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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Whizbang Dustyboots" data-source="post: 3606571" data-attributes="member: 11760">The boy and the kobold stared at each other for a long moment, the kobold nervous and obviously ready to bolt. Katadid, on the other hand, looked fascinated."You're a kobold, right?" he asked."Ah, yes?" it said, although it didn't sound used to the name for his race in Imperial Common.Kat nodded."Why aren't you up in the mountain?" The boy jerked his chin in the direction of Green Mountain, looming over the orchard."They ... do not. Do not like I."Kat nodded again."Yeah. No one here does either."Seeing this human unafraid, the kobold did something unusual for his species. He smiled."Boy nice. Want ... um..." the dragonkin held out another apple but obviously didn't know the word for it."An apple?""Apple? I-is apple?""Yeah. What is it in kobold?""Ah, don't. No 'apple.' Called, softskin baby-head. Because look."'What's your name?""Um, hard.""Is it 'Flower?' You have a tiny one painted on your glasses."At this the kobold seemed very enthusiastic."What? Is what?" he said, pointing at the crude pink flower painted onto his goggles. "What called?"Kat felt happy for some reason. He wasn't sure why."Flower. You have a flower.""Flower," the kobold said, mulling the word over. "Yes! Flower! Boy nice!"Suddenly, the kobold looked up to the sky, his tail darting around frantically."Go. Have. Boy nice!" He looked to Kat and pointed to the sky and Kat looked up, confused. The kobold stamped his feet in frustration. "Boy nice! Boy ... hide! Just hide! I don’t know the word!""Hide?" Kat said. The kobold looked blankly and Kat walked over to the tree line to crouch down. The kobold jumped and down, squealing with glee. "Boy hide! Boy nice!"The pair crouched in the underbrush. Kat spent most of the time looking at the kobold. Watching him breathe, watching his tail move, thrilling at something entirely alien and new. There was a brief moment when the kobold's movement stopped and for some reason that was when the sky went very dark for a moment, but when Kat looked up the sky was clear again. And all he heard was a repetitive noise fading away in the distance. After a moment, the kobold relaxed. "Boy nice," he said."Kobold nice." Kat replied. The kobold broke out into a wide grin.Kat heard his name being called and looked away. It was then that he heard other cries in the distance coming from town. He went to ask the dragonkin, but when he turned back the kobold had disappeared. Kat blinked and after a while got up from his hiding place. He heard some noise coming from the front of Bridger's house and went around to investigate."Richard, get back to town and alert the baron," Kat heard the constable say. "I need to stay here and -- what the?" Ward Bridger started at the sickly boy who peeked around the corner. In the cart was a large man with a large black beard with twinges of grey. Next to him was an awkward and gangly boy with serious eyes. Bridger's face turned red. "LEACH! What are you ... Do you have any idea what just happened? Get back to town to your father, NOW!"Kat took off running. As he approached town, he heard the cries and screams increase. The town was in chaos, with people running every which way. Some families had started packing carts, whereas others were trying to keep the families from doing so. Mothers were calling frantically for their children. Over the din, Kat heard his own father's voice. "I'M COUNTING! TWO! KAT? THREE!"Kat rushed out toward his father. Whenever Kat was in trouble or doing something wrong, his father would threaten to count to five -- knowing full well the effect that odd numbers had on his son. Kat would always appear or stop what he was doing by either two or four, rather then end the count on that horrible number. By the time Heath had reached four, Kat ran up to his father and prepared for his punishment. Instead, his father hugged him so tightly it prompted a flurry of coughs."What did I tell you? WHAT DID -" Heath let his son go and wiped his brow. "Son, Mister Potentloins is going to take you home. I have to run to Bridger's and see what we're going to do now that-"Heath stopped himself short and instead unsheathed a hand axe as well as a whip that Kat had never seen before."Heath," Bufer said frantically. "No offense, but I got to get back to Wit's End pronto. If Gax is out then -""Bufer, if Gax is out then Rubik probably knows already. And if Gax is heading that way, you certainly aren't gonna beat her there. PLEASE, just take my boy home."Bufer looked annoyed, but nodded. Kat's father bolted toward Bridger's tower and Bufer grabbed Kat by the shoulder and led him home. The gnome began speaking, more to himself than to his charge."I swear, kid, we're all going to kill each other by the time this is over. Stupid, STUPID! Never even occurred to them that maybe it ain't what it looks like. No, the kobolds have to be evil bastards on the warpath."The pair reached the front door of the apothecary."I think some of them can be nice," Kat mumbled.Bufer was already about to break out into a run when he heard Kat. He stood there for a moment before turning around."You really think so?" Bufer asked quietly.Kat stared at his feet."Um, yeah? I mean ... th-they can't all ..."Feeling Bufer's eyes stare at him, Kat tried to articulate himself better."I mean ... m-maybe we just have t-to talk ... to them. To them, I mean."The town in full-fledged panic mode behind him, Bufer smiled. He nodded and patted Kat on the shoulder."Yeah. Can I tell you a secret, Katadid?" Kat's eyes lit up and he nodded spastically."I think so, too," Bufer whispered. "But why don't you keep what you told me to yourself right now. I think everyone is a little too scared to really hear exactly what you're saying, OK? You promise?"Kat nodded and Bufer smiled."Now, you get inside and don't come out till your pa tells you, OK? I'll see you soon, Kat."Kat spent the rest of the day watching the town through the apothecary window. People cried and held their children tight, while carts were overturned in hysterics. The hammering of boards being placed over windows was a constant accompaniment to the smell of watch fires being lit for the guards in preparation for a kobold attack. It would be weeks before the truth would be believed: Gax had truly left Green Mountain.But for now, Kat looked across the town square and up into the great mountain in the distance. He began to think about the creatures inside and smiled. He had seen something new and learned something. It had been a good day.</blockquote>

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