Timaeus

Timaeus and Kodama

The Southern Icefield excursion

He hasn't gone that far into the forest, however, when his attention is drawn to a smear of red that stands out against the whiteness of the snow covered ground.
Kodama immediately tenses, the sight of blood making him cautious. He follows the crimson trail with his eyes, to where it disappears among the trees, trying to decide if he should investigate it. His doubts are quelled, however, when the silence that surrounds him is broken by a sound - a cross between a growl and a whimper, clearly coming from a wounded dragon.
Decision made, Kodama follows the trail of blood deeper into the forest. He doesn't walk for long before the trail comes to a stop, and at its end, collapsed against a tree, there is a dragon.
The one he sees lying on the snow, however, is unlike any other; it's huge, and it’s scales a metallic obsidian color, which is currently crusted with blood that oozed from large gashes that run across the dragon's shoulder. His golden wings cover with the drifting snow and his golden runes pulsed lightly, letting Kodama know that the dragon still lived. For how much longer he does not know.
Kodama stands a few feet away in caution, feeling his yokai powers coursing faster through his veins at the possibility of danger. The dragon, however, doesn't move, and Kodama inches closer, realizing that it's unconscious - the sound he heard moments ago must've taken the rest of its energy, certainly already faint because of the blood loss.
Something tugs at his chest at the sight and Kodama finds himself lowering his head to check the wounds more closely than deeming it ok to move the dragon he carefully lifted the dragon onto his back. He grunts with the effort; the dragon is heavy, probably the same weight as Kodama himself, and it's only made worse by its unconsciousness. Kodama grits his teeth, however, and starts going back the way he'd come.
By the time he reaches his cave, his arms are shaking and his scales have become soaked with blood.
Kodama sifts through the many packs he keeps there, gathering a handful of different herbs and placing them on a rock. As he crushes them until there nothing but a paste, his eyes keep wandering back to the dragon, barely making out the shallow movement of its breathing.
Placing the healing paste by his side, Kodama sets out on cleaning the wounds as best as he can with water and the few rags he had. The gashes are numerous, some deeper than others, the skin around them an angry red. They're clearly made by beast clans - other dragons maybe, if Kodama had to guess, though he's never known of them attacking one of their own before. The worst of the wound laid across his right shoulder, deep enough to where his shoulder bone could almost be seen.
After cleaning his blood-soaked scales, he hesitates. The dragon hasn't woken up yet, and Kodama doesn't feel like it will anytime soon; still, he's a little apprehensive to go outside and leave it unsupervised.
The prickle he feels on his skin, however, warns him of the storm's fast approach. He can't afford to risk it reaching the mountains before he's prepared so, with one last look at the dragon resting on the cave floor and steps once again into the snow.
Kodama doesn't return until hours later, bringing back with him enough wood to outlast the snowstorm and more of the herbs he used to make the healing paste. Kodama sets the things he's holding on the floor, approaching the dragon as cautiously as if he were still a threat. Up close, his appearance doesn't seem much older than Kodama's own, if he had to guess. His face is scrunched up in pain, so Kodama immediately turns his attention to the wounds, checking to see if they've gotten any worse.
He's barely resumed his previous actions when the dragon jolts awake. Kodama finds himself being pushed back, cloth falling from his hands as the dragon launches himself away, growl turning into a hiss of pain with the movement.
Kodama stays where he is, merely raising his hands so the dragon sees that he isn't a threat.
"Your wounds are going to reopen like that," he says.
The dragon's eyes are fixed on him, his teeth bared. Even with the way he's slightly crouching, everything about his stance indicates aggressiveness.
"Who the **** are you?"
"Kodama." Kodama points to the stitches and medicine that cover the dragon's chest.
"I saved your life."
"I didn't need ******* saving," the dragon spits out. The dragon's gaze falls on the door, and Kodama can see the determination setting in behind his eyes. He opens his mouth to advise against it, but the other is already moving towards the exit.
He takes no more than a few steps before his legs give out and he collapses, as a scream of pain is ripped from his throat when his wounds hit the floor, blood already starting to flow from where the stitches have been torn. He pulls his wings in as if to try and escape the pain.
Kodama sighs, gathering his things that had been scattered and reaching out to help the dragon move. The moment his hand gets close to him, however, the dragon growls, snapping his teeth at Kodama's fingers.
Kodama raises an eyebrow at him, starting to wonder if being this stubborn is an imperial thing.
"Did you just try to bite me?"
"Don't touch me."
"If I don't, then you'll bleed to death. You're not strong enough to take care of those injuries by yourself yet, sir."
The dragon grits his teeth. He tenses up but doesn't struggle when Kodama reaches out again, pulling him up until he's sitting. His golden eyes flashing and Kodama quickly back away once he was sitting upright.
"Timaeus," he mumbles.
"What?"
"My name, damn it. It's Timaeus. Not sir."
"Oh." Kodama acquiesces, thinking that this is an improvement from the other's previous behavior. "Okay, Timaeus."

