"Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
Re: "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
Rhyn chuffed her amusement at the girl's reaction. But as Kaevad agreed to take out the bandits, but only if she and Soneya remained in the village and weren't allowed to follow him, her purring came to a sudden halt, and her paws, hanging over the man's knee, tightened. Long claws pricked through his breeches, ten points pushing into his skin sharply. Her ears flattened and she turned a glare upon the man, lips baring her fangs as she spoke. It was rough, between her accent and the differently shaped mouth. "You arrre a fffool, dragon-man." her thick tail lashed, almost a weapon unto itself as it whipped around to smack him in the back on its journey. "I do not care how powerful a dragon isss.' She hissed slightly, digging her claws slightly deeper to make her point as she stared up at Kaevad. "Even a dragon iss a fffool to ffight alone. We go together, orr you do not go." She snorted, unable to keep herself from snarling in the face of this nonsense that the man was spurting.
Re: "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
He was baffled by Soneya's outburst, even moreso at Rhyn's reaction. Hissing himself, not liking the feeling of claws digging into his thigh, and glared down at her. "I don't care to harm either of you, possibly eat you or scare you again." The last part was directed at Soneya, his point emphasized with a pointed look. Dark eyes looked back at Rhyn "Foolish as it may seem, it's easier. I wouldn't have to hold back. I can't stop you from coming and perhaps dealing with the stragglers, but I can't guarantee your safety. Now stop hitting my wings with your tail - that's not a comfortable feeling." He huffed before slipping his arms under the cat, lifting her and depositing her to the side, much to the villager's amusement.
He stood and moved to the door, slipping by quickly before shifting as he walked. He grew rapidly, scales blooming over his skin and soon he was forced on all 4's. Wings pumping, he took to the skies and soared to where he smelled the bandits. Ah. He hovered, listening to them shout. There were quite a few of them. Many, many more than what he'd already slaughtered. This would... well it would prove to be interesting. He dropped, roaring horrible vengence as fire screamed from his maw. Bandits screamed in terror and agony as the bloodbath began.
He stood and moved to the door, slipping by quickly before shifting as he walked. He grew rapidly, scales blooming over his skin and soon he was forced on all 4's. Wings pumping, he took to the skies and soared to where he smelled the bandits. Ah. He hovered, listening to them shout. There were quite a few of them. Many, many more than what he'd already slaughtered. This would... well it would prove to be interesting. He dropped, roaring horrible vengence as fire screamed from his maw. Bandits screamed in terror and agony as the bloodbath began.
Re: "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
Needless to say that Soneya returned the pointed look as best as she could but she still had to flinch. She knew she had disappointed him with her reaction but she hadn’t been able to react any differently from the way she had. What should she have done? There had been a limb on her face! Outrage was slowly starting to build up and she ignored the village woman’s laughter, focusing only on Kaevad and Rhyn’s shared anger.
What beat everything however was the fact that he simply stood up, shifted and disappeared without even giving them as much as a chance. “Oh you didn’t!” she screamed after him as she jumped up and ran outside but there was nothing to it. Kaevad was already up in the sky and quickly moving away from them.
“Now what?” She turned to Rhyn, the anger bubbling close to the surface as she contemplated their options. “You might be able to catch up to him and help, you’re quicker.” Soneya sighed as she turned back to look to where the dragon had disappeared out of view now. “No use in me even trying to catch up with his wings. But you can at least try. Sorry I can’t be of any use.” The realisation that she was once again completely useless painfully stabbed at her but she refused to cry, though her eyes were full to the brim. Somehow she managed to hold back on the waterworks and even calmed her anger, otherwise that would have let to tears as well. Calm and defeated, it was all that was left to her now. That, and waiting for the return.
What beat everything however was the fact that he simply stood up, shifted and disappeared without even giving them as much as a chance. “Oh you didn’t!” she screamed after him as she jumped up and ran outside but there was nothing to it. Kaevad was already up in the sky and quickly moving away from them.
