An unexpectant surprise of longing [Invite Only]

[[cass]]

Amira looked at Starlight in shock, she had no expected to gain so much of his energy. But she loved it; she loved the feeling of her newfound energy coursing through her veins. The feel of it as it fuelled her and pushed away that aching pain that had threatened to overwhelm her and lull her in to exhaustion. She looked around a new light of eagerness within the depths of her fiery purple gaze. They flickered left and right as the awareness she had held of her surroundings grew. It had been separated and shattered, tattered bits of information had only been gleamed from the few seconds when she had allowed herself to think. In those few minutes she had held back her own mind away from Caspia’s to check for danger. It was habit to make sure she was safe, to make sure Caspia was safe and that no harm was near. She had failed in that. She blamed herself wholly for Caspia’s state. She would never let on to anyone, but she knew that burden would hold her to her own death. If she had of been more conscious and more aware she might have prevented it and Caspia and Amira could be where they belonged, amongst the craggy peaks of the Boer Mountains where no one could touch them. Amira dreamed of being the first dragon to reach those heights, to actually touch the tip of the mountains and Caspia had shared those dreams. She shook her head ridding her mind of those thoughts, she would think of them later, once more musing over what they would do with their lives when Caspia was awake and better.

Satisfied with the world around her she shifted her eyes to the more depressing state of the land beneath her feet. The ground around her was all dead and she knew that soon she and Caspia would return and they would heal this world around them. She had felt Caspia’s regret and pain and sapping the plants of their lives. It had been a very hard thing for her to do. She loved the plants, she loved nature and even though Amira was not a vegetarian she loved the greens, the plants and the life around her. Those plants, although not human held life. To kill a plant and drain it off its life was like killing an innocent child, defenceless and unable to do a thing to stop it. It often confused Caspia to a great extent, on why people were so careless with plants; just because they could not speak their pain outwardly did not mean they could not feel it when you hurt them. It was why Caspia would sing to a plant, or hum to it as she gently took the food she needed from them to live. Those little parts of Caspia sometimes confused Amira and sometimes she would pointedly ignore her ramblings, throwing images of the animals she had killed across to Caspia, reminding her of who and what she was. The abashed elf would always apologise and then they would laugh. She shook herself, harder than before; she stretched her wings, forcing her mind away from such depressing matters.

Once more she found herself staring at the horrid sight before her. It was an awful sight, staring at the destroyed, dead ring around her. She shook those feelings off, for the first time in days she actually felt alive. She wanted to leap into the sky and just fly and fly, she wanted to spin and twirl, dancing playfully amongst the clouds and birds. The sky was her home and she could not wait to be there once more. She was the suns daughter, the beauty of its light shone through her. Amira knew that she was the most beautiful dragon in the whole land. There was no other that could match her elegance, small frame and magnificent structure. She danced circles around any dragon that even thought they were better looking, she knew she did. It was why she always held her head high, her body tall. Just as Starlight always tried to look regal she did too. Whenever she slipped her gaze over to him she wanted to just strut up to him and show him how it was done properly, but she always held herself back, for fear that he would mock her. And she knew if that happened she would bite back and there would be an argument, both of them were too proud and neither would bend to the other.

Starlight turned away and she watched his muscles bunch, without another word she leapt up, her light small body making less sound then his large, heavy one. She circled around, her eyes flickering, delightedly all around her. With the giddiness of a young child she sped off, twirling and spinning, following the larger, white dragon. As the Dwarven place came closer she felt a knot of unease began to unravel itself in her chest. Instinct told her she should not be here, instinct and years of running warned her to go back. Caspia and Amira were so unused to such big places, filled with many people, she knew Caspia was more at ease amongst crowd, but Amira had lived her short life with no more than four people at a time for company. She knew little of people, dwarves, humans and elves, everything, and most of what she had gleamed come from Caspia’s own knowledge and in truth both of them were lacking. Their seclusion had elft them raw and often behind, but they kept up and they knew how it all worked. Amira just wished Caspia would be up soon, uncomfortable with her new surroundings she began a slow decent to land beside Starlight.

The ground meet her, and she landed slightly jerky, her nerves putting her off. She bit them all back, hoping no one would be able to see just how nervous the young dragon was. She hated appearing weak and she would never admit to anyone, excluding Caspia, that she was not happy. Most dragons grew up with that kind of connection to large groups of people. She had grown up with only Caspia and no one else; she was not accustomed to seeing so many people. Unnerved she padded over to Starlight, eyes flickering always, testing the area for danger, any sign and she would leave. Amira felt a strong need to remove Caspia from Nepherion, she wanted to protect her rider, her partner, but she held back. Instead she focused her fiery gaze on to the two humans. The younger one, the female was staring openly at her. She snorted, surprised at the look of awe on the child’s face.

Caspia was swimming; she was wavering between consciousness and unconsciousness. Slowly as if to not disturb herself she gently reached her own mind out to Amira’s. Amira responded instantly, engulfing her in a million emotions and images of love, concern and worry. If she could she would have smiled, an affectionate twist of her lips that would have ended with a fond rub and hug. Instead she filled her own mind with the images and sent them to Amira. Amira’s eyes flickered to Caspia, shifting from the human child to her partner. I just need to rest now, Amira. Then I’ll be back to normal. The elf managed to draw her eyes open, her blue eyes unable to focus on anything. The world seemed to swim in front of her and she shut them, cutting of the spinning world. ”Thank you, Neph.” She mumbled the words slurred and heavy on her lips. Oblivious to the human onlookers she once more sank into the comfort of unconsciousness.