The snowstorm gets worse during the night.
When Kodama wakes up, he can feel the chill seeping through his bones, and the world outside the cave is nothing but a veil of white. He warms himself up easily enough with his yokai powers, but the first thing he does after getting up is to check the fire, next to which Timaeus is still sleeping soundly.
Timaeus looks almost innocent like this, Kodama thinks. He finds it amusing, even a little hard to believe, that this is the same dragon that had actively tried to bite his hand off the previous day.

"****, it's cold," he hears a moment later, followed by a grunt of pain. There are a few minutes of silence, and Kodama wonders if Timaeus remembers what happened the previous night.
“I know it is. It’s the Southern ice fields what do you expect?”
"Are you making fun of me? I'll kill you," Timaeus literally growls. His body seems to move on instinct as he begins to lunge towards Kodama, but his expression suddenly turns to one of discomfort and he stills his movement, frustration etched on his face.
"I'll kill you, once these ******* wounds heal."
Kodama has to hold back a huff of laughter. As harsh and angry as Timaeus sounds, he can't feel any real threat coming from him; his yokai power swirls peacefully under his skin, not sensing any imminent danger. He's thankful, however, that Timaeus has refrained from doing anything foolish. It'd be bothersome if all the work he'd gone through the previous day, mending his wounds twice, were to go to waste again.
"I believe a thank you would be more efficient, considering I'm the one healing them for you," Kodama replies.
Kodama gets up before Timaeus can say anything and to his relief, there are no further complaints from the dragon, and Kodama can hear the rustling of the pelts behind him as he tries to put together a decent meal.
Considering how weak Timaeus must be due to the blood loss, it'd probably be better for him to eat meat - which might even be his preference, Kodama believes, with him being an Imperial. For now, then, Kodama settles for an assortment of seafood and meat.
By the time he's back to the back part of the cave Timaeus is sitting up in front of the fire, blankets were thrown haphazardly over his shoulders. He eyes the food in front of him suspiciously, and it doesn't escape Kodama's attention that he only begins to eat after Kodama takes a bite of the food he's prepared for himself. He wonders if Timaeus thinks he has poisoned the food; he can't see how that would make sense, considering all he's done so far has saved his life.
Maybe it's another dragon thing.
"What are you?" Timaeus asks after a few moments of eating in silence.
"What do you mean?"
"You're clearly not a normal dragon." Timaeus fixes him with a pointed stare. "The way you reacted to me was ******* weird. Most dragons who've seen me usually run away screaming traditor or demon. And you didn't even bat an eye."
Kodama's eyes widen a little, surprised that Timaeus has picked up on that. He hadn't struck him as the perceptive type, but maybe Kodama's first impression of him had been wrong.
"So I'm going to ask again, what the hell are you?"
Kodama hesitates, but it's not like he can hide his powers for long - the snowstorm still rages outside, and Timaeus is stuck there with him until his wounds heal. Besides, Timaeus has power; a different kind from Kodama's, but it's still power, yokai power to be exact or for though who don’t know demon powers.
Deeming he's safe from a negative reaction, Kodama sets his food down on his lap before extending his hands and summoning a small spirit from his hands that start to float around them. Then he put his hand on the ground and a small tree began to form. The little spirits went about to tangle themselves in Kodama’s and Timaeus’ dark manes.
Timaeus lets out a huff that sounds suspiciously like a laugh.
"Yokai, huh? Should've known. You ******** do like to meddle in everything. Though it is rare to see you guys around these parts." he says, but while his words are sharp, his tone holds more amusement than anger.
"Oh. I apologize, then. Next time I'll leave you to bleed to death if you'd prefer me not to meddle," Kodama says, but he's also trying to hide a smile at the way Timaeus's expression turns into a frown. He becomes serious, however, when he's reminded of a question he's been meaning to ask. "What happened to get you that hurt?"
Timaeus's eyes turn away from Kodama, and he shoves a piece of meat into his mouth, taking his time chewing and clearly trying to avoid answering. Kodama patiently waits, keeping his stare fixed on Timaeus. He knows it shouldn't matter, but he can't deny he's curious, and an explanation is the least he should get for saving the other's life.
"Being a renegade is… tough to say the least but being a wanted dragon is even harder," Timaeus finally says, confirming Kodama's suspicions. "Ice dragons around here are a bit territorial along with the few beast clans. Got ambushed by an aggressive clan." He growls, then, and points an accusing finger towards Kodama.
"Don't go getting any wrong ideas. I can beat those ******* anytime, but this clan was bigger than usual. And they took me by surprise." Timaeus takes a deep breath, fists closing in anger.
"Gonna rip their throats out as soon as I can."
"You can't blame them for acting on instinct," Kodama replies.
"That instinct is going to show them who's stronger only when I beat them up."
"They're just normal beast clan members like you said. What would you get from that? If you think you can win against them, then you don't have to worry about it," Kodama says. He's not going to argue about the truthfulness of Timaeus's statement - no matter how strong a dragon might be, if they were outnumbered enough, Kodama is sure even normal beast clan members could do some damage, and Timaeus's case is an example of that - but from what little Timaeus's spoken about it, Kodama knows this isn't just about strength, but pride as well.
"Tch. You wouldn't understand anyway," Timaeus says.
Kodama thinks about arguing, but he feels it would be pointless, so he turns his focus towards the entranced once again, effectively ending the conversation.

