@MadEmperor Continued from here (http://www.spiritsoftheearth.net/smf/index.php?topic=27076.0)
River raised a hand to hail the approaching dragons as she and Kahroan came in for a landing. As they got closer, she realized that two of the smaller beasts--though "smaller" was truly a relative term--bore riders, while the third did not. Both dragonriders wore the typical half-plate of the Adelan military.
Raising her voice, she called, "We're setting down! We don't want any trouble!" Lowering her voice a bit, she added for Kahroan, "You getting anything from those other dragons?"
"Not through beastspeak anyway. They don't smell agitated, at least--and did I really just say that? I guess that's a thing I do now."
Kahroan landed in an empty field, making no sudden moves that would make him appear as a threat.
The riders landed just out of breath range. "Hail and well met, travelers." The voice of the senior rider was polite, but suspicious, ready to take action if need be. "May I ask the purpose of your visit?"
"Hail and we'll met," River replied quickly as she scrambled down from Kahroan's back. "We're...well, it's something of a long story, but ah... Basically, my mate and I are hoping to do some research into dragon magic."
She paused, started to realize how that might sound, then introduced them quickly: "My name is River Longfang, and this is Kahroan of the Longfang pack. He's—well—it's complicated."
Kahroan cut in. "The gist is--well... I was born human, you see, and know little about what comes instinctually to natural dragons."
The rider climbed down and approached River. "Ah. And, of course, you thought of Adela. For who else understands dragons as we do, correct?"
"Yes, exactly," River responded, relieved that they seemed to have been met amiably.
The rider who had approached them nodded, clearly considering. "We can give you an escort over the city walls," he decided after a few moments. "You'll likely need to stay near the barracks--we don't have many other places in the city proper that cater to dragons."
"That should do fine, thank you." River dipped into a quick half bow, not entirely sure of the protocol but simply relieved that they didn't seemed to have caused too much of a stir.
Kahroan bobbed his head in a psuedo-bow, sighing with relief. "You have my thanks as well."
He looked to the riderless dragon circling above them. "Is that one with you?"
"Aye, she is. New recruit, of sorts. Come. We'll show you passed the walls."
"Right, yes. Thank you." River dipped her head again, then hurried climbed back up to settle herself on Kahroan's shoulders as the two Adelan dragonriders mounted up as well.
They took to the air, circling with the riderless dragon for a moment before soaring back out toward the city proper.
Not long after, Kahroan touched down in an open area inside the barracks. He looked around at all the dragons with wonder, having never seen so many in one place. Seeing their size gave him a new appreciation for how large he had become. And smelling so many stirred an unfamiliar prideful instinct to dominate that he had to fight to keep in check.
After River dismounted, he looked at her anxiously. "Gods... I really am a dragon in all but spirit..."
River gave him a sympathetic look, moving to his head so she could reach up and cup the very tip of his muzzle in her hands. "We'll find someone to help you here," she promised softly.
The riderless dragon who had accompanied them into the city touched down not far away and cocked her head at them curiously--at least, River was assuming the dragon was a "her"--she'd heard one of their escorts call her "Azalea", which seemed like an...oddly soft name for a dragon.
"You're a half-dragon?" The slender, icy white creature asked curiously, and despite the echoing thrum that accompanied most dragon's voices, she still seemed...soft-spoken. She was barely half Kahroan's size, if that, and she looked even smaller when she sat back on her haunches and wrapped her whip-like tail gracefully around herself.
"All dragon, but I was one for a while." Kahroan grew sheepish, which looked rather comical on a creature his size. "I... sort of got myself transformed into this by a magic object. I used to be human."
"I'm hoping I can learn to change forms like other dragons. I just don't know yet how to be a dragon, let alone perform magic."
The smaller dragon snorted, surprised, and cocked her head the other way. "Huh. Well, that's..."
She seemed to be about to say something, then shook her head, glancing away. "I don't know many dragon-shifters. Usually that's an ability reserved to dragons and half-dragons. But..."
She hesitated, then offered, "There was a woman here yesterday, a scholar. She might be able to help you."
"I mean, technically I am a dragon now, so that would be great." Kahroan looked to her with gratitude. "Any help at all is appreciated."
