Goblin Town -- Logs

Cinnamon whews and sags into a seat on her bed, once she arrives there safely. She just pants for a few moments, focusing on being calm and collected. This is just like... like giving a difficult financial presentation, right! All she has to do is concentrate on the numbers... well, poop. If she had any numbers, she'd focus on them. Hmm... the little dragon finally calms herself enough, while talking through possible numbers to concentrate on, to rise and get herself dressed. She doesn't rush -- she's not looking forward to this possibly horrible conversation at all -- but she does wash her face, brush her hair, and make sure she looks presentable. She may not be beautiful like all the other elf girls, but darnit, she is neat and tidy!

Cinnamon has, by that point, gone through the multiplication tables up to twelve, then calculated the compound interest for the next year, month by month, on one of her personal interest-bearing accounts. However, after that she can't in good conscience stall any longer... so she takes a deep breath, sternly reminds herself that she's a big, scary dragon -- really! ...then sighs and opens the door. One day, she supposes, she'll believe that...

Shane, Quinn, and Aisling are still where Cinnamon let them. Fraser, however, has buggered off somewhere. Cinnamon spots the three when she comes firmly marching herself around the corner to that last long hallway. She unconsciously falters a little... then sighs and grabs herself by the metaphorical scruff of the neck. Dragon: scary! Definitely not, er... scared. Well... much. She takes a deep breath, then continues doggedly marching herself down the hallway, unwittingly looking as if she's marching to her doom.

Shane glances her way and gives her a bright, warm, welcoming smile in encouragement. His change of attention makes his father and Aisling glance in her way as well. Cinnamon smiles a little shakily at Shane -- then takes another deep breath and continues her 'death march' until she's standing next to Shane. She's nervous enough that she doesn't realize she's almost leaning back against him! But that little bit of touch is enough of a confidence builder that she manages to blurt out, "I d-don't know what I did to make you so mad Aisling b-but if you tell me maybe I c-can do something so you're not mad anymore and I would really like that s-so people don't-" Wait, did she mean to say that?! Darnit! Stop now! Stop -- don't say anything about being laughed at! Slightly flustered, she stammers to a halt, "stop, er... no, not -- I mean. Um." She sighs in internal exasperation at herself, and just ends with, "Uh, that... right, that's it."

Shane wraps his arms around Cinnamon and encourages the leaning-back-against-him thing. Aisling and Quinn are both listening, looking perplexed. Shane kisses the top of Cinnamon's head and murmurs, "You're doing fine, acushla."

Aisling looks perplexed, "Mad? I'm not... Cinnamon, why do you think I'm angry at you? I was going to apologize for not telling you the things I coached you to do with that awful man were flirtatious. I didn't tell you because you'd have been nervous doing them, if you knew. As it was, you did them wonderfully and naturally and had him smitten with you. But I shouldn't have kept that from you."

Cinnamon sighs quietly in relief at Shane's reaction... then listens silently to Aisling. Shane leans down to murmur against Cinnamon's ear, "She's telling the truth."

Cinnamon has to take a deep breath after Aisling finishes, though -- to keep from either blowing up or bursting into tears! Without meaning to, though, her voice starts rising as she replies, "'Flirtatious'?! Ash, I d-don't know why you all elves or sidhe or whatever seem to think flirting is nothing -- is it because you're all gorgeous and pretty and all and I'm not? -- b-but first of all, I'm not like that! I don't want guys like him thinking I'm p-p-proposing to him! -and second, I don't want to be all flirty if that means you people all g-get to laugh at me about it!" She's almost shaking by that point, her fists clenched as she doesn't quite yell, "I don't want that kind of training if it's just to make fun of me -- just stop it! L-leave me alone!" Cinnamon realizes with horror that she's starting to leak tears, at that point. In a choked voice she gets out, "I -- I gotta go..." -- as she whirls to leave. She almost stumbles over Shane, since she doesn't want to hurt him, and she'd forgotten he was right there.

Shane actually wraps his arms more tightly around Cinnamon when she tries to whirl away. It's the first time he's ever actually tried to stop her from rabbiting. His ability not to be easily knocked over works in his favor, "Acushla, hey, hey... wait... please." Cinnamon finds herself accidentally right back in her warmest, safest place: being hugged up against Shane's chest. She hiccups miserably and reflexively hugs him back, hiding her face against him again. Poop on Aisling for doing this to her, darnit! She concentrates on not bawling -- just hugs Shane tightly and lets the tears fall for a bit.

Quinn and Aisling are both looking completely confused. Quinn finally asks, "Who was laughing at you? I was frankly in awe... and no one thought you were proposing to him. He certainly didn't."

Shane murmurs, "Acushla, are you listening? They weren't laughing at you."

Aisling sounds... does she actually sound tentative? "Cinnamon, you were actually magnificent. I'm really confused as to why you think we would be laughing at you for that."

Cinnamon takes a few deep breaths to pull herself together again before she tries responding to anyone... and she makes a bit more time for herself by not turning around immediately. Instead she cleans her glasses with the edge of her shirt, checks them, and then puts them back on before she takes a deep breath... and turns around again. Shane keeps right on holding onto Cinnamon: one, because he likes it, and two because she seems to feel safe there. Her voice is tired as she replies flatly to Quinn, "You were. You and Aisling. In the carriage." She doesn't even try to respond to the expressions or statements of both beansidhe -- she just continues tiredly speaking, "I'd just told Shane I didn't want to ride a phouka... and you two leaned together and whispered together while watching me. I'm not stupid, you know... and I do have a good memory."

Quinn's brows draw together... then he blinks slowly, trying to remember what he and Aisling were talking about in the carriage. He finally bites his lips together, then says, "Cinnamon, lass, we were laughing together, yes. But it had nothing to do with how wonderfully you did getting that necklace. We were laughing at how pretentious that twat's house was."

Aisling blushes and mutters, "And about the fact that I may possibly have swiped a few things." Shane blinks as he catches just the slightest bit of dishonesty from his father and trodmate.

Cinnamon listens to the two beansidhe, then dryly replies, "Actually, I was speaking of before we'd even arrived. But it's okay... it happened afterwards too. Well... it's not okay. But... that's what happened." She sighs as she adds, "So then I asked Shaney about it, and he tried to show me what Aisling means... and that's when I realized it was worse than I'd initially thought. It wasn't just that you were laughing... but apparently you'd also taught me how to be..." She flushes without meaning to -- darnit, she's done nothing wrong here! "T-to be... um, m-more... lascivious than I would ever have wanted!" With a bit of heat, she reiterates almost fiercely, "I am not that kind of girl, darnit! I don't care what you think of me, Ash -- I'm not!"

Aisling nods quietly, "I realize that... and that's part of why I wanted to apologize. Cinnamon, we would never try to trick you into doing anything in order to laugh at you about it. We may be sidhe, but we aren't that cruel to our friends. I think I might know what you were thinking about... was it about riding the phoukas?" She's flushing a little -- she was actually joking with Quinn about Shane, and not Cinnamon, doing so. The little dragon just stares silently at Aisling... and wonders if the beansidhe has forgotten it's Shane standing there. Or... oh, of course. The little dragon has to admit to a slight bit of admiration for the tricksiness of those statements. Sure, Aisling isn't that cruel to her friends... but clearly she doesn't consider Cinnamon a friend anymore. The little dragon sighs softly as she nods once... and wonders if Aisling's going to be tricksy with her next statements too.

Quinn gives his trodmate an odd look, but then he looks back at Cinnamon, "Lass, let me say this flat out in blunt words. No one was laughing at you or about you using the things Aisling coached you to, in order to get the necklace from Kelly. I consider you family and I would not be so cruel to family. I am sorry your own family has been cruel and played tricks on you, but humiliating you has never been something I or Ash would do a-purpose."

Aisling sighs again, "Cinnamon, you are my friend... one of my closest friends. At one point, I made a bit of a vulgar joke to Quinn about horses and riding. Because despite the fact both of us are centuries old, we are both sometimes also a bit juvenile... and because it was both vulgar and juvenile, I was trying to be discreet so as not to embarrass you, because I know that sort of thing makes you uncomfortable." Quinn smiles wryly.

Cinnamon studies Aisling silently... then quietly says, "So your 'joke' had nothing at all to do with me. Is that what you're saying? You just happened to think of a joke about riding and horses, while you were watching me and Shane talking... by coincidence?"

Shane is resting his chin on Cinnamon's head and listening, his brows up. That does actually track. Aisling goes on, "If any of us were laughing about your outfoxing of that horrible man, we were laughing at him, and with you. Because you were wonderful. My sweet girl, nothing I did in connection with this whole situation was meant to embarrass or humiliate you. I did do my best to avoid doing that. Because I want you to be confident. I know you aren't a coquette."

Cinnamon sighs softly, "Aisling, how on earth could me stupidly making something like a fake proposal be anything but embarrassing to me? What if he'd accepted -- then what?" She angrily adds, "That thing with my hair, and the back of my neck, making him think about sex and stuff? Again: how could that possibly not be embarrassing?!"

Quinn smirks at Aisling and then puts a hand over his lower face. Aisling actually blushes, "It was a vulgar, rather naughty joke..." She sighs, because she knows this is going to make Cinnamon blush, even if it's the truth. In Aisling's mind, she was joking with Quinn about the way Shane has been so very... human... in his courting, "About Shane."

Shane blinks, "Proposal? What?" Then Shane blushes at what kinds of jokes about horses, riding, and such Aisling might have made about him.

Cinnamon sighs again and just puts her hands over her face, "Guys? Can we just stop? This is just getting... more and more horrible and I don't -- I just... can't."

Shane sighs, "Acushla, they're telling you the truth, though. They weren't making fun of you." He hugs her tightly. Then he asks, "What is this about a proposal, though. You've said this several times."

