the end and the beginning (tagged/closed)

[tovaana]

MUZE;

She tugged her makeshift skins jacket around her as the cool breeze pulled it away from her. It pulled her hair too, curly and unruly – Muze gave up trying to tuck it behind her ears and let the few crazier pieces whip in front of her face. Her eyes were fixed on the oceanic horizon where the half of the sun was sinking behind. The shadows became long and everything within the light’s touch, including Muze’s dark brown gaze that watched it.

Her muscles ached from the long day of work. She took a deep breath in closing her eyes momentarily as she tried to numb her brain from the mindless work of chopping, de-scaling, and preparing the slimy fish for trade. While she had mostly done the chopping part of the assembly line today (one of her least favorite tasks) and even though she had traded off arms through the day, both ached terribly. “Oh, someone come and take me away from this place.” She muttered, as if she could wish upon the light on the horizon that was slipping away from view. There was a popping noise and soon after a familiar scaly weight landed on her shoulder as gently as the fire lizard could.

Coyli, while coy around all other people, was not to shy with Muze. She had been at first, even after she had impressed with the little green fire lizard, but now the lizard sought Muze at every moment she could find her alone. Muze even suspected the green lizard watched her through her workdays, and her suspicions were confirmed one day when she showed her images of herself doing tasks that day. Now though, she sent her images of flight; what their home looked like from above.

“Thank you Coyli.” She whispered, opening her eyes and looked over from the corner of her eyes to see the narrow and silhouetted face of her lizard looking back at her inquisitively. She seemed to understand when she was unhappy about being ‘here’ but didn’t quite understand ‘where’ exactly Muze wanted to be. So, the sensitive green would show her places around the island (or, she assumed they were the island) to try and make her happy. The aerial images were her favorite. They almost gave her a sensation like she was falling; her hands and tips of her fingers would get numb and prickly.

She hugged herself tighter, stretching her arms to relieve the tension in them. Of course, she wasn’t unhappy, it was just after long boring days that she often dreamed of other places and dragons. Coyli settled closer around her neck, nuzzling her face with her whirling faceted eyes reflecting the last bit of orange light in the sky.

“Well… I should probably get back before it gets too dark, what do you think?” She said in a quiet tone, eying her lizard from the corner of her eye again. Coyli made a few noises; none that made Muze think that she agreed with her. She chuckled. “Fine, a little longer then, but I need to sit.” Crusty ocean rocks littered the beach, she quickly found one that seemed the most flat and sat down, using her hands to hold her lizard in place as she sat. The last thing she needed was the fire lizard to think she was losing her balance and dig her talons into her in fright.

ooc// so, this is to be the thread where muze is searched... (:

Alyx

[Alyx]

Rachel and Blue Aslith

Cold. Black. Nothing. Biting at the bone, the soul… then sky, open and dark blue, painted with the colors of the setting sun. Rachel gasped, filling her lungs with air as Aslith banked around, tilting his wing to spiral downward. Below them, the water and the shore, little houses and barns, little lights flickering to light. <Do you think it’s too late to stop in?> Rachel pondered as Aslith continued their decent.

It was nice to be working again; not that Rachel hadn’t needed the break, no matter how much she told A'zael otherwise. But Aslith’s injury in the races had kept them grounded the better part of two weeks, and forced Rachel to do things like eating and sleep and…well, other things. She’d been eager to get back into the air through and was already doing her best to make up for lost hunting time. ‘I’m sure they won’t mind a quick stop in. Most little farmsteads like the attention. If nothing else, we can see if they need anything?’ Aslith rumbled his agreement. <Good Plan.>

They’d avoided the bigger settlements and holds today, in favor of skipping around to all the little, normally forgotten family-stead around the shores. Not just was she less likely to conflict with the dominate Weyr’s Searching, therefore less likely to be accused of poaching as Kenessia had said had happened at Tidewalk. And even if she didn’t find anyone, Rachel could always lay the groundwork for later interests – and it was pleasing to help these smaller spots, even if it was just carrying a letter to an uncle or collecting herbs or seeds to bring back to them.

