shadow of the day. [Kat!]

[Cy]

[/i][/color]

It was all the warning that Zeke was offered before the large red detached himself from the man's side to stride away. It was more than enough to bring him to an abrupt halt and lift his gaze off to watch Dareph leave. His pulse raced for a moment in a flutter of panic that he couldn't explain, but his eyes continued forward to follow the direction that his simourv was heading off in until he caught sight of the other winglet and his large black bonded. He felt paused, wary and suspicious. The uncertainty that festered in his guts was a sharp and familiar sensation, but with a quiet sigh kept to himself, he shifted his weight and began to reluctantly follow after the chick.

Dareph, meanwhile, moved with a grand sense of purpose and significance. His head was held high, his typically warm eyes now cool with wariness as he prepared himself for any possibility in this confrontation. He hoped it went well. He hoped it ended on friendly terms. But the matter must be addressed. 'Dionyph, my brother.' He greeted formally, nodding his head down briefly in acknowledgment as he requested the black's attention, picking himself back up tall as he brought himself to a stop, his attentions focused solely on his sibling.[/ul][/size]

[Kat]

Ri’ley adored Dionyph. Of course, all the other winglets adored their simourvs as much as he adored Dionyph, but the fact remained as a strange contrast to Ri’ley’s often-cold demeanor and a testament to his true, devoted and passionate temperament. While Ri’ley admitted affection and love to few people, the ones that he did love were cared for with a passionate intensity. Deep within his cold, brooding shell, Ri’ley was a loving and caring individual, and Dionyph brought out every once of affection, attachment, and passion in Ri’ley. To the man, the hatchling could do no wrong. Dionyph was perfect in every way to the man, who had spent the past few days in a state of wide-eyed, prodigious fantasy. Eventually, Ri’ley expected the honeymoon phase to end, and then, perhaps Dionyph’s annoying tendencies might seem bothersome or wrong to the man, but for now, even the hatchling’s imperfections were superlative and incredible. Without Dionyph, Ri’ley was not entirely sure how he had survived so many years, because now that he was connected to the black hatchling, he felt complete in a way he had never felt complete before. In fact, Ri’ley had never even realized how incomplete he felt, how fragmented and empty he had been up until the point of bonding, but now, a void in his soul had been filled with the somber melodrama of Dionyph.

And yet, ever since the hatching, Ri’ley had not had a break. He was constantly caring for Dionyph, and when he was not feeding or grooming the hatchling, he was trying to perform work in the infirmary. He liked being able to perform menial medical tasks for the Eyrie. It alleviated some of the stress of Dionyph’s constant hunger, and allowed Ri’ley to feel as if he was giving back to a community which had provided him with so much. While he did not have any useful skills, or at least skills which aided him in his life as a winglet, he could heal, and he liked that he felt useful to the Eyrie. While the other winglets, or riders, for the matter, could fight or farm, Ri’ley could heal, and he liked to feel useful to the community. Maybe Dionyph’s obsession with duty and obligation to his family and his Eyrie rubbed off on Ri’ley, or maybe he really did feel the need to try to thank the Eyrie for the gift of his simourv, Ri’ley would be forever grateful for Dionyph and the completion of his life. So, Ri’ley was busy, and thus he spent very little time in the Winglet barracks. Even though days had passed, the man had yet to finish unpacking his belongings, which still remained in large piles in the middle of his room. He had managed to secure his trunk under his bed, so that he had access to his clothing, and he had organized his surgical equipment on top of his trunk. A part of Ri’ley was reluctant to move into his room. The space was so vast, so grand and large, that he felt that he would never be able to fill the space to the point that it felt comfortable and not empty and cavernous. Ri’ley could not even imagine living in an Eyling. They must be even larger and even less personal.

When Ri’ley did have the time to unpack he either felt too tired or too reluctant to perform the task. In fact, currently, Ri’ley found that since returning from feeding Dionyph, he had nothing to do immediately, but because of the impersonal feeling of his room, Ri’ley did not want to return to it. He wondered if it would be odd to bring a book to the infirmary, so he could read in an environment which was comfortable and familiar. Ri’ley could go read in the gardens, since he was beginning to realize that he liked the outdoors more than he had thought before his trip to the Eyrie, and Dionyph loved to feel the sunlight against his shiny, black feathers. But even though it was autumn, Ri’ley thought that the outside was hot, especially at this time of day.
Where do you think we should go?
Ri’ley questioned as he exited their room and entered the hallway. Dionyph followed, striding a few steps behind Ri’ley, loyally remaining a partner to Ri’ley’s movements.
I don’t know, mine. I will go wherever you go, even if you strive to walk to the end of the earth.
Dionyph replied as he trotted into the hallway, sliding so that he stood next to Ri’ley, in the tight space. Ri’ley beamed towards his hatchling and shook his head, which bounced his long, black hair into his eyes. He needed to cut his hair. It was a mess, and he needed to groom himself.
I have no plans of venturing that far. I was thinking somewhere in the Eyrie.
Ri’ley replied as he turned his gaze away from Dionyph and towards the back of the hallway. He was not sure for what he searched; he wanted to glean some sort of inspiration from the other rooms, some occupied, and others empty.

