The Riders' Rebellion (Scarsmate and DH)

[Dark Huntress]

They won't hurt you, Rhinnëa said firmly. Gweir, Lyrea, and I would never let them. In fact-" she paused and cocked her head "-none of would let them. You're a Rider! We're together, what could they do against two Riders and their dragons?

And a werewolf, Gweir chimed in.

And a werewolf, Rhinnëa agreed, albeit grudgingly. She gave Rivera a smug smile and surprised herself and the hybrid by hugging her new friend. Without glancing at her surprised audience, she turned to meet the multitude of elves coming to greet them. The elegant folk greeted Rhinnëa with her own tongue, they fawned over Nellas and Eldárwen and the dragons, and they tolerated Zaq and Eyulf who eyed them with suspicious looks.

Suddenly, a stern voice echoed through their heads. Rivera, it addressed the elf stiffly. Why do you come where you aren't welcome.

[Scars Mate]

Rivera pushed out her chin. Lyrea possessive lay curled up behind her, her tail flicking back and forth, reminding them who's rider she was.

'I don't see why you have a problem,' Nellas said unexpectedly. All head swivelled towards her as she walked to her sister's side.

You think she stole Nellas. Look at any of their memories, even mine. You will find the truth, Lyrea said.

A mutter went through the crowd.

'You. Look at their memories,' the stern voice called. A male elf, just older than Rivera, came through the crowd.

'Please don't hurt them,' Rivera whispered, but the elf gave her a cold look.

'I owe you no favours, beast.' He said, looking down his nose at her.

Her jaw dropped open.

'You were my friend! We played together! Fought together!' She cried.

'I remember none of that.' He replied stonily.

She stumbled back like she had been hit, and coincidentally fell against Rhinnëa and Zaq, who helped her up. She heard Zaq mutter something, but couldn't be sure what it was.

Meanwhile, the male elf had looked through Nellas and Lyrea's memories, and deemed them to be true.

'Yet Rivera, we still do not know why you left. For selfish reasons, no doubt,' the voice echoed through the crowd.

Rivera stood up, dusted herself off, and looked straight at the voice, her golden eye glowing menacingly.

'Originally, it was to get out of this hellhole, but then I found that people needed me. Needed free riders. The king has them wrapped around his little finger! They hate him, but they can do nothing! And you all sit here, safe as can be, not giving a damn as to what happens!' She yelled.

'You are blinded by hate!' The voice roared.

'Oh? If that was true, do you honestly think any of my travelling companions would have joined me? It is YOU who are blinded by hate- the hate that occurs when someone finds out you are wrong!' she bellowed, but some how Rhinnëa and Nellas were by her side.

[Dark Huntress]

Rhinnëa gave the male elf a dangerous snarl and uttered a low growl. "You cower here in Du Weldenvardeb and pay no heed to the suffering around you! Even the dragons are suffering and yet you hide here and study your books instead of showing the world the might of the elves! Have you forgotten already how we turned the tides five hundred years ago? How we turned the tides of fate? And yet you still stand here in front of me and persecute your own for a deed she is not guilty of!" Her voice was loud and clear, each word an accusation.

The crowd around them grew even more silent as the elf colored, not being able to control his anger. He stepped towards Rivera, only to have Rhinnëa and Zaq block his way. Rhinnëa fiercely looked him in the eye. "Look at you," she spat. "Becoming indignant at the truth. Drötting-Arya would be ashamed to know you are of the same race as her."

The elf raised his hand as if to slap her, but stopped as three growls emanated fom behind. One from Gweir, another from Lyrea, and the last from Eyulf. Be careful what you strike, Gweir warned. For it may cause something to strike you. The elf blanched in response and stepped away hesitantly to once more face Rivera.

[Scars Mate]

Rivera straightened, looking the elf, once a friend, straight in the eye.

'You call me a beast, but have you seen yourself?' He hissed at him, who had the decency to drop her accusing gaze.