[Nepherion]

Nepherion clutched Caspia protectively, his arm almost instinctively bringing her closer to his chest when the two approached him. He looked at them slightly shocked. He had almost forgotten that he had left the two there. Among all the chaotic images and the need to save Caspia it was almost like a dream that they had ever been there. A small smile curved his lips as the warrior known as William and his apprentice: Isrydia approached him with smiles themselves. It was good to know that people still had a jovial spirits, even amongst all of the war. Nepherion followed Isrydia's gaze as her question slipped from her lips and her smile flashed to worry. His gaze softened up as he looked down at the weakly elf. " She'll be fine.. " he told Isrydia reassuringly.

Starlight's large crimson orbs looked over the new two-legged-walkers. They were instinctively weak to him and as usual he felt an almost immediate superiority over them. His uninterested gaze glanced pass them as he knelt down to let Nepherion and Caspia off of him. " Try and feast soon. I can feel the drain that is weighing on your body. " he reminded Nepherion as the boy carefully climbed down with Caspia in his arms. His head was easily over half size of his rider's body and let's not mention the strong muscles that framed his tensed and beautiful body. If not for the immense size of the roost they were in, he was sure that he could just as easily step on them as a human could an ant. He was comparable to the size of Thorn - The Blood Red Dragon , only a bit slimmer in muscles mass.

With the grace from the transformation, Nepherion had easily landed on the floor with Caspia still in his arms. His body still maintaining its dim but unnatural golden glow. He was sure he'd have to answer some questions about that later. Nepherion gestured his head towards the stair case, ready to lead them down when Caspia's voice reached out to him. Her voice, though heavy with weakness had brought a very warm feeling to his heart, brightening his skin a bit. " You don't have to thank me Caspia. " he said, looking down to her heavy lids. " What are friends for afterall ? " he asked, smiling at her tenderly.

After that Nepherion adapted a casual tone to his voice and looked towards William and Isrydia. " Oh, I'm sorry about leaving you guys earlier, " He started to walked towards the stairs. " As you can see it was quite important. " he told them, thinking that they would follow as he made his way down the spiraling stairs.

Starlight eyed the small group as they descended down stairs, a bit of worry drifting from his mind to Nepherion. He knew that in his weakened state that he could probably be outmatched by those two, though he doubted that they could take Bid'Daum's strength. " I hope those two rest well. " he said, expressing concern that he often hid from his rider, lest he soften the young lad up. The pale scaled dragon turned to Amira, wondering how she was fairing. " Are you feeling any better... Amira ? "

[Nandon]

William turned to his apprentice as he heard her ask if things where ok, This made William curious, because he didn’t see anyone else and Nepherion was clearly ok. Then he followed her gaze and noticed the elf clutched to Nepherions chest, He saw his lips move as he spoke quietly to her, not hearing most of it he noticed his behavior then managed to just hear the last part ‘friends are for after all’ and William barely held in a snort. Thoughts rushing through his head he followed behind Nepherion, reaching the stairs he muttered to himself “If they are just friends…Then my mother was a elf…”

Then slowly he followed down the stairs, Noting they seemed much harder to walk down calmly then rush up madly, And at this he muttered another curse, then sighed as they reached the bottom, he looked at Nepherion and then at the elf, noting her paleness and her weakness, William didn’t know much about elves. But he knew it would take a lot to break a elf down to that. And at this William looked to the only cure he knew, Food.

“I think its about time we ate…I’m hungry, Isyrdia, I’m sure your hungry, And if your not then you will eat regardless…You need some meat on your bones…” William said letting a grin overtake his face as he tried to lighten the mood in the room. “And you Rider Nepherion must be hungry after such a long journey…And I’m sure your elf ‘friend’ could use a good meal also…”William said still grinning as he finished placing a stress on the word friend, wanting to see if he could get any form of facial expression that would confirm what he assumed was happening.

[Quetzal]

The more tired purple dragon seemed surprised at Isrydia's look of awe. This was unexpected; she assumed the dragon must have seen loads of people looking at her with such an expression. Isrydia looked back at the dragon, knowing she couldn't possibly seem threatening to her, as her gaze flickered between her and the elf. The elf must be her Rider then, and it made sense for the tired dragon to belong to the tired Rider. Whatever they had been through, it must have been huge. Elves were known for being tough and resilient, while dragons were... Well, dragons. Not much would try getting in their way. Had Nepherion saved them from something or simply found them weakened and calling for help? It was blatant that he cared a lot for the elf.

Reluctant to leave the dragons, Isrydia followed the others down the stairs. Her feet kept slipping over the edge of the worn stone. She really did not like those steps. Surely they did not have to be quite so steep, especially since they were built by dwarves, who weren't exactly known for their graceful long legs. She heard William's muttering on the stairs, too. She agreed with him. There was something more than friendship there. She was glad William had mentioned it, as she had assumed the two were a couple and would have acted as such if he hadn't said that.

At the mention of food, Isrydia became fully alert. Nepherion had been gone a long time, and she hadn't eaten during any of it. She was hungry. Nepherion looked drained, and the elf was obviously in need of some energy. Something nice and warm to warm their insides would do the not-really-but-probably-a-couple a world of good. "Food sounds like a good idea. Something to warm you two up can't hurt! I hear the dwarves are big fans of food and have excellent meats... Although I'm sure they have plenty of other stuff if that's not your thing," she added, eyes flicking to Caspia. Elves were great lovers of nature, so she guessed there was a fair chance this one was a vegetarian. She herself would have loved some stew or soup right now, but it was up to the Riders, really. She was also deeply curious about what could possibly have done that to an elf, but was afraid to ask.

