Soaring Spirits - The Story
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Just Outside FireStone Weyre: Confrontation
FireStone Weyre: Energy Storm
Starbright Weyre: Hello?
(SS) Just Outside FireStone Weyre: Confrontation
[Lindsay (Annwn/Selenae) Wrote:]
Pure energy sluiced through the air. Lifting up his sable nose,
BlackHunter sniffed cautiously about for the source of such power. For
days now, he had been searching for some soft, living creature of
subsantial size to satisfy his blood lust, but the best he could come up
with was a rather large Shaffria. It was around the size of a pig, but
still, the blood of sentients was far more tasty.
Moving through the trees like monkeys and shadows, the vampyre dragon
felt the tug of energy growing stronger, enveloping him in unreachable
power. He felt himself salivating, but held back, eager to get a better
feel for his potential prey.
He pulled back a small copse of thorn branches warily, ignoring the
fierce sting of the thorns piercing his paws. A lifetime had taught him
his skin regenerated as easily as one might put on their clothes in the
morning. Blinking back surprise, BlackHunter fairly stared at the sight
that greeted his eyes.
A ravishing female human/dragon stood in the clearing, a tiny animal at
her side. *Shaffria,* he thought in disgust, and quickly pushed the
creature from his mind. However, the female wasn't as easy to cast off.
Not only was she alluring and utterly beautiful . . . she was part
energy dragon. The rarity of her breed astonished him as well as made
him blissfully happy. Her blood would be rich, charged . . . he nearly
burst upon her then, but stopped.
Strapped to her back was a rosewood stave. Cringing inwardly,
BlackHunter gently caught up a wisp of consciousness that sluiced off
her long enough to learn her name. "Zarsha," he whispered, the name
rolling off is tongue like raindrops on the wind. Starting, he realized
he had spoken far louder than he would have liked. It would definitely
be a bad thing if she heard . . . but then again, he wanted her to hear
so badly it ached
[Amber (Zarsha) Wrote:]
Zarsha turned and looked right at him as the Shaffria queeked and hid under
her long black cloak. _Valis has always been really shy, even for a
Shaffria_ Zarsha thought with a smile. "Come on out now, I know your
there. There'll be no use still trying to ambush me!" Zarsha said coldly.
She waited a momment listening very carefully... Nothing. Looking down
into her cloak at Valis she said, "I can't be going senile already, Could
I?" Frowning she decided to walk over to the thron bushes.
[Lindsay (Annwn/Selenae) Wrote:]
Cursing inwardly, BlackHunter peered at the young woman warily. _I have
to act,_ he thought nervously, _staff or no staff, Zarsha is mine!_
With that, the vampyre leaped out from his hiding place a thousand times
more quickly than a normal dragon, far too fast for Zarsha to react.
Hissing balefully and unhappy he will not be able to take his time,
BlackHunter moves in for the kill.
Suddenly, a tiny ray of silver light swishes through the glade and
embeds itself in the vampyre's throat with a sickening crunch. Screaming
in white-hot fury, BlackHunter pulls out the knife and looks
disabeleivingly at the streams of dark, steaming hot blood flowing over
his claws. Glancing over at Zarsha with fire in his eyes, the vampyre
skids away in the bushes. *You have made an enemy this day, young one,*
he mindspeaks to her before wrenching his thought pattern free from the
area.
Looking slightly dazed, another figure moves from the copse, short, slim
and shaking. His black eyes look almost dead, though his raven hair
shines brightly, and he is clearly elven. "Warrior," he begins, looking
over her with an apprehensive eye, "my name is Annwn of the Hylander
Tarn. I heard something moving and came to investigate . . ." He pauses
to sweep some hair from his eyes and seems to regain his composure
somewhat. I'm sure you could have handled most vampyres yourself, but
that one," he gestures to the shaking thicket, "is trouble. He has been
stalking this area for several days now."
He pauses again, a ray of doubt in his eyes. "I suppose you're looking
for food, drink, a place to stay for the night? I can take you to a
friend of mine, I suppose . . . what say you?"
