Anuriel rewarded Sephiroth with a skeptical look followed by several peals of laughter. "I can't even imagine it. That is too funny. " Still giggling she began to lead the way to the Dragons Nest, otherwise known as T'vor's tent.

"Yes Ari" Sasha and done and about turn. She went to the nearest pub tent the angels had said up and took Ari's advice to heart. Sasha proceeded to drink which lead to her becoming drunk. She kept on drinking. "More!" She would shout after each drink.

T'vor was once more abruptly awoken and snatched up his helm in an attempt to put it on before whoever was entering noticed--but then saw who his newest visitors were, and he grunted. "What do you two want?" He asked of Sephiroth and Anuriel in a somewhat disgruntled tone.

"Well, T'vor, I--we--are a bit at a loss. Damien--"

"What's that lout done this time?" T'vor demanded.

"...Nothing. Aside from giving me these." Sephiroth proffered the little dragonlets. "I'm not exactly sure what I should be doing with them--though they insist that I need to give them names."

T'vor opened, then closed his mouth several times, chewing on the events that had just taken place.
"...Well, names are very important for a dragon--names possess power in dragon magic, in such a way that a dragon essentially grows to become one with their name, quite literally meaning that the dragon and its name give each other purpose and meaning--the dragon becomes the name. So naturally, they want to be named. But...how did Damien come by these?"

"He thought they were river stones. Then they hatched some time after he gave them to me." Sephiroth replied.

"I suppose it's true that some dragons will hide their eggs by burying them or sinking them to the bottom of a river--but usually only when they perceive some great threat which would require the eggs to be further protected...Those eggs may have been several thousand years old."

"That's all very well and good, T'vor, but what about the names?"

T'vor shook his head briefly as if waking himself from a dream. "Yes, of course. Ah, I see you have Anuriel's book. It is full of old legends, but I am not sure how useful that will be in teaching you the specifics of caring for such creatures. I can assist you if you get confused. Naming a dragon isn't usually very easy. Often that job fell to the elder Dragoons, who knew more about dragons than anyone else alive. But we don't have that luxury. If I may?" He held one hand out.

"Sephiroth took one of the little dragonlets and placed it into T'vor's palm. It was the dark grey one.

"Krosis, goraan gein." He told it in a perfect imitation of the creature's native tongue. He examined the dragonlet closely. "Her name is Dunveniz, close as I can tell. She'll be a swift flyer."

"How can you tell she's a she?" Sephiroth asked. "They all look the same."

"Mmm...I can't really explain it to you. When you've been around dragons, you just know. The other three are males. He handed Dunveniz back to Sephiroth, who handed him another--a dark green-and-brown mottled one.

"His name is Yuvongolkren. Near as I can tell, he'll likely be the strongest of the four, physically." He handed back the little dragonlet.

The next one to be named was a black dragon, who had slightly iridescent hide.
"His name is Vulanyolved. I cannot determine his qualities, but that in itself suggests a very strong mind."

And lastly;
"This one's name, as near as I can tell, is Kreinrokun. I feel he'll keep the rest of these troublemakers in line." The name he'd determined belonged to a silvery white male who bore the most striking golden eyes.
"Now that they know their names, you can shorten them. I've never known a Dragoon to call his dragon by it's full name consistently."

"I can see why..." Sephiroth replied, looking at the four of them. "From now on I'll call you lot Dun, Yuvon, Vulan, and Krein. That's not nearly as difficult."

"His masjesty here said that if the dragons did not put a smile on your face, he would cut his hair. " The cook delightfully informed the General. Something she eagerly wished to see, despite the fact his locks were the envy of male and female angels and demons alike.

As each dragon was named they seemed to become more aware.

However Anuriel's next comment was solemn - do you think once old enough, they would choose their riders? I would give all I have to be a dragon rider. " Anuriel said as she and Dunveniz appeared to eye each other.

Yuvongolkren was busy eyeing T'vor and Vulanyolved was eyeing Sephiroth. Kreinrokun was curled up half asleep.

"Well then, for my Lord's sake, I may have to oblige him." T'vor smirked. "In truth, I'm far too astounded that these were brought safely to Terra to consider how glad it makes me."

"There, he smirked. That counts as a smile." Sephiroth told Anuriel.

