A New Adventure (Open to Sarah)

[Aelodil]

Laetri looked ahead of him, putting a hand on his brow to shield his eyes from the sun. The lake was still a good two or three miles away. It would be quite annoying to run there."You could always fly with me you know."[/i] said his dragon Agaravel. He smiled at her suggestion. She was always making excuses so that they could ride together. He looked up at the sky and found a portion of it bluer than the rest. Agaravel was still young, only six months and was smaller than Saphira by a little and her scales were of a lighter shade of blue.

"I thank you for the offer once again Agaravel, but I do not want anyone to spot you. A normal man walking by they will probably pass, but not a man riding a dragon."[/i] he told her. She acknowledged meekly and continued flapping her wings as he continued walking to the lake. He had a feeling something interesting was going to happen soon. He held tight to the handle of Thringa, the sword he was gifted by Rhunon. One of the only swords she had left.

Twigs crunched under his feet as he walked. He entered a grove of trees and soon found himself surrounded by weird sounds. He grimaced, feeling something unnatural with this grove. It sounded like it was all dead. He reached out with his mind and flinched as he felt nothing. The trees were dead. All sapped of their energy. He stopped dead in his tracks.

How could someone do this? He didn't understand. There, in a large circle of dead trees he fell down and began weeping. Why would anyone do this? Was the world nothing but carnage? Agaravel landed next to him and rubbed her snout to his face,"Little one..it is ok. Rest here and we shall camp."[/i] she told him gently. He smiled weakly and set up to getting logs as Agaravel set it on fire, her fire an odd blue. There, he sat eating some soup and she sat eating a gazel. Though neither of them knew they were soon to be set on another adventure.

[sarahandichigo]

Rukia sighed as she made her way between the tall, looming trees away from her mansion in the heart of Teirm. She often escaped to this lonely forest when she could not bear the abandonment and solitude she felt between the walls of her home. Here, she was alone as well. But it was vast, stretching out to the borders of eternity and she felt something akin to peace here, between these dark branches and the stale breeze.

She brushed her hair away from her face in vain; the strand would always stay between her violet eyes. She walked slower now, feet bare against the warm earth, her expensive shoes left behind by some forgotten tree. Her long purple, luxurious gown matched her eyes and complimented her pale skin, but she could care less about her beauty when all she wanted now was to forget her existence outside this little haven of hers, when all she wanted was to live among the trees, dead as they were here. She envied the elves their beautiful Ellesmera.

She sat down next to a large oak and lay down on to the ground, staring at the sky. Her gown was ruined with dirt and she mentally flinched at the disapproving look her older brother would give her if he could see her now. Then she laughed. She couldn't care if he saw her now. Why should she think about him now, when this was time for herself?

She rolled over, laughing to herself, satisfied with the stains on her beautiful gown. She stopped her hysterics when she heard a voice from among the trees. She stood up, straightening her gown, like it would make her look any better, and walked deeper into the forest. The voices turned into sobs of pain and misery and Rukia felt a pang of sympathy for the poor soul crying out to these dead trees. She had sobbed into the ground and wailed into the wind here many times, when she had first been adopted. But those memories were distant now.

Rukia stepped closer.


(Wot. I don't even know what I wrote Wow, I'm so crappy at this... and I ended it weird too. So sorry.)

[Aelodil]

Laetri's head whipped to where he heard crunching in the dirt. He looked at Rukia and inspected her, making sure she had no weapon. He had no idea of the dagger she hid with her. His charcoal gray eyes looked at her elegant dress which was now tattered and dirty. As he looked into her eyes he saw the trapped looked in her eyes. That feeling that no matter what she would do, it would never be enough. She would never be acknowledged. Laetri sympathized with her and slowly stood to his feet.

"Who are you? Why did you come here?" he asked her gently. Agaravel rose and stood beside him, in case this stranger turned out to actually be hostile. They were both Neutral. Though they did sympathize the Varden, they did not help them because both Varden and Empire were at fault. Why rage war? Just make peace. Lenora inspected the stranger, her snout inches away from her head, in easy range to eat.

