Sedna raised an eyebrow at the fire dragon. Did he think he had what it- No, of course not. Dragon riding wasn't a family business to the Seelen's, Kaia was the only living member with a dragon, and K'issuk seemed.. different from most other dragons. She wasn't as aggressive as Sedna had always heard, didn't spit water to boil people when they annoyed her. And he knew for sure that at least some people annoyed her.

'No,' Sedna said into the bond, speaking plainly, blunt in his honesty. 'But I've had no training and little time to come to terms with..' The teen vaguely gestured at the dragon to finish his sentence, as if the subject of his conversation wasn't a huge, fire-breathing reptile. 'Wasn't expecting to get a bond at all, really,' he added, rubbing the back of his neck while he stared at the dragon.

'What was your name, by the way? I don't think you've told me,' he asked, while taking a moment to quickly glance around them.

Maybe-Kenji was in the distance, getting picked up by the big storm dragon Sedna had assumed would be coming to eat him. A man that also looked a bit like Kenji (maybe Shiro? Or he could have them backwards, it had been a good few years now) had been picked up by a feathered dragon. Sedna watched with muted shock as the dragon dropped and caught his.. rider. His prey? His victim? Whatever the hell Maybe-Shiro-Maybe-Kenji was to that dragon.

Sedna looked back at the large fire dragon, pointing in the general direction of where the feathered dragon had landed with his poor, poor victim, listening to K'issuk tell them off. "If you're gonna throw me around like that," Sedna said, speaking out loud with a deadpan voice. "I'm just gonna leave." His tone was sarcastic. Partially.

Rhyhor stared at his rider, his eyes almost unblinking in their intensity. The rumble in his chest cut off, and a low chuffing noise came from the back of his throat, the closest imitation to a laugh the dragon could bother procuring in the moment. 'A pity,' he said, deep, rumbling voice not entirely unlike the octave of thunder. 'I find bloodshed always makes events more memorable.'

Although, Rhyhor supposed, today could not get much more memorable. It was the day he were gaining a little pest, forever trapped at his side. Something his soul was forcing him to protect and care for, given that dragons often fell into deep.. depressions when losing their riders.

'Be sure to let me know if you change your mind, though,' Rhyhor supplied, daring a glance in the direction of the bird-dragon, watching as the shrill shriek of the water dragoness put him firmly in his place. 'His.. buzzard seems like a quick but physically weak opponent.' When the storm dragon looked back at his human, a low hum of genuine humour settled in his vocal cords, watching the man attempt to flatten his static-lifted hair after reassuring his brave little friend.

Following the glance his rider sent to the side, Rhyhor spotted another dragon approaching them. His first thought was it would lead to some kind of altercation, but when he really looked at the female, he recognized her for who she was; a Light Dragon, one that he believes may have been the one to hold territory underneath the Northern Lights. He had passed by in his youth, and had moved on with his refusal to settle. He deemed her unthreatening, and knew she likely didn't know him at all.

'Your second friend got lucky,' Rhyhor supplied dryly to his rider, looking back down at the human. 'That dragon is a Light Dragon, if she's the one I believe she is, then she is kind. Holds territory underneath the Northern Lights. Nothing like the stuck up Lunar Dragon your brave little companion has been, unfortunately, lumped with.'

Dragged from his train of thought, Rhyhor listened as his rider, Kenji, gave him the name of himself and his brave friend, Beatrice. The dragon lifted his human higher, slightly changing how he was holding the boy so that he was angled as if he were standing upright while being held in the air, studying him.

'I suppose Kenji is a good name,' he said, a half-attempted compliment. 'I am Rhyhor,' he added, when Kenji asked after his own name.

The female snorted with faint amusement. 'I won't throw you around... much.' she answered. 'I must test you, but I won't let you get hurt. You will be thrown around some, but not like that. I simply must test if you've got the metal in you to be my rider.'

Neryth tossed her head, her scales glinting in the sun. 'My name? I am Neryth, though you may call me Nery if you so wish.'

The female settled down, curling her tail around herself a bit like a cat might. 'So. Tell me about yourself.'

(goddamn writers block!!)

She blinked, watching him fly towards the forest. 'I wonder if he's nocturnal like a bat too,' she thought, contemplating the thought. He must be, since he so much resembled the small creatures that flitted around at night. She wondered briefly if he could use echo location as well, though she was a little nervous to ask him. He seemed to be in a particularly fowl mood, and she hoped she had not annoyed him too much.

As he began to build a fire, she watched with slight amazement. She'd never seen a non fire breathing dragon build a fire like this, the way a human might. "Yes, that's right," she answered as he asked her about cooking it. "You want beef to be lightly browned, though not scorched on the outside. It should be done relatively soon."

