'sunrise {in*} ilirea--! |open|

[Nayeli]

’my {lovely&}
tasia--!
Featuring: sunglow

The sun was rising over Ilirea, the land around was lighting up a beautiful golden color, the sun’s rays were coming into the sky, some hitting the entrance to the chambers of the dragon eggs. Two guards were talking about nothing important, smoking on something and laughing as they joked. Another guard was sleeping against the wall, trying to keep as much energy when no fights ever came. He did not even seem to want to be there, but he had been forced. The female elf and a male elf were talking about the elf that had come early during the evening the night before. ”She won’t make it… No one ever does… She will come crying soon.” The female said to the male, relaxing against the wall, her sword was in her sheath as was the male’s sword. The sound of a small hiss could be heard within the now dark tunnel that lead to the chamber. The female narrowed her emerald eyes, looking down the dark tunnel, pulling her sword. ”Who is there?” This caused the humans to stand as well, looking towards her.

”Can I now?”

The sound that came to my head made me smile as I stood back, far enough in the dark, watching this figure move towards the front of the tunnel, however, she had enough strength to climb on the walls and ceiling. Her claws were like sharp daggers. My sweet dragon was funny, that much was for sure. ”You are funny, I am not sweet.”[/color] I chuckled, the sound could be heard by the elf, because she took a step towards me. After a moment, I looked towards the dark figured on the ceiling, the sun was not hitting her, keeping her hidden. ”Go ahead.”[/color] She hissed louder, dropping down on the shield of the elf, who freaked and threw the dragon, causing her to hit the ground and skid on her side before she stood, my body behind her. ”What the hell!” I looked down at my dragon and then looked at the elf, my eyes narrowed, a smile on my lips. ”It would be a dragon… What? Are you too stupid to know what it is?”[/color] Sunglow chuckled at my feet, not climbing on my shoulder because of her sharp claws that would rack into my skin.

I walked past them, the female elf watching me as if I was a ghost. She had been wrong and it made me smile that she was embarrassed about it. Sunglow walked beside me towards the inn. I was not sure what people would think about her, but I did not care, I was proud she was my dragon, I did not want to hid her, but now… I would probably have to live in Ilirea and go to the forest less and less. It would kill me, but I knew I had to do something. The elves were not fond of dragons any more, they did not seem to like them at all, which was very sad. [/blockquote]
’word count--! five. zero. five
’comments--! short and sucks.
’tagged--! none at the moment
[/size][/blockquote]
[/color]

[Emma]

It was pitch-black in the arena.

I waited in the dead silence of the building, knowing that the blow would come at any moment. Despite my eyes being perfectly attuned to the darkness, the Grandmaster was an expert at stealth. My eyes picked out the faraway seats, the doors, the gleam of Ramsey’s hammer caught on a stray ray of sunlight filtering in from the shuttered windows- but no rustling wings, or the slithering of a black tail coming to wrap itself around my throat. A growl rumbled in my chest, and I dug my talons into the floor, kneading the dirt. Somewhat ironically, considering my being Consul of Defence, it was not often that I faced an opponent larger or more threatening than I was. I was tense, my body almost coiled, ready to spring or dodge at the smallest hint of danger.

The faintest leathery rustle caught my ear, and, screaming, I flew upwards and dug my claws into Almalexia’s flank.

Her howl almost shattered my ears, and she rolled in the air, trying to fling me off. I remained firmly clamped onto her hide. Almost immediately, she locked her claws around me, biting viciously at my throat. I reeled backwards to avoid it, and she promptly rammed herself into me, pushing me downwards and threatening to knock me off balance. Far off, I thought I could hear Ramsey bellowing at me to, ‘Flay her alive, you bloody beast!’, but I was more concerned with not plummeting into the dirt below. I didn’t keep my balance, and began to fall. Opening my mouth, I furiously blew a gout of blue flame at Almalexia, briefly illuminating her snaky black form. She clawed at the air to avoid the brief inferno, and we both plunged into icy water.

The training arena in Ilirea had many obstacles and traps set, and even had live animals kept in its underworks for the new Riders to fight. Two such traps were the slippery dirt covering most of the arena’s floor, and the large pond that the Grandmaster and I had just fallen into. We had been fighting in the massive dome encircling the building, not quite high enough for a proper battle- but it did keep the more violent of the fights from spilling onto the streets and frightening all the mortals. Almalexia and I spent about a minute underwater, clawing and circling. I had always been adept at swimming, but she was the one with the experience. I realized this quite blatantly when she suddenly lodged a claw in my belly. I howled in pain, but it came out as a mere burble.

The next sensation I was aware of was being flung out of the pond and flat onto my back, my spikes lancing the dirt. One enormous black claw was placed on my chest, holding me in position. Almalexia stood there for a moment, regaining her breath. The battle had been short, but intense. Across the arena, I saw Ramsey getting out of her seat and charging towards us, her fox-orange hair intense even in darkness. Once she arrived, untied hair surrounding her face like a mane, Almalexia removed her paw from my chest, allowing her to heal the minor injuries I’d sustained. She stretched her enormous form, ivory teeth glittering in the dark, and fixated her peat-black glare on the both of us.

“Bloody oath, Ikehr!” Ramsey snapped as she hovered over me. “What was that, intentional suici-”
‘Enough!’ Almalexia’s deep voice thundered in our minds. I dropped my head, and Ramsey went on her knees and did the same. This sated the Grandmaster’s fury. ‘I would like to know what you intend to accomplish, young ones. The Gala is at our doorstep.’
‘Sorry t’interrupt, ebrithil, but what about the Ra’zac?’ said Ramsey. “The humans ain’t got enough manpower to-”
‘The Ra’zac are the humans’ own doing,’ hissed Almalexia. ‘Their supposed doings are nothing but the humans’ vanity. Broddring is on its own.’ She paused.
‘Ebrithil?’ I questioned. Almalexia’s eyes had gone wide.
‘A child has been born.’
‘Excellent. We shall eat well tonight.’ This earned me a painless slap from Ramsey.
‘Both of you will tend to the hatchling until my return.’ Almalexia rose to her full height, opening her wings. ‘Anurin summons me.’
“OI!” barked Ramsey out loud. “You said today we could-”

But Almalexia, who was well used to Ramsey’s insignificant tantrums after over a century of living with her, simply turned away, preparing to take off. Above, the dome creaked and began to slowly grind open, revealing a growing slit of the sky above. We had arrived here at the blue twilight of dawn, and now the clouds were pink and violet against orange from the rising sun. I also felt the now-familiar gusts of cold from the winter air outside. Almalexia beat her massive wings and rose, threatening to knock Ramsey and me off balance. And then she was gone, moving with speed that should have been impossible for her size. I remained lying down so Ramsey could saddle me up. She muttered and swore in obvious annoyance as she went at it.

‘Babysitting duty. That’s the Wards’ job, innit?’
‘Unless they are sent to battle Urgals as they were not two days ago, yes.’
‘Bloody fecking hell.’

Ramsey soon had the saddle ready, tying the knots with expert hands. As soon as she had settled herself, I gazed up at the half-opened dome above us. The sky was still painted soft colours, and Almalexia was now a black dot in the distance. I pounded my wings. Due to the lack of wind, taking off indoors was always a bother for me. It required intense strength. Growling, I managed to get some lift, and immediately took advantage of it, using it to thrust me upwards into the sporadic air currents just within the dome. After several long moments of exhausting climbing, I caught one of them, and it propelled me out of the arena and into the biting air outside.

Ilirea spangled below us in glistening white. On our right was the Citadel, the tallest building in the city. Directly underneath was the Sacred Font, the hallowed, closely guarded chamber in which the eggs were kept, and where the new Rider would be. I had many memories of the Font, most utterly boring- sitting in the dim firelight, surrounded by thousands of others waiting for their bond-mate. I had been perfectly content to remain in my egg until the breaking of the world and the end of time, but then Ramsey had had to draw my attention. I fondly remembered how I had crawled out of my egg only to see a dozing redheaded midget in an inebriated stupor, and had promptly sat on her, vowing to maim and kill and destroy-

‘Oh, shut up.’

The trip was very short, and I only needed enough height to clear the buildings surrounding the Citadel. We landed maybe two minutes after taking off from the arena on the snow and dirt just outside the golden doors that led into the Sacred Font. Ramsey leapt off the saddle, landing with feline grace just beside me. I glanced at her. Though I did not care for human attire, Ramsey had explained it on enough occasions for me to easily recognize her few outfits. Today she wore, as usual, men’s clothing- black breeches and a vest of velvet, over which was a fur-lined sable coat that hung to her knees. An amber earring swung from her left ear, matching her bright orange hair. Her heavy leather boots struck the ground rhythmically as she marched towards the guards, green eyes blazing.

“At ease, sunshine!” she barked. “A little bird told me we got ourselves a new Rider. Let me in!”

Words;; 1300
Character(s) Used;; Ikehr and Nemo Ramsey
Muse;; Better than usual, but it's not... Ikehr-y.
Thoughts;; Slight improvement from my MP posts. =]

[Nayeli]

’my {lovely&}
tasia--!
Featuring: sunglow

Well, the guards were not expecting a larger dragon to appear before them. First, the female elf was blazing mad at this new rider and now this other rider was here. She was normally very mellow but still a bitch to all the new elves coming to try their luck. She rolled her eyes as the guys went back to talking and when the rider landing on the ground, she moved forward, showing her authority in a way. She stood strong in front of them, showing her fired anger at the dragon and rider who had just left the Font. “At ease, sunshine! A little bird told me we got ourselves a new Rider. Let me in!” She nodded quickly, looking past them into the early morning light pass the dragon. ”Your late rider… The bitch and her rat already left five minutes ago, heading towards the town.” She said to the rider, looking at them for a moment and hoping she would go and put a large talon in the girl’s back. She turned around and headed back to the mouth of the font.

----- ----- ----- ----- -----

”So, what do we do now?” I looked down at Sunglow for a moment, smiling at her before I looked back ahead at the street, which was empty except for a few people going into stores to get them ready for the coming day. ”Well, I have to go and get something from the Inn I paid to say at and then I am not sure where we need to go.”

The bow was one of the most important things to me, I was not leaving it anywhere. I moved, glancing up and see a large black dot moving in the sky. I smiled… Knowing that one day, we would be that large dot in the sky, but we would probably look more like a glowing dot then a black dot. We looked back, seeing yet another dragon not far away and I looked down, smiling at her. ”Come on, if we hurry, we can get my stuff and met that dragon.”[/color] Sunglow nodded.

I took off, the small golden lizard running beside me. She was no bigger then a cat and she was fast too. We moved quickly, the cloth around my torso moved a bit, but revealed nothing. My hair moved behind my body, the vine crown holding it down so it would get in my face, or at least holding it in place on top so it would not get in my way. The green emerald set in the middle of my forehead. My feet made no sound with the cloth shoes on my feet and since I was in this city, it was bit to be a bit civilized. The inn was ahead and I stopped, looking at the front of the building. ”Third window… Right there.”[/color] Sunglow nodded and quickly went in. I was picturing the area, waiting for her to pop her head to the window, but next thing I knew, she was crawling out with the bag in her mouth. I was completely amazed, was wondering how it happened.

