As they topped yet another in what already seemed hundreds of low hills, Kreet saw a flat land before them as the sun began to set in the distance. The river that snaked its way through the land looked placid enough, but its width was daunting.

"Perhaps this would be a good place to camp?" Fot suggested.

Kreet looked away from the landscape before her and nodded. "Yes, I think you're right."

Fot turned back and put a hand up, calling out "We'll stop here for the night! Set up the tent and set the traps. Firewood crew, start gathering."

"Firewood crew?" Kreet turned back to Scythe.

"Oh, yes. Goldworm has taught us how to make fires. We've learned much since He came. We were prepared for this journey, Kreet."

"Well that certainly makes things easier! Um... did he teach you how to cross a river like that?"

Scythe turned to face the scene before them.

"I don't think so. Fot can probably come up with something though. He usually does."

Kreet sighed and nodded. "I hope so. Somewhere there's probably a bridge, but who knows how far away? I don't see anything though. I think I should start teaching you the Common language tonight though."

Hours later Kreet discovered she wasn't all that great at teaching. There were just so many things the kobolds didn't know about the human way of life that she found herself spending just as much time trying to explain human society as she'd spent on the Common tongue itself. But it was a start.

"No, that's enough for today," she concluded. Save your questions for tomorrow night, but you can try practicing the words among yourselves."

"Shall we retire to the tent then?" Scythe asked.

"You three go ahead. I want to talk to Old Kras first."

They looked at each other, but Scythe shrugged and headed towards the large tent that had been erected for the leaders while Kreet went out to look for the grumpy kobold.

She found him sitting alone not far away against a tree and she sat down beside him.

"So, what do you think? Are you learning the Common tongue too?"

"'Shit'." he said, sounding out the word perfectly.

"Well, you've got that word down!"

"Only the most important words are worth remembering. Where do you think you're leading us?"

"Hey, this wasn't my idea! Remember that. I'm just doing the best I can."

They sat in silence for a time before he spoke again.

"I know you are. I'm just not sure our kind are meant to take on human ways, young one. How long have you lived among them?"

"Since I was actually a young one. I have children, you know!"

"Bah. That just means you can bump. But no, you must forgive me. You were chosen by Goldworm to guide us. I am just an old kobold that doesn't like change."

"Yet here you are," Kreet pointed out, handing him one of the walnuts she had grown fond of.

He took it and looked at it. "I have few enough teeth as it is, young one. I don't suppose you could..."

She took it back from him and cracked it open with her teeth before handing it back in pieces.

"Nuts," he said, but began picking the meat out with a claw. "Do you know how rare these were when I was a boy? They were... precious. Now they're just a snack. It's all so easy Outside."

"That river won't be easy."

"It's not like we don't have water in the caverns. Fot will know a way. Or come up with one. But what do you plan for us, once we get to wherever we're going?"

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"I don't know. I had thought..."

"We're not humans. We won't become small versions of them. They will rule us. They will treat us as animals. Goldworm is a dragon, and his word is my command. But I'm not confident he isn't leading us into a life of slavery."

"I know kobolds who think slavery is the proper place for us," Kreet said, cracking open another nut.

"Doing the bidding of dragons is one thing," Kras said. "But humans..."

"Humans killed my family, Kras. Yet there are good humans too. Most, in fact."

"And do you think the good ones will welcome us? Protect us from the others?"

Kreet thought about that. She could have no idea of where they were going, nor what the humans they would meet would think about them, and she told Kras so.

"Perhaps there may be another way, young one?"

"What do you mean?"

Kras turned to face her, tossing aside the shell pieces. "I'm not a wise kobold, Kreet. Just an old one who still has enough strength for this trip. But if the future for us needs to be living with humans... maybe we don't have to live among them."

Kreet nodded. "Perhaps not. Perhaps it would be enough to learn to live beside them - not among them."

Old Kras nodded. "I would prefer that, Kreet. We are not as acclimated to the Outside and its ways as you are, and in this generation we never will be. Our size gives us a disadvantage when compared to the tall races, without the added complication of learning to live Outside. Goldworm has taught us how to handle most natural predators. But I can't help but fear the humans. This is their world and we will survive only at their pleasure. I have love for my brothers and sisters here. I would not have them regret their obedience to Goldworm. They revere him so... as, I admit, do I. But I don't think he's infallible."

