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Post by Terris on Jun 3, 2014 22:02:58 GMT -8
"Akanth, what are you doing! Akanth? AKANTH slow DOWN. Oh, Gods! I think I'm going to be sick..." the knight screeched as he held on to the makeshift saddle he had built for the dragon. The dragon ignored him, flipping and spiralling, ducking and weaving through the Nexus like an aerial acrobat, much to the knight's dismay.
When, finally the dragon had had quite enough of the human's complaining, he skidded to an abrupt stop on the sands of the hatching area, rolling his shoulders as he did so to make the man tumble off and roll with a clatter of armour. "That hurts, you overgrown iguana" the knight grumbled, inspecting his armour for dents.
Maybe if you got rid of the metal skin you'd land more lightly. The dragon suggested. It hinders your movement anyhow, and you don't need it with me around. Terris glared at the large brown beast.
"Knights wear armour" he huffed, sullenly.
They also slay dragons, but I dont see you running me through with your swords. The dragon retorted. The fact is, whatever you were before you met me no longer matters, knight, half demon, living skeleton, scholar, bar wench, prince or peasant. You are a dragon rider now, and dragon riders do not need metal skin. Lose it. The dragon was gentle but firm, and it was obvious no arguing on this point would change the large creatures mind.
"Fine, but only while I'm riding" he replied, undoing the straps and buckles that held his armour in place.
The dragon wrinkled his snout when the new, lighter Terris stepped close. Terris quirked an eyebrow at him. "What?" he asked.
You smell like rust. he complained...then... I'm going to call the others, get all the riders in one place and have you all put through your paces at once. You need to learn how to ride before we work out how to do anything else, and I think the best way to do that might be a race. Terris moaned at the thought of going even faster, and Akanth did his best at imitating a grin.
"Never do that again" Terris said, laughing. "You looked like you were full of gas"
I am full of gas, how do you think I make my flame he replied. Terris simply threw his hands in the air.
"Dragons!" he exclaimed, exasperated, and waited for the others to arrive.
ooc: just a bit of fun, dragon racing!
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Post by Tidfe on Jun 9, 2014 16:34:44 GMT -8
"No."Yes."No."Yes."No."Yes."No. And that is final." Yes. And that is final. As if to end the argument between them, Dorth scooped up Cain anyway and flew off with him dangling between her fore claws. "This isn't proper riding procedure!" Something flicked across Cain's mind that was an awful lot like a tough luck feeling. Humphing, Cain had to concede that maybe it would have been better if he had just agreed to go with Dorth to this race training flight thingy. If he didn't hate flying so much, he probably would have.
Landing next to Akanth and his knight, she was careful not to accidentally crush Cain. Hello Akanth. Terris. Ready to race? She grin and Cain all but groaned. He hated that grin. That was her 'I'm going to win this or die/get hurt trying' grin. Cain really did not like that grin.
"Any chance I can get out of this?"
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Post by Duzell on Jun 9, 2014 22:53:03 GMT -8
Duzell lay on a hill next to the gurgling brook, thankful to at last have a bit of time to relax. He and Nysath had been on the go since he had arrived here. He wondered briefly where Nysath had gotten off to anyway when a thump behind him answered that question for him. Are you ready to go? Duzell sat up and shrugged. “I guess. Where are we going?” Akanth has called us together. He correctly assumed that you need to learn to ride and has therefore proposed a race. I say we go and show him that some riders have more to learn than others.
Duzell was surprised. That was as near to a compliment as Nysath had ever given. He grinned broadly and climbed up on Nysath’s back, “Sure. Let’s get going.” Nysath lept into the air and Duzell couldn’t help but to once again marvel at the raw power Nysath possessed. Soon he could see the other dragons and their riders. Nysath landed next to them. Akanth, Dorth, fine day for a race is it not? Nysath’s tone made Duzell grip onto him just a bit tighter. Why did Nysath always have to be so competitive?
OOC: 200 word challenge, 201 words, raw, gugrle(ing)
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Post by Terris on Jun 10, 2014 4:58:52 GMT -8
Terris grumbled as more riders arrived, knowing without a doubt that this thing was going to take place whether he liked it or not. He muttered darkly at Cain when he approached.
