"I know, it's just sort of a habit for me. Just about everyone I care about is in this area. I know you'll always be fine, with or without us. And that we can normally be fine without you, no need to rely on Rynn for everything. Still, guess it's a bit silly thinking about it now. So you sure you don't want to get caught up on all the latest juicy gossip? Oh, hang on, even if you don't this one piece should be worth a laugh. Drake's engaged, heh. And he's hoping all his friends will be there for the ceremony. I didn't think he'd be going that far with anyone, especially after he and Heru broke up." Silly dragon, acting more like Crimson would be at a time like this. But then again around her he was always a little different, only her, Amon, and Krynn ever really got him off his "norm" when he saw them.

Drake getting married, eh?
Why did this news sound familiar?
Had she heard of it before leaving or were those just petty rumors then?
"That.. That is some pretty interesting news."
She paused a moment, still pondering on the thought.
It was big news in a way, but hopefully no one would really expect her to wear a dress.. Boy this was kind of awkward in a way..
"Huh, that is surprising after the whole Heru ordeal.. When does he plan on having this wedding? ...At least I'm assuming it still hasn't happened yet since it seems to still be in the talk.."
What would she be forced to wear?
Why was she even pondering over this!?
Mentally tearing her mohawk out, the hybrid smirked and twiddled with a rock in her claws.
Geez, not fully being back yet and already she was seeming to act like one of those females at the school. Weird...

"Not sure when he wants to have it. Seems like he keeps changing the date or how long it'll be. There was talk it would be a nice authentic Hawaiian theme, possibly even a trip out there. Well, anyway, there's dozens of things that happen around here and I'm sure not all of them are interesting for you. What do you want to know about? Or anything interesting happen on your trip?" Blake was blissfully ignorant of all of her emotions and her conflicting feelings. And of her history, the reason she was still having so much trouble.

"Well, sounds like he really wants to go all out on this huh? A possible trip out there? Wow.."
Great. If he wanted everyone to be there, then that would mean she would have to get on an airplane... CRAP!
"That would involve getting on an airplane huh?"
The thought made her cringe and shudder. She was afraid of flying, no matter the fashion of it.
"Well, I don't know, how have the kids been doing since, uh.. since I've been gone? They behaving? How's little Inno?"

"Not necessarily a plane, heh, could always fly dragonback. Or you could take a much longer ride and have a dragon walk and swim you there... but that might take a lot longer and some of them are easily distracted. Anyway, uh, the kids have been doing pretty well. Inno's safe, she's still a little... energetic and explorative? She has fun sneaking out but not as much I think. None of them have really been fighting with each other much, Rose probably found some way to convince them not to do that on one of her visits. She only drops by once in a while but when she does there's almost always a little change in their attitudes."

I think having everyone on a private cruise ship would be more appropriate... Either way I look at flying still has that affect on me."
She mocked a grimace. Though this hybrid was being serious, she could still make fun of her own fears with little notice to her actually being afraid of the things.
When he spoke of the kids, it pleased her to learn that the kids were getting along better. It was especially pleasing that Inno was not sneaking out nearly as much as she done in the past. Ever since that child could open her eyes wide and walk around, she had always been trying to sneak out and explore.
"I shall have to make Rose a thank you cake or something then.. I'm glad she's been there to help you out when you need it."
She probably sounded unsure, for good reason it was. She was uncertain of what to say without trying to make it sound like it had been done on purpose or because she absolutely needed to leave before things happened. No, thats why she left while everyone was asleep with only a note for comfort. She was never good with goodbye's.. no matter how long or short they may have been.

Possibly one of the few things that Blake was still uncertain about her. How could she have so many dragon friends and not like flying? Maybe one of these days he should just give her a ride without notice to see if it'd be fun. "Dunno how she does it, might be some magic for all I know. Or they're all growing out of that constant trouble phase? Nah... kids take forever to grow out of that don't they? Hehe, sometimes even you and me get into that sort of mood right? Exploring, lifting weights, we try to put that energy to good use but it still seeps out into trouble." Odd that Rynn seemed unsure, but after her trips he always expected a different sort of attitude. Different ways to bring herself back in, or to keep herself out.

Smirking, the hybrid shook her head.
"Diablo and Ashlin didn't start slowing down until after they were both passed the age of twenty five. I'm sure the kids will slow down, but not entirely grow out of that."
She continued smirking, watching him closely.
"Afterall, everyone always remains young at heart many a time."
Rynn could feel what Blake was thinking without even having to read his mind.
It was odd how so many around her could fly and yet she was scared to death of flying. Even though they had just finished talking about her father, somehow, this creature could not bring herself to talk about everything that had happened after her father passed and Makor took custody..
"I know, I know.. It's hard to believe I'm afraid to fly. I can't help it... I've always been afraid to fly even when I was little.. after father passed that is.."
She had picked herself up and walked towards the mouth of the cave, leaning against one of the sides with her ears down.

