@Fabro aww, that was sweet!
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TOPIC | Abandoned has been abandoned
@rororat @brianna100 @kiwipen
This chapter introduces Nox, the newest member of the clan. He's going to be quite the pawful!
[quote=Chapter 3]
The egg lies out of my vision, but it's far from out of my mind. The purple hue seems etched in my memory, the rough texture imprinted in my head. In a way, I'm glad for the distraction. It keeps my thoughts from wandering to my clan.
[i]Am I doing a good enough job, taking care of it? What do nocturnes even eat? Do they like seafood? What element will it be?[/i]
The element question is the most pressing, for me. The element of a dragon determines its survival, after all. I'm reminded of the water dragons who couldn't survive the harsh temperatures of the Icefields. [i]What if this nocturne is water?[/i]
Incubation also poses a problem. I remember the way the eggs of my former clan were incubated. The she-dragons would pile snow around each egg, sometimes even over them. As ice dragons, it was important to keep the eggs from overheating.
Lightning, however, was different. My memories of my hatch-clan are hazy, but I try to recall their incubation methods. The eggs were surrounded by conductors, I know. And lightning constantly danced across their surfaces. But how was I supposed to incubate an egg when I didn't know it's element?
[b]You're stressing too much![/b] Sprocket's nonchalant comment interrupts my thoughts. He's perched beside the origin of my worries. [b]It's just a mimic dragon egg! Just think back to Nix and her habits.[/b]
The mention of my former mentor sends pangs through my heart. Nix was the first to see me as a dragon, rather than something to be used and discarded. She was more than a mentor to me; she was my first real friend. I can't help but wonder how she would raise this hatchling. Better than me, no doubt.
"Just a mimic dragon egg," I repeat, trying to cover my sorrow. "Yeah, Sprocket. You know what comes out of eggs? Hatchlings!"
[b]Why do hatchlings make you so scared?[/b]
"I don't want to mess it up. What if it grows to an adult and hates me? I couldn't live with that."
[b]Is this about your parents?[/b]
I sigh, but as I start to speak, a [i]crack[/i] makes both of us whip around. The egg has tumbled from the ledge and is now sunk in the snow. As I go to pick it up, it quivers. And then, to my astonishment, the eggshell splits apart.
A minuscule dragon -hardly larger than my muzzle- climbs to his feet and shakes his wings out. He cocks his head up at me. I can't stop staring. [i]Was Nix ever this small? This thing is tiny![/i]
"Umm, hello?" I say.
"Umm, hello?" the nocturne chirps back.
I start. "What?"
"What?"
I glance at Sprocket helplessly, but he's enjoying the scene too much to come help me. I turn back to the hatchling, only to find that he has vanished. A sharp pain in my paw makes me yelp and look down. Somehow, the hatchling has stumbled across the snowy ground to gnaw on my foot.
"What are you doing? Get off!" I shake my paw, and he tumbles to the floor. He immediately scrambles back up though, dashing in the direction of my food stores.
"Hey wait! Where are you going?"
[/quote]
[URL=http://s961.photobucket.com/user/Fabro-de-Verbis/media/image_zpsjrlsjk4z.jpeg.html][IMG]http://i961.photobucket.com/albums/ae98/Fabro-de-Verbis/image_zpsjrlsjk4z.jpeg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://s961.photobucket.com/user/Fabro-de-Verbis/media/image_zpszltqcoij.jpeg.html][IMG]http://i961.photobucket.com/albums/ae98/Fabro-de-Verbis/image_zpszltqcoij.jpeg[/IMG][/URL]
@rororat @brianna100 @kiwipen
This chapter introduces Nox, the newest member of the clan. He's going to be quite the pawful!
This chapter introduces Nox, the newest member of the clan. He's going to be quite the pawful!
Chapter 3 wrote:
The egg lies out of my vision, but it's far from out of my mind. The purple hue seems etched in my memory, the rough texture imprinted in my head. In a way, I'm glad for the distraction. It keeps my thoughts from wandering to my clan.
Am I doing a good enough job, taking care of it? What do nocturnes even eat? Do they like seafood? What element will it be?