'I traveled quite far. Many, many, many miles. Thousands, even. I come from a different continent than this one.' She paused, feeling a small twinge of homesickness. But her joy at finding her rider and sating the tugging in her heart overpowered it, for the most part. 'I presume you grew up here?' The more she spoke, the more the accent was noticeable in her voice. It was still light and faint, but was still hard to miss in any way.

Navi blinked, following her gaze to the two boys. She was silently soaking in the information, wanting to not forget anything. Noticing the girl's tired yawn, she gently coiled her tail around Clarabelle. 'If you wish to nap, go ahead. I myself may need a nap. I've flown a long distance in a very short period of time.' She yawned, her sharp teeth flashing in the sunlight, and her purple tongue curling up at the tip the way a cat's might.

Ixora Pandya

Dragon Rider - Mentor | Female | 21 | Mentions: Kuwaka (dir), Veetabhi (ind) Kaia (ind) Their dragons (ind)

Ixora took a few quick glances in the area around her, then continued in the direction of Kuwaka. She couldn’t identify anything going particularly dangerously at that moment. Just a few interactions between dragon and dragon, rider and dragon, and all the irrelevant discussions of an overwhelmingly large influx of people. All intermingling in an aggravatingly complex waltz of chattering and laughing and snooty glares scattered about. She could even overhear some with their remarks of how they would be the best dragon rider to ever walk the earth, blah blah... something about a long history of whatever their house was. People like that only made her laugh.

Still confidence, in her eyes, was a necessity. Like a survival instinct; it could give you the upper ground in a sword-fight, or the guts to plunge senselessly into the air, with only your bonded dragon to save you. Outright arrogance on the other hand would get some of these idiots killed. Besides, regular confidence generally could do with some brains to back it up. Gods, I pray that this set of new riders aren’t complete idiots. She didn't know how she'd cope if they ended up doing dumb things that she would have to help clear up.

Damnit, maybe she was getting a headache. She felt grouchier than usual.

Ixora made her way through the valley grounds, dodging the eyeline of people she passed. Some did seem to recognize her for what she was, but she chose not to stop and chat with them though a few seemed to want to. She could smell her ashy dragon’s scent and the cooking of the buffalo meat, following it as the fire dragon came into view. She raised an inquisitory eyebrow, but walked towards Kuwaka with a smile.

“Kuwaka dear, thank you for offering but I am going to have to pass.” She wrinkled her nose with a slightest smirk twitching at the edge of her lips. “Once you’re finished can we track down Veetabi and Kaia. Or their dragons if you would prefer.” They would probably be near each-other anyway. She paused and frowned slightly at the carcass. "Also, where did you find that? Ah, and thank you for at least cooking it this time. I told you that would make eating a little less... messy. Do you remember the first time I witnessed you hunting?" She shivered slightly, remembering that unappetizing scene.

Serikornis Ventus

New Dragon - Air Class | Male | 220 | Mentions: Noelle (dir)

Waiting for his rider to arrive or come more clearly into view, Serikornis had risen up into the air again. As easily as a shark or dolphin may cut through water, he flew through the air and circled the valley several times more - golden eyes searching for the source of his pull all the while. It was quivering now, the excitement of his own accord causing the feeling to fluctuate unsteadily as he circled closer to the area of his rider. Then suddenly, in a short change of heart, he again soared upwards to think. The air high up here was thin, but that did Seriko’s mind good.

He took a moment to think about the wind. The forces beneath his wings had long been a constant - a comforting ally that he had not forgone in years. But, with the discovery of his rider, he would have to set aside that life of airy freedom and rejoin the creatures with the earth in stepping down into the ground. In particular his human rider, if only he could find whoever they were. His relinquishing of the highest atmosphere for this person was a big deal, not to mention the fact that stepping back against the earth - his feet feeling the solidity of ground again - would be uncomfortable enough. Besides all this having to adapt his flying patterns for a rider. In honesty, he was afraid of giving up what had been his life for a long century. The change would be difficult to adjust to.

And yet the eagerness in his heart felt better than any excitement he had ever claimed to have before. It was better than free-falling, rivalled the enjoyment of riding hurricanes. He longed to have a rider atop his back, his rider; a friend to share words and kinship with. Maybe all this was all an effect of the whole ‘pull’ situation – some ancient magical change in his heart and mind. But it was really was working magnificently, and to his own surprise he found himself to be alright with that. If it meant he could forge such a pure bond, he was satisfied.

Still well concealed, and patient, Seriko slowly veered down to peer in the vague direction of his rider. His concealment still lasted until he was about 100-150ft above the ground (weather dependent - in this case only around 100ft), so he stayed just above that with his scales tinted blueish-white. For a few more seconds he cast his eyes to the mountains in the distance, then closed his eyes, reopening them in the direction of the ground. Now where would they be?