“About time to go get some more wood.” Kodama gets up and makes his way to the entrance but not before Timaeus looming form blocks him.
"What is it?" Kodama asks. Timaeus looks pointedly at the entrance before.
“You can’t think I would let your scrawny *** go out there alone.”
"I need to get firewood, Timaeus. And if you haven't noticed, the only way to do that is going to the forest."
Timaeus growls again, taking a few steps towards the exit before turning towards Kodama.
"I know that! But going out there right now is just suicide!”
"You're still injured. And I have yokai powers. I'd say I'm better suited to go, so you stay here," Kodama moves past Timaeus, ignoring the way the other's ears flatten on his head, his fangs bared.
"I won't be long."
Before Timaeus can stop him again, Kodama leaps out the front and snaps his wings out, officially pushing most of the snow back from the entrance. He's not surprised to find snow accumulated, blocking his way, but he summons enough heat to melt it away in seconds, opening a path that he takes without looking back.

Once Kodama reaches the edge of the forest, the wind and snow that had been smacking against his scales, the leaves from the trees providing a fragile, if temporary, cover. Before he continues further, however, he stops, raising his voice so it can be heard over the sound of the blizzard.
"I thought I told you to stay in the cave."
There's a huff and, moments later, Timaeus is at Kodama's side, no longer trying to follow him from a distance as he'd been doing. Instead, he continues forward, his ink-black scales stark against the white that surrounded them. The bandages covering him already dusted with snow and he could see slight pink peeking through. Making Kodama angry that he followed him.
“Do you ever listen?”
“Nope.”
“Just don’t strain yourself. I don’t want to have to patch you up again.”
Kodama quickly catches up to Timaeus as they go deeper into the forest, looking for a place where the trees are less spaced, the foliage forming a protective canopy against most of the humidity and allowing them to find somewhat dry wood more easily.
So why are you a wanted dragon anyways?”
Timaeus froze before shaking some snow off of him his golden eye glaring back at him.
I was framed for something I didn’t do. My family turned on me, my friends, everyone wrote me off like a ******* criminal! Didn’t even give me a fair trial, wouldn’t even listen to a god damn word I was trying to say. One of my younger brothers wants first dibs on the crown. So what does that spoiled brat go do? He blames me for the death of one of my clan mates. Sick right? That clan mate was my best friend! I could have never done that! After being banished I was then put under being a wanted dragon, so I was on the run all the time.”
“That’s…… horrible. I couldn’t see any of my siblings doing that ever. But I am naive to the ways outside of my clan so I took it upon myself to learn and travel. That is why I am out here. I was making my way to an ice clan to meet with them.”
“Huh well, I guess I got lucky you were near by. Not that I cared or anything.”
“Haha, I know. Mister bad *** you are.”
“Shut up.”
Despite the tension from earlier, Kodama starts to relax as they focus on the task at hand, a companionable silence taking place of the awkwardness as they wander through the woods. He finds himself observing Timaeus from time to time, having to stifle a smile more than once as the dragon comes back with sticks of varying sizes in his mouth, handing them over for Kodama to hold.
