DragonBorn [[For Joyabe and Mischief]]

[GodofMischief]

 

 

 

 

Name: Tobias

 

Age: 24

 

Gender: Male

 

Sexual Orientation: Gay

 

Position: Seme or Seke

 

Rank: Chieftain, first born son of former Rulers.

 

Ideal Partner: Seke, Seme.......possibly, maybe Power bottom.

 

Personality: Tobias is by far the most serious of the brothers. He isn't stern or cold tempered...he's simply rather stoic and a tad monotonic. However, just as he is stone faced, Tobias is also calm tempered, strong and kind. He rules with a patient mindset and a soul longing for justice. He is not cruel nor is he vindictive. He has a good head on his shoulders and weighs every decision before he decides to make his move. Wise beyond his years, Tobias is a role model for the younger generation in his clan and he is a beloved leader to his people.

 

Bio: Tobias was born as the first Prince of his people. He was the pride and joy of his parents and their pride in him only grew further as he aged and demonstrated an intelligence beyond someone of his young age. Tobias proved to be a sharp, curious young boy with a natural craving to learn all he could from everyone and everything around him. He was a jewel of a child, loved by all who set eyes on him. When his younger brothers came into the picture, each a few years after him, Tobias embraced them with the love only a proud older brother could have. He bore no jealousy towards them, instead he swore to keep them safe from anything that sought to do them wrong.

 

When signs began to appear that Tobias might very well be the first Dragonborn child in centuries, his parents were beside themselves with both pride and disbelief. Even more so when the little boy of 12 showed up one morning with a dragon that would soon become his best friend and ever vigilant guardian. As he aged, Tobias and Fenrir, grew in bond and love. There was never a day the boy was seen without his faithful dragon by his side. And when both his brothers began to show signs that they too shared the traits of those extremely rare Dragonborn children, their people and their parents thought that the Gods and Goddesses had smiled upon them and provided them with a protection that would be nearly impenetrable.

 

Little did they know it wasn't as it seemed.

 

At the dawn of his 16th birthday, when Tobias had been eager for yet another year of learning to become the perfect Chieftain and Arwen was in the midst of his 6th year, a terrible attack fell upon their people. One no one had seen coming. An attack that left their clan without their leaders and Tobias horribly injured in an effort to protect his younger brothers. Many feared that the Crown Prince would not survive and the clan grieved not only for the death of the boys parents, but also for the life trickling out of the next in line to lead them. However, Tobias was not to be given up on so easily. No one knows for sure how it happened, but the young man recovered and survived his horrific injuries. Many whispered it was through the will of Fenrir himself to save his human, while others murmured the Gods had pardoned the young Prince's life. However, that didn't matter. What mattered was that the clan had a new Chieftain and that not all was lost.

 

Over the next years, Tobias grew into the man his parents had always wanted. In fact, some would say that he grew to be a better Chieftain that even his father. With the help of his parents advisors at hand, Tobias rebuilt his clan with his brothers, their dragons, and Fenrir at his side. Under his hand, the clan grew in strength and thrived for the years to come. Their love for the young Chieftain grew with every passing season. And even though Tobias bore the heavy weight of his people and their future on his shoulders, he never faltered in his loyalty and dedication to them.

 

Extra: Before the accident that nearly took his life, Tobias shared the same dark hair as his siblings. After he awoke from his coma, Tobias' hair changed from dark brown to pale as snow, as did his eyes. Many in the village speculated that it was because of Fenrir's will and intensity to bring his human back from the brink of death, that the dragon had given him a hint of the very essence that made Fenrir who he was.

 

 

 

Name: Fenrir

 

Type of Dragon: Ice/Storm Dragon

 

Body type: Serpentine

 

Age: 6000

 

Gender: Male

 

Personality: Fenrir is a stern, no nonsense dragon. He's is fiercely protective and loyal to a fault. He aggressively guards Tobias both in and out of battle, rarely allowing unknown people or dragons near him. Being as he is a dragon of Ice and Storms, Fenrir has a rather cold disposition to him and has no quarrels in putting anyone who opposes his Bonded Human or himself, in their place. He does not trust easily and anyone he thinks is a threat to Tobias, he makes sure to make his feelings clear too. This serpentine dragon listens to no one but Tobias himself and the other young Princes and their dragons, of which he is equally protective of.

 

Powers: Fenrir controls Ice and Snow for the most part. However, when truly angered, he can create horrible storms that can threaten to whip out entire villages if that is his desire.

 

 

 

 

It had started off as a quiet peaceful day. While birds same their songs up above and little critters scurried through the underbrush in an effort to avoid being seen, the forest had been relatively tranquil. There was no sense of alarm to be felt and the sounds of laughter coming from the village could just been heard being carried by the light summer breeze. Tobias loved days like these. Where he could spare a few hours to run a patrol with just Fenrir and avoid the watchful eyes of his younger brothers. While he loved his brothers, they had a tendency to become smothering if he didn't curve their fussing over him every now and again. A habit they had developed years ago and was remarkably still present now. So while he appreciated their obvious love for him, the young Chieftain enjoyed days where he could wonder around with just his dragon. It had been so long since their last escapade from the village and Tobias could sense that Fenrir had been growing a tad bit restless. The life as the leaders of their beloved village was one they had grown accustomed to through the years, however, that did not mean they didn't need to take a few breaks every now and again.

 

Glancing over his shoulder at the majestic, beautiful white furred and blue scaled serpentine dragon that walked just a pace behind him, pale green eyes constantly vigilant of their surroundings, Tobias could help but release a soft chuckle. If there was anyone worse at fussing over him than his siblings, Fenrir would be that creature. His best friend took overprotective to a whole new level and the dragon had no shame in admitting that. Ever since they had met so many years ago, Fenrir had constantly guarded his human zealously, never letting him out of his sight for too long a time period....Especially since that day when they had lost so much and could have lost so much more. Fenrir was Tobias' shadow, his partner and his main source of support when leading the village grew particularly heavy. The pair made quite a sight both in and out of the village. It was little wonder why visitors tended to walk on eggshells around Tobias when they were leveled with one of Fenrir's vicious glares. The thought itself had another soft chuckle slipping out of the young man's mouth.

 

"What do you think, Fenrir? Does our land seem adequately safe today?" Tobias asked, voice deceptively soft toned if not touched by an almost monotonic tone. Pale gray eyes with traces of icy blue color circling the iris looked around for the hundredth time this morning. Nothing seemed to be out of place, they had circled the island twice already, both by air and by foot. Things seemed to be as in place as they had been yesterday if the reports were anything to go by. Their home was as secure as it always had been since Tobias took the mantle of Chieftain. Nevertheless, the young man couldn't shake the soft nibbling sensation in the back of his mind that something was off. As if they were waiting for something to happen. What that something must have been, Tobias had no idea, but it seemed that he wasn't the only one slightly uneasy.

 

"The winds are different today, Tobias.....I sense another dragon approaching our land and she is not far...By the scent of it, she is not alone" Fenrir's low, deep rumbling voice filled the white haired male's head as his dragon dipped his head to gently nuzzle his long muzzle against the side of Tobias' body. An affectionate gesture, one strictly reserved for those who the dragon considered family and no one else. Green eyes were locked onto the horizon in full view for them from the sandy cliff they stood upon overlooking the vast ocean surrounding their home. Had it not been for the subtle way Fenrir dragged his long tail up to wrap around the area surrounding Tobias' feet in a distinctively protective gesture, the young Chieftain might have thought nothing of it. As it was, he was both curious and suspicious.

 

"Well then, we might as well give them a polite welcome, before they stumble upon our village. If they due indeed decide to land on our lands, I'd rather know what they want before they endanger our loved ones" Tobias murmured thoughtfully, reaching up a hand to gently run his fingers through the soft fur under Fenrir's jaw. Hearing a pleased rumble escape from deep within his dragon's chest, Tobias smiled quietly but did not move from his post. They had an excellent view of whoever would be approaching from here and if push came to shove, he'd be able to react much quicker than if he had been deep within the forest of their island. For now though, he was merely curious on who exactly was approaching and the best way to find that out, was simply to wait and see.

[Joyabe]

 

 

 

Name: Tristan

 

age: 22

 

Sexual Orientation: Gay

 

Position: Seke or Uke

 

Personality: Tristan is extremely intelligent, but unfortunately that also makes him extremely stubborn- possibly because he tends to believe he's always right. He's also short-tempered, but he's not a bad person. He has a very strong sense of right and wrong, and he would usually go off when meeting something or someone he views as unjust. He finds it difficult to connect with other people and make friends, and tends to assume the worst about people- with the exception of kids, which he surprisingly gets along with really well.

 

Bio: Tristan was born to a pretty normal family- loving parents, an older brother, twin sister, and two younger siblings. Although he was never the center of attention in the small village he grew up in, and always felt a little bit like an outsider, he was generally happy. He's problematic character combined with the fact he lived in a small village made his family the closest people to him in the world, and he would do anything for them.

 

He had an especially close bond with his twin sister who was almost an antithesis of him- friendly, optimistic, and loved by everyone. His friends were mostly her friends, but she brought Tristan along with her pretty much everywhere she went, always claiming he was very much welcomed, even when he preferred to be left alone and not deal with other people. Although to most people he seemed cold and distant, Tristan loved the people closest to him devotedly and would show affection to his family in his own way.

 

He feels unbelievably guilty for that day, when he left his house and wandered out of the village without telling anyone. When he came back, he found almost everything and everyone burnt to the ground. The pain and rage he felt, seeing his younger siblings' empty eyes and terrified expressions, and his parents bodies laid in a clearly protective position that only emphasized their failure of doing so, lit a fire in him that didn't seem like it would ever subsid or go away. He keeps wandering if anything would have been different had he been there, and if not- if he would at least be together with them now.

 

He would have joined them if not for his sister's last words. He remembered those two words whispered to him clear as day, moments before her grip got cold and her eyes dark. "Fight on". It was not a request, but an order, and Tristan had to abide.

 

Being enslaved only made Tristan's already defiant character worse, as he constantly behaved outrageously, the punishments he suffered only fueling his anger further. If he had a problem trusting people before, it was only made worse by recent events. Finding himself isolated and enslaved he found it harder and harder to keep his promise to his sister with every passing day.

 

 

Name: Azar

 

Age: 2500

 

Type: Fire Dragon

 

Gender: Female

 

Body type: Smaller than most male dragons, with a more "soft" and rounded look.

 

Personality: Althoguh she and Tristan resemble each other physically, their characters are pretty much opposite. Azar is very calm, and doesn't lash out easily. She's very protective of Tristan, but she's much more playful and laid-back than him, and generally isn't hostile towards others as long as she doesn't percieve them as threats to Tristan or herself.

 

Powers: Besides the obvious fire-breathing, Azar is also capable of generating very high body-heat, despite being cold-blooded. She's able to manipulate existing fire, and when really angered even lava and magma.

 

 

 

 

The sun shined warm and bright, its rays falling on the young man lying in the green meadow. Tristan watched the feathery clouds lazily slide across the blue sky, and inhaled deeply. Something stung his lungs as he pulled the air into them- no, it wasn't air but smoke. A movement in the corner of his eye caught his attention, and he turned his head, his gaze locking on that of his sister lying in the grass next to him. The eyes that looked back at him were bleak and empty. "Look what you did Tristan" she spoke to him, her voice full of accusation while her eyes remained as empty as they were before "look at what you let them do to us". Tristan tried to talk back, but his voice wouldn't come out. He tried lifting his hand and reaching out to his sister, but his body wouldn't move. A loud scream echoed in his ears, followed by two words, whispered to him, barely audible "fight on". Tristan's eyes flew open, his breath fast, as he looked around the dark room, trying to recover from the nightmare that came back to haunt him every night. Well, to call the small basement he and six other slaves were kept in a room was a bit of an overstatement. It was one in the sense that it had four walls and a celling, but aside from that they only had some old blankets to sleep on, and the occasional rat to keep them company.

 

Tristan sat up, his body covered in cold sweat. It made the shirt he was wearing stick to his back, and caused his wounds- some in the process of healing and some fresh- to sting. Nobody liked a smart-mouthed and defiant slave, and Tristan was both- and therefore well acquainted with being flogged. He tried slowing down his breath and heartrate, listening to the silent breathing of the others in the room. He didn’t really know any of them, and made no effort to change that. What was the point anyway? If it was up to him he would anger his captors enough for them to kill him- it's not like he was of any importance to them, or to any one else for that matter- seeing that the same people that enslaved him also killed his entire family. But those two words whispered to him, the ones that kept appearing even in his worst nightmares, kept him from doing so. He made a promise to his sister, and he would keep it. He had to admit though that this task was getting harder with each passing day.