The element question is the most pressing, for me. The element of a dragon determines its survival, after all. I'm reminded of the water dragons who couldn't survive the harsh temperatures of the Icefields. What if this nocturne is water?
Incubation also poses a problem. I remember the way the eggs of my former clan were incubated. The she-dragons would pile snow around each egg, sometimes even over them. As ice dragons, it was important to keep the eggs from overheating.
Lightning, however, was different. My memories of my hatch-clan are hazy, but I try to recall their incubation methods. The eggs were surrounded by conductors, I know. And lightning constantly danced across their surfaces. But how was I supposed to incubate an egg when I didn't know it's element?
You're stressing too much! Sprocket's nonchalant comment interrupts my thoughts. He's perched beside the origin of my worries. It's just a mimic dragon egg! Just think back to Nix and her habits.
The mention of my former mentor sends pangs through my heart. Nix was the first to see me as a dragon, rather than something to be used and discarded. She was more than a mentor to me; she was my first real friend. I can't help but wonder how she would raise this hatchling. Better than me, no doubt.
"Just a mimic dragon egg," I repeat, trying to cover my sorrow. "Yeah, Sprocket. You know what comes out of eggs? Hatchlings!"
Why do hatchlings make you so scared?
"I don't want to mess it up. What if it grows to an adult and hates me? I couldn't live with that."
Is this about your parents?
I sigh, but as I start to speak, a crack makes both of us whip around. The egg has tumbled from the ledge and is now sunk in the snow. As I go to pick it up, it quivers. And then, to my astonishment, the eggshell splits apart.
A minuscule dragon -hardly larger than my muzzle- climbs to his feet and shakes his wings out. He cocks his head up at me. I can't stop staring. Was Nix ever this small? This thing is tiny!
"Umm, hello?" I say.
"Umm, hello?" the nocturne chirps back.
I start. "What?"
"What?"
I glance at Sprocket helplessly, but he's enjoying the scene too much to come help me. I turn back to the hatchling, only to find that he has vanished. A sharp pain in my paw makes me yelp and look down. Somehow, the hatchling has stumbled across the snowy ground to gnaw on my foot.
"What are you doing? Get off!" I shake my paw, and he tumbles to the floor. He immediately scrambles back up though, dashing in the direction of my food stores.
"Hey wait! Where are you going?"
Am I doing a good enough job, taking care of it? What do nocturnes even eat? Do they like seafood? What element will it be?
The element question is the most pressing, for me. The element of a dragon determines its survival, after all. I'm reminded of the water dragons who couldn't survive the harsh temperatures of the Icefields. What if this nocturne is water?
Incubation also poses a problem. I remember the way the eggs of my former clan were incubated. The she-dragons would pile snow around each egg, sometimes even over them. As ice dragons, it was important to keep the eggs from overheating.
Lightning, however, was different. My memories of my hatch-clan are hazy, but I try to recall their incubation methods. The eggs were surrounded by conductors, I know. And lightning constantly danced across their surfaces. But how was I supposed to incubate an egg when I didn't know it's element?
You're stressing too much! Sprocket's nonchalant comment interrupts my thoughts. He's perched beside the origin of my worries. It's just a mimic dragon egg! Just think back to Nix and her habits.
The mention of my former mentor sends pangs through my heart. Nix was the first to see me as a dragon, rather than something to be used and discarded. She was more than a mentor to me; she was my first real friend. I can't help but wonder how she would raise this hatchling. Better than me, no doubt.
"Just a mimic dragon egg," I repeat, trying to cover my sorrow. "Yeah, Sprocket. You know what comes out of eggs? Hatchlings!"
Why do hatchlings make you so scared?
"I don't want to mess it up. What if it grows to an adult and hates me? I couldn't live with that."
Is this about your parents?
I sigh, but as I start to speak, a crack makes both of us whip around. The egg has tumbled from the ledge and is now sunk in the snow. As I go to pick it up, it quivers. And then, to my astonishment, the eggshell splits apart.
A minuscule dragon -hardly larger than my muzzle- climbs to his feet and shakes his wings out. He cocks his head up at me. I can't stop staring. Was Nix ever this small? This thing is tiny!
"Umm, hello?" I say.