Only because Ri’ley happened to look down the hall did he spot Ze’el and his red. He had not yet been introduced to the redrider, which seemed odd to Ri’ley, now that he thought about it, since they had both bonded to the same class of eggs, and because they both seemed to be around the same age. But, then again, Ri’ley had been positively terrible at meeting the other winglets when they all were candidates, and now everyone was as busy as he, bustling around and darting here and there. To say he regretted not being more outgoing as a candidate was an understatement. Ri’ley knew he had made an error in judgment for being so closed and reserved, but he had not realized the full implications of his new life when he first reached the Eyrie. Now, he understood that he would spend his life intimately connected to the other members of his class, when then, he had not. The red hatchling seemed to be approaching him and Dionyph, but it was clear the hatchling wished to talk to Dionyph and not Ri’ley, so the man submitted, dropping behind his large hatchling, as Dionyph stepped forwards. After a few, rather graceful, strides forwards, Dionyph dropped his front legs, chest, and head into a bow of greeting.
Oh, honorable brother Dareph. It is an honor to be addressed by you. I am sorry that this is the first chance we have had to speak since our hatching.
Dionyph replied, and while the hatchling greeted his brother, Ri’ley studied the rider. The man looked shy, and he would have been tall if Ri’ley was not such a large man himself, easily a few inches taller, and hunched. In fact, the man’s posture matched Ri’ley’s own.

Dionyph lifted himself from his bowed position and glanced quickly back to Ri’ley before turning his attention back to Dareph. Dionyph leaned briefly towards Ri’ley in an expectant manner.
It would be polite and appropriate for you to introduce yourself to Dareph’s Ze’el instead of standing there and staring, mine.
Dionyph instructed, before he turned his vision and attention back to the red hatchling. Ri’ley glared at Dionyph for a second, slightly irritated at the blatant instruction, even though without it, Ri’ley would have stood awkwardly and waited for the hatchlings’ interaction to spurn a conversational point of entry.
”I don’t think we have met. I am Ri’ley, and that is Dionyph.”
Ri’ley began, stiffly and formally, as he gestured with his head towards his hatchling.
”And you are Ze’el?"
Ri’ley questioned, even though he already knew the answer, while he offered the man his large, right hand. Dionyph gave the man a reassuring, pleased mental nudge as he waited for Dareph to respond. Eventually, the black hatching would prompt Ri’ley into proper and personable social skills, but for now, Ri’ley was still a bit stoic and cold towards other people. He would just have to learn to expose some of that warmth, that passion, which Dionyph knew so well, hidden beneath his more stern exterior, and with Dionyph there to guide him, the man would learn.

[Cy]

[/I][/color] he returned with a respectful dip of his own head, his gestures far more subdued than those of the black. It was strange to think that, though Dareph was large for his age in that moment, Dionyph would grow to be the bigger of the two – and yet there they stood, the black bowing to the red.

For Ze’el, it seemed stranger to see his simourv behaving so formally with the memory of him playing childishly with the tawny so fresh in his mind.

If he noticed the other man staring at him, he kept his mouth shut and his head down without giving a sign of it. He was certainly aware of the other winglet though, conscious of the bigger size that automatically symbolized a bigger threat. With his hands buried in his pocket and his hard stare focused down on the hatchlings, he seemed content to remain as nothing more than mere background, unimportant and often relatively unnoticed. Even if the other man had been content to do the same, the Sayaie native still had to learn that the simourv did not – at least, his own simourv didn’t – encourage such reservations in their riders when it came to interacting with the others of his class. So it shouldn’t have been as much of a surprise as it was when Ri’ley spoke, introducing himself and the black that had chosen him at the Hatching. His blue eyes lifted to focus on the taller man as he spoke, wary and narrowed.

Taken aback slightly at how the blackrider seemed to already know his name, his gaze narrowed further. He had to remember though that, not only had he been in lessons with this man as a candidate, but they now had partners that could often seem so omniscient at times. He dropped his attentions down to the hand extended to him. He hated touching. It made him nervous. It made him feel awkward and too big for the space he occupied. Handshakes made him feel weak and overwhelmed. Who had created the notion of shaking hands with a stranger? It seemed ridiculous and unnecessary. He hoped them mauled by a pack of koxi. A retinue of anxious thoughts were interrupted by a swift flick of Dareph’s tail against the back of his legs as the simourv encouraged the farmer to stop his fretting and act. At least Dionyph understood the necessity of needing to step in to bring reserved men out of their shells.

He thrust his hand out to slide his rough palm into Ri’ley’s, accepting his greeting as was apparently expected of him by all parties involved. His chest hurt. “Ye’h.” He muttered simply, his eyes down on their hands as he offered a brief squeeze rather than any actual shake before making to retract his hand and shove it deep into his pocket once more. He would have quieted down once more if it weren’t for the red that craned his neck back to peer at his man with warm brown eyes, encouraging him still further. “An’ this is Dareph,” He added on as an afterthought, gaze focused on the introduced simourv now.

