Meetings

[nitefleur]

Hey! Lis get off your scaly backside and visit me! Imma not comin' to Orleans for u!

this was the text message Stealth sent to his younger cousin.


Stealth was at home, or what he guessed he could call home. It was more like storage with items and trinkets collected throughout his life. It was actually just a high cave. Outside was an out cropping large enough for a dragon to land while the cave entrance was normally blocked by a boulder. At the moment the boulder was pushed to the side. A human could get into the small entrance which went along a winding dark path before opening up into a larger set of chambers decorated with small oddities and furniture. Most the chambers were pretty much empty but he had a few furnished bedrooms and a kitchen area.

There was also a low hum of generators that powered small lights and other appliances. He even had a tank of water stored for usage, though a bit higher up in the mountains was pure snow he could just collect if he ever ran out of water.

This was his home distant enough from the rest of the red brood to feel independent of his parents but close enough to not seem as if he was breaking ties. It also came with the advantage that he could safely bring his bonded without others in the brood questioning his choice. She still needed time to adjust to being bonded even if she would say differently. Stealth himself wasn't entirely sure what happened when a dragon bonded with a human.

Fl'ite was making herself busy by fixing up and maintaining the generators. She had oil up to elbows and a tool belt around her waist. Fl'ite's pack was thrown in the corner with her brown leather jacket. Fl'ite hadn't been informed that Stealth had invited company. She wore a stained white loose fitting tank top and dark trousers. She had her back to the entrance.

Stealth grinned watching his rider work before wandering outside to get cellphone reception. He flipped his phone open and leaned against the boulder while looking up into the sky. His dark hair was loose and swayed in the slight breeze.

U r slow. I have surprise for u 2 meet he texted once again

[Maira]

Because Elise had spent her childhood split between her mother's homeland and New Orleans, where her father was from, she sometimes had the feeling of homesickness even while she was living in one place or the other. She had been living in New Orleans for a time now and was beginning to feel a bit homesick for other dragons. Well, one dragon in particular. He went by the name Stealth and was over 100 years her senior. He was also the closest thing she had to a brother.

Her mother and father had both dissappeared when she was young, luckily her mother's sister had been quick to take her in and by doing so Elise's aunt became her adoptive mother and Stealth became her older adoptive brother. It had been a bit awkward at first, Elise was just turning 12, and did not want to live with anybody but her parents. Trying to tell a stubborn young dragon that her parents had abandoned her and likely weren't coming back had been a hard chore for her aunt. In fact, her aunt eventually gave up and recruited her son to get through to the girl. Luckily for the sanity of them all Stealth managed to get through to Elise. Nobody was really sure how it happened, or when exactly, but it just seemed that one day they clicked as a family.

Since that trying time in her life, Elise had always been rather attached to her older brother/cousin and when the homesickness hit her, he was always the first one she called. Just like she did this time. The message she left on Stealth's voicemail was along the lines of, "I miss you, get your butt to New Orleans!" She knew that Stealth travelled from time to time so she wasn't expecting a reply back right away but when she got the text messages from Stealth she couldn't help but smile.

She didn't answer the first text because she was busy cooking dinner with Brielle. When the second message came through they were just sitting down to eat and watch a movie. "Hang on just a minute Brielle, I gotta make a phone call," she told the younger woman as she set her plate of food down and hit the speed-dial button for Stealth.

After only a couple rings, a familiar male voice answered the phone and Elise grumbled playfully at him, "Its about time you answer my calls!" Then, a bit more seriously she asked, "Why won't you come to New Orleans? Its nice here and I've kinda got an obligation I don't really want to get away from at the moment." Here Elise looked at Brielle who was watching her with a knowing, feline grin. Brielle quite enjoyed being Elise's "obligation" even if it wasn't anything really romantic. Their relationship was very, very odd but both women enjoyed it so they just went with it.

Listening to Stealth's argument that there was no way he was going to be visiting New Orleans after just getting home, Elise sighed and caved. "Fine, fine, lemme see if I can get away from work and I'll call you in the morning." Then, just before she hung up, she added quietly, "Love you."

The way Brielle was looking at her, Elise blushed bright red and demanded, "What?!"