 

That same day, Tristan found it extra difficult to shake the images from his latest nightmare out of his mind. Maybe he was finally losing it, he thought as he moved around and placed bricks where he was told to, just like he did any other day for the past two months or so. He could feel the guards' eyes on him frequently as he worked, a things he didn't find surprising considering the fact he caused them quite a lot of troubles and quite frequently. As he lifted another brick and placed it on top of another, something caused him to freeze. Something was off- it was some kind of sixth sense or intuition was calling his attention. It was suddenly all too quite, and Tristan turned his head around to look behind him. The weird silence lasted for only a second, as it was suddenly replaced with complete chaos. The first thing Tristan noticed was the noise- a loud crushing sound, followed by the sounds of debris scattering around and voices shouting. At the same time his vision was completely blocked by a thick cloud of dust, that stung his eyes and lungs. Moments later, however, his eyes focused on a large silhouette in the midst of the chaos. It didn't take him long to figure what it was- he saw some of the guards riding dragons before. But this one was different, it was smaller, and without a rider, and most importantly- it was blocking Tristan's way out.

 

He was still trying to wrap his mind around whatever the hell was going on in those few short moments, when something happened that startled him more than any of the things that just happened. A voice was talking to him- he could hear it loud and clear. "Come" it said to him, sounding as if the speaker was standing right beside him. It didn’t make any sense- there was nobody that close to him, and with all the noise he shouldn't have been able to hear anything. His head turned around, trying to locate the source of the voice, as he was now seriously questioning his own sanity. It was in that moment that his eyes locked on the large yellow eye of the beast in front of him "come" the voice commended again, and although it didn’t make any sense, Tristan could have sworn that it was the dragon talking to him. His mind went blank as his body moved on his own. Throwing caution and any sense of judgment to the wind, Tristan ran up to the beast that lay low on the ground, placing his foot on it's shoulder, and flung himself on its back. Almost immediately, he felt the dragon move beneath him, and before he knew it they were flying away from that horrid place.

 

Tristan lost count of the days that passed. Every once in a while Azar- the dragon now had a name- would land, usually next to some body of water, and Tristan would drink and sometimes eat some plants or nuts if he found any. After the first one or two times it was made clear the dragon wouldn’t leave his side, like he thought she would. Tristan wasn't sure if he completely lost his mind, as he was physically numb and mentally foggy- but he didn't really care. That weird connection was the only thing he had at the moment, and he really didn't have anything to lose. He assumed it was about two weeks from their first encounter when Azar began descending again "are we landing?" Tristan quietly asked, receiving a positive response. Something about her reply this time felt different to him, but he was so out of his element that he didn't give it much thought. As Azar softly landed on the small island, just on the edge of a thick forest, Tristan slid off her back, his legs feeling a little shaky. He squinted his eyes, blinded by the bright sunlight reflected by the water, as he tried to adjust his eyes to the new environment. He could see some shadows moving not far from him- but he couldn't focus his gaze enough to make out exactly what they were. He could feel Azar right next to him, as there was something different about her- she wasn't scared per se, but there was an air of caution in her thoughts.

[GodofMischief]

It wasn't long until a figure appeared upon the horizon. At first it was rather hard to make out but as they drew closer, Tobias took note that this figure was clearly a dragon. Perhaps not as large as Fenrir, Volos or even the slightly smaller Tanit due to his young age, but it was a dragon nevertheless. From this far, had it not been for Fenrir's insight about her, Tobias would not have been able to fully state what gender the dragon was. However, Fenrir had said that she was female and Tobias had never had a reason to doubt his partner. Besides, it didn't truly matter because this dragon was not alone. She had a rider with her....the question was if he was just a rider or if he was a Dragonborn...the thought itself was far fetched. Dragonborn children were a rarity, his village had been lucky to find themselves with three to grow and protect them in the future. While Dragon Riders existed and were known vastly throughout the lands, DragonBorn were an uncommon phenomenon. So if whoever this Dragon's rider was, was actually Dragonborn....it would be rather interesting. But Tobias didn't hold much hope in that.

 

Watching them land a few meters away, the young Chieftain felt his dragon stiffen beside him and with a glance at Fenrir, he took note that his partner had slightly peeled back his lips to reveal sharp canines quite capable of tearing anything apart. Gently running his fingers through Fenrir's fur one more time, Tobias nudged his dragon lightly with his hip and smiled the moment those intelligent pale eyes landed on him. "One does not greet their guests with violence, Fenrir. You know that as well as I do. Chieftains must be civil.....besides, we might as well give them a chance to explain why they have decided to give our home a visit" he scolded his friend gently. The eye roll that he received had his smile twitching a bit further into existence.

 

"You know full well how I feel about uninvited guests....while I will not attack, do not ask me to not consider them a threat until we know otherwise. Your safety has and will always be my top priority" Fenrir rumbled at him, exhaling a frost filled breath and forcing his muscles to relax just so. He would not attack, as he had told his human, but he would not drop his guard fully either. He had done that once and it had almost cost him the life of his bonded. Never again would he allow himself to go through a situation like that. So while the female and her human did not appear overly dangerous, he would be the judge of that once they received a response as to why their visitors were here.

 

"As you wish....Now come, let us greet our guests" Tobias murmured affectionately, waiting for his dragon to unfurl his tail from Tobias' feet. It was with great reluctance that Fenrir accomplished that task, but once it as done, Tobias shot his friend a reassuring look and took the steps needed to make his presence known to their visitors. Snow white hair glistened in the warm summer sun the moment he stepped out of the shade of the tall pine trees and pale gray eyes curiously swept over the young man that had climbed of the dragon and the dragon herself. Even without having to look, Tobias felt Fenrir step into place beside him and in an effort to soften the blow that must have been the clear distrust and displeasure in his dragon's eyes, the Chieftain smiled warmly at the strangers on their lands.

 

"Greetings and welcome to the Isle of the Sky. My name is Tobias, Chieftain of the people that claim this island as home. And this is my friend and partner, Fenrir, Alpha dragon of this island. While we had not been expecting guests, you are not unwelcome here. However, I must ask, to what do we owe the pleasure of your presence here? We had not thought there were any Dragon Riders in the area" Tobias greeted the pair, his tone kind and as polite as could be. He didn't want to appear as menacing as Fenrir must be looking at the moment. While he was as cautious of these newcomers as his friend was, he was also interested in getting answers from them. Scaring them off wouldn't do anyone good.

[Joyabe]

As the two figures emerged from the shadows, Tristan inhaled sharply and took an instinctive step back. His eyes were locked on the man and dragon that seemed to share a similar resemblance to each other, very much the same way he and Azar did. His eyes shifted back and forth from the friendly expression of the man, to the hostile one of the dragon- neither of them seemed trustworthy to Tristan.

 

He felt his muscles tense as the two drew nearer, not sure what he should do. Fighting did not seem like a good option, seeing that both the man and his companion were physically larger than Tristan and Azar, respectively, not to mention that neither of them was in top shape at the moment, after the long flight. He considered running away, but just turning on his heels and making a run for it was not very realistic as well- as he was sure they would catch up to them easily. If they planned on getting away, which seemed like the better option at the moment, they had to be smart about it.

 

As they continued advancing towards them, Azar's attention was focused almost solely on Fenrir. While the man with him seemed harmless, or at least not immediately dangerous, the dragon next to him was clearly hostile. She chose to land there because she could feel Tristan getting weaker- and she assumed there are better chances of them not being attacked where there were other dragons, seeing as they wouldn't be an unusual spectacle. She puffed up, her scales seemed to almost be standing on edge as she positioned herself between Tristan and the other dragon, very clearly protecting him. She had no intention of attacking first, but her instincts instructed her to protect the man next to her from the possible threat.

 

Tristan could feel heat rolling off Azar's body as the two strangers finally came to a stop in front of them. Unlike her, he was equally doubtful of both the hostile and polite greetings they received. He eyed Tobias suspiciously as he introduced himself. The name Isle of Sky rang familiar, as Tristan remembered reading it once somewhere, but didn't remember where or what was written there for that matter. The very official and polite greeting had Tristan raising an eyebrow. The man in front of him might have very well been who he was claiming to be, but it didn't mean anything. People were people, and in Tristan's eyes power was only more likely to make them unpleasant at best, or dangerous at worst. "The pleasure of our presence?" he repeated Tobias' words sarcastically "we're just passing by" he said in the same sarcastic tone, his eyes glaring at the man in front of him with a mixture of hostility and fear, although he hoped the last one was well hidden. "Don’t worry, we have no intention of interfering with the great chief or his people. We'll be on our way soon enough" he said as he glanced an anxious look at the dragon who's attitude seemed to be opposite of that of his companion.

 

Tristan hoped playing his cards right would allow them both to leave quietly. He could practically feel Azar flinching in his mind at his disrespectful tone, but he couldn't help it. Tristan had a hard time keeping his attitude at check, and this time didn't seem to be any different.

[GodofMischief]

Hearing the open hostility and very well concealed fear in the man's voice as he spoke, Tobias arched a brow. While the man's words were less than polite and they were heavy with sarcasm, he couldn't bring himself to blame the man. Something must have happened for him to have such a fierce nature towards all who attempted to draw near him, even if it was just to be polite. In a way, he sort of reminded him of his youngest brother, Arwen. Yes the similarities in their personality, at least what little he had seen of this man in front of him, were remarkable. While Arwen would never and has never used such a disrespectful tone towards him, his little brother did tend to have a sharp tongue towards others and had no quarrel in using it. However, just like with this stranger, Tobias was quick to forgive his younger brother's temperament. They had all been through much and it was only natural that they all had their own way of coping with the roads life took them through. So while Tobias had no way of knowing where the man's hostility and fear came from, he would not berate him over it.

 

Fenrir, on the other hand, was not so forgiving.

 

His dragon had seen how the female dragon had angled herself to protect her human and he commended her for that, but that didn't mean he'd forgive such a tone being used towards his own human. A low, guttural snarl slipped past his lips as he glared down at the little human who dared think himself worthy of addressing Tobias in such a way. The grass under his paws gradually began to gather the first touches of ice, turning the lush green into cold, stiff steams. Flaring his nostrils briefly, icy puffs of air escaping him in his irritation, Fenrir's clear anger was hard to miss. However, before his rage could proceed further, the gentle touch of a hand upon his leg snapped him out of his livid thoughts. Looking down at his human, Fenrir found himself locking eyes with those patient, kind hues that made Tobias who he was. His human was not upset at the other male, not even in the least. It seemed Tobias had forgiven him already and while Fenrir couldn't understand how large Tobias' ability to forgive was, he knew he would never make a move to upset his Bonded.

 

Lowering his head slowly, muzzle once again rubbing affectionately against his human's side as the ice surrounding his paws melted to nothing, Fenrir released a soft sigh. "Forgive me...it seems as if my temper got the best of me. I will endeavor to not let it happen again" he rumbled quietly to his human, earning himself a loving stroke from the man he had sacrificed everything to bring back from the brink of death.

 

"All is forgiven, my friend" Tobias murmured just as quietly back to his dragon, his hand still deeply buried in the fur under his dragon's jaw as he turned his attention back to the strangers. "Forgive him, he will not do you harm. He's just not accustomed to unique strangers" he added for the sake of those that Fenrir had been glaring at with deep rage just moments ago. As terrifying as his dragon could be, Fenrir and Tobias were so closely knit that neither would do anything to upset the other. So while Fenrir was terribly protective over him, Tobias knew that his dragon would not attack anything or anyone lest he be given a direct request or order.

 

"If you are determined to be on your way soon enough, then we will not stop you. However, I would recommend that you find some food and water before you set off again. Lest you were to fall off your dragon due to weakness. There is a patch of fruit bearing trees on the Western path of the island, you would be able to replenish your food supply there and there is a small river of which you will be able to drink from. If you're not in a terrible rush, stay a night or two there, it will give your Dragon time to gather her stamina again before you head off towards wherever your destination may be" Tobias spoke calmly, tone not showing any signs of being insulted by the way he had been spoken to or the words directed at him. His voice still held levels of kind welcome to it that matched the welcoming gleam in his eyes and the somewhat relaxed dragon at his side.

