In Search of ... [F'lix]

[mierce]

It's been five months since the Healers and her Wingleader cleared her to return to partial duties. Five months! And still she was doing just that: partial duties. To say the very least, Evrgarde was miffed. To be fair, she wasn't annoyed at R'aro or K'von or even the Healers; she was just annoyed at her situation, at her body for apparently not working at tiptop condition. She still experienced periodic headaches, though they were becoming fewer and less acute. Regardless, she knew they were affecting her overall mood in that she was more irritable now, and over petty matters at that.

With her rather short list of tasks for the day already completed, she and Iorath took to the skies and flew southwesterly in the general direction of Hyphen Hold, but Evrgarde had no intention of going there. Instead, she took comfort in the rolling expanse of varying landscape below them. She was not a native of the Southern continent, but in her 8 turns since arriving she had grown rather attached to it. Seeing the empty stretch of sky kissing the beauty and blemishes alike of the land was strangely soothing, and soothing was what she needed now.

They eventually passed over a rock-marked clearing and Evrgarde directed Iorath to land there. The flapping of his massing wings sent the tall junglegrass flattening radially out from where he landed while evicting at least a few wild animals that had taken to grazing in the vicinity. I'm surprised at you, Evr. Iorath remarked as he lowered himself so that Evrgarde could dismount.

She eyed him warily as she hopped from her saddle. About what?

You never would have hesitated in speaking your mind to R'aro, and it's quite apparrent that you're unhappy.

Evrgarde let out an audible sigh and started walking towards one of the larger boulders peeking out from the grass. She removed her heavy leather gloves and rested a hand on the sunbathed stone for a moment, then vaulted up and made herself comfortable, gloves carefully placed safely besides her. Sitting up straight, she closed her eyes and focused on her breathing.

Iorath lumbered closer and peered curiously at her as he awaited a response. After a few moments, it was clear that Evrgarde did not intend to respond, nor did she let out any hint of what she may be thinking. And now you're idling here? For shame Evr.

When Evrgarde still did not react, Iorath gave a resigned sigh of his own. He stretched his wings, nearly blocking out all light in the clearing for a few seconds before settling down besides Evrgarde's rock.

[rii]

A small shadow sailed across the top of the grasses, a curious shaped cloud passing through the light. High above, circling aimlessly, glided Saboth on wide-spread wings. He had been raptly watching over the clearly from the position. The new bluepair landing in the spot drew his attention, but since they were not him he didn't disapprove of their presence. A gentle nudging went out over the bond connecting him to his rider, a soft nuzzle-like action to rouse His–who had fallen asleep. Mine?

The downbeat of wing rustled the plant life around him, and paired with the voice in his mind, F'lix eyes snapped open, though he made no sudden movements. Shards, he mentally cursed with a scowl and let his golden eyes sweep over his surroundings. He didn't immediately see anything, but he sat with his back against the boulder, in the shade and arms folded over the tops of bent knees. Saboth's amusement trickled down, supplying the image of the bluepair that rested on and next to the boulder at his back.

Thanks for telling me sooner. F'lix grouched. Not a feline, not a threat. Saboth stated simply, the humor clear in his message. F'lix held back a derisive snort and carefully unwove his slender limbs from the stiff position–trying to remain as soundless as possible. On one hand he didn't want to make noise enough to started the stranger, on the other hand making some sort of noise to announce his presence seemed wise. Habit, however, won over practicality; it was in F'lix's nature to try and remain inconspicuous as long as possible.

Carefully he rose, crouched on toes, and peered over the lip of the rock to view the quiet woman and her lounging blue. Odd, he noted the coloration of the dragon–similar to his own gray-blue dragon gliding above. Saboth had nearly died while a hatchling and had never fully recovered the blue-blue sheen of others. Vaguely wondered about this other dragon. But, brushing the thought aside, F'lix examined the woman. He didn't know her.. really no surprise there. F'lix did not socialize much and made it a point to avoid interaction, which consisted of often removing himself from the Weyr itself. Despite doing that, it seemed company always found him; and F'lix was a curious creature.

