Heart and the gang get to meet the dragon Lady that rules the land. How will this meeting go as well as the aftermath from it?
Ch 12: The Dragon Lady
The group got led to a big cave at the base of the volcano. It was big compared to the other caves that covered the cliff faces. One yellow and one dark orange dragon stood watch outside the cave. Both of them were big and scary, most likely part of some kind of guard. When they walked up to them, they stopped the group.
"What is your reason for seeing the Lady?" The yellow one asked.
"We wish to speak with her about a special request." Molten told them.
"What kind of request?" The dark orange one wondered.
"We wish for that to remain personal and classified." Molten answered.
The yellow one huffed and then they moved out of the way. "You may pass."
The group huddled together and started their way forward, Molten leading.
"You know for a border guard you seem to be a bad one for just letting anyone walk in here." The dark orange one said to Molten as he passed with a growl.
Molten just growled in annoyance and just tried to keep his head up as they walked into the cave. Heart noticed and went up next to the dragon and rubbed her muzzle against his leg. The dragon looked down at her and just smiled.
"Sorry about him, he is my older brother. He always gets to me. Making me feel like I do bad at my duty." Molten explained.
"Don't let your siblings put you down. You do what you know is right and that is what's important." Heart told him.
"Thank you, Heart. Those words make me feel better." The dragon said happily.
The hybrid nodded and nuzzled him again and fell back in line with her friends. The group walked through the cave that was filled with little treasures and knickknacks of all kinds. Heart learned the dragons did like to hoard things. So maybe this was like a stash to them or at least the Lady of the dragons. They soon stepped on a red carpet and it led up to, what looked like, a throne.
There were more two young black dragons sitting at the bottom of the throne, both had chains attached to their curled ram horns. They looked to be asleep but when they entered, they lifted their heads and slanted their eyes at them. The group hid behind Molten and Dorothy stood close by him.
"Why do you come?" The one on the left said.
"And why do you disturb us?" The other added.
"Sorry for the disturbance young Lords." Molten said with a bow. "We are here to see Lady Nebbia."
"You wish to speak to our mother? Why?" The one huffed.
"That I cannot tell you, that is business between us, young Lord Nero." Molten answered.
The other black dragon stood. "I demand to know about your reasoning for coming here. Disturbing us during our sleep time as well as disturbing our mother. She will not speak to you."
Molten's eyes slanted with anger, "I do not take orders from you yet...young Lord Yami." He hissed.
The black dragon, Yami, hissed back at the border guard.
"Enough!" A booming feminine voice called out.
At that everyone went quiet and Molten bowed his head. Dorothy did too. The group looked at one another and did the same. They didn't want to seem out of place or disrespectful. They heard the flapping of wings and then the tapping of claws against the rocks.
"You may rise." The feminine voice said.
They did as so, lifting their heads. When they did, they were met with a large grey dragon in front of them on the throne. Gold chains along her semi curled in horns. As well as gold bracelets on their arms. A necklace around her neck with a red gem on it. This was the Lady of the dragons. Their leader. Nebbia.
"Now, what is all this commotion about?" Nebbia said calmly.
"Mother, I was handling it." Yami said with a bit of anger in his voice.
"Hold your tongue, Yami." She snapped at him. "Just because you are the oldest and the next Lord of dragons does not mean you get to rule just yet. You still have a lot to learn."
Yami huffed and just sat down next to his mother. The other young dragon Nero also went to his mother's side, opposite his brother.
The female dragon cleared her throat. "I'm sorry about my son, do not mind his temper tantrum. What brings you here?" Molten and Dorothy parted and showed the group behind them. "Ah! I thought I smelled something off." She looked at Heart with slanted eyes. "And a hybrid. How interesting. Surprised you are alive. Usually, hybrids don't survive long here. I've never seen you before, step forward."
Heart was nervous a moment as she was put on the spot like that. She slowly stepped forward until she stood next to Molten. She bowed her head to the Lady. "Good evening my Lady. My name is Heart. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Very nice to meet you. I am Lady Nebbia. Now, tell me little one, why have I not seen you before? Plus, how a hybrid is alive and in front of me?" The leader asked.
