Post by Moo on Mar 27, 2015 16:55:25 GMT -8
77.03.15 | the fire heights
around sunset, before dinner
"So...we come to it at last. War."
J'ral settled back against the old king and exhaled softly. He could sense the turbulent emotions in Cerrodalth's mind as keenly as if they were his own, and in a sense, they were. He briefly ran a caloused hand over the Chrome's foreleg in a slow, soothing manner and turned to watch the sun setting before them.
"What're you thinking, old man?"
The large dragon blinked and tilted his head to glance down at his Rider. [smear:99330d]It is a strange thing to[/smear:99330d][smear:797777] run from a war all our lives, only to meet another at the end of it all.[/smear:b2b2b2]
J'ral's lips curved into a slight smile. "Hey, we may be old, but we've still got it. There's no need to sound so final just yet."
Cerrodalth blew a stream of hot air down on his Rider and looked to Rukbat. He had never cared much for such abstract activities as watching a sun set, but today's was a contemplative mood, one where strategy had no place. Besides, J'ral enjoyed the shifting colors in the sky, and time spent with his Rider made him happy.
[smear:99330d]But that is why we came here, yes? That was what we had planned. For finalities. I just did not expect [/smear:99330d][smear:797777]things to happen quite so soon. I do not know if I'm ready.[/smear:b2b2b2]
J'ral shrugged his shoulders and felt the wrinkly hide of his dragon move in tandem with his motion. "We'll never be ready, Cer. We just go when we're ready enough. We knew what this place was when we came here, and we also knew what state we were in when we transferred. You know that, and I know that."
Cerrodalth said nothing, but his eyes shifted with dark colors as he mulled the thought over. He gave a great, weary sigh and stretched his legs out further, soaking up the last of the warmth from the rocks below. [smear:99330d]Life never seemed so[/smear:99330d][smear:797777] final when we were young.[/smear:b2b2b2]
J'ral chuckled. "I think that's the point."
The Chrome continued. [smear:99330d]I suppose it does seem right, [/smear:99330d][smear:797777]to have a plan in place.[/smear:b2b2b2]
"The last great plan." A trickle of amusement colored his mind as Cerrodalth made a throaty, dragon equivalent of laughter. "This had always been our home, from the very beginning. It's where I met you. Where our journey first began. I just thought it would be fitting to...end it here, too. If it ever came to that. Who knows, it might not. Besides, you hate the cold. Far better to die where it's warmer."
Cerrodalth rumbled. [smear:99330d]All these turns, and I never[/smear:99330d][smear:797777] took you for a romantic.[/smear:b2b2b2]
"Heh, you'd be surprised at what old age will do to you."
[smear:99330d]Besides make[/smear:99330d][smear:797777] us wrinkly and grey?[/smear:b2b2b2]
J'ral shook his head and rose slowly to his feet. "It's silver, thank you very much. Or should I say...chrome?"
The old dragon grumbled, but his eyes were bright once more. [smear:99330d]If we find ourselves a part of this war, J'ral, I would be glad to fight in combat with you. And die, if it [/smear:99330d][smear:797777]comes to that...though I hope it does not. We may be old, but I'll not go down without a fight, and there's no one I'd rather have at my side than you.[/smear:b2b2b2]
J'ral considered calling his dragon the 'romantic', but he knew Cerrodalth rarely spoke from his heart, and so let the thought pass into nonexistence. The sun was just about to dip below the horizon, and the smell of cooking foods had started to carry on the wind. It was time they rejoined the others, at least for the evening.
"Come on, you big wherry. Time for dinner. You can't fight a war on an empty stomach! Go get something to eat...I'll see you later in the weyr."
With a jaw-cracking yawn, Cerrodalth agreed wordlessly and staggered to his feet. The thought of food was tempting, and if he knew his Rider, they'd be going through their paces come morning. The Weyr would no doubt spring into action to prepare for the upcoming war, and so they would too. He spread his wings silently and leapt into the air, before directing his course to the southern fields, where his own dinner was surely grazing.
J'ral watched his dragon fly away before he dropped his mask, and the playful enthusiasm on his face gave way to weariness. He knew Cerrodalth had sensed it -- there was nothing he could hide from him, not after all those turns together -- but he had, thankfully, said nothing on his part. J'ral sighed. Perhaps he should have voiced his concerns to his dragon, but he was not ready to face his own weaknesses yet. Death was inevitable, there was no getting around that. They were old, and it would happen sooner or later to the both of them.
But a life without Cerrodalth? There would be no life. And planning for the possibility of one made him sick to his stomach. But war was war, and it continued long after it had ended. If it took either of them before the other, it was something they wanted to be prepared for.
