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Bahamut’s Light: Chapter 1

Upon the eastern shore of Sethera, deep within Drenedar was the city of Struport. Nestled safely among the copper neck mountains it was home to a hardy folk, able to weather the fiercest of storms and tribulations. It was never one to be silent, it’s people generally shuffling about their cobblestone streets, worrying about petty problems that occupied their daily lives.

The months passing had been hard upon them however, speaking of the growing darkness that held them in its sights. Refugees arrived by the hundreds, from the weary lands that hordes of undead had ravaged. Worry festered within this city, plaguing every waking moment of the day. The air that should have been busy with talk of far-off places, was instead concerned with escaping and prayers that the gods would give them the strength to persevere.

Lead grey clouds choaked the sky for days at a time, cutting the city off from the renewing power of the sun. Without it, hope was a fleeting thing. People were like ghosts in the streets, sullen eyes hardly able to lift themselves from the weary streets. But today something whisked itself over their heads, drawing their attention. There was a dragon among them.

Church bells rang from the twin churches of Fureen and Sartren as if to herald the movements of this regal beast. Veledar was his name, known to mortals as the Crimson Sky. Champion to some, devious trickers to others with varying degrees of being an arrogant ass. He twisted through the air with the elegance of a dancer, not letting what snow flickered down from the clouds linger upon his crimson scales. His leathery, red-orange membranes helped him maneuver through the crisp, frigid air, it’s bite all but lost to the air of enjoyment he found himself. This was his domain, he it’s master, as was all dragons before him. He’d ride the currents as easily as breathing, drawing smiles and looks of wonder with every street he passed.

He zoomed around from roof top to roof top, spreading his wings for long glides so that the boring masses below would be treated to something astounding. True these people were used to a family of teal dragons to catch their eyes, but he was a different breed. His vibrant colors were a flash of breath air for those troubled and worried, reminding them that winter’s grasp upon the land would not last forever. Now some might think that grand magic or an iron will fueled this dragon’s strength, but they’d be wrong. What gave his mighty bones the power was the oddest of things upon his back.

Wheeling past the grand clocktower, the dragon’s sapphire like eyes stole a glance back, catching the dutiful, determined face of his human, his mate, the one he’d perish for in a heartbeat, this was Arcturus Lund.

The bearded knight was smiling wide, his mouth threatening to get stuck. He was a reflection of the dragon himself, as why would be nothing else? Regal, well maintained, clad in a suit of fine crafted plate-mail with a red and silver tabard wrapped around his breastplate. Once he might have called himself a dragon hunter, trained to slaughter creatures just like Veledar. Fate, it seemed had different plans in store, allowing the human to choose a different path, one of nobility and honor.

Together they whirled and twirled through the air like a practiced pair, the man anticipating every turn or twist. He held upon the dragon’s saddle, his crimson cloak whipping behind him like a tail. Together they shared a bond that was like nothing else upon this earth, that bound their souls together greater than any stitching and shielded it harder than dragon scales. With every beat of the dragon’s wings, the man could feel as though he were Veledar himself, the wind whistling off his scales.

With their morning route complete, they circled around the churches down below, the dragon making sure that all the refugees down there got a good look of something inspiring. He rumbled and winked to passing children, that tugged and pointed to their parents. How he’d wished to fill their dreams with grand dragons and lengthy stories, but they had more important things to do. He set his sights for the distant walls, ignoring the eyes of guards that lingered upon them.

“Pay them no mind. Don’t think they forgive us for storm.” Arcturus said, brow furrowing over the old blue dragon’s death.

“Then let them hold grudges like dwarves, it will do them little but poison their days.” The dragon replied with a snort, following the currents up and over the thick stone walls.

Beyond them were the rolling hills of the countryside, wrapped tight in winter’s thick blanket. Farmhouses and walls still poked their forms above the snow, reminding them that they still existed. Pines huddled close along the roads, dusted with snow, as if to taunt the bare branches of their surrounding kin. Far beyond the roads and trees were the cooper neck mountains, snowcapped and adorned with vast quantities of weathered, jagged stones. Mist settled above them, casting an ominous glow about their features.

Veledar found himself staring to the west, where the lead grey had taken on a more darker image. There they knew the undead marched, far beyond the western gate. His gaze narrowed as he pictured the sea of unholy creatures, born out of corrupt magic by men with too much power. Leading them was a terrible dragon that had long plagued Arcturus’ life, Veledar would see nothing more than to rid him of that burden. But today would not be that day.

