Pair Bonds

The day was bright and cheerful, this was the one time Zelos was wishing for anything but. Lounging on the wooden walkway, the quetzal look dragon was making a face that didn't match the day at all. "Awe common, it'll be fun." Huffing, he turned back to look at his optimistic rider. Jhin was an airhead at best, but he hadn't thought that they would ever pull something like this.

It didn't start off bad, but the rider had come home from their outing in town waving a letter over their head. Apparently someone was interested in bonding their dragon together with Zelos. Where or why Jhin had picked up any sort of idea that he was lonely or needed a companion was beyond him. Especially to someone he didn't even know!

"You can have someone to sit and play with while running errands though!" they tried to convince him, only getting more grumbles. Zelos wasn't one to go against his rider unfortunately, especially when it was true that he was starting to get lonely the more time Jhin spent with Tay instead of him. "Whatever, I'm gonna go prepare snacks before they arrive."

Leaning against the light cream colored dragon, Clover could feel Beloved was very excited to go meet one of her half siblings. She had been off chasing Diem when she stumbled across the stangle temple, not that she thought she’d be returning so soon! But Clover had sent out an ad wanting a bond mate for Kiwi for when he was gone. She was a very good girl, she listened well, but she needed so much attention that Kane had been devoting to Jaime as he grew older.

“Almost?” Kiwi asked, her ears flapping in the wind as Clover pressed her back down so the wind wouldn’t be hitting head on.

“Yeah! Almost there!” Stroking Beloved, he knew the dam wasn’t used to flying with passengers. She was doing a very good job though.

Finally though, they touched down in a cleaning near the temple. It was a big rocky but it was the closest one short of a larger one past the trees that would require a bit of a walk. A walk that Beloved wasn’t up for. She was a pampered princess who didn’t get a lot of exercise. Maybe a bit bad but she seemed to be the appropriate weight and was healthy according to her last check up, so that was all Clover cared about.

“It’s up the hill.” Beloved told Clover softly, leaning to run against his hand as Kiwi hopped off her back and started up the hill, excited to just be free.”

“Let go!” Up she headed, leaving Clover to sigh as he and Beloved trailed behind her.

WIthin a few minutes Clover was at the front door, knocking as he looked around back where he saw the griffins playing. Many in many different sizes that were napping or playing with their various amounts of toys.

Sprucing up the place, Jhin was running through the house rapidly trying to make sure everything was perfect for the guests that would be arriving. Sweep the rooms again, dust the shelves, inch a statue sliiightly back into place. He was like a mother about to marry off their first daughter to a prestigious lord with how he fretted. Simply wanting everything to be perfect for a good impression he jumped when he heard the knock from across the hall.

Sprinting over to the door, he paused just outside of it to take a deep breath and try to pretend that he was perfectly calm despite the odd, pounding undead heart. "Welcome!" he greeted with a slide of the door, unable to keep the sparkles out of his red eyes. "Are you Clover? My name is Jhin and it's a pleasure to meet you!" overly friendly, it would have been the same greeting just with less excited fidgeting on any other occasion.

Zelos, not having near the amount of energy his rider seemed to have built up, at least came to greet their guests too. He, however, stayed inside instead of coming to meet them at the door. "Welcome." was the simple statement he gave, waving them to follow him to the living that had been set up with snacks and pillows on the floor. Even in normal conditions he wasn't one for greeting newcomers, it was less so for this bonding Jhin had arranged.

Waiting at the door with his pair of dragons who sat and waited as well, it was only a moment but after a flight across the lands it felt longer to everyone there. Kiwi was pleased to finally be inside, hopping along inside after pausing to stare at Jhin.

“Hullo!” She said cheerily, heading right over to a pillow in the living room to lay on. Looking like a very pleased cat bird, Clover couldn’t blame her.

“Ah yes, I am indeed Clover. It’s great to finally meet you Jhin.” Holding out to shake the other’s hand, he stepped inside so Beloved could wander in as well, more than happy to follow after her half brother who she paused to say hello to, rubbing her head on him but didn’t expect much reaction before she laid down on the floor to have a few snacks. Well, the dragons were happy to be here, it was just another adventure to them. “Kiwi is the small cat looking one. She’s quite smart, just not when it comes to her words.”

