Beau: Chapter Fourteen

Keep my heart open and you will fly? I once heard in old dragon tales that our ancestors once flew. But they were never founded to be true of course… They were just stories… I had to stop thinking about it as it is time for the whole herd to move. Some of my blisters have healed better after the past few days. Although they have now become so itchy it is almost unbearable.

The dragon seer as my father proclaimed has left the old, dragon seer to rot… She told me to visit her again when I was ready… Ready for what? And when considering she is old and can barely move… I visited her again in the morning, but she was back into her sleep trance. I nudged her but no avail. I thought she was dead but she showed hints that were still breathing and her bonemark glowed.

I had no choice but to leave her… But I promised that I will be back to see her as she said. My father, mother and brother started to lead the dragons out of the valley. I was close behind them, it is easily one of the largest herds that any dragon could have seen. Hundreds of dragons united with a purpose! To destroy the humans and find a new home!

It will be dangerous since we have to head south. The valley is the highest northern point of the continent. Even though this was once Light Green Empire territory the Black Empire has taken over the country. They have many human-dragon slavery settlements and towns across the landscapes. Even more dangerous since some cities are underground… They are harder to find.

Getting in or out of the valley is hard enough. With a small herd, it is not as bad however, we have hundreds which is a difficult task… I wish father went with the method of sending smaller herds at a time. However, we want to show our huge numbers, which will intimidate our opponents. As we journeyed down the ravenous mountains we have had at least twenty of them fall due to the edge of a cliff collapsing from under them. Terrible since there were young ones in the deaths… After that incident, little did I realise that is going to get worse…

We have now been travelling through the mountains for a few days now. The lack of food, exposure and exhaustion is beginning to show. Many have collapsed and were unable to get up. We had no choice but to abandon those are not strong enough… The fighting over rabbit meats has escalated with alphas killing omegas for food. The desperation has become so bad for some, that they have resorted to kill the weak and revert to cannibalism.

Father usually is against cannibalism however the food situation is too precarious that he allowed it. I refused to eat my kind… It repulsed me… Even worse when I see it was many pups who are paying the price. Myshka and I wake up earlier in secret to make sure to hopefully find our kills before everyone else does… Myshka feared for her life as she is a small walking target. I had to make sure that she was kept in peak condition. Father, brother and mother are all well fed and their strengths are still at their peak. In a way, it made me sad knowing that they are still strong and powerful. The rest of their herd is suffering… I have tried to help many dragons as we could as we kept moving. But many of the cases are hopeless as there was nothing I could do to help them… The only thing that has helped and hindered us is the rains that have fallen in the past few days. We could drink in splendour but we can easily lose our footing… Myshka and I in the meantime have gotten really close as of late… But she has to remain behind the Alphas as she is supposed to. I wish that she could travel with me at the head of the herd. But if she tried I knew my father will fight against her… I told her not to risk it.

Eventually, we came across the rocks that looks like a dragon. I sighed with relief as it meant that we were almost out of the mountainous valley. My paws once again blistered and bleeding. The pain is almost unbearable but at least it is not itchy. We needed to stop… But my father wouldn't. He has been almost nonstop leaving the valley. When we reached the dragon rock I looked at the vast landscape… Every time my brothers' herd comes and goes I always marvel at the scenery. However, it is not beautiful… It's a dark and barren wasteland. No trees, no human buildings and no signs of life… There is no way our herd could live here… We would have to move so far away from the wasteland to even get anywhere hospitable. That means we must go far south…

After when I looked at the horizon father started taking the herd down the mountain. We lost even more lives when cliff edges collapsed… We have lost so many during this migration out of the valley. But I had to keep convincing myself that the herds would have died if they had stayed.

As we have finally climbed down the mountains and have reached the flat barren land. We had to check who was alive and who wasn't. It turned out that our hundreds have become the few hundred… It was a terrible loss overall. Father should have checked the herd more during our trip… Mother made sure that my sister and her mate are doing well. But rest of the followers are restless and now we need to figure out our next plan.

Father hoped that we would have the numbers to take the human cities and claim them as our own. The same tactic that was used by him years ago and it actually worked well. Even though it was a short time, it was only until Vipstranious betrayed him by taking many of fathers' followers. The leader of the league of eight and revealed to be a proclaimed "son" of the Emperor. My fathers worst enemy and is the reason why the dragon separatist movement during the dragon-human war shifted. It was the dragon separatist war that quickly transformed into the Black Draconium Empires war. Many of those who followed Vipstranious now work for their Emperor… My father wants revenge but looking at the state of his followers and how many we lost by going from one place to another. It is highly unlikely we will be raging a war anytime soon…

"Ironclad take your brother and those who are strong enough. Scout the area and see what lies ahead… If there are humans kill them. If there are other dragons recruit them. We need to start rebuilding our numbers again. I have never seen such weakness in dragons before… They certainly don't breed the strength as they used too. They all so weak… I will remain here and make sure everything remains in order for the herd." My father looked at his herd and particularly at Myshka as she jumps around in her usual fashion. She is so small compared to the other dragons it is actually kind of funny.

