Chapter 2. Old Friends
It felt strange to Elaenys to be riding a bipedal dragon rather than a quadrupedal dragon. However just like Wickyd the dragon obviously had a strong will, a characteristic of an orange control dragon.
"Let's get out of here," she urged the dragon, wanting to leave the temple before anyone noticed the dragon had escaped. But the dragon seemed determined to find something, heading further into the temple.
They continued for a long while, but still the dragon found nothing of interest to it only running into the occasional dragon that they had to hide from. Eventually the dragon turned and started for the exit, obviously realising they were running out of time and soon they would be discovered.
Elaenys was happy to see the exit of the temple, she was about to say something when the sound of angered dragons and humans filled the air. They both turned around, sighting the shadows of dragons heading toward the exit, but before they even came into sight the orange dragon bolted.
Elaenys clung onto the dragon's bareback, listening to the roars of dragons behind them from inside the temple. The sun had long ago set and the moon was covered in a thick layer of cloud, making it dark and reasonably cool.
The dragon continued on its course, presumably back to the pipe that led to mid-city, as it would be rare for the other dragons to follow them there.
They were just over half way there when Elaenys sighted a familiar figure racing toward them, it was Wickyd. The clouds that hid the moon had retreated, lighting up the wastelands. Wickyd gave a loud roar gaining more speed and ploughing toward them.
"Whoa boy, slow down," she said to the orange dragon, pulling him back, making him slow down and eventually stop. She looked over to Wickyd who had pulled up beside them, he had obviously decided to come back down to find her and take her back up to the city.
Wickyd turned to the orange dragon and gave an aggressive roar, obviously not liking the idea of Elaenys riding another dragon.
"It's alright Wickyd, I think he's a friend." she said looking down at the dragon, giving it a soft pet on its neck. "Let's get back to the stables." she said, giving a soft nudge on the control dragon's side with her leg to signal him to walk on before she gestured for Wickyd to follow.
They walked calmly for the rest of the journey, before climbing back up the pipe for which Elaenys switched back to riding Wickyd so it would be easier on the other dragon.
Elaenys was glad to reach the city again, spurring Wickyd into a fast trot as it was quite late and she was eager to get home so she could sleep.
Eventually they reached the stables. Elaenys' father owned and ran the stables, breeding Psi-class dragons for elite class racing. By far Wickyd was one of the purest they had bred, but also the one with the most stubborn attitude.
Elaenys decided to stable the two there for the night rather than down at the shelter. The shelter was next to the stables and was ran by Elaenys' mother, where they took in abandoned dragons from the street and rehomed them, the majority being crossbreeds and impure.
She led Wickyd over to his stable and closed him in, deciding to look after him after the new dragon, which she led to a stable adjacent to Wickyd's. She walked in behind the dragon and closed the gate behind her, filling one trough with water and another with feed. The dragon appeared to have never been in a stable before and was giving it the once over to make sure it was indeed safe.
After she retrieved a brush and walked over to stand beside the dragon, "Can I brush you?" she asked, to which the dragon furrowed its brow and looked confused.
She reached out with the brush and began brushing all the dust off the dragon's scales, "Like this, see?" she said. The dragon watched her skeptically, looking as though she might do something to hurt him at any moment, but after several minutes decided she could be trusted with it and began drinking.
When she had finished she gave the dragon a pet on the shoulder before leaving and going back over to Wickyd, feeding, watering and brushing the dragon before locking up for the night and heading inside for some much needed rest.
The next morning Elaenys woke to roaring and shouting. She quickly scrabbled out from her bed and looked out of the window, realising it was coming from the control dragon's stall.
She didn't bother changing out of her night clothes and ran downstairs before running across the stable yard and stopping outside the dragon's stall. The Orange dragon was stood over Blue, the stable's newest stable boy, with its teeth bared and back arched in an attack stance.
"No dragon, he's a friend," She assured the dragon, but with little effect. The dragon lifted its head up to stare at Elaenys, as if questioning her, "Leave him be, let him out," she said, watching as the dragon took a step back away from the Stable boy to let him crawl from the stall.
