Aurelius had just finished his dawn patrol. The sun started to rise over the peaks to the east of Heiankra as he touched down in one of the town squares, riding on the back of Nox, a little black dragon with massive wings.
Luckily, it was his day off work at the tavern, so he decided to take this time to practice his writing. He was getting pretty close to a plot breakthrough in his mother’s unfinished book, but he wasn’t really sure still; he didn’t want to ruin it.
Valkyrie, meanwhile, was just waking up. She put on her clothes, ate a quick breakfast, and left, letting Ragnarok out to roam free while she was at work. Valkyrie made her way towards the forge to see the town’s bladesmith, Marcellus, already hard at work. His youngest son, a small, curly-haired boy around the age of eleven, was cleaning up around the forge after him. Valkyrie strapped on her apron and started grabbing supplies, without even being acknowledged by her boss and mentor.
James was a top of a mountain watching the sun rise to the point where the pinks, purples, and reds faded away. He beckoned River to take off with their backs to the rising sun. He never stayed anywhere very long, just continued traveling trying to rescue any dragons he came across along the way. That was his life, well there was one other part of it. He always had an eye out for any villages, because he wanted to talk to his sister. It had been awhile, but his problem was he had no idea which village she had settled in. He just hoped to find her soon.
Quincy, around the same time, was out in her garden picking herbs and other useful plants. Healing never was her thing, but making potions always peaked her interest, Maybe it was the alchemy, maybe not. She didn't really care, it helped anyway. She pulled out a small slip of paper. It was the order list that needed to get done by the end of the day. A lot of it was creating metals for armor and weapons for the blacksmith, but there were a few interesting ones. She let out a sigh and rubbed her hands together looking around for rocks to get started on.
Moving into a new town was always hard, meeting new people was nerve wracking and quite frankly, when you don’t have very good people skills it’s hard to get to know people and learn how to fit in, what your place is. Unfortunately, Alex was in exactly that predicament. He’d moved from a north village about a months ago and was still trying to grasp what his role would be in this new place. He kept to himself most of the time, the only person or creature he was close too was Kerrian and even then his dragon still didn’t understand a few of the things his did. But they were close and Alex was happy with that. He was currently sitting or more lounging on his dragons back, reading and trying to relax for once in his life.
It had all happened so fast. One moment she was about to be sacrificed, then something told her to run. She didn't want that kind of fate, not like the others before her. Thw village peoe chanted behind her as she stood at the edge of the cliff. Below her was a raging sea, with no remorse for even one. Taking a glance behind her, her jet black hair wipped in the wind, making it hard to see. But, there one one person whom she locked eyes with. Zander. Her sisters lover, and an outcast like her. If only he were born a woman. She had mixed feelings about him, was it her secret ctuch on him, or maybe jealousy and anger? She wasn't sure herself. Clouds started to cover the skys. She knew when the first lighting struck the sky she would have to jump. In one swift moment she ripped of her heels and took a run for it. The people were stunned. Nothing like this had ever happened. For a moment they stood there, then the shout of a familiar voice rung in the air. "Mara!" Zander. He sounded relieved and angry at the same time. Although she wanted to look back, she resisted. Her feet ached, the cliff ground was not on her side. The shoits of village men followed behind her. Soon the scenery changed from cliff to forest. Mara loved the sea, but now it was ruined for her. A house sat in the distance, she felt if she could make it there, then she would be safe.
(Hey shade, just wondering if Robin and James are canon or not yet)
Robin had been awake since a little past sunrise. Some of the medicines she created required special herbs that could only be found at this specific time. Once she stocked up, she walked around the comfortable cottage, cleaning things up. A little whole later, she head outside to get some things for today's meals. She grabbed some wild fruits and vegetables and checked her traps to see if she had caught anything. Most of the others were empty but Robin had high hope for the larger one in deeper in the forest. Upon reaching there, she was horrified. Her teapot had been destroyed and many of the animal trapped inside, had either escaped or eaten by whatever beast destroyed her trap.
