Big game hunting (Open!)

[Rhaxta]

A silken black shadow crossed the valley floor, casting the already murky woodland into an abrupt twilight. The clouds about seethed with primal malice, their guts alive with activity; promises of lightning and rain to come.
Cursing and tucking her elusive bleached-copper hair back into her fur lined leather hood, the woman returned her green gaze to the ground. Any tracks would not last long in this.
The edges of the shallow gouge in the earth had already smoothed slightly in the wet, yet the cloven hoofprint was still recognisable. Well, you could see it belonged to a herbivore. The same herbivore she had been tracking for a day and a night.
Similar tracks were scattered up and down the valley, all heading towards the river that cutt its way through the deepest point, and the wide grassy plains that spanned each side of it.
Other than the prints, there were trees efficiently stripped of their new spring buddage along the same paths, even twigs and bark torn cracked and nibbled away here and there. There were many signs of this treatment, though many many years old and scarred. It must have taken a lot of animals quite a long time to cause that kind of permanent damage. These tell tale markings were wildly different to what she was used to, but she could still see them for what they were. A migration highway. Considering how unfussy the animals seemed with their diet and the abundance of foliace in these wild mountains, it didn't seem it would be for the food. Mating seemed all the more likely. New life was coming back to the world.
Especially so, in Rhaxta's case. She had been in the wilderness at the western outskirts of the Beor Mountains for nearly two weeks now, yet still was not as far as she would have liked. She was still on the very outskirts of the stone giants realm. Having only come across rabbits, foul and some worrying prints, she had yet to realise exactly how new the flora and fauna of the Beor Mountains was to the rest of Algaesia.
She had survived though, just about. Thankfully, she had not come across any of the creatures that had made the disconcertingly large wolf and bear prints.
It had been a good few months since she had been seperated from Arkantos and the Varden rider Pike, who had promised them safe passage and entry to their ranks. The thought of Arkantos and his dark passanger pained her, dragging taught bands over her chest. The more time that passed in a peaceful, albeit lonely life made it all seem like some delusional dream. Yet she missed it, and him - them.

In their haste to escape the Empire and the Twins another spell had gone awry and Rhaxta had found herself all alone, in the middle of the Hadrac desert. She would have to have words with them if she ever found them again. She had only just survived, and had only just got over the sunburn, and what the sun had done to her previously blood red hair was rather shocking. From where she was left in the desert, she headed towards the mountains, thinking they were the fastest way out of the desert. They were no where as near or as small as she had thought. Three weeks of her using only her magic to survive, relying upon it for water and food. She had lost a considerable amount of weight from her muscle, and her hair had been bleached to a bright copper-gold by the time she was free of the unrelenting heat. Two weeks after leaving the Hadrac and she still wasn't even into the mountains proper. When she came across her first slavers, she looked gaunt, pink, and very very Celtic, after a fortnight under the unforgiving sun alone. They gave her some trouble, but she payed it back tenfold, killing most of them in a fit of rage and sending a revolt through the small band of slaves they had gathered already, routing the other slavers to their immenent deaths in the hot grasp of the desert with no magic to save them.
She took all supplies she could carry and tied herself to one of the horses, taking what light billowly clothes she could and all the water.
When she finally reached the forest, she released the horse, having felt bad on it for a weeks travel yet having no food for the creature save for the slim pickings on the trail.

So there she was, a little healthier looking and back to her pale tones, yet her hair seemed to stay that way. It annoyed her to always have it covered up when hunting, as she did now. Took a few goes before she realised it lit her up like a firey beacon.

The migration path lead her to the bottom of the valley, the trees growing thinner until she met the very edge of the treeline. She gasped at what she saw.
A large grassy plain before the fast water cutt through the bottom of the valley, contained a large herd of dozing -...goats?
It was the closest Rhaxta could get to a guess. They were huge, thick muscled with twisted crowns of gnarled horns. Rhaxta sat there, stunned- and spent a good hour or two simply observing them. When she was confident they weren't that dangerous - or at least not unstable and full of blood lust- she unslung her bow and slowly strung it. She raised her bow, drew and aimed.