Silently he rose to his feet, slipped onto the edge of the boulder and sat cross-legged. Arms folded over his chest and he waited for the stranger to feel or notice his presence. She appeared.. meditative, and he felt no need to really disturb her, but best if she did know he was around. The lazy, narrowed look he leveled on her would soon enough illicit a response. If not that, his words would likely earn an acknowledgment. "Amusing," Softly spoken, just a hint of a rasp, or perhaps growl to the tone. "In no matter where I go, thinking I am alone, it seems company always finds me."

There was no hostility to the words, in fact his tone was rather bland. Patiently he waited to find or meet her gaze before offering a quiet, almost pleasant, "Hello."

[mierce]

Iorath lifted his head slightly at the disturbance nearby. It didn't feel threatening and so he didn't feel the need to react immediately. When the man spoke, however, Iorath rose onto his arms and twisted his neck around to face him.

We have a visitor.

Evrgarde stirred slightly as an image of the man crossed her mind's eye. She did not recognize him, and would have just ignored him outright but unfortunately, he had greeted her. Irritability crept up again, but she fought it down. Calm. She came here to calm down and unexpected company is not something worthy of getting aggravated over. Though from the man's words, she could also be his unexpected company.

She opened her eyes and turned to the man. He was sitting on another rock a bit aways looking halfway disinterested. "Hello," she said matter-of-factly, and they stared at each other for a few seconds more.

Perhaps you should try... some conversation?

Evrgarde cleared her throat and sat up even straighter. "I apologize. Did we disturb you?"

[rii]

Without the instant animosity he had for men, F'lix felt decidedly awkward in the woman's presence. That should of been odd for someone from Benden, they treated the ones at that Weyr no better than the whores in Bitra. Rather, F'lix didn't like to put up with having to see men force themselves on women. The abusing to his mother the soul reason of that odd quirk in the Bendenite.

Only a brief glance was spared in the direction of the rising dragon before returning to Evrgarde. On some level F'lix mused over how, in comparison to the annoying people he's had to endure in the past, finding someone seeming as unsociable as himself should be a blessing. They could go about peacefully ignoring each other, could they not? Though, F'lix reflected, there had been M'ta, the few of words and highly paranoid brownrider, and that had turned into a strange encounter.

"Not exactly," His eyes narrowed a bit further as he examined her rigid posture, absently checking for visible weapons out of habit. "I figured it would be better for you to know I was here, instead of being surprised at a more inconvenient time." A sardonic comment, but small talk was not his forte. Purposely, he made a slight turn of his head–since he had cut away his long bangs, the three red scars slashing down the side of pale features. A point to be made that being surprising around things with claws tended to end badly. Not exactly how he had gotten the scars, but she didn't need to know that.

"People don't usually come out this far," An off-handed comment, or seemed to be. Her arrival did rise suspicion–and his presence too should have been questionable. "Considering all the disappearances that have been occurring." F'lix never denied that he tended to be a hypocrite. Afterall, he had been sleeping out in the middle of nowhere. The ex-benden rider felt positive that he could protect himself better than the woman. With the slight glare still on his angled features, he continued to sit unconcerned on his rocky island. Her dragon took up too much room anyway, Saboth couldn't land. "Is this normal for you?"

[mierce]

"A more inconvenient time?" Evrgarde repeated. Had the thought even crossed her mind, she might have smirked or ended her sentence with a bit of an exaggerated question as if the man was suggesting something. So instead, she opted for the straight-forward question-response: "Is there something planned?"

Iorath's shifted slightly his head turned upward in curiosity. His tail flicked lazily in the grass as he directed his gaze back towards the man. Evrgarde tilted her head at the image she received from her blue. "Is that your dragon flying above?" she asked. "It would seem that you have come out rather far yourself."

Her eyes passed over the man's state of dress. His clothes were nothing out of the ordinary, but they seemed far dustier than normal for a typical rider and he sported a set of scars on his face as well. Was he trying to warn her about something? That surely isn't the natural way he holds his head while talking to someone else.

"From the looks of it, it also seems that you have been out here for quite some time."

Slowly she eased the tension from her back and returned to a more normal-looking straight back. "Do you enjoy being so far out herer by yourself?"

