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“Have you seen my son?”
The ranger looked up from scritching the inkpen across the parchments in front of him with a mild quirk to one blonde brow. He eyed Aracollo for a moment before snorting and turning back to his work. “If you mean the whelp you call your son, then not within the last few minutes, no,” Elzan replied flatly. The elven lord sighed and let his shoulders slump slightly as he shook his head at his charge. For the moment he let the soft-spoken-but-none-too-subtle jibe pass without argument.
“I was told that others had seen him bothering you--”
“And you thought to come to the rescue?” the ranger interjected. He sat back from his writing then to tilt his head at his friend. Aracollo merely pursed his lips.
“Indeed,” the lord replied. Though he did not say as to just whom he would be rescuing. A fact that was not lost on Elzan-ri. Nor did he bother to question it. In some ways, perhaps it was truly a bit of both. Aracollo likely wanted to rescue his adopted son away from the disgruntled ranger and by doing so would rescue Elzan from having to deal with the temptation of lashing out at the supposedly innocent boy.
Elzan shrugged and cast a glance about his surroundings as if to make an effort of looking for the half-drow in question before turning his dark gaze back on his liege. “Well, whomever told you the child was once again attached to my hip wasn't entirely wrong, m'lord,” he spoke up, making the older archer blink at the title. “The imp was here none too long ago being most distracting and bothersome, as usual.” Before the elf prince could argue, the ranger eased back in his seat and sighed. “He kept questioning just what it was I was doing. What was I writing, why was I writing it, why did someone want the poetry, why did ladies like poetry, why would it help the other man, why hadn't I gotten flowers, and so on and so forth was a bit how it went, neglecting my replies and the rest of the child's inane babble. And then he suddenly sprint off to Corellon knows where. I didn't bother to ask.”
Aracollo frowned and shook his head. Children were curious. It was a well known fact. Even to an elf whom had yet to sire any by his own blood. And children were also innocent to some of the facts of the world. Xannathan was no exception. And the boy was blind to how much the elven ranger loathed him to his core for the simple accident of his birth. Instead it seemed Elzan's anger towards the lad only encouraged the boy to try all the harder to make the grumpy elf like him. Much to the dismay of the ranger and worry of the boy's adoptive father. Especially ever since the man had tried to kill the half-drow child on first sight.
“What -are- you doing, if I might ask?” the lord inquired, eying the scattered parchments, tomes, and other litter scattered about the other elf. He received a questioning look as if to say 'now you too?' but Elzan just shrugged halfly.
“I am copying some of the bardic writings in these books and letters so I can send them to a horseman that I was assigned to for some winter festival and gift exchange.”
Aracollo blinked. “Why not have Ethiliat or Alcarloki do it?” That made the ranger quirk a wry grin.
“Because Ethiliat is already busy helping me in researching the Transapian race—which, before you ask, is apparently the title of these...were-horse folk. Apparently they were prosecuted and all manner of lore is practically lost on them. But the man I was assigned is seeking out any information that might be given on his people's history. And, as for Alcar? Well, the bard tends to run away with himself at the tongue. I mentioned my lack of knowledge with how to be popular amongst the ladies--” Aracollo snorted, but the ranger merely continued--”and he began trying to offer all sorts of solutions. At which point after several minutes I finally calmed him enough to get him to start transcribing them to paper. And so, the lady archmage is kindly doing her part with one piece of the gift, the silver-tongued lyricist is doing another, and I am doing the last. Besides, it's not as if I can't do my own work too. The other two pieces are not my specialty but I can most certainly copy words from one page onto a new piece that the originals can still be kept within our libraries.”
“Interesting,” Aracollo murmured after a moment's pause to soak in all of his ranger's words. “You know, Master Sweetmelody isn't entirely--”
“Please,” Elzan interjected again, shaking his head with a snorted laugh that was rather dry in tone. “I am not the one to give advice on ladies. They gawk at me but I've little clue on how to act around them. No. I shall stick to my part.” The elven prince merely rolled his eyes and shook his head at the younger male. Oh, Elzan-ri Xiloscient caught many of the ladies' eyes but he seemed only ever happy to entertain the company of one. The female silver dragon, Lelandarnofeliascion, whom resided in the glacial cave near the edge of the wood.
“Mm, fair enough. For now,” Lord Aracollo murmured. “I suppose I shall leave you to it then, and search elsewhere for my wayward boy.”
Just then a loud pattering of steps rushed in the stairwell leading down from the xilo the two men settled within. Both turned towards the noise and the ranger let out a disgruntled sound. “Speak of the devil,” he griped under his breath. The prince shot his man a look but turned instead to greet the hurrying nightwing as Xannathan came running into the room so quickly his hair and the feathers on his charcoal wings were fluttering in his wake. He held a fistful of uprooted flowers in each hand.
“Master Elzan! Master Elzan! Look! I got you flowers for your friend!” the half-drow beamed brightly. Just as his father caught him around the middle and swept him up into his arms. The boy grunted and seemed shocked to find Aracollo there, so focused he was on the blonde ranger. Both men quirked their brows but it was Elzan that curled an almost wicked grin.
“Mm, so I see. Great. Now all we need is fair damsel in distress in a glorious gown, a knight in gleaming armor to rescue her, a vicious dragon to be slain, rose petals and incense, wine, and a brilliant white unicorn with a lustrous golden horn,” he drawled wryly. “Start looking.”
Aracollo sent Elzan a most reprimanding expression, especially as poor Xannathan blinked and seemed to start trying to contemplate just how in the world he was going to find an unicorn.

