As Shinthe gave a wild shout, Draithe shot forward. The boy had to lean forward to keep himself from sliding off the saddle. A wicked smile curved his lips. Draithe was fast and he easily kept pace with Shadow. Giving a sudden lash of his armoured tail, Draithe jumped ahead.

Scowling slightly, Sethera urged Draithe faster as the Thanator slowly started to fall behind. "Be careful, my friend," he said to Draithe. He inclining it scaled head. Seeing Shadow stumbling, Draithe was instantly at his shoulder to help if needed.

Shadow shot the Thanator a grateful glance and sent embaras.sed and angered thoughts at Taylor. Stop being so careless. he thought to her and Taylor scowled. It was just an accident, jeesh. She thought back. Keep your fur on. Shadow snarled in response and slowed to a steady trot. Go bond with your stupid dragon. He said, dumping her at the entrance. She landed on her feet unsteadily at the unexpected fall. "Fine." She said out loud to him. He flicked his ears, turned around, and stalked back the way they came. She crossed her arms angrily. She wasn't mad at Shadow. It was her fault she snapped at him. It was her fault she made him stumble. She noticed he had closed the connection between their minds and suddenly felt alone.

((i won't be able to reply for the next few days because i am going on vacation without my laptop. i'll see if i can get online with my ipod, but i don't think you can reply in these txt boxes. Please don't go too far ahead. ))

Draithe inclinded his head at Shadow before crouching to let Sethera slide off the saddle. Patting his friend on the shoulders, he also rubbed inbetween Draithe's eyes and the Thanator sighed contently before conveying to Sethera; "Go find a dragon to bond with. I will be off wandering."

Sethera smiled and nodded once. Stepping back from the Thanator, he watched as Draithe cantered off. Turning to Taylor, he said; "Shall we?"

[[ Okays. ]]

His yellow eyes twinkled. "Ladies' first," he said, pushing her ahead of him slightly.

Her silver eyes flashed. "You baby." She said, teasingly. As she walked on, she saw an arch made out of stone above her. She walked under it, the shade covering her for a moment. She hesitated there and looked around. Her eyes widened as she saw hundreds of dragons sprawled along the rock face. Past the cliff was a small valley where more dragons were flying above. Some seemed to be dueling or fighting while others lay in the sun, warming their scales. Some looked up at her approach as she walked through the gate, but eventually, they lost interest in her. "Sethera, come here." She said quickly. "This is amazing."

Sethera came out of the gate when he heard Taylor's voice. His yellow eyes were bright with wonder as he looked around. So many dragons. "Now what?" he asked, when he got closer to Taylor.

"Now we bond." She said and stepped out of the shadows. As soon as her skin touched the sun's rays all movement in the Dragon's Nest froze. All colors of eyes stared at her. She looked at the dragons, examining each one. Most looked away when she met their gaze. Except for one. He held her steady gaze and walked up to her...Ice seemed to curl around his scales as he approached her. His icy gaze met hers and filled with a sudden warmth. He arched his head and breathed in her scent deeply. "Are you...my bond?" She asked him and his eyes seemed to shine with amusement. His growl came out like a "yes." Taylor smiled and the dragon lifted one forepaw. It pushed it's non-armored paw against it's front canine tooth. When it flashed it's paw out again, a thin stream of red glistened on it. He looked down at her.

--

Shard looked down at the little human, impatient for the bond to form and for them to ride in the skies together. He watched as the girl lifted a dagger from her belt, and almost as if she was hypnotized, slid the knife across her palm. Blood oozed out of the wound and she watched it without swaying. She looked up into his icy eyes and he pressed his paw against her small hand. The blood mixed and icy pain went up his arm. He cried out, but he could not move his hand. The girl closed her eyes as the icy chill hit her, too. As soon as the pain came, it was gone. The only thing left was a wary presence in his mind. The girl smiled. Shard. She thought to him. Taylor. He said and smiled.

((there we go >.>))

Sethera watched as Taylor bonded to her dragon before stepping out of the shadows that concealed him. He took a few steps then froze when dragons lifted their heads to look at him before they turned away. Only onegaze bored into him. Jerking his head towards the direction of the gaze, his yellow eyes meet crimson eyes that held no pupils. The dragon lifted her wings and glided down from her perch to land right in front of him. The way she glared at him, she seemed to convey a "You're late," type of message.

He flinched back and smiled sheepishly. "Sorry," he muttered. The she-dragon lashed her tail and narrowed her eyes further. Then the gaze softened and she extended her neck to lightly lick Sethera on the forhead. A gester of forgivness. 

Withdrawing her head, she slit open one of the fingers on her paw and held it out.

--

Styx watched as the boy in front of her drew his sword slightly to cut a thin line into his open palm. Once the blood had whelled up enough, he placed his fingers against her paw-finger before wrapping his smaller fingers around it. She ground her teeth together as a wave of coldness p*censored*ed through her. When the coldness gripped the boy, she watched as his odd yellow eyes rolled back slightly as they turned a... different colour? Confusion flickered in her as the cold faded out the tip of her tail. What the?

Then she felt another presence intertwine with her thought pattern. It was weary and hesitant. Finally, she heard; Styx?

Styx rumbled out a purr as her eyes softened more. Sethera. You have kept me waiting longer then necessary.

The boy ducked his head as he smiled at her comment.

Sethera let go of Styx's paw and stepped back slightly when he saw Taylor take off with her bond. Saddness washed through him before he noticed Styx moving off to his right. Turning to face her, he saw that she had shifted one wing, lowered her front half, and streatched out her neck. Exceitment over-rode the sadness as he vualted up into her back.

Styx rightened herself as she felt his excietment over-ride her senses. Raising her maw to the sky, she let out a roar as she lifted over her front legs so her hind ones supported her wieght. Shaking her head, she threw her weight forward and followed Shard and Taylor.

Unfurling her wings, Styx launched herself into the air after Shard. Beating her wings a few times, she gained atlitude and soared over the landscape below her. Sether met Taylor's gaze and flashed a smile, his eyes twinkling.

"Its better than riding Draithe," Sethera called back.

Styx snorted slightly as she folded her limbs up closer to her body.

Sethera shrugged. Oh well. Watching the other two dive down towards the valley. He noticed that Styx has also started to dive ansd that her body had started to rotate. With his eyes wide with surprised, he leaned forward and kept close to her black scales as the wind from her spinning-dive whipped his black hair around. His eyes started to water slightly and he narrowed them against the wind. Then he felt Styx's laughter in his mind.

Why are you laughing? he shot at her.

Styx sobered instantly, but did not reply. Her light mood rebounded across the mental link.

When they got closer to the ground, Styx snapped open her wings and stayed still in the air for a little while before landing just behind Shard. Her talons dug deep into the ground as she furled one wing and extended her neck to let Sethera dismount. Landing, Sethera immediantly sat down for his legs felt wobby beneath him. Styx's alien crimson eyes glimmered.