[IC] {Vodius} The Dragon Egg {Dragon princess}

[Vodius]

Kendrick growled as he leveled the royal scepter at a cluster of rocks, willing the ancient artifact from the last great age to life. A bolt of electricity arced between the hard edges on its head before firing, blasting the obstacle out of his path. He'd been tracking the little beast for what seemed like ages, but his research, his spies, his tutors had finally led him to the beast's lair. And when he'd arrived? He found the entrance to the inner chambers, though it was little more than a collapsed pile of rubble in an archway. There was a hole in it, small enough for him to crawl through, as though he'd soil his royal garments on his hands and knees like a peasant. The young monarch-to-be figured the dragon inside has cloistered itself off to sleep through this decade and the next, but that just wasn't going to work with his timetable...

He gave the carved stone a moment to settle, finding the dragon would do no good if he got himself splattered by loose stones from his excavations, before stepping into the dark, the points of the royal scepter humming as they charged enough to glow soft blue in the stifling darkness. The first thing he noticed was the smell. Book and scholars warned him that the stench of a mighty red would be overpowering. Ash and smoke, fresh and old, from the refuse of the dragon's meals should be filling the air. But this cave was mostly breathable. There was but a hint of smoke, little more than a campsite's fire would have put off if left for the night. He furrowed his brow curiously, but pressed on into the inner chambers, letting his scepter lead the way.

The drip drop of water from some unseen source echoed in the hollow, which also struck him as odd. The body of an old red should have turned any nearby trickles of water to steam ages ago, and yet here was evidence to the contrary. Had he entered the wrong lair? Was this some other beast? His knuckles turned white as he gripped the scepter more firmly, trying to sharpen his senses and figure out what he was really up against. Something smaller. Something colder. He saw the scratches of claws along the uneven floors of the place; something made its home here.

He hadn't thought to enter stealthily, the sound of his hard-soled leather boots click-clacking with each step, announcing his presence to the lair's inhabitant, if the scepter's glow hadn't given away his position well enough.

[Dragon princess]

There was no sound for a while till he hears what sounds like little paws running in the cavern, all around. The prince couldn't tell where this sound was coming from it was everywhere. There was no sound suddenly then on a rock above the prince sat the small red dragon that stares at him, the female baby dragon gave a hiss and when he prince turned the dragoness easily ran of into somewhere else in the room. A baby dragon was very fast dragon and nearly uncatchable or hittable. The baby dragon cackled deeply and ran around easily sounding like it was everywhere.

Your intruding inside my home A voice echoed around everywhere in the room. Before the prince up on a slab of rock he could see a pair of golden eyes and a small kitten sized dragon sat there. the voice was female and it was nothing more then a baby dragon, not feeling the idea of being threatened eyes glow and the royal weapon became very hot making the prince unable to hold it. The dragon licked her paw as she kept the weapon searing hot making it unable to be picked up by the human. The slab around her caught on flames that was blazing white. The dragoness looks at her and waited for him to speak. The dragoness had blazing red scales, she was kitten size she didn't look deadly but she was able to make weapons searing hot and white flames blazing around her.

[Vodius]

The prince dropped the scepter as soon as the metal of the relic turned more than lukewarm, letting it fall with a ka-lunk as it hit the ground. The glow faded to nothingness as it left his grip, leaving the chamber lit only by the searing inferno surrounding the dragon pup, giving it an ominous bearing despite its size.

Kendrick shook his hand briskly, as though he could wave the heat away, but kept his eyes on the creature of fire before him, trying to keep his face from displaying his confusion. Head slightly cocked to the side, he examined the magical beast, a slight frown evident on his lips. "Your home?" he questioned, as though he wasn't speaking to something that could roast him where he stood. "Hm..." The man turned away from the flames, his silhouette on the opposite wall growing dark and tall as he pieced together the clues. There was supposed to be an adult dragon here.

Turning back towards the lair's owner, he let his eyes meet with hers, a sign of respect in his lands, though he wasn't sure if staring back at her with an unyielding, unwavering gaze would be recognized as such by a hatchling dragon. "This is your home," he started with a nod, "My sincerest apologies." He offered a slight bow, another sign of respect he didn't know if she'd understand, "But you are not the great red that I seek. Do you know of Kor'Inzaia? Of the Inferno? I seek audience with her. I seek to make a deal."

[Dragon princess]

"You speak of my mother. I am sorry she died nine weeks ago" the dragonling said in apology. The dragoness looked at him then the shadows. She shrugged then said slowly.

