And We're Out Here... Why? (open)

[wolflover1458]

Well, if one thing could be said for Hearth, it was that he at least knew how to pick a nice spot. They could have been stuck someone much worse than here. At least N'lel had this pristine beach to look out. The water look beauitful, the waves were lapping up against the shore in some kind of odd harmony. The sand was warm, heated by the sun; some of it was covered in a red-and-black dragon, and some was being bathed in that dragon's shadow, but most of the sand was clean and care, just enticingly waiting for someone to run amok all over it. N'lel, however, did not feel much like running amok. Just sitting here, looking out at the waves, was fine with him. The place really was pretty nice.

At least, the beach was. Not too far away, a tangle of trees and shrubs had completely dominated the rest of the island. The whole place was literally covered in trees, bushes, vines, weeds, grass, and who knew what else. All sorts of dangerous things could be living in there, and for all he knew, there was something watching him right now, judging when would be the best time to spring. Other than that, though, the place was just wonderful.

And if he ignored those thoughts, it made it slightly easier to enjoy. Or, at least, it made it easier for him to think of other things. Like what, exactly, he was doing here. N'lel wasn't really sure. It was odd to be out here, with just Hearth and Dare, who had curled himself up in the sand, his little brown body blending in much better than Hearth's black one. N'lel would never have suggested that they come out to this place. That had definitely been Hearth's idea. It was all his idea. They would out here because of a grumpy Charcoal dragon.

I am not grumpy. I just wanted to get away from everyone, Hearth informed him.

You're grumpy. And why here, of all places?

It is silent. And private. I like it. There's no one here but us.

N'lel considered that. Right now, maybe, but there's likely been other people who have been here before; we can hardly be the first ones. What if someone else shows up?

Hearth did not respond to this with words, although a tickle of annoyance ran through N'lel's mind, and the rider found himself grinning. Rather not think about that?

It was a beauitful day, and the Weyr only seemed to be getting more and more populous. Plenty of people wanted to get away and spend some time by themselves, or with just another person or two. Hearth seemed to assume that no one would show up, but N'lel was pretty sure it was a possibility. At least he wouldn't be stuck here with just some draconic creatures as company, then.

[Sparrow]

((...welp. Guess I'll claim this one too. I'm assuming that even though you changed N'lel's profile a bit, you're not forgetting his old threads and he still knows Salise? ...even though your post makes it sound like maybe not.))

Pop.

The pair burst from between, but before Salise had even gotten over what was now a very familiar chill, Artemisth was seriously contemplating going back in. He's here again.

Who? Salise tried to think of who her dragon could be talking about, but before she could get to that, she had to get through the initial confusion of their being anyone here at all. It wasn't often that they ran into someone at the island. It wasn't all that often that they came here either, but usually those visits had occurred without running into anyone.

Well, he interrupted me last time, so it must be my turn to do the same to him. Apparently deciding to disregard her distaste, Artemisth dove for the shoreline. Once they were angled toward the ground, Salise could see who her dragon was talking about. The black and red dragon was easy enough to recognize, there were so few of them.

Artemisth landed and Salise waved uneasily, suddenly unsure if she should get off her dragon's back or tell her to get going again. "Hey N'lel, long time no see."

And if he wanted to continue not seeing her, that was okay, they would leave. She knew that Artemisth hadn't been very pleased when Hearth interrupted her last time, nor had Hearth been happy about running into her. If N'lel was hoping for some peace and quiet with his dragon, they probably couldn't stay.

We're staying, Artemisth snapped stubbornly. They were on an island. Salise couldn't go anywhere. Artemisth was the one in control here, and she would make use of that.

[wolflover1458]

((No, I didn't forget the old threads. I know he knows her. It's just been awhile since that last thread so I may have forgotten some details))

Hearth was the first to notice the appearance of Artemisth, and he definitely seemed less than pleased. Why is she here?

Well, they've been here before. Probably just came back and we happened to be here. Don't get in a fight.

I do not get in fights Hearth told him, although N'lel assumed he was stretching the definition of a fight. Well, as long as nobody got hurt or insulted, it didn't really matter. He actually found himself happy that, of all the people who could have shown up, it was someone he knew. Someone he got along with at least a bit, even if their dragons didn't.

"It has been awhile, I guess. How are you?" He asked Salise in response to her greeting. He got up to his feet, his mouth not quite formed into a smile, but not too far from it either. If it had been someone he didn't know to well, he would definitely have been a bit annoyed, but he found that he couldn't really be annoyed with Salise there. Which seemed strange, considering that Hearth couldn't stand Artemisth, but obviously the controversy between the dragons was not spreading all the way to the riders.

[Sparrow]

((Awesome~))

Hearth didn't look to happy, but N'lel maybe did. And clearly Artemisth wasn't about to let her run. Salise slid off her dragon's back. "I'm fine. You?" She smiled a little herself- a little nervously, maybe, but she was also pleased. It wasn't like she and Artemisth came to the island to spend time together, they came so Artemisth could have privacy to fly around and feel spectacular about herself.

