A World of Grey Beauty - Mountain Caves

[dragoncharm]

T'lyn stared out at the perfect chaos that surrounded him with wondering eyes. He'd been in the mountains before, of course, and flew over them - but for the past few Turns, mostly he'd just looked out at them from behind the walls of his Weyr. He hadn't gone on any of the scouting trips, after all. He'd never been this deep into the mountains, or see it in such depth.

It was surprisingly chaotic, in disarray, but the chaos was somehow beautiful, as if it had been made specifically to look messy. Every seemingly random rock, boulder, blade of grass - from a distance it all looked so...messy....but up close it seemed as if they were all placed there as part of a giant, elaborate design, and moving one rock, crushing one blade of grass, would ruin the effect. From his view, on a ledge halfway up a mountain, the world was a mass of grey peaks and stubby mountain grasses, short, stinted trees bent by the wind and loose, crusty brown dirt held together only by the roots of what little vegetation there was. It was all so big and magnificent.

Somehow, the greyness of it all was not, after all, a good place to have unhappy thoughts, as T'lyn had expected. It was all too big, too full of possible places to explore and look around, to be sad in. It wasn't what he'd expected. But it didn't stop his less-than-happy feelings. He relived his departure in his mind; it had ben a quiet, uneventful thing. T'lyn had half-expected there to be some crowd to see him go, eager to watch as the Weyrleader left into the perilous mountain reaches. To his relief, that had not been so. Only his foster mother, Corpsa, had been present; somehow she had learned of his leaving. He couldn't say he was surprised. She always seemed to know everything that went on. But only she had been there to see him off, for which the Onyxrider was grateful. He didn't think he could have bared it if Lilia had, by some miracle, come to see him off as well. It had been hard enough keeping his composure in their little meeting. Especially on the issue about Kaylan.

T'lyn was still surprised that Panitath had ordered her rider to let Kaylan come with him. Mnelth had told him that Panitath wished it so be considered her last gift to them, and T'lyn did. But it still stunned him. He hadn't thought the Violet would ever contradict Hers. But he was glad she had, or things could have gone worse.

Speaking of Kaylan, the boy was having the time of his life. The Weyrbrat had been delighted at the prospect of a trip to the mountains, and T'lyn had not wanted to dampen the lad's excitement by expressing the seriousness of the matter. Let the boy have fun exploring and taking in the view. He did not need to know, yet, about the Rise that was bound to happen while they were not there. He did not need to know about what would happen if - when - if they found the creature sending Hadi dragons back to the Weyr, except that they would bring that creature back to the Weyr. T'lyn had not even had the heart to tell him that they would not be returning to the Weyr if they did not find the culprit. He wanted to let the boy have his fun for as long as he could.

~~~~~

Kaylan scrambled over the rocks, beaming delightedly at the fun of it all. He'd been surprised when his father had told him of a trip they were taking into the mountains. But overjoyed nevertheless; it was bound to be fun, and Kaylan loved exploring and adventuring. He'd noticed the tension his father had tried to keep from him, covering up with a smile and promising words, but he had long since learned not to pester his father when T'lyn was upset. If the Onyxrider did not show it, it meant he didn't want to talk about it. Kaylan did wonder what it was about, though. He thought maybe it had something to do with the way his father had been acting about his mother lately. The subject of the mother Kaylan barely knew was always touchy, but never more so than now. He worried for his father.

But the thoughts were driven from his mind as soon as they had taken flight. He loved riding Mnelth - flying was so fun! Never had his father allowed the Onyx to fly so fast or high when Kaylan rode him before. He couldn't believe the view of the mountains he got! Between had been a little scary, when he couldn't feel his father holding him or Mnelth under him or anything but cold, but he'd counted to three like T'lyn told him to and come out fine. For a while all they'd done was fly around; T'lyn and Mnelth seemed to be looking for something, but all Kaylan was interested in was the amazing vista below him. Never in his life had he seen such a view!

They'd gotten lower and lower, and finally, after a few candlemarks, Mnelth had finally landed, and his father had urged him to go play. So Kaylan was' he was exploring around the ledge - not to close to the edge - and climbing on rocks, keeping in sight of his father just like he'd been told. And he was having the time of his life!