 

"However, I hope you'll understand when I ask that you stay clear of the south cliffs of the island. My village is weary of outsiders and I fear that our other two dragons would not be overly welcoming should you stumble upon our home without proper announcement. Believe what you will but I do not long for either of you to be unnecessarily injured" Tobias added after a moment of thought. His village wasn't cruel and they wouldn't turn their back on someone seeking shelter, however, they were cautious of newcomers. They had suffered great loses due to outsiders once already, they would not be eager to have it happen again. Tobias would alert them of a new presence on the island once he returned to them, but he couldn't promise how they would react if the man charged in with his dragon in the middle of the night.

[Joyabe]

The angry reaction Tristan's words provoked was nothing he wasn't expecting- the surprise was the one who reacted. He's attention was now fully devoted to Fenrir, his eyes widened, fear now clearly the dominant emotion expressed in them. He didn't know if the chills running up his spine were the result of the adrenaline or of Fenrir's quite literally cold aura. As he braced himself to whatever was about to come, Azar was mimicking his actions. She crouched lower to the ground, ready to deflect any attack aimed at Tristan, a low growl building in her chest.

 

When Tobias interfered, they seemed as surprised as Fenrir was. Tristan watched closely at the strange exchange between the man and the dragon- the way the latter reacted to the touch and words whispered to him didn't seem like the result of either training or taming. His brain was fast in reaching the only possible conclusion- could it be that Tobias was able to communicate with Fenrir the same way he could with Azar? He was so busy processing this new information, that he didn't even bother making a snarky remark on being called "unique".

 

As he carefully considered this new theory, two options came to his mind- either he wasn't as crazy as he thought, or he completely lost it. At the moment however he was too exhausted to try and figure anything out. He listened, unusually quit, to Tobias' offer to stay on the island, and the instructions of where they should go to find food and water. The fact he remained calm and polite didn't relax Tristan one bit- Tobias could very well be a very good liar and manipulating him for all he knew.

 

The warning regarding entering the village itself was unnecessary- Tristan had no intention of placing himself in an unknown territory, being clearly outnumbered, and the mention of two additional dragons only strengthened his resolution. As Tobias finished talking Tristan only nodded quietly. Although he was still on edge, the option of someone else having the same condition as him was… intriguing. While he had no intention of letting his guard down, he figured maybe sticking around and trying to gather some information wasn't a bad idea. However, his head felt fuzzy, and he didn't feel like he was in any condition to make that kind of decision at the moment. "We'll be out of your way shortly" he promised Tobias once again, quietly, his eyes glancing one more time at the two in front of him before he turned on his heels, Azar in tow, and started heading West. He kept intently listening in case they decided to suddenly attack from behind, but kept his head turned to the front as he tried to walk as stably as he could- a task he found a little challenging seeing the world looked to him a little like it was spinning. However he had no intention of showing any signs of weakness- he didn't want to do anything that might invite an attack.

 

Soon enough, they reached the area Tristan assumed Tobias was referring to. The trickling sound of flowing water and the faintly sweet smell of fruits filled the air, but at the moment he was interested in neither of those. He sat on the grass in a spot he deemed to be well hidden enough, but also gave them the option of making a run for it if needed, his knees all but buckling from underneath him as he did. Azar lowered herself to the ground, wrapping herself around him, her head turning around to look at him with what Tristan could only interpret as worry. "Don't" he said as he leaned his head back against her neck "I'm fine. Just tired" he raised a tired hand to affectionately pet her "what do you think about those two?" he asked her. "The human seemed friendly enough" he could hear the voice in his head as clear, maybe even clearer, as it was the first time "I'm not sure about the other one. But it seems they had no ill intentions- you could benefit from befriending them". The last part made Tristan snort out a short laugh "me and his highness? I would like to see that happen" he couldn't imagine getting along with the stoic and proper Tobias. Anything beyond cold politeness seemed too farfetched- and even that option was far from their interaction just now.

 

He closed his eyes, enjoying the feel of the sleek, hot scales against his skin. It was especially helpful on his back, where it seemed to alleviate the pain from the healing wounds to some extent. "Let's make a decision in the morning" he said, his voice slurring just a little "I don't think anyone would come here, but wake me up if anything happens. And get some rest as well" he made sure to add that last part, as he had the feeling Azar would keep guard for the entire night had he not told her otherwise. The response he got- her snuggling up to him and wrapping her tail around the two of them- satisfied him as the exhausted Tristan drifted into a sleep that was- unusually but blissfully- dreamless.

[GodofMischief]

Inclining his head down a bit in response to the man's quiet words, Tobias watching him and his dragon turn tail and begin to walk away. However, he didn't watch them for long, just for a moment or so before he too turned and headed off back in the direction he had come. Fenrir followed his example though his dragon did throw a cautious glance over his shoulder and angled his ears back to be able to listen if there was any need for alarm. Trekking from the heavy undergrowth with the grace of someone who had been born and raised on this island, Tobias made his way back to his people before he worried them too much further. The last thing he needed was Arwen soaring his way to this part of the island and stumbling upon their guest. While his brother meant well, Arwen was not someone that Tobias wanted to clash against the stranger when they still knew so little about why he was here. He'd rather keep his siblings and his people clear away from the man until he made sure he wasn't a threat to any of them. So though he was allowing their guest to stay on their island and get whatever food and water he needed, Tobias would remain with his guard raised until the truth behind the man's presence was revealed. If he decided to stay that long.

 

Feeling Fenrir's matching thoughts in his head, Tobias couldn't help the small smile that lighted his features. While he and he Dragon were somewhat different in personality, at least for the most part, Fenrir thought the same way he did when it meant to keep their home and family safe. Despite his icy nature and temper as well as his explosive tendency to lose said temper should anyone disrespect his human, Fenrir would always put the village and his human above all else. Just like Tobias. They had lost so much already, he wasn't willing to let them lose more. They had had many years of peace since he had taken the role of Chieftain of his people and he strived to keep it that way until it was time to plan their attack on those responsible for their grief. So while they had an unknown on their lands now, they would let the boy and his dragon be, lest he caused them reason to worry. Besides, the man had seemed far from steady on his feet so Tobias doubted there was any real reason for concern.

 

Hearing the boisterous sounds of his village, louder now than it had been moments ago, the young Chieftain felt his body relax completely as they finally walked back into their home. Fenrir's stiff physical presence melted like snow as well when the scent of the two younger dragons filled his nostrils. "It's Tobias! Tobias and Fenrir are back!" the first cry erupted through the village the moment the first pair of eyes landed on him. It took less than a handful of minutes before Tobias and Fenrir both found themselves surrounded by their people. Countless questions about their location were called out and worry shone in the eyes of several of the villagers even as Tobias pacified them with gentle words and reassurances. Fenrir's soft rumbles of affection and reassurance of his own, mixed with the snow haired man's words. Their effect slowly lowered the anxiety of their villagers and brought another sense of peace and calm over them. While they had been frightened by the absence of their Chief and his partner, at least now they were back and everything seemed fine.

 

"Brother, where did you go? Why did you not let anyone know that you were leaving? The village was a mess when they realized that you and Fenrir were not here" Arwen's young and heavily worried voice drew Tobias attention the moment the crowds began to part and his brother charged forward with Tanit in tow. The young dragon instantly orbiting towards Fenrir, nuzzling against the eldest dragon amongst them in concern and getting a loving lick across the muzzle for his efforts from the icy dragon.

 

"I had need for some fresh air and I thought patrolling with just myself and Fenrir would do me some good. I apologize if my absence worried you, little brother. However, you should know by now that there are times I just need to be on my own for a bit" Tobias responded gently, tone obviously loving. Reaching up with a hand, he cupped the back of his brother's head and leaned forward to bring their foreheads together in a gesture that was solely uniquely for the brothers. "You need not concern yourself over me so much" he added after a moment.

 

Closing his eyes, smaller frame relaxing impossibly at the presence of his older brother, Arwen exhaled a heavy breath and nodded. "I know, I just can't help it. Besides, Zayne was worried too, even if he tried to act like he wasn't" the younger boy murmured. His words getting a huff from their brother who approached with a somewhat lazy stride.

 

"It ain't my fault that Tobias and Fenrir decided to disappear on us and cause everyone to panic. Next time, warn us, brother. I'd much rather be able to relax in peace than feel like my heart is going to beat out of me chest" Zayne grumbled in a goodnatured manner. Leaning forward to press his forehead again Tobias as well, Zayne laughed as he watched Volos lean affectionately against Fenrir. The two younger dragons smothering the older one with their worry and love.

 

"You have our apologies, you mother hens. Now come, there is something I wish to discuss with you before bed. The village will be made aware of it before we settle down for the night. However, I'd like to tell you four first" Tobias chuckled, gesturing for his brothers and their dragons to follow as he walked further into the village and towards the large house belonging to them. The sooner he told his brothers and they spread the word about their visitor, the sooner the village would be aware whoever might decide to make his presence known to them all, was not as unannounced as he would normally be. By morning, Tobias hoped that the village would know there was no reason to be alarmed even if the man was still an unknown to them.

[Joyabe]

When Tristan opened his eyes, it took him a few moments to remember where he was and how he got there. The sun was just starting to rise, coloring the sky above him in pink and light blue, and all around him he could hear birds starting to chirp in the treetops.

 

As he kept looking around, his eyes landed on Azar- she was already awake, but remained still, waiting for Tristan to wake up as well. Her head was rested on the damp grass, and her big yellow eye was watching him as he stretched. It dawned on him that nobody tried attacking then during the night, and thus he began thinking that maybe the white haired man wasn't laying after all. The sound of his own thoughts was then disturbed by the very loud and clear sound of his stomach grumbling. Hearing that, Azar puffed out air in what sounded very much like a chuckle. "Food?" she asked him, her voice sounding light and amused in his head. "Yeah" Tristan agreed "you must be hungry as well" he added, receiving a positive answer in return.

 

He got up to his feet, stretching once again as he did. Azar joined him, as she stood up and shook out her long body, spraying Tristan with the drops of morning dew that coated her scales, causing him to raise his arm in protest as he tried protecting his face. Azar didn't seem to feel too sorry about it.

 

Tristan looked up the trees around them- he now noticed orange fruits hanging amongst the leaves. It wasn't anything he had ever seen before- it looked to him like something between an apple and a tangerine- but he felt confident enough to eat it, as he was now under the assumption he probably wasn't lied to the previous night.

 

Azar's gaze followed that of Tristan, and landed on the fruits that were located quite high up on the trees. With a quick sweeping motion, she whipped her tail hitting one of the trees, causing some of the fruits to fall down to the ground. She sniffed them carefully before deciding to turn away and head towards the stream that ran just near them. Although being smaller was usually a disadvantage, it did have it perks in some areas. With a swift movement, she swatted the water, using her delicate claws- at least in comparison to those of males- to hit a few fish out of the water. She bent her neck to the grass, quickly eating all of them but one, and then turned to the stream again, this time to drink and clean her muzzle. When she was done she turned again to the remaining fish and, breathing out a very small and controlled flame, cooked it, before gently grabbing it between her teeth only to place it in front of Tristan. In the short time they were together, she found out her human would not eat any kind of meat in its raw state. She then moved to sprawl on the grass next to him, as Tristan smiled kindly at her- a gesture she began seeing more of only recently.

 

Tristan quickly and quietly finished the food in front of him, feeling fuller and more refreshed than he did in a long time. He felt like his head was clearing up, and as it did, he also started feeling pangs of guilt. He was by no means closer to trusting the stranger from yesterday, but he did seem to be genuine in his kindness and hospitality. And in return, Tristan, well… "was I being an ass?" he asked Azar, finding having conversations with her less and less weird. "Yes" was the one worded reply he got. Tristan frowned as he got up and took the few steps he needed to get to the stream, kneeling down next to it. The more he thought about it, the more he suspected that Tobias could give him some kind of an explanation to his peculiar situation. But then again, he still didn't trust him completely- what if he had an ulterior motive? Or maybe he didn't, but would have one the moment he'd realize what Tristan was- whatever it is he was? Maybe they should just keep going like they did until now, he thought. Surely Azar wasn't just flying around aimlessly, was she? "Just so I would know" he told her as he finished drinking "you do know where we're heading, right?" the silence in his head spoke volumes as he turned his head to her "you have no idea, do you?" he asked in a bleak voice that seemed to not be received too well with Azar, as she used her tail to gently push Tristan. Well, it was gentle for her as no harm was caused to him, but he did fall into the stream, face first, creating quite a splash. "Fine" he grumbled as his head emerged from the water, to meet an amused looking Azar "let's patrol the parameter and see if we can meet those two again" he said as he moved a few auburn strands that stuck to his face "but we're not going anywhere near this village" he added as he got out of the water, soaking wet, and started heading towards the strip of land surrounding the island. Azar agreed with this specific decision- if the other two dragons were anything like the one they met the night before, she preferred not having them anywhere near Tristan.

