Aeloria | F | Light | Resistance Member | Unbonded | M: Nicodemus, Bonded Pairs, Dragons

The echoes of her talons clacking against the cavern floor melded with the murmurs of voices resonating through the vast, dimly lit space. Aeloria moved with cautious grace, her delicate wings tucked tightly against her sides, the iridescent scales glimmering softly in the subdued light. The cavern, with its high ceilings and twisting rock formations, felt both familiar and foreign—a sanctuary for her kind but a reminder of the tumultuous times they were enduring.

As she settled in among the crowd, finding a quiet spot toward the back of the gathering area, Aeloria took a moment to observe her fellow dragons and their riders. She had always admired the camaraderie that radiated from the bonded pairs, their movements so in sync and their connections palpable. The vibrant colors of their scales mingled with the varied hues of the riders’ attire, creating a tapestry of resilience and hope. Yet, as she watched them, a wave of longing washed over her.

Her heart sank at the thought of her own past, the bond she had once shared with her rider. The memories were bittersweet, a mixture of joy and profound loss. She had loved fiercely, and when that bond was severed, it left scars deeper than any physical wound. The pain of losing her rider had etched itself into her very being, leaving her wary of forging another deep connection.

The voice of Nicodemus, the Resistance leader, cut through her reverie, drawing her focus. He stood on a raised platform, silhouetted against the glowing fungi that adorned the cavern walls. As he spoke about the recent mission that had not gone as planned, Aeloria felt a heaviness settle over the gathering. His words resonated deeply within her, each recounting of lost riders pulling at the threads of her heart.

With every name he spoke, Aeloria felt a sharp pang of empathy. She could only imagine the pain of loss that weighed upon those who remained. Her own emotional scars made it difficult for her to engage with the idea of bonding again, despite understanding the necessity of new partnerships for the Resistance. The thought of opening herself up to the possibility of loss again was terrifying, and it left her feeling distant, like a shadow amidst the vibrant life surrounding her.

As she listened, Aeloria’s thoughts drifted, swirling in a tempest of hope and fear. The mention of unclaimed members seeking bonds sparked a flicker of interest within her, but it was quickly extinguished by doubt. Could she endure that heartbreak again? The thought of standing before a potential rider, allowing herself to be vulnerable, felt insurmountable.

Her wings twitched with restless energy, reflecting the turmoil within her heart. She longed to be part of something greater, to contribute to the fight they were waging, yet the barriers she had built around herself felt impenetrable.

Amid her self-reflection, Aeloria sensed the collective hope of her kin. The determination that flickered in the eyes of those around her was infectious, even as her heart remained heavy. She was reminded that the fight they faced required strength, unity, and the willingness to take risks for the sake of the Resistance.

As Nicodemus finished his address, Aeloria felt a shift within her. She could remain in the background, cloaked in her uncertainty, or she could take a step forward, confronting her fears. Today wasn’t just about others; it was about her journey too. This moment called for introspection, a choice that could lead to growth.

With a deep breath, Aeloria steeled herself, the determination igniting within her once more. She might not be ready to bond today, but perhaps, by being present and allowing herself to be part of this community, she could find a way to heal.

Aeloria glanced at her fellow dragons, feeling a sense of belonging stir deep within her. Though she was still unbonded, she was not alone. And in that realization, she found a flicker of hope that perhaps, one day, she could open her heart again. For now, she would sit among them, listen, and continue to seek her place within the Resistance.

Akuryō Yamishinigami
Dark Dragon | Male | Unbonded | Mentions : The Superiors [ind] , Other Dragons [ind.] , Valencia

The young male had arrived before most ; he had made it a point to do so, it was so he could observe everyone from a distance. He found a spot upon a ledge, high and away from most prying eyes. With his darkly colored scales he mostly blended in with the shadows, only his pale face would be visible and his molten colored eyes. He thrived in shadowy environments - and this was a good way to keep his mood satisfactory, after being awoken from his usually time of rest. He was a nocturnal creature, and right now he'd rather be sleeping than enduring this boring meeting. And that's when he noticed the members of this resistance gathering ; both humans and dragons alike. He could feel the feathers on his face flare out slightly at the sight, he wasn't that good with interactions with either species - though he tolerated his own more than the fleshy creatures known as humans. It wasn't like he didn't want to trust them ; there could be advantages to it, but he was wary of those shifty creatures and thought it to do better and stick to his own brethren. He slid himself more into his shadow, keeping himself hidden, he didn't want his presence to be discovered just quite yet.

