Dymixious was frying up the venison meat while his wife Jade was busy cooking up some carrots and potatoes to go with it. With each finishing their half of preparing diner, both sit down to eat. Dymixious is the first to speak.
“Father call.” Dymixious states while cutting into his venison. “He wants us both to go see a doctor at Moon Lake Hospital tomorrow. For the baby he stated.”
Jade perks up, “Can we go shopping afterwards?” She asks egearly.
“Well the appointment isn’t till noon. But yeah we can go shopping afterwards.”
Jade leans over, despite her very pregnant belly and kisses he husband. She always wanted to visit Moon Lake, but more importantly she wants to shop. Dymixious looks at his wife lovingly while they eat. While he was generally regarded as cold and uncaring compared to other members of the dragon clan. Dymixious was really a big teddy bear; albeit, a large scaly teddy bear. Even thought when in his fursona, or more importantly scale mode He could never say no to Jade. Dymixious like the rest of the dragon clan where reptilian weres. Their forms based off of that of the Komodo Dragon. Just because they are naturally cold blooded, it doesn't mean all are necessarily cold-hearted.
“Unless you already ordered it all online, we do need a crib, playpen and other assorted baby supplies.” Dymixious states with a sly smile.
“I was thinking more of clothes for the baby,” Jade remarks. “We still don’t know the gender.”
Dymixious nods in agreement while chewing his potatoes. “That’s true. So all the rest is taken care of? Equipment wise?”
“The room still needs a second coat of paint,” Jade comments. “You can do that tonight.”
Dymixious chuckles, “Guess that means I’m off dish duty.”
Jade gives Dymixious a sly look. “Don’t bet on it Husband.”
Dymixious looks at his wife with a puppy dog pout. But it fails to change Jade’s mind. He resigns himself to the fact that he has two chores to do.
“Cheer up honey,” Jade remarks. “If you get both done before nine o’clock, you’ll be able to catch the latest episode of that British Comedy you like so much.”
That does cheer Dymixious up.
*****
Tachibana walks to her private office after talking with her daughter in the zen garden. Looking at the picture of her and her husband taken the day before He died in what was called the Doolittle Raid. Tachibana unfurls the scroll. It clearly has her husband’s hand writing. It Details Moon Lake’s transfer of power; from the Dragon clan to that of the Skulk. She was about to put it away when she notices what looks to be a water mark at the bottom of the scroll. Taking the scroll to a nearby by lamp, she is able to see the watermark in more detail. “My husband’s family seal!” She nearly shouts.
The seal in question is that of a kitsune spirit circling the kanji symbols for duty and honor. Thinking back to their time in Tokyo, Tachibana recalls why her husband was there. He was personally requested by Emperor Hirohito to assist the imperial navy in cracking American coded messages and to formulate a code for the navy to use. She also remembers that her Husband had a knack for adding messages that could only be revealed using lights a special wavelengths. The barely visible seal on the scroll indicates that just such a hidden message exists. Grabbing the black light she keeps in her desk, Tachabana turns off all the lights in the room and turns on the black light. There plain as day is her husband’s family crest in full detail. She also sees several lines of text that looks like nonsense.
“Clever Husband”, she smiles. While the text may look like nonsense to the average person; Tachabana recognizes that it is a cipher that her husband taught her. Reading the message:
‘My love, if you are reading this then tragedy has befallen me and you must run the Skulk in my stead. Take heed with the treaty that is on this scroll. The dragon clan cannot be trusted. While those that met me upon the drafting of our agreement appeared genuinely sincere in their effort to protect were species as a whole. I fear others in their clan may have ulterior motives. I pray you never have to deal with them personally. However I fear that will not be the case. As such I have made preparations. Within the case this scroll is stored in is a small key. This key unlocks a special hidden compartment within the lock box that once belonged to my father. You will know the one I mention. It will have the same crest that is depicted on this scroll. In said lock box will contain various important documents that are relevant to the skulk. As well as a private journal detailing the secret meetings with the dragon clan you were barred from attending. Please stay safe.’
Tachibana puts down the scroll. She recalls of the container her husband’s note mentioned. It is one of the few keepsakes she was able to save after the bombing destroyed their home. Turning the lights back on and taking a second to allow her eyes to readjust. Grabbing the scroll’s container she twists one of the end caps to find the key in question. She contemplates getting one of her grandson’s to fetch the box from storage. Instead she heads to the basement herself.