Verdant Skies

Scheduling a trip to Sindria took a month, Iris and her friends had to tie up certain loose ends with their jobs not to mention any other commitments. The month was mostly for Iris as she had duties to Lady Scheherazade that needed to be handled with more care than her friends. Despite the mounting pressure from the Parthevians, Lady Scheherazade was more than willing to allow Iris to take time away. The magi cited that it would allow the team she'd been working alongside time to test out everything they'd been working on.

Her friends synchronized their schedules in ways that Iris had never really expected, it showed just how well they'd adapted to traveling together. Luna took the lead on making their arrangements as Ginny and Neville worked on gathering supplies the closer things got to their departure date. Despite assisting where she could, Iris felt as if she were only getting in the way of her friends, but tried to push that feeling back. Arashi and Sirius were quickly becoming overwhelmed with excitement as the month drew to a close. Despite having adapted to living within a city, the two looked forward to traveling once more even if it wouldn't be like they were used to.

Meeting up with Muu during the preparation period, Iris explained the situation and he was quite understanding. They had agreed on a basic training regimen that Arashi could follow during their travels. This would ensure that the young boy would continue developing his skills even while exploring new lands, she would have to watch him carefully during these moments and keep Neville appraised just in case. But it was a relief to know that Arashi wouldn't have to completely stop his training just because they were going on what was essentially a vacation, she had released a heavy sigh and let her shoulders relax.

As the date of their departure approached, Iris found a sense of anticipation and nervousness filling her. There was unease of a kind that she hadn't felt in years shifted within her gut, she couldn't shake the feeling that something would happen once they arrived in Sindria. Part of her was tempted to call off the trip, she had learned to trust her instincts as they'd led her away from danger and horrid mistakes after what had happened in Kou. But seeing how excited Arashi and Sirius had stalled her, she kept her mouth shut and made a mental promise that if something went wrong, they'd make arrangements to leave immediately.

"So wanna tell me what's been bugging you?" Luna drawled out as she walked up beside Iris carrying a small canteen, "Or are you going to continue staying silent, Ris?"

Glancing at the blonde as the mixture of emotions running through her welled up once more, Iris released a low sigh. She pushed off the railing she'd been leaning against for the better part of an hour after giving up on trying to sleep. Letting her fingers dig into the wooden railing as she breathed in a lung full of the salt-filled sea air, she finally spoke, "Something about this trip...it's making me think of the past far more than I have in recent years."

Expression shifting from the dreamy one she usually wore, Luna's gaze gained a more serious note as she extended the canteen in her hand. Slowly taking it from the blonde, Iris took a small sip and found herself grateful she hadn't taken a larger one. Whiskey burned her throat, it was a smooth burn that felt nice though she much preferred wine. Handing back the canteen, she eyed the blonde as Luna mused, "I'd suspected as much with how quiet you've been since we left. How...on edge," Luna moved to stand beside her with a soft frown, "Instinct?"

Nodding with a snort, Iris let her gaze fall back onto the star-drenched waters that surrounded their ship. Her fingers flexed against the railing, she took in another lung full of salt-filled air. Her voice was one of contemplation, the memories pressing against her skull hard to ignore, "Something is waiting for us in Sindria, I can feel it. It's not Hermione and Ron, Luna. I just..." She let out a frustrated sigh, "Even with a sentient inner beast, it doesn't help when they can't talk."

"No, it doesn't," Luna leaned against the railing, "You didn't say anything,"

"Arashi and Sirius were happy...too happy for me to voice my worries," Iris's lips pulled into a wry smile, "So I have to hope that whatever I'm feeling is something that won't fuck over everything I've tried to do. And if there is a chance it might...That I'll have enough time to make arrangements for us to run,"

Her gaze turned thoughtful as she glanced into the waters ahead of them, Luna's lips pulled into a contemplative smile, "You've learned to trust your instincts and we've followed in your footsteps. It's a survival trait that's kept you alive through everything. So, what does your gut tell you about this impending feeling?"

