Dragons and Cats (DinoDroid & Mafdet)

[DinoDroid]

Within the world of Predora lies a vast and lush plain filled with many creatures, and beasts. It is a beautifull land filled with wonder and majesty. Mighty mountains that climb to the heavens, oceans as blue as saphires, and lush forests fill the world. Despite all its beauty it is filled with war and strife. The weaker races and tribes fight constant battles for dominance, territory, and resources. The strongest races are constantly in contention for their resources by their neighbors. However one race has climbed above all others inspiring awe and fear in bothe allie and enemy. This is the kingdom and race of the cat people. Secure in their knowledge of being the mightiest of the races they have become a beacon of culture, and wisdom as well as their military might.

However, one race looks upon them with rage and jealousy, a race believed to be the worst of all the war tribes, and regarded as little more than thieves, and murderes. The leader of this tribe an albino dragon named Dracon plans on changing all of his peoples fortunes. His people even now have set up camp outside of the capital city gates, unable to enter to reprovision and request aid they are merely tolerated by the other races. As he stares out at the imposing gates his cunning mind moves to anticipate and prepare for tonight. The honor and glory of the dragons will be recognized by the other races, his plan will ensure that. His sky blue eyes blaze with his rage, and it is only through his considerable control that he doesn't lash out.
A cruel smile cuts across his face showing all of his teeth "Soon princess, your life and our futures with change forever" he says in his cold gravelly voice. He turns away as the sounds of the fall solstice begin to reach his ear holes. A night a merryment, and drink will follow, and so will the new world order.

 

[Mafdet]

RE: Dragons and Cats

{{Sorry for the delay. Hadn't mean to take this long.}}

The other races looked upon them with awe and respect, had climbed its way up the ladder to get to where their kingdom had come to after fighting through the others to get there. Many today wouldn't quite remember the struggle, but many of the older generations would recall the enemies they've made and the feats they've won through blood. Many were arrogant in their power now, after so long of forming the grand kingdom and keeping control. There were quite a few that were wise and smart, but those were of the older generation, where those born into the power were used to it, never having to fight for their power. Such was how things would be for any race.

"But father, why can't-" "Girl, this discussion was over when I said it was over," sounded two voices in a hallway to the wing that held the ruling family's rooms, an older jaguar being and his daughter briefly arguing. The two had always butted heads, which the father wished that he had been able to break her silly spirit from an early age like he wanted. These particular felines had come to power due to their appearance as well as their family's history of having brought forth many victories; the wings upon their backs were their symbol of freedom, many of which of their own wingless race had envied. Currently the girl's wings ruffled in her anger; her father couldn't ever see reason. Her older brothers were given many privileges, yet when she would try to simply ask or request to join in a hunt or the likes, she gets scolded like she had did or said something wrong. Being a female shouldn't make one lesser than the other gender.

"Now if you're done with your childish behavior, we have a fall solstice celebration to attend. Dress in your best before meeting your brothers and myself," the king continued on, seeming to believe that he had won the discussion. The princess Jazira scowled at the fleeting figure of her father, wishing again that she could have been born in a different family, or perhaps if she had been born a male as well. Scoffing lightly, she entered her room and dressed in her favorite dress, a simple but light flowing dress that hugged at her figure as well as draped a layer of cloth over her torso, with golden bits hanging from beneath her upper torso and along her waist.

Leaving her feet bare, as it was rare to dress in shoes for any reason except for war, she calmed herself before leaving her room, appearing calm before entering the festivities of the celebration. People were already drinking, toasting to the day of the solstice as well as the ever-holding power of the feline race. Many were rather tipsy, and she kept to herself as she would stay among the edge of the crowd that still swelled a bit. She wasn't in the mood to meet up with her father nor her brothers right now, even though her siblings hadn't treated her as though she wasn't their sister. Right now, she just needed to relax, to have a glass of honey wine as she watched the people celebrate in their own fashion. It seemed like any other celebration, just an excuse to get drunk and to find available partners to bed for the night.

 

[DinoDroid]

RE: Dragons and Cats

(It's ok, sorry the post is so long, hope it's ok.)

Moving away from the entrance to the camp he left to perform his duties as did the rest of the camp. The citizens of the city may drink and be merry, but the guards upon the city walls would be ever vigilent, especially with their camp within sight of the city. He stoped at a large pavillion that was his personal tent and stared out at the city. Oh how it goaded him how they stood upon their stone walls looking down upon the others as though they were gods, and treated accordingly by the other races. The Avians were cowards, many of the reptillians were apathetic, most of the other mammal species were fearful allies, the insectoids, and the amphibians weren't organized enough to do anything. But the dragons would change theirs and everyone's futures after this night.

The dragon species although carrying many similarities to reptiles were more akin to mammals as they are warm blooded, and unlike the filines which had strict class structures based on birth and gender dragons didn't. They were warriors through and through, they understood females could fight as well as if not better than males. Their societies were built more as a military, though the highest levels of their leadership was in fact more democratic. Advancement was based on skills such as intelligence, strength, speed, and cunning. Only the best however, were allowed any sort of real power and their top leaders were chosen by the rest of the tribe after having proven themselves extensively.

He entered the tent and inside instead of the usual personal touches, all of his possesions were moved and instead his pavillion became much like that of a war room. A large scale map of the city lay at the center, and surrounding it waiting already for him were the various generals, and leaders of his camp. "Tell me what we have so far my brothers" he commanded.

A small pale green female dragon steped forward, she represented logistics for the whole clan and in a light sing song voice she said "weapons have been readied, food supplies are at the best their going to be without real provisions. The whole camp can move at your say so sir." Then she steped back, replacing her stood a tall crimson scaled dragon with a belt of potions across his chest and was wingless, he represented troop training and recruiting. In a loud commanding tone he stated "Your troops are ready at your say so, their normal heavy armor has been replaced with soft leathers, and the scaberds to their weapons have been carefully oiled to dampen sound." Once he steped back a white slight of build dragon covered in black soot so thick you would think he was in fact black steped forward. He was quiet and slow to speak, one would never realize that he was one of the quickest and strongest dragons in the camp and was the camp black smith. "As my coleagues have stated the troops are ready, and so are their weapons, replacements have already been added to the armory and properly scored to appear well used." Then he steped back, finally the last of the group steped foreward, he really was a black dragon, as black as Dracon was white, he moved softly and carefully always moving to keep as much of everything as possible in sight. He was short like the she dragon, but with hard wiry muscles, he represented essentially their black ops, and intell divisions. Almost as quiet as the black smith he spoke clearly "the decoy camp has been set up, and well hidden, they will find it of course, but that will matter little for this plan." Then he returned to his placement.

Dracons wings lightly fluttered with supressed joy, everything was coming together perfectly. He critically analized the map and began discussing the remaining details with the others hammering out the final plan, when all was said and done he turned to his advisors "I believe we have covered everything we can. Remember people no plan survives contact with the enemy, and to hope for the best, but to plan for the worst. I believe that we have done that to the best of our ability, now return to your duties, and remember this. Our dishonor will no longer haunt us, our revenge is at hand, our futures are bright, but remember the fallen, remember our harritage. Tonight one way or the other everything will change. Good day."

With that the meeting broke up and dragon servents quickly packed everything up, they destroyed the map and everything that could relate to the meeting, and returned the original furnishings to their places. They were quick, efficient, silent, and best of all subtle, they all resembled eachother so that outsiders would only think that no unusual activity was occuring. Best not leave anything to chance, with everything done Dracon returned to observing his people basking in their excitement, even the little dragon lings could sense it and were playing more freely than they had in years. Yes everything would change tonight. He moved back to the entrance to the camp and observed the castle his gaze so fierce if looks could kill the castle would already be in ruins. His stance was openly hostile as if daring the felines to attack, such did he stand untill nightfall, a statue of defiance to the felines power.

