Curious Creatures (2/2)
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Corrin, Sia
Date Posted: 16th April 2025
Characters: Sybana, Nosarre, M'thos
Description: Galgaith and Kiziolth investigate the strange encampment that appeared nearby.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 5, day 8 of Turn 12
The holdless encampment was slowly waking up. Smoke rose in thin threads from a few cookfires, damp and slow to catch in the morning chill. Children crouched around the warmth, huddling under shared blankets. Women bent to their work with lowered heads, and men moved with the watchful caution of those who had spent too long being unwelcome.
There were the low murmurings of voices, the cough of someone sick, the snap of canvas in the breeze. Everyone was minding their own business, which is probably the only reason they didn’t notice the dragons until they were upon them.
The dragons.
Galgaith stalked into the camp like something out of a long-forgotten story-- one told in warning, not in praise. Massive and bestial, her eyes gleaming an unreadable hue,* wings tucked tight, tail lashing behind her in slow, calculating arcs. She crept along low to the ground, as if that might somehow make her less visible, but the effect was that of a predator about the pounce.
Kiziolth might have been sneaky at this size, if it was the middle of the summer and if she had been stalking through the farmers' fields near the summer lake or further into the valley. But it was nearly winter and there wasn't any flora tall enough to hide the green that crept along like a hunting feline. Some weyrfolk may have cooed at the babies practicing how to hunt, and certainly many weyrbrats would have played along with the little game if their riders had been about. But these people were not weyrfolk, nor were the dragons accompanied by their responsible adults.
Shouts rang out.
A girl screamed and bolted behind a tent. A cluster of older men scrambled to their feet, one drawing a long, rust-specked knife more out of instinct than strategy. He was quickly bundled away by his friends. Someone shouted for the children to get back.
Galgaith froze.
The frightened chaos didn’t abate.
Galgaith relaxed, dropping her head to nose inquisitively at a basket someone had dropped in their haste. }: What curious creatures. They run like herdbeasts, :{ she laughed to Kiziolth, pleased and more than a little smug. }: They _can’t_ be dangerous. :{
}: Are you sure? These are really scary. :{ Kiziolth said with uncertainty. She reached out to gently bat the rope that tied a tent down, and her wings flared in surprise when a gust of wind made the fabric snap.
Galgaith surged in front of the smaller green and chomped down on the edge of the billowing, snapping canvas-- shaking it vigorously. The canvas tore, someone sheltered inside screamed. Galgaith flinched back, freezing cautiously as a panicked couple scrambled out of the listing tent and fled. Then she turned proudly to Kiziolth, holding the vanquished hank of fabric high. }: It is noisy, but it is cloth. Like clothes. See, I have defeated it. :{
Kiziolth looked from confident, brave Galgaith, and back to the awful tent. }: Yeah! Not scary at all! :{ She agreed. She went to mimic her golden sister, reaching out to tug at the fabric. It didn't give as easily for her, and her foreleg caught on one of the ropes that had been keeping the tent upright. The unfamiliar texture made her startle and, with another loud rip of fabric and a draconic shriek, Kiziolth stumbled into the falling tent and got tangled in a mess of rope and cloth.
Fianwyth had been watching from the barracks as the gold and green prowled across the field. She was an enabler by nature, more than content to let the little ones explore and get into whatever trouble they could find. They needed to learn, after all. She followed from a distance, careful to land far enough away to not cause much alarm, but kept the weyrlings in view. That was, at least, until they started causing too much trouble.
}: Oh, little ones. I think that's enough. :{ Fianwyth said as she inelegantly scooped Kiziolth up with one huge paw. Kiziolth squealed in surprise, startling a couple children who had narrowly escaped the tent. Her little legs flailed on either side of Fianwyth's foreleg, and with a few not-so-gentle shakes side to side Fianwyth managed to detangle her entirely from her mortal enemy, the tent. }: Time to go. :{ She told Galgaith, expecting her to follow as she carefully turned and awkwardly hopped away, Kiziolth still tucked against her chest.
Galgaith had a casual and generalized disregard for taking orders from sources other than her lifemate--who she was usually in agreement with anyway--and from Fianwyth in particular. The ‘Second’s green usually had to work harder than T’lonas’ bronze to get the young gold’s attention and respect-- but not this time.
}: Hey! :{ squawked Galgaith as her playmate was plucked away. She stared after Fianwyth, hopping back to the barracks. She stared back at the camp, at the people peeking out from behind barrels and crates. Finally she huffed around the cloth in her mouth and turned to strut after the greens, her tail held high like a banner behind her as she carried back her prize.
At least her mission had been a success. She could tell Sybana there was nothing to be afraid of.
Last updated on the April 25th 2025