“Now what?” She turned to Rhyn, the anger bubbling close to the surface as she contemplated their options. “You might be able to catch up to him and help, you’re quicker.” Soneya sighed as she turned back to look to where the dragon had disappeared out of view now. “No use in me even trying to catch up with his wings. But you can at least try. Sorry I can’t be of any use.” The realisation that she was once again completely useless painfully stabbed at her but she refused to cry, though her eyes were full to the brim. Somehow she managed to hold back on the waterworks and even calmed her anger, otherwise that would have let to tears as well. Calm and defeated, it was all that was left to her now. That, and waiting for the return.
Re: "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
Rhyn squawked slightly as he lifted her, disentangling her claws and dumped her off to the side. She rolled slightly, shifting into her normal, half-form, even as Kaevad stood and walked out the door. Soneya called and ran after him, and Rhyn pushed up to her feet. Her tail lashed but she was careful to keep it close so that she didn't hit anything with it. Her steps were quiet as she followed them outside, and the fur across her neck and shoulders raised in her frustration.
As the younger woman spoke of her going after Kaevad, she shook her head, ears still flat, but her fur beginning to settle. "Let him go. A fool will be a fool, no matter what help you offer." Her disdain and annoyance was plain in her voice. Turning to Soneya, Rhyn shook herself again, and sighed. "He will know our frustration when he returns. I've a mind to sink claws into him. Idiot." She snorted after the crimson blot that was the dragon.
"Come... We can explore the village, or go back inside, if you like."
As the younger woman spoke of her going after Kaevad, she shook her head, ears still flat, but her fur beginning to settle. "Let him go. A fool will be a fool, no matter what help you offer." Her disdain and annoyance was plain in her voice. Turning to Soneya, Rhyn shook herself again, and sighed. "He will know our frustration when he returns. I've a mind to sink claws into him. Idiot." She snorted after the crimson blot that was the dragon.
"Come... We can explore the village, or go back inside, if you like."
Re: "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
It was after he stepped on a bandit the he realized they hadn't followed. Good. Viciously he reached into the darkest parts of his mind, grabbed the dragon and yanked it up. You want a blood bath? Have it. But don't harm the village, there are more than enough hearts for you here. The dragon purred in agreement as Kaevad grabbed his human side and slid back just enough to not have to fully suffer. It was like being in a dream.
He watched as his maw snapped up bandit after screaming bandit, only to loose fire as the body slid down his throat. Screams of agony rang across the valley as they tried to flee. The dragon would have nothing of it, sweeping its tail to knock them back into the camp. Weapons bounced off his scales and he kept his wings aloft as he crouched to avoid his belly and softer bits showing.
More screaming as he experimented with his fireballs, pleased as he watched a building explode. Careful, there could be some treasures. Bandits don't exist without reason. The boy had a point. Stepping on those who attempted to pass, Kaevad moved through the camp, brutally killing those within his reach. Soon, the camp was littered with nothing but body parts and charred corpses. Pleased and more than sated, the dragon slumped into the back of Kaevads mind for a very long and well deserved nap. Taking over, Kaevad slipped through the camp, nosing a roof off a building. Prisoners screamed at the sight of him. He knew they were prisoners as bandits didn't keep each other in chains and rags.
"Calm yourself." He growled before looking around. "Stay put, I will be back." He moved away, quickly searching buildings for food, goods and other such things. Finding them he began to pile it all on top of a large tarp. Some food went into the prisoner home so they could eat and drink while he gathered the rest of everything. A couple hours later had 3 large tarps full of goods. From bags roughly stuffed with bishani to full carcasses of elk, deer, cows and sheep to iron tools, Kaevad had found quite a bit. Purring in pleasure at the sight, Kaevad nimbly did the bags up so that they would be easy to grab before moving to the prisoners. Few of them looked as though they'd be able to walk... He sighed.
"You won't like this." He informed them.
Within moments the sick were lying in make-shift stretchers, dangling between his claws and the few strong enough were lying across Kaevad's back as he labored to fly to the village. Blood humans were heavy! He roared his incoming, hoping to any changer that that would mean someone would come to meet him. Sure enough a couple came - Rhyn and Soneya being 2 of them.
