“I much appreciate the offer,” Soneya said, her voice barely above a whisper both because she didn’t know how to react and because she didn’t want to wake up Rhyn. She still wasn’t quite sure what to do however. Of course, Kaevad’s offer really did sound nice and very tempting, and it would be even more so if Rhyn decided to join him too, but what about her family? What about her life? What about.. “I would have to go back though to get my grandfather’s inheritance. I cannot leave behind the cloak he gave me.”
It sounded silly in her ears to be holding on to worldly possessions when she wasn’t really all too keen on returning to the life she had been leading but it had belonged to her grandfather and it was the only thing she had left of him, besides her necklace. “I may not wish to return, but it is all I know... Plus, you have already learned that I am a magnet for trouble, and believe you me, you would get more than your fair share if I were to stick around.” At least she could joke about herself.
She gently rubbed his muzzle as he moved it closer before turning her attention to the soft white fur in her lap as Kaevad removed his head again. “Riding a dragon does sound pretty awesome though, almost as if straight from a story.” It really did sound more like a bit out of a story than reality, especially considering the fact that she had never even seen a real dragon before yesterday, or a dragon shifter for that matter. Her caress was gentle though and she grinned at Kaevad. “No, we wouldn’t want to wake her. I think a rudely awakened kitty could be pretty grumpy and I’m not sure we’d like that.” The easy chatting made Soneya feel good and she hoped she wouldn’t have to give it up, no matter what her decision would be, or no matter what would happen if they, or at least her, went to Marn to gather her few belongings.
"Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
Re: "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
As she sank deeper into sleep, Rhyn heard them speaking, and dismissed it. Her tail had flipped all the way across Soneya's lap, it's black tip obscuring her face from their view. Paws twitched gently, the only tell tale signs that she had slipped back into dreaming rather than enter into the world of the award.
The goat fled in front of her as she raced after it. It's hooves caught on the rock, the snow giving it some grip, but her paws were made for clambering over the snow, and she didn't sink as much. Her tail whipped behind her to balance as she landed once more upon a narrow ledge, springing from it to land upon the goat. Her teeth sank into it, blood filling her mouth, and the neck cracked between her jaws.
Thick paws twitched lightly, and her tail's tip flicked back and forth. Her whiskers and ears twitched as well. It was small mirrors of the movements in her dream.
The goat fled in front of her as she raced after it. It's hooves caught on the rock, the snow giving it some grip, but her paws were made for clambering over the snow, and she didn't sink as much. Her tail whipped behind her to balance as she landed once more upon a narrow ledge, springing from it to land upon the goat. Her teeth sank into it, blood filling her mouth, and the neck cracked between her jaws.
Thick paws twitched lightly, and her tail's tip flicked back and forth. Her whiskers and ears twitched as well. It was small mirrors of the movements in her dream.
Re: "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
"Whatever you wish, little one." He hummed, watching in amusement as Rhyn twitched in her sleep. "Perhaps you may wish to move from her, I believe she may be dreaming and I would not like to see her accidentally claw you." He rest his head on the ground nearby, dragging a claw up to rest by it - an easy step if she wanted to climb on him. "If you have intents of riding me later, you should possibly familiarize yourself with the feeling... I have been told it's different from a horse..." His voice was soft, distant, as he remembered those flights with Aileen. How she'd loved to fly! Perhaps he can show his new companions the same joy?
Re: "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
“Mmh, maybe you’re right,” Soneya agreed with a closer look at Rhyn. She really had started moving quite a bit, even though the movements were still on a fairly small scale but it was proof of a very vivid dream. Reluctantly, she stopped caressing the leopard tail and took Kaevad up on his invitation to clamber onto his back. “I’ve never been on a horse actually, so this should be interesting.” While she was doing so, she caught herself being surprised at the bold move. Only yesterday, she might not even have dared scramble on top of a dragon if she had had the chance – and believed they’d really exist.
