Reunion

[Thalecia]

Thalecia Yurlam

The caverns were long, dark, and numerous. The twists and turns they presented were an intense challenge for any random traveler who was unfortunate enough to stumble in, but the massive figure currently slinking through the spacious halls seemed perfectly at home, each step sure and silent. And why wouldn't she be, when she was a prime example of the second unfortunate challenge that any stranger would be met with in this place? I speak of dragons, of course. This particular dragon was on patrol, making sure that her home remained as it always was; safe and home to nothing but her own kind.

Lowering her long neck, the leviathan sniffed at the dirt briefly, and seeming satisfied, continued on with her journey. The scents of anything other than dragons were old, meaning that there were no outsiders present. That was good. The last thing the Princess wanted right now was to spill blood. She was in a rather good mood, you see. Her bright golden eyes seemed to glow in the dim light of the cave, and as she came to a split in the cavern, she lifted her nose up, opening her mouth slightly and breathing in to taste the air. Veering to the right, she continued to wind through the tunnels, until she came to the bottom most caverns, where her father generally spent his time.

Now, why they spent their time far under ground, Thalecia Yurlam was not quite sure. Having always been drawn to the air, the Princess would much rather be above ground roaming freely. The hot sun on her back and the breeze winding through her fiery mane was perhaps the most pleasing feeling that the dragon could think of, but she didn’t indulge in it often. While confident in her abilities, you just never knew if some renegade dragon slayer was going to stumble across you. “Father.” Thale called out in a low soprano, rather serpentine voice. It was soft and gentle, something that was almost odd coming from a beast her size.

Winding easily through the crowd, she approached the massive Lord and dipped her head. Giving him a smile, she pulled her long, whip-like tail to wrap around her legs, not wanting to risk it being stepped on. It happened occasionally, and it was far from a pleasant experience. Looking away from the giant wyrm who looked rather unlike her, Thalecia narrowed her eyes and peered around the open room with a curious gaze, turning her stare back to him after a second or two. “I trust all is well?” she inquired with a shallow tilt of the head.

(( Blagha. Not my best work, but it'll do! xD ))

[Ciraxis]

The massive beast of a dragon indeed lay in the bottom of the cavern.

It wasn't nice to spend the time in a cavern, but considering the size, it was good. Sure, almost every dragon here would prefer to be outside, but there WERE dangers out there. Ciraxis welcomed anyone into his cave so long as they be dragon, but he warned that going outside alone would not be the best of ideas, as there were always people who considered the dragons to be evil.

And those people were powerful.

Ciraxis was busy speaking with numerous dragons, some male, some female, but all of them were different colours. It was as if each dragon on the bottom floor by Ciraxis was an... ambassador for their colour. The mortal would never be sure of how the dragons worked, but Ciraxis was fairly confident in his 'system', if there even was one.

As the dragons speaking with Ciraxis saw his daughter, they blinked, and bowed their heads towards her, immediately being silent as Thalecia did the same for Ciraxis. Naturally, Ciraxis bowed his massive head to her, and lowered it so that he could speak with her eye to eye.

"Ah, my daughter. I bid you fair greeting and welcome back in such a nice day." Ciraxis replied to his daughter, relieved to see her again, safe. She WAS her daughter after all. Losing her would be... problematic.

His ears only slightly perked at the last sentence Thalecia made, as his brain made an attempt to try and see if there was anything wrong so far. Fortunately, he could think of nothing, besides the occasional death of a dragon.

"Nay, there is no problem. I am glad you have returned, Thalecia. You are looking alive and well. Have you had any... interesting encounters lately? Perhaps found someone who doesn't just consider a dragon a monster?" he asked with a light laugh, which still boomed the bottom floor of the immense cavern.

He hated his laugh sometimes. It made him continuously think that the cavern would fall on top of him because of it.

[Thalecia]

Thalecia Yurlam

Thalecia smiled graciously and dipped her head around to the various dragons, acknowledging them and permitting them to rise and go about their business. The attention and respect was a nice thing, but it was sometimes unnerving, having everyone drop dead silent when she so much as greeted her father. Regardless, she would never complain, knowing full well that not everyone was as privileged as she, and she should not take it for granted.

