+1+
In the order, who are you most fond of, and why? When did you first become so fond, or was it a series of things that made you cherish him/her? (your bondmate doesn't count!)
"I have come to appreciate many things in life, thus I cherish the connections I've made with people. Some, more than others. There is purpose to all of them, so to say there is one that I am most fond of is unfair, as I am fond of many of the people in my life. However, if I must answer the question with one person, I'd have to say it's Merrik. Not because of my affections for him (which I have started to question), as that'd be biased. But I respect the strength he holds with his position. He has so much responsibility, as we all do, but even more so for him. Without him, I wouldn't be here. He provided for me a sense of adventure and added a higher purpose to my life. He led me to Lyre, who I am so very fond of as our bond and connection has been unlike anything I have felt or experienced before. While there are many I could say sweet words about, without Merrik, our lives would pale in comparison."
+2+
Who do you like the least? Or, who do you know the least? What are your thoughts on them?
It's Requiem, isn't it?
"First of all, fuck that guy. Second of all, that punch calmed me down. I'm not hating on him as much anymore. Do I like him, no. Not really. But I wouldn't say he's the one I'm currently liking the least."
Well then who do you like the least? Wait, Lyre paused after coming to the realization.
Noooooo! Merrik?!
Kalona stayed silent.
Kalona! Spill the beans, c'mon!
"Okay, next question."
+3+
What is the most memorable event you've experienced so far as a tamer? Why is it so memorable? How did this event affect/change you?
Oh, I bet I know this one!
"Lyre you can read my mind, that isn't fair."
It's the night of the watch, isn't it?
"Why yes, yes it is you little cheater. The night I volunteered to take watch early in the morning, only to join Goliath's watch instead. And what happened that night? Care to elaborate, Lyre?"
Hez and I pranked you baaaaad, that's what happened!
"Yes. While Goliath and I were bonding over bacco and blowing smoke rings, doing our duty as soldiers, you two knuckleheads decided to prank us, creating an unknown threat. Aand what'd we do? We got up to investigate like any normal guard would do."
Walking straight into our trap.
"We didn't even see you two camouflaged by the brush. We ran right past you and attacked what we thought was our target, only to be attacked by you two in return."
And how'd that end?
"Covered in maggots, and then drenched with water as he and I found ourselves in the mud. In the fucking mud!"
Lyre burst into laughter, giggling as the events of that night replayed in her mind.
"I will remember that night fondly, and forever. Goliath and I had grown closer that day, and I adored the devious trick cooked up between you and Hez. I bet I know your most memorable event, my dear Lyre, and I don't even need to read your mind," Kalona winked, teasing her sweet pet.
Lyre puffed out her chest and pulled her muzzle back as smoke billowed from her nostrils.
"You and Hez had a nice little chat that morning of the watch about you two, didn't you? I can see the memory fondly in your mind, something along the lines of You bring light into my life Lyre, and I don't want that light to fade away. But that isn't where it started, did it?"
Lyre tucked her head under her wing as she hid her face,
Kalooooona you're making me blush.
"Ah, your most fond memory is the night of the sky dance. The night you and Hezekiah first felt a connection. If I didn't think you two were so damn cute, I'd of been jealous your most fond memory hadn't involved me," she reached her hand beneath her dragon's wing, cupping Lyre'z muzzle and pulling it out from under her wing as their eyes met.
"I am thankful for the friendship Goliath and I have been able to form, for he has become one of my dear friends, if not the one I feel closest to among the Order. Not only have he and I been able to form a connection on our own, but the connection between our dragons has also given us something that would have been naught without you two. It has allowed our friendship to ascend to a level that would not have been possible without the bond between us and our dragons."
I still think Goliath would be a better mating candidate than Merrik...Lyre said under her breath.
"Would you shut it. I was having a moment and you had to ruin it. I'm sorry you don't always agree with my choices in affection." Kalona leaned in and nuzzled against her dragon.
"But you do it because you care about me and for that, I am grateful. I really am. I wouldn't want you to stop expressing your concerns, or wanting what's best for me. I know that no matter how much you oppose, you will always be there for me, supporting me in whichever path I go down. I'd want no one else at my side."
The feeling is mutual, Lyre said with a nod.
