Words: 833 :: WITH: EVERYONE

Another night spent in awkward silence within an empty dorm as the night dragged by. He’d thought joining the Flight Force he’d be free of Atlantis. But so far he was still trapped here. His father had stopped by once or twice. Spouting nonsense of maturing and learning to ways of the world. They both knew the truth of the matter though. Aelous’ father only meant to hide his son’s leisure ways with women. It was true though, Aelous had scored quite a few notches on his metaphorical belt. But still he wasn’t heartless about it. He just had problems with commitment.

Dawn was peering over the horizon as he lifted his right arm above his eyes to gaze with one crimson eye along its length. Silvery tribal runes etched into his forearm and traced their way all the way up to his bicep now, marking him forever more a Wind Aether user. He considered the events that had led him to this moment. First his father had hauled him to the Stasis Hub in the depths of Atlantis. He’d been informed by this very same ’Father’ that he would be sleeping with the humans as they returned to Aerdis. So then he was put under to spend the duration of the trip.

Then about a month ago he’d been waken along with a human named Kait and escorted to the hatchery. There the two had bonded and quickly found the girl did not like him in the very least. After that it had seemed he was doomed to mess whenever she was near. She was like bad luck in the worst of ways. They’d been paired during the first mission and separated; he’d busted his left arm and barely gotten back with the group by the event’s end.

The girl hadn’t spoken with him since that mission. He partially blamed his right eye. His fingers dropped down to the eye patch sill firmly inplace. Lady Tyr had instructed him to keep the patch on, it would help him avoid strain. Hah strain, she had no idea how annoying his right eye had become. The migraines had eased up at least, and his left arm was finally out of it’s sling at least. Today must be better he hoped. He couldn’t remain the only male in the Soul Strike Flight Team.

The scent of simmering luscious meat tantalized his sense of smell and caused the young Lantian boy to sit bolt upright in his bed. His movement rustled the Blade class companion that lay stretched out on the bed beside him. Ivory and ebony scales gleamed in the morning sun as the male flipped his body and slapped the flat of his tail against his bond mate’s head. Aelous wince and then shoved his mate off the bunk.

Eerus dropped to the ground with a hiss and then shaking his body in length he turned shuffled from the room making his way into the commons room where the group seemed to be joining. Aelous dropped from the bunk and running hands quickly through shaggy gray white hair he flicked the tips of his ears and they perked up. He’d slept in his cloths again, it was weird sleeping in a room meant more than a single occupant. He gave his shirt a tug to free it of wrinkles then dusted his pants to free them of the same issue.

Walking out on bare feet into the commons room he looked about a rag a muffin but non the less he didn’t care to impress anyone. He was however given pause as he notise the Sadistic Sisters who’d arrived only a few days ago where already assembled in the Pit. He didn’t actually know them yet, but the Twin’s as he called them seemed to give off the aura of Fuck Off all about them. Their draks also didn’t seem to like he or Eerus.

Eerus stood before Aelous in the entry way his wing talons tilted down and a low grumble of warning directed at the younger, though still large Black Blade female bonded to Azqua. Aelous gave Eerus a pat and waving to Lady Tyr he made his way down to the pit opposite of the sisters. He dropped down onto the couch without using the stairs while Eerus curled along the rim behind and above Aelous’ head.

“Smells Good Azqua!” He said trying to make small talk. “Mind if I have a bite?” He asked his face pouring only friendliness. Why couldn’t there be a more friendly Lantian girl around. Like that girl Cere’s he’d met. She’d showed up around the same time the Twins had came around but Aelous had been busy the last few days training solo in the forest. He and Eerus had a beaten path they used daily now, the habit was actually great for clearing his mind. But still Aelous was starting to loose his mind and need someone to talk to other than his companion.

coded by LILITH of ADOXOGRAPHY

[attr="class","believez"]

Always staying a few steps behind his short commander Haedyn watched as her tiny frame stretched and she groaned about training the Cadets. Golden eyes watched on and silence still held the tall thin Lantian man. Shaggy black brown hair fell across his brow and framed his face. His normal attire was also in place and he gave Sceltyr nothing to respond to as they made their way down the corridor to a landing balcony. He continued on in silence as her Mage Class drak landed and greeted his bond-mate. They had been in the meeting for a while. He partially blamed Ana. But things could not be rushed when the Royals were involved.

He sighed remembering that during the meeting he’d had to see his adoptive ‘Family’ The Doevis royals had taken in him and sent him into the military, in a way he was their younger brother, but still he never felt the same warmth they exuded onto him. The wind from Aerdis’ wings caught Haedyn’s attention as his Wing Commander dove away. He waited a moment before giving a sharp whistle. He didn’t have to wait long, the beastly Blade class dropped from the bark above his head with a feral growl and a shake of his quill like scales. Haedyn snapped his fingers and the gigantic blade named Doevis stepped foreward and lowered his neck to allow Haedyn free passage to the saddle.

