OOM All Skate Skellig Dream Magic Weirdness -Part 10

[brave_kreyu]

Kreyu has taken a different shape than is usual for her. A dragon, yes, but one of quite different build and coloration!

This shape is more serpentine, although it still has four legs and wings. Her body and her wings are covered in feathers that are all the colors of the rainbow. She fusses with some of her wing feathers, the claws of this shape far smaller, as dexterous as human hands.

"How do I look?" she asks, a little nervous about her appearance.

Comments

[27_53]

Skellig has stood well-clear of her while she has been finalizing this version of her form, but he has been watching closely - fascinated by the process.

"Lovely, as always," he replies. "Your feathers are stunning. It is as if the sun is refracting through thousands of dewdrops, casting colors every which way."

He had been busying himself with making sure all of their gear was well-packed and ready for travel, but his focus has been on her.

"But still fearsome."

[brave_kreyu]

She puffs up a bit in pride, pleased at his words. "Oh good, that was the effect I was going for!"

"It might be wisest if you go to the village by yourself to fetch Xenophon. It is more...expensive in terms of energy to take this shape, and I do not think it would be wise to waste energy so soon."

[27_53]

"Should I bring him to the outskirts? Back to the dock?"

[brave_kreyu]

"Yes, I think that would be best."

"Terrifying one young man will be quite enough terror spread for one day, I'm sure." Her tone is wry.

[27_53]

"I do not think you will scare him," Skellig says. "Surprise him, yes. Perhaps even startle."

He shifts his stance to hover near her. "Our rigging should still work well enough, I'll have to adjust a few things, then we should be in fine shape to set off."

[brave_kreyu]

"Thank you, my heart."

Once they are set, the trip back to the dock is much faster than it was last time as it is a straight shot.

She lands carefully, well away from the the house and the dock. "Ah, I think some of the building supplies have been taken by the villagers, good!"

[27_53]

"It also appears as if more has been taken from what remains of the ship," he points out. "It is being well scavenged."

Every bit of material might eventually be useful in some fashion.

"I will go to the village, fetch Xenophon, and return promptly," he says. "You rest here, conserve your strength."

[brave_kreyu]

"Good," Kreyu rumbles. "May its destruction serve the good of those it has harmed."

"I will be waiting, love. Be careful."

It's an easy walk, or flight, down the path to the village. The houses her are made of local stone rather than mud brick, but it is in many ways similar in layout to their village. The well is something of a center of activity, even at this time of day.

Xenophon is helping a young woman draw up some water because the bucket is so heavy! It's....not that heavy for her strength, but either Xenophon hasn't figured out she's doing it to get to look at and talk to him longer or he knows and doesn't care.

[27_53]

Skellig does not outright interrupt the happenings at the well, because it makes no sense to bother the potential meeting of two future lovers! He observes for a while, before he makes his way closer, raising a hand in greeting to Xenophon - and the young woman.

"I do not wish to interrupt," Skellig says apologetically.

"It is no interruption!" Xenophon replies, as he continues to draw the water. "Let me just finish this, and then we may talk."

[brave_kreyu]

"He is so strong it is easy for him to pull the bucket up," the young woman says to Skellig. The tips of Xenophon's ears turn slightly red at her words.

He heaves the bucket up, carefully, onto the lip of the well. "Thank you, Xenophon," she tells him.

"You're welcome, Kirke," he says, slightly flustered. She picks up the bucket, smiles at Xenophon in a flirtatious way he doesn't a hundred percent grasp, then carries the bucket back to her house.

Xenophon approaches Skellig, eager for news.

[27_53]

"My wife and I are ready to travel to Mycenae, to settle your debt and that of your sister as well," he says. "She waits for us at the docks, as it is less likely to cause a stir."

"Of course, I merely need to gather my things and we can set off. I have been staying in another home here in the meantime."

Fetching Xenophon's pack takes little time at all, and they are soon on the path back to the dock - on foot.

"I did not introduce myself, on the ship," Skellig says. "I am called Sokratis. My wife is known as Kreyu."

[brave_kreyu]

"It is good to see you again, Sokratis," Xenophon says as they walk, offering his forearm to clasp in greeting.

"I look forward to seeing Kreyu again as well. It must be difficult for her, being around human settlements."

What with the being a giant eagle or a small cat in shape!

[27_53]

Or a dragon with feathers that mimic the full spectrum of light, a glorious rainbow...

"It is," Skellig agrees. "Though she asked me to tell you that sometimes she takes other forms, and you should not fear her, as she wishes to aid us in our travel."