[/blockquote]

[[cass]]

Caspia forced herself to move. Her body wavered for a moment on the edge of unconsciousness, but with a great force of will she demanded it to stay. If she was to go through a dwarven clan, no matter how ill she would walk. Gently prying herself away from Nepherion, she touched her feet to the ground. She shut her eyes tight, a wave of dizziness spilling across her. Her hands clutched, with elven strength on to Nepherion’s arm, as she steadied her body. She could feel Amira’s alarm at her movements and she allowed herself a brief fleeting smile, before she returned her concentration to making sure she did not slip unconscious. It would be rather embarrassing, falling in front of the dawarves and humans. She was an elf, even though she did not live with them, she was still, tall and beautiful and she still had that effect that many elves had. The few times she had found herself in human company she had found it unbearable, none of the men had been able to hold themselves together. But that had been a time of many years ago, before she had Amira and before she had been banished from her home. She could sense Amira’s discomfort and it did nothing to ease her own. She despised being around others, although she had done this a lot more then Amira, she still hated it. She knew that the smart ones would be able to deduce that it was odd and elf was travelling by herself, and then the questions would follow, questions she could and would never answer.

Caspia, do you really think it is smart for you to walk? You almost died, you need to rest. The worry in the purple dragons voice was easily detected, she was not trying to hide her emotions. It leaked through the bond and Caspia wiped it away with a careless sweep. I’ll be fine. I will not wander through a dwarven village being carried. I might not be much, but I still am an elf. She retorted. She could feel Amira’s disapproval. Hah. You are lying; this is about your pride.Amira snorted. Caspia smiled, both of them had very strong prides and part of the reason why she would not be carried was because of that. She had already shown too much weakness and she would be foolish to be herself. She did not stray far from Nepherion, knowing that if she was going to collapse she could grab him before she fell. Finally she turned her blue eyes away from him to look at the company around them. Her eyes slide over the tall male warrior. She gave him a hard look, ”human, if you have an opinion speak it freely. You may not be able to hear others of your kind mutter under their breaths, but I can.” Her words softened, knowing she may have offended him, she added, ”be careful what you say, dangerous times and free words can lead you into a trap.” She let her gaze liner on him for a few more seconds.

Her eyes hesitated on the young girl beside him. A faint smile playing on her lips. It had been over a year since she had last seen another human, besides Nepherion and the girl before her had curious, bright intelligent eyes. From a simple glance Caspia could tell she was going to get far. ”You are curious, Isyrdia. I can sense it.” She stated. She had easily picked up the girls name, even in unconsciousness her body and mind had been trained to pick up everything in the world around her. ”You can ask questions, just be prepared, for the answers may not satisfy you.” She felt odd. She felt completely out of her depth amongst the people around her. She knew little of communicating with anyone besides Amira and even though she had once lived amongst the elves, it had been a very, very long time since she had last spoken to a small group of people and time had not given her the ability to remember how it was done, when once it had been so simple. Caspia shook her head, clearing the useless thoughts away. ”Food would be good.” She replied.

Amira turned to face Starlight, beating back her frustration at Caspia. She hated this. She hated being with the dwarves. They seemed careless, and she had never been so far away from Caspia since the Murtagh. With that thought she fought down the urge to go and chase after Caspia, weary of anyone and everything. " Are you feeling any better... Amira ? " She turned her deep purple eyes on to him. I –I am fine. She was puzzled at her own uncertainty in that statement. She wasn’t fine, she wasn’t alright, but she was so use to saying nothing and talking to no one, but Caspia it was all she could say. Amira felt lost. She felt slightly hurt at Caspia’s attitude, had Caspia not realised how hard this was for Amira? Surely she had. But she was confused, and… and she was scared. She had never been amongst so many people, she knew little of what was happening and the few things she could gleam from Caspia was not enough to ease her beating heart. She was only one, and she had been raised completely different from any other dragon. Starlight was at ease and comfortable amongst this world. She was not. Her world was one of solitude and nothing more. She had been raised to live and survive alone, without others and so being around others was not something she could handle.

It was the downside to being partnered with Caspia. She had been removed from her world and because of that so had Amira. Except... Amira had never even had the opportunity to experience the world, with people. She felt alone. She felt lost.

[Nepherion]

Nepherion reached the bottom stair with ease and as Caspia attempted to break free of his grasp, he lowered his arm to help her. Then a pain lanced through his forearm, shooting up his shoulder and instinctively had him snatch her grasp from his arm. " Aw, Caspia. " he gasped softly, trying to uphold his composure as a Rider. He stood close to Caspia regardless if she would fall or not. Since the flash of images something inside of him was urging him to stay closer to her and the feelings in the air from her... was, was something that he wasn't exactly sure of. It was verging on the edge of a deep care but something was blocking it from falling over.

Of course he had heard them speaking or muttering behind him but he had though it best to not respond; considering the fact the topic they were speaking on was a bit uncomfortable for him. Caspia, was several years older than him and he was still but seventeen seasons old. He looked up at the stone ceiling with a clueless expression on his face, avoiding the entire conversation all together.

