The True Test

[Max452]

Ian continued to clasp his hands over his ears once the fanghurs started their shrieking again. Ian's plan was momentarily forgotten when Eos began charging and attacking the creatures, leaving two left. His idea returned to him once he spotted one of them attacking Eos' flank, while the other charged at her mighty jaws.
"I'll be right back!" Ian yelled over the painful screeching as he now recklessly and stupidly acted on his idea. He lithly unhooked his feet from the saddle and swung his foot toward the side of the attacking fanghur. He narrowed his eyes, desperatly trying to fight through the pain. Both hands held onto the saddle before he pushed himself off once the creature was close enough. Flying through the air, Ian soared toward the fanghur, sword at the ready. The creature wasn't ready for the sudden attack, but still managed to twist himself to avoid the blade. Ian collided with the beast, hanging of off its side. He plunged his sword into its side, while hanging on desperatly with his free hand. He managed to scramble himself upward so that he was now sitting on top of the fanghur, riding it as it bucked in the air from pain and irritation. Ian continued to hang on, unleashing his other sword and plunging it down through the neck of the beast. Soon, Ian realized his stupid idea. He groaned, wide-eyed as he felt himself plummet downward in a spiral as the fanghur ceased to live.
The last thought that whirled in his mind was a simple chastisement: Idiot.

***
Following Glory's instructions, Seth kicked his legs hard, hitting the beast one more time. Trusting her, Seth let go, feeling the Urzhad moving forward instead of backwards. His hand pulled his sword out just as he felt himself fall backwards. He expected himself to hit the ground, but was surprised to have felt something more...soft? He slammed into whatever was behind him, grunting a bit as he landed on the ground, the person...person! He realized it was Glory and quickly rollled off. "Glory! Glory!" He called out frantically, his hand went out, searching for her. "Are you okay!?" He asked desperately.

***
OOC: Go Maude! lol

Roland was impressed. Vanadaughter was an exceptional fighter. She had much potential. He wondered if she would be chosen by a dragon soon. She carried many of the characteriestics of a worthy Rider, however, it was hard to discern the mind of a dragon. He glanced over to the other towers, wondering how the other teachers were doing as they watched their students fight to survive. He hoped he didn't make this too hard...

[Trinn]

Eva screamed out when Ian began to plummet towards earth with the fanghur. Eos was still concentrated on destroying the last of them. The last fanghur had ceased it's screeching, and instead had turned tail and fled. Eos went after it, catching it easily. She clamped onto the tip of it's tail, threw her head to the side, and tossed the creature behind her. Eva unsheathed her short sword and in a flash impaled the wyvern in the side. Now Eos really flew. She turned sharply and dove down towards Ian, her gossamer wings folded neatly at her side. Eva felt herself lifted off the saddle, and was thankful as always for the saddle straps that kept her seated. Eos increasingly gained speed, and when she drew close to Ian, she flared her wings, reached out with her talons, and scooped him up safely. They were already too close to the ground though. Eos did her best to backwing and land on her hind legs. Nonetheless, she was caught off balance from the sudden quick fall and she tripped on her landing and fell on her side with a heavy thud. Eva had escaped the saddle in time to leap from her dragons back and land beside her in a painful crouch. "IAN!" She screamed, half-angry, half-afraid. She could sense that Eos was alright, besides a loss in dignity from her landing. Eva rushed around her dragon, and was relieved to see Ian cradled in Eos's scaly legs. "WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!" She screamed, throwing her hands into the air, feeling almost hysteric.
***

Trinn watched Eva and Ian from her tower, ever ready to leap into action if the need arose. Roland had done a superb job in creating the exam, and she was impressed so far by all of the students abilities to survive. It had been a close thing with the fanghurs, though. Perhaps they had made this test too difficult... but the students needed real field experience before they could hope to become full-fledged dragon riders. Frowning as she pondered, Trinn leaned back in her seat. Vanta was unsheathed beside her, it's tip on the stone ground of the tower, the pommel in Trinn's hand. She twisted the sword about, a subconscious act as she studied the field and the students.