She smiled a bit more at his return to her greeting, and she nodded her agreement. “Yes, it was a fair day today. I ventured to the mouth of our cave for a few moments and the sun was warm and high in the sky.” She mused, looking up at the ceiling far above her head, as if she could still see the clouds and the blue of the sky. Yet of course, all it was, was rock.

“Nay, our halls are as empty of kinds other than our own, as expected. I did however do some thinking, and I believe that I may venture out at some point… more than likely for no more than a day or two…” she murmured, chancing a glance away. As she expected a few of her brethren seemed to grow uneasy by that statement. Thalecia was speaking of something that they all knew was a risk. For any dragon of course, not just the daughter of the Lord. But she did occasionally grow tired of the same place every day. She wished to explore, to spread her horizons and wander.

Chancing a sheepish glance to her father, she smiled gently, “That is of course should you permit such a thing.” She said, lowering her eyes. If Ciraxis really did greatly disapprove, she would heed his wishes and not go… even if she really did want to. She would disguise herself well, at least. Perhaps leave behind her traditional robes, or cover them in a cloak or something of the sort.

[Ciraxis]

Ciraxis smiled, glad that the dragoness was enjoying the fine day and breeze outside. It kind of make him wonder, however. He had full confidence in her ability. Was all she doing was just going to the mouth of the cave, and nowhere else?

"I'm glad." was all he could truly say.

However, his smile slightly faded at her second statement, and request. Not in a bad way; he was just pondering. Naturally, he was protective of his daughter, but he did not want to keep her cooped up. She deserved to do what she wanted to do.

Ciraxis shook his head mentally. He was dragging on that argument for too long. Any longer and the other dragons would most likely think that Ciraxis was staring at something. So, he snapped out of it. He had made up his answer anyway.

"Feel free to go where you please, Thalecia." Ciraxis responded with a confident tone, knowing that she would easily handle herself well, and that even if she was in trouble, Ciraxis would sense it, and come to her aid before she could be in more trouble. "As long as you just say hi once in a while, it's not a problem. I really believe that you're old enough to do what you want out there, and that the cave... well, it gets boring, I will admit. But just think. If people saw a massive hive of dragons in the OPEN, wouldn't it be a little suspicious? Either way, you're free to do what you please. Just try not to get hurt more than you need, okay? And... don't let the men see TOO much of your humanoid figure." Ciraxis finished his monologue with a slight wink. "It IS the olden days, of course."

With that, he gave a mental sigh of relief. He had probably spoke too much there, and he didn't know why, but he felt like he was TOO protective of her; as if letting her go outside was a big deal.

He gradually shook that feeling off, knowing that she'd be fine, and resumed his smile.

"Just come by once in a while."

[Thalecia]

Thalecia Yurlam

The sheepish grin formed into a toothy smile as she dipped her head low again. “Thank you.” She said softly, listening closely to the words that followed, an amused look on her face as her father displayed his paternal instincts so clearly. She was glad the presence of so many others didn’t keep him from being casual with her. The relationship she shared with her father was very important to Thal.

A laughed wound its way out of her throat at his ending statement, drumming musically off the walls of the open cavern. Were she capable of blushing, color might have lightly flushed her cheeks, and she flipped part of her mane out of her eyes. “Oh, of course, father. Oh I shall be sure to keep it nice and appropriate." she said with another airy laugh. "I understand why we live here, and I would not trade a strategic home for simple longing of a brighter scenery.”

Her feet shifted slightly, the large claws on their toes scraping the ground as she looked around her. “You make it seem as if I am leaving home, father. I will return, I promise you. My life on this world and in this place is not over. After all, who will lead this bunch when you finally grow senile?” she asked with a wink, before winding her neck around her father’s in a sort of hug. Tilting her head up closer to his ear, she whispered, "And thank you for caring enough to worry. It means a lot."

Stepping back after a moment, she smiled back at him, and unwound her tail from along her legs, letting it stretch to its full length. “I will be sure to be careful, and I’ll return soon, all right?” she said, rolling her shoulders to pop the bones along her shoulders. She didn’t actually plan to leave just yet. Thalecia planned to at least stay the night and rest up, and more than likely set off in the morning.

[Ciraxis]

"You're welcome." he responded simply.

He smiled at her words, nodding as his eyes quickly darted over her draconic body, as if looking for something, but knowing that he wouldn't find anything. With that, he returned to listening to her completely, nodding his head slowly in recognizance.