With her narrowed eyes locking on the moon above them, Iris contemplated the answer to that question. The ship bobbed gently within the water as her fingers flexed against the railing. Her voice was soft, the words came slowly, "Something from the past will likely be waiting for us, I don't know how or why, Luna, but I can feel it. It's the same feeling that told me Kou soldiers would be in the areas I traveled around, so..." She heard a noise of acknowledgment, "I-I just feeling a looming sense of dread with each passing day and can't put a finger on why. Have you...?"

Her eyes glanced towards the blonde, the question trailing off as Iris's head tilted. Luna shook her head, "I haven't seen much as of late. Just a few random little things," The blonde eyed her for a long moment before glancing out at the ocean, "Ris, I know that we spoke of it back when you first arrived in Reim, but have you considered the possibility of reaching out to them? Not even speaking of Arashi...just seeing how Kouen and Koumei have been all these years."

Gaze fixed on the ocean as she contemplated Luna's words, Iris felt the swirl of emotions swell up and for once didn't force them back in the presence of another. Her chest ached from the grief that had never faded, the stinging pain created by regret still felt as fresh as it had the day she'd left Rakushou. Longing as she contemplated Kouen and Koumei, the wish to see them even after all this time even if only for a brief moment. Her fingers dug into the railing as her inner dragon let out a low droning thrum, the mournful sound echoing the feelings she couldn't quite put into words. Lips parted as she lifted a hand to her chest, a tear rolling down her cheek as she thought of the two.

"Every day, Luna," Iris's voice waved as grief and love waged a war within her, "Every day..." She curled her fingers against the fabric of her tunic, "But it isn't simple, I...you weren't there that day...You didn't see the looks on their face or hear the betrayal in their voices," She clenched her fingers tighter and let the knuckles press into her chest, "I...Even if I sent them a letter, I've little doubt that they'd simply toss it away without reading it. Or burn it," She closed her eyes with a low sound, "I don't even know if they read my original letter..."

There was a small moment of silence then Luna settled a comforting hand on Iris's shoulder, the blonde's gaze was filled with a sense of understanding. Voice soft, she squeezed her fingers gently, "Ris, I can't pretend to understand the depth of what you went through. But people change, and circumstances change. You've grown and evolved, and so have they. It might be worth considering reaching out again. Sometimes, the passage of time can soften wounds."

Eyes locked on the ocean before them, Iris slowly nodded to Luna. Her fingers loosened within her tunic, she spoke softly, "I...I just..."

"Even if it's just for yourself, Ris," Luna continued prompting Iris to glance at her, "It could bring you a sense of closure. Not necessarily to reconcile, but to acknowledge the past and allow yourself the space to heal,"

Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, Iris considered Luna's words. Part of her longed for the closure Luna spoke of, she wanted her chest to stop feeling as if it was caving in. She wanted to resolve the chapter in her life that had been left open for so long. But the fear of rejection and reliving the pain held her back, she breathed out heavily. Voice a bit weak, she muttered, "I just...I'm scared, Luna."

"I know," Luna squeezed her shoulder and Iris slid her eyes open to glance at the blonde, "I'm not saying this is a decision to make now either. But...you should make it before it's made for you," She swallowed at those words, "With how life and your luck are, we both know the choice won't remain yours for long,"

"I know..." Iris's lips pulled into a wry smile, "I think by the time we leave Sindria I'll have figured out what to do...how to write the letter to them,"

With little surprise to Iris, Arashi wanted to explore Sindria as soon as they had docked. She managed to hold him off until after they'd gotten rooms at a local inn. With promises to meet up with the others not long after sunset, she set off with Arashi and Sirius to explore the lively island country. The vibrant atmosphere of the country seemed to unfold as they began exploring the bustling streets, lively markets, and diverse array of available cultures. With wide eyes, as he looked around them, Arashi bounded about with Sirius right on his heels and her following at a far more leisurely pace.

