FYI all of this has been in Better Half.
He opened his eyes, and realized three things. It was extremely dark, he couldn't feel half his body, and what he could feel hurt like hell. Experimentally he tried to move his arm and yelped when the pain made tears appear in his eyes. Taking deep breaths, he relaxed the arm and twitched the other one. It didn't hurt as bad. He raised his left arm to find he was buried by rubble.
"Great," he mumbled, pushed against a piece lightly. He somewhat hoped it would miraculously just all fall away, leaving him air to breath and room to move. The slab fell inward some, making him yelp again. Evening out his breathing again, since suffocating wasn't one of the most pleasant of deaths; he tapped the slab one more time. It didn't move. "Yeah, fantastic. This explains why I can't feel my legs."
He lay still for a moment; eyes closed, and tried to think. He didn't have the strength to hold the slab if it fell inwards onto him, and he didn't really think he could reach up and push out enough to make it fall back. But even then, it would land on his already numb legs. And his right arm still burned.
His brown eyes shot open when he heard a distant yell. Wetting his lips he gave a shout. It was worth the air if he could get out. He screamed again and again until his voice cracked. The sound of rubble moving made him smile, but the voice made him cry in relief. "Don't worry, I'll get you out," the man on the outside said, and more rubble was being moved.
The dangerous slab was pulled away, and the light blinded him for a moment at first, but the cool air made him give a small sigh. "Ce? You're so lucky, I don't know if it's fair." The man blinked to see. The face peering into the hole looked horrible. The once beautiful brown hair was matted, cut, and tangled. Blood and mud covered his pristine face, one eye swollen badly.
"I've never seen you this ugly, Yu," Ce said with a small chuckle.
"If not for the fact that I've already got you half out I think I'd leave you," Yu said, disappearing from the hole to move some more of the rubble away. Ce gave a small laugh, which died his chest clenched in pain.
"I take it we lost?"
"I don't know. I pulled myself out of a similar position you are in to find the area looking like this. I think, from the looks, neither side really won this battle, my friend."
"Help me stand if you can," Ce said as the last of the mess fell away, extending his good hand up. Yu took it and slung it over his shoulders and half lifted Ce. As they found balance, Ce glanced around. Fog, smog, or dirt filled the air, and he couldn't see far. Everything was destroyed. He could count the buildings that still stood, or parts still stood. Wood, iron, clay littered the ground. As he skimmed over it all he couldn't see a patch of the earth. Everything was covered in the destruction.
"We lost." Ce looked over to Yu, who nodded.
"If nothing else, we did not win." Ce shook his head, hand clutching Yu's shoulder. Neither voiced their concerns about getting out of the dead town, instead hobbling through the destruction together. They moved with a sense of hurry, not stopping when one would stumble but dragged them along until they again got footing. Both silently agreed they had to get out, that staying too long was out of the question.
As they made their way around a group of poles sticking from the ground, not looking at what was stabbed under them, they heard a shrill cry. Tense now, muscles straining further in their fear, they looked up. They slowed to a stop, mouths dropped. "The Wyrms are here," Ce mumbled, his grip on Yu's shoulder making his knuckles white. The six forms in the sky, barely visible between the dirt in the sky, looped and spiraled as they came closer, the cries growing louder. "Think we could ask them for a ride home?"
"I think we'd have a better chance of asking them to aim at us so the death would at least be painless," Yu said, voice deadpan. The slim line of hope was lost.
"If nothing else antagonize them to aim at us right?"
"You are very good at that," Yu conceded. Ce chuckled, shaking his head as he stared at the ground. He sighed then as he watched the little rocks fell from his brown hair and bounced down the little slope. "Come. Maybe we can continue on and not be spotted."
"Or Lu Bu will fly in and beat them all up only after swearing his undying loyalty to you," Ce said, smiling when Yu gave a small one breath laugh.
"That would be nice, though rather unwelcome." The two stilled when the flap of wings was heard, and then the gust of wind that caused the men to topple over with a crash. Turning, ignoring the pain, they looked up. The wyvern was massive as it perched upon one of the walls that still stood, its wings spread at full length for balance. Its horned head swung a little, the glowing mark upon its skull almost entrancing before its rider jerked the reins and it straightened.
"Holy shit," Ce murmured, Yu nodding. The wyrms mouth opened, wisps of green spreading from its mouth like smoke, the flames in its mouth lighting its black form eerily. The woman upon its back spoke, her words a messy language Ce and Yu did not understand. She raised her hand, the staff held above her head as her voice rose. The wyvern opened its mouth wider, the flames lighting the area now. "Holy shit," Ce repeated.
