[Gift] Trial 1: Unfair Weather
Flamekeeper’s long antennae twitched, her head perking up at the distant but distinct feeling of change. Something in the air — a sudden drop in pressure as the wind picked up, rustled through the tall grass that sprawled in every direction in great rolling plains. Overhead, the white clouds began to billow and build, growing dark with rain. “Something’s coming,” Flamekeeper said, unable to keep the anticipation out of her voice, the undeniable thrill.
Igni’s flames crackled and popped, fighting against the sudden bluster of a building storm. He stretched his feathery wings, scales puffing, and his crest rose as he considered the imminent weather.
Two dragons rode on the edge of the approaching storm, feathered and leather wings extended as they danced on the gale. Flamekeeper’s long claws dug into the dirt, her teeth bared in delight.
Igni shook himself, stretching his many limbs as he prepared to meet with the dragon coming for him. If he fanned his wings and his tail, showing off his bright plumage and the fire that frolicked on the ends of his feathers — well, then. He could hardly be blamed, could he? There was a host of lovely ladies on hand, and he was, himself, a fine specimen. “Try not to—” he started, hoping that Flamekeeper could be reminded to be a little less intense, but with a great flap of her wings and a kick of dirt, she took to the sky, leaving him behind.
Beleaguered but resigned, Igni sighed, and returned his attention to Apeliotes as she landed near him. She shook her head, mane and feathers whisking on the wind as it wove through the grass the came up to her knees. She eyed his blatant display, neither overly impressed or terribly disapproving. “Fly with me,” she said, raising a wing to glance behind her for a moment more before she started to trot. It didn’t sound like a request.
Igni hopped after her, one set of limbs, two, three, then jumped into the air, meeting her as Apeliotes spread her own wings, the wind gathering beneath her and pulling her into the sky.
Flamekeeper, however, barreled at full tilt through the air, her tails twisting behind her, a victory banner flying before the fight had even begun.
And it would be a fight. She knew that right away, had felt it the moment the pressure changed and the other Storm dragon came to meet her. There was no need for words, no need to explain. This was what they were meant for. She saw a flash of Keshet’s sharp teeth, excitement matching her own as they collided briefly in the air, hooves and wings and claws before they broke apart, lightning splintering through the clouds and thunder rolling through her bones.
Keshet grinned and began to rise, piercing into the dark clouds where fledgling sparks began to dance and the chill of rain prickled under her scales. Flamekeeper was not far behind, her fires blazing all the brighter in adversity, practically advertising her location to her opponent.
Below, Apeliotes soared, completely unruffled by the building tension. Igni stayed close and easily — but impatience started to gnaw at him. He gave into the urge to flit close, to tug at a wayward feather with his beak.
Apeliotes didn’t quite yank herself free, but there was a gleam in her bright eyes, a question, and she wheeled suddenly away from him, catching a warm updraft that propelled her closer to the storm.
Igni chirped pleasantly, rising easily after her, “Oh, she who gives the winds, leave me not stranded and alone without you.”
She called over her shoulder, in infectious good humor, “Fly, little sparrow, and sing your song to kinder ears.”
His flames burned brighter. “To none but yours,” he called back sweetly, nipping at the feathers of her tail as he flew in range. It twitched and hit him in the face, but Igni fell away for only a moment before encroaching on her again. “I will be songless and silent to all others.”
Apeliotes laughed kindly, allowing him nearer for a long moment, the tips of their wings grazing together.
Keshet and Flamekeeper plummeted out of the clouds together not far from them though they were far more entwined, a meteor of light and fire falling in a blaze of glory. Keshet dug her teeth into the soft velvet of Flamekeeper’s scales, unable to puncture anything deeper, when one of Flamekeeper’s antennae jerked forward, hot flame scalding the side of her face. Keshet howled with the storm, hurt and delighted, and Flamekeeper turned her body in midair, twisting to bring her sharp spines between them as Keshet lunged again. She felt the sharp scrape of collision all the way through her bones, and Flamekeeper crowed in victory when she saw the lines of blood across Keshet’s face. “Come again!” she challenged, flexing her clawed feet, wondering if she could get her spike-covered knees into Keshet next.
“Brutes,” Igni said, though he couldn’t resist a nip at one of the plumes coming from Apeliotes’ crest.
“Pests,” Apeliotes said in a way that might include him, and he nipped at her again, then swung close, wrapping a foot tentatively around one slender foreleg. She didn’t kick him off immediately, which he considered a win. Apeliotes did lean down and nip back at him, beak skimming through the flames, nuzzling into his crest before plucking a single loose feather.
Wordcount: 907
Companion Link(s): Keshet, Apeliotes
Trial One Prompt & Terrain: 4: Show your dragon impressing another. This may be through battle, contest, general action, or some charismatic flirting. | Wind, Storm
Trial Two Prompt & Terrain: N/A
Trial Three Prompt & Terrain: N/A
Search Tools: N/A
Buffs(s): N/A
Submitted By zaxarie
Submitted: 1 year ago ・
Last Updated: 1 year ago