Shape-Shifter: Tinar and Methiel's Story

Five weeks saw two Hunts gone and returned-- both without Tinar. Apparently a lot of people had the same idea he did, or at least ideas that led them to the same place. The Hunts were booked for the next year, at least, and Tinar was put on a waiting list. Since he was told he was welcome to stay, for the small price of helping out around the Aerd, until there was room for him, and since his herd had not been in danger of being wiped out when he left, he decided he wouldn't worry and would stick to the plan he and the other stallions had come up with. There didn't seem anything else he could do, after all, and perhaps if he waited at each departing Hunt, he would be allowed to slip away with them earlier than scheduled.

He still thought about his herdmates, brothers and sisters he'd grown up with, and worried which of them he would find still alive and well when he returned. That was worrisome, but so far, he'd been able to keep himself distracted enough that it wasn't too worrisome. Methiel helped, though she was also busy with new friends. He'd never seen her in the company of others until now, and he found it remarkable-- and a little disconcerting-- how well she fit herself to the role of whatever those new friends expected, or even just wanted. With Myrixi, a shy but friendly Pisqua, she was sisterly, calm, and affectionate, often spending hours just sitting beside her, just touching her, with a book, needlework, or a flower chain, holding easy, comfortable conversation. With Neli, an energetic and talkative Ave, she was a bouncy chatter-box, and they would circle the Aerd restlessly, exploring or getting their noses-- or beaks, in Neli's case-- into things. When with both of them, she somehow managed to be both, or at least walk the line between the two personalities. It made him wonder how much of what she showed to him was real, and how much was another mask.

However, since he wasn't generally prone to deep thought, and he certainly wasn't prone to deep thought when it came to uncomfortable subjects, he didn't bother to worry about it. Instead, he gladly accepted what she gave, and tried to make her happy, in return. Secretly, of course; he was anxious even touching more than casually within Aerd walls or in company. So far, no one seemed to have caught on.

Instead of hunting for dragons, then, Tinar spent the bulk of his time dedicated to the Aerd carrying heavy things that belonged in places the stronger but larger dragons couldn't reach, restoring aged and damaged weaponry and armor, and participating in lessons in different fighting styles when he found them. Apparently that was enough to earn him a room and three solid, if sometimes tasteless, meals a day from the common kitchens. Methiel did mending things and, oddly enough, working in the library. She knew how to read-- which was more than Tinar could say for himself, but he had never needed the skill before and doubted he ever would-- but she told him she had never really paid attention to books until then. Since she seemed happy, at least for those five weeks, he didn't question the unexpected chore.

That didn't take up all of their time, of course, or even most of their time. The Aerd had plenty of people to help keep itself in order, and thus asked relatively little of most of those people. Their free time they spent often together, carefully not touching, sometimes with Neli or Myrixi, once in a while with both. Tinar, when Methiel was busy with the girls, found casual sparring partners and took conditioning canters around the Aerd and its surrounding valley. By the time the year was up, and he was allowed to Hunt, he expected to be in peak condition. And, of course, Methiel managed to draw him away from the Aerd and into the privacy of the forest about once a week.

After those five weeks, though, Tinar expected that they would have something else to occupy her spare time: the results he expected out of the simultaneous hatching of all three clutches on the Aerd sands. How all three mothers had managed that, Tinar didn't know, but it certainly made things convenient. Perhaps the mysterious Lady Drakiera, the mistress of the Aerd and supposed creater of the whole species of Geperna dragon, had some magical way of bringing all the eggs to term at the same time. Given the rumors about her, Tinar certainly wouldn't put it past her.

Methiel, it seemed, had forgotten all about the promise he had made for her to stand as a candidate at the appropriate time. When Tinar reminded her, however, the day before the appointed time-- as if the bustle around the Aerd, in preparation, wasn't reminder enough-- she seemed unsurprised. Not entirely pleased and certainly not comfortable with the idea, but not surprised. But, when Tinar gave her the option to simply not attend, she just shook her head. When the time came to gather-- diviners and spell-casters had determined the exact time and date ahead of time, and had the chamber set up for observers and candidates with plenty of time to spare-- she went with him readily enough.

