Reversing Tides

[Mairzy Doats]

Once they reached a certain size, the mother dragons felt comfortable letting the pups run free to mingle with the other pups. Their home was in a spiky black mountain range- undesirable by most creatures, but perfect for dragons for just this reason. It had sheer sides with rare paths to walk, and deep chasms within. The mother felt comfortable allowing their pups to run about one these chasms, knowing that without full use of their wings, they could not go far into harm's way. It also freed up the mothers to hunt and to gather other herbs and berries for their pups' health needs.

One day Akane landed in the Nursery Hole, having just secured a fresh deer carcass in her cave. Her pup came running up and left up into the space between her wings. He nuzzled the skin on the back of her neck, and the red-hearted dragon let out two loving puffs of smoke. Adult dragons looked alike in many ways. All were a smoky gray- almost black color. All had two horns protruding proudly from the back of the skull. But each had a differ color heart, that glowed brightly on its chest, and each dragon's heart matched the color of the glow of its eyes.

On the flight back to their cave, Akane noticed a certain reticence in her son. Once at home, he stared off into spaces as if deep in thought. When Akane set the deer carcass on fire with her breath, the pup stared into this. The elder dragon furrowed her brow, and walked around the fire. She nuzzled the blue-hearted pup playfully until she got him to let out a high pitched, dragon giggle.

"There's my little one," she said softly in the old, dragon language "tell me what is making you so thoughtful."

The pup gave her a look- almost suspicious. Akane's stare back was unbreakable. "You know you must tell."

Vior sighed, sat back on his haunches, and traced lines into the black ground under their feet. "Mom," he said in his sweet voice "Am I different?"

Akane stroked his head with her claws. He was a quarter of her size now- so amazing how fast boys grew! She said "You are different from that rock, because you are alive. You are different from a human, because you have a heart. And you are different from me, because you are young." She purred "And these things all make you wonderful."

"But," Vior shook his head "Calfuray today said me I wasn't a real dragon. I told her she was a stupid face, but she kept saying it. And she said her mother told her." He crept closer to his mother's bulk "I am a real dragon, right?"

There was a frown on Akane's face, and she looked outside the entrance of her cave, to the darkening sky above. Now why would Kin tell her daughter something like that? Her tail started to flick "Mom?" Vior asked.

Akane looked down at her baby "You are most certainly a real dragon! What a ridiculous thing to say."

"But why did Calfuray say that?"

Akane's eyes narrowed as she remembered a darker time. The loss, and the need to extract vengeance upon the creatures who had harmed her so dearly. Things had turned out not quite the way she had expected them to but, in the end, all for the best. To her son she said "You don't remember, but I, I lost you once." She said haltingly. "I had to use magic to get you back. I guess that, since you went away, some dragons that you were different when you came back." She tickled his belly and, unable to help himself, the blue-hearted pup turned over and startled giggling "But I know as well as anyone that you're no one by my little fire-eater!"

Vior laughed until he managed to escape from his mother's claw. When he looked up at her, his eyes were filled with confusion, and a little wonder. "Magic, Mother?"

Akane understood his confusion. She had taught him that Dragon Magic was to be rarely used- only in dire circumstances. That if other creatures, such as humans, were to discover what dragons could do with their magic, they would grow fearful and attack. They'd attack all the dragons at once and steal their hearts and then there would be no dragons left- this is what Akane had told Vior.

"Yes," she said, in almost a whisper "and if anyone asks, I am not sorry that I did so. How could I be?"

Akane did speak to Kin. The gold-hearted dragon did not apologize or take back what she said, and Akane was forced to accept that some dragons would always hold foolish or untrue thoughts between their horns. She was very protective when it came to her son, but she could not change another dragon's inner feelings.

The incident passed. Vior grew up at what seemed to Akane to be an astounding pace. He was first in his generation to master the art of flight, and how proud Akane was. She taught him how to hunt, how and when to use his fire, and how he could gain speed and hover in one place like a dragonfly. He grew until he was taller at the horns than she, and took up most of the room in their shared sleeping cave. Akane knew that she would have to push him out of the nest.

Not that he had to push very hard. She had noticed the way the blue-hearted dragon had cast lingering looks to the birds in the sky, and had noted the questions he had asked about the lands beyond the last point he could see in the horizon. "You should look yourself, and find out." She had told him.

Getting Vior to leave was easier on the blue-hearted male than it was for Akane. Akane had merely to mention that Vior may want to explore the world and find a cave where he could stretch his wings. Vior was so excited at the prospect, he almost flew off without saying goodbye. Luckily he realized his mistake and flew back, and gave his mother a hug with the wings and the neck.

