*Nightwhisper
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png)
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
|
Post by *Nightwhisper on Sept 18, 2021 19:33:12 GMT -5
Parker was going to reply, but the faint sound of a twig snapping stopped him. He glanced to the right, and sure enough, he saw two more men approaching the road. A glance to the left showed two more. Something told him there was a good chance of people behind him too. He sighed. So much for not being attacked. "Let me guess, you want me to help you find the money I have on me," he stated.
"That would help us all out a lot," the leader of the bandits said.
"Hate to say it, but I don't have enough to spare, and I'm kind of in a rush."
"Then I'm afraid we're just going to have to do it the hard way." With a flick of his hand, the men around him began to move closer.
Parker pushed down his panic as he weighed his options. He was outnumbered, so fleeing was the best option. He just had to make himself an opening. "Apollo, attack."
~*~*~
Helplessness washed over her as she was ignored for the second time in a row. She quickly moved so she would be protecting Aidan as best as she could. However, there would be no fight today. For a fourth dragon landed and was able to put the others back in their places. Anya turned to study the newcomer. She had only a few seconds to take in his appearance and find a trace of familiarity in his features before Seth was on him. She could only stare in shock with the rest of the Riders at the interaction between them. The reason for he sense of familiarity confirmed by Seth's outburst. This was Seth's father. A man he had never talked much about. The resemblance was all too obvious as she watched the older man while Seth walked away to compose himself.
Sheathing one of her daggers, the woman moved to stand beside Seth. "I do believe an explanation is owed," she agreed. "Especially since three of your friends were all but willing to attack us unprovoked."
|
|
Heterosexual
✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png)
"You never have to prove yourself to anyone who doesn't accept you for who you are."
|
Post by ✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧ on Sept 18, 2021 20:16:32 GMT -5
There was no hesitation. One second Apollo was laying flat on his belly in the dirt; the next he was bolting forward in a dead sprint. He covered the distance between himself and the lead bandit in a matter of seconds — and for the last dozen feet, his paws didn't even touch the ground as he launched himself at the man. Apollo crashed into him, sending the nan sprawling with a scream as Apollo's jaws closed around his arm — hastily thrown up to guard his face. Apollo bit down hard, then just as abruptly let go and spun around to grab the second man by the calf. The man screamed. Apollo yanked, sending him, too, to the ground.
☆~☆~☆ The man looked from Seth to Anya. After a moment, a light returned to his eyes and he smiled. It made his split lip bleed, but he didn't seem to notice. "Anya," he said. "I've heard a lot about you. It's a pleasure to finally meet you." He took a step forward, hand outstretched, ignoring Seth's furious growl as he came closer. "I'm Sebastian Accio. Friends call me —"
"Ghost," Seth finished for him in a hard tone. He snorted. "That's a much better name for you." Never mind that Seth hadn't even known the man's real name until right now. He had always just been "Ghost" to him.
Sebastian frowned but didn't argue. His focus switched to Aidan, who had inched up to stand behind Seth, one hand fisting in the back of his shirt. Sebastian tilted his head to try and see him better, but Seth instantly shifted his stance, blocking the boy further. Sebastion's gaze shot up to meet Seth's death glare, and he seemed to determine that this was not a fight he was likely to win right now. He turned back to Anya.
"We're here to take you all to base. We want you to join the Rebels."
|
|
|
Heterosexual
✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png)
"You never have to prove yourself to anyone who doesn't accept you for who you are."
|
Post by ✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧ on Sept 18, 2021 20:43:41 GMT -5
Apollo moved to run to Parker’s rescue, but someone beat him to it. Devon yanked one bandit off of Parker and tossed him into another bandit. He kicked another one in the chest, sending him flying backward down the path. The other three were still closing in, until a dragon crashed onto the path behind them. It bared its teeth, smoke curling from its nostrils. The bandits took one look at it and fled, leaving their injured comrades behind.
