The last vestiges of the Chirr'T'Thar sun is fading from view. The dance festival is still going on, but Zaura led Shiran home before continuing her celebrating. The rest of the clan is settling down into the family sleeping pile, while a small dragon rests on one of the upper ledges of the roof, in amongst some flowers growing on a vine there.
Smudged silver lines on his wings and face, the dragon sits, watches the fading end of the sunset, eye ridges creased and wings draped out over the ledge, feet dangling over the side.
Leaning back and supported on planted hands, Shiran watches lights come on, eyes slightly narrowed.. contemplative.
The buzzes of felitaurs can still be heard in the night air, apparently they have pretty good night vision. Course, landing lights on the buildings don't hurt either. But unlike many cities, the lights are very few and subdued, so the night sky is amazing clear and full of starts. One set of wings seems to be coming towards the Rockhopper tower.
Shiran catches the incoming pair of wings.. Zaura? His eyes close, and a few tones shimmer around him as he probes the air.. the 'signatures' of the clan member's movements by air are distinctive.
Diane wings close to home, mind on many things as she approaches near where Shiran is sitting in the shadows.
Shiran grins.. that signature is familiar indeed. He stands on the ledge, and calls, quietly because of the sleepers, a sound crossed between high whistle and the high soprano of a killer whale.
Diane churrrs a trill of her own in response and lands rather gracefully next to Shiran, despite her widening flanks.
Diane opens her arms and gives Shiran a chance to hug her first, rather than her normal welcome pounce.
Shiran stands back enough to give wing room.. then leans in to headrub the returning felitaur.
Diane mrrrrrrrrs and snugs, "Good evening kecharra. How was your day?"
Shiran leans in close, and wingsnugs Diane. "Eventful. Zaura took me out and about.. and yours?"
Diane smiles and purrs, "Well, I had a short day at work. We're retooling rapidly to make more ships and defenses. Seems we've got someone deciding to take potshots at everyone, including Chirr'T'Thar, and with VERY big guns. So I...spent the day unwinding."
Shiran stops. "Potshots?" His voice takes a worried tone. "Hostile arrivals?"
Diane nodnods, "They've been scuttling many of the other races trade ships. We've been the only ones to do any damage, and that seems to be minimal so far."
Shiran's wings fold in. "From the sound of it, you're the only ones to throw something besides merchants at them, so.." He shivers. "..well." He looks up. "As for the rest.. Zaura took me to the dance, but I thought it would have been very awkward if I'd joined you just then."
Diane goes stock still for a second when that fully hits and she urps, "I... you saw me?"
Shiran slips a hand over Diane's shoulder by way of reassurance. "Pure coincidence, I promise." He looks up, and raises an eyeridge. "Why do you sound so worried? I knew what I was getting into."
Diane relaxes a little, "I just...don't want to hurt you Shiran. You mean a lot to me, you do know that don't you, tall, green and scalely? ;)"
Shiran chuckles. "You're the tall one, remember? Relax.. I'll get used to things. Since it sounds as if we might be here awhile, I'll have time."
Diane rubs up along Shiran and nods, "We can always get you back home if need be, just be delayed a little. So, the night is still young, do you have anything in mind, or did my birthmother wear you out at the dance? ;)"
Shiran purrs, and reaches up to slip an arm about Diane's 'waist'. "After all, t'won't be the first big shift I've made.. or the hardest, really." He grins. "Sounds as if you've something in mind, and I've even got some paint left on me."
Diane churrrrrs and grins at the purring dragon, "I wonder. Kainudy was quoted as saying that dragons are just the next step in feline evolution. ;)"
Shiran tilts his head, and mock-sighs. "You plan on evolving soon, then?"
Diane seems to ponder that then shakes her head, "I like having fur. How would you like a night flight, then maybe someplace quiet to eat and talk, and cuddle a bit? ;)"
Shiran reaches up to shoulder-rub Diane, chuckling. "Sounds wonderful. and.. I could use a hand cleaning this silver stuff off, if you don't mind?"
Diane hmmmmmms, "A nice bath after the flight. And a perfect place for a little snack and some "talk"."
Shiran nods, stretching one wing. "And I can help you relax a bit after a day at the machinery. I think we have an evening." the other wing curls up to drape over a furry back.
Diane smirks and gives Shiran a quick, deep kiss on the nose and leaps off the roof, wings snapping open loudly in the night air as she purrs, "Tag!" over her shoulder.
