Heart of Hearts

[Flipout6]

"Um... sure. We'll spend it at a butcher's shop, then." Thorand added the sixty gold pieces to his coinpurse. He had no idea how he she thought he could get an armor repair for 20 gold, but he pocketed it anyway. He was completely unsure about this new Dragon Rider. He didn't even know her name, unless he had completely missed it when she had introduced herself. He did know that the dragon was just a hatchling, and although she may be older than everybody in the room (waiting for the right rider.) she was still quite physically vulnerable. Something as small and clumbsy as the dragon was would be a good-sized meal for large dogs or mountain lions. "Keep the dragon safe. Until she is about half as big as Saphira Brightscales, she's vulnerable to medium-sized animals like wolves, mountain lions, dogs, even." and he added under his breath "and please don't become the next Galbatorix.". He looked back up at her. "You are, or rather were, on the same side as the elves from Du Weldenvarden, correct?" He didn't want to aid a former soldier of Galbatorix.

[tokyobiohazard]

"Fear not," Cecilia said, and held out her right hand, as the left one was still very sore and raw, and offered it to this man. "This is how humans say hello, yes? I am Cecilia, and I hail from a small hut far outside of the elven cities. I travel from place to place on whatever whims may enter my mind... And no, I am not on the side of the traitor."

 

The dragon you saw is called Saphira Brightscales. She was thought to be the last female dragon alive. That's what makes you special, Koralina. Cecilia spoke to the dragon in the ancient language, the language of truth and magic. She began to supply her words with related images, in order to teach Koralina what things were called. Of course, it was strangely limited, as all Koralina knew was the inside of this store... She was eager to leave and show her dragon what grass felt and smelled like, as her memories were very clear and vivid, but still didn't feel like an adequate way of describing things.

Edited July 17, 2012 by tokyobleach

[Flipout6]

Thorand took her hand, and shook it.

"Well, that's a relief. Sorry about being suspicious, I'm sure you already get too much of that, being an elf in human lands. It's not 'cause your an elf, though. There were just as many riders with Galbatorix as there were with the Varden. Now, I suppose we'd better get Koraline some meat. She must be starving. Where's the nearest butcher shop?"

[AurianaValoria1]

The shopkeeper, who had been silent with awe before now, spoke up, "That'll be two doors to the left, once you step out."

 

Koralina absorbed everything that Cecilia said and showed her like a sponge.

 

I...am special?

 

She seemed pleased with herself, as she closed her little eyes and began rocking her head from side to side.

[Flipout6]

Thorand took the blanket and paid for it.

"Alright, thanks. I'll be back in a few minutes. With lots of meat."

He opened the door to the shop and walked out, following the new Dragon Rider's directions to the butcher's shop, and walked in.

" 'ello there, don't think I've see ya 'round here before. Just lemme know if ya want anything." The butcher, a fat, gentle-looking man, smiled at him and turned back to cutting a bit of lamb on the table.

Thorand looked around. Koralina would be eating pretty much everything, so he supposed it didn't matter which meat he bought. He turned back around to the butcher.

"Which meat's your cheapest? I need quantity, not quality, for now. Don't worry, I'd be spending the same amount either way.... Forty gold pieces." The butcher almost chopped his own hand off. Forty gold pieces was a lot for someone out in the country.

"Well, uh, sounds like it'll be a big feast then, sir! That'll be the lamb." He smiled at Thorand.

 

Thorand left the shop with several pounds of lamb, wrapped in cloth and crammed into a leather sack. The butcher and his family would be well off for quite a while, if they spent the gold wisely, or sparingly. Thorand had told him to make it last, and he hoped the butcher took him up on his advice. He tossed the leather sack over his shoulder, and lugged it back into the general store. He grinned at Cecilia as he entered.

"Got your meat. I imagine Koralina is starving." He walked over to about a meter from Cecilia, and dropped to his knee, making sure he didn't scare the hatchling. "Can Koralina understand speech, or do they learn as they grow, like us?" He asked Cecilia. "You Dragon riders commune with your dragons with thoughts, yes?"

Edited July 18, 2012 by Flipout6

[tokyobiohazard]

"She has to learn things as she grows... but she seems to learn very quickly. She communicates with her mind very well for a dragon of her age, actually." She looked down at the purple dragon in her arms. He has food. You should ask him before taking it. That's the polite and proper way to do it. And yes, you are special. Edited July 18, 2012 by tokyobleach

[AurianaValoria1]

Koralina looked at this other two-legs with inquisitive eyes. He had food? For her? She struggled for a moment trying to think of the way to ask. She had heard speech before, while still in her egg - hence why she knew as much as she did. But the words were still strange, and she had trouble attaching them to meaning.

 

Tentatively, she reached out with her mind towards this other two-legs.

 

You...have food? Koralina...is...hungry. Can have food?

[Flipout6]

"Sounds good. I guess she understands this much, then?" He flung the bag down from over his shoulder, and took out the meat wrapped in cloth. He unwrapped it all, and then looked to Koralina, straight into the eye. He felt an odd sensation in his head. He didn't have any mental training, so it didn't stop Koralina from asking if he had food she could eat.

"Here, I got this for you. It's lamb meat, and lots of it. Feel free to eat as much as you like." He left it there and backed away. "Sorry I can't communicate mentally with you, I have no training doing that. I'll just have to speak verbally. You, however, should be able to speak with me easily. Now, you should eat. I have no doubt that you, a hatchling, are starving.... perhaps literally." He gestured to the massive pile of lamb.

Edited July 18, 2012 by Flipout6

[AurianaValoria1]

The little violet dragon dislodged herself from her Rider's arms and dove into the lamb pile. Up to her eyeballs in the meat, Koralina began eating in a circle, her razor-sharp teeth making quick work of anything within reach. All she could do was communicate feelings of satisfaction and thanks, pausing occasionally to lick bits of lamb away from her eyes.

[Flipout6]

"Whoa now! That was forty gold pieces! Don't eat it all in one go!" He couldn't help but laugh as he watched the meat bury her, only to have her eat her way out. She seemed to be mentally communicating satifaction, and thanks, and perhaps a few other emotions, but Thorand couldn't tell, really. He was just happy that she was satisfied with the meat. He looked up at Cecilia. "What are we going to do next?"