[rii]

F'lix's brow arched at the echoed words. Yes, any time a person set out to be alone, being interrupted would be taken as an inconvenience. He didn't know why she was out there, and likely he did not want to know. His own reasons were to be away from chatterboxes and people bent on sparking his temper–honestly, people wanted to get hurt. "Peace and quiet. I don't know why you are here, but I'd assume the longer I waited, the more inconvenient it would become."

Golden eyes adverted toward the tree line, the action followed with a rolling shrug. "That is, of course, unless you prefer to be spied on." Some people were odd like that, but the comment was meant to be rhetorical–though F'lix seemed to lack the proper infliction on the words to express the sarcasm. Too guarded when it came to strangers. That didn't mean he'd slink off to get away from her company. He'd sate his sense of cat-like curiosity with a few inquisitive verbal prods.

Rising gracefully, F'lix hopped off his rock and padded over near Evrgarde, sliding up on her rock before resuming his own meditative sitting position. Legs and arms crossed with half-lidded gaze remaining on the woman. Easier to read and understand a person the closer the proximity. More dangerous too, but F'lix and the threat of harm was a long twisted relationship of love and hate. A simple nod of assurance, yes, his dragon circled high above–vigilant as ever; if amused that by not offering to land, he was forcing his to be social until the woman left.

Greetings, friend, I am Saboth. The gliding blue sent down to Iorath, making no move to circle down to the clearing. This area is heavy with felines. Does Yours hunt them?

"The Weyr is stuffy." Truth, even if a simple statement. F'lix could always be counted on to be honest. Lying didn't suit him, and it bothered him when other people were insistent about putting on a farce. "It's also dull. More often than not, I come out here to find something interesting." And those that did brave the jungle tended to be more entertaining than those holed up safely in the Weyr. "Since you've landed yourself right on top of me, I have to ask, who are you?"

[mierce]

F'lix rhetorical question whooshed over Evrgarde's head, and she nearly responded that she hardly cared of being spied upon. Perhaps it was the complete lack of privacy she had throughout her life that she was not fazed
at finding out that she was not completely alone. She was not paranoid however, and had nothing to hide that anyone could possibly find out simply by watching her. Besides, she arrived while riding on a rather large blue dragon in broad daylight. Not exactly an easy sight to miss.

As an afterthought, she realized that this may be what more sociable people referred to as 'small talk', and fumbled with the appropriate words to continue. Alas, none came to mind and she could feel Iorath cringe and chuckle inwardly at her awkwardness. She ignored the dragon however, and watched as the man approached. He gave off no indication of hostility and so Evrgarde did not react even as he settled down besides her.

Iorath shifted a bit so that he was nearly sitting, freeing his arms to take a defensive swipe on Evrgarde's behalf if necessary. He knew that His wore a small metal baton at her waist and had a few daggers strapped to her tall boots, but they would probably be useless to her in defending against this man. Evrgarde had high endurance, yes, but she probably would not be strong enough to effectively retaliate to get a running chance of survival. Not that the blue was intent on attacking F'lix of course, as he simply gazed at the man with inquisitive green eyes. It was just a new habit; after all, Evrgarde had nearly died nearly a turn ago and Iorath was not going to let such harm come to her again if he could do anything about it.

The words from the dragon above filtered through the blue's thoughts. Greetings Saboth. I am Iorath. he responded. Much gratitude for the warning. Mine does hunt them from time to time. Absently he thought of the long and short bows and the two quivers of arrows secured to the side of his saddle. Others may enjoy a more intimite encounter with felines, but Evrgarde liked to keep a safer distance. Again, on account of her physical prowess... or relative lack thereof.

In response to F'lix's remarks, Evrgarde might have chuckled if the thought had to do so had occured to her. "Aye," she said. "That is quite true about the Weyr." She agreed with his sentiments, though it was for rather different reasons. The Weyr was stuffy as of late simply because she wasn't allowed to do most of what she did before, such as train or work on her weavecraft (still a level 1 Journeyman after all this time).

"My name is Evrgarde of Cyclone Wing. Have you found anything interesting then....?" she trailed off, prompting the man to perhaps reveal his own name.

