Here be Dragons: Chapter 1
“Keep your eyes open, Judith,” the fox said, his voice holding a low tone of authority. In this instance, it was an authority that she had handed over to him as they drew closer to their destination. Violet eyes were forced open again, meeting his in such a way that he could see the reflection of his own face. Eyes that had only just begun to glow a faint ghostly yellow were unblinking, holding her still as they sat in the quiet space between three large maple trees. “Do not look away again. You have seen my true self, stood in my fire. This should be nothing to you.”
“I had almost forgotten,” came her murmured reply, which at the very least was not trembling. Her nose twitched, however, and her ears had fallen to lay flat against her back as she straightened herself. “I am ready this time.”
Taking her at her word that she was prepared to stand her ground this time, he called the power to the surface again until it heated the paw pads that held hers and caused the faint yellow glow to intensify. The heat increased quickly, building around him as his body surrendered the power to where he willed it as the words rolled through his mind; words which had not been thought nor spoken for so many centuries that even at their peak the knowledge had been lost to the Dreiker. The quickening of magic much older than he through the dragon’s blood was thrilling, even if to the eyes of the bunny who’s paws trembled against his saw nothing more than the calm, expressionless face of a red fox. The heat pooled around them, now hot enough to cause the debris of the forest nearby to smolder and crackle, cloaking them in an atmosphere where only dragon and rider could hope to survive.
She remained unflinching, unmoving. Her will was strong. Her heartbeat in his ears quick but steady. Excitement more than fear, longing to understand what he was offering her. The fleeting thought that she would have been better born as a dragon with a spirit like hers compelled him to lean closer to her. The smell of heat, smoke, and bunny filled his senses as the smell of heat, smoke, and fox filled hers when he came close enough for their muzzle to almost touch. Faintly amused under his concentration, that she looked almost panicked by the play at intimacy, he rumbled softly as the power gathered in the back of his throat.
“Breathe deep, Dreiker. Once the power has tasted you, exhale just as deep,” he said, watching her part her lips as he exhaled slowly. The red smoke was not the magic, so much as it was what carried it. Dense, powerful, impossible to predict. Curious himself, for this had not been done in ages beyond even that of his father, he watched the smoke curl around her muzzle as she breathed in as instructed. That dainty muzzle dropped open further as her eyes widened, clouded as what was a part of him swam through her mind and touched parts of her soul that otherwise would have remained hers and her alone.
The exhale came a moment later and, like her, he drew the smoke into his own lungs, feeling the sharp punch of surprise when the whirl of emotions and thoughts struck him. Because he knew what to expect and his mind was closely attuned to the magic itself, the surprise was not as great to the dragon though. Memories tried to surface, memories that were not his own, so he suppressed them for the time being as he watched her closely. Her eyes were distant, almost glassy as she swayed where she stood, her paws clutching his tightly as she experienced things that only a dragon could really understand.
Can you hear me, Judy? he asked, reaching through the temporary link that they now shared. If it had been possible, he knew that her eyes would have widened further when her attention snapped into the present world. Her mouth worked for a moment, words trying to form before he reached up and placed one finger to the tip of her muzzle as he shook his head. Think.
You’re in my mind, she sent back, surprising him with how loud and clear the thought was. Almost as clear as the rush of pleasure from the bunny when she realized she had been heard. It’s incredible! I know what it feels like to fly! Up there!
She pointed towards the sky as if to clarify the obviousness of what flight meant to a dragon, and he released a soft chuckle as he drew himself to his feet and dragged her with him.
You’re afraid of heights, he commented easily, turning her back towards the road they had left more than an hour ago. Let’s move on. A focus on walking will help prevent you from being overwhelmed and the bond is limited to two days.
But it can be… more, she added, causing him to frown at her back. The fact that she had so easily drawn that bit of information from their bond was a little disconcerting. And how did you know I was afraid of heights?
The same way you knew that there is more to the bond, he replied, keeping his thoughts carefully focused on the road ahead. For the bond to be completed, both Dreiker and dragon must will it to be more. So, neither of us need to worry about being linked forever.
Her silence seemed like an agreement to him as she walked ahead of him once they reached the road. They were not far from their destination.
A crossroads town known as Podunk, much to his dismay.
Art by MonoFlax
In his own territory, Nick had once encountered a fetid pool of swamp water so infested with death and the lowest of life forms that the foul, pungent scent could choke even a dragon in his prime. It had been such a vile affront to the senses that he had used his breath to boil the water over a period of several weeks until the water has been clear, still and lifeless.
