Sunset memories (Tags Lanthos)

[Rei]

Malara sat upon the grassy hillside, Mask rumbling quietly at her side. Sunset. It was her favorite part of the day. The wher handler’s sunrise she called it. Mask raised his head and blinked up at his. She had been in a weird mood ever since the attack. More sedate somehow. Mask wasn’t sure how to handle this new his.

Malara stroked her wher’s head absently as the sky became shot with purple, orange, and red. Thank Faranth Mask was a wild wher and so able to enjoy it with her. His tame brothers, the watch whers, Where pretty much completely paralyzed in sunlight. While her wild wher was able to tolerate the sunset with not even the slightest discomfort.

So engrossed was Malara, in her own quiet musings, that she hadn’t realized Mask had left her side. Movement had been spotted and Mask had slunk away to protect his. As a boy came from the undergrowth and began to approach his he snarled. The blue’s eyes shooting from green to crimson. With a bellow of rage Mask sprinted towards Lanthos, claws tearing up the ground. This one would not hurt his. Not if he could prevent it.

Onyx brought his head up and hissed from his position on a nearby rock. Blood. Bleed. Yum. Good Ugly. The wingless one would murder the boy yes? Then he could have the fresh blood. The ugly was good at making blood. The mandyr hated sharing his with the beast but at least he provided food regularly.

[hseru]

It had been a lovely, clear day. It was almost like the world didn’t remember that it had wept for Selenitas only days before. Lanthos remembered though. He remembered when waking and sleeping. Nightmares haunted him, where people rose from the darkness, their skin bubbling and melting as they screamed at him obscenities and promises for revenge in one breath while begging him to help with the next. More often than not, he woke in a cold sweat, a scream on his own lips. He wasn’t the only candidate with nightmares though, and no one else had yet to approach him about being one of a few to wake their bunkmates up in the middle of the night.

The number of injured was astounding. They barely had room for all of them. It was obvious that everyone would give a hand to help, and the candidates were easily drafted to the monotonous tasks required of an assistant, but Lanthos had seen enough of death that day. A patient thought to be stable had passed away only moments into his turn at changing soiled bandages for fresh ones. He hadn’t realized until an experienced healer came up to lead him away, two hale riders moving the dead one away to make room for someone else. That was all he could stand, and the healers understandably let him end his shift a little early as he fled the ground floor weyrs that had taken up the position of temporary infirmary.

He didn’t want to see more of the filled weyrs, so he fled into the jungle. Remembering well his close brush with felines, Lanthos skirted the edges, keeping to open spots as he climbed up the stairs leading to the top of the waterfall. He began to feel a bit easier, even smiling as Mask appeared overhead, trilling down to him and spiraling on his stumpy wings, enjoying the cool spray from the falls and the updrafts they created. The blue couldn’t stand to be around all those people, and found somewhere else to flutter while Lanthos worked. Pep, by comparison, was always found on his shoulder, no matter where the candidate went. It seemed that the mandyr was only happy when he was with Hispet. The generally friendly blue brought a smile to more than one face with his antics, so Lanthos was happy to have him along, for more than one reason. Pep kept him calm with his naiveté about what was happening, and the candidate was quite thankful for it.

Strolling a little more light heartedly now, he broke through the brush towards a clearing next to the river, surprised to find a wherhandler already present on the small rise. The blue wher peeled off, but Lanthos didn’t immediately notice, his attention occupied with trying to figure out if he knew the girl. Blue handler who could be in the sunlight… one of the wild whers it looked. “Malara?” He called, and Pep perked up at the mention of a female he knew, if distantly. The blue frilled with a mental cry as he suddenly spotted the wher that had gotten close, and the bellow shocked all three as the blue charged them.

Scrambling back, Lanthos let out a yelp as he tripped over a log, landing square on his back. Pep jumped to his chest and flashed both wings and frill to try and send the creature away, adding his scream to the challenge. NONONO BADUGLY NOLANOS!! Mask barked his own addition to the mandyr's, swooping in to circle over Hispet but not having the courage to actually land.