[Amber (Zarsha) Wrote:]
_I should of heard him in the bushes... He was so quiet.. How could I
slip up so badly?_ Zarsha thought to herself in dismay. Valis poked his
little nose out from under Zarsha's cloak, but not for long, as soon as he
layed eyes on Annwn he sqeaked and returned to his safe haven under her cloak.
"You'r eyes" Zarsha said astonished, "I've never seen eyes like ... Oh I'm sorry I forget myself!
My name is Zarsha" She quickly put on a charming smile. "You must be my
hero, Annwn is it?" "Angel" she muttered under her breath. "and this" she
said pulling Valis out from under her cloak "is Valis, and I am hardly a
warrior. Just a traviller... I do recall you saying something about
food, water and a place to stay? But really now you shouldn't burden your
friends with me or they may not be your friends tomarrow. I guess that forcess
me to only accept if you allow me to stay at your place?" She said as she
gracfully moved in closer to Annwn.
[Lindsay (Annwn/Selenae) Wrote:]
Annwn blushed a little, his wax white skin momentarily taking on a rosy
glow. _Why are you acting this way?_ he chided himself. _She's just a
woman, a no-good one at that by the look of things._
"An excellent suggestion, lady," he replied, his strange eyes twinkling,
"if you mind not the roughness of Hylander Tarn. You misjudge my friend,
she cares not for extra mouths to feed. Needless to say, her weyre has
abundant goods!" He smiled a little, then continued, "however, I do have
a pet of my own waiting for me at my tent. It would probably be best for
me to be getting on." Motioning to Zarsha, he moved out into the
thicket, talking as he went.
"I'd advise being careful once we've reached our destination, the Tarn
is mostly human men and they might have trouble resisting . . . err . .
. a lady such as you. In the morning I can set you once again on your
way. I wouldn't advise being on your own at night again." Annwn's eyes
glazed over for a moment, but then he started and they cleared.
"BlackHunter does not like to be deceived."
After a moment, a small encampment of colorful tents came into view,
teeming with people, dragons and others either part of the Tarn or just
hear for entertainment. Annwn smiled in Zarsha's direction. "Does it
suit you? It is not to late to turn back."
[Becky (Astarta) Wrote:]
Astarta had been watching the whole scene with the vampyre, Annwn,
and Zarsha. He wasn't sure he should make himself known either. Secretly
he'd been watching every move they had made. He didn't like the energy
that hung in the air. He had two reasons. One, Rakk, his Zousa didn't
like it and two it made his hair stand up. He hated it when his hair
stood up like that. He was constantly brushing it down. Astarta shook
his head, clearing it of silly thoughts. Rakk was bristling the whole
time as they silently moved after the elven guy and the energy woman.
One more thing that got on his nerves was the fact that this 'Annwn'
guy was elven. His family had had a lot of elven servants. It was one of
those servents that got Astarta kicked out of the family. Astarta
narrowed his eyes, staring after the two. He began to wonder just why he
was following them. If he had any sense at all he'd leave and not come
back. He pushed his way through a thorny bush, ignoring the little claws
of the plant as they pulled at his pants. For some unknown reason, Rakk
let out a loud bark. It surprised Astarta. As he turned around to give
the Zousa a piece of his mind, he tripped and went sprawling out of the
bushes. He landed with a loud -thump-. He raised his head and gathered
his wits, then realized he was staring at Annwn and Zarsha.
"I'm going to kill that Zousa." he said. He somehow got the feeling
he was in trouble now...
[Lindsay (Annwn/Selenae) Wrote:]
Quick as a flash Annwn pulled out his brilliant silver knife and holds
it out in front of him cautiously. His eyes burned in fury and a little
in fright, making him seem like an entity freshly raised from the cript.
He let out a long, low whistle and immediatly a short black shape came
bounding up from the Tarn below. It was an Ika Lai, with teeth bared and
red stomach flashing.
