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Like almost every day, Iachixth and Natai traveled. In the mornings they started a fire, Natai took a few moments to herself, and they wandered off for a few candlemarks with a lunch bag packed. S'dekai and Pioth presumably stayed behind; both pairs woke early but she left him at camp. If he wandered himself during those candlemarks, she had not a clue, and Natai didn't try to worry about it.

That day they strayed to the edge of the jungle quite a distance from her little camp, far enough they had to between in order to get there. They found it the first time by flying about for several days, Natai marking at her maps when they were on foot and trekking. She had her map now, her side bag swinging as the two of them walked. Iachixth kept a bit away, frolicking as she was wont to do, exploring, but they didn't venture into the actual jungle itself. Too dangerous and Natai unarmed, Iachixth unable to squeeze in meant she didn't dare. She did dare to walk with the little notebook of edible plants open in her hand, charcoal in the other to try and find the proper ones. She would pick them when she found them... as long as she stayed on her chosen path not in the jungle. Despite her red shirt and dark orange skirt, Natai did not relish of being eaten by wolves - or rather, felines. Wild whers. Anything.

"Are you having fun, darling?"

Always~ chirped Iachixth. One day we will bring Pioth and S'dekai and we will have a picnic.

"Our life is a picnic, Iachixth."

A picnic of adventure.

Iachixth craned her head up at the intense rustles of some trees. She thought not much of it; wherries maybe. The other beasts she knew of were much too large to be in trees, those silly things, and despite her curiosity to know all the things, she knew not to test Natai by squishing into jungles much too small for her. Though slim for a gold, she still reached the average length and happened to be a gold, the color to dwarf all other colors.

I think we are being watched by some animals, Natai! Iachixth sounded utterly delighted, though she didn't stop her constant movement, peering to the side, the sky, the jungle. I hear rustles and quiet.

"It can't be both," Natai murmured, stooping to a crouch to peer at some awkward looking plant with red flowers and small blue thorns the length of her pinkie nail. "Are you playing a game again?"

No, no, there's - there's rustle rustle rustle but there's no animals making noise so maybe I will get a wher dinner. I am hungry. Iachixth considered that for a moment, licking her muzzle. I am still the best bug.

Are those good flowers? Iachixth slunk closer and bowed her head to peer over Natai's shoulder with one large eye. It's pretty.

"It is pretty," Natai agreed. She thumbed at her book and pointed. "See? It's right here. The stems and petals are edible and the thorns can be made into tea but it can sometimes cause severe allergic reactions. I've seen Manaan handle them before, I knew they were familiar. I'm not allergic to them but I think Nana was. Best not to risk S'dekai." She stood and stretched out slowly, muffling a small yawn with her hand. One slim hand patted at Iachixth's hide, the goldrider smiling up at her. "Scoot down for me, Iachixth. We should head home. Let's call it an early day."

Okay! Iachixth flopped onto the ground and Natai climbed up on her harness, swinging her legs into place. She preferred skirts, always did but some, like this one, worked best when she clipped them into pants. It made flying easier. I like Pioth.

"I like Pioth too. He's very nice," Natai rubbed at her eyes. "Come on, love. Let's go home."

It had been an effort, much more than he had expected. Having set out however he wasn't going back to Trine without seeing her, it had been far too long. Luckily this was one of the (many thank you so much!) times that being the 'crazy flitt man' paid off. His firelizards knew wild faires all around Natai's home camp now and some of her favourite haunts too. They ingratiated themselves where needed with gifts of food and got information in return. Today they were asking 'have you seen the big gold?'

A small faire of seven that looked up to a green mother and her two blue mates had indeed, and they were happy to share this with friendly but unthreatening green Vena. The clever little flitt made the final jump, spotted Natai, and passed the image back to Berath at the base camp. The fact that in a few moments the gold and her rider would be back there was not known to the firelizard and thus was not passed on, and thus again a moment later the huge block of green muscle and scars appeared in the sky above Iachixth and Natai.

Berath exclaimed with a bugle, her voice broadcasting on general dragon channels; she didn't expect anyone else to be around. she added as an afterthought.

Bereck grimaced slightly as the cold of between vanished; it was worse than before the fiasco at Natai's hold but not as bad as when he had first been flying again after the revolution. The aches would improve once he was fitter again; it was frustrating for now but he would survive.

((bump))