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| Autumn Twist; Open | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Mar 24 2012, 07:02 PM (752 Views) | |
| Zinc | Mar 24 2012, 07:02 PM Post #1 |
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The Owl Waife
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"You know, Vega my dear..." Lexen's voice called over the wind as the form of the dragon twisted through the air in a rhythm all her own. "When you said I needed to get out more, this isn't what I believed you meant. I'm quite fine with walking around on the Academy grounds and getting my sun there." He groused. A high clattering chitter from behind him as Halcyon shifted in the harness that secured her behind him in the saddle. He noted the look on the gargoyle's face and felt a bubble of amusement form. Motion sickness. The first time he'd been given the go ahead to ride upon Vega's own back, the end result had been her landing early and him heaving up what meal he had eaten over the side of her back. She had complained that if he got any of whatever he lost from his stomach on her scales, there'd be consequences. As for Halcyon, with her diet of rocks and pebbles, he doubted that she would truly make a mess if she did get sick. The only excrement that gargoyles seemed to produce was the sedimentary form of whatever stones they'd been eating prior, no mess to it. So she'd probably lose chips of stone or something. Vega's head tipped back, her markings flaring to life as she adjusted her flight pattern and dipped lower, the glow dimming just ever so. "Sunshine is the same, no matter where we fly, my Lex. You are smart enough to know that. I just thought a change of pace would be a nice change for you. The Academy is not somewhere for you to spend the rest of your life now that the war has reached it's conclusion." she hummed cheerily back as they flitted over the outskirts of Lihn. They were heading for the river that ran past Lihn. Vega had decided that a day by the water would do them all some good. It was falling to autumn weather, but as long as they were out in the sunshine, they were doing right in her books. At the very least, the river would provide an outlet for the boundless energy that Halcyon seemed to be capable of. Speaking of the gargoyle.... She glanced over her shoulder once more, hovering briefly in the air. "She's chewing on the straps again." Vega commented, twisting then turning to drop back down as the gravity around them returned slowly to normal as she manipulated the magic with the innate skill she'd had to develop since her first day out of the shell. "Halcyon!" She heard her rider bark at the otter gargoyle and a wry smile crept onto her muzzle. "I told you that muzzling her might have been a good idea." She said as she finally touched down upon the ground, a gentle flicker of magic returning their mass slowly to normal and allowing the burning white of her markings to finally fade back to their neutral blue. She shook out her neck and mane, her ears flicking as she heard Lex's response. "I'll be certain to listen to you next time, oh wise heart of mine." It was no more than a mumble under his breath, but it still amused her and brought a soft chuckle from her throat. Halcyon squirmed as she tried to free herself from her own harness while Lex removed his legs from his. He sighed at the spastic gargoyle and pulled a small piece of alabaster stone from his pocket and held it up for her to see. She froze and her small stone ears immediately rose rigidly upon her head. "This is yours if you hold still." he compromised. A high chitter was his response and he loosened the straps around her so she could slip free and scramble to the ground. "Here, you greedy thing." he called, tossing the rock carelessly over his shoulder to the gargoyle as he slipped down the other side of Vega's body. Halcyon, familiar with this game, had positioned herself in the most likely location that it would fall, and caught it neatly between shining brown teeth. A generous crunching noise was heard from her jaws as she trundled towards the river and slipped in, her sealed porous body allowing her to bob back to the surface after she'd slid in. "So we're here...In the sun..." Lex said dispassionately. "Now what?" Vega shifted fluidly to her feet from where she'd lain in the cool grass while waiting for her passengers to depart. "Now," she said with a bright flicker of amusement in her eyes, "We do with the day what we wish." Lex's flat look and the mingling disbelief she felt over their bond only increased the mirth she felt. "I plan on taking a nap in some sunshine. You are quite welcome to join me, unless you brought that book I told you that you might want to bring?" She asked, already walking away, casting him a brief look with a quirked ridge of her brow. "I brought it." He confirmed, dogging her footsteps with a stiff stride, stuffing his hands in his pockets as he went. "Splendid." She said, laying down on a patch of grass near the river, her head arching down on it's sinuous neck to lay half curved against her short legs and paws as well as collecting and spilling over onto the grass beneath her body. Lex walked over behind her and filed through one of the large satchels attached to the saddle upon her back. He pulled a tome out and glanced over at the river, watching Halcyon bob back up from the river's bottom with a quick shake of her head, and floated on her back, a dark brown rock gripped in her webbed paws. "Good to see you're having fun." He stated flatly. Crossing back to the other side of his dragon, he settled down, leaning against her chest and felt the rise and fall of her ribcage at his back. He flipped open the book and propped his head on his hand. Trying to win against his dragon never worked. |
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| Nherva | Mar 25 2012, 09:08 PM Post #2 |
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Lurker Queen
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"Ugh I swear, I hate hormones," Hadassah complained, stretching from her nest with a sound pop from her spine that caused her to sigh in relief. "Couldn't sleep?" Zahra asked, picking through her tools to find charcoal pencils that needed sharpened. She'd felt some unrest in the bond with her Forest, but she'd thought little of it until Hadassah decided to sleep in for half of the day. "Well…," she began, shaking out her wings and straightening her frills, "More like I slept fine. But I kept dreaming about demonic rabbits gnawing at the Academy walls for some reason because apparently they were servants of Nidhogg the carrot king. The usual weirdness." She squeezed her eyes shut and shoot her head. If there was one thing that ever signaled pregnancy in the Forest it was indeed strange dreams. "No question about it then. Nothing wrong with Galileo's plumbing eh?" Zahra smirked despite herself, actually chuckling. A rare occurrence these days. But with the passing of the war and the diminishing of what truly frightened her, she was beginning to finally recover, her fragile psyche no longer so fragile. Her outgoing demeanor was slowly returning. The only problem was that Hadassah wasn't withdrawing again. They were going to be one hell of a couple to talk to now that the Forest wasn't as restrained with her socializing now. Especially since so many years of being aloof from everything had already given her some pretty shabby social skills. That wasn't to say she didn't know how to be polite, she was just very bad with euphemisms where they were needed. Hadassah drew herself up