Cinnamon sighs again, turning to rest her forehead against Shane's shoulder, "Shaney, I lo- like you like nobody else, but... you yourself told me to beware of tricksy talk. That's what's happening here... can't you see it? It's true, yes... but it's not everything, if that makes sense. Didn't you notice how Aisling never replied directly to my question about whether or not her joke had anything to do with me?" She sighs again, answering tiredly, "You said to pay attention to how I reacted and felt, when you were play-acting about me putting a necklace on you. Why do you think I d-didn't want to continue? It was... kind of hurtfully horrible to realize what... w-what I was apparently doing."

Aisling rubs her face with both hands, "Cinnamon, lass, why are you so very, very certain that we are out to hurt you? That I am out to hurt you?"

Quinn sighs, "Cinnamon, if we accidentally hurt you, we apologize. Neither of us would do it a-purpose."

Cinnamon glances up at Shane -- she really wants to see him react as if that's true! Shane tips his head and nods slowly, "That, acushla, is one hundred percent true. Nothing they did was meant to hurt you, and they're truly sorry." He's smiling a bit to himself, though. Cinnamon herself said something partially true, and it's making him want to crow.

Cinnamon sighs tiredly in relief at that. Okay... they didn't do it deliberately -- that's a huge big deal to her! She turns around in Shane's arms again, though she's still feeling a bit too emotionally battered inside to meet anyone's gaze. She takes a deep breath, then murmurs, "Th-thank you... umm... b-but can I ask a, um... a really big f-favor, please?" Twisting her fingers together, she glances up nervously for a second, then down again, "C-could you... could you please, um, t-try not... well, no, that -- that's not really... umm... try to warn me beforehand? I mean... l-like if... if there's a next time, please?" She sighs softly, "I... I'm r-really really tired of... being laughed at, you know..."

Aisling nods and murmurs quietly, "No one here would try to laugh at you rather than with you. We don't wish to hurt you. But I am with Shane. You keep mentioning a proposal..."

Cinnamon sighs in exhausted relief again, not quite sagging back against Shane as she replies, "Oh, that... like I said, Shaney said to pay attention to how I reacted and felt. Well, he went down on one knee and started playing with his hair like... like it was..." She frowns consideringly, trying to figure out how to verbalize her emotions, "I don't have good words, sorry. Umm... it felt almost like... a tease? Does that make sense? Like there's this really lovely thing you want ha ha you don't get it 'cause it's mine too bad for you? -and... I don't want to say things like that. It hurts me when people do that to me, so I don't want to do it to anyone else, you know?" Her voice is almost emotionlessly flat, despite her slightly mocking-sounding words. Internally, though... she's incredibly relieved. Yes, there was laughter, but... they're willing to at least try not to do it again! That's more than she's ever gotten before. Maybe... maybe supernaturals really are a little kinder, sometimes? Well... at least some supernaturals. Hmm... that's an interesting thought: could there be humans that are a little kinder, too? It's not like she's met all humans, after all...?

Shane blinks and then smiles, nuzzling into Cinnamon's hair softly, murmuring, "I was down on my knee so you could reach my neck, lovely... and the way I meant you to feel was a little... like you wanted to touch me." He figures that's a safe enough way to say 'aroused.' Aisling and Quinn both bite their lips and glance at one another. Something Cinnamon can't have? Shane? Oh, the lass is definitely blind. Shane then adds, "And you can touch me any time you like, acushla, okay?" At that, in their efforts to remain silent... Quinn grinds his teeth, and Aisling feels like she might have to bite through her tongue.

Cinnamon sighs softly from where she's leaning against Shane, and nods once as she whispers, "Okay..." She's feeling really tired and wrung out... but also oddly better. She glances inquiringly up at the two beansidhe, "Is that, umm... okay, then? We can, like... try to maybe explain more, if there's a next time? 'Cause... I... I don't want to cause trouble, really, but... sometimes it's really hard? To get what people are saying, I mean?"

Aisling and Quinn both nod solemnly. Quinn adds, "You're one of those folk that need it said outright."

Cinnamon nods firmly, "Yes, please!" then sighs as she adds, "I'm sorry. I know it's... kinda dumb, but, um... y-yeah."

Aisling nods and smiles, "You look tired, Cinnamon. Do you need some time alone?"

Shane adds, "Or a bit to puppy pile up and just chill?"

Cinnamon sighs in a bit of relief, "Oh, yeah, please -- er, if w-we're done, I mean?" Wryly she adds, "I didn't sleep well, and it wasn't Fraser-wolf's fault at all! I was worrying about this."

Shane laces his fingers with Cinnamon's, "C'mon, acushla, let's go snuggle up a bit."

Cinnamon smiles tiredly up at Shane, "You don't have to waste your busy day on me napping, Shaney!" She glances back at the two older beansidhe, adding, "Thank you," then turns to trudge back towards her room. Gracious, what a hornet's nest that turned out to be! Thank goodness Shane was there, though... so she knew for sure.

Shane shakes his head, "I've no plans." He doesn't. His only one for the day was making sure Cinnamon was safe from Fraser's mischief, "...and even if I did, acushla... you need me."

Cinnamon sighs again, unwittingly leaning a bit towards Shane as she lets her fingers re-tangle with his, "Well... if you don't have anything important to do..." A puppypile actually sounds really lovely... especially if Shane doesn't mind!

Cinnamon sleeps quite peacefully for hours that morning, after the tiring but ultimately wonderfully relieving conversation with Quinn and Aisling. She doesn't realize it, but she always sleeps better when Shane's there... and when she wakes up, there's plenty of food and she gets to chatter a bit with Shane -- and even when he'd had to go deal with something for the trod, she had some pleasant research to read up on! She's excited at how pleased Baird's likely to be with her: she's mastered Arabic, and is now working on learning the culture as well!

The night of the truly full moon is a celebration night for the trod. There's a simple circle outside to pay homage to the goddess and her consort, and everyone is dressed appropriately. Eventually the party moves inside, where the great hall is cleared out, and music strikes up for dancing. Again, Shane asks Cinnamon to dance, and one of the female beansidhe guardians asks Thorn. This time, Cinnamon is utterly thrilled: she knows how to dance now! She can accept the invitation from Shane, and not have him feel embarrassed by her! She's almost alight with joy as she whirls briskly around the room in his arms, her eyes shining as she beams up at him. Thorn happily dances as well, enjoying both the time with the guardian, and the atmosphere of the party. Cinnamon ends up frolicking as much as she can with Shane, and is also happy to dance with anyone else who asks, of course! She doesn't expect that many requests, but dancing is a joy in and of itself, she feels.

Sabbats may be religious services, but they are also celebrations of life -- many people here remember times when folk were never positive they'd make it to the next full moon. By the time the moon starts to set, those beansidhe who were out escorting the Havvarger are coming home with them, and people begin filtering off to their own rooms. Cinnamon is quite pleasantly exhausted by the time the music starts slowing... so by the time the moon is setting, she's already fallen happily into bed. Consequently, it apparently takes the entire pack to herd Fraser into the soundproof room -- but they do manage it. Quinn takes a turn standing guard outside the room that night... just in case it's not quite as secure as they think it is. The door holds just fine, but when they open the door the next morning, the bedding is little more than shreds. The only thing Fraser didn't turn into confetti is his own clothes... though at least he's starting to come out on the other side of the full moon madness, as he promises to replace it all, despite his smirk. Quinn rolls his eyes, "Fraser, we expected you to act like a complete git. Cinnamon had a lovely night and didn't need to spend it babysitting you." That makes the cursewolf snort and shrug as he saunters off, chuckling.

When Cinnamon hears the news later of what Fraser-wolf did, she sighs, "Oh, crab cakes! I'm so sorry, Shaney... it's my fault. I shouldn't have forgotten!" She guiltily adds, "I'll pay for the repairs or replacements, okay? I really am sorry!"

Shane laughs and squeezes her tightly, "No, you will not. You're not responsible for Fraser being a jerk. He acts like a giant, fanged toddler." He kisses the top of her head and murmurs, "You deserved some rest. You had a rough night and day. If you want to stay with him tonight, you can. If you don't, the Havvarger said he can have some bedding, but they'll move the furniture out."

Cinnamon's voice is dry, "He left furniture intact? Golly, he's slipping!" She laughs, adding, "Don't tell him I said that, please!" She grins, considering... then smiles, "I'm okay with spending the night with him. Captain Arvid told me once that I wasn't required to, but if I was okay with it, then it made things easier for him and the pack. I'm happy to help with that! They've been so awesome to us, after all, right?"

Shane nods and smiles, "I get it. You're a good soul."

Cinnamon beams as she adds, "Plus tomorrow we're headed back to Galway... and then back to Boston the day after -- and I can't wait to see what the dragon dance is like, for lunar new year!" She laughs, bouncing lightly on her toes as she asks, "Will you take some photos of me as the dragon, please, Shaney?"

Shane grins, "I'll take some of you by yourself. But no one else can be in them. It's an actual law that photos can't be taken on Coblyn proper."

Cinnamon blinks interestedly, "Really? Huh, interesting! Okay then -- if I ask nicely, maybe we can get everyone else to move back for a shot or two!"

Shane nods, "We can. It's a sort of public safety thing, acushla." Cinnamon is delighted! Also, to her pleasure, that night Fraser-wolf is almost calm with Cinnamon in the room with him. There's no shredding of the bedding or even howling, and when he wakes up he's getting even closer to being more himself.

After the full moon nights, and before the group leaves, Quinn pulls Shane aside to have a rather serious talk with him about Cinnamon, and that there's a difference between 'taking it slow' and 'taking it glacially.' "Yer mam would appreciate ye at least trying t' have grandbabbies before she passes, lad!"

That actually manages to do something most things don't -- it brings a flush to Shane's face, "Da!" He rubs his hands over his face and mutters again about patricide, then adds, "We're getting there. Leave it!" He shakes his head and rolls his eyes, "I got Ash to tell me what that damn joke was. Not that it was entirely untruthful, but just leave it!"