Brielle just laughed and answered, "He does know you're self-employed right? And that getting away from work is as easy as walking out the front door with your laptop, cell phone, and cameras tucked in a bag?" Elise just shrugged, which made Brielle laugh more before asking, "So, where are we going and when do we leave? I need to talk to Mercedes and see if I can get that time off she and I were talking about."

Elise smiled at Brielle, picked up her plate of food and went to join the other woman on the couch before answering, "Stealth has his home in the Canadian Rockies. We'll be leaving as soon as possible because if I don't see another dragon soon I'm going to lose my mind."

Brielle just nodded as she stuffed a forkful of salad into her mouth and then held out her hand for Elise's phone. As soon as she was done chewing she made the call to her boss.

*****

It had proved a very easy feat to get time off for Brielle from the occult store she worked at and they were actually on a plane before noon heading to Alberta, Canada. Elise was a big ball of nerves when they finally got off the plane and made their way to baggage claim. Before they even arrived she could smell Stealth, a full-blooded dragon smelled quite a lot different from humans, at least to other dragons or those inclined to know the difference. Brielle, quite used to Elise's scent thanks to her own feline side, even noticed the scent of another dragon but it took her until they were nearly on top of the man before she realized just who he was.

Of course, the fact that Elise went running at the man and leapt at him, her arms wrapping around his neck and her legs around his hips, would have given it away anyway. Brielle just shook her head and smiled in amusement before turning away to fetch their two bags. She'd give Elise a bit of alone time with her brother, or cousin, or whatever he was...

[nitefleur]

Stealth was waiting. He was easily at 6'11 one of the tallest 'humans' in the airport. He watched the blinking monitors report the arrival of his cousin/little sister's plane arrive. His keen nose caught her scent and he opened his arms wide to catch Elise. He then proceeded to twirl around with her in his arms. He laughed "It's good to see you too Lis!" he continued to spin awhile more before stopping and just tapping Elise's backside playfully "You don't have to get off yet but mind riding in back so I can see past that mountain you call a backside? " he teased.

Fl'ite was back up on the mountain. Stealth had only just informed her via cell phone that they would have guests. So of course she was busy trying to at least rinse the oil stains off her arms. She growled at her bonded's absentmindedness. Fl'ite wondered at times why she had agreed to Bond with the large oaf.
>> Because you love me~ << popped into her head a few too many decibels loud for her liking.

<<Hardly. I think I just lost my common sense momentarily >> she replied having a bit more restraint in the volume of her mental conversation. <<Also tone it down, if your voice screams in my head one more time I'll paste your ear to a jet engine >> She warned her tone dead serious.

Stealth during this exchange had begun to once again tease his cousin unaware she had brought a guest with her.

[Maira]

At Stealth's comment about her backside, even though she knew he was teasing her, Elise bopped him over the side of the head. Then, after a quick kiss to his cheek, she let herself down just in time for Brielle to make her way over to them with their bags. Seeing that her companion had gotten both suitcases, Elise apologized with her eyes. Brielle just smiled and held out the handle to Elise's suitcase. "I'll fetch it, but I am not hauling that thing. It feels like you packed for a year!"

Elise had the decency to look slightly embarrassed as she answered Brielle and explained to Stealth, "I have a lot of work stuff in there and you know how heavy my camera equipment can get." Both of them nodded understanding.

As she was watching them both nod, Elise remembered her manners and proceeded to do the formal introductions thing, "Oh! Sorry! Stealth, this is Brielle. Brielle, this is my older cousin-turned-brother Stealth."

Brielle eyed the man carefully when Elise finally bothered to introduce them. He looked vaguely related to Elise and the relationship between the two was clear. Definitely no hint of romance. Satisfied, Brielle smiled warmly at him and held out her hand to shake his, "Its nice to meet you Stealth, I hope you don't mind me tagging along for the visit."

[nitefleur]

"Of course not Brielle" he grinned "that is if you don't mind a bit of mountain climbing to get where we're going" He wasn't exactly sure how much about dragons Elise had revealed to Brielle but if Elise had brought her knowing they'd be up in a mountain cave then he figured Elise's friend at least knew he and Elise were dragons and that well they tended to live in goofy areas like mountain caves rather than a normal apartment or house.