[Rei]

“Malara?” The blonde blinked and then spun around. That voice sounded vaguely familiar. “Lanthos….” Malara trailed off and her eyes widened as she beheld Mask barreling towards the boy who was now sprawled out on the ground. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what her wher intended to do. Mask Saw Lanthos as a threat. A threat he was determined to destroy. “MASK NO!” Her cry was sounded just as the wher leapt for the boy, aiming to pin him to the ground so he could rip out his throat.

Giving a startled cry, the blue gave a hard flap of stubby wings to change his trajectory. Mask landed beside Lanthos with a crash and the sound of splintered wood. His back talons had effectively punished the log for tripping the candidate. The wher spun around to bark a question to his just as she sprinted down the hill to kneel at Lanthos’ side.

“Oh Lanthos! Are you ok? Mask! Shard it all! Ask me BEFORE YOU ATTACK!” Malara’s voice was undeniably angry and the wher whimpered in return, ducking his head. He had upset his! Oh the shame of it all! Giving a growl he crawled off to flop a few feet away, still eyeing Lanthos warily, and sending frantic apologies to his.

Malara sighed heavily and sent a loving reassurance to him even as she sputtered out an apology to Lanthos. “I am so sorry about him. He doesn’t do well with strangers. In fact he normally threatens or attacks first and asks questions later. Bad habit of his. I dare say he is a bit overprotective.” A growl accompanied her words and she turned to look at the blue wher.

Onyx had scrambled from his rock and he had clambered up Mask, heedless of the threatening growls the ugly one threw his way. Bad ugly. No kill. No bleed. He scolded.

In response Mask shook his head flinging the mandyr into the dirt. Shrieking in rage, Onyx frilled and scampered over to his bonded. BAD. UGLY. NO BLEED ONYX! Malara stroked the brown mandyr and got a pleased purr.

No bleed yum? The mandyr queried looking at Lanthos curiously. “Sorry baby no blood for onyx.” The blonde returned, her voice pleasant and loving despite the mandyr's morbid words.

Suddenly The blue handler turned toward Lanthos again. “Sorry. I haven’t introduced you to my new mind mates. This is Onyx and you already met Mask.” She said with a wince, gesturing towards the wher.

The near black mandyr tilted his head and looked at Lanthos. Bleed yum. He remarked curling his tail as far around Malara’s neck as he could manage.

[hseru]

It wasn’t the most terrifying thing he’d seen leaping to tear him to pieces, but the wher definitely filled one of the top spots in his short list. The sheer anger in those crimson eyes was what tipped the scale, and Lanthos just knew he would be dead in a heartbeat. And then, as if by some miracle, the blue twisted in mid air and landed with a resounding thud to the side of him, and Lanthos got a nice clear look at the claws that had just about eviscerated him, and instead crunched the offending log to little splinters. It gave him a funny feeling in the pit of his stomach.

He snapped out of it quickly as Malara appeared at his side, nodding his head at her question. “Yeah.. yeah, I’m fine Malara. Thanks.” He gave her a small, kind of twisted smile that seemed less genuine than even a handful of days ago. Before the attack. Scooting back into a sitting position, He reached up to sooth the very agitated mandyr clinging to his shirt. Pep was still frilling for everything he was worth, aiming hisses at the ugly ground thing. The fact that it had backed off had saved it from a horrible death, to Pep’s way of thinking. Mask hovered for another moment or two before skittering to a hiding spot in the collar of Lanthos’ shirt, shaking against his skin. Close to the same time, Pep succumbed to the reassurance hispet was offering, and slithered up to his shoulder, eyeing the wher for a bit before turning to Mask. GoodPep. Goodwings. No bad. Gone His reassurance didn’t seem to help at first, until the blue peeked up over the candidate’s collar at first the mandyr, and then Malara, chirping quietly.

