Ghis (closed)

[KieranSoares]

Lance set off at a strong trot, quick and agile despite his wounds. He made a circuit of the grounds, not understanding quite what she wanted.

 

[heartofcourage]

"On ward, my love. We're wearing you out." Rissa insisted, kicking against his sides when he went to slow, confused as to what she wanted.

 

[KieranSoares]

Lance groaned as she encouraged him on, and he was soon sprinting despite discomfort. With how he'd already fought and been injured, it wasn't long before he slowed down again, having to be pushed more and more before he finally outright disobeyed and came to a stop, panting heavily and growling at Rissa as if asking for mercy. The bite wound on his neck had bled through the bandage, and he sat down without waiting for Rissa to climb off.

 

[heartofcourage]

Rissa climbed off Lance and moved to stand in front of him as he sat there and panted for breath. She saw the bandage at his neck soaked with blood and she would tend to him personally in a moment. At that moment, however, she took him by the horn and turned his gaze towards her.

"I trust you, my beautiful love, but you have got to get a hold of yourself. I know it hurts and I know you get scared, but no one here will hurt you and I can't have you hurting others." Rissa said firmly.

 

[KieranSoares]

Lance groaned, barely trying to shake her hand off his horn but too tired to really give effort. He finally flopped over on his side, rumbling between breaths.

 

[heartofcourage]

Rissa let him lay there as she went to fetch new bandages. Once he was dressed, she lay down in the dirt beside him, looking into his amber gaze as he stared into her own. He was always gentle with her, knowing that she had saved his life. She had worked so hard to break him of his more violent tendencies, but it seemed that she hadn't succeeded completely.

"What happens next, my love?" Rissa asked softly of the drake, listening as he whined at her. "How can I help you?"

 

[KieranSoares]

Lance groaned quietly at her question, his golden eyes sad, in pain and seemingly feeling guilty as he seemed to understand he'd done wrong.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I would take you with me back to Edinburgh, but I don't know that I could trust you." Rissa said as she gently reached out and touched his maw, stroking it gently. "Perhaps I should find a home that can give you the attention and time that you truly need."

 

[KieranSoares]

Lance pulled himself closer, curling around her with one huge arm draped over her. A couple of her older stable hands had told her that Lance probably saw her as something close to his mother with the way he would come crying to her for help, and accepted her authority over anyone else. He protected her like family as well, even against drakes he liked.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I know, my love." Rissa said softly as he pulled her close and curled his body around her. "I could never send you away."

 

[KieranSoares]

Lance laid there with Rissa for a long while until a light mist began to fall, the late night sky clouded and threatening heavy rain later. Lance rose, tired but wanting to go back inside as he nudged at Rissa gently.

 

[heartofcourage]

Rissa didn't say anything as she stood and got Lance inside. Once he was settled in his stall, she latched both the main bolt and his safety. He was the only drake that she had that needed both, but it was for his protection as well as everyone else. Once he was calmly resting, she left to check on Qira once more, wondering if the drake he had been watching survived.

 

[KieranSoares]

When Rissa entered the wounded drake's stable, she found Qira sitting against the wall in the corner, the orange female's head and neck draped over him. She was still breathing, asleep and seemingly more comfortable, and Qira himself was not fully asleep, but dozing, his eyes half-open staring at nothing.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Do you need anything? A storm is coming in. A few of the drakes might get restless." Rissa said softly, not wanting to disturb any of them. "The younger ones especially. They aren't use to thunderstorms just yet."

 

[KieranSoares]

Qira glanced up, then looked over the drake so trustingly laid against him. "... She has lost a lot of blood... A few blankets, and food when she's feeling up to it."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Just call for a stable hand. There are a few that work overnight to take care of them." Rissa said. "Or I will tell them for you and all you need to do is call out. It might be easier that way."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'll manage," Qira assured her, carefully untangling himself from the female drake without disturbing her and standing to dust himself off and face Rissa. "I can look after your other drake as well if needed."

 

[heartofcourage]

"He was abused by men in his former life. He has no trust for them. I don't think it's wise for you to be around him, especially with him injured." Rissa said firmly as Qira offered to look after Lance as well. "He'll be fine."

 

[KieranSoares]

Qira nodded, stepping out with her as he went to fetch some of the blankets. "I can help work on that with him," Qira offered, knowing a beast like Lance would never fully recover, but he could be brought to a point where he didn't outright attack men if they got too close.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Panther, you can try, but I will not be coming back out in this storm to reattach your arm when he rips it clean from your body." Rissa said, looking over at Qira as he spoke about trying to help Lance if he possibly could.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I didn't say you would." Qira shrugged as they came to the tack room and be began gathering a few things.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'm simply warning you." Rissa said as Qira shrugged his shoulders at her insistence that Lance would tear him apart if given the chance.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I know. I will manage." Qira turned back with the blankets and went to drape them over the female drake, seemingly entirely unfazed by the idea of facing a very dangerous drake.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You are the most stubborn and infuriating creature that I think I've ever met. And I train wayward drakes for a living." Rissa said as Qira acted unfazed by anything that was happening in that moment.

 

[KieranSoares]

Qira set the blankets down, looking to Rissa once more, still calm and stoic. "I won't know if I can help him until I try. Continuing after he hurts me would be stubborn."