Runaway dragon – Chapter 6

Everything hadn’t yet been set up the way it was meant to, at least it wasn’t if one was to approach Eyren about the topic. Although they have a small and functional team assembled at this point and they appear to be working in conjunction fairly well, to Eyren’s mind there was one who was being left out and that just wouldn’t do. After all, if Razz is going to be the girl who’ll backstop them in fleeing from Kambaresa and Nivra’s hunters, then wouldn’t it be both apt and wise for her to encounter the people she is to be the savior of? Or if anything, Nivra should get to face the raptor and be made mindful of what a lovable little hero she is.

It is for this reason that Eyren determines to sneak Nivra across the city the day after they’d concocted a couple of designs for how to complete their investigation of their pursuers. Even if Osvij had recommended the easterner should abstain from stepping out of the inn until it was time for the moment of truth, Eyren doesn’t think it’ll do any great harm if they disguise her a little, which is why she lent Nivra a cloak she had in her backpack, to have over her head and to sneak her tail under. Equally, Eyren will internally fess up that she had felt a teeny bit…overlooked, possibly even guilty amid their dialogue. Clearly Nivra had respected Osvij for offering to facilitate her escape, but he went beyond this by claiming he both agrees with her and will remain within her company to bring her to a sanctuary in the future. Eyren is starting to like this eager little rebel in spite of that they aren’t in agreement on everything, so she sensed that she too had to dabble with additional measures in order to prove that she can be open-minded and useful as well.

Once they reach the stables in the southern lanes of the city, Eyren speaks to the tender who permits her to stroll inside after showing her writ of having a companion within. When they tread in, Razz is by her slot still, stood on two legs but leaning over while chewing on a form of carcass of a small critter she must’ve caught. It’s bloodied and torn up, and not just a slab of meat, meaning it couldn’t have been the handler.
“Heh, having fun on your own, are ya, Razz?” Upon catching Eyren’s voice, the raptor lifts her head, and her dorsal feathers ascend with excitement. Squeaking happily, the raptor dashes across the little pen, completely having forgotten her meal for the time being and instead half-tackles the human, who chuckles in response as she hugs her friend’s large head, stroking a hand through the red body feathers of Razz. “In high spirits, huh? Good to hear. Sorry for leaving you alone for so long. Wasn’t really the plan…” The raptor coos and rubs her nose across Eyren’s cheeks and up to her hair.

Having smiled and chuckled for a spell at the two and their relations, Nivra then assesses the milieu.
“Hmm. Is she alright in this pen, ya think? Looks a lil’ small-scale.”

Eyren is scratching under Razz’s jaw, which entices the raptor to close her eyes, practically purring whilst one of her feet tap rhythmically on the ground in a mesmerized fashion.
“Yeah, based on the state of her feathers and her behavior, I’d imagine she is. Prolonged stays in it won’t do her any good, but she’ll manage for now. She’s terribly smart and wouldn’t get desperate if she has to remain for a week or so, assuming they let her walk around from time to time.”

“What about having to eat random rodents that scurry ’round here, though? Especially that cadaver…”

“Heh, well, believe she caught that one herself. Plus, she’s a raptor – they’re omnivores. She can eat bodies that’s been dead for a pretty extended term.”

“Ooh, shit. Didn’t know that. I’ve ridden raptors, but…never maintained any.”

“Not scared of them, I hope?”

“Hah! Well, depends on whether one is rushing at me to eat my face or not, I suppose…”, Nivra says with quite an unhidden joke in her voice.

This is adequate to make Eyren chuckle, and she dips her head briefly.
“Good. Then maybe we should make introductions between you two.” Positioning herself to stand with her front towards the Ahterilonan, still one hand running along the raptor’s furlike body feathers, she gestures at Nivra. “Razz, this here is Nivra. She’s an ally I’ve made recently and she’s in trouble. We’re gonna help her get out, okay?”

