Goblin Town -- Logs

The mercs are terrified. They've been in firefights. They've been in war zones -- they've even gone up against strange things. They thought they were prepared, and they were told they were going against a dragon. They were told; they were given good intel! They even had the frequencies to Baird's comms. But... there is a world of difference between being given good intel -- and being trapped in the dark in a village miles from anywhere -- with a madly fire-breathing monster that's trying to demolish you! The quick-silver weirdness of Shane's fluid deadliness, and Josie's snarling, howling protectiveness -- and these men that thought they were prepared are gut-wrenchingly aware: they are totally outmatched!

In the darkness it's weirdly, atavistically horrible: the malicious crackle of fire and the hoarse, terrified screaming; the rattle of gunshots -- the deep roaring and nasty sizzling sounds and earth-shaking crunching noises and the confusing whoooosh! of air as Cinnamon snaps her wings back and forth through the mercs, causing the firelight to flicker and flare unpredictably and making it hard to see as she stomps heavily through the PMC troop, gouting fire at any weapons she spots that are aimed at herself -- and throughout it all, Thorn crouches in place, steadfastly holding the Shield for as long as he can over the little group of four... until finally Cinnamon rears her head back up and whirls to roar to Veles, "How many of them should there be, Mitya?"

At sight of the dreadful monster roaring in apparent hunger at them, two of Baird's men just bolt! Russell is still wounded, out somewhere beyond where the light used to be; one of the others is with him and also wounded, flailing a bit in an effort to move. Baird himself is yelling to Veles about going to his men, as the ex-merc shouts back to Cinnamon, "Twenty! Plus two drivers! Four snipers, sixteen on the ground!"

Cinnamon nods once, turning to study the messy charnel house before her... then blinks, remembering those curious red lines that hit her earlier -- could those be snipers? She lifts her head and studies the surrounding trees, trying to remember and figure out approximately where the lines came from, earlier. Josie scrambles up onto Cinnamon's back, seated with perfect balance on one shoulder -- though she's still growling softly to herself. Shane steps up to stand at Cinnamon's right, and he pats her shoulder reassuringly when she rumbles to her dear friends, "Careful! Mitya says there're still four snipers out there, guys!" She adds worriedly as she glances around, "None of the mercs got by me, did they? Did you guys get any that did?"

Josie growls, hackles up as her eyes scan the tree line. Shane's sword is held in a seemingly casual grip as he replies, "I took the head off the grenadier. You, Jo?"

The werewolf snarls, "Herded a couple closer in... hamstrung one..." As they're talking, Cinnamon catches sight of the tree where one of the tracers came from -- excellent! She thinks she can extrapolate from there, as to how to reach the sniper. As she's mentally calculating, though, there are two more sharp crack! sounds and the lines of two more incoming shots. These red lines head for Baird and Veles -- but luckily bounce off the shield. Cinnamon sighs in relief at the spanggg! sound of the bounced bullets -- then blinks as it registers: the red lines are still sort of hanging in the air, to her sight! She can tell what trees the 'fresh' shots came from, too, though she's not really sure why snipers would use bullets that would sort of signal where they were. Still, doesn't matter! She bounds towards the tree the 'lower' sniper is in, roaring, "Gotcha!"

The snipers are not used to creatures that can see in the dark without night vision equipment -- they are seriously caught off-guard! However, since snipers tend to be a little more cold-blooded than footsoldiers, they manage to stay in place even as the giant monster comes bounding towards them, firing off more bullets. They hit her, of course... and, of course, the bullets all bounce off as well. The difference to Cinnamon is that these bullets actually hurt! They don't penetrate, but she feels like they might bruise.

Cinnamon is growling under her breath as she braces herself on her wing-wrists, then nearly snatches the sniper out of the tree with one paw-hand. She whirls, using her wings to balance herself as she half-flies, half-bounds back to where Veles and Baird are -- then drops the sniper in front of them, "There -- one you can question! Be careful, he's still armed!" -- and then she whirls and leaps into the air, heading for the further-away tree where the sniper is higher up.

Baird smiles with grim cheer down at the sniper, neatly divesting him of his rifle, "Oh, don't mind if I do!" He socks almost gently beneath the man's jaw to knock the sniper out.

As Cinnamon is whirling to head back out again, Shane grabs hold of her harness and swings easily up onto her back as well -- so now she's got two passengers! Also, if she wants, her passengers can hold onto prisoners as she grabs the other remaining snipers. There are still rounds being fired at Cinnamon as she bounds back, though they all miss the great, leaping beast. Cinnamon bares her teeth, snarling quietly, "Gonna get all you nasty little creeps!" as she simply lands heavily in the tree, with a great crackling of branches! She just grabs this sniper in her mouth, yanking hard to tear him free of the harness holding him to the tree... then remembers Josie's still on her back! Through her mouthful she rumbles, "Shosee, hea'eh!" and twists her head around to hand the sniper to the werewolf.

Josie takes the man and scowls at him, "You are bad." Of course, getting scolded by a seven-foot, clawed and fanged werewolf is much scarier when you aren't aware that her normal demeanor is much more puppyish.

Shane takes the sniper's rifle and lays his sword along the man's neck, "I'd stay very still, were I you." The sniper wisely complies. Underneath them, Cinnamon carefully eyes the shining red lines that lead to the remaining two snipers, making sure she's got the requisite trees in sight. Curiously, she's starting to notice the snipers themselves are glowing a little bit too! She's pleased at that, though again she has no idea why they'd do something so obvious -- but it sure makes it easier to grab the nasty men!

Cinnamon carefully climbs the tree, paw-hand over paw-hand and with her tail curled bracingly around the trunk, then stretches her neck out to reach the third sniper, who fortunately isn't too far away. She also keeps a wing spread so he can't sight on her passengers -- and again, she neatly nips him too out of the tree. Then she arches around and lets herself drop towards the ground -- though with a heavy wingbeat she keeps herself aloft as she heads for the final sniper's tree. She lands at its foot, twisting her head around to hand the one in her mouth to Shane, "Sha'e? Ta'gh dis?"

Shane sheathes his sword so he can grab the third sniper and disarm the struggling man, saying calmly, "Don't make me hurt you. I will."

Josie nods grimly, growling, "Because you're bad, too."

Cinnamon rumbles grumpily, "Got that right!" as she stretches her head up enough to see the final sniper.

By the time Cinnamon gets to the last sniper, the man is trying his damnedest to get the hell out of the damn tree and get the hell out of Dodge! He's been doing his best to stand his ground and hold the line, but this is just a little... too... much! He's got an exit strategy -- no need to panic -- he's got a... holy crap, he's got a dragon snatching at him!

Cinnamon growls quietly, "You behave -- and I won't hurt you. Got that?" She glares down at the man she's holding in one paw-hand... then calls over her shoulder, "That's all of 'em!" She turns and does that odd, three-legs-two-wings bounding run/flight thing back to where Veles and Baird are, stopping in front of them to proudly rumble, "Got all three! JoJo, can you track where they came from, so we can try to go find the drivers? Mitya, is that all of them? I couldn't tell for sure -- sorry!" Then she adds to Thorn, "We got all the snipers, Thorny -- you can come out now! Also, if you're willing, I think Russell and someone else over there is hurt? Though, uhh... Shane, can you go with Thorn so he's safe, maybe?"

Thorn lets out a breath, letting the shield flutter into nothingness, "Yes, I heard... let's find them!"

Cinnamon beams at Thorn, forgetting how toothy that looks, as she adds proudly, "You were awesome, Thorny!"

Shane unceremoniously drops both the snipers' rifles off Cinnamon's back, followed by the snipers themselves -- and with just as little ceremony. Shane himself then slides off the dragon's back... and is surprisingly un-agile! Or maybe he meant to land on the snipers. He nods to Thorn, "I'll be cover. Let's go get them. It's Russell and the really thin one..." Thorn nods and goes with Shane to find the two. He doesn't know the other one's injuries, but he knows that even leg shots can be lethal if left to bleed.

Cinnamon grins at Shane too, though she doesn't say anything about his 'clumsiness'! Instead she turns and trots heavily away after Josie, rumbling to her, "I may have trouble following if the trail is really small or low, Josie... but I'll do my best to stick close, okay?"

Josie drops quadrupedal as she starts sniffing out the backtrail, growling softly, "Then you go high and follow over me. I figure you can see me under the trees probably. You have good eyes. Not like your parents."

Cinnamon nods to Josie -- then giggles! She grins affectionately at her tracking friend, rumbling, "You're awesome too, JoJo. Thank you so much for being my friend!"

Baird waits until Shane, Josie, and Cinnamon are all out of sight -- then says in a surprisingly calm tone of voice, "OK. So... I'm not actually insane. That was a werewolf? And... the boy?"

Veles smiles, "She's not precisely a werewolf. But I think you'd love Fraser -- he's much more the classical werewolf. Our Josie's a big, sweet puppy."

Baird retorts with slightly nervous, dry humor, "That big, sweet puppy has a mouthful of fangs like...!" Then he hears the fearsome dragon giggle and call the seven-foot fur-covered beast 'Jo-Jo.' He sighs, shaking his head, "This... has been an interesting week... in the Chinese sense of the word!"

Veles chuckles quietly, "Shane is... a little closer to home for you. I think I'll leave him to explain himself to you, though... if he wishes." Baird nods. He's still got the rifle casually to the sniper's jaw and a foot on his chest.

Out in the darkness, Russell looks a little pale, to Shane's night-sighted eyes. The other man is unconscious, and seems to have a head wound. Shane relays all that information, then glances up -- since, back at the hall, a few lights are starting to come back on. After that he looks at Thorn, "Try some healing here or take them in? You're the medic."