 

[Mafdet]

RE: Dragons and Cats

{{I don't mind, may inspire me to make just as long posts.}}

The day slowly gave way to night as the princess would watch, eventually joining with one of her brothers when he had passed her. Dimitri was his name, the heir to the throne as he was the eldest. While he could be more arrogant since he was trained the most and praised often by their father, he wasn't anything like the elder jaguar in regards of how family 'should be'. "Heard Father gave you a rough time again," he said as though starting up a conversation. Jazira did her best to restrain a snort, though a soft 'tch' escaped her. "I think it's his favorite pastime. Has to be why he hadn't tried to marry me off to another royal family yet." Dimitri laughed lightly as she had said that; he knew that she wouldn't marry anyone willingly if she doesn't want to. "By the time he does, he'll be on his death bed. You know that he's more busy training me than he is worrying about other matters."

Chuckling, he wrapped an arm around his sister in a brief hug before letting go, in which Jazira did chuckle as well. "The guards are at least as active as they should be, been recounting that they spotted no unusual activities among the other tribe species. Especially the dragons." The princess wondered what it was that the dragons did that always made any mention the race have this edge to their voice. She asked once, but sadly that was at the time with her father in the same room, who told her that she shouldn't even bring up the species and that it was none of her business. How had her mother put up with him when she was alive?

Splitting ways with Dimitri as he went off to find his fiancé, Jazira left the party to get away from the noise, heading up the stairs to stand on the wall of the city instead. A few guards gave her a nod as they would pass, but none were stopping to talk as they were carrying out their duty. She preferred it that way, she just wanted to watch the moon and stars alone. Ruffling her wings out briefly, she stretched them so that she could relax some. Much as it was probably inappropriate, she hoped that Dimitri took over as the ruler soon, which would mean for the king to die before then. She may not like their father, but at least she loved her brothers. Soon enough will come on its own time, things would change for the better.

 

[DinoDroid]

RE: Dragons and Cats

As day turned into night and the full moon began to rise Dracon stretched out his great white wings, his wing span was roughly 30 feet from wing tip to wing tip, and with a massive and powerfull downward thrust he launched himself into the air. With a few downward flaps he climbed high over the castle and glided around the outer edges. For a few moments he relished the cool night air, nearly forgetting his problems, and enjoying the wind underneath his wings. Still he still had a mission to accomplish and needed to focus, using his hawk like vision began identifying the placement of the final targets. Everyone was where they were expected and supposed to be, trust felines to be so predictable. Suddenly he noticed a pair of white wings atop one of the walls of the castle. "Damn" he said under his breath, the princess can't be on the wall by all of the guards. She needed to be with the rest of the roals if the plan was to work. What they needed was a distraction, something that would draw the royals together. There wasn't time to set up something so soon, suddenly he saw another figure, this one sticking to the shadows of the courtyard where the main festivities were being set up, and it filled him with fear. Down by the food venders was one of the dragon lings, a young one with golden scales, a rare color even amongst dragons. If he is found out the felines will most likely hurt or even kill him. Damn, they were going to need to move sooner than expected, he had hoped to move at midnight when most everyone was drunk.

Banking hard he returned to the camp and gathered the dozen infiltration units. They were all masters at hand to hand combat, experts at fighting with and throwing dagers. Then best of all, they were highly skilled at sneaking. These were his prime troops, and the dragons with the honor to change the world. They were black as night, small for dragons but with hard wiry muscles. His servants quickly got his leather armor, carefully made to hug his body and hide his skin. He tucked his wings in tightly and the backing was placed over them. Making a snap decision he added two extra dragons, these were brawlers, massive for dragons, and all battle hardened, "when we make our move, in the confusion get the younling out of there." They nodded their assent and prepared themselves to move out.

Moving like shadows across the outer castle grounds they managed to make it to the sewer run off without being cought. Silently ripping the old rusted grate away they climbed into the very bowels of the castle. Crawling on hands and knees the dragons moved through the filth of the city untill they reached a cross roads. From there Dracon ordered his troops to move out to their designated areas. Moving on alone he moved through the labrynth of the sewers untill he found the opening of a waste schute and climbed up it untill he was at the entrance and staring at the throne and body of the king of the felines. This was to be his honor, and so he waited for the signal to end the rule of the felines.

 

[Mafdet]

RE: Dragons and Cats

The guards moved with their general silence as Jazira stared up at the skies, letting the guards do as they needed as she was enjoying the silence. With her good night vision as well as sharp eyes, she thought that she had seen something in the skies as it would bank quickly to one side and left the area again. Could have been an owl, she supposed. Night were their night to hunt and feed. Still though, she was curious of the flying creature when she heard a small commotion happening back in the courtyard. Many of the citizens and royal members alike were rather drunk, but this sound was that of exclamation and surprise. Frowning, Jazira left the wall, climbing down the stairs as quickly as she could to return to the party, seeing a small group of people backing away from one of the food vendors. "Come now, what is the commotion?" she asked as she approached, pushing through the few bodies that were staring wide-eyed at something, coming to find a young scalie creature with that of wings. Jazira stared briefly as she realized it to be a dragonling - she hadn't ever seen a dragon before, but she was sure of it. No wonder the others were in shock and some even looked fearful.

"Looks like a lizard crawled in somehow," said a voice behind her, looking back at her brother which was the second youngest next to her, staring icily at the young creature. "Better get it thrown out before its parents decides to come busting in." "Are you gripped by madness, Laziir? He's a lost child, we don't need to make it even more lost by tossing him out like some rodent," Jazira argued, frowning. Laziir was the most bitter of them all, perhaps considering that he desperately wanted to take over after their father but unable to do so unless Dimitri and the other brothers were to die. So she wasn't too surprised that he wouldn't even look past his own nose to see that it was a child regardless of species. "Children pulls stunts all the time, even you were a child." "That's a dragon child, it needs to go." Narrowing her eyes, Jazira turned her back on her brother and slowly approached the child, hoping that his claws weren't sharp at this age as she would kneel down next to him. "Don't listen to that big meanie, he's always like that. Where are your parents?" the princess said, thankful that their father was staying on his throne as the crowd still moved around those that were watching; in a way, it was being taken cared of. No one had an idea of what was coming that night.

 

[DinoDroid]

RE: Dragons and Cats

The young dragonling finding a soft face in a crowd of hate leaped with surprising speed and agility grabing onto her back and latching on. Luckily for Jazira its claws were butter soft and only softly gripping onto her. It nuzled her back and whimpered, and was indeed exceptionally young, the equivalent of a todler in fact. As it clung to her in fear and for comfort it started to relax. Suddenly its head shot up, its snout pointed towards the sky, its mouth open suddenly it drew in long breaths through bothe its nostrils and over its tongue. It had scented something, something close by that was exciting it.

Suddenly the horse stables burst open and out raced the horses as though death himself were behind them. Then before anyone could react the stables burst into flames and a roar erupted that filled the night, and in the doorways stood two black dragons with daggers drawn. In a single fluid movement they launched the dagers and four guards were down, and a second later four more were clutching their throats, and the dragons were away short swords drawn.

A moment later the kitchen doors were flung open and out raced kitchen staff with another four dragons slowly moving behind them fending off a host of double their number of palace guards. A call rang out ordering all guards not currently at the walls to come into the courtyard. Some came from inside the palace but from the barracks instead of feline guards three dragons came strolling out weapons bloodied, and grinning like mad men.

From the servants entrance a guard was launched into the courtyard with his helmet caved in, and out strolled the two massive brawler dragons toting large spiked clubs. The quickly raced towards Jazira and the dragonling but came up short confused on how to proceed with the youngling that was griping her for dear life. Suddenly a guard launched himself at one of the brawlers and landed on his back, in an almost fluid movement he droped onto his back and crushed the air out of the guard who in his surprise let go. The brawler picked him up and threw him like a rag doll. Turning back to Jazira they having seemed to make a decision forced her back away from the fighting with their bodies.

