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Chapter Six

Arguments and Irritability

"Why art thou crying?"

Fou-Lu jumped, startled awake by the soft voice. Rubbing the sleep and tears out of his eyes, he answered the concerned question. "'Twas a dream…an old memory." Vision mostly recovered, he looked up to meet Yahla's gaze.

Her golden eyes were worried, her brow slightly furrowed. It gave her face a rather preoccupied air, as though the weight of the world was on her shoulders.. "Of what, pray tell?"

He considered telling her, but shrugged it off. I needst not add unto her worries… "Naught. 'Tis of no import."

She accepted his excuse with a raised brow. Fou-Lu found himself half expecting her to continue the line of questioning, but nothing was forthcoming. It was a relief. There were some questions he was not eager to answer.

"Didst thou sleep well?" the dragon asked at last, to break the silence.

"Indeed," she replied, seated next to him. The goddess was still half dragon, winged and scaled. "I be to understand that thou didst not?"

"They didst not become unfavorable dreams until the very last," he assured her. "Mine rest was pleasant."

"I be glad, for it seemeth we both shalt be needing our energy today," the female said seriously, rising to her feet. He followed suit, topping her height by several inches.

"What dost thou mean?" he asked, frowning. He was still tired, not quite awake, and his mind was processing slowly.

"To reach Chedo we needs must get out of this forest, the fact that humans art searching for us notwithstanding, and 'twould be wise to remain on the move." Her matter of fact tone reflected her expression, that a blunt and outspoken disposition.

"I fear thou art more awake than I," he yawned, attempting to get his sleepy brain back up to speed. It was an uphill struggle, with his body protesting all the way.

She slapped him lightly on the arm, smiling. "Then waken, for we hast not the time. I dost not know where within this forest we be, so I canst not measure the distance to the capital," Yahla continued. "'Twould be a fair course of action were we to begin our trek to Chedo."

"I be wise to that, fere," the emperor replied with mild causticity. "Pray halt thine harping upon it so I mayest stir mineself."

The dragoness scowled, making her displeasure clear. "Speed. I wish to be away. 'Tis too near where the mortals knowest us to be."

He yawned again and stretched, arching his lithe back. Sleeping on dirt added aches and pains along his spine, and he twisted his neck to the side in an attempt to work a crick out of it. "I takest thou hast been awake for some time?"

"Yes. I hast been awake, and thinking," she replied, following the movement of his body with appreciation.

"I canst tell…" he muttered, still working the pangs out of his stiff body.

"What was that?"
"Naught…"

Soon, they were both on the move, passing through the virgin timberland. Fou-Lu assumed half-dragon form near the start of the march, because his skin was less likely to tear on the undergrowth in that frame. A discussion on whether or not it would be wiser to fly than walk reached the final conclusion that it would be best to remain on the ground, least the mortals see them and attempt to shoot them out of the sky. Fou-Lu had argued in favor of speed, Yahla for caution. They reached a compromise. They would utilize flight once they exited the lush woodlands, as it would be difficult to conceal their presence after that point anyway.

Thick undergrowth proved no barrier to a pair of dragons, and they made fairly good time. They stopped to rest but once, and that merely because maintaining dragon form was wearing Fou-Lu out.

When the sun went down over the edge of the horizon, they continued their travel. Light faded with the salmon-pink sunset, but as dragons their night vision was excellent. Unhindered by the lack of light, they finally stopped around midnight. A mossy patch of ground provided a comfortable bed, and they curled up together to sleep. Both slept well, pressed cheek to cheek. Fou-Lu had no disturbing dreams. This time, he dreamt of happier times…

"What?" He lowered his gaze to stare at the female he was hugging. "Didst…didst thou sayest thou wert… with child?" the emperor asked cautiously, sliding a hand down to touch his beloved's stomach. The swelling there confirmed her statement.

She smiled at him, her face radiant. "As thou sayest. I be carrying thy son below mine breast. 'Tis why I be weak and irritable as of late."

Fou-Lu sat in shock a moment, then a slow smile worked its way across his face. He laid a kiss upon her hair.