"Where might we find this scholar?" he asked hopefully.
"I think she's staying at an inn nearby; she said something about planning to come visit again--"
"Cadet! You're needed in the front yard!"
Azalea winced and shot them a sympathetic look. "Sorry, I have to go. Ask for...Ally-something. Alya, maybe. No! Alleaya. Ask for Alleaya."
She dipped her head to them, then turned and trotted away toward the officer that was summoning her.
Kahroan nudged River gently with his nose. "Go. Find her. I'll be fine here. Who knows, maybe I'll even make a dragon friend."
Obviously he'd miss his mate, but they couldn't realistically be together every hour of every day even if it was tempting. Besides, he couldn't go with her into the city as he was now. That was exactly why they were in Ketra
"Are you sure?" She frowned, though she knew he made a good point. "I don't like the idea of leaving you alone..."
Of course, he wasn't really alone. The barracks were teeming with dragons and riders alike. And they had been offered an escort in, so they were clearly guests; chances were he would be perfectly fine.
The dragon smiled softly with his eyes. "I'll miss you too, Riv. But I'm sure. I'm probably safer here than anywhere. I'm even protected by Adelan law."
He nuzzled her. "I'm more worried about you in the city alone, but we can both take care of ourselves... yes?"
"Of course." She kissed the side of his muzzle quickly, then stepped back. "I'll see if I can find this scholar that other dragon was talking about. I'll be back soon."
She gave him a last quick pat, then turned to make her way out of the barracks, pausing briefly to speak with an officer about directions before making her way into the city proper.
By the time she had returned, with or without the scholar, Kahroan had become enamored with the flight exercises of the military dragons. Part of him longed to fly with such precision and skill. He wasn't sure if it was the human part or the dragon part.
Looking away from the sky, he was struck by the idea that both parts were happy to see his rid--his mate.
Well that's something to unpack later, he thought to himself.
It took her a few hours, but River managed to track down this scholar who had been visiting the Adelan dragonriders. After another hours of explanations—or at least attempted explanations—she convinced Alleaya to return to the barracks with her.
"I'm not sure how much help I'll actually be, but I'm happy to try," the young alchemist was saying as River led her back onto the training grounds. "Honestly, you have no idea how fascinating this is in my field—people who do what I do have been trying to unlock human-to-dragon shapeshifting for generations, but..."
She trailed off as Kahroan came into view. "Oh! Um, hello!"
Kahroan bobbed his head in a bow of greeting. "Hello to you. Allaeya, yes? I don't know how River explained it to you, but I hope we can help each other. Even though I didn't shift into this form entirely by choice or by my own means."
"Yes, well." Alleaya gave him a qucik, bright smile. "We have something in common there, you and I."
Ignoring River's questioning look, she pulled out a notepad from the satchel she wore slung over her shoulder and looked up at the dragon. "So. Miss River here tells me you were...cursed. But you're not anymore?"
Kahroan glanced at River, equally perplexed. "Maybe? I'm not actually sure. The offending object released its grip on my mind as soon as I fully accepted the transformation. As for whether it's maintaining this or not, I couldn't tell you."
"It's funny, though, that if it wasn't for getting cursed, I might never have met the woman I love in the first place."
"Well, that's sweet," Alleaya murmured as she jotted down notes, sounding more than a little distracted. She began tapping the end of her--presumably enchanted--fountain pen against her lip. "You see, it's strange--dragons taking a human form is rare, but not unheard of, and most half dragons will either be born with or learn the ability over the course of their lives. But someone born purely human to take on a draconic shape...it's not the typical sort of shapeshifting. I actually know of only one other such case."
She shot a look up at him, mouth twisted to one side in what might have been sympathy. "And my own experience was...very different. And entirely of my own foolish doing."
The dragon blinked, suddenly understanding her earlier comment. "You--but you look human enough to me."
With some hope, he asked, "Does that mean you figured out how dragons change shape? It, at least, seems more likely than becoming truly human again."
"Oh, I do now," Alleaya chuckled, though there was an edge to the sound. With another sympathetic look, she added, "And I...I found some work-arounds. I'm afraid I can't promise anything, but I can tell you what has helped me."
