Author’s Note: The title of this chapter is what the Syndisian Sword company refer to as a ‘Savanderism,’ meaning a phrase that described something cute and cuddly, hehe, like Savander. oh... and 3 more chapters...

Chapter 15: Snugglefluff

“Everything okay?” asked a voice as Nepharin, a white panther with faint gray-black stripes, joined them, carrying a bag that had a few bandages sticking out of the flap.

“Dregan’s son, Savander, is missing and believed to be in the temple, my dear nephew,” Lynea explained.

“Lots of places to hide,” Zentor commented, “both inside and out. But why exactly do you think he’s here?”

“For one, this is the last place any of us were at,” Dregan said, “and secondly, Savander has an affinity for holy places. “

“He’ll be a Palimage someday,” Cedras said rather proudly, and since he said it, it had to be true.

“Well, lets get to looking,” Zidane said. Lady, Shanti, Shamzar, and Cringer all went directly to the door, and, finding it ajar, went in.

But inside they seemed to become confused, looking around in puzzlement.

“His scent’s everywhere, Cringer explained. “It’s like he touched every single thing in this room.

“Typical Savander,” confirmed Aerderwyn. “Time to do this the old fashioned way.

They split up to go down the various halls, and some went to search outside. Given Savander’s small size, there was no end to the places he could hide. Ten minutes went by, with no luck. Everyone gathered back in the main worship room to plan a second strategy. It was when Vivi saw Dregan that an idea hit him, and he abruptly grabbed the Dunedi’s sleeve.

“Huh?”

“Your bracelet.” The Black Mage pointed to the small red gem dangling from a gold chain on his wrist. “It can communicate with the one Savander wears, right?” The Dunedi grinned.

“You’re right, Vivi! I’d completely forgotten I was wearing it.” He held the gem up to his ear, and listened carefully. “I hear… breathing… it’s a bit muffled… ah! He sighed. I think he’d asleep!”

“And, knowing my son, that means he’s in a place where he can burrow down, in a soft area like a pile of blankets or pillows,” Layrina surmised.

“The nursery school room,” the Priestess said instantly. “It’s the softest, since the little ones need their naps.” Nepharin led the way down the halls, but inside there was no immediate sign of Savander… save one out of place, unfamiliar toy dragon with a silver-colored cloth hide laying on the floor.

“That looks a little like the one Savander was playing with when he first found Sindaya,” Orko said, picking it up.

“That’s one of his, all right. He’s been here. Lady, find him!” The female Nimpit began sniffing and making these odd little squeak noises that had the other pups scampering to her side, like how a lion calls her cubs to her.

She checked every table and corner, and every dark, small place she could find. The others checked higher places, or inside closets and baskets, any soft place where a sleepy Savander was likely to curl up and nap. Then Lady wiggled under a screen with an excited, “Mew!” Dregan moved it aside to reveal a large pile of pillows and blankets, Lady half-way into it.

“#sniff sniff sni - Sniff!# Mew!” She slowly lifted up her head, and - nose to nose with her - up peeked a sleepy-eyed Savander. He blinked slowly and giggled.

“There you are.” Dregan scooped up his son. “You gave us quite a scare.” Savander just snuggled up to his father, as innocently as could be. Lady mewled up at him scoldingly, but he was already asleep again. Zidane chuckled.

“Hard to stay upset at him when he does that.” Dregan chuckled.

“It’s strange, but I’m never worried when he does that, just wondering where he is, and what he’s getting into. “

“Savander is marked by the One,” Cedras reminded. “I doubt that He’d let anything happen to his Chosen.” This was the first time any of the Gaia or Eternia crew had heard of this, and the Talsdia group seemed more startled than confused.

“The One?” echoed Kuja.

“The god of the gods,” Cedras explained, “and Savander’s patron. That sphere he wears - which none of us gave to him nor can take off, as there’s no clasp and it’s too small to slip off - it the symbol of the One, who encompasses all that was, is, and will be, who was here before anything else existed and created the first ‘something.’ He is Savander’s patron, and Savander is his Chosen, in the same way I am Lokeru’s, and Evarion is Tavannes’ Chosen.” Dregan cuddled Savander, then smiled.

“You’re right, Cedras.” Just then, all heard trumpets sound. Zentor smiled.

“That’s the signal for the tournament to begin,” he said. “Lets go!”