Shiran blinks, and laughs! "Hey!" With that, both wings fan open and he take air, chasing after!
With a whirl and a few loops, the expectant felitauress waits for Shiran to take off before leading him on a chase through the cooling evening air, her giggles helping to give her away.
Shiran could probably go all-out and catch up.. but it would spoil the fun. Besides, between Diane's being encumbered and the giggling, it really wouldn't be fair.
Diane may be moving a bit slower than normal, but her aerial maneuvers are still fairly impressive for something her size. But she's not trying TOO hard to evade her mate.
Shiran's wings are quiet, mostly, as he plays along with a number of swirling passes, before pulling ahead and then up to try for a 'tag'..
Diane grins and waits for Shiran to come close enough to grab. She doesn't mind 'tagging' herself.
Shiran pulls in close, then rolls, and reaches out to touch with a hand.. wingtips really aren't fair either, as far as they reach.
Diane grabs Shiran's hand and rolls onto her back, grinning at him as she loses altitude and gives him a kiss.
Shiran lets one eye keep an eye on the ground as he wraps his hand around and tilts to lean his head into what's turning into an enthusiastic tag indeed.
Diane mrrrrrrrs and then quickly rolls back level, careful to give Shiran plenty of room to spread his wings.
Shiran rolls level, and spins, laughing. "And here I was about to ask what I got for catching you."
Diane chucklepurrs and grins, "We have to decide what the prize is, then I'll know if I should play to win or lose. ;) I'm "it"now kecharra, you're supposed to fly away now. ;)"
Shiran peels into a dive, still laughing. "You seem to have the idea pretty well.." His words trail off as he pulls back into a twisting corkscrew.
Diane growls playfully and dives after Shiran, noting the silvery paint does help locate him a little under the starlight.
Shiran cuts left, and then makes a try at turning the move into a fake and pulling right, smartly but not as swiftly as he might.
Diane, chuckling, ignites a small flare feather and lobs it over Shiran's head, careful not to get close to his flight pattern, while moving to intercept him from the other direction.
Shiran ducks, an zags back left as the flare feather goes by, caught unprepared for an obstacle course.
Diane chortles a warning as she heads in from the direction Shiran is now going. She never said she'd play fair. ;)
Shiran pulls level and reorients. "Playing to win, then?" He chuckles. "I thought you hadn't decided."
Diane purrrowwwwls, "I haven't. Just keeping my options open. ;)" and gains some altitude to get a better position to dive.
Shiran banks, and makes a wide partial arc around the floating flare.. "I think you win by playing.. no matter who does the catching."
Diane churrrrrowlls from above as she dives, "Now you're catching on kecharra. ;)"
Shiran tries to out guess by dipping right.. a dive has to be imminent.
Diane says something colorful about the First Mother's ample anatomy as she shoots right by Shiran, but you can tell she's chuckling as she does so.
Shiran rights and pulls up, grinning. "Of course, winning should be a bit of a challenge, after all.."
Diane chuckles from below and then swoops up and over, reaching with her hands towards Shiran's tail.
Shiran jinks just the wrong way at just the wrong time, having expected an approach form a different direction.
Diane chuckles and 'tags' Shiran and spins off again, giggling softly.
Shiran steadies himself, and mock-sighs. "All right, you caught me.. so what does the victor want, hmm?"
Diane's smile can be heard even if not seen, "You get to help me wash my back. Both of them. ;)"
Shiran laughs, and flips again, spinning in the breeze. "If you insist. Got a spot in mind?"
Just the muffled sound of feathers on giant wings for a moment, then an answer, "I assume you want some privacy?"
Shiran blushes with his voice. "It would be.. nice, yes."
Diane grins and chuckles, "Your blush is so cute. No problem, follow me."
Shiran pulls close, following at almost wingtip-brushing distance.
Diane's tailtip touches Shiran's a few times then dives down to a small garden with a pool, surrounded on all sides by hedges, and very low lights.
The two lovers enjoy a nice, private bath, though Shiran must be noticing that it's a lot more work for him to bathe a felitaur than the other way around. Oddly, he doesn't seem to mind. The two spend a relatively quiet night together, and are still curled around each other when the morning sun peaks into the garden the next day.
Diane mrrrffffles as the sunlight reaches her face, her eyes crack open a fraction and she growls.
Shiran stirs at the growl with a sleepy "Hmmmf?"
