07.Apr.13, 04:10 AM
T'lian wasn't sure what to feel.
He didn't like the dragonriders. He never had. He didn't like the old leader and he didn't like the new one, either. He didn't like the investigation and its accusations, its anger, or its callousness. He especially didn't like having his own name dragged into issues that he wasn't involved with, especially when they asked his opinion only to dismiss it moments later. That alone gave him reason to believe that something wasn't right. He was certain that someone other than the man being held accountable had actually committed the cruel act, but what could he do about it? He'd told them everything he knew, and while he knew enough himself to know that something was wrong, whatever missing pieces he needed to figure it out had been withheld from him.
He imagined he'd never know. He wasn't important enough to know. That was a shame, even for a bronzerider. As T'lian sighed and leaned against Khaduceth's foreleg, eyes wandering off in the direction of Katila, he realized that he felt sorry for the man. Was it pity, mourning, or both?
"This is fucked up," he muttered, stroking Fellis as the little blue clung to the front of his shirt. Fellis chirped gently and nuzzled into T'lian's collarbone with his tiny, blunt snout. "Shh...it's all right. I'm going to take you far away, somewhere safe."
Was it bad that he worried more for Fellis than for Khaduceth? Khaduceth was strong, and even at his young age he seemed calm and unconcerned in the face of such nasty business. T'lian didn't doubt that the dragon fully understood what was happening, and it wasn't exactly that he didn't care, either. To Khaduceth, Tal's safety and comfort was simply more important than anything else. Maybe the dragon would feel greater sorrow later, when the urgency faded and T'lian was 'safe'. Maybe that would take so long that the dragon's short memory would save him from any true stress.
Tal kind of hoped so.
Don't worry. We will go far away, and Fellis won't have to hear any of it. By the time we return, it will all be over. How funny it was, that Kahduceth was fussing so much over little Fellis. In a way it made sense, though. T'lian was preoccupied with soothing the little creature himself, and his concerns were Khaduceth's concerns. It was so absurd that he sighed in frustration.
"I know," he said, patting the dragon's leg before walking away. He'd been trying to ignore B'jin's frantic pacing and obvious discomfort since his arrival, but as B'jin approached to inspect Khaduceth's straps, Tal couldn't stand it anymore.
"Dad," T'lian whispered as he approached, stepping close to B'jin and looking at him with sad eyes. "Are you okay?" Please say you are, or at least that you will be. Lie to me if you have to.
He didn't like the dragonriders. He never had. He didn't like the old leader and he didn't like the new one, either. He didn't like the investigation and its accusations, its anger, or its callousness. He especially didn't like having his own name dragged into issues that he wasn't involved with, especially when they asked his opinion only to dismiss it moments later. That alone gave him reason to believe that something wasn't right. He was certain that someone other than the man being held accountable had actually committed the cruel act, but what could he do about it? He'd told them everything he knew, and while he knew enough himself to know that something was wrong, whatever missing pieces he needed to figure it out had been withheld from him.
He imagined he'd never know. He wasn't important enough to know. That was a shame, even for a bronzerider. As T'lian sighed and leaned against Khaduceth's foreleg, eyes wandering off in the direction of Katila, he realized that he felt sorry for the man. Was it pity, mourning, or both?
"This is fucked up," he muttered, stroking Fellis as the little blue clung to the front of his shirt. Fellis chirped gently and nuzzled into T'lian's collarbone with his tiny, blunt snout. "Shh...it's all right. I'm going to take you far away, somewhere safe."
Was it bad that he worried more for Fellis than for Khaduceth? Khaduceth was strong, and even at his young age he seemed calm and unconcerned in the face of such nasty business. T'lian didn't doubt that the dragon fully understood what was happening, and it wasn't exactly that he didn't care, either. To Khaduceth, Tal's safety and comfort was simply more important than anything else. Maybe the dragon would feel greater sorrow later, when the urgency faded and T'lian was 'safe'. Maybe that would take so long that the dragon's short memory would save him from any true stress.
Tal kind of hoped so.
"I know," he said, patting the dragon's leg before walking away. He'd been trying to ignore B'jin's frantic pacing and obvious discomfort since his arrival, but as B'jin approached to inspect Khaduceth's straps, Tal couldn't stand it anymore.
"Dad," T'lian whispered as he approached, stepping close to B'jin and looking at him with sad eyes. "Are you okay?" Please say you are, or at least that you will be. Lie to me if you have to.