Wings of Change

[Quetzal]

Arlyn knew better than to get on the wrong side of Brenton in a fight, but all the same would defend what his Rider wanted. He knew that she didn't like Brenton's previous affections for her and had hated the one time he had kissed her before, so had reacted accordingly. Before Rella, Brenton had been pretty unpredictable with his proclamations of love and the dragon had learned to be wary of any hints. "Sorry. I know how much you care for Rella, but I was worried you might end up doing something you'd both regret. I have to protect her when she can't protect herself, and I guess I'm pretty jumpy after today," he explained himself. He trusted Brenton completely, yet still he felt the need to keep a close watch.

Arlyn watched anxiously, wishing he could be of more use while Brenton sang. He offered any energy he had to the spell. Growing more tired was no problem for him when it meant the waking of his Rider. He felt guilty at her condition since at least some of it had to be his fault; he had been the one to knock Isrydia out with a blow to the head. The witch and exhaustion couldn't have made things any better, but he'd started it.

Isrydia's mind was still locked down firmly, little sign of activity there as though she was not only asleep but had retreated to shut herself away in a corner. The complicated weavings of the Ancient Language spouting from Brenton's lips caused some stirring in her mind after a time. At first, all they seemed to do was make her seem closer to a regular sort of sleepy unconsciousness. Then, however, more hints at her thoughts could be seen. It was mostly fear. Arlyn felt a great bittersweet stab at feeling his Rider's mind for the first time in a while, soured by how scared she was. She was too scared to return to consciousness or to let down her barriers. The words of friendship and trust and love brought to her memories of all the times someone had been kind to her, of sunsets and bright stars and beautiful landscapes seen from the back of a dragon. She remembered how people had made her laugh, how she cared for friends and family and how they cared in return. She remembered the smiles of her friends and the warm comforting scales of a pale blue dragon.

Isrydia's wounds were more mental than physical, but any tears in her skin healed over swiftly. Finally, a smile reached her lips, her mind shifted like someone moving into a familiar comfortable position in a chair, and she opened her eyes. Raising a hand, she was delighted to find it belonged to her again. "It's over. Thank you," she smiled wider. Her voice was soft and strained. She struggled to sit up, and with a little energy from Arlyn managed it.

[Brenton]

Brenton finished the spell as Isrydia moved and began to sit up but as his words cut off, the king felt his mind grow foggy and almost dark from exhaustion. Sleep was out of the question for him but rest perhaps, just so he could regain energy. Or he could draw from the red dragon, Inferno, but that was a last resort deal. When Isrydia said thank you, the king gasped slightly as he felt a pang of remembered sadness. He couldn't feel it exactly but he felt some sort of regret and memory of what sadness should exist for Grazael dying.

I didn't do anything special, just attacked the witches who inhabited my friends. Oh and Arlyn may tell you about something that happened a little bit ago. I was overwhelmed and didn't want to lose you so...it was an accident Isrydia. I didn't mean to kiss you, at least not like I did, and now that I remember it as I do it makes me feel like a traitor to Rella. I'm sorry about that.

Brenton spoke quietly as he sat back from the female rider with his head down just slightly but he had to tell her about the kiss. It would haunt him forever if the elfling didn't say anything at all about it. Now he stayed back, trying not to look at Isrydia, fearing that she would be upset with him for kissing her again even though she had made it clear how she felt about him.

[Quetzal]

Isrydia frowned. She'd hoped that maybe with Brenton having moved onto loving another woman and with his loss of the ability to feel emotions aside from anger, she might be rid of his advances. This wasn't so much an advance as a violation... she sighed. "Thanks for your honesty. Please don't do it again, though," she knew he was truly sorry for his actions. She would never quite be able to forget any of Brenton's past actions that had made her uncomfortable, but at least he had never pushed her to do anything she hadn't wanted to aside from the two kisses. Even then, the kisses had upset her. She didn't think they mattered to their friendship so long as it really was behind them. She thought she'd known it was over for certain, but apparently not. "Look, you're my friend and I don't want things to get awkward or unpleasant for us, especially with Rella being in your life now. Can you promise me all that really is over now? It'd put my mind at rest," she was a bit fed up with it all, to be honest. It was getting repetitive and was always just as horrible and uncomfortable for her.

Arlyn was fanning his wings gently in the wind, wondering when they would be leaving. He wanted to leave this place far behind them, and get as far away from the witches as possible. He was paying close attention to Brenton's answer, too.