"I will never forget you."

[Gyuki]

As things had calmed down in the kingdom upon the return of the princess and her companion, the aprentence, the two had settled down in the castle and not long after wed.Thought it had been unheard of for a princess to marry such a low ranking sorcerer, neither let that influence them.They merely followed their hearts that had come to yearn for one another after their marvelous adventure together.
Years later, a child was born between them, a boy by the named of Kuhn and though he had the looks of his mother, fair skin and blonde hair, he had inherited magical ability from his father.He was a rough child, one who prefered life outside the castle as opposed to inside of it.He loved the adventure that roamed outside of the high walls surrounding the castle and as a boy, would often question his mother as to why it was he could not play outside them like the other children.
"Mother, do you dislike it outside?", spoke a small boy who barely met the height of the princess' waist and stood clutching the skirt of her dress.
The princess, Valice, looked at her small son in a confused fashion,"No, I don't dislike it.Why do you ask such a thing, my dear Kuhn?"
The young prince looked down to the floor and began to fiddle with the silky material in his hands,"Well...You always tell me to play inside, but the other children are allowed to play outside, so why am I the only one who can't?"
Valice smiled softly and picked up her sweet son before turning so they could look out the window."My dear love, there are dangerous creatures outside of these walls, and I do not wish harm to befall you.When you are older you will understand."
Though as time passed, young Kuhn grew into an adventurous and rebelious young man.He constantly was getting into trouble and finding ways to sneak outside of the castle walls.He was brave and longed to explore more than the few miles his steed could carry him around the kingdom.Kuhn wanted an adventure.
Soon, time came for Kuhn's 18th birthday, a year to be celebrated as the prince came of age and would go out on his first lone hunt to bring back kill for the banquet that would be held in his honor.
Kuhn was excited.Though this wasn't the first time he would be outside the castle by himself, it was the first time he was given full permission to hunt as far out as the border between the kingdom and the dragons nesting grounds.
Though it was a small feat, it was still an adventure for the young prince and he would enjoy it.After all, it wasn't like there were any dragons he would meet.


Kuhn climbed atop his black coated steed and leaned down to kiss his mother's soft cheek,"Don't worry, mother, I'll be back before the night is out.I'll bring back a fattened boar and make you proud."
He waved behind him as he quickly rode off outside of the castle walls, the sounds of cheering quickly fading away as he rode hard and fast, not really concerned with tracking at the moment.Right now all he could think about was getting as far away from the castle as possible.
The prince rode out as far as the border before slowing his horse and allowing it a rest after such a long run.Kuhn then climbed off his steed and tied it to a tree near a small stream.
Both of them drank from the clear water to replenish, though Kuhn soon froze as he heard another animal rustling in the brush ahead.
A large, dirty snout peaked out from the bushes followed by two stained tusks and a brown form covered in wirery hair.
Without hesitation, Kuhn pulled a dagger from his boot and threw it into the side of the boar, earning a loud squeal and a few drops of blood.
The wild pig quickly took off in the direction from whenceit'd come.
Kuhn snatched his bow and quiver from his steed's sadle before charging out in the direction of the squealing animal.
Kuhn used the skills he'd learned to track his kill, coming upon it as he took aim with his bow and let his arrow fly.
Another satisfying squeal echoed out, though it was the one of the final blow.
Kuhn gave a sigh as he followed after the animal quickly.He wanted to return soon so not to worry his dear mother who constantly did so.Of course, she was his mother, so no less could be expected of her.
Soon, he fired another arrow at the resting creature, though this time it was the last.
The boar gave one last, drawn out squeal before falling into the blackness of death.
With a grin, Kuhn quickly retirieved the animal and pulled out his dagger and arrows.
He then tied the pig's feet and slowly began to drag it back to his horse, eager to show off his prize for the night.

OOC: Sorry for taking so long.

[Mairzy Doats]

To start, the blue- hearted dragon flew south, over the mountains that had been his home for close to two decades. The onyx colored stones were spiky and reached to claw the sky. The dragons, with their black, lumpy bodies and angular heads, were easily camoflagued among the stones. Of course, Vior's sharp, aerial eyes was able to pick them out even without the visual aides of their glowing hearts and eyes.

He saw some dragons down below, and flew past a few in the air. Almost all the adults he saw were females, for only females could nest in the mountains permanently. Males lived more solitary lives- off in the world, carving out a large territory and hunting all within it. They only returned to the mountain range once every half century to mate, then left, never even knowing their young. His mother had told him that the dragon who had fathered him was a large, indigo-hearted bull. Vior wondered if he should, someday, encounter the bull that helped him to exist. If he did, it would probably be to challenge him for territory- not some warm hello.

