(A/N)
I'm up to date now. I don't know how often I'll update it, but I do have much more planned for this. I hope you don't hate it too much. XD;
It seems my usual use of chevrons to denote animal speak won't work on here, so I've had to transition it to this. If a word or phrase is italicized and underlined, it is in an inhuman (draconic, animal) tongue. It might happen more often than not in this story, due to Nish's ... "condition."
Come morning, Nish couldn't rouse the albino by knocking on the door.
He tried a few times, but didn't hear a response other than a soft "Mrrrt" from Jones. He shrugged it off. Breanni had mentioned him sleeping in the stables, the boy probably needed it. So he headed downstairs to the tavern. As he sat, he noticed the white dragon waiting patiently outside and hummed thoughtfully, standing to go talk to him.
As he walked out, the dragon lifted his head hopefully.
"Sorry, he's still sleeping." Nish grinned a bit, moving to sit on the edge of the stairs. "Can I ask you some questions?"
The dragon tilted his head, confused at the question, letting a critical churr. Well, I can't answer…
Nish shook his head. "It's fine. I've come to understand the basics of draconian because of the troll's attempted curse. I can get enough of what you're saying."
The great white head rolled to the other side.
"For one, what flight are you from?"
The dragon let a slightly irate huff. I tell everyone that asks me, I don't know. I was stolen as an egg and raised by a brute of a human. When I managed to escape from him, I got captured by an orc. He barely treated me any better.
Nish's expression fell, brows tightening, falling silent in shock.
This kind of cycle continued, until a tauren finally broke the cycle of idiotic "masters" and helped raise me, but there came a time I was too big for him to care for anymore, so he gave me to Breanni.
"Were you ever given a name?"
The head shook. No. The pale eyes slid down. The Tauren knew he couldn't keep me and Breanni didn't want to get attached.
Nish lowered his head. "Sorry… to have brought up so many bad memories."
The wings lifted in a sort of shrug. Those that can speak inevitably ask.
"So do you want to chose a name for yourself?"
I'd rather he did it.
"Mark?"
The dragon nodded. Then I would know for sure if he truly wanted to keep me.
Nish couldn't stop a slight smile. "He's voiced concern at choosing the wrong name for you.
Any name he would choose would be fine. I just want to know this isn't another temporary cycle.
"Well, I'll bring it up today. I'm sure he wants this to be permanent. Granted he's still getting used to … everything."
He's not from around here at all. The dragon looked at Nish. He is no creature of Azeroth, or Outlands. He feared dragons that would eat him. He smells so strongly of human, it was like he came from Stormwind, but bigger. There was no stale scent of any other race on him. The only inhuman scent was his own.
"Breanni mentioned that." Nish looked thoughtful. "It may take him some time to warm up to this area, but she thinks he'll like it here more than his old home."
You don't?
Nish chuckled a bit. "I hardly know the lad. I spent most of yesterday just trying to get him dressed and protected." He looked thoughtful. "If he's supposed to be comfortable now and he's still flinching at the idea of being measured for tailoring, I can't imagine how tense he was when he first came."
He wedged himself between a tree and a wall trying to hide from dragons. And totally freaked out when she woke him up and tripped over my tail.
Nish opened his mouth, about to reply, when the bell tolled. He looked up at the sky and hummed. "I should check to see if he's awake." He stood and brushed off his trousers. "Again, I'll bring the idea of a name up to Mark today."
The dragon nodded. Thank you.
Nish smiled and nodded, turning to go up the stairs. Once at the door, he knocked again. "Mark?" He cracked the door open, "It's almost noon…" He stopped mid-sentence, staring at what he saw. Mark had, during the night, curled around Jones, one wing draped over the edge of the bed, while the other folded awkwardly over him and Jones, tail curling around until the end membranes covered his head in a sort of mask to blot out the sunlight. His deep, heavy breathing signified he was still sound asleep.
Jones squinted sleepily at Nish, purring in greeting.
Nish looked at Jones, then back at the albino. He mewed, Wings, Jones?
Yes, the cat squinted, Makes a splendid blanket.
