A day after Bast and Jing’s return to the forest, Bast gathered those who had helped them egt this far, telling them of their plans to move out, indicating they were going to try and find a way to stop this war, and they would be willing to take whoever accepted the risk. Chert had grunted and grumbled, stating he saw no reason to go charging after youn ones who thought they could save the world with just a few swords and magic, and stoutly said he’d stay behind in the tranquil valley for winter, then proceeded to pack his bags and prepare to leave with them.

In the meantime, the refugees had decided to plan a party for the group, in part to celebrate their newfound home, in part to thank their rescuers who had done so much for them. The dance was set for the afternoon two days before the companions would leave the valley, with trees losing their leaves, carpeting the forest floor, and plenty of food, bonfires and decorations strung from tree to tree. Everyone had dressed up for the occasion, sewing and fitting clothes they had found specially for this night.

All those who were good at cooking had pitched in to prepare a feast, and Chert surprised everyone by producing a pile of toys that evening, handing out the wooden contraptions to all the children.

—————————————————————————-

When Keelin had heard that the others were leaving she had immediently stated she was going with them. She had seen what this was was doing to people, and having experienced it first hand she didn’t want others to feel that pain either. She had helped with making dresses, or helping anywhere else she could. At the moment she was at Cade’s house, where she had been staying for days now, getting her own dress on and fixing up her hair.

Cade had stated at first, to Keelin, he wouldn’t be going. But that night he’d had dreams of the spirits and suddenly the next morning he insisted he go. Once they accepted that he helped where he could around the camp. He preferred to stay around Keelin and gave out extra clothes from his house to the other women. Finding Lyuthi a dress and a few other women. He unfortunately knew how to sew so he helped the men fit into tuxes, making his own in secert.

It’d been years since he’d seen or even been to one of these things and he…didn’t want to disappoint anyone.

At the moment he was with Keelin, helping her where he could. “Oh. Ihave the perfect piece to complete your look.” He opened a random box on a shelf and brought out a celtic necklace. “Here.” He slowly put the necklace on the draik and smiled. He wasn’t dressed or ready, telling Keelin it’d be a surprise.

Keelin smiled brightly as Cade put the necklace on her, lightly touching it and looking in the mirror. “Thank you Cade, its beautiful.” She said before turning to him and giving the xweetok a hug.

Cade smiled and hugged her back, his tail flicking. “Okay. You wait riiight here.” He positioned her then quickly walked to his bedroom. “I’ll be ready in ten minutes! Maybe less!” He said as he shut the door.

Keelin smiled and nodded. “Okay Cade.” She said, fixing up her hair a little more before sitting down and waiting for him to be readt to go.

Cade took about seven minutes and he slowly opened his door. “..Er well okay. I don’t look as pretty as you.” He came out in a dark navy tux. It had bright aqua gem accents on the bottoms and on the cuffs. His shirt was a pale cream color with that same gem lapel button at the neck. As he walked out the spirits around the house began to shine around the two of them.

Keelin smiled brightly as she saw Cade in his tux, going over to him and taking his hands in hers. “You look really handsom.”

Cade raised her hand up and gently kissed it. “Would you do me the honor of being my date to this ball?” He asked with a smile, the colors around them seeming to dance.

Keelin giggled and nodded at him. “I would love to. Shall we head to the dance then?”

Cade nodded and the colors ceased as he opened his door. “You first~” He said adjusting his coat before waiting to the side. He was anxious to see the others, and he wondered if they’d mind if he was there…

Keelin grinned, walking out of the house before waiting for Cade, hand outstreatched. “Shall we?”

Cade jumped down beside her and gently took her hand. “Let’s.” He let the spirits fly freely around them. In the small amount of time he’d been with Keelin and the others he’d been quite happy.

Keelin smiled, walking with Cade and they were soon at the party area.

—————————————————————————-

Lyuthi spent most of her time with Veldahar, and when she wasn’t with him she was with Lei. Of course she insisted she go, not wanting to settle down and she certainly knew she could help. She also tried to convince Veldahar to go. When Cade found her the sunset colored dress she was more than excited, refusing to let Veldahar see her that day as she got ready. She wanted to knock him off his feet.

Veldahar had been very reluctant to go with the group, but due to Lyuthi’s insistence, and knowing he’d be of use, hed finally decided to tag along. Now he was ready for the dance, dressed in a dark red tux and adjusting is collar for the fifth time in the last minute, he nervously drank from a glass of cider, flicking his eyes to where Lyuthi was getting ready.

