Dragon Rider Play

"The Headmaster would not appreciate that," 53 chuckled.  Reaching the door, he said, "Here we part ways.  Thank you for your company."

Jeremiah nodded. "No problem. Thanks for letting me bother you along the way." He looked at Erika. "Let's head back before Tithenor drives Pat up a wall."

Erika churred in agreement and climbed up the castle wall to about Jeremiah's head.  Balancing, she threw herself off and began to fly toward the medical wing.

Jeremiah laughed and ran after her. "You're getting fast when you fly!"

Erika came in for a landing and ended up rolling end over end.  She chirped indignantly as she tried to sort herself out of her wings and tail tangle.

Jeremiah laughed and jogged over. "Want some help, little lady?"

Erika craned her kneck and churred softly.  Yes, please.

Jeremiah laughed and gladly helped his dragon. "There. Better?"

Eika shook herself and flapped her wings.  Satisfied, she gave a chirp of agreement and continued on toward the ward as though nothing had happened.  Her long tail flicked out behind her arily.

Jeremiah laughed to himself. There was no bringing his little lady down it seemed.

Erika stopped at the door and look over her shoulder to chirp questioningly.  Well?  They were going to see Tithenor and save him from Pat, weren't they?  Was Jeremiah expecting them to go through the window?

Jeremiah opened the door to let her in. "Come on. Let's go save my brother."

Erika chirped and toddled along happily.

Pat sat next to Tithenor brushing out his long hair.  TIthenor looked as thought he was lost in  trance as he lay on his side, his hair being brushed out, the snarls ferreted out with such care he didn't even feel it.

Jeremiah smiled. Pat must have had practice with such care from Nightshade. He sat on the side of the bed Tithenor was facing. "Still feeling awful? I remember the first time I was stabbed. Not fun." Blade frowned critically at his statue of the elf woman from earlier and picked it up, determined to smooth out whatever minuscule flaw he found. "53 is talking to the Headmaster about seeing you tomorrow morning."

"M'kay," Tithenor agreed drowsily.  "Who?"  He gestured to the statue.  If moving one finger and not even bothering to move the whole hand could be called a gesture.
"She is very pretty," Pat agreed, moving one section aside to work on another.

Jeremiah seemed confused at first before realizing they meant the statue. "Oh. It's my mother. or at least, how I always imagined her based on how Micheal described her. I, ah, never actually met her. She gave me to dad soon after I was born, said 'have fun,' and left."

"Charming," Tithenor noted.  He yawned and smiled.  "You should have Pat do your hair."

Pat blushed a little.  "One of the nurses gave him something for the pain.  He said it was mild, but Tithenor's been very... interesting... ever since."

Jeremiah laughed. "Figured it was either that or he was really, really tired." He sat the figurine on the stand for now.

Mellon yawned and nosed his way under Tithenor's hand once more. His rider on pain killers made the dragon sleepy.

Tithenor smiled and stroked Mellon, his fingers playing along the ridges and frills sleepily.

"What was her name?  Your mother," Pat asked.  She started to braid Tithenor's hair without thinking.

"I think it was Erika." Jeremiah answered. "I just remember Micheal kept telling me 'Erika would be proud.' I assumed he meant my mother was Erika." He laughed a little. "Guess where I got my dragon's name from then? Really? Wild guess? Anyone?"

"From someone in your past?" Tithenor suggested.
Pat rolled her eyes and tied off the braid.  "Erika is a beautiful name.  No wonder Erika the Dragon is so proud."

Jeremiah smiled a little. "Yes, Tithenor. My mother. I think. And it is a nice sounding name. Micheal said that she was actually the one to name me Jeremiah."

"Jeremiah is a beautiful name.  It's a good name for your mother," Tithenor agreed.  "So who was Erika?"

Jeremiah laughed and shook his head. "Tithenor, I am Jeremiah, and my mother was Erika. Maybe you should go to sleep, okay?"

"Okay," Tithenor agreed.  He gently pulled Mellon to him, hugging him like a big teddy bear as he drifted off.

"Sorry, Jeremiah," Pat giggled.