"Thou art pleased?" she asked, turning around in his arms to face him. Fou-Lu answered by showering her face with kisses.

"Verily," he murmured, smiling broadly. "'Tis a boy?"

She ran a finger down the edge of his jaw. "Yes. Thou wilt be the father of a fine lad."

"'Twill be wonderful," he said. "Thou I needs wonder at the level of strength he wilth possess. For in truth, we both art flawed."

"He wilth be a god," the female assured him. "Mine wounds hast flawed me, but shouldst not pass onward to mine offspring. And thou art half of the Yorae dragon. Thy power equals that of a full god."

"True…but he wilth be born of this earth, as no god hath been before. He wilth have ties onto it," the emperor said. Truly, no god had ever been born on this planet. In fact, Fou-Lu hadn't thought it possible, for no god had ever sired a child that he knew of. Perhaps it was to be expected, as Yahla was a goddess of life, as well as death. And childbirth was the greatest manifestation of life…

"We shalt findeth that out, shalt we not?" She rested her cheek against his. "What shalt we namest him?"

"Let us think upon it, and mayhap a name shalt come to mind."

"…Let us namest him Yori," his wife offered.

"Yori? Why?" he asked.

"To giveth honor to thee. Let him be named for his father."

"…Very well. He shalt be Yori, son of gods."

"What? Thou will be a father?" the human asked, wide eyed with surprise. Fou-Lu was practically beaming at him, and Mal-Heu had to grin.

"Indeed. 'Tis a boy, whom we hath chosen to name as Yori," the emperor stated proudly. "'Twas unexpected, but welcome in truth."

"Have thou told the palace yet?" Mal-Heu inquired, after congratulating his friend for several minutes.

"Nay…'twas though they wouldst make too much of a fuss. Let them be surprised." Fou-Lu had a permanent half-smile on his face. His entire demeanor was gleeful and proud, like many other new fathers throughout the years.

"I would think they would notice when Yahla begins to gain weight," the man said dryly. "And thou goes around looking as though thou have been enspelled to uncharacteristic cheeriness."

"A powerful spell, this," the dragon laughed.

Upon arising in the morn, they proceeded in their travels, moving at a quick step through the unbroken terrain. Though the prior day they had captured and eaten several of the smaller forest animals, a hard day of travel took its toll. Hungry and desiring to maintain their energy, they took a break to hunt. Bringing down a large, lizard-like animal, they ripped loose handfuls of its flesh and devoured them raw, staining hands and faces with red. Lighting a fire would be too inconspitious. In hybrid dragon form, their stomachs were equipped to handle the blood and raw meat, and did not revolt like human stomachs would. The meal (as much raw meat as anyone could want) restored their energy, and they made it to the edge of the forest before they were forced to retire for the night. Sleep claimed them, both aware that the next day they would be taking to wing.

"'Tis still not to mine liking," Yahla said, frowning as she looked out beyond the edge of the forest. Fields spread out before them, growing more and more cultivated the farther form the forest edge. Neat lines and rows had been rendered in the dirt, giving an air of humanity and civilization. Too much canst go wrong…

"'Twil be near impossible to hide ourselves out where the humans maketh their homes," Fou-Lu said darkly. "And mortal mouths speakest much."

"Rumor shalt not endanger us any near as much as the sight of dragons in the skies o'er head." The empress remained fixed in her stance, and his words would not budge her.

"I yeildst," Fou-Lu said. "Thou mayest walk. I shalt fly." With that, his form shifted, taking full dragon shape. His joints cracked and reshaped themselves, and he sprang forward into the open without a backward glance.

"Hold!" she shouted, jolting after him. "Damn it!" Unable to change to a full-fledged dragon, she was forced to remain as she was--- mostly humanoid and pissed as hell. Yahla could feel Fou-Lu's amusement. He always had thought her habit of cursing when she grew upset funny.