"I'd rather the overgrown gecko not hold me hostage, but at this point I dont think any of us have much choice in the matter, the dragons want to race, we are going to race." he sighed, he really didnt feel any ill-will toward the dragon. As much as they bickered and argued, he was quite fond of akanth, and in the short time they had spent together, he had developed a deep affection for his bondmate, infuriating as the dragon was.
Akanth did not much care one way or the other about the human's objections to flying. Flying was wonderful, and he knew, as soon as Terris knew how to do it properly, without fear of falling ot his death, he would share in the joy of taking to the skies, and would revel in the feeling of freedom it brought. This was not something he could express in words, but Terris got the idea of what he was trying to convey, and the scowl he had been sporting was replaced with an apathetic resignation.
"Fine" he thought to the dragon "Have your way, you were going to anyway." the dragon simply chuckled in his head.
Stop behaving like a hormonal youth, and get ready to race The dragon said firmly, and Terris obliged, climing aboard the makeshift saddle he had constructed, placing his feet just right in crude notches he had fashioned as stirrups.
We will take a practice lap around the nexus first, to make sure each rider is comfortable with their seating. I don't want anyone falling off, it would be most unfortunate if we were to lose you. Akanth projected to those gathered, before he rose, and dove off the edge of the sands, descending in a free-fall so abrupt that Terris' teeth clacked together on his tongue, drawing blood.
In the blind panic of oh my gods we are going to hit the ground and die, the knight didn't feel the pain in his mouth, so much as he tasted the copper tang of blood, adding to his sensory overload as the ground rushed toward him. And then Akanth was levelling out, close enough to the ground that the dragon's tail could have skimmed the surface if he had so wished.
"Don't EVER do that again" Terris screeched, Akanth just chuckled.
Silly human, I would never, ever let you fall. You need to learn to trust me. This bond goes both ways. Tap into it, feel me, and my confidence. This is something I have done countless times. I want to share it with you, because with you, everything is new and exciting again. Take comfort from my experience, and I will revel in your awakening! the dragon sounded so enthusiastic about this prospect, that Terris could not deny him.
"Okay, fine, let's do our lap of the Nexus and get ready to win this damned race" he said. The dragon chuckled.
Now that is the spirit I knew your had in you. he crooned, happy that the knight was finally seeing things his way.
ooc: Challenge 557 words (hormonal, hostage, copper)
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Post by Tidfe on Jun 16, 2014 19:25:19 GMT -8
"I don't see why the dragons can't race by themselves and leave us out of it." Cain really didn't see the wisdom in using a race to teach them how to ride, but Dorth sure did. Yes it is Nysath. Fine day for you two to lose as well. "Don't talk smack Dorth." In response Dorth just threw Cain back over her shoulder and onto her back, letting out a short breath of fire as he landed with an omph. He didn't get to see Terris's near death experience as he dealt with his own. Dorth rolled off the sands and laughed madly in his mind as she popped out her wings and shot up high into the sky. "Not so high Dorth! Not so high!"
He clung to whatever he could and wished madly that he could close his eyes. Sadly, he couldn't and he let out a scream as Dorth dove down to be just a little bit above Akanth's level. This is so much fun! We should have thought of this days ago! Cain muttered something along the lines of, he wished Akanth would have a nice cozy, chilly place in hell for coming up with this idea.
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Post by Duzell on Jun 17, 2014 23:42:51 GMT -8
Without so much as a word of warning to his rider Nysath lept off the edge and soared after the other two dragons. As Nysath soared higher and higher into the air Duzell wondered what he could have done to deserve this. Hold on. Nysath did a barrel roll and Duzell became convinced that this was revenge for some terrible atrocity he'd committed in a past life. Yes, he had to have done something terrible to deserve the aerial assault Nysath was subjecting him to. Just when Duzell though he might lose his lunch, Nysath finally stopped with the flips and leveled off.