"Though to answer your question, Anuriel, they very well might, if they so choose. Some dragons prefer not to bond themselves with a mortal, and sometimes the person they choose is not willing to enter into that kind of bond. But they may, given time. It is important now for the hatchlings to know their surroundings, their limitations, and the people around them. As caretaker of these young ones, Sephiroth, I advise that you see to it that they get around the camp to familiarize themselves with the area. When they are strong enough to fly, then we shall see about honing their skills. Sharing the blood of dragons myself, I will be able to show them how to master themselves." He peered over at Yuvon, then noticed the others, and what they were doing.
"As for you three, do not be so quick to judge. Wise you may be, but you know nothing yet of the world in which you now live. You may find that no one here will make a suitable partner, so do not set your minds just yet. You at least, have an eternity to decide."

"Perhaps, perhaps not. But you are correct. " Vulanyolved responded, a yawn stretching his mouth wide to show off razor sharp teeth. "Thank you for making us, we will always hold you in high regard. "

Dunveniz and Yuvongolkren stopped what they were doing to only start play fighting with each other which was made awkward given that they were in Sephiroth's arms.

"Niid grah zeymah" Kreinrokun said, his eyes still shut. The two squabblers stopped.

Sasha chose that inopportune moment to wander across camp in the search for Around to tell Around how grateful she was. Sasha was very inebriated. She managed to walk into the trio. Somewhat forcefully. "I think I drank too much." Sasha slurred upon sighting the dragons. She swayed on the spot, her sense of equilibrium was vastly off.

It was at that moment that T'vor did indeed decide to shove his helmet back on with a soft thump.

"Princess, what are you doing here?" Sephiroth set the little dragons on the ground and rose to his feet in an attempt to steady her. She smelled of alcohol. She had indeed drunk too much.

"One of Ariadel's remedies, I'd wager." T'vor commented.

There was a flash of minor irritation across Sephiroth's face, and he shook his head with a sigh.
"You need to sleep, is what. Do you recall where your tent is?" He asked her, but he thought better of it, judging by her appearance. "Never mind. Come with me. You four, stay with T'vor until I come back." He said that last bit to the dragons, then escorted the poor drunk princess out. He was indeed mildly irritated with her.
"What would possess you to think it a good idea to get drunk, especially in the middle of the afternoon? You're a princess, not some sleazy tavern wench! How do you expect to gain any respect if this is the kind of poor choice you're going to make?"
He knew she was probably too drunk to even care about what he was saying, but it made him feel better to say it anyway.
"You can't be seen like this." He told her, then stopped at his tent.
"Get you to sleep. Don't come out until you have a reasonable head on your shoulders. Please." His tone of voice was not exactly cordial.

"Well, it's a good thing she's drunk. She might not appreciate him ordering her around if she were sober." T'vor commented. He looked at the dragons. It was quite an exciting thing, to be sure. The dragons back on Genesis couldn't travel by space, and had to be left behind. They were undoubtedly destroyed. It had been a painful farewell between he and his own dragon.
But now was not the time to think on such depressing things. There was work to do. There would be time enough to mourn his dragon later.

"I was sick of not feeling anything, any emotion or my magic! Magic is to Angels as technology is to Demons. We are nothing without it!" Sasha argued. Sasha shifted into a very moody looking panther. She curled up on the floor of the tent and with a snarl directed at Sephiroth she fell asleep. Anuriel looked on. "Foolish she might be, but she might make a great queen one day if she pulls her head in. "

"I sense sadness in you, one who looks like Dovah." Vulanyolved said, looking at T'vor.

"What I feel is not up for public discussion, young one." T'vor told the little dragon. He looked over at Anuriel. "Perhaps. I just hope that my Lord can keep his temper under control with her. The two of them butting heads...could be disasterous, to say the least." He said.

Satisfied that the princess was sleeping, Sephiroth returned to the tent.
"Your hair." T'vor gestured. One thin strand of hair at his forehead was considerably darker than the rest of it.
"...Figures." Sephiroth replied, lifting it in front of his eyes to look at. "But never mind that. I myself could do with a drink as well...but just one."

"You're in luck." T'vor replied, pulling from his trunk a bottle of some sort of alcohol. It was black in color. "I happen to have something on hand."