The wyvern clamped its mouth shut, the green wisps filling the area in a dance, and it gave a giant leap to another perch with a cry. Yu and Ce covered their ears, flinching. The red wyvern landed with more grace then the black one, its slender body more adapt to speed and lithe movements then the bulky black worm. It extended its long neck and gave a roar, spreading its wings to look larger and swung its spiked tail dangerously.
The two women atop the monsters started yelling at each other in the rough language, the worms becoming antsy as they roared back on forth. Ce, leaning towards Yu, pointed upwards. Yu craned his neck to see three more worms circling around the gathering. The two men glanced at each other both looking ready wet their pants as they inched away from the brewing fight. Their slow escape was stopped by the black whip like tail snapping at the ground near them, sending the rubble flying.
They covered their faces, giving a scream as they curled up. The women's screams got louder as the rubble smashed into the ground, and the pressure of wind informed the cowering men of a third wyrm landing. Unfolding his arms, Ce twisted the best he could to see the third, getting all he could from the deathly experience. The wyvern was white, speckles of red giving the worm more character then the others. Its long neck extended out to them, its large crystal blue eye causing both men to still in awe and fear.
Its rider joined in the argument, her hood almost falling in her dramatic movements as she argued. Finally the black wyvern hopped away some, the green wisps leaving a trail as it took off towards the sky. The men and the white wyvern rider watched as the red dragon reached towards the sky and gave a long shrill howl after it. "Why aren't we dead yet?" Ce asked quietly, praying the others couldn't hear him. Yu shrugged, still watching with wide eyes as the red wyvern turned to face them, the hooded lady holding her hand to her chest.
"You are… alright?" the soft voice said slowly, the words coming out unsure.
"Excuse me?" Ce said, eyebrows rose as high as they could go.
"Are you alright?" she said again, with a little more force. The woman on the white wyvern said something in the other language and the red rider waved it away. "The Black One did not inflict harm upon you?"
"I don't think she's fluent," Yu mumbled, eyes even wider then before.
"No?" Ce said slowly, as unsure as the woman.
"Very good."
"Yes?" Ce looked to Yu for help, though he doubted he'd get any. The woman on the white wyvern again said something, to which the red replied with a quick answer.
"You must come," the red rider said, turning back to the men.
"Come? Where? How?"
"I'm officially lost," Yu said, looking as bewildered as Ce sounded.
"No. You Zhou Yu yes?" the white rider interjected, sounding far too cheery to be somebody with her job. Both the men jumped and tried to turn, but ended up rolling in pain. "Oh no! They pain!" Ce forced himself to sit straight, and watched in awe as the red rider instructed the wyvern to move before them. If the situation had been any different, Ce would have laughed at watching the wyrm hop like a sparrow. Ce could no longer see the red rider, the giant reptile filling his view, and he was shocked to see her swing down around the side and land in a crouch.
The sound of walking made him crane his neck to turn, and the white hooded woman walked behind them, a bounce in her step. She said something again to the red girl, pointing at Yu. The red rider replied, sounding almost exasperated. "You ride with me," she said slowly, pointing to Ce. "He ride with her." She pointed from Yu to the white lady.
"What?" both men said together, again looking terrified.
"We ride. We take you to Wu land."
"Ride? On… them?" Yu floundered for the right, inoffensive word.
"No worries. She nice." The white lady clapped, making Ce doubt his earlier guess of her age.
"Yes. Prince and friend are safe now," the red lady nodded. "Come. You must be healed soon. Dangerously pained." She walked forward, reaching for Ce's arm. Ce, in shock, could only comply until the pain hit again. He fell, making the lady fall as well with a yelp. He tensed as the wyvern tensed.
"Alright?" the white lady asked, stepping towards them. The red lady replied in her language, sitting up under Ce's arm with a sigh. The white lady put her hands on her hips and looked to Yu. "I doubt I carry you. Big man," she pointed to him, "little lady" she pointed to herself. Yu simply nodded, still looking dazed.
The red lady stood, untangling herself. Ce trying to help got a look under her hood. A beautiful oval face, framed perfectly by almost black hair had him loosing his breath. Her red lips were slightly parted; her big doe brown eyes scrutinizing her cloak made him suddenly feel very self conscience. He did remember to avert his eyes as she straightened, not wanting her to know what he saw.
"Please, stay brave," she said, turning to him. He nodded, not trusting his tongue. She then nodded to the lady in white and then turned to the Wyvern. She spoke in her language to it, as did the lady in white, and the worms gave a growl from deep in their chests before hopping around to a sage position. From there they lowered themselves to lie on the ground. "We need speed now, please." The lady in red grabbed his arm and tried to support him as she directed him to the Wyvern.