OOC: I'm proud of Maude! lol. Vana probably would be too, but she's somewhere pulling her hair out in worry.

[Max452]

Ian fell freely in the air, trying to think of ways to slow his fall. He could hear Eva screaming in his mind. His body flipped in the air, so that his back was facing the ground, and he was facing Eva and Eos. He could see Eos dispatching the last Fanghur and silence fueled the skies now, making it unnaturally deafening for Ian, though, his ears were ringing from the previous pain. He half debated to use magic, not caring if he failed the exam - this was his life! And he wouldn't let Eva and Eos alone to defend themselves. Blast it all! He thought as he thought of a spell. He turned around in the sky, about to use it when he felt strong talons scoop him up. He gazed up in shock. EOS! Ian proclaimed happily! He felt her try to steady herself as they tried to slow. The next thing he felt was pain in his sides as Eos fell to the ground. He grunted and felt guilty for making Eos suffer so. He then heard his sister's hysterical cries. He felt even worse. He had done a stupid thing..and then he doubted them for not saving him; he was about to use magic, messing up everything. "I'm okay" Ian groaned out, waiting for Eos to release him. "Are you guys okay?" He asked as Eva screamed at him. Oh boy, he was gonna get it...

[Trinn]

Eva didn't know how to feel, other than nearly hysterical. "We're both ok, but you! You could have died Ian! At the very least, fail the test because I'm sure you were probably thinking about using magic!" She threw her hands up into the sky again and began to pace. At last, Eos released Ian, feeling slightly bad because her talons had scratched him during the rough landing. I am sorry, Ian. she said, sheepishly getting to her feet. Her left wing felt a little sore from landing on it, and she flapped it up and down to ease out the pain. Eva felt a bit calmer now. "Don't ever do that again, Ian!" she said, and suddenly pulled him into a rough hug. "Ever, ever, ever again!"

Eos watched her humans for a moment, and then felt she must interrupt. We must continue on our way. The journey still stretches out long before us. Eva pulled away from Ian, pretending that she hadn't been about to cry. "Of course. Are you alright to fly?"

Quite. Eos said, nodding her pale yellow head. Eva hastily climbed back into the saddle, and held a hand out for Ian.

"Come on, clumsy, let's get going."
***

Maude had the boar travel in spats of trotting and walking. She wanted to be moving the rest of the day, and so had to be wise about how she used the boars energy. It was already injured, so pushing it any more would only result in another crash. As the day grew longer and the sun fell into the evening, the plains began to become strewn with rocks. Far in the distance, she could see the Skulblaka Mountains. That, she thought, would be the real test. It was the land of the wild dragons. She would have to cross the foothills to reach the forest, where her her scroll awaited. When night had fallen completely, Maude decided to stop for safeties sake. The boar responded promptly to her voice now, and it readily came to a stop and laid down to rest. Maude slid off it's wide back and hit the ground. Her knees nearly buckled from having been seated so long. She stretched, bones cracking. Pulling her pack around, she retrieved some of the dried meat. Walking around the surrounding area to exercise her legs, she ate her dinner standing and surveyed the area. The rock was more rocky than grassy now, though there was still an abundance of tall grass in which to hide. The land remained relatively flat, leaving Maude still with the feeling of exposure. Hoping the night would pass uneventfully, she went and laid beside the boar. Though she hated using it in a bad way, she comforted herself with the thought that, whatever predator was lurking around, it would notice the boar first. She hoped it wouldn't come to that, because she had actually come to feel slightly attached to the animal. It was big and clumsy and relatively stupid, but it was also nice to her now and it trusted her. She didn't want to betray anything that trusted her. Now frustration took hold. This night would be much easier with the use of magic! All she would have to do would be to put wards around her and the boar. But now she must sleep completely exposed. Even in the spine, her mother or father had almost always placed wards about them at night. Well, there was nothing for it now. Curling up to the warm side of the boar, Maude used her pack as a pillow and tried to find sleep. A light sleep, hopefully. Drawing out her sword, she placed it beside her at the ready. This was a test after all. Anything could happen.