The scales on top of his neck were much smoother than she had expected and before long, she was comfortably installed, even though her leg muscles were slightly overstretching from the unusual position – she wasn’t particularly used to any kind of sports activity. “How would I hold on during a flight though?” she asked as she was fidgeting about and trying to detect some sort of scale or spine or whatnot to hold on to. For a moment, she imagined herself doing this on a regular basis, but deep down a voice instantly reprimanded her for such silly thoughts. Dragon, silly, he’s a dragon! What makes you think you’re going to… But Soneya cut off the voice with a groan. She knew she shouldn’t be daydreaming but it was just too tempting. She desperately wanted to do something with her life! Something more than just being someone’s obedient housemaid with a serious headache issue.
“Could we…?” she asked, hesitantly. Her legs instinctively cramped up a little as she pressed them against the dragon’s neck more tightly from the mere thought of taking flight. Her gaze wasn’t on Kaevad however as she asked the question but on Rhyn. She didn’t want to wake the woman since she was clearly not quite ready to get up, but she didn’t want her to wake and find them gone either. It would just be rude.
The scales on top of his neck were much smoother than she had expected and before long, she was comfortably installed, even though her leg muscles were slightly overstretching from the unusual position – she wasn’t particularly used to any kind of sports activity. “How would I hold on during a flight though?” she asked as she was fidgeting about and trying to detect some sort of scale or spine or whatnot to hold on to. For a moment, she imagined herself doing this on a regular basis, but deep down a voice instantly reprimanded her for such silly thoughts. Dragon, silly, he’s a dragon! What makes you think you’re going to… But Soneya cut off the voice with a groan. She knew she shouldn’t be daydreaming but it was just too tempting. She desperately wanted to do something with her life! Something more than just being someone’s obedient housemaid with a serious headache issue.
“Could we…?” she asked, hesitantly. Her legs instinctively cramped up a little as she pressed them against the dragon’s neck more tightly from the mere thought of taking flight. Her gaze wasn’t on Kaevad however as she asked the question but on Rhyn. She didn’t want to wake the woman since she was clearly not quite ready to get up, but she didn’t want her to wake and find them gone either. It would just be rude.
Re: "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
Soneya's movement woke Rhyn. At first, slightly stubbornly, the cat just curled up in the warm dip he had left behind. Her tail covered her face once more and the woman, rosettes bare shadows among her fur, became a fluffy ball. Her ears twitched as she vainly tried to return to her dream of hunting among the snow. Instead, she just listened to the soft sounds of the girl clambering up onto Kaevad's neck. He really is quite like Brad. Large, but his heart is just as large, with just as much room to fit people in it.
As Soneya asked the unfinished question, Rhyn gave up on sleeping now. She lifted her head, and yawned, which showed long, white canines, and a bright pink tongue. After a moment, she lifted herself to her feet, bowing her back and stretching her front paws out in front of her. Her tail arched opposite her back. after a moment, she sat, looking at the two, crimson dragon and young woman. "Please. Don't allow me stop you. I shall hunt. Prefer the ground anyway." She smiled, flicking an ear indulgently, her long tail whisking one way, then the other.
As Soneya asked the unfinished question, Rhyn gave up on sleeping now. She lifted her head, and yawned, which showed long, white canines, and a bright pink tongue. After a moment, she lifted herself to her feet, bowing her back and stretching her front paws out in front of her. Her tail arched opposite her back. after a moment, she sat, looking at the two, crimson dragon and young woman. "Please. Don't allow me stop you. I shall hunt. Prefer the ground anyway." She smiled, flicking an ear indulgently, her long tail whisking one way, then the other.
Re: "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
He had been about to respond when the cat stirred. At her answer, Kaevad merely grinned and shimmied slightly to his pack. From there he drew a rope. With that in claw he worked his way out, trying to make sure the lass didn't get her skull knocked in. Successful, he emerged from the cave. Grabbing the rope he wrapped it around his neck before dangling the ends before the girl. "Worry not about chocking me little one." he rumbled, glancing at the cloudy sky. "You will not be able to."