He angled his wings and brought them low, heading for a clearing in which they’d agreed. Then came the ambush a tad sooner than expected, accompanied by a screech and flash of black and white feathers. He found himself beset by a gryphon clad in leathers, lion like ears pinned to the back of his feathery head.

This was Voidwing, a gryphon with far faster wings than Veledar would have liked, even if he’d never admit it to a soul. With sharp, apricot eyes, he was the queen of Lumara’s protector, and just so happened to be her lover. Within this catbird’s grip was a sizable lance, pointed straight towards Veledar’s red-orange scaled chest, the blunt tip slathered in copious amounts of green paint. With a resounding squawk he shot through the air, only to miss the dragon by inches, undone by a sudden shift of his wings. Veledar shot down.

“You’ll have to try better than that Voidwing!” Veledar called back, swinging himself around, the fluttering of his tail membranes filling the air. “Or should we expect all the minions of Dreadflame to be this pitiful?”

“My mistake!” The gryphon replied, practically turning on a coin. “The swiftness in which you brought your bulky haunches around surprised me! You’ll know I won’t make the same mistake twice!”

“Then I guess he’s open to making a different mistake.” Arcturus chuckled, tapping the dragon carvings upon the shield he brought to bear. “Just make sure he’s in front of us. It will be dazzling to be sure.”

Oh, this was going to be amusing. The dragon rumbled in his throat as he circled back around, facing off against the black and white spear being hurled at them. Pounding his wings he shot forward, as Arcturus let loose their clever trick.

Light erupted from his shield so brilliant that it rivaled the rays of the sun. Voidwing clenched tight his eyes, letting loose a pained squawk. Any semblance of attack or defense was robbed of him, making him wide open for the dragon’s move. Veledar swung by him with a pleased trill, drawing a line along his flank with a gentle touch of his paw.

“And you’re dead gryphon.” Veledar rumbled at their success, “Perhaps you’ll think twice about my bulky haunches.” When he brought them about, the gryphon was still fluttering in place midair, cursing, and rubbing at his eyes with his forepaws.

“You didn’t say you’d blind me!” Whined Voidwing.

“I never said I wouldn’t.” Replied Arcturus with a playful chuckle, “You have to expect the unexpected Voidwing, I doubt our opponents are going to tell us what they’ll do.”

“Of course! I wasn’t born yesterday! Ah…Does it have to sting that bad?”

Veledar merely drifted around the gryphon with an amused rumble, just glad that the paladin’s magical trick was not being employed on him for a change. “You know, I’d feel worse for you if you didn’t fall over laughing the last time Arcturus did this to me. Some might call this karma.” With a parting trill he left the gryphon to his devices, not even minding the curses that were chirped at his tail. “That’s one catbird down Arcturus, remind me again why we’re having them use false spears and weapons against us? That paint is going to make a terrible mess of my scales should it hit. Unless your goal was to dirty me up so that you may scrub me down with a rag?” He gave a salacious grin, “ You needn’t get this intricate to get intimate with me, you only have to ask.”

“Are you suggesting you’d rather have them use real weapons against us?” Laughed the knight.

“And why would I do such a ridiculous thing like that?”

“You just complained!”

“What I take issue is with the lack of peril, challenge. How am I suppose to take things seriously like-“As if to answer his wish, an arrow loosed itself from the forest below. The blunted tip struck his horn and deflected off, but not before splattering it with emerald paint. Hissing, he pounded against the air and changed his course. Who knew that his dwarven acquaintance was such a good shot? “How do her little eyes even see this far? Can you see her?”

“She’s hiding about the trees, can’t tell.” Arcturus grunted, holding fast as Veledar was forced to dodge a trio of others, each getting closer than the last.

“Like the coward she is, afraid that I will put a stop to her.” He growled as another arrow splattered against his chest with a dull thud. It didn’t hurt, but it stung exceptionally at his pride. With narrowed eyes he dove low, twisting his paw through the air. He gathered magic within himself, twisting it into shape. When he loosed it a wall of wind was summoned over where the arrows had been flung from. He cackled in delight as her next volley was thrust uselessly aside by his spell. “Not much of an asset when you can be disabled with a minor spell Merlia! You’ll have to try harder than that!”

“You know when she puts her mind to it, you’ll eat those words.” Arcturus sighed, “I doubt it will hold her for long.”

“But I do enjoy making her work for it. If you think about it, I’m helping her get better. Maybe she might even hit me.”

“And what would you call those two times?”

