Hello one and all! I've awakened, apologies from having been dormant for so long. Dragons often go into long periods of hibernation to recuperate their systems. That's exactly what I needed to get my thoughts straight. Regardless, I'm back, active, and feeling energized. I hope you enjoy this chapter as I get back into the swing of things. Best Regards! -The Emyrian Dragon
Ch 31: Drawing Connections-Rating: Mostly Safe: Minor Intimate References
Kanna rushed towards Sierra, nuzzling at her underbelly. The dragon cohort watched the heartfelt scene with compassion for their dragoness friend. "Don't leave us, Lady Sierra!" Kanna exclaimed. Sierra looked down at the white dragoness with a friendly smile, "Don't worry little one, I'll figure something out." She said reassuringly. "What are you even saying right now?! You're an adult dragon, you have responsibilities. It's not exactly easy to leave, especially a dragon in my position of leadership such as myself." Sierra thought, drawing a blank. "Kanna, you only just met Sierra, how can you already have such a strong bond already?" Tohru asked, flabbergasted.
"She's like a guardian, just like Kobayashi is. She seems to be looking out for me. I trust her." Kanna replied. The white dragoness looked from Tohru to Sierra to meet her gaze. "Oh my, she's such a cutie. Can I really take on this responsibility of looking after Kanna? She seems to have taken a liking to me but…" Sierra thought, realization suddenly hit her. Sweat began to run down her snout as worry settled in her mind. Everyone could tell Sierra was having a hard time coping with the situation, Kanna nuzzled up even closer against Sierra. "I don't know what to do, everyone, this is a huge burden I carry on my shoulders. I can't just leave, that would throw everything into havoc here." Sierra explained.
"Seems power comes at a price in any world." Kanna added. Sierra chuckled, "I suppose you're right Kanna." She said calmly, seeming to enjoy the comfort of the white dragoness. Everyone seemed stumped, their friend wasn't exactly in a position to leave. Yet everyone knew Sierra would be a valuable asset in protecting Kobayashi, she was a soldier after all, and most likely has more fighting experience than all the others combined! "W-We can't just leave you here, Sierra!" Tina exclaimed. "That's right!" Cynder shouted cutting Tina off. "I'm not leaving any of my dragoness pals behind, especially an adult dragoness~" She said teasingly.
Sierra laughed at this statement, "What exactly does that imply?" She asked. Cynder gestured with her head in Tohru's direction. "You know." Cynder said, gesturing several more times. Kanna, Sierra and Tohru all exchanged confused expressions, Cynder rolled her eyes. "Really? You don't get it? Then maybe this will make it crystal clear." She stated. Cynder made two of her clawed digits touch, forming the "Ok" symbol. She extended her forked tongue licking the "Ok" symbol from bottom to top. Spyro and Eren seemed to be shocked, as they looked at each other, not saying a word but flailing their wings and clawed hands around in confusion about what they had just witnessed.
"Kobayashi could even be a part of that, if you know what I mean~" Cynder added. The dragonesses suddenly realizing what Cynder meant all blushed. "That's highly inappropriate Cynder! Suggesting such things, while little ones are present." Sierra protested. She looked at Kanna who beamed a smile up at her, "She's so cute, I can't resist wanting to protect something so precious." Sierra thought. She continued, "What are you Cynder? An attention whore?" Sierra asked suggestively. "You think I'm that selfish? Trying to do this for attention?" Cynder asked surprised. "I'd believe it." Sierra replied. Cynder looked at Sierra with slits for eyes, and Sierra looked at her with a similar gaze. "Oh no, here we go again. Please don't fight." Tina pleaded.
"What? They fought before?! I thought you were all on good terms." Tohru reasoned. Tina shook her head, "Even before you got here, Sierra and Tina got into a fight with one another. The reason, Sierra had finished her morning patrol and had returned to the cave to rest. When Cynder returned, because she went along, she thought Sierra was self-indulging herself. An argument and fight stemmed from there, all you need to know is they're on bad terms with each 're…" Tina explained, as Kanna jumped in. "They're like cats and dogs." A wide grin spread across Tina's face. "Exactly!" Tina exclaimed with admiration. "They sound just like Lady Tohru and Lady Elma." Kanna added.
Tina looked at the white dragoness with a confused expression, "Tohru's on bad terms with another dragon? Why didn't you tell us about this Tohru?" Tina asked, shifting her gaze to the green dragoness. Tohru had a look of disgust on her face, "Our encounters have been rather...destructive." She said reflectively. "They destroyed three islands during their last encounter." Kanna chimed in. Tohru quickly turned to face Kanna with a deadly stare, the white dragoness lowered her head. "Well." Kobayashi began to say, scratching her head. "I guess all dragons can't simply settle their disputes in a civilized manner. It always has to be a test of strength, huh?"
