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Theron frowned, canting his head at the ghost. His daddy's ghost could feel him, why not this sad one. Maybe he was too much on the mommy side of things. he hugged again, just on the "daddy side" -the side of ghosts and thoughts and things his mommy tried not to notice though she always seemed to know what he was saying. Except when she somehow turned it off. *I feel you!* He said with a giggle.

Trelweny blinked at the sight, her own vision slowly losing its psychic sight though wondering why she could still see Mirror's spirit. "Theron, comst du herein." The GaiaCom quirked a brow and exchanged glances with Keyna below. Clearly the human was not quite with it yet to have shifted languages. The boy giggled and pretended not to hear. "We're going with them..."

The floating Al Slyian soul nearby weakly shook his head to say, "No...Your company would be welcome..." Finally taking his hands off his grieving face, Mirror attempted once more to hold himself together and fight his fear.

Well...He looked more pathetic than usual...But at least he wasn't making choked sounds of fear and sorrow anymore.

"Let's hurry then. I...I'm not fond of this existence," Mirror said slowly, measuring his words and stiffening so he wouldn't shake anymore, "...Where's Xo's father? Is there anything else we need to know?"

Mirror nodded his head gravely and he gave a small choked, "Thank you" before he startled floating outside the room. He gave a baleful glance to the others as he, in his pale pastel form, passed by, "Let's go then, friends."

Making his way out of the room, Mirror made his way to the entrance lobby and followed the light of the windows to find his way outside. Glancing behind him, Mirror checked to see if everyone else was following before he searched anew for the platinum dragon he knew so well.

Dangerous? Only the strong survive? Trelweny glanced from her young son, the delicate fae kyunru, & the little moomba with aprehension. She was less concerned with herself & the GaiaCom, and even the kunkun with its adventersome spirit would likely be fine... but to chance putting the innocents in danger?...

"How long do you suspect this will take?" Maybe she could get those home that needed protecting first. From the sound of things they would not only be in danger, but a liability. She could trust Aiden & Remus to see to the care of the family while she & Myranda were gone but... could she really leave Theron for a long period of time? Yet she dared not take him with her, no matter how brave he was.

Maybe she should not go...

If it was just her there would be no questioning. But there were others to think of. There was Theron.

Mirror's floating had slowed down a bit and he slowly began following Exodus out of habit. Usually he fould follow someone else on these adventures. He inwardly fought with himself about where he should be positioned until he finally made a compromise with himself and floated beside Exodus. Glancing side to side at the people gathered around Xo's father, Mirror sighed heavily and tucked his ghostly wings more snug against his back. He seemed shy to the world outside the Conclave and as soon as they got to the silver dragon waiting outside, Mirror floated near to it and looked up at it with sullen eyes.

"Greetings again, Roan," he said loud enough for his old friend to hear, "Um...I presume you...know what's...going on..." He glanced down at his ethereal body, winced visibly and turned back up to gaze at the dragon's flesh and blood.

The young mother gathered her child into her arms and carried him outside following the rest of the "group" she now found herself in. She really only knew Mirror... and he needs my help. Trelweny sighed ant the two year old boy lightly wrapped his arms around her neck in a simple snuggling gesture. Only now did she take note of the fantastic building they were in, and wonder how it was it could be in Durem... how she had never seen it before now. Myranda smirked, reading the human's expression then returned to cast her aqua eyes with distrust upon the male, Shade. Mirror, being still a youth, was yet not included in her opinion of men in general -as was the nalgae. Of course Mirror being incorporeal was also a boon when it came to the GaiaCom's trust of him.

Theron & Tien shrieked with delight as they left the conclave & they caught sight of the immense dragon. Not only did the boy love all creatures, but he still went very much on instinct & that told him he could trust the being that was the dragon. The GaiaCom did not bat an eye, though she quirked her brow with an impressed nod for the size & sheer power -both physical & other- that her sensors were picking up. Keyna shifted slightly walking beside Trelweny to inch behind her more in shyness and awe than fear -Caylee with her. So that is a dragon? Like the dragon-kin kyunru I met, Fafnir... but ever so much larger, and clearly not kyunru.

As for Trelweny, she nearly stepped on the fae kyunru if not for their mental bond and a gentle warning when she tried to back up with a gasp. But the young nalgae called him Dad & the others seemed to know him... still she had never encountered anything quite so large. She had never seen a dragon before.

A blue-furred creature with tartan markings was winding his way through the crowds, blue & gold translucent faerie wings tucked close to his back. He looked curiously to see what all the commotion was as the crowds moved and made noise for the dragon's presence. For once, the Highlander audio had to confess to himself that he was scared. Of that he showed little of it, deciding to give the mythical creature a wide birth and continue on his way. He was interested to see if there would be any Scottish dancing. But then his golden eyes caught sight of familiar honey-gold hair and a hard to miss tall, mint witch's hat right beside. "Trelweny-lass?"