Making their way through a crowded market, Iris bought them all some food with Arashi and Sirius devouring it in seconds while she took a bit more time to savor it. She stroked Sirius's back as they moved about the market with Arashi leading them to a few interesting stalls selling colorful baubles. While nothing really stood out to her, she purchased a few souvenirs Arashi wanted for his friends back home.

As they wandered by a pet supply stall that Sirius dragged them to, a loud voice called out, "Holy shit! That's a big dog!"

Blinking slowly, Iris turned her head towards the voice and found a small blue-haired boy standing nearby. Handing from his neck was a golden flute, she wondered at it for a moment before jolting as the boy started to walk up towards Sirius with an excited look on his face. Opening her mouth, she closed it as a Fanalis girl quickly grabbed him by the collar of his tunic and dragged him back with a startled expression on her face. Standing beside them was a blonde-haired teen with golden eyes that were locked on Sirius, he paled upon realizing just how big the wolf was. Jolting as she realized Arashi had started to walk towards the group, she didn't reach out quick enough to grab him before he was already halfway over to them.

With a stern look on his face, Arashi told the blue-haired boy, "Siri is a wolf. He isn't a dog."

Head tilting as he stopped fighting the Fanalis girl who looked shocked at the five-year-old actively walking up to them with such a stern look on his face, the blue-haired kid asked, "A wolf? I've never actually seen one before. Do they all get that big?"

"No," Arashi shook his head with a bright grin, "Siri's special,"

"Oooh! That would explain why the rukh around him looks so cool," The boy grinned back at Arashi before gaining a curious look, "You have interesting rukh too,"

"Huh..." Arashi blinked at the kid while Iris face-palmed at the fact her son had met some random magician kid on Sindria within a few hours of them arriving, "Oh, you must be a magician, huh?"

"Kinda..." The boy let out a nervous laugh as he was released by the Fanalis girl, "How'd you know?"

"'Cause that's what Magicians usually say when they meet Mama, her friends, and me," Arashi turned his head as she walked up and set a hand on his head with a light smile, "Right, Mama?"

"Right," Iris looked over the group of three who looked at her with wide eyes, "My name is Iris Potter, the hatchling is Arashi, and our lovely guard wolf is Sirius. You three are?"

With a wide grin stretching across his face, the blue-haired boy introduced himself, "My name is Aladdin," He gestured to the Fanalis girl, "This is Morgiana though we call her Mor," The girl nodded while eyeing Arashi and Iris in confusion, "And this is my best friend Alibaba Saluja."

Her mind itched at that name, Iris remembered hearing from somewhere though couldn't quite remember it. She offered them a light smile, "A pleasure to meet you three."

Clearing his throat while tossing a nervous look towards Sirius, Alibaba stepped forward, "I-It's a pleasure to meet you," He swallowed heavily making Iris's smile grow, "Are you visiting Sindria?"

"Yes, we're paying a short visit to some friends of mine that I haven't seen in years," Iris smiled as Arashi waved Aladdin over to pet Sirius, "And you?"

There was a guarded look in Alibaba's eyes that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end, he let out a low laugh and shook his head, "No, we're staying here for a while."

"It seems like a wonderful place to live," Iris inclined her head.

"Miss Iris," Morgiana addressed Iris and she glanced at the Fanalis girl, "Is Arashi a Fanalis?"

Eyeing the Fanalis in surprise, Iris hadn't had anyone ask that question before, but then again, she hadn't been around any Fanalis outside of Remano in years. Shaking her head with a small smile, she told the young teen, "No, Arashi is human."

There was a suspicious look in Morgiana's eyes, Iris knew that the young Fanalis could sense the wildness that came from the dragon within Arashi and herself. But rather than comment on it, the girl inclined her head. Aladdin tilted his head with a wide grin as Sirius nudged him, "So if you're here to visit old friends, are they somewhere around here?"