Kahroan gave his mate a look that she recognized as cautious optimism. "What sort of workarounds? I had no magic as a human, so I have no idea how to access the power I absorbed from that accursed gem."
"Something else we have in common then." Always gave him another quick smile before she began pacing a wide circle around him, still hitting down notes. "Head to shoulders...approximate wingspan...haunches to tail..."
Pausing on the other side of him, she pursed her lips and said firmly, "I'll do what I can, but I'll be honest with you: I don't even have a great handle on my own condition all the time. But, seeing as you seem to have...accepted this magic, that may actually give you a leg up."
She started rummaging through her satchel as she continued, "I'm an alchemist, which is how I got my...abilities. But yours seem to be purely magical in origin."
The dragon squirmed. All the attention to his anatomy gave him a fresh reminder of his nudity. "I didn't have much of a choice but to accept or see everything I loved destroyed."
He gave her a curious look. "I didn't know alchemy could do such a thing."
"Then again, I wasn't aware magic could really change one's species until recently."
"It can't." She sighed and scratched at her cheek with the end of her pen. "Usually. My mother was especially talented in that regard."
She began chewing on the end of her pen. "I'll have to adjust the formula...and whatever I give you will be experimental at best." She looked between River and Kahroan. "Is that a risk you are willing to take?"
River looked to her mate; it was his choice, ultimately.
"A potion? Won't that just change me to something else the hard way all over again?" Kahroan was afraid of going through that pain again. Even for love, it was hard to immediately accept. "I had been hoping to use what this body should be able to do."
He hoped that he was misunderstanding what she meant. He wanted more than anything to be able to hold River again, but this--this was a hard choice.
"Well..." The alchemist paused, considering. "I was going to give you the same potion I've used to kick-start my transformations back to human—but I suppose it might not be necessary for you, seeing as you took this shape through non-alchemical means." She tapped one finger against her bottom lip.
"Maybe...we could try the exercise first without the potion, and see where that gets us," she offered with a shrug.
Kahroan relaxed a little. A little embarrassed by his fear, he gave the alchemist a grateful nod. "Yes, please."
"I don't expect it to be easy, but I'd rather have the chance to take human form without resorting to experimental potions. I've had... enough of having my body change without its permission for one lifetime."
Alleaya's eyes went tight, and she nodded. "Believe me, that is something I understand all too well."
She sighed, ruffling her own hair with one hand as she seemed to think. "Very well. But you'll likely want some privacy. Quite aside from how...intense this can be, I assume you're not wearing much under those scales."
River winced, chuckling a little awkwardly. "Yeah. Guess Gerta's work wouldn't have held up against...all this."
Kahroan winced in time with his mate. "Yeah, I'm... pretty sure there are enchanted rags scattered across the Kilanthros by now."
"I could fly us out of town somewhere? I doubt there's anywhere private in a military base, not in my size."
River nodded at the idea, though Alleaya looked a little awkward. "Well...yes, I suppose that is the best option," she admitted with an exhale. "If that's, ah, alright with you?"
River was already swinging herself up into place on Kahroan's back, very familiar with the practice by now. She crooked a smile and held a hand down to the nervous alchemist. "I don't believe you've never flown before, ser."
Alleaya huffed. "Well, of course I have, but not on someone else."
"I'll be fine. I'm big." Kahroan chuckled. Once the alchemist was in place, he took off.
"Okay, so what do I need to do?" He asked anxiously as he looked around the secluded glade in which they found themselves.
Alleaya had paced the circumference of the glade twice before nodding to herself. "Serrah River, you may want to wait at the edge of the glade."
She looked to Kahroan, worrying her lower lip. "Alright. So. This never worked for me before I had...found other ways of transforming back. Potions and the like. But since the origin of your shape is not alchemical, perhaps you will not need that extra push." She tapped one foot. "First, it's...well. It's like a meditation. Clear your mind. Close your eyes, if that helps."
The dragon closed his eyes and breathed out slowly. Meditation had never come naturally to him; there were always too many intrusive worries. Even now, fears of failure tried to dig their claws into his mind. Luckily, his strong desire to hold his mate acted as a shield against these nagging thoughts.
When his mind was finally clear, he nodded. He was ready for the next step.
