Let's watch it burn!{Mik}

[midnight]

At first Meagen had been depressed. She hadn't seen Mik since the Gather, hadn't really seen Cry since the hatching. Cry had impressed, and so had Mik. She was alone, the last of the triad was alone. She could understand Cry, he was newly impressed. But Mik? She felt that was her fault because of what she had done at the Gather. Unfortunately nothing could be done about that. She'd have to wait it out and see how depressed she would have to be.

Well she waited it out, and the depression turned to anger. Such a raw anger that it burned like a flame in the woman. She hadn't impressed, in fact she had watched so many of her classmates impress. More then that, she had even gotten drunk at the hatching feast and just passed out. But to make things better, she got a present from someone and STILL couldn't figure it out.

She hated mysteries. Before she came to Selenitas, it had always been like that. it still was like that. Unfortunately it would eat at the girl like her anger was.

She truly loved Mik, and she had made him think that she risked his dragon. The only creature in the world that could love him more then anyone. A thing she would NEVER do. She loved Mik and wanted nothing more then him to be happy. Apparently that was to be away from her.

That hurt, that hurt so much. TO be abandoned, but all. She felt like she meant nothing. That showed in the way she was acting. The female was training, training in a way she hadn't since she was younger.

Since the anger of her rape had burned like a flame in her. She trained as if she was fighting to the death. Her lithe body spinning and moving quickly. Her punches and kicks flowed, as the woman had been taught by Cry and Mik. Her hair bond in a tight braid, was wrapped in wherhide, a thick flat strip that was very very long. She wrapped it tightly around her braid, to turn it into a weapon of it's own.

It had been a trick that Mik had taught her, one she did instinctively, no matter how much it hurt her at the moment.

A growl left her lips as she ducked, her body bending as she pretended to fight an unseen opponent. In reality she was fighting herself, and all the anger that had pent up. It wasn't healthy, and this was the best way she knew how to take it out.

It just hurt, and the anger hurt all the more. Alone, she hated that thought. They had left her.

[Ruby]

M'kai, on the other hand, was smiling. He was finally looking and feeling healthy again, Futh was flying better than ever, and his new mindmate swooped around him, darting forward and back. Green Reina was happily stretching her still-newborn wings in the sunshine, literally flying circles around Hers when he slowed down at all. But she WAS still a newborn, M'kai knew, so he dropped back from a run to a brisk walk, offering her a forearm to rest on.

Reina was NOT pleased by this- SHE, of all people, needed absolutely NO help AT ALL, ever. Screeching at Hers, she darted off into the trees for a second, before reemerging. M'kai simply offered the arm again, mentally rephrasing the offer. It wasn't to help her, or because she was tired, of course. He was only trying to offer her the respect due to someone of her extreme beauty. Mollified, Reina fluttered down to his forearm and cheeped once before climbing up to a more secure perch on his shouler. M'kai pulled his red hair out of the way, draping it over the opposite shoulder. He was worried that come graduation and Threadfall, he'd have to cut it off, but he certainly wasn't going to until someone made him.

M'kai knew this part of the path well; he loved this path next to the river, for its interesting scenery and because he and Crys had made some good memories here. At this particular point, the jungle blocked off his view of the upcoming trail that led around the lake at the base of the waterfall. Sometimes he'd take this path as far as he could, then have Futh come pick him up at the end. It was good practice for the Blue, who still had some trouble with takeoff and landing, and M'kai loved never having to turn around. He hadn't made it to the ocean yet, but he wanted to do it some day when he didn't have lessons or chores. Right.

He brushed Futh's mind lightly, caressing it before asking, Still working hard, FuthLove? Futh responded in the affirmative, stretching his wings as far out as he could to prove exactly that. Reina ruffled her wings, clearly disapproving of the fact that Futh had to do something so common as exercise, and looking at the expression on her tiny face made M'kai let out an exuberant laugh and break back into a run.

He was so caught up in his moment of joy that he almost missed Meagen, alone on a pebbly little beach next to the path. She was ducking and weaving, running though exercises that M'kai recognized- ones he and Crys had taught her. Well, Crys mostly, but M'kai had a trick or two up his sleeve. At Reina's quiet, inquiring chirp, he nodded and went over to lean against a treetrunk, not wanting to disturb something that took so much concentration. It felt rude just to leave, though. He hadn't seen Megs since the Hatching, and hadn't spoken to her since the Gather- he couldn't just slink by. They were friends, after all. So he waited, watching her go through the familiar forms, Reina an already comfortable weight on his shoulder.