Elaenys helped Blue up off the ground and was about to talk to him when a voice sounded from behind her, "What is the meaning of this?" growled a stern voice.
Elaenys whirled around to meet the disapproving face of her father Argon, "I can explain-".
"I sure hope you can," Argon growled, "What gives you the right to bring a random dragon off the street into my stables?" he asked.
"I was just putting him here for the night, I was going to move him into the shelter in the morning. I found him in danger and I had to help him out." she said, not wanting to mention the dragon being locked up as it would make the situation worst.
Argon grumbled to himself before walking over to the gate and looking in at the dragon, "Any you realise this is an orange control dragon? One of the most dangerous of dragons?" he asked.
"Yes," she admitted, running a hand through her wavy light brown red tipped hair.
"This dragon has one of the most concentrated draconium I have seen in a dragon, are you sure he won't be missed?" he asked, seemingly admiring the dragon's potential.
"No, whoever it was who owned him definitely didn't want him." she answered, hoping there wasn't a serious reason for it.
"Fine, but just remember he is your responsibility, not mine." Argon said turning away and walking off to check on the other dragons.
Elaenys breathed out the breath she had not realised she had been holding. She looked around for Blue, but found he had vanished.
She turned back to the dragon and sighed softly, he was already stirring up trouble. "Come on," she said opening the gate and gesturing for the dragon to follow, which it did after a few moments of thought. She led him from the stables and next door into the Shelter.
When she arrived she was greeted by Olaen, her mother, who seemed just as impressed by the dragon. "Who is this big boy?" she asked, smiling wildly, "He doesn't look like a common stray to me." she continued.
"I picked him up in Squire's End," Elaenys lied.
"Well he sure is handsome, perhaps he could even be yours, especially since the new season of races starts up soon, and you need a dragon," Olaen said.
"Yeah, but I would need to see how he rides first." she said giving the dragon a comforting pet as she noticed him tensing up.
"Well you know where the saddles are, and you know where the track is." Her mother said, giving her another smile before turning and heading back inside.
"What do you say boy?" she asked, looking up at the dragon, who looked less than convinced. But after a while the dragon nodded in agreement.
Elaenys nodded back and walked off to grab a suitable saddle. She returned moments later with a saddle, red thruster gear and some white aero gear, wanting to complete the course she had failed on Wickyd the day prior. She held out the gear and the dragon magged it on without a fuss.
She went back inside the house and got changed into her racing gear before heading back outside and being magged into the saddle by the impatient.
They were about to set off when Blue ran over, "Your dad wants you to exercise Wickyd." he told her before running off again to continue work. Elaenys groaned in annoyance before starting to lead the dragon over to Wickyd's stall when she heard talking.
"Yes, we found an orange dragon" It was Olaen's voice. Elaenys turned around and saw a man stood talking to her, wearing what appeared to be armour and had pink hair. Beside him stood another control-class dragon, which was looking directly at her own.
The man looked up at her and her dragon and began walking over, "Propheci!" he called putting on a smile. Her dragon turned around and snarled aggressively at the rider, backing away from him quickly. Now Elaenys knew the dragon's name, Propheci.
"Elaenys, we appear to have found Propheci's rider," her mother said happily, even though it was clear to everyone that Propheci was not as happy to see said rider.
"I don't think he wants to see you," she said, directing her words to the rider.
"Come on Propheci, let's go home." The rider called.
But Propheci was having none of it, he roared before turning and bolting away, trying to put as much distance between himself and his rider.
Elaenys looked back and saw the other dragon magg on the rider and begin giving chase. She decided that since Propheci was obviously either scared of this person, or just wanted to be left alone, that she would go with it. She pressed down a button on her controls and activated their red thrusters, making them shoot ahead and away from the others.
When they were out of sight Elaenys deactivated the thrusters and they slowed down, before she made Propheci turn a corner and stop. She hoped they would not be found down the alleyway.
She slid down from Propheci's saddle and onto the ground, "What in Magna Draconis have you gotten me into?" she asked, petting the dragon's head softly.