With a springy jump Haedyn pushed off his companion’s shoulder to straddle the saddle and strapped his legs in. Doevis didn’t give him a moment’s pause though as the beast leapt over the rim of the balcony and large wings snapped open. Doevis already knew where his companion wanted to go, the Hatchery, while Tyr took care of waking the dead, Haedyn would check with little Mei to see if any new cadets had arrived. Doevis angled his wings and with a few great strokes came around the bend of NAVI’s great trunk. Here Doevis decided to call out and greet the morning, his deep voice rattled crystal window panes as they swept by.

Haedyn couldn’t help but chuckle as his dominant Drak challenged the day. He then bent low in the saddle and shifted his weight forward. Doevis felt the slightest adjustments in the saddle and angled down into a sharp circling descent. His arch growing wider and tighter to adjust for his speed as he finally came around to land before the large roots of the Hatchery. Mei was sitting on a root close to the entrance her pink hair catching Haedyn’s eyes first before bright lime green eyes stared at him.

“How did I know you would be here?” She purred “Now now Lord Haedyn, there aren’t any hatchlings for you and the beast to collect. I have already sent them on their way!” She shook her head and turned her face back to the sun again, a deep sigh escaping her, the hatchery was quiet today and apparently the Kabit would be spending the day sunbathing. Lazy thing. Haedyn decided.

He didn’t hate the Kabit’s he knew they were a proud, if tiny and strange, race and they worked harder than no other, at they own crafts of course. But what Haedyn didn’t like about the springy little people was the fact that they held the gift of fore sight and refused to share their knowledge with others but their own kind. He’d tried once to get a straight answer out of Mei, but after nearly an hour of her rambling rants he gave off and left the trickster to her own devices once more. He gave a sigh and shook his head at the small woman. Not even bothering to leave the saddle or respond to her he turned and with a clutch of his tongue he and Doevis left the ground once again.

They climbed this time away from the NAVI Arc Tree to the west of Atlantis. The city passed quickly beneath them as Doevis pulled his great wings forward the current only helping him along. The Mir’i forest rose up as the city vanished beneath and behind them. They banked to the left and came around a few taller trees as they came a back around the Naefell Academy appeared igrown over a stream that led into the Mir’i forest. The wooden structure was vast and intricate design grown strait from the NAVI Arc Tree, a small ‘hub’ NAVI still had access to this area and would often appear though she RARELY spoke to anyone other than Ana these days.

Haedyn figured it was because Navi was like a mother to the Harkronis ship’s and since they’d lost three on Earth it wasn’t hard to see why she was quiet now a days. Dovies landed with a heavy thud on an upper balcony and allowed Haedyn to slide down. The lanky Lantian made his way quickly down the corridor and found the SoulStrike Dorm post haste.

Upon finding the door he Found Sceltyr still in the doorway. Her face appeared to be displeased, apparently her mischief had been post poned. He couldn’t help but smirk at her. If anyone was like family to him it was her, a small tiny thing but deadly when angered, she’d been his protector when they were younger and like a older, though younger sister. It was a strange bond the two had and this was why it was clear to him that she was disappointed.

He took a moment to glanced about the room and noticed three of his own Cadets were already assembled while Tyr only had the one. He gave her a cocky grin, his cadet’s were already showing great promise. He noted Azi’s chaotic stare into the fire and remembered Ambrose had warned him that she was to be watched. She’d had a … strange waking, and an even stranger mutation apparently. He quirked a brow at the troubled girl before noticing the Wolf like female beside her, they weren’t sister he knew, but still they looked like it non the less.

Aelous was here, trouble waiting to happen the boy had failed horribly at the first few missions, and his training spirit lacked luster. But Haedyn loved a challenge, he gave the young Lantian an even glint and turned to nod to Ceres. “Looks like 1 nothing there Tyr” He whispered into Tyr’s ear hoping to poke the bear.

Shield of Atlantis

Leandros Navaar / Dorm Common Room

A larger man lay asleep on the floor on top of any semblance of cushion he could manage. The past night was a little rough as Arabella, his lovely new companion, decided the bed was more comfortable than the floor and attempted to use it. Due to her weight and size however, she crushed it as she lay on it. Not that Arabella seemed to mind, she curled right up and went to sleep within minutes. One of the more peculiar acts of his drak, it was almost cat-like in its nature. If not eating, she was sleeping almost all hours of the day. He assumed she needed her strength in order to carry that cumbersome figure around and she probably doesn't even notice how large she is. His first night upon staying in this dorm, Arabella nearly took out a wall that would have become a new doorway for the room if not for Leandros' insistance she simply use the regular door. She was almost as stubborn as he was as Leandros had to get stern with her only a few times. When he did however, she was a cooperative companion and seemed to shy away at times when she stumbled into a table or wall. Every time she did, he laughed it off in order to calm her down and it seemed to help out.