"Who are you," he hissed, "and of what manner? Speak up, before my blade
does it for you." With this, he glanced warily towards Zarsha. *And for
that manner, who are you?* he asks her telepathically, blushing to
realize he was about to let an absolute stranger into his home.
[Amber (Zarsha) Wrote:]
*I am Zarsha, a lonely traveller whom owes you her life although it
really isn't much of one,* Zarsha replied telepathically, looking sadly
up at Annwn with her emerald green eyes. If it wasn't for the stave
strapped to her back and the knife at her thigh, she would have looked
as helpless as a new born lamb. Then again, earlier with BlackHunter,
she had the look and stance of death himself.
***Lindsay Add in:
Her charm calms him for a moment, but just as he is about to reply with
kindly words:
[Becky (Astara) Wrote:]
Astarta, who was never afraid of anything, wanted to laugh in Annwn's
face. "Your blade will do nothing for me. I am Astarta Fireburn Rosecrest, the
bounty hunter.
***Lindsay Add in:
"Astarta . . . I meet you at last . . ." Annwn whispered, letting his
knife drop to the ground in a shower of glittering rain. _Why did
Selenae ever allow this vagabond in the vicinity, let alone her weyre?!_
Growing silent, Annwn stood and took the punishment of the stinging
words, gritting his teeth in agony and anger.
*End Add in
***Amber Add in:
_Some Bounty Hunter_ Zarsha thought in disgust _Falling out of bushes
and looking terribly the fool. It gives the rest of us a bad name! but
then
again, I recognize his name.. I wonder where from..._
*End Add in
"Perhaps you've heard of me. You're kind got me kicked out
of the Rosecrest family. My own flesh and blood parents threw me out!
All because one of the elven servents had seen me kill a Lord." Astarta
growled.
***Lindsay Add in:
*That is not my concern. Don't condemn an entire race because of the
actions of one; I of all people know that some Lords have it coming,*
Annwn answers telepathically, and then allows Astarta to go on:
*End Add in:
He leaped to his feet, ignoring the Ika Lai. Rakk would jump on
the smaller animal with one signal from Astarta if need be.
Astarta dusted himself off and shifted the Rosewood stave so the two
could see it better and the quiver of arrows. He stood as tall as he
could, pretending not to be embarassed by his fall. Luckily he had
nothing but bruised pride.
***Amber Add in:
Zarsha tighted her grip on the iron knife that was strapped to her thigh
and moved into a better stance for fighting in case the need arose.
*End Addin:
"Shouldn't little elves be off picking mushrooms somewhere, not
saving dragon ladies? You should let real men do that." Astarta said. He
knew he was treading on dangerous ground, but he couldn't stop himself.
He gloated as he waited for the next remark.
***Amber Addin:
"And you think you ARE a real man?" Zarsha said with a laugh _Oh, but he
is,_ Zarsha thought to herself, _I don't belive I've ever met a human
man that was so alluring in my life._ Resisting urges to kiss him right
then,and hoping no one noticed the change in her mood, Zarsha gave herself a
quick shake.
*End Addin:
[Lindsay (Selenae/Annwn) Wrote:]
Annwn's dead bright eyes glittered coldly as he stared the proud bounty
hunter in the face. Astarta felt a dull, stinging pain emerge from his
temples and spread over his body, immobilizing him temporarily. "Do not
push me, 'bounty hunter'," Annwn spat out vehemenantly, his eyes dancing
with ice and fire, "I leave you unharmed now because you are under the
protection of a friend dear to my heart, but once in awhile my anger
overspills so that even I may not control it. As to the lady . . . " he
glanced over at Zarsha, "I care not under whose protection she falls. I
doubt she even needs protection at all."
He released Astarta from the weak bonding spell, speaking a few words
under his breath. "I !will not! battle with you further, Astarta of
Rosecrest. Take your worthless pride and animal and go." With this, the
angry Annwn folded his arms and stared death at Astarta. Apparently,
there was more to this gentle bard than at first sight, although the
spell he cast could be absolved by the lowest form of mage.
