This is the first story in a series of short stories. Technically starting in the middle for the characters, but I really don't have the 'true' beginning worked out in my head yet. A character building exercise with two characters: a halfdragon/drow sorceress and her familiar, an Asperii. Asperii are magical horses that communicate through telepathy, magically hold their riders onto their backs and can fly for short periods of time.
Typed in notepad with no beta as of yet. Comments welcome, flames used to supplement the lack of heating in my apartment. (2-16-06) Tweaked the beginning and a few lines later on after some helpful reviews. Keep it up the constructive criticism, it helps me more than you think!
Italics indicates telepathic communication.
Orihalcon shook with restrained laughter on her bedroll, trying to will herself to sleep. Occasionally she had peeked out at her traveling companions, her red eyes seeming to glow with the remains of their campfire. Barathiel, her friend and mentor, had insisted that they have it for warmth and to ward off curious animals. Orihalcon had shook her head, causing her long black hair (one of her few favorite traits) to cover her face for a moment, then continued setting up the magical alarm on the cave they chose to rest in.
But that wasn't why she had to restrain her laughter. No, the cause of her mirth stood a few feet to one side of her, ears twitching at every sound that echoed through the cave. Her familiar. Her familiar.
Will you please go to sleep? A horsey voice asked within the confines of her mind. The silver colored steed looked at her reproachfully. Implying in no uncertain terms that she wasn't nearly as quiet as she had thought.
"Sorry," a light giggle colored Orihalcon's voice. The smile accompaning it exposed a bit of fang. The long canine stood out eerily against the contrast of her near black, scale covered skin. "I've just been trying to find a familiar forever." She scooted closer to him, whispering aloud, still unused to the telepathic bond between them. She stood up as she got closer, careful to take off the noisier pieces of her jewlery. The tips of her taloned hand reached out, stopping just short of the equine's corse grey fur.
Don't be silly. Cloud snorted, flicking his ears around at the sound of her voice and the echos it had produced. You are still just a filly. There is no way you could have been searching forever. He stressed the last word, mimicking her. Besides, if you think back and remember clearly, you'd remember that it was I that found you. His lips pulled back in a grin as he shifted his weight. Conviently so his left flank would brush up against her outstreched hand.
"'Kay," she laughed at the inflection. "Just let me get out of your wa-whoa!" She leaned against him as she almost lost her balance, both hands pressed against his side. She marveled at the texture of his fur as it rubbed against the fine scales of her skin before she glared at him playfully. "You did that on purpose!"
He snickered, sounding distorted by the small cave. What? It's not my fault that you haven't learned how to balance yourself yet. But, since you are standing anyways... My leg fur is matted. Groom it?
There was a percussion of thuds and tinkling earrings as she fumbled in the half light to the other side of the cave for her pack. Too dim and too bright to her eyes, if it hadn't been so cold she would have insisted that they camp without the fire. A sharp scrape against the stone wall as she used her hand to balance herself, one handed, digging for the curry comb. Back to his side, where she began to brush out the mat that had formed. "Sneaky Asperii."
Cloud shivered happily at the sensation of being groomed, sending a short wave of it to 'his mage'. Really. You can't blame me if I am more graceful than you. After all, you're a clumbsy landbound creature. He turned his head to her, curious. What are you, anyways?
There was a loud pause as Orihalcon stopped to think how to answer his question. "I don't really know. My aunts and uncles say I have to be some sort of half dragon, because of the scales and talons and horns and fangs... but ... I look kinda like a drow. The eyes, the colors and whatnot." She laughed bitterly, a strange sound from the normally cheerful adolesent. "I've had enough people call me Drow when they are yelling at me to know I look like one." She cut off, inspecting her scaled, taloned hands unhappily.
Whatever pity-party she was falling into was interupted by a shift in Cloud's weight and a soft nose nuzzling encouragingly at her side. You are you. Really, you think too much. And you have barely started grooming me!
She laughed gratefully, her mood shifting with his interuption. She resumed combing, occasionally running a hand over his fur. A thought popped into her head. A suggestion she had offered to him earlier that he had ignored...perhaps a different tactic... "Your fur is so pretty, Cloud. Its all silvery."
Her flattery was well recieved. Cloud preened at the praise, before he sent a wave of prideful agreement into her mind. Of course. I am one of the best looking stallions in my herd, you know.
"I don't doubt it," she said, before she shifted the conversation. "It would look even more gorgeous with a bit of color on it. A red or an orange would compliment you so well. And we'd match! A saddle to accessorize..."
No. Cloud cut her off firmly, his ears laying flat.
"But, you could get..." She responded swiftly before being cut off again.
I don't care what you can get on a saddle. I don't want one. He turned his head to look at her, his eyes filled with dissapointment and a little hurt. Do you trust me so little?
"Wha- no! I trust you!" Her voice raised in surprise and confusion. Her eyes widened, the firelight reflected in them. Making it appear that their deep red color was aglow. "Why would you even ask that?"
He looked at her for a long moment before he shook his head with wry amusement. I forgot that you are still just a filly. You wouldn't know, would you?
"Know what?"
I am an Asperii stallion. No mature Asperii would drop their rider or allow their rider to fall unless it was their choice. You will never need a saddle as long as you are my rider.
"Oh." Orihalcon said quietly. "I didn't mean to insult you. I.. I just thought that it would look nice. The colors and maybe some bells." She shook her head to cause her earrings to jingle in example.
Cloud whinnied in amusement. All I need to chime as I fly is you on my back.
She frowned, her feelings prickled, not quite at ease after the thought of insulting him. "I'm not that loud."
You may look like a shadow, but you sound like a dragon's horde! He argued playfully.
She dropped the forgotten curry comb to swat at him, picking up his playful mood. "I am NOT that bad. I can be quiet."
You? Quiet? He snorted, shaking his head in mirth.
"I can too be quiet!" Orihalcon repeated louder in responce to the waves of amusement he had sent over their link.
"Can you both be quiet now, then?" a tired female voice said suddenly from the other side of the fire. Orihalcon and Cloud jumped as Barathiel, the only one who really knew where they were going, sat up to glare at them. Her amber eyes pinned both of them where they stood as she radiated annoyance. "You two were the ones that complained you were tired. The least you could do is actually sleep."
"Sorry, Barathiel." Appologies, Ranger. They responded in unison, sharing a guilty glance before settling back down for the few remaining hours before dawn.
Have more shorts written. Will post if I recieve enough positive feedback.