Tyr

When the moonlight shines over that cliff you might catch four eyes shining - those eyes never leave that place, but they're always staring at us. Their owner has a lonely life - if anyone tries to talk to her in response she only hisses until left alone. Unlike us she's always belonged somewhere, yet now she's here. It's a sad story, you see - once she was a great warrior, protecting her original clan at any cost and with pure heart.
At first it was nothing, really - just a scratch on her legs, what a hostile dragon made, but soon she changed. Her skin and flesh cleaved at several spots, spitting blood and some yellowish liquid, sometimes even revealing the bone itself and from some wounds mushrooms started to grow - and even her white eyes turned yellowish red. And soon, those for she would have moved entire mountains turned their backs on her, never to look back.

Khal heard that story several times. He only recently arrived at his new home when he glanced at her eyes for the first time. His new clan's leader, his leader, Visenya told him her story. And he made sure to listen each time she retold the same story to any newbie who wanted to know. But that wasn't enough, he wanted to know more about her.
"I could find and destroy those who harmed her," he told Vis once. In return she just angrily hushed him away.
"Do that and you destroy whatever's left of Tyr." He did not understand those words back then, after all his own past was still haunting him. But every day he spent in his new home changed him more and more. His old self cared only about himself and yet, for some reason he cared about that lonely dragon on the cliff. And he wanted to help her.
"Do you know what infected her?" he asked his leader on an other day.
"I do. Our healers could stop the infection from spreading on, but the changes will remain for good. The mushrooms will die out eventually, at least."
"Scars are earned by warriors. She should bear hers with pride."
"Not all scars are the same. She's proud of her battle scars, but not of the ones the infection left on her."
"It is just another enemy. She won, that's all what matters."
"Those scars cost her everything."
Vis' words stayed with Khal for long. He never had a home before, let alone a family. But the time he spent with his new clan, Azantyr made him understand what it is like to belong somewhere. He would have been shattered if all was taken away from him. Anger grew inside of him, realising that Tyr's family never been hers, otherwise they would never turned on her when she needed them the most.
But he did now want to allow anger take over him again. He took a deep breath then flew up to the cliff.
It was close to dusk and almost dark. He knew well that Tyr was ashamed of her scars, so he thought it might be a better time to visit than in daylight.
She must have smelled him from far for the time he arrived she was already hidden behind a boulder and hissing.
That was when Khal realized that he, in fact had no idea what to say.
"Hi... I..." hissing interrupted him, "I'm also Azantyr, my n..."
"Get lost!" she shouted.
"No... I..." she hissed again. Stunned and lost for words he left. Such never happened to him before. He was always the strongest and undefeated... only Vis managed to defeat him. But Tyr... he never felt so weak. He had no idea what happened, so he flew over to his leader.
"Vis, may we speak?" he asked. Vis calmly sit with eyes closed under the stars.
"You know that at this hour I'm meditating, Khal," replied Vis with her wise voice. She made no move, not even her eyes opened.
"I know, but..."
"You went to her. I know. Nothing avoids my attention," Khal knew that. When Vis found her she knew his lifestory already. Even those parts only him and the dead knew.
"Yes. And I will go back."
"She seeks no company," her words seemed final, which usually meant the end of a conversation, but he could not allow that for once. Before he met Vis he lived by a simple rule he set to himself: victory or death. Vis defeated him, but did not claim his life. Later he realized that he indeed died that day, to reborn later.
"And your plan is to let her rot there?" he shouted, letting his anger take over him once more.
"You have a long way to go yourself. You can't help her if you, yourself are broken," he understood the truth in her words, but could not walk away.
"I can't let her down," he whispered. At last Vis opened her eyes and turned towards him.
"You must find yourself first."
"There is no time," he insisted. "She deserves better... I don't."
"What makes you say that, Khal?" her voice was sharp, as always. Yet something soft was hiding beneath the edge.
"She protected the weak... she protected them from creatures like me," he shut his eyes. He always told himself that whatever he did was to survive. But that was a lie. He enjoyed the mayhem.
"We are all have a reason to atone for. Don't let it take over you," he glanced back at her. Her eyes spoke of endless sorrow and wisdom.
"Then let me atone by helping her. Ever since I'm here... I stare at her cliff... I can't just walk away from her," he admitted.
"You are still lost," she turned to the sky, "but so be it. Do you have a plan?"
"Yes... could you tell me what does she like?" he asked, carefully hiding his sad smile.

