Easy Does It

**This is a thread designed for Golden Drakon and I. Everyone is welcome to read along, however. Enjoy! This thread takes place after the "Uneasy Lies the Head" thread.

Wraith strolled into the Arena in the middle of the day. It was scorcher, with nigh on 40C degree heat, though they had no way to accurately measure that temperature. Still, it was pretty hot. In the distance, heat waves could be seen emanating from every surface that was kissed by the sun for mere minutes or longer.

A hush fell over the crowd and the fighters within the Pit kept fighting, though for a less attentive audience. It was several days since her discussion with Jocen over the major plans for the Vale and she was anxious to meet with Golden Drakon.

However, as she swept her gaze through the coliseum, she found no trace of the great Draconic man. Either in his human guise, or his draconic state. She had, of course, called in on his mountain home. She, being one of the few people to know of it. But he had not been there either.

All the same, she settled herself into a spot, slightly in the shade and turned her attention to the combatents. It was an easy going fight, something rather more playful and light hearted than what she was used to, but she saw the pile of 'treasures' that were set to one side. Wagers, no doubt.

A few of the spectators turned her way, nodding respectively and murmuring, "Caretaker" then turning back to the battle themselves. But more than a few simply ignored her, or gave her looks that they thought she could not see. It seemed that she was not exactly the most popular person in the Arena these days.

Ceres came sauntering out of the shade to her left and sat down beside her. "He usually doesn't come until afternoon, these days, anyway. Some think he goes off to bask in the hot sun somewhere - away from here."

Wraith nodded and gave the other woman a friendly smile, one that was not returned. Sighing she kept her smile in place and murmured, "I think I will stay until he comes."

"Don't you have some high and mighty things to do?" came the tart reply and Wraith took a moment to calmly draw her breath.

"I only wish to speak with him. He has done nothing wrong to me and I will do nothing wrong to him. I promise."

There was silence for a time, then a grunt could be heard. "Good."

Then Ceres turned and began to shout and jeer at the slow fight, egging on the combatants. Presently, others took up her example and ignored Wraith as best they could, secure that their King of the Pit was at least, not in trouble.

Fortunatly for Wraith, it was only after a short time before another Valian approached her through the tiered rings around the pit. He was a tall and proud-looking centaur, deep chesnut brown and standing some 16 hands at the waist. From there a human torso projected another two and a half feet, ending in equally brown hair which fell in rich locks to his shoulders. Slightly pointed ears peeked through the hair and deep, searching green eyes peered at the CareTaker over a thin moustashe.

"Le preneur de soin de maîtresse," he said in thickly accented French. "Missure Drakon iz outside, by ze fire pits. I will take you if you wish." the centaur finished with a bow. He straightened and offered her a smile which earned him a disapproving scowl from Ceres, but the centaur seemed to take no notice of her.

Wraith inclined her head regally and returned his warm smile. She was not familiar with this denizen of the Vale, having never met him (unfortunately) but he seemed a reasonable fellow.

Answering him in what she assumed his native tongue, she said, "Merci pour votre bienveillance. I am eager to see him, please, lead the way." She stood, brushing off her dark skirt absently and awaited his pleasure. She too, wisely, ignored Ceres.

The Centaur led Wraith down and out through the gap in the Coliseum walls, chatting amniably in French. One arm extended down for Wraith to take hold of as he guided the Caretaker. They reentered into the sun and around the hill which made up the exterior of the Coliseum. Wraith's highly tuned senses quickly picked up the scent of blood, but also the smell of cooking meat and bread.

As they came into view, she imeadiatly saw Drakon in his humanoid shape, that of a man with red-golden wings and gold eyes. he was tending a cookfire over which a long spit with three birds were skewered. Two others were also present, one was a long-limbed and shaggy man who was sitting by another fire, delicatly cutting away at a small furry animal lying in one heavy hand. As she watched, the animal's furry skin was lay on one of the heated rocks and the remaining animal stuck on a second skewer.

The second was a rather scantilly clad and notably voluptuous young lady sniffed around three large and heavy stone blocks from which came the scent of bread. As the did a long, cat-like tail swished back and forth lazilly and a pair of fuzzy pointed ears twitched through long red hair.

All three of them ceaced what they were doing and turned toward Wraith and her guide.

"Good afternoon Wraith." GoldenDrakon said evenly. "I did not know you were coming, or I would have made more agreeable arrangements for you."