"I will face your wrath later." He growled as he assisted people off. "For now, I need your help in getting these people looked after. I've got more coming, then the goods the bandits stole. For now, women, you're going to have to stay your wrath." He turned to look at them before very gently bumping them with his nose and taking off.
Kaevad brought another load of people before bringing back 5 tarps of goods - the ex prisoners had found more while he was away. Exhausted, he landed in the center of town and managed to sneak away as they villagers celebrated. He found a cave that was just barely big enough, just outside of the village where he curled up within. It was large enough to hide most of him, but small enough it left his tail dangling out, and his head had he not tucked it against his side. Tiredly, he drifted into a half-sleep, too tired to be fully awake, but so caught up on sleep from the previous night he couldn't sleep again for a bit at least.
He watched as his maw snapped up bandit after screaming bandit, only to loose fire as the body slid down his throat. Screams of agony rang across the valley as they tried to flee. The dragon would have nothing of it, sweeping its tail to knock them back into the camp. Weapons bounced off his scales and he kept his wings aloft as he crouched to avoid his belly and softer bits showing.
More screaming as he experimented with his fireballs, pleased as he watched a building explode. Careful, there could be some treasures. Bandits don't exist without reason. The boy had a point. Stepping on those who attempted to pass, Kaevad moved through the camp, brutally killing those within his reach. Soon, the camp was littered with nothing but body parts and charred corpses. Pleased and more than sated, the dragon slumped into the back of Kaevads mind for a very long and well deserved nap. Taking over, Kaevad slipped through the camp, nosing a roof off a building. Prisoners screamed at the sight of him. He knew they were prisoners as bandits didn't keep each other in chains and rags.
"Calm yourself." He growled before looking around. "Stay put, I will be back." He moved away, quickly searching buildings for food, goods and other such things. Finding them he began to pile it all on top of a large tarp. Some food went into the prisoner home so they could eat and drink while he gathered the rest of everything. A couple hours later had 3 large tarps full of goods. From bags roughly stuffed with bishani to full carcasses of elk, deer, cows and sheep to iron tools, Kaevad had found quite a bit. Purring in pleasure at the sight, Kaevad nimbly did the bags up so that they would be easy to grab before moving to the prisoners. Few of them looked as though they'd be able to walk... He sighed.
"You won't like this." He informed them.
Within moments the sick were lying in make-shift stretchers, dangling between his claws and the few strong enough were lying across Kaevad's back as he labored to fly to the village. Blood humans were heavy! He roared his incoming, hoping to any changer that that would mean someone would come to meet him. Sure enough a couple came - Rhyn and Soneya being 2 of them.
"I will face your wrath later." He growled as he assisted people off. "For now, I need your help in getting these people looked after. I've got more coming, then the goods the bandits stole. For now, women, you're going to have to stay your wrath." He turned to look at them before very gently bumping them with his nose and taking off.
Kaevad brought another load of people before bringing back 5 tarps of goods - the ex prisoners had found more while he was away. Exhausted, he landed in the center of town and managed to sneak away as they villagers celebrated. He found a cave that was just barely big enough, just outside of the village where he curled up within. It was large enough to hide most of him, but small enough it left his tail dangling out, and his head had he not tucked it against his side. Tiredly, he drifted into a half-sleep, too tired to be fully awake, but so caught up on sleep from the previous night he couldn't sleep again for a bit at least.
Re: "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
Soneya nodded her agreement to Rhyn’s suggestion of exploring the town a bit as she didn’t want to go back inside. Soon enough she turned away from wherever it was Kaevad had gone to and faced the assembly of cabins. “Might be better to just let him be, though I’m not sure I’m prepared to talk to him when he gets back. I hate being treated like this.” It was yet another emotion that had pushed her towards leaving Marn and here she was again, facing that exact same emotion. Sure, there wasn’t much she could have done, but she loathed being patronised in such a way.