"Oh no, is that the hell-spawned poison you dragon riders are so fond of?" Sephiroth made a face.

T'vor shrugged. "I'll drink it by myself then. Or would Anuriel like to try it? Beware, it is certainly not something for the faint of heart like Sephiroth here." T'vor offered the liquor of dubious content to the lady.

"Ugh, I'll regret this..." Sephiroth muttered, but sat himself down on the ground beside the dragons. "Fine then, give me your acid fire." He told the taller man, who also sat on the floor facing him. T'vor handed him the bottle.

Sephiroth took a gulp with a disgusted look before wordlessly handing it to Anuriel.
"Gods, that's foul." He coughed.

"The whole two primeval forces of nature thing? " Anuriel said. To the casual observer it would sound like a guess, but she knew what she was talking about.

Anuriel watch Sephiroth return and chuckled at his reaction to the drink. Anuriel took a gulp. Her eyes lit up "I feel like I could breathe fire. " Anuriel said, and indeed did in her next breath. More to show off than anything. It was pretty spectacular considering the tiny flames she was used to producing. "Can we brew some more? " Anu asked as she passed back the bottle.

"I'm afraid not. The dragons provided us with the recipe to keep us warm during long nights, but I don't have it written down anywhere. I could only guess as to how it's made. It involves dragon magic, though, that I know." T'vor said. "Try not to set my tent on fire, please." He added. "Also, don't give any to the dragons. They really will burn my tent down."

"Speaking of dragons, T'vor, I've always been curious, because you never really talked about it. You say that a major change happens when you bind yourself to a dragon, but what exactly happens?"

T'vor took a swig, passed the bottle, and stroked his chin for a moment.
"Well...part of it depends on the dragon." He replied. "When you are bound to a dragon, the two of you share also a strong mental link. There are no secrets between the two of you. There is no such thing as 'alone'. As for the rest...well, as I said, it depends on the dragon. I was gifted with the power of a dragon's strength and speed. If necessary, a dragon can physically alter his rider through dragon magic. When a bond is made, the rider becomes more dragon than man. It feels as though I were a dragon trapped within a Demon's body, to be honest. It is the same with all riders. A dragon can release his rider's dragon soul to take it's true shape."

"So...you'd turn into a dragon?" Sephiroth asked.

"Hmm...not quite. A rider could never fully become a dragon, but he would certainly look like a familiar of one. Though I've never had the pleasure of experiencing it myself."

"Interesting."

"Perhaps when the dragonlets are older they may discover the method and divulge the recipe to you. " Anuriel said.

"It is a truly wonderful drink and I promise not to do either. "

Anuriel listened intently to T'vor talking about the Dov sil-gron. She could imagine the bond and hoped Dunveniz would chose to bond with her, or one of the other dragonlets. She knew she was probably destined to remain in the kitchen forever. She loved the job with all her being but sometimes felt imprisoned by it and sometimes yearned for a change or a break.

"I must go. Dinner needs preparing and I have a kitchen to supervise" Anuriel said as aeans of dismissing herself from the group. She added with a wry grin "Don't forget that either of you are always welcome in the kitchen. Neither of you will be accidentally mistaken for an intruder. " The last part directed mostly towards T'vor.

Azurael could be seen in the far distance training her squadron. Damien and some other demons had decided to join in on the. Azurael did not mind, everyone had to work together and would all have to learn the same things she was teaching at the moment at some point sooner or later. They were doing various exercises, a lot of which involved the wings.

"Perhaps."

"Thank you, Anuriel. I'm sure we'll both keep that in mind." Sephiroth replied to the woman's invitation. When she left, the two turned to each other.

"I wouldn't bargain you hair away if you truly don't want to spend the effort to cut it." T'vor advised.