proudly, "You're not going to be laughing if there's a Karma in here," she said, scratching her belly scales and yawning, displayed rows of sharp ivory teeth. "We going somewhere?" she asked when she noticed Zahra start messing with her harness. "I thought we should get out and get some fresh air. It would do you and I both some good. You keep sleeping like that and you'll wind up getting rooted to your bed," she said, bringing over the harness. For being so used to the ritual, the Forest simply stood back up and waited while Zahra fixed the leather straps and saddle to her in a couple deft clicks of buckles. She should have known in any case that Zahra was going to want to go out, seeing as how she was actually dressed in long pants and a comfortable shirt which she'd cover with a jacket for flying in the autumn weather. That and her hair wasn't a mess. The only time that happened was when they were going out. The Forest lowered herself for her rider to mount after she gathered her things and once she was in place, trotted to her ledge. "Where to? Hot springs? Beach?" "Let's just fly around until we find a nice place to rest for awhile. I don't have any preference, just want to get out," her rider answered, and that was enough for her. Flying with Zahra was still one of her favorite pastimes. Perhaps she would go show her the maze she'd built to test her suitors. The thing she'd slaved over for almost a month to bring to fruition. Or perhaps she would just fly until her wings got tired. Which ended up being exactly what she did, because by the time she was tired enough to land, she was going to need to do so for awhile. Fortunately even though it as autumn, it was a warm day in Nyushi and she could lay out in the sun for as long as she pleased. Until it went down anyway. The Forest started to descend, spiraling lazily downward until she landed nearby a river bank of one of the great rivers of the jungle. She hadn't really noticed the other pair until voices drifted their way and a few splashes betrayed the presence of the odd little gargoyle in the water. "Oh look, it's one of those…things like Buccinal's rider has," Hadassah said, stepping closer for a better look. "But how is it floating? I thought they were made of rock?" she wondered, wandering so close that her brightly colored scales would be exceedingly difficult to miss. "Hello," Zahra greeted, realizing how close they were. "Sorry if we're intruding…Hadassah wanted to see the um…," she pointed at the gargoyle in the water. She wasn't really sure she could even be comfortable calling them gargoyles, because gargoyles were decorative stone statues for buildings that didn't move or make noise or come to life. She was still very much getting used to the idea of them even if they'd been around for a time. "It's a gargoyle Zahra, they move they make noise, get over it already," Hadassah said, turning her head to look at her rider, unknowingly having completed the introduction of them both to the Gravity pair. |
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| Zinc | Mar 25 2012, 09:43 PM Post #3 |
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The Owl Waife
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For all of Vega's plans, she actually didn't truly fall into a doze while she lazed about in the sun. She spent more time listening to the turn of pages from her rider's book than anything else. A twitch of her notched left ear now and then informing the dragon-rider that she was paying attention to what he was doing. Her eyes however, were fixed on Halcyon as she dipped and weaved with playful chitters and splashes through the cold waters of the river. After getting over the fact that she was living stone, and laughing over Lex's reaction to the fact that she was a boundless fount of energy, she'd come to quite like the little bundle of brown stone. She liked to chew on things too much perhaps...but she was wholly easy to get along with. Just so long as she had an outlet for her energy. Vega lifted her head after a time and looked over her rider's shoulder, reading the text along with him. "What is this book?" She asked with a raised of a draconian brow. "Another one of those Harlequin novels humans are so fond of?" Her reply was the heavy snap of paper and cover coming together to flash the title, embossed in bright gold leaf. "Oh, how intriguing." she said, ignoring the rider's pointed look entirely. "Studying up on the Taint again are we?" she asked with a cant of her head. Lex ignored the call for a reply embedded in her answers and thumbed through the book again, trying to find where he'd left off. "Which part are you at?" asked the dragon. She was relentless in her curiosity. 'Honestly, Vega.' He thought with a flash of annoyance. This little tid-bit of information carried over their bond and she flashed him an open-mouthed grin. "Yes, honestly, what's got you so intrigued in the Taint?" She asked, sounding for all the world, as innocent as her question. He gave her a flat look. "With the war over, I figured we'd be seeing the shattered roam back. I'm wondering if they'd be considered volatile." He picked through the book. "Unfortunately, since the attack on the Academy, a lot of the older books were lost. Including those with records regarding Taints before Nidhogg took over the war effort." He leaned his head back to look at her, speaking as if he were discussing something as trivial as the weather. "Satisfied?" He asked. "Quite." she said turning her head away. Lex however, kept his tilted up, his brows drawing together as he saw a flare of orange, yellow, green, and red pass over their head and circle about in a bright mockery of the leaves across the trees around them. "Company." he stated in his same flat voice. Vega glanced at him, and noted it was as if someone had shut the curtains on him, his posture had changed and his eyes had flattened. The book he had flipped closed and he adjusted to lean forwards against his knees. "Oh, honestly Lex." She rumbled. "You're as bad as a winter blizzard. You lock everything inside with your ice." A typical comment he heard from her. He glanced at her and gave a half shrug. As they landed and peered over at the river and the otter gargoyle within, Vega allowed herself a smile. The little otter had drawn some interesting attention at times with her odd quirk. "How is it floating?" The question drifted over to Vega, and though it wasn't directed at her, she answered anyway. "She's made of a special type of rock, full of holes and gaps that hold air." She and her rider had done quite a bit of research themselves to figure out that mystifying fact, and finally had come up with an answer that had made sense. Vega looked over at Hadassah and Zahra, offering them a friendly smile. "Not to worry dear, you're not intruding at all." She felt Lexen about to speak something in opposition, but she adjusted her posture, catching him with a paw and knocking him over before he could open his mouth. He pushed himself onto his knees looking fiercely indignant. "But it appears to me, Hadassah, that Halcyon would like to see you." She said with a smile. Sure enough, if Hadassah and Zahra looked, the brown gargoyle had flicked gracefully to the edge of the shore, her stone body clacking against the smoother pebbles of the shore. She let out a high chitter, polished eyes staring up at Hadassah with bright curiosity, her mouth open in a gape-grin of joy. She gave a sort of hopping run towards them on her short legs and long body. She arched up her back and sniffed carefully at Hadassah's feet before slinking off beneath her and looking at everything with the intense scrutiny of a hyperactive five year old. Darting out from beneath her she sat up on her back legs and stared at Zahra and uttered another chirp, her head tipped and small rounded ears tipping up. "I do believe you've made a friend, my lady." Vega said with a smile. Not that with Halcyon it was a hard thing to do. |