Aslith took his time touching down, given the watchers and whomever else below know he was there before he finally dropped to the ground. He picked a spot closer to the buildings, but not to close, his wings wide to keep his balance as he rear claws found the dirt, Rachel leaning forward to lay her chest and stomach against his hide to keep from falling backward in the straps. ‘Easy…’ He rumbled as his neck arching has his weight rocked back onto his hind feet, balancing almost like a canine doing a trick for a moment before he reached down with his foreclaws and dug them into the earth. Wings folded as Rachel felt him settle, the Blue giving a shake from nose to tail as he finished landing.

‘Showoff.’ Aslith laughed in her mind. <What can I say, I want to make sure you still find me charming?> Rachel rolled her eyes, pulling at the straps to free herself from the harness so she could dismount. After that landing, Rachel had better have some good words to follow it up.

tovaana

[tovaana]

MUZE;

Coyli made an indignant noise, her slender noise pointed to the sky where a dragon blinked into view. Muze’s mouth opened slightly in unsuspected awe, watching the dragon spiral closer in view. Her heart quickened as she watched the powerful spread of wings lower. Blue. A long breath of reverence escaped her mouth the a long ‘wow’.

“Look at that Coyli, it’s a Blue! Here!” She said in a hushed tone, with an edge of excitement. She swallowed and stood quickly, the weight on her shoulders protesting angrily with a squeal and growl. The weight on her shoulders dug into her skin for a second and then disappeared suddenly as Coyli left her. “Auhg!” She grunted, cursing under her breath and reaching for her shoulder where Coyli had scratched her before losing balance and blinking away between. She bit her lip out of frustration, not from the pain – that was minimal, but from making such a rash movement and scaring Coyli. It was a mistake she had only made a few times when she had first impressed with her little green, and she had disappeared for days, once – a week or so. “Shells…” She looked around her, hopeful of seeing her little firelizard in the growing shadows – but there was nothing. “Sorry, Coyli…” She whispered, clutching at her sore shoulder.

She cast her dark gaze back into the sky where the Blue dragon and his rider had started to make landing. It disappeared from her view for a second, but she had been sprinting for the last few moments toward where the dragon was landing. A dragon! Here! She had only ever seen dragons in the distance fighting thread, never so close, not like this. Her arms and legs pumped until she got to the scene just as the Blue was touching down. She came to a staggering stop as she appraised her dragon touching down.

A smile and laugh escaped her, and her hands flew to her mouth at the unexpected noise that left her. Her hands fell as she watched the dragon and the rider, joining the others that had seen them coming. Muze was transfixed on the dragon, making her way to the front of the crowd, which wasn’t too difficult (what being small and mostly unnoticeable). That was when she saw that the Blue rider was a woman. Her eyes were now torn between the dragon and his rider now – the color of blue in the fading light and the fact that it was a female rider on a Blue… She had dreamt of riding, but it had always been a gold or a green – could she dream of blue? Or… others?? Muze had heard of such things, but they had always been ideas – not reality, not like an actual rider and actual dragon. The ideas were also not always looked well upon.

“But, you’re a girl...” She said under her breath, and while the context was blunt, it was said breathily and with awe, her brown eyes wide. Muze had actually not meant to speak at all, and there were other voices around her so maybe they didn’t hear her…she closed her mouth, biting the inside of her cheek hard to not speak again hoping that no one had heard. She found herself taking a step or two back, but she couldn’t bring herself to leave, as this was the closest she had been to a dragon before.

[tovaana]

Vavithan;

“Looks good, Vavithan.”

The corner of his lips twitched in a smile, his rough hands moved over the polished wood of the boat. It did look good. He had taken one of the old fishing boats and had starting working repairs on it, as it would be needed as the demands for more fish grew. He hadn’t done much, he had only polished and mended one side, but it made the difference all the more prevalent.

“Aye, she’s a beaut alright.” He said in a sigh as the man clapped a hand on his back in congratulations. He had taken the chore because he wanted to use the ship for himself and had cleverly suggested that the boat be mended to meet the high demands of fish. Since his father could not argue against more fish, while Vavithan would spend less time at sea, he had agreed. In Vavithan’s minds eye he could see the large fishing boat (meant for deep sea fishing) how it was when he was a young boy when they had first got it. The sea hadn’t been kind to it, planks and boards missing, the masts torn and missing, and its color gray and dull.

