N'tren and bronze Datiath's weyr

[Naree]

EvilSilverDragon

Gem knew Splotch, Datiath and N'tern were there when they appeared and sent the image to Caleten before going back to playing. She would say hello when things settled down.


Caleten saw Datiath appear, and wondered if N'tren had finally come to his senses. She waited, and watched. Seeing Datiath tip over and dump N'tren in the water, she could not help but laugh. She didn't laugh loudly, but there was a bubble of laughter quiet and dripping a with amusement. That was something she would have loved to do to him her self. 'Nice one, Datiath', the comment was sent to the great bronze because she really did think what he did was smart.

She looked away sharply when she had seen N'tren take off his jacket. Not sure they even knew she was there, she was worried he'd completely strip. Daring a quick peak, she was glad to see only the jacket and sandals where tossed off.

Just watching a moment or two more, she then turned her attention to the water, kicking droplets up in the air with each flick of her foot. A swim looked like a great idea but she couldn't now that he was in there, at least not right now.

Datiath blinked but did not give any indication to N'tren that Caleten had spoke to him. He swam in the water and looked up at the flits diving down and playing with him. I told him he needed to cool his head.

N'tren was doing laps around Datiath watching the flits play. He startled when Datiath told him that Caleten and Gem were around someplace. Looking up, he could see the brazen gold dancing with her cousins. Splotch sent an image of Caleten sitting on the beach somewhere, alone.

A pang of guilt stabbed N'tren in the stomach. His eyes searched the beach until he found her lone figure sitting and not looking too happy. "Shards! I was a jerk, huh?"

Not that you would hear me say anything. Datiath looked down at his lifemate.

Glaring at the bronze, N'tren merely said nothing but started to swim towards the shore.

EvilSilverDragon

Caleten kept a straight face, for it seemed they had noticed she was there. To Datiath, she responded, 'I agree with you, your method appears to have worked.' It was amusing to watching, but she tried not to think about it. Dragons were extremely close to their riders, not even sure how she managed to tick N'tren off so much, she was reluctant to think too much that might anger Datiath as well.

Kicking up at the water a bit, she waited, from the corner of her eye she spotted N'tren heading towards the shore. It wasn't like she was not speaking to him, but right now, she was going to wait until he said something to her first. Raising her voice so she could be heard might be seen as yelling and she still cared enough to try and not make things worse, another yelling session and it may not matter.

The healer's advice, she was glad no one was around to hear, but his other about letting it go was a bit she'd follow if nothing happens to make things worse.

Gem gave a trumpt of a trill to greet Datiath, N'tren and Splotch as she weaved around the other flits, playing and enjoying herself.

N'tren's feet his the underwater dune and he straightened up and started to walk to the shore. Not once looking over in Caleten's direction, he went for his clothes. Shaking the sand out of his sandals, he put them on and stretched.

What do I say to her? I really blew up over nothing, I guess. N'tren quietly asked Datiath.

How do I know? I am just a dragon. The bronze replied. He dipped his head down and blew bubbles to amuse the flits.

Some help you are... N'tren muttered in his mind. He supposed he would have to make the first move. Sitting down, he put his head on his knees and huffed. He really screwed things up this time. Looking down, he saw a grimy shell. Washing it off in the waters, it was revealed to be a lovely shade of pinkish-gold.

Looking over at Caleten, he smiled and had an idea. Getting the shell all grimey again, the young rider jumped up and started to walk quickly over to who he hoped was still his friend. Here goes nothing...

Spltoch was delighted with seeing Gem again. He settled on Datiath's head knob and chirped. He wanted to know if Caleten still loved him. Sending love to N'tren and Caleten, he took flight again and headed towards shore.

EvilSilverDragon

Caleten hadn't paid attention much to what N'tren was doing, letting him come to her this time. Seeing him walking towards her, she continued to just kick up some water with the flick of her toe, chin still resting on her knee.

With Splotch's love being sent, she asked Gem to do something for her.

Gem came down form her playing and sat beside Splotch on the great bronze's head, she nuzzled the little bronze and chirped to him, telling him that Caleten did still love him. With him, she sent love to Ntren and Caleten as well.

With N'tren getting closer, she sent a message to Datiath, 'No matter what, my feelings for you and Splotch will never change.' Maybe the bigger bronze might not need reassurance, but she gave it to him anyway then sighed softly and finally looked right at N'tren, greeting him with a "Hello." She waited again, to see how he reacted now.

