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CHAPTER 2
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The next morning, the dragons were slow to wake, content with staying comfortable upon their bedrolls after the long journey the day before.
However, they were here on a mission.
"
Goooood morning," Essence hummed in a sing-song, prodding the enormous Guardians until they stirred with grumbles of disdain. "Be lucky you slept this late. The sun is nearing its zenith, and we have much to do."
Scouting the nearby area was a priority, and revealed no lairs of dragon nor beast. It seemed the band of raptorik that attacked them last night were travelers or hunters, rather than residents of a stumbled-upon den. Tall grasses rolled along the peaceful hills, dotted only with a few acacia trees and bamboo clusters. Foraging and building materials would require travel, for here they were to stay.
The main attraction of this place was the ruins they had camped outside of. Now that the sun was high, the stone pillars and mossy steps were no longer obscured in shadow and moonlight.
Ruins they were. Essence had long heard tales of this place in the region to his homeclan's north. Built in the middle of the sprawling plateau, this place held a magic that brought the entire region together and connected its denizens. It allowed one to travel leagues in moments, and made the entirety of Sornieth all the more accessible to tradedragons that frequented the plateau and neighboring regions.
Now, it lay in pieces, the trade city that once sprawled around it in ancient times reduced to the occasional column base and half-wall sticking out of the grasses. The monument itself stood in the center, taller than anything for miles, as it had been built to last. Steps constructed in all four cardinal directions led up to a large platform, on which nothing currently stood. Facing southward between the steps was a large entryway, from which hung vines and flowers. Scattered atop and around the structure, among the crumbled foundation, were massive stone pieces carved into curves, seemingly meant to fit together into rings or circles. The place was worn by the once-wild winds, patches of moss and weeds sprouting all over.
The Aergate, as it had been called by its creators, hadn't been touched in millennia. Yet it stood patiently before them... as if it knew it was the reason they were here.
Essence stared up at the ruins with awe. Despite its unkempt appearance, it was still impressive, and almost sacred.
"Now that we know we're safe here... Why don't we take a look inside?" Daenara encouraged with a grin from where she sat next to Essence, looking down at him bemusedly.
"Yes... yes, I think we should." He turned to look up at her, headfeathers perked and eyes twinkling with excitement.
Before the Coatl could bound forth, a large paw held against his chest. He looked quizzically up at Prized, who stood on his opposite side, peering down at him like a parent would an impatient hatchling.
"...I'll go first. Who knows what we will find inside." Stoically, Prized stepped forth, putting himself in the lead.
Essence felt the push of Daenara's snout against his back. "I'll take the rear," she insisted, and he could hear the smile in her voice. "You're smaller than the both of us, which means you're more vulnerable." At this, he somewhat bristled and huffed, but followed Prized. No need to keep them from their task over some indignation.
Daenara laughed softly and lowered her head near his once more. "Don't take it personally. We're here to keep you safe, remember?"
Essence hummed flatly and crossed their arms, prompting another chuckle from the big gal.
The cool shadows of the mild day befell their scales and feathers as they stepped inside the monument's entrance. The inside was remarkably clean after hundreds of years of disrepair. Stone corridors led in multiple directions, large windows letting in plenty of natural light. Tiny butterflies fluttered among the dust motes in the sunbeams.
The ground floor seemed to function for traveling through each side of the monument, rather than having to climb over the stairs or walk around the building to do so. The large, intersecting hallways led to three more entryways like the one they just come through. There was a spiral staircase in the center with enough legroom around it for traffic - it led up and down, both paths shrouded in a darkness which would've been banished by the torchlights along the walls in ancient times... now, they'd been left unlit for a long while. Still, the light of the sun pervaded the halls, once the eyes adjusted. It was still, and peaceful, with nothing destroyed or out of place besides what had been damaged by the weather.
They decided to check upstairs first. The shadows quickly gave way to more natural light, which filtered in through a grate in the ceiling, through which could be seen the sky. The group was just below the platform atop the building. The grate seemed able to be walked on by any dragons that would have traveled to the once-working Aergate. A short corridor of stairs housed a sealed door leading outside. Along the northward wall of the room was what seemed to be an ancient control panel. A large, flat table stood in the center, and on the southward wall were shelves of books and scrolls. It was messy, and ruined cloth scraps littered the floor.
Essence stepped up to the control panel as the two Guardians explored. The runestones were devoid of magic and the scriptures dull, but they seemed more *empty* than they did dead. Like they were flasks waiting to be filled...
The way they were arranged was interesting. It was similar to an abacus, although the runestones weren't perfectly spherical or even smooth. Some fiddling proved that they could be rotated but not moved side-to-side, and secured in position with a lever to form different combinations of runes. Some more table space to the sides held large, flat runestones and small, button-like ones secured in divots. Some were chipped or scraped, and a few seemed to be missing - and some slots seemed more for navigation instruments like compasses.
