Day 215

[wayofvoice]

Who: Paarthurnax and you
Open: Open
When: Day 215, morning and afternoon
Where: Across the river from Dragonfield
What: Dragon lessons are best held in groups, don't you know? Plus, a survey.
Format: Any
Notes: The two separate situations, for sake of ease, will be in two different top threads. Consider the dovahzul group a sort of mingle! Get to know your fellow students better.


In the time between morning and noon, Paarthurnax settles down by the river of Dragonfield where the usual stone tablet depicting all the letters of dovahzul is. It's a recognizable landmark, after all... Although he won't turn away new faces.

During the afternoon, anyone venturing nearby will be called to by the old dragon. Investigate?

Comments

[wayofvoice]

You are not seers. You are not omnipresent, not invincible. There is nothing you could have done.

Even the children of Gods can only do so much. It was a painful lesson for me to learn. It is that way for everyone when they first experience it.

[notachickenhawk]

<I know, but - but I still should have been able to do something! Otherwise... what did we fight for? If everyone was going to die in the end... did fighting mean anything at all?>

[wayofvoice]

All die in the end.

[It's stated simply.]

I have seen so many things be lost with the passage of time... From things as small as a mortal life to entire civilizations gone in an instant. Some fight against it- fight against people or plague or famine. Fight against their own mortality.

I thought mortal creatures foolish, when I was but a young fool myself. I thought their lives and struggles had no meaning, they were so easily erased. When the end could come so quickly and be all-consuming, should my brother decide it.

[Slowly, Paarthurnax gives a shake of his head and seems to speak quietly to himself.] Wah kos ful goraan ahrk pahlokaal...

Let me ask you this: if you were returned to a time before you came here, still full of the knowledge of what would happen before it has become so, would you be able to do nothing? Would you keep yourself still if a fatal blow was heading towards one of your friends?

[notachickenhawk]

[He puffs up a little, defensively.]

<Dreh hi seik zey, uv hinmaar?>

[... Anyway, the question.]

<No. Of course I wouldn't. I'd save them, because I know they'd do the same for me. But their lives... are so much more important in a lot of ways. They have families that care about them. That want them.>

[He has Ax... but they're still more like friends than family in most ways.]

[wayofvoice]

Dimaar. Daar het los pogaas onik fein Zu'u lost fah pogaan eruvos.

So your life is not as important as theirs. Yet they would still do as you would do for them.

Do you know why?

[notachickenhawk]

<Hi ofan zey zuk mahnad fein hi fend.>

[He lets out a little squawk.]

<It's not like I think I'm useless - but they have people who care about them, who would care about them if we'd never ended up in this mess.>

[wayofvoice]

Yet you did not.

[notachickenhawk]

<Did not what? Didn't not end up in this mess? ... I guess. But... they have lives outside of just fighting.>

[wayofvoice]

You do now as well.

With each thing you say, they sound very much as those I once knew. We also had similar disagreements of that nature.

[notachickenhawk]

<... I guess. I just... I don't want to fight. But I have to fight - it's part of my nature. I don't want to go back, but I have to go back because there are people I want to protect. I just... I don't like it. I don't like any of it.>

[And yet, things are better for him in a lot of ways after that night at the construction site.]

[wayofvoice]

If it is not something you wish to do, no matter if it is your nature, then you need not do it.

I combat against my own every waking moment. It is difficult... but not impossible. Things must not always stay the same as they were before.

For those who have been left behind... I can offer less help there.

[notachickenhawk]

<I don't want to fight, but if we don't fight then humans will be entirely overwhelmed by the Yeerks. It's not a matter of struggling against my nature - it's a matter of survival for the entire species.>

[wayofvoice]

But that is not here, Lokkoraav.

[notachickenhawk]

<It's not, but it's what I have to go back to because... there's no other option. And it seems stupid to... if I can help people with what I can do, then I should. It doesn't matter what I want or not.>

[wayofvoice]

Some here do not think there is anything for any of us to return to.

What will you do if this is true?

[notachickenhawk]

<... I don't... know. I really don't know...>

[wayofvoice]

[A puff of warm air washes over him.]

We will be here for you. Disaster brings its survivors together.

[notachickenhawk]

[sldkfsd. He digs in his talons to make sure he doesn't fall over.]

<... I guess. It's just... I know you guys haven't shown me any reason not to trust you but it's... hard.>

[wayofvoice]

I know. It always is.

If you ever wish for peace or simply to speak, I will be here for you.

[notachickenhawk]

<Thanks. I... I appreciate it.>

[wayofvoice]

I do only what I can.

[notachickenhawk]

<... I'm used to being alone. Sometimes I'm more comfortable with it. And I don't mind being a hawk. But even when I morph human, sometimes it's like... I've forgotten what it is to be a person, to be close to other people.>

[wayofvoice]

Even if you have forgotten, it is alright. So long as you are alive, then you can learn it again. Those here- myself if no one else- can be patient until you are comfortable once again.

[notachickenhawk]

<... Thanks. Instincts are a weird kind of thing.>

[wayofvoice]

There are. Yet they can be beaten.

This reminds me... Perhaps we should see if you truly can take on the form of my kind.