Searching for a New Home (Baldirak, Cradore, Ariki, and the other surviving EWs)

The home they knew and loved was gone. Taken so cruelly from them, by Humans of all creatures, and desecrated. And the Rogues took no time at all to seize the opportunity of claiming the vast territory as theirs. Like scavengers to a fresh kill left uneaten by it killer, they came in droves and fought over every scrap. Now the few EarthWings who had survived were left with nothing but the company and comfort of each other. Tired, aching, and void of dignity, they watched as the Lush Forest became filled with its new inhabitants. Wearily, they turned away and began the slow and emotionally painful--though for those still with injuries that would take a little longer to heal, there was physical pain as well--process of finding a place to sleep for the night. And tomorrow they would being a search for a new place to call home.
((Posting order: Baldirak, Cradore, Ariki, Zoeya, Lye, Terra, Perry, anyone else that joins))
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With a heavy sigh, Baldirak looked around at those gathered. "Are we all that remains?" A year had passed since he last saw any of them. A year in which Baldirak had been a captive of the very Humans that had attacked his Tribe. He planned to escape and share what he had learned with his Tribe. He did return... but to find that his Tribe was no more and what few had survived were scattered in the winds, hiding in fear. So he called out to them, every last one; and he waited as one-by-one they answered that call.

Cradore was invited to a EW gathering ”No not EarthWing, Rouges" Cradore thought. He swiftly flys there and lands next to Baldirak Sapiens Draco. Cradore heard what Baldirak said earlier. ”I am guessing so" Cradore says. He sighs sadly. He turns to the crowd and watches it. A single tear emits from his eye. He turns away from the crowd. ”We should wait a little longer for any stragglers" suggests Cradore

Ariki was nearby, his paws aching, eyeridges knitted together. His eyes were searching for two things - dragons and humans. Friendly dragons, that is. They eventually fell upon two he knew well. Cradore. Baldirak. He was somewhat overjoyed to see friendly faces, especially after being forced out of his quiet home where he occasionally brought his boyfriend. Other than that, he had very little visitors. A weak smile slipped across his lips and faded after a moment, approaching the two. He heard Baldirak's deep voice rumbling, though not able to make out what he was saying. The same went for Cradore - though not as deep. Once he got close enough, he heard something about waiting for stragglers.

"Hello, boys. What was it about new homes that I heard? Will I still be able to see you?" Ariki said, his voice shaky. He was still overly concerned for his entire tribe - especially the hatchlings. Though his eyes tended to wander to the adults, specifically males, this had been lowered since he had met Alphonse: and hatchlings were always in his line of sight when he watched them to make sure that they were safe.

"What happened to the hatchlings?" He asked when the thought crossed his mind of other survivors. He was extremely worried about his tribe still, even if the fate of it had been decided. They had been totally destroyed. Removed off of the face of Pyyria. Like they never happened. But they did happen. And they were the proof - the strong EarthWings that remained. The ones that survived. This thought crossed Ariki's mind, nodding to himself while he thought about it. They would survive it. They would make it through, even if they were weaker and clearly hurt. Luckily for Ariki, he had been away most of the time for the immediate attack - spending time with others a bit away from the territory. He only returned when he heard word of injury and destroying the tribe, and now there he was.

"Yes, we should." Baldirak's gaze too fell on the few others already gathered before him. He tried his best to look stronger than he felt and was; the greatest of his injuries received during the battle was still very much obvious ((Just going to leave it only partially healed; read my last post on the Gifts from Hell topic for more info)). Another application of mud would be needed soon, he knew, but for now, he had to address his fellow EarthWings. But then he heard a familiar voice, which was accompanied by an equally familiar face--that of Ariki.

"Hello, Riki. I had hoped you'd still be around. And yes, you will see me still, all of us, in fact. For I have gathered us here that we may begin to find a new home. But there are matters more pressing than this that must be seen to first." Baldirak frowned when he heard the Dragon's question, one they'd all thought when it occurred to them that very few Hatchlings were present."Like this," he said after a moment. "There are too few Hatchlings here, far too few... I can only imagine what could become of them, and it sickens me."