"I can't believe I'm doing this," Ce mumbled, watching the dragon with wide eyes and quick breaths, concentrating on that and not the pain. Trying to crawl up onto the beast was painful. The strap was thin that wrapped around its chest to hold the small saddle, and Ce wasn't sure how to pull himself up. With the ladies less then fluent speech he ended up leaning on her minutes as they tried to figure it out.
A crash had them looking back to see the white lady lying on the ground, groaning as Yu leaned against the Wyvern, looking absolutely terrified. The red lady shouted something, and when there was a mumbled reply she went back to trying to instruct Ce. "She's okay?" he asked, interrupting her.
"Yes-" she was interrupted again, but by a roar. They all looked up to see the other four flying low. The lady in red said something that sounded dangerous in her language and shouted to her worm. The white lady jumped to her feet and did the same. The dragons sat up with might roars, heads swooping towards the couples. Ce and Yu screamed as the monsters neared tripped them. Lying on his stomach, Ce stared at the forehead of the dragon, holding onto one of its horns and no longer thinking.
Yu clung to the white wyverns head, holding onto the large goat like horns of the dragon, eyes closed and praying. The girls swung up to the saddles and the wyverns launched into the air. The four other worms started to swoop over the battlefield, their flames lighting the battleground. The wyverns furiously flapped their wings, hoping to escape the heat. The girls sat in the saddles, urging their worms on in their language, glancing back momentarily to watch the magnificent display as the men prayed on the wyverns heads.
The wyverns neared each other, allowing the girls to converse as both guys looked to each other for help. Ways away, the wyverns again landed, hopping until they found their balance. Lowering their heads, they let the men slide off and onto their butts. "I think," Ce started, "it'd have been easier on my heart to of just stayed under the pile of rubble."
"I'll keep that in mind next time," Yu mumbled, laying on his back and covering his eyes. "I'm so lucky I didn't drink anything before the battle."
"That's a plus." Ce nodded. "I still hurt though."
"I've gone numb. I think it's the shock."
"Alright?" the white lady bounced before them, rocking on her feet.
"Why the hell did you save us?" Ce asked, trying to run his good hand through his destroyed hair.
"Paid lots of gold to find Prince of Wu. Friend come along because we assume you decide not come without friend," the red lady said, more fluent then the lady in white apparently, stepping before them.
"Thank you," Yu said, not sitting up.
"You are welcome," the white lady said.
"Please rest. Me and her discuss plan now." The red lady turned to the other and the two went off in their language, probably trying to figure out how to get the two men home. Ce watched them for a moment, particularly the lady in red before groaning. Yu let his arm fall away from his eyes and turned his head to look at him. Ce started to peel away his armor, grinding his teeth.
"Do you know how freakishly lucky we are?" Yu asked, eyeing the shoulder guard that landed near his head from where Ce tossed it.
"Some would say annoyingly freakish. I say I got skills. Or connections." Ce pulled his shirt over his head and dropped it into the pile. "You don't happen to carry bandages do you?"
"It's already scabbed over. You just need to pray it doesn't get infected." Yu looked to the sky, trying to ignore the pillar of smoke in the corner of his vision.
"I wonder how Pops paid for it."
"How do you know it was Lord Jian?"
"I'm being optimistic." Yu didn't respond. Ce fell silent as well, and started to roll up his pants. He needed to see the damage.
The fire crackled before them, reminding the men all too much of the scene they had fled. The white lady had stayed with them, her Wyvern curled with its head resting on its tail to protect them from wind. The red lady had flown off towards camp to tell the soldiers where they needed to go to pick up Ce and Yu. The lady now hummed as she leaned against the wyvern, hood still up. She had bandaged them both, using up all her and the other lady's bandages.
Ce had never before seen the wyrms, not many had, and had been just as surprised that the rider was a small girl then a large man. The wyrms were a species of dragon that lived farther in the mountains. The story went that humans had made a bond with them, and thus the species had been interlinked to the humans of the area for eons. The riders now made money by destroying battlefields, burning the remains forever. From all the stories the riders were none too nice about it. Half of the stories Ce had heard made them out to be as monstrous as demons. Much like the black wyvern rider.
There were many ups though, the whole reason they were paid to do so was to keep away the Scavenger Demons. Dangerous beasts that loved to feed and live in areas like destroyed battlegrounds. They find the grounds by the smell left behind, and in groups were even more dangerous then alone. The wyrms and their riders burned the grounds to keep the species away, as well as to help the vegetation. The only real downfall was that everything was lost, from valuables to survivors. That and their prices sometimes became steep.