Dracon meanwhile had climbed out of the waste chute and was headed towards the king. Surrounding him stood four personal guards, he pulled out his short handle double bladed battle ax and aproached them. Like good guards they remained close to the king untill he was close enough to be the largest threat to him. Two raced towards him with the considerable speed of their race, but like a dancer Dracon flowed around them and killed them before they even knew what happened. The last two were more cautious, one launched himself in the air at Dracon the second raced towards him on the ground. Against a normal apponent the tactic would have instantly forced the attacker to either pull back and give time for reinforcements to come or be cut down by either of the guards weapons. Instead he raced to meet the ground attacker and started parrying his attacks and overwhelming him. The second after landing raced to the aid of his comrade but was batted aside by Dracons tail. A moment later the first guard was down and after a short exchange the second had Dracon's ax stuck into his back. Turning to the king he stoped but a short distnace from him and looked towards the battle. His troops were easily winning, moving with more grace and agility that the enemy troops couldn't match. So far only a few of his troops were dead, but it had cost the palace guards much to do it. Looking to the guards on the wall he knew he feared little from them, they knew they couldn't get to their king in time, and there were still potential enemies beyond the walls.

Turning towards the king he laughed in his face and gave him a mock bow. "Oh how the mighty fall, look at you, look at your troops, look at your castle. For decades you were considered the greatest of all the races, for decades this castle was deemed unbreachable, it troops unbeatable. Now look at you, a small group of my troops stand here slaughtering your men in droves, and a few in the castle are even now raiding your treasury. Your power is crumbling, and the best part is that we aren't even killing your citizens. My mens training in spite of the chaos prevents deaths against the innocent, unlike your men. So what say you KING, surrender now or die where you sit."

 

[Mafdet]

RE: Dragons and Cats

Upon the young dragon launching himself onto her and latching onto her back, she blinked as she didn't feel any pain she was expecting from his claws. He really was young, evidence as he nuzzled into her back and gave a soft whimper. Gently laughing, she was wondering on how to unhook him from her back even as Laziir was already sputtering, when the sudden sound of the sound of a horse stampede was heard. "How had the horses escaped??" Jazira said as she slowly stood up, but then came the screams as large figures busted from the kitchen and the servant's entrances. They were adult dragons, covered with blood of fallen guards as many of the guests began screaming, running from every dragon that came within eyesight of them, blindly running for an exit. Jazira herself was frozen as she watched two massive dragons begin their way towards her after having launched a guard from the entrance, landing somewhere nearby with his helmet caved in. Her wings instinctively tried to open, but the dragonling kept his grip on her back and partially on her wings, not that it really matter as she was frozen. "L-L-Laziir...??" she choked out, but the male was nowhere around, having fled as soon as the dragons came. As trained as she was with sword and in battle, she hadn't ever been in a real battle.. and she had no sword immediately in hand.

Stumbling back when a guard launched himself onto the back of one of the dragons, Jazira tripped on one of the fallen guards and fell back, managing to land on her rear and one leg to prevent herself from falling onto her back and hurting the child. A hand brushed against the handle of a sword from the guard, and she managed to grip it as she made to stand back up. Having the child cling onto her back, it made for her balance to be awkward, making her bend forward a little to keep from being brought back off her feet. The guard that had jumped onto the dragon was thrown off after being dropped down onto the ground, and the dragons turned back to her and the young dragon on her back. As though they made up their minds, they approached and blocked her from access to the fight, knocking the sword out of her hands before she had time to rise it. Her wings pressed up against the child as though to block him from danger on instinct as she tried to run, to be blocked and found herself pushed up against a wall. What did they want from her and the rest of her family??

Watching as his men fell, the king growled as his claws gripped on his chair arms before standing after the dragon told him this. "If I die, I will die by battle. Surrendering is not an option," he told the white dragon as he drew out his sword. As old as he was, he was strong but had gone past his prime many years ago. "The feline race had brought your race down once, we may do so again even with my death!"

 

[DinoDroid]

RE: Dragons and Cats

Dracon flung back his head and laugh, but there was no mirth in it and it was cold as ice. "I am so glad to hear you will not surrender, my honor at least dictates that I offer you an out, but now I get to kill you." He started to spin the ax in his hand but then instead of tensing he relaxed and lazily droped the weapon. "You see king, I am not here to fight you, nor merely to kill you, I am here to execute you for your crimes, and the crimes of your ancestors." With that Dracon inhaled deeply, his powerfull chest expanding, his head reared back and he lunged forward spewing forth a mighty torrent of blistering heat, and fire so intense it was blue. The flames enveloped the king of the felines consuming him, filling the air with the smell of burning meat, and burnt fur. After a minute of constant breathing Dracon ended his release looking much dazed and exhausted, droping to one knee before shaking his head and standing up.

The fighting was nearly over, between the loss of the barracks, and the shock of the death of the king the remaining soldiers began losing the will to fight. Breathing fire, a rare gift amongst dragons was a showy form of fighting, and exhausting, but the felines didn't know that and that was the point. The dragons however weren't phased and every soldier that lost the will to fight was merely knocked out, any others that showed resistance were executed. The battle was over, and the felines were beaten, but Dracon wasn't finished yet. The sons of the king were gathered and lined up in order from eldest to youngest. One of the black dragons approached Jazira and the dragonling, he reached up and gently caressed the youngling then gently draged a claw along its spine. It promptly relaxed and droped away into the waiting arms of one of the brawlers where it promptly fell asleep. Then roughly grabed Jazira's wrist in a powerfull grip and in a slithering voice said "try to escape young princess and we will remove your wings." It was the first time any of the black dragons had so much as made a sound, and brought her up to sit next to Dracon and in front of her brothers.

"You are all standing here alive at my orders. I and I alone hold your lives in my claws, but you have nothing to fear from me. Your father held several forms of power, I have destroyed most of them and now in front of you all I hold the last." Suddenly he reached down and grabed Jazira by the back of her neck. "Your sister represented the only form of a binding alliance for your species with another. One to be chosen if and when another species became a threat. She represented a chance of power and for power. Now I take that away, I will walk out of these very gates, and you will let me, or I will execute you all and she will still come with me as the greatest prize of your race." Turning to directly speak to Dimitri he said "You can come after us once we are a day away, but I wonder if you should. Between what happened here and lets be honest your less than honorable siblings will you actually have the forces to do so. Especially when the other races and war tribes hear about it."

With that he removed his clawed hand from Jazira's neck but hooked her arm around his and started walking at a relaxed pace, she could try to resist, or trip, fall, and be draged along with him. All of the dragons circled around him and they proceeded out of the castle. With her brothers looking on in frustration and anger. As he passed the gates he waved to the remaining guards as though he were an honored guest giving a friendly wave of good bye. Everything was carfully calculated to insult, demoralize, and crush the will of everyone within the castle. From the beginning of the assault to the friendly wave of farewell as he calmly led the small procession out of the castle.

As they headed out back towards the dragon camp that was already preparing to leave Dracon leaned over to Jazira who was nearly as tall as his 9 foot height and whispered into her ear "my how the mighty shall fall. Now listen carefully princess, you are entitled to nothing, when we get back to the camp my people and ourselves are going to move quickly. You will not try to escape, fight, or hinder us, or we will cut off your wings and drag you along with us. You are worth more to me and our cause alive than dead, but that does not mean we can't hurt you." Turning back he pulled her into a slightly faster gait and headed to the already retreating camp.