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| Nherva | Mar 26 2012, 01:44 PM Post #4 |
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Lurker Queen
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When the otter-formed gargoyle waddled up on the short and across the distance that separated them, Hadassah lowered her head to inspect the creature further, "How terribly interesting," she said, her violet eyes watching as the creature moved—very much like a normal otter—save for the lack of fur and presence of stony wings. She lifted a hindpaw when the creature darted in and around and under her to inspect her, trying not to accidentally step on her. She wondered briefly if it would hurt a gargoyle made of stone, but she would never try to hurt it to find out. "Aww look Zahra, I think she likes you," Hadassah snickered, turning back to her russet headed rider. Zahra unclipped her flight belt from Hadassah's harness and slid carefully off onto the ground, kneeling to inspect the odd little creature more closely. "How did you get it?" She asked, reaching out to perhaps touch Halcyon if she would let her. She'd never been this close to one, even if she knew by seeing it around that Buccinal's rider had one. Even if she didn't interfere too much with her children's lives as they were their own, Hadassah did like to keep certain tabs on them just to see how they were doing. She made out as though she didn't care once they left their shells, but she cared more than she would openly admit. And she'd noticed the glossy black stone creature that was almost always a presence on the blue Sonic's back. While Zahra explored her curiosity with the gargoyle, Hadassah glanced at the Gravity's rider. He hadn't spoken to them yet and the way he glowered as though they'd disturbed him worried her. She didn't want Zahra retreating back into her safety shell after she'd come back so far from the trauma she'd experienced at the Tainted fortress so many months ago. There was no reason to be worried yet, but she was still cautious. Not that Hadassah expected him to be mean to her or anything, but fragile as her psyche still was…she just never knew. But it also could have been the hormones telling her it was time to be more protective of…everything. "So what are your names? I can honestly say I can't place you, even for how rare your breed is," Hadassah said somewhat apologetically. "Usually we help keep track of names and ranks along with the other work Zahra does so I tend to sometimes have a vague idea…," she shrugged her wings. Usually she did have a better idea, but this time she was drawing a blank. Of course, with so many dragons and riders back from the war and lists and records needing updated due to deaths and rank changes, the scholars were terribly busy keeping everything straight, as were she and Zahra. "What does a gargoyle eat?" Zahra asked suddenly from where she knelt before Halcyon, wondering if perhaps there was a treat she could give her or something…since admittedly she was awfully cute for an animated rock. |
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| Zinc | Mar 26 2012, 06:10 PM Post #5 |
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The Owl Waife
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When Zahra finally ventured down from her saddle, the immediate change in Halcyon's attitude was to surge forwards and greet her with enthusiasm. She quite forcibly shoved her head beneath Zahra's hand, letting out grainy chitters and clicks that might have been the sound of her teeth clicking together. She lacked the delicate whiskers of a normal otter, and the fur, true enough, but she kept the attitude at the very least. The attentive pets upon her head however, were soon forgotten as she slipped away in a quick and lithe movement of her long body to circle around Zahra and sniff at any part of her she could reach. Her shirt, her pants her hair, her face, none were safe from the stone otter's nose. She even gave an experimental nip to the rider's boots before skittering away back to the river. Vega watched Halcyon trundle back to the river with an amused smile, before returning her attention back to Zahra, flicking her ears forwards. "We happened to be in the right place at the right time." She said with a smile. "Wrong place if you ask me." Lex replied flatly. Vega glanced down at him. "He doesn't like her very much." Vega said as means of explanation. "One of the distributed pairs of gargoyles apparently had another child. The creature imprinted on myself and my rider." "Rotten luck." Lex muttered again. Vega, in an easy and practiced movement, lowered her head and bumped him, knocking him back over. She looked up at Hadassah and smiled. "I am Vega. No worries about not knowing who we are. My rider and I enjoy traveling, even if it ends up with us being more strangers than friends to many." She glanced down at him. "Well go on, my dear, introduce yourself." She encouraged. The rider had pushed himself back upright again, glaring daggers at his dragon. He schooled his features somewhat and glanced at Hadassah and Zahra. "Lexen. Call me Lex." Vega wrinkled nose at him. "Four words? Is that the best you can do? At least be friendly or say 'nice to meet you'." Another look from him and she went back to ignoring him. "We are both Scales in the Aphelion Wing. Honestly we've not really been in a Wing before, we've just mostly been roaming about as scouts when we needed it or running messages. Are you both in a Wing?" She asked curiously, crossing her paws before her as she settled back and waited for the answer. Her rider might be a socially inept recluse, but she certainly was interested in learning what was going on about the Academy since the battles had finally finished and they'd rotated back home to their own Aerie once again. Halcyon was fishing about in the creek near the shore when Zahra asked the question. Vega smiled as she watched the otter gargoyle find what she was looking for and trot back over, dropping a smooth river-stone before Zahra and stepping back a few paces. "See if you can guess, lady Zahra." she said with a laugh. "Humor the silly creature, throw the stone for her." |
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| Nherva | Mar 27 2012, 04:09 PM Post #6 |
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Lurker Queen
