Just Another Day

"So he's just lonely?" Hilael asked his sister.

"Eh?" Shanku asked.

"He's not attacking us, he's been disciplining us, and the reason he gave is that he wants to be around us again. Kleu, the goblin hound, is lonely," Hilael explained. Innugati trilled in agreement from atop his shoulder.

"Yeah, I guess he is," Shanku said thoughtfully. "Hrm..."

"What are you thinking?" Hilael asked quickly.

"I think... we should go talk to him," Shanku said slowly.

"Are you insane?" Hilael hissed.

"Almost certifiably," Shanku giggled.

The sound of laughter caught Kleu's attention and he turned to find the source of it. Zanzen and Nari ushered Muso and Banhi behind them as Kleu advanced on their daughter who seemed to have finally succeeded in getting her death wish.

"You are not scared like the others," Kleu noted curiously as he stopped near the siblings. "Why?"

"Why should we be?" Shanku asked. "It's not like you want to hurt us. You just want some company. Aren't you the mysterious black dog that wanders the deserted roads in the mist, sometimes helping lost travellers, sometimes killing bandits? How bad can you be?"

Kleu tilted his head to the side and pricked his ears forward as he studied the two cubs. He cautiously sniffed them. "You are an interesting little family. You keep company with fae and goblin alike, and actually do know of me. Are there more like you?"

"Doubtful. If something weird is gonna happen, we're likely to be involved in it," Shanku chuckled. "I brought a dragon home bigger than you when I was a wee thing. I trained with the massive Highland kurach that are about your size. Well, maybe a little smaller. I watched a dragon sling molten sand through the air and make trinkets in moments from it. I have a little goblin and gremlin friend that I used to could see every winter. I fought a yamaer and won. Why should I be afraid of you? You seem normal to me." To Kleu's surprise, and that of any who were watching, Shanku placed a hand on the nose of the goblin hound. "And you're kind of family, aren't you?"

Kleu stared at her for a long time. Not only did she not shrink under his unblinking gaze, she even moved her hand to scratch the ruff below his cheek. He stepped away and gave himself a quick shake.

"So, maybe instead of us going with you, how about you stay here with us?" Shanku asked. "The Nyre is a big place. There's room for you too."

"Frankly, I don't give two hoots where any of you go, so long as the whole lot of you clear out soon and let me have me old rocks back," grumbled the grouchy old Keeper from his perch on a dilapitated arch. "I did as you asked and got them to get it all cleaned up, Hound. Now you do your part and get them outta my feathers."

"Pray, another night, gryphon," Kleu said.

"Opinicus!" snarled the old Keeper, who then hissed and clucked in disproval, but resettled himself and did not protest further.

Kleu turned to face the crowd of Sylvans again. "A final night, a final warning. Make a decision about our future." Kleu walked away to the edge of the forest and laid down. The Sylvans began to retreat to their quarters they had hoped to vacate that morning, and the various leaders of the clans present locked themselves away together to figure out what was to be done about the ultimatum they were given.