The City of Riders (Darrius, Sonna, open)

[Cenric Argyle Dawntracker]

The daylight had begun to wane and an even chill settled over the surrounding land; Cenric watched as the sun sank. The orange-glazed grass stirred in the breeze. He knew it would be unwise to travel any further, especially in the thick of night where Shades had better sight than he. Adjusting the leather strap of his bag Cenric marched onward, minding the pebbles beneath his feet that popped into dust beneath the weight of his towering frame. Off in the distance he spotted large snails, a favorite snack amongst dragons. He had hunted one down earlier in the week when low on supplies; the meat had been bitter and tough. The slime had been difficult to clear off, sullying his dagger and seeping into the fissures of his hands. The scent was enough to make him turn away.

But food was food, and if he had had any intention of living the snail made a nice feast. It lasted three days and Cenric had been especially satisfied when the carcass was gone. He had bathed himself multiple times in frigid waters to be rid of the stink.

Cenric paused in his walk staring ahead. A city loomed on the horizon. The earth trembled with the pulsing of dragon wings. He wondered if it would be best to camp on the outskirts, where he could stay clear from the keen eyes of the riders and dragons. Cenric did not fully trust them or anyone; he barely trusted his own shadow.

At the thought of a possible skirmish, something clawed at his chest. Unconsciously he placed a hand to his breast and scowled, feeling the hair on the back of his neck begin to rise. Shaking his head Cenric let out a muted grunt. He was stronger than Raith, the demon that twisted within the darkest corners of his mind. Cenric would not let Raith appear. He couldn’t. It would be a disgrace.

Fearful of Shades, with whom Raith would certainly slash himself out, Cenric made the quick decision to enter the city and take his chances amongst the dragons and their riders. He trooped through the entrance, eyes surveying the scene before him, and hardened his gaze. It was his goal to slip through unseen until he could settle at an inn.

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[Darrius Alato]

Darrius and Attor walked through the town of Doru Araeba. The white dragon kept a yellow eye on his young rider. The young rider patted the scaly hide of his dragon who kept Darrius some company as they shopped for some food.

Darrius paused at a hunter's stand as the sun started to drift toward the horizon. Attor said, "That deer looks fresh and will easily feed me for a day. Darrius, why don't you ask for the price."[/i] the dragon eyed the dead deer hungrily.
Darrius turned toward the seller and asked for the price. After a minute or two, Darrius bought the deer for a slightly cheaper price. Attor took the deer and draped it over his back before following his rider to buy some fish and some apples. Both stopped to watch the sky as it changed colors as the sun set toward the horizon.

Darrius looked up as his dragon partner watched a man walk through the entrance. The young man turned to Attor before saying, " What is wrong?"
"Well, he seems a bit different than a normal rider, human or elf. There is some sort of dark energy around him."[/i]
" Huh. Well, I see nothing wrong to the man, but we can talk to him... maybe..." Darrius said and patted the huge head of Attor who sighed in response.

Darrius
Attor[/i]

[Falene Sigrid Rúne]

TELL ME THAT YOU'VE GOT EVERYTHING YOU WANT
&& Y O U R B I R D C A N S I N G
BUT YOU DON'T GET ME, YOU DON'T GET ME

All Falene could think about was how wonderful it was. No longer was she fated to be alone in a forest somewhere. Now she was able to lurk in the shadows of the towering dragons in the city of Doru Araeba. No one would question her. She was here and she belonged. She could feel it. The comfort of being able to blend on was such a relief to her ever-frayed nerves. And being in a place that always had the hum of a dragon’s breath was a natural endorphin, sending Falene into a calm state that she wasn’t accustomed to. Still, she was more than willing to stay in the city much longer to mend her tattered state of being. Once, as a mere kitten, Falene had heard talk that just being around a dragon could heal anything. At the time, she thought it was rubbish but the greater the time she stayed in the dragon capital the more she realized there had to be some truth to the wives’ tale.

Ever since the incident with the other werecat, Falene had stuck to her cat form unless a dire situation arose. At the present she was slinking around in her honey-colored hide. The ebony of night had slowly begun to overwhelm the weakening power of the sun. This was her favorite time of day. Also, the perfect time to catch mice. Falene’s paws trotted along silently, the pads soaking up any sound she might create, as she slipped along the sides of buildings, snaking her way through the city in search of some tiny creature that would make the mistake of crossing her path. The numbers of people and dragons that were out dwindled the further she got to the outskirts of the city. Most were likely calling it in for the night.