He plopped down next to her without really looking over. They were at least two or three feet away from each other. N'tren put his head on his shoulders and stared out at the amazing dance in the sky. He clutched the shell tightly in his right hand as his left hand sifted through the sand.

I should hope not. I am much nicer than he is. Datiath replied as he enjoyed the warm waters. Splotch chirped his agreement and leaned into Gem, eyes whirling.

"The funny thing about friends," N'tren said softly. "Is that big misunderstandings can happen in small ways. But it is the small things that make everything better."

Carefully, he held the shell in her direction.

EvilSilverDragon

Caleten chuckled lightly, replying to Dataith, 'Yes you are, he is lucky to have you, if I ever saw someone who was so good for someone else, it is you and him. Even if he won't listen to me, your there to keep him out of too much trouble.' She was talking about something more then just fighting thread and how lucky anyone would be get a bronze, she was talking about the friendship she had seen between the two. After she saw him dump N'tren into the water, thats when she fully realized just how much was really there.

Looking at the little flits, she thought that Gem and Splotch were the cutest little flits she had ever seen. That track of mind was sent off course when N'tren spoke. Turning her head slightly, she looked at him with one hazel eye, not feeling like giving him her full attention at the moment. She was stubborn and defiant, so scorch her.

At first, she didn't respond, but did take the grimy shell that was presented to her. It took her a few minutes and she looked confused, it had been the first time anything had been given to her in turns. Taking the dirty mess of a shell, she leaned foreword and placed it in the water. The grim came off in a mirky pool obscuring her hand and the shell until the water's movemet sent it away and showed her what it had greedily hidden. She was amazed at the beautiful color that was unveiled as the grim had been washed way.

Looking at the shell as she moved it in her hands, she asked, "What happened back there? I honestly don't understand how that argument even happened besides that we were tired. I haven't changed since we met, so what did?" Honestly, she didn't have a clue, but was sure it was N'tren that had changed. Beyond blaming men for everything, she had some logical proof. He had never raised his voice to her and had always been cheerful no matter how sour she was to him yet to day when she was trying to be helpful, he exploded. Should he go back to being mean?

Gem trilled softly to Splotch, her tail laying over his. She nuzzled him again and watched their friends. Part of her still wanted to go up to play, but her side was warmer with Splotch there and she was happy where she was.

There was a lump in N'tren's throat as he tried not to cry. He was a boy and a bronze rider! He was not going to cry over something so stupid. Instead, he just sighed and continued to watch the open sea. Datiath was slowly starting to paddle to shore.

"Do you know, you always find a way to make me feel so young? One moment, you treat me like I can take on the world and the next you talk down to me like a deadglow. So which is it?" N'tren peered one bright green eye out from his arms to look over at her.

Tread carefully, beloved. Datiath spoke softly in his head.

Splotch chirped apologetically and unwrapped himself from Datiath and Gem. Taking to the air, he blinked /between/ and came out right above N'tren. Landing on a hunched shoulder, he cooed softly.

I try. But he is young and so am I. We have much to learn. Datiath told Caleten as he made his way to shore.

EvilSilverDragon

Caleten watched Datiath come closer, but eventually gave N'tren her attention as he tried to tell her what she was doing. She still didn't understand, but at least there were a few things she could tell him. "You are young, we both are, unless I really missed my guess on your age, we are both under 20 turns old, thats young. I have lived holdless for turns, its who I am. I never cared to learn social rule nor had much a chance of being a child myself. I don't see how I am talking down to but know this, I do not believe you are a deadglow, especially for man." She met his eye, hazel to stunning green. He had accepted her before, why not now as well? She didn't come in parts, it was one package thats it.

Gem took off, taking a seat in what was available of Caleten's lap, chirping to let her know she loved and accepted her.

Smiling lightly, she petted her little queen, scratching her eye ridges and petting her with one hand, the other treating the shell she was given with great care. To Datiath, she says 'You do a great job, I think that its not just you and N'tren that have a lot to learn.' She did too, but she should not be anything more then Caleten of the holdless, now of th Weyr.

N'tren shook his head and still really was not looking at her, more past her than anything else. He scratched Splotch's head and between his eyes while he tried to gather his thoughts. He wasn't sure what to say next.

How about the truth? Just tell her what you feel. Datiath tried to offer some friendly advice. He had made it to shore by now and had settled himself into the sands for basking. She likes the truth.