Her delicate wings were smaller than his, and she pumped them franticly in an attempt to catch up with him. He was several body lengths ahead, and it seemed as though he would remain permanently out of her reach. At last she drew level with him, her tail and hair streaming out behind her like the tail of a comet. Yelling at him to stop, she scowled and grabbed ahold of his tail when he failed to comply. She stopped flying and let his propulsion tow her, rather delighting in the sensation. Hanging there like dead weight, the wind threatened to pull her off, but once she hooked her claws in she could sit back and enjoy.

The dragon whose tail she was presently attached to turned his head to glare at her, slit eyes seeming to punch through her. She met the gaze of his reddish eyes with a sweet smile. He sighed in annoyance, making his wife actively grin, and kept going.

His dragon form had more endurance than she, and though she flew on her own now and then, she spent most of the time hanging onto her husband's tail. Fou-Lu grumbled but did not attempt to dislodge her.

There were many villagers that day who looked up with panic and disbelief at the dragon, and then simply stared as they spotted the small humanoid he was towing.

Forgetting momentarily that his wife was hanging literally from his hindquarters, Fou-Lu landed as he customarily did. Unfortunately it sent Yahla flying, the dragoness landing heavily in a clump of bushes.

The cursing that commenced reminded him quickly of her presence, and the emperor speedily returned to default mortal form. Going with some concern to see whether she was all right, he got whacked by the angry goddess. So… naught wrong with her… he thought as he got back up off the ground.

Glaring at him, her hands on her hips, Yahla snapped, "Warnest me er thou dost that!"

"Apologies," Fou-Lu said, rubbing his sore jaw. "I hadst let thy presence slippeth from mine mind."

She remained angry, so her tendered his apology with a kiss. 'Tis unusual…she hath been more irritable than is normal as of late…not that the time we hath spent together recently hath been long…

Surrendering after a stiff moment, she returned the kiss, seeming to have accepted the apology. His arms encircled her waist as she braced herself against his chest.

Fou-Lu pulled away after a while, holding her at arms length. She looked up at him with a hint of petulance, but otherwise remained subdued. "That is better," he said affectionately. "Now, we shalt halt for the night." She opened her mouth to protest, but he shushed her with another kiss. "I be knowing 'tis a needless delay, but attempting to put siege upon the castle whilst our powers art drained is foolhardy, whether we are gods or not."

"'Twill giveth them more time to prepare against us," she argued, stiffening in his arms and turning somewhat away. "'Tis foolish…we shouldst press onward."

"Enow. They shalt gather naught they have not already had." He scowled, responding to her anger with some of his own. "Mayhap thou hast not spent thine energy, but 'tis I that hast been towing thee all day. I be foreworn, e'en if thou art not."

Yahla recoiled from him, and he regretted his words for a moment. We shouldst not quarrel…divided, we art vulnerable.

"Aforetime, mine lord, thou ignored mine worries," she said angrily. "And 'twas then that thou wert targeted and I near died!"

This time it was Fou-Lu that withdrew, shuddering, at painful memories. More calmly, he said, "Bringest not that up, Yahla. Thou hast mine apology, and I withdraw mine hasty word. However, the simplest truth be that I hast not the energy needed to besiege the capital as of this night. Yet, the wilt not gather more reinforcements."

"Oh? And what reason canst thou givest for that?" It was obvious she had retained her anger.

"I hast summoned mine guardians, Won-Qu and A-Tun. They shalt lay waste unto the outlying troops that attempteth to reach Chedo er we," he explained, attempting to soothe her. It was odd. Usually they did not fight, though there were occasional arguments. "As 'twas I that wert their creator, they hearest mine command whether they be with me or not." Glancing about, he said with an air of finality. "Enow. Let us rest, that we mayest be well rested for the dawn." With that, he made a bed for himself on the ground.

Yahla stared at him a moment, before going to lay at his side.

They woke early, at the break of the day. It was overcast, and the rising sun cast rosy highlights across fluffy clouds. It looked as though things would clear up later in the day, and there was already a pleasant breeze. More fortunately, Fou-Lu's guardians had been by. They had apparently been uninclined to wake the peacefully sleeping dragons, but had left a Fou-Lu a change of clothes.

It looked a lovely day, the time in which to right old wrongs, but it would prove disastrous…