~~~~~~

T'lyn and Mnelth had seen nothing for the candlemarks they'd been flying. As T'lyn shifted his fond gaze from his son back to the mountains in front of him, he sighed slightly. Not a living thing to be seen - none that would hide from a dragon, anyway. Nothing strange or mysterious. Nothing suspicious. Just grey and brown and the occasional weathered green. No sign of what they were looking for. Should we go on, Mnelth? he questioned his black, surveying the landscape before him. Mnelth stretched his wings and hissed slightly before folding them up again. You should eat first. He'll get hungry soon anyway.

T'lyn nodded, and turned back to his son. "Kaylan!" he called, and the boy came rushing back instantly, young face red with cold and exertion but beaming with please. "Time for some food," he told them, and started unpacking the journey-food he'd brought.

[Fionn]

The shadow of a passing dragon caused three sets of orbs to lift to the sky. Two hisses inter mixed, while a humaniod hiss joined the dragonic hisses. Of course, it was nothing compaired to the dragon curled around her, or the firelizard that was resting on her shoulder, but Fionn didn't care. She couldn't remember the last time she had opened her mouth past eating, or hissing at various creatures that had tried to make her a meal among the forests. Tell them to leave again, Schwarzth, the young girl sent the dragon that was wrapped around her, and the tree she had been leaning against.

Short candlemarks pasted before the dragon answered, her swirling orbs touched with worry and anger. I don't think it will be so easy,

[/b] the Onyx hissed, slowly unwrapping itself from around it's Rider and the tree. Then I'll get rid of them this time! Fionn sent, already moving before Schwarzth could put in a remark. The Onyx had always been sending the other dragons away, while Fionn had coward under the dragon, now it was her turn. Of course, she had Snowdrop, the stunning white firelizard that had been with her for a long time.

As Fionn ran through the forest, heedless of the branches that reached out for her hair, clothing, or flesh, the girl could think of nothing else past why the dragons kept come back again and again, even after Schwarzth sent them away. The Onyx was still pretty young, while the other dragons had all seemed so much older. It seems strange. Be careful, Mine,[/b] Schwarzth added as Fionn reached the caves, nearly sliding out into the open, until she noticed that the dragon that had passed overhead was actually occupying one of the ledges. Turning back, she climbed up tree, crawling out onto a long branch that had a lot of covering. Pushing a rather large leaf, on that almost covered all of Fionn's lenght, back she watched as a grown male seemed to call a much younger boy back.

Yet her eyes were only on the Onyx dragon which was occupying the ledge. Schwarzth . . . . He looks like you, Fionn stated, thingying her head to the side. In an instant, Snowdrop was gone between, then reappearing near the young boy that had been playing around before the man had called him back. SNOWDROP!! she called out with her mind, actually moving a bit on the branch, putting her reddish, black hair out in sight.[/size][/blockquote]

[dragoncharm]

((hope you don't mind the slight powerplay of Snowdrop. I can edit if you like. I wanted T'lyn to get suspicious when Snowdrop didn't act like a wild flitt))

Kaylan rushed towards his father, not at all upset about having to stop his playing. He was hungry, anyway. Food was good. As he clambered over the rocky surface of the ledge, a flash of movement caught his eye. The boy stared around for a moment, trying to figure out what he'd seen, and then he saw another flash of white. He stared for a moment, then squealed, "Flitt!" Pointing at the flitter and bouncing excitedly, he called to his father, "Look it!" Then he eased his way forward, trying to get close enough to stroke the firelizard without scaring it off. Grinning widely, he reached out his hand and managed to rub the white flitt's eye ridges, laughing delightedly when he crooned.

T'lyn looked over at Kaylan's shout, and started forward when he saw the flitt, worried about his son getting cut; wild flitters didn't usually take kindly to being crowded. He opened his mouth to call out to the boy, warning him, but didn't even get the first word out before Kaylan had managed to pet the Ivory firelizard. The Onyxrider stopped, confused. Wild flitts wouldn't normally let humans anywhere near them, let alone loud, pushy young boys. Either this firelizard was one of the few that didn't mind, or...

