Zoe and Uri had been travelling for four weeks now, releasing dragons and destroying hunter ships (minus the wooden lifeboats of course), adding details to their map and taking notes on every dragon species they came across. They knew they were being tracked but not by who, always a day or two ahead, not knowing who they could trust just yet. They never stayed in one place for more than a day, careful to erase their tracks. Zoe had worked out how to use her fire bending to have a fire without needing wood, and therefore giving off no smoke and leaving behind no ash or coals. They also had made an addition to their little group in the form of a terror, a small dragon about the size of a house cat, and incredibly loyal.
They had rescued the terror who Zoe had named Sharpshot two weeks prior. Sharpshot had been tied to a mast of a hunter ship that Zoe and Uri had targeted. It was a lucky save too, because Zoe only noticed the wounded and malnourished terror once she had released the dragons below deck, blasted the ship and was about to leave with Uri when she heard it shriek. Zoe immediately directed Uri back to the ship that seemed to only partially have sunk and leapt from Uri's back and onto the top of the mast. She slid down the mast until she was within reach of the terror. It was muzzled and tied with rope which she burnt off with her fire, leaving the muzzle for when she could be more careful. The terror, being too weak to fly, crawled up Zoe's arm and settled itself on her shoulders where it stayed for the entire trip back to their camp. Zoe immediately tended to its wounds and then removed its muzzle while Uri went fishing. When she returned, Uri pushed a few fish towards the exhausted terror who gulped them down faster than Zoe thought possible. It then curled up in Zoe's lap and went to sleep.
The terror had stayed with them since, Zoe deciding to name the dragon after it showed no sign of wanting to leave. She couldn't understand the dragon's speech but she wasn't half bad at understanding it's body language. According to Uri, only furies could mentally communicate.
-o0O0o-
That night, the trio decided to stay in a cave, it was starting to get cold so no doubt they'd need the extra protection from the weather. They chose a cave relatively high up a mountain and Zoe made her fire in the middle of the cave. She then pulled out her map and attached it to the wall, using her ice to impale the stone and hold the parchment in place, causing the stone to crack slightly. She removed the bags from Uri's saddle and put them in the corner before checking over their food, water and first aid supplies. "We'll need to get more water," she told her companions, Sharpshot draped across her shoulders. "I'll go get the water while you get your dinner. Meet me at the stream when you're done," she said to Uri who nodded before turning and leaping out of the cave and into the air. "Want to come with me?" She asked Sharpshot who responded by staying put on her shoulders. Zoe slung a sheepskin water bottle over her shoulder and waved her hand as she walked to the cave entrance, extinguishing the fire before reaching for her glider and opening it to its fullest. She leapt off the mountainside, gliding down to the stream, landing amongst the trees. She collapsed the glider, strapping it back onto her belt before creeping towards the water's edge. She walked up stream until she found relatively fast moving water, bending it into the sheepskin, using her earth bending to remove any sediment. By the time she was done, Uri was waiting at the tree line, a net filled with fish in her mouth. Zoe quickly walked over to her dragon, taking the fish from her and taking a few from the net for Sharpshot and herself. Uri and Sharpshot ate theirs straight away, Zoe leaving hers in the net that Uri picked up again as Zoe got on her back to fly up to the cave.
He had come so close... again! They had seen the dragon and it's rider fly away from a sinking ship with a pack of dragons in tow. They had followed the pack but then they had all dispersed, making Hayden and Atlas lose track of the white dragon. That was a week ago now, and he was getting increasingly frustrated. Why was she avoiding him? Maybe she didn't realise it was him? Or that there even was someone else like her...or did she not want anything to do with him, wanting to work solo? Either way, it didn't matter. He had to find her and take her to the Academy so she could be trained and introduced as a new ally. He sighed in frustration. They'd been tracking her for four weeks now, and it was getting tiresome. On the bright side, she was handling all the hunter ships, leaving him to focus on finding her. "Come on buddy, let's find somewhere to land, it's getting on to dusk." After another half hour of flying and a short break so Atlas could eat, they came across an isolated island that Hayden had only been to once before with Max. He remembered there being a cave near the top of the mountain that would be large enough for the two of them. He had enough rations and water in his bag for the night, thinking they'd collect more in the morning instead, they headed straight to the cave.
