An annoyance; NPC bully((ANY SEARCHRIDER))

[metaldawn71]

Two Turns gone passed since Kalaht's brother's death. His mother still wasn't around. She hardly ever was. His father was suffocating him by doting on the boy too much. Too annoying. Sigh. When was this -ever- going to end? He wanted to go outside, and be free from this prison he called home. Hmpf! Home? This is no home. He hated it here, not the Hold but the house.

Always locked in his bedroom like some sharding animal at night. During the day, the door was unlocked. At least there was window in Kalaht's room, with bars now? Oh come on! What now. Did my father think that Kalaht was actually going to runaway?? If he did at night, the wild whers would have him for a mid-night snack! During the day, his father was outside most of the day. There was no way that he was getting out of here anytime soon. Sigh. Great! Stuck here. In his own personal hell.

With no friends, no knowledge of what lies beyond the outskirts of Selentias Hold. He found himself daydreaming again that one day, he will escape and go to a place far more interesting and exciting than -this- place.

Though, he was was in good health -eating right and exercising? Yeah, right! All the exercise -he- got was the short walk to the marketplace. He yearned for more. He wanted to see the Pern, wanted to go see what laid beyond that horizon.

He had wanderlust and had it bad. He could just go but what would his father say, what would my mother do if she knew? She would chain Kalaht to the wall, -that's- what she would do. Go on. Get him even more annoyed.

His father called him from downstairs. Great. What's the old goat want now? Kalaht went downstairs and approached his father outside. Kalaht looked at the horizon and seriously thought about bolting but what would that prove? nothing. Still. He studied his father and looked at him.

"Well, I'm here. What do you want?" he spat.

A bully came up to Kalaht from behind and pushed him. Kalaht planted his feet and the bully had not budged him. and there was his father. Doing nothing about it. Traitor! It appeared to him that it was his father's doing, setting up all these bullies and paying them off to tease his own son for some sort of sick amusement.

"Hey, short stuff! You haven't -grown- the last time I saw you."

"Shut-up or I'll shut it for you!" Kalaht was in no mood to play.

"Oooo, I am soooooo -scared. -Save- me, oh, -save- me!" the bully laughed and charged the boy. Kalaht stepped aside.

"Idiot. Don't you know that fighting will get you nowhere?" Kalaht asked.

"Oh, yes. It will. It will bring me great joy pounding -your- arse into the ground!" the bully started to charge this boy again and again, Kalaht stepped aside. The bully started to through punched. Kalaht weaved to and fro to evade the punches. "Hold the feck still, will ya?"

"Just go away and leave me alone!" Kalaht exclaimed after awhile. "I grow bored of you."

"What are you now, Mister High and Mighty now?" the bully said. "You brother isn't here to protect you this time! You're a -baby-, you can't even protect yourself. HA! Your a worthless whelp! You are weak and you smell like dragon dung!"

"I do _not_ smell like dragon dung and i am not weak or worthless." he demanded. His father was grinning. He was getting a kick out of this and Kalaht even heard him giggle. He knew what was going on, he wasn't stupid.

Kalaht sighed as he looked at his father with a stern look. How _dare_ he hire a bully to tease me, just to get his jollies. How sick and twisted is that?! He knew what his father wanted, a fight but he wasn't going to get one.

Kalaht approached him father, looked him in the eye and said.

"You want a fight? I'm not going to be your sharding little pansy -anymore!- You want a fight, then YOU fight him! I'm outta here!" Kalaht didn't care weather or not he was small for his size and just walked off.

His father looked at the bully and nodded. The bully ran after him, tackled him and knocked him down.

"You ain't goin' NOWHERE, you little twerp!"

[Rowana]

One upon a time, Searches had been one of Farryl's favorite jobs. It was an excuse to go out almost anywhere she wanted. She got to meet new people, play with kids, and generally explore the Southern Continent to her hearts content. Of course, most candidates were to be found at the Holds, but she still ventured into the surrounding areas now and again. The best part was Peppeth adored meeting the hopeful youngsters and she was usually very good at picking out the best candidates.

All this was before the Wastelanders took over. Now, Farryl wasn't so sure she even wanted to Search anyone after what she'd seen them do at the last Hatching. How could she be sure that she wasn't bringing them back just to die or worse. Not only that, but she had to be escorted. Where was the fun in that? Turning around, she eyed her companion suspiciously. What did they think she'd do, run away? It was tempting, she had to admit. Still, she supposed she should just be glad they were letting her Search at all. Peppeth had been pretty jittery of late, so and outing was just what they needed.