Heart looked to her mother and then back to Nebbia. "I was given to my father as a day-old pup. I was raised by wolves and taken in by my adopted mother since my father did not want me. So, I knew nothing of dragons, where they were or where I came from when growing up."
Nebbia hummed and nodded. No wonder a hybrid managed to live. She was taken out before anyone could discover her. Hybrids were a nuisance to the dragon blood. Not pure. Dirty. That is why hybrids got killed most of the time, but Heart had slipped past her claws in time.
The wolf then smiled and stood strong. "When I was kicked out of my pack, I was trying to find my place in the world. I wanted to learn about dragons. I want to know more about the side of myself I didn't get to experience."
"Ah, a self-finding journey?" Nebbia wondered.
Heart nodded. "Thanks to the help of my friends, I was able to find my true mother." She looked up at Dorothy who smiled down at her. "Which now brings me to you, My Lady. I wish a request from you if you may let me."
"A request you say?" Her eyes flashed a moment. "Well then, let's hear it."
The hybrid took a breath and kept herself calm. "I wish to live here. With the dragons. Learn what I can. I couldn't be a dragon when I was being raised as a wolf. So, I want to learn."
Lady Nebbia paused for a moment. It was a request she didn't hear before. It was strange. She wanted to live with dragons. The leader smiled at her. "Well then my girl, I think I can request this. On one condition."
Heart was smiling and looked up at her with big eyes and a wagging tail. "Yes, my Lady, what is it you need me to do?"
Nebbia giggled. "Just something simple." She stood up from her throne, becoming bigger now that she was on all four of her legs. "Cut ties with that deer next door. Along with these so-called friends of yours that you have brought here with you." She huffed and smoke came out her nose. "That disgusting demon. I could smell him on you from miles away."
Heart paused for a moment and just looked up at the dragon. Her heart was beating in her chest, she could hear it in her ears. "Cut ties...with Alastor? My friends?" She made sure she heard her correctly. She looked back to the group behind her as they looked at her with worried eyes and her ears went back. Then she looked back to the Lady. From the way that the dragon acted she must not have liked Alastor.
"Yes, we can't have you affecting our land with him as your ally." Nebbia explained. "You have to lose everything associated with him. Start fresh. Do this and you will be welcomed."
Heart was left speechless. Why did she have to do this? Out of everything else. "Does...does it have to be this? Can't there be another way?" The hybrid asked.
The dragon's brows slanted. "If you can't let go of our enemy then you will be an enemy yourself."
Heart gulped and nodded. She tried to think. She couldn't let go of Alastor. She couldn't. He meant too much to her. He did so much for her to live where she is now. Stood up for her. Trusted her. She...she...loved him. Something she wouldn't admit out loud but it was finally figured out in that brain somewhere. Whether he would return the feelings she didn't care, but she couldn't let go of him. Nor let go of the friends she made. They all were a big part of her life now. It was too much to not have them in her life. He meant too much to her to just...leave him. She can't picture herself without him.
Looking down she whispered, "I can't."
The Lady growled. "Excuse me?" She heard, but she wanted to make sure she heard correctly.
Heart lifted her head and looked at the dragon with a smile. "I can't." She repeated. "They mean so much to me. I can't lose them. Alastor especially. He showed me love no one has ever given me before besides my own adoptive mother. I can't just...let him go. After all he has done for me."
Nebbia was silent. She still had the same angry look in her eyes. Her blood was boiling. The room was quiet. No one said a word. The leader flapped her wings once then twice. She bared her teeth a moment but then took a breath. Closing her eyes and then turned to walk back to the throne.
"I cannot change your mind, so that is fair." She sat down and looked to Heart. "So, leave. Don't come back either. If you come back...I will tell the border guards to kill you."
Heart took a step back. She wasn't expecting that kind of hostility. She looked up at her mother who only looked down at her sadly. Heart went and walked back to her group of friends and they all huddled around her in a small kind of group hug.
"Take them back to the border. All of them! Get them out of here. Now!" Nebbia ordered with a growl.
Molten just bowed. "Yes, my Lady."
The group huddled together and looked up at the orange dragon. They didn't argue as they looked at the Lady and bowed their heads. "Thank you for seeing us." They all said before they turned around and then walked the way they came. Both dragons close behind them.