[rii]

A faint narrow of eyes, and a quick flick of line of sight to the blue beast, were the subtle indications of F'lix annoyance. He didn't trust dragons, and to have one shift like that, being so near, made him irritated. Uneasy should have been the proper response, but no, a flicker of his temper lit in his eyes. His voice remained soft, but the growl had returned to the words. Although he spoke to Evrgande, his glare pierced itself in Iorath's direction. "I'd appreciate it if we could have some distance."

Iorath, well met, but you make Mine uncomfortable. He means no harm toward yours. Saboth curled his wings, arcing cleaning in the air and falling into a short nose dive. Half-way down he opened his wings and smoothly took to cirlcing, dipping down with each pass. Mine tends to be unpleasant when in that mood. Not that His was ever pleasant. Surely less unpleasant was better then more unpleasant.

The tacking on of her wing position as introduction drew a wry smile out of the male bluerider. It would have been cordial for him to share his name in return, but F'lix didn't. He had not really cared for her name but the question had not suggested otherwise. "Your accent is northern. Where from?" Overtime F'lix, out of twisted amusement, only wondered if she was another Fortian. Would of been a bit of irony that he kept running into them, alone, out in the jungle.

To her question he, again, gave a neutral shrug. "Time will tell." No, he had not found anything interesting yet–but Evrgande held potential; even if he had to pry under her stone mask. If there really was nothing there, F'lix was going to start wondering if he was just as dour and unfit company. Unfriendly yes, but.. people wouldn't keep bothering him if he didn't have some sort of appeal, right?

[mierce]

Both Saboth words and F'lix's slight flare in temper registered in Iorath's mind almost simultaneously. The green of his eyes wavered, but His seemed to feel no fear towards the man despite the clear change in his tone.

Evr...?

I'll be fine. Evrgarde turned slightly to Iorath. He moved his head closer and she lightly stroked the side of his long face. He had no words for her, but she could feel concern coursing through his thoughts. Likewise she stared at him with steadfast eyes which essentialy implied that he had no hope of convincing her otherwise. Saboth's assurances should have been enough, but Iorath was a tad bit high strung on protecting His, all things considered.

Nonetheless, he complied. Letting out a low grumble, he ambled over towards the far side of the clearing where the grass was not as high. A few animals scurried from under foot and from the massive trees as he rested on his stomach, curling around as a cat might while taking a nap. He did not nap though, instead watching the two riders converse whilst absently flicking his tail back and forth in the grass.

I hope this suits Yours better, friend Saboth, Iorath said to the dragon circling above. The message was sent without malice or resentment, just an underlying reluctance to completely leave the clearing should any of the aforementioned felines should appear. I also mean no harm to him, either.

Iorath knew nothing of F'lix past encounter with a dragon that almost killed him, of course, but could think of no other reason why another rider would be uncomfortable with an unknown dragon. He was far away enough now that he could not immediately reach the other rider, and in the process also freed up enough open space for Saboth to land, should the blue choose to do so.

As Iorath relocated himself, Evrgarde considered F'lix's comments and his lack of self-introduction. Had she been too subtle? "No name for yourself?" she asked--perhaps the closest she has ever come to making a poor excuse for a joke or light-hearted comment.

"I'm from Bitra," she continued in the familiar matter-of-fact tone with little concern about how the man may view her after knowing her origins. She understood prostitution as a "bad" occupcation, yes, but growing up with little else for comparison, it was not as shameful a history for her admit. She paused a moment, thinking that F'lix's own accent sounded rather similar to many of Gadrea's customers. "You, too, sound like you are from the North. May I venture a guess that you were from around Benden Weyr?"

[rii]

Saboth took the cue, dipping down further and landing with a quick, strong down thrust of his large wings to stall his descent and earn him a graceful landing. He hopped over to Iorath, almost playful, but opted not to touch the other blue–who seemed just as grayed as himself. Why was this? Was his rider distressed? Sick? Dying? Or was that just his color? Instead of prying for information, Saboth curled up against the trunks of a few slender trees, mimicking Iorath's pose, complete with idly tail-tip flicks–though he made to swat at the tall grasses than any show of irritation.

