Just Another Day

"Goodnight, Sigrid. Tomorrow night is the feast and I intend to get a good rest," Shanku nodded to Sigrid and left the dining hall. She took flight and went out a good ways to a grassy ledge far above the town.

Ah, under the stars again. Shanku sighed happily. It might have been chilly with winter just around the corner, but the extra fur kept her fairly snug. Somewhat to her surprise, she found herself growing a thicker coat for the winter.

The follow morning, Shanku stretched when she awoke as she usually did. This morning, there was a commotion going on a little ways off to her right and she looked curiously toward it.

"You, the foothills. You, the caves. You, the forest," a captain was directing a group of scouts.

Shanku trotted up to one of the scouts in the back.

"What's going on?" she asked him.

"The ambassador's child is missing!" he said quickly.

Well, that didn't take long, Shanku chuckled quietly. She held her hands out to her sides in a friendly shrug. "Maybe he just wandered off and will be back soon?" she offered.

"Losing the children of ambassadors and emissaries can be grounds for war," the scout said gravely.

"Oh," Shanku mumbled. She bit her lower lip a moment, then asked, "Where was he last seen?"

"The hot springs, I think," the scout scratched his chin thoughtfully. "But I am going to wait for my orders. Make sure you stay out of our way."

"Will do," Shanku nodded and flew off. She glided high and soon arrived at the hot springs the Highland were so fond to bathe in.