((Hurr. I know its the wrong RP for this link, but I'm too lazy to edit my post on the other. XD Rawr ))

Dren sighed.
"I know...But it'll be different now. I promise..."
He bit his lip, knowing he shouldn't make any promises. But at this point, it was all he could do. Better to make promises while you can then try to make them when its too late.
"I mean, I was different before. I wasn't as quiet and distant....Before that night, I was actually very different...No one says I can't change again."
At this point, he knew it was useless to hold his tongue. It was a futile attempt to try.

(omg, that's so sweeet T.T made me cry in joy! I'm sooo tempted to try some now X3 show you how much my skills have improved)

Lori's grip weakened and finally broke, her arms slumping down to her sides. Her knees felt weak as well, threatening to unload her to the ground. She was very aware of how popular Dren had been before he changed to the was he was now. Despite what she had said, lori was scared of things changing in that direction, afraid that she would be forgotten by one of the few people she cared about... no, she told herself. By the only person I really love.

((Would love to see your improvement.))

Dren knew he'd probably regret it later, but as she let go, he swiftly shifted and, in one fluid motion, turned and gingerly grabbed Lori, spiraling into the air. Few could say they had seen him shift, but until now, none could say they'd been with him as he'd flown. He angled away from the school, but made sure not to stray too far.
"Lori...I already know that I'll never be exactly who I was before. In reality, I'd love to stay who I am now."
He carefully set her on his back, just above his shoulderblades. He turned his head, one blue eye watching her carefully.
"But for you, I'd change who I am."
He turned, now ircling the school at a distance. It was just a speck to him, but at least he could still see it.

Flara sighed, shaking her head as she fixed her hair.
"I know. But...something's not right. I don't know what. I mean, what if Lori hasn't caught up to him yet? He can't fly that far out, can he?"
She was halfway tempted to shift and find them, but something made her stay. Despite her edginess at being human at the moment, it was overpowered.

Lori let herself be picked up by him, watchign in wonder as he shifted again. As she settled into the depression between his shoulderblades, she smiled. "You don't have to change, Dren, you will always be who you are. I just hope that I can be closer to the person you are..."

Her braid felt heavy against her back and she untied it. It's entire m*censored* was pulled free by the rushing air of Dren's flight, waving like a wild flag.

---

Shane shook his head and said,

"You're so dense, aren't you?" He threw an arm around her shoulders, saying, "there's more between those two than you realize, though they probably realize it even less. maybe that will change after this..."

Dren smiled. He angled back toward the school, slowing his pace considerably, so that he'd be flying longer. His mane twisted around his horns as he waved his head back and forth slowly, now looking ahead. It was a habit of his. Or, had been and was now again, when he was thinking.
"No worries there. After today, I think that'll be easy enough."
He flicked his tail, the furred tip guiding his flight with uncanny precision. As they neard the school, he landed. They were about a mile away at that point, but he was still iffy on the subject of his shifting around others. As he waited for Lori to get off, he calmed his breathing, which was only slightly harder than it had been. Flying was easy for him. Second nature.

Flara shrugged.
"I'm aware. But...I dunno. I'm just worried. Today hasn't been the most normal of days."
She gave a sigh, giving up on the subject.
"I wonder what the sub's gonna do now."
She grinned, looking over at the still-astonished substitute.

(posting from sis's account just this once)

Lori felt herself blushing, her cheeks becomming hot. Trying to hide her face, she climbed off of his shoulders, lightly landing on the ground. Her hair was a tangled mess, but she didn't care at that moment. As she continued to look nervously away from Dren, she silently thought, Does that count as a confession? Did I actualy confess to him? Thiknin back over what she had said, her heart dropped. She hadn't actually outright said it. Glancing shly in his direction, she wondered what he thought, both about her and what she had said, how he had interpreted it.

---

Shane smiled. Oh yeah, she's dense. Sharp when it comes to other people, but utterly oblivious when it comes to herself. Sighing, he rested his chin on her head, following her gaze to where she was looking towards the subsitute teacher, who was still struggling to cope with the shock, and humiliation, of the day's events. Looking the teacher over, he muttered, "looks like the type to go home and impulsively eat when dealing with stress. My intuition could be wrong though."