Wraith was led towards Golden Drakon. She had no way of knowing if the Centaur had been sent, or if he had just decided to lead her to the dragon. Of course she could have taken it from his mind, but she preferred not to work that way. Either way, as they chatted about nonconsequential, trivial matters, it was revealed just how much he missed his native tongue. She was more than willing to accomodate him. He was, indeed as she had thought, a most pleasant fellow.

As she came closer to his location, Wraith caught the scent of fresh death, and cooking. It was, perhaps, a sign of things to come that she had come upon him whilst doing such a domestic chore, that nevertheless would ensure the future for all of her Valians.

"Good afternoon Wraith. I did not know you were coming, or I would have made more agreeable arrangements for you."

Accutely away of the eyes that followed her, Wraith waved a dismissive hand. "I never intended to surprise you - its not really a formal visit. I just wanted to have a chat. There's really no need to do anything special for me. You should know that."

Though she could not count him as a friend yet, she saw that Golden Drakon would be a powerful ally. Or a very powerful enemy - she hoped it would not come to that.

"Is this a bad time? Should I come back later?" she arched an eyebrow, indicating his current duties. "I see hunting has been rather productive, as of late."

Drakon snorted. "Hmph, gophers and pigeons. But at least it will suffice for now."

He nodded towards the centaur. "Thank you Charlot, but I fear I must steal away your charming entourage for a moment. Annette, Beowulf, please see to the distrobution of the food, I will be back shortly."

GD began walking, but beckoned towards Wraith as he did so. They walked for about twenty feet in silence before he finally asked.

"You have charmed Charlot quite easilly, but as you may have noticed, he is French. But what brings you to the Coliseum?"

Wraith laughed, "I believe it is the other way around, dear Drakon. I'm afraid it is he that has done the charming."

She sobered rather quickly though, a testiment to just how serious she was about this talk. "I have not been here for a long time. I have been so busy that I have neglected vital parts of the Vale. I'm afraid I've neglected you." The last said with a degree of importance in her tone.

"Some of my... advisors.... are unsure as to your," she paused, "intentions. Quibblers, mostly. But I had to talk to you, it has been too long. And I believe that," here she blushed, "I need your help... if I am to continue being of use to the Vale."

Drakon's face darkened momentarilly, his jaw shifted a bit, then back before he spoke.

"I seriously doubt that your precious Vale City would go on without you, my dear Wraith, but I also doubt that you would ever be of no use to it either."

"In any case, my only intentions are to survive here in this new world. I make my own path here. Sometimes others follow in my wake."

Wraith sighed. This was a difficult man to deal with, she was sure if it. But one that she had to eventually face. Golden Drakon simply did not recognise the power that he had over other people. It was almost heart breaking that she should try to tear him from his own self absorbed world into one where she intended to craft him into a leader for all.

"Golden Drakon, you must know that you have a power with people. Yes, I've heard some of the badder tales about you, but I never once believe them. Ignorant folk, mostly. The Vale is in need of strength. Not the kind that comes from your body, but from your mind. From your prescence."

Wraith sidled a little closer as they walked, "What I'm saying is that I would love to have your invaluable input in how things are done here. I'm only one person - I can't do it all. The Vale is getting bigger and bigger each day."

Wraith sighed and stopped, hopefully making him stop with her. She leaned against a nearby tree, her weariness clear in the lines around her eyes, "Most people seem to forget that I am in the same position as they are. I was ripped from my home too, from a life and a future I treasured... I too just want to survive... but through some twist of fate, I was enjoined to create this world. To make a haven for others like me."

Her gaze shifted to his, "I serve all of you. No matter how self centred some can be."

Then her eyes drifted away, "But I can't do it alone anymore. I just... can't."

Golden Drakon stopped a half step ahead of Wraith. He drew a deep breath, partly to organize his thoughts, but also to help ward off the vampire's natural sexual aura.

"I help you and your Valians more than you know Wraith. Much more." he said softly. He did not elaborate however, moving on quickly. He turned back toward Wraith and continued.

"I realize the massive influx of new people here. The current structure cannot handle the surge. I think that most of those who have come to me, have likely come out of necessity or desperation, not because they choose to follow me. When the crisis has ended and their bellies are full, I think most will slip back to Vale City."

"I try to teach those that do come to me. It is not enough to simply survive. Not for you, me or anyone. We need to live, and too few understand that. I help them discover who they have become here and show them how to be self-reliant. I try to give them hope and purpose in their new lives."