”You were thinking about the directions.”[/color] She said to me and then held the bag over my head. I grabbed it, pulling from the cloth bag off my bow, smiling, allowing my fingers to run over the wood and also over the emerald placed in the bow. ”Well, lets go, woman!”[/color] I smiled and we headed back, same as before, but as we rounded a corner and I felt myself collide with someone, hitting the ground and nearly falling on Sunglow, who moved quickly. Luckly the bow was in my hands and the arrows still in the cloth bag that was on my back. ”I’m so sorry, I was not paying attention.”[/color] I said, looking up, nearly amazed at what I saw… It was the rider and dragon…
[/blockquote]
’word count--! six. five. four
’comments--! short and sucks.
’tagged--! ikehr and nemo ramsey
[/size][/blockquote]
[/color]

[Emma]

“You’re late, Rider. The bitch and her rat already left five minutes ago, heading towards the town.”

Behind me, I heard Ikehr give a thundering growl. I glared up at the female elf, one hand on my waist and the other on the shaft of my hammer, which rested in the leather strap on my back. I didn’t recognize her, meaning she was probably new- with those vine tattoos and that look on her face like she had a bad smell under her nose, she wasn’t hard to miss. And she didn’t recognize me, which only made me certain that she was new. Otherwise, she had a death wish. I didn’t know who she thought she was, but one didn’t slander and ignore the Riders in their own damned city. In Du Weldenvarden, I supposed she would be part of the in-crowd for doing so. Here, however, she would answer to me.

‘Ramsey, ignore the fleshling. It is unworthy of our time.’
‘She just called you a bleedin’ rodent!’
‘It compares me to one of those? Ooh, challenge it to arm-wrestle me!’
“OI!” I bellowed, storming after the elf, who’d now turned her back. “Listen, sunshine, I ain’t in the mood! We got a new Rider that you, you slimy duffer, were supposed to look after!” I came to a halt inches away from her, my hands curled into fists. “I don’t know who the feck you think you are, but you got ten minutes to haul your arse after that Rider. If not, I redecorate my bedroom WITH YOUR INNARDS!”

Having sufficiently made my point clear, I turned and stalked off in the direction the woman had gestured to. Ikehr gazed at her momentarily before turning and moving after me, talons crunching against the packed and hardened snow. We had wordlessly agreed that picking out a baby dragon from the sky would be nearly impossible, and so we would remain on the ground, damn any scholars that got in our way. We marched out of the Citadel area and through the gates, which remained open during the daytime. It was a pleasant morning, and the sun had just appeared over the horizon. White buildings crowded Ilirea’s streets, which were already packed with roving people.

‘Where’s the little ankle-biter, Ikehr?’
‘Nearby. In truth…’ he sniffed in distaste. ‘It is near the establishment you are so fond of visiting.’
‘The Poison Apple? No!’
‘Unfortunately.’
‘This Rider has damned fine taste!’

I strode down the snowy cobblestones cheerfully, a spring in my step. We received bows and muttered greetings from everyone we passed, as was expected, but otherwise not much else than a second glance. Ilirea was the only city in the world where a fully-grown dragon could be seen milling amongst the humanoids. Ikehr, I knew, was never fond of mingling with the ‘smelly flesh bags that burst at the slightest touch’, and I personally never enjoyed meeting with the elves of Du Weldenvarden, but the Poison Apple was an inn for travellers. That meant lots of humans, my favourite race, from foreign lands. Being a Rider was wonderful and such, but the novelty had worn off decades ago, and I despised being stuck in Alagaësia- possibly the blandest continent I’d ever stumbled upon.

I missed the sound of creaking timber, the waves pounding against the edges of the ship, nothing but sea and sky in all directions. The winds cool against my face, the sting of salt in the scent of the air, and complete bliss. My mind was filled with the golden and ivory coasts of the Antilles and southern Ethiopia, of the tiny port towns of cliffy Saxony and sunny Gaul. Alagaësia was mild in the summer and cold every other season, and its shores were rocks. Azure lagoons and green palms made me dreamy with nostalgia, and made the twenty-minute walk to The Poison Apple seem to last mere seconds. It also, I came to realize, made me not pay any attention to the people around me.

Someone promptly collided with me, knocking me off balance and sending them crashing to the ground. Ikehr, who had been paying attention to my memories with a surprising amount of interest, halted beside me. I placed my hand on him to get my bearings, and then glared down at whoever had walked into me. It was a female elf, high-featured and gorgeous like the rest, but much more curvaceous than most of the lithe, bony sort I usually saw. One of the many things that bothered me about the elves of Du Weldenvarden was that they were so pretty, it hurt to look at them. This one was even wearing a tiara, although her clothes were completely worn and showed plenty of skin.

And then I noticed the tiny golden creature sitting protectively beside her.

“I’m so sorry, I was not paying attention,” the woman said hurriedly. I just blinked.
“T’ain’t nothing,” I said awkwardly, offering a hand to help her up. As I hoisted her onto her feet, I then realized.
‘Oh, lovely,’ said Ikehr, who was now broadcasting his thoughts. ‘You were due for another tantrum no less than a minute ago.’
“Have you lost your blooming mind?” I sputtered. “Nyx’s tits, you can’t go pissing around with a newborn dragon like it’s a Renaissance present!” I opened my mouth to shout more, but then Ikehr blew hot smoke at my face.
‘Do forgive my Rider, mortal. Despite the considerable mass of its head, its intelligence is quite inferior.’
“Mind yer intelligence, mate, or I’ll make a new set of boots out of you!”
‘Indeed. Despite myself, I must agree with my Rider on this note.’ He bent forward, blinking his grey-blue reptilian eyes at the new Rider. ‘Where precisely were you planning to go with a hatchling?’

Characters Used;; Nemo Ramsey and Ikehr
Words;; 970
Muse;; Bleh! Crappy!
Thoughts;; Nyehhh pretty bad. The rant at the beginning was fun, though. XD

[Nayeli]

’my {lovely&}
tasia--!
Featuring: sunglow

It has hurt something fierce, but I was tough, I had grown in the forest, my vine tattoo, though I wanted it to cover my body, showed my connection with the forest, other then those elves that thought themselves high and might. Something my step mother was fond of, but my step father was like he, he treated everyone equally. Sunglow looked at me for a moment as I had hit the ground. She was finding this a funny thing, but I tried to push it from my thoughts once again. ”I thought you were more sure footed then that.”

I smiled at her for a moment. ”Oh, shut it!”[/color] I could not believe how quickly we were connecting relationship wise. She flicked her tongue at me like a freakin’ lizard and I thumped her head slightly, which only caused a pain in my own head. She chuckled at me and I laughed as well.

I then looked up at the huge dragon before me, seeing how mighty he was, how beautiful and then looking at the short rider, who was not dressed like a woman, but she was still pretty and very cool looking. I then let my eyes go back to the Steel Blue Dragon, looking over at Sunglow who smiled at me again. It was amazing all the colors a dragon could be, but I tried not to think completely about it, I was in the presence of a Dragon Rider and one far greater then I. ”T’ain’t nothing,” I nodded, knowing it was more then nothing. She helped me up and soon, I saw something in her face. Sunglow stood beside me feet, I quickly put my bow around my back, keeping it out of the way. ”Oh, lovely,” I looked at the large dragon in front of me. He was massive and he spoke to us. ”You were due for another tantrum no less than a minute ago.” I gulped slightly. That was not very good, I already had a elf throw a fit and now I was gonna get in trouble.

“Have you lost your blooming mind?” That came quickly, I looked at her as she spoke, her accent strong. I knew she was strong, I knew better then to say anything out of line. ”Nyx’s tits, you can’t go pissing around with a newborn dragon like it’s a Renaissance present!” I looked down at Sunglow who looked back up at me. I looked up as the Dragon came close to me. My eyes widened and I nearly was about to go crazy. ”Do forgive my Rider, mortal. Despite the considerable mass of its head, its intelligence is quite inferior.” I looked at him for a moment, but I did not smile, my face was serious, I knew better then to try and make myself sound smart before a dragon. ”Mind yer intelligence, mate, or I’ll make a new set of boots out of you!” I quickly looked between the two and then looked at the dragon. ”Indeed. Despite myself, I must agree with my Rider on this note.” I came forward at me and I gulped again. ”Where precisely were you planning to go with a hatchling?” I looked down at Sunglow for a moment.

”Forgive me… I went down and received Sunglow and then went out… The female elf, I am not sure if you saw her, she insulted me earlier, before I went down… So, we left before she could continue… I went to the Inn down the road in order to receive my bow that my father gave me, I saw you two fly low and disappear behind buildings and I was rushing back to met you both.”[/color] I said, looking down at Sunglow who nodded in agreement. She was young, but smart and stuck by my side. ”That stupid, know it all, tattoo covered elf was nothing more then a meal in my eyes, but she did give me a nice sore muscle.”[/color] I looked down at Sunglow, narrowed my eyes at her. I had tattoos too, almost the same as the first, however, it flowed more over my shoulders and Arm and was only on my shoulders and arms, around my neck slightly to make a slight necklace. ”We are sorry… I am Tasia Anne Georgios.”[/color] I knew the name Anne would be completely human, showing my step mothers hatred for me. She insisted on making me seem lower then anyone in the village I came from.
[/blockquote]
’word count--! seven. four. nine.
’comments--! short, sowwy.
’tagged--! ikehr and nemo ramsey
[/size][/blockquote]
[/color]

[Emma]

During the brief lull of silence in which the elf swallowed and looked at her new hatchling and then back at us, I did a brief assessment of the mortal. This one smelled of travel and weariness, and beneath that, of the conifers of Du Weldenvarden. I could also feel its nervousness under my gaze, and its reluctance to allow me into its mind, both of which I was used to. I leaned in closer, gleaning what little I could from the mental connection I had with the elf. I detected no particular anger or resentment, and beneath that, a glowing ember of kindness and well of compassion. That cemented my belief that this one was worthy of being a Rider. The very same sympathetic mindset and high moral standards were what had attracted me to Ramsey, after all.

“Forgive me,” the elf said hurriedly, “I went down and received Sunglow and then went out… the female elf, I am not sure if you saw her, she insulted me earlier, before I went down.” The female elf? I shared a glance with Ramsey. We both certainly knew the flesh creature. “So, we left before she could continue… I went to the inn down the road in order to receive my bow that my father gave me; I saw you two fly low and disappear behind buildings and I was rushing back to meet you both.”
‘That stupid, know it all, tattoo covered elf was nothing more then a meal in my eyes,’ announced the hatchling, shocking me, ‘but she did give me a nice sore muscle.’

I stared at the infant dragon, entirely surprised. Most hatchlings did not learn how to speak for weeks or even months. This was due to them ‘sleeping’, for lack of a better term, while encased in their eggs- they ignored all else around them until the touch of their bond-mate awoke them from their slumber. A few, like me, remained ‘awake’- aware of every touch, of every sound and happening outside the shell, and learning about the world. And so, I had been very capable of speaking to Ramsey when I’d awoken her from her drunken stupor that first night of my life. I hadn’t expected it in this one- Sunglow, the elf had named her?- but it was a pleasant surprise. Speaking with a fellow dragon was always far more engaging than conversing with mortals.

“We are sorry…” the elf repeated. “I am Tasia Anne Georgios.”

The name was oddly human, which made me curious as to how an elf had obtained it. So was Ramsey’s, but she and her pirate crew had chosen her moniker- and the woman had an adoration of humans that was entirely incomprehensible to me. She admired them, she told me, for their pragmatism, loyalty, intelligence, and energy- while she considered her fellow elves as effete, boy-loving intellectuals. She also, she had stated immediately afterwards, considered me as an effete, boy-loving intellectual, even though I failed to see how anything about me suggested I was feminine or homosexual. She had promptly responded to this by clouting me across the face with her fist.