From there, the group heads back to Galway and thence, the next day, onboard Valkyrie. Even Marcus makes it back in time to sail with the rest, though he's obviously quite iron sick and goes directly below. The tide is with them and they weigh anchor with little to no difficulty. Cinnamon is delighted to be back on the Valkyrie! She feels a bit sorry for poor Marcus, but she knows Alfred has honey and hardtack... so she stays out of the way, scampering around being as useful as she can be. Every once in a while she happily turns her face up to the strong, chill winds -- sea voyages are so much fun, to her! She also informs Keiko and Baird, with shy pleasure, that she's finished learning Arabic and is fairly sure she's got a good grasp of the culture as well, now.

Cinnamon is, in fact, incredibly happy: the curse is lifted -- they won! She really did good! She has a truly breathtakingly gorgeous dress! People actually liked her singing -- she even got applauded! Shane said she was a vision! -and then she got to help with Fraser-wolf so that the pack got to run and play on land, before heading off to sea again! Consequently she has a really wonderful time nearly bouncing around the Valkyrie, either helping out, or singing sea shanties with Fraser, or chatting with Baird about what little he can share regarding the mission he's thinking of accepting now that he's curse-free.

After a few days of cold, blustery, but otherwise fine winter weather, though, there's another winter storm -- unsurprising and not too bad, except that over the two or three days they're caught in it, it blows the Valkyrie quite a bit south from her intended route. The day after the storm finally blows out, Cinnamon happens to be on the bridge and practicing working the sextant, as she and Captain Arvid work out their new location. Cinnamon frowns uncertainly at the map -- she's pretty sure she's calculated correctly, but if so... wow, they're so off course from the storm! She glances up at Arvid, "Um... is that right, captain?"

Arvid peers at the map and nods, scowling, "Dammit, yes. We got blown further off-course than I thought."

Cinnamon winces worriedly, "So... we really are so badly off course that it's going to take..." she calculates on her fingers, "Yikes, another extra entire week of sail time?!" At his slow nod, she sighs, "Darnit! That means I'll miss the Lunar New Year celebration! I promised to be the dragon there for them!" She knows she and the other two councilors will be in time for the council meeting -- by only about four days -- but it doesn't even occur to her to bemoan their lateness making her miss Valentine's Day, since she's never had either a Valentine, or friends with whom to celebrate a Galentine's Day. She frowns down at the map, then stares worriedly out to sea, commenting wryly to Arvid, "It's a pity Kahiau's not around, so we could throw a rope around him and get him to tow us back to our route!" She and Arvid both laugh at that thought, then go back to staring at the map and musing... until Cinnamon blinks and slowly straightens at... a rather intriguing thought! She checks with Arvid, "Could you actually do that? -have a rope or chain or something similar extend from the Valkyrie so she could be pulled?"

Arvid chuckles, "What? Have someone tow the ship? Oh, aye. I mean, disabled ships are towed quite often... and large ships are towed by tugs in the harbor." He arches a brow at the little dragon, "Why do you ask?"

Cinnamon laughs gleefully, almost bouncing on her toes, "Okay! How about I pull her, then?! We could ask Shane if he'd be willing to ride along with me, so he can use my cell or a compass to keep us going in the right direction -- and if you needed us to change direction at all, I bet if you asked Keiko nicely, she'd be willing to fly up to us and tell us the change you wanted?"

Arvid smiles, "Or you could use an actual nautical compass, which will be more accurate than your phone's compass out here." He's starting to look interested; possibly even excited, "And I know yo... young Shane would be quite happy to go up with you."

Cinnamon beams excitedly, "Awesome! Let's ask everyone, okay?" She scampers off, and shortly thereafter there's a small powwow with Captain Arvid and his second mate Fraser, Keiko as possible messenger, Alfred as food management, and Shane, all discussing with Cinnamon the feasibility of this plan -- especially issues concerning food and rope and attachment points and so on. After much discussion and calculation, the group decide to give it a try, so Cinnamon can at least try to make it back to Coblyn on time! Arvid gets Shane a sturdy compass to use, explaining he thinks it will be better because there's less that can interfere with it, and it doesn't have a battery life. The captain helps the half-beansidhe strap it securely to the inside of his wrist, since it's a handheld. Later, Baird amusedly comments to Keiko -- after hearing the plan for a dragon to pull an archaic sailing ship full of werewolves, elves, and other supernaturals, mostly because the megalodon isn't available -- he really does live in a fairytale!

The plan turns out smashingly well! Alfred is an utter champ at ensuring there are some really filling, meat-heavy meals ready for the young dragon every time she comes back from a five or six hour bout of pulling -- she tends to do two of them a day, if she can. Of course, even with Cinnamon being as strong and fast as she is, she has to seriously dial back her flight speed... but in four days of ship-towing flight, she actually not only gets the Valkyrie back on course -- but now Arvid estimates they're going to dock in Boston about four days earlier than estimated! Also, though Cinnamon doesn't know it, her almost ebullient enjoyment of being so useful makes her human behavior bubbly and very attractive... to both Shane and Marcus! Marcus doesn't show it, of course, since he can tell he's not yet in Cinnamon's good graces. It does rather make him even more determined, though, to patch things up between them. Shane's clear pleasure with how happy Cinnamon is, though, is possibly part of the reason Fraser ends up teasing at him to just tell Cinnamon how he really feels, already!

It's when Cinnamon has hugged Shane tightly and toddled to bed after one tiring flight that Fraser finds the half-beansidhe, and leans against the rail with him. He follows Shane's line-of-sight to the hatch, where the little dragon has just disappeared, and chuckles, his voice a quiet rumble, "You're mooning like a lovesick pup."

Shane arches a brow at Fraser, trying to decide if the wolf is making puns or just using idioms. Finally he chuckles and shakes his head, "I'm being patient, not mooning."

The cursewolf looks Shane up and down skeptically. He knows Shane believes that -- or else he wouldn't have said it -- but Fraser thinks the young paladin might be deluding himself, "Lad, anyone with a good enough nose can tell how the pair of you feel about one another. I could tell from the first time the pair of you set foot on the ship. You're mad for her and she wants you so much I taste it. My nose is keener than almost anyone aboard this ship."

Shane laughs and sighs, shaking his head, "Fraser! Leave it. There's things there that have to be gently maneuvered. We'll get there in our own time."

Fraser shakes his head and pushes off the railing again, "Shane, lad, your life may be longer than a human's, but any life -- no matter how extended -- is too short to waste on regrets. Just tell her!" He saunters off, letting Shane assume he's going to let the subject drop.

The next morning is when Cinnamon discovers how well ahead of schedule they are... so she happily goes to hunt down Fraser that afternoon. Waiting until the bosun is free, she beams hopefully at him, "So, do you have a moment to teach me how to do the beach sandals out of knotted cords, that you said combined a lot of the knots I've learned?"

Fraser smiles, "Of course, lass. It'll take up some time... and the sandals are useful, as well as giving you a chance to practice your knots." He finds them an out-of-the-way corner, and some cordage of the right size. The creation of the sandals is somewhat complex, using several different knots: sheepshanks, half-hitchs, overhand knots, slipknots, and cow hitches, just to name a few. It'll keep their hands busy usefully, and give him a chance to perhaps speak to Cinnamon... since his nudging of Shane didn't work.

Cinnamon is thrilled to learn something new, so she happily settles down with Fraser. Moments later, she announces, "Okay! Got the four long ones cow hitched to the short one. What's next?"

Fraser does more showing than telling, and smiles at how quickly Cinnamon is picking it up, "You're doing really well at this, Cinnamon. You're brilliant, you know. Brilliant and kind and you've got a smile that could rival the sun, lass." His own hands are doing, undoing, and redoing the knots, letting her see how they work.

Cinnamon blushes with pleasure at the compliments! "Thank you, Frazey!" She's still beaming a moment later as she holds up her work, "Like this? But continue for about six to eight inches more?" She honestly doesn't really know how to respond to compliments, past a genuine thank-you, so she's quick to try to focus attention back on her knotting work!

Fraser keeps his eyes on his work, smiling a bit, "Why, with all that, do you not let Shane know how you feel?" He chuckles quietly, "I mean, it's obvious how he feels about you."

The cursewolf probably doesn't expect Cinnamon's reaction to that news: she glances up in utter horror, her face bone-white with shock as she freezes for a heartbeat... then gets a rather tight, almost grimacing smile-that-isn't, "Ha ha, very funny. Anyways. Let's focus on this, please. Did I splice correctly?"

Fraser glances over and nods, "Of course you did. You're great at the knots, lass -- and what's so funny? Anyone with eyes and a good enough no-" -- and Cinnamon interrupts before Fraser is even finished speaking! She shakes her head, eyes doggedly on the rope in her hands as she says quite firmly, "No, Fraser, don't do this -- please stop. I don't want to play this game, and I don't want to talk about it."

Fraser looks legitimately confused, "What game, lass? I'm simply trying to help two people I like quite a lot be happy together. You-" and again, Cinnamon doesn't wait for Fraser to finish speaking! Instead she shoots abruptly to her feet, nearly throwing the rope into Fraser's lap as she quietly snaps, "I really thought better of you, Fraser -- even during the full moon, which this obviously isn't!" She takes a deep breath, then firmly adds, "Last time: I do not want to play this game. Please leave me alone!" With that, she whirls and strides swiftly for her berth.

Fraser watches her go in confusion for a beat... but then hops to his feet and moves with the speed that has helped save his packmates countless times, and been the bane of many an enemy. This time he simply uses it to try to catch up and get Cinnamon to listen -- by gently catching her by the arm and trying to get her to stop, "Wait, lass!"

