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"Oh..." Progolo said, also going pink. "Well....I...I just remembered what I came in here for." He gestured sheepishly towards the cupboard. "Sugur. I ran out. I don't like to take things from the lodge, though. It feels like I'm stealing it," he finished bashfully.

Kala decided that, from this point on, she liked nuzzling. (In her mind, things like that had to be firmly decided.) She didn't miss the way Blanche held her ears back, and suddenly found herself wondering how the other Aerandir had known that rubbing ears made the water come out. Without even considering that Blanche didn't feed the way she did, she concluded that she must have had a lot of experience with eating. Man, it must have been hard with such a short beak!

Kala was liking Blanche better and better every second. Not only was she a fun play-mate, she was an idol! She ought to, like...give her something for being so cool! But what?

She withdrew from the nuzzle, reaching around herself with her long neck to pick up that stupid feather that had come loose. Huh, maybe she'd like this? She took it in her beak and held it out to Blanche.

"Wark!" Kala chirped with glee, taking the immaculate feather. Wow, it was so pretty! She reared happily. She ought to show this to her big person!

Bobbing her head to motion Blanche to follow, she cantered over to Progolo and butted him in the shin.

Progolo blinked. Huh, that was a pretty good way to think about it. Taking the sugar was a sign of graditude, then, not thievery... "Good point," he said, raising his eyebrows and nodding. That notion made him feel alot better, really.

Just then, he felt a pang in his leg. He gasped, more out of surprise than pain, and looked down to find Kala nudging him with excitement. Something glinted white in her beak.

"Tell me you didn't rip that out of Blanche's wing," he said with exasperation. Kala could be so pushy, it was alarming...and he wouldn't put her past pulling another Aerandir's feathers out because she was cross. He looked over at Blanche for signs of a tussle, but the only thing he saw was a pleased gryphon with one dark red feather.

Huh?

"So it seems," Progolo agreed, his face indicating his surprise. "Isn't that nice?" He tried to get a better look at the feather, but Kala would have none of that. It was her feather. She pranced out of his reach, tossing the feather up in the air and catching it as it drifted back down.

Progolo gave up. It wasn't as if he'd never seen a feather before; they were all over his house. But there was something about the way the light caught that gorgeous white wisp...

Something at the back of his mind prodded him.

Sugar.

Right.

Sighing, Progolo straightened. "I suppose I ought to be heading back...I'm going to have a very cross fairy in my house if I don't hurry up with this sugar. It was very nice to meet you, Emi." With this, he smiled and extended his hand.

Kala recognized the "Ritual of Parting"...and she was beside herself. They were LEAVING? Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy? Progolo was going to have a very cross gryphon if they didn't stay! She clattered over to Emi and Blanche, fussing.

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They'd seen Ari enter the lodge ahead of them and decided that it was a good chance to catch up on things again. Li hadn't seen Rawiya in some time now, and Tahja felt the same about Ari. Though they often saw one another out and about it seemed like finding time to sit down was a much less simple task.

In Tahja's hand, incidentally, was a letter similar to Arianna's, a list of items necessary for Li's quest neatly printed by hand. Li was currently resting on Tahja's shoulder with some bit of effort to remain balanced, but a steadying hand from the young woman assured he would not fall off.

The door of the lodge opened up a moment later as Tai's somewhat free hand turned the handle and pushed. She offered a friendly smile upon spotting her friend at the board.

"Seems like we had the same idea. How have you been, Ari?"

There was a brief pause between Rawiya's greeting and Tai's reply in which time Li's feathers and fur bristled in surprise. As soon as Rawiya had settled down again, though, so did Li. He rustled his wings in return and gave a soft mewl as a hello, leaping from Tahja's shoulder to settle on Rawiya's back instead, purring loudly.

Tai smiled and reached a hand out to pat Rawiya's snout gently with affection, then moved to greet Arianna properly.

"Busy, two bickering teenagers and a witty familiar make for a rather interesting living environment, isn't that right, Li?" She grinned. Li screeched in agreement.

Li's purring continued, a delighted paw coming up and patting her beek before resting there in greeting. It was good to see her again too!

"That's the joy of parenthood."

A rare grin accompanied those words. It was full of mirth and a scincere warmth, though, and Tahja was sure that Ari felt the same.

"So, it seems like we both had the same idea... Rawiya is ready to move on to her next stage as well?"

A softer smile, and Tai looked to the letter in her hand, lifting it for Ari to see before she'd put it on the board.

Tahja seemed equally enthralled by the idea, as though Ari's outward excitement were contagiously creeping up on her. The Aerandir at play were making quite a fuss in the background, cleary having a good time.

"Really? I'm sure that we have something on your list lying around the hut as well. Why don't you stop by after we leave your house while we're at it?" She smiled gratefully. One item less on her list would be a wonderful relief! She'd make a note to come back to the lodge later with some items for other people's lists as well, as it seemed there were more than just two of them questing now.