[sarahandichigo]

Walking quickly between the trees enveloping her in their branches, Rukia suddenly halts.

Looking through the thick branches, she glimpses a young man - no, elf, kneeling on the ground, in distress. Rukia's violet eyes widen when she takes in the sight of a majestic blue dragon with oceanic eyes and glittering scales. A Dragon and its Rider! In her forest!

Childlike excitement and curiosity tempt her forward until she is a few strides away from the young Rider. The Rider looks up at her and scrutinizes her features as Rukia takes in his angled smokey gray eyes, chiseled nose and bow-shaped mouth. Her eyes trace the points of his delicate ears and back down over his lean and sinewy frame. He was really quite beautiful...

His words shake Rukia out of her trance. Immediately, her expression changes into one of indifference, her eyes suddenly cold. She lifts her chin higher with noble superiority like she has seen her brother do and says calmly, "I am Kuchiki Rukia." She chooses not to answer his second question, Rider or not, he cannot question her presence here. His dragon approaches her with a glint in its sapphire eye and Rukia almost trembled with fear. But she had put her Kuchiki mask on, and now, even a dragon cannot intimidate her.

[Aelodil]

Laetri seemed a little bother that she ignored his question but let it pass. Though he was a Rider, he was not above anyone else no matter what people said. As she introduced herself, her eyes seemed to harden into a large glacier. He raised his hands and kept them away from Thringa's handle in a sign of peace,"I mean you no harm. And it is none of my business to ask you why you are roaming around, seeing as we are all free souls. I am just cautious and wary. I am Laetri by the way." he said, adding his name at the end, remembering.

Agaravel continued to watch the stranger who introduced herself as Rukia and sniffed her a little. She backed away a little and continued eating her meal. She was confident Laetri could take care of the girl if she attacked him. The meat sizzled in her mouth and she hummed happily. She did not understand why the elves didn't eat meat.

Laetri looked at Agaravel a little worried. He was not used to taking care of something or acting like the boss of the situation. But his master's words came back to him and in the blink of an eye he went back to his old composure. Looking at Rukia a little awkwardly as her dress was a mess, he averted his eyes a little shy and asked,"Seeing as you already are here, would you care to take a seat?" indicating his little camp.

[sarahandichigo]

Rukia watched as the young elf raised his hand in a sign of peace. His words were apologetic and she felt relieved that he didn't question her further. She nodded slightly in acknowledgement of his introduction. Laetri... what an exotic name...

Much to Rukia's relief and comfort, the Dragon backed off and proceeded to occupy itself by eating meat. Rukia's stomach twisted painfully as she remembered that she had skipped breakfast in favor of running around the forest. Very clever.

The elf looked at his dragon intently and she could tell they were conversing privately. She was intrigued; what would it be like to have someone else living in your head? Could you ever be truly alone? Rukia couldn't decide if that was a good thing or a bad thing as she watched the elf look at her tattered dress. Shame and embarrassment flushed her cheeks for a moment before she raised her chin higher, her noble pride radiating off her pale skin.

She was just about to ask him what exactly he was looking at before he asked her to sit down with genuine kindness in his voice, surprising her. Instead of saying anything, she walked towards a large oak and sat down with as much dignity as she could muster, refusing to look at the elf, whose angled eyes were following her every move.

[Aelodil]

Laetri smiled and scoped some of the soup into a bowl and handed it to Rukia. After an awkward moment after he remembered her nobility at the first time he saw her, he handed her a spoon a little embarrassed. He never did use any spoon. He only carried two with him in case of a feast. Now he handed her one of them and sat down. He crossed his legs and took off his shoes. Carrying his shoes, he put them neatly on the top of a tree so they can air out while he himself went to a nearby River and began to wash himself. He was glad the River was covered by many trees. If it wasn't then this would be an awkward shower.

Coming back to the camp, he attempted to dry out his jet black hair but with little progress. Grimacing, he simply sat down in the same composure as before and thought of what to do. Normally, at times like this when he and Agaravel would camp after a long sweaty day he would take off his shirt and rest with Agaravel. But today he had a new-comer. And though her dress was tattered and dirty, it was an obvious signal she was of high nobility.