This is only the practice lap, we can slow down if need be. The last thing I want is you throwing up on my back. I would be willing to forgive many things; however, that is not one of them. Duzell just glared at the back of Nysath’s head. Oh do calm down. I will not let any harm come to you. Furthermore, not two days ago you were telling me how much you enjoyed flying. “Flying, yes. Love flying. I tend to practice a bit more abstinence on falling to my death however.” Duzell said through gritted teeth as he clung to Nysath. Nysath chuckled. I would not let you fall. However, if it will make you happy we can refrain from going upside down for a bit. This is a race anyway, which means speed. Do hold on.
Nysath dove steeply towards the ground, only to level off at the last possible moment. Duzell yelled over the rush of the wind. “I though you weren’t going to try and kill me!” You are too tense. Relax and trust me. Try to enjoy flying like I do. Duzell started to say something, but stopped himself and decided to trust Nysath. Taking a deep breath, Duzell forced all his panic away and focused on Nysath and their bond. He felt Nysath’s love of being in the air as well as his joy at preforming aerial acrobatics stunts with Duzell in tow. Duzell also felt his competitive drive. Suddenly Duzell wanted to win this race just as badly as Nysath. He grinned. “Show me what I need to know so we can win this thing.” Nysath nodded, glad that his bonded was finally on board. Just hold on and trust me. This should not involve too many fancy stunts so, provided you do not let go we may have a chance at this.
With that Nysath sped off again, circling quickly around the Nexus, eager to start the proper race. Every so often he would give Duzell some little piece of advice. He was quite pleased that his rider seemed to be listening to him and learning, at least a little bit. Not that he would tell Duzell. Would not want him to get a big head. Nysath and Duzell finished the rest of the practice lap as quickly as they could and Nysath turned and headed back to the starting point.
Ooc: 500 word challenge, 504 words, atrocity, revenge, abstinence
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Post by Terris on Jun 25, 2014 21:54:43 GMT -8
Terris grinned as Akanth glided gently to the sands of the Shifting Nexus with a flourish of wings. He was proud of himself, and his dragon for that particularly glamourous landing, and patted the soft, warm hide of his bonded, a few hard slaps, the same way a rider might pet a horse. The dragon closed his eyes briefly, enjoying the sensation before a ripple ran right down the large beast's body. Terris quirked an eyebrow at the dragon who dismissed it quickly.
Just preparing the dragon said, a slight gleam of mischief in his eye.
"hmm..." Terris dis not like that rather cryptic response, but he trusted his dragon to to somehow kill him, so let it slide...for now. After all, they had other things to think about, like the elimination of all the other dragons and riders in the race.
Akanth twisted his head around to look at the knight, the gleam of mischief turning into something a little more feral, and he laughed in his bonded's head. "I like the competitive side of you. It is much more entertaining than that bleeding heart 'lets save the poor blob fish from a fate worse than death' side of you he chuckled, and the knight kicked him, just a little. Akanth pretended not to feel it.
"I happen to feel that it is my duty to protect those that cannot protect themselves. I have been a knight for generations, I highly doubt that this aspect of my personality will change, just because you decided to attach your hide to my rump and call me a dragon rider" the knight huffed. Akanth's eyes swirled, amused by the discussion.
Oh, Akanth, we cannot possibly let the little woodland creatures spend a night out in the cold! It might rain on them! We cant possibly let them get wet! That would be cruel! he mocked, doing a fair impersonation of Terris' own voice in the knight's head. Terris was appropriately horrified.
"I do not sound like that" Terris bellowed. Akanth pinned him with a steady gaze. "Okay, maybe that is my voice, but I don't want to save all the woodland creatures from things they can handle, I want to stop injustice, give everything a chance to live...you certainly were not complaining when we helped rescue the saydar. You were all like Oh! Terris! Quickly, protect the little babies! We can't let them all die!" he said smuggly, his own impression of Akanth's voice not nearly as good a rendition as the dragon's.
That is because they are our food source. Akanth drawled slowly, as though talking to a very young, very stupid child. It is an entirely different situation. We could very well have starved which is why I insisted you rescue what you could, whereas you seem to insist on traipsing all over the area, trying to fix things that are not broken, I just don't understand it he said, no malice in his voice, just utterly perplexed by the strange human he had managed to bond.
"And maybe you never will" Terris replied.