Stealth took Brielle's bag then looked at Elise lugging her and gave a cheesy grin. "Alright cars this way my good lady" and he waved a hand towards one of the exits.

Outside a forest ranger green pick up truck was waiting. It wasn't the prettiest vehicle but it did have an extended cab so it could seat four or five people. Stealth's real car was in town parked in secure underground parking. This vehicle was the one he used when home allowing him to drive inside the national park and off of the 'official' tracks. It was nice that a large majority of park staff were brood or some other supposedly mythical creature., if not he'd have a lot of explaining to do.

He unlocked the doors and jumped into the driver's seat. "At least we have vehicles now, I remember having to walk all the way to the cave instead of flying like I had planned cause of the Trans Canada Railway was being built nearby and I didn't feel like sending the workers on a dragon hunt. " He joked in a lively voice and he pulled out of the airport parking lot and began driving down the road towards the national park.

Fl'ite had cleaned up. She went outside and opened her cellphone to check her reception. She dialled Stealth's number and waited for his answer.

Stealth's cellphone vibrated on the dashboard before belting out :

She's a Killer Queen
Gunpowder, Gelatine
Dynamite with a laser beam
Guaranteed to blow your mind
Anytime

Stealth smirked "that'd be the surprise I texted you about earlier, pick it up and say hi "

[Maira]

Brielle just smiled at Stealth's mention of mountain climbing. Of course it wouldn't bother her, Hellcat would relish the chance to get out and run around a mountain. When the man took her suitcase, she smiled warmly at him in thanks and smirked at Elise. Elise just glared playfully back at both Stealth and Brielle before walking after them dragging her suitcase.

After Stealth depositted both of the suitcases in the back of his truck, the three of them piled in and he quickly left the airport heading for his home. Shortly after getting on the road Stealth's cell phone went off, vibrating first and then playing some obnoxious ringtone that made Elise eye her cousin oddly. When he told her that the surprise he'd been talking about was the one calling and to pick up the phone, Elise smiled and hurried to grab the phone and flip it open.

"So, you're the surprise Stealth was telling me about," Elise greeted the person on the other end of the call. Then, curious, she asked, "So, what's your name and how do you know my cousin?"

[nitefleur]

Fl'ite had been expecting Stealth's usual goofy and annoyingly chipper voice to greet her on the other end of the phone. Instead a decidedly feminine but no less chipper voice greeted her and began questioning her. Fl'ite decided to humor the woman's row of questioning. It would give her a chance to size up the woman as well and know who Stealth was bringing into this isolated environment.

"I am Colonel Fl'ite of the Royal Canadian Air force, honorably discharged wing commander and honors graduate of the Royal Canadian Military College. Stealth is the nuisance whom disregarded my early requests in childhood to be left to study. He later reasserted himself in my life post serving during recent overseas conflict were i was injured in combat. He is presence that has somehow annoys me constantly and persistently motivates me . We are friends." She explained her voice a neutral tone making it hard to discern gender. "is that answer sufficient?"

Stealth chirped in as he rounded a corner and started down a bumpy dirt path rather than the smooth pavement they had previously been on. "Oi! that hurts! We're more than friends. Your mine! " He shouted.

Fl'ite was leaning against a rock wall and heard Stealth's shouting. "I belong to none. We are friends and both decided to become what he has termed 'bonded' " She clarified, her voice controlled and even very much Custosstrating just how ingrained her military mindset was.

[Maira]

The very serious tone, and the very serious answer were not what Elise was expecting at all and she had to fight hard not to giggle. Instead, when asked if the answer was sufficient, Elise answered just as seriously, "That'll do for the time being." When Stealth, who'd apparently been listening in on the conversation, shouted loud enough for Fl'ite to hear on the other end, Elise cringed, glared at him and muttered, "Loud much?"

Fl'ite's disagreement with Stealth about being his was clear in the first for words of her answer. Elise nearly cringed again when she saw the look on Stealth's face, but then Fl'ite clarified that they were bonded and instead Elise's mouth dropped open as she quietly uttered the single word, "Oh."