Twitching her ears, Kiwi turned to the pair of riders coming in. Clover hispolite self as he spoke with Jhin, a slight charm to him but very toned down compared to how he was with his husband rider. Sighing, she snuggled back down into the pillow before she chirped at Beloved who looked over at her, chirping back as they started singing to each other as the strange humanoid dragon was bringing in snacks. When he did though, Kiwi stared at him and looked around the house to see if there were any other dragons around. Not seeing any from her pillow spot, she turned back to Zelos.

“Are Zelos?”

Staring up at the larger bird as they came in, they reminded him of one of Tay's birds, but with less fluff and more stars. Jhin of course loved all sorts of animals so he was more than pleased by all the fluffy guests. Even the other rider had ears that reminded him of the darker haired friend that was absent today. "Oooh, I see! She's very cute, I've never seen a wingless wyvern before." He really wanted to pick her up and pet her, but very much resisted the urge, that would be his dragon's job!

Not that Zelos looked like he was about to pick anyone up. At least greeting his half sister, he sat quietly on one of the pillows away from everyone. He didn't look like he wanted to be there at the moment, his stiff posture giving that away well enough. Not even giving a proper verbal answer he merely nodded to the smaller dragon asking if he was Zelos. "You're Kiwi." It was a statement over a question since only two dragons came in and he felt that family tie to the bird. Was... this one even a bird too? She didn't look all that impressive, but he wasn't a dragon that cared about that sort of thing anyway.

Feeling that bit of awkwardness between them, Jhin was the first to speak up to break it when it started to stretch, "So! If this is Kiwi, who's the other dragon?" Hopefully if he took up a bit of Clover's attention, his dragon would get the hint and go show Kiwi around.

Following Jhin with his arms crossed behind his back, Clover agreed that she was a cutie. Though not that many people thought the same as some seen her as odd and very much not cute. He was partial to his bean baby though, and all his children that were good most the time.

“Why thank you, I do find her to be quite cute. I hope Zelos doesn’t mind her strange shape.” He wasn’t going to try and just smash them together and assume they were going to get along, even if this was more arranged over asked. He was still going to take into consideration how the dragons themselves thought about it.

Making a nest out of some pillows and a blanket that was resting on the floor, Beloved gave her happy coos as the pair of dams stopped singing. Kiwi had settled down and stared at Zelos with her big and green eyes. Tail twitching as she waited for him to answer ner. Not that she got an answer at all, not vocally. They both knew of each other though. It left her tilting her head as she continued to stare at him.

“Ah, the other is Beloved. She’s Zelos’s half sister if i recall her words correctly. She wanted to come visit so she offered to fly us.” Jhin wasn’t the only one to notice their awkward dragons, cooing to his dragons and got Kiwi’s attention quickly as Beloved just slowly raised her head to look at him. “Hey Kiwi, didn’t you want to go look at the griffins? You can give Zelos the shinies after.”

Gasping, she was straight up and onto her feet, skittering over to Zelos to tug on his skirt. Wanting to go and see the feathery things outside since she loves chasing them and collecting their feathers. And the promise of the shinies in her bag after was even better!

“Outside? Explore?” She asked the humanoid dragons.

Purposefully ignoring his rider's glances, the one called Clover was far more forward with their hints. Narrowing his eyes, this would have been a great time to try passing the task off to that skittish creature of the abyss... no, even then they'd probably shove themselves in the cupboards to avoid the guests if they were here. Why couldn't Jhin just go out to see if he could find an egg up at the hatchery to attach to him instead of thiiiiis. It was such a haaaaassel.

Humming as if he had a choice on whether he could deny the request or not, Zelos could feel those big eyes both from the little dragon and his rider. He didn't do well with big eyes. "Fine. I'll show you the way." Sounding less than willing, like a child being told to go clean their room, he shooed the other off of his skirt to lead them outside to the griffons.

With it being such a nice day outside, most of the larger ones were basking in the sun while the little ones were playing tug of war with some of the pet toys inside without a care in the world. Snapping his fingers, Zelos called up his star pearl with his handheld attached, sitting on the steps as soon as they arrived. "Here they are, go on then." Starting it up, he wasn't much of an explore sort of dragon.

Giving her happy chirps of excitement as Zelos led the way, it left Clover sighing as he wondered was it a good idea to leave his attention hungry girl with the grumpy male. She was bound to nip at someone if there was no attention given to her. He supposed he could only wait and see what happened, maybe the other was secretly romantic and would adore his small dam.

