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As the group snuck in, the interior of the mountain was far more open and cavernous than they originally thought it would be. It was almost as if the mountain were hollow, with the ceiling supposedly even reaching the top of the mountain. Several floor levels were along the walls reaching upwards, with large doors leading into other rooms. It was evident the doors were made for much larger dragons as well as the mountain. But what wasnt evident was despite how spacious it was, it was just as deserted.
 
“Hello!” Spike yelled into the mountain, “Me and my friends are here to see the dragon council, we have information about the disappearance of the dragons in the ridge!”
 
From one of the caverns emerged an ivory dragon with a blue mane. She assessed the group of young dragons from afar before making herself known. They hadnt started ransacking the place as soon as they entered, only stared in awe at the massiveness of the location. She couldnt sense any mischievous intent, and rather than chase potential hoodlums out, decided to humor the group of young dragons. She knew how rowdy dragons at that age could be, yet something was different about this group and decided to introduce herself.
 
“Greetings!” she called from the top of the staircase leading up to the second floor, “I am Kitoith, mediator of the southern ridge dragon council and current dragon in charge here at Mt. Vouderon. I see you made it past the tiger dragon, nicely done, she teased slightly, no easy task, so lets hear it, what do you know about the disappearance of the dragons that we dont already know?
 
 
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Surprised by the straight forwardness of the number one dragon, Spike blurted out his answer, Its the Diamond Dogs that are behind the whole thing, he explained, Theyre dragon-napping the dragons to work in mines to gather precious stones.
 
“Really?” Kitoith accused Spike, Are you telling me that puny diamond dogs are subduing huge dragons to make them work down in dingy mines? Do you really expect me to believe that?
 
Spike tensed up. He never quite realized how weird it sounded, and tried to be more convincing, B-but its true, I mean we were just there, all of us, we escaped, and were told to tell you guys, cause you would help us.  
“Do you have any proof?” Kitoith asked, raising an eyebrow.
 
Spike started sweating nervously, N-no, but you gotta believe us, Mangles group is still down there and every second counts! I know its hard to believe, but its totally true!
 
“All right kid, I believe you,” Kitoith smirked while winking at him.
 
“You do?” Spike asked hesitantly.
 
“Yes, actually,” Kitoith reassured Spike, “All information related to dragon welfare is important to me, even wild accusations like that one.” She walked up closer to the group, In fact, yours is the first lead weve had that points us to an aggressor.
 
“Really?” Sharp inserted himself into the conversation with his question, “what did you guys know then?”
 
“Its unfortunate, but not nearly as much as you would expect,” Kitoith explained, Several of our own members in the Vouderan group went on an investigation to find answers, yet none have returned, Kitoith explained solemnly. “If Im to believe your words, and I do, then this breakthrough will surely be able to lead to some appropriate action that can save the missing dragons and prevent any more from going missing.”
 
The group sighed in relief that they had an impact in providing this information. “Wait” Snort said, “If you didnt know anything, why didnt Finos just let us in?”
 
“He didnt?” Kitoith asked with a surprised tone, He didnt let you in because you had information we really needed?
 
“Actually,” Mangle said, “Litos distracted him while we just snuck by after he turned us away.”
 
“Oh that overprotective, fake-striped, macho-dragon,” Kitoith muttered under her breath, looking annoyed, “Well Im glad Litos was there to get you in.” Kitoith smiled apologetically.
 
“Anyway, you five have done well to seek the dragon council out on your own initiative. Come, you must be weary after your journey, Kitoith led the group into the side door to a large cavern room with a large slab of rock in the middle. It seemed like a dining room to Spike, the large rock acting like a table. “Ill see if Jitte can make you a meal, as a sort of reward for bringing us this information.”
 
The dragon groups attitude lifted almost instantly from exhausted to excited. As a group, they had been getting by on scraps, and never didnt quite realize how little they had eaten in the past few days. They followed Kitoith eagerly into the dining hall.
 
 
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