No Greater Disaster
AN: I don't actually have much to say up here, so let's just get straight into it.
Disclaimer: I do not own Raya and the Last Dragon.
Chapter 3:
He didn't sleep well. Now that they were in Spine and about to start the search for his sister, the doubts that had plagued him that first night of their journey came back. As such, he woke up later than he usually did—later than he wanted to.
Most of the hall was empty now, its drunk residents having carried themselves, or been carried, back home. He did spot Raya eating at one of the 'cleaner' tables, so he got up and made his way over to her. He sat down, not bothering with the stool, just in time for her to scoot another plate of food in front of him. He stared at it uncertainly for a few moments—his stomach was restless after last night—but in the end he decided it might be good to have something in the hopes of settling it.
After a few bites, he did indeed feel a little better. "Have you spoken with Tong yet?" he asked her.
"I mentioned that you wanted to talk with him," she replied. "He said to join him up at his house when we were ready."
He pushed the plate away and stood. "Then we go now," he declared. He walked about halfway to the door before he realized she hadn't followed.
Instead, she was swishing the contents of her mug around with a look of deep pondering. "I know you're worried, but this might be the last good meal we have in a while—especially if we don't stop searching until we find her. If that's the case, which it probably will be, we could be out there for a few days." She grabbed the plate of food, slid it back to where he was eating before, and patted the stool next to her. "So eat," she finished.
He studied her for a moment. As much as he wanted to leave to search for his sister right now, her words made sense. So, with great reluctance, he returned to his spot and finished his breakfast. She didn't say a word the entire time, and when he was finished, they both left together. There weren't many people out despite it being mid-morning already. They were probably all recovering from the hangovers caused by the previous night's revelry. "You are unusually quiet this morning, Raya," he stated.
She sighed. "The truth is…I'm starting to get worried, too."
"All the more reason to find my sister as soon as we can," he agreed with a nod, thinking that was the end of it. It wasn't.
"I'm worried about you," was her unexpected reply. He blinked in surprise, wondering if he had heard her correctly, then turned his gaze to her as she continued. "You weren't exactly quiet last night," she revealed. "They must have been some pretty bad nightmares."
He was quiet for a moment. He didn't get nightmares very often, but without knowing where Amba was—and seeing no sign of her in the village—his imagination was running in overdrive. He was unbelievably worried about what could have happened to her, but he had every right to be. It was his job to protect his siblings as the oldest. "Why did you not wake me?" he asked.
"I didn't think it would be a good idea to wake a sleeping dragon," she replied with a hint of humor.
A small smile gradually made its way onto his face. "I believe that only applies to Sisu," he replied, his own sense of humor returning. "Humans and dragons are not so different, you know," he told her, to which she looked at him in surprise. "Most of us do not wish to be treated differently because of what we are. We merely wish to be treated as equals."
He left things at that as they continued to Tong's house. It was only when they approached the door that Raya finally replied. "I've been friends with Sisu for two years now, but I think you've given me more to think about in five days than she has in our entire friendship," she said, sounding thoughtful.
Before he could reply, the door opened to reveal Tong with his signature toothy smile. "I thought I heard voices. Glad it's really you and not just in my head," he laughed. He stepped aside and gestured for them to enter. "Come in! Let us talk in comfort."
When he entered, he took a quick look around the Spine chief's home. There were a lot of furs and pelts on the walls and floor among other hunting trophies. It wasn't overly grand despite being the chief's home, but that was probably the way Tong liked it.
The Spine warrior settled himself down in a large chair in front of the lit fireplace, and he noticed another chair and a small pile of furs situated opposite of where Tong sat. It appeared as if he had prepared seating for his guests. Raya sat in the chair, and he settled on the furs—which were quite comfy, he had to admit. Then, Tong spoke. "Raya said you wanted to speak with me," he stated.
Pengu nodded. "My youngest sister, Amba, came to Spine a month ago with two of her friends. None of them have returned," he explained.
"And here I thought you just came to visit an old friend," he said to Raya in jest before becoming more serious. He leaned back in his chair and rubbed his chin in thought. "Hmm…three dragons did visit my village about a month ago," he confirmed. "And that name sounds familiar…"
"She has blue fur with white stripes on her back and her mane has some purple in it." He hoped his sister's description would help Tong remember.
His eye lit up in recognition and he leaned forward, excited. "Yes! I remember her now! One of my warriors challenged her to a test of strength." He chuckled. "He got his arm broken for his foolish decision." He sighed as he recalled the memory. "That was a great feast," he chuckled again.
