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The Road Less Traveled By; Nepthys Emissary Plot
Topic Started: Sep 23 2013, 02:32 PM (548 Views)
Nimirra
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Meathods of Madness
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A month now the scroll of parchment had been hung in the Academy’s main hall, its carefully and cordially inked message soaked into the skin’s stretched ivory. The black, curling letters had been artfully strung together with scrupulous care and concise calibration word after word, etched by quill-point with a steady hand, leaving the letters’ edges crisply legible. Underwhelming though its form may be, the weight of words served as a beacon of convicted hope, a heralding cry with silent beseeching for assistance in an undertaking like no other the Academy had ever seen.

Over a year had passed since the fearful whispers of war-weary dragons and riders had swathed the hatchery’s sands, circling like wolves around the Disruption egg that had been laid upon them by the crimson Sonic matron. Suspicion and anxiety ran rampant, a malicious plague veiling the expectant parents and spectator alike when the fateful moment of its splintering shell, yet no threat was offered from the young female other than a sharp-tongued rebuke for any who snuffed their distrustful nose too near. Throughout their lessons, eyes followed her doggedly, expecting her to turn like a rabid dog entwined with her Tainted breed’s roots despite the solid sphere of a crystal embedded over her heart without so much as a hairline fracture in its surface. Yet against all expectations, here they stood, at the city’s edge peering towards the rainforest’s edge as peacefully as any passing party. No more turncoat or hazardous than the next Sekkaian-born dragon, no sudden shift into bloodthirsty malevolence. The snow-crowned shaman had bided his time well, patiently tolerating the dismay at his soul-bound dragoness standing at his side, until the time to seize a new day had come within his spirit-guided dreams. And so his call for camaraderie had been scrawled in obsidian ink, imploring those who saw Nephthys as an equal to stand beside rather than a predetermined convict that was better off kept under mindful monitoring.

It was time to challenge the Empire’s status quo, to shake the foundations of integrity until they shed the predisposed segregation and harbored fear from merely the shell worn rather than the wearer’s untarnished qualities.

Russet eyes turned skywards, breeching the dew-laden forest edge in favor of the dawn painted horizon. A canvas of blended lavender, fuchsia, and citrine rimmed with a golden seam without a cloud to deter from the prismatic majesty of morning’s first light. The sun still hid behind the landscape’s curtain, illuminating the heavens in a softly shifting array of delicate hues. The river mirrored the skies’ colors with its whispering waves, bleeding together the tones like droplets of watercolor allowed to flow down paper’s surface while the three moon faces looked on with fading completions in the wake of daybreak. No figure yet disturbed the skies as far as Amoux’s keen vision could comprehend, no early comer had sought to scout the skyline ahead of his stated assembly time of sunrise, when the vibrant star settled its full figure along the horizon line.

Nephthys shifted her weight restlessly, her dark plates grating as they slid with her sinew to remain properly aligned along her spine. Silver-dusted edges clattered together as she resettled on her muscled haunches, leathery quartet of wings pulled close to her frame and arranged neatly despite the stockier frame she bore. Curved, elongated talons dug into the rich earth, tearing rends in the ground before her calloused palm would smooth the indentions over once again in compulsive repetition. The deceptive silence of the morning pressed against her, sculpting the world in a way only another Disruption would understand. The lilting tropical songbirds singing their greeting to the rising sun far in the distance, the gentle muttering of the stream curving by Lihn, the beating of her own heart along the softer compilation of her chosen’s beside her. The outskirts of Lihn breathed with subtle sounds of life, yet a frown had started to tug at the corners of her mouth.

“I don’t hear anything.” Nephthys stated brusquely, but the caustic coating she’d tried to apply to her words felt too thin, too forced. Disappointment lurked beneath the bitter overture, watered her acidity down enough that, even without their emotional bond, Amoux could sense the disheartened flavor souring her speech. Carefully, the young rider pressed his hand against the top of her paw, the gesture alone offering reassurance, his confidence that their proposed emissary venture would be seen through, that their summons for those that would share their cause to come forward. The sun was merely halfway perched on the horizon, there was still sand left to spill from the top of the hour glass yet.

“Don’t worry,” Amoux soothed softly, “they’ll come.”




OOC
((Entrance time! For those that have been signed up for this plot, herd your characters in whatever manner you see fit to Amoux and Nephthys’ location. They’re sitting well outside the outer ring of Lihn, close to the river bank on a stretch of open land which the message your characters (ideally) would’ve read to lead them there.))
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Zinc
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“Merla!” a soft voice hissed in the depths of the early morning light that filtered into the Celestial pair’s room. “Merlaaaa.” The voice came again, drawing out the syllables at the end of the dark-haired girl’s name as she turned over in her sleep, groggily coming to. A large, out of focus muzzle hovered over her. “Merla, Mine!” Zodiac’s voice, though a whisper for a Celestial was still quite loud in its proximity. “It’s time to get up, we have places to be.” He seemed anxious, his crest flitting up and down upon his neck and his eyes shifting here and there around their room, looking towards their balcony where he would normally take off from. The girl sat up and ran a hand blearily across her face. “Mmngh?” she said indecipherably.

Zodiac seemed to give pause. “What?” he asked, blinking his silver eyes a moment. “Zodiac,” Merla tried again, squinting at him, he seemed to refract the light of the morning with his own bright scales and his dimly illuminated sigils. “What are you fussing about?” she asked patiently, pushing herself the last of the way upright on her bed and looping an arm around her slightly tucked knees to help anchor herself from the tempting confines of her mattress. Zodiac, relieved that he had her attention, leaned forward and in a rushed flurry of words said “Nepthys and Amoux, remember?” he asked, gritting his teeth in another anxious expression. “Their note asked everyone to meet them earlier this morning!” Merla’s mind suddenly cleared of addling fog as she looked sharply at Zodiac. “What?” she asked, mirroring her dragon’s earlier query.

