Dragon Rider Play

"Shall we tally the points then?" Alterrion suggested. The angel was eager to see if he won or not.

Mark kept stroking and fussing over his wonderful dragon.

Krudd shrugged.  "Sure, why not?  There's only one left from each of ours and we never said it was a fight to the death."  He handed Lucious his basket, and Lucious handed Alterion his.

(Uh, why are they handing their baskets around?)

(Well, if they count their own flags, someone could call foul.  If they count each other's flags, the students see it's all fair.)

(Ahhhhh)

Alterrion handed his to Blackwater, who gave Krudd his team's. They started to count flags.

Blade looked anxious. "I hope we win. I think we did because of all the flags you alone got, Erika."

Erika purred and strutted proudly.

Seeing the teachers counting, Tithenor leisurely strolled down to join the others.

Blade laughed softly, glad his dragon was happy. He would have taken pride in such a good job himself.

Mark walked over to join his comrades. "Who do you think won?" He asked.

"The Red team aquired the most flags," Tithenor told him just as Krudd and the other teachers finished comparing numbers.

"Red team!  Well done!  We won by a twelve point lead!" the half-dwarf roared, clearly proud of his team.

Blade grinned and hooted as he heard that. "Yeah! We won, Erika!"

Erika gave her best attempt at a roar, stretching up tall as she flapped her wings.  She won!  Rider on!  They were winners!

Blade laughed and scooped up his wonderful dragon. Once the game was over though, Blade swallowed. He was dreading what he said he would do next. He took a deep breath and walked over to Lucious, holding Erika close. "Um, Professor? I... I think I owe you some lines?" He asked quietly.

Professor Lucious turned to look at Blade.  "I had thought you intended to skip out, considering the way you left."

Blade looked away. "Yeah... but I talked to a friend, and I want to try and make it up. I was... I was scared you would take Erika away when I failed your class." He admitted.

Lucious briefly touched Blade's shoulder and led him farther from the other.  When he spoke, his voice was surprisingly gentle.  "Blade, do you think you are the only one to come through here who cannot write or read?  I can help you with that.  It is but a small block easily mended.  If you are willing to put in the time and the effort.  We will never take away your dragon - you and she are bound for life now - but we are strict about your schooling because you are inheriting a great power.  We need to know you will handle it responsibly.  It would be very easy to take your little one and run and then later when she is older use her to terrorize others or take justice into your own hands like a reckless vigilante.  Those scenarios always end badly.  I do not want that for you.  I want to help you, Blade, but you must be willing to put in the work and the dedication.  Are you willing to do that?"

Blade held his dragon a little tighter. He was still a bit scared, but he felt a bit better knowing his dragon wouldn't be taken from him. He didn't mind when her spikes dug in his skin, the slight pain helping him focus. "Would it be okay if I asked my friend to help me to?" He trusted Tithenor a lot more than Lucious.

Erika chirped, looking up and nudging his chin gently.
"If that is what will help you learn, it is agreeable by me," Lucious said with a faint smile.  "Come talk to me tomorrow with your friend and I will set up a time during my class you may study."

Blade nodded a little, petting Erika, and then went over to Tithenor, asking if he can talk to him alone for a moment.

Tithenor said simply, "I will be there."  He was proud of his friend.  His face wouldn't show it, but he hoped his actions would.

The little Frillback was tired.  And hungry!

Blade smiled a little thankfully. He was glad he had a friend like Tithenor, even if he could be aggravatingly aloof at times.

Mark smiled and took his wonderful dragon back to the cages and found some extra meat and prepared a snack for the Frillback. He earned it!

"We should take the dragons back for a snack," Tithenor said as Erika began gnawing on Blade's shirt.  He eyed the holes her spines were tearing in the fabric.  "You will be going through clothing faster than an elf maiden with that little one."

The Frillback purred excitedly as he ate his snack, falling asleep soon after, laying comfortably on his back.

Mark smiled and sat with his dragon. He liked just being with the little guy, and he really wanted to come up with a good name for him.

Blade shrugged. "Eh. I can do my best to repair the ones that aren't too bad."

(Idea! What if that's partially how Blade finds out Pat is a girl? He went back to change shirts, because he accidentally put on one that was riddled with holes, and stumbled upon Pat?)

The Frillback let out a little snore and moved closer, humming happily.  He was content.

Tithenor frowned as they walked and put a finger through one of the holes.  When he brought it out, the tip was red.  "It is not just the shirt I worry about.  Perhaps Professor Krudd will be able to help you with a leather protective vest."

Blade frowned. "I will talk to him about that after I get Erika taken care of." He honestly didn't even know she had broken skin, but he was used to getting nicks and scratches all the time.

"That will be good," Tithenor agreed.  "Excuse me, I must freeze the meat for Mellon."

Blade nodded and found a small mammal for Erika. He let her eat it before putting her in her cage and giving her a new knife to hoard in the cage. "Okay. I need to go talk to Krudd alone, but I will be back in the morning. Sleep well, Erika. You deserve a good rest.