Dragon Rider Play

Blade smiled and stroked his little dragon. "Hello there, little girl. You're so cute!"

Mark smiled and chuckled. "Come on. I know you can do it. You are so strong to have broken so much shell all at once."

The hail dragon peeped and tried to climb up to wrap himself around Tithenor's warm neck.

Pat's dragon crooned back and snuggled close. Yes, she knew she chose right. She knew Pat was really a girl, but that made her all the more special. Women could be more caring than some men, and more sensitive to the dragon's needs. Also, she liked feeling Pat's touch. The little dragon craned her neck and licked Pat's chin affectionately.

The tired little dragon shook herself and sighed as she stretched out. This was comfy and warm. He had a sweet voice. She liked this person. He would be a good rider.

The little dragon squawked and rolled himself over, finally breaking off the shell. He stood on wobbly little legs, his frill flopping shapelessly on his back and falling into his eyes.

The elf smiled at his little dragon and lifted him up. "/You will not be able to stay here long. You will be too big to fit!/"

Pat giggled and kissed the top of the dragon's head. "Thank you. I love you, little one." She stroked the soft feathers gently. "Your eyes say you are smart, too. You deserve a name. A good name."

Blade smiled and stroked her. "You will be such a pretty dragon when you're all grown up. You're cute now, but I know later you will be very pretty."

Mark laughed a little softly and scratched under his dragon's chin. "There you are. See? I told you that you could do it."

The little hail dragon peeped in protest and crawled on top of Tithenor's head this time. His little claws tugged at the elf's hair as he climbed.

Oh course she was smart! She had a lot to learn, but she was very smart. She purred a little, almost like a cat, and also rubbed her head against Pat in a very catlike manner.

The Blade dragon lifted her head and shook herself from nosetip to tailtip. She eyed him, turning from side to side as she examined him closely. Cute? She liked pretty, but cute? She wasn't a bunny!

Te blue dragon closed his eyes, purring happily as he stretched out his neck. Oooo That was good!

"/Do you have a good view from up there?/" Tithenor asked, amused.

Blade looked at her. "What's that look for? Do you not like being complimented?"

Mark chuckled. "That look says that I'm not stopping this anytime soon. At least not anytime soon and getting away with it."

The little dragon on Blue's head seemed to like it up there. His tail wrapped around one of Tithenor's ears. He peeped before he sniffed Tithenor's other ear. He licked it with a small, soft, warm tongue.

The little dragon chattered at Blade and bobbed her head in a feisty manner. Unfortunately, the move unbalanced her and she ended up tipping over on her nose.

The little dragon purred and rubbed up his head against Mark's hand. No, please. This was lovely! He let out a huge yawn, his knees buckling under him.

Tithenor let out an undignified squeak and jerked his head instinctively, trying not to laugh. "/Not the ear, please,/" he chuckled, reaching up to rub the dragon's nose.

"We will learn together," Pat promised, smiling as she preened the slightly damp feathers. "I will take care of you, I promise!"

Blade laughed softly and helped her right herself. "You're something else. You know that?"

Mark smiled and adjusted his hand so his Frillback could lay comfortable while still getting chin scratches.

Tithenor's dragon crooned. What a funny noise his rider made! He did it again, hoping his chosen would make that noise again.

Pat's dragon let out a mighty yawn and curled up in Pat's lap. This was nice. She liked how Pat was stroking her. She started to doze off after a bit.

The little dragon squawked and head butted Blade's hand. She seemed determined not to let her tiny size and wobbly knees stop her.

The little dragon half fell over into Mark's hand, falling asleep almost instantly. He lounged over Mark's hand happily.

Tithenor squeaked and tried, gently, to redirect the dragon's attention. "/No ears,/" he said firmly, snickering.

Pat smiled as she cradled her dragon. "Good girl."

The headmaster caught their attention. "Everyone, please take your dragons to the hatchery. This first night you may stay with them, but keep them separate and with you. Some of your breeds are extremely curious. This is good, but they are too young to know to be careful, so for their own safety, please just keep them in the hatchery."

Blade pet his little girl, liking her spunk. He nodded at the headmaster and stood up, holding his little chick. "Come on. Let's go claim a good spot for bed tonight."

Mark smiled and carefully stood as to not wake the little guy. He followed the people going to the nursery to spend the night with their dragons.

Tithenor's dragon crooned again and stopped this time, and just decided to lick his rider's head, making some of his hair stick up awkwardly.

Pat's dragon fell asleep in her arms, comforted and relaxed by her rider's presence.

The hatchling waved her little claws like she was swimming, head held high. Why was she being carried? She could walk just fine!

The little dragon in Mark's arms curled up, snoozing happily. He rather enjoyed the rocking motion of being carried.

