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Post by Riku on Mar 3, 2020 22:38:24 GMT -6
"Hi, what is your name...?" he tried again. It blinked, and then snorted a few seconds later, rolling backwards into he water and flailing for a second before apparently learning how to swim away.
"Okay then..." he said awkwardly. Strike one. He looked around again and saw two seemingly female - or at least slightly smaller and femininely colored - draconic hatchlings who were having a conversation. They stopped talking and turned to him once he was close, realizing he must have been interested in them.
"Hi there." he said with a warm smile again, turning his hand ninety degrees as a sort of wave.
The one creature was rocking back and forth from one leg to the other. It was orange and yellow and had a long tail. "Hi.." they said, hesitantly. The other had handy wings and seemed to be a bit older. It was silver and blue and stepped slightly forward as a sort of leader. "Hello." they said.
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Post by Riku on Mar 3, 2020 22:44:48 GMT -6
Upon further quick examination of physical features, body language, and voices, Riku embarrassingly thought perhaps these were males after all. He stepped back a bit when the more juvenile dragon moved closer. "My name is Riku." he began, trying to keep up his smile. He wanted to seem warm and welcoming - interesting but not overzealous - however, he also wanted to believe the right draconic would mesh with him no matter what. These creatures didn't seem intimidated by him...They didn't seem to even care he was there for the most part. Perhaps they had been passed up so often that they stopped trying...? At least they seemed happy. "What are your names?"
"We don't have names yet..." the one that was younger said with a bit of a know-it-all attitude.
"Hey, hey..! I may not..not have a name, but..but I can do this - look!" he said with a youthful excitement.
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Post by Riku on Mar 3, 2020 22:49:32 GMT -6
He raised his wings and flapped them down hard. The initial waft of air did nothing, but as he did it a few more times his body began to lift up off the floor - just a few seconds and with a lot of effort, he got high enough to be face to face with Riku. Falling to the floor with a thud, he seemed to hit his chin on the ground and not even notice.
"See!?" he cheered, chest out and very proud.
Riku laughed and clapped his hands for the boy. "Wow, that was such a great job!" he praised. He knelt down to be closer with them and asked the littler boy what she could do.
"I can do..." they said, turning to one side and looking around to try to think of something. "Oh, this!" he exclaimed, raising his head in an inhale and then blowing the air rapidly out his nose with a bubble.
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Post by Riku on Mar 3, 2020 22:55:59 GMT -6
"Well that is a very neat trick." Riku laughed and cheered as well. Notably less useful than flying, but he wouldn't spoil their pride just yet. These two were very cute - and very beautiful as well. However, he only really felt okay about having a single draconic as a family member right now. Perhaps one of these two were it...? But how would he choose?
Well...he preferred the silver and blue color scheme better - but that seemed too shallow to choose based on! He liked that the one could fly, which was a bit more realistic as a choice. What if he wanted a mount someday...? Then again, he didn't know how he felt about riding a person. Neither one of them seemed to be too intelligent, but they were children. It was just....he had read about a very few draconics who were born just as smart as a normal human. Some even smarter.....Truthfully, that was what he was looking for.
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Post by Riku on Mar 3, 2020 23:03:47 GMT -6
"Y'know, some of us fly better than others..." another voice introduced itself, coming from behind the human. As he turned to see who it was, a bolster of wonderful whites and creams and pinks flowed and glowed past his face. He was in awe of her beauty and obvious grace. Her voice was very clean, clear, and mature, even though she was smaller than the other two. She had two long wisps from the side of her head. Deep black eyes - in both color and thought. She had two sets of ribbon-like wings and a long tail with the same texture. She even seemed to have four claws that somehow weren't physically attached to her body...
She slid through the air so perfect and rested on a steady rock next to them. "My name is Atheria, and I have been waiting for you, Riku." she said with a hint of impatience hidden under a humble laughter.