~*~

Lea stretched out her leathery wings before the dragoness resettled them close to her person once more. “I think I hear the fall of hooves in the distance,” the silver announced casually. Elzan blinked and stood up from resting against her flank.
“How far?” the ranger inquired. The dragon shook her head and bobbed her wings as if to shrug.
“Near enough,” she replied, her ears flaring to perk. The female lift her head to the wind, drawing in a deep breath. “I am guessing it is likely the one you seek. After all, what other horses might be running to us in our woods at this precise moment.”
“You never know,” the ranger quipped, his lips thinned into a line. But his apparent worries were for naught as soon a shifting shape appeared in the shadows of the woods. The tall man seemed unsure of approach seeing the large silver dragon resting so casually nearby. Though he did spy two elves and a large wooden crate. “Hazalin?” Elzan hailed. The transapien paused a moment more before daring to step forward, his hands spread in a peaceful gesture. The trio all tilt their heads at the fellow's appearance perhaps as much as he was staring at Lea. But the dragoness merely lay where she was, smiling as best a dragon could.
“Greetings, gentle soul,” the tiny elven female with the elaborate attire murmured, her eyes bright with wisdom. “Do not worry. You are safe here. This meeting was to give a gift, after all, not to do harm.” On that cue, Elzan hefted the wooden crate into his arms, and stepped closer to the were-horse.
“Books of poetry copied from our own libraries, a new tome from a dragonsong lyrist written just for you, and some of the documented discoveries Ethiliat, here, found on your people,” the ranger explained. “Plus, I figured I'm none too good with how to act around ladies--”
“Despite the fact he brings two to meet you,” Lea teased with a rumbling laugh. Elzan rolled his eyes but had to smile slightly.
“So if you want a true 'idiot's guide' I could give it, but I'm not sure that is what you're looking for. So here's a couple of women to tell you more of what they'd like better than I could ever guess. Plus, the archmage here says she is willing to attempt to answer any further questions you might have on your heritage or her findings. Oh...and there's a spare suit of wild armor in the box.”
“It shifts with you when you change forms. It was donated by one of our druids on the condition that you wear it well,” the tiny elven woman replied with a pleasant grin.

Not a half bad lil sketch especially for no pose references and just attempting those angles on whim! hehehehe Felt good to draw Elzan and Lea again too. And that's the first time Ethil's ever been drawn I think...she looks like Lea in elf form but awe well lol! And yeah...Haz would so tower over them easily...except Lea if she stood heh...Elzan's tall but not as tall as Haz certainly

That box Elzan's toting has all sorts of goodies in there for Haz heh....I had to laugh when Elzan got him [after sighing in relief that it wasn't a drow! o.O ] for the fact that Haz was all trying to find poetry and insight on the ladies....yeah Elzan really isn't the one to go to for that. He's highly handsome and ladies certainly seem to like him. He's just sorta socially crippled in ways thanks to his back-history and the persona he's developed because of it so he's quite daft on how to be smooth and charming lol. Lea's advice likely would be to just be himself for that is all a person should ever love you for in any case. Ethiliat might tell him various different ways to try to court a lady if he wanted lol. I'm sure the bard's ramblings would be all sorts of crazy romantic lol. And there'd be a decent selection of elven poetry and whatever info could be found on Transapians, which littlegoblet would know far better than I would. And I figured the wild armor might be nice too...that way Haz doesn't have to worry bout going nekkie if he transforms lol! Was one of the more bemusing ones to write too as I couldn't get the idea outta my head of Elzan sitting there trying to hand-copy poetry and Xannathan bugging him until he ran off and returned with flowers and Elzan was like "greeeaaaattttttt now go get a unicorn and leave me alone" lol.....

