Cuppa

You found them while scouting the edges of your clan’s territory. There below you, along the road, a lone wagon. It wasn’t that wagons were that uncommon, but this one sat askew, its wheels across the road and no beasts in the harness to pull. Some unidentifiable objects lying in the road. Large ones. Something was definitely amiss.

When you circled lower everything came into focus: definitely evidence of struggle: a split wagon wheel, barrels & boxes broken on the ground, bodies of a few wild animals lay dead before the wagon - probably an attack on the travelers by a beastclan looking for an easy meal. Upon landing, you notice voices coming from within the covered wagon.

“Presser, let me look at that. You’re hurt!”
"I'll survive. Cuppa, leave off, it's just the wingtip."
"Do you think the beasts will come back?"
"Based upon the state of the unlucky fellow beneath the cart, I think they got their meal."

Sure enough,when you checked low under the axle of the wagon the fallen Snapper dragon confirmed their story; there wasn't much left for a burial. Perceiving little threat you decided it was time to make your presence known.

You hailed the voices in the wagon and two young dragons emerged, a Ridgeback and a Nocturne with one wing hanging limp (definitedy more than a wingtip wound), both a bit battered but obviously strong and ready for a fight. As introductions circulated, you learned that they were on break from battle school (it's a little unclear whether or not one of them was actually expelled), when they came upon a hoard of varied beastclans pillaging the wagon and feasting on the carcass of the unfortunate dragon. They bravely, if somewhat rashly, managed to chase the beasts away, resulting in the damage to Presser's wing.

You all decided that the remains should be buried in case the beastclan returned, and with three dragons you made quick work of it. Beneath the body you found a perfectly serviceable wagon wheel, so it appeared the Snapper merchant was ambushed while they repaired a broken wheel. The majority of the merchant's goods appeared to be untouched in the back of the wagon, and the unspoken rules of the road allowed you to take possession of the total; both youngsters quickly declined any share of the goods. With the new wheel in place, the wagon proved fairly easy to pull, so after reloading whatever could be salvaged, you and Cuppa took turns pulling (she insisted that Presser ride and he was grudgingly willing to acquiesce). It was pretty slow going, but that left time for more conversation.

Cuppa finally confided"I think Presser's wing is worse than he's letting on." When you agreed, she felt encouraged to continue, "Thing is, his clan isn't expecting him back so soon...not until the end of term." It all came out then, how he was expelled for repeatedly missing curfew (Cuppa implied that a girlfriend might have been involved) and since Cuppa chose to accompany him ("to make sure he didn't do anything rash"), she would likely be at least suspended if not expelled herself. You suspected she was right.

"So...do you think it might be possible that we could stay with you? I mean, just until Presser's wing is healed? We were planning to travel anyway, but he can't fly like this...?"

With the windfall of goods in the wagon and Cuppa's amiable candor, you found yourself surprisingly open to the idea...