<strong>Neria Zathrieal and Saphira.  Elf and Dragon, six months in the saddle and still going, still growing and learning.</strong><br/><br/>Only the deep rhythmic bellows that passed as Neria's dragon kept the elven priestess at peace during her morning ritual of offering prayers to a new elven god since her old one of her own people from her old world held no sway here.  She had had a very bad nightmare last night, and only Saphira knew anything about the elven woman's past trauma that was over a hundred years old but it still held sway over her today during extreme stress or emotional duress.  Either way, yesterday had been rough since she had first heard the Grey One, or as she'd come to be known anyway.  The sound of the thing's 'song' had chilled Neria to the bone, but that hadn't been enough to cause her to have nightmares.  It was the Urghal attack she and Saphira had stopped on their way to Vreongard that had caused her nightmares to come back in force.  She had reported her findings to the other Riders as was right, but had kept her own personal issues out of the debate since she was still learning to trust the others around her.  Saphira on the other hand let her blue crystal eyes find Neria's own sea green orbs as the priestess in question stood up for the first time since taking her silent spot on her carpeted floor within her private quarters.  "You needn't worry dear heart, I'm fine now."  Saphira wasn't convinced, and it was clear in her thoughts that the golden blonde haired, extremely beautiful woman could hear ever since becoming a dragon rider when she had touched the dragon's egg during a bright sunny day.<br/><br/>"Screaming as if you were being attacked does not constitute being fine Neria.  Please, if you won't open up to anyone else, at least open up to me."  Neria sighed and walked over to her closet, a wooden stand on the right side holding her elven mithril chainmail she had came in on that day.  It still worked quite well for her new duties as a dragon rider.  She and Saphira were still a long way from being ready for anything big, but they could handle a small band of Urghal raiders without a problem.  The problem had been because they reminded her so much of orc raiders from Toril that had caused her to have a temporary relapse in her mental state.  Saphira knew this because there were few things they could hide from each other anymore, a small side effect of sharing a mental bond as tight as theirs, but one Neria treasured more than anything else anymore.  Sitting on her four poster canopy bed that was piled high with very comfortable pillows and draped in clean white sheets, the elf looked down to a part of the floor that wasn't covered by the richly done rug and sighed again, smiling softly when she felt the dragon's scaly hide against her cheek as Saphira gently nudged her with her head that was attached to her serpentine neck.  "Speak to me Neria.  Please."  Neria gently ran her dexterous fingers over the dragon's face, smiling softly as she nodded solemnly.<br/><br/>"I'm sorry Saphira, you're right.  I can't keep this inside forever.  That Urghal raid we interrupted and scattered to the four winds....the damage they had wrought before our arrival is what set the dreams off.  So many people dead, and for what?  A few containers of food, weapons that are too small for them?  Something wasn't right about all of that and I think the not knowing is what's bothering me the most.  An attack like that doesn't happen by chance, especially after the group in question just happened to hit that small farming village right when a merchant caravan had shown up, which means they either got lucky or someone tipped the monsters off.  Who would work with anything resembling an orc is beyond me but that is my own personal issues talking."  Saphira nodded solemnly this time before retracting her neck away from her charge, Neria following her as they prepared for the day with a hearty meal and a good long soak in the hotsprings in the basement of Vreongard.  Dressing a while later, they continued to talk the entire time that they dried and dressed, well, that Neria dried herself and dressed, Saphira simply shook herself dry.  "What do you suppose the others will have us do today?  I myself would love to learn how to fly upon your back better, but anyone that has ever dreamed of anything like this can say the same I'm sure, provided they don't have a fear of flying."  Saphira gave a chuckle that resonated deep in her belly, and Neria shook her head in amusement at the same time.<br/><br/>"I imagine that we will find out soon enough.  Come, let us go while the sun is still in the sky."  Neria nodded as she saddled up and Saphira bent down as low as she could, making the job easier until they were ready with her rider in full armor and gear, her holy fire sword on her right hip and a heavy but sturdy mithril shield on her back easy to see.  It didn't take them long, wandering the wide halls and passages of the massive fortress to find their way outside again, just in time to see their elders heading out for an early morning flight or a training session.  Either way, Neria waved from Saphira's back, uncertain if the two had seen them yet or not, but either way she nudged Saphira up to join Bathild and Diamonte.  Feeling the wind rushing through her long golden hair and against her face, Neria was smiling quite broadly, unable to help herself since this was only her tenth time up in the air since Saphira had become old enough to fly with her on the wonderful creature's back.  This was truly beautiful and enjoyable, and there was nothing in this world or her own that she would trade for this feeling.