Steeper still were their prices for other things. The Wyrms could be hired to fight, or scout areas but the prices were amazingly high. They claimed that they did not want to be apart of the petty wars of the lowlanders, but if the price was right they could not refuse. Ce was unsure how anybody got them the message quick enough to save him, unless he had been under the rubble longer then he had imagined, but knew he'd have to thank the person face to face. Slowly, Ce lowered himself to the ground and onto his back. He closed his eyes with a smile, thinking back to the pretty face he had seen under the hood. It was a pleasant, most welcome surprise.
--
Ce leaned on the window, staring up at the rising moon. It had been almost one year exact since he had been saved by the Wyrm Riders. Half the time he wanted to say it had all been a dream, but the scars and long nights told him different. While the scars weren't bothersome, she often found her way into his dreams. Ce wasn't sure if he looked forward to the nights or not.
"The wyrm isn't going to come," a bitter voice said, and Ce pushed away from the window to see Yu leaning against the wall. His arms crossed, the strategist stared at the ground. His long time best friend was still healing from the experience. While Ce's hair hadn't been long, and so not much had been damaged, Yu's hair was barely reaching passed his shoulders anymore. Some of the hair had to be cut because the tangles were too bad, and some because his hair had been burnt. The smell had followed Yu for weeks. Ce almost felt bad for him.
"Almost as likely as a speckled wyrm dropping by huh?" Ce said lightly, stretching.
"Just as likely." Yu had seen the white Wyrm Rider, since the young girl had done little to try and hide her face. From being a klutz and very animated, Ce had seen her face as well more then once during the night.
"I can't believe we're pining over girls we've only seen once. How shallow does that make us?" Ce said with a laugh, running a hand through his hair.
"I do believe that would fall under horribly shallow and vain."
"And since its lasted passed a year, I'd say we're unfixable."
"I'd bet on that." Yu looked up with a grin. Ce laughed again, leaning back to stare at the ceiling. "I'd also bet that we're fools."
"I already knew I was a fool. A vain, shallow fool is new to me though."
"We should get some sleep."
"Yeah, I'll get right on that." Ce rolled his eyes.
"Tomorrow will be a long day. We are supposed to be hunting down Lu Bu."
"Well, I'm going to go hunt me down a snack." Ce waved to his friend, who shook his head, and slowly walked towards the kitchen. It was going to be a long night, no doubt.
--
Ce stood a few steps behind his father, looking down at the man before them. The man was tall and lanky, the white cloak large. His face was like leather, but the laugh lines gave him a kindly feel. His grey eyes reminded Ce more of a blind man, but the way the scrutinized the area proved that was out of the question. His hair was long; falling down to his bony knees, and was the same color as the cranes. The man gave a low, extravagant bow before he spoke.
"Lord of Wu, I must apologize for this surprise visit."
"It is of no problem. Surely whatever you bring cannot be more vexing then tracking down Lu Bu, or putting up with Yuan Shao," Jian said, keeping his tone even and polite.
"Then you remember me? I am pleased."
"I could not forget the man who saved my boys."
"All I did was deliver the message, good lord," the man said, giving another bow.
"I hate to be rude, but this has caught my curiosity and everybody else's here, what is it you want? Rarely does the messenger, the payment receiver, come to the doorsteps when there is no need for the services of the Wyrms."
"A good question. A question fitting of a good answer." The man straightened and smoothed out his clothes. "I am sure, as a well informed man, you have noticed the rise in activity in the Scavenger Demons, as your people so like to call them. It has worried our Powers."
"Powers?" Ce asked in a voice he had thought was quiet and unheard.
"The Lords of our land would be the easiest way to explain them," the man said, glancing over at the young man. Ce flushed and looked to the ground. "Since they have been given the task of fighting the Scavenger Demons for all of you, the new movements of the spawn have them vexed. As a precautionary measure, the Powers have made a new order. If the Lords of the Lands permit, three Wyrm Riders shall be stationed in the lands. Most preferably in the capitals, since the movements mimic something akin to army and scouting like, so as the Riders may protect the figure heads and beckons of hope to the humans of these lands."
"Wyrm Riders here?" Jian said, taken back at the offer.
"They would be, mostly, under your rule. Though your affairs should not be theirs, such as your wars, but they will watch for the Scavenger Demons. Protect your lands from them." The man shrugged. "It is your choice, Lord of Wu. If you do not want them, then they shall not stay here."