I don't know what the truth is... N'tren muttered.

Outloud, he took a deep breath. "You can't just threaten to go to my wingleader or my weyrleader. Not only will they not let me into a fighting wing but the other riders will tease me. I can take care of myself. And they know how to take care of me. You sounded like my mother or something... I don't know."

N'tren stood up suddenly and started pacing. "You confuse me. You wanted me to help you with your former family yet you and everyone else managed to do more than I did. You constantly change how you say things and when you say them...."

His confusion was definately showing as he paced in circles and started and stopped his sentances with no comprehension. Splotch's eyes were tinged yellow with anxiety and worry playing off of the inner turmoil his owner felt...

Datiath looked squarely at Caleten. Let him work out his feelings for you. He doesn't mean to be so rude.

N'tren stopped suddenly and looked right at the girl who caused him so much pain and happiness. "I look at you and I know you are my friend. But then you take to me or react to me sometimes like I am a stranger. Not now... But after what happened between us... You didn't tell me that... I don't know what I expected... But I think I expected something... I feel like I am here just to be convient for you to have around!"

In a burst of emotion that was unusual even for N'tren, he took a rock and heaved it into the cove.

EvilSilverDragon

Caleten watched him the whole time he monologue. Her expression was very carefully guarded and her eyes almost completely blank of life as some might call it. They weren't dull, just no emotion was expressed, as such, the gold and green flaxes in her eye seemed to have vanished from them. Physically, she was still where she was sitting, yet, it seemed to her that she as a landmass away. With everything he said and all the pain the confusion caused, she reacted in holdless fashion, by pulling away, all she was missing was packing up and leaving without so much as a good bye.

She didn't even answer Dataith, pulling away from him as well.

Gem was so startled by the radical change form Caleten that she jumped off her shoulder and gave a shriek as if Caleten's shoulder bit her. Not even trying to land, she stayed aloft, curling and making a piteous noise, even chirping to Dataith and Splotch asking for help, the image she sent to N'tren was of the harsh, empty lands Caleten used to walk.

For a long time, she didn't speak and when she did, her voice seemed to loose something. It might not be something that had a name or could be identified, but with it not there, it was noticeable. "I am Caleten of the Holdless. By acting, I survived all my turns alone. I don't know anything of social behavior, nor of Weyr behavior. All I know is what I have learned from healers, I don't mean to even make a suggestion that would cause you trouble." She hadn't meant to sound like she was insulting him by suggesting talking to the wingleader, she had honestly meant to be helpful. A reason in her mind to pull away, what was supposed to be a nice gesture in her mind because something so wrong. Where was the rule book on behavior?

Not touching the mother part, better his mother then hers but that wasn't to be said aloud, instead she went on to the next point, "You did help with my former family. I survived by acting, thats how its always been, I can be no less. For the longest time, it was just me, I don't know how to work with others, but I am learning. Your being there did so much more then you'll ever know." Right now, she doubted he'll ever understand. "I don't know what you mean about how I change what I say when I say them." Her body never moved but emotionally, she kept on going.

"Before you," She started, that lost thing still not there, "I hadn't had a friend, I don't know how to live a civilized life or how to have friends, all I know is what I always did to survive, that doesn't just change in a few weeks. Your here, I guess, because there must be something about me you don't find intolerable." Thats how she felt right now, useless, hurtful and a bumbling deadglow. She couldn't do anything right, could she?

"There you go again! I try to open up to you and you become that other person! You are not holdless... Not anymore. Whenever you can't deal with something, you just close yourself off. Is that what you want? To be closed off to me after everything we went through?"

N'tren fumed just as hot on the outside as he did on the inside. Splotch answered Gem's shriek and took to the air as well. He hissed at Caleten as to tell her to wake up.

Datiath stood up and let out a rumble from his muzzle. His eyes were tinged yellow-orange, feeding off the emotions of both teenagers. He walked towards his owner and his friend and looked down at both of them from his height.

Now you both are being silly. If you would say what you meant everything would be okay.

"Be quiet, Datiath. No one needs your advice right now. You are the most..." he started to rant at his dragon but realized that it would only hurt him more.

This needs to be between me and her. Go behave. He scolded his dragon.

Datiath huffed angrily at being talked to like that... He sat down and refused to budge. He twitched his tail in anger. It was not a good idea to upset someone so big.