"And besides, with the recent events between Merrik and I, I've started to question our relationship. The captain has seemed to jump ship, so I don't think that ship will be in sail much longer."
Does this mean I get my wish? Lyre winked, nudging her tamer.
"Don't get your hopes up. Goliath is my friend, and though I am attracted to him, I respect him as such. He is not someone I would actively pursue and make it my mission to seduce, but rather let happen as it comes, if it would so do so. If it would occur. It is not something I would force or push. Not saying I was entirely that way with Merrik, but I did find enjoyment in trying to get with the commander. It felt like a game of sorts, that he and I would play back and forth. Now that he is unsure about us and whatever it is we have, it leads me to feel unsure as well."
So, what you're saying is, you don't know if what you are feeling with Merrik has been genuine?
"Exactly."
Damn.
"Yeah. So now you know why I've been so moody about him. And your pestering over the matter doesn't do much to help. Anyways, how did this question turn into a conversation about my feelings with Merrik? What's the next question?"
+4+
What are you looking forward to the most in the future? What scares you the most?
"Well ultimately, all answers would lead to the same outcome. That we win this war. For everything that we look forward to most, would be destroyed if we don't. So that is my obvious answer. What I want more than anything is to return home and not only that, but to see my parents again. It's such a simple thing to do. But unfortunately, my duties in life have been preventing me to do so. I could say screw everyone and leave, but in the end, that does not strengthen my chances in winning the war so I must do all in my power to help us succeed. Only then will I be able to return home whenever I want at my own freedoms. What scares me most, is not being able to see them, not being able to return home. If we lose this war, then I lose the place that I once called home. And I lose the people that I love and cherish."
+5+
What are your thoughts on the war, as it stands? Does the Order have a chance? What needs to be done, by not only the Order, not only by yourself, but by all of Illos?
"A younger Kalona would have been cocky and said the enemy stood no chance against us. Completely confident that we had what it took. While I still remain that way to some extent, I am also more realistic. As it stands in this moment in time, we as an Order do not stand a chance. We are weak, our powers do not compare to what Ogual can do, even with Merrik on our side. We have a lot to accomplish, a lot of growing and strengthening of our powers and skillset. With the new addition of tamers, even more training to go through, and unfortunately we have not the time. Luckily, Ogual has been gracious in his attacks. The scary part about that, is we do not know when he will hit us head on. We do not know when he plans on attacking. It has been difficult up to this point, and I fear this is only a sliver of what he can do, what power he possesses. From that tiny sliver, there is an entire tree which we have yet to face. Imagine being impaled by a tree's worth of slivers. That is not something I think we can make it through. At least not now.
It is clear what our agenda is, what we must do. But does Illos understand what it must do? I do not believe they do. I'm surprised it has taken them this long to even realize, or stand up against the threat they face. Even then, I still do not feel as though we are united as one. I do not feel as though we have merged, Illos still seems divided. Politically. Those things don't matter in what we are ultimately facing up against. There is division among the creatures, division among the people, and even more so a division among the two. I saw it back in the sacred shrine with the Centaurs and Unicorns. They do not take kindly to our race, as I'm sure those feelings are shared amongst many other creatures in Illos, and it is sad to me that even beings as advanced as they, do not see the urgency in this. It is our duty to unite those of Illos, man and beast as we are all her sons and daughters and this is our home. If they do not wish to come together, then I hope they find pleasure in watching their home burn because that is exactly what will happen. We need to show Illos that they have power, strength. Bring everyone together and lead an uprising against the darkness. Then and only then, might we have a fighting chance."
An Order does not have a chance if its people and creatures do not walk along beside them in this fight.
+6+
What is your goal in life right now? What are you striving for?
"Fight fire with fire, defeat Ogual with the very methods he uses, mana. And so, I must become the greatest damn mage I can possible be. Until then, all other goals and dreams in life are meaningless until I see him drop dead.
As I've once told Goliath, "I am a woman of this world in all that it represents. I am day, I am night. I am the water that runs through the Sepheric Ocean, the rock of the Bohdra Moutnains, and the wind in the grasslands of Southern Galidus. I am here to serve her, and everything she homes and protects. I volunteered because it is my duty to protect that which I have become. If the Order fails, then I fail along with it. And I do not politely accept failure."
My mission remains the same."
