Strength Trail
The falcon flew high, its shadow a bare speck on the distant sands below, its eyes both tracking any movement of prey that may surface, below it flew two dragons, each once ‘racing’ the other as they headed to the ‘meeting’ point,
Havoc bared his teeth at Ray, folding his wings and dropping gaining momentum as he did so, though he remained in the lead for only a few moments, before the sleeker form of the female follwed, gracefully darting past him; she was smaller, more agile, but also heavier, she would tire easier. Still, this was just a bit of fun before they started their Grand Display. Laughing, Ray flared her wings, slowing her flight, and dropping next to him. Though the two argued, they’d hatched almost at the same time, so it seemed only right to complete the coming trials together. “There they are.” Ray said, pointing a talon to a large rocky outcrop, two dragons stood side by side… one who could easily of fit in with Meiron’s dragons, and the other… a dark bat like dragon. Tesserect and Haosuri, they were called.
Just as Reirsyphys angled her body to land, she yelped, only just dodging a large rock that had been aimed at her, startled she looked over at the other two … no, only one now, the male stood, plumes flared as the green flow faded from his body. Startlement turned to adreniline, and she roared, folding her wings and diving, talons outstretched to rake at the male, who stood there, seemingly not bothered by the females attack. Instead, he waited until she was close, and sidestepped, lashing out with his tail, the force sending Ray into the scorching desert around them, it took a few moments to right herself, and when she did it was to see the male simply stood there. Grinning fiercely she folded her wings tight, and pulled on the heat around her…. before breathing a flame towards him…..
Havoc rose upwards as the rock barreled towards Ray, immediately on alert as he realised he couldn’t see the female who was his partner for this event, part of him was glad he hadn’t had to try and make small talk… suddenly his wings went cold and he dropped, glancing over he could see them covered in a expanse of ice, Normally not bothered by it, this though… was controlled by the dragon he could see above him, her head cocked as she watched him fall. Well… two could play at that game, though magic was not something he was skilled at …. he could feel it, shattering it, even as the desert loomed closer, he flared his wings and landed heavily, going to his knee, but his focus was the the female above him, and he hissed, flaring his large wings and sending the ice shards back at Haosuri, who dropped, shadows concealing herf rom view as she passed a large cactus. He narrowed his eyes, folding his wings back and instead, ‘felt’ along the earth,…. there; pressing a talon to the ground where he knelt, he shifted the rocks above the shadowy mass he thought was Haosuri, watching as the shadows shifted as the female avoided the rocks, her gaze back on him, as she launched the shadows his way… he grinned, he’d just gotten started.
Ray was not too surprised when the male barely flinched from her fire, a green glow surrounding him as he used the earth to protect himself, not waiting she leapt onto his back, digging her talon’s and claws in and holding on, much as she knew large cats did (she hoped he would be okay, he should be given his earth heritage). She felt his muscles tense and disengaged as he rolled, the sand swirling around his as they seperated, the female panting but her grin never wavered.
Above them, the falcon continued to soar, ever watchful of any prey that may be flushed from the battling dragons…
WC: 661
Terrain: Earth
Haosuri as Havoc’s companion
Tesserect as Reirsyphys’s companion
Flexibility Trial
At some point it had been a graveyard… and, it still was; the grey slabs of rock just about visible beneath the flora that covered the area, trees that grew so close together that no light filtered through, and yet, the plants below seemed to thrive, covering the ground completely until nothing of the earth could be seen or felt, the grass flattening below the footfalls of the dragons.
“Nuuuu.” A sharp voice sounded, and something tapped Havoc on the nose casuing him to halt, his powerful back paws literally mere inches from a moss covered gravestone, hissing he lashed out with his tail, but the culprit was gone, vanished in the darkness that swamped the area. “Look.” Came the female voice again, this time from above them. Narrowing his eyes, he looked up, just about spotitng the faint outline of the bat dragon in the canopy above. Still, he did place his foot back down, next to the gravestone; wings folded as tight as possible to his body. He knew he shouldn’t be so uncomfortable, but the landscape was so ‘calm’ that it irritated him, and, he couldn’t feel the earth below him. “I’ll show you how to look in a moment.” He muttered under his breath, it was a pathetic response, especially for him. Suddenly something passed through him, his fur standing on end as he yelped… and above Haosuri laghed.
Reirsyphys flinched when Havoc yelped, the bipedal dragon pacing in front of her, next to her she could feel the calm heartbeat of Tesserect, the male her companion again for this trial. Part of her wanted to use her flame to light up the darkness, but she knew she couldnt control it very well, and she doubted setting a creepy old forest on fire would count as part of the challenge. As it was, she was relying on her ‘heat’ vision to follow Havoc…. which still meant she tended to trip over roots and other plants. And the lack of earth below, was freaking her out; it should be there but wasn’t, her talons gripping what she could, her wings folded as tightly. Suddenly Tess, pressed against her, and she stopped. Lowering her head she tried to peer through the darkness, tiny heat signatures registering, so small that if she’d stood on them they would of been gone. “Thank you, and sorry.” She apolgised, easing closer to the ground, and inching forward slowly, avoiding the small clusters of heat that hid beneath the foliage.