Cinnamon whirls around at the grab, her eyes sparking with fury. She yanks against the bosun's hold on her, literally hissing, "Let me go, Fraser!"

The bosun looks shocked and confused, "What's got you so angry, lass? I'm only trying to help two people I care about." He's never seen her this furious... and about something that feels so small to him.

Cinnamon whips back around with her hands over her ears, clearly intent on completely tuning Fraser out -- because she snarls, "Not listening don't care la la la la leave me alone, Fraser!" Seconds later, she vanishes swiftly belowdecks. Fraser stands, slowly blinking and wondering just exactly where he went wrong there. Then, he goes looking for the other party in this little debacle. He finds Shane in the galley... likely with the rest of the party, since it's just about time for the midday meal. Thorn too is in the galley to help with the next meal, since there fortunately aren't any medical emergencies at the moment.

Fraser looks around and finds Thorn and Shane both helping get the grub ready. He walks over, rubbing the back of his neck. There's an expression on his face that doesn't really sit too well: chagrin. Thorn glances at Fraser, then does a double take. He's never seen that expression on the cursewolf's face before! "Hey, Fraser," he says, "what's wrong?"

Fraser clears his throat, "I may've stepped in it a bit with Cinnamon, lads."

At first Shane's eyes narrow; he wonders if Fraser had some kind of full-moon hangover and made a pass at Cinnamon. But no, that's not exactly Fraser's style... so Shane asks calmly, "Can you elaborate on that, please?" His protective instincts are firing!

Fraser looks between Shane and Thorn, knowing the two young men are friends, "Well, you know the conversation you and I had on deck the other day? The one about Cinnamon?" Shane groans and pinches the bridge of his nose. Thorn does not like where this is going. He glances to Shane, as he sets some coffee brewing.

Shane looks at Thorn and says wryly, "This arsehole told me I should pour my heart out to Cinnamon." Then he looks at Fraser, "Please tell me you did not fucking go to Cinnamon and have that same goddamned conversation with her?"

Fraser clears his throat, "Not the exact same one." Shane clenches his jaw and resists the urge to slap his friend upside the head. He's not got Cinnamon's strength, but the way he's feeling, he's not sure he could pull his punch.

Thorn lets out a breath. "A reminder, Fraser," he says gently. "Shane can tell when you're... fudging the truth. When people do that, he gets a headache. Please don't give him a headache when you're telling him this."

Fraser clears his throat, "It's the truth. The conversation was slightly different."

Shane grits out, "Oh, I'm sure it was. But my head hurts because it wasn't that different. Fuck!" He groans and then takes a deep breath and says in an almost eerily calm voice, "Fraser, I am going to go talk with Cinnamon and see if I can unfuck this situation... and you, if you can manage it, are going to stay out of her way for a day for two." He looks at Thorn, "You okay here?"

Thorn nods to Shane, "Sure. Go and try to take care of it; we'll be here. Fraser, want to help me with making dinner?"

Fraser mutters to Thorn, "Sure. KP sounds like an appropriate punishment."

Shane takes off the apron he was wearing and makes his way to Cinnamon's door. On the way, he carefully breathes out his irritation and anxiety, even shaking his hands to get rid of it. He doesn't want it bleeding through his voice. Unfortunately Cinnamon doesn't hear Shane when he taps worriedly on her door, because she's locked herself in, put in her headphones, plugged them into her laptop, and is currently playing music as loudly as she can bear. If Shane listens carefully, about all he can catch is a bit of slightly door-muffled, breathless... singing? "-eye of the tiger la la thrill of the fight! Stupid meanie-face -- ugh! -last lone survivor na na something something... dumb poopy-head wolf! -the ey-yyyye...! -of the tiger-rrr...." It will take a few hours before Cinnamon calms down somewhat -- at which point she'll be relieved she asked for her own cabin on the way home. She really likes Aisling, but had wanted to work on more Arabic culture lessons. Even when wearing headphones, she knows talking out loud for hours would likely be a bother to the poor beansidhe!

Cinnamon spends several hours in her room, choosing to use the time to continue immersing herself in her learning, so as to help herself feel less angry and hurt. She'd told the truth when she said she expected better of Fraser -- because she believes he's doing the exact same thing that has unfortunately happened to her before -- and equally unfortunately, more than once: one person assures her another person is interested in her, and would like her to reach out to them... and then the second person (who is sometimes also in on the 'joke') reacts with shock, dismay, mockery, disgust, or some variant thereof, upon hearing Cinnamon's shyly hopeful query as to whether they actually like her... or something similar. Poor Shane spends a couple of those hours sitting belowdecks with his back against the bulkhead next to Cinnamon's door, seeing if she's going to come out at all. Once he decides she's not going to, he pushes to his feet and walks away, giving her the time she so very obviously needs.

Consequently, when Cinnamon finally emerges from her berth the next morning -- she actually stuck to snacks for dinner so she didn't have to come out yet -- she is determinedly ignoring Fraser. She uses precisely the techniques he taught her to use for gray-rocking Marcus, which makes her a bit sad -- she's truly disappointed in Fraser, and had previously considered him a friend. Unfortunately, Fraser is correct in that he's sort of poisoned the well, regarding Shane -- in that Cinnamon is now terrified to face Shane! She doesn't know if Fraser told Shane how she feels about him, nor does she know of a way to ask Shane about it without having to mention the actual, deeply mortifying subject matter -- despite being sure Shane would be honest with her. Heck, she's well aware that simply saying hi to Shane right now would cause her face to flame up hotly in humiliation and embarrassment! Not knowing any better way to handle things, therefore... she sort of tries to hide from any direct confrontation with Shane.

It doesn't take long for Shane to realize not only is Cinnamon gray-rocking Fraser -- which he actually finds somewhat amusing since it was Fraser that taught her about gray-rocking, in regards to Marcus -- but she's also avoiding Shane himself. Once he figures that out, he goes looking for the Valkyrie's first mate. His voice is calm and collected -- though Fraser knows better than to think that means Shane is happy. The young half-beansidhe steps in close to the cursewolf so he won't be easily overheard even by supernatural ears, "Fraser, if you weren't damned near a brother to me after everything we've been through together, I would kick you square in the bollocks for this. I get that you were trying to help -- I really, really do. But you put your big-ass, size 13 foot squarely in the middle of some trauma... and you've set my acushla back months."

Fraser smiles wryly; he's not going to argue the point. It's not amusing... it's just true. He knows he was trying to do something good for two friends he wants to be happy. He didn't realize the kind of adolescent bullshit high schoolers pull, because when Fraser was an adolescent, high school wasn't a thing... so he never went. He sighs, "I swear, lad, I was trying to do you a favor. The lass trusts me... or did."

Shane rolls his eyes, and sighs, "'Did' being the goddamned operative word there." It's obvious he's pissed, just going by his language, "And now she's afraid to look me in the fucking eyes for more than fifteen seconds -- when two weeks ago she was calling me asthore when she wasn't paying attention. Do you speak enough Irish to know what that fucking well means, Fraser?" Fraser's brows go up. Scots Gaelic and Irish aren't always close, but he does knows what it means. He whistles low, and Shane glowers, "Exactly. A fucking dragon was calling me her treasure! We were getting there on our own, Fraser." He scrubs his face with both hands and takes a deep breath to calm himself down, wondering if this is going to force his hand. When he looks up at Fraser again, his face is stony, "I will not lose her over your ham-handed matchmaking attempts. Do you hear me? I broke Marcus' nose over her already and I will not hesitate to break yours if you traumatize her like that again. Are we clear?"

Fraser nods slowly, then says softly, "Shane, you're like a brother to me as well. I wouldn't hurt you or Cinnamon to save me own life. I'd take a silver bullet for either of you. I misunderstood the ground I was stepping on. You don't have to worry about me harming that lass."

Shane nods and sighs, "And now I get to try to undo the damage you did." His voice is settling a little... he gets that people sometimes accidentally do harm when they're trying to help.

When the Valkyrie docks in Boston, later that day, Cinnamon is completely ready! Her bags are packed, she's hugged and thanked Captain Arvid and Alfred both for taking such good care of her while she was dragoning, and she's hugged Baird and Keiko, wishing them lots of good luck and to give her a call when the Middle Eastern mission finally comes around. Thus, just as the gangway is extended to the dock, Cinnamon patters up with all her bags in hand... and is the first off the ship. She turns, once on the dock, and waves cheerfully, "Thanks, you guys! Sorry, I really gotta run!" She then picks up her bags again and heads for a nearby car -- she's already called a lyft -- so she can completely avoid dealing with either Fraser or Shane.

Once she's on Coblyn, Cinnamon heads directly for her cottage, where she keeps herself busy with all the myriad little cleaning-up jobs one has to take care of, after returning home from over a month away. A quick dinner, and off to bed... and tomorrow morning she intends to get up early and put in several hours of good work on the Infirmary's financials. She's been falling behind a bit on that, to her perspective... and while she doesn't consciously realize it, she's doing it partially to stay off the street and away from her home -- where people would ordinarily expect to find her.

Both Thorn and Cinnamon have been at the infirmary for a while when there's a bit of a to-do in the front room. The healer finds out what it is first, when Sparrow stops in the door of the cultivation room where Thorn is checking on the growth of the various herbs and plants growing there. The Trickster spirit is barefoot and wearing only jeans, but he looks seriously intense... there's an energy snapping off him as he snaps, "Cinnamon. Where is she?"

Thorn blinks at Sparrow, but knows better than to ask him or delay him, "She's in the main office. If there's anything I can help with...?"

Sparrow looks at Thorn and nods sharply, "Probably. Grab your shit." Then he takes off for the main office. Thorn blinks again, then makes sure the cultivation room is in good hands before rushing to first grab his paramedic kit, then let Iason know something's up. At the main office, Sparrow doesn't knock -- he just opens the door and, in the hard, sharp voice of someone used to having to be heard over gunfire, snaps, "Darlin', you faster than a jet?!"