Sephiroth smirked, then scooped up the dragonlets. "I hear noise outside. Shall we go see?" He asked rhetorically, standing. T'vor followed suit. "It sounds like she's doing quite a number on those fluffy-winged slackers." T'vor noted. The two of them made their way past tents and uphill to observe the training exercise. There were feathers everywhere.
"And they call themselves fighters--they're molting everywhere." T'vor commented to Sephiroth.
"Oh, you mean like me."
"Granted, yours is a rather unique position. I'd have a hard time trying to keep my wings groomed if they were that big."
"Thanks for the consideration."
"No charge." T'vor spotted Damien.
"Does he know about the dragons?"
"I don't think so." Sephiroth replied.
"Hm, well, let's not distract from the goings-on."
"I think your face is enough of a distraction already. Or lack of one." Sephiroth rapped the other man's helm.
"There's uglier faces."
"Oh, I don't know about that, T'vor. Yours is pretty high on the list."
"So's yours."
Sephiroth chuckled at that.

Azurael saw the two looking on. She figured they could join in if they wanted. Another day perhaps. She dismissed her group so they could get ready for the evening meal. With a gesture she summoned up a small whirlwind to get all the loose feathers together. She got a few of her pupils to take them to the scribes who would use them as quill pens. Damien went with the feather carriers.

Azurael walked over to T'vor and Sephiroth. A blissful look was on her face, she was in her element. "We should have at least a platoon flying not too far from now. Everyone just needs to strengthen their muscles to compensate for the additional pull of gravity. "

Azurael noticed the sunset beginning. "The only time I ever saw a sky that colour was on a journey near no man's land between the borders of the two kingdoms. "

"Anything brighter than the moon hurts my eyes." T'vor replied simply. Clearly he didn't care much about such details as the sky's color.

"I know what you mean. I've had a headache since we landed. I doubt we're the only Demons who have that problem. Still though, it's an interesting change." Sephiroth noted.

"A painful one. Are you still on for tonight?"

"Naturally. Where are we off to?"

"The clearing by the lake isn't a bad spot."

"It really isn't. I look forward to it. After all this, I could use something to settle my nerves. I suppose we should get to dinner, or She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed'll have both our hides if she gets a suspicion that we aren't eating enough." Sephiroth nodded once to the Angel. "Glad to see you're settling in. Do me a favor and give the old man a hard time once in a while--between you and me, if someone doesn't push back at him a few times a week, I don't think he feels appreciated." With a sly smirk, and a wink at T'vor, Sephiroth made his way back down the hill.

"I'm not quite old enough to be deaf, Sephiroth." He growled.

"Heh" Azurael said with a grin at Sephiroth's remark about the General.

"Worry not General, I quite appreciate what you have done for me. "

It was well know that to secure an Angels steadfast loyalty meant that they would stick by you and serve even if it mean their own life. This would be one such case. Azurael's loyalty was not easily brought.

"Will you sup with myself or with your friend? " Azurael asked.

"I eat alone." He told the woman simply. "But I'm not in a mood bad enough to boot anyone who's desperate enough to sit at my table." He added as he marched away after his friend.That was likely the closest thing to an open invitation that she was ever going to get from him. He had actually considered taking his food back to his tent, but he knew that once he had it, he'd want to eat it as soon as possible. An extra trip back to his tent didn't appeal to him.

He made his way to the long tent that was being used to house all the dining that went on during the day. The place was already filling up, but it was easy for him to gain entrance due to the rather wide path that opened up for him as he approached. Having his reputation did have its benefits from time to time. He knew Sephiroth would eat in his tent, the man didn't like crowds at all, so he didn't bother trying to locate him. He simply headed for the food, got what he wanted, and stole an empty table in the far corner, where he could observe the goings-on.

As T'vor had predicted, Sephiroth did indeed take his food out with him and carried it back to his tent, but he also carried a second plate. He'd had a feeling that the princess had been sleeping off her drunken stupor all day, and he knew she'd likely be hungry when she'd awoken, so he thought he'd spare her the trouble of struggling through a crowd of people with a headache.

Once he'd reached his tent, he entered and wordlessly left the young lady's food atop his trunk, before settling himself down in a chair quietly and eating his own.

Azurael silently pondered T'vor's words but got her meal and sat down next to him. Her meal was disproportionately large for someone of her stature but she was just previously exercising hard out and was a soldier. "You aren't very friendly sometimes are you? About as pleasant as sitting on a cactus. " Azurael observed. She wasn't being rude but just stating what she observed.

