Dragon Rider Play

Warrior sighed and flopped down next to her, snuggling up.  The point was that tomorrow would be a better day.  Tomorrow was always a better day.

~

Erika finally finished sorting out her treasures, missing only her figurines and one other item. She went to Blade and stood at the side of his bed, chirping.  Could she go get them?

"I'm finished," Pat mumbled to Mark.  "Need anything more?"

~

Erika huffed, annoyed, but sniffed at the figurine.  She chirped in approval and went back to her hoard where she sat watching Blade.

~

Tithenor stood watching the others in the forge, his keen eyes never missing a detail.  Alistair's group looked like they were falling apart.  Eric and the other two couldn't work together well at all without their leader.  They were snapping at each other and getting in each other's way.  Then he noticed Henry's group.  Henry and his group had always been in the shadows, but now that he thought about it, weren't they always third after his group and Alistairs?

Pat shook her head.  "I can't.  I don't even know how anymore."

~

Erika watched quietly then returned to him during a pause.  Reaching up, she touched his arm with her muzzle. She was sorry for hurting him.  She didn't mean to.

Pat looked away, her shoulders hunched.  She didn't dare open to Nightshade.  She knew what she was doing now was hurting her dragon, but getting her involve would be even worse.  "I need to pee.  Can I please go in peace?"

~

Erika purred and aimed a lick at his hand.  Maybe, but he was Her bonehead!

Pat nodded and walked away, holding her elbows.  This was terrible.  Everything had gone wrong.  So very wrong.

~

Erika continued to purr and licked his hand a couple more times before rubbing her head against his hand.  She loved her rider!

Warrior chirped happily and draped his wing over his clanmate, snuggling in.  He loved his littermates.

~

Erika flicked her tail.  Why wouldn't she?  Blade was the perfect rider!

Tithenor was heading for the loo when he heard voices behind it.  He paused, listening.  One was Pat's voice.  The other he had ha hard time placing.  Familiar, but not.  Curious.  His frown deepened as he listened.  Pat was in tears, begging the other to let him out of his blackmail, but the harsh voice threatened to do worse if Pat didn't go through with what he told the young rider to do.  Eventually, the harsh voice left, and after a few moments of gut-wrenching tears, so did Pat.
Tithenor paced the inside of the loo for several more minutes, furious.  He wanted to walk right out and slug that other rider then and there, but something had kept him still.  He had to figure out who it was and if at all possible, turn them into the Headmaster with proof.  Solid proof.  He was fuming when he left and it showed in his glacier bearing.  A couple of other riders passed him and instantly skirted away.  The elf was out for blood.

~

Pat made sure her face showed no signs of tears before heading for the Bunkhouse.  She couldn't quite hide her puffy, red eyes, but with everything else, she doubted the others would care.  She kept her head down, stalling as she opened the door and worked the hinge, hearing the squeak.  She should oil that.

Erika took the figurine carefully and took it to Pat.  Pat looked up, surprised.  She took the wooden figurine and stared at it.  "What is this?" she asked Blade without looking at him, turning the wooden Nightsahde over in her hands.  What was it for?  Why had he given it to her?  Was there a deeper reason?

"Thank you," she said softly, cradling it in her hands.

Suddenly, Tithenor stormed in, and his expression was literally that.  An ice storm on legs.  He glanced around.  "Where is Mark?"

Tithenor glanced at Pat.  "Go tell Mark to come here.  Now.  Then go check the garden.  It didn't get tended to today."

Pat nodded, knowing it was only to keep her away, but she gladly accepted the chore.  She stood, pocketing the figurine and went to find Mark.

Pat spotted Mark and went to him.  "Tithenor said to meet him in the Bunkhouse now.  He looks mad."

Tithenor glanced at Blade.  "If I sit, I will break something.  Walking is better."

Tithenor nodded sharply and did just that until Mark arrived.  He stopped short.  "Did Pat follow you or is he elsewhere?  I do not want him overhearing."