Lanthos shot an easier smile at Malara. “Don’t worry about it... after the ... attack, well… he’s got a reason to be protective.” He pushed himself to his feet, surreptitiously dusting of his breeches. He only caught the end of her comment to the brown, but it seemed odd enough to get his attention. He turned back, offering his hand to help her up, an unconscious courtesy extended without thinking if the blue wher might take it as a threatening gesture. “Glad to see you got a salamandyr, as well as impressed a wher. Congratulations.” His smile was genuine now as he peered at the brown. “Onyx, hm?” He didn’t really know what to make of the mandyr’s words to him, but he reached around to scoop Mask out of his collar. “You have a Mask, and so do I. Meet Mask, my newest mind mate” He grinned a bit, showing off the blue who was a bit more calm now, sitting up in his palm to peer at Malara. He was incredibly shy, but he could handle meeting one person at a time.

[Rei]

Malara took his hand gently and let him help her up. A low growl was released by Mask but he didn’t move from his position on the ground. The rumble continued and his tail whipped back and forth. Why was his interacting with this boy. She seemed to like him, she accepted him and a happy feeling was drifting across their bond. The blue wher gave a loud snort and curled up one yellow green eye watching Lanthos with caution.

At his congratulation’s Malara smiled a real smile not the fake ones she had used on the Candidatemaster. “Thank you Lanthos. I wish you the best of luck at the upcoming hatching. I will be watching for you.” The blonde tried to grab Onyx as he leapt to Lanthos’s shoulder but she missed. The dark brown sat up on his back legs and regarded Pep carefully. Bleed yum you? Pep yum?

Malara threw an apologetic glance at Lanthos, and had just about decided to tell him about her bonded’s.....err bad habit, when he thrust a blue flitter at her. His name had her giggling. “Mask huh? He is quite well mannered compared to my darling. He is a cutie. I was thinking about perhaps trying to impress one but Onyx works much better. He has adjusted well to the night life and I rather doubt a flitter could have adjusted as well.” Reaching out she gently stroked the blue.

Mask kept watch, but for the moment he refrained from threatening Lanthos. Instead he flicked his wings and lay his head down on the jungle floor. The mist from the waterfall was cooling and the wher liked the sensation.

Malara scratched the flit’s eye ridges and then turned her attention back to Lanthos. “So what brings you here this time of night? Don’t you belong to the waking world?” The last statement was punctuated with a wink and a toss of her hair.

[hseru]

Lanthos smiled again at the mention of Malara watching him at the hatching. It was the one thing in this crazy mess of a tragedy that was still a brilliant point of hope and joy for many people, himself included. Just thinking about it had him almost squirming with eagerness. He held it in when the brown mandyr made a leap to his shoulder though, well aware of just how temperamental some of the creatures could be. He didn’t want a bite anywhere near where the dark, dark brown had decided to perch. He remembered the mandyr’s strange words and wondered what they could mean. "Hello there, Onyx." He said cautiously. Pep frilled at the intruder who had suddenly decided that Hispet was an adequate perching place, but didn’t hiss. This was His perch, and he wanted it known. Nono bad. PepLanos. Pephandsome. Yum? The new word intrigued the blue, who cocked his head to the side, frill at half-mast in question.

Mask shied away from Malara for just a moment, before finding that her pettings were good. Then he leaned into them, chirping happily. Pep very shortly noticed him getting attention, and slithered past Onyx and down Lanthos’ arm to shove Mask out of his palm, and take his place in Malara’s affections. NonoWings. Pephandsome. He wouldn’t have been able to move the larger blue flitter, but Mask let himself be moved, well used to the mandyr’s demand for the best spots. Chittering at the blue, he swooped in to light upon Malara’s shoulder, nuzzling her cheek in thanks for the lovely pettings. Lanthos chuckled lightly at the antics of his blues. “You’re going to steal them both away from me, I just know it.”