With triage, Thorn decides Russell needs the more immediate care, since he seems to be losing a lot of blood; the other man should be able to wait a few minutes longer. Thorn first uses his healing magic upon Russell -- though he simultaneously hopes he doesn't have to use it all at once here. The medic wants to have enough left over for Russell's wounded teammate, as well as for any others who may have suffered serious damage. As for Eduard's mercenaries... somehow Thorn is sure that sutures and aspirin will do for them!

Thorn takes in a deep, quiet breath, then visualizes all the broken blood vessels in Russell's leg... mending themselves, knitting together... and the man's bone marrow producing more blood to fill those vessels. Shane watches quietly as Russell's color returns and his breathing gets easier. Finally the half-beansidhe nods, "He looks better, Thorn."

Thorn sighs in tired relief, "Okay. Let's go help that other fellow, and I hope I made the right triage choice."

Moments later, Shane claps Thorn on the shoulder, helping both the medic and Baird's men carefully up to their (slightly unsteady) feet, "I think you did."

Elsewhere, Josie and Cinnamon eventually find the Humvees, though both are deserted. Either the drivers fled, or the whole contingent came in with Eduard. Cinnamon nods at that, somewhat unsurprised -- considering they all ambushed Baird's men. She just cheerfully grabs one Humvee in each paw-hand, waits for Josie to hang on tight to the harness, and then leaps into the air! A few heavy wingbeats later, and she's over the great hall. She cheerfully roars, "Look out below -- landing!" as she lets herself slowly drop, hind legs first and wings beating up a storm, to the ground.

Cinnamon carefully sets down each Humvee before Veles and Baird, then grins happily at them both, "Hi again! We think the drivers were in the attack group. How're you guys all doing?" Over her shoulder she adds, "We should probably do a count and make sure we got them all, right, Josie?" She blinks thoughtfully... then grins a bit sheepishly at Veles, "Or have you already taken care of that? Sorry, Mitya."

Josie nods, looking solemn, "We will. Shane will probably help me -- and Veles. And Baird's men. You'll need to rest." What Josie doesn't say aloud is that the werewolf suspects Cinnamon's heart would break if she had to go out and see the dead as she helped count them.

Veles smiles, "We'll have to go out and have a look. Not all of them are in close, lady." He pats her flank gently, "You should change. Get some water."

Cinnamon tilts her head to glance at Josie, "Rest?" She blinks... then says with a hint of surprise, "Huh! I think you're right, actually... it has been kind of a really long day, hasn't it? I was up before dawn for the ceremony, and then to town and then back here and then a dragon and then back again and then a dragon again..." She yawns hugely, her head tilting back and unwittingly baring nearly every tooth in her head! Baird's eyes widen -- and then he kind of hastily glances elsewhere, suppressing the shudder. Cinnamon misses that, smiling shyly at Veles, "Sorry... yeah, you're right. Kinda hungry too, actually... d'you think maybe there's any food left in the hall?"

Cinnamon pads heavily towards the hall, stepping carefully around Baird and the snipers with a mumbled, "'Scuse me..." and cranes her neck to look inside. In rough Church Slavonic she rumbles, "Excuse me, please, but is there any food left, if I came in here in human form?" She is very enthusiastically assured that there is definitely food -- and if there's not enough, they will get more!

Cinnamon sighs in relief, "Thank you! I'll be right back, okay?" She glances around for the werewolf, adding hopefully, "Josie, could you, ahh... help me change, please?" Josie scowls at the snipers as if to say they better behave! --then agrees to help her friend. Cinnamon steps back into the darkness, waiting until Josie is blocking line of sight to her... and then tiredly attempts to change back to human form. A few seconds later, she's deeply relieved at how easy changing shape was this time! She's terribly tired and hungry, though -- she just leans forward and wraps her arms tightly around Josie's furry middle, to mumble, "Thanks so much for helping me, Jo... couldn't 've done it without you all!"

Josie wraps her arms around Cinnamon and pets her friend's hair, hugging the little dragon until she feels ready to walk back. The werewolf rumbles reassuringly, "I'll always help if I can, Cinnamon -- those men are bad!" More quietly she growls, "And I don't like that they keep showing up, either."

After that Cinnamon trudges tiredly back towards the hall -- food will help, she knows!Josie puts her big, furry arm around Cinnamon as she leads her friend back to the hall, and Cinnamon sighs, leaning companionably against Josie as she mutters, "Couldn't agree more..."

Inside the great hall, Cinnamon eats and drinks quite a bit of food and water! She's used up a lot of energy, after all. She's perked up noticeably by the time she's done, interestedly inquiring as to how the prisoners are, and did Baird's men make it okay, and did Mitya do the count yet, and how is everyone? By the time she's finished eating, all of Baird's men are accounted for and alive -- though two of them are still feeling a little worse for wear. Not a lot, though, thanks to Thorn. The other PMCs are... nowhere currently to be seen.

Veles assures Cinnamon that all the villagers have been accounted for. In fact, there are several more villagers there than when Cinnamon first left to change shape. Spice, too, has arrived and she throws herself on Josie and Cinnamon both to hug them. She exclaims in her typically profane way how glad she is that they're OK. Cinnamon nods in relief at Veles' news about the villagers, then gives a startled, involuntary squeak at Spice's unexpected hug! She giggles and blushes at the silly sound, hugging Spice back warmly, "Believe me, I'm really glad we're all okay too!"

Thorn, now that the crisis has passed, is double-checking the two of Baird's men who were wounded, making sure they're eating and hydrating, and that their wounds haven't reopened. Once Spice is snuggled up against a very happy Josie, Cinnamon turns back to Veles, "Er... okay, so are we sure that all the PMCs are, um, accounted for? I mean... um, wouldn't it be really dangerous for any to get away and maybe call in reinforcements or something?" She spots Baird behind Veles and waves cheerfully to him, "Hi, Mr. Baird! I'm glad all your men are okay!" She's rather proud of herself for being a good shield between them and the attacking PMCs, this time around.

Veles assures Cinnamon that all the PMCs that Eduard brought have been accounted for. He double-checked the numbers, he assures her. Baird's men too are doing quite well! Both the injured are a little wide-eyed -- since those wounds they absolutely know were quite serious are... not that serious anymore! Consequently, they both assure Thorn that they're doing better. They're eating, hydrating, and debriefing to Baird as they're being checked over. Cinnamon looks relieved as she hugs Veles, "Oh, good -- thank you so much, Mitya, for taking care of that! I never know what to do after the attacks, you know?"

Thorn overhears Veles's words to Cinnamon, and very, very carefully does not ask about how Veles accounted for Eduard's troops! Veles smiles and hugs Cinnamon back, "That is why it is good to have a master of arms. Shane helped me make sure we had good information."

Cinnamon nods gravely to Veles, "Shane's the best, yeah. Though..." she pauses for a huge yawn, then sheepishly apologizes for it before adding, "what's a master of arms, please? And, er... what do we do now? Is there anything else we have to take care of? Any, umm... I dunno, locked chests in the Humvees or anything?"

Veles smiles, "There are a few lockboxes I'd like to get into, yes. I suspect they mostly contain more weapons, but it would be good to have them open... and if they contain tracking tech, it would be good to disable it."

Cinnamon smiles a bit sleepily up at Veles, "Can I help? And... is it Shane that's the master of arms? Oh! That must be it. Josie told me once that he was really good at martial arts too."

Veles nods and points to the lockboxes they found. There are four of them, roughly the size of footlockers. The locks on them aren't excessively high-tech, but they're meant to be used in field situations where they can be gotten into quickly. He smiles his scar-crooked smile as he explains, "Master of arms is basically your guard captain. That... is me, I think."

Cinnamon tilts her heads thoughtfully at the locks, taking one in her hand to feel its heft -- then she smiles up at Veles and replies, "Then thank you a whole bunch for that, Mitya! I'm just sorry I'm, um, kind of clueless when it comes to fighting stuff, you know?" She studies the lock for a moment as she thinks, then nods and firmly adds, "Like... if I'm about to do something stupid, or that'll be dangerous to others? You should totally tell me off, please, okay? I really don't want to have to hurt anyone if we don't have to!" She takes a breath as she puts her other hand out to brace the lockbox, mutters, "Let's see if this works..." -- and then gives a huge yank on the lock!

The box sort of... tears open -- with a horrible screeching sound that makes both Shane and Josie clap their hands over their ears, and makes even the humans wince! Cinnamon winces as well, hastily adding, "Sorry! Sorry, I'm -- I d-didn't mean to be so loud!" Baird and his men are looking more than a little buggy-eyed -- and the sight of Cinnamon tearing open a heavy metal padlock makes Baird himself throw his hands up and say something in Scots. Cinnamon blinks at Baird, curiously adding, "What'd you say, please?"

Baird sighs and growls, "I said: 'That's it! I give up. Either I'm insane or I owe my grandmother an apology.'"

Cinnamon blinks puzzledly at Baird... then looks down at the deformed remains of the lock in her hand... then up at Baird again as she confusedly adds, "... sorry?" A moment later she tries to be reassuring, "I, um... don't think you're insane?" She brightens at a sudden thought, "Oh! Did your grandmother know about the wee folk or something?"

Baird chuckles, "She told me stories about them, but there comes a time in every child's life that he tells his grandparents that fairies aren't real."

Shane smirks, "I'll tell me da that. He'll laugh his arse off."

Cinnamon giggles, then tilts her head at another thought -- then smiles at Baird as she tries to be more reassuring, "I wouldn't have tried to cover you all if I'd thought you were all insane like the PMCs, you know? But I did!" She adds approvingly, "Good for you for recognizing when you need to apologize too!" She turns back to Veles, holding out the deformed lock as she adds, "Where should I throw this away, please, Mitya?" She may be finally calming down about being a super-strong dragon... but she can still remember her freak-outs at the discovery. She's happy to try helping others through their freak-outs as well, as a consequence... she's just not realized that sometimes she's... really not that reassuring!