It was kind of a relief to have some company, even if it meant that Artemisth likely wouldn't be doing what she had planned to do, and instead be grumpy about it. When am I ever grumpy? She looked Hearth's way as she said it, attempting to compare her mood to his. Salise was pretty sure Artemisth was worse than any charcoal though. She removed Artemisth's riding straps and the dragon headed for the water.

Learned to swim any better, Hearth? She challenged.

Salise sighed a little. "Sorry. It looks like she's only going to try and cause trouble again." At least Artemisth got some sort of entertainment out of that? Not that finding fun at the cost of others was all that great a thing.

[wolflover1458]

Hearth did not like to drop a challenge. Especially from this particular dragon. She was infuriating, she was. And she was larger than him. Hearth ought to be larger. But his size had always bothered him. Even some Greens were larger than him, and this was a terrible thing to him. I don't spend all my free time swimming Hearth informed her. He was itching to not let her show him off, and that feeling finally consumed him. But I can still swim better than you. He got up from his spot in the sand and followed the larger Barred towards the water. Was he in the mood for a swim? It didn't matter. What mattered was that he was not going to get shown up. Especially not by Artemisth.

While Hearth might find this annoying, N'lel had to admit it was more interesting than anything else. Hearth didn't get along well with any dragons, really, but he seemed to hold a particularly grudge against this one. Why that was, N'lel wasn't sure. But it did seem to have happened. "Well, if Hearth wants to take her up on that it's his problem, isn't it?" Hearth was smart enough, for a dragon. And if he wanted to let Artemisth bother him, than he could deal with it. N'lel planned to stay out of this, so long as they didn't try to drown each other.

He looked back at Salise, remembering quite suddenly that she had asked upon the state of his well-being, however rhetorical that might really have been. "I've been fine. Hearth can be a bit of a bother sometimes, but aren't all dragons?" They all certainly seemed to be. Every one of them was demanding in their own way. From the largest one all the way to the tiniest. Every single one was endearing in its own way, but each also had some way of being completely ridiculous or just needy, or something. Of course, if they weren't like that, dragonriding wouldn't be quite as fun, now would it?

[Sparrow]

Artemisth plunged into the water, pushing through it until her paws no longer touched sand. There she bowed her wings on the surface, letting them help keep her afloat. Better than me, you think? She glanced out over the ocean. Their last race had not gone very well. Due to Salise's ruining things for her, she had nearly lost. Artemisth wasn't sure she wanted to try that again. But how else did they compare their swimming abilities?

You could just... not.

Artemisth ignored her rider's interruptions and continued her search for something they could make a contest out of. What if Hearth beat her to an idea? Losing a swim race was one thing, but to not be as clever? Not allowed at all. Have you ever watched waterwherries take off from the surface?

Salise sucked in her lip, not liking where this was going. If Artemisth really wanted to make a contest out of taking off from the water, she and N'lel had better get away from the shore. She wasn't quite ready for a soaking. "Yeah, I guess. But I think Artemisth's going to try and make it a problem for us too."

It was just like her. She couldn't keep things to herself. Worrying about her dragon, she had entirely forgotten that she had asked about N'lel. When he answered the question though, she smiled a little. "That's good. And yeah... they are. Particularly ours, I think."

She loved Artemisth, but the Barred could be a major pain. She usually was, in fact.

[wolflover1458]

Hearth didn't care if he had ever watched waterwherries take off from the surface. It wouldn't have mattered. He would never have admitted he had not to someone like Artemisth. Of course I have. And I'm sure you have too. He would have any contest that Artemisth wanted to have, and he would win it. Of that, Hearth was certain, for losing was simply not an option. If Artemisth wanted to challenge him, then he had to accept, and he could not lose. He could not bear the thought of losing. Their last duel may have ended in what one might consider a draw, but Hearth was determined win this one. Artemisth was not going to get the better of him.

N'lel was not taking quite the same look on this competition as Hearth was. He wasn't planning on stopping the dragon from doing it if he really wanted too, but he wasn't going to advise that Hearth take part either. If the Charcoal ended up losing in whatever contest they thought up, he would be grumpy until he forgot that it had occurred. N'lel would rather not have to live through that, but it did seem quite unavoidable unless he actually wanted to call Hearth off, and that would make the Charcoal grumpy as well. You simply couldn't win with these dragons. There was always something.

"Well, if they plan on trying to get the whole beach wet, then maybe we should consider moving closer to that pleasant-looking jungle." Oh yes, pleasant indeed, with who knew what crawling around inside it. Well, at least if something attacked them it might call the two dragons away from whatever ridiculousness they were getting caught up in so that they could defend their riders. Not that N'lel really wanted to need defending. It would be much nicer if everyone could just be happy with each others company. Unfortunately, that seemed rather impossible. Especially with that pair of dragons.

[Sparrow]

Of course I have. Never very intently, but she had seen it. She could probably guess pretty safely that Hearth had never watched the takeoff in detail either. All she knew was that they flapped their wins and ran on water and somehow ended up airborne. Now you've got to do it.

She headed for deeper water. You can't be touching the ground to start. First one flying wins. She wasn't even entirely sure the trick was possible but, well... they would find out presently. If it wasn't possible, they would just both get tired and that didn't really matter.