Cinnamon is still in her mental 'numbers' mode, the way she gets when utterly focused on accounting... so she just looks up at Sparrow over her laptop, does a bit of math in her head, then replies, "Yes. Why."

Sparrow's voice sounds sharp and businesslike, "Pre-dawn today Kestrel was in puma form an' some numbnuts shot them. I need you to get me and Thorn there ASA-fuckin'-P." There's a half-beat before he adds, "Please."

Cinnamon thinks a moment -- yes, she can do this, "Okay. Do you really want to take off during the day, though?"

Sparrow snaps, "Fuck yes, I really do. If I could wait 'til after dark, I'd be at Logan and not asking you to take us, sugar." He smirks for an instant, "Don't worry 'bout bein' seen. Consider having me with ya as havin' the gran'daddy of all SEP fields. Bein' goddamn motherfuckin' Coyote does have its advantages."

Cinnamon dryly wonders to herself: what will any observers think they've seen? A rogue Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade balloon, perhaps? She just nods once... but then adds, "Can you do a few things for me first, please..." She considers, then nods again, "You're faster than me on foot. Can you head back down Coblyn and ask Cafe Prague to please pack some to-go dinners in the next... mmm, say, half an hour? Maybe... eight -- no, ten -- of them, please." That should be enough for tonight, for four hungry supernaturals, and a little left over... "Oh. Also while you're there, ask for at least a flat of bottled water too, please?" A heartbeat later she thinks of something else, "Ah, also? On the way to the Cafe, please let Elias know I can't make our cooking get-together tonight, and I'm very sorry, and explain why?" She thinks a heartbeat more, then pragmatically adds, "Also, if you pass Shane on the way, please invite him to come as well... and then, once the dinners are packed, bring them back here so all of us can leave from Currier's Hall?"

Sparrow is trying to get gone. Cinnamon is right -- the man can move when he needs to, especially seeing as how some Trickster critters are fast as hell overland -- but every time he's almost to the door, Cinnamon comes up with another item to add to the list. He keeps thinking she's done, and then she keeps not being done. He'll be almost gone and she'll thoughtfully and calmly mention another thing and he'll lurch to a stop again and turn back to her. It makes his normally fluid movements look almost jerky with his single-minded desire to Get. This. Shit. Done! This is Kestrel, after all! As soon as he's got the entire to-do list, though, Cinnamon watches Coyote just about rocket out of there -- and she doesn't doubt he'll use his fastest form to get all this done. She's still mentally in accounting mode, which is why she's not panicky at all. Instead she carefully finishes the data entry line she'd been working on, saves and closes the spreadsheet, marks her place in the financial logbook, closes up her laptop, collects her things, and then goes to check if Sparrow remembered to ask Thorn to come, "Thorny? Has Sparrow talked with you recently?"

Thorn mmms? -as he stands there with his paramedic kit, pulling on a jacket and durable pants and boots. "Yes, he did. He asked me where you were, and then asked me to come with him."

Cinnamon nods, "Okay, just checking. Um, let's see. Can you be packed and ready in... 45 minutes, please? I'll be back soon, and we can gather here, then take off from Currier's. Sound good?"

Thorn nods, "I'm already good to go. We'll leave from Currier's? Okay, I'll take some time to pack some additional gear, and then head there. Did Sparrow say what's going on?"

Cinnamon nods, her voice calm -- she's clearly still in accounting mode, "Kestrel got shot as a puma. Probably should plan to be there overnight. Be right back!" With that shocker, she waves, then turns and patters quickly off, heading for her little cottage. Thorn blinks there for half a second... then grimaces, going for his go-bag. People really need to learn how to communicate, he thinks idly.

Once home, Cinnamon carefully and quickly puts away all her accounting stuff, makes sure the house is closed down properly for a short time away, then hastily throws together a small bag of clothes and toiletries for an overnight stay. After that she locks up with her usual care, then heads back towards the Infirmary again.

Further down the street: Sparrow is fast and he's in Don't Fuck With Me mode, so things are getting done. When he runs into Shane as he's arranging things, the half-beansidhe frowns at the news. Cinnamon is still leery around him... but he's not about to let this go down without him going with -- if there's physical danger, he's going to be there! "Let me get my traveling rig. I'll pick up some of the stuff that's being prepared and we'll head to Currier's together." Consequently, Sparrow and Shane meet Cinnamon halfway back to Currier's Hall. Both men are loaded down with bags, boxes, and other such things.

Cinnamon blinks as they both come trotting up next to her, since they're both faster than she. She smiles a bit breathlessly, "Hi, need a hand?"

Shane smiles and shakes his head, "Nah, we got it, acushla." He knows being anxious your love is hurt and needing you in some way can mean you need to stay occupied. Cinnamon is nearly invulnerable physically, but emotionally... well, Shane has been trying to keep busy a lot since Fraser's bullshit. It will help Sparrow too, to have something to do.

Cinnamon nods, saving her breath for trying to keep up with Shane and Sparrow. When they reach the Infirmary, she's panting a bit as she glances around the street-wide courtyard forming the end of Coblyn Street. Good, plenty of room! She sets her little overnight bag next to the Infirmary door, then steps back a bit... and shifts into dragon shape. Her breathing evens out almost immediately as she settles into sphynx pose and rumbles, "Okay, pack up, everyone!" Thorn meets the others at the infirmary. His pack has his paramedic and field surgery kit as well as a change of clothes, and he layered his clothing with a shirt, sweater, and jacket, since he's not sure where they're going. Shane is good at getting Cinnamon packed and harnessed -- he does it efficiently. Sparrow hasn't done this specifically before, but he knows how to harness and pack different creatures and how to secure cargo. He does it in unaccustomed silence. Cinnamon watches carefully, since she knows she's going to be flying really fast! There won't be time to circle back if anything comes loose and falls off. Also... though she doesn't consciously realize it, she's worried Sparrow is the type of person to be a bit careless of himself when deeply worried for someone else. She absolutely doesn't want to hurt him by accident!

Fortunately Sparrow actually seems to be being quite careful of himself. After all, an officer can't take care of his squad if he's injured. "All strapped down!" He steps back along with Shane, asking, "You need to test the load, darlin'?"

Cinnamon nods as she rises to her feet -- then does a slow, powerful shake of her entire body. It starts at her nose, travels down her torso and wings, and makes her entire tail wriggle all the way down to the tip... and then she tilts her head to study the load again. "Looks good -- hop on, everyone, and we'll take off." Sparrow climbs aboard and straps himself in carefully, face still set in those tight, anxious lines. Thorn clambers onto Cinnamon's back, helping to make sure everyone is bucked in -- he's guessing Cinnamon is going to be going very, very fast. Shane makes sure Thorn is also strapped in, and surreptitiously checks Sparrow's harness as well before he straps himself into his normal spot.

Cinnamon carefully hops to the top of Currier's Hall once everyone is buckled in, asking, "Shane, you've got the GPS coordinates up and ready?" With his assent, the scarlet dragon launches herself into the air as blisteringly fast as she can! Not only does she need to get to the rez as quickly as possible, but she doesn't want to be clearly visible over the city at all. Sparrow is actually... is he chanting as they take off? Shane has Cinnamon on track easily. In this moment of crisis, there's no awkwardness. There's only the need to get things taken care of. Cinnamon beats wings as hard as she can, her nose and tail in a straight line to fly as swiftly and smoothly as possible. She actually pushes her top speed, her body temperature noticeably rising to her passengers as she squeezes out a few more miles per minute... so, though she doesn't realize it, she's wavering just around the speed of sound! She doesn't talk or chat or sing this time -- she's saving all her breath for flying... with all her might.

Sparrow lets Shane know the rez has the landing strip set up like before, waiting for Cinnamon, and about 15 minutes before arrival, Shane shouts to Cinnamon that they're getting close. He's worried they're going to overshoot, with how fast she's flying! In fact, Cinnamon doesn't realize she's going so fast that it's been well under four hours so far. All she knows is she needs to get down lower and definitely slower -- so she comes diving in screamingly fast out of the sky, backwinging as powerfully as she can to shed speed (and heat!) as she's zooming over the countryside... until she eases down enough to gallop the last half mile or so through the desert at incredible speed, leaving a straight line plowed through the cacti as she continues fiercely backwinging to slow... and finally, huffing and blowing and actually steaming... she almost staggers to a stop at the little plaza.

Thorn has been holding on for life, his eyes closed several times, which helps him to focus himself and meditate a bit. The slow-down is disturbing to him, and he grits his teeth with the sudden g-forces. However, Sparrow is off Cinnamon almost before she's stopped. Gone is the happy-go-lucky Trickster -- instead, the deadly-serious SEAL who is used to getting shit done and getting it done right now comes tearing to the surface. He starts helping Thorn unbuckle as he barks questions at the people around them. Cinnamon sort of flops down into sphynx pose again, her wings still half spread so she can shed more heat... and pants like a bellows! Thorn jumps down from Cinnamon, paying most attention to Sparrow, whom he's certain will point him in the right direction. It's only now Thorn starts to recognize the prior military service Sparrow must have had, as he reminds the medic of a particularly effective sergeant he knew once. Shane is working quietly and efficiently to get Cinnamon unpacked as Sparrow points Thorn toward a particular building, "They're in there. Couldn't take them to the clinic because not everyone on the rez is in the know. Double-time!" Thorn "double-times," rushing after the Trickster and everyone else to the building Sparrow indicates.

Cinnamon tiredly watches Sparrow nearly barking sharp questions at the shocked and surprised people who come running out once she's noisily ground to a halt. Seconds later, as everyone nearly gallops off into the buildings, quiet falls on the courtyard once more... but for her heavy panting. She smiles tiredly at Shane as he continues unpacking her harness, rumbling, "Thanks so much... huff... huff for unpacking all my food 'n stuff... huff.... huff... huff 'n helping me change shape, Shaney..."