 

[Mafdet]

RE: Dragons and Cats

Yowls erupted briefly but with all the emotions of that of the death of the king so loudly that anyone could have heard it within a five mile radius, further if it echoed. Much as many would have disagreed or had bitter grudges against the king, his death signals the battle to be over. The fire used to kill the king had spread out a heat wave that could have very well had been a beacon. It was more often that most of the guards had given up rather than continued to fight, and they were the ones that were left to live aside from the citizens that had already fled. The young princess was close to collapsing in shock, fear, and despair, though when the brawler dragons approached again, she cringed as though she was about to be struck next. But it was the young one on her back that one had went for, feeling as it was gently coaxed off her back and into the arms of one of them with such care. That was quick to change when it came to her, tears collecting in the corner of her eyes when her wrist was gripped so tightly, her thoat tight as he told her that if she tried to escape that her wings would be removed. The threat shocked her so badly that her steps were automatic when she was brought up to the very dragon that had essentially burned her father to death, forced to stand next to him.

Seeing her brothers lined up in front of her, at that time she wished so desperately to be with them right then, but she was kept where she was at the white dragon addressed them all. Dimitri had a hard edge to his expression that Jazira hadn't ever seen on his face, for as long as they had been alive, glaring at the dragon even as he glanced to his sister. As smart and caculating as he was... he couldn't think of a way to wretch her from the dragon's grasp without everyone right then and there dying. Though as the dragon gloated on how it was he that was allowing them to live, that he was taking away their father's forms of power, even Laziir looked outraged as Jazira felt the horrible and powerful claw gripping her by the back of her neck, making her yelp with pain and fear as a few tears ran free at last. In taking every power away, the dragons would also be taking her! No, this wasn't what she wanted! Yet her voice failed her utterly as she stared helplessly at Dimitri and her brothers, only he returning his gaze for a brief time before the dragon addressed him directly.

It was obvious that she was shaking as the dragon removed his clawed hand from her neck, not even bothering to breath in relief; what relief was there from this hellish nightmare?! Here, it seemed that it was the dragons' cue to leave, and Jazira was forced to have her arm hooked with that of the dragon, but finally life seeped back into her in a way it could; rage. "Let me go!! Damn you all to hell!" she yowled as she had indeed tried to pull away, yank her arm out of his grasp somehow but had thus far only succeeding in probably brusing her own shoulder. Not that she cared anymore by this point. The guards stared hopelessly on as they watched their princess dragged out their own gates by the dragon and his small army, having wiped out the mighty guard force that had only their duty and now had failed that.

Little more than halfway there, Jazira couldn't continue her shouts of rage as she was forced to move with them in her numbness, her gaze locked with that of the castle behind them. She was being taken away from what little good she had of a family, and she was powerless to stop it. The numbing feeling was replaced once again but this time with anger when the dragon decided to rub salt as well as alchohol into the great wounds he caused by leaning over to her and whispering into her ear of her own race falling, telling her that she was entitled to nothing. To not escape, fight or hinder them as they would flee from the destruction they've caused, or else that her wings would be cut off. "Go to hell, monsters," she spat at him, her fangs bared while her ears were folded against her skull. It was obvious that she had changed her opinions on dragons utterly, which made her hate it all the more; her father was right... Her gaze looked back to the castle as the dragons were already retreating, absorbing all she could of the last gaze she'd likely ever see of her home before the dragon pulled her into a somewhat faster gait, making her move faster as well whether or not she wanted to.

{{Could probably skip ahead a bit if we need to, ha ha.}}

 

[DinoDroid]

RE: Dragons and Cats

(No problem, sorry it's been taking so long.)

Dracon couldn't help but smile at her, she had such fire and spirit that she impressed him but it didn't change his mind on his plan. "My dear, the world is full of monsters, your father was one of them and I merely ended his reign. Do not speak of seeing the monster in us when you blind yourself to the monsters in yourselves. I know what I am, I know my story, but tell me." Suddenly he stopped and turned directly to her pressing his body lightly against hers and staring into her eyes, holding her genly, not trying to harm her, merely as though to tell her something. His eyes as he gazed into hers filled with the shadows of a deep sadness, and a terrible rage. "Tell me, who are you, who are we?" The question on the surface was a simple one, but what he tried to ask her with his eyes was who was she really, did she know her own past, did she know where she came from, or who they were, who it was she called monster? "To know ones own past and history is to be able to see ones own future." With that he pulled away and resumed walking back to the tribe. It was the first time he revealed more than a mere killer, but he had also shown an uncalculated weakness for that moment he stared not just at her, but into her, seeing not the shell of her outer body but her very soul.

The tribe was in a state of seeming chaos, but in fact is was quite ordered. In half the time it would have taken most they were already well on their way. Over the next few days the dragons fled the kingdom of the felines with great haste, only ever stoping to rest and grab something to eat for a few hours before returning to their brisk pace. It was a hard march that even seasoned campaign soldiers would have strugled, but for the dragons it was only mildly uncomfortable. The princess meanwhile was kept well cared for, they didn't treat her terribly, for the most part they merely ignored her. Though there was always a guard who could fly with her, during the hard march at times her guard would carry her if she fell behind.

After a week of this the caravan came to the ocean where a large vessel was waiting. It was here that the dragons truly left the lands of the felines behind, and with it Jazira's last hope of freedom. It was here that the dragons for the first time bound her in ropes and chains untill land was far behind and beyond that of flight that they released her from them. It was also only now that they finally left her truly alone. As night fell the boat became alive with the sound of flutes, and reed music playing jaunty little tunes, the laughter of children and the telling of stories.

Suddenly from behind Jazira Dracon silently appeared "so have you learned who you are, have you learned who we are? Are we still the boogymen of your world, or have you begone to wonder if there is something more? If you are willing I will tell you, in exchange I ask for this dance." As he said it the jaunty playfull tunes turned softer rising and falling like the ocean waves, speeding up and slowing down with the wind. It was a haunting, beautiful song, but also one not meant for playfull dancing.

 

[Mafdet]

RE: Dragons and Cats

{{No worries.}}

There was no answer to give to the dragon when he spoke back to her, Jazira growling when he suddenly stopped her and pressed bodies with her, not wanting to stare back into his eyes but was forced to anyhow. He held her in a rather gentle way, though holding her still all the same as his eyes seemed to take on more than the cold look they had. But in return he could see the unmistakable sadness and anger, as well as loneliness she had felt for years even though it was partially masked with rage. Still she didn't bother speaking even as he turned away and forced her to continue to catch up with his tribe, not recognizing his moment of weakness in the slightest. She was too busy dwelling on her own anger.

The week spent on traveling were uncomfortable for the dragons, but they were the hardest on Jazira. Not only was she tiring far faster than their weakest dragons, she was also losing her will to keep moving, for to keep moving meant keep moving away from her home. It didn't matter that she wasn't treated terribly, generally ignored, she just wanted to go back. She wanted to try to get away, but the lingering threats still were in the back of her mind, not to mention that just a day of this marching and she was exhausted. Likely they'd catch her with great ease, and even if she got away, she'd be lost, as the dragons hardly used the ground and didn't leave much track to begin with.

Coming to the ocean after the whole week of traveling, she stared out at the water, as she hadn't seen anything like it before. Likely she hadn't ever left the castle very far, whether because she didn't want to or she wasn't allowed. With it and the large vessel awaiting for them, what little hope she had was gone as they bounded her even with her protests and struggles, which weren't much due to the exhaustion, boarded the ship and were leaving the lands far behind within the next few hours. Jazira hardly cared anymore for what was going on around her as she was eventually released from the ropes and chains, all she really did was stare out at the water and the general direction of home. The sound of music in the night were ignored, her ears merely flicking from the occasion high-pitched sounds of reeds and flutes, she stood where she was with her back to them as she stared ahead. Right now she was trying to stop the overwhelming sadness she felt that threatened to make her cry, since she didn't want to give in to it and show any tears, though this was general habit she had with dealing with the stubborn emotion. She was too stubborn and willful to let it happen.

Hearing the voice of Dracon, she didn't really do more than glance at him then looked away from him, as he was the last person on the planet that she wanted to be near, much less talk. She wasn't in much of a mood to be brought out of her brooding, nor did she want her emotions to suddenly betray her. "Stop pretending to care what I think and leave me be," she said, her voice somewhat rough from fighting with her emotions right now, her stance tense as it was while she just wanted him to leave her alone. And it probably didn't help that she really did believe that he didn't care, was just trying to taunt her. At least she still had some fight in her even in this state of emotions.

