Zemes Devinu{Dragon-Riders/Fantasy RP}(ACCEPTING)[Semi-lit]

[Soriams]

((Excellent posts guys!))

Ada finishes with Zahraa's left wing, and the great bird tucks it back in, folding it neatly against her body. With the feathers all compressed, the damage is far less visible and in all there is little sign that the two had ever met with such an ungraceful landing, besides the damaged trees and clean-cut feathers that litter the ground. "Alright Zah, I'd better check the other one too. Right wing now." Seeming bored with the whole process and no doubt tired from their travels, Zahraa sighs and holds out her right wing as asked with a bit of reluctance. Yawning, she rests her head on her back, tucking her beak beneath her left wing. Silver eyes still on her rider, she watches as Ada inspects the feathers, black ear tufts relaxed against her head in a bored expression. Ada finds that this wing is in much better shape than the other, only having two feathers that are damaged enough to possibly be removed. Most likely the work of the Gorma, they are chewed and ragged, with deep punctures in the shaft where the devilish little creatures had latched on. Ada ponders the feathers for a long moment, before finally deciding to remove them too. Eh, what's two more at this point... They're all going to have to grow back sometime or another.

Resolution made, Ada saws through the last two feathers, letting the cut ends flutter to the ground with the rest of the discarded wing-tips. Sensing that she is done, Zahraa pulls in the other wing a well, settling down onto the ground and finding a more comfortable position for her long legs. Ada sheathes her knife and takes a step forward, meeting the bird's expressive eyes for a moment before she reaches out and ruffles the feathers on top of her head. "Ah, don't look so sad... We'll find another way to get to Hon'Ren Mesta." Zahraa reaches up, bumping Ada's hand with her beak affectionately, and Ada smiles to her. "Well, think of it this way... I'll probably have to charter a boat now, so it saves you the long trip overwater."

At this point, an observer watching the pair might have assumed the bird was just about to answer, when her ears twitch and she quickly turns her head to stare into the trees. A bit worried, Ada looks off in the same direction. Though her eyes are quite exceptional compared to many other inhabitants of Zemes Devinu, even Ada's keen senses pale in comparison to Zahraa's. The Kyte could easily spot her father returning against a dim sky well before any of the watchmen with their spyglasses. Thus it comes as no surprise that she has trouble discerning just what it is that has caught the bird's attention. "What is it, Zah?" Ada asks in a whisper, but receives no response as Zahraa just continues to stare fixedly off in the same direction, with her ears perked forward.

Ada stands uneasily next to her mount, fingering the hilt of her knife and debating as to wether or not she should investigate. Ug... What is it now? I think I've had just about enough adventures for one day... Mind just about made up to wait it out and see what happens, a male voice suddenly beaks the silence, calling out asking if anyone is alive. Both Ada and Zahraa jump, startled by the sudden noise. As though on cue, rider and mount turn to look at each other at the same time. "Does he mean us?" Ada asks the bird in a quiet voice, but realizing what a stupid question that is shakes her head. Silly... Who else could it be? I'm sure they've never seen such a spectacular landing... Better answer or they'll just come looking for you. Ada thinks, straightening her goggles and makes sure that her veil is still tied securely around her head, hiding her face completely before calling out. "Ay! Yeah, we're alright. I'm coming out now."

Speaking so loudly is apparently a strain on her bruised ribs, and Ada winces from the pain it causes. Brilliant. Maybe I should do less crashing from now on... Making sure to drop her hands to her sides, and keep them away from her knife, she walks out into the trees in the direction of the man's voice. Behind her, Zahraa gets to her feet as well, having to duck to keep her head from entangling in the branches overhead as she follows. Standing on her thin legs, the large bird stands twice again as tall as her rider, though the majority of that height is in her spindly legs and Ada's head only comes up to the bottom of Zah's breast. Luckily enough, her long neck is easily compressed, but even then it becomes blatantly obvious that such a large bird was never designed to travel in such cramped quarters, as she is anything but quiet as she pushes through the trees.

The strand is not too large, and Ada soon finds it's end and pushes her way out through the brambles and out into the open, cringing at the noise Zahraa is making behind her. So much for an element of surprise... Squinting in the near-darkness, Ada quickly spots the man, still mounted on a lovely looking brown dragon. She waves to him with a gloved hand, not sure if he noticed her appearance, and approaches slowly. A moment later, Zahraa finally picks her way out of the trees and steps gracefully over the shrubbery that Ada had been forced to walk through. She shakes out her feathers, sending loose leaves and twigs flying before she strides after Ada, closing the distance in less than two strides.