Enjoy

Happy Holidays

Hazalin (& transapians) © Christine McNamara(?)
Elzan-ri Xiloscient, Lord Aracollo, Xannathan, Ethiliat, Alcarloki, Lelandarnofeliascion "Lea", Dragon'sLeaf, & image © me, Val Barry

Description
“Have you seen my son?”
The ranger looked up from scritching the inkpen across the parchments in front of him with a mild quirk to one blonde brow. He eyed Aracollo for a moment before snorting and turning back to his work. “If you mean the whelp you call your son, then not within the last few minutes, no,” Elzan replied flatly. The elven lord sighed and let his shoulders slump slightly as he shook his head at his charge. For the moment he let the soft-spoken-but-none-too-subtle jibe pass without argument.
“I was told that others had seen him bothering you--”
“And you thought to come to the rescue?” the ranger interjected. He sat back from his writing then to tilt his head at his friend. Aracollo merely pursed his lips.
“Indeed,” the lord replied. Though he did not say as to just whom he would be rescuing. A fact that was not lost on Elzan-ri. Nor did he bother to question it. In some ways, perhaps it was truly a bit of both. Aracollo likely wanted to rescue his adopted son away from the disgruntled ranger and by doing so would rescue Elzan from having to deal with the temptation of lashing out at the supposedly innocent boy.
Elzan shrugged and cast a glance about his surroundings as if to make an effort of looking for the half-drow in question before turning his dark gaze back on his liege. “Well, whomever told you the child was once again attached to my hip wasn't entirely wrong, m'lord,” he spoke up, making the older archer blink at the title. “The imp was here none too long ago being most distracting and bothersome, as usual.” Before the elf prince could argue, the ranger eased back in his seat and sighed. “He kept questioning just what it was I was doing. What was I writing, why was I writing it, why did someone want the poetry, why did ladies like poetry, why would it help the other man, why hadn't I gotten flowers, and so on and so forth was a bit how it went, neglecting my replies and the rest of the child's inane babble. And then he suddenly sprint off to Corellon knows where. I didn't bother to ask.”
Aracollo frowned and shook his head. Children were curious. It was a well known fact. Even to an elf whom had yet to sire any by his own blood. And children were also innocent to some of the facts of the world. Xannathan was no exception. And the boy was blind to how much the elven ranger loathed him to his core for the simple accident of his birth. Instead it seemed Elzan's anger towards the lad only encouraged the boy to try all the harder to make the grumpy elf like him. Much to the dismay of the ranger and worry of the boy's adoptive father. Especially ever since the man had tried to kill the half-drow child on first sight.
“What -are- you doing, if I might ask?” the lord inquired, eying the scattered parchments, tomes, and other litter scattered about the other elf. He received a questioning look as if to say 'now you too?' but Elzan just shrugged halfly.
“I am copying some of the bardic writings in these books and letters so I can send them to a horseman that I was assigned to for some winter festival and gift exchange.”
Aracollo blinked. “Why not have Ethiliat or Alcarloki do it?” That made the ranger quirk a wry grin.
“Because Ethiliat is already busy helping me in researching the Transapian race—which, before you ask, is apparently the title of these...were-horse folk. Apparently they were prosecuted and all manner of lore is practically lost on them. But the man I was assigned is seeking out any information that might be given on his people's history. And, as for Alcar? Well, the bard tends to run away with himself at the tongue. I mentioned my lack of knowledge with how to be popular amongst the ladies--” Aracollo snorted, but the ranger merely continued--”and he began trying to offer all sorts of solutions. At which point after several minutes I finally calmed him enough to get him to start transcribing them to paper. And so, the lady archmage is kindly doing her part with one piece of the gift, the silver-tongued lyricist is doing another, and I am doing the last. Besides, it's not as if I can't do my own work too. The other two pieces are not my specialty but I can most certainly copy words from one page onto a new piece that the originals can still be kept within our libraries.”
“Interesting,” Aracollo murmured after a moment's pause to soak in all of his ranger's words. “You know, Master Sweetmelody isn't entirely--”
“Please,” Elzan interjected again, shaking his head with a snorted laugh that was rather dry in tone. “I am not the one to give advice on ladies. They gawk at me but I've little clue on how to act around them. No. I shall stick to my part.” The elven prince merely rolled his eyes and shook his head at the younger male. Oh, Elzan-ri Xiloscient caught many of the ladies' eyes but he seemed only ever happy to entertain the company of one. The female silver dragon, Lelandarnofeliascion, whom resided in the glacial cave near the edge of the wood.
“Mm, fair enough. For now,” Lord Aracollo murmured. “I suppose I shall leave you to it then, and search elsewhere for my wayward boy.”
Just then a loud pattering of steps rushed in the stairwell leading down from the xilo the two men settled within. Both turned towards the noise and the ranger let out a disgruntled sound. “Speak of the devil,” he griped under his breath. The prince shot his man a look but turned instead to greet the hurrying nightwing as Xannathan came running into the room so quickly his hair and the feathers on his charcoal wings were fluttering in his wake. He held a fistful of uprooted flowers in each hand.
“Master Elzan! Master Elzan! Look! I got you flowers for your friend!” the half-drow beamed brightly. Just as his father caught him around the middle and swept him up into his arms. The boy grunted and seemed shocked to find Aracollo there, so focused he was on the blonde ranger. Both men quirked their brows but it was Elzan that curled an almost wicked grin.
“Mm, so I see. Great. Now all we need is fair damsel in distress in a glorious gown, a knight in gleaming armor to rescue her, a vicious dragon to be slain, rose petals and incense, wine, and a brilliant white unicorn with a lustrous golden horn,” he drawled wryly. “Start looking.”
Aracollo sent Elzan a most reprimanding expression, especially as poor Xannathan blinked and seemed to start trying to contemplate just how in the world he was going to find an unicorn.