“Morning's here and it going fast. You slept late!” He said, sounding sad, a little put out. With a flurry of blankets, Merla had kicked out of her bed, pushing her way past Zodiac’s hovering, large skull and towards her wardrobe, where she hurriedly donned the proper gear for a flight. Though summer was well into swing, the warm air was chilly the higher up one flew, and she would feel better with something that protected her from the worst of the buffeting wind. Along with soft long sleeved shirt she buckled a light leather vest, made of sturdy pieces that had been oiled and inscribed with familiar and comforting symbols. Such was a precious gift from her father when she had visited her family weeks ago. Her recounts of her time with Zodiac within the Academy had been relayed to the stoic man through the letters that she had sent to her mother. Though she had spent companionable amounts of time with her mother during her stay in the small cottage, she had spent more time out in the forests with her father, tracking game and honing her skills, which she had found had dulled their edges in her time within the alabaster walls. In her absence, Zodiac had found conversation with her mother, and the harassment of not one, but two ravens, as Hugin’s brother Munin became acquainted with Zodiac as well.

Though she had managed to scramble quickly into the proper attire, there was still the struggle of getting Zodiac’s saddle upon his back. The heavy piece of leather required outside assistance from a Fire dragoness, who was quite amused when she had stumbled upon Merla’s struggle with her dragon. Zodiac had spent the duration of the encounter staring in shock at his bonded who had unleashed a torrent of swear words he had never heard her use before when she had struggled alone with the piece of leather. The Academy was clearly not doing her any good…He shook his head at her to himself, waiting as Merla cinched the numerous buckles to secure the saddle to his chest and neck.

With a quick and practiced movement, the girl was astride her dragon, who had already begun to turn and trot towards the exit in his haste to get them to their appropriate destination. His trot quickly turned to an odd sort of undulating gallop as he attempted to work up the proper momentum to get them airborne. As a creature who was more length and lithe sleekness than he was muscle, sometimes pushing himself into the air from the ground was a difficult task. But his anxiety, shame at being late, and sheer force of will was more than enough to get him into the air this time as he gave several powerful downward strokes of his wings and was quickly aloft. He banked in the direction of Lihn, which with the current wind behind them, would take a little under an hour to reach if he pushed himself. Hugin appeared to fly in his wake, the raven having been flying somewhere about the Academy, he theorized, as he had not been present when he had awoken. Zodiac cast him a thoughtful look for a moment, wondering how well the raven would keep up, before he turned his mind to quick flight, feeling his rider settle in upon his back and into the saddle.

By the time that the sun had emerged fully from the horizon, he was in the proper location that the words of the announcement had indicated. He had rechecked this information with Merla at least three times in the past ten minutes as he circled overhead, silver eyes straining for any possible sign of where Amoux and Nepthys might be. “Circle around wider.” Merla called over the wind, and nodding once in consent, the Celestial banked wide, expanding the range at which he flew past Lihn. Both girl and Celestial were casting their eyes to the ground, but it was Zodiac who spotted the glimmer of the river first, and the dull silver dusted plates of Nepthys and her rider’s snowy hair first. “There, mine!” he said, tucking his wings and diving in their direction, eagerness spurring him forward.

“Zodiac, you’re coming in too fast!” Merla shouted to him, but her voice was snatched away by the wind. The Celestial pulled out his wings but though they snapped and caught the air painfully like parachutes, his body’s sudden jerking brought him into an awkward frontal aerial roll that sent his wings into a disarray and tangle. With a sudden very un-dignified screech for a Celestial he went crashing headfirst into the river, rider and all. He emerged moments later sputtering and coughing, his feathers pinned to his neck by the water and the droplets shimmering on his scales as he quickly dragged himself out, trying to maintain whatever semblance of dignity he had left (not much by his estimates) and coughed and hacked a few more moments, looking uneasily back at his rider. She was in just a sorry a state as he was, her long hair had luckily been braided for the flight, but strands were still plastered to her face, and the feathers she had woven into her hair were sodden and limp. It looked also like she had lost one of the raven feathers. “Uh…eheh…are you alright, Merla?” he asked meekly.

She simply gave him a cool look and he ducked his head, looking away and towards Amoux and Nepthys across the clearing. Giving his neck and body a shake, sending water droplets flying, he trotted in their direction. “Hello!” he called. “I ah…uhm…sorry, how late are we?” he asked, looking around curiously for signs of others, while on his back, Merla wrung water from her hair, but offered a calm nod of greeting to Amoux. “Is anyone else here yet?” Zodiac asked curiously, a note of unease entering his voice as he noticed the complete absence of other dragons thus far. Oh dear…this wasn’t looking so good…
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Chirpadee
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behold her lovely plumage
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The rosemary had been up long before dawn making final preparations for travel. Her many clawed feet brushed the floor in near silence as she wove around the room. She gathered another change of clothes for her rider, and for the third time checked through their medical supplies. Unlike many physicians she did not bother with large rolls of bandages as she could produce something far finer on her own, and sterile as well. As such the open space was filled with extra supplies, more teas, salves, and tonics filled the empty space. The fingers of her smallest set of hands brushed over each, memorizing their location in case of emergencies. It was always good to know your supplies.

