Can dreams come true? [open]

[Baran]

Baran and Shoukami landed a few miles north of Narda. They had originally been in Yazuc, but Shoukami had been sighted by a child, who ran away in fear. Unsure of how the city people might react to a dragon the two companions left with haste, but they did not see any men walking out of the city to where they had been. Some day they'd find somewhere they could settle to live peacefully, Baran just had to figure out how to discover if dragons were welcome outside a city without looking suspicious. Though he was capable of holding his own in conversation, he wasn't the smoothest of talkers, let alone liars, especially when he had to initiate the exchange.

The young dragonrider took off Shoukami's harness and patted his chest, then let the leviathan leap into the sea to fish. As he watched he took out some bread and cheese from one of the harness' puches to munch on as he drank some water. The dragon should have been born a shark for how much he loved the water and the taste of sea creatures. The beast dove beneath the surface and Baran could see which direction Shoukami went as he flapped his wings to propel himself through the water. Whether of not he thought swimming was fun, it was a great method of strengthening his flying muscles.

One thing that always amazed Baran, however, was the beast's appetite. Always when they came out to see Shoukami would pick the fish from the water, bring them back to shore and leave them, then go back out for more. Once he had even brought back a shark, but he said it "tasted weird" and so he never took another for a meal. This time, however, the giant stopped at three large fish, then he stretched and grunted loudly before settling in to feast. Today nap time would follow food time, as it usually did.

Baran leaned against Shoukami's back leg as the two ate, looking out across the sea.

[Courtney and Amphora]

Courtney walked out of Narda. Narda was really close to where she was born. She was planning to get to Carvahall in the next couple of days. She wanted to see it for herself. She hardly remember the place. She was only one when she left the town and moved to Terim with her parents. But also living in Terim was a good thing for a long time. Because she hear of the riders and Phantom Drakes. She just found out that they are building up. She could tell that Amphora was looking at something. But what?

Courtney there is a rider and Dragon near the lake I just passover. I think they only think I was big bird or something.
Okay. Show me where they are. Amphora show her that the rider and his dragon was looking out at a sea. The rider was leaning against the dragon's leg. Courtney start to run to where they were.

[Baran]

Shoukami heard the newcomers long before Baran's sharp ears had, and the slgiht stir of the dragon's leg woke his rider. Baran didn't know anyone in the area since he hadn't gone into Narda yet. He eased one of his short swords out of its sheath and kept it ready in case this person held some kind of ill will toward him and Shoukami, then spied a girl running to them without any attempt at stealth. He relaxed a bit at that; it wasn't a bright plan for someone wishing to attack. If this encounter turned for the worse he wouldn't have any problems getting away. The thought wasn't enough for him to let his guard down, though. He didn't like to be interrupted from rest without a good reason.

"Who are you that disturbs my dreaming?" He called to her. He put an edge in his voice that would have been a warning if she meant to harm them. Shoukami obviously didn't see her as a threat since he made no motion to leave, or even get up; as far as Baran was concerned the tone was precautionary.

[Courtney and Amphora]

She saw that the rider stood up. The rider was a male. He called out to her. From his tone, he had an edge to his voice. She was no threat. She manage to stop close to the rider. But she was a little ways from him.

"I am sorry. My dragon told me that was a dragon and a rider here. She didn't know who they were. I wanted to find out if you were friendly."

[Baran]

Baran regarded her words with a measuring look, tilting his head slightly. He didn't know what to think of what she said. He had to admit it was a relief that she was a dragon rider, but the path wasn't clear of obstacle yet.

After a moment he spoke, "Friendly..."

He said the word as if testing it out like a product in a marketplace, like he didn't want to overpay for a worthless trinket. It sounded hollow coming from his mouth. He and Shoukami hadn't been met with much friendliness in their attempts at finding a home. He knew there were more dragons and riders out there, but these two were the first he'd met in the two years since he and Shoukami became friends.

The sun was warm today on Baran's back, so he took off his coat and then undid the straps that held his blades to his legs, dropping both of them by Shoukami's foot before settling back down where he had sat before, facing the ocean again and fixing his eyes on the distant islands. Maybe they could find a home out there.

After that moment good humor returned to his voice as he spoke with a smile, "Well, our level of friendliness depends on your next move."

He grabbed some cheese from his pack and tossed it to her.

