Kisses

A few days later, you find that a letter has arrived at your doorstep, sealed in wax and addressed in neat writing to "Kisses the Bogsneak."

To the notorious bogsneak hatchling, "Kisses," long may his reign of terror last:

Clan Lodestar wishes to thank you for the gifts you left us four sunrises ago. Muse, the leader of the Lodestars, dictated this letter; Mauve, son of Muse, was the scribe.

It is not often that our humble Clan receives visitors, and much less often do we receive visitors like you. You must be very clever, to sneak past all our sentries and guards, and find us where we have hidden ourselves away in the Starwood! But you must be very kind as well. I have sent my most adventurous dragons to the ends of the Starfall Isles to speak with dragons of other clans, and they informed me that you are not unknown to them; you have a hobby, it seems, of gifting other clans with your presence. How generous! Were you in my clan, I would give you a place of honor among my most trusted advisors, for I believe charity and kindness to be more valuable than cunning, or the art of war. But I am sure a dragon such as yourself as a clan who appreciates you very much, a place that you can cheerfully call home. I am not often moved to envy, but I do envy the dragons with whom you make your lair, for I am sure their lives are made brighter by your presence.

Again, Clan Lodestar offers its thanks, and you will always be welcomed in our lair should you need a place to rest while on your daring exploits. May the Arcanist lay his blessing upon you.

-Muse, Clan Lodestar

P.S. My daughter, Lyssa, has already claimed that spectacular set of Fin Jewels for herself, and is showing them off to every dragon she can find.

It appeared out of nowhere, much to my surprise. Before I could realize who - or what - had "attacked" me, he was gone. The color pink is burned into my eyes as I look around at the glorious glittering gifts scattered before me.

After examining them in a most cautious manner, I scoop the trinkets up and shove them into my backpack. "How bizarre," I mutter to myself with a wide smile.

As I am about to leave, a thought comes to my mind and I pause, reaching once more for my backpack. I am digging through it, pulling out all sorts of odds and ends, before finally whipping out a single, foil-wrapped chocolate kiss.

Tenderly, I place it on the ground and glance around. I say an awkward "thank you" loud enough for anything or anyone within earshot and begin to leave.

I certainly hope to see that pink dragon at least once more, I think to myself, I would really like to thank him.

Engulfed by confusion, Dark Matriarch Noraida of the Togekill Lair blinks slowly. Looking around, she asks herself what has just happened. But the Bogsneak Babbit is no longer in sight, and all Noraida can perceive is a mist haze of pink around her.

Behind Noraida, her Tundra partner Caleus and their two offspring try to choke their laughter. It is not every day they see the head of their clan ambushed by a cute pink Babbit and driven to confusion. Despite her attempts to turn their lair into a school and trying to become the most motherly teacher in Starfall Isles, she has a long way to go before being ready to handle young ones. In a situation like this, Noraida would usually scream, and roar, and probably shoot an unnecessary Mana Bolt as well - but seeing her sitting on the ground, completely helpless? That is a very good cause to laugh at her expense.

"I see this random Bogsneak is simply a generous hyperactive child", Caleus appears by her side, chuckling. "Quite the odd way to shower strangers with gifts, but any act of this kind is, well, kind". With this horrible word play, his chuckling intensifies, but the Matriarch cannot join him in laughter. Her back still hurts from being tackled to the ground.

Behind the two, their eldest sons are already rolling on the ground, laughing hysterically. This is when Noraida notices them, and turns around to scold them for their audacity. Very loudly.

Meanwhile, Caleus observes the gifts with great interest. "I see the use we can make of those", he mutters to himself while carefully collecting the precious loot and putting it away in his satchel. "Once we get back home, I'll make sure to send a thank you letter to wherever this Babbit has come from."