"Okay. Now." Alleaya was frowning, clearly working through her own thoughts as she spoke. "For me...what I found allowed me to begin to change, after the catalyst of the potion, was...acceptance, I suppose. I didn't want the dragon, but I'll admit I enjoy her power. You said you embraced yours to protect the people you care about--those people are safe now. Accept that. Accept that you no longer need that power. Let it go."
She paused, then added a little softer, "It is a sacrifice, especially for people like us. It is difficult to know if we will be able to have that power again, once we let it go. But you have to trust."
Kahroan focused on her voice, considering her words with his heart and soul rather than his mind. The power was now his, not that of the brooch. He just had to let it sink beneath the surface.
Frost gathered on his scales as his magical power began to gather. Slowly, a faint blue light shone from his body. But then a sudden tingle broke his concentration, and the effect vanished.
"Damnit! I was doing it, wasn't I?" he asked, disappointed but hopeful.
"I think so," Alleaya replied encouragingly. "Give it another go; I've found it's helpful to have a--a touchstone of sorts. I use my mother's journal." Her hand fluttered to her satchel seemingly on reflex. "I touch it, if I can, or just hold it in my mind while I try to change."
"I traded my touchstone for the cursed brooch that started this." The dragon sighed regretfully. "But, now I have River and her pack. So, who needs an heirloom?"
He had never told River what it was that he traded away. A family heirloom was a very unlikely thing for a Yoreiqi family to even have. But he had told her he wasn't the typical sort.
He kept the Longfang cabin in his mind as he, again, closed his eyes. The frost returned, and soon the glow. Slowly, his form was obscured at began to shrink. The process slowed as he reached his half-dragon size, until stalling shortly thereafter.
The icy shell shattered and he collapsed to the ground. Most of what the women could see was covered in dark skin, a faintly blue scale pattern under the skin. He still possessed draconic wings and a tail, his arms were scaled from the elbows down and his legs were still entirely draconic. They couldn't see his face yet, hidden by his blue-streaked white hair. He did, however, have short horns.
River had been trying to keep herself quiet and out of the way while Kahroan did his work, but when he collapsed she darted forward. "Kah?"
"He may be disoriented," Alleaya warned, keeping her distance. "Go gently."
River nodded and slowed, then knelt a few paces away from him. "Kahroan? How—how do you feel?"
"St-str-strange." His voice was strange, as if it just speaking was difficult after so long with a muzzle. He looked at her with slitted, almost-human eyes that weren't quite used to seeing from the front of his face. "I... I did it, di-didn't I?"
He looked at his hands. "Well, a-almost."
"Oh..."
River blinked, as he looked up and it abruptly occurred to her that, well—other than when they'd first met, it was the most human she'd ever seen him.
"But look at you," she whispered with a slowly spreading smile. "Kah, that—that was amazing! Did it—are you hurt?"
Kah shook his head as he got to a seated position. "I fee-feel... I feel the wind on my sk-skin." He smiled, feeling his human face for the first time in months. It wasn't exactly the same, but almost.
Yoreiqi weren't exactly averse to nudity, but he suddenly covered himself with his hands as he remembered he was naked and very human where it counted. "Pants. In my p-pack."
"Right!" River quickly scrambled over to their packs and dug out a change of clothes before darting back to him.
Alleaya, who was all too familiar with the potential embarrassments of shapeshifting, had turned her back the moment it seemed Kahroan was getting roughly human shaped.
"That was very impressive," she told the glade, a hint of envy in her voice. "This magic must truly be yours now."
The shirt had a bullet hole in it, but it was clean, which was good enough for the moment. He eventually stood, dressed and feeling like a person again. The enchantment even made them fit.
"It seems so," he responded with a smile. "I'll have to work on it, but I'm surprised I accomplished this much so quickly."
"Thank you, so very much."
Alleaya shook her head, risking a glance back to smile at him once he was dressed. "Oh, don't thank me. You hardly needed my help at all."
"Really though." River smiled at her and dipped into a quick, grateful bow. "Thank you. If you ever need anything..."
Alleaya chuckled. "I'll keep you in mind, serrah."