Sasha slowly woke up and was somewhat confused to find herself not in humanoid form and with a massive headache. After the sleepiness had disappeared and she somewhat regained her wits she turned to Sephiroth. "This isn't my tent is it? " Sasha asked. She rubbed eyes and added "Never ever follow Ari's advice like I did. "

Sasha's wings drooped as she thought about something. "I will never be even a half decent ruler will I. "

"You're not wrong." T'vor replied to her statement casually. "I see no reason to smile or be amiable if it would be a false face to wear. Which it would."

"No, it isn't. You're in my tent." Sephiroth replied to her first query.
"Not with that attitude, no. You took her too literally. Never take someon's word at face value, princess. You slipped up, perhaps, but everyone does. The one who claims not to is a fool and a liar. I've had my share of mistakes, yet I am still a ruler, am I not? Don't give up so easily, your Highness. That is the coward's road. You will learn from this mistake, and that is all. There's no drama about it."
He continued eating for a moment.

"Enough of this talk. I tire of speaking. Eat." He placed the four little dragons on the ground so they could roam about and stretch, or do whatever.

"True, but it wouldn't hurt once in a while. Although you may either scare your soldiers or they would not recognize as smile for what it is on your face. " Azurael remarked.

Anuriel could be heard in the kitchen barking orders in such a manner that would make any General proud were she in the army.

Damien came into the mess tent soon after and sat down next to Azurael without paying much attention to who she had chosen to sit with. When he did notice he exclaimed "Oh gods, oh Hell, sorry sir. "
............................................

Sasha looked at Sephiroth. "Do not call me princess until I earn the title. No one will call me such until I have earned the title. I do not deserve it and would only squander the curse. " Her expression was burdened with doubt and weariness.

She thought as she ate a few mouthfuls. She had a lot of growing up to do and had come to realize in only a short time what Sephiroth and T'vor had tried to put across to her on the ship - as she was, she would only lead the Angels to oblivion. "Should you wish for custody of the crown until you deem me otherwise worthy, I would be willing to hand it over." Of course she did not just mean the literal crown, she also mean the responsibility that came with it. The responsibility she had next to no training for.

"A trusted Angel holds the Archangelic relics. Though I do not know which. " Sasha added. The relic were passed onto the ruling Archon once they became king or queen.

She watched the dragonlets play as she continued to eat.

"I do not really care about such things, Azurael. My men are frightened by me because they are fools that need to be kept in line. If they took themselves and their work seriously, they would not fear me. I demand only obedience and efficiency, that is all."

He didn't need to look at Damien. "Did I ask for an apology? Sit and eat, if that's what you're going to do." He told the younger Demon. "Your rocks hatched, by the way."

...

Sephiroth sighed irately and set down his plate. "Didn't I tell you that there was no drama about this? You are the princess, therefore that is what I shall call you. You don't just give away your crown. Do you really think the Angels would let a Demon be their king? Let alone that, but do you really think I want even more power than I already have? I'm already leading the Demons, and I already have to wield Chaos...Princess, if I have to lead the Angels, what would happen if I was corrupted by my own power? I would destroy an entire world! You don't know what it's like, trying to fight the desire to use Chaos, to kill and obliterate. That is why you exist, Princess, that is why Order lives within you--to keep me from doing just that! The fact that you seem to have a difficulty making wise decisions at the moment does not help matters in the slightest! So do not offer me your rule. Ever."
Clearly, the prince was frustrated. There was yet another small strand of darkish hair on his head.

He sighed and sat back, trying to calm himself. Being irritated wasn't going to fix any problems here.

"You once asked me if I really had killed the people in that town because my breakfast wasn't on time. Well it wasn't over breakfast, that's for sure. But I really did kill all those people, Princess. I lost control of myself, and I razed the entire town. Where was Order when that happened, hm? Why didn't Order try to stop me? Because she was sitting around playing show-and-tell to a bunch of Angel children, and not paying attention to the world around her." He used the earlier events on the ship as an example.

"So instead of taking her duty seriously, she chose to selfishly ignore that which didn't interest her, and hundreds of people died because Chaos was allowed to be set free, unchallenged. And what do I have to show for it?" He unsheathed his one large wing.

"This was no accident, Princess. When a Demon does a terrible deed, one of his wings is shorn off, as a constant reminder of what he's done, and as a warning to all who see him. Even among my own people, Princess, I am feared and hated. Not unlike my General."