Tara stood at the edge of the group of humans nervously waiting to see the creatures of myth they had been promised. She would have dismissed Merrik as a madman when she first met him if she hadn't seen his dragon for herself and she was still somewhat sceptical about what they would find here. But even a small chance of getting revenge against Ogual for what he had done to her country, to have a purpose again after five years, was enough to get her here. Now her heart thudded hard in her chest, she felt more nervous than she had since her first job as an assassin. She hadn't let herself think too much about what it would be like to be bonded to a dragon on the way here, not wanting to get her hopes up, standing here now she couldn't help it though. It would make her strong, give her real power, enough to actually do something about the darkness infecting the land. She had felt helpless for so long. What would it be like to share her life with the creature though? Merrik had said they were as intelligent as humans and she had seen enough of Obsidian Nova to believe that was true. The pair seemed to be able to communicate silently, telepathy was her best guess and she wondered how far that connection went. The idea made her feel uneasy, almost sick. She valued the privacy of her mind and had no wish to share it with another, especially one she had never met before. She pushed the feeling away, this was no time for second thoughts. She had committed to this and for good reason, a little nervousness wasn't going to change her mind.
They had a few words of warning then dragons and fire were filling the air. She backed away slowly, eyes flicking from one dragon to another, trying to find any that were paying attention to her. A flash of grey in her peripheral vision was the only warning she had to throw herself to the side. She rolled and came up quickly to see a dark grey dragon turning in the air and flying back towards her, slower this time. She allowed herself a brief moment to take in its lithe beauty as it opened its mouth then a beam of yellow fire leapt from its jaw to the ground a little way away from her, moving quickly closer. Was it trying to kill her? Test her? She only had a second to decide how to respond and she span around to sprint in the opposite direction. It only took a few seconds before she could feel the heat of the fire directly behind her. She feinted in one direction then threw herself in the other, very aware of the fact that if the dragon wanted to kill her there probably wasn't anything she could do about it. There was no way she was just going to wait for it to happen though.
She returned to her feet to find the dragon stood in front of her, its shoulders about twice her height, head stretched down towards her on a long neck, wings spread wide showing off the bright yellow lines running through them. She was ready to bolt in any direction even as she studied it, however it wasn't making any aggressive moves, actually looked like it was studying her back. The stillness didn't last for long before it opened its jaws again and a sound so loud she could feel as well as hear it hit her. She took an involuntary step back but didn't move any more. The roar felt like a challenge to her and she had already determined that running wasn't very effective. The sound cut off and she was left with a painful ringing in her ears.
The dragon tilted its head then a voice spoke in her mind and she almost ran but kept herself locked in place.
Fast, for a human. Brave, or just stupid perhaps. Where did you learn those things little one?
Telepathy, indeed. Tara took a moment to collect herself and consider her response then replied, “As a soldier and later an assassin. Those things have kept me alive.”
A soldier and assassin. You kill for others at their command?
Tara could sense the dragon's contempt and she had to keep herself from snapping her response though it still came out cold, “I chose to kill for someone I respected in service of a cause I considered just. I am my own person.”
The dragon snorted. As you say. I would know more about you human, open your mind to me.
Tara tried to keep the disgust and, to her annoyance fear, that caused from her face and voice. “No. Ask me anything and I will answer truly.”
You believe you are in a position to say no? You know if we are bonded, as you must have come here hoping for, we will share minds completely and have no secrets from each other?
That was as bad as she had imagined and worse. But if that was the cost she'd pay it. “Then bond with me if you wish to see my mind. I will not allow you in until it goes both ways.” She held eye contact with the dragon, trying to impress that she would not intimidated.
You do not seem very keen on being bonded. Why are you here?
“I... my country, the people I cared for, were destroyed by Ogual.” Tara paused, not sure how much she wanted to share with this rude and judgemental creature. But she would have to get used to sharing if they were to be bonded and despite her reservations that was truly what she wanted. She needed to be honest. “So revenge for what I have lost. To redeem myself after failing to protect them. But more than that, I want to protect the people he has not yet hurt. And to have purpose, I have spent the last five years without that.”