[GodofMischief]

It wasn't often that Tobias had time to spare two days in a row. To be frank, today wasn't a day where he could spend too much time outside the village. He had several meetings with different groups of people within his village to attend and he had promised he would spare some time for council meetings in the later evening. In all honesty, the man had his hands full. Not to mention that he had also promised his brothers some sparring time before they had all settled in for the night. Fenrir wasn't free of duties either, as his dragon, the majestic being had to accompany Tobias to all these events and his input was something the village valued as much as they valued Tobias'. Not only that but Fenrir made it a habit of often helping the fishermen of their village with Volos and Tanit. The three dragons would more likely be busy securing food for their people while Tobias and his brothers were busy with other responsibilities. That was just how their life was. There was never a dull or uneventful moment for them. However, Tobias couldn't complain too much over it.

 

Still, he was curious to see if the young man from last night had decided to stay or if he had left after replenishing his supplies. He had seemed rather jumpy and cautious of the world so Tobias wouldn't be too alarmed if they found barely any trace of him or his dragon. Nevertheless, it was his duty as village Chieftain to find out regardless. His people had been told of the young man's presence in their home, many were weary but they had agreed to let the stranger be for the time being. He had posed no immediate threat and they had much rather continue their peaceful lives than cause unnecessary fights. That wasn't to say his little brother hadn't had his own two cents to put in about the whole situation. Arwen had perhaps been the most vocal in suggesting to send people to watch their uninvited guest over night and make sure he did nothing suspicious. While Tobias would have agreed with his little brother under different circumstances...at the moment, it just felt like such measures were truly not needed. The man was fearful enough, it wouldn't do anyone any good to poke at his already clearly uneasy nature.

 

Making in to the part of the island he had directed the man towards yesterday, Tobias glanced over the land curiously. Just a few meters from where most of the heavier fruit trees were, Tobias paused to glance up at one of the rarer fruit trees that they had on their land. Not many people came here too often, while fruits were favored and delectable, his people mostly relied on fish and other vegetation spread out across the island. Nevertheless, Tobias knew that Arwen absolutely loved the fruit that grew from this tree and it would do him well to bring his baby brother a gift once he returned to the village and landed himself another lecture from the younger male. Fenrir didn't hesitate from reaching up with his long neck, clearly reading what his human wanted, and plucking off a few of the orangey/red fruits that hung heavily from the branches. His jaws are gentle as he brought them down to Tobias' reach so the man could calmly pack them away into a small pouch he had brought with him.

 

"Do you plan on buttering up that little tornado before his invokes his lectures upon you, Tobias?" Fenrir's amused voice rang in his mind, his dragon's cool eyes gleaming with obvious hints of amusement in their depths. And if a dragon could smile, Fenrir would have more than likely been sporting a grin at the moment.

 

"One can only try, Fenrir. I'd rather distract Arwen with his favorite fruits before I am fussed at for hours on end" Tobias chuckled in response. Glancing around once more, the pale eyed Chieftain raised his gaze to his partner and asked "Do they still remain here?".

 

"They are close...more than likely patrolling. It does not seem that they have left our island yet" Fenrir responded after a deep inhale of the air around him. He wasn't entirely pleased the the dragon and her human were still here but he understood the creature's need to provide her human what he needed to be able to survive wherever it was that they were going. All he hoped was that by letting them stay the night, the pair would not take advantage of their land and hospitality.

 

"Very well, we might as well wait until they approach us with their own free will. I don't wish to seem too smothering. Hopefully we can manage to get some answers out of them today before we are forced to return to the others" Tobias exhaled softly, combing his fingers through his hair in an absentminded gesture. He'd rather not swarm the young man and his companion too much. If the stranger wanted to approach him once he realized that Tobias and Fenrir were in the area, then that was fine. If not, Tobias would try not to suffocate him with his unwanted presence. However, they would eventually need answers.

[Joyabe]

As Tristan slowly paced around the island, the green shrubbery on his left and the ocean on his right, he debated with himself over what he should and shouldn't say if he were to meet the man from yesterday once again. He knew he started things off on the wrong foot, but anyone would be warry of stranger with a dragon, right? The irony of that last thought wasn't lost on him, as he realized that this is exactly what he was for the other man- hell, and he didn't even introduced himself. He quietly groaned to himself as he tried coming up with the best way to address the situation- while he was still skeptical of the other, the possibility of finally having an explanation to his weird situation was an alluring thought. But after the way he reacted yesterday he wasn't sure he would get any answers-his attitude never made people feel too inclined to help him. Besides, there was still the option Tobias would become hostile if Tristan were to expose the fact he could understand Azar- even if at the moment Tristan was positive he could do the exact same thing with the white dragon that shadowed him.

 

All of those things wouldn't be relevant if he wouldn't come across the young chief though. Tristan wondered if they would stumble upon him today as well, and if so how long will they have to wait. However, it seemed to be much shorter that he expected. His hair and clothes weren’t fully dry yet when Azar, who was walking besides him, suddenly stopped and turned her head towards the inner part of the island. "What is it?" Tristan asked as he froze in place, his eyes looking in the same direction, trying to detect any incoming attack, but seeing nothing out of the usual. "They're nearby" Azar replied, her voice expressing curiosity and not fear making him feel a bit more at ease "have been for a while in fact. But they stopped moving" she informed him. "Are there any others?" Tristan asked her, still looking in the same direction. "None" that answer reassured him a bit- although he was quite positive Tobias and Fenrir could take them down on their own, he also assumed that if that was their intention they wouldn't take the risk and would bring backup with them.

 

Tristan inhaled deeply once, loudly exhaling before he turned to the forest and started making his way through the shrubbery. He didn't make any effort of disguising the noise of their advance- he figured it would be better if it didn't look like he was trying to sneak up on them. Besides, if Azar was able to sense the others' presence, he was sure Fenrir could do the same- especially seeing how protective of Tobias he seemed to be.

 

It didn't take long for the two fair figures to appear in his field of vision, standing in clear contrast to the dark green scenery surrounding them. Seeing them again, now that he wasn't as foggy minded as he been the day before, Tristan had to admit, although quietly and only to himself, that the pair was impressive. Even motionless, they both had an air of authority to them, which only made Tristan more uncomfortable about what he knew he had to do, as he stopped in a relatively safe distance from them.

 

"Thank you" he blurted out nervously, his eyes looking in their direction but not directly at them "for letting us stay. And the food" his right hand was unconsciously rubbing his left forearm "I know it's a little late, but I'm Tristan, and this is Azar" he nodded his head in the dragon's general direction. "I'm…" he started to say, but trailed off, not being able to bring himself to apologize. If there was something Tristan hated more than being wrong, was admitting that he was. A gentle nudge to his back caused him to slowly turn his head around to look at Azar, his eyebrows raised high. From the look she gave him, he could have swear she would do the same thing, had she had eyebrows, that is. That behavior reminded him so much of Krista- his sister would often scold him when he did something wrong, and push him to properly communicate with the people around him. He pushed that thought to the back of his head- that was not the time nor the place to think about that.

 

Tristan sighed quietly as he turned his head back to face Tobias, his eyes this time locked on the ground between them "I also apologize for yesterday" he said, feeling his ears getting hotter as he did "my reaction to your hospitality was unacceptable, and I'm truly sorry" he said, hoping his voice would convey the regret he felt. He really did feel guilty about the way he talked to him yesterday. Tristan felt his muscles tighten as he knew what he had to ask next "you can understand him, don't you?" he asked Tobias quietly, his glance flashing to Fenrir only for a moment, before dropping back down "when… why… how does it work?" he carefully glanced up to the white haired man, bracing himself for any possible reaction, ready to turn and run at the first sign of danger.

[GodofMischief]

Hearing the approach of one set of two feet and a set of four, Tobias angled his body just a hint towards the direction of their approaching company. His posture as non threatening as it had been the night before. He was pleased that the pair had decided to stay after all but he understood that that didn't mean that the pair was any more comfortable than they had been the night before. He still had to speak with them as if he was approaching a wild animal, tone passive and gentle. However, he didn't mind, after what they must have gone through for the boy to hold such an outer shell and for his dragon to be so protective of him, he could only imagine the life they must have been through. While Tobias knew that he'd have to get answers eventually, he would treat the situation carefully, just how his father had always taught him. There was no harm in taking things one step at a time until the other man came to the realization that there was no danger to him here. As long as he didn't pose a threat, no one would treat him like one.

 

Releasing a soft chuckle at the apology the boy reluctantly offered him at the urging of his dragon and their late introduction, Tobias exchanged a glance with Fenrir of amusement. "You need not apologize, I was not insulted by your behavior last night. You're personality reminds me very much of that of my little brother. You were frightened and weary, and I'm sure you still are, so there is no need to apologize. It was only logical for you to behave that way" Tobias reassured the young man with a brief flash of a smile upon his usually stoic features. Fenrir huffed softly at that before settling down for the conversation about to take place, however long or short it might be. His dragon laid himself comfortably upon the grass below him and though he appeared completely relaxed and at ease, that was not quite right. Fenrir could still react in a blink of an eye and by the way he wrapped his long tail around the area surrounding Tobias, it was clear he was still very protective of his human. No matter the fact that he rested his head upon the grass, and closed his eyes.

 

"In the same manner, you have no need to thank you. Though it is appreciated, I only did what any other person should have done upon seeing your state of being. I am pleased you were able to gather your strength and have a good night's rest, no one should have been allowed to reached the state you were in.....Nevertheless, it's a pleasure to finally be able to be introduced to you both. It's been a long time since we had another dragon and her human here" Tobias added a second later, eyes looking upon his dragon affectionately, lifting a hand to gently stroke one of those soft canine like ears that had helped him figure out what Fenrir's name was when they had first met. While his dragon was aggressively protective and had no care of who he had to kill in order to keep his loved ones safe, Fenrir was also a good judge of people and creatures alike. The fact that he was laying down, even if he wasn't fully relaxed, gave a sense that he was at least accepting the fact that they weren't an immediate threat as he had considered them yesterday.

 

Looking up sharply at Tristan the moment the boy asked a rather intriguing question, Tobias studied him for a long moment before he spoke. "Understand Fenrir? Of course I can, he's my friend and partner, I don't think I'd be able to live with not being able to understand him" he responded with a small smile. Fenrir, for his part, opened his pale green eyes to level the strange pair with a look that balanced between caution and curiosity.

 

Blinking at the next questions asked of him, Tobias found himself learning the answers to some of the questions that had weighed on his mind last night. It seemed that Tristan was not just an average Dragon Rider....it seemed that he might just be much more. "I've been able to understand Fenrir since I was just a small boy, when my friend first came to me. It was not hard to do, his voice was just suddenly there in my head and when he made his presence known to me, it felt like the world had adjusted itself and everything fell into a perfect, balanced state of being. As for the reason as to why I could understand him, I could only imagine it was because I was a DragonBorn. It's a trait I share with my two younger brothers" Tobias responded with a small shrug as he continued to watch the young man in front of him curiously even while he continued to stroke the soft fur of his best friend.

 

"Surely you have heard the legends of DragonBorn children. No one knows why they are born the way they are or how, it is just known that they share a unique bond with one dragon and one dragon alone. Their souls are intertwined together and the children are able to develops a higher state of being as they strength the bond with their dragon throughout the years. So tightly wound they are that they can hear their dragon's voice, feel their emotions, and understand their thoughts just as well as their dragon's can understand them. These children are a rarity, only one in a few hundred thousand. They are said to be a gift sent by the Gods to protect their loved ones....though I'm not sure whether I believe that or not. Regardless, the last DragonBorn lived many centuries ago....there hadn't been another since my brothers and myself" Tobias explained quietly, tone thoughtful more than anything before. For this young man to ask him if he could hear Fenrir...it pointed to only one answer, but the thought of him being DragonBorn as well was surprising to be frank.