“This may sound silly, but is this a normal set-up for a village or is there something particular about it seeing that there seem to be a lot of shifters here.” Soneya did feel somewhat stupid for asking but Shim wasn’t much of a reference and she had never had a lot of access to books or the time to indulge in reading.
The cabins were all neatly arranged however and once standing in the square in the middle thereof, Soneya almost felt protected by the way the houses were arranged all around this spot. As if it were the heart of the village, which it probably actually was. No matter how closely she looked however, she couldn’t detect anything in particular and she began to grow curious about what exactly it was that Rhyn and Kaevad had wanted to show her, apart from the magic users themselves.
Time passed fairly quickly however and soon Rhyn had Soneya distracted enough that she wasn’t glowering over the whole incident anymore, for which the girl was grateful. Of course, that changed as soon as Kaevad reappeared. They could hear his roar when he was already quite a ways away and instantly Soneya grew nervous. Maybe she had overreacted earlier, or maybe he had, she didn’t quite know but she knew that meeting now could turn somewhat unpleasant. His opening words confirmed this fear but at least they calmed her nerves. She grew irritated and cold.
Without a word, she set to helping the villagers in looking after the prisoners Kaevad had brought along. As much as she could at least. There was a bit of knowledge she had acquired in how to care for people but she was in no way as experienced in it than a lot of these people seem to be, but that way, she could at least learn something useful at the same time.
As for Kaevad, he had taken off again after he had dropped the last load, and she had no idea where he had gone to. Questioningly, she looked at Rhyn.
“This may sound silly, but is this a normal set-up for a village or is there something particular about it seeing that there seem to be a lot of shifters here.” Soneya did feel somewhat stupid for asking but Shim wasn’t much of a reference and she had never had a lot of access to books or the time to indulge in reading.
The cabins were all neatly arranged however and once standing in the square in the middle thereof, Soneya almost felt protected by the way the houses were arranged all around this spot. As if it were the heart of the village, which it probably actually was. No matter how closely she looked however, she couldn’t detect anything in particular and she began to grow curious about what exactly it was that Rhyn and Kaevad had wanted to show her, apart from the magic users themselves.
Time passed fairly quickly however and soon Rhyn had Soneya distracted enough that she wasn’t glowering over the whole incident anymore, for which the girl was grateful. Of course, that changed as soon as Kaevad reappeared. They could hear his roar when he was already quite a ways away and instantly Soneya grew nervous. Maybe she had overreacted earlier, or maybe he had, she didn’t quite know but she knew that meeting now could turn somewhat unpleasant. His opening words confirmed this fear but at least they calmed her nerves. She grew irritated and cold.
Without a word, she set to helping the villagers in looking after the prisoners Kaevad had brought along. As much as she could at least. There was a bit of knowledge she had acquired in how to care for people but she was in no way as experienced in it than a lot of these people seem to be, but that way, she could at least learn something useful at the same time.
As for Kaevad, he had taken off again after he had dropped the last load, and she had no idea where he had gone to. Questioningly, she looked at Rhyn.
Re: "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
Rhyn smiled "It is standard. It is nice to have a common space where everybody gathers. In the North, it is different. Smaller villages remain indoors because the snow is too cold. She pushed herself to be a little more talkative, to distract Soneya, and succeeded, until Kaevad's roar came.
His words to them caused a growl to come rumbling forth from her chest. Fool. She was distant, which was not unusual, but the chilliness in which she regarded the dragon was. She helped as he carried loads back to the village, and then he slipped away. Soneya looked to her a short while later, concern showing. Her own concern was beginning to rise. With a sigh, she spoke. "I will go look for him. Will you be alright? You're help will be greatly appreciated, but you can always retreat back to the cabin if you wish." Rhyn's ears were sideway, annoyance showing, but she was sure that the girl would know it was at the ridiculous shifter.
After assuring herself that Soneya would be fine, she trotted off into the woods, searching for the sulfury scent that was Kaevad as a dragon. It took circling the village several times, in wider and wider ranges before she caught a wiff of him. Even then, it was difficult. there were so many scents that she found it difficult to sort them out.
