| @
Lynchly |
Iolani smiles and nods warmly, pushing his goggles further up his forehead as they begin to slip down. "My own little ones are here tonight! They are quite easy to spot, having coloration very similar to my own." At this, he laughs and shuffles his glittering wings. "Yes, they do have shockingly disproportionate appetites for ones so small!" Gathering a pawfull of mussels onto a platter, he eyes the kegs of ale and other beverages nearby. Turning his gaze back to the smaller Wildclaw "Well, McGee, can I get you a drink?"
| @
CorgiWithATie |
Accross the room, never breaking eye contact with Roku, Eila gives a coy smile as he kisses her paw. Following politely as he leads her, she composes herself as they take their place on the floor. The previous song has just ended, and the harpist raises his head to speak.
"My dear guests, we will give you one more song before our Matriarch takes the stage. This one has been passed down for generations among clans of the shrieking wilds, refined and perfected by our ancestors. If you do not know the steps, one of our clan members can teach you! So, without further ado, the Turas-Lapa!" He deftly plucks the first notes of the tune, and the rest of the musicians join in. It is a reel, with a quick and airy melody and steady, heavy drumbeat to keep time. Cocking her head and smiling coquettishly, Eila chirrs to her partner, "Ready? I'll teach you as we go." The dragon pairs begin the dance, placing one foot in front of the other and bobbing their heads as they twirl around their partners. Eila sweeps Roku into the rhythm, quickly talking him through each movement of each paw and agilely avoiding being stepped on. Soon they are stepping as smoothly as those around them, and the music is gaining speed. She laughs with abandon as they fly and whirl across the compacted earthen floor. The piper crescendoes to a frantic trill, and the harpist's fingers fly over the strings. The Guardian with the drum rattles each claw across the skin between each beat, to create a more complex rhythm. By the time the final note sounds, the dancers are panting and laughing from exertion. Taking a step back, Eila beams between breaths. "Did you enjoy it?"
| @
Kirevne; @
Nevesrulesall |
"Thank you, all, we will return after a word from Lady Azoulas!" To widespread applause, the musicians exit the stage. After the noise dies down to a murmur, Azoulas ascends the low steps to the wooden platform. A Wildwood Owl, its long leafy feathers trailing to the ground, rides between her shoulders. Looking out at the assembled guests and clan members, the massive Guardian smiles glowingly with pride.
"My, look at all of you! You are all so lovely this evening. First of all, thank you. If you are a stranger who happened upon our gathering today, I thank you. If you are one of those who aided me when Arcadia was new, who grew with me and became my family, I thank you. If you are a returning friend, I thank you. You are all welcome, and we are so glad you are here. After all, we are all part of a whole. We are each an integral part of the world we inhabit, and the sooner we acknowledge this, the easier it becomes to strive for peace. This is what I hope each of you takes away from this night of celebration and good cheer; look around you, there are dragons from every Flight, every part of this world. We dine together, and laugh together, and weep together, as friends, lovers, and family. The point I am getting at is... the better you understand those you thought were your enemy, the more you will want to be their friend. And I dearly wish that we might be friends. Now, I shall not keep you long! Let the revelries continue!" She raises her wings to their full breadth, candlelight shining through their leathery membranes. Many shout and raise their mugs of ale as she steps back into the crowd, and the performers return to play another lively dance.
