North again. The desert warrior might have grumbled about that particular duty if she hadn’t been in such a good mood. Scouting was a necessity and in ranks of the Dragon Army and she was the most well-suited for the long-distance task. Still, when she passed over the waters that separated her island from the rest of Helovia, there was always a fear that stirred in the back of her mind. If something were to happen while she was gone, some attack or disaster, she would be caught ignorant and powerless to stop it. That she might one day return to find her home in ruins was a real fear that Megaera had to fight whenever she was away. Today though, she had a welcome distraction.

Little Gwaihir clung to the patch of feathers between the mare’s wings as she sailed them easily through one of their first flights together. The chick was far too young to fly on his own; half the size of her head and still and awkward mess of white downy feathers and stubby-looking wings. He loved to fly though, just as much as Meg did, and she felt his excitement through their bond as easily as she herd it in his delighted little chirrupy noises he made. It was easy when they sailed the sky like this, the presence of her newest little ally gave Meg an emotional tether, that precious little reminder that she was not alone and never would be again.

A flash of gold amongst the trees below caught the scout’s sharp eye, the color and the size together warranting further investigation. A shift of wings and the mare and her companion were slicing between the branches of the canopy, carefully picking their war down to the floor of the Threshold. As she maneuvered their descent, Meg took a careful survey of the scene, catching sight of the mare as she was pulling the golden hide over herself. They landed downstream of the cloaked mare, and meg, assured that there was could be no immediate danger from only one stranger, first glanced back to check that Gwaihir had come though the tricky maneuvering alright. He was indeed a bit flummoxed by the tricky landing, but a quick nuzzle from the soft (if scarred) maw of his mother/friend was enough to reassure him.

When she was sure that the chick was secure, Meg turned to make her jaunty way over to the stranger, stopping still at a respectful distance. “Hello there,” her nod of greeting in amiable enough, but all the while, here sharp eyes move, trying the take in everything about the mare’s appearance. Definitely the most spectacular part is the cloak she wore, formed and shaped in a dragon’s likeness, and looking to be of dragon hide, but the only dragon’s Meg had ever seen were far too small to make such a thing. What she could see of the mare, all black and gold and grey, still held the marks of the traveler, even with the dust of the road recently washed away. Be nice, be nice, be nice! You’re recruiting not picking fights!! and sent the newcomer a smile. “You seem a newcomer to these lands if I’m not wrong. Are you in need of any assistance?” The mare question was punctuated by an impetuous little squawk as the chick peered his curious head around the bay mare’s neck. Baby eagles were not known for their tact.


Notes: -continues to get carried away with baby Gwahir-
”Talk talk talk”