The Dragon Rider's Chronicles

His head tilted up as he took in the beautiful sight of Ardra's waking form. "Yes, I suppose it is," he replied with a warm smile. "Hungry?" this was more a greeting than a question as he continued tending to the food, which was just about cooked. He had shaped two slabs of stone into rough disks, made completely smooth by way of wind erosion. "I apologize for the utter lack of elegancy," he said as he loaded each 'plate' with a rabbit, berries, and nuts, "but I think this all should taste decently and it will most assuredly provide energy to begin the day." He walked over and sat beside Ardra, handing her a plate and setting his sugegasa to the side, seeing as he was now in the shade.


He did not begin eating, as he was watching Ardra expectantly to see if the cooking he'd survived on for years was acceptable. He had been pleasantly surprised with the availability of herbs and spices throughout the forest, which he'd used to season the rabbit as best he could, but he was still nervous. She was a princess, and they weren't exactly eating off of silver platters and drinking fine wine from golden chalices.
 
I . . . would rather bring him there. I was afraid to move him by myself


The psychic dragon seemed to have calmed down to some degree now that Sanz was back in his sights, though the worry was still evident. The young elf's left arm was definitely broken, but he seemed to have avoided any other significant damage. He was bruised all over, but it mostly appeared that his body was exhausted beyond the point of sanity. He seemed to growl at Neera's touch, but did not regain consciousness.
 
"We're not moving him." Neera sighed. "Not till Iris has fully accessed the damage. For all I know, there's internal bleeding. Please, go get her already." She started feeling the broken arm, trying to ascertain how bad the break was. "For his sake, trust me. Go get her." When Sanz seemed to barely acknowledge her presence, her eyes narrowed. "Come on, Sanz. Wake up." Neera was more worried about him regaining consciousness than anything.


----


"Guess I need some energy after...." Ardra smirked at him after a wink. "Trust me, I could care less how elegant it is. Food is food and I'm hungry enough to eat just about anything that you throw in front of me." She walked over to put her arms around him, hugging him close. "Thank you for getting me food." After laying a kiss on his cheek, she sat down and started chowing down. Ardra did not have the grace of a princess at the moment as she inhaled the food in front of her.
 
Kenzo joined Ardra in eating breakfast, his dining style much different than hers was at the moment. Kenzo always ate with an odd sense of restraint. He kept his back straight, chewed slowly, took small bites, yet did not dawdle. He ate efficiently yet respectfully. After half-clearing his plate he glanced at Ardra, who was devouring her morsels with ferocity that would have put the old Neera to shame. He choked a bit on a berry as he watched, trying not to laugh at that comparison and struggling to keep an amused grin off his face.
 
(Imma take some liberties here. Let me know if I need to change)


Auntyrmarun looked from Neera to Sanz, then back to Neera only briefly before shooting off into the sky. Sanz groaned again beneath Neera, his eyelids fluttering.


--------------------------------


The knight stood in silver armor, with a gleaming sword across his back. He was kneeling in front of an absolutely gorgeous woman. She was sitting atop a magnificent dragon, its features blurred by its radiance. The scene descended into battles and struggle. The knight and the woman standing side-by-side throughout every encounter. And then--


The knight ran towards the woman, her dragon already lay bloodied by the armies that surrounded them. He was too late . . . as he ran, a sword as wide as his torso pierced through his left side . . .


------------------------------


"RAAAAAAAAUUGH!!!"


Sanz bolted upright, his right hand instantly going to his left breast. The scar that ran across his collarbone and down both sides of his body felt like it was on fire, as if the wound had re-visited him. He didn't even seem to register the fact that his left arm was broken as his eyes glanced around the area, wide with panic. What the hell was that? He'd never had a dream like that before . . .


"My sword--where is my sword?!"
 
"Sanz!" Neera quickly made sure that he wasn't moving his left arm. "Your left arm is broken. Do yourself a favor and don't move it." His shout had startled her but she still had the presence of mind to make sure that he wasn't going to hurt himself further. "Please, don't move any part of you." Neera pushed her hair back out of her face where it kept falling down in her way, intelligent eyes staring down at him with worry. "Auntyrmarun is getting Iris."