“Blimey,” said Ramsey in a much friendlier tone, now that we knew the elf hadn’t been trying to run away with its new dragon. “In that case. Damned fine pleasure to meetcha, Tasia, Sunglow. I’m Nemo Ramsey, Consul of Defence on the Elder Council…”
‘An unofficial spot…’
“Belt up! And this is my flying toad Ikehr. Care for a round up in the Poison Apple? I’m right knackered from tonight, and we got…” she glanced at Sunglow, concern now in her eyes, “… a right load of rubbish to talk about.”
‘And what about me? Do you expect me to fit through the doors of the P.A.?’
“You will stay out here, and…”

She trailed off, looking down at Sunglow. I followed her gaze. The hatchling’s tiny snout was contorted into a snarl, and she was glaring at something behind me. I glanced backwards to see the vine-tattooed elf coming up towards us, looking very moody. Sunglow hissed and bolted towards it, ready to maul it to pieces. I calmly raised a talon and gently stepped on her tail, just enough to make her stop or risk getting it torn off. She slumped in the snow, still glaring down the tattooed elf with enough death in her eyes to make the mortal drop dead on the spot. I turned to look at Ramsey.

‘Perhaps it is best, then, that I stay outside with the hatchling.’
“Right.” She glanced at the new Rider. “Chivvy along, then!”

Words;; 770
Character(s) Used;; Ikehr with Nemo Ramsey
Muse;; Yay! Better!
Thoughts;; Tis likeable. ^^

[Nayeli]

’my {lovely&}
tasia--!
Featuring: sunglow

I had not meant to cause anger to stir within them, neither of us had meant to cause that. I looked at Sunglow for a moment again, waiting to hear what else they had to say. I knew we could be in huge trouble now that I thought about it. I was sure that the dragon riders knew that Sunglow had hatched, but I was not sure at the same time. How would they know? Sunglow shrugged slightly and looked at me for a moment before looking at Ikehr. He was so large and as she thought about things, I could feel all that she was thinking. She thought of him as this huge beast that was so cool looking. He looked almost like the sky and as I thought about it myself… She was the sun and he was the sky… If she were to sit on his back, it would kind of look like that. I tried to push that from my mind and look at what we had in front of us. We were in trouble… I guessed. My own nervous energy was throwing up a wall around my mind completely, something that I never really noticed, but at I thought about it, I could feel a slight pressure wanting to get in some, possible the mighty dragon before me… Or the Rider? I was not sure, I only knew so much, they probably knew a whole lot more.

As Sunglow said something about the female elf from before about the sore muscle I just grow a bit more mad. That elf had tossed her on the ground hard when Sunglow pounced her and it had hurt me slightly. It was still funny she had gotten all worked up over the prank. I looked back at Ikehr and saw something in his eyes… Was is surprise? Shock? I was not completely sure, I was just learning how to understand Sunglow and it was easy with her because I knew everything in her thoughts and mind, but not this one. Maybe it came with age. As I introduced myself, I wondered what they would think of my middle name, the name Anne, the name my step mother gave me to try and disgrace me. ”I like it.”

I glanced at Sunglow and smiled at her. I liked it too, it gave me something different and I liked being different. It meant I was not the same as others and made me completely different.

“Blimey,” I looked at her as she seemed to become really friendly. I wondered why, but I just smiled slightly. ”In that case. Damned fine pleasure to meetcha, Tasia, Sunglow. I’m Nemo Ramsey, Consul of Defence on the Elder Council…” Wow, she was on the Council! ”An unofficial spot…” I smiled slightly as she quickly turned to her dragon. ”Belt up! And this is my flying toad Ikehr. Care for a round up in the Poison Apple? I’m right knackered from tonight, and we got…” I looked down as Sunglow as she did and then back at her. ”… a right load of rubbish to talk about.” I nodded quickly and then looked at the Dragon as it spoke. ”And what about me? Do you expect me to fit through the doors of the P.A.?” I looked at her for a moment. The place was a bit small for a dragon… A small dragon could fit fine, but not a large dragon like this one. ”You will stay out here, and…”

Sunglow started getting angry, in fact, I could feel the emotion of true hatred and I saw as she bared her small, yet sharp teeth as she glared at something behind the rider and dragon. I leaned over and saw the same thing she saw, the Fully tattoo elf. I decided to leave my own tattoo as it was, I might add to the tattoo on may back, where the vine formed a dragon, but it would be a while. I went to grab Sunglow, but she moved nearly like a snake towards the elf, who seemed to see us. Ikehr quickly put his own talon on the tail of Sunglow and I looked at her as she set down completely in the snow. ”Calm down Sunglow, I am sure one day you will get to show her who is boss.”[/color] I chuckled as I thought that to Sunglow who growled, glancing back at me. She dug her small talons into the snow and dirt so hard it made my own nails hurt and I started rubbing them slightly. ”Hey, lighten up on the grip on the ground, that hurts like hell.”[/color] I said, causing her to realize what she was doing and also noticed it hurt. I rubbed my finger tips slightly and then looked at Nemo. ”It is nice to met you Nemo, and I would love to head over to Poison Apple to get a few drinks.”[/color] I said.

I watched the elf a bit, she moved around the corner and I hoped she was going far away, little did I know, she was going to the Poison Apple herself. ”Perhaps it is best, then, that I stay outside with the hatchling.” Sunglow seemed to get even more upset, having to be watched like a baby is what I got from her thought. She slumped completely in the snow, her head in the snow, a very unpleasant look on her face and on what showed she did not like being controlled by anything. ”Why is it that I can’t just take a chunk out of her, I mean, geez!”[/color] I rolled my eyes at Sunglow for a moment. ”Right… Chivvy along, then!” I nodded towards her and moved aside to let her go on past me. She was the one I was going to be following for a while.
[/blockquote]
’word count--! nine. seven. eight.
’comments--! I think it is getting better
’tagged--! ikehr and nemo ramsey
[/size][/blockquote]
[/color]

[Elloria]

Niko sat on the open balcony of his villa, his legs crossed lotus-style to watch the sun rising. Curled up in his lap, but paying no less attention to the sun, was Arashi. The two had already discovered with great delight that they both enjoyed being up before the sun to watch its ascent and Niko had eagerly pulled Arashi into his usual routine. Of course now, his days would be filled with Rider training as opposed to his usual sort of training but it hadn’t greatly altered Niko’s patterns yet. One hand absentmindedly stroked the scales on Arashi’s neck, making the hatchling hum with pleasure. Save for this, they both remained motionless until the sun had cleared the horizon.

Once it had, however, Niko promptly cupped his arms beneath the dragon, scooped him up, and stood. Arashi let out an indignant squeak at the handling - he still wasn’t quite used to it, as they had only been together for a few days. Niko chuckled and set the hatchling on his right shoulder. It shifted slightly for better balance before huffing to let Niko know it was ready to go. Niko walked swiftly through his villa, not bothering to grab his cloak, sword, or anything else for that matter. He wasn’t going to training today. He was going to visit Tasia. He hadn’t seen much of the elf since they had first arrived in Ilirea and wanted to show her Arashi. His long-held dream had finally been realized and he wanted to share this with the elf he now considered a friend and fellow dragon-lover.

Niko set a brisk pace as he wound his way through the city. He was headed for the Poison Apple, where he knew Tasia was staying. Arashi couldn’t quite understand Niko’s insistence on visiting this elf lady. They would be missing out on important lessons in the Citadel because of it and that displeased Arashi greatly. He poked at Niko’s mind, letting his irritation flow over so that his Rider knew exactly what his thoughts on this excursion were. It’s not going to be the end of the world if we miss a day of training, Arashi. Arashi dug his claws into Niko's shoulder slightly, causing the elf to wince. He clearly disagreed with the elf's assessment, but also didn't have any other means of dragging Niko where he wanted to go. On the other hand, his Rider was eager for this. Niko didn't seem eager about a lot of things, so Arashi felt a bit guilty about trying to dissuade him from going to this meeting. It didn't matter much one way or the other, of course, because they were soon within sight of the inn. And Arashi's interest perked up instantly when he saw/felt a massive steel blue dragon towering over two elves. He started humming in delight. This trip was about to get much more interesting.

Niko slowed his pace when he saw the dragon and its Rider. He recognized them both from his near-constant presence around the dragons - it was Ikehr and the crazy elf that he had hatched for, Nemo Ramsey. For a moment, he wondered if they would scold him for not being at his lessons before deciding there was nothing he could do about it. Besides which, he was curious to know why Ikehr was holding onto what looked like a brand new hatchling. So he approached at a walk and stopped beside the other elf. “Good morning Ramsey, Master Ikehr,” he said politely. He glanced sideways and was surprised to see Tasia there. “Tasia! Just the person I was looking for. Did that dragon hatch for you?” He gestured to the hatchling beneath Ikehr's talon, bright as the sunrise he had just witnessed. “Congratulations! I’m glad you have one as well.” He grinned and reached up to stroke Arashi's chin. “Two new Riders in the span of a few days. Quite unusual, in my experience. But I am glad of it.”

[Emma]

Now that we were nicely settled in, I turned on my heel and headed into the bar. Or, at least, that was what I would have done if we hadn’t been approached by someone that I was not pleased to see.

“Good morning Ramsey, Master Ikehr.” I twitched. Violently so. Ikehr gave me a bored stare. “Tasia! Just the person I was looking for. Did that dragon hatch for you? Congratulations! I’m glad you have one as well. Two new Riders in the span of a few days. Quite unusual, in my experience. But I am glad of it.”

I turned around very slowly, letting a long, slow breath out of my mouth. It turned to steam in the cool air. I had not often engaged in conversation with Niko Danta. He was the quiet bookworm who sat in the back of the room while all the other scholars tittered at him, and a keeper of the eggs. I supposed, then, with his affinity for dragons, that it was no surprise that he’d gotten one to hatch for him- but now I had to see him every single day. I did not associate well with scholars. After a hundred years, I still only barely tolerated Ikehr and his incessant desire to teach me how to write- except now; he was too large for me to do any proper damage to him with my hammer. Raising my shoulders, I felt a familiar maelstrom churning within me.

“Danta,” I said very quietly, tapping the shaft of my hammer, “if I hear anything but ebrithil out o’ yer filthy sewer again…” I tore out the warhammer, brandishing it violently. “ I will gouge out your feckin’ eyeballs! ‘Til you’re a right Rider, you ain’t anything but a low maggoty blighter! You ain’t even a feckin’ elf, and you’ll never be mate enough with me to call me Ramsey. Am I clear, you slimy feckin’ nancy boy, or do I have to use even smaller words?”

Having made my point clear, I turned and stormed into the Poison Apple, the silent, icy air of outside a stark contrast to the stuffy fog of alcohol and pipe-smoke that made up the interior of the tavern. It was only morning, and most of the bouncers were at work getting rid last night’s patrons who were too drunk to move or even wake up. They were heaved up, dragged, and then unceremoniously tossed onto the snow outside. The Poison Apple quite clearly did not adhere to most of Ilirea’s high-brow citizens and certainly not its Riders, but was fawned over by everyone else. Even when Ikehr chose to shed his body and assume a humanoid’s, he never stepped foot in here. Hats were tipped and raised to me as I entered. Good. Respect was damned short these days. I didn’t know what had possessed me to not toss a fireball in Danta’s face.

I marched over to my usual spot at the back, where the inn’s owner, seven-foot-tall ebon-skinned human Tyrus Masozi leaned on the bar, eyeing the inebriated patrons balefully before seeing me come striding up. He beamed a smile that almost seemed almost out of place on such a huge man- indeed, he was famous for reputedly knocking seven men through a wall with one punch. I was good friends with Tyrus. Neither of us saw many of our countrymen- few humans, most of who were slaves taken from the Hadarac Desert, and no elves whatsoever- and we understood each other in terms of combat. I immediately took a seat, having a look at the other patrons. Nobody was drinking at this early hour, but a few shady persons, travellers, had gathered in the tavern.

