Claymore and Dagger (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"... I've got an idea," Sam murmured, turning to look to his drake. "Kennah. C'mon, love." The calm drake was on her feet in an instant, trotting after Sam on his way to Heather.

"Hiya, love," Sam spoke up as he drew near Heather, Kennah resting her head on his shoulder from behind when he came to a halt.

 

[heartofcourage]

Heather looked towards her brother's voice with a wide smile on her face. "Sam!" She said, excited that he was there. "Master Faust decided that I was doing so well with Dun that it was time I learned about the drakes."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I can see tha'. Ye've come a long way, love." Sam lifted a hand to lay on Kennah's maw as she nuzzled his cheek lightly. "Jus' so happens I've never properly introduced ya t'Kennah. It'd be a good time if yer learnin' about drakes. What do you think, Faust?"

"I think that's a fine idea," Faust nodded calmly, letting the other rider go off to his business as Sam drew Kennah to Heather, letting Kennah press her maw into Heather's hands.

 

[heartofcourage]

"So, drakes are like dragons, right? They all have different patterns?" Heather asked, looking towards where Faust was standing. "Kennah's maw feels different than Brownie's maw."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Actually, they differ depending on the breed, while all dragons have unique patterns. Kennah seems to be a purebred Greek drake. Brownie is a Greek and Egyptian mix," Faust explained. "And if Master Blackstone ever introduces you to his Siberian drake, you'll find he's far different. He has more fur and much bigger feet and hands and thicker scales."

 

[heartofcourage]

Heather listened to Faust intently as he explained the differences in drakes. She nodded and continued to feel Kennah as the drake would allow. Sam's drake seemed sweet and patient, willing to let the little girl carefully touch her scales.

"What color is she?" Heather asked, wanting to know more about the drake that she was touching.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Blue-teal, a bit more green than our tartan," Sam told her, completely trusting Kennah and letting the two explore each other freely. Kennah seemed to understand Heather was related to Sam, and she gladly nuzzled against the girl and laid down before her, crossing her arms comfortably.

 

[heartofcourage]

"So...like the loch on a summer day." Heather commented as Kennah nuzzled against her and then took a seat in front of her. "Da said I might be able to have a drake of my own one day. I have to prove to him that I can ride Dun safely though. I've been practicing a lot with the stable master. He's also teaching Koralo and Fiera with me."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Would y'like t'come fer a ride?" Sam asked with a smile, patting Kennah's neck. "I'll show ya how she's different from a horse."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I still have my lessons." Heather commented, looking over towards Faust. "Master Faust, would you mind if I went with Sam?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"Go ahead. I won't deprive you of time with your busy brother," Faust smiled to them both before nodding to Sam and calmly heading for the keep.

 

[heartofcourage]

"What about Fiona? Does she want to join us?" Heather asked as Faust gave her permission to go off with Sam for the rest of the afternoon.

 

[KieranSoares]

"She's going to spoil the other drakes. Right now it's jus' you an' me." Sam turned to Kennah and she stood up straight at a signal from him. He helped Heather up and climbed up behind her. It was the first time she'd ridden any beast without a saddle.

 

[heartofcourage]

Heather grinned as her brother helped her to climb up onto Kennah's back. She instinctively reached for the saddle, but found nothing but Kennah's soft hair. When Sam climbed up behind her, she leaned back against him, letting him help guide her in her first time riding without a saddle.

 

[KieranSoares]

A drake was not only taller than a horse, but they were slimmer and didn't have the same stable spine as a horse. So when Kennah began to move, Sam helped Heather adjust and move up a bit closer to Kennah's shoulders were the ride was more stable. A slow trot for Kennah was not only far smoother than a horse, but far faster.

 

[heartofcourage]

Once Heather was situated, she sat a little taller in the saddle, trying to show Sam that she had learned good form since he was gone. She had been practicing hard on Dun with the stable master and with Brogan. She wanted to be independent and she had found the best way to do that was to work at it and show everyone that she was capable.

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam normally would wrap his arm around her to keep her steady when riding with him. But seeing her fine riding form, he didn't need to. Once they started toward the open highlands, Sam let Kennah pick up speed and he leaned down behind Heather instinctively, his arms reaching around her to hold Kennah's mane.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I've never gone this fast before." Heather called over the rush of the wind as Kennah picked up speed and Sam leaned down over her to grasp her mane for himself.

 

[KieranSoares]

"One day with a proper saddle an' harness, I'll show you what she can really do," Sam promised her with a small grin.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Ma would never want me on the back of a drake." Heather said as Sam promised her a wild ride when he had a proper saddle. "She barely wants me on Dun with Da next to me."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Ma is jus' overprotective, love. But if y'keep working at riding, there'll be no reason why y'can't ride drakes. She'll jus' have t'let go a' some point." Sam knew Julia worried terribly for her blind daughter, but he also knew Heather was mature and capable as anyone else given enough time to figure each new skill out. If Heather continued to strike out at her own pace, Sam saw no reason why she shouldn't be allowed to try new things and ride alone and work with such beasts as horses and drakes.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Maybe I'll have a stable like Annie some day." Heather said with a wide grin over her shoulder towards her brother. "And she'll be so jealous of me and my drakes and horses."

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam chuckled at that and wrapped an arm around her to hug her. "A few months ago y'were set on teachin' other kids like you." It had been an idea offered to her a few times by Van and a few others as well, knowing she would be better for the job than anyone with sight.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Justin's Ma has been letting me help in the shop. She teaches me how each dye should smell and how different threads have different feelings. Master Faust takes me to the shop twice a week. She even pays me if I do a really good job." Heather told her brother, catching him up on everything that had been happening since he has been gone.

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam smiled proudly as they went, listening to Heather talk about dyes and helping Justin's mother around the shop. Eventually he let Kennah wander as she liked until they were near the Lunar village.