Morning Ritual [open]

[mynameisax.livejournal.com]

Ax stood alone on the grass surrounding the Garibah that Stacy had abducted from his homeworld. The ship lacked the sunrise he needed to properly perform the morning ritual, but he had decided that the Garibah would make a more than adequate substitute.

< From the water that gave birth to us, > he began, dipping his right forehoof into the dish of water he'd brought with him. The lack of running water in the vicinity had been the second problem he'd faced. He wasn't particularly fond of the ritual, but he certainly wasn't going to perform them in a room devoted to waste elimination.

< From the grass that feeds us, > he continued, crushing a tuft of grass under that same hoof. < For the freedom that unites us, > he spread his arms wide and looked up at the branches of the Garibah and up further to the ceiling of Stacy's City. < We rise to the stars. >

Ax bowed low. < Freedom is my only cause. Duty to the people, my only guide. Obedience to my prince, my only glory. The destruction of my enemies, my most solemn vow. > Rising from his bow, he stepped into a fighting stance and drew his tail blade against his own throat. < I, Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill, Andalite warrior-cadet, offer my life. >

The ritual complete, he relaxed his tail and closed his main eyes. This was the part where he was supposed to meditated on the ritual and whether or not he was living up to it. He'd never been particularly good at that part, not being a big believer in the rituals to begin with. But he was an Andalite, and he did intend to be a warrior, to continue being a warrior, and so the ritual must be performed.

Perhaps it would give him some direction.

Comments

[mynameisax.livejournal.com]

Dragons, dragons... ah, yes, dragons.

< Dragons are large, winged, fire-breathing lizard-like creatures, yes? > Ax asked. < Those never existed on the Earth I'm familiar with. There were dinosaurs, but they died millions of years before humans even existed. >

And Ax was prepared to thank many things for that. He never wanted to be chased by a Tyrannosaurus Rex ever again.

[found-myway.livejournal.com]

"Yes. They're extinct now. But only for a few years."

[mynameisax.livejournal.com]

< I'm afraid after my experiences with dinosaurs, dragons sound rather terrifying. >

Ax was still thinking about the T-Rex, currently imagining it with the ability to fly and breathe fire. He was a little surprised that humans managed to evolve sharing a planet with something like that.

[found-myway.livejournal.com]

Zuko shrugs. "The Fire Lords used to keep them as a mounts for riding, before my great-grandfather started the tradition of the dragon hunt. They were difficult to tame and kill, but enough firebenders managed it that now they're all dead. My uncle killed the last one."

He thinks for a moment before adding, "What do dinosaurs do?"

[mynameisax.livejournal.com]

< It is always a shame to lose an entire species, > Ax murmured, shaking his head. Especially one that they had apparently been able to live peacefully with up until relatively recently.

He scuffed a hoof against the ground, a little embarrassed. < I didn't get a very good chance to study them, but for the most part they seemed concerned with the same things most animals are. Our encounters tended to be mostly with predators, which saw us as easy prey. My prince -- my leader -- was nearly eaten by a Tyrannosaurus Rex, and my nephew and another teammate were eaten by...I believe he said it was a Kronosaurus. I can ask him later, he was very fond of dinosaurs when he was younger. >