With that hassle out of the way, the giant hatchling offered a firm nod and transferred his attentions back to the source of his distraction. ‘I have something I wished to discuss with you, concerning your altercation with our brother Teimoph in front of the gray Laraph,” he stated, straight to the point. Stretching his neck out towards the other male, he huffed seriously. ‘I want to know what happened.’ A warrior was fair and laid no judgment until the story was received in full. He wasn’t pleased that any fuss had been made in front of the gray queen, but he’d still make sure to hear Dionyph’s side of things. He’d discuss the matter with the volatile Teimoph at another time.[/ul][/size]

[Kat]

Dionyph disliked gossip, or at least, he disliked gossip on principle. The truth of the matter was that the hatchling believed in knowing many things, but that he should obtain the information directly from the source of the involved parties. While Dareph was doing just that, asking Dionyph directly about his interaction with Laraph and Teimoph at the hatching, the thought that the other simourvs might be discussing his behavior bothered the black hatchling. He wanted to think that all the other simourvs knew that he had acted appropriately in the situation, or at least as appropriately as he could. Even the possibility of any of his brothers or sisters thinking poorly of him made Dionyph upset. Ri’ley felt his bonded’s rising panic, and he began to think thoughts of encouragement, of how much he loved and cared for Dionyph. Of how loyal and good Dionyph was. Of how Dionyph’s many unsurpassed virtues. And with those thoughts coursing through Ri’ley’s mind, pouring into Dionyph’s head through their connection, Dionyph began to calm, which allowed the black hatchling to keep his composure.

Ri’ley noticed Ze’el’s hesitance at accepting his hand. The hesitance resonated as a strange anxiety, and Ri’ley felt a bit bad for initiating the action. He did not want to make other people uncomfortable. He understood shyness and awkwardness; he was not the most personable person, and he would not have even started the interaction had Dionyph not prompted an introduction. Ri’ley had known a surgeon once that feared germs and would not shake hands with anyone in order to avoid transfer of contaminants. While Ri’ley liked to keep himself clean and as germ free as possible, he thought the action had been very silly and pointless; hands touched dirty things all the time. That was a fact, and bodies had systems in place to prevent infection which worked fairly well in most cases. But this man, Ze’el’s hesitance was something else. He just seemed reluctant to shake hands, solely because of the merit of the action.
It is nice to meet you, Ze’el.”
Ri’ley squeezed the man’s hand gently back, before he quickly released. No use prolonging the action which already caused so much awkward air.

After the handshake ended, prematurely, Ri’ley bent his knees so that he was more level with the red hatchling. Even though the larger hatchlings were approaching Ri’ley’s height, none of them had reached eye level with them yet. Dareph was almost as large as his Dionyph, Ri’ley noted, and had been at the hatching. Dionyph would probably be bigger than the red when the hatchlings grew, but the black would be bigger, at least by a little bit, as he was now.
”And it is an honor to meet you, Dareph.”
Ri’ley added with a small bow of his head. The formality of Dionyph’s greeting inspired a formal greeting from the human bonded. It seemed inappropriate to address the large red informally or to neglect the interaction entirely. Dionyph chirped with encouragement. He was glad his bonded was becoming better at interacting with his siblings. Ri'ley then lifted himself into a standing position again, but he kept his gaze on Dareph.

Until the red spoke, he black hatchling had hardly considered his interaction with Teimoph to be an altercation. While they had bickered a bit back and forth, or rather, Teimoph and aggressed and Dionyph had defended, they had not had a true fight. Had the two hatchlings fought, the scene would have been much grand and much more worthy of discussion amongst the other hatchlings. And while Dionyph felt the need to defend himself, he also knew he needed to present the information in the least biased way possible. Dionyph did not lie. He believed honesty was one of the greatest of virtues, and Dionyph prided himself in his ability to be fair and honest. He had to convey his side of the story without casting too negative a light on Teimoph, he had to tell the truth, and he had to present the information in a way which made Dareph know that Dionyph told the truth fairly.
I was greeting our Gray sister, and Teimoph became jealous of the attention she gave me, so he came over and presented her with a gift of extra food pieces, and chided me for being a bad vassal. So I defended my honor verbally. I tried to be as fair and appropriate as I could, but I’m afraid I might have acted a bit foolish. I do think that Teimoph was being unfair to me, however, I keep trying to remind myself that he is my brother and that I must accept him as he is. I do not believe Laraph was insulted by my behavior, and if she is, I am afraid that I will be too mortified to show my face in front of my other siblings.
Dionyph explained slowly, his words sounding sadder and sadder as he spoke. He sounded almost pitifully melancholy, both because of the natural gravely tone of his deep voice, and because he was becoming increasingly more sure that Dareph must find him horrible. Dareph was asking about the altercation, and Dionyph knew that meant that Dareph found his behavior at the hatching inappropriate. Dionyph did not like that the red hatchling already had formed a bad opinion of him. He had tried to be the best servant to his queen that he could be, and within his first day of life, he had failed. How could he be a good knight to Laraph if he could not even make a good impression to his other hatchlings? How could he be a good protector if everyone thought that he was inappropriate and thus irresponsible? He could be nothing unless he was respected, and he had already ruined his chances for true respect.

