It was hard to say exactly what seemed to draw Crimson to Krynn. The simplest explanation was that she somehow always fell for the bad influences, which is what most would probably call the hybrid creature. In fact those who knew what this Krynn was would probably call her worse, though she had yet to act like it in this incarnation. Usually her interests would fade in time or change to more of a friendship, it happened that way with any students that developed a crush on her, or any she crushed on in the past. And then there were people like Rook, people she cared about and at one point loved but never got serious with, just became really close friends.

Even if she knew this was the monster and not the soul from before Crimson would still feel drawn to her, still want to be around her. Whether that would end up beneficial or not was harder to say but it wouldn't be enough to make her send the hybrid away. She had so many things on her mind right now, so many questions, but she figured it best to wait until they were at her restaurant. Kind of a selfish thought considering it was akin to saying "now that you're stuck here" instead of "while you can still ignore me and run off somewhere" but she really did want to be a little selfish and have more time with Krynn.

As they continued to walk a little further towards Crimson's restaurant, the hybrid kept looking around and feeling even more uneasy than shi had when Crimson had more or less chased hir down.
Shi wanted to talk to Crimson but had no idea what to say. Shi wanted to reach out for hir hand, to hold itb tenderly as they walked. But hir thoughts and ever cumbersome worry kept hir body in check to keep hir distance for now.
I don't even know how to begin to tell her... I shouldn't even be following her and letting get her hopes up... I feel like I'm imposing on her, especially with her family being so close...
The hybrid kept gnawing at hir own mind, hir inner self scratching and clawing at the sides of hir brain to stop walking and start running to the opposite direction of which the red dragoness was going. Shi could easily slip away without ever making sound and long gone before she could turn around and realize the beast had gone. And yet something kept hir walking several feet behind Crimson, keeping distance from that tail of hers.

Crimson stopped just a short distance outside town, having selected a path that would take them through the fewest streets and buildings before getting to her place. She turned around, smiling, running up to Krynn and hugging her tight with a big kiss. The hybrid even coming this far was wonderful to her, she had half expected her to lodge a complaint before now or to turn and run. But here they were just outside town and soon to be home, she wanted to take this chance to reward Krynn in a way and this was what she felt appropriate. "Almost home. Then a nice dinner, we can maybe catch up a little, then see about sleeping arrangements." Now she wasn't eager to walk ahead, she wanted to be right beside Krynn just in case she got nervous about being in town. Not that there was anything to worry about, anyone in their right mind wouldn't even consider facing the dragoness and her now slightly bigger friend.

Yes, having come this far was a feat for the hybrid. Shi had not dared venture towards the town since shi had been unchained and trusted. The closest shi had ever gone was the outskirts around the cemetary. Shi had often visited there, killing feral rats thats scurried about. But tonight was the first time that shi had even come close to remembering where things were. It just happened that Crimson was there when shi showed up.
Reaching the edge of the town, shi abruptly stopped.
Shi had promised never to go into the town. Under no circumstances should shi be stepping into town. Sure the creature had promised in blood that shi would never come here to hunt, but in hir understanding shi had promised never to enter the town.
What if Blake were to find out shi had come into town? Would he try to punish hir or take hir freedom away? Or would he encourage hir... Either way it went, shi was frozen several long feet behind Crimson.

When Crimson suddenly turned around and came at hir, hugging and kissing hir, the beast bristled and was about to loose a snarl. As their lips met, shi calmed quickly as that snarl loosened into an almost purred sighed. Though that defensive fear still lingered. Shi felt calm near Crimson, but something kept telling hir not to go any further.
"Crimson.... promise not to tell anyone that I came to town. I made a promise not to come back here and I don't want you to get in trouble for leading me back here."
Shi didn't want to say who shi had made this promise to, nor did shi want to make it seem like shi had come back for a reason for another. Right now shi felt like shi was betraying that thin line of trsut that had been given to hir.

Crimson chalked it up as either a promise to herself or a promise to someone else that she knew before her death. Either way the dragoness nodded and gave Krynn's hand a gentle squeeze. "Of course not. Even if someone asked I won't breathe a word about it." Well that would complicate things a bit. She might have to meet Krynn at that graveyard any time they wanted to get together in the future, not exactly the best place to meet but somewhat fitting considering their situation. "If you're really not comfortable going any further we can turn back. Or I could bring you something from the restaurant, have a nice little dinner out under the stars together?" The dragoness really didn't want to push her hybrid friend past her limits. Being forced into things had a very strong probability and history of making her snap in one way or another and that never ended well. Crimson smiled, thinking a little more about what her friend had said. Not wanting her to get in trouble for inviting Krynn into town, that was sweet of her. Being concerned about her safety, definitely a nice sentiment.