“You seem ornery today, Miss Ramsey,” said Tyrus as he pushed a mug of beer towards me. “Ikehr give you hell again?”
I snorted. “You don’t know the half of it. And I reckon I’ll need…” I looked behind me, and was depressed to see that Tasia was accompanied by Niko as she entered. “Two more. And two for my mates. Today’ll be hell, innit.”

In the depths of my head, I heard Ikehr speaking to the Riders outside. ‘There was a time in Aroughs when some mortal commented on Ramsey’s lack of height, and then promptly mocked my similarity to a lizard.’ I glowered at the memory, and then glowered still at what Ikehr had done afterwards. ‘It was found dead the next morning. Tragic. Hit its head on a rock, I believe. My point being, Ramsey’s outburst was… how do those filthy mortal wretches put it…? Mm. ‘Nothing personal’, yes. She merely has a temper that could outdo Palancar. Now…’ I heard him shift his weight. ‘I believe the fussy hatchling is in need of being taught, yes?’

Characters Used;; Nemo Ramsey with Ikehr
Words;; 800
Muse;; Uhh... I dunno. o.O Okay-ish, though!
Thoughts;; Another rant! Yay! =D

[Nayeli]

’my {lovely&}
tasia--!
Featuring: sunglow

I could not help but shake my head at my small hatchling, but soon, I heard something or someone coming towards me and turned to see Niko Danta, a friend and not only that, a small purple dragon set on his own shoulder. I had only seen him a week prior with nothing more then his own things and now he held a dragon like I did? This was beyond crazy and also exciting for my part. My own excitement caught Sunglow and she glanced back, seeing the small purple dragon and all of the sudden, wanted to play, but her arrow looking tail was still stuck under the talon of Ikehr.

“Good morning Ramsey, Master Ikehr.” I noticed that Nemo twitched slightly and then he turned towards me and I smiled once again. ”Tasia! Just the person I was looking for. Did that dragon hatch for you? Congratulations!” I smiled, nodding in thanks towards him. ”I’m glad you have one as well. Two new Riders in the span of a few days. Quite unusual, in my experience. But I am glad of it.” I smiled slightly, not really knowing that the unusual thing about it, but I was sure it was slightly different, new and crazy. I looked at Sunglow who nodded towards me, speaking to me only for a moment. ”It is very rare for something like this to happen quickly… I have never seen or felt it done before.”

She said to me, which was still slightly confusing but at the same time, did make sense. Two very young dragons and you did not see many around today, so I figured that was something new.

I then focused on what was going on around me and noticed that Nemo did not seem very happy at all. I wondered what was going on and then, her voice came to my ears, very annoyed and the tapping from her finger to her hammer, could see seen and heard. ”Danta,” I looked between them and then slightly took a step closer to the two dragons, Sunglow and Ikehr, looking between them again. ”if I hear anything but ebrithil out o’ yer filthy sewer again…” She brought her hammer up and I gulped slightly. I was not sure if anyone noticed, but I could hear Sunglow’s voice in my own head. ”Let go of me…”[/color] She was becoming very controlling each moment she was being held, I could tell by the way she was acting and then I looked at Nemo and Niko. ”I will gouge out your feckin’ eyeballs! ‘Til you’re a right Rider, you ain’t anything but a low maggoty blighter! You ain’t even a feckin’ elf, and you’ll never be mate enough with me to call me Ramsey. Am I clear, you slimy feckin’ nancy boy, or do I have to use even smaller words?” I looked at Niko once again and then watched as Nemo went into the Poison Apple, deciding it may be best to let her cool down before joining her, besides, the Poison Apple was a cheap place to sleep compared to other places, but I was not very use to the smoke, though the beer and food was pretty good.

I then glanced at Niko, ”Well… I don’t think she likes you too much Niko.”[/color] I chuckled slightly, scratching the back of my head and looking down at Sunglow who had finally given up on getting her tail undone and was now drawing in the snow. I could tell she was beyond bored and glanced up at Ikehr, still hoping he would let go of her tail. She was not getting any luck. I could smell the smoke and beer, though still having a hard time being around all the smoke, I would get use to it, since I actually did like the food, though, not much of the meat was in my favor. My thoughts of meat caused Sunglow to perk up… ”You know, I am a bit hungry.”[/color] She thought outloud and I smiled, letting out a slow breath before considering going in, but as I was about to, I was stopped by Ikehr’s own voice being broadcasted.

”There was a time in Aroughs when some mortal commented on Ramsey’s lack of height, and then promptly mocked my similarity to a lizard.” I nodded slightly, knowing that with her shortness, it was probably very insulting when someone said something about it. I did not mind it, my sister was probably just as short as she was in elf standers, and she had also turned herself into a mere human looking thing. It was very different for me, but I loved her anyway. ”It was found dead the next morning. Tragic. Hit its head on a rock, I believe. My point being, Ramsey’s outburst was… how do those filthy mortal wretches put it…? Mm. ‘Nothing personal’, yes. She merely has a temper that could outdo Palancar. Now…” He moved slightly and I glanced down at Sunglow, who looked up at him with a confused look. ”I believe the fussy hatchling is in need of being taught, yes?” I smiled and nodded quickly. Sunglow glared at me for a moment, hissing slightly. ”I don’t need to be taught nothing!”[/color] I rolled my eyes slightly and glanced over at Niko for a moment, figuring we could wait for a few moments before heading inside completely.
[/blockquote]
’word count--! nine. zero. one.
’comments--! I still think it needs some work.
’tagged--! ikehr and nemo ramsey; arashi and niko danta
[/size][/blockquote]
[/color]

[Elloria]

Niko barely suppressed a grin as Nemo brandished her hammer at him. He had always known that the older Rider was not fond of him in the slightest and that had forever amused him. She was as far from being the scholarly type as Josk and twice as irritable. But she always set him in the same group as other scholars and that irritated him. His life was not quite as consumed by the Library as most scholars' were, but he doubted she would believe that. And if all she could do was show him contempt for the path he'd chosen, the least he could do was nettle her on occasion just to see her blowup. It was the mischief-maker in him that he'd let out so infrequently since coming to Ilirea.

Arashi, meanwhile, was swishing his tail back and forth in anger. Though he couldn't articulate anything yet, it was abundantly clear to Niko that the hatchling was less than pleased with Nemo's treatment of his Rider. It didn't help that Arashi's claws had begun to dig into his flesh, preparing to launch at the shorter elf. Niko reached up and stroked Arashi's neck gently, sending waves of calm into the hatchling's mind. It's fine, Arashi. If she tries to take a swipe at me, I'll just duck. Don't bother yourself with her, especially when her dragon is here as well. Arashi looked up at Ikehr, considered launching at Nemo anyways, then huffed as Nemo stormed into the Poison Apple. He instead carefully opened his wings and leapt from Niko’s shoulder, gliding over to where the other hatchling was and landing just in front of her. He felt Niko’s wince of pain and felt momentarily guilty, but was immediately distracted by the sunglow hatchling before him. He tilted his head and just watched as he listened to her demands for freedom and insistence that she needed no educating. Amusement and intelligence danced in his eyes in equal measure.

“Well… I don’t think she likes you too much Niko.” Niko grinned at Tasia. “No, but I’ve found Master Nemo’s not very fond of most people. I just nettle her on occasion because she doesn’t see past the scholarly facade.” He shrugged nonchalantly, though it sent slight ripples of pain through his shoulder. “I suppose I should show her more respect than I do, but most of me just finds her outbursts amusing.”

There was a time in Aroughs when some mortal commented on Ramsey’s lack of height, and then promptly mocked my similarity to a lizard. Niko looked up as Ikehr spoke. He’d never heard much about Nemo’s history, but didn’t find either comment surprising. Some people were completely ignorant. It was found dead the next morning. Tragic. Hit its head on a rock, I believe. My point being, Ramsey’s outburst was… how do those filthy mortal wretches put it…? Mm. ‘Nothing personal’, yes. She merely has a temper that could outdo Palancar. Now… Niko watched dispassionately as the older dragon shifted his weight. I believe the fussy hatchling is in need of being taught, yes?

“Hmmm...If you feel so, Master Ikehr.” He glanced at Tasia, then nodded towards the Poison Apple. “In the meantime, perhaps we should join Master Nemo?” He let Tasia lead the way, mildly reluctant to enter the establishment for any reason at all. But he wanted to hear more from Tasia about her experience and her plans now that she, too, had a hatchling to work with. He looked back at Arashi for a moment. Behave, Arashi. The hatchling gave him an innocent look that Niko knew was completely false. I mean it. Arashi nodded, but Niko wondered if the hatchling might not cause havoc anyways just for fun.

[Emma]

As both of the mortals followed my flame-haired Rider into the barnyard occupied by mud-soaked pigs that such denizens called an inn, I let out a long, smoky exhale of relief. The high-pitched prattling of such apes never failed to irritate me, and I could not for the life of me understand why my kind had not simply wiped the elves from existence rather than make this pact with them. I longed for the wild dragons on the rare occasions that I saw them- they were very recluse; and had qualms about seeing the mortals they had made peace with so many years ago. Even I felt as if they thought of me and my fellow bonded dragons as some lower breed of stock- mindless animals among wise sages. It was confusing and irritating, but only Almalexia ever got to speak with them.

But now was not the time for dwelling on my personal concerns. My gaze moved to the two tiny hatchlings staring up at me, one deep violet and the other cheerful golden in hue. I snorted as I brushed their minds, looking for a hint of their personalities. Both, unfortunately, seemed very similar in mannerisms to my Rider- hair-trigger tempers and fire dominated them, and those were never particularly easy to teach. Ramsey was usually the one to deal with such nuisance quirks. She targeted the ones with bad tempers and bad attitudes first, then the meek ones, and finally the depressed ones- destroying their personal problems quite brutally in favour of learning. I was more content to lecture my teachings and simply eat those who did not comply with me.

‘Now, Sunglow, you appear to have a good grasp on the common tongue, although, frankly, your grammar is worse than Ramsey’s. Arashi, I assume that you cannot speak, but you can understand me perfectly well, yes? Come here, both of you. It is better that you cling on tightly rather than my tossing you. It would be simply unbearable if one of our proud race was crushed like a grape against the road. Squishing, crushing, and squashing are strictly only for the flesh creatures.’

I curled my tail towards both of them, and waited patiently as they latched on. Their tiny claws were like very small barbs as they dug in between my scales, more comparable to an annoying itch rather than pain. Once I was convinced that they were nicely settled in, I beat my wings as hard as I could- not to show off, but because taking off in a busy street always sent the unsuspecting scholars flying to their possible doom from the gusts of wind. As expected, mortals either fell face-first into the snow or were even lifted a brief ways as I flapped. After a few moments of my fun, I took off, rising above the street and landing heavily on a building, some kind of very large warehouse suitable for the merchants coming in. Knocking snow off the roof with my talons, I turned to the younglings.

‘Sunglow, upon the Riders’ return from the Hadarac, you and your mortal will be properly inducted into the Order. I’m sure you are both aware of the recent Urgal ambush that struck one of our encampments. Five Riders dead. Very tragic. But now I suppose it is my sworn duty to teach you… oh, dear. Where to begin? Hmm.’ I lowed, gazing across the rooftops. ‘I could instruct you on our race’s lore as well as the Riders’, although you two would probably eat a book rather than read it. No flying, fire-breathing, battle tactics… well, then.’ I blew smoke down at them. ‘What would you like to learn?’