The arachnid dragoness had been contemplative when the poster first appeared. She had known which course they would have to take from the moment it was hung and she had thought of little else since. Her rider had been less receptive. She turned a single set of eyes on the sleeping form of the firey woman. Akiko had thought that letting taint into the Academy was asking for trouble, though Anastesia knew it was out of fear not hate that drove her words. Throughout the month the placid dragoness had talked her down from the high horse on which the human always sat and showed her there was no other option.

She carefully placed her medical bag into the thick black mane that ran between her shoulders. With accustomed ease she tightened the straps with her near human digits, not needing aid in such matters as many dragons did. Their personal possessions were nestled behind those supplies and tied down as well. It would be a heavy flight, but that would not put her off to the seriousness of the task she had decided to undertake. This would not be an easy thing to do. The call asked people to fight fear and intolerance and those were very strong forces when left in the hands of the masses.

She turned and breezed over to her rider. One long forearm extended and touched the woman’s shoulder. “Akiko the time has come. We must leave or we will be late.”

The redhead grumbled and opened her bright green eyes. She had not been truly asleep for some time, just drifting somewhere in semi consciousness listening to the famillair sounds of Anastesia going about her business. She had been attempting to glean a few more precious moments rest before setting into the field. She was uncomfortable, to be completely honest. Unlike Anastesia she did not have unwavering kindness. She was a healer, but when push came to shove she would do harm if she had to. The dragoness had always been a beacon of enlightenment to Akiko, who had long struggled with her past and the morality she craved to live by.

She rolled upright and stared into the many jet black eyes of her bonded. For a moment there was wordless communication in waves of feelings and vague sensations of thought. At length Akiko felt the need to break the patient silence of her partner. She knew Ana expected it, which was why she didn’t bother to hide her feelings on the mater. “Are you sure?”

The dragoness smiled, a calm and patient look. Her antennae flicked downwards and she stepped back with boundless understanding, “Be calm my heart. We are off to do something wonderful. Just because the journey is frightening, does not mean it is not worth undertaking.” She formed a serene mudra with her small hands then one of excitement. “Please ready yourself quickly. I would like to be flying within the hour. I have already eaten and I have brought you something to eat from the kitchens to ensure you will not be hungry for our travels.” Her pedipalps rubbed together thoughtfully then she slipped out of the way and settled onto the floor to wait.

Akiko sighed and shrugged. She ate the apple and oatmeal the rosemary had been kind enough to deliver to her and brushed her wild hair, “There is no talking you out of this I know. It is the right thing to do I understand. It isn’t fair we treat them differently, but they did kill-“

Anastesia did not look back over. Her dexterous hands formed a warding mudra, “You accuse them of the actions enacted while under an influence not their own. It is like asking water to flow against the current of a mighty river. You must remember your hands are not clean either my heart.”

The girl opened her mouth to say something snappish back, but closed it again, “You are right. As usual. I know we have to do this… I need to get out of these halls anyways. If I tend one more scraped knee I will go mad. I am just worried.” She stripped out of her night clothes and yanked on the seldom used riding leathers.

“Everyone fears change, to change is to become something new. Which is frightening when you are comfortable as you are now.” Her fingers drifted into a contemplative mudra. “I think you will like the peace you feel when you shed the guilt of your own transgressions by accepting theirs for the mistakes they were.”

Akiko heaved a sigh and laced her boots. Without thinking she grabbed her bo staff, a steel capped bamboo pole that was an extension of her person. She attached her own medical bag to her chest, it would be turned around once they finished their flight, and walked out the door. Anastesia rose quietly and strolled after her. The brightly colored dragoness did not change from her usual placid strides, though her golden wings fluttered from time to time in a sign Akiko knew as excitement.

They stepped into the pale light of pre-dawn to breath in the morning air. For a moment they stood still and pensive in the dimness before Akiko spoke again, “How is it you always know just what I need to hear to make the right choice.”

A smile drifted behind the bright crimson pediplaps and the dragoness turned her largest set of eyes on her chosen. “I simply say what is on my mind. Sometimes you just need another perspective to understand the truth of things. Come we must go.” Her bright wings stretched upwards from her narrow back and hummed to life, both pairs working independently so her leggy body might lift. She hovered just off the ground then navigated herself directly behind her rider. Carefully she extended her hind legs and caught her rider by the woman’s own solitary pair. Then her long forelimbs slid under her leather wrapped arms.

Akiko leaned forward until she felt the firm grip around her shoulders, and then with fluid ease Anastesia rose into the air. The woman hung beneath the dragoness, laying flat so the world shrank below her. Because of the way the insect like wings worked Ana could not carry a rider on her back, but this worked particularly well in lieu of it. They soared over the tree tops of the forest and straight for the meeting not far outside of Lihn. The pair knew the area well, which meant they had no trouble finding the rendezvous location. The humm of the rosemary’s wings filled the air before they crested the tree line and made across the open ground near the disruption pair.

Anastesia pulled wing and lowered close by. She extended her hind legs and lowered her tail with practiced skill. Akiko was shifted back upright and with a bit of gentle maneuvering Anastesia lowered her to her feet and released her gently onto the ground. The strange dragoness gave a content sigh as she was relieved of the vast majority of the weight bearing her down. While Akiko was not a particularly large individual, she was not hatched to carry great loads as many other dragons were. She dropped to the ground one set of legs at a time and set off towards their host’s with Akiko at her heel.

“Salutations Nephthis and Amoux. We come to join you in your cause.” Her hands formed a mudra of greeting then one of welcoming, flowing fluidly from one to the other. “It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Anastesia and this is my rider Akiko.” She motioned politely to the redhead beside her with one of her long arms as to not break the gentle mudra. “I see we are only the second to arrive.”