Jian stilled and glanced around the area. Most around had stilled, the soldiers gathered completely silenced. The tension in the air was thick. The Wyrm Riders were hardly looked upon with kindness, but could Wu afford to disrespect the Wyrm Riders? Jian took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and came upon his decision. "I do need to speak to my advisors first. Such a large decision can not be made by me alone. Even as a lord, I am not perfect. But yours and theirs journey must have been long. You and your riders and more then welcome to stay until a decision is reached."
It was a politically nice way of saying that they would be allowed to stay. Jian just had to appear formal and consult others before making such a decision. Nobody with brains would challenge an army of Wyrm Riders. The man knew this, it was in his smile, but he nodded. "I will not stay. I do have places to be, unfortunately. But the riders shall stay until you make your decision. All three are fluent enough in your language." The man looked to the sky, still giving a small smile, and everybody looked up as well. They started out as circling specks, but the closer they came to the ground, the more shape they took. The wind was painful, and some of the soldiers ran for cover.
The first to land was massive, and no wyvern. It was smaller then the average dragon, but much bulkier then a wyvern with four legs. Its face was square, eyes seemingly a little too small for its body. The vermilion scales down its body were more like spikes then scales all down its body. Long spiraled horns, with likeness to a unicorns shape, protruded on either side of the dragons jaw, curving just slightly down. The monster landed mostly on the cobblestone walkway, the weight cracking a few but mostly just scratching the stones.
When that wyrm was situated and done moving, the next one landed. This one caught Ce's breath, and besides him he could hear the strangled gasp of Yu. A speckled white wyvern awkwardly landed in the court yard, flapping its wings to try and stay balanced. If the speckles and goat horns didn't give the wyvern away, the cheerful giggle as a girl cloaked in white swooping down did. Ce glanced at Yu, to see him staring in slack jaw awe, before looking to the third with hope. He forgot how to breathe when the long red form twirled to a graceful landing on the opposite side of the massive dragon.
Ce made a move towards them, down the steps, but stopped remembering his place. He took a glance at his father, who was still staring with awe. "Pops," Ce started slowly, taking a glance at Yu, "should I go greet the… riders while you finish up your discussion with this man?" Ce hoped that was tactful.
"Yes," Jian replied. His voice was quiet, still in awe, and slow. Blinking a few times, he turned in time to see the smile on Ce's face and him waving to Yu to race down the steps. Shaking his own head, the older man turned back to his guest.
Ce slowed to a stop, slightly out of breath as he reached the bottom. Yu stopped beside him, pushing some of the hair that had fallen out of his little ponytail. The two walked up to the wyrms and their riders, who had dismounted, and gave a bow. Ce watched with fascination as all three kissed their knuckles and gave a deep flowing bow. The five all stood in awkward silence. The white rider fidgeted a bit before walking behind the vermilion one to the other lady. She, leaning on her shoulder, mumbled something to her.
"Shush," the red rider said, lightly pushing her away. She then turned back to Ce and Yu. "We thank you for accepting our…" she started, but floundered for a word. Her accent had lessened, and the words were less harsh now.
"Protection," the third rider supplied, his voice a deep and baritone like.
"Yes. Thank you," the red rider said with a nod. "We thank you. I am called Qiao Da." She gave another bow, kissing her knuckle and all, before pushing away her hood. She hadn't changed much in the year, if Ce's memory served.
"I'm Qiao Xiao!" the white rider said, bouncing forward and pushing her hood away. "A pleasure meeting you it is!" Da corrected her in whispers, making Xiao flush and chew on her bottom lip. Her features had matured some in the year, but still held her child like innocence.
Ce glanced to the man, expecting a name. He grunted, and Ce spotted a slouch in his posture under the cloak. The man reached out, his hand was covered in a fur glove, and untied his cloak. It slipped away, but Ce was more worried about what the man had to say. "One hell of a greeting," the man said, voice gruff but otherwise gave no indication that it wasn't his natural language. The rider slipped past Ce, and the anguish filled battle cry had Ce cursing as well.
The prince spun around to see Ling Tong, a young soldier who had joined the ranks but a few battles ago swinging blindly for the rider, who was making a point to direct him away from Ce and the girls. "I'll kill you! You'll pay for my father's death!" Tong cried out, kicking for the riders face. The rider caught his foot and gave a sneer as he prepared to counter attack. Tong however, wrenched his foot from his grasp and swung his fist. The rider dodged, flinching when Tong caught some of his spiked hair. The riders hopped back some, before diving in with a swing of his own.
Alright, here is the start of Wyrms for everybody. I've got it basically planned out. Do Not, I repeat, Do Not expect chapters to be this long again. It happens rarely. Oh, and my English Teacher is being a real tyrant so things could be slow (between planning, WO2, and school) But I seem to do better when I got something up and going.