''Breathe''

The arrow shot out from the trees and struck it's target, a young male that repeatedly exposed it's jugular as it bent to trim the grass. It bellowed and reared, the herd suddenly springing to life and going by instinct - which was running into tree cover. Only then did Rhaxta realise how many there were, hundreds of the beasts emerging from the dark distance. Rhaxta threw her bow up, hooking it to a branch..then proceeded to throw herself up, only just getting an arm over a branch before the first gargantuan pair tore through the thick brush beneath her, narrowly missing gouging a nice chunk of her leg, yet taking a bit of the tree instead. She had gained some strength back from her recent ordeals. But not all of it. She hung there, slowly willing herself up into a more secure position, thinking about how nice a bit of giant crazy goat meat would taste after all this.

''I wont even bother cooking you, you sod! she shouted, her own voice sounding feral from lack of use.
''I will eat you sodding raw!

[Aisling]

Faeon flew through the Beor mountains, his wings flapping lazily. He felt the coldness of the air as his barbed tongue slipped out and tasted the air. There was growl deep inside his stomach, the-gnawing-hunger had come out again. Faeon angled himself down closer to the land, on the search for a new prey. The white dragon enjoyed the large mountains, he felt small in comparison. The prey here was big and for the most part the lands outside the forests remained devoid of dwarves and humans. Which Faeon was very relieved about. Though his partner-of-mind-and-soul, Aisling, wanted to return into the world. He had no desire too. He enjoyed the life they shared together in peace. But he sensed something strange in the air, and his heart-of-his-head told him that he must support her decision.

He missed his rider, his heart was empty and his mind lonely. They had grown so close that the separation was almost unbearable. And there was nothing he could do. Occasionally he felt a flickr of her conscious, and he would immediately assume that she was calling for him. But he knew that she wasn’t. It wasn’t time yet. Aisling would call him, when it was time. She and him would be joined once again when it was time. He just had to wait.

Faeon tipped his wings as he flew in between the trees of the Beor Mountains. He wanted a big prey, something that would keep the-gnawing-hunger away for awhile. As he glided through the air, he saw animals scurry and hide. It pleased him to see them run, it proved he was fierce-of-claw-and-tooth. He knew he was not the only predator in the mountains. A few suns ago he had faced a large-big-mouthed-cave-bear. It was a fierce fight, leaving Faeon with various scars and cuts, but with the large-big-mouthed-cave-bear dead. Faeon did not eat such a formidable opponent, it was not a far thing for a predator to eat a predator. It was not the nature of things. The bear had fought well, but nothing was stronger than a dragon.

The animals here were too small, unworthy of his effort to kill them. He would have to kill every small game in the mountains in order quench his hunger. Faeon let out a snort, smoke billowing from his nostrils, he had eaten better in the land-of-sand-and-sun, and there was very little life there. Faeon angled upward again, as he smelt the air for a second time. Thats when he smelt the herd of large horn-and-hoof-goats, in a nearby clearing. He flapped his wings with renewed vigor, now there was a prey worthy of the hunt.

Faeon dove toward the clearing, his white scales glistening in the sun. There was something strange now, he sensed...elf. He knew the feeling of a mind of an elf, his partner-of-mind-and-soul was elf. But this elf wasn’t a full elf, he sensed human as well. He slowed his approach thinking of his choice of action, should he approach? Faeon yet again felt the growl of the-gnawing-hunger inside his gut. He frankly didn’t care about the elf, he just wanted fed. Blood, he smelt blood, the elf was hunting as well. He growled, this was his hunt. He noticed the He immediately picked up speed again, his jowls snapping fiercely as he approached a male ram. He could not see the elf but he saw her kill, and looked like the heard was about to take revenge. In a flash and with a loud thud, he landed snatching the large horn-and-hoof goat in his mouth. Teeth digging and ripping through the flesh. The rather large herd scurried away at the sight of the white dragon, but some still held it’s ground. Faeon dropped the goat and let out a loud roar and the rest of the heard ran. Faeon saw the half-elf with faded fire hair hanging from a tree and eyed her with suspicion as he continued to eat his kill. He wouldn’t bother the half-breed, as long as she wasn’t a threat.

[Rhaxta]

Rhaxta let out a pained yowl as something sharp clipped her shin. The thunder beneath her told her it was the horns of a rather large male. She growled, lowering her permanent defenses around her mind to reach out and touch the herds senses, to either calm them or scare them in the other direction, whichever proved easier.