He moved on to the small room which was fitted to be the dinning quarters he assumed. " Well none the less, I can take some food. " he told William, feeling oddly familiar with the Knight. He took a seat in one of the chairs, his legs spread wide and his arms laying between them. " Today has been a long day. " he decided, a bit of exhaustion on his breathe. He raised his index finger up slightly at Isyrdia's words of different food if meat was not your thing. His head was still down to the stone floor between his legs. " I for one have not adopted the custom of not eating meat. " he announced.

Starlight looked at Amira, her lengthy body was betraying her answer to him. Unlike her, he had been brought up in a world where interactions with humans were the norm. He, as usual, had displayed a inept superiority to them and he could partially understand her caution around them. Humans were a fickle bunch of mammals and it often made him wonder what it would be like to have an elf as a rider. He padded over to the edge of the roost and laid down, his long white neck looking out at the darkish-gray day. " You must be feeling off... As if something is not right. I've never seen your body react in such a way. It fidgets with doubt. " he told her while keeping his crimson eyes straight.

[[cass]]

Amira nodded her large head, her deep purple eyes flashing within the dull lighting. They flickered to the walls of the massive building around her, to the floor and to the elegant jewels. She couldn’t help, but admire the place around her and her curious nature beckoned for her to go search and discover this new world, but she was unable to move herself. To walk and look at this most beautiful place she found herself in. This world was different to any she had seen. She knew the Boer Mountains from head to toe, but she knew nothing of this part of the Boer Mountains, neither Caspia she had ever been in these walls before and in all honesty Amira had never strayed much further than the Boer Mountains, most times she did not mind, she knew the lands better then nay other rider and dragon, but she wanted to know what other places looked like. She had long since understood she would never see the elven cities, and the few times she had grazed the empires lands had not been enough to satisfy her. Her thoughts darkened for a moment, the hazy numbness floating across her mind as always when she remember those terrible few days drugged and bound in Dras-Leona. That had been a horrid time, ever few hours when the effect of the drugs had begun to wear off and a few coherent thoughts could enter her she had been forced to take the rugs once more. She still could barely re-tell how they had escaped, but they had and now it was a dark shadow upon her mind, some part of her teasing her to go back and beat them.

Sighing she gently stepped closer to Starlight, he was much bigger than her, and strangely she felt safe around him, safe enough that the knot of unease within her loosened. Carefully she lowered herself down beside him, her flank grazing against his. It was warm where she touched him and she felt that warmth make the knot her chest loosens even more. It was relaxing. Starlight, have you ever felt completely isolated? She stares straight ahead, her eyes not focusing on the world around, but rather staring into the distance. Without waiting for him to respond she continues. I’ve never been among so many people; the most I have been around is six people. I have had little opportunity to spend time with people. And having them so near and not knowing what and who they are, is discomforting. She bit down the flash of regret that spiked up within her. She always felt that way when she let on to anyone a point of weakness of vulnerability. It was habit to feel that way, but she knew she had no need to in front of Starlight. He was her only friend apart from Caspia. That thought alone caused a small pang of misery to hit her. But she let out a small bitter snort instead. I just realised something, I actually don’t know anyone apart from you, Nepherion and Caspia. She attempted to twist the word into something more playful, but they were hollow.

Caspia followed Nepherion and the humans as they continued down, she felt herself stumble slightly, but caught her footing before anyone could notice. After a few moments the world began to spin once more, but she closed her eyes, her feet walking as sure footedly as if they were open. She let her sense guide her, as the dizziness passed away. She could feel Amira’s growing unease loosen and that set he own mind at ease. She was greatly worried about the dragon and how she was going to cope. But she forced back those thoughts in light of what she was looking at. She would endeavour to remember as much of the Dwarven home as she could. Just in case she ever needed to know the place inside out. Caspia held back a scowl at Nepherion’s announcement that he still ate meat. ”Neph, have you ever been to Ellesmera?” She felt her own heart tighten at the mention of the elven city, but she was generally curious to know if Nepherion had ever been there. She looked away from them all her eyes focusing in the distance, a million different memories crossing her mind, each making her ache more with longing and pain. Each year made her want to go home more than ever. ”It’s-“ She bit back her next words. His indifference to eating meet lead her to believe that he had never visited any of the elven cities. “I’ll have some fruit.” She finished weakly.

[Nandon]

William had just reached the bottom of the stairs when he saw the elf turn to look at him, He normally prided himself on being able to look anyone in the eye at any time, But this, this cold hard stare filled with what seemed to be anger unnerved William, And he could do nothing about it, if push came to shove the elf could handle him more easier than he himself could handle a baby, He looked down for a split second then his mind kicked the rest of his body and he snapped his attention back up, back to those cold blue eyes, looking into them he saw the pain that could only come from a long time alone, With no one to help you but a select few, This elf he could tell had no home, nowhere to go, She was a wanderer, A nomad, Someone that would never stay in one location for long, She had nowhere to return to, And in this aspect William could sympathize with, he did not know why the elf was homeless, But now he was curious to find out. But now was not a time for such things. Feeling a silence had stretched to long William forced his mouth to speak.

