Dragon Rider Play

Erika tried to imitate Pat.  She spread her wings like a human demanding, What?  Then she waved one wing awkwardly.  That way?  Then a head bob.

"Describe the motions." Blade said. "Then I'll imitate that, and you tell me what needs editing."

Erika did her best to describe.  Pat had looked out the window then gestured unhappily as though to ask what someone wanted.  After watching for a moment, Pat had then gestured toward te second wild island.  Then nodded.

Blade relayed this to Tithenor as best he could. "I remember I had told Henry that if I were to hide a hoard, I would do it on a Wild Island."

"Would that not be a little obvious?" Tithenor asked.  "If right after you told him that he did something on one of the islands."

Blade shrugged. "I don't know. However, if something were to happen on those islands, it's not like we have a professor that can talk to the very trees." He murmured.

"Indeed," Tithenor agreed.  "Rest and sleep.  We shall figure this out tomorrow."

Blade nodded. "Erika, you're sleeping with me tonight." He announced.

Erika perked up at that.  She scrambled up onto the bed and got comfortable.

Tithenor smiled.  "Don't get used to it."

Blade shrugged. "If I need to keep what I care about close, Erika would be the farthest in the rookery. So now, I don't have to worry about that." A thought occurred to him. "Oh, how did your follow up with the Headmaster go?"

"You have an appointment tomorrow morning to meet Alistair," Tithenor told him.  "It will be during the time before breakfast that we normally use to tend to the garden.  I will see to your section."

Blade nodded. "Thanks. I'll try to get up early to allow more time even."

Tithenor inclined his head.  "That would be good.  Sleep well, honeg."

Blade nodded and laid down. "You too, toriaun."

Tithenor went to feed and care for Mellon before bed, taking care of Nightshade while he was there.  That finished to the best of his ability, he returned and went to bed.  

Pat lay in a tight curl, waiting for things to die down as the rest of the riders piled in.

Nightshade didn't even lift her head when Tithenor came in, nor had she moved from where he had laid her down earlier. The usually proud dragon looked... broken.

Blade was soon snoring softly, an arm around Erika.

Erika lay stretched out rather than in her tight curl to keep her spines down.  She purred happily, her head on Blade's chest, her tail twitching in her sleep.

Tithenor soon dozed off, but he was still alert to changes around him.  He started slightly when he heard Pat's bed creak and opened one eye.  Seeing the thin boy walk out, he slid out of bed and went to Blade's bed.  "Jeremiah."

Blade woke with a start, hand automatically heading to the hilt of a knife. "Wha...?" he saw Tithenor. "What?" he asked in a hush tone.

"I am going out for a while.  Do not worry if I am not back in time for your meeting," he said softly.  "Go back to sleep."

Blade frowned. "Are you sure you don't want me to shadow as backup?"

"I am sure," Tithenor told him.  "It is most likely nothing.  Go back to sleep."  He patted Blade's shoulder and stood, heading for the door himself.  It was probably just a bathroom run, and if that was all, he intended to watch the stars for the rest of the night.

(No follows, please)

Blade nodded a little and fell back into an uneasy sleep. Tithenor was right. It was probably nothing.

Tithenor slipped soundlessly through the darkness following Pat.  His sneaking skills had greatly improved thanks to Blade.  He still wasn’t anywhere near as good as the former assassin, but he was good enough to get to an old tree on the island and hide without being seen.  He hunkered down and watched Pat.  The lad stood shifting his weight from foot to foot and chewing his lip again.  That lip was going to become scarred if he did not stop that.  Why were they here?  Then he appeared.
Henry.
Tithenor ducked his head, letting out a soft breath.  Henry.  That.... otuuk ef`saign!  Jukkete ud`Raan un tanar'ri`jaless!!  The elf pushed aside his fury, for now, focusing on the meeting.  Patrick was begging to be let out of the blackmail, pleading with Henry.  He wanted out so badly, but Henry kept warning him that if Pat didn't do as he said, the guuta would go to the Headmaster with what he knew.  That was it.  He'd heard enough.
Tithenor left the shadows of the trees and strode toward Henry.  "Enough," he said in a voice that made Ice look warm and cuddly.
Henry spun around, a knife leaving his hand....

~ hours later ~

Pat went looking for Mark and Blade, heedless of the blood on her hands and her clothes.  She wasn't just pushing Nightshade away anymore.  She's shut down so completely it was as though she'd disconnected from her dragon.  Like the bond didn't exist.  Ask any rider and not a one of them would have thought it possible, but she'd managed it.
Her face terrifyingly blank and ghost white, she walked into the mess hall and searched among the breakfast eaters for the pair.

Blade and Mark were just sitting down to eat. Blade noticed Pat first, and upon seeing his friend covered in blood, his face became serious and emotionless. "Pat. Pat, what is it?" he demanded. Blade hadn't seen Tithenor yet today, but tried to reassure himself it was nothing, but now his gut was telling him otherwise.

When Pat spoke, her voice was far away and detached.  "Henry is dead.  Blue killed him.  First Henry hurt Blue.  He's with the healers.  53 isn't sure he'll make it."