Baird, who is as good as he is because he can keep cool in basically any situation, simply mutters a few more times. His men, however, are mostly shocked to silence during all of this. The villagers murmur quietly, some of them mentioning missing Vladimir and sharing chuckles and little stories of the smok and his eccentricities.

For the remaining three lockboxes, Cinnamon pushes them all to sit side by side, warns everyone to cover their ears if they wish -- then does her best to yank off the locks as quickly as she can, so she's doing her best to not hurt anyone's hearing. Once the boxes are open, they do indeed prove to mostly contain ammo, though there are some trackers and grenades. The tech that has any tracking ability is put into a pile with all the other tracking equipment, and Cinnamon is asked nicely to turn it into so much slag before everyone is given permission to go collapse into various beds.

Cinnamon is tiredly pleased that she's turning out to be so useful! She knows, after all, that she was tremendously useful during the battle... but people (herself included) don't really like thinking about that much until well after the fighting is over. Consequently she happily breathes fire all over the pile of materiel, checks with Veles that everything has been taken care of... and then beams and waves a sleepy goodnight to any of Baird's men or villagers who are still watching, before she wanders tiredly off to bed. Baird tips her a little salute, and then he and his men go into the meeting hall to bed down under the watchful eye of a few of the village's men.

Cinnamon sleeps deeply, exhaustedly, and dreamlessly -- she worked very hard that day! Consequently, unless she's awoken early, she also sleeps rather late. When she finally sits up the next day, she groans a little at how achy she feels, but aside from that she decides she's doing well. Also: she could eat a horse! She giggles quietly at herself as she's tying her hiking boots -- maa-aaybe she needs to come up with a new euphemism for being really hungry... considering that she actually could eat a horse now! Also, even though she finds horses a bit scary, she really doesn't want anyone thinking she really means to eat one! She straightens and pushes her glasses up, wincing a bit at her slightly achy face... then nods firmly to herself: plus she really, really doesn't want to hurt that nice centaur Iason's feelings!

Cinnamon wanders out into the main hall, sniffing and hoping that breakfast isn't over yet. She has no mirror in her room, and doesn't tend to check herself that way anyways if she doesn't have to... so she has no idea her entire face and neck are a bit achy because they're entirely covered by an enormous and luridly dark bruise. When she starts down the stairs, she can hear voices cheerfully talking downstairs. Apparently people are being a bit laconic for a farming village. After all, last night was somewhat unusual and there are a lot of strange things going on! There are more visitors and the visitors were all up very late. Cinnamon smiles and waves shyly as she enters, speaking in Church Slavonic, "Good morning! Is there any breakfast left, please?"

When Cinnamon speaks, folks turn to say good morning -- and then simply stare for a few heartbeats. Spice is the first one to speak, "Holy fucking burst blood vessels Batman!"

Shane whistles through his teeth, "Jesus... is that from the grenades?" There is definitely still breakfast. It's much like the morning before, but there's more of it and Baird is there, along with Olga and Veles.

Cinnamon blinks at her friends in confusion... then turns to look behind herself to see who they're talking to. Huh, no one there...? So... they must mean her? She considers for a moment... then pulls out her cell phone and sets it as if she's going to take a selfie. At sight of her blood-bruised face, she sighs ruefully, turning off the phone and putting it away. She heads for the table, mumbling, "Sorry... it happens when I get shot in the face, I'm afraid. Um... can I have some breakfast anyway, though, please?" She smiles wanly as she adds, "It'll go away in about a week, if the previous time is any example. I'm sorry... I can go eat somewhere else if it's too awful." Cinnamon is hungry enough -- and embarrassed enough -- that the sheer absurdity of her statements doesn't really register for her.

Josie scowls, "You absolutely will not go somewhere else to eat! Your parents have really messed you up! You got hurt helping people -- we wouldn't make you go somewhere else!" Cinnamon blinks at Josie... then sheepishly (and reflexively) apologizes again as she gets a plate of food. She also reflexively seats herself at the end of the table furthest from the new arrivals, ducking her head a bit as she eats... though she rapidly becomes quite absorbed in her food. She's hungry! Being a dragon is hard work!

Around the table, people are discussing the proverbial What Next. Veles is going to be staying in the village for a while longer. He's not been home in decades, and wants to spend time with his extended family before coming back to Coblyn. If he overstays the time the rest of the group has left for going home on Valkyrie, he can take a commercial flight. Baird says he and his men will be returning to their home base, "After that, I'll be having a conversation with my contact at the firm. If they had no idea we were double-booked, they'll want to have a word with Veles' old firm. If they did know, I'll want to have a word with them myself. After that... I think a sabbatical. I need to rethink a thing or three."

Shane says, "We should probably get back to the trod soon, I think. I'm getting a little anxious. It'll be the full moon soon."

Cinnamon listens and eats and nods in appropriate places. At Shane's comment she smiles, "Two more days! Can we get a flight back in time, Spice?"

"I imagine we could," Thorn says. "The hard part will be getting from the airport to the trod."

Cinnamon sighs ruefully as she remembers that hike... well, at least part of it will be in a wagon! She smiles as she politely adds, "Good luck, Mr. Baird, with your, um... research?" She considers for a moment, then tentatively adds, "Would you, ah, be... willing to share that information with us, maybe?"

Spice says, "Why hike? You've got a harness now, right? Hell. Why take a plane?"

Thorn blinks to Spice, "Would she be able to make it that quickly?"

Cinnamon smiles to herself as she gives herself a little mental pat on the back -- not a single one of the villagers or Baird's men were k- er, died! She raises her head to listen to Spice -- then blinks. "I ha... uh... what?" She blinks again, thinking about that... then tilts her head thoughtfully, "I do have a harness, but it only carries two. Mitya, Olga, do you know if it could be quickly modified to carry, um..." she counts silently, then continues, "four plus our luggage?" Then she grins at Thorn, "I don't know, but I know Olga said I was really fast... and I had to slow down a whole lot to not wildly overshoot the fields during my flyover. We... could try, if you guys want?"

Olga muses, "I think so? I know that flight often takes less time than walking. You don't have the same obstacles as overland."

Cinnamon nods happily to Olga, "Okay! Let me finish breakfast and then I'll change and give you the harness, okay?" She adds to Shane, "I have a GPS location that's close to your trod on my cell. If you guide me with the cell, and then once we've landed you could maybe lead us all in? Would that be okay?" She's perking up a bit as she considers this new idea... this could be a fun way to learn more about her flying!

Cinnamon thinks for a moment, then adds with a bit of worry, "Oh! Shane, Josie, while you were riding and I was flying... did you feel any, um... any strong wind-blow or anything? Or wait..." she frowns thoughtfully, "no, there must be some sort of magical, er... shell? Shield? Something... that protects the area around me from wind damage... maybe?" She grins hopefully at her friends, "Did Liam ever say anything about it?" She adds in explanation, "I remember both of you were able to easily stand while I was bouncing around quickly, after all... so maybe if I go fast, there won't be any issue with the wind wiping things off me? We could test it before the actual flight too -- that might be best?"

Baird is listening to all of this and blinking slowly. He's got his men to think of and take care of, but he's taking all this weirdness in as best he can. After all, he's got a wide base of knowledge -- this is just something more to add to it. Shane grins at Cinnamon, "I've got what I've been told is better-than-average balance."

Josie agrees, adding that it's true of herself as well, "So, maybe Spice and Thorn in back, behind me and Shane as wind-breaks? And if it gets too rough, we can arrange something else? We probably want to wear coats, though. And... be careful how high we're flying."

Cinnamon shakes her head worriedly, "I, um... I think I'd really prefer to test this first, you guys... before committing to a flight from here to the UK, when we don't have anyplace we know is safe to set down if there are problems!" She thinks a moment, then looks to Olga, "Could we... maybe tie something onto my back, and I'll fly fast, and then we'll see what condition the thing is in when I land? Like... I don't know, a blanket or... or a broom or something? Something you won't mind losing, if the wind tries to rip it off my back?" She adds to Josie, "Though the coats idea is probably a good one... though... did I feel warm when you were on my back last night?"

Baird looks like he can't believe he's saying this, but still suggests, "What about a pair of those lockboxes you tore apart last night?"

Cinnamon smiles ruefully to Baird, shaking her head, "They're sturdier than a person. I want to test something softer, you know?" Wryly she adds, "Plus if a broom falls from the sky into a forest, it likely won't hurt anything... but a lockbox might accidentally kill someone?" She shudders, muttering, "I d-don't want to do that..."

Baird blinks and starts to say something -- but Veles puts a firm hand on his shoulder and overrides him, rumbling, "Let's try a broom and a chair, Cinnamon. Brooms don't break easily, but chairs might. It will give us a better idea."

Cinnamon nods and smiles, "I'm okay with that! I'm almost done with breakfast too, though..." she pauses and considers, then slowly adds, "Unless... unless you guys really don't want to, maybe our trip should be at night? Just in case? We can test during the day, no problem -- I can stay pretty low and follow the mountain ridge. Would that work, do you think?"

Thorn says, "Let's see how the test goes first. If you go fast enough, you won't catch the attention of anyone. But test first, I'd say." Cinnamon nods firmly in agreement!

Olga agrees, "Test during the day so we can see the results. Do the actual flight at night."

The young dragon finishes her breakfast, then gathers with her friends and others for the test. Shifting shape is easy, and she settles down in sphinx-pose so the chair and broom can be tied onto her harness. Once that's done she thanks the villagers and rises to her feet, giving herself a good shake to make sure everything is secure. She checks with Veles to make sure she knows precisely where to fly... then grins and waves a wing at both the villagers and Baird's men, "Wish me luck!"