[midnight]

The shift of the air around her, was something she had become used to. It was a slight shift that made her attention shift. Though her hair was in a tight braid, her bangs never seemed to stay in the braid. Feral looking eyes glared at M'kai, as the female ducked and roll. She came up a high kick aimed in his direction as she twisted away and crouched. A pant leaving her lips as she rubbed her hand over her forehead. Flicking away sweat, and pushing back her bangs.

Anger, pure unadultured anger came in waves off of the girl. It hurt, so much to know that she had been left alone. He hadn't even SPOKEN to her at the hatching. After she had been left alone, again. The tears had hurt that night, as she got drunk and slept in her bunk, sobbing and in pain. Revelry was not something that had been on her mind. Mik had a new companion is seemed, something else she couldn't risk.

She seemed to acknowledge him with her stare, and from what he would remember of the girl... her next actions made sense. Her head turned, a slight glance away, as she rose to stand and turned her back, and started walking down the length of the beach. Her actions were louder then words, and if Mik was looking close enough... before she turned he could see the tears there in her eyes.

She still hurt, hurt so much. She just couldn't quite figure out what to do. It was all confusing to her. She never wanted to risk his dragon, but she never wanted to be seen as a little sister. Anger, pure and strong was still pulsing in her. Making the tears bitter and leaving a harsh taste of blood in her mouth as she bit her cheek.

Perhaps she should just give up.

[Ruby]

M'kai didn't even flinch at the foot aimed his direction. He knew she'd never truly hurt him, just like Cr'oph wouldn't. He trusted her for that, and if she didn't know it, he didn't know her as well as he thought he did. He simply watched her finish up with a slight smile on his face, oblivious. It seemed that Megs was one of the few people he could be oblivious about.

Her stare melted his smile, though. That was not the look of an old friend you hadn't seen enough lately. Meagen was mad- no, she was pissed, and M'kai couldn't let it go. He hadn't seen that kind of look since D'main, and certainly never directed at himself. As he expected, she looked off and turned, running away again. Well, not physically running obviously, but emotionally? Sure. He didn't see the tears, but he wouldn't be surprised when they fell.

He followed, stretching his stride so that he covered half again as much ground as she did. He certainly wasn't going to startle her, not in this sort of mood. He couldn't decide if he pitied her, was annoyed with her, or hurt as much as she did. As Reina fluttered off his shoulder, content to leave her human to his own problems, M'kai decided not to worry too much about how he felt right now. That wasn't the issue, and he didn't like things like feelings. Not when they were his own.

"Megs..." he called softly, speeding up when she didn't stop. Right at the edge of the trees, he caught up and put a hand on her shoulder, half his mouth quirking up in a sad smile. "What, I don't even get a hello?" he asked gently, no joke in his tone. Only wistfulness over things that might be lost forever.

[midnight]

The strides she took made her move quicker then she usually would. The bangs falling into place as the bitter tears fell down her cheeks. Splotches of red covering her cheeks, as she muffled a sob with her fist. Biting down on the meat the was between thumb and forefinger, the girl tasted blood as she tried to prevent herself from crying outloud. She ached, she ached like she never had before. She felt she had ruined everything, and at the same time she felt betrayed beyond all belief.

Her eyes closed, sharp and angry depths vanishing as the sorrow took over again. her strides became not as long, and as she reached the end of the woods she felt his hand on her shoulder. It made her turn, her gaze watching him and staring up at him. Pain and Anger, a heady cocktail in her gaze. He asked that he didn't even get a hello, she hadn't even had a shoulder to cry on when she had failed to impress. Failed again...

"Not even a hello..." She said as her lip quirked, she wiped her hand on her pants and then felt the lips quirk as she tried to do what she always did. Put on a smile for everyone else, for a moment a bright one was on her face, then it quivered and the tears fell faster. "Not a shoulder for me to cry on when I was left alone, again. Cry I can understand, but I SAW you there, when I was left alone... you didn't even speak to me. You haven't spoken to me since the hatching, how am I supposed to feel?!" She stated as she yanked her shoulder back from him.

"I pour my heart out to you! I do something more brave then anything I have ever done. I realize that I risk the one creature that loves you most in the world! I'm broken, Mik... I ache so much, I was depressed at first... I cried so much... thinking I lost one of the most important people to me... Then after the hatching I was angry." She exclaimed all this as she stepped back from him, everything rolling through her like a cocktail of epic proportions.

