Traveling (Open)

[Slane*]

After leaving Dragon's Peak, Slane traveled with the silver dragon egg carefully placed in his sack along with everything he owned besides the clothes on his body. The egg fit in the sack easily - Slane barely owned a thing... Despite this, he traveled with hopeful determination. He wanted to find a welcoming place that the dragon inside would be able to call home once the egg hatched. He kept away from civilization because he doubted anyone would welcome him in, so the place he was looking for would have to be in an unsettled territory.

As Slane traveled the forest, his stomach began to rumple. He had not eaten since he received the egg for fear of hurting the egg while hunting or the egg being stolen while he was out. Even with his solid determination, he had to eat and now was the time to do it. With the sack strapped to his back, Slane shifted into his tiger form and sniffed the air. Lucky for him, a herd of deer crossed his senses. He followed the scent for an hour before the deer were in sight. Without a sound, he shifted back and untied the sack. His egg would be safe carefully placed under a bush until he returned with the meat.

Shifting back into tiger form, Slane focused his attention, once again, on the deer - most of them grazing in an open clearing ahead. He lowered his body to the ground and moved forward, one paw stealthily placed in front of the other. The dirt shifted lightly beneath his claws as he felt for a perfect spot to pounce off of. This is it! He thought with new excitement flowing through him. He had forgotten how much he loved to hunt. The fun, he found, was in the chase. Even when he was not swift enough to catch his prey, it made him try even harder the next time which gave him a game to play and had given him a purpose in life before he had gone to get the dragon egg. Which deer would be the unlucky one to die between his teeth?

Slane had never been a fan of going after the slowest ones, the sick ones, or the ones closest to him. This was a game after all and what fun would it be if it wasn't challenging? He glanced over the herd until he found the one he wanted. The grace in the way this deer held itself was quite a site to see and made him want it even more. Unfortunately for the deer, Slane had focused his whole attention on this one animal. With a bolt of amber orange, Slane speed toward the deer. Many of the deer noticed and began to run, but it was too late for this one! Slane jolted between the deer and jumped at the neck of his prey. He clenched his jaw and sank his teeth into the tough neck of this frightened deer, the weight of Slane's body and the force of his jump pulling it to the ground. All the other deer ran as Slane's fierce grip soon had the deer - life lost - go limp.

Proud of himself, and the sack with his egg now on his back once more, Slane made a fire to cook the meat. Once his dinner was ready, he laid his teeth into some of the best meat he had eaten in his life! And to think, if I had known how to hunt in tiger form when I was younger, I could have left civilization and gotten you long before now. Slane thought to the egg now sitting on the dirt next to him as he ate. Once he finished, he looked up with surprise as he heard water flowing nearby. "Now aren't we lucky!" Slane said to the egg as he packed it back into his sack and then stomped out the fire. Close was the water he could fill his water skin with.

Sack strapped to his back and paws in the dirt, Slane made his way to the source of water he had almost ignored. It was a river of cold blue water that softly broke the forest in two. Slane began to drink from the river and when his thirst was quenched, he shifted and began filling his water skin. As he did so, he looked to his left. This would be a great place to... Downstream was a sight that made him stop mid-though and eyes wide. The sight that had him shaken was that of a human civilization no more than a mile away! How could I be so stupid to get this close to Morgana and not even know it? He thought as he hurriedly put his now full water skin away. Slane dashed into the nearby forest and shifted into tiger form, in order to get away quicker.

[sceleris]

Sceleris danced through the air. The sky was beautiful and she fit in with the gorgeous clouds. She spiraled down and saw a tiger then a human with a Sack on its back. A shifter. She smiled and dove down. When the tiger human bolted to the forest her head cocked. Had she scarred him? She followed the tiger and wove through the trees. Her snakelike body made it easy to follow. She was above the tiger now. She gave a little growl and slid down in front of the tiger. Her eyes were bright and friendly, and her posture was relaxed and not threatening. hello, I'm Sceleris. Who are you? I'm an arcane dragon. You are a shifter, are you not? her voice was a high and sweet.

Sceleris shook her slim white and silver head and the mane behind her head shook. She coiled her body and cocked her head. She hoped that this shifter would be willing to read to her. Her clawed tail could grasp books, but it was hard. Having humans read the books for her was so much easier. She then saw the sack slung across the tigers back and wondered what was in it. Could he have books in there, or scrolls? The possibility of the object being a dragon egg never crossed her mind. There were very few shifter riders. That made Sceleris sad. Shifters were magical and more alike her then the elves and humans were. She felt a fly settle on her neck and flicked up her tail. Th tip of on claw caught the fly in the abdomen and she flicked the carcass off her claw. She then returned her attention to the shifter.

