Hytar's Ship ch 2

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Tala wiggled her ears. "That makes being in water much more hazardous. One would not wish to drown, no matter how pleasing the water is. It is well you survived."

~~
The cops waited patiently for Hytar. They nodded in greeting when he came out to see them.

"You are the captain here?" the first cop asked.

Starr smiled again at that and nodded "They think highly of you too Tala." She said cheerfully.

"I am glad that is so," Tala said proudly. They were a good crew, and it was a good feeling to have mutual respect. She led the way to the ship. "Crew! I have a friend of yours!"

Starr looked to the dragons as they came forward and bowed to her one at a time, greeting her happily.

Tala watched the procession, glad to see the dragons having their reunion with their queen. She wasn't overly interested in royal matters in general, but she could appreciate a bunch of people she liked meeting each other.
She stayed back, to let the dragons have their moment.

It was a relatively quiet greeting, each of them coming to Starr and accepting her as their queen and pledging their help to the freeing of the rest of the dragons. The part that interested Starr the most as she greeted the was that they looked better, healthier just by a simple touch from her as if they needed that to fully form a bond among their kind. It didn't take long to greet the adults and the few kids that had hatched, and the eggs they had brought out also.
She was glad to see the kids and eggs, though she let them go back to their nests after meeting them all. The mothers didn't like being out of their room with the eggs for long. The dragons were sad to not see the heir's egg, but understood that going out would be dangerous.

Tala watched quietly, enjoying the group's happiness. "Your people seem happier for meeting you in person," she remarked. "Your magic must be strong."

Starr looked over to Tala then nodded and looked to her people again "Yes, just as it makes me happy to be near them too." She said softly.

"When do you wish to move them to Vestia?" Tala asked. "They shall be safest there, I think, and the accommodations shall be pleasing to all."

"Whenever they wish to go." Starr said with a shrug. "We could start moving some now."

Tala nodded. "My crew, do you desire to move to the great ship that shall be your home?" she called.

They looked at one another and some nodded, though the pilot spoke up "Will we use this ship to save others?"

Tala looked thoughtful. "We could use it. It is a good and sturdy craft that blends in well and holds many, although it is not a warlike craft. Do you desire to use it to seek freedom for your kind?"

The pilot nodded then looked to Starr. "We could use it and bring the ones that are saved to you on Vestia. Especially for any groups like we were, too large for the other ship. At least when he goes to rescue some more."

Tala nodded. "That is sensible." She looked conflicted. On one hand, she wanted to go back to Vestia and head to Haakon. On the other hand, she was a bossy sort of person and she wanted to help save star dragons. She kind of wanted to go with these guys if they were heading out to save more dragons next. "This ship would serve such a purpose well, it already has proved itself."

"We can decide on that all later, for now, we can get the young and those who know they do not want to fight moved to Vestia."

Tala nodded. She was okay with waiting to decide on this. "All right, is it acceptable if they are seen as we take them across the spaceport, or shall we dock this ship in Vestia?" she asked. She wasn't sure how much secrecy Starr wanted for the dragons at this point.

Starr shook her head a little, this ship was too big to fit in Vestia. "Moving the ship would draw too much attention, we can hide the eggs and look like humans as we move, like when we stopped on that planet on the way home." She meant when she had hid the egg around her belly, looking like a pregnant woman.

"All right," Tala said. "And the hatchlings?" They were all too young to shapeshift yet, after all.

Starr nodded and frowned a little "We will have to hide them, maybe in a bag or box to move them." She said quietly.

Tala looked thoughtful. "There are some crates and hand-carts on this ship. They are not comfortable I am sure, but they are safe enough for a short ride. The hatchlings must be very quiet."

Starr nodded and smiled. "They can be made softer, and the babies will be quiet for the short trip."

"Excellent." Tala went to fetch the handcarts and crates for the move, probably with some help from the dragons.

The dragons would help, it wasn't like they had much to move anyway, though some would stay with this ship anyway. They drew lots so they could leave in small groups so they wouldn't draw too much attention. The hatchlings would go with their parents in the first group.

"You shall be well, young ones," Tala told the hatchlings. "Be quiet, and soon you will be in a place of glorious food and soft blankets!"

She'd supervise the move, trying to be as inconspicuous as a minotaur could be.

Eleven and Lope worked hard, taking a break at last.
Eleven looked at Nikita, looking unimpressed. "So, Princess... you gonna tell the captain?"