 

[DinoDroid]

RE: Dragons and Cats

He stared at her for a moment then calmly stood next to her "you're right, I don't care." He turned around and leaned against the side of the ship and stared at his tribe. "After all, why should I care for silence, when there is music, food cooking, and the sights and sounds of dragonlings playing. So much more interesting than a brooding princess refusing to acknowledge her own feelings." Staring at her he sighed and turned around to stare out at the ocean like she herself was doing. "The world is unfair, and there are few things that belong to us. Showing emotions isn't a weakness, we weren't created as heartless beings, but with a wide aray of emotions. To deny them is to deny ourselves. You are sad for being taken from your home and you have a right to be sad. I have used you to harm and cripple your people, and have killed your father, you have a right to hate me. But what are you going to do now? You still have choices, that is something only you can decide to lose." Silent for a moment he stood back up and left to join his people in the telling of stories. Before he left though he said quietly "we are all more than just beasts, don't be so quick to judge us." Then almost as an afterthought he said a strange thing "the night skies truly are beautifull aren't they."

He left her alone with her thoughts to think on what he said, in his views her life was her own, he may force her to come with them. Though ultimately it was up to her to decide what choices to make with her own situation. It wasn't long before the gold dragonling jumped up onto the railing next to her and stared critically at her for a moment. Then after having decided something jumped overboard and into the water. After a few moments it shot out of the water like from a cannon to smack into the side of the boat with a wet smack. It quickly stuck its soft claws into the cracks of the wood boards and climbed back up onto the railing where it shook itself like a cat splattering water against Jazira. It turned to her with its cheeks looking swollen len sprayed a jet of water at her before running a short distance away and started twittering like a bird. It was laughing at her, and then tensed its little muscles waiting to be chased.

 

[Mafdet]

RE: Dragons and Cats

She didn't react to his words, not in any way to be seen anyhow. Obviously she could hear the activities behind her, but she didn't want to join in with them. "Oh yes, why don't I want to join in the celebration of demoralizing and killing a lot of my own people..." Jazira muttered to herself, though whether he heard or not she didn't care. Yet he still stayed enough to talk some more, parts in which made her want to snort with some disgust; like she was that oblivious to the fact that the world was unfair. Her life was unfair for not being born a male, yet she tried to not say anything about it. Only some of her brothers cared to listen to her, which she had enjoyed even when she didn't enjoy life or the fact that she was a princess. For emotions though, she trained herself to not show after the few times she cried in front of her father and some of his company; the look of disapproval was enough to make her want to curl up into a ball and disappear from the living world, much more so after the shouts to grow up. Being a princess wasn't the same as those in a fairytale book for her. Maybe it was just because of how her father made it to be, but that was just how it was and she had to be like this in order to not be pushed around by him. Let the dragon talk about emotions, he couldn't see into her mind, which was the one place that she at least still had.

"You know nothing about me," she muttered loud enough for him to hear when he started to leave and added in that she shouldn't be so quick to judge them. If he had asked, he could have known that she didn't think them as beasts, but why bother to say anything about what she thought about? She had no remark to add when he commented about the stars before he left at last. Maybe they were, but she didn't really care right now about them. Choices or not, she was still aching to go back home and didn't want to insert herself into any company while like this. Let them think of her as a brooding hating spoiled princess who lost her 'daddy'. It also didn't help that she was very tired as well as had a horrible headache, the music certainly wasn't helping that problem. Trying to ignore the dull throb of pain in her temples, she leaned against the railing as she stared down into the water now. Being alone was apparently going to be short-lived as she heard someone approaching again, her closing her eyes as she tried to restrain a sigh before she bothered to look up, wondering if she was going to have to deal with the white dragon again. But obviously this wasn't the case as she found herself staring at the young gold dragonling that she remembered from the night of the attack, who stared back at her with an expression that said that he was looking at her critically. She sighed gently as she sort of relaxed. "Hello young one," she said with a gentle tone, evidently not going to try to make him go away like she had with the white dragon. Children were children, they generally did what they wanted, especially do the opposite of what others told them to do. Jazira was just going to let him do what he wanted, though she hoped that he'll get bored of her and leave to find fun elsewhere.

What she didn't expect him to do was jump off the railing into the water, making her exclaim as she leaned over the railing to watch for him. Was he insane?! He could drown! Should she be shouting for someone right now? Before she had time to really think about it, the dragonling had launched himself out of the water like a cannon and heard him smack against the side of the boat, followed by the sound of claws digging into wood. It seemed that the dragons' children weren't as defenseless as those of her own kind, any child would have drowned if it wasn't rescued. Calming down from her near heart attack, she frowned at the dragonling as he reached the top and climbed back onto the railing only to shake himself off, damping her in the process in which case she tried to shield herself a bit with her arms in reflex. "You shouldn't be jumping off like that, it's really-" She found herself being soaked from a jet of water as the dragonling launched his 'attack' on her, her hair and fur as well as part of her dress that had become worn and ragged through the whole week of constant traveling. After she shook herself so as to rid of most of the water, which made her headache worse, she narrowed her eyes at the dragonling as he ran a short distance away and twittered his laughter of what he did. He was trying to lure her into a game, she realized. The problem was that she felt no inclination to join him by chasing him, mainly because her body ached and she didn't have the endurance that the dragons naturally had. All she wanted to do was curl up and sleep, and hope that the headache would go away. "I appreciate the shower, but maybe later I'll play," she said after a few seconds, managing to smile a little bit as she had at least joked somewhat.

 

[DinoDroid]

RE: Dragons and Cats

It cocked its head at her and stared for a moment again obviously thinking something. Then it troted over to her and started sniffing her leg before bounding away. It wasn't gone long before it returned with a small horde of other younglings chasing eachother, bowling over one another, but ultimately moving towards Jazira and circling a bent over figure hidden under a large cloak that covered its body. When the figure was within a few paces the golden dragonling bounded right at Jazira landing on her and quickly shifting its position untill it latched onto her back and rested its head on her shoulder staring at the bent figure.

Suddenly the figure raised a pale blue yellow clawed hand and made a motion for silence, and just like that the dragonlings were instantly eerily quiet and still as statues, gazing at the figure. The figure raised its hands and removed the cowel of the cloak to reveal a hornless, blind, pale blue elderly dragon. The oldest Jazira had seen yet within the tribe, and emanating from her was a sense of grandmotherly love. The old dragoness suddenly smiled at Jazira showing a mouth missing most its teeth and the old woman in a wheezing but strong voice said "Care for some sweet meat my dear?" Suddenly out of nowhere she pulled a piece of sweet smelling meat out of the folds of her cloak and offered it to Jazira, but without even bothering to wait the old woman shoved the bit of meat into Jazira's mouth where it promptly disolved, almost as fast as her headache. "Ohh, hahahahaha" the old woman cackeled, "my look at the surprise on your face. Oh, what I would give to be young and in love again, like you. I know maybe we can visit your room and trade beauty tips. Maybe you can make this old body of mine turn a few old heads again. Maybe not as many as you of course, what with your lovely colored fur, beautiful wings, and fiery personality. Hahahaha" it quickly became obvious that the old woman was missing a few marbles so to speak, but she seemed well meaning. "Oh I bet I know what your wondering how an old crone like me can see you. Well, one thing I have learned in my old age is that sometimes the blind see better than those that see only with their eyes. Now come, come help an old woman get some food." Suddenly the old dragon grabed Jazira and moved towards the food piles with a strength and speed that showed she needed no help, but was playing on her age to get what she wanted.