[Slane*]

As Slane ran, a weird scent crossed his nose - one he had not smelled before. This did not slow him, though, for fear of what it could be. Out of nowhere a snow-white being landed in front of him. He dug his claws in the dirt and halted with a slight skid in the dirt. Once he stopped, Slane adopted a fighting stance to be ready for anything. Lucky, he was still in his tiger form if a fight broke out. He realized that the brilliant creature before him was a dragon. He had never seen a real one before and, even still, he had never heard of ones without legs...

Hello, I'm Sceleris. Who are you? I'm an arcane dragon. You are a shifter, are you not?

He heard her sweet voice and saw her friendly stance, though her words kept him in position to fight. How did this dragon know I'm a shifter? Did she see me shift? Lost in thought, Slane stood there for a moment not knowing what to do or how to protect him and his egg from a dragon. He saw the dragon change her focus to a fly and he took the opportunity to glance back at the sack he carried on his back. Nothing had hurt the egg and the sack seemed to be in its normal position. He did not think about how weird it was that a tiger was wearing a sack - maybe that's how she knew he was a shifter. Slane turned back to the dragon, relaxing his stance a bit, but still ready for an attack.

"I am Slane Thaer and I... I am a shifter..." he began with strength and then faltered on the last part. Everytime he said those words "I am a shifter," a fight broke out and he was force to leave the city. Maybe this time would be different; after all, he had never met a dragon before, he was not in a city, and she was also a magical being. With hope, Slane relaxed a bit more and took a few steps to the left, his eyes never leaving Sceleris.

[sceleris]

Sceleris beamed and was oblivious to the fighting stance that the shifter was in. Slane. That was an interesting name. She loved how it rolled off of her mental tongue as she thought it. Her smile got wider when she got the succulent satisfaction of being right. "I've never met a shifter before. I know that humans and elves don't like you, but I don't know why. You seem nice and not barbaric. " She said trading her smile for a slightly puzzled look. From these first few seconds that she had know Slane he had not seemed any different then a human or elf.

Sceleris looked again at the pack on Sane's back and wondered what was inside it again. She politely voiced her question "What is in your pack? Is it books or scrolls?" Her eyes brightened when she mentioned books or scrolls. If the feline shifter didn't want to tell, then she would be fine with that for a while. The maned dragon might stalk him and try and take a peek when he fell asleep, or she would might bombard Slane with questions until she wore him down. She was a devious little creature.

[Slane*]

Slane relaxed a bit more as Sceleris talked to him. She seemed to accept that he was a shifter. There was no disgusted look on her face and she did not try to kill him, yet... With worried eyes Slane shifted into his human form. He had always found it hard to talk in animal form because he had only ever done it a few times in his life; nor was he accustomed to talking with someone and having a conversation so he was not quite sure what the normality for it was. He opened his mouth to tell the dragon why humans and elves do not like shifters, but words would not come out so he shut his mouth again. He found a small place to sit in the dirt a little further away from the dragon and took off his sack. His eyes going from the dragon to his sack and back again. He was not sure if dragons liked dragon riders or if they cared that the rider was a shifter.

"First," Slane began unsure if he was talking to much, but what else could he do? "Humans and elves do not like shifters because they... they don't understand us. We are... different from them and they don't know why we can shift into animals and such. To them... we are just animals..." Slane said without emotion as he struggled throughout the response to find the right words to say. It had been a fairly long time since he had talked with someone. He opened the top of his pack, decided against it, then closed it again. He did this two more times before he decided he would tell the dragon first.

"I don't have books or scrolls inside my pack," he said blankly searching the dragon's face for any trace of malice or evil intentions. He did not find any though he still kept his eyes fixed on the dragon, "Inside my... pack is a... an egg..." he stopped and placed one hand on top of the sack as his eyes stayed fixed on Sceleris. He would have to take a leap here and hope for the best - "Inside, is a... dragon... egg..." he stumbled through the words as if he was a baby copying the words as his mother said them. The palm that lay on top of the pack began to sweat as he worried what would transpire next.

