Mushu would prance a little, gently tapping his feet on her shoulder at the mention of him getting better at being sneaky. He would happily snap up the pebble as it’s offered. Even more so if it happened to smell like fresh meat. After a moment or two of rolling it around in his mouth, he would make a sound similar to ‘blegh’ as he pushes the pebble out of his mouth with his tongue. Cocking his head to the side and looking very accusingly at Shae. Then Shae would be filled with the creatures joyous laughter as it realized the joke and was given actual meat.

“You’re welcome.” Fang would respond. In response to overthinking “I like to keep things simple. For few things are more than complicated than, ‘can I eat it before it eats me’” Hoping that his words are reassuring in someway as they usually bring him comfort.

After hearing her agree to staying the night in his hut, “Mushu will help you find it. ... Normally we are not this hospitable, but these are unusual circumstances and if I’m being blunt ... I feel like I wouldn’t be here if it hadn’t been for you and that strange horned white creature in the cave”

When Shae mentions spending the evening with those you care for Fang would turn and head off for the night watch and do just that after. Calling Mushu over with his thoughts “Keep an eye on her tonight would you? I should hate for anything to happen to her. ... and maybe try not to frighten her this time eh?” The little pseudodragon would nod its head vigorously as if agreeing to not scare her and head back towards Shae. About halfway there he changed his mind and decided to try to be stealthy anyways, as he liked to do. Stealth Mushu 18

After leading Shae to Fangs hut would curl up in his usual spot(the spot being one of the ropes) on Fangs ‘bed’, which was more of a hammock than a bed in a traditional sense and kept two eyes on her as often as he could spare them. (had to work in a lord of the rings reference ... sorry not sorry 😝)

Berrus awakens in the early morning hours slightly still from falling asleep on his shield.   he stretches and redons his armor making sure everything is in place then goes and stokes the fire a bit and sits drinking some water waiting for everyone else to wake

Shae envied the simplicity in which some people were able to tame their mind to follow. It’s not that she doesn’t enjoy keeping things simple, it’s just that she gets excited about possibilities and what could be. Although it was a great reminder, her brain wouldn’t stop. The warlock didn’t get much of a chance to respond to Fang before he took his leave, but he did leave her with some things to think about.

For what could of felt like days, Shae would finally finish cooking the simple meal from Fang’s hunt. She’d portion it out as she did before. Though, this time Shae wouldn’t deliver. It seemed as though everyone was enjoying their own company for the rest of the evening, so she’d neatly arrange the servings for any one to help themselves should they choose. She’d sprinkle them with a little bit of her magic before she takes her helping with her. 

Perception: 13

“Whuaa!” The medic will fumble her meal in surprise, just catching it before it fell from her hands. “Mushu! I thought you left with Fang!” He successfully scared her for a third time today. 

With Mushu’s guidance, Shae would make it safely to Fang’s hut, eating her food along the way. She wouldn’t be able to hide her sense of a bit of disappointment when ‘Rings’ wouldn’t be there. But she felt safe all the same. She’d be guilty of looking around, only with her eyes though, she wouldn’t touch. It was simple living, but felt comfortable compared to being completely vulnerable to the elements. And it’s not that she was expecting a big fluffy bed, but in truth she had not considered a hammock. She loved hammocks, they just didn’t always love her...

A smile will tug at her cheeks when Mushu would curl up in his spot. “I take it this is Fangs bed?” Shae will walk over and reach to give him bed time pets. When the pseudo dragon would indicate so, she would nod. “Since Berrus isn’t staying here, I’ll take the spare.” She’d smile to Mushu before moving to the other hammock. Shae would stare at it a moment before clamouring into it. 

Athletics: 19

With a surprising amount of success, Shae would crawl into the hammock and snuggle in without any issues. She didn’t flip and fall out like last time! She’d settle in with her notes, reviewing them until she’d fall asleep.

Another morning - another portion (1) Maxine realized she likes this early hours (who could think all these time she was a morning lark type deep down? Certainly not her parents.) That quiet sleepy minutes, when everyone is still relaxed and enjoying last flashes of the morning sleep; the yet kind and gentle sun, the myriads shades of green of the wakening forest and now more and more familiar bird's songs... It was beautiful and peaceful! And nobody interrupted her work.

She tasted the resulting elixir and spat it out. Transformation. Ok, she is getting better at that particular formula. All she needed now, is to find how to use it.

Breakfast - loading cargo - checking on crew, which was supposed to be fine (evening  before she accompanying Shae in her medical exercises, offering some magic support in healing, should anyone still need it). Maxine was ready to go.

Berrus waves to Maxine seeing her moving around but seeing her tinkering with something he didnt approach

Glasses:

Morning tea, journal, and spellbook as normal are Snively’s morning activities.  Well-rested, he is ready to move out relatively early in the morning.

Berrus motions to the already bubbling teapot

"I dinna throw anyting in it but least the water be hot

Fang having woken up before the sun to catch breakfast arrives back just as the teapot is ready and looks around for Shae. “Guess I’ll leave this here” setting the mornings bounty near the fire and Berrus. “I’ll go fetch her then”

Making his way towards his hut Fang tells Mushu to gently wake the sleeping warlock in a way that doesn’t end with a fall out of the hammock. ... Mushu of course doesn’t listen and pounces on her to wake her so she can set about making the others breakfast and, most importantly in his mind, his snack. 

Shae had no familiar sounds of others puttering about to wake her, that and perhaps she stayed up longer than expected. Either way, she was still sound asleep while the others broke camp.