Salise was pretty sure that nothing about this contest could end well. Even if the takeoff was possible, Artemisth was bigger and it would be harder for her. But if she wanted to make herself look foolish, let her. Maybe a blow to that ego, once she quit complaining about it, would teach her something. Probably not, but maybe.

"I'd hardly call it pleasant looking... but it's probably better than standing around out here is." Salise gathered up Artemisth's riding gear to keep it out of harm's way as well and headed for the trees. Pleasant looking... right. But Salise's thought were running along the same line N'lel's were: at least if they got attacked, it would distract the dragons from their competition.

[wolflover1458]

Hearth snapped his jaws irritably and swam after Artemisth, determined to not let her beat him out to deep water, and he would not let her beat him on this flying contest either. Was this even possible? Hearth wasn't sure, but if it was, he was going to manage it before Artemisth did. He followed the larger dragon out persistently, unwilling to let up even as his strength began to seep. He would keep this up all day if he had too, and he would not let Artemisth beat him up. Hearth was going to prove that he was better than her, and if this was the way to do it, than this was how he would do so. It couldn't be that hard, could it? The wherries seemed able to do it just fine. Perhaps there was a special trick to it, but Hearth would figure it out soon enough. At least, before Artemisth managed to do it. That was all he really wanted to do. He didn't even need to be able to take off from the water; if he could prove himself better than her without doing so than he would be satisfied. But Artemisth wanted to do it this way, and so Hearth would do so. Very well.

N'lel was definitely finding this silly feud more detrimental than anything else, but he still thought it as Hearth's problem. He definitely did not intend on being near shore when the two dragons started flapping their wings in a vain effort to lift off, which N'lel privately didn't believe possible for dragons. Waterwherries might be able to do it, yes, but they were light, and could float on the water far better than a dragon could. He doubted either of them would actually lift up, but it would stop them from sending huge waves of water in the direction of the two riders.

So he headed off closer to the forest with Salise, still wondering just what nasty surprises were hidden inside it. N'lel was certainly happy to get away from the water's edge, but not by getting closer to the dense overgrowth of trees. There might be plenty of interesting things inside there, but it was also bound to contain some unpleasant surprises, and he would much prefer to not witness the interesting things and so stay away from the unpleasant things.

[Sparrow]

((Let's just say now that this is an impossible feat and Artemisth is out of her mind. But she'll give it a good try.))

Artemisth thought about how the waterwherries did it. They always appeared to almost run on the water before they took off, although their wings were flapping, surely generating the lift that let them do that. She doubted she could flap her wings as fast as they did though. Would that be a problem? Most likely. Hmm. Well, it was worth a try.

She pumped her tail, helping to lift her upper body from the water, and then kicked her legs, trying to mimic the awkward running movements birds had. Her wings were already spread, but now she swept them up and down, sending water flying every time they hit the surface.

...no dice. In fact, she was practically moving backward. Her wings generated a lot more movement than her tail did, but, considering the sails attached about to her tail, they were fairly submerged and pushing water in the wrong direction. Time to rethink her strategy. She paused to see how Hearth was doing.

Salise peered through the trees, curiosity making her nearly forget Artemisth and her silly antics. "You know, I've never gone in here before." Could it really be as bad as they thought it was? No one ever really talked about this place, which made since considering few people even came here, and yet horrid opinions about the jungle portion of the island had still been formed. What was in there couldn't be worse than some big wherries though, right? It wasn't like the wild whers would swim out here.

[wolflover1458]

Artemisth's attempt to lift off from the water was actually quite humorous. Hearth had to admit it was interesting to watch her flail around as though she were drowning. He even stopped the beginning of his own attempt to watch her fail. And it was certainly a spectacular failure. Hearth was definitely enjoying this. He didn't personally care about getting of the water himself, he just wanted to do better than her. And it seemed as though that would be rather simple to do. When Artemisth finished flailing pointlessly, he surged further out, determined to try it himself. Swimming out took some effort, and Hearth didn't want to tire himself right away. As soon as the ground was a good distance from him, he began flapping his own wings.

The seemed, however, to be too waterlogged to go anywhere. Annoyed, Hearth pushed his legs up, attempting to get his wings out of the water so they could flap around, but with only water around him, he couldn't possibly hope to get enough lift. Even when he got the front ends out, the back was still soaked, and sending waves of water all over the place.

This was not going well, and he could tell, but Hearth didn't want to give up either. He thrashed his tail around, trying to use anything he could to lift himself off. But rather than doing so, it just seemed to be making him more unbalanced, he finally pulled a limb too many out of the water, lost his balance, and completely tumbled in.

N'lel had been slightly watching this spectacle from the land, finding himself very happy that he wasn't anywhere near the beach anymore, where the water was already washing over in huge waves. When Salise spoke, though, he turned to her. "I haven't either," he responded, looking in. "Doesn't exactly look like the most inviting place." He had to admit that staying out here seemed like the much more preferable option to going in there and having to face whatever might be in there. Maybe it was just a tangle of undergrowth. But maybe it wasn't, and he wasn't really sure he wanted to chance that.