Tyrith shuffled a bit, dipping his head once more in greeting As the other approached. He shook his head slightly and offered a low noise of amusement after the patriarch spoke, it wasnt he who was offended in any case. Knowing why gradiel was on edge had soothed any ruffled feathers he may have had.

Val, for her part, gave a huff in gradiels direction before leaping off of Tys head, hovering inbetween the Ty and Ohdaviing, wings beating frantically to keep her in one place. "He wasnt that bad I suppose- at least he didnt try and eat me." She said, boldly going right up to Ohdaviing. "Nice to meet you though."

Ohdaviing lifted his head and looked Val in the eye before responding. "You must be Valsharess. Elwon has taken a liking to you, as she does most spirals. Be mindful not to be.. a negative influence." His lips curled into a questionable grin, playfully challenging her to disobey him. "She filled me in on most of what has happened. I take it you speak for your clan on these matters?" Though he spoke softly, his undertone clearly challenged her right to speak for her betters.

Gradiel kept a close eye on the spiral, half-standing as if in preparation for some sinister plot to unfold; while Elwon kept her gaze locked on Val, memorizing every detail about the spiral's personality that she could make out, in case they might be useful to her later.

Val held Ohdaviings gaze defiantly for a moment, then made a sudden loop in the air and hid behind the fins on Tyriths head. She peeked out at the others, a little abashed as she looked at the patriarch. "Ah, well.." Tyriyh's chest rumbled as he laughed, the amusement nearly noiseless but unmistakable nonetheless. He lifted his head slightly and opened his wings a small fraction, clearly indicating who was the 'speaker' here.

Ohdaviing let loose a hearty laugh. "I see, so the mute one will speak for your clan. A wise decision." He lifted his wing towards Gradiel, a subtle hint for him to leave; and one he wasn't keen to obey. Gradiel let out a low growl as he marched off towards the wood-line and disappeared. "Come, bear witness to the damage our ilk would do to those weaker than themselves." Ohdaviing turned back towards Kayta and the wounded hatchlings, but turned his head back for a moment. "And do be mindful to step as I do as we near the tree, the spirals who live here would be upset if you collapsed their tunnels." He turned his head back and carefully made his way to the rest of his clan.

Ty lifted himself slowly upright, retucking his wings against his sides as they went out. Tyrith blinked serenly in understanding, trying his best to follow in Ohdav's prints. He even went so far as to curl his tail up, to avoid unfortunate incidents with the substantial girth of it. He moved delicately for a beast his size , though it was clear he was used to larger den spaces.
Val regained her confidence as soon as they moved, looping upwards above them in haphazard flight, occasionally dartin g off for a quick peek at something. At the mention of other spirals, she pricked up, curious nature wanting to go say hello.

Elwon made a game of following Val, mimicking her movements as best as her body would allow. Ohdaviing slowed as they came upon Kayta and the young, moving off to the side enough that Tyrith would be able to see them all. Amid the obviously temporary dens of the young Kayta, the swampy-colored mirror, had lain herself; around her were a number of wounded young --roughly ten at first glance; guardians, skydancers, spirals and a lone imperial-- in too bad of shape to move on their own, covered in scars where claws and teeth had rent their flesh. A warm aura surrounded the young, with Kayta at it's center; she was clearly exhausted by the effort required to heal so many for so long. In front of her was the half eaten carcass of a death-head stag, which she would take bites from every so often to maintain her strength.

Around them now were a number of other dragons, including one of the clans other guardians --Ramoth, though they were unaware of his name-- accompanied by his two Fae charges, a handful of young skydancers, and above them were four airborne spirals circling the lair, just returned from hunting. Ramoth watched the new faces from the other side of the den, his Fae barely noticeable from their favorite hiding places; tucked beneath his wings.

"We found them a few days ago, not far from our lair. Vermiit," Ohdaviing looked up towards the spirals above, to a particularly red one, "brought them here for healing. We sent a few dragons to search the fallen lair, but nothing was found aside from more dead." Ohdaviing looked particularly sad as he spoke next. "We haven't the space, nor the food, to provide for them all."