After a moment of silence Elise got her wits back about her and told Fl'ite, "Well since I'm sure you wanted to talk to Stealth about something, I suppose I'll give him the phone. I look forward to meeting you in person within the next few hours." Then she promptly handed the phone to her cousin and just stared at him expectantly until he was finished with his conversation and flipped the phone closed.

When he set the phone back on the dash, Elise looked once at Brielle and then looked at Stealth and said simply, "Spill it."

[nitefleur]

Fl'ite spoke with Stealth quickly. "I trust you and your cousin shall be here soon then? Should I expect an aerial assault? " She said as way of of joke though Fl'ite was not adept at distinguishing her humorous tones from her common tones. " I have fixed the generators, and do inspect the rabbit traps on the way back Stealth."

Stealth said his goodbyes and hung up the phone. He grinned sheepishly at his cousin's response to the news. "Well...hmmm, she's nice really she is but a bit blunt. oh she won a race against me she's fast, and wasn't afraid of me in brood form or anything!" he sputtered feeling like he was secretly being interrogated. "We work well together, she's human but you wouldn't think it, its sorta like she's really strong and smart and she can even keep me in line! " he tried to explain his relationship with Fl'ite leaving out the facts that Fl'ite might kill him for. We agreed to bond and I said we had to kiss...she hit me instead that was ummm..3 weeks ago?"

[Maira]

Elise listened carefully to Stealth's words and then, at the end, she couldn't help but laugh. "She punched you? And it worked?! That's amazing!"

Brielle, more than happy to listen as the cousins continued to chat away couldn't help but wonder what it might be like to be bonded to Elise. They'd been living together for some time now and were essentially best friends with benifits when it suited them. What she didn't understand was that Stealth had said it involved a kiss to bond and as many times as she and Elise had kissed shouldn't they already be bonded? There must be more to becoming bonded than just to kiss the dragon that a person would be bonded to.

Elise noticed that Brielle had a thoughtful look on her face as she gazed out the back window and she couldn't help but smile. If the other woman was thinking about what she was almost certain she was thinking about, she and Brielle would be having a long heart to heart talk later. She'd been contemplating bonding with Brielle for months now but she'd never really had the right opening to talk to the other woman about it. Now she did, and she was greatful to Stealth and Fl'ite for giving it to her.

When the truck finally stopped at its destination, Brielle came out of her daze and looked around curiously. They were out in the middle of the forest with nothing more than what looked like an old run-down ranger station and the even more run-down carport next to the ranger station that the truck was now currently parked in. "Since you said their was mountain climbing involved, I'm guessing this isn't where you live?"

[nitefleur]

"Nope, we gotta leave the truck here, the forest is too dense past this point. We'll walk to the base of that mountain over there that looks sorta like a castle and is appropriately named Castle mountain. Hope you brought hiking boots" He teased and grabbed his pack out of the back of the truck and placed it on the ground for a moment.

"There shouldn't be any humans round here..." he looked at Elise with a goofy grin, then at Brielle. He tossed off his shirt and kicked free of his shoes and socks. Then he skin began to darken, scales such a deep red as to appear darkest brown emerged and his height increased as well. His fingers extended as did his toes. His wings were thin membranes and seemed just to appear. He even grew a short set of horns on his brow line. Rough ridges followed the line of his neck and back. Stealth kept himself suspended in this half dragon half human configuration.

"So~ Lis ..." He nonchalantly picked up his bag and hung it on a shoulder. "What have you been up to since we last saw each other? " he asked as he started to lead the way.

[Maira]

Elise and Brielle both gawked at Stealth once he'd settled into a half dragon/half human form. Apparently the man had picked up some new tricks since the last time Elise had seen him, and as Elise was too young to have achieved her Brood form yet, Brielle had never seen anybody in Brood form.

Only when Stealth spoke directly to her did Elise snap out of her shock enough to answer him, "Well, since last I saw you I've been whisked away to Japan. Other than that its been pretty much life as normal. My business is really taking off though, so I guess that's something..." Then, looking once again at Stealth in his Brood form, she asked him, "Things have been rather eventful for you though what with the bonding and the new look, anything else I should know about?"