Character(s) Used;; Ikehr
Words;; 616
Muse;; So-so.
Thoughts;; I decided not to use Nemo here since she's still waiting in the tavern. XD

[Nayeli]

’my {lovely&}
tasia--!
Featuring: sunglow

I was surprised that Niko was so calm whil Nemo seemed ready to kill him, it was something about his calm attitude that I admired about him. He was friendly and I liked him a lot, he was like a brother in a way. We got along great, but then I watched as Nemo went on inside the Poison Apple and we were left with the large dragon and two smaller ones, mine still trapped by the large steel blue dragon. I could not help but smile down at her, she was very crazy, but I had quickly learned to love her. She was flexible and did not move like the large dragon I once saw, who seem bulky and only graceful in the sky, but she seemed so much different that one and she was. ”Of course I am!”

Her yelling at me caused me to flinch slightly. I was still not use to the fact that she could hear and understand my thoughts. ”I will always be different!”[/color] I smiled, nodding toward her for a moment. I was not sure if those were broadcast, but I did not say anything, just looked at Niko for a moment, who seemed content to allow calm his own dragon, before he flew over to Sunglow, though, it was more of a glide.

They looked at each other for a moment and Sunglow growled slightly before giving up once again on the freedom she demanded. ”What?”[/color] She tilted her head yet again and laid her head in the snow, blowing the snow from her face and letting her sun kissed eyes looked between everything. She growled in annoyance and I smiled yet again. I had said something about Nemo not liking Niko, which was very apparent. ”No, but I’ve found Master Nemo’s not very fond of most people. I just nettle her on occasion because she doesn’t see past the scholarly facade.” I smiled slightly… I did not know Nemo Ramsey very well, but she did not seem like a very nice person, she was slightly crazy from what I could tell, but then again, she also seemed nice if the right person came to her at the right time. ”I suppose I should show her more respect than I do, but most of me just finds her outbursts amusing.” I gave him a look that said, he needed to stop it.

Then, Ikehr spoke about something from the past and then about teaching the hatchlings, which Sunglow did not seem too fond of. She growled slightly at the idea, but she just laid there, given up on getting free for the time being, but in her brain, she was going over ideas. Biting was out, his skin was too tough. I wanted to laugh at some of her ideas and the amusement got me a glare that said, ’Shut the hell up.’ I rolled my eyes slight. ”Hmmm...If you feel so, Master Ikehr.” I caught Niko’s glanced towards me and motioned towards the Poison Apple. I looked over my shoulder and nodded slightly, feeling we had given enough time to Nemo. ”In the meantime, perhaps we should join Master Nemo?” I turned, following Niko into the smoke filled air and drunkard filled bar. I did not mind the drunks, it was mostly the smoke I had to get us to. ”Just listen to him Sunglow, you may learn something.”[/color] I knew that she did not want to, but she just grumbled to me mental and then it seemed she was freed from her capture.

I walked over, sitting a bar stool away from Nemo, giving her plenty of space. I did not like to be cramped, so I figured she did not like to either. I set, taking the drink from the man and take a large drink. It was not very fond of the stuff, but it was something cold and it was still better then some things. I smiled slightly, the way I dressed catching the eyes of many men. Niko was use to it by now, my black fabric clothing was not much, just covered what needed to be covered. My tattoos were shown on my arms, shoulders and around my neck, and the skirt was ripped to hell and back. I took a look around, seeing the elf woman from before, her eyes following me. I narrowed my own, half tempted to push into her mind, but decided not to. It would be fun to mess with her, but I knew better, my four hundred and twenty five years old me not to.

I looked at Nemo, my emerald eyes looked over the flame haired woman and I smiled slightly. ”Master Nemo… You said we had things to talk about?”[/color] I was someone who wanted to learn and though, Niko found it humorous to mess with her, I knew I had to learn. I knew she was older then me as a Dragon Rider and I had to learn in order to do my best.

----- ----- ----- ----- -----

I hated it… I felt trapped by the large dragon, my tail was beginning to hurt slightly and I wanted the damned Elf that had gotten on my nervous. My rider did not like her and neither did I. I had seen the conversation from the night before and I hated it. Now, as I watched my rider go away, I felt the talon lift off my tail and I scampered quickly from the large foot and examined my tail. It seemed fine, which I was glad for, but I looked up at him. I did not like being controlled like that, in fact, I hated it. I growled slightly, though, it sounded more like a small dog growling. I looked at the other hatchling, who had yet to speak and I figured, did not know how to speak. It would probably mean I could talk more, but then again, I would not be annoyed by talking. However, I was sure this Purple Dragon would be of good friends. My rider and his seemed to like each other, which gave me good hope we would be around each other more.

I saw the large dragon look at us and I stared at him with my own sunkissed eyes. I did not remove my gaze, I was going to show that I was strong too. I felt him brush my mind and shock my head slightly, snorting at the thought of him doing so. Well, I did not like it much and tried to ignore it, but he still did it without a problem. He was strong, but I was not going to be over powered by him, I would not allow such a thing to happen to myself. I wondered what it was he wanted to teach and waited for him to speak. ”Now, Sunglow, you appear to have a good grasp on the common tongue, although, frankly, your grammar is worse than Ramsey’s. Arashi, I assume that you cannot speak, but you can understand me perfectly well, yes? Come here, both of you. It is better that you cling on tightly rather than my tossing you. It would be simply unbearable if one of our proud race was crushed like a grape against the road. Squishing, crushing, and squashing are strictly only for the flesh creatures.” I looked at Arashi for a moment and then back at Ikehr who had curled his tail over to us. I jumped slightly, grabbing on tightly, and waiting for Arashi, who did the same. My tail, instinctively, curled as far around the tail as it could, which was not much. After we were both on, Ikehr started to beat his powerful wings, trying to push himself up and soon, he had done just that and landed on a large roof, scrapping the snow away. I went to the edge and looked down, some of the other elves and humans were not face first into the ground, causing me to laugh slightly.

”Sunglow, upon the Riders’ return from the Hadarac, you and your mortal will be properly inducted into the Order. I’m sure you are both aware of the recent Urgal ambush that struck one of our encampments. Five Riders dead. Very tragic. But now I suppose it is my sworn duty to teach you… oh, dear. Where to begin? Hmm.” I looked at him, could tell he did not want to do this, but I kept my mouth such tightly. I had not heard of any ambush and from what I could tell, my rider had only just arrived into the city. She had told me about traveling only a few days prior and I figured she had not heard herself. ”I could instruct you on our race’s lore as well as the Riders’, although you two would probably eat a book rather than read it. No flying, fire-breathing, battle tactics… well, then.” I snorted slightly as the smoke was sent on us, tried huffing smoke myself, but nothing came out. ”What would you like to learn?” I thought about it for a moment, my tail moving around like a cat before it stopped… ”What about… The recent events? I know a lot about the Lore because I remember my mother’s thoughts and my father’s thoughts while I was in the egg.” It was a awful prison, but it was my home for many years.
[/blockquote]
’word count--! one. five. seven. zero.
’comments--! ^_^ I actually liked this post
’tagged--! ikehr and nemo ramsey; arashi and niko danta
[/size][/blockquote]
[/color]

[Elloria]

Niko almost chuckled at the stern look Tasia gave him. But they say discretion is the better part of valor and Niko didn’t particularly feel like starting an actual fight. So he just quietly led the way into the inn, then let Tasia take the lead as they approached Nemo. He moved his stool slightly to create a bit more space between him and Tasia before sitting down on the other side of her. He took the drink the bartender offered him, but did not drink from it at first. He wanted a clear head for the time being and knew the alcohol would intoxicate him quickly. He was not a drinker and didn’t intend to become one. Ever. He looked indifferently around the inn at the numerous inebriated inhabitants. He sometimes wondered what was so fantastic about being so completely out of control of one’s actions. Plenty of them were leering unpleasantly at Tasia and it angered him. They acted as if she were nothing more than a piece of ass to tap, to put it vulgarly - which was all this brutes seemed to deserve. He turned from them in disgust and began paying attention to what Tasia and Nemo were saying. He held his tongue for the moment, preferring to listen instead of contribute.

Arashi gazed innocently at his Rider as Niko commanded him to behave. That really put a damper on things, but Niko insisted so Arashi nodded to assure the elf he would play nice. As his Rider walked away, he looked up at the steel-blue dragon towering above him. Though the dragon dwarfed him considerably, he wasn't particularly impressed. He curled his tail around his legs and began inspecting it for dirt. He could tell it was not a fighter, as he would be one day, but more of the scholarly bent that Niko seemed so fond of. This one wouldn't be particularly good for what he wanted to learn, but Arashi kept that thought to himself. He flinched away sharply as the dragon - Ikehr, if he recalled what Niko had called it - brushed against his consciousness. Though he was now a Rider's dragon, he was still more wild than most. There was still some distrust for other bonded dragons, a holdover from the impressions gathered from his mother.

But he'd promised to behave. So he sat docilely and made a few quick swipes at his tail with his tongue so that it was clean, instead of foolishly trying to attack the much larger Ikehr. Now, Sunglow, you appear to have a good grasp on the common tongue, although, frankly, your grammar is worse than Ramsey’s. Arashi, I assume that you cannot speak, but you can understand me perfectly well, yes? Arashi felt some small amusement as Ikehr slighted the other hatchling known as Sunglow. He glanced at it, feeling a bit ill at ease now. He liked Niko because the elf was not very talkative. His Rider understood how to express himself without words and do so skillfully. This Sunglow had already shown it was a talker. That might be troublesome later on. As for himself, Arashi let his understanding flow out towards Ikehr’s consciousness. He knew what was being said perfectly fine. He just wasn’t ready to speak yet. Come here, both of you. It is better that you cling on tightly rather than my tossing you. It would be simply unbearable if one of our proud race was crushed like a grape against the road. Squishing, crushing, and squashing are strictly only for the flesh creatures.

As Ikehr’s tail settled before him, Arashi immediately leapt forward and latched onto it with his sharp claws. He doubted it did much harm to the large dragon, but it was always good to get some sort of hunting practice in. He didn’t get to do that much because he was still so small, but his mother had always stressed how important the hunt was before relinquishing him to the Riders. He felt Sunglow right beside him before all else was swept aside in the sensation of being in the air. He delighted in that sensation more than anything else and it was why he could be seen gliding around at any given opportunity. It ended too quickly, of course, as Ikehr landed on top of one of the two-leggeds’ buildings. Sunglow immediately dashed over to the edge, laughing at the sight of two-leggeds sprawled in the cold white substance known as snow. Arashi, however, waited until Ikehr had cleared the snow from the roof before hopping off its tail. He could already see an hour’s worth of cleaning ahead of him as it was from sitting in the filthy streets; he wanted to avoid more work than was necessary to keep himself pristine and gleaming.

He looked up and watched Ikehr attentively as it began speaking once more. Sunglow, upon the Riders’ return from the Hadarac, you and your mortal will be properly inducted into the Order. I’m sure you are both aware of the recent Urgal ambush that struck one of our encampments. Five Riders dead. Very tragic. But now I suppose it is my sworn duty to teach you… oh, dear. Where to begin? Hmm... It took its time contemplating what to discuss with him and Sunglow. I could instruct you on our race’s lore as well as the Riders’, although you two would probably eat a book rather than read it. No flying, fire-breathing, battle tactics… well, then. When it blew smoke down at them, Arashi huffed irritably. Ikehr had just dismissed all the things he wanted to learn! How frustrating. Next time he would really have to insist that Niko take them to their lessons. He already had heard about the ambush - Niko told him everything about the goings-on of the bonded dragons and their two-legged Riders. He’d thought it would be somewhat interesting, but the large dragon didn’t seem interested in anything Arashi considered worthwhile. Just as he’d suspected. What would you like to learn? Before he could give any impression at all, Sunglow immediately spoke up. Yes, she was a chatter. Perhaps if she talked less, she would catch more of what was going on around her. He didn't bother to hide that impression from either of them before showing his interest in flying. He wasn't sure if Ikehr would show preference for the current events over flying, but he might as well try.