"I do not intend to turn these people against you or your...'advisors', but in their self-discovery, some become more bold, angry, arrogant or even militant. It is why I also encourage the Coliseium; a place where some of these types can work out their feelings..and even get their foolish notions knocked into perspective."

"But I don't think this is why you have come today. What is it that you want from me Wraith?"

"What is it that you want from me Wraith?"

Wraith barely suppressed a sigh. "I have already told you, I need your help. There are things here that I miss, opinions that I miss. Things that you seem to have picked up. I only want what's best for the Vale - and so far, you're it."

She continued to move, a little faster paced this time, more urgent, "Golden Drakon, you have an ability that few others have. Not only do you have a reputation - that has nothing to do with your personal character, rather your species - but you have a level head and a charisma that makes people listen to you."

"Yes, there are angry people here. I was angry when I first came here too." She gave him a strange look then, "Tried to end my own life - in the hope I'd be sent back - but it never seemed to work."

She sighed, "Perhaps I never had the heart to do it..."

Then she shook herself again. "I'm not asking you to become a king. There are changes coming to the Vale. A better justice system, a better work system - guilds that will help guide newcomers and those born here. I will become, officially, the Vale's new Lady. I never wished it, but my status as CareTaker is not enough anymore. No-one is satisfied anymore."

She turned to look at him, "I want your help, your opinion and your ideas on how to shape this new society. You are a long lived race - you have the charisma and the intelligence. Most of all...." she smiled at him - more wry than anything - "You have compassion. Something most others lack - or lose - when they arrive here."

Stopping her spiel, she kept walking, her ears perked for his answer.

A bark of rough laughter burst from GoldenDrakon's lips.

"Me? A king? Heh! What a sight that would be, the dragon, lording over all those who spurn and fear him." he said, a mixture of humor and sarcasm coloring the words. He grew serious a moment later and continued.

"If you ever wanted my opinion or advice, you only need to ask me, Wraith. I have no ill intentions towards you, but I do not think I am ready to join you either."

"In fact, I think you need me to be your opposition. The Vale needs me to be your opposition."

He stopped close to where Wraith stood. Close enough that her scent was heady in his nostrils although he stamped down on the suggestions his imagination tried to distract him with.
"I think you are partially right when you say that changes are coming, but not because of disatisfaction. There are too many people and not enough structure. Desperation, disillusionment and discovery is mixing with anger and arrogance."
"The factions are already forming Wraith, and I fear bloodshed if we are not careful about it."

Wraith looked at Golden Drakon sharply. "The last time I had opposition of any kind, there was a war and an entire species was wiped from the land. I have no desire to see that happen again!"

She huffed, her momentary anger and fear palpable in the air. She took her time to calm down. "I see your point. You will help me in what way you see fit." She nodded - not willing to let this go, but not having much choice.

She did not have the words for him. She never had the words for him. It seemed that when she was around him, her grace left and she stumbled and fell. Curses rained down in her mind and she was left numb and wondering why she didn't function properly.

It had been such a long time that she did not recognise passion when she saw it.

So instead, she left it all to wrack and ruin, as she seemed only capable of doing around him, "I shall come to you when I have need of counsel then. I won't tell anybody, you can be assured of that!"

Then she turned on her heel and walked the opposite way, towards the village and back to her duties, her back stiff and her legs even stiffer.

GoldenDrakon's eyes half lidded for a moment as the coppery scent of Wraith's blood churned for a moment. He was not unaware of the CareTaker's sexual aura, nor unfamiliar with said power. But even though he was able to ward against it, neither was he immune to it. Annette, his cat-girl follower, had a similar ability but not nearly as powerful as Wraith's own.

He took a deep breath, exhaling slowly to clear his mind, aware of Wraith practically stomping away from him.

"I know." he said softly, although he had no doubts regarding the vampire's hearing abilities.

"The Shifter War was a dark spot in what little there is of Vale history. But even though Menos may have fanned the fires of revolution, it was your own that drew first blood when they sacked Lycanville."

"It would be very benificial that we are seen to work together." he said in a louder voice, as if his earlier comment was little more than a memory. "And we must step very carefully to control the situation, but I think it can be done."

"The Shifter War was a dark spot in what little there is of Vale history. But even though Menos may have fanned the fires of revolution, it was your own that drew first blood when they sacked Lycanville."

His soft words reached her in an instant. She stopped, her fingers clenching at her sides and she turned, her eyes narrowed in barely concealed fury. Her voice, when she spoke, though, was soft and menace drifted full force from her words, "What could you know about that? What could you possibly know or even pretend to know of such violence and hatred, bloodletting and mindless killing! Who do you think you are to judge me without knowing all?!