It was roughly an hour later before she had tracked down the cave in which he had squished himself into. She rose onto two legs, snarling slightly as her ears flattened and her anger came forward. her movements were all but silent, claws extended and fur ruffled. "You are a fool, Kaevad. Reckless. Idiot." She stalked closer to his crimson form, cautious but her anger made her bold.
His words to them caused a growl to come rumbling forth from her chest. Fool. She was distant, which was not unusual, but the chilliness in which she regarded the dragon was. She helped as he carried loads back to the village, and then he slipped away. Soneya looked to her a short while later, concern showing. Her own concern was beginning to rise. With a sigh, she spoke. "I will go look for him. Will you be alright? You're help will be greatly appreciated, but you can always retreat back to the cabin if you wish." Rhyn's ears were sideway, annoyance showing, but she was sure that the girl would know it was at the ridiculous shifter.
After assuring herself that Soneya would be fine, she trotted off into the woods, searching for the sulfury scent that was Kaevad as a dragon. It took circling the village several times, in wider and wider ranges before she caught a wiff of him. Even then, it was difficult. there were so many scents that she found it difficult to sort them out.
It was roughly an hour later before she had tracked down the cave in which he had squished himself into. She rose onto two legs, snarling slightly as her ears flattened and her anger came forward. her movements were all but silent, claws extended and fur ruffled. "You are a fool, Kaevad. Reckless. Idiot." She stalked closer to his crimson form, cautious but her anger made her bold.
Re: "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
He was pretty well asleep when Rhyn appeared, her words waking him. He sighed, a low sound. "A fool I may be." He rumbled. "But moreso a fool if I allowed the two people who actually cared about me to come close to a raging dragon. A golden eye opened to peer at Rhyn. "If you were feral at points, and you knew which points, would you not keep Soneya away from that? Keep her safe?" He rumbled.
He waited a moment, allowing his words to sink in. "I am feral as soon as the thought of killing cruel and evil men enters my mind. I can control it, most times... but there are times when I simply must lose control to get the job done. After how much I scared Soneya, I could not allow that again, and I cannot allow her to be left alone. I'm sorry I've irritated you and hurt her, but I'd rather that than disgusted and or wounded. I will not lose another one close to me to bandits." The last bit was a snarl, his fangs showing clearly before he calmed himself, shifting his bulk so he hid his face in his claws.
He would not let the cat see him cry.
He waited a moment, allowing his words to sink in. "I am feral as soon as the thought of killing cruel and evil men enters my mind. I can control it, most times... but there are times when I simply must lose control to get the job done. After how much I scared Soneya, I could not allow that again, and I cannot allow her to be left alone. I'm sorry I've irritated you and hurt her, but I'd rather that than disgusted and or wounded. I will not lose another one close to me to bandits." The last bit was a snarl, his fangs showing clearly before he calmed himself, shifting his bulk so he hid his face in his claws.
He would not let the cat see him cry.
Re: "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
Soneya once again nodded. “Might be best if I stay here.” She wasn’t sure what to say to Kaevad anyways and if he even wanted to see either of them. From his reaction he hadn’t seemed all too pleased to be faced with the two women again and it threw Soneya a little. At least it had decreased her anger a little and she was left feeling somewhat hollow and insecure again. How she hated emotions sometimes. And to top it off, she felt the beginnings of a headache creeping up on her again.
With more devotion than she had thought possible in the face of blood, Soneya set about helping the woman who had actually looked after herself as much as possible to care for the returned prisoners. It was tedious and exhausting work but it was immensely rewarding, and she learned a lot from it. Cleaning wounds, bandaging them, preparing a few simple salves to put on bruises and certain kinds of wounds. It was a lot to take in at the same time and she knew she would not remember all of it but at least it would come in handy, and it would definitely make her feel less useless if the need ever arose for taking care of a small wound. Major injuries would still pose a problem but she would worry about that when the time came.