The Air Dragon spotted something crumpled at the base of a tree, knowing it was him in an instant. Even before he even got a proper look at the child; long before he even came low enough into view for the young man. The wanted to get down there, fast - the tugging at his heart deemed it so.

He could have arranged any sort of extravagant display – a small tornado, or something more unique like a dramatic parting of the clouds to reveal himself, diving gracefully downwards - but opted not to. And indeed that was the most suitable idea, as upon closer inspection, the child appeared to be crying. Interesting. He soon lowered himself slowly, stepping out of the air into visibility as if on his own staircase made of the sky; his talons dug lightly into the main trunk of the tree as he curved his lengthy body around the top of it. This was an uncomfortable compromise, but a functional one nevertheless. He wouldn’t have to touch the ground yet, it seemed, and the young rider sat just below.

The tree would have struggled to support any other dragon’s weight, but with his second set – the larger set – of wings carrying most of his weight as he gently flapped, the tree only slightly bent against his touch. A slight breeze wafted from his wings, but nothing more than a gentle one - harmless as Seriko could manage while supporting himself. His body also looped once around the top of the trunk like a snake, or more accurately like a ferret in proportion, but with longer back legs tucked in the middle of the branches. Meanwhile his long neck peered down closer to the child’s face, the feathers framing it raised in curiosity.

Seriko’s expression was unmistakingly polite though his golden eyes peered down unnervingly, similar to an owl’s. The eyes of a predator of the sky, though maintaining a peaceful visage. He tilted his head in questioning, staring down at the boy’s green vest, a few tears staining the fabric’s perfectioned sheen. Human customs certainly were odd – their taste in clothing for example. Seriko couldn’t be sure that this little one had in fact chosen in for himself however, considering the fact that he was quickly ruining it with all that crying. He wasn’t exactly sure, but he didn’t think humans tended to enjoy messing up their own things.

So, here you are. Perhaps the young man could hear his voice in his mind, perhaps not. He hadn’t directly initiated a connection, but he was cautious about doing so. Seriko didn’t want to knock his already unstable looking human into insanity with a well-meant prod with a wing that, so he had been told, would probably feel like his brains were being knocked out. Or, he had also been told an air dragon tended to make their human feel as if their head was being stuffed with clouds – the opposite? Whatever it would do, if it were to come with an unfortunate side effect, Seriko hoped he could calm the young man first, before introducing him and bonding. Though, he couldn’t be patient forever. If worst came to worst he'd have to grab the rider-to-be with his teeth and complete the flight that way.

Cryosphere || Male || 117 || New Ice Dragon || M: Nava, Ryker, Isobel, Noelle (Ind)

The dragon’s gaze follows the girl as she moves about the area, away from the two she once was staring at. He watches as she seems to freeze and looks around the area, stopping her “sight seeing” to turn her attention to a young man dressed in fancy garments. He wasn’t sure what for, and he didn’t particularly aim to find out at this very moment. But, by her scowl, he could only guess that it was for less favorable reasons. Her eyes met soon after, but he barely paid notice. He was stuck in his own little world, his mind continuing to spin with doubts and worries. ‘What ifs’ and other possibilities that never seemed to end well. It was like he had been tossed into a sea of anxiety, pounding at the surface as waves crashed into him over and over again.

A sudden nudge to his side dragged the male out of his worrisome thoughts, like a pickaxe to thin ice. It shattered instantly, though some traces of anxiety remained like the bit that would remain floating on the water. He jumps up like a startled cat – back slightly arched and tail now closer to his body than before. His stunning green eyes flitter over to Nava, pupils the size of small dots and vibrating in his sockets. They shone in fear and concern. No amount of hostility or defensiveness could be found, which would have likely been suspect due to his action.

The spindrift painted pair scan of her form, looking for any signs of damage that his scales may have caused. Had he touched her by accident? Did he hurt her? Was he about to lose one of the only friendly acquaintances he had ever managed to meet? (Or were they already friends? He knew not). But there was… nothing. No ice. No growing blue. Just her usual complexion remained. All that had changed was her eyes which had taken on a glow and a layer of what appeared to be crystal, landing on the ground with a thud. He glances down at the crystal before looking back into her eyes. The glow had died away now, leaving her normal gold and pink hues in its wake. How… how did she…?

The scene before him slowly works his way through his mind, connecting dots between the various bits of information he had gathered. Could she…? A stir of hope poked at his heart. One that he only felt once before in his century of a lifetime. His pupils expand like those of a playful feline. Tilting his head to the side, the blue shaded dragon lifts a paw up towards her and lets it hover over before chest – allowing the dragon to take it if she so pleased rather than just touching her. He doubted that just touching her would work, anyway. But if he was right… there was possibly a chance that she could touch him, even in the coldest of environments. Besides other ice dragons, that is.