There was red among green, where he was certain there hadn't been before. T'lyn's head swung around to see clearly the abnormality that he had only glimpsed out of the corner of his eye. It was little known to most, but the Onyxrider was a very observant person, missing little. And the reddish spot had definitely not been here before. It was probably just a tree-dwelling animal, and T'lyn knew it, but he couldn't stop his hopes from swelling. If he could, by some impossible luck, find the culprit today - he might even get back in time for Panitath's Rise. He had no intention of winning it, and he was aware that Panitath would never choose Mnelth, but to see the look on Lilia's face if she saw him back the very same day she sent him out, with the force that sent the dragons back...it would be more than worth it.

It was this hope that drove him to take a cautious step forward, trying to see if there was anything other than the reddish-black bit that could be fur, or could be hair...

[Fionn]

((Don't worry about a little bit of powerplay. Sometimes it is needed.)

As the boy had reached out to him, Snowdrop had been about to go between but he got no hint of hatred from the boy, thus he allowed him to pet his eyeridge. Of course, the boy would have found his special spot, and he landed on the boy's shoulder, tail lightly wrapping around the boy's arm, while he tucked his wings along his body. Crooning, Snowdrop closed his pleasure filled swirling orbs, catching a soft glimsp of red on green.

When the boy had cried out "flitt" Fionn had been ready to leap from the branch she was laying on to the rock. It wasn't a far jump, and the branch was strong to hold up her weight, while above branches would allow her to hold on and steady herself before the jump, but Fionn stayed put. Snowdrop actually landed on the boy's shoulder, crooning.

She scooted her body back as she noticed the man had turned, looking in her general direction. I'm moving, Fionn sent out to Snowdrop, knowing the flitt would have found her no matter what, but she did more out of habit than anything. Slipping from the branch, and climbing around the tree, she climbed down on the side facing away from the caves and disappeared into the forest.

Circling around, she found another strong limbed tree and climbed up, finding herself laying eye level with the black dragon. She froze when she relized her mistake. Schwarzth . . . . How aggressive are you? she questioned, breathing through her mouth to limit the sound she made. Very . . . . Why?

[/b] Don't come here . . . Stay away until these people are gone, Fionn sent, knowing her dragon well. Her question hadn't been about how aggressive Schwarzth was, but how aggressive her type of dragon was.

It was odd, looking at the body of a dragon that was just like schwarzth. Fionn had always thought that Schwarzth was the last of the dragons, at least until the dragons had started to appear over her mountains. Then she noticed the different colors. Bright Jades, Schwarzths had told her, beautiful Topazs, a spinny Silver from time to time. Now this . . . . Onyx, that was what Schwarzth was, an Onyx. Yet, soemthing was different about this Onyx . . . . it seemed . . . . different.

Laying still, Fionn watched Snowdrop, more she was watching the boy, her right hand poised above her belt, where her make-shift dagger was. Man or not, if the boy hurt Snowdrop, she wouldn't hesitate to attack. Thus another waiting game began.[/size][/blockquote]

[dragoncharm]

Kaylan crowed to the beautiful little Ivory flitt as he stroked it, delighted when it landed on his shoulder. He stared in wonder, afraid to speak in case the flitter got scared and flew off. He'd seen flitts plenty of times at the weyr, but rarely had he been able to stroke one, and never had any ever stood on him before. The little firelizard was so handsome! Like a tiny white dragon. So cute. Kaylan wanted a flitt. He wanted a little mini-dragon to have with him. That would be so great!

T'lyn glanced back at Kaylan, but his eyes flickered back to the tree when he saw that his son was fine. In fact, he could tell in a glance that Kaylan was far better than fine - you'd think he;d never seen a flitt, the way he was looking at the Ivory. T'lyn knew he'd never get any peace now; the lad would be forever asking for one.

But for now...the mystery in front of him was the important thing. The Onyxrider so hoped that it was more than just an animal, some small beast - it was foolish, but he couldn't help but hope that perhaps, perhaps, perhaps his search would end here, that perhaps this red-black hair (fur?) belonged to whatever was sending back the dragons. But he'd taken not two steps forward when it disappeared again, drawn back into the cover of the trees. A moment later, he heard the faintest of rustles, though whether they were faint because the movement was far away, or made by something small, he could not know.

