Day 105
103
New Dragon
Uh-huh.
The first day was coming to a close, and though exhaustion clung to them like a starving leech, they had managed to make it through without a hitch.
But it was too early to let their guard down, much less celebrate. They were coming upon Veritas' old cave now - while the rest of them took a small stop, the Spirals rounded the area, and had just returned to report to Spindle.
"Looks quiet," Emil said noncommittally.
"However, looks can be deceiving," Jemire added, and before Emil could blurt out an irritated reply his expression foretold, he continued: "My friends have detected some movement within the cave."
Well, their luck had to give out eventually. "Alright. I'll take it from here," Spindle said, getting to her feet.
"Let me come with. If it's dangerous, I'll be able to come and get the others quicker than anybody else," Emil offered.
"And take this." Jemire gestured to Spindle, and a few tiny fireflies drifted close to her. "I shall be on guard over here."
With a nod of agreement from Spindle, she and Emil departed for the mouth of the cave, several hundred feet away from the rest. Nothing stirred in the depths as they carefully approached, and Spindle switched to her heat-sensor vision.
Something lit up inside; small, moving about from one corner of the cave to another as though in a frenzy. But as they closed the distance further, she recognised the shape of the long, fan-like wings and thin body. It was a dragon - a Fae, nonetheless. Spotting nothing else inside or in the vicinity, she stepped forward with more courage now, and soon enough heard an alarmed gasp.
"Who goes there!" demanded a voice, and a dark shape darted out from the cave.
The Fae was young, though older than Viola or Rowan - somewhere on the border between a hatchling and an adult dragon. They clung to something in their arms that glinted in the reflective, icy light, and wide green eyes swept over her and Emil.
Spindle thought she saw a flash of relief on their features, but they were quick to continue their questioning. "Who are you? I'm warning you, stay away--!" They pointed the object in their hands at her and Emil, and it was some kind of a bright yellow gem. However, they withdrew it just as quickly, as though suddenly changing their mind about exposing their seemingly precious item.
"Calm down," Spindle called out levelly. "We are looking for a place to spend the night. This cave used to belong to our friend--"
The Fae interrupted her. "Well it doesn't! I-I found it, nice and empty and uh, well, empty!" They decided to once again point the gem at them. "I-I'm warning you, stay away or--!" And then they fumbled, and lost grip of it, and also fell into the snow in their attempt to catch it. "Ugh..."
Spindle and Emil glanced at each other. "Look... We're not looking to hurt you, or take your cave. All we want to do is sleep here for one night, and then we'll be off."
"No, you're after my merchandise, I just know it!"
Emil tilted his head. "Merchandise?"
"Oh, crumbs," the Fae sighed, digging themselves out of the snow and flying into the air again. "You-- You're just--" And then they paused as their eyes drifted behind them and widened. "There's
more of you?"
Spindle looked over her shoulder. The rest of the troupe was approaching now, probably having been informed of the false alarm by Jemire. She looked back at the Fae and hardened her gaze. "That's right. I suggest you comply." Intimidation was not her preferred tactic, but she could tell the Fae was stubborn, and they needed this rest, badly.
"Oh... Oh, crumbs..." They gulped, looking back at the cave anxiously. "I... Well, alright... Just don't steal anything," they demanded, as though they still had the upper hand in this situation.
"Of course," Spindle agreed, having no desire to prove to them otherwise. "Same goes to you." She gave the rest of the group a nod of affirmation, and then offered the Fae a small smile. "I'm Spindle, by the way."
They assessed her for a moment, but finally gave in, still clutching to their gem. "I'm called Nifty," they shared, watching as everyone started settling around the cave in casual conversation. The convivial atmosphere seemed to relax them a little, tense body unwinding the slightest bit. "I've... never seen so many dragons out like this," they admitted uncertainly.
Happy that they were engaging with her, Spindle passed her luggage over to Harper to carry into the cave and turned to Nifty. "We are a Clan, and I'm the leader. You mentioned something about merchandise - are you a trader, then?"
"Well," Nifty watched carefully as Harper and the others entered the cave. "Yes, I guess... I'm more of a collector. I go out here and I pick things up and carry them back to--" they cut themselves off suddenly, throwing her a mistrusting look. "Nevermind."
Spindle narrowed her eyes. "The Alliance?"
"Oh, so you know," they murmured, and then nodded. "It's the only way I know how to get by. They can pay hefty sums for some of that stuff."
Just as Spindle was about to ask what this 'stuff' was exactly, she heard a mix of excited and disturbed exclamations from those in the cave. Soon enough, Harper was popping out with a shocked grin.
"Is all that stuff in there yours?" he asked the nervous Nifty. "This is, like,
insane. How did you manage to get that at all?"
"Get what?" Spindle asked impatiently.
"This is something you've gotta see for yourself, Spindle!" Harper told her, dashing back into the cave.
Nifty quickly followed him in, and with one last look around the area, Spindle made her way inside the cave after them.
