Looking back, Drache would realize that she owed a lot to Raffey on that trip back to Pyresia. There was no doubt that if she'd had to make that trek alone, she would not have made it without turning back to Coria. He provided ample distraction, and if she hadn't been so gloomy and closed-off she might have explored him even more.

She did her best to pick up his language, but even though she had no trouble making the sounds, it didn't resonate with her as easily as Kvaren had. She tried though, and truthfully did love to listen to him talk. Riding behind him, she often tucked her snout against his back and just rode listlessly. 

But when they finally passed into the glossy green of the jungle, the Ash Peak still distant and impossibly huge, she began to feel better. The terrain was rougher, the jungle reducing their sight, but it was warmer, more humid, and more comfortable. She glanced around, her tail flopping around with more excitement than she had shown in days.

[color=ed1c24]"I don't think I'd want to visit there without you with me,"[/color] she said simply, shrugging. She repeated a few words, a few simple phrases. When he mentioned that he had another form, she assumed that he had some kind of shape-shifting abilities like the dragons in Pyresia and didn't press for details, but her amber eyes darted over him carefully, as though looking for some hint of what this mysterious other form might look like.

It didn't escape her notice that Raffey was growing frustrated with needs, but he had shrunk away from her before, back before Coria, and now she was too despondent to consider that his interest might be directed towards her. So when he stopped the scuttling beetle and announced his wish to switch spots, Drache didn't argue.

[color=ed1c24]"Mhmm...yes. There should be a road somewhere soon that will take us right to the city. The patrols will probably stop us at some point but that won't slow us much. We probably have four more days until we get to the city proper."[/color] The hand on her thigh earned a weak smile, but she did a double-take, perhaps seeing something of his discomfort in his face. She didn't say anything about it, however, moving to scoot in front of him. She tucked her tail down along one of her legs and adjusted her wings so that they wouldn't be in his way as much as he settled in behind her. 

[color=ed1c24]"There, is that better?"[/color] She glanced over her shoulder at him. The world around them had become noisy, birds and monkeys and insects creating a wierd organic symphony of sound. The colours would be much brighter in the summer, but the richness of the green leaves around them matched Drache's bright red hide much better than the dry grassland they had left behind. Drache tried a smile and found that just trying it made her happier. [color=ed1c24]"I'm glad you came with me, Raffey. I can't wait to show you around."[/color]