"I'd offer you a ride back to town, but I'm hardly ready to try going the other direction." Kah chuckled apologetically. "At least let us walk you to the outskirts."
The man was anxious to be alone with River now that he could truly feel her touch. But manners were manners, and they had to show proper gratitude.
"No. Really." Alleaya's smile seemed caught somewhere between wistful and playful, even as she gave them a knowing look. "I'm sure the two of you would like to...catch up, as it were."
She winked, then turn and strolled out of the glade, waving at them over her shoulder.
River found herself standing very still, Kahroan's pack in one hand as she tried not to stare at him.
"Well. She—you..." She laughed a little awkwardly. "It's—it's good to see you..."
"It's good to see you with what are almost my own eyes." Kah chuckled, smiling as he reached up to cup her cheek. "Not quite my human hands, though."
In the short time she had seen his human face before, he had never looked this happy. It was like he was a different person entirely. It suited him much better.
River leaned into his hand in her cheek with a happy rumble in her chest, reaching up to cup her hand around his.
"I missed this," she breathed. "I—I missed you."
He stroked her cheek with his thumb, somehow still rumbling contentedly.
"I have been wanting to do this for a very long time." He leaned in close and kissed her, really kissed her, for the first time. He was a little awkward at it, but passionate.
River rocked up onto her toes to kiss him back, letting both hands drift up to frame his face as she pressed closer. "I love you," she told him softly in between kisses. "I--I would love you no matter your shape. You know that, right?"
And she meant it. Though she couldn't deny that she had missed the ability to hold him, to be held in turn.
"I do," he replied between his own kisses, "And I love you too, no matter yours."
"But this way I can feel the softness of your skin on mine."
She nodded a little frantically, running her hands over his arms, his shoulders, his back, just so relieved to be able to touch him again--or touch him for the first time, as the case may be.
Gods, that might take some getting used to.
She chuckled quietly and pulled away long enough to nuzzle her nose against his. "We--we should probably--" She swallowed, trying to force her heart to slow. "We should...see if we can find an inn or something. If--If we keep going like this..."
With great reluctance, he pulled back from her. "Y-yes, an inn... is a good idea."
The following morning, they exited an inn in a small town not far from Ketra. Outside was a rather full bounty board that the lovers had been too enamored to notice on the way in. Kahroan stopped to look at it thoughtfully, remembering the early days when they fell for each other.
River was too focused on acquiring some form of breakfast to really notice the board at first, though when Kahroan paused she glanced back at him. Linking her arm through his as she moved to his side, she cocked her head and looked over the jobs advertised.
"See anything interesting?"
"Just reminiscing." Kah smiled from the nostalgia. "Though we will need more coin until I get the hang of shifting back and forth. Besides, I just want to enjoy this shape for a while longer before I try."
"I'm glad." She smirked and rocked up to kiss his cheek, adding playfully, "I'm enjoying it too."
She dropped back onto her heels and read a few of the postings, "hmmm"ing with consideration. "We could definitely use the coin... I wonder if there's any job that would point us back north—I don't work in Adela often."
Kah smiled as he studied the board with her. His eyes locked on one in particular.
Quote from: PosterWanted!
50 Silver Crowns
Einrond Validor - Half-Elf
Wanted for murder and banditry.
Last seen operating near Riverglen.
"That's... uh... quite the bounty. He must be dangerous. Or angered someone with disposable income." He seemed perplexed by something. "How has nobody taken this already?"
River frowned at the poster. "In my experience...that usually means everyone who's tried either gave up, or didn't make it back to collect the reward," she said softly.
Kahroan frowned. "Maybe something less risky then. We don't need a big payday."
He went back to looking, overlooking the fact that the others probably didn't have a dragon with them.
"Maybe..." River considered, nodding her head from side to side. "But—well, it doesn't hurt to have the extra coin. And if we decide the job is too dangerous we can always drop it—they're not asking for a contract."
She bumped her shoulder into his lightly. "Up to you, but I do rather think we have an edge on most solo bounty hunters. Aside from the fact that there's two of us," she chuckled.
"Oh?" Kahroan looked at her, puzzled for a moment before he smirked. "Oh! Right, dragon."
