It is now nightfall, and the lights come on in the forms of lanterns and torches outside the buildings … including the schoolhouse. An old Rhian caretaker opens up the doors, and cubs and colts and fledglings head out of their cottages, being given fond farewells by their parents as they trundle off to the schoolhouse. At night. And it seems this is a perfectly normal routine.

Normal, that is, until a Rhian, a tabby Khatta and a Korv come dashing into town. "There it is! The dragon!" shrieks the tabby. "Slay it, knight!" Behind them comes an armored cheetah warrior. He hasn't bothered to draw his sword yet.

All three heads of the dragon – curled around the fountain – snore loudly. One of the cubs squeals and giggles as a gust of air from the nose of the purple head sends him rolling along.

The Aelfin departs from the Blackshire Inn as the sun sets and the school opens. It seems she had a bit more to drink than she should, though the brew being non-alcoholic, she still wanders out into the night with sluggish feet. As she nears the dragon, her ears perk up at the sounds of anti-dragon protest. "What did they say?" She spins to face the incoming noise and lifts her staff to prepare it, should magic be needed. "You there, in the darkness. What say you about my dragon friend?"

The tabby Khatta skids to a halt, looking around the village … at the cubs skipping on to night school. At the lack of any burning cottages. "D-d-d-… dragon!" He points a shaky hand at the sleeping monster. "B-b-but … I … " The Korv and Rhian catch up, looking equally dumbfounded.

The armored knight walks up, and makes a gesture which might be a shrug to the Aelfin. He waves his hands in some sort of hand-signal, but the meaning is lost on Scarlet.

Scarlet returns what she believes to be another wave from the knight, thinking how very quiet that man is. But then she also considers just how talkative any Lancer has ever been with her, for that matter. The staff is lowered and the Aelfin rubs the head of the child who got pushed by the dragon's breath, as she nears the beast. Once she arrives near it, she settles down to lean against it and talk to the approaching villagers. "You all are very silly. Do you think simply because something looks terrible, it is? Hardly so. I tell you, I have nearly been eaten by the cutest of rabbits, while a dragon becomes my friend."

The Korv just clacks his beak a few times. The tabby turns to the knight. "Ah … this is the part where you fight the monster, right?"

Born-in-Shame shakes his head, and walks over to the fountain. He pats the blue head on the nose … then wipes frost off of his gauntlet.

"He will not fight the monster, because the monster is my friend," the girl says as the knight pats the dragon. She smiles at him and stands up, and perhaps unexpected, walks over to give the knight a hug.

The three villagers look around, and appear to be quite lost and embarrassed. "Ah … well … thank you, ma'am, for … taming the dragon?" They shuffle off to their respective cottages.

Giggling, the Water Mage waves to the departing villagers. "I plan to take the dragon with me when I leave, so you should not fear," she tells them as they walk off. Once they are gone, she turns to the knight and gestures towards the schoolhouse. "We have had some visitors arrive who hold an interesting malady of the skin. They cannot go outside in the sun. I was told the schoolteacher would know of this. Will you join me, sir knight?"

The warrior bows, waves his hands around again, then points in the direction of the swamp.

"What ever are you doing? Is there something you are trying to tell me?" Scarlet asks the knight. She considers him for a moment and then tilts her head. "Oh, that is… Savanite sign language. I have seen some of the slaves on Rephidim use something like that. How odd. If you are a Savanite, how ever did you get Templar armor?"

Scarlet reaches into her pouch and offers the armored one some writing materials in case he can write as well.

Born-in-Shame stares at the writing materials, then shakes his head. He digs into his robes … and pulls out his own writing kit, complete with a tablet to write against. He starts scrawling on a piece of parchment, using an odd pen that looks as if it's actually made out of metal. This draws looks from nearby villagers, for sure.

The Aelfin tucks away her own materials, pausing to examine the pen. "Why, that is a metal writing instrument. How… however did you find such a thing? I have never seen one before." The materials are clumsily put away, while the girl stares at the pen herself. As if this knight wasn't odd enough without the pen.

The warrior clicks on the tip of his writing utensil, causing the chisel tip to retract inside, then he puts the metal "quill" back into his writing case. He shows the parchment to Scarlet.

Written in a somewhat blocky but finely rendered calligraphic font,the letter reads, "I am Born-in-Shame, of the People – called the 'Silent-Ones' – from the world of Abaddon. Zoltan Cambio, the Peacemaker, brought me here to Sinai, and granted me leave to accompany Master Kurai on this quest. I wish to serve the Star and to earn a new name for myself. This armor is common to warriors of my people, though it does not work well here on Sinai."

By the time Scarlet has time to finish reading the letter, the last of the children have gotten into the school house, and a bell rings to signal the start of classes.

Then, across the square … a strange golden light appears,accompanied by a booming voice … followed by the sounds of scuffling,and then a lion's roar! Something strange is going on over there…