During this time, Cerulean flew down on Armageddon at the edge of a small village. "Now Mage, stay here and hide within the shadows. I'll be back with some food and money." He said in a scratchy voice, almost as if he hadnt spoken in days. He walked down the hill and into the marketplace of this village. Displaying his simple tools and specially made potions, he waited until an innocent passerby stopped at his 'stall'.
(Ummm I’m don’t think so. Not yet.)
Once closer, Mara realized it was just one house, it was a village. With the men still close behind, she tan in zigzags to try and lose them. The smell of food in the air made her stomach go wild. For past few days she has only gotten a few pieces of bread. Eating anything else before a sacrifice was a sin. From all the running combined with starvation she started to slow down. Once in the village, she tore off her crown and threw it away. There was no need for it anymore. Blending in was going to be a problem. With her almost white skin and jet black hair, Mara would be easy to spot. People watched as she started to trip over her own feet. A little past the village was a river. If she was going to die ot would be of her own cause and choosing, not for some fake Dragon God. Using her hands she managed to stand and ran for the water. It felt like forever. In one swift movement she jumped. Cold water surrounded her, causing her breath to pushed out. The dark was a friend of hers. Many times as a child she and Zander would spend many days, and nights in a dark cellar. As she let the last of the air out of her mouth, a glowing stream lights surrounded her. Closing her eyes she accepted her fate.
Cerulean grinned, a single sharpened tooth peeking out and walked over to where Armageddon lay waiting. "Here is a full smoked Turkey for you and a few meat slabs for me. Eat up and let's go to another village." He said.
Robin heard a twinge snap nearby and giddy behind a tree. She heard a low grunting sound and peeked out to see a beautiful dragon with light blue and white scales. As she looked around the tree, she realized the creature was staring right at her.
Aurelius had taken some of the morning to get in a bit more rest before heading out to the forest to get his creativity flowing. He grabbed a notebook, some quills and ink, and his pack.
Nox was out the door ahead of him. She was eager to go rest by one of the streams in the cool shade, sitting next to Aurelius as he quietly worked on his writing.
Once they got to where they were going, Aurelius took off his shoes and dipped his feet into the cool water. Then, he opened up his journal and laid back against Nox, who soon fell asleep.
Out of the water popped a dragon. His face white with light blue feathers on his head. He glowed and walked out of the water with a person in his mouth. Once out he dropped her and looked to see another person and dragon sitting there. Oh, hello. He had never seen Humans before, but in one day has now see two. To be honest he never really wanted to see any. A gasp came from the young girl, and she quickly shot up. In doing so, she got dizzy and laid back down again. "What the hell. I thought I was about to get eaten."
It was times like now that Alex wished he was back in the mountains, wanting to go back to being rugged up and snowed in by the harsh weather. He preferred the cold over the heat and lying out in the sun was not helping his case. Kerrian stirred when his rider did, already knowing what Alex didn't have to say. Alex dropped his book to the grass and Kerrian shot up into the sky, the blue of his wings blending in with the blue of the sky. The cold wind was a relief.
Aurelius jumped when he saw the dragon come out of the water. Nox leaped up from where she sat and faced the dragon with a low growl rising in her throat.
Aurelius stood up and tried to calm her.
“Who are you?” He asked, keeping a hand on the hilt of his sword.
Aurelius started to creep closer to the girl, but he kept a careful eye on the dragon.
“Are you alright?”
"I'm alive, so no, I'm not alright." Finally getting a hold of herself she stood and looked to the Dragon that saved her. He was quite the beauty, but his wings were to thin to fly, so she wasn't sure if she should call him a dragon. I'm Riven. And calm down, I'm not here to fight.
“What…? Um, why don’t you two return to the village with me then? We can get everything sorted out and get you dried off,” Aurelius offered.
Nox seemed to have relaxed a bit.
Were you running from someone? Could you have been followed here?
Mara was surprised by how observant Nox was. Was it a lucky guess, or did Nox really think about it? Mara had no idea, but going to dry off sounded wonderful. Although she really wanted to go back with them, she knew people from her village would be there looking for her. "Do you have a cloak I could barrow?"
Aurelius unclipped the silver fastener on his purple cloak, and he draped it over Mara's shoulders to keep her warm on the way home.