 

"Am I to assume that you can hear Azar's voice?" He asked after a moment with a trace of gentle nature in his voice. If he was right, then this must still be all new to the boy and he didn't want to spook him anymore than he had to.

[Joyabe]

Tristan was silently listening to the stream of new information that came out of Tobias' mouth, as he tried processing everything he was saying. First and foremost, he was relieved to know that his assumption was correct- Tobias was able to hear his dragon. He was shocked to hear that not only Tobias shared this strange ability with him, but that he also had two brothers with the same ability.

 

The mention of DragonBorn children brought upon a memory of sitting around the fire in his village, listening to stories told by the village elders. Tristan never believed any of those, and he was having a hard time accepting them as real even in light of his own personal experience that proved otherwise. Was he also supposed to start believing in things like geese laying gold eggs?

 

He could feel his mind spinning, as he was trying to wrap his head around everything he was told. He had so many questions he wasn't even sure could have been answered. Somehow, the quiet tone that the other used when talking to him only fueled the panic he was starting to feel. It was as if Tobias was confirming that Tristan was in fact… that. He couldn't bring himself to associate himself with the world he thought belonged only in fairytales.

 

"Isn't it obvious?" Tristan lashed out at Tobias when the latter directed the question at him, using the same hostile and sarcastic tone he had the previous night. He then stopped himself, clenching his jaw, as he understood what he was doing. "I'm sorry" he said as he closed his eyes for a moment "But DragonBorn… that's just an old wives' tale" he said, although even he wasn't convinced by himself. "if it's so rare, how come you have three in your village? That are blood-related, no less. Or maybe that has something to do with it" Tristan started pacing around as he thought out loud, what he often did when he found his mind working as fast as it did at that moment "is that why your family is leading the village? And if it's been so long since the last known DragonBorn, what happened now? What's the reason for this trait to appear again after so long?"

 

There were a few more questions that Tristan didn't voice out loud. If Tobias was anything to go by, it was a safe assumption that being a DragonBorn was a genetic trait. But if so, how come none of his siblings ever showed it? Would anything be different had they did? He kept thinking about what Tobias said about DragonBorn being supposed to protect their loved ones, as he felt his heart contract at the thought. Would things have turned out differently had he figured out what he was sooner? He stopped his nervous pacing only to crouch down, placing his elbows on his knees, and his head in his hands. His mind kept coming up with more and more questions, and he seemed to lack to ability to answer any of them. Azar, that up until that point was following him move around with worried eyes, now lowered her head, angling her neck to try and see Tristan's face, a task that was impossible at the moment, as it was completely hidden behind his hands.

 

He tried pulling himself together, but his thoughts were now out of control as they kept spiraling. What was the meaning of all of this for him? Why him of all people? And what the hell was he supposed to do now?

[GodofMischief]

Feeling Fenrir stiffen from where he lay as his dragon opened an eye to level the human with a glare at the return of that disrespectful tone of voice, Tobias soothed the creature with another gentle stroke of the ear. "Peace, Fenrir....He does not mean any harm" Tobias murmured softly, focused on cooling his dragon's temper first before addressing the clearly unsettled man a few feet in front of them. He knew that Tristan meant no harm, as did Fenrir know this as well, but that didn't mean his dragon wouldn't react at disrespectful tones used towards his human. While Fenrir was trying to keep his cool and give a leveled sense of trust that the human and his dragon wouldn't cause problems for their home, he wasn't above snapping at the little mortal for his chosen rude nature. Confused or not, Tobias was leader here and he would be given the respect he deserved after the chaotic sense of a life they had all been through.

 

"He will learn to watch his tone when he address you, Tobias. I will not continue to turn the blind eye to it" Fenrir grumbled back at his bonded just as quietly that did nothing to hide his irritation towards their guests.

 

Shaking his head in fond exasperation towards his dragon's unnecessary defense for him, Tobias lifted his gaze back to Tristan before addressing the man. "You need not apologize, I understand you must be unsettled about this news. However, it is I who will have to apologize in advance for Fenrir's temperament. My dragon isn't fond of any nonsense towards me, so it would seem" he spoke calmly, offering the male a small, friendly smile after those words. He couldn't completely curve Fenrir's need to put others in their place should they disrespect him, but he could apologize over the temperament his dear companion had. Tobias wouldn't change a thing about his dragon, not now or ever, but he could admit that Fenrir's less than accepting nature was something that worked in terrifying people around him. While he knew or hoped that Tristan wouldn't fear his dragon too badly, it didn't mean that Fenrir's glares weren't still chill producing at least.

 

"It is not my family that runs the village, it is just myself with the help of my younger brothers" Tobias correctly lightly. Many would have thought that wouldn't have been needed seeing as siblings were just as family as family could be. However, Tobias wanted to clarify that they had once had a large family and a even larger village before they had lost nearly all of it to the cruelty of their attackers years ago. "The rest of our family, our parents, and a vast majority of our villagers were killed in an unwarranted attack many years ago....And to be completely honest, though I have no proof of it, I believe that is why the Dragonborn trait has been reawakened in my brothers and yourself as well" he said a moment later. His voice never changed levels from that gentle, soft spoken way he tried to explain what was going on around the other man and within him. He understood what Tristan must have been going through at the moment, he had felt similar to what the boy must be feeling now when he awoke from his coma. The confusion and helplessness had been breathtaking....but with the help of his brothers, all three of their dragons, and what remained of his village...he had been able to see the light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak. He only hoped he could bring some peace to Tristan as well.

 

"Nature has always needed to have perfect balance. Without balance, chaos rules and disaster is eminent. I believe that the Dragonborn gene was brought into light again at the dawn of the birth of the heartless clan of individuals that began to wreck havoc upon the lands. The more homes and families they destroyed, the more lands they ripped apart with their heartless, mindless actions...the more nature lost its balance. As Dragonborns are meant to protect and save all in need of saving, or so the legends say, the unique gene that made children into what we are now, was brought back to life. I don't know why or how both my brothers and I were born with that exact same trait in the same village....nor do I know why you were gifted with such a trait as well...That is still a mystery to me. All I know is that for my brothers and myself, it meant that we could avenge those we lost to the hands of those murders when we were children. When the time is right, we will restore the balance that nature craves and rid the world of those fools who think themselves untouchable" Tobias spoke, and for the first time his voice held something other than calm. It held anger and hatred as he thought back on the people that had nearly taken everything important for him away. He had sworn to the graves of his loved ones that he would get revenge for them, it was a promise he'd keep for however long it took to accomplish it......but that didn't mean it meant the same for Tristan.

 

Watching the boy curl into himself, Tobias felt the pang to want to offer as much comfort as he could. To perhaps place a friendly hand upon his shoulder or around him, to show him he wasn't alone in this. But he knew his efforts would probably not be appreciated. The man didn't trust him and knew nearly nothing about him. Touching him would only result in a sharp backlash that would probably lead to Fenrir enforcing his own sort of punishment upon the strangers. That was not something he wanted to have happen. So as hard as it was, he kept his place beside his dragon though his eyes did soften impossibly as did his voice as his next words. "That, however, does not mean the same for you. Perhaps you were born Dragonborn because the Gods thought you worthy of such a trait....Whatever the reason, you must know that this is very real. You can not run from it" he said gently, eyes locked on the young man in front of him with concern in them.

 

It was then that Fenrir lifted his head from the ground to look upon the young man and his dragon. His pale eyes thoughtful of not a bit guarded. While most Dragons only allowed their Bonded humans to hear their voice, it was not uncommon for them to allow other Dragonborns to hear them as well if the situation called for it. With Tobias and his brothers, their dragons had no issue in allow all three brothers to hear their voices, they were family and their trust in eachother was unbreakable. It was only to be expected, so it surprised Tobias quite a bit when Fenrir made a point to allow Tristan and Azar to hear him and his chosen words.

 

"To be Dragonborn is a privilege not many receive, I care not whether you believe it or not. The bond between human and dragon is immediate but it takes effort and time to learn to strengthen that bond and become one with your partner. I understand that this is all new to both of you and possibly frightening, nevertheless, as Tobias stated....running from this will be a waste of effort and time. If you wish to learn more about this bond and become effective partners, my human and I can teach you. If you seek revenge from whatever it is you're running from, we can assist you....However, if you wish to ignore this is happening and continue on your merry way, then leave our island. We have no place for you here, especially when war is a upon the coming horizon" Fenrir spoke, his deep voice rumbling into their heads while his mouth did not move even an inch. His eyes remaining upon the pair with the air of how serious his words had been.

 

Tobias frowned somewhat at his dragon's chosen words but he couldn't argue with them. If Tristan refused to accept he was what he was, then they couldn't change that. However, for his safety and that of Azar, it'd be best if he left their island. War would be coming soon enough and he'd rather not be responsible over the life of a man and his dragon who wanted none of this.

[Joyabe]

As Tobias spoke, Tristan heard his words as if they were being said from miles away. Being so overwhelmed, he felt almost as if he was underwater, listening to everything around him from a far distance. Hearing about the other's past, Tristan couldn’t help but feel empathy towards the other man. He didn't find any resentment or jealousy in his sentiments. In fact, he was glad for him he still had his brothers and some of his village- he wouldn't wish upon anyone what he had gone through.

 

It was only when Tobias started talking about revenge when Tristan felt his head clear. It was as if all the fog in his mind has lifted, and he was suddenly able to see the answer that was laid right in front of him all along. All this time he was powerless- the only options he has was either surrendering or running away. Only at that moment did he realize that both these options made him sick to his stomach, and the words 'fight on' got a whole new meaning.

 

However, as all of this was going through his mind, Tristan did not move one bit. It was only when a new voice suddenly rang loud and clear in his mind, that he looked up. His eyes shot up in surprise, landing on those of the white dragon in front of him. While his words might have been harsh, they only stoked the fire that was now burning inside of Tristan, erasing all trace of fear he might have felt otherwise. It was almost as if Fenrir was challenging him- something Tristan had always reacted to by facing it head on. As he slowly stood up, his gaze never left that of the dragon, his honey-colored eyes now burning with that same new feeling, giving him an almost mad appearance.

 

He maintained that connection for a moment longer, before his eyes shifted to those of Tobias, maintaining that same intense eye contact he did with his dragon only a moment ago. "I need you to teach me" he said, his voice coming out almost as a growl "I don't know if we're after the same people, nor do I care. Help me getting my revenge, and in return I'll help you with yours" he said, his body leaning slightly forward towards the other man, as if to urge him to accept. At the moment, Tristan didn't care what did the other think, or whether he had an ulterior motive. He didn't mind endangering himself for the others' sake if that meant he'll be able to avenge his family; his life was something he would gladly put on the line to achieve that goal.

 

As that thought crossed his mind, another one followed, one that made him physically lean back again at the sudden realization. He had completely forgotten that it wasn't only himself he would be putting in danger. He turned around to look at Azar, who remained unusually quiet that whole time, his eyes showing signs of worry for the first time since he started thinking of revenge. He was now a part of a package deal- and he wouldn't be able to achieve revenge alone. Could he even make such a decision, one that would put the life of another being in danger?

 

His dragon only looked at him, her eyes soft, as she huffed quietly and stepped forward to stand next to him. She nuzzled his side gently, before turning her head to look at the pair before them. A wave of gratefulness washed over Tristan, as he placed his hand on her neck. Of course she wouldn't leave him- just like she haven't from the very first moment they met. He turned his eyes to that same direction, and this time when he opened his mouth to speak his voice came out sounding more in control, despite having an air of urgency and determination to it "teach us" he asked Tobias once again "please".

[GodofMischief]

Observing the man in front of him for a few quiet heartbeats after he had all but growled out a demand to teach him, Tobias silently shifted his gaze over to Fenrir. Even after Tristan had taken into account Azar and had requested to be taught in a calmer tone that still bore the same intensity as it had before, the man had to weigh his options. While he could justify the man's need for revenge and his heart answered the battle call that seemed to echo out of Tristan, Tobias had to be careful. Tristan had no one but Azar to pull him out of his need for vengeance. If he couldn't form the proper bond with his dragon that was required to become partners, then the man might lose himself to a vengeance induced craze. Where Tobias not only had Fenrir to help stabilize him, but his brothers, their dragons and their village as well....Tristan was balancing on a crevice that could take him either way. He had to be careful that if he decided to teach the man, this wouldn't backfire or explode in their face. It wasn't a decision he could make lightly....However, he knew that this man deserved at least some sort of justice for whatever had happened in his life.

