brave_kreyu | OOM All Skate Skellig Dream Magic Weirdness -Part 10

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

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?

From:

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.

From:

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?"

From:

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.

From:

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."

From:

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?

Edited Date: 2024-09-03 11:53 pm (UTC)

From:

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."

From:

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.

From:

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!

From:

brave_kreyu

Xenophon copies Skellig, relaxes his grip on the strap just the tiniest bit when Skellig puts a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"That, that helps," he whispers. Once they are above the clouds and her flight is steady, Xenophon relaxes more, dares to actually look around.

"It's, it's like a sea of clouds, below us!" he says, voice full of awe.

From:

27_53

Wisely, he chooses to avoid making any jokes about Kreyu doing loops or rolls. No need to put any of those thoughts anywhere near Xenophon's mind, especially now that he has relaxed a bit!

"It is," Skellig nods, affirmative. "I find it can be a bit bright at times, but today they are not." Beginners luck, perhaps? It also helps that the clouds mask just exactly how high they are, or how quick they are moving...

"How long is travel to Mycenae again, love?"

From:

brave_kreyu

Kreyu grumbles at the headwind. "I would say a day, but not with this wind." She lashes her tail irritably. "May be two days, if this keeps up."

The clouds hiding how high up they are and how fast is likely a blessing!

From:

27_53

With that answer, Skellig assumes they will LIKELY stop and make camp after a day of flight, if it is possible. But he will not say that part out loud. Plus if this form is tiresome to her, she could always chose to curl up against his neck in cat form after they've eaten and made a bed for the night...

"Perhaps it will break after awhile, if we find good fortune."

From:

brave_kreyu

"Perhaps," Kreyu rumbles. She's not counting on it.

It is about mid day when Kreyu makes a suggestion. "It may be wise for me to land for a little while so everyone can stretch their legs, perhaps eat something."

And, you know, PEE.

From:

27_53

All very important points! Skellig instructs Xenophon once again on how to best settle in for descent, and thankfully the 'turbulence' as they break through the clouds to scan for a suitable landing site is minimal.

"Would you like a moment to yourself once we've landed, love? Our rigging is straightforward, I can remove is easily."

So you can go hunt, he does not say out loud. But he knows she is using a lot of energy, and will need to EAT.

From:

brave_kreyu

"That would be lovely, Skellig. Could use a bit of time to myself." She really SHOULD hunt, and she plans to take the opportunity!

Xenophon is VERY happy to be on the ground again, though Skellig has to help him disembark.

Once the rigging is off, Kreyu will go and hunt! Hopefully, it won't take her long.

Xenophon shakes his head. "The world looks so very different from up there," he says softly.

From:

27_53

"I have found that it shifts one's perspective quite a bit once you have seen it from above." Skellig smiles gently as he digs into the bag that carries their food, pulling out two flat breads and some dried meat and nuts. This will do for now.

A light snack, a chance to walk around a bit, sit on the ground that ISN'T MOVING for some time, use the 'facilities' (even if it is just a spot behind some brush).

From:

brave_kreyu

"I wonder if the gods see us like that, so very small and far removed from their reality." They are finishing their lunch when Kreyu walks back into the clearing.

SOMEONE went hunting in the ocean and forgot that this shape is covered in feathers. Feathers that are very not water resistant.

She looks rather miserable, but at least her stomach is full.

From:

27_53

To his credit, Skellig does not laugh outright. But his eyes widen slightly, then crinkle, and the corners of his mouth pull upwards in what is definitely a smirk he's struggling to force down.

"You see now why I do not often swim, my love."

Not laughing. Definitely not laughing.

"I would offer to preen you," he adds. "But I don't know how long that might take." He walks over to her, beckons for her to lower her head. "Perhaps these just near your eyes."

From:

brave_kreyu

She lowers her head oh so gently to Skellig. "Forgot," she mumbles.

It will be a relief to get the feathers straightened out around her eyes.

Something in the way they are touching, helping one another, makes Xenophon's heart ache, just a little. "You remind me of my parents, when they were alive," he says, voice quiet.

From:

27_53

That comment makes Skellig's spirit brighten slightly, Kreyu will sense it on his energy as he works to add his preening oil to his fingers and then weave her feathers around her eyes back into order.

"Perhaps it will give you inspiration for when you raise children of your own," he says. "If you choose to return to the village once we have straightened out your debts, I'm sure that young woman - Kirke, was it? She seemed to be...interested in you there at the well."

From:

brave_kreyu

Kreyu closes her eyes, relaxes into his touch.

Xenophon blushes furiously at his mention of Kirke. "I, perhaps?" he stammers. "I will have my sister to think of too. I would see her settled, secure in her future, before I consider taking a wife."

From:

27_53

"That is a honorable thing," Skellig says. He will not press on the subject of Kirke again - at least not YET, anyways. No sense in making the remaining flight time of the day uncomfortable or awkward!

Once he has finished to his satisfaction, Skellig leans in and presses his lips to her face. "There. Better. I will do more tonight, if needed, should you stay in this form."

And her feathers should be dry enough now that they can replace the gear rig and once again prepare for takeoff.

From:

brave_kreyu

"Thank you, love. I should air dry, at least."

They prepare for takeoff and Xenophon is calmer during their rapid rise into the air. Not perfectly calm, but calmer!

"We have covered such a great distance already," Xenophon says. "It is no wonder so many dream of flying, of that freedom."

From:

27_53

"We plan to travel a bit after our time in Mycenae," he admits without going into too much detail. "The pull is strong to explore and find new places, experience fresh things."

As he speaks, he is idly preening what feathers he can reach on her neck. Not many, but it's soothing for him as much as it is her, and he doubts it is that distracting.