[nitefleur]

"New looks not so new. Last time you came to visit was when I was almost able to maintain the form. I figured it out about 3 days after you left...I just didn't mention it~" His wings shifted as he found a comfortable position for his bag, and pulled the luggage out of the truck. "As for anything else...ummm probably I just can't recall~" He flashed a toothy grin.

"This way ladies" He signalled and started wandering through the dense forest. He stopped and looked around, titling his head left and right and scenting the air every so often.

"Ah ha! Dinner!" He cheered and rushed off, returning with a dead rabbit for a prize.

>>Fl'ite I've got dinner! <<

<<That's good Stealth...Did you remember to reset the trap this time. >> Fl'ite replied her voice making the question more of a statement.

"D'OH!" Stealth blinked at looked back at Elise and friend... "I forgot to reset the trap..." he commented sheepishly and ran off again for a few moments.

"Fl'ite set up all the rabbit traps, she's really resourceful. She doesn't eat much though so I wondered why she had so many traps she says its cause I'm a living vacuum~ " he rambled as he walked towards the mountains base, picking up two more rabbits along the way.

[Maira]

Both women couldn't help laughing at Fl'ite's assesment of Stealth being a living vacuum. Knowing her cousin as well as she did, Elise told him, "Wow, she's really got you pegged doesn't she?" then she burst into another fit of laughter.

From there on out, the hike up the mountain was rather uneventfull. When it got a bit difficult, Elise asked Stealth, "Are we safe enough out here to fly the rest of the way?" She'd never had Brielle, or anybody else for that matter, ride her while in her dragon form and flying but she had carried objects in her front paws before. If Brielle was up to taking on her lynx form and following the dragons on the ground while they carried the luggage, Elise thought it would be a much easier way to travel the last, steeper stretch of mountain.

Pretty sure what her friend was getting at, Brielle chimed in, "Is it safe for lynx to prowl around up here?" At the odd look from Stealth, Brielle winked at him slightly and let her eyes shift to those of her feline half.

[nitefleur]

Stealth looked around "We should be safe for lift off"

"I knew there was something catty about you!" Stealth said in good humor. "Hmmm, just keep your claws clear of Fl'ite. ...Cause I sorta like being the non-human in the rela...errr bonding. " He made a humorous pouting face " a non-human Fl'ite would rob me of the last vestiges of my masculine pride!" He cried over dramatically and grinned.

He looked at Elise who he figured was now likely giggling "You try working out with her in human form, I did not know such pain existed" Stealth unfurled his wings andcaught the breeze.

"Well shall we?"

[Maira]

Brielle, at Stealth's "catty" comment smiled wide. Then at the rest of his overly dramatic speach she couldn't help but laugh outright. Brielle couldn't tell if Stealth was naturally like this or if he was putting on a special show for her benefit but she sure did get a kick out of him.

Elise was indeed giggling when Stealth finally turned his attention to her. At his words about Fl'ite causing him pain in their workouts Elise got herself marginally under control and asked, "A human kicked your butt? Seriously?" At his serious look, Elise just smirked and shook her head. It sounded like her poor cousin was in over his head with his new bondmate.

The sight of Stealth's wings unfurling from his back made both of the women gawk once again. Elise had seen many of her people in their Brood form but each one was unique and something to marvel over, Stealth was no exception. When he asked if they were ready, Elise nodded and started to strip out of her clothes. One definite advantage to the brood form, clothes didn't normally get shredded and ruined during the shift like they did when one took on their full dragon form.

While Elise stripped and took on her dragon form, Brielle walked up to Stealth, trailed a finger gently along one of his wing membranes and then said to him teasingly, "Now I know you don't care about seeing your cousin naked and all but for me to go all kitty, I need to lose my clothes too. I'd say you could watch if you wanna but I have a feeling that Fl'ite wouldn't really approve." Then, before he could say anything she walked back over to where she'd dropped her luggage and started pulling off her clothes. She only looked over her shoulder once to see if Stealth had turned around when she saw he had she finished taking off her clothes, put them in her luggage, and let the Change take her.