"Do you throw every dragon a feast?" Raya asked, sounding both amused and curious.
"Of course!" he replied, excitedly. Then he slumped, "We don't get many dragons up here. Too cold for them, probably."
"But my sister?" Pengue pressed. "She was here?" Tong nodded at his question. "Do you know where she went?" he continued, a sense of urgency creeping into his tone.
Tong hummed in thought once more before he suddenly scooted closer and his voice became grave. "I do. She wanted to go explore Spine's northern territories," he revealed. He pinned them both with a serious look before continuing. "And I warned her just as I now warn you. The north of Spine is a dangerous place. If the cold or wolves don't kill you, the people will."
"People live that far north?" he heard Raya ask.
"Only those that have been banished there," Tong confirmed. "They live in lawless hives of villainy where only the strongest survive. And only the most ruthless and diabolical among them leads. They're nothing but murderers and scum." He looked over to him, and Tong's expression turned softer when he saw Pengu's expression.
For Pengu looked absolutely stricken with dread, and he was as close to a panic attack as he had ever been. He felt Raya's hand on his neck, and when he turned to her, her determined gaze helped to drag him back from the brink of despair. She turned back to the Spine chief. "We're going out to look for her," she declared. "If we need your help…will you give it?"
Tong smirked. "Say the word, and all of Spine will march behind you!" he promised. "Anything you need from the village is yours."
Raya nodded in thanks. "We'll need food, furs, and a map if you have one," she listed, to which he nodded.
"I'll see to it myself," he said as he stood. Pengu and Raya stood as well and followed Tong outside. "Meet me in the great hall in thirty minutes," he said, to which Raya nodded. With that, Tong set into the village in a swift jog to gather the supplies they requested.
He watched the Spine chief leave with a forlorn expression. He had come all this way holding onto a sliver of hope, yet Tong's warning had crushed any hope he had left. "My sister is dead…" he whispered hopelessly. He bowed his head and closed his eyes against the tears that threatened to spill.
Raya's hand found its way to his neck again. "Easy, big guy," she said gently. "We don't know that for sure."
"How can she not be!?" he asked desperately. There weren't many things that could get to him like this, but the fear of his siblings getting hurt or worse was his greatest insecurity. He wasn't paranoid by any stretch, but he was extremely close with each of his brothers and sisters. After all, it was his love for his siblings that made the Dragon Gem's creation possible. Without the bond of trust and love he shared with them, the Druun never would have been defeated.
"Maybe one of them got hurt, and the others are staying with them until they get better. Or maybe they got lost without a map," she reasoned. "There are other explanations as to why they're missing, Pengu. I know you're scared—I am, too—but we can't let that stop us. We'll find her. I promise."
He gazed into her eyes for a moment, taking in her determination and sympathy, before finally nodding with a sigh. "You are right. Forgive me for losing hope."
To his surprise, she pulled him in for a hug. He blinked, not expecting it, but returned it—slowly, at first, but then with gratitude. "There's nothing to apologize for. I can't imagine what you're going through."
He pulled away with a soft smile. "Thank you for coming with me, Raya. Without you…I doubt I could have faced this myself."
She smiled back at him. "Well, what are friends for?" she asked. "Now come on. We should wait for Tong in the great hall." She walked a few steps before stopping and waiting for him to follow.
His smile grew ever so slightly, and he took up a place beside her so they could walk together. She had called him friend. He had never had many true friends before—his siblings being the only dragons he regularly interacted with—but he had never minded. However, knowing that Raya thought of him as her friend made him feel a bit less lonely. "I have not had many friends before," he told her.
She looked surprised upon hearing that. "Really?" He nodded. "Not gonna lie, that's a bit of a surprise," she replied. "You seem like such a nice person…dragon…you know what I mean."
He chuckled. "I like to think so," he agreed. Then, his smile fell. "But many I cared for died in the original war with the Druun. Because of that, I am…afraid," he confessed.
"Of having friends?" she asked, confused.
He shook his head. "Of losing them," he replied softly. He felt her gaze linger on him, so he gave her a sad smile. "I appreciate your sympathy, but I am alright. My siblings were all the company I needed, but…I have become lonely as of late." His smile turned more genuine, "Which is why I would be honored to be your friend."
Before she could reply, Tong called out to them in a tone that made it clear that something bad had just happened. They saw him racing towards them from across the village, so the two of them raced to meet him. "Tong! What's wrong?"