"No idea actually," Iris giggled at the looks of confusion she was given, "Arashi and Sirius were impatient at the thought of exploring a new place. Since I couldn't in good conscious let them wander off alone, I tagged along while letting the other members of our group deal with finding our friends,"

"Ah," Alibaba nodded his head looking a bit more relaxed the longer that Sirius simply let Aladdin pet him, "Is there anything specific you want to see?"

"Nope!" Arashi shook his head with a wide grin, "Just wanna see everything though I've heard a bunch of stories about the King of this place and his Generals, I really wanna see them in action,"

"King Sinbad is pretty cool," Aladdin nodded with a grin.

"But he's away right now," Alibaba told Arashi earning a low whine of disappointment.

Patting Arashi's back with a soft chuckle, Iris reminded him, "Which is perfectly fine, we don't need to involve ourselves with Kings, Hatchling," Arashi pouted at her, "Anyway," She looked at the trio, "We're going to get back to our exploration. It was wonderful meeting you three."

"You as well, Miss Iris," Aladdin grinned at her.

"Ah-yeah," Alibaba nodded slowly as Morgiana offered her a simple nod, "Hopefully we run into one another again,"

"That'd be soo cool!" Arashi grinned at Aladdin, "Maybe you could show me some magic, I love it when I can see someone other than Mama and the others doing magic,"

"Oooh," Aladdin's eyes lit up and Iris took a step back when he focused on her, "Can you show me some magic, Miss Iris?"

Rubbing the back of her neck at the semi-intense look on the kid's face, Iris swallowed, "I-uh..." She glanced at Arashi and saw the pleading one on his and inwardly sighed, "Sure, kiddo."

"Awesome!" Aladdin's grin was as bright as the sun and Iris found herself smiling back at the boy, "We'll find you at some point later,"

Nodding to him, Iris waved as the trio of interesting children darted off with Aladdin leading the charge. She looked down at Arashi as he tugged on her tunic, "Mama?" He peered up at her curiously with a slight frown, "Did I...Was it wrong of me to mention magic?"

Letting out a low sigh, Iris knelt until they were eye level, "While part of me wants to scold you, Dragonling," She saw him wince, "I won't since we never really told you to keep things quiet. And you should never really have to hide what you are from people...what you can do," She cupped his cheek and smiled at him, "Just don't go running around screaming about being a dragon, alright? Not until you're able to fly for longer than thirty minutes and don't need a boost from me, alright?"

"Okay, Mama," Arashi hugged her around the middle and she returned it with a soft smile, "I love you, Mama,"

"Love you too," Iris murmured as Sirius nudged them both, "Now let's go look at that one stall, I'm pretty sure Siri is going to throw a fit if we don't get him a few new toys or some treats,"

Weaving through the crowds with Sirius and Arashi, Iris finally made it back to the inn just after sunset. Pushing her way inside, she heard the familiar sounds of her friends plus two much-missed voices added into the mix. With a light smile, she moved toward the dining area after helping Arashi off of Sirius' back. Stepping up behind the table where her friends sat, she waved as Neville caught sight of her. Holding up a tankard of something, he chuckled softly, "Ris, you're just in time for dinner."

Two chairs turned in unison at that, Iris grinned as Ron and Hermione stared at her in shock for of a few moments before throwing themselves at her. Hugging them back with a grunt as they almost toppled to the floor, she laughed, "Missed me?"

Releasing her after a moment long, Ron let out a snort and shook his shaggy hair which had been placed in a rat-tail. His eyes were far brighter than the last time she'd seen them, he grinned at her, "Merlin's beard, Iris! It's as if you wanted to give us a heart attack."

"Well someone had to surprise ya," Iris winked at him with a cheerful grin.

Far more composed, Hermione squeezed Iris's shoulder as she pulled away. Her hair fell in loose waves, the brunette's face was free of the stress that had once marked it. She shook her head, "We're so glad to see you. What little these guys have told us has only made me more curious," Hermione crossed her arms with a raised eyebrow, "Where have you been all day? I would have thought you'd come looking for us immediately."

