Feeling the wind at the speed of the most agile horse in her home village felt unreal. It had been years since she had traveled on horse. Before she met Maligaya she was the most well-known rider across the lands. Now, she felt sick thinking about being this close to the ground. She missed the skies. She knew of no other dragon tamers. Pushing the horse this far would nearly kill it but she had to make it to the castle, otherwise, her companion might not be alive or worse, the people of the castle would be injured if she didn’t hurry. There was a worse scenario she could think of but she rather save her fear for only the most concerning. If Gashvon got involved there was no telling what would happen. Their distance would either make the dragon’s life or end it. Kumav spoke to the horse as calm as she had been all day. Her hands were still shaking but the horse understood and continued to push. If only there were another dragon riders… She thought and remember the first encounter she had with the dragon. He was hostile. Wild.
At first, she had come to his den to slay him but as she approached she could see that there was more than a beast staring back at her. With an army behind her she held her hand up to tell them to stand down. Her followers remarked about her suicide but she ignored them. Taking a step forward, the dragon snarled and spewed fire in her direction. Looking at her army again, she told them to back away.
Again, they looked at her talking about her suicide. Turning her back to the dragon she order them to stand down and back. She yelled at them to trust her and if not, take her sword back to the village to announce her death. She knew he’d be angry with her for this heinous act but something in her heart pulled her towards the creature. If anything, she’d kill it if she had to.
With every step the dragon eyed her. It took all of the guard’s will to stand down but they did. Now in range of a deadly shot of fire, she met the dragons eyes and saw the women who he was guarding behind him. None of them had a scratch except for some dirt on their faces. Taking the risk, Kumav put her sword down and pointed to it in peace. Eyeing the woman and then the dragon she nodded to the women to go.
None of them move. She sighed. Walking passed the dragon, she entered the dragon’s den and grabbed both of the women’s hands. Stepping over her sword she took them to her army and ordered them to continue to stay except for a few who would take the women home. Amused, the men did what was ordered and the rest tried to get a view of their leader.
In warning, she told them to stay out of sight. Reluctantly they took more steps back and sat away from the scene. Reproaching the dragon, Kumav stood out of reach of her weapon. A spark inside her lit up in her heart as she stared into the creatures eyes. Watching her, Kumav told it that she was not planning on intruding again and wished it well. Turning her back, she stood, frozen as another dragon’s open jaw met her eyes.
Hearing a screech from behind her, she ducked and rolled hoping that if she did have any fire on her that she would put it out. Grabbing her sword out of sheer instincts she dodged another attack and stabbed the dragon, sending her sword down its chest and bathing in its blood she listened to its screech and rolled out of the way of its fall.
Facing the other dragon she met its keen eyes and turned away quick to join her army who was standing in bare view. Cheering for their leader’s bravery, she silenced them and lead them home. Among the army she could hear praise. Aggravated, she hushed them, holding her sword tight. She didn’t want to kill the dragon but it had attacked her and she reacted. Now that spark that had lit up inside her burned but with a different sense. She’d face him when she returned home, he’d bicker but she’d ignore him. She’d return the next day.
As planned, she left early morning an hour before anyone would awake. Umvi approached her and she sighed, motioning for the wolf to stay. She growled but Kumav took the risk in showing the wolf the dragon’s blood. To her surprise, the wolf sniffed and looked up at her in concern pushing the piece of cloth towards her. Shaking her head, Kumav took her extra shield and her cleaned sword. Exiting the room, she sighed and set down her sword. She didn’t want the same scene to reenact. This time, she’d be ready to defend.
The route to the cave took longer than she had remembered but within time she made and found the dragon sleeping at the entrance of the cave. A fire was lit in her surprise, she didn’t think dragon’s needed warmth since they were dragons. Amused, she approached the den her silent movements allowed her to sneak into the cave to see the fire. Laying there, with a blanket was a small child. Why the women didn’t mention something suspicious was beyond Kumav’s understanding but as the child tossed and turned in its sleep she searched her bag for any leftover food. She didn’t believe she would need it but she always carried in case. Quietly sitting next to the child, she took out a cloth and tied it around the child’s mouth. She knew if she woke the child she’d wake the dragon and that was a fight she didn’t come for. Lightly shaking the child, as expected, the child woke in fright. Holding him down, until he finally stopped the struggle, she put a finger to her lips and showed him the leftovers. His eyes lit up and she smiled. Untying the cloth, Kumav handed the child the bread and butter. In the drinking sac Kumav hoped she grabbed the one of milk and not of wine. Taking a test, she grinned as she found it to be milk and handed it to the child.
