By Nyassa Kaiba
Chapter 9It was only a kiss
How did it end up like this
It was only a kiss
It was only a kiss…Mr. Brightside, Killers
Feralae watched as Beastboy gently shook Terra awake. "Terra, come on, wake up." Feralae got up and retrieved the Draconitas from where it had rolled away.
"Nnng… Beastboy… but… what… how did I get here? How long have I been out? Where are the others?"
"It's been six months, you were turned to stone, and Dragonsinger here changed you back." Beastboy explained.
Feralae quickly covered her face with her hood. This could be VERY misconstrued by somebody who was NOT up to date and Feralae didn't feel like having an argument with a jealous girlfriend right now. Besides, to prove her innocence she'd have to admit to being a Lesbian and this was NOT something she wanted to do.
"A new Titan?" Terra asked weakly.
"Yeah." Feralae said with a soft smile. Her eyes were hidden, but her mouth was visible beneath her hood. Her breasts were hidden by the loose robe she wore for rituals and her voice was naturally deep enough for Terra to assume that she was a man. Which, luckily, the female Titan did.
Beastboy changed into a horse. "Can you climb on Terra?"
"I think so…" She struggled to rise and staggered over to him.
"Let me give you a leg up." Feralae said, turning her hands into a step. Terra climbed on and clung to Beastboy's mane. "Okay, what about you?" She asked.
"I have to pack things up." Feralae said with a sigh. She poured another glass of Sake for Obsidian. "A parting gift, drink up Obsidian."
"A DRAGON?" Terra almost fell off of Beastboy's back.
"It's okay, that's Obsidian, the dragon who lives in this volcano." Beastboy explained.
"DRAGONS ARE REAL?" Terra demanded.
Obsidian nodded and drank the offered Sake in a few gulps. Feralae dried off the chalice with a paper towel and packed everything back. "We'll leave the power spiral here." She told Obsidian. "In case you need to use it okay?" The dragon nodded again and flew out over the lava. Once she was in the center of the volcano she dove straight down into the lava, probably burrowing down into the lava chambers to sleep off the sake.
"Where did she go?" Terra looked around.
"To sleep off the sake I gave her." Feralae explained. "Volcano and Fire dragons only drink alcohol, and they prefer spicy foods as offerings. I offered Obsidian there some crystals and half a bottle of Sake in return for letting us get you out of here."
Terra rolled her eyes. "Let's get out of here. I'm boiling." She sighed. Then Terra's stomach rumbled. "And hungry and tired too."
"It's… 4:30 am. We don't leave until around 7, so I suppose we could stop somewhere. I doubt you've ridden a dragon before." She said with a chuckle.
"Ridden a DRAGON?" Terra practically freaked, but kept a careful grip as Beastboy slowly, carefully, made his way back up the path.
"Sure, that's how we got here so fast." Beastboy said with a chuckle.
Feralae sighed, she could tell that Terra was going to take time to get used to Dragons coming and going. Hell, the Titans still needed time to get used to it. "How about if we go to the nearest fast food joint and get breakfast while I tell you all about it. Because I guarantee that after today you're going to need the strength. We're leaving for Kyoto at seven this morning to meet my Grandmother Himiko."
"Huh, wasn't that a famous Japanese Queen?"
"Yes, my Clan, the Dragon Clan is Japanese in origin, every generation the Clan's female head takes up the TAG name Himiko."
"You don't look Japanese. You look kind of like somebody put Starfire and Raven in the same body."
"My clan normally has hair a lot darker than this, ranging from royal purple to maroon, along with very pale skin. The reason why I've got such a tan is because I usually spend a lot of time at the pool or the beach and have regular dates with a tanning bed." Feralae explained as she climbed. "I love swimming. There are three clubs that I join no matter what school I go to, the Drama Club, the Dance Team, and the Swim Team."
"Oh, well that explains the tan, but not the hair. Are you SURE you're not from Azarath?"
"Raven asked me the same thing. I said 'no.'" Feralae replied. Her hood had long since come down. Terra seemed not to be worried about whether or not she was a guy thief, so Feralae never mentioned it. "I can trace my Pedigree six-hundred years back into feudal Japan if given the Clan library and enough time. I assure you, I came from Earth."
That was when they came to the lip of the volcano and were greeted by a very happy Nidhoggr. Nidhoggr came bounding up to them, an imposing feat considering he was twenty feet tall at the shoulder and about the length of a small jet fighter. Terra screamed and tried to hide behind a rock, but she staggered and fell over. "It's okay." Beastboy changed back with a poof and gave Nidhoggr a scratch on the muzzle.
"You're getting used to dragons." Feralae said with a laugh. Nidhoggr, say hi to Terra. She's only seen one dragon before, the one that lives in this volcano, so be careful okay?
We must be ready to leave at seven. Whatever you do to get her ready, do it soon.
"So what's your power?" Asked Terra, edging slowly away from Nidhoggr.
"I'm a Dragonmage, well, an apprentice anyway." Feralae explained. "We channel dragons, mostly ones of a particular element, in order to use their powers. Like if I were to channel Nidhoggr here I'd gain the powers of Chaos, including flight, dragon's breath, the ability to cloud an area with darkness, and about half a dozen other powers I could name. If it were fire I could throw fireballs. If it were water I could spray water at an enemy. Were it Air I could make a tornado or something like it. Get the idea?"
"So you're an Elemental?" Terra asked.
"Not really, I don't work with Elementals, I work with Dragons. They're spirits who only appear in the real world near a person they know they can trust."
Obsidian nuzzled Terra. The girl jumped and ducked out of the way. Obsidian looked hurt.