Devon watched them go, then looked down at Parker. Apollo was by his side again, and Rider and dog had a bit of a stare down before Apollo gave a little huff, as if in thanks, and turned to lick Parker’s face. Devon wrinkled his nose at the sight.
☆~☆~☆ If Sebastian felt slighted by her refusal to shake his hand, he didn't show it. He just lowered it and shoved both hands in his pockets. "Two reasons," he answered. "Number one: because we can keep you safe from Genevieve and the Order. Two: because we need your help to bring her down."
|
|
*Nightwhisper
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png)
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
|
Post by *Nightwhisper on Sept 18, 2021 20:54:51 GMT -5
He suffered a could of bruises in the exchange, but nothing too bad. As the bandits were pulled away from him, Parker stared up at the man he had stumbled upon earlier. Then he stared at the dragon that scared the attackers away. Sitting up and scratching Apollo's ears in reassurance, his gaze moved back to the stranger. He nodded to the dragon. "You borrow that from your friend too?" He asked.
~•~•~
"Got anything else?" Anya asked. Now, on a normal day, those reasons might have been enough. However, right now, there was still a lot of anger still bouncing around this little clearing, both for the other Riders and from Seth. It was making it hard to not siphon it. Her efforts to block it out were having limited results. So safety from Genevieve and the idea of stopping her was not as appealing as it should be.
|
|
Heterosexual
✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png)
"You never have to prove yourself to anyone who doesn't accept you for who you are."
|
Post by ✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧ on Sept 18, 2021 21:09:42 GMT -5
Devon just blinked at him. "You're welcome," he said. "Goodbye." He turned on his heel and started walking toward Everest. His dragon lowered himself to his belly as he approached, making his climb up easier.
☆~☆~☆ Now that elicited a startled reaction. He looked from her to Seth and back, weighing their hard stares and judging the best way forward. "Yes," he said after a minute. He looked right at Seth. "Morgan brought your family to us. Come with me, and you can be with them again."
Seth went rigid at the mention of his family, and a riot of emotions surged up to join the simmering fury. Relief, gratitude, confusion, irritation. He wanted nothing more than to go to them, yet he hated the idea of being lured in by that promise. He wanted nothing to do with this nan, or his Rebels. But saying no to seeing his family again wasn't something he thought he was capable of.
"Give us a minute," he muttered. He took Anya's arm in one hand and reached back to take Aidan's hand with the other and backed up until they were all at Stel's side. Instantly her tail swung around to block them and her wing swept over to tent over them, effectively shielding them from view.
Seth let go of Anya and Aidan to shove his hands through his hair, eyes squeezed shut. "Shit," he uttered under his breath. This was not how things were supposed to go.
|
|
*Nightwhisper
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png)
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
|
Post by *Nightwhisper on Sept 18, 2021 21:17:20 GMT -5
Parker stood quickly, caught his horse's reins and followed him. "Thank you for helping me," he said. "But if you're a Rider, can I ask you something?"
~•~•~
It was an underhand tactic, using his family as a ploy. Sure, they might have been safe, but still, it was a manipulative thing to do. Anya was about to say as much when Seth herded them over to Stel.
Seeing Seth in his current state help her push aside some of the effects of her magic. She placed a hand on his arm. "Seth, you can go," she told him. "Head somewhere else for a bit. You don't have to let them corner you like this."
|
|
|
*Nightwhisper
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png)
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
|
Post by *Nightwhisper on Sept 18, 2021 22:10:15 GMT -5
Parker didn't take the bait of his response. "If I paid you, can you take me somewhere?" He asked. "I know Riders aren't transportation services, but I have a place I need to be and little time to be there. Please?"
~•~•~
It wasn't like Seth to be giving the decision over to someone else. Anya studied him for a moment. Truthfully, she didn't have the answer anymore than he did, buy one of them had to be the vice of reason. "If we go, we may never get the chance to leave. I doubt they'll let us walk away freely. And if we don't go, we might not get a chance to talk with Morgan or your family for a while," Anya stated the facts that were the most pressing.