"Umm, hello?" the nocturne chirps back.
I start. "What?"
"What?"
I glance at Sprocket helplessly, but he's enjoying the scene too much to come help me. I turn back to the hatchling, only to find that he has vanished. A sharp pain in my paw makes me yelp and look down. Somehow, the hatchling has stumbled across the snowy ground to gnaw on my foot.
"What are you doing? Get off!" I shake my paw, and he tumbles to the floor. He immediately scrambles back up though, dashing in the direction of my food stores.
"Hey wait! Where are you going?"
|
more permas in my hibden! fandragon list |
I'm not going to be able to update as often as I'd like; my Mom is monitoring my usage now. I'll try to post my next chapter soon.
I'm not going to be able to update as often as I'd like; my Mom is monitoring my usage now. I'll try to post my next chapter soon.
|
more permas in my hibden! fandragon list |
@rororat @brianna100 @kiwipen
[quote=Chapter 4]
[i]Always go for the throat.[/i] I stare down the longneck as Nix's words come back to me. Both of us silently evaluate each other. Then its paw moves to rests on its axe. I pull back my lips in a snarl, flexing my claws.
The longneck leaps for my wings, no doubt with the intention to shred them. I pull my wings close to my sides -and not a moment too soon. I twist around and lash out with my teeth. It slides away and prepares to toss its axe. I force myself to stay still, and my patience pays off. As soon as the weapon flies past, I lunge for the longneck and deliver the fatal blow.
"Nox!" I call. A dark head pokes out of a snow drift. Two vibrant green eyes stare up at me with admiration. "It's safe now."
The nocturne burrows out of the snow and half-flies, half-stumbles to the fresh kill. "That was so awesome, Dad!" He scrambles up my leg, across my back, up my neck, and comes to a stop on my head. "You were like, kapow! And that evil beast was like, woah!" He dances across my muzzle, mimicking the fight.
"I know you're excited, but you need to stay quiet so we don't attract anymore beasts." I lower my head and gently toss him into the snow. He re-emerges, spluttering, but his eyes still glint with enthusiasm.
"So how do these goat-things taste?" Nox asks, burying his tiny muzzle into the carcass. "Mmmmm! Is good!"
"Longneck," I correct offhandedly. I reach for a chunk of meat as well, savoring its flavour. [i]The skin is relatively undamaged, [/i]I muse. [i]Maybe, when Nox is old enough, we can make a trip to the trading post.[/i]
Just as I begin to tear off a second piece, frantic shrieks and growls erupt. My ears perk as I swing my head. "Nox, get down!"
I dash across the forest, tracking the screams. And then I stumble upon the source- two centaurs abducting a hatchling! They signal to each other; one flees with the hatchling while the other draws its bowstring. I charge at it, wincing when its arrows find gaps in my scales. And then it falls, lifeless, at my claws.
[i]Where'd the other one go?[/i] I follow the hoof prints through the snow, listening. Rhythmic pounding -along with roars- assure me that I'm traveling in the right way. I ambush the centaur, attacking it from above. It struggles. It thrusts its spear at my foot. And then it falls limp.
I lift my paw, belatedly remembering that most hatchlings are much smaller than me. To my relief, the mirror that tumbles away seems to be uninjured. His eyes are pale in color, identifying him as an ice dragon.
"I appreciate your help," the hatchling says. He shakes the snow from his vibrant wings.
"Dad!" A brown blur launches out of my mane and lands by the mirror.
"Nox! What are you doing here? I told you to stay back!"
Not surprisingly, the little nocturne ignores me. "Who are you?" he asks the mirror.
"Quattor," he replies. "Quattor, of the Cloudscrape Crags. Where am I?"
"The Snowsquall Tundra," I answer. "I'm Fabro, and this is Nox."
"You wanna stay with us?" Nox asks suddenly.
[i]Nox![/i]. But before I can say anything, the mirror grins. "That would be most hospitable of you."[/quote]
[URL=http://s961.photobucket.com/user/Fabro-de-Verbis/media/image_zpsnx2kv4i7.jpeg.html][IMG]http://i961.photobucket.com/albums/ae98/Fabro-de-Verbis/image_zpsnx2kv4i7.jpeg[/IMG][/URL]
(I breed-changed him to a mirror for aesthetic reasons.)