Time also passed quicker than she had thought this way and it was soon already late in the afternoon before Soneya finally took a breather and sat down on the porch of the cabin at the trio’s disposal to enjoy a few rays of sunlight. She fiercely pushed any thoughts of where Rhyn and Kaevad were from her mind though. She did not want to worry again. It was better for them to take their time to sort out their differences. Kaevad and her could talk some other time.
With more devotion than she had thought possible in the face of blood, Soneya set about helping the woman who had actually looked after herself as much as possible to care for the returned prisoners. It was tedious and exhausting work but it was immensely rewarding, and she learned a lot from it. Cleaning wounds, bandaging them, preparing a few simple salves to put on bruises and certain kinds of wounds. It was a lot to take in at the same time and she knew she would not remember all of it but at least it would come in handy, and it would definitely make her feel less useless if the need ever arose for taking care of a small wound. Major injuries would still pose a problem but she would worry about that when the time came.
Time also passed quicker than she had thought this way and it was soon already late in the afternoon before Soneya finally took a breather and sat down on the porch of the cabin at the trio’s disposal to enjoy a few rays of sunlight. She fiercely pushed any thoughts of where Rhyn and Kaevad were from her mind though. She did not want to worry again. It was better for them to take their time to sort out their differences. Kaevad and her could talk some other time.
Re: "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
Her own fangs showed despite the teeth that were bigger than her forearm. "Idiot!" She stalked closer to him until she was in front of his face, hidden as it was. Her words were pronounced with careful diction. "You have brought her out here, into the world outside of the safety that her home had given her. It is your responsibility to teach her how to deal with this place, with you, with herself, or she will be lost to you because of your own idiocy. She must be able t protect herself, and you must be able to trust her to protect herself!"
Claws scraped against his scales and claws as she climbed up onto his muzzle. "You scared her? Of course you did. You took an inexperienced, sheltered young woman and dragged out into this world, and without even showing her a clue of how to protect herself, or warning her of the horrors that she may face in choosing to leave her home, to give up everything in order to follow you around like a kit!" Her voice was slightly louder, her pale eyes narrow, and her words punctuated with hisses and growls. I will take her back home myself if you continue this nonsensical practice of protecting her in such a foolish fashion. Protect her by teaching her to protect herself, to function despite her fear, to deal with this world. You care for her? Then show it by helping her grow, rather than keeping her a blind and deaf kit in the safety of the birthing cave!"
Claws scraped against his scales and claws as she climbed up onto his muzzle. "You scared her? Of course you did. You took an inexperienced, sheltered young woman and dragged out into this world, and without even showing her a clue of how to protect herself, or warning her of the horrors that she may face in choosing to leave her home, to give up everything in order to follow you around like a kit!" Her voice was slightly louder, her pale eyes narrow, and her words punctuated with hisses and growls. I will take her back home myself if you continue this nonsensical practice of protecting her in such a foolish fashion. Protect her by teaching her to protect herself, to function despite her fear, to deal with this world. You care for her? Then show it by helping her grow, rather than keeping her a blind and deaf kit in the safety of the birthing cave!"
Re: "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
She was mad, he noted as her claws threatened to dig into his scales. And she had every right to be. He slid free of the cave, raising her in the air as she was foolish enough to cling to his face. He crossed his eyes to look at her. "I may not have seen it this way, but I was only a parent once and I lost that child when I was myself before him. Can you blame me for fearing the worst?" He snorted, a small stream of fire escaping his nostrils.
"But you are also correct. This is something that must be rectified." And so he started to move, Rhyn still stuck to his face before pausing to pull her off, cradle her on his claws and take off into the air, landing shortly after before their cabin. "Next time you call a dragon a fool, remember he can eat you." He growled before setting her down. He looked at Soneya. "I want to show you something, if you've the energy." He bowed his head, claw set so she could climb onto him easily. "If not, it can wait until later."
"But you are also correct. This is something that must be rectified." And so he started to move, Rhyn still stuck to his face before pausing to pull her off, cradle her on his claws and take off into the air, landing shortly after before their cabin. "Next time you call a dragon a fool, remember he can eat you." He growled before setting her down. He looked at Soneya. "I want to show you something, if you've the energy." He bowed his head, claw set so she could climb onto him easily. "If not, it can wait until later."