Shane gets the blanket he usually uses to help Cinnamon change, "C'mon acushla, let's get you back two-legged and get some food in you. You're putting off heat like a furnace." He's keeping the worry out of his voice as best he can. The tired young dragon sort of half-flops, half-wriggles to the side of one building, as the most cover she can currently quickly find. Fortunately she gets the change successfully on her first try! Once that's done, she pretty much just staggers over to the nearest shade, flops down, and when Shane hands her a food carton and drink, she beings almost mechanically eating and sucking down bottle after bottle of water. Shane sits, watching Cinnamon worriedly. She looks... almost gaunt. There are dark circles under her eyes. He keeps handing off food and water, making sure it's going down steadily, and Cinnamon's not choking or in trouble.

Cinnamon chews and swallows, drinks... chews and swallows, drinks... it takes five entire dinners before she finally sighs and finishes off her water bottle. She smiles tiredly at Shane, "Whew. Made it." A heartbeat later an enormous yawn nearly splits her face! She looks a bit embarrassed, mumbling, "Sleepy too." She's tired enough that she looks around thoughtfully, then decides sleeping right there would be okay -- and starts to curl up.

Shane oopses and slides an arm around her shoulders, "Ups-a-daisy, acushla. You may be bulletproof, but I'm not certain you won't dry out and blow away out here in the noonday heat." His voice is gentle as he urges her to her feet and starts to lead her toward tone of the familiar buildings from their last visit here. Cinnamon blinks sleepily at Shane, not quite sure what he means... but she trusts him, so she just nods with the serene docility of the utterly exhausted, following along silently behind Shane. He can tell she seriously needs to shed some of this heat! -- and she won't be doing that in the Texas sun. Even in the winter, it's hot on the rez. He finds one of the subterranean rooms that's cool, and actually encourages Cinnamon to curl up with her back against the earthen wall, using some egg-crate foam he found as a makeshift mattress.

Cinnamon mumbles a tired, "Oh... 's nice..." as she settles into the little sleeping spot Shane's made for her. It hasn't registered at all that she's lying on eggshell foam -- she's just sleepily grateful the ground feels kind of soft and cushy under her! Shane settles in and lets her use his leg as a pillow. He knows she's probably too tired to be mortified by it right now, and his only concern is taking care of her. The little dragon does not, in fact, realize what her pillow is. She barely remembers to remove her glasses first -- she just curls up and sighs deeply, going limp as her eyes drift closed.

Earlier, Thorn pauses before dashing into the room with a wounded puma in it, taking a moment to knock before entering, "Kestrel? Hello? I'm Thorn from Coblyn Street -- I'm a healer."

Once he's inside, Thorn sees Kestrel, still in puma form and... purring? Sparrow drops to his knees at the puma's head and starts stroking its ears, murmuring, "It's okay, beautiful. You remember Thorn, right?" He looks at Thorn, "Purring isn't always about pleasure." There are several human-formed people present and helping in various ways, but the one closest to Kestrel has a pinched-looking expression of worry. She carefully pulls the sheet off the cat-shifter... exposing a really and truly nasty arrow wound.

Thorn grimaces at the sight of the wound... but at least it's an arrow and not a bullet. On the downside, it probably can't be removed without causing additional damage. He sets his pack down with one hand, moving to put his other hand on Kestrel's side. "Hi again, Kestrel," he says. "We're going to make this all better, I promise." He then tries to visualize the wounded area, letting the magic fill in the picture, showing him what blood vessels, organs, and other parts of the big puma have been injured by the hunter's arrow. After a moment's consideration, Thorn can tell the arrow is in a bad spot. It's a broadhead with barbs and it's just about transecting Kestrel. It didn't go through-and-through, and it's worryingly near some major organs. Further, there's something keeping their natural healing from kicking in... which means getting the arrow itself out is going to be the major difficulty.

Thorn frowns. He'd have rather tried to remove the arrow through field surgery, especially since he doesn't know what's preventing their natural healing. But that won't be possible. In fact it's a miracle Kestrel hasn't bled out. Nothing for it, then; time for the full magical healing as best as he can. He explains what he's going to do to Sparrow -- that he's going to use his healing magic to close the wound and push out the arrow. Straightforward... but he's somehow certain it's not going to be straightforward -- not with that healing inhibition going on. He places both his hands on Kestrel's side, taking in a long breath. No need to rush it, no need to hurry.... once the magic starts it will take care of them.

Moments later Thorn frowns, his eyes still closed. There should be a gentle withdrawing motion from the arrow, with the body magically healing behind it -- but the arrow isn't moving! He can easily visualize the path it needs to take to get out of Kestrel without doing further damage... but he just can't seem to pull it out! The arrow is definitely not moving... this is getting more and more disturbing. Sparrow looks up at Thorn, his voice tight with worry, "What's wrong?"

Thorn explains, "I was going to draw out the arrow, having their body heal on the way out behind the path of the arrow, but it's... it's not moving. At all. It's like they're... particularly dense in muscle mass and the body has tightened around the arrow -- and there's something preventing their healing factor from taking effect." He takes a deeper breath, closing his eyes, and tries to see what's preventing Kestrel from healing and preventing him from removing the arrow.

Sparrow mutters, "Fuck... if it's barbed, might have to actually push it through -- because Kestrel's body really is denser than normal. Most shifters are... maybe get Cinnamon? Or someone that's got the muscle..." He pauses, "You think you could guide 'em? Like using an MRI?"

Thorn chews his lips, opening his eyes, "I think I can do that, yes. Pushing it through might do less damage than pulling it out, but the trick is that there's several organs in the path, so pulling would be safer, especially if I can heal their tissues as it passes through. Yes, I think I can do that. But it'll need to be someone strong."

Sparrow nods and straightens, "Be right back." He strides out quickly -- and less than a minute later, he's found Cinnamon and Shane. The half beansidhe glances up at the Trickster's entrance, going on alert instinctively, then relaxing when he sees who it is. Sparrow crouches by Cinnamon and strokes her shoulder softly, "Hey, darlin', can you wake up for me? I think we might need you over there..."

Cinnamon mumbles sleepily, "Quiddit, Frazey... try'na sleep!" She blinks blearily awake a moment later, though, rubbing her eyes and pushing herself up a bit, "Sparrow? Lemme get m' glasses... how's Kestrel?"

Sparrow's face is serious, "Thorn can't pull the arrow. I think it might be barbed. We need someone strong and precise to push it." His eyes are tight, "I've got muscles, but I ain't got those kinds of muscles."

Cinnamon blinks up at Sparrow, thinking with tired slowness... then nods and starts scrambling to her feet, puffing a little as she does so, "Okay." Both Shane and Sparrow can still feel the heat radiating off her... but a moment later she pushes up her glasses, tugs on her shirt to tidy up a bit, and is ready to follow the Trickster spirit.

Cinnamon blinks as she looks around the room she enters with the two men. It's the one that was used for the council meeting, and laid out off to one side of the room, across several tables, is a simply enormous puma! The puma is conscious and panting raspily from the pain, and Thorn's standing by the body, with his hands resting on the furred side. There are a few other folks there as well, to try to help keep Kestrel still. It's not that the two-spirit is trying to thrash around or anything... but involuntary twitches and jerks keep seizing the massive body. Also, standing out from their side... is the shaft of a heavy arrow. Cinnamon blinks startledly, "Thorny? Can't you get Kestrel to go to sleep so they're not hurting?!"

Thorn blinks... then nods, "I'll try. There's something disturbing going on here...." He tries to use the 'anesthetic' spell, berating himself for forgetting to do that from the start. Kestrel's pained purring silences, and their heavy breathing evens out as the anaesthetic spell takes effect.

Cinnamon patters slowly over, gently resting a hand on Kestrel's powerful, heavily furred shoulder. A moment later she tilts her head a bit bemusedly... then places both hands on the puma's side. She's silent for a few heartbeats, moving her hands slightly as she automatically analyzes the chunk of metal inside the poor puma... then says in surprise, "Huh! I've never seen an arrow shaped like this before! I didn't know they were made with lead as well as steel, either." She goes silent as she double-checks, then muses aloud, "It's got a really big pointy end, with... little wings out to the sides?" She doesn't realize what she's describing is a mechanical broadhead hunting arrow -- and the hinged blades are fully deployed.

Sparrow snarls, "Fuckin'..." He takes a deep breath, then snaps out, "Barbed mechanical broadhead. Nasty piece of work."

Shane steps up and carefully lays a cloth over the entry wound, his voice soothing, "Let's just try and get this done."

Cinnamon looks up at Thorn and smiles tiredly, "So... you want me to, um... push it through, right? That's what Sparrow said, at least...?"

Thorn has made sure to remove the fletching from the shaft. Now, he nods to Cinnamon, "Yes, please. The only way out is through for this thing. I'll guide you as far as what direction to push in, so I just need a slow, steady push to get the arrowhead out."

Cinnamon moves around to the side the arrow shaft is standing out from, carefully taking hold of it and murmuring, "Okay... here we go. Let me know if I need to shift or stop or anything, Thorny, okay?" If she'd been alert enough to register Shane's action, she'd have thanked him fervently -- because otherwise she'd have ended up horrified at the messy wound -- and either fainted, or run away and tried not to throw up! But because she's so tired she isn't thinking straight (as in, she's not really registering: 'I am shoving a sharp blade... through the living, hurting flesh of a friend!'), and since she can't see the injury, she's able to sort of mentally compartmentalize things so she can actually do the deeply necessary job. It's slow, delicate, very careful work, and Cinnamon pauses every time Thorn stops her to slightly change the angle, so a vital organ isn't shredded, or an artery isn't sliced... and Thorn keeps his magical healing running along the pathway of the broadhead arrow.