She took a single step towards him, her eyes filling black as her jaw elongated and her fangs grew. Her words filled with a sibilant hiss as she spoke through her fangs, "You have no idea the destruction that man wreaked on my people! The lives he ruined - both vampire and lycan! - when he I gave him everything I had ever had! I gave him everything he ever wanted! I gave him whatever he wanted!"

The anguish in her voice, the pain in her words was unmistakable and it was clear that he had hit a sore spot with her, "He betrayed me! He betrayed us all! When he took her... when he took... she..."

She could not finish the echo of the child's dying screams running through her long memory... she collapsed then, a scream escaping her lips. Once done, she looked at him, hatred and pain in her voidal eyes as she launched herself at him, claw tips extended....

GoldenDrakon stood, unmoving as Wraith screamed, the raw emotions playing out across her voice and features. In the back of his mind, tiny bits of information were being filed away as the dragon was well aware that perhaps for the first time, Wraith was showing her true self, without any of her guards or facades in place.

He was also acutely aware of the danger he had placed himself in as well. Wraith was the oldest and likely the most powerful being in the whole of the Illusion Vale. The self proclaimed CareTaker, founder of Vale City, the knower of Vale secrets and beloved idol of Valians everywhere. Waves of psysic energy bombarded him forcing him to raise his own mental shields in defense.

Wraith's physical appearance and stature also belied the vampire's considerable speed and strength as well, which GoldenDrakon was quickly reminded of as the vampiress launched herself at him, talons extended. The dragon reared back, but taloned fingers raked across his bare chest, leaving reddened stripes which slowly oozed blood. More flashing swipes followed as GoldenDrakon fell back, ducking, weaving and blocking as he went.

His analytical mind tracked Wraith's actions and moves but it soon became apparent that the Vampire's combat skills were being driven by ages of grief, anger and frustration, not by any true fighting experience. With that knowledge, he attempted something different. Throwing his arms wide, the dragon stepped forward, practically scooping Wraith up and folding her into his arms and pinning Wraith against his own chest.

"You must calm down CareTaker. This action, while understandable, accomplishes nothing productive. You have kept this grief burried a long time now, but I am not your enemy."

His voice only made her kick and scream all the louder. "I don't want it! I DON'T want IT!" her cries turned into sobs and her physical response began to weaken. Her shoulders heaved with her shuddering breaths and her face ran red with her oveerflowing tears. Finally, only after a weak protest, she stood still, sniffling into his chest. The blood she had drawn on him mingling with her fallen tears.

After a while she was quiet. Her shoulders still shook and her eyes still ran with red water. But she was still, the only sign of her earlier violence being the way she clenched her fingers around his clothing she could reach.

Then, her voice sounded in his mind, clear as a bell, but still faint and weak, "Then what are you? What are you to me?"

GoldenDrakon held Wraith against him in silence for a moment as he contemplated the question.

“I cannot say for certain.” He replied, weakly at first. “I am just a man trying to learn and understand what he has become. Trying to answer the questions posed to him.”

He released Wraith, letting her stand again although Drakon still kept her close by, the nearness of her filling his senses.

“Whatever else I am, I have become the defacto leader of a small group of Valians who have decided not to live under your rules and laws. We are not your opponents or enemies, but rather, a group who have chosen to find our own way in this new world."

The dragon-man offered a slight shrug of his shoulders.

"I suppose you could think of me as the representative of a foreign nation."

Wraith laughed bitterly, but she remained close to him still. She closed her eyes for a brief second, licking her lip silently, "Well, then, let our nations be allies." It wasn't a question, she knew GD's stance now. Professionally, if not personally. There it was still a little shaky.

Sighing regrettfully, Wraith took a measured step back away from him, but her hand still reached out to touch the metallic skin at his wrist. "There are changes coming to the Vale. I've already started a minting factory. Gold, silver and copper -" she laughed, "At least they were the colours of the mineral deposits we found." She looked at him slant wise, "How much should I give to the people at first?"

It seems that she would get his help - even if he didn't want to give it. For a brief moment her allure wrapped seductively around him and she made a slight impatient gesture with her fingers, stirring them in the air, then the allure was gone - so too the brief frown that had come with it.

"Monentary currency to replace barter?" he asked, raising one eyebrow. "Well, I suppose that is for the best, and certainly beats carrying a basket of furs to the market square. I suppose you will be on to banking within a year."

