uisgeannan | Some kind of dragon au

[Yup, about that...]

It means you're old enough to get your own territory.

Already??

Yeah, 'already'. Don't you wanna have your own cave, or mountain...whatever? Find a mate?

[Not that he was in any hurry to do the latter, but he was odd like that. And was only half-serious about the topic to begin with.

He just wondered what the gold's reaction would be.]

I dunno...I haven't thought about it. I was having fun being around you. [ The cave was safer with Vanitas guarding it, and warmer for his company. Sure it would be nice to be able to hunt around and do whatever he wanted without needing permission (some things you just didn't do without it, familiar with another dragon or not. Scenting was one of those).

It'd be nice to think of someplace as "his", sure, but that'd be awfully lonely if he had to keep it all to himself wouldn't it? Even his broodmother had her mate around; and his progenitor, while not especially paternal, still indulged the whelplings and made sure they were protected.

So maybe if he had a mate it would be different? But if he was with Vanitas then any female would go to him automatically by rank; and that was if she permitted him her mate. He'd seen his broodmother chase off more than one additional suitor as he'd grown up. It sounded too tough to try if he could be relaxed and happy with his current living arrangement. he didn't have to worry about defending anything at all. ]

[And fortunately, no large males had come sniffing around either, so far. Vanitas had gotten lucky in that regard, because if it was a much older dragon he probably wouldn't win a territory skirmish. Not unless he won by chance.

And likewise no females had come sniffing around, either. They were left alone because of the human village and farms that Ven had managed to stumble into on his first day, that resided just over the valley. Close enough that most dragons steered clear. Occasionally even they had to lay low when a caravan passed through.]

T'ch. I've obviously been too lenient on you.

But I've been good haven't I...? I haven't gotten into any trouble. That's a good thing. [ He hadn't even argued over who got to eat first. Curbing his early habit of begging for food before his turn had been snuffed out in the first week with a few sharp nips to his hindquarters and muzzle. ]

It's the least you can do.

[Vanitas was glad he'd cut out the begging relatively quickly, because that had been incredibly annoying 8| Brat.]

If you wanna stay, you'll have to start pulling your weight around here. Learn to hunt more than just rabbits and birds.

[ Rude he was a precious baby and it used to work sometimes on mom )8 ]

You mean...you're gonna let me go after your stuff? [ He's considered anything bigger than those Vanitas', simply because he figured the other got first pick when it came to meals. And Vanitas never picked small game in favour of something larger and more filling. ]

[That is exactly what he's saying. So really, it's not so much an admonishment as it is permission for him to join the big boys.

Because he really doesn't want Ven to leave just yet if he can help it. But won't come out and say that, of course.]

Do you have a problem with it?

[ Holy cow. That's a big step right?? Or maybe he just wants Ven to start hunting for him too...but wow! Ven's shaking his head almost immediately, eyes a little bigger. ]

No--I'll do it!

Alright, then. You can start tomorrow.

[With that, Vanitas gives another yawn before he rises and gives another small shake to make sure he's grass and dirt free. Then pauses, head swiveling back towards the deeper trees as he stops to listen.

There were faint sounds coming from within, the snort of a horse, and muffled hoof steps.]

.....? [ Ven catches it too, just a second or two behind Vanitas. He's hear elk and deer and stuff before, but never horses. His earstalks perk up curiously as the noise carries on, but instead of being intent on it like the other Ven leans a little to scratch with his hind leg again.

After that he'll make an inquisitive chirp. ]

[Which immediately gets him a sharp glance and a low grumble, a pointed 'quiet' in there somewhere. Vanitas is used to the occasional wandering band of humans, but they usually make tons of noise and are easily avoided.

But this sounds like a lone horseman, maybe two. What are they doing out here?

After another brief pause, he crouches as low to the ground as he's able, and slinks forward to investigate.]

....? [ He'll quiet up, but now he's paying more attention for sure. He cranes his ears for whatever's got Vanitas like this all of a sudden, holding back when the other creeps forward despite his own smaller size. He's not anywhere near as subtle and he knows it.

