Sionnach (closed)

[KieranSoares]

Sam sighed heavily, stepping up to hug her close. "Don't say things like tha'... Jus' inviting bad luck." He then glanced down and knelt, checking the carefully-reinforced jointing of her leg armor. "This holdin' up okay?"

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona glanced down as he knelt and checked the new piece of her armor. It would take some getting used to, but she felt more independent while wearing it. She could walk better, stiffly, but without the aid of a cane or anyone else's help.

"It seems to be doing its job. It's a little stiff, but much better than the alternative to me. I'll see how it hold up in the saddle." She said as he fiddled with the ties and the added metal. "Sam, look at me. Love, I'm fine. I'll be fine."

She forced him to look up at her, their eyes meeting as she gave him a soft smile. "I promise."

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam stood, holding her gaze as his brows furrowed worriedly. "I know..." He murmured, but he hadn't been able to shake his concern. He was fairly certain that as long as Stila lived and this new war was going on, he wouldn't stop worrying terribly for her. Quietly, he wrapped his arms around her and laid his head on her shoulder. He couldn't admit out loud how much he wanted to protect her, but also how much he needed that comfort and reassurance. Finally, he pulled back and kissed her. "I love you. Please, jus' take it slow an' steady... I'll be nearby." He looked up to Schaller as well who'd pulled back a bit to respect their quiet moment. "I know you always do, friend, but... keep a close eye?"

"Of course," Schaller assured him calmly. "But remember to look out for yourself and take some breaks too, Samuel. We all know you haven't been eating or sleeping well for a while."

Sam chuckled slightly, but didn't deny it. "Call it nerves, I guess..."

 

[heartofcourage]

"He won't listen to anyone, Schaller. He's as hardheaded as anyone." Fiona said even as she held him loosely around the waist. "Even Invah's been scolding him to take better care of himself. He never feels fulfilled unless he's doing something for the greater good."

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam laid his head against Fiona's a moment as Schaller chuckled. Finally Sam pulled away, leaving Fiona with a kiss. "Better get started. Stay close by, but enjoy th'journey love. I know you're done bein' cooped up."

Not far off, Andre had just finished securing the packed-up ger to the back of his saddle as Gia sat patiently beside Marth. Andre slid down the saddle to grab his last bag, looking toward Riley. "Ready, Ri?"

 

[heartofcourage]

Riley was struggling to pull the straps of Marth's saddle tight as the dragons sat passively. "I would be if this hunk hadn't put on the pounds while we were here. He's nearly outgrown my new saddle gear."

She grumbled under her breath as everything finally was secured and she turned to look at Andre. "Your dragon is a bad influence on mine."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm twenty-one, I'm still growing," Marth groused.

"Far too young for the nonsense you get up to," Gia commented with the slightest hint of a smile, making Marth roll his eyes.

"Alright you three. Let's get going. It'll be nice to be back in friendlier territory again." Andre climbed back up and secured the last bag before strapping in. Gia rose and stretched, half-unfolding her wings but letting Marth and Riley lead the way.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You'll be paying for new leather gear if I have to keep replacing it. You're not growing that much simply because you're getting older." Riley said as Andre climbed into the saddle and waited for her. "Between Gia and your Ma, you're going to get too fat to fly into battle."

She climbed into the saddle and got herself hooked in, directing Marth in the direction that she wanted him to go. "Alright. Patrol duty is on us right now, so act serious."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I could say the same to you," Marth grumbled, taking off with just a few sprinting steps to get the speed up. Gia soon followed and they drifted over the caravans moving eastward to follow the coastline to Denmark. Ferries would be waiting to take them across to Norway, and they'd gather their forces over the following month to invade Edinburgh.

Soon Fiona and Schaller joined the Riders running overwatch, gliding a bit lower and occasionally rounding back to look over the caravans. Things were mostly quiet as everyone huddled against the late winter cold and the occasional rain showers that assured spring was close on the horizon.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona let the younger riders take the dangerous aspects of watching the caravans. She was actually enjoying a simple, leisurely flight with Schaller. The rain slowed things down and the bitterly cold wind seemed to make things just that much more miserable. She was warm, however, thanks to Sam and his insistence that she wear his weather proofed bear skin.

