On the Wings of Dragons: Chapter 5

[r7]

 

A/n: Dragon AU! Heavily inspired by/ in the same universe as/ prompted by jaycana ‘s dragon picture from kappa77 ‘s prompt! Giving credit where credit is due! fjdksalfsldajflsa

Blame ran out of the cave to see Vechs and Nebris still fighting in the sky, currently on one of their close passes by the ground. They were grappling, with Nebris’ back currently turned toward Blame.

“RRAAAGGHH!” He yelled, before losing not only the arrow on the string but an entire volley of them toward the dragons.

Vechs, seeing the arrows, was able to disengage from Nebris and dive out of their way in time. Blame’s target, however, was not as lucky.

Despite his superior flying skills; Nebris’ position, not seeing the attack coming, and Vechs knocking him off balance were all fighting against him. He managed to dodge some of the arrows, but a few found their mark - tearing through the wing membrane and weaker scales on his upper side.

Contrary to common belief, a dragon’s weak-spot was not their underbelly. In fact, that was actually one of the places their armour was thickest, second only to their legs. This was because (again second only to their legs which they used offensively in combat) it was where the dragon would take the most beating; be it from a creature shorter than the dragon (which was most things) that could only reach the dragon’s legs and underbelly, or another dragon when they fought claw-to-claw. A dragon’s actual weak points were their wing membranes, as they had to be thin in order to catch the air, or their dorsal scales between the hind legs and where the wings connected - the areas that Blame’s arrows were striking.

Nebris roared in pain, before climbing hard, trying to gain enough altitude that Blame’s arrows would be able to reach him - or at least make it more difficult for Blame to aim and give himself more time to dodge.

Vechs, meanwhile, was making a large landing circle - the move Doc had performed earlier - before skidding to a halt next to Blame. Because of the circle, he was still facing toward the fight as he landed.

Get on. He said briskly, before extending a wing for Blame to run up. Running up a wing was the fastest way to mount a dragon - but painful for the dragon, and hard to execute. Before Vechs had even finished speaking Blame had already started, appearing to do the climb almost effortlessly. Let’s go after him.

Once Blame had settled himself securely, Vechs launched himself forward, climbing rapidly - but making sure that Blame had a clear angle on Nebris.

“DIE TRAITOR!” They screamed together as they re-entered battle.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Oh, Flame!” Kurt yelled as he noticed Blame fly off with Vechs. “Not another one!”

“Vechs! Come back!” Zisteau yelled as Vechs flew by him. Vechs and Blame simply ignored him, however, continuing to climb up toward Nebris - before Doc crashed into them.

The metal dragon hit them at high speeds during one of the slowest points of their climb, sending Vechs and Blame tumbling down to the ground, with Doc guiding their descent.

ENOUGH! Was the telepathic shout that Vechs and Blame heard as they tumbled toward the earth. The shuddering of metal wings was then the only sound that dominated their ears before the crashed to the ground, tearing a large gash in the ground.

As Vechs started to stand, the roaring of a dragon, oddly reverberative, stopped him. Doc was standing at the start of the gash, in a position that could have just as easily have been breathing fire on them rather than roaring.

As Blame nocked a new arrow and Vechs moved to a position to be ready for a jump at Doc, the heavy beating of wings from above stopped them. Nebris was positioned directly above them, ready to drop if they tried anything.

Why? Vechs growled telepathically, while actually growling, at Doc. Did you see what he did to her?

“He shredded her wing!” Blame put in. “Not to mention scaring her elsewhere!” Those who hadn’t already known about Nebris’ action - Kurt and Zisteau, as he’d told Etho telepathically - gasped at this point, with the former two turning to Nebris which their hands straying to their weapons.  

I know. Doc said slowly, shocking everyone - and prompting him to receive similar glares as Nebris. Nebris was explaining the situation to me while you two were fighting.

Can I speak with her? Nebris asked, landing with a loud thump as he spoke. As soon as he said it, everyone in the group felt a spike of anger - almost protective - from Vechs.

“I don’t want you getting near her.” Blame and Vechs said in unison. Vechs had stood up again, and had shifted to a defensive stance - and Blame’s bow was prominent in his hands.

He doesn’t want to hurt her. Doc said, stepping forward, trying to act as a liaison. I can swear to that.

THEN WHY’D HE DO IT BEFORE? Vechs practically screamed, jets of flame flaring in his nostrils.

That’s what I want to talk to her about. Nebris replied. I don’t want to have to explain it twice.

“Fine.” Blame said grudgingly; Vechs, despite looking like he’d wanted to object before Blame spoke, didn’t counter him. “But realize that all of us will be watching you.”

I understand. Nebris said, before walking slowly into the cave that Vechs had been guarding. As Nebris moved, so did Vechs, remaining beside (though slightly behind) Nebris. Blame, noticing Zisteau’s pained look as he rode on Vechs, had dismounted while Vechs was turning around.

When Nebris had approached the part of the cave that Aurey was in, she’d limped forward - hearing a dragon, and hoping it was Vechs. When Nebris’ purple eye became visible, however,  Aurey immediately backed to the farthest corner, her eyes flashing around the room and small, short burst of flame rapidly appearing and disappearing from her nostrils (something a dragon did when incredibly frightened) and waves of panic washing over everyone in the cave over the telepathic link.

Before Aurey or Nebris had a chance to say anything, Vechs had leaped over Nebris - landing between him and Aurey. Vechs’ chest was expanded and his spines flared, as well as his wings being expanded and tail extended to block as much of the cave as possible.

