Ivit, Daminiss, and Rotuk
Ivit arrived at the Warren a few days before the eggs would hatch, giving her plenty of time to get to know the area - and unnerve some of the inhabitants. She spent quite a bit of time being the diplomat, conversing with Mystic. When the eggs began to hatch, Ivit was there with the other chosen, waiting to see if they'd be chosen by hatchlings. It was only a matter of time...
As time progressed, Ivit became aware of their individuality. Daminiss was shy, yet dedicated, and Rotuk was... pure energy encased in the form of a dragon. She was very dedicated to Ivit - and allowed the shy Daminiss to lead, even though she was larger. Mystic said that Yellows, though they were smallest, were highly intelligent, and would be a fast flier when she had her full growth. Greens, however, were much heartier creatures, and would boldly go wherever they were needed. |
Yellow Daminiss had chosen her, as had green Rotuk -- though for different reasons. Daminiss for comfort, and Rotuk for lunch. Fortunately for Ivit, there was more palatable food provided for the hatchlings than forestdweller.
Ivit blinked once, immediately recognizing the male before her. “Veskr…” she murmured, stepping towards him. “Ivit…” the male replied, stepping forwards and wrapping his arms about her in an embrace. “Welcome home.” She lay her head on his scaly green shoulder, eyes closed and heart content. This was where she belonged.
Ivit began to laugh softly, and let her friend and colleague go. “Veskr, may I present my bonds? Yellow Daminiss and Green Rotuk, of the Warren.” Veskr bowed to them, and the pair of hathians dipped their heads in response. “If you’ll all come with me, the Skiya awaits…” * * * The small clearing that served as the Skiya’s court had changed. Gone were the flowered garlands that Dri preferred, and in their place were the tall spindly blossoms at the bases of the trees. Immediately Ivit knew that Dri Skiya was no more, and with shadowed eyes, she waited. A tall forestdweller wearing a silver circlet set with a sky blue stone swung out of the trees, and seated herself leisurely in the hollowed branch throne. “So you’ve returned, wandering Benshiar…” the new Skiya drawled, toying idly with her knife. “In your convenient absence, things have changed in the glade. No longer will you be Silgari, cousin. You and your winged friends are to be confined to your bower until I decide what to do with you. Now go.” * * * Veskr had wordlessly escorted the trio to the edge of the glade where Ivit’s dwelling blossomed. Only her mental strength combined with Daminiss’ innate leadership kept Rotuk in check, as the green was ready to spit upon any that got in her way. Veskr placed his hand upon her back, ushering her towards the tree. No one expected Kyshr to be a tyrant. came his weak sending. Ivit’s expression did not change - she would not betray his hidden talent. “You’re not Silgari anymore either, are you?” She said to him at last. “No.” Veskr said, averting his gaze. “I’m to be Eyrten.” He left without another word, quickly swinging up into the nearest tree and passing through the treetops. Ivit’s entire being withered. Eyrten… If you want him, you’ll have to fight for him. Rotuk interjected as she climbed onto one of the low horizontal branches. The leaves rustled, and she lost her balance, falling to the mossy ground below the tree. Angrily, her head drew back…
“Rotuk! NO!” Ivit ordered, and the green barely managed to contain the acidic blast of her breath weapon. “The trees are our home! You cannot destroy them every time you fall, or we’d have no home at all.”
The green snorted, and curled up on the moss, making a point to ignore everything.
Ivit sighed, and Daminiss nuzzled her chest. Rotuk is right though. If this disagrees with you, then we cannot sit idly by and let the glade be destroyed by this Kyshr.
"Yes, Daminiss, but now we must wait. I propose a nap." With that, Ivit grabbed hold of a branch above her head and swung into the tree, nestling herself in the crook of the branch. "It's so nice to be home."
Daminiss nuzzled up to the tree, then climbed onto the low branch Rotuk had fallen from to inspect it. Mimicking Ivit, she put her weight into the dip of the branch nearest the bole of the tree, and was able to settle in.
"It'll get used to you after a while." Ivit murmured. "Just be patient."
After a while, Daminiss climbed down, and settled into the moss with her sister - dragons were not meant to sleep in trees.
* * *
Days passed, and the stream of visitors to the treehouse where Ivit and her hathian companions were sequestered did not end. Even the tree itself flourished in the constant attention.
High up in the branches, and hidden from view, a seedpod was beginning to grow. Only Ivit and her mind-bonded companions knew of it’s existence - and they kept it a secret, for if the tree chose to grow it in secrecy, not in plain view where it might be celebrated by everyone, then there certainly was a reason. A seedpod was something special to the forestdwellers. In addition to a new tree for the grove, it meant new life for the clan. The forestdwellers could not grow without the grove, just as the grove could not thrive without the forestdwellers. Ivit, however, knew her duty to her tree, to her grove, and lavished attention upon the seedpod and her tree, giving it what it craved in order to grow the best seedpod it could.
Before dawn one morning, Ivit awoke to see the spotted form of a cheetah sprawled in her tree. It was not uncommon for their feline cousins to appropriate a perch, but it was unusual for them to do so without permission, nor to do so within the boundaries of the grove itself.
[Go find your replacement.] The feline growled to her, licking away an imagined fleck of mud on her spotted paw.
“Excuse me, Cheetai?” Ivit said, rubbing sleep from her hazel eyes.
[You know what I mean, Treeclimber.] The feline said, meeting her gaze briefly before leaping down and away into the foggy morning. A sleepy Rotuk growled after her, indignant that the feline had gotten into the tree without waking her.
Ivit leapt down and stroked her green’s long neck, calming the beast before curling up in the mossy nest the hathians had adopted. Ivit knew the yellow was feigning sleep, but she did not prod her bond for information. Daminiss was a sly one, despite her reserve, and would tell what she knew when it proved advantageous to them all.