He patted the boat and stood from his crouch that he had been working in. His multi hued gaze met the setting sun with satisfaction and stood there a moment. Also, working with the boat had given him a reason to avoid his father….on the other hand it meant he hadn’t been keeping an eye out for Muze. His brows furrowed and he frowned at the thought, turning away from the sunset and toward the hold.

“Have you seen Muze?” He discreetly asked one women that primarily prepared the fish when the men brought them in. When she told him she had last seen her heading out of the hold he thanked her. It meant that she was fine, though often he wondered if she would ever come back after leaving. He knew she wasn’t completely happy, and it made him unhappy to think about this. The idea of leaving wasn’t all foreign to his own thoughts, freedom from the watchful and narrow-minded eye of his father would not be unpleasant…

“Did you hear? Someone spotted a dragon in the sky!”

His eyes widened as he glanced at a woman who was whispering to another, a child pulling eagerly at her skirts. Well, what a way to end his pleasant day. A dragon. He smiled, feeling an eagerness of his own that he felt often in his youth at the mention of a dragon. Before he knew it he was outside and saw the dragon come to a touch landing. He was mesmerized, as always, by the way the large creature moved. He was so transfixed that he hardly noticed that his feet were moving him to get a better look.

As Vavithan was tall, it was not hard to find a hole through the growing crowd to see the woman dismount. A woman. He swallowed, glancing in reaction around to see if his father had yet to join the crowds. He knew that while his father was very grateful toward dragon riders, his traditionalist father would raise an eyebrow at there being a woman riding a Blue dragon. He could hear his father’s gruff voice ‘bah’ and go on about something ‘in his time’. Luckily, his father was nowhere to be seen. He relaxed visibly, his shoulders loosening and his eyes falling downward to spot the wavy brown hair of his sister. A smile easily came to his face when he spotted her and he shook his head lightly at the way she stepped back into the crowd. She had obviously done something she thought was wrong. With a light smile he looked back toward the dragon and dragon rider. He wondered what they were doing in their small hold. Had something happened? Was there news that they should know of? The idea of searching didn’t cross his mind, as it happened rather rarely in their small home.

ooc// throws brother into mix

[Alyx]

Rachel and Blue Aslith

The crowd was quick to form around the dragon, the arrival of the Blue seemingly sending ripples through the little holding. Rachel was very pleased that she didn’t fail the dismount of Aslith’s shoulders in front of so many wide, watching eyes. You would never. The smooth voice filled her thoughts, and Rachel reached to pat his shoulder with a gloved hand. ‘The moment you think that, Heart, will be the day I face plant it into the soil.’ The dragon laughed in her mind, the sound translating to low, warm rumbling that echoed in the air around them. ‘Well since they were so nice to gather everyone for us…’ I will see what might catch my eye, do not worry.

“But, you’re a girl...” The voice wasn’t loud, but Rachel caught the words all the same. She turned to look at the gathered crowd, the smile elegant on her lips as she spotted the girl trying to slip back into the gathered bodies. “Aye, I am. At least last time I checked?” Rachel’s dark eyes locked with the girl’s for a moment, then she lifted a hand to motion the girl forward. “Does that bother you? A woman on the back of a Blue?” Rachel’s voice didn’t sound angry; it was more curiosity that made her pull the girl forward.

tovaana

[tovaana]

Muze;

Oops. She gulped, but not in fear… she just wasn’t sure she liked being singled out in a whole crowd. Well, maybe there was a little fear… except the dragon rider had not sounded angry. Muze blinked her large brown eyes in awe, surprised that she could not find anger at all in the narrow face - perhaps a fierceness, but not anger. It reminded her of the way Vavithan reacted to her bluntness. The left side of her lips couldn’t help but twitch the comeback. Then her smile faded at the question she posed.

With curled fists at her sides she forced a couple of stiff steps back to the edge of the crowd. Was it her imagination or were there even more people now? She tried to ignore everyone else, like it was just she and the blue rider. She shook her head, maybe more forcefully than needed.

Her head turned and looked up at the blue dragon with a soft smile, her heart pounding loudly in her ears from the sudden thrill of being so close to a dragon. Her hands relaxed and she took another bold step closer to the dragon rider and the dragon – now she stood away from the crowd.