Her eyes moved to Aidan. "Aidan, you know the Rebels. Or at least those your parents knew. Do you trust them?"
|
|
Heterosexual
✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png)
"You never have to prove yourself to anyone who doesn't accept you for who you are."
|
Post by ✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧ on Sept 18, 2021 22:23:33 GMT -5
Devon halted in his tracks, held perfectly still for a beat, then spun on his heel. He stared at Parker, eyes slightly narrowed and head tilted to one side, an indication that he was thinking over Parker’s offer — or debating whether or not to finish what the bandits started.
In truth, he was wondering what the hell he'd been thinking, coming to this guy's rescue. He was also puzzling over Parker’s words: I know Riders aren't a transportation service. A lot of people in need of that did tend to think Riders just gave transport to anyone in need of it. They didn't realize that riding a dragon was not like riding a horse.
"Who do you know?" he asked instead of answering. "The Rider," he clarified.
☆~☆~☆ That was only part of the reason Seth didn't want to go with Ghost. He was glad Anya hadn't yet thought of the other, bigger, reason behind his reluctance. He followed her gaze to Aidan. As soon as Seth had let go of his hand, the boy had taken hold of Seth's shirt again. He seemed determined to remain glued to Seth's side.
"Um." Aidan blinked several times, surprised to be asked. "I didn't meet a lot of them. But I think I've seen him before." He pointed toward where they left Ghost. "He was in the big meeting I snuck into. I liked him. He made me laugh."
|
|
|
|
*Nightwhisper
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png)
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
|
Post by *Nightwhisper on Sept 18, 2021 22:46:38 GMT -5
"Teirm," Parker answered. "I know it's a long trip, but I promise, you can have all the money I'm carrying. Honest to the gods. I just need to get there as quickly ad I can."
~•~•~
"That's not what I was asking about, but I'll take your opinion of him and keep it in mind," Anya said. She tend took her hand off his arm and lifted it to place on his cheek. "If I make this decision, will you let trust me and let me help make sure everything goes okay? I don't like the fact they're trying to arrest you, and I have no idea what that will mean later, but will you let me help clear that up where I can? No matter what option we choose?"
|
|
Heterosexual
✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png)
"You never have to prove yourself to anyone who doesn't accept you for who you are."
|
Post by ✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧ on Sept 18, 2021 23:01:40 GMT -5
Devon considered that. Tierm was a long ways from here, at least two days flight. It was also a major city, and therefore not somewhere he wanted to go. He wasn't interested in Parker’s money — though of course, he didn't bother to mention that. Really, he had no reason to help get the guy there. Yet he felt compelled to ask, "Why? What's in Tierm?"
☆~☆~☆ Seth hadn't even thought about the arrest since it was first mentioned. It didn't worry him, but looking down at Anya, it was clear it still bothered her. He placed one hand over hers and turned his head to kiss her palm. "Yes," he answered with no hesitation. "I don't know that it'll do much, but I won't stop you trying."
|
|
|
Heterosexual
✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png)
"You never have to prove yourself to anyone who doesn't accept you for who you are."
|
Post by ✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧ on Sept 19, 2021 8:09:24 GMT -5
Devon frowned. "You're going back... for a forgotten possession? Can't you just replace it?"
☆~☆~☆ Seth sighed but nodded. It would be the least bloody option — for now. "All right. You okay with that, kiddo?"
After a moment, Aidan nodded, though Seth noticed suddenly that the boy seemed as eager and reluctant as Seth was about this plan. Seth made a note to ask him about once they were in the air.
"All right, Stel," Seth said quietly, and she swept back her wing and shifted her tail so they could leave the shelter of her body. Seth ruffled Aidan's hair as he headed toward Ghost. The older man hadn't moved, though Seth noted the other three Riders were all back on their dragons.