When the group left. Nebbia thrashed her tail and banged it off the ground. She growled until sparks started to come out of her mouth. Smoke in her nostrils.
"Yami." She started with venom in her voice.
The young dragon stood and went up to her. "Yes mother."
Nebbia grinned and then laughed a moment. "Tomorrow. In the morning. Take your brother out and maybe a few of your friends. I want you to...go have some fun."
Yami grinned for a moment as well. "Fun, you say mother?"
"Yes. Fun. Maybe if you do a good job, we'll have venison for dinner." Nebbia said as she started to laugh more.
Yami and Nero started to join their mother in laughter.
As they got to the edge of the dragon territory, Heart had her head down and looked at the ground. Everyone was worried about her. Especially since the dragon leader gave her such a big thing to choose from. The hybrid knew what was more important. Her friendship with the others she met was something she couldn't let go. Plus, finally finding love in a demon she knows will probably not love her back. Being a dragon was something she could live without; she realizes this now. She already lived this long without learning about dragons. She would be ok with her whole lifetime.
Once they got to the border, they all stopped and the group turned to face the dragons they had met. Molten was a little hostile to them at first but he grew to like the small group. They all weren't bad demons at all.
Dorothy loved the small group and was glad to be reunited with her hatchling she let go of years ago. To know that the hybrid didn't hate her made her heart feel a little better from all the guilt she's had. Although...now Heart wouldn't be allowed back into the territory. She couldn't build a bond with the daughter she let go. It broke her heart all over again.
The dark red dragon put her snout down to Heart and nuzzled it against her. The wolf rubbed back against the dragon's nose as she felt like crying. At least she found her true mother. This small journey wasn't all a complete loss. Although now that she found her...she was losing her. All on the same day.
"I want you to come visit me." Heart whispered to her. "Veronica watches over the border between us."
"I can try, but I can't make any promises. I know Lady Nebbia will keep an eye on me for a short time. I probably won't be able to leave the territory for about a month or so. Especially since she knows I'm your mother and that you are allies with the deer next door." Dorothy told her.
The hybrid nodded and her tears did end up falling. "I just want to be able to see and talk to you again. I don't want this to be the last time I see you. Especially now that I found you."
The dragon nuzzled her again, "I know little hatchling. I'll make sure it won't be."
Veronica stepped forward a little bit towards them. "If you ever come to the border, I will make sure that Heart knows right away. I promise you. No one else will know. I'll make sure of it."
"Thank you, young fox." The female dragon smiled. "I appreciate you helping."
"You should get going." Molten said sadly. "Don't want anyone else seeing you are still here."
"Thank you." Heart started. "For everything Molten. You helped us out so much."
The dragon felt a blush form on his face. "Y-Your welcome." He said, looking away.
"It was wonderful to meet you all. Thank you." Chicka said.
"Yes, thank you from me as well." Jazz added.
"You guys take care ok. Get home safely." Dorothy said to them.
The group nodded and then turned around. Since they were still unsure of the lava field that now lay in front of them, Violet was in front of the group. They started to walk but when Heart took a few steps she stopped and looked back. She saw the two dragons lift a paw and wave to them. Heart did the same back and she just looked at them sadly. She stood there a few more seconds and just felt her tears fall as she turned around and started to follow the group from the back.
The walk back was quiet. No one said a word. Just the sound of paws and hooves under dried earth could be heard. Heart was still in the back of the group. She didn't say anything the whole time. Her mind just lost, not thoughts really crossed her. She was just blank. She hated leaving but at the same time...was glad to be heading back home. She missed Alastor. She hoped he wasn't too worried about her.
Once they crossed the lava field they headed back to the woods where they had rested before. They went into the woods and tried to find some food. Jazz and Olivia went to go find something. The others just laid down. It was getting dark anyway so it would be best to rest for the night. Heart just put herself under a tree away from the others and tried to sleep. She honestly wasn't hungry.
When the big cats returned with some prey, they all shared but Heart stayed in her spot. Violet was worried so she stood up, grabbed a small squirrel the cats caught and walked over to her. She set it down by the wolf's head.
