The Riders' Rebellion (Scarsmate and DH)

[Dark Huntress]

Rhinnëa sighed as she crouched forward in her seat in an attempt to escape Zaq who had fallen asleep and leaned against her in the process. His arms had fallen limply over her thighs and he was breathing softly against her toned back. She wished she could talk to Gweir, but he was engaged in conversation with Lyrea and enjoying it so much she didn't want to interrupt. Eyulf, too, had fallen alseep, though she didnt wish to speak to him anyway, she was still mad at him.

Deciding to ignore her surroundings, namely Zaq cuddled up against her, she submerged herself in her conscience, hoping to clear away a few things that had been eating at her for awhile. She struggled with her dilemma with Eyulf, eventually coming to the conclusion he'd wounded her pride and she'd felt like he'd lied when in reality he'd only wanted to keep his business to himself. That cleared and settled she pushed it away into rhe recesses of her strange mind. Next she focused on her previous acquaintances: Rivera, Lyrea, and Nellas. She rather liked them and hoped they would become good friends. She also hoped that Gweir wouldn't be so shy about his feelings.

She couldn't bring herself to focus on the last thing that was plaguing and nagging her. She wasn't surprised as she hadn't been able to for months now. Sighing she focused on more petty things like sorting her emotions and feelings and deciding whether to smother tem or let them flourish. A little later, Eyulf's conscience touched hers.

What do you want? she asked, quickly hiding what she'd been examining.

Couldn't tell if you were asleep or not. I also didn't want to wake Zaq up.

Yes, but what do you want?

He seemed a little ambivalent towards what to say and eventually replied 'Nothing' and left her alone. She was somewhat glad, bu a little annoyed he'd not finished his thought. I hate it when they do that! she thought. I hate humans.

[Scars Mate]

Rivera awoke due to very loud whisperings in her ear.

'Stinky!'

'Stupid!'

'Horse dung!'

'Dragon dung!' The two young girls burst into laughter. 'Come on! It's your turn!'

'Freak!'

'That's rubbish!'

'It's the best I could think of!'

'Fine! Shagalaga!'

'What the hell are you two doing?' Yelled Rivera. They had been prodding her, and after carefully assessing the situation, Rivera had come to the conclusion they had been having a contest to see who could call her the worst/silliest name without her waking up. Her sister had dragged up the last one, Shagalaga, as a name Nellas had called her when they were children, ideally to irritate her.

Why don't you tell me what they were doing? Rivera demanded to Lyrea.

You seemed happily asleep. Who am I to wake you? Self consciously, Rivera glanced at Gweir, only to see no one had heard the girls.

'I'll get you back for that!' She told Nellas.

We should stop off at that lame to replenish our water supplies, Lyrea boomed to everyone, on Gweir as well.

That's a good idea. And you and Gweir can drink. Talking of Gweir, what's going on between you to? Rivera asked, grinning.

[Dark Huntress]

Gweir angled towards the ground, keeping his cloud-grey eyes peeled for water or vegetation. What a strange expression: 'keep your eyes peeled', he thought. Leave it to a strange creature like the two-legged-round-eared race to fabricate such an odd figure of speech! He sniffed a little and gradually began his descent as he sighted the betraying glint of light reflecting off of and refracting in to water. He heaved a giant sigh to match his enormous tiredness and continued on his way.

Rhinnëa cracked her eyes open and looked around, a little confused as she'd not realized she'd fallen asleep. She frowned as she noticed Zaq, who'd apparently awaken whil she was slumbered, hide a soft laugh. "What?" she asked, keeping her emerald orbs trained on him.

"Nothing-"

"That's not true!" she snapped.

"Fine, but you aren't going to like it," he returned her stare as she continued to look expectantly upon him. "You make the most adorable little snoring noise." Rhinnëa instantly tilted her pointed ears back a little in annoyance and gave him an offended look.

"I do not snore!" she proclaimed indignantly.

"Do too."

"Do not."

"Do-," she was cut off by Gweir abruptly landing and shaking himself, sending dancing white reflections twirling across the ground. Rhinnëa let out a little frustrated noise and primly a lot from Gweir's back, sending both boys and Gweir into fits of laughter. Her pride stung a bit and she exhaled deeply, holding back tears. It'd been a long day and she could bear to have Gweir laugh at her, not seriously and with those...things.

"Do too," Zaq said, grinning a little.

