Live and Learn

[Tismri]

Teza Mae sat next to the ruby hatchling at the base of the mountains. Often, she tried to avoid them, but occasionally she felt drawn to the place that had caused her so much misery and terror. The exam still stood out in her mind, various memories of her time there coming back to her as nightmares. She knew she had to overcome them, and that she would be stronger for it.
She stroked the hatchling gently, staring down at him. He'd hatched over two weeks ago and had grown much in size, quickly compensating for how tiny he had been upon leaving his egg. She'd debated for a long time over what to call him; she knew, before he even hatched, that it was going to be a male. She could still clearly recall the voice she'd heard, the one that had called her back to life when she nearly drowned.
"Garrus," she named him. It was an old Ismalian name, and she also knew it was a dwarven name. It somehow seemed suitable for him. He looked up at her curiously, and then crawled into her lap, falling asleep. She patted him gently, and he hummed with content.
The princess gazed up at the sky for several long moments. Her parents were supposed to arrive sometime later today; they'd decided to come with all speed once she'd sent word that a dragon had hatched for her.

[Max452]

Aradan and Veryan were returning from a hunt when the black dragon noticed a familiar figure below them. We should greet her; it is only polite. Aradan informed his dragon, who let out an amused hum, which confused the half-elf.

Veryan deftly landed a few feet away from Teza Mae, as not to scare or startled her. He sniffed the air, catching a new scent on the princess. It seems she is a Rider now, Aradan. This news intrigued the Rider as he hopped off Veryan's saddle.

"Greetings, Princess Teza Mae, and I see congratulations are forthcoming." He smiled pleasantly as he greeted her. Aradan walked over to her with ease. "Am I intruding on anything?" He asked her, wondering if she wanted to just spend time with her dragon.

***
"You know, since I've been with you, I have come to enjoy flying." Romulus whispered in his Tenel Ka's ear as they traveled to New Doru Arabea. His arms were wrapped tightly around her waist and he couldn't help teasing her on their way to see their children, especially Teza Mae since she had a dragon hatch for her. "There is so much more to do when I fly with you..." His whisperings were just shy of his seductive tone. "Like, this." He kissed his wife's neck, enjoying the fact that he could tease her while flying and she couldn't really do anything in return. It surely did keep the flight entertaining. "Or this..." His lips traveled back up to her ear, biting the carthlidge gently.

OOC: I know! Rom's intro to this thread is a bit...different, but there is purpose lol.

[Tismri]

Teza Mae started slightly when a familiar black dragon landed nearby. Garrus lazily opened one eye to see who it was, and then perked up noticeably when he realized it was someone he had never seen before. Teza Mae stood as Aradan approached her.
"Oh, hello Aradan!" she called in reply to his greeting. The crimson dragon crawled up her shoulder and sat erect, eyeing the newcomer with curiousity. "Please, you don't have to keep calling me by my title. Just Teza Mae is fine." She glanced at her hatchling when the other Rider mentioned him. "Yes, this is Garrus. Garrus, this is Aradan. He's a friend. And that's Veryan. He's also a friend." She gestured to the black dragon nearby. Excitedly, Garrus took off from her shoulder, gliding a bit toward his kin, where he chirpped up excitedly.
Teza Mae shook her head when Aradan asked if he was intruding. "Not really," she admitted to him. "I just..." She gazed back over the mountains. Though they looked ordinary now, she could still recall the examination grounds. "I sometimes find myself back here...and I think of the test." Various things flashed through her mind, but, since Aradan was here, one memory in particular and the one she most wanted to forget became foremost in her mind. She felt a blush creep across her face and had to look away from him for a moment.
"How have you been since then, Aradan?" she asked him. "I have not seen you since...I suppose it was the magic exam."
~~~~~
Tenel Ka found herself smiling, though a littl annoyed at her husband's playing. His playful lips against her body set her body in tremors, longing to return the signs of affection; but upon dragonback, she was unable to do so. She closed her eyes for a moment, leaning back against him.
"You're just asking for punishment," she warned him slyly. "And since you're being so smart right now, next flight you get to sit in front." She glanced back at Rom with a smirk.
Meanwhile, Caedus snorted, sending a puff of smoke back over their faces. I am ignoring you two, he informed them both as he studied the familiar landscape below, looking for the signs that Bromsland was near.

[Max452]

Aradan's eyes darted to the mountains at their mention by Teza Mae. He nodded in understanding. "Yes...the exam was indeed trying." He glanced back over to the Princess, noticed the blush with curiosity, wondering why it had appeared. "I suppose it has been awhile. Veryan and I have been training for weeks now in preparation to become fullfledged Rider and Dragon. Master Roland informed us right after the magic exam that that was a possibility, so he told us to train, as we will have to prove our worth before the council." Aradan's eyes spotted Garrus chirpping at Veryan. The black dragon made a similiar noise, but more low and thunderous. He leaned his head down to examine the red dragon. You will grow into a fine dragon, little one. Veryan observed.

"We just came back from doing aerial combat moves for one of Veryan's hunts." Aradan explained his presence here. And then, one of his rare glints of playfulness appeared. "Would you like to see for yourself?" He gestured to Veryan. "I would like your opinion on how Veryan flies, and it would be a good experience for you and Garrus to experience, I think."

***
Romulus laughed at the smirk that played on his wife's features. "I am sucker for your punishments, my heart and I'm a bit eager to see what challenge you'll place for me." He went back to kissing her neck when Caedus blew smoke at them. Rom chuckled as her buried his head in his wife's hair. "All right, all right, I get the hint, Caedus. I'll behave." He snuggled closer to his wife, "For a little while." He whispered into his wife's ear with a grin.

After a few hours, New Doru Arabea was seen by Rom's critical eyes. "I wonder how the children are doing." Rom abandoned his teasing with his wife as he gazed over the city. "Did Teza Mae and Jason say where they were meeting us?" He asked Tenel Ka.

[Tismri]

Teza Mae grinned at Aradan as he mentioned training to become a full-fledged Rider. "That's wonderful!" she told him. "You and Veryan have earned it." She glanced the black dragon, with whom Garrus was still chirpping, rather excited. Teza Mae blinked when Aradan invited her for a flight, and smiled slightly.
"Well, I suppose if Veryan doesn't mind," she agreed, glancing at Aradan's bond. She gathered Garrus up in her arms and went to mount Veryan, feeling a little giddy at the prospect of flying...and going with Aradan.
~~~~~
Tenel Ka sent Caedus a mental pout at his mood-killing snort, but then let him know she was just teasing. She relaxed against Rom to enjoy their flight.
Soon, Bromsland was in sight, along with New Doru Araeba. She looked over the landscape below.
"I believe they said they would be waiting for us in the city," she told Rom.
We are fairly early, Caedus pointed out. They may be elsewhere for the moment.

