Flying down was easier than expected. But the pull of gravity was stronger than anyone had experienced in centuries. If not for their ability to fly and therefore slow their fall, it would have been a terrifying descent! Even so, it caused a little alarm.
General Tatsuo soothed them with a simple, Steady, soldiers.
That was the scary part. The HARD part was not dumping their passengers off their backs. It would have been cruel to fly normally, thus taking the passengers from rightside up to upside down and over again and again. So they adjusted to fly more like a snake moves, with their noses pointed slightly down and their bodies and tail streaming out behind/above them. It wasn't nearly as uncomfortable for the dragons as the riders but it felt abnormal. At least it allowed them to ferry every single prisoner-of-war off their islands, however. It was worth it.
One dragon carried only two passengers. One was a boar youkai named Buta. He was so dangerous he needed a dedicated guard's full attention. He smiled the whole way down, even after his dragon transporter threatened to let him drop to this death if he didn't behave.
On the way down they all saw what had become of their homeland. It was shattered into nine islands.
“YOU did this! Raising your islands broke the continent in pieces! he broke out in a growl, which turned into an outraged roar.
The dragon carrying him bucked, reminding him of his threat, and his guard put a hand on his shoulder and shoved him down. Buta struggled briefly, then subsided, but his grin was gone. He wasn't quite so happy to be going back now. He glared at the guard, then turned his back. His beady eyes absorbing the new reality.
“The great orb did this? commented Prince Kuroaki. It's no wonder they wanted it.
Princess Jori stared down, opening her eyes to the wind so she wouldn't cry. Mere references to the orb had her doing that these days. But silently she agreed with her brother.
General Tatsuo snorted. As if raising the islands wasn't enough of a feat? Mere rumors have always drawn theft attempts. He looked over at Jori. It was bound to be successful one day. And our guard was down.
Princess Jori eyed him and then softened her gaze gratefully.
Prince Kuroaki changed the subject. General, where should we land?
“Somewhere abandoned with good airal coverage. Somewhere where we can get our bearings without encountering the locals.
Kuroaki glanced down. There's nowhere like that, sir.
Tatsuo nodded his great head, whiskers whipping in the wind.
“So we go for closest coverage. Over there. The stone forest. He raised his voice. Land among the spires. And you youkai mask your auras and keep them masked at all times.
The army banked to the left and did as he said, keeping their eyes and senses open for anyone that might be watching. There did not seem to be, luckily. Coming down they startled a couple of birds into the air.
“Unload and secure our allies. Make camp and protect the perimeter." General Tatsuo followed his own directions even as he gave them. "_3 leave your partner. You get over here and assist the prince and princess.”
_3 waited for her partner to take charge of Buta and hurried over. The prince waved her toward his sister. Princess Jori was the smallest dragon here and thus only had five riders. She'd now created a corral from her body and was eying the penned in youkai threateningly. They were weaponless and had their auras suppressed as ordered, however, so they were unlikely to do anything. Jori relaxed and shrank into humanoid form so that _3 could assist her. She tossed her pink hair primly, avoiding _3's eyes.
General Tatsuo looked around. Great pillars of stone rose on every side of them, like giant graveyard stakes. The ground was uneven rock. The stone was dotted with vegetation wherever it had gained a foothold and could recieve water, even trees in some places. Coming in he'd seen a waterfall, but as they wanted to HIDE for the moment he hadn't gone straight for it. Once everything was settled here he might send some out to gather water but everyone saited themselves before leaving the islands so it would be a while until it became necessary. What was more important would be to send out scouts. So they could travel tonight, undercover. He let his eyes drift over the dragons and youkai, assessing the current state of things.
General Tatsuo soothed them with a simple, Steady, soldiers.
That was the scary part. The HARD part was not dumping their passengers off their backs. It would have been cruel to fly normally, thus taking the passengers from rightside up to upside down and over again and again. So they adjusted to fly more like a snake moves, with their noses pointed slightly down and their bodies and tail streaming out behind/above them. It wasn't nearly as uncomfortable for the dragons as the riders but it felt abnormal. At least it allowed them to ferry every single prisoner-of-war off their islands, however. It was worth it.
One dragon carried only two passengers. One was a boar youkai named Buta. He was so dangerous he needed a dedicated guard's full attention. He smiled the whole way down, even after his dragon transporter threatened to let him drop to this death if he didn't behave.
On the way down they all saw what had become of their homeland. It was shattered into nine islands.
“YOU did this! Raising your islands broke the continent in pieces! he broke out in a growl, which turned into an outraged roar.
The dragon carrying him bucked, reminding him of his threat, and his guard put a hand on his shoulder and shoved him down. Buta struggled briefly, then subsided, but his grin was gone. He wasn't quite so happy to be going back now. He glared at the guard, then turned his back. His beady eyes absorbing the new reality.
“The great orb did this? commented Prince Kuroaki. It's no wonder they wanted it.
Princess Jori stared down, opening her eyes to the wind so she wouldn't cry. Mere references to the orb had her doing that these days. But silently she agreed with her brother.
General Tatsuo snorted. As if raising the islands wasn't enough of a feat? Mere rumors have always drawn theft attempts. He looked over at Jori. It was bound to be successful one day. And our guard was down.
Princess Jori eyed him and then softened her gaze gratefully.
Prince Kuroaki changed the subject. General, where should we land?
“Somewhere abandoned with good airal coverage. Somewhere where we can get our bearings without encountering the locals.
Kuroaki glanced down. There's nowhere like that, sir.
Tatsuo nodded his great head, whiskers whipping in the wind.
“So we go for closest coverage. Over there. The stone forest. He raised his voice. Land among the spires. And you youkai mask your auras and keep them masked at all times.
The army banked to the left and did as he said, keeping their eyes and senses open for anyone that might be watching. There did not seem to be, luckily. Coming down they startled a couple of birds into the air.
“Unload and secure our allies. Make camp and protect the perimeter." General Tatsuo followed his own directions even as he gave them. "_3 leave your partner. You get over here and assist the prince and princess.”
_3 waited for her partner to take charge of Buta and hurried over. The prince waved her toward his sister. Princess Jori was the smallest dragon here and thus only had five riders. She'd now created a corral from her body and was eying the penned in youkai threateningly. They were weaponless and had their auras suppressed as ordered, however, so they were unlikely to do anything. Jori relaxed and shrank into humanoid form so that _3 could assist her. She tossed her pink hair primly, avoiding _3's eyes.
General Tatsuo looked around. Great pillars of stone rose on every side of them, like giant graveyard stakes. The ground was uneven rock. The stone was dotted with vegetation wherever it had gained a foothold and could recieve water, even trees in some places. Coming in he'd seen a waterfall, but as they wanted to HIDE for the moment he hadn't gone straight for it. Once everything was settled here he might send some out to gather water but everyone saited themselves before leaving the islands so it would be a while until it became necessary. What was more important would be to send out scouts. So they could travel tonight, undercover. He let his eyes drift over the dragons and youkai, assessing the current state of things.
