I yawned. I would not ride yet, but in my own time. They would be patient, or they could be chosen by someone else. I was the only one with the tedious job of rising to find a new mate every year. The others all had one mate for life.
The sun felt good. I roared, letting out a think wave of fire from my throat. The white flames shot into the air, forming the shape of a huge heart. This meant that the coupling could begin. But not with me being first, someone else could. I was not interested in flying just yet.
I had seen Gaelira rise and had not bothered to try to fly her. There was no point, she had enough competition. Seeing a lone black dragon I smiled. It was Cyara, a childhood friend. I took to the air, long sinuous body working effortlessly through the air as I winged my way to her. She had come as I had suggested.
"Hello Cyara."
He was there as well, knowing that there were no rules against his kind being there. Though seeing Gaelira made things a little difficult. That would not go down well for him. And he wanted her for his own.
The purple dragon huffed a sigh, much as his rider did. Years he had spent watching her, Gaelira. But years it had been, hiding his feelings for there. He had been there for her when Gem had been taken, but that seemed unknown.
Heaving his huge mass to his feet, he unfurled his huge wings and kept into the air. Today, they chose mates. It was a chance to win her heart.
He heard her roar, the sound music to his ears. But the form of a large, blue dragon caught his eye. Rhothilion.
"What are you doing here!" he growled, purple chest rumbling with the words.
She flipped in the air, moving easily despite her size. So graceful with beauty only matched by Gaelira herself.
She giggled to herself, eyes drawn towards Rasjar and Rhothilion, already fighting. She hoped there were no deaths today.
Seeing Neldor, she looked away from the bickering pair and smiled a toothy grin.
"Hello," she said quietly. It was her first year here, her first free year of age.
The blue dragon chuckled deeply. "beleive it or not, to find a mate, liek you and every other dragon here." It was good that Bjart was not here, he hated his brother so much since Bizandra chose him. Well if he could not have her, Cyara would be his. "I'm not going to hurt anyone." He eyed where Cyara was, he was not fooled.
It was time for me to rise, I could feel it in me now to find the one for me this year around. "Time!" I roared. Then I leapt into the air, high above all the others waiting to see who would dare take to the wing to try and win me for the year. Who would dare to challenge each other for me.
He roared loudly with his distaste, unfurling his wings once more with Gaelira's words. He would win her. Everything he would do, try to get her.
Launching into the air, he chased after her with all the speed his smaller body could handle.
I did not answer other than saying "Hello to you." Then I spun from reach into the air leaping with pride. I knew the dance I would have to do with these male dragons. "Catch me if you dare!" Who ever was first would get a lot of fire in the face from me. I knew what I was doing.
Again I dropped away from them, aiming for a fissure in the rocks. I slipped through knowing they would have a hard time chasing me in the dark. As soon I was out the other end I looped up through one of four holes into the tunnel. I darted into the third fork ahead of me stopping to whack my tail into the wall making the tunnels close behind me. They would not be able to catch me now.
A wall of white flame shot from my mouth blocking him and I leapt through the space. I knew who I wanted and i was testing them both. My mate had to be fit and strong. Also kind and not come so close without my wanting it.
Getting back to the platuea, I waited for the noble dragons to join me.
A small smile appeared upon his jaws at her greeting, glad to know that he might at least have a chance at getting her.
"I dare!" he bellowed, challenging all others who attempted, he knew there was only one true opponent here. That bloody blue dragon.
His sharp eyes lost track of her for a short moment, reeling backwards slightly at the sudden darkness before pressing onwards, twice as hard as before. His ears caught the slight sounds she made, his movements following hers in the darkness. He ran into the caved in wall, bumping into his with his snout before pulling back and charging it, the stone breaking easily under his huge mass.
She would have to try better then that.
He heard the uncoming roar of fire and dodged to the side nimbly, the hot flames barely missing him by a hair width.
Free from the darkness, his large wing carried him after her and back to the platuea and landing lightly upon his feet.
"Gaelira," he hummed, head bowing in respect to the beautiful dragon.
I watched as alot of other dragons rise and saw many in the air. i shoke my head then beat my wings until i was also in the air flying about keeping out of most others rode. I looked around keeping to myself but ready to fly if one should go after me. I hovered in the air for a minute my bronze coat had the suns raise reflecting of it but then i moved higher so it no longer did.
I looked below me and watch for a short time watched Gaelira and Cyara before looking at the males i think there was about three right now. I moved my head around to see behind me then flew on and after a short time hovered again but this time i would hover there until i needed to move again.
"It would seem, as there are no others who wanted to have me, that you are the winner, Rasjar," Gaelira said. "Though I warn you, that next year, I will rise again, and you will have to win me again. Such is the way of my kind."
She smiled at him. Then she looked towards the peak, remembering the den with waiting hatchlings there, that were her own. They were too young to go on their own at the moment.
