Uhmn, Well I will still defend my fellow burros, brotherhood of the cute hoofed mammals and all that." Polk tries to puff himself up with bravado but is clearly shaken by Nyx revelation of another kind of vampire.

"Good attitude, Polk. They die like the rest"

"Hopefully I could make some stakes, I have the Lumberjacks ax !"

He looks down at his hooves.

"Anyone want to stay with me and the other burros ?"

Doc grinned, not able to contain the grin, "Polk, yeah, I reckon I can stay with y'all. Nyx, you ain't seen any of them goat suckers lately have you? I didn't notice any in the last town." he gives his brother a quick wink.

“Nah, not a peep”, chuckled Nyx, then added, “But these folks sure are worried about their burros so it pays to e cautious”

"I better put this stuff on the burros." Polk said looking at the bag around his neck.

Doc looked worried and glanced at Polk, "What are you waiting for, the donkeys need protected Polk!"

Polk rushes off to rub the poultice into the coats of the burros.

In order to do so he changes into a small boy.

Night Once polk is outside the guard tower again, he sets about his chore of prepping the mules for the night. The transformation of mule to boy does catch the attention of the Dwarf guards. In fact, they appear shocked. The new guards begin to point their weapons in Polks general direction, but before anyone can even shout an alarm, a stern look from Geraldo pacifies the other guards. Geraldo says (in Spanish) to Nyx and Arulas, "I know not what type of Fae or Changeling or other that your ally Polk may be, and I do not want to know. We are at peace with the fairies, good fences making good neighbors and all. If he is no danger to the community, that is enough. If I knew any more, I might have to do something about it, and -- well, I have a reputation of hospitality to maintain."

Kalista, Ethan, Nyx, and Arulas spend an uneventful and restful night inside the tower. For Polkatain and Doc, the night was almost uneventful. The herbal mix proved effective in keeping jaguars away, but didn't keep a venomous snake from getting too close. Doc's Robot Arabian responding first and stomped the viper to death before it inflicted any harm. Although the elf and hatchling slept well enough, the mules were too skittish from Polkatain's proximity to get much rest.

Morning The next day begins far better. Everyone feels fully rested and recharged (except the mules who are looking a little tired). The morning guards arrive from Hollow Hill underneath followed by a crowd of Dwarves who came to see off the Lumberjacks. Among them, the new mother and her infant child are came to say goodbye. Cooks bring oat-like mushrooms for the animals and salted meats for the bipeds. The priestess is back, and she gives Kalista a pinata shaped like a dragon egg. Geraldo even offers a map which shows the trails and old roads that connect all of nearby ruins; he has marked a couple of specific ruins where he thinks that Severance's gang is most likely to be hiding.

As the Lumberjacks depart, dozens of dwarves way goodbye, and musicians play upbeat mariachi music.

The next scene takes place a good distance down the trail. Does anyone have anything to ask or declare before or after leaving Hollow Hill?

"Wow a dragon egg !" Polk approaches Kalista looking at it.

"Looks a bit odd, but wait am I being replaced ?" Polk's eyes went wide.

 Arulas merely chuckles at Geraldo "No Fae and no threat. He is but a child himself." and leaves it at that.

At Polk's question Arulas just laughs and laughs. So much so you might start to think the knight has lost his mind.

Kalista smiled and handed the egg to her Dragon Comrade, "Why don't you see for yourself."

Polk took the egg very gently, "Wait you want me to hatch it,...uhmmm." He tried to link with it but felt no telepathic contact which worried him. Maybe the baby was asleep.

"Thank you Kalista, I will keep it safe I promise."

Polk held the Egg close to himself and became quite protective of it. He was very young and hadn't quite developed the fight and territoriality mindset yet. He began humming a song to the egg in Dragonese.

Ethan smiled at seeing the mother and infant again. He waved at them and shouted good bye at them over the lively music being played. He felt warm and accomplished on the inside. Saving the life of the Dwarf mother and her infant had been a welcome change from plugging holes in flesh caused by high speed metal or applying burn cream to the horrible wounds inflicted by high energy lasers.

When the piñata was brought out, the NEMA medic chuckled, then sobered when he realized that Polk earnestly believed it was a real dragon egg. “My god,” he thought to himself “he intends to hatch that thing.” He looked at his companions but no one seemed inclined to correct the dragon hatchling’s misconception. Ethan started to say something but then closed his mouth. He didn’t want to create a scene in front of the dwarves and while so far Polk had been a decent sort, he had heard too many stories, seen too many movies about the terrible anger of dragons. “We’ll just let it go for now,” he told himself. “Maybe find a subtle way of letting him know that thing is filled with candy and not a dragon embryo.”

Kalista is very gentle, "Polk, does it feel like a dragon egg? Think carefully."

"Well, I am young you know. Barely hatched myself. So I don't have much experience and it has to be a different breed. But something doesn't feel right. There is supposed to be a connection a kind of constant mental link. I am not sure if I am doing things right."

Again remaining very gentle, "Polk, it is not an actual dragon egg. Break it open. If I am wrong you may flay me alive."

"Break it open !" Polk's eyes widened.

He looked at the egg. Again he tried to make contact but there was nothing and he sniffed extended his senses and sensed no dragon.

Slowly he began to open the egg finding it far to easy to open and far to different from any egg he knew off. "Hey your right this is no egg ? Why would someone make a fake dragon egg ?"

Kalista smiled, "It is for children, a game. Some Dragons are not as good as you and...well...some fear your kind. Inside is candy and tiny treats. I have no other explanation."

"Hmmmm I don't know if I will ever understand humans or dwarves. Candy in an egg ? I mean I understand giving gifts to children. Even I like gifts but eggs house the future they are kind of sacred." Polkitain hands the egg back to Kalista.

 Wiping tears from his eyes from the laughter he looks at Polk and says "That is the point Polk. Sacred! It teaches them respect in wierd way." he laughs some more between sacred and the rest.

"Hmmm I don't know humans like candy, it kind of sets the example smash eggs and eat whats inside. Though I don't understand people like you do Sir Arulas so perhaps your right and I just don't understand."

Laughing gently at the confused hatchling, Nyx rested a hand on Polk's shoulder for a moment - saying nothing - before he begins to range out a little from the other Lumberjacks to scout

Doc grinned, "Done told ya Polk, figure what you can but don't stress much. Humans don't understand humans. Elves, dwarves, all the same. We learn what we can and that's it. You're doin' fine buddy." Doc will keep close to his brother.

Polk nods. "Thanks Doc."

Polk much more happily is ready to head out with the others if no one is looking he eats a piece of candy.