You can be thicker than rock sometimes N'tren. And the bronze said this for both parties.

N'tren took a step back. It was not like Datiath to be so forceful either. Now that he was getting it from both sides, the only option left for him was to retreat. Which he did not do very well. "It's easy to find an excuse to cut someone off, isn't it? When something happens you do not understand you blame it on being holdless. If you can't fit in the way you want to, it's because you are holdless. And because we are finally clearing the air between us, it's because I can't stand you? Any more walls you want to create?"

It was a low blow and he knew it. But it was too late to take back what had been said.

EvilSilverDragon

She started of by saying, "You don't know what..." Then she stopped, by now she doubted he cared about what she went through. How would he ever understand why she is the way she is if he doesn't know what happened to her? "I don't want to be closed off especially to you, but what else can I do? Your angry and doing nothing but making me feel like a bumbling deadglow inept at everything! Nothing you've said has done anything but confuse and hurt, what is smarter then removing oneself from the troubles?" It was like they were speaking two different languages!

Gem scolded Splotch for hissing at Caleten, she was quick to champion her friend, even against another she cared for.

He may be sick of it, but she couldn't seem to get him to understand how significant being holdless was, "How can you say I am not holdless, I just settled down recently, I'd give a full mark on the bet it took you a long while and mistakes before you fully were adjusted to living in the weyr and you had positive social interactions to go on. My first real interaction holdless, I was nearly.." She cut off then, shaking her head, then she started to wonder why she was even trying to stay strong right now. "Do you have any idea what its like not to understand anything, even something as simple as being able to go around and trust the person walking next you isn't going to pull out a knife and kill you for what you have? Do you have any idea what it feels like to go from learning all these skills and that the only way to live it to be strong, then try to live somewhere that you don't have to be. Its like letting go of everything you were just to have a hope of understanding anything." Why couldn’t he understand how hard this was? Because he never lived holdless or maybe he didn't want to understand.

"I learned nothing that helped me understand decent behavior. The only thing I do understand is retreating from a problem I can't deal with alone. How can you even try to help me when your raging, and apparently about as upset as I am? How else can I protect my self without walls, what else will keep me safe?" He was right, it was too late to take back anything, just like the jabs she sent at him, what else could she do when he was acting meaner then a tunnelsnake born under the red star?

Datiath reared up and looked down at N'tren, his eyes now red-orange with the anger and confusion from both of them. He called Splotch to order and the little bronze settled on his shoulder, still chittering angrily at Gem and Caleten.

You better fix this now or you will not have it again. The larger bronze told his rider. You said bad things.

Shards! I can see that! I didn't mean to hurt her feelings. I just wanted... N'tren left off helplessly.

He took a step forward, hand outstretched. N'tren couldn't believe that she was so hurt. And it hurt him to have her so close to breaking down. Apparently he had brought some painful memories to the surface of her mind that she had hoped never to think of again.... "Cal-"

He started to say her name and stopped. Taking a deep breath, the young man tried to start again. It was as if he had forgotten to speak or even handle being around another person. Dropping his hand and his eyes, he looked away. "Once you learn something, you never forget. And it is not your social skills, I am talking about. It's you... No one has treated as well and as poorly as you have. You may not mean to do it but it hurts..."

He said all this is a quiet voice. It was like he had finally run out of steam and no longer cared whether or not she left him. But if she did, N'tren was positive his life would never be the same. "I didn't mean to hurt you either. I was trying to make you understand and it just...blew up I guess."

You are doing good. Keep going. Datiath settled back down a little. His eyes still whirled quickly with the power of his rider's emotions behind them.

Shut up. This is bad enough as it is. Unless you want to make the apology. N'tren rubbed his temples and walked away from Caleten a little bit and then walked back. "How will you live if you always play it safe? And if you hide away, then no one will ever learn how wonderful you really are..."

EvilSilverDragon

Gem responded, still championing Caleten, by hissing and chirping in a scolding manner. She was a Queen after all, and for the first time, she was trying to use that to get Spolch to stop chattering to Caleten like that.

Caleten watched Datiath rear, she hadn't even known a dragon could do that. It reminded her of a runnerbeast rearing when it was frightened, only Dataith was much more impressive.

When she heard the beginning of her name, she turned her eyes from the bronze to his rider. Patiently, she waited for him to speak again, not moving from her spot. It didn't make much sense, what else was there about her besides lack of social skills. Was she wrong, is it not possible for her and N'tren to be friends? Were they too different to be anything to each other?