[Courtney and Amphora]

Courtney catch the cheese he tossed her. Courtney could tell that those two have not had any one friendly to them. Just from his look before he said "Well, our level of friendliness depends on your next move."
"If you think I am an enemy. I can tell you right now I am not. I want to free this land."

[Baran]

Baran looked at her from the corner of his eye, only slightly turning his head. Something she had said caught his attention. He hadn't much bothered to pay attention to any rumors in the cities since he and Shoukami never stayed anywhere long. He figured that they traveled so much that nothing would catch up to them.

"Free this land... what from?"

[Courtney and Amphora]

Courtney looked up at the Male rider. He must not have grow up in terim or one of the major cities. Because the people there know that there is two different riders. The riders and the Phantom Drake. She grow up in terim. She know that are some riders. Than some Phantom Drakes riders. She know all about both of them.

"To free the land from the Phantom Drake Riders. They want to rule the land. By Force or Control. But few only of that. It's mostly talked about in the bigger cities like Terim, Uru 'Baen, Gil' Ead, or Dras-Leona. Because all four of they seen Phantom Drake riders Or Dragon Riders at least once every other month. But it's normal the same rider. I know this because I was raise in terim. Of course I saw One of each while I was living there."

[Baran]

Baran grunted. He'd never heard of Phantom Drake Riders. In his years with the pirates a dragon was a dragon, and they'd not seen one at all until Shoukami had hatched on board. Her story didn't convince him of anything, though. His time looking up to his brother, coupled with his pirate career, had taught him to take nothing for face value.

"I take it you're against the Phantom Drakes, then. That's a lovely account, but why is it bad for one to wish to rule a land?
"Since you lived in a large city you should know as well as any person that the wealthy tend to exploit the poor and get away with it most times in most places. Then they brag about it to their fellow nobles. A new ruler, whether it runs the country with an iron fist or not, would wipe that slate clean and put them on a social level closer to peasants, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. A free land isn't always a good land, rider."

[Courtney and Amphora]

"Vel einradhin iet ai Shur'tugal. I never said I was wealthy. I may grow up it terim. My Father's is a blacksmith. We live in one of the houses near the gate. Which is a simple house for a simple house. I don't want any other either. It depends on what you thinks is right and Wrong. Some people just don;t want to be involve with this. They just be treated with kindness or what ever they want to be treated. I respect that. From what I know is that the leader of the Phantom Drake is a cruel man. He wanted to rule this land under Cruel and evil state. I am not sure if he will control everyone even those who just want to be Neutral. The Land most likely have a government after this. In way it will be free from the evil."
Suddenly Amphora landed besides her. Amphora walked up to the Male rider. Amphora looked much lighter purple than the Dark Purple dragon.

You are young and foolish rider if you don;t believe what she has said. I know what she speaks of. When Courtney was wander land. I took it upon myself to find the Phantom Drake so I could learn how they think. They even treat each other with Cruelity. She use the Ancient language. She told you that she given her word a s rider that it's true.

[Baran]

Baran was annoyed at the girl for her rant. She was flighty, and he didn't like flighty people. Her dragon was almost as bad for all her assumptions. He bit back comments that would have left the two burnt and instead grunted at the dragon, "Don't assume I'm foolish just because I don't know your 'ancient language.' You do much of that, it seems, judging from your words just now."

He turned to the girl without any further regard to her dragon. It was utterly discourteous, and annoying to jump to conclusions about him as she did. The problem was he wasn't sure if he could keep sharp words from coming out of his mouth at the giant lizard, "I never said you were wealthy, either... Courtney," he almost said 'girl' because of her most recent behavior, but he thought better of it. He continued in a bitter voice, "But I ask again, what's so bad about an iron fist? Based on my experience, it wouldn't be bad for this land to learn some discipline."

He packed his block of cheese back into the food sack on the harness and talked with Shoukami for a bit about leaving. His friend was glad to have met another dragon, but like Baran, he didn't like how things were playing out. As far as Baran was concerned if this was how other Dragon Riders were, he'd rather not meet them.

[terry]

((ooc: If either of you minds me joining, just PM me--I can delete this!))

There was a knee-high brown and gray dragon creeping like a hunting cat towards the four people--the two riders, and the two dragons. It was clearly making an attempt at stealth. It was just as clearly failing. Tiara Jade herself didn't care much for stealth. She wasn't good at it, and anyone who was good at it wasn't to be trusted, in her experience. She was walking towards them quite openly on the hatchling's heels.

