Ryker looked skyward as well, before looking at Eke.

"I know." he replied.

"Why?" he asked.

"Why do you hate the rain?" he asked him.

"I mean, is there any reason? Or just a generic 'don't like it' sorta thing?"

".............." Ryker was silent as he heard that, and moved a bit closer to keep up with Eke.

"Hm." he mumbled.

"I... well... fair enough." he said.

"I... that's... that's fair enough." he repeated.

"Hopefully we'll be able to finish this quickly and find shelter." he then added.

"Yeah, should be." he said, before stopping Eke.

"Listen." he said.

When Eke did, he heard strange noises... like mousetraps were snapping shut.

"Hear that snapping sound?" he asked.

"That's them." he told him.

"We're verrrrrry close."

"It is." Ryker replied.

"They need to be distracted. Like from, say, a bigger threat." he told him.

"Hmmmmmm..." he then mumbled, thinking about it.

"I suppose there would be animals and beasts around that could be seen as prey..." he reasoned.

"We just need to find one or two, to use as bait."

"............." Ryker was silent for a moment.

"Well... yeah..." he muttered.

"A dragon would be, yes." he said.

"And they just have to be distracted, yes..." he went on.

"What are you planning Eke?" he asked the young dragon.

The toothy heads of the plant snapped back, ominous fluid dripping from their maws. It was easy to tell that it was the venom, and it was pretty potent.

"Crazy idiot..." Ryker muttered.

He then crawled up towards the plants as they snapped at Eke, before grabbing one of the sizable leaves.

Then, using all his strength, he ripped the leaf off, and tumbled back from the effort.

The plant seemed to notice this right away, as one of the heads started snapping at Ryker.

Eke snapped through the stalk easily, and the snapping head of the plant fell to the ground, twitching, but lifeless.

"......." Ryker was silent as he witnessed this, before looking at Eke.

"All right, we're done here." he said.

"Watch out, though, the other heads are still snapping at you." he then warned, though it seemed like Eke was JUST out of range for them.

"Geez, this things mouth protrusions almost look like teeth." he mumbled, looking at the severed head beside him.

Ryker smirked subtly.

"Heh. Fair enough." he said.

"I can understand that." he said further.

He then got up and held the leaf under his arm.

"Ya did pretty good, there." he went on.

"One scratch from 'em would have meant BIG trouble for you."

Ryker pursed his lips a little.

".......can't argue THAT..." he admitted.

"Can't argue that it worked, either." he went on.

"I guess I'll just be happy we succeeded, and that you weren't hurt." he continued.

"Especially in your state of... well... blood-loss, essentially." he then commented.

"Seriously. That was hella impressive."

"Yeah, wasn't making a comment about that." Ryker responded flatly.

"Wasn't even saying it was impressive for you." he continued. "I was saying it was impressive overall." he said further.

"Doing something like that after blood loss is a feat." he went on, as he started to walk ahead of Eke.

"I don't care if you're strong, I don't care if you're frail, when something is impressive, it's impressive. That is all. Nothing more. Nothing less." he finished.

He then started to pick up the pace, exhaling loudly through his nose, as the sky began to severely darken.

"I'll be giving control to the 'other me' when we get back." he finished, giving a heads-up to Eke.