"You should eat. Keep your strength up." The caribou said.
"I'm not hungry." Heart said softly and turned her head away.
"Even if you say that I know it's a lie. You should eat anyway." Violet told her.
Heart just stayed still and didn't look. Violet just laid down next to the hybrid and just put her head over top of her. "I'll stay here with you."
Soon enough the whole small group walked over, even some with prey they dragged it over. They sat close to Heart and made sure to surround her. She lifted her head up and looked around at her friends that now sat close to her. She smiled and felt like crying. She was scared of losing her friends. She didn't want that. She didn't want to lose anyone that was important in her life. Not just them but Alastor too.
"Thank you." Heart whispered and nuzzled close to Violet since she was the closest.
"We know we aren't' family Heart, but we are friends and sometimes that is the family you really need." Chicka told her as the bird was nuzzled into the fur on the hybrids neck.
"I don't know what I would do without you guys." Heart said as she started to get emotional. She did cry a little bit but once she calmed back down from that she looked at the squirrel Violet had given her. She took it and started to devour the small animal. She honestly was very hungry and she felt her stomach rumble. She hadn't eaten since earlier.
Once the food was all gone, they all huddled around Heart and soon they all fell asleep. No one woke up or was startled by their dreams. They were all comfortable and rested under the stars. Heart dreamed of her mother, thinking of what could have happened if she could stay with her. Then it switched over to Alastor. She missed him; the hybrid didn't know if she could stay away from him. She was going to express her feelings to him when she got home. She wanted the deer to be in her life. She couldn't be without him.
When the sun was just peaking over the land, they all managed to wake up. Heart woke up and then everyone else followed afterwards. They didn't worry about hunting as they could do that when they got home. They stretched and went on their way. They made it back up the mountain and followed the path they had gone when they left. Heart was at the lead, Chicka on her head again, Violet behind her then Veronica, Jazz, and Olivia. The small group was just glad to be heading home.
"I will admit...I am happy to go home. I don't know what I was thinking...Doing this journey." Heart said sadly.
"You wouldn't have known, dear." Chicka reassured her. "At least you did get a good thing out of this though."
Heart smiled slightly. "Yes, that is true. I found my true mother. I was glad to have you guys with me on this though. I'm just sorry about what happened afterward."
"You wouldn't have known the Lady would act that way. Don't worry too much about it." The bird told her as she patted the side of her head with a wing.
"Honestly, now, thinking about it. I don't know if I could live with the dragons. Alastor's land is my home now and...it feels like home now." They hybrid said with a content look on her face. "I don't think I can picture myself out of the forest. Let alone away from my friends."
"Plus, you like Alastor." Chicka squeaked quickly with a grin.
Heart felt her ears get hot with a blush. "I plan to tell him." She mumbled.
"Oh my god what? Really?!" The chickadee wondered in surprise.
The wolf gives a chuckle. "Yes. I made my decision after this journey. I can't picture my life without that deer now." She says with a smile.
"Aw Heart, I'm so excited for you. I know Alastor will say he likes you to." The bird chirped.
Heart tried to look up at the bird, "You think so?"
"I know so. Then maybe you guys will be mates when that time comes around." She winked.
Heart feels her face get hotter. "Oh, I don't know about that Chicka. I don't want to plan too far ahead."
"Never say never!" She said and that just made Heart laugh.
After a half hour they soon saw the mountain that bordered Alastor's land. Heart put her head high and smiled. Home. A place she called her own. She started to walk quicker until she was then in a run. She was excited. She wanted to see him. Apologize. Tell him her feelings. The others could feel the excitement and started to run behind her as well. They were in the final stretch.
Soon they had made it. Across the border and looked at the forest below. Heart was panting and a huge smile was on her face. She slowed down to follow the trail down the mountain. While she did though, she could smell his scent. She knew his scent well. It was fresh too. Did he know they were gone?
The hybrid didn't care. Halfway down the mountain, she howled. Calling out to him. Letting him know she was back.
"Heart, what are you doing?" Violet asked her.
The wolf looked behind her at the Cervidae, a big smile on her face still, "Calling to him."
"Who?" The caribou wondered.
"Why the Lord of course." Chicka answered.