(SS)FireStone Weyre: Energy Storm
Selenae shifted uncomfortably in the corner of her living space. Some
quality to the air, a metallic tang to the quality of it, made her wary.
Besides that, electricity hummed through her conductive claws and blood,
making her antsy. "H'lajj?" she called, trying to pinpoint the location
of the two energy dragons of the weyre, "T'kira?" However, there was no
response, leaving Selenae alone in her misgivings.
Suddenly, a peal of thunder errupted from her side, and Selenae whipped
her golden head about to determine its source. _Another storm . . .,_
she thought unhappily, _a few miles away, and closing fast._
Working quickly, she slithered out of the hall and broadcasted a
telepathic message to all four corners of the weyre, warning the members
under her care to stay inside for the next few hours. Within seconds,
replies came trickling in from everyone . . . except one person.
Worried, Selenae looked about from side to side, sending her heart's
brails out into the charged environment, searching. *Astarta,* she
mindsung across the island, *where are you? Come back, quickly, with
everyone you can find . . . unless you'd !rather! stay out all night
against the electrical storm.*
She sighs quietly, burdened with the responsibility of providing for
everyone's safety . . . although by all means Astarta could probably
care for himself. _But I'm not having a dead body on my conscience!_ she
told herself fiercly. _Humans are such fragile creatures, you never know
what they can withstand._
(SS) Just Outside FireStone Weyre: Confrontation
[Becky (Astarta) Wrote:]
Astarta winced as he was released from the spell. !See, you shouldn't
mess with elven people like that.! he thought to himself. He had
deserved that. Suddenly he was recieving a telepathic message. There was
an energy storm over FireStone weyre. *Do you feel that? We have to get
to FireStone quick!* he thought to Annwn. Once again, the energy made
him nervous.
***Lindsay Addin:
Annwn looked about, and sniffed carefully, the quarrel temporarily
forgotten. *Energy storm,* he telepathed back, *we should get under
cover. Hylander Tarn has become temporarily non existant.* He gestured
down the hill, bringing to Astarta's attention the fact that the
residents and pleasure-seekers had all seemed to disappear into the
caves beyond. *I'm warning you though, if you try anything . . . * Annwn
trailed off, leaving the rest of the sentence to Astarta's imagination.
*End Addin
"This is no time to stand here, the sky is getting dark, I think we
should go. Selenae is calling." Astarta said.
[Lindsay (Selenae/Annwn) Wrote:]
"Astarta is right, lady," Annwn concurred, holding out one arm for
Zarsha, and then, thinking different, withdrawing. "I shall try to make
a run for the caves, but it may be better for you and the other to go to
FireStone. I will join you when the weather permits." He pauses and
grins, white teeth flashing. "No offence to either of you, but an elfin
is quicker on his feet than humans of the same age." He turns and speeds
down the hill, the Ika Lai a black blur at his feet. *Farewell, Zarsha,*
he telepaths to the young bounty hunter, *and good luck.* Before she has
time to figure out what he means, or indeed reply at all, he is gone.
[Amber (Zarsha) Wrote:]
_Elven males, will I ever understand them? . . . Now that I think about
it, I'm unsure if I could possibly understand any males for that
matter,_ Zarsha thought to herself. "I guess that just leaves us and
Astarta" Zarsha mummbled to Valis, although not truly expecting an
answer from the Shaffria.
Forgetting what manners she could possibly obtain after being exiled
from many cities and forced to become a traveller, let alone being a
thief and, bounty hunter, Zarsha took flight, knowing she could get to
the weyre faster by air then land. However, she then realized how rude
she was being, or maybe it was the fact she hated being in weyres and
cities due to her past experiences and by no means wanted to get there
any faster then need be.
"I'm very sorry I forget myself, well not myself my manners really..."
Zarsha's felt her cheeks getting hotter as they changed from white into
a rosey color. _Oh, I hope he didn't notice that,_ Zarsha thought and
gave her face a quick rub. "Well I guess we better be off before the
storm hits us".