"You finally see me again, and all you can say... is what you said? No sorry, no trying to make things better! BAH! What a friend you've been. I searched out for you and Cry, when you left me alone the first time. Make a fool of me once, shame on you! Make on of me twice, shame on me. I will not be made a fool a third time."

[Ruby]

"Meagen, you have to understand!" M'kai burst out, not totally sure what exactly it was that she wasn't understanding. Immature dragons, maybe. Rules, requests, time taken up. Change in general, and spesific changes that M'kai was only just now starting to understand, bits of Futh worming into his soul. Growing up, finally getting what he wanted only to find that it was just the very beginning, of things that were both good and bad. He couldn't imagine life without Futh, but if he tried... well, there would be less drama in it, that was for sure.

Still confused, M'kai latched on to the tiniest part of what Megs had said, as if explaining that thing would make everything else come clear. "It isn't Futh I'm worried about. I mean, of course I am, but that's not the problem here. He'll be mature soon enough- in a month, he's a year old. A year! Time moves so fast when you have a hatchling, it's like you can't even breathe. And then I lost months to the plague on top of it. I spend every waking moment trying to catch up, and the rest of it trying to sleep. It's not you, it doesn't have to do with you at all. It has to do with the fact that I literally do not have time for a relationship. Even friendship is pretty much out of the question, if it's not a dragon Futh likes to spend time with."

He took a deep breath, realizing what a pathetic excuse that was. Truth, but still an excuse. He simply didn't want to deal with it. "I appreciate your bravery, it just couldn't have come at a worse time. Wait until you Impress- you'll understand," he added, then mentally flinched. Oops. Oh well, time to cover. "I didn't mean to make a fool of you, and neither me or Cry wanted to leave you. We just... had to." Mmm, super smooth.

[midnight]

"I have to understand?!?!" Meagen snapped as she stopped walking. Her hands thrown out at her sides, exasperation crossing her features. The pain increased till it felt like it was going to break her from the inside out. Maybe he was right, she didn't understand, she couldn't understand. She didn't have a dragon. Her body shook as the tears fell down her cheeks, that anger making her grit her teeth as she clenched her teeth tighter.

It was a grimace almost, a growl threatened to slip from her. Something almost bestial, true anger from the girl. She threw out her hands. "Shards, NO! I won't take excuses. I can understand what you have been through. But M'kai, you didn't even give me so much as a pat on the back or a HUG, when I failed to impress. You and Cry NEVER failed to support me before. We supported each other. Cry I can understand, he impressed... but you... no... You've ALWAYS been there." She stated as she fought back the urge to claw his eyes out.

"I'm not looking for a sharding relationship! I'm looking for ACKNOWLEDGMENT! I've spent every waking moment since I got here, working on the dream that we three shared. Now you and Cry have your dream, and I'm ALONE!" She snapped as she tilted her head back. Her hand came up as she wiped her face clean. "Fine... I see that's how it is." She stated as she rolled her shoulders back.

"Once I impress, once I impress. M'kai, I've been standing for more years then I can care to remember. Seen more hatchlings bond, and always I'm alone. You had to leave, sharding wherry dung! You could have brought me with you, but no you abandoned me there. M'kai... " She trailed off and tilted her head down as she shook. Her body shaking, it was laughter. So upset, so distressed the girl had resorted to laughing.

"Sweet Faranth, M'kai..." It was M'kai now... he was no longer Mik. It hurt to call him Mik, she realized now that there would always be things more important then her. She could understand his dragon, but she could have gotten some of his time. She could have! She understood better then he thought, but she couldn't get that across to him. Shards, she was so confused. She was alone, honestly. She tried to make friends, but others just couldn't understand what she was going through.

"I understand how important Futh is, I wish you well, Rider M'kai..." She said as she collected herself. Her voice was slightly cold... hurt, and anger. How would he feel if he was the one that had been left behind? How would HE feel if he was the only one of the three left alone?

[Ruby]

Sigh. This was not going well, and although M'kai knew exactly what he had done wrong, he had no clue how to fix it. He just let her shout herself out, standing there meekly. He was never good with girls except when it came to getting them into bed, and he certainly wasn't about to try that with Megs. Although... well, it MIGHT help the immediate situation, but probably not in the long run. M'kai filed it away as a last ditch option, but he certainly wasn't about to try seduction now. So he let her go on, trying his best to look sympathetic and nod in the right places.

