Dragon Rider Play

"Yes, sir."  Pat backed up then glanced at Jeremiah and whispered, "I still won!"

Jeremiah cheekily stuck his tongue out at her.

Blackwater explained that day's activity. They were to hide an object from their person, and then their dragon was to go out and find and retrieve that object.

Pat sighed softly at that.  Nightshade was good, but Erika was vastly better.  Oh well.  Second was always better than last!  "We can do this," Pat assured Nightshade, trying to find something to hide.

Jeremiah grinned. He had something in mind, but wouldn't tell Erika. Might as well make it a little bit of a challenge, right? Blackwater told them to go, and Luke and Jeremish told their dragons to stay while they hid the items.

Erika stayed where Jeremiah left her, steadfastly ignoring the hyper Warrior jumping in place.

Pat repeated the order to her own dragon and hurried off to hide the dagger.  It was the only thing she had that was shiny.  Now, where to hide it?

Jeremiah hid his object and went back to wait with Erika for everyone else to get done.

Luke got lost for a brief moment, but soon found his way back out. He was proud of himself for that.

Pat soon joined Jeremiah and Luke and stood waiting for their next instructions.

Once everyone was back, Blackwater told them to send their dragons out.

"All right, little lady." Jeremiah said with a grin. "Find what I hid for you, and it's yours."

"Go, Warrior! Go!" Luke cheered for his dragon.

Erika perked up at that.  Finally!  SHINY!!  She took off, following the direct she'd seen Jeremiah go in but knowing him well enough to spot when he veered course.  She found several other items along the way, but she forced herself to leave them behind.  Not hers.

Warrior bolted, running off where Luke had gone.  Here, thingy!

"Nightshade, fetch, please," Pat said softly.  She'd hidden one of her ring puzzles she carried with her to entertain Nightshade while waiting.

Jeremiah had hidden his item really well. He knew Erika was good at finding things, and wanted to challenge her.

Nightshade darted off. she used her keen sense of smell to track down where Pat had went, flowing like a shadow through the underbrush.

Erika scrambled about, examining everything.  Was it here?  No, too easy.  Here?  Nope, empty.  Bird's nest?  Too easy and empty again.  Here?  This was a clever spot.

Pat smiled as she watched Nightshade run and hoped she'd hid it well enough.

It wound up being hidden so well, Erika may have overlooked it the first time. It was a glittering and shiny ring made of gold with gemstones along the band.

Nightshade found the ring after a long while and darted back. She wanted to beat Erika for once!

Erika caught the shiny glimmer.  THERE!!  She hesitated, circling under it.  How could she get it?  She wound up having to climb up and hang upside down by her tail to reach the trinket.  That took some doing, but at last she had i in her mouth as she hopped back to Jeremiah.  Found it!

Pat grinned when she saw Nightshade barreling toward her.  "You found it!  Well done!"

Nightshade purred. All the reward she needed was knowing Pat was proud of her.

Jeremiah smiled when Erika came back. "You got it! I know you would, little lady. That prize is all yours if you want it."

Pat praised her dragon, stroking her and scratched right where she wanted it.  Such a smart dragon!

Erika purred and headbutted Jeremiah, making it abundantly clear she was pleased with this.  Yay shiny!!

Nightshade purred and rubbed against Pat affectionately.

Jeremiah smiled and stroked Erika. "Was it hard to get to? I knew you wouldn't have much trouble finding it, but I wanted to give you a little bit of a challenge."

For that, Erika gave him a tiny nip.  Yes it had been hard to get to!  Then she licked the nip.  But it had been worth it.

Warrior came trotting up to Luke with his prize in his mouth.  It was... a butterfly.

Jeremiah laughed and continued to stroke her.

Luke laughed. "Warrior, that's not what I hid for you!"

Erika turned enough to see Warrior, and she purred in amusement.  Silly Warrior.

Warrior whined, cocking his head to one side.  This wasn't good enough?

Luke crouched down. "Warrior, I hid a present for you in the woods. That's what I wanted you to find. I know you'll like it, but you have to find it first. Act like my present is prey you need to find."

Warrior spat out the butterfly into Luke's hands.  Okay, he could do that.  He turned and darted off into the woods once more.

Luke examined the butterfly to see if it was still alive or not. If not, the wings could make pretty decals on his smaller machines.

Warrior had been careful not to squish the butterfly, but he had slobbered on it quite a bit.  Warrior finally returned with his prize, but he was nearly the last one back.

Luke set the butterfly in the sun so it could dry it's wings and be free. He smiled when Warrior returned with the mechanical mouse. "I knew you could do it!"

Warrior tossed the mouse up in the air and caught it again.  Mouse!  His mouse! Mouse mouse mouse mouse mouse mouse mouse!