Aetherys
Prologue pt.1
Bracken was flying over the massive pine trees that made up the forest surrounding the village of Llyn. A small town, mainly home to loggers with a small fishing market with the lake at the north side. He had been staying in a nearby cave in the mountains for the past four years. He was planning on moving on in the next month or so to the east because the people here had begun to sniff around near his living space, looking for him. It wasn't a big deal though. The humans wouldn't be able to get up to the cave without climbing the mountain. Bracken had just left, preferring to hunt at night to avoid being seen when he heard a couple gun shots ring out. Turning and heading in that direction, he started to hear yelling. Good he thought to himself. Whenever he heard hunters firing of shots, he would swoop in and take whatever they had killed or had been attempting to kill. It made for an easy meal at least and scaring them off wasn't ever a challenge. He neared the source of the sounds and landed nearby. Creeping up on the unsuspecting humans, Bracken watched the scene before him. In a small clearing surrounding the road, he saw a cart pulled by a horse. The front wheel on this side was broken and stuck in a large hole. The people were definitely not hunters. There was a man with a pistol and a large bottle of what reeked like alcohol, and a woman who seemed like she was attempting to calm him down. Without any warning the man spun and struck the woman with the back of his hand, sending her to the ground. Bracken tensed as the man began yelling at her. His words were a slurred mixture of curses and grunts. The man was very intoxicated. Bracken was confused as to what was causing this violence. He had seen the effects of alcohol many times before on his trips to the village. Boisterous, yes like the man but not anger. The people he always saw were singing in the streets, laughing with friends. This man was anything but that.
He hears a knocking coming from the cart. His eyes widen when he sees a little girl, no older than three banging on the window of the door, her yelling and crying muffled by the barrier. The woman got up slowly, clutching her face as blood trickled out of her nose, and rushed to the door to the cart. She opened the door a crack and tried to quiet the girl saying to go back and lay down, telling her everything would be alright. The man, hearing this goes back and slams the door to the cart back shut and pushes the woman to the ground yelling at her to start fixing the wheel. The woman starts pleading with the man, still using a soft voice trying to clam him, saying they don't have the tools, or a spare. The man trows the bottle against the side of the cart, peppering the lady in shattered glass and soaking the door with the drink. The man bends down and grabs a fist full of the woman's hair and begins his raving and yelling again. She puts up her hand to hide her face as the other goes to the mans hand holding the hair, trying to lessen the pain and make him let go. The woman sobs, begging the man to stop, but his hand goes back becoming a fist.
Bracken decides enough is enough and rushes into the clearing, letting out a roar to scare the man back. Startled, he lets go of the woman and grabs a torch off the side of the cart. The man starts yelling at Bracken trying to get him to back off. He shoots a ball of fire into the sky, making the man stumble back and fire his gun at Bracken's shoulder. He rushes the man and knocks him to the ground, pinning him and sending the torch rolling to the cart. The liquid on the door ignites, beginning to burn the cart. Bracken hears the lady yell to stop. He looks up and sees the spreading fire. The man tries to lift his arm to fire another round at Bracken but the dragon pushes his arm back into the dirt. The pistol goes off to the side and he hears the lady gasp in pain and sees her fall to the ground. Bracken growls and grabs the mans shoulder in his mouth, throwing him into some bushes at the edge of the clearing.
The woman yells for help as she crawls to the other side of the blazing cart to open the other door. Bracken rushes over and grabs the door and rips it off it's hinges. He sees the girl lying motionless on the floor through the thick smoke pouring out. He quickly grabs the girl and the woman in both his arms and rushes on his back legs to safety away from the fire. He sets the woman down on the grass and places the little girl beside her. The woman, still crying, looks over her daughter to make sure she's alright. She lets out a sigh of relief and a small smile comes to her face when she sees her breathing. And feeling her heart beat steadily. Bracken, still in a defensive posture around the females, feels a small hand on his back right leg, trying to get his attention. He turns around, worry heavy on his face when he see the amount of blood soaking the woman's shirt, her hand clutching the wound where the bullet pierced her. Bracken knew how fragile humans were, how easy they could die. He knew the woman in front of him would not be leaving the clearing. Bracken purred, giving the woman his full attention.
