[PRP] Ferocity in Spades (Skerath, Kahbrohm, ???)

[Tsunake]

The small green dragon was hunting.

She was too young to hunt the food she ate daily, but she was the perfect size for hunting the writhing, disgusting beasts known as tunnelsnakes. She moved carefully and quietly, her nostrils flaring even as she stalked her current target. Her hunt brought her towards the Candidate barracks, though she didn't know or care much about that. Skerath paused for a moment, her eyes whirling faster even as she saw the filthy creature worming about.... and she pounced! There was a shriek from the tunnelsnake, and a guttural hisa from the green dragon. They tussled wildly for a moment, her jaws snapping with ferocity--I

And then, the ugly thing managed to evade her killing bite, retreating into some crevasse where she was unable to pursue. Skerath unleashed a hideous screech of rage, her talons lashing out at anything she could rend to pieces. Useless, useless, useless! If she'd been more clever, if she'd been faster she could have killed her foe!

Still snarling and stomping about to herself, she was oblivious to those around her, sending drops of ichor flying every which way. Was it hers, or her evasive victim's? It was impossible to tell with her flurry of movement.

demon_pachabel

 

[demon_pachabel]

The sounds of dragons were so normal that it took quite a ruckus to draw any attention from someone who had lived around them their whole life. Still, several candidates who were less familiar with such things - holdborn, most likely - had expressed their alarm about the sounds of screeching and hissing.

They were all cowards if they were afraid of a little angry noise.

Still, Kahbrohm pushed roughly through the few lollygaggers who had assembled to peer outside of the barracks at the scene, folding his arms as he watched. One of the Weyrlings from the recent hatching had gotten herself all wound up in anger about something, and despite the fact she was obviously bonded and very much a dragon, nerves and scars that had been left on other boys were tense. This was why they were still candidates.

Even the ichor splattered about was little issue. "Cowards," he was not afraid to let them all know their place for being afraid of a young dragon, even as he stepped out from the barracks and began his approach towards her. There was no show of courage to it. She was not a danger to him and he knew it.

Tsunake

 

[Tsunake]

She didn't care about their fear and apprehension. Let them be frightened! She'd cut them all down if she pleased! ....At least, with her words. The hateful wrath that had spurred her mauling spree upon the sands had withered and died upon finding her Iathe, and though she might bluster and snarl, Skerath had little interest in harming soft, delicate humans. They didn't know that though, and her blazing eyes threatened to bore holes in the clustered candidates. One of them pushed forward, almost arrogant in his certainty that he would be unharmed.

It grated at her, and with a lashing tell, Skerath faced her frightened onlookers with proud defiance, mantling her wings with a low, rasping hiss. For a moment, she seemed content to merely posture.

She suddenly bolted towards them, baring her long fangs even as her talons tore into the earth. She propelled herself straight towards the gaggle of shrieking children, and nearly all of them fled as though frightened for their lives. Her contempt only grew--but in all fairness, she looked as though she had no intention of stopping.

Her gaze was fixed on the boy that had spurred her mad dash, and Skerath continued to charge like she intended to run him down. He'd break and run too. She was certain of it.

demon_pachabel

 

[demon_pachabel]

Oh! Well this was an exciting development! It was at least a half chance that the scars that mangled Kahbrohm's chest had come from Skerath's pre-impression rampage, so really who would have judged him harshly if he fell to her ruse and scampered away like the others who fled, clinging to the state of their own hides? Well, he would have.

That alone was why instead of fleeing in terror, he almost seemed to jump at the opportunity to have his mettle tested again in a trial by Dragon. He'd missed it - wanted it, but Kahbrohm had not been granted his opportunity during the hatching. Even if he was truly at no risk to end up like that.........well, he'd not be dead for this, and that did take a certain charm from it.

So while he perhaps shouldn't have, Kahbrohm charged the green right back.

Tsunake

 

[Tsunake]

He ran back at her, sprinting as though he truly thought he could stand against her might and win! A flicker of surprise took her for a moment before Skerath dug in and charged even faster, savagely delighted with such boldness. At the very last second, she veered to the side, spraying dirt and grit as she narrowly avoided ramming into the boy. Her tail, however, swung to snap at his calves--a playful flick rather than something meant to cause harm.