And so he moved away, tail swishing as he walked to fing a clearing and to allow the girl to become used to his movements. Both goals met, the dragon launched himself off the ground and took flight.
And so he moved away, tail swishing as he walked to fing a clearing and to allow the girl to become used to his movements. Both goals met, the dragon launched himself off the ground and took flight.
Re: "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
To say it was exhilarating would be a severe understatement. Just before Kaevad had taken to the air, Soneya had had a moment of frightening doubt but it was already too late to avoid what was about to happen. And she was glad she didn’t say anything, even though her fingers were now hurting from holding onto the rope so tightly that her knuckles were turning white. It hurt, but she didn’t care, because she was flying. Flying!
Of course, it was a little bit cold with the wind rushing against her face but in spite of that, Soneya had a huge smile plastered over her face. Never could she have imagined an experience such as this one. Never could she have imagined that she would instantly fall in love with flying. It was amazing, simply amazing!
“I could do this forever,” she said, more to herself than to Kaevad. Either way she wasn’t quite sure whether he had heard over the noise the wind was making; she didn’t know how good his hearing was. She felt a little sad for Rhyn not being here with her to experience this as well but she could understand that as a leopard she would prefer the ground beneath her feet rather than fly. Still, she would have to convince the woman to try this at some point. She simply had to!
Of course, it was a little bit cold with the wind rushing against her face but in spite of that, Soneya had a huge smile plastered over her face. Never could she have imagined an experience such as this one. Never could she have imagined that she would instantly fall in love with flying. It was amazing, simply amazing!
“I could do this forever,” she said, more to herself than to Kaevad. Either way she wasn’t quite sure whether he had heard over the noise the wind was making; she didn’t know how good his hearing was. She felt a little sad for Rhyn not being here with her to experience this as well but she could understand that as a leopard she would prefer the ground beneath her feet rather than fly. Still, she would have to convince the woman to try this at some point. She simply had to!
Re: "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
Rhyn smiled as Kaevad grinned. Obviously the dragon was quite excited to take Soneya flying. She stretched, and spent a few moments stretching herself out, turning in circles and letting her muscles loosen. She wrinkled her nose. With the scent of dragon all over, and him winging through the sky, she would have to find deer somewhere far from the camp.
She belted on her harness, and left the cave running at full speed through the forest. Running through the forest, without having to leap up and down over rocks and through the snow, made this terrain seem so very easy. She was barely panting, even after a long run. Casting around for a scent, she finally picked up on a deer, and slowly began to follow its trail. The scent grew stronger and stronger, until she slowed, not wanting to come up on the buck too quickly.
The deer rested, grazing, in the middle of a small clearing, and Rhyn crouched down. Her whitefur did her no favors in the dark shadows of the forest. The buck was a perilously large animal for her to go after as well. If he caught her with his antlers, she may have a hard time even getting back to the cave. With a silent breath, she slid to one side, planning to come at the animal from the side and behind.
Her paws settled lightly on the forest floor, whispering through the grass as she dared to come at the buck. As the animal's head flashed up, sensing danger, she sprang forward in a run and leaped, jumping up onto the deer's back. Her teeth sank into the thick muscle of the neck. One pawlike hand came around, claws digging into the side of the neck, the other grabbed for the knife hanging from her harness.
A few moments later, blood spurted, the knife creating a clean cut across the throat, and the animal, which had been bucking, started to stumble and then slow down, falling to his knees and slowly collapsing underneath her. Rhyns smiled, her teeth still bloody as she started the messy business of draining the blood from the deer.
She belted on her harness, and left the cave running at full speed through the forest. Running through the forest, without having to leap up and down over rocks and through the snow, made this terrain seem so very easy. She was barely panting, even after a long run. Casting around for a scent, she finally picked up on a deer, and slowly began to follow its trail. The scent grew stronger and stronger, until she slowed, not wanting to come up on the buck too quickly.
