There is 1 message in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. [DL-C] Taking the Bully By the Horns. (JP)
From: "Arlene" <wondermom@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 1
Date: Sat, 18 Sep 2004 02:33:49 -0400
From: "Arlene" <wondermom@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
Subject: [DL-C] Taking the Bully By the Horns. (JP)
Day 6
Afternoon.
With Andahar preoccupied with his silly human things, Bohoc had been
left to his own devices. He wasn't in the mood for sunbathing, which
many of the dragons were doing. Instead he decided to ride the
thermals
and took to the air. He skimmed along the rocky face of the cliffs
testing himself as he flew between close ridges.
It was fun for a while, but eventually he began to look around for
some
company. He wasn't particularly hungry, but when he saw Trissana
heading toward the feeding pens and thought of joining her.
<SNIP>
[You don't sound very sorry,] she rumbled, and was prepared to
give
him some more when she suddenly heard the sound of wings from the
direction of the warren. She gulped, realizing how thoroughly
embarrassing it would be if one of her friends saw her associating
with
this rude wilder. She abruptly released her grip on the back of
Grashnor's neck, sending the smaller dragon tumbling across the
ground.
She then backed up and crouched down on the ground, taking an
obviously
defensive posture just behind the freshly killed buck.
[And don't you come near me, you....you...!] she said with an
indignant splutter, glaring at Grashnor while peeking out of the
corner
of her eye at whoever was approaching.
<END SNIP>
Bohoc flew over and observed that Trissana seemed to already have
company, though he didn't recognize the dragon. Certainly he must be
from the warren if he were feeding in their feeding pens. He landed a
short distance away. Unusual feelings rose within him and he eyed the
stranger, not altogether in a friendly manner.
Grashnor shook his head, still trying to clear it. It was then that
he
saw the other dragon land between him and the big pearl dragon. His
first inclination was to leave at once, but then he remembered all the
dragon eyes that were watching him from out in the Nomadlands. To
leave
would be to lose face, so he decided there was nothing for it but to
put
on a bold face.
<I am Grashnor!> he hissed. <Do not come between me and my prey if
you
value your life!>
Bohoc looked around at the herd which had fled to the farthest corner
of
the pens and replied, <Sorry, didn't mean to scare them away.> He
certainly wasn't very friendly. Bohoc saw the fat buck in front of
Triss and wondered if this Grashnor had been trying to show off for
her
and a surge of jealousy pierced him. In a flash the small green
dragon
took off and snatched a fat beast, killing it at once. He returned
and
with a flurry, deposited it in front of the angry cobalt-blue male.
<Here, why don't you take this one. *I* can always get more.>
<What....well, I...no!> spluttered the surprised Grashnor. <I want
THAT
one!> he said, glaring past Bohoc to the buck that Trissana was
crouched
over.
[Oooh, just listen to him!] she fumed. [The very idea that a poor,
defenseless female cannot go out and...well, you know what I mean...]
She trailed off, not wanting to provoke a confrontation that could end
up with Bohoc getting hurt...or in revealing what had just gone on
between her and this rude wilder. [I guess...he can have mine. If he
promises to go away and not come back.]
<Not at all!> Bohoc snorted, a bit of flame dancing in his breath, <I
don't know where you learned your manners, Grass-s****e, but that one
is
Triss's. I already gave you one, and you can eat what you have in
front
of you or go catch yourself another one.>
Grashnor roared almost in Bohoc's face. <I AM GRASHNOR THE GREAT!> he
broadcast, to be sure the distant onlookers would be certain to hear
it.
<I will tear you limb from limb...>
Triss's blue eyes widened in outrage. [Ooooh!] she seethed, rising to
her feet. [Someone needs to teach you some manners...!] She had
figured that Bohoc would be just the one to do so, and so was
surprised
when Grashnor quickly ducked behind the hunter green dragon.
<You keep away from me, you bully!>
Triss gulped in embarrassment, quickly ducking down and resuming her
previous position.