Diane hmmmfs, "The sun came up again."
Shiran shifts, and sighs. "It keeps doing that. You have to go?"
Diane starts stretching, but carefully, as she's still wrapped around her mate, "Unfortunately, yes."
Shiran begins wriggling out, so as to remove the need for such care. "Well, at least you've got all that fur straightened out, yes?"
Diane giggles and leans around and kisses Shiran before he can fully escape, "True. And last night was truly wonderful kecharra. But I do need to head out. You should be ok on your own by now, right?"
Shiran chuckles. "I'll survive, don't worry." He tilts his head in and leans into the kiss, before letting Diane go. "Have a good day.. I'll try to find my way to the tower by tonight."
Diane grins as she stretches her wings, "You'd best. Unless you want me to hunt you down. ;)"
Diane pads up and bends Shiran back in a lonnnng, passionate kiss and leaps up into the air, and flies off.
Shiran is left mrrring, and calls out; "I'm not sure I'd mind that!" as she leaves; he then begins strapping on his jacket-harness and sundry stuff before strrretching out to leave as well; time to explore.
Shiran turns, and takes off, heading East, wings pumping as he climbs to a good gliding height; in his thoughts about taking in the city, he doesn't notice the multi-colored armband left behind.
The city itself is an odd riot of color. Spaced between the forest like vegetation, the brightly colored towers of the Chirr'T'Thar stand out and contrast the lush greens and browns. Off a bit to the right is a larger compound, with what appears to be lawns and some smaller shorter type buildings. Not typical of the Chirr'T'Thar.
Shiran banks for a look at the 'compound', curious at anything that 'stands out', even in surroundings like this.
The buildings are relatively small by Chirr'T'Thar standards. Rather boring and utilitarian. The vegetation is less dense here, but there doesn't seem to be any felitaurs about.
Shiran keeps plenty of altitude as he glides over the edge of the 'compound'; maybe one of their herding preserves, or something like a public park.
All that can be seen from above is an occasional glitter of something shiny, the compound continues it's silence.
Suddenly a smoking form staggers across the field. It's an injured felitaur, apparently. Trying to limp away while carrying something. Their wings seem to be missing most of their feathers.
Shiran rolls inverted, and suddenly blinks?! at the sight.. trying hard to decide whether this is really as bad as it looks or just an extreme form of felitaur entertainment.
The felitaur in question resolves into a young male on closer observation. He has several cuts, abrasions. His back leg is missing all the fur off of it and seems to be burned in spots. And his pawpads are leaving a trail of the bright purple Chirr'T'Thar blood on the grass.
Shiran drops absently lower as he stares in outright shock..
Shiran gives in, and calls out; "Do you need help?!"
The young male finally slumps against a tree and collapses, holding a squarish metal object, but gives no response.
Shiran drops to the ground, concerned, and frowns.
The slumped form remains motionless as it rests a dozen yards from where Shiran landed.
Shiran takes a few steps closer, worried indeed now, then looks back into the forest from which this one came..
A few seconds after Shiran walks by a large tree, he feels a prickly sensation run down his back.
Shiran blinks, and spins around.. o O {?!}
Nothing is there to see. Not even the tree he just walked by two seconds ago. A moan comes from the injured male.
Shiran turns back to the 'taur. "Err.. how bad.." He stops, and notices that his armband, and the translator with it, are not present. Slapping a palm to his forehead, he starts pulling up bits of the pidgin-felitaur he learned from Diane. "Injured.. badly help you need?"
The male, groans and growls "Test...fired back." and then eeps as he moves his damaged leg.
Shiran scrunches his eyeridges. "Helper.. medic call?"
The orangish tabby striped male shakes his head slightly and tries to lift the small device towards Shiran, growling out something that sounds like, "Must take away!"
Shiran raises an eyeridge? "..have, I you want to?"
The prickling sensation runs down Shiran's back again as the male keeps making hand off motions with the device to Shiran. His eyes open wider as he looks behind Shiran.
Shiran whirls around again, eyes narrowed.
Again, nothing is behind the young dragon. Well, except for a few smoking stumps of old trees.
The young male frantically waves the metal box at Shiran, and points up to the sky.
Shiran turns back around, and lays a hand over the box. "Have I can, if you.. want?"
The male nods as vigorously as he can while he pushes the 40 pound metal box into the dragons hands and cough growls, "Get away. Don't drop!"