"You hurt her feelings Terra, Obsidian likes you." Feralae said helpfully. "Dragons may look fearsome, but they can be very devoted partners."
"I used to be scared of them too Terra, if it makes you feel better." Beastboy offered.
"Alright fine. I'll give them a chance." Terra was probably only doing it because Beastboy wasn't afraid to. Feralae thought that competition could be a mighty motivator.
"Great, you sit between me and Beastboy. Nidhoggr, can you crouch down a second so that I can get my bags onto you?"
The Dragon Knight obliged her and in short order the three of them were flying back to the Tower. Between Feralae and Beastboy they were able to bring Terra up to date. "And this Dragon King Seiryuu is trying to start hurricanes?"
"That's right. My guess is that he figures that some Superhero somewhere is going to want to stop the destruction, so they'll find the thief and bring back his treasure where he can't." Feralae told her. "He's not that bad. He's been the center of my clan's religion for years. Dragons have a great sense of fairness."
Terra looked down at Nighoggr. "Nidhoggr was said to destroy the world in the battle of Ragnarok. How can you say that all dragons don't cause trouble?"
"I didn't say that. I simply said that most dragons will leave you alone as long as you don't hurt them or bother them." Feralae replied. "Annoy them, hurt them, abuse them, and they'll get you back for it. They ARE sentient."
Nidhoggr rumbled agreement. She does not get it. Said Nidhoggr.
Some people never will. Perhaps if she gets the chance to see us in action.
"There's the tower!" Beastboy said, he was grinning ear to ear.
Raven is waiting. She is worried.
Feralae had about ten minutes of flight to try to find an explanation. When they got there all the Titans were up waiting. Nidhoggr hid Terra protectively behind one of his wings. "Okay where the Hell were you two? Do you know what TIME it is?" Robin asked, clearly upset.
"Yes, I know what time it is. It is four thirty in the morning." Feralae replied. She couldn't help grinning.
"If I may ask, what is so important as to bring the two of you out of bed and gone for a fly in the middle of the NIGHT?" Raven demanded.
"And why are you two grinning like idiots?" Robin asked, clearly annoyed.
Feralae flashed a grin at Beastboy, Beastboy grinned back. "Nidhoggr, if you wouldn't mind folding your wing so I can get my backpack down."
As he did so Terra came into view. Everybody cried out. "TERRA! YOU'RE BACK!" Starfire was the first to glomp Terra. The Earth Elemental cried out and had to worm her way out of an infamous Starfire bear hug. Then the others crowded around after her, giving hugs, and compliments and congratulations.
"How did you get back?"
"Welcome home!"
"We missed you!"
"We're glad you're safe!"
"I'm glad to BE back." Terra smiled, a graceful, serene smile.
"I've brought her up to date on the situation. Including the HIVE fire."
"Good, Feralae, you need to pack. Everybody else is ready to go. Beastboy, get Terra settled back in and then pack yourself. Breakfast in twenty minutes." Robin gave Terra a pat on the back. "Welcome home Terra. Welcome home!"
Feralae sighed as she leaned back against her friend's hide. "And I thought that being a Titan would be easy. What have I had to do so far?"
Very much. You will make a difference, and you will prosper. Said Nidhoggr.
Nidon hummed that he agreed.
After all the fuss died down Raven joined Feralae. "That was very kind of you." Raven said, pulling her girlfriend into her arms.
"Thank you." Feralae snuggled against her, her face in the hollow of the Lady Titan's neck, breathing in the amber resin scent.
"Did I ever mention how much I love you?"
"Indeed, you have." Feralae smirked. "Just last night in fact."
"I haven't decided what to do yet." Raven whispered. "Gods I want you, I could take you right now, by your dragon's side… my body wants you, and my heart says to wait…" The distress was evident in her voice, and Raven's body was shaking.
"So wait." Feralae said. She pulled her girlfriend into a kiss, long, tender. "In the meantime, hold me."
Rumbling, Nidhoggr craned his neck around to look at the two of them. Be easy little bird, your link with the Dragonchild will save your life.
Raven gasped. "Did he just…"
"He did." Feralae said with a soft smile. "What did he mean link?"
"That's why my instincts are telling me to… to sleep with you… I'm supposed to link with your mind… Gods I don't want to… the link would be total, no secrets, none." Raven felt tears sting her eyes. "I'd hurt you… and I don't want to…"
"Shhhh… it's okay, don't cry." Feralae said softly, dabbing her tears away.
"So this is where you two went." Robin said. He was leaning against a nearby rock. Nidhoggr growled, bristling with his mistress' anger.
"It's okay, I won't tell. I already promised Raven that I wouldn't."
Feralae's eyes widened. "At ease Nidhoggr. You knew?"
"I needed somebody I could trust." Raven told her. "I hope you're not upset."
"Not very. Because if he hasn't exploded or spread it around it means that he's alright with it and wont spread it around now." Feralae replied. "You realize that I don't like it." She told Robin. "I can live with it, but I don't like it."
Robin nodded. "Come inside and have something to eat before we go. And you still have to pack."
Feralae nodded. "Alright, Raven, I really think we picked the wrong time and place for a makeout session."
"There's a locker room on the Jet." Raven said with a smirk.
"That's a date, don't be late." Feralae said, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.
They hurried upstairs. Robin turned to Nidhoggr. "Are you going to be joining us?"
Nidhoggr paused for a moment. Then the dragon nodded and padded off to a rock where he'd be able to lounge in the rising sun. Robin watched him for a moment, then followed the two girls in.