[Becky (Astarta) Wrote:]
Astarta looked at Zarsha, truly uncertain of what to do next. For a
moment, he stared at her, thinking that she looked lovely. He saw the
rosy blush, thinking it made her look even prettier. He also saw her
embarassment, so he made no comment.
"Doesn't matter, being a bounty hunter myself, I seem to have
forgotten my manners, if I ever had any. Let's go, I have no urge to be
caught in this storm. Selenae worries about everyone's safety, as she
has to protect those who live at FireStone. Have you met Selenae
Steelclaw?" Astarta asked. He whistled to Rakk, forgetting his anger at
the Zousa. He began walking briskly, as fast as his long legs would
carry him, hoping Zarsha could keep up with him.
[Amber (Zarsha) Wrote:]
"Selenae Steelclaw? I don't belive I have, I've never been inside
FireStone Weyre before..." Zarsha replied, as she stumbled a little
while trying to keep up. _And a good thing too. If I had ever been
there, I probably would have been exiled by now. Then I would 'have' to
trust my luck with the storm,_ Zarsha thought to herself. _I will
definatley try and put on my good manners._
"So... Umm... Why were you watching us back there anyways?" Zarsha said,
trying to make conversation to take her mind off having to enter a the
weyre. Just as Astarta began to reply, Zarsha interupted him and stoped
dead in her tracks "Is that . . . is that FireStone Weyre?" The fear
flooded Zarsha again far worse then before. _I can't enter that weyre,
what if someone from a different weyre recognizes me? After all, people
travel all the time right?_ Zarsha thought to herself, then a little
courage came back to her. _I have to or I will most likely die out
here._
***Becky Add in:
"That's FireStone alright. The place I'd call home." he paused, a
sardonic grin on his face. "Who am I kidding? I don't have a home. Never
really did. People have a hard time accepting a murdering bounty
hunter." Just then, Astarta could feel Zarsha's fear. She was stiff and
afraid. _Not just a bounty hunter then, are you?_ he thought.
*End Add in
Zarsha took Astarta's hand _Well at least I don't have to go in alone,_
Zarsha thought looking up at Astarta with her emerald eyes. She laughed
to herself, _but I don't even know this man... I hope he doesn't think
I'm strange._ Zarsha began to blush once more.
[Becky (Astarta) Wrote:]
Astarta raised an eyebrow as Zarsha took his hand. Wonder of wonders she
had beautiful eyes! He couldn't very well take his hand away from hers.
He opened his mouth, about to blurt out how beautiful she was and how
she shouldn't have to be a thief and bounty hunter, that she should be
sitting in a Lord's home somewhere with servants to wait on her hand and
foot.
Instead, he shut his mouth, blushed and pulled her along.
"I don't know about you, but I'm ready to get somewhere safe and dry."
he said gruffly.
[Lindsay (Selenae) Wrote:]
Sighting two, slight humaniod figures approaching, Selenae squinted and
waved frantically in their direction. The fore-storm crackled with such
violent electricity Selenae worried not only for the two exposed human's
safety, but indeed that of the entire weyre structure and those within
it. _This one is going to be big . . ._ she thought, shaking her head.
Suddenly, a wave of fear washed through her. _Annwn! Wasn't he around
the area of the glade? With . . . BlackHunter??_ She glanced nervously
to and fro. _Weyre first, I haven't the energy to communicate with him
right now. I shall see how he has fared at the end of the storm . . . if
he managed to get under shelter . . ._
Fighting back fright, Selenae bit her lip and bounded up towards the two
figures. "Astarta . . ." she glanced towards the newcomer, "you, get
under cover. This one is going to be a storm to top all storms. The
weyre is just there, of course, I fear we may not have an extra room for friend Astarta, she can choose to stay with me if she likes," she
continued with an almost motherly air. Though Selenae looked to be only
eighteen, she had the countenance of one who had lived centuries.
[Amber (Zarsha) Wrote:]
"Thank you for your generous offer, Selenae, right?" Zarsha said.
***Lindsay Add in:
Selenae smiled and nodded. "You can call me that if you wish, any name
is alright with me. Especially if you grow to know me better."