* * *
The true brightness of morning brought and enraged Kyshr to Ivit’s tree. “IVIT BENSHIAR!” the Skiya roared, “SHOW YOURSELF!”
The forestdweller’s head appeared from in the midst of the pile of dragons. “You called, Kyshr Skiya?” Ivit responded properly, despite the rude awakening.
“Where is he?!” Kyshr demanded, her eyes narrowed in anger.
“He?” Ivit parroted instinctively in her confusion.
“Veskr. Where is he?” Kyshr demanded a second time.
“Veskr’s gone?” Ivit said, her own eyes growing wide.
“Of course he’s gone you nitwit!” Kyshr roared. “Where did you take him?!”
“I didn’t take him anywhere, Kyshr Skiya.” Ivit responded truthfully. “I have not left my treehouse since my arrival, per your orders.”
Kyshr screamed her frustration, and began to tear at the lowhanging boughs of the tree. Ivit cringed, feeling her cousin’s nails as though it was her soul and not the greenery of her home being torn and broken. Before she’d as much as thought, Daminiss’ head came under her hand, buoying her lightly.
“Tell me where he is!” Kyshr shrieked, continuing to rend and tear the tree as others of the clan assembled, having been disturbed from their slumbers or duties by the pain of the grove.
“I tell you truthfully, Kyshr Skiya, I do not know where he is. I do not know where he has gone.” Ivit said, her voice strained by the tree’s pain.
Kyshr leapt for Ivit, drawing the razor sharp dagger of the Skiya from her belt.
Suddenly, the mad woman was thrown backwards by a powerful double blast of acid. The reek of seared flesh reached them all on the morning breeze, and Kyshr was no more.
She merely injured the grove, which is a huge part of your life… Rotuk said, her eyes narrowed as she surveyed the other forestdwellers across the pitiful remains of the Skiya. but she meant to kill Ivit, who is all of ours.
Daminiss said nothing, but had risen from where she had lain throughout the entire tantrum thrown by the late Skiya. Anyone could see her rein was detrimental to the grove. The yellow said quite calmly, and then nosed something to her bond.
Ivit crouched and picked up the bone knife that her dragon had carefully hidden since long before dawn. It was Veskr’s.
“It seems he meant for you to follow.” Another of Ivit’s cousins said, stepping forward gingerly, and fishing the metal circlet away from the rapidly dissolving Kyshr with a long stick. Others brought water to dilute the acid before it could cause more harm the grove than the late Skiya had.
“Indeed.” The voice came from the shadows behind the assembled, and a respected older member of their clan slowly made her way forward. “Go find him, Ivit, and bring him safely home. I will assume the role of Skiya until your return.”
Ivit nodded dumbly. In the past, the one who ousted an heirless Skiya became or chose the new Skiya. Rotuk and Daminiss could not become the Skiya, but since they were a part of her, she would reign… though in her heart, she was still Silgari.
* * *
Daminiss led them swiftly through the grove to the semicircle of flowering apples where they’d arrived a few weeks before.
“Do you know where he’s gone, Daminiss?” Ivit demanded, taking a drink from the skin slung over her shoulder before offering some to Rotuk.
Yes, of course. The yellow dragoness said smugly. I took him there.
Ivit did not know whether to cry or lash out at her bond in angered frustration. In the end, she laughed. “You…. You… wonderful dragon…” The forestdweller wrapped her arms around the dragon’s neck in a warm embrace, holding her tightly for a moment before releasing the sunny yellow. “So where did you take him.”
Ryslen. Daminiss said simply.
“Ryslen?”
It’s logical enough. Rotuk laughed. That’s where Daminiss and I want to fly.
“Fly?” Ivit looked from one dragon to the other and back again before the realization hit. “The seedpod! Our tree was anticipating your need to reproduce?!”
Apparently. The grove is as much our home as yours, Ivit. Why should the grove not provide for our children as well?
Ivit sought for an answer, but found none.
We should go… Rotuk prompted, and with a smile on her face, the treedweller led them through the portal that led from their grove to one in the foothills of the mountain range that housed Ryslen.
In a moment of Déjà vu, the trio passed through the portal into the circle of trees, and Veskr was waiting for them there.
“Ivit…” the male spoke softly, stepping forwards and wrapping his arms about her in an embrace. “Marry me.”
Ivit held him close, and didn’t respond immediately.
”We’re not Silgari anymore, Ivit, and I would have none but you as my mate… please…” Veskr said, letting her go and lifting her chin. It was then that he saw the tears in her hazel eyes. “What happened?”
”You left so you wouldn’t have to be Eyrten, Veskr…” Ivit sobbed.
”I don’t understand…”
Ivit Skiya would be honored to bear your children, Veskr. Daminiss said softly, and realization came to the forestdweller.
“You… killed Kyshr?”
We did. Rotuk said. For the good of the grove.
Veskr nodded, and took Ivit into his arms again. “I didn’t leave the grove because of that, Ivit. I left because of her, because of you. I’ll have no other as my mate, and if I must be Eyrten to your Skiya, then I will do so gladly, as long as you’ll be mine.”
Ivit sobbed with joy, Of course! Always! she promised him, and his embrace tightened when he heard her within his mind.
Daminiss and Rotuk exchanged smug glances. Then we’re all off to Ryslen. Certainly someone there can witness your marriage properly.
|
You are going to introduce us, right Ivit? Rotuk prompted in her characteristic exuberance.
What does it mean, Ivit? Daminiss asked, sitting back on her haunches as Rotuk sniffed around the base of the flowering tree.
The Warren
© TyGryph / Ryslen