Re: "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
Soneya could only imagine what was taking them so long to return but she kept trying not to think about it too much. Though no matter how hard she tried, after a while it was all she could think about. More than once was she asked if she was alright or if she needed anything but every time she just waved the people off, saying that she was fine. It wasn’t quite the truth but there was nothing any of them could do to make her feel better. She just wanted to know that Rhyn and Kaevad were fine.
However, when the dragon suddenly touched down in front of her, depositing Rhyn from out of his claws, she wasn’t quite sure she wanted to see him. She looked at him, trying to read the expression on his scaly muzzle but there was just no reading a dragon when she couldn’t quite access the eyes. Giving Rhyn a brief look, almost as if she wanted to make sure that it was safe, she still hesitated though before she finally spoke: “Alright, show me.”
It took her a while to climb up onto his back but soon enough she was seated, realising as she got into place, that her leg muscles were still protesting more than just a little at the way they needed to expand around the dragon’s neck. She didn’t say anything else though, rather wanting to see what it was Kaevad had on his mind.
However, when the dragon suddenly touched down in front of her, depositing Rhyn from out of his claws, she wasn’t quite sure she wanted to see him. She looked at him, trying to read the expression on his scaly muzzle but there was just no reading a dragon when she couldn’t quite access the eyes. Giving Rhyn a brief look, almost as if she wanted to make sure that it was safe, she still hesitated though before she finally spoke: “Alright, show me.”
It took her a while to climb up onto his back but soon enough she was seated, realising as she got into place, that her leg muscles were still protesting more than just a little at the way they needed to expand around the dragon’s neck. She didn’t say anything else though, rather wanting to see what it was Kaevad had on his mind.
Re: "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
Seeing as how he seemed to have gotten her point, Rhyn went back and shortened her speech once more. "No excuse. Never been a parent. Still know this." She snarled as he plucked her from his face and carried her, but recognized the foolishness of struggling as he leaped into the air. Once he landed, and released her, his rumbled statement made her flatten her ears and spit, much like a housecat facing a dog. her fur was raised and her tail puffed to twice its size.
A fool is a fool. Whether he be dragon or not. I call you what you are. If you eat me, then it is as the world wills it. She lashed her tail even as Soneya climbed up on his back. Remember, dragon-man. You can eat me, but I rend your stomach on the way down. Stick with dead things and bandits! She spat again, still angry at him, even more furious since he had plucked her from her safe ground and carried her back.
A fool is a fool. Whether he be dragon or not. I call you what you are. If you eat me, then it is as the world wills it. She lashed her tail even as Soneya climbed up on his back. Remember, dragon-man. You can eat me, but I rend your stomach on the way down. Stick with dead things and bandits! She spat again, still angry at him, even more furious since he had plucked her from her safe ground and carried her back.
Re: "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
He grunted in return at Rhyn before growing hair for Soneya to grip. That done and her little hands knotted in the mess, he took off, wings clawing the air for altitude. He soared for awhile, letting her enjoy the sensation before dipping down to what had been the bandits encampment. "This is why I kept you away. Rhyn says I am foolish for sheltering you, but its not just that. Aileen had been sitting on the very spot you are, when an arrow from a bandits bow ended her life." His voice rumbled as he moved through the carnage, claws stepping on dead bodies.
"This is what I can do. I am both soft and caring, and a monster. I eat hearts to extend my lifetime." He twisted his head to look at her, eyes gentle. "If you truely wish to stay, I will teach you to fight. If you believe this is too much, I will return you home. These are your options, Soneya." He hesitated before stretching slightly to bump her lightly with his nose, a dragon hug of sorts.
"I obviously cannot shelter you, the action seems to irritate both you and Rhyn. And for that I apologize. But you to must start remembering something. I'm 220 years old. How do you think it was back then?" He rumbled, moving away from the camp on foot now.