“No, ma’am. Not at all. I… I just didn’t know it was possible.” She tried to keep her voice as low as she could, loud enough for the dragon rider to hear, but quiet so not all of the crowd would care about what she said… not that it mattered? Since, every eye was probably already jealously locked on their interaction.

She glanced with a soft smile toward the dragon. “What’s his name? Can I pet, erm, touch him?” Perhaps she had spoken too quickly, too boldly… but it was how to get things done.

Vavithan;

He skirted through the crowd sideways, easily finding and creating a path toward Muze. Vav placed himself behind the first row of people, diagonally visible and within earshot of his sister. He had heard the blue rider’s question and he had cringed at what it meant, at what his sister had voiced in what was probably impulse.

When Muze moved out toward the blue he felt a twinge of jealousy and heard her ask the name of the dragon and if she could touch him. This time he felt slight discomfort at his sister’s forwardness, but perhaps she would seem young enough that it would not matter. While she never was permitted to act like a child, she was still in the stage of maturing fully out of her youth.

He forced himself to relax, letting himself trust Muze. It was hard… to let go. For so long he had hovered and tried to protect her, but he knew he couldn’t do it forever. He glanced in anticipation between the rider and the dragon and finally at Muze.

[Alyx]

Rachel and Blue Aslith

Rachel watched the momentary panic race over the girl's features; oh, she hadn’t expected to be heard, had she? Or maybe she simply had a mouth quicker than her brain? Rachel could relate on that level; more often than the Bluerider cared to admit. She waited to see what the girl would do, fully expecting her to run – she looked like she wanted to run. Rachel had that effect on people, it seemed. She was getting better at not scaring the younger ones, but she still seemed to frighten adult men.

The girl didn’t run through. In fact, after a breath or two, the girl shuffled forward. Rachel gave her a smile. ‘That’s a girl.’ She’s interested. Aslith’s voice flooded her thoughts, his interest seemingly peaked by the bold youngling as well. ‘Anything?’ Not quite. It’s hard with so many gathered around. The girl found her voice again, and Rachel gave a warm rush of low laughter at the girl's words, used to the fact that most women she encountered didn't know that they had more choices then Golds or Greens.

“Aye, it is very possible. Not common, mind you, but I know plenty of women that sit on the back of Blues. A few on the backs of Browns as well.” Aslith rumbled softly at the girl’s question, crouching a little lower and reaching his muzzle slowly toward her in greeting. Rachel smiled, patting a gloved hand on the Blue’s shoulder. “His name is Aslith, and that is his way of saying you are more than welcome to pet him.” Rachel took the chance, her eyes on the girl. “He loves meeting new people, and it helps that its part of our job.” Aslith chuckled in her mind. Bold. ‘I have my moments.’

She noticed the boy out of the corner of her eye, clearly intent on the girl in front of her. Brother? Suitor perhaps? It was a toss-up. As long as he didn’t turn out to be one of those idiots that thought since he had male gear in his trousers that that gave him the right to step on the females around him. Rachel moved forward a bit, her fingers trailing along Aslith’s neck as she moved toward the girl. “And I am Rachel. What’s your name?”

tovaana

[tovaana]

Muze;

Muze gulped again when the rider laughed, unable to discern exactly what it meant. However, it didn’t seem to stem from mal-intent. She let out a small breath of relief, smiling more easily and in awe of the fact that there were multiple female blue riders. She let out a sigh while whispering the word ‘wow’ slip from her lips just as the blue dragon lowered closer to her with a rumble. How much more could her heart handle? With a chest tight with excitement she glanced at Rachel as she explained that she could pet Aslith.

“Thank you.” She whispered, reaching out to touch his soft muzzle. Her eyes widened at the texture, not in ‘surprise’ per say, as Coyli could be so soft as long as she made sure she was well oiled… her shock was how similar the texture was to Coyli.

“Job?” She murmured distractedly, unwilling to take her hand away from Aslith. Muze moved her hand to his above his eye ridge to rub it – much like Coyli enjoyed. Her mind’s attention was being split in two directions. “A job, other than fighting thread?” She glanced sideways at Rachel inquisitively.