*End Add in:
Zarsha continued,
"but I think I had better decline, for my shaffria that is, he's very shy and
has gone through a lot today. I think it'd be better, for him, if we
stayed with someone he knew a little better."
***Lindsay Add in:
"Of course! Pets govern your life from time to time, don't they? My
fyrelizards a bit more outgoing . . ." Selenae glances to the three
bronze shapes hiding behind her, "most of the time . . . but they do
have their own quirks."
*End Add in:
Zarsha looked over at Astarta "If it's alright with you of course? I can sleep on the floor I
really won't be much of a bother, and after all the floor would be more comfortable then what I'm used to traveling."
***Becky Add in:
Astarta cleared his throat in surprise, but nodded. "I don't mind. In
fact, you can have the bed, I'll sleep on the floor. It doesn't bother
me."
*End Add in:
[Lindsay (Selenae) Wrote:]
"If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask. Ast can show you around
later, and the grand meeting hall is just inside the doors if you'd care
to meet some dragons from the weyre. Your name sounds a bit familiar,
perhaps someone has mentioned you." She shrugs. "No matter. I have the
highest assurance from Ast's patronage that you will not harm this
weyre," Selenae added firmly, her sea-green eyes boring a hole through
the young bounty hunter.
[Becky (Astarta) Wrote:]
Astarta wondered what he was doing. This wasn't for the sake of any
shaffria. He'd just given up his bed! _I must be nuts!_ he thought. Then
something else came to mind.
"Selenae, have you seen Tal? I haven't seen the little fyrelizard
since this morning. It's not like him to just disappear. Rakk has been
with me, but not Tal." Astarta was suddenly worried. Had a vampyre
gotten the fyrelizard? He hoped not.
[Lindsay (Selenae) Wrote:]
-Fright, worriedness- Selenae sensed from Astarta. She wished she could
lay a comforting talon on his shoulder, perhaps ease his mind, but that
might have hurt his pride. "I wouldn't worry, Astarta," she said as
gently as she could, "nobeast would care enough to harm such a stringy,
unappetizing morsel as a fyrelizard unless they deliberately wished to
worry you. The only thing your pet has to face is the storm -- and the
rescourcefulness of the fyrelizard breed has been proved to me thrice
over." Despite her words, she looked worried, and turned from Astarta
with a wrinkled brow.
***Becky Add in:
"Wished to worry me?" Astarta repeated, his eyes widening. He thought
of the horrible things that anyone could have done to Tal.
*End Add in
Switching to Inay-accented English, <> the young moonsinger called her three
fyrelizards to her. "Manak, Jooly, Hissa, have you seen Tal? Anwhere?"
*No, Selly,* Hissa answered her, frowning and rubbing against her
mistress' scales.
*Gone . . . maybe look for Astatty,* Manak interjected. *Bad thing
happen. No good dragon come. Black power!* The fyrelizard squeaked
unhappily and buried his snout in the leaves.
Selenae whirled to look at Zarsha. Could she be mistaken for a dragon by
the fyrelizards? She certainly had the tail and the wings . . . or was
it someone else? "A bad dragon? Who? Zarsha?"
The fyrelizards looked at her, bepuzzled. *Bad . . . Zaaaaa-rrrrsa?*
struggled Hissa.
"Never mind, its of no importance. I can handle this myself," she
answered languidly, secretly thinking to bring the newcomer before her
partner in leadership. _Silverthorne knows much . . . she's been all
over the island, and even to K'lash. If anyone would know Zarsha, she
would._
Frowning, Selenae continued, "I thank you, my friends. If you see Tal,
tell him to come home immediatly. Astarta . . . I mean, Astatty is
worried." The fyrelizards nodded and disappeared, squealing
good-naturedly as they tramped through the bushes in play.
"They haven't seen Tal," she shrugged, "but I wouldn't worry about it.
If worse comes to worse I'll sing him home for you. Come, Zarsha, let's
get you settled in . . . I'll take you to meet my partner and then
perhaps a tour? You could be spending a day or two here."
