in the arms of imaginary friends [open]

[Avu]

Sometimes Vix wondered if there was maybe a group therapy going on for people whose mindmates had gone crazy. Surely other people had this problem, too – they had to. People had to be concerned, right? Their mindmates go crazy, maybe they’ll go crazy next. They called them mindmates for a reason, after all. So yes, he concluded absently, staring in utter disbelief, surely there was some kind of group therapy. Hi, my name is Tekivix but I go by Vix, and I think my wher is possessed. Oh, and my Salamandyr’s addicted to sugar. And the others would say, Hi, Vix and they would discuss craziness together and even in his head it sounded dumb.

Dumb or not, he’d still go. Because this was really just…uh, different. It wasn’t even Rook this time! The Salamandyr was fast asleep in his pocket (again). No, this time it was Tekivisk. Could he disown her, please?

“What. Are. You. Doing.” The words came out clipped, each one bitten off at the end, and though it was a question, it was not said in a questioning tone so much as accusing. And then, as Tekivisk whirled on the edge of the river to face him, eyes bright and questioning and delight written in every line of her body, “Are you – I don’t even know, are you high on something? You’re like…like Rook right now. After he’s ingested about twice his body weight in sugar. Only you’re bigger and you are going to kill someone if you don’t calm down.”

Diplomacy: Clearly too much effort to be bothered with. And it didn’t particularly matter that there was nobody to kill – Vix was curled safely on top of a rock, a Rubik’s cube (and where it had gotten the name he had no idea) forgotten in his hands, and considering it was just past midnight, there was nobody around – Vix didn’t really expect anyone, either. He’d come there for the lack of people, after all; if he’d wanted company (doubtful) he would’ve gone to the Main Hall or somewhere equally stuffed. Sardines in a can, people were, as if the Weyr wasn’t big enough.

Oh, VixLove, Tekivisk replied, excited and not at all put out by his lack of enthusiasm, she was playing pirates, look, look…the green crouched low with a mock growl, and then slashed at…absolutely nothing, bouncing on the balls of her feet. Got him, did he see that, did he see! That served the mean pirate right, trying to kidnap her siblings like that, grrrr. Mean wher was mean. Tekivisk bounced forward, barking excitement, and then darted backwards suddenly, without warning, tail flashing sideways to counter her sharp turns and twists as she growled and snapped at an imaginary opponent.

Vix stared.

He interrupted the stare with a blink, and then went back to staring.

“Are you hallucinating or something?” he asked, sharply, a minute later, after regaining his voice. “You’re not really worried about pirates. You’re not even worried, period. What are you doing?” Vix frowned, actually confused now, blinking down at his wher as she skidded to a halt, panting lightly, and then preened, glowing. She’d wooon, see, she’d beat aaaall of the pirates. Tekivisk triumphs! She could put a flag here because she’d won, she was a superhero and then all of the meanies would never come here again because –

“I don’t think that’s proper grammar, but you’re not making sense regardless,” Vix informed her, and then turned the Rubik’s cube over in his hands, strategy forgotten. He frowned lightly again, and finally Tekivisk was looking at him. She blinked up at him, eyes wide and confused; clearly that he was being serious had just registered. Was her game upsetting to him? Vix looked from the Rubik’s cube to Tekivisk, back again, and then up at the wher. And scowled.

Did she have to be so likeable?

“Your game’s fine,” he said, bluntly, because how easily he capitulated was distressing, all things considered. “Go back to playing. I was just…kidding.” His nose crinkled slightly at the lie (the very obvious lie) – but Tekivisk took it – she gave an excited bark and then triumphantly seized a stick in her mouth, sticking it into the soft mud by the riverbank.

Claimed!

[Rowana]

Puddleglum flitted from tree to tree, trying to be careful not to tear his wings. He'd learned fast that his were rather delicate and he seemed to be accident prone. Just his luck really. Some day or night he'd fly out and get blown right into a wall, he was certain. Then his poor body with crack and he'd tumble to his death. And of course no one would notice. No one ever cared about him. Maybe his person did sometimes and maybe Tiida when she needed to be bossy. No one else though, he was just poor, silly Puddleglum after all. He was doomed to be friendless and alone all his life.