I had been were i was for a time and my wings were some what sore. i looked around and spotted Rhothilionn, knowing i was going to regret this later on i slowly started to move closer to the bad or evil sided dragon but then stopped not sure of what to do none had taken any notice to me and Rhothilionn was a dusk, i was dawn but i would have to deal with it. I looked around then flew up higher then the dusk dragon and flew above him letting my shadow fall on him then fleww somewhat higher and waited.
A shadow flickered over his massive body and he looked up at the dawn dragon who'd flown over him. Snorting he noticed that she was a few hues darker than the one he had always wanted. She was beautiful. And he knew suddenly, that if Bizandra would never be his, then she would.
He leapt into the air, his massive wings sanning out almost brushing the walls of the area they were all in. Only Gaelira's wings would ever touch either side, and he cared not about that. Shooting up, he smiled. "Hello."
I turned my head to see that he had seen me and was coming for just as i was starting to change my mind he was in the air and shooting up towards me. I waited for a short time then quikly let myself once more hover then look at Rhothilionn as he said hello. i moved my head swiftly in a nod then replied with the same word "Hello". i wondered if there were a few reasons for him coming up here maybe my color or just because i flew above him.
"It has been a while since i saw a dawn dragon with such a shade of scales," he said. "A very long time. You almost remind me of someone else, but I doubt you've never heard that I once was thwarted by my own brother for her heart though. All dragons alive know of whom I speak."
He sighed. Though he liked what he looked at, he was a lonely dragon.
I frowned but it did not show to well on my face as i listened to what he said "really now thats new but guess i have not seen another bronze dawn dragon other then.... and i am guessing i know of this as well" i said and felt a pang of something and dearly hoped it was not warmth towards this one but then i could not be sure he was on the other side but it seemed he was lonely. well was it not that from a young age i wanted to be friends with the other types of dragon.
The aged yet young in spirit dragon could barely contain his delight.
"I will fight for you," ge told her gently "until my last breath if you will have me."
He nudged her gently with a purple snout and leaping into the sky after her.
A cave, already filled with young hatchlings.
"Are they yours?" he asked, studying the colored hatchlings.
"From my previous mate. Seems he was not around to stop you this time. He won't come to bother me any more now though." She smiled looking at them. There were three purple dragons, plus a green one, blue one and a golden one. The purples were all female, the others male. "The green one and gold one take after my parents. The blue and purple after his. He was a dusk dragon, but he was nothing like Rhothilion."
The large purple dragon bowed his head in a no like fashion, a small smile growing as he eyed the hatchlings. He had always been fond of children.
"Hello," he said gently to one, blowing a small puff of smoke from his snout "whats your name?"
His tail whipped gently in the air behind him, his gaze gentle upon the smaller dragon. Despite his size, he was much like his rider. Calm, gentle and overall friendly.
"The purple ones are Luna, Stella and Costellazione, the blue one is Tramonto, the gold one is Sole Aumentare, and the green one is Tramonto." Gaelira smiled. "Moon, Star, Constellation, Sunset, Rising Sun, and Nightfall." She was very proud of her young ones.
The little dragonet that Rasjar spoke to bolted behind her and she sighed. "They are not used to other dragons, usually its only me here with them."
"Oh," he said, looking sheepish as he backed away from the young ones.
"Sorry...I didn't meant to scare you," he called to the little purple one "sorry..." he said again to Gaelira.
He smiled, unable to keep it from his maw any longer. Finally, he had her. For at least a year, she would be his.
She chuckled happily. She was pleased to have him now. "They have not met their real father, he sort of won me, mated with me and left. I don't want him back. Not to mention he's on Rhothilion's side and I won't allow my children to be there. Though I can't stop them if their rider's are on his side."
He nodded, glad to know she did not have feelings for the past mate.
"Good," he murmured gently, his snout rubbing against her neck in comfort. He knew some males, not him but some, who would gain a new mate and kill the old offspring.
But, this gentle giant, could never harm something so...innocent and cute. He killed meat, because he had to live. If there was another way, well he was yet to find it.
She smiled as he came closer to her. She knew that there was so much that she could tell him, but yet so little that he would really understand. Some of the other dragons called her names, and not all of them were nice. Mainly to do with how she kept changing her mate. Perhaps those days would be over now. She was not interested in changing mates now that she had found Neldor.
"Some dragons can be quite spiteful," she mused
He nodded his purple head in agreement, settling to his scaled stomach beside her and watched the colorful hatchings with sparkling orbs as they played on the far side of the cave.
"Aye, some can be..." he murmured, his tail flickering slightly as he eyed the rest of the cave. It was one of the largest in the dragon's grounds.
Deep as it was tall, it could easily five several fully grown dragons. The crystals within it make Gaelira sparkled different colours
Neldor smiled as he looked in at her. "I'm glad you finally showed up here, Cyara." He chuckled. "I had thought this would be another year where i had no one that interested me, but no more."
Gaelira snorted. "Well, no one gets teased as much as me at the moment. Then again, I'm the only one of my kind at the moment, which sucks."