Blame had grabbed onto Vechs’ leg during the maneuver, and was now also standing between Nebris and Aurey - his bow leveled at the former.

Which the two standing between her and Nebris, Aurey relaxed somewhat - particularly after she and Vechs intertwined tails for a second - but waves of anxiety could still be clearly felt by those in the room.

He wants to try and explain to you what he did. Vechs said, the thought directed to Aurey despite his eyes still glaring at Nebris. Do you want to listen? He finished, the ‘or can we throw him out’ remaining unsaid though everyone knew he was thinking it.

I-I’ll listen. Aurey said slowly, though a: Just make sure to stay between us. Was sent privately to Blame and Vechs Vechs and Blame.

Firstly, I want to apologize for hurting you as much as I did. Nebris began, almost as soon as Aurey had finished. But there was a pressing reason for what I did.

W-What? Aurey asked, mustering her courage and standing (or as close as she could) rather than pressing against the wall, though she remained firmly behind Vechs and Blame.

You had a….. Nebris paused, before glancing at Doc, who had stuck his head into the room due to not being able to fit otherwise. When he received a nod, Nebris continued. Krinvore- Nebris started to continue before he was interrupted by a gasp from Kurt.

Krinvore? Aurey asked, confused.

“The….The parasite that cost Doc his wings….” Kurt said slowly. As everyone started to understand, Nebris continued.

Indeed. They are a parasite that infect dragons - and are often deadly. Doc was one of the luckier of the infected. Nebris said somberly. They are normally only visible for a few seconds as they burrow into the wing before infection.

As Nebris spoke and explained himself, everyone in the cave started to relax. Blame had lowered his bow and was actually hanging his head; Vechs had stopped flaring his body and blocking most of the space between Nebris and Aurey, instead standing close to her as he realized how close he’d come to losing her; and those behind Nebris no longer had their hands on the hilts of their weapons.

I saw it, and struck, hoping to kill it before it managed to get into your wing. However, when I connected, you failed, pulling your wing across my talons and causing them to do more damage than I had intended. Nebris continued. I had no idea how much damage I’d done to you, before I came here and was able to look at your wing again….. Nebris said, the image of Aurey flying away entering the mind of those in the cave as explanation as to why he’d thought what he had. Her ability to do this was actually due to a combination of her amazing flying skill, and the fact that her wing had not actually been as bad when Nebris had clawed her - what flying she had managed to do had caused the rest of the damage to her wings.

I’m sorry, both to you, and the others, for not mentioning it in more than passing because of my misconception. Anything after that first strike were my attempts to keep you in place, so I could make sure I had actually killed the Krinvore.

D-did you? Aurey asked shakily, realizing that she might not have been out of the woods yet.

Yes. I found its body on the ground where I struck you, though I had missed it at the time. Nebris replied, before lowering his head to show that he was finished with his explanation. Instantly, He was bombarded with waves of gratitude and verbal (or telepathic) apologies and thank-yous from all in the cave.

Before those in the cave had stopped gathering around Nebris, the sound of two dragons landing in sync could be heard from outside the mouth of the cave. Pause and BdoubleO walked into the room, barely squeezing past the dragons in the entrance - their dragons, Guude and Generik could be felt telepathically outside. Silence had fallen when they walked in, and BdoubleO was the first to break it.

“What in blazes just happened?”

Chapter 1:

( Read more... )

Chapter 2:

( Read more... ) 

 

Chapter 3:
( Read more... )
Chapter 4:
( Read more... )

A/n: And so ends this arc, and possibly On the Wings of Dragons. I’ve heard that I should write more about dragons and/or in this AU, and I like this idea - though I’m not really sure what to write. Perhaps you guys can give me ideas in that area (either in the comments, PMs, or on skype), or I might come up with some, or I might just return to that project I’ve mentioned a couple times.  

Comments

[peanut_emma]

So good.
I'm really enjoyed this and it played out interestingly. ^^

Also, crumpin' muffets :p

[r7]

Thanks!

[peanut_emma]

Okay. I've reread this with a brain that can actually process things.
I agree with you, this section seems to have reached a good point to end at. However, you could branch out. There's always possibilities you could look into.(new dragon/human pair coming in, they discover a new egg unlike any they'd seen, an evil pair entering and causing trouble)
Of course, you could always change view point and switch to another 'clan' (or insert correct word, brain derp:p), and have a sort of kinda conflict?
Anyways, its a lot easier to appreciate when I'm nt derping. Great work! ^^

[subliminalcircles]

That ending was AMAZING!!! :D
It could not have been ended better.

[r7]

Thanks!

[the_mysterious_m]

Yay this! I would love to see a continuation of this. Maybe external threat, something wrong with the dragons, killing the parasites, etc. You have sent up a world with a ton of potential, and already given us lots of information on it. The story itself feels complete though. Great work!

[r7]

Yeah, that's exactly what my issue is. The world is well built, but the story in it is finished - I think I need a new one, but this feels, well, finished . I think I need something good to continue to story with, or just a completely different story in the universe if I want to continue it.

Or just, you know, leave the universe at a good stopping point. That's always an option (though not one I really want to take).

[mooshlovely]

<3333

This is still one of my favorite AUs and I'm glad I could see it finished (even if I will continue to hope for more)

Wonderful job :D

[r7]

It's amazing to see a reader from so long ago still commenting on the story! (I'd seen M on skype before).

I'm glad that I could finish it for you - and would love to provide more, if I knew what to give....