The next day, neither boy had much concentration to spare for their lessons, both full of visions and speculations about their upcoming journey to Sanctuary. History and literature in the morning were nearly unbearable, but they were impossible to escape, for their tutor for both was a sharp-sighted, sharp-tongued old man who had very little patience for fidgeting or daydreaming and a readiness to poke or smack with his pointer. Lunch was an uncomfortable affair, where they were forced to sit with both Darkil and Dana Danui in the dining room at the massive table-- Catame and Daynoren were much more used to eating their midday meal in their shared sitting and study room, or out in the gardens or grounds on a fair day, than at a formal table. The conversation was stilted, largely lying on the shoulders of the guest, though Daynoren asked a few questions about Sanctuary that seemed to satisfy her.

Finally released from that singular brand of torture, the brothers escaped to the cleared, grassy slopes surrounding the Danui manor, where their magic tutor was waiting for them. The lupine daemon, Deep Kaur or more often just Kaur, rested on her belly beneath their usual tree, the casual position of her middle limbs folded to her side and forelimbs stretched before her belied by the alert perk of her ears and restless flipping of her tail as she watched her temporary charges approach. Catame closed the last of the distance at a dash, throwing his arms around her furry neck and resting his cheek against the soft ruff of her cheek. Kaur smiled and unfolded one of her middle limbs to stroke his hair with the hand-like paw there.

"Why so affectionate, Catame?" she asked kindly.

"Oh, Miss Kaur, we're going to be leaving!" Catame exclaimed, somewhere between excited and disappointed-- he wanted badly to go to the dragon city, now that he'd had time to get used to the idea, but he would miss his home and friends, like Kaur. He let her go and dropped to sit beside her, sinking the fingers of one hand into the thick, gray-blue fur of her mane. Kaur's ears pricked lightly again, and she glanced to Daynoren as if for confirmation as the older, calmer boy closed the remaining distance between them and sat more gracefully before her.

"Yes," he agreed, "Our aunt came yesterday, that's what Father wanted us for. She'll be taking us with her back to Sanctuary when she leaves at the end of the week."

"Why in the name of Asuka would you be going there?" Kaur asked, ears skewing and voice puzzled.

"A bonding project, madam Dana said," Catame answered, puzzled, himself. "I don't know anything about it, though."

"It sounds familiar," Daynoren added, frowning, "but I can't for the life of me remember where."

He sounded so adult and serious that Catame giggled, but Kaur was looking thoughtful. "It sounds familiar to me, as well," she said slowly. "Something in connection to the dragons, I think."

Daynoren's eyes lit up immediately. "Do you really think so?" he asked eagerly, all pretense at adult seriousness and hauteur forgotten. Though Daynoren had only once briefly met an actual dragon, he had a love for all things magical that neared obsession. Catame thought it an endearing trait of his, that he could focus so purely on something like that; Catame, himself, loved so many things that he simple didn't have time to study them all.

Kaur chuckled deep in her chest at Daynoren's bright-eyed excitement. "Why else would it be in a dragon city, cub?" she said, her own fondness for the older boy apparent in her low voice. Daynoren gave her one of his faintly annoyed looks; he hated being called "cub", which was Kaur's playful term for anyone younger than she.

"So we'll be meeting dragons?" Catame clarified, not sure if he should let his brother's enthusiasm catch in him, as well, or be worried. "I thought they didn't like my kind of mage...." Catame's magic worked solely because he leeched power away from such creatures as dragons and demons, or used the life force their existence left behind in their surroundings. Most magical creatures, Catame had heard, were very touchy about other people using their power. Daynoren was more lucky, being able to draw on his own essence in his spells, but Catame suspected that he simply didn't have enough strength and health to draw from. 

"Some," Kaur agreed. "But not all, and if you are careful and polite as you always are, cubling, you will have few problems. I cannot imagine a dragon who would not like you." Catame blushed lightly as she ruffled his curly hair, and Daynoren's face even softened into a smile.

"They'll probably love you," he said. "You're probably even more good than they are!"

"Oh, I couldn't be, I've not got holy magic like theirs!" Catame protested, but he was pleased by their support, all the same. He could feel it like a warm glow between the three of them; in the absence of their mother, the two boys had often turned to Kaur as a mother figure once she was introduced to them not long after Day's magic talent was discovered. Catame didn't care that she was furry and had sharp teeth: he loved her dearly, and would miss her once they left the Danui lands. Spontaneously, he again wrapped his arms around her neck. "I'll miss you," he whispered into her fur.

Rumbling softly, Kaur settled one of her middle limbs over his shoulders. "I will miss you, too. Both of you," she added, looking over at Daynoren, who was pretending resolutely not to notice his younger brother's outburst of emotion. "But you will certainly be able to visit for holidays," she added with a hint of cheer in her voice. "And perhaps I can manage a visit to the city, if I can find you."

"Oh, really?" Catame asked, sitting back with a smile. "We'll make sure you can find us, just write us first!"

"If I can," Kaur promised, then her ears flicked and her voice grew more stern. "But. You are here for a magic lesson, and I do not wish to waste the entire afternoon on speculation."

Both boys groaned and protested, remembering the boredom of the morning, but in the end Kaur commanded more of their respect and admiration than their elderly history tutor, and they settled down to work on their spells.