Selenitas Hold was always a good place to start. It was close and the families were usually open to dragonriders coming on Search. Peppeth circled down over the various courtyards and open areas, humming as she went. At least someone was enjoying themselves, Farryl thought. Suddenly, Peppeth twisted in the air to circle back. Look, Farryl-mine! the little green cried in distress. That boy is mean! Farryl frowned as she watched. Why was the man just watching? She didn't think this was very amusing, even if they were only kids. Someone could really get hurt.

We should help! Peppeth declared firmly. Farryl grinned, feeling impulsiveness she's thought she'd lost returning. We should indeed, she agreed. Let the Wasteland pair do what they wanted, Farryl thought, as she leaned tight on her leathers. Peppeth dropped like an arrow from the sky, her tiny body landing easily in the open space between the man and boys. "Sorry to interrupt!" Farryl announced cheerfully, though the look in her eyes was dangerous and hard. "We were hoping to find some likely youngsters today." She eyed first the man, then the two boys, waiting to see who would react first.

Hobbs trilled brightly, curling his blue body around Farryl's neck to get a closer look at the event. He wondered if it was a fun game and who was winning. Farryl's other companions had a much better idea. Two pairs of eyes glinted out of a pouch at the woman's side, eying the bully evilly. Bad boy, Faii declared. Teach lesson, Kurro agreed. Quick as a wink, the weird pair fluttered down on two pairs of wings to land on the bully's head. Play game with us! they cackled in unison, clawing as they tried to get into the boy's shirt.

[Ruby]

Rakmaninoth aimed an idle hiss at Peppeth as the smaller dragon got too close, the older green's goldwashed hide glinting in the afternoon sun as they spiraled over the courtyard. Long ago, Elisabeta would have been left to search alone, but these days Ja'kin wanted the two weyrs to work together better, and had sent the Searchriders out in pairs. She'd found everyone she worked with so far incompetent at best, often picking the cutest or most personable children to lift from the baseness of the Holds. Without Elisabeta's intervention and Rakmaninoth's expertise, the Weyr would be overflowing with idiots and mouths to feed.

It hardly needed to be said that Elisabeta was not looking forward to today.

The twist that had brought Peppeth too close to Rakmaninoth's wingtip turned into a sharp descent on the part of the green. Tucking her wings, the Wastelander followed tightly, nearly nose-to-tail with the little one. You ask, she hissed, snapping at Peppeth's tail. It was a good thing the Selenitas dragon was the faster; Rakmaninoth did not threaten without intent, ever. Twisting up and over the Selenitas pair as they landed, Rakmaninoth caught them in a vicious downdraft before landing off to one side.

It seemed the young ones had chosen to step right into whatever drama was going on here, rather than taking the time to consider the situation. Elisabeta had Rakmaninoth back off even more, clearly separate from the fight. Let Peppeth know that we leave it to them, Elisabeta said, eying the girl and her pets and generally looking unimpressed. That one,[/i] Rakmaninoth countered, one perpetually red eye whirling in the littlest child's direction. Well, that made this more annoying. Still, no reason to get in Farryl's way, since she so clearly knew what she was doing. Pass on my message, Elisabeta replied, her tone brooking no argument this time.

Extract the boy. We will watch, the larger green hissed at Peppeth, hunching like an emaciated gargoyle off to one side. This would be interesting.

[metaldawn71]

Kalaht crawled out from underneath the bully's clutches while the flits landed on his head. At first, the bully was dumbfounded, not knowing what was going on. The bully felt the top of his head and felt the two. They were trying to get in the bully's shirt. His arms were flailing and his feet would be still. All the while Kalaht was laughing until his eyes stopped on two strange entities. One was hunched over like an avian on the attack, looked too skinny, old and olive colored. The other was a bright green with darker green covering , spiraling to its tail. It was quite small compared the other olive colored. Two women who looked to be the Riders of these strange beasts, stood next to the weird reptile like beings.

Kalaht's father -was- going to help out the bully but seeing the menacing olive-colored beast he decided otherwise, to run. The bully tried to hurt one of these little avian creatures, the blue one. He began pulling it off his chest and his intention was to throw it on the ground.

Kalaht was scared and pulled a knife in front of the olive colored the bright green colored beasts. He tried to run but it was of no use.