She spun to the celestial, feeling particularly small by comparison she bowed her head low. “Greetings Celestial and your fine rider. I am afraid I do not know you. I remember you from the hatching, but I am afraid I have no knowledge of your names.”

Akiko gave a nod of her head and leaned heavier on her bo staff. Her eyes flicked over the disruption thoughtfully her mind still afire with the words of her dragon. She knew this was the right choice, even if it was frightening. It was a time for change and she would stand with the correct side. She felt awkward not doing any talking, but it was for the better. She had a bad habit of offending people without intending to. So she let her dragon handle the pleasantries, there would be time enough for talking when they got moving.
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Nherva
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There had been a time when she, a simple girl from a simple background, had been oppressed by the customs of her own people. She had been looked down upon and ridiculed for trying to step outside of the norms which were expected of her. Even when she obliged her elders with feminine interests such as sewing and baking, they were horrified and appalled when she also wanted to accompany her brothers hunting. It had all come to a horrible climax when she refused to marry the first acceptable man they brought to her. Perhaps if she had seen less in her future she might have been swayed, but there was more for Ahnu than children, crops, and dirty dishes. There had to be.

It was what had forced her to take drastic and potentially stupid measures to get herself out. To avoid being forced into something she couldn’t consent to and the resulting abuse when she did not comply, she had to flee. She had taken control of her situation and gotten out. It hadn’t been easy, but four years later, it was reason for her to see the parchment on the wall penned by Amoux and Nephthys and feel compelled to join in their cause. She had been there, all the ex-tainted were there now. She had needed help to completely alter her life, and if they needed help as well, she would help them. And Fathom would do whatever his rider believed strongly in.

“Fathom! Stop that!” Ahnu kicked him lightly on the shoulder and the Water started, twitching as though he’d been shocked by a pulse of electricity.

“What? Hrm? Why…oh…,” the Water blinked his sleep bleary eyes and shook his head. Yawning hugely, he looked back at his rider as she finished buckling his harness. “Sorry Ahnu, I’m just so sleepy. I don’t like early mornings…”

“I told you to go to sleep early last night because we had an early morning this morning. You know we’re going to be gone for awhile too. I did warn you.”

“I know…,” Fathom sighed heavily, his frills drooping, “I am going to miss my pool.”

“You’ll be back to it soon enough, and hopefully we’ll be able to improve the lives of hundreds of dragons by following Nephthys and Amoux to help them. Maybe one day they’ll have comfy pools too,” Ahnu had moved away from her dragon to squeeze herself into the special wet-suit that would allow her to ride Fathom through water and sky without too much discomfort of chill or soggy-ness. Fortunately it was summer and it would be warm regardless, but anywhere there was water, Fathom would want to swim. He preferred not to fly if he could help it thanks to the awkward way his wings worked in the air.

Once she was dressed, Ahnu checked all the water-tight bags and implements on Fathom’s harness to make sure they were all sealed to protect her belongings. Ahnu mounted and pulled her goggles over her eyes. “I imagine you’ll be swimming up the river rather than flying yes?” She asked and Fathom bobbed his silvery head once.

“Of course. I’m so tired I might fall out of the sky if I try to fly all the way,” he laughed. He would wake up in some time once he got out of his quarters and got moving, but for now he sluggishly carried his thick, muscular coils out on his short, stocky legs and threw himself off the ledge with finned wings spread wide. The thermals weren’t quite up yet, which didn’t help, but Ahnu held on as her Water found his pacing and undulated through the air toward the shimmering river in the distance.

Fathom splashed into the water with a feeling of intense relief washing through their bond. The buoyancy of the water for his bulk was much kinder than the gravity-wrought air. Ahnu had learned to plan ahead with her rubbery wetsuit, but every single time her dragon immersed himself, she was thankful she’d crafted the piece in the first place. It hadn’t been an easy task, but she sought sources of better knowledge on the subject and used her own expertise to craft a suit that would keep her fairly warm and dry no matter where Fathom decided to splash into. Fortunately this time there wasn’t too much splashing considering the winding river flowed downstream all the way to Lihn where they had been informed they’d be meeting Amoux and Nephthys.

They arrived to see the glorious golden bulk of Zodiac first. Fathom’s head was under the water, so he didn’t see him until after Ahnu noticed he seemed to have been in the water himself given the state of his feathers. Wondering why briefly, the Water rider sat up straight on her saddle—which was made for her to lie down and forward to reduce drag under the water and in the air if need be—and waved at the small group forming around the Disruption. Fathom’s head rose from the water and he blinked his teal eyes at the three so far gathered. “Morning ladies and gents!” He greeted warmly, much more awake than he had been earlier. “This the right place?” He asked, as a way of breaking the ice, but his rider sighed and covered her face with her palm.

“Of course it’s the right place you nitwit, Nephthys and Amoux are right there,” she told him. “Apologies if we’re late.” She added as Fathom swam up to the shore, but made no further move to exit the river.

“Hi Zodiac! Did it rain on you?” Fathom trilled innocently, the fact that he might have crash landed in the water breezing over his train of thought entirely—because no Celestial could possibly be that ungraceful in his mind. He turned then to Nephthys and Anastesia, “Hello Nephthys, you look well. And…I am sorry but I do not know you,” he lowered his head to the small insectoid Rosemary. He’d never met her before, and though her breed wasn’t exactly noteworthy, he felt bad that he didn’t know her personally. “I am Fathom,” he introduced himself kindly.
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Silverfeather
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Preparing for a trip took lots of planning. The moment the paper had been posted, Arina had read it and reread it and discussed it at length with Karst. They had to do something out there in the world and while Arina didn’t feel confident or strong enough to join a wing, she wanted to feel useful. Besides, outside of the horrid temple trek where she was paired together with some very dangerous and seemingly evil tainted people, there were others that weren’t that way. Like Nephthys or the few ex-tainted that were allowed back at the academy. She hadn’t met them all, but if they wanted to redeem themselves somehow, and the academy accepted them back, healing their crystal(s) then why all the prejudice?