Shoving his fear to the side he wove his way towards the dragon and the strange bridge that seemed to have appeared from nowhere just beyond him. Nearing, the fae audio could now sense the tingle of magic, closely guarded and contained, emanating from whatever lay beyond the bridge. At the moment, it was of little importance to him though he did not let himself ignore it completely. "Trelweny?"

The young mother slowed her fear at the sound of the familiar -if unusually loud- voice, looking around hopefully. Theron looked away from the Dragon ...Roan? Was that what Mirror & the other called him? to laugh & lunge for the caretaker "patriarch" of their family. Seeing him Trelweny calmed stepping to the side to meet with her adopted 'son' and friend. "Aiden... You can't believe how glad I am to see you."

Shifting Theron to one hip they shared a three way hug, after which Theron managed to wiggle his way into the strong, furry arms of the audio male. Tien flew around their heads singing "Aiden! Aiden! Aiden!!" Aiden chuckled softly, golden eyes glancing at the dragon. "Oh, I can believe, Lassie, even if I dinnae ken." His voice returned to its usual soft-spoken flow. "By th' look o' things, ye got yerself involved i' something o' epic proportions."

She gave a sheepish laugh. "You could say that..." The Highlander quirked a brow at her, inviting her to go on. He had been part of her family for quite a while now and could almost anticipate the woman's needs. Most of the time. "Aiden I want to help..." Her glance drifted to Mirror.

"Th' ghost Laddie?" Aiden was taking this all remarkably well. But then he was a pillar, one she & her home would collapse without. "Aye. If ye think tha' ye can, ye must, Lassie. Bu' ye werenae thinking o' taking th' wee bairn wit' ye, Aye? Or the pretty kyunru lassie an' th' Moomba?" Moving to hold the clinging toddler with only one arm Aiden stroked Keyna's long blue tresses with the other as she stepped towards him. Both with a bit of fae in them, the two had more to bring them close together in a special bond of understanding than thoughtfulness & soft speaking. Trelweny was shaking her head. "No. I'd really rather not. But I didn't see a way..."

Aiden chuckled, golden eyes understanding. "Well, now ye've a way, haven't ye? I'll take them home, Lassie, Ne'er ye fear. Remus, the twins & I can care fer them -and the others- til ye be back." His eyes softened, saying goodbye. "Dinnae be too long though, Lassie. We'll be missing ye." Smiling Trelweny nodded and gave te two boys another hug, then kneeled down to hug Keyna & pat Caylee, hearing her sweet little "Meep."

Surrounded by the innocents, the audio looked to Myranda. "I ken I dinnae need te ask ye, Lassie, but see tha' ye both come home safe te us? An' Tien too." He winked, knowing that no matter what any of them did there would be no detering the kunkun from an adventure. Already the 6 inch blue-gray creature was soaring around the great dragon's head, squealing with delight at getting to play with such a big pelae.

She had been standing stoically by, aqua eyes cold & harsh as the others interacted. Now she humphed. "Don't worry about us, Highlander. And only babysitting the bug will be a nice change of pace."

Her artificial eyes looked out through the crowds. "Hmm... Looks like no one snagged the stroller while we were away." Casting a simple spell she conjured it to them. Aiden smiled. "Thank ye, Myranda-lass. If ye've had half th' day I suspect ye've had, the wee one will be falling asleep a'fore we make it home."

"I have known for longer than you realise, Young One." Roan seemed completely unphased by the ghostly appearance of the 'boy' and lowered his head to the ground. Granted, it was still a rather large body part and continued to tower over the crowds but his whiskers would provide the necessary grip for the group to clamber up onto his head. Unfortunately, he was not entirely prepared to lower his wings - given their span anyone could have mounted him and that would have caused problems.

"Much longer. Alas we have very little time if we are to ensure that we reach the Gates." Shaking the fur lining his body he gave a snort and fixed his gaze upon them once more. "Those that are already at the Gates will not wait long to pass through towards the City and they are your only method of entry." It was only then that he glanced at Shade, seemingly aware of his dislike of flight.

"You have my word that passage between the two points will be significantly smoother than our last ride together."

"Ye'd best be going, lassies." The fae audio gave a nod to the dragon's lowered head, keeping his expression mostly even except for the extra widening of his golden eyes. Trelweny gave him & Theron another hug, then bent down to include Keyna & Caylee before spinning & running off to the dragon leaving trail of moisture from her eyes to hover in the air a few seconds from her quick motion. She was too torn inside at her decision to be overwhelmed by the dragon whom she did not know was a druid or whatever he was but somehow managed to give him a small curtsey & softly mumbled "How do you do & thank you" before climbing up after Mirror. She would think back later on how it was an odd thing to be climbing a dragon's whiskers to ride upon him. The GaiaCom felt nothing, but nodded politely to the dragon before following her human up. Cold mint eyes narrowed to find the kun still circling the great beast's head singing a happy song in kunkunese about advenures, fun, & 'pelae'/friends.

Turning to go with Aiden the fae kyunru turned her big brown eyes up at her leaving family. *Take care, and come home safe to us.* The sooner the better.