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Astrayl was finished training Ren for the day. This was about that time that he would leave her to do her own independant studies. 'It is better for a warrior of her potential to reflect on today's lessons. I hope she takes this chance to try and understand what I am really trying to teach her.' Astrayl already had most of Ren figured out. They were a lot alike the two of them, side from the fact that she respects the Elders a lot more then he does. They are both rash, strong, hard headed, and think they can take on the world. 'Like me, she will have to learn to take orders before she can give them.' He shrugged as he walked over to the Algernon family estate.

There he did the usual. Was first greeted by the servants who helped him dress in his casual cloak as he walked down the hall. They gave him the activities and news that has been happening around the clan. Then he visited his parents, who seemed to be in a heated discussion. Like all arguments between his parents, his mother was the one who was being more aggressive. "I don't care if she is the Drayce Whisperer, I only care for what is good for the clan. We are a group of warriors and to take in a girl who probably hasn't even seen battle seems proprietress!" His father then came in with suprising logic, something most people wouldn't expect out of him. "I understand what you say, but think of the influence and the peace it could bring between the two clans. We have always had some what bad relations with him. And considering he is your son, not just mine, Astrayl can be a bit stubborn and hot headed. A good women will keep him in balance." His mother sat down next to his father and sighed. "I know. But I am still going to meet her and if he wants my approval he will make it happen." Right as she said that the drunken bear spirit appeared. He whispered into Astrayl's ear about the news, which honestly surprised him. He then walked in on his parents. "Don't worry about that mother, she is coming to meet the two of you and experience our clan." The two heads looked at their son. His mother stood up and spoke. "Thank you, I just wish to meet this girl to try and understand her more. It is hard to let your son marry a girl who you have only heard through reputation." Astrayl laughed a bit for he also had a reputation as well, his entire family did. "Well mother I hope you understand what I am going to say next." He stood firmly in front of the two. "You and the others maybe the heads of the different houses, but I am the whisperer. I am deemed the strongest among us and it is by our law that whoever is the strongest leads." They both nodded. "So from now on, if I make a decision I want your full approval, if not expect a fight. I love you dearly but I also want you to respect my decisions from now one." With that Astrayl left to go relay the news around the Algernon estate.

After everyone heard the news, there was a big scramble to prepare the house for the guest. Astrayl was expecting both Dragana and Zetao to came and stay with Ren and him. 'It is only natural that the apprentice tags along I guess. While she is here, maybe I can have Ren teach her a thing or two about hand-to-hand combat.' He smiled when suddenly a servant came running to Astrayl. "Sir we have bandits attacking the west side of the clan." This was not unheard of to Astrayl. Bandits and enemy countries attack every now and then thinking they can take on the Algernon military might. "Then what is the problem, those of the west should be able to handle themselves just fine." The servant then had a panicked look. "Sir, they were able to detain them for awhile till a explosive went off and caused a rock slide." Astrayl became alarmed and quickly went off to solve the problem.

When he got their the fight was over but some of the houses and giant boulders on top of them. He could hear screams here and there. "Alright, I call upon thee." He closed his eyes and opened them to reveal the eyes of a wild beast. "Give me the strength." He went up to his first house and hoisted the boulder into the air. A group of villagers came running out, one was injured but got out safely due to the small party of soldiers that came with Astrayl. "I want all of you to help the villagers escape the debris. I will lift as many boulders as I can to make it easier." Within a hour or two, Astrayl had saved most of the villagers. As he was lifting the last one, a bandit came out from the crushed house and stabbed Astrayl in the stomach. "DOWN WITH THE ALGERNONS!" The bandit seemed proud until he noticed that there was no blood. "What a weak person you are." Astrayl had stopped the blade with pure muscle, the blade never even pierced his skin. "You think you can attack us and then try and take my life." Astrayl dropped the boulder to the side then picked up the bandit by his head. "We are not that weak. As bears, we always come back from any kind of sleep even death. Unfortunately, you won't." Like popping a balloon, Astrayl squeezed on the man's head and it popped splattering blood all over the whisperer. "Someone clean this up and then get the workers ready to help re-build. We are done here."