For just a moment, Sanz saw the woman's face from his dream in the place of Neera's face. In fact, the woman had kinda resembled Neera, except a bit older. And when this fact was noticed, the scar began to burn like fire.


----


Ardra finished quickly and felt slightly ashamed at her lack of conduct. Here she was, a princess, and a "peasant" was outdoing her in the manners department. She rose, gathering her things and returning her attire to its normal appearance. As she sat back down to re-braid her hair, she had to smile at the fact that she was so lucky.
 
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As Ardra prepared herself Kenzo busied himself with the tidying up of the camp. The twin plates of stone he stabbed into the ground, where they sunk beneath the soil to return beneath the earth's crust. With a rush of wind, the fire was extinguished, and any trace of it was erased. All that remained was the stone structure they used as shelter, which he would only return to the earth when they were about to leave.


Speaking of leaving, he was irritated to admit that he still had no idea how to get back to the others by the beach. He'd hoped a new day would refresh his mind and allow him to backtrack, but he could not cohesively trace his path in his mind. Hopefully Ardra knew the way. Worst case scenario, he could just message Bane.


He adjusted his sugegasa as he stood just at the entrance of the stone canopy, watching Ardra intently. "I'm glad that my meager cuisine was satisfactory. At least, you appeared to enjoy it," he teased in a deadpan tone, the corner of his mouth threatening to give away his amusement as he fought its desire to form a smile.
 
Matthais sat up and yawned. The sun had just peaked over the horizon. Morning Sikstaxen, he thought.


Good morning, Sikstaxen thought as she looked over to him. You have been marked in the night young one. Matthais raised an eyebrow and she pointed to his forehead. He groggily stood and walked to a small tidal pool and looked into it's shimmering waters. His eyes widened as he saw the mark of the sun on his face. He splashed water onto his forehead and scrubbed at it. Sikstaxen chuckled as she lay in the warming sand watching him.


What is it? he thought.


That is not for me to say. Ask the seer.


The lack of clarity isn't super helpful, golden one. At that Sikstaxen shrugged and went back to drawing in the sand with a foreclaw.


Matthais walked over to where Iris was sleeping as Auntyrmarun came over the trees.
 
Sanz let out another exasperated grunt through his teeth as his hand clenched down on the skin over his left breast. He could still feel the sword stabbing through his chest. He could still see the woman's face . . . no wait--that was Neera. What was Neera doing here? The last he remembered--there was another grunt as he doubled over in pain. His words were softer than before, no longer the usual anger or neutral tone that they took . . . but instead something meeker


"My sword . . . I need my sword . . ."


------------------


Auntyrmarun crashed into the beach once more, this time nearby where Iris was, as well s Matthias. His mind started shouting over the whole beach in his effort to reach the young woman.


Moon child!


Moon child!
 
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Neera raised an eyebrow at the man, then reached over to place Sanz's giant sword back into his hands. "Okay? Here it is?" Her eyes glared up at the sky. Where was Auntyrmarun with Iris? How long could it take for a dragon to wing its way back to the beach to find one person? Seriously?


----


Iris felt a shadow cross her face and sleepily opened her eyes. "....mrph.....Matthais? Why are you blocking the warm sun? It kinda feels good...." She closed her eyes again and snuggled her dragon's nose. Verspab didn't even wake up to acknowledge the human; he just swept his tail around and knocked Matthais' feet out from under him.


----


Ardra smiled up at him. "Food is food when you're hungry." She stood up, dusting off her pants quickly as she did. Slipping on her cloak and her face mask, she turned to him. "Shall we call the dragons to come pick us up? Or shall we get lost in the forest again?"
 
Sanz gripped the hilt with his good hand and dragged the flat of the blade across his lap. The effect on his demeanor was almost instantaneous. His breathing slowed.


The pain slowly began to fade.


Sanz felt the leather wrapped around the hilt, weathered by years of use.


His gaze went directly to the naked blade, a very faint reflection of his face within.


He pushed the terror of the night to the back of his mind. Whatever that had been, he had no explanation for it.


------------------------


MOON CHILD!