“Oh, I’m not anyone important.” Not like a female blue rider, she thought dreamily. “I’m just Muze.” She was paying attention to the texture on Aslith as she spoke, but then looked over at Rachel suddenly. “Why are you here?” She asked. She knew everyone else was wondering the same thing. There was no thread in the sky and Rachel didn’t seem to be in a hurry to deliver urgent news… In fact, she was taking the time to convers with her, which is why she now looked at Rachel steadily with her inquisitive look. At the same time, keeping close to Aslith as long as he would let her.

Vavithan;

Vav pushed gently to the front of the crowd now, watching his sister with jealousy as the dragon reached forward to greet Muze. He wondered if his father would be embarrassed or pleased that his daughter was receiving the honor of greeting the dragon rider. He glanced down the line of people who had gathered. A few people were leaving, probably with things to tend to like cleaning and preparing either a late evening meal/snack or for breakfast the next day. However, as people left, others appeared in their place to get their look. There were even a few holdbrats with their parents or siblings watching in what could have been a mix of fear and shock.

He smiled at them, then turned back to observe the dragon and rider. He was just as interested in knowing what the blue rider was doing there in their small hold.

Alyx

[Alyx]

Rachel and Blue Aslith

‘Come on, little fish…’ Rachel watched the girl marvel at the Blue, Aslith’s gentle nature true as always. He exhaled a warm rush of breath over Muze as her hands ran over his nose; he tilted his head when she reached up, rumbling warmly as the girl’s small hands rubbed over his eye ridges. He shifted his weight gently around Rachel and the girl, settling down fully on the ground, then rested his head fully against the earth as his faceted eye watched Muze.

‘Well?’ She is very open; her mind isn’t closed off at all. She has a little fear – very little. The Blue chuckled in her thoughts. I would talk to her, but I’m worried that would be too much for her to handle. ‘And?’ The Dragon turned his head just a little, pushing into Muze’s attention. She would make a very good rider. And possibly a healer; she has a very gentle touch.

Rachel relaxed, shifting to lean her hip against Aslith’s shoulder as the girl took the bait and gave Muze a smile, nodding softly. “Yes; I mean we still fight Thread, all riders do. But Aslith is a special kind of Dragon, so we get to fly all over Pern and Search for folks that have the makings to be riders themselves.” She watched the girl, wanting to see what effect her words would have on the girl.

“Oh, I’m not anyone important.” Rachel frowned. “Now who told you that? That’s not very nice of them; everyone is important in their own ways. It’s silly to count yourself out like that Muze.” The crowd around them shifted, people leaving, some moving to replace them. The boy stayed; interesting. Rachel jerked her head gently in the direction of Vavithan in the crowd. “Friend of yours? He can come over if he wants.”

“As for what I’m doing here, a bit of everything I would say. We were passing over on our way home and thought that we would land and check if there was anything we could do to help. I wasn’t sure how often you get traders or travelers, so I often relay messages or packages for the smaller holdings I visit.” Rachel grinned at the girl. “And it never hurts to check for potential riders-to-be in the smaller holdings as well.”

tovaana

[tovaana]

Muze;

When the dragon lowered and the warm breath washed over her, she breathed in the scent of his hide. She just had to memorize this moment, perhaps this was all she needed.

Muze winced at the soft berating of the rider. ‘Father’, she thought internally. Instead of answering the question, she shrugged, biting her lip to keep herself from saying it. Perhaps if there weren’t so many people around, especially ones that knew her father, it would have slipped from her…but she wasn’t so reckless. She turned from Rachel and toward Aslith, looking at this whirling gaze. Also, just like Coyli’s.

“Huh?” She hummed, turning in the direction of Rachel’s gaze. Vav stood there on the edge of the crowd and he looked like he was resisting coming forward. She grinned at Vav widely, motioning him toward them with emphatic gestures.

However, whether or not her brother joined, she didn’t care, because now she was really distracted.

“You… you search candidates? To be riders?” Her heart was keeping at an even fast beat. “Me, you want me.” Take me, please take me away from here. She groaned internally, but was beaming unabashedly between Rachel and Aslith as Vavithan approached from behind.