The herd, the ram and her wound were all forgotten as her mind brushed against a huge, alien conciousness. Rhaxta started, nearly losing her grip on the branch as she struggled to throw the defenses back up around her mind. As soon as she could drop down from the branch without getting impaled on a set of horns, she released her grip. Pain lanced up her thigh as her wounded leg made contact with the ground. However, it did not give way. This was good, as it meant there was no or very little muscle damage caused, and she could throw herself out of the way of yet another charging beast. Cringing at the lancing, stinging sensation going up her leg, Rhaxta slowly worked her way to the edge of the woodland once again, to see if she could see the physical form the immense conciousness belonged to. She didn't have to try hard.

A white light streaked down from the heavens, a tremedous carcophany of sound emenating from it moments after it struck the earth. It didn't burst upon impact, as Rhaxta expected for a few moments, however it alighted and landed, tucking in the great wingspan to reveal ..

'A dragon'?!
Rhaxta gawped for a moment, making sure she was still out of direct sight. Not that it served any purpose, she was well aware the dragon was probably...well, aware of her. Rhaxta looked down to check on her leg, a minor wound; though she would have to clean it before healing it, the rough edges and pitted sinuous length of the giant goat-creatures horns looked like a perfect breeding ground for...ick. That could wait until she had eaten and set up a camp though. Grabbing a few handfuls of dried wood for a fire, Rhaxta grimaced at the idea of what was to come. Cleaning wounds well was never a pleasant experience, she would have to aquire knowledge from someone on how to do it well with magic. Alcohol burned far too much.

Rhaxta took a deep breath, and - sending out a tendril of her conciousness as a form of 'warning', she stepped out from the shadow and into the clearing. She kept her deep green eyes on the dragon, avoiding eye contact, not being rude, just being wary.
Rhaxta cleared her throat, she had no way of telling the alliegance of the dragon, bearing no banners - or even a rider. She hoped it wasn't wild. Well, in one way she hoped it was, just for the pure joy of there being wild dragons back in Algaesia. She snuffed that hope out before it even began to grow however.

Only one way to find out. ''Good hunting, Bjartskular.''she called in greeting. She did not approach, however turned to her own kill. She arranged the bits of wood she had aquired, it forming a six pointed star pattern. Her lip twisted with some memory, before she uttered. ''Brsingr''. A flare of white erupted and consumed the wood, before dying down and returning to normal coloured flame. Rhaxta crouched by it, thankful for the heat to leech the cold from her bones. She pulled a short dagger from the woven leather belt at her hip, and dug in and removed her arrow from the creatures neck. She proceeded to wind her knife around each of the beasts ankles, then started the long proccess of skinning a creature this large. She needed warmer clothes, and soon. If she was to travel deeper into the Beors, she would need it as the altitude made the air bitingly cold. Ever so often she cast her eyes up to gaze at the dragon, yet she didn't dare extend her mind beyond her protective barriers before she had more inclination of their side. She could not help gazing upon it though, it was a beauty. Rhaxta had a facination for creatures that were made perfectly suited for their purpose. She much admired Wolves, for their skill in large game, large hunting birds - those that hunt both small rodents and other birds. This however, was a hunter...of all. Rhaxta smiled, she had met riders, yet they had been without their dragon - remembering Pike - yet she never expected to meet a dragon since her life became so boring.

[Aisling]

Faeon lifted his head from his kill. He sensed the half-elf-half-human emerging from her hiding place. He sniffed the air, he smelt blood, not the blood of the horn-and-hoof beast he had just slain, but the smell of the two-legged blood. The white dragon growled at the scent, he hated the horrible stench. The half-elf-half-human's human blood did not bother him nearly as much as the scent of the elven blood. He smelt so much of his partner-of-mind-and-soul's blood after the Fall. He often still had the memories and stench fill his thoughts. He remembered her pain, he remembered everything about that fateful day. He sniffed the air again, making sure that it was not Aisling's blood in the air. Relieved that it wasn't he brought himself back to his kill.

The White dragon, had yet again proven he was fierce of claw-and-tooth and the best hunter of horn-and-hoof beasts. He hummed in pride, until he heard the girl greet him out loud. He lifted his head and eyed her suspiciously. He weighed out his options of replying. He simply blew smoke out his nostrils in response, as he licked up the last of meat of the bone. He cleaned his talons, and stretched his wings before re-folding them. Faeon smelt the burning smell of fire. The half-elf-half-human had started a fire. He also smelt the air of magic, he was somewhat pleased to stumble across a magic user. They were the most interesting of the two-legged.