Auntyrmarun practically bounded over the sands to where Iris was, absolutely no subtlety in his movements
 
Kenzo considered to himself for a moment, a tiny bit sad that Ardra had to cover her face in order to protect herself from the sun. "Well, I figure with both of us working together we should be able to find our way back." He stomped his foot on the ground and the stone shelter sunk beneath the earth, leaving no evidence that they had ever been here. "And getting lost with you isn't the worst thing I can think of..." he muttered just loud enough for her to hear as he started off into the forest, surprisingly in the correct direction.
 
Matthais winced at the psychic dragon's mental screams while laying on his back on the ground. "Iris, I think there's a problem!" He scrambled away as Auntymarun dug groves in the beach as he screeched to a halt just shy of the sleeping Iris.


Sikstaxen we need to be airborne, now! He rolled onto his belly pushed himself up and went into a full tilt run at a sloping rock, ran up it's side and jumped out over the water... landing on his dragons back as they pulled up into the air. Auntymarun came from over the trees. We need to head that way. He started putting away his worries into the back of his mind as they flew. His eyes closed he put himself into mild controlled rage so he could draw on his power should he need it.
 
Neera shook her head and sat back, not really sure what to make of what had just happened. ".....maybe you need to stop hitting rocks?" A half-smile covered her face and her tone was half-joking. It faded as she re-called the events of the night before. A wall visibly erected itself behind her eyes as she looked away.


----


Iris groggily woke her dragon up and the two slowly began to gain consciousness. "Auntyrmarun, use a morning voice please. You're gonna give me a headache at this rate."


----


Ardra followed after Kenzo, a smile still on her face. She caught up to him and started to decide whether to be mischievous or not. They needed to get back but would a little diversion hurt? He seemed so intent on what he was doing. Would he notice if she chose the path of mischief? Throwing caution to the wind, Ardra's feet quickened and she tackled Kenzo from behind.
 
Sanz finally turned his head to look at Neera. Something seemed to register in his eyes, as if he was truly noticing her presence for the first time.


"I--"


He stopped momentarily when he found how cracked and harsh his voice was. He had been shouting all night with hardly a break, and he was just now starting to feel the repercussions. As if on cue, he felt what seemed like a hundred needles piercing his left arm, causing him to wince.


"I need . . . to break my limits . . ."


He drew his breath through clenched teeth, instinctively tightening his grip on the hilt


-------------------


Sanz is broken! He needs help!


The panicking dragon made no indication that he had heard Iris' statement, as his communication did not drop in decibel much.
 
Kenzo was so focused on trying to get back to camp, he didn't feel the wind change as Ardra rushed him. "Ahh-" he gasped as he was tackled from behind, but his training won over. In an instant his body reacted automatically; he used Ardra's momentum to flip her over his shoulder and into the air, but as she was sent airborne he realized who he'd just tossed. "Woah!" he exclaimed as he hastily slid onto his knees, catching Ardra before she landed on the ground. "Dragons above, Ardra!" he said with a sigh of relief as he managed to avoid hurting her, "Sorry about that. I reacted without thinking. I don't recommend trying that again. At least, not so obviously," he added with a hint of a grin on his face. "Work on your stealth, my princess. Then maybe you'll succeed next time." He didn't seem to have noticed that he was still on one knee and holding her bridal-style in his arms.
 
As he flew over the island he saw Neera and Sanz in the woods near a rock slide. Probably something the fool had done himself. He unpacked himself and let go of his anger as Sikstaxen circled down to the beach. "Looks like a rock fell on his head Iris. Come on I'll show you," he called to Iris as Sikstaxen slowly glided back over the trees towards Sanz.


She landed in a small clearing near where Sanz lay and scratched Sikstaxen under the eye waiting for Iris and her dragon to land.
 
"Well breaking your limits obviously isn't helping...." Neera raised an eyebrow at Sanz. "It landed you here and it got you hurt. There's got to be a better way of 'breaking your limits' then splitting rocks and yelling like a banshee."


----


Iris sighed and climbed aboard her dragon, nodding in response to Matthais and glowering at Auntyrmarun. "Up, Verspab." Verspab rose into the air and stretched his wings sleepily. "Okay, lead the way guys." She stared at them both expectantly since she had no idea where they were going and was still half asleep.