If the raptor can comprehend the knight’s meaning or not is unclear to Nivra, but one matter she certainly cannot deny is that Razz diverges to peer at her, and when this occurs, the raptor’s serpentine irises narrow into a slenderer line, foregoing an approach at the Ahterilonan. Electing to believe in that a companion of Eyren wouldn’t harm her, she sticks to where she is while the far larger beast carefully treads over to her and inclines its hefty head at her. Intriguingly, Razz embarks on a sniffing of her head, which has its first destination right on top of her dome, prior to trekking down to her cheek as well as her neck. Due to how open Nivra is being with herself to the raptor, Razz appears pleased, and she starts cooing softly, nuzzling into the easterner’s cheek and lightly licking it. As Nivra giggles, she similarly runs a hand in through the fur of the animal and gently pats the side of her head.

“She’s a kindhearted lil’ reptile, ain’t she?”

Watching the two of them snuggling with a soft look on her face, Eyren smiles delighted and pats her own hand over Razz’s back.
“Mhm, she is. One of the most intelligent creatures you’ll encounter. She’s very talented at interpreting people and their natures. And this is good – if she trusts you, so do I.”

“Huh. So, you make a judgment ’bout someone based on what your raptor feels? That’s a funny distinction…even if not wrong, I guess.”

“Razz is more than just a beast or a companion of mine. Our bond is…more important than I can describe in words.”

“Yeah, I can just see it in your interactions, that the two of you have something special. You’ve been with her for a good while, I’m guessing?”

“Ah hah. Yes, I mean…I’m the one who raised her.”

“Ooh, I see. Did you get her from a farm or something?”

Eyren shakes her head and a mildly abstracted quality enters her eyes, while she runs her fingers down Razz’s posterior feathers.
“Not at all. She was out in the wild, as a matter of fact. About five years ago while I was being tutored in various combat arts, we were down here in Ngoyamen. Travelling from town to town, guarding different figures and speaking with a mesh of authorities, it was when we were crossing the roads in between these that I spotted an unfortunate event – a little raptor chick was lying on the side of the road, chirping sadly and being unable to move forward. Couldn’t have been more than a few weeks old. Dunno the circumstances behind it, but seemed to me as if it had been discarded after its leg got broken.”

Nivra’s eyes widen and she looks a tad uncertain.
“Wow. By…her mother?”

“Maybe. No idea, honestly, as there was no sign of anyone or anything else nearby. All I know is that she wasn’t doing well and if sticking to that spot, she would’ve perished for sure. My trainer…wasn’t the most indulgent of sorts and asked me to ‘put the beast out of its misery’, but…” She snorts and shrugs her shoulders. “I dunno what it was about, but when I looked into her eyes, something in there touched me and I knew I couldn’t just leave her be. Therefore I brought her with me and carried her for a while longer, until I could nurse her back to health. Heh, even used the last of my personal coins for this endeavor.”

Easing up in light of that she can glean where this’ll end up, Nivra smiles at her.
“And seeing that she’s standing here, all big and healthy, you and she came out on top together.”

“You could say that, hah.” In a second, as if recognizing what kind of tale was told, Razz shifts towards her companion and the two of them rub their heads together. “We’ve been loyal to one another since then. She’s not just an animal companion to me – she’s family. There’s almost no one who’s closer to me than she is, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Even if she can be a bit dumb sometimes.” Letting out a whining noise, the raptor then playfully nips at Eyren’s ear, which makes the warrior laugh.

Crossing her arms and surveying the two, Nivra smiles and bobs her head.
“That’s a great story, Eyren. And your relationship…it’s really special. That ya got a link this great to an animal is commendable. Can see why you wouldn’t be super comfortable in cities too.”

“Mm, suppose that’s been my lot from the start. Grew up as a farmer’s girl before I went elsewhere, and that part of me has been there every step of the way.” She then sends another smile at Nivra. “And it’s me and Razz here who’s gonna get you out of this city intact. If we set our minds on something, we don’t fail. You have my word.”