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[not_the_s]

Kon groaned softly when he woke up. It was still that time just before dawn when the entire world was quiet. Except that Kon could hear the chittering of squirrels and the calls of birds. He tried to roll over, but his feet tangled in the sheets and he kicked something off the bed as he was trying to get them out. That woke him up completely

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[sadiablo_witch]

Surreal couldn't help a bubbling laugh of joy at the change to green when she saw it. It called to her, in joy and freedom, and she answered that call. The Blood were keepers of the land, and there was always joy when it brought forth life after the cold, renewing slumber of the darkness of winter. It was cool, but not cold, and she pulled on a bathing costume and over it a half-buttoned shirt and wraparound skirt. Dignity be damned, she was going to enjoy herself, and a party was just the place to do it.

Even Graysfang had caught on to her mood, running to and fro more like a puppy than the nearly grown wolf he was. It made her smile just to see it. The animal was her escort, her closest companion, her brother, but the lack of Craft stripped him of more than she lost. While capable of making his needs known through other means, she missed that dry humor of his thoughts when he shared them, the certainty of a predator who knew his place in the balance of life.

Which was why she spread out a blanket for him to lay on so he didn't have to get sand in his fur and sat next to him, a book in the small basket holding other things she thought might be wanted for a day of enjoyment. "A beautiful day for both of us," she told him, a fond smile playing on her lips as she absently scratched behind his ears.

[not_the_s]

Kon couldn't help but stare at the woman. Or the dog, but definitely the woman. It was for that reason, or so he would forever claim, that he didn't notice the log that seconded as a chair and ended up running into it and flying over, landing on the ground in front of her with a loud 'oof'.

"Hi?" he said a little sheepishly.

[sadiablo_witch]

Between one breath and the next, Graysfang was between her and the young man, a soft, warning growl trickling from bared teeth. He was protecting her, at least until the level of threat was certain.

Surreal, on the other hand, just looked amused. "Hi yourself," she purred, letting the words take on a bit of the laughter she wasn't letting go just yet. "Are you always this clumsy, or do I rate special treatment?"

[not_the_s]

Kon looked at the dog...no... "That's a wolf." A stupid thing to say, maybe, but he hadn't really paid attention until now. Not until he was a few feet away and the thing was growling at him. "Good puppy," he said under his breath and managed to get to his knees, shuffling back a little.

He forced his eyes back up to her and gave her a weak smile. "Just you, I think."

[sadiablo_witch]

At that, the wolf looked insulted. He wasn't a pup, but as the man pulled back, he eased back into a neutral posture, watching warily.

"Really?" Surreal said, dryly. "I hadn't noticed. I thought he was a blanket. He does have this tendancy to sleep on my feet."

[not_the_s]

"Blanket?" At that, Kon couldn't help but chuckle. "I've never considered an animal a blanket. Maybe a pillow. The bigger the animal the better." Kon considered the...the wolf. "That guy looks like he'd make quite a nice pillow, too. Does he have a name? Do you, for that matter?"

Okay, so it wasn't the best of lines. But how else was he going to get a name?

[sadiablo_witch]

Surreal smirked at that, absently running her fingers through the animal's dark gray fur. "He's Graysfang, and I'm Surreal. Do you have a name as well?"

[not_the_s]

"Conner." Kon sat back on his heels now that the...not that Graysfang wasn't really growling at him anymore. "That's my name." One of them at least. "Conner Kent."

[sadiablo_witch]

"And interesting name," Surreal said, taking in the boy's form as she tucked her hair behind delicately pointed ears. "Do your people often stand on boards like that?"

[not_the_s]

Kon's eyes flicked to her ears. So, not human, then. "It's a sport, sort of. Surfing. You ride the wave and the trick is to do it without getting caught by the wave. And, you know, not everyone can do it. Especially not on the first try."

[sadiablo_witch]

"Sounds like the Runs in Askavi," Surreal said, shaking her head. "If Craft worked, it wouldn't be that difficult. Graysfang could probably do it as easily as riding the Winds."

[not_the_s]

"But the point is to do it without any additional help." Kon wasn't sure what 'Craft' was, but it sounded like magic. Although... "Wait, the wolf can do magic?"

[sadiablo_witch]

"Of course he can, he's kindred," Surreal said, then frowned, trying to think how to explain it. "When the Blood were created, when the dragon Queen sacrificed herself to give the gift of Craft to the generations to come, any that her scales touched became Blood. Still a member of the race they came from, but also something more. I don't know how to explain it to one who doesn't have that dark power flowing in their veins. We are the caretakers of the land.

"This island is nothing like either of the living Realms, or any of the territories I've visited in all my life. A territory without a Queen rarely thrives, but here..." she let her voice trail off, looking at him. "Here, people speak of things that are completely at odds with the ways I was raised to respect and obey. Even knowing landens are different from Blood doesn't prepare one for...this."

[not_the_s]

"So, let me get this straight. They're sentient?" Although actually, that wasn't as much of a surprise as it could have been. Should have been. Sometimes he wondered if Krypto were really sentient. Until he decided that going to play a game of fetch sounded like fun. Then he was just like any other dog.

[sadiablo_witch]

"They can think and communicate like any intelligent being," Surreal said, shrugging. "It took me a while to get used to it, when I emigrated to Kaeleer. There are no kindred left in Terreille, not since the last war between the Realms. Before the Lady came, we'd almost thought them legends rather than fact. I have to admit it was quite a shock to find out he could talk, when Graysfang adopted me."

[not_the_s]

"Sentient. Can he still talk?" Now Kon was eyeing the wolf curiously. That was sounding kind of cool, a talking animal. And not one that was some kind of alien, even though it sounded like he wasn't quite the same as any normal wolf that Kon would have seen back home.