Rhinnëa turned and gave him a rather scarily calm look. "Perhaps I do," she said dryly,"but your snoring is not adorable. It sounds rather akin to a drunk dwarf's breathing." She cocked her head and stalked off angrily as Eyulf and Gweir once again laughed. Though, this time she found more amusement in it as they were laughing at Zaq.

[Scars Mate]

Rivera's eyes shone. Her gold eye glowed, actually, but her blue eye reflected the water of the lake. She gently placed her hand on the top of the water and closed her eyes.

'Not a single fish,' she announced. 'They're all dead. Something nasty's come this way, and we've only just missed it.'

'Is the water safe to drink?' Nellas asked.

'Only one way to find out!' Replied Rivera, and grabbed some water and slurped it up.

'No! No!' Yelled Nellas, grabbing her hand and shaking it, for Rivera's eyes had rolled back into her head, and she had fallen to her knees. All of a sudden, she burst out laughing.

'Gotcha!' She called triumphantly.

'That WAS NOT funny!' Nellas replied indignantly.

'Well, you shouldn't have called me names!'

'We were bored!'

'Not an excuse. Pretty good at acting, aren't I?'

'Oh, yes, terribly good!' Nellas hissed sarcastically.

'Have a drink, and calm down already.' With that, she took another gulp of water, and Lyrea jointed her, along with the others.

[Dark Huntress]

Zaq laughed a little at the sisters' drama. "You two are a silly bunch, aren't you?" He glanced backed towards Eldárwen,"Sounds about like our type of people, huh, El?" He gave his little sister a small smile, feeling a burst of elation go through him as he marked Eldárwen and Nellas joking and laughing freely, as they'd been doing steadily since they met earlier that day. He was jolted out of his happy mood by Rhinnëa's voice.

"I'm not anyone's type of 'person'," she remarked coolly.

"Oh, my mistake, out type of stoic, annoying elf."

Rhinnëa gave him a cold look and knelt by Rivera. "Dead yet?" She smiled and took a handful of water in her pale palms. She sipped from the water then released it back into the pond. She squealed and toppled over, narrowly avoiding Rivera and falling into the lake with a loud splash as Zaq let the cold water in his hands dribble down the back of her shirt. She dragged herself out of the lake, eyes narrowed dangerously into slits, giving her a catty look. With an irritated flick of her pointed ears, she growled, a low and catlike sound.

"I half-expected you to hiss," Zaq chuckled.

"Oh, leave her alone," Eyulf said, wrapping a blanket from a pack around Rhinnëa's shivering figure. She gave him an appreciative look and pulled it tighter, hoping its rather course folds would warm and dry her. She shuddered again and gave Zaq a cold glare as the water had been much colder than she'd thought.

"Sorry." Zaq shrugged,"I didn't know it was that cold." He muttered quietly to himself,"And naturally your wolfboy-in-leather-whatever-that-is would be there." He rolled his eyes a little.

Rhinnëa glared at him again. "Threyja," she grumbled and felt relieved as the moisture in her hair and clothing dripped to the ground, wetting the dirt around her. "I can hear you, you little-," she sighed and cut herself off before handing Eyulf his blanket back. She roughly knocked Zaq's shoulder as she passed him. "At least I make convenient friends and not dangerous enemies," she hissed.

"What now," she asked Rivera, hoping to clear all awkward feelings up. I dislike this trip already, she didn't bother to hide her thoughts.

[Scars Mate]

'Well,' she said thoughtfully, 'I'm going to do this.' She splashed her face with water, and laughed. 'That feels nice!' She then proceeded to splash her arms, feet and neck. Nellas soon joined her.

'Ahhh...' She sighed.

'I'm going to change my clothes. I'll be in that shrub over there if you need me!' Rivera announced, and then whirled around to the boys. 'And no peeking!' She said sarcastically. She loped off with a small bundle of clothes under her arm.

'Don't worry about her,' Nellas said to Rhinnëa, eyeing her expression, 'she just hates being in clothes with blood on. Especially hers.' She chuckled, and turned to Eldárwen.

'So what magic can you do?' She asked.

'Lots! Watch!' With a flick of her wrist, a small patch of ground set alight.

'But you didn't say anything!' Nellas cried, amazed.

'Its because of the dragon on my back!' Eldárwen tuned and lifted her shirt slightly, and the tail of a dragon tattoo was visible. At that moment, Rivera appeared, wearing black leggings, tunic and jacket, which appeared to be made of leather.