Secretly Lyuthi had been reeady for about ten minutes but she could hear Veldahar fidgetting and wanted to make him squirm. Finally she walked out of the bedroom and smiled. “Well?” She asked twirling once. Her hair was mostly down but part of it was pulled back into a small braid.

Veldahar put the glass down hard, staring at her in wonder. His tail twitched as he looked her up and down, left speechless.

“…Is this a good speechless? Or…bad?” She asked as she approached him. “I know my hair isn’t quite the same without my ladies in waiting….but I..really like the dress.” She smiled, her feathered tail swishing behind her. “You look very handsome. We…somewhat match.” She giggled, adjusting his collar.

Veldahar finally broke into a smile, hugging her close and kissing her nose. “You look ravishing, Princess.” He said. “I daresay I must look shabby at your side in comparison.”

Lyuthi turned dark red as he kissed her nose. “You look handsome. Not shabby at all.” She said kissing his cheek. Taking his hand in hers she smiled. “…We make a quite a couple.” She said with a smile. “..You’ll teach me to dance…right?”

Veldahar chuckled, nodding, “I bet you dance better than I do.” He said, leading her towards the party area.

Lyuthi squeezed his hand and smiled faintly. “Well we’ll see what I remember when we go dance~” She said trying to hide how she felt about not remembering her past. “…I bet everyone looks lovely. Let’s go~”

—————————————————————————-

Jing had out right refused to wear a dress when she heared about the dance, she had even refused to dance but had finally agreed to dance once… with Bast. But even as the day came she was still stuborn on the dress part, instead just wearing a normal pair of pants and a shirt.

Bast had been very disappointed with Jing’s refusal to wear a dress, and as he adjusted his own formal wear and hat he glanced at Jing as she left her room and frowned. “You really aren’t wearing a dress?” He asked, looking hurt. “You really still are a kid.” He growled, turning angrily and stalking out of the house, heading away from the festivities.

Silver pranced about helping here and there, his own soldier uniform and large feathered helm giving him the look of a miniature prince as he chatted to everyone and tasted everything.

Lei was already at the dance, wearing a black tux as he walked around, and kept an eye on Silver to make sure the jerboa didn’t end up finding someone else’s belongings or making trouble.

Jing watched Bast leave, sighing quietly and crossing her arms. “I’m not a kid!” She muttered, standing a minute or so later and walking towards where the dance was. She wouldn’t wear a dress, but she had promised him a dance. “Whats the big deal with dresses anyways?” She asked herself as she walked.

Silver spotted jing and scampered over to her. “Hey, why aren’t you ready? I saw Bast leave all in a huff to the lake, did you two fight again? You really should get ready, almost everyone’s here already and you aren’t even dressed!”

Iris had chosen a simple dark blue dress that complemented her hair, with silver adornments and her ever-present symbol of Merial hung at her neck. She sighed faintly, smiling as she watched people putting the finishing touches to the decorations, and the children gathered around Chert as he handed out the wooden carved toys.

Jing crossed her arms and looked away from Silver. “I’m not wearing a dress. And no one can make me.” She said with a quick nod.

Lei saw Siver with Jing and desided to go over to Iris, pulling a hand on her sholder and smiling. “Hey Iris.” He said before looking at all the kids around Chert. “And whats going on here?”

Silver frowned, “Oh, I see. I don’t think Bast likes that though, he was mumbling angrily to himself and said he’d not come back.”

Iris laughed lightly, putting her hand over Lei’s. “Chert seems to have been preparing wooden toys for all the kids and is giving them out now.”

Jing was suprised as she heared that “Really…” She bit her lip a bit before running off in the direction Bast had gone to find him.

Lei smiled as he heared that, watching the kids. “I bet the kids are extatic about that. Chert will be the most popular guy in the valley after this to the kids.”

Silver began trotting after Jing, but was stopped by a large hand on his shoulder. “Leave the girl alone.” Said Chert gruffly, “Here, I made this for you.” He held out a miniature dragon up for Silver, who, despite not being a child, squealed in glee as he took the miniature. “WOAH is this really for me!? It’s amazing! And look at the detail!” He grinned widely, hugging the short tonu, who harrumphed and tried to hide the blush he felt coming on as he tried to pull the jerboa away. “What do you think you’re doing!?” He spluttered.

Iris laughed, “He does seem to be quite popular for all his gruff act.” She said, watching Silver hug the old tonu. Rena scampered over to show them her own toy, two tiny dragons hanging with a bit of twine from a pendulum. She held it in her palm, and poked the pendulum, sending the two dragons flying around and up and down.

Lei looked at Rena and her toy, grinning at her and petting her head. “Thats a really cool toy Rena!”