"Wha- what are th-those?" his voice wavered, his hand shaking. He tried again to run, to escape but he couldn't. He was frozen under the gaze of the menacing one.

[Rowana]

Peppeth curled her tail protectively around her legs. Farryl-mine, she whined sadly. Rakmaninoth is being mean again. Farryl sighed deeply, glancing at their escort. Just don't make her mad, alright? she assured the dragon with a pat. Do you think we will be friends someday? Peppeth asked hopefully. Farryl shrugged. Anything's possible. Peppeth seemed pleased by the idea and returned her attention to the boys.

Farryl watched the man leave and tried not to laugh. Well, at least Elisabeta was good for something. Now at least they wouldn't have to deal with any middle men. From what Peppeth said, Rakmaninoth had chosen well too, that was another point in her favor. Farryl might not like the older woman and her coldness, but she had to admit she knew what she was doing.

The boy trying to pull Kurro off him was in for a surprise. The blue struggled and writhed in his hand, but still laughed darkly in the minds around him. Sadly for the boy, Faii was quite attached to her brother, literally. The green half of the conjoined twins bit into the bully's hand. Bad boy! Let Kurro go! she shrieked loudly. Hobbs fluttered down to land on the boy's head, chattering in concern for his friends. Do not hurt them! Farryl would be so sad.

Farryl watched her pets for a moment until she was satisfied they had it under control. Lightly, she jumped down from Peppeth's back to approached the pair. Maybe if she wasn't riding, the smaller boy would be less nervous. Honestly, didn't he know a dragon when he saw one? What were the Harpers teaching these kids. "Dragons, of course," she gave a friendly smile. "They won't hurt you." Well, it was hard to tell with Elisabeta and Rakmaninoth, but she decided it was best not to mention that. "You might want to put that away," she nodded at the knife in his hand. "My...associate, might not approve."

[metaldawn71]

Kalaht's eyes nearly popped out of his head! Dragons!! Thought they were non existent. He sheathed the knife back in its holster, quickly while nodding his head. He composed himself and saw the little avian reptile like creatures and the dragons were only trying to help.

"I-I apol-apologize. Dragons! Wow! A REAL dragon!" he approached the bright green one and was hesitant to touch. "Can I touch? Never seen a _dragon_ before! What's your name?" he asked the little green. "and your uh....associate looks a little scary but also kind of cool. Mind if you come closer so I might have a look at you?" he asked the other. he knew that the dragons were intelligent. His brother told him stories of Dragonriders but never knew they were true.

The bully screamed in pain as the green creature bit his hand. He dropped the blue one and didn't notice that their bodies were actually....one! He then saw the menacing gaze of Rakmoninoth. It was just how the dragon looked that gave an air of 'don't feck with me or I'll rip you to shreds'. He saw the other dragon, not quite as bad but intimidating nonetheless. The bully said one word that started to run off.

"Freaks!" the bully shouted as he held his hand that was bitten. How was he going to explain THIS one to his parents? That he saw two dragons and one lizard type creature with two heads?!

[Ruby]

Smart girl, Elisabeta commented to Rakmaninoth when Farryl told the boy to put away the knife. The dragon answered by hissing at the boy when he addressed her, but her eyes were fixed on the running man. Sure, he was fleeing from the situation, and while the dragon had absolutely no care for the boy, she still felt that he should be punished. Because... well, Rakmaninoth liked punishing people. Elisabeta was neutral, but it couldn't hurt to make him more afraid. People were generally more compliant when they were afraid, no matter that the Selenitas dragonriders would probably never see him again. And if he was the boy's father - they looked enough alike - technically they needed to ask for permission to take him. Technically.

Elisabeta slid off Rakmaninoth's shoulder, landing in a crouch and keeping her dragon still by force of will for a moment, just for fun. Only once she straightened was Rakmaninoth let off her mental leash, exploding from behind her Rider with the kind of fury usually reserved for battle. Three long, gliding strides took her in front of the man, cutting him off so she could aim a clawed forepaw at his midriff. If she took him down, she'd trap him on the ground until Elisabeta came to deal with him - if not, she'd herd him back towards Peppeth like a herdbeast until she did catch him. Taken care of.