[sceleris]

Sceleris coiled herself up tighter and listened to Slane speak. You are like me then. Other dragons don't like arcane dragons much. We are too strange. She moved her head to show her furry mane for emphasis. She doubted that she needed to point out her snakelike body. One would have to be blind to not see that. She noticed how nervous Slane seemed to be getting and was puzzled briefly. Was he telling her a secret? It all revealed itself when he put it all out. Your a dragon rider! I've never met a dragon rider before. I've seen them from far off, but never talked to them. She looked at the pack through soft eyes. A little baby was nestled in there waiting for the right time to break free of its prison. Have you thought of any possible names for it? Or will the hatchling come up with its own name? Her mother had named her. She liked her name. Sceleris. The way it rolled off of her tongue like honey, or satin.

Sceleris lifted up her tail and scratched under her chin to get rid of an itch that came suddenly. She chewed on what she had learned while she scratched away the infuriating itch. Humans and elves didn't like shifters. Shifters were frowned upon if they were dragon riders. Slane was a shifter and a dragon rider. So, it must be hard to make friends. Sceleris would be his friend if he needed one. She had gotten rid of her itch and wrapped her tail back in to her coils.

[Slane*]

Slane got comfortable as he realized Sceleris meant him and his egg no harm. She understood him; she continued a conversation with him. I like dragons, he thought as he smiled for the first time in front of this dragon.

"Names?" he said with a slight laugh, "I hadn't even thought of that... The only dragon names I've heard are the ones in legends, but I never thought of those as names of real dragons... besides your name, of course." Slane said as he thought, "How do I think of a name if I don't know the gender... of the dragon? I don't know what he... or she is like. What if the name I give him or her doesn't fit?" Slane opened up to Sceleris as he reached down to the sack and opened the top.

He looked up to the dragon and back as he lifted the beautiful egg and held it in his arms. It's silver surface shined in the light as he brushed his hand over the speckle of orange. "How fast do dragons grow? Do they... I mean do they know words to this language when they're born or...? I just, I have so many questions and I don't know what to do. This little creature is in my care and sometimes I can hardly care for myself..." Slane opened up to Sceleris as he had never opened up to someone before. It felt good to finally have someone to talk to and share his life experiences with.

[sceleris]

Sceleris nodded agreeing with Slane and answered If little hatchling doesn't have a name, then it might not make you two attach to each other right. Her mother had a name for her when she pocked her body out of the warm confines of the egg. Her dam had said that if she was a male she would have been named Temeraire. Temeraire was a nice name. I like the name Temeraire. It sounds good for a male. Her talk sounded like her thoughts were words, and they were.

She smiled at the fretting of her friend. He sounded like a mother dragon fretting over if the eggs would hatch right. She answered Everyone grows different. Some stay small until later in life, and others grow right of the bat. It depends on the baby. She had to mull over the other question for a bit. Sceleris had come out talking up a storm, or so her mother said. She faintly remembered hearing voices from inside a dark and warm place. I can't really say. My mother always said that I came out of the shell talking up a storm, but her sayings aren't always accurate. The white Arcane dipped her head slightly in embarrassment, but it passed quicker then it had come. She loved her mother, little fibs and all.

[Slane*]

"Temeraire," Slane said as he looked down at the egg wondering if the dragon inside was a male, "I'll think it over." Slane liked Sceleris - she seemed to think for herself and not go along with popular believe. "I guess I'll... or we'll know more as time passes and the little one comes along," Slane said as he wondered where this dragon was headed and if they would accompany each other or go their separate ways.

Slane looked down at the beautiful egg in his lap. So much of his life had depended on whether or not this egg would bring him a friend, I guess it already has, Slane thought as he looked back up at the dragon before him. Her furry mane and legless body made for an interesting combination, but one she seemed happy with. All of Slane's life, he wished he was a human and not himself because he was not accepted by being a shifter, but it was different with Sceleris. She seemed to be more interested in him because he was a shifter... Maybe I've just been living with the wrong species, Slane thought as he once again brushed the surface of the egg with his hand. After sitting with his thoughts for a bit, he looked back up at Sceleris and asked her, "Where are you headed? Are you traveling alone?" He was not sure whether or not this dragon was seeking company or if she preferred to travel alone.

[sceleris]

Sceleris was happy that her friend didn't hate the name that would have been hers if she was male. She looked down at the egg and wondered what the little wonder or terror inside would be like. Would it turn out to be a beautiful soul that was unique and amazing like its rider? Would it be able to think for itself? There were so many questions about the little beauty inside. Sceleris wanted to have an answer to all of them, if Slane allowed her to stick around of course. The white creature was hopeful in the prospect of Slane thinking of her as a friend. He had settled down a lot from the puffed up kitty cat that she had met. Now he was a nice friend.