He chuckled awkwardly. "Let's do it. We'll have to take the slow way. But if we get impatient, I can start learning how to shift back and forth."
The man gently leaned against her, rumbling lovingly. "Slow is all I want right now. "
She grinned and trenched out to lace her fingers through his with one hand, snatching the poster from the board with the other. "Slow seems just fine to me."
Her stomach grumbled and she laughed. "Slow, and maybe some breakfast. Let's see if anyone around here is making anything good." They could gather more information on the job while they were at it.
Closer to Ketra, they found a classier tavern than the one attached to the inn, but not so classy that they couldn't find some information on the job. According to the man behind the bar, Validor was a notorious bandit terrorizing the road between Riverglen and Serendipity that passed through Draconi Forest with his nameless gang. Several bounty hunters had never taken the job but none returned. Even a team of three wasn't enough. He recommended expanding their party, even if Kahroan claimed to be a full-on dragon.
"Validor certainly sounds like a nasty character, especially if that information has made its way all the way over to Ketra."
"Mmm." River nodded as she turned over the new information in her mind. "Do you think we should spend the time trying to find a proper team?"
Before Kahroan, she had most often worked alone; she didn't oppose the idea of a team on principle, but bounty hunters tended to be a...suspicious lot. At the best of times. It was difficult to form lasting relationships.
Kah made a thoughtful sound. "With that reward, we'll probably come across someone on the way. Unless you have the connections in Ketra we'd need to find someone."
He didn't actually know much about how bounty hunters found each other. Was there a guild? Did they just randomly bump into each other?
She shook her head. "I don't work in Adela enough to have any real contacts here. Seems like we need to do some recon."
She tapped her fingers against the table. "And it probably wouldn't hurt to stock up on some decent gear... After all, if we're going to find tools for a dragon to use anywhere, it's here, right?"
"Right." He nodded, rumbling thoughtfully. "And I did lose my spear."
He grinned excitedly. "Besides, I've never been to Ketra. The barracks hardly count."
"Honestly, I've really only ever spent time in the city outskirts." She matched his smile. "Well. I suppose we'd better be off soon--I'm sure we'll be able to find a few people interested in splitting the reward."
Once in the city, Kahroan found himself awestruck by the sheer number of people filling the streets. He had stuck to the coast, and even Cerenis paled in comparison to the grandeur of a national capitol. It was a fresh jolt of culture shock to the islander, who had been raised in a small village in a small nation. It wouldn't surprise him in the least if the entire population of Yoreiq could fit in Ketra with room to spare.
"How... How can there be so many people?" he asked, eyes wide.
River chuckled, feeling the culture shock second-hand; she has been just as startled the first time she entered a large human city—Reajh, in her case.
"Search me. I've never understood how people can stand living on top of one another like this." Despite how big her family was, her home had never felt crowded to her in the way cities did. There was always space to run in the mountains, even if the house itself was filled to the seams.
"It's almost obscene." He said it almost disbelievingly. After his few months at the pack cabin, he felt much the same way as his mate. "I'll be happy when we conclude our business and get back under the open sky."
"Should we go to an armorer or a weaponsmith first? Though a spear is less important as I have these claws, not to mention there's no enchantment I know of to keep one with me when I shift."
"Perhaps we should find someone who caters to your, ah, specific requirements?" River suggested after a moment of thought. "If anyone is likely to know how to kit out a dragon shifter, it'd be an Adelan smith, right?"
"Right." He nodded, feeling foolish for not thinking of that. Though he supposed he was still very new to dragonhood. "That makes sense."
That was the most appealing thing about large cities—there was no shortage of businesses serving specific needs. It took them a while, but eventually they found an armorer and enchanter who did work for shifting dragons. The bell above the door made a cheery sound as the couple made their way inside.
The apprentice at the counter couldn't be more than sixteen. He hopped to his feet and stepped out to greet them with excited eyes. "Welcome! The smith is working the forge at present, but I can help you. Except with, you know, actually making you something." He chuckled nervously. "You... look like the type to be here for a custom job."
River glanced at her might with a sideways smile at the boy's observation. "I suppose you do, love," she chuckled good-naturedly. Looking back to the apprentice, she added, "How often do you...do this sort of work I'll admit we're a bit...inexperienced in this department."