Finally, when he told her it hurts, she asked him softly, "What do you want from me, tell me what changes you want to see, how do I fix it?" She would not change her self for anyone, but she wanted to understand what it was he wanted from her. "I don't mean it either, you've come to mean a lot to me, N'tren, I don't want to hurt you." It was unsaid, but the word hung in the air, 'anymore'.

She didn't see how that was supposed to NOT hurt her, but she tired to keep her look steady, not incredulous. "I don't take well to yelling, I fight it, I don't listen to it." He probably figured that out, but she wanted to make it clear. She was not afraid of yelling, instead she treated it like a battle.

She started to speak after his question, "That is a way to survive." Live and survive was the same to her, but he obviously forgot when she told him how she came to be kidnapped by the blue dragons rider, whos name she was blocking out. How can one play it safe when they play out in the Thread? Without conscious thought, her hand went to her neck, fingers brushing over the burn scar that marred her face, neck and a bit more below.

She even tried to speak again, but when he said she was wonderful, the words were stolen from her mouth, she could do nothing but look shocked. After a few blink, she managed to gain some composure but was still surprised looking. Did he just say she was wonderful? Surely not.

 

[Naree]

Splotch chirped snottishly at Gem and then clacked his beak shut. He looked away as if to say he would have nothing to do with her until N'tren did.

"Treat me like an equal all the time. I can handle myself, I really can. I know when to stop and when to keep going... If I don't push myself then I will never learn how much I am capable of," the teen replied thoughtfully.

He was looking over at Caleten with a look of mixed feelings. How could he get her to understand what she made him feel and how they were so close to ruining the best friendship each possibly had? Taking a few steps forward, he closed the space between them. Shaking his head sadly, he gave her a smile beyond his years. "There are better ways to survive. One experience or two should not scar you for the rest of your life. Like you said, we are both still young in our Turns, there are a lot more experiences out there for both of us."

Well said. I was wondering if you were coming back. Datiath would have smirked if he could.

N'tren could see the confusion and surprise on Caleten's face when he told her she was wonderful. The fact that he thought she was more than wonderful did not seem to soak into her head. Being stupid and brave at the same time, the plucky fellow stepped forward and kissed her gently on the lips. He remember how they felt last time and perhaps, took a moment to long to prove his point.

EvilSilverDragon

Gem's eyes whirled red with anger mixed with a gray twinge. She was hurt and angered by how Splotch was acting, sensing her friend would be well without her, Gem took off into the air and went to play with the other flits, completely ignoring Splotch.

Caleten was hardly paying much attention to the flits, commenting when she finally noticed, "Now they are at it." She felt like a parent might when she realized her kids saw her fighting with Daddy and imitated it. The flits were deeply connected with her and N'tren, she guessed this was inevitable, but it was still sad to see. Splotch and Gem were close and cute together, if nothing changed, she knew her gold well enough to know Splotch would never catch her again.

Her attention went back to her own relationship, letting the flits deal with their own. To his answer to her question, she responded, "I'll try, but your going to have to tell me when I do anything else." She could try, try to learn how to interact with others.

The kiss caught her completely of guard, she allowed a few moments for it to last then she firmly pushed his shoulder with both hands to try and send him sailing right back into the water, it was deep enough that he would not be harmed. There was a grin, and a twinkle back in her eyes like the gold flex were real and glittering in the sun.

As if on cue, Splotch took to the sky and tried to communicate with Gem. Now that everything was okay, he could go back to being her friend. Flapping his wings hard to keep up with her, he chittered, chirped and queeped at her to get her attention.

Datiath rumbled happily as his two friends went back to being friends. Looking up at the flits arguing, he spoke to both of them. Silly creatures.

Whether or not he was talking about the flits or humans was anyone's call.

N'tren fell back into the water laughing. His clothes that had dried were now soaked again. Sputtering, he tried to wipe the water out of his eyes and make sure it didn't get into his ears. Looking up with his eyes dancing merrly once more, he could see the Caleten he knew and cared about returning.

Sitting there for a moment, he let her enjoy the sight of him being humbled before standing up. Sand got into were it didn't belong and he realized he was going to have to strip to get truly clean and to get the sand out of his leathers.

"I am sure they will work it out... And you let me know if I do anything stupid again, okay?" Standing up, he started to strip. "I don't think you want to see the show."

