Beau: Chapter Eight
We have been travelling for a week to get home and we are finally there. Walking through the canyon crevices to finally reach the valley of Thaddeous. It was once beautiful full of wildflowers, grass and trees. Many creatures such as rabbits and newts lived here. Unfortunately, through the years, the land had started to decay. Such beauty has died and now where the grass meadows were are now just barren sand with dead trees. The weather has become even colder and most of the prey our herds fed on have moved away to different lands.
My feet are hurting since we have been walking non-stop. I gained scale blisters and large ones have popped on my back right paw. It slowed me down so I am at the back of the herd. Ironclad remains at the very front as Rideri the leader of the herd. I began to limp as the pains have become unbearable. The dragon next to me a tiny light green dragon begins to randomly roar at me. Her large ears bouncing up and down is weirdly hypnotizing. She is jumping up and down just to meet my eye level.
"Ouch, your paws look very sore..." She smiles a cheeky grin. "My name is Myshka". I smiled back and nodded. "I am not in the mood for talking, I just want to be left alone."
"Oh… Well okay then!" She then bounces ahead of me in great speed. I have to focus to even keep my strength up to even get back to my family who live on the top of the large hill. All of the female dragons from our herd live in this valley. They all roar to greet us with enthusiasm and present food or new pups for their mates. I have no mate since I have no mating rights, that honour belongs to my brother and father. On top of the largest hill, I see my Father and mother happily greeting my brother. My little sister will be with her mate on the other side of the valley. All the licking and nuzzles and playful noises as Ironclad fills her with pride. I finally reach on top of the hill when my father had to remark. "You were at the back of the herd, why?"
I swallowed and took a deep breath in to try and suck up the pain my paw is causing me. "My back right paw is covered in blisters and it hurts to walk". Father scoffs at me. "Look at your brother! He has blisters all over his paws! You don't see him being slow and complaining". My mother nudges my father to make him stop. He almost bites her in retaliation. I decided just to sit and take it. This method is always best around this situation. I just ignored my father as he spouts about nonsense and how my brother will be better at everything. Once his rant is over I walked over to the small river that goes through the valley. I used to be a huge river but it shrinks every year. I had to wash the blood and puss of my paws. It stung, but it was worth the relief afterwards. Walking is far easier and hopefully black tar blood doesn't fester. After cleaning my paws I then walked back up to my family surrounded by everyone else in the herd. I have noticed that the other wild herds have joined us. There are so many dragons in this valley now they will be fighting for room to sleep.
It was feeding time we ate freshly killed rabbits as is custom to introduce a gift to the leader of the herd and his family. But eating small rabbits isn't filling enough, I see other expressions on the other dragons they don't feel satisfied either. I think if someone brought in a deer all the dragons in this valley will fight to the death for it. Everyone seemed to be having a great time regardless though. Roaring in the distance a few fights for mates. Pups playing on the fields as the sun sets over the valley. It feels nice to be at peace even if it is for a little while. Father still hasn't even said why we had to walk all the way back here. I presume he will tell us in the morning.
Father then roared for the new dragons to walk to him and present themselves. Myshka, Katan, Brutus, Ottie, Meesha, Ina, Mathata, Indarra, Taunterra, Teyti, which continues on and on… During their introduction, they have a chance to give themselves new names so they can be truly free from their human oppressors. A clean and fresh start for those who greatly needed one.
The new dragons who have come with us now have to fight for their spot in the herd. They could either be the Alpha or an Omega. The Alpha can have the privilege of mateship and can choose whichever female pleases him the most. They also have the responsibility of looking after a smaller herd to look after. It can also be dangerous since Alphas get challenged all the time by omegas. It is not the most stable position. I fought my brother and lost. I am labelled as an Omega as is expected of me I must follow what all the family members say. My father Tyrannus has been challenged and has never lost. His scars are his pride and joy and love to show them to intimidate his foes. He has fought hard to be in his position and is the pillar of strength when times are tough… He is the true Rideri out of all of us.
The time has come to watch all of the newcomers' fight for a place in the herd. All female newcomers are placed automatically with the other females. A few did not like this prospect that much, however, they were forcefully put into their new place. After this, I can presume some will have their own pups in a few months to come. Then all the dragons roar in anticipation for the fights to follow. All the dragons get into the best positions to see the fights. The first dragons Brutus and Teyti to begin the fight. Teyti is a blue dragon who is thin and fast, while Brutus is a bull class strong and heavy. They begin to use their draconium energy to create a mag push towards each other. They went at it for quite a long time, when my father ordered the dragons to fight physically. Using draconium energy is a cheaters way he always said. Fighting dirty is the only way to achieve anything around here. Mag pushing can only last for so long and can be a waste of time and energy during a battle. Teyti suddenly looked frightened as he knows he will not be able to physically damage Brutus easily. Brutus then tried to charge at him and Teyti dodges him with ease. He jumps gracefully and quickly as expected with his kind. However, the fight is boring since Teyti is dodging all of Brutus's attacks. The dragon herd roaring with impatience since nothing much is happening. Eventually, Brutus got tired and Teyti then had at him and started biting and scratching all over him. Brutus being a tough bull class is now reduced to a chewing and scratching tree. Brutus surrendered and Teyti won the match. It was far from the best win but it is a win none the less.