He grinned at her wink, and nodded in vague agreement, taking his free hand and waving it about to encompass the sky. “It’s not dark yet. I’m allowed to cross the brink a bit into the domain of the wherhandler, much as I see you are doing towards the light of day.” He raised his brows a bit in emphasis. He didn’t really want to go into the reason for his foray. He was happy enough to have found a friend to talk to without dredging up the bad memories piling on in excess these days. Instead of broaching that subject, he turned it to a lighter side. “Oh, you know. I enjoy sunsets and all that. I’m a person more used to these outdoors places than being stuck inside doing whatever needs done.” He gestured vaguely towards the weyrs downriver, wondering if she’d get the idea.

[Rei]

Onyx sniffed along Lanthos’s neck but was distracted by the candidate’s greeting. Lo Lant. He replied in a happy tone. Flicking his tongue against the candidate’s neck to taste the skin, he then he ran it over his tiny protruding fangs. Just as he was about to nibble however Pep spoke up. Titling his head in the dark blue’s direction, the dark brown mandyr seemed to contemplate the other mandyrs words for a second.

Red leak yum. Good eat. Onyx finally replied with a nod. A glance back in the blue’s direction had him double taking. Where was the blue? Balancing on his back legs and looking around he finally caught sight of Pep in Lanthos’s palm being stroked by Malara. A soft hiss escaped the mandyr's throat but he didn’t move. Mine. No, he wasn't as possesive as Mask but he was still a mandyr and therefor possessive of his.

Malara giggled as Pep moved the bigger flitter. “Yes Pep is such a handsome boy isn’t he. Don’t worry darling you will always be my handsome blue.” She tickled her finger under the mandyrs tiny chin, even as she continued to stroke the flit perched on her shoulder. Her wher snorted in annoyance and gave a whine. The blonde rolled her eyes and pressed reassurance on Mask. Darling stop it you will always be my most handsome one. A happy growl left the blue and he returned to watching Lanthos carefully.

A small laugh escaped Malara’s mouth and the smile that followed continued into her eyes. “Come now Lanthos I could no more steal them from you then I could steal someone’s dragon.” She said in a light teasing tone. His comment about sunsets had her smiling wider. “Well would you like to finish watching it with me and my small group?” Mask growled low after her offer but the blonde gave him a warning glare. “Don’t mind him, he just hates to share. He got used to Onyx quickly enough. In fact after a week he stopped trying to eat him. Don’t worry he wouldn’t dare hurt you now that he sees I like you. He is more bark than bite now.”

[hseru]

Lanthos just barely resisted batting the brown mandyr away from his neck in pure reaction as he felt a tickling sensation, still squirming just a bit as he couldn’t keep himself from reacting at all. The mandyr’s greeting was pleasant enough, if totally different compared to Pep, but that was to be expected, as each mind pet had a voice all their own.

Pep turned back to look at Hispet when he felt the squirm, frilling at Onyx’s proximity to Hispet’s throat. NoLanos. No eat. No good eat, no yum. If that brown thought to eat Hispet, Pep would have something to say about it. Even if the red leak was yum, Pep would be the only one to partake of it from that source. The blue turned back to Malara and her pettings, rather ignoring Onyx’s hiss. He leaned up into her hand, then rolled over to allow her access to his belly and easier access to his chin, a favorite rubbing spot. Pephandsome. Pep Pep, handsome Pep. He crooned in a kind of singsong in time to her scratching.

Mask chirruped happily, enjoying the new acquaintance. He got up the courage to meet new people so rarely that he barely knew anyone, so Malara was now a favorite in his mind. He would have to bring her something shiny later, so that she’d stay happy to have him around. Females liked shinies, right? He certainly did, though he didn’t have any. Maybe he’d have to find some.