@rororat @brianna100 @kiwipen
Always go for the throat. I stare down the longneck as Nix's words come back to me. Both of us silently evaluate each other. Then its paw moves to rests on its axe. I pull back my lips in a snarl, flexing my claws.
The longneck leaps for my wings, no doubt with the intention to shred them. I pull my wings close to my sides -and not a moment too soon. I twist around and lash out with my teeth. It slides away and prepares to toss its axe. I force myself to stay still, and my patience pays off. As soon as the weapon flies past, I lunge for the longneck and deliver the fatal blow.
"Nox!" I call. A dark head pokes out of a snow drift. Two vibrant green eyes stare up at me with admiration. "It's safe now."
The nocturne burrows out of the snow and half-flies, half-stumbles to the fresh kill. "That was so awesome, Dad!" He scrambles up my leg, across my back, up my neck, and comes to a stop on my head. "You were like, kapow! And that evil beast was like, woah!" He dances across my muzzle, mimicking the fight.
"I know you're excited, but you need to stay quiet so we don't attract anymore beasts." I lower my head and gently toss him into the snow. He re-emerges, spluttering, but his eyes still glint with enthusiasm.
"So how do these goat-things taste?" Nox asks, burying his tiny muzzle into the carcass. "Mmmmm! Is good!"
"Longneck," I correct offhandedly. I reach for a chunk of meat as well, savoring its flavour. The skin is relatively undamaged, I muse. Maybe, when Nox is old enough, we can make a trip to the trading post.
Just as I begin to tear off a second piece, frantic shrieks and growls erupt. My ears perk as I swing my head. "Nox, get down!"
I dash across the forest, tracking the screams. And then I stumble upon the source- two centaurs abducting a hatchling! They signal to each other; one flees with the hatchling while the other draws its bowstring. I charge at it, wincing when its arrows find gaps in my scales. And then it falls, lifeless, at my claws.
Where'd the other one go? I follow the hoof prints through the snow, listening. Rhythmic pounding -along with roars- assure me that I'm traveling in the right way. I ambush the centaur, attacking it from above. It struggles. It thrusts its spear at my foot. And then it falls limp.
I lift my paw, belatedly remembering that most hatchlings are much smaller than me. To my relief, the mirror that tumbles away seems to be uninjured. His eyes are pale in color, identifying him as an ice dragon.
"I appreciate your help," the hatchling says. He shakes the snow from his vibrant wings.
"Dad!" A brown blur launches out of my mane and lands by the mirror.
"Nox! What are you doing here? I told you to stay back!"
Not surprisingly, the little nocturne ignores me. "Who are you?" he asks the mirror.
"Quattor," he replies. "Quattor, of the Cloudscrape Crags. Where am I?"
"The Snowsquall Tundra," I answer. "I'm Fabro, and this is Nox."
"You wanna stay with us?" Nox asks suddenly.
Nox!. But before I can say anything, the mirror grins. "That would be most hospitable of you."
(I breed-changed him to a mirror for aesthetic reasons.)
Chapter 4 wrote:
Always go for the throat. I stare down the longneck as Nix's words come back to me. Both of us silently evaluate each other. Then its paw moves to rests on its axe. I pull back my lips in a snarl, flexing my claws.
The longneck leaps for my wings, no doubt with the intention to shred them. I pull my wings close to my sides -and not a moment too soon. I twist around and lash out with my teeth. It slides away and prepares to toss its axe. I force myself to stay still, and my patience pays off. As soon as the weapon flies past, I lunge for the longneck and deliver the fatal blow.
"Nox!" I call. A dark head pokes out of a snow drift. Two vibrant green eyes stare up at me with admiration. "It's safe now."
The nocturne burrows out of the snow and half-flies, half-stumbles to the fresh kill. "That was so awesome, Dad!" He scrambles up my leg, across my back, up my neck, and comes to a stop on my head. "You were like, kapow! And that evil beast was like, woah!" He dances across my muzzle, mimicking the fight.
"I know you're excited, but you need to stay quiet so we don't attract anymore beasts." I lower my head and gently toss him into the snow. He re-emerges, spluttering, but his eyes still glint with enthusiasm.