“What two times?” He thrashed his head, ridding his horn of any evidence. “Arcturus, I thought one of your vows was not to lie?” Before a counter argument using facts could be used, he dove fast and forced his mate to hold on for dear life. He landed by the edge of the pines, his wings kicking up the snow. “There, another fantastic landing.” He boasted, striking a regal pose as Arcturus clambered down, his boots crunching upon the ground.

“Aright, so operation let the dragon distract them was a rousing success.” Said Arcturus, checking over his gear. His shield strapped and ready he drew his onyx bladed sword, looking upon the scattered trees as though they might contain the worst monsters imaginable. Unfortunately it was not they that emerged, but Voidwing again.

“Bout time you got here, took practically forever.” The gryphon chirped, giving the pair a beak parted smile, “What kept you?”

“Oh you know, the weather was bad, couldn’t get away from the family, what do you think kept us?” Replied Veledar with a growl and a swish of his tail, “Arcturus, was he not on the other team? I’m not quite sure how the rules of this training work.”

“What do you mean now?” Chuckled the gryphon, deepening his voice, “That thug you faced above was not I Voidwing, but the dreaded Terror wing.” He adopted a regal pose, puffing up his silver tipped feathers. He strut around them with a chirp, making sure they got a look of all his limbs. Three of which were black, his left hind being white. “You can tell by my mark.”

“That’s your leg.”

“Today it’s a mark.”

Veledar groaned, rolling his eyes, “You don’t have to get all in character you know.”

“Where’s the fun in not?” Voidwing flicked his lion like tail, the silver tuft smacking into a pile of snow, “Besides, you did all the work for me best buddy. Merlia didn’t even shoot at me at all!”

“She probably thought you were still on her team in this little pretend mission.” Veledar hissed, pinning his wings as Arcturus surveyed the trees, looking for their dwarven nemesis. “But if not, lucky you that she saw the greater threat, making Arcturus and I far more valuable of a target.”

“Voidwing.” Arcturus rounded on the gryph, getting his beak snapped to him, “Certain this is where their weak spot is?”

“Far as I could gather from them before we got out here.” The gryph fluffed his feathers as they padded through the tree trunks, “Krotos gets a little mouthy after a few cold ones.”

“Ah, how cliché, the former guard that spills his plans after a few drinks.” Veledar grumbled, creeping through the snow, “Do I dare ask what pitiful plan he has in store for us? Please tell me it’s not sitting at a paw’s distance and taunting us with lewd comments?”

“Well, he’s got Merlia and Axton for support. So he’s got magic and dwarven craftiness, a dangerous combo.”

“And what are they doing this time?” Arcturus asked, “We’ve seen firebolt traps, nets with weights, flash bombs, giant grasping vines, and even itching powder hurled at us.”

“I hated that one.” Veledar hissed, wiggling his body as he recalled the previous encounter. “Couldn’t stop sneezing.”

“Think he might be using that again. I saw them getting a powder.” Chirped the gryphon, pinning his ears, “I think Merlia found it hilarious.”

“Course she did. Only she would revel in the wounding of our pride, how very devious of her.”

“Though I believe my ears heard that the young mage is going to be controlling a mass of snowmen. Like their a whole army or something, not sure how it’s going to work, but it certainly sounded creative.”

“You’re only saying that because your Nivra is helping train him.” He replied with a growl.

“And so?”

“And need I mention that this sounds ridiculous? Merlia and Krotos are one thing, but magical snowmen? Are we children?”

Voidwing tilted his head, “Well, Axton…Is a child so-“

“Hmmpf.” Veledar stomped through the snow, “Suppose it will have to do, but take note that I do so under protest. It lacks the peril that I feel we need.”

“Were not supposed to be in peril.” Arcturus hissed, falling in behind a large stone free of snow, “We’re supposed to be acting as a team, keeping our eyes and ears peeled.” He gestured them forward once the coast was clear.

“Versus snowmen and children?” Scoffed Veledar, casually padding behind, “Arcturus you and I have different opinions what Dreadflame will bring to bear against us. I’m almost one hundred percent certain it won’t be this.”

The rest of the way they spoke very little, advancing through the forest with only the sound of crunching snow. Arcturus and Voidwing were taking it seriously, scanning every tree before making their movements. Veledar simply rolled his eyes and blundered on, doubting this was doing them any good. He was proven partially right when they arrived, to not the grand display that he conjured in his head.