Lanthos raised both brows, as if he didn’t believe her. “Oh, I don’t know about that. They seem to have fallen head over heels.” As if to punctuate his words, Pep leaned just a little too far to one side, and nearly slipped from the candidate’s hand before Lanthos could catch him. Straightening himself with as much dignity as he could muster, the blue pertly chattered at Lanthos for being so negligent, ending on a final BadLanos before resettling in his hand and looking expectantly at Malara.

Snickering at Pep, Lanthos nodded at Malara with a grin. “I’d love to stay and watch with you. Our two small groups together make one large group with enough pesky creatures to keep anyone else away.” He shifted the hand holding Pep to emphasize that he was mainly talking about his blues. The growl was not lost on him, however, and he made a shallow bow to the blue Wher. “I’m sorry to take up her time for a bit Mask. You can have her all to yourself as soon as night falls, and your indulgence is greatly appreciated.” Maybe he could placate the wher for a bit. Despite Malara’s assurance that the blue wouldn’t attack, he certainly didn’t want to test the creature’s patience or obedience.

[Rei]

For the most part Onyx ignored Pep. No eat Lant? Obviously the blue wasn’t aware just how good the red leak was. The brown mandyr looked back at Pep as he lavished in his pets affection. Was Pep trying to steal his pet!? Hissing in agitation Onyx scrambled down Lanthos and began to skitter across the ground towards Malara.

Before he could get there however, Mask snapped him up with a quick decisive movement and clamped his teeth shut against escape. It was then that the screaming started. NONONONONONONO BADUGLY. BAD MASK. NOEAT! NO ONYX YUM! MIIIIIIINEEE! The blue wher snorted through his nostrils and kept his mouth tightly shut. He gave a short growl which had the mandyr silent for a moment.

Malara was well aware of her bonded’s little spat but chose to ignore it. Mask would never harm Onyx because he knew it would upset her. Just as he would now never do more than grump at Lanthos because it was clear she was fond of him too. No, Mask would just complain verbally and sulk.

The blonde turned her attention back to Pep and continued to caress him, now concentrating on his stomach as he had so helpfully make it accessible to her. She far from ignored the flit however continuing to lightly run her fingers over the little blue’s back and neck. Lanthos’ comment had Malara batting her eyelashes at him in a mock flirtatious way. A small giggle escaped which turned into a gasp at Pep’s fall.

Lanthos was quick to the rescue however and as soon as Pep’s scolding stopped she had begun to shower the creature in caresses again. The candidate's acceptance of her invitation caused a bright smile to light up the blue handler’s face. His bow for Mask and the speech had her chuckling in amusement.

Mask tilted his head to look at Lanthos, at the same moment he spit Onyx forcefully into the grass. The near black mandyr slid across the ground with a shriek and began to wiggle against the grass to try and remove the wher slobber from his hide. Snorting at the little annoyance Mask rose and approached Lanthos growling in a pleased way at the flash of fear that came over the boy’s face.

Sniffing at the boys legs, Mask growled a low rumble and brushed against his hand before starting to walk part way up the hill. As the blue wher turned to look back, Malara grabbed Lanthos’ free hand. “Look he tolerates you now. If you keep acting like that you might be the first one to gain his good graces.” Flashing him an award winning smile she began to gently lead him up the hill.

Onyx frilled in annoyance before bringing up the rear muttering under his breath. Bad ugly, no like. Ugly wings, blind, ugly, no yum.

[hseru]

Lanthos twitched as Onyx practically flew down him in an effort to get quickly to the ground, those little claws pricking him all along the way. He stared agape when Mask snapped the mandyr up, half moving to interceded before common sense took over. Malara would have a much easier time freeing the mandyr from those vicious looking jaws than Lanthos would. He turned back almost expectantly, but was surprised to note than she didn’t seem the least bit concerned about it. Certainly, it wasn’t because she couldn’t hear him, he was making an awful racket. Maybe she knew something he didn’t?

