Rider's Quest

Chapter 4

    Carmaderon! I can fly! Kelendros said as she jumped up and down.

    "Yey! I'm tired..." Carmaderon looked at her weak arms from blocking and sighed.

    At least you did not fall out of a tree to learn how to do something. Carmaderon looked at Kelendros' remaining wounds from when Helios beat her up.

    "How are those bruises holding up? Do we need to put something on them?"

    No, they are fine. I hope Helios gets what is coming to him. Stupid jealous humans. Neyin nodded his head in agreement with Kelendros.

    "Ok, Kelendros, lets go. Mom should be done with supper soon." Carmaderon waved Elder Loru and Neyin goodbye, then swiftly picked up Kelendros and put her on her shoulder.

    I wonder what she made? Anything sounds good at the moment. Both of their bellies growled in sync and they both laughed.

**********

    "Hey you two. Ready to eat?" Carmad's mom asked the two. She swiftly picked up two plates of rice and deer and placed them on the table, then headed back to pick up the plate with just uncooked, fresh meat on it for Kelendros, "So, Carmad, where did you and Kelendros go after the Ceremony?" she asked as she went to sit down.

   I went to train with Neyin, and Carmaderon trained with Elder Loru. Chirped Kelendros, then sank her tiny teeth into her food.

    "That's where he went, of course." Carmad's mom told herself, then continued eating.

    "Elder Loru taught me how to block today." Carmaderon said as she stuffed her face with food.

    "Oh, did you know a few new riders are moving in tomorrow? Three of them I believe, each from a different tribe. Maybe you can learn some different things and train with them as well." Carmad's mom informed her as she stopped between bites. As soon as the three finished eating, a loud thud echoed in the ground, then the sound of metal unlatching outside. Kelendros hopped out of the hut with Carmad close behind her.

    Pretty! Kelendros exclaimed through mind link.

    "I guess one came early." Carmad's mom said with a smile as she stared at the rider in front of the Tribe's head rider's long hut.

    "Winter Sky! Just the rider I have been waiting for!" The Head Rider said enthusiastically to the visitor.

    "We heard a Chimaeran hatched so we decided to come and see for ourselves." Winter replied. She had long white hair, dark blue eyes, and looked well built.

   Hello there. I am Geode, you are? The large dark stone grey and sapphire dragon's mind echoed as he spoke to Kelendros. He had large Sapphire colored eyes, tri-set of horns, dual wings, and underbelly, where the scales were dark grey with a stone pattern to them.

    I am Kelendros. This is my rider Carmaderon. She replied and nodded towards Carmad.

    "Thank you for letting us stay here to rest from travel, Head Rider Leji." Winter said as she bowed, then walked over to Geode, "What have you found? Oh, aren't you cute. What happened to her?" She asked as her gaze shifted from Kelendros to Carmaderon.

    "She got beat up trying to defend me."

    I gave them a few good scratches though. Kelendros chirped as she carefully bounced around slashing the air to show her point. Winter and Geode couldn't help but giggle.

    "Are you in training? Or are you waiting on the rest to start?" Winter questioned as she watched Kelendros continue to bounce around.

    "We are training with Elder Loru and Neyin." Carmaderon replied.

    "If you aren't too tired I could show you a few things."

    "Magic?" Carmaderon whispered.

    "You know the rules. I could show you some things about armed combat." Winter laughed as Carmad sighed.

    Carmaderon checked her arms to see if she could train a little more, "Okay."

    What about you little one? Geode asked Kelendros while she sat dizzy on the ground.

    She shook her head quickly and nodded a 'yes' as she followed close behind Carmad.

    "Hey, Kelendros, you are almost half my height now!" Carmaderon exclaimed as she looked at the rapid growth of her partner.

    "Dragons grow exceptionally fast. By this time tomorrow she should be your height." Winter said.

    Perfect time to start flight training. How well can you fly now? Geode finished as he looked at Kelendros.

    I can glide. She said as she stared at Geode's muscular dual set of wings jealously.

    I guess I am going to have to teach you. Follow me. He said with excitement to Kelendros.

***

    "Why are you two so slow?" Winter said as the sun rose and two riders and two dragons landed in the center of the Tribe.

    "Because we can't fly as fast and are in no hurry." stated Nemora, who had long black hair and emerald green eyes, as she dismounted her Dragon, Asteria, which had pure black scales, gold eyes, her scales were made from hard obsidian, and her tail was spiked at the end; her scales had small white stones here and there, and her wings were large and black with white leathery skin, "Where are you set up, Winter?"

    Just past the tribe borders. Geode told the two. The second rider was Daniella who had long black hair with dark blue streak and red eyes. Her dragon, Moonlink, had black scales with blue spike and red eyes and he didn't seem too fond of the dragons around the area.