Rena giggled happily, watching the toy as it danced in her palm.  Iris smiled, watching as well. “That’s an amazing piece of art there. You have to take good care of it now, okay?” The girl nodded emphatically, “I WILL!”

Lei smiled at Rena, and looked at the toy. “It is quite amazing. And for Chert to make so many in such a short amount of time.”

Rena nodded, “I saw him with another toy he kept… I think it’s for Jing!” She giggled, “It was a miniature Bast riding a dragon!”

Lei laughed a little as he heard that, “I bet Jing will love that! Speaking of Bast and Jing… Where are those two?”

Iris glanced around, “I’m not sure…” “They’re by the lake. Jing’s still not ready and Bast is all in a huff about it.” Piped in Silver, suddenly beside them. “Oh look! Cade and Keelin! Don’t they look nice?” He jumped and waved at the two.

Lei looked at Silver, suprised at his sudden apperance. “Jing still refusing to wear a dress?” He said before looking towards Cade and Keelin with a smile.

—————————————————————————-

Jing found Bast sitting on a rock by the lake, petting the fluffy top of his hat as he stared out at the starry reflections on the water.

Jing looked towards Bast, going over beside him and looking at the kankiru. “I’m sorry I upset you Bast…” She said quietly, looking at the ground ashamed. “I didn’t think… me not wearing a dress would make you mad…”

Bast sighed faintly as he heard Jing, not looking at her. “I’m not angry. Just disappointed.” He said gruffly. “I… I just… I really wanted to see you in a dress… really looking like a young woman for a change.” He grabbed a sone, throwing it into the water. “But I guess that’s too much to ask from you.” He looked up at the sky. “Obviously you don’t give a damn what I want.”

Jing watched Bast, ears pinned back on her head. “I…I do care… Its just hard for me Bast. I’m not use to looking like this and I havn’t worn a dress since I was back home. And there I had to wear them almost always. I’m kinda nervous… that I’ll look weird in a dress now after like six years.” She admitted. “But… If you promise not to laugh… I’ll wear a dress… just once. But just a plain dress.”

“No, don’t bother.” Bast stood abruptly, not turning to her. “You don’t need to go out of your way just to please me.” He put his hat on and turned to walk off into the forest, farther away from the party.

Jing shook her head, moving forwrad quickly as she took Bast’s hand. “No! Please… please don’t go.” She said softly, still holding Bast’s hand. “I know… I’m still a kid in a lot of ways. And… I want to try and be more adult… not just for you but for myself. And… I still want to have a dance with you. So please come…? Please Bast?”

Bast stopped, turning towards her. “Plain dresses will just make you look out of place at the dance. Everyone has tried their best to dress up and look their best.” He glanced down at her plain clothing. “Well, almost everyone.”

Jing looked at Bast, seeming a bit hurt. Atleast she had said she would wear a dress! “Bast… your being pretty mean. Your the one acting like a kid now. I was atleast trying to meet you half way.”

Bast sighed, shaking his head. “I just…” He moved closer, looking at her. “It’s a party, everyone is dressed in the finest they could manage. Why don’t you think of their feelings too? You don’t have to dress like a princess, but it won’t kill you to dress like a woman.”

Jing looked at Bast for a moment before looking away. “O…Okay. But jsut… promise you won’t laugh at me in a dress…?”

Bast smiled, “I would never laugh at you for something like that.” He said gently, brushing the long bangs away from her eyes, and moving to kiss her cheek gently.

Jing blushed a little at the kiss before looking away from Bast and closing her eyes. She didn’t know what kind of dress she wanted… but she tried to use her amulet to change her cloths into some kind of dress.

Kinu had already thought of the perfect dress for Jing, and as the girl concentrated, her clothing shimmered, changing into a blue satined dress with a shawl cuffed at her middle fingers, adorned with gold jewellery. Her hair was let loose, cascading down her back freely.
Bast blinked as he saw the change, staring at her in amazement. He smiled finally though, “You look amazing.” He said breathlessly.

Jing’s face went red as she looked at the dress. This was more then she had been thinking of! … Kinu of course. She looked at Bast, still blushing “R…Really…? I don’t look weird in a dress…?”

Bast smiled, “Of course not! You look… stunning.” He held out his hand, bowing. “Will you do me the honor of accompanying me to the dance?” He asked.

Jing blushed at Bast, but nodded a little, taking his hand. “O..Of course.”

Bast smiled, taking her hand and leading her back to the party, humming to the music and skipping faintly to the beat.

Jing was still blushing as they got to the dance, half hiding behind Bast and a little embaressed about anyone else seeing her like this.