"I am afraid you came here with nothing " she said tilted her head up the room exploded into flames that didn't touch the prince. She then trotted away into the other chambers contently. Yeah she was young but she had more tricks up her sleeve then her mother. She came to a crystal glowing chamber and started to sing. The crystals glowing at the sound of what was like chiming bells. So soft and pure. She hummed and sang the crystals glow brightly. She looked into small lagoon that was in the room. Looking at her reflection and closed eyes.

She breaths of black and white flames as they danced in the chamber they glowed, the flames taking the form of two dragons spirits that ran around her happily, she smiles happily and purred softly before jumping up onto a slab of rock and laying down watching the water, the world of the sea, yes she was a red dragon but there was a lot about her that was hidden and her mother knew this. Her mother was not the one they had seen in the town rampaging it was her just made herself much bigger and scarier looking. This dragon was more amazing them most small dragonlings.

[Vodius]

The corners of the prince's lips turned downward in light of the news, the Inferno was dead? How could this have happened? And how could the beast he sought after have been killed anyway? And why didn't he discover such news in his research? Surely someone would have taken note of a great red's passing. Disregarding the flames, he pressed onward, leaving the protective scepter on the ground where it lay as he stepped into the chamber beyond. The dulcet tones of the hatchling's singing surrounded him before he approached her more closely, the tone and pacing making the human wonder what its purpose was. Was she just singing to sing? Was she doing it out of joy, or sorrow?

Kendrick pressed his back against the wall of the chamber, intentionally alerting the lair's apparent master that she wasn't alone. Arms crossed over his chest, he did little to hide his displeasure at the situation, though he guessed that the baby dragon wouldn't be able to tell if he was upset over losing his prize, or empathetic to her losing her mother. "What's it like here? Alone, I mean. Do you like it?" he asked gently, keeping any sign of harshness from his voice.

[Dragon princess]

The dragonling looked at the water for a long time eyes glowing and then looked at him Being alone sucks, when your mother died and father she said swishing her long red tail into the water making it steam up. The dragonling eyes closed as she listened to the elements all around her, the whispering ghost and the wind that blew through the chamber. The prince could hear a older dragons spirit voice speak to him with wise intent Take care of my daughter she doesn't dissapoint the prince should see the fire dragon mother sat there looking at him with sharp firey eyes and then vanishes.

[Vodius]

Kendrick's expression softened slightly as he pressed his back to the cavern wall, letting himself slide to the floor, drawing his pack from his back as he descended. "I'm not going to lie and say I know what you're going through. My parents aren't dead, but they've never had any time for me," he started, pulling a handful of dried, salted meat from his bag. He took a small bite, chewing it thoughtfully as the memories of his lonely childhood washed over him. The prince extended one hand out, holding a strip of meat from his little meal as somewhat of a peace offering and apology for intruding on the hatchling. "Hungry?"

[Dragon princess]

The dragon hatchling looked at him puzzled but sighed gentle looking at the water. She shut her eyes as the rock turned to glass under the extreme heat from her body. She opened her eyes and shook herself out. She looked at him weirdly,
"I can hunt my own food" she said flicking her tail and walked past him but as she did the small piece of meat vanished from his hand. The dragoness walked outside into the snow making it steam up she ate the piece of meat and looked around outside and flicks her tail side to side and then sniffed the air softly smelling a mouse and eyes darted that way and ran that was and lunged catching the mouth and smiling she ate it, bones and all.

[Vodius]

The meat was chewy, but flavorful, with spices and sugars glazed into the strip. The different essences practically exploding on her tongue as she snapped it down, leaving a pleasant, muted aftertaste as she left her lair. Inside, her sharp hearing picked up the sounds of the prince finishing the rest of the little snack he had drawn, and then the click clack of his boots as he made his way back towards the entrance. The scraping sound of metal on stone rang out, bouncing off the walls of the cave as he scooped the royal scepter off of the uneven stone floor.

As she stepped out into the snows, she saw a handful of men and women standing before her, decked out in thick furs and leathers to insulate them against the bite of the mountainous chill, hands resting on the hilts of their swords, axes, and hammers or on the grips of their bows. None dared draw on the dragon, small though she may be, but it was apparent they were concerned that they saw their prince enter the lair, and the dragon leave it. They backed away slowly, giving the hatchling a wide berth, and by the time she had caught her meal, all that was left in sight was the footprints in the freshly fallen snow marking their hasty retreat.