Finding a thin branch, that seemed sturdy, Puddleglum stopped to watch one of the ground dragons playing. His person had one of these, a large one almost the color of himself, except shinier. Puddleglum let his wings flop down on either side of his branch. Feeling lonely, he gave a long, hissing sigh that was sure to be loud enough to be heard below. Maybe some feline would climb up and eat him and no one would find his body.

He glanced down to see a human below him. What was he doing? Humans were at least more interesting than ground dragons. This one had some kind of block, how strange. Puddleglum leaned his neck down to have a closer look at the cube. A loud snap echoed unexpectedly. Puddleglum barely had time for a tiny squeak of surprise before he tumbled down onto Tekivix's head.

[Avu]

Vix watched through hooded eyes, faking complete interest in the Rubik’s cube that he was turning around in his hands slowly, not really doing much of anything, as Tekivisk sat back to admire her ‘flag’, panting happily. The green wher gave a low, pleased whhrrrk noise in the back of her throat, and flopped down onto her belly next to the flag, burrowing into the cool mud. Her back paws scrabbled through the shallows of the water, tail dipping into the water like a fishing line. Vix snapped his attention quickly back to the toy cupped in his palms as Tekivisk raised her gaze to him, gnawing at his lip.

But the green didn’t look at him – she looked at the tree above him, head tilted to one side curiously. Had he heard that? she inquired of Vix, intently studying the branches that curved above his head.

Vix looked up at her, a little reluctantly, and then narrowed his eyes. He’d been far too intent on basically spying on Tekivisk’s game to hear the soft hiss. “Heard what,” he replied, his tone flat, fingers stilling against the multi-colored cube. “I didn’t hear anything.” Tekivisk blinked at him, and then imitated the sound to the best of her abilities, arching her back and hissing like a feline before she playfully snapped her jaws shut on the end of the hiss, the click of teeth audible, and swiped one paw at Vix, evidently deciding it must have been her imagination. Ferocious, roaaar.

The ferocious wher jumped straight up into the air with a startled bark at the firelizard that tumbled in a complete lack of elegance straight onto Vix’s head, her wings flailing around her in her surprise. Vix, meanwhile, reacted violently, yelping out an entirely-too-loud “Holy shit get it off!” and, dropping the Rubik’s cube (it fell into his lap), he ducked his head down to swipe at Puddleglum. He didn’t register the weight as a firelizard, really – it was just something that had claws on top of his head and what the Shards was it doing there –

ViiiixLove don’t! Tekivisk squealed, scrambling away from her flag and propping her paws up on his rock. The green shoved her muzzle against Vix’s leg, lapping comfortingly at his bare ankle. It was just a firelizard, and it didn’t look like it was going to hurt him. Hiii, the wher crooned at Puddleglum, pawing lightly at Vix’s hands; the handler hissed out a breathless curse, slowly lowering his hands, very grudgingly, at Tekivisk’s encouragement. Was he okay, poor thing, falling like that, it must’ve been so sudden, Hers hadn’t accidentally hurt him, had he?

Vix hissed wordlessly, heart still going about twice as fast as it was supposed to, and slowly straightened himself up. “Get off of me,” he snapped, after regaining enough composure to speak without his words cracking on him. “I’m sorry you fell but get off. This is why firelizards don’t fly at night.”

[Rowana]

Wings and limbs askew, Puddleglum scrambled for footing on Tekivix's head. The young man rose so quickly, that the fire lizard had to cling to his hair for dear life. Terrified, he hissed and whispered in his hoarse little voice. To those that understood the speech of fire lizards, he would have been saying something like this: 'Oh woe is me! This is the end! Beaten to death and left to rot. I'll probably stink too.' His wings flared instinctively, which unfortunately put them in the way of Tekivix's frantic arms. It only took one hit for Puddleglum to learn than he'd better fold them if he ever wanted to fly again. That had really hurt. He was sure he was already doomed to fly crooked.

