Dragoners Caissene sat at the edge of the lake, her feet dangling in the water, watching the Ocean Black dragon who was her bond. She reminded Caissene more of her mother every day, with the same huge size, demanding presence, and choice of walking on all four of her deceivingly delicate feet. When she first felt the breeze on her back, tugging on her hair and clothes, trying to coax her into the water, Caissene smiled, glad a breeze was finally up. When, however, the breeze became more insistent, Caissene glared at the dragon and snapped. "How many times have I told you, Tide Froth, that I do NOT like it when you try and get me to do things against my will. If you want me to get in the water, ask me. Don't do your fancy tricks and try to force me in." So touchy. The large dragoness said, crooning at her rider. Caissene tried to keep it to themselves, but the dragoness had a odd talent. She could control air and water currents. "Yes, I am touchy. I try to keep something quiet, and all you do is make a breeze strong enough to knock me into the water when there's not a breeze anywhere else." What bothers you so? And I know it's not me. Tide Froth said softly, swirling a soft water current around Caissene when she slipped into the water. Caissene shivered when the warm water swirled around her legs and she wadded through the water to her bond, where she wrapped her arms around one large leg and pressed her head against the cool scales, trying to ignore the question eating at her. What was bothering her? "Do you remember when we bonded?" Caissene asked softly, knowing that even though she barely heard herself, the dragon would hear and answer. Crouching down, the water barely covering her legs this shallow, Tide Froth waited for Caissene to make herself comfortable and craned her neck around to watch. I remember. "Do you remember how you said I was out from beneath my parent's oppresive thumb and under yours?" Tide Froth rumbled beneath her, a gentle laugh, and nodded, blinking her eyes as she waited for her bond to explain her thinking. "Am I like my parents?" Tide Froth twitched violently, almost upending Caissene into the water, but she clung tight to the dragon and waited for her to settle. The same way I am like my parents, I think. The dragoness rumbled, sighing as she shifted again. You may look a little like you mother, may walk like her and be about the size as her, in most aspects, Tide Froth joked, knowing how Caissene's mother had a much more ample bosom than did Caissene, but your attitude is your own to decide. So...yes and no. Why? "Well, I know you're not far from rising, but," Caissene hesitated, biting her lip as she frowned and tried to find the words to put to her feelings. "I don't want to be the mother my mother was. I don't want to be the parent's my own were. Does that make sense?" You wish to be your own person. Of course I understand. And you would never be like your parent's, Caissene. You will be a good mother. "Thanks Tide Froth. I think you will too." Don't count on it. The ocean black teased, and Caissene laughed until she heard a familiar cheep. It's your feather-duster. Tide Froth grumped, turning a baleful eye to the plum-colored alis gryph. The two of them didn't get along very well......at all. "Moya!" Caissene said happily, wrapping her arms around the alis gryph and smiling into her silky feathers. "Where were you, you feather brain?" Moya chirped and stuck out a leg holding a piece of paper. Smiling at the gryph, she untied it and watched as the small creature flew away. She had found a small group of alis gryphs when they had moved to Caer Brynmor, and spent most her time with them, but she still dropped by to visit her bond every once in a while. Looking down at the paper, Caissene leaned back against Tide Froth again and re-read the words. What does it say? The dragoness asked impatiently. "It's from some dragoner I don't know. He and his bond wish to know when you're rising." Caissene whispered, feeling flattered and furious at the same time. Tide Froth's laugh echoed through her head. "What's so funny?" She demanded, standing and planting her hands firmly on her hips. They're asking when I'm going to rise. Do you realize why? "No." Caissene replied truthfully, frowning as she waited for the rest of the explanation. Caissene, think. It's certainly not because we're unpopular. Caissene's mouth fell open and she stared at the tealy-green black dragoness with astonishment. "They think the flight is gonna fill up that fast? I haven't even said I'm signing you up yet!" You obviously don't have to. They can see my scales glowing even if you cannot or will not. "What do I do?" Caissene asked, agahst at the forwardness of the note. Send a reply. Tide Froth offered, snickering when Caissene just stared at her. Growing a decidely wicked smile, Caissene got Tide Froth to conjure up a pen and started writing a reply, her smile growing with every word. Caissene bonded at the Healing Den Moya is from Furtim Aerie