Faeon looked over at the girl's campsite. She kept looking over at him, Faeon hummed yet again with pride. She obviously recognized how fierce-of-claw-and-tooth he was. He decided to approach her, and so with thudding steps he walked over to the fire. He snaked his white head around and sniffed the girl. He had gotten a good sense of her before but know he could be quite sure. The Great White Dragon extended his conscious to her and said, Greetings, young hunter.

[Rhaxta]

A spike of adrenalin; released through the combination of terror and absolute radiant joy and excitement caused her heart to beat faster as the dragon came into the light. It's great white - beautiful - countenance came to Rhaxta in detail for the first time. White, huge, deadly. A small gulp came from the young huntress at a hiss of the air through great bellows of lungs as the dragon sniffed her. She caught a whiff of something akin to brimstone herself from the creature. Then a smile - both with a slightly worried twist and a great amount of relief - curled her lips as the dragons mind touched hers.

Rhaxta was awed. She had felt the presence of shade, elf, seer, even the wild, terrible consciousness of the wisp of the mad-elf Linnëa imbued in a ring an old companion had.

Despite it all, this was the most alien. Most daunting. Most frightening, despite the fact she could feel the dragon meant her little-or-no harm. At the moment.
He - for it was undoubtedly a he - spoke. Greeted her.Goose fleshh erupted along the back of her neck, making her hair rise on-end.

With both her mind and voice, Rhaxta spoke - again in the Ancient Language, as had become habit. ''I must thank you, for..dispersing the rest of the horned-beasts when you arrived. How do you fare? I certainly was not expecting to see one such as yourself - here or anywhere. I am certainly a lucky girl. What is your calling, if I may, pale one? ''
Rhaxta looked back down and quickly finished skinning the great-goat, taking care to tilt away from the dragon to stop splashing him with gore. Then laying the skin out to dry, over a rock near the fire, she removed the thick thighs from the beast with two slashes of her pale-grey-silver sword. Having split a branch and pierced it through the meat- she fashioned another two sticks to go into the earth to support it to hold the meat a good distance from the fire to cook. The other thigh, she buried wrapped in leaves beneath the earth near the fire to dry. Then she removed the great horns, thinking they would be useful eventually. Gesturing to the rest of the carcass, she dipped her head slightly in gesture, and respectful bow.
'It would be disrespectful to waste the creature who gave his life to feed me. Alas, I overestimated his...size...and cannot carry him with me. As I have the opportunity, I would like to offer it to you.'' Rhax had a doubt with this, he was a hunter after all, and she still had no idea if he was wild or not. She didn't think any dragon would deign to take meat from a human. She meant only to be friendly.

Steeling herself, Rhaxta turned away from the dragon and reached into her pack. She drew forth a battered, silver flask which she opened. She took a swig then removed her greave and rolled up her trouser leg, exposing the gash the Feldunost had left. Rhaxta gave it a quick clean of any solid debris, took another swig from the flask, then she tilted her hand and allowed the cold-hot-Faelnriv to splash over her wound. She held her composure for a moment before a howl of pain erupted from her, which was muffled a moment later as she clamped her sharp teeth together with a snap. As the pain faded, it lessened to a steady hissing beneath her breath. She hated doing that.

[Aisling]

Faeon crouched by the fire, his large head tilting with curiosity as his golden eyes watch the young woman. He found her so interesting especially as since she seemed to be so travel worn. To the white dragon, those who were travel worn were always more interesting. He and his rider were always so travel worn, and they were perhaps the most interesting things there was. He could smell the young woman's sense of adventure. It radiated off her. Faeon had a keen sense of reading people, he could read a person's life from a brushing of minds, or even a simple sniff of the air. He found the half-breed's mind so interesting. He had never been inside the mind of an half-elf, and Faeon had been in several strange and mysterious minds from all over the land. She was fascinating.

The horn-and-hoof beasts are cowardly, the act strong in their numbers but they are always prey. Even to one of your size, the white dragon said to her as he cleaned his talons nonchalantly, As for my calling here, I am hunting until I hear the long awaited call of my rider. Then I shall travel to Farthen Dur.

Faeon moved his talons individually before stretching out the joints with a small pop. He lifted his head and looked at her, a golden eyes blinking slowly. What is your calling, half-breed?

His eyes followed as she cleaned the carcass of a horn-and-hoof beast. He found that two-legged's were way to particular about their meals. Do they not know that they may have to eat in an hurry? Or even that everything is edible? When he and Aisling were traveling he often found himself waiting days at a time before he felt that he could go hunting. He knew that they could not be spotted, nor did he wish to be spotted, nor did he wish to abandon his partner-of-mind-and-soul for his own sake.