Rubbing the back of her neck with a soft laugh, Iris offered Hermione a mischievous smile, "Well, a certain pair wanted to explore and I didn't have the heart to say no," She saw the confusion in Ron and Hermione's eyes, "Which leads me to an introduction I've been wanting to make," She took a step back and knelt to place a hand on Arashi's shoulder as their eyes widened, "This is my son, Arashi."

With his wine-red eyes gleaming as they peered at Hermione and Ron, Arashi stepped forward with a grin as he waved to Hermione and Ron. Hermione's jaw dropped and Ron sucked in a huge breath as his eyes widened further. Neville, Ginny, and Luna all wore knowing smiles, they merely sipped at their drinks. Stammering as she shook her head, Hermione looked ready to faint, "Y-you're son? But you never-Patronus...no letters..."

"A lot was going on and well... some things are better shared in person," Iris smiled at her oldest friends as they looked at Arashi as if he were an illusion, "But we can talk about that later, alright?" The two finally looked at her, "Right now, we are all together for the first time in years. I think we should take the time to enjoy ourselves, ya know," She looked down at Arashi, "Dragonling," He looked at her with a slight grin, "Go say hi to your Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione,"

As Arashi rushed over to the two and began to babble his greetings, Iris watched Hermione's eyes soften as she knelt to greet the boy at eye level. Moving to sit down beside Neville, she took the offered tankard as Luna leaned over, "Seems you were right not to warn them."

"Mhmm," Iris hummed lightly with a slight smirk.

After a little while, Arashi, Hermione, and Ron joined them at the table with Sirius settled on the floor nearby with a bowl of food provided by the barkeep. Dinner was filled with laughter and light stories, the atmosphere was warm and Iris's chest felt full for the first time in a while. Eventually, she noticed that Arashi was forcing himself to stay awake, she took Arashi upstairs to their room and put him to bed with Sirius heading upstairs to ensure he went to sleep. Returning to her seat a little while later, she took a long drink from her tankard as Ron commented, "I never expected you'd be a mom...not the first one out of us, Ris."

Her chest ached slightly though she managed a wry smile, Iris toyed with her tankard of wine even as the remnants of her tongue turned sour. She shook her head softly, "And you think I did, Ron?"

Leaning back against his chair, Ron let out a low huff, "Nah, you were always unpredictable though, so..."

Snorting at him, Iris rolled her eyes. She glanced at Ginny as the ginger-haired witch commented, "But motherhood suits you, I mean you're still the badass dragon we all knew, but it hasn't softened you in the least," She smirked at Ginny as the younger woman had tried to get one over on her only to figure out how badly that could go, "It just added a layer of responsibility to you."

As they all got refills on their drink and stories of the past started to flow, Iris found herself relaxing just a bit further. Hermione and Ron shared tidbits about their travels over the years. To everyone's surprise, the main reason they'd come to Sindria was due to the king scouting them. That sent subtle alarm bells through her skull for reasons she wasn't too sure about, she found herself unwilling to fully indulge any longer. And she prevented any mention of her work outside of the blacksmith shop from being mentioned, Luna gifted her a curious look though didn't protest while Neville and Ginny were too deep in their cups to notice what she was doing. As they all said their goodbyes for the night, Luna walked with Iris to her room.

The blonde's voice was light as they wandered through the halls, "You sensed something was off, didn't you?"

"Sinbad himself recruited them," Iris looked at Luna with a frown and the blonde's eyebrows furrowed, "Lulu, I need you to think about it. The man is a king with an established country. With how we've portrayed ourselves, it doesn't make sense why he would personally recruit them. Not like with his household members," A flash of understanding ran through her eyes, "So unless Hermione and Ron revealed something about themselves they shouldn't have, Sinbad might have information he should have,"

"Which we can't truly confirm until he returns and we encounter him," Luna ran a hand through her hair, "This is a mess,"

"It is," Iris stopped outside the door to her room, "But for the moment, we'll keep an eye on Hermione and Ron. If anything, we can verify my thoughts in somewhat,"

Expression thoughtful as her cornflower blue eyes narrowed in thought, Luna nodded, "While I dislike being suspicious of old friends, you're right, but we can't jump to conclusions," Iris inclined her head, "If Sinbad indeed has information he shouldn't, we need to tread carefully."

