[PRP] A thorny problem (Ender Dragon x Kimiru)

[Revel1984]

x  

[Revel1984]

Kimiru and Ender had been travelling a while before they'd found the valley they were currently settled in. They were spending time at the moment, exploring it's boundaries, making sure they knew every inch of their new territory and so far the only way in that they'd found, was by air, through a mostly hidden gap in the mountain cluster. They'd already decided their own den would be the large rocky outcropping to the north, but not so far north they weren't accessible by the surrounding areas. She had grand plans of expanding this small flight of Dragons that was just her and Endy, she would search out other dragons and, if worthy, bring them here.

Right now they were on foot when Kimiru discovered some plants she had thought were extremely rare, if not extinct, from where she grew up. Some were medicinal, others, just tasty but she had an inkling that there might be something more useful the further she went. She followed the high walls of this edge of the valley "Come on Endy love, i have a good feeling about this" she called to her mate behind her.

(192 words)

Fea Line

 

[Fea Line]

Ender had mostly let Kimiru make all the decisions. He was more the strength, the brawn and the protection of the small herd they had managed to gather and he was in charge of testing the guards to ensure they had what it took to keep the herd safe. Soon, hopefully, there would be heirs to the herd, little whelps running around, learning an growing strong.

For now, however, as his heavy feet tread into the ground beneath him, he followed his mate with but a few grunts of acknowledgement. She knew more about what the herd healers would need and her instincts were usually never wrong. "Lead on." the big beast of a dragon said simply, his tail slithering behind him as his glowing gaze stayed fixated upon the sparkling dragoness before him.

(134)

Revel1984

 

[Revel1984]

She gave her big dragon a nuzzle on the shoulder, more than happy to be affectionate. Lead on she did though stopping short at a small patch of thorned plants. She sniffed them hard and nibbled one of the leaves for a few seconds before spitting it out "I think this is it" It wasn't quite in berry yet so she couldn't be totally sure but it was a mildly poisonous plant, but when chewed or crushed with water, it could be used as a numbing balm among other uses with the thorny stems.

She eyed the area and saw daylight through a gap in the cliff wall "Hmm..." she hurried past the plants and went to go check it out, this could be another entrance... she hoped it was the only other one though. "Come on love, we need to make sure this area is secure"

(147 words)

Fea Line

 

[Fea Line]

Ender paused and watched her cautiously as she chewed on hte plant before spitting it out. Something inside him rose, like an anxiousness he hadn't experienced before and he didn't like it. He thrashed his tail with a grunt to show as much before she seemed to show that she was still alright. He wasn't yet sure what she was on about, she had only briefly explained the presence of a possible flowering plant that could both be deadly or helpful. Ender wasn't sure how that worked at all, as he was more of the brawn than the brains. But he trusted her.

"Hmm." he echoed her but nodded when she motioned for him to follow and took off after her, staying close to protect her from any harm that had potentially been missed along the way. "If it is not secure.... I will secure it." he grunted, and that was a promise.

(153)

Revel1984

 

[Revel1984]

"I'm alright Endy, my mouth is just slightly numb" she reassured him "Great for sore teeth, but the berries are best, just don't swallow it, though i saw an area with some rocks that would make a great area to crush them without needing to chew" she commented as they explored through the gap in the cliff wall

She gently nudged him with her shoulder as he grunted a reply "I know and it's fine while it's just us but our den is quite a way from this area to be able to get here fast enough, even for your strong wings love" The opening was wide, and a few meters deep before they would emerge into a large meadow, it was empty with a small lake, or a large pond, depending on your opinion, off towards the middle. Kimiru tilted her head, looking at the meadow, then looked back at the cliff face, there was more of the thorny plant here, climbing the walls but sparsely. "Hmmm" she mused out loud.

(172 words)

Fea Line

 

[Fea Line]

"Numb?" the large dragon asked. He supposed if any had a mouth sore or tooth ache that would come in handy. "How do we gather more?" he asked. Could they bring some back and plant it around the dens or the healers dens? Or would they have to bring the ill ones here? "Hmm." he grunted again as he slipped past the opening to stand beside his mate, looking out at the meadow and the lake. The entrance was hidden well and Ender's brain began turning. "Other entrance. For the land dragons." he muttered softly to his mate, turning to see if she had approved or not.

As he took a few heavy steps forward, he then noticed the plants growing along the wall, ones like Kimiru had just tested. He turned back towards her with a quizzical glance. "More?" he asked, before nosing towards all the growing. "Could grow around the healers den. Is it hard?" he asked again, realizing the sparsity of the plant. If they could gather enough to grow a plentiful stock for whatever instances would need it, they'd be set. Their little encircled set of caves would become an almost perfect living space with little to desire from the 'outside world.'

