Just Another Day

"How did it go?" Nari asked as she worked on some of her crocheting.

"He will see what he can do," Zanzen said. "Until they've met, we should prepare a kit for the cubs should they have to leave immediately for Imperial lands."

"I'm ready to go," Shanku shrugged. "I've been living out of my pack for months. So long as I've got it, I'm good."

"Then you can help me prepare Hilael," Nari nodded and gestured for Shanku to join her.

"That tickles!" Muso laughed as Innugati slithered up his arm and neck to rest on his head.

"And we should keep that thing a secret as well," Zanzen shuddered. Innugati flicked her tongue at him.

"Don't you like her? She's pretty!" Banhi said and stroked Innugati's green scales.

"She's fae," Zanzen shook his head. "What is wrong with my family?"

"Absolutely nothing," Banhi said sweetly and kissed her father on his arm, which was about as high as she could reach. "Let's go, I want to go outside and play! Devi and Valli and I were going to play with our dolls by the berry bushes just outside the den today."

"And we can't miss that," Zanzen chuckled and lead his daughter outside.

Shanku helped Nari pick out various supplies that would be good for Hilael to carry, with a little input from Hilael himself. They decided on at least a spare change of clothes, a comb, a cloak, a wooden cup, a spare needle and thread should he need to perform minor repairs, a cloth to keep his teeth wiped down, and a few thick pieces of wood for him and Shanku to chew on to help keep their teeth clean. One thing Hilael insisted upon was several strips of cloth and a stone rock and bowl he liked to keep.

"I think we're set!" Shanku said excitedly. "Some part of me actually hopes we get to go."

Nari was silent and looked at her sadly.

"I know, Ma," Shanku said with a weak smile. "It's just wanderlust. It comes in handy sometimes, you know. I met some people in Mruha, a Bhadarukian and a Long Ear of the Plains Kurach. His people had wanderlust too, and they ended up in a desert just in time to save some Bhadarukians from being slaughtered by raiders. They're a strong co-clan now."

"I just don't want anything bad to happen to my babies," Nari said softly.

"We'll be fine," Hilael said gently, and gave a rare smile.

Afterward, Shanku spent the day gathering up leaves in a sack to expand Banhi's bed so they both could sleep together. Hilael and Muso kept close by to help her. Shanku strode off lightly into the forest, looking to find a bit of moss as well for their shared bed.

"I wonder if we'll bump into your fella out here?" Muso asked.

"I don't have a fella," Shanku replied, a bit puzzled.

"You sure? I saw you two making puppy eyes yesterday," Muso teased. "He did walk you home too!"

"We live in the same hole in the ground!" Shanku exclaimed. "That doesn't make him my fellow."

"But you were thinking about it!" Muso laughed. "You talked to him more than us yesterday."

Shanku popped the back of his head and told him to hush. "I'm too young for that."

"Aw, come on. Even Banhi has a little playmate that she likes to hover around all the time," Muso grinned as he rubbed the back of his head.

Shanku sighed and chose to ignore him. She found plenty of good, dry leaves for their bed, and even found some of the moss she was hunting for.

"Hey, look! Hilael's gotten some good mushrooms," Muso pointed. Hilael had been gathering a few mushrooms and plants along the way.

"Want to put them in here?" Shanku asked and extended her sack to him. Hilael nodded and placed them gently on the moss. The siblings started on their way back to the den when Jagan and his followers stepped out.

"Oh, good grief, don't you lot have anything better to do with your day?" Shanku asked grumpily.

"We have a score to settle, Shanku Ravenwing," Jagan growled.

Shanku passed her sack back to Hilael and he backed up behind her. Muso stepped forward even with his sister, flaring his wings in defiance.

"Bring it on!" Muso shouted shrilly and held his fists up in front of him.

"Open your palm and use the heel," Shanku whispered to him. "You'll hurt yourself too much close-fisted."

Jagan rushed them with a growl. Shanku came forward and side-stepped as he was on top of them and brought a knee up to drive into his stomach. With a groan, he dropped to the ground to catch his breath.

Muso tilted his head curiously. "That was fast."

"Anybody else?" Shanku asked boredly. "You can still go away."

With a quick look between each other, the remaining three rushed her at once. Shanku shoved Muso out of the way and rolled to the side. She sprang and kicked the nearest one in the hip. Tilak yipped loudly and staggered back. His friends came around him quickly.

Shanku tensed and launched herself at the nearest, driving her elbow into his chest. As Gunjan fell off of her, she quickly turned and and slung her arm out behind her to backhand the third across the face, causing Hiral to stagger as well. She stepped back and assumed another ready stance.

Jagan got up on his hands and knees, and coughed a few times. Tilak was favoring a leg, Hiral was rubbing his jaw, and Gunjan was getting back on his feet while clutching his chest.

"Again?" Shanku asked calmly. All she got was a few growls in return. "If you're quite finished, you should return home."

To Shanku's relief, Jagan began to lead them away. Shanku watched them curiously as they disappeared from sight.

"That was great!" Muso hopped up and down. "Can you teach me how to fight like that?"

"Someday," Shanku chuckled. "Maybe. Da could teach you just as well, most of it is just practice anyway."

Hilael handed her sack out to her with a smile. Shanku nodded and took it back.

"So is this a daily thing or something?" Shanku asked as they started back toward the Scissortail den.

"Almost. Well, about twice a week," Muso shrugged. "I think you embarrassed him pretty good this time, so maybe he'll leave us alone for a while."

They returned without further incident. There were many whispers in the great hall as they passed through. Muso looked around uncomfortably. Hilael and Shanku ignored it. Until a dam stepped directly in front of them.

"Can I help you?" Shanku asked, an ear laid back and one pricked forward.

"Did you do that to Jagan and his pack?" she asked.

"Do what?" Shanku asked innocently.

"That cub has been such a handful! It's about time somebody put him in his place," she said firmly. "Maybe now he'll learn some manners."

"You're welcome," Shanku said deviously. She nodded to the dam and entered the passages that lead to their little den. As soon as they arrived home, Muso began jabbering incessantly to Nari about the day they had. Shanku gave her mother the mushrooms that Hilael had gathered and began to work on her and Banhi's bed.

"You've barely been home a day and you're already getting into fights again?" Nari sighed and tossed her hands into the air. "What am I going to do with you?"

"Let me go see Granny Misen and Grampa Haro?" Shanku asked sweetly.

"Go on then," Nari shook her head. "Be back in time for supper. No brawling between now and then, ya hear?"

Shanku nodded and started out the door. She was not surprised to find Muso and Hilael tag along behind her. Muso was about to dart into their grandparents' home when Shanku put a hand on his shoulder.

"They haven't seen me in a while, remember?" she reminded him. Muso nodded impatiently and half-shoved her in the door.