"Neither do I, anymore Kras," Kreet said as she stood up and brushed the shell from her scales. "I will think seriously on your words."

"Perhaps you are more wise than I thought," Kras said. "Do that. Sleep on my words. Maybe they will help."

Kreet bade the old kobold a good night and passed back towards where a fire had been lit near the leader's tent.

"HELLO" said a youngish male kobold in passable Common.

"Hello!" she smiled back at him, only to be greeted by "Hello Kreet!" from a dozen other voices, to which she tried to reply to all of them in kind, but eventually just waved to them as it became clear it would take forever to get to the tent if she had to reply to all of them. The kobold faces looked at her with blank faces at the gesture though.

"I'll explain tomorrow," she laughed in kobold and finally made her way into the tent.

The interior was dark compared to the firelight outside, but to her kobold eyes the three clan leaders were only slightly less visible than during daylight.

"Welcome, Kreet!" said a naked Gart.

"Oh. Yeah. I forgot about that," Kreet said after tearing her eyes away from his maleness.

"Forgot what?" a just-as-naked Scythe asked from atop the large hide that would serve as their communal bed.

"Humans don't take their clothes off very often," she said plainly. "Look, guys, I have to just tell you truthfully, it makes me... uncomfortable. I promised my mate that I wouldn't bump with anyone else, but seeing all of you makes that promise a little harder to keep. And, it's been a long time since I was with my mate."

"Oh!" Gart said. "I'm sorry Kreet."

"Yes, it's not a problem," Fot added, tossing Gart's loincloth to him from across the tent.

Unfortunately his aim was off and it hit Kreet square in the snout.

"Sorry," he said while she removed it and handed it to its owner.

"Me too?" Scythe asked. "I don't have a penis. But if it bothers you..."

"Just to make it fair, if you don't mind," she said carefully. "Look, I don't want to make you all have to change your ways just for me."

"No, it's alright," Scythe said as she put on her own loincloth. "After all, we need to get used to human ways."

"Old Kras would probably protest," Kreet said, "But on some things it is probably better to start practicing their ways somewhat - at least when you're around them. Or me. I guess you could think of me as only half-kobold."

A minute later they were all dressed.

"Okay, now let's talk about that river," Kreet said.

"Let's get in bed first," Gart suggested. "Fot does his best thinking in bed."

Kreet shrugged. She really shouldn't press for too much change too quickly.

A minute later they were all snuggled under the hide blanket, and Kreet had to admit that there was something comforting about being so close to others.

"So, Fot - that river..."

"I've been thinking about that, of course," he said quietly, only inches from her. "If we tie ropes together, we probably have enough to reach across it. We could have someone cross the river with the rope, then have them tie it off to a tree or something and then the rest could cross that way."

"Hmm..." Scythe said. "The rope would get awfully heavy for the person crossing though. Maybe if they crossed on a log or something to help them float?"

"That would be better," Gart agreed. "I think I could do it without a log, but it would be a lot easier with it. But it also depends on how fast the water is moving. I'd be a long way downstream before I made it to the other side, especially if the water is moving fast."

"You could start as far upstream as the rope would allow first," Scythe replied.

The conversation continued between the three, but Kreet found herself drifting off to sleep and their quiet talking only served to lull her to sleep all the more.

She awoke deep in the night at the sound of an unknown kobold voice calling for Gart. He rose from beside her and went to the tent door.

"Wolf caught in one of the traps. We thought you should know."

"Any problem?"

"No problem. Doesn't look to be part of a pack."

"Kill it and reset the trap," Gart said quietly and returned to the bed.

Kreet felt him return and decided not to interfere. They seemed to know what they were doing, and she felt that she had enough responsibility leading them to whatever destination fate had in store, and was frankly glad they seemed to be competent enough she didn't need to micromanage the clan. This gave her renewed peace, and she went back to sleep as easily as she could beside the frankly gorgeous male.