Vavithan;

He saw the blue rider notice him and he watched his sister twist, but keep her eager hands on the blue dragon that seemed to be enjoying the attention. He couldn’t help but grin at her grin that was wild and carefree… he only worried that she’d get carried away…like asking the blue rider to take her as a candidate…. His eyes widened at his sister’s determined voice.

“Woah there, take it easy sis.” He said, an edge of nervousness in his tone, unsure of how the rider would approve of his sister’s forwardness. Search dragon and his rider, here in their small hold?

“I’m Vavithan.” He waved greeting as he came up behind his sister. He felt the urge to apologize for her, but he had heard most of the conversation they had been having. The blue dragon rider had been welcoming the conversation it had seemed.

“So, Search Rider and Dragon?” He offered, appraising Aslith now that he was closer. He turned to Rachel, “which Weyr are you from?” He asked, catching an annoyed glance from Muze that clearly meant, ‘who cares, they’re searching candidates Vav!’

Alyx

[Alyx]

Rachel and Blue Aslith

They all reacted differently when they realized Rachel was a Searchrider. Some were happy, some were suspicious, and some downright panicked. Muze’s reaction though was probably one of the best. Rachel smiled at the girl’s eager words that Rachel wanted to take her, nodding softly. “Yes, I do, Muze.” Aslith rumbled happily, his eyes a spinning disk of blues and green. You would make a very good rider, yes. Rachel laughed, shaking her head. “And that you just heard was Aslith.” Rachel felt the need to tell the girl where the voice in her head came from, just in case she didn't put two and two together on her own. ‘I thought you were worried you’d scare her?’ Well, she should get used to it if she wants to be a rider, yes? ‘Nice logic.’

And then the boy joined them. His instant attempt to rein his sister in got a rather dark frown from the Bluerider. “Well met, Vavithan. I am Rachel and this is Aslith; he does most of the searching, I just do the talking and make sure he doesn’t just take people without asking.” She pondered the question; chances are little holds like this didn’t get a lot of dragon visits, but… she hoped at least the worst of the rumors hadn’t spread this far. “I fly for Mavros Weyr. And tell me, why is it that young Muze here thinks she’s not anyone important?” No one would say that Rachel wasn’t as blunt and straightforward as a watchwher. Aslith rumbled softly, eying the boy past Muze.

tovaana

[tovaana]

Muze;

She… wanted her? Her heart felt like it would burst from elation, from the underlying alone-ness (despite Vav’s friendship) and from the idea of leaving. She smiled, for once, speechless. Then something brushed her mind and for a moment she thought Coyli was about to communicate, but when she welcomed the feeling -words formed in her mind. ‘You would make a very good rider, yes.’ The tone echoed in her mind and she slowly turned to Aslith with wide dumbstruck eyes.

Then Rachel quickly followed the voice with a confirmation that she had indeed heard Aslith. “You think so? What if I don’t impress? Do I have to come back?” She voice was quiet now, leaning into Aslith’s face and hugging his muzzle. Muze leaned away, but kept a hand on his face, as always, as if ensuring he would not disaapear.

Vavithan;

Vav just blinked at Rachel, then down at Muze, where his gaze stayed for a moment. His sister…on the sands? His thoughts played between disbelief and elation. The blue rider seemed genuine though - that she really did want to take Muze to be a dragon rider candidate. The best part was Muze’s face; all of the hope and trust that she exuded to the blue dragon rider… It worried him that she had trusted Rachel so quickly, not that Rachel and Aslith were untrustworthy – but who else would Muze trust in the future who did not deserve her trust? And, what if Muze didn’t impress?

Then Rachel turned to face him, a dark shadow behind her gaze. His stomach squirmed at the unknown source of hostility that she held behind her words. Vav chuckled at the foreign idea of a dragon with no rider. His smile was short lived though when she boldly poked a finger at Muze’s earlier statement of her self-worth. Vavithan swallowed, realizing the weight of the question was almost accusing. He glanced at the crowd closest to him. There were a few familiar faces, but with his father’s reputation of hard work, he was sure most of them knew his father. So, how could he explain it? His sad gaze looked at his sister who was looking at him, her eyes were also sad, but her face obviously couldn’t shake the idea of leaving, because she was still glowing with gladness.