Whimpering and moaning his terrible fate, Puddleglum flopped limply into Tekivix's lap. He was sorry, but he'd been looking for his person. They hadn't seen his person, had they? Usually Roivao was easy to find because he was with the shiny one. Puddleglum didn't usually fly at night alone. With his luck, he'd be lost or eaten. Tekivix likely hated him now, the fire lizard was sure. He wouldn't blame the boy if he left him here. Alone, friendless, flightless, he'd be easy prey for some wild animal. It was more than he deserved. No one would miss him. It wasn't like anyone loved him anyway.

[Avu]

It was a good thing Vix didn’t put much into his appearance, or the state of his hair would’ve definitely earned Puddleglum further glares. As it was, he merely swiped a hand through his hair, hand settling to rub at the back of his neck briefly. The gesture was mostly to make sure no hair had been ripped out with the firelizard’s clinging on, and after that, he really didn’t know what to do with a lapful of firelizard. Vix was tempted to deposit the creature on the rock next to him, tell him not to bother him, and go right back to the Rubik’s cube, but…

But Tekivisk.

The green was never one to deny a potential friend, even if this one had literally just dropped in on them from the sky. Tekivisk whuffed a friendly greeting, dual-toed paws scraping against stone as she levered herself up onto Vix’s rock without an invitation so she could nudge her muzzle lightly against Puddleglum’s side. She almost licked him, but opted to save that for a later date. Some people didn’t appreciate that, after all.

“Hey,” Vix objected half-heartedly, pressing the heel of his palm against Tekivisk’s side and shoving lightly, “My rock, get your own.” It was obvious from the tone of his voice that he didn’t mind at all, though. A sigh, and he crinkled his nose down at Puddleglum. “Look, could you find somewhere else to die please? My lap is not available. Shoo. I have a Salamandyr, I don’t need a firelizard too. I didn’t even need the Salamandyr.” With his luck, the firelizard would expire in his lap and then what was he supposed to do, find the creature’s owner and say, Sorry, your flit kind of fell on me and died?

Oh, VixLove, huffed Tekivisk, nuzzling against his side and crooning at the firelizard reassuringly. Don’t be so mean. You’ll scare the poor thing. The green’s tail slid around his waist, her head bumping against his ribs, Tekivisk thoroughly tangling herself with her handler in order to tentatively nose at Puddleglum again. Cheer up, cheer up, be happy; VixHers didn’t reaaally mean it. He was nice, promise, and so was she, could they maybe help him find His? There was no need to be upset.

Happy wher refused to be sad.

Unhappy handler refused to be happy.

[Rowana]

Puddleglum rolled his head at Tekivisk. Whers just really interested him, but if she insisted on taking notice, he supposed he could return it. He gave a long hissing sigh and look at her mournfully. Really, she didn't want to be his friend, who would? He was nothing but trouble and he knew it. Tiida always said so. Accident prone and now lame, he was a pathetic fire lizard. Next it would probably rain. Then he'd get a cold and the human would get sick and angry too. Life was full of sad things like that.

Still, he whispered sadly. If they really wanted to try and find his bonded, he couldn't stop them. His had one of the ground dragons. He showed them a rather poor picture of a man with a shiny goldish/bronzish version of Tekivisk. Really, it probably wouldn't narrow the search down very far. Puddleglum had absolutely no idea where Roivao could be beyond that he was probably with Roisk and Tiida. Ah yes, Tiida. Puddleglum could understand Tekivix's reservations about salamandyrs. He didn't like them much either.

[Avu]

Oh look, proof the little thing was even alive.

