Dragon Rider Play

"What will we be studying today?" Tithenor pondered allowed as he started slowly walking toward where they usually met for class.

"Hmmm.... good question." Jeremiah said with a frown. "What do you think?"

Mellon bound over to Erika and licked her head. His rider was feeling better!

"Perhaps a survival mode?" Tithenor suggested.  "It has been some time since we have done that.  Or perhaps an introduction to the second island."

Erika chirped and rubbed her head against Mellon.  She was happy Tithenor was better!

"That'd be fun." Jeremiah said appreciatively. "Maybe a survival mode on the second island?"

Mellon bound around his friend and their riders. He was happy, and felt full of energy now.

"I would think that would perhaps be a bit advanced for our first taste of the wild island, but it is a possibility," Tithenor admitted.

Erika still struggled to keep up with her quadruped clanmates, but she made up for it in determination and cleverness.  Mellon had to weave around things that she could climb over faster then she could run straight.  It evened things out.

Jeremiah nodded. "Eh. Who knows." He shrugged. "I'm sure Blackwater already has everything planned out."

Mellon just had fun. He didn't care who was first or last, so long as they all got there.

"The Professor is very good about keeping us all safe.  It is by our own folly we are injured under his watch," Tithenor commented, pausing to examine an oddly shaped tree.  Wind damage?

Erika paused when Tithenor did, sniffing curiously.  Something was under the tree.

Jeremiah became curious as Erika picked up on something. After he checked that he still had his knives in easy access just in case, he cautiously approached to have a better look. he softly whistled to Erika to come with him.

Mellon sat beside Tithenor. He tilted his head curiously at the tree.

Tithenor watched the other two curiously.  It looked like a tree to him, but perhaps he was too close.

Erika got low, her tail swishing.  Then she darted forward suddenly and pounced.  Got it!  Something squawked in the bushes, fighting back as Erika thrashed and growled, clearly enjoying herself.

"Erika, bring it out here!" Jeremiah told his dragon. He wanted to see it first before he gave his dragon the okay to hurt whatever it was. Just in case.

Mellon was very curious now. He wanted to play too!

"At ease, Mellon," TIthenor said calmly as Erika strutted out proudly.  She carried an odd little creature by the tail, it's almost monkey-like body swinging as it tried desperately to get away.  "It is only a cub."



(Adult picture)

Jeremiah gently coaxed Erika to give him the squirming creature. "Tithenor, do you know what this is?" He asked curiously. He hadn't seen buggers like these before.

"I believe humans call them Kinkajous," Tithenor replied.  "That one is a baby, I would guess not quite old enough to be away from its mother.  Blackwater shall be able to tell you more, if you chose not to feed it to your dragon."

The tiny thing tried to crawl around Jeremiah's hand, seeking to flee him or the waiting dragon or both.  Erika wasn't exactly helping in the way she sat staring fixedly at the furry thing.

Jeremiah sighed. "Erika, this one isn't food, okay?" He told his dragon. "Let's find Blackwater and see what he has to say about it."

Erika whined and growled, chittering her teeth in aggravation.  But she'd caught it!  It was Her snack!

"Take care it does not imprint on you," Tithenor remarked, watching the tiny kinkajou wrap his tail around Jeremiah's wrist.

"Erika, it's a baby." Jeremiah said firmly. "It's a baby with no mother. Do you really want to eat a poor thing like that?" As he said that, Jeremiah remembered how he never knew his own mother, but tried to hide those thoughts and emotions from Erika.

Erika paused at that and sniffed at Jeremiah curiously.  She hadn't felt these kinds of emotions from him before.  What was this?  She quieted down and followed Jeremiah as he went to find the professor.

Blackwater was playing a flute like instrument under his preferred tree for awaiting his students to arrive. The dryad leaned against his dragon contently. Loam alerted him to Jeremiah and Tithenor's approach before he himself sensed them. The professor finished his song before he acknowledged them. "Jeremiah. Tithenor. You are early. How may I be of assistance?" he asked calmly.

Tithenor bowed to Blackwater.  "Excuse me, Professor, but my clanmate has questions concerning this kinkajou his dragon found."

The kinkajou in question looked like it was going to die of a panic attack before Blackwater could saying about it.

Blackwater used a little nature magic to calm the little one down, stroking it's fur gently. "This little one seems to have lost it's mother. If it's to survive, it will need a surrogate mother, unless you plan on using it as dragon chow."

"No." Jeremiah said firmly.

Tithenor stood back with Mellon, letting them decide.

The little creature calmed, nestling into Blackwater's hands.  It liked this one.  This one reminded it of home and family.  It lifted its head and started calling longingly.  Its cry, however soft, was a cry of heartbreaking lonliness.  It was alone.  For the first time in its short little life, it knew what it was to be alone.

Erika tipped her head, confused by the sound.   She inched closer to Jeremiah, feeling the sudden need to be next to him.

Jeremiah shifted. He knew the feeling of loneliness all too well. "Um, Professor?" he asked.

"Hm?" Blackwater responded calmly.

"Would... would it be bad if Erika and I took care of the little guy?"

Blackwater considered the notion. "I don't see why not, although she is female." He carefully handed the furred baby back to Jeremiah. "Hold her like this.... see? Babies generally like being warm, and being able to feel their parent's heartbeat. Also, keeping her to your chest helps keep her warm." The professor instructed Jeremiah how to care and raise the little beasty with gentle guidance.

The little kinkajou nestled into Jeremiah's chest, pressing her nose against his shoulder.  She relaxed a little, feeling safe now that she could hear the beat of a heart and the warmth of a body.  This was okay.  This was okay.

Erika stood tall, trying to sniff at the new creature.  She got the idea it was staying now, but why?

Jeremiah stroked her fur some. "Erika... this little bugger will be staying with us, because she's hasn't got any family to look after her, and will die if we don't." He told his dragon. He then silently communicated that not knowing his own mother, and being abandoned by his father, he felt sympathy for the kinkajou.

Erika huffed and grumbled, but her spines and ears went back, signifying that she understood and accepted his choice.

"If you are going to adopt it, you should give her a proper name," Tithenor said.  "And no, you must name her, not I.  She is yours now."