Cleaning off her goggles with the sleeve of her robe, Ada looks up at the rider. Though she smiles to him, her expression is hidden beneath her veil and only a hint of it can be heard in her voice as she addresses him. "'Ello... That must have been some show I put on for you. Anyway, sorry to have troubled you." She says, quickly running out of words. Zahraa presses behind her, leaning forward over her shoulder to peer at the dragon and rider curiously as she tilts her head this way and that. Trilling out a bit of a warble with a voice surprisingly quiet for such a large bird, she seems to have satisfied her curiosity and nudges Ada in the shoulder. Her rider reaches up to absently scratch at the birds ear, taking notice of the other two riders off in the distance. What's this then? Are they all traveling together? I hope this isn't some sort of band of brigands or something...

[The Great ME!]

Aobara straightened up on Mizuiro’s back as Sanaii addressed him, offering her a soft and somewhat subdued smile, being of a milder and more socially awkward nature than that of his red-haired companion. Granted he still had much better manners.
“Yeah…well actually my companion was. I can hardly see in this darkness, probably wouldn’t have spotted you ten feet away if he hadn’t already told me.” He chuckled and idly scratched the side of his cheek. “Sorry, we weren’t really sure about if it would be okay to approach…things are really tense with the War going on, even here away from the frontlines y’know.” He apologized sheepishly. “But we weren’t like, stalking you or anything.” He added quickly and a little awkwardly as an afterthought. “We were just heading towards the Imperial City and he spotted you. Can’t be too watchful after all.”
Even as he said this his gaze travelled over Sanaii and her mount. He noted that the girl herself seemed foreign, and her mount was rather elegant and winged just as Fox had said he thought he noticed, even from afar. He wondered to himself exactly where she was from, Neptca he guessed from the looks of her, and also found himself wondering what sort of rank or status she held to own a winged dragon, which indicated good and probably expensive bloodlines. His gaze then trailed to the small canine accompanying her and he couldn’t help but picture other grown-up counterparts of it’s species. Inwardly he thought she had to be very daring and brave to want to train one, even if it was a pup. He knew that they could be dangerous and would never be caught trying to do so with one.

* * *

Fox listened intently as he gazed into the darkness of the forest and was soon rewarded by an answer. He heard the more light movements of the Avaris themself and then a much louder ruckus of movement that he could only guess was the large bird he had seen flying before taking it’s spill into the trees. His dragon picked up on it too and was much more uneased. Having observed many a wild animal before throughout his and Ao’s travels, he knew that even most of the biggest, badest creatures made it a point to move quietly and unnoticed because there could always be a bigger, badder predator hanging around, even if it was of it’s own species.
Any creature that made it’s presence well-known was usually both confident and communicated to others that it was not to be messed with, and often scared other animals off.
Of course his dragon was trained for battle and would only flee under either command or specific circumstances so the beast held it’s ground, lowering it’s head slightly and tail swaying behind it, nostril’s flaring and taking in the scent of the bird and master.
“Easy Forest.” Fox soothed, patting the dragon’s shoulder and soothing the animal back to a more relaxed stance as birdmaster and avian appeared. He noted first the person as they offered a wave in greeting, no real features of the individual visible in the birdmaster’s garb and could only tell that the figure was a woman by her voice.
Idly he remembered his younger days when he and Ao would often come up with outrageous guesses of what birdmaster’s really looked like that they hid in those concealing clothes. It ranged from everything to thinking that maybe they were so beautiful that no person could lay eyes on them, like they had the looks of holy beings unfit to be seen, to the most hideous and scary creatures they could think up. There were many days they had spent coming up with such outlandish things and he couldn’t help but smirk slightly to himself though it wouldn’t be very visible to her, especially since it vanished again as quickly as it had appeared.
Of course the third and wisest of their childhood group had always been the voice of reason and seemed to have wisdom far beyond his years, and definitely far beyond any of them, saying that they were probably just like any of them, just human with a few different features that distinguished their race, and they had to admit that he was probably right. From what he had heard that was pretty much the case, but he’d never been witness to it himself.
As the bird emerged, he took note that it was the same bright white one that he had seen flying and had touches of black here and there on it’s snowy feathers. Even having seen it afar and seen many Avaris bird mounts previously, the size of the bird was still very impressive. Granted it had a different build, most of it’s mass being in height and wing-span, it towered over his own mount at full height by at least a couple of feet and despite that it’s legs were long and spindly, he could tell that they held a great amount of force behind them, having witnessed such things with other bird mounts various times before. He knew from having seen fights himself that the Avaris’ mounts were nothing to be taken lightly. Inwardly he wondered to himself which out of it’s beak or legs would be more potent a weapon though both looked very formidable.
Of course the posture and the amount of noise led him to believe that the bird wasn’t exactly comfortable or fit for the dense forest it had landed itself in and had a tough time even compacted as it was, and much more relaxed as it came out into more open ground and tipped it’s head over it’s master’s shoulder, and it was surprisingly quiet as it chirped and warbled, the older teen having only heard the shrill screeches of the large birds when flying into battle or sending off some sort of call or alarm. A sound he never really liked to be honest, more often then not left with his ears ringing at some point or another.
“Quite the show indeed,” he replied, his intelligent eyes gazing at her despite that he couldn’t make out any of the woman’s features. “Must be really crazy to fly over the Barrensscar, and really lucky to survive.” Once again his lack of subtlety shone through his words and posture and he once again recalled the various lectures he’d received from Ao on improving his demeanor when dealing with other people. But he really saw no problem with how he was and old habits died hard. “But besides that it’s really no trouble.” He shrugged. “We were passing by anyway, heading towards the Imperial City and what-have-you, at the very least to re-stock some supplies. The city has a really booming market so shouldn’t be too hard to find what we need.” He partially said this as small talk and partially to prompt more response from the woman before her, curious as to what she was even doing travelling the Barrensscar to head in this direction despite that he didn’t voice this.