A blood promise, Crimson's safety, old habits... Yeah, shi wasn't exactly all too eager to fall back into that continuous killing spree again. And with this body shi had no clue of what it was capable of doing or whether or not it would react on its own towards certain breeds that were often seen around here.
"No, I'll come with you. It's just... I don't want to ruin your life like I almost did... back then. If I lost you a second time I don't know if I could control myself this time around."
Krynn backed a few steps up from the dragoness, pulling something from hir pocket and keeping hir clawed hand clenched tightly around the small object.
It was hard to understand hir own feelings right now. Shi wanted to hold the red dragon close and kiss hir and just down right be together all night. But another part of hir kept warning hir to stay distant and ignore the affection. That part of hir kept telling hir that the affection was just a phase and would soon come to pass. Shi wanted to believe it was the real thing, but even this monster knew most things could become a phase and just disappear with time.
Krynn reached for the others hand, hesitating slightly. It was bold on hir part, shi knew this, but shi did not know at this moment of what to do.
The hybrid had taken the object from Blake's room. Shi had given it to him sometime before shi had passed after hiding hir eggs in the beginning. Shi had given strict instruction to Blake to give it away after a long time of hir going away but now... But now shi was back with a second chance to try and make things right.
For now, shi replaced the object to hir pocket. Shi would give it to Crimson when the time was right. Now was not the time to give her the key to the hybrid's very existence almost.

Crimson was smiling more than she was a few minutes ago. "Every time I think you've said the sweetest thing, you go and say something even better. I feel the same way Krynn, don't want to lose you again. Don't want to ruin your life either." So many emotions from both of them, and all of it could be sorted out later. Right now she wanted to have a chance to sit down and eat with Krynn, and not be considered a part of the menu. Ok... that was one of the few harsher thoughts flowing through her mind right now but it had been true at one point. She had been as much a target as anyone else once, long ago. Though she was sure anything but that was in their future, it just left a few dozen other possibilities left. "We're not far from the restaurant, are you sure you're ready?"

The hybrid knew the dragoness understood, but only to an extent. If Crimson had known who this body's previous soul belonged to, what kind of person she was before Krynn took it... Well, let us just say she may not have considered looking at Krynn as she did just now.
"Let's go. I'm ready"
This beast knew better than to explain something complicated with few details, so shi let it go for now.
Krynn already knew the red dragon worried about becoming the entree once more and various other things that had been the darker side of the past. It did not bother hir. Shi knew others were always going to judge hir based on the past, even then shi would be ready to hear it all.
It was going to forever be part of the life that Krynn was going to have to bare. Shi could not change the past even if shi had the ability. Truth was, shi did not want to change it. It made hir who shi was right now, it made hir learn from hir mistakes to look on to a future. Shi even had to make a heartbreaking sacrifice to let hir brood have a chance.

She wanted to go hand in hand, or something close to it, but she simply smiled and led the way. Crimson made sure Krynn was only a few steps away for both their comfort. Soon enough they were in her perfect comfort zone, the door to her restaurant. This was her own little piece of the town, her safe haven, a place where everyone knew and respected her. Drake had the school, his castle, well this was her castle. Maybe it was a lot smaller but it was a lot sweeter to her. "Home sweet home. What kind of meat would you like from the kitchen?" She led the way into her restaurant's dining area, letting her hybrid friend get used to the surroundings and pick whatever table she wanted. Maybe she wanted to sit at the counter with the bar stools? Though she couldn't really remember any time she ever heard of Krynn having a drink.

There had only been a few recorded times that Krynn had actually gone out and drank a little, barely enough to even come close in giving hir a buzz. But that was also back before Krynn had started to talk to Crimson on a regular basis and even began to fall for her.
The entire time they walked through the back way, Krynn stayed incredibly close to Crimson and briefly straying from beside her as something or another would catch hir eyes. As Crimson neared her restaurant, Krynn fell behind. Hir eyes had wandered up to that same window shi had busted many years ago in an attempted attack on her. A bitter cold shiver ran down hir spine, causing hir velveteen skin to prickle slightly. Drawing those eyes away slowly, the beast followed the other cautiously rounding the corner of the restaurant and through the doors.
It had been forever since shi had actually stepped foot within the restaurant and being able to act comfortably calm.
"I'll take some very lightly salted chicken if you have any readily on hand. It's okay if it is frozen."
Shi spoke quietly, not wanting to be too loud as to wake the kids up by accident. Hir eyes continued to roam about the place, trying to calm hirself completely to knowing no one else was here to spy on hir.