He flicked a glance back at the wher again when the screaming stopped. For the briefest of moments, he wondered how Malara could let the wher eat her bonded! Then he shook his head as if to clear it of such thoughts. She wouldn’t do that. If nothing else, the fact that Malara hadn’t gone screaming to the ground in reaction to having her mindpet be eaten shushed any untoward thoughts about the girl.

Pep, instead of going along for the ride when Lanthos turned, hopped onto Malara’s hand and sat up to look at the handler, turning back to watch with obvious delight what was happening to the brown. He chirped a laugh, and hopped back to Lanthos when he turned back to Malara, finally foregoing the delicious pettings to climb up and sit possessively on Hispet’s shoulder. The brown could just go back to his own pet, if he made it out of the Groundwing’s mouth.

Lanthos felt a visible sense of relief when Mask finally spit Onyx out, snickering a bit at how the mandyr began to squirm around on the grass now that the threat of him becoming a snack was over. He stilled when Mask approached him, however, flinching just a bit at the proximity. He was taken completely by surprise when the wher brushed against his hand, and he was able to relish the brief feel of smooth skin, not quite unlike dragon hide for all that it was thicker.

He grinned when Malara grabbed his hand, the serious moment broken. “That’d probably be a good thing, seeing as how easily he could probably tear right through me.” He grinned over at Malara to show he was kidding, mostly. Following her tug, he paced up the hill, glancing back at Onyx and trying to not snicker again at the unfortunate mandyr. Mask fluted as he perched on Malara’s shoulder, launching off when they started to move and circling above the party like a diligent little scout.

[Rei]

Malara giggled and almost pulled Lanthos up the hill after her. When she got to the top of the grassy knoll she threw her arms wide and flopped down on the soft green carpet. Patting the stalks next to her she looked up at Lanthos. “Sit and tell me all about what dragon color you want to impress.” Mask flopped down next to the human pair and examined Lanthos thoroughly once.

For the most part the blue was content and almost positive that the boy would do his no harm. Finally with a exaggerated snort in the candidates direction he settled next to his bondeds other side and leaned against her slightly. Malara smiled and stroked his midnight hide before cooing to the flitter circling above. “It’s ok love I promise he won’t touch you. You can come and sit with us.”

Onyx had finally made his way up the hill and he scampered over to clamber up his pet. Finally he managed to get to her shoulder and he preened there for a minute, before nipping Malara gently on the neck. Mal mine. Onyx Love. Lovelovelove. The blonde reached up and stroked down the brown’s back causing a pleased chitter to emerge from his throat. Onyx wrapped his tail around hispets throat and stared teasingly at Pep. My Mal Love. Get Love Onyx. No Pep. Handsome Onyx.

Malara stared up at the colorful sky and sighed, leaning sideways so her shoulder just barely touched her male companion’s “What do sunsets make you think of?” Mask snorted but didn't bother Lanthos. His wanted to be close to the male. As long as he didn't upset her, the wher was content to just watch.

[hseru]

Laughing at the silliness of everything, Lanthos allowed Malara to tug him along like a puppy, watching first as she flopped down to the grass, and then following it when she indicated, with his own over-exaggerated flop, arms splayed out as he lay on his back for a bit next to her. Pep squealed at the move, making a leap to the grass and landing unceremoniously in a heap next to the candidate. The blue started scolding almost as soon as he landed and untangled himself, climbing back up to sit on Lanthos’ chest so he could look Hispet in the eye. Nonono BadLanos! Bad bad noLanos[/i] Lanthos chuckled again, then sat up and cupped a hand under the blue so he could start to apologize via petting. Pep obliged him only as much as it took to transfer himself to Hispet’s hand, then proceeded to pout.