He took a second to catch his breath before explaining. "One of my hunting parties just returned with an injured dragon," he explained. Raya and Pengu shared a look before following behind the Spine Chief.
"Is it my sister?" Pengu asked, his hopes raised…
Only to be dashed by Tong's reply. "No. Though I remember her as one of the dragons who visited with her." They ran to a building next to the main gate which turned out to be a store room, and Pengu wasted no time in entering, Raya right behind him. She gasped in horror upon witnessing the dragon's state.
The dragon was awake, to his surprise, but he could tell she was weak. There were three puncture marks on her side from arrows, and to his horror, her horn had been cut off. He knew this dragon as one of Amba's friends. She looked to see who it was that had entered, but when she recognized him, she would no longer look him in the eye. He closed the distance and tried but failed to get her to look him in the eye. "Halla, who did this to you?" he finally whispered.
"I abandoned her…" she whimpered. "She called for help, but I just kept running…"
"Amba?" he pressed. She whined again but nodded. "Where is she?"
She shook her head vigorously. "She's gone. They took her back to their camp. The only reason they didn't take me was because I played dead," she explained.
"Halla…who's 'they'?" he asked, a bit more firmly.
She finally looked him in the eye, and her gaze held such sadness and despair that he was surprised she was functioning as well as she was. However, when her reply came, it sent shivers down the spines of everyone who heard it. "Dragon hunters…"
"Murderous scum!" Tong growled. "They have no honor or respect for anyone!"
"How can anyone do that to a dragon?" Raya whispered in shock and horror.
He paid them no mind, however, as they continued to rage behind them. "You mentioned a camp, Halla," he said. She nodded, and Tong took that moment to speak again.
"There are many camps in the north," he said as he grabbed a scroll from his pockets. "This map has all of the ones we know of marked." He rolled it out and placed it gently across Halla since there wasn't anywhere else to put it.
"Do you remember which camp they took you to?" Pengu asked gently.
She studied the map for a few minutes before she pointed to one of them. "It was that one. I'm sure of it." It was labeled as 'Forsaken Glade', and Tong sighed in defeat when he saw which one she had pointed to.
"As I feared," he said quietly.
"Forsaken Glade…" Raya whispered. "What do you know of it?" she asked Tong.
"It is the largest of the camps, and it is led by the most ruthless man I have ever met," he said gravely. "The one time I ever crossed blades with him, he took my eye to forever remind me of my failure." He touched his eyepatch for emphasis, and the air in the room grew silent and tense.
Tong was a great warrior, yet for him to be so apprehensive—scared even—of this man caused both Raya and him to second guess their decision to go there. But they had to. "Tell me everything you remember, Halla. If we stand any chance at rescuing Amba, I need to know as much as you can tell me."
She seemed to panic at that. "Y-You can't! It's not possible! They'll just kill you…o-or worse! Our people need to be warned, a-and they need you!"
"Nothing is impossible," he replied calmly. "Tell me what you know…so I can bring Amba home."
She seemed to struggle with herself on whether or not to tell, but she finally nodded. "…Okay," she whispered.
She spent the next while telling them everything she remembered about the camp, and by the end of it, he had to admit that rescuing his sister and the other dragons would be a tall order. As Halla explained, there were around twenty captured dragons in that camp and a few hundred guards. The entire complex was self-sufficient with its own hunting parties, blacksmith, and tribute from the other camps. It was also walled and heavily fortified with ballistae mounted on the walls.
Even the surrounding geography helped in its defense, for it was situated on a flat plain with no cover for attacking troops to use against arrows or to avoid detection. Despite what he said mere minutes ago, the task did seem almost impossible.
It was Raya, though, that seemed to have a plan. "You said if we needed your help, the warriors of Spine would march behind us," she addressed Tong, who looked at her curiously. "But will you still help us, despite who we're going to fight?"
He grinned and stood tall. "I've been wanting a rematch ever since he took my eye. I'll gather enough warriors to take the camp, and we'll free all the captured dragons!"
Though he didn't voice it out loud, Pengu had a third objective in mind. Dragons may have been peaceful creatures by nature, but this atrocity could not stand. Those that thought they could trap and enslave his kind were about to learn that he would make them all pay…
AN: If I'm being honest, the second half of this chapter is a bit iffy for me. There's just something about it that seems off, so let me know if there is anything weird or if I'm just overthinking things.
Until Next Time
AdmiralCole22