F'lix idly watched the silent exchange between rider and dragon, before turning gaze and giving his own blue an odd look. They had been gone from Benden long enough. It was nice to see the blue loosening up, if only a little bit. At least they now had space, and F'lix pressed it, using hands and a foot to slid himself forward and sit closer to Evrgande, nearly brushing her leg with his bent knee. "No. You didn't seem interested in knowing my name," He teased, albeit lightly and his expression remained decidedly stoic. With arms still folded over his chest, F'lix leaned forward ever so slightly, head tilt to the side to peer up at Evrgande's face. "You don't seem interested in anything." But he'd prod and poke until he got a decent reaction.

Straightening back, F'lix kept a chuckle to himself. Good, she wasn't from Fort–or, at least he assumed this. Fort didn't usually pick up candidates from Bitra. But, she seemed older than the youth about Selenitas.. and her dragon certainly didn't look young. But Saboth would have recognized a fellow Benden dragon, hn, in the end, F'lix dismissed the curiosity. "Yes." –that she may venture a guess, or that he was from where around Benden Weyr? She could take it as she saw fit, because F'lix didn't respond too well to implied questions. Usually scarring was a big hint toward his origins.

Casually F'lix nodded his chin at the metal baton, now clearly visible since he had closed the distance. Weapons were always a source of interest to the Bendenite. "What's that?"

[mierce]

Iorath noted with curiosity that the other dragon was rather similar in color as himself. It would have been amusing, except their particular dull hue was usually a bad sign. On the other hand, F'lix did not seem to be in pain or sick, and certainly not near death at the moment. Maybe it had to do with a past encounter that resulted in the scars? Iorath considered this quietly to himself as he discreetly stretched one wing over to shake a few leaves off the branches hovering above the other dragon, quickly withdrew it while exaggeratingly looking innocently away and resuming the tail flicking.

Evrgade, on the other hand, did not so much as flinch as F'lix drew near. She watched him yes, but it wasn't with concern over what the man may do. That said, she was not a touchy-feely person and if F'lix had leaned any closer, she would have lifted a hand to his shoulder to halt further forward movement.

She was also feeling a headache begin to form behind her eyes and general annoyance started to swell. The annoyance wasn't at F'lix in particular -- in fact even with his invasion of her personal space she wasn't all that annoyed. Sensing her discomfort though, Iorath quickly sent over comforting thoughts consisting of sloppily conjured images of scenery.

Thanks, but that doesn't really.. help.

The images tapered off. Ah well.

"Well, if you refuse to provide a proper name, I shall simply call you No-Name-Bendenite." Evrgarde stated this firmly, and committed F'lix to this ad hoc name until he indicated otherwise. He was right, she didn't particularly care what his name was, just wanted to have a name with which to refer to him. "I do hope you're not a spy, No-Name-Bendenite." Yes, she was fairly certain that he was from Benden Weyr; he had that look about him and it wasn't really so much the glaring scars on his face as it was... well, everything.

At his question about her baton, she tilted her head. "It's for beating stubbon felines over the head when they refuse to die," she said as if it were quite obvious. It might have been a sarcastic remark about F'lix asking too many questions, but she was quite serious.

Three or four arrows were usually enough to take down an average-sized feline. Iorath would usually deliver the finishing blow, though there were a few cases where they lost the feline and had to track it through the jungle as it bled to death. In those cases, the cat usually collapsed in an area Iorath could not reach and she had to resort to clobbering it over the head until its brains spewed out. Stubborn cats.

[rii]

A rumble came from Saboth–his low bass sound that seemed to vibrate the air. The blue couldn't manage croons or trumpets like other dragons, and his vocal sounds became little more than different pitches of, well, what could sound as grumbling. His tail made a quick slice through the air above him, knocking aside two of the leaves but a few managed to land against his hide. Saboth lifted his head and snorted the small things off, then eyes lids narrowing, he peered thoughtfully over at Iorath. Hmm, he didn't know what to think about that other just yet. He laid his head back down, tail curling up over his muzzle as he watched Iorath.

