Early evening finds the black Khatta up in the topmost room of the tower of Blackshire Keep. The foppish fox may be a lazy lout most of the time, but he's actually done a fairly good job of rearranging most of the junk in here and organizing it … though in the course of his own interests in inspecting it all himself first, no doubt. Despite the encroaching gloom of the bog, this is still the cleanest, driest, generally nicest place in the castle, thanks to the lingering effects of that "Fashion" spell. (The garden would be a good contender for second place, if it weren't for first the killer plants, then the suds, then the dead plants, and then the barren mess that now remains.)

It's a quiet evening, which is unusual. The fox hasn't shown up to share any more of his insipid (reasonably well-played, but still endowed with horrible lyrics) "ballads". Born-in-Shame is present, but he's hardly a talker anyway. Ysnor seems content to lurk up in the attic. And Scarlet must be off doing more research, or maybe playing with "her" dragon.

Jynx, on the other paw, peruses the old tomes that the group had taken with them during their journey with a grain of frustration, trying to find any information about the crystal crater. That it needs the missing shard is obvious; the problem is that said shard has seemed to have up and vanished all on its own. "Dagh take it all," the feline says, as he flips through his copy of the Sylvanian Heresy in annoyance.

"Who is this 'Dagh'?" signs Born-in-Shame. "Is he your deity?"

Outside, a bell clangs cacophonously. Someone must have come to the dock, and didn't decide to just let him- or herself in. (Probably not one of the fluffy horrors. They wouldn't have the decency to use the door, probably, and the lanterns seem to be keeping them at bay.)

The black Khatta closes the old book with a sigh, rubbing his eyes. "No, it's just an expression." He gets up and replaces the book to its resting place, somewhat impressed that the fox actually did a decent job of cleaning up the place. "I think he's supposed to be some kind of de-" The feline cuts his sign short, perking his ears at the sudden noise of arrival. "Who in the Star could that be?" He goes to the window and peers downward, attempting to make out his visitors.

There is a small wooden river barge at the dock … which means that it would have been ferried over a bit of land to even reach the swamp to get here. But then, with its wagon-like structure, perhaps the owner could just stick wheels on the side for the land-borne trip. "Lord Kurai! We wish to see Lord Kurai!" cries out a middle-aged tabby Khatta, as he rings the bell again. A Korv and a Rhian are with him … and, beyond, there's another light visible in the swamp … another barge headed this way? Whatever, that far away, it will take a while to get here, and these three visitors are perhaps a more pressing concern.

Jynx's fur stands on end. These are the first visitor's he's had, and already they don't sit right with him. He turns to the cheetah, speaking and signing at the same time. "You come with me so we can go greet our guests. I don't want to be alone with them." He makes his way over to the stairway hatch, and quickly opens it.

As the door opens, the middle-aged Khatta nearly throws himself on the younger cat. "DRAGON! DRAGON IN THE VILLAGE! MUST COME! HELP!" And without further ado, the Korv and Rhian start dragging Jynx toward the barge!

The black Khatta gives a yell of alarm, "Hey! Stop! Leggo!" The young cat's claws dig into the floor as the townsfolk tug at him. "What are you three talking about?!"

Born-in-Shame stands close behind Jynx, but he doesn't seem to be doing anything just yet.

"You must help us, Lord Kurai! The village will be destroyed! It's the Three-Headed Dragon of the Whispering Wood! He has come to devour us all! We saw him fly into the village while we were out in the fields … so we came to seek your aid, since you're a hero!" exclaims the Khatta. The Korv and Rhian exclaim much the same thing at the same time, but that's the short of it.

Jynx wrestles himself away from the trio, and regains his feet. "Three headed dragon?" He thinks for a bit, then comes to a realization with a groan. "Did it have a small, four-eared white ball of fluff riding it or giving it commands?"

"YES!" shout the three villagers in unison.

The Korv adds, "And a fluff of red, too! *KAW!*"

Meanwhile, the second barge draws closer. It's close enough now that a silhouette can be made out, of a barge with a lone and thin figure standing at the prow, though it appears that there are others seated in the floor of the simple water-craft, and a lantern is suspended upon a pole, though the lone figure carries a torch.

The black Khatta sets his ears back as he is yelled at. "I see." He gives another sigh, and starts towards the door. "Well, I guess we can check it out. It hasn't done anything yet, has it?" The feline halts at the door, and stares out at the barge. His fur had started to settle down, but again stands on end. "You fellahs didn't have another group with you, did you?"

"No," says the elder tabby, shaking his head. The Korv and Rhian shake their heads as well.

Jynx frowns, and continues to stare out the door at the approaching craft. He squints, trying to make out the figures better. "Well, looks like I can't leave just yet… "

"We have no time to waste!" yowls the tabby Khatta, who is nearly shrieking. "The village is in peril!"