”Whuahhh!”

Mushu pounced on Shae, waking her and sitting her up abruptly in the hammock. Her book would fall onto the floor and she’d have to throw her hands out to steady herself from swinging too much. Half confused, she’d blink at Mushu few times while she got her bearings remembering where she was. Disoriented and groggy, Shae would slowly start to rub the sleep out of her eyes and smack her slips. Her mouth felt dry. She’d wipe her mouth, feeling drool. Awe Shae! She’d frantically wipe her face. Classy. Groaning to herself, she’d move to make her way out of the hammock.

Shae would lean her body to the floor and literally decide to pull herself out, her foot kind of getting tangled at the end. Kicking her foot lazily, she’d try to free it from the hammock. “Mornings...” She’d mutter to herself, sprawling out on her back and reaching to grab her book. Laying on the ground for a moment, Shae would look at Mushu. “I’m getting up... I’m getting up...” Sitting up with another groan, Shae would untangle her foot to free it and pick herself up off the ground.

”Alright. Let’s go.”

Fang strides in after Shae has picked herself up off the ground. “I’ve already caught the mornings breakfast and the others are already awake.” Noticing Mushu ‘pawing’ at one of her pockets and then looking at Shae adds “That must be where you’ve been keeping his treats eh.” He says with an almost actual grin. “That’s mainly why I give him scraps straight from the source now. If we want to make it as far as possible to Refuge Bay we should get moving. The others seem like they are mostly ready to go” Fang says all of this as the pair of them are making their way to the fire where Berrus, Maxine, and Glasses are all in close proximity. During the trek, Mushu flits constantly between the pair. Looking expectantly at Shae for a moment or two and then going back to Fang. 

Fang getting the sense that today’s travel would be similar to yesterday’s stands ready to load glasses strange floating disk and is ready to head out as soon as everyone else is. He plans on walking 50 ft ahead of the rest of the group and relaying messages to the group with Mushu who would make himself comfortable on Shae’s shoulder today while the group traveled. ... why fly when someone could carry you? Much less work. Fang conveys his intentions to glasses of course, sense he’s the leader in his mind thanks to Skinny’s introduction. 

You all partake in a simple meal, and within half an hour, have packed up your things, stretched out your limbs and are setting off. Although you've spent more than two weeks in the jungle already, it feels strange to leave the rustic village behind, since for the last few days you had enjoyed the benefits of civilization again. Soon though, you were reminded of the terrain, as swarms of mosquitoes harass you along your path through the marshy terrain by the lakeside. Even though, you make good time, and you march about ten miles before midday. As the sun starts beating down though, you notice that there is little to no shade around for miles, and your pace drops considerably. Fang shows you all that you can prevent sunburn and ease the heat by rubbing some mud on the skin, and a few of the caravan do so, but for those in heavier armour, or with bandaged wounds, this seems less practical. Staggering forwards, you eventually reach the tree line after three exhausting hours in the heat and the sun, and as you are about to settle down for half an hour of rest before continuing on, you spot a large lumbering figure about five hundred yards away, seemingly trying to fish in a murky pool of largely stagnant water. It hasn't noticed you yet.

Fang calls Mushu up to him from his perch with Shae “Fly over keeping a safe distance and see what that figure ahead of us is” Mushu perception 15 11

Fang waits for Mushu to return and convey what he sees. 

Berrus is panting by the time they reach the tree line but is trying to hide it.

Fang holds out his water skin to the burly dwarf without saying a word and keeping his eyes fixed on the lumbering figure ahead of them waiting for Mushus return. 

Glasses:

Having spent most of the march using a mixture of air and water magic trying to keep the bugs away and the party cool, the Professor wearily sits on a log in the shade of the tree line.  When he sees the large figure, he quietly casts his Mage Armor just in case and watches the figure from a distance, trying to discern what kind of creature it might be and if he has seen it in his research.

“Fang, I can give Mushu some added stealth if you like before he leaves,” offers Snively.  The Professor will cast Invisibility on Mushu if Fang allows it.

Fang would have no issue with Glasses offer, though he would counter “You sure that’s a wise use of your magical energies Glasses? He is usually able ‘to avoid being seen if he wishes, but being able to disappear entirely. That is a rare gift’... he will be able to get much close if he can’t be seen at all”

(😝 ‘nother lotr reference)

Glasses:

”My magic is largely indirect and utilitarian, so this is definitely a good use of it helps to protect one of our own,” says Snively with a smile towards the playful pseudo dragon.

Mushu flies over to the gnome and lands on his outstretched hands before going to investigate the lumbering creature. Thinking gleefully ‘I’m gonna get her good now’ before quickly focusing on the task at hand. 

Berrus takes some of the water then hands the skin back to Fang.   All the while keeping his eyes on the figure

When Fang would walk in and provide her with an update, Shae would immediately start panicking, rushing and fumbling, profusely apologizing the whole way back to the camp, during their short meal, pack up and set out.

When they’d stop at the tree line, Shae would see the figure, but when she’d feel Mushu take off from her shoulder the warlock would snap to her own priority. While the boys had the investigation a potential threat covered, she would reach for some cloth, soaking it with her water skin. The medic will approach their heavily armoured and wounded who could not use mud to help break the heat. While Berrus is distracted keeping an eye on the figure and drinking from Fang’s waterskin, she’d start gently dabbing his skin to try to cool him off with the dampened cloth.