when the young monitors the old |Maeve & Thorn|

[marley]

Annoyances seemed to follow him everywhere he went, he hadn’t had a second alone in days. He was even beginning to suspect that the current annoyance watched him even as he slept. Who would have thought that a fellow dragon in the same situation as he would follow orders so god damned well. Shruikan always did everything possible to screw up the following of orders, to only follow part of it, to shirk as much as possible—perhaps if that pesky annoyance otherwise known as Thorn would learn how to shirk orders if he kept following him so closely. And shirking was what he was trying to do right now, although the smaller, red beast wasn’t exactly letting him do that. Following him everywhere, acting as if he truly were the black dragon’s shadow, never giving him a moments peace when he really, really needed it.

But now, there was a slight upside to Thorn following him everywhere, watching him eat, sleep, and shit. Wait, upside, right? Right. He got to leave. With that scum of life that was his faux rider holding both his and Thorn’s eldunari, the man seemed to think there wasn’t too much of a risk allowing Shruikan to leave Urû'baen for just a little while. Of course, that did have its downside—namely, the fact that this stupid little twerp that wasn’t even anywhere near half his age was playing the part of both watchdog and student. Watchdog for the enemy, yeah, that was really going to endear the stupid red beast to Shruikan. Yeah, right now, Shruikan wanted to chomp off some random bit of Thorn. It couldn’t really hurt him, so long as he made sure it wasn’t a life threatening wound. The idea was really, quite tempting, in all actuality. He turned his head back over his shoulder to look at the red dragon flying at a short distance behind him—nah, it wasn’t worth it.

Turning back around, Shruikan continued to beat the air with his wings, gazing at the land only now and then, not really caring if he passed over the place that they would have to land at eventually. The longer he was in the air, the better he felt, and the easier it was for him to deal with everything he had to deal with on an everyday basis. All too soon though he saw the city, and a slight glance at Thorn again told him that Thorn had also spotted their destination—and since the twerp always followed rules, and didn’t seem to understand the simple concept of ‘rebel against the idiot that wants to control you’, he probably wouldn’t let Shruikan keep flying. Not that Thorn could stop him, but he could definitely inform Galbatorix of his misbehavior. Which would be bad.

So he landed, although too stubborn to really follow the rules, and did it on the opposite side of the lake, shooting a threatening glare at Thorn as soon as he did so, practically daring him to play the part of tattle tale. He could bite off a good chunk of the hatchling before help could get here, if the brat dared to tell that he wasn’t doing exactly as he was supposed to. Now, that, he would consider worth it.

Tags: Maeve and Thorn
Words: 548
Notes: Shruikan is a pouty baby xD[/size]

[.::Thorn::.]

This wasn't exactly how Thorn had wanted to spend his day. He had woken up that morning when Galbatorix had entered his mind and ordered him to follow Shruikan for the day. While the King had told him it was so that the old black dragon could teach him Thorn had detected that the man had wanted to rid himself of the pair for the day. He hadn't been able to figure out why yet but thinking back to the last time he had disobeyed the king and the scars he still carried from that decision he did as he was told. He had slipped into the hall that morning where Shruikan had been eating. He had a servant bring him some meat and had watched the old dragon out of the corner of his ruby eye. Though the scar that had dragged across his left eye had make that somewhat difficult what with it not being fully healed yet.

After breakfast Shruikan had caught him following him and had demanded to know why, So of course Thorn said the first thing that came to his mind which was that he was following the older dragon for tutoring. He didn't know if the old beast had bought his story but so far he had tolerated him. They took to the air some time after. In the sunlight the ebony creature looked even more magnificent then he normally did. His large muscle groups clung tight to his bones and his powerful wings cleared even clouds.

When they came upon the lake they had been ordered to he noticed Shruikan going to the wrong side of the lake. He didn't really think it mattered but if it did they would hear about it later. Thorn held just as much hatred in his mind for the King that held him captive as he was sure the black dragon did as well. As he landed beside his teacher he folded his wings and stared at the dragon beside him for a moment before he spoke.
"What now master?"
He always used the term master around Shruikan out of respect as he was indeed his teacher. He waited patiently for a reply.

[Formula]

Not all of her time was spent tailing after human assassins in their bizarre quests for the Varden, of course, and to think otherwise was absolutely preposterous. The werecat was and would always be of a naturally wild disposition, made to travel and to see, even when the present being of her attentions was less inclined to adventure. Today was one such day, her feline body stretched out lazily across the banks of the Isenstar, and hiding in plain sight.

The men and women of the Empire, held firmly within the iron grips of oppression or busily and dutifully serving that silly looking man with the power complex, were never inclined to notice things outside of the ordinary. It was their curse, Maeve had long decided, and one she capitalized on frequently. Her pale mane and the matching tufts that fluffed out of her ankles were generally enough to captivate an onlooker or two in other places, but here – especially here, where men were decidedly blinded by their guards posts and superiors! – the werecat had the benefit of simply being too odd to notice at all.