His eyes bore down on the humans ; the little squishy beings, quite delicate in form and mind. Much easier to kill than a dragon, and much more delicate to toy with - such fragile things they were . He didn't know whether to be proud that they had put aside their grievances to make a weapon to hurt a dragon or to bear more hatred and suspicion towards them, either way - they weren't in his good graces currently. Yet, he knew how to play civil and will do so unless this group gives him a reason not to do so. Humans were greedy creatures, and they wouldn't stop at anything to achieve their goals - no matter who it hurt or how many were sacrificed. How many more of his dragon brethren would have to fall before they were satisfied ? How many would be hunted and lose their lives at the hands of these creatures, who at times couldn't even come together to make a decision even if it saved them. It was frustrating ; humans were shifty, and he didn't like the idea of bonding with one. He could see the imbalance at times, how there were some who were worthy of companionship of a dragon, and then those who didn't care about the sacred bond and how it was supposed to be a bond of mutual trust between the two. Some were even foolish to try and lord over their dragons , were humans so foolish to think dragons were easily tamed . Well he, for one, was not easily impressed - nor would he be satisfied with just any human as his Bonded. He wouldn't choose or have any wet-nosed or sniveling creature upon his back, that would be most shameful. He gave a huff of annoyance at the thought. His thoughts quieting down as Nicodemus began to speak ; now that was a human he could somewhat respect. A man who commanded a room with authority ; he held himself proudly, and he was a good leader . He could command attention through respect and fear if needed ; and he also admired his partner, Kikimora . She was his equal in everything, and she was a fierce creature - one who didn't back down easily and he could respect such determination and grit. He admired his leaders and that was something he wouldn't say out loud but it was true.

He gave a hiss of his own , at the mentioning the injures sustained by Kikimora . He would love to get his talons on the person who did such a thing to her ; why he was quite positive they wouldn't have lasted a minute with him before running away. His talons tapping impatiently and slightly digging into the ledge as he thought of the things he'd to the fiend. He was relieved to hear that there were eggs lain, and that they would be protected . But he wasn't so sure that the mother should allow the humans around the brood so early ; either way, he would make sure none of the humans tried anything with the little ones, if they did - they'd be terribly sorry . He was growing bored of this meeting now, it was just updates about things but what caught his interest was the mentioning of some humans that would be thought to be good riders ; his face soured at the thought. His last rider left a sour taste in his mouth , Titus , a bastard of a man who viewed him more as a servant than a companion . He didn't know how the male got away with what he did, but he wasn't sorry that he died . He watched as some of the humans named, did indeed come forward and some of the dragons had began to inspect them . He certainly wasn't going to be doing up their in a hurry - he didn't exactly want to be first in line to chose, dragons were temperamental and territorial , so things could get nasty and he wasn't quite in the mood for a fight at the moment . He closed his eyes, and began to drift , but oddly enough he felt someone was watching him. And opening his eyes, he noticed a young woman , with hazel eyes staring at him. Tilting his head like that of an owl, he started back at her - quite amused , wondering how she saw him , aside from his face ( that was most likely the reason ) she had an interesting scar on her face. There was a quiet strength about her, and also a burning rage within her eyes that seemed to promise vengeance.

Interesting. Maybe this wouldn't be so boring after all.

He silently made his descent from his perch, his footsteps being silent as he slunk his way through the crowd. Giving a slight growl and occasional snap of his fangs at those that were in the way and not moving. And he made eye contact with the girl, staring directly into her soul, not even blinking his eyes at her . He didn't even speak to her, just tilting his head, watching her . Before opening his mouth, and revealing his retractable fangs - letting out a rattling hiss, before it turned into an almost rumbling churr and the the soft sound of what could be related to a fire being extinguished. He ran a tongue over his fangs, inky black liquid coming from them as he did so. He quietly observed her reaction , coming closer to her - out of curiosity. Would she falter under his little display ? If so, he would be a bit disappointed, she seemed more interesting than these other humans . Maybe she would humor him and prove him wrong. She sure didn't appear to be a weakling of any sort ; she seemed strong .