"I'm Aurelius, and this is Nox. Our village should welcome you and Riven. Most people there have dragons," he said, "You know… if you're worried about that. We're not so welcomed everywhere else."
Nox glared downstream. You didn't answer my questions. I ask for the safety of our village. If someone was following you, we can have more patrols sent out in case they try to come this way.
"Yes, some people have followed me. And it's too late for you to send more patrols, they already are in the village. But no need to worry, they are only after me." She reassured Nox. They were only obsessed with finding her, nothing else. "And why exactly is the dragon coming with us?" She couldn't have possibly bounded with him, right?
"That's not possible. Everyone knows everyone in this village, and we have tight security," Aurelius replied, becoming a lot more on guard than even before.
It's a safe haven for dragons like us. He doesn't have to come, but he is welcome to, Nox said. She turned her gaze to Aurelius. Nothing is impossible, my dear. We need to head back immediately to tear these intruders to shreds.
"Wait, but how do we know she's not lying? Trying to lead people to the village?"
Love, I'm more in tune with people than even you are. I sense no ill intent.
"Right, let's get going, then."
Aurelius started to get on Nox's back.
"So what your telling me is you're turned away everyone. Travelers, people who need help. My people may have climed to be traveler's. You shouldn't doubt the evil that every human has." Pulling the hood up she looked at the ground to hide her face. "Everyone is evil in their own way." Even her, she's done horrible things in the past. Things she would never be able to undo.
Riven followed behind. Even if she didn't want him, he felt the bound.
"We don't take many travelers for a reason. If they don't coexist with dragons, they're not allowed to visit. We're secret and secluded because lots of people want both of our kind dead," Aurelius explained, "We usually try to steer travelers away before they can get to our village, and we avoid violence if possible, but… this just doesn't seem right. We don't let people in. It's too risky. Dragons are sacred, and although strong, they must be protected at all costs."
He stopped to breathe for a moment.
"Yet here you are, with a dragon. You can hear the words the dragons say. So you're welcome to visit, or even stay if you want. These people that followed you, unless they speak to dragons too and are willing to live peacefully among them, are not supposed to be here. But I doubt they are. It's a rare gift."
No, theres only one other besides me who can talk to dragons. And I'm sure he didn't follow me." Theere was a twinge of sadness in her voice. He was the one to snap the villagers out of their trance and told them she was getting away. Although she knew he hated her, there was a little part of her that wish he still cared, like when they were younger. "Thank you." She felt grateful. But there was something she needed. "Hey, does anyone here know how to change hair color?"
"Yeah, some of the village women who dye cloth and deal with fabrics also know how to apply similar techniques to hair. Why do you- oh… you're trying to hide, aren't you?"
Aurelius sighed.
"Well, I guess we should get going, yeah?"
"Thank you, again." She said in a whisper. It was embarrassing to be in this kind of situation. As the village built got closer, the more anxious she got. All this was new to her. All she had k own was her village and dark rooms.
Robin froze and looked at the beautiful dragon who slowly made its way over. 'Hello, child. I am Isolde, dragon of ice and fire. Who might you be?' It asked. Robin took a shaky step back and looked at Isolds "I-I'm Robin. Nice to meet you." She stammered
"No problem," Aurelius replied before turning around to look at Mara, "Hey, I got the dragon's name, but I never got yours, did I?"
"Call me Mara." She smiled at the ground. He was nice, well nicer than she thought he would be. "So, not to be mean but can we walk a bit faster, I really need this black hair to go." Maybe, if she can disguise herself as her twin maybe nobody will bother her.
"Yeah, of course. Let's go, Nox!" Aurelius picked up the pace and Nox followed.
She was making sure to guard them both from the back.
Riven had been trotting next to them silently. He was unsure of what to do, but since he was the last of his kind, he rather not be alone. Mara was paranoid, her eyes darted around looking for anyone that may have come from her village. "Will this kind of place really accept me?"
"Well, yeah. I'm like you and I live here pretty peacefully. And most of the people living here are too," Aurelius explained, "For people living here, as long as they pull their weight and are generally okay people, they're accepted."
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