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[Alix]

The earth rumbled as she slowly sauntered away from the Academy and out towards the grounds. She took a deep breath as she turned her fiery orange gaze towards the horizon. The sun rested high in the sky, casting its heavenly warmth upon her dark scales. It was a beautiful spring day and she had managed to goad her rider into enjoying it with her. Lately her Chosen had been downcast and not in her usual spirits. It annoyed her greatly. She had her crystal back, Ophelya had run away from the Academy, and there were new wyrmlings running about with their riders, two of which were her own children! Why wasn't she happy?! With her tail sweeping past the tree trunks and leaves Ammit settled down a way away from the soft pebbles that made up the shore of the lake. Breathing in the warm, sweet spring air she wrapped her tail around her paws and closed her eyes for a moment as a soft breeze blew across her colossal form. Opening her eyes she held out her arm, a silent request for Alix to sit on her paw.

Alix let her gaze wander as Ammit took her away toward the Lake Gardens. Her Bonded had insisted that they go out and enjoy the day together, as if to silently enjoy the return of her crystal. She tried to argue but Ammit hadn't stood for it. Realizing that there was no arguing, the young woman got dressed and headed out with her dragon. It indeed was a beautiful day, and the girl was kind of glad that she had been dragged along. The hustle and bustle of the Academy quickly faded as Ammit trotted on to wherever it is was she had planned for them to go. She absently stoked the blond mane as she looked at the small pockets of flowers that marked their location as the Lake Gardens, carefully tended to by humans and Forest dragons.

A hand gripped the mane as her dragon settled down. Alix swung her right leg over as she began to make her way down the mass of blond fur. However she soon took a detour as Ammit held out an arm that lead to her open palm. Walking with practiced and sure footed ease Alix sat down on Ammit's palm, her legs swinging over the side. Rumbling softly, Ammit drew her palm closer. “Is it not a beautiful day, my rider?” The Earth began. With a soft smile forming on her dark lips Alix nodded her head. “It is a nice day isn't it? It's nice to get away from all of the hubbub and activity.” Nodding in agreement the Earth looked out towards the lake. “Speaking of activity, you have not been happy lately”, with that she received a sigh from her rider. “I'm fine Ammit-”, but she was cut off. “No you're not fine. Ever since you got your crystal back you've-” “I don't want to talk about that, please...", the girl pleaded as she sat there. She didn't feel like discussing it at all. She just wanted to forget about Ophelya and the whole incident and move on with her life.

She felt a bit better when Ammit had decided to abandon the matter. "Fine", the earth huffed. All she wanted was for her rider to laugh and be herself again. Was that too much to ask? Lowering her paw she watched as Alix walked off towards the lake, picked up a stone, and tossed it. The girl looked down to her feet as she picked up another stone and tossed it at the lake. The sound of splashing water calmed her somehow as she stood there. Suddenly she felt the urge to get her feet wet. Deciding to give in she bent down and took off her boots. Laying the brown pair of footwear aside she rolled up her pant legs and stood at the waters edge. she stared at her rippling reflection for a moment. Brown, almost black, curly hair rested against the back of her neck in a ponytail, soft rounded features, and dark eyes stared back up at her. A small smile of childish delight made its way onto her face as she took the first few steps into the cool water. The water lapped at her ankles as she wiggled her toes, feeling the soft pebbles shift underneath.

Ammit chuckled inwardly as a mischievous grin spread across her lips. Alix needed to lighten up, to stop being so mopey and sullen. It didn't suit her one bit. What was rightfully hers had been returned with nary a scratch on it, and their Bond was fully restored. Her orange eyes sparkled as she tapped a blunt claw against the ground, forcing mounds of earth to form under her rider's foot and push her forward. But Alix had felt it coming and dodged, a look of warning flashing across her face as she turned to face her dragon. Raising a finger she said, "Ammit! If you-", but she was stopped by another mound pushing her forward, threatening to send her into the water. "Hey Ammit stop!" She yelped as another mound pushed her to her knees, water splashing up her calves. Scrambling to get up, the young girl sidestepped to avoid her dragon's antics. Oh Ammit was going to get it later.

[Megs]

Sylt knew it would be some time before the true spirit of her rider would come back. Their fight with the tainted water, Iruk, had been demanding not only physically, but emotionally. Cleared for a 'short' walk out to stretch their legs, having been in the infirmary for so long, Sylt was ready for the fresh air. The challenge was getting Nirae out of her bed, getting her to even try to walk. The rider's injury to her arm was nothing more than a faint burning feeling now, but it was her mind that was at peril. Over and over, she saw Iruk wrapped around her Sylt, trying to kill her, digging his sharp, long, wicked fangs into Sylt's chest past her hard scales. That wound, thanks to the quick work of the infirmary, were nothing more than faint, gold-tinted scars to decorate her like the rest. The scales that had been scratched at and even off were slowly mending as well. While Sylt was more angry than haunted about their encounter with the Taint, she was better off than Nirae.

