Kaho

Kaho and Fiyero left their clan close together. After hearing from their clan leader about Karli's new clan and what a fair and gentle leader she was, they decided that the only way to make their mark and get noticed was to move to a smaller clan just starting out. Kaho ended up among the scouts, second only to the head scout, Ratha, the daughter of the clan's General and Healer. Her swift mind and ability to think like her father gave her an advantage that many other dragons didn't have.

Upon entering the camp, Kaho noticed initially that things seemed to be in disarray. There really wasn't an order, dragons were hunting for themselves and the camp was pretty much defenseless most of the time. Cerimi and King changed that, making suggestions to Karli to gather food and protect the camp. Ratha volunteered to lead a group of scouts, which Kaho quickly joined, to watch the clan borders and scoop out where the best food was. Fiyero joined King's group of spies, leading them himself due to his camouflaging abilities.

Kaho soon proved a deft scout himself, discovering the clan's Patriarch hiding in a cave one night. He rushed back to the camp, knowing that Karli would need to know immediately. He consulted Ratha, who told him to tell Karli himself. "You're the one who found him, you should be the one to tell him." Kaho nodded, appreciative of her understanding.

When he informed Karli that he had found her mate hiding, she swore him to secrecy. "The clan can't know what you found. He's not ill but he is working through some things. I'm helping him the best I can but it's going to take time. Please don't tell anyone." Kaho agreed but wandered if Karli was hurting herself by protecting a Patriarch who clearly didn't want to be a part of the clan.

He escorted Karli to the cave he had discovered. He offered to stay but she sent him away, her wings drooping in sadness. "This is something I must do on my own." He was unsure of what that meant but he left as she had requested. He found Ratha sitting next to a fire, staring into it. He sat next to her, looking for something to munch on. He felt the need to tell someone and figured the General's daughter would be trusted.

"I don't know how to say this so I'll just spit it out. I found our clan Patriarch hiding in a cave." Ratha nodded, continuing to stare. "Karli went to handle him but I worry that he is her weakness and another clan will take advantage of it. He doesn't want to be a leader, it's so obvious." When Ratha again didn't respond, he stood, frustrated. As he turned to leave, she reached out to stop him.

"Love does funny things. Karli feels responsible to him and like she owes him. His grandmother and mother forced him into this." Kaho turned back to her, surprised. "My mother told me. They allowed Karli to leave and start her own clan but only if she took one of theirs with her as a mate. She cares for him and feels she has to do whatever she can to make him happy."

Kaho sat back down. "At what point does she say enough? At what point does she release him from this obligation?"

"That's a decision she will have to make. It's not for us to say." She looked back to the fire. "What about you? Are you interested in anyone in the clan?" She asked it offhandly, but held her breath waiting for his response.

He snorted. "I haven't really had time to look around. I doubt anyone has noticed me either. We, Fiyero and I, are from a different clan. We are still mostly outsiders."

"Outsiders? How? Fiyero leads the spies, you are the best scout we have. Neither of you are outsiders." She blushed, realizing she had complimented him without meaning to.

Kaho shook his head, disagreeing. "You are the best scout, what are you talking about?"

She blinked, confused. "I'm the lead scout. If I weren't here, it would be you. My father is the General, of course I'm the lead." She walked away, leaving him more confused.

It took Fiyero commenting on how she had started to avoid him that Kaho realized the mistake he had made. She liked him and had offered him a compliment, which he had brushed off. It took him forever to get the nerve up to broach the subject with her, asking if she would be interested in him at all. Her consent was all he needed to make his place in the clan feel solid.