Could she possibly be a solid option for his rider .

Ciaran

Human | Female | Unbonded | Mentions: NPCs (dir.)

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

A cloaked figure was making its way through a small village, using the shadows to disclose their figure and avoiding contact with the villagers here unless needed. Eyes of intense copper illuminate in the dark, the upper half of their face casted by shadows. Ciaran was making her way to the meeting, having left a village to get food for the others with what money she had left. In her arms was a crate of supplies - nothing too impressive. A couple loafs of bread, a small bit of fruit, and a small thing of dried venison. Her eyes shifted around, making sure no one was following her as she made her way back. Scanning the shadows for anything or anyone that is deemed suspicious. Her stomach grumbled, interrupting her busy thoughts and she stopped in her tracks. Ciaran placed the crate on a table, reaching inside to snatch a loaf of bread for herself.

Ciaran leaned against the wall beside the crate, taking tender bites of the stale bread. The dry, bland flavor hitting her taste buds, reminding of the cold hard reality she now lives in. It was strange, as the bread absorbed the flavors of the other food in the crate. Apples, venison, and of course, the crumbly delicacy of the bread itself. Such weird flavors clashing together to make a god awful masterpiece. Ciaran watched the busy main streets through the cracks of the alley passageways, observing the townsfolk as they wandered around to their usual task. With her eyes focused elsewhere, Ciaran was unaware of two figures making her way towards her, until she felt a quick tap on her shoulders. With a jump, Ciaran dropped her bread that was almost gone, facing whoever touched her.

She didn't see anyone else at first, but when her eyes shifted downwards, she noticed two village girls around her age gazing back at her. Blushes on their tanned faces, their hairs neatly brushed compared to her bedhead, and they were wearing rather comfortable clothes that Ciaran secretly envied. Ciaran doesn't know what to say at the moment, so she awkwardly shifts on her feet, averting her gaze to avoid direct eye contact. "Oh, a shy one? How cute," the feathery voice of the redhead entered her ears, with the bit of tease causing a small flush to form on Ciaran's pale cheeks. The friend that accompanied the redhead nudged her friend in the side lightly with her elbow, giving her a playful scolding look. "Don't scare her away, now, they're close to tripping over themselves already," the brunette teased. The two girls giggled in unison - their laughter unheard through the buzz of the village.

"You're a rather handsome one. Aren't you, stranger?" The redhead, despite her friends light warning, teased Ciaran once more. Stepping closer to the cloaked figure with her hands folded behind her back and a flirty grin on her face. The young maiden radiated confidence that Ciaran envied, but it was also smothering quite a bit. Ciaran cleared her throat, dropping an octave to her voice to disguise her real one, sounding a tad bit on the masculine side if a man were to speak in a higher pitched tone. "How do you know I'm attractive if you hadn't seen my face?" She asked, curious about their answer as her arms crossed below her chest. The brunette grabs one of her sidelocks that wasn't hidden by her hood, twisting the dark strand between her fingernails. The action alone caused Ciaran to freeze in place, the pupils in her eyes dilating in surprise by the sudden touch from the stranger. She observed as her hair was being toyed with - like a kitten playing with a piece of string.

The brunette smiled, bringing her hair to her lips to leave a faint kiss, which stunned Ciaran much more to the point her ancestors could sense her astonishment from the heavens. "Oh, we're very good at reading people, and you, my dear, are charming." The redhead continued her friend's sentence with a cheeky smile, poking Ciaran on her toned bicep, causing the taller woman to tense her muscles, "Even if they don't think they are." Her smirk grew as her finger felt the firmness hidden underneath Ciaran's clothes, tilting her head to try to see Ciaran’s full face that was masked by the hood and shadows. “You feel nice,” the redhead purred and the brunette added with a sly smile, “and smell nice too.” They moved closer together, pressing themselves against Ciaran’s taller, muscular figure. Their combined perfumes make Ciaran’s head spin in a not very good way - their united smells making her head pound. The brunette noticed the stale half-eaten bread on the floor, while the redheaded noticed the clothes she’s wearing. All tattered up and degrading steadily.