[Max452]

Ian shirked at the sound of Eva's yelling. He was glad that Eos still had him in her claws, if only to hide himself. Eva always sounded like Mother whenever she was like this, and his Mother always had a knack of making him feel guilty after doing something. And Ian was wise enough not to mention this little comparsion to Eva; she would go even more hysterical. He groaned. Eva knew him to well. So what if he was thinking of using magic? He was going to be a flattened teenager if wasn't going to. Finally he felt Eos release him and he carefully crawled out. "Its okay, Eos. Its my fault...I was being stupid..." He told her. "I wish I could use magic..just to heal you." He told her. "Thank you...for saving me." He said sheephisly and then rolled his eyes as Eva continued to scold him. "I won't..." He muttered and then groaned at the hug, though, secretly he was happy. He got to hug his sister again. Though, he would never tell anyone that. That was embarrassing! So what if he cared about her? She was her sister! He returned the hug, grateful to be alive. "Sorry." He muttered to her and was thankful that Eos called them to attention. "Yeah, we better get going. Are you feeling better Eos?" He asked the dragon. "I think we can warm up a hot towel for your soreness." He offered. It was the least he could do to help her. He hurried up, after Eva, onto Eos. He was a bit more somber now, having noticed Eva's close tears. Blast it. He almost made his sister cry! He would have to stop being stupid from now on. "Let's go. Its going to be dark soon and we need to find a safe place to stay..."

[Tismri]

