Tsuj frowned unhappily but broke the meat in two and handed half to Vlun. Tsuj look at Tael and stuck the meat in his mouth before pointing every which way. He didn't know the way out.
Vlun axepted the dried meat with gratitude, eating it by exagerated small bites. He looked up at the older pendragon. "No not really. I just sorta came here. Don't know from which way though." He looked around once again but nothing was there to surprise him He kicked a bit of the sand near his foot in boredom. "Sure I'll come with. I dont know about that little guy though. Seems to want out of here." He said, noding his head in Tsuj's direction. He stood up and wiped a bit of sand off his fur. ((OOC: sorry I was dragged away on emergency grocery shopping.))
Tsuj nodded. -OUT!- he exclaimed pointing up. -OUT!- he cried again trying to emphasize his point. He turned to Vlun -Can we go now.- he asked unhappily before shaking his body and spraying sand everywhere.
A gentle smile crossed his face. "I'm sure I can get you all out of here in one piece. Just came from the ruins a while ago." Tael stood there, observing them further. He checked the sun briefly and then the spot where he had landed to confirm his bearings, but then pulled his compass out just in case. "If we head this way..." he said pointing east, "we should reach someplace with water a tad sooner than if we headed to the south..." He wasn't about to head back north again. He grinned at them again and checked in his satchel to see how much food and water he had left.
Vlun looked at Tsuj. "Well I guess we are ready to go then." He said with a grin. He was very glad that Tael had shown up. What would he and Tsuj do then? Wander around, in hopes of finding water? That was very unlikely. He started to walk in the direction that Tael had indicated to be east. He looked up at the sky, and then back ahead of him. He did not wait for the other two, they could catch up. "What are we waitin' for?"
-LETS GO!- Tsuj called happily. He jumped onto Vlun's back before springing off and running in the direction Tael had specified.
Tael shrugged and trudged along, very upset that he was going to have to walk. It was slower and his wings were just too big. The 'dragon followed along behind them, wondering when he wwas going to get his canteen back. Hanging his compass around his neck, Tael continued to walk. So long as they were going the right way, he'd let them lead so he could keep an eye on them. "Coming," he called.
Vlun felt the weight of Tsuj on him and almost fell down, but he continued to walk. He was getting to like the little pendragon. He looked behind him at Tael to see if he was following and thankfully he was. Vlun let out a sigh of releif. He wouldn't have minded if the others flew ahead of him, he was a fast runner and as long as he could see them he would have been fine. "How long will this walk be you think?" He called back to Tael, hoping it would not be too long, the sun could not stay in the sky forever.
((OOC: Going to go HOME! Then I may or may not be online again.)) He shrugged his shoulders and snorted some sand out of his nose. "How long?" he repeated the question. Tael looked up at the sky and pulled a map out of his bag. He thought for a while and looked after the two. "Should be at least a day at this rate... half a day if we went twice as fast," he chuckled. Where were these two going? He should be sure that they got to a safe location. "Do you to go to the Academy? My little sister goes there..."
Tsuj flapped his wings trying to gain a small amount of altitude but all he could manage was a hover. and that was only after he picked his feet off the ground. In between his tiny claws he held Tael's canteen. For the moment, it was his prized possesion
Vlun tripped on his own foot when he heard how long it would take. He stumbled, regained his balance and trudged on. The flame on his back was noticeably higher and lighter than it had been. Vlun gritted his teeth. A DAY??? He sighed and looked down at Tsuj and a smile returned to his face. "Well Im suposed to be back at the school in a couple of days." He said, hoping he would be able to make it in time. This entire ordeal was not overly exiting. He decided to keep the conversation going, for his sanity's sake. "Really? Whats her name?"
Watching the young 'dragon gain a little height brought an amused grin to his face. Hearing Vlun ask a question though, he answered. "Her name's Katrina... sliiightly hyper most of the time. She takes warrior classes or whatever she likes to call them. ...Actually, I think she mentioned you in a letter last Dyo..." Perhaps there was some way to get them all out of this place a tad faster? Tael looked around and saw nothing but dirt. He did notice Tsuj flitting around with his canteen though. "I'm sure you'll make it back to Swaraj in no time. How did you get all the way over here, anyway?" Tael unfolded and refolded his wings, little bits of sand stinging and weighing him down.