Bohoc's tail lashed and smoke curled from his lip at the blue male's
challenge, and he had had thought of swatting him. But he had not made
a
move and so was completely baffled by Grashnor's sudden change in
demeanor as the unpredictable, young male practically groveled in
front
of him. <Bully? Bully? Didn't *you* just threaten to tear me limb
from
limb? What in the lands *are* you doing?> He threw a glance over his
shoulder at Trissana, who just shrugged and looked helpless.
Grashnor quickly collected his wits, remembering again that he had to
save face. <Well, I am...> He thought a moment, wondering how to
handle this. <I am Grashnor! You will grovel before me...!>
Trissana's eyes narrowed, and she snorted a puff of smoke. It was only
with the greatest effort that she restrained herself from coming over
and teaching this impertinent wilder a good lesson. But that would be
so embarrassing to her...and she didn't want to steal Bohoc's thunder
anyway.
<I will do what?> Bohoc stomped his foot, and spread his wings. His
tail resumed its la****ng, kicking up a bit of dust in the process.
<Grovel before... you?>
The dust blocked the view of the other wilders that were eagerly
watching what would happen next. Their curiosity was thick in the
air.
With that Bohoc realized that this wasn't a new warren dragon they
were
dealing with. He responded, projecting out toward those who were
straining with anticipation of what would happen next: <Grass-boar,
obviously your lack of hunting skills has left you dim-witted as well
as
weak!>.
<Weak??? Who are you calling weak??> Grashnor demanded. He mantled
his
wings and moved threateningly toward Bohoc, even though he sensed that
the green dragon would not give ground, nor would he be easy to deal
with.
But his actions caused Trissana to momentarily forget her
embarrassment.
She jumped up and came alongside Bohoc. [Now you listen here, you
nasty
wilder! You go away and take all your friends with you or else I
will...]
Grashnor, seeing her advance, quickly repositioned himself so that
Bohoc
was between them. <You come over here and say that!> he called out
over
Bohoc's shoulder.
Bohoc s****d his head around and glanced at his delicate Triss,
surprised to see her so feisty. He glanced back at the obviously
fearful
Grashnor and sneered, <Such a brave little dragon, aren't we? Afraid
of
a sweet, harmless female? Maybe I should just step back a bit so...>
[I think you should teach him a good lesson!] Triss told Bohoc, as she
tried to step around him so she could see her wonderful, brave Bohoc
deal with this nasty wilder. But as she did so, Grashnor quickly
scurried around to keep Bohoc between Triss and himself.
[Hey, you, stand still so Bohoc can thump you!] she demanded.
Bohoc twisted about, as Grashnor scurried behind him, again moving
back,
which allowed space to open between the pearly female and the blue
male.
They spun in circles, making the green dragon a bit dizzy, but he was
rather enjoying this.
Triss seemed to be gaining, and the young male who was now gasping as
he
shuffled away. The dust was getting thicker and thicker.
Trissana stopped when the dust was so thick she couldn't see.
Grashnor
kept moving, however, and a moment later crashed into her. Obscured
from Bohoc's sight by the cloud of dust, Trissana gave him a good swat
with her tail that caused the wilder to let out a piercing yelp. But
then she saw a green shape through the dust and was again overwhelmed
by
embarrassment. Not knowing what else to do, she crouched down in
front
of the surprised Grashnor. She was afraid Bohoc had seen her, and
knew
that he must be sensing her emotion.
Bohoc heard the yelp and spun about quickly. Seeing his beloved Triss
crouching down, looking afraid, he pounced on the blue dragon, pinning
him down and swatting him fiercely with his tail. <How dare you harm
a
poor, defenseless female! You...you... bully!>
<Ow! Ow! Ow!> Grashnor howled. <Are you crazy?? That *monster* was
about to start beating on me! You don't know what she is...ow! Ow!>
Triss groaned. Things were really getting out of claw here. The last
thing she needed was for Grashnor to go running off at the mouth and
tell her Bohoc how she'd embarrassed herself by getting into a scuffle
with a wilder!