The up and coming fights were just as boring. Mostly dragons making each other exhausted and then they pick on the exhausted one. Just looking at my father he was less than impressed with the new dragons. He loves tougher dragons that can show brute strength or speed. I think he even wants to watch some dragons die just to satisfy how bored he is. When all the fights were over my father roared so loud that the whole world must have heard it. The new Alphas have chosen their new mates and they walk away happy. Those who lost will form a herd of their own and the Alphas will fight for that privilege to lead them. The Alphas who don't get their herd tonight. Can challenge another alpha for their herd and the one who loses will lose their title. They themselves will become Omegas or die…
With the introductions, renaming and battles are over. My father announced that the herd will be moving away from the valley. The food is running out and the river is filthy and getting smaller every year. With disease being rampant in our numbers with many dying at being close proximity to each other. Too many dragons are starving so it is time for us to move away to new lands. However, with this comes great danger for us as we have been hiding from the Black Draconium Empire. They will attack us and imprison us as slaves if seen. My father led what has left of our army to this valley a place where the Black Empire couldn't reach us. It was hidden behind large mountains which is hard to travel through if you don't know it. Father announced we will be migrating away in a few days, so this gives us a chance to prepare our mates and pups for a long journey to the unknown.
My father then announces that it is time for us to rest for the evening. He does this by letting out a soothing call. Not like his usual roar, it is very gentle sounding and relaxing. I fell asleep with ease after a long day of travelling. When I woke up the sun is rising and most of the dragons are asleep. My paws still ache from the long journey. But I am glad it hasn't become pussy or bloody from the blisters. I needed to relieve myself when I see Myshka again at the river. A mouse dragon like her will never be chosen as a mate by other much larger dragons. She tried to be just as cheery as she was yesterday. Although she said she is hungry since she didn't get to eat much. I couldn't help but feel pity for her… I did have some food left over that was given to my family last night. I snuck away a small rabbit and gave it to her. She thanked me graciously as she ate happily. "Please do not say anything about me sharing food with you…" I had to make sure she won't say a word. I admit I did this once before as a younger dragon and my father bit me harshly on my front left leg for it. She smiles and promises that she wouldn't. I smile in return.
"Do you think Beau that I made a mistake coming here?" Myshkas smile turned into nervousness. I'm surprised she trusts me enough quickly to ask such a question… But then I just risked my own scales in getting her a bit of extra food to eat. "No, I don't think you did… You are free from your human captors. You can live freely as you like. There will be no more humans controlling you anymore".
"But I am a female… I still have to follow orders from those higher up than me, who use brute force to control us… I asked if I could join the scouting herd when they leave for today they forbid me… Since I am female I must hunt close by and look after the pups. Even though it has become obvious no male will choose me, because of what I am. When your brother rescued me from the Black Empire caravan. He promised us freedom. At the moment it doesn't really feel like we are free". Her happy, nervous grin quickly turned into sadness. "What exactly is your herd trying to do?" Well, this conversation has become serious very quickly. She is better off asking my brother or father since they're the heads of the whole entire herd. But then as I think about the question, it's best that she asked me. "Our herd is to defeat the humans. We are the dragon separatists, the humans have destroyed our world and took our kind as slaves. It is our duty to destroy them and take the world as our own as it originally was thousands of years ago."
Myshka chuckled at Beau. "Well, that's interesting… Humans have always been here. Just because we have only known humans for seven thousand years. It doesn't mean they haven't always been here…"
"What? Be careful what you say about humans around here." I looked at her weirdly. She really is stretching the boundaries of this conversation. A conversation that can get both of us killed. I double checked around us to make sure no one heard those words being spoken.
"I have wondered though does your father have any idea of what is happening in the outside world at the moment. It is a very big world and we are in a very tiny part of it". She looks up at me. She knows I don't have a good answer to give. My father has been ignorant since he ignores the lands and politics of humans. We only know what we know which is closed to the outside world.
"We cannot speak any more of this…" I warned her. It is dangerous to speak as the sun has risen and all the dragons will wake up soon. I began drinking from the river when I hear my father's roar to wake everyone up. When he wakes up everyone else must be up. I said goodbye to Myshka and quickly ran up the hill where my family is now standing.