Seth barely spared them a glance, all his focus and irritation on his damn look alike. "All right," he told him, not bothering to hide his reluctance. "We'll go with you to your... base. But that doesn't guarantee we'll help with anything."
Sebastian held up his hands in surrender. "Fair enough. I never expected you to listen to me anyway. I have a few friends who might change your mind, though. And no," he added quickly. "That's not a threat."
Seth's expression said that was debatable, but he just turned back around and returned to Stel to help Aidan and Hero up.
|
|
|
Heterosexual
✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png)
"You never have to prove yourself to anyone who doesn't accept you for who you are."
|
Post by ✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧ on Sept 19, 2021 11:21:05 GMT -5
( Okay, why do I see these two becoming another Morgan&Callum type unlikely friendship? xD )
Devon continued to look at him as if he were an idiot. "People aren't somethings. They're someones." Although family could be considered something... "And unless you can point me in the direction of your sister, I'm not going to Tierm." He shut his mouth before he said more, silently cursing. Stupid Genevieve and her stupid orders. He didn't want to find this guy's sister (and therefore Seth), but it seemed the order he had been given was trying to take the choice away from him.
☆~☆~☆ ( Yeah! 😁 )
They flew through the rest of the afternoon and into the night without stopping. They were flying fast, with Sebastian in the lead, Seth and Anya right behind him, and the other three surrounding them, one to either side and one behind. Stel didn't like that AT ALL. Seth had to remind her several times during the long flight that she had passengers and attacking each one of their entourage was not a good idea. She obeyed, but it was always reluctant and grumbly.
It was almost midnight when the mountain came into view ahead. It was absolutely massive, towering miles above them — and they were flying pretty high. It was too dark to see any possible entrances, but then, it wouldn't be a very good base if the entrances were visible, ever.
Seth was studying the mountain when he saw Sebastian turn in his seat. He made a hand gesture, and the Rider bringing up the rear — Red — swept past them and flew at speed toward the mountain. Likely going to alert everyone there to their approach.
"Probably warning everyone to hide their children too," Seth grumbled under his breath. Never mind that he had never killed anyone younger than himself before. He watched the Red Rider, but just before he reached the mountain his dragon made a sharp turn —
And vanished.
Seth's brows went up. Looking closer at the mountain, he realized that there was a very powerful glamor around the whole damn thing, a spell far more advanced than any Seth had ever encountered. "Damn," he murmured, impressed despite himself. The Rebels clearly had some very powerful Riders among them. Probably more powerful than the majority of Genevieve's Riders. But in a Rider on Rider fight, one's power level only helped so much. Genevieve's Riders may have been weaker in magic, but they were far greater in numbers.
In no small part thanks to Seth himself.
This was going to be a long night.
|
|
|
|
*Nightwhisper
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png)
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
|
Post by *Nightwhisper on Sept 19, 2021 15:01:24 GMT -5
"And wherever Seth is, she is, not by my choice," Parker stated. "If that wasn't the case, I might be a little more helpful to you, but even then, I wouldn't know where he would be going. So does this mean you deny my request?"
~*~*~
The trip to the Rebel base as long and strained. She could feel the tension between them all even as they flew. Anya was constantly keeping an eye on the rider closest to her, watching for any sign that they would try anything underhanded. Nothing of the sort happened, yet as the light of day faded and made vision worse, she couldn't help but worry for the worse.
Eventually, the group approached a mountain range larger than any she had ever seen in her life. For a moment, she studied what she could see of them. Only when the red dragon fly above and ahead of them did she remember she was supposed to be watching the others. It was just hard to do that when she saw the bonded pair being sent ahead of them just suddenly disappear from view.
Magic, Corrik told her. He could sense the illusion once he had been made aware of it. Did that mean he was eager to head into it? Nope, but they didn't have much of a choice.
|
|
Heterosexual
✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png)
"You never have to prove yourself to anyone who doesn't accept you for who you are."
|
Post by ✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧ on Sept 19, 2021 15:39:03 GMT -5
A "yes" was on the tip of his tongue, so he was rather surprised when, "What are you going to do about the dog and the horse?" came out instead. He got a weird look from Everest for it too, though he didn't look back to confirm.