Tyr's cliff still smelled like that reckless male. He didn't smell bad, but she wanted no one around herself. Not even their smell. She could hardly bare the healer's or Vis' smell, even. She could hardy bear hers. The infection left its mark even there.
Something wasn't alright. His smell was too strong. Too fresh. It wasn't strong enough for him to be there, but too strong to dwell from last night.
So she followed her nose and soon glanced at a basked stuffed with her favourite snacks. They smelled fresh and tasty. She devoured a piece. It was indeed tasty.
Carefully she glanced down from her cliff, soon she caught the sight of the male. He was flying around Rys' head, the two clearly talking about something. She never spoke to Rys herself, but Vis told her about most of the clan. But she had no knowledge about the newcomers, as she refused to talk even to her for a while now. She only accepted food supplies and healers, but not spoke even with them. After a few minutes Rys nodded and the two walked out of her eyesight.
She grabbed the basket and spent the rest of her day like any other: staring down the cliff and practicing a bit with her rusty weapons. She got rusty herself, the infection was really painful in time, but the healers stopped it long ago, and with that the pain was gone too. The mushrooms made her itch, though.
That night she fall asleep half-expecting the male to show up again. He did not. That was for the better, she would have chased him away, anyway.
Yet when morn came she smelled him again. And that the exact same location as before another basket lay with even more snacks. She devoured them with delight. Then she tried to watch the male, but he was nowhere to be found all day, nor at night.
But by the next morning he left her an other snack-basket. She had no idea how he managed to do that as she always woke up for even the slightest noise. He was nowhere to be seen that day either, however. At night she hid behind a boulder and spied at the spot where she found the baskets.


Khal had no way of knowing whether his plan worked, or whether Tyr even ate the food he gave her. The baskets were gone each day, that was for sure. That's a start, he thought.
Convincing Rys to play her part in his plan was harder than he expected, but not as hard as actually forging his gift to Tyr. He had not how Rys managed to do it, especially that she usually crafted items for smaller dragons than herself. Yet, asking Rys to make it herself would have definitely been easier, but he never
liked the easy way.
Besides, he wanted to create the sword himself. Which he did... a few times. Until both him and Rys was satisfied with the result. A plain, strong blade. No stupid decorations, nor him nor Tyr liked such. Strength was more attractive than pattern anyway. He made the scabbard too, luckily he was somewhat familiar with the technique needed for that, yet now the scabbard seemed really off compared to the blade.
He carefully attached the weapon to the basket before flying off to fill it with food. Then at last, close to dawn, he flew to Tyr's cliff. He moved silently, as he did not wanted to disturb her in her sleep, yet he could not stop himself from glancing towards her cave and the boulder next to it.
He froze when four eyes glanced back at him.
"Hello Tyr," he whispered, barely audible for even himself. The eyes remained still. "My name is Khal... that is if you were wondering. I mean... my name is Khal either way... I..." he took a deep breath, "I hope you're enjoying the snacks... I will bring some tomorrow too... if you don't mind."
Tyr did not reply, just slowly backed off. Her eyes soon disappeared behind the boulder, but Khal's sophisticated ears could still hear her breath. It was odd that he did not noticed that before. He lingered around for a few more minutes, then fly away.
She did not hiss. He allowed himself a small smile.
He waited until noon until he finally headed to Vis. He did not wanted to bother her again in her daily routine... sort of. He did not mind bothering her while eating.
"You spoke to her at night," she said as greeting after swallowing some sort of fruit.
"Yes," he had no idea how his leader managed to know everything, but it did not surprise him anymore.
"Do you think your plain will work, then?"
"I... I can only hope," for that Vis nodded and left. Leaving him to wonder who did she meant that nod for.


Tyr waited a few minutes after the male, Khal left. Just to be sure that he actually left. Only after she dared to sneak to the basket. She could smell the snacks from far, but there was something else too. She smelled fire. Then she saw it.
Her hands quickly moved to grab the hilt of the blade attached to the basket. She failed to breath for a couple seconds as she held the clearly freshly forged spatha in her paw. That was her favourite type of sword. The blade lacked any decorations, only the necessitates were there.
She gave a few quick swings to it... the weapon's balance was perfect. It was sharp too and made off a though material. The sword was perfect, and far better than any she possessed before. He must have asked Rys to forge it, she thought. With a small smile she got to practice with her new blade. Only stopping to grab a few snacks occasionally.
She dropped dead by the time darkness fall. Many moons have passed since she felt so tired. She was really out of shape, she realized.
Sword still in hand she crawled to the boulder next to her cave and waited. Or tried to, at least. She fall asleep in the matter of seconds.


She was snoring, realized Khal as he neared Tyr's cliff with another basket. He sneaked close to her and smiled as he glanced the blade in her hand. At last he managed to glance at Tyr herself too. Her scars did not scared him. She looked rather terrible indeed, but Khal only seen the beauty in that. She survived. She survived... her strength was endless. She just needed to find it, for she was broken. But Khal would have done anything to help her find her true strength.
Vis explained him that and more many times, but he did not understood before. Her words found only deaf ears... until that point. As he looked at Tyr he finally understood all.
He placed the basket next to her then left, but not for long.


