Dresden used to make fun of Endermon for doing that, but since they drank the strange vials, Dresden just seemed more mature. Rutus had more focus and was always fiddling with some piece of metal or another. Shiloh was just as protective of Endermon, but was less flirty with strangers. That is not to say she didn't turn on the charm when she wanted to, she just reigned it in a bit. And Endermon was less uptight. She was still the leader of the group, still got after Dresden for his lack of manners, but was more relaxed.

They had been riding a while when the topic of what they would do when they got back home. Dresden said he'd like to train young shapeshifters how to hunt and how to accept their animal side. Rutus said she was going to open a blacksmiths shop. Shiloh said she had things to put in order back at home and Endermon said she wanted to do something, she just hadn't figured out what.

She hoped she didn't have to leap right into princessing, she was having touch of a good time finding out about herself. She still didn't know what she wanted to do. They tossed ideas back and forth until they saw smoke on the horizon.

Slowing down to a stop, Shiloh took off and was back in a minute or two. There was a house on fire and it sounded like there was at least one person still in it. They raced there to find the house blazing.

They dismounted and Endermon told Dresden to turn into something with a very powerful sense of smell. She gave Rutus a piece of metal and said to make a thing to break through the doors and windows if need be. She told Shiloh that they should go in and if someone was in there to get them out fast.

They covered their faces with a damp cloth and went inside. They found a young woman trying to put out the fire that had spread from the fireplace and had caught most of the furniture on fire as well. Shiloh got the woman out as Endermon took the burning things and managed to get them outside.

Then with no other source of water, she poured the flask over the smaller fires and got the fires put out. Then she went back outside, and had the others start cleaning the woman's house as best as they could. They gave her some of their stuff and replaced the badly burned furniture.

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When they were done, she insisted on making them a meal to thank them. It wasn't much but it was enough that they all had enough for a small meal. Afterwards, Ensermon pulled Shiloh aside and said they should send someone from the closest town to fix her house.

Shiloh pulled Dresden away from flirting with the young woman and told him to find the closest town. He grumbled but went behind the house and turned into a bird and went looking. Rutus was there to keep the poor woman distracted in case Dresden came back unexpectedly.

Well he took longer than expected and as he touched back down and turned back into a human, Shiloh patted his back consolingly. She said Rutus stole his girl. But that could wait. She asked him which direction he found the town and he pointed.

Shiloh was off and back a little bit later, she went up to the woman who was talking to Rutus, and told her someone would be coming within a day or two to help fix her home. The woman's eyes filled up with tears and she hugged them all in turn. There was a look passed between Rutus and the woman snd Shiloh grabbed Dresden and practically dragged him out.

A few moments later, Rutus came out grinning ear to ear. Dresden pouted and refused to talk to Rutus for a bit. Once the laughter died down, Shiloh gave the woman a small dagger and said in case the people who come try any funny business.

The woman thanked them again and they departed from the smoke smelling house, hoping it would get fixed quickly. Smelling of smoke themselves, they decided it was prudent to find the nearest town and get clean as soon as they could. Since it was getting dark, the chance that they'd find a place for the five of them was slim.

Getting an inn near midnight, they managed to get two rooms and places for the horses. There was a public bathhouse next to the inn and due to the time of night, was deserted. They decided to split the group and go males then females.

And within a half hour or so, both men were out with towels wrapped around themselves. They hurried up to their room to change, and the girls went in to bathe. They, obviously, took longer and came out a bit later. They had brought a change of clothes with them and came out in pajamas.