Welcome to Gaia! ::

H'ex was grateful he was awarded time to care for his dragon, as the young and exuberant bronze was always trying to get His to abandon the fields in favour of adventure and stories. And this time it had worked - he'd just been let off to look after Tialzieth when no sooner had his dragon head butted him and demanded and visit to the forest where he swore he'd seen shadows lurking among the branches.

Nevermind that H'ex had informed him that he had probably seen sleeping dragons! The bronze had insisted and so they had gone - on the promise that Tialzieth would stop for an oiling once they were done. The new rider was always trying to get His to stand still long enough to do so - the dragonet's energy and vigour was so contrasting to H'ex's own stolid approach that some had wondered why the bronze had chosen him in the first place. Little did they know, the bronze echoed parts of his rider none but the closest friends and family knew about.

Mine! Come look! The bronze had bounded ahead of his rider, weaving through the trees and flapping his wings here and there, mimicking the motions of the adult dragons. And H'ex knew that once they were old enough... the sky would truly be their playground. Look! It's a ring of mushrooms! Are they edible?

The question, caged in intention to find out, made He'x job forward, No! Don't touch them. I don't know what's edible here. He'd taken to conversing solely by mind to mind since Impressing the dragon, finding it better then adding his own voice to the cacophony of daily life. That, and Tia always listened to what he had to say - unlike some people.

Why not? You had mushrooms for dinner a few days ago... in the sauce with the meat. Where else would they come from? The bronze looked up, eyeing his rider with a 'please mum' expression.

H'ex shook his head and sighed, No. I don't want you sick. Maybe some berries if we find a bush? And I thought we were looking for shadows?

We are! And a snack along the way. The bronze might come across as absentminded but he was hardly stupid - merely capable of jumping from one topic to another with ease. H'ex was finding the dragonet had an amazing memory for a dragon.

Shadows and berries, then. Interesting chore list, Tia. H'ex was fond as he replied, walking alongside the bronze when he decided to move on, inspecting bushes and trees and the distance too as they walked. Everything seemed to interest the bronze and questions were ever forthcoming.

For all the silence that hung around them, the frequent exchange of glances, the changing expressions and the pauses in steps as they conversed was evidence enough of a lively, good spirited discussion. Thankfully H'ex was able to answer most questions.

Berries can't be that rare... Tialzieth sounded perplexed as he broke away to investigate another bush only to find it was not what he was looking for.

Might be the wrong season for them. H'ex replied, also earnestly looking.

Trundling away from the bush towards a clearing created by a gap in the canopy, the bronze caught sight of something glinting in the light and moved quickly forward. Curiosity was obvious in his posture as he slinked forward, low to the ground and wings tucked in tight. What's that?

Tialzieth's absence had been noticed by his rider and H'ex wasn't far behind, keeping a watchful eye on the young bronze as he searched the bushes. The dragon's question, however, distracted him and he nicked a finger on the thorns of the plant he was investigating. Ow!

Immediately the hatchling stopped what he was doing and arched his neck, raising his head high as concern and worry flooded H'ex senses. Mine! Are you okay?

H'ex nodded as he sucked on the finger, frowning, I am. Just a nick. What did you find?

The bronze tilted his head as he listened then dipped and scooped up the tool and ran off with it, back to H'ex. This! It was just in the grass.

The rider blinked and knelt, taking the tool from his bonded's mouth and turned it over in his hand. It was sharp... Smoothing a hand over the hatchling's head, H'ex shook his own, tone worried. Be more careful Tia.... you could have cut yourself. It's a tool of some sort, some sort of pick.

Poor Tialzieth jumped at the fright and spun, instinctively putting himself between whatever crazy thing it was and his rider, eyes whirling yellow and orange and red, unable to settle. H'ex jumped too, though his grip on the tool immediately tighted rather then loosed. What!? We're not taking it! the bronze blurted, indignant and wounded someone would think that.

His rider frowned at the woman who'd chosen to charge them and drew himself up tall, eyes narrowed, "And what makes you think we're stealing anything? It was on the ground, in the forest, and Tialzieth wanted to know what it was." The set of his jaw and the measured rhythm of his words bespoke of annoyance, "Perhaps you ought to be more careful in managing your tools. If Tia had stepped on this and hurt himself I would have never forgiven the careless person."

The bronze glanced from rider to woman and tilted his head to the side before shaking it as he insisted, We are not stealing.

Tialzieth tilted his head, utterly confused. They weren't doing anything wrong... I wanted to know what it's for...? He glanced at H'ex for help and the bronzerider simply shrugged.

I don't know. Maybe she has some sort of possessive tool trait. You're not wrong Tia. He stopped, however, as soon as the woman claimed that Tialzieth was out of control. Uh huh. Looking down his nose at this woman, he promptly decided she wasn't worth the words and walked past her, Let's go Tia. This woman in obviously delusional. You're hardly out of control for asking questions.

The bronze walked alongside His, keen to away from this woman as well. Neither was interested in a stupid fight over absolutely nothing and H'ex wasn't interested in hearing a stranger abuse his dragon. "Oh, here's your tool." H'ex replied flatly, tossing it at her as he walked, barely pausing.

A moment later they disappeared into the woods once more, intent on less strange encounters.