Val caught on to what the little nocturne was doing, and without it being apparent, she slowed herself down just slightly, the looping movement of her body straightening imperceptibly, now contorting in such a way as to be more easily mimicked. She was easily flattered, and hadnt spent much time around the nocturnes of her own clan to know their habits. Val flew with Elwon as they traversed the lair, though she couldnt resist rolling over in midair to look up at the spirals above her in a sort of fascination, her goggles slipping off her eyes again as she did so. As they approached the young ones around the stationary mirror, however, she drifted back to land between Tyrith's horns, looking down at the obvious devastation these young had had wrought upon them.

Tyrith couldnt voice his sorrow in more than a low growl that sounded like distant thunder, that he quickly silenced lest he spook one of the tiny figures below his gaze. Tyrith studied the figures for a long moment, so still in fact, that Val craned her neck to look into his eyes for his attention. He puffed a bit of air at her, sending her tumbling off of his head to hang beside him, flapping madly to regain a semblance of balance. He took another long moment to inspect the grounds around the lair. He rarely mourned the lack of speech, but he was not sure if Val could interpret all that he had in mind. Still, he looked pointedly at her, flicking his eyes around them and making tiny gestures with his wings and body that, for once, she payed attention to.

Val seemed to understand the gravity of the situation, and the faint urgency in Tyrith's strained body. She looked across at Ohdaviing, lifting her head importantly again. "Ty thinks-" she paused at a snap of his jaws, "Tyrith knows," she continued with a glare at her companion, "that our clan can easily house the hatchlings." Val gave a sly glance at Ty, then to break the tension, she said in a stage whisper, "We have to have a big lair with this big lump lazing about." She grinned at Elwon and Ohdaviing, but quickly sobered. "Our healers can also aid them, but he wonders if you have space for the pair of them here - they are both imperials - but if they are well enough to be moved, we can take them all and your healer can attend them there." She glanced at Tyrith again for confirmation, and he nodded slowly. "Those young who wish can stay, or go, at their leisure when they are healed." Tyrith gave Val a small expression of approval, she was behaving marvelously well for once. She preened under the silent praise, and made a tiny loop in the air in response.

Ohdaviing gave the pair an understanding smile; he knew that the fact that these two offered help did not mean their betters would agree so full-heartedly, and that it did not necessarily mean that help would come at all, but these two --at the very least-- had their hearts in the proper places. "Take this news back to your betters, let them decide the course of action on their own." He turned his attention to Elwon, who had perched atop Ramoth's head --clearly mimicking Val-- before he spoke next. "Go with them, Elwon, at least to their borders and act as the ambassador of our clan."

Elwon was visibly perplexed by her new role as ambassador, however she offered only a curt nod in response. In her time with his clan she had never once seen anyone disobey a direct order from Ohdaviing; and she found herself quite excited by the opportunity at hand. She didn't wait for a response from the two, instead she immediately took to the air gliding carefully to Tyrith's back and made herself comfortable. She stared at Val with defiant eyes, as if to claim her spot on Tyrith as her own.

Ramoth turned his attention to the foreigners for the first time, his two Fae companions wriggling from beneath his wings to see what had drawn his attention from the young ones. His voice was low and filled with anger, though it was clearly not directed at the two as he spoke: "We have food to offer your healers, as well as anyone else willing to help us in our cause." He tipped his head to indicate the massive stockpile of food around the tree. "Take what you would like for your journey home, and extra as.. incentive." He turned his attention back to Kayta and pushed the carcass in front of her closer, willing her to eat.

Ohdaviing gave Ramoth a surprised, and appreciative, smile before turning his attention to Tyrith. "Please, take some food back with you. Give it to anyone willing to help us, for their journey here. We will provide food and safety to any members of your clan who will help us. The job of a healer is not an easy one." He turned to Kayta, his voice gentle and caring, his eyes betraying his love for his clan's sole healer. "More so when it is not in their nature."