[Russetweasel]

((Just so you guys know I'll be joining at a later point once you get to the city =^.^=))

[ET4252]

Sanaii offered up her well practiced court smile in reply to Aobara's slightly more ackward one. It was a smile that she had spent hours in front of the mirror to perfect, one that was nice and sweet with a hint of curiosity but, with little else. Hearing that there was a companion somewhere close by she let her gaze dart quickly around, prodding the darkness for a hint of movement. However her eye sight was nothing above normal and could not untangle the darkness into the shapes she was looking for. As she turned her attention back to Aobara new interest sparked in her eye as he mentioned that he was heading to the imperial city. Drumming her fingers on her thigh she let her mind orginize her thoughts weighing all the possiblities of this encounter.
"I would happen that I am also going to the Imperial City as well. Prehaps we should join up?" Though she trusted Aobara to accept him as a traveling companion she was very reluctant to reveal herself as the princess of Neptca carrying a message for the Emperor himself. As she waited for Aobara to reply she cast a glance down at Cailen who was starting to become more and more restless. Goodness she thought to herself He can't sit still for more than a few seconds.

[Soriams]

Ada studies the other two dragon riders off in the distance, just barely making out that they too seem to be face to face as though in some sort of conversation. Perhaps curious as to what her rider is looking at Zahraa too glances over to them, but seems to loose interest long before Ada. Most likely, the avian had spotted the two long before her rider and had already dismissed them. Instead, she looks back at the rider in front of them, still curious about the pair, though more particularly the dragon. Her silver eyes travel over it's length several times before she seems to finally grow tired of looking at it, dipping her head to preen the ruffled feathers of her breast.

Though Ada has hardly done anything out of the ordinary, besides look like a fool to these people, she can't help but feel a bit nervous being so close to the Imperial City. When back at home when she had made up her mind to travel to Hon'ren Mesta and began making plans, the thoughts would set her heart racing as she thought of the rebels and the freedom they fought for. Now though, it was something completely different that touched her mind. Ada was grounded and within walking distance to the Imperial City and part of her young mind frets that they might see her for her traitorous thoughts even though she has done nothing wrong. Could these really be emperor's men? If they are, then why are there so few, and so spread out? Once again the man in front of her begins to speak, pulling her attention away from the others and back to him.