The white dragon observed her keeping the horns of the horn-and-hoof beast. He snorted, the horns were so puny compared to his mighty ones. He had brilliant horns that proved how fierce of claw-and-tooth he was. Smoke billowed from his nostrils. No one was fiercer than he. But when the half-elf offered him the carcass he didn't find it insulting. In fact, he found it to be like an offering to his power and might, and even an offering of peace.

Thank you, I accept your offer.

Faeon grabbed the carcass with his white teeth and began to strip it with his barbed tongue. He held the body down with his talons as he tore at it. He tried to be as clean as possible, not wanting to gross out the half-elf. He lifted hislarge white head and asked, Who are you, strange one?
He turned back to the bones he had stripped clean and snatched them in his teeth. The bones clacked together as he tossed the skeleton away from the campsite. He found bones unattractive to have lying around a resting a place. he preferred to keep his rousts tidy.

He heard a sound of pain come from the young woman. He cringed at the sound. He hated the sound of pain coming from two-legged's. It tore at his heart and the heart-of-his-head. It reminded him so much of when his partner-of-mind-and-soul was stabbed during the fall. Aisling's pain ran through him like it was yesterday, the pain sat in his bones and so did the pain she felt while she was healing. He even still felt her emotional pain, the pain of losing everyone she knew and then being alone in the world. It seemed to slowly kill her, though Faeon knew she wouldn't admit it.

Faeon, still crouched, approached the young woman, his breath tousling her hair. He touched the tip of his snout to her forehead, nothing magical happened of course, it was more of a comforting act. And act he so often did with his rider. More often or not, the white dragon forgot that he was a fierce hunter and acted more like a care taker. But he was gentle when it came to two-legged's, even though there were many he wished to maim. She sniffed the half-elf's hair before saying, The pain will pass, little one, don't worry.

[Rhaxta]

Rhaxta felt a small, contented smile play upon her lips as she listened to the dragon. She gave the slightest chuckle- more a soft, rolling purr - before she said ''To have one such you observe me as another hunter. I feel strangely yet deeply honored''.
She genuinely meant it as well; in her long seclusion she had much spare time. She had loved and found animals fascinating before; particularly cats. Yet in her long solitude her mere curiosity had turned into an almost-obsession. She had meditated and lived in the minds of all the creatures she encountered on her recent travels. Yet she found the more she knew about them, the more time she spent in the more terrifying or formidable creatures. Predators, meat eaters. Them of long fang and sharp claw or those with an - totally undeserved - unfortunate reputation. Spiders and the like. Now, they were fascinating.

This however, was by far the most intimidating and deep of thought; therefore most fascinating to her.

''A rider, indeed? Well, I hope you hear your soul-partners call on the wind soon. My calling; well, I search for the Varden. Yet I am unsure if that would be a calling. It is more the path I was put upon, then was guided so far there was no way I could turn around a go back. Figuratively and literally. I can honestly say I have no idea where I am, never mind the Varden. You're lucky, my pride wouldn't let me admit that to anyone else,'' she jibed with a soft smile. There had been the smallest tug at her heart-strings as the dragon put the question to her; she knew really what her calling was, what it was she wanted most of all now. Yet she didn't think she wanted to admit it to open air. That would make it all real and painful again. She had only just got over convincing herself it was not going to happen. The dead and gone are - well...gone.
A moment passed before a blank look passed across her face and she looked back at the dragon. ''What do you mean by half-breed?'' she asked innocently, quizzical expression pasted onto her features. As far as she knew, she was entirely human. She had her suspicions what with her talent in magic; yet she knew well enough humans could posses the talent also if not quite to the same degree as her.

Rhaxta was silent as the dragon had his meal. She was pleased he had accepted her offer. Two birds with one stone; don't waste the meat and feed the rather large predator that was sharing her fire. She was pleased he enjoyed it. Quietly observing him as he ate; more of a curious fascination than anything else, making note of the barbs on his tongue, like that of a cats.
''The only answer I can give you to who I am - I suppose- is my name. My name is Rhaxta. If I may, what shall I call you?''

A small peal of laughter escaped her as the dragon tossed the carcass - for some reason she found the sight amusing. The sight of a huge creature of the sort that had nearly killed her be tossed by an even larger creature like so many twigs.