"Is he freezing his ass off yet?" Fiona asked, glancing off towards where Invah and Sam were drifting on the wind.

 

[KieranSoares]

"If he is, he's hiding it well." Schaller glanced off toward Sam and Invah as well, gliding over the caravans at speed and occasionally darting off to check in with scouts. "They're going to be exhausted beyond reason when we get back."

 

[heartofcourage]

"He'd never admit it just to spite me." Fiona said with a laugh as they watched over everyone from their vantage point. "He's always been like that."

"We'll offer them as much rest as we possibly can. It might take the full month, but it's all that we can." She said with a long sigh. "With all of the training in between. We'll be lucky to make any kind of headway into Scotland."

 

[KieranSoares]

"We'll manage. Soma will re-evaluate if he feels major pieces aren't ready." Schaller seemed to be a little more at ease, though he remained vigilant. "I doubt anyone wants to try this if the leaders and our best warriors aren't in top shape."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona nodded as Schaller drifted, the rain coming down a bit harder on the caravans as the day wore on. She glanced towards the mountains, something dancing just on the edge of her consciousness. There was a dragon out there, long asleep, calling out to her. She knew she could easily find it, wake it, bring it back to reality, but she simply let out a long sigh and shook her head.

"It's too dangerous for them now, isn't it?" She asked Schaller softly. "Maybe it will be forever."

 

[KieranSoares]

Schaller's gaze turned toward the mountains as well, tapping into Fiona's own senses. "... But is it too dangerous for them to remain in hibernation where someone else will surely find them someday? A dragon found unexpectedly often causes panic..." He veered slightly toward the mountains, getting a lay of the land. "And who knows if it's another Elder..."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Sam would kill me if we went off." Fiona warned as Schaller started to drift off towards the mountains. "He's on his best behavior now, but you don't have to deal with him when he's angry."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I know what he's like when he's angry. If you're not feeling confident, we don't have to go. But we could always ask Sam and some of the others to come with us... Or we could send some of the young Callers off to give it a try. Soma would be enthralled with the opportunity."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Schaller, I never thought I would see the day that you encouraged them to get into trouble." Fiona said softly as she turned to look over her shoulder at where Soma was riding on his own dragon and Brogan was just behind him.

Fiona blew on her whistle to get their attention, motioning them closer to Schaller to give them their orders.

 

[KieranSoares]

Soma's dragon darted over, followed by Brogan's, and Soma looked to his mother with some concern, calling over the gap and the wind, "Something wrong Ma?"

Brogan drifted to Fiona's opposite side to listen, also looking concerned that something was amiss.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Look towards the mountains and tell me what you notice." Fiona called to him, not giving him a hint about what she, herself, was feeling.

 

[KieranSoares]

Soma's gaze turned toward the mountains and he narrowed his eyes, scanning over them. After a full minute, he glanced back toward Fiona only to see Schaller encourage him with a nod. Soma turned back, and Fiona felt a small tug in her mind, feeling another presence enter her immediate area. As Soma focused, he was unknowingly expanding his awareness, and then he suddenly looked back at Fiona with wide eyes.

"There's someone out there, hibernating," he said quickly. "... She's dreaming."

"Dreaming?" Schaller asked in surprise that Soma could sense that.

"About traveling and... someone she knew." Soma glanced back toward the mountains. "She's been asleep for a long time."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, young Caller...go get her." Fiona said with a small smile on her lips. "Before your father finds out, at the very least. If he asks you anything, this was all Schaller's idea."

 

[KieranSoares]

Soma stared at her for a moment before grinning and taking up his reins. "Let's go!" He called to his dragon, and they veered away and shot off toward the mountains, Brogan close behind.

Schaller chuckled to himself. "Well, at the very least if he gets eaten, he'll be excited about it."

 

[heartofcourage]

"It's taking every bit of my being to not go after him and trust that he'll be alright." Fiona said as she watched Soma hurry off in excitement at being sent on his first proper mission as a caller. "But it's good to see him act like the child that he still is. He's far too serious for his own good."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I think maybe part of it is that you've expected a child to want to play and get into childish mischief all this time," Schaller chuckled. "Soma's idea of fun and mischief is exploring and learning, not games of tag and building stick forts like other children."