Maybe it's because he's too lost in his own thoughts, but it takes Kodama a while to notice when Timaeus suddenly stops his search, his ears flattening as he crouches, snarling and staring at something among the trees that surround the clearing they're at.
“****!”
What is it Timaeus?
It’s them again. Damn didn’t think they would follow me this far. You are in danger if you stay with me. Get out of here.”
“You really think I would just up and leave you here! What do you take me for?”
“An idiot.”
It's Kodama's magic that warns him of the approaching danger, a rush of power suddenly prickling his skin like tiny needles just as the air fills with the sound of thunder., swiveling around just as shadows spring forth from the forest and a clan of Centaurs descends on them.
Kodama's barely able to process the shock of the Centaurs attacking when they should be weakened by the constant brutal weather, too busy trying to keep them from getting closer as he struggles to see how Timaeus is doing against them. He lifts up a tree barrier, the thump of a collision nothing but a background noise as he turns around, scanning the chaos that has taken over the clearing with his pulse hammering in his ears. Winter wolves soon follow and separated the two from each other.
Timaeus hadn't been lying when he'd said this pack was big. From his quick assessment of the situation, Kodama guesses there are at least fifteen Centaurs, and even though they're smaller than Timaeus and easy prey to Kodama's powers, their numbers help, as well as having caught them off guard. Their aggressiveness seems to overcome their instinctive fear, too, their mouths open in vicious snarls as some of them launch themselves against Kodama from both sides.
“What is up with this clan!?”
A few well made trees sends them staggering a few steps back, but Kodama's concentration is broken by a howl of pain. His head snaps towards the sound, eyes searching frantically until he sees Timaeus surrounded by four other wolves, and his gaze is immediately drawn by a line of blood that drips from the dragon's scales to mar the white snow below. A few arrows sticking out of his side but they weren’t too deep.
The sight makes his own blood boil, power surging through him with an intensity that's almost overwhelming, and Kodama's moving towards Timaeus before he can realize it. His momentary distraction costs him, however, and suddenly there's a lacerating pain on his right thigh, something sharp tearing through fabric and scales and sinking into flesh. He roared out in pain as an arrow soon embeds itself into his side, this one went deeper than expected.
Kodama's reaction is instinctual, kicking the wolf that'd bitten him away, his only goal to reach Timaeus before he can get hurt any further. His next step falters, however, his injured legs crumbling under his weight as he tumbles to the ground. Another wolf goes for his other hind leg and bits down but this one does not let go. Kodama snaps out his wings and twists his body around flinging the wolf into one of the Centaurs near by. His hind legs trembled from the gushing wounds as he stands again, A few Centaurs surrounding him with spears and bows drawn.