The wall the controls rested against was partially covered in vines, but it was obvious that it was no ordinary wall... clambering atop the panels, Essence attempted to claw aside the vines to reveal what was beneath. After a few huffs of effort, Daenara joined him, much more easily tearing down the ivy with her large paws.
What was underneath was an arc of stone jutting out from the groundwork, inlaid with more runes and even some compartments - once full of map scrolls, now stuffed with spiderwebs and moss. One runestone in particular was missing: the large keystone at the very top and center of the arch.
"That... seems like it would be important." Essence sighed in frustration. None of the runes yet seen were elemental runes - rare and powerful symbols that captured and channeled a source of magical energy to other runes in the vicinity that were attuned to it. Before the inventions of wires and steam power, contraptions such as this large control panel were powered by magic in the form of these elemental runestones. But the one used for the Aergate... was missing.
Prized began searching the floor, drawers and shelves while Daenara winced and swayed her tail. "Stolen, to sell or trade?" she suggested.
"Perhaps," Essence agreed with a nod. "Or... maybe it was taken and hidden. For safekeeping." They mused, letting their gaze travel across the contents of the room. The Coatl leapt gently onto the stone table, walking across it to hop down in front of the shelves. Standing, they began perusing its contents.
Nothing much stood out, but a few leatherbound books and encased scrolls were still intact. Gathering these up in his arms, Essence dumped them carefully onto the table, Daenara peering curiously over his shoulder as he dusted them off.
Prized turned to the two, having searched his fill. "Nothing."
Essence nodded. "I thought not. This place seems cleared out." He cracked open a few of the books and began to thumb through the pages, Daenara looking through the larger ones. The scripts were faded, smudged or stained, and each page smelled heavily of dust and mothballs. However, they seemed promising...
Before they could begin their research, somewhere within the Aergate came a muffled sound.
Prized was immediately on alert, large head swiveling and teal eyes nearly boring a hole into the entryway. Daenara too, tensed and shifted, while Essence's headfeathers strained upward and he grew still. Whatever it was didn't seem to be barreling its way through, so maybe it was just an animal..?
"I'll go take a look," Prized mumbled, stepping forward, and Daenara nodded, situating herself squarely beside Essence as their companion slinked down the stairwell, quieter than one may expect of such a large fellow. The two waited, worry beginning to creep into Essence's chest after a few minutes of complete silence.
Suddenly, there was a yell and some scuffling. Glancing at each other, Daenara bumbled hurriedly down the stairs with Essence close behind. She stopped halfway, and the much smaller Coatl climbed up her back to get a better view of the commotion.
Prized was standing menacingly, a low growl sitting deep in his chest. A small Mirror was crouched at the mouth of the stairwell leading underground, a loud hiss accompanying her snarl as her earfins and wings flared out.
Essence quickly wiggled his way over Daenara's wing to drop down to the floor with a flutter — the Mirror's attention snapped to him and she hissed even louder, prompting Prized to snap his jaw and Daenara to step forward protectively.
The Coatl held his hands out, a gesture mostly directed at his two Guardians. "We are not here for a fight..!" They projected their voice over the warning vocals, glancing between everyone. "Please, cease."
The Mirror's hissing dropped to a quiet, cautious one in the back of her throat, and her wings relaxed ever so slightly. Essence noted to himself that he was certainly the negotiator of the group. They cleared their throat, lowering their claws and talking to the Mirror.
"I apologize for the intrusion… we were not aware of any residents." He eyed Prized, a cue to back off. "We are not here for trouble."
Prized cut the growl in his throat with a snort and squinted at the stranger. "We are to inhabit this place. Leave."
"
Prized..!" Daenara exclaimed in disbelief, frowning deeply at her comrade. Essence flicked his tongue worriedly as Daenara descended the rest of the stairs, keeping her pace calm and steps light. "I'm sorry about him," she spoke to the Mirror, voice softer than Essence had yet heard. "He's
real uptight—"
"This is not your place to keep.
You are the ones who should fly the coop." The Mirror rasped, glaring at Prized.
"I understand if you've lived here," Essence interjected softly, stepping in front of Prized in an effort to de-escalate. "I reiterate, we are not here for trouble. We are researchers."
The Mirror blinked at him, shifting slightly. "... Why are you here?"
"We aim to rebuild the Aergate." Daenara announced, wings filling with pride.
Essence nodded. "It's true. We are here to help the plateau."
The Mirror looked between the two, flexing her claws. Her neck curled contemplatively. "... The Aergate, huh.."
A squeak sounded behind her, and she rounded with a hiss, pushing away something behind her. "I said to stay hidden! What part of
'hide until I find you' do you not understand—?"
A number of hatchlings peeked curiously from her hindclaws at the newcomers, with one small crimson Imperial managing to squirm its way to the front to peer up at Essence - who merely tilted his head quizzically, tension suddenly vanishing into thin air.
"Oh! Oh, you've got hatchlings—" Daenara chuckled with a bashful grin. "No wonder you were so up in arms."