The bully wasn't allowed to escape, either. Farryl and Peppeth were left to entertain the child while her pets hassled the older kid, keeping him distracted enough that Elisabeta was able to stride forward, catching one of his arms and twisting him around so she could bury a hand in his hair, dislodging Hobbs in the process. "Freaks?" she asked, keeping her voice calm. "You're lucky you live in the South, boy. You'd be long dead, speaking like that in the North. Would you like to see what a Northern rider would do?" She rotated the boy towards Farryl's charge - he really wasn't much of a boy, taller than her if her boots weren't heeled, and corded with muscle like a bull - but she hadn't lost her strength or her knowledge of a man's weak points. The scalp was an excellent one. A punch in the gut got the bully walking, and she brought him up near Farryl and Kalaht. "Once you're done drooling over dragons," she addressed the younger boy, tone as cold as ever, "Would one of you please explain what was going on here?"

[metaldawn71]

Kalaht watched the older rider do her thing. Drooling over dragons. Hm. He was about to say something smart but gathering all that happened to the man and the bully, well...he thought he would like to -keep- his tongue! He was very careful when speaking to the Rider of the older dragon.

"My father is an arse! He wanted me to come down to get bullied. He even -paid- him! The man running was my arse of a father!" he spat angrily. "Not angry to you, mind you but angry with that - that <i>animal!</i>"

"Please, please....don't let them hurt me...." the man sniveled to Kalaht. His father tried to weasel his way out of this one. His father grabbed the child's arm and gripped it tightly. Kalaht automatically unsheathed his knife and sliced his own father in the face, which made him fall right into Rakmoninoth! Ohhhh, boy! Death becomes him!

"GET AWAY FROM ME!!!!" Kalaht shouted, lividly. " I hate you with all my being! You set me up to get bullied time after time again yet you tell me that you -love- me?! Why?! Am I _your_ entertainment, your fecking amusement?!?!? Hmm?!? Do what you will with this bastard! He is not my father, a father would not DO this!!"

"But, but....son.." he again tried another ploy. "I love you!"

"DON'T take me as a fool! I am NOT your son, anymore! You are nobody to me!!!" Kalaht was so mad that he was shaking! "Get him out of my fecking face, before i kill him MYSELF!!!!"

[Rowana]

Peppeth purred loudly and nuzzled the boy with her nose. "That's a yes," Farryl chuckled. Peppeth adored being petted and it didn't really matter by whom. "Her name is Peppeth and I'm Farryl." She glanced over at Elisabeta, wondering if she wanted to be introduced as well. It seemed, however, that they had other plans. Farryl was more than happy to let them do it too. She might not have done such a thing herself, but she didn't have much sympathy for the man or the bully at the moment.

Kurro and Faii landed with a flop onto the ground and took a few frustrated moments to untangle themselves. They were in time to spot their prey escaping and being captured by Elisabeta. Boy freak! Faii declared with a giggle. Kurro glared at her sulkily. Faii freak, he countered sharply. Kurro monster! Faii cried, batting him with a wing. What followed was an odd attempt to fight that ended with them even more tangled than before. Hobbs circled back to scoop them up and drop them on Peppeth's back where at least they wouldn't be squashed. It was a good thing even the two of them together wasn't too heavy.

Farryl stepped back a little, rubbing Peppeth's chin as she watched the confrontation. This wasn't quite what she'd expected. Her chosen boy certainly had spirit and it sounded like he'd been through a lot. Even so, he was a great deal more angry than she usually saw. Maybe that was something Selenitas needed right now, but she couldn't be sure. Peppeth crooned worriedly. Why are they all so mean? she asked sorrowfully. Farryl could tell she was having second thoughts about this. I'm sure it'll all work itself out, Farryl assured her.

"That's quite enough." Farryl stepped forward, her eyes hard. She held out her hand to the small boy. "I thought I asked you to put that away," she said firmly, clearly meaning that he'd better hand the knife over. Whatever his father had done, murder in cold blood didn't sit well with Farryl. Still, she glanced at Elisabeta to see what she wanted to do about this mess. As much as she hated to defer to the older rider, she had to admit this wasn't a regular Search anymore.

[Ruby]

As it turned out, the man was faster than Rakmaninoth expected. Then again, she'd been anticipating a soft, holdbred gentleman, so it didn't take a lot to go faster than she thought he would. Well, chasing him back towards the group of searchriders and children worked too. When they got close enough, the dragon stalked back and forth, hemming off the father's escape in any direction but through the crowd of people.