But that was an odd and new age philosophy; the mind seeing only what it expects to see.

Enjoying her day as she was, it was not to say that it was a situation forged without reason. Gil'ead was a stronghold for the Empire, and Maeve was growing more interested in the Varden cause now that her misadventures were becoming more frequently in their name – even if only through association. It would be completely unwise from a tactical perspective to not check in on the loosely perceived 'enemy' every now and again.

.. And she, as an oddity to the cat world, liked water. The simplest explanation at all was that the sight of Du Weldenvarden in the distance across the gemstone surface of Isenstar Lake was aesthetically pleasing and worth the trip.

She wasn't purely business, after all.

Her ears flattened against her skull abruptly to the sudden and heavy beating of flapping wings, the tell-tale sound of their heavy membranes fighting against the air announcing the dragon's presences long before their shadows did. As it was, she seemed completely undetected as she darted into the bushes to hide from their massive bodies and usual bad attitudes, slinking away from sight as they landed to watch from a safer point. Dragons here were dragons not to be trifled with, well known for their struggles and bad tempers to the seasoned werecat. As they settled and stared eachother down from across the lake, Maeve found herself closer to the dark scaled and larger one, his rebellious and spiteful glare towards his smaller red counterpart only confirming his identity.

It was at this confirmation that Maeve decided to slip from her hiding place, a few moments of caution and contemplation leaving her to choose the path that most would consider foolish. Greeting the dragon calmly through the soothing – and notably probing – telepathy her kind was capable in, the inquisitive cat stayed pointedly out of his reach while revealing herself to the troubled eyes of Shruikan.

"One would think you to be more approving of your own, Stolen One?"

[marley]

Even being here, away from his usual prison, Shruikan hated that feeling that always shadowed him—that feeling of being a captive, of never having the freedom to do this or that. That feeling was further forced upon him today by Thorn, who seemed to think that following him meant that he couldn’t give the giant black creature even an inch of space. As if the younger beast was his captor, his jailer; and perhaps this was true to some extent, though Shruikan believed that Galbatorix wasn’t quite so insane as to think the little beast could actually keep him in line if he got it in his head to do something. Oh, sure, he could detain him with a fight or something, but Shruikan was more than confident enough in his age and abilities to know that Thorn couldn’t really stop him.

And then, as if to remind him that he truly couldn’t get a second alone, the smaller dragon spoke to him; and really, if it weren’t for the honorific attached to his words at the end, Shruikan might have got a little scratchy. A little bitey, perhaps. Now? Must there always be a now, hatchling? Learn patience, for perhaps I don’t yet want to reveal what ‘now’ is. His words, as always, were laced with barely held back contempt for his fellow dragon, and the look he gave him before turning his attention to the lake was one that very clearly said ‘learn to shut up already’. Thorn didn’t always deserve the anger that Shruikan turned on him no matter what, and he knew without a doubt that any other master wouldn’t have been near as hard on him as he was, but this was not an age for babying the young. This was not a world where you could forgive ignorance and teach at a gentle pace. Had anyone been cautious and gentle with him, Shruikan? No. Except for his boy, no one had ever shown him a kindness.

A second later revealed that he had been too lost in thought to properly pay attention to his surroundings, as an alien mind brushed against his barriers and a catlike creature came into sight. A werecat, how wonderful, you never could know if you could trust them or if you should just eat them. Either way, he strengthened the barriers around his mind, though grudgingly allowing a small bit to fall away so they could talk. Already he regretted that when she spoke to him, his teeth grinding together when she called him ‘stolen one’, clearly aware of who he was and what had happened to him. The glare he had fixed on her told her he didn’t appreciate her comments, and was really contemplating if he could get close enough to her to eat her. Though she probably did taste horrible. One would think someone from such a wise species as yours would know when to stay out of something that has absolutely nothing to do with them. Pointedly refusing to acknowledge or answer her question, deciding that he really was none of her business that he didn’t count any of the dragons he trained as kin and that he wouldn’t mind if they were all gone.

[.::Thorn::.]

Thorn snorted a little at Shruikan when he scolded him but then realized what who he was with and bowed his head at the older dragons glare. Thorn moved away from the larger dragon to the lake where he dipped his large ruby jaws into the cool liquid and took several gulps of the water before lifting his head and letting the water dripped from his jaws making the red scales around his mouth glisten and sparkle. He looked at the black dragon for a moment before returning to the lake. He waded in to the water until it touched his belly before he turned back out of the water having cooled himself and returned to his master.

