I let Cascabel on my back as I search for a hospitable cave to start with creating a more permanent home, I let her on since 1. She is small enough to not weigh me down too much and 2. There is no way I am letting her out of my sight.
Astrid and Queen Mala ride on Stormfly beside me, chattering with each other quickly, too quickly for me to catch what they are saying. But their topic is presumably about Cascabel, their fascination with everything Pyhrrian is quickly growing monotonous. Like really? I breathe a steady stream of fire for a minute or two and they lose their minds. I draw something in the dirt, WHOAH HOW WEIRD. I hold an unsteady conversation, OMG THE WORLD IS ON FIRE. I eat meat instead of fish, WHAAAATTT?! Seriously. It is getting more tiring and less amusing then it was several days ago.
I am proud to say that I have held onto my temper and sanity as Cascabel continues to chatter on seemingly without breathing as I fly just above the trees. Of course, I can't say I mind, she is good for conversation at the very least.
"Are you even listening? I bet you weren't, that's ok though! Momma usually says I have enough words for the both of us. Where are we anyway? I know you are not really listening but I would really appreciate it if you could tell me"
I sigh quietly, her mother must be a patient dragoness, but I do my best to answer despite not knowing much myself "I am not sure. But this is a land where Scavengers are far more intelligent and far more common than the Scavengers on Pyhrria. Do not be fooled by their insistence on calling the other creatures who reside here dragons. While they may be somewhat similar, they are not true dragons proven by their lack of basic skill and intelligence. They themselves are barely smarter than the Scavengers of Pyhrria."
I am very unused to speaking as much as I am, but it is vital that Cascabel understands.
"The main source of food is fish and other sea life, with very little red meat being available. There is a fair amount of wild boars, but during my time here, I have seen no chickens, sheep, or cows"
Cascabel is silent for a few moments as I land down in front of the cave entrance I spotted a while ago but passed by in case I found something better. Looks nearly perfect, which is rare, such good caves are seldom unoccupied. Cascabel says quietly "I want my Momma" … I don't know what to say to that, that she should have hope? Toughen up? But there may not be a way home, and she is so young.
She climbs off of my back as I explore deeper into the cave, Stormfly lands down at the entrance and allows Mala and Astrid off her back.
There are quite a few stalactites and stalagmites that drip down cold water, but I can get rid of those fairly easily. The cave has a slight slope leading to the entrance, good for keeping the upper portion dry. The cave is very large, with a tall ceiling and it runs deep into the mountain.
"I have never seen this cave in all the times I have visited here, what is this place?"
Mala holds her hands behind her back as she answers Astrid's awestruck question "This is known as Blackblood cave, due to the fact that the bears and other large predators including Speed Stingers migrate to this cave every fall. If Shadowtalon chooses this cave, she will be hard-pressed to defend it"
Speed Stinger huh? Challenge accepted. "This shall be my cave. It will take work. But not too hard"
Mala nods imperiously as Astrid smirks "Of course, I shall address my subjects to inform them of this development"
Cascabel practically bounces off my back and starts exploring our new cave. She immediately starts looking up at the ceiling, spotting the dripping water. She instantly starts yapping in our tongue "I know how to fix the dripping water! Dad taught me! It was really fun, but also really wet, did you know my mom has a cave on a cliffside close to the ocean? She said it was to be closer to dad, he is awesome! But he has this weird obsession with fish. I don't like fish. You wanna know how to fix the drips? You have to carve the top of the ceiling where the drips are and then carve a line to the entrance so it follows the line instead of dripping on your head! I wonder what type of beds we can get! I prefer a pit of sand, but I am pretty good in water too!"
I glance at her before asking "What tribe are your parents?" I don't mind if she is a hybrid,at worst she will need certain conditions to survive and I will do whatever it takes to keep this little bean alive.
Cascabel falters for a moment, hesitant to tell e, but she seems to quickly make up her mind as she says proudly "My momma is a Sanding, and my dad is a Seawing. Dad says I got all my looks from my mom, but I gots gills and lights too! There just look like my regular scales, see?!" She flares the previously unnoticeable gills that when closed seem to melt into her skin, and then flared sandy colored phosphorus lights that when not shining just seem to be scales.