Shiran tilts his head. "From where away?"
The prickling sensation becomes overwhelming, and right before Shiran, the tree that the male is leaning on glows and fades from sight...
Shiran mrphs under the weight of the box, and frowns. Vanishing trees?
The wounded felitaur nearly screams at this point, "Away. Away from here! By First mothers (growling sound), get way!"
Shiran doesn't question that.. his wings fan out, and the quiet tones turn to a keen as he pumps them for a fast takeoff, augmented by as much pure-air thrust as he can muster.
The wounded male watches Shiran leave with relief as he slumps to the ground, losing consciousness. . o O (We never expected that damn quantum effect disruptor to spontaneously turn itself on at our weapons testing center.) He can only hope that that scaley fellow isn't an enemy, and doesn't get it anywhere near the cities fusion reactors. And with that last thought, he loses consciousness.
Shiran pulls aloft.. well aloft, and hunts for the nearest tower or airborne 'taur.
Shiran banks hard, heading for the nearest tower.
High up in the council elders meeting place, there is a lot of panicking going on as garbled reports of damage at their underground weapons testing compound on the east side of the city. The city itself has been alerted, and reports of some odd, undocumented alien flying off with an object from the site come in to them. With the attacks by the unknown enemy, well, some paranoia would be reasonable in this case.
Shiran pulls higher still, looking for someone.. anyone.. to call in. Unprintable phrases in a bout five different languages are running through his head by now.
From the tower, several heavy energy weapons, being wielded by apprehensive felitaurs, open fire on the incoming dragon.
Shiran _snarls_.. the words 'don't drop the box' mean nothing in the face of the need to unload over a third of his own weight for all-out evasive maneuvers as he twists and dives to avoid whatever some accident or act of craziness is slinging at him.
The beams zip around the dragon, and one that should hit him, fizzles out as it gets within 20 feet of the dragon. Just, fading. Another that should have gotten close just bends, and takes out someone's favorite back scratching post on a neighboring tower.
Shiran blinks again.. and settles for dropping down to treetop height, almost literally, and inbounding to the tower at full speed, cutting left and right to avoid the taller branches.
The felitaurs at the tower toss their energy weapons down and fly to intercept the dragon, wingspurs sliding open audibly as they dive..
Shiran grrrrrs. This just _has_ to be one of the nuttier games the Chirr'T'Thar play.. it's the only explanation short of mass insanity, which he'd prefer not to think about. But to be drawn in with no warning like this.. he slackens his speed a bit, quietly freeing up raw energy and keeping an ear tuned to his reserves.
Considering the snarls on the faces of the incoming Chirr'T'Thar, and the small flurry of offensive feathers headed his way, the game theory seems a lot less likely.
Shiran's eyes narrow at those signs.. mass insanity or some bizarre-and-likely-fatal ritual it must be. Whatever it is, they've opened up with obviously-deadly weapons, and the feathers he knows can be explosive.. maybe some sick form of 'tag' over the box, perhaps. So be it. He pulls as hard as he can to the left and weaves through an evasive pattern calculated to bring a feather just within his 'reach'.
As word of the fight goes on, and it's noted that it's not going well, an alarm goes through the city. With the exception of the small army of Chirr'T'Thar after Shiran, the city explodes with felitaurs evacuating as fast as they can. The sound of sonic booms starts to become nearly ear shattering.
One male is diving in at Shiran as the dragon seems to be moving closer towards a feather.
Shiran reaches out and 'snags' the feather with a tendril of air.. then loops it around for a 'return to sender' towards the nearest 'target' with a snarled, 'Play crazy games yours with me, play we will!' It's rough, but it might just get he idea across.
Diane yawns as she crawls out of the access tube of the shuttles engines and pads though the hatch and back into the orbital shipyard and over to send her mate a call on his armband. She hmmfs at no response, then blinks at the evacuation notice for Chareka. Then her jaw drops as an image of the 'threat' comes on the screen. She makes a very hasty call to the military branch of the council.
Shiran is, meanwhile, pulling up hard, skimming the outside surface of the tower in a move timed to lose another cluster of feathers.
The feather stabs into the felitaur's shoulder and sticks out the other side. No explosion, just designed for cutting it seems. As Shiran skims the side of the tower, a Chirr'T'Thar, waiting in a window above, dives down at Shiran. Would have been an excellent ambush, except for about 10 of his wing feathers spontaneously going off as he gets near Shiran. He spirals to the ground in a mix of smoke, fire retardant foam, and whipped cream.
