Dragon Rider Play

Warrior reared up and started to fall over backward in slow motion.
Pat interviened and caught them.  "Oh no you don't!  If 53 catches you fighting in here, we'll all get kicked out."

"Thank you for the offer."  Tithenor glanced down at Mellon.  "?Do you wish for a mouse toy to chase?/"

Nightshade sighed and went to crawl back into Pat's lap.

Mellon purred a little. Not right now. Now was snuggle rider time.

Luke laughed and picked Warrior up. "It's okay. There's a lot of breakable things in here is all."

Pat wrapped her arms around her dragon then began finger grooming her feathers.  "We should be getting to class..."  She didn't want to.  Not with Tithenor in here and Mark leaving tomorrow.

Tithenor smiled and stroked his dragon, enjoying the time together with him.

Warrior craned his neck around to see his rider and purred.  Okay! Later then.

Jeremiah shrugged. "I'm not going anywhere. Then again, I think I am in the right to want to stay here with friends and my team."

Nightshade purred softly and relaxed under Pat's touch. This was nice.

Mellon crooned and lightly head butted Tithenor's hand affectionately.

"I agree," Pat said softly.

"I am not in the mood to disagree," Tithenor admitted.  "Thank you, Jeremiah."

Jeremiah grinned. He tried to coax Erika out and onto his lap.

*want to time skip to when Mark leaves?*

Erika came out slowly and crawled into his lap, though she never fully relaxed.

(Skip away, my dear!)

When the day ended, Mark packed everything up on the dragon Luke rode in on. Once everything was packed away, he went to say bye to Tithenor first.

Jeremiah had caught some food for Erika a couple of hours ago and fed her. "Hope it's dead enough, little lady." He said as he watched her eat.

Luke had a blast playing with Warrior all day and exploring. Luke almost got in trouble several times because there wasn't much anything that scared Luke (which Mark mentioned to Tithenor, I might add, because sometimes Luke isn't as cautious as he should be because he is fearless).

Tithenor did something he rarely did and gave Mark a quick hug.  "You will be missed, mellon," he said quietly.

Erika seemed more interested in playing with her food than eating it.  Unusual for her.

Pat waited by Mark's Dragon, saddened.  She didn't want him to go, but understood.

Warrior loved his new rider and fearlessly followed him into every situation.  Wherever Luke went, Warrior was going!

Mark was surprised, but carefully hugged Tithenor back. "You are more than welcome at my farm anytime, Tithenor. You and everyone else. All I ask... is just please, look after my brother, and help him grow into a fine young man."

Jeremiah frowned. "Erika? What's wrong?"

Luke raced over to wait by Pat to see Mark off. He was excited to start his adventures here.

"I swear I will look after him," Tithenor promised seriously.  "You go and care for you and yours.  Understand?  Be well, Mark."

Erika huffed and turned away from her food, disinterested.  Her spines shifted in agitation.  She was not happy.

Mark smiled. "I'll do my best." He stood upright and sighed, while his smile faded. "I best be off now. Do come visit at least once?" He asked.

Jeremiah went into the stall and crouched next to Eeika. "Erika, please tell me what's wrong."

Tithenor inclined his head.  "Only death shall keep me away."

Erika growled, her spines bristling.  She didn't want Mark to go.  Didn't want Luke to stay.  Luke wasn't her Clan.  Mark was.  Mark was a part of her hoard, in a manner of thinking, and she didn't want to loose any part of her hoard.

"Let's not test that..." Mark sighed as he left. He nodded a goodbye to 53 before he made his way back over to his dragon ride home.

Jeremiah smiled a little sadly. "Don't think of it as him being lost, think of it as... he is being kept safe somewhere else. Like how you have a couple small places for small parts of your hoard. He is just in one of the small parts, and not in the big one."

Pat flung her arms around Mark.  "We'll meet again, Mark.  Someday.  Take care of yourself."

Erika hissed.  She could go visit all parts of her hoard whenever she wanted.  She wouldn't be able to see Mark for a long time.

Mark hugged Pat back and nodded. "You're welcome any time." He said. He looked around. "Is Jeremiah not coming?"

Jeremiah sighed. He looked sad. "Erika, I don't want him to go either. But if he doesn't, a lot of dragons will suffer. A lot of innocent dragons. He's going to do great things, good things, okay?"

"He'll be here," Pat said firmly.  If he didn't get here soon, she'd go find him and kick his butt if he didn't come.

Erika growled, still not willing to accept it.  Nope, not ever.  But she'd try to lighten up for Jeremiah's sake.

Jeremiah smiled a little, but it didn't reach his eyes. He was going to miss Mark constantly making fun of him. He hated goodbyes. Jeremiah was never good at them.

Mark nodded some and patiently waited, even as the minutes dragged out.

Erika shook herself hard tip to tail then stretched. They should go say goodbye. She started walking toward where Mark had his dragon.

Jeremiah sighed and followed.

Mark smiled a little when he saw them. He scratched under Erika's chin in a goodbye. He would miss the spunky Blade Dragon.

Erika churred softly then reached around, pulling off one of her loose spines.  She offered it to Mark as a farewell present.

Mark smiled. "I will treasure it always." He promised the young dragon. "You need to take care of Jeremiah, okay?"

Jeremiah himself was looking at the ground, and hadn't exactly gone over the last several steps to say goodbye to Mark yet.

Erika purred then chirped.  She'd look after him!  No worries on that.

Pat reached out and touched Jeremiah's shoulder.  "For his sake," she said softly.

Mark smiled a little. "I'll take that as a yes."

Jeremiah sighed. He still looked unhappy, but went over and told Mark bye. The not normally touchy Jeremiah even gave Mark a tight hug and murmured his goodbyes to him.

Mark was a little surprised and hugged Jeremiah back. "I promise." He said.

Pat smiled a little as she watched them.  They were a tight-knit group and she had no doubt she'd see Mark again.

Warrior stuck next to Luke, watching Mark get ready to go.