The morning was underway as Leandros' eyes snapped open. Cornflower eyes regarded the rest of the room as he woke. His knack for consistently waking at this time can draw its roots from his farm days as well as his running and gunning days where he could only get sleep where he could. He had almost forgot his Drak hijacked his bed and he smiled at her. Arabella might be more than a handful, but she was always a joy to have around, at least, for him it was. He didn't know about his bunk mate's feelings on the matter. So far, his was one of the few shield class Draks around and maybe that made them harder to integrate with groups due to their clumsy and lazy nature. At least she was easy to feed. Leandros would just let her into a heavily green area where she grazed on fruits and herbs for hours while Leandros sat studying and watching over her.

As he stood up, he could hear the soft cooing of his Drak's peaceful sleep and it only made him smile with a shake of his head. He used her cooing as a cue to help with his routine. Leandros would heft anything heavy around him in rhythm with his Drak's breathing until he was satisfied, and after that would be leg works. Once he was satisfied with his results, he changed clothes and silently exited the room. If Arabella awoke and needed him, she would find him. It was a strange thing, how easily his companion could track him down. He threw on a simple white tank top with khaki pants and black belt fully loaded with various odds and ends for Arabella.

After receiving the bond, he learned everything he could about his companion. Turns out, what he was told at the hatchery wasn't everything about his drak he would have liked to know. For instance, her scales would only stay clean as long as she stayed asleep. As soon as she woke to eat, she dirtied them up and scuffed them on any object she happened to run into. Be it rock, tree, or person. So, he did his best to clean her scales with rag and water, but it only seemed to do so much to help. Leandros probably needed something more to aid him, but this was the best he could do with what he had.

He exited the room, shutting the door softly so as to not wake anyone or anything and made his way to the commons. It seemed most of the dorms were already awake and about their day. First, he saw the woman Azi. Leandros could only wonder what it was that made her have eyes like that. When he was a kid, he would say such things were impossible. But then, he said the same thing about Draks. She usually kept to herself which Leandros could respect, but she gave off the vibe that any interaction with her would yield a broken ego at best. She seemed to be in interaction with Lady Tyr who stood in the doorway studying the cadets.

Lady Tyr was beautiful even by Lantian accounts as far as he could gather. Highly regarded in her own right, it seemed she was here for them. If there was anything Lady Tyr would want with the Cadets, it surely had to do with their bonds, or their Aether. Which reminded Leandros of the mark on his right cheekbone. Absently, his hand lifted up to touch it slightly as a reminder of the life he now lives.

Standing next to her was Haedyn Drk'mire. The man looked physically strong without being overbearing. And it looked like his eyes never missed much. If Leandros had assumed correctly, this was the man to instruct cadets on Aether. If Haedyn is going to be the one to teach them anything, he hoped it didn't involve too much conflict, but he simply knew that wasn't the case.

The next in the room was the wolf like girl, Selene. The way she moved and reacted to certain situations was an indicator of gene tampering. Leandros always felt a little shifty around her as back on Earth, any gene manipulated enemies were something that usually caused great worry from his little group. If Tyr and Haedyn wasn't standing there he would say Selene is probably the most dangerous person standing in that room.

After her was one of Leandros' bunk mates. The self-proclaimed super romeo, Aelous. His knack for sweeping women off their feet was something to behold from any perspective, but he never held on to the women he lured in. Leandros never understood why. If he was in any shape to commit to any kind of relationship like that, he wouldn't simply let it go. But then, Leandros was the farthest from stable enough to have a real relationship, so he couldn't blame Aelous. At least he was having his fun.

If Aelous was the adventurous and social type, Ceres was his opposite. She was quiet and timid around these strange people. Her young looks and small figure gave the illusion that she was a child, she actually reminded Leandros of one of his younger sisters. Always shy and seemingly innocent to a fault. Any thoughts of his family were quickly erased from his mind however, he would need to not remind himself of that if he was going to work with this girl. Besides, he was positive she was far from helpless.

Leandros' eyes fell to the girl Noxaura. Of everyone one currently in the room, she had the most mystery to her. She carried herself with confidence and yet never seemed to really be there. Leandros guessed she was usually in her mind, sizing others up, studying the odd ends and trying not to make too much of a connection. Leandros felt something kindred there. He spent most of his time in his mind himself, but didn't carry the same air to him as she did herself. He could only wonder what a girl like this might be capable of one day.

There was one missing however, he noticed, glancing around with a raised brow. The last he knew of was Kid. A fitting name too as she seemed to act like one most of the time. Often her nonchalant attitude would grate on Leandros' nerves, though he keeps it under wraps. She wouldn't be the first that knew how to press his buttons, but those were thoughts he strove to stay away from.

Leandros had sized up the room merely moved to the kitchen to grab himself some picked carrots from yesterday. Since his Drak started eating the way she naturally does, Leandros followed her lead on this. Since she was almost always around food such as that and Leandros was always at her side, it was easier to simply make the switch to fruits, vegetables, and herbs with the occasional slab of meat. This was, of course, a treat. Still, he ate silently at the carrot and watched the room with intent. He waited there to see how things would pan out in front of him.

CODED BY DUCKIE OF GS