Vix leaned away from Puddleglum, despite the fact that the firelizard was still in his lap. He might have just grabbed at him and set him on the rock, but really…firelizards had teeth and claws and he really did not want to get mauled, thanks very much. Even one practically radiating waves of depression could probably manage to chomp onto his finger just because it felt like it – contrary little worms that they all were. Unpredictable creatures. Even Rook bit him on occasion, and they were Bonded. Thank Faranth Tekivisk didn’t – at least one of his mindmates wasn’t abusive.

Although if Tekivisk was a little less friendly, that would be okay, too, Vix decided, eyeing his green as she nuzzled her head against his leg in order to nudge Puddleglum slightly with her muzzle, watching him in bright interest. Speaking in images and emotions was nothing new to her. Cheer up, little flittering, do cheer up, she encouraged lightly, humming encouragingly. They’d find His and then would he be okay? She’d bet they could, she’d bet that His would be looking for him to make sure he was okay too.

Bronze wher? Tekivisk questioned, blinking thoughtfully at Puddleglum. There were only three of those, to her knowledge; her clutchsire, the Weyrlingmaster, and her roommate. She knew it couldn’t be her roommate’s – Darmosk would’ve told her if His had Impressed a baby firelizard! So…Pidesk or Roisk? she asked, accompanying each name (more a feeling of rightness about the name than the actual word) with images of each bronze in question. She could contact the whers if she could just figure out which one it was~

“My lap,” Vix interjected, a little put out at only being privy to half of the conversation, Tekivisk’s; he made a little flapping gesture of his wrist, indicating Puddleglum should move. “Off, now. Seriously, I don’t even – ” Another flick of his fingers, scowl starting to stretch across his mouth. “I’m not available as a seat or a perch or whatever firelizards like to call it, use ‘ki, she won’t mind, get off of me, Faranth, did your Bonded never train you…?”

Because Rook was just the model of training triumphs, of course.

[Rowana]

Puddleglum rolled over on Tekivix's lap and gave him a long suffering sigh. He knew when he was unwanted, unloved, dismissed like the mud puddle he was. Half heartedly, he half flapped, half flopped off the boy's lap and onto the rock. He didn't bother going to sit on the wher instead. She probably wouldn't like it anymore than her master. At least she was nice, he supposed, as ground dragons went. Clever too, she almost found his already and from the little he'd given here.

Puddleglum mulled over the pictures slowly. Finally, he returned with Roisk picture and a confirming whisper. The bigger one was right. His master's ground dragon was very large and shiny. His master was always sad about something and Tiida was always grouchy. Yup, they were a messed up bunch to be sure. His master liked to go for walks at night after he taught the other humans, so that was probably where he was now. Roisk and Tiida too, they rarely left him. Puddleglum didn't go much for that kind of clingingness. He'd rather brood in peace, thank you.

[Avu]

At least the firelizard was off his lap. Vix ignored the slight pity that curled in the back of his mind, whisper-quiet – suggesting that maybe he wasn’t really all that against having Puddleglum in his lap because the brown did look quite depressed. He blamed that on Tekivisk – he’d never felt bad for random firelizards before, thank you very much. Dropping his hands into his lap, Vix edged sideways on the stone, tossing an accusative glance at Tekivisk, who blinked back blankly at him, entirely unsure as to why she was being blamed for anything. Vix wasn’t in the mood to clarify, though; he was faintly annoyed with his own unexpected sympathy for Puddleglum.

Tekivisk made a little muffled sound, nuzzling into Vix’s shirt as she tilted her head, ‘listening’ to Puddleglum. Roisk, then. Oh, good – liked Roisk, did the green. Such a nice bronze to be their Wherlingmaster, was he not? Don’t worry, then, she added to Puddleglum cheerfully, leaning over Vix’s lap shamelessly (and ignoring the half-hearted grumble she received from Vix) to lick the brown firelizard. She could contact Roisk right now, then His would come because no good Mine would ever possibly let Theirs wait very long, and she just knew Roivao was a good Mine because he was such a good Wherlingmaster, was he not?

