Grand Display

Strength Trial

The seas surged around her, but Jiang struggled upwards towards the stormy surface, it was rare for her to leave the general safety of the lagoon, but it was so secluded that few dragons not linked with her rider would go near, plus Llyr was likely to chase them off. Still, she hadn't realised that the waters were so rough beyond the protective shelter of the lagoons arms. Below her was the coral reef she'd been floating above, her fins moving trying to control her movements, her long tail curled tight as she let go. Her star pearl circled around her, a sign of her agitation, eventually her head broke the waters, and the skies crashed above her, lightning here and there as thunder rumbled menacingly. She called out a greeting to the other dragon, like her the batlike lobster seeking to prove herself, they'd met a few days ago, a meeting in the deeper waters as her rider salvaged through the submerged ship, Llyr hadn't even spotted the quick dragons as she frolicked nearby, Syringă as much at home in the waters as the skies above. A powerful wave crashed over her, and she spotted a third dragon, the small goldish colored female her companion, to who she must show her strength. Essence this one was called, a dragon Miyu knew; though how Jiang was going to prover her strength she didn't know, she hated fighting, and it was taking most of her energy to not be buffeted about by the waves.

Syringă churred her own greeting to the familiar face, grateful for a companion despite the challenge ahead. Jiang had been nice, hopefully not too nice for the challenge, though. she worried about that, briefly, but abruptly refocused at a burst of sound, wind behind it, barely flitting out of the way in time as she glared back. Suspecting the storm was the work of the blue and white form who chortled above her, but she only screetched back, the discordant shriek of metal on metal disorienting as it was challenging. She didn't like fighting, but if she had to she was hardly going to take things lying down. As the other dragon charged her wings tucked sharply, and she plummeted beneath the surface, letting the explosive force of the tides carry her before her wings flared again, water jetting upwards with her as she slammed into Ansel, the water turning to ice as it clung to his fur. Weighing the older dragon toward the waves as she battered him with wings and tail, her spines flaring up and crackling with venom and electricity both as she fought. Hoping, distantly, the little seahorse was doing alright.

Jiang was aware of the other two, the storm seeming to pulse around them as they fought above the waves, but most of her attention was on Essence, who was waiting for her to make the first move. She brought her star pearl close and launched it at the other dragon dropping deeper into the ocean where the waters were slightly calmer, but not near the coral she had no wish to damage it; the other dragon coiling to avoid the projectile, and charging towards the seahorse, using the water to speed up, uncoiling her tail she lashed out, unbalancing as she did so just as her pearl came back, the other dragon getting closer and closer, instinct rose and she reached for the ocean itself, twisting it into a vague impression of Llyr, and she launched him at Essence. The compressed water struck true, fading out as the wyrm floated a bit, Jiang was panting, and slowly started to rise back to the surface, she sense something nearby and reached out with her tail, anchoring herself to the spear of rock that justted out just below the stormy waves. Essence sufaced as well, nuzzling her before slipping off into the waters; Jiang looked upwards to where the two storm dragons competed.

Syringă grunted as she was thrown off the other storm, tucing her wings at the last moment to avoid harm as she pierced the waves, her next attack was deraile however as she popped above the waves, only to have Ansel there her eyes widened, but the male only nudged her and flitted off, the storm stilling as if followed its proginator. Leaving the hybrid blinking in confusion before she remembered Jiang, instantly peering about for the other dragoness, only to flash a toothy grin as she found her clinging to a rock nearby, apparently having succeeded as well. At least, she assumed they had just succeeded, that's what that was... wasn't it? It was hard to tell with the laughing storm, she mused, but only swam over to nudge Jiang happily.

WC: 792
Terrain: Ocean/Storm/Jungle

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Flexibility Trial

Jiang froze once again as something large and mechanical passed, by, magic crackling along its frame, beside her her companion had also froze, though she just looked like a bush, true... a bush in the middle of a huge city, so crowded and alien that Jiang longed for the quiet of the lagoon, still Leif remained by her side until she was ready to move on. Glancing around, she slid forward stifly, her tail which she just wanted to curl back up, spread out behind her, helping to maintain her balance, her fins useless, though at least she could use her pearl so test what was infront. Looking up she couldn't see the stars, the bright light of the cityscape dazzling and seeming to close in on her, nervously she looked around for Syringă and her companion, the other dragons presence a reassurance in this strange place.

