by Scars Mate » October 25th, 2014, 8:33 pm
Rivera woke early in the morning, the sun's dawn rays only just filtering through the window.
Morning, she whispered to Lyrea.
Hmm, her dragon replied, causing a small smile to tug at the corner of Rivera's mouth. Of course she was tired.
Yanking on her faithful black boots, leather pants and a modest red tunic, Rivera briefly ran over her plan. Avoiding Zaq wasn't required, but it did make it easier. She didn't need any distractions.
Padding out of the house with cat-like grace, Rivera set off on the short trek to the village, relishing the cool air against her bare skin, and the heavy silence that surrounded her. She could have easily stayed where she was, wrapped in blissful peace after her hectic few days, but steeled herself. She was intending to befriend the villagers, and that was hardly going to be easy.
As the village came into view, her eyes flitted over it. It was quaint, and home like, but to a well-trained eye it was clearly prepared for war. Hidden weapons littered the city, tucked under porches and in barns. They knew of their tyrannical leader. The roads were crooked and narrow, but homely. Nothing like the elven places Rivera was so used to.
A small child ran out in front of her, stopping dead still the moment his eyes met hers. Perfect.
"Hey," she said softly, kneeling down. She held a hand out. "I'm Rivera." The boy eyed her tentatively, before stepping forward to grab her hand. He couldn't have been more than four or five. Oh, the sweet innocence of youth, she thought, some how un ironically.
"I'm Jasi," he said, smiling broadly, showing a missing tooth.
"Nice to meet you," Rivera, smiling back. She glanced around, before saying, "Would you like to meet a dragon?"
Jasi's eyes lit up, and he nodded his head so exuberantly Rivera actually thought it would fall off.
"Come with me," she said, gesturing to her. "Have you any friends who are up?"
A few minuted later, Rivera was circled by about two dozen excited children, ages ranging from about three to fourteen. She was sure her plan would work; leading the children to neutral ground, right between their little cottage and the bulk of the village, she called Lyrea.
Let's show them what we're actually like.