Sceleris thought about his question for a few seconds. She had a home in the Golden Meadows that she loved, and was going to head back to soon. "I am going to explore the land for a little while more, then go home to the Golden Meadows. I haven't really met anyone that wanted to travel with me for a while, so yes I am currently traveling alone." Her tone lost its brightness when she mentioned the fact that she was alone. She didn't like alone. Alone wasn't bright and happy like she was.

[Slane*]

Slane heard Sceleris' voice drop when she mentioned traveling alone. It seemed she did not want to be alone. Slane was hopeful when he realized this because he was glad to finally have a friend and was not looking forward to separating. Slane opened his pack once more, but this time to put the dragon egg back inside. He was glad he had shared the egg with Sceleris. It took some of his fears away and gave him more hope for the future.

Slane looked up at the sky; it was getting late and would soon get dark. With his new found hope, Slane looked back at Sceleris. "Do you want company in your travels? I do not know where to go with this dragon egg and I would assume that being in the company of a dragon would be good for the hatchling when he or she hatches. This place you call the Golden Meadows sounds like a nice place to live. Would a shifter rider and his dragon partner be welcomed there?" Slane said, glad to have a friend whom he could actually have this conversation with. Whether or not he would be traveling with Sceleris, it would be a good idea for him to head further away from Morgana so no one from the city sees him and makes a scene.

[sceleris]

Sceleris felt a brief bolt of panic when Slane started to put the egg away. Was he leaving her? Would she be abandoned again? The panic was hidden and it, thankfully, passed as quickly as it came. He wanted to travel with her. She would have a friend in the sweet meadows. She would no longer be alone. The white dragon shook her body and started to uncoil. It took a little while for her to uncoil and be ready to move. Having legs would have made it easier, but the white dame had never once complained and would not start now.

She answered her first friend brightly As its just me in the meadows I don't see why not. The deer there might not be too pleased that another dragon and a predator shifter are moving in though. Would you like to hop on and get there faster? She grinned devilishly in the fast fading light and spread her wings. She wanted to find out if this shifter had an unknown fear of heights that she would have to fix.

[Slane*]

Slane admired Sceleris' long white body. Dragons truly were beautiful creatures and he was very pleased to be in the presence of one - soon to be two. He was also glad to hear that he would be welcomed in the meadows along with the dragon inside the egg. Having a friend nearby all the time would be a great experience that Slane was not use to.

After his elation of finding out he would have a friend to travel with, he processed the rest of what Sceleris said. Hop on...? Slane had never ridden a dragon; he had not even been off the ground for more than the amount of time it took him to come back down after jumping up in the air - not counting being in a tall building. "How do I... What do I...?" Slane began, but stopped himself and thought about it. This could be good. Maybe I can get use to flying with Sceleris and be able to have an upper hand on it when the little one comes along, Slane thought as he strapped his pack on his back. After that, he approached Sceleris with caution, unsure of where to sit and how to hold on.

[sceleris]

Sceleris gave a smile at her friend's unsureness. She said If I were you, I would get on just below my mane and hold on to that. Grip with your legs. Oh, and try not to yank out any fur, it doesn't grow as fast as your human hair. SHe gave another smile that was to say no pressure, but of course there would be some pressure. This shifter would be a dragon rider soon and travel dragonback nearly all of the time.

Sceleris was brielfy worried that her smooth and snake body would be too slick for Slane to hold on to for long. What if he slipped and she couldn't catch him? An arrow of thought pierced the bubble of terror forming. She had a hand on her tail that could grab Slane and hold on long enough to get to the ground if wrost came to worst. The worst won't happen, Sceleris. If you worry about it then it will be true. Was that what Mother had said or Father? Or was that her Aunt? Her family was too large to keep track of who said what.

[Slane*]

Excited, anxious, fearful, determined, joyful, cautious, awed - all describe the emotions flooding through Slane. These emotions overwhelmed him almost to the point of loosing his balance, but luckily he got his head straight before that happened. He stepped slowly closer to Sceleris and then made his first attempt at getting on the back of the dragon. It took a few minutes to get on and get situated so he felt secure.

Finally, Slane was on the back of the dragon - his knees in tight and hands raised. With his last movement to get ready to fly, Slane grasped Sceleris' mane, but was careful not to pull on it. "I'm ready... I hope," he said as he stiffened his legs and squeezed the dragon between them. I hope I'm not hurting her! Slane thought. He had strong legs from being in the wilderness and running so much to hunt and avoid danger, so he hoped they were strong enough to keep him situated, but not too strong that he hurt Sceleris. "Please don't let me," Slane began as he looked at the ground right below the dragon, "You know..." Slane stopped as he clenched his eyelids together.