 

"This is your decision, Tobias. I am willing to assist him and his dragon but only if you agree to do so. I will always follow your decisions" Fenrir's voice rang out once more, eyes lowered and locked with his Bonded. The intelligence and knowledge in their depths making it obvious to Tobias that his dragon knew what he was thinking about and shared the same cautious air. They would be walking on this ice with this one but if the situation had been reversed, they would want for someone to teach them as well. Lest they sought help from darker places around their world.

 

Exhaling a heavy breath of air, Tobias shifted his gaze back to Tristan, frown marring his features deeper than normal. His eyes flickered between dragon and human for another few moments before his shoulders slumped just a hint in defeat and a small twitch of the lips signaled the appearance of a brief smile. "We will teach you....but we will take things one step at a time. I must know that you will not be lost to the rage of your past if we are to teach you in order for you to get your revenge.....Normally I would have you come to the village where my youngest brother would access your physical prowess and train you to use multiple weapons as well as your own body.....However, I will not force you to come if you are not yet comfortable. Arwen is not as patient or easy tempered as myself, I believe it would do you more harm than good to introduce you to him just yet" he spoke pensively, weighing his every word with great consideration. He knew this was not a subject they could touch upon lightly.

 

Tobias was village Chieftain and as such, he was responsible for looking out for his village and the people that called it home. In more ways than one, the man's plate was already full with all the duties placed upon his shoulders after the death of his parents. Most times than not, he found himself needing more time to complete his tasks than what he had available....Nevertheless, he couldn't bring himself to turn his back on Tristan. Not when the young man appeared so desperate for help that it called to something deep inside the young Chieftain. Hearing the sound of a screech echoing through the forest around them from a good distance away, Tobias turned to angle his body towards the sound. A gesture that was mirrored by Fenrir. Both sets of eyes looked upon the general direction the call had come even though they both knew what it meant. Their time had run out and it was time to return and face the responsibilities they had been delaying for a sample of time today. They best return home before Zayne and Volos came to find them.

 

"I must return home, there is much that requires our attention and we've spent enough time outside the village already to the day" Tobias murmured a bit absentmindedly before turning back to Tristan and Azar. Sparing one more moment to simply watch them, Tobias finally nodded almost to himself as he said the next words. "I'll return tonight at moonhigh and we will begin your training then. For now, continue to gather your strength and rest. Training won't be easy but I have faith that you will be able to impress me sooner or later" he said as he calmly climbed onto his dragon's bare back. Fenrir pressed himself upon the ground closer to assist his Bonded before rising to his full height when he felt Tobias securely on his back, fingers curled tightly around his mane. "We'll see you tonight" was Chieftain's finally words before Fenrir leapt into the skies with a mighty gust of wind that violently shook the trees and underbrush around them. Slithering his way gracefully into the skies, Fenrir wasted no time in carrying them towards the village and the small shapes of their brothers who waited for them below.

 

Tonight would be a trying first step into concreting the bond between Tristan and Azar, but Tobias had faith that they would be quick, efficient learners. He just had to make sure he didn't push them further than what they were ready for.

[Joyabe]

Tristan waited, his breath held, as he watched the silent exchange between the pair in front of him. It was only when he received a positive response to his request when he let out a sigh of relief. Had Tobias refused him… well, in all honesty he would have probably gone out looking for revenge anyway. But he figured doing so after he was trained would be the better option. Besides, there was still this slim chance that the people who killed his family were the same people the young chieftain was after, and the math there was simple- the more people they were, the more damage they could inflict.

 

He frowned at the thought he would have to wait patiently- something that was never his strong suit. On the one hand, he really didn't feel very comfortable with the thought of going to the unknown village and being tested by the mysterious brother he had previously been compared to. On the other hand, once Tristan had his mind set on something it was near impossible to dissuade him, and he was eager to begin learning.

 

Tristan only nodded silently as the other man instructed him on what do next and the time of their meeting, worried he might say something that would cause him to change his mind. His eyes followed the general direction in which he and his dragon disappeared for a few moments, before Tristan began pacing again. There was still so much time left, and he didn't really have anything to do until then- which meant his mind would for sure be overactive for the hours to come. Azar watched him for a moment as he started pacing before doing the exact opposite, as she lay down sprawling on the grass. Patience, it seemed, was something her human could definitely learn from her.

 

Being left with nothing much to do for the rest of the day, Tristan found himself occupied with thoughts about what just happened and what was about to come. He felt thankful for Tobias for agreeing to make the time and effort of training an almost complete stranger. He was sure he had many responsibilities as leader of his village, the time of their destined meeting hinting at the effort the other was making for him. Tristan frowned at the thought- he didn't want to be a burden on anyone, nor did he want to owe anything more than he absolutely had to. He was wondering if there was anything he could do to pay him back- maybe something that had to do with helping the village? But he couldn't think of anything that wouldn't require him to interact with the other people- something he was reluctant of doing, and was sure the other man was wary about.

 

He also had to keep his temper in mind. He was sure that if he would let it get out of hand he would be dropped immediately. More than the training itself, Tristan was worried about controlling his own anger. Him having an attitude was nothing new- and Tobias and Fenrir had already seen it with their own eyes, the latter seeming especially sensitive about it. He sighed loudly as he stopped his pacing to go and sit next to Azar, leaning his head against her. They seemed to have a hard task ahead of them, and right now there was nothing left to do but wait.

[GodofMischief]

True to his word, it wasn't until moonhigh that Tobias managed to return to the area he had left Tristan in. It had been a long day of meetings and checking on the training his little brother was in charge of as well as making sure their food sources were still rip with prey. While Tobias would have more than anything wanted to lay down in bed and rest for the coming 'morrow, he was not one to go back on his word. He might have been tired and he knew that tomorrow would not bare any respite for his duties to the village, but he still had promised that he would train Tristan under his own hand. It would be a process that had to be handled delicately, something he didn't think Arwen could do quite yet despite his brother's talents for teaching others to fight. Dragon bonds were tricky to get right, Dragonborn or not, it required a hefty level of trust and openness between both dragon and human and Tobias felt that he could teach that easier than either of his brothers. After all, he had been the one who had singlehandedly taught both Zayne and Arwen how to concrete their bonds with their partners, even if his parents had tried to help while they lived.

 

Soaring high under the moonlight upon Fenrir's back, Tobias inhaled a deep breath of the cool night air as he did a mental count of what he had brought for tonight. Before they got truly started on the deeper parts of the bond, Tobias wanted to assess just how much Tristan and Azar had the potential of keeping eachother safe. Even without the bond, a dragon should be able to read his or her human's actions before he made any of them and vise versa. It was the typical sort of knowledge Dragonriders had. Not to communicate and understand their dragon on a completely different level like Dragonborns, but to be able to read them in the midst of battle. That was another factor that required a heavy amount of trust between the pair. If they didn't even have that, then the road to forging a strong, steady bond was long and rough in coming. Tobias would make sure he got as much information from the pair as he could before the in depth training began, even if the information he received was not verbal. Tristan and Azar might not like being beaten to the ground....as gently as Tobias and Fenrir could do so, mind you, but if they could not at least fight the most basic of battles together....then they had a lot of work ahead of them.

 

Blinking when Fenrir changed course and began to lower himself towards the ground, Tobias straightened upon his dragon's back and adjusted the strap that held his large sword attached to his own back. Hopefully bringing a weapon would not alarm the pair. Tobias would just rather be armed at the dead of night in case he had any need to defend himself while outside the village and the weapon would be part of the first step in tonight's assessment. Besides, it wasn't as if he had been the only one to come armed, he had brought a blade for Tristan himself. It would even the playing field a bit and Tobias would get a sense in how much he had to teach both boy and dragon in the form of a relatively easy spare.

 

"Shall we announce ourselves?" Fenrir asked calmly, pale eyes being able to easily make out the figures of their targets through the cover of the thick fruit trees. He as eager and curious about what tonight would show them, just as much as Tobias was. While Fenrir was harsher and less accepting than his human, he was not above teaching the strangers about the bonds produced by Dragonborns. He wouldn't have offered if he was. Nevertheless, he hoped they would not be wasting their time on nothing and that these two stranger upon their lands were capable of learning all they would be expected to do.

 

"You might as well. But keep it on the quiet side, we don't want to awaken the village should they hear us" Tobias responded with a soft, amused chuckle. Fenrir wasted no time in nodding his head in acknowledgment before parting his jaws and releasing a screech that was loud enough to be immediately heard but soft enough not to carry back to their village. Landing upon the soft grass just a few feet from where they had left Tristan and Azar, Tobias smoothly climbed off his dragon's back and pulled off a bag he had brought with him. "Good evening, I hope you both heeded my words and rested up for tonight. We have a long few hours ahead of us. As for the moment, tonight will be an assessment of sorts. I need to gage out where your developing bond truly falls before I can begin your training in full. That being as it is, tonight's first step will be a spar. I hope you both are up for it" Tobias spoke after he had greeted them.

 

Pulling out a sheath attach to the bag he had brought with him, Tobias flipped the sheathed sword easily in his hand so the handle would be pointed towards Tristan before approaching the man with the weapon out in offering. "You do know how to wield a sword, yes?" He asked in a light, mild tone of voice.

[Joyabe]

Hearing a loud screech, Tristan quickly rose to his feet from the spot where he was patiently, at least relatively to himself, sitting as he waited, his dragon following his lead. They didn’t wait for long before they were joined once again by Tobias and Fenrir. Seeing the other man was armed, Tristan coiled back for a moment, before reminding himself he would not announce his arrival had he wanted to attack them. The greeting he received, that was as friendly and polite as it had been before, soothed his nerves further.

 

Tristan reached out to grab the sword he was offered, only stopping for a moment before he did so to shoot a hesitant glance at Fenrir. He had no desire whatsoever to be decapitated for daring to point a weapon at the young chief. "I can" he answered the man's question as he closed his grip around the hilt, an answer that wasn't a complete lie. Although he was never outstanding in doing so, Tristan was trained before and could at least handle a sword. Moreover, while he might not have been a skilled fighter, his older brother was. In fact, he was considered to be one of the best swordsmen in their village, and Tristan used to watch him quite a lot when he practiced. Although his skill level was nothing compared to that of his brother, he was confident enough that he would be able to at least imitate him. He could still easily recall the exact ways in which his brother would move, both attacking and blocking his sparing partners.

 

The thing Tristan was most concerned about at the moment was the feeling he was being tested. Although he had always excelled in those, and although he was always determined to succeed, that night there was something immensely important on the line, and he was desperate to prove himself.

 

A movement beside him caused him to shift his eyes to Azar. For the first time since their first meeting with the other two, she seemed more uncomfortable than he was, her eyes shifting between him and the other pair, filled with concern when they landed on him. Tristan was so surprised when he realized just what it was she was concerned about that a small laugh escaped his lips. "Don’t worry about me" he told her in a quiet voice. Frankly, now that he was thinking about it, he was more worried about Azar's well-being following their spar than he was of his own. If their past encounters were anything to go by, he was pretty sure Tobias wouldn't cause him any serious harm, even if he would beat him completely- what he was still hoping wouldn't happen. However, he wasn't sure he could say the same thing about Fenrir. Although he seemed to be obedient, he also seemed very irritable and much less in control than his human. It was almost as if the two pairs had the opposite roles in the relationships between the human and the dragon.

 

Turning his gaze back to look at the man in front of him, Tristan prepared himself for an incoming attack. He decided he would pay close attention to anything that would happen between the two dragons, and would interfere- or at least tell Tobias to do so- at the first sign of real danger to his dragon. It was true they haven't been together for all that long, but he couldn’t bare the thought that Azar would get hurt- much less so on his account.

[GodofMischief]

Watching the nervous glance Tristan threw at Fenrir, Tobias couldn't help the soft laugh that escaped him as he exchanged looks with his partner. "Fenrir will not hurt you....either of you. We discussed what the point of this assessment is, he will endeavor to be as gentle as he can possible be. However, remember that this is a test and you and Azar are bound to collect several bruises if you don't remain on your toes" Tobias reassured the young man in the best way he could. While he was ridiculously protective and tolerated next to nothing when it came to his Bonded human and their family, Fenrir was not a mindless dragon. He knew that when it was time to use his rage and when it was not. Tonight was strictly training, there was bound to be a few scrapes here and there....perhaps on both sides of the spar, though it seemed rather unlikely. So though he wasn't fond of letting his human near the sharp edge of a blade, he was curious of what the man and his dragon were capable. And there was no other way to find out other than to test them.