But there was one thing he felt like he needed to comment on. Well, two really, but one led to the other. He wasn't about to cut her off, though, so instead he mumbled into a pause, "We both stood longer than you have yet, just because we're older. And Cry left me alone too, when I impressed. We're all alone, now. Maybe Selenitas wasn't a good idea after all." Maybe she heard him and would care to respond, maybe not. Either way, now she was... laughing?

Why was she laughing? Would he ever understand girls?

He assumed no, so he let her laugh herself out, just like he'd let her yell. Silent was often the way to go.

He vaguely registered the name change, but brushed it off as unimportant. One thing Meagen had failed to do was break out of M'kai's view of her as a younger sister, and though he absoultely respected her as a person, he treated her anger just like he'd always treated Dia's- frankly, he simply didn't think it would last. He let her laugh, and wasn't surprised when she turned cold again. And again with the alone.

"Megs," yes, he was still going to use her nickname, no matter her use of formal honorifics, "We're all alone, always. It was Crys' decision as much as mine to leave you and Dia at Blossom- you both seemed to be fitting in, while people just suspected us. And then Crys dissapeared, and I impressed, and now I have Futh, but I might have lost Crys. Now, Crys has Mavenath, and we're going to be even further apart. Dia's left alone in a strange hold, no matter how well she was doing when we left her. I know you're angry, and hurt, and as far as I'm concerned, you are welcome to stay that way as long as you need to. After that? Come find me, and let's work on just being friends again, first. Obviously we've both screwed that one up, and I am incredibly sorry for my part in that. You are still one of the most important people in my life, and I don't want to lose you."

[midnight]

Meagen listened to him in silence, she had heard his words. But still she found the pain bubbling up. He wanted to be FRIENDS, he wanted to be friends. Realization hit her, as she ran her hand back through her hair. She smiled wryly, she cocked her head to the side and looked up at him. With the anger shouted out, she felt a lot better. But the problem was she just couldn't understand how to get it across to him.

The anger gone,t he coldness gone when she realized she might lose him. If she didn't fix things now, didn't get him to understand. "Mik... " She said softly, her head tilted down. Slowly she lifted her head and smiled at him weakly. She took her steps towards him slowly, and then reached out, one arm. She just wanted to hug him, and she did so as lightly as possible. He could pull away if he wanted, after what she just did... she'd understand.

"I love you Mik, more then the brother I once did. We are not actually related, and that's why it pains me so much to see that you don't even glance at me like another girl. Thta one time at the Gather, I felt like a woman. Like you could actually..." She stopped and then pulled back just a little to look up at him. "I care about you, more then I think you can imagine. I could never say I care as much as Futh does, but it's sharding close... you can even ask him to look if he so chooses do. " She stated softly.

"Mik, I'm willing to wait... but when we see each other again, I won't let you see me as a little girl. I'm not a child anymore, and I'm NOT your little sister. It's time for your mind to grow up Mik. I'm a woman now, and I want you to treat me like such. I want you to flirt with me, make me feel pretty. I don't want anyone else but you, to do that." She stated lightly.

(( WHOOO HORMONES! Lulz ))

[Ruby]

M'kai was all ready for another outburst, steeling himself for it. So it was an incredible relief when, instead of screaming and/or trying to leave again, she took a step forward... and actually hugged him. THIS he could work with. So he didn't pull away, and instead, he tentatively put an arm around her too. The gesture was very reserved, although that had less to do with anything Megs had done and more to do with settling into a predictable pattern. He'd comforted before, both friends and 'new friends', and he knew how to turn it to his advantage.

Not that that was what he wanted to do here. Right.

He shifted his arm hurriedly, realizing what path he was heading down. But then he thought of something else. Every other time, this set of words and actions had led to his bedroom. However, if he Just changed somethings, adjusted a tone here or there, it might just lead to a happier Meg. So he left his arm around her, letting her her pull back to look up at him.

When she mentioned Futh, he shot the Blue a cautionary thought: Don't touch. Futh would understand. "Oh, Megs, I'd never violate your privacy like that!" And sacrifice deniability so fast, he added silently. "No, I believe you, and I WILL try to remember it, I promise." Now a quick pull tighter, linger a moment too long, annnnd... release. He stepped back, managing to look a little like he'd caught himself unawares. He blinked, as if to clear a too-full head, and matched her light tone. "Well, I'll see what I can do!" he said, laughing slightly. "And now I think I've got to head back so I can grab some food before lessons. I think Futh is going to pick me up so he can practice his flying, so would you care to join me?"