Teza Mae watched from where she stood in the tree, fascinated as her scheme with the arrows started to work. More than she had expected proved to be fatal, giving Jason an even better chance. Her brother made quick work with most of the wolves. But while he was distracted with the next to last one, the other had freed itself and now, limping, charged. Quick as a flash, she had out another arrow, pulled it back, and aimed into its wide-open jaws just meters from Jason. It fell just short of him.
Taking a slow, deep breath, Teza Mae slid down the tree and ran to her brother.
"Are you okay?" she asked him, though she was unable to take her eyes off the dead monsters. The wolves were huge! Bigger than even a number of the dragons that belonged to the students. She and Jason would have been little more than a snack for them.
"We..." she hesitated, trying to catch her breath, still shocked by the sudden attack, and how dangerously close they had been to losing their lives. "We should probably get going. Sticking around here too long will attract other animals. And those scrolls aren't getting any closer." She glanced at her twin, a thought crossing her mind. "Uh, Jace? Where is your scroll relative to mine?"
~~~~~
Glory gave an involuntary "oof" as Seth landed hard on her, knocking her to the ground. Still, she was happy she caught him, even if she did feel rather squished. He was much bigger than she was.
She took a couple of shallow breaths as he rolled off her. The wind had been knocked out of her and she was having difficulty filling her lungs again. "I'm...I'm fine," she wheezed, sitting up. Nothing seemed broken, really just a few bruises and scrapes on her back from a few sharp rocks she'd fallen on. Her rose was a mangled mess, but it wouldn't have lasted out the week anyway.
Her head turned to the side as she heard a loud snap, and saw that Sundavar had finally succeeded in breaking the bear's neck and spine. The creature fell dead and Sundavar gave a small, triumphant bugle. This was the biggest kill she'd ever made. Gloriann looked around at the three huge bear corpses, then glanced at Seth.
"Well...looks like we have dinner for a while," she said with a small smile. She knew how he'd been longing for meat ever since he arrived and, with the other Riders, had been placed on a strict Elven diet.

[Trinn]

Eos nodded her head at the mention of a hot towel. She wasn't sure where Ian planned to get a towel though. No matter, her wing was already beginning to feel better. Eva was first on, as usual, and Ian next. When they were ready, Eos ran forward a few yards and then jumped into the sky, letting the air build and swell under her wings. She always felt joyous when she first entered the sky, but especially now after the Fanghur attack. She angled herself more northwesterly, per Eva's insistence. Her rider wanted to get Ian as close to the forest as possible. If they lost time on their own journey, it would only be a little. Eos was a quick flyer, and journeys were always faster on dragon-back.
***

Jason shrugged at Tezza's question. He had shoved his scroll into his pack without even looking at it. This test didn't much matter to him. It was a test for dragon riders, not royal body guards. So he would make it into such a test. He would stick by Tezza's side to protect her. "My scroll is of no importance." he said casually. "Come, Tezzie, the evening is starting to grow long." he began walking off to continue their journey, hoping futilely that Tezza would not argue with him.

[Tismri]

Teza Mae stared incredulously at her twin, shaking her head. Then she continued walking in the direction of her scroll, carefully making her way down the mountainside.
"Does none of this matter to you, Jason?" she asked him. She was trying really hard to hide the hurt in her voice. "You're not really here in hopes that you'll impress a dragon, are you? You're just here because you have to be." She hoped it didn't show just how badly she was hoping she would be chosen as a Rider. She didn't want to let on to her brother just how desperate she felt, but at the same time she knew he'd probably known it all along. It was sometimes almost irritating being so close to someone that he could know her exact thoughts just by looking at her sometimes.

[Trinn]

Jason looked at the ground hating the pained tone in Tezza's voice that was obvious to him, no matter how hard she tried to fight it. "I do care." he said, though he was unable to meet her gaze. "I think there are valuable things to learn here. Especially about magic. That is what matters to me, and more than that, protecting you when you can't protect yourself. if I impress a dragon, then fine. But if I don't, then hat's fine too. Tezzie, I took this absurd exam so I could stay by your side. I need to keep you safe, and don't try to tell me to stop lt, because that's what I've been trained to do, most of my life. Impressing a dragon would be. Ice, but keeping you alive is my top priority." Jason did a good job of keeping his voice even and fair for his little speech. He hoped Tezzie would understand. She couldn't force him away anyways. Could she? Of course not, he thouht.

[Max452]