Before them was not a grand castle representing their enemy Dreadflame, but the equivalent of a fort made of snow. Decorated with splatters of paint, it bore the signs of Axton’s creativity. Around it was a smattering of snowmen, each made of perfect spheres of snow. Within their hands were wooden weapons and sticks, metal buckets placed upon their heads. As Arcturus and Voidwing took their breaths, pretending as though this threat were real, Veledar could only hang his head and groan.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Hissed the dragon, glaring daggers at the innocent looking snow people and the half put together fort that they guarded. “THAT’S the fortress that we’re supposed to be assailing?” He marched down without a hint of concern, tail lashing against the snow.

“Be careful, we know not what trap has been set!” Arcturus tried to warn his beloved, but it was too late, as the dragon came within a few feet of the icy army, the trap had been sprung.

All around them spheres of colored paint sprouted from the banks, raising to the air as if by an invisible string. They hovered and shifted with malevolent intent for but a moment before flinging themselves at high speed towards the trio. Arcturus went to a knee, his shield down to protect him. Voidwing sprung up with a squawk of surprise, pounding his wings and leaping to the air.

“You call that a trap?” Snarled the dragon, not a speck of paint upon his scales. He’d summoned up a wall of air at the last moment, “This isn’t that difficult if every obstacle is going to be undone by the same spell. I’m almost insulted they’re not trying harder.” The dragon then sighed.

“Or perhaps you’d have fallen to such a ploy if you were not so skilled?” Arcturus nudged at the red dragon, trying to improve his mood. “That all those hours and prior engagements have fine-tuned your reflexes?”

Though disappointment was etched onto his snout, the dragon could not squash the rumble over such a compliment. He did try to hide it however, snapping his attention to the fort with a stomp of his tail and flaring of his nostrils. “Quite right. Though future tidings don’t bode well if Voidwing’s first instinct is to save himself.” He glared as the catbird returned, “You left Arcturus to be killed!”

“Wasn’t he just complaining this lacked any peril?” Scoffed Voidwing, tilting his head, “Look at him, he’s fine!” He gestured to the pain splattered shield, “A rag and some elbow grease and it will be good as new. No need to get your tail worked up about it.”

The dragon turned round with a snort, “Just don’t do it-“ He yelped in surprise as his tail was thrust to the snow, the familiar sensation of a gryphon’s beak upon his scales. He snapped around with eyes of cerulean flames, catching Voidwing in the act.

Voidwing chuckled, beak full of tail, ears splayed. “What?” He spat it out, “It’s not my fault you swish it about, it’s practically your fault now.”

“Hey, it’s not over you two!” Barked Arcturus like a commander, drawing his sword as a wave of snowman began to trundle through the snow towards them. As his blade carved through the first one to greet him, his ears picked up the exaggerated, evil laugh of Axton. The child was having too much fun.

In a shower of snow, the army set against them was little more than distractions. They were dispatched by claw, sword, beak, and the occasional tail. Scale, fur and armor alike wasn’t spared the dusting of icy particles. Wave after wave they were subjected to, until they were left panting, the remains of the army scattered around them.

“You know, I think they were faster this time.” Voidwing laughed, gesturing to bucket helm, painted with an angry face, “Actually smacked me that one did.”

“Just be glad they’re made of snow and not flesh and blood.” He replied, advancing upon the fort of snow. “But I do believe now that leaves the dreaded-“

“Yea, I’m about done.” Veledar growled, tearing down the snow fort’s walls with a savage swipe of his paws. Out leaped a blue and teal gryphon, a yellow beak curled into a smirk. He proudly stood, feathers fluffed, his tail lashing against the wind. Flaring his wings he adopted a threating display,

“You might have come far mortals, but tremble in the might of DREADWING!” Bellowed the gryphon Krotos. Behind him a teenager rattled a tambourine, adding to the effect of this terrifying overlord.

“Overdoing it much?” Veledar asked bluntly, giving a heavy snort.

“The mighty Dreadwing does not overdo anything dragon! Tremble in fear at my mighty claws and feathers. Behold how my aura is both frightful and somehow devilishly charming!” He leaped up upon the fort, fluffing his feathers to appear bigger than he was. Out flared his wings, “You’re minds are so small that you have not yet guessed my devious plot!”

“But we have Dreadwing.” Arcturus chuckled, seeing the delight on Axton’s face. It reminded him of the son he’d lost. “And it’s a terrible thing to see, a gryphon guard driven to such madness? Turn away so that you might be saved.”

“Nay Arcturus, I do not wish to be saved!” Krotos’ body tensed, ready no doubt for a pounce. “But you all have walked right into my trap, unawares of the peril that you find yourself in! Don’t you dare roll your eyes at me dragon!”