"Master Frex has been doing custom jobs for dragons and half-dragons for thirty years. He's one himself. A half-dragon, that is. So you're in good hands." The boy was very excited to be working there. Either he had a passion for smithing, or for dragons.
"So... uh, ser, are you half or all dragon?" he asked nervously.
Kah chuckled lightly at the boy's nervous enthusiasm. "I'm a dragon. It's just that I'm new to changing shape."
"Excellent. What kind of equipment are you looking for? A ventral plate to protect your more vulnerable underside? A neck guard? Perhaps some tail armor for both defense and offense? All with shifting enchantments to make them useful in any form you take."
Kahroan thought it over, looking at his mate with a question in his eyes. "What do you think? Chest armor, yes, but should we go for more? I doubt we have the coin for much else."
River "hmmm"ed quietly as she considered. "We could always at least get your measurements for something else--even if we don't get it now, if this job pays off it could be something we come back for," she suggested after a moment.
The smith's apprentice was clearly trying not to eavesdrop, but there was only so much the boy could do. He did nod eagerly at her suggestion, then seemed to catch himself and stopped, going a little red.
Kahroan nodded in agreement. "That sounds sensible enough." He turned to the boy. "The chest plate it is. Along with getting my measurements. I'm no older than I look, if that helps."
The apprentice nodded quickly. "Then follow me. We have a space out back big enough for any dragon your age."
"Oh. You need my dragon measurements." He sighed and gave River a disappointed look. "I guess that would make sense, wouldn't it?"
She smiled a little sadly at him and reached up to lay her hand lightly against his cheek. "It'll be alright," she told him quietly. "You don't have to do this if you don't want to--but I know you'll be alright." She gave him a quick peck on the cheek before stepping back with another encouraging smile. "You've done it before. I know you can do it again."
Kahroan exhaled slowly to calm himself and nodded to the apprentice. "After you."
The boy introduced himself as Vosh as he escorted them to a large courtyard. There were several large contraptions around the periphery, which he explained were used to measure dragons. He then gave the two a private moment.
Kahroan made a thoughtful noise. "Do you think the enchantments on these clothes will hold up any better with an intentional shift?"
"Maybe," River mused. "Magic can be finicky like that, with half the time your intention mattering just as much as what you put into practice—and I do think your shifts are magical. Dragon magic, but magic all the same."
She straightened out the shoulders of her shirt and looked up at him, eyes soft. "I promise you can do this," she told him quietly, worried he may still be anxious about the shift itself. "Just remember what Alleaya said, about anchoring yourself." She smiled and reached up to card her fingers through his hair gently. "And I'll be right here, okay? The whole time—or as long as you want me."
Kahroan smiled as confidently as he could. "Keep your fingers crossed for me then."
He kissed her before making some room. Closing his eyes, he visualized his dragon form, clearing his mind of everything but intent. This time, the frost covered his clothes before the glow covered him. He grew rapidly, falling onto all fours as his neck lengthened.
The magical shell shattered and faded away, leaving the dragon that was Kahroan. The clothes seemed to have taken the form of a colorful band around the base of his neck. "That was much easier the second time."
River nodded at him, beaming with pride clear in her eyes. "It looked smoother," she noted from her place at the edge of the courtyard. Then, with a small smirk, she added, "Though to be entirely fair, I wasn't fully lucid the first time I saw it."
Kahroan felt at the twisted rope of fabric around his neck with one large dragon forepaw. He grinned down at her with a happy rumble. "I even kept the clothes. I think."
The apprentice returned and stared in wonder for a moment. He shook it off and chuckled awkwardly. "Sorry. I've just... never seen a drakarys cryo anywhere but in a book. You're... well, stunning."
River's smile widened and she agreed with not a hint of embarrassment, "Isn't he just?"
Vosh glanced at her, then flushed a bit as he seemed to remember the way they'd acted around each other; neither wolf nor dragon could exactly be accused of hiding their affection particularly well.
Kahroan looked away self-consciously, embarrassed by the praise. "I--err--well, thanks." He coughed. "Ready for the measuring."