 

Watching the exchange between both Tristan and Azar, Tobias couldn't deny that he understood the weariness of the pair. They were in unknown lands, facing off against a stranger and his dragon that had shown aggressive tendencies. It would have surprised the Chieftain much more had the pair not been nervous for one another. Even if their anxiousness was truly unnecessary. He had meant what he had said when he had said Fenrir would not hurt either of them. He might toss them around a bit, but it was for the sake of figuring out just how much work was needed to strengthen their bond. However, Tobias didn't bother to say so again. Words would not be reassuring for the pair, at least he didn't think so. Actions spoke louder than words and he hoped the pair would be able to focus their full attention at the task at hand instead of fretting over something that was not going to happen.

 

"The point to this spar is the gage out just how well you two can move as a unit. A Dragonborn and his or her dragon must always be in step with one another, both in and out of battle. You should move as one in the same. You should be able to sense what the other will do before they do it and be able to adequately protect them should the need come. There is a level of absolute trust that is required for this to happen and though you two seem fairly close, I would like to see how deep your trust really runs. Because without trust between the two of you, a Bond will never be able to be formed" Tobias announced calmly, grabbing the handle of his large blade over his shoulder and smoothly pulling it out of it sheath. Twirling the blade easily, its sharpness gleaming the the glow of the moonlight, Tobias rolled his shoulders and gave both dragon and man a once over. There was curiosity in his gaze and perhaps some eager amusement as well hidden beneath the polite mask of village Chief. It would be a lie to say that he wasn't excited to start this off and see what he could find out.

 

"Remember, this is not a real battle....it is just a test. You are not fighting alone, you are fighting with your partner. Her safety must be at the forefront of your mind just as your safety must be in the forefront of hers. Know what to look for, what to sense for, in your dragon and compliment her every move with one of yours....And if either of you wish to stop this, you need only to let us know" Tobias added lastly before he was in motion. His body seemed to almost disappear in the shine of the moonlight, one minute standing passively beside Fenrir, the next just a few inches from Tristan, blade rising to deliver a punishing blow to the man's right side. However, instead of aiming the sword with it deadly side, Tobias had switched it so it was only it blunt end that would lightly tap against the man's ribcage if the blow landed.

 

Fenrir, for his part, followed his human's initial attack with a swift move of his own. Lifting his long tail, he swung it sharply at Azar's direction with the speed and grace only a dragon his age could have. He was testing her, if the blow landed, it would be rather painful but not deadly. However, that was not the point of it. The point was to see how she reacted, if she focused on the attack heading towards her or if she tried to help defend her human from the attack he was currently under himself.

[Joyabe]

Although he was prepared for an attack, Tristan's lack of experience showed in his late reaction. He was successful in deflecting the blow aimed at him, but only barely, almost losing his balance in the process as he stumbled back a few steps before stabilizing himself. His partner on the other hand was not as successful at defending herself. Despite having sharper senses, and maybe because of them, the attack on Tristan diverted her attention from the other dragon, and caused her reaction to be delayed. She managed to dodge the full force of the attack aimed at her, but the long tail still managed to hit her side, causing her to whimper at the hit.

 

The sound caused Tristan's head to snap at Fenrir's direction, eyes blazing with rage. Even if they wanted to test them out, he didn’t have to be that harsh, did he? He clenched his jaw as he quickly shifted his eyes back to Tobias, urging himself to focus. Letting his guard down will only hurt the both of them, as he was sure the other two were not going to go easy on them. Him letting his temper to get the best of him would only mean Azar will get hurt again as she would try to defend him. He angled his body to be able to better see both Tobias and Azar, at least from the corner of his eye, as he quickly analyzed the situation. He didn't have the upper hand neither when it came to physical strength, nor in size, although that last difference was perhaps less noticeable with them as it was with their counterparts.

 

If that was the case, Tristan realized, his best option would be to go low- the bigger they are the harder they fall right? A maneuver his brother once taught him came to mind, as he charged at the other man as if he was aiming at his left side. However, when he got closer to him, he took one extra step, moving slightly more to his left, as he sent his foot with all the force he could have gathered in a swiping motion towards Tobias' left ankle.

 

Meanwhile, Azar had no intention of letting one hit stop her. While her urge to defend Tristan was still strong, she realized that right now the best way to do so was to give him the best fighting chance she could, as well as keeping the other dragon as far away from him as possible, seeing he would be much less merciless than his human. She quickly positioned herself between Fenrir and the two men, very much like she did on their first meeting. Even if there was no way she could take Fenrir down, she could at least make him feel a little uncomfortable she thought, as she spread her long wings, creating a barrier that hid the two men from Fenrir. True, the dragon could still feel his human, but she figured cutting off their connection even only through one sense would make him less careful and more prone to giving out an opening.

 

Unlike her human who was very impulsive, she maintained her stance, alert and waiting to see what would Fenrir do, ready to respond. She figured that at the moment reacting to his attacks, waiting for the other dragon to make an error, would be the best option if she hoped to have some kind of a chance at getting in a blow of her own.

[GodofMischief]

Flickering his gaze over to the two dragons briefly when he heard a whimper of pain coming from Azar, Tobias focused his attention back on Tristan and felt his lips twitch in amusement at the anger in the man's eyes. While such a reaction was to be expected, he hoped the man wouldn't allow himself to become too distracted. Besides, should he had been at the level of Tobias and his brothers, he would have been able to warn Azar before the attack even landed a glancing blow on her. It showed the young Chieftain just how inexperienced the young man and his dragon were and though it was a bit disappointing, it couldn't be helped. Tristan hadn't grown up with his dragon, hadn't trained day in and day out with her until their movements complimented one another and a blow was rare to land on either other them. Tristan was just starting out on a journey Tobias and his brothers had had years in the making. In a sense, he was the equivalent of a puppy a bearing its teeth at a full grown dog.

 

Blinking in mild surprise at the move the man used on him, leg sweeping towards his ankle, Tobias did not deflect the blow, though he could have very well done so. Instead he accepted the blow and rolled with it quite literally, doing a remarkably neat one handed cartwheel as soon as his ankle was swept out from under him. It had stung and he'd probably get hell from both Fenrir and Arwen at allowing the blow to land, but he at least wanted Tristan to feel that he wasn't completely hopeless. The boy had skills, the move he had just made was not that of a novice, but Tobias had years of experience on him. His father had been the best Swordsman in Isle of the Sky, his mother the best Archest and his uncle the best Brawler they had to offer. They had all left him on that dreadful night, but the lessons that they engraved into the minds of him and his brothers were hard to forget. Even with whatever skills Tristan knew, it was doubtful the man could beat Tobias. The man was Chieftain for a reason, nevertheless, that didn't mean that Tobias wouldn't allow him to land a blow every now and again. Even if the result was not what Tristan might have wanted.

 

Moving the moment both his feet landed on the ground, Tobias wasted no time in surging forward, closing the distance between the two of them and tackling Tristan onto the ground with a shoulder to his gut. Knees landing at either side of the man's waist, blade pressed against the side of the man's throat and eyes staring down at him with the barest signs of amusement....the young Chieftain was an sight to be seen.

 

Fenrir for his part snarled at the female dragon when her tactic in response to his attack was to get between him and his Bonded and spread her wings in order to prevent him from seeing the man. Protective rage swelled up inside him and though he longed to rush forward and snap his teeth at the female's throat in order to get to his human, he held his ground. Inhaling a deep calming breath, he felt Tobias's amused satisfaction a moment before he released a rumbling sound that could only be called laughter. "Your tactic to hide my Bonded from sight is impressive, female. However, you forget that I am not fighting alone" Fenrir conceded even though he did chide her a bit with his last words. Green eyes mirroring his human's silent amusement seconds before he felt Tobias move to do his final blow.

 

Never taking his eyes off Tristan, Tobias gathered some peddles from the ground and held them between his fingers as if they were small blades. He made sure Tristan took note of them before with a flick of his hand, tossed them with deadly accuracy at Azar, each peddle hitting a vital point on the back of her neck. Had they been actual blades, while it would not have killed the dragon, it would have served to incapacitate her long enough for Fenrir to deliver a killing blow. Such as the move Fenrir made as he exploded forward only to stop mere inches from Azar and snap his teeth at her throat....not touching her in the least but serving as a lesson regardless.

 

"You're dead, your dragon is dead and now your mission for revenge is nothing but the lost dream of a corpse" Tobias sighed from his position above Tristan's body, blade still very lightly pressed against the man's neck. "While the move you did was surprising, as I was not expecting it, you failed to follow through with it properly. As you failed to pay mind to your surroundings. That goes to your dragon and yourself. You both are too focused on your individual opponents as opposed to paying mind to their partners as well. That is one of the main reasons you lost" the Chieftain spoke calmly while removing his blade from the man's neck and rising to his feet with the infinite grace and smoothness that seemed to cling onto his every movement.

 

"Move as one. You must be able to defend not only yourself but your dragon if it comes to it, the same goes for your dragon. You are not a Dragonrider, you can not depend on the most basic of thoughts when it comes to engaging in battle with you dragon. You are Dragonborn, our bonds with our partners far exceeds anything a Dragonrider can do. Feel you dragon, move as she needs you to move, answer her call for help when required. You are not just battling one opponent, you are fighting two....just as Azar is" Tobias said, sweeping his long hair over his shoulder and stepping back to look at both his "students" for lack of a better word. Tightening his grasp upon his sword, he exchanged a glance with Fenrir before nodding once and saying "Try again.....attack us".

[Joyabe]

Tristan felt the air get knocked out of him twice when he was tackled: once upon the initial contact, and the second time the moment his back hit the floor, the stings he felt informing him that his wound there were probably not completely healed yet. His sword flew out of his hand and landed a few meters behind him with a scattering noise. He tried wiggling free from Tobias' grip, but there wasn't much he could do unarmed and with a blade pressed to his throat. He glared up at him in anger, as the smug handsome chief made him want to punch him right in the face.

 

When the other started talking to him, he felt himself getting even more frustrated. He felt as if he was asked to do something that was way beyond his abilities- it was only that day that he found out what it was that he was, not to mention he only knew his dragon for a very short period of time. The level of the others' skills far exceeded that of their own, both on the individual level and as a team. How could they possibly expect them to win against an opponent that was clearly much stronger than they were?

 

It was only when Tobias started talking about paying attention to the others' partner and the bond between dragonborn and their dragons that a new idea popped up in his mind. Of course they won't be able to win against them using force- it would just lead them down a path of failures. Developing the skills they needed to do so would take a long time, much longer than a few rounds of trial and error. If they wanted to have the upper hand, he realized, they would have to take a different approach.

 

Azar figured it out before he did, he realized as he slowly got back up to his feet. The only way they could win against those two would be using their own bond against them. While divide and conquer might have been the right tactic, his interpretation of it was wrong. Tristan walked to pick up his blade, exchanging one quick but meaningful look with his dragon before he bent to pick it up. As he stood back up again, he let the tip of his sword bump against his own ankle ever so lightly, almost as if it was by accident, before he lifted it again and positioned himself to face Tobias. His dragon in turn, stepped back to create some distance between herself and Fenrir before she lowered her chest to the ground, almost as if she was getting ready to launch at him at any given moment.

 

Tristan made sure his expression didn't give away any of the things that went through his mind, maintaining that same angry glare- which wasn't too hard, seeing he was still a little pissed off. Hoping with all his heart that the other man was underestimating him, Tristan charges at Tobias again, this time aiming dead center as he ran towards him in full speed. The man told him he surprised him before, and Tristan realized once again the other didn’t know much about him. If he was able to do so with a physical attack, he felt confident enough he could do the same with his way of thinking- while the first was never his strong suit, there were very few people who managed to keep up with Tristan when it came to his mind.

 

Seconds before he got close enough to try and hit his opponent, he could feel Azar in his head synching with his own intentions. Although she was nowhere as fast as Fenrir, she was still able to move quickly. Without changing her stance, she swished her tail at Tobias' back, aiming low, directly at the same ankle Tristan hit only moments earlier. Undermining the man's balance, she used the opportunity to coil her tail around his entire body, pinning his arms to his sides, as she lifted him up the ground and held him in the air, upside down.