Having spun herself around, Skerath snorted loudly, streaks of blue swirling through her red eyes. She was still crouched, every inch of her ready to spring into action even as she waited to see what this strange human boy would do next. He thought himself no easy meat?

They would see.

demon_pachabel

 

[demon_pachabel]

She veered off to one side, and Kahbrohm nearly tripped over his own feet trying to correct himself, half rolling so he was still facing her with an almost delighted grin on his face. Though her not-exactly-gentle thwap to his legs did cause him to fumble on the way back up. It was kind of like a play-punch, more than anything else.

Perhaps this was inappropriate - she wasn't his, after all, and if so he would hear about it later. If not from a Candidatemaster, than perhaps from the green's bonded. Which meant all the more reason to enjoy it fully now.

Kahbrohm rubbed his palms together, the spring in his chest just barely beginning to wind up with excitement. He wouldn't allow her the honor of getting to start the next round either, readily throwing himself back at her in whatever playful tussle they were having. She wasn't distressed after all, so just playing wouldn't hurt her, right?

Of course not.

Tsunake

 

[Tsunake]

His lunge was met with a harsh cry, and she eagerly launched herself at him in turn. She was careful to keep her talons from biting, her forelegs wrapping around his torso so her weight could hopefully carry him to the ground. Her tail was lashing furiously behind her, for she was fully absorbed in the game. The intention wasn't to hurt, no, but to pit their strength against one another. They'd learn and grow stronger by testing each other's weaknesses--and few of her siblings could stand such rough play.

Skerath thrust her muzzle in his face, the red in her eyes mostly gone as she huffed a hot breath against his skin.

She remembered him. He'd touched her egg, and though he wasn't right for her, she had appreciated his anger, his strength. His thoughts had needlessly been consumed with Cadereth, but she didn't resent him for that. After all, he hadn't been Hers... and her and Iathe had worked out what small insecurities she'd had.

demon_pachabel

 

[demon_pachabel]

It was not difficult for a dragon her size to throw him down to the ground, but Kahbrohm found it much less irritating to be thrown onto his back by the weight of a dragon than he would have if she'd been another of the candidates. Surely, he'd never been in a position to win, but he still pushed his arms against her chest as they landed in some measure of struggle to being pinned down.

The position would have been terrifying if this had been that moment on the sands two months earlier.

Still, with her snout in his face, he dared reach out a hand to touch it, running his fingers along one side of it testingly since he was in such position to appreciate it. Appreciate her. "Well. You're just the fiercest dragon to walk off the sands, aren't you?" It was nothing but praise. "Now get off so I can try again."

Tsunake

 

[Tsunake]

As his hand reached out, she was tempted to snap at him to put him back in his place--but his words were enough to make him freeze. She sensed no mockery, no scorn. Her suspicion slowly faded so that a warm sense of pride could bloom, filling her up until her eyes whirled brightly. Yes. She was the fiercest, and it was good of him to realize it. With another, almost contemptuous snort, Skerath obliged, backing off so that the boy could rise again.

She hunkered down once more, tense and waiting. Just because he'd stroked her ego didn't mean that she would submit so easily to this scrap of a child.

Come then. She goaded, baring her teeth as though this threat would still hold any weight. Her tone, however, was pleased. Let this boy test himself against her! She'd welcome his might and prove to him just how fierce she was.

demon_pachabel

 

[demon_pachabel]

Kahbrohm looked at those teeth as he rose, noting that they seemed....bigger and sharper than Meigth's and distinctly so. It gave him an appreciation for that fact that she would not be sinking them into him, but that she certainly could have previously. So while they were less impressive, he bore his teeth back at her, though it was more of a grin than a serious snarl.

"Very well!" he cracked his knuckles, as though he'd actually have a chance at much of anything, tussling with the young dragon. Certainly, the mumbling of those candidates that had returned to see what was going on seemed to think him an idiot for trying. An idiot for running at a dragon and seeing if he'd have the chance to wrap his arms around her torso this time.

Really, if he could fight being thrown on his back, that would be a victory in and of itself.