Nish looked again at the albino, Has he been sleeping this entire time?
The cat's head bobbed ever so slightly, If it weren't for the wings and ectothermia, I'd think he'd make a grand cat.
Nish finally grinned, chuckling a bit. We're going to be late getting to the Caverns if he sleeps much longer.
Understood, Jones stood, stretching with a grunt, his tail flicking across the tail as he did so.
The tail flinched, like someone raked a wire brush against it, and Mark made a rough sniff, head jerking as he tried to wake up.
Might wanna pretend you haven't seen. The kid seems self-conscious, Jones yawned.
Nish nodded, easing the door closed before knocking again. This time he heard Mark scuffle and Jones jump down. "Mark?"
"Com'n," the albino murmured as Jones scratched at the door. A few minutes later and the door opened, Mark on the other side, in new attire – though under the new fur-lined cloak, the old coat still covered his form. He ran his fingers through his hair sleepily as he yawned. "S'rry," he rubbed an eye.
"Let's get lunch, we're getting a late start." Nish smiled.
"Lunch," he mumbled sleepily, before waking up a bit more. "Lunch?! Have I really slept that late? I'm so sorry!"
Nish chuckled and held up his hands, "No, no, it's fine, you must've needed the sleep! I could've tried to wake you sooner but when the knocking didn't wake you up, I figured it could wait a little longer." He looked back into the room as Jones lazily strolled out. "Do you have everything packed?"
Mark shook his head as he walked back in, hurriedly pushing items into the bag. "J-just a bit!"
Nish nodded, "I'll be downstairs with some food before we get going." He moved to walk down the stairs.
Jones got to his usual sleeping spot near a potted plant as Nish passed, stretching before curling up, Have fun at the Caverns.
Nish paused to give the cat a rub behind his ears. I will, thank you, Jones.
Mark looked at Nish curiously. "Did … you just meow to that cat?"
Nish looked up at Mark and nodded. "It was a side effect of the curse. I think it was supposed to be a detriment, but being a hunter, it only worked in my favour." He smiled.
Mark got a little nervous. "What … did the cat say?"
"He said to have fun today," he grinned at Mark.
Jones opened an eye, looking at Nish and purring softly, Keeping a secret? He almost looked like he was winking with the other eye closed.
Nish smiled and rubbed Jones' head in approval. "Now let's get some food, Mark."
Mark nodded, walking down beside the cat and stopping, before moving to pet him too. "Thanks for helping me sleep last night, kitty."
Jones heaved a happy sigh, "Mrrrrrrrrrt."
Nish chuckled, translating, "It was his pleasure."
With a warm lunch packed away and the rest of the waning day ahead, they made their way to the violet citadel.
"So the caverns … are inside?"
"A portal."
Mark's head tilted at the elf. "A … portal?"
"Yes…" He lead the way up the stairs to where a mage maintained a swirling vortex with a faintly flickering image. He bowed to her in greeting, and she smiled and nodded.
Mark repeated his actions, albeit a bit awkwardly, earning a polite chuckle behind a hand from the mage.
Nish motioned at the portal, "Now it's like a doorway. You just step through. It might give a bit of a jolt, but nothing more than an electric shock."
Mark nodded as he watched the magic warily.
"First time through a portal?" the mage asked.
Mark looked at her sheepishly, "First time with any magic. Wish me luck." He made a small grin.
She smiled, "Don't worry, you'll get used to it."
Mark watched Nishunel stride through the portal without any trouble, and straightened his posture a bit, before following him.
It was a bit of a jolt, but not in a bad way, almost like a surge of energy up his spine. And even his hidden wings felt a rush of energy.
He shook himself a bit on the other side, looking back to see the portal, before glancing around at the area, eyes locking on a bronze-coloured drake that hovered, flinching a bit.
Nish walked up to the drake. "Greetings, may I take my friend to the Caverns of Time?"
The drake nodded, "Of course. Only observe, or we will have to expel you to fix the wrinkle in time."
Mark looked confused, but nodded. "Only observe, understood." He looked around, surprised to see a statue fallen part-way and yet embraced in the mountain wall.
