It's suppertime at the Kurai household, the store closed for the evening, the Khatta family – plus a non-Khatta guest – gathered around the table. Or, that is, they would be all gathered, except that Lylia, Feli's mother, is forever flitting about, with yet other preparations to make.

As luck would have it, a big lupine, Gnarr, is seated right next to Feli Kurai, otherwise known as Jynx.

A gray tabby Khatta sighs as he looks at his empty plate and at the cooling food dishes, while his wife, Lylia, is going about in the kitchen, working on DESSERT, after all.

Jynx, tired of waiting on his mother, quickly takes a few fried legs of some sort of flightless bird, similar to chicken, all while avoiding the gaze of Dominic.

Gnarr looks as if he's about to start gnawing on the table. Given his habits, this is not necessarily an exaggeration. He sees Jynx's move … then grabs several more hunks of meat than Jynx did. (Good thing that Eve and Lylia tend to go light on the meat for their own plate, because it only leaves a smattering left for Dominic.)

Dominic glowers. "FELI!" he snaps.

Gnarr is already noisily and messily devouring the meat he's procured. Compared to his massive form, they look like mere scraps.

Jynx, face already halfway buried in the meat, looks up at his father, "What? I'm starving!"

Dominic seethes, with a look that, if Jynx were still small enough for it, would herald an upcoming episode of being hoisted off and paddled. "While you are in this house, and while I am paying to fill your belly, you will display some MANNERS, young man!"

Eve smiles innocently, looking perfectly prim and proper. But then, she eats like a gerbil anyway. (Or, that is, Sinai's equivalent of a gerbil, whatever that may be.)

Jynx sighs, and places the meat back on to his plate, "Yes sir." He flinches as little bits of meat and crumb hit him in the face, and glares over at the smelly wolf.

Lylia comes out of the kitchen, smiling, oblivious to the fact that much smacking and chomping is going on, and has been going on before her arrival. "Well! Sorry for the wait." She sits down in her chair beside Dominic, not bringing anything to the table. (After all, it would be premature to bring dessert to the table before supper is finished.)

Dominic says, "Now then … that we're all together… " He looks meaningfully at the large wolf … who has just finished off the last of his meat and has finally fallen to relative silence.

Jynx, still dodging the protein projectiles, looks over to his father, "Can we eat now?"

Dominic casts Jynx another warning look, then smiles at Eve as she clasps her little hands together and closes her eyes properly. Dominic does a similar gesture, giving a routine (and short) blessing over the food.

Jynx rolls his eyes (while Dominic isn't looking, of course), and does likewise.

Once that's finished, Dominic hisses loudly to Jynx, "NOW you may eat." He begins scooping some vegetables onto his own plate … since there's not really much in the way of meat left.

Jynx mutters under his breath, "Finally," and takes a few of the assorted edibles from the table, setting them next to the meat.

Gnarr looks quite pleased, making a loud, rude noise that in some cultures (but not this one) would indicate appreciation of a meal, and he doesn't bother with covering his mouth or asking to be excused. Instead, he barks, "Food good! Gnarr like! Good cook!"

Jynx wrinkles his nose at the smell of the belch, and fights to retain his appetite. He glares back up at the wolf, "Then how about you eat it, instead of talking about it?"

Lylia humbly smiles and bows her head in response to Gnarr's flattery (even if it may be a bit crude), while Eve demurely nibbles on the modest bits she's put on her plate, doing her utmost best to upstage Jynx at any juncture where manners are concerned – including passing plates around. "Would you like a roll, Mama?" Of course, Lylia accepts, and passes it along…

The wolf looks down at his empty plate. Hmm. Where did the bones go? He looks back to Jynx.

Jynx, making sure that his parents aren't looking first, scowls at Eve and makes a stabbing motion with his knife (in sibling fashion, of course.) He then looks back up at the wolf, and protects his plate with an arm.

Gnarr snorts at Jynx, and puts his hand back down. My, but the wolf has gotten predictable. Thus, the contents of Jynx's plate are protected from being snatched away when he's not looking.

Gnarr looks instead to Dominic and Lylia and growfs (Of course, that's not really a word, but it does the job), "Gnarr like good food! Gnarr will miss food."

Jynx shovels some more of the food in his mouth, then brightens up. "You're leaving?!" he says, mouth full.

Gnarr nods. "Gnarr go home! Quest done. Gnarr return. Much glory. Save tribe's honor. Have Book of Marvels. Return home." The wolf is not often quite so verbose as this.

Dominic has a somewhat divided look, as if his face is fighting between relief and regret. "Oh! Well, as a guest … well … you always paid very promptly. I appreciate that greatly."

Jynx blinks, book of marvels? Oh well, not that it matters, at least the smelly canine is on his way out. The Khatta grins hugely, "Weell, don't waste any time in packing!"

Gnarr nods. "Gnarr need help. Gnarr hear Papa Khatta gripe about Little Khatta. Gnarr give Little Khatta JOB!"

Dominic's eyebrows raise at this, and he drops his fork. "A job for Feli?"

Jynx keeps on eating, looking only at his plate, "Yeah, Eve does need a jo- WHAT?"

Eve smiles innocently. "It was my idea," she mews brightly.

Jynx looks daggers at the little kitten, this time making a throat slitting action at her, teeth bared.

Dominic asks, "Well! What a surprise. Can you tell more about this job?" He catches Jynx's pantomime, and loudly clears his throat, looking whipping-belts at HIM.