Heart then howled again and this time she saw some birds fly up from the trees not far off. As the group reached the bottom of the mountain, Alastor burst out from the undergrowth. He was panting heavily; most likely he was running to them. Hearing the hybrids howl.
There was a moment of silence as everyone stopped and just stared at Alastor, but the deer was only looking at Heart for that moment. He was glad the whole group came back alive but even still he was worried.
Without warning, Heart went forward quickly and ran up to Alastor. She nuzzled her face in his neck making a happy whining noise. She was so happy to see him again. The deer responded by doing the same, now that he knew she was real and back with him again. She had returned and was safe. He rubbed his head against her neck as his tail wagged happily. He started to lick her neck affectionately and he didn't care who saw. He loved this demon and nothing was going to split them now that she was back.
When they finally pulled away, they just looked at one another in the eyes.
"I thought you would be gone for good." Alastor said softly.
Heart smiled softly at him. "I'm sorry I worried you."
"It's ok. Now that you're back home, that is all I care about. I'm happy you're safe. As well as everyone else." The deer told her.
"Showed true leadership skills if you ask me." Chicka chirped behind them.
Alastor lifted his head to look at the bird. "Is that so?" Looked back to Heart. "See darling, you can be a leader when you want to be."
Heart's ears got warm, "I guess."
Alastor chuckled, "Now, I will ask about your journey in a moment but for the moment...who might this be?" He asked as he looked at Violet.
The purple caribou bowed her head to him. "Lord, I graciously ask if I can live on your land. I've helped this group through dangerous territory and they offered me a better place to live in return for my assistance."
Alastor looked at the group. "Is this true?"
Everyone nodded.
"Please let her stay Al. She is a friend now." Heart pleaded slightly. "She lived on bad land."
The deer took a breath and looked back to the Cervidae before him. "Very well, but first the first few days you will be monitored. Do you understand?"
"Yes sir." Violet nodded as her tail wagged.
"Good." He looked back at the group. "As for you all, I am glad to see you are all back safely. It was dangerous, but I am glad you went together."
"We couldn't let Heart go alone." Olivia said with a roll of her eyes.
"Even so, I am grateful. What did you discover on your journey?" Alastor asked.
"I found my true mother." Heart answered.
"Oh? Is that so? How did that go?" Alastor was curious.
"It was hard to figure out at first, but with help from another dragon I was able to dig deep down and sniff her out. She was sweet. I understood now why she abandoned me. Well, it wasn't abandonment. It was just for my safety. I would have been killed if she didn't take me to Alpha."
"Safety? Well that I can understand." The deer said. "Sometimes dragons can be rough and will kill without thought of consequences."
Heart's tail wagged, ignoring his comment for the moment. "My mother is very nice. She was so happy to see me alive. I wanted to be with her. I wanted to live with the dragons...so I went to talk with the Lady."
Alastor froze. "You went to talk to Lady Nebbia?"
Heart's ears went back, she didn't like how the deer froze like that. "Well...yes." She told him. "It was the only way I could find out. She was nice at first but she quickly turned around after the conditions she wanted me to do."
The Deer Lord was silent a moment as he looked at her dumbfounded. "You shouldn't have gone to her."
"W-Why? I don't understand." Heart was confused.
"The dragons are not our allies, Heart!" Alastor snapped. "We have been under attack from them for years. Lady Nebbia does not like me after I tried to make a deal with her on things. She wouldn't take my conditions. So, she decided to hate me instead."
The wolf's ears went back and she tucked her tail between her legs. "I...I didn't know. I'm sorry Al."
"Alastor, don't be mad at her. We all thought it would have been a good idea. It wouldn't have hurt to try." Chicka told him.
The deer growled a moment. "You could put us in danger because of this."
"Danger? How?" Olivia wondered.
Soon after she said that there was a roar in the distance. Everyone froze.
"What was that?" Jazz wondered out loud.
Another roar, this time it was closer.
Alastor looked up into the sky and soon enough, just beyond the border, there were dragons flying towards them. At least four in total.
The deer looked wide eyed up and then down to the group "We're under attack!"
Oh damn. This doesn't seem too good. What chaos is going to ensue from this?