The pain had been entirely forgotten on all but the first few levels as the dragons mind embraced hers and he touched the tip of his long, bone-snapping jaw to her forehead. After the inital giddiness subsided, Rhaxta realised this was probably the closest to an embrace from a dragon as a human could experience. The blast of heat from the fire at his heart blew over her as he sniffed and Rhaxta gave a giggle despite the pain.
'The pain will pass, little one, don't worry.'[/b][/i] Then a completely honest, grateful smile played about her features making her eyes wide and deep and aglow. 'Thank you, Diamond-hide.'[/i]

[Aisling]

Faeon’s mighty head tilted at the sound of the familiar word his rider had said before she left. His partner-of-mind-and-soul had also been searching the Varden, though, unlike this girl, Aisling seemed to know where she was going. But the white-haired-pointy-eared-one always knew where she was going. It was she that had guided him to the land-sun-and-sand after the Forsaken Ones had raided Iliera, even as his partner-of-mind-and-soul’s life force began to drain away, she knew where she was going. She was always wise that way.

Ah, my rider was seeking the Varden as well. Perhaps when I hear her call I can take you to the city in which they reside. I do know my way around her somewhat but the cities in these tall mountains are all underground, and I personally do not have a big desire to be trapped under the earth, never to see the blue sky again, he said with a quiver of his muscles. The thought of being underground chilled his hide. Nothing sounded more miserable than not being able to see the sky.

As he watched the woman before him, he saw a glimmer of pain pass her eyes. Not physical pain but emotional pain. The pain that never quite seemed to heal. His partner-of-mind-and-soul suffered the same way still. Though the pain of her black-and-dark-wound on her back no longer seemed to bother physically, the events of that black-and-dark sorrowful day still haunted her. He often found himself overwhelmed with the emotions that she often felt. They were always so sorrowful that it made his own heart break twice over.

What pains you, little one?[/b][/color] he asked her, golden eyes showing with curiosity.

The white dragon lifted his head when she asked what he meant by half-breed. He stared at her. How did she not know that she was part elf? She smelled strongly of it.He could smell it on her from when he was soaring in the sky. He knew the smell of elf so well.

You don’t know?[/b][/color] he asked in surprise.

The white dragon just snorted an returned to his eating before tossing the bones away. Faeon never particularrly carred for bones, often though, while he and Aisling were traveling he would often give the white-haired-pointy-eared-one the bones. She would carve such beautiful things out of them and often give them away to passer-bys. He never understood why she would take such time to carve such things and then just gove them away, but it made her happy and that was all he cared about.

Ah, his name. Faeon did enjoy his name. He was given several ones, for his beauty and his strength. Though it seemed that a select few had survived the Fall, he was the most beauiful of the dragons and the strongest. None of them could dare stand up to him and his rider’s might. The half-breed had an interesting name...Rhaxata. He tossed the name around in his thoughts. It was just strange to him.

I have been given several names in my life. The Everlasting White One, Hvitr Andlat, Hvitr Evarinya and Bornor. But you may, if it pleases you, call me Faeon.[/b][/color]

As his snout touched her brow, she thanked him for his comfort. Faeon was indeed was the very comforting sort. He did not like the siffering of others unless it was by his own hand. He was somewhat fond of this one, and did not like the fact she was in pain. You are quite welcome, Rhaxata.[/b][/color]

Then he felt something in his mind...an all to fimilar feeling. FAEON!
He immediately stood up and released a roar of joy into the air. It was his rider! The call of his partner-of-mind-and-soul. The contact of their minds was quick and fleeting but he still was able to find her location. She was close to the dwarf city Farthen Dur and soon they could be reunited. It was an amazing feeling, and the joy overwhelmed him as he siad to her fleeting concious, I am coming, white haired one.[/b][/color]

[Rhaxta]

''Under the mountains, eh? That would explain why I haven't seen a sodding thing in months. For some reason, I saw a lofty perch atop one of the more hospitable mountains more fitting. So, it is not too far from here? As for your offer, I would love to join you. As long as your rider would not find it- distasteful?'' she asked, raising a slightly-slanted eyebrow.

Never to see blue sky again. A funny expression passed Rhaxta's face before returning to her previous expression; a mix of weary, sore and wonder. Peculiar yes, but the majority of this expression radiated from her eyes.
''Oh my friend, I hope you do not find yourself restricted beneath the rock for too long. I feel your pain however, I dislike...cramped spaces.''
For the second time that evening, her thoughts turned back to Murtagh and their one and only meeting. ''I never have, yet my experiences of them since has only reinforced my opinion.''