Sighing, he took one last searching look at the leaves, and then turned back, making his way back to where his Onyx was lounging. Mnelth, keep an eye out for anything strange, won't you? he requested of his dragon. Mnelth raised his ead enough to turn one whirling eye on his rider. That's why we're here, isn't it? T'lyn allowed a small grin. Still. Keep an eye out for...reddish hair. Mnelth stared as his questioningly for a moment, and the Onyxrider could feel his dragon probing his thoughts, and then the Onyx gave a nod and laid his head back down, one orb on the delighted boy, one searching the area for any indications of the hair His had mentioned.

A flash? Red against brown and green? Could it be that it would be solved so quickly? Mnelth turned to look more closely at the tree near him, but a slight wind had sprung up, and with the leaves moving about, interweaving and locking together more than splitting apart, it was impossible to tell. Maybe...maybe not. They'd have to keep a close eye out for more red. The Onyx pair would be watching.

[Fionn]

Schwarzth . . . Bugle so Snowdrop will come back to me, Fionn sent out, not even thinking about what could happen in the aftermath of her Onyx bugling. Then again, Schwarzth wasn't close enough to the Onyx pair, and the dragon was within the cover of the trees, so it would extremely hard for this large Onyx to weave it's way around the trees. As you wish,

[/b] Schwarzth sent. A few seconds later, a loud, long, and deep bugle broke the silence of the forest. It was almost as if the breeze stopped, as if not to defy the Onyx dragon who had bugled for the ivory flitt to return to his bonded.

Snowdrop's head shot up, a soft hiss escaping his little snout, but within a candlemark, he had his wings flared and was catching a gentle breeze up and away from the boy. As the ivory flitt hovered above the boy's head, just out of reach of his fingers, he turned in the air several times, as if looking for something, then he found it. The ivory flitt shot off, darting past the big Onyx dragon and it's Rider, and disappearing into the leaves near the dragon's head, exactly where he had just disreguarded something within the leaves.

When Snowdrop made a flitt-line for Fionn, the young girl couldn't put her hands up fast enough. Of course, when your laying against a branch and your hands are the best way of you not falling off the branch and landing on your butt, it's not wise to remove your hands. When she lifted her hands to stop Snowdrop from flying into her chest, she slipped to the left and started to fall off the branch. Reaching up, she latched onto the only thing that she could get ahold of, before of course, letting out a strangled sounded scream. She had latched onto a twig, with only one leaf, which was about to snap, causing her to fall to the ground.

SHARDS! Fionn cursed, causing Schwarzth to chuckle. You ordered me to bugle, fleshling.[/b] Fionn hissed out loud, sounding like the flitt that was circling around her waist, hissing at her. This couldn't get any worse, Fionn thought.[/size][/blockquote]

[dragoncharm]

A bugle rented the air, which was suddenly still.

Mnelth was on his feet in an instant, tail lashing like a feline's, his head whipping around for the source of the bugle. A dragon! It had to be a dragon. T'lyn was on his feet almost as quickly as his dragon, looking around wildly for the source of the bugle. They were much too far away from Hadi for it to have been a Hadi dragon. This had[ to be what they were looking for! A dragon! But they hadn't seen any violets anywhere, and who else could order away other dragons?

Kaylan jumped, startled by the noise. It sounded like Mnelth...but the boy hadn't seen the Onyx bugling. And it had sounded...different. The same, but different. He looked hurriedly at the flitt, hoping his movement hadn't frightened the Ivory, but to his dismay, the firelizard was already moving, hissing a bit and flaring his wings. "Flitt, don't-" Kaylan begged, but too late. The Ivory was already catching a breeze and taking off from his shoulder. Kaylan looked up to see it hovering above his head, and tried to catch it again, but the flitt was just out of his reach. "Come back!" he pleaded, but the flitt seemed to be looking for it, and when it found it, it shot off.

Right past Mnelth's head. The Onyx snapped at the little blur, but missed. His great black head whipped around to stare as the flitter disappeared exactly where Mnelth had thought he'd seen something. The Onyx reached out with his neck, trying to follow, but was stopped by the branches. Mine. Understanding, T'lyn raced after it. There had been a bugle, the surprisingly tame flitt had gone exactly where Mnelth had thought he'd seen something...it didn't take a genius to put it together. Whoever was bonded to the dragon must also be bonded to the flitt. And whoever it is has red hair, he thought, dashing to the side of the ridge, and trying to peer through the branches.