The dragonlings followed suit remaining quiet as when the old woman told them too untill she pulled out a large ball of string from again the many folds of her cloak and tossed it on the deck. They promptly launched themselves at it chirping, tossing it around, and tangling themselves in it. The gold dragon however remained with Jazira, but stared forlornely at the ball. "Oh my, it seems you still have a hitch hicker, well I suppose it can't be helped. Surprising that little one has grown so attached to you, what with you carrying the scent family scent of Laziir. But no matter, he has taken to you, now to more important matters. MEAT! Freshly cooked, cured, fried, come on my dear can't have you wasting away moping about your miserable life locked away in that enclosed castle, and stuck with a father that wouldn't listen, nor let you do anything. I can easily see how that life would be worth missing. Your absolutely right to hate a life filled with possibilities, new experiences, the chance to meet new people, go to new places, and the chance to fly free." With her open hand she snaped out and grabed a piece of cooked chicken and downed it with impressive speed for one so old. "Yep, your life truly sucks my dear." Suddenly a squeaky voice rang out "Mother! Mother! where are you mother?" The old woman quickly looked up, and back towards the source of the voice "Well Jazira, it looks like that is my cue to go. Now don't forget to eat plenty of food, and since you are young take this dreadull thing they call food." With that she reached out snaged an apple and shoved it into Jazira's mouth before running off like a much younger woman cackling all the way as a gray slight of build dragoness ran after her. Leaving Jazira in the middle of the tribe, alone once again save for the dragonling on her back.

Not too far away Dracon stood and quickly moved towards Jazira "are you all right princess, I feel as though I should apologize for Neera's bahaviour, she is the oldest dragoness in the tribe and has seen many things. She is the last of the dragon queens, as far as I know, and is cherished, but she can be" he paused as though seeking the right word before settling on "intense." The golden dragon yawned on Jazira's shoulder and started to fall asleep on her back. "I should probably take him to bed with the others below deck, it has been a rough week of traveling especially for the young ones." With that he reached out and stroked the dragons back gently and it collapsed into his waiting arms. "While I'm gone why don't you at least try to get to know us before condeming us. After all you don't have really much else to do, and we will be sailing for at least a few days." He then turned around and proceeded to go below decks where a steady trickle of dragonlings were being herded or carried as well.

 

[Mafdet]

RE: Dragons and Cats

She must have confused the young one about not wanting to play chase, or he was thinking of something else, as he stared at her for a moment before trotting over to sniff at her leg. Before she could ask what he was up to he bounded off, making her wonder what it was that he was up to. Did he leave because he was bored, or was he about to do something? Shortly after the answer came as the golden dragonling came bounding back, with the apparent herd of other dragonlings that were circling around an bent figure that hid beneath a cloak. Jazira stared at the figure and was startled when the golden dragonling bounded up to her and landed on her to scramble onto her back like he had a week ago. He really seemed to like clinging onto her from there, though she oddly didn't mind it that much. What really caused her to be surprised was when the cloaked figure raised a hand and all of the dragonlings feel silent, standing very still. That was unusual, nay even creepy to see young children of any race do that, that wasn't what children do. The cloaked figure turned out to be an very old dragoness of blue skin and eyes that showed that she was blind, though despite the teeth-missing smile and the strangeness to her, she could tell that she had that sort of grandmotherly love as she smiled at the jaguar and asked her if she wanted some sweet meat. "Sweet meat...? Excuse me, but I haven't heard of-" Her question was answered as the elderly dragon pulled out a small piece of meat from her cloak that did oddly smell very sweet, and was promptly shoved into Jazira's mouth as she was talking. It dissolved in her mouth before she could spit it out, though she found herself suddenly relieved of that dull pain that her headache was causing, as that too disappeared. "H-how...?" The surprise was never-ending as the elder one cackled and spoke about seeing the look of surprise on her face, though she looked more confused as she continued on. "But I'm not in love..." Her voice trailed off as the dragoness merely cackled again, it seemed that she wouldn't get much of a word out to someone like this, even if she meant well. "So far you seem to know what I'm thinking before I do, so yes I am wondering." Despite herself, she sort of smiled a little; the eccentric behavior was odd, but she sort of reminded her of her old nanny before the elderly woman passed on. It was even more so as the dragoness grabbed her hand and dragged her with strength that she wouldn't have thought was there towards the food. This lady enjoyed her privileges as an elder.

Finally the dragonlings moved, at first following in silence, though as soon as the woman pulled out a ball of string and tossed it down, they were all over it. Well, all but one, who remained on her back yet stared at the ball with somewhat longing. "I thought that he just liked my wings..." Jazira said with mild honesty, when the elder spoke that it seemed that he grew attached to her despite that she carried the family scent of that of her brother; she decided to stop trying to figure out how it was that this woman would know so much, for it could cause her another headache. But she scowled as the dragoness essentially told her to stop moping for her old life. "That life isn't what I'm missing, it's the family that did care," she said somewhat peevishly, still scowling. Nobody could seem to understand that it wasn't for the old life she wanted, but the brothers that cared and had made that castle her home rather than a prison. If she hadn't had them, then there wouldn't be anything to miss from her old life. Having a choice to experience things in exchange for family was still a hard thing to accept, nor did she really want to leave like she had, what with the last images of Dimitri was of him to stare off at her with such a hopeless and hollow expression...

Blinking upon hearing a squeaky voice calling for a mother, the elder dragoness looked up towards the source and said that it was her cue to leave. Though before doing so, Jazira found herself with an apple stuck into her mouth before the old woman took off cackling, a gray dragoness running after her in chase. The princess was currently pulling the apple from her mouth when the white dragon made his appearance yet again, and in her bemused state she merely shrugged lightly as he apologized for Neera and explained about her. "It's fine..." she muttered, not really looking at him as the young dragonling on her back yawned over her shoulder, in the process of falling asleep. She didn't answer, as none was needed, as he said he should take the gold dragon to bed with the rest of the dragonlings, doing the same trick that the black dragon had back before to have the young one fall right off her back into his arms. As he left after telling her to get to know them better 'before condemning them', she scowled after him. Telling her what to do only made the stubborn princess to do the opposite, and frankly she was tired too. Sighing, she only grabbed a piece of chicken and made her way to a nearby wall, sitting down on the deck to promotely eat it slowly. At least she didn't let out a stinging resort at him like she wanted to, about him not needing to condemn her own people like he had...

{Stubborn princess be very stubborn. XD}

 

[DinoDroid]

RE: Dragons and Cats

Again it wasn't long before she soon found herself in the company of yet another dragon. This one was younger than Dracon, tall, with a broad chest and had scales yellow as the sun. "Well, well, I see your enjoying the food, and have just met the old lady." He said leaning towards her, then he walked around to her side and sat down next to her. "So how was the experience, personally she always wierds me out, especially with how she's bothe blind and seems to see more than the rest of us." Turning to her he held out a hand "sorry, haven't introduced myself, I'm Vasht, and I am pleased to meet you." He leaned back and closed his eyes looking as though falling asleep before suddenly without opening his eyes he said softly "it's hard isn't it, losing a family. Being taken away, look Dracon means well, he doesn't hate your people remember that. What he did hate was your father, and all the kings that proceeded him since the founding of your kingdom. Payback's a bitch as they say." He was silent for a moment before getting back up "just remember, your not alone, especially not here." That was all he said before he got up and left to go dance showing his back and the two neat scars on his shoulders.

Dracon showed back up again, almost seeming like an anoying itch, just wouldn't go away for long. "You seem tired, why don't I take you to where you will be sleeping on this voyage." He offered to take her hand and together they went below deck. As the silence stretched on he fianlly spoke "look when we get back to land things are going to change for you. You can choose to stay, or you can go, if you go you leave our protection. Your father didn't make a lot of friends as king, but he did make a lot of enemies and there are those that would hurt, kill, or use you to get to your brother. If you decide to stay with us we will protect you, but you aren't our prisoner, in exchange though you will need to pull your weight. A dragon tribe works so that if you hurt one of us, you hurt us all, to fight one, is to fight all. Also in addition you will need to also aid in gathering and preparing food, everyone chips in here, bothe men and women." As they entered a hall he took her to a door and opened it up to show a small room with an equally small bed. "This is your room, it's cut off from the others to provide you privacy and give you time to think." He was silent for a moment before speaking "I'm sorry for having to drag you into this, and taking you away from your family." Then on his way out in a quiet tone so she may or may not hear it said "Please stay, I think your beautiful." Then he was gone, leaving Jazira alone with her thoughts.