"Can I take her with me?" I asked father. My family looked at me as if I was some kind of idiot.

"We are not taking that female rat dragon with us!" Ironclad shouts at me for even suggesting it.

"Father you said that we need to take dragons who are strong enough! That little dragon there still has energy and is fast". The fact is true. We may have a lack of sleep, but at least we have food in our bellies.

Father looks at me and Ironclad and nods yes to take her with us.

"I am not looking after her! If she wants to come she is responsible for herself!" Ironclad nips me and then pushes me away. That annoys me to no end… He hates it when I suggest ideas and father goes along with it. He does have a tendency to enjoy me being berated as an omega. Especially if it is from father. If someone else doesn't berate me Ironclad will do it. He made sure of that last time we fought for leadership and mating rights...

I walked over to Myshka who is at the head of the female part of the herd. She smiles at me as she is always now excited to see me. I can actually admit that we have become friends.

"Hello, Beau! Long time no see!"

She pretends that we haven't seen each other in a while even though we were up early this morning hunting. "Come on little thing we are going off to scout the area!"

"REALLY!?" Her smile got even bigger. She has been wanting to leave this herd for a while. Being a female means they have to stay and look after the pups. She wanted no part of it… Once her excitement died down we met back with Ironclad who gathered the stronger dragons of the herd. Some of them are alpha's so this will be interesting as many of them believe they are their own authority and don't like to be bossed around. The reason they listen to my father is that he has defeated them on numerous occasions. It will be interesting to know if they will listen to my brother… This also means many Omegas are too weak to go on this scout. A clear sign that the alphas have taken most of their food. They all looked down at Myshka and scoffed at her. One dragon almost bit her on the neck as a sign of dominance. I immediately covered for her, she does not deserve this… I wonder if I did the right thing by allowing her to come.

Father has given us a few days to see what we can find. The main herd will remain here as they rest and heal for the next part of the journey.

Once our little herd has formed we all ran down the mountain. It is easier to run with a smaller herd than a large one. We can navigate our way around obstacles with ease. But the blisters on my paws are still causing me much pain. I lingered last in the herd as I struggled to keep up. I could not roar at my brother to slow down as knowing him he will only run faster. I just had to fight against the pain as much as I could. Myshka was in front of me the whole time. It benefits being small since she can be so nimble while running on her two legs.

After travelling for a while down the mountain we have reached the valley. It is so plain and dead that it looks even worse than seeing it from the middle cliff of the mountain. The ground felt much softer on my paws because instead of hard rocks it is now sand. It eased my pain a little. So in a way, this is making me feel better.

My brother and the alphas are sniffing the wind. They are wondering which direction we should go next. We should go south as father commanded. When we got back from our last scouting to get more dragons. We came from the East and we lurked on the main route that leads to Suravi the Light Green capital. On the west, the main road leads to Inclementia the Black Empire's capital. I have never been anywhere near those cities since it is too dangerous. But father hopes to one day take over those cities with an army of free dragons.

Once the alphas sniffed the winds. As I predicted the alpha dragons started to fight. One wanted to go east, another west and my brother wanted to go south. Those who wanted to go east or west said that we just avoid the cities and stay away from the human pathways. My father is not around so he cannot put them in place. So my brother has to really step up and control them. My brother started to get impatient with them… The arguing started to elevate. Ironclad then reached out and bit one of them in the neck. Blood started pouring out everywhere from this dragons neck. I barely knew him but I am glad he died a quick death otherwise Ironclad would have made him suffer. Myshka next to me looked horrified. Her happy personality could not hide from this horror she just witnessed. She looked like she is frozen as her scales immediately paled and her eyes are wide open.

Watching my brother still chewing on his neck as he eventually rips his head off and throws it to the other alphas. He then roars at them with such force he could be heard from the top of the mountain. He is double the size of these dragons so he can kill the others with ease and he just showed them that he will. He is so like father that in a way it really does terrify me… But if father and mother saw this they would be so proud. It is after all our way of life and it will never change. I nudged Myshka to see if she is alright. She is still in position as she hasn't even moved.

"You will have to get used to this Myshka… This is how things are." I whispered into her long ear. I know it is not much comfort, but she cannot just close herself off. If we are in any danger she cannot just stand there. But this did make me wonder what her life was really like before she came with us…

Once my brother made sure that his dominance is not questioned. We started going south until the sun started to set. On our journey throughout the day, we have come across nothing… Still a barren wasteland. But at least we were lucky that we did find plenty of rats and rabbits to eat. Eventually, we came across a forest. I have never seen a forest like this… The plants are all dark and twisted and the flowers glowed as if they are made from a bonemark. The trees' bark is pure black and swirls out into different directions. I touched one and it is so brittle it snaps… I heard from tales from older dragons that forests are meant to beautiful and green. This is a huge disappointment… As this forest is beautiful it must be certainly dangerous. But I have no idea why… But I must make sure to keep my guard up. I have a feeling that anything can hide in there.