Ri’ley felt his hatchling’s mounting panic, and he knew that he needed to make Dionyph understand how special and powerful he was. The black hatchling’s thoughts were spinning out of control, and his emotional stability was waning. Ri’ley was not going to allow Dionyph to become so insecure. He did not like to think that Dionyph was in any sort of trauma or pain. Ri’ley’s face morphed into a tight, cold, but almost panicked expression as he looked towards Dionyph.
The other simourvs, winglets, and riders will respect you, do respect you, and I love you and I will always love you.
Ri’ley encouraged, almost smothering his simourv with affection and support. After he spoke, Dionyph did begin calm, but he dropped his body back, so that he was leaning against Ri’ley’s legs and torso, with his head reaching the middle of the tall man’s chest. The hatchling still held his chest out, and his head high, but he wanted to be close to his. He wanted to be as close as possible to the creature who supported him not matter what and who would love him unconditionally for the rest of their lives. Ri’ley both comprehended his hatchling’s needs and felt his hatchling’s need, and so the man draped his arms around Dionyph’s neck so that he hugged the hatchling casually, with Dionyph’s head close to his chest. Dionyph could feel Ri’ley’s heartbeat from that position, and the uneven, but regular, rhythm. Both sets of eyes, the white ones of the simourv and the black eyes of the man turned to look upon the other pair, surveying both man and hatchling, waiting a reply from Dareph or Ze’el, whomever spoke first.

[Cy]

[/I][/color] He returned, his voice a deep and friendly presence in the man’s mind, dipping his head in return. Yes, he liked this one. Dionyph had chosen quite well.

With the black addressing the business at hand, Dareph efficiently returned his attentions to the matter at hand. Ears pricked up and his gaze a neutral weight on his brother, he listened carefully and without interruption. He was a solid figure as he absorbed the information, making no move to scoff or shift with impatience or disbelief. He wasn’t here to gossip. He wasn’t here to judge. He was here to protect and defend, and to assure that his siblings behaved themselves appropriately. He would have no animosities brewing from one to another. It was irresponsible for an altercation to occur at their moment of birth at all, let alone in front of their Gray sister, but he was pleased with Dionyph’s telling of what had happened. It was appropriately remorseful, perhaps more than was actually necessary for as small as the conflict had been. He was unaffected by the growing melancholy in the male’s voice; he felt used to it. However, by the end, he chose to act regardless, stretching his neck out to croon comfortingly to his sibling. ‘I am sure that Laraph bears no ill will towards you, my brother. Nothing was out of hand, at least.’ He explained logically, pulling his head back to straighten up with a light ruffle of his feathers, holding the other male firmly in his stare. ‘You can acknowledge what you may have done wrong though and that is good. I will have to speak to our brother and make sure he can do the same.’

As Dionyph leaned back against his winglet, and Ri’ley responded by draping his arms about the long neck, Ze’el finally averted his eyes to Dareph. The large red had a habit of leaning against him as they walked together. He’d was no longer sure if the simourv did it for personal comfort or to comfort him, but it was becoming a familiar way. It had swiftly become strange to walk without some kind of weight brushing against his side. He’d never hugged the creature though. He rarely even dared to stroke the beast. In fact, the levels of affection that he expressed to the red were few and far between, decidedly awkward in their attempts. Had he ever actually used the word ‘love’? He couldn’t recall. He just assumed that the beast knew. Taking a slow breath, he forced his mind away from such thoughts and let his gaze drift even further to the side, standing quiet and awkward. Now that they’d spoken to each other, forced or not, and they’d touched, he felt hyper aware of the man’s presence and those dark eyes aimed towards him. What could he possibly say though? He could only hope that Dareph’s business would take too much longer. Sometimes, he hated that he’d bonded to a simourv that loved his siblings. It’d be so much easier if he didn’t.[/ul][/size]

[Kat]

Dareph’s Ze’el was quite awkward, Ri’ley noted, and while Ri’ley was not champion of human inter-personal reactions, he could tell that this man was worse than him, almost so shy that he could barely interact properly. Because Ze’el’s eyes drifted away from Ri’ley’s face, the taller man’s own gaze floated away. He could not sustain eye contact when Ze’el appeared so opposed to it. Instead of looking towards the man, Ri’ley’s brown eyes floated downwards to peer into Dionyph’s silver eyes. Since Dionyph insisted on interacting with Dareph, Ri’ley would have to interact with Ze’el more, but for right now, he could think of little else to say. Ri’ley needed a few seconds to collect his thoughts and to invent a line of conversation. Dionyph glanced up at Ri’ley with expectant eyes. He wanted the man to continue to talk to Dareph’s. Ri’ley needed to learn to conduct himself better. The man could be polite, but he struggled to be personable. A knight needed to be both, which meant that Dionyph needed to extract all the best from Ri’ley, to maximize the man to the level that Dionyph knew he could reach.