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Post by Riku on Mar 3, 2020 23:10:16 GMT -6
"C'mon, Atheria," the other two whined with a mocking tone around the name. "We saw him first!"
"Yeah, don't go with this one, Riku," the blue one said "she thinks she's so special 'cause she named herself." He flapped his wings in her direction and she turned her head slightly to avoid the gust.
The newcomer said nothing else and simply stared at Riku....which surprisingly said a lot with just her posture of gaze. It was his turn, his choice to decide apparently who he would take home. Wow. He went from feeling unnoticed to suddenly being fought over?
The other two looked at him longingly, and he didn't want to let them down - however, his curiosity was peaked...and he didn't want to blow of the beautiful one either. "Atheria, aye...?" he said with a playful grin "I thought hatchlings didn't have names...?"
The two others let out a deep sigh and a growl. One stomped away, and the other tried to fly - only to crash into a puddle and then slither faster.
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Post by Riku on Mar 3, 2020 23:15:16 GMT -6
Looks like he had unintentionally made his choice - although it seemed more like she had made it for him. Or rather that she somehow already knew what he would choose.
"Yes, Atheria. And yes, most hatchlings do not have names. But I do - for you gave it to me, didn't you?" she said, head high as she held her perch facing him.
"I.....did?"
"Well, you would have, wouldn't you...?" she smiled, cleverly.
"I...guess I would have. How did you know that?" he asked, shocked, and he scooted closer and crossed his legs.
"I know a lot of things." she started "I began to experience this world before my body was even ready. Before I could muster the strength to break through that shell - but I didn't mind. It only gave me time for meditation. For observation. For study! And I have learned so many things, Riku.....I can show you them if you'd like?"
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Post by Riku on Mar 3, 2020 23:20:24 GMT -6
She lifted herself from her rock and floated into his lap, curling her tail around herself as she fit so snugly into his hands he held there for her. He nodded at her offer, and was completely baffled with this experience. It was far better than he had expected! She was so....so brilliant!
"Well, for instance...I can tell what you had for lunch based on the type of shoe you are wearing. I can see your family drama all over your eyebrow length. The way you clench your jaw when you pronounce your S tells me you haven't spent enough time in the sun lately. Is there anything else you'd like to know, or have I proven myself to you?" She pressed her soft face into his thumb and he pressed into her as well as she massaged into it.
"No....you have definitely proven yourself, Atheria." He was so happy!
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Post by Riku on Mar 3, 2020 23:22:54 GMT -6
This had truly proven to be a great experience for them both. If she was satisfied with him....then that gave him permission to be satisfied with himself for her as well. She clearly knew what she was doing. It was almost intimidating! However, he also found it very charming and even a relief. Often he was so unsure about what he felt or knew or wanted to do...so perhaps having such an assertive young mind around would give him balance. At the very least it should rub off on him over time. You become who you spend the most time with.....and that could be a great thing for her as well.
She knew a lot, it was certain - but there must have been something he could teach her still. Her life and her lesson was not over - and his was far from it as well. They really could be a perfect fit.
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Post by NPC on Mar 3, 2020 23:25:04 GMT -6
Acethylka had been watching with a tad of worry (she wasn't quite a mother, but she WAS a caretaker, and that mattered) at first, for both the visitor and the hatchlings. However, she found soon enough that she did not have to worry too much, for it would seem that one of the hatchlings had chosen to keep the individual company. Two had tried to play with them, but it seemed that this one was much more interested. (She was, however, absolutely surprised that their baby babble was understandable to some degree- since those two were not quite... Ah, that gifted.)
This one, however, was certainly that. "Well, you two. Looks like you have hit it off some. Young one, is this the individual you wish to go with?" She asked, her held tilted slightly with concern.
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Post by Riku on Mar 3, 2020 23:32:22 GMT -6
"It is, Acethylka." Atheria said strongly. She looked at Riku and awaited his confirmation. There was hope in her eyes...something vulnerable and different than the initial flex of intelligence. He wasn't sure if she was aware of it, allowing him to see it, or if she had limitations like any other person.