"You remember how to walk, do you not? There you go!" she softly cheered her rider on, who she had coxed into wearing her normal, bright and cheery skirts. Today she would help soothe her rider's mind, get her to overcome the horrors of Iruk's promise. Sylt walked slowly, head bent down as she did, so that Nirae's hand could lay on her short snout as they headed toward the lake.

Nirae looked weak and pale, but life begin to stir into her as the breeze swirled freshness into her very being. She looked around, blinking, as if being able to see for the first time in a long time. She was being such a baby, wasn't she? They were alive, they were okay. Nirae drew her shoulders back, much to the pleasure of Sylt, and seemed more confident with every step. They were just nearing the lake when they both caught sight of another earth and their rider. Ah, it was Ammit, and she seemed to be having fun tormenting her rider. Knowing Nirae needed more social interaction to distract her mind, they headed over to them just as a mound of earth threatened to send Alix into the water.

"My dear Ammit," Sylt crooned in her humorous way, "if you are going to tease a rider, you must finish what you started. Right, Nirae?" her eyes narrowed mischievously, and the girl, her cheer quickly coming back to play, waved her hands and backed away, just as Sylt hoped, toward Alix.

"Don't even, Sylt. I am far from being ready for a swim yet."

"Mmhmm," Sylt continued in her croon, and with a slow movement to her snout, manipulated the earth beneath both riders, making it rise, then tilt them right into the water. As gently as possible, of course. She cast Ammit a slight look of apology, but she didn't want to be left outon the teasing, either. Besides, riders needed baths, too!

[Alix]

Ammit stopped and raised her head as another voice greeted her. Her attention shifted as she took in the form of one of her older earthen sisters, Sylt. Putting her antics on hold, Ammit scooted over to make room for the beautiful female. A paw patted the ground in invitation. Her eyes flickered with concern as she took a look at her sister and her Chosen. What had happened to the pair? She saw some minor wounds but her rider definitely looked worse for the wear. Had the gotten into a quarrel with a Tainted? The thought buzzed in her mind, however she let the matter go when the older female spoke to her; a hint of humor in the older female's voice. A soft smile crossed her snout as the other Earth's rider backed, unknowingly, towards her own. Nonchalantly the earth dipped her head, deciding to go with the flow, it wouldn't hurt either rider to get wet. It was a nice day anyway, they would dry soon. She watched, with a small prick of satisfaction as both riders were sent into the lake. Alix could swim.... At least she hoped she could.

Flying through the air was the first sensation that Alix had felt. Next came the cold splash of water that surrounded her as she slowly sunk into the lake. She was so going to kill Ammit for starting this... At first she had been surprised by the other Earth pair, but then she reminded herself that it was a lovely day outside, and most pairs, she figured, would want to take advantage of it before the weather transitioned into summer and became unbearable. At that point she had hoped that Ammit would quit her childish antics, but she had noticed the glint in the other female's eyes, and if her rider backing away was any indication, she had lucked out in that department. The young woman yelped as the earth under her heaved and sent her and her fellow rider over the lake.

She sucked in a breath as the sky faded and was replaced with a bubbling mosaic of water that soaked her through to the bone. Opening her eyes she looked back and forth, and spotted Sylt's rider who had also gotten tossed in with her. From the quick glimpse she had gotten of the woman she had seemed to be recovering from some injuries, adding in those heavy looking skirts, she figured that the woman would need help getting out. Kicking her way over, she spotted the floundering woman. Carefully she wrapped her arms around the woman and kicked vigorously upward. Breaking the surface, Alix took a deep breath and wiped her face. She paddled over towards the shore until it was safe for her to plant her feet on the ground again. Thankfully she had taken her boots off before Ammit and Sylt had decided to toss her and Ms. Nirae.

Pulling to older woman's shoulder around her neck and wrapping her own arm around her waist, Alix assisted the older rider to solid ground. Gently she eased her into a sitting position on the ground. Alix grimaced as she tried ti wipe her feet on the grass, the unpleasant feeling of dirt between her toes. Sitting down herself, Alix reached back to untie her hair. The dark brown mass was soaked and weighed heavily on the back of her neck. Reaching back she ran her hands back and then wrung out her hair, twisting as she did so. When she was done she let it rest across her back, even though her shirt was soaked through. Turning to her fellow Earth rider she asked, “Are you alright Ms. Nirae?”

[Megs]

Though it was a playful action on Sylt's part, and Nirae knew it was meant to be fun and not harmful, the moment she touched the water her mind threw her back into the nightmare of drowning, of seeing Sylt sinking further and further beneath her. As her panic grew and all she could see was darkness, a wave of calm washed through her. Sylt was reminding her they were home, not at the swamp. It was okay. There was no Tainted dragon trying to harm them anymore. Relax, there was no reason to fear the water. Nirae's eyes opened, and it was clarified. This water wasn't dark, or murky. It was cleaner, more friendly. This wasn't too bad. She couldn't let the past event haunt her and Sylt forever. They needed to move on, and...oh dear. Her skirts were suddenly very heavy. She worked her arms harder, trying to swim up, but was caught by surprise as rather strong arms sought her out and pulled her up.

