Dragon Rider Play

Jeremiah laughed when he saw Pat. "Good look on you!" He teased.

Pat looked away, self-conscious.  "What, drowned rat looks good on me?"  She splashed Jeremiah playfully.

Jeremiah laughed. "No, I meant with your hair straight down." He splashed her back with a wide grin.

Pat shook her head, tossing the water from her eyes.  "Such flattery!  I'm not a cook, you know."

Jeremiah shrugged. "And I wasn't talking about food, now was I?"

Pat stopped playing around and stood, the water just covering her wrapped breasts, and stared at Jeremiah.  Was he really paying her a compliment?  As a girl?  Or was he messing around with her?  She felt confused, and a strange tugging inside she couldn't identify.  Suddenly keenly aware he was dripping wet and basically naked in a pool with a boy, Pat dropped her gaze and went to climb out.  "I'm... I'm going to head back now."

Jeremiah's smile vanished. "Hey I didn't say anything that offended you, did I? I'm sorry if I did." He had started to like hanging out with Pat like that, just teasing and goofing off with each other, and he hadn't wanted it to end quite so soon.

Pat managed a smile and shook her head.  "No, it's okay.  I'm just really tired.  I'm going to turn in for the night.  I'll see you in the morning, right?  Maybe Erika's breakfast will be dead enough for her by then."

Jeremiah snorted. "Maybe. Oh, and Pat?" He paused half a moment. "This was fun. If you don't mind, do you think we could do it again?"

Pat hesitated.  Was Jeremiah asking her out on a date?  Or was it just friends?  Maybe, and it seemed likely to her, he didn't even realize what she might take his question as.  Maybe she was overthinking it.  Smiling, she nodded.  "Sure.  I would like that."

Jeremiah smiled happily. "All right. Sleep well." He wished his friend.

"You too, Jeremiah."  She returned the wave then slipped behind the rock to change.  Finished, she went to the bunkhouse and got a couple of blankets before slipping off to the rookery.  Getting the door open without a lot of noise was a challenge, but once she had it open enough to get through, she closed it behind her and went to Nightshade's stall.  "Nightshade?" she whispered.

Nightshade looked up sleepily and chirped softly from where she was curled with Erika.

Pat knelt next to her dragon.  "Is it okay if I sleep with you tonight?  I brought us a blanket, and Erika can share, too."

Nightshade crooned softly. She didn't mind.

Pat curled up next to Nightshade and spread the blankets over all three f them.  Erika stirred some then settled down, purring.  Pat put her arms around Nightshade, smiling as she drifted off.

Nightshade felt softer than normal because her feathers were fluffed up. The dragon happily snuggled between Erika and Pat. She could get used to this.

Erika woke first the next morning, but there was no way she was moving from this warm, soft, cozy nest with Nightshade kind of curled around her, and Pat curled around them both.  So warm!

Warrior sat at the door to his stall waiting impatiently for his new rider to come play.

Nightshade purred a little as she slept. This was nice.

Luke was an early riser, and went to the rookery to make sure Warrior was taken care of.

Warrior heard Luke coming and started jumping in circles, calling and squealing excitedly.  RIDER WAS HERE!!!

Erika twitched her tail in annoyance.  Yes, but it wasn't her rider, so she didn't care.  Shush!

Luke tried to quiet Warrior down. "Shhh! Some dragons still may be sleeping, and it'd be rude to wake them..."

Warrior settled down, but his whole body trembled, even his mashed down frill from sleeping upside down on it.  He churred quietly, eagerly to get going.  Out!  Outside!  Hunting time!

Luke smiled and picked Warrior up to carry him outside. Once out, he prettied Warrior's frill back up and raced his dragon to the Wild Islands.

Warrior shook himself from nose tip to tail tip then bounded off, roaring happily and probably waking everyone in the bunkhouse as he passed.  This was such Fun!!

Luke laughed and stopped once he reached the bridge. He bowed to his dragon. "After you."