The deer rested, grazing, in the middle of a small clearing, and Rhyn crouched down. Her whitefur did her no favors in the dark shadows of the forest. The buck was a perilously large animal for her to go after as well. If he caught her with his antlers, she may have a hard time even getting back to the cave. With a silent breath, she slid to one side, planning to come at the animal from the side and behind.
Her paws settled lightly on the forest floor, whispering through the grass as she dared to come at the buck. As the animal's head flashed up, sensing danger, she sprang forward in a run and leaped, jumping up onto the deer's back. Her teeth sank into the thick muscle of the neck. One pawlike hand came around, claws digging into the side of the neck, the other grabbed for the knife hanging from her harness.
A few moments later, blood spurted, the knife creating a clean cut across the throat, and the animal, which had been bucking, started to stumble and then slow down, falling to his knees and slowly collapsing underneath her. Rhyns smiled, her teeth still bloody as she started the messy business of draining the blood from the deer.
Re: "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
He wasn't even sure if she knew she'd made a noise of delight as he took to the skies, but he heard her comment and smiled to himself. "Forever is a long time, Soneya... and while I do not have t he energy to do this forever... I couldn't agree more." His voice rumbled down his body, his wings keeping an even tempo. He'd shot up high enough he could be mistaken for a large bird, but hopefully not so high that his friend would freeze. His wing beats hesitated a moment as he concentrated, groaning a moment, before crimson hair ran down his neck and spine. "That shifts not so bad.." he muttered more to himself than her. It'd give her something softer than rope to hand on to and keep her hands warm.
He looked down, watching a blur of white move across the landscape. "There's Rhyn..." he said, pointing, though he doubted Soneya could see her. He looked back at her and grinned. "Would you like to try something Soneya? Your wish is my command."
He looked down, watching a blur of white move across the landscape. "There's Rhyn..." he said, pointing, though he doubted Soneya could see her. He looked back at her and grinned. "Would you like to try something Soneya? Your wish is my command."
Re: "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
“Are you sure this isn’t going to hurt you?” she asked as she gently took hold of a bit of hair. “This is your hair after all!” It did feel much better on her now slightly abused hands though, she couldn’t deny that, and for some reason it felt much softer than she had imagined. Probably because he could shift into a dragon, though obviously that didn’t mean his hair was as hard as scales. Plus, she should have known, after all she had hugged him and with hair as long as his, it had touched her skin the day before. Sometimes, she could only shake her head at herself, unobservant as she all too often was.
“Where? Where?” Soneya strained her eyes to detect Rhyn somewhere down below, but as hard as she looked, she couldn’t distinguish much other than the fact that there was ground somewhere far beneath them. “Is she hunting?” While she couldn’t see anything in particular, the view still was spectacular. Beautiful landscape as far as the eye could see and as Soneya lost herself in that moment, she felt her heart ache for exploration of all these places she had never been to and had most likely not even heard of.
“Oh.” Kaevad’s words brought her back to reality, a little bit at least, but seeing that she still felt as though she was in a fairytale, she without thinking blurted out: “Show me the world!”
“Where? Where?” Soneya strained her eyes to detect Rhyn somewhere down below, but as hard as she looked, she couldn’t distinguish much other than the fact that there was ground somewhere far beneath them. “Is she hunting?” While she couldn’t see anything in particular, the view still was spectacular. Beautiful landscape as far as the eye could see and as Soneya lost herself in that moment, she felt her heart ache for exploration of all these places she had never been to and had most likely not even heard of.
“Oh.” Kaevad’s words brought her back to reality, a little bit at least, but seeing that she still felt as though she was in a fairytale, she without thinking blurted out: “Show me the world!”
Re: "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
It was a bit of work, but Rhyn found some thick vines, an nondangerous ivy of sorts, that she could use. She hoisted the deer up to hang from a tree branch, draining the blood from it. It would take her probably double the time to carry the beast back to the cave, where she would happily butcher it, and begin cooking the meat for Soneya. She did not mind eating it raw, her association with leopards and living on the land had made her uncaring of if her food was raw or not.