☆~☆~☆ As they came closer and closer to the place where the Red Rider disappeared, Sebastian turned to face them once more. This time he shouted, voice amplified by magic, "Stay right behind me and do exactly as I do! Single file, let's go!" He faced forward just as his dragon — a massive female with scales like diamonds — dove, turned, and vanished.
Seth cast a quick glance at Anya, then leaned forward in the saddle as Stel shot after them. Seth felt it the moment they passed the glamor, and then he was seeing what had been hidden: the mountain, much, much closer than the illusion had suggested. The sharp right turn was all that kept them from crashing into a sheer rock face. Seth felt Stel's surprise, though her instincts and reflexes kept her flying after Sebastian and his dragon, visible once more.
Seth looked behind him to see the Blue Rider on Stel's tail. The man, Roland, had been sticking close to Seth the whole flight, rarely taking his angry eyes off him. Seth had gone out of his way to ignore him, which only seemed to anger him further. Seth looked past him now until he saw Anya and Corrik appear before facing forward once more.
They flew alongside the mountain a ways, and then Sebastian and his dragon turned sharply left. At first it looked like they flew into the mountain itself, but as Seth and Stel reached the same point, they saw that a canyon opened up. It was plenty wide enough for most of the dragon's wings, but Seth noticed that Sebastian's dragon's wingtips were mere feet away from brushing the cliffs to either side.
After only another minute or so, Sebastian's dragon dove straight down at a place were the canyon widened into a bowl. They were halfway to the ground when the diamond dragon spread her wings, bringing herself to a near halt, and sailed into a very big cave, which had originally been hidden by an outcrop of rock that jutted out of the canyon above the entrance. Stel copied the other dragon, and then they were soaring into the cave.
Cavern, Seth corrected. The space was immense, as it clearly needed to be for it was filled with dragons. There was at least a hundred feet between the floor and ceiling, and probably twice that distance in length and width. There was a cleared runway-like space down the middle of the cavern, but the vast space to the left and right had rows and rows of sleeping dragons. Though many, Seth noticed, woke up at their entrance and watched with a mixture of curiosity, wariness, suspicion, and hostility.
Sebastian and his dragon had landed near the very back of the cavern. As Stel touched down nearby, Seth saw a large tunnel entrance in the back wall. It was big, but certainly not big enough for full grown dragons. The tunnel likely led to the rest of the base. This was just where the dragons stayed.
Aidan woke up when Stel's feet touched the ground. He had fallen asleep a couple of hours ago, and Seth hadn't gotten a chance to talk to him about coming here. Now, he wished he had. Aidan was looking around the cavern with wide eyes, a mix of excitement and fear in them. Seth unstrapped them both and ruffled the boy's hair reassuringly before grabbing Hero and sliding to the ground.
|
|
*Nightwhisper
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png)
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
|
Post by *Nightwhisper on Sept 19, 2021 15:55:35 GMT -5
"The horse I can send home. I live in the town two days to the east. My brother can have him," Parker replied. "As for Apollo, he's coming with me. I can't leave him behind."
~*~*~
The turn was unexpected. As Corrik enter the glamor, he had to check himself quickly. Now, he could make turns like this with no problem, when he could see them coming. This time, however, he had to use his feet to push himself off the cliff face and avoid the impact. Anya's hold on Star was more like a death grip as the impact threatened to rattle both of them from the saddle. But they held on and were fine.
They followed the others, mimicking the flying patterns and having a better time landing in the cavern than they had entering the camp. Corrik huffed as he folded his wings, pride stung from the embarrassment, but otherwise held his tongue as he looked around at the other dragons.
