The day was only about halfway over, both Suns were still high over head and the clouds flowed by quickly under their feet. Roman held on for dear life and directed Mike in the air. After a while he calmed down and his grip, along with the claws retracted from Mike's chest.
Reaching the Nyankin Village, there were dozens of people walking around. None of them seemed very busy but when they looked up, they were very frightened. They scrambled and tripped over each other in an effort to hide from the aerial predator.
In front of the Dragoons looming overhead, the tribe of Feline beastmen were all cowards, it really didn't fit for their ancestry. Roman led Mike back to his Village but landing was entirely out of the question, his people would flee for the hills.. There was a staunch smell, it burned at the nosehair.
Hovering over the Village wasn't doing any good either, Roman grabbed onto Mike and he instinctively knew he needed to leave. They flew in circles over some fields while Mike surveyed a good spot to land. There were many, many herds of different domesticated animals like deer and large rats. He chose the field with the least amount of beasts, there was no helping it.
"Stay here." Mike spoke to the Dragoons, they had already decided to land and settle for the time being. The Alpha that they were riding huffed in acknowledgment and walked back to the Mares that had landed.
"This is a horrible Idea, they already eat our cattle." Roman had strong concerns but every time he looked at Mike in the eyes, he lost his willpower to argue.
The Nyankin residents were using large rats to pull their carts, they harnessed and lashed them together for larger loads. Reaching an Elders Hut, Mike could tell that Roman was upset. "What's going on? Why are you nervous all of the sudden?" He asked.
"I was sent away from the Village to figure out these matters and now, I return with the problem still in hand. What else can I do but sigh at my failures. Come. The Elder no doubt knows of our arrival and is expecting us." Roman got serious, he sniffed at the air hoping for some relief but it didn't come.
Roman opened the Hut grass doorway and led Mike inside, both of them were forced to duck in order to enter and the inside smelled like rancid meat. "Elder, I have returned."
Roman knelt down and moved to greet the Village Elder.
"Exactly, why have you.. returned.." The Elder heaved and coughed like he had a breathing issue. There was a deep congestion in his chest and he looked weak.
"I... I do not know, actually." Roman felt stupid, he wanted to beat his head against a rock.
Mike defended Roman's decision, "I had him bring me here, anything that involves my Dragoons is a matter of personal interest. I've been told that they've wandered into your territory and eaten some of your cattle. Is what I've heard true?"
The Elder looked up, Mike's appearance was certainly inspiring. He had a stature and aura around him that exuded confidence. "Hm.. It is as you've heard." He was a man of little words and his frail body actually seemed ready to collapse.
"More importantly, I have another question for you. I hope you won't mind." Mike looked at the Elder and cocked his head in curiosity.
"Ask." The Old One waved his hand to dismiss concerns and waited for the question.
Mike pulled out a cup of dabs, took a hit and blew it around in the Hut. The space was small and the smoke swirled. The Old One sneezed a few times and his complexion changed, he got pinker and his vision cleared up slightly. "Are you sick?"
"What is this?" The Old One grasped at Mike's wrist and brought the nectar collector toward his face to get a better look. For an Old guy, he was pretty strong and his grip had claws.
"Its a medicine I produce but its made from plants. I notice you have a lot of fields outside, you raise cattle? The people from my homeland raise cattle too, though, your stocks are a bit different." Mike heated the nectar collector and took another hit, blowing it directly in front of the Elder.
Maybe it was the accumulation of the smoke in the room, maybe it was just the affect that it had on the Nyankin, either way, the Old One stood up straighter than the last few years.
"What a fantastic medicine and what a peculiar way to administer.." His eyes widened a bit and the Nectar collector was snatched out of Mike's hand. "Curious device."
"Its called a nectar collector, you heat one end and use the hot edge to vaporize the medicine. Moreover, the medicine doesn't have to be 'administered' that way either. It can be eaten, inhaled or smothered across wounds and scars. You can even make a salve and paste with it, though, I find that to be a bit of a waste with fresh material." Mike felt much appreciation for the Old One's interest.
"This sort of Medicine, the village hunters would do well to have such strong medicines." The Old One took a sniff off the pipe and passed it back. "Your medicine is potent but it does us no good if we can't make it ourselves."
"I actually came because of the Dragoons, one of your hunters, Roman, came to our City with a complaint. I'd like to know what I can do to make restitution, perhaps a trade." Mike saw the surroundings on the way to the Village, they had a lot of pasture and livestock. "Lonestar City is a big port, with lots of extra mouths to feed. I'd like to propose a trade and maybe a contract."
"Trade?" The Old One waved like it was something not possible. "We have our own problems, the livestock have gone missing, our tribe cannot afford to lose our food."
"Yes, I was just telling you. Your livestock were eaten by my Dragoons." Mike felt like the Old One was messing with him, he kept calm but wondered what the problem was. 'Did he not hear me?'
"Dragoons, Qilin, Dragon. Our Village does not care for where these problems arrive, only that they do. As it is, we may starve this winter." The Old One fuddled with his walking stick, gripping it tight.