Ian felt like hours had passed since they had traveled the large expanse of the desert. It was hot and grueling, but it made Ian that more appreciative when he spotted them nearing the edge of the forest and the Skulblaka Mountains. "We should find a place to sleep for the night." Ian reiterated his primary concerns. "Who knows what we'll have to face at night and tomorrow." He told Eva as he squinted out before him. "Eos, can you spot a place to stay that isn't exposed to crazy beasts?" Ian asked, still irritated about their last encounter with the shrieking creatures.

***
Seth let out a sigh of relief at the sound of Glory's voice. He too, heard the crack of the bear's neck and jerked his head toward Sundavar, his sword at the ready in case it was the bears coming back for second helpings. He felt Hyperion was well, just wounded on his front leg where the bear had bit him. Seth smiled a bit. Hyp had nearly teared the beast's head off right after that. The dragon was non too pleased to have been wounded.

Hyp came hopping over, his maw bloodied and brusied. Yay! Meat! He chirped, his mood not dampered at all by his condition. He knew that Seth would be happy. The young boy was craving chicken the other day and was close to bribing one of the older students to get it for him on their next mission out.

Seth grinned at Glory's statement. "I'll go skin them!" He said with glee as he turned around to check on Hyperion.
I'm fine, Seth. It's not too bad. Hyp softly replied as the blind boy frowned when his hand touched the dragon's snout.
"It doesn't feel fine....your scales feel out of place..." Seth's frown deepened. "I'm lucky theat Ebrithil Kyler went over some herbs that were good for healing last week." Seth replied as he placed down his pack, freeing himself to examine Hyperion better. "How is Sundavar?" Seth asked Glory as his fingers grazed over Hyp's wounds.

Hyperion sniffed the air as Seth continued to examine him. We should get moving soon. We've wasted too much time and night will come faster than we will like. Do you think it would be faster if we fly? Hyp asked as he surveyed the jungle like enviroment.

***
OOC: Just for side fun...lol

"Trinity, have you seen Thane and Tylon?" Tatiana asked as she glanced around the dragon, as if expecting her to poof her brothers to her.

They were here a moment ago. The golden dragon replied with some amusement; this was not the first time those two had escaped their sister.

Tatiana groaned. "We just arrived and they have the audacity to run off and wreak havoc already!" The young woman exclaimed. They had just arrived to the tents that were stationed at the entrance of the examination as a surprise to her cousins, as were other family members of the participates of the exam. They were all invited for the congratulation feast that was to be provided once the exams were over.

Some of the familes were still arriving, but as Ismalia was the farthest, they had arrived the soonest. And so, here was Tatiana, self-charged to control her brothers, looking quite irritated that she already lost sight of them. She glanced at the entrance to the exam. They have better not tried going in there...

[Trinn]

I see a small grove of scrangly trees. That will have to do for now. You two will take shelter under my wings as well. I will have it no other way. Eva crossed. Her arms grumpily. She and Ian would be safe under Eos's sheltering wings, but the dragon would still be exposed. Aye, a dragon. Not many creatures dare upset a dragon Eos responded to Eva's thoughts. Eva still fel uneasy about it. The sun had settled almost beyond the horizon when Eos. Evan her descent. The trees in the grove were bare branched and skinny. Eos wiggled herself into here trees and then spread her sings out without a word Eva begrudgingly slid off her dragons back and trudged under the aloft wing. "At least let one of us keep watch, Eos we must protect each other."

I will take first watch then. she responded stoutly. Signing, Eva began laying out her bedroll. When she was ready for the night, Eva lay down and placed her weapon next to her. It was the purple rider's sword, Skolir. Shield. It was her and Ian's mothers sword. She had given it to Eva when tabs and their father had made their leave of Bromsland to return to their duties in Celesti. the sword shined like an amethyst in he moonlight. It was a short sword, a style of blade that Eva was proficient with. Another reason their mother had decided to lend Eva the sword. The heft was a bit heavier than she would have liked, but she was happy to have the protection of the sword nonetheless. She carefully wrapped her hand around the hilt, feeling suddenly quite homesick. Eos soothed her wih images of Celesti and Gianna and Einar. "Goodnight Ian." she said, feeling a bit better. "I have second watch."
***

Thane watched his sister from behind a tent pole. He bided his time patiently, standing stock still behind the thick support beam. His broad shoulders just slightly showed. He looked behind him at Tylon. He had recruited his younger brother as his audience. "Here she comes!" he whispered excitedly as Tatiana began to walk past the tent pole. When she was in the ideal position, Thane leapt from his hiding spot. He threw up his arms And shouted unintelligible jumble at Tati, hopin to scare her witless. When they were younger it used to be so much easier.

