Alpha & Omega

Shrill wailing pierced the still night, waking Embyr from a deep sleep. She grumbled as she lumbered to her feet and looked around to find the direction of the cry. Silence met her for a moment before the wailing began again quite a distance behind her toward the ocean. Usually, her exceptional hearing was a blessing, but tonight it felt like a curse. The cry didn’t come from any beast she knew.

Curiosity got the best of her as she whipped her wings out to their full span and sprung into the air to investigate.

Crisp, cool air whipped against her face and drifted along her scales, giving her wings purchase in the night sky. Two of the four moons were out today so there was ample light ahead to navigate the low branches and thick underbrush. The wailing persisted as Embyr flew furiously to the coast. An increase of salt in the air meant she was getting closer.

What horrid creature makes such a sound? Embyr wondered as she flew. It doesn’t sound like a screeler, but none other can wail to wake the dead.

Thinking about the tasty tree climbers provoked her stomach to rumble in anticipation. Ahead, the thick tangle of Knotting Forest approached like a wall of limbs. Embyr could’ve flown over it but risked missing the wailing creature if it was in the overgrown forest. She quickly flew under the tree line and managed to not so much as brush against a tree limb. The canopy overhead kept her hidden as she skillfully dodged every drooping branch and wild net of foliage. If it weren’t for her exceptional vision in the dark, she would be flying blind as neither moon could pierce the blanket of leaves. A red and black speckled lepher jumped ahead from tree to tree. Embyr snatched it out of the air before it reached its destination and greedily crunched down on its warm, juicy body. One of her favorite snacks, lepher’s were a delicacy on Dragontorch Isle.

Finally, a small shimmer of light faded into view and with a great concussive flap of her wings, she broke into the clearing and shot up into the air. The thrill of flying in the silent night sky never ceased to invigorate her.

Wait, it was silent. When did the wailing stop?

Smoke billowed from her flaring nostrils and Embyr issued a brief roar. Deafening silence met her frustration. Even the critters were quiet. She scanned the horizon desperately as the rolling ocean waves crashing ahead and the air thickened with salt.

The wailer let out a shrill cry at last and she directed herself to the source ahead. Ocean waves crashed nearby, but were drowned out by the deafening horn blaring from the mountains behind her.

What madness is about this eerie night? Embyr thought. The horn stopped but the sound still seemed to reverberate in her head. She powered ahead on swift wings and forcefully threw up sand from the beach in the air as she landed. Her sight scanned the horizon of the tumultuous sea and were drawn to two faint lights as they blinked out. A growl issued from deep within her.

The fools. What were softflesh doing near Dragontorch Isles? Embyr wondered.

It was a death wish. A fierce rush of wings flew overhead in the direction of the ship. That sound was no comparison to the sudden wailing behind Embyr that somehow startled her. She snapped her head around, but failed to find the source.

“Where are you, little wailer?” Embyr rumbled aloud.

More wailing ahead near the boulders bordering the forest from the beach. Her eyes discerned a bundle of something white and frail. A roar of rage snapped her attention behind to the sea. She could slightly see the silhouette of the two dragons. They took turns swooping down on the ship and were no doubt causing mayhem. The wailing began again and Embyr closed the distance in a matter of a few steps. Tree leaves fell on the wailer as her footsteps shook the ground. When she was nearly on top of the mysterious creature, her heart fluttered with fear to discover just what had been making the horrible noise. Inside a bundle of white covering was a softflesh hatchling. Its skin was the color of the tree bark lining the forest and its eyes were a vibrant green center with an odd white color bordering it. It’s odd shaped head with wiry fur coming out of the top sat on a short neck and it wildly swung it’s four legs around. The hatchling didn’t have claws or scales. A deafening crash jerked Embyr’s attention once more to the sea. The ship was rent in two and sinking fast to the depths of darkness.

They must have brought this hatchling here. But why? They know it can’t survive here and will be destroyed on sight.

The softflesh’s screams interrupted her thoughts. The shadow dragons appeared to be finishing off the crew. They were likely swimming for survival only to be snatched out of the seas and launched hundreds of dragonspans away or promptly chomped on.

