ETTING   OME   O   LFANDRA

---

Shyriath's Little Trip (alternate) part 12

"Well then I suggest we make ourselves difficult for them to find. How are you at tree climbing?" He begins to climb one of the largest trees to reach the open sky above. His tail lashes back and forth then grips the tree branches for added support.

Shyriath grimaces, then unsheathes his claws and begins climbing up after Cira.

He HATES high-stress activity...

"I'm surprised that the Sa'arunai'itai were not able to alter themselves to make high altitude life more possible.  I couldn't even list all the adjustments I've made to my own biology for similar things." He says as he climbs.

Shyriath wheezes, "They never modified themselves. They considered their own genetic material to be sacred."

"Ah."  Cira nods to himself understandingly.  Without encouragement and direction from his Creator he would not feel comfortable doing such things himself.  But he wonders about their apparent freeness in making the Guardians.  Having reached the tree's top he scans the moonlit terrain locating the direction of the mountains.  His color is nearly as dark as the night its self visually masking him, making him all but invisible.  He spreads his wings and lets the gentle wind carry him aloft flying slowly towards the mountains, and hopefully a safe place to sleep.  He is at home in the night sky, having spent many nights in flight.  Yet this is not quite as carefree a night as some of the previous it is still quite peaceful and nothing like the harrowing ones from just before his arrival in the Dominance.  The thought crosses his mind that they might not see it again.  He hopes this is not true but is determined to live happily no matter how things turn out.

Meanwhile, Shyriath follows, his relatively light weight allowing him to glide with relative ease. This is fortunate, for his weak muscles cannot sustain him in actual flight for long periods. He makes himself effectively invisible to the ground via his usual method, a form of telepathic persuasion that "convinces" others not to see him.

Below them looming over the surrounding jungle is a massive Kapok tree while just to the South a river cuts just wide enough to reveal its self through the foliage.

The river to the south bends its way to the east before continuing north, toward the mountians where its headwaters lie.

In the bend in the river, which now is off to the right and slightly behind the pair of flying dragons, there can be seen beneath the treetops the glittering of bright lights. At one point, which appears to be the center of the area of lights, there is a clearing in the forest, and what appears to be some kind of city square; buildings done in vivid blue, green, and purple patterns. The buildings, which are very large and give the feeling of a governmental or other type of administrative district, are organic-looking in design and resemble a host of great sea creatures. Presumably, smaller buildings such as dwellings are hidden beneath the canopy; although the local trees seem to have wide crowns of foliage, this means that there must be many many trees in between the buildings.

Shyriath is captivated by the sight. "Sa'arani", he whispers. The great capital of the Sa'arunai'itai. And there, at the corner of the square, is the palace of the royal family, the House of Hasha'aratha.

It occurs to him that his mother is there, right at this moment... still a child.

Almost almost has to force himself not to veer toward the city, to see it up close...

He turns away, and looks instead to the dark, dreary mountains to the north, where they now head, the ice-capped peaks seeming suddenly foreboding and lonely.