----


"It paid off..." Ardra grinned up. "Landed me right here, comfortable, in your arms, didn't it?" A mischievous smirk covered her face. "How do you know that wasn't my plan all along?"
 
Sanz let out a breath with effort and stuck the point of his blade into the ground.


"This is all . . . I know."


He let out a grunt of effort and slowly forced himself to his feet. With the slab of metal as a brace, he stood there, panting.


-------------------


Auntyrmarun shot off towards the clearing where Sanz was, 'landing' with another crash. He about had a heart attack when he saw Sanz standing up


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"I-" Kenzo started as he stood up, but stopped to think. "Well...if that truly WAS your plan, it was unnecessary. It would have been much easier, and less dangerous, to just ask."


His eyes turned skyward as he heard the sound of wings. Dragons? Bane, he sent to his mount as he put Ardra on her feet, what is going on? Are the others going somewhere?


Indeed, Bane replied. Apparently Sanz got himself hurt in his recklessness. Bane sighed. I suppose I could come to your rescue now if you rea-


No, we're fine, Kenzo interrupted calmly. Though I would like to maintain this connection. It will make return easier as I can just go towards you.


...Oh, Bane sent, surprised by Kenzo's relaxed tone. She thought he would be freaking out after spending a night alone in the forest with Ardra. She smiled a little to herself; he must have grown a bit. Very well, Kenzo. Did you two have fun? she teased.


Kenzo paused and glanced at Ardra, and he grinned slightly. We did.


Bane giggled, or at least as girly a giggle as a dragon could make. I see. Hurry back, you two.


Kenzo shook his head ruefully at his dragon's teasing tone and started off in the direction of his partner.
 
As Iris landed nearby Matthais pointed to where he had seen Neera and Sanz. "They should be just beyond that ridge." He began walking up the hill, "If he doesn't learn to control his anger he's going to get us all killed," Matthais said under his breath as they continued walking together.


"I've been thinking about this whole thing... and our roles in it," he began absentmindedly rubbing the mark on his forehead, "and I'm pretty sure that there isn't much we can do at this point. I mean we could train and become stronger but we won't be able to beat those dark dragon riders. They outclass us by so much it's ridiculous. If there's something in your prophecy about magic weapons or ancient magic or perhaps some weakness the other guys have soon might be a very good time to tell everyone."
 
As Neera saw the form of Iris' dragon fill the sky, she let out a sigh of relief. The next breath was cut short when she saw Sanz stand up. Without thinking, she was rushing over to him to try to get her shoulder beneath one of his arms in order to support him.


"Ya idiot....standing up probably isn't the best idea right now."


----


Iris sighed. "Of course there is. Those three Dragonborn have been trained for a lot longer, probably from occult practices that were never entirely destroyed. They rely on themselves alone. But the other three Dragonborn each have a protector, someone that makes up for the things that they lack. There is the Dragonborn triad and the triad of Dragon Protectors. Probably would be best to discuss the rest with everyone else though."


----


"What was that grin for?" Ardra's tone was filled with questioning and an eyebrow was raised at him. He hadn't spoken for a few moments, like he was deep in his thoughts.
 
"Nothing," Kenzo unflinchingly lied as he continued on their path. He turned his eyes to the scenery around him so that he didn't have to look at Ardra. His eyes had always shown his true feelings, so if he met her gaze Ardra would definitely know he was lying to her.


Not that it was much of a lie. He had only had a conversation with his dragon, nothing for Ardra to worry herself about. Well, she had been the subject but still. Not any of her business, right?


"Almost there, I think."
 
Sanz grit his teeth when Neera came under his arm.


"I'll be--fine."


He tried to shrug his shoulder that she was under, which almost caused him to lose his balance. His blade dug another inch or two into the ground as his went fell on it.


"It's not--the first time--"


He hissed through his teeth


"I've broken bones."
 
"Fine, that makes sense. We should be able to get everyone back at the beach provided Ardra and Kenzo didn't get themselves lost," Matthais said as they crested the hill and saw Sanz and Neera standing. He called out to them, "Hey stay there we're coming to you!" He doubled his pace and ducked under Sanz's arm supported his other side. "Iris do you need him lying down or will this work?"
 
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