Severed Bonds of the Winged Sky

Unhindered sunlight showered down upon crimson scales as the morning air streamed past, clouds dissipating against plated skin allowing the moisture to be absorbed. Birds flew past, first the Robin, then the Hawk hoping for a quick meal. Argentia opened her mouth, enveloping both in her maw effortlessly. A perfect example of the ladder of superiority, with the Dragon always at the top.

Grassy plains below beckoned Argentia closer as she descended to the ground, the call of wolves and forest cats hushing to avoid risking her hunger, yet one noise echoed over the plains, emanating from the woods across. A good walk for any normal person, two flaps of her wings took her directly to it. Crying, a wail of helplessness from the forest and the source was a small child.

Knelt beside an Oak Tree, the youth was wiping tears from his eyes, unaware of the wildlife’s eyes on him. Argentia watched from a distance as a creature approached him, a Ratghoul crept from above, slowly climbing down from the tree to feast. Hairless creatures, Ratghouls are insatiable predators with a seemingly endless appetite. Four limbs spread from a body that looked somewhere between diseased and decayed and a tail capable of sustaining its own weight. Jaws unhinged it leapt at the child as Argentia rocketed out from her hiding spot, knocking the Ratghoul back with a swipe and coiling her tail around the child defensively.

“Pretty…” The boy muttered, ceasing his wailing as he gazed up at his stalwart protector, eyes wide with wonder.

Argentia didn’t take her eyes off the Ratghoul as it climbed to its feet with a screech. A pack of Ratghouls revealed themselves from the treeline as the call sounded, all of them leaping at once in an attempt to take down the Dragon. Their teeth snapped at Argentia’s scales as one of them wrapped their prehensile tail around her neck and clawed at her underside, another jumped over her, grabbing a tree limb with it’s tail, propelling itself towards the boy.

The boy got shoved back as Argentia brought up her tail, slapping the Assailant into a tree. Her wings flapped as she hovered and inhaled, raising her scale’s temperatures to an extreme degree. The Ratghouls shrieked as they caught fire, the smell of burning flesh permeated the air.

As the predators turned prey turned tail and ran aimlessly, trying to put out the fire, Argentia turned and checked on the boy. Their eyes met, hers filled with vast wisdom and infinite skies, his clouded with wonder and untapped potential.

“Go now, child. You are too young to survive out here alone. These woods make even the most noble souls tremble.” Her scales shone a bright red, still emanating great heat and she eyed the child, unsure what would even have brought such a young one this deep into the woods. There were no settlements to her knowledge in the immediate area, nor had there been any large migrations of people recently.

“L-l-lost…” the boy managed to sputter out, a tear rolled down his cheek as though he was just reminded of his precarious situation.

“Well, it can be easy to get lost when there are all these trees blocking your vision. How about we get an eye in the sky?” Argentia slithered her tail around his waist, hoisting him up onto a hunch dragons had in their back, right behind their neck. An evolutionary remnant from when Man and Dragon fought side by side. “What is your name, little one?”

“Garek.” the boy replied, his sandy brown hair in his eyes, and a smile at the thought of his upcoming flight disguising any trace of the numerous tears he had already shed this day. He couldn’t reply very much, or even keep up a serious conversation, but he knew enough words to give the most basic of answers.

“Very well, Garek. Let’s go look for your home, shall we?” Argentia exhaled, blowing smoke from her nostrils and spreading her wings, admittedly showing off a tad. Rearing up on her two hind legs, the sunlight broke across the soft membrane of yellowish skin that covered the majority of her underwing. Light scattered everywhere, dazzling the boy Garek and nearly blinding him so he had to look away and cover his eyes. “Hold on tight, Boy!” She went back to all fours, bounded forward, once, twice, thrice, and beat her wings and they were over the tree line.

With the clouds above them and the trees below them, they were in a special place in between. For Millennia it had been that the Dragons ruled the sky as Man ruled the Earth. This was as the progenitor willed it to be. Lord of the Dragons and Father of man. The Progenitor of Life itself, Gabarond the eight headed dragon. Now, Dragon and Man joined in taking the sky together once more, a story practically unheard of in recent times.

Garek wrapped his arms around Argentia’s neck the best he could, though he didn’t fear falling. He felt that he could trust her with his life, after all, he already had. If he fell, somehow he knew that Argentia would catch him and more likely than not it’d be before he even knew he fell. He gave a laugh of excitement before eventually settling down as the dragon slowed to a cruising speed.

“Do you see your home yet, Garek?” She asked just before a small town appeared over the horizon for her.

“No.. I don’t.” He replied, sounding rather exhausted from his long day, and who could blame him?

“Rest now, child. I will search for your home but you have had quite the adventure on this rising of the sun. We need you strong and well rested for when we find your village.” Argentia flew up a bit higher as she spoke. Garek was too young to understand hatred, but she was not. Nor would the people of his village be. She had no desire for conflict but regardless of what she wanted, she needed to be prepared for it.