Tsunake

 

[Tsunake]

Skerath bounded forward in a leap--but the boy had caught her around the chest, and the unexpected weight paired with her shifting balance threatened to topple her right over. The green made a guttural sound in her chest, digging her hind talons into the dirt to better center herself. She had to get lower, she realized, but with how close he was, she was unable to use her head and neck to help push him away. Her front legs raked harmlessly at the air, and with another dragon, she might have been less aware of her talons and utilized them. Humans were so soft though, and she had no interest in piercing him.

With another grunt, she whipped her tail around to try and batter his legs out from under him. Young as she was, the motion staggered her already precarious balance, and her claws bit into flesh as she instinctively clawed for stability. Landing on her side could very well damage a wing, and her body unconsciously fought to make sure that such a thing wouldn't happen.

demon_pachabel

whoops.

 

[demon_pachabel]

While not in his chest, Kahbrohm growled back at Skerath - all fun and games, and she could tell she knew it. He wasn't threatened by her raw strength, and her weight was enough that standing firmly wasn't exactly an option. Her weight pushing against him caused his feet to slide in the sand. This wasn't very ideal for either of them at that point. But if he yielded for no reason beyond bad posture he'd be a fool.

The claws in his shoulder were less an act of malice and more like the instinctive clinging of a feline who didn't want to fall, not purposely trying to bring pain but unfortunately being blessed with sharp edges. Kahbrohm pushed pointedly against the same side of her chest as her claw's found on him, hissing involuntarily as her swat to his already unsteady legs dropped him to a knee, making them both lurch awkwardly.

Tsunake

 

[Tsunake]

Ever since her dragon had experienced a whiplash-inducing change of mood, Iathe had been on a metaphorical warpath. A growl stirred in her throat even as she stormed across the Weyr, determined to get to the bottom of the situation. As she rounded the corner to the Candidate barracks, the sight struck her dead in her tracks. Skerath appeared to be grappling a young man--and she could see blood from here. "SKERATH!" It was a roar, and she had the satisfaction of seeing the green dragon visibly jump.

Kahbrohm was forgotten at once, and the little green was nearly shoved over onto her back due to being distracted.Mine? She managed, guilt tinging her tone ever so slightly.

Her braid lashing behind her like an angry feline tail, Iathe stormed over to the dragonet and--yes, of course it would be Kahbrohm. "What in Faranth's name are you doing?" She snarled, reaching out to snatch the boy (he wasn't much younger than she was) by the ear. "Do you have a death wish? What if she'd really hurt you?!"

I wouldn't have. Skerath muttered, her eyes red.

I know, love. That doesn't make him any less of a fool.

demon_pachabel

 

[demon_pachabel]

Kahbrohm knew that voice - there had been too many times the pair had been peeled off of each other in the middle of some brawl in the creche for him to have not known fully whom Skerath was bonded too, or who that voice was. It took any satisfaction of nearly upending the green away in an instant.

When Iathe reached out to grab him, his less thrilled default expression returned. No grin of excitement, brows furrowed together. Slapping her hand away from him, he squared up his shoulders to stare Iathe down. "Does my face look stupid?" he asked, gesturing to it with his hand, "Or does hers?" he added, gesturing to Skerath's, even though he knew it was perhaps a low blow to bring Iathe's opinion of her lifemate into it. "She wouldn't have hurt me and I know it," even if there was already blood.

He'd deny those marks if they were brought into it, however.

Tsunake

 

[Tsunake]

"Yes," Iathe snapped off the word, not even hesitating. Kahbrohm did have a stupid face, and she planted the hand that had been slapped away on a hip. Of course, she rolled her eyes almost audibly when he tried to pull Skerath into it, baring her teeth in a sneer. "She already did hurt you, you absolute piece of wherry s**t. And if she'd slipped and gutted you by mistake? She might have gone Between from the grief!"

Her free hand gestured sharply towards the wounds where Skerath's overly sharp talons had dug into his skin, her eyes still narrowed with disgust. "I don't know what you were thinking," Not that he had been, "But you'd better let me patch you up. If you don't, she's going to get in trouble." As would she, of course, but Kahbrohm wouldn't care about that at all.

Iathe had drawn herself up to her full height, glowering down at the young man with folded arms. Hopefully he'd relent... and if not? She'd force him to.

demon_pachabel