There's laughter, but everyone wishes her luck. Shane climbs aboard for the test, saying he's perfectly confident. Cinnamon considers for a bit, then says hesitantly, "Um, Shane? Not... not this time, please? Uh, I m-mean... well, this is supposed to be a test of what happens when I go as fast as I can, y-you know? But... but if I think there's any chance of hurting you... I... won't? Go fast, I mean?" It's oddly weird how tiny and nervous Cinnamon's dragon-deep voice sounds when she's this uncertain.

Shane smiles and dismounts, patting Cinnamon reassuring, "Of course, acushla." He does check the lashings, however.

Cinnamon sighs in relief, leaning her big head down to nuzzle gently against him, "Thanks, guy!" She waits until everyone is cleared, grins and waves again -- wishing for a moment that she looked as jaunty and dashing as the early aviators in their helmets and white silk scarves -- then leaps into the air. She circles slowly once, making sure she has a very clear image in her head of where she'll be looking for to land once she's done with her flight... and then she carefully circles again so as to angle herself southeast along the mountain ridge. After that she stops just gliding, instead beating her wings strongly to get up to speed.

On the ground right after Cinnamon's departure, Baird manages to sound calm as he says, "Well, that would be easier and quicker than going through customs. Britain really did us all a great disservice with bloody Brexit."

Shane snorts, "No kidding. I'm sure we're going to have to do some shuffling about and obfuscating anyway."

Baird shrugs, "We're already obfuscated as it is." He watches as Cinnamon disappears, adding wryly, "You know, if I had any real sense, I'd be having a nervous breakdown right about now."

Veles is watching the big dragon dwindle in the distance, but his voice is amused as he murmurs, "If you had any real sense, you'd not be in the job you are. But then, I wouldn't have been in the job I was -- and I would not have the family I do now. Fate is funny that way." Thorn purses his lips, and kind of has to agree with Veles -- he still strongly dislikes mercenaries, but since Baird is effectively changing careers, the healer is happy to give the Scotsman another chance.

Off in the distance, Cinnamon soon discovers: flight is weirdly intoxicating! The cool wind against her shimmering scales, the surprisingly pleasant feel of her strong body working beautifully, the sun warm on her back and wings... the landscape ripples fluidly past beneath her, and she laughs aloud with happiness! Time ceases to matter as the young dragon drives herself swiftly through the air, rocketing along the mountain range -- until, startlingly, it's no longer there beneath her! She blinks, looking around bemusedly... then laughs again as she realizes: she must be over ocean! She whirls in a huge, happy barrel roll, almost folding her long, lithe body in half as she gracefully reverses -- then starts beating her wings hard again to zoom back inland. This time she keeps the mountain range on her left side instead of her right, and as she spots her target horizon in the far distance, she carefully slows and starts searching the ground below herself for her landing landmarks.

Cinnamon gives a short, happy roar as she recognizes her target -- the little valley in which Veles' people live. She circles once as she notices people running out of buildings to stare up towards her, then gives a cheerful wing-waggle right before she settles lightly and carefully to the ground in sphinx pose again, so her harness can be checked. She chuffs happily, "Hihi, everyone! I had a wonderful flight -- I even was over the ocean! It was so beautiful, too -- all sparkling and blue in the sunlight! -- and then I came right back. How long did I take? How's the chair and the broom?" She giggles, adding, "Did you miss me?" She continues chattering excitedly as people clamber up onto her, "I didn't know you guys were so close to the ocean, too! What's near there? Are there any other countries we could maybe go see someday?"

Veles blinks slowly, "We are not near the ocean, Cinnamon. You would have flown hundreds of miles to the ocean -- and over part of Greece."

Thorn blinks startledly. "That's... all the way to Greece?! That's... that's an incredible flight!"

Cinnamon blinks confusedly, "What? But... but I really was, Mitya -- over the ocean, I mean! And... and I did just like you told me to, and kept the mountain range on my right!"

Olga smiles, "A hundred and twenty miles. Not hundreds."

Cinnamon looks relieved, "Oh, good -- so I wasn't horribly lost! Oh!" She twines her long neck around to see her back, "Also, how're the chair and the broom? Oh, and how long was I gone? Maybe we can figure out how fast I flew too? At least roughly?" Worriedly she adds, "They're still there, aren't they?"

Shane swings up onto Cinnamon's back and brings down the chair and the broom a moment later -- with both in fine shape, "They're just dandy. You were gone... maybe thirty minutes?"

Cinnamon sighs in gusty relief at sight of the chair and the broom, "Oh, awesomesauce!" She beams at Shane, eyes shining as she happily adds, "Okay, now you're welcome to come along any time you'd like, Shane, right?" She blinks at the time frame, then mutters to herself, "So... 120 miles twice in 30 minutes is... 240, so 24 divided by 3 is... about eight miles a minute! Cool!"

"That's a great speed!" Thorn says. "You don't need to pay airfare for anywhere, anymore!" He thinks for a moment, then adds, "Well... maybe across the ocean...."

Cinnamon wriggles happily where she's settled on the ground, causing her tail to swing from side to side -- which means one of the villagers erps and leaps briskly over it once, then twice as it goes swishing past! The little dragon doesn't realize, instead burbling happily, "This is so cool, guys! So, do we try it tonight? Do we need more time to- oh! Let me get the harness off for you first, for the changes..." She rises to her feet, settling on her hind legs and wing-wrists, then carefully working the big buckles free with her claws. She beams again as she hands the harness to Olga, "There you go! Is there anything I can do to help?"

The harness is whisked away to be modified -- apparently the other parts are already being worked on, so they can be quickly added to the original straps. Cinnamon laughs at Thorn's comment, "I know, right?! Isn't this going to be fun?! I'm just surprised Liam didn't fly everywhere!" She tilts her head thoughtfully, then grins again, "Well... maybe at his age it was all old hat to him?"

Shane smiles, "He flew a lot of places. He said he hated long-distance mass transit."

Olga is smiling indulgently as she watches the happy young dragon. Baird is smiling as well, but it looks more bewildered than not. It's Veles who murmurs quietly to him, "Every creature starts out young. Dragons do not start out venerable. Nor do elves or anything else."

Cinnamon misses that as she nods interestedly to Shane, "Is that how he did it? Awesome! That must mean I'll be able to fly further and better as I get older, too!" She laughs, tossing her head with excitement, "Wow, this is so totally FUN! I can't wait to go flying with you all!" Cinnamon shifts back to human after a bit, since she wants to pack her things and make sure Olga doesn't need anything else from her. She also wants to talk with Shane, to figure out some sort of basic signaling they can use while in flight... and she wants to get a bite to eat too!

Josie is beaming. She's not bothered going back to human. She prefers being fuzzy, after all. And who here is going to care after last night? "Shane and I will still sit up front... just in case."

By the time it's coming down dusk, the harness is ready. Shane has a compass, and they've mapped out the best way to get back across to the isles, from the continent. Cinnamon also shows Shane the GPS location on her cell phone that they'll be aiming for. He'll be the one carrying her cell, after all -- since it's far too tiny for her to use at all effectively when in dragon shape! After that, Cinnamon happily hugs all the villagers that want a hug! She also thanks Olga very sincerely for helping the young dragon learn so much, and asks her to take good care of Dmitri. When she hugs Veles, of course, she cheerfully reminds him to take good care of Olga too! She's in a superlative mood -- she's going to get to try a wonderful new thing with her dear friends! She's happy enough right now, in fact, that if Baird is standing near Veles, and doesn't dodge out of the way, he too gets a hug! The mercenary looks somewhat amused, but (probably wisely) says nothing.

Shane points something out, "We'll want to set down somewhere on shore -- rest, let you eat, and check in to make sure you're OK. One long flight is all well and good, but this is your maiden voyage."

Cinnamon grins cheerfully, "Okay! Which shore?" She blushes slightly at the connotations her mind raises regarding 'maiden voyages' while Shane's riding on her back... but fortunately the awful bruising hides it!

Spice hmms, "I'd say somewhere in Wales first? Settle there, check in, eat, drink, let us stretch our legs and also check in with the trod and Valkyrie!"

"Oh, that shore!" Cinnamon leans over the map again, musing... then curiously asks, "Is that really helpful, though, considering how close we'll be? I mean... well, wait -- you do have a good point, in that we can get food right away at Llanelli. We'll have to hike at least some of the way to the trod! Although..." she frowns thoughtfully again, "is there anyplace large enough for me to land there?" She grins a bit sheepishly, "I don't want to accidentally squish anybody!"

Shane studies the map, "Why not just land at the observatory?"

Cinnamon thinks about that for a bit, "Well... I don't have the GPS for that, but... do you think we- oh! Wait, no -- it'd be rude to drop in on Taliesin like that, without warning and wanting dinner! Um... what about the treehenge? Do you think I'd fit in there?"

Shane considers, "Well... if we can get right over top of Llanelli, I guess we could?"

Cinnamon grins excitedly, "We'll be eyeballing it just to find the place, right? Plus we're all supernaturals -- we should be able to see it, shouldn't we?"

Baird leans in and murmurs, "Llanelli's a city...?"

Cinnamon nods happily to Baird, "It is! Very pretty." She looks hopefully back at her companions, "So... yes or no on Treehenge, peeps?"

Veles replies amusedly to Baird, "There is so much you don't know..."

Cinnamon grins at Veles, "You're teasing him, Mitya! Be nice -- we both had our moments of awakening and shock too, after all, right?" She lightly pats Baird's hand as she beams and adds, "If you stay nice, maybe you can come too sometime! Just if you want, though, of course."

