[PQ] as the sun does

Ellyra

We made plans to kiss the sun at night
Hopeless dreamers, hopeless types

Oh! Look at that! Ellyra gasped across the bond. Immediately excited by the flurry of colors and motion, the lioness' eyes darted between the dragon and the bird. Having grown up in the Hollowed Grounds, Ellyra knew what Dream Birds were capable of. Despite her feline nature wanting to chase the brightly colored, feathered nuisance, she kept her attention on the small dragon.

I don't want to chase it and make it more afraid! Can either of you talk to it? I know some attuned can do that! Ellyra said, trying to move her body between the dream bird and the dragon without frightening the dragon more, or pissing the dream bird off. She didn't want nightmares, but if neither of her friends could calm the dragon down she would be ready to chase it away and deal with the consequences at a later time. There were plenty of drugs she knew, after all, that could put her to sleep and keep her that way even with an onslaught of terrible dreams.

--

Ellyra asks if anyone can talk to it but tries to get herself between the dragon and the bird.

Shedding skin you show your beauty scars
Don't forget me or who you are

Lena

let me wander
with the ones

There were a combination of successes and failures all in a few, brief, scattering moments. Taking Ellyra ’s suggestion, Lena laid her calm, compliant, and composed disposition through the Attuned bond and outwards – so that the complexities would snag at dream bird, friends, and the dragon.

The dream bird seemed fine with it, and between her and the lioness’s herding, it seemed to fend the creature off without too much irritation. Perhaps it believed its hunt gone long astray, especially with the bigger predators there. Hissing, but otherwise unbothered, it took flight, going to rest in a nearby tree and glare.

The companion, however, had other ideas, and while Sohalia certainly tried, the fear was too much and too great, especially when faced with a tide jaguar. It screeched and flew onwards, leaving them to give chase once more.

Lena sighed, but offered sentiments and assurance once more. We can herd it in the direction of its Dragoon. Then, perhaps, it would see shelter and sanctity, rather than panic.

--

Give chase to the dragon! No post order!

who are tangled in stars
and tethered to promise

Sohalia

I don't even know myself at all
I thought I would be happy by now

Sohalia was not the type to curse, but gods how she wanted to when faced with the fleeing dragon! She'd grown so comfortable in the skin of a tide jaguar that she'd forgotten that their quarry might find such a form terrifying - or, at best, not as welcoming as a human might have been. The feline notions that stirred beneath her skin urged her to chase, but she hesitated, fighting the instinct, not wanting to scare the poor companion further.

But then Lena suggested herding it back to its bonded, and Sohalia leapt forward, attempting to take up a position on the dragon's left flank to turn it in the right direction. She just hoped that the creature wouldn't think to go up - none of them were shifted into forms that could fly, and if the dragon elected that option, they might lose it again and have to start their hunt over.

The more I try to push it, I realize
Gotta let go of control

Ellyra

We made plans to kiss the sun at night
Hopeless dreamers, hopeless types

The idea of three predators chasing after the dragon just as it escaped the grip of its tormentor bird made Ellyra want to stop. It seemed insane, because she certainly thought they would continue to drive the companion by fear, but there was still the determination to reunite it with the dragoon that kept her going — and, ultimately above all, her trust in her friends.

Like Sohalia, she thought another shift might help, and damned herself for not having enough luck to have met with Safrin when she tried weeks prior to this. If she had, she would have the wings to use! Though, if she did, she might threaten and scare the dragon further, since it had been chased by a bird….

Shaking her head to move away the distracting thoughts and her tired writer going sidetracked, Ellyra moved slightly out to the flank of the dragon to keep it from going too far.

—

Ellyra tries to help herd the dragon by moving out more on the flank to keep it from swaying against their path.

Shedding skin you show your beauty scars
Don't forget me or who you are

Lena

let me wander
with the ones

Lena wasn’t without her good semblance of sense; the calm measures persisted and continued, talking to the dragon in their maneuvering wake. We want to help you. We can take you to your bonded. Whether or not it fell upon the young companion’s senses remained to be seen, but the Caretaker recognized the route they were taking.

Flanking it outward, one behind, and two on the edges, it seemed less hindered and bothered, but the fox didn’t like the way it moved. I don’t think it can fly until its healed she granted towards her allies; which was despairing and disheartening.

But all was not lost - then they came around the curve of buildings from where they’d previously traversed, following the scent trail, and there was the Dragoon, still calling for their bonded. The dragon gave a heartfelt outcry, racing across the grass, and only then did they have to give pause.

Once they were reunited, a plentiful screech from one another, Lena gave a heartfelt sigh. Well, we’ve done our part. Thank you so much for your help. She granted a fox grin towards Ellyra and Sohalia both. I’ll stick around and mend them before they head home. You both deserve a rest too.

And from there, they should’ve felt quite proud of themselves – moments well spent in the service of others. Hopefully, they’d all have pleasant dreams instead of any wicked ones from dream birds…

--

The dragon is back with its bonded! Well done and thank you for the help!

[FIN]

who are tangled in stars
and tethered to promise