He watched the older dragon tense as he felt something contact him. He opened his mind but sensed nothing, this bothered the young dragon. That was until he saw the werecat approach out of the woods. He watched her level eyes with Shruikan. She ignored Thorn which was not of a concern to the young dragon. But he did wonder who's side the werecat was on. He opened his mind and touched hers. He felt barriers but he found a way to make simple connection with her. He tilted his head to the side. Her mind was a strange place to Thorn. This really did bother him. "Who are you? And where did you come from?"He spoke quietly to the werecat.

[Formula]

"One would think someone from such a wise species as yours would know when to stay out of something that has absolutely nothing to do with them," the dragon snapped back, an elder to his kind but certainly not her elder. That being said, his chiding was met with some latent sense of amusement to be easily felt between their sudden mental bond. If nothing else, she expected his hostility and resistance, and perhaps that was comforting in itself. One had to take their peace where they could in such a precarious situation, of course; dragon's teeth were notably menacing.

Instead of returning his threats and malice, however, the werecat remained calm and altogether tickled by the mood in which he'd chosen to greet her. Her tail flicked once to the side and her eyes remained level with his, remaining wary all the while of just how close they were to one another. Shruikan was old, large, and certainly worth respecting but.. blinded by his own temper. So long as Maeve kept her head clear – as was the usual method to her usual madness – she would retain the upper hand.

"Ah," her voice cooed delicately, probing gently against his mind and, simultaneously to the offered bond to Thorn, slipping into the thoughts of the younger dragon as well. There was no sense in blocking the youth out of the conversation. "To know my species is to know that there is nothing that has nothing to do with us."

Her eyes flicked towards Thorn, but one could be certain her peripherals were kept squarely on the larger threat of Shruikan.

"Loaded questions, I'm afraid, and neither with a direct answer," her voice again would be heard, resonating soundly within the walls of the considerably younger creature. Now that the focus of her voice and exceeding mental prowess were to be left on him, it was not altogether unreasonable to think that he might have been overwhelmed by it.

Maybe. Maybe not.

"Perhaps the wisest thing you could instead ask, whelpling, would not be who or where, but how and most of all: why?"

One might have gotten the distinct impression she was internally smiling.

[marley]

The black monstrosity of a dragon snarled at the younger of its species, his teeth snapping at air in warning that he wouldn’t put up with any of Thorn’s antics. The brat thought he could do so much as snort at him? Clearly he’d forgotten that Shruikan did not like him, and would gladly hurt him if given even the slightest excuse to do so. If the red beast hadn’t moved towards the lake to get a drink—and wade in for some ridiculous reason—he probably would have ignored the fact that he’d already given a warning and taken a bite at the annoying little twerp. It would have made him feel better.

But he wasn’t allowed to contemplate the joy of biting the red hatchling any longer, as he once again felt the nuisance of the werecat brushing against his mind. A growl rumbled in his chest, shaking the ground beneath him at the force of something like that coming from someone so huge, when he heard her response, his lips curling back in displeasure to reveal the frighteningly large teeth he had. A creature from your wise species, old one, would know that anything to do with me is none of your business. Go back to your elves, and your kings and queens, for they are just as interesting as me, and they do not have the added danger of the fact that I’d eat you just to make you shut up. As sad as that was, it was entirely true that Shruikan wouldn’t have a problem killing anyone if it meant he might have some peace and quiet. Though he suspected that even if he slaughtered the entire country, he still wouldn’t get even a lick of peace and quiet. Unless he managed to kill that hateful bastard as well, and then he could go somewhere far away, find a mountain somewhere perhaps, where there was solitude, where he could brood until he died.

That wasn’t a bad idea at all, really. Not that it was at all possible, but it wasn’t a bad fantasy for him to hold on to, to keep him marginally sane until he died. Alas, he could not pay attention to that fantasy right at the moment, as the red whelp following him was being an even bigger idiot than usual. A great sigh left him, and he turned one disappointed look upon the hatchling that had been stupid enough to voluntarily talk to a werecat. You are nowhere near ready to converse with such a tricky species, hatchling. Have you not taken into consideration that this beast is older than even me, and therefore so much more intelligent then perhaps you could ever wish to be? You do not know where its loyalty lies; you do not what power it could possess. Are you thinking, hatchling? A werecat is a dangerous thing, and you’re barely old enough to even know what it is, let alone converse with it. He chided the younger beast, almost as if he was concerned that the fool would be tricked into giving anything of import away, but anyone who knew him would know better; no, Shruikan was most likely chiding the idiot simply because he wanted to scold him. It was one of his few pleasures in life, you know.

He was almost content to fall back into silence, but then he thought about the last thing the werecat had said to the annoying creature beside him, and a snort of derision left him the second he really thought about it. Perhaps you are not quite as intelligent as the rest of your species. Only a fool would expect wisdom from this hatchling. Even if Thorn were the same age as him, he would have said the same thing; he didn’t believe that Thorn would ever be capable of such a thing as wisdom. He was too foolish.