“Oh, dear. We can’t have a precious thing such as yourself eating scraps and looking like that. You deserve the best,” the redhead booped Ciaran on the nose, making Ciaran flinch then pull her head back to avoid further contact with her face. The brunette was nosey, taking a peek inside the crate, noticing the food inside and the poor state they were in. A pout formed on her face, then a huff left her lips as she stubbornly crossed her arms over her chest. “Not good at all.” She agrees with her redheaded friend, nodding her head then promptly takes Ciaran’s wrist. “You have the right to taste the best quality substances and not pig scraps. You need something delicious!” “Like me,” the redhead added with a wink. Ciaran, not getting that the girls were flirting with her, was extremely concerned by the proposition. Ciaran rubbed the back of her head, for one, to make sure the hood was on still, and two, an anxious habit she does whenever she’s in a situation she deems as stressful. “I…appreciate the offer…but…I’m not a cannibal. I find eating humans, well, disgusting.” She visibly cringed, ensuring she was using her disguised voice. “Don't give up though - I’m certain you’ll taste good for someone else.”

The two girls looked at each for a bried second before switching their gaze back to Ciaran. "Clueless about the arts of flirting, eh?" "Simply adorable." They pulled Ciaran along, dragging her towards the marketplace so they can buy her a few things.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Mentions: The Bonded/Unbonded Riders (ind.), and Keo (ind./dir.)

Ciaran returned to the hideout where the others were taking sanction in, holding a crate filled with food that wasn't close to disintegrating away. The taste of the stale bread, however, lingered on her tongue a lot longer than she wanted. She arrived just in time to hear some of Nico’s speech - discussing the loss they suffered after a failed mission. Ciaran was quiet, adjusting the new clothes on her body, not used to having clothes that fitted so well on her body. Those girls really did spoil her. A new black gambeson, black canvas trousers, knee-high leather boots of black. Not to mention her cloak recently washed and patched up. Looking good - really good. As for what the ladies asked in return…it was a kiss. Yes. Yes. They wanted a kiss from the “handsome stranger”, which is a bit weird, not going to lie. Ciaran can’t judge them too harshly; as they’re probably inspired off whatever fantasy romance books they’ve been reading. The good part is that she didn’t kiss them on the lips, as she was a bit disturbed on kissing strangers on the lips, so she gave their knuckles a smooch like a dashing knight would do.

Ciaran placed the crate of fresh food down on the table, and eagerly grabbed a loaf of fresh bread. Chowing down on the food like there was no tomorrow. Her mouth desiring the taste of good quality substance than the skin of another human being, or dragon, for that matter. As she ate, she quietly listened to Nico’s speech out of respect and to silently mourn their losses too. Ciaran examined the other riders and the dragons to gauge their reactions; observing how focused some of them were on Nico’s emotional speech. However, she felt a smoldering glare her way, making her side-eye in that direction. Keo. In the flesh. Staring daggers at her, for whatever reason. Ciaran blinked in confusion, her eyes shifting to different spots in the room before focusing on her fellow unbonded rider again. She tilted her head, a small frown formulating on her face that read ‘something wrong?’ as she kept eye contact with Keo for a few seconds before turning her gaze back to Nico. Ciaran doesn’t know why Keo was upset, yet there’s a good enough reason as to why, as on her neck was the presence of dark red lipstick. The mark settled right over the beauty spot on her neck. A very intimate place that only couples do to show romantic intentions…or sexual ones.

To add the stench of perfume that clung onto her, with her nose gone scent deaf as it had quickly adjusted to the fragrance of the two ladies who smothered her this morning. Ciaran was too focused on trying to be polite (albiet highly awkward) during the interaction to not seem rude, which worked in her favor, as she managed to snagged free food and fresh new clothes.