[Max452]

"He doesn't mind." Aradan assured after asking Veryan. The dragon just mentally shrugged. She already asked permission before, I don't mind it. Besides, it'll be fun to see how she handles the flight.
Nothing too crazy, Veryan...Aradan warned.
Where is the fun in that? The black dragon retorted.

"Here, let me help you up. You'll sit in the front since the straps are there and I'll sit behind you." Aradan informed Teza Mae as he helped her up Veryan.

***
"Should we wait or go and find them? Teza Mae did sound excited on showing us her dragon." Romulus expressed as he gazed around the city. It looked like more Riders were here than there last visit. The order of dragons was growing and it made Rom proud that Teza Mae was apart of it. Now, he only wondered if Jason would be next or what did wyrda have in store for him?

[Tismri]

"Very well," Teza Mae agreed as Aradan instructed her on where to sit. She settled in comfortably; she was used to Riding Caedus, so nothing about the situation made her anxious. Well, aside from Aradan sitting behind her. That might mean he would have to hold on to her, a prospect that set her heart racing. She held Garrus in her arms, knowing she would have to clutch him tightly to keep from losing him in the flight.
"Ready whenever you are," she told him.
~~~~~
I don't see the harm in looking around right now, Caedus mentioned. He was eager to see the little Prince and Princess again.
"You two may search if you like," Tenel Ka said. "I think I will wait in the city for a while." Caedus circled a few times and landed, allowing his Rider to dismount. As Tenel Ka headed for the city, Caedus took off again and looked around.
Where do you want to search first? he asked Rom.

[Max452]

I am always ready! Veryan bolted into the sky, suprising the Rider; he didn't know Veryan was going to do that.
"Oof!" Aradan grasped onto Teza Mae's waist as Veryan soared into the sky. Veryan, that was uncalled for!
What? It was fun?
"I'm sorry for Veryan, he's just excited to fly." Aradan tilted his head toward Teza Mae's ear, whispering into her ear and not thinking that it may be inappropriate to do so.

***
"I'll go see if I can track them down." Rom waved his wife goodbye as he went with Caedus to search the skies. "Let's head toward the mountains; Teza Mae enjoys the wild and may have dragged her brother along." Romulus explained to Caedus.

[Tismri]

Teza Mae gasped in surprise as Veryan rocketed into the sky. She grasped tightly onto Garrus to keep from losing him and found herself leaning back against Aradan from the force of the take-off. She smiled as he whispered to her.
"It's all right," she told him. "It's really actually exciting." She glanced back to look at him and grinned.
~~~~~
Caedus agreed with Rom and angled himself toward the mountains, flying at a leisurely pace for the moment. After flying for a while, he noticed a young black dragon soaring through the air.
I haven't been around many of my kin in a while, he commented, observing the other one's somewhat reckless flight.

[Max452]

"It must be a great relief to see so many dragons, isn't it Caedus?" Romulus asked as his trained eyes spotted a familiar figure on the black dragon. "Oh, I think I spot Teza Mae, but who's the Rider..." His voice trailed off when he noticed his daughter and the male Rider seemingly close. His mind whirled as it reflected on how he was just like that with Tenel Ka. "That rider is taking advantage of my Princess!" Rom growled out with all fatherly anger! "KILL HIM!" Romulus declared and already uttered a spell to teach this boy to not fool around with his daughter.