Eve looks hurt. "But you need a job, Jynxie. So Papa won't think you're a loafer and a ne'er-do-well who can't earn his own keep." She blinks innocently.

Jynx flinches, and goes back to grumpily eating his food, "Do I even get a say in this?"

This time, Lylia does some glaring of her own, focusing in Dominic's direction. Dominic adjusts his collar. "Ahem. Well… "

Jynx says, "I'm no loafer! I do plenty of things around here!"

Dominic looks a bit put on the spot. He evades, "Ahem. Could you tell more about this job?"

Eve whispers loudly, "I think Papa is thinking of all the stuff you keep breaking!"

Jynx whispers equally loudly, "And I think I'm thinking about how to toss you over the side of Rephidim!"

Gnarr rowrfs, "Little Khatta get room and board. Go with Gnarr back to Titania. Help with things. Get many Titanian pretties he can sell back in Rephidim. Make many shekels."

Jynx looks at Gnarr, then back at Dominic, "Why can't I just get a normal job like all my friends?"

Dominic coughs into his hand, "… because you're not normal… "

Jynx blinks at his father, then goes back to eating, angrily.

Gnarr digs in his voluminous fur and pulls out something which he slaps down on the table beside Jynx's plate. "Gnarr also pay advance."

It's a sack filled with coins. They chink as they hit the table.

Jynx looks up from his plate and freezes, looking at the sack.

Gnarr grins. "Gnarr pay good. Need Little Khatta. Little Khatta speak Rephidim-Speak better than Gnarr. Deal with airship people. People think Gnarr stupid. Try to trick Gnarr."

Dominic looks impressed. "So, when do you head out?" he asks, doing his best to appear nonchalant.

Jynx's mouth drops at a loss: trapped between making a lot of money, and suffering a prolonged inconvenience. He shakes his head and comes back to reality, "Head out? Wait a minute… "

Lylia looks worried. "Where is 'Titania'? Is it far away? Is it dangerous? I hear there are pirates all about, and I've heard rumors that we may have trouble with the Eeee … and they're on all the airships, you know. They might try to sabotage… " She trails off, fidgeting at the nightmare scenarios she dreams up.

Jynx stares at his mother with a horrified look.

Gnarr answers, "Gnarr not know. Gnarr get cheap travel on cargo ship, but … hold up in customs." He furrows his brow, not sure about the word. "Temple stuff. But Gnarr no have stay here tonight. Gnarr pack things and go. Stay on ship until it leave. Little Khatta help me." He nods, quite certain of himself.

Lylia frets. "Oh. And what if Jynx catches a cold? I'll have to see if we have some extra blankets to pack. Oh dear."

Jynx pushes away from the table and puts his paws up in defense, "Wait a minute, I never agreed… "

Gnarr claps Jynx on the back. "Little Khatta go on adventure! Get many shekels. Maybe find pretty lady Khatta to club over head and drag home."

Lylia gasps at the notion!

Jynx OOFS! "Yeah, and little Khatta might get skinned… "

Dominic ahems. "Ah … No … ah … no clubbing pretty lady Khattas." He squeezes Lylia's hand and makes a weak smile.

Gnarr growfs, "Little Khatta help Gnarr, Gnarr protect Little Khatta! Any hurt Little Khatta … GNARR SMASH!" He emphasizes this by bringing his big meaty fist down on the table. Plates bounce. Lylia eeps loudly.

Jynx at first has his mind set on not going, but then his gaze returns to the sack of money. The powerful forces of Jynx's common sense and Jynx's greed battle within the Khatta…

Eve mews, "I'll fetch towels!" She bounds off to the kitchen.

Gnarr oops at the sight of overturned cups. He adds, in a much more quiet voice than usual, "Gnarr keep Little Khatta safe. Word of honor. Promise."

Jynx flinches at the pounding.

Gnarr adds, "If no get help from Little Khatta, then Gnarr stay on until find help."

The black Khatta wonders about what safety means to this monster, but then his gaze once again goes to the sack…

Jynx sighs, "Okay, I'll go… " Looks like Greed won yet again. Hey, he's a teenager, what'd you expect?

Dominic gives a glance at the table, then says, "Well! Feli, I suppose it's time to make plans. Titania … That is a bit of a trip from here, but at least it's on the same continent. It's not like you're going to Ur … or even the Savan. It's a bit chilly, if I recall correctly, but it IS summer on the surface in the northern hemisphere, so it shouldn't be too bad… "

Gnarr says, "Not chilly. Just right."

Jynx sits back down, "We'll start later, first I wanna finish eating."

Eve rushes back, cleaning up the spills, being a perfect Mama's Little Helper. She even refills the cups, prompting a smile from Lylia.

Gnarr pushes back from the table. "Gnarr let Khattas eat. Gnarr all done. Pack up for trip."

Jynx finishes his plate, glaring at Eve for good measure.

Eve gives Jynx a long-suffering look and a sigh, then gets back into her chair and continues nibbling at her modest helpings.

Dominic says, "Well! Thank you very much, Mister Gnarr." He smiles as the wolf leaves the room, the latter's pounding foot steps reverberating as he makes his way back up the stairs.

Jynx begins on seconds, not in any particular hurry to help the wolf.

Dominic smiles, looking quite pleased. "Yes. I think this will do you much good, Feli. You'll even be earning your own spending money for this trip, after all!"

Jynx just gives a quick glance at his father, then goes back to eating the little leftover portion. "Just don't go renting my room off to anyone else this time… "