As he speaks of the foolishness of flying over Barrensscar, Ada is very grateful for the darkness and the veil that covers her face, as it brings a sudden rush of heat to her face. It was just over the most southern tip... How was I to know it was full of those nasty little buggards? She thinks bitterly, only beginning to prepare a retort when he continues, and his next words make her forget completely about the embarrassment of her unplanned landing. They are actually heading into the city? For supplies? I guess that means they are not guardsmen, but merely traveling somewhere else altogether. The realization brings a wash if relief over the young Avaris, and she lets out a quiet sigh. She had seen the top of the great tree from altitude, silhouetted against the setting sun before the reappearance of the gorma, and by her best estimate it could be reached by midnight on foot with little trouble. On foot... Oh Avaris, that's right. How long is it going to take me to get past the flats now that I am grounded? Zah is only carrying two more days worth of supplies and there are miles of open country between us and the shore.

Conflicted, Ada reaches up to scratch the back of her head as she thinks, still looking up at the mounted rider whom she hasn't yet bothered to ask his name. "Uh, yeah well I suppose you could say it was a bit crazy... But then again caution was never one of my best attributes." She answers, smiling a bit sheepishly behind her veil, the chagrin leaking through into her voice. Beside her, Zahraa yawns expansively and settles down on the ground next to her rider, long legs peeking out from her feathers as she looks over the two while they converse. Her long neck brings her near eye-level with her rider, and she seems perfectly content to rest despite the mounted rider's presence. Ada can't help seeing just how tired Zahraa is from their long travels, and concern for her mount pulls at her to make a difficult decision. "So just how long is the trip to the ports near Kosov'Baro by land?" She asks, keeping her voice even as she fiddles with her gloves to keep from looking up at the rider. If it's more than a day or so, I'm going to have to risk going into the city for supplies... Maybe he would let me tag along? It might look a bit less suspicious... Ada pretty much ignores the fact that no matter where they go, Zahraa is going to stand out like a sore thumb. Even among her friends on Avaris there were few such long-legged avians, most preferring the more standard looking raptor or corvid mounts. Ah well, I've nothing to loose and everything to gain at this point.

Her worried thoughts bring her around to the fact that she has never even introduced herself, or asked for his name. A bit ashamed once again, she looks back up to him. "Oh, my name's Adawiyah by the way. But most people just call me Ada." She says, completely omitting her family name in hopes that will give them some bit of protection if this man is not completely trustworthy. In turn, she waits for his reply as though learning his name may give her some insight into the fiery-haired rider.

[The Great ME!]

She has a nice smile… Aobara noted to himself, quickly shaking these thoughts away after a moment with a slight flush to his cheeks, glad for the darkness of night that would conceal this. After a moment he figured it was just that she was probably more socially confident than himself. She certainly seemed confident, the way she held herself and everything spoke volumes of this, while Aobara himself was a bit more on the timid side. He noticed her gaze dart around as he mentioned his companion but didn't draw attention to this.
"I wouldn't mind the extra company." Aobara said as she proposed banding up while they travelled towards the Imperial City. "And I don't think it'll be a problem to my companion. He's a little brash but not a bad guy or anything, and besides, the more the merrier right?" Once again he offered her something of an awkward smile from astride Mizuiro's back.

* * *

Fox gazed on and as the birdmaster woman mentioned that caution was not always her strong suite he couldn't help but smirk. More specifically it was because Ao had a nasty habit of reminding him that he was much the same way, granted he would never actually go to the Barrensscar. Even he had his sense of self-preservation even if it was often in question. Not so much by himself but by others.
He really couldn't blame them for their scrutiny, he was most definitely a loose cannon some days, a daredevil indeed. But no one could accurately argue the content of his heart or say he wasn't brave, sometimes a little too much, as it were.
His thoughts were taking away by this and smirk vanishing as the woman introduced herself as Adawiyah, or Ada for short, and questioned him on how long it would take to reach the salt-flats.
"Fox." He offered his own name in return, idly shrugging his shoulders even as he straightened up in his saddle a little bit. "Just Fox. And it depends on which way you're headed, and of course if you're going by land or not. Mounted, I'd say soonest might be four days if you're up to running it the whole way, heading south and following the shoreline. Clearest path you'll have, but likely it'll take you maybe seven days. It'll take you a day at least just to reach the shoreline. Of course it also depends on which port you're taking and where you're going. It's about three days to reach the east side of the Imperial City taking the trails through Quara Forest."

[ET4252]

Sanaii let a more genuine smile cross her face as she began to relax. Gently tapping her heels against Ryce's steely flank she directed him towards Aobara and his mount. Distantly she thought about what her father would have to say about choosing these strangers as traveling companions. As King he would tell her try and make friends in higher places as a father he would tell her that it was foolish to put her trust with people she had just met. As though to fight these doubt's Sanaii though of what her brother would most likely think. Forever the diplomatic friendly one her brother would be thrilled at her putting her trust in people she hadn't spent weeks observing.