Fighting. All the fights that Vior had gotten in before had been with other young bulls and vixens like him. Fights over the best Sitting rock, or fights over some scrap of extra meat. The juvenile dragons became tired or the adults pulled them apart before any real harm was done. What would it be like, Vior wondered, to fight a real battle, with a real dragon bull who knew what he was doing?

He was getting ahead of himself. Right now, he should focus on flying. When he looked down, he could see red, green and gold lights shining. The dragons where saying goodbye to him by making their hearts glow lighter for seconds at a time. The glow was a valuable tool for communicating- just as much as a dragons words, or the angle of his wings.

At first, Vior glowed back- casting his blue light. But it took energy from his flight, and as more vixens wished him a farewell, the blue-hearted could not reply to all. So he started simply nodding at them, and then ignoring them as he turned on a wing to take the quickest route out of the mountain range. Still, he had to go for miles before he left the spiky black land, and by this time, he was hungry.

The green hills surrounding the mountain range was considered hunting ground for the mothers. It was very lust land, with fields and forests, streams and meadows and it went for miles. Tree grew larger here, and many animals populations were unusually high due to excellent food sources and shelters.

It's fertile nature had attracted humans on the east side some hundreds of years ago, who had gotten to work quickly clearing land and erecting structures made of the trees they had toppled. There was even a large structure made of stone that any creature could clearly see from the most eastern peak. Dragons are intelligent- they know the danger humans present. But they were also stubborn creatures. The dragons had claimed that land for many a millenia- for longer than the humans had even known about dragons. Some of the elders even remembered a time when the humans had not lived in the valleys. So they weren't about to be pushed out of their lands because of some pesky, heartless animals who could be swallowed in two bites.

Of all the animals on the earth, only dragons had hearts. Now, other animals believed that they had hearts too, but dragons knew better. A squishy organ for pumping blood around the body did not a heart make. Dragons had these, too, but the heart- well, it generated a dragon's flame. It housed a dragon's soul, his essence, the very thing that made a dragon a dragon. When a dragon grew old and died, his heart turned into a lump of coal. If a dragon was separated from his heart before his time, the dragon's body became cold and died. A dragon's glow indicated his health, his emotions, and he even used it to say hello. Heartless creatures were simply less evolved, and it was a right and obligation of the dragons to prey on them.

Once he reached the green hunting grounds, he flew in closer to the earth, sharp eyes scanning for any movement. If he were to stay here, he would soon be attacked. But given it was the first day of his journey, Vior had some leeway. He angled his wings so that his flaps were as silent as an owl's. This slowed him down quite a bit, but did not move quickly when one was stalking prey, anyway.

He found himself over a small field, with a stream cutting though it. A number of deer drank from the stream, while the other half looked about, their heads and ears aloft. Vior descended slowly, spiraling downward silently. The key was to focus on one individual, instead of the big group. He was three times as long as a deer, and one half more as tall not including his neck and head. He size essentially gave him the pick of the litter. Instead of going for the weakest or lamest individual, Vior could take the fattest, most healthy animal.

The animals started to realize there was as a shadow upon them. One six pointed buck looked up over his shoulder. Catching sight of the looming dragon, he flashed the white of his tail. When the lookout deer saw the flash, they too, flashed, which caught half of the drinkers attention. They looked up and flashed. The movement alerted the remaining, unaware deer. Like a wave, they all pranced in the same direction.

But Vior wasn't done with them. Now he angled his wings into a plunge. His descent made a slight whistling sound now, but he wasn't trying to be silent any more. His sites were locked on the buck in the middle of the group. A twelve pointer with many battle scars, it was clearly the victor of many a skirmish, and got the best does and the best food because of that. He was sturdy, built like a stone wall, but not particularly fast, and he was falling behind even as Vior crept on him. Just to isolate him more, Vior spit out a tongue of blue flame over the buck that made the creatures around him split off.

The old veteran stag knew that he was being targeted, and that he wouldn't outrun the dragon. So he turned abruptly, dug his hooves into the ground and stared his opponent down. Time to make one more bid for the right to keep controlling his females. He charged the dragon once, but Vior was still in the air. Cockily, the dragon came to a landing, smoke descending from his nostrils. By this time, the rest of the herd had left the clearly.

"You want to do this, oldtimer?" The dragon taunted. Even as he spoke, he was wrapping his tail behind the deer- blocking any escape. What a joke! This heartless beast stood no chance. The buck did not reply, of course.