Shrugging, he unsheathed Thringa and began practicing some moves he learned from a few friends on the way. He first set up dummies and began practicing them, Agaravel helping him identify which of his hits were killing hits. Finally, after an hour of practice he was sweating and tired and needed a rest. Agaravel raised one of her wings in an invitation for a warm sleep."Come little one. You need to rest. You were great today. Tomorrow we shall both be great" she told him gently.

Smiling, Laetri hugged her and was about to lay down to sleep when he remembered about Rukia. Frowning, he turned and asked,"What will you do now? Will you go back to your home or will you stick around here?". He hated the prospect of sleeping in the cold outside for this stranger to sleep warm with Agaravel, but he wouldn't be a gentleman if he didn't.

[sarahandichigo]

Rukia occupied herself by picking grass from the ground, in a bored attempt to amuse herself. She looked up to see Laetri holding out a bowl of hot soup towards her. He didn't meant to give it to her, did he? Her stomach gnawed painfully and Rukia accepted the food silently, refusing to look at Leatri's eyes. Laetri shyly handed her the spoon, smiling and Rukia nodded her head in thanks.

She devoured the food hungrily with as dignity as you can get starving in the middle of the forest. The soup was surprisingly delicious and reminded her of the times that Renji would cook for her after a long day. She would never admit it, but he was exceptional at cooking. She half-smiled at the ground, thinking of him. Looking up, she realised that the elf was gone and she heard splashing nearby while his dragon rested near her. 'He must be showering...' Rukia thought, flushing slightly.

When he came back, he sat down across from her in the same position as earlier. He seemed shyer than usual. Finally, he decided to get up and train. Rukia's eyes followed his every graceful move, every swing of his sword with amazement and admiration. He was an exceptional swordsman, that much she could tell from her brother's training and instruction at the mansion. She had been trained to fight with moderate success from the best fencers in Teirm. Despite being quite proficient at fencing, Rukia had no interest in combat. Until now. Rukia watched every swing of the Rider's sword with building excitement, in awe of Laetri's fencing prowess. She looked at his face now and saw that his features were twisted with concentration and focus. 'If I keep practicing, would I ever be as good as him?' Rukia thought to herself.

The young girl watched as the Rider smiled at his dragon so tenderly and with so much affection, that Rukia suddenly felt so alone in the forest. She pulled her knees in closer and looked at the ground, suddenly missing her childhood friend Renji so much. Renji always wanted to grow up to become a warrior and though she would never admit, he had considerable talent whenever they had fenced with wooden sticks as street children. Her small smile grew across her face as she remembered what an idiot Renji had been, probably still was.

She was shaken out of her memories by Laetri's voice. She looked up at his worried blue eyes and saw that he was sleeping with his dragon. Rukia wrapped her arms around herself and said, "I'm staying here. You do not need to concern yourself with me." Right after the words left her mouth, Rukia heard the cruelty and wished she could take them back. Without looking back at him, Rukia leaned against her tree, trying her hardest to ignore the cold and pretended to sleep.

[Aelodil]

Laetri felt from Rukia's mind her confusion at how he was as good as he was at a blade. Though he honestly was nothing compared to his master and the many other Riders. He decided if she wanted he could point her in the direction of training. Then suddenly her emotions went to dark, lonely, and sad. Old memories swirled through her head and the sorrow was so much that he winced.

Laetri picked himself up and took out a few blankets he had accidentally brought along. Walking over to where Rukia was, he draped two over her and sat at a tree near her. Agaravel was agitated that the whole day Laetri had spent it away from her but understood why he had to.

Picking herself up, she walked to the two and wrapped Laetri in her tail while her head was near Rukia as a warning to any bandit or predator not to attack for their own sake. She began humming feeling like the three of them were a family. She watched Rukia sadly then put out the fire with a quick breath.