"Nonsense. You have an abundance of livestock. Trade with me. Raise my Dragoons, let your hunters use half of them during hunts and raise the remainder for Lonestar City.. If you can do this, Lonestar City can provide plenty of Meat." Mike waited for a moment to let the Elder hear his sincerity, he continued to give incentive. "These Dragoons, they were a gift from a Royal Family. They require much more time than I have and I feel bad for them. It would be a benefit to this Village and My City."
Roman's mouth came unhinged. "Raise the Dragoons? Are you nuts?"
"Why do you keep saying that? You even rode on top of one and you still feel this way?" Mike felt offended. "I can sweeten the deal, I can give you seeds to the Medicine I just gave you. You can grow it yourselves." Mike was already cultivating more seeds, he only had a few dozen seed packs from his shipment left but the new batch would more than resupply him.
"Your offer is indeed generous. But I am not the Chief. If you wish to make such a proposal, you'll have to discuss it with him." the Old One stood by the doorway. "If you wish to see the Chief, I will serve as witness."
"Roman, Go tend to the Dragoons." Mike gave Roman something to do and followed the Old One to the Chief's Hut.
It was slightly larger and Mike didn't have to stoop so low to enter the doorway.
The Old one knelt down and Mike sat on his heels. "Chief, Our village has a visitor. He wishes an audience. I will serve as witness."
'These guys sure have strange customs.' Mike stared a little bit but tried not to be rude.
"What is it that you believe our Village has to offer?" the Chief settled his facial expressions, he didn't seem ready to hear amusements.
"You have manpower and Pastures. I only want to propose a trade. You raise my Dragoons, I'll provide the Meat. Your Elder seems to have shown some interest in one of my medicinal herbs, I've offered to give seeds to the Herb for your village to use as you see fit." Mike tried to lay it all out, he felt like he was overselling it a little but then, what else could he do.
"Manpower.." The Chief stood up. "Meat?" His fist tightened. "Do you take us for fools?"
Mike waved his hand and a seven foot fish, several feet wide, plopped onto the Chief's table. "Yup, I can provide lots of fish and this is a small one."
There was a twitch in the Chief's face when the Fish came out of no where. Mike wondered if he was familiar with Storage rings but instead of complicating it with an explanation, he just pulled another fish and laid it on top of the first one.
The second fish was also much larger.
"Your offer is very generous but why should I believe you?" The Chief stared at the two fish.
"Believe? I'm not asking for something so menial.. You should be able to tell after we begin if the trade isn't working out for you. If you're dissatisfied, you can always reject the offer later. I don't need slaves and reject such a notion. I only offer fair exchange, if its not fair, let me know what is." Mike's attitude toward the Chief was one of respect. The Chief had a lot of things to worry about and the well being of the Tribe came first. "Trading ones freedom is nothing but a fools move."
Mike was happy that the deal seemed to be moving along, he invited the Chief to come see the Dragoons.
The Alphas circled the females, they were howling.
"What's going on?" Mike saw several of the females surrounding another. 'Pack habits?'
As he approached, the 3 Alphas guarded the Mares. They growled.
Mike smiled and took out some meat, passing it to the Alphas. "Good boy, Good boy. What's going on?" Mike looked into the Dragoons Eyes, it backed down and allowed him to pass.
'A Strong warrior..' The Chief had his own impressions but kept his opinions reserved.
Mike walked up to the Mare who was struggling on the ground. The scene was familiar, he saw movement on the female's belly. 'Oh.' "Hey Chief, Get over here and don't act afraid."
The Chief took a few steps forward and watched from the side. "So this is why she's being guarded."
Mike whistled and the Dragoons all settled down, paying close attention to Mike's order. He ran his hand along the mare's belly and calmed her down. As if it was perfect timing, with her relaxed state, the newborn Dragoon Calf made its way into the world.
Like a Newborn Foal, it kicked and screamed, slowly getting to its feet and spreading its wings. It shook and the Mother began to clean it. When the mother started to move again, there was another moan from her, and she went back into labor, there was another baby Dragoon coming.
Mike picked up the Baby Dragoon and handed it to the Chief.
"What am I suppose to do with this?" The Chief held onto the baby Dragoon, it leaned against his chest and licked wildly against the Chief's furry chest.
"Don't worry about it, treat it like a child from your tribe. Trust me, the dragoons will notice rejection." Mike was still waiting and kept the mare calm. "She's about to give birth again, I don't know how many they can carry each time."
"Judging by her size, I don't think more than five could possibly fit in there." The Chief was still coming to terms with his surroundings, the Dragoon Alphas were eyeing him with intent.
Mike saw them and kept petting the Mare's head, her cries were getting louder and closer together. "Another one is coming soon, you should sit down."
"You're an interesting fellow." 'Hahahahaha' "Very well, in principal, I agree to your terms." The Chief sat down in the circle of dragoons, it was very exciting for him. The Baby Dragoon kept smelling at the Chief, its eyes had yet to open.
"I think it likes you." Mike laughed in return and kept feeling for contractions.
A communication stone lit up on Mike's shoulder. He let it break and didn't answer, If he took his attention away from the Mare she could give up and create more complications.
֍ꟷꟷꟷꟷ֍
Vella was standing in front of a flight of Dragoons, a Messenger had delivered a Letter.
"He didn't answer, You're going to have to wait until he returns." She put the letter into her storage ring and led the messenger into the Casino Offices.