Syringă flinched at the hard surface under her, she wasn't wuite as badly off as her companion, but the combination of her rider not being here and everything being so absurdly large... and loud... made her flinch. She didn't like the city, she decided, but blinked as Jiang tensed again. Moving over and nuzzling the smaller dragon with a reassuring churr, and hoping the way her fur stood on end wasn't telling how uncomfortable she actually was. "Just a bit farther..." She reassured, hoping it was correct. She resisted the urge to glance at Cartographer for her imput however, trying to look confident.
The journey had started with her talking the older dragon's ears off, asking after his markings and colors and if the maps lead anywhere since they had x's and everything; as time passed though the chatter had quieted farthe and farther. She couldn't think of things to ask... or, no, all of it was related to their surroundings. She paused, ears flicking, and glanced at both the older dragons, then began asking about the city. Her rider's voice echoing in her ears, fear was just not understanding how things worked... so if they understood the city more, maybe then everything would be a little easier?

Jiang nodded, grateful that Syringă was with her, she was so used to company of Miyu, or Cascade, and that of Llyr, that to be so far way in this city of metal and electricity was taking everything she had not to give up. Leif was a quiet companion; but a reassuring one given that Jiang couls hide in her fur if things got to bad. Cartographer and Syranga had spent much of the inital trek discussing maps an dother things, which had allowed Jiang to pick up more of the spoken language, much more than she'd had before. At that point she sensed an 'opening' through her star pearl. "Theres an opening." she said, and after a careflu glance eased forward, eyes on a current of thunder magic that seemed to be channeled through this part. Sadly she couldn't see what was in the space ahead, just it was wider and bigger than the streets they were traversing, hopefully it was the city exit.

Syringă stopped at the words, ears snapping up, and grinned, nodding. "We made it!" she perked, nuzzling Jiang happily, only to pause. Well, they almost made it, they still had to get over there but she trusted the little dragoness to understand that for a moment she blinked, realizing she was distracted, then  bounded after the others as Cartographer and Leif churned back at her. Annoyed she had gotten lost, but they were out! the storm took wing thr moment they cleared the gate and chattered happily, circling around them all before dumping down against Jiang, "We did it~ We did it!" she sang, snuggling against the sea d

WC: 629

Terrain: Thunder

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Providence Trial

They'd left the city, and Jiang knew Syringă was just as happy as her to leave that place, thankfully she knew Miyu would never be likely to go a place like that, so she doubted she would ever have to go back. It hadn't taken her long to find a small river, whcih would eventually lead her home to the ocean, and soon after slipping into it, she'd let the currents roll her along, though she remained near the surface to watch for her friend. Looping her tail around part of a tree that was submerged, she halted her drifting, peering close at the greenery beyond, just visible in the darkening sky, a forest. "Syringă." She called, no doubt her companion had also spotted it.

Syringă perked, distracted, but winged back toward the smaller dragon and tilted her head curiously. Her nose twitching with interest at the familiar scent of woods and only half focused, she was sad to admit, but perked for the topic. Nodding eagerly, "Its a big one," the jungle dragon churred happily, "We could get something to eat there, I think I smell fruit!" She churred excitedly, but quickly hunched in on herself when she realized her little hop had splashed Jiang. "Sorry... I'm hungry, I think... you?" She whispered more moderately, nosing her companion gently and offering a sheepish flash of fang.

Jiang laughed, a sweet sound that echoed around them, her pearl spinning faster as she nuzzled Syringă back. "Fruit sounds good, we don't get alot of it at the den, not unless a crate washes up." she responded, and the trees hadn't yet shown any signs of bearing fruit on the lagoon, despite the greenery. She pushed her companion away and let go of the submerged bark, angling herseld towards the forest itself, the river twining through immense trees, some easily as large as the artificial buildings of the city, but here she didn't mind them looming over, a canopy over the darkened ground as dusk gave way to full dark. Grabbing another submerged tree root she stopped, peering far up at the branches ahead, where she could see a a hint of orange, a sudden splash ahd her turning, and she ducked her head beneath the water, there scattered about were some of the orange fruits, some she knew better than to touch, bloated with water, but a few fresher ones remained, caught on the multitude of tree roots. Letting go of the larger root she used her fins to control her movement, the water slow moving and easy to move around in, meanwhile she used her tail to help gather some of the fruit on the bottom and dragging it to the riverbank, an idea forming as she did so. "Syringă, do you think you could knock more down." excitement clear."I can fish them back out of the water.?" If it worked they could have a rest, and a feast at the same time.

"You should keep the seeds then, you can grow some." Syringă advised, but hopped into the water after Joang and swam toward the forest in turn. Enjoying the stream and the trees closing in around them. She perked for the question, but ducked beneath the surface and launched into the air obligingly. Shaking as many of the oranges down as she could and gliding to another tree to pull the apples she smelled out of the tree as well. bouncing happily tree to tree then stopping abruptly as her attention was snagged by a bush full of berries she recognised. Shoving her face in and coming back with a facefull of berry juice as she munched happily. Then retrieved more to add to the growing pile of food the pair was amassing.

WC: 625

Terrain: Jungle/Dark