A Different Perspective... {Eris/M'tak}

[nightsong]

It was dark in the hooded canopy, and in the reaches of the great broad leaves, a pair of sapphire eyes scanned the landscape beneath her, a long sharp spear in the waiting hands. The traps were still empty, her mind noted, and she sighed, before twisting lightly and leaping to a branch a few feet below, landing comfortably in a crouch and slipping out of open view, only a scurry of emerald green skirts hinting at her presence.

Eris sighed, pushing the white gold strands out of her eyes as she peered out of the hollowed trunk. She watched the dark spaces in the trees around her, and she smirked, catching the sight of a slightly dangling foot. She filed this away, planning on reminding her youngest brother to mind his limbs. Glancing down to the forest floor, her eyes narrowed. Traps had been empty for the last few days, and while her people had enough herbs, berries, and roots to sustain them as they needed... Well, meat meant something. And damned if she wasn't going to bring some home for this hunt.

[Lilacdew]

The darkness of the canopy was not a deterrent for M'tak. As the Wingleader representing Western Weyr here at Bivium, he had to do his job correctly before the rest of his wing arrived. For all he liked to joke, he had to know what was here so he could keep his people safe.

Mickmine, I don't like you down there. You could be in danger and I can't fly through these trees.

'Now now, Zanylth. I've a sword on my hip and the day is cool down here. Are you getting enough sun?' M'tak ignored his bronze for a moment when the dragon spoke again, distracting the rider for a moment.

'That is most certainly not in question, Mickmine. Though..it is very sunny and warm up here above the trees. Just please be careful.."

'Of course. Why wouldn't I b-" It was in that moment that M'tak made a crucial mistake. Normally very aware of his surroundings, the dragonrider stepped into a trap clearly meant for catching an animal. He shouted out in surprise, hanging upside down. He began to struggle, "Shells!"

'Mickmine..Mickmine!'

[nightsong]

Eris laughed soundlessly at Ijit, the young blue offering her a shiny stone he had found with a happy chirp before addressing the little green that appeared from between with a flutter of icy air still caught in the cups of her great wings. The report was detailed, the flashing of the images of empty traps across the forest making Eris sigh and nod, scratching the eyelids of her proud pair gently. She would be here all night if she had to...

"Shells!"

The sound shattered the peace of the day as readily as dropped glass, and immediately, the darkness of the trees around her shifted hazily, their shadows reflecting several young warriors catching their wind and reaching for their weapons. Immediately, her sharp bird call stilled them, and Eris narrowed her eyes, slinking out of the narrow tree trunk to the familiar roughness of the bark on the branches outside. The noise, both the snapping rustle of the rope and the shout, whoever it belonged to, had come from a few paces east. Eris sighed, laying her spear in her place and checking the belt knives dutifully, before breaking into a hard run, leaping from tree to tree with the ease of a child raised in them. She landed smoothly on the roped branch in complete silence, pushing past the leaves to trace the winding trap's rope down, arching a perfect brow at the foot pinned in its snare.

It was a man. Eris had to fight back a laugh at his ridiculous position, crawling slowly up the branch and sliding to a lower one like silk and settling in its forked cradle, crossing one long bare leg over another as she reclined, waiting for the rope's rotation to swing him enough that he was looking directly at her.

[Lilacdew]

Mickmine, Mickmine! I come, I shall come and flame a-

'Don't you even think about it, Zanylth. You will stay up there and away from where your wings will get torn. I have my sword here a-..Oh shards.'

As he was speaking to Zanylth, his sword had slipped from its sheath to the ground, sticking point first in the dirt and well away from his grasp. M'tak sighed heavily in frustration, staring at the blade in indignation for a moment.

'See, Mickmine? You need your Zanylth.'

'No, not down here. I'll get out of this.' M'tak quickly responded, trying to get up to where he could undo the ropes. Unfortunately, his riding leathers really weren't helping him much. They were brand new and not easy to bend in yet. His efforts caused him to turn around on the rope, and all he could think about was how glad he was that no one had seen him like this yet.

His rotations were, fortunately slow, but when they led to him staring face to face with an unknown female, he about jumped. He was completely startled, giving out a gasp. His motions caused him to swing again and he grunted before saying, "What in the world...who are -you-?"