“But we do know your plans O Dreaddie.” Voidwing was at Arcturus’ side with a chirp, “I got your associate Krotos to spell the beans with a few strategic drinks!”

“Curses! One of my only weaknesses!”

“Long as it’s not itching power, I couldn’t care less what it is.” Growled Veledar, slinking around the fort.

“It’s even better than that!” He lifted a claw with a maniacal laugh. With his wings bouncing he went on for several moments, clearly something wasn’t happening. The air stilled, he eyed Axton, gesturing to his claw. “Ahem, I do believe I have a problem with my unlimited power!”

“Oh right.” The teen fumbled with the many pockets about his belt, the perfect accessory for a mage in training such as he. Usually they carried mundane regents, things that most spells would require. Today they contained something far more mischievous, with a smile he hurled a packet of cloth in Veledar’s direction. The dragon didn’t even maneuver out of the way, it splattered against his snout in a brown cloud.

“Some sort of gas?” He hissed, “Have you forgotten how resilient a dragon’s natural protections are? A mere gas would do nothing to-“ His nostrils flared as he took in the scent, eyes dilated. It was something familiar, something devious. With a swish of his tail he knew. “Oh no.”

“That’s right my dearest dragon adversary! I learned of your weakness from a little birdy! Watch Arcturus as your dragon is undone by chocolate!”

The dragon collapsed to his side, purring up a storm as Axton hurled a few more packets in his direction. Paws gently batting at the air, tail dragging back and forth through the snow, he was in no condition to do anything else. It was like a madness had gripped him and wouldn’t let go. When it had run it’s course, the gryphon was going to pay.

That was certainly something you didn’t see every day. Arcturus held fast his sword, unable to hold in the laugh that bubbled up from his chest. He shook his head as the others failed in similar ways. “Very creative Axton, but I doubt chocolate will show up on the battlefield.” Lifting his sword high, he thrust it towards Krotos, the gryphon on the ground, rolling with laughter. “You may have bested my dragon Dreadwing, but we’re not defeated yet.”

“Ah, thought we were done.” Krotos rolled to all fours, dusting himself off before retaking a regal pose. “And why are you not finished Arcturus? You’re dragon now tosses and turns like an utter loon, you’re defeated!”

“Yea, but you’re forgetting about us.” Voidwing composed himself, lowering himself for the coming pounce, “And one of us is better at wrestling than you.”

“Ah, but of course yo-!” He stumbled back as Voidwing leaped upon him, knocking the blue gryphon to the snow. They tumbled in a flash of feathers and fur, beaks snapping at one another. “Hey, no fair! I was going into my monologue!”

“Then you shouldn’t have started!”

“Get him good!’ Rumbled Veledar, busy nuzzling a snowbank.

Arcturus sighed and shifted his attentions to the young mage Axton. The boy had been through a lot of what he’d been told, being taken in by a crazed undead wizard, being separated from his foster mom. With his time with Nivra, it was like a light had been lit within his soul, unfortunately as Arcturus held his blade high, the boy’s icy blue eyes went wide.

“Are you going to stand in my way minion?” He announced with a brassy voice, gesturing to a diminutive flag made out of bedsheets behind him. To his surprise the boy moved aside, letting the knight advance un molested.

“Technically, I’m just his effects, so, the flag is yours.” Said Axton, ruffling his black hair.

“Axton, quick, use a spell when his back is-“ Krotos began to squawk, only for Voidwing to clamp shut his beak and plant it into the snow.

“Never mind him Axton.” Chirped the onyx gryphon, “Nothing to see here.”

With no opposition, Arcturus grabbed the flag and tucked it in his belt. Victory, even as make believe as this was, was theirs.

Veledar returned to his side, dusting off his snout, nursing just wounded pride. One might not have seen it across his red scaled face, but Arcturus felt it within his heart, compliments to the bond they shared, a secret passage to the dragon’s soul.

“Oh, we got the flag, goody.” Veledar’s tone was as sharp as a blade, “Hopefully our adversaries won’t use such an underhanded move with chocolate.” His gaze narrowed to the ball of wrestling gryphs, Krotos unable to get more than a few yards before Voidwing was upon his back, showering those onlooking with snow.

“Don’t look at me!” Krotos squawked, “It wasn’t my ide---Hey, watch where you’re hitting, you almost got me in the balls!”

