(Stories, Stats) (Suuta | Kowagowa | Aojiroi | Torikesi | Antan) Standing at Nidus Ryslen

Family Antan

Of all the Usagi brought to Ryslen, it seemed odd that one of the least 'interested' in the goings on, Bahasa, was the only one among the large group that a dragon from their first attended clutch approached. A dark, shining green with black mirrored wings.

Dark paws pushed open a a shell, and the deep shadow green hatchling tumbled out. The red sand clinging to her birth-damp hide made her raw gem coloration seem all the more rough, and all the more green. Her wings were black as death, yet the liquid silver-moonlight on her wings offset it brilliantly. She was a sturdy creature, and having gotten to her feet, marched right out towards the novos in a no-nonsense fashion, and put herself at the feet of one of the eldest of the Usagi, and as the unforgiving female looked down, the crescent-moon marking around her eye seemed to reflect in the dark green's eyes. Bahasa, I am Tejadath.

Though no one but the dragon hatchling saw it, Bahasa allowed a tiny smile, almost a smirk, escape her furred lips.

***

It turned out that Bahasa was the only one so far, to bond a dragon, and she enjoyed that fact. The silvered black green gemlike dragoness Tejadath soon understood that her rider was going to really, really enjoy being the first. That feeling rubbed off on her quickly.

Even though the others in her clutch were growing just as fast, Tejadath tried hard to be the first in the air, the first to nail a landing, the first to do ... whatever. Would they lead when they got home? Well, that wasn't something that was either of their style - not leading a group anyway. Leading by example!

"We'll see what happens when everyone else pairs up," Bahasa said, rubbing down the mottled dark-bright hide of her dragon. "It's not really their fault they're behind the times..."

***

Bahasa never realised how beautiful everything was from up in the sky. So peaceful, so clear... She and Tejadath had been trained fully by now, and though many of the other Usagi were still waiting for their own dragon partners, they were free to fly wherever they could or were welcome.

They headed home, a clear image of the home left behind was in Bahasa's mind - no one could forget the nights they spent looking up at the stars from the farmhouse. Wondering, hoping. So they arrived at night, over the farm, though Bahasa was more than intelligent enough to have 'added' a few months to their travel time, they'd spent only a few weeks elsewhere before heading to the dragonry. If her siblings and friends could figure that out, they'd join her shortly... Maybe they would come in at once, maybe they would be led by someone else who knew the way better. Maybe they would be there in two years or more.

She was there now. Soaring overhead on a magnificent dragon. She traced the route of the flood - it was easy, there was a huge plain between two wide mountains, the village had been down below them. She could even see, after resting and letting the sun come up, the ruins of her home.

It will not do to dwell on the past, my friend, Tejadath bespoke, nothing is as it was for you or your friends.

"That's true," Bahasa said, gently commanding the dragon to head toward Gelgela, "it's better now. Much better now."

***

Around the time that Bahasa was learning to fly with her lovely green, another clutch broke shell on the red sands.

Though it was a small clutch, perhaps the fact that the Usagi outnumbered the eggs assured them new dragon bonds! Dogai bonded first, but it was Tomao's who caught the eye of everyone around. An incredible blue with moon-shaded wings came looking for Tomao.

After Tomao's bonding, Tyyni paired up too! Everyone was excited now, the stories of their dragons would reach Gelgela when Bahasa headed home.

***

Anorvethra was just as ready to be seen and show off as his rider. They lept into the sky - didn't stay there long, but everyone cheered. On landing their trainer sternly reminded Tomao that remaining in one's harness was important - it had slung itself under Anor's neck when shhee was busy waving and yelling.

***

The waiting was horrible, but at least now, there were several Usagi with dragons to improve morale for those who hadn't yet paired up. Who knew what would meet them when they all came back together - even though singly they'd come and gone, they all wanted to remain at Ryslen until the last of them was ready to return. As a group, they'd look so marvelous.