Veles smiles lazily, "Yes, I am. But I think he does not need to know everything at once, Lady."

Shane is still studying the map as he says to Cinnamon, "Yes, I think you'll fit. It's... larger than it seems, I think."

Thorn thinks, then nods as well, "Treehenge should work, I think, yes!"

Cinnamon giggles at Veles, flashing her startlingly sweet smile that only comes out when she's happy and relaxed -- then blinks at Shane and Thorn, "Yes? Awesomesauce! Okay, we have a landing spot! Anything else we have to plan before departure?" She grins as she adds to Baird, "But if you do come, for your first time you want to be sure you're with someone big and scary, like Josie or Shane or Mitya -- to keep you safe!" She speaks without the slightest irony, of course -- she certainly doesn't think of herself as being that way! Thorn hides a grin. This from the person who was just now the biggest, scariest dragon in pretty much the entire subcontinent! Shane and Veles both smile at being called big and scary. Josie just wags!

The finished harness is brought out near dusk; things are settled and ready to be put together for the flight. Baird makes sure he has safe contact information and that they have contact information for him. He explains that the number he's giving them is a good one, but no one answers it -- instead they'll just leave a message and wait for an answer... which may take a few days. It's a dead drop sort of a thing. Cinnamon listens with interest as Veles and Baird exchange contact information... then she grins at Thorn, "Isn't it just like a spy movie?!"

Shane murmurs, "Well, in a way... it is."

Cinnamon laughs happily, "So exciting!"

Thorn grins to Cinnamon, "It actually is, yes!"

Once Cinnamon is in dragon shape, she carefully checks the harness, then asks Shane and Josie to check it as well for any possible weakness. Only after they give their thumbs-up does she happily invite everyone to hop on and tie on their luggage securely, please! Everyone is wearing a couple of layers, of course, and Spice has pulled out her sunglasses. This may be exhilarating -- and it may also be slightly uncomfortable. There's no way for any of them to know for absolute certain until they've done it. The young dragon can't resist giggling, her tail waving like a happy cat's, as she adds, "Welcome to Red Dragon Airlines, now boarding for the Bulgaria-Wales flight! Please secure your seatbelts and keep your arms inside the moving vehicle at all times!"

Cinnamon waves a wing in goodbye at the villagers, Veles, Baird, and his men -- if any are present -- then leaps into the sky with an exuberant, "Here we goooo!" She laughs happily, circling once so Shane can make sure both she and the compass are pointed in the right direction -- and then she calls back to the folks she's carrying, "Get comfy! This will probably take about three, four hours!" She points her nose towards Wales and starts strongly beating her wings -- she's on her way!

Of course, after about an hour of this, it's less exciting and more just a small, constant pleasure to be flying so... and Cinnamon finds herself humming softly under her breath to herself. She's warm and comfortable, her friends are safely lashed to her back and hopefully also warm and comfortable... and without realizing it, the young dragon's soft humming eventually morphs into a quiet, cheerful sort of sing-song or chant. She's singing half under her breath so as to not bother her friends -- or, honestly, embarrass herself! -- as she goes...

"Shane's the fighter, he'll clean up the hoo-oo-ood!
Spice does hacking 'cause she's really goo-oo-ood!
Josie's a werewolf, she goes how-wow-wowl!
Thorn's the medic, fixing ow! Ow! Ows!
Mitya's in Elgan 'cause he's nii-iice now!
And I'm the dragon, even though I don't! Know! How...!"

Shane and Josie, with their better-than-human hearing, both hear the little song and smile to themselves -- though they don't say anything about it because they know how shy Cinnamon is. The flight is relatively smooth, though there are a couple of fairly rough spots over the ocean that make for some jostled riders. No one and nothing is shaken loose, fortunately, despite a whoop or two and some laughter from Shane when there's turbulence that tips them somewhat up on the starboard side. Cinnamon calls back over her shoulder, in embarrassed tones, "Sorry about that! I'll have to practice flying over oceans later so I'm smoother next time!"

They come in fairly low over Llanelli and orient over the enclave there with some wing-finagling. Cinnamon beams as she looks down, pointing with one claw, "There, there -- I can see it! Shane, Josie, can you see Treehenge too? Think it's okay for me to just settle down carefully there?"

Shane and Josie both agree they can see the tree circle, and Josie adds, "I think turbulence over oceans is to be expected!"

Cinnamon calls back interestedly, "Is it? Okay, I won't feel so dumb, then!" She laughs quietly, her wings beating hard as she slowly and very carefully eases downward -- she doesn't want to damage any of the lovely, sacred trees! She finally has all four big, clawed paws safely on the ground, though she doesn't yet lower her wings -- she doesn't want anyone taking a startled potshot at her companions, after all! She glances around alertly, calling a quiet, "Hello? Anyone here?"

Thorn has been holding on the whole ride, though: "No worries!" he calls over to Cinnamon. He's holding on a bit tighter than necessary, really, but he doesn't say that. "It went fine!" He finds he was actually enthused by the flight! Even the rough parts didn't bother him overmuch... if he didn't think too much about them.

Cinnamon is internally delighted -- her friends all had a great time with her! She's really useful! She's barely set down, however, when the circle's guardian berserker druid arrives. He doesn't seem upset, simply surprised, "Hullo! Welcome! I'm not used to aerial entrances!"

Cinnamon grins cheerfully, "Hallo! We're sorry if we woke you, but might we ask permission to rest a bit here, please? And, umm..." she glances around hopefully, "could we maybe... purchase some food too?" She adds a bit sheepishly, "Also, thank you so much, Roger, for not, er... not panicking or anything?" Confidingly she adds, "Getting really tired of being shot at!" She neatly folds her wings and settles into her usual sphinx 'disembarkation' pose, adding with a giggle, "Please remain in your seats until your ride has come to a full stop... and enjoy your visit to lovely Llanelli!" Thorn laughs quietly.

Roger looks somewhat scandalized, "I would not think to sell food! I have bread and honey, and there are apples. They have been checked and they are all good again! If you want more, though, you may have to go to the market."

Cinnamon thinks about that, then smiles, "Well, can we trade anything with you for the lovely food? Like, um..." she glances around, then beams hopefully at the druid, "maybe you have a tall tree that needs fruit pulled off the top, or that needs the top branches pruned, or... something like that?"

Josie speaks quietly to Cinnamon, "I think he's saying that asking anything for offering guests food would be offensive. It's hospitality to him to give you food." She nudges gently, "Say thank you, and next time we're here you can bring him something nice."

"Oh!" Cinnamon's skin flushes between the scales, and she ducks her head, her ears and tail flattening, "I'm so sorry, Rog- uh, I m-mean: thank you so much!" Being useful to friends, she wryly reflects to herself, is harder than it would seem!

Roger smiles, "You are welcome!" But then he proves both Josie and Cinnamon correct, "Though if you could get the apples form the top of the tree, that would be lovely."

Cinnamon sighs in relief, hopping carefully to her feet, "Happy to!" She sits up on her hind legs, bracing with her wing-wrists, and neatly nips off apples between her teeth... then arches her neck to drop them into her paw-hands. After that she hands them down to friends, and then repeats the process until the top of the tree is cleared of fruit. She glances down inquiringly at Roger, "Is that okay?" Roger is quite happy to have the apples picked! After that he disappears to... somewhere. It's like he just walks back into the trees and is gone. When he comes back, though, he has hearty bread, honey, and preserves to go with the apples. He also beams as he presents a large wedge of Caerphilly cheese he forgot he had.

Cinnamon happily crunches up apples -- they're easy to toss into her gaping maw! She needs a bit of help with the bread and honey, though. She could toss a loaf into her mouth but she suspects there's not that much bread -- and she certainly doesn't want to be rude and eat all of poor Roger's food! Instead she's quite pleased to accept the offered slices of bread spread with honey or cheese -- and that way she knows she's not consuming more than her fair share. As they're eating and relaxing, she explains to Roger that this is a short layover on the way to Ireland, so she doesn't overdo it. All in all, it's actually a nice little snack to tide them over. Cinnamon thanks Roger with relief once they've eaten, "I hadn't realized how hungry I was getting! This was delicious. Thank you again for your kindness!"

Once people have had a chance to rest, eat, drink some water, and stretch their legs, they all mount up again for the flight back to Ireland and the trod -- it shouldn't be too much longer. Cinnamon tells everyone to hang on tight, as she's going to try leaping high into the air before beating her wings a lot, so she doesn't accidentally damage any trees. Thorn does indeed hold on tightly as Cinnamon leaps up into the air. In fact, he's been holding on, firmly but not obviously, to the harness the entire time in the air. He's finding it incredibly exciting -- quite exhilarating, even with the bumps!

The last leg of the flight is barely more than a hop. Cinnamon hums happily to herself as she flies, following Shane's tapped directions on her shoulder as he aims her for the closest GPS location they have to his trod. Shouldn't be long now! By her off-the-cuff calculations, they only have a half-hour more of flight time. It takes slightly more than half an hour, and that only because Shane insists they take a slightly roundabout way and do a quick flyover before actually landing in the clearing with the trod's mound entrance. Cinnamon is happy to follow Shane's directions, although she does call back over her shoulder, "What're you looking for, Shane?"

Shane calls back, "It's just an overabundance of caution, acushla! Too many unwanted people in too many supposedly secure places!"

"Oh, okay!" As it is, they set down safely and with no incident, as Cinnamon does the same careful landing as previously, keeping her wings up and glancing around warily, "Hello, the trod? Anyone awake?" No one answers Cinnamon's halloa, and there's no one within sight in the clearing where the mound stands -- but then, Rowan never did really have a lot of visible guards.