“It was my idea.” Axton thumbed his brown vest, drawing the dragon’s ire filled glance. Immediately he gulped as red nostrils flared.

“YOU were the one to make a fool of me?” A tail lashed to add emphasis to his seriousness, “Free advice small one, do not do that to a dragon.”

“But Arcturus thought it was clever did he not?” Replied Axton sheepishly, unable to look the dragon in the eye. “You never saw it coming did you, and you did ask to be surprised.”

“I don’t see how that matters.” Huffed Veledar, “Arcturus tell him that what he perceives as clever was a vastly underhanded tactic.”

The knight had crossed his arms, a smirk upon his lips as he stared the dragon down. “You expect me to wound the boy and spare your feelings? You’re sadly mistaken.” He gave Axton a wink, “Don’t listen to the scaled brute, he’s just upset cause he didn’t think of it.”

As the boy smiled, Arcturus heart did swell. It reminded him of when his own boy, Geophfery did the same during mock sword play. Even the dragon’s exaggerated growl and flashing of frills did little to kill the mood.

“Graaaah!” Of course, you’d take his side!” Growled Veledar, tossing his head.

“And what side would that be?”

“The human side of course!”

“There is no way that’s a side, you’re just sour the trick was at your expense. Forgive me, but I wasn’t aware how thin scaled you were.” He grinned as the dragon glared daggers at him and was prepared for when he found a red paw pushing him into the snow.

“How about that?” Veledar stood triumphantly, head raised as Arcturus picked himself up out of the snow.

“That it got under your scales.” Laughed Arcturus, dusting off snow from his armor. “That if our foe was smart, he’d employ chocolate against us. Who knew that the grand dragon Crimson Sky had such a weakness? I must admit, color me shocked.”

“We can compose ourselves in battle you know!” He slammed down his paw, “But look around, this isn’t battle, this is make believe.” Eyes traveled across the field, “Snowballs and snowmen to attack us? How can you expect me to take this seriously?” He gave a heavy sigh, rolling a paw to his chest, ‘It’s no wonder the chocolate worked on me. If this were a real danger, I would have kept my composure. You do realize that you’ll pay dearly for this later.” The dragon nibbled upon the knight’s cloak.

“Well, what did you expect out of this?” Krotos chirped, managing to pull himself away from Voidwing. When the gryphon tried to continue, he found a blue hind pushing him away, “You destroyed the dummies the first day we practiced!”

“Accident.” Replied Veledar with a snort.

“And the targets you set aflame the next.”

“You never said I shouldn’t. Really your fault if you think about it.” Veledar huffed, thumping his tail. “How about an obstacle course? I heard those could help.”

“You said no the first day.” Voidwing fluffed his wings, aiming up another pounce. “You said, and I quote, what, you think they’ll have a dungeon? Come on feather heads, think of something better.”

“I don’t remember saying that.” He swished his head away with a snort.

“And then you spooked the horses, insulted the guardians who helped us. Oh, and you scared away that baker woman because she insisted you were not as pretty as the green dragon she saw.”

Veledar took a deep breath, composing himself. “You expect me to stay composed when a woman is clearly out of her mind and trying to insult me? Arcturus, can you hear all these unfair burdens I’ve been forced to endure?”

“I think you and I have a different definition on what constitutes as burden.” Laughed Arcturus as the dragon glared daggers at him. He avoided another paw intending for him to end up in the snow, “You can’t just shove me into the snow each time!”

“I certainly can, you’re just not letting me.” Veledar said, now chasing Arcturus around with a flicking tail. “Now stand still!”

“Would you believe these ruffians?” Krotos cocked his head as Axton watched on, laughing at the dragon’s antics. “Acting like a couple of animals.” His ears splayed as Voidwing, snatched his tail between his beak. “Don’t you dare.”

Voidwing playfully swished his tail, giving Krotos’ a gentle tug.

“That’s it small paws!” The blue gryph screeched, leaping upon the smaller gryph with extended claws. Once more they were tumbling in the snow, beaks nipping at one another. “Let’s see how you feel after I kick you in the balls!”

After pulling himself out of another snowbank with a heavy sigh, Arcturus was dusting himself to the sound of a proud of himself dragon. “This doesn’t prove anything other than you’re a big red bully.”

“Of which you find adorable. Otherwise, you’d not have your cheeks as flushed as they are now.” Replied Veledar, striding close with a grin. Red scales met flesh as he gave a brief nuzzle, serenading his mate with a resounding rumble.