But it was there. She was giving herself to him. A gift....He had come here to adopt a friend, fully knowing he would not own them...but this was closer to ownership than he had intended. She was giving herself to him. Full force. All or nothing - and this was everything. It was a huge responsibility, he knew, which was intimidating - but he felt something. A certain spark he had also hoped for but hadn't let himself fully believe he would ever receive.
"I think Atheria's home is with me, A..ce-thikla(?)." He shrugged into a giggle and looked back at his new...daughter? There was so much love in her eyes. Like a long awaited dream was finally coming true and she could finally start her journey.
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Post by NPC on Mar 3, 2020 23:38:59 GMT -6
Well, that was that. Acethylka nodded, gave the young one the blessing to leave, and then watched the two as they went to start their journey. Acethylka was happy, but her job was never done. She turned back after they were gone, to help with those that still needed her within the Rookery.
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Post by Nerius on Mar 4, 2020 18:43:33 GMT -6
Nerius had to admit, he wasn't entirely sure how one went about adopting a baby dragon. They were people, not pets to be bartered over in a shop, and he'd 'adopted' Savara when she was already able to 'be on her own'. Except really she wasn't, and the half grown lashak had picked him up as a new family member. It hadn't been a planned thing, like this was now, and more that the young draconic had followed him around. First, because he'd had food, but over time they'd formed an actual bond.
He was pretty sure the hatchlings here were much younger than she had been at the time, though he didn't immediately see any he entered the grotto. There were sounds of activity further in, which became louder as Nerius entered the grotto properly. "Hello?" he called, not sure who he should be addressing, careful to be quiet enough not to cause loud echos to fill the cavern. That was never a way to make a good first impression. (Nerius: 1/10)
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Post by NPC on Mar 4, 2020 19:17:45 GMT -6
Acethylka had been doing this particular job for some time, and often days there was no one that came by. Just as well, she thought, because even though she wanted the wonderful folks she helped here to find a new adventure to go off on, she would rather them not until the perfect individual came by. However, it would seem that lately, there had been more individuals interested. "Hello." She greeted, looking down at the new individual there. "Are you here to meet some of the draconics we have here to join your clan?" She said, giving her best not-showing-teeth 'smile'. She tried to put them at ease the best she could.
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Post by Fiera Ferella on Mar 24, 2020 8:46:59 GMT -6
(Continued from here.) Fiera glanced about, but most of the draconics she could hear shifting about didn't seem eager to make 'friends' with her. Most just looked up, noticed her, and went back to sleep. A bit intimidated (she wasn't about to force herself on them, after all), Fiera continued on toward the room that she had heard contained the hatchlings. Perhaps they would be a little more... accepting? Or at least curious. She supposed they'd be much more eager to get out of here, too. She crept through the tunnels, her ears flicking and turning like radar dishes at any hint of sound. Sure enough, there were little noises echoing through the canyon walls ahead of her, bouncing off of the richly colored sandstone. They resembled chirping somewhat, but with an odd tone that implied that it was no bird making the noises. Fiera picked up the pace a little bit, eager to see the hatchlings that she was so close to by now. But when she entered the large room... there was nothing there. She looked up and around at the new area but didn't see hide nor hair of any baby draconics. She was completely alone. Or was she? Fiera was sure that she had heard a noise when approaching this chamber, which meant that the hatchlings she had heard must have just left. Well, she wouldn't let them get too far- they were about to meet the worldwide wonder that was Fiera Ferella! "...Hello?" She called out hesitantly, her tone definitely not matching her previous internal vote of confidence. "Is anyone there? Hatchlings?" She said, and kept her ears pricked for the sound of anything other than her own voice echoing through the cave. The voice faded eventually though, and the humanish was left in a quiet cave and the dim light.
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