Eloping [open]

[Serali]

It was a slow day. Their turn at the Guard Heights had dragged on, time seeming to slow and stretch to such a pace that Serali had begun to think the patrol would never end - she had started to get bored enough to hope a reamie would show up, just to give her and her dragon, Oriens, something to do. Alas, the monsters had been in no mood to do her the favour, and the shift passed in agonising moments of prolonged bordom.

But, even the most dull watch-shift had to end sometime, and now the blood elf was free to spend the rest of the day as she wanted. After grabbing some food from the kitchens and ducking out before anyone could corner her into cooking or some other chore, she had headed for the gardens. Hardly anyone came here, so she figured she should be left alone for a while, at least. For the past week, the kitchen workers had pounced on Serali as soon as she was done on the Guard Heights, pressing her into service. She had vowed to avoid such work today. Fates dammit, she was a Rider, not a cook! Well, she didn't mind helping, so much, but it was as if the staff took liberties, knowing she wouldn't say 'no' when they asked. That was what rankled.

The blood elf snorted, and blew a stray lock of hair out of her face. Looking around, she slunk behind a rather robust shrub and sank to the ground, sitting with her legs stretched in front of her, shifting the hilt of her sword so it didn't poke her in the ribs. Luckily, she had left her lance in her quarters, else she wouldn't have much chance of hiding very well. Quickly unpacking her 'loot', she eagerly started eating the still-warm bread, all the while using her senses to make sure no-one was coming. She sent a quick, mental 'poke' to Oriens, checking on where the dragon was. The yellow was in their quarters, curled up and dozing, or at least she was until her partner poked her. With a lazy growl, Oriens 'poked' Serali back, and the elf grinned to herself, and accepted the rebuke.

After she finished eating, she sat for a while, admiring the plants. The gardens were a favourite retreat of hers, no matter the season. There was always something to admire, so she came here often. Serali decided to stay here until someone started shouting for her.

[Dragonflare]

Merak looked around. She was at the Dragorna Gardens. She loved it here. She loved to come here after she was done feeding the Dragons. It was hot today, and it took a lot of strength to not sit down and rest. But somehow, she had made it through the day. She walked around, and then saw something. A bright color, more like a white or yellow. She went closer. "Hello?" She asked. She gasped when she was about three feet away. It was a dragon. And a girl. A blood-elf, it seemed. And.. She was a rider. She hadnt been close to dragons very much. Just quick looks at them when she feeds them. How badly she had wanted to see a dragon up close. This was it. Dont screw up... Dont screw up...

[Serali]

A buzzing noise interupted her idle musing, though of course the blood-elf knew of the insect's presence before the noise announced itself. Wings made a rather distinct vibration, and she unerringly turned her head to watch a bee industrially make its way about the plants, dipping here and there to gather nectar, pollen, or whatever it was bees collected. Surely better then collecting trophies from hunts, she figured.
Hah! Imagine a bee with a rack of reamie heads hung up in its hive...
Those would have to be small reamies indeed.
Ah! Awake, I see? And indeed - small enough that I could destroy a leigion with my boot heel!
All fear Rider Serali, destroyer of miniscule armies. Came the dry response. Serali poked her dragon in the side and stuck her tongue out.

Suddenly, Serali halted her poke-barrage, and sat stock still, sensing vibrations corrisponding to a biped coming her way - that, and she could hear footsteps, and a young, female, voice utter a greeting. Sometimes, you didn't have to be able to sesne vibrations to know if someone was coming.
A young girl with long, blue hair stood in front of them, looking somewhat awed at Oriens, who returned the regard with a curious gaze. The girl gasped, and Serali guessed she hadn't been this close to a dragon before. Well, it was somewhat overwhelming, the first time.
She stood up, dusted her trousers off, and offered a hand to the girl to shake (that was what people did, right?), a kind smile on her face.
"Hello there, I'm Serali, and this is Oriens. Nice to meet you!"
Oriens didn't speak, but she did make a friendly noise, and flick her tail slightly.

[Dragonflare]

Merak smiled, and shook her hand. "Ohh, this is the first dragon I have seen so close! I am not allowed to look at the dragons I feed, I get in trouble! I dont have time to look at dragons like this! So amazing! She's beautiful" She giggled. She was so excited. "May I get closer?" She asked. "Oh, by the way, my name is Merak, nice to meet you!" She was tempted to run over to the dragon, and pet its head. But she had to have permission, her mother would tell her to ask first. You need to obey rules.. Ask permission.. But if, you know its not right, you should disobey.. Her mothers words, she trusted her mother. Her father.. She didnt know what she thought of him. Everything had gone wrong, since her mother died. She had hated her father, for not saving her. But now, she knows it wasnt his fault. He couldnt do anything. She blamed him for nothing. She couldnt go back, he lived out of the Dragorna village. She usually wasnt allowed out of the village. The only time she could go was at the Dragorna lake getting water or Dragorna forest gathering things edible. She was so drowned in her thoughts, she forgot all about Serali and Oriens. When she came back to reality, she looked at them. She had to think several minutes to register what was going on.