The conversation stopped then, as the other dragons had started to return to the starting line, and it was almost time to begin the race proper.
You ready? Akanth asked him. Terris grinned.
"Ready as I'll ever be" he replied, and they waited for the last few stragglers to make their way back onto the sands.
(500 word challenge - cryptic, elimination, glamorous - 590 words)
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Post by Tidfe on Jul 2, 2014 21:08:00 GMT -8
Dorth glided gracefully down as well, her claws burrowing into the shifting sands. Letting out a relaxed sigh, she swished her tail slowly as she looked at the other dragons. That was a lovely warm up lap. Now all I have left to do is leave you two in my wing dust and take the victory lap. I am doing what you would call smack talking correctly Cain? "Just don't cause anything deleterious to happen Dorth. That is all I pray and ask of you." Cain was hanging on to her spines for dear life and had his skull buried deep into his ribcage. Not that it help not seeing the land getting smaller and smaller below him, but it paid to be cautious. Not that it was much protection if he should happen to slip and fall to his bone shattering doom down on the sands below. Least it is something soft and not the rocky cliffs. "Yes Dorth. That is a lovely consolation prize when I'm falling a thousand feet or more in the air," Cain remarked dryly as he clutched her spines harder.
You worry far too much my Cain. I will not let you fall and if all else fails, I will save your skull. You would just have to trust Able to carry you around for awhile. Pawing the sands, she got in a ready stance, every muscle alert for that start signal.
Cain could feel the quivering of the nerves and muscles under his hips. It was a powerful feeling. An awe inspiring one too. Though it did nothing to settle his nerves about this whole race thing. Did nothing at all. He really wanted to ask if he could sit this race out, but knew like the last time, he would just be ignored and forced to take a part of it anyway. Might as well just roll with it and hope for the best.
( 322 words Deleterious, Cautious 300 word challenge)
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Post by Duzell on Jul 7, 2014 21:55:15 GMT -8
Nysath stopped subjecting Duzell to some of his more decadent acrobatics and flew down to settle on the sands next to Dorth and Akanth. He chuckled at Dorth. Yes, that would be smack talk, although if your smack talk is at the same skill level as your flying then I am sure that I have nothing to worry about. Duzell just groaned. “Really Nysath? Sorry about him.” Do not be sorry. We aim to win this race. “We can’t win without being rude?” Nysath just huffed at Duzell. You just hold on then. Clearly we will need to find you a more competitive spirit one of these days.
Duzell may not have been the type to talk smack but he was quite excited to win the race, regardless of what Nysath thought. He could feel Nysath’s competitiveness mixing with his own. He glanced at the other riders. Terris looked about as ready as he felt but poor Cain looked like he was going to be sick. Duzell wondered briefly if he should feel a bit more nervous about the whole thing but he knew Nysath was going to give his all to win this race regardless of Duzell’s thoughts on the matter> No really point in making himself more nervous then.
Ooc: 200 word challenge, 211 words, decadent
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Post by Terris on Jul 22, 2014 16:50:53 GMT -8
Terris was focused now, focused with an intensity bordering on obsession. He held on tight to the straps of his makeshift saddle, leaned out over his dragon's long brown neck, to minimize wind resistence on takeoff, and sent, through their link, the message that he was ready.
Akanth acknowledged this, but made no indication that he would call the start of the race. Terris assumed he was waiting for the other riders to ready themselves, and held his pose.
Akanth was not waiting for the other riders to get ready, for the most part they were, though some were quite a bit less enthusiastic than Terris and Duzell, and for this reason, it was to Duzell's Nysath that he spoke. With great care to ensure no rider could overhear the private conversation between dragons (though the dragons could all hear him).
I hope they are ready for this. The shock of between may be too much for their fragile systems he said to Nysath, a little worried.
Another voice, from a riderless beast spoke up from deeper inside the nexus. Nonsense! All the stories talk about brave men and their dragons going between all the time. Your humans will be fine. Now go! Teach them a thing or two about what it really means to be aback a dragon! the beast encouraged.
Akanth knew that voice well, it was the voice of one of his clutchmates, a large green beast who was known for his level-headedness. Akanth was encouraged, and sent the signal to the other dragons to proceed.