"So how do these goat-things taste?" Nox asks, burying his tiny muzzle into the carcass. "Mmmmm! Is good!"
"Longneck," I correct offhandedly. I reach for a chunk of meat as well, savoring its flavour. The skin is relatively undamaged, I muse. Maybe, when Nox is old enough, we can make a trip to the trading post.
Just as I begin to tear off a second piece, frantic shrieks and growls erupt. My ears perk as I swing my head. "Nox, get down!"
I dash across the forest, tracking the screams. And then I stumble upon the source- two centaurs abducting a hatchling! They signal to each other; one flees with the hatchling while the other draws its bowstring. I charge at it, wincing when its arrows find gaps in my scales. And then it falls, lifeless, at my claws.
Where'd the other one go? I follow the hoof prints through the snow, listening. Rhythmic pounding -along with roars- assure me that I'm traveling in the right way. I ambush the centaur, attacking it from above. It struggles. It thrusts its spear at my foot. And then it falls limp.
I lift my paw, belatedly remembering that most hatchlings are much smaller than me. To my relief, the mirror that tumbles away seems to be uninjured. His eyes are pale in color, identifying him as an ice dragon.
"I appreciate your help," the hatchling says. He shakes the snow from his vibrant wings.
"Dad!" A brown blur launches out of my mane and lands by the mirror.
"Nox! What are you doing here? I told you to stay back!"
Not surprisingly, the little nocturne ignores me. "Who are you?" he asks the mirror.
"Quattor," he replies. "Quattor, of the Cloudscrape Crags. Where am I?"
"The Snowsquall Tundra," I answer. "I'm Fabro, and this is Nox."
"You wanna stay with us?" Nox asks suddenly.
Nox!. But before I can say anything, the mirror grins. "That would be most hospitable of you."
(I breed-changed him to a mirror for aesthetic reasons.)
|
more permas in my hibden! fandragon list |
@Fabro can I be added to the pinglist please? :)
@Fabro can I be added to the pinglist please? :)
From Ashes is a Nuzlocke following the survivors of a devastating attack on a Fire clan as they struggle to survive and find a new home
@rororat @brianna100 @kiwipen @Tiirran @Glowshroomland
[quote=Chapter 5]
"Ooh, how about this one?"
"Not this one either, there's too many."
"There's only three!" Nox protests. "Together, we could take them!"
I sigh. "We probably could," I concede, "but we'd be exhausted afterwards. And exhaustion is one thing we should avoid."
The nocturne tilts his head. "I guess you're right," he finally says.
I turn to Quattor. "Do you see any more heat signatures?"
"Something is generating a sizable amount of heat from this direction," the mirror reports. He has his head turned from me, muzzle pointing east. "I think it could be prey."
[b]Let's hope so! I'm starving![/b]
Nox seems to agree with Sprocket, despite not knowing what the zalis was thinking. "That's what you've said for the last hour! And what have we found?" The nocturne darts through the air. He counts off a list on his talons. "Two other dragons, a weird plant-creature, and groups too big for us to take down!"
"Nox! Quattor's doing his best! And you too, Sprocket!"
"Well, this time I honestly think it's easy meat," Quattor retorts. "I'm going. Follow me if you wish." He bursts into a sprint, and I take off after him.
We crash through the underbrush, startling a sakura owl. It screeches, clicking its beak and beating its wings. Nox beats his wings as well. He doesn't hesitate as he hurls himself at it.
"Die, evil bird! Die!"
He darts around the owl, scratching and screeching. Quattor jumps into the fight, but I wait for an opening in its defenses. The bird suddenly cries out, shielding its head with its wings.
Nox freezes and raises his own wings. Then he realizes what he was doing, and instantly goes on defense again.
"What's it doing?" he asks.
"I think it wants to become your familiar," I say. "See how it's not attacking?"
"Really?"
Quattor withdraws to my side, leaving Nox alone with the owl. Neither move.
[b]Remember when we first bonded?[/b]. I tilt my head up. Sprocket is perched on a branch to my left.
"How could I forget? I couldn't believe I was hearing your thoughts!"