[Serali]

"Merak? Well, a pleasure to meet you!" She smiled again, her face taking on a slightly unfocused look that showed she was speaking to her dragon.
Oriens, do you mind if she touches you? She seems so excited, it would be mean to tell her to look only.
Oriens made an amused snort in reply, and lowered her head so her bottom jaw was resting on the ground. One eye focused on her rider, the other on the blue haired girl.
It is alright. She is pretty energetic...reminds me of someone.[/i]
Serali rolled her eyes, and then looked at Merak, who seemed somewhat off in her own world. The blood elf waited until the girl was looking back in her direction before she motioned to the yellow dragon.
"Oriens says you can touch her, if you want. She won't mind."
Serali laughed, and patted her dragon's cheek affectionately.
"She may be big, but Oriens is pretty laid back, more so then some dragons, so don't feel scared of her or anything."

OOC - urk...sorry for bad post.

[Dragonflare]

Merak inched closer, and ran her hand across the dragons forehead. "Oh my gosh. It feels kind of weird. They dont have the same skin we humans do. Also I have never touched a dragon. So no offence." She looked at the elf. "I cant wait till a hatching! I want to see the people get picked, and how they react! But what I dont want to see, is a dragon going into the unknown. It sound so sad, to hear about the unknown, and the dragons disappearing. I dont want to become a rider. So I cook for the dragons, and give them food. Its so amazing how big the buckets they eat of. But the gold and silver dragons are stubborn, and want to be fed with special bowls. have you come to the Feeding Pens yet? If you have, I might not have seen you. You know, so many cooks around here, many have different stations to take care of." She told her

[Serali]

Merak patted the dragon's forehead, saying how it felt different and somewhat odd when compared to human skin.
Oriens nudged Merak's hand with her snout after the human spoke, the Yellow's rider interpreting the motion and speaking for the dragon.
"No offence taken - it does take some getting used to," she said, with a wry grin, remembering how long it had taken her to become acustomed to her new partner. Rather a while, in fact, but Serali considered hersef lucky Oriens wanted to cooperate with her.

The girl then spoke of Hatchings, and Oriens eyes seemed to glint - not enough that anyone but Serali, as bonded to the beast as she was, would notice. Serali nodded and made appropiate noises as Merak spoke, but the elf was lost in shared memories of previous Hatchings - the Hatchings of her dragon's eggs. Some had found Riders, but most had gone wild. Still some had done neither, and gone forth into the Unkown, and this still caused sorrow to the Yellow dragon, and thus Serali.

There will be more Hatchings for you - and we wil find enough Candidates to be sure we loose no more.
Oriens didn't reply, but Serali felt a sense of gratitude, and she patted the Yellow on the snout before she replied to Merak.
"There may be a Hatching soon - we can never know for sure. The dragons like to keep us on our toes," she said, with a sly look at Oriens, whome tried to look all innocence and light. With a shrug, she replied to Merak's other question. "We've been to the feeding pens - but only after the Golds and Silvers leave - they rub Oriens and I the wrong way, so we find it best to avoid them rather then bicker," she grimaced at this admission, and shrugged. "Like you say, they are proud and arrogant, and, well, Oriens can't keep her tongue in check around them."
She shook her head to clear her thoughts, and smiled brightly.
"In any case, we'll keep an eye out for you in future. Feel free to come and say hello whenever you feel like it."

[Dragonflare]

Merak frowned. "Are you leaving already?" She asked. "Your my first friend I have made here. If you would actually think of it as friend. And Oriens, is very nice and sweet. She is letting me pet her, without trying to snap or anything. Not like them gold and silver dragons, that want everything right there and right now. They are so stubborn, and need a looot of attention. The other dragons dont need as much attention. Except the tiny black one. But they are so cute! But have you seen how mean they can get? Its terrible!" She couldnt stop talking. She loved talking, and was curious. Always curious. Her name, meaned curious, she knew that from when she was a child. She tried to settle down, but it was hard. So much energy inside her. So much she wanted to tell.

[Serali]

The blood-elf smiled, and waved her hand in a throw-away gesture before she sat back, leaning against the scaled neck of her dragon.
"We're not going anywhere just yet - don't worry. In fact, you're the first non-rider who has actually dared to touch Oriens, or stay and talk for a long amount of time," she grimaced before she spoke again, "Most people who talk either ask me to do something, or are in the process of finding me so I can go do some chore for them. Other Riders don't tend to talk to me much - espeically not the Gold or Silver Riders."
Oriens snorted scornfully, making her opinion well known on that score.

