Dragon Rider Play

Pat's dragon found a space in a hollowed tree and showed it to Pat. This one was bigger, and would fit her, right?

Mark smiled and looked at Tithenor. "Is there one in specific you want to find, or are we working together?"

Blade found a decent sized tree, free of any poisonous plants. "Let's hide up here." Blade said. He started to climb the tree with practiced confidence."

Pat smiled as she wormed her way into the hole. "Very good, girl! Very good! Can you grab me that branch?" She pointed to a small fallen branch just out of reach. If the dragon brought her that, she could use it to cover the hole.

"Which would you prefer?" Tithenor asked. "Either is fine with me."

His dragon stayed on the ground, chittering in disapproval. Not up there! That was too easy to see. Ground was better for hiding.

The little dragon tugged the branch over to Pat before she hid under a bush nearby.

"Let's look for both together, but be spread out a little so we cover more ground." Mark strategized.

Blade frowned. "Okay, where to you suggest?" He asked his dragon.

"Agreed," Tithenor said with a nod, moving on. He got distracted by all the other riders hiding and seeking, but stayed on target. Pat would likely be the easier to find, they should aim for Blade first. He instantly began scanning the trees. Blade did like to hide high up.

Mark's Frillback trotted ahead proudly, sniffing about eagerly for any sign of his two friends. Where were they hiding?

The Blade dragon scratched at the ground. Ground! In a hole! Come on, dense rider, hiding in a hole would be better. Tithenor spotted anything and everything in the trees, but seemed blind to his feet.

Mark followed his dragon while he tried to scan everywhere. This was harder than he thought! He saw people, but they weren't who he needed to look for.

Blade saw the logic in that and stealthily followed his dragon, looking for a hole with her.

The frillback caught Blade's scent first and mantled his wings with a proud squeak. This way! This way to the Blade! There were little scratch marks here and there at his height that marked the Blade Dragon's trail, too.

Blade's dragon knew exactly where she was going. She scampered right to the edge of the island and disappeared over. She crawled down the web of interwoven roots from the trees above and found a nice, sturdy little hang. It was like a root hammock!

Mark smiled. "Tithenor! My dragon has caught Blade's trail! Lead the way, little guy."

Blade slid into the spot. "Nice. Good job. Okay, do you want to try and see if you can distract Mark and Blue from finding me if they get too close?"

Tithenor nodded to the Frillback. "Well done!" He glanced at his dragon. "Mellon, do you want to go play with Blade's dragon while we find Blade?"

The Blade dragon looked at him critically. Why should she do that? She'd found the stubborn tree climber a lovely little hole to hide in.

Pat shifted uncomfortably in her hiding spot. Maybe this wasn't such a good spot. Well hidden, yes, but uncomfortable, and her skin itched. It felt like there were little bugs crawling all over her. She shifted again and reached up to scratch her neck. Feeling something on her skin, she brought down her hand and stared in horror at the huge centipede wriggling between her fingers. The city girl felt a scream rising up and clamped a hand over her mouth. No! Don't scream! Boys didn't scream at bugs, they chased girls with bugs. Plus, the others would here, and she'd get found. No screaming!
Gingerly, she placed the bug down, hyperventilating behind her hand. Pat closed her eyes and tried to think of anything else. ANYTHING else! Her dragon. Yes, think of her dragon! What should her name be? Pat pressed her back against the back of the tree and felt several sudden sharp stings at her waist. Ouch! What was that? She moved forward, thinking it was a branch poking her or something. Not a bug. Not a bug! Bugs couldn't hurt you, right? They were just... creepy!

Mellon churred and scampered off to find the Blade dragon. She may be fun to play with!

Blade glared at his dragon. "It's strategy, okay?"

Pat's dragon whimpered softly. She felt her rider's discomfort. Should she help her rider? Could she help her rider?

Tithenor almost smiled and followed Mellon and the Frillback. This was much more fun than Elven training.

The Blade dragon glared right back but gave in. She still grumbled the whole way back up to solid ground then scampered off, deliberately gouging the occasional tree. This way!

Pat pulled at her collar. It was hot. And her back burned! Her stomach heaved, and she felt like she was going to lose everything she'd eaten for breakfast. Wincing, she pulled herself out of the tree, panting. She needed air! She didn't get far, falling onto her side and curling into a ball, tears pricking her eyes as her stomach hurt worse and worse. Then her chest. She clutched at it, whimpering in pain and fear. What was wrong with her? Was she having a heart attack??
She looked at her dragon fearfully. "Get help," she managed weakly, barely able to breathe.

Mellon seemed to enjoy himself. He sniffed everything. It was so cool out here!

Pat's dragon whined and let out a long and loud keening noise. She kept it up until Blackwater showed up.

Blackwater pulled Pat out of the tree. He murmured something in his native tongue as he pulled the few remaining milipedes off of Pat. "Come on, we need to get you to the doctor..." He summoned his dragon and placed Pat on his back, setting Pat's dragon with her. "Take her to the medical wing. Show them it was these." He gave his dragon one of the insects. The dragon delicately took the insect in his mouth and flew Pat straight to the location his rider told him. Once there, he let out a low growl to announce his presence.

The frillback went straight to the edge and looked down. Then he backed up and followed the scent away. Then back, then away. Finally he sat down and stared up at Mark, whining. Blade and dragon went down, but dragon scent went that way along with the scratches.