Still muttering, Havoc continued weaving his way through the area, but he made sure to keep an eye out for any gravestones… and well… other things that he could just about feel, Suri landed next to him suddently, the vibrations sending fireflies into the air, the teensy bugs lighting the area up somewhat, and beyond the foliage to started to glow, “See, look.” Suri said, the light catching her dual colored eyes, and highlight the night effect on her body, as she resttled her wings. Following her gaze he looked beyond the dancing fireflies and at the cluster of gravestones… and the spectral things flicking about them. “Have fun.” Suri said, her voice rather sing-songy as she faded into the darkness again… his attention though was on the scattering of bones around the graves… they looked… fairly new… bleached almost, and the ghosts, they giggled.
Ray drew up beside Havoc, staring at the area beyond, her attention was less on the ghosts, and more the very unusual.. and .. rather bloody vines that crisscrossed the area, next to her Tess stood still, his plumes shifting slightly as he waited for them to coninue. Swallowing, for surely it couldnt be blood, she pressed against Havoc. “Well… shall we.” She said, her voice echoing as the light faded, the fireflies settling again.. leaving only the glow of the ghostly beings beyond. She felt rather than saw Havoc nod.
Suri and Tess continued to watch, they’d interfere if need be, but… only if the two youngsters truly struggled.
WC: 666
Terrain: Jungle/Dark
Haosuri as Havoc’s companion
Tesserect as Reirsyphys’s companion
Providence Trial
“Lets never go back to that forest.” Ray muttered stretched her wings as far as she could, letting the sun play over them, both warming her from the chill that the creepy forest had instilled, next to her, Havoc did the same, both drawing comfort form the natural earth. “Agreed.” the male said; it had been a full day since they’d navigated the forest, and still, its presence lingered. Reirsyphys had bid both their companions farewell, Havoc muttering curses under his breath at the dark dragon, which… for him was fairly civil. “I don’t fancy exploring a cave…. or going underwater.” She continued. whistling as she spotted the form of the barbary falcon, it dipped its wings but continued on its hunt. “A good hunt, in the sun, and above the earth. No ghosts and no creepy blood sucking vines.” Havoc responded, his tone less than amused at the memory. “Stupid trial.” Ray laughed, rearing onto her back legs and testing the wind currents.
She’d taken off before Havoc could respond, snorting he followed her into the air, almost lazily trailing after the sleeker dragoness, eventually he caught up to her and the falcon joined them, and soon all three were over the vast savannahs that covered this area of the land, broken occasionly by huge tree’s that provided shelter for some, and was a home for others. “I think we should split up, cover more ground.” Havoc nodded and headed west, were he could just about sense an approaching storm, tingling along his fur. But no prey….. he heard the first peel of thunder still far distant and turned, heading in the direction Ray had gone, he spotted her circling form and below, a massive heard of hooved beasts, tails whipping the air; restless below the shadow of the dragon… and off the approaching storm. Slipping through the rapidly cooling winds, he joined her. “I think we should wait until the storm breaks….. it’ll be chaos.” He said, voice gleeful at the prospect… such chaos would make it easier to take a beast or several.
Ray nodded, and the waiting game began, the storm inching ever closer, stirring the winds, and below, she could see the whites of the beasts eyes. They knew they were been hunted… a massive sound erupted around them, lighting the savannah up as the lighting broke the darkened sky. Plaintative snorts and cries, but the heard didn’t break. Trusting Havoc to understand what she was doing, she dropped fast, talons outstetched, roaring as she struck at a beast, squeeling it reared and started stampeding, The rest followed, panic overriding all other thought, She spotted Havoc over the heard, snapping here and there. Spotting a straggler, she rose up, before dropping onto its back, her fangs struck swiftly, endiing the beasts life within moments. Letting it fall to the ground she took off again, picking out another target and dropping again, she was hungry after all..
Havoc knew his wingspan alone was terrifying the beasts, and he herded them somewhat, like Ray he was hungry, and while they would likely take more than they normally would (this was part of a trial after all), he was concentrating on those that were not needed, the older beasts, young males. Satsified at their state he landed in front of them, roaring so they started to seperate, and then he struck, both with his tail and with his jaws, taking beast after beast… above the storm continued to rage.
The falcon had landed as soon as the storm broke, but once the dust had cleared from the panicking beasts it took off again, talons outstretched to land on Ray’s horn, the two dragons dragging their kills into one area to protect them better, for the savannah was home to other predators.
WC: 633
Terrain: Earth/Storm