Embyr looked back at the softflesh hatchling and felt something much like sadness for the odd creature. She wasn’t sure if it hatched from an egg recently, but its parents were likely killed on that ship.

It’s no less than they deserve, Embyr thought bitterly. They defied the Pact between us and perhaps put destruction upon the dragons if the Omega Prophecy was to be believed.

Somehow, the softflesh seems to scream even louder and, as a roar ripped through the air from the sea, Embyr realized the hatchling was not going to live through the night. The sharp hearing of dragons meant death was only mere moments away.

As the wailing continued, Embyr saw one of the shadow dragons streaking towards the coast while the other lay waste to the remnants of the crew. Looking back at the helpless hatchling, she felt pity for such a small creature. Embyr snarled in frustration.

“What am I doing?” She snarled.

Embyr frantically looking around for some way to hide the tiny creature. It seemed pointless anyhow as there appeared to be no way to silence the wailer. Her claws ripped through the nearest tree and her jaws snapped around the trunk as it fell. It wouldn’t be enough to fool the shadow dragon though.

No sooner had Embyr covered the hatchling with the top of the tree than a deafening crash launched sand and rock into the sky. Sylence had arrived.

“What is that wretched noise?” Sylence’s deep rumble resonated in Embyr’s bones. The shadow dragon’s scales were as dark as a moonless night and they always looked slick as if they were wet. Red skin webbed at the base of the scales and under its jowls. They were terrifying and fearsome creatures, even for other dragons.

“A screeler in the woods,” Embyr grumbled.

“That is no screeler, Firebreather.”

“I’ve heard them sound like that when sick.”

“Mmmm… wonder captured me when Steylth and I saw the ship on the horizon. Softflesh haven’t dared come within a thousand dragonspans of our shores in centuries. Are you hiding something, Firebreather?” Sylence sneered.

Embyr kept her calm as the hatchling continued wailing. She knew what she was supposed to do. To be false to a shadow dragon brought a trial from the Omega Council. Torture was not an appealing thought.

“I hide nothing,” Embyr growled as Sylence took a few steps from the shore. “I heard the wailing and investigated. Nothing more.”

“I wouldn’t think another dragon would hide the harbinger of prophecy. The softflesh must be destroyed.”

Roaring in the distance told of Steylth still being preoccupied on the seas. Embyr glanced quickly before settling her eyes back on Sylence. It appeared a second ship was engaged in battle with the other shadows dragon.

“One interpretation of the prophecy would say it is not a harbinger until a softflesh bonds with a dragon,” Embyr stated cautiously.

“Blasphemer! You speak dangerous words. The histories are clear softflesh are destructive and not to be trusted!”

“It is not blasphemy to state another interpretation.”

“Heretic!” Sylence growled with rage, his red eyes glowing as he took a forceful step forward and snapped her jaw.

“Ah… now that might be closer to the truth.”

“There is only one interpretation.”

“From the last dragon to have a softflesh rider bonded. A dragon that felt betrayed. I believe Korellis did have a vision of the end. The Omega interpretations miss a key word.”

“What word?” Sylence snapped again and took another step. Embyr held her ground. Screams rang out from the sea. Was she really doing this? Time was fleeing.

“Beginning.”

“An Alpha Believer, then?” Sylence sneered as her tongued flicking out.

“The softflesh were said to be the beginning of the end of dragons. Not the end.”

“They are the end all the same. We will not be bound to those treacherous slavers, bowing to their every whim, cowing to their selfish demands, and submitting our minds to their fragile flesh!” Sylence growled louder and louder and taking a step as she made each point.

“Don’t you see the fallacy in your beliefs? You seek to prevent the end that is inevitable if you believe the Korellis Prophecy at all. If his vision must be true then the end must come as he said.”

“Korellis told us so we could prevent the end by destroying the source, not so that we would give in to it.”

“I question that we have the correct source of that end,” Ember grumbled softly.

“What?!” Sylence snapped in disbelief.

“Perhaps the softflesh are not the source of that end. The prophecy speaks of a reflection of ourselves that must be fought. The softflesh may aid us...” Ember trailed off knowing this point would be too much for an Omega Believer.