Karst, for all the temple adventure wasn’t one he wanted to experience again, was all for going. “Think about it” He said. “Think of all the things we could learn. Things we could climb. Have you seen the desert? Is it really just sand? How big are the mountains? How far up can we get up them?”

“Karst, I don’t think we’ll be going all the way up the mountains.”

“I know, but we could look at them. And then when we return, we can set off again. Though this time, we’ll have more knowledge of the land.”

Of course, now that she was a fully graduated dragon-rider what use would it be to talk to her parents or uncle? They would just tell her that it was her decision. She was, for all intents and purposes, an adult. Able to make her own decisions. Of course that had stopped her from visiting her uncle. Karst had wanted to meet him and while it was on her mind they had made the trip down to his home on the outskirts of Lihn, where he had lots of room to raise his birds. Karst was eager to meet him and the introductions had gone well. They had gotten along, and her uncle didn’t mind the countless questions that Karst could come up with. Eventually Karst had gotten enough information and Rishi was happy with a change of scenery.

But when she had talked with her Uncle about it, His advice was to do what she thought was right. That it would be difficult and there would be much hardship. Even through dinner, she didn’t know what she wanted to do.

That had been at the beginning of the month, when the note had been first placed up. By the middle of the month, Arina had finally made up her mind. With her head held high she went around and began the preparation for a long travel. Supplies, good clothing for winter, for summer. A good sturdy saddle, with large packs to carry things in. Extra rations and water carriers. Everything she could need and then doubled. She wasn’t going to become unprepared. She even went around and asked advice from some of the older dragon riders, and finally she had managed to gather what she needed. Karst had helped as best as he could, but occasionally the large Earth would get distracted trying to figure out everything that he stumbled upon.

Finally, after everything had been gathered, and planned for the Earth rider set about to wait. Arina didn’t know how she felt about waiting.

Or how she felt about when the day finally came.

Curled up on her bed, which was much larger than the bed that she had in her wyrmling barracks, the small Earth rider was tucked underneath the soft satin sheets that had been a gift from her parents. In fact, everything that now decorated her apartment had been from her parents. The vases full of flowers, curtains, rugs, the furniture. Of course, she had much input with design and colors. Warm earth colors, Blues, greens, yellows, all mixing and giving life to the apartment. Too bad that she was going to be gone for a very long time.

Ignoring the sudden bright light, Arina buried her face into the soft pillow. At least the pillows were now softer than the ones that they were given.

“Arina,”

The smooth rumble of her dragon swirled into the room. Arina just kept her head buried in her pillows.

“Arina, come on. It is time for us to go! Our adventure awaits and who knows what we’ll find!” Karst breathed in again.

Sitting up, Arina stretched, her shirt falling back down from where it had ridden up in the night. Blinking sleepily at Karsts face as he tried to peer into her room, she rubbed at her eyes. “What?”

“It is time for us to go!” Karst reiterated at her. Karst was far too big to fit in her personal bedroom, and was confined to the rest of the room, which suited Arina just fine. Karst however was rather not liking the sudden wall that separated them.

Throwing the covers off, Arina darted out of the room and stood in the middle of her living looking up at the rising sun. Oh good. They weren’t going to be too terribly late. It was still early morning. That didn’t mean that Arina wanted to be extremely late. “Come on Karst, we can catch a bite to eat while we finish packing.”

She returned to her room, feeling odd not having a roommate anymore (Karst not included), and opened her closet. It was nice to have bigger closet space and she used it to her advantage. Though with her upcoming departure her closet was mostly bare. The only thing left hanging were fancy formal apparel that wouldn’t do her any good on the road. She had picked select few fancy wear just in case, but most of her outfits were for traveling and long days on the road. She found the outfit that she had left hanging and laid it out on the bed.

Nice brown trousers, a short sleeve creamy tan shirt with some beads sewn around the collar. The pants had some leafy designs on the leg bottoms that reached her knee, but the material was durable despite the decorations. Simple riding boots accompanied the outfit. Her crystal slid underneath her shirt as she finished by sliding her belt, Broken Slyph, around. She had gotten it cleaned and polished, but didn’t allow anyone to do any repairs or changes to the belt. It was a magical item, and she didn’t want to lose the small ability that it had. She feared that it would come in handy, but she hoped she wouldn’t have to use it.

With that finished, she brushed her hair and together they exited their room and headed towards the banquet hall. Arina made sure to eat enough to hold her till lunch but pocketed snacks and things, for she didn’t know when, after everyone had gathered, they would have lunch.

It took a while, but eventually Karst and Arina managed to get the saddle and saddle bags set and properly secured. A passing dragon pair had offered to help after they made note of all the items that needed to be secured. After making sure that she herself was properly secured in the saddle, Karst wriggled and finally with much confidence in his stride they began their trek.

The pace wasn’t too fast, nor was it too slow. The slow, yet smooth rocking motion of her dragon relaxed her, yet she kept her eyes peeled. Still even a bit jumpy from the temple ordeal, she couldn’t help but watch the sky, the ground for anything that screamed booby trap or had large giant tentacles popping out of them randomly. However the trip to the meeting spot was rather uneventful and the two would randomly converse about things that would come to the Earth’s mind.