The dragon was silent for a few moments. Very well then. And with that a part of her mind she hadn't known was closed off opened and her mind was flooded with memories, emotions, sensations. It was too much to take at once. She dropped to her knees and raised her hands to her head. It wasn't pain exactly but it certainly felt like it. She groaned as she tried to make some sense of it, shove it down or away or something so it wasn't so overwhelming and confusing. One emotion came across more strongly, she identified it as alarm after a moment. It seemed the dragon... Zarketh, she knew its... her name was now, was just as unprepared and overwhelmed by this as she was. She didn't know how long it took but eventually things settled down a little and though she still felt like she had the weirdest headache she'd ever had and random memories kept popping up in her mind, she could think straight. It wasn't as bad as she'd thought. It actually felt... comfortable. She felt Zarketh's smugness. Surprised?
You know I am. She thought back at her, amused rather than annoyed now. It felt strange talking like this but also not. Confusing. She could feel the part of her mind that was Zarketh, bits and pieces flowing back and forth between them. She tried focusing on it and the overwhelming press was back, easier to deal with this time though. She could feel the dirt under her claws, the push and pull of muscles as she shifted her weight, her curiousity and excitement as she sorted through her human's memories. The possessiveness in that thought should have bothered her but she was surprised to find it didn't. Zarketh was hers too. The dragon huffed a hot breath at her for that thought and rammed her head into Tara, knocking her to the ground.
Tara opened her mouth to protest but was interrupted by Merrik and Obsidian Nova landing behind her. She scrambled to her feet, still somewhat unbalanced by the bond, which was the only reason Zarketh had caught her like that, she thought pointedly. She listened carefully as he spoke. Eternal life? Magic? She hadn't been expecting that. She didn't know what she thought of it so she put it aside for later thought to listen to the rest. The training and rules didn't surprise her, if anything she found them reassuring. It reminded her of her past. As long as Merrik was a good leader, which she had no reason not to believe so far, they wouldn't have a problem. She tried not to think of the alternative. He is. Zarketh interjected into her thoughts, accompanied with fond memories of the Dragonlord although some were tinged with her annoyance at the restrictions he placed on the young dragons. Tara smiled, comforted, and refocused on what he was saying. She couldn't stop herself from grinning at the enthusiasm she felt from Zarketh at the mention of flying. She had always found enjoyment and escape in running, and the various acrobatics required of an assassin and her own excitement fed back to the dragon.
At the end of the speech Zarketh turned and walked quickly towards the edge of the coliseum, Tara running behind her. They found the halter and Tara had to tell Zarketh to calm down twice before she settled enough that Tara could focus on making sure it was safely attached. Once she had checked and double checked them she climbed easily up the dragon's side, found a spot she could sit comfortably and fixed the straps around herself. Zarketh took off at a run the moment the last one was in place, jerking Tara backwards, the straps digging into her the only thing stopping her from falling off. Now we know the harness works. Hold on. Tara could feel there was no point trying to hold her back so she settled for slamming a fist down on her back and gripping the harness tight. Zarketh extended her wings and leapt into the air, strong wingbeats driving them higher and faster. The cold air stung her eyes and made them water so she could barely see.
We're supposed to be taking this slowly. Gradually. So I don't fall to my death.
Don't make me think I picked a coward for a rider. Tara wanted to be annoyed but the joy and amusement she could feel from Zarketh made it impossible.
At least slow down enough so that I can see. The dragon grudgingly relented, slowing down enough that Tara could open her eyes. She looked down, they were circling above the coliseum and she guessed that the must be near the height limit Merrik had set. She wasn't afraid of heights but she was suddenly struck by how completely her life was in Zarketh's hands up here. Panic started creeping around her mind, trying to break her calm. She was used to being in very dangerous situations but then her survival was always dependant on her own skills, not another's. She had only met Zarketh less than an hour ago, what was she doing?
Focus on me. Feel what I do. Zarketh's concerned thoughts cut through the panic and Tara obeyed. She focused all her attention on her connection to the dragon's mind until she could feel her body as if it were her own. She could feel the air currents on her wings, her body instinctively adjusting to keep her just where she wanted to be. As natural as walking to a human. I would never let you fall. Tara relaxed into it, letting Zarketh's joy at flying overtake her. After awhile she retreated back enough to be aware of her own body again and found she wasn't at all afraid any more. This wasn't like trusting her life to a stranger, Zarketh was a part of herself. She already knew her better after an hour together than she had even known anyone. Zarketh growled in approval and released a jet of bright yellow flame. She picked up speed again, diving and twisting through the air, coming close to other dragons then banking away at the last moment. Tara didn't even think to reprimand her, she was having far too much fun herself.