 

[Mafdet]

RE: Dragons and Cats

Despite that she hardly ate through the whole week, Jazira just didn't find herself that hungry enough to finish the chicken, though she forced herself to eat a couple of more bites before she laid it down on a plate she had found. Sighing, she stared at the floor for a brief time before she had to look up due to someone approaching her, his scales as bright yellow as the sun, commenting about her enjoying the food and having met Neera. Joining to sit with her, she resisted the urge to move away as he asked her how was the experience. "She personally reminded me of my old nanna..." she said in a light tone, though at least it was in a more friendly way than anything she'd used before while anyone commented to her on the week of traveling. With him introducing himself while holding out a hand, she looked at the offered claw for several seconds before slowly reaching out and shaking it, not really saying anything in return; they knew who she was. "Good to meet you too..."

Noticing him falling silent and even seeming to fall asleep, she was wondering if she should move elsewhere when he spoke again. Why does everyone presume to talk to her about what happened as though they wanted to understand her? Her ears flicked back against her skull as she remained silent for the good portion of what he said. "Yet you all presumed that we didn't hate him too..." she muttered as she looked to the opposite direction, not seeing how anyone could mean well with the attack and probably wouldn't ever see it for a long time. With him leaving with a comment that she wasn't alone, she wanted to scream that she was especially alone here. Sleep deprivation doesn't make for reasonable thinking, one could guess.

The white dragon appeared again and this time made a comment about her looking tired, which for once he said something right as far as she was concerned right now. Sighing softly, she looked up at his offered hand and was about to swat it away to get up on her own when she paused in her actions, then merely took it to be helped onto her feet. Her hoping for complete silence was short-lived as they were going below deck as the other spoke, making her stay silent, wishing that he wouldn't bother. Sometimes she wished that he was that cold calculating killer he made himself to be when they first met, it would have made it a lot easier to just hate him... "And leave where...? I have nothing," she said, sadness and despair threatening to overwhelm her again but she fought them back, so her tone only held some sadness. Coming into a hallway, he went to a door and opened it for her, finding a small room that he told her was cut off from the rest.

She didn't care that it was small as she entered it, though she stayed quiet as she realized that he was still standing there at the doorway in silence for a minute. When he finally spoke up, Jazira really didn't want to hear him say sorry; it meant that now she was going to be the only one that would hold it at a distance in her desperate need for a grudge, to feel angry. Her wings physically drooped down as he made to leave, and she didn't make any reaction as he quietly said what he had said, making it seem that she didn't hear. 'Stay! He's letting me choose to stay or leave, but leave where?! I can't go back home!' There was no more excuse to make, so closing the door as quickly as possible, she was already choking on a sob as she laid on the bed, curling up on her side against the top corner of it as she finally let her tears spill, her chest aching from the emotions of pain, sadness, despair, loneliness, anger and most of all confusion, while she pulled the small pillow against her chest to hug tightly. For an hour she was like this, crying after a week of holding the tears back until there were no more tears to be spilled, her body's exhaustion and the gentle rocking of the boat making her fall asleep before she could even recover from the torrent of emotions...

When the morning came, she barely moved from her position, her body still curled up tightly around the pillow as she woke up partially. Her body ached, her chest was still painfully tight, her eyes stung and she had a small headache, which was to be expected. Though emotional wise, she felt a lot better... not that she'd want to admit that. Sighing softly, she finally uncurled her legs to stretch them out, wincing as they protested from having held still in such an uncomfortable position for several hours. Jazira didn't get up after doing so, as she didn't want to be seen with red eyes right now. Besides, she wasn't much of a person for company when she wakes up, and likely no one wanted to see her since after last night. At least they got to enjoy their fun with her gone in her room. She closed her eyes again as she tried to let her thoughts stay calm and not think of her family, she didn't need another bout of crying. Deep breathes eventually helped her chest loosen up from being painful, as well as allowed her to remain calm and awake. 'What I'd give for a bath...' she found herself thinking, though she wasn't going to say anything of that rather simple wish to anyone on a boat that had only the essentials.

{I promise that she gets better. XD And I don't always make such big posts... this is rather a surprise that I'm writing so much.}

 

[DinoDroid]

Early the next morning Jazira recieved a pair of visitors while she was sleeping. The first the the golden youngling who decided that it was time to wake up by jumping onto her stomach and spraying water into her face, then bolting away to chirp in laughter behind Neera who was lightly tapping her foot inpatiently. "All right my dear, time to get up, up, up, up. The sun is shining, the sky is blue, and unless you want this little rascal to give you another bath with sea water I sudjest you get up. Or maybe I should help get you up hmmm?" Then a wicked smile crossed the old dragoness's face and she came up close to Jazira and expertly found all the young womans tickle spots and proceeded to wake her up that way. When she was awake and up the old woman moved towards the door "now I think its about time we visited the tribes dressmaker and get you some fresh clothes, because honey, what you have on has seen better days and was never meant for functionality. Don't worry though I will protect you from the monsters under the bed." At this last comment she tried to strike a heroic pose, but the effect was lost due to her hunched over back.

Once they left her room Neera guided Jazira to the hold where all of the supplies were stored, and a short, but broad shouldered gray dragon sat at a desk with a large array of fabrics, and colors. "Stay here little ones, the grownups have to chat." she said to Jazira and the dragonling. She went on ahead and in hushed tones spoke to the dragon, he suddenly tensed and rose in his chair to stare, and then glare at Jazira. He returned to Neera and the argument obviously became more heated, but no less hushed. Finally he grudgingly noded at Neera and she returned to Jazira. "There all set up, nothing to worry about, now let's get your measurements and we can begin." She grabed Jazira's arm and pulled her towards the dragon who was pulling out a length of string with marks at regular intervals.

In a gruff extremely low voice he said "stand straight and hold out your arms, this should only take a moment. Now, how do you want your new garment, I can make any design or style, but the material will be sturdier, and less comfortable than the fabric your wearing now. I can also if you like take that old garment and mend it with its current material if you like." Suddenly he gave a shrieking whistle and a much taller and slender gray dragon appeared with a little booklet and writing utencil. As soon as he looked up and saw Jazira he stopped, droped his booklet and writer, reared his head, and hissed at Jazira. Barbed fins rose all along his back, starting at the top of his head down to his tail where the fins spread out to form a paddle. Suddenly Neera was there also hissing, only her scales seemed to start to shimmer, and shake, and something under her large cloak seemed to be moving and writhing. "THAT IS ENOUGH CHOPAL!" she screemed and suddenly the dragon started cowering and lowering himself before Neera, the other dragon merely watched the two displays with a look of disinterest, but his eyes showed great fear of Neera. After a moment Neera seemed to settle down, but she stomped over to Chopal grabed him behind his cowering neck, and with little effort tossed him before Jazira "now beg her for your forgiveness, before I decide to punish you" she seethed. Chopal layed there cowering in front of Jazira before in a shaking and timid voice said "please forgive me my lady, I shouldn't have reacted like that, I beg forgiveness and will accept any punishment you see fit." He layed there waiting for Jazira's response.

(It's ok, as long as your enjoying yourself.)