I nod "Very impressive, now, how about you help me clear these rocks? I will knock them down, and you file the bottoms, sound good?"
Cascabel nods and stands back. I make sure she and the still watching Astrid and Mala is far enough away before I whirl around, swinging my tail through several stalagmites, breaking them to splinters. I move further into the cave, Cascabel pouncing on the remnants of the stalagmites and using her smaller talons to crack off the bottoms, leaving the floors mostly smooth.
I try not to pay attention to Queen Mala and Astrid's conversation. I can understand most of their words now, but speaking it is a whole new matter.
Queen Mala starts off the conversation "Were you aware of their capabilities like this?"
Astrid sounds bewildered "No, I had no idea. I thought that she would just pick a cave and she was done"
Queen Mala hums thoughtfully "A highly intelligent species of dragon that shapes its own habitat, what astounding creatures. You mentioned on the flight over that they came in variations?"
"Yes, Shadowtalon called them tribes. Her tribe is called a Nightwing, and the tribe of the smaller dragon is a Sandwing"
I call back in their language "Cascabel is hybrid. Sandwing and Seawing" I still struggle with names that I can't mime.
Queen Mala asks, her tone more excited "There are more of you? A Seawing you say, I would imagine that the young one looks most like a Sandwing"
I use my talons to swipe down a long stalactite before answering "Yes. Looks like mother, has gill and phosphorus- lights of father"
Astrid steps closer to Cascabel who is still working on smoothing the floor "Can you show me?"
Cascabel perks up at the sound of Astrid but doesn't understand what she is saying. I call back without turning around "She wants to see your gills and lights"
Cascabel nods happily, she flares her gills, letting Astrid and Mala look at them. When Astrid tries to touch them, however, Cascabel snaps them shut and instead lights up her phosphorus lights just enough to make them visible.
Astrid leans back "Whoa! That's amazing! Hiccup and Fishlegs would go crazy over this!" It must have registered what she said as she seems to wilt a little.
Queen Mala puts a hand on Astrid's shoulder "It is always hard to be at odds with close friends. But I believe you should reconcile with them"
Astrid shrugged off her hand and hissed, almost worthy of a dragon "They were going to abandon her while she was badly injured. They don't understand that some dragons HAVE to be vicious for their own survival"
Queen Mala nodded, ducking as a piece of rock was flung over her "Surely not all of them think so? And every dragon has a choice, and it is the burden of those with intelligence to choose wisely, be it peace or war"
Astrid's fuming died down a little "Well, surprisingly, Snotlout supported Shadowtalon. And the twins just cared about the destruction she could cause"
Queen Mala winced as a small rockslide of rocks rolled by "Perhaps we should take this conversation outside, where the risk of being impaled is less"
As Astrid and Queen Mala left, I pondered their words. I suppose I can understand the view of the cripple and delicious, they saw what I was capable of and were frightened. But to try and lock me up like an animal? Not acceptable.
I finish clearing away the stalactites and stalagmites, leaving the cave smooth. Cascabel is busy making the floor smooth so we don't stub any talons, so I open my wings and hover just below the ceiling. Using her suggestions I follow the natural path of the water droplets and carve small lines for the water to follow.
I draw several more all the way to the entrance before I am satisfied the cave shall not stay damp.
When I drop back to the ground, I find Cascabel curled up around the base of a stalagmite, the stresses of the day forcing her unconscious.
I huff with a small smile and curl around her. The floor is cold and uncomfortable, but her natural warmth heats up the immediate area. I spread a wing over her, ignoring the high pitched coos from the scavengers as they spot us snoozing.
I can always continue with the cave in a couple of hours… or tomorrow. Yea, definitely tomorrow...
Authors note
No, this story is not forgotten! I wrote up this chapter, used Grammarly and posted it so I apologize for any mistakes. Hope you enjoy a less drama filled chapter, but next one will be loaded, I promise.