They lifted off as one, made a show of rising in altitude until they were high above the Nexus, then hovered for a few scant seconds, getting their bearings before, all at once they winked out.
Terris gasped as the cold of the nowhere of between hit him all at once. He tightened his grip on his saddle, though he could feel nothing below him, nothing around him, he could not even feel himself. His eyes grew wide and he began to panic.
Don't you DARE! You hairless ape. You are fine, relax yourself, it will be over soon his dragon scolded, stopping the knight in his tracks. He shut his eyes tightly, and a scant few seconds later they were....
"Akanth, where are we? What did you do?" Terris asked, confused, and more than a little frightened by the whole experience and the strange new place.
He peered out at the land before him, his eyes darting this way and that, looking for any familiar landmark, the town, nestled in the place where the desert crosses the grove, The Nexus, which by all rights should be directly below them, the great lake of the oasis, cool and blue against the desert sands...at least it should be at this angle....but there was nothing familiar here, no, this was some other place.
He looked around, spotted Duzell on Nysath and called out.
"Hey, in your travels, did you ever come across this place?" he asked, more than a little worried.
(500 word challenge, crosses, nowhere, obsession - 527 words)
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Post by Duzell on Jul 23, 2014 20:28:17 GMT -8
Nysath landed next to Akanth at their starting point in the Nexus. He could not hide how fond he was of Akanth’s plan. It was high time Duzell learned how to between. He was sure Duzell would be fine, his rider was tough. Well no, not really, but at least he should be fine for this.
Duzell, completely unaware of what the dragons were planning, gripped tighter into Nysath. “We ready for this?” I am. You are probably not quite prepared. Before Duzell could ask what Nysath’s cryptic answer was about the dragons had taken off. They rose high above the Nexus and Duzell was about to ask Nysath why they had not started when the dragon slipped between. The absolute nothingness shocked Duzell to his core. Nysath felt his confusion and panic rising through their bond. There is no need for that. Do try and relax. Nysath’s slightly annoyed tone did nothing to ease Duzell’s mind. Fortunately a few more seconds and they exited the between as suddenly as they had entered.
Duzell looked around, blinking in the sudden brightness. He took a few deep breaths to try to flush the extra adrenaline from his momentary panic. “What was that Nysath!” We went between. “Oh, very helpful. What the hell does that mean?" Between. It is quite complex and you are in no state for me to explain it to you. Suffice it to say that we “teleported” if I am to use your term. I will explain in more in depth when you are not so panicked.
Duzell was about to lay into Nysath and demand answers when he heard Terris call him. He glanced around, for the first time taking in the new landscape. He searched for anything that looked familiar but nothing stood out to him. “No, I can’t say that I have. I take it you have no clue where we are either?”
Ooc: 300 word challenge, 318 words, cryptic, flush
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Post by Tidfe on Jul 25, 2014 21:42:20 GMT -8
Cain wished he could actually close his eyes as he felt Dorth's muscles shift beneath him. Dorth on the other hand was wholly excited for this adventure. Though probably not for the reason Cain thought. She was going between! And with a rider to boot! Just like the old legends. This was going to be great!
Seeing the others launch, Dorth followed quickly behind and betweened herself. Cain felt the sudden chillness and the nothingness all around him. He did not panic though, but was highly confused. "Dorth...How did you know where to find this place?" Dorth was struck almost speechless. Cain had been here before apparently. Before she could lose her concentration completely, she exited the between and arrived on the island. Guys! Cain's been there be-Why are we not at the Nexus?
Landing, she moved her tail against the earth as Cain blissfully slide off and all but kissed the ground beneath him. "Finally! Solid ground!" He could care less where they were. They weren't flying and that was what counted.
As for the betweening...Cain could care less about the whole thing. Been there. Done that. Had come out of it a skeleton. Well...That isn't entirely accurate of an account, but close enough.
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Post by Terris on Aug 1, 2014 16:13:19 GMT -8
Akanth spiralled lazily to the ground, coming to rest not far from Dorth. Terris held onto the dragon like a powerful adhesive, unwilling to let go and dismount immediately. The knight was wary about this strange new place, and preferred to stick close to his dragon, knowing, whatever might be out there, Akanth would keep him safe.