To the nickname, F'lix merely smiled pleasantly, close-lipped. He certainly was starting to collect an odd list, not quite finding a trend in them all. Kitten, Minx, Kid, Pretty, Beastie, and now No-name-Bendenite. The latter lacked more in creativity than T'san's attempts. Maybe he'd go back and reassure the brownrider his attempts were not as a pathetic as they had originally be dubbed.

"If I was, seems an odd thing to reveal myself instead of–" His fingers lifted slightly from his arm, a small dismissing wave of hand. "–spying, hm?" The corners of his lips twitched, almost smiling. In actuality, spying had been part of what he had done for C'leon and his years at Benden. Spying and slitting throats. Though he had never been sent to pretend to be one of the enemy as an informant. No, he lacked the acting skills. F'lix had a level of subterfuge, but not in those particular skills. His spying had been more of scouting, of watching.

F'lix blinked then, giving Evrgande an narrowed glance before he lightly shook his head at her words. If it had been F'ur, he would of taken the words to have a dual-meaning–a threat, or something along those lines. Maybe they still were, but until F'lix uncovered anything besides the matter-of-fact demeanor, he'd take her at face value. One arm stretched out between them, palm up and fingers open. "Not many weapons made with metal aside from a blade. May I see it?"

[mierce]

Iorath heard Saboth's attempt to bat the leaves away, his eyes whirling green at the other blue's somewhat uncertain response. Turning his head around so that he could look directly at Saboth, Iorath lifted the tip of his tail and swayed the forked end back and forth. If one used his imagination, it might look like a two-headed snake rising up from the grass. You had mentioned hunting felines. Does Yours have a favored location? Conversation seemed to be the best way to break the ice.

Evrgarde wondered about F'lix smile towards his impromptu nickname. It seemed pleasant, but she wondered if perhaps he didn't quite like it. Well, too bad; the man should offer an alternative himself. "The safest place is often in the open," she mused in response to his comment about revealing himself if he had been a spy. "After all, you know some things about me--maybe--while I know little about you." Social-engineering, some would call it. Something like what Shmee did when she was still alive. The blatant disparity in information exchange would have probably made a typical person uneasy, but she merely filed it away as a skill to get better at.

At his request to see her baton, she thought a moment, then unhooked it from its holster and held it out towards the man. "Of course you may see it. It's just metal. Hardly anything interesting." Indeed, it was just a solid cylindrical piece of metal around 2 feet in length, It was thickest at the rounded end, tapering to a small ridge to indicate the start of a six inch handle wrapped in leather, ending with a ring-pommel. Tied to the pommel was another strip of leather that could be looped around the wrist when in use, or secured to the holster so as to not randomly hook onto things while she walked. It could almost be like a mace if only there were spikes--a modification she was thinking of, actually, if the Mastersmiths would accomodate.

When F'lix made to close his fingers about it, however, she jerked the baton back. "See, not touch." She shifted her legs out of their crossed position, her heavy boots scraping against the rough surface of the rock. She was careful to hold the baton at her side and in a non-threatening way. If F'lix was indeed from Benden, he most likely would not react well if he felt in immediate danger.

Rising first to a kneeling position, she picked through the small variety of loose rocks scattered atop the boulder, then rose to her feet. "You may want to get off the rock for this," she suggested -- or stated -- to F'lix as she faced Iorath's general direction. As if on cue, he lifted his head to look at her, his bright green eyes dampening into a muddle with a dash of yellow. "You stay down, too." She said aloud and Iorath complied, flattening his neck and head against the ground and bringing his wings and close to his body as possible

Watch your head, friend. She sometimes misses... he said (somewhat nonchalantly) to the other blue.

As soon as F'lix vacated the rock, she brought her right foot back and turned herself a little more clockwise. She tossed the rock high up with her left hand, then quickly brought it to the handle of the baton in time to swing upward. The metal whistled through the space where F'lix's head was a few moments earlier and connected with the rock with a resounding clang. Chips flew off from the rock, but a large piece flew straight towards the lower branches above Iorath.

Leaves and branches came tumbling down towards her blue, as well as a larger furry lump. Iorath snapped his head up and closed his jaws around the tail of the unconscious animal. Deciding that it was something he enjoyed eating he was about to swallow it whole but paused and turned to Saboth, the animal swaying unceremoniously from his mouth.