Val looked a little confused, she had never seen her matriarch disagree with Tyrith, nor he with her. It was one reason Tyrith was trusted to represent them. She chalked it up to them never having met Petrichor.. and she gave a little nervous twitch of her wings that sent her rolling over in midair. Listening to the talk, Val drifted down towards the indicated food stores, a bit amazed at the cache of food. Her clan never went hungry, but they never had much extra, either.. They had acquired many of the larger kinfolk of dragons, and they ate quite a lot. She looked back at Ty for confirmation, and receiving a slight nod, gave an excited wriggle and scooped some up, depositing this in Ty's gathering pouch that he still wore form their earlier excursion. This done, she settled back between the guardians horns.

Val turned round from Tyrith head to follow Elwon's path, and as she settled, Val let out a tiny giggle and darted through the spines on his back, weaving through them in a new sort of game. She landed in front of Elwon wth a large grin, looking back over her shoulder at Tyrith, who was regarding them with an expression akin to resignation. Tyrith huffed at them, but did not make a move to dislodge them either. He turned his head back to Ohdaviing, an understanding look on his face. Tyrith watched a moment longer, then lifted his wings just slightly. He would go back for now the way he had come, not daring to take flight in the midst of their lair. He gave a brief dip of his head to the clan's leader, then met the eyes of those few he had been introduced to, a silent goodbye. Time was of the essence, and so he did not linger overlong.

Ramoth's attention was elsewhere as Tyrith said his silent goodbyes; his Fae, however, took flight and flew small loops in the air, their own silent way of saying goodbye. Ohdaviing returned Tyrith's bow and immediately turned his attention back to his clan, laying as close to Kayta as he could without disturbing her or the hatchlings.

Elwon watched Val carefully as she approached, a sly smile creeping onto her face. As soon as Val turned her attention to Tyrith she took flight, flying two quick circles around Val's slender body before flying her same path down Tyrith's back in reverse. She caught hold of one of his many gem-like protrusions and used it to swing herself around; then took a seat atop it and stared at Val again, silently challenging her.

Tyrith made his way back the way they had come, heading for the clearing once more. Val tipped her head at Elwon, curious, not used to being around either youngsters or nocturnes.. she found the ones in her clan a bit disturbing, especially the gold one.. Val gave a little twitch of her wings, climbing in strange looping motions to dangle around one of Tys wings, using her tail almost like a monkey might, hanging upside down, her bright eyes twinkling at Elwon. She might not get the game, but it was fun!

Elwon tilted her head at Val for a moment before heading back down Tyrith's back the same way she went up. She made a quick ninety-degree turn and mimicked Val's flight up his wing. However, when she reached Val, rather than hanging from Tyrith's wing she wrapped her tail around the center of Val's body and hung from her, looking up at Val with an excited smile. Rather than waiting for Val to move and copying her, she released her tail and allowed herself to fall, spreading her wings and catching herself at the last moment before impacting the ground. She used her momentum to glide under Tyrith's back foot mid-step, then circled the other and came up next to his wing on the other side, perching herself atop it.

Val let out a tiny laugh, the noc's tail almost ticklish. She cocked her head and flipped herself back up, striking a pose like a statue ready for flight, poised on the foremost joint of his wing.
Tyrith resisted the urge to scratch, the tiny claws scrabling over his scales a strange feeling. As they reached the clearing he looked up at them both, and slowly started to open his wings, giving them ample time to find a new place to latch on to.

Val grinned across at Elwon, then tucked herself into a ball and rolled down Tyriths wing to his back, a flashing ball of teal-black scales. She landed and latched on behind a spine, grinning up at Elwon. "He usually doesnt fly!" She chirpped excitedly.

Elwon tried to roll into a ball, but her figure was too oblong and she fell to the side as she rolled, catching herself on a spine and hanging upside down off of the side of his wing. She pulled herself up, frantically flapping her upside-down wings until she managed to gain an upright position, and crawled on all fours to a stable spot on Tyrith's back. "He's going to fly?!" She was visibly amused at the thought of such a large creature in the air --she had never witnessed a guardian fly before-- but her voice betrayed a small amount of fear. She wrapped her tail around a spine and grabbed another with her hand ((OOC: hand? I dunno, you'll understand what I mean though xD)), pressing herself against his back in anticipation of the takeoff.