"They're—" the Mirror huffed in effort, trying to gather up the unruly babies. "They're not
mine, I just—they were abandoned, so…"
Another overtly adventurous hatchling fluttered forward, a small white and pink Spiral. It skittered up to Essence's hindclaws and began attempting to climb up him. The Mirror hissed protectively, but it stuttered when Essence giggled melodically, allowing the hatchling to do as it pleased.
"I promise you that we will bring no harm to the hatchlings. Or you." With the baby Spiral perched happily upon their shoulder, Essence stepped forward and held out a claw. "Truce?"
The Mirror eyed the offered hand with a bit of a grimace as a hatchling flopped onto her head. Then she sighed, giving up the tough act and reaching out a claw to shake. "Fine. Truce."
Behind the group, Prized stood quietly and unseen, a deep scowl on his face and a stony look in his eyes.
The Mirror— Sera, she'd introduced herself as— had been living in the bowels of the Aergate with the hatchlings, and reassured that there were no other residents. It took little convincing on Essence's part for Sera to take the invitation to join their group. It was easy to see that she'd been run ragged attempting to care for the hatchlings on her lonesome, and was relieved at the prospect of help.
There were two sets of twins, one pair of Spirals and another of Imperials, none of which were Sera's own children. She claimed she couldn't leave the abandoned clutches to fend for themselves and had taken them in about a month prior, settling here as she herself was clanless.
Essence resumed researching the scrolls they'd found with earnest, eventually reporting back that no record of where the wind runestone had gone were among the dusty contents of the office. There was one lead, however, being that those who managed the Aergate routinely traded with clans in the Earth flight for construction materials. Another note stated that the underground vault had been emptied upon decommission.
The vault was one of a few rooms on the underground floor - the rest of the space seemed to have originally been used for storage. The entire floor was indeed empty, save for a few discarded barrels and chests, and plenty of cobwebs. Of course, one room was currently a living space for Sera and her adopted hatchlings. It was far from glamorous, but it was cozy and warm thanks to the blankets, curtains and cloaks that Sera had hand-sewn. Essence commented that she had the potential to be a good tailor, to which she seemed to preen.
Daenara herself was delighted to be in the company of hatchlings. She'd always wanted some herself, and quickly struck up the beginnings of a friendship with Sera. The Mirror herself wasn't so keen on motherhood despite her protective nature, and joked she was glad that someone else had the tolerance to let four unruly tykes climb all over them and tug at their ears.
Prized, unfortunately, was not so thrilled about their newest compatriot. He'd quickly dismissed himself after the initial confrontation with a mutter about patrolling the area, and was not seen again until late evening.
"Beastclans usually steer clear of this area," Sera said through the mouthful of food she'd torn off a cooking skewer. "Seems they don't see nothin' of value here.
"Mm- that is good news," Essence nodded, chewing thoughtfully. "I wish to avoid any more attacks."
"
That was annoying!" Daenara agreed. The four hatchlings were resting under her wings against her side, warm and tired after an earlier play session. "I'm sure you heard the commotion?"
"Last night, yeah. Tough luck, that's the first I've seen of raptorik so close to the uh, the Aergate." Sera finished off the seasoned meat skewer, licking her jowls. It was probably the most filling meal she'd had in a while, since she hardly left the hatchlings alone or unfed.
Suddenly, she startled, eyes focusing on something past the two. "Cripes! D-didn't hear you coming."
Essence and Daenara looked over their shoulders - at the edge of the firelight stood the imposing shadowed form of Prized. He said nothing, walking slowly around to sit next to Daenara.
"Um… we saved you a helping." Essence offered, gesturing to some leftover food skewers in the pot. Prized nodded, starting to cook his dinner over the fire.
Sera looked between the three, obviously awkward and uncomfortable. Essence shot her an apologetic grimace. Daenara wacked Prized's side lightly. "Didya see anything while on patrol?"
Prized contemplated for a moment, not looking away from his task. "Hm. I found an area that would work well for a proper camp. We should set one up, if we are to remain here long."
The tension cleared some. "Yes, yes," Essence nodded. "That would be good. We can't all live within the Aergate."
"I think it'll take a while to get this thing up and running again, so… yeah." Daenara conceded. "It's much more run-down than I'd hoped."
"I agree. Especially since we now need to locate a wind runestone to power it." Essence pulled a scroll from his pack, reading over it in the firelight. "There are few regions mentioned in these trade logs besides Dragonhome. I wonder if we may have to travel there…"
Conversation resumed easily, their bellies full and the fire warm. They discussed plans to move forward with their mission, and perhaps journey or send a scout to Dragonhome to find the clan responsible for storing the Aergate's runestone, or perhaps even excavate a new one. All the while, Prized imperceptibly eyed their newest companion, and the four hatchlings sleeping under Daenara's wing.
Plants: 5-10 coli battles
Insects: 10-20 coli battles
Seafood: 20-30 coli battles
Meat: 30-40 coli battles
= optional dailies available
= influence on events/jobs/rolls
