OOC: Tags to
@allthekingsmen
The massive paws of the dragon bird trampled through the hot sands, kicking up a trail of golden dust in their wake as bird and rider seemed to be racing the blood red colors of the rising sun. A second trail of dust was heralded from the jackal hound whose paws tore into the sands without remorse. The rider's wild, moon-white hair carried like a wild flag in his wake, a whooping laughter carrying across the wide expanse of dessert as far as forever. Or so it felt as a surge of wild, unrepressed pride swelled within the young man, whose strong calves goaded the dragon bird faster, and faster still until the dessert dusts mingled with the heavier stones of the canyon valley. Then up he rode, along the craggy and narrow path, stones and pebbles toppling in his climb, hound on his heels and sun at his back before he made his way to the plateau and raced towards the precipice.
There, the sun continued up and up, a sparkling star of threaded gold light peaking over the plateau, stretching the shadows of the lands to wicked lengths. The jackal-dog barked, having caught up to the heels of the bird beast with is, it's tongue lolling excitedly as the rider peered down with a coy grin.
"You haven't won just yet, 'Ruubis!" The young man called through a laugh. But as the end of the plateau was pulling near, A'ruubis, his black and gold coated jackal of a dog, turned suddenly into the dry brush, kicking up dust and carcass of seeds. The man was taken aback as he pulled slightly on the reins.
"Woah now.." his blue eyes cut through void of brambles that stretched on for miles around them, with tall, near skeletal trees clinging to the shadows the sun was slowly wiping away. Where was that beast going? Did he get distracted and forget this was a race? But the rider should have known better, his beast was almost cockier than he- and before he realized what his crazy dog was up to, a sudden flock of -
"What the- DESERT PEACOCKS!?"
A hurdle of gold and blue plumes assaulted him, the pheasant clucking of the birds roused by the sudden growling bark of a vicious jackal hound sent them to flight- and right into the dragon-bird rider's face. With a shout, he yanked the reins as the barrage of birds seemed unending and once the cacophony of chaos subsided, Pheonix Estaglave was standing there, more feathers in his clothes and hair than usual (same for his bird!) as he was spitting them out with great disgust.
"Oh Hakeshna's name- is that peacock shit on my hair!?" And as he examined more..." And my..
clothes... Arrrgh! Ar'ruubis!" he shouted, shaking one angered fist as his dog stood triumphantly against the full birth of the rising sun on the great Sheshpi plateau.
And as promised, Phen sat with legs dangling over the edge of the great plateau, dried meats and seeds in hand- hand feeding his triumphantly victorious dog- who ate every last scrap.
"Weren't even gonna leave crumbs for me."
Phen turned to Seskah, his faithful mount and gave her breast feathers a ruffling scratching. She cooed and nuzzled his side and he conceded, fetching more seed from his pouch for her to peck.
"Guess it's bird seed again," he went on, chewing on his own handful with an unheaved sigh.
Sunrise over the desert was beautiful- but Sheshpi plateau had one of the most breath taking views of it. It wasn't easily accessible, the trail winding all the way to the top was indeed, trecherous- but the young man had traversed it so many times in the past year or so he knew each trick spot blindly. Even though he lost the race, the reward of the view was something else. The way the colors bled into the world, across the deserts, across the sands and plateaus, and forced the snaking Niafi river below to flow as if gold...
"Not sure if words can describe it, but..." Phen went on, chewing dryly on another mouthful of seed. "Bird seed sucks." Seskah purred a coo, and he pet the top of her head and offered her another palmful of seed, whcih the greedy Ar'ruubis poked his big nose into and helped gobble up.
"Hey now! Back off beast!" Pheonix reprimanded with a laugh. But he couldn't
actually be made at his dog, and gave a ruffle to his pointed ears before dropping onto his back and just let himself enjoy the fresh heat of the day. In a few hours, he'd have to seek shelter. For now...
The day.. the heat.. the company... was perfect.
The hour had passed and the dragon rider guided his beasts down the front end trail, making his way across the growing hot sands and towards the banks of the Niafi. He was still a decent distant away from the delta, where the fresh, cool waters emptied into the wide open sea. Ships and boats were already meandering through the harbors with a purpose, and he took note of some of the more foreign styled vessels before he let himself simply drop into the river waters.
Ar'ruubis barked a few times before he jumped into the water with a splash to join him. Pheonix laughed, white hair plastered down his head and because of it's great lenght, the extra carried out into the lengths of the deeper water like velvet white snakes upon the water. The dog paddeled around his master with a few excited yips, while the dragon bird pecked at the fresh waters to quench it's thirst. But then it's head jerked up suddenly, as did the ears of the jackal dog.
Phen's eyes followed theirs towards the horizon. It was far enough away it wasn't a direct threat... but lone figures in the desert were always something to raise caution. Pheonix groaned.
"The ladies can never leaves a man alone," he wallowed, and made his way back onto the bank and shook off beside his dog - like a dog, as fingers scratched and shook wildly into his hair to get most of the water out, before he tossed it back- and the beads and feathers and tiny little braids all clattered down along his back side in one regal sweep.
"Well, looks like it's time to get back to work." And so with that, Pheonix Estaglave packed up his things and beasts and began to make his way towards the bustling harbor. He wasn't in much of a hurry. He'd have to be in the city of Essyrn by nightfall, but the harbor was the ideal place for a haggle. And because he wasn't in much of a hurry, the walk took him over an hour before the assault of the sea smells and activity assaulted all of his senses.
So many congregated here- those planning to spend the day relaxing on the beaches, those who came to port, pulling in cargo ships and cargo with people of every walk of life-
Although Essyrnis dominanted any foreigners, it was still a colorful scene. And as Pheonix made his way down the scrawling rivering path of docks, he noted a particularly unique ship coming into port as he guided Seskah and his dog along.
The Black Torch looked like it was meant for exploring of the deep sea. Dreamily, he considered the life of a seamen, traveling to far and distant, exotic locations to men unknown. But then Ar'ruubis was barking and drew his attention away.
" 'Rubes, what you yapping for, huh? No one wants to hear you bark," he told him firmly, but the dog wasn't listening, and took off suddenly onto the docks. " 'Ru..!" Pheonix growled. "Ar'ruubis! Get your jackal-tailed ass back here!" He really didn't want to have to chase his dog, who decided, most annoyingly, to be unruly and disappeared behind a series of workers and crates.
Pulling Seskah along by her reigns, Pheonix called out for his dog and disappeared into the bustling crowd himself.