Shiran slams to one side, staring for a brief moment at the falling.. thing.. and, assuming it was a 'friendly fire' casualty, heads for the top. Whatever those things were up there, maybe he can use one to make this.. whatever it is.. more even.
The energy rifles are still sitting on the roof where they were dropped. The Chirr'T'Thar seem to be regrouping, hovering a distance away, and...pulling out various feathers and tossing them to the ground?
Someone amongst the group makes a comment, and the hastily toss all their armbands to one felitaur who takes them away just as the com pads light up.
Shiran drops onto the top ledge, eyeing the various dropped devices, and frowns, watching the dropped feathers and 'bands. He looks down at the box again, then at the 'taurs. Perhaps the box induces insanity in Felitaurs?
The energy rifles closest to Shiran start to whine audibly as they start overloading.
Shiran steps back, eyeing the strange machines, and the box again. Everything acts oddly around this box. Hmmmmm.
Shiran . o O {And they act oddly already. No wonder. It's driven them over the edge.}
One rifle remains within range of the box, just barely, and explodes a mere 30 feet from Shiran.
Shiran burns the last of his 'reserves' to slam an air-shield up, and holds this box out in front of him in a reflex motion..
A felitaur dives at the box while Shiran is distracted, having removed anything volatile from his body.
Shiran is already moving, in mid-throw to heave the machine towards one of the other weapons.. what happens is literally up in the air.
The felitaur grabs the box in mid toss and throws it over the side of the roof where he prays that one of his friends will catch it. Meanwhile he takes a full frontal blast of several energy rifles detonating, and falling off the roof limply.
Shiran drops as the rifles go off, head ringing.. whatever he yells is lost in the noise.
One group surrounds the felitaur now carrying the box as they lead him away from the direction Shiran was heading. The remaining group now dives without any hesitation towards Shiran. They don't look happy, but they no longer look like they're out to kill.
Shiran doesn't really notice as he picks himself up.. then turns around.
Shiran . o O {Now we see what this is about.. maybe.}
Seeing the alien standing and waiting, the leader of the felitaurs is about to motion to not hurt him when a streak of orange, black and white plows through them at sonic speeds.
A sonic boom rattles the windows and Shiran's teeth.
Shiran winces, but doesn't hear it so much as feel it; his ears are long since battered into uselessness. He waits, braced for whatever comes next.
The felitaurs are scattered, a couple of them falling to the ground while the streak curves back, having lost a great deal of speed. In moments, Diane Rockhopper is hovering between her fellow Chirr'T'Thar and her mate.
Shiran blinks, trying to get his eyes to focus, but that streak, those colors, look awfully familiar.. He steps, not steadily, to the edge of the rooftop, jaw dropped.
An argument breaks out between Diane and the remaining two felitaurs. Shiran can hear her voice roar something about "Contact your leaders" and a few untranslatable phrases. Finally, she curls her wings dives at them, entangling their wings in hers, turning them all into a falling mass of fighting felitaurs.
Shiran snarls as the fact that Diane seems to be in a matchup with two of his 'opponents' cuts through the dizziness, and snaps his wings open, diving off and arrowing in, the dull talons on his hands outstretched as the only thing he's got left to use.
An old saying reminds those with little sense that you never threaten a female's children, or her mate. Diane proves that saying double fold, as she makes sure they slam on their backs when they land, and she drives her full weight into their guts when she lands.
Shiran hits perhaps a matter of seconds later, having folded his wings and dropped into an all-out dive.. he's only got a set of dulled talons and teeth, but he's somewhere past coherent by now.
Diane doesn't notice Shiran yet. In a wonderful example of adrenaline powered strength, she grabs both males by the scruff of the neck and flings them towards the pile of fallen armbands.
Shiran chooses that moment to impact and become 'attached' to one of the pair; all one hundred pounds of him hisses and holds on by talons and teeth.
Diane blinks as she accidentally sends her mate flying. She sighs and runs over to the group.
Shiran actually doesn't seem to have noticed.. apparently small dwagons don't take this sort of stress at all well.
One of the males decides discretion is the better part of valor and takes Diane's advice. He grabs his armband and gets an earful from the Chirr'T'Thar council of elders. Diane pads up and watches the other felitaur try and fend off an incredibly irate dragon who is trying to chew and claw through skin much too tough for him to hurt. Diane growls something to the male, who then only tries to keep Shiran from hurting himself.