“Nonsense. The Prophecy is clear. The softflesh can’t bond if they don’t live on Dragontorch. If they can’t bond, the end will not occur. Move aside so I may end the hatchling and put an end to the wretched wailing.”

Embyr had little time left. The other shadow dragon was assuredly nearly finished with its massacre. She bowed her head and stepped aside. Shadow dragons were the strongest of the broods, warriors with claw and tail. They couldn’t breathe fire, though.

Sylence quickly moved towards the wailing hatchling hidden underneath the tree foliage. Her wings snapped out as she walked by Embyr. She snapped her own wings and sprung herself straight up and then down onto Sylence’s back. The shadow dragon grunted in surprise and reared its head up to snap. Embyr snatched her head with both front claws and tried to pry open her mouth. An intense heat raged in her stomach and spread through her body. Embyr knew that she saw the smoke pouring from her nostrils as a clear sign of what was imminent. Sylence moved furiously trying to shake Embyr off, but her back claws dug into her side and her tail coiled around the shadow dragon’s tail. A final burst of strength snapped Sylence’s jaws apart with a crack and Embyr breathed the volatile inferno down her throat. It lasted a mere moment but the damage was done as the rank odor of the shadow dragon’s roasted innards spewed from its mouth, her red eyes faded to a cold black.

The carcass collapsed under her weight and she leaped off it to the shore. Water steamed upon contact leaving a fog of vapor thick around her. Embyr’s heart pounded in her chest like a persistent thunderclap as she scanned the horizon. A roar announced Steylth felt his partner’s demise.

I’ve committed treason, Embyr thought bitterly. And for a softflesh, no less.

No dragon, to her knowledge, had killed another outside of a fire feud due to jealousy or revenge. Maybe the prophecy was truly coming to pass.

She had no time to think as two dim red orbs grew visible from the dissipating vapor and quickly grew brighter. She launched herself into the sky, toward the dragon. She might die, but if she lived or could convince Steylth that she was attacked, then she could return for the wailer.

Vapor trailed her tail as she sped over the sea. A few short bursts from her wings gained her the same elevation as the red eyes.

“Quick! Treachery!” Embyr roared.

“What happened to Sylence?” a deeper rumble than Sylence resonated from the massive shadow dragon.

What am I about here? Embyr wondered. I am deceiving one of the oldest dragons alive. I am but a hatchling in comparison.

An explosion rocked the waters from the direction of the sinking ships. That sparked an idea as Embyr came to a stop, hovering in the air.

“The softflesh used a magical weapon. I carried a conversation with Sylence when she complained of fire in her belly. Smoke erupted from her mouth and she collapsed. I flew to warn you in case you ate anything the softflesh had created,” Embyr spoke quickly.

Steylth let out a roar as he passed her, racing towards the shore. Embyr panicked. A horn blast from behind startled her as much as a dragon could be startled. She snapped her neck around to see the lights of three, no, five ships alight on the horizon.

“Softflesh!” Embyr roared. Steylth turned up and around heading back to her.

“They will pay with blood,” Steylth snarled as his skin shifted to match the color of the sky and sea. Only his red eyes would show to the softflesh if they were opened. A terrifying sight to meet death.

“Do you want my aid?” Embyr followed after him, hoping he would decline in his rage of vengeance.

“Go to the Omega Council and warn them of the softflesh ships. They must send scouts to ensure we are not under attack by a greater fleet. Go, now!” he growled.

Embyr quickly turned and headed back to shore. She flew over the still smoldering remains of Sylence with a pang of sadness at what she had become. A soft landing kicked up little sand as she snatched the tree with her jaws and flung it to the side. The wailer was silent. Its eyes snapped open without warning and it looked… curiously at Embyr. She was transfixed by the green eyes taking her monstrous form in. It reached out with one of it’s stubby arms to her snout. Without pausing to think, she lowered her head. The small claw that wasn’t a claw touched her scale and she felt a powerful jolt of energy surge through her. She let out a startled growl and worry twisted her innards. She could feel an impression in her head. An idea.

Food. Hungry. Food. Thirsty.

Dread overcame her as Embyr saw the hatchling’s eyes shift to red and then back to their normal green. The prophecy was true. She was now bonded to a softflesh. The first dragon to have a dragon rider in thousands of years since Korellis.