“You’re lucky you’re cute in times like these.” Replied Arcturus, cupping the dragon’s snout and massaging the warm scales. “And your scales beat back the cold. Otherwise, I’d be exceptionally cross at you.”

“Dragons are never cute Arcturus, rule one.”

“And what would you call this?” Chuckled the knight, gesturing to how the dragon’s eyes closed.

“Well…It’s certainly not cute.” He held his head high with a snort, not looking to Arcturus when the man’s hand rested upon his shoulder. To the gryphons he stared, following a trail of feathers to them. They were still going at it. Was their no end to their tussling? “I believe that’s enough practice for today. I don’t think my pride can handle another go.”

“Hear that Axton? You drained his pride supplies. Remind me to ask you to come along more often!” Teased Arcturus.

“Were you not supposed to be gathering reagents for a certain miss Nivra?” Mused the dragon, massaging his snout as Axton’s face drained of color, “Would be shame if someone found out about wandering off to play with a dragon.”

“You well know this wasn’t playing.”

“Debatable, I’ve been humoring you lot for hours. But this does make me wonder why the other dragons are not training.” He quoted the word with a fluff of his wings, then gesturing to the city. “You’d think they’d be more helpful.”

“You can’t blame them as such.” Arcturus said with a sigh, “They lost Storm not that long ago. Who can blame them if their being slow to recover?”

“Ah.” Veledar replied bluntly, shifting his haunches uncomfortably. The blue dragon had been just as an inspiration to him as well as any mortal. With his passing it did leave an emptiness within his scales. “I just thought Fremra would not be affected in such a way, she seemed so…In control immediately after.”

“Who knows, perhaps it just hit her now.” Arcturus said softly, moving down Veledar’s face as the dragon lowered his snout. Fingers traced around his nostrils as he held still that sapphire gaze. “Lets give her time, perhaps she’ll have another set of bizarre techniques for you to employ.”

“If that’s your selling point, you could count me out.” He looked to the city, so small from this distance, “But one wonders if this will be enough to meet Dreadflame upon the air.” He held a paw to his chest, “I may be mighty, but he’s ever larger.”

“Since when has that put hesitation in you?” He asked as Axton padded away, starting to clean up his mess of magical paint around the snow. The knight’s heart was beset by icy claws as he remembered Dreadflame’s original attack, the dragon taking much from him. Again he’d returned, possessing his friend, nearly succeeding in killing him, if not for the sudden awakening of Cordenth’s swatting tail.

“Its not that, but its respecting how deadly the foe we face is.” He shifted to the western mountains, where the darker clouds had gathered. “I see you look here on occasion, that obsession that lurks deep in your eyes fair. You worry, you hate and despair. It lights a fire in me like nothing before, one that wishes nothing more than to see it banished from you forever.” He started to growl, eyes narrowing as his claws kneaded the snow, “That I might tear that dreaded dragon’s head clean off. For no one messes with a dragon’s mate and emerges unscathed.”

“What such a protective mate, I tremble to whomever stands in your way.” He laid a hand on the dragon’s red-orange chest, following the rise and fall of his breaths.

“Indeed.” He replied with a nod, adopting a regal pose with his wings tucked, “My fury is quite mighty, and others should fear it, same as yours.”

“You think my fury is great?” He rose a brow as the twin gryphons tumbled past, nipping at each other’s ears.

“Of course, my mate, of that there is no doubt.” Rumbled Veledar as he padded his way around Arcturus, gently brushing his flank across the man, careful to not knock him over. “I’ve seen my look upon your face in regard to me many times…True you have a more reserved, human way to show it, but there it still is.”

“I’d like to think we have more things than anger and rage connecting us.”

“Of that there is no doubt.” He placed his snout in Arcturus hand’s, rubbing his nose against his cheek. When he smiled the dragon couldn’t help but rumble, pleased. “See? The look is banished for now, I am victorious once more. When they make the song for me Arcturus, make sure they include this verse.”

“The one where you tried to make me smile?”

“Of course!” He rose his head with a brassy voice, “Crimson Sky tries to make everyone smile, Arcturus Lund most of all!”

“That’s funny because you never try to make me smile!” Krotos interjected, pinning Voidwing to the ground, snapping his beak as Voidwing tried to nip at his belly fur.

“Well, you don’t count.” Veledar rolled his eyes, “Especially when you approve using chocolate.”

His ears splayed, “Hey, I wouldn’t have need to use it if Merlia had actually helped!”