A loud trill. [b]You made that quite obvious, if I recall.[/b]
"Are we done here?" Quattor's crests are twitching, most likely from yet another hunt gone awry. "We need to find prey -and quickly too- or else it'll be too dark to fly back home."
"You're right," I say. "Are you picking up on anything?"
[b]Anything edible?[/b]
Quattor scans the forest. "No, not yet. How about we start back towards the Icefields and see what we might stumble upon?"
The proposal seems fair to me, and so we turn back south. Nox's owl trails after us from a distance, wary still.
"Hey Sprocket, would you mind hanging with the sakura owl? I think you might help it to relax."
[b]Was that a command or a question?[/b] Nevertheless, he pulls back from the main group.
The foliage rustles. I freeze. And then, a crimson emperor shoots out. It's being chased by a small pink blur of a dragon.
"Meat!" And before I can even react, both of the young dragons -and Sprocket- are part of the fight.
Again, I decide to stay out of the skirmish. Instead, I opt to study their fighting styles. Nox is quick, to be sure, but he exchanges blow for blow, slash for slash. In a real battle, that could easily kill him. Quattor fights like a true mirror, but his blows are still sloppy.
"Hey dummy! Over here!"
My head snaps up, along with everyone else's. The pink dragon -a nocturne- is holding a capsule of liquid. As the emperor freezes, he hurls the bottle. It shatters upon impact, spilling a green ooze across its wings. The emperor staggers and drops down. Then the nocturne glides down and ends its life.
"Weakness potion!" the nocturne smirks. "Gets them every time!"
@rororat @brianna100 @kiwipen @Tiirran @Glowshroomland
"Ooh, how about this one?"
"Not this one either, there's too many."
"There's only three!" Nox protests. "Together, we could take them!"
I sigh. "We probably could," I concede, "but we'd be exhausted afterwards. And exhaustion is one thing we should avoid."
The nocturne tilts his head. "I guess you're right," he finally says.
I turn to Quattor. "Do you see any more heat signatures?"
"Something is generating a sizable amount of heat from this direction," the mirror reports. He has his head turned from me, muzzle pointing east. "I think it could be prey."
Let's hope so! I'm starving!
Nox seems to agree with Sprocket, despite not knowing what the zalis was thinking. "That's what you've said for the last hour! And what have we found?" The nocturne darts through the air. He counts off a list on his talons. "Two other dragons, a weird plant-creature, and groups too big for us to take down!"
"Nox! Quattor's doing his best! And you too, Sprocket!"
"Well, this time I honestly think it's easy meat," Quattor retorts. "I'm going. Follow me if you wish." He bursts into a sprint, and I take off after him.
We crash through the underbrush, startling a sakura owl. It screeches, clicking its beak and beating its wings. Nox beats his wings as well. He doesn't hesitate as he hurls himself at it.
"Die, evil bird! Die!"
He darts around the owl, scratching and screeching. Quattor jumps into the fight, but I wait for an opening in its defenses. The bird suddenly cries out, shielding its head with its wings.
Nox freezes and raises his own wings. Then he realizes what he was doing, and instantly goes on defense again.
"What's it doing?" he asks.
"I think it wants to become your familiar," I say. "See how it's not attacking?"
"Really?"
Quattor withdraws to my side, leaving Nox alone with the owl. Neither move.
Remember when we first bonded?. I tilt my head up. Sprocket is perched on a branch to my left.
"How could I forget? I couldn't believe I was hearing your thoughts!"
A loud trill. You made that quite obvious, if I recall.
"Are we done here?" Quattor's crests are twitching, most likely from yet another hunt gone awry. "We need to find prey -and quickly too- or else it'll be too dark to fly back home."
"You're right," I say. "Are you picking up on anything?"
Anything edible?
Quattor scans the forest. "No, not yet. How about we start back towards the Icefields and see what we might stumble upon?"
The proposal seems fair to me, and so we turn back south. Nox's owl trails after us from a distance, wary still.
"Hey Sprocket, would you mind hanging with the sakura owl? I think you might help it to relax."
Was that a command or a question? Nevertheless, he pulls back from the main group.