The sun was halfway through its daily journey through the sky when they approached the village.

“Home!” Garek yelled as they came down upon it. His sapphire eyes lit up at the sight, a long day finally came to an end. “Mama! Papa!” He cried as he attempted unsuccessfully to climb down from Argentia’s back.

She laid down, allowing him to climb down easier, using her tail to assist him. The village itself was not apparently a wealthy village. Made out of shoddy woodwork that did its best to do the one job of allowing people to not fall through. Garek’s family came out to meet him, luckily they lived on the very outskirts of the small town so it was just them and no one else.

They stopped short in their tracks at the sight of her. A creature that was twice the size of their house, carrying their baby boy. The mom stepped forward, shoving aside her fear and replacing it with reverence.

“Great dragon, made in the image of Gabarond himself. There aren’t many who still revere your kind but this family does. You have brought our sole child back home, for that we are thankful. How ever can we repay this blessing?” Her blonde hair, almost white blew in the breeze. Her eyes, clearly the source Garek got his eyes from shone as sharply as Argentia’s teeth in the midday sun. She was dressed simply, a brown tunic with a black skirt that flowed down to her ankles. Despite her clothing she carried herself with all the respect and importance of a queen.

Argentia regarded her with appreciation, mutual respect, and shock. “There are still those who revere the Dragons? Despite others of your kind nearly wiping us out through use on unfettered magicks eons ago?” Argentia stood up at the words. Her stance embodying the pride of her species, the nobility of her ancestors, and the power of the heavens. “Let me ask you this, Priestess of the Winged Sky, what would you offer to do in exchange for this blessing?”

Garek’s young gaze swept from his mom to Argentia and back. His frail body unmoving as though his instincts understood how serious the situation is and yet, the naivety of youth shone through, love for all life is a common characteristic in the children of Man before fear takes over in maturity. He ran over and wrapped his arms around the leg of Argentia. “Big pretty bird..” he said simply and happily.

“I am no high priestess, for that would require an established organization. The Temple of the Winged Sky fell long before my time, all that remains of it are whispers among its descendants. However, there are those of us who still believe. Who wish to return to the elden ways.You may call me Azulura if it suits you, but you ask what I may offer you myself…” Her voice trailed off as her gaze trailed to Garek, her only child. A tear broke through and rolled down her cheek, yet she didn’t wipe it. Crying is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of being human. “I offer you my son, Garek. He has taken a liking to you and is still young and impressionable. He could be a valuable resource in rebuilding the trust and faith between Man and Dragonkind. If you would accept him of course.”

Argentia faltered for but a second. She had lived the last few thousand years assuming all humans hated the dragons but here was one still faithful. Willing to offer up her own child if it meant repaying Argentia or rebuilding the past friendship of the two species and of her own accord at that. Her slitted pupil rotated to the boy, the embodiment of innocence and she relaxed, bringing her other leg around him, hugging him back as closely as a dragon could. Looking back up at the woman, Azulura, she spread her wings and spoke. “Azulura, you may be the most honorable human I’ve ever met and I’ve been alive since just after the fall of the alliance. I will accept this gift and attempt to rebuild the alliance. It will not be easy, nor will it be quick, but you have shown me there are still people to be respected, I hope to show you the same about the Dragons. He will serve in this role and most importantly, he will be cared for. I will return for him when the moon is at its’ peak. You may gather anything you wish him to take and treasure this time with him. I can not guarantee his return any time soon. But I give you the word of Argentia, my word. The boy will be loved, cared for, and utilized.”

Azulura laughed, pure joy echoing through the air around them. “Yes, we shall. I appreciate your generosity, letting us have a little more time with him, he shall be prepared by the peak of the moon and we will meet you here back at this spot.” Azulura bowed down, her husband did too.

The husband looked up, crying a river of tears himself. “Should you ever need us, we will be here. Should you ever want us, only call. We live to serve you and fix this severed bond.”

Azulura beckoned Garek to her and stood, nodding to Argentia who returned the favor. They turned around back into the house and Argentia was gone before the door ever opened.

Later that night, about twelve hours later, at the peak of the full moon she returned. Scoping the area out to make sure she wouldn’t be spotted by any late night lurkers and landed. The family was already there. Garek immediately ran over, hugging her leg again and Azulura gave a small smile.

“We go?” He asked, though barely audible with his face in her leg. She picked him up and put her back in his spot behind her neck.

“We go.” Argentia confirmed gently. She looked at Azulura wordlessly, nothing but respect in her eyes and found nothing but the same in Azulura’s eyes. Her tail dragged along the ground as she turned around, walking slowly into the distance not to conserve energy, not for the boy’s safety, and not to avoid being spotted, but as a final gift to Azulura and her husband. Letting her see the boy Garek as long as they could before they were gone. They left in search of the remnants of Dragon civilization, the Skyward city of Yonderwurm.