"Indeed. I am glad you understand the... tactical advantage... of being here." he nodded his head once more. After all the nodding shenanigans, his eyes slightly widened at her other statement of him becoming senile. He snorted in retort, about to make a response, but blinked, seeing as she winked and wrapped her neck around his in a hug. It silenced him, the loving embrace of his daughter a satisfying moment indeed.

"It's what I vowed to do when you were born, Thalecia. You do not need to thank me for it." he responded in a half-equal whisper, even though his whisper was louder than a man's yell.

Nevertheless, he sighed happily, almost regretting the release of the neck-hug ( Teehee. ), but of course, letting it go.

"You better. If I find out your dead..." he narrowed his eyes dramatically.

"I'll kill you." he finished, breaking out into a laugh, smiling wide.

[Thalecia]

Thalecia Yurlam

He had a point; perhaps it was an odd thing to thank your father for doing his job, but it seemed like the right thing to say. “Of course.” She said simply, running her forked tongue over her fangs lightly as she leaned back slightly on her back legs, more or less sitting down. Might as well get comfortable until she left.

She tilted her head to the side and looked up into his narrowed eyes, her own a bit wide as she wondered what he was going to say. Thal was certain he was not mad, there was no logical reason to be, but even when messing around the Lord of Dragons was menacing. Then again when were a lethal goliath of a dragon, it was somewhat difficult not to be. As he finished the sentence, she laughed at the absurdity, shaking her head side to side. “Of course you would find a way to bring me back just so you could have the honors.” She said in a facetious tone, a broad grin stretched across her face as she joined in with his laughter.

Internally she made a promise to herself. She was not going to get hurt out there. No matter what happened she would return unscathed, because this place was her home. She loved all of her kin equally and no matter how much she longed to live a free life, she would never up and abandon them. After all, she really did want to be the one to take her father’s place should time ever merit it. Travel was great, seeing new faces would be fascinating, but K’thrra Numelok’ksn was her home.

There wasn't much more beyond that.

[Ciraxis]

Ciraxis smirked quite fondly.

"Oh indeed. It sure would be nice to brag about saving my own daughter. Shows I care." he replied with another quiet (loud) chuckle.

Within his mind, he could only think of a few things at the moment. His daughter, the outside world, and the posing dangers soon to come. But he knew that his daughter would be just fine.

"In the mean time, since I see you're not leaving immediately, is there anything else on your mind, anything I can do for you, my daughter? I'd prefer to have my daughter go out there well-prepared." Ciraxis asked, tilting his large head.

He was a bit worried still, of course. But that would pass soon.


( Sorry for the short post. >< MUSE FAILURE. )

[Thalecia]

Thalecia Yurlam

"Leaving out the precarious fact that about five seconds later you personally ended her life, of course." she reeled off in an easy tone, tossing her father an easy laugh. Thalecia liked that they were still joking. It made it seem like she wasn't making Ciraxis worry much, or that she was keeping it from the forefront of his mind. Because she knew he still was. His face seemed placid enough, but his daughter could tell that he was thinking about it.

So, with an amiable smile, she shook her head. She had clothes, could get food, was pretty surre she had a map lying around. Reading the thing was the problem, some might say she had a very minor problem with her sense of direction... let alone in new place. 'But!' Her childish side chimed in, 'Where's the adventure in that?!' Promptly telling herself to shut up, she continued along with her mental list.

Clothes? Check.

Food? Check.

Map? Probably useless, but check.

Weapons? Check.

Was there anything else? She tapped her muzzle with a great claw, before peering up at him. "Unless you can think of anything beyond the basics of clothes, food, a map, and weapons, I think I will be fine."

[Ciraxis]

Ciraxis listened to her words. She seemed to be joking alot, and although he was laughing, it was as if she was trying to hide something. But, that was his paranoia speaking, nothing else. So, he promptly ignored it. What would she hide anyway? Nothing.

"Oh indeed. I would have to. Must have high standards and such, y'know." he joked, laughing more, a smile plastered upon his face.

After a bit of pondering, he sighed. He couldn't think. He wasn't sure what else she would need. He thought she would be fine, and most likely, she would be.

"I cannot think of anything else for you, so I think you'll be good. You have a good trip, and I'll see you soon." he said, unable to think of much else but her at the moment.