"Don't worry I have learned to deal with many different personalities." Maybe deal was to strong of a word. She usually would just fix a false a smile on her face and weather what she could. Thankfully her brother was usually there to save her with some sort of excuse or another allowing her to escape to the safty of her room, the stables, or the kennels. One of the few times her brother had not been there to rescue her she had ended up punching the man in the gut. He had been an older gentleman nearing his mid fourties, brown hair thourghly sprinkled with silver and grey. At first things had been going smoothly Sanaii easing herself into the rythem of the small talk until suddenly the man had started talking about how he had yet to find a wife. Thrown off balance it had taken her sevel seconds to find her voice. The man had culminated by telling her that he was going to take her for a wife. Well that had ended terribly, for the gentleman at least.

Shaking herself to rid of the musings that crowed her head Sanaii said in an interested tone "So where is your companion?" she wanted to at least see the other person she would be traveling with before she made her final decision. Cailen seemed the least eager of Sanaii's companions to join up with these new travelers. He was never good with strangers and sat pouting refusing to move for several seconds before slowly getting getting up and following along at his own pace.

(sorry it took so long for me to post it was a really chaotic week for me.

And sorry for the pointless back story I was feeling in an imaginative mood ^^ )

[The Great ME!]

((It's fine, I understand, and nah, the backstory just makes the post better, gives it more interest XD Keep up the good work ))

[ET4252]

(haha thanks I am trying to cut back on the number of RPs I am in and concentrate more on what I put into my posts and this is easier to do when you don't have to balance seven or so RPs)

[Soriams]

((I agree, good work! I love all the little details.))

Ada looks up at the mounted man, feeling a bit of disheartenment as his smile fades and he begins to speak. Seven days... Zahraa is fast, but there's no way I could make it sooner than a dragon and she's already so tired. I'm going to have to stop for supplies, there's just no way around it. Though there is no small amount of apprehension in her, Ada can't help but feel a bit of excitement building in her. She has always wanted to see the imperial city, a place so vast and grand that everything around it pales in comparison. Thus it is with a smile beneath her veil that she answers. "Fox... Pleased to meet you. I'm grateful for the assistance you've already given, but I'm afraid I have another favor to ask."

Ada pauses for a moment then, waiting to see how he will react. Catching a bit of a red gleam from his hair in the moonlight, she realizes that the name Fox suits him perfectly. Well, if you are a clever as a fox, I hope you are at least not as devious... I've got no other choice right now. She continues then, looking back to Zahraa while she rests. "It sounds as though I'm going to need supplies as well, and would like it very much if you'd let me accompany you into the city. I've never been there before, and want to get in and out as quickly as possible without too much of a fuss."

The birdmaster holds our her hand in front of her, and Zahraa reaches out to touch it with her beak affectionally. "You ready, Zah?" She asks, her voice a sweet warbling-singsong as she speaks to her mount, and the bird puffs up her feathers, shaking them out in response. Ada then walks to Zahraa's side, gloved hands reaching beneath her feather to find the lines of her riding harness as they are all but hidden beneath her snowy feathers. Grasping the thin leather straps, she easily places her feet into the loops and slides up onto Zahraa's back in a single graceful movement. The great bird then gets to her feet and stretches, standing on one leg and stretching the other back while pulling her wing over it, as is the manner of birds. This shows the missing feathers clearly in the dim moonlight, but at this point Ada feels there is no reason trying to hide the fact that she is grounded. Zah seems to take no notice of the added weight of her rider, and when finished she relaxes by pulling up one foot, easily balancing on her other long thin leg.

Looking down on Fox from her new elevated vantage point, Ada waits to see what he will say. Even if he says no, I'm still going to be following him at least as far as the city... He can't stop me if we're both just traveling in the same direction, right? Leaning back, she adjusts the thin saddle bags that Zahraa's wings hide from view now that they are folded. She can't carry anywhere near as much as a dragon could, but it is enough for a bit of food for Ada and some other emergency supplies. Luckily enough, Zah can do her own hunting when out in the wilderness, as carrying enough food to feed her would be nearly impossible. The enormous avian eats twice as much as any dragon, even though she only weighs half as much.