He jumped back as there was a strangled scream, and something fell from the tree, accompanied by another red flash. Without a second thought, the Onyxrider told hi dragon, Mnelth, I'm going down three. Keep Kaylan up here. He had to find whoever it was before they managed to disappear again. Swiftly, he found a branch that hung over the ridge, and climbed onto it, clambering down to the ground. About halfway down, he heard a hiss, not like that of a dragon's, too loud to be a flitt's. He wasn't sure what it could be, but continued down relentless.

After what seemed like far too long, with him making far too much noise and gathering far too many scrapes and cuts from twigs, the rider managed to jump down from the tree. He looked around, trying to see a white flitt or reddish hair. He could only hope they hadn't already escaped...

Kaylan had, of course, tried to follow his father, only to be blocked by the long, black tail of the Onyx he called family. Difficult family, sometimes. "Mnelth!" he protested. "I wanna to too!" Mnelth hissed at the boy, drawing him back and flicking his tail, causing the lad to fall onto the ground by the food. Eat. He'll be back soon, the Onyx ordered, settling himself firmly around the boy like a warm, black wall.

[Fionn]

The twig had snapped, dropping Fionn to the ground, accopanied by a harsh sounding thud as the young girl hit the ground. She hissed, holding her forehead, as she lay in a pile of died twigs, leaves, of other bits from the surrounding forest. It was a long past nest that some creature had made, then left behind. Fionn had been lucky, if she had landed on the ground, she could have broken something.

MOVE!

[/b] Schwarzth bugled, having already taken to the air, but was cirling in extremely wide cirles so that she was out of sight of the other dragon, but could still be to Fionn in a matter of wingbeats. Worried orbs swirled at the black dragon cirled, scanning the break in the canopy to see if Fionn had escaped, or if she would be followed. I think it would be unwise to lay on that nest any longer, Fion!![/b] the Onyx dragon sent once more, her cirles becoming tighter, as she started to move inward, toward where she knew Fionn to be. She was very close to being in eyesight of the other dragon, but her Rider was worth being seen if only to get her to safety.

I think if I move, he'll see me, Fionn sent, even as Snowdrop landed on her chest. Never mind . . . Snowdrop just gave me away, she hissed, already on her feet, yet she was limping, as she had landed on her rump and it hurt to move fast. Limping toward the big trunk of a tree, Fionn circled around, hoping that with her being out of sight of the other Rider, she could slink off. Back off, Schwarzth . . . I'll come to you, Fionn sent, thinking she was out of sight, allowing Snowdrop to land on her shoulder.[/size][/blockquote]

[dragoncharm]

((D'you want T'lyn to see her? Or should Fionn get away till the next day? Or we could just time-warp, pretend this is the next day. *Shrugs*))

Mnelth hissed, itching to take to the air as another bugle sounded from not too far away, though he could not see its source. Kaylan was sitting in the middle of his makeshift prison, eating a sweetroll and wondering what his father was doing. He had sulked a bit at not being allowed to go with him, but he was hungry. And the Onyx had said T'lyn would be back soon. The dragon's tail wsa twitching as he stretched his neck to the limit, trying to see the dragon that was close by. It must be big, with a bugle that loud, but that said little. He wished he could leave Kaylan alone, but the little human boy would probably go wandering off, and then he would be blamed.

T'lyn moved quickly, trying to be quiet, but leaves and sticks crunched under his feet every step he took, so that was not a possibility. He thought he was going in the right direction, but it was easy to get lost here; too easy. All these Faranth-forsaken trees looked the same. He was just beginning to think he'd lost the Rider when he heard a crunching of leaves farther off. He stayed still for a moment; yes, it was definitely someone walking. The steps were irregular; were they hurt? He moved forward again, quickly, breaking out into a run as he made his way towards the sounds.

After a few moments, he cursed and slowed. Shard it, he couldn't hear with his own footsteps making so much noise! The Onyxrider stopped completely, listening, and heard another crunch, much closer. His eyes locked onto a giant tree just as the crunching stopped. Should he go slowly, ad see if it was possible not to make noise? Or run outright to the tree? Some instinct prompted him to take it slow, and he took a careful step forward, trying to locate a spot on the ground not covered in dried leaves. Another step fowrward, still noisy, but qieter. Were they already leaving? Climbing the tree? Or still there, waiting? Would he catch them? He wanted to move faster, but he worried of whatever dragon had made htat bugle coming to their rider's rescue.

