Belanos and Lihan Taifun
The next morning Suraumo 's mind was filled with dark thoughts as his wings beat rhythmically in flight. The weight of the balrog upon his back was unfamiliar and unsettling for him. It smacked too much of the servitude such as he had witnessed with the domestic animals of the land. The scales on his back jittered and twitched as though trying to rid themselves of an annoyance. And yet...perhaps it was not so foolish a thing to pair up with another, considering his recent failings. His snout automatically crinkled in a silent snarl of annoyance at the need for this, but practicality won out over pride. Pride does not fill the stomach. And so it was that he found himself winging his way across the forests and grasslands and rapidly approaching the coast of the Great Sea, carrying a balrog upon his back.
The Balrog shifted uneasily on the dragon's back. Being carried was a new and unpleasant experience. It was strange and somewhat unsettling to be high in the air, and not using his own wings. He kept telling himself that, if the dragon dropped him, he could certainly use his own wings to get back to the ground safely. At least while there was land beneath them. He muttered a curse to himself, as the dragon wobbled, forcing him to correct his balance yet once more. At least the geas in his mind was happy, now that he was headed toward Alqualonde.
Suraumo spied a flock of seabirds on a long stretch of shore beneath them. Unable to resist his inclination for mayhem, Súraumo deftly folded his wings and speared silently down towards the flock. He knew his sudden dive would unsettle his passenger, and this added to his pleasure. The balrog needed to realise just how much he was at the dragon's mercy if Súraumo were to have the upper hand in this uneasy alliance. His single eye gleamed with a malignant joy as he opened his maw and let out a tremendous roar. The flock scrambled to take to the air, scattering in all directions, and Súraumo swung his head from side to side snapping at the hapless birds. All too soon though he was through the flock, wings flaring to halt his downward plummet and bring him back to a level course just above the waves that broke upon the shore. Without a moment's hesitation Súraumo set out across the Great Ocean, the tips of his wings raising little spurts of spray from the water with each steady beat. The scales around his mouth twitched in amusement for he knew such close proximity to the ocean would not sit well with his passenger.
The Balrog's stomach lurched at this sudden shift of direction. For a moment, his hand clutched a spine on the dragon's back. Embarrassed, he quickly returns to gripping only with his knees, as the dragon had recommended. This was going to be a very long ride, and this leathery old lizard was not intending to move a toenail to make it more comfortable. The balrog heated in annoyance, scowling at his own dependence upon this creature.
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| Súraumo the Dragon and the Balrog |
The Balrog shifted uneasily on the dragon's back. Being carried was a new and unpleasant experience. It was strange and somewhat unsettling to be high in the air, and not using his own wings. He kept telling himself that, if the dragon dropped him, he could certainly use his own wings to get back to the ground safely. At least while there was land beneath them. He muttered a curse to himself, as the dragon wobbled, forcing him to correct his balance yet once more. At least the geas in his mind was happy, now that he was headed toward Alqualonde.
Suraumo spied a flock of seabirds on a long stretch of shore beneath them. Unable to resist his inclination for mayhem, Súraumo deftly folded his wings and speared silently down towards the flock. He knew his sudden dive would unsettle his passenger, and this added to his pleasure. The balrog needed to realise just how much he was at the dragon's mercy if Súraumo were to have the upper hand in this uneasy alliance. His single eye gleamed with a malignant joy as he opened his maw and let out a tremendous roar. The flock scrambled to take to the air, scattering in all directions, and Súraumo swung his head from side to side snapping at the hapless birds. All too soon though he was through the flock, wings flaring to halt his downward plummet and bring him back to a level course just above the waves that broke upon the shore. Without a moment's hesitation Súraumo set out across the Great Ocean, the tips of his wings raising little spurts of spray from the water with each steady beat. The scales around his mouth twitched in amusement for he knew such close proximity to the ocean would not sit well with his passenger.
The Balrog's stomach lurched at this sudden shift of direction. For a moment, his hand clutched a spine on the dragon's back. Embarrassed, he quickly returns to gripping only with his knees, as the dragon had recommended. This was going to be a very long ride, and this leathery old lizard was not intending to move a toenail to make it more comfortable. The balrog heated in annoyance, scowling at his own dependence upon this creature.
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