[Tismri]

Glory walked over toward Sundavar, very concerned. I'm fine, the dragon insisted. My wings are a little sore, but--
They're bleeding! Glory insisted, pointing out some fair-sized holes that had been poked through the thin membranes by the bear's claws. Though Sundavar insisted they were all right, Glory still found each one and, using supplies from her pack, mended them. Still, she looked dissatisfied.
"I don't think she should be flying," she told Seth. Sundavar gave a small growl. "She's got several holes puncturing her wings."
Glory, I can still fly! I may be a little wobbly for a few days, but it's not like I'll crash or anything. The dragon gazed up at the darkening skies. And we'll have to take to the skies if we are to pass this test. Hyperion, she turned to her friend, tilting her head slightly. Do you think we should fly a bit tonight, until we at least find a safer place for our Riders to rest?
~~~~~
Teza Mae had to keep from rolling her eyes at her brother's entire speech, and instead focused on getting down the mountainside.
"It's always the same story with you, Jason," she said. "You think you have to be glued to my side, but there are some things even you can't prevent. And you and I both know there will be a time when you can't be beside me. Don't you think I can live five minutes on my own?"
~~~~~
Tylon grinned back at his brother from where he lay flat on his stomach on a tent. He was watching their sister closely, waiting for just the right moment.
He'd acquired a jar earlier and had stopped by a cook tent before meeting up with Thane. The cook had just killed a cow, and he had inconspicouously collected some blood, which he now smeared on his side, from his face to his arm. He'd also torn his sleeve on purpose, and act which he was sure his mother would kill him for.
Now he waited until after Thane had done his scare to Tatiana, even waiting an extra few seconds for her to recover.
"AAAAUUUUGGHH!!!!" he screamed as he slid off the tent and landed on his bloodied side. The collision with the ground was a bit later than he had expected, and much harder. He winced and took a second or two to catch his breath.

[Max452]

Ian silently nodded to Eos's instructions. He had learned the hard way to listen to her. She was far more stubborn then he was, he thought. When they landed and made their small camp, Ian stayed beside his sister. He noticed that Eva pulled out their Mother's sword and a small twinge of homesickness reached him. He gazed out into the night, searching for something. "I see Gladia Celesti." He muttered to Eva and Eos, remembering his Mother's warm words to them about that particular star. "They're thinking of us, just as we them." He told Eva as he glanced over to her with a brotherly smile. The smile vanished. He whined then, when Eva annouced that she had the second shift. "No, I'll take it, and Eos, I think I should take first watch; you've fought most of the day. You need more rest than we do." He told her as he scrambled out of his bedroll and toward his pack. He pulled out his cloak. He then gathered some round stones and created a small pit. "Um, Eos, do you might heating those rocks? Don't melt them, but hit them enough that I can warm this cloak for you." Ian asked, remembering his promise to heat a towel for Eos' sore limbs. "I'll take first watch while you rest with it." He tried to reason with her. "I'm not really tired too." He lied, trying to stop any protests from Eva and Eos.

***
Seth frowned upon hearing that Sundavar had some wounds. "We'll have to travel safely from now on. Both our dragons are wounded, and who knows what else our Ebrithils have in store for us." He finished placing on an ointment he made from the herbs that Master Kyler taught him to use. "Here, Glory. Use these for Sundavar. I got another box for Hyperion." He offered the ointment for Sundavar. "Its to soothe and heal their scales and to stop bleeding." He held it out to her. "Though she's wounded, I agree with them. We need to get moving and find a safe place to sleep tonight."

Hyperion glanced over at Sundavar. She looked much better than he did. He moved his snout a bit, annoyed that some of his scales were torn off. The ointment soothed the stinging sensation, which cheered him a bit. Yes. I think that's the best option. Its not a good thing to stay near fresh blood; other animals will come searching for it. And they'll probably be bigger too. He told Sundavar.

