Before the Fall [Execution Escape] [Open]

Z’ia laughed softly, watching as Chastity drew away from Rhaedalyn a bit, before timidly extending her nose to take in the woman’s scent. Z’ia had found Chastity to be a lot like Aveleth – timid, withdrawn, and easily spooked – as a result, she was extremely selective in the people she allowed to be near her or pet her. As a result, he was both shocked and not surprised at all when Chastity lifted from his arm and glided to the ground before Rhaedalyn, sniffing at her toes before climbing up one leg, still snuffling the girl curiously and chittering under her breath. Aveleth rumbled something gentle, and Chastity answered him.

The bluerider shrugged, snatching up Plague before she could pick a fight with Aradissicath for the way she’d been so casually dismissed, the firelizard’s eyes a hot red of angry emotions and her claws extended, ready to do battle. She didn’t dare scratch Z’ia, however, though she shot him a disgusted look and snapped something harsh sounding out, though the bluerider ignored both the vocalisation of her disgust and the flurry of incomprehensible emotions and images. “Hush, Plague,” Z’ia murmured instead, waiting for her to settle indignantly in his lap as Rhaedalyn’s firelizards popped into appearance above them. Plague grumbled some more, though Aveleth chirped a soft greeting and Chastity gave a squeak of surprise and vanished between from where she’d been sitting on Rhaedalyn’s knee to reappear just above Z’ia’s head. She swiftly vanished against the back of his neck, hidden by the abundance of dark curls.

“She’s very pretty!” Z’ia exclaimed cheerfully, lifting his hand to extend it to the firelizard in question. “I think Plague would probably eat my face while I slept if I tried to Impress a gold.” Deep amusement lingered on the tones as Z’ia withdrew his hand and went back to petting Plague gently. The little green purred, her eyes shifting to contented colours as she wriggled, sprawling in her human’s lap gleefully. His attention was clearly on the human girl, but so long as she controlled something, Plague was happy and could put up with the silly girl and her silly firelizards and her awful gold dragon.

“Oh!” Z’ia exclaimed, slightly surprised when the firelizards both lifted off and vanished. Chastity stuck her head out by his ear, nuzzling at it as she chittered in a soft whisper. Z’ia grinned as he rubbed her nose with the hand not being occupied with petting Plague, and the little firelizard on his shoulder settled once more. “I like their names!” Z’ia’s expression was bright, smiling cheerfully. The girl might not look like much, but at least she was capable of coming up with some interesting names for her firelizards! Muffin was a bit of an odd one, to be sure, but Whisper and Rumour were rather good names!

“Did you name them?” He wriggled a little, shifting to lean lazily against Aveleth’s neck. Plague was picked up and relocated as he shifted his legs so they were stretched out before him, and he put the firelizard back on his lap on her back, rubbing her tummy and causing the generally sour little firelizard to purr. “I only named Plague” He nodded to her, “Aveleth named the other two, didn’t you, Kiddo?” Aveleth rumbled softly, but he ducked his head in embarrassment and Z’ia smiled fondly at his dragon.

Z’ia’s nose scrunched up good naturedly, and he tossed Rhaedalyn a cheerful wink. “He did, and they are very fitting names! Aveleth is very good at naming firelizards, but I don’t think I want any more. Three is quite enough! Especially all green! But don’t tell D’hys.” Z’ia smirked playfully. “He thinks I’m going to Impress the entire Southern continents firelizard population. That would be kind of funny, since he would be so grumpy about it – but can you imagine feeding that many?!” Z’ia’s eyes widened dramatically and he puffed out a deep breath. “No thanks!”