With a shaky breath, the EarthWing stood to address all present, opening his wings to ask for silence. "We've come here with the intent to find a new home. But first, we must ensure that all EarthWings that are alive have been found. I would have all of you well enough to search place yourselves in teams of 2 or 3. And would like at least 3 to stay behind, to watch the Hatchlings already here. But before all of this... I will hear suggestions." Baldirak sat as he finished, waiting.

Cradore listened to both dragons. He turned and walked away a little. When he was out of sight he sat down. He started to cry intensely. Cradore was immune to anger, but he was not immune to sadness. He cried for about thirty minutes and then stood up and paced for a bit. He was still crying. He started running around and then finally sat down again. He laid down and just cried and cried and cried. After twenty minutes or so, Cradore stood up and walked back to Baldirak and Ariki.

He looked at Baldirak and stopped crying. ”I don't need a team right now" said Cradore. He laid down waiting for the others to find teams and go. Then he remembered something. He stood up and prepared to shout. He turned to the crowd and shouted, ”Before you all leave remember, be careful around any dragons you find if they are not of our tribe, stay away. If you find a hatchling of our tribe, or not, care for it understood? That’s good." He then laid down again.

Cradore stood up and jumped into the air. He flew around and around and around. He saw nothing. He figured that he probably can see anything from this high, so he went down to the ground. He found nothing. Cradore turned around and walked a little bit. He was really tired now. He didn’t want to do anything, so he just laid down.

Cradore had fallen asleep. He was having a dream. It was about all the hatchlings being burned to death. He was running away from a beast of unknown identity. Suddenly, he woke up in a cold sweat. He shook himself and stood up. ”I should probbaly get back to Baldirak” thought Cradore to himself. He jumped into the air again and flew to the place where he left. He landed out of sight and walked to where he first found Baldirak.

((Can I hop in here on my hatchling Earthwing account?

((Of course you can))

Ariki's happy facial expression fell as soon as Baldirak mentioned what could have happened to the hatchling. He loved them dearly. Though he had not known very many of the hatchlings, it made his stomach churn and his eyeridges knit together. He nodded as Baldirak continued onto going on a search for the lost young ones. Cradore had turned away and begun crying. Ariki allowed him to cry, not knowing what to do either. He looked over Baldirak, who appeared not too injured. Thank god - his friends were okay. He yawned and sat down, his eyes now hopping around their surroundings while hoping that no human or rival tribe showed up. His large, plated scales gave off a sort of shaking motion, as if he were scared - or at the very least, weak.

"That sounds quite alright, hun. If Cradore wants to be by himself, that's fine and we can search together." His sentence stopped as soon as Cradore flew off, Ariki sighing as he went. He awaited Baldirak's response, giving him a place to go. Someone to go with, if at all. He flinched when a nearby rabbit jumped out of a bush. He was still very shaken up from the humans.

Is Alphonse alright? Am I alright? What am I even supposed to do until everyone is okay? The emerald - literally - dragon thought to himself. He shook his head and sighed again, his gaze now dropping to his paws rather than staring at Baldirak and the surroundings. He was exhausted, surprisingly.

Baldirak watched as his fellow EarthWings went off on in their respective groups to begin searching. Two stayed behind to watch the few Hatchlings and those who couldn't search. His gaze fell on Ariki first, then to Cradore as the larger Dragon flew off. "We will go, but when Cradore returns. I'll not have anyone off on their own." He smiled sympathetically when Ariki flinched at the harmless herbivore jumping out. No doubt all of the EarthWings were like that. In truth, Baldirak had flinched as well. And even that light flinch caused pain in his leg; while waiting for Cradore, he put some mud on it.

Baldirak sighed lightly and wondered about the days ahead. Where would they go? What would become of them as a species? These thoughts and many more raced through his mind. And perhaps this was what exhausted him. By the time Cradore returned, the EarthWing had nearly fallen asleep. He jolted from his half-sleep and smiled wearily when his gaze found the bigger Dragon. "I hope you're somewhat better now, at least to join us awhile? I thought we may start looking in this area, as the other groups probably haven't, yet."

((Hey, sorry I'm late. I'll join after Ariki posts))

(Pretend Terra was just sat there.)