EvilSilverDragon

Gem flat out chirped to him, telling him to go /between/ and stay there. After that, she completely ignored him, going /between/ her self if she had to in order to keep distance between her and Splotch.

Caleten laughed with him, but almost forgot how to when she saw his eyes dancing. He really did have remarkable green eyes. She was lucky the flits were distracting her, else who knew how long she'd be staring? The whole sight was great, seeing him sitting in the water she pushed him into. For the first time, neither of them were acting like a old Aunt and Uncle.

Looking up she commented, "In a lot of ways, Gem is worse then I am when angry. Don't worry, I will." She had no troubles telling him straight up. In a moment of naivety, she didn't realize right away what he was doing until she connected show with him starting to strip. Her cheeks went bright red and she quickly looked away, modesty being the lesser reason behind the blush, the bigger reason was it brought back images from Gem's Flight.

Splotch crooned to Gem but when she scolded him, he went /between/ and came out in front of N'tren and Caleten. Chirping sadly, he didn't know what to do to get his gold back.

Stripping quickly to rinse the sand off, N'tren dove under water a few times before he was sure he was sand free. He was still going to need a scrub once he got back to his weyr but for now the sun could dry him off.

Stepping back onto the shore, he quickly donned his pants and sandals. There was no way he was putting the wet vest on; Datiath would simply have to fly them straight back. No /between/ without risking illness. Giving himself a good shake, he offered his arm to Splotch.

"All I can tell you is to woo her with pretty words and let her know you didn't mean it. Sooner or later, she will either forgive you or send you flying." He offered the advice to Splotch but meant it in his own situation as well.

"You can turn around now. I am as decent as I am ever going to be... Would you...like a ride back to the weyr? It's gotta be a straight flight so I can dry off but..." N'tren trailed off and placed his free arm behind his head. "Like I said before, I will take you anywhere you want to go."

EvilSilverDragon

Caleten looked down to Splotch and scratched is eye ridge commenting softly, "You really messed up, little one." Her voice was soft and sympathetic, but she could no more make Gem make up with Splotch then Datiath could make her and N'tren get along until they were ready to work it out themselves.

She heard the advice to Splotch, she commented, "It is sound advice, all I'd add is don't give up, Gem is a wonderful Queen, but it will take work to earn her back." She was sure Splotch would eventually be able to get Gem back, if not, her flying next won't be so bad, or would that be worse?

Given the all clear, Caleten turned back and considered his offer, she didn't have trouble with taking it, "I'd like a ride back, this was a long walk." What she was unsure of, was how she would answer when he asked where she wanted sit. The bridge was coming up fast, but she'd cross it when it came.

Gem happily played with the other flits, finding her self in more company with the bronzes and browns then the other queen and more populous colors. She was a brazen gold, flirty and a show off, it made great fun in their games.

Splotch looked and landed on Caleten's shoulder. Crooning softly again, he couldn't understand what he had done wrong. Now that his owner and her owner were talking, they could talk as well.

Giving a slight bow, N'tren grinned as well. He waited for Datiath to get settled enough for them to climb aboard. His shoulders and arms were already starting to redden; the young rider would need numbweed after his soak.

"Ladies first."

One of you get on so we can leave. I want to rest in my weyr. Datiath huffed at them.

EvilSilverDragon

Caleten petted Splotch, scratching the eye ridges. Gem was stubborn, and she could tell her gold felt justified. Although she tired to talk her down, Gem was playing and not paying attention.

Walking up to the great bronze, smiling a bit when N'tren called her right, she liked to be referred to as a lady, even if she often didn't talk or act like one. Dataith's comment caused her to laugh, patting him affectionately on his shoulder she says, "We are coming." Swiftly, better practiced now because of her chances to travel with the dragonhealer, she climbed on to the great bronze, taking the front. Thats where they other riders made her sit, and she had to admit she liked the seat.

Taking a seat behind Caleten, N'tren thumped Datiath and settled himself. Splotch stayed tightly attched to Caleten's shoulder and chirped sadly. He would have to work at making Gem happy again.

Glad that Caleten could not see the grin on his face, N'tren called out. "Take us home, Datiath. I think we've all had a long day!"

Datiath gathered himself and gave a mightly leap into the air. Pumping his wings hard, the bronze righted himself and headed in the direction of home.  

[Naree]

Thoughts on the big fight...

to be posted soon