As Dareph continued to speak, Dionyph became less upset, and the hatchling wiggled from under Ri’ley’s arms. He slipped under the man’s arm on the left side, so that he could pad towards Dareph. Dionyph reached a position a few inches in front of Dareph, and he straightened his position so that he sat at his full height in front of the red hatchling. So far, he liked the way that Dareph conducted himself. The red was a true gentleman even if Ze’el was not polite himself. Dionyph bowed his head again, and then his face brightened into a warm, but contemplative expression.
I am glad, brother, that you find my remorse appropriate. I would like to think that I know how to conduct myself in these situations. I am glad that you can overlook my wrong behavior in the previous setting.
Dionyph explained, and although his expression was warm and inviting, his voice was as melancholy and somber as ever. Dionyph doubted that Teimoph would be as willing to express information as willingly as Dionyph had. In fact, Dionyph was pretty sure that the red hatchling would blame the entirety of the proceedings on him, but for some reason, Dionyph was not worried about Dareph’s ability to soil Dionyph’s name. Dionyph believed he had acted more appropriately than the red hatchling, and in the end, Dionyph had to trust that his siblings would reach the proper conclusions. Dionyph would not speak ill of his siblings, even of Teimph, who he disliked, but he also would not lie. Bound by opposing rules, Dionyph did not comment on Dareph’s plan, beyond a small nod of his head and a short statement.
I trust that you will conduct yourself as correctly with Teimoph as you have to myself.
Dionyph said, which seemed to him to be the most appropriate response for the situation. Dionyph, although he knew not why, knew that Dareph would conduct himself appropriately in all situations. In fact, Dionyph knew that Dareph and him shared many of the same values, that they were both warriors and that they would both become great knights. They would protect the Eyrie by each other’s side, proud and strong as brothers and warriors. This, Dionyph knew.

Ri’ley was mildly disappointed when Dionyph slipped under his arm and moved away from him. The man loved to be close to the simourv, and he liked the position he had held when he was draped over Dionyph’s neck. Ri’ley was still in the phase of his bonded connection with Dionyph where he wanted to be as close to the hatchling as possible. And to increase Ri’ley’s disappointment, without Dionyph’s face near his own, the man had nowhere to direct his gaze but at Ze’el, which implied that he had something to say to the man.
”So, before you were searched, where did you live? I’m from Sayaie, myself, lived there my whole life. I grew up on the west side of the market, but I was apprenticed on the east side, which I prefer.”
Lame—Ri’ley could not think of anything to talk about but where he was from. And worse, he was babbling in a way which was rather socially inept. If the man was not from Sayaie, he would not even be bale to follow what Ri’ley said, and thus, there was a high chance that Ze’el would not care at all. Why would he care about the intricacies of the places Ri’ley had lived over his life? Those places no longer mattered, since his life was so much more than Sayaie. He was bound to the Eyrie now, and he needed to forget his attachment to his city. Of course, Ri’ley could think of nothing else to talk about. He needed to fill the awkward silence with some form of communication. Ri’ley appreciated silence. He liked silence, even, but the quitness between him and Ze’el was lifeless, awkward, and thus uncomfortable. Dionyph turned to look at Ri’ley affectionately and supportively. The man needed the encouragement in order to continue speaking to Ze’el, and despite the lameness of his rider’s words, Dionyph thought that at least Ri’ley was trying, and that eventually the conversation would lose its forced feeling. Any friendly communication between his and Dareph’s was proper. The humans just needed to work the conversation to a less awkward conclusion.

[Cy]

[/I][/color] He responded merely, blinking his warm brown eyes at his sibling.

Even as the man inquired to his roots, Ze’el didn’t move to shift his gaze to the other winglet right away. It wasn’t until the name of his home was uttered that he snapped his eyes over to Ri’ley’s face, narrowed and wary, his mind half-heartedly listening to the babble that was attached. This man was from Sayaie as well, growing up on the west side of the market and yet apprenticed on the east side of the market. He’d been to the market enough times in his years to be able to see it vividly in his mind’s eye, bustling and loud, though he’d be hard-pressed to be able to say which direction he entered the square from. He didn’t recognize the blackrider, though he doubted that had anything to do with growing up on the north side of the market or perhaps even the south. Even if their home life were direct reflections of each other, if Ze’el had been raised in the west and had worked in the east, he likely would not have known the man, even in such a social hub of a place. He’d been an island, withdrawn and cut off – but the fact that they shared a home settlement in their past intrigued him, even if that interest was stained heavily with pessimistic suspicions. “Sayaie,” he answered at last, though it might have been unclear that he was answering the question rather than just repeating the man’s answer. No matter. His light eyes slowly drifted off, even though his head remained tilted up at attention. “Not… sure which side’a the market, but I had a farm.” He offered, his voice low and detached. He felt stupid for being unable to rattle off the direction he’d lived in from the market, but it had never mattered before. Not to him. He knew where to go and that had been that.