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~Marnie~

Marnie pulled on her cloak and managed to blink past the rushing air against her eyes.

She smiled at her cousin and gave a thumbs up. Licking her lips to wet them, she thought briefly about the balm her father's groundskeeper used on his lips in the winter and let out a lilting whistle. Her dragon cocked it's head and looked round at her for a moment before shaking it's scales and letting out a deeper sounding version of the same whistle. essentially, she was being told to get louder.

Marnie shot Dragana a look and shrugged sheepishly. She'd have to work on her tone she supposed. But she remembered all the whistles.

Marnie did well for the whole trip, in Dragana's opinion. She took the undulating rhythm of the dragon's flight in stride and hadn't fallen, which was better than Dragana had done when she was first learning. The sudden memory of being in free-fall made her stomach clench.

That damn uncle of mine didn't even bother to try and catch me. He just watched until I summoned up a dragon myself, the b*****d.

She pushed the memory firmly back down, a little surprised it had come up like that. She normally had a tight grip on every aspect of herself.

Soon, they were over the storm system. More dragons were swirling around, some playing in the powerful rain-soaked winds below, others watching carefully and communicating in whistles. Dragana listened and was able to get a sense of the way the storm was shaping up. So far, it was doing its job just fine. It was steadily growing in strength, just as Marnie had predicted, and was heavy with rain. Dragana whistled to Marnie to just watch and listen for now, then began organizing some of the dragons to monitor closer to the ground and ensure that the rain was seeping into the ground and not just running back off into the sea.

By now, they were over the eye of the storm, and there was a quiet tunnel that was clear all the way to the ocean. Dragana whistled again and pointed down, indicating that it was something that Marnie should see.

Dragana watched the dragon's antics, heart hammering as she watched her apprentice ride through the eye of the storm. That was her legacy and future of the Drayce family, and though she was fairly confident the dragons would guard her cousin's safety without hesitation, it still made her nervous to think her inexperienced relative might fall. Whisperer talent was so rare among the Drayces, after all, and it would be difficult to find a replacement for Marnie.

The dragons continued to whistle and plunge in and out of the roiling clouds. Dragana's mount would sometimes flex its claws in longing, looking as if it would like to try snatching at the ribbons of lightning that wreathed the strike dragons. Everything was going smoothly, and the dragons were feeling especially playful. The creatures loved nothing better than a good storm to play in, and with the Dragon Whisperer watching carefully to ensure they didn't get too out of hand, frolicked to their heart's content. They took turns being Dragana's eyes and ears throughout the skies, whistling tunes of the storm's progress as it met the coast and poured its turbulent energy out on the land below. The ones on the ground would dart back up and whistle songs on the progress of the rainwater's infiltration into the earth, and she might whistle back a few commands or praises.

Finally, after several hours, the storm began to break up into separate cloud banks that would travel farther inland, dousing the land below with their cargoes of water. A weary Dragana whistled for the dragons to disperse and for her and Marnie's mounts to return to the Drayce mansion. She dismounted with a sigh, her hair and clothes damp from the flight and cold beginning to settle in. A servant had been watching for them and immediately ran to fetch strong coffee and sweet sugary pastries. Jonathan soon appeared, ushering both Marnie and Dragana into one of the smaller sitting rooms.

When the food came, Dragana absently powered through five of the sugary pastries before she felt energy flowing through her body again. The Dragon Whisperers never required the massive amounts of food Bears did, but usually needed to restore their energy after working on storms with sweets. When she felt more normal again, she glanced at Marnie and raised her eyebrows.

"Well?"

Dragana smiled at Marnie's enthusiasm and said, "I'm glad you enjoyed it. What did you manage to learn this time?"

Rain began to splatter against the windows and soon began drumming on the manor with a steady rhythm. From the sound, it would be a small rain, finished by morning, and guaranteed to make the unpaved roads muddy. enough to be irritating. One of the storm clouds had managed to roll in far enough to deposit its water over them now. Thunder rumbled in the distance, but Dragana could feel that the lightning's source was pretty far away.

At least the roads won't be swampy when I leave for the Algernon's lands tomorrow. I can send a few dragons to dry out puddles when necessary as well.