[Emma]

The first sip of any alcohol I had was always the worst, but now the cool liquid in my parched mouth was actually soothing. Ikehr’s attention was currently turned towards the two hatchlings, so I couldn’t confide in him, leaving me to sit sulking and snarling as the two new Riders came over. Both Tasia and Danta left a good deal of intervening space between me and them as they sat down, taking their drinks and turning towards me expectantly. I took another sip of my drink and curled my hand into a fist, eyeing the fingerless black leather glove. My warhammer, which I was not going to put away while Danta was nearby, leaned against the bar beside me. The muted greyish blue of the brightsteel head glowed very slightly in the orange light of the fireplaces.

“Master Nemo…” said Tasia. “You said we had things to talk about?”

I looked her over. So far, she had yet to display any of the arrogance or superiority of most elves, especially new Riders, and seemed to genuinely respect me- or, at least, she didn’t want a taste of my hammer in her face. But then again, from the very revealing clothes she wore, she was probably one of those ‘free spirit’ types. Her torn, showy outfit got more than a few looks from the male patrons, and disapproving ones from the waitresses. Having dressed as a man all my life- especially to avoid the reality of rape during life at sea- I figured if she got ogled, it was her own fault. Most Riders wore armour, anyway, since it wasn’t exactly safe to leave Ilirea in anything but. But seeing as she’d left a good first impression on me, I would keep quiet about her outfit. For now.

For a moment, I glared at Danta, expecting him to make a smart comment. But he kept his mouth shut, miraculously. I turned back to Tasia. “Yeah. First, you ain’t a proper Rider till you take your vows. As most of the Riders are… indisposed thanks to those bleeding ox-faced duffers out in the Hadarac, that ain’t happening anytime soon. Second, and I’m assumin’ you know this already…” I gave a long sigh. “Back in my day, when there’s a new egg-hatching? Big party. All the elves invited. Real good times. But now? It’s naff. Almost embarrassing to be a Rider. So don’t go pissing around like you own the place, ‘cause most folk don’t take kindly to us.”

Talking about the very blatant fact that Ilirea was going pear-shaped was never easy, and something any Rider with a half a brain tried to avoid. But it was important- young and old Riders alike could get big heads, think they were better than the people we were sworn to serve. And that could end in calamity. I dreaded the day when some elf was found neatly folded up in a back alley next to his dragon, slaughtered by a citizen that had had enough of us. I hadn’t condoned this kind of thinking a few decades ago, assuming it was paranoid garbage brought on by the Blue Divide- but the reality of a war against the Riders was disturbingly close. Even Ikehr, who liked to disassociate himself from everything, felt it. I was planning on saying more, but just then a semi-familiar sight caught my attention. Ill-lit eyes and vine tattoos got me snarling.

“Oi, egg guard. Think I didn’t recognize you, eh? Get your slimy arse over here before I chop your legs off!”

---

‘What about… the recent events?’ It was the first time I’d heard Sunglow voice something besides pompous rage. Fascinating. ‘I know a lot about the lore because I remember my mother’s thoughts and my father’s thoughts while I was in the egg.’

I glanced at Arashi next. Though he could not speak, the visual thoughts and emotions he broadcasted were more than enough for me to understand him. Currently, he was displaying prominent annoyance at Sunglow. He was not fond of talkers, apparently, and assumed she was a terrible listener for that very fact. His mind, however, was full of aerial wars and gouts of flame- and was very similar to Ramsey in that respect. Both of them were. I blew out more smoke, just not at them this time. I already had one rampaging berserker to deal with, and the Order simply did not need any more. It was truly a shame that most of the younger dragons’ concerns did not go beyond bloodletting. However, Sunglow, at the very least, wished to learn more about the world around her.

When I’d touched their minds, I had indeed gleaned the massive stores of information their parents and their parents’ parents had imposed upon them when still in their eggs. Sunglow was incredibly old- her parents’ memories were of the blood and carnage of Wyrdfell, nine thousand years ago. Arashi was much younger, but his mother, a wild dragon, had imposed very different information than his bonded father. A desire to learn hunting was very clear in the indigo dragon’s mind, which I agreed with- I, however, had not been able to hunt anything larger than rats when I had first hatched, and Ilirea was an astonishingly clean city. The forest would be a good start for the both of them, but keeping a dragon apart from their Rider at this critical age would be unwise.

‘Recent events…’ I announced quietly, ‘are unpleasant. War, murder, disease- within our borders as well as without.’ After momentarily checking what Ramsey was thinking, I added, ‘Ramsey is instructing your Riders now on such matters. Ah! And there is your first lesson. Being tuned in with your partner all the time, even unconsciously. This is absolutely vital- if your Rider is in danger, their fear should wake you from the deepest slumber. Contact your Rider now. Look within the tavern and take note of their thoughts. In fact…’ I gazed at the snow-laden street below, seeing four elves heading towards the Poison Apple. They were tattooed with vines, just as the elf guard that Ramsey had barked at were. ‘… danger may very well be approaching now. Go on, then.’ I flicked my tail. ‘Show me that you have the connection.’

Character(s) Used;; Nemo Ramsey and Ikehr
Words;; 1050
Muse;; MEH.
Thoughts;; It sucks, but... -glares at Ell- I needed to hurry it along.

[Nayeli]

’my {lovely&}
tasia--!
Featuring: sunglow

I heard the chuckle come from Niko has I had glared at him sternly. It was not to be mean at all, I just knew he needed to learn and he could stand a few harsh glares every now and then. He knew me weel enough after the first few days of traveling with me and now that we were both here. I was not completely sure what I would do here, but I had a feeling things would come quickly. I glanced over at Niko as we entered the bar and then set down, taking a drink. I had drank before, so the stuff did not harm me as much as some would and it would take a few more glasses before I needed to stop. I would probably only have one glass and then stop, because this was not as good as some and it was just something to get the morning started… After this… Water and fruit would do me some good. I glanced around as Niko looked back, chuckling slightly at him for a moment. I was not going to change the way I dressed, not for one second. This was me and I like it. I could move easily and quickly, I was strong and I had been in this for Many, many years.

Nemo seemed to be enjoying her drink, so I did not say anything at first, focusing on the connection I had found out about with my own hatchling, which was hard to grasp completely at the moment since she was interested in everything. I was seeing everything from climbing onto a tail, seeing the people in the street below and then, feeling how much she was not liking Arashi at the moment for not talking and also… Looking at her like she was annoying. I smiled slightly as I took another drink and set it down. I was taking it slow, knowing better to drink fast. I had been taught manners at a very young age, mostly because my father wanted me to be respected and he wanted me to respect others. So I learned quickly and I could only hope it was helping.

She turned her eyes onto me, my emerald eyes shown brightly like the crown that was on top of my head and no matter what, I would not dare remove it. My father had made it and she could do anything to me, but this was not coming off. If it was broken, I would fix it and make it into something else, or return it to him. I glanced around again, smiling slightly at how people looked at me. They would have to get use to it, I was not changing for them and never would change for them. Nemo, she wore man clothes, which I was fine, with. From a start, I could tell she was not raised like me, in the middle of Du Weldenvarden and her accent made me think of something like part of a crew on a ship. I had been to the coast before and heard the accents and I did not plan on saying anything about her outfit, as long as she left mine alone.

I was also surprised that Niko was being quiet, looking over at him for a moment and taking a leap, brushing my mine against his own. ”Ok, your being too quiet… Deciding to be quiet for the time being?”

It was worded to be like a joke and I hope he got it that way. I then turned my head back to Nemo as she spoke to me. ”Yeah. First, you ain’t a proper Rider till you take your vows.” I nodded slightly, feeling that I would need to do something like that. ”As most of the Riders are… indisposed thanks to those bleeding ox-faced duffers out in the Hadarac, that ain’t happening anytime soon. Second, and I’m assumin’ you know this already…” I turned my head slightly, knowing a lot since I was not a young, young elf, but I was not a old elf either. ”Back in my day, when there’s a new egg-hatching? Big party. All the elves invited. Real good times. But now? It’s naff. Almost embarrassing to be a Rider. So don’t go pissing around like you own the place, ‘cause most folk don’t take kindly to us.” I knew this. My mother was like that, however, Thanks to my Father, my sister was able to run off with a rider to the Silver Forest. I nodded slightly, looking down at the drink and taking another sip. ”Yea, I remember… Four hundred years ago and things were good… But not any more… Believe me, I know.”[/color] I said to her, looking at the glass.

I knew better then to get a big head. My hand rubbed my neck, the vines on my own shoulder and arms moved with my skin and it was beautiful. I really wanted to add to it, but I figured it would come with age and what Sunglow thought as well. ”Really, you are gonna think about your appearance? Geez.”[/color] I smiled slightly at the sound of my dragon in my head and tried to send her a mental image of my body covered in the vines… ”No so pretty Sweetie… I would stick with what you have and add some to it here and there.”[/color] I laughed slightly to myself and then turned around, seeing the tattooed female-elf and smiled slightly. ”Oi, egg guard. Think I didn’t recognize you, eh? Get your slimy arse over here before I chop your legs off!” I smiled slightly at Nemo.

The female elf rolled her eyes slightly, glancing at a few male elves who smiled. They were young, I could tell, probably just turning 100 or something, but she came up, acting as if she was just going to humor us. ”What.” I glanced at Nemo, knowing she would handle herself, but I did not want to step out of line. I glanced at Niko for a moment and brushed his mind again, hoping to gain access. ”This elf is a hot headed elf… Tried to keep me out of the chambers by saying I would not get a dragon and then called Sunglow a rat.”[/color] I said to him, helping him to understand this elf was no friend and I could hear Sunglow growling in my ears as if she was right there.

----- ----- ----- ----- -----

I was not completely sure who this other hatchling was, but he did not talk and his extra glares did not help me at all. I did not like glares and since he was not talking, I did not like the idea of him looking at me annoyed and hateful like. I didn’t even do anything to the hatchling and I did not like being accused, as it seemed like I was being one. He also seemed like a slight neat freak, he was cleaning himself in the middle of a street… I could wait for such thing, I was out for the first time, cleaning my scales right now would put myself into danger because I would not be paying full attention. I glanced around for a moment before getting on the large blue dragon’s tail and feeling the wind rush past me. Arashi had tried to pounce on the dragon as if it was a piece of meat, I was a bit more considerate about him, but knew it did not hurt him much. I found amusement in watching the humans below grumble at us for making them fall, it was rather entertaining to be a matter of fact. I then turned back, rejoining the two and looking up slightly at Ikehr as he spoke about the things going on.

I wanted to learn all I could, I was not completely about control, this was something I did not know completely, so I wanted to learn. I listened to everyone, but this Arashi kept on having a annoyed look on his face when I said something. I brushed it away, trying not to be judging and also hearing thoughts in my head from my riders as she thought about things, such as her tattoo. I tried mostly to listen to Ikehr, but as she thought more about it and I had to say something. Basically asking her why and then after I got a mental image of her completely tattooed with the design I could not help but say, she was not as pretty with it all. I knew she wanted to add and I did not mind, but she needed to add on special occasions in my opinion. ”Maybe your right.”[/color] I mental smiled and rolled my eyes at her before focusing on stuff going on around me.