Of course, when situations like this arose, tiny details suddenly seemed vastly more important.[/ul][/size]

[Kat]

Dionyph did not like the fact that he could not control his tone enough to prevent his dislike of Teimph to be known. While the black hatchling understood that it would be impressive if all the hatchlings got along, he did not like that fact that he was one of the first hatchlings to have a sibling he did not like. Dionyph was supposed to be the protector of all the hatchlings. He was one of two blacks, and he was supposed to be a leader amongst the clutch, and thus it was inappropriate that he disliked anyone. Unfortunately, his rational brain which told him that he should not be resentful of Teimoph clashed with his heart, the one that did not trust the smallest red in the slightest. Dionyph’s rational side did allow him to control himself, however, and he refused to allow his mild dislike of Teimoph to challenge his judgment. Dionyph would be fair. Dionyph would be impartial in all his treatments of his siblings, and he would never allow his personal feelings to intrude upon his work and his duty. Dionyph hoped that the affectionate glance that he received from Dareph meant that the red understood that despite his dislike of Teimoph, that the black hatchling would never allow the dislike to influence the way he presented and carried himself. Dionyph returned the red’s gaze, and he bowed his head into a small nod.
I am glad to hear that. I trust you noble brother.
Dionyph added, before he shifted his position into a stand so that he could take a few steps closer to Dareph. They were standing apart because of the formality of their discussion, but now that the business was over, they could relax and truly enjoy the company of the other.

Dionyph did not know why, but he comprehended that Dareph and him were aligned in their understanding of the world and their beliefs. Dareph and Dionyph were brothers both by blood and also in their way they interacted in the world. Had Dareph been one of Dionyph’s sisters, the black would have gotten close enough to nuzzle the red, but since he was a brother, Dionyph halted a bit short and cooed affectionately towards Dareph.
Now that we have discussed business, may I inquire as to how you have been? What is your bonded like? How have you been since the hatching? I believe that it is important for us to bond outside of the setting of duty. We should try to connect in a way which will allow us to be both together out of duty and to be companions.
Dionyph stated as he pulled himself to his full height. He was only an inch or two larger than Dareph, who was a particularly large red. They would probably remain in that proportion to each other for their entire lives, with Dionyph remaining only a few inches larger than his red brother. They might have the capacity to be rivals, but Dionyph believed that him and Dareph were destined to be close companions, brothers in arms, and kindred spirits. Dionyph preferred friends to enemies, at least, as long as he could find creatures to befriend and appreciate him. Without friends, he would only have Ri’ley an Laraph, and two people were not enough to sustain a loving creature such as himself. They were almost enough, but Dionyph wanted to love more of his siblings beyond the gray and to get along with more people than just his Ri’ley.

When Ze’el’s attention shifted to Ri’ley, the large man felt somehow validated and successful. He could tell that the other man was not the kind to find eye contact pleasant. Ri’ley felt a bit like he had overcome a hurdle with the man. Perhaps now, they could communicate in a better way, and that thought pleased Ri’ley. He wanted to connect with more of his class. He had been rather quiet and silent and cloistered as a candidate. He had not interacted with many of his class outside of lessons, and now, he wished he had been more outgoing and social. Dionyph wanted Ri’ley to interact with more of his class, but it was a hard action, as he knew so few of them personally. Dionyph, thus, directed all of Ri’ley’s social life, which the man did not mind, exactly, but which felt as he was being lead along by an older, more intelligent presence. At first, Ri’ley was not sure if the man questioned Ri’ley’s own home or answered Ri’ley’s question, but the man then continued to show that he had lived in a farm outside of Sayaie. Ri’ley was not much of a farm individual. He had grown up in the city, and he had only left to visit the farm lands if there was some sort of emergency which needed the help of Donovan and thus Ripley.
”I’ve only been to the farm lands a few times, but farming is a dangerous profession, right? I’m impressed.”
Ri’ley found people who worked in physical jobs of labor admirable. They required so much work, and Ri’ley was so used to the work of the mind and the hands that he struggled with manual labor. The fact that some of the other winglet had worked in professions which required them to risk their health and their lives at all times was incredible to Ri’ley, who was used to working behind the scenes. Once, when Ri’ley had just started his apprenticeship, he was called to a farm to help a man gored by a bull. It was one of the worst injuries Ri’ley had ever seen, and it remained one of the worst injuries Ri’ley had ever seen, despite the number of koxi related harms the man treated. The bull had skewered the man it attacked; by the time Donovan arrived, nothing could be done, and Ri’ley still connected the image of the horn inside the man’s torso, the immense amount of gore, organs, and blood, and the resulting death with farming.
”I certainly would not be cut out of it.”
Ri’ley added with a small droop of his head in a nod. He was not a farmer for a reason. He was a doctor for a reason, and part of that reason was that his mind was organized for mental labor instead of physical labor. He admired the latter, because it was work he struggled to acclimate himself to.

