Phendra

"I am the clan expert in rescue and tracking. I am happy to help whoever I can, whenever I can."

---

Phendra pressed his nose into the snow again, sniffing the tracks he was following. The blizzard had sprung up out of nowhere, and weather occasionally did, no thanks to the random shiftings of magic caused by some random ritual or some haywire experiment. Lightning creased this storm, a testament to it's less than natural origin. Fortunately, most of the dragons in the area had managed to either return to their home, or at least another lair for the duration of the storm.

Most dragons.

That was why he was searching, and why Genevieve wasn't far behind, waiting with supplies for the lost dragon, securing the route home while she waited.

He'd always had an almost preternatural ability to track other dragons down, finding them no matter where they hid, or how far they'd wandered. The other hatchlings had tired of Hide and Seek, at least when he was seeking.

But now? That talent was set to more important work.

So Phendra sniffed, and checked, and double checked the snow, finding tracks that others would miss. Overlapping tracks that had crossed themselves repeatedly, the faint remaining scent of the dragon he was searching for, newer and closer this time, and a second scent on the wind that was familiar, but disconcerting.

Pressing on, Phendra saw that the scents were going stronger, through both nostril and magic, and that he'd find his lost quarry soon.

That was when he heard the voice on the wind, carrying over the wind's howling. It was a weary voice, both tired and full of regrets, but also insistent, and somehow... hopeful.

"Yes, yes. There's help nearby. It's not far. He'll be here soon." The voice said, though no reply could be heard, the voice continued. "Oh, you're cold? Pay it no mind, you'll be warm soon. There's worse thing than a little chill."

Phendra kept his steady progress, listening to the one sided conversation, and soon he was rewarded with a slight calming of the blizzard in front of him, and a familiar form he'd only heard of recently, from the Clan's warriors.

It was a Tengu Caller.

Phendra stopped in his tracks, silent, staring back at the Tengu while it stared at him. The Callers had only been heard of in a "small" area of ruins, and most were hostile. Seeing one out here was unexpected to say the least.

Neither of them broke the silence at first, until the Caller looked back over his shoulder, and said: "Yes, yes. He's here. It's not far, just a few more steps." Phendra narrowed his eyes, sniffing the wind, smelling and a moment later seeing the ice covered form of the lost Coatl slowly trudging up behind the Caller.

"Yes, he's here. I found him for you." Said the Caller.

Phendra was already approaching the Coatl, pulling a pair of vials out, removing the stoppers only when he was next to the Coatl, holding them up to the larger dragon's mostly ice covered muzzle. "Eat these, now. They'll help." He said, waiting.

The Coatl crunched the vials, coughing through his nostrils at the flavor. Soon after, the draught began to take effect. The warming effects of Rakia's healing draught combined with Genevieve's ice and healing magic, and were bolstered by Maxima's choice of ingredients, and caused the ice that had layered itself upon him to split near the joints, but to also only thin on the flanks and wings, providing armor against the cold while also freeing the Coatl to move more easily.

Phendra stood by the Coatl's head, reorienting his senses to find his way back to Genevieve. As he did so, the Caller's focus was aimed in the same direction, and the three of them started the trek back to safety.

---

Hours had passed, and the trek home had passed without incident. The Coatl had been returned to his clan, chilled thoroughly, and a little wizened by the humbling nature of the storm. The unfortunate male was now resting in a previously unoccupied personal lair, and was recovering well already under Genevieve's care. Although the draughts he'd been given seemed to also be bringing out some odd patterns of coloration, he was recovering well under Genevieve's care.

The arrival at the lair, though, had not been without note, and Phendra had been called to Nevix' lair, to explain the rescue, how it had happened, including the unexpected help. The Caller, in the meantime, had accompanied Phendra since the moment they met in the storm, and was currently sitting against the wall next to the entrance, resting his head on his knees, looking physically tired, and mentally exhausted.

Pearly and Lord Nosh were also nearby, as they'd been talking over recent hunts with Nevix when Phendra had returned. They'd either sat or lain down near the Caller, and had tried to speak to it, though it hadn't responded, beyond shifting a little, or twitching if they got too close., or spoke too loud.

Once Phendra finished that report, Nevix looked at him, examining his face, and also looked at the Caller. Consternation wasn't written on his face, though those that knew him well could see it in his body language.

Nevix approached the Caller, mindful of the recent hunts and the usual hostility of the Tengu, and spoke, his voice clear and full of authority. "Why are you here? Why aren't you searching in the Ghostlight Ruins like the rest of the Caller's I've seen?"

The Caller twitched at the question, before relaxing a little, and lifting it's head to answer: "I tried. I searched. I called to the lost, the confused, and tried to bring them back. I tried to make my voice heard among the spectres and shades and revenants. I could always find them. I would always find them I tried to speak be clarity, to be a guide, to help them return."

"I failed."

"The spirits? They're happy there. They can't remember home. The spectres? They listen to each other, and whisper madness in your ears as you yell sanity into theirs. The beasts revel in having one foot in the grave, and most are already lost beyond recovery."

The Caller lifted a hand, scrubbing at his face, eyes shut and radiating anguish as he continued. "Worst of all, I could feel myself slipping away. The more I set my voice to bring back the flocks lost in the ruins, the more it got lost in silence and whispers of madness."

"So I left." The Caller said, the pain in his voice lessening for the first time in the one sided conversation.

"I left, searching for someone to help. Someone who would listen. Someone lost, who actually wanted to be rescued. I didn't know what I'd find, or who. I didn't care, so long as I could help." The Caller paused, looking at Phendra, thoughtfully. "Most of all, I didn't expect to find someone with the same ability to find someone that I have, and the same want, and need, to help."

"I just want to help." Said the Caller, quietly, turning back to Nevix.

Nevix looked back at the Caller for a long moment, then gave the Caller a smalll smile, saying. "Very well. You can live here, with us, and work with Phendra as a search and rescue team. We'll get you some quarters, a bed, and some food to start. Once you're rested, we can get you situated in the Clan, and such."

The Caller looked relieved, and smiled as well as he could with his beak. "Thank you, Sir." Before slowly pushing himself to his feet. "Just show me the way, and I'll get to resting."

Nevix raised an eyebrow at Pearly, asking a silent question, and Pearly nodded, picking up the conversation and the guiding duties, for the moment. "This way, I'll introduce you to our police dragon, and she'll get you situated." She said, as she lead the weary familiar out through the door.

Lord Nosh followed, nodding to Nevix, as the hour was late, and their conversation could be picked up another day.

Nevix, in the meantime, nodded back, and turned to Phendra, who spoke before Nevix could comment. "No, I didn't expect to find another tracker like that either."

Nevix chuckled, and nodded, offering Phendra a hot drink. "You look like you could use a rest too."

Phendra stretched, shook out his mane, and bobbed his head, accepting the drink and replying. "Yeah, I do. I've just got to check on Genevieve and the new arrival."

Nevix responded. "Good. I'll check with Genevieve for any further reports."

Phendra smiled, and nodded again, tiredly, as he headed out the door. Sometimes, rescue work was exhausting, but he wouldn't trade it for anything.

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