I wanted to learn about the world and I looked at Ikehr. Sure, I could go around the city and listen in on conversation, but I wanted to learn, not be a nuisances. ”Recent events…” I looked up at him with interest, glancing over at Arashi. ”are unpleasant. War, murder, disease- within our borders as well as without.” I hissed slightly, sticking my tongue out at the idea of everything. War… Murder… Disease… I did not like that. ”Ramsey is instructing your Riders now on such matters. Ah! And there is your first lesson.” I looked at him for a moment, waiting. ”Being tuned in with your partner all the time, even unconsciously. This is absolutely vital- if your Rider is in danger, their fear should wake you from the deepest slumber. Contact your Rider now. Look within the tavern and take note of their thoughts. In fact…” I was about to when he stated something else. ”… danger may very well be approaching now. Go on, then… Show me that you have the connection.” I rushed to the edge and hissed violently as I saw the female.

I started focusing more on Tasia, seeing that she was looking at the vined elf. I could hear Nemo calling to the elf through Tasia and then felt Tasia sooth me slightly. I growled, but laid down slightly, listening intently to everything, including what was going on around me. [/blockquote]
’word count--! one. seven. zero. five.
’comments--! ^_^ I actually liked this post
’tagged--! ikehr and nemo ramsey; arashi and niko danta
[/size][/blockquote]
[/color]

[Elloria]

Arashi was unsurprised when Ikehr began discussing current events. It seemed to equate his desire for flight with his desire for fighting. While the two were quite closely related, he just wanted to soar through the skies. He remembered the dragon Salien's delight when they had flown from the nesting site of the wild dragons to Ilirea. It was a delight he sometimes caught snatches of when other dragons flew by overhead. It spoke to a primal part of him and, impulsive being that he was, he wanted instant gratification of that desire. Niko had already begun teaching him about the whole delayed gratification thing, but it was a difficult lesson to grasp. Why wait when it could be had right now? When Ikehr suggested they reach out for their Rider’s minds, Arashi eagerly sent a tendril of thought down to Niko. He was always wondering what his Rider was up to. He didn’t generally like leaving Niko alone for too long. The elf liked to think about boring or depressing things and brood over its brother. Not healthy thinking, in Arashi’s opinion. He showed his concern over the vine-covered elf and her cronies that were apparently approaching, adding in Sunglow’s clear dislike for the individuals. Overall, he impressed upon Niko a desire for the elf to be careful - Arashi wasn’t big enough yet to hop down there and teach those impudent elves what-for if they decided to give Niko and his friends trouble. Satisfied that Niko understood him, he contented himself with just listening to what was happening in the tavern through Niko’s perspective.

Niko smiled slightly as he felt the brush of Tasia's mind. Quiet, eh? I find that Master Nemo deals with me better if I hold my tongue. And it was quite true. If he - or any scholar, for that matter - kept his mouth shut around Nemo, hammers were less likely to go flying. Always a good thing, that. Thus he silently listened to Nemo go on about how it was practically an embarrassment to be a Rider nowadays. He'd heard the spiel already, but it never hurt to be reminded of the tenuous nature of one's situation. He felt Arashi in his mind huffing at Nemo's speech before seeing images of numerous vine-covered elves. He soothed the dragon, assuring it that he would look after himself and keep out of harm's way as much as possible.

A moment later, he heard Nemo holler, “Oi, egg guard. Think I didn’t recognize you, eh? Get your slimy arse over here before I chop your legs off!” He turned to contemplate the female slithering over to them. He recognized her immediately as one of the new guards Melatoth had hired while Niko had been away in Ellesmera. A whole posse like her had been hired around the same time. He’d given Melatoth and Salien plenty of grief over their hiring, but he’d been vetoed in his attempts to remove them from duty. Something about old blood or other. He just knew there had been nothing but trouble out of the lot from the moment he’d returned. This elf is a hot headed elf… Tried to keep me out of the chambers by saying I would not get a dragon and then called Sunglow a rat. Niko’s eyes narrowed slightly as Tasia explained what had happened while he was still watching the sunrise. Elves were never denied entrance into the Font unless something completely cataclysmic had happened. But then to have the gall and utter ignorance to compare something so magnificent as a dragon to a vile creature like a rat? Well, there went that promise of self-control.

When she stood in front of them and insolently asked what, Niko snapped. He meant no disrespect to Nemo as he spoke, but he could hold his tongue no longer. “What’s your name, guard?” he said quietly. The woman turned her insolent gaze upon him before recognition flashed through her eyes. He might not know her name yet, but she certainly should recognize him and his. “Itarildë, Niko-vodhr. Of the Tur-anion House.” The Tur-anion House? He made a mental note to speak with Josk about them.

“Itarildë? Good. I like to know the names of the people I intend to have fired.” Itarildë scowled at him. He grinned back good-naturedly, but his eyes had gone from bright silver to storm-cloud grey. “Would you be the reason Tasia and her hatchling were hunted down by Nemo-ebrithil and Ikehr-ebrithil instead of being taken straight to the Citadel - which, may I remind you, is part of your job?” Itarildë shuffled awkwardly on her feet before the arrogant look returned to her face. “I would have, but she took off with it. After it had attacked me, of course.” Arashi reminded Niko of the approaching posse. He smiled mentally at his hatchling, assuring it things were still under control. “Was the attack before or after you called it a rat? I can only assume it was after you tried to keep Tasia from entering the Font to begin with.” That earned a mental growl from Arashi and a look of surprise flickering across Itarildë’s face. “Congratulations. I don’t think any guard has lasted less than a month with us at the Font. I expect you’ll be hearing from Salien and Melatoth the moment I inform them of your insubordination and grievous lack of respect.”

On the warehouse roof, Arashi dug his claws into the tiles. A rat?! Outrage emanated from his consciousness to all those currently linked to him. That flesh thing had dared compare a dragon to another flesh thing? He ought to go down to the tavern right now and claw her eyes out! And anything else he could get to! Show her just how different his kind were from a disease-ridden filth-eater like a rat. Why was Niko telling him to stay put? That vine-elf-that-wasn’t-a-friend and her group needed to learn proper respect - whether by a stern talking-to or a good talon to the gut!

[Emma]

As the elf lazily removed herself from her seat, I started tapping the shaft of my hammer again, my lip curled into a snarl. She gazed at me with an indifferent, entirely insolent stare, which only made my temper rise. Though I had never been captain of my own ship, I had served as first mate for much of my early adulthood on the Virtuous Harlot, and I had often seen men that behaved like this on my rounds. The rich, bored sort that did whatever they wanted whenever they wanted simply because they could. Though they were usually too frail for me to give them a proper beating like I did with the manic-depressive problem sailors and the hotheads, I took particular pleasure in tearing apart their illusions of superiority and teaching them how the common man worked. The female elf came to halt right in front of us, tight-lipped and unimpressed.

“What?” she said irritably, as if to a nagging mother.
I opened my mouth to unleash the slew of verbal abuse I’d been preparing for her, but Danta cut me off.
“What’s your name, guard?”
“Itarildë, Niko-vodhr. Of the Tur-anion House.”
“Itarildë? Good. I like to know the names of the people I intend to have fired.”

The next exchange made me forget everything I’d been planning to say. Danta had always had a tongue that incessantly flapped, but now his words were laced with poison that only seemed even more potent because of how eerily quiet they were. When I looked at his face, it was schooled, even split apart by a grin, but his eyes were dark with a fury that I’d never seen there before. His threats were simple, precise, and certainly not empty- I doubted I even had to say anything to the woman after it. I couldn’t describe the utter surprise I felt at the infuriating scholar tearing Itarildë apart. When he was finished, her shocked expression was probably a mirror image of mine. I immediately scowled again, but eyed Danta curiously. What had set off his slow-burning temper like that?

However, before Itarildë or anyone else could speak, four other elves entered the tavern, three men and a woman. They were tattooed with vines just as Itarildë was, even down to a similar patterning of the leaves, and so probably of the same House. I kept my fingers on the hammer as they approached out of sheer habit. They were cheery, and I doubted any of them would be stupid enough to attack a senior Rider, but the elves of Du Weldenvarden were an unusual type. Cruel, illogical, and vengeful, if the Grand Game was anything to judge by. Like Itarildë, they did not bow or speak in respect to us, but instead greeted their cousin, and gave us suspicious glances. With members of her extended family around her, Itarildë’s confidence appeared to be surging back.

“Forgive our sister, Niko-vodhr,” said one of the men pleasantly. “She’s not used to dealing with foreign traditions.”
“It’s ‘Lirean,” I snarled. “Ain’t nothing foreign about it!”
He reacted oddly violently, stumbling backwards. Then he leaned in very close, and I caught the stink of alcohol on his breath. “I’m afraid I couldn’t understand that verbal diarrhea, ebrithil. Would you care to restate that… more eloquently?”
I reacted accordingly. The man almost fell backwards when I swung my warhammer over my head and jabbed the rear spike at his throat. Then, turning back to my aristocratic roots and the way my mother had raised me to speak, I changed my accent.
“How foul and loathsome is thine image, peasant. Shall I kill you, most wicked sir? Tempt not too much the hatred of my spirit, for I am sick when I do look on thee.”
‘Ramsey?’ came Ikehr’s awestruck voice. ‘Did you just speak?’
‘Shut up!’

I heard the scream of blade against metal, and immediately leaned backwards, raising my hammer just in time to meet a sabre glancing off the brightsteel head. I went too far and the chair toppled, making me wince as I struck the ground back first. I rolled out of the way of another slice and swung my leg round, knocking down the one who’d been attacking me. I knew that I couldn’t match the speed of a swordfight with my hammer, so I snatched up the fallen elf’s sabre and flung myself into the fray amid screams from the other patrons. I ended up meeting Itarildë, and our weapons skated against each other as we snaked across the room, knocking aside tables and chairs. I kept my ears open in case one of the other three elves went after me, but Tasia and Danta were probably handling them. The blades crossed and slid and sparks exploded from the shrieking metal.

I had never been particularly proficient with a sword, but against Itarildë, it was more than enough- she was only trained to fight off common thugs, not Riders. Patrons screamed and ducked and dove as I struck and stabbed at the other woman. I found an opening when she lifted her blade high- too high- and I sent it sailing across the room, where it landed point-first in the wood of the bar, embedding itself there. I poked the sabre at Itarildë’s throat, catching my breath and smirking. Before I could run her through, however, the sound of stomping feet attracted my attention. I turned to see Tyrus Masozi standing behind his bar, all seven feet of him swelled up in fury, eyes sloe-black with rage. Hands curled into fists over a steel warhammer nearly twice the size of mine, he regarded all eight of us before shouting in a voice like a vast velvet drum.

“FETCHERS!” he bellowed. “Tables upended, chairs bruk! Get your knife-eared asses out of me establishment! An’ting…”

He hefted the massive hammer over his head, eyes sparkling. Everyone knew better than to try it on. Itarildë and her posse turned and stumbled out, with me on their heels, only stopping to collect my own weapon. I also kept the sabre I’d taken from one of the male elves. Settling the warhammer back into the leather strap on my back, I marched out under the glares of Tyrus and his bouncers, knowing I’d have to come back later with gold for the damages and an apology or three. Destroying a countryman’s inn was not something to take pride in. I moved at a tilt out into the icy air, but when I left the Poison Apple, there was no one waiting outside. The vine-tattooed elves had disappeared, at least for now. Somehow, I doubted it was the last I would see of them today.