Maximillian Cantacuzene
Unbonded Rider | Male | Mentions : Other Unbonded Riders (ind) , The Leaders (ind.) & Aeloria

Max wasn't sure what he was getting himself into when he signed himself up for the resistance. He was definitely sure of the cause they were fighting for ; though he was rather skilled in combat , he didn't have a mount like most did. And he secretly envied those with dragons, he hoped that one day he would have the privilege of flying aside his fellow resistance members . However, he was more of a versatile member within the resistance, he worked with the healers to help injured members and was learning about how to help hurt dragons as well. It was fascinating ; learning how to care for an entirely different species ! He also got to help with training , and he appreciated it - it helped him from keeping his skills rusty and made sure his skills were sharp and ready on the chance he was called for assistance. He was content with where he was within the group, yet he wished that he could experience what the Riders did. It looked like such a precious and intriguing bond they shared, and he secretly wanted to know how it felt to fly high in the sky - it must be an experience one couldn't even begin to describe or imagine. Currently he was going over the stock in regards to medical supplies , they were alright for now, but they definitely would need to make a run soon if they were going to keep up with injures . And it seemed injuries were becoming more common, and he didn't like this at all. He probably should start focusing on finding some medicinal herbs in case they didn't have any medicine. But he'd cross that bridge when he came to it. Right now, he had a meeting to get too, and so he made sure to do one last check before leaving. Giving a soft hum he found himself following the crowd to the location where the meeting was being held.

He was relieved that the Leaders had come back ; but was worried at their injures, he'd make sure to look them over later . His face grew somber at the mention of the loss of members. It was becoming a more common thing, and he wasn't happy about that - he could only imagine the pain of the family members when they hear that their loved one was gone . He also hoped that their fallen members were at least were resting easy now ; dying for a cause they believed in . However the mood changed at the mention of dragons eggs being lain. He was excited for the dragon eggs, he had never seen a baby dragon nor cared for one - so this would be a wonderful learning experience for him to engage in . Not to mention, someone would be fortunate enough to forge a bond with them and they were the future of the Resistance . He could only swear in his heart to make sure nothing happened to the little creatures , after all they were rather important.

He was sure the meeting was over, but then Nicodemus started talking about how low the pairings were. And Max had to hold his breath as his name was called for one of those to be considered as a Rider. He felt his heart beat faster at the thought, and he tentatively made a step forwards as he was called and stood on the platform where the others who had been called were standing . He was approached first by one of the dragons, he had seen it before - it was a pale colored dragon, the light violet and navy hues catching his eyes. He blinked as it came closer to him, not exactly afraid or scared but more so wary of it. After all, he knew some dragons weren't exactly happy with the proposition. But it seems the dragon didn't want to be chosen by him, as it decided to walk away. And Max had to stop himself from huffing in offense, was he really that undesirable ? But the next dragon that caught his eye was quite the sight - her luminous scales were a dazzling display, she was quite literally the epitome of light . She was a serene and graceful creature ; and not to mention a rare dragon as well, there weren't many of her species out there - or at least, not found by humans . He could only wonder who would be selected to be her rider. And then he noticed another dragon, a pale faced one, one with scales that glittered and reminded one of an endless night. He wasn't sure what species he was, but he had to guess Dark, as he seemed to be the opposite of the Light Dragon . And it seemed the male was quite focused on a girl, and had already made his choice. Well that was one less dragon to be picked from. He also didn't envy her at the dragon's rather strong display, but she didn't seem shaken and he had to admire her strength.

He let his eyes wonder a bit ; noting how Nicodemus was confidently standing next his dragon and carefully watching everything . He couldn't help but admire the older man, he was quite a leader and his dragon wasn't one to be messed with ; she was fierce as she was beautiful. He looked towards Callisto and his mount, a look of surprise at the uninjured pair, and he gave a soft hum to himself . That's when he noticed Ian making his way in, walking in that lazy manner of his with a stupid grin on his face - one full of warmth and teasing . Yet it was directed at his dragon, the coral colored female snorting water in his face at whatever he had said. Earning a stifled laugh from Max, he chose to clear his throat and ignore his own thoughts. He needed to focus on possibly bonding with a dragon. The unbonded dragons were a rather impressive bunch, and he hoped that he could impress one enough to be chosen as its rider .