The foliage rustles. I freeze. And then, a crimson emperor shoots out. It's being chased by a small pink blur of a dragon.
"Meat!" And before I can even react, both of the young dragons -and Sprocket- are part of the fight.
Again, I decide to stay out of the skirmish. Instead, I opt to study their fighting styles. Nox is quick, to be sure, but he exchanges blow for blow, slash for slash. In a real battle, that could easily kill him. Quattor fights like a true mirror, but his blows are still sloppy.
"Hey dummy! Over here!"
My head snaps up, along with everyone else's. The pink dragon -a nocturne- is holding a capsule of liquid. As the emperor freezes, he hurls the bottle. It shatters upon impact, spilling a green ooze across its wings. The emperor staggers and drops down. Then the nocturne glides down and ends its life.
"Weakness potion!" the nocturne smirks. "Gets them every time!"
Chapter 5 wrote:
"Ooh, how about this one?"
"Not this one either, there's too many."
"There's only three!" Nox protests. "Together, we could take them!"
I sigh. "We probably could," I concede, "but we'd be exhausted afterwards. And exhaustion is one thing we should avoid."
The nocturne tilts his head. "I guess you're right," he finally says.
I turn to Quattor. "Do you see any more heat signatures?"
"Something is generating a sizable amount of heat from this direction," the mirror reports. He has his head turned from me, muzzle pointing east. "I think it could be prey."
Let's hope so! I'm starving!
Nox seems to agree with Sprocket, despite not knowing what the zalis was thinking. "That's what you've said for the last hour! And what have we found?" The nocturne darts through the air. He counts off a list on his talons. "Two other dragons, a weird plant-creature, and groups too big for us to take down!"
"Nox! Quattor's doing his best! And you too, Sprocket!"
"Well, this time I honestly think it's easy meat," Quattor retorts. "I'm going. Follow me if you wish." He bursts into a sprint, and I take off after him.
We crash through the underbrush, startling a sakura owl. It screeches, clicking its beak and beating its wings. Nox beats his wings as well. He doesn't hesitate as he hurls himself at it.
"Die, evil bird! Die!"
He darts around the owl, scratching and screeching. Quattor jumps into the fight, but I wait for an opening in its defenses. The bird suddenly cries out, shielding its head with its wings.
Nox freezes and raises his own wings. Then he realizes what he was doing, and instantly goes on defense again.
"What's it doing?" he asks.
"I think it wants to become your familiar," I say. "See how it's not attacking?"
"Really?"
Quattor withdraws to my side, leaving Nox alone with the owl. Neither move.
Remember when we first bonded?. I tilt my head up. Sprocket is perched on a branch to my left.
"How could I forget? I couldn't believe I was hearing your thoughts!"
A loud trill. You made that quite obvious, if I recall.
"Are we done here?" Quattor's crests are twitching, most likely from yet another hunt gone awry. "We need to find prey -and quickly too- or else it'll be too dark to fly back home."
"You're right," I say. "Are you picking up on anything?"
Anything edible?
Quattor scans the forest. "No, not yet. How about we start back towards the Icefields and see what we might stumble upon?"
The proposal seems fair to me, and so we turn back south. Nox's owl trails after us from a distance, wary still.
"Hey Sprocket, would you mind hanging with the sakura owl? I think you might help it to relax."
Was that a command or a question? Nevertheless, he pulls back from the main group.
The foliage rustles. I freeze. And then, a crimson emperor shoots out. It's being chased by a small pink blur of a dragon.
"Meat!" And before I can even react, both of the young dragons -and Sprocket- are part of the fight.
Again, I decide to stay out of the skirmish. Instead, I opt to study their fighting styles. Nox is quick, to be sure, but he exchanges blow for blow, slash for slash. In a real battle, that could easily kill him. Quattor fights like a true mirror, but his blows are still sloppy.
"Hey dummy! Over here!"
My head snaps up, along with everyone else's. The pink dragon -a nocturne- is holding a capsule of liquid. As the emperor freezes, he hurls the bottle. It shatters upon impact, spilling a green ooze across its wings. The emperor staggers and drops down. Then the nocturne glides down and ends its life.
"Weakness potion!" the nocturne smirks. "Gets them every time!"
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