Nellas stepped forward, her face stormy. She placed a hand on her sisters arm, to angry to speak.

Lyrea growled, and said something to the elf that cause him to take a step back, with a face etched with fear.

She looke up at all the elves, who's heads dropped whenever he looked at them.

Rivera took a deep breath.

'We come here seeking refuge. For now. You can hardly turn us down.' She spoke clearly and surely, looking at where the stern voice came from before.

[Dark Huntress]

Rhinnëa felt a smug smirk tug on her pale lips as Gweir and Lyrea snaked their giant heads over their Riders' shoulders. It would be most...unwise, Gweir hissed, grey eyes burning at the elf.

Go, the voice responded, the sternness quite gone from it and replaced with quiet correction. Take the Riders to the Hall and let the others sort it out among themselves. With those orders, the voice quieted and the conscience disappeared. The young elven boy's face grew stony as he twisted his head over his chest and turned. Rhinnëa and Rivera shared looks. The elves were a tricky bunch, but surely they would resort to knives in the dark. Would they?

At least I know Gweir will be safe, Rhinnëa comforted herself as she and the others began the ascend to the Riders' chambers, where the dragons were flying to that moment. The elf opened the doors to two of the giant rooms and gave them a cold, polite look before walking away. Rivera seemed to cast a look a look at him and looked to be about to follow him as Zaq, who was in back of the others with her, grabbed her hand.

"Don't tear open wounds," he advised softly before releasing her and joining her sister.

Rhinnëa smiled as she glanced around the large room. These chambers were legendary, the stuff of her childhood dreams before Gweir. She could help but laugh out loud, a cheerful chirp, and sling herself out of the porch where the dragons were supposed to land, making Eyulf try to grab her. Eyulf, however, had nothing to fear for she simply hurtled downwards and was caught by Gweir's forehand.

Caught you, he said smugly, leaning his head over to blink at her.

He landed a few minutes later and shook himself, wings and scales clattering softly. "So....," Rhinnëa began, rolling off the floor where Gweir had released her. "Who's with me and who's with Rivera." Oh, Aiedail, she said to Rivera. That sounded really bad!

[Scars Mate]

'Girls can have one room, and you boys can have the other,' Rivera replied chirping, trying to hide her pain.

What Zaq had said had hurt her- not because of him, but because the word he spoke were so true it wrenched her heart in two.

'Okay then!' Eldárwen smiled, and ran with Nellas into one of the chambers.

Rivera glanced at Rhinnëa.

'Grab a bed before they do. I'm pretty sure there are two.' She told the elf. She got a strange look from Rhinnëa- almost pitying, but kind and friendly.

'I think it'd be best for us to share a bed and for the girls to share one. I could hardly make you share on switch Eldárwen- you barely know her!' Rivera laughed.

Rhinnëa nodded in agreement.

'That being said, I think I'd rather not go in yet. I need some time-' her voice cracked, and her eyes dropped to the floor.

Rhinnëa nodded understandingly, and slipped off.

Thank you, Rivera said to Zaq quietly, for saving me much heartache.

[Dark Huntress]

"I'd rather not share a bed with a wriggling child anyway," Rhinnëa sniffed sarcastically as she slipped into the room where Lyrea had settled [Gweir had given Lyrea first pick to whichever room she preferred, amusing Rhinnëa to no end]. After chasing the girls around the room and casting a spell to keep them out of the bed she wanted, she went out to the porch where Gweir was sunning. As she sat giving Rivera some privacy, she could feel Gweir's conscience redraw from her.

Oh, don't be a pussycat! She teased him. You'll have fun with the boys. Plus I'll be right next door.

She rolled her eyes at him as he sighed heavily and rested his head on his forepaws before she stood and slipped into the bedroom where Nellas and Eldárwen were sitting and giggling in a corner. "Girls," she muttered then jumped as Eyulf opened the door.