((Utter fail. Sorry.))

[Fionn]

((T'lyn can find Fionn. She is going to move back around toward the caves, so she'll come in contact with Mnelth, and Schwarzth will show herself.))

Fionn's head turned from left to right, her reddish/black hair flipping over one shoulder, then the other, as she tried to figure out where the Rider of the Onyx dragon on the ridge had gone. Do you see the Rider, Schwarzth? she questioned as she glanced around for the Rider. I can't see through the trees . . . . But it doesn't seem like he has returned to the other dragon,

[/color][/b] Schwarzth hissed, drawing further away from the other dragon and back toward the trees she had stayed hidden within. I want to see that dragon again, Fionn suddenly stated, holding her arm out, Call Snowdrop.

Knowing the idea was a bad one, Schwarzth decided to keep her snout shut, causing Fionn's temper to rise. CALL HIM! she ordered, being answered by her Onyx bugling out in rage at being ordered. The little ivory suddenly darted off Fionn's arm, going between for a second, then reappearing just above T'lyn's head. The little ivory hovered above the male Onyxrider, as if trying to figure out what made him so interesting, before turning and zipping away, heading toward Schwarzth.

When Snowdrop went one way, Fionn went the other, heading back toward the caves. As she weaved between the trees, and neared the Onyx dragon, she couldn't help but get excited. She was finally going to be able to meet another dragon. This isn't a good idea, Fionn. Come back . . . . Snowdrop is here waiting with me,[/color][/b] the Onyx female stated. No . . . . I have to know, Fionn stated as she climbed up the tree that she had fallen out of and slipped to a branch that was hanging over the rocks.

Slowly, she dropped to the ground, figuring it would be better to go ahead and appear before the dragon, father than try to hide. As she landed on the stones, she couldn't help but feel awed by the sight of the Onyx before her. He was older than Schwarzth . . . . Not by much, but still older. You should see him, Schwarzth . . . . . He's beautiful, Fionn sent, crouched before the dragon, unaware of the boy eating not far behind the dragon's tail.[/size][/blockquote]

[dragoncharm]

T'lyn approached the tree in question slowly, trying to make as little noise as possible through the leaf-litter. He stopped mid-step when a furious bugle tore a hole in the air around them. He stayed absolutely still, trying not to move, not to breathe, not even to think too loudly...

At first he didn't see the white creature that hovered directly above him; but then the flitt darted around him in a dizzying flash of white, and T'lyn found himself looking wildly around, trying to keep track of it. It zipped off through the trees - part of him wanted to follow it, part was wary. He only wished he knew where the firelizard had come from, but as it had appeared from between, he couldn't know - but it must be going somewhere, to its master or...the dragon. He was wary of getting his head ripped off, but knew that Mnelth could protect him.

So he followed the white flitter, breaking into a run to try and keep the speck of white far ahead of him in sight. He had to abandon the pretense of silence, however, and thus could hardly hear anything besides the crunching of his own feet. Any other footsteps were easily masked by the clatter...