Anya, for her part, untied the straps they held her and Star to the saddle. She hopped down onto Corrik's leg before picking Star up and, carefully, setting her down on his leg. From there, they both could walk down and jump to the cavern floor with ease.
|
|
Heterosexual
✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png)
"You never have to prove yourself to anyone who doesn't accept you for who you are."
|
Post by ✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧ on Sept 19, 2021 16:23:12 GMT -5
Devon frowned down at the dog. Apollo gazed levelly back. Devon switched his stare to Parker, silently asking himself why he was even considering this. There was no gain in it for him. Or was there? Perhaps this guy knew something about Seth and his powers, anything that would given Devon a clue on how to escape Genevieve's control.
"Fine," he said at length. "But I have questions, and I want answers to them. Let's go."
☆~☆~☆ The moment Seth’s feet landed on the cave floor, Roland was there, one hand on his sword as he watched Seth like a hawk. Seth rolled his eyes. He set Hero down — the pup immediately wander away a few feet and squatted to pee — then turned to help Aidan climb down. Ignoring Roland — and Ghost — he headed over to Anya.
Aidan crouched down to hug Star while Seth slid in close to Anya. The woman, Vanessa, had joined Roland and now the both of them stood much too close for comfort, though Seth did his best to ignore them. Anya's presence helped, which was why he was standing a little closer to her than necessary.
Thankfully — or not — Sebastian soon came over and frowned at the two younger Riders. "Would you two quit it? He's not going to hurt anyone, unless you do something to earn a punch in the face. Shoo, the both of you."
Reluctantly, they backed off. Seth relaxed a fraction.
With a shake of his head, Sebastian turned his focus to Seth and Anya. He grinned a spread his arms wide. "Welcome to the Rebels. Cool place, huh?"
Seth just stared at him, revealing nothing, and Aidan had gone back to hiding behind Seth, one hand gripping his shirt while the other held Star’s collar.
|
|
*Nightwhisper
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png)
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
|
Post by *Nightwhisper on Sept 19, 2021 16:50:54 GMT -5
"And I'll only answer them if they don't put my sister in danger," Parker replied, following him.
~•~•~
Anya wanted to take Seth's hand, more to help him calm down then anything. She could tell he was still on edge, and the ever present onlookers weren't helping. But she wasn'tsute of he would want to make it clear to these people right yet that they were a couple. "All I see is a cave of dragons," she answered. While she was sure this place was, in fact, cool, she wasn't going to just let her guard drop.
|
|
|
|
Heterosexual
✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png)
"You never have to prove yourself to anyone who doesn't accept you for who you are."
|
Post by ✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧ on Sept 19, 2021 20:29:58 GMT -5
Right. Devon had almost forgotten about the horse. "No, I am not flying into Carzon. That is not a place for Riders. You go there, send your horse home, and I'll find you when you're done."
☆~☆~☆ ( Stop what? 😏🤣 )
At her reassuring touch, Seth reached out and captured her hand. Instinct, one he hadn't acknowledged in weeks now, told him it was a bad idea. These people were enemies. If they knew what Anya meant to him, what he would do for her... He didn't even want to think about it. But the longer he was here, with the glares of Roland and Vanessa boring into his back, the more volatile he felt. He was one wrong word, one wrong move, away from an explosion. Anya's hand in his was his grounding point, and right now, he needed that more than he needed to protect her. She could protect herself, and so far it didn't seem like she was in danger to begin with.
The tunnel was long and mostly dark, with torches placed every half dozen feet or so. They weren't lit by fire, however, but by balls of white light. After several minutes, Seth heard the low murmur of many voices ahead. A short while later, light started staining the tunnel ahead, and then the tunnel opened into a large cave. Small compared to the dragon cave, yet still impressive as far as caves go. Seth guessed it was at least as big as his cave behind the waterfall, if not a little bigger. It was rounded, with a flat, lightly sanded floor, and it was lit by sun and moonlight, courtesy of skylights high above. There were also more magic ball torches around the perimeter of the cave.
