“As the westernmost Isle of the Western Isles, the Greenmeadow Isle possessed the mildest climate out of the whole region, which was favored by many of its inhabitants. Even so, civilized life in the Isle was mostly confined to its peripheries, and none of the tribes that called it home, be they Orc, Goblin, Elf, or Therian, dared to venture too deep into the forests itself. Few who did so, returned.” - Alina Knizhnyycherv, Researcher of Therian Cultures at the Verozgrad University, circa 672 FP.

The place the old druid couple called home turned out to be a good distance away, probably another half a week by foot, deep in the center of the jungle itself. Because of that, they kindly told everyone to get on their pet’s - the Three-headed Hydrake - back so they could take the faster route through the skies.

Most of the group, even Ida, climbed atop the back of the massive beast, which was extremely docile once its masters called it to heel. None of the savagery it showed when it tore apart and devoured the Cor D’amo was in sight, save for the chunk of tail it carried in its legs as it flew. Leila was the only one who declined, as she sat on Lumi’s back for the trip, the young Ice Drake proving capable of matching the larger beast in speed, at least.

Seated on the Hydrake’s back, Cal took a closer look at the massive beast’s white scales. They looked almost as if they were made of the finest ivory, creamy white and shiny in color, without blemishes, and had long shapes that resembled feathers at a glance, which was why many had mistaken its kind for fowls in the past.

They traveled unchallenged on the beast’s back, while Kino happily chatted with the druid couple at the front. Most beasts steered clear away from the Hydrake’s wake, its size and power frightening them. Only once had a large eagle-like beast probably half the Hydrake’s size temptatively closed in, probably attracted by the hunk of meat it carried in its talon. A single, angry honk from the hydrake scared it away, however, even if it glanced back a couple of times during its retreat.

Finally, as the sun began to set on the horizon, a good four to five hours after they departed from where they fought the serpent, the group arrived at their destination. The place the old druid couple called home was like a slice of paradise cut into the forest, with a small, thatched house built by the shores of a small lake in the middle of a clearing. Even from above Cal could see a flower field near the house, and some other areas which showed clear signs of cultivation.

Neither had it escaped her sight that someone was leisurely fishing in the lake, seated cross-legged on a simple wooden boat made from hollowing out a tree trunk. The man looked like a therian, his features reminiscent of a wild boar, with clear signs of age and wizened eyes, which glanced up for a moment upon their arrival before he went back to his fishing.

The Hydrake they rode dropped the meat on an empty patch of ground, before it alighted near the small house and lowered its wings, which allowed the passengers on its back an easy way to descend. Lumi landed next to it a moment later, and Leila hopped off her back just as her parents reached the ground, walking on the Hydrake’s wings like it was a set of stairs.

Cal descended last, as Kino had hinted that she wanted to speak with her, and they talked as they walked down, in low hushed whispers that would not have reached any other ears in the vicinity. Cal was not surprised that the reason Kino wanted to talk was the old man they saw fishing on the lake.

“You’re a lucky one. I didn’t expect to see him here of all places,” said Kino in a low whisper as they walked down the Hydrake’s wing. “That guy was always hard to find, since he kept traveling around wherever his whim took him, without any planning.”

“The old man who was fishing when we came?” asked Cal for clarification in a similarly low whisper.

“Yes. That’s Thelos of Clan Greyridge, the Champion of Earth,” said Kino in reply with a nod. Cal recalled hearing the name mentioned before, in the Great Emerald Forest, when they had met the Champion of Space. “He’s an elusive one, and most of us rarely if ever saw him since he’s almost always on the move. Must be fate that he happens to be visiting Dalo and Rosa right when you came. It’d be the first time Kyara meets him too.”

“Any reason he kept traveling like that?” Cal asked with some curiosity. She was not one to call out others for traveling often, to be fair, but her travels were at least more planned in nature.

“It’s just how he was. Could never stay in one spot for more than a year or so,” replied Kino with a shrug. “The habit didn’t change after he became champion, and I’d guess that he must have traveled the known world several times over by now. Many of us often joked that he must’ve been a Long-ear’s soul reborn. Either way, since he’s here, you’ll likely get a chance to talk with him come dinnertime.”

“Got it,” said Cal in affirmation as they leapt down the last bit of distance to the ground and landed lightly.

The place the druid couple called home was as idyllic as it looked from above, with the small house framed by the flower fields on either side, making it look like it was the residence of some local fairies or the like. Some smaller animals ran around and played together in the vicinity of the house, hares and foxes chasing each other, while little sunbears and raccoons laid lazily on the grass as they bathed under the rays of the setting sun.

Despite how many of the animals present would have normally preyed on one another, no signs of their predatory relationship was in sight, and they tussled and played together as if they were all good friends. A few of the animals noticed the couple’s return and ran to them, to rub their heads against the couple’s legs or raise their chin begging for scratches.

It was a display of just how well the druid couple got along with the animals around them, which had not surprised Cal one bit considering the “pet” they had ridden on the way here.