***
Fuming for having misplaced her brothers, Tatiana began searching the area. She was walking by one of the tents when her brother, Thane popped out of nowhere and began shrieking jibberish to her. She started; her heart momentarily taken aback from the initial surprise. "THANE!" Tatiana growled out, her eyes flaming with anger; the surprise gone now. She seethed. She raised her hand to smack him, when her other brother came popping out, seemingly bloody and injured. "TYLON!" Tatiana's screamed out in concern as she spotted the blood. What had happened? She rushed down to take a good look at him. There was blood everywhere! Who dared hurt her brother!? She was the only one allowed to do that! She stared at the blood and something felt wrong about it. It took her brain a moment to realize that the youngest sibling had just played her. "IDIOTS!" She slapped Tylon on the head. "AGH! No wonder mother hates men!" She seethed and stomped away, embarrassed that she was caught with a caring emotion toward her brothers. "You better stopped fooling around, or I'll pin you both to the ground with my arrows!" She yelled over her shoulder as she marched off, searching for someone sane.

[Trinn]

Jason sighed, knowing that Tezza would always have a hard time seeing his point of view. "I know better than anyone else you can protect yourself. You can even best me in a spar. But you can't protect yourself from everything. At some point you'll fail, and when that happens I want to be there for you. I need to be there for you. This exam will test you as nothing else has, which is why I'm even more inclined to stay with you." His voice had risen in volume. He didn't want to get angry at Tezza, but he didn't like the thouht of her pushing him away. He pictured her ripped open by the wolves they had just encountered, and his defensiveness grew. "If you can give me a good reason, a really good reason, why I should part ways with you, then Inshall do so. But until then Inintend on staying with you."
***

Thane's eyes widened at Tylon's entrance. It was spectacularly believable! And it looked like Tati thought so too. He grinned from ear to eat as she shouted at them, though he was a bit afraid of her waving hands. She stormed off, and he gave Tylon a wink. "that's how you scare someone!" he said, slapping his younger brother on the back. "now let's go make peace wih our dear sister before she squeals on us." Thane trotted after Tati, catching up to her. "Sister dear, please don't be angry with us. It was a stupid thing to do, and we shall try to refrain from our barbarous ways in the future. Hmm?" he tried to give her an innocent expression, though he still felt like laughing.
***

Before Eva could argue with Ian, she had to close a fist over her mouth as a yawn cracked her jaws. "ok, fine. But you better not let me sleep the whole night!" Eos too complied. She turned her head towards the pile of rocks Ian had set up. She opened her jaws to a tiny slit and blew it a thin jet of pale yellow flames. The fire licked the smooth curves of he rocks, heating hem quickly but gently. In seconds the rocks were at the right temperature. Eos snapped her moth closed, cutting off the flames. She nudged Ian affectionately in thanks.

[Tismri]

Glory took the ointment from Seth thankfully and worked a moment or two longer on Sundavar's wounds. The dark dragon seemed to sigh in relief as the thick liquid soothed her wounds. Once her Rider was done, she stretched her wings out and gave them a few quick flaps. There was still a dull ache, but nothing she couldn't handle. Then she glanced at her more lightly-shaded friend. He seemed a bit worse off than she was.
We probably shouldn't go far, though, she commented, sniffing at Hyperion's wounds that had been treated by Seth already. Perhaps we can find a clearing or a cave to rest in nearby, that can be defensible.
"We should probably get going, then," Glory said, repacking her supplies and climbing onto Sundavar's back. She winced and was glad Seth couldn't see it. She was sore from catching him. "I don't want to stay around here any longer than we have to."
~~~~~
Teza Mae fumed at Jason's response. He'd just turned her argument entirely around, and she hated it. She knew they would be going in circles for hours if they kept it up.
"Fine!" she said, bordering a shout. They'd finally reached a valley and she marched off. All the while, her mind was raging.
Can't he let me do just one thing by myself? The way he's always hovering makes me look...weak. Like I need him. Makes me look like the helpless princess I'm trying to prove that I'm not. She kicked hard at a rock as she continued her relentless pace. She, of course, wouldn't say these things out loud to him. She didn't want him to think he was really a burden to her, and she refused to intentionally hurt him.
The princess was so caught up in her thoughts that she never even noticed the deepening darkness as night settled over the students.
~~~~~
Tylon could not withhold his laughter when he saw the realization dawn on Tatiana's face. Even as she smacked his head, his amusement only grew. However, as he sat up while she walked away, he winced slightly again. The fall might have cracked a few ribs. Tati would really kill him if that were the case, furious that he'd been so reckless. He grinned at his brother's praise.
"I learned from the best," he replied to Thane, returning the slap on the back. Then, quietly so Tati wouldn't hear, he said, "ow, ow, ow..." as they followed her. He smiled as Thane apologized to their sister in an exaggeratedly formal fashion.
"Translation," he said once his brother's little speech was finished, "Tati, we're sorry for playing such an immature trick on you and promise to never ever ever ever do it again."