Cryo flicks his eyes back up towards her face (his head straightening out to its usual position) as she begins to speak once more – his pupils now back to their original and calm size due to the topic at hand. The crystalline female was offering her aid in his “little” plight, giving suggestions as to how he could approach his own rider. The first was the idea of sending that little human – who had been watching them before – to retrieve her. His gaze shoots down to the human in question. He was now tucked behind the wing of Nava, no doubt confused. Possibly even a tad worried. But he was sure that the hazel eyed human would be just fine with her.

So, he was her bonded, he offered the young man a rumble as a greeting.

The second suggestion… interesting. Even if it was less appealing than the first. He was unsure whether that small rider of his would even follow the ice trail he left. It was possible, seeing as the species was naturally curious. After all, who wouldn’t want to investigate a random trail of ice that simply poofed into existence with seemingly no explanation. But, then again, there was no guarantee she would. As much as he could hope for it, it didn’t seem like entirely sound logic to him.

With a slightly frustrated huff (almost like a sigh), the icy reptile angles his head to peer at the girl once again. She had remained staring, it would seem – her blue eyes wide with seemingly curious glint to them. His own mimicked that sentiment. They roamed his hide, before coming back to his eyes. She appeared to be much younger than most of the humans he had skimmed over today.

That tug came again – that insistent little thing, it was – directing him right to her. Finally having had enough of the sensation, Cryosphere rose to his feet {possibly dragging his paw from the she-dragon’s touch in the meantime). Not in a fast manner. That could alarm the poor girl. But not slow either. Just enough speed as to where he was moving without a hint of strain (even if he would have felt none). His paws move before he can even process his own path, stepping slowly forth in the direction of his rider. He pauses only to cast a glance over his shoulder, nodding his head towards the human as an invitation and signal as to what he was doing. Nava and her new found companion could follow if they wished. Honestly, he hoped they did. But he wouldn’t pressure them to.

The multi-blue dragon treads lightly through the crowds in the way of his destination, avoiding them where he could but being gentle to groups that he could not. Each step was as tentative as the last, mindly of the whereabouts of every small being being placed down its heavy weight. They held a sort of methodical air to them, as though he was calculating each and every one in his head before it touched the ground. Rumbles emit from his chest every so often, always towards bundles of people flocked together and unaware due to their own musings. His noises always seemed to do the trick at allowing him distance to pass, seeing as they held no desire to be in the path of a dragon of his stature. Though, he still ensured that all of them were a respectable distance away before walking once more. His wings and tail stayed rather taut, pressed his sides or near-straight behind him and not allotted any amount of leeway to stretch or slide outwards. An extra precaution as to not touch anyone or anything else.

Finally, after a solid few minutes of walking, he was here. Standing… in front of his chosen. He couldn’t help but left a sliver of nervousness prickle at his spine as he studied her. She was small. Smaller than he originally thought – barely reaching his chest in height. If even getting there. Her hair was a soft almost-gold hair, the likes of which he had never laid his eyes upon before (then again, he didn’t meet too many humans in the first place. Other than the ones who had taught him his favorite trick). Her eyes, as noted before, were a shade of blue. Not unlike some of his own scales. Though, what he had not noticed before was a sprinkle of gold within them. Like glistening snowflakes… of a very odd color. His head tilts to the side at this, but straightens out not a second later. A decent amount of scraps lined her exposed skin, mostly small but there. The sign of a survivor.

Releasing the soft coo of singing ice (fit with its usual purr), Cryo bends down to meet her gaze properly. He allows a cool breath of air to wash over her as he simply stared back into her eyes – his own screaming a gentle sense of security. He kept his gaze for a moment or two, allowing the girl to calm down in case he had spooked her in some manner before he acted.

The anxious feeling returns as his head swiftly nudges itself forward, firmly placing the tip of his snout into her stomach. He was mindful of his own strength during this time, ensuring that he did not apply enough to knock her over. Though, a jostle wasn’t unlikely. He could feel the ache of annoyance subsiding at that very moment, replaced with a sea of calm. It was like the waters had finally settled after a glacier had crashed into them, stilling to its usual peaceful blue. But, not all of his anxiety had been replaced. An inkling of it remained, spurring him to all but jerk his head back and lift his neck back to its preferred height. Minty green eyes scan over her form, looking for any sign of major frostbite or scrapes he may have caused. He would never be able to forgive himself if he had accidentally hurt his rider upon meeting her.

Another purr-like song leaves his maw, wordlessly asking if she was alright… and hoping that she would understand him.