Once they were both "presentable" again, Brielle padded over to Stealth and rubbed her body against his leg to get his attention. When the brood turned around she reared up on her hind legs and planted her front paws on his chest, her claws extending just enough to leave little red marks on his chest then she shoved off of him and trotted over to her dark crimson dragon friend. The sight of a dragon and a small lynx touching noses probably seemed odd to Stealth, but it was a bit of a habit the pair had developed during the few times they were both in their non-human forms.

Once Hellcat, as Brielle's lynx half was called, trotted away from Elise, the dragon moved to gather their luggage in her front claws and said to her cousin, ><Lead the way.>< When he lifted into the air, Elise followed. The northern winds were different from those of Louisiana, stronger and wilder, and Elise couldn't help but revel in them as she circled higher and higher before diving back down to where Stealth was hovering waiting for her.

Hellcat watched the two dragons lift into the air, only slightly jealous at the seemingly effortless way the soared through the sky so freely. After Elise's brief moment of play, for Hellcat knew that's precisely what it was, and the airborn pair set off in a direction that led up the mountain, the lynx took off running through the trees.

Keeping up with the dragons was exhilerating, and a bit tiring. By the time they reached what she assumed was Stealth's home, a cave in the side of the mountain, Hellcat was ready to relax for a moment. If Brielle would let her back out again so soon, Hellcat really wanted to go running under the moonlight. Possibly even go hunting. It had been a long time since she had been anywhere even close to what her true home was like and she missed running in the mountains something awful.

Elise circled above the ledge that Stealth made to land on, waiting for his cue that she was welcome to land. Hellcat too was waiting to make her final approach to the cave, the last thing she wanted was to get shot by his bonded human.

[nitefleur]

Stealth grinned, politely turning his back as Brielle unclothed though he did peek and from the light claw impressions she had obviously noticed his small peek. He considered her small bit of vengeance worth it though.

Stealth took off into the sky. With his wings spread out the sun filtered through the thin membranes of his wings. >>Fl'ite we're coming, a cat , a dragon and ME! oh ya and dinner <<

Fl'ite stood by the entrance way. It was cold outside this high up and her breath came out as white mist. She wore the standard of Canadian practicality. Her brown leather bomber jacket was unzipped with a red checkered flannel lumberjack shirt, dark blue jeans, and an old pair of brown work boots. A pair of gloves were tucked in her back pocket.

Fl'ite was a woman with no curves, tall and angular, and her smile wasn't the warm and friendly type. She had clear scarring on her face, and early sprinklings of silver in roughly cut raven hair. All in all she was intimidating by first appearance. More frightening the guns holstered on each of her hips.

Stealth landed quickly, and lept towards Fl'ite hoping she'd show some respite in the presence of guests. He was wrong as he heard a familiar shift of her heavy boots and was tossed bodily over his bonded shoulder. "I did tell you not to try such a thing Stealth"

Stealth rubbed shoulder and proceeded to pout from behind his bonded.

Fl'ite looked at her two guest, then offered a polite nod and mild twist of her lips. "As I am sure you know, I am Fl'ite. Thank you for coming." She offered each guest a second glance as if sizing them up.

[Maira]

If Elise had been in her human form she very well may have laughed at Stealth as he got flipped by his human. The dark-haired woman was a bit intimidating to look at and by watching that one move, Elise knew that Stealth likely got his butt kicked on a fairly regular basis by her. When Fl'ite turned her attention on Elise and Hellcat, with a small smile and a polite nod, Elise was surprised by how it changed the woman's face. Just that small expression made her look softer and more approachable.

Taking that as her cue to land, Elise glided down to the ledge, landing delicately on her hindlegs and depositting the luggage off to the side a ways before settling down onto all fours. Hellcat too took Fl'ite's nod and small smile as her cue to approach and jumped up onto the ledge and settled next to Elise.

><So cousin, do we have to get back into our clothes out here in the cold or are you going to allow us in where its probably at least a bit warmer?>< Elise teased Stealth as she eyed the luggage she had carried up to his cave.

[nitefleur]

"Elise you already know your fat dragon behind won't fit in the entrance!" Stealth teased and waved a hand towards the small entry way inviting Brielle inside.

Fl'ite followed to show Brielle along the winding passages.