"I apologize miss, I merely expressed my thoughts that if you two are truly only friends that my mother was a elf, Which she clearly wasn’t since I am not a half-ling.” William said stammering, trying to come up with some form of sentence that would tell the truth but I a apologetic way “I mean…Well…I did say that I suppose…but I, Erm…I apologize I suppose…” William said looking back at his plated boots for a moment, when he looked back up he saw the eyes, Those cold pale blue eyes where off him and he sighed inwardly, Before he noticed the others agreeing with his idea that they should eat, he knew enough about elven culture to know they didn’t eat meat, And this elf would hopefully not be much different.

So following Nepherion and the others William was led to a nice dining area, Where Nepherion then proceeded to plop down into, His legs spread apart with his hands occupying the space his legs left vacant. William had actually thought they could all go to the nearest kitchen and have a nice meal there, But those thoughts where instantly dispelled as he noticed the others sitting down, And in hindsight he realized that would be good, he didn’t like the effect this elf had on him, Reducing him to stammering for words that hastily tried to cover up something he had said, This was not him, And if he had gone out into public like that his reputation would be ruined. He would forever be called a hopeless human who drooled over the first pretty gender thrust into his face, Despite how that would obviously be untrue, Shrugging to himself he left the dining room and walked to the door, pulling a string he had noticed earlier that rang a bell, Hopefully it called for some form of service.

When a dwarf answered the call William spoke first, trying to hide the flustered air he still possessed.“ The rider Nepherion would like a meal in his chambers Tonight, he requests a nice pot of vegetable stew…If you would be so inclined to deliver that request to the kitchen and then deliver it back here when it is prepared I would be most appreciative.” William said reaching for his coin purse and producing a single gold coin, he then handed it over to the dwarf he then proceeded to take off at a jog down the cavern.

William then stepped back into the dining room, Forcing a smile on his face he looked over at the elf, And shoke his head mentally before taking a seat near Isrydia. He spoke once again “I have asked that a vegetable stew be brought here…I take it that is to everyone’s liking?”

[Quetzal]

Isrydia was surprised to see Caspia try to stand, and even more surprised to see her succeed. Anyone else looking that weak would have been drifting in and out of consciousness. She had expected Caspia to be able to sit and eat with them, but not to be able to get up and move around herself. Elves must recover quickly as well as be resilient to many sorts of damage. In fact, it seemed unusual for one to be harmed, but she supposed there must be some weaknesses to them and so some ways to get at them, not that she'd ever want to see what those were. One of them may have been the cause of Caspia's weakness. In the time Nepherion had spent away, he must have done something to help her, since she was already recovering and able to talk to her and William. She smiled when Caspia spoke to her, pleased somehow that she may have taking a liking to her.

Isrydia followed the others through to a dining area, feeling strange in the company of such powerful people as the two Riders. Sure, she'd met important high-ranking soldiers with William before, but never anyone who seemed straight out a legend like the dragon Riders did. She looked up as Caspia mentioned Ellesmera, wondering whether Nepherion had indeed been there and whether she was about to hear a first-hand account of the great elven city that had always intrigued her. Then Caspia fell silent, looking... upset? Why would an elf be upset about the mention of Ellesmera? She would have asked, but such a personal question was not something she wanted to ask so soon after their meeting, and Caspia had told her that any answers to her questions may not satisfy her.

A dwarf arrived, William paying and requesting a stew. Isrydia would have preferred something with more meat, finding meat had more flavour and vegetables could be watery in a stew, but did not complain, knowing it was more important that Caspia ate and that she was probably vegetarian, being an elf. "Sounds fine to me. Anything warm's good, really," there was truth there; she was feeling quite cold in the dwarves' stone rooms, beautiful as they were. She realized that the stew may well taste very different to any vegetable stew she had eaten in the past, having never eaten vegetables found in the Beor mountains and cooked by dwarves. The vegetables may be similar to the ones she had eaten by the Spine, but the mountains were bigger here so plants would have adapted differently. "What kind of vegetables do they have around here, anyway?" she wondered aloud, being unfamiliar with the life around this area.

[/blockquote]

[Nepherion]

Starlight's crimson gaze lingered on the slowly floating clouds in front of him. This was only a portion of the Beor Mountain's towering height. Among the clouds were flocks of large bird-like creatures, creatures that honestly were looking delicious to him at that point. Their larger-than-average wings hid meat that he could sense and a taste that appealed to him expectantly. His large body laid lazily on the smooth stone roost, his front paws crossed and hanging over the edge as he appeared to be studying the soon to be departed day.

He honestly had not known what was going on with Amira, though he could easily of had made a few guesses. Her and her Rider: Caspia, had just gotten through a inhumanly difficult ordeal and that was still probably weighing over her heavily. Not to mention that the woman was depending on Nepherion more than her, so that could also be a lance in her heart-of-hearts. Starlight let a sooty line of smoke drift from his nostrils as white-hot flames was lit in his lungs. It was then that the feeling of her scales touching his own had registered with him. Starlight felt a warm sensation crawl up his side and decided that he wouldn't shy away from this contact. It was eloquent and tender, and made him feel a bit uneasy about how he felt about her.

Starlight kept his gaze straight, just as Amira had while she was talking. His regal, youthful voice spoke out with a reassuring calm and understanding tone. " I honestly believe that all you'll ever need is Caspia. " he told her candidly. He wanted that to especially sink into her because he knew that without a doubt that a Rider and Dragon could live off of their company alone and that mates were only complimentary. He curled his neck over so that his crimson gaze would meet with her purple ones, a deep sense of understanding rested in his pool of red. " Me and Nepherion are also your friends Amira , so you should never feel discomfort when around us. And over time you will surely make more. Human, dwarves, and elves alike. Never doubt that. " he told her. His large white lids blinked over his red slants and his tail swished behind him, making a small gust in the back of the roost before he turned his slants back to the still fading light of the sun.