Her eyes narrowed, the thought of anyone with as much power as Sinbad having certain information sent shivers down her spine. Even Lady Scheherazade had only been given limited amounts of information and that was done as needed, the idea of a strange man capable of using multiple Djinn at once having more knowledge than a magi was terrifying. Part of her was tempted to drift back into old habits, it wouldn't be the first time she'd killed a country's monarch though this one would be far more powerful than Lord Habi had ever been. But she had to consider how such a thing would affect Arashi, she took a deep breath and steadied herself.

Speaking in a calmer tone than she likely would have managed earlier, Iris told Luna, "We will need to take a subtle approach with Ron and Hermione. I've heard rumors about certain Djinn that Sinbad holds and dislike them immensely," Luna's eyes narrowed, "One of them holds a power that can alter one's mental state in some way. So we need to take care when dealing with Ron and Hermione."

"Mother fucker," Luna rubbed at her face, "I'll warn the others tomorrow. Iris..." A frown curled across the blonde's lips, "Are you going to leave now that this has become a possibility?"

Shaking her head, Iris admitted, "The thought has crossed my mind since those two mentioned Sinbad personally recruiting them, but...I can't just up and leave. Not without giving Arashi a proper explanation and that would shatter him, I can't do that to him just yet," A guilty look crossed Luna's features and she shook her head, "Don't give me that look, Luna. You couldn't have predicted that Hermione and Ron might've fallen into Sinbad's clutches like that. Hell, I should've considered the possibility with what I knew, but never did. For now, we can only prepare for the worst while hoping for the best."

Settled on one of the low fences of the inn, Iris watched as Aladdin showed Arashi the little fire spell he knew. While nothing compared to the magics that some magicians back in Reim could produce, the boy's output was far larger than most his age could do. Her head tilted at the thought as she watched Arashi clap over the spell, the wild flames dispersed on the stone that she'd raised not long before Aladdin had arrived with Alibaba and Morgiana. She smiled at Arashi as he called up to her, "Mama, could you show Aladdin one of your explodie spells?"

Giggling softly as she slipped down from the fence, Iris ruffled his hair, "Fire spells," She corrected earning a pout, "And sure," She walked over to where Aladdin was standing and tilted her head, "Anything in particular you want to see?"

Eyes lighting up with excitement at the question, Aladdin cupped his chin as Alibaba made a soft noise from the inn's patio. After a moment, the boy grinned brightly, "Something big! Like a firework or explosion," She let out a soft laugh, "It would be amazing."

Chuckling as she shook her head, Iris turned away from him as she rolled her shoulders, "Something big, huh? Well, I've got a whole arsenal that could go under that banner, but I'll go with something kid-friendly."

Taking a deep breath as she began channeling her magic, Iris concentrated on what spell to use and the shape it needed to take. Her lips pulled into a slight smile as she cupped her hand, a ball of sparks forming with the middle condensing into a vibrating orb of white. Tossing it into the sky like a baseball, she counted down and watched with a grin as it exploded into a shower of sparks that transformed into a dragon. Loud exclamations of surprise rang out, Aladdin and Arashi started to cheer as the eastern-style dragon raced around in the sky for a few moments before dissolving into a shower of harmless sparks. Bowing lightly, she grinned as Arashi tackled her around the waist, "Mama! You have to teach me that one!"

"When you've got a bit more control, Hatchling," Iris ruffled his hair earning a whine of disappointment, "Don't forget the fact you burned the bowl of water you were supposed to be levitating this morning,"

"I-well-" Arashi's cheeks flushed and he looked away from her.