With the door open, Kiwi darted off after a small griffin. Not all that into the idea of chasing but the feathers. So many feathers, all sorts of colors, Kane loved feathers! He’d sew the nice ones into clothes and decorations and used the not so nice ones for filling things that needed to be fluffy. They were so useful! How could she pass them up. Occasionally she returned to where Zelos was, setting the feathers in a pile near him, running off to gather more that were sticking out of griffins or on the ground.

As she gathered the soft and fluffy light weight things she also came across many colored gemstones that stuck out of the rocks that the griffins were laying on. SHining in the light and casting colors across the ground that caught her attention. They too went into the nest feathers! Then eventually into the bag where they’d be given to her rider as this wasn’t meant to be a permanent nest after all.

With time she had a large pile, starting to climb onto them best she could as she made that as her nest. Staring at the male with her unblinking eyes before chirping at him. She knew of these video games, as Kaz and Ix had bunches, but she knew why she was there. Wanting to build a nest of some sort for their future possible eggs that were to be had.

Not nearly into this whole engagement thing as the little Kiwi seemed to be, Zelos was perfectly comfortable alone on the stairs while the other dragon ran off. It wasn't peace and quiet, but it was the background noise he was used to while playing his games; which meant it was comfortable. He didn't think anything of the feathers that were starting to pile up at his side, engrossed in his button pushing.

It was only when he got chirped at that he paused his game to blink down at the other with his single uncovered eye. Ah right. If he didn't want to upset his rider, he supposed he should at least acknowledge the work that this other dragon was trying to put into their bonding.

Reaching up, Zelos ran a hand through his own wings, pulling out a handful of loose ones to add to the outside of the first attempted nest. Most of them blended in with the other brown griffon feathers, but he specifically pulled out one of his red feathers to tuck beside Kiwi. "There. I have my own bed, but I guess we can move whatever this is in my room." As disdainful as he was towards the set up, he was a dragon that believed in recognizing someone's efforts.

Chirping some more at the other who finally looked down to acknowledge her, she purred once he contributed to the pile of pretty feathers. Pecking at the ground she dug out a few gems to put in the pile too. More than happy to settle down in the feathery mess while he went back to playing his video game. He totally understood what she was doing, yeah!

No, no he didn’t. Pouting a little, she supposed it would have been better to communicate what she was doing as he seemed to be the lazy and uncooperative sort that just wanted to lay around and enjoy his current life. Not that he could blame him, she liked to lay in the sun and nap as well, but her rider needed happiness! So she was willing to put more effort than normal in.

“Nest!” She told the male, wiggling a little more and sinking into the feathery pile more. Soon only her head was sticking out. Even that was starting to vanish as she sank more into the soft plush that was under her.

Though confused on why the other was pouting, it wasn't like Zelos could do anything about it. Back to his game, that didn't last long as the other piped up with the single word, 'nest,' making him blink. Well, yes, that's what he thought it was supposed to be. A nest for her right? It certainly wasn't big enough for him. Ah, although he did suppose they were supposed to make one of these together... that required so much eeeeffort on his part. It'd be so much easier just making his bed the nest.

It... was pretty funny watching the funny looking dragon sink into all the feathers though. Not that he was one to talk, he didn't even look like a dragon, happily misleading people about being a quetzal to leave him alone. Holding back that snicker as Kiwi sunk in over her head was too much though. "Alright, alright, here. I'll at least weave them for you." As a wind dragon, he was plenty good at making nest naturally. Picking the feathers and weaving them while slowly uncovering the cat hen inside. Of course- actually having hands and fingers for this was plenty useful as well.

“Nest?” Her muffled voice came from the soft pile of browns, whites, and a few specks of other colors from Zelos’s feathers and some of the new babies that were a bit more colorful plumage wise even if so young. Starting to accept her life of becoming one with the feathers, the gems she had sprinkled in fell onto her head. Meeping as one smacked onto her head she made big eyes at the other male who couldn’t see her, about to start whining or chirping when slowly a hand came into view to grab a few feathers. Then a few more. Slowly the feathers were taken out and weaved together into a more sturdy shape that was kind of nest shaped. Though still engulfed in the pumage that didn’t belong to her, it was nice watching the new bond partner help in nest making after her lone attempt wasn’t that successful. It was comfy though.

