Some kind of dragon au

[occulthymns]

[Before you lies a picturesque kingdom of forests and fields and farmlands. Mountains rise up in the distance, and set at the edge of a massive lake is an elegant castle with tall spires. It looks out over the land - forests surrounding the lake, a small but pleasant medieval town pushed up against the castle walls, farmer's fields further out.

The land itself is fertile and full of wild game, unsual plants, and natural wonders like crystalline caverns and waterfalls. Rivers of all sizes wind their way down from the mountains, which alternate between covered in fir trees and bare, jagged rock with mazes of caves hidden within.

Dragon AU go!]

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[dark_to_dawn]

[That earns a lift of his head, enough to reveal the large wing-shaped, v-styled scales running down his neck and chest. Focused on him now.]

Better not.

[And yes, that's deliberate vague on whether he's talking about scenting or meeting. For his mood, could be both. Innocent whelp. It's easy to tell the order of this gold's clutch. He's dead last.]

[didneyworl]

[ He's going to take it to assume the former, because he's toddling his way on over to the other no matter what, coming to a stop only when he manages to get within twenty yards or so. Then he holds, and wiggles his haunches eagerly. ]

I'm Ventus.

[dark_to_dawn]

[Should've figured. He eyes him, canting his head to the side enough to take him in at full glance. Claws rest silently against the shoreline he's propped on, back legs tucked under his haunches, though for now, the back half of his body, save for his tail, is hidden behind tent-folded wings.]

Fascinating.

[He flops his tail over his crossed forearms. In case someone gets a little too close, he'll use it the heave-ho into the lagoon. Simple enough.]

[didneyworl]

[ And rude. But Ven hasn't taken notice of that and just hops a few more steps forward, before sitting himself down on his haunches and yawning, flicking one ear. ]

Who're you? Do you live here?

[dark_to_dawn]

[He's not social... Riku closes his eyes and sinks down a little like he's going to try and sleep. Emphasis on try (and fail). At least the gold's found a "limit" to stop at.]

It's my territory.

[Yep, the whole lagoon, waterfall, surrounding areas. And yes, he ignored the "who" question for now. Someone's not earned that right yet.]

[didneyworl]

[ He's a butt, that's what Riku is. But Ven seems pleased even with only half the answers he sought, perking up. ]

The whole thing?? What about around it?

[dark_to_dawn]

[For now. He misses the physical perk, but it's all over the gold's voice. A wry snort huffs through his nostrils.]

All the way to the spring.

[The one feeding the river that eventually became waterfall and lagoon.]

[didneyworl]

That's huge...!

[ And impressive. ]

[dark_to_dawn]

[Now you're stroking his ego. His eye parts just enough that the nigh-glow of his iris can focus on him.]

Really...

[Curious. Not from around here much, is he?]

[didneyworl]

[ He is easily impressed, and when you live in above-cloud mountain caves for territory, anything else is amazing. Ven's facefins are flared in excitement, even. ]

Yeah! I flew above it--that's so far!

[dark_to_dawn]

[Obviously. The tip of his tail slowly lifts and falls in repetitive motions, either irked or musing. The flared fins are all excited and he's not exactly... "good" with excited, smaller, younger dragons. Tail-catapult is ready.]

Why are you flying above my territory? [A softer growl vibrates in his throat.] Scouting for someone?

[didneyworl]

[ Riku....das cute. In a scary sort of way, because even Ven kind of gets the rumble and he shrinks a little, fins folding in close. ]

I wasn't scouting... I just wanted to look around. It's the first time I could see the ground on my own before. [ Definitely a runt ]

[dark_to_dawn]

[Don't say it to his face though. His pupil narrows into a smaller slit as he listens to the answer, judging whether he feels like he's being truthful or if he's lying.

Tsk, definitely a runt. He doubted he could tell a convincing lie to save his life. He closed his eyes and turned his head away in a "care less" sort of attitude.]

Late hatchling or just scared?

[didneyworl]

I'm not late...! It just took a while to make my wings strong enough... [ Which is a little bit of a sheepish admission. He was the last to leave the nest, yes, but only by a couple of days! Life's hard when you're tiny. ]

[dark_to_dawn]

[And how tiny... His wings slide upward, silver scales mirroring the shadows as he brings the appendages around to cover himself for the most part, leaving his head exposed at least.]