He'll do what he can for the moment though which is crouch down and try to keep quiet, nostrils flaring as he searches for any identifying scents in the air. ]

[There's enough moss and vegetation that picking out the smell of the horse is difficult, but as they get closer it becomes more apparent. As is the sound it makes, as it gives another snort and a small neigh.

Vanitas moves more slowly, his own nostrils flaring as he focuses on honing in on wherever it is. Oddly it doesn't seem to be moving, as the two creep in and eventually come to a break in the bushes.

There's a small clearing, with two fully laden horses tied to one of the fallen trees. They've come up behind him, so even though the animals' ears swivel a bit they haven't noticed the dragon's presences just yet. But more importantly... there's no riders to be seen.]

What're those?

[ It's the quietest rumble Ven can give without it carrying on the wind to spook the horses. He can't see them like Vanitas can--he's still hanging back carefully--but the wind shifts in their favour and he can catch hints of it. It's a weird, pastoral smell that triggers something in the back of his mind. Some distant or fleeting memory.

But that's about it ]

Prey humans ride.

[Lifting his head a bit more, he risks a more open glance around to check for said humans. But the horses appear to be alone. Appear, but Vanitas is wise enough to proceed with some caution.]

But I don't see the humans.

Why would they leave their prey alone though...?

I'm not sure.

[Ducking his head back down, he contemplates what to do. The horses are still oblivious to their presences with the wind blowing in their favor, and seem to just be lazily grazing on grass in the clearing.

Maybe their humans had made camp nearby? But it was still daylight, and awfully early for them to be sleeping.

Well, only one way to find out. Slowly, Vanitas breaks from the cover of the dense foliage, still keeping low and moving so that his footsteps are as muffled as possible. His eyes are open and barely blinking, spines partially raised in alert defense.]

[ Ohhh gosh. Ven's sure he ought to stay behind to keep from messing up, but even seeing Vanitas' spines raise makes him step in place where he's crouched, barely able to contain a chuff or two. He's restless and curious but trying to stay where he is, shifting his weight eagerly as if to pounce. ]

[The larger dragon doesn't even spare him a glance back, gaze instead focused on the two mounts ahead. They looked as if they were weighted down with more than just a saddle--bags hanging off of either side in what he could only guess were supplies. Which meant that whoever they were, they were planning on venturing off for a while.

One of the horses raises it's head, ears swiveling again before it stomps one front hoof a bit restlessly. Vanitas freezes, waiting until the nervousness passes before he moves again.]

[ And when Vanitas does, Ven does too like the good little copycat he is. The urge to get a look himself is strong and he has to hold back an eager yap, instead wiggling his haunches until he just has to crane and peer around the other's form, seeing if he can't catch a glimpse. ]

[And at almost that exact moment, there's a faint 'twang' of a bow being shot before Vanitas suddenly rears back, and an arrow goes thudding into the right of where his neck just was. He gives a snort, attention whipping in the direction it fired from as the horses also whinny in alarm and buck at their ties.

He can see the faint glimmer of sunlight off armor, as the two humans peek over the foliage. Vanitas gives a warning growl, spines fully raising though his wings remained tucked against his sides to give them less of a target to aim at. At the same time, his tail bumps and shoves against Ven, in an attempt to push him further back into the underbrush and out of the way.]

Oof-- [ He's knocked back successfully and rolls at least once before he's able to poke his head up out of the brush, eyes slit and earstalks poked right up in alarm. He bays twice at Vanitas anxiously. Shouldn't they be running away??

He remembers projectiles very, very well. And he knows he doesn't like them one bit. ]

[Luckily these are much smaller than the bolts that'd been fired at them from the ground.

And this time, he doesn't run. Instead, he lets out a bellow and opens his mouth, exposing his rows of sharp, dagger-like teeth as he slithers further out from his hiding spot and charges the humans'. But they're quick, too, and unfortunately manage to escape his snapping jaws and fire off another round.

This time, the arrows hit his hide. They sting, but only one manages to barely penetrate his hide and hangs off, the other bouncing harmlessly as he shakes the impact off and snarls again.]

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C U T E S T TAG EVER WOW VANITAS SOU SENPAI

skfjlkj HE'S JUST IN IT FOR THE POTENTIAL BOOTY OKAY BT

UH-HUH OKAY SURE

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