Admiring the way the big blue dragon's scales shone in the light as they reflected shiny water droplets, Thalassa waited for him to emerge out of the small pond so she could get a good look at his stunningly impressive form. His snaking figure was complimented by a now-wet mane running the length of his back. The growing pool of water under him slowly drained into the ground and back into the pond, which had noticeably less water in it now that he'd emerged.
Looking Blu in the eyes, Thalassa remembered the two clutches she'd raised herself, and how happy it had made her to bring life into the world. Her face twisting slightly with painful memories, she softly replied, "I'm ready to fight for the lives I want to protect. What's the point of raising hatchling after hatchling and watching them leave the nest never to come back?" Unable to gaze into the calm dragon's face any more, she paced in small circles to keep her body and mind moving and stuck to the present. Dwelling on the past was... Painful, but necessary. It helped others understand, and hopefully sympathize. She hoped Blu was one of those types.
Oftentimes she put too much of herself out there for others to see, which may cause others to think her weak, for wearing her heart on her shoulder. She, however, believed it to be a strength. Skulking about with hidden agendas was such a lonely way to live, so by saying the truth on her mind she hoped to gain trust. After so long talking about trivial matters with petty females, she'd grown tired of saying meaningless things. The point of conversation was to reach an understanding, and Thalassa always tried her best to make her words meaningful.
Studying the massive blue dragon's long, curled up body, Thalassa mulled over the clan meet. Of course she was worried about the egg thieves. Stealing a mother's young out from under her was a terrible crime. She wanted to punish those evildoers for their conniving schemes, but she also knew that taking action on her own initiative would bar her from participating in other clan activities. She had to obey, but still be true to herself.
"If I can go with the flight to the clan meeting, I can help be a voice for all the brood mothers who have lost their young. I'm sure the other clans will bring their own who can sympathize with that." She shuffled around, wanting to pace some more, but knowing that that would make her seem more anxious. Body language was a difficult thing to master, but she was aware of how others would read it. She dug her claws into the dirt near the pond and squished it in her grip Examining her claws and picking out clumps of dirt and grass, she added, "Plus, I like to fight. I'm good at it. Even the other males I spar with say so. IF it turns into a fight, I can help the flight come back more intact." She hoped that wouldn't make her sound arrogant, but she found that confidence was the first part of success in battle. A skittish or submissive dragon was sure to be struck down. Standing your ground was imperative to success.
"Speaking of which, I still need to get those pearls for Rosencrantz... Such a
girly thing, pearls." Thalassa scoffed, with barely detectable disgust for the things. (@
bellancawings)
~~~
Feeling very scraped up and now belittled, Silas rolled to his feet and shot disapproving looks back at the bird tree, then at this new dragon who was ragging on him worse than his own mother. Opening his mouth and dropping a cascade of feathers and a few round lumps into his outstretched claw, Silas methodically picked out the feathers and dropped them onto the ground. He spit out a few remaining feathers, using his forked tongue to push them out from between his teeth.
Mothers are sure fierce to protect their young. Silas mused, waiting for an opportunity to introduce himself after this one was done or grew tired of insulting him.
There was, in fact, a method to his madness. "Yes, greetings to you too, O loud one." Silas grinned after she was done, fishing out the last feather tickling his throat with his claws. Aaaaand there; got it, pulled it, gone.
Bird feathers taste gross, he concluded to himself. In a mocking manner, he bowed to the dragon before him and added, "M'name's Silas, m'lady."
He presented the three eggs he'd managed to snatch, much tinier than dragon eggs and definitely less nutrients than a full bird. Removing the slimy feathers attached to one after it had been placed so haphazardly in his mouth, he cracked the first open and poured it's juices down his throat to appease the rumbling in his belly.
"You see, I wanted to test a little bird I've been hearing flitting about." Silas continued, licking the remainder of the egg's inside and then tossing the shell into his maw with a delightful crunch. "You must have heard the news of eggs being stolen from brooding mothers, no?" He studied her reaction to the news, but continued anyway, "I wanted to see how hard it was to liberate the unborn from the clutches of their mother. Unfortunately..." He glanced back to the large tree, wishing he'd been able to get more eggs from the swarm of birds that still watched both dragons closely. "I could only find nests in this one tree. Birds are getting smart, like the dragon clans. Banding together so everyone can protect the eggs."
He cracked open the second egg, sipping the juices and developing yolk out as a gentleman sips from a wine glass. "Wandering mothers certainly have a hard time on their hands, as a single dragon guarding her clutch of unborn. Now I'll have to find a single nest to see the sizeable difference. I bet I could snatch a single mother up much easier than a swarm of mothers. Delicious bird and eggs, all at once." Wearing his jovial, slightly lopsided grin, he popped the shell of the second egg into his mouth.
Munching with delight, he licked his chops and juggled the last egg from claw to claw, then balanced it on the arch of his tongue. As a cat plays with a mouse, so to did Silas enjoy the playful nature of being a dragon, surrounded by much worse-equipped animals whom he preyed on. (@
LazyChimera)