A lilting, hallowed call snaked across the sky and rested over the ravine. A sharp ascent and a slow decent into darker pitches. A few minutes of silence came save for the snap-and-crackle of the fire, then another piercing cry started- much further away.
Soon voices up and down the valley joined in with the first voice and together they made the wildest and most natural of songs; a beautiful, sorrowful love song. The pack were howling to the moon. Rhaxta smiled. Wolves' song.
Yet this was different to any she heard before, deeper in tones and longer-lasting. The voices belonged to the same creatures that left the giant prints higher up the valley.

It took a few seconds for Faeon's words to register in Rhaxta's mind.

'What pains you, little one?'[/b]
An odd, twisted smile played about Rhaxta's lips. She honestly was unsure how to answer, and contemplating the answer was surely a breach of what she had promised herself she wouldn't do. Yet, that would be rude. With such a distinguished guest as well.
A slight tightness crept into her throat and around her chest and she felt like sitting back and joining the mountain wolves in their heart-rending song.
''The most honest answer I can give you is my heart. Any other coherent thought on the matter escapes meat the moment, so I couldn't tell you more.''


''What do you mean by half-breed?''
Rhaxta found herself shifting nervously as the dragon speculated her intently. It was a funny image, bizarrely. His expression had an ever-so-slightly human mannerism to it. The slightest different movement and arch in the neck, turn of the head. She only noticed from her time hunting, and more recently her mediation where she dealt with the detail on body language. It was universal it seemed.
This was blatantly the dragons rider rubbing off on him. The expression was distinctly quizzical, and bewildered.
This guess was confirmed with his next words. ''You don't know?''[/i][/b]
Rhaxta didn't really have the time to form a response - and even with the time there probably wouldn't have been one that did her any good. The moment was gone when the great white dragon snorted.

''It does please me, I find it an honor. Faeon,'' Rhaxta said, rolling the name about her mouth. It felt right. She smiled, a genuine and soft smile that played about the corners of her pale-rose lips. ''Well met.

Content to sit in silence for a while after cleaning her wound, Rhaxta turned her attention once again to the meat roasting over the fire. She had turned it a few times, yet she wasn't interested in it being cooked properly. All she really wanted right now was something hot in her stomach to drive off the weakness that seemed to rise up from the depths of her consciousness. Taking out her bone-and-sinew hunting dagger, she sliced off a bit of meat. Crunchy and pretty dry being exposed to the whims of the fire. She chewed gratefully. As she did, she felt some strength beginning to seep back into her limbs. Eventually she - with a much happier stomach - turned back to her wound. The pain from the cleaning had faded completely, yet the pain of the actual wound was beginning to scratch its way through. Her pale hands went down to her shin, cupping the wound yet still an inch away from the gutted wound.
Closing her eyes, Rhaxta shifted her consciousness slightly, brushing up against the little nodule in the back of her mind which held the magic. The melodic, lilting tune filled her mind, the hum and very breath of the magic in her blood. 'Waise heil'.
Her pale-pinkish skin seemed to seethe once, then stretched and flowed together. The itching suddenly ceased, and reluctantly, Rhaxta shifted back and released the magic. The music in her mind faded slightly, yet if she focused she could hear it still, just in the background.

Just in time, it seemed. Rhaxta felt the fleeing press of a consciousness lightly embrace the pair before a great movement caught the corner of Rhaxta's green eye, and she threw herself rolling out of the light of the fire and turned, hand on her weapon. It had just been Faeon, of course, and Rhaxta's jumpiness had just left her hands too occupied to cover her ears as thunder rolled from the great dragons gaping maw.

''Wha-ooh!'' It wasn't really a word, but it was how she felt. Rhaxta blinked a few times, and straightening up she waved her hand either side of her head.

''Painful, enough to concuss someone about five feet away from you. Tactical. I like it.'' Rhaxta shook her head, then seemed to come back to her senses. 'I suppose I didn't annoy you, as I am not already at your tonsils. I take it that fleeing spirit had some..pleasant news?'' she said, still slightly unsure of herself. A dragon roaring down your ear does get the adrenaline going. Fortunately Rhax no longer had any open wounds to worry about, coincidentally didn't have to worry about blood loss along with her mini-heart-attack. The little things, I suppose.