Feeling better than he had in days, Lanthos turned to grin at Malara, finally getting to her question. “I dunno what color I want… maybe a blue to match these two. I’d be happy to get anything really. I hear people are left standing and don’t impress anything!” He shook his head, as if he felt that would be rather horrid. He saw Mask snort at him over Malara’s shoulder, and was glad to be on his handler’s good side. Mask the flitter circled a time or two more before gliding down to alight on Lanthos’ shoulder, the one closest to the bluehandler, chirruping sweetly at them both. He was so very happy right now, he was! He flashed about images of his happiness, combining Lanthos and Malara in many of them. He had a new friend, and things were right with the world as far as he was concerned.

Pep forgot about his pouting when he spotted Onyx, and he slithered up to take a nice spot on Hispet’s head, making Lanthos twitch as the blue’s claws pricked his scalp along the way. He sat there, on his taller perch, and flared at Onyx. He was obviously the better of the two, as was Hispet. He could get love from the nasty brown’s any time he wanted. Pephandsome. Nonobad, you. Pepgood. Lanthos rolled his eyes at the blue, who was broadcasting to anyone within hearing distance.

He was pleasantly surprised when Malara leaned very lightly against his shoulder, and he returned the companionable gesture with a slight increase in the pressure. What a lovely evening it was turning out to be. His grin had melted into something more calm, a small, easy smile. “Well… I used to take some of our runners out for a last ride while the sun was setting. Get them some exercise while it was still safe to do so. I remember that we’d let the whole herd out into the large pen… it’s about half as big as the feeding area for the dragons.” He paused at the undeniable reminder that he might be feeding runners to a dragon one day, wincing slightly. Well, he’d either get over it, or quit this business of being a candidate. He went on after a moment. “All of the runners would gallop out of the gate, and it was like thunder through the ground, with the setting sun turning all their clean coats into something alive with fire and light.” He smiled at the memory, suddenly missing the easier days with a quiet ache. This was his home now, but not his only one.

[Rei]

Malara giggled at Pep’s comments. “Bad Lanthos indeed.” She teased her eyes looking him up and down once. He was quite handsome to look at. Pushing those thoughts out of her mind, for the moment, she leaned back into his touch. Mask growled low from his position, but a stern unspoken command quieted him. His liked the little worm boy? Surely she could find a better male.

“Blue huh? That would be cute. Three little blue boys. I admit at the mandyr hatching I was hoping for blue. Pep is so cute. But I do love Onyx. Even if he is a little vampire.” Malara fell silent for a moment before speaking up again. “I’m sure you’ll impress Lanthos. To tell you the truth I might be a bit sad. Not that you have a new life mate but that you’ll be around only during the day and I’ll continue on at night. I’ll miss talking to you.” Mask the flitter was a welcome distraction from that unpleasant thought. Lanthos was her only human friend and she would miss him greatly. How she had befriended someone she didn’t know and she was positive she would not be so lucky again.

Onyx filled the ensuing silence with banter back at the Pep. Pep Ugly. Pep. Bad. Onyx. Love. Onyx. Handsome. He punctuated the silence with a hiss. Fat little blue this was his pet. He better remember that. Flashing his protruding fangs he snuggled against Malara’s neck intending to ignore the other mandyr.

As Lanthos spoke Malara closed her eyes to try and recreate the scene he was so eloquently portraying. “It sounds so majestic and beautiful. Like a painting. I wish I could have seen something even close to how lovely that sounds. Sunsets remind me of the ocean. I used to sit on the docks at Light tower hold. I would sit and watch the sunset just so I could get out of the house. They used to be my escape into something beautiful and calm. I’m afraid it’s not as lovely as your memory.” She spoke softly but still audible enough that she couldn’t be ignored.

Mask rumbled and flicked his tongue against his bonded’s shoulder and the blonde returned the gesture in a loving caress to his large head. “Still perhaps I can make new memories to think of. In fact this would be a good one.” Mask rumbled in agreement and raised his head towards the glowing haze his was fond of watching.

