Dragon Rider Play

(What is with my tablet and double letters? Especially I.)

"I think Ashe would suddenly find a new source of food," Pat said with a faint smile. She leaned over and kissed the top of Nightshade's head. "Do you want to walk with me to check on Tithenor, Jeremiah? I can wait."

(Lol XD I'm more worried about who Ashe is)

Jeremiah laughed a little. "I'd love to walk over with you."

(I'm ready to give up...)

Pat nodded and continued to pet Nightshade as she waited.

Erika ate everything but the skin, even cleaning that off pretty well. She picked it up by one ear and dragged it back to Jeremiah.

(I can read Autocorrect pretty well, no worries XD I just find it amusing)

Jeremiah prepared the skin to turn it into leather before he helped Erika clean herself off. Once that was done, he announced that he was finally ready to go see Tithenor and Luke.

Nightshade adored the attention.

(I know, still. XD)

"I'll see you soon, Nightshade," Pat promised then left with Jeremiah.

Erika grumbled about being alone and started fiddling with the other dragon's stalls and letting out.  Play time!

Nightshade grumbled and closed them after Erika. No, that would be bad!

Jeremiah smiled and walked with Pat. "What do you think of Luke so far?" He asked.

Erika growled and started opening them faster.  Out out out!  Come play!

"I think he will fit in well," Pat said.  "What do you think?"

Nightshade was right behind her. She had an easier and faster time with the locks than Erika.

"Same, given a little time." Jeremiah said honestly. "He is a bit overeager to please us, I think, but once he finds his nich, I think he will be a great asset."

Erika hissed at Nightshade.  Stop that!

"As do I!" Pat agreed.

Nightshade growled and flapped her wings. Riders would get mad if they found out all the dragons were running amuck! Some liked to destroy things, and Nightshade didn't want them destroying her things! Besides, wouldn't Jeremiah get mad at Erika if he found out she let all the dragons out?

Jeremiah smiled. Once at the ward, he opened the door for Pat. "After you."

Erika paused at the thought of Jeremiah getting mad at her.  Then she opened another cage door.

Pat smiled, blushing slightly.  "Thank you.  Good morning, 53!"
"Good morning, Pat," 53 smiled.  A little more reserved, "Jeremiah.  TIthenor and Luke are both awake and have already had breakfast."

Nightshade hissed and closed it. After that, she cuffed Erika with her paw. It was a precise swat, one that didn't hurt either of them, but firm enough to try and let Erika understand what "stop" meant.

Jeremiah nodded a greeting 53. "Cool. Thank you." He got the distinct impression the medic didn't like him, although he didn't know quite why yet.

Erika growled,her spines rising. Nightshade was not her rider and had no right to boss her around! She swung her tail around quick as a flash and knocked Nightshade's front paws out from under her. That was a no!

Pat headed toward Tithenor's room and let them in. "Good morning, you two!"

Nightshade regained her balance and tackled Erika, enough to knock her off of the perch at the top of the stalls. She had been around Erika long enough to know how to avoid the prickly dragon's spikes.

Luke smiled. "Morning." He rasped. It still hurt a lot to speak, but he refused to be mute today as well.

Jeremiah smiled. "How're you guys feeling today?"

Erika snarled and hissed as she grappled with Nightshade, and this time, she wasn't playing. She seized the delicate feathers on the side of Nightshade's head and pulled. Not hard enough to pull the out, but hard enough to cause real pain.

"We are doing well, thank you, Jeremiah," Tithenor said with a smile.
Pat turned away, suddenly distracted. "I should go check on Nightshade."

Nightshade yelped and smacked Erika in the side of her face firmly with a paw, again knowing how to hit her without getting spiked.

Jeremiah was about to say something but then he felt Erika's emotions. "I think... I should go too..." He said and started towards the rookery too.

Erika snarled then head-butted Nightshade hard in the chest, forcing her up just enough. She hooked her legs around Nightshade's and wrapped her wings around Nightshade, pinning the feathered dragon's wings to her sides. Her tail lashed around and around, tying Nightshade securely. There. Now her prey was trapped!

Pat waited until they were out of the ward then sprinted toward the rookery.

Nightshade mimicked Erika's move earlier. She firmly grasped some spines on Erika's head and yanked some, enough to cause some pain.

Jeremiah was right on Pat's heels. Something wasn't right.

Erika hissed but didn't surrender her hold. She tightened her grip and swung her head at Nightshade's.

Pat literally ran into the door and yanked it open. "N-Nightshade!" She panted.

Nightshade cried out as a couple spikes drew blood.

Jeremiah was behind Pat. "Erika!" He said. His tone was not a happy one, and one that commanded some respect from the dragon.

Erika.... Ignored Jeremiah. She had he pray locked in a vice, slowly squeezing the air out of her as her spines readied to finish her.

Pat got to them first. Heedless of her own safely, she grabbed Erika's tail and tried to pry it off Nightshade. The nimble appendage was too strong, and Pat was getting nowhere.

Jeremiah stormed over pulled Erika's wings apart enough to loosen her grip on Nightshade. "Erika, you stop this right now." He said in a chilling tone. He let his displeasure in his dragon flow through their connection.

Nightshade whimpered. She tried to struggle, but found that made the pain worse.

Pat managed to pull Nightshade from Erika's clutches and fell backward. She sat and held Nightshade, almost sobbing as she looked her over for injuries. She was a little scratched up and had lost some feathers, but nothing serious.

Erika howkled in rage as she felt her pray being torn away from her. Her long neck whipped around nnd her jaw clamped on Jeremiah's shoulder. Only to instantly let go without even breaking the skin. The Blade Dragon whined, her spines going flat.

Nightshade whined and panted as she regained her breath. She stayed close to Pat.

"Erika." Jeremiah said in a clipped tone. "I don't know what caused this, but hurting your clanmate like that is unacceptable. How would you have felt if you actually killed her? How do you think Pat would have felt? I am very disappointed in you, Erika."

"Shh, it's okay.  I'm right here," Pat murmured, stroking Nightshade.

Erika whined and dropped her head, curling in on herself as she stood before Jeremiah.  She hadn't meant to. It had just... happened.