Something that scampered out of the corner of her large, sea-colored eyes had caught Falene’s attention. Halting in her tracks – mid-step even – her head snapped to where her brain calculated the movement to be. The tip of a tail carelessly swept into a tiny hole in the side of a tavern. If a cat could smile, that’s what Falene was doing. Ever so slightly her lips lifted to reveal her killer’s teeth; though, it looked much more like a snarl than a grin. Stalking as soundless as her paws would allow, Falene perched by the hole, waiting for some innocent passerby to haphazardly scamper through. Hearing a little scuffle just beyond the wood, her muscles tensed. Watching. Waiting.

Just as a mouse decided to make a run for it, something drew her thoughts elsewhere. She cursed to herself. The little bugger got away. But that was of little importance now. Eyes wide as ever, they took in the image of a tall man striding by. But not just any man. Because he wasn’t a man exactly… Was he? Ears pinned with uneasy curiosity, she followed him, with her eyes, standing stock still, not even realizing she was holding her breath. As noiselessly as she could manage, Falene followed not far behind the… man. He was spellbinding. Quite spellbinding indeed. She attempted her best to delicately prod the outside of his mind without his notice. It wasn’t an easy task, as she both attempted to stay quiet as well as hidden as possible. There wasn’t much to take, however, from the outskirts of his psyche; he was a very conflicted person. The darkness in his soul was irrefutable and it repelled Falene greatly. Still she couldn’t help but admire his guarded personality. He definitely wasn’t one that she could just glean information from. No. This would be a chore. One full of challenges and twists surely, but something well worth her while. Falene could tell.

It didn’t take long before he and Falene passed a very young dragon and his rider. The obvious curiosity they also had towards the man was undeniable. Falene wasn’t bothering to listen to their minds as well. That would be rude. Surely, the two were having a conversation. And guessing by their expressions and stares, it was no doubt regarding the man she wished to know more about.

tagging cenric, darrius & attor
outfit cat form
words 694
lyrics your bird can sing by the beatles
notes uh… hai :3 finally got this thing up >_>
credits this was made by brooke !

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[Cenric Argyle Dawntracker]

As soon as Cenric had submerged himself within the city, he could feel the eyes of others heat the flesh beneath his armor. His lips slacked, forming a vague scowl. He did not appreciate being watched and in the back of his mind Raith whispered. ‘Let them stare…if they so wish I will give them a show.’ Cenric shook his head, dispelling Raith’s traitorous ideas from his brain. Violence would do him no good; Raith was a worthless beast that sought to ruin him. It would be a poor choice to follow any of his advice. Regardless a cold sweat beaded his temples as Cenric paved his way along the cobbled streets; feelings of unease swept over him. He tried to pass it off as the heat, but Cenric knew better. Someone was following him and he was the center of their attention. Automatically his hand rested on the hilt of his sword which hung limp in its sheath on his hip.

Casting a brief glance in the direction ahead, Cenric took a sharp turn left into an alleyway void of others. The expression he wore was tight, giving him an older appearance. He walked quickly, increasing his pace with every stride before rounding the corner to the right. Peering over his shoulder cautiously, Cenric made his way into an alleyway smaller than before. His shoulders brushed lightly against the walls of the enclosing buildings. His ears pricked, waiting keenly for the source of any sound. Whoever was on his trail was skilled. Be it rider or a beast of another sort they would prove an equal match for Cenric which sent his mind spiraling into anxiety. Raith loved fighting; any match with someone of greater skill would certainly beckon him forth. He would not lose control, no longer could he afford to. Especially not in the midst of a city filled with dragons and riders. Both he and Raith would be slaughtered on the spot.

Cenric sniffed, wiping the perspiration from his brow with the back of his hand. Perhaps a rider was merely curious and sought to follow him for a bit, ensuring that he posed no danger. This thought offered a fragment of relief. His muscles loosened and Cenric stepped back into the flow of traffic of the main street, resuming his search for an inn. The coin bag stuffed within his tunic was beginning to wane, he would need to locate a place that was inexpensive or else he’d have to take his chance with shades on the outskirts of the city where he could make camp. A spark of delight ignited in his core; this option entertained Raith.

Looking about, Cenric came to a halt. Multiple pairs of eyes were on his back, he knew it. Raith clawed greedily at his subconscious but Cenric let out a low-pitched moan, placing a hand to his forehead. His outer walls of defense were beginning to crumble. He was tired after traveling, he was weak. Darting into the refuge of yet another alley, he ran down a good ways trying to escape from anyone’s sight. He began to pant heavily feeling like a caged animal. Cenric facepalmed, cursing himself for his stupidity. Never again would he allow someone to cause him any sort of panic, and here he stood, fearing Raith and the unknown.

Something stirred in the distance.

Without thinking Cenric drew his sword forth, abandoning his anxiety and replacing it with iron determination. His eyes were calm and waiting. The metal of his blade gleamed in the dim lighting like a beacon, thirsting for the blood of those who wished him harm. “Show yourself,” he commanded deeply, authority etched into the undertones of his voice.

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