"So... that's it? We're done?" Alestra asked, wiping the remnants of oil off of her claws. "Just like that, we're done?"
"Yep!" Lilith excitedly exclaimed, proudly looking at the newly installed machinery on the structure that they call their clan. Where previously there only were balloons and propellers are now a bunch of sturdy looking thrusters. Lilith fiddles with the remote in her hand, pressing buttons, causing the thrusters to move and change directions. Satisfied, she nodded. "We'd just need to test it now, and inform Sparga that it's done!""How will we test it, though?" Alestra asked, bewildered. "We have no destination in mind... not to mention, we're standing. Right next to them. If we turn them on now, we'll be burnt into a crisp.
"Details, details," the nocturne waves her companion off, "we can figure out where to go when we know it works. Just give me a minute to test it, silly!"
Shaking her head, the wildclaw sighed. "I'll just go inform Sparga."
News of the newly installed thrusters quickly spread through the clan, dragons chattering away with one another excitedly. It's been coming for many years, but finally, finally the Purring Winds has installed a travelling system! Though the floating structure has been flying next to the Cloudsong for as long as it has been operational, many dragons expressed their desires of visiting different territories while still withtin the comfort of their own clan.
Now that the thrusters are here, they finally can. The newspaper, Windy Things loftily talks about all the capabilities, how the thrusters would be able to fly them all the way from the Southern Icefield to the Viridian Labyrinth, if so desired. All they needed to do now was decide on the first location the Purring Winds would travel to...
... Which was where the problem lay.
"Let us travel to the Sunbeam Ruins!" yelled Flavia. "I've always wanted to see the Beacon of the Radiant Eye! It sounds so romantic..."
"I would much prefer the Starfall Isles," Arlena interjected, "my library could use an expansion."
"It would be a strategic advantage to go to the Scarred Wasteland," grunted Torn.
"Forget it, Torn! Those savages are not worth our time!" Bellowed Vega. "Now, the Sea of a Thousand Currents, on the other hand..."
"It would be interesting to see the Tangled Wood again," cackled Melinoe, "See how much my siblings have changed... or stayed the same."
"We are destined for the Pillar of the World," muttered Kaia, not even looking up from the ashes she used for her soothsaying.It seemed everyone had their own opinion of what territory waas best to vist first. With a clan as large as the Purring Winds this was, of course, to be expected, but it did cause quite the headache for its leader. Sparga tried to listen to her people, she really did, but when they were being like this...
"Enough, enough, everyone!" She shouted, her commanding voice leaving no room for argument. The cats laying on and around her meowed in annoyance as she moved to stand up on her hind legs, towering over all. "I propose we have a vote." She spoke, voice softer, but no less authoritarian. She turned herself to a Fae scribbling away on a notepad not too far from her. "PoisonBerry," she said, making the fae look up, "I need you to publish something for me by tomorrow. Can you do that?"
"Of course!" PoisonBerry chirped, her expresion unchanging, but her fins perking up in excitement. "What can I do for you, Sparga?"Sparga looked out over the crowd of dragons. "Everyone," she called loudly, making each and every one of the dragons focus on her, "by tonight, I want everyone- yes, everyone- to write down what area in Sornieth they'd like to visit best, and deliver that message to me. I will then count the votes, and whichever region has the most votes, is the one we visit."
Muttering broke out in the crowd again, and Sparga narrowed her eyes.
"And what if some of us don't agree with that?" shouted Dinn, obviously being contrary just for the fun of it. "What then, mother?"Sparga sighed. "This is the most fair way to decide where to go." The muttering grew louder again, and irritated, Sparga snapped. "We could also just stay right where we are! Would you all prefer that, perhaps?"
Loud noises of protest errupted from the crowd.
"Then I suggest you all do as I say." She huffed, but regained her commanding composure. "I will give you time to decide on your vote until midnight, but any votes cast after that will be disregarded. The outcome will be in tomorrow's Windy Things. Is that clear?"
The crowd yelled their affirmation, and satisfied, Sparga lowered herself again on all fours.
"Go on then, you're all dismissed. I thank you all for coming. Please go about your day as you like, and don't forget to vote!"
The next day, as the newspaper spread around the clan, excited dragons flew all about, taalking to one another about the outcome. It was an unexpected choice, but an interesting one nonetheless.
The region they were going to visit was Dragonhome. Home of the Earthshaker. It had been a close call, as reported by PoisonBerry, the Viridian Labyrinth also having been a popular choice, but Dragonhome won out by a small margin.
In the control room, Lilith was cackling in delight as she adjusted the coordinates, flying from here to there, pushing buttons and turning gears.
The clan's patriarch overlooked it all with a confused expression, unsure what Lilith was doing, but interested nonetheless.
"When will you be done, Lilith?" he asked, tilting his head in question as the nocturne flitted about."Oh, not too long from now." She said jovially, briefly glancing at Zyrephon, before going back to her work.
"Okay, but how long is not too long from now?" Zyrephon asked once more. "I'd like to inform my mate about when we're leaving, so I'd appreciate it if- gyack!"
Zyrephon's lecture was cut off with a startled shout as the entire structure jerked. A booming sound was heard, and then-
Lilith grinned at the shocked mirror, and proudly stated; "My dear patriarch, we're officially on our way to Dragonhome."