"This is what I can do. I am both soft and caring, and a monster. I eat hearts to extend my lifetime." He twisted his head to look at her, eyes gentle. "If you truely wish to stay, I will teach you to fight. If you believe this is too much, I will return you home. These are your options, Soneya." He hesitated before stretching slightly to bump her lightly with his nose, a dragon hug of sorts.
"I obviously cannot shelter you, the action seems to irritate both you and Rhyn. And for that I apologize. But you to must start remembering something. I'm 220 years old. How do you think it was back then?" He rumbled, moving away from the camp on foot now.
Re: "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
What he showed her was not quite what she had expected, but then again, she hadn’t really known what to expect either. Unwillingly, her grip tightened around the hair and around the neck as though she really needed to make sure that she wasn’t going to fall into this mess. Facing another limb in her face... Soneya wasn’t sure she could handle it.
“Kaevad,” she began, her voice soft, despite the slight tremble. “You are a dragon. You cannot fight who and what you are. It is part of your nature and I accept that. I may not always want to see it but I am not going to turn my back on you because you are not entirely human.” It sounded odd when she heard the words out loud. Here she was, a puradyne raised girl who had all her life been told that anything to do with magic was bad, evil and should be despised, and she was now riding a dragon and telling him that there was nothing wrong with following the call of his own nature. Fancy that.
She touched her hand to his nose when he reached back and smiled at him. “I’m not going anywhere. And I could use a bit of fighting knowledge. Might come in handy if I have to punch a bandit in the face when he’s trying to attack my pet dragon.” The attempt at a joke was a lame one but she felt better for it, the tension slowly easing away from her.
“The sight is disgusting, I have to admit, but you know what scared me most back there? Not knowing what was going on. What scared me was that I was helpless, helpless in helping you and Rhyn. I was scared because I was sitting in a hole without knowing what was going on and with bloody limbs raining down on my face. I was scared less because I was defenceless but because I was afraid of losing the only two people to ever really have cared about me.”
Sinking in on herself a little after that revealing speech, Soneya didn’t dare look in the direction of Kaevad’s face, not wanting to see his look. “I know it was different back then. But as you said, you are 220 years old. Things have changed, even if some things may still be the same. I promise I’ll take care of myself but you have to give me a chance to be able to do that.”
She let the words sink in a little before she asked one final question in a barely audible voice, a question that was nagging at her quite a bit. She’d heard him reference the incident before but he had never fully explained or elaborated and the name kept filling her head. “Who was Aileen?”
“Kaevad,” she began, her voice soft, despite the slight tremble. “You are a dragon. You cannot fight who and what you are. It is part of your nature and I accept that. I may not always want to see it but I am not going to turn my back on you because you are not entirely human.” It sounded odd when she heard the words out loud. Here she was, a puradyne raised girl who had all her life been told that anything to do with magic was bad, evil and should be despised, and she was now riding a dragon and telling him that there was nothing wrong with following the call of his own nature. Fancy that.
She touched her hand to his nose when he reached back and smiled at him. “I’m not going anywhere. And I could use a bit of fighting knowledge. Might come in handy if I have to punch a bandit in the face when he’s trying to attack my pet dragon.” The attempt at a joke was a lame one but she felt better for it, the tension slowly easing away from her.
“The sight is disgusting, I have to admit, but you know what scared me most back there? Not knowing what was going on. What scared me was that I was helpless, helpless in helping you and Rhyn. I was scared because I was sitting in a hole without knowing what was going on and with bloody limbs raining down on my face. I was scared less because I was defenceless but because I was afraid of losing the only two people to ever really have cared about me.”
Sinking in on herself a little after that revealing speech, Soneya didn’t dare look in the direction of Kaevad’s face, not wanting to see his look. “I know it was different back then. But as you said, you are 220 years old. Things have changed, even if some things may still be the same. I promise I’ll take care of myself but you have to give me a chance to be able to do that.”
She let the words sink in a little before she asked one final question in a barely audible voice, a question that was nagging at her quite a bit. She’d heard him reference the incident before but he had never fully explained or elaborated and the name kept filling her head. “Who was Aileen?”