“Just ask Roisk to get him, ki,” Vix mumbled, groping for the Rubik’s cube and twisting it without a real strategy in mind. He’d forgotten his other one anyway. Dumb. “Be polite but please resist from telling him that their firelizard is cute. He is not. And that’s absolutely too feminine.” Never mind that Tekivisk was very much a green and therefore inevitably feminine to some extent. He shoved Tekivisk’s head lightly away from his lap, and shot a glance at Puddleglum. Sullenly, he commented, “You’re not half bad if you’re not on me, I guess, but that doesn’t mean you’re cute, mind. And it also doesn’t mean I like having you around. I already have one pest.”

He nodded, agreeing with himself, and then scowled expectantly at Tekivisk.

Oh, VixLove, Tekivisk commented indulgently, craning her neck forward to lap at Puddleglum’s back with her tongue again. But the green did turn her mind outwards, seeking the vaguely familiar one of their Wherlingmaster. Roisk, oh Rooooisk, they’d found his little firelizard and would he please come pick him up? He seemed a little sad, and Tekivisk didn’t think VixHers was exactly entitled to be the one to cheer him up, he wasn’t very cheerful himself and all…if Roisk please wouldn’t mind coming immediately? Tekivisk ended with a flash of their location.

There! the green announced brightly, turning to nuzzle contentedly back into Vix’s shirt. Now the firelizard’s Mine could come and pick him up and everything would be happy again, yes?

[Rowana]

The fire lizard was watched Tekevisk with boredom. So, she could find Roisk? Well that took half the fun out of the evening. Now his master would fush over him, and Tiida would scold him. Still, he suppose it was better than being left to die. Now he had even more gloom filled days ahead. It would probably rain too. Roisk replied to Tekivisk message almost at once. He was surprised to hear from here, but pleased none the less. They were only a short walk away and he'd was so happy they'd found Puddleglum. The poor little thing had a habit of flying away to sulk and be miserable. Roisk didn't think it was good for him.

Roisk spoke true enough, since he and Roivao could be seen trotting towards them moments later. Tiida was first to speak as she glided over from the man's shoulder. Brownling! she scolded loudly. She landed on the rock next to Puddleglum and whacked him with a wing. He almost tumbled over in shock, or maybe he just hadn't bothered to stop himself. Made Precious worry! Tiida went on. Should stay! Be good brownling! Puddleglum skittered behind Tekivix, hissing sad apologies.

Roivao leaned against Roisk and sighed. So this was what Puddleglum got into when he wasn't around. Maybe he should keep him on a closer lease. During the day that would be impossible though, so was it even worth it? "I hope he hasn't been too much trouble," Roi said apologetically. Tekivix was one of his students, but not for much longer. He wasn't much for formalities, even in class. Maybe he should work on that, but it was hard enough to keep talking to them. Roisk offered Tekivisk a nuzzle of greeting. She was such a kind green for looking after Puddleglum for him.

[Avu]

Wasn’t Roisk ever so kind? Tekivisk commented contentedly, snuggling into Vix’s lap. She pawed at the Rubik’s cube until he put it down, scowling at her, and batted her eyes innocently at him, half-crawling on top of Vix in order to get more contact with Hers – and inadvertently pinning him there. The intensity of Vix’s glare upped another notch, and he shoved halfheartedly at her shoulder again. “C’mon, ‘ki,” Vix sighed, “Roisk is coming, we can leave. We don’t have to wait around until the firelizard worm thing gets saved. He’s not really in danger, we’re not even far from the Weyr and…” He trailed off, pinned Tekivisk with a narrow look. “You’re not deliberately keeping me here, are you?”

What, her? Never! Tekivisk replied innocently, and then wiggled off of Vix to croon a happy greeting at Roisk and His. Tiida went ignored by her in favor of the bronze wher – she was much more familiar with him, after all – but Vix offered the green Salamandyr a very suspicious look. “Don’t you know that’s abusive, little green worm-thing?” he demanded, even though it wasn’t really any of his business how the Salamandyr treated Puddleglum. “Meaning it hurts. I bet if I got ‘ki to whack you with her wing you’d be pissed. Rude.” Why, yes, yes Vix was lecturing Salamandyrs on rudeness.