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Zahra had to admit, the gargoyle, thought the oddest thing she'd ever seen in her life, was actually rather…charming. She gave it a few pets, feeling the texture of the pumice-like stone of her body, still completely perplexed. If she had one it would probably hate her because she'd been touching it all the time trying to figure it out. At the rider's gruff answer, Zahra looked at him, surprised that he didn't seem at all like he wanted to see or speak to anyone else. She really hated to bother anyone… "I think they're adorable," Hadassah said with a laugh. "If you can get past the whole made of stone thing. Stones might not be cuddly but at least they can be cute," she said, nearly losing it when Vega knocked over her rider again. Zahra was pretending not to notice, but her Forest saw it, and it amused her. Evidently, Vega had to 'persuade' her rider to be sociable. Lately, Hadassah knew the feeling. "Well," she said anyway, "It's nice to meet you Lex." "Nice to meet you both," Zahra added as the otter gargoyle trotted off to the riverbed again. Standing, she tucked her hair behind her ear and went back to Hadassah's side. "No, we're not in a wing," Zahra shook her head. "Never have been, likely never will be. We do on occasion help out the infirmary crews. During the war—seems so weird to say that as though its over—we helped ferry the injured back behind the lines to be seen by the healers. But mostly we scout, or Hadassah scouts, I draw tactical maps. Or I did…when they were useful," she shrugged. Hadassah blinked in surprise. That was perhaps the most her rider had said to anyone in a few months. Usually it was up to her to do the explaining and question answering lately. "My son is in a wing though," Hadassah said proudly. In all honesty she didn't know if her daughter was or not. She hadn't been able to see her as much as she had Buc. "I believe Aphelion is the one too, perhaps you have met him. His name is Buccinal and he's a Sonic like his sire," she explained, wondering if her taciturn offspring had managed to actually make any friends yet. Sooner or later something would have to give, like it had with her, and he'd have allies if not close friends. As Halcyon hopped back over, Zahra's face broke into a smile, "You know, I half expected them to eat something other than rocks. Just to throw me for an even bigger loop," she said, leaning down to pick up the pebble brought to her feet. "But this certainly does make sense." She bounced it in her palm, then when Vega told her, she tossed the stone toward the riverbed. If anything, even if it landed in the water, the gargoyle would be able to go after it, as they'd discovered when they first landed, because she could swim. "Charming little creatures," Zahra said, crossing her arms as she watched Halcyon dart after the rock. "Does that sound like you're over your weirdness and we should get one then?" Hadassah asked in amusement, lying down in the grass to rest. The moment her body hit the ground, several flowers sprung from the grass and she sighed. She tended to lose control a little on her element when she was egg-heavy, and it certainly showed. Well, at least she wasn't spewing lava or lightning bolts in every direction or anything. Flowers rarely hurt anyone. "Pardon my random growth," the Forest glared at one of the flowers. "Happens this time a year sometimes." "I don't know about you guys, but it feels nice to be out and not worried so much about being attacked by Taints in our own territory." Zahra noted, sliding down by Hadassah's flank. The Forest was tired from her flight and was going to rest whether she wanted to or not. Most of the Tainteds that would be close to Nyushi would be reformed Taints and unlikely to bother two Sekkaian pairs. |
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| Zinc | Mar 29 2012, 05:45 PM Post #7 |
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The Owl Waife
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Halcyon, as she always did, enjoyed the attention that was bestowed upon her by the Forest rider, even if she had been a little bit hesitant at first. The little stone creature lived to please, even if the tall two-legs that she had for an owner didn't like her very much, she'd certainly made friends with the four-legged blue and the other tall creatures and two-legs that she met. Though she did encounter some that didn't care to be around her either. Win some, lose some. Lex, giving an internal sigh, finally decided that he'd try to be social like his dragon was demanding. "Nice to meet you too." He said, then for good measure, and more out of habit than anything else, he glanced at his dragon with an 'are you happy now?' expression. Indeed she was, Vega was giving him a slight smile but cast her eyes back to the Forest pair. It wasn't his fault that most of his early years when he would have been learning things like how to socialize properly were spent being harassed by a half insane human and a mutating dragon. He'd slowly begin to learn though, at least he hoped, now that he was back around the Academy and the many dragons and riders, at least if he ever decided to leave his room... Vega's notched and whole ear flicked forwards to listen to Zahra's explanation. She nodded in understanding at the listing of what their jobs had been during the expanse of the war. "Ah, I see." She said, her smile forming once again. "Not the Wing sorts, that's understandable. Plenty of dragons around here and their riders as well are that way. Don't like being tied down or have other reasonings." She glanced at Lex, "It was a bit of both of us on our own decision. But perhaps with the war ending, we'll find a Wing a more comfortable place." She looked back over at the Forest pair. "What do you both plan to do with the war over?" she asked curiously. The Gravity turned thoughtful. "Buccinal the Sonic..." She mulled briefly. She'd only been in the Wing a short time, though she'd seen some of the men, women, and dragons in passing. She also had seen some of the newest Wyrmlings that had graduated and joined their Wing. "Is he perhaps that blue Sonic with the bright orange eyes?" she asked curiously. If that was her son, he was quite a handsome example of a Sonic, he seemed quite touchy though. He and his rider had a gargoyle of their own as well, a small little obsidian beast that seemed quite fond of the Sonic instead of the rider. Vega laughed as she watched Halcyon take off after the rock. "Unfortunately, I don't think the beasts are creative enough to have anymore quirks to throw people for loops." She looked back at Zahra. "I think the strangest thing I've ever seen her eat was a gemstone once. Lexen wasn't very happy about that, but she didn't seem to enjoy it. I would akin the aftermath to a child eating too many sweets. She laid about looking rather miserable for many long hours. I was quite fearful she was going to get ill." Lexen spoke up surprisingly, "She learned her lesson." he said, turning his abandoned book over in his hands, possibly just for something to do with them while they were idle. Halcyon had come back from the river at this point, though she had a completely different rock clutched in her jaws rather than the original one. To be expected though, seeing as this portion of the river's bed were made of up of nothing but smooth stones. It would be hard to pick up the same stone over again. She shook a few droplets off water off her body with a sound of rattling stones and a soft chirp, then dropped the stone back at Zahra's feet again. Apparently one throw wasn't enough for her. She was in for the long haul. Vega's eyes took on a knowing look at Hadassah's comment about the sudden appearance of flowers and the time of year. "Find yourself a boy who caught your eye, did you?" she asked with a laugh. "Congratulations on your soon to be child then, if your son Buccinal is any example, you shall have another grand offspring for the sands this year." She glanced at Zahra and inclined her head on her lanky neck, "Oh yes, it's quite a good thing indeed." She said, looking up at the sky, her ears flicking this way and that as she minded the blue sky. "Doesn't always mean it's safe though." Lex said, glancing out past the water. "Just because Nidhogg is gone doesn't mean that the Taints are all peaceful. Some of them could have been so broken he was the only glue left to hold them to sanity. If those come around the Academy due to the last of their fragmented memories, we'd have reasons to be cautious." He leaned back against Vega. As much as Vega wanted to comment at his sudden cynicism and his apparent ability to be a true downer, she knew he was right. But for now, anything that was around probably wouldn't mess with a duo of dragons with their powers and prowess, they weren't exactly easy targets for an emaciated and crazy dragon. |