There's a small, tired cheer when the arrowhead's tip finally reaches the other side of the big puma's body! After that it's relatively easy going: make a small cut so the arrowhead emerges and can be grasped, cut off the rest of the shaft on the other side, then pull the arrow out -- with Thorn carefully magicking healing all along the wound path! The arrow comes out smoothly without slicing any major organs or arteries... but Thorn's healing isn't 'taking.' The wound track isn't closing the way it ought to. Cinnamon only sees that the arrow is finally removed, though... so she smiles with tired happiness, gently stroking the thick, coarse fur on one shoulder... then turns to head off to sleep again. She's stopped by Thorn's voice, though, as he mutters an imprecation -- then snaps, "Cinnamon, Shane, please study that arrowhead for anything odd! The wound isn't closing the way it should." He focuses, concentrating completely on trying to get Kestrel's tissues to mend and heal.

Cinnamon shakes her head, her hands trailing over the furred side, "It's lead and steel and... umm..." Her voice trails off, and she tilts her head at where her hands are now lying on the cloth covering Kestrel's wound. A moment later, she puzzledly asks the healer, "Thorny... are there supposed to be tiny bits of silver flakes in the wound area? Did you do that?"

Sparrow looks thunderous and also confused, "None of that's gonna cause problems healing a shapeshifter like Kestrel. They aren't a werewolf."

Cinnamon looks at Sparrow and nods -- then looks inquiringly at Thorn, "So... it wasn't you?"

Thorn looks over sharply. "No," he says intently. "I didn't do that." He looks to Sparrow, adding, "But it's possible that whomever shot Kestrel didn't know that silver wouldn't have an effect. Moment, let me concentrate here...." He tries as hard as he can to sense why Kestrel's wounds aren't healing.

The little dragon thinks a bit... then sleepily notes, "Well, if there's silver, then doesn't that say the guy hunting knew he was after a shapeshifter? So... what if he was really thorough, and going for overkill? Like, what if he added, umm... holy water and garlic and wolfsbane and... oh, cold iron, maybe? Stuff like that on the arrowhead and shaft?"

Sparrow spits out several words in several languages, that all sound like swear words. He ends with "Fuck!" -- then looks at Thorn, "You can clear poisons?"

Cinnamon beams sleepily at that, reassuring Sparrow, "He can! He's amazing!"

Thorn blinks at the outburst from Sparrow. "Yes, I can," he adds to Cinnamon's acclaim. "It'd help to know what kind of poison it might be. But I'll try to clear it 'blind' all the same."

Cinnamon proudly adds, "He cleared away the poisons in Jaeger -- and in Josie!" She blinks, leaning forward and flickering her tongue carefully near the wound... then adds with a bit of a growl in her voice, "I smell wolfsbane, like with Josie... at the very least!""

Thorn says, "That makes it easier -- thank you, Cinnamon. I have some idea of how wolfsbane works... that'll help me clear it." He visualizes the wound closing, making the wolfsbane extract seep out of her tissues, yielding to her natural healing, and evicting the poison from the wound like a sweeper would sweep up the dust.

Seconds later there's another tired cheer -- it's working! Kestrel's body is relaxing from the pain tension! People are laughing and hugging each other in relief, congratulating Thorn, and wiping away a tear or two... and back by the wall, where she'd moved so she could lean her over-heated, worn-out body against it, Cinnamon smiles in exhausted relief. It worked... that's really awesome news! Thorny and she and Shaney did good... and now she can finally sleep. She pads tiredly out of the room, so depleted that all she can think of is finding a quiet room to fall down and curl up in and finally rest. Unsurprisingly, Shane spots her leaving and silently follows -- but everyone else is so happy and relieved, they don't notice...

Well, actually Thorn is not celebrating yet -- he's conscientiously and carefully checking over Kestrel, making sure they're fully healed before he wakes them up. Once that happens, though, Sparrow hugs Thorn so tightly that there's a real danger of cracked ribs for a second or two -- and then he plies the good healer with something extremely potent out of a quart jar... as well as some food! Thorn is just glad to have helped, and doesn't imbibe much of the brew Sparrow hands him. He does talk with Kestrel about what happened, however; wolfsbane is not typically carried by hunters, so there's no way it could have been accidental.

Once Kestrel is settled and quiet, and people are starting to relax, Sparrow goes looking for the dragon and her shadow. He finds Cinnamon and Shane in a room not far away from the council chambers. The half-beansidhe is leaning back against the wall with his head tipped back against it, and his eyes closed. Cinnamon is limply asleep with her head in his lap, one hand folded under her cheek. Her glasses are carefully folded nearby, and her body temperature has obviously finally stabilized... because she's completely covered by just about half of Shane's capacious leather duster. Just her face and some of her hair is clearly visible.

Upon spotting this adorable tableau, some of Sparrow's accustomed mischief comes back into his eyes. When he quietly speaks, his voice is back to his soft, south Georgia drawl instead of the stone-cold snap of military authority, "Bet you'd take my head clean off if I tried wakin' 'er up, wouldn't'cha?"

Shane looks tiredly up at the grinning man, then down at the snoozing dragon, "I'd sure as fuck try, Sparrow. Navy SEAL or not; ancient archetype or not. She's not ready to understand it yet, but this woman is the other part of my soul -- my acushla, my pulse -- and she's done enough for today. So yeah... you try waking her up, and me and you'll have words." He gives his friend a quiet, true smile with no actual malice. They both know they're not really threatening one another. It's just the way two warriors sometimes speak to one another when things have been hard but they've fought on through to the other side... and now they can finally relax and tease again.

The avatar of Coyote nods, "She'll know it eventually, son. Give her time..." -- and then he seems to just be gone... and seconds later he seems to just be there again -- back where Thorn finally thinks Kestrel is healed up enough that there should be no more pain or inflammation, and they can now safely be awakened. He releases the anesthetic spell from them, ready to apply it again if they show any pain.

Once they're awake, Kestrel shifts from their puma to their human form. They look tired, but smile when they see Thorn and Sparrow there. Their voice is a little hoarse as they reach out to take Sparrow's hand and smile at the healer, "Called in the big guns, hmm, my love?"

Sparrow smirks and glances at Thorn, "Sure as fuck did, darlin'."

Kestrel reaches their free hand up to cup Thorn's face, "Thank you."

Thorn smiles warmly to Kestrel, touching their hand, "You're very welcome." Then he becomes serious, "We want to find out what happened and who did this to you... but that can wait for now. You should rest now, and eat and drink later, to replenish yourself."

After that, the three entities talk together about what happened, though Kestrel is clearly still sleepy, and eventually fades off for a bit of rest. Before they do, though, Kestrel and Sparrow both agree with the healer that wolfsbane sure as fuck is not something a normal hunter would be carrying -- this one was clearly loaded for metaphorical bear. As Sparrow notes, "This cocksucker was hunting shapeshifters -- and that right there makes me want to go on a hunting trip of my own."

Thorn nods to Sparrow, "We need to find out more, especially where Kestrel was when they found them."

Sparrow nods, "From what I understand, Kestrel was out checking on the water collection areas. We've been putting Cinnamon's ideas into effect, around here." He smirks, "Some of the fuckin' ranchers ain't too happy about it, gotta tell ya... because the more water we catch for the rez, the less water they have for their cattle downhill from here." He shrugs, eyes flinty, "But water rights have fuck all to do with the rez." He motions around, "On the rez, we own the water rights, the mineral rights..." He motions up and down, "Airspace... all of it." He smirks, "Helps to have a personification of bullshittery on your side when working with legalities like that. We still have other shit to deal with, though."

Thorn nods, tapping his chin, "Do you think the ranchers might know there are shapeshifters here?"

Sparrow rubs his chin, "Maybe, maybe not. But they might have hired someone to fix things." He smirks, "Not the first hired guns to go after some of us." He shrugs, "Fuck. It could just be a sick motherfucker hunting a twisted kind of big game." Thorn and he chat quietly together as Kestrel rests and sleeps... and Sparrow stays with Kestrel until Cinnamon wakes up.

The little dragon stays limply asleep all that afternoon, and on through the night. Early the next morning she awakens... at which point she yawns, licks her lips, and mumbles, "Hungry... 'n thirsty too."

Shane smiles down at Cinnamon and brushes her hair back behind her ear, "Lemme go get you something. I figure Sparrow will likely want to talk to you before we head back."

Cinnamon blinks and smiles sleepily up at Shane, "Okay!" He helps her sit up, then goes hunting for Sparrow and Thorn to let them both know the little dragon is awake. He hadn't moved from his vigil all night -- so now he desperately needs to piss... and then he's going to find food and water for his acushla. While he's gone she sits up, finds and puts on her glasses, combs her hair, and straightens her clothing... then realizes whose duster she's lying under. Oooh! She happily hugs it, then pushes it up against her face to inhale. What a lovely scent! Mixed leather and Shane -- yum! She giggles a bit embarrassedly at herself... then blinks as a few more things register. Shane... helped -- during the trip here! He didn't laugh at her or look freaked out or back away or... oh, YAY! That means Fraser didn't tell him her terrible secret! The little dragon sighs gustily in relief, still hugging the duster to her... she's still safe! Shane's still her friend!

Sparrow has shadowed in just in time to watch Cinnamon burrowing her face into the duster, but he leaves her alone long enough to stop nuzzling it before he clears his throat, "Hey there, darlin'. I told Shane to bring your food over to where we've got Kestrel. Wanna come on over?"

Cinnamon squeaks startledly at the sudden, unexpected voice, whipping her head around towards the door, and yanking her hands (still full of duster) down into her lap... then she blinks up at Sparrow, "Uhh, wha-... oh!" She scrambles hastily to her feet, grabbing up all her and Shane's stuff as well, then beams, "Sure! How're they doing?" She patters along with Sparrow, sounding much perkier today, "You don't seem all sharp and pointy now, so I guess everything's going good? Yay, if so!"

