a Usual Slow Start

A final and large thudding sound occurred, and Mai saw the big hairy creature lunge upward into the air above her, while she landed on her butt in the grass underneath.

Would it be possible to get clear...? Roll aside...? It's leapt up quite high...? Wait - isn't that too high for something so heavy looking...?.

The mostly grey forest bear flew further into the sky, as high as the trees tops, smashing and cracking through the leaves, before disappearing completely.

It couldn't have possibly jumped like that... on it's own...

Mai looked back to the ground where it had been and found something else entirely different.

Ryoniya was suddenly standing where the large beast had been a moment earlier, and Mai watched one of the silver pony-tailed Dragon-girl's feet simply return to the ground, presumably after kicking the animal away.

Still with her arms crossed before her, and an annoyed look on her face, she blinked her light-blue eyes, then turned away.

"Pitiful..."

Mai wasn't sure if the remark was for her, or the seen-off problem, but Ryoniya casually walked back toward their shared home without any other words.

After a quick regathering of her spilt foods, Mai hurried after her, but could no longer find the grumpy Dragon sister, even when she quietly entered the house through the shut front door.

Where'd she go...? Did I really see Ryoniya just then...? It had to have been her... though... it was sort of out of character for her too... But where is she now...?

Inside the house was totally silent, with no sign of movement at all.

I guess no-one else is up yet...

Tapping her boots off at the entrance, she then passed through the lower floors big lounge, to the well stocked and used area, her favourite part of the place - the big kitchen, which overlooked the neat little garden before the forest beyond, still shaded by the buildings second story.

She finished unpacking everything and to settle herself, she went to her best pastime and de-stressing activity - so began cooking. Using some of the new items, Mai got to work in making them all breakfast, since she pretty much did all the homely activities and chores anyway, figuring she'd see someone soon, as the delicious food she made with her culinary skills made lovely smells, that usually attracted the others.

A bit of meat, and a fair share of veggies, with some spices of course... that should do for a late morning feed...

Nullawhy was the most active of the three, as the tallest and most coloured dragon went out for wild boar or deer on occasion, and delivered the meat to the local butcher, who relished the constant stream of freshly acquired product to prepare. Since she'd started to hunt, the older guys about the village had less need to, so she was well regarded in 'town' and got along with many residents, and in her few absences, the proud dragon-lady was missed by a few here.

The red dragon had 'ducked away' sometimes to see someone special to her; Kline - the black Dragon who lived at the capital of the Kingdom, and now had a rather close relationship with him, which brought her lots of joy and satisfaction, which pleased Mai too.

Ryoniya was the complete opposite though; smallest, angriest and unsociable, she hardly left the house, as she brooded about, almost constantly eyeing Mai with suspicion and ill-will, even after spending all the time about her. She was less of a bother than before, even if she snapped and grumbled, as she didn't get in the way, cause any problems, make a fuss or oppose any decisions that needed to be made.

Mai often caught her watchful light-blue eyes harshly following her everywhere, as well as hearing her critical reactions to her decisions, especially when it came to her younger-sister, who she occasionally doted on, if Mai wasn't watching.

Then there was Lygawa; the green-eyed silver dragon-girl, who accompanied Mai almost everywhere, well in the day and afternoons at least, since she could be properly lazy about their home and loved to sleep through the mornings. She was always there with a smile, eager to learn and explore or have some playful fun, while she was actively protective and eager to help out - but usually only for Mai.

That was expected though, as the silvery-girl had pledged herself to Mai, meaning to be supportive, protective and loyal to her, since Mai had saved the dragon-girl from troubles and harm a few times since she'd arrived in this land.

Now Lygawa and Nullawhy prefer a little more spice, so these will be theirs...

A soft thump of feet on the stairs let her know one of them was coming down, but busy with their foods near completion, she didn't turn around to see which one it was.

"Morning Mai..."

Lygawa yawned, coming right over to bump against her, perhaps still quite drowsy.

"It is almost lunch time already... so good day."

The similarly heighted dragon-girl stayed put, blinking and half watching Mai's work come to completion, while staying close, quite usual behaviour for her recently.

"Good day then."

"Fetch us some plates please."

"Yes, yes."

She stood still as her thin silver tail extended over toward the island bench, retrieved four plates delicately from the underneath shelf and bringing them over, all without Lygawa actually watching what she was doing.

"Thank-you."

Mai started diving up their food as Lygawa yawned again.

"Now that one's Ryoniya's..."

Mai pointed out the furthest, that Lygawa then lifted away with her own, using her hands this time, and before Mai could ask why she'd taken it too, she caught sight of another smaller figure already at the table, who had slipped in silently and now glared at her like usual.

No greetings still... or even a word about before either huh...?

Nullawhy made some noise upstairs, so Mai brought her finished plate over to the table too, before sitting down beside Lygawa.

"Hello..."

Nullawhy arrived in a more simple red skirt, rather than her flashier red, yellow and black spiky dress, obviously more comfortable with the thinner and less covering bit, before gently flopping behind her food and letting her thicker red tail hang beside her.

"Thanks for the fine meal again Mai."

They all got into their adequately portioned meal.

"Any plans for today?"

Mai asked about, having nothing much scheduled for the remainder of her day either.

"Not for me... I'm just going to relax today."

Nullawhy replied first.

Understandable... she has been back and forth a few times this week... and did quite the hunt yesterday too...

Ryoniya merely chewed on and looked away when Mai's eyes drifted to her next.

That figures...

"I'll just help you with whatever you're doing..."

Lygawa smiled Mai's way, now with alert bright green eyes, having woken up some more.

"What are you going to do?"

Mai pondered for a moment, and apart from making their evening meal, she might have a look about the garden, and see what was growing well.

"Maybe just a little outside..."

Mai paused with another headache and a scramble of images and sounds flooded in from wherever, then it was over as quick as it came.

That was almost the same glimpses as before... so more bears...?!

The other gobbling three hadn't appeared to notice Mai's annoyance and then possessing of the latest cryptic 'glimpse of the future', that this time included a mashing of familiar scenery, a few different muffled screams and shouts with the flashes of sharp teach and fur.

Was that a sunset too...? Hum...? Guess we'll be going for a later walk instead... in search of some wild animals...

Mai still kept most of her visions to herself, as some never seemed to happen, while others were inconsequential, and a few merely needed an extra presence from her, or anyone really, to effect enough change to alter the unwanted future.

"Actually, I think I'll go for a walk to the farm, see what is going on across the valley..."

Nullawhy and Ryoniya noted what she said, but didn't react, while Lygawa waved her tail a little and smiled again.

"Sounds good, yes."

The Dragon-girls appeared to be done, so Mai next started to collect their plates, but as she neared Ryoniya, who she also wanted to properly thank for the earlier rescue, however before Mai could say a word, the smallest one promptly shoved away from her chair and stormed off back to her room in a huff.

What's her deal...? I guess I'm not getting an answer any time soon then...