Eventually, Arina’s attention was caught by a small gathering around a dragon pair. They had been walking for hours, it seemed like, and Arina was quick to note that she wasn’t the first one to arrive. That suited her just fine, rather. There were only two that Arina was quick to recognize. The celestial rider and her former class mate, and of course, Amoux and Nepthys. The other two did not look familiar but one looked sort of familiar like she had seen her around in the infirmary before. A healer coming along would be good. Karst picked up the pace, glad to see everyone. At least they would have good company.

“Look! There are already people here. Come let us go say hi.” Karst was always up for making new friends, he was bold and confident enough to do so. Arina however was the complete opposite. She was timid and shy. She reached out to pet Rishi's soft feather's as the approached

Noting that most of the people had flown in, Arina wondered if they would be able to keep up. Karst couldn’t fly, and his gliding was only best if he leapt off of something high. Perhaps that wouldn’t be a problem. He had kept up well in the training lessons when learning how to work in a wing. They approached the group. Karst was smiling.

“Greetings!” He replied, Nodding to everyone there. “Hello Nepthys and Amoux! We would be honored to accompany you on your journey.” Karst wiggled.

Karst settled down. “I don’t know everyone here properly. I am Karst. It’s a pleasure to meet you all.”

Having introduced himself, Karst bit back all the questions that plagued him. He so desperately wanted to ask and get all the answers, but surely they would have the answers shortly enough without him asking. Arina moved and slid off Karst expertly before landing on the ground beside him. They didn’t look to be taking off anytime soon, and even then, she could scramble back up Karst in an instant.

“Greetings Amoux, Nepthys.” She nodded to the pair, trying to keep eye contact, but eventually her eyes slid back over the ground. Even though she had made the decision to accompany them, She still couldn’t help but feel very timid and overwhelmed by everyone. She would warm up though, once she got to know everyone better.
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Pandemic
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“Noka, it is time,” The deep thrum of Tonare’s voice filled the room as she peered at him. Her yellow eyes stared at him as if any moment he would spark a flame if she had the power to do that since she had been watching him for hours, biding time thinking to herself until she had to wake him. This was important to her because Nephthys was her only daughter and their relations were already strained. Noka might not have understood her drive to help but Tonare felt guilt for what happened with Nephthys so she wanted to aid her daughter in the only way she knew how. While aiding anything other than herself was more than she normally did, she believed that this would be a gesture that Nephthys would understand in her own way hopefully. This was a stretch in attempts to mend the sordid past of the Sonic and her only daughter. Tonare took pride in herself and with as full of herself as she was, there was still that part of her that wished for closure or perhaps just a better relationship with her Disruption offspring after the apparent burden she had heaped upon her by just allowing her to be born.

Stirring for a moment as he opened and closed his mouth groggily, Noka groaned as Tonare’s thrumming got louder vibrating his body where he laid. “Come on Tonare, I’m up, I’m up!” He grunted unhappily as he sat up pulling his blanket up to rub against the side of his face as he leaned forward trying to see if he could just fall back to sleep where Tonare might not notice.

“Time is wasting, it is already morning. Nephthys waits and we need to go stand with her,” Tonare retorted, getting rather annoyed that Noka was wasting precious time with his antics. Her yellow eyes narrowed as she glared at him when he peered over his blankets.

“What’s the big deal anyway? You’ve never been so adamant about anything that doesn’t involve you directly,” Noka remarked as he stretched before standing up. A yawn caught him off guard and forced him a little off balance as he shook his head trying to wake himself up.

“Nephthys is mine and she has requested for others to be there to help like you said when you found the message. Today is the day we go,” Tonare cut herself off there, quick and concise was all that she was going to offer Noka until he got moving or until her patience wore thin.

“Fine fine, I’m not going to argue,” Noka said holding his hands up as he backed away. He hadn’t seen Tonare passionate about something in a long time so he was going to go out on a limb here and just trust her decision. “I’m assuming this is the reason you wore my knuckles and hands to the bone yesterday shining every scale on you,” Noka replied with a smartass grin on his face while he pulled his shirt over his shoulders to button it. “Trying to impress and whatever else you want to do,” He grumbled as he shoved his legs into his pants and directly into his boots, scooting across the floor to make sure they were on securely.

“Nephthys thought I hurt her when I was trying to do my best to care for her. She was angry with me, thought me ill-equipped for motherhood. Perhaps she is right but I am going to do right by her. She wants others there who think of her as equal. She is my blood and part of me so it is my concern,” Tonare responded genuinely. The hum of her voice lulling but Noka could discern the notes of despair and sadness. Her hum spoke volumes of her mood and this particular pitch seemed somber. It made Noka realize that he needed to do this for his Sonic, if anything just for support.

Once completely dressed, Noka busied himself quickly checking the bags he had packed up the previous night for their journey. He had thought about trying to talk her out of it but Tonare seemed to present a convincing argument at least for him. “Guess we need to get going then,” Noka said as he glanced up at his Sonic.

The thermals weren’t quite their strongest yet but Tonare was determined when she took to the air. She wasn’t going to concern herself with the fatigue that might have come from flying since for the most part she was able to glide effortlessly through the air with nothing more than a peaceful constant whistle to herald her presence. Lihn would not take her long to get to since she was on a mission. This wasn’t just about signing up to help another; this was about offering assistance to her daughter, a relationship crippled from the very beginning.