Kendrick stepped out a few moments after her last bite, tugging at the lapel of his thick coat to shield his neck from the cold. With a shiver, he donned a cap that appeared to be woven wool from some poor beast that was unlucky enough to have fur colored to match the rest of his royal winter garb. "Just because you can do something on your own, doesn't mean you have to, and there is some comfort in that knowledge, no?" The frigid air around them made his breath visible as he spoke, but he didn't bother looking at her, instead keeping his eyes focused on the now empty clearing. He saw the footprints in the snow, signs of his little expedition's departure, and though he was certain they wouldn't abandon him, or even wander too far away, he was somewhat irked by having to inconvenience himself in the slightest to get back to his mount.

He passed the hatching on his way to the small caravan, turning to look at her expectantly before breaking line of sight, "There is still a deal to be made," he said definitively, silently inviting her along... For now.

[Dragon princess]

Your little hunting party went north She pointed her tail north to where about eight miles down would be the princes steed. The dragonling though had no plans on leaving its home. Humans hated dragons so it would be no different. She rolled her eyes as she climbed onto the princes head and sat there flicking her tail side to side looking around. She sat and watched the snow got past them, She converted her body heat to keep the prince warm as they went toward where the princes horse was. She looked at the horse and raised eyebrow and sat on the horses muzzle looking at it. She thinks about her mother bringing back horses, sheep or even people back to eat yet the only thing she ate was mouse and bugs. She then lays on the horses muzzle as it trotted down the path up the mountains it would be two day hike back even without breaks.

Few hours later night had settled in and the prince had his horse stop for the night. The dragonling knew there was a lot of dangers out in the forest and then climbed into a tree and broke the large branch and tugs it around the area. She made a protection seal in the snow around them to warn off any creatures that are to have passed by that night. She looked out into the forest around them on a rock looking over the small base camp they made. She could hear a couple wolves trot by in the shadows and growls in warning. The wolves left her alone. She gave a blistery roar and made the wind catch a flame around them before settling down and laying there on the rock. She watches the shadows for hours before she closed her eyes. After a few minutes she was awaken by a nightmare and slowly she slunk over to the prince and curled up on his lap ....purring. Yes she was a dragon but there was something very odd about her.

[Vodius]

Kendrick hadn't forgotten that dragons were "kill on sight" for the realms of man, but it did little to dissuade him from his quest. After all, he originally sought a creature that was large enough to swallow horses by the handful and could melt stone on accident by sleeping too close to it, who would even be willing to try and raise a hand against her? His sleep was troubled this night, and it was evidenced in his restlessness. The hatchling wasn't a pushover by any means, but it wasn't the invincible great red that he was expecting to take home either. The scowl on his face while at rest voiced his displeasure, though he showed no signs of it while awake. Measures would have to be taken to ensure that the little dragon would make it home, much less survive to adulthood. For even the slightest chance to make it... He'd have to be the only living human to know that there was a dragon within the borders.

He was almost remorseful that he'd brought some of his best men with him. Almost.

The prince mumbled in his sleep, something harsh but unintelligible, even to the dragon's keen senses. His fingers curled and extended against her scales casually in slumber, gently scratching behind her ears as the little creature nuzzled herself against him. Whatever filter he was able to mask his true feelings and emotions with when awake, it was clear he did not take it with him to the dream world. Stringent then soft, with only a few seconds between the two moods, he must have been having a particularly emotional ride during his reverie right now.

[Dragon princess]

The dragon was fast asleep her eyes closed tightly but unknowingly she had shifted human form. Her glowing eyes stayed and flamming red hair. She had large invisible red wings to humans as well. She looked around as it was an hour before dawn. She restarted the fire and then looking around for anything that could be used to change back. She looked like a stunning twenty four year old but deadly as well. She sat on a rock and looks out. The air was crisp and cold but.she was not effected. She hears the prince waking up and turns twoard him Ger red dress blowing in the wind.

[Vodius]

The prince, still somewhat groggy from his sleep and the troubled dreams of the last evening simply scowled at her as he passed. He rubbed his chin as his frown deepened, the normally clean-cut beard, trimmed to a picturesque perfection had grown out a bit, softening the angular lines that lent to a look of crispness he so enjoyed. Kendrick's feet crunched in the snow as he made his way to the campfire, the little blaze burning bright and hot despite...

He looked around curiously, realizing that no one else had awakened yet, except the woman. Icy blue eyes fixated on her as he tried to will away his sleepiness. Had he invited any of the court ladies on this expedition? His brow furrowed as he dragged the memories back to mind. No, he'd remember that. And no lady would trouble herself with relighting a fire in this cold, much less wear nothing but a dress in it. The prince subconsciously let his hand fall to his belt, where the hilt of his sword would have been had he been dressed for the day. Feeling nothing but the cloth of his bedclothes seemed to unnerve him slightly, though it did shake off whatever hold sleep still had on him. Sobered and serious, he called out to the stranger, "Who are you?" His features hardened and she could see the agitation and aggression rising within him, even if it was only by detecting the heat rising in his body. "Where is the dragon? If you've taken her..." he growled, fists balled as he started to close the gap between them...