***

Aradan grinned, glad that Teza Mae wasn't too ruffled by Veryan's roughness. "Well I'm glad." He returned the smile.
Oh, look, its a big dragon! I don't recognize him. Let's go saw hell---ahhhhhh Veryan dived, ruffling the two riders on his back as a stream of fire had charged at his Rider.

"Whoa! What's going on?" Aradan exclaimed, holding Teza Mae tighter as they sensed a new threat.

"Unhand my daughter you miscreant!" Romulus booming, angered, voice echoed in the sky. "I'll burn those hands off!" Rom uttered another fire spell, making sure that the fire would only attack the male Rider and leave Teza Mae unharmed.

[Tismri]

Teza Mae turned back around when Veryan exclaimed, and she saw a familiar dragon nearby. Along with what appeared to be her very angry father.
"Caedus? DAD?!" Teza Mae called out, shrieking as her father sent a fireball their way. She instinctively ducked, protecting the hatchling in her arms. "Dad, what are you doing?!" she asked. She looked around wildly, trying to figure out what to do and what had happened to make her father so crazy. Then she she noticed how tightly Aradan was holding onto her. "Uh oh..." she said to herself. She glanced at Caedus.

Rom, don't you think your overreacting just a little bit? Caedus asked at Rom's sudden outburst. From his perspective, Little Princess was just riding with who seemed to be a friend. He felt Teza Mae's mind touch his and heard her voice.
Caedus, do you think you could land? I think we might be able to sort this out better on the ground. He agreed and turned away from the black dragon, trying to make it more difficult for Rom to do anything stupid, and moved to land.

Teza Mae glanced back at Aradan, her expression a mix of sheepishness and concern.
"Um...That was my dad and my mom's dragon," she told him. "I'm going to try to see why he's acting so crazy." She turned to face Veryan. "Could you land? And then whatever you do make sure Aradan stays in the saddle..."

[Max452]

"I am not overreacting?! How are you not reacting at all! Don't you see how that heathen is touching our precious Princess! Roast him!" Romulus declared, having lost his sense of thought and clarity. His mind was only red as he spotted his daughter in such a state with a man.

Rom felt Caedus maneuever away. "Wh--what are you doing?! Caedus! That's my baby! We have to save her! And roast that man!" Romulus eyes were red with fury as Caedus directed himself away.

**
"That's your father?!" Aradan was wide eyed. "Why is he attacking us? His he mad?" Aradan stared at the crazy father and felt Veryan give Teza Mae a mental nod. If it will stop the madness, glady. Veryan's calm voice echoed into the Princess' mind and veered off to land in a small clearing below them. He spiraled downward until his feet deftly touched the ground. Teza Mae wishes us to stay back for a bit, perhaps to calm her father. Veryan informed Aradan.
Why in the heavens is that man trying to burn us to a crisp? Aradan's emotions were sheer confusion.
Perhaps we will find our answers soon enough. Came the reply.

[Tismri]

Caedus promptly landed on the ground, perhaps a bit roughly in the hopes of jarring Rom back to his senses.
Your daughter wants to speak with you, he replied curtly to Rom's question. I really don't think she's in need of saving at the moment...

Teza Mae shook her head at Aradan, still a bit confused. She had an idea of why her father was acting the way he was, but she'd never really known him to go so crazy before.
"I'm not sure," she replied to him as she lithely jumped from Veryan's back to the ground below, allowing Garrus to settle back on her shoulder. The hatchling was surprisingly calm, only curious about everything that was happening. She walked over to where Caedus had landed.
"Daddy?" she called out to him, "What's wrong? Why did you attack my friends?"

[Max452]

Romulus blinked and jerked at Caedus' rough landing. Normally he would have asked what was wrong, but the thought of his own daughter in a foriegn danger occupied his mind; Rom's eyes were latched onto his daughter. Rom hopped off instantly when Caedus reached the ground and rushed over to Teza Mae as she too hopped off the black dragon.
"Did he hurt you?!" Rom frantically asked, his skilled eyes checking for injury. "I'll make him beg for his life!" Rom growled out, glancing over to Aradan.

***
"We will wait here until you return." Aradan told Teza Mae, his face still confused. He watched as father and daughter met and felt a slight shiver go through him as he made eye contact with Romulus. That man looked like he wanted to kill him. Why'd he do?

[Tismri]

Teza Mae's eyes widened as she saw the look in her father's eyes. She grasped ahold of his wrist in an attempt to keep him from doing anything stupid.
"What? No! I'm fine, Dad," she insisted. "Aradan just invited me for a flight. That's all. He's...just...a friend." She felt just a little tearful at the last statement, because it was the truth. But she liked him so much, she often found herself hoping they might be something more. But Aradan never even seemed interested. Well, now her father was going to scare him off for good.