Arriving, Tonare landed amidst the gathering others drawing her dark wings to her side as she glanced around. Seeing Nephthys, she ignored the others giving no more than a huff to acknowledge them as she directed her attentions on her focal point. “Hello daughter, I’ve come to accompany you,” Tonare stated firmly as if she were high on herself expecting her daughter to be overly thrilled to have her there despite the reality that was probably going to happen.

Noka on the other hand glanced around with a shit eating grin on his face as he threw up his hand. “Hey all, just coming to help and stuff. Don’t mind me, unless you want to talk which is fine. I’m going to stop talking now,” Noka rambled for a moment out of simple nervousness being around others he hadn’t been familiar with but composed himself quite gracefully towards the end.
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CloakAndDagger
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THE DUNGEON MASTER
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White sails in a sea of tidal bodies, pages hanging in the main hall were set fluttering by the breath of thousands. Advertisements, chores, and work registration dominated the parchment ships moored on the stonework of the wall. It was life in words, but it was someone elses life. Among the vacant sheets, a scroll of no great size or value hung steady in the hot break of dragon and man. A glancing eye only saw an unnecessary asking for uprooting at best, but for those who read it through and had the mind to realize what it was, it became an adventure promised by ink and worded by delicate thoughtfulness.

The boy, poised like a standing pillar in the two and fro waves of traffic, reached out to take the paper by hand and rub his hand over the words. To him, it was a beaconing spirit in white. It could not merely be passed. And, by the name at the bottom, it could not merely be forgotten. It’s need and sentiment struck deep within him. Though he set it back up and stepped away, he saw more than just pulp and words there. It was a bare, outstretched hand drawn in ink and hope, and it gave him no choice, not that he nessisarily would have wanted one.

He and Zhen had been quiet roommates to the equally quiet Amoux and Nephthys through their time in wyrmling lessons. While the initial pairing, especially after serendipitously meeting the snow haired teen in Lihn, was a surprise by all accounts; however, it ended up being the best possible association for either the bonded boy or his ice partner. They had grown together and slept in the same room like kin. They worked and learned together over the several months of their schooling. In that time, the closed off wintery child had been forced to reassess her attitude towards the young disruption and, by association, the rest of her peers. And the boy, though feeling more comfortable as a shadow rather than a person, was forced to step into the light to show both his flaws and his strengths. It had been hard for both of them at the beginning, but, the debt to the other pair felt so deeply ingrained at the end that there was no question as to how to respond to this scroll. Raith and Zhen had come to trust Amoux and Nepththys completely.

The words unspoken in silences could have written many books in the time they had all come home to the same place, but,now, after they had all graduated, the silence between half closed doors was unused and unnoticed. Everyone had been so busy. The ice pair hadn’t even had the time to apply to a wing yet, though, there would likely be more luck when Zhen had finished growing and had reached maturity. The idea of belonging to a wing organization was first mark on the ice child’s list of goals. It would be her lord’s first step towards the high position he deserved. The throne would come later. Raith had subtly suggested that things would only happen if they meant to happen and that high military rank was not necessary for their happiness.
Zhen had other opinions and could barely stand to see her bonded in such a base position.

The news he brought home after seeing the scroll brought a strange light to Lithia’s daughter. Her eyes rested on him warmly, but, thinly veiled the churning machinations behind. This is not what she had planned and it may add years to their rise upwards. It was an option she had not prepared for, but, the debt was deep in her too. They were friend. There was no other thing but to follow them into the unknown. As the realization set upon her, the hesitation in her chest was lost and became overcome with a feeling of deep appreciation for her rider. Nobility and honor were as breathing to him, she told herself. Yes. Surely his heart had been tested by fire and trials more than any man should stand… yet, he still proceeds. She was humbled by him and again felt warmed by his presence. “Of course, Wángyé, at once.” She nodded in deference while he stood, still awkward in her approach toward him.

The northern boy had no family or elders to consult. He had no tutors. He had but helpful suggestions and a wealth of library knowledge to prepare him, them, for what lay beyond the boundaries of what they knew. Both halves of the pair wasted no time researching the whole of the country as well as recent history and more training on living off the land. A great many things began to worry Raith, as he realized the terrain and the climate of where they may be going, but it was not enough to make him doubt his duty. The disruption pair was practically family. In the end though, the packing was easy enough. There were few items to either of their names and things like enormous plush beds with great satiny pillows would just have to be left behind. They did, however, have the mind to acquire more survival oriented items and, thankfully for Zhen, a saddle better suited for long travel. She excited herself over the idea of really, truly serving as his chariot for a long campaign. She was born for this.

Morning of the opening day didn’t so much arrive in a flurry as it did a nod and a careful inspection. Outside their housing, the ice rider situated his things in the bundled saddlebags and rechecked everything for a third time, to make sure he wasn’t missing anything. Anxiously, he pressed the folds from his tunic while the summer sun winked up from her lazy horizon. “You are sure these are not uncomfortable for you?” He was concerned as he pulled the straps as tight as he was comfortable with on her. “Yes, Wángyé, everything is fine. We are ready.” She dare not tell him that his fussing was going to make them late. That would be improper to her lord. He would arrive on his time. It was more important than theirs anyhow. Nodding for the last uncountable time that morning, he found another moment to press the non-existant folds out again and pulled his gauntlets on tight. Metier and Pyrrhic were warm in the light. Their upper gems gleamed. “I hope they won’t leave without us… I should have sent word.” Lamenting, he pulled himself into her saddle and the over sixty feet of dragon rose up with the grace of a breath.

As a single shape, they cast themselves off into the air and followed the skyward route to Lihn’s outer wall.