She'd just been in Narda, trying to find someone with a boat heading towards the island the Riders seemed to be setting up on. She'd had just as much luck there as she'd had back in Terim. To vent her frustrations, she'd gone for a little multi-mile stroll.

And heard some rather interesting voices in passing.

So here she was, standing in front of these distinctly suspicious folks, looking distinctly suspicious herself with a dragon hatchling at her feet. She crossed her arms, and nodded to them in greeting. "Well. Nice to meet you, I suppose. I'm Tiara Jade. Any of you know how to get to Doru Areaba? Short of flying, that is." She eyed their dragons. Gigantic lumps of lizards that they were. You going to get that big, Queen?

Bigger. The hatchling c0ckily answered, puffing herself up in the face of the older dragons.

Great, Tiara Jade replied. Just great.

[Baran]

((You're totally welcome to join! =P I was counting on a few people hopping in on this thread))

Baran turned to the newcomer and heard her out. His first thought when he saw the hatchling was sarcastically congratulating himself at finding another dragon rider. But then he remembered the days when Shoukami was still only a hatchling. It was hard to think of those days, considering how fast the leviathan had grown. It had been a long time since he'd been able to wrestle around with his best friend, and his scars protested the memory as he became conscious of them.

He didn't realize that a slight smile had slid across his face as he looked at the hatchling mustered forth all the extra size it could get while next to Tiara Jade, but he turned and patted Shoukami's shoulder fondly. His scales were smooth and slightly warm from the sunlight. The amethyst-colored dragon had been the same way on the corsair, constantly challenging any of the pirates that got on his nerves to prove to them he wasn't weak, or small, despite the fact that he was just so back then.

As if on cue, Shoukami belched. He looked at the others sheepishly with a quick glance at the fish remains a short distance off. Baran almost burst out laughing. He almost forgot the uncomfortable situation that had covered the meeting between Courtney and him like a funeral pall. He would need to smooth that over somehow, but for now the best he could do was let that conversation sit and fade.

He walked a step forward and introduced himself with a bow, "Hello, Tiara Jade. That's a lovely name. My name is Baran. This is Shoukami," he motioned fondly to the lovable beast behind him, "What sets your eyes on Doru Areaba?"

For all he knew, that place might be a home or it might be a hell. He'd never been there despite his years at sea. It had to be a haven if the woman before him was going there with a hatchling. Baran felt his hopes rise. Maybe a dream would come true, finally.

[Courtney and Amphora]

Courtney was glad that this woman came. She wasn't sure what to say to Baron. Amphora was looking down. A Hatchling Dragon was with Tiara. The Dragon seem different from Amphora somehow. It seem this dragon will argue with her master about stuff. The Hatchling puff it self up. It was for certain hat this hatchling was full of Proud. Courtney looked up at the woman. '[I am Courtney. This is my Dragon Amphora."

[terry]

Tiara Jade nodded to all of them in turn as they made their introductions. "Baran and Shoukami. Courtney and Amphora." She nodded again, mostly to herself. "I'll remember 'em. Seems I forgot something--this," she pointed a finger down at the over-inflated hatchling at her feet, "is Queen. Just ignore her."

The little dragon looked up at her, and hissed. Ignore me when I bite your ankle.

I'll ignore you when I kick you across the beach. Tiara Jade returned.

"To answer your question, Baran, I'm headed to Doru Areaba to see what the people living there are up to. I hear some say that they're up for restarting the Riders, like in the old stories; and I hear some say that they're in to be like Galbatorix. Don't know which it is myself. Since I obviously can't ignore the situation," she glanced meaningfully at the hatchling, who turned her head away and started preening a wing, "I figured I'd have a look for myself. If they're up for restarting the Riders, I figure I'll pitch in. I've got some healer's training, and I know how to handle myself. If they're setting up to be Galbatorix, well, then someone's got to set them straight." Tiara Jade nodded a final time, in agreement with herself. At her feet, Queen nodded in time with her. On that point, they were agreed. Never mind that they didn't look like a force to be reckoned with: they'd teach anyone who stood in their way that they weren't a force to be laughed at, either. "What about you folks? You thinkin' of headin' there? If you're of a like mind, then the more the merrier, I'd say."