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| Nherva | Mar 29 2012, 10:08 PM Post #8 |
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Lurker Queen
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At Vega's question about what they were going to do now that the war was over, both dragon and rider mulled it over for a moment before Zahra spoke. "I dunno, I've been recently convinced to start drawing things other than maps again. I've been trying to do that," she shrugged. "But more than likely I'll go back to research and…scholarly things eventually." She said, not really knowing in all honesty what she had any plans to do. For the first time in her life it seemed, she had no plans. Hadassah nodded at Vega as she identified her progeny expertly. "That would be him," she said. "Don't mind his attitude, he's just insecure. Can't blame him for that, but I've told him before and I'm sure his rider has told him that he doesn't have to take it out on everybody else," she sighed. "His father's condition is even worse. Poor Harmon can't utter a single word. But he's a charming and handsome fellow, and quite the opposite when it comes to personality." She laughed finally. "Really?" Zahra wondered as she bent to pick up the new rock Halcyon brought her. So gemstones were like large amounts of sugary candy to gargoyles? Or at least to this one? What peculiar critters. "I wonder why that is," she pondered, tossing the rock again for the gargoyle, which she was finding to be rather friendly company. Her Forest thrummed suddenly at Vega's congratulations, "Thank you very much. Indeed I seemed to have. Though I must say I've never had quite the turnout for a flight before as I did this time." Zahra rolled her eyes, "Oh please. Just because every rare breed from here to the Desolation came to chase you doesn't make you special," she said with a gentle poke of her elbow and a joking smile. Hadassah was never going to forget that most recent flight. It had made her even more smug. "It was a Karma," Zahra told Vega, her voice teasing like a school age child on a playground. "Quiet you," Hadassah snickered, "Go figure I spend months trying to get her out of her shell and finally she does it and comes at me." In truth, the Forest was not at all perturbed by her rider's teasing. In fact, it made her happy to hear Zahra's social voice as it had been once again. She still had her nightmares, but they weren't getting her down nearly as badly as they had been. She was slowly pulling away from their incident, and finally at long last returning to her old self again. Of course, at Lexen's sudden downer of a comment, Zahra only shrugged, "That's true. But really we're never truly safe. I mean, think about it, you could get stepped on by a careless Earth dragon one day or something even at the Academy. I figure as long as you keep an eye out but don't go looking for trouble you can at least get away in time, if not keep yourself merely from being surprised," she said. Which was true. She and Hadassah had never been safe during their many missions to map the territories the army was winning. They always had a partner, but it never meant they were safe. Dwelling on it had never helped much either. "Nothing wrong with a little bit of healthy caution, but at least we don't have to be paranoid anymore," Hadassah added to her rider's remark. She looked up at the pleasant sky overhead. The world was going to be a much better place for herself and her children now that the Tainted weren't driven to kill or crack their crystals, whichever came first. Vega's right wasn't wrong by any means, but he seemed uptight about something. Hadassah only wondered why, and if there was anything that could be done to help or if that was just the way he was. With such a pleasant dragon and adorable pet, one would think he'd be less dour. "What are you reading there?" Zahra asked him curiously as she noted the book he was occupying his hands with. She liked to read, and had done a lot of it since they'd been on leave, and now would probably do much more now that they were pretty permanently on leave with the war over. |
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| Zinc | Mar 30 2012, 07:30 PM Post #9 |
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The Owl Waife
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Lexen with some mental urging from his dragon, finally decided to get in on the conversation once more. He really did need to talk more, and sitting around like a bump on a log he knew, would earn him no friends, and would only add to his already dour countenance. He wasn't friendly by any means, but he wasn't always an asshole either. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to have someone to talk to someday. His dragon urged him on at this line of thinking, and he spoke up in response to Zahra's plans. "With the Taint lands reclaimed, there'll be quite a few areas to remap. It's been nearly three decades. A lot has changed." he placed his book in his lap and picked a blade of grass, twisting it between his fingers. "It's a sound plan to keep mapping." He finished, his voice lacking some of the dispassion from earlier, but still overall relatively flat. "Oh good." Vega said with a smile. "Glad to have gotten that right then." She blinked at the note about his attitude. "Insecure about what? I haven't exactly had the time to sit down and have a chat with my Wing unfortunately, I did noticed his tenseness around people in general." Ah, so his father was Harmon, she was familiar with the mute dragon, but from what she was saying, it sounded like Buccinal had some sort of speech malfunction as well. Understanding ignited her eyes and she nodded. "I see. Well, I shall try to make an effort in the future to have a meeting with your gruff little son." she said with a chuckle. "It oculd end intriguingly." "It could be because of how refined the stone is." Lex piped up into the conversation once again. "Halcyon eats rocks like those," he gestured to the river stones, "most of the time. I think something like that was out of habit and too much for her." He didn't think that she'd be eating another one any time soon. He watched as she snagged the stone back from the water again and dragged it back onto shore, finally dropping onto the river stones and chewing on the stone as a dog might a bone, cracking off a few chips here and there and chewing them to rubble in her alabaster speckled teeth. Vega gave a laugh. "Quite the popular lady this year then." her eyes lit up with interest at her chosen sire. "Oh, you had the Karma I've heard is wandering the halls join your chase? Fantastic!" She said, looking a tad envious. "It shall definitely be a child to bond to someone special, I should like to see how the Hatching turns out myself I think." She said with a hum, and looked at Lex. "Shall we attend?" she asked him. He gave a half shrug of acknowledgement, he probably wouldn't be thrilled, and wouldn't leave her back during the entire ceremony, but would cope for her own amusement at the very least. "Oh I understand all too well." She said, glancing at her own rider. "I'm quite surprised this one has spoken as much as he has. Our years away from the Academy