(206)

Revel1984

 

[Revel1984]

"mhm" she replied, then turned her head to face him as he continued to speak, she hadn't thought about land dragons, those who couldn't fly or had no wings "Oh good idea Ender love" she said, giving him a nuzzle "We could use some without wings too, to tend the earth perhaps" She thought hard now.

"yes we need more, would could uproot some of the plants from inside, replant them here to cover the opening, only let those we want in" she mused. "I know when i was young, most avoided this plant, it can taste sweet, with a slight bitterness, if you swallow it, it can make you very sick, but my mother showed me how it can help for deep hurts, if you crush it with water and use as a poultice, especially the berries, it can numb the deep pain of a broken bone, but one has to be careful not to use too much" She rambled a little. "We can gather some berries after it's flowered, for now healers would have to come and get just what they need but if we can encourage this to grow, perhaps some fertiliser too, we can gather the leaves and store them" she was starting to get excited about this venture "And the thorns pierce deep if someone tried to break through, it would be a great detterent, we could even try and rig a way of parting the vines from the inside of the tunnel"

(248 words)

Fea Line

 

[Fea Line]

Ender listened to Kimiru's list of suggestions and found that he was quite liking the sound of this plant more and more. Not quite in the same manner as he enjoyed doing activities or even her, but it sounded like it had its fair share of uses and he saw no issue in cultivating some to grow in their homes. If it could serve as healing and protection, then it was good enough in his books. Of course, they would have to take special care to teach the young and others who may not be as educated on it. "How do we harvest?" he asked her, moving slightly towards the thorny plants before stopping and glancing back at her. She hadn't seemed to move yet and if he knew his mate, he knew that meant something else was on her mind. He glanced back out over the valley, trying to see what it was that could still be distracting her. Was there something else here she wanted too and he was just missing it?

(174)

Revel1984

 

[Revel1984]

Kimiru was looking around the meadow from where they stood when Ender asked about how to harvest the plant "We need to dig up a root or two from the one inside the valley i think, replant at the entrance, we can use vines to train it to climb and grow where we want it to .. i think" she mused. Smiling at her mate, She was pleased how well they understood each other, and each other's needs too. She was eager to bring more dragons in soon, but first, they needed security, privacy. They needed to stay secret from the world, in her opinion anyway, to strengthen the dragon lineages.

She didn't follow Ender when he moved back to the entrance to the valley, she was looking around the meadow, thinking about the future of their little kingdom. She glanced at her mate and saw him staring at her "I was just thinking, this would be a perfect place to meet and introduce new members, without bringing them into the valley unless we've approved them" she said, "Also i could do with a drink" she added, walking towards the pond/lake area.

(192 words)

Fea Line

 

[Fea Line]

Ender simply stared at her, his glowing gaze calculating, thinking. As he ran her word through his mind again, he nodded his approval. "Yes. A perfect place to test new members. We cannot expose our sanctum if they do not prove to have worth." he growled his agreement, perhaps the most words he spoke all day. As she also mentioned needing a drink, he let out a huff. Not of annoyance, but amusement. Where he was gruff, she seemed so carefree at times and he found it appealing. Folding his wings, he gave one last glance at the thorny plant. It would wait until she was finished. If Kimiru was happy, then he too was happy. "Drink then." was all he said as he lifted his heavy clawed feet to follow her down towards the lake.

(136)

Revel1984

]

 

[Revel1984]

Kimiru smiled "come, you've worked hard too, you should drink" she said, walking side by side with him as they ventured the short distance to the pond, or lake, she really should decide what to call it, she thought. She sighed in contentment, Much as she wanted more dragons to join them, she was happy in Ender's company.

Once at the lake, she decided it was, she took a small drink and swilled the water in her mouth, much as she had with the plant as she'd chewed it, good, it was definitely safe to drink, it was fresh water and she even saw a fish dart past as she bent her muzzle down, so they could provide food for those in the area while waiting judgement. She drank her fill, waiting for Ender to do the same before flicking her tail "We should head back to the den" she said, looking at the sky "It's starting to get dark and i wish to be home"

(166 words)

Fea Line

 

[Fea Line]

Ender obliged, only stopping to drink after Kimiru had her fill and had seemed finished. He took a few sloppy gulps, scaring off any fish that had come back near where his neck craned. He wasn't one for delicacy. He preferred to get his fill a quickly as he could to remain back on guard. And when Kimi mentioned that she had wished to return home, that seemed to seal the deal for him. "Come." he said, as he turned to lead her back, his tail curling around her protectively as he led the pair of them back to their home.

They had a lot more work ahead of them, but for tonight...they rested.

(End)

Revel1984