Since it is getting dark my brother made the smart decision and we stay put just out of the forest. The darkness of the forest made it hard to see anything. Since the sun has now set, setting foot into that forest will be too dangerous. This makes Ironclad a bit better than father as I know father has led his herd into blind danger without thinking on a few occasions. It is a tough decision because sleeping out in the open is just as dangerous as walking blind into a forest.

It was time to sleep and Myshka snuggled next to me. She is still afraid of whom she is with… After seeing an alpha getting his head ripped off in the morning. I know that will frighten anyone. Since Myshka and I are omega's we sleep in the outskirts of the sleep circle. It is a way to protect the alpha as long as the alpha is protected nothing else matters. Although I do wish that I am more than an expendable creature… But it's just the way things are…

It was dark of night when I hear Myshka trying to wake me up.

"Beau! Please wake up! I heard something!" Myshka lightly scratching my nose. I started to open my eyes and I quickly noticed that the other dragons are still sleeping. It is just Myshka and me who are awake. Her squeaky roar is grating to my ears at this time of night. I playful used my paw and slammed her down. It was like playing with a young pup. Then all of a sudden I heard a rustling noise coming from the forest. I have never lifted my head up so fast… It must have been a bird or something. Lift my paw of Myshka and she squeaks in my ear.

"Something is wrong…"

Then all of a sudden I heard a light clanking noise. I had no choice but to roar to wake everyone else up. IT IS AN AMBUSH!

Dragons with riders burst out of the forest! Wearing armour plating across their bodies they charged out of the forest. One of the dragons magged at me and I magged in return. I am not good at using my mag skills because father believes using it for fighting is cheating. But I had to hold him off as best as I could. The magging has created a form of light so it not as dark anymore. However, I quickly noticed the humans had the same skills as we did. I have never seen anything like it! A human magged high above us and started throwing weird objects onto the ground. I had no idea what they were trying to do. Were they trying to kill us or trying to capture us? When the items fell onto the floor is activated into a small dome of black draconium energy. One of the alphas is caught in it, I could hear him roar for help as he tries to escape his small prison. As I tried to concentrate my energy to the dragon in front of me another dragon swiped me from the side! I felt this pain rush through my body. No wonder why father is against us using mag energy. We concentrate what is in front of us as we aim the power stream. Instead of keeping an eye what is happening around us at all times. As I was pushed with such that I slammed into a nearby tree. Since the tree is so brittle it collapsed behind me. I tried my hardest to get up as quickly as I could. The dragon who swiped me is running towards me in pursuit. When I managed to get a closer look at her, of the black draconium armour she wore it covered her face and chest. I had no choice but to run! I would have been a fool if I attacked her physically when she is protected by that armour.

As I quickly got up and ran I realised I could not find Myshka or my brother anywhere. I roared for them but I heard no reply. I only heard the roars of the other dragons. I saw one of the other alphas get captured with a net that looks like a spider wrapping around him. It was crushing him… Me running did not last long as I saw a human soldier run towards me. Like the dragon who is chasing after me, she is wearing armour similar to what the dragon is wearing. But what I feared most is the spear that she is carrying. It was double the size of her and it looked deadly!

I used my mag energy to try and push her away. But with quick reflexes, she grabbed out her spear and deflected my mag stream! I was going to run into her. But then so be it! She will get trampled upon! I will not stop!

I almost collided with her until I see her use mag energy and spear to jump and flip over me. She caught me completely by surprise! I have never seen humans do this… Usually, they have little weapons and cannot match us in physical prowess. I had no idea of how to defeat these humans or dragons. I turned around to see where the human was but I realised then I made a huge mistake. That was when I felt a huge surge of pain going through my body. It was excruciating and I didn't know how to stop it. I didn't know any worse pains than the blisters on my paws... When I tried to look at what they were doing I noticed a human with a stick with a weird power source in it. I was on the ground in agony when Myshka jumped out of a bush and attacked the human with her long back legs.

The human who had the stick was pushed away. The pain immediately stopped and I tried to get back up but another dragon lied on top of me. Myshka being the jumper she is, leapt onto the dragon who was on top of me. However, this dragon in armour had none of it and she bit Myshka on the belly in the middle of her jump. Myshka screeched in agony. Then the dragon dropped her next to my head… I thought she was dead. But I noticed that she is still alive… I breathed a sigh of relief. The human who has been pushed away I noticed checked her belly to see how badly injured she is.

I used my mag powers once again and magged the dragon who was on top of me into the forest. I roared in defiance and as I did I noticed my brother in the far distance. He was alone and it looked like he was just watching us get beaten… I needed him to join me to defeat these things! I started running to him and roared to him for help. Instead, he just stood there. I shouldn't have had relied on his help and wasting what little time I had. Because before I knew it I was shocked again… The pain is excruciating and this time they put a massive collar on me… I saw these humans around me and I tried to mag them away. But I couldn't the collar absorbed the power I