Nirae coughed out water the moment they hit air, having had swallowed some in her brief panic. Luckily Alix had a far calmer mind and was even helping her to the shore, then to sit down. As she caught her own breath and brushed her own heavy, long hair away from her face, she was able to get a better look at the other. Much younger--of course--skin even more brown than hers. A pretty girl, as always, Nirae had thought. She couldn't help but smile at being called Ms. Nirae.

"I'm...better, actually." The water, now that the panic and dread was past, had felt refreshing. Especially after being cooped up in the infirmary for so long. "Thank you for pulling me out, Alix. Sylt..." her tone changed as she slowly looked over her shoulder, grabbing up her own hair to wring it dry as she glowered at the rather pretty earth. Sylt looked at her as if she hadn't done a darn thing.

"Yesss?"

"It's a shame we can't push them in," Nirae said to Alix, then looked to Ammit and smiled. She did feel better. Very wet, but, oddly refreshed. "Greetings Ammit. Before we came along, how has your day been?" This she directed at them both, giving Sylt another look that said she better not try anything again. Amused, Sylt settled down by Ammit, sighing in contentment as the sun splashed on her scales. Warmth, she had missed the natural sunlight.

[Alix]

“You're welcome Ms. Nirae. Those skirt of yours looked pretty heavy.” Alix glowered at Ammit as the Earth cast a sideways glance at her Chosen. She didn't know why Alix was making such a big deal about it. It wasn't like she couldn't swim. Now if that was the case then she could see why the girl was annoyed with her. Huffing quietly the earth turned her gaze toward the horizon. Averting her eyes the girl worked to squeeze some of the water out of her clothes, and even though it wasn't doing much she didn't care. The girl chuckled as Ms. Nirae remarked that it was a shame that they couldn't push their dragons in. “A true shame”, the young rider responded. The only way she could push Ammit into the lake was if she was a one month old again.

The Earth turned to look at her sister as her fellow Earth inquired about her day so far. “My day has been nice so far. Woke up early, ate, you know the usual. I thought about visiting my little ones”, at the thought the Earth's eye gleamed and a smile crossed her face. “But I figured they wouldn't want me hovering over them.” Alix was infinitely happy that Ammit was so enthralled and enamored with her children. She also didn't expect any less. What mother didn't love and adore her children with every ounce of their being?

The Earth often wished that she could play a bigger role in her children's life, but she realized that that would be nigh impossible. Plus they had their own riders to care for them and they would receive the training they needed. She wasn't worried about them, She knew Katare would take care of her son, she had learned enough about the woman to judge that. She admittedly didn't know anything about Ubasti's rider but she trusted her daughter's judgment. After all Kazuko made great matches. Turning back to her sister Ammit asked, “Do you have any children Sylt?”

“My day as well has been fine. Kind of glad to be settling back into the normal routine of things after the Hatching and all. That was enough drama for one lifetime for me.” The girl sighed as she looked out towards the lake. Absently she fingered the chain that held her crystal. Deciding to ask her own question Alix turned back to the older Rider and stole a quick glance. She was curious, but she didn't want to be intrusive either.“If you don't mind my asking Ms. Nirae... What injured you and Sylt like that?” Her eyes wandered to the woman again. She too, like her dragon hadn't missed the scars on the older pair.

[Megs]

"Only when wet," the dancer replied, still working and twisting out as much water as she could. She didn't want to stand up and have them slip right off, after all. Then she laughed gently as Ammit brought up the subject of children. "You've done it now," she warned, though it was more cheerfully said. Oh yes, at the mention of the young Sylt's golden eyes brightened, her slitted pupils expanding in glee.

"Your children were a wonder to see during the hatching, Ammit dear. I literally could not hold still!" Brimming with such sudden happiness that such a subject brought, it was a wonder she wasn't dancing around already, until she remembered she had an injury to be careful about. But it couldn't stop her from wiggling. "You have a right to pester as you please, I know I would," the earth said rather dreamily. At the question she paused, then managed quite the pouting expression. "No, I do not. The war had me otherwise occupied. The stress was too much, I didn't even feel the urge for a run. Maybe now, maybe now." That dreamy lilt was back in her voice, and she reached over and nudged her earthen sister. "I love children, and it has been too long in my eighteen years. I look forward to my time now that the war is over." She paused again, giving her rider a knowing look. "The big one, at least..."

That lead right up to Alix's question. Nirae had been silent as she listened to the dragons exchange passion about children, feeling guilt boil in her heart. Of course, it hadn't been her fault Sylt had not had children before now. Not once had it been the right time, and had once thought Sylt might not even be capable of having her own children. But from Sylt's love for the idea, she knew it would be possible. She looked out across the lake, her hand going up to her own crystal that was attached to the choker at her neck.

"We...fell into a trap a water Taint made for us."

The cheer in the air fell at once, clattering silently to the ground. Sylt sighed and nuzzled Ammit again, and nodded. "We were rather foolish to go off on our own. We thought this to be the Taint that killed Nirae's father some time ago. It was, but...it proved to be a challenge we barely escaped from."

Nirae didn't notice, but she was quivering. She could remember tasting death, and feeling Sylt drowning, drowning...

"But we did," Sylt said, her own voice stronger. "That is what counts."