Yeah! Thank you dragonlover247 for thinking this is worth it, we really need more dragonheart writers!
Disclaimer: My wishing star and I were scheduled for a thorough "discussion" tonight but it's gonna be a blizzard until Saturday...I don't own anything...
Dragonheart the New Age
Chapter I
Bowen walked along grudgingly as the waterfall beat relentlessly near him. Not knowing why, he had wandered down to Draco's cave, and was now regretting it. As he turned to leave, a sound muffled by rocks and water stopped his departure.
A loud groan echoed the first as Bowen walked through the cave, something slow and heavy was trying to move. Bowen moved slowly around the lava pits that lit the dim cave. A large creature was lying on the rock platform, Bowen eased around a stalagmite to get a better look…
Draco! The dragon shifted groggily, groaning as his heavy limbs refused to obey him. Bowen moved closer as Draco curled up tighter.
"Draco?" Bowen asked softly, the dragon groaned and blinked blearily.
"Bowen?" The dragon managed to mumble.
"Aye, you alright?"
"Mm…hmm…tired." Draco mumbled exhaustedly, his eyes closing.
"Rest, I won't leave." Bowen told him gently, Draco sighed sleepily before drifting off immediately.
Bowen crouched next to him as the dragon slept; really hoping this wasn't a dream.
Draco yawned widely and stretched his forelegs and clawed absentmindedly at the rock. Hearing air rush over metal, uneven metal at that, he turned and saw Bowen shifting through a sword dance; whirling the sword through the pattern with ease.
Grunting a bit as he stretched, Draco felt his wings joints snap as they moved. Bowen's steps through the dance didn't falter, but his grip did and the sword almost hit the ground before Bowen's hand caught it.
"What time is it?" Draco asked the knight when he turned.
"Mid evening, you've slept almost two days." Bowen replied as he sheathed the sword and moved closer.
"Huh, didn't feel that long."
Bowen chuckled, "How can you feel time passing in your sleep?"
Draco returned the laugh gently, "I guess you can't"
Bowen shifted uncomfortably while Draco popped his neck, letting it snap into place loudly.
"What is it?" the dragon asked, turning to face the man next to him.
"You're supposed to be dead." Bowen answered softly.
"So that's what happened." Draco said, and then continued before Bowen could say anything. "It was odd being just a soul, I was aware of other dragons and stars around me, but not what was going on mortally. The only thing I did notice was something pulled me away. I barely remember you the other night. Someone must have used magic to bring dragons back."
Bowen's brows furrowed, "What do you men 'dragons'?"
"I wasn't the only one brought back. I just…" Draco trailed off, looking away.
"Just what?"
Draco shrugged it off, "Nothing, how long has it been since…"
"Six months."
"Anything new?" The dragon questioned and sat up to roll his shoulders with a crack.
Bowen began reluctantly, "The rebels want me to be king, but there's a grace period, Kara somehow hates me, and…"
"What did you do?" Draco asked suddenly, Bowen almost snapped, then he saw what Draco looking at, the alcove with the plants torn apart.
"Do you know what was there?" Bowen replied carefully, unsure of how the dragon would react.
"Plants?" Draco admitted blankly. Bowen was surprised Draco didn't know what had been hidden in his cave.
"A dragon egg, Brother Gilbert offered for the little one's safety, for it to be sheltered at the monastery…Draco?" Bowen explained then called out as Draco stood abruptly and left the chamber.
Bowen had to follow at a scrambling jog to keep up with the long-legged dragon. After ducking under the waterfall, Bowen expected the dragon to have taken off into the sky, but Draco hadn't even left the immediate area.
The knight ducked as a chunk of rock flew at his head; ducking beneath the ledge, Bowen watched as Draco's tail beat into the rocks uncontrollably, chipping and smashing them apart. Draco rumbled deep in his chest and Bowen could see his eyes glazing over. Draco pounded for almost an hour before exhaustion and emotion took over; Draco gave one last feeble thrash before letting his tail go limp and head hang.
Bowen walked over to the shaking dragon, he could feel the heat radiating through his clothes off of the dragon. Draco shook his head to try to clear his eyes ineffectively, using a paw to wipe them, he sighed loudly.
"What's up?" The man asked Draco had never burst out like that.
"The egg holds my son," Draco spoke like he was fighting with himself to not lose control. "I had a mate many years ago, most pairings happen after a First Flight, the fastest male getting the girl, but mine didn't go through the official ceremony, just decided I was the one. The two dragons usually fly several flights, maybe getting an egg if lucky, we only flew once."
"How do you know it's your son?" Bowen pressed gently.
"Mothers have a natural instinct on what gender their offspring is, my mate left the egg there for safety, for me to raise." Draco answered not meeting Bowen's gaze.
Bowen thought for a minute, "Do you want…"
Draco spun to face him, "NO!" He thundered his voice rumbling to a near roar as he interrupted the knight.
"Alright, He'll stay at the monastery." Bowen said cautiously, to try to calm the enraged dragon.
"His name is Drake." Draco whispered before moving and lying down in the cold creek, with a sigh he rested his head on his forelegs.
Bowen followed, but remained silent. Pulling off his over tunic that he wore to keep the cold out, he dunked it in the creek and started wiping off Draco's hot scales, which steamed at the touch of the cold water. Bowen was starting to regret bringing up the egg, and wondered what would happen later on when the baby dragon was older.
Draco winced when Bowen moved to his splayed out wings, Bowen moved slower as he brushed the tunic over the leather membrane. When he turned, Bowen noticed that Draco was ignoring him completely.
Draco tugged the wing out of Bowen's hand as he straightened, "Why does Kara hate you?"
"I have yet to figure that out.'
Draco snorted half-hearted, stretching out again the dragon yawned while Bowen wrung out his soaked tunic.
Bowen glanced at his companion; Draco had his eyes half-closed, his breathing slowing.
"Come on, you still need sleep." Bowen urged gently and moved out of the way so Draco could stand and fold his wings without hitting him.
Bowen sighed loudly as he lay down on the rock cave floor; he was too tired to care. Hearing heavy footfalls, Bowen half opened his eyes; Draco was lying down next to him instead of the rock platform that Bowen guessed was Draco's usual bed.
A scaly foreleg rested to one side of him; while Draco carefully eased down to avoid squishing his friend. Bowen sat up a bit and could see the exhaustion on the dragons face.
"Screw it." Bowen muttered and sat up enough to slide back against the hard scales that emitted welcoming warmth. Draco smiled and relaxed, laying his head down in a position so his warm breath would dry the tunic sprawled out on a rock by morning. Yawning widely, Bowen let sleep overtake him, the last thing he saw was Draco following suit.
What do you think?
I couldn't just let Bowen suffer! And it's not fair Drake has to grow up alone, yes Draco will be out of the way for now, but he's still pretty heart-sore over his mate's death. I don't own the dragon thing but I'm using the Eragon series bit where dragons can speak in and through minds and that's how mates have a deeper and more "hearfelt" connection...I'll get into Draco's mate later...
Review please!