"Lightly salted chicken coming right up. I always have some handy, and you seem to forget I'm a dragon, hehe. Warming something up from frozen is never a problem for me. Anything to drink with it?" Crimson knew exactly how loud she could afford to be without waking the kids, and it was pretty loud... thankfully. Reth was probably the lightest sleeper and sometimes the loudest snorer in the house. It wasn't hard to get the chicken out of the freezer and warm it up a bit, throw on a few dashes of salt, and warm it up a bit more. Setting it on a nice big plate and grabbing utensils was moreover a force of habit than a necessity but by the time she was walking back to Krynn in the dining area she figured it wasn't worth going back and setting them down. Besides Krynn might want to take her time with the chicken and savor it.

Krynn had not heard the other ask about a drink so shi had not responded. Shi was still looking about the restaurant as shi waited patiently. There was a barely visible line in the distance. Most could not see it without staring real hard, but Krynn could see it clearly. Time was beginning to turn back into day, slowly, and soon it would be time to go.
Shi wanted to stay and spend more time than just talking and holding hands and eating. Shi wanted more but the hybrid also had to remember that Blake did not know that shi often left the castle at night to explore. And if anyone else knew shi was back they could try and frame hir for a murder shi had yet to commit. The beast was on parole and barely had any kind of trust as far as caregivers went.

Hell, Drake did not even know shi was back and honestly, shi was afraid to look him in the eyes and try not to act like shi had foolishly done before. Krynn did not even know if he would think hir someone else or the same person as before with an altered look. Sure hir body was pristine for multiple kills, a perfect build for anything to be thrown at hir. Hell, shi could even swim now if shi chose to.
As shi heard things growing quiet in the back, the creatures head swivelled towards the kitchen. Tapered ears twitching, curiousity drew hir ever closer to the kitchen where Crimson was.

Crimson was just putting her finishing touches on the plates when she thought she heard Krynn sneaking into the kitchen. "Chicken's just finished up so perfect timing Krynn. I know the place hasn't really changed much in the past few years but I hope you still like it, and hope you like the food even more."
The dragoness wasn't aware of how much time had passed since they ran into one another in the cemetary, thinking they still had plenty of time to catch up. Mostly she just wanted a chance to sit down with the hybrid, smile, admire her from across the table or beside her, enjoy a good bite to eat, and wonder about what the future might hold. As long as nobody knew she was back Krynn was pretty safe, and as long as Crimson managed to avoid dragging her into uncomfortable situations constantly. That was the hard part, she wanted to be able to spend time with her and there would have to be a level of secrecy for a while until people got used to hearing about this mysterious friend returning. Sooner or later she'd need Drake's support, and Blake's, just in case another mob formed eager for hybrid blood.

It was odd to get some memory fading back into the creatures mind. Although faded, more of it came back with little to none having memory of the inside of this building aside from the upstairs. And everytime shi had been here was eith the upstairs windows or the basement windows. It had never consisted of coming through the doors which shi had done or any of that.
"I remember seeing the restaurant part of this place. It's bigger than i imagined it to be. I guess I have good timing skills. I just thought it was unusually quiet so I came to check on you."
One could say Krynn was being paranoid or even on guard. But shi just did not want something bad to happen to Crimson.
Sometimes the beast wondered if shi would ever gain back all of hir memories and know exactly everything. Then again, Krynn did not know if shi wanted to know the truth about everything.
"Chicken smells good. Can't wait to try it."
Shi sifted behind Crimson, closely hugging her from behind and kissing her cheek.

Crimson smiled, almost purring at the kiss on her cheek and the hug. "Thanks, you don't know how much your concern for me means to me. Mmm, now we can sit down together, enjoy a nice meal and each other's company. I've been looking forward to this." The dragoness turned her head and gave a little return kiss, wishing they could just hug all night. "So shall we have our dinner here or in the dining area?" Crimson knew there would come a time tonight when Krynn would probably want to excuse herself from the house and promise to meet up tomorrow. She wouldn't mind, as long as they got to spend a little time together every couple of days she'd be content. Of course the dragoness would prefer a lot more time than that but they were both long-lived creatures, no sense in rushing things.