[Um...maybe if he would promise to go away and never come back, we
should let him go?] She sent along with this the clear feeling that,
having experienced Bohoc's wrath at firsthand, Grashnor was unlikely
to
come looking for trouble again!
Bohoc eased up on his pounding of the young male, though keeping him
pinned where he was, and he asked him, <If I let you go, will you
swear
never to come here again?>
<Well...all right...> Grashnor grumbled quietly, hoping the others
wouldn't overhear.
<What? I don't think I heard you,> Bohoc stated.
<All right...>
<I am sure that my lovely Trissana did not hear you! Say it again.
Louder!> Bohoc commanded.
Grashnor cleared his throat. <Having accomplished what I came here to
do, I will now leave this place!> he said a bit louder.
[I don't think he ever apologized to me.] Triss reminded Bohoc.
Bohoc pushed the blue's nose into the dirt and growled, <Apologize!
You
tell Trissana that you are sorry for scaring her and trying to take
away
her buck.>
<I didn't...ow...scare..ow...okay, I..ow...apologize....> he said this
quietly enough that these two were the only ones who would hear, or so
he hoped.
Bohoc looked at Triss, <He apologized... should I let him up now?>
[Oh...I suppose so,] she said, lowering her head to just above that of
the wilder. [Just you remember what would happen to you if you came
back!]
Bohoc stepped back and let the wilder up. Before either of them knew
it, the wilder had whirled around and leaped for the side of the pens.
He grabbed Triss' kill and then, for good measure, Bohoc's as well.
He
sprang aloft, carrying his prizes off with him.
<See how I have managed to take the slave-dragons' kills right from
under their noses!> he gloated loudly enough that every dragon in the
Nomadlands must have heard.
[Well, the nerve of him!] Trissana snorted, watching him go. Then she
leaned down to nuzzle Bohoc. [You were soooo brave!] she said
admiringly.
Bohoc watched the blue dragon and snorted, <Pathetic, wasn't he?> But
he preened under Triss's compliments. <Shall I fetch you another
snack?> He eyed the compound mentally selecting the nicest beast for
her.
[That would be wonderful of you,] she said, batting her eyelids
coquettishly at him and giving him an affectionate nuzzle.
Bohoc happily replaced Trissana's snack which had been so rudely
interrupted. He looked out toward the hills, which had been his home
for the first few years of his life, and he was again grateful that he
had found Andahar. Otherwise he might have ended up as pathetic as
that
young blue had been, well, perhaps not. Imagine stealing food! He
had
never needed to do that, even before he'd moved to the warren. He
certainly was a much better hunter than that. He imagined that dragon
would probably even eat carrion! He shuddered at the thought, but
couldn't help but share that with Triss, sending it a bit loudly, sure
that other dragons in the area would hear him: <Imagine eating
carrion!
I bet that Grashnor would!>
She snorted with laughter. [Since he's carrion himself, would that
make
him a cannibal?] She then looked over at Bohoc. [There is more than
enough here, if you'd like to sit next to me and share...]
Bohoc hadn't been very hungry when he'd come out there, but he'd
worked
up a bit of an appetite, and sitting with Triss and sharing a nice
fat,
juicy, buck was one of the nicest things he could think of doing. So
he
cuddled up beside his sweet, gentle Trissana and took a bite off of
the
fresh carcass. He sighed contentedly as he chewed.
---
Summary
Day 6
Afternoon
Bohoc follows Triss to the feeding pens where he is confronted by
Grashnor. Thinking to protect Triss from this "Bully," Bohoc finds
himself caught in the middle of an odd conflict. Finally settling the
matter, Bohoc and Triss send Grashnor packing... though he does take
the
two slain herd beasts with him. After watching him leave, Bohoc
retrieves another juicy buck, and Triss and Bohoc settle down for a
more
pleasant snack.
---
Respectfully submitted by:
John Pepper
as Trissana
(and Grashnor)
~ and ~
Arlene Jacobs
as Bohoc.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
To Join World Weavers, visit: http://www.worldweavers.net/
Only members of WorldWeavers Worlds should post to this list. To post
messages to this group, send email to WeaversFiction@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
|