Serali sat, brooding over these thoughts for a while, before she shook her head and grinned, much more like her usual self.
"Well, hells to all that - have you ever ridden a dragon before, Merak? Seeing as how you're a friend of ours, I think we can arrange to give you a ride somewhere, if you want."
Oriens raised an eyeridge, but nuzzled the youngster gently. She would be pleased to carry their new friend somewhere - she seemed lonely, so much so even a dragon could tell! It would do her good, and Serali, too. All in all, the Yellow approved of this plan.

As for what the commanders and such would think and say, well, that was for the future. Now was what mattered.

[Dragonflare]

"Oh, no. I cant do that! If the people that work with me, or the people that show me what to do, a boss I guess, could find out..No! I just simply cant! I'm sorry, thank you for the offer. Its just, if they found out I had a ride with a dragon, and a rider, then they might be mad at me! I might not be able to cook for the dragons anymore either! It would be like..They are throwing me out! You know, they are very strict about it! Only a rider, can ride a dragon, and it has to be their dragon! I dont want a dragon, I love being a cook and feeding them. Having a dragon and taking care of them is just to much for me! I am always wondering around, and day-dreaming! Not caring about my surroundings! Of course, I care about the people, its just, sometimes I somehow tune them out. Did you know, that some cooks get picked for a rider..Its strange. You wouldnt think a cook like me would get a dragon. The candidates and riders are much more a higher rank then us cooks! So, it just seems unusual for someone like me, to get a dragon! So, no, I am sorry, I cant ride your dragon with you. I wouldnt want you to get in trouble either. Of course, they just might get mad at you, but like I said, they might throw me out! I dont know why. They are just like that! I dont think its fair..And if we secretly took a ride together, sooner or later they would find out!" She sighed. She knew Serali wasnt trying to get in trouble. She probably didnt even know how strict the cooks were! "I really cant wait for a hatching..I want to see the candidates and how they react. The candidates have to sit up front, and us cooks and such in the back. Not much a chance that a dragon would wonder away at the back to see if one of us was there rider. But, you never know, some dragons want a rider, and they only know who is right for them." She stopped, letting Serali talk if she wanted to. She had said enough. She was hoping she hadnt upset her over not riding with her. She realized, she was still patting Oriens. So, she let her hand stop touching the pretty yellow dragon. "Please dont go though." She said, realizing she sounded upset. She was kind of upset. With herself, actually.

[Serali]

Serali's smiled fell as she realised how she had almost gotten the girl in trouble. Well, how was she supposed to know being friendly would have gotten Merak in trouble? It's not as if Oriens minded the idea of flying with both her Rider and another - certainly the Yellow was big, and strong, enough to do so. No-body had given her a list of 'can and can't dos', so she assumed this 'can't do' was something imposed by the cooks and the cooks only.
She shook her head, smiling a little again, lest she alarm Merak. She wasn't upset with the yong cook, but more the society that had imposed such a divide between Riders and 'normal' folk.
Sure, it might be a little necessary, but she didn't have to like it.

"Alright. I understand. You can't fly with us, but don't think it's because we don't want you to, ok? I didn't mean to get you into trouble, so I won't press the issue further."
Oriens loosed a skeptcal snort.
Yes, you will. You'll just try to keep the girl un-involved.[/i]
Thanks for volunteering to help! Serali replied with no hint of abashment, to which her dragon rolled her eyes.
Patting Oriens on the nose, the blood-elf continued the conversation.
"I'm sure Dragons always know who to pick when they Hatch - cooks or no. You may not want a Dragon, but if one comes to you, don't tell them that! You'd be a good Rider - I can tell."
She tucked some hair behind her ear, and looked at the flowers for a bit before she spoke again.
"We're not going anywhere - don't fret. We have some time before our next watch. We can stay a while longer."

[Dragonflare]

"Its not your fault! Dont blame youself. Blame the rules. And, sorry I am so hyper. I am always hyper, almost.." Her hand went behind her head, scratching the back of her head. "Anyways, thanks..For staying here..Many people leave me when they see how talkative and bouncy I am.." She frowned, and looked at the ground. Then she sighed. For once, she had lost her words. She didnt know what to say. She didnt like the feeling. She looked up at Serali, and she opened her mouth. But, nothing came out, and she just ended up closing it again. She opened and closed her mouth three or four times, before her eyes found the walkway again. This was unusual for Merak. She had never lost her words. She was always talking. Her eyes darted around on the flowers. "This place is very strict..Sometimes, I wonder why I even stay here.." She whispered.