They landed on an outcropping just above and slightly to the left of the cave. Atlas leapt from the ledge, landing in the mouth of the cave. Hayden dismounted and summoned a flame into his hand so he could see. Once his eyes adjusted, he stiffened. Someone was already here. There were two bags at the back of the cave with a map pinned to the cave wall. Wait- pinned to the cave wall? He walked over to the map, seeing it was of the known world Below. It had writing and symbols over different land masses and a few over the ocean. He looked to see what was holding the map to the wall and saw what he thought was crystal. When he touched it, it was cold. 'Ice' he thought, but there was no sign that it was melting. "Hey Atlas, come here for a sec. what do you think this is?" Atlas came over and sniffed it before licking it, except his tongue got stuck to what they now knew was definitely ice. Atlas pulled away, but the ice was firmly stuck in the wall. "Bud, stop," Hayden laughed, "you'll rip the skin on your tongue-"
At that moment, something made Hayden grab his sword and spin to face the entrance. He was met with the sight of the hooded figure from the market aiming an arrow at his chest, the white fury somehow crawling down the side of the cave's entrance. It was an intimidating sight, the dragon's scales and the girl's armour glowing in the newly risen moon light. At the same time, Atlas tried to charge up a blast, but only succeeded in making a glow thanks to his tongue being pulled out to the side. "Great first impression, bud," Hayden told his dragon, briefly turning his head to look at his dragon. He thought he heard a snort before an arrow shot past him and shattered the ice in half, leaving half in the wall and half on Atlas's tongue. Hayden spun around to face the girl, she already had another arrow loaded. Now Atlas was shaking his tongue around, drawing Hayden's attention again. The ice then disappeared into tiny snowflakes from Atlas's tongue, leaving him to lick his lips a few times. When Hayden looked back at the other rider, she hadn't moved a muscle but the dragon had landed on the ground next to her and was in a defensive position. They had reached a stalemate.
"I'm not here to hurt you or your dragon," Hayden said, lowering his sword to the ground. The girl just pulled the string on her bow tighter. "Please, I just want to talk." Receiving no response, Hayden continued on. "I'm Hayden, the other fury rider, and this is Atlas," he gestured to his dragon. Silence.
With a glance towards her dragon, she began to slowly lower the bow, Hayden releasing a breath in relief.
As they flew up to the cave, Zoe saw an orange glow coming from the entrance. "I thought I got rid of the fire," she said to herself. Sharpshot chirped, crawling around her neck so he was gripping onto her right shoulder.
"He said that you did," Uri translated.
"Someone must be there."
"We'll land on the ledge above the mouth and sneak down to see who it is. Get your bow out now so they won't hear it."
Zoe did as she was told, drawing an arrow from the quiver. They landed silently, Zoe leaping down to the cave, using her air bending so she wouldn't make a sound. Sharpshot stayed wrapped around her neck beneath the hood that Zoe had pulled up over her helmet whilst Uri began crawling down the side of the mountain. She nocked an arrow and aimed it at the man that was inside the cave. He must have sensed her presence because he turned around, a flaming sword appearing in his hand that she hadn't initially noticed. The man was wearing black armour and had lots of little gadgets attached to his waist, right arm and left leg, no doubt they were weapons. He had brown hair that appeared slightly red in the light from the fire in the middle of the cave, green eyes and a sharp jawline, decorated with light stubble. He was tall and skinny, but not lanky. Zoe guessed that if she was standing right next to him, the top of her head would only reach the base of his chin. A blue glow appeared behind him, lighting up the mouth of a dragon, a night fury. It had its tongue pulled out to the side and it seemed to be stuck to her ice. It was a very comedic sight, Zoe having to suppress a laugh. While the rider was scolding his dragon half heartedly, Zoe released the arrow, slicing the ice in half so the dragon wasn't stuck to the wall. The rider whipped around, but she already had another arrow loaded and the string pulled back. The rider's attention returned to his dragon that was shaking his tongue. Zoe used her mind to remove the ice, turning it into snow, melting before it could reach the ground.
Whilst he was distracted again, Uri landed next to her, crouching low and ready to attack. That's when he spoke: "I'm not here to hurt you or your dragon," he said, lowering his sword to the ground. Unsure, Zoe pulled the string on her bow tighter, not willing to take any chances.
"Please, I just want to talk. I'm Hayden, the other fury rider, and this is Atlas." She didn't respond and she didn't show any sign of trusting his words. But then she remembered what Gus had told her. He had told her not to trust blindly, but he had also said that if she couldn't trust the other fury rider, she couldn't trust anyone. Uri seemed to be thinking along the same lines, both exchanging a look, Uri giving the most subtle nod. Zoe took a deep breath hoping she wouldn't regret it, and slowly lowered her bow.