Excited, the child gave a screech of delight. Wide eyed, Kumav hushed the child. However it was already too late. On its feet the dragon rose and faced Kumav. Taking her shield, she held it in front of the child and stood. Jaw cracking open, the dragon inhaled but as the shield fell to the side and revealed the child chewed in delight, the dragon’s mouth shut and it stepped forward.
Searching for her sword, the dragon nodded at seeing only her shield and the bag. Nudging the child, the child grinned snuggled with the dragon’s snout. Amazed, she stepped towards the child. Glaring, the dragon snorted making the child laugh at the steam. Taking a step away, she looked at the extra blankets that belonged to the village, there were now empty basket of food stolen from weeks ago along with some other equipment. Facing the dragon, she smiled.
Kumav knew not of the child’s name but she knew that he did not belong here. Holding her hands up she took a step. Watching her silently, the dragon followed as she took the child in her arms. Gesturing at the dragon a friendly remark she shook her head to deny any harm and did her best to explain to the dragon that the boy had to go home and didn’t belong in the cave.
Understanding, the dragon gave a sad look and the child gave the dragon one last hug on the snout before Kumav and the boy exited the den. Giving her a nudge, Kumav smiled and reached out for the dragon’s snout, eyes turning hostile, Kumav turned to face the line of archers from the village and her companion with his wolf standing at the lead. Angrily she shouted as she pointed at the child. Eyes narrowing at her, Gashvon sent Umvi to retrieve the child who happily road on her back to take refuge behind her fearsome companion.
Gashvon stood sternly and held his hand up to lower the arrows. Again, the army reluctantly obeyed. Growling at her, Gashvon ordered Kumav to return to them. Holding Kumav’s sword at his opposite side of where he kept his, Gashvon tossed the bulk of a sword to her ordering her to defend herself if she wasn’t going to join them.
Sword landing in arms reach, Kumav’s eyes met Gashvon’s eyes. Turning away, Kumav smirked and faced the dragon. Fear held fast in his Gashvon’s eyes. He know of her recklessness but this was taking their emotional turmoil to a new level. Gesturing to her shield Kumav took a step and Gashvon cringed. Gashvon angry insulted Kumav but she contently took another step shouting to her army to do as they had last time. Eyeing their current superior they glanced at their leader and then at each other. As one of them nodded, the rest agreed and put their bows down then taking a step back, Gasvon watched as the whole army began to stand down and walk away from sight. Setting down the child with them, Umvi struggled to shake off the child’s grip but finally, one of the archers came to Umvi’s rescue to take the child. In gratitude, Umi bowed and turned on her heels to returned to her master’s side. Turning back to face Kumav, he watched as she reached out and touched the dragon’s snout again.
Running her hand down his snout she held his gaze. Gashvon didn’t know if he felt more anger or annoyance from Umvi but the wolf touched her nose to his hand and he looked down to look into her eyes. Sitting and wagging her tail she gave a bark only he could hear and gestured towards the dragon and Kumav. Sighing, he sat as well and put his arm around his wolf, receiving a joyful lick and a snuggle.
Before him, the dragon stood. Kumav and the dragon stood snout to nose as if both were in a trace. Taking her hand to the side of his snout, Kumav took a step back and the dragon followed. Taking a step sideways, the dragon followed. Grinning, Kumav took a step in the dragon took a step over her wrapping her up in his tail, causing her companion alarm.
Holding Gashvon down, Umvi put all her weight on her companion. Holding Umvi’s jaw in his hands and looking down her snout Gashvon shook his head and sighed to turning back to Kumav and the dragon. Laughing cheerfully, Kumav played along with the dragon as he threw her up and caught her. Giving an aggravated pout, Gasvon ran his hand through Umvi’s fur to distract himself from the what could turn deadly scene.
Throwing her up in excitement, the dragon roared in pain making the cave shake. Holding him down, Gashvon glared at Umvi as he was forced to watch Kumav fall to the floor of the cave and rolling out of the way of the dragon’s outburst. Shaking, she watched as the dragon trashed about. Shaking her head, Kumav rolled to the side of the cave and used it to help herself up. Getting up, she pushed herself off the side of the cave to reach out to the dragon. Fear on the utmost level, Gashvon shoved Kumav off of his lap and received a tackle. Laying on his back Umvi growled and forced him to watch as Kumav touched the dragon’s side to calm it.
In doing so, the dragon roared. Burning into its scales were brown lines, ones that didn’t seem to have a pattern at first but as they finished and smoked, Gashvon could see the skeleton track of the dragon. Amazed, he rolled over Umvi, making her yelp and watched as she jump on him happily. Giving her a good embrace he thanked her then shook his head in amusement. There were no dragon tamers in their lands to know one of the first since the war before their time was phenomenal. From then on, he took his companion’s worth to a new level, one that exceeded the skies.
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Maligaya - Happy
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