The black cat sighs, "Look, has the dragon actually burned anything down yet, or ate anybody?"

Meanwhile, the other barge draws closer. The lone figure on the bow is female, and feline. Perhaps a lioness. Her bearing is very familiar.

"It's a dragon!" caws the Korv, flapping his wings in agitation. "Do tey drop by to say 'howty too'? *KAW!*"

Hmm. As the boat draws closer, that feline looks like she could be old enough to be Jynx's grandmother.

Jynx looks back out the door, and freezes, not bothering to reply to the townsfolk. His look of annoyance melts into an expressionless, sober and cold gaze. "You three go back. I'll meet you there," he says without taking his eyes off the forthcoming barge.

Born-in-Shame signs, "Should I accompany them, sir? In case there is real trouble?"

The Khatta grimaces, thinking for a moment, but then just nods. "Yes, go with them. If the dragon really is giving them any problems, deal with it. I'll be there with you shortly. It looks like I have some… business to take care of."

Born-in-Shame bows to Jynx, then goes to the boat. The three villagers, seeing the armored warrior get into their barge (and probably having no idea as to his species) seem content for now … and hurriedly cast off from the dock.

The second barge, meanwhile, bumps up against the dock. The elder feline beams when she sees Jynx.

Jynx crosses his arms, and leans on the door-frame. He regards the elderly lioness with a cold expression, wordlessly staring at the barge while his tail-tip twitches from side to side.

The barge comes to a stop, and one of Lady Martinette's servants – or should she be more properly be called Lady Calderas? – secures the ropes. She steps off of the docks, completely unfazed, by all appearances, by Jynx's cold reception. "Darling Feli! It's so good to see you … and dressed up so nicely!" She looks around. "My, my … it's a bit of a fixer-upper … but I hear it has potential. And, oh please, don't let me hold you up from looking into that 'dragon' problem. I know you're terribly busy what with fighting monsters and keeping the peasants happy and all that. I'll just make myself at home until you get back!"

For several moments, the young cat doesn't even budge. "What are you doing here, Martinette?" The cold expression never wavers, and Jynx stays put in the doorway, blocking the entrance.

Lady Martinette's expression flickers for a moment, but it resumes its classical grandmotherly mask. "Now, now, Feli, don't be so impolite to your grandmother. I've just come to help you fix up your first home. I thought that it could use a bit of cleaning up … and a few home-making touches here and there."

Martinette's servants are already unloading some fairly heavy-looking trunks onto the wooden dock.

Jynx shifts his weight on his feet, staring angrily at the trunks. "You might as well put those trunks right back on that boat. What makes you think I'll let you in here?" He returns his gaze to the old lioness, frowning in distaste.

Martinette lets the smile drop. She has either a genuinely hurt expression, or she's quite the actress. She holds up a hand to her servants. They halt their unloading, then just stand at silent attention.

"Because I am your grandmother?" replies Martinette. "I cannot change the past, Feli. But I would like to help you with whatever you choose to be your future."

"You weren't so quick to help me before," replies the younger feline. "As a matter of fact, you turned me out." He pads out of the doorway, and looks down at the water. "Now that I have a little bit of wealth, and a little bit of notoriety, you're ready to jump at the chance to help me out?"

"Yes," says Martinette. "And then to leave."

Jynx glares back up at his grandmother. "And what do you get out of it? Some of my money? A chance for more power?"

Martinette frowns. "Now, listen to me, young Feli! I turned you out so you wouldn't get caught up in that mess with those insane cultists! Now they're gone, since somehow they got the idea that their precious artifact isn't even in this world any longer … so I could follow up on you without fear of bringing danger upon your head."

"I want to do something for you, Feli, however small it may be," says Martinette. "And if all I can do for you is leave, then so be it!" She turns away.

The black Khatta just gives a knowing smirk, and watches as his grandmother goes. Part of him says to let her leave and never bother him again: good riddance. But another part twists his stomach into knots; maybe this could be a second chance with her? Maybe she needs another chance? She's the first family he's seen out here, and his is pretty… lonely. Jynx grimaces, "Wait… " He looks back up. "… don't go… "

Martinette stops, turning to look at Jynx. There's a wary expression on her face … like she's already building up emotional walls in preparation for an attack.

Jynx looks down at the docks, face contorted in conflicting feelings, before letting it all out with a sigh. "You can stay here for a while," he slowly regains his gaze at the lioness, "but if you do anything to me, or any of my companions… "

Martinette nods. "You needn't make any threats, Feli. I will do you and your friends no harm. Now … if you'll allow me to get my things inside, I really think you should check on your friends."

The black Khatta opens the door for Martinette. "Take your stuff upstairs; Ysnor will help you sort it out." His expression still one of mixed emotions, the Khatta boards the one remaining barge – Ysnor's – and pushes off towards the village, not saying another word.