Would you like some?

[rii]

Saboth's attention moved to the swaying tail tip, and he made a half-hearted attempt to swing his own tail at it. Mine doesn't hunt them much. But /I/ like.. Here Saboth shared a series of sharply detailed images (his memory for visuals was startling accurate for a dragon). A jutting series of rocks further to the east. The felines enjoyed to sun there, and the various nooks and crannies were some of their favored hiding places. Those creatures were tricky, had to be careful.. and they didn't stay in once place for long. Always moving. Mine complains though, that he has too many furs and doesn't want more.. so I haven't hunted them lately. And I don't like to eat them. They don't taste as good as herdbeast.

F'lix watched Evrgande coolly from beneath half-lidded eyes. She was not as dull as the first given impression. Ah, and when she didn't turn over the weapon, F'lix privately complimented her for the action. He was going to be highly disappointed if she had handed over the metal club. F'lix always wondered what the shards was wrong with people to be so trusting of strangers–especially ones obviously from Benden (F'lix didn't mask his accent or mannerisms) and refusing to to give his name or any information about himself. Tact on the fact they were out in the middle of no where and he had made her move the dragon away. In truth, Saboth had actually done that. Not really meaning to be deceiving. Saboth really was nice.. a bit too passive, but he had done what His wanted–get Iorath away.

Saboth wasn't dangerous, but F'lix was an entirely different story.

An eyebrow rose, but F'lix slid back off the edge of the rock. Shifting along the edge so he stood on Evrgande's unarmed side. Saboth, mirrored Iorath's actions of lifting his head to curiously observe the two riders. What? Watch his head? The blue craned his neck back around to peer at Iorath–noting the crouched position–looked back to Evrgande–Oh, oh–duck. Saboth flattened his slender body against the grassy ground.

As for the demonstration, F'lix's smirked (he had not expected getting such a thing) and didn't advert his golden eyes from watching the woman, taking in and recording all the small movements for later scrutiny. It didn't really fit the words of clubbing stubborn felines, but an interesting shown none the less. A hand came up to shield his face as the pieces of chipped rocked rained down. Only upon the sound of something thumbing to the ground, did F'lix opt to look in that direction. The Bendenite let out a low whistle, impressed–had she really aimed to hit the critter, or was that just blind luck? A piece of rock was brushed aside as F'lix leaned forward, elbow firm against the boulder and chin coming down to rest in the upturned palm. "Are you as decent with your bows?" The question took on a more friendly note, genuine interest even. It seems he did find something interesting after all.

Saboth lifted his head, since it seemed safe now, and stretched his long neck over to sniff then nip at one of the creature's forepaws. All yours.

[mierce]

Iorath did not have much time to appreciate Saboth's shared imagery of his hunting spot for felines before Evrgarde decided to smack a rock their way. Now that the danger had passed, he scarfed down the critter. It was about the size of a human child, furry yes but oh so fresh. The dragon's eyes swirled with content. Not his favorite snack and certainly not filling by any stretch of the imagination, but that's what snacks were (or weren't). With distractions out of the way, Iorath stretched his wings.

Sounds like you were quite an efficient hunter if Yours complain of too many furs. Mine tends to use furs up rather quickly, using them as cover for hunting during the colder months. She may have hunted in that area you like, a few times, too. Iorath mulled over this a bit. It had been quite some time ago so he wasn't so sure anymore, but it didn't seem particularly important to expand on it.

Evrgarde brushed away any clinging shards of rock from the baton and secured it back into its holster. Whether she had actually aimed for the creature was for F'lix to decide. She certainly did not hunt seriously like this, but had seen orphans from Bitra show of similar skills and decided that she, too, would learn how.

"Bows are delightful," was all she said in regards to her skill with them.

She brushed off her hands and knelt to pull on her gloves. The change in tone of F'lix's voice was not entirely lost to her, but she was loathe to randomly shoot arrows as demonstration. If they had a goal, perhaps.

"What are your weapons of choice?" she asked after a moment of silence, sitting back on a heel and resting an arm on the other knee.