Nepherion looked up as Caspia's distinctive steps filed behind him. Her voice called him out of his small feeling of exhaustion and brought his head up from the ground to look at her weakly expression. The strength in her eyes had returned but all together she looked malnourished and he was honestly disheartened by her appearance. He lifted his straight-lined lips into a kind smile and propped his elbow on the stone table to cuff his chin. " I honestly haven't... Though I've been told that I should go. I've been to the forest though, but was never lucky enough to find one of the elven cities. " he told her inspirited or not saddened. In the middle of his talk Nepherion noticed Caspia's distracted gaze and because of his transformation he could feel the air fluctuate with her emotion. He sighed deeply at the new form of magic that was coursing through him. It was so often an advantage against enemies but when someone so dear to his heart was upset , it had become more of an invasion of privacy. He attempted to handle this the only way he knew how and that was by being himself. Nepherion kept his gaze on her before speaking with a small smile. " Y'know, if you ever want to talk to me about something you should never hold back... More than anyone else I want to understand you. " he told her straightforward, a bit out of the ordinary for himself but he would blame the exhaustion on that.

A moment later and the warrior William had order up some food or more specifically vegetable soup. Nepherion smiled half-heartily at William when he announced what they'd be eating. It wasn't that he didn't want it, it was just that he would had preferred actually eating meat over the taste of vegetables. Nepherion leaned back in his chair, his pale skin and angular features almost divine in beauty. The emerald color of his eyes were dull but kind as he looked towards Caspia, after that little incident he found it hard to not look after her. He couldn't shake the urge to watch over and protect her for some reason. Then he looked to Isrydia, her question was one that he had asked when he first arrived there as well. A soft chuckle escaped him before he looked over towards her. He guessed that she would find out soon anyway, so why ruin the surprise.

The two warriors were given a wonderful gift that not many had gotten to see. The renowned Nepherion Coldfire acting casual. Again he would blame it on the recent wave of exhaustion that had swept over on him. He just didn't feel like upholding the facade that most Riders had.

[[cass]]

Her life seemed to revolve around misery. Always thoughts of her home seemed to make her heart constrict and her feelings turn sour. She hated feeling so moppy and sad, but any thoughts what so ever of Ellsemera and the beautiful forests filled with magic, love and laughter sent aching pangs of sadness and longing through her. She hoped, she hoped so much that before she died she would once more get to set her feet upon the soil she was born in. She wanted to feel the trees of her home beneath her fingers and more than anything she wanted to how Amira her birthplace, the home she had spent so little of her life in. She could remember spending days at time, huddled against the neck of the fierce white horses the elves loved so much as she travelled every inch of her world. Ellsemera had been her home and her heart and when all that is lost you have little to live for anymore. Caspia, to her great regret she had thought of many things to do to spite and hurt the elves and she had almost gone through with a number of them, wanting that revenge, wanting them to hurt as she had. She was sure n elf had hurt as much as she did a deep aching that seemed to encompass her whole being. Only faintly had it faded with Amira. Then in the half a year of being under the bright, cheerful dragons care she had felt whole once more. Nepherion had helped feel that aching as well. She could talk to him as she had never talked to another living soul before. She could not remember feeling the same about another person since being among the elves. She liked him so much, without him she would surely be dead right now.

Caspia turned her blue eyes towards him now; she took in everything, from the casual way he sat, to the concern that seemed to cause his skin to brighten that touch more as his eyes turned to hers. She loved the way his feelings were so obvious towards her, it made some deep part of her own heart stir. Sometimes she had wanted to just hug him and hols him, to feel his warmth in the way Amira could never make her feel. But then she also wanted to protect him, to be his guardian and stop others from hurting him. She was strong and capable and she knew he was too, and so she knew that she would never interfere with what he did, she would never stop him from doing something. If it was evil she would talk to him ad advise him otherwise, but she was not so selfish and in self-indulgent that she would ever try to change someone. But she knew that it would take a long time for her to ever open up to him. Caspia was not a girl that broke down a barrier of solitude and independence at a first need. She was made to be alone, she had been living that way for such a long time that no one could just push their way in and demand answers. Nepherion had never done that and that was the first thing that made her like him, that made her not shove him away and close him off when they had first meet.

She was sure that one day she would tell him all. Some part of her did not want to disappoint him, did not want him to know that she was an outcast and that in reality the elf that they all called her was in fact nothing. She would hate it more because no one actually knew; none of them actually knew that it was all lies that she was innocent. It was why she stayed away from nay elf she could. If they saw her they would know who she was on sight, everyone within the history of elves would know, she was a criminal to them. The only elf in history to be banished and sent away. There would be stories and elves that did not know her would believe what they had been told and so not even the ancient language would protect her. It was why she stayed away from them all. She could and would never survive knowing that people hated her in that way and would look at her with such a burning hatred that a race known for peace would want to kill, would want to feel her blood beneath their hands. No, it would always be better to be alone and pretend you are on one.