[midnight]

Megs couldn't stay mad at him, it was Mik, and she cared about him too much. She bit her lip as she looked up at him, her head cocked to the side. She was so interested in trying to figure out the males thoughts, he seemed a little weird at the. She frowned for a moment, and then smiled shyly at him.

"I wouldn't consider it a violation, but a confirmation..." She stated lightly as she smiled up at him. "I can't prove it any other way, and I don't consider that to be a bad thing." She said as she tilted her head down and grinned brighter. She looked up at him and then cocked her head to the side. Had he just? No... it wasn't possible.

She openly laughed, joy shooting through her as he mentioned joining him. "Really!? So I finally get to meet him?" She teased him lightly. This was Megs when she was with Mik and Cry, she could only hold a grudge for so long.

[Ruby]

"Well, not today. It really is more of a violation than you'd expect, and it wouldn't be fair, not being able return the favor. Someday, maybe." He smiled to take any possible sting out of that. He certainly didn't want her to snap back to angry again, not with things going so well. "And anyway, you don't need to prove anything to me. You've made yourself quite clear; it's just me that's lacking, now." That trailed off wistfully, whether he wanted it to or not.

"But you really wanted to meet Futh?" M'kai asked, suddenly glowing. "He'd love to meet you, I'm sure," he added, mentally sending, Eh, Foo? Want to meet her? Futh simply took off, heading for a clearing not much further along the river. "He's coming to pick me up just around the bend. Race you?" he asked, settling into a ready stance.

[midnight]

"Alright, alright... " She said as she felt the cheer fly through her more. A smile spreading across her features as she rocked back and forth on her feet. Her eyes looked to the side a little, and then it snapped up as she smirked at him. "Of course I've been wanting to meet Futh!" She said as she laughed loudly. Her eyes lighting up she smirked even more. So, he wanted to race?

Meagen smirked and yanked away from him. Getting into a ready stance. "This'll be fun, we haven't raced in awhile." She said as she gave him a sly smile. "Ready set... GO!" She snapped as she bolted. Her body pushing forward with ease. Megs really had grown up, and she had grown up in more then just her mind and body.

Her form moved swiftly, as if the female had been running all her life. Maybe she had, that's what it had felt like since that night with D'mian. She growled for a moment, almost losing her good mood, but she allowed that to fade. She took this time to truly show Mik what she could do.

[Ruby]

M'kai grinned as he felt Futh wing overhead, unconciously glancing up at where he would have been able to see the Blue if there wasn't a jungle in the way. Imagining he could see a shadow, he looked back- only to realize he'd lost precious feet! Megs was already back to the path and headed down it by the time M'kai stretched into his first full stride, pumping his legs as fast as he could to make up precious distance.

Unfortunately for Meagen, M'kai's legs were longer by several inches. Fast she might be, but he simply had the advantage of height, and he used it to the fullest. Passing her just as they entered the clearing where Futh was settling heavily to the ground, M'kai kept going, shouting "Yessssss!" as he plowed forward into Futh's foreleg. The dragon was nearly at his full growth now, so running into him that hard truly was like slamming into a treetrunk. M'kai bounced off, laughing and barely catching himself against Futh's side.

Stepping away, he left a hand pressed against Futh's side. "So this is Futh. Futh, Meagen. Megs. She's a childhood friend of mine." Futh looked her up and down, his eyes whirling gently. Hello, he offered, dipping his head lower to get a better look. Then he twisted around, flicking his tail in her direction and showing off his rump. Do you like my spots?

[midnight]

Meagen growled when he ran faster then her. No she wouldn't get beat again! She whimpered as she pushed herself faster, her muscles straining. BUt he got there first, he nearly fell into his dragon, and Meagen almost lost balance herself. She skidded to a stop, and looked up at the Blue. Such a gorgeous creature! The sensation of a dragons voice filled her mind. The connection that the girl always sought...

Her mothers dragon had been a chatty dragon, it had kept Meagen occupied as a child. "Hello Futh, nice to meet you. Yes, I like your spots! They are very handsome." She said in conversation as she looked over the dragon. He looked to be growing well, which was wonderful. He was Mik's partner, she hoped he would come to accept her. Because she would hate for the best part of Mik, to not like her.

She laughed lightly to herself at that thought, the candidate was more then amused. She looked up at Mik, affection shining in her eyes. She truly enjoyed the presence of the creature. That was what mattered in the long run. The presence of a dragon in her life.