[nightsong]

Eris watched his struggling with a look of extreme amusement on her features, her eyes following the fall of his sword to the ground with an arched brow. She was keenly aware at how loud this stranger seemed, smirking at his struggling which did little more than speed the rope's jerking and slow turning. She rolled her eyes, resting her chin in her hand, the blue eyes brilliant as she finally caught his eye, his sudden jerking more than adequate to signify he had seen her. The question seemed.... just like more noise, at least to ears accustomed to the forest's silence.

"What in the world...who are -you-?"

Eris sighed softly, tsking softly as she looked the dangling man up and down.

"It seems I am free. And you are not. You should not be in the forests, dragon man." Eris eyed him critically, slipping upright and drawing a wicked looking belt knife free, climbing to the branch above. She grinned, the long lines of pale skin twisting deftly to dangle upside down, beginning to work on the knot holding his boot. Ijit squeaked with excitement, fluttering in front of the dragonman's face, crooning a welcome. Eris giggled gently at the blue's antics, commenting quietly as her blade frayed the rope.

"Watch your head, dragonrider."

[Lilacdew]

'Mickmine...who is that?'

'I have no idea, Zanylth. But she's here, I'm here. Give me a moment.'

M'tak blinked as she spoke on freedom and he sighed, finally just hanging there instead of squirming about. Heaving a sigh, he raised an eyebrow as the little blue crooned a welcome at him. He blinked, staring at it for a moment before smiling, "Hello there."

That was when she commented about watching his head and he blinked at her, "Pardon...? Huh?"

That was when he noticed the rope's fraying and grimaced, quickly wrapping his arms and head in a formation that readied him for impact. This was not going to be pretty...and that was his final thought as the rope snapped and he began to plumet.

[nightsong]

Eris smirked at his tuck-and-roll style, the blue purring at his attention and rolling belly up midair to get a better look at him, until the rope snapped audibly, the slack unwinding quickly and plunging the rider at the ground. She sighed, grabbing the frayed rope no longer countered with his weight and leaping after, swinging deftly to wrap a pair of legs around his waist evenly slowing the descent smoothly. Gritting her teeth against the weight of another body, the girl braced, grabbing a branch and slowing their fall even further, until they dangled at a dead stop feet above the ground.

Eris smirked past the gritting of teeth at the weight of holding him, gasping as she dropped her grip and dumped him on the ground, folding her legs beneath beneath her smoothly as she crouched, staring.

"As I said. You don't belong in these forests, rider. Who are you, and why are you here?"

Eris eyed him, amusement and pity in their color, before jumping. The forest girl pulled herself easily onto a branch, continuing the sharp gaze.

[Lilacdew]

M'tak winced a bit, anticipating the impact that wasn't meant to come. When she caught him, he blinked up in surprise. A woman..had managed to save him? He was startled when he felt the legs wrap about his waist, and even more so when she was able to stop them before striking the ground. At last, when she let him go, he landed in a thud. Wincing, he rolled over before quickly standing up once more, stretching out with another wince. 'Ouch'

Mickmine...? You alright?

'Yea. '

A woman...saved you...

'...huh...'

M'tak stared up at Eris before bowing to the woman, opting to be his normal gallant self towards her. She was, after all, a lady, "Well, m'lady. Thank you for saving me. I am M'tak, Wingleader of one of the wings settling in the new Weyr over in that area. I'm here because I'm scouting the area...though apparently I'm much worse at it than I thought."

He grinned easily, apparently amused as he tried to cover up what was obviously embarassment, "Might I ask your name and what you are doing here?"

Mickmine...Mickmine?

Yes....? For goodness sakes, Zanylth.

She's different. She's really different.

'I know.'

Not like I know

'....''

[nightsong]

Eris arched a brow at the stranger before her, thoughtfully, sounding thoroughly unrattled.

"Aren't you boys supposed to be in the skies? Your dragon must be quite upset, M'tak." She smirked again, relaxing as she shifted to sit against the branch comfortably, pulling the long white-gold hair out of her eyes. The bowing, however, was too much and Eris chuckled softly.

"Might I ask your name and what you are doing here?"

The eyes paled a bit, and Eris cocked her head at him as interest traced her features.

"I live here, wingleader. You are in my father's forests." Eris eyed him proudly, before she gestured up, toward where the trees held several young men. "My brothers."

Eris grinned at him softly as she crossed her arms.

"I am Eris."