"Can I talk to you?" he asked her quietly, sending Nellas and Eldárwen into fits of laughter.

"No." Rhinnëa answered quickly. "No, I'm, uh, busy."

"Right." He stood back as Rivera pushed the door open.

*£*

We wouldn't want you to suffer heartache, now would we? Zaq gave her a smile as leaned forward as if to kiss her before brushing a dark hair away from her chiseled face. He flicked his eyes towards her before turning and entering Eyulf and his quarters. A few minutes later he heard her open the door to the girls' room.

[Scars Mate]

Rivera looked at Zaq's retreating figure, her head a complete and utter mess.

She was sad- desperately sad- because the home and friends she thought (even though she knew they didn't want her) she had were gone.

Happy, because they were safe and had to accept her, and she was also sort of 'home'.

Confused, because she had thought Zaq was going to kiss her, and then walked away after flicking back some of her dark hair. How was she supposed to understand that? So Ma y mixed messages, jumbled into one. Boys and men alike eluded her.

Don't fret, murmured Lyrea. Rivera smiled despite herself, and padded gently into the room.

She bumped into Eyulf on the way out, but couldn't figure out why he was looking slightly disgruntled of why Rhinnëa was acting slightly strangely.

Rhinnëa had cast a spell to stop the girls getting near their bed, though, so that was alright. Nellas alone was fine, but put her near any child her age and she became a devil child. Rivera had used to tease her about being a changeling.

You okay? She asked her sister.

Am I okay? What about you? Nellas replied.

I'm pretty much every emotion under the sun. Rivera told her sister about everything (or rather showed her), who listened carefully but gave her no pity; it wasn't wanted.

Things'll settle down, Nellas said confidently.

I hope, but still, I thought-

He was your friend, I know. Just forget about him. He doesn't matter. Okay?

Yeah, Rivera replied half-heartedly.

[Dark Huntress]

You seem...very confused in your thoughts and feelings, Rhinnëa observed. She sighed as she could feel Rivera's though of 'Especially as to why you and Eyulf are so weird. I don't know, she stated, half-truthfully. I'm weird because he makes me uncomfortable. She stiffened as Gweir chortled on the porch. Well, Lyrea makes you weird! she shot back.

At least I'll admit I like her, he returned, casually licking his toes.

Rhinnëa colored furiously and collapsed on the bed. After a moment she patted it and silently added a spell of secretivity to the already existed one. "Sit down, we'll talk. Well, I might talk, mostly listen though," she added after a moment.

*£*

Eyulf rolled his eyes as he strode into the other room and sat back hard on his bed. Ouch, he mentally told himself. That was painful. He wa referring to both his bitter rejection moments ago and the fact that he hit the back of his head on the wall. The fact that Zaq didn't bother to make a sharp comment rather surprised him, but his surprise vanished as he at up to look at the blonde boy.

Zaq was leaned against the window, watching Gweir and Lyrea sleep on the porch, tails barely intertwined [though the dragons didn't know]. Women? Eyulf asked, wry amusement turning up the edges of his lips. Zaq nodded sharply. Rivera? he guessed again, slightly hoping he was correct. Zaq shrugged and started for the door.

"I'm going to check on my sister," he voiced aloud.

[Scars Mate]

Rivera settled on the bed next to Rhinnëa, but cast her eyes upwards.

Slowly, but surely, she told Rhinnëa everything that was bothering her. Not once was she looked at with pity, but instead the look only a friend could muster.

Rhinnëa was able to offer comfort and listen to Rivera.

When she got to the part about Zaq, however, she couldn't help but giggle at how ridiculous it sounded. A ghost of a smile appeared on Rhinnëa lips, but Rivera could sense the real amusement beneath it.

'So what so you reckon it means? I know your not exactly in tune with humans and the way they act, but a second opinion is always welcomed!' Rivera said sarcastically. Just as Rhinnëa opened her mouth to reply, there came a knock at the door.

'Can I come in?' Zaq asked.