"I know I'm not walking away from this," the woman gave a small smile to him as she continued, "please, take my daughter away from here."
Bracken looked down to the small child, still unconscious, lying beside her mother. The woman placed a soft hand under his chin, bring his head back up to meet her gaze. "There's an orphanage in the next town over to the west where I grew up. She will be safe there".
Bracken gave a small nod as the woman laid back down and took one last look into her daughters face, placing a hand on her small cheek and brushing the brown hair out of her eyes. The lids over her own closed as the spirit left her body. Bracken stared at the woman for what felt like ages but was only a few seconds. Picking up the woman, he brought her to the cart fire and placed her body in the blaze. Stepping back he blew more fire into what was left of the cart, making it burn higher.
Bracken walked back to the girl lying in the grass. He would have to take her to the village in his human form. He began to transform in a bright flash of blue, standing on his two back legs. Everything defining his appearance in his true dragon form translated to how he looked as a human. His thick black hair falling to his shoulders, and his bright blue eyes the colour of the days sky that gave off a faint glow. He still had long sharp canine teeth but they were hidden behind his lips. His arms and waist had patches of black scales over his pale skin, with a line all down his spine starting at his neck. His legs were almost unchanged except for their size and bone structure. They were still completely covered in black scales including his three-toed feet ending in long claws. The knuckles on his hands had scales as well but they were mainly human, just missing a finger on each. His human form always had black leather armour on, resembling his natural skin as a dragon. He was skinny compared to others as a human, though the muscles covering him still held the same strength as their much larger equivalents when in his true form. Even though he was much older than any other human, his body looked to be around 20 to 25. He was very young compared to other dragons.
Finishing adjusting the straps on his armour, and brushing the hair out of his eyes, he bent down to feel for the girls heartbeat. It was slow but steady and healthy. He picked up the girl in his arms and started the hike to Llyn. It wasn't far, maybe an hours walk.
Bracken knew the area like the back of his hand, so to speak. He mapped out the area in a week when he first arrived. He'd been on his own for so long, he had gotten used to doing everything by himself and that meant a lot of work preparing a cave to be used as a den. He would scout an area for at least a month noting the habits, and daily rituals of any inhabitants in nearby towns. He didn't want to set up shop in a place already visited to by humans. He needed it hidden. There was no way dragons could ever approach humans in their true form. 'Act first, ask questions later' he remembered his father telling him once, describing the people, warning him that they will never trust what they do not understand.
Bracken knew his species probably seemed like 'giant flying beasts, forged by the gods to rip the flesh of your bones'. He laughed to himself, remembering listening to a villager trying explain his race to a young child in the market once. He only wished they weren't so misunderstood. He found humans fascinating. A people who rushed around their entire lives because of how short their time on this world was. But because of this fast living style, they had accomplished so much, built cities that dominated the landscape, conquered every problem that was brought to them. They needed to get across a sea, so they built a boat. They needed a faster way to transport goods and people, so the tamed and trained wild animals. It was amazing. They had a long way to go to reach his own peoples level of society but with how many humans were alive in this world and how they worked together so well, Bracken knew they would get there eventually, maybe even withing his lifetime. He couldn't imagine only living barely a century like the humans though. Hardly any time to accomplish anything on a personal level.
It was because of his extended life that Bracken had spent the last thirty years being a loner. Spending time on his own, doing what he wanted, when he wanted to. Not having to rely on anyone just made his life easier. He'd spent his entire life before he left his pack at his fathers side, being heir to the throne. He'd had to learn everything about leading and what it took to be a great and fair king, one the people both respected and loved. His father was a kind man, the dragons of Aetherys were at peace because of him. He was amazing, he knew everyone under his protection. He regularly walked through the streets without guard just to say hello to anyone who would stop to talk. He was something Bracken could never be. He didn't have his fathers ability to just radiate happiness wherever he went. When Bracken left the pack, he had a long discussion with his father about what Brackens plan was for the future and what he would be doing when it was time to take his place as ruler of their kingdom. Bracken didn't want the throne. He wanted it to go to his younger brother, Eirik. They always joked that Eirik was the literal replica of their father when they were children. They were exactly the same, and Bracken knew he would make an amazing king just like his father before him. His father agreed, though with a hint of disappointment to his voice he gave Bracken his clearance to leave on the condition that he return soon.