A single, sculpted eyebrow rose when the boy started yelling. Elisabeta was clearly not amused, and she shot a look at Farryl, challenging the girl to deal with the snotnosed brat. Luckily she did... too late, but at least she stepped up eventually. Leaving her to handle the boy, Eilsabeta's eyes blanked out, giving instructions to Rakmaninoth. The dragon's teeth stopped inches from the man's neck, her head retracting only through visible force of will on Elisabeta's part. The father's face was bleeding, but Rakmaninoth had not finished the job - he was kneeling on the ground, bloody face clutched in his hands. Luckily, trying to staunch the flow of blood also seemed to muffle the screaming. Casually, Elisabeta let go of the bully, who was apparently frozen in place, backhanding the man when he tried to tell his son he loved him.

Once he was sprawled on the ground, Elisabeta rounded on their chosen boy, looming while Farryl confiscated the knife. Once the other Greenrider was out of the way, she spoke. "I am not your mother or your teacher or your creche-worker, boy, so I should not have to tell you this. Your father deserves your respect." Monster or not, and while this man was certainly weak and cowardly, she wasn't clear on that yet. Little boys that slashed their own flesh and blood in the face weren't much higher on her list than men who taunted children. Without warning, she aimed a slap at Kalaht, too, the kind that would leave a bruise and set his ears to ringing. "Also, we are Dragonriders. You take orders from us, not the other way around. Do not forget. Get him on a dragon, Searchrider," she added to Farryl. He had no choice, now. He'd be taken to the Weyr, where he would be broken, hopefully. He needed it.

Rak, check the other, would you? she asked her dragon as she stooped over the bleeding man. The green dragon nosed up to the bully, her menacing gaze keeping him still. Nothing, the dragon hissed, barely concealed rage coloring her tone. "And him," Elisabeta added, pointing at the bully. Let him soil himself in fear of between, stand for ten years, and then be left with nothing. He seemed the type to deserve it, not to mention that Kalaht shouldn't get off scott-free. Crouching next to the father, still sprawled, Elisabeta spoke calmly. "You speak for these boys, do you not? I take that as a yes. They are being Searched, and you will give permission for us to take them, in exchange for your life. Fair?"

[metaldawn71]

Looking at his father with disgust, she said in a low, menacing growl almost unlike his own. He didn't even wince when Eilsabeta aimed to slap him, not even a cower! Kalaht had been through a lot with his father and they weren't good memories. A lot of them traumatized the poor boy. Memories he wasn't ready to talk about yet, memories that he knew was wrong and he -had- to tell the riders what he did.

"That man deserves my -respect-, does he? You don't -know- what happened 2 Turns ago...you don't know what he did." he said when he realized he had the knife again in his hand..."Hm?....oh yeah sure." he complied with Farryl and handed the weapon to her.

Even though his father was a monster, he was -still- blood. Eilsabeta was right....he sighed in frustration. "Look." he said to the olive rider and Ferryl. "I don't want to be here anymore."

He approached the green and petted her on the snout. "I am still fascinated by these dragons. It will not matter anymore, what you think or say. I am going with them." Kalaht said to his father as he gave him a damp rag for his wound. "Sorry. you just surprised me that's all." he finally remarked and he was sincere. The man finally said 'yes'.

"Now, can we please leave? Being here is not a good place for me, anymore." he said.

The bully didn't want Kalaht to get on that dragon. Despite his fear of Rakmoninoth being there, the bully crawled over to Kalaht. As the child was trying to mount Peppeth, the bully grabbed one of Kalaht's legs and yanked so that he wouldn't fall down.

"Will you -please- let me go?" he asked the bully.

As hurt as the bully was, he still was trying to prevent Kalaht from leaving.

[Rowana]

Farryl was relieved and a little surprised that Kalaht gave up the knife so easily. She took the blade, gave it a quick wipe clean and stuck it in her belt. She'd give it back, maybe, if the boy proved he could handle the responsibility. For now, it seemed Elisabeta had a better understanding of what was happening. Farryl would be the first to admit that family dynamics were not her strong suite. She'd never known mother or father, and the caravan that raised her was more like a bunch of aunts and uncles than anything. Still, at least the boy was going to come alone willingly. He might learn to restrain himself better at the Weyr.

Peppeth shrank back a little at Kalaht's touch, but still purred when she realized he wasn't going to hurt her too. Farryl rubbed her dragon's neck, frowning a little at Elisabeta's request to take the other boy as well. Peppeth she asked curiously. Not him, Peppeth sighed sadly. Rakmaninoth's is being mean again. Farryl wasn't so sure "mean" was the right word, but she shrugged just the same. She had little sympathy for the bully at the moment.