So bite him. Wasn’t like Rook didn’t do it all the time anyway.

Vix looked up, blinking at Roivao’s words. “Er?” he answered blankly, and swiped a hand through his hair in memory of the firelizard’s inept landing. “Not really. I blame Tekivisk, mostly.” A shrug, Vix crinkling his nose up. “Also, can he not fly or something? Because I really have never seen a full-grown firelizard fall before.” Even Rook could kind-of glide. Fail glide, because he was a tad too chubby to really manage it, but…it was still something. And Tekivisk could probably manage a little glide, too, if she really wanted to. So, what, a firelizard couldn’t?

Tekivisk, meanwhile, crooned agreeably at Roisk, licking the bronze shyly on the muzzle. Bronzes were always special – Tekivisk was usually a little shyer around them than the other males, although Darmosk was special in his own way; her roommate she never had to be shy with. He was the best bronze. Still, Roisk was nice, too – and their Wherlingmaster. It wasn’t any trouble at all, she assured him eagerly. Puddleglum was so nice, even if he was sad, she would’ve loved it if VixHers could Impress a firelizard…but Roisk’s had a Salamandyr too; didn’t they ever fight?

[Rowana]

Tiida glared up at Tekivix, as if daring him to question her again. My brownling, she told him. Maybe it was losing Misfit, but Tiida had become quite cranky and possessive of late. Tiida teach well. Despite the scorn in her voice, she did offer Puddleglum a nuzzle with her nose. She was glad to see him in the end. Even if he was a silly creature. Puddleglum let her do as she wished. He'd long since given up arguing with her, if he ever had at all. He crooned sadly, explaining his sorrow fate.

Roisk snorted at them. He really didn't see the need for Roivao to keep the little creatures around. They brought nothing but trouble and heart ache. Still, he knew that Roi would hurt even more if he lost one of them, so he let them be. Ignoring the pair for now, he turned back to give Tekivisk a nuzzle. She really was a sweet little green. Yes, he admitted to her sadly. Tiida and Puddleglum did fight sometimes. Salamandyrs were tricky, he thought. It was hard to tell how they'd take another bonded. He wished her luck in finding a fire lizard willing to put up with a salamandyr as a bondmate.

Roivao looked at Puddleglum in confusion. "Fall?" he asked blinking. So that's what all the fuss was about. Well, the frail, little brown was an odd one to be sure. Roi scratched his head. "He could fly last I saw." Maybe he couldn't fly very well, but well enough not to fall. Roi leaned over and scooped Puddleglum up in his arms. He eyed the fire lizard with mild concern, while the creature buried its head in his shirt. Frowning, Roi tossed him lightly in the air. Puddleglum hissed in alarm, flapped one wing, half flapped the other, and flopped back into Roi's waiting grasp. "Maybe I'll get one of the healer's to look at him," he admitted. More than likely, though, it was just Puddleglum being Puddleglum. It was hard to fathom what made him such a pessimistic soul.

[Avu]

“Sure, whatever you say,” Vix sighed at Tiida, crinkling his nose doubtfully at the little green Salamandyr. Abusive love was still abusive, however you tried to skin it. He flicked his fingers at the green and her pet firelizard, dismissively; Puddleglum wasn’t his problem anymore and the little abusive Salamandyr never had been his problem. Rook was the only problem Vix intended on keeping around him for any length of time, thank you very much – somewhere along, Tekivisk had ceased to become a problem in his mind. She still wasn’t ‘the best thing ever’ like most people thought their mindmates were – but she was still nice, and then some.