 

Tristan grabbed the other's long hair, twisting it around his fist, and pulled his head back with just enough force to make him expose his neck, to which he now pressed his sword. "Now, you do what we say if you want young chief back in one piece" he said as he looked Fenrir dead in the eye. While there was no way for them to win, Tristan now figured, he could bent the dragons' will by using his human- of which he was extremely protective. He only maintained that position for a short moment before letting go of Tobias and stepping back. He had to admit he was a little worried that Fenrir would think he was serious and would try biting Azar's head off, this time for real. He watched as his dragon very gently placed Tobias back on his feet, keeping her tail slightly curved around his waist until she was sure he was stable. He stood quietly as he waited, albeit anxiously, to hear what the other had to say. Although he felt a little smug right now, there was also that little voice in his head wondering if maybe he had gone just a little too far.

[GodofMischief]

Passively watching Tristan charge forward again, Tobias wondered if his words had sound off anything in his head. The boy had potential, what little he had seen had shown him that Tristan was cunning and creative. However, those attributes would amount to nothing if the by didn't learn how to properly use them. Tobias wasn't a fool to think that it wasn't frustrating to not be able to beat ones opponent. He had been in Tristan's place when he had been much younger and had sparred with his family. He knew that words often did nothing but fuel the hot irritation inside when your attacks just didn't have the proper effect. However, he also knew that in the time the words took to click in someone's mind, ideas would spring out with them. Ideas that could very well help assist the outcome of the spar in ones favor. Now the question was, was Tristan coming up with an idea of his own or was he not.

 

Tensing his body lightly to brace for the impact of the body charging toward him, Tobias blinked surprised at the feel of what could only be a tail snapping at his left ankle, causing his balance to falter. Flickering his gaze over at Azar for just a moment, long enough to watch Fenrir's lips pull back in irritation and feel his dragon's mounting unease in his mind, Tobias stiffened at the feel of something wrapped around him. Every nerve in his body shouted for him to move, to react, to get out of this attack before he was rendered helpless. Yet it took some effort, but he cooled his instincts and did not fuss much when Azar's tail wrapped around him and she lifted him off the ground, holding him the wrong way up. Sensing Fenrir's rage in his mind that they dared touch his human, Tobias sent his dragon wave after wave of comforting emotion even as he winched ever so slightly at the hand wrapped in his hair pulling his head back.

 

As much as he wouldn't willingly say unless he honestly felt this way, Tobias was impressed. It had been many years since he miscalculated an opponent and found himself in this predicament. While years of hard fought sparring matches had taught him multiple ways to get out of this hold and give his opponent a lesson or two in response, Tobias held still. Merely eyeing the blade pressed against his throat before flickering his pale gaze over to Fenrir. He knew his best friend wasn't about to take this laying down but Tobias hoped he wouldn't lash out too violently. Fenrir was an overprotective dragon, for good reason, so there was no hope in saying that his dragon wouldn't take this as a bit of a personal offense. Especially after the words Tristan directed towards the creature.

 

Casting Azar a grateful and pleased look once the dragon lowered him back for he ground, feet first this time, Tobias parted his lips to speak. Except he didn't have a chance too with how quickly his dragon moved to retrieve him. Fenrir wasted no time in sharply pushing Azar's tail out of the way from where it had remained lightly around his human. Curling his own tail gently around Tobias, he swiftly pulled the Chieftain back to his side while he never once removed that ticked off glare from both Azar and Tristan. It was only when he had Tobias successful pressed safely to his side, that Fenrir lowered his gaze to be able to reassure himself his human was alright even as he gently nuzzled and nosed at him.

 

"Honestly? Fenrir, I'm fine. There's nothing to be concerned about" Tobias released a soft, exasperated laugh even as he softly ran his finger's through his friend's fur in an effort to calm the dragon.

 

"They could have hurt you. Why did you let them get that move in?" Fenrir grumbled, finally settling down once more after he begrudgingly accepted that Tobias was perfectly alright. Nevertheless, he kept his body slightly coiled around his Bonded in a way that screamed levels of how protective he was of the man.

 

"I didn't exactly see it coming.....besides, it was well played. They are more cunning than what I expected them to be" Tobias murmured to the creature he trusted to guard his back no matter what the occasion. Turning back to Tristan and Azar, Tobias didn't stop the small smile that flickered into existence on his face. "Well done, the two of you. I must say I may have underestimated you two a bit more than what was safe. Nevertheless, I'm impressed. It's been a while since someone managed to get a hit on me like that" Tobias spoke to the pair, amusement filling his tone as well as a softer sense of respect. The pair had acted as a unit when he had asked them too and they managed to pull a fast one on him. That was not something seen everyday and he had to give praise where praise was due. That being said, there was a few fractures that they still needed some work on.

 

"You both seem the share the beginning of a bond already, which is good. It'll make your training run smoother. You're still very fresh at this and I'm sorry if I pushed you a bit moments ago. But again, I am impressed with your teamwork. However, while this is not something we'll touch upon yet and I do not expect you to notice until after you are further into your training.....remember the attributes of your opponents dragon" Tobias added after a heartbeat. Lowering his gaze to the area around not only Tristan's feet but Azar's as well, Tobias wasn't surprised to see a fine layer of ice that had gathered on the ground and had circled the pair. It was clear that had he been taking the fight seriously, Fenrir would have had no quarrels in turning the pair into frozen decorations before they harmed his human. And by the way storm clouds were just beginning to disappear overhead from where they had been gathering, his dragon would have made an example of them if they had hurt Tobias.

 

"All in all, very well done. We might be able to make proper partners of you yet....Now we need to just focus on cementing your mental bond with Azar. Once that is set, you both will be able to move more effectively as a unit in the sparring matches to come" the young Chieftain stated, calmly sheathing his sword back into the strap against his back. Brushing his hair away from his face with a flick of the hand, Tobias leaned his weight back against Fenrir's flank and crossed his arms while asking "Now, how much do you know of Azar and how much does she know of you?"

[Joyabe]

Tristan watched the exchange between the other pair silently, noticing Azar drifting closer to him as she did the same. While he didn't think he crossed any boundaries just now, he was sure he pushed them alright. He knew he was going to royally piss Fenrir off- that was what his entire plan was based on, but he felt grateful that his energy was focused on making sure Tobias was okay rather than making them pay for what they just did. Still, he rolled his eyes to himself, thinking he was still slightly overreacting. They had no intention of causing his human any harm, and he was positive they didn't do anything to do so. Well, maybe he did, the first time he kicked him, but still, he seemed perfectly fine, not to mention Tobias repaid him for that by tackling him to the ground.

 

Nonetheless, he made sure to place the blade he was still holding on the ground in front of him, signaling the others he had no real intention of attacking them. He didn't feel like starting a fight he was sure to lose in. He only hoped his actions wouldn't cause the other dragon to be so overprotective as to the point he would refuse to assist them any further. As azar placed herself on the ground next to him, the two patiently waited for Fenrir to finish his checkup, and for the two to finish discussing whatever it was they were talking about.

 

A sigh of relief left Tristan's lips as Tobias started talking to them, as he understood they weren't about to be given up on, followed by a small smile at the compliments they were given. Failure was never an option in Tristan's book, and being praised was more than helpful in stroking his ego. However, that did not make him carelessly overconfident, as his gaze followed that of Tobias, both he and his dragon taking notice of the ice surrounding them. They would have to pay attention to that in the future, he realized, but it was also something they could use for their advantage. He didn't understand the full scope of his dragon's capabilities just yet, but he did have a general notion of them, categorizing them as pretty much the exact opposite of those of Fenrir.

 

The question addressed at him caused Tristan's eyebrows to push together, as he tried figuring out what would be the best way to answer it. Knowing each other had such a wide range of meanings to it. Time-wise, the two knew each other for an extremely short while. Adding to that the fact that Tristan was never one to open up to others- although he did feel the dragon knew, or at least understood him, better than many others in his past who knew him for years, made the notion of 'knowing' even harder to define.

 

"I think" he slowly opened, taking a little longer than he usually did to answer the question "neither of us knows the other on a very deep level" he said as he exchanged a look with his dragon, who was looking back at him with a look that was full of confirmation as well as reassurance and affection. "nothing close to what you two have. It's only been two weeks or so since our first meeting" he hesitantly said, trying not to elaborate too much, as he unconsciously ran his hand through his hair. In all truth, he didn't know anything about Azar before they met, the same way he assumed she didn't know much about him. He was reluctant to talk about his past, as now a new option, one he never considered before, presented itself. While he did consider the option he and Tobias were after the same people, an option he didn't deem improbable yet, never before had he thought of the opposite option. If the man in front of him was an ally of those people, things could go south very fast for them. "I guess you can say we know a fair amount about each other's characters and capabilities, at least as much as you can in such a short period of time" he concluded, not entirely satisfied with his own answer. "Is that what you mean when you talk about 'knowing'?" he asked the young man, starting to feel the first signs of exhaustion from the long day creeping up on him.

[GodofMischief]

Listening to the response Tristan had to his question, Tobias exchanged glances with Fenrir as his dragon finally began to settle down properly. While it was good that the other man knew at least the basics of his dragon’s attributes and her characteristics, that was not quite what he had meant. To be a proper DragonBorn and hold the ties required to be ones partner, you needed know know much more than just the basics. The bond forged between Human and dragon allowed for no secrets. If a bond was to be formed without danger of being easily broken, then both dragon and Human had to be able to confide in each other without withholding any information whatsoever. Again, it was one of the many traits that differentiated them from being simply Riders of Dragons. In a sense, they had to intertwine their souls with their dragons, become almost an answering reflection to their movements and an open door to all their thoughts and emotions. Just as their dragon had to be the same for them. It was not an easy task, but if one was properly determined, it was reachable.

 

“That is not exactly what I had in mind. While it is a given that Fenrir and I have years of experience together and we forged our bond since I was a small boy...bonds can be formed by whoever is willing enough. But to do so, you must allow your dragon access to your very soul, in a sense. Azar must be able to know of your past, of your fears and aspirations. She must understand why you do what you do and you think the way you think. Even if you have had hard hardships in your life so far, she must be able to have access to those memories of your life. However, that can’t happen if you don’t allow her too. And the same can be said about her allowing you to truly learn about her. It is not a quick process, nor will it happen over night. Nevertheless, I have confidence that you will eventually be able to cross this threshold with your partner and be able to access the full potential of your DragonBorn abilities” Tobias responded with a small shrug of his shoulders. Letting his eyes briefly sweep over Tristan, taking in how the man appeared to be more tired than he had been before, Tobias shifted away from Fenrir and back over to the bag he had brought with him.

 

“I’d like you to try and begin this process with her tomorrow when you have both properly rested and rejuvenated yourselves. I’m sure whatever it is that happened to you is not something you’d want just anyone to hear. So I suggest you begin to let her know of your life while I am tending to my people. The last thing I want is to have to make you more uncomfortable than you have to be” Tobias spoke over his shoulder, rifling through the items in the bag long enough to pull out a somewhat smaller pouch out of the bag. Straightening back up, Tobias walked forward towards Tristan and Azar, holding the pouch out for the man the moment he stopped a respectable few steps away. He knew the male still did not trust him and he didn’t want to push the wary man’s boundaries more than he had tonight. However, if he could help Tristan in an way, then he would do so, whether the man wanted to accept his help or not.

 

“This pouch holds a few of our most sacred and rare berries and herbs. If you would like, either tomorrow or tonight, you can gather some of the water from the river and heat it up to make some tea. The herbs for the tea have worked over the years in easing whatever sores my people might have had from previous days and replenishing whatever spent muscles we might have overworked. They will not make you terribly drowsy or cause you to be vulnerable in any way, they will only do your body some good. As for the berries, they’re known to having a cooling agent within them that usually numbs the sting of new and old injuries. They’re very helpful if you want to shake off the weariness any injury might have prolonged on your body. Don’t take too many of them at once, they will do more harm than good. At most, I would suggest one or two would be able to last you from morning to nightfall” the young Chieftain instructed kindly, hoping Tristan didn’t think he was overstepping whatever lines the man had drawn in the sand around him. “There is also a cup for your tea and small items to aide any injury you might find yourself claiming” Tobias added a moment later.

 

“I do not know if you would wish to continue training tonight. You seem to be tired and I do not want to push you more than need be. If you want, I can leave you to rest now with Azar and try to return tomorrow a bit earlier. You need only to let me know” Tobias said calmly, showing no signs of impatience or irritation at all to the fact that they didn’t do much tonight. He meant what he said that if Tristan wanted to rest, he’d leave him to it and come back tomorrow. It was solely up to the man what he wanted from Tobias.