Laetri put an arm on Rukia's shoulder and said gently with a smile,"Do not worry. You won't be lonely anymore. You have us. Come, cheer up and maybe tomorrow you'll get a gift and three wishes.". Agaravel yawned and stretched her paws like a cat before falling to sleep. Laetri shook his head and wondered for not the first time; how did she fall asleep so fast?

(I'll wait till they all fall asleep to post again)

[sarahandichigo]

Pretending to sleep was difficult but Rukia managed to barely pull it off. The ground beneath her was soft and the bark of the tree was rough against her back and she was certain she had torn her dress in quite a few places. Oddly enough, she liked sleeping here, underneath the stars. But it was strange this time, with a Rider and his dragon nearby.

Her thoughts wandered to Renji again and she felt such a sudden longing for his friendship and laughter that tears pricked her eyes. She willed them away quickly, she couldn't cry here like a weakling in front of the elf and his dragon! 'What could they possibly think of me anyway?' Rukia thought bitterly. 'What am I besides a girl born on the streets pretending to be all high and noble?' The tears were so close now. It took all of her resolve not to sob into the ground like she had done so many times before.

Rukia was suddenly engulfed in warmth and she could smell the intoxicating scent of the elf as he draped the blankets over her. Unexpected gratitude welled up inside her heart and she had the sudden urge to wrap her arms around Laetri and sob onto his chest. But of course she didn't. Instead, Rukia kept her violet eyes shut and wished the beautiful elf would just leave so she could wallow in her own loneliness.

At some point, she heard the shuffling of giant paws and she sensed that his dragon had seated itself next to her. Rukia was surprised to hear something like humming resonating from it. The sound was strangely relaxing yet sad at the same time and she realised that the dragon meant to comfort her. 'Is it that obvious how I'm feeling right now?' Rukia thought bitterly.

She was just about to fall asleep for real when she felt a warm arm around her shoulder. Her eyes snapped open in surprise and she was about to tell the elf to keep his hands to himself when he spoke before her. Her violet eyes widened and she felt a blush creeping onto her cheeks. 'How could this elf still treat me with such kindness when all I was doing was being cruel to him and his dragon?' was the only thought that rang in Rukia's head.

The tears were coming back now and she couldn't help them from rolling down her pale cheeks. She discarded her pride for once, turned around, surprising the elf, his dragon and herself by suddenly embracing him and crying with full force on his chest.

[Aelodil]

Stunned, Laetri wondered what to do as Rukia suddenly turned, tears in her eyes and cried into his chest. So much for the clean tunic,[/i] he thought to himself. After a moment, he stroked her head and began singing a song his mother used to sing to him as a child, though it was all in the Ancient Language. He continued to sing and then told her,"Do not be ashamed. We all cry. The strong and proud are not those who hold back their tears. The weak are not the one who cry but the ones who pretend they have no fear."

Agaravel nudged Rukia and wrapped herself around the two of them. She did not know how Rukia felt. She always had Laetri. He always had her. The two of them were inseparable. She watched Laetri and Rukia, a questioning thought in her mind. Laetri shook his head at her and she relaxed, going back to sleep.

Laetri looked down at his tear-soaked shirt. Well....a good thing was that he had a Lake near. He continued to stroke her hair then as he heard her breathing relax, he set her back on the tree and he himself began to drift to sleep. The lovely embrace of sleep tempted him and he fell asleep, listening to the breathing of both Rukia and Agaravel.

[sarahandichigo]

As soon as Rukia started crying, she couldn't stop. She could sense Laetri's shock and surprise but in that moment, she couldn't even bring herself to care. All that mattered was that she wasn't alone and that maybe, for once, someone actually cared...

After a while, she felt Laetri stroking her hair and oddly enough, it was comforting. Laetri began to sing a beautiful song in the Ancient Language, that Rukia couldn't understand. People did not exaggerate when they spoke of the elves's songs. It was a beautiful melody and slowly Rukia began to relax, falling asleep...