People start dismounting and untying things from the harness, and Shane tells Cinnamon, "Someone will be along, I'm sure."

The young dragon tilts her head curiously at Shane, "Aren't you allowed, as a member of the trod, to just walk on in, though?" She glances around interestedly as she adds, "I wonder if Aisling and the Valkyrie wolves are here already or not!"

Josie grins, "I'm sure he can, but most people come meet family and friends at the door when they've been gone on a trip!"

Just as Josie is finishing saying that, Quinn appears in the trod's entrance, beaming, "Back so soon, lad?"

Cinnamon's massive head swivels around and she grins down at Quinn, "Hi there! We came on dragon express!" She laughs with a small puff of smoke, nearly prancing in place as she adds, "So much fun to fly like that!" Thorn lets out the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding when he sees Quinn. He feels much more at ease now. Cinnamon adds a bit shyly, "Er, for me, at least. Umm..." she checks her friends a bit worriedly, "was it fun for you all too?"

Thorn laughs easily, "It was! Thank you very much for the ride, Cinnamon!"

Shane grins, "It as a fantastic ride. Best way to fly."

Cinnamon beams at that, deeply reassured and surprisingly (to herself) happy. It means a great deal to her to feel useful to her friends! A moment later she remembers Baird mentioning how disturbing her smile is in this form, and she hastily mumbles, "Oops! Sorry..." as she ducks the lower half of her long, triangular head behind one wing.

Quinn, who is not a human and used to smiles in a lot of different sorts of faces, isn't the least bit worried about having a dragon beaming at him. Instead he looks up at Cinnamon and smiles, "Much better than a bloody 747!" He walks over and pats Cinnamon's shoulder affectionately, then starts helping people get their belongings off of Cinnamon. He calls over to her, "This is a lovely harness." He's moving even more gracefully and relaxedly than when they first met him.

Shane pauses and checks: "Mom...?"

Quinn smiles crookedly, "Had to get back home, lad. But I'll be sending a letter or three back with ye."

Cinnamon mumbles a faintly disappointed, "Aww! Pity she didn't get to stay very long..." she brightens as she adds, "but at least you got to get together again!" She completely forgets herself, excitedly beaming her full-wattage draconic smile at Shane as she adds, "See?! It was a great plan!" Without missing a beat -- and not realizing how confusing her subject-jumps might be, Cinnamon proudly adds to Quinn, "Isn't it nice? Veles' family made it for me -- so sweet of them!" She's glancing around for a discreet place to change when she remembers -- and checks with Quinn, "Oh! Also, are things still going good for you guys and Holly... hopefully?"

Quinn grins, "Oh, if it had been only an hour at the inn, it would have been more than I had ever expected to see of her again... me beautiful Janet..." He looks quite dreamy for a moment; that makes Shane actually laugh, eyes twinkling. He nudges Quinn, who firmly clears his throat, "Oh! Ah. Yes. Things are going quite well there. We've messengers back and forth every day."

Cinnamon sighs happily at that, "Oh, awesome -- I'm so glad to hear it!" She grins down at Thorn as she adds, "Won't Iason be pleased to hear that too?"

Thorn says, "I think he will be, yes! Hearing that the trods are making peace will be good news for him."

Cinnamon beams at Thorn in agreement! She waits until she's completely unloaded, then shyly asks Josie, "Can I, um... borrow you for a moment, please, Josie? Er, over b-by the treeline there, maybe?" She pads over as lightly as a half-ton of dragon can, waiting for the werewolf before she tries to change.

Quinn smiles, "Aisling and the crew of the Valkyrie got back just a couple o' hours ago. They're all tired. It's... close to time for their change, I think. I was warned that Fraser might be a handful."

It's curiously odd to watch, from the perspective of those by the trod mound. A gigantic dragon stands facing the (subjectively) tiny werewolf -- then vanishes! There's a startled squeak, and the dragon reappears, looking chagrinned. A deep breath later, the dragon vanishes again, and there's a rather cross sounding, "Oh, bother!" -- and there's the dragon again, looking grumpy. She mutters under her breath, takes a really deep breath and closes her eyes... then vanishes once more. This time, however, there's a relieved, "Oh, thank goodness!" -- and little human Cinnamon steps out to walk with Josie back to the others.

As they head back to the group. Josie's giggling a little and assuring Cinnamon that she'll get better at it, as things go along! Changing shape takes practice, after all. Cinnamon grins sheepishly at Josie as she mutters, "Easy for you to say, little miss 'I do this all the time' werewolfie!" She smiles tiredly up at Quinn, forgetting that her entire face and neck is terrifically bruised as she says, "He's got a day still before he starts being a doodyhead."

Josie grins cheerfully, "Well, yeah. But I've been doing this for years, Cinnamon -- I changed the first time when I was like nine! It takes practice!"

Quinn blinks, his eyes widening as he reflexively winces at sight of Cinnamon's face, "As gr� gach a bhfuil naofa, lass! What happened?!"

Shane too winces, though for different reasons, "There was... a thing."

Spice snorts, "A thing?! There were fuckin' grenades and snipers and goddamned explosions -- and a Scotsman that looked like he oughta be painted up like Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight Rises! That's more than just a thing, Shane!"

Quinn's brows go up as he tries to untangle what Spice is saying. Cinnamon blinks -- and then her face darkens even more as she blushes hotly and mutters, "Oh, s-sorry..." She hastily pulls up the hood of her jumper, then brings her scarf up over her nose and mouth. Glancing away, she adds wryly, "It, um... it's nothing, really... it just happens when I get shot in the face, y'know?" Her small, hidden smile is wistful as she quietly adds, "Is cinnte nach bhfuil s� naofa, ach go raibh maith agat as a bheith buartha."

Shane says ruefully, "Long story. Mercenaries. Again. One of them had a Glasgow smile. Turned out not to be such a bad guy. Too long a story to tell out here."

Quinn blinks slowly, "Shot in the..." He takes a deep breath, "OK. That's it. In the trod with all of you, children -- in ye go! Food, drink -- then storytime!" He wraps Cinnamon up in a hug, "And don't you dare apologize. I was just worried, lassie!"

Cinnamon squeaks a little startledly at the hug... then relaxes and sighs softly as she slowly returns it. This is... nice! Then she blinks as her tummy growls loudly, embarrassedly adding, "I, er, uh, sorry about that! B-but, umm... food'd be real nice; yes, please?"

Quinn starts hustling everyone inside, "Go, go! Your old rooms are still ready for you. Put your things away and I'll get food on its way to ye all."

Cinnamon tries to call thanks over her shoulder to Quinn, as they're all hustled inside... but a yawn cuts through her attempt, and she has to grab onto Josie's hand for a moment so she doesn't just fall over from the sudden wave of tiredness she's feeling. She smiles sleepily at thought of her own cozy little room here, pattering along after the others... and once she's dumped her stuff on the nearest chair in her little room, she kicks off her hiking boots and wonders if she has time to lie down for just a second...

It's only a few heartbeats later, of course, that she's out like the proverbial light. In the last two days she's learned to fly, and later flown steadily for hours, switched shapes repeatedly, worried and angsted tremendously over her friends, stopped a small-scale war, been shot repeatedly, not really eaten enough... and now her system is trying to heal as rapidly as possible. She's happy that everything has turned out so well... but she's also utterly exhausted! A few minutes later, when Quinn comes by to let them know that it'll be an hour or so before there will be food, and he finds Cinnamon out like a light, he chuckles. With a little help from Josie -- who simply picks her friend up like a dozing toddler, and settles her gently onto her bed -- the two of them get the little dragon tucked into her cozy little room in the trod. Everyone else is offered food, sleep, or anything else they need.

The next morning Cinnamon is allowed to sleep right through, the theory being 'she obviously needs it.' Food is brought on a tray, and taken away when it's not been eaten, an hour or so later. Quinn and Aisling do check in with Thorn, however. The healer is well relaxed and awake, having slept a relatively normal amount the night before. He greets Quinn and Aisling warmly, and is eager to hear of how things have been going in the trod while they were away, even if it was only for a short while. Does anyone needs any healing while he's there?

Quinn smiles, "No major injuries while you lot were gone. We've been keeping messengers going back and forth between here and Holly. Current thinking is that we're going to want to have at least a weekly exchange of information. Cutting lines of communication is part of what causes this shite."

"I'm really glad to hear that," Thorn says. "Weekly sounds like an excellent idea, especially since you're so close to each other."

Elsewhere, Cinnamon is deeply asleep until well after noon... at which point she wakes up a bit groggily, pushing back her bangs and slowly sitting up. Glancing down at herself, she sighs in wry amusement -- she fell asleep in her clothes! Well, might as well get cleaned up, changed, and... oof, definitely need to use the restroom and then go eat some food -- she's ravenous! She plans her clothing carefully, making sure she can neatly cover most of her face with a hoodie and a scarf. Then, feeling much more alert after her ablutions, she comes pattering out of her room -- and beelines it for the kitchen!

In the kitchen Cinnamon is greeted by Eirich, who hugs her as if she's just another member of the trod -- then piles up a tray of food for her, and encourages her to sit and eat, or take it to the dining hall and eat, or take it to the great hall and eat, or her room, or anywhere! She gives a small, startled squeak again at the unexpected hug, though she's starting to relax a bit about hugs here in the trod. Apparently they're just a really nice way to say hello! She happily hugs Eirich back, thinks for a moment... then shyly asks if she might eat it here, please? She doesn't want to shock people back in the great hall. Cinnamon hesitates... then glances away for a moment as she lowers her scarf, adding, "I, um... people seem a bit... well..." She tries to think of the right words. Not grossed out, thank goodness, but... ah! "Horrified -- they're a little horrified when they see me, you know?" She blinks at the food, inhaling all the good smells... then sits down firmly at the table by the tray as she hurriedly adds, "Also: starving!" -- and with that, she starts to eat!