"What do you want?" She asked cautiously. This seemed to have Hayden stumped. He shook his head before answering.
"It's my duty to find you, I've been looking for you for a year now, where have you been?"
"You found me, so what do you want?"
Hayden sighed, "the fury riders are stronger together, I thought you'd want someone to explain things to you and train you, I thought you'd need help, but clearly you're doing just fine on your own. I'm also meant to take you to the Academy so they can meet you and train you in water bending."
"Why water bending?"
"You're a water bender, aren't you?"
"I can bend water, yes," she responded hesitant, not exactly lying.
"Can we maybe, I don't know, have this conversation in a more civil manner," he asked eyeing her bow that she was squeezing rather tightly.
"Sorry," she said genuinely. "How do I know I can trust you?"
"The same reason I can trust you not to kill me."
"And how's that?"
"You don't, it's a leap of faith."
"We'll be fine," Uri said to her, "I can get us out of here if something happens."
"Ok," Zoe responded to both Uri and Hayden, the latter visibly relaxing.
"So, did you want to tell me your story over some dinner?" Hayden offered.
"Sure," she replied non-too-enthusiastically. "Has Atlas eaten?" She asked.
"He ate on the way in. I have some left over bread and a few apples if you want?"
"As long as it's not poisoned," she half joked, half serious. "Sharpshot, can you go and get the net we left on the ledge," she asked the terror who crawled out from her hood and took off to retrieve the net.
"Where did he come from?" Hayden asked, taken aback by the sudden appearance of the dragon he hadn't noticed.
"A hunter ship," she said as she cautiously walked over to her bags to pull out a few things they'd need for dinner. "Fancy some cheese?" She asked as she pulled out a block, removing the thin layer of ice she had around it, angling her body so Hayden wouldn't see.
"Thanks," he said as she handed a piece she had sliced with a knife to him. "How's it still cold?" He asked.
"It's not warm today," was the response.
"Hey, I never got your name," Hayden asked, determined to get some answers as the two prepared a small meal.
"Zoe. Thanks Sharpshot," she added as the terror flew in, dropping the net with a few fish onto the floor at Zoe's feet. "Sharpshot and Uri," she said to Hayden, gesturing to each dragon.
"So Angel did have the dragon's name right," he mumbled.
"She made it back safely then?" Zoe asked, hearing Hayden's comment.
"Huh? Oh, yeah, she did. Thank you by the way, for saving her."
"No problem," Zoe said, walking to the edge of the cave where she cleaned the two fish, throwing the third to Atlas, receiving a death glare from Uri. "What? You've eaten plenty tonight! Stupid dra- OW! Would you cut that out!"
Hayden chuckled at this little exchange. The female duo seemed far less intimidating when they were bantering and Uri was pulling an 'Atlas' and whacking her rider with her tail. Zoe still hadn't removed her helmet, but her hood came off when Uri whacked her, revealing a helmet that was eerily similar to his own, the only exception that it was white instead of black.
"Do you mind cooking the fish?" She asked her dragon who turned away in mock anger. "Fine, I'll just get Atlas to do it if you won't." At this Uri turned around and immediately shot a low flame at the fish, cooking them but slightly burning the skin in rebellion. Zoe pretended not to notice, scratching Uri's chin in thanks. "Here," she said, handing one of the plates with the fish to Hayden.
"Thanks." The two sat against their dragons eating their fish and picking off the plate of bread, cheese and apple that Hayden had put between them. "So," he started, "how about we take it in turn asking each other questions, but we both have to answer each question, fair?" Zoe nodded. "Ok, I'll go first. How old are you and when's your birthday? I just turned 19 last week." Zoe looked at him weirdly when he asked about her birthday, but she responded nevertheless.
"17. I turn 18 in Autumn. April," she added when he gave her a 'go on' gesture.
"So only 2 months away?"
"Last time I checked. Happy belated birthday by the way."
"Thanks," Hayden laughed. "Your turn. But first, can you take off your helmet? Please?"
"Fine," Zoe sighed, removing her helmet and putting it down next to her. "How long have you been the fury rider?" She asked. Hayden took a bit to respond, distracted by the girl in front of him who had just revealed herself. She had soft brown eyes and brown hair that was plaited down her right shoulder. She had high cheek bones and a small nose with a few freckles underneath her eyes. The flickering light of the fire made her eyes glow, highlighting flecks of another colour in them that he couldn't identify in this light.