[Lilacdew]

M'tak smiled wryly, shrugging before he grinned at her. He glanced about at the forest that had taken him at such surprise when his dragon piped up, speaking to Eris, Oh, not too worried now. You saved Mickmine.

M'tak blinked before placing his face in his palm at his dragon's antics before looking up at the trees when Eris gestured to her brothers above in the branches, 'Excuse me. Dragon breath. You're not helping.'

Sure I am. She just showed you her brothers and you've said nothing. Why don't you say something?

'Are you still letting her hear you?'

....what would you do if I said yes?

M'tak sighed before looking at Eris once more, "Sorry about him. You've caught his interest, but he won't tell me how or why.'

Oohh, have her come say hello!

'Shush!'

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Eris," M'tak tried to start the conversation in a different direction, trying to cover up for his dragon.

[nightsong]

Eris blinked at the words not her own sounding kindly in her mind. Slipping down from the branch, she glanced up curiously, the smugness gone from her eyes. Glancing up, she searched the canopy to find some hint of the voice's form. She smirked at the dragon's teasing, her eyes wide as the same voice sounded the suggestion to see the dragon.

"He has caught mine. If I take you to a clearing, can he come to you? You will be reunited and I can meet him myself."

Smirking, she eyed the rider once more.

"And maybe this time you can avoid the traps."

Above, the men chuckled lightly at the rider below.

[Lilacdew]

M'tak sighed before glancing up at the trees when the men chuckled as they did. He rans his hand over his face with a sigh at his dragon's antics before he glances gratefully over at Eris, "That sounds quite fine, Lady. And as long as the clearing is a good size, he can. He's well..quite large. I do hope you forgive his rudeness."

I'm not rude. She's special.

'Hush. She said she'd bring me to a clearing for you.'

He nodded gracefully before saying, "Far as it goes with the traps, I'd gladly avoid them. Usually, I'm a bit better, but I'd rather follow those who know about them."

He glanced up at the treeline once more, pursing her lips together once more, "I suspect that there is one relatively close? Zanylth is getting anxious, and I am not sure I can take more of your brothers laughing at me."

He grinned.

[nightsong]

Eris nodded, shooting a dirty glance to her brothers, some of who grinned sheepishly before vanishing into the trees again. Holding up both arms, both Ijut and Zeerya fluttered forward to perch, she watched them both meaningfully as Zeerya chirped and launched, winging away quickly. Ijit chirped and hopped onto her shoulder, snuggling there happily.

Eris smiled, stroking the cobalt head before looking back to the rider, ringing fingers in her mouth and whistling sharply. The runner snorted, moving from behind a wide tree as he chewed lazily.

"Ah, there we are. M'tak, meet Tybarus. Tyb?" The runner pitched his head lightly, snorting as he moved forward, stopping to allow Eris to grip his mane and pull herself up. She patted his neck, before gesturing at M'tak, her eyes appraising.

"Shall we? And my name is Eris, rider. Not 'Lady'."

[Lilacdew]

M'tak grinned lightly as the men disappeared back into the branches. These people were good and he'd have to remember they were there. They bore keeping that in mind, and he nodded mentally to himself. Check. This wouldn't be forgotten if anything else was to be noted for the day. He shifted his eyes to look up at the little firelizards sitting on the woman's shoulders before flitting. about, the blue settling in place. The impish little thing was clearly a creature who enjoyed the attention, and he admired it momentarily when a runner appeared from the brush. He blinked in surprise, but this time, took it in stride.

"Oh, hello there Tyb," M'tak maintained his manners before he blinked when Eris gestured for him to mount the runner, and he hesitated, "On the runner..."

It's ok, Mickmine. I won't be offended. He does look tasty thou-

'You will not eat the lady's runner'.

Well...I won't..but he does look tasty...

M'tak eyed the runner, clearly a man used to riding a dragon. However, he nodded slowly, quickly mounting the horse with the same efficiency one might mount anything else., "How far away is it?"

[nightsong]

"How far away is it?"

Eris grinned as the runner tossed his head, gesturing to the east as Tybarus moved into his easy plodding step without guidance. Eris watched the dragonrider with weighing eyes, considering the place he'd found himself in.

"Not far. There's a pool at the clearing, so if your partner can find water..." She trailed off, leaning forward to look him up and down once more.

"What are you doing outside your walls, rider? It's been a long time since any of my people ran into any of yours."

Tybarus snorted softly, pacing around a deceptive coil of rope on the forest floor.