“Bed nest?” She chirped, wondering if Zelos wanted to put it inside and away from the elements so it would last or should she just move the pile of feathers as she was staying for a little bit. In hope that the two of them would get along with each other as the days passed.

Humming a tune without realizing it, Zelos wondered if he were simply made for being a wife. He enjoyed cooking, cleaning, and apparently weaving, if he took up sewing as well he might even hum during that as well. Leaning over to peer in all the plumage that was covering the dragon he knew was inside, he hadn't thought of the emeralds that would slip through.

In fact, he still didn't think of it as he thought they were simply chirping at him from feeling the feathers being moved. Though it was a misunderstanding, he did brush a few of the feathers away to pat her head and let the hen cat know it was still just him messing with it.

"Yeah. Give me a second to finish this part and I'll move it." Of course he wasn't good at picking apart the simple sentences yet, but at least in this situation the wind side of him was much more of a boon than the dark.

Once he was finished with the weaving, he picked up both the nest and the dragon since they were both light. It'd be a good chance to show her where a few things around the house too before they were stuck together.

Waiting for the male to slowly release her from her comfortable entrapment, Kiwi was very much a patient sort and fell quiet aside from those bird cooing noises she gave as she closed her eyes to rest them. Calm, even if buried slightly by her gathering of feathers and gems. It didn’t feel like long at all she was left waiting as the nest was weaved together by someone with thumbs. The strange wingless wyvern usually managed with her legs but she usually didn’t have much experience in the way of weaving. Usually she could take it to the nice ginger husband and he’d do it for her without question.

Dozing and thinking things over, content in her warm abyss of soft, she meeped as she was picked up. Atleast used to suddenly being whisked, she was limp, looking around as she carried back inside and past the riders who were chatting and petting Beloved who was snoozing on the ground. She continued her pleased coo, suddenly remembering the shinies though! Clover said she could show them! Wiggling a little, she reached her head into her bag, withdrawing a gold ring she tapped on Zelos’s arm as he carried her. She wanted to give him the shiny! She was sure he’d like it.

It was simple, no gems or markings on it, just a gold band that seemed a bit too big but it was enchanted to fit whomever wore it. So just needed to go on one of his pale fingers and all would be well. Once he set the bed down anyways. For not she listened if he spoke, small ears twitching as she was very good at listening.

Pointing out the bathroom, kitchen, and of course the living room too as they passed, there was still a whole other half to the house, but most of those rooms were for guests and meditation. He was at least glad for the chance to check on his rider who seemed to still be having a good time chatting and getting to know the other as well. Not many people came up here so... he supposed this engagement thing wasn't all bad if it meant one more person for his rider to acquaint themselves with.

Zelos figured Kiwi wasn't paying him too much mind at first as they got to his room, but setting her down, he realized her ears tended to go forward whenever he seemed to be done speaking. Mm, it was hard to keep looking back at someone while they were trying to show you around.

"And here is my room," he finished, setting the nest down to blink at the offered ring. It... looked a little too big for him. And made it a bit awkward since he hadn't prepared anything for her for their meeting. "Oh uuuh, thank you. Wait here." At least he tended to find random items in the aviary the griffons would bring back. Rifling through a drawer, he brought back a small gem that matched the dragon's eyes with a wire through it. He figured it had broken off of a collar before the birds got a hold of it. "Here, for you too."

Set down finally, Kiwi was still holding the ring until Zelos took it from her. Pleased by his thanks and was settling down in the feather nest next to the bed as he wandered off. Surely it was nap time now, or to the dam she thought it was nap time as she had been out salvaging the night before with the other three that had agreed to come with her. The small dam had yet to sleep, not that she would tell anyone that as she was pleased when people were pleased.

Fluttering her eyes back open as Zelos returned, her ears perked up and she got up. Giving him those happy chirps as she took it from his hand gently, she paused to rub her head against his hand too. Even if she was smooth skinned she was soft, her riders tended to take very good care of their dragons and pampered them so they were healthy and well loved.

“Thanks!” She managed with the wire and gem in her mouth. Slow blinking her eyes though, she settled back down with the gem in her mouth. Purring as she settled down into a nice little nap. Though she didn’t know much about pair bonds, she did like this feeling. So maybe it would be alright. The week to follow was sure to tell them that, hopefully a good tale of happy endings. Kiwi was fond of the happy endings, they made everyone happy.