'I think we ought to stay here for a bit. An hour, at least. Let the dragons rest, because if we're going to be flying again for a long period of time, they're going to need it.' Rivera said.

[Dark Huntress]

Rhinnëa looked down at her own stained clothing. Her pale tan leggings and high-collared, long-sleeved shirt weren't her favorites. In addition, they stained terribly, as was evident by the water marks and blood spots. "That sounds like a good idea," she commented before pushing herself to her feet and slinging a small pack across her shoulder. "I'll be back in a minute." She didn't bother to say where she was going and strode off, leaving Zaq grinning like a fool and Eyulf looking extremely embarrassed.

After a moment's thought she cast a spell to fog the air around her. She could tell Rivera had been joking [and probably didn't much care if the boys saw her], but Rhinnëa took things like this more seriously and wasn't in the mood to be peeked at, though she figured the other girls wouldn't let them. Still, no chances. I'd hate to have to kil them, she thought unaffectedly.

She quickly switched her annoying, constrained shirt for a dark grey one with a smooth, soft surface that was magically endowed to resist stain, tear, or wear. The shirt fastened around the neck with a silver cuff and cut low down the sides into the back, her flawless skin showing until her lower back. She pulled on her breaches of similar material. She shook out her black boots and put them back on then untied her hair and shook it out, running her elegant fingers through its silky strands.

Rhinnëa ended her spell and slid back into the clearing, gracefully sitting down on Gweir's foreleg and scratching his chin. He turned his massive silver head to influence where she was scratching and purred loudly, reminding her immensely of a giant cat. She sighed, feeling very content for the first time that day. She shifted a little before fanning her starlit hair across her shoulder, eliciting strange looks from both Zaq and Eyulf. "What?" she asked, tucking her knees against her chest.

You're the biggest flirt I've ever seen, Zaq reproached, though your hard-to-get routine is very good.

Rhinnëa rolled her eyes. Besides yourself you mean? she countered angrily. What's wrong with you? she asked Eyulf.

Nothing, Eyulf replied, dark hair stalking over his handsome face.

Rhinnëa glared at both of them. Men! How impossible a creature! she mentally ranted. So- she was cut off by Rivera's mind's gentle touch.

[Scars Mate]

Don't be so quick to judge them. They mean no harm, Rivera said gently. She hadn't completely satisfied Rhinnëa, but she withdrew her consciousness anyway.

You seem distant, remarked Lyrea.

I'm just... On the edge. And slightly taken back by the large group we're surrounded by. Lyre laughed, her rumbling echoing across the land. River loped over and settled in between her forelegs, and the large dragon let her head loll over to sit next to her.

You really ought to tell Rhinnëa why Eyulf is acting in such a way, she commented.

It's not my place to say, replied Rivera. It's quite obvious, really, but I suppose being an elf does make it difficult to understand humans. She smiled at the thought.

I'm going to sleep for now. Tell me if I am required. With that, the mountainous black dragon closed her eyes and fell asleep within minutes.

[Dark Huntress]

Forgive me, but I'm not accustomed to men of such vulgarity, Rhinnëa sniffed, elicting a chortle from Gweir. She cast an irritated look at him over her bare shoulder, one he ignored. Instead of answering or defending himself the large dragon merely rested his giant head on the ground and made the ground vibrate by purring.

Rhinnëa shook her head. Dragons! They're hopeless! She discovered she hadn't hidden her thoughts when Lyrea raised her head and gave her an offended look, the other girls giggled, as did Zaq, and Eyulf smiled behind his shaggy black bangs, sharp canines showing.

Two-legs! They are so jealous! Gweir countered smilingly, cracking an eyelid to give Rhinnëa a look.

She huffed and leaned back against his shoulder, drawing her knees up to her narrow chest. Awkward, she thought as everything fell to silence.

[Scars Mate]

Rivera drew a small leather ball from her pocket. She got up tossed it onto the ground, where it bounced straight back. She smiled slightly, and threw it to her sister, who caught it with ease.

'C'mon, you can do better than that!' Nellas said chuckling.

'I want to join in!' Called Eldárwen.

'That's fine with me!' Grinned Rivera. So they played catch for the best part of half an hour, never missing once.

'This is getting dull.' Moaned Nellas.

You find everything dull, noted Lyrea, which set Rivera off laughing for quite a while. The corners of her eyes crinkled, and her teeth were on show. Her actual laugh was loud and cheerful, with a hint if mischief.

'Its not that funny,' grumbled Nellas.

'It is!' Laughed Eldárwen.