[hseru]

He frowned a bit at the thought that he might lose a good friend when he impressed, if he impressed. That was a very troublesome thought. Surely dragons slept? He felt a sullen knot of certainty settle into his chest. He’d find a way to make it all work. It couldn’t be that difficult to negotiate a few hours before or after waking. Turning away from the blazing sunset for a moment, he found Malara’s face and spoke. “I wouldn’t let that happen. You can come out a few hours before dark, and I can surely stay up a few hours after sunset.” He let his arm sweep across the view they were enjoying. “Much like this… though I suppose that during the very beginning, if I impress, I’ll need to stay close to the hatchling…” He frowned a bit, turning back to the sunset. “It could work..” He muttered, mostly to himself.

Pep snorted at the brown’s insinuations, settling into a nice lounge on Lanthos’ head, frilling one more time for his benefit. Stupidyou. PepHandsome, noyou. he muttered, feeling that it was just too much of an energy waste to really have at Onyx. The nasty brown would just have to come up if he wanted to prove anything.

Mask fluted low, enjoying the peacefulness he felt from both, though there seemed to be a sense of sadness from both of his friends as well. Why were they sad? It was such a lovely evening, with the bigbright falling and everything. He snuggled into Hispet's cheek, warbling lightly in encouragement.

Lanthos relaxed again as Malara began speaking of her own memories, and he smiled at the idea and images her words invoked. Maybe he’d go to the ocean one of these days. Oh, idea! He grinned over at her, eyes alight with inspiration. “This will be a great memory.” He agreed. “I’ve never seen the ocean at sunset. I’ve only really been there a time or two... you know, breeding runners doesn’t really lead to water visits.” He leaned forward a bit, closer to her in excitement, though he kept his voice low in an unconscious imitation of hers, a sense of calm pervading the words. “I’m sure it’s just as wonderful… and I’d love to see it. Do you… do you think we could go... see it sometime? Maybe make an evening of it?” The problems arising with such a proposal flashed abruptly through his mind. He’d have to get special permission, she might not want to, he’d have to find some way to get there, not to mention his evening chores, and, and ,and. His face fell a bit and he turned it away from her so she wouldn’t see his immediate regret at not being able to keep such an arrangement. Maybe it would be best if she said no. Yeah.

[Rei]

Lanthos’ solution to the problem excited Malara beyond words. Smart man. “Your right Lanthos! It will work. Mask can stand indirect light, although I try not to subject him to it. Sunset and sunrise would be perfect actually! It will work. Once your dragon gets older of course. But even if it is young I can still come to visit. I don’t mind you doting on him. Really I don’t. I understand how it is. Mask was a baby once too.” The excitement in her tone was hard to miss and her smile was bright and happy.

Onyx frilled once half heartedly at Pep and then scrambled off his bonded. A movement in the grass had caught his eye. It was a young tunnel snake and it was about to meet it’s doom. Keeping low to the ground Onyx skittered in that direction pausing every few moments to “taste” the air and visually hone in on it. He would fill himself with the red leak. Oh yes. Warm, coppery, wonderful liquid it was. So thick so aromatic. Hopping the last few steps there was a hiss and a shriek and then silence.

Mask flared his nostrils and caught the scent of blood. Growling low he twitched and then rolled to his feet. Barking softly at Malara he waited. Soon his handler waved him on. “Go on love. I don’t mind if you hunt.” The blue growled once more at Lanthos and slunk into the underbrush. He would find a meal but he would be back. That boy better not upset his handler perfect while he was away or he would pay. In flesh and blood.

Lanthos’ proposal had Malara’s eyes lighting up. An evening of it? Was he? Was he asking her out! “Oh Lanthos….I’d love to go!” With those words she rolled over and pinned the boy down with her arms. “I would love to watch a beach sunset with you.” She murmured softly before lowering her head and pressing her lips against his hungrily. The kiss was gentle yet demanding and the blonde traced his lips with her tongue before pulling away a mischievous glint in her eyes. How was that for subtle? Lanthos was so cute, she almost felt bad for trying to corrupt his innocence. Almost.