"Alright Elise I'll be nice and open the sun roof for you..." He took flight to a higher ledge where another boulder rested. With a grunt he rolled it to the side. This entrance was large enough for a dragon and it had a single straight corridor that led into a single massive chamber. This chambers soul purpose was for housing a full sized dragon and mate as well as children not yet able to keep a human form.... though normally Stealth stuck to his human and brood forms and the passage was more of a landing pad at the moment as Stealth had not dragon mate. There was a small carved passage from the massive dragon den into the lower chambers where the more human sized series of chambers were located.

"If you want I can give you girls this room tonight, its not like I use it or anything!" He playfully lamented, but offered up a chance for Elise to sleep in her natural form for the night.

Fl'ite knew the corridors well enough by now and led Brielle into the living areas. "There is a washroom to the right if you wish to freshen up."

[Maira]

The low rumble in Elise's throat at Stealth calling her dragon form fat was only half-hearted. They both knew everybody whispered because she was smaller than she should be to be a "proper" red dragon. Most everybody blamed it on her only being half dragon so it was not her fault but instead the fault of her missing mother who had taken an angel as a mate.

When Stealth gestured for Hellcat to proceed into the cave, and Fl'ite turned and led the way, the lynx stared after the woman for a moment. Then, realizing that she wasn't going to be getting any help, Hellcat went to her luggage and pawed at the handle release button a few times until it finally did what she wanted and the handle popped loose just enough for her to get her teeth around. She had hauled prey heavier than her suitcase before, but she shape of it made for a rather awkward movement as she dragged it between her legs into the cave. Luckily for Hellcat, Stealth had already taken Elise to the top of the cave to show her to the dragon entrance, and that meant neither of them saw her dragging her suitcase into the cave.

Elise had snatched her own suitcase off the lower ledge when Stealth showed her to the second ledge, the one more suited to a dragon larger than herself. When he shoved aside the boulder and led the way inside, Elise followed happily. Even in dragon form the mountain air was getting chilly as the evening drew on. She had apparently spent too much time in the warmer climate of New Orleans and was losing her tolerance for cold weather.

Once inside, Elise promptly shifted form and started digging for her clothes. The warmer the better. As she was getting dressed, Stealth offered to let her and Brielle share the den for the night and while she was tempted, as she didn't get to sleep in her true form very often, she answered, "Maybe if we had come in the summer months rather than winter I'd take you up on that. I'm too cold tonight, even as a dragon." She dressed quickly, layering a thermal shirt under a dark green heavy wool sweater. Her jeans and hiking boots, though not terribly beat up and worn, had obviously seen some use in the past. Though normally their use was traipsing around strange wilderness in Louisiana trying to get a good photograph, not roughing it in the Canadian Rockies with her cousin. Once she was dressed, Elise followed Stealth down the human sized passage way to the main living quarters of the cave.

As soon as Fl'ite showed her where the washroom was, Hellcat bobbed her head in understanding and thank you before dragging her luggage into the room the woman had indicated. Surprisingly the washroom was rather roomy and Hellcat was able to maneuver the suitcase in without any problem. Dropping the handle of the suitcase, letting the bag thump onto the floor, Hellcat trotted back over to the door and shut it before reluctantly letting herself be pushed into the background.

With only a small protesting growl, the lynx dissappeared and the woman once again had control of their body. Brielle, thanks to Hellcat's lovely fur coat, hadn't noticed the chill in the air while they were outside but now that she was naked in a cave she certainly noticed. In a hurry to get something warm back on her, Brielle hurriedly unzipped her luggage and flung it open. She immediately dug for the thermal shirt and pants that Elise had insisted she buy and bring, and then a pair of jeans and her favorite crimson hooded sweatshirt.

Her clothes were much warmer than her bare skin and once Brielle had on all of her layers and her suitcase was closed again, she let herself back out into the main living area. Not sure where they would be sleeping for the night yet, she just left her suitcase in the bathroom. That way it would be easy for her to find later.

At about the same time that Brielle entered the living area, Stealth and Elise seemed to appear out of nowhere. Only when she took another steps forward could Brielle even see that there was a passageway that they had just come out of. The grey of the stone was was enough to play tricks on a girl's eyes...