When Tyr woke up she froze for several minutes. A basket was placed next to her and Khal's smell was everywhere... he had a sweet smell, but she wanted no one around herself. Besides the basket so close meant that Khal saw her. He won't be coming back, she assumed. The thought filled her with sorrow, but she knew well that it was for the best.
She could not bare more betrayals.
Yet a few minutes after she woke up the male's smell strengthened. She eventually glanced at him in the skies, carrying a huge bag. Her weekly supplies, soon she realized. She did not hid when the male landed not too far from her. He saw her already anyway.
"Morning, Tyr," he said with a small smile. "I've brought supplies for you... where should I place them?" he sounded different than before. Not knowing him well, she could not tell what changed.
"That spot," she pointed at the shacks current location.
"As you wish... how's the sword?" he asked softly.
"Good..." she muttered.
"Use it well, then. Would you like to train with me?"
"No."
He nodded slowly. "The scabbard is just temporary. I will learn to make a better one," he whispered.
"You've made it?" she gasped.
"Yes... I made some before... before I settled here. But for the sword I had to ask Rys to teach me," he explained. "Took me some tires," he lifted her left paw. It was bandaged.
Her eyes widened, but she made no reply.
"I have nothing to give in return..." she said at last.
"You already gave me what I wanted: a conversation. I won't give up on you."
"Well, you should," then she hissed and returned to her cave. In reality she wanted to talk with Khal more, train with him, even. There was something about him... but she was afraid. She promised never to let anyone close to herself again, because it would only hurt when they abandon her.
She was always a strong warrior, none could defeat her... only loneliness. No, she could not bare losing someone again.
The day passed like any other, aside from training. She could not held the blade again just yet. The weapon reminded her of Khal and she did not want to remember him.
That seemed impossible when near dusk the male appeared again. She made a move towards her cave, but stilled instead.
"Good night, Tyr," he greeted her.
"Get lost," she fanged her teeth. "And took your stupid sword too," she tossed the spatha towards him. It hurt her, but that was for the best. Or she thought.
"I won't leave," he said after a short pause, then grabbed the scabbard and walked towards Tyr. She backed off. "I know... I know your story. I won't leave, I swear. Only death could make me leave you..."
"I am death. Leave!" she shouted.
"You?" he laughed. "Tyr, you were protecting others before. I was killing every moving thing that I saw... if anyone, I am death. I have done horrible things..."
"So you're trying to atone? I am not a toy. Leave. Now," she shouted even louder.
"I am atoning now and ever, for the rest of my life. I... I thought I wanted to help you to atone, but that's not true..." his voice was weak. She hissed again, he payed no attention to that. "When I first glanced at your eyes from down below I did not know where to place you... I did not know where to place myself either, though. Then I..."
"Leave!" she shouted again, then growled.
He stopped for a few seconds. "Please hear me out. I would never abandon you."
"Last warning." she hissed between her teeth. When he made no move she jumped towards him with all claws and teeth.
He moved rapidly and get out of her way, then jumped onto her from her right. She managed to turn in time and almost deepened her claw in his chest, but his strong arms grabbed her wrists. The infection really weaken her.
He growled showing his beautiful fangs, but she did not surrender. Never. She tried to bite his neck, while slashing with her wings, but he evaded all her attacks. She attacked again, and again warring between her teeth, wings, legs and tail, but all in vain.
"You are badly out of shape," that was Khal.
She shut her eyes, realizing her defeat, "let me go..." she said, shattered. All was lost.
"Please look at me, Tyr," she had no choice, so she obeyed. "I won't leave you. Ever. I will keep bringing snacks and we will start training, so you can gain back your muscles... and I will sleep right over there," he showed to the point where he placed the basket first. Then he finally let go of her.
"No," she said.
"Tyr... I have no way of knowing how you feel... I have never had a family, it was just me, always. I was like those you were protecting your clan from. But Vis found me... and I found you. Ever since I glanced your eyes... I felt something. I only realized what it was when I saw you for the first time. Tyr... I know you're sad... because of your family... but if they abandoned you... they don't worth the pain. You are stronger than that. I saw your true strength... please let me make you see it too."
For long minutes she was lost for words. "Just look at me... you will leave me..." she whispered.
"Your scars are beautiful. I have mines too. You survived, that's all that matters. As long as you're breathing... there's a reason to fight for."
"Not for me... not anymore," she said and walked back to her cave and cried herself asleep.
When she left her cave Khal was there still. He was slumbering right where he promised he would be. He placed the supplies and the sword closer to the cave. She reached out to the spatha, but grabbed the supplies instead and carried them back to the cave. She stayed there all day. Khal only left once she knew. He returned with snacks.
Then the next day the same happened.
On the third day Tyr finally made herself emerge from the cave. "Why aren't you leaving?" she hissed.
"Because I'm in love with you, Tyr," he answered, looking deep inside her infected eyes. "I felt the affection the moment I glanced at your eyes, but only realized what it is when I looked at you first.
"I..." she was lost for words for several minutes. "I fell the affection too... but I can't, Khal, I really can't."
He stood up, the spatha in his hand. "Let's just train, and we will see."
"They said they loved me..."
"I know. They said it, but I mean it," he walked closer to her and held out the sword towards Tyr.
"I really can't give you anything for that sword..." she admitted.
"Do you like it, through?" he asked with true curiosity.
"Never held a better sword... and that's why I can't keep it, I..."
"It is a gift, you now. Besides, you already gave me more than I ever deserved: myself... and hope... hope for a future with you as my mate."
She did not back off. She liked his sweet smell and his sad smile... she wanted to kill him just avoid abandonment... because she really did feel something for him.
"Small steps?" she said at last.
"Small steps," he smiled with joy.