hasn't done his socializing skills any good." She ignored the glare he was directing at her. "He lacks tact, and doesn't quite know how to properly enter a conversation. We're working on that though." She grinned down at her rider, who was now looking rather put out by her assessment of his psychological state in the area of social interaction. "I suppose you have a point." Lex acknowledged what Zahra said. He felt a grimace form on his face. "Though I admit...getting stepped on an Earth does not sound pleasant. But I suppose it's better than getting mauled by an unhappy Dire wolf instead." he pointed out. Vega shook her head. "No, we should be alright for a time to come now. The Taint are still out and about, but most of them are quite happy to be left to themselves from those we've seen since the war has ended." At least the ones that were able to speak and interact legibly with other dragons without getting chased away. Lex lifted the book for her to see. "I was reading about the Taint dragons, actually." he admitted, glancing down at the book in his own hands. "Even after all this time we've been at war, the information when viewed as a whole that we have on them and their workings are rather limited. At least from a psychological stand-point. From what we've seen in the recent drop off of antagonistic attacks however, it's safe to guess that Nidhogg was the force that drove them to act as they did rather than it being their will to do so. That or without their leader, they're left with no one to turn to." Then again, that would have meant scattered raids against the Academy at odd intervals, and so far, none had happened. He was going to stick with his first hypothesis for the time being. |
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| Nherva | Mar 30 2012, 10:30 PM Post #10 |
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Lurker Queen
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Zahra listened as Vega explained her rider’s demeanor, feeling as though she was the one being spoken of rather than Lexen. For the last several months she had been the one wishing to stay locked into her room and unsure whenever she met something what to say or do to keep a conversation going. It made things rather awkward at times and she had never experienced such a thing in her life. In truth, she wasn’t even sure why she’d suddenly withdrawn. Perhaps it was her instinct of self-preservation that made her want to hide away like a rabbit in a hole, but she was getting braver and beginning to venture out. Thanks to her dragoness anyway. She nodded, “At least if you get stepped on it’ll be over quickly,” she actually snickered, her mind envisioning a comical image of a person stuck on an Earth dragon’s foot. Hadassah actually giggled softly herself. Even if her rider’s sense of humor had become more morbid, at least she had a sense of humor coming back. Everything was always so dour and depressing lately. That had been another reason for the Forest’s choice in mates. She just wasn’t sure how her own rider would feel about her choosing a Tainted breed of dragon to sire her offspring. With her resolve so fragile as it was, she’d never forgive herself if she made her rider withdraw any more. But Iktomi had intrigued her, and the Forest wondered in the back of her mind if she’d ever see him again. Part of her guiltily hoped so, even if she didn’t know why. “That’s what I’ve heard…though, I’ve also heard that some have even shown up in the Academy,” Zahra shuddered. She hadn’t seen any, but the thought alone that there were enemies like those that had dragged her down into the darkness of Iyalruek near where she was living and sleeping deeply bothered her. If she ever saw one, there was no telling what would happen. “Wonder what the other ones are doing? The ones that aren’t being allowed into the Academy’s walls. You can’t tell me they’re all just kind, wonderful dragons that were forced to do bad things. I’m sure there are plenty that would rather see us dead and the world theirs,” Hadassah snorted. Even if she was interested in a particular Taint, it didn’t mean anyone had to suspect her of it. She was open to the idea that some of the Taints were redeemable, but she also knew there were no doubt some that were still very unsavory creatures. “Not to mention the power vacuum with Nidhogg gone…,” Zahra pointed out. Then she looked at Vega and Lexen with a fearful look on her face, “You think there’s actually a Taint out there strong enough to mobilize what’s left and start the war back up?” She wondered. Certainly it wouldn’t be for a very long time considering the massive losses in their numbers, but with time…it was possible. “Ugh please,” Hadassah groaned, “Can’t we just enjoy our war-free existence instead of thinking up a terrible future?” She grumbled. It was difficult for her to think that her most recent offspring had just narrowly dodged being a part of the war, she didn’t want to think that the one on the way might be born into a world that war never seemed to go away in. |
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| Zinc | Apr 5 2012, 08:08 PM Post #11 |
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The Owl Waife
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Lexen made a face at the idea of getting smushed and having his life ended quickly by an Earth dragon in the first place. He gave a half frown and spoke in reply to that lovely train of thought. "If the buffoon who ended up a pancake beneath the Earth's feet didn't see it coming to begin with and got out of the way, I'd rather like to think they deserve to be taken from the gene pool all together. I'd rather like to hope that I'd see the Earth coming and remove myself from it's path... " His dry and matter of fact way of speaking this thought made Vega look down at him in surprise, though her mouth drew into an amused line, she had to agree with him. Earth's were near impossible to miss, at least in the setting of the Academy or anywhere else. She supposed there could be situations dissimilar, but she'd let him have his own amusement. At the mention of Taint dragons beginning to filter into the Academy, Lexen fell still, a sort of ice that fell about his demeanor and trickled with cold reaching arms over the bond between him and his strange Gravity. She noted it immediately and turned her vibrant sky-blue eyes onto his form, a frown pulling at her own mouth, and her ears going back as she resisted the urge to let out a soft whine. His mouth had drawn into a thin line, and she got a brief flash of a bright silver Water and a man with a scarred face. 'They are dead.' she pushed the tentative whisper through the ice that their bond had become. More faces flashed through however, in quick succession and parts of battles filtered in as well. Unconsciously, Lex's eyes had narrowed from where they were burning a hole into the ground, and his frown had turned into a tight clenching of his jaw. Vega too, had moved, her head pulling back on her neck and she let out a soft snort. 'There are others still...' was the reply and he turned his head to glance back up at her before looking back at Zahra and Hadassah, his expression falling back to neutral tones as he leaned back against his dragon. Vega was a little slower to recover, worry crossing her face and her ears slowly sliding back forwards to look down at him. She cleared her throat and glanced back at Hadassah. "I think it's best to not wonder sometimes, what shattered dragons like to do with their time." At best, a lot of the beast had been left to wander hopelessly, aimlessly, crying for the lost or for the deeds that they had done. She wondered if any of them had enough honor left in their bones to commit a death upon themselves instead and cross on to peace. "As for the rest, there's no doubt plenty of them out there. Perhaps the ones born into it, who know nothing else besides fighting and the guide of their master's leash." she stated, a faint snarl forming on her maw before it cleared away. Lexen and Vega both inclined their heads in acceptance of the point that Zahra presented, and though one or both of them were about to offer their opinions on the matter of the war being returned to them if one of the Taints managed to reassemble the forces, they both receded into silence as Hadassah piped up. Hadassah was right, sometimes it was best to live in the moment rather than to fear the dark purposes of the future. But sometimes too, it was best to consider, and to be prepared, rather than to mourn the day when it came and the destruction that rode alongside it. |