Tsuj raised a paw. -OH! I KNOW!- He exclaimed. -I saw a lizard! I followed it. It started to run. I chased it. It came in here. Sand started blowing everywhere. And I got lost!- He smiled happily. Then he put the canteen in his mouth and tried to fly again.
"I don't know exactly how I ended up here." Vlun admited. "I was just walking , I think a while back I had a pack, don't know what happened to it though. But I was just walking and I knew which way I can come from so I wasn't wored. But when the sand started up I sorta got turned around." Vlun kept walking, taking long strides. He let the flame on his back die down for it did not help the temperature situation. He looked at Tsuj and smiled slightly. Man we are lucky. He thought. "Hm...Katrina, I might have seen her around the school. I got a bad memory."
All this talk of Janardan and seeing Tsuj attempt to fly got him to thinking. He was low on supplies, not to mention low on money to purchase those supplies. There were few events to report on, and not many were interested in buying his photos or stories. He had been specifically trained in flight, perhaps the school needed help for flight courses? "Next time you probably shouldn't wander into the desert without some way of finding your way back." Damn this arid place, there weren't any trees, landforms, or even oddly shaped rocks. It was all just sand. Itchy sand at that. "Nice vacation spot though, I must say." Tael smirked and started trotting, his wings leaving two long lines in the sand behind them. At least they'd know if they were going straight. All they had to do was look back... or check the compass. But at this quickened pace they should be able to get there faster. "Hop on," Tael said with a nod at Tsuj. That energy wouldn't last him long, and the poor little 'dragon was just too much for him to watch, bouncing around like he was. His wings parted to make a little more room for the younger pendragon to perch between them. "That water has to last a while... I hope you didn't drink it all." He said it to himself, but for all he knew, the others had heard too. Finally, the 'dragon just decided to ask. "Hey Vlun, you wouldn't happen to know if Janardan needs any new teachers, do you?" Maybe he could escort these two back to Swaraj and get a temporary job while he was at it.
Tsuj ran back to Tael with a smiling face. As he jumped onto Tael's back he exclaimed -BOING!- He shook Tael's canteen in front of his face. Both offering it back and ensuring him there was still water in there. He pulled Tael's pack up to him, put the canteen back and started examining it for more interesting items.
"Oof-" Tael sighed and nodded, noting that there was enough water left. He let Tsuj rumage through his things. Maybe it would keep him still. He kept the pace going, and looked back to check on Vlun, still waiting for him to answer.
Vlun cringed at the mention of his choice on vacation spot. The flame on his back rose slightly and then went back down, it might have been just a passing breeze, who knew. He looked up at Tael. "Not any teacher jobs I know of, those seem to be in high demand. There is an Educational Assistant job open and a bunch of secretary positions." Vlun smiled slightly at the idea of this pendragon as a secretary, he did not seem like the type, at least not to Vlun. He watched Tsuj a little and had a thought. "Think you could carry him? If you flew I mean. IÂ’m a fast runner, I am sure I could keep up if you flew on and I just ran behind. I made it all the way out here I know I can make it back. Besides I can let you know if I get tired." Vlun smirked again, it seemed it would work, he might be lazy but he surely could run great distances if it was necessary. He looked around. Yes I am sorry poor buddy, it is necessary. His mind told him.
Tsuj pulled out Tael's camera. He smiled. Now this is interesting He thought. He looked closely at the camera trying to figure out how it worked.
Sitting behind a desk did not sound like such a cozy place. He'd just have to find work elsewhere. More mail carrying... jubilation. His eyes widened as he sensed his camera being pulled from his pack, Tael turned around to look at Tsuj. "Careful with that... it's how I make my living," he muttered. The 'dragon sighed and extended his wings. "And sure I can fly, so long as you're alright." Large green wings spread wide on his back. "As soon as we hit the top of the next dune." He flapped them once or twice to stretch, kicking up some sand in the process. Some of the sand came from his own wings and then mingled with that from the ground. If only he had never had to land in the first place. Stupid sand... Wings spread, Tael sent a message to the small 'dragon on his back. Now watch how it's done and hold on. He pulled up short for a moment to adjust his goggles and took off running. The amount of effort it took to get a full grown pendragon off the ground was incredible, but the size of his wings helped. He pumped his wings hard, taking full wingbeats to get the most air under them. At the top of the dune, he leapt, and found a nice updraft. They were on their way now, gaining altitude steadily. Once they were at a good cruising height, Tael checked on Tsuj before looking down at Vlun. We set? he sent.