"What is the problem?" Tithenor asked, keeping an eye on Mellon. Hearing the sound of wings, he turned and looked skyward in time to see the teacher's dragon take off, a limp body on his back. "Someone has been hurt," he said softly, a feeling a dread in his chest.

Pat keened in pain, her hands clamping on the dragon's saddle as they flew. She didn't even register they were flying until they landed and she almost fell off.
53 hurried out of the medical wing(?). "What's happened?"

Mark frowned. "I hope they're okay. The trail diverges, apparently. Or at least, his dragon's does. What do you think, Tithenor?"

Blade could hear them talking, and fell as silent as a living person could.

Blackwater's dragon gently laid the millipede on the ground and then nudged Pat. The dragon couldn't speak, but hoped that 53 understood what the dragon had tried to relay.

(Black widow)

Tithenor paused, glancing between the two paths. "I will follow the dragon, you follow the boy." He started off, clicking his tongue at Mellon. "/Find your friend, Mellon./"

53 nodded and scooped up the unconscious girl. "Well done, dragon." He turned and hurried into the ward. He needed to hurry.

(Sorry. My bad on that one.)

Mark nodded. "Okay little Frillback. Please follow only Blade's trail, not his dragon's."

Mellon chirped and bounded down the path the Blade Dragon made. This was fun!

The dragon nodded before he flew back to his rider. He felt more comfortable in the forest, much like Blackwater.

Mark's dragon chirped and ran back to the edge of the island, pacing back and forth. There! Down there! He knew the boy was down there, but how to get down there?

The blade dragon ran for a while then dug a hole into the ground at the base of a tree. She'd be safe here, right?

Tithenor followed Mellon patiently, trusting the dragon's nose more than his eyes.

53 got Pat into the ward, ignoring the dragon as he began looking for the bites. He had the "lad" almost fully stripped before he realized. "Oh dear..." he murmured, staring at the two little mounds on her chest. The headmaster would not be happy about this. He turned his attention back to the bites, treating them expertly as he thought. Then again, was it his right to tell? The boy - er, girl - was his patient. That meant confidentiality between them, and if the dragon had chosen her, who was he to say otherwise?
Finished bandaging the bites and administering the antidote, 53 put Pat in a loose gown and placed her in one of the partitioned off rooms. She could rest there for now.

Mark nodded and looked around the tree. He told his dragon to stay back and be safe, and found Blade. Blade left the little ledge a lot more confidently than Mark did.

"Okay, not where did my dragon run off to..." Blade pondered aloud.

Mellon diligently stayed on the Blade dragon's trail. He became confused when it ended and he didn't see the other dragon. He looked at Tithenor and made a questioning noise.

It didn't help that the whole time 53 worked on Pat, her dragon growled and sent death glares at the medic. This was her rider! She chose Pat because she would be the only one she would allow! Yeah, Pat was a girl, but Pat already cared a lot about her, and she loved her rider! And no man was going to stand in the little dragon's way between her and her rider!

The Frillback chirped and purred, rubbing up against Blade and nipping at his clothes. Found him! He'd found him! Wasn't he the best hunter ever?

Tithenor hesitated, looking down. "Now is when I need Blade or Mark," he admitted so only Mellon could here. "Let's see if we can find a hole, little one." Wincing in annoyance, he knelt down and began focusing on the dirt.

"It's okay, little dragon," 53 sighed, pulling the sheet up over Pat. "I will not tell anyone." He left the wrappings Pat used to hide her breasts on the table next to her and let himself out. "Come get me if she is in distress."

Mark chuckled and picked up his dragon, scratching him under the chin. "That was such a good job! I'm so proud of you! Can you find Tithenor next?" He asked his dragon.

Pat's dragon still growled at 53. He better not tell! Otherwise, she will bite him! Once 53 left, the little dragon curled up at her rider's side. She would stay by her side as long as Pat needed it.

The Frillback closed his eyes as he purred exuberantly. His rider was proud! At the request to find Tithenor, he let out a confident chirp and scrambled down. TIthenor was easier to find than Blade or Blade's dragon. All he had o do was follow the scent of Clean with a faint trace of lilac.

Tithenor, meanwhile, was on his hands and knees with his dragon, poking the bushes with a stick and gingerly looking around. Where was that annoying hatchling?

Pat stirred, wrapping an arm around her dragon without waking. She drew strength from the presence of her dragon.

Mark smiled. He felt good. If his Frillback was happy, that meant he was doing something right, right?

Mellon found a patch of dirt that smelled strongly of the missing dragon and sniffed it. Huh?

Pat's dragon crooned softly and gently nuzzled her rider's cheek. She was so glad she could help!

Tithenor crawled over and stared at the ground. Gingerly, he poked it with his stick.

The Frillback spotted Tithenor on his hands and knees, his focus on the ground. With a triumphant chirp, he scampered up behind Tithenor and pounced. The elf yelped as he toppled forward.

Mellon saw the Frillback and tackled him off of Tithenor. It was his rider! He play wrestled with the other dragon.

Mark laughed. "What are you doing, Tithenor? We found Blade."

The Frillback rolled over, happily play fighting with Mellon, growling and snapping gently, careful not to hurt him.

Tithenor stood, trying to regain his dignity as he brushed himself off. "I am attempting to find Blade's pointy shadow. Mellon seems to think she is in the dirt."

Mellon squealed happily and "fought" back as ferociously. He didn't want to hurt his friend either, but was having a lot of fun.

Blade laughed. "Hey little girl, I think you can come out now. We need to find Pat and her dragon next, okay?"