 

[Mafdet]

Despite the rather sudden awakening, Jazira didn't mind the company of the dragonling and the elderly dragoness Neera, as so far these were the dragons that had been most friendly. Yes, she remembered the dragon last night, Vasht, though he had only spoke with her briefly... and Dracon was still not one she'd want to see for awhile, though he had been more friendly too. "New clothes would be very nice," she admitted as she smiled gently, as she was indeed up after a tickle session as well as having a cold jet of water being sprayed into her face once the dragonling jumped on her stomach. Laughing lightly as Neera attempted to pose in a heroic fashion as she said she would protect Jazira, she had finally gotten onto her feet and felt her muscles complain at having to be made used. She simply ignored the protests as she left with Neera and the dragonling, being guided to the supply area where she could see a short but well-built dragon was apparently in charge.

The argument between Neera and the dragon was more than obvious, and Jazira didn't have to really guess what it was about as the male would glare at her briefly before Neera apparently won between the two of them. Why was everyone rather afraid of the elder dragoness? she wondered as she was pulled to the dragon by Neera, and without any hesitation she did as was instructed by the dragon as he asked her on how to stand. At the questions he gave, she only had to think on it for a minute. "The dress is useless where we are going, so if it doesn't bother you I'd just like to have a simple set of clothes that would be easy to work and move in," she said, her voice sounding apologetic that he was only doing this because Neera won. She just didn't want to give him any trouble.

With the sudden turn of events as the other dragon came out, as she assumed that he was there to write down the measurements from the other dragon, she found herself surprised and briefly on her guard when he suddenly reared back and hissed at her in a threatening manner. Before she could do anything Neera had reacted first to this by hissing back, though the display as her scales seemed to shimmer while something beneath her cloak shifted, she wondered just how powerful could the female be and how dangerous she really was. The male dragon was quick to change from how he was to cowering before the dragoness, though as Jazira started to calm down from her fright Neera had told the dragon to beg from the jaguar for her forgiveness after effortlessly tossing him at her feet. She didn't know how it was that she should be acting as she looked at the dragon while he spoke to her in a timid voice, so after a deep breath she decided that she would just do what first came to mind. "I forgive you... there's no need for any punishment, you just surprised me in the most part," she said with a hesitant smile, offering the male dragon a hand up.

 

[DinoDroid]

The dragon brushed away her hand and shuffled away from Jazira picking up the notepad on his way out. Neera stared at him and hissed as he passed her, he jumped, triped and stumbled as he quickly left. Neera watched him and the gold dragonling suddenly leapt atop her shoulder. She reached a hand and stroked him under his chin, the action seemed to calm her a bit as she turned back to the shorter dragon. He jumped as though the action startled and started mumbling and rambling about having the clothes taken care of and ready in a few days before he too left. Neera nodded and turned back to Jazira and at the flip of a switch the old grandmotherly persona and air was back as though nothing had happened. "Ahh, that was a most unpleasant incident my dear, can't expect everyone to behave. Now how about we go and talk, we can even visit the galley and get something to eat. There shouldn't be too many others there to disturb us, just the change of shift sailors." She reached out to Jazira and gently grabed her hand and draged her towards the galley.

The galley was accessed by a set of stairs leading straight to the poop deck, and inside it was packed with long tables and chairs. In the back a grass green dragon with for the first time Jazira saw, a large soft belley standing next to a large cauldron and a large ladle. As Neera had said the galley was mostly vacant save for Dracon and his inner council. They all looked up as they entered, but only Dracon gave a friendly smile and turned back to the others. Neera waved at them all enthusiastically and the other dragons nodded their heads back to her. She pulled Jazira towards the cook and he handed her two bowls of steaming hot stew and a couple of breakfast biscuits. As they walked away the dragonlings following them leapt up onto the hot pot as though it was cool to their touch and started trying to dip their heads into the hot stew. The cook started raping each of them on the head gently with his ladle, but it was obviously a losing battle. Neera stared at them as they set down, but was obviously enjoying the show and wasn't about to end it.

"I am dreadfully sorry about how Vrax treated you, but he has never learned to let a grudge go. Now I bet what you really want right now is a nice warm shower. Can't help you there my dear, but we should be reaching our port withing the next few days. There you will be able to go for a nice swim, the port waters are usually empty save for our ships, and the waters are quite warm. it is a most enjoyable past time for us, especially for the younglings." Suddenly there was a splash and everyone looked up to see a most distressed cook quite distressed as a blue dragonling pulled himself out of the stew and bolted away to hide behind Neera. The green scaled cook just glowered at the little creature but didn't attempt to go after it. The other dragons just started chuckling and returned to their discussion. Neera stared turned her attention towards the blue dragonling untill it glumly headed towards the cook her rapt it on the head, then returned his attention back towards the others. Neera shifted her attention towards Dracon, got up and shuffled over to him, she grabed him by the back of his neck and pulled him over towards Jazira and sat him down right in front of her before sitting down next to him. "Now my dear it's time for us to muck out the stables so to speak, you and he have been having some trouble getting along, and it's time for you all to make up. Jazira, talk to Dracon here, he may be leader of our little tribe, and cunning at times, not to mention emotionally sensitive, but he can also be emotionally stupid, foolish, and stuborn. Talk to him right now, tell him how you feel, and ask any questions you have. It's time for us to all get along, and I may be old but my patience is wearing thin. Dracon has been handling your situation quite foolishly and has yet to truly understand you. So tell him right now, and neither of you are leaving this spot untill everyone is good, you hear me?" The last was said with an edge, there would be no give on her part.

 

[Mafdet]

Jazira was beginning to understand why everyone were quite weary of the elder grandmotherly dragoness as she turned back to the jaguar after hissing at the first dragon and having the shorter dragon assure her that he'd have the clothes ready for her in a few days. It would be in her best interest to never get on the dragoness's bad side, the princess mentally took that note and filed it away in her memory. "It's alright. Besides, food does sound rather good," she added as her hand was grabbed and allowed herself to be dragged to the galley. Not that she had much say, this dragoness had a lot more strength in her than her appearance seemed while she looked to the little golden dragonling that rode on Neera's shoulder. At least there were friendly dragons among the boat of not-quite-friendly dragons. Following Neera to the galley, she looked up and glanced to see that there were a few other people inside, one in which was Dracon. Again she wasn't sure what she should think of him right now, but at least they weren't going to interact with him right away as they made their way to the cook who Jazira felt was a little familiar, being handed a bowl of hot stew that already twitched at the jaguar's senses. It smelled amazing to her.

As they took a seat and Neera watched the dragonlings as they were trying to dip their heads into the large cauldron to eat from it, Jazira smiled a little bit as she watched for a few seconds before taking a few sips from the stew. When Neera apologized, she merely flicked her attention to the elder then merely shook her head lightly. "It's alright, I will be fine... as for that, I know the bath can wait. Vrax's reaction hadn't really surprised me.." she said softly, somewhat conscious of how that sounded. But no, the dragons really hated her people, so why treat her any differently? Sipping her stew again, their attention was shifted to the cook and the blue dragonling that had fallen into the cauldron while trying to eat. Giggling gently as the dragonling would eventually go back to the cook in a glum manner, as the cook would obviously rapt it on the head gently, she returned her attention to her stew even as Neera got up and shuffled off for a minute, unaware of the action as she was eating until Dracon was pulled up and sat in front of the jaguar, as though he was a dragonling again.

The princess frowned softly as Neera told them to talk, flicking her ears back against her head briefly as she ruffled her wings in an agitated fashion. Tell him how she felt? The prospect was already a little daunting, especially when she didn't know what it was that she should be telling him. 'It can't be that simple...' she thought, wishing she could say that. But she could hear the edge in the dragoness's tone and didn't wish to invoke her anger or try her patience. Jazira shifted her wings awkwardly as she took to looking at her half-eaten stew, pretty quiet all things considered. "I... don't know what to say first..." she murmured, still not looking up right away. She sighed gently as she eventually glanced up. "Your actions and words just keeps confusing me... I was taken, never to ever go back home, and yet you say that I can do as I will, leave or stay... even as you expressed that you wanted me to stay with the village... What am I supposed to think?"