[Amber (Zarsha) Wrote:]
"It would be an honor meeting your partner, but I would like to turn
down the tour, if I may. I plan on leaving as soon as the storm breaks.
I have . . ." Zarsha paused, "matters of much importance that
desperately need my attention.
***Becky Add in:
Astarta shook his head, clearing bad thoughts away.
"Really, you should meet Silverthorne. Do you really have to leave as
soon as the storm ends? FireStone Weyre is a wonderful place," he said.
_What are you saying?_ he wondered.
*End Add in
***Lindsay Add in:
"Of course, if you need to leave, you must. I hope that the storm breaks
soon enough for you to go on your way in time," Selenae stated,
punctuating her comment with a glance towards the crackling skies.
*End Add in
Plus . . . I'm afraid," Zarsha paused
again, trying to pick the right words, "that if I were to meet more
dragons here and they all were as nice and friendly as you I might be
tempted to stay." Zarsha bowed, unsure how to act in front of a weyre
leader.
***Becky Add in:
"That's dumb!" Astarta blurted out.
"Oops, sorry." he apologized. He glanced at Selenae to see her
reaction.
*End Add in
***Lindsay Add in:
Selenae raised her eyebrows at Astarta, but didn't reply. She had
another matter on her mind;
_And this is a bad thing?_ Selenae thought to herself, frowning a
little. Yet, she didn't voice her comments aloud. _By no means should I
scare her off!_ Instead, she smiled and nodded, replying, "My thanks for
the compliment, although I hardly consider myself worthy."
*End add in
She then turned to Astarta and said, "I'm sure Tal is going to be
alright." Then she smiled at him. Realizing she was still holding
Astarta's hand, and even tighter than before, she let it go . . . but it
was hard for her to let go.
***Becky Add in:
Astarta had forgotten her grip on his hand, and he almost didn't let go
either.
*End Add in
She did not want to meet Selenae's partner
_What if she recognizes me?_ Zarsha thought, but could find no way out
of it.
[Lindsay (Selenae) Wrote:]
"Well, we should be getting inside as soon as possible," Selenae
interjected, wincing a little. "The storm is nearly here . . . and the
electrical charges are getting quite painful for me." The golden
dragon's tail tapped on the ground in masked agony, though her face was
composed. None of the other creatures seemed to be in any kind of pain,
however, and even Zarsha and Astarta felt no change. Swirling about,
Selenae slithered gracefully into the nearby cave entrance, gesturing
for her comrades to follow.
[Becky (Astarta) Wrote:]
Astarta knew that his dragon friend was in pain, but he said nothing.
_Poor Selenae,_ he thought. He looked at Zarsha and pointed after the
golden dragon.
"Ladies first." he said, smiling. _Tal, come home!_ he thought.
[Amber (Zarsha) Wrote:]
"Thank you." Zarsha replied, and followed Selenae into the cave looking
back to make sure Astarta was following. She placed a hand under her
cloak to comfort Valis, who was still a little shaken and hiding there
from the strangers.
[Lindsay (Selenae) Wrote:]
Glancing back to make sure her charges were alright, Selenae whisked
down the legnth of the cavern with obvious relief. Almost immediatly, a
burst of electrical energy washed over the three. Selenae winced again
and increased her pace so that the other two could barely keep up.
***Amber Add in:
Zarsha all but flew to try and keep up with Selenae _Dragons sure can
move fast with those strong legs,_ Zarsha thought to herself and then
went back to concentrating on keeping up.
*End Add in
Breathing hard, Selenae once again checked to make sure everyone was
still there . . . and slowed her pace somewhat. "I'm sorry if that was
difficult for you . . . I'm a stone dragon," she explained, as though
that answered all their questions.
Not waiting for a reply, Selenae whisked around yet another dusty
corner, coming upon a burled walnut door set in amongst the heavy
masonry. From the door wisped the faintest hints of cooking meat and the
sound of racous flute playing. Smiling broadly, she pulled open the
door. "Welcome to the FireStone weyre meeting hall, Zarsha . . .