[Aelodil]

Laetri stretched and yawned much as Agaravel did the same."Good morning little one. I do believe that shirt could use some cleaning."[/i] she greeted him and teased him. He made a face and made sure Rukia was still asleep. After checking on her he headed to the Lake where he cleaned his tunic then went back to camp and hung it. He continued to work at making a fire, forced to work in the breeze bare-chest. As he filled the pot with soup the air steamed with the smell of food.

He walked around cutting down some fruits and vegetables while searching for a pineapple tree. Pineapples were his favorite. As he finally found one he was forced to climb the huge tree to reach the juicy fruit. He returned to the camp with a ton of fruits and vegetables. He dumped all this and began cutting it, checking to make sure Rukia was still asleep. He was hoping that by the time she woke up his tunic would have dried out. The wind was a little too cold on his chest.

Finally, he put all of these fruits and bread on a large tray. Then he put two bowls of soup, one with a spoon and the other without. He placed this on a stump of a tree making it like a small table. He went to Rukia and kneeled next to her, gently shaking her shoulders. As she woke he sadpy watched his wet tunic still hung up.

[sarahandichigo]

Rukia awoke with a smile on her face, concluding that, for once, she actually had a good night's sleep. She opened her violet eyes sleepily and stretched in an unladylike manner, before remembering she was still in the forest with the Rider and his dragon.

As she looked around her surroundings, memories of the day before came rushing back and Rukia mentally face-palmed. 'What in Alaegasia was that, Kuchiki?' she thought to herself in embarrassment. 'Uggh, what a way to make things awkward...' A blush crept on her cheeks just by thinking of crying all over that poor elf. Rukia desperately hoped he wouldn't remember, but she wouldn't count on it.

Casting her eyes around, Rukia was awestruck at how beautiful and ethereal the dragon looked in the early morning's light streaming down upon her (Rukia automatically assumed it was female by some innate ability or something). Every single one of her cerulean blue scales, little pieces of the sky, dazzled blindingly and all Rukia could do was stare and admire her from afar. How beautiful...

Rukia soon spotted a white tunic hanging from a tree, swaying in the breeze. Her eyes narrowed in confusion for a second, before she almost died from embarrassment. She had soaked the elf's tunic with her stupid tears! Rukia felt that she should apologize but she had no idea how to go about it. She looked around for the elf and when she saw him, she almost died from embarrassment all over again.

He was laying down a tray of food on a tree stump, when he turned around to look at her and Rukia wished the stupid forest would just swallow her up. 'WHAT IS HE DOING WITHOUT HIS SHIRT ON?' She thought to herself frantically, blushing madly, before realizing it was actually all her fault...

[Aelodil]

Laetri smiled at Rukia's expression. He put a hand over his mouth but couldn't help laughter escaping him. He rolled on the ground, laughing hard. This was too good. Her expression was priceless. He would pay all the emeralds and jewels in the world to see such an expression. As he got in control of himself, he grew serious again."Well, it is not my fault I have tunic to wear. You did after all soak the only one I actually have." he explained to her.

Agaravel laughed as well."What a good way to start the morning."[/i] she said to them both as she stood up and ripped open a pack of rabbits. She began merrily munching on one, bones easily crunching against her teeth. Tender and juicy, the rabbit made a perfect breakfast, some of the juice dripping. Her eyes rolled back into her head. It tasted so good..

Laetri sighed and said,"I really didn't want to have to do it this way but, no choice huh?". He then walked over to Rukia, quickly scooping her up and placing her in front of his make-shift table. He gestured for her to help herself as he himself sat down and started eating.

[sarahandichigo]

To Rukia's utter mortification, the elf laughed at her. Laughed at her with his dragon. Rukia's eye twitched as she stared at the elf in disbelief. And then the stupid thing went and stated the obvious which made her eye twitch even more dangerously. She watched with narrowed eyes as his dragon ate some meat. Wait, those were rabbits...

RABBITS. HOW CAN IT EAT RABBITS?! If Rukia wasn't dying of mortification, embarrassment and utter rage, she probably would have attacked the dragon. Maybe she should have anyway. Yes, attack the dragon and kill the elf.