As Nepherion spoke Caspia listened, is looking into his. He leaned forwards towards her and she became acutely aware of his silver hair and the way it complimented his eyes. And the way he smelled, because beneath the dirt and sweet there was something refreshing and real about it. Quickly she wiped her face clean of any emotions, averting her gaze she looked down at the floor in front of her. In her chest her heart raced and she cursed herself silently. She hated how easily her emotions had become fixated on something as silly as that. She had become too accustomed to emotions and letting them hinder her. However, she found herself nodding as Nepherion spoke, knowing she would regret it later she stopped. ”There is so much sadness and madness in the world and a war raging on, there is little time to dwell on history.” Too much time I could spend with you. She thought bitterly. She spoke making sure she avoided the humans and Nepherion’s eyes. Her problems were her own to sort out, she had to face them alone, just like she always had.

Amira turned to face Starlight, her purple eyes flickering as she took stock of the white dragon in front of her. Caspia is everything to me. But sometimes you need more then another person in your life. She replied, her tail flicking as she spoke. Most o the time she did not mind Starlight’s superior, regal voice, but as he spoke to her now it seemed to irritate her and she took his words to heart. But she knew she could say nothing, to say something would hint at the world Caspia did not want anyone to know about and that was the thing. No one would ever understand what was really going on as long as Caspia kept it hidden. Amira would always be distant and left to fight her battles with her elven rider as long as they were together and as long as Caspia carried her burden. Never before had it annoyed Amira, but now as Starlight so easily stated that she would gain friends of all kinds she found her eyes flashing with annoyance. It is not so easy, Starlight. Elves I will never know, Dwarves I have never before seen until today and friendship is not a road that Caspia will take, there is so much no one knows that she has become a secret wrapped up in a mystery and that rubs off onto me. She got up, instead sitting instead of lying down. It is hard to explain with the little that I can say. It is not that I do not want friends, it is just that I don’t know how to and I don’t see how having friends will help anything. She finished lamely.

[Nandon]

William had just sat down when a knock rang out the door, Sighing he rose and moved towards the door, Peeping through the small hole in the door that let those inside see those outside he saw a dwarf carrying a large pot of soup, Hastily he opened the door and the dwarf stepped inside and moved towards the table as quickly as his short legs could carry him, Then he deposited the pot on the table and produced a small sack from which he pulled eating utensils.

Nodding William waited for him to finish before handing him another gold coin, Then moving back to the table he saw the dwarf had placed two loaves of bread along with it, Then grabbing a ladel he noticed he opened the pot and began dispensing the soup into the bowls, before handing them over to whoever would eat it, Adding a bit extra to Caspia’s bowl he then looked at what was left and poured himself a smaller bowl filled with what was left.

Sighing as he moved towards his seat he spooned a bit of the hot soup into his mouth, Sighing as the warmth flooded through him.

[Quetzal]

Isrydia was starting to feel like a third wheel as the two Riders talked and looked at one another. Their feelings for one another were obvious to her. It was somewhat surprising that they hadn't seen their liking for each other was mutual and hadn't progressed their friendship to something else, especially after Nepherion had brought Caspia back from what may have been some near-death experience to recover here. She could see why William had made that comment. She could understand that it could be awkward and daunting to admit to how you felt about someone, but surely it must have been clear to both of them that the other felt the same way. She looked over to William, feeling almost like she was intruding on something in listening and seeing Caspia and Nepherion's conversation. Her eyes then swept up to study the brickwork of the room as though she had suddenly developed a fascination with dwarven architecture.

It was a relief when the food arrived. She watched hungrily as William served anyone who wanted it soup, thanking him and setting her bowl down in front of her. It smelled very different to any vegetable soup she had been given before, most likely because it was made from different vegetables. She sliced a piece of bread from one of the loaves and set it by her bowl after tearing a small piece off. She dunked the bread in the soup and ate the now warm and vegetable-flavoured bread. It was warm and delicious. She hadn't realized how hungry she was until she started eating, nor how cold she was. Dipping more bread in, she turned to her spoon to eat the rest of the soup. Considering it contained no meat, it was surprisingly filling. "So," she said, partially curious and partially wanting to fuel conversation, "When did you two become Riders?" she asked. She had to stop herself asking how they had become Riders; that might be a bit personal. Or it might not. She didn't know, having never met a Rider before, but she didn't want to say anything wrong.

[/blockquote][/blockquote]

[Nepherion]

Caspia's emotions were so safeguarded that even his new ' magic-imbued senses' had a difficult time sorting them out. He maintained the carefree composure that he so rarely held, after all it was his true nature. It was never his intentions or wishes to be a stuck-up Rider, but like so many before him it was a necessity. To maintain your great power and authority it was thought and recommended that you maintain the strongest possible essence of strength you could muster. For him, that was the great symbol of progress and evolution, a beacon of sorts. He had become the next step in evolution for a human being and in such he had held the power to hold his own against any being.

In o so many words , he would enjoy the little bit of time that he could interact with others without having to wear a mask. More so with Caspia than the others. With her it was different. The mutual attraction was obvious to all but him, so he often tried to keep his feelings in check, he wasn't exactly the type of guy to put himself out in the storm and possibly be rained on, hoping that the sun would raise just in time to keep him from being drenched.

He sighed at his own thoughts, a rather self-disappointing expression raising one brow slightly and lowering the other. Nepherion quickly snapped himself from this once Caspia's voice had sung to him again. Like before he couldn't help the warm glow that lit up his skin, and the affectionate gaze that appeared in his emerald eyes. The apprehension in his eyes had told him everything, not to mention the quite-not-so-hidden feelings that his magic had picked up on. His dim golden hand reached over and touch hers in a gently clasp before he flashed her a broad and sincere smile. " Its okay Caspia. Just ... Tell me when your ready. " he decided, after finding the words that would express his inner thoughts the most. He released her hands after two gentle pats and returned his attention to Isrydia.