Val nodded excitedly, but she did move closer to Elwon in case the little one slipped. Falling off Ty mid-takeoff might see her injured, and Val, having personal experience with that, didnt want to see that. She clung on tightly and lowered herself down, a wild grin decorating her face.

Tyrith turned his head to make sure both were settled before stretching out his wings until they filled the clearing, the tips snapping off brances at either side. He flexed them slowly as he crouched slightly, then with a mighty push from his hind legs tyrith lept into the air. A powerful stroke downwards with his wings sent him up, and the resulting wind sent more stones crashing down, backdrafts as he continued to pull himself into the air sending pine needles cascading down. He was not used to being on the ground as much as he had been lately, and as he climbed his body relaxed. Being on him was like being on a small plane, his powerful wings driving them forwards at a great speed.
Val kept her body low and wings angled back, and the goggles over her eyes suddenly made sense in face of the winds.

The sheer pressure of the takeoff took Elwon by surprise; but her preparations paid off as they leveled, and with some minute adjustments to her wings she felt confident standing up. At this point Elwon was more gliding than standing, her grip on Tyrith kept her in place but the wind beneath her wings begged her body to rise. As the first updraft from Tyrith's wings caught hers she regretted the decision, she tightened her grip to avoid flying loose and then forced herself back down, hoping that she hadn't caused her mount any pain. She turned to Val, giggling at the sight of a dragon with goggles, though the sound was drowned out by the air rushing past them. She grinned, a silent challenge, and slowly and carefully she began crawling up Tyrith's back; fighting the wind with every movement.

Tyrith angled his head in flight, peering at Elwon. Her claws hadnt hurt but her progress upwards caused his heavy brows to lift in amusement. He offered her a daring grin, knowing val preferred to stay behind his shoukder spines during the next bit of the journey.. his pace in the air was entirely unmatched by most - his powerful wings, combined with his elemental birth of Wind, gave him such an advantage over the other denizens of the air that he could not recall the last time he had been challenged in flight. Turning his head back to his destination, he decided to climb briefly once more, giving his tiny passengers a real ride. Beat after beat of his wings brought him upwards, the low rumble in his chest betraying pleasure in his own strength and ability. He did not tary overlong, keepi g his mission in mind, but leveled out where the air was thinner still. He checked his passengers once more, giving Elwon a cautionary look, as if to say, 'hold on'.
The next moment he had angled his body into a steep dive, the wind ripping over his body. He held his wings in close, addi g speed as they dived, the ground rushing up beneath them.

Elwon tilted her head as she met Tyrith's gaze, she wasn't sure what he was planning but she took hold just in front of his shoulders as they rose. She had never been this high before, her experience in the air was limited to gliding between trees and circling, and she found herself entranced in the sky just a moment too long. She completely missed Tyrith's double-check; it was reflex alone that kept her on his back, tightening her grip on his spines at the last moment before loosing contact entirely.

Elwon slowly, and very carefully, spread her wings; keeping absolutely sure to keep them perfectly vertical. With more than a little fear fighting her every move she found two good footholds --she was thankful for the many gems protruding from his body-- and prepared to launch herself off, waiting for the moment Tyrith broke the dive.

Val seemed streamlined to Tys back, her wings angle forward an d back, her usually curling body straight out behind her, the tip of her tail whipping back and forth in the winds. She seemed to ha e the same idea In mind as Elwon, her body getting ready to release.

tyrith waited until the last moment to flare his wings, the dive ending abruptly barely a foot from the treetops. he circled once , finding his usual landing spot, a meadow glade nearly three times the sicsize of the clearing they had left. He landed hard, claws digging furrows in the ground beneath them. He flexed his wings once more before he closed them, looking round again to find the two who had been on his back.