“Right, where is the jovial red-haired dwarf?” Veledar swished his head to the trees. “I’d almost forgotten her. Don’t tell me, she missed me with a few arrows and got all tuckered out? I’m almost disappointed, I’d prepared a verbal assault that would have left her cheeks of the brightest of reds.” He rumbled with a swish of his tail, “I’ll never let her live this down.”

“Why must you torment her so?” Groaned Arcturus, “One wonders why she remains friends with us.”

“Dwarven grudges are part of their culture. And if she thinks she can get away with besmirching my good name with insults and lies, than can think again! But I suppose I scared her off, the big dwarven baby.”

He shook his head, “And baby? You’re aware she’s eighty years your senior.”

Veledar huffed, “Seventy-five Arcturus, let’s not round to make it bigger.” His eyes went wide as he searched the field, noticing that Axton had started using magic to pick up the scattered sections of paint that dotted the snow. “What on earth is he doing?”

Axton was swishing the snow through his hands like a whip, the paint separating from the ice. With a gesture it flowed around, landing into a vial that was strapped around his waist. He’d already filled three of the vials and was working on a forth.

“Picking up his mess?” Arcturus said, “I thought with an organized cavern like you had, you’d understand.”

“We sit on hoards Arcturus. Don’t go judging me on your human versions of cleanliness. If you dislike it go about cleaning it.” The dragon waved him off dismissively with a paw.

He sighed, squeezing the bridge of his nose. Such an argument with a dragon. Stubborn they were known to be, but Veledar could be more so.

As Axton had to pull back from the still wrestling gryphs the knight set his sights to the rolling, snow covered hills, drifting back to days where he might have gone sledding with his son. A cold slipped past his armor for a moment, slithering deep till the chilled air forced him to cough.

“Think I’m making the right decision?” He asked Veledar softly, eyes on Axton. “By having us remain? That our current circumstances are too dangerous?”

“You’re worried about your safety, mine or his?” The dragon settled onto his haunches, tail curled around him. “And before I answer, do you actually want it? Or is this rhetorical. Cause you’ve heard mine and I was forced to compromise with your wishes.”

“Its just…The closer we get. The weight of everything rests. All those lives…The orb of dragon kind…”

“Were you not the one who said that orb couldn’t fall into Dreadflame’s clutches? That the dragon spirit within would be just whatever this gold dragon calling himself the emperor would need? That you’d be willing to trade your life to stop them? Which must I remind you I was VASTLY against?”

“But what of you and the others?” He met the playful, narrowed eyes of the red dragon. “Is it right to lead you against what feels like a mountain? I thought I was right before, but as it draws closer, no word from Lyndis…”

Veledar rolled his eyes with a sigh, “Have so little faith in Cordenth and Lyndis now? That they won’t arrive with backup at our direst of hours?”

“This isn’t some story you know. Things don’t always work out.”

He grumbled, “The author would have to be a total idiot to do otherwise. But if it will still the tribulations in your heart Arcturus, I think it isn’t fair. I think we should snatch this orb and flee with it to uncharted lands. You’ve already shown resistance to mind affecting powers with your paladin chants, this will be just another thing to defeat.”

But could it? He didn’t know what to say. He’d been warned that this orb of dragon kind had already tried to possess someone at it’s touch. Could his enchantments work to keep whatever spirit resided inside at bay? “And I’ve said we don’t know what will happen. That if I fail, how would you know it was me? The spirit within could take me over…I’d be lost.”

The dragon snorted, the fear he felt transferring to Arcturus. “Right. I’d forgotten. Though to answer you, it’s still unfair. If you struggle with the fate of the small one, send him away. Or leave with him. These people have already shown to not want us here, especially after Storm’s death.”

He crossed his arms without a word, stewing over what he’d said. The dragon was correct, it wasn’t what he’d wanted to hear, but he’d asked him for it. As they stood in silence, leaning on one another, he spied a small form upon the edge of the trees emerge. Even at this distance he could see her fur lined breeches and chain, her red, braided hair. She was swiftly heading back to Struport, not even giving them a glance. No regard for them. Stroking his beard, he marked that down as odd, she was usually down for a verbal sparring with Veledar.

“Now one wonders what has gotten into her?” Veledar huffed, stretching his wings. “I do believe she’s in for a verbal tongue lashing.”

“Oh, be nice to-“ His words were lost in the shower of snow, as Veledar sprung to the air towards her. The knight could only groan, at this rate, he’d scare all their companions away as well. Just as he was about to turn around and gather the others, a ball of wrestling gryphons did tumble into him, dragging him into the bundle of feathers and fur.