The walk is quick back to the dock, and Skellig does not see Kreyu outright; he can hear her heartbeat, knows she is near to them. But she must not be far...

[brave_kreyu]

"I, I think I will be well, whatever her shape may be," Xenophon replies.

They round a few more bends, and Kreyu's form comes into view. So beautiful, with her feathers in the sunlight!
Xenophon freezes, his mind stunned, starring at Kreyu open mouthed.

[27_53]

"I have the same reaction," Skellig laughs, clapping Xenophon on the shoulder. "You can see why she chose not to come to the village in THIS shape."

He approaches Kreyu and smiles fondly. "Hello, love. Xenophon has been treated with great kindness at the village, just as you said."

[brave_kreyu]

Skellig might have the same reaction, but not for quite the same reasons.

"I am glad to hear that," Kreyu rumbles.

"Dragon," Xenophon gets out at last. "Your wife is a dragon." His brain is still spinning its wheels a bit.

[27_53]

"Yes," Skellig says, voice full of pride (and a hint of reverence) as he nods. "My wife is a dragon."

There are still packs strapped to her form, and an area where they can both sit upon her back. He reaches for Xenophon's bag. "I will secure this alongside the others, and then we can settle in for our flight to Mycenae," he says.

Remember that question about being afraid of heights?

[brave_kreyu]

Xenophon lets go of his bag automatically, his mind preoccupied.

"We're going to ride your wife?!" Xenophon blurts out. Then he flushes as dark as his complexion will allow when it registers just how that statement might be taken.

[27_53]

"We are going to take advantage of her abilities to fly much faster than I could hope to," he laughs. "And yes, that means we will be perched upon her back. Since we met, we have found it just makes travel much simpler."

Xenophon continues to stare for a moment as Skellig moves and alights softly upon her form to lash down the pack, giving her scales a gentle stroke once he has finished.

"Love, do you need to do anything to prepare our friend for the trip?"

[brave_kreyu]

"A few spells," she replies.

Xenophon looks up, and up, wondering how he is EVER going to get that high. Does he climb her? Would that be rude? Even with her belly flat on the ground she is VERY LARGE.

"How do I, um...?" he asks Skellig as Kreyu casts a few spells on Xenophon for safety and communication in flight. He's gesticulating to the position Skellig is occupying on Kreyu's back.

[27_53]

"Apologies," Skellig shakes his head and hops down, floating easily to the ground. "This is one thing I did not think about prior. It has never been an issue."

He moves to stand behind Xenophon, motioning for him to turn. "We will get you up here..."

To his credit as Skellig flaps his wings and they rise into the air, Xenophon does NOT fail, much. But a stunned noise at the fact that he is FLOATING does escape his mouth. And then he is STANDING ON A DRAGON.

"Her scales are quite tough," Skellig says. "You will not harm her. Here, come to this part behind her neck and we will sit. It is safest here, and the spell creates sort of a...bubble."

[brave_kreyu]

Feeling what he is standing on BREATHING is a new experience for Xenophon, but he gingerly makes his way to the indicated spot.

Kreyu moves her wings in an experimental sort of way as Xenophon takes his seat. He's not sure what to do with his hands. Does he need to hang on?

[27_53]

Skellig settles in with a greater ease than Xenophon does - understandable given that this is not his first time riding his wife, so to speak - and relaxes.

"I do not have a great fear of falling, obviously, so I do not tend to use a strap," he motions up to a strip of finely braided leather that he has wound around the 'rig' that holds their gear for the trip. "But you might wish to do so. We will have to take skyward a bit quickly to get above the clouds, but once we level off you will find it quite comfortable I feel."

She is so big, it is just like a moving platform! Lined with feathers and a blanket. "There is no risk for lack of air, either. We are protected from that."

Once they have settled in, Skellig lightly weaves his fingers into her feathers. "I think we are ready, my love."

[brave_kreyu]

Xenophon grips the leather strap tightly, nods in understanding.

Kreyu is pleased at the feeling of his fingers in her feathers, he can tell. Kreyu SPRINGS into the air, wings beating fast to try and gain height!

Xenophon doesn't scream, but he has a death grip on the strap and he's quite pale.

[27_53]

"Lean down, like this," Skellig shifts his position slightly so that he is more 'straddled' over Kreyu's feathers, lowering his center of gravity and allowing his body to vaguely 'melt' into Kreyu's form, move as she moves.

And in doing so he has moved his body closer to Xenophon, to place a reassuring (not much good it will do now in this exact moment) hand upon his shoulder. Nobody will be falling off the dragon today!