Chapter 112: Prep For Departure

"The rest of them can follow behind us when they are clean, but you should go meet with everyone so Ryan can go over his plan. He wants to make sure that you are safe, and it is why you him as the council for this," Messia explained to me as we left the bathing room.

Thanos, Tigra, and Atom had all flown back onto my shoulders as I had finished drying off. I had to close my cover backup to hide the nips, and my Flower Pot of Gold below before we could leave, so I talked to the girls shortly. 

I had asked my Shadow girls to grab some meat snacks for my kittens, which got me warm pulses of love from the critters. I could also feel the underlying hunger, but they had been very well Bee Hived.

I asked the other girls to make sure that they hurried up as well. I didn't really want to meet all these new people without someone like Rixie or Xani to help me out if I didn't understand something.

As Messia and I left, Riza and Joni, who had been waiting, joined us. Both of them seemed to be in a good mood, so they must have enjoyed their alone time, but that was a reminder again for Leah.

Just when I think I am catching up, I am reminded of another thing on the list, I thought with a smile walking through the Honey Gate. Instantly we were on the other side, and the room was filled with guards, but the outside edge was lined with people who were excited to get out.

All of the Raccoon folk but Rixie were there, and Ryan Waved me over to his group. His group was all of my guards mixed in with the black-clad Raccoon Folk, and everyone was looking more robust and fit. 

As the four of us walked over, I could feel the tension of the Cat Dragons start to rise. I tried to calm them down, but the sound of everyone was starting to get to them.

"Messia, can you ask everyone to quiet down for a bit? It is making the Kittens nervous, and they will have plenty of time to be loud later," I said to Messia, and she nodded and then went to quiet everyone down.

As Messia left, Tag and Sig saw us and came over to join Riza and Joni. As they got closer, I started to get weird curious feelings coming from the three kittens.

'What is that… thing? The one that looks like… a Dragon? Why are his colors like yours? And he has scales, a furry tail, and leather wings, but a face like the rest… strange….' Atom trailed off and then hopped off my shoulder and flew over to Tag.

"Woah, you are the most radical thing I have ever laid eyes on, oh Great miniature Cat Bird!" Tag said with reverence, and I tried not to laugh and what Atom asked me as he landed.

'He smells like a dragon, but does he have brain damage?' Atom asked.

'I most definitely do not, you little glowing ball of furry snot!' Tag blasted back somehow and shocked the hell out of Atom and me.

Atom's eyes looked like they were about to bulge out of his head, but Tag was a Dragon now, but it was still strange to hear him in my head like that. I was sure that Atom was having some sort of existential crisis from the way he was backing up and almost off Tag's shoulder.

"Those are some excellent friends that you have found yourself, my Queen! We shall stay close and by your side from now on like the girls while we are outside the ship!" Sig declared with a grin.

"Thank you boys, I will be relying on you all for now, but I don't think that we should have any trouble with the Trolls. It is not like the two races are fighting, the Trolls just want to make their Booze Spirits, but we have a great use for that now," I said with an excited smile as we all walked up to Ryan and the other guards.

"Booze? Thinking of picking up a new habit?" Ryan asked jokingly, but I gave him a knowing smile, and the grin left his face and was replaced with an intrigued look. "Are you saying that you know other uses for it?"

"There are many uses for it, but some of them aren't really needed like as fuel, but we will be able to create weapons and have more sterile health equipment. There will be other uses for it, but for now, just know that it is a step in the right direction for us," I said with a smile, and Ryan and the rest of the Raccoon Folk, including Bob, who was wearing a nametag.

"Now, I think that you and I should have a talk later, my Queen. I happen to know a couple uses for Pure Ether Juice, but I also have a recipe for a special acid that I developed before you gave me this boost. I think that we should talk about the different things that we might be able to do with this," Jeff, the Explosive Specialist said as he came over to me.

"Yes, I think that would be a good idea. We will see who else we might be able to pitch in with ideas. Xani for sure, because this was her idea, and we will want Pixie and Gamble, but these are things for another day," I said with a smile, and Jeff bowed his head with a grin and pulled back to the group of guards.

Just then, I felt the Hunger rise in the Cat Dragons, and Atom jumped from Tag and gilded back to me. I could hear the girls laughing as I turned, and when I saw them, Rixie had a large cutting board, and Miku had the bowl of meat.

"We brought you a cutting board to feed them on so you won't get dirty while they eat. Miku also had a towel for you to wipe off after you are done," Rixie said as the two came over.

I took the wooden board with my lower hand, and the Cat Dragons all jumped down, and I started to feed them some chunks of meat. This was the last thing that needed to be done, and then it was time to meet the Trolls!