A brief glance was cast over at the green, whose tail was wagging slowly from side to side. Tekivisk leaned into Roisk’s nuzzle, a small happy sound bursting out of her throat, followed by a purr. His ‘good luck’ wishes and the feelings she received from the bronze earned another happy croon, the green shyly ducking her head. Thaaank you, she dared to reply, delight trickling warmly through her thoughts. She didn’t think Hers was interested in getting a firelizard. He hadn’t even really wanted Rook, which was sad; she thought Rook was very nice indeed. Tekivisk tilted her head to peer at Tiida, curiously. She’d never seen a green one before. Was she nice too?

“He fell,” Vix replied, shrugging. “On my head, as it were. He has amazing aim.” The sarcasm was unavoidable. And he did manage to keep from twitching when Roivao proceeded to toss Puddleglum in the air, swallowing back the pointed disapproval that wanted so badly to come out. No lecturing the Wherlingmaster. That was a bad, bad idea. Still…“You always toss him in the air when he decides he doesn’t want to fly?” he inquired, critically. “That’s pretty dumb, can’t you ask him to fly…they’re smart, aren’t they.” The questions didn’t really come out as questions, but that was okay. “I don’t see why he couldn’t understand you without the…” He flicked his hands upwards absently in demonstration, “being tossed around…”

[Rowana]

Roivao looked at Puddleglum for a moment thoughtfully. Truth be told, he still wasn't sure what to make of him, and he didn't feel as strong an attachment as with Roisk and Tiida. Maybe it was because Puddleglum reminding him too much of what he'd been like when he'd first arrived, that the two rarely spent much time in direct company, for all they were bonded. He sighed. He really should get someone to tell him more about fire lizards sometime. It wasn't like they had all the many in the North.

"I'm not sure he would if I asked," he admitted. Puddleglum usually did the opposite of what he was told, just to prove that the first request had been a bad idea. Either that, or he protested harsh treatment and did nothing at all. Mostly, he'd tossed him to test if he was faking or not. Nine times out of ten, the brown made too much out of too little. "He's odd," Roivao said finally. Already he was running out of things to say and it made him uncomfortable.

Roisk eyed Tiida at Tekivisk's question. Truth be told, he admitted to the younger wher, he and the salamandyr had their differences. Sometimes they argued over who was in charge, or who was better at protected Roi. Yet, since they both the same goals in that regard, they generally got along alright. Roisk supposed Tiida was nice, as salamandyrs went. She had been much better before her mate was lost though, he continued sadly. Tiida had never really recovered from that.

[Avu]

Vix frowned at Roivao, not bothering to disguise his curiosity. Much as he thought Rook to be a nuisance, this one wasn’t…not really; he kind of just felt bad for him. What, did Roivao not like him or something? He didn’t like Rook and the Salamandyr was just fine, even abusive (and he supposed that meant he did like Rook at least a little, since he tolerated the abuse). Vix shrugged one shoulder, trying to sound nonchalant – because he didn’t want people to think he cared that much, ever. He’d never said he loved Tekivisk even in his mind, let alone Rook, still stayed away from people and acted like he preferred to be alone. It felt safer, even if it wasn’t, really.

“Bet you could train him.” Brown eyes narrowed thoughtfully on Puddleglum, Vix tilting his head to one side. “Bet I could train him. He’s not stupid; he and ‘ki could talk back and forth just fine and neither of ‘em know actual words.” He shrugged again, turning his head to the side and huffing out a breath dismissively. “I’ve broken runners before, and I guess firelizards are different, but still…don’t see why not, if you tried. I bet he’d be happier if he were trained, too.” Canines generally were, if only because masters and people in general tended to treat trained ones better.

And didn’t want to spend time training them. Oh, the paradoxes of idiocy.

Ohh, no…how sad. Tekivisk crooned quietly, eyeing Tiida in a strange mixture of awe and sympathy. What with the war, she was sure that there had been so many people and creatures who had lost their loves and friends, but she’d never really heard of it personally and it made it…different, didn’t it, for it to be associated with a face and a creature left behind, instead of statistics and names without faces written in block letters in the Archives…the green wher quieted, nuzzling her body against Roisk’s in a silent plea for assurance; it would get better, wouldn’t it…?