Nish smiled and moved to lead Mark. "This way." He led him deeper into the cavern. As they rounded a corner, there a blue roofed house and a tribal looking hut were also enveloped into the wall of the cave.
Mark looked at the buildings as they passed. "Wh—how did they get there?"
Nish looked up at the buildings as well. "Hm, you know, I don't know. The whole cavern is kinda weird, but … I try not to concern myself with loose ends."
Mark looked back at the buildings as they strolled past, fixed until he turned his head around to pay attention to the next bend. Another building, bigger, with windows still lit in an eerie glow, stood beside a large gap in the wall revealing a starry scene, which Mark first attributed to bioluminescence.
Until they came around the corner. A tree grew on the other side, branches frozen in a summer-time lush reaching for a ringed planet.
"Sa…Saturn?" Mark questioned, pausing.
Nish shrugged, "Not sure what planet it is, but why would the Bronze flight be strapped to Azeroth alone? Time doesn't even apply to them."
Mark looked closer as they continued down into the earth .. ? .. "No, it's got craters, it can't be Saturn," he mused to himself, pausing a moment. He had to stop his gawking and catch up as Nish travelled on.
A tattered cloth on a post stood before a doorway hewn in the cavern's wall. He looked in curiously, to see a man inside at a table. The man looked up, smiled at Mark and waved.
Mark slowed his gait a bit to wave back, surprised. He looked ahead to see block-built walls and columns erupting from the stone. He looked around, gaping at the ceiling and the surrounding area, losing track of Nish as he moved to touch one of the columns.
After a few more steps, he looked ahead, a clock tower and more cosmic displays catching his eyes. He trotted up to the area to see the path split in the middle, one path going higher and the other lower. He looked at the clock, going to the base and looking up. The hands were locked in the time 2:57. He wondered what happened at such a time that it was immortalized. He turned his gaze to study the sky, catching another planetary ring just barely hidden by the stone of the cave. When Mark's gaze turned further downward, he saw a twisting river of purple ether on the side of the cavern wall. He was baffled. "Nish, what's—" he looked around. He'd lost the nightelf. "Nish?" He looked around, anxious.
That's when a small cry caught his ears and he flinched. He slinked to the split path, peeking down over the edge.
What he saw chilled his already ectothermic heart.
Two golden bipedal dragon-like beings were surrounding a small, tiny little dragon whelp with black scales and glowing blue skin. They had already struck it across the face, making blood trickle down the narrow muzzle as it tried to dart away.
One of the dragon creatures struck down, the spear ripping through the wing, making the little whelp fall to the ground with another cry of pain.
Before he realized what he was doing, Mark had lept down, blocking the larger dragons from their victim. "It's a hatchling, what are you doing?!"
One snarled at Mark, pointing the spear at his throat. "It is an infinite whelp, its kind has been trying to unravel the past as long as they've been around!"
Mark looked at the whelp, which was staring at him with wide blue eyes, as if it couldn't believe he was defending it. He then looked back at the draconids, brows dipping down uncharacteristically low in a frown. "What damage could one that size do?"
"Whelps were causing havoc in the Black Morass!" the second draconid countered.
Mark set his jaw as he looked at them defiantly, two spearheads pointed directly at his throat. "I won't let you hurt a hatchling."
"Mark!"
The draconids' great heads turned to the dark elven form. "Nishunel," one regarded him.
"Dimordu, Sordu, I promise he means no harm," Nish addressed the two. "Just tell me what's going on?"
"He's defending an infinite whelp!" the first one bellowed.
"You know what that flight has tried to do to the history of Azeroth! You yourself had to foil their plans on several accounts."
With the larger draconids distracted talking to Nish, Mark turned to pick up the little hatchling, holding it protectively close to his chest, repeating his defense, "It's just a hatchling!"
Nish looked at the small, bleeding whelp in Mark's arms, then at the larger dragons, "The Infinites don't even let whelps that small battle. The ones in the Morass were at least twice his size. He's probably just a runt."
An undignified, slightly garbled snort came from Mark's embrace.
Nish's golden eyes rolled a bit as he looked at the whelp. "You are far too small for any normal hatchling… You are a runt."