Blake always knew there were certain subjects that just weren't proper to discuss with Rynn, usually they involved her past or her personal life. For example if she were seeing someone she'd either let you know or she'd bop you one for asking such a stupid question. Her family was usually out of the question too, very private in that aspect of her life. Which Blake didn't mind, for probably a good fifty or more years he never mentioned any of his relatives. Now he was "stuck" with most of them and he was happy enough, discussing them wasn't a problem anymore. "Well one of these days we'll get you back to flying Rynn." Maybe she used to get rides from her dad, that'd be reason enough to lose the desire to fly. Having your best, most favorite form of flying taken from you at a young age would ruin the whole experience and who else would you want to trust more than your father?

The slender creature stayed near the mouth of the cave. Remaining silent in moments like this was her best feat, although it would really do her some good to let another know as to why she was afraid of flying instead of enjoying it.
"When I was younger..."
She started, but it got stuck in her throat, refusing to budge as if it was rooted there.
Closing her eyes and pinning her ears back, this hybrid didn't want to say it but it was needed to be known for any possible future endeavors.
Swallowing the lump in her throat, a deep breath was taken.
"When I was little, two years before I met my siblings finally, Makor found it to be a cruel game to fly to amazing heights and drop me and waiting until just a few feet above the ground before catching me..."
It had been spoken extremely soft, tenderly, in a manner that almost seemed to bring out that forgotten child in her... The forgotten child that had grown up much too quickly.
If Blake looked close enough, he would see that Rynn was shaking a little. Just thinking about it all scared her so.

Blake could scarcely believe what he was hearing. To be so cruel, to one without wings! To take the sheer joy and freedom of flight and turn it into a prison, a nightmarish torture! Such things were beyond his ability to forgive, nearly beyond all comprehension. And to a child no less! Maybe he could understand in a wartime setting, getting vital information from a spy or prisoner, but that was still a mighty big stretch. "If you ever do fly again, I'll be there to catch you if you fall, not at the last second but right away, before you even know you're falling. That probably... probably doesn't sound as noble as I had hoped it would, heh, but you get the picture. You'd be safe with me." Of course he had no idea that Rynn's future was more than likely with one who slithered along the ground, not one that flew through the sky.

Hard to really understand why someone would love to do that to a small child?
Yes it was. Perhaps because Makor was getting sick by the time she came around..
Or perhaps because Rynn had no one to really help her when he would start in on the punishment.
Diablo and Ashlin didn't know about Rynn until it was undeniable that she was trying to escape and ran into them accidentally. Of course there was confusion, but both had stood up for her when Makor had decided to come after her, they had taught her the basics to defend herself. But thing began to change when Rynn started fighting back. Punishment had become even more severe even after Makor's wife died.
"I... I don't know if I'll ever be able to go back into the air without hurting the one who was carrying me... I don't know if I'd want to put myself and someone else through that ever again.."
The hybrid went to her knees and clinged to the side of the cave, letting silent tears gentl roll down her cheeks..
Did she look miserable and pathetic now to him?
Did she look weak and small?

And for once it seemed as though Blake could read her mind, or at least her body language. "You know Rynn, I've always said you're strong, tough. But you just showed you're even stronger than I could have imagined. It takes a lot to even admit to a fear, I can't even really admit to mine. So don't let that feeling ever get you down. Some day you'll be able to get past that fear, maybe not tonight or tomorrow but some day. You've already gone one round face to face with it, nine more rounds until the final bell, or you can knock it out whenver you feel like. And... I started off making sense and now I'm rambling aren't I? Still, you've got nothing to cry about."

She couldn't help it.
Somehow talking about this only made the tears come down even more.
She was sad because there really were things she could not talk about..
Much like how she killed Makor to end his hold over her and her siblings... just to name one..
I'm such an idiot.. I've done so many things that even the most forgiving would not be able to forgive.. I'm such a fool.. I can barely stand myself anymore..
The hybrid thought to herself, beating herself up inside for showing this kind of emotion to anyone but her reflection at a water's edge.
Keeping her back to the black dragon, she stayed there for a long while.
She didn't move save for the slight shaking in her body. The tears just wouldn't stop.
She almost wished Ashlin was there to hold onto her and wipe away her tears and coax her to sleep, but even that seemed as if it were not but a distant memory these days..

Blake, against his better judgment, chose to slowly move up behind her and give her a hug. "It's okay Rynn, it's okay. This is what friends and family are for, supporting you when you need us. Come on, it's probably been a long day. Just take a little nap, you'll feel better. Go to sleep looking at a picture of your dad, comforting memories, something that'll encourage you to have pleasant dreams. I'd offer to sing but that'd give you nightmares, hehe." If nothing else at least he might be able to distract her from her own problems by poking fun at himself.