“Leaving would be good for Muze.” He said after a few pauses of silence. “The… environment here…” There was another pause as he looked to the dragon, as if he held the answer..

“He’s talking about a family member.” Muze offered, when Vavithan failed to come up with a sufficient answer. He looked at Muze then, her eyes soft and he imagined forgiveness? For those years he had been away… “But, it wasn’t him.” She left the Blue dragon and came toward him, grabbing his hand and bringing him a step closer and letting go, moving a step closer to Aslith. “Vav is my best friend, him and Coyli.”

His eyes lit up a little, but he still felt sad. A part of him worried about their father, but with the way Rachel was looking at him, he guessed his father would have very little to say about the matter. A grin mustered to his face. “Yeah, Muze impressed a firelizard! She should definitely go if you think she would impress.”

Muze;

Muze looked eagerly to Rachel, “I did, a little green. Coyli.” She mentally reached out for her little fire lizard, urging her to come say hi to her friends. A trill of uncertainty rang through her mind, showing her all of the people that were there. ‘And a dragon! You aren’t scared of dragons are you?’ There was the repeat of the fear of the many people that had gathered, but the image that she sent made her at least ensured that the shy creature wasn’t far. ‘But they won’t believe me!’ She rolled her eyes. “She’s sorta shy.”

[Alyx]

Rachel and Blue Aslith

Rachel was set to fight the boy if Muze really wanted to go; it wouldn’t have been the first time the Bluerider had faced down an angry family member to see that a potential rider had the chance to follow his or her dreams. But the boy, Vavithan Rachel thought he called himself, didn’t do more the fold back under her accusation. She raised an eyebrow at the pair as the brother seemed to grab at the shadows for an answer to give her… only to have Muze offer a vague narrowing of the targets. A family member? Rachel looked away, scanning the crowd as she saw the young man do the same. Rachel gave unladylike snort. Only one answer fit the reaction in the pair standing in front of her.

“Father.” It was a single word, low between the three that only they could hear. Aslith rumbled softly, his eye remaining on the pair at his jaw. He shifted; his hips wiggling a little to that he could drop his tail around the other side of Rachel, curling himself into a half-moon shape around the trio. Rachel favored Vavithan with a soft smile. “Apologies then for jumping your tail there then, Vavithan. Just rubs me wrong when children are treated like they aren’t worth the dirt they tread.”

Rachel let the conversation change a little, keeping watch on the crowd in case. While Rachel didn’t see the claimed little green, Muze did say she was shy, and Rachel gave a laugh. “Don’t worry, I believe you. I have a little Bronze that you’d think was too fat to fly with how much he eats.” Rachel shook her head. “He actually doesn’t search with me anymore since he got me in trouble for him stealing pastries at a Hold.” Aslith moved his head a little, not breaking contact with Muze, but lifting his head so that he could focus on the boy that had joined them.

“Looks like Aslith wants to meet you, Vavithan.” The Blue rumbled in response as if agreeing with his rider. ‘What’s up old man?’ He is very tied to her. It would be a shame to divide them… ‘Fathers are much less willing to let go of sons, Aslith.’ Is he the oldest? If he is not… ‘Yes yes, I know. Daft Dragon.’ Rachel gave the boy a quick look over. “So Vavithan, where are you in the family? Oldest or middle?”

tovaana

[tovaana]

Muze;

She turned to Aslith when Rachel pinpointed the word ‘father’. She ignored the word, as the only time she could ignore his presence was in conversation with the newcomer. Especially since the word said low was with accusation, she had not requested a confirmation. She sighed and then turned back to Rachel when she spoke about her own fire lizard. Muze giggled, remembering how much Coyli had eaten in the first months…It had been a nightmare keeping it all hidden from her father, but rather easy as the flitter got older, since she disappeared when others came around.

It seemed set in stone… Were they to leave then? Right then? So quickly? She wanted to. She’d go get her bag, stuff it with her belongings (the few she had) and come back. She obedient part of her thought it would be better to tell her father. ‘Hi father, I’m leaving. I’m going to impress a dragon and make you proud. Good bye.’ She snorted silently, or maybe he wouldn’t care if his daughter disappeared without a word…As if she never existed. “Should I go get my things?” She asked absentmindedly (detached from any part of the conversation that didn’t have to do with her leaving), her hands followed Aslith as he moved gently, pointing toward her brother.