She glanced aroudn her cave, with its colourful gems and the long pointed stalagmites, which she loved so much.
The black scaled beauty rustled her wings, settling them tightly by her side and tilted her head in surprise.
"And who would that be Neldor?" she asked, wondering who'd she have to kill to be with him. Really anyone that tried for him....well they wouldn't get far.
He smiled gently, nose bumping her in comfort.
"If anyone dares, they'll have me upon them before they can so much as whisper another word," he told her "and there might be another sun dragon by the end of the breeding season, you never know."
She laughed. "There might well be. A few of them actually. It all depends on when a clutch of eggs hatches. And any dragon could produce one that way." She smiled at him.
"You," Neldor replied simply. "Only you have ever made me want to find a partner."
If she could of blushed, she would of been a scarlet red by now. As it was, her head ducked and hid slightly under her wing for a moment, a grin growing in place.
"You know what," she whispered, green orbs returning back to him "your the only thing that kept me going while I was trapped."
Her snout reached for his gently "the only way I could stay strong.."
He chuckled and nodded, glad to see her smile and hear her roar like laughter.
"See, soon there will be to many Sun Dragons to count."
He chuckled himself, knowing it was hardly true but the idea was nice.
She chuckled as she looked upon him. "Maybe, but for the meantime I'm the only one. Our race only stays sane, excluding Rhothilion, as long as a sun dragon lives. So if I die and there is no other to take my place, then our whole race will go mad. I have yet to see a hatchling that is one. Not in all my 100 years of life. And battle comes soon."
She was saddened by this. "I really do fear for our race, Rasjar. So much hangs in the balance. And yet so little I can do to prevent the madness."
Neldor sighed knowing that there was not much to be said at the moment. They both seemed to need each other to stay happy.
"The same could be said for me, and at times it was hard for me to stay hidden. At times I wanted to find you, to kill those who took you from me, but i had to wait for my rider. It was so hard waiting, not knowing if you were alive."
He lowered his head though when she reached for him. He knew that she was the one for him. "Never another."
Her snout went out to the male, brushing against his dark scales and a small smile tugged at her jaw.
"I am glad to still have you Neldor," she whispered, shifting closer to his side and sighed, laying down upon her stomach and watching the other dragons for a moment.
"Thank god Rhothilion didn't show up..." she muttered.
He studied the white dragoness in silence before gently nudging her.
"Gaelira, there will be a new Sun Dragon," he told her gently "and if you don't believe me...ask Gem."
He knew of her fore-telling ways.
"He is down there, but I think he just wants to find someone of his own. he knows that you chose someone else, I suppose." Neldor snorted. Now was not the time to worry about what the dusk dragon was doing. They were happy here, being together at long last. "You'll always still have me."
"The future changes, Rasjar. Even Gem said her visions are not absolute all the time."
She shook her head with a throaty chuckle.
"I was just glad you didn't have to fight him, that is all," she said
He shook his large purple head, meeting Gaelira's worried orbs.
"Gaelira, one will come," he told her and blinked slowly "I just...have this feeling."
"We'll see," she replied, watching as one of her daughters tried pointlessly to fly. They were not yet old enough. With flight came maturity, and she was not sure any of them wanted to leave her as yet. It had been a long time since they all hatched, but she was still their mother and would always be.
He chuckled. "I'm surprised he did not try and challenge me for you. I expected he would try to, but it seems I was wrong." he smiled at her gently. "Of course, not having to fight him again is a relief."
RHOTHILION
“I did have my eyes on someone else, but there is no chance I'm picking another fight with another male, what with Gaelira being around and all.” He sneered the name, not showing any sign of respecting her. There was never a shred of that in him for the white dragon.
“you on the other hand caught my attention as well. So I sort of figured I ought to get over here before someone else claims you, Bronze Angel.”
"i see well then no fighting for me then no other male has come by me other then you" i said not really listening when he sneered Gaeliras name and i guessed that was what would come of one on the other side. I listened to what he said about me catching his attention too and had come over before anyone else could claim me "i don't think that would happen seeing as most of the other male dragons have already gotten them selves a mate" and when he said my name i was a little take back i hadn't told him my name but then again he would probably know most of our names.
"We may fight one day though," he said, eyeing the silver male for a moment. "Things won't be easy, what with one of us one either side of the war, Bronze Angel." He almost seemed saddened by that thought.
"What can we do about that though? My rider was one of the ones responsible for this war starting in the first place. Needless to say I chose him, and at the time, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Had I known this would have happened, I don't think I would have chosen him, not that he knows that."
I looked at him and nodded as he spoke "yes that may happen and i do not look forward to that" i said to him then listened to what he said next "no it will not be easy but as hard as it might get we should keep strong" i looked at him and sighed he seemed saddened and if you looked hard at me you would see that i two was saddened.
I looked at him as he spoke again "what can we do? it saddens me that we be on other sides but that is what our riders decide and don't let him know that " i looked at him then sighed softly.