Irole - Male, age 18

Irole is very fond of using his hands and getting dirty. His 'play' or sparring is often rapid, dangerous and vicious. His weapon of choice however, is a pair of small spade-shaped blades which he can use both to defend and attack. It gives him the opportunity to stab as well as punch, using his full strength to benefit his technique. Though others are more vicious when it comes to sparring, Irole is clearly the most animalistic hunter of the group. He can be found chasing animals on his hands and hindpaws - and has never been embarrassed because of it.

While he is a savage creature otherwise, Irole's powers almost mirror his vibrant orange-red hair. His abilities with pyrokinesis are strong already, and have only got to get better with time and practice. He can light fires on any nearby flamable surface, though putting them out is not his forte. He can shoot a bolt of flame (focused through his fingers, most times) almost 20 feet, and is working on a wider, more fan-like spread of it. Mostly to impress people.

"This is just dung," Irole spat. He and Hocayi and Iryudyo went out for a late afternoon hunt/prowl, and to gripe. "I mean, she's our female. Why should he have her first?"

"Why should you?" Iryudyo said. Though most were afraid of Irole's powers and temper, Iryudyo towered over all the rest of his tribe mates and hardly cared what others thought. "Perhaps she wants him. Maybe she's bored with us."

"That's why Oma wanted to have a contest," Hocayi reminded them. Irole snarled at that.

"What a silly idea. What a totally Human thing to do."

"And how else would you try showing off to her?" Iryudyo growled right back. "By bringing her mice?"

Hocayi almost let off a laugh, but it looked as though Irole's sense of humor had stayed back at the den.

"By having the sense not to listen to that foreign man-shifter."

"Don't you want to bond a dragon? It would be good to hunt with." Hocayi said.

"I want to do whatever it takes to get him out of here." Irole muttered. "No, I don't want to kill him. That would be stupid."

It would also be very dangerous to you, my little spotted friend, if you did. Zkoth interrupted them. They hadn't noticed, in the time the trio had walked away from the plateau, that they were headed almost directly toward the great night-bronze. To your credit, I can sense that you have no intention of harming my rider. But I will warn you now: if you did, I would dispose of your entire tribe.

All three Kin bristled, at those words. But they also understood something far deeper and more important. That this bond between rider and dragon went more than just as a superficial thing. That the rider was inexorably tied, that the dragon was completely devoted.

"Maybe it wouldn't be a bad thing to bond," Irole stated, staring up into the whirling yellow-orange eyes of Zkoth. "But why does he have to be the one that Temih wants?"

Zkoth pondered this. My rider's family is very strong that way. They have many children - across many different times and places. And perhaps your tribe would benefit from his... nature.

"He cannot stay in one shape, how is that a good thing?" Irole said. The other two plopped down on the ground, watching their tails, as he discussed things with Zkoth.

It endears him to certain people who would otherwise find him completely repulsive. His personal habits and lifestyle are often... distressing to other Humans. Perhaps they are less so to your folk. He tends to ... rub up against people when he ought not to. Certainly not a trait that most Humans understand, yet you know as well as I do that it is merely a friendly greeting. A posture that tells someone he is mostly harmless. Zkoth rose and shook off his long neck and tail, scattering birds who had come to roost on his crest and sides.

This close to the great Ryslen-born dragon, Irole suddenly realized that the responsibility of having a dragon such as this would be quite demanding. "You're huge," he whispered. "I don't mean that in a bad way," he waved his hands, and the others laughed at him.

"But he said that the dragons come in smaller sizes than you."

Mostly, in fact.

"Good..." Irole said. "It'd be really hard to hide in the grass with as big a dragon as you."

"We missed him walking toward here," Hocayi pointed out. Irole threw a brief glance and a hot but harmless ball of fire at him. It didn't even burn the dry grass behind him.

That is also a very handy power you have. I can also throw flames.

The three Kin all perked up at that.

He didn't tell you? Zkoth rolled his eyes around, That idiot.

"I thought dragons loved their bonds!" Hocayi said.

No one ever said they did not. It is just that my rider is an idiot.

"He seems really smart to me," Hocayi said, entranced.

"A rock is smarter than you," Iryudyu said.

Do not underestimate your companion, Zkoth told the tall abrasive Iryudyo.

Eventually, after being told that no, Zkoth was not going to be blasting flames around such easily burnt plains grass, the trio decided to head back to the plateau where things had simmered down into a kind of staring match between Ivo and Temih.

A lifted eyebrow aimed at Omaciyu brought the elder over to the trio.

"Her idea." He said.

"Why don't we just go back out again," Irole sighed. "Call me back when they're done."

Irole walked outside, into the dusty evening. He never got enough outdoors time - and there were beautiful sights out there. Hardly anyone assumed that Irole would pause to enjoy the sunset.

And while that's what he was more likely to do than just sulk, this time he was staring at the western sky but distracted by the south. The glimmering star, the new ship, had gotten bigger and was moving.

Irole decided not to wait, to tell the rest of the tribe.