Vavithan;

One of Vav’s shoulders rolled in a half shrug and he nodded firmly at the accusation. The sickness he usually felt about the manner seemed to be less as he thought about Muze leaving… Then again, his world had revolved around keeping Muze out of trouble or her out of his father’s mind as much as possible. He had spent much of his free time teaching Muze to be the best at fishing and be helpful, and she had done the rest of keeping out of sight… He had suggested this after a few heated conversations.

Now that he tried to imagine life without Muze, his heart ached a little. He’d miss her. If she impressed, she’d never come back, unless to visit… He watched her stroke Aslith. She probably wouldn’t return even to do that.

“Yeah, no worries.” He sounded as absentminded as Muze looked when Rachel apologized for coming onto him. He didn’t blame her though…

He turned after being lost in thought to the blue dragon. “…Me?” His face heated up a little and his nerves manifested with the feeling of spiderclaws crawling around his stomach. Vav took a stiff step forward, standing on the right side of Muze now. “Hey Aslith, nice to meet you…I mean, officially.” He had seen dragons before, but he couldn’t recall speaking to one so directly. Vav had heard of their intelligence, but his only experience was watching Coyli in her early years before even he spooked her. He had felt sad that Muze hadn’t been able to convince Coyli to approach him, but here he was, speaking to a full size blue dragon.

“I’m the oldest. It’s just me and Muze.” He then reached out slowly, less confidently than Muze had, to touch Aslith on the muzzle. If dragons were as intelligent as people said they were, wasn’t it strange to greet him by touching his nose? He tried to imagine someone trying to touch his own nose in greeting… He couldn’t help a small smile from his face at the thought.

Alyx

[Alyx]

Rachel and Blue Aslith

Muze didn’t contradict her, and the Vav’s body language spoke volumes. Rachel locked her teeth together softly, watching Aslith reach toward the boy. She hated parents like this… both children seemed so bright, so live, but it was clear that (at least in Muze’s case, if not both of them) some old goat had to push them into the dust to prove he was man enough to control his ‘get’. This was the reason Rachel avoided major holds; Nobles had this attitude in spades. Normally, out in the briars and scattered smaller settlements, it was less… prevalent.

She was pleased the boy didn’t hold her judgment personally, watching as he reached to greet the looming Blue’s push for his attentions. Muze’s words got a laugh from the Bluerider, happy the girl wouldn’t be hard to lure up onto the Blue. Shards, Rachel almost felt that if she turned her back, the girl would scramble up herself. Aslith exhaled over Vavithan, the rush of the hot breath tossing the boy’s hair. ‘Well?’ He is not as sensitive as she is, but he’s got potential? Rachel sighed, both relieved and annoyed. ‘This complicates it a bit?’ Only if he doesn’t wish to go with us. ‘You make it sound so easy, old man.’

Aslith rumbled softly, nuzzling the boy again before returning to ruffle Muze’s hair with a rough breath. Rachel laughed softly, nodding at the girl finally. “Aye, if you want to take the chance, you best get what you need. Now, understand that I’m not promising you’ll Impress – I’m saying that Aslith things you have the makings, and I’m just putting you in the spot to see if he’s right. The rest is up to the Dragonlings and you, alright?” She grinned at the girl and then gave a little shrug. “That being said, he’s yet to have a candidate not impress in the long run, so there is that.”

Indeed. And I take my reputation very seriously. The Dragon brought both of the children into the conversation, his voice lower than normal as to not startle them with the sudden, odd sensation of the melody of his near-harper’s tones in their minds. Will you be joining us, Vavithan? Rachel reached out, pressing a hand against the Dragon’s neck. “Yes, Vavithan, would you like to join us on this little adventure? Aslith seems to think you both should come. While I’m not sure how your Father might take me snatching his children away, it’s really not his choice in the long run. I think a person should control their own destiny."

Rachel looked at Muze a moment, and then met Vavithan’s eyes. “You heard what I told your sister. All I can offer is the first step in the path. But Aslith thinks you should have that chance right along with Muze. What would you like to do?”

tovaana