"Sweet Ameiaa...."  Katsuo dabbed at the paste on his son's face, rage bubbling up in him as he listened to Val described the encounter at the river. The spacious wooden hut around them seemed to swallow up his cursing-- the bundles of herbs swaying in the breeze that came through the open windows. "You're letting him stay around?"

"I wanted Asahi to speak with him.  Prospector Joniath is not an evil man, he is new to the world beyond the Enclave's control."  She shrugged her furred shoulders, and stroked Satsu's hair as Katsuo fretted.  He finally saw the thin, straight cut on his son's cheek, and he sighed.  

"My poor boy."  It took so much effort to calm his heart to tap into the flow of magic around them-- it traveled through his body, and he focused on the chants that he had stolen to turn it into a healing force.  He wanted to be angry, his heart wanted to turn the magic to flames or lightning, to turn it against this exiled Deserai who dared harm his precious son.  But, he knew that wouldn't solve the hurt that Raimu was going through-- his love and attention could help with that, however.  

"Satsu was very brave and stood by his brother, and Raimu was able to free himself with his magic.  The boys and I tried some meditation to teach them new things."  Val smiled at him with her toothy maw.  She always reminded him of a stuffed tiger, so soft and sweet, and yet there was something fierce about her under all the fluff.  And she had been good to his family since he had met her-- she was the closest thing Misaki had to family beyond their family with he and Asahi.

"Thank you, Val."  He channeled the magic into Rai's face, and the thin cut closed. 

Val's huge hand came to settle on his shoulder.  "It will be alright, Katsuo.  The Can children came to find me as soon as there was trouble."

"I just wish there wasn't a chance for trouble.  What is a Deserai exile doing here?"

"We don't turn anyone away, unless they've harmed the tribe personally, Katsuo.  If we turned away people because of their kind--"

"I know.  We wouldn't be welcome."

"Our own kind wouldn't be welcome, Katsuo. But Joniath will learn quickly, or he will end up dead, that is the way of Mother Desert."

Katsuo sighed, he wouldn't say it, but he didn't want this man-- a man who had struck his child to get a second chance.  But, this was Clanhome, he wasn't in charge here.

"I understand, Val." He said, scooping up Rai to his chest and giving the boy a squeeze before setting him by his brother.

Val laughed and pat him gently on the back.  She lifted her head, long ears swiveling, and then she smiled.  "Come now, guests from the East of the Peacekeepers have arrived."

Katsuo lifted a brow, feeling confused.  East of the Peacekeepers was a wild land, ruled by fickle fae that were as powerful as gods.  People were not normally allowed to pass over those mountains-- the proximity of the Independent Lands to the Peacekeepers had even kept the Empires and Kingdoms of the West from trying to conquer them.  But, he'd never heard of someone passing over them.

"I want to go see!"  Raimu cheered, before rushing for the stairs that would lead back down to the ground. 

"Wait--"  Katsuo started, but Raimu was already disappearing down the spiral stairs and Satsuki was only a step behind him. 

"They will be safe, don't worry." Val pat his shoulder again. 

There was a crowd surrounding the most elaborate wagon Katsuo had ever seen.  Cynri, and the Clan's guests were standing in wonder.  Even Katsuo, who had ridden on elegant golden palanquins had never seen something so ornate-- and especially not something so delicate looking that had clearly been through rough travel.  It was a coach, with stained glass windows, every spoke of the wheels an ornate carved creature rampant, every wooden panel as glorious as a religious triptych, sculpted elements painted with life like precision. A team of hulking stags stood in paired precision, their white coats stained with dark mud on their slender legs.

Disembarking from the elegant coach were two figures who looked almost nothing alike--the shape of their bodies implied they were folk like the others who were watching, but one was lean, and masculine with two pairs of arms-- one pair folded over his chest, the other pair holding up a diaphanous cloak behind him.  His skin was pale, his eyes were one shade of solid blue, and his silver hair swayed like he was underwater. He smiled and admired the crowd, lips parting to reveal an aesthetically perfect smile on his chiseled, and traditionally handsome face.

The other passenger was smaller, softer, rounder-- impossible to determine a gender, though Katsuo doubted they even had one set in stone. Their face was smooth, dark violet hair pulled back into dozens of braids, they had six, unblinking, faceted eyes set in skin that was lighter than Katsuo's albino skin.  Wrapped around them was a cloak in a thousand colors, shifting together like an oil slick, making patterns as elaborate as a butterfly's wing. This smaller figure smiled as well, and the tall, elegant, masculine Alarie bowed to his companion.  