It was easy for Peppeth to kneel down enough so that even the smallest boy could climb on her back without help. Apparently, the bully was a single minded idiot, as well as mean. Farryl's voice was an angry growl when she came up behind him. "That is enough." She pulled the large boy's arms free and held them tight behind his back. No one started fighting near Peppeth if she could help it. Farryl dragged the bully over to Rakmaninoth, whether he wanted to or not. "Will you take him?" she asked with a grim smile. Her grip was still tight enough to keep the captive from running. "Peppeth will have a hard time carrying three." Two she could manage well enough, but three was a bit much for the tiny green. Not only that, but Farryl didn't relish the idea of having both the boys on her dragon if they were going to fight. They'd probably fall off between or something horrible like that.

[Ruby]

"I don't care what happened two turns ago," Elisabeta called over her shoulder, still kneeling next to to man who was, apparently, Kalaht's father. "I care about what is happening now, and what that is is search. I do not care if you think you are ready to leave - your father must give permission, or I am kidnapping you, and that is rarely good publicity for the Weyr. I am here do to my job, that is all." Grumpy, Elisabeta? Never.

But boy and father appeared to make peace, and that was all she needed. Boy still wanted to come, and while Elisabeta might question his sanity, she wasn't about to turn down a willing candidate. As Kalaht mounted, she straightened up, aiming an absent-minded kick at the father's side. Whatever drama was going on near the dragons Eilsabeta ignored; this had already taken far too long. She laid a possessive hand on Rakmaninoth's shoulder, ready to mount, when Farryl dragged the other one over. Oh right, Peppeth was no Rakmaninoth, long and strong enough to carry more than one additional rider. How inconvenient.

"Fine, bring him here," she said, untying an extra strip of leather from Rakmaninoth's straps. "Will you mount yourself?" she asked the boy, who proceeded to not move. Well, in that case... "Hands," she demanded, binding them together with the strap. "Farryl, will you help me load him?" she asked, getting a fistful of the shirt at the back of his neck. She'd toss him over Rakmaninoth's neck and fly him off like a sack of firestone, she just needed a little help getting him there. Of course this wasn't a kidnapping.

[metaldawn71]

Kalaht glared at Eilsabeta but said nothing. Tears came to his eyes as he thought about his brother and mothers death. He -had- to tell someone and the culprit would be brought to justice but just not yet.

"No, I will not hurt you Peppeth. You -know- that...don't you?" he asked. Farryl? you -do- know i won't hurt anyone?! Please believe me, you don't know what I've been through with my father......i -want- this. i -want- to be a dragonrider....i know that the olive rider does not care weather or not i live or die or so it seems. Through all this mess, i have learned that not everything is what it seems to be at first." Kalaht was crying, it was not an act. His eyes pleading and he ran. he ran away....he thought the dragonriders were there to take him away to punish him.

Kalaht felt as though Eilsabeta was blame -him- for what had happened and he was ashamed. He couldn't face anyone knowing that knowing that no one believed in him. He felt like an outcast, ignored and invisible.

[Rowana]

Farryl grasped her captives legs and helped heave him onto Rakmaninoth. Once the other boy was settled, Farryl stepped back to Peppeth's side. She wasn't sure she really approved of how this was going, but she wasn't about to argue with Elisabeta. At least a dragon ride like that might teach the bully a lesson, whether or not he ended up staying for turns. Farryl had a feeling the Wastelander would have no trouble getting her way on that one, and unfortunately for the boy, Farryl wasn't about to oppose them over him. He wasn't worth it.

Kalaht, however, he might be worth the effort. Peppeth crooned softly underneath him, her desire to comfort outweighing her fear. Farryl laid a hand on her dragon next to the boy's leg. Great, now he was crying. Raebeli would have a field day with this one, if she ever met him. "She knows," Farryl managed a smile that was at least wasn't forced. "We've been through a lot ourselves." Peppeth purred loudly as Farryl swung herself up behind her passenger. "You have a lot to learn, Kalaht," she explained wryly. Reaching forward, she took the straps and checked to make sure he was secure. "First lesson, hang on tight."

Farryl nodded to Elisabeta once she was sure it was alright if she took the lead. Peppeth, being so much smaller would have an easier time taking off in the limited space. Peppeth bunched her muscles and kicked from the ground. Her wings beat rapidly, taking them nearly straight up and into the sky at a frightening speed. Peppeth chortled joyfully, giving a playful circle once she was high enough. She wanted the boy to love flying as much as she did!