The dragon did not seem to mind this contact, ignoring his passanger for the moment to converse with Dorth.
You mean to say you have never been to the island, Dorth? I thought all young dragons came here at least once or twice once they learned to go between, if only to get away from the bossy elders. I know I came here often with some of my clutchmates. We would chew firestone and harass the wildlife.
Akanth craned his neck around to look at his rider, his eyes registering amusement at the knight's unwillingness to dismount.
You should go explore. Your kind seems keen on collecting any and all forms of wildlife they can find and there is wildlife here that, to my knowledge is not found anywhere else. Please do not get yourself killed, and if you see a brightly coloured frog, do not lick it.
Terris slid off his dragon's neck, rested a hand on his soft brown eyes and cocked an eyebrow at the final instruction.
"Thank you, Akanth, for that pearl of wisdom. I do not believe I have ever had the urge to lick a frog, or any other living creature before, and can assure you, that is not likely to change in the immediate future." he mock huffed, straightened his clothes, and made his way over to Cain, then gestured for Duzell to join them.
"Akanth has suggested we explore a little, apparently there's some interesting wildlife that we might want to try to get our hands on. He also said not to lick the frogs, but I sincerely doubt anyone is stupid enough...." he stopped, his eyes focused on something behind the other two and stood, frozen for a moment, then, his senses coming back to him, gestured for Cain and Duzell to turn around.
"What are they?" he said, awed by the immense size of the creatures they now beheld.
And for good reason. Before them, not too far distant stood two large, horned reptilian beasts. To a person from modern-day Earth, they would be easily identified as some form of Triceratops, but Terris, who had no knowledge of dinosaurs, they were completely alien to him.
The pair of dinosaurs, feeling eyes on them, looked up, curious, rather than alarmed, and gazed at the exploration party for several long moments before the larger of the two wandered away to continue grazing. The smaller one, however, was far too interested in the humans (and skeleton) to wander away, and approached them, curious.
"I think this one might be a juvenile. See how it's hide is a much duller colour than the other? And it is smaller. It is probably too young to realise we could be a threat to it. Though, really, it could also be a threat to us..." he said, taking a step back as the beast cocked its great head, listening to his voice.
(500 word challenge - lick, adhesive, pearl - 550 words)
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Post by Tidfe on Aug 1, 2014 16:24:52 GMT -8
No, Akanth. That is not even close to my question. Did the betweening adle your hearing? I asked why we were not at the nexus. Not why we were on the island or even where we were. I know the island. Maybe not as well as you do it seems, but I do know it. I just did not think we would be bring our riders here since it is such a special place for young dragons. Dorth barely contained her sharp ire as she spoke to Akanth. She did not like being made to feel stupid and felt that was what Akanth's intentions had been. Rather that was his actual intention or not remained to be seen.
Cain meanwhile had turned around to see the large dinosaur. "A dinosaur. Looks like one of the three horned ones. Triato...Tricra...Triceratops! That is it! Triceratops!" Laughing, he moved towards the younger dinosaur as the young one moves towards them." Reaching out a hand, he waited to see if the dinosaur was going to let him pet their hide. "I wouldn't worry. If these guys are actual Triceratops, they don't eat meat." Did not mean the horns were any less dangerous. Cain just did not care about that. Hard to be impaled when you really had nothing to be impaled on.
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Post by Terris on Aug 5, 2014 19:11:20 GMT -8
Akanth glanced curiously at Dorth, his hide the colour of brown sugar in the oddly diffused light. His head tilted, and the almost inperceptible gleam of a challenge flashed in his eyes.
You mean to say you would deny your human knowledge of such a formative part of your past? They can do no harm here, and it is likely, at some point in time they will have young dragons that wish to come to the island. Is it not better that they know about it now, and are not worried about where their young charges have gone off to?
The young triceratops (if that is what it was) was amazed by Cain, and, moving closer, experimentally nudged the skeleton with his beak-like muzzle...what WAS this strange stick!creature?
(132/100 words, brown sugar)
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