[Dragon princess]

The girl laughed gently and smiles "my dear prince no need for such rage and anger. I am sykia I am the dragoness. The red dragon was known for the ability to creating a human form" she said opening her palm hee eyes glow and the girl seemed to vanish and there stood the dragoness but slightly bigger. She was now up to the prince's knee. Her pupils where green and she had two wings on her back.

[Vodius]

Kendrick visibly calmed as she explained that she was the hatchling, somehow shapeshifted into a human form. His first thought was why her alternate form's apparent age didn't sync with her true form's, but he pushed the thought away. After all, he did spend most of his time away from home holding a shaft of metal that could send bolts of lightning out with a thought; magic had a way of not making much sense. The prince eyed her warily, taking in her appearance from head to toe, and she could tell that this wasn't out of fondness nor attraction; he was weighing her, deciding how much more or less useful she could be.

He didn't shrink back from either of her forms, even as her magic reshaped her back into... A slightly more mature dragon. Perhaps he wouldn't have to wait too long for his mount after all. At least this expedition wasn't a total waste, he eventually decided, "Come along, Sykia," he said, signalling for her to come to his side as he made his way back to his tent. "We have things to discuss."

[Dragon princess]

The dragon looked at him and cocked her head but nodded and looked at him slowly what do you want to talk about? asked stretching her wings slowly not a large wings but they where good for first pair of wings. She fallowed him to the tent her tail flicking side to side slightly as her scales took the sunlight in to warm up. (Sorry brainfart)

[Vodius]

Holding the tent flap open for her to enter, the prince followed Sykia inside, giving one last look over his shoulder to make sure the camp was still quiet and no one had seen her transformation. "Two things," he started, shutting the flap of the tent behind him, "First would be the price of your allegiance. I can promise you food, shelter, and enough gold for your hoard to make your ancestors jealous. The second... Getting you into the palace without being seen." His piercing blue eyes lingered on her own green orbs and his face wore an expression of concentrated thought, calculation, "I had originally resigned myself to having to eliminate my little expedition here and smuggle you in on my person, but..." he perked a brow, extending one hand out, palm up, "It seems that will no longer be necessary, so long as you agree to stay in that form until we reach the grounds."

[Dragon princess]

The dragoness looked at him as he talked, she nodded slowly "Alright you got a deal" she said slowly her tail slashed side to side her eyes glowing blue and rears up and shifted human form. Her dress was gone and replaced with pants and her shirt was red, her hair was red from fire. Her eyes where blue and skin was fair. She smiles as she had two swords and a spear on her back she grinned "Well I am going to hunt for breakfast" grinned leaving the tent and walked through the snow and took out her two sword and threw them into the forest. She grinned and went into the forest and went to the deer a half mile away and dragged it back smiling humming.

[Vodius]

On her return to the campsite, she first noticed the motion of the place. Servants and soldiers alike were already packing up their tents and bedrolls, some more sourly than others. A handful of other fires had been lit, likely in preparation for the morning meal, while a few of the more perky underlings were gathering ice and snow to melt into water or unloading stored provisions from their packs and mounts. She drew more than a few curious looks as she passed, the sight of a beautiful woman hauling two hundred pounds of deer carcass tends to attract attention, though no one approached her to investigate.

Sykia heard her name mentioned a few times, more often as she approached the prince's tent site; he must have offered up a cover story for why there was a stranger in the camp's midst. No one seemed to be speaking ill of her, leaving the dragon with the sense that the people were more curious than defensive towards her. Kendrick was leaning against a pitched pole as his servants packed up his tent and belongings, casually sharpening a skinning knife as she approached. His eyes fell on her, then her kill and he nodded approvingly, signalling for her to bring it over to a makeshift table a few paces from the fire she had re-lit earlier.

[Dragon princess]

The girl dragged the deer over slowly humming a small tune to herself as she did so. She put the deer on the table and eyes looked at the servants with dark feiry pits inside of them. The girl looked around slowly the snow around her was melting rapidly slowly, her eyes looked back at the prince,
"Half mile long shot with my sword easy for me really I could do better but it was reasonable " She said slowly looking at the sky that was crystal blue that day, she smiles eyes closed.