Thirty years later, Bracken still wasn't ready to head back home. He missed his family but being alone in the wild learning everything he could about the humans was just too exciting.
His attention was brought back down to the child in his arms when she stirred a little. At least she was still ok. He had been walking for nearly an hour and he was already starting to feel the effects of staying a human for an extended time. The transformation always took a large amount of energy and staying in this form for a long time just drained him even more. It wasn't just a problem for Bracken, dragons just couldn't use this magic for long. He saw the gates ahead through the trees and breathed a sigh of relief.
Passing through the gates, he nodded to the two guards at their posts. They remembered him from his many visits here. It was deep into the night now so all the funny people were in the streets, again singing songs and talking way too loud outside the taverns. Just a usual night in Llyn. Taking a back alley to avoid anyone too drunk, he came across a small apartment with a light on. Looking through a window, he saw a family sitting around a table laughing, playing some sort of game. Bracken took a deep breath. His English was good. He had a lot of practice listening to the humans for so long but he didn't know what he was going to say to these people. He needed to ask where the orphanage was but he needed a story. He needed a reason to why he was asking. He decided to tell them a part truth. He would tell them he happened upon the burning cart and found her and her dying mother. He would tell them she told him to bring the child to the orphanage in town. But he would tell them the scene looked like the remains of a dragon attack. It would arouse the least suspicion as stories of these attacks were quite common. False, but common.
Bracken realized his story wasn't far from the truth at all. If he had let the man shoot him, the mother might still be alive. Or if Bracken had taken the gun away earlier on, none of this would have happened. His heart ached after thinking about that for a while but he forced his emotions down. He would take the girl to the orphanage and move on. He knocked on the door. His hearing was still good as a human as he heard the laughing stop and the man telling his family to get away from the door. Bracken heard the locks disengaging and saw the face of the man from the table, his face no longer full of joy. There was a very serious face plastered on the man. A face that told bracken there was no trust in this conversation.
"I'm sorry to bother you sir, I just needed directions to the orphanage". Bracken opened.
The man looked confused for a second until he looked down to see the girl in Brackens arms. The man tossed something on the ground beside him and opened the door wider.
"Please, please, come inside, hurry".
Bracken stepped through the door and saw the mans family hiding over by the fire.
"It's ok Anna, he needs to know where to find Proudspire", the man said, a hint of worry to his voice.
"Oh dear", the woman Bracken assumed was Anna came to stand in front of Bracken, ushering him to a chair at the table as her and the man took a seat at others. "Please, tell us what's going on. Whose the girl? A sister?"
"No, no", bracken began quickly, "I don't know her. I was on my way here when I came across a burning cart at the side of the road. I heard crying coming from the bushes at the edge of a clearing and found her and her mother. She asked me to bring her here to the orphanage before she died. She said she'd be safe here, said she grew up in town", Bracken looked down to the girls face, "the girl's been passed out the entire time".
The man and lady exchanged a worried glance. "Do you have any idea what could have caused this", the woman asked.
Here we go, Bracken thought to himself. "I didn't see it, but I've seen a dragon attack before", he sighed "the scorch marks all over the ground are similar".
The man closed his eyes and sighed while the womans went wide with a gasp. "I'm sorry, but the orphanage shut down three years ago", the woman began, looking to the man. So that's why Bracken didn't know about it. "But we'd be happy to help anyway we can".