Tohru's irritated expression dissipated as she heard Kobayashi's statement. "Miss Kobayashi, we're not that berserk! It's how we assert ourselves to prove our point. It's a standoff." Tohru explained. Tina laughed shaking her head, "So what started this rivalry between you and this...Elma character anyways?" Tohru shuttered at hearing the name of her rival being voiced once again "She's from a different faction, not all dragons ally themselves with the same faction. I'm with Chaos obviously, Elma is with the Harmony faction—They seek time bring peace and order to the world. Since we're from different conflicting factions, we oppose each other." Tohru explained.
Tina nodded, "I don't think there's anything to worry about, besides you're the only ones who came through that portal. I don't see any conflict arising among this group anytime soon." She said cheerfully. Tohru face lit up, a large grin spreading across her face. "T-Thank you T-Tina." Tohru stuttered, lightly blushing. Tina smiled slightly, taking notice to Tohru's admiration. "Alright, let's try to help Sierra everyone!" Tina said proudly. A gleeful expression crossed Sierra's face. "Is there anyone you can think of who you'd trust to fill your position?" Eren questioned. Everyone nodded seeming to reach the same consensus.
Sierra looked lost in thought, after a moment she opened her maw to speak once again. "I could put Eon in charge I suppose." Sierra said calmly. "Well what are you waiting for, go get her girl!" Cynder said abruptly. Sierra exchanged a warm smile with Cynder, knowing that the tension between them for the time being had subsided. "Don't worry guys, I'll be back before you know it." Sierra said cheerfully, and with that Sierra was gone in a light blue blur. "So where do you all wish to go once we get out of the cave system?" Spyro asked, breaking the silence. "Anywhere besides this dreadful cave system, nothing but stone, stone, and more stone." Cynder whined. "Don't forget the occasional patch of dirt." Tina added. "And stalagmites and stalactites protruding from the floor!"
Cynder looked at Tina with dagger for eyes, "Seriously Tina, don't you have sort of grace as a female dragoness? You're a female of the species after all, have some dignity!" Cynder criticized. Tina raised her snout proudly, "I'll have you know that not all dragonesses are going to meet your expectations Cynder. Not all of us are as "lady like" of a dragoness such as yourself, however those who take the time can still see our true colors and beauty within." Tina expressed. Eren blushed, looking at her with admiration. "That's right, I wouldn't have you any other way." Eren said, wrapping his wings around Tina in a loving embrace.
Both dragons were blushing profusely. Cynder looked confused, "What's the deal with this sudden affection?" Cynder asked. Suddenly a pair of wings embraced her from behind, she was caught off guard. Cynder looked behind her to see Spyro, embracing her in a manner similar to how Eren was embracing Tina. "What? What is the meaning of this?" Cynder asked confused. Spyro and Eren both let out a sigh, "I think it's just our way of saying, we want to protect you." Eren said soothingly. Spyro nodded in agreement.
Tina looked up at Eren beaming a smile, she couldn't be prouder of her male counterpart. Cynder looked up at Spyro then quickly averted her gaze, letting out a sigh. "You always know I got you back right?" Spyro asked. "Yea I know." Cynder replied gloomily. Tohru and Kobayashi watched the heartfelt scene as Kanna retired to a corner out of boredom, playing with her pom-pom tail. "They're really not all that different if you think about it." Kobayashi said. "Yea, I think they've all found the one they love most, the one worth protecting. Their true treasure." Tohru said reflectively.
Tohru's face then lit up with realization, "Miss Kobayashi, you must be my treasure, you're the one I want to protect most!" Tohru blurted out loudly. "Isn't that what you've been doing for me already?" Kobayashi asked. "Yea, I suppose so but I want to do...more." Tohru expressed. Kobyashi went wide eyed as to what she was implying, she looked nervously around the room. "Well I suppose we'll just have to start somewhere." Kobayashi said reluctantly. Slowly, Kobayashi made her move closing the distance between her and Tohru.
Her lips made contact with Tohru's snout as she gave it a passionate kiss. Tohru's dragon pupils went wide, her black wings fluttering ever so slightly. Tohru couldn't believe it, Kobayashi was never this open about her feelings. Yet she had just kissed her, on the snout nonetheless! With Kobayashi and an excited Tohru blushing profusely, Tohru knew that a spark had ignited within Kobayashi. She felt as though she should offer something more than her than just her tail, her full dragoness form.