~*~

Lea stretched out her leathery wings before the dragoness resettled them close to her person once more. “I think I hear the fall of hooves in the distance,” the silver announced casually. Elzan blinked and stood up from resting against her flank.
“How far?” the ranger inquired. The dragon shook her head and bobbed her wings as if to shrug.
“Near enough,” she replied, her ears flaring to perk. The female lift her head to the wind, drawing in a deep breath. “I am guessing it is likely the one you seek. After all, what other horses might be running to us in our woods at this precise moment.”
“You never know,” the ranger quipped, his lips thinned into a line. But his apparent worries were for naught as soon a shifting shape appeared in the shadows of the woods. The tall man seemed unsure of approach seeing the large silver dragon resting so casually nearby. Though he did spy two elves and a large wooden crate. “Hazalin?” Elzan hailed. The transapien paused a moment more before daring to step forward, his hands spread in a peaceful gesture. The trio all tilt their heads at the fellow's appearance perhaps as much as he was staring at Lea. But the dragoness merely lay where she was, smiling as best a dragon could.
“Greetings, gentle soul,” the tiny elven female with the elaborate attire murmured, her eyes bright with wisdom. “Do not worry. You are safe here. This meeting was to give a gift, after all, not to do harm.” On that cue, Elzan hefted the wooden crate into his arms, and stepped closer to the were-horse.
“Books of poetry copied from our own libraries, a new tome from a dragonsong lyrist written just for you, and some of the documented discoveries Ethiliat, here, found on your people,” the ranger explained. “Plus, I figured I'm none too good with how to act around ladies--”
“Despite the fact he brings two to meet you,” Lea teased with a rumbling laugh. Elzan rolled his eyes but had to smile slightly.
“So if you want a true 'idiot's guide' I could give it, but I'm not sure that is what you're looking for. So here's a couple of women to tell you more of what they'd like better than I could ever guess. Plus, the archmage here says she is willing to attempt to answer any further questions you might have on your heritage or her findings. Oh...and there's a spare suit of wild armor in the box.”
“It shifts with you when you change forms. It was donated by one of our druids on the condition that you wear it well,” the tiny elven woman replied with a pleasant grin.

Not a half bad lil sketch especially for no pose references and just attempting those angles on whim! hehehehe Felt good to draw Elzan and Lea again too. And that's the first time Ethil's ever been drawn I think...she looks like Lea in elf form but awe well lol! And yeah...Haz would so tower over them easily...except Lea if she stood heh...Elzan's tall but not as tall as Haz certainly

That box Elzan's toting has all sorts of goodies in there for Haz heh....I had to laugh when Elzan got him [after sighing in relief that it wasn't a drow! o.O ] for the fact that Haz was all trying to find poetry and insight on the ladies....yeah Elzan really isn't the one to go to for that. He's highly handsome and ladies certainly seem to like him. He's just sorta socially crippled in ways thanks to his back-history and the persona he's developed because of it so he's quite daft on how to be smooth and charming lol. Lea's advice likely would be to just be himself for that is all a person should ever love you for in any case. Ethiliat might tell him various different ways to try to court a lady if he wanted lol. I'm sure the bard's ramblings would be all sorts of crazy romantic lol. And there'd be a decent selection of elven poetry and whatever info could be found on Transapians, which littlegoblet would know far better than I would. And I figured the wild armor might be nice too...that way Haz doesn't have to worry bout going nekkie if he transforms lol! Was one of the more bemusing ones to write too as I couldn't get the idea outta my head of Elzan sitting there trying to hand-copy poetry and Xannathan bugging him until he ran off and returned with flowers and Elzan was like "greeeaaaattttttt now go get a unicorn and leave me alone" lol.....

Enjoy

Happy Holidays

Hazalin (& transapians) © Christine McNamara(?)
Elzan-ri Xiloscient, Lord Aracollo, Xannathan, Ethiliat, Alcarloki, Lelandarnofeliascion "Lea", Dragon'sLeaf, & image © me, Val Barry