As they flew over K'haren, they passed over their own people, frago, dwarves and others, every once in a while. Whenever those below spotted the gseiruts in the sky, Feyn flew down and explained to them what they were up to. In the meantime, Kran and Nume discussed what they were going to say.

'But what if they don't want to come at all? Or if they don't want to accept our supplies?' Kran said with a worried expression on his face.

'We're not really going to force them to. It is their choice, really. If they don't take our supplies, they'll have to find some other way to get to food. Since they don't have a clue where to find it in nature, they'll probably turn to others living in the area. Let's just hope they'll think of trading before stealing... And if they decide to leave K'haren, we can't hinder them either, nor do I think we should.' Nume explained with a shrug.

'But they'd die on their way through the mountains. There are still dragons there...' Kran said, momentarily falling back into his misconceptions about other species. When he realised what a stupid argument that was since dragons didn't eat people, he tried to save it by adding: 'So they won't find enough careless wild animals they can easily hunt for food.' Nume looked at him with a raised eyebrow, laughing hard once his expression admitted his failure.

'But you remind me of something, since we're already this close, I think we should talk to the dragons after we've finished this story.' Nume said, fire in her eyes. 'They've lost their king, they're still stuck in the mountains and who knows what they might be up to. But now that we're changing K'haren, I think it would be a good idea to bring the dragons back. After all, they used to live down here with us until phraio started to hunt them down. Of course, many will be terrified at first but think about it, creatures as mighty and feared as dragons joining everybody peacefully, that surely would help show everybody how wrong they were with all their prejudices.'

'That's a great idea. If that works, the dwarfs can have their mountains back as well. I'm sure they'd approve of that. I mean, every single dwarf I've talked to so far has at some point or another complained to me about living in the open and flat lands... They'd prefer to live in their halls.' Kran now said equally excitedly.

'Oh, then we could maybe go to those halls and have a look at the statues! I want to know whether they really look like us.' Nume said with a smile.

'They probably do, after all, Mersha will have them built... in the past.' Kran said slowly. 'Anyway, it still doesn't prove anything about this whole god story...' He added, hoping Feyn wouldn't hear them. It was nice to, for once, be out of everybody's earshot again. Tarlequin and Raf had stayed in the valley of healing together with Mersha and those who feared to leave. Now Kran felt a kind of relief as if he'd constantly been looked after before. Since his recovery, he hated getting that much attention.

'You believe it though, don't you?' Nume asked in a more serious tone now.

'I don't think they'd lie to us. But I have so many questions about it and at the same time, I feel like it doesn't matter at all. I mean, what does it change?' Kran admitted.

'Everything. It would mean that we would know which of all religions in K'haren is true. Trust me, that's dangerous. No matter how nicely and openly Tarlequin told the valley, I'm pretty sure he only did so to avoid conflict. But you're right, it doesn't change anything about our lives. I'm still me, you're still you.' Nume said with a shrug.

Then she yawned and stretched. When an insect ended up in her open mouth, she coughed until it found its way back out. Kran was worried at first but when he saw she was alright, he couldn't help laughing at it. With a frown, Nume punched his shoulder and pretended to be offended.

'I'm sorry.' Kran said with a wide smile. Of course he wasn't. Before Nume could say anything though, Feyn interrupted them, giving the signal to land. They had reached their destination.

'I shall never trade with such beasts.' Kran's grandfather spoke angrily but didn't shout. Still the way he pronounced beasts made Nume feel the urge to land her fist in his face.

'Then you will starve eventually.' Kran said coldly. Nume was impressed by how calm he managed to remain.

'We can continue to trade with our folk as we always have done. We must honour the traditions.' Kran's father chimed in.

'Surely, you can do that. But you'll soon see that there is no longer such a strict separation between phraio and other species.' Nume said, forcing herself not to smile. She knew it would only provoke them unnecessarily.

'But there should be.' Kran's grandfather said out of conviction. 'And it there isn't, I shall also not trade with those who trade with beasts.'

'Oh really?' Nume asked, rolling her eyes. She couldn't keep it in any longer, they were being stupid. 'Weren't you the one who once hired a half-dretho to have the two of us murdered?'

Nobody said anything after that. Everybody just went absolutely silent. Nume had hit a nerve. Even Feyn understood, despite not knowing the full story. Just before Kran's grandfather spoke again, his mouth was already open, the harpy burst into laughter. Everybody else just stared at her then, waiting for an explanation.

'Seriously? You wanted to have your own offspring murdered and instead of doing it yourself, you called for help from an outsider? Don't you guys have any sense of pride at all?' Feyn asked, still laughing a little. Nume didn't exactly understand what was so funny about it but shrugged it off as one of the many differences between her and creatures of other species.

'So, I'll say it one last time.' Nume spoke, refocusing everybody's attention on herself. 'We have an offer for you, we'll give you supplies and even welcome you in our homes or, if you prefer, have your friends and family stay with you again so you can continue to live somehow similarly to the way you are used to. But if you should insist on being ignorant and offensive towards those who aren't exactly the way you want them to be, you will not find happiness in K'haren anymore. Of course you are free to go wherever you want, we would even be so kind to leave some of the gseiruts with you so you could travel faster and saver. It's all up to you.'

In the end, a few of them decided to join Nume and Kran on their cause. Some, however, refused to change their minds. Kran was disappointed to leave his whole family behind but he had not really expected anything else. Unfortunately, they had refused to accept the gseiruts but luckily, they'd at least taken the supplies.

Now Kran organised that everybody who wanted to return to the valley climbed onto one of the gseiruts that would follow the other male while everybody who wanted to meet the dragons would come with him, Feyn and Nume on Luthi's herd. By the time they finally left, the other phraio had disappeared, wandering off into the nearby forest. Kran swallowed and struggled to keep everything together but when Nume stept to his side and leaned on him with a sigh, he relaxed a little and even managed to smile.

'So.' He said. 'Let's go make some friends.' A smile spread over his face when he saw the fire in Nume's eyes.

'Yes, let's go meet some dragons!' She exclaimed.

// So, I was told those author's notes are getting boring again... let's see what I can do about that. I'll just add another poem from Tschike ;P (Be sure to check her book out!)

Story goes on,

Fans increase.

Votes go up,

I'm at peace.