The Riders' Rebellion (Scarsmate and DH)

[Dark Huntress]

"They are proud," Rhinnëa chimed in slowly. "They dislike anyone they believe cannot bebtrusted, and they have grown so elegant in the past thousand or more years that you would think they were massaging your back when they are actually stabbing in." Her voice grew a little sad and distant, "I am of a race that has forsaken their greatness for coldness and contempt. Sometimes I am ashamed."

Her cheeks heated as Eyulf gently laid a hand on her back. "However, Lyrea does have good points. We are fair, I suppose," she smirked grimly to herself, remembering how easily Ignasia had slid through the Shade's heart. A life for a village's lives.

Alright? Gweir asked gently. She nodded quickly and rubbed the tear that started to slide down her cheek without her permission away.

[Scars Mate]

Rivera gave her friend a worried look, before slumping down again in her seat. Her back ached, her thighs ached, her legs were numb, and she was beginning to get a migraine.

Hoorah, she thought sarcastically, crossing her arms over her chest as her brow furrowed. Already she could feel the mindless drilling in her temples, the pain wrapping around her head like a blanket.

Do you wish for me to alleviate the pain? Murmured Lyrea, aware that loud voices would cause more discomfort for her rider.

That would be preferable, Rivera whispered, wincing as her own voice echoed loudly in Lyrea's mind.

[Dark Huntress]

Her cheeks flamed as Eyulf wrapped his thick brown arms around her narrow waist and squeezed gently. She squirmed a little, wholly uncomfortable. I don't think that is nece- she began.

I know, he replied, releasing her. But I don't like to see people cry. She rolled her eyes and schooched away.

It wasn't that noticeable...was it?

No, no, you were only mentally broadcasting painful images. Hell, I wanted to cry for you.

She tossed her hair. "I'm fine," she cringed at how loud her voice was then stared ahead. Behind her and Eyulf, Zaq squeezed his green eyes shut.

Are you okay? he asked Rivera, marking the tightness of her face.

[Scars Mate]

Rivera flinched as Zaq's voice thundered throughout her mind.

Headache, she gasped out, a thick cloud of pressure descending on her head.

I can't lift it, Lyrea said, concerned yet curious. Rivera let a a quiet moan.

It hurts, she whimpered. It felt like Mjolnir itself was hammering down on her head, sending thunder claps with it.

'Hey,' murmured Nellas softly. 'I don't think it's a normal headache, sis. Maybe it's the high air pressure.' River adamantly shook her head, which nearly made her black out.

'Definitely not,' she hissed through clenched teeth. Even talking made her feel like she was about to pass out from pain.

Perhaps we should land, Lyrea suggested.

[Dark Huntress]

Land, Zaq said firmly but quietly. Land now. Gweir and Lyrea were quick to head towards the ground, much the others' confusion, but Gweir explained the situation concisely before alighting on the grassy area the dragons had chosen.

"C'mere," Zaq said as he jumped down and held his arms out for Rivera to slide into. "Eldárwen, think about anything that could cause headaches."

[Scars Mate]

Rivera, completely forgetting any previous resentments she had felt towards Zaq, fell into his arms. She was close to hyperventilating, black spots blurring the edge of her vision. Somehow, she still had the energy to curse herself for delaying everyone.

'Shh,' murmured Nellas, who was right next to her sister. 'Do you know what's wrong?' Her voice was low, but still loud in Rivera's mind. She weakly shook her head, swallowing back bile as a wave of nausea hit her.

'Zaq,' whispered Eldárwen, touching her brothers lightly. 'Do you think the elves could have poisoned her?'

This caught everyone's attention.

That is an immensely likely possibility, Lyrea growled.

'Wouldn't you have known-' started Nellas, before being cut off by Lyrea.

They could have very easily hidden it. The black dragon was berating herself for letting harm come to her rider.

[Dark Huntress]

Zaq cupped Rivera's cheek in his hand and stared ahead, thinking. "Do we need to make her throw up, to clear the poison out," Rhinnëa asked. "I could cast a cleansing spell that should work. It wouldn't help the headache, but the rest should end soon. Either way we need to stay here tonight. Zaq, Eyulf, will you remove the dragon's saddles and bags. Gweir, Lyrea, will you please move further back into the tree line, that way any elves shouldn't be able to see us."

She tried not to smirk as Zaq shook his he'd. He said nothing, but his thoughts were quite cear: he wasn't leaving Rivera. "Okay, then move her back over there and I'll help Eyulf." She beckoned for Eyulf to strip off Gweir's burden while she attended to Lyrea, mentally trying to comfort and sooth the dragon. Between Rivera and Gweir she nearly loved the black dragon as much as her own.

Zaq slowly scooped Rivera up and carried her easily over to the cover of a few trees. Ick, it's soggy over here. Dunno about you, but I don't want get my pants wet. He knelt and placed hand on the ground, accelerating the evaporation time of the ground moisture. "There we go," he set her carefully down.

[Scars Mate]

Let me lend you power, Lyrea insisted as Rhinnëa removed her saddle. The moment it was done, she flapped her wings in thanks before flailing over to Rivera and Zaq. Hours in the sky had made her clumsy in walking, and she made far too much noise than she meant to.

'You're tall,' Rivera mumbled to Zaq, from her position on the floor. 'And-' she was cut off as her body convulsed violently, making her black out completely for what she thought was a few seconds, but could have been minutes or days she was so dazed. A low moan escaped her lips, followed by some angry curses on backstabbing elves, which was then followed by an eerie silence.

'Help her!' Nellas shrieked, her voice several octaves higher than usual. Rivera was breathing, but in a bizarre way; holding it for up to fifteen seconds, gasping in a deep breath, and then repeating it. She was covered with sweat, face a sickly pale that was not her usual a tone.

'Now!' Nellas commanded, desperation in her voice. She clutched wildly at Rhinnëa.

[Dark Huntress]

Rhinnëa's eyes widened and she changed quickly, words flying quickly from her lips. Zaq squeezed Rivera's hand as she retched all over the ground. Rhinnëa hugged Nellas to her, turning her head away from her sister as she cleared her system.

"Well," Zaq said, helping her sit up again, "that looked painful." And- he prompted. You said and-, what was the rest of that?

Rhinnëa released Nellas and stepped back by Eyulf, watching Rivera [hopefully] recover. "Hold my hand like I'm a child," she murmured laughingly.

[Scars Mate]

If Rivera hadn't been so exhausted, she would have blushed. She had been going to say handsome- when everything else was blurred out, and she was in agony, all she had seen was Zaq, and he had seemed like the most beautiful thing on earth in that moment. Of course, in hindsight, she realised how embarrassing that would have been (especially in front of everyone else) and wasn't about to tell him now.

'I can't remember,' she rasped. Her throat was dry and it pained her to swallow. Conscious she was the only one on the floor, she heaved herself up and crawled deeper into the tree line, leaving Zaq behind her. She fell against a large oak, resting her back to the trunk as she calmed her heart rate and throbbing head. Nellas sauntered over, past Zaq, and knelt before her sister.

'You should lie down and sleep,' the young girl informed her. Rivera stubbornly shook her head.

'No,' she grumbled, turning away from Nellas in vain to get her off of her case.

'C'mon. Go to sleep.'

'No!' She shook her head again, and instantly wished she hadn't. Her head still hurt, though not as acutely, and it felt like it weighed a million tons.

'Well then,' Nellas informed her. 'I'll get Zaq to convince you.' With that, she leapt up and strode over to Zaq with a severe look on her face. 'She won't go to sleep. Will you please make her rest? It'll make her feel better,' she added, as an incentive.