Syux, Part One

{One Week Later} 

As the spectral carriage rolled up to Syux's gates, Melisa couldn't help but press her face against the window, her eyes wide with wonder.

[Wow, this place is incredible!]

Towering buildings that challenged the skies, painted with warm shades of gold and flame. The streets up ahead were alive with activity, people hurrying about their business. Melisa spotted several kitsunes, their fluffy tails and ears standing out in the crowd.

[Just like Isabella and her mom.] 

But as she continued to scan the crowd, Melisa noticed something odd.

[Huh, that's weird. I don't see any darians around here. Plenty of humans and kitsunes, and even some nim, but no dragon-folk. Unless their dragon features aren't as, uh, as prominent as the kitsunes' fox features.] She frowned, puzzling over this peculiarity. [Haven't seen any of them yet. I wonder why that is? Maybe they don't like cities?]