Silverthorne should be somewhere around here." Bustling about happily,
Selenae went through the gigantic door and turned, waiting patiently for
the others to follow.
[Amber (Zarsha) Wrote:]
Zarsha paused a long while and looked up at Astarta she licked her lips
nervously then proceeded towards Selenae _What if . . . what if someone
in there recognizes me, I hope . . . I hope Selenae has a good heart and
won't throw me out in the storm if she finds I'm a thief and, and a
murderous bounty hunter . . . that's what I am aren't I, a bounty hunter
that will kill anyone for a price." She tossed the thought of being a
killer out of her mind _I'm being silly,_ she thought again.
Zarsha set Valis down so he didn't need to enter a room full of people.
"I'll be back soon Valis," she said, making her way towards Selenae.
Valis hurried off and hid quickly.
Starbright Weyre: Hello?
[Falconwind Wrote:]
A black winged horse trots out of the shadows and stops in front of
the entrance to StarBright Weyre. She whinnies softly and sends out a
telepathic message to her pets. *Well, here we are. StarBright Weyre. Is
everyone with me? Frakir, Odin, Isis, Sharinya, Jhanlin, Daedalus?* The
fyrelizards, Frakir and Odin, send back dual messages of excitement and
happiness.
The wolves look a bit uneasy about having to enter a place filled
with dragons and other dangerous animals, but she soothes them with
another telepathic message. *It's not as bad as out here, surrounded by
Chak and Oki and all the rest!* The Iko Lai just sits at her feet and
radiates contentment, as does the Shaffria curled up on her left wing.
She casts a small spell to louden her voice and and looks at the
entrance of the weyre. "Hello? I am Falconwind, and I'd like to come in
and join the weyre? Maybe meet some people?" She broadcasts the same
message telepathically and waits for an answer.
[Sunfire Earthenwing Wrote:]
"Hello!" calls a voice from inside the weyre. A large shape comes out
of the darkness. It's a dragon, much larger than regular Raiu dragons.
She's gold, and a grey shafria with gold wings sits on her shoulder. "You
must be Falconwind. I'm Sunfire Earthenwing." she glances quickly at the
animals and guesters to the entrance. "Please come in."
[Falconwind Wrote:]
Falconwind grins when Sunfire glances at all of her pets. "Thank
you, Sunfire. I hope you don't mind all of my pets, they just...added
up...on my travels. Is it alright if I join the weyre? I need a place
to settle down. I can't keep wandering forever, though it would be
fun..." She 'paths to her pets, and the shaffria and the two
fyrelizards settle on her shoulders while the Iko Lai and the two
wolves follow to either side as she approaches the entrance. When she
gets inside, she looks around, her hooves echoing on the stone (BTW,
is it stone? Or is it something else?) flooring.
"How big is this place, anyway? I heard that it was new, but I see
a fair number of people..." She scratches the fyrelizards on the
eyeridges with a spell absently, since they seem to be rather agitated
by all the dragons. The wolves don't seem too happy either, ears laid
back and hackles starting to rise. *Calm down, Daedalus. Calm down,
Isis. You're not in danger. I promise!* They look a little more
relaxed after that. but still wary.
[Sunfire Earthenwing Wrote:]
"Oh, I don't mind the animals. I just don't see how one person can
manage to maintain so many *g*. I think StarBright is a well sized weyre,
though I'm not sure how big it is. I'm kinda new here too. Oh, and there
are a few other people you should meet before you get settled. One of them
is a pheldagriff (thats a winged horse), and the other is a fellow dragon."
She leads down a hallway turn. Basically standing around talking is a
black and white cow sploched dragon, a wolf, and the pheldagriff.
"This," says Sunfire, guestering to the dragon "Is StarFlash." the
black and white dragon grins and bows. "The pheldagriff is Shardra," at
this the red creature nodds in acknolagement (my messed up word for the
day. Sound it out.)
The wolf near them shuffles uncomfortable near the other pets.
StarFlash pets him and turns back to FalconWind.
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