At Rhys' nudge Seryn quickly jumped into the air, hurrying to keep pace with the others. She'd seen how testy he could be, and she definitely didn't want any of that animosity directed at her.
When Audra bumped into Idris he hardly felt it--in fact he probably wouldn't have realized if not for her sudden apology.
"Hey, relax," he replied, doing his best to sound kindly. Is she about to cry? Did my gembond hurt her? He'd had that happen before, dragons getting bruised by the gems crusting his scales and wings... Imagine running into a brick wall, then imagine running into a brick wall with random rocks peppering the surface. Double ouch.
"It's fine," he insisted. The last thing he wanted to do, despite his air of carelessness, was make anyone actually cry. Especially not this sparkly new dragoness; he wanted to make sure he left a very macho impression on everyone he met. "We all knock into each other once in a while, nothing to worry about!"
They flew for an hour or so then stopped to take a rest, then started flying again; they rested once more, then flew the last stretch of their journey. By then the sun was setting, sinking behind a large, curved peak called Dragoncrest by those inhabiting it.
The mountain was huge, its top curved towards the Observatory far in the distance. The inside was made up of five layers; the very top was a single, large den, home to a dragon named Mainyr. The second layer was three large caves, all connected and used to house the hatchlings and nesting mothers. The third layer consisted of one large cave in the westward side of the mountain, with a large, terraced open for the coming and going of the clan. That particular entrance was called the Threshold; connected to the Threshold was a maze of tunnels and caves, all housing the various members of the clan. Below the Threshold were the workspaces of the tinkerers, engineers, inventors, scientists, and creators of the clan. Below that was the Hoard, where every dragons' individual treasure and hoardings--as well as the community funds--were kept. The entire mountain was dotted with open-air walkways, terraces, and balconies, carved into the cliffsides by skilled dragons. Down below, at the base of the mountain, the Eastward slopes and the surrounding land was covered in thick forests; the Westward slopes reached down to the ocean, a wide swath of sandy beach readily available to any who enjoyed the water and sun. Between ocean and forest was a cleared-out patch of land, home to the gardens of Ludyca, the clan's matron, who grew everything from vegetables to medicinal herbs to vibrant, abundant flowers.
Idris led the group around the mountain to the large, carved opening denoting the Threshold. Many other dragons were milling about there, some flying past them on their way in and calling out greetings.
Landing inside, the Imperials were greeted by two Guardian dragons; one male and charcoal black, sporting a suit of armor, and the other a female of muted reds, wearing pearly jewelry and colored silks.
"Ah, you're back," rumbled the male, lifting his head and scanning the group with wise, lavender eyes. His gaze rested on Audra, and he asked curiously, "Who's this? I don't recall putting any new dragons on the list of supplies."
Idris grinned, shedding his burdens and explaining, "We brought a guest, Drur--she's traveling from her clan and wanted to see what we had to offer. Audra, come introduce yourself."
Drur bowed his head to the sparkly Imperial female, rumbling, "Greetings, young one. I am Drur, leader of Dragoncrest, and this is my mate, Ludyca."
He nodded to the red Guardian, who smiled warmly at Audra and bobbed her head in greeting.
When Audra bumped into Idris he hardly felt it--in fact he probably wouldn't have realized if not for her sudden apology.
"Hey, relax," he replied, doing his best to sound kindly. Is she about to cry? Did my gembond hurt her? He'd had that happen before, dragons getting bruised by the gems crusting his scales and wings... Imagine running into a brick wall, then imagine running into a brick wall with random rocks peppering the surface. Double ouch.
"It's fine," he insisted. The last thing he wanted to do, despite his air of carelessness, was make anyone actually cry. Especially not this sparkly new dragoness; he wanted to make sure he left a very macho impression on everyone he met. "We all knock into each other once in a while, nothing to worry about!"
They flew for an hour or so then stopped to take a rest, then started flying again; they rested once more, then flew the last stretch of their journey. By then the sun was setting, sinking behind a large, curved peak called Dragoncrest by those inhabiting it.
The mountain was huge, its top curved towards the Observatory far in the distance. The inside was made up of five layers; the very top was a single, large den, home to a dragon named Mainyr. The second layer was three large caves, all connected and used to house the hatchlings and nesting mothers. The third layer consisted of one large cave in the westward side of the mountain, with a large, terraced open for the coming and going of the clan. That particular entrance was called the Threshold; connected to the Threshold was a maze of tunnels and caves, all housing the various members of the clan. Below the Threshold were the workspaces of the tinkerers, engineers, inventors, scientists, and creators of the clan. Below that was the Hoard, where every dragons' individual treasure and hoardings--as well as the community funds--were kept. The entire mountain was dotted with open-air walkways, terraces, and balconies, carved into the cliffsides by skilled dragons. Down below, at the base of the mountain, the Eastward slopes and the surrounding land was covered in thick forests; the Westward slopes reached down to the ocean, a wide swath of sandy beach readily available to any who enjoyed the water and sun. Between ocean and forest was a cleared-out patch of land, home to the gardens of Ludyca, the clan's matron, who grew everything from vegetables to medicinal herbs to vibrant, abundant flowers.
Idris led the group around the mountain to the large, carved opening denoting the Threshold. Many other dragons were milling about there, some flying past them on their way in and calling out greetings.
Landing inside, the Imperials were greeted by two Guardian dragons; one male and charcoal black, sporting a suit of armor, and the other a female of muted reds, wearing pearly jewelry and colored silks.
"Ah, you're back," rumbled the male, lifting his head and scanning the group with wise, lavender eyes. His gaze rested on Audra, and he asked curiously, "Who's this? I don't recall putting any new dragons on the list of supplies."
Idris grinned, shedding his burdens and explaining, "We brought a guest, Drur--she's traveling from her clan and wanted to see what we had to offer. Audra, come introduce yourself."
Drur bowed his head to the sparkly Imperial female, rumbling, "Greetings, young one. I am Drur, leader of Dragoncrest, and this is my mate, Ludyca."
He nodded to the red Guardian, who smiled warmly at Audra and bobbed her head in greeting.
