Okay.. I see it now.. I wasn't seeing it the other day, but you guys were right.. I ended my last chapter in an awkward spot to continue from.. so, here's the allotted time that past between that chapter and this one.. About a month. And in that time, Toffé ran the shop until Poad returned from a visit to the Tarta Capitol, now the pair has been farting around for a while, mooching room and board in exchange for running errands. Yeah. I think that clears thing up.. anyway, I'm not starting the part that is our Campaigns beginning ^^ ******************************************************************

Toffé couldn't help but notice the very drunk and stammering Dwarf sitting out in front of Poad's Inn as Miniki and she returned from another errand. Choosing to avoid him, she walked past with Vie still sitting on her shoulder, but Miniki had paused to check on the Dwarf.

"Just be wary Miniki." Toffé reminded Miniki who just nodded.

Toffé felt Vie fly off her shoulder, and she turned for a second to see him going off to a stranger in the corner. 'Geeze. what are with my friends and their magnetism to strangers' thought Toffé and she placed her bundles behind the bar for Poad. Afterwards she went back out to make sure Miniki wasn't pestering the Dwarf.

"You know.." *hic* "Yer hairy like I like my women.." *hic* "But yer just to scrawny lassie.." The Dwarf droned drunkenly as he hung over Miniki's shoulder. Miniki looked up at Toffé with a look that just screamed "save me!".

Toffé laughed as she pulled her friend from his grasp. A moment later she felt a tap on her shoulder. Turning Toffé came face to face with the person who Vie had taken off to earlier. She was obviously a ranger, but Toffé couldn't place her race, she had never seen such deeply tanned skin and wavy jet back hair adorned with feathers. The Stranger pointed to her head where Vie was nested.

"Is this yours?" she said with a slightly irritated tone.

"Nah.. it's her's." Toffé said, pointing to Miniki.

*hic* "Are you sure it's not mine?" chimed in the Dwarf, everyone turned to give him a look as he burst out laughing at his own "joke".

The Stranger rolled her eyes as she said "Well whose-ever this is, get it off me!"

"Okay!" said Miniki as she climbed up to Toffé's shoulder and took a swipe to catch her familiar. Vie dodged every attempt at his capture from the Kara, until Toffé, halfway with out thinking reached up and snatched him from the air. Vie and Miniki gave Toffé a surprised look, and the stranger said "Thank you" and turned to go back into the Inn, but stopped when a horrendous bellow ripped though the air. The group in front of the Inn looked up into the air, but had to throw their arms in front of their eyes as a great burst of wind kicked up the dust and dirt of the street. A second screeching cry told the group exactly what was passing, and they could now see the great Bronze dragon as it dipped and rose in an arduous attempt to fly over the city.

Miniki ran out in the street to watch, Toffé and the stranger behind her, and the Dwarf stumbling after them. All of them followed its crooked path through the sky before it spiraled down and crashed amidst the city.

The Dwarf belched, "Boy, you don't see that everyday."

"We should help it." said Miniki.

"I think we should help ourselves first!" said the Ranger pointing to the crowd of panicked people stampeding their way.

"Yikes!" Toffé yelped as she grabbed Miniki and bounded back to the safety of the Inn's porch, the Ranger at her heels and the Dwarf staggering behind them. He let out a winded "oof!" as he landed on his chest on the porch, barely making it as the crowd past. Miniki then hopped over him and took of down the street.

"Hey, where you going?" Toffé called as she and Vie took off behind the Kara.

"To help it, duh!" Miniki said to the Tarta when her long strides brought her up beside the scrambling Kara.

The dragon had landed in Alexandria's center square. It lay slightly on its side, eyes only half open, it was letting out wheezing gasps. Blood was running from various stabs and slashes in its hide. Toffé and Miniki stood stunned facing it for a moment before Miniki ran up and hugged its nose.

"Ack!! Miniki what the heck are you doing?!" Toffé cried.

Tears were running down the little Kara's face as she said, "She's dying Toffé. I don't think she is going to eat me."

"She's right you know"

"Eepi!" Toffé leapt sideways in shock, she never noticed the Ranger come up behind her.

"Let's put'er out o'her misery" *hic* said the Dwarf, stumbling up with his ax drawn.

The Dragon's eyes widened as she struggled up and pushed Miniki aside crying, "No wait! I need you to.. do something else for me."

Vie landed on Miniki's head. "What do you need us to do Ma'am?" he asked.

"In the temple.. north of here.. the Dragon slayers.. they still have my son."

"Dragon slayers?! I didn't know such a horrible craft still existed!" said Toffé.

"Oh believe it child.. and fear it.. They have been getting stronger in numbers as skill. I fear.. the worst. But if you.. can get my son, I would be able to rest most.. peace..fully.." the Dragon's eyes dulled, and its last breath finished its plea.

Miniki's head was bent and her shoulder's shudder slightly as she cried a bit for the fallen Bronze.

"We should go soon if we're to get back at a decent hour." said the Ranger.

"Wha?" Toffé turned to her.

"A decent hour.. if we want to get back with some light and not camp in the woods, we should go now." She said, reiterating her facts.

"You're coming too?" asked Toffé.

"And why not? She asked all of us, didn't she?"

"Let her come Toffé, we aren't going to stand too well against Dragon Slayers ourselves." said Miniki, coming up beside Toffé and grabbing her wrist.

"I'll come too!" called the Dwarf.

"Oh Goody.." said the Ranger, rolling her eyes.

"Eh! I used to be a General."

"Key word, USED to be."

The Dwarf actually looked a little crushed at that statement.

"Lay off, he can come too." said Toffé.

"Whatever," she sighed, "I'm Valadia, my friends call me Val, but you all can't."

"I'm Miniki," piped the Kara as she held up her familiar and said, "and this is Vie."

"Toffé"

"Call me anything. except short." said the Dwarf.

"Introduction's complete, let's roll!!" called Toffé, as she set off northward, Miniki and Vie at her side as always and their new companions behind.