A part of him wished he could do the same to the town of Podunk well before they reached it. A part of it was the fact that he was itching to return to his full dragon self if only for a day so he could stretch his wings and glide among the clouds where the air wasn’t clogged by the scent of too many unwashed mammals in one place. The idea of spewing flame over the rise of wooden structures in the distance was a pleasant one, even if the sharp elbow he received along with a wave of annoyance from the rabbit walking beside him was not.
Thoughts of burning towns to the ground are not acceptable, she sent, annoyance and even a bit of disgust in her voice at the very idea. Though from where her mind went on the subject, he couldn’t hold back a smirk as he looked down at her.
Thoughts of actually burning down a town are not acceptable, he amended for her, shrugging when she turned her eyes to him with a quirked brow. Not a lot of stories of dragons randomly burning down towns, outside of the horror stories by the Order of Embers. And my thoughts were far less detailed than the ones you had a few minutes ago about finding a hot bath.
Seeing her ears swerve in his direction, and the pink tint within them, had a toothy grin crawling up his muzzle as she said nothing in reply. The fact that he could feel her embarrassment in full detail was only adding pleasure for him, because the very vivid image of her lying nude in a large bronze tub with her paws…
Stop thinking about it! she snapped, the thought so sudden and urgent that he found himself doing just that. The grin didn’t fade, however, as she turned to peek at him with violet eyes that were more than a little mortified. Is there a way to stop the passage of basic thoughts between us? It is a little… disconcerting.
I did warn you, he commented, his paw resting on the pommels of the swords on either side of his hips as they wandered closer to the gates. That he managed to make the gesture seem relaxed and non-threatening, even under the watchful gaze of the rhino in unnecessarily heavy armor guarding the gate to the large town, was simply the fact that he knew how to present himself as harmless. But it is temporary, and being able to speak without guarding our words against every mammal around us will be needed.
“Yer business?” the rhino said, moving to stand between them and the entrance. The tiny eyes on the massive head first focused on him for a moment, looking him up and down slowly before turning to the bunny that stepped towards him.
“I am looking for a place to stay the night,” she said, sweeping one paw back towards him without a glance in his direction. “Otherwise, my business is my own.”
The guard took a long moment in inspecting them, eyeing their weapons with some level of derision and amusement that was clearly due to their much smaller stature. Nick quickly decided that the rhino was used to his size being more than enough to handle any problem, as was apparent by the impatient disinterest. Showing much the same disinterest, Nick turned his gaze beyond the guard and beyond the archway that served as the entrance to the town. He could already see the movement of dozens of mammals shuffling about. There was something… lifeless about it all. The way they moved, the way most of them refused to look at those they passed, complete avoidance of the guards that were a heavy presence on the largely unpaved streets. It felt very… restrictive for being part of a kingdom that boasted acceptance for all.
“Gilmun's Inn is the closest in town with edible food for a bunny,” the rhino grunted, causing him to raise a brow at how uncommonly helpful he was being. “Don’t cause no trouble, you don’t get stomped. If yer looking for a tumble, ask about the Ram and Ewe.”
The question managed to catch him a little off guard, causing him to narrow slitted eyes on her as he tried to decide if she was serious. Once he realized that she was perfectly serious in her question, he smothered a chuckle behind one paw.
He’s just directed you to the local whorehouse.
For the second time in a relatively brief period of time, he could enjoy the rush of embarrassment from her. She forced her ears upright, clearing her throat slightly as she shook her head in the guard’s direction when he stepped aside to grant them access. “We’re good on tumbles, thank you.”
“Hmph,” he grumbled throatily, his gaze darting between the two of them curiously for a moment before massive shoulders lifted as he dropped into a lean against the wall. “Welcome to Podunk. Don’t let the cutesy get stepped on, fox.”
Hearing the annoyance in her tone, which was almost entirely brought on by the special slur and the smug tone of the guard when he’d said it, Nick followed her as she marched into the town her back stiffer than it should have been.
Don’t start, she said, glaring at him over her shoulder as she quickened her pace. For now let’s go to the inn. Someone there might know something, and it’s as good a place to start as any.
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A fun little project we're doing to recharge my art buddy, TheWyvernsWeaver
Also a change to show that I can write some fantasy. Enjoy the little tastes.
Story by @kulkum
Art by
TheWyvernsWeaver
MonoFlax
Continues the story presented here:
http://thewyvernsweaver.deviantart.com/art/The-Dragon-s-Mask-678099569
Special thanks to Wodahseht for proof reading, setting assistance, etc etc.
