The day started to wane and the world slowly slipped into dark and sleepy haze. Fog seemed to seep out of the plants and cover the ground as if to lay a blanket over the world in preparation for sleep. The fog swirled, disturbed by the movements of a group of Kodai on the prowl through the countryside - their legs almost lost beneath the thickening fog and their bodies gliding just above it as they walked carefully over the landscape. Or as careful as they could with the limited visibility of the ground.
Shinri, a battle hardened drake, led the trio of vixens through the darkening world; his dark back would have blended him perfectly with the environment if it were not for the fog which, as much as it were pleasing to look at, provided some challenges to the would be hunters. Velma, an equally battle hungry vixen, followed closely on his flank; desiring nothing more than to learn from Shinri's experiences. Kohi and Nutmeg, however, started to fall back from the group as the uncertainty of their quest weighed heavily on them both.

"I am not so sure about this..." Kohi whispered to Nutmeg after the pair had dropped back enough to feel safely out of earshot from the eager two in front.
"I agree with you" Nutmeg replied, eyeing both Velma and Shinri with suspicion. "I do not appreciate that they are not telling us where they got the tip from."
Kohi nodded in agreement, but both jolted in surprise when they had noticed the other two had stopped up ahead and were looking back at them.
"What are you two talking about?" Velma asked, her jealousy beginning to bubble once more.
"We must stay together. We cannot risk any blunders" Shinri began to lecture in a harsh whisper but an unexpected sound caused everyone to drop to their bellies into the now damp ground.
"What was that?!" Nutmeg began to panic, looking to Velma for guidance; however Velma was already on alert and scanning the area to identify the source.
The group had pressed themselves down to the ground for only a few seconds, ears rotating and eyes darting whilst bodies remained perfectly still, before finally Kohi offered.
"Is that, crying?" her voice barely audible yet still earning a stern look from Shinri.
Nutmeg's eyes widened as she listened now to the sound with new context. "I believe you are right. That sounds like crying." she agreed, keeping her voice low.
"Could be a trap" Velma offered flatly, earning her an approving look from Shinri which caused her to look away to hide a smile.

~

A group of whelps trudged through the foggy darkness, having lost track of time during their expedition and found themselves now tired, hungry and utterly lost.
"Come on Bernard!" Brennegan encouraged his friend, attempting to almost lift up the larger whelp and carry him on his back - however Brennegan struggled with the wriggling of his injured friend and his own bags filled with the days spoils.
Botanica followed closely, clutching her and Bernard's bags full of various food looking items they had spent all day foraging for close to her chest as she scanned the surrounding fog laden world around them with wide and panicked eyes. "Come on guys! We have to get back. It is getting dark."
"He is injured, Botanica!" Brennegan snapped at her, his own insecurities and fears manifesting as anger towards her. "Why not run ahead and find help." he offered sarcastically - a fact which was lost to her in the moment.
"Okay, I will be back!" before either of the other whelps could voice their concerns or stop her, Botanica had ran off into the thick fog; seemingly swallowed by its swirling tendrils.
"No I did not mean- oh. She is gone." Brennegan stared after her, however Bernard attempted to take another step forward and landing awkwardly on a limb caused him to cry out in pain and fall to the ground, causing Brennegan to snap his attention back to his injured friend. Rushing forward he looked over Bernard closely before being satisfied that he did not actually know what he was doing and so sat himself next to his fallen friend.

"I am so... I am so so sorry." Brennegan started, his voice cracked giving away his emotions which began to finally spill over much like the tears that began to run down his face. "I should never have suggested we come here."
He looked over to Bernard who had apparently fallen asleep and sighed, deciding to give in to his emotions as he sat on the cold, damp ground in an ever darkening world. He sobbed to himself, not holding it in, however, also afraid of being heard by some monster lurking in the darkness.

~

The weeping continued to haunt the group, however none quite willing enough to venture into the fog to investigate the haunting noise in the waning light. Just as Nutmeg was about to suggest that someone, ideally not her, should go ahead and find out what was making that noise, Kohi shouted out and leapt up in surprise, causing everyone in the group to jump to their feet in shock and action. Kohi spun around crying out about her tail and Nutmeg nearly stumbled backwards over herself in her hurry to back away from Kohi and the potential danger that lurked. Velma cried out in surprise whereas Shinri was the only ready for action as he sprung his body forward and towards the direction of Kohi's tail, and hopefully, whatever it was that hid in the fog.

Just as Shinri was about to make contact, Kohi flicked her tail up and slapped his nose with her long fur, causing Shinri to yelp in surprise. "No! Stop! It is a hatchling!" Kohi cried out, causing everyone to stop in their panicked reactions. Their movements had managed to wave away enough of the fog in their immediate area to clear a small area among them where they could finally see their feet, and a small green whelp in Kohi's arms.
Kohi looked down at the strange creature in her arms who seemed terrified at the large adult dragons around it. She cooed softly as a way to try and calm the poor hatchling down. Nutmeg approached however the hatchling started to shake, so she stopped in her tracks to not overwhelm it.
"Can you speak, little one?" Nutmeg asked gently, trying her best to look as friendly as possible whilst maintaining distance. The small green child nodded in Kohi's arms, and clutched its small collection of bags closer to itself as if the bags would provide protection from those which surrounded it. Shinri scoffed, outwardly nursing a sore muzzle and pride, however held relief that Kohi's quick actions had stopped him from harming what was clearly a youngling.
"My name is Kohi! And that is Nutmeg" Kohi began her introductions, pointing to those as she went along "And we have Velma and finally Shinri. You are safe with us, child, we will not harm you."
Botanica looked up at the warm and friendly face of Kohi, hesitating a moment before finally speaking up; having decided to trust in these odd strangers. "Do you promise?" She asked softly, the first words from her gaining an immediate positive reaction from both Kohi and Nutmeg. "My name is Botanica. My friend Bernard is injured and Brennegan can not carry him. Can you help us?"
"Of course!" Kohi agreed enthusiastically, however Velma and Shinri both started to speak at the same time in disagreement.
"Hold on now, this could be a trap." Shinri stated, reiterating Velma's concerns from earlier.
"Is that the crying we hear? I do not know about this..." Velma agreed, the suspicion thick in her vocal tones.

Ignoring the protests of the other two, Nutmeg pressed for more information from Botanica. "Are you able to show us where your friend is?"
Botanica looked around from her vantage point in Kohi's arms, however the night had approached fast and she did not even know which direction she had come from nor where she had left Bernard and Brennegan.
"I do not know... we were foraging for food in the forest and lost track of time. We were attacked by some animals and Bernard got hurt. He can not walk properly." tear welled up in Botanica's eyes as she tried to recall, finally processing the situation she and her friends had found themselves in. "And then it got dark. And then the fog appeared and we could not see anymore and... and.." Botanica began to sob uncontrollably, feeling suddenly so lost and so far from home. Kohi pulled her in close and hugged the whelp into her fur, stroking Botanica's mane soothingly.
"We will find them, do not worry" Kohi spoke in a soothing, almost sing-song voice.
"Wait, did she say attacked by animals?" Shinri snapped out of his own thoughts as what Botanica said was sinking in. "They must be the ones we have traveled all this way for!"