Flara nodded.
"He does, doesn't he?"
She looked around at the clas.s, which was now just chatting away, many already shifted back into their human selves. Flara sighed. If she hadn't vowed not to shift for the day, she'd have shifted right there. She glanced up at Shane, then sidestepped out from under him.

((I think Ima wait a bitfor Dren's reply. And where is Shyra during all of this?))

((shyra's kinda wandering, actually she kinda decided to skip alltogether after she lost sight of Dren and Lori :3 I'll bring her back in later for a bit of a plot twist))

Shane would have nothing of it. He threw his arm around her neck again, traping her in his grip. Grinning wildly, he began poking her side viciously. He had been growing bored and was now relieving himself.

((Oh. Okay. <3 *hugglesnuggles* So, why was it a long week?))

Dren shifted, looking away from Lori. He was afraid that if he met her eyes, he wouldn't be able to hold his toungue. In a desperate attempt to change the subject, he muttered something softly, almost to himself.
"Well, at least now I can defend myself better at night..."
He hadn't ever mentioned to anyone that he didn't have a permanant residence.

((Ima alternate between the two. Maybe both in one. I just like thinking my posts through a bit. <33))

((I usually go to work with my dad in the morning but he was off on a buisness trip for the whole week so I had to spend the entire time at a friend's house so I could get to work. It sucks living 50 miles from the nearest social hub T.T ))

Lori glanced up, hoping desperately that the blush had faded. She asked,

"Defend yourself at night? Why would you need to do that?"

She fiddled with her fingers, her usual cheery, calm self shaken by all that had happened and her continued uncertainty at just how much Dren knew about how she truly felt for him.

Dren shrugged.
"I rarely have a house to live in. Usually I just 'camp' in the woods. Occasinally, I'll find one vacated for a vacation or something. Or waiting to be sold, and the owners have already moved. Its a horrible thing to do, I know, but its just abut all I can do, seeing as I'm alone."
He glanced over at Lori, then gestured to the school.
"I think we should walk while we talk. Its a little over a mile to go. We have time."

 ((I lied. Ima have Dren while i wait for an idea to pop up for Flara.))

(lol okies)

Lori nodded and starting walking next to him. She remained silent as she considered something. After a long moment, she said, "You know, I live by myself in an apartment. If you want, you could stay in the extra room. I get the rent paid by my parents so you don't have to worry about helping me pay." She looked down at her feet as she added, "You shouldn't have to live alone outside. God knows what could happen..."

Dren shrugged.
"Only if you don't mind. I'd hate to be a burden."
Of course, his more cautious side wouldn't stop bugging him.
You can't do that. You can't get to close to anyone. If you lose control again...You can't stand losing anyone else--
Shut up. I know what I'm getting into.
It was a short arguement, but he had won against...himself. Still, he was a bit unnerved about being in the city. He glanced over at Lori.
"It has been a while since I've stayed in the city itself. It unnerves me. People always seem to know who the shifters are. They only think of our dragon selves. Beasts. Monsters under the bed. Scary stories and nightmares come to life. I worry about the shifters that live among humans...I worry about you."

(sorry, but my internet has been crashing randomly, which is why im going to post really quick from my sister's account, dont want to risk another crash...)

Lori beamed at his answer. She was very happy now. When she heard what he said after that though, she grinned and waggled a finger at him. "It's true that regular people seem to know just who the shifters are, but it also keeps them from messing with you. Who, afterall, wants to get into a heated argument with someone that can turn into a twenty-foot dragon? Sure, people are fearful, but those kinds of people usually aren't the kind that are the best to as.sociate yourself with. Nothign to worry about." To emphasize her point, she put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

((Ah. Mkay.))

Dren nodded.
"I know. But, it still unnerves me. I mean, we were almost killed off once. What makes anyone think it can't happen again. But, you live in the city more than I do. You'd know."
A sudden thought struck him. With the recent talk of his brother, a neglected duty rose in his mind, and he sighed.
"But...after school, before we leave for your apartment, I need to go rock-hunting."
He knew it sounded odd. Rock-hunting. He himself almost laughed at it, but it was a serious reason.

~~

Flara squirmed, trying to break free of his grip. Of course, it was near useless. She just managed to hurt her neck more than she normally did.
"Stop..it!"
She managed to squeak out the words between gasps for air. Despite her usual denying of it, she was incredibly ticklish.