Courtyard(#3149RJs)
The long, low buildings of the BeastCraft Hall ramble around the courtyard like happy puppies, without any sort of pattern or form to their wanderings. Small groups of herdbeasts graze placidly in the fields to the south, occasionally lifting their heads to stare dumbly at the passer-by in the yard. Someone's droning, lecturing voice pours from one of the open windows, and the great doors of the Hall stand open to the east, offering a cool retreat from the hot Keroon sun.
Anyone flying in from above will notice something painted on the top of one of the large barns: DRAGONRIDERS PLEASE LAND IN NORTH FIELD.
Blue Kepth backwings hurriedly, wings flipping to his pale back almost as soon as his feet are upon the ground, seeming as if he's settling in despite the sign that is, truly, directed at those like him and his rider. Joise, meanwhile, seems to be in the same rush, gloves off as Kepth is still settling down, straps undone and the younger woman quickly making her way to the courtyard, dark gaze sweeping it as she does so. It'll be quick, why should she move further away?
Tori is leading a black runner across the courtyard, it's lead-rope held tightly in her hand as the beast moves rather stubbornly across the stone ground. The large runner makes a startled noise as a shadow forms overhead, darting away from the blue dragon. Tori grins, raising a hand in greeting to the rider, then quickly pulls it back back to cover her eyes from a shower of dust rising from the courtyard floor. She coughs, managing to keep a firm grasp on the rather jittery runner.
Blue Kepth's head turns to watch the human and the animal, a blue nose dipped towards the courtyard as Joise freezes in her path, quickly bowing without falling over, despite what may be the accepted laws of nature. "Xanadu's duties, miss. I apologize for the fright we gave your runner. It'll just be a moment." And she manages another quick bow before she goes peeling off towards the hall. Freaky.
Tori nods, opening her mouth to blurt out, "Not to worry, ma'am," but managing to miss the rider completely and speak to her hurriedly disappearing back. With a quirky grin, Tori reaches up with one hand to give the runner a comforting pat, seeming to calm the prancing beast. With a soft nicker, the runner lowers it's head - nuzzling Tori's shoulder. The young apprentice spares a rather interested look for the blue, ducking her head beneath the runner's neck to steal a glance. With a curious grin, she continues moving forward - the beast in her midst now much more compliant to move forward.
Kepth seems to be rather content to simply remain where he is, wings flipped to his back, muzzle held close to the ground. After all, there's no need to frighten the poor beast more the necessary. Yet, as there's still no sign of Joise's return, and Tori begins to lead the runner to one side, his blue head turns, a large eye remaining on her all the while.
Whilst being slightly uncomfortable beneath the gaze of the blue, Tori manages to move forward at a reasonable pace. She speaks softly to the runner in an encouraging tone, cajoling it to move just that bit further. With a stomp of the stone beneath, the runner chooses to stop firmly in one place - leaving Tori rather red with humiliation, "Oh move, you silly thing!" The young apprentice pauses, then after a few moments of careful consideration dips a hand into her back pocket - retrieving a handful of something that catches the eye of the beast, "Now move!"
Blue Kepth continues to watch the movement of the apprentice and the runner, though he freezes as the smaller beast does. Luckily for all involved, it seems, Joise comes bolting back out of the beastcraft at nearly the same pace she entered. "I'll get him out of your way.." And she skids to a stop at the blue's side, taking a step up before a deep draconic rumble halts her progress.
Tori grins back at both rider and mount, "Oh no, he's not the problem really." She tilts her head to the side, nodding at the runner, "This one is just awful stubborn when he wants to be." Tori continues trying to convince the runner with the aid of food, managing only to get a foot forward after all her effort. With an exasperated sigh the apprentice steps back to examine the runner, wiping a hand across her forehead and exclaiming, "What will I do with you?"