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| Nherva | Apr 9 2012, 05:33 PM Post #12 |
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Lurker Queen
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Zahra actually laughed aloud at Lexen's remark. It wasn't exactly what he said, but the dry, factual way in which he said it tickled her. "Tell me about it." Something in her had changed. Zahra before the trauma had been so happy-go-lucky and carefree that such a statement might have appalled her, but she seemed to have been brought down several notches to reality and she rather found it humorous. "Even if you didn't see it I'd hope you'd at least feel the ground shaking before they got to you," she said with a grin. "Perhaps not," Hadassah shifted somewhat uncomfortably after the brief silence between the Gravity and her rider after the mention of the remaining Tainted and what they did with their time. Guilt was a quick shock that surprised her and she hoped Zahra was oblivious to. She didn't want her rider to know of her near-constant thoughts of the rhyming Ruin that had joined her flight. The more she thought about it, the more the days passed since that day, the more she wished she had just said to hell with it and chosen him. But then again, the problems still existed. Had she been Iktomi, she wouldn't have wanted to go through the pain of being unable to see the children she'd begotten, and she had been trying to spare him that by choosing his seeming exact opposite. But had she really? Had she spared him the torturous outcome of winning only to force him instead to endure the pain of loss and failure? Why the hell did she even care that much? The Forest shook her head, as though to adjust her red-orange frills, though she was trying to shake away the thoughts of that haunting image of the Ruin that she was so interested in. He at least, didn't seem like he was lurking around just to kill any loners that happened his way. "I wonder sometimes though, if perhaps there are some that were, you know, born on the wrong side. We've got some pretty…not so nice individuals on our side after all. Whose to say there aren't actually some that could be eventually trusted," Hadassah shrugged slightly, sighing as the movement caused a few pink flowers to sprout at her elbows. "Just a thought." She said when she noticed that Zahra was staring at her in utter shock. Such a statement rarely ever left the Forest's maw. "But anyway, I prefer to enjoy the peace while it lasts and not worry too much about it," she added. She did have new offspring to think of and she wasn't about to let her guard down or anything, but it would be nice not to pretend they were still living in the shadow of the war that had been the only thing she'd ever known since the day she'd hatched. It would be nice to know what peace felt like, even if it was brief. As though either out of random curiosity or a want to change the subject, Zahra cocked her head curiously at Vega, remembering the earlier part of the conversation when Hadassah had first revealed that she was egg-heavy. "Pardon me if this is rude—I'm not sure how dragons are about it, even with her—but have you flown this season?" She wondered, "Or plan to? I guess what I'm trying to ask is if we'll be seeing you with a nest on the sands soon." She asked tentatively, hoping she hadn't ruined the acquaintance she'd just made. |
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| Zinc | Apr 12 2012, 03:22 PM Post #13 |
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The Owl Waife
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Lexen gave a half smile, just a barest of quirked lips. But in Vega's eyes and by Lexen's own standards, it was the equivalent of a full smile, or perhaps even a grin. "All of these excellent points." he conceded, leaning his arms on his knees, the book he'd been reading prior now forgotten in his lap. If there was one thing he did particularly enjoy from time to time, it was questioning the intelligence of humanity in the face of all the possible things that they could do wrong. This was certainly one of those things. "So we've clarified that you'd have to be rather thick in the head to be stepped on by an Earth. I take it that neither of us are likely to be victims of such incidents in the near future, or even the far future." his half smile had formed into a smirk by this point in time. He certainly didn't think he would be a likely candidate for becoming a bloody smear and proverbial pancake beneath Earth paws, at least not accidentally. He couldn't say anything for the Earths that held a grudge against him. Vega gave a soft and thoughtful rumble at what Hadassah said, though she could feel the immediate coil of rebellion and the scoffing that emanated from her rider, though he held his tongue on the matter, not too keen on openly mocking the dragon for her views. Though it seemed even her rider was giving her a disbelieving stare. Apparently this wasn't a stand that she was familiar with her dragon taking prior. Lex glanced at Vega as she pondered and collected a thought to give and leaned back against her. "It's a thought..." he conceded. Vega spoke then. "But you're right that both sides seem to have their highs and lows. I know that I have met a few Sekkains that are hard to keep in line." She didn't however, mention that she'd yet to meet a Taint that hadn't tried to rip her crystal out. But now that the war was over, if she ever met any, they might not be so keen on that point... She thought about those that might not be too keen on playing complacent either. If they shattered crystals now without Nidhogg to claim minds, would they still technically act Tainted? She didn't plan to crack her crystal to find out. But it was an intriguing enough thought for her to entertain for the short while, as grim and relatively morbid as it might have been..."Yes..." she agreed slowly, half caught up in her own thoughts like Hadassah was her own. "We have peace for the first time in nearly three decades, we might as well enjoy it for as long as it lasts." She smiled briefly, glancing at Hadassah, her young would be among the first that would be born into a time of peace. But would they live to see a war form up again? The Taints were still alive and out there. Would they strike again when they reassembled? 'Dark thoughts, Vega..' she chided herself. Vega blinked over at Zahra as she tentatively called her attention. She was afraid of being rude? Oh well, she needn't worry, she wasn't very easy to offend, but at the very least, she'd be willing to tell her plainly if she was speaking rudely to a dragon. But she could hardly fault the woman if she didn't understand dragons as well as she understood people. They were two different creatures after all! "Have I flown?" she echoed, an amused smile on her face. "No dear, I haven't at all this season, or ever, actually." she said with a slight shrug. "But that doesn't bother me really. I do plan to give it a try next year. I'm taking a rest now that the war is done, and I'd prefer my rest to be uninterrupted by a hormonal male with his nose up my rear." she said with a snorted laugh. "So, no, I'm afraid you won't be seeing me nesting on the sands this year. But I will however, be there with my rider to watch the eggs be born. I always do like welcoming the little ones into the world." she nudged her rider with her nose. "Isn't that right, my heart?" He waved his hand at her nose, pushing it away from his shoulder. "Yes, yes...she loves to drag me to those events." Vega gave him a 'that's not what I meant and you know it' look, but let him get away with his words. |