Characters Used;; Nemo Ramsey with Ikehr
Words;; 1120
Muse;; So-so until Nemo spoke proper English. Then fun!
Thoughts;; I think I rushed the second half of this post, but I still like it. ^^

[Nayeli]

’my {lovely&}
tasia--!
Featuring: sunglow

I felt Sunglow intense on focusing on me and other things and each time I closed my eyes, I saw what she saw, as if she knew I was blinking. I tried not to think much of it, well, mostly trying to focus on other things. Such as, the vine elf that had entered and also, the feeling of trouble coming. ”People are coming, Tasia… A group, but they are still minutes away.”

Though she was very young, she was smart and knew that she needed to warn me of things, which was a good thing. I quickly sent her a okay and then focused some on Niko as he brushed my own mind again. ”I find that Master Nemo deals with me better if I hold my tongue.” I mentally chuckled and nodded quietly to him. I looked at the vine woman, but I was going to leave her be, still hearing the snarling coming from Sunglow, but Nemo had to say something and soon she was coming over, with a annoying answer back to them.

I noticed after telling him about the woman, that he narrowed his own eyes. I was not sure where the woman had come from, but honestly, I did not care much. She was a bitch and I hated her. The agreement that came from my hatchling was quick and I rolled my eyes at her. ”What’s your name, guard?” I saw her look at him, glancing at me, a sly smile coming to my own face for a moment. I wanted to hear as well, because it would possible come in handy when I met up with her again. ”Itarildë, Niko-vodhr. Of the Tur-anion House.” I had heard of that house before, but it had been a while and I really did not know anything about them. I looked over at Niko who smiled slightly. ”Itarildë? Good. I like to know the names of the people I intend to have fired.” I chuckled slightly, making her look at me and I narrowed my own eyes. I could hear Sunglow chuckling within my own mind, could tell she was gripping the roof with her own talons, causing my nails to hurt. ”Well you ease up on the nails.”[/color] She noticed then and stopped, allowing me to watch the scene play out. ”Would you be the reason Tasia and her hatchling were hunted down by Nemo-ebrithil and Ikehr-ebrithil instead of being taken straight to the Citadel - which, may I remind you, is part of your job?” I looked at her for a moment, a smile coming over my face. ”I would have, but she took off with it. After it had attacked me, of course.” I smiled slightly, my teeth showing as I heard a chuckling coming from Sunglow. ”Was the attack before or after you called it a rat? I can only assume it was after you tried to keep Tasia from entering the Font to begin with.” I smiled at the surprise in her face. ”Congratulations. I don’t think any guard has lasted less than a month with us at the Font. I expect you’ll be hearing from Salien and Melatoth the moment I inform them of your insubordination and grievous lack of respect.”

I saw Sunglow looking over at Arashi and nodded in agreement about the rat thing. She had overheard the yelling from her as we left for the inn to get my bow, which was still on my back. I did not really carry anything else, I was stilled in other fighting styles then with the bow, but it always came in handy. I turned my head as four others, with the same exact tattoo came in. I brushed Niko’s mind again. ”You would expect that they could all be a bit more unique… Geez.”[/color] I chuckled mentally to him as well, looking at the four who all looked as if they were related. I noticed that a hammer was still in Nemo’s hand and I looked again at Itarildë, who seemed to be growing a bit more confident.

“Forgive our sister, Niko-vodhr,” I looked at the one who had spoken, a man at that and one who smelt slightly of Alcohol. “She’s not used to dealing with foreign traditions.” Foreign? It was the elves who started the tradition of Dragon Riders, something that was important. ”It’s ‘Lirean… Ain’t nothing foreign about it!” I looked at Nemo and nodded to them, agreeing with Nemo of course. He stumbled slightly at that and then lean forward some more and I winced at the drunkard smell. ”I’m afraid I couldn’t understand that verbal diarrhea, ebrithil. Would you care to restate that… more eloquently?” I rolled my eyes at his disrespect. She was quick to speak however, in a accent I had yet to hear from her, but now knew she could. ”How foul and loathsome is thine image, peasant. Shall I kill you, most wicked sir? Tempt not too much the hatred of my spirit, for I am sick when I do look on thee.” I looked at them for a moment and then, after she had stuck the spike of her hammer, I heard the scrapping of a blade coming out of it’s holder and I jumped off my stoll. I moved qith quick speed like the animals I had seen, punched a few. Without Swords, I had to find other way to fight.

This had not been my plan and I felt Sunglow’s own anger and then her own pain as Ikehr stopped her from jumping off the roof to help us out. I scolded at her to settle down and fought quickly, causing one of the elves to lose the grip on their sword and making me smile slightly. I picked up the sword, which held a pink gem in it and I used it to fight. Nemo fought against the elf we had been up against and I fought against another one. Niko was either left with one or two, depending on what the other one was going to do. As we fought, I focused on the woman and then heard something and footsteps, hard. ”FETCHERS! Tables upended, chairs bruk! Get your knife-eared asses out of me establishment! An’ting…” I moved quickly, following Nemo out and then feeling as Sunglow jumped down in front of me and hissed violently in the directions of the elves escape. ”Lets go and get those good for nothin’ things!”[/color] I shook my head, grabbing Sunglow and holding her in my arms. I shook my head. ”Well, that was not something I expected.”[/color] I grumbled slightly, looking at everyone.
[/blockquote]
’word count--! one. one. zero. seven.
’comments--! ^_^ Blah!
’tagged--! ikehr and nemo ramsey; arashi and niko danta
[/size][/blockquote]
[/color]

[Elloria]

Niko frowned slightly when Itarildë’s posse entered the Poison Apple. There were four of them, three men and a woman. He knew them only as guards at the Font. As with Itarildë, there was no proper greeting and even suspicious looks at him, Tasia, and Nemo. He felt his temper rising with each passing moment. Tasia’s passing thought amused him in a drab sort of way. He gave her a small mental chuckle, as did Arashi. When one of the men apologized to him, however, his frown remained firmly in place rather than smoothing away. Were Niko a less civilized individual - or was about two centuries younger - he would have probably either spat in the face of the elf who had spoken or punched him. He was quite human in that regard. But he wouldn't have been allowed to indulge himself because Nemo chose that moment to step in. He had expected her to leap in earlier, but she'd held her tongue. Probably shocked he even knew how to rip a person to shreds as he just had.

Arashi laughed at the thought. The hatchling delighted in this side of Niko and was glad to see it emerging. He even felt more amiably towards Sunglow, for she completely understood his outrage and agreed with it. She was improving by the second, really. That didn't temper his concern, however. It was five to three if it came down to a fight, which Arashi strongly suspected it would. Either Niko would start it - what wouldn't he give to see that through his own eyes! - or those upstart cretinous wretches who didn't deserve to be more than a chewtoy would. He could smell the sour-bitter stench of alcohol through Niko's nose wafting off the breath of the brute that was speaking. Disgusting and disgraceful. As the first blade was drawn, Arashi crouched down and prepared to launch off the roof. Sunglow was all ready to take off, but Ikehr practically crushed her beneath his talons to stop her from leaving. That and Niko's demand that he remain in place froze him where he crouched. He glowered at Ikehr, his amber eyes flashing brilliantly with his anger, before turning his gaze inward to watch Niko.

Perhaps it was because he had dueled every day with the Riders. Perhaps it was because he and Josk had been known to cause trouble in taverns in their youth just to get into fights. Perhaps it was even Arashi's influence on his body. Whatever the case, Niko was off his barstool and in a battle-ready stance, his dagger in hand. Nemo had already disarmed one and was dueling with Itarildë. Tasia was in a similar situation, leaving Niko with one armed elf - the only female besides Itarildë - and two unarmed males. The males appeared quite dazed and currently incapable of offering much trouble. That left the female. She, too, had drawn her sword and was aiming a slash at his chest. He parried her awkward blow and tried to get inside her reach. She simply danced away and they exchanged blows for a short time. It was short because apparently one of the males wasn't as dazed as Niko had thought. He suddenly felt an arm wrapping around his neck, trying to choke the life out of him. He dropped his dagger and raised both hands to pull at the arm. It wouldn’t budge. He panicked for a moment as small spots began to appear in his eyes and the female moved forward to strike him.

The moment Arashi felt that Niko was on the verge of dying, he prepared once more to go down and rip some heads off. Ikehr or no Ikehr, posse or no posse, his Rider was in danger and he’d be damned if he was gonna stand by and let it happen! Or at least, that was his thinking before Ikehr forcefully reminded him that he was much smaller than the older dragon. He growled savagely and squirmed against its talon, oblivious to the small tears he was creating or the sharp pains shooting through with each new tear. His whole mind was consumed with one thought - one person. NIKO![/color]

A very loud bellowing of his name - not unlike what Josk sometimes did - made experience and instinct kick in. Brawling's a bit like learning to ride a horse. Once you learn, you never really forget no matter how long it's been since you've done it. So it was with a somewhat detached air that Niko used the leverage he had on the elf's arm to kick his legs up high. One connected with the female's arm, knocking the sword from her grasp. The other went straight to her face, catching her beneath the chin and sending her crashing into a table. Both elf and table toppled over with a loud thud, breaking the surrounding chairs. Keeping his body slightly curled, he launched another kick down and back at the elf strangling him. He was satisfied to hear a distant thud, followed by a yelp and a sudden release of the pressure on his neck. He landed a bit awkwardly on the leg that had kicked, staggering as he got the other under him. He sucked air in desperately, making his head spin terribly. He continued to stagger away from the elf he'd kicked and stopped short against another table. But no retaliation was forthcoming. His kick had been quite well-aimed or lucky, however one wanted to look at it. He'd caught his opponent squarely between the legs. However, the brawl as a whole was brought to heel when the proprietor of the tavern appeared behind the bar, a warhammer that put Nemo's to shame in his meaty hands.

“FETCHERS!” he bellowed. The sound was still distant to Niko. His ears were still ringing from the rushing return of blood to his brain. “Tables upended, chairs bruk! Get your knife-eared asses out of me establishment! An’ting…” The massive warhammer swinging about was enough to send Itarildë and company running. Niko stumbled forward to where his knife was and picked it up. He returned it to its sheath as the tavern's bouncers escorted him, Tasia, and Nemo from the premises. Once outside, he swayed on the spot a bit before leaning against the tavern's wall and rubbing at his neck. He was also feeling sharp pains down his back and vaguely wondered what those were from.

His answer arrived in the form of an irate Arashi, recently escaped from the clutches of Ikehr. Having screamed Niko's name once, the hatchling returned to his normal mode of communication. In this case, practically pummeling Niko's mind with his anger, fear, anxiety, anger, frustration, pain, and anger. And the unspoken but easily felt opinion that if his Rider ever got into such a fight again when Arashi wasn't there to help, Arashi would be most unpleasant about it.

Niko mentally waved aside Arashi's concerns. He was perfectly capable of handling himself in a brawl. He had, in fact, just done so. He was alive still, after all. Arashi was beside himself, but Niko outshouted the emotions with a single demand. What on earth did you DO to yourself while I was fighting? This stopped Arashi's emotional tirade in its tracks before the hatchling played the memory in Niko's mind. He rubbed his face in exasperation, then squatted down. Get over here so I can heal those. Arashi hopped over and Niko placed his hands over the tears. “Waíse heill.” The magic that flowed out was small and the spell finished quickly, but it tired him nevertheless. When done, he scooped Arashi up without protest from the hatchling and set him on his shoulder. The hatchling got comfortable as it savagely agreed with Sunglow's demand that they chase down the elven miscreants. ”Well, that was not something I expected,” Tasia grumbled. Niko resisted the urge to give a snarky reply. He instead turned to look at Nemo. “Now what, Nemo-ebrithil?”