Eirich clucks his tongue, "They're worried, lass! That looks like it hurts!" As she's eating, the cook goes into the cold room and comes back with a steak. He looks puzzled for a moment and then puts it vaguely over whichever side of Cinnamon's face she's using least. Cinnamon may be starving but she's also tidy and methodical: she starts eating at the front edge of her plate, devours everything on it, empties her tea and coffee and fruit juice, then eats everything on all the side dishes... then sighs in relief and thanks Eirich as she neatly takes the steak from him and starts to cut it up and devour it too.

Cinnamon swallows her current bite, hopefully inquiring, "Do you have any more, umm... maybe bacon, or scones? Those were really delicious!" She wonders a bit why he didn't cook the steak first -- then realizes: he gets it! He understands how starvingly hungry she really is! She beams at him as she adds warmly, "Also, thank you so much for all this delicious food! I didn't realize just how ravenous I was!"

Eirich actually squeaks and takes the rest of the raw steak away, "That's not for eating! That's for the bruise! I will make you more! Put that back on your face!" He immediately puts scones and jam in front of her so she doesn't eat the rest of the bloody, cold meat and starts putting bacon and eggs on the stove as protein that will cook fast!

Cinnamon blinks puzzledly at the steak -- since she's never been in fights before learning she was a dragon, she's not really sure why she's being handed a steak for the bruise. Plus it's kind of cold, drippy, and clammy! Dubiously she says, "Put it... on my face?! Er... why, please?"

Eirich sighs amusedly, "Like a cold pack, lass. I know out there you have freezers with ice. We don't. I'll cook it for you."

"Oh!" Cinnamon brightens once it's explained to her, "Okay, I get it now. Um... is it okay if I wrap it in something so it doesn't drip?" Eirich looks around and finds a thin cotton kitchen towel to wrap it in. The cool will get through but it will soak up most of the blood. Cinnamon thanks Eirich and carefully applies the steak to the left side of her face, since she's right-handed... and this way she can keep eating. She's a little surprised, in fact, by just how hungry she is! A few minutes later, Cinnamon eagerly accepts Eirich's offer of a few more eggs, rashers of bacon, and scones... and only then finally starts to not feel that gnawing sensation at the pit of her stomach any longer. She thanks him in very heartfelt tones! "Oh my gosh, Eirich, I think I'll live now!" She sighs contentedly, adding, "I don't think I've ever felt that starving before in my entire life!"

Eirich, who has fed a lot of species, hmfs, "You're a carnivorous species who has done a lot! You're used to being a human -- you don't think about feeding yourself as half a ton of dragon. Next time you're going to be a dragon and be doing a lot of things, make sure they slaughter you a couple of cows first!"

Cinnamon gets a little wide-eyed at that -- but after thinking about it for a moment, she nods slowly, "You're right. Thank you, Eirich... you're right that I hadn't really realized it yet." She grins shyly at him from behind the steak pressed to her face as she adds, "I really appreciate you letting me eat so much here, too. I, um, I h-hope I... wasn't too much trouble?" She thinks for a moment, then asks almost diffidently, "Would it, umm... be helpful if I, like, brought some food back from the city or something?"

Eirich looks scandalized, "You're a guest! You eat what you need!"

Cinnamon winces slightly, "Sorry! Sorry, I d-didn't- er, p-please don't be m-mad I was just offering really!" She hastily sets down the steak and almost scampers out of the kitchen, her worried apologies trailing behind her! She doesn't want to offend the extremely nice cook here. Eirich looks puzzled as Cinnamon leaves, but then starts to clean up. He'll have Shane check on her later, poor chick.

Cinnamon also quickly pulls up her scarf and hoodie, glancing around a bit warily. Her friends should be around here somewhere, surely? She'll try peeking cautiously into the great hall first. The little dragon keeps her head ducked as she patters quickly along, trying not to shock anyone... and (once again) utterly not realizing how suspicious she looks while doing that!

Shane is in the Main Hall with Quinn, Aisling, Josie, Spice, and most of the Havvarger. Thorn is also in the Main Hall, sitting quietly and listening. Cinnamon sighs in relief as she cautiously peeks around the corner of the doorjamb -- there's everyone! She carefully sidles around the outside edge of the room, trying not to meet anyone's eyes as she goes. If she can, she'll settle so she's mostly shadowed by someone else -- Josie or the Havvarger are all large, thank goodness!

People are mostly just talking about the flight over and giving Quinn the rundown on what the visit to Llanelli was like. They haven't given a lot of details on the previous days yet, since they want to wait until everyone is present. Josie glances up and spots Cinnamon, then beams and scoops her friend up in a big hug, "There you are! Did you sleep OK?" Quinn is still looking dreamily happy. Aisling's eyes are twinkling, and Arvid is looking quite relaxed.

Cinnamon squeaks startledly again, then laughs as she returns the hug warmly, "Hi, Josie! Wow, yeah -- I slept like a log! Didn't mean to be out so long, too -- sorry about that!" She smiles behind the scarf, her eyes crinkling as she looks up at Josie once she's settled again, "How is everyone? No aftereffects of flying with me, I hope?"

Spice grins, "I'm a little sore, but that's from sitting in an unfamiliar position and using unfamiliar muscles for a few hours. Totally fuckin' worth it, though!"

Thorn shakes his head, smiling, "No aftereffects at all. It was an incredible experience. I can only imagine how you feel about being able to fly!"

Cinnamon giggles softly into her scarf, "Oh, yay! That's good news. Thanks, guys!" She blinks as she realizes she really ought to warn Shane about her possible mess-up, then leans to whisper to the half-beansidhe, "By the, um, by the way? I... I m-might have offended Eirich... but I'm really, really sorry if I did!" She sighs, adding, "I... I offered to b-buy some more food, since I... er, I had a, um, a kinda... large breakfast...?"

Shane leans in to listen, blinking -- then laughs softly and murmurs back, "He's upset that you thought you had to pay him back. He's not an innkeeper; it's not a transaction! Tell you what: next time we come over, we'll bring him some truffle oil and some saffron -- he'll be in transports of joy!"

Cinnamon looks hopeful, "Really? He'll like that?" A bit wistfully she adds, "I'd really like to thank him for being so really, really nice to me when I was starving, but..." she glances embarrassedly down at her hands, muttering, "I, I d-don't like making them mad at me..." She pauses as she remembers another thought she wanted to check on, then whispers back to Shane, "Also, um... is it true, that thing about the gealsidhe breeding the beansidhe out of existence? Do they really have that many more kids?"

Quinn blinks as he catches part of Cinnamon's 'confession,' "Eirich was cross? The last time he was cross with anyone, that I remember, was when Alain and Sarai completely spoiled that Solstice dinner! Like... that was at least two hundred years back! -and that took some work!"

Aisling sighs at Cinnamon's question about outbreeding, "There are old legends that we, the beansidhe, are evil."

Cinnamon blushes as she's overheard, ducking back behind Josie so Quinn doesn't glare at her for upsetting Eirich... though she peeks out again to listen to Aisling. Puzzledly she replies, "But I don't remember reading anything about evil breeding less than good does...?"

Quinn doesn't look angry, just puzzled. Shane laughs and tugs Cinnamon around, to say to her, "You didn't piss Eirich off, acushla -- I promise! Think... think how you'd feel if you asked me and Josie and Spice to come over and hang out, and we slept over, and then tried to pay you for it like it was a hotel. You'd be confused, right?"

Cinnamon squeaks and wriggles, trying to stay hidden... though she pauses to blink consideringly at Shane's query. Finally she replies cautiously, "But I... I didn't offer to pay -- I wanted to do something nice for them, you know? Like, if Josie asked in the morning if I wanted some of those deliciously awesome cinnamon buns when we all woke up in the morning... I'd be all over them, right?" She grins at Spice, adding, "Spice too, from what I've seen -- they're the best!"

Shane nods and smiles, "Right. But here..." he waves a hand to indicate everyone there, "you pay with things, not money. Offering to bring food in exchange for food is the same thing as paying. But bringing back some special little thing is a thank you."

"Oh! That... oh, okay. I can see that." Cinnamon looks around consideringly, then grins up at Shane, "Thanks, er, Shane. That helps." She blushes and ducks her head a bit as she realizes: she almost called Shane asthore! That would've been awkward! She sure doesn't want to embarrass him in front of his family, after all -- she wants him to like her and stay her friend!

Quinn ahhs and relaxes, "Cultural confusion -- I get it. OK, yeah. Eirich is hard to anger unless you screw up something he's been putting together for a long time." He leans back in his chair and sighs, smiling, "No. Beansidhe don't breed less than gealsidhe, usually."

Cinnamon ducks her head in a quick nod to Quinn, then glances around the room. Is Fraser there? He's not visible, but Arvid seems fairly relaxed, so the Scots wolf is apparently not making too much of an ass of himself. Yet. The young dragon hopes he's okay for the full moon. Oh! Also, are the folks here going to ask about what happened at Mitya's home? For that matter, she still has a question too! "If they, er, d-don't... why do the folks at Holly say that, please?"

Aisling sighs, "There was..." she rubs her face, "There was some misguided thought about a species of eugenics. And it's not so much that the gealsidhe or the beansidhe are more fertile. It's that some people are more fertile. I think there was something, some centuries back, where there were a few assassinations of beansidhe that tended in that direction."

Cinnamon gives Aisling a sympathetic glance, "Oh, that kind of thing." She's read about eugenics, and knows how badly it tends to go awry. Plus, Aisling looks really unhappy about it, so... Cinnamon will just change the subject!