Curled up near them was Terra, splayed out across the land his now green body looking like a fallen red-wood tree covered in moss and ivy. Slowly, his great form stood up, and reared onto his back legs. A huge roar that actually fell some trees echoed around the hiding place. Slowly, the giant sauntered over to Baldirak, and lowered onto all fours. Terra hadn't been talking at-all since the attack.

Spreading out his wings he took off into the air, higher, higher and higher until he looked like a mere Skywing flying lower against the blank canvas of the sky. Almost lazily he set off flying. Searching for anything. Anyone.

((You broke posting order...))

((I'll hop in after Zoeya))

(i find that while everyone is extra scared, Cradore isnt he just cant stop crying XD)

Cradore walked slowly back over to Baldirak and Ariki. He growls to get their attention. ”I guess im back, sorry for leaving" said Cradore. He sat down. Cradore started to play with his paws, when tears came down out of Cradore’s eyes. ”NO, i gotta stop crying, its not good for the others to see me crying" Cradore thought to himself. ”Are you still waiting to go?" Cradore asked Baldirak.

(Well.. Just ignore it then, Zoeya. Wasn't that easy?)

(Baldirak, Cradore, myself, Zoeya, Lye, Terra. Let's try to keep to that. c:)

Ariki heard a growl and flinched yet again. While Baldirak had fallen asleep, Ariki had remained awake. He had many thoughts racing through his mind, and whenever he tried to match the larger dragon sitting beside him, he would wake up at a noise he thought he heard or he did hear. It didn't help when a large dragon stood up and roared, which caused him to shiver and look around frantically. He was relieved when he saw a large dragon, a green(?) one - most likely one of his own tribe.

"Yes, Baldirak, I don't want to be alone... Cradore, Cradore, did you find anyone? Are they okay? Baldirak, can we please try to find them?" Ariki said. He may have been overreacting compared to how the other two were acting right now - aside from Cradore's crying - but he was still worried. All of the hatchlings, all of the dragons that may never be found. It was horrible to think about.

Ariki stood up and started pacing. He took tragic manners clearly different than anyone else of the tribe: freaking out. The light shining against his scales faded when the night came into total darkness, causing him to start looking around while walking back and forth to the same spots.

Zoey flew out of the flaming wreckage that was once her home. She whimpered at the sight of it, and at the thought of having to find a new territory. Not to mention the fact there was probably going to be fighting about it. She had the personality of an IceWing; she never fought until the last resort. She saw the gathering refugees below her and decided to land, hoping they could help her. As she became closer, she saw one crying, one sleeping and one who seemed like her didn't like being alone. She landed in front of him; the ground practically didn't move at all, despite the fact of her being an EarthWing. She was more of a rouge, now, she thought with despair. "Can you guys help me, please?"

There was a soft rustling in the bushes, and a small-former-EarthWing stepped out, whimpering slightly. She looked up at her larger tribemates before noticing the other hatchlings, and stepped forward, dragging one wing. She bounded heavily towards the other-smaller-hatchlings and spread her good wing over them, curling protectively around them. She looked around and huddled closer to the hatchlings. "There's...others still alive..." She whispered to herself, thanking Shardas that she wasn't alone.

(Why in the world does there have to be an order? Can i hop in soon? I have all day.... im not as busy.)

(We simply decided on it. And yes, you can join in anytime.)

His maw opened to answer his two friends, when Zoeya landed and another Dragoness came running forward with an injured wing. Baldirak went over to the Hatchling and lowered his head, gently touching his snout to hers. "Hush, Young One. We'll find them. You rest now." Giving Lye a light lick on the top of her head, he lifted his head to look at the others. "What assistance do you need, Zoeya? And yes Cradore, Ariki, we will begin our search."

Cradore looked at the hatchling. He looked around, at the place before him. He turned to Baldirak. ”I can stay and Zoeya can go with you instead of me, okay?" said Cradore. He shook his head absentmindedly. He looked at Baldirak, waiting for the answer.

"Yes, Cradore, I suppose that's alright. Zoeya, you'll come with Ariki and me, then. We'll search this area for any of us who may have escaped and are yet still lost." Baldirak opened his wings and lifted himself into the air, hovering over where he'd been standing. "Ariki, you'll take the west to this clearing, Zoeya, the east. I will take the north and when finished, we will together search the south. If you find anyone, bring them back here, if you can. If not, give a roar."