They were among the first to arrive. The other natives, Neli and Myrixi, met them in the hall outside. The rest, from what Tinar could tell, were all from other worlds. He'd never given the idea of other worlds, with other kinds of creatures on them, any thought; he'd known, vaguely, that Mythicalae was not the only planet in the universe, but being presented with such a variety of people and creatures was nearly enough to make his head spin. It was with some reluctance that he left Methiel and found himself somewhere to stand among the tiered benches lining one wall-- not a seat, actually, because he would have to change forms to sit on those benches, and he didn't like doing that, to be honest. He was also one of the first to come to watch, so he had his choice of places to stand. He choose as close to the hot sands of the egg-chamber's floor as he could, and he hoped Methiel would find somewhere close by, so that they could see each other.

The candidates had all been gathered up as soon as they arrived and hustled back out again, into a chamber attached to the hatching grounds from which Tinar could scent a large quantity of raw meat. It made his hide twitch, and it was with relief that he saw the candidates drift back in, Methiel and her two friends in the lead again. It was with even more relief that he noticed they'd shut the door to that alcove.

The rest of the stands had started filling by then, but Tinar didn't pay them any attention except to absently wish they wouldn't stand so close. It was one thing to be closely surrounded by one's herd, quite another to be closely surrounded by strangers, some of whom belonging to species he didn't even recognize. He had eyes for Methiel, but at the moment, that was about it; in the semi-circle around the trio of clutches that the candidates formed, she did, indeed, find her way closest to him. That made him smile, even though she didn't look at him but instead at her paws, her tail coiled closely around her waist. She was even less comfortable among crowds of strangers than he was, though he couldn't imagine why, as she had to be more used to them than he was, given she had lived in cities before.

Even if no one had announced the hatching ahead of time, the sound the parents made was enough to draw crowds, in and of itself. Their humming all but shook the ground, coming from so many, and such great, throats. Tinar found it both unnerving and comforting all at once, but didn't know why; others seemed more unnerved, or more comforted, or completely oblivious. Far above them all, set into the wall above the tiers, was a private box that held the least oblivious person of all, the Aerd-lady herself. Tinar glanced up, seeing only her shadowed and hooded frame, leaning on her hands on the lip of her private platform. A sparkle of light on either side of her announced the appearance of her Vulpyr aids, whose names Tinar simply could not remember no matter how hard he tried. If they had arrived, that meant hatching was eminent.

Sure enough, the vibration crescendoed, shattering into softer humming with three small explosions, resulting in three small dragons sprawled onto the hot sand. A sparkling orange one-- Tinar hadn't known dragons could sparkle; it was not, he thought, particularly useful, nor particularly attractive-- strutted towards Methiel, but stopped before reaching her, choosing instead the hummingbird Ave Neli. Tinar had the vague thought that perhaps whoever chose Methiel-- he was certain she would be chosen, though he wasn't certain why-- might shed some light onto who she really was, and what she was really like. An orange dragon, cheerful and energetic, didn't seem right, and it was something of a relief to be proven right. As much as he liked Methiel-- or what she showed him of herself-- if she had really been loud and attention-seeking behind her many masks, it would have been trying.

A few others had hatched, chosen, and now a pair of purple ones crossed paths on their own way to their bonds. They paused to share some kind of greeting, rubbing muzzles, and Tinar wondered just how grown up dragons could be at their hatching. They certainly didn't seem like any newborns he had known from the herd, all uncertain and wobbly on their long legs. Perhaps they were like children, instead: oddly wise, discerning children. One of the pair went on to choose a young human female, the other made his ponderous way towards the two remaining natives. Methiel seemed surprised when he stopped in front of her. Tinar couldn't hear what they said to each other, but it was obvious he had chosen her. Prepared to meet her on her way out, congratulate her, he took a step. Methiel did, too-- but the dragon sat down and stayed quite firmly put.

"What is he doing?" Tinar muttered to himself, settling back into place and twitching his tail.

Apparently getting them in the way of a fight. More eggs shattered, and the hatchlings inside immediately fell on each other, shrieking and casting magics at each other. Tinar squinted through the resulting light, trying to see Methiel, but in the end had to shield his eyes, as most everyone else was doing. Something or someone broke up the fight, or multiple someones; Tinar rubbed the spots out of his eyes to find Methiel stooping to pick up another dragon, this one white and, unless he was still dazzled, almost as sparkly as the orange one who went with the hummingbird.

Two! He hadn't even thought of her bonding two. As she turned and carried one dragon away from the chaos of the hatching ground, leading the larger, Tinar finished the step he'd started before, making his way towards her. She most certainly did need congratulating, now; and perhaps a good dose of solidity, what with two new minds attached to he own!