[Cy]

[/i][/color] He questioned sincerely, picking a foot up to duck his head down to idly clean the spaces between his toes with a quick lap of his tongue. “I enjoy the feel of it on my claws.” He clarified, lapping a few more times before dropping his foot back down and jerking his head back up to attention, blinking and returning his attention back to his darker sibling as he registered the remaining question. “Mine can be a peculiar thing. He can be so angry.” He stated simply, confiding in Dionyph what he proved so hesitant to reveal to others. Ze’el wasn’t just shy, and he wasn’t just nervous – his Ze’el was angry and Dareph wasn’t entirely sure what to make of it. The man was angry at so many things that didn’t deserve the rage. Shaking his head lightly, he focused his brown eyes back on the taller black. “And what of you and yours, my friend? Tell me everything.” He prompted, warmth returning easily to his tone.

Good feelings were stated bluntly and Zeke immediately narrowed his eyes with suspicion, as if Ri’ley couldn’t possibly be impressed by such a puny personal fact like farming experience. Could he? Habit was hard to break and so the man was quick to assume that the blackrider simply couldn’t be. But there was no ulterior motive that was easy to spot. It certainly wasn’t due to his own status as a future redrider; after all, weren’t blacks higher ranked? Or something. He didn’t entirely understand it, but then he didn’t really understand a lot of things. His blue eyes drifted casually down over the man, assessing and critical. Ri’ley was a big man, tall and likely strong as a result, but physical capabilities were not always enough. However, despite broken limbs and ugly scars, he’d never thought of farming as something dangerous or even difficult, and he was not prepared to accept the idea that he was good at something that this man wouldn’t be if he tried.

Looking away with this conclusion reached, he felt at a loss. Standing awkwardly, his gaze fell to the dark red hide of his life partner, searching for guidance and yet unwilling to voice his need for help, either in word or thought. Dareph didn’t need either and the nudge was delivered in low, secretive tones. He blinked and took a breath. “What’d you do?” He questioned, voice gruff and he cleared his throat afterwards. It was such a simple question to ask, practical, and he felt silly for needing help to stumble upon it. Pointedly turning his eyes away from his simourv, he looked to the side and ultimately found his gaze returning to the face of his human counterpart.[/ul][/size]

[Kat]

Dionyph enjoyed the fact that Dareph was talking to him in a friendly and personable way. The black had not known that he missed it before, but he realized as Dareph kept talking that while he few actual friends among his siblings. He loved all of his siblings, besides Teimoph, who he did not like to admit that he disliked, but he could call few of them actually close friends. Laraph, of course, was Dionyph’s often-companion, but they were not quite friends. Dionyph could not describe his relationship with the Gray, but while they were friendly and in some ways close, Dionyph would not chat with her in the way that Dareph was chatting with him now. And the black had hardly connected with any of his other siblings on the personal level needed to be friends. And Ri’ley’s antisocial tendencies, the ones which made him avoid eating with the other candidates and the ones which made him hide away in the infirmary all day. Dionyph needed to train Ri’ley to be more social, but for right now, the man was stuck in his ways. Changing him would take time, and Dionyph was positive that his could be changed. Ri’ley had the potential to connect with people, to be good and kind and personable, but the man was not there yet, and Dionyph would have to tease his until the man grew into a better person.

The black, enthused by Dareph’s questions, lit up, his eyes flashing as he nodded in reply to the red. Dionyph had discovered mud when he ahd discovered water. He had ever caught a fish! That day had not ended well for him or his, as Laraph fell all over hers, and it was all Dionyph’s fault, but while Dionyph felt like a completely devastated about the ordeal, he had enjoyed swimming while it lasted. Canph had told them not to swim, but Dionpyh had a great time in the water. And the mud was squishy! It did feel good between his claws. Dareph was exactly right about the merits of mud. Ri’ley, however, hated the mud and the dirt. He constantly called it “unsanitary,” and Dionyph could tell that Ri’ley truly disliked being near mud. Dionyph thought that this was unfortunate, but it would be a positive change for Ri’ley to be forced to acclimate to being dirty. Really, in his quest to protect the Eyrie, Ri’ley would get dirty. That was a fact, and the man would have to learn to be used to the state. He was so silly, sometimes, because he got so easily worried about so many things. Dionyph had very little understanding that he was the same way, with the same overblown anxieties.
I have quite well. Mine has been taking good care of me, although I wish that he would be more social.
Dionyph began with a small chirp. He had so much else to say. So much had happened since the hatching! Telling Dareph everything would take hours.
And I have discovered mud! It is soft and cool. Mine hates mud, though. He thinks it is gross, so I’m not sure I could play in it without upsetting him. Perhaps we should try together, dear brother.
Dionyph replied happily. His voice drooped characteristically, when he discussed Ri’ley’s dislike, but it perked up again when he suggested that the two of them play in the mud together.