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| Nherva | Apr 15 2012, 12:01 PM Post #14 |
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Lurker Queen
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Hadassah, who normally didn't feel uncomfortable about much, suddenly felt the discomfort of being under intense scrutiny from every individual around her. She knew she'd taken a bit of a risk mentioning her thoughts on the matter, but she was known at least to be more open-minded about some things in comparison to her peers. Of course, she left it at that uncomfortable place. She wasn't ready to admit that a Taint had been in her flight and that she planned to find him again, lest she be followed and Iktomi harmed because of it if she did manage to find him again. She did, however, believe that some of the Tainted perhaps deserved a second chance. Some of them were vile creatures that could never be rehabilitated certainly and she realized how risky it was to trust even those that seemed like they could be good. But that didn't mean she wasn't willing to try. Well…with certain individuals more than others. "Oh," Zahra said, only a little disappointed when Vega told her she hadn't yet flown and likely wouldn't this season. It would have been interesting to see a Gravity's hatchling on the sands. And then there was that fact that she and Hadassah couldn't relate on the matter exactly, but the Forest didn't appear to mind. In fact, her dragon rumbled in amusement, "Can't blame you for that," she said. Granted, Galileo hadn't exactly been up her rear, per se, since he'd flown her, but she was pretty sure—or at least hopeful—that he would be there to see his egg laid and hatch. In fact, it made Hadassah wonder why she answered the instinctual tugging every season of her life so far. Vega didn't seem to be as young as she, and if she'd not flown to mate at all…and there were other females that didn't fly as well…the Forest had to wonder why she always seemed to want to. Maybe she was looking for something she hadn't yet found, or maybe she'd finally stop rising every season when she felt she had enough offspring, though she doubted the latter was the reason. Then again, it wasn't like she knew any other males she played around with when the season wasn't in full swing. Maybe she just needed to get her fix and be done, even if an egg resulted. "Well, I'll be there when you do," Zahra continued, "Because I'll be there every time. I love to watch the hatchings," she quirked a small grin. "I guess in a little way I like to go because it reminds me in a good way what it was like to bond myself," she shrugged, even if Lexen didn't seem to agree on that aspect. "Every single dragon is so unique too, I like to see what new designs nature comes up with." "You should bring that little sketchbook of yours this time and try to draw some," Hadassah suggested. "Pfft, I wouldn’t do that much injustice to the babies. I'll stick to maps, thank you," she said, just not altogether too confident in her drawing skills that didn't involve aerial views of mountains, trees, rivers and other various terrain. ((I feel like this fails, if it does i'm so sorry D: )) |
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| Zinc | Apr 17 2012, 01:41 PM Post #15 |
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The Owl Waife
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Vega couldn't fault Hadassah for her thoughts, though her rider certainly would have. All dragons had their different views on exactly where the Tainteds would stand at this point in the conclusion of the war. Perhaps Hadassah had a few friends who were Taints or had a comrade who had fallen to their levels that she wanted to defend. Or perhaps she just wasn't as condemning as the rest of her kin in the matters of their fallen brethren. She didn't know for sure, but from the way that the dragon and rider had regarded each other after the matters of discussing a Taint born on the wrong side, it was just surprising. So it was a new development between them, or perhaps just a new development to the Forest. Vega let out a soft and low thrum. How very interesting. She couldn't help the soft chuckle that escaped her maw at the sudden disappointed 'oh' that came from Zahra. "No need to be disappointed. Like I said, next year I'll see if there's a boy who catches my eye." she chuckled. And if there wasn't, well she could always tell the lot of them to fuck off and try again another day. Of course she doubted any female had ever really done as much, but it would be amusing to see the looks on their faces regardless if she decided to be the first. She felt a smile curl onto her maw. Oh how lovely it would be to throw them for a loop such as that! Haha! She gave a half shrug at Hadassah, and grinned, showing white fangs. "I'm exaggerating of course, I'm quite certain there are some males who would respect my personal space...But still." she gave a laugh as an end to her answer. It just...hadn't interested her this year. "Glad to know there will be friends amongst the spectators." she hummed. "Lex and I haven't been to a hatching for many years, have we?" she asked her rider, hoping that she would get him back into the conversation. "No." he stated in his flat tones. "We haven't been about during the Winters." He glanced over at Halcyon as she came trotting back over to him, apparently tired from her romping in the river. She pulled her large and lithe body onto his lap with a low grating chitter. He just managed to pull his arms and book out of the way when she suddenly just flopped like a great fish and let out a rumble. Luckily in the matter of most gargoyles, she was surprisingly light, and wasn't likely to crush his legs any time soon. He still let out a huff and braced his arms on her back. "But perhaps in the years to come..." he finished. Vega leaned forwards, intrigued and looked down at Zahra. "Oh so you draw more than maps?" she asked curiously. "I'd love to see your works sometime if you'd let me. Or any drawings you did of the dragons that were born this year or the next." She wasn't lying either when she said she was interested. Dragons could often create arts and the like with their powers and abilities, but more often then not, they were fleeting things that didn't last very long. Humans created such interesting things, weapons, arts, drawings, books, masterpieces. It was all so intriguing, and she always loved to see more of it. ((Now THIS feels like a derp post.)) |
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7:41 AM Jul 11