There were several people in the cave, talking anxiously amongst themselves. Seth counted sixteen, and they were all Riders. They immediately stopped talking when he entered, and the hostility and mistrust directed his way was almost physical in its intensity. Seth unconsciously gripped Anya's hand tighter, then abruptly let go of both her and Aidan and stepped further forward, keeping the attention on him and shielding them.
|
|
*Nightwhisper
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png)
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
|
Post by *Nightwhisper on Sept 19, 2021 20:43:08 GMT -5
Parker had known he would have been sent to go into town alone, but stil he hesitated. He wasn't scared, per say. At least not with Apollo. But he'd already been jumped once today, and he had no intention of letting it happen a second time. "You don't need to go grab supplies?" He asked.
~•~•~
(Being a trainwreck. 🤣🤣🤣)
Seth taking her hand was all she needed. Her fingers intertwined with his and she walked closer to him. Anya didn't care if they all knew they were together. She just wanted to be able to help Seth through this. And if that meant stepping up and slapping the Riders behind them for their current behavior, she'd do it.
She stayed like that until they reached the second room. The woman looked around at the other Riders assembled there, taking in all the hostile glares Seth was being given. And despite that, Seth still tried to take the blunt force of it all. Well that just wasn't going to do. Increasing her step, she moved in front of Seth, shielding him despite being shorter then him. Was she accomplishing anything? Probably not. But she was at least making her stance clear, even if it was only Seth who understood it.
|
|
Heterosexual
✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png)
"You never have to prove yourself to anyone who doesn't accept you for who you are."
|
Post by ✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧ on Sept 19, 2021 21:30:23 GMT -5
Devon gave him that look again, the one that said Parker was an idiot. "No." He paused. "But I could eat." He had planned to go into town for breakfast.
☆~☆~☆ ( Yeah, no. That's, like, his whole personality. xD )
Seth wasn't expecting Anya to move in front of him, but he supposed he should have. This wasn't the first time she had defended him. "Anya," he admonished, almost too quietly to hear, but there was an equal amount of affection and reprimand in his voice. He wasn't mad at her for this, he couldn't be, but now really wasn't a good time.
Especially since everyone was now eyeing Anya with a mixture of suspicion and pity. To them, her gesture meant she was in league with the Dragonslayer, or too silly and charmed by him to see him for what he was.
Thankfully, Sebastian chose that moment to speak. "All right." He clapped his hands, the sound extra loud in the cavernous space. It made Hero bark, which drew everyone's attention to the pup at Seth's feet. There was a pause, and then Sebastian swept on. He spread his arms wide. "Welcome… to the Rebels."
Seth eyed the angry onlookers. "Welcome. Right," he muttered dryly.
Sebastian ignored that. "Everyone, this is Seth, Anya, and..." He leaned to one side to try and see Aidan. This time, Seth let him. "Sorry, what's your name, kiddo?"
Seth tensed upon hearing that endearment from him. Aidan glanced up at Seth, then mumbled his name just barely loud enough to be heard.
Sensing the boy was uncomfortable with all the attention, Sebastian introduced him and moved on quickly. "And Aidan. You guys, this is the Rebel Council. Well, the Rider faction, anyway. You can meet the rest later. For now, let's get you to your rooms and —"
"Sebastian." One of the Riders stepped to the front. He frowned at Sebastian, then cast Seth a disdainful look. "You can't just let him in here."
Sebastian slid his hands into his pockets, the move to smooth to be total casual. "He's already in, Fredrick. It's a little late to try and keep anything a secret from him."
"Yes, and that's bad enough. We don't need to reveal our numbers, our strengths and weaknesses to him as well." There were many murmurs of agreement from the others.
Sebastian sighed. "Fredrick, we've talked about this. He's —"
"The Dragonslayer," Fredrick interrupted. "Have you forgotten how many of us he's —"
"Oh, would you shut up?" This time it was Seth butting in. Instantly everyone's glare was directed at him again, and several reached for their weapons. Seth glared right back. "Stop talking about me as if I'm not here. I didn't ask to come here, and I don't plan on staying. I just came to see my family." He switched his gaze to Sebastian. "Where are they?"
