Welcome to Gaia! ::

"I will have to take your word for it. Appearance was never much of a factor for me. I've chosen things based on wearability. But thank you."

Longcoat on and staff in hand he was ready. Shoes were waiting byt the door, easily slipped on. "I have been ready, Elle. Lead on." A soft chuckle escaped from the little one's proclaimation. This would certainly be interesting.

Wings tucked safe and tight against his back under the coat he followed. There was no hesitation this time, knowing the way from the few trips up and down.

"Understood. Thank you agian for having me. And breakfast was kind of you." He knew she was merely worried about the baby. He'd have been more concerned had she just let them go. And the meal had defiantely been appretiated. His energy was back to normal and his body rested and healed. Time to move.

The trumpeting might have been different but Lonan didn't even startle. "So that's the kith and kin? Perhaps you should invest in stonewear."

Chuckling softly he followed Elle outside and towards the path bck to the Hollow. Hopefully Drac wouldn't scare them too badly on their first visit.

The longcoat was kept open in the warmer breeze. Indian summer. That was what Devmani had termed it before. An odd warm spell in winter. It was probably cooler back by the Hollow but the path's air was crisp and clean. Patches of warmth hit his back. A very nice path to take.

"He is a quiet one, isn't he? Rare to see one happy to just be held and around others." A hand reached out to ruffle the soft hair for a moment. A rare sign of favor from him.

For a moment he was caught off guard. Then he felt her arms going around him. The flicker-smile was in place as he wrapped her in arms and wings, mindful of Kudzu on her back. Content with her arms around him he feathered a light kiss on her forehead. "You are very welcome. And thank you for staying with me."

He politely refused the fruit. He was never one to eat much and breakfast had been more than enough for him. "There are a few places that I've been told of near here that you might enjoy."

His hand found her's again, lightly twining their fingers. One ebon wing moved to shade the baby a bit, offering soft feathers for inspection.

Once they returned to a path he was familiar with walking the rest of the way to the Hollow was easy enough. He knew a shorter route that was warmer than most this time of year.

Silent reflection was interupted by a lud whinny and a snort. "Hello Jyotsana." The tari whuffed and touched a velvet nose to his cheek before darting off for the main house. A few moments later there was a loud exclaimation followed by the sound of the front door opening and closing. "In coming."

"LONAN!"

From the house a patch of glinting silver troted down the steps and started jogging towards the two teens.

"To put it mildly I think. I'm likely to have been scented already. Don't fret though, she's just very protective." He went silent as Drac came up to meet them.

"Lonan. Shower. Now. I can still smell the blood on you. No, don't argue. Just go. Now."

The dark teen managed to look silghtly abashed but stood his ground. "Draconayzia, this is Elle and Kudzu. Elle, my guardian, Draconayzia."

The windchaser offered a small tilt of the head and a smile for Elle. But she dind't move from her spot. Finally Lonan sighed and shook his head. "Don't scare them too much." With that he headed towards the house.

She watched the teen's retreating back, tail flicking languidly behind her until he was inside and she could faintly hear running water with sharp ears.

"It's a pleasure to meet you too, Elle. I remember you staying the night once, but I wasn't about to intrude." A warm smile lit the woman's face, clasping both of the young woman's hands warmly. In the sun her skin glittered a bit, glitter revealed as minute scales on her hands when they touched her's.

Hearing the gurgle the woman's face practically lit up. "AH! And who is this precious one?" Grinning she leaned down, offering finger and tail tip for him to grasp. It had only been a year or so since Devi was so small. Much as she was thankful for the lack of teething hoof-marks she missed having her "Little Thunder" clutching her tail.

"Oh I know you weren't up to anything." Grinning she tapped the tip of her nose. "Just thought that having Lonan so relaxed was much more important than curiosity."

"Kudzu, eh? That's an interesting name, but a bright one." The grin that was on her face looked permanent. When he started on her tail tip she just chuckled.

"No worries. I'm used to having small things grab my tail and he's gentler than most. When Devi was small he used it as his personal camoflague. Shy as hades and left clutch marks in my tail that I swear still linger."

When told she could hold the baby she looked ready to flip. Literally. "Oh! Such a treat!" Careful hands plucked Kudzu from his sling, nestling him against the scaled woman with an over large fox tail. "You can hang on to that as long as you like sweetie. Tea? Sounds like a good idea. And I'll cut some pie. Without Devi around it's going to waste!" Grinning like aloon she opened the door and ushered the young woman in, headed to the kitchen with the babe still wrapped in her tail.

"Honestly, just kinda happened. I dreamed about Devi long before he came into my life. He was such a sweet baby! And he was very shy. He's more assured around those like him but he's still not one to barge in unless he's needed. Here's a picture of him." She pulled a frame from the sil by the sink and offered it to Elle. In it was the image of a small centaur, all whispy hair and long, wobbly legs. He was sitting in the middle of a paddock and staring cross-eyed at a butterfly on the end of his nose.

Another frame was produced, this one with the same small figure peeking out from under a silvery tail, undoubtedly Drac's. "He was such a cute baby. And quite the little ladies' man. Every female in HQ just had to bustle over to him and spoil him with attention. Once he got over himself anyway. And now he's bigger than I am!" The hearty chuckle was tinted with a bit of sadness. She'd loved having Devi small enough to coddle. But he's grown into a fine young centaur in her eyes. She was proud of him.

"I've picked up pets, companions along the way, but few to really be called family. Devmani is one. And so is Lonan."

Hearing his name Lonan walked into the kitchen, damp with a towel to his hair and familiar black pants in place. "I hope you've been speaking well of me."

Keen ears picked up little scuffling claws on the floor, coming in fast. "Polaris and Ciela in coming."

Drac moved to hold the baby a bit firmer in her arms and got out of the way just as two balls of fur came rocketing into the kitchen. Unaccustomed to tile they skidded and slammed into the cabinets.

"Serves you right, you both know better." The greyish cera glared at the woman and yaowed at the injustice of it all, opening his maw wide to proclaim it. He was treated to a tail tip flicked on the tip of his nose, shocking him into silence and back on his rump. "Hush. You'll be fed later. Ciela, keep your baby brother in line." The blue cera bopped the grey on the head and dragged him out by the scruff.

"Thank you, Lonan."

The teen was by now seated next to Elle at the table. "Welcome."