Voah hopped to it, guiding Kah over to a pillar covered in evenly spaced lines to measure the dragon's height at the shoulder. He then measured his total length by marking the dirt and measuring that. Then, his neck, legs, and tail. Lastly, the apprentice wheeled a device under Kahroan to measure his chest and belly.
"It's a good thing dragons aren't ticklish." Kah commented, feeling like an artifact in some university or royal museum.
Once most of the finicky measuring devices where out of the way, River moved away from the edge of the courtyard to stand in front of Kahroan, reaching up to him to cup the bottom of his muzzle. "You're doing great," she told him softly. Keeping her voice low enough for the conversation to be relatively private, she asked, "How are you doing? That shift looked smoother, but how did it feel?"
"I'm alright; this is just a little embarrassing." Kah paused, rumbling thoughtfully. "And, yeah, it was smoother and easier. It felt... natural, I suppose? Like stretching a muscle. Is that what it's like for you?"
She grinned and nodded. "Exactly like that. So...it doesn't hurt anymore?"
She had been trying not to focus on it, because it was his body and she didn't want to sound overly protective, but she had been worried about how much pain his initial shift had caused him when he first received the amulet.
It was definitely a relief for him to confirm that shifting no longer caused him that sort of pain. She scratched at the scales under his jaw lightly with one hand and gave the tip of his nose a quick peck.
Kahroan made a low coo. Then, suddenly remembering they weren't alone, he cleared his throat. "N-no. It doesn't hurt anymore."
The apprentice wheeled away the last measuring tool. He smiled apologetically. "Sorry about all the poking and prodding, but we're done with the awkward part. If you'll wait here, I'll go transcribe a copy of those measurements and see if Master Frex is ready to see you."
Vosh left and, once again, the couple was alone.
River smiled and thanked the apprentice before he hurried off, then finally stepped back to give Kahroan a little more room.
"So. About finding a team." She began pacing as she thought aloud. "I don't spend a lot of time in Adela, but there's this place I've heard other hunters talk about, the Randy Peach. Might be as good a place as any to start?"
"With a name like that, this sounds suspiciously like a brothel," he teased, smirking. Yoreiqi were very open, sexually speaking, but something about selling it as a commodity had always felt strange to him. Where was the challenge in that?
River snorted and rolled her eyes at him. "To my understanding, it's a tavern. Though you have a point," she chuckled lightly. "Still--we can't exactly search the barracks, it's not like the military is up for taking on freelance bounty hunter jobs. Or I suppose we could always wait until we're closer to this guy's regular hunting grounds."
Kah chuckled, amused. "No, no, the tavern's a good idea. And I suppose crude names are popular for taverns. Besides, I only have eyes for you anyway."
On that sappy note, a man dressed as a blacksmith, with bright red hair and a dragon's tail, emerged. He was tall and muscular, with a pattern of red scales along his cheekbones and on his forehead. He studied Kahroan with red, slitted eyes and an evaluating gaze.
Satisfied, Frex nodded. "Alright. Let's figure out what exactly you need, aye?"
River rolled her eyes again, despite the hint of color to her cheeks. When the smith appeared, she stepped back a little more to give him room.
"Do you know how long this will take?" she asked the blacksmith quietly. Looking to Kahroan, she added for him, "If you don't mind, I can maybe sneak off and get a few of the more basic supplies we'll need. Rations and such."
"Oh, long enough for an errand or two." Frex chuckled. "For the design process, anyway. The actual smithing normally takes a week, but you caught me with an empty queue, so I could be done in a couple of days."
Kahroan nodded with a quick, affectionate rumble. "Go. I'll be fine."
As soon as she left, the two males started designing the piece and discussing the down payment.
When Kah and Riv exited the smithy, the sun was already low in the sky. In his almost human form, he chuckled as his stomach complained. "We should hunt down that tavern before my stomach decides to eat me from the inside out."
"Gods, thank you," River laughed as she took his arm and leaned companionably into his side for a moment. "I'm starving. I asked around while I was picking up supplies--it's not too far, should be a handful of streets that way." She pointed, guiding them to join the ebb and flow of foot traffic through the city as they made their way to the tavern.
[ OOC: Continued Here (http://www.spiritsoftheearth.net/smf/index.php?topic=27089.0) ]