"They're on their way, I'm sure," Sebastian answered. "I sent Aaron ahead to fetch them." Seth assumed Aaron was the Red Rider. "And Seth?" Reluctantly, Seth met his gaze. Sebastian stared steadily, all humor gone. "Ignore them. They don't understand. As long as you're here, you're safe. All of you are. I promise."
A protest rose from the others, but Sebastian just sliced his hand through the air and shot them all a dark look, silencing them. "No," he said, louder and with authority. "He is my son, and no one here is going to hurt him. If you have a problem with that, you can take it up with me tomorrow, at a decent hour. For now, let's all —"
Once more, he was interrupted. Only this time, Seth recognized the voice.
"Seth!"
Seth spun. There, forcing her way through the Riders, was Cami. Seth hadn't realized until that moment how worried he'd been about her, and Cresseida. He trusted Morgan, but the not knowing was like a weight on his shoulders, one he had ignored as much as possible these last weeks.
Until now, as he felt it lift off of him. It was replaced with a crushing relief as he moved forward to meet her, the onlookers forgotten.
There were tears in Cami's eyes as she threw herself at him. Seth caught her, lifting her right off her feet, and held her tight. Her own grip on him was bordering on suffocating. Seth didn't care. "Gods, I've missed you," he told her.
Cami made a sound that was half laugh, half sob. "Of course you did." She pulled back just far enough to gesture to herself. "Who wouldn't miss this?"
Seth laughed as he hugged her tightly once more. "You're such a brat." His tone conveyed nothing but affection. He finally put her down and glanced behind her. "Where's —"
He didn't need to finish. Cresseida had appeared, and she was smiling through her tears as she watched them.
A surprising flood of emotions threatened to choke him up. Seth ignored it. He took two steps and pulled his mother into a fierce hug. She hugged him back just as tight, and they stood like that for several seconds before the words that had been choking him forced their way free. "I'm sorry."
Confused, Cresseida drew back so she could see him. Her frown vanished as soon as she saw his face. "Oh, Seth." She placed one hand on his cheek and gave him a smile full of love and acceptance. "You have nothing to apologize for, my son."
Emotion was welling up in him again, and he was startled to find himself blinking back tears. Here was another weight lifted, one he had been carrying for too many years. Cresseida — his mother — finally knew about the monster inside him… and with a few simple words she told him everything he hadn't realized he'd needed to hear. She forgave him. She loved him. He was still her son.
Seth swallowed thickly. "Mom, I…" He stopped, unable to finish.
Apparently, he didn't need to. "I know, Seth," she said quietly. "I know."
He closed his eyes and took a shaky breath, then nodded. "Okay. Okay. I—" He stopped again just as his eyes opened, his gaze finding and locking with Callum's cool blue stare. Seth blinked. He glanced at Cresseida, then back at Callum as he carefully stepped around her. Callum didn't move while Seth approached.
He stopped a few feet away. "You're actually here."
Callum slid his hands into his pockets. "You thought I'd stay in Ilirea?"
Seth shrugged. "That, or take off on your own first chance you got."
"What, and leave Mom and Cami? I don't think so."
Seth flinched at the accusatory tone but said calmly, "They were with Morgan. You can trust him."
"I know," Callum replied honestly, surprising Seth. "He's a pretty good guy — for a Rider. His choice of friends could use work, though."
Seth glared. "You're a real asshole, you know that?"
"I know," he said again. Then, to Seth's complete astonishment, he grabbed a handful of Seth's shirt and pulled him into a hug.
Seth was too stunned to hug him back. Figuring out Callum had ulterior motives for the action curbed his shock somewhat.
Callum tilted his head slightly and said by Seth's ear, "Genevieve sends her regards."
|
|