The elf just said something stupid that Rukia didn't even bother to hear while she was cracking her knuckles and suddenly she was picked up by strong arms. 'Are you actually serious?' Rukia thought wonderingly because this elf was so unbelievably STUPID. She started struggling in his arms but he placed her down in front of some stupid stump.

Outraged, she stood up and all but screamed into his infuriating, smiling face, "DID YOUR DRAGON EAT YOUR BRAIN OR SOMETHING? WHAT ARE YOU TOUCHING ME FOR? DO YOU ACTUALLY WANT ME TO BEAT YOU UP, ELF?"

[Aelodil]

Still smiling Laetri put up his arms."Fine by me. Though watch out. You only have three wishes." he told her. He gestured for her to eat as he sat down and continued eating some pineapple slices."Will you stay around or will you go back to wherever you are from?" he asked her innocently. He did not think he could handle her. One more day and he might just slit her annoying throat. Though he kept it from showing on his face.

Agaravel watched the two. Ahh.. how fun it is to wake up and get a drama movie, she thought. She ate one more rabbit then stopped and yawned. Great breakfast. She watched Laetri wondering what they will do from then on. Deciding Rukia was probably going to try to punch Laetri, she put her body in the middle of them, so that if Rukia had a death wish it won't be from Laetri.

[sarahandichigo]

Rukia glared venomously at the still-smiling elf who raised his hands in an innocent gesture and practically invited her to attack him. She was just about to punch his smiling face in when she tilted her head and asked, rather dumbly, "Three Wishes? What are they?"

Still glaring at the elf, Rukia sat down in front of the make-shift table and realized she was ravenous. Feeling a little shy now, she gently picked up and ate a pineapple slice. It was delicious. She absolutely adored wild fruit, not that expensive stuff they tried to feed her at the mansion. She smiled to herself slightly, remembering how many times she had thrown pineapples at Renji's dense head.

She looked up at the elf now in surprise and realized that she has totally forgotten about returning back to the mansion. She was almost certain no one had realized she had been gone but she supposed she had better get back. But she liked it here, in the forest, despite the elf being there with his dragon. "Maybe, I should go back..." She said aloud, with some hesitation.

She watched the dragon slide across and seat itself between her and the elf. Rukia could see the twinkle of amusement in her sapphire eyes, but there was unyielding protection within them too. Rukia quickly abandoned her plans of attack; she could never hold her own against a Rider and his dragon. Forgetting that she was angry and irritated, Rukia reached out to touch the dragon's regal head, entranced by her majesty. "So beautiful..." Rukia murmured quietly.

[Aelodil]

Agaravel snorted and shook her head as Rukia reached with her arm. She had never let anyone other than Laetri touch her scales. Then as Rukia looked at her, obvious awe and wonder in her eyes she repented. Being a dragon, she was supposed to share her majesticness with everyone. She slowly edged her head towards the out-stretched hand and closed her eyes. Then she retreated again and began humming. Laetri looked at her in wonder. She never let anyone touch her scales.

Finishing his breakfast, Laetri scattered the remains of crumbled bread for the animals. Then, walking over to where he hung his tunic he felt it and sighed in relief. It was dry. He quickly donned it and rebuckled Thringa. He began saddling Agaravel, preparing to continue as Rukia said she would probably go home."Three wishes, that is all I am giving you. Now start making wishes.And no you cannot wish for more wishes." he said, gentleness gone.

[sarahandichigo]

Rukia watched wide-eyed as the dragon edged closer to her hand after initial reluctance. Rukia touched the top of the dragon's head and felt rough scales, sharp as a blade. Rukia smiled, the scales were perfect defense. Her curiosity sated, the dragon retreated, humming as she did so. "What is your name, Dragon?" Rukia asked quietly, her admiration of the creature clear in her voice.

Turning to the elf, she saw that he had put on his tunic (to her relief) and was packing up the remains of his belongings. Turning to her, he spoke to Rukia quickly and firmly and she almost flinched at the ice in his voice. Trying her hardest not to say anything nasty, Rukia smirked and said, "I wish for a dragon egg."