"Think of it as something to work towards, Hatchling," Iris kissed his forehead and he perked up, "Trust me, I've got a lot of spells to teach you once you've reached the level needed for that one,"

"Okay," Arashi brightened at the thought.

"C-can you teach me?" Aladdin asked with a curious look.

Head tilting as she eyed him, Iris rubbed the back of her neck as she admitted, "Well...I can't manipulate the Rukh like you, Kiddo," She saw him deflate, "But back in Reim, I do work with some Magicians, so I know some things. It isn't a lot..." She clicked her tongue softly, "I don't know if I can teach you, but...I guess it's worth a shot."

"Awesom-" Aladdin started to cheer.

All of them froze as gongs rang out from all over the island. Her eyes narrowed at the sounds, Iris glanced about before she managed to catch sight of several large white birds flying from the palace towards the docks. Fingers tightening for a brief moment within Arashi's hair, she realized that those gongs meant that Sinbad had finally returned from wherever he'd gone. Taking a deep breath and relaxing her fingers, she spoke softly, "I wonder what that was about."

"No idea, we should head back though," Alibaba suggested earning a pout from Aladdin as Morgiana nodded.

"But Alibaba-" Aladdin began to whine.

"IF that's what I think it was, someone is going to be looking for us soon, Aladdin," Alibaba gave Aladdin a stern look, and the blue-haired boy blinked before his eyes widened in realization, "So let's get going,"

"I-oh!" Aladdin grinned brightly, "Sin-"

Eyes narrowing as Alibaba hushed Aladdin, Iris offered Alibaba a small nod as the blonde told her, "Sorry that we need to leave so soon, it was nice seeing you both, Miss Iris, Arashi."

"But-" Arashi started to protest.

Setting a firm hand on his shoulder, Iris stopped him as she replied, "It was. Aladdin," Aladdin looked at her, "If you still wish for those lessons, I don't mind."

Giving her a warm smile, Aladdin nodded even as he was being pulled away. Arashi looked up at her as the trio left, "Mama, why didn't you try to protest? And why do you look angry?"

"I'm not angry, Hatchling," Iris replied feeling glad that Arashi had never seen her angry, "Let's just say that your friends are staying with someone I do not trust and it might be a bit before I let you see them again,"

"I...Mama?" Arashi frowned at her.

Letting out a sigh, Iris bent down until she was at eye level with Arashi, "There are adult things involved, Arashi. While I'll explain everything later on, the one they're likely staying with is someone that I do not trust because of something he has. And because of that something, I will never trust him completely even if we might become 'friends' one day."

Which was very doubtful, Iris pushed that thought from her mind as Arashi frowned, "Did he do something bad?"

"I...don't know yet," Iris admitted, "But with the thing he has, the chance of him doing something bad will always be there," She saw the doubtful look on Arashi's face, "Arashi, you know how I always say you need to trust what the little dragon in your head is saying? What your gut is saying?" He nodded with a curious look in his eyes, "My inner dragon and gut are both saying the guy those three are staying with is bad news even if he might not seem it,"

"Oh," Arashi gained a look of realization on his face, "So why not tell them?"

"Because just like when I let you stay up all night even though I know you'll regret it in the end, I can't make any decisions for them, Dragonling," Iris ran her fingers through Arashi's hair, "I'm not their mother nor are we close despite knowing each other for almost an entire week,"

"Ah..." Arashi released a sigh, "Adult stuff is complicated,"

"It is," Iris giggled softly, "How about we go get some of that fried fish from a few days ago? I remember you wanted to try some of the other stuff on that cart,"

"Okay, Mama!" Arashi grinned brightly.

Standing as Arashi started to rush towards the inn so they could gather some things and head out, Iris glanced towards where she knew the docks would be. Her eyes narrowed in thought, Sinbad was back which meant they'd finally gain some form of answers. But it would also mean they'd need to be far more cautious, she loathed the thought with every fiber of her being, but there was little she could do as leaving now would render what work they'd done moot.