<span style="color: #BF00FF"> * In the topmost Northwest guest room, a glow faded from around the limbs, leaves, and vines that had taken over the bed where Whispered's unconscious form had been laid. Soon the protective nature barrier cracked and opened to reveal a softly waking girl. Her large luminous periwinkle eyes blinking open slowly, and a hand coming up to capture a yawn, while all other limbs were stretching out well used, but slim muscles. The girl slowly sat up and pushed back her White mess of hair, where more than a few leaves had stuck, and a couple tiny flowers had woven into, and let out a soft sigh. <br/><br/>It took her a moment to realize that she was not at home, and that her overly large companion was not present. Though he didn't oft come in to her home, it was getting close to fall and his extra presence was welcomed for warmth and comfort. The fact that he was not here in this strange place sitting or laying close by, well it was frightening. So this more than anything, besides the now urgent need to find a place to relieve herself, got her to stand up on her feet quite quickly. An action she soon regretted when she fell backwards, and back onto the bed. She made a soft sound of surprise, not understanding why she was so... not herself. She was as surefooted as her friend the mountain goat, and the odd spinning sensation was quite a bit more than for which she was able to compensate. <br/><br/>She sat still for a moment looking around the area to try and get herself more acquainted with it, and reached out a hand to absentmindedly pet the tree. An action which soothed her greatly. Finally with a bit of encouragement from the friendly tree, she stood again, shakily, and began to make progress to the door.<br/><br/>Again with a bit of help from the tree she located a safe place to take care of some pressing matters, and then started to seek out her missing companion. She placed her hair into a braid and then with much more sure, and absolutely silent steps walked through the tree home that was not her own.<br/><br/>The first her softly pointed ears heard of voices, she froze, her eyes growing improbably round and large. She could not recall the last time, or really any time, she had heard such sounds. She ducked behind a small outcropping of trunk that formed a wall as people started to pass. The tree shifting a bit to help give her cover. All that could be seen if anyone had been paying attention was her round eyes.<br/><br/>Luckily for her she was far more curious than shy, and as they all left she left her hiding spot, carefully stalking them. She paused when the smell of food sent her stomach to growling and pulled her in that direction just as quickly. Though if there was any meat in the food, it was going to be a very different smell that did not agree... but the vegetables and other such grown items had her mouth watering. So she snuck into the kitchen to stare at the large bipedal being that was mixing things into pots and pans... and took a moment to also hide there.<br/><br/>It did not take long for the male to finish in his task, and from where he was, when he turned away, she snuck out added a dash or two of somethings that were missing and then was just as quick to duck out of the way again before he could see her.<br/><br/>Finally, he moved the food into dishes and others began to help out taking it to the outdoors. That seemed like a good idea to her, and her eyes drank in the male's form with rapt attention. He moved differently than she was used to, at least for herself, and he carried himself differently too. Watching him made her feel a bit odd for a moment, so she stopped.<br/><br/>She moved out after them again insuring that she was out of sight, and hid among the bushes and limbs of the breathtaking dinner area, the trees coming in to cover and hide her from casual sight. She wondered if she would be able to find a way to share the food, as it seemed they had so much... but they were different from all her friends that she wasn't sure they would like her. She was female after all, not male like they all seemed to be. </span><br/><br/><br/>~Slurp~<br/><br/>The huge dog that had been missing from Whispered's side was indeed large, but also very very good at hiding and remaining out from under foot when he needed to do so. So when the Drider that he had smelled, but assumed would be handled by the guardian here slipped in, he ignored it. He's instincts said his mistress would be well tended to here, and perhaps find something that she would not and could not have with him.<br/><br/>However, the moment it took after the odd creature that was more hand than any other thing was attack and the youngling went for the foul creature's neck with her sharp teeth, Slurp could stay out of sight or mind no longer. He had been a guardian far too long to allow harm to come to younglings.<br/><br/>He rose up from his hiding place with a deep growl and lunged at the creature. He was of the mind to kill it quickly, and with the bulk of his form driving into the beast it was easy to see that it would indeed end thusly. Even the tip of her blade could do no harm so thick and shaggy was his coat.<br/><br/>Conscious of the little gem dragon he took the Drider's head into his maw and jerked sharply, so that if the teeth of the tiny one did not end her, the breaking of her neck would. Then he would step away and gag up any trace of poison from his mouth and eye the two young creatures.<br/><br/>He thought about the guardian and let out a large sigh of frustration. If this is the way he handled things he was going to have to try and teach him to be more aware of his domain so that he could protect his pack.