Kaevad, she was sure, would also not care as much, except in his human form. But Soneya. She would not expose the girl to the blood that came with hunting. She slit the wound across the jugular a little better, and making sure both sides were cut. She would leave the head out here. Or perhaps eat it. The head was one of the better parts, but the eyes, staring and accusing in death, usually freaked people out.
Her tail swished back and forth as she kept watch. The scent of blood would, if she were unlucky, bring other predators.
Kaevad, she was sure, would also not care as much, except in his human form. But Soneya. She would not expose the girl to the blood that came with hunting. She slit the wound across the jugular a little better, and making sure both sides were cut. She would leave the head out here. Or perhaps eat it. The head was one of the better parts, but the eyes, staring and accusing in death, usually freaked people out.
Her tail swished back and forth as she kept watch. The scent of blood would, if she were unlucky, bring other predators.
Re: "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
Kaevad laughed outright at her outburst. "I'll show you as much as I can, little Eya." He rumbled. "But first, hang on!" And with that he closed his wings. They plummeted a moment before he snapped his wings open, tilting himself so they rocketed upwards, his wings pumping. He arched and they flipped in the air, a quick twist adding to the thrill as they dove to the ground once more.
Re: "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
Squealing in joy, and a little in fear too, Soneya held a very tight grip on Kaevad’s hair, completely forgetting her worry about hurting him in case she was grabbing on and pulling too hard. Exhilarating!! If scary as well. After all, it was quite far down to the ground. There was not much room for thoughts however as Kaevad twisted through the air, up and down, side-ways, and so forth. It was all very exciting and Soneya completely lost track of time until her stomach began rumbling, alerting her to the fact that it had been quite a while since she had eaten something.
“Maybe we should go see what Rhyn is doing? And then definitely find some food somewhere, somehow, because I’m really starting to starve.” Soneya suggested. Reluctant as she was to abandon the flying, she knew that they could not do this forever, and her stomach was really starting to be a tad demanding by rumbling practically non-stop now. It was embarrassing.
The question she was asking herself was how to get her hands on some food around these parts. Hunting would be an option, but she had no idea how to do that... Of course, she was around a couple of hunters however, so maybe something could be arranged? Or whatever she could gather on bushes, if there even were berries around here. She had no idea. But they could be washed in the stream so there wasn’t too much dirt on them. Maybe she should just stop worrying so much about everything. It would certainly help with the headaches as well. Or maybe not. It would be worth a try however.
“Maybe we should go see what Rhyn is doing? And then definitely find some food somewhere, somehow, because I’m really starting to starve.” Soneya suggested. Reluctant as she was to abandon the flying, she knew that they could not do this forever, and her stomach was really starting to be a tad demanding by rumbling practically non-stop now. It was embarrassing.
The question she was asking herself was how to get her hands on some food around these parts. Hunting would be an option, but she had no idea how to do that... Of course, she was around a couple of hunters however, so maybe something could be arranged? Or whatever she could gather on bushes, if there even were berries around here. She had no idea. But they could be washed in the stream so there wasn’t too much dirt on them. Maybe she should just stop worrying so much about everything. It would certainly help with the headaches as well. Or maybe not. It would be worth a try however.
Re: "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
It didn't take long for her to be satisfied with the blood having at least mainly drained completely from the body. Rhyn slid her knife through the thick muscle of the neck, and then twisted sharply breaking the spine. Her stomach rumbled lightly, and she stared for a moment at the head in her pawlike hands, and decided against pausing to eat it then and there. She tossed it into the bushes, and hoisted the buck down from its place, heaving it up over her shoulders as she began to carry it back towards the cave.
Re: "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"
Kaevad chortled before banking and started his decline, his nose catching the scent of blood. "Smells as though Rhyn is one step ahead of us... I could catch something else if you're not in the mood for venison." He hovered in midair, both giving the cat time and waiting for the girls response.