Shiran does, eventually, calm down, and then simply collapses, panting.. it's hard to tell, probably, but his blank eyes actually look glazed over.
Diane pads over and purrs, "Are you ok Kecharra?" She's still wearing her armband, so for the first time today, Shiran can fully understand what's being said.
Shiran shakes his head around. "Not sure. How.. you're here.. what about them?" He points to the others, still sounding less than thrilled.
Diane 'kneels' her felitaur body next to Shiran and curls a wing around him protectively, "They'll be fine, and they finally called in to find out what was going on. And now that you're no longer in danger of blowing up the city, they should calm down quickly."
Shiran shivers, then stops. "Blowing.. up?"
Diane nodnods, "That device you were given...On the other side of the tower is the city's main fusion power generators. As close as you came, we were about 10 minutes from turning Chareka into a smoking crater. I'm sorry Shiran, it's been a just horrendous set of circumstances today."
Shiran's eyes snap into focus. "That park.. there was an injured one, he gave it to me and told me to get out. I did.. and then when I went to find others, I had the air burning around me from those.. things. What was that box?"
Diane nods,"I know, it's not your fault Shiran. We've been trying to develop some new weapons to fight against the raiders who have been killing us. I guess this one activated on it's own. It causes energy based devices to become highly unstable."
Shiran stops cold. "I thought it drove everyone mad.. close enough."
Diane's eyes are looking very concerned, and her swollen flanks are still heaving as she pants and nods, "The entire city has been evacuated. Oh, I'm so glad everything is more or less ok!" Diane just curls her wings, front legs and arms around Shiran and hugs and kisses him in relief.
Shiran pulls Diane close and rumblepurrrs, going slack. "I'm just glad everything is mostly in one piece."
A small scuffling sound comes from behind Shiran as one of the remaining males comes up towards the exhausted dragon.
Shiran only halfway pulls loose as he turns around to watch the 'taur dully.
The tawny colored male purrs softly, "I'm... I mean we...We thought you were trying to destroy the city, and..I mean..we don't normally....I'm sorry we tried to kill you."
Shiran rrphs. "And I took a decent try at returning the favor, once it started. I, for one, would prefer to try to leave it off, at least until we get to have the official inquiries."
The male purrs and nods, "My names Nitton. I'm sorry. Without your armband, we had no idea who you were. Again, I'm sorry."
Shiran snerks. "Which I left when I woke up this morning. Wonderful." He shakes his head, sighing. "When I touch things off, I don't do it by halves, eh?"
Diane hmmms, "I wonder if the time you spent with Copernicus....no, I truly hope not."
Shiran raises an eyeridge at Diane? "Hmm?"
Nitton blinks and nods, "Oh yes, the Skygazers and their friends do seem to have interesting lives. I have to go, again..'Shiran'?"
Shiran inclines his head. "Of course.." He turns back to Diane. "This interesting? Well, this is the first city I've cleared, but it wasn't boring, no."
Nitton nods and headrubs Shiran, then takes off into the air. Diane hmmms, "Didn't you and Copernicus start a couple of riots?"
Shiran coughs. "Errrrrrr... well, not quite, but we definitely.. ingredients."
Diane nods with a grin and scoops Shiran up in her arms and purrs, "Mmmmm hmmm. I'm sure you two were totally innocent. Well, I know one dragon who needs a good nights sleep. Mainly so you can rub my back and wing joints tomorrow. I've never flown that fast in my life, and I'm not so aerodynamic anymore either."
Shiran nods! "As fast as you came after, I owe you and then some.. and probably the whole city besides."
Diane shakes her head, "From what the survivors at the research facility have said, you saved quite a few lives too. It was just a bad day for all of us."
Shiran blinks, examining one wing-vane, and frowns. "It could have been worse, I guess. but let's not do this again, all right?"
Diane nods quietly and gives Shiran a kiss and then gets to her feet, "Please don't. I'm not about to let you get out of helping me raise this child. ;)"
Shiran chuckles. "So I can't get out of it as easily as evacuating a whole city, can I?" The dwagon shakes out his wings, gingerly. "I suggest we head home.. if I'm going to make things up to you properly, I need to collapse for perhaps a few hours." So saying, the dwagon quietly turns to glide gingerly home after what is, even for him, a truly chaotic incident.