Tithenor looked up at him and sighed. "/You are going to be a trouble maker, aren't you?/" he chuckled as he stood carefully, using his hands to steady the hatchling.

Pat cradled her dragon and carried her slowly, the last in line. She didn't care this time, happy to take it slow.

"Nope. You will be carried for now, so deal with it." Blade told his dragon.. "I like you a lot, but not right now."

Mark smiled and walked with his dragon. It finally started to feel real. He was going to be a dragon rider!

When Tithenor stood to walk, his dragon climbed down to wrap around his neck again.

Pat's dragon crooned softly and snuggled closer in her sleep as Pat walked.

The Blade dragon chirped indignantly, but went limp, clearly pouting.

Tithenor found a good place to sit in the corner. Somehow, he attracted Pat, and she sat nearby, making herself comfortable in the straw. Later, the straw wold be replaced with something less flammable, but they were too young to worry about that yet.

Mark wound up near Tithenor and Pat, and Blade soon after. Blade tried to play with his dragon once they were sitting. "There. Now, as long as you're good, we can play for a while."

Tithenor's dragon tried to crawl inside his shirt. It was nice and warm there, he could feel it!

"I thought this breed liked the cold," Tithenor remarked to Mark, making room Pat and Blade.

Blade's dragon chirped and attacked Blade's shirt sleeve, chewing on it a moment. It seemed to be nothing more than puppy play... until she snagged the shiny blade hidden up his sleeve and scampered off with it. Her toy now!

"They live in the cold, but they still like warmth and are cold blooded." Mark informed him. "They just won't eat hot or warm food either, by the way. Only frozen. It's important so they can actually digest their food properly."

Blade yelped and caught the little dragon. "Nope! Not that knife! You can have any knife but that one, okay?" He showed the little dragon four little marking in a square shape on the blade. "Those symbols there... that makes this knife mine and mine alone. Besides..." He pulled out another knife, this one with little quartz crystals in it. "This one is shinier and prettier."

"I see." Tithenor opened his shirt and allowed the little dragon inside. "Blade, do you really think you should be letting the baby play with the knife?"

The little dragon tipped her head, studying the shiny blade. Suddenly, he lunged forward and grabbed the new blade before trying to scurry off to hide it.

"She's a Blade dragon, Blue. Besides, that's one of my duller ones that doesn't like to hold an edge. I mostly kept it because it was pretty." Blade explained.

Blue's dragon curled around his torso, loving to soak up his rider's warmth. He soon fell asleep.

"Very well, just keep an eye on her," Tithenor sighed, watching the little dragon awkwardly crawled off to hide her new treasure.

Pat just smiled and shook her head, too happy to care about anything as she curled up in the straw with her dragon.

Blade nodded. "I am. If need be, I'll tell her even better spots to hide her hoard."

Pat's dragon was very cuddly right now. Her size was perfectly small, and her downy wings had dried off enough to be very, very soft.

Mark laid down and closed his eyes, sleeping with his dragon.

"Good. Just so long as she's not stealing from fellow riders.... and not putting it where someone will sit on it," Tihenor said as he settled back, careful of his dragon. He completely ignored the fact that his hair was an absolute mess. He seemed content to watch over the sleepers.

Blade's dragon was busily burrowing in the straw and pulling her treasure under it. There! Safe and sound. She sat atop it proudly, not realizing not only was she marking the spot, but half the blade was sticking out.

Pat put her arms around her little black dragon, curled around her protectively as she fell asleep. Her family! She didn't know where the thought came from, but it was true. This place was home, and these people right here were her family. It was a happy thought.

Tithenor's dragon was happily sleeping on his rider's warm belly. He was small for now, but he would grow into a large and solid dragon when the time came.

Blade stood and went over to his little dragon. "Hey, you can still see your treasure sticking out. Here, if you want this to be your spot, at least let's get enough straw to hide your treasures more." He walked back to the straw pile and got some more to hide the dagger.

Pat's dragon snored softly, content to sleep and be with her rider.

Tithenor stroked his dragon, his mind wandering through names, though scenarios, drifting. This was a good place. Even so, he couldn't rid himself of the niggling doubt that he was worthy of this.

The hatchling eyed the straw suspiciously then accepted it, fussing with her pile. She arranged and rearrange the pile several times, clearly not tired.

Tithenor's dragon clearly deemed him worthy. He liked that his rider could be humble, despite the elven stereotype. The little dragon crooned softly as he slept.

Blade watched his dragon. He smiled. "You aren't going to bed anytime soon, aren't you?"

Tithenor glanced down, smiling. "/Thank you,/" he murmured.

The little dragon chirped and tried dragging it to another spot only to trip over her own wing and fell over.

The little hail dragon slept soundly and happily.

Blade went over his dragon when she tripped, concerned. He fussed over her and made sure the little dragon was okay.