He just hadn't known how hard it would be.
around sunset, before dinner
"So...we come to it at last. War."
J'ral settled back against the old king and exhaled softly. He could sense the turbulent emotions in Cerrodalth's mind as keenly as if they were his own, and in a sense, they were. He briefly ran a caloused hand over the Chrome's foreleg in a slow, soothing manner and turned to watch the sun setting before them.
"What're you thinking, old man?"
The large dragon blinked and tilted his head to glance down at his Rider. [smear:99330d]It is a strange thing to[/smear:99330d][smear:797777] run from a war all our lives, only to meet another at the end of it all.[/smear:b2b2b2]
J'ral's lips curved into a slight smile. "Hey, we may be old, but we've still got it. There's no need to sound so final just yet."
Cerrodalth blew a stream of hot air down on his Rider and looked to Rukbat. He had never cared much for such abstract activities as watching a sun set, but today's was a contemplative mood, one where strategy had no place. Besides, J'ral enjoyed the shifting colors in the sky, and time spent with his Rider made him happy.
[smear:99330d]But that is why we came here, yes? That was what we had planned. For finalities. I just did not expect [/smear:99330d][smear:797777]things to happen quite so soon. I do not know if I'm ready.[/smear:b2b2b2]
J'ral shrugged his shoulders and felt the wrinkly hide of his dragon move in tandem with his motion. "We'll never be ready, Cer. We just go when we're ready enough. We knew what this place was when we came here, and we also knew what state we were in when we transferred. You know that, and I know that."
Cerrodalth said nothing, but his eyes shifted with dark colors as he mulled the thought over. He gave a great, weary sigh and stretched his legs out further, soaking up the last of the warmth from the rocks below. [smear:99330d]Life never seemed so[/smear:99330d][smear:797777] final when we were young.[/smear:b2b2b2]
J'ral chuckled. "I think that's the point."
The Chrome continued. [smear:99330d]I suppose it does seem right, [/smear:99330d][smear:797777]to have a plan in place.[/smear:b2b2b2]
"The last great plan." A trickle of amusement colored his mind as Cerrodalth made a throaty, dragon equivalent of laughter. "This had always been our home, from the very beginning. It's where I met you. Where our journey first began. I just thought it would be fitting to...end it here, too. If it ever came to that. Who knows, it might not. Besides, you hate the cold. Far better to die where it's warmer."
Cerrodalth rumbled. [smear:99330d]All these turns, and I never[/smear:99330d][smear:797777] took you for a romantic.[/smear:b2b2b2]
"Heh, you'd be surprised at what old age will do to you."
[smear:99330d]Besides make[/smear:99330d][smear:797777] us wrinkly and grey?[/smear:b2b2b2]
J'ral shook his head and rose slowly to his feet. "It's silver, thank you very much. Or should I say...chrome?"
The old dragon grumbled, but his eyes were bright once more. [smear:99330d]If we find ourselves a part of this war, J'ral, I would be glad to fight in combat with you. And die, if it [/smear:99330d][smear:797777]comes to that...though I hope it does not. We may be old, but I'll not go down without a fight, and there's no one I'd rather have at my side than you.[/smear:b2b2b2]
J'ral considered calling his dragon the 'romantic', but he knew Cerrodalth rarely spoke from his heart, and so let the thought pass into nonexistence. The sun was just about to dip below the horizon, and the smell of cooking foods had started to carry on the wind. It was time they rejoined the others, at least for the evening.
"Come on, you big wherry. Time for dinner. You can't fight a war on an empty stomach! Go get something to eat...I'll see you later in the weyr."
With a jaw-cracking yawn, Cerrodalth agreed wordlessly and staggered to his feet. The thought of food was tempting, and if he knew his Rider, they'd be going through their paces come morning. The Weyr would no doubt spring into action to prepare for the upcoming war, and so they would too. He spread his wings silently and leapt into the air, before directing his course to the southern fields, where his own dinner was surely grazing.
J'ral watched his dragon fly away before he dropped his mask, and the playful enthusiasm on his face gave way to weariness. He knew Cerrodalth had sensed it -- there was nothing he could hide from him, not after all those turns together -- but he had, thankfully, said nothing on his part. J'ral sighed. Perhaps he should have voiced his concerns to his dragon, but he was not ready to face his own weaknesses yet. Death was inevitable, there was no getting around that. They were old, and it would happen sooner or later to the both of them.
But a life without Cerrodalth? There would be no life. And planning for the possibility of one made him sick to his stomach. But war was war, and it continued long after it had ended. If it took either of them before the other, it was something they wanted to be prepared for.
He just hadn't known how hard it would be.