"It is my most wondrous pleasure to introduce Magus Coinach."  The masculine one said, moving with elegance as smooth as water. Katsuo found himself in awe, even though he knew that Alarie, as fae, had strange powers to change their appearance and abilities. 

Magus Coinach bowed to the crowd, "We are but humble travelers, please, I am no one special.  But, we have come from the Court of Summer to see the Devoured Lands, and speak with any and all who are willing to do so, to gather stories and wonders that elude us in the Eternal Lands."  Coinach's voice-- Katsuo had expected something buzzing or, high and squeaking.  But, instead, it was liquid smooth, musical, and lilting. 

"Of course, Magus Coinach."  The Chieftain was there, near the cart-- in all the pomp and elegance of the Alarie's arrival, Katsuo hadn't noticed the hulking, silver furred man. "Clanhome is your home."

"We do not intend to stay."  The masculine Alarie smiled, "Not for long, at least.  I am Knight-Errant Sagitta, and while we do not have a tight itinerary, the Magus wishes to see some of the cities here in the Devoured Lands--"

"Specifically, Children of the Devourers.  Oh!  There's some there."  Coinach bustled forward, and spread their arms as they pushed through the front line of the crowd, directly to Katsuo.  And the boys.  As their arms spread, that colorful cloak was revealed to be more magnificent on the inside, and he couldn't move fast enough to keep the boys from rushing forward to look at it.  A chill ran through him, there were stories of Alarie stealing children, but that was just... that was just legends.  "By Oberron, you are so much taller and fierce looking than I expected!"

"Dad's not tall.  Not like father."  Satsuki started, and Raimu nodded.

"Dad's just normal height."  He agreed with his brother.  "Father's very tall.  Why did you call us children of the Devourer?  Dad eats a lot, but not--"

"Boys, I don't think it is polite to start asking questions like this without an introduction.  And while there are other people who must want to speak with the Magus." Katsuo put a hand on each boy, and gave them a gentle squeeze.  His instincts were telling him that this smooth, soft, charming figure was dangerous.

"No, no!  It is fine, good ser, my apologies."  The Magus swept down into a bow that sent a thousand colors shimmering across the grove, casting rainbows over the red sand. "My apologies!  But, I did come across the Great Boundary to come and meet your kind, to explore!"

Katsuo felt a bristle rise up his spine, his scales itched with strange magic that seemed to pour off of the Magus. His mind slipped into his 'work', it was defensive, he could control that situation. "Perhaps, we could sit and enjoy a drink and speak, then?"

"Of course, that is the style here, isn't it, to share food and drink?  That is normal."  The way the Magus spoke, it felt so bizarre.  As if Katsuo had asked them to join some conspiracy. 

"What an excellent plan."  The Knight-Errant approached and his second pair of arms drew the shimmering, transparent cloak over himself. "Perhaps some local Cynri spirit?"

Katsuo felt an odd pressure, the children moved back unconsciously and tucked against his legs. He could feel magic tingling on his scales, as if it was searching him, then it moved away, and he exhaled the breath he only then noticed he was holding. He bowed, and gestured to the path behind him, "There is a tavern for travelers, just up that tree there."

"Oh, of course.  Shall we, Sagatti?" Coinach smiled to their Knight-Errant and they stepped through the rest of the Cynri crowd, and Katsuo squeezed the boys.

"Go check on your mom and father, alright?"

The boys ran off and Katsuo straightened his button up shirt and checked for any obvious stains or wrinkles. Then, smoothing his hair he caught Val's eyes-- the Singer was looking worried, her lips pulled tightly over her sharp teeth, baring the points of her canines.  

"Go with the boys, Katsuo, you don't need to deal with this.  Just keep an eye on the boys.  I'll tell them that you're busy with injured partners, but you should take the boys and go home tonight." The Singer was puffed up, her fur standing on end.  

"What, you think they will try to take the boys?" Katsuo hissed, eyeing the two figures who were now standing on the walkway outside the tavern, looking out over the crowd in the undergrowth.

"Twins are special to the Alarie... You just need to get them home.  Leave before the sun sets, the three of you."

He nodded. His blood ran cold. 

Twins are special to the Alarie....