"Three years, since I was 16, so same as you. I guess you don't really need to answer that one since I already know." Hayden answered after shaking himself out of his thoughts. He decided to ask another basic question. "Where are you from?"
"The world of Grey. You?"
"Hang on, the world of Grey?" He asked, lowering the piece of apple he was about to eat. "Don't you mean the world Above?" He asked.
"You tell me," Zoe shrugged. "You're the teacher after all." Zoe was beginning to get anxious, had she slipped up already?
Hayden looked at her oddly before answering, "apparently the air benders called the world Above the world of Grey. But that was a long time ago, there's none left..." he finished, almost as if he was asking her to contradict what he had just said and tell him that air benders, did in fact, still exist. Maybe she was looking too much into it since she knew they were still around as she was one herself.
"So, where are you from," she asked, trying to keep the conversation off herself and pulling Hayden out of his thoughts.
"Hm? Oh, right. I'm from one of the fire bending villages in the east. I can take you there some time."
"So the majority of the water villages are in the west, fire in the east...?"
"Yep. Earth in the south. The air benders used to be in the North. There are usually, say, fire and earth benders in a water bending village but they're a minority. There are villages that have pretty equal numbers of benders of course, and they're the islands that are more central."
"Have you come across either of the three leaders of the hunters?" Zoe asked.
"I've met Drago and Viggo, not Grimmel. I only met Drago briefly, thankfully. But I have gotten to know Viggo quite well," he finished bitterly.
"Can you tell me about it? Or would you rather not talk about it?" She asked, curious but not wanting to bring up potentially painful memories.
Hayden sighed before responding, "he's smarter than you can imagine. You think you're finally one step ahead, but then you fall right into his trap. The only good thing about him is that he's more interested in playing mental games and challenging himself than actually stopping you."
The questions went back and forth for about 15 minutes.
"What's your opinion on the Academy?" It was Zoe's turn again and Hayden was starting to notice a pattern. She was asking questions that would give her information about him and the world Below, but she either couldn't answer or he already knew her answers to those questions, so the only information he was getting out of her was when she answered the questions that he had asked. She was smart, he'd give her that, possibly even witty enough to give Viggo a run for his money. He decided he was going to get answers, no more beating around the bush.
"Ok, tell me: how did you disappear in the village after you bought that map?" Hayden asked firmly.
"What do you mean?" she tried playing dumb.
"You know what I mean. You were standing in the middle of the street, you blew your whistle and then you disappeared."
"It's Uri's scales, remember we found the one we couldn't see in that cave," Atlas told him in his head.
"Of course," he said out loud. Zoe was watching the exchange, waiting for the interrogation to continue. Deciding that if she cooperated, he might let up on the questioning, Zoe answered the question with an explanation.
"Uri can change the colour of each scale independently so she blends in to her surroundings. She can still control the scales that she's shed, so she's able to hide me too if I'm covered in her scales."
Hayden looked at her, surprised that he got an actual answer from her. "That's incredible, and very useful."
"It is, but please don't tell anyone. The more people know about Uri and I before we really know what we're doing, the worse," she pleaded, genuinely worried.
"It's ok, I won't tell anyone," he reassured her. "We should probably get some sleep. You need a blanket?" Hayden asked, getting up and rummaging through one of his bags.
"I'm good, thanks though." Hayden nodded before sitting back down against Atlas, Zoe putting away her plate and placing her helmet on top of one of the bags. Hayden got himself comfortable, Atlas shifting his position to accommodate his rider.
"Where are you going?" He asked Zoe, noticing her walk towards the cave's mouth with Uri following her, Sharpshot hitching a ride on the larger dragon.
"To find somewhere to sleep."
"Why don't you just sleep in the cave?"
Zoe looked at him over her shoulder, "I don't trust you," was the response. If Hayden was being honest with himself, his stomach dropped at that.
"You seriously think I'm going to kill you in your sleep or something?" He asked incredulous, Zoe just shrugged. "Don't sleep out there just because of me. If you feel that strongly about it, I'll sleep out there and you can have the cave," he offered.
Zoe continued to look at him, making him nervous, before turning and walking back into the cave and sitting down next to Uri. "It's fine, you're right, I shouldn't worry about you killing me," she half joked. With that, she settled down and waited until she thought Hayden was asleep before getting up and walking to the cave entrance, leaping onto the ledge above the cave, using her air bending, Uri and Sharpshot following quietly.
Little did they know that Hayden was awake and watching her leave. He and Atlas both saw Zoe jump into the air with unusual grace, defying gravity.