Fine. [Ventus posed no threat to him.] Look if you want. But don't touch.

[didneyworl]

[ Which is basically permission to run and prance around as much as he wants, so Ven practically trips over himself in excitement as he stands abruptly. ]

I won't! [ ...Probably. The first thing he is going to do is sniff everything, because that's clearly the first step here. ]

[dark_to_dawn]

[He sighs in a ghost of annoyance. The gold could do what he wanted, so long as he wasn't loud and obnoxious.

As far as scents around here go, prepare to get your scales shook, because way up in the mountains doesn't have anything on this lush greenery.

Of course, he never said everything in his domain was safe...]

[didneyworl]

[ Which is probably a foolish assumption on Ven's part; he assumes that if it belongs to a dragon there can't be anything too bad there. He'll wind up wandering this way and that, turning over stones with his nose and pawing at logs until he manages to roll them--whelp things, really. Everything about him is just youthful curiosity and fascination with his surroundings.

He even winds up chasing a few of the ducks a ways over at the edge of the lake until they fly away. And repeats it when he finds the next batch, until he's soaked and has mud and algae all over him. ]

[dark_to_dawn]

[Sometimes, he cursed his good hearing. And the reluctant reminder that the whelp would probably be getting himself into way too much trouble. Still, so long as he stayed around the lagoon area, the more threatening things wouldn't be a problem. As "sleeping" as he appeared, Riku was still listening. Claws on logs, a snout flipping over stones, splashing through the water. Foolish pup, thinking he could catch ducks like that.

This hatchling never had been out of his home before.]

*sigh*

[Considering the lake and rutting around in the forest, he'll probably be filthy. Riku knows he's not seen the last of Ven either. Great. So long as he stays out of the cove behind the waterfall, we're good here.]

[didneyworl]

[ Nope, he'll behave! But he'll also be back only an hour or two later, panting with his tongue lolled out and nostrils flaring with each breath. Ven looks mighty pleased with himself despite catching absolutely nothing at all; he's stuck within at least a mile of Riku at all times, an old habit leftover from his hatchling days. Stick close to mom, stay safe.

But he's also immensely eager to see if he can't get the older dragon to play with him, waddling over a right mess and flopping onto his stomach once he's within a dozen yards or so of the silverscale. Closer than last time. ]

[dark_to_dawn]

[Call him 'mom' and you're dead. An hour or two where Riku should have been sleeping, but no, had to stay awake and listen to the whelp dash around in the forest. The silver's not moved from his position, save for his tail, which is back in the water. But upon hearing the goldscale come lumbering up again, his eye parts with another annoyed gleam.

Yeah. He's a complete wreck. Covered in mud and algae and a few duck feathers even. None around the mouth, so he obviously didn't catch anything... Lucky for Ventus. Obeying the rules... Least he looks like he's had a good time. And Riku's more than a little irked to realize his territory now probably looks like a storm passed through it.]

You're filthy.

[didneyworl]

I was exploring! [ He says it with such pride too, chirping as his tail wiggles against the ground for a few short moments. So, sooo much fun C: and of course he ran around without any regard to conserving energy or making sure he had reserves. He played hard and good and now he's a little pooped, tongue licking over his maw a few times. ]

[dark_to_dawn]

Right. [He's not arguing that one. The goldscale looked like he'd gone for a roll in the mud in places. And that tongue is clear indication he's run himself ragged. While it's not exactly his concern, he can guess what's going to come around next. As if.]

Go wash off. [The silver indicates the lagoon with a dismissive toss of his head. Before Ven turned the shore into a similar mess. Riku's not extremely picky, but he likes to keep his place neat. (Easier to tell if someone's been where they're not supposed to be. Smart, hm?)]

[didneyworl]

[ Clever girl ]

But I just lied down...! Can't I wash later? [ Whine whine, he doesn't want to move yet. He is quite happy being all flopped like he is, thank you very much! ]

[dark_to_dawn]

[Innocently rude. These scales aren't just for show. For a few seconds, he lets that whine fall flat... but then snorts again and closes his eye.]

Should've thought of that before you laid down.

[But the silver's not making any motion to enforce his demand. It's up to Ven.]