It's Quinn who says, "So, tell me more about this fella with the Glasgow smile."

Cinnamon thinks for a second about Quinn's query, then nods once, "O-okay... uhm, did you know it -- th-the Glasgow smile, I mean -- do you know what it is?" She's quietly relieved no one's making fun of her hidden face, or demanding she pull down the scarf -- that's precisely what her birth family would do, after all. Quinn puts his fingertips at the corners of his mouth and traces them silently back towards his ears. Cinnamon nods again at Quinn's gesture, her voice still soft and almost whispery behind her scarf, "Okay. So, like, I didn't know... what it was, that it was... inflicted by someone else, stuff like that, you know? So when we first met him it was... kind of confusing to me?"

Cinnamon makes sure her friends know to jump in if she misses anything, then goes on to relate how the hunters arrived, supposedly in search of bear despite asking about large flying objects... the visit between the hunters and the little group of supernaturals, in an effort to warn them off... and then prepping for their visit that night. She continues with the story: catching up the watcher in the tree, Baird finding them, their discussion, and his realization that his group had received really bad info. Next was his calling in his men, and folks starting to talk out what to do next... and then the warning about the new incoming assault team. Quinn ahhs and nods, "They were Judas goats."

Cinnamon sighs and nods, then adds, "So w-we... well, they, um, what's it called... got the drop on us? So they had all Baird's men to one side, and the villagers in the great hall, and us in front of the great hall, and..." she's feeling a little foolish by now as she adds, "I... I, um, thought m-maybe we could, like... talk them out of hurting anyone? But... Mitya warned me they'd leave no w-witnesses, and, um, Eduard got mad and s-shot, l-like randomly, at Baird's men? Uhm... s-so I changed and, um..."

Frantically Cinnamon wonders how to tell this -- without sounding like a horrible monster! She remembers flaming at the mercs and angrily stomping at some of them that were trying to hurt her and -- and... she shudders, and says in a quick, small voice, "andthenwestoppedthem allthat's it." She's starting to unwittingly lean behind Shane again as she tells the story. She's kind of unhappy about all this -- she really wants these people to like her! But... it turns out when she's upset, she's really kind of... well... violent? Cinnamon sighs, remembering Baird's men all flinching away from her too. Maybe... maybe she kind of is a monster, really?

Thorn says gently, "Thanks mostly to Cinnamon, the town was saved. Eduardo's men were dispatched, and Baird seems to be something of an ally now -- he hadn't expected to be the Judas goat in this. Seriously, Cinnamon is understating how much she did to keep everyone in the town alive."

Cinnamon darts a grateful glance at Thorn -- she thinks he's being really nice, considering he had to clean up all the mess afterward! She sheepishly adds, "Oh, and that... er, th-that's when I got shot in the f-face a couple of times..."

Quinn mms, eyes narrowing -- he is, after all, a guardian himself, "So, you basically did what you had to do, to protect what is essentially a farming village in the back of beyond, from a bunch of armed mercenaries. It sounds like you did exactly what was needed."

Cinnamon doesn't know what to say to that -- or even if it was addressed to her instead of to, say, his son Shane. She falters, "I, uh, umm... I don't know? I mean, umm... m-maybe if I were diplomatically trained I'd have known what to say so I didn't have to be quite so... uh, so v-violent...?"

Aisling says gently, "Cinnamon, you can't be diplomatic with people like that. It sounds like this Baird was a bit different. But..." she looks at Thorn, "Eduard? It sounds like Eduard was basically a murderer with a bunch of accomplices." Thorn nods firmly to Aisling.

Cinnamon thinks about that, then says slowly, uncertainly, "It... works if they have an epiphany, though? Being diplomatic, I mean?" She grins wryly as she adds, "I g-got shot in the face that time too... in Elm." She considers a bit more, then adds slowly, "Though... that was more Jaeger, wasn't it." She glances around, "Is he here? Or is he off visiting others?"

Quinn shakes his head, "No. It just sounds like this Baird is..." he rocks his hand, "Less outright violent? If he's an exfiltration expert, they sometimes have to be diplomatic, too... good at getting past people with fast talking. Sometimes it's spycraft, as much as military."

Cinnamon nods interestedly to Quinn, "Okay, that makes sense." She smiles quietly as she adds, "So after that we decided to come back here... and we flew instead of taking a plane." She grins shyly, "Was really nice!"

Aisling says, brows together, "Is your face feeling OK? You don't have to hide it if you're worried about us, you know. Only if you're feeling self-conscious for yourself."

Cinnamon blushes at that, though it's not really visible behind the bruising, "Oh! Oh, no, I, uh- n-no, it's fine! I'm good, no problem!" Aisling mmms and smiles a little, making a note to talk with Cinnamon about makeup. Not in a 'you must wear makeup' way, but in a 'if you want the skills, here they are' kind of way. She's started to feel very sisterly toward the young dragon.

Arvid speaks up, "Quinn has sent a few of his people to take a night or three on the Valkyrie so my crew and I can have full moon here in the trod without worrying."

Cinnamon smiles in relief at Arvid for his changing the subject, "Oh, that'll be n-nice! Er..." she looks around again, then puzzledly asks, "Is, um... are Fraser and Jaeger off on a walk together or -- or something?"

Arvid laughs, "Actually, yes. Jaeger has taken our Fraser out to try to work out some of his rambunctiousness."

Quinn laughs, adding, "Like you try to tire out a toddler before bedtime."

Aisling's eyes twinkle, "Perhaps he won't try to be naked at anyone."

The noise Cinnamon makes is a hilariously cute combination of a giggle and a squeak of embarrassment! She coughs in embarrassment at the noise, then grins, "Well, at least he's got... what, tonight? It's tomorrow he starts being a d- er... somewhat, um, difficult?" She giggles, then checks, "So, um, so was there anything else you guys had questions about?" It turns out to be a peaceful and relaxed evening. Cinnamon dozes off a few times without meaning to, leaning against Josie's warm, furry side... and in those intervals Shane (with the help of the others who're still awake) quietly updates his da on what exactly happened at the little Bulgarian mountain village.

The next day Cinnamon wonders if she can talk Shane -- maybe some of the others, too? -- into walking to the little tarn with her -- the one where she almost, um... where she fell in. She doesn't want to be scared of heights, or that place, or mountain lakes, or anything like that, after all... and she's willing to bet good company will make it a nicer trip! Shane is happy to go along to the tarn. He invites Thorn along, too, and the medic is happy to go. He's quite curious about it. Josie pretty much insists on going along as well. Cinnamon is happy to have all her friends come, actually -- though she describes the location as having a gorgeous view, rather than the place where she was almost killed. She shyly asks Shane if he'd go with her to ask Eirich for a picnic basket too, please? She figures they can have a nice tea there, then head on home for dinner -- if people would enjoy that?

It doesn't take too long, therefore, until they're all hiking through the beautiful countryside. Once they're out of the trod Cinnamon pulls down her scarf and grins a bit sheepishly at her friends, "Sorry, I, um... I d-don't like horrifying folks with my face, you know?" She happily describes the gorgeous view from the top of the mountain cliff, then glances curiously at Shane, "I bet you've seen it a lot, right? So... is there some time of day, or season, that you think it's most beautiful?"

"You're not horrifying anyone," Thorn says. "If anything, they're wincing with sympathy. That's serious bruising, and I'm surprised you're not still in pain!"

Cinnamon grins wryly at Thorn, touching her face lightly with careful fingertips, "It's a little achy and puffy still, but it really only hurts if I poke myself, you know? I figure it's already probably started fading a bit too... or at least that's how it was with the last time I was shot in the face." She pauses, thinking... then says slowly, "How weird... that saying that is sorta... unsurprising to me now!"

Shane thinks about Cinnamon's query, murmuring, "In autumn. It's... fantastical. It's really like something out of a book."

Cinnamon laughs, then smiles at Shane, "Really? So right now is the best time to see it? Awesome!" To her friends she adds, "Climbing up the hill takes a while, sorry! But it's totally worth it for the view." Shane nods and goes on a bit ahead, wanting to make sure the path is nice and clear -- and making sure there's a good place to spread the picnic out. Cinnamon grins at the others as she adds, "Wonder if we'll see Jaeger and Fraser while we're out, as well!" She pants and puffs quite a bit as they slowly climb the mountainside, and it is in fact rather steep in places... but once they reach the top she beams with tired pride, "Look! See, isn't it beautiful?" She nearly flops down onto a big boulder to catch her breath and stare around herself in quiet happiness. She'll try walking to the other side of the trail, where the cliff falls away to the quiet black tarn below, once she's caught her breath.

The tarn is, indeed, a gorgeous, almost circular lake at the base of the sheer cliff. If Cinnamon had been human, the fall really could have ended her. This is the kind of vista that faerie stories, and those melodramatic romantic stories that so many Edwardian and Victorian ladies swooned over, were written about. Thorn stares at the vista, letting out a breath. "It's magnificent!" he says quietly, turning to take it all in. The black water is still but for a few touches of wind upon its surface, and with the autumnal leaves, it is indeed as Shane described it: fantastical.

Cinnamon sighs happily as she watches her friends enjoy the view -- she's glad she made herself come here! Once she's no longer huffing, she rises to her feet and mutters to herself, "Okay... here we go!" She takes a deep breath, then walks with slow, measured strides over to the far side of the trail. Putting a bracing hand on one of the boulders there, she leans cautiously to glance over the cliffside to the tarn below. For several slow heartbeats she stares down and around... then gives a quick, pleased gasp -- she's not afraid! Good for her! She steps back carefully, then whirls around and trots back to the others, beaming, "Yay! I got right back on the horse!" After that they pull out the picnic and have a big, delicious, filling lunch.

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

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