Sparrow takes Shane's duster from Cinnamon and then drapes it around her shoulders as if he's concerned she'll be chilly, "They're doin' much better. C'mon and see for yourself. I'm gonna stay here when y'all go back. I've got some huntin' to do."

Cinnamon giggles at how long the duster is on her -- she has to be careful it doesn't brush the ground! She beams up at Sparrow again, "Okay! Is this for the hunter? Good luck, if so!" She laughs, adding, "Wait, you already are good luck for yourself, right?"

Sparrow squeezes around Cinnamon's shoulders and for just a moment there's a red flash in his eyes, "It's not so much that I'm good luck for me sometimes, sugar, as I'm bad luck for them. That goes in my favor." Cinnamon smiles relaxedly at that, missing the eye flash since she's not looking up -- she's just thinking that Sparrow's being really nice today. It's nice!

Kestrel follows all orders and is feeling better the next morning, chatting with Thorn about some healing teas they make up for some of the elders on the rez who are having some respiratory issues. Thorn both makes notes, and provides what information he can. He realizes some of the herbs he knows about might not be locally available, but if they can be grown here (without becoming invasive species) then that might help? Consequently, when Sparrow and Cinnamon enter the former council room, the little dragon brightens noticeably at sight of Kestrel sitting up! She immediately patters over and gives the recovering two-spirit a warm but careful hug, then sighs happily, "You're looking so much better, Kestrel -- yay!" When her stomach rumbles, though, she turns pink, and squeaks, "Oops -- 'scuse me! I, um, better eat something..."

Kestrel laughs warmly and hugs Cinnamon... then smiles with tired affectionate at Thorn, "From what I've been told, I have both you and Thorn to thank for that." Then their face gets serious, "Even if someone had gotten the arrow out, without realizing it was dipped in wolfsbane... it could have been bad."

Cinnamon glances around, noticing Shane bringing in food -- oh, awesome! Shane stops for a moment just inside the door as something slams into his chest, at the sight of Cinnamon wrapped in his duster.. which was exactly what Sparrow meant to happen. Trickster mischief isn't always big and flashy, after all. The little dragon beams at Shane, thanking him quietly as she exchanges his duster for some food and a bottle of water... then she has several bites of her scrambled egg roll-up before she heads back over, with Shane, to sit by Kestrel. At the shifter's words, Cinnamon swallows and beams cheerfully at Kestrel, "Well, that's why we make such an awesome team, I think! Shaney kept me going, and Thorny analyzed and healed, and I pushed the arrow and scented the wolfsbane!"

Thorn nods, "Without Cinnamon noticing the wolfsbane, it wouldn't have been completely healed."

Cinnamon grins shyly at Thorn, "Well, to be honest it was the silver that first caught me... but yeah, the scent was the same as when Josie got shot at Trod of the Holly. Remember that, you guys?"

Kestrel listens seriously, "So they were covering all the supernatural bases. Bounty hunter, maybe?"

Cinnamon nods gravely to Kestrel, "Could be! I don't know how to check for stuff like, oh... holy water... hmm. I don't recall scenting garlic, though?" She pauses, reviewing her memories carefully... then slowly adds, "Actually... wait. Um, under the blood scent? I think... I think there was a faint scent of garlic!"

Kestrel wrinkles their nose thoughtfully, "Depends. Some holy water has salt in it. Some has annointing oil. Some actually has wine and ashes."

Thorn frowns, "Garlic, too? Between that and the silver on the arrowhead... it sounds like a hunter was trying to be cute and cover all bases." A quote -- "Three silver bullets through the heart!" "No, Rosenberrg... that ees a verevolf." -- goes through his head, but he does not speak it aloud, as it doesn't fit the mood.

Cinnamon sighs thoughtfully, "I'm sorry, Kestrel... but those scents aren't as strong as blood and garlic and wolfsbane, to me... so I can't say for sure."

There's a low growl that doesn't sound at all like it's coming from a human throat from behind Cinnamon, Thorn, and Shane. Kestrel glances that way and their eyes soften, "Breathe, my love. I'm safe... and I know you'll find them."

Cinnamon glances over, then looks guilty, "I'm sorry, Sparrow -- that was rude of me." She thinks for a moment, then offers a bit hesitantly, "Do you... want company on your hunting?" She doesn't really want to go... but doesn't want to be rude, either -- especially if she might be helpful.

Sparrow shakes his head, voice gentle despite the face that his eyes are flashing from his normal deep brown to red, back and forth, "Not mad at you. Mad that some motherfuckin' asshole is on our land huntin' people. Not just shifters, but vampires and other such folk. Cold iron, too. That's fae, werewolves, vampires, and basically any damned shifter. It wouldn't get you because you've got hide like souped-up kevlar, but every-goddamned-body else in this room would go down to an arrow like that. Even Shane -- because a mechanical broad-tip like that is the archery equivalent of a bloody hollow-point." Cinnamon nods gravely as she listens... though she freezes for an instant, and her eyes flare scarlet for a heartbeat, when killing Shane is mentioned. She glances quickly at him -- then takes another hasty bite of food, so her emotions aren't clear on her face. Just for a moment, though... she was quite willing to go hunt down the unknown archer.

Shane smiles wryly, "Guess hybrid vigor only gives me so much immunity, huh?"

Sparrow snorts amusedly at Shane, then adds to Cinnamon, "Nah, darlin', you don't gotta stay. I'll hunt this land better on my own. Motherfucker might be looking for a coyote, but he won't be lookin' for kangaroo mice or rattlesnakes."

Cinnamon blinks between the two men... then giggles quietly to herself when the term 'hybrid vigor' makes her brain struggle to come up with a likely mix of a rattlesnake-kangaroo mouse! After that she nods to Sparrow, then smiles at Kestrel, "Well, I'm really glad Thorny could help you, Kestrel... oh! Also, I think your hair product works really well, and I'm going to write you a good review on the 20th, which is when six months will have passed -- just like you asked for!" After that Cinnamon just chatters relaxedly with Kestrel and the rest of her friends -- at least until she spots the two-spirit smothering a yawn! At that point Cinnamon suggests they all head out, pack up, and fly back to Boston. She's got to get measured for the Lunar New Year parade, after all!

Shane grins and nods, "I've been using it, too." He pulls his hair over his shoulder and drags fingers through it, "Ash is getting jealous." He winks at Kestrel, causing Cinnamon to giggle and blush! He smiles a bit, adding, "Once we're all fed, though, I think it's probably time for us to vamoose."

After eating and being loaded up with gifts from Kestrel that largely consist of little trinkets and some herbal blends for Thorn, Shane helps Cinnamon get harnessed and packed back up so they can get back to Coblyn. While getting ready to get back, Shane mutters to his acushla and his friend, "I do not envy whoever Sparrow hunts down. They teach SEALs..." he looks for a delicate way to put it, "...creative persuasion techniques." He arches a brow at Thorn, expecting the healer to know code for 'torture' when he hears it.

Cinnamon glances over her shoulder, rumbling, "The guy was being really mean, though -- he wanted to kill people! So I don't have much sympathy for him, honestly."

Thorn winces slightly; he knows the euphemism, and it's one of the reasons he never went Regular Army. He... disapproves... of certain things the people at the top of the chain of command have deemed appropriate. Which reminds him: he makes a note in his notebook to do research into the First Earth Battalion -- he's wondering if any of them had any inkling of how things really are. "I don't either, Cinnamon," he replies, "but I'd like to know what their intentions are, what the hell they were doing, and what they thought they were doing."

Cinnamon tilts her big, triangular head in thought... then nods, "Good points, really. I hope Sparrow finds out, so no one else gets hurt!"

Shane sighs and nods, "I hope he does, too." He strokes Cinnamon's nosepad softly and then kisses it, "Let's get going, acushla."

Cinnamon beams toothily down at Shane, her ears tilted back in shy happiness... then remembers to answer, "Oh! Okay!"

The young dragon relaxedly flies everyone back to Boston -- no blinding speed-demon this time! When she lands, she's nearly pounced on by the head of the dragon-dancers for the Lunar New Year parade... and shortly after that she's being enthusiastically measured for the parade trappings! It takes about an hour for the sizing to be noted down, the existing trappings laid out against her for color and size tests, and a few bounces by her to see how things will stay on her draconic person. After that the entire 'dragon' of performers run through the entire dance with her: when to bounce in place, when to wriggle back and forth across the street, when to rear up or toss her head or growf or snort fire... and at what places there will be performers bounding and tumbling either around her feet, or over her, or along her body. The young dragon enjoys the rehearsal immensely, and her eidetic memory helps tremendously in learning everything quickly and correctly... such that, at the end of about another two or three hours, the dragon-headsman solemnly pronounces her -- to her delight -- ready for the performance!

Elsewhere, Thorn keeps in touch with the reservation, receiving word of Kestrel's recovery. There isn't much to it, to be honest; unlike conventional and non-magical healing, the results are immediate and Kestrel is perfectly healthy now. Still, Thorn likes getting news of how well his patients are doing, and if there are any complications. He's still -- slightly -- paranoid about what might happen if he loses his healing abilities.

Sparrow returns after a few days, irritable and rather frustrated, but with news that there have also been a few animals killed on the rez with similar arrows. The magical folk on the rez are currently using the buddy system to stay safe, and Sparrow himself will be going back after the Lunar New Year and the next council meeting. Cinnamon hugs Sparrow in sympathy, but is nevertheless very glad to hear Kestrel is doing well! Thorn is dismayed the 'hunter' is still uncaught. This is going to be a recurring issue, especially if the hunter thought he got away with it. The longer the hunter is uncaught, the more bold he'll become. But Sparrow knows what he's doing, and if the avatar of Coyote needs any help, he knows where to find them.

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

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