Elwon spotted a small hole in the canopy just before Tyrith broke the dive and with a swift kick she launched herself down into the woods. She wasn't used to the speed she inherited from Tyrith's dive, but she managed to pull herself horizontal and with a little effort she weaved between the tree trunks towards the clearing. She shot out of the treeline like a bullet, tucking her wings in as she slid under Tyrith's belly and opening them on the other side, looping upward under his still-open wing before making a sharp right and flying down his tail.

It took Elwon half the length of the clearing to stop, her wings sore from the force of the wind during, and after, the dive. She flared her wings to check the damage before folding them in and casually strutting over to Tyrith, obviously pleased with herself and exuding a radiance that could only be described as an indescribable happiness.

Tyrith grinned at Elwon and his fins flared briefly as if congratulating her on her performance. Val choose the next moment to swoop down over their heads, still gliding with the speed of their descent. An extended "Whoooohoooo!" Echoed back as she disappeared into the trees, followed by a loud screech. A brief tussle sounded from the trees and Val reappeared, chased by a glittering nocturne of brightest gold. The noc was snapping at Vals tail, who had some form of tail ring clutched in her front claws. The noc gave that same unearthly screeching sound again and put on an extra burst of speed, lodging sharp talons into the rear wings of Val. Val dropped like a stone, the resulting scuffle kicking up dust and sending grass flying. When the air was clear, the glimmering gold noc sat on a grumpy looking Val, the stolen tail ring back in place. The new nocturne stuck her muzzle in the air and hopped off, giving Tyrith a cusory look before eyeing Elwon. Rei was almost painful to look at in the sunlight, her body and wings throwing light in all directions. She approached the red female cautiously, almost defiantly. "Youre new." The odd noc sat down in front of Elwon, appearing to trace the designs on her body with great suspicion. "And pretty." This comment was less a compliment and more a grudging acceptance. "Im Rei." And she said nothing else, waiting expectantly for a response.

Elwon skittered in circles around Rei, inspecting every inch of her golden crystal body, as well as her apparel. She wasn't very reserved, sticking her nose about to nudge jewelry away long enough to admire her skin in new lights, and occasionally pulling on her wings to admire them; clearly in awe. When she finally thought about her actions she returned to her place in front of the new Noc and sat down, resisting the urge to steal something.

She sat silent for a moment before she could get her words out. "I'm Elwon.." her voice cracked, and she went back to staring, awestruck.

Rei, far from being annoyed at the attention, moved with Elwon s inquisitive prodding, shifting her weight or stretched a wing out for inspection. She settled back onto her haunches as elwon finished, flicking her tail about in a pleased manner. "I like your colors." She said, as if this were something one could choose. She preened a moment, but was still eyeing the gold patterns on elwon as if they were something she could take. "Wwhat brought you here." The question was stated, the typical inflection missing from her words.
Tyrith snorted and peered down at them, starting to walk forwards. Val looked up at him and rolled over onto her feet, giving Rei a glare. "Shes an ambassador and were going to see Petrichor." She said importantly, stretching her neck up so she seemed larger.

Elwon looked quizzically at Rei as she complimented her colors. "I wanna be shiny." It sounded more like she was talking to herself. She turned to look at Val as she spoke for her, mildly upset. "I'm an ambassador and I'm here to see Petrichor." She repeated, sitting as tall as she could, wings flaring momentarily, head held high; clearly attempting to appear regal. The facade melted as soon as she was finished speaking and she looked around the clearing. "Could you take me to her?" She seemed to have forgotten who had brought her here; she was always a little flighty.

There was a low rumble that literally shook the ground. Tyrith seemed to be in throes of amusement, his heavy body quaking with gales of laughter. He was watching the three of them, and quite clearly enjoying the interaction. He jerked his head slightly towards the trees, and strode off, still laughing. Val latched on to his tail as he passed, scrabling up his body til she reached his head, curling around his horns.
Rei deigned to smile at the young noc, and simply added, "Petrichor is this way." And she took flight, the light glancing off of her in all directions. She followed tyrith into the trees, gliding between branches with practiced ease.