He closed his eyes, pondering Wraith's question regarding distrobution of wealth, but also allowing him a moment to clear his thoughts again. Wraith's touch seemed to burn his wrist and pass straight into his blood. He forced down a rather suggestive thought, wondering in the back of his mind if Wraith actually understood what her aura did to those around her, and if she did, was she manipulating him on purpose.

"I cannot say for certain," he began after a few long moments. "Be fair of course, perhaps a 'starting wage' for every citizen. Twenty-Five for every member and perhaps one hundred for every household for they will certainly have additonal expenses. Another two hundred for every business owner and three hundred for each who have a solid plan for starting a business."

GD offered a shrug. "After that, Capitalism will decide the rest."

He sat on the ground, legs crossed underneath him and gently broke Wraith's hold on his wrist. With his other hand, he offered her the opportunity to sit before him.

"Then as allied nations, let us discuss trade." he began once Wraith had made herself comfortable. "I understand that the city needs food and supplies. While we cannot supply enough to feed the whole of Vale City, we would be willing to give you our surplus. We have also been grinding flour for baking and can offer you that in trade."
"With my abilitiy to fly long distances, I have discovered locations where food grows wild. Given perhaps a week's time, we can forage apples, berries, nuts and the like as well as whatever fish and game we can catch. We can also provide you with five of the ovens you saw earlier if you wish them."

"In exchange, I would request tools for my people. Hammers, axes, chisels, saws, shovels and the like. We have no metal smiths here and what tools we do have are crude. We would also like your artisans to come here free of charge to assist my people. There are several who have raw goods, skins and the like, but not the craft to make them into something better. Finally, when your people distrubute this new wealth to the Valians, I wish that my people and I be given equal shares."

"Is this agreeable?"

Wraith waved a dismissive hand, "Of course. I didn't think otherwise." She didn't quite make clear which of GD's offers and requests she was speaking of, but it was plain that she would honor them, if other people would. There was only so much she could make people do.

Folding herself elegantly into a seated position in front of GD, she brushed her skirts free of invisible dust. Her dark cherry lips curved into a smile - but she did not share with the draconic man her reason for mirth.

"So... what do you call yourselves?" She asked mildly. "We have some cartographers that would love to map the area around here. Adding a name to your community would be a good start in building your colony."

She twisted a lock of her hair that had fallen over her shoulders in between her fingers. She seemed idly chatty - and somewhat amused, though it was not degrading in any way. She just seemed.... whimsical.

A complete change of character from what she had been not five minutes before. Her eyes were sharp enough though and her gaze steady on him.

GoldenDrakon considered the question for a moment. He hadn't considered naming the lot of them as a township, nor ever really taken his leadership of them seriously. A flurry of possible titles and names flitted through his mind before he finally settled on one.

"Dragon's Hollow." he said with a shrug of his shoulders. "As good a name as any I suppose."

He hesitated for a moment, regarding Wraith's mood and demeanor. Considering that not ten minutes ago, she had been trying to rip him apart with her bare hands.

"I have something else you might be interested in." he said to her, his head tipped slightly. "Something I found on the edge of the wastelend. I claim the whole patch as mine, but I would be willing to offer my first harvest...if you want to bargan for it. I have been gathering and preparing it for some months now."

"Frankincence. The same incense that was offered on the first Christmas."

Wraith's eyes widened at the mention of the frankincence. As of yet she had only found a few plants and herbs that had a semblance of similarity to that of earth, but the hear of an actual plant that was the same? It boggled the mind.

Quickly she went through the possible consequences of letting the general population know where it was. She knew there would be people who would take advantage of the knowledge, especially those from Earth. Home sickness was a powerful thing.

Nodding her head, she brushed her skirts again. "That would be wonderful. You can place a value on it -" she smiled, "Well, we can negotiate one. And once I get everything minted, we'll be in business."

She laughed, "I think you may have quite the entrepreneural skill Golden Drakon!"

GoldenDrakon offered a bow of thanks for Wraith's praise.

"Thank you. I might have some inkling of capitalism still, but while I would consider making it a trade item. There is not much and it is very time consuming to harvest in any significant amount. i was actually offering it to you, if you would be willing to negotiate with me for it."

Wraith arched an eyebrow and gave him a smile, "Oh? So what would you be willing to bargain for? And what could I do with frankincense?"

She grinned and her eyes showed him the appreciation she had for his offer. But she was going to make him bargain - she vaguely remembered a love of bargaining when she had been on earth.