Joise glances over at Tori, nodding idly as she actually remains still in one place for more then a moment. "Kepth, there isn't time. I du-" Another rumble and the large eye is focused on Joise before it returns to Tori. "Kepth says you should leave him, and come with us, as a candidate at Xanadu." The bluerider's obviously not happy at the delay, as she taps her foot impatiently, having climbed back down to the ground after the explanation of the delay.
Tori turns a deeper shade of red as the runner firmly stands his ground and looks back at Tori with dark eyes and flicked-back ears. With a sigh of acceptance, Tori lets the lead-rope go slack, moving closer and peering up at runner irritably, "Well, I guess we are both stuck here then." Joise's words aren't registered by Tori for the moment, the young woman only turning her head to peer inquisitively at the rider pair. She lowers her sandy blonde eyebrows, staring curiously towards the blue. Lips part as the final words are taken in, "Oh!" Tori raises her hand to rub her cheek thoughtfully, "Stand for Xanadu? Well.. Of course!" The apprentice seems to brim cheerfully with the thought, turning excitedly to the runner an exclaiming, "Did you hear that, silly beast? A candidate!"
Kepth is certainly glad that the apprentice accepted, ducking his head up and down and spreading his wings with a bugle, though luckily its muted at the last minute as Joise hides her face. Shaking her head, and still tapping her foot, the bluerider waves a hand. "Get that beast put away, then, get your stuff, and let whoever you need to let know where you've gone know. We're on a schedule here.." And she looks rather annoyed as she moves to readjust Kepth's straps for the second passenger, while the blue just looks increasingly smug with himself.
Tori laughs, pointing a chubby finger at the runner, "Well, let's find someone who'll take care of you, then." The apprentice glances about the courtyard, settling eyes on another apprentice, "Daeki?? Can you please take a hold of this one? I've got to do something urgently!" The male apprentice wanders over, taking the rope from Tori - who dashes madly into the great hall. A short time later, she returns with a laden bag and stands promptly in front of the blue rider pair, "Alright. I think this is everything?"
Joise looks slightly less murderous about the delay then she did when Tori disappeared, leaning against Kepth's side though she's still obviously not thrilled about the delay. At the reappearance of the apprentice, she quickly straightens, and waves a hand. "Ever ridden before?" And without waiting for an answer, she turns to grab the dangling straps, muttering a 'watch' as she uses them as an aid as she walks up the side to settled between the neckridges, straps ends tossed back towards Tori quickly.
Tori shakes her head, hoisting her bag up and across her shoulders, "No, never ridden yet ma'am." That seems to show obviously in the high pitched rise of Tori's voice and the flush of her cheeks, "Only ever been on runner back." The last comment sparks some uncertainty in Tori's voice, the apprentice pausing to watch Joise mount the blue, then awkwardly following in her steps. Loosing her footing once or twice along the way, Tori manages to clamber up behind the rider, settling between the ridges of the blue.
Joise waits for the apprentice to mount up, the blue shifting back and forth as his rider straps first herself then her unexpected passenger in tightly. "Well then. Just hold on, don't worry about falling, and when we go between, just hold your breath and count to 10. No matter what it seems like, Kepth and I will still be right there."
Tori wiggles slightly, a brief look of worry drifting over her chebby features. Haltingly, she replies, "Oh.. Of course." Fingertips whiten as she grips the straps tightly, gaze drifting back to the ground and over to the runner she'd left with the male apprentice. She spares a wave for the young man, who returns it with a cheerful grin and a call of, "Good luck and don't fall off, Tori!" Tori only winces, returning a pained smile, "I'll try not!" Then turning back to Joise, "Alright, I think that's everything."
It's probably safe to assume that Joise, already annoyed at the delay, wasn't planning on letting herself be delayed any longer, as as soon as the exchange is done, Kepth's wings are spread and he's pushed off, angling upwards rather steeply, while his rider doesn't even spare a glance at the first-timer behind her. No time!
You spread your mighty wings and leap into the air, surging upwards.