scared by this point... but she's careful to stick close to either Veles or Shane as they go. They're both smart and brave -- good folks to follow in stressful situations! Thorn nods soberly to Veles, rubbing his arm. He's nervous, of course, and doesn't want anyone to be hurt. Veles looks at the people with him... and his eyes land on Spice, "You will stay at the back with your phone and computer. If something bad happens, you will call the number of the satellite phone I gave you, da? It will let Olga know something bad has happened."

After that, Veles goes to the first room at the motel, next to the office, and knocks. He has Shane stand on the opposite side of the door from him. Josie, Cinnamon, and Thorn are sent to stand on that side as well. Cinnamon stands as still as she can... and realizes she's trembling slightly from nervousness! This is the most deliberately dramatic thing she's ever done. It's like... she suppresses a tiny gasp as it hits her: this is like her kickass-woman urban fantasy books! She has to bite her lip to suppress the following urge to giggle -- because she's not carrying a weapon, wearing skintight leather pants, rocking way too much flowing hair in an aggressive pose... or even sporting a mere 2% body fat!

There's no immediate answer and Veles waits a few minutes before knocking again. After the second knock there's a cautious voice saying in English, "Yes? Can I help you?" The accent seems to be a rather thick Scottish brogue.

Veles calls, "I believe you have been asking about the hunting around here? I am a hunting guide. My friends and I thought we would offer our services to make sure you stay safe." Cinnamon blinks curiously -- Scots? Oh, wait -- duh. Glasgow smile, got it. She'll have to look up what that is on the internet later.

The door opens and the man standing there does indeed have a scar twisting up from the corner of his mouth to his right ear. There's another on the other side, but it's incomplete, only going an inch or so from the corner of his mouth. His hair is cut short on the sides, with a good inch or so on the top, but it's gelled into a neat style. His reply is short, "We've already got a good guide," as his eyes rove curiously over the rather oddly-matched group.

Veles snorts, "Not if you've been asking questions all over town!" Cinnamon blinks in startlement at the man -- so that's a Glasgow smile! She wonders how he got such an odd scar; it doesn't immediately occur to her that another human might have done this to him.

The man with the scarred face is staring at Veles, almost as if he's trying to place where he's seen the man before. Of course, Veles looks rather different than he did just a handful of weeks ago. The Scotsman replies, "We've been asking about the game in the area, aye. Planning on going out tonight. Why, there something interesting you think we ought to know?"

Veles smiles. It's really... not a very nice smile. It is, in fact, a smile that makes Josie take a half-step back -- and even makes Shane blink. Veles says coldly, "I would say that no game you look for around here would be worth it, friend. I would say go home. Or go to Czechia." Unfortunately Cinnamon misses Veles' smile, since she's focused on the Scotsman -- she's really nervous about him maybe hurting a friend of hers!

The Scotsman continues peering at Veles as he asks, "Do I know you? I used to know a bloke from about here. Was hoping I'd find him...?" Cinnamon glances hastily at Veles, wondering if he knows this guy... then continues worriedly watching the Scotsman. She's trying to listen to hear if there are others in the room behind him too, though she knows her ears aren't as good as, say, Josie's. Still, if a gun were cocked... she'd hear that, wouldn't she?

Veles clucks his tongue, "I don't think you do. Because anyone who knew me would know that I come from a place where the hunting is bad and the territory is treacherous... hard to move through safely -- the kind that might break a man's leg or neck even when it seems like it might be safe. All the scary fairytales come from here, you know."

As Veles is speaking, Cinnamon can hear people moving in the room behind the blond man with the knife-scarred face: the quick snikt! of guns being stealthily cocked; the whisper of fabric as people move into place... Cinnamon's eyes widen and she leans to whisper what she's hearing to Shane -- he'll know what to do! Plus Josie will likely hear her too. Shane's nostrils flare and he nods, motioning for Josie and -- if he's close -- Thorn to move back from the doorway. Shane trusts Cinnamon to decide if she wants to be close or not. Simultaneously, Shane's hand shifts, going to rest almost casually at the small of his back. He's wearing the sword he's got so that the hilt is pointing downward and will fall into his hand, after all. As he does so, his eyes flick to Veles' face.

Veles himself smiles quietly, "Anyone that knew me would also know that I have very good ears." Of course, what Veles actually has is eyes good enough to see Cinnamon whispering anxiously to Shane, and Shane's reaction. Cinnamon looks relieved at that comment, though, nodding several times to Veles -- she'd been trying to figure out how to warn him! Thank goodness he figured it out. She stays close mostly because it hasn't occurred to her to move back -- she's a little breathless with nervous excitement.

The Scotsman smirks slightly, "Is that so? Are they good enough to hear me when I say that I do what I want -- and that what I want is to go hunting for bear in the mountains here?"

Veles smiles coldly, "Oh, da, they're that good. They're also good enough to know a lie. Those kinds of lies are not wise... and you will find no bears worth the danger here. You will not find what you think you are looking for here, at all." Thorn senses the tension being so damn thick that he wouldn't need to understand what the two men are saying to each other even if they weren't speaking English!

The Scotsman smirks again, "Guess I'll find out for sure tonight, then. Right now I'm going to close this door and take a nap -- and you, my friend, are going to kindly bugger off."

He starts to close the door, only to have Veles reach out and put his hand in the way, "I am going to ask you: please do not do this. Your life is worth more than your pride."

The Scotsman snorts, "Arsehole," as he shoves Veles' hand off the door and slams it shut. Veles sighs; Cinnamon is still worriedly watching and listening as hard as she can. She really, really hopes this is still just bragging-threatening between the two men... and isn't about to break out into open warfare! On the other hand... she's also very concerned because the Scotsman really doesn't seem convinced... which means the little group is going to have to face these guys tonight, in the forest.

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Last modified: 2019-Jun-12 19:53:32

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