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The day was nearly gone, and Kass was worn out from having to break up not one or two, but three squabbles amongst some of the clan members. Two of them started by the grandson of the missing clan leader, Alaric, of all Dustlings! Neither Barras nor Darin had been around - as Caiden's true sons, it was their job to police his clan - so it had fallen upon Kass, as one of the more mature, even tempered males in the household to smooth things out. The day had seemed so quiet at the start, too, and Kass thought he would finally relax... But now the sun was setting, and it found Kass flying over the lake, trying to clear his frazzled brain of all the day's happenings.

If I had wanted to deal with the problems of a clan, I would have struck out long ago and found females to follow me, the blackish-gray and white male thought sullenly. But he had never wanted to lead a clan at all; he'd been happy with the quiet life under Caiden's reign, and wasn't at all interested in the affections of dozens of females. He'd rather have just one girl, if he were ever to have any. Dozens of mates and followers led to nothing but stress and trouble, if what he'd seen in the past months were any evidence.

Try not to think about it, he told himself, closing his eyes for a moment and diving down several yards through the air, letting the wind flowing through his feathers and wings take his problems with it. He leveled off after a few moments, opening his eyes to see that he had flown almost clear across the lake, out of clan territory. And yet, he thought he saw something colorful that he thought to be a Dustling near the shore, but couldn't quite tell from this high up. Hrmm... Could be one of ours, though at that distance away from Caiden's territory, it probably isn't... I should check and make sure. The sun will be setting in another hour or so, and Katie and Krissie will do their head count not long after...

Decision made, Kass started his descent towards the Dustling, downy wings spread out to keep his fall slow. He wouldn't want to startle the poor thing with a sudden landing.

As Kass came closer to the ground, he got confirmation that the creature he'd spotted was a Dustling, a lovely pink female, but not one of his fellow clan members. In fact, he didn't think that he had ever met her before, though that didn't phase him greatly. He was always seeing new faces in the clan, and he often ventured into the town with his human or some of the females as an escort. He never considered turning away once he'd had these things confirmed. First, she had looked up and noticed him, and turning away then would have been rude. Secondly, he desperately needed a break from those he considered his "family."

He landed just a few feet away from the female, tucking his wings against his sides. He smiled as she greeted him, the expression weary but genuine, and almost instantly sensed from her bright voice and the exuberant air about her that she was young, probably just reaching adulthood. He bows his head to her slightly, and in a polite, friendly voice, he says, "Hello, miss. I'm Kass, and I'm sorry if I disturbed you," he raises his head to grin at her a little more broadly, "Though, not all that sorry to be meeting someone new. Now, who do I have the pleasure of making acquaintances with, if it is alright to ask?"

Kass looked at her curiously, wondering how she might not have gotten any of his fellow clan members straying near her home, but it wasn't that peculiar. The Dustlings of the clan tended not to roam too far out of their territory - the house of their humans', the great field and their side of the lake, and some of the forest to the north. Even now, with so much discourse and confusion in their group, most stayed close to home. Besides, some new mother Dustlings seemed to like keeping their young to themselves until they grew up.

Kass nodded slightly to her, still smiling at her as he speaks again, "Well, I'm glad to hear that I'm not bothering you. I come from the clan on the other side of the lake, and some of the females grow quite irate when you bother them while they're relaxing." He chuckles softly and offers a slight shrug. "You seem nice though, and fairly social for one who doesn't receive much company."

Kass remained quiet as Lilavati spoke, interested in learning more of the new Dustling. He arched an eyebrow in curiosity when she brought up her mother's search for sand, wondering how Lila didn't know about how Dustlings reproduced. I suppose her mother hasn't discussed such things with her... I'll leave that to her, unless Lila asks.

Instead, he nods slightly, before he answered her first question. "In a way, they are my family... A clan is normally a large, close group of Dustlings, usually led by an elder, influential male... Sometimes there are female leaders, but ours' is... Was... led by a male named Caiden, and we are quite a large band, so the eldest of our females, Vellir, and Caiden's children helped him rule... I have been amongst the clan since I was dustpile, and Vellir raised me with her own young."

He smiles softly at the thought of his own adopted mother. It saddened him, to see her so lost and alone without her beloved Caiden, and he felt that that upstart Laurent was taking advantage of her loneliness. Sighing, he spoke again in a quiet, less cheerful tone, "I know about having to hold down the fort, though. Our leader has been absent for some time, and things are... Strained... Without him. Vellir and Caiden's children need all the help that they can get in keeping things together, and I try my best to help."

No need to depress the girl or bore her with your problems, man... She's never even met you before, and you've nearly told her your life story. Be more upbeat! he thought to himself as he flashed Lila a smile again, tilting his head to the side. "But that is not a problem of your's, Miss Lila, and I should not have put my troubles at your paws. Tell me, what do you like to occupy your hours with? The quiet of this place must drive you towards some activity to entertain yourself with."

Kass felt himself relax as they went onto the different subject, and nodded slightly to some of the things she said. He smiled at the mention of one of her human's other other Dustlings, assuming from the words she used and her tone of voice, that this Senka was fairly eccentric. Eccentric Dusts... Now there's something I'm familiar with, he thought with a silent chuckle.

"Mmm... I go into the town sometimes, with the humans who live in our house or some of the girls in our clan to keep them company... It's certainly always interesting. Though, I wouldn't say things were that dull at home, either." He laughs aloud this time, a deep, warm chuckle as he shifts himself some to become more comfortable. "There is some excellent fishing in the lake from what I hear, though I don't do much of it myself. I like to swim, though, and flying is the most exhilarating experience.

"Though..." He continued, a playful tone entering his voice, "For one with wings, I have the worst sense of direction in the air. I got lost in the desert for a few hours on my first flight." The winged Dustling smirks slightly at the memory. I'm not as bad as then, buuuut... I could definitely be better.

Kass chuckled softly and nodded to her first statements, and felt a slight flush beneath his dark feather-fur at her question. He ruffled his wings thoughtfully before he answered her, "I certainly wouldn't trade my wings for a better sense of direction. I've always enjoyed flying... And, ah, no, that isn't how I ended up here."

The winged Dustling tilted his head to the side, letting out a small sigh before continuing, "Today has been a very long day, and I flying helps me clear my head..." He flashes her a small grin and shrugs, his dark eyes full of mirth. "I needed a break. It was just happy circumstance that I spotted you."

((At long last, I FINALLY POST!))

"I think I understand," the black and white Dustling says, a soft smile on his beak. "Wanting to get away from where we are, if only for a little while. You to get some more excitement, and I... Well, I could do with a little more peace."

He chuckles softly, shaking his head as he slowly settles down, resting his head on his forepaws, wings shifting as they nestle in against his body. He peers to Lilavati, his head tilting slightly to the side. "If you ever have another case of the doldrums, feel free to come around to our side of the lake. A few hours amongst my household, and you won't have a problem finding drama or entertainment."