The larger draconids looked at each other, then the hatchling. "What is it doing here?"
The thing whined and sulked against Mark.
The two draconids exchanged looks, before one pointed a spear at Mark's throat again.
"Listen to me, boy, if that whelp leaves your side, we will defend this cavern and timeline, weakling runt or not, so you better keep an eye on it."
Mark had flinched, moving to shield the hatchling with his body, before looking at them, then Nish, then back at the guards. "Understood."
They reluctantly backed away, grumbling to each other.
Mark looked at the small whelp, carefully trying to wipe blood from the nose. "What did you say to them?"
"I am a tiny dragon, they thought me weak and worthless." Nishunel answered.
Mark looked at Nish, startled, "He said that?"
Nish nodded, moving to pull a small vial of red liquid out, uncorking it and offering it to the little whelp. "Drink up."
The dragon did as told, the magical elixir healing the injuries.
Mark continued to hold onto the little whelp. "What's .. what's your name?"
The dragon looked up at him, letting a small whine.
Nish smiled softly. "His name is Mordnuzo."
Mark blinked and looked at Nish again. "You … understand?" Suddenly his face lit up. "You can ask the dragon what his name is!"
Nish looked down. "Actually I was talking to him this morning. He has none. He was hoping you would name him."
Mark blinked a few times in rapid succession, tilting his head. "M-me? But what if I choose wrong? Is there some sort of .. method to naming?"
"Normally the flights have names related to their flight, but since he has no flight –"
"Why doesn't he?"
Nish looked a bit sad. "He was stolen as an egg."
Mark's shoulders slumped a bit, embrace on the little whelp tightening a fraction. "As an … egg?"
Nish nodded. "So he has no flight and no name, and has been cycled through several 'owners', most of them cruel, before ending up where he is now. The ones that were cruel didn't name a "monster" and the ones that were kind knew they wouldn't keep him so didn't want to risk it."
Mark understood, lowering his head to look at Mordnuzo thoughtfully.
The small whelp looked back up at Mark.
The sight of those big, luminescent blue eyes made Mark smile a bit. "I'll think of something. We have a schedule to keep, don't we?"
Nish grinned a bit. "Sort of… Time down here doesn't really apply."
Nish's words were truth. By the time they had gone through all the major events in Azerothian history, they had literally spent days in the caverns, even resting in some of the strange buildings in the walls, but the sun was barely setting when they returned to Dalaran, Mark was shocked to learn that it was only the dawn of the next day.
"What about all the time in the Caverns?" He looked at Nish, confused.
Nish seemed thoughtful, before blinking and looking at Mark. "Excuse me? Oh, I told you. The Caverns are not tied to laws of time and place."
"Is something wrong?" Mark was concerned, he hadn't known Nish to space out.
"Nozdormu is off somewhere again and I was hoping to ask him some questions about the Aspects." He sighed a bit. "It'll have to wait. For the former aspect of time, he sure seems to waste it." He turned to Mark. "Have you thought about a name yet?"
Mark hesitated. "I … have an idea. Do you think he'd mind Finlay? If I remember correctly, it's from an Irish name meaning White Champion or something like that. There's also the Chinese name Bai, which is White or pure or many … something like that. Depends on the characters used…"
"Hm. Ultimately the decision is up to you two."
Mark nodded, thinking.
As if on cue, his dragon came trotting up to them with a cheerful whuff.
Mark smiled. "Hey." He kept one arm cradling the currently sleeping Mordnuzo, but reached out to rub the sinewy neck. "So I've been trying to think of a name and I got two choices, but … I don't know which one you'd want…"
The dragon's head lifted hopefully and tilted to one side.
"Well there's Bai which can have three meanings, or Finlay that means white champion. Which would you prefer? Or … uhm…" Mark hesitated.
The dragon seemed to think before making a chuff.
Nish chuckled. "He says he likes Finlay."
Mark smiled, then moved to hug his dragon. "Then Finlay it is."
The dragon's tail almost wagged as it draped its head over Mark's shoulders in a happy dragon hug.