The man nodded, "We can hold onto her. Home may not look like much, but we have plenty of room for another", he gave Bracken a reassuring smile. Looking around the bottom floor, he didn't necessarily agree. There was the table they sat at in the middle of the room. The fireplace had a small pot over it for cooking food with a little counter beside probably meant for preparing that food. There were a few cupboards on the opposite wall, probably storing everything the family owned that wasn't already out for show. The room was already feeling a bit cramped with Bracken here. There were stairs beside the door running along the wall that led to what Bracken assumed would be the bedroom, and judging by the bottom floor, it was indeed, just one bedroom for all four of the family members.
"I can't ask you to do that. I can just head over to the next town..." Bracken began but the woman put up her hand.
"No, really. We don't mind. And I'm sure the boys love to have a sister", Bracken turned to look at the boys, still by the fireplace behind him. The older one, probably around 5, gave a toothy smile and a quick nod of his head while the younger one, looking the same age as the girl in his arms, just stared blankly at him. Bracken smiled, trying his best to reassure the young boy.
"You're sure" Bracken asked, turning back to the parents.
"Of course", the man smiled and stuck out his hand, Bracken took it and accepted the human shake. "I'm Jon, this is my wife Anna, and our two sons, the older one, Joseph, and the younger one, Dominic".
"Bracken, I don't know her name though. Her mother never told me..." Bracken looked down to the child in his arms, still asleep.
"how long has she been out", Anna asked.
"Almost two hours. I don't expect her to be awake until morning".
"You're welcome to spend the night, You can see her and talk to her then", Jon started by Bracken didn't want to be here for that.
"Thankyou, but it'll be easier to say you found her instead of me. Tell her what happened but leave me out of it", Bracken figured if Jon pretended to have rescued her, the girl in his arms would be quicker to place her trust in this family. Him being around would only complicate things.
"You're sure", Anna began, "She would be so grateful..."
"Exactly. Her trust will be much easier to come by if I'm not involved", Bracken interrupted. He stood and offered the girl to Anna who carefully took her. "I need to be off. I cannot thank you enough", He nodded to the parents in front of him.
Jon stood and placed his hand on Brackens shoulder, "Don't worry, we'll take good care of her", he smiled.
Bracken nodded and turned to the door. He looked down and saw a knife sticking out of the floor board. Turning back to Jon, he gave him a questioning look.
"Sorry, I didn't know who was knocking at the door. I protect my family", Jon stated, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Good", Bracken said giving him a small smile. He turned and opened the door, walking outside.
"Bracken wait", Jon called coming to the doorway, "If there's anything we can do for you, anything at all, you know where to find us".
Bracken smiled, turned again and left. Jon stood in the doorway watching him leave until he couldn't see him anymore as he turned the corner.
Bracken found the nearest inn and paid for a night in their largest room. Tired from being in this form, he walked up the stairs and found his door. Opening it, the first thing he noticed was that the 'largest' room they had was anything but. He pushed the bed up against the far wall and put the small table and chair on top of it, clearing space in the small room. He went back to the door and locked it. Bracken returned to the center of the room, looking around. It would be cramped but it would do until morning. Kneeling down, he was once again surrounded in a bright blue light as his body grew. His armour and skin melded back into the black hide covering his body. The black fur on his head growing longer and spreading along his back around his large chest, down the back of his arms,and to his nose, forming his thick mane. His long tail began to grow, sprouting fur at the tip. His arms and legs began to expand, the muscles growing large, showing the true power they held. Bracken dropped to all fours as the large claws sprouted at the tips of each of his four fingers. His nose grew longer with his sharp teeth and his pointed ears became larger. The last to come were his wings. Sprouting from his shoulders, they were black, like the rest of his body. His eyes glowed brighter as the transformation was completed.
The floor creaked, adjusting to the new weight it was now holding. Bracken laid down in the small space, resting his head on his front paws. He closed his eyes and thought about the girl. He would stay and keep an eye on her for a while, watching the family. He trusted Jon and Anna. He could tell they were good people and would stand by their word to take care of the child. However, Jons reaction with the dagger at the door worried him. Bracken assumed they must be in some kind of trouble if Jon would be so afraid of who might be knocking at the door. No, Bracken would keep an eye on the family for protection. He wouldn't let anything happen to them. Soon after, he fell into a deep sleep, his exhaustion finally taking over.