A soft wind whistles through the cave, causing a seemingly all black Wildclaw to tense behind her cloth. Turning to a bright red beacon next to her, her familiar, a Cardinal Hippogriff, her tail swept out to nudge his clawed foot. “Did you hear that?” her voice was soft but in no way timid, coming out in a small hiss reverberating from the back of her throat. The familiar in question merely raised his head with little concern, piercing her with a look, then going to rest his head once more. “I’m not overreacting, you’re underreacting,” she spat, snapping her head back and forth in an attempt to find where exactly the sound was coming from. “Could be danger for all you know, stupid bird.”

The “stupid bird” brought himself to his clawed feet, stretching forwards then back at his own leisure, before padding to the opening of the crevice they currently took shelter in. Not many others in the clan knew about it, only Alaia, but she wouldn’t bother her on a mutual agreement of sorts. Her Hippogriff pulls himself between the opening, propping himself up then settling down like a sentry. Leia snorted and tried to make herself smaller, “Thanks. Could’a done it sooner, could’a been dead by now.” But she was grateful. Her heart jack rabbited in her chest, pounding to escape, because now her Hippogriff was not by her side but instead by the opening where he could be snatched easily.

Her short breathing soon filled the small nook of a cavern, not even her specified placement within the clan. She liked being somewhere no one else knew of, it was unexpected, They’d go to her room looking for her, maybe looking to slit her throat whilst she rested, but not find her. Then Their plans would be dashed, knowing that she was smarter than Them. She couldn’t allow Them to get at her, never, she was smarter than that, saw that the other clan members just wanted her out. That’s when They’d strike, when she was unaware and trusting, so she couldn’t be.

After a period of time that seemed like the rebirth of the Gods to her, her Hippogriff meandered back to her side, tugging some pieces of string out from her pack. Always be prepared. She hid her white belly for that reason, white stands out, especially on black, she had to keep it hidden lest someone notice her when she didn’t want to be noticed. The cloaks helped, her familiar also distracted attention, being so wonderfully red. He curled up against her side, huffing his little chest as Leia encircled her tail around him. She needed him to protect her from Them. He cared about her and she cared about him. She’d rather eviscerate than let any dragon with harmful intentions near her precious Hippogriff.

Her claws expertly weaved the pieces of yarn, a soft rumble entering her chest. This was nice, just her and her Hippogriff. Nothing could get to her, not anymore, not with him here. After a good braid was started, she glanced down at her Hippogriff and sighed, “Lets head back to our room. It may be easier for Them to find us but it’s softer.” The red creatures let out a hard puff through his nose and climbed onto her back, sitting and clutching onto her already tattered cloaks. With him secured, she slipped out of the crevice and began, very slowly, wandering away from the cranny. A tenseness overtook her body as her eyes dashed left and right for any shadows reaching out for her. Finding none, she crept forward against the cave wall, making sure the white of her belly was completely covered.

But they had to cross through a more populated hallway before making it to her room. It didn’t matter if it was just one dragon or if it were five, all of Them were trying to hurt her, they intended her pain. Maybe except Alaia, but that’s the extent of her respect for the supposed leader of the clan. It never works out. Either They’ll tear each other apart or another clan will do it for Them. Always happened, always will happen. They were all too stupid to see it. A shiny gold one shied away from her, seeming to not want to get too close, she couldn’t bother to learn all of Their names, it didn’t matter in the end. She snarled at the golden orange one for good measure and both scampered opposite directions of each other. Her Hippogriff merely glanced at the dragon with little more than disinterest. If he saw no danger, then she saw little reason to attack too viciously. Of course her beloved familiar could never be wrong, he would never lead her astray.

She’d lay down to die if he did.

Back at their room, she pushed herself into the corner, facing the opening at all times. Here, all of her junk, hand-crafted, borrowed, stolen, bought, was strewn about. In the corner she was seated in, there was soft fabric to simulate a bed, though a bed was much too hard to get out of quickly. A bed was most definitely off the list. Her Hippogriff sighed and picked up the braid with his beak, placing it back into her claws. She hadn’t realized he’d dropped it. Scratching his head, she sighed. “What would I do without you?” Her voice stayed uncharacteristically soft, hoarse from the screaming she usually does. Her Hippogriff butts his head into her side and curls up beside her. Together and together alone they’d make it, just like they always have, just like they always will. She didn’t need anyone, anything else. For once, she was content.