When Dareph mentioned Ze’el’s anger, Dionyph realized that the red was confiding in him. He nodded his head respectfully, and listened with a clear and kind look in his gaze. He did not offer words of condolence, but he seemed to understand. Ri’ley had a temper, too, one which had already reared its head in his interactions with Eoreph’s at the hatching, but Dionyph could tell that the redrider’s temper was something else. Dionyph could almost feel the anger radiating from Ze’el. Ri’ley was just passionate, a man with a temper, who was not necessarily angry, but rather easily riled up. Ze’el, Dionyph comprehended was different. The black turned to look over Dareph’s for a second, before he turned back to the red hatchling.
Perhaps he just needs time to grow out of his anger. He is young, still, and humans are strange creatures. Besides, with you by his side, he must be happier than he was.
Dionyph could tell that he made Ri’ley happy. The man was positively affectionate to his hatchling at almost all times, and Dionyph never doubted that Ri’ley needed him.
I have faith that you can bring the best out in yours.
Dionyph said and he spoke with absolute certainty. Dionyph had faith in Dareph’s capacity to love his until the man lost his edge.
Mine is very—uptight, I think, but he is a good person, but he has terrible trouble expressing his goodness. He is very stiff and sometimes cold. He works too hard, too, but I’m afraid that if he did not work, he would stay in his room by himself all the time. I hope that he becomes more social. We should make ours be friends. It would be good for both of them. Then you can spend more time with mine, and see what he is like. I cannot describe him accurately.
Dionyph chirped. He liked the idea of making Ri’ley make friends. The man needed it, and Ri’ley and Dareph’s were about the same age. It was a great plan. Dionyph hoped that Dareph liked it.

Ri’ley could tell that the redrider before him was uncomfortable, and the blackrider felt bad for putting the other man in a situation which made him so visibly upset. But Ri’ley was just trying to be as friendly as possible, and he could not think of a way to make himself come off nicer and kinder. He bit his lip, as he attempted to find something to say to combat Ze’el’s nervousness, before the other man provided Ri’ley with the perfect out for his own insecurity.
”I was a surgeon’s apprentice in the city, before I was searched.”
Ri’ley responded with a smile which was as warm as he could manage to convey. Ri’ley liked discussing his past as a surgeon. The work was still his passion, even if he was away from it. Dionyph nudged his rider affectionately. He was pleased with Ri’ley’s proper communication with the redrider. He was doing a surprisingly cordial job with the difficult man.

((I hope you don't mind that I called Ze'el difficult. I meant not insult. -grin- ))

[Cy]

[/I][/color] He chirped with a pair of quick nods to further drive home his eagerness for this. He’d told Eoreph about the great sensation of mud and it had merely led to her worrying about him, concerned over what they’d all been told in regards to the risks of swimming – but he’d not been swimming! He’d been wading and there was quite a difference. Dionyph understood this. Yes, they’d have a great deal of fun together, he could tell.

The conversation turned serious shortly though and Dareph’s excitement dimmed until his voice was given in a flat utterance as he confided in his brother. Ze’el was an angry man, a difficult man. It was apparent to nearly everyone that interacted with him, but Dionyph was the first that he sought comfort and advice from. The black was the first he trusted this piece of information with, admitting to it rather than dancing around it as he might have when assuring others or defending his bonded. His sibling did not let him down either and he felt himself relieved by this as leaning on the black, albeit in such a small way, was not met with disappointment. His gaze refocused on the other male as he spoke, advising and praising. Dareph felt soothed as he craned his neck briefly to look back to his Ze’el. He did like to think that the man was happier than he’d once been. He was awkward, recoiling often and hesitant of so many things, but he was different. He wasn’t lonely anymore. And in quiet moments where the former farmhand could spend ages just stroking his feathers, Dareph felt very assured that the man loved him. Ze’el was happier, he was young, and humans were indeed very strange creatures. He brought his head back around to look back to Dionyph, his eyes smiling with the compliment. ‘Thank you. I think you’re very right.’ He acknowledged with a pleased nod.

Quieting down, he listened with the same courtesy that Dionyph had extended to him, looking to his brother with the same sort of kindness and understanding that the black had worn during his own confession. Uptight, stiff, cold – why, Dionyph’s and Ze’el sounded like kindred spirits too! He chirped in return, raising his head. ‘That is a great plan. Ours should be friends.’ And not only would it help His, but it would help his brother’s as well. It was a winning situation for everyone. A great plan, indeed.

Ze’el reacted little to the response given to him, no warm smile to reciprocate and not even a blink of recognition, but he was impressed. Somewhere within his mind, he felt a certain sense of awe at the title. The man had been a surgeon’s apprentice. It sounded like an important title, accomplished and cushy. A man aiming to become a surgeon must be smart, so very smart, and precise. It felt daunting. He, a mere farmhand learned through experience rather than genuine education, was not so nearly as smart as he suddenly imagined Ri’ley to be. He was dragged from his thoughts as Dareph once more flicked his legs with a soft whap of his tail and words slipped helpfully into his head, encouraging him onwards. “What’s that like?”[/ul]

[ It’s okay! XD he is, after all, difficult. See? Even Dareph above called him difficult! ][/size]