Kodama curses, trying to force his body to stand up only to fall again. His eyes go back to Timaeus - to where he's been backed against a tree, the wolves about to attack him - and the knowledge that he won't be able to reach him, that even if he were to launch a long-distance attack it would be too late, fuels him with desperation as he does something he'd sworn he'd never do again. Soon one of the centaurs let a spear fly barely missing Timaeus, slicing one of his wings barely.
He calls on a different power, reaching deep into the old teachings of his childhood, welcoming the pain that burns through his body as magic explodes outwards, his vision flashing white and red as he chokes, using every ounce of his strength to keep a sliver of control over the thing that he's summoned to life.
There are howls of fear resounding on his ears, howls that are cut off abruptly as a creature of swirling shadow moves through the clearing at a super speed, filling the air with the smell of blood and sulfur and burning flesh, a sickening laugh leaving its deformed lips as it kills.
It's over in less than a minute, though to Kodama it seems like a lifetime; his arms give in as he falls forward, barely aware of something warm running down his legs as the cold snow soaks his scales, any remaining strength leaving his body as the power recedes, like slime crawling through his veins.
Through the haziness, Kodama is able to make out a black mass running towards him.
"Kodama!”
He soon realizes that the black mass is right above him, pushing him trying to get him up but his body wouldn’t respond. Timaeus grimaced at his companions bloodied legs and his shaking form, he placed a hand on him to flinch back at how hot he was, sweat was forming and his breathing was quick and wheezy.
"****."
The clan had retreated upon the beast conjuring only losing a few wolves and a Centaur to its rampage.
"This dragon must be from and strong clan to know that kind of power."

But then Kodama groaned and shifted a bit before Timaeus could make the effort to check for him, crying out in pain as he did so and the sound could only be described as bone-chilling. Timaeus had heard screams and cries for help many times before- more than he could count, in fact, but he'd never paid them any mind.
And yet, this particular scream was the one that had him shaking.
"Jesus ****, Koda." he breathed, eyes still looking over his form. "What the **** did you do?"
"T-Timaeus" he was cut off by his own pained cry, an action as simple as lifting his head enough to put the strain on the less-than-favorable condition his body was in. Any more unnecessary movements or energy usage and the idiot might just end up killing himself. For real this time. "I-"
"Shut up," Timaeus murmured, his arms slipping underneath Kodama while he tried not to flinch at the way the dragon cried out from the slight touches.He slid him onto his back and tried to rush his way back to the cave. Every movement was pure agony, it seemed. Even when he tried his hardest to be careful lifting his hurt body, there was no mistaking the pained expressions that flashed across Kodama's face. Timaeus gritted his teeth, but continued walking, because he had the slightest feeling that if he delayed this trip for any longer he could lose him. The one dragon that has been kind to him since that dreadful day of being exiled.
"H-how-"
"I told you to shut up!" Timaeus snapped, shooting him a glare, his gaze only hardening the longer he stared. "Don't make me repeat myself, damn it!" He paused as Kodama fell silent and only seemed to curl in on himself, and Timaeus sighed. His wounds ached to be shifted, but he fought against it, wanting to minimize the amount of movement he'd be forcing on Kodama.
I will be fine after I rest. Doing that with my yokai powers take a lot out of me. “
“Shut up you *******! From the looks of it, you could have killed yourself!”
“Sorry.”
“What the **** are you apologizing for?”
“For worrying you I guess and possibly hurting you since I am not good at controlling the demon I bring out.”
“You didn’t need to-”
“They were going to kill you Timaeus. What choice did I have?”
“You could not have done anything! I am not worth killing yourself over.”
“Haha what ever you say, Ty.”
“The **** did you call me?”
No answer was given and Timaeus stopped in his trek through the snow to look back at Kodama. He signed a sign of relief when he noticed he was only unconscious. The shaking has stopped and his temp was starting to go back to normal but those wounds on his legs will need to be wrapped up along with the arrow wound on his side. Timaeus huffed and continued back to the cave as the snow started to fall harder.
“THis guy….. What a pain in the *** he is.”