After his first time flying, Raith had taken every moment aloft in gratitude. It was such an elegant, exhilarating way to move. The air was crisp and clean that morning, especially towards the upper reaches where both of them were more comfortable. Most times, he envied his partner’s born abilities for flight, but, he could not deny that being a passenger was nearly just as beautiful.

The great walled city rose up like a flower opening. In the morning light, each tier of it’s structure seemed to be awash in a color all it’s own and it rose in splendor like a mountain of marble. With a quiet wing, the dragoness slickly arched around it’s growing shape and lowered herself down to follow the curve of it’s area. Her eagle eyes quickly scouted over the opening terrain and, as they rounded the farther side of the city, a familiar shape made itself apparent by the long stretch of river. Angling herself, Zhen slid down and backwinged to land nearby. Crystaline water particulates shimmered in the air around her wings as she settled and folded them to her sides.

A few long paces took the pair toward the gathering, but, what they found there was not quite what they had expected. In, presumably, a great crash, the enormous form of a celestial had careened down into the river and, afterwards, appeared to have been met by the length of a placidly swimming water. The strange rosemary and her rider seemed well enough, though, and Raith was immediately glad for someone with them that knew medical at a professional level. Though, in honesty with himself, he was a bit unnerved as to her particular arachnid shape. He was sure she was competent and kind, however. It wasn’t his place to judge. Other than that, the gigantic earth seemed the last to have joined before them. His rider was hard to pick out against the enormous mass of scales and wings, but, it wasn’t long before she seemed to want to descend back down near eye level.

Before the ice pair took themselves up to officially join, a new partnership appeared from the air to touch down in front of the crowd. Zhen, having kept her eyes keen and her mouth shut up until then, was taken aback to see the disruptions mother among those carrying this plan. The young ice could not help but feel an irritated rattling in her bones on Nephthys’s behalf. She clicked her beak and pinched the edges of her mouth.

Zhen came forward after the sonic and presented herself, but, by the way she held her rider, she seemed more poised to present him as the more important of the two. She nearly heralded him and carried a sense of duty. Both of them, though, smiled to see Amoux and his partner. “Greetings to all of you.” She commanded her voice well. “I present Raith, my partner. I am Zhèngyì, daughter of Lithia.” Despite her kind look to the disruption pair, her opening was formal and a bit chilly.

“Amoux, Nephthys, it is good to see you. I hope I find you both well.” His voice had a formality to it aswell, but, it was quieter than his partner’s. “If you allow it, we would be honored to accompany you and join everyone in your endeavor.”

It was less difficult to leave everything a second time, especially since he would always call this place home.
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Foxikoosh
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"RISE AND SHINE LAZY DAISY!" Llachar bugled, right next to Katare's ear. With a muffled, confused yelp, his rider flailed and dumped herself on the ground, where she had a brief argument with the sheets she'd brought with her before giving up.

"I'm going to kill you," she informed her dragon sleepily as he put his nose down next to her and gently helped her disentangle herself from her sheets. "Why, for the love of the gods of sand and sun, was what necessary?" Llachar stood steadily as she hauled herself up by grabbing one of his horns.

"We 'ave to meet Nepthys and Llachar, right?" he asked. "Did you forget?" He peered at his rider as she regarded him sleepily and then yawned cavernously. "You did forget." She shrugged a shoulder, and then nodded, sort of.

"I didn't forget, I just didn't realize that was today. Why is it so /early/?" she whined, and Llachar headbutted her shoulder helpfully until she got up and went to the closet. By the time she'd dressed, and packed, they were running hopelessly late, and Llachar was prancing around their small shared quarters in his best impression of an over-excited puppy. "Would you stop? You're not a child," Katare finally said severely, and Llachar sat like a perfect gentleman for about twenty seconds before he started getting twitchy. Katare quelled him with a look and then sighed.

"Alright, let's go," she said, and heaved Llachar's saddle over his shoulders, settling the straps and her pack with the familiarity of having done it many times. She was almost too big to ride Llachar, but he'd figured it out, and as long as she kept still, he could manage some pretty handy acrobatics. Of course, if she took it into her head to lean off to the side for any reason, she could pretty well knock him so off balance that he'd barrel roll. Sometimes she did it just for fun...

Once she was seated, Llachar took a long run at the edge of their apartment and flung himself, with a massive heave of his hindquarters, out into the open air, wings already open and churning the air. Kat, for whom this part of flying (this and landing) was still nerve-wracking, held her breath and stayed low on his shoulders until he gained altitude and levelled out, wingbeats only fast enough to hold him in the air. "It's a right blessing you're not one of those tall, lanky lasses," Llachar laughed back at her when he'd caught his breath, and Katare grinned.

They eventually reached their destination-- showing up later than everyone, and with Llachar probably more out of breath than some of his bigger cousins-- and Llachar swooped toward the ground. "Merla and Zodiac are here!" he said happily, angling himself to land next to his friend. He touched down lightly and Katare hopped to the ground, looking askance at Merla.

"Merla, did you go swimming?" she asked, smiling, as Llachar stood briefly on his hind legs to say hello to Zodiac. Then he wandered over toward Nephthys and Amoux, nodding hellos to everyone as he went. He stopped near the Disruption and her rider. "Hiya, lassie," he said, and Katare rolled her eyes at the term of endearment. So far he'd never called anyone else 'lass', not like he did her, but he dispensed freely with 'lassie' when he thought he was being charming.

"Llachar, would you act serious? Just once? I'm sorry for him. I don't know what he ate before he woke me up but I'm sure it was full of sugar," she said to both rider and dragon. Llachar just gave her an even look. "So!" he said, "We are to have an adventure, yeah?" he asked, and Katare gently put her face in her hand, shaking her head gently at her dragon.

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