Astrayl laughed for he can't remember the last time he had so much fun. Currently, he was helping to build some of the stages for the festival. Most were going to be used to provide theater and other forms of entertainment. To hi it was fun doing labor. It only meant he wasn't helping people by fighting but through something else, something more simple. He couldn't help but smile as all the other workers laughed and smiled at each other as they worked. It wouldn't be to long till the stages would be done. Once they were finished his next job would be to prepare the stadium. The house heads decided to hold a small tournament.

Martial Arts tournaments were common in the bear clan. The person who rules is the strongest that is their strongest belief. So, the cleanest way to find out was through tournaments. This tournament, the one for the welcoming festival, is a small one. Usually held just for fun, although some people can take it more seriously then other because of the prize. A chance to compete in the Algernon Tournament, held once every five years. It decides who is the strongest in the entire bear clan, the only chance for a non-whisperer to become the leader of the clan. Ever since the beginning of the tournament, the whisperer has always been the winner. Something that Astrayl didn't plan on letting change. He is not allowed to compete in small tournaments, nor are certain other but that is for later, but must compete in the Algernon tournament to prove his strength.

Still, this tournament would prove to be fun. Maybe he might force Ren to join, this way she could prove herself to the wrest of the clan. Some people still had doubts that she was strong enough to be Astrayl's pupil.

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~Marnie~

Marnie sipped her coacoa and nodded at her cousin, waving instead of using words as she stood up as she was still swallowing. She took her mug with her to her room and went to the wash stand next to her bed. She poured a bit of water in the cup and swished it around before tossing the contents out the window. Before she lay down to breathe she put the cup on the small table. Surely someone would see it.

She settled in front of the fire place where a small blaze was already going. It flickered nicely behind the decorative dragon screen. She closed her eyes and focused as she'd been taught, though it still seemed more relaxing than clarifying to her mind.

She was almost asleep on the small carpet in front of the fire when a particularly loud pop of wood cracking woke her enough to encourage her to go to bed. She wanted a bath first but settled for a short one and with tepid water. By the time she was done she was chilled again and more than ready to get under the covers. She even closed the curtains on the bed to keep the air closer. She'd probably over heat later, but she could handle it. She could sleep when she was too warm, but not the opposite.

Tucking her hands under her pillow she settled in and fell asleep almost instantly.

Astrayl woke up that morning feeling refreshed and so did most of the clan. Everyone was in high spirits for the small welcoming festival. Vendors were already selling food, plenty of meat for everybody. Merchants were everywhere selling weapons and trinkets alike. Men were drinking, women were dancing, and the kids were playing. To Astrayl, this was one of the best times for him to remember that he is a member of such a joyful clan. Because of the recent events he had come to hate his position, what with the elders breathing down his neck, current bandit relations, and his fiance being one of the most powerful people ever, just like him. That last one made him twitch a bit. The idea of marriage has always been something he has tried to stray away from. He didn't want to be tied down by anyone. Luckily he was marrying another whisperer, someone who is going to be far to busy to be breathing down Astrayl's neck. 'Plus, it might help me to know how the dragon politics work.' He smiled as he got ready for the arrival of his fiance.

He got dressed in his usual attire, this meant dress pants, black dress shirt, white vest, and white shoes. He popped a cigarette in his mouth and just as he was about to light it, the end of it was chopped off as quick as a flash. Astrayl didn't react, he saw the blade coming from a mile away. "Well hello to you too, Pei." His maid came out of the shadows to greet him. "Lord Astrayl, your mother and father are waiting at the front gates for you and your fiance. They want you to be there when she arrives." Astrayl rolled his eyes and he left the room. "Of course they do. Thank you Pei." As he shut the door, Pei disappeared without a sound.

Astrayl came to the front gate, both his mother and father were in formal Chinese gowns. Zetsu, his father, wore a long sleeved Chinese printed jacket with his humongous katana strapped to his back. His mother, Lady Sakura, was in a formal Chinese dress with plenty of hidden weapons. She spoke, "Astrayl I hope all the stories are true about this girl. Heavens forbid that you marry someone weak." She fanned herself and waited.