A pale arm fell around the back of the stone-carved chair he was sitting in, a bit of strength returning from the taxing trip earlier. It seemed that William and his apprentice were good people and he expected it to remain that way. The two of them were friendly and Isrydia especially was very easy to get along with. Her curious mind had reminded him so much of Starlight's when they had first been bonded together.

The tint to his skin had returned to normal as he raised out the chair and made himself a bowl of the soup. As he splashed the ladle from the pot to his bowl he had started to tell his story. " Well mines was quite the small coincidence. " he started off. " I mean anyone could had found Starlight to be blunt, I honestly think it was just good ole luck that led me into such a great adventure. " He chuckled. Nepherion returned to his seat butt first, sideways, and facing William and Isrydia. " I ended up getting beaten up by the Empire for saving a old woman . " he recounted, his face contorting into a serious expression. " They were beating her so mercilessly and I couldn't stand it for some reason, so I did the one thing that everyone were afraid to do and threw a rock at one of there heads... After that they chased me to the edges of Terim and delivered the worse flogging I had ever received. It wasn't until the next morning, when I had returned to from unconscious did I see the weirdest little reptile staring at me. " Like only certain people could do, the memories of Starlight had invoked a kind and genuine smile to form on his lips. " He was...Truly the most beautiful thing I had ever seen... "

Starlight's crimson orb had finally left the drifting clouds of the Beor Mountains and fixed itself onto Amira's frame beside him. The slight anger that had flashed in her eyes had somehow stabbed him in his side and he knew then that he had said something not-wanted. She rose to her paws and Starlight kept his eyes on her, listening intently to all that she had to say. Apparently the two of them, Caspia and Amira, were being bound by a secret that was much stronger than the bonds of friendship. It was something that he had known well. Though he would never tell anyone of it, he was sure that he relate to what she was going through.

For a moment he thought on his response, letting the stale air and the tense words that she had spoken fog the air around them. He raised onto his paws, grabbing the few feet that separated them in height. His eyes were strong and piercing as he looked through her deep rooted feelings. " Why would you say something like that ? " he asked with a firm and regal tone. " Do you really believe that friends can not help you ? "

[[cass]]

Amira turned to face Starlight, the question growing in the air between them. She felt perplexed and really unsure of how to answer it. She knew friends could help; she was looking at a friend who had helped her. But then that wasn’t what she had meant, she hadn’t wanted Starlight to see what she was saying like that. Friends do help. They do a lot for you when you need them, but that isn’t what I meant. It doesn’t matter though. She threw him a toothy grin, before standing up and stretching her long elegant body. I’m in a Dwarven home, and I am doing nothing, but sitting. I don’t feel that exhausted anymore and a stretch of my wings would do me well. She told him. She stretched open her wings, they expanded around her, before she tucked them back in. She eyes Starlight with one large, dark purple eyes. What do you say? Let’s go for a fly.” She suggested, her eyes dancing cheekily. She loved flying so much and she knew when it came to speed and agility she was better then Starlight. She had her small, nimble size to thank for that/

But she also knew that if it came to ground fighting or even locked on fighting in the air he would have the advantage. Her only way of wining a fight was y using her speed and size. In a tight grasp she could slither out, in a combat fight all she could do was weave in and out, dashing forward to bite and scratch, before sliding away. When it came to close quarter fighting, or needing to over power another dragon she was hopeless. Yet she would always pride herself on her speed. She loved being fast ad being able to out distance anyone she came upon.

Caspia could feel Amira’s sudden excitement and in turn a ghost of a smile flickered across her face. She still felt exhausted from her ordeal, but she could already sense her strength coming back fast. She too, like Nepherion was the only other person ignorant of the obvious attraction between the two of them. It seemed that everyone else knew there was something, but neither of them could. She smiled ruefully at him as he grabbed her hand, gently and told her he was there for her. It made her smile, and her smile broadened as se saw that slight glow to his skin brighten, as they touched. Then they were both pulling away as the food came in. Caspia carefully got up and ladled herself a small amount of soup. She sat back down on her chair, just letting the warmth of the bowl seep into her cold hands. She turned her attention to Isrydia as she asked how they had met their life partner’s.

She listened as Nepherion responded, going over her own tale of when they had meet, making sure that she could say it without it spilling some secret she wanted to keep hidden. However, as Nepherion began to speck she found herself wrapped in his story. She did not actually know how the two had meet and she was surprised that the violence and heroism side of it was not unlike her own. As he finished she sat there for a moment, hesitating over how to start. ”It was night time. I had started following a group of Empire soldiers, after hearing –earlier on in the day- the cry of what could only have been a dragon. So I followed them, curious and I found myself stopping at the edge of a large camp. I’ve gathered from the day that the dragon cry I had heard earlier had been from the Empire soldiers. They had stolen a dragon egg. I hadn’t wanted them to keep it, knowing what kind of life it would have had. So I snuck in and took it. It was on the way out, that she started to hatch in front of me, and then there was pain, and the burning feeling in my hand. And then Amira was in my arms and I had stopped running. It wasn’t until an arrow took me in the arm, another one, injuring Amira that I kept running.”

She shook her head, clearing away the images, before looking down at her soup. ”So that was how I found her.”