DragonCountess: *wakes up the following morning in the
hot springs, noticing the still sleeping Simgar;
whispers* Ryujinn? I'll be out for a moment or two...
DragonCountess: *Ryujinn nods, then quickly falls back
asleep* <Okay...>
DragonCountess: *Shinketsu walks to the outcropping
nearby and carefully crawls down, unsheathing her
dagger* Now to find some breakfast...
DragonCountess: *jumps to the ground, landing in a
large mud puddle* Oh, *that's* great...Well, where
there's mud, there's bound to be water...
DragonCountess: And where there's water...*licks her
lips as she notices a nearby boar* There's bound to be
food...
DragonCountess: *lifts her dagger and is about to
attack when she hears a rustling behind her*
DragonCountess: {That's your cue...}
DragonCountess: *whirls around, coming face to face
with a female centaur*
Horskat: {yeah, I got that} *jumps from bush and
shoves Shinketsu out of way*
DragonCountess: *falls hard* Hey, what do you think
you're doing?
Horskat: Stay away... get away from here!
DragonCountess: *picks her dagger back up and stands
bravely* What's so bad about this place?
Horskat: *holds spear firmly* This is not a bad place,
but the animals and nature here live undisturbed...
from anything. Now go!
Horskat: *boar trots away*
DragonCountess: I'm not your ordinary human, miss. I
don't kill for sport. I take what's needed, and go on
my way. *sighs heavily as she watches the young pig
leave* Now why'd you go and do that?
Horskat: I will not have humans taking over this
forest. It is the home of the only centaurs left.
*gestures to boar* If humans take our food, we die. No
human has ever come this far in, how ever did you get
here?
Horskat: Normally we get the humans before they reach
the sacred grounds.
DragonCountess: Well, it's a long story...But let's
just say my dragon flew me and my lover - who is an
assassin that is supposed to kill me and my friends,
by the way - to the hot springs above here so we could
possibly relax and have a nice talk, and this morning,
I was planning to have a nice pork meal, but some
horse-girl who got up on the wrong side of the hay
decided to ruin it for me.
Horskat: So sorry. But that doesn't excuse you for
trespassing on our sacred grounds! I would suggest you
get back to your assasin with you mixed up life and
leave us alone.......Did you say DRAGON?
DragonCountess: Yes, I did. Why?
Horskat: I have never seen a dragon, but I am very
interested in their type. Do you think I could see it?
DragonCountess: *hesitates* I suppose...You won't hurt
him, will you?
Horskat:  Of course not! Why would anyone harm those
magnificent creatures?
DragonCountess: Very well. Follow me. *climbs up the
rocks to the hot springs entrance, motioning for the
centaurette to be quiet*
Horskat: *walks carefully over the rocks* Thank you
DragonCountess: *tiptoes to the outcropping, pointing
at the sleeping elf and dragon, whispering* I now
present to you: Simgar and Ryujinn.
DragonCountess: *Ryujinn growls softly in his sleep,
his silvery-blue scales glittering in the pale
sunlight*
Horskat: *Gazes in awe* It's even more amazing than
the Seven Tales say! And is that your assassin?
DragonCountess: *smiles slightly* The elf, yes.
Horskat: We have quite a few elves in our forest. They
don't bother us much though.
DragonCountess: *slides down the rocks back to the
forest floor* I'm afraid I never caught your
name...I'm Shinketsu.
Horskat: *leaps after* I'm Naylith.
DragonCountess: *Shinketsu's stomach rumbles* I'm
still hungry...But perhaps it would please you if I
got my food from somewhere else? *smiles*
Horskat: Actually, you are welcome to my village and
all the food in it. I'm sure they have something
cooking.
DragonCountess: *shakes her head* Oh no, I couldn't do
that. I've gotten along so far, I'm sure I can manage.
Horskat: I insist. Everyone will want to meet you, I'm
sure.
Horskat: You could bring some food back here for you
dragon. And assassin if you wish.
DragonCountess: I'm sorry, I really don't think I
should. Perhaps sometime later? After all, if my two
dears wake up whilst I'm out, they might worry.
Horskat: You already said that you would go hunting,
did you not? Come. We will go around the Sacred
Grounds to my village.
DragonCountess: *hesitates* Well...All right. Let's go
then, shall we?
Horskat: *Leads Shinketsu along the path to the
village*
DragonCountess: *follows not far behind* You say no
others know of this place?
Horskat: No other humans. The elves and forest beasts
know, but that is all.
DragonCountess: Oh. *sighs, muttering to herself* Ah
well...
Horskat: What? Is something wrong?
DragonCountess: Nothing that concerns you...
Horskat: Alright then. *Arrives at a small river* We
must cross here. 
DragonCountess: Piece of cake. *walks quickly across*
Horskat: *Walks over to a rock on the other side and
mutters something into it* Ok. Follow closely. *Walks
in between two trees and disappears*
DragonCountess: *trots over, looking around* Whoa...
Horskat: *Calls from nowhere* Are you coming? The
gates won't stay open forever you know.
DragonCountess: *steps between the trees, suddenly
appearing next to Naylith*
Horskat: We have created a shield between those trees.
The rock permits only those that it should. 
DragonCountess: *nods approval* Nice.
Horskat: Thank you. Now for breakfast.
DragonCountess: I trust you to know the best foods...
Horskat: *walks to a small log* We would like food for
two and a dragon. *The log burps out a large pack of
venison* It's safe, don't worry.
DragonCountess: *peers quizzically at the wood*
Umm...Sure.
DragonCountess: *takes the pack* Should we go back
now?
Horskat: If you like. You could meet the chief before
you go.
DragonCountess: *shrugs* Why not?
Horskat: OK. Follow me. *walks to a huge pinecone in
the middle of the square* Is the chief ready? *The
pinecone squeaks yes and a hole opens in the ground.*
Jump down there after me. *jumps*  
DragonCountess: *looks carefully over, then gulps*
Whatever you say...*hops over the edge*
DragonCountess: *mutters something about talking
pinecones and burping logs* Now what?
Horskat: *enters a well lit room* Sir, this is
Shinketsu, a human. She has a dragon on the
outcropping. I gave her food. 
DragonCountess: *lowers onto one knee* I humble myself
in your presence, Your Majesty.
Horskat: *Chief looks at Shinketsu and says* Ah, well.
You are welcome to anything Naylith gives you. You are
her guest until you leave.
DragonCountess: *rises back up* Well, looks like I'm
stuck with you, Naylith. *smiles*
Horskat: *Leaps back up hole*
DragonCountess: *bows courteously as she follows* Hey,
wait up!
Horskat: *Thanks pinecone for allowing them in* Where
do you want to go now?
DragonCountess: Well, I really think I should go
back...Simgar will be up soon, and he doesn't need any
more surprises anytime soon.
Horskat: Ok. I must accompany you, for without me you
are trapped here.
DragonCountess: *nods*
Horskat: *Walks back through trees* This way.
DragonCountess: *saunters behind her, looking around*
Horskat: *Leaps over river*
DragonCountess: *trots through, arriving near the
rocks*
Horskat: Are they up?
DragonCountess: No, but I told Simgar I would wash his
clothes for him...*waves* Farewell for now, I suppose,
Naylith!
Horskat: *waves* Au revoir, I guess.
DragonCountess: *scrambles back up the rocks to the
hot springs, disappearing over the edge*