I nuzzled mother a good morning which she highly appreciated. My brother said hello to me and I said hello in kind. Father quickly interrupted us though. He said that our seer elder Drastra has awoken. She wakes up every few months due to her age. Everyone guesses that she is three hundred years at least. She was captured during the separatist war of which we took her prisoner. She was a member of the Black Draconium empire council of which she has many secrets about them. It was revenge due to Vipstranius's betrayal, which I can guarantee they have been looking for her after all these years.
Following father, he led us to a cave furthest edge of the caverns in the valley. She resides in there as she hates being out in the open. She can barely walk anymore due to her old brittle bones. She revealed to us that the Emperor used to give her a special mixture that helped give her strength for a small period of time. But she didn't know how it was made. The poor thing lives in pain, but father does everything in his power to keep her alive. Even if this means she sleeps every few months.
Walking into the dark cave my father and brother made their bonemarks glow, so we can see where we are going. The cave is straight forward so it is easy to get in and out. Eventually, we walk into a chamber and there she was… Her body glowed black draconium so she was easy to see in the darkness. She is frail with her only being skin and bones. Her bone mark glowing showing that she is still alive. She almost looked like a snake if you removed her small legs. I felt so bad for her... This is no way to live… I see her lift her head and a haunting groan comes out of her. She even sounds like death.
My father roars at her and she just looks up at him with pure disdain. Her glowing eyes fixated on him. If she had the strength she would swipe him a good one across the face. But after a while, she stops staring at him and looks at me and my brother.
"What is it?" She asks annoyingly to my father.
"I need your visions again… Help make my path clear" He sounded a bit desperate. My father never sounds desperate. What is going through his head? I wonder. "If you give me visions then I will give you a great haul of food later on today so you can feast." My brother and I looked surprised at him. He never shares food with anybody else. Especially if it is his food and his alone. He summoned us from far away to listen to a dragon prophet. I really hope this is worth it.
Come close you three… She asked us nicely. We did and with a quick motion like a snake. She bites one of our front legs. Our blood is on her fangs, she licks her lips looking like she enjoyed it. "Be quiet as I close my eyes and let me absorb you and your pups' minds". She closes her eyes and magic draconium energy surrounded her. I have never seen a dragon use energy like this before. It was entrancing, it felt truly magical. I had no idea draconium could do such things. The draconium swirled all four us. Pure black draconium at its most pure form. I have never felt so powerful as it felt like the draconium energy is being forced into my veins. As the draconium magic stopped everything went quiet again. The powerful feeling I got disappeared as quickly as I got it.
She looked at my father, her eyes glowing brightly as ever. "You must leave this valley as there will be nothing left in the months to come… Life has ceased to survive this land for black corruption has taken hold in the valley. If you remain here your herd will die and their bones will be buried where no one will find them".
"That's really all you got? You stupid old thing we were already planning to move anyway... What a waste you have been. Should have killed you instead, since you are useless". Father then scoffs at her then leaves the cave. She chuckles and then looks at my brother.
"Ironclad is it? You're an interesting one. Your future is not like your fathers as you hoped. But your path is similar. You will lead, but the terms and conditions will change. Opportunities of power will rise with you from the creatures you least expect, however with these terms a great enemy will rise against you. Be aware of your selfishness and power… I will warn you of this once as this is the path of your fate". She does a scary smile as she says this. My brother just laughs her off just thinking she is this weird old dragon. Which is true… She then asks Ironclad to leave. I was going to leave along with Ironclad, but she demanded me to stay. So I did, I admit I was curious as to what she saw of me. She was glaring at me and looked hauntingly serious.
"I saw your future the most Beaucephalis… For it has been read by a priest before many years ago. Your life will not be like your fathers or your brothers. It will be something else entirely. Keep an open mind for what the future will uphold for you. For the world will need you. You will not know why until it happens. But when it does the light will shine through you and you have to embrace it when it does. As it will come from an unlikely source that you will one day cherish and love. They will be your strength and courage for the wars to come. If you don't and keep your mind closed your fate will be like your brother. Where your selfishness and crude power will take over you."
I have no idea what she really meant… But I have always thought I am open-minded. I smiled and thanked her for her seer services since father and brother didn't even bother to do so. But I have so many questions for her, she didn't have to be cryptic. "What exactly do you mean that light will shine through me? I have no idea what this even means". I asked her politely since I hope to get a better answer.
"I am not truly sure myself… All I can think of is, May the light shine through the darkness. They are words of importance. Find out what those words mean and you will get your answer."
She spoke those words in a human tongue. My back shuddered… I do not like the sound of this at all. They are human words with the human tongue. They never should have been uttered in their language. I wanted to ask her more questions but I think I have had enough superstitious nonsense in one day. I turned around to leave the cave. When she spurts this out.
"When you believe it is time visit me again, for I will not move from here. Beau, you may not believe, but I can tell you one thing. Keep your heart open and one day you will fly".