But it was only a minute or two before he lost sight of the firelizard, who was too far ahead, too fast, and, despite his white hide, had far too much cover in the way of the forest. He might have gone between and appeared over a mountain for all T'lyn knew. He stopped running, sighing in final defeat. He'd lost the trail; the dragonrider had certainly had plenty of time to get away by now, and his only lead had disappeared. Setting his jaw, he turned and started making his way back to the rocky ledge where his dragon and son resided; they'd try again soon.

~~~

Mnelth hissed with annoyance as a final angry bugle rang out through the trees, amplified by the mountains around them. Every part of him was tensed, trying desperately to get to the noise, because it meant danger; it meant something he had to fight to keep His and the boy safe....every muscle was on red-alert, but he had to stay still. Flaring his nostrils, he turned away from the noise to watch the human hatchling eat his way through the basket. For now, he could do nothing.

A slow flash of movement...Mnelth's head twisted around immediately, his jaws parting of their own accord to let out a snarl. It was only the realization that if he scared the human fleshling away, they would be back where they started that kept him from moving forward. It was a female human, with red-black hair and hazel eyes, shorter and much younger than His. Normally the reclusive Onyx wouldn't give a shard what the human looked like - but if for some reason they lost her again, it would help to know. What he wanted to do was to seize her in one claw so she couldn't escape, but that would certainly bring the other dragon down on him and while Mnelth was certain of his victory if there was a fight, he'd be hurt, T'lyn would be hurt, and most especially the other dragon would be hurt - and a maimed and possibly dead pair was not what that human wanted to speak to. It would noyl make things more difficult; of course Mnelth knew that. And there were other methods.

Very slowly, he lowered his head so that his swirling eyes were level with the human's. Who are you? he crooned softly, forcing every bit of hostility out of his voice. If he could get her friendly with him - unafraid - it would be that much easier...and he could stall while T'lyn came, which he made sure to ensure. To His alone, making sure nobody else could hear, most especially the girl in front of him, he told His, The rider is here, T'lyn. Come.

~~~

Kaylan was getting bored; he ate his lunch while tracing patterns on the rocky ground. He leaned against Mnelth's warm, inky black hide, staring at the sky as he ate. He wished he could play, but for some reason his father wanted him to stay here, even though T'lyn was out doing cool stuff nd Kaylan was just stuck here....

He looked around when Mnelth tensed, trying to figure out why the Onyx was upset. At first it didn't make sense, but then the Onyx lowered his head, and the weyrbrat got a glimpse of what was beyond. Ooh, a woman! His curiosity was instantly piqued. Who was she? Why was she here? Was she who his father had been looking for for so long? Not realizing it might not be wise, he dropped his redfruit, stood up, and clambered around until he could duck below Mnelth's neck and come out of his makeshift prison.

"Hi!" he greeted the girl brightly, innocent to the end. "You're pretty. Are you here to play with me?" he asked with a child's naive forwardness. "This is Mnelth, he's my father's dragon. Father's the best Onyxrider ever, you know. You should meet him, only he isn;t here right now. Maybe when he gets back-"

Hold your tongue, hatchling! Mnelth suddenly hissed to the boy alone. Kaylan stopped talking ,looking at the black dragon curiously. "But-"

Quiet!

~~~

The rider is here, T'lyn. Come.

T'lyn's head snapped upward, though of course he couldn't see his Onyx at the moment. He - he'd found the rider! i]I'm coming![/i] he assured Mnelth, breaking into a run once more. IF they'd caught them - if they could get the rider to come...

He ran faster.

[Fionn]

Fionn . . . Come back to me! I don't like you so far away with another dragon around, Schwarzth sent, her voice laced with fury and fear, both of which didn't settle well with Fionn. She didn't like her dragon scared. I just want to find out why they are here, Fionn sent back. At least keep this creature with you . . . He annoys me!

[/color] Schwarzth stated as Snowdrop zipped around her head. Of course, Fionn couldn't help but shake her head at her dragon. Send him. Schwarzth contended sigh was enough, then Snowdrop was between and reappearing on Fionn's shoulder.

I am the Ruler of these mountains! Fionn stated, her chest puffing out a bit and her stance becoming bold. She had lived in the mountains for as long as she could remember, and as far as she knew, Schwarzth had claimed these mountains before she had found Fionn. Who are you?! she demanded.

Then a young boy appeared. He spoke, causing Snowdrop to chitter, only to be quieted by Fionn. The young girl thingyed her head to the side, while the right corner of her lip raised in a half snarl. Tell it I am not here to play, but to get rid of you and him! . . . And his . . . father, Fionn growled, her voice as strong as Schwarzth's was within her mind. She had forgotten that last time she had actually used her voice. It had to at least been . . . nine or ten turns.

From her hiding spot, Schwarzth curled around several trees, her tail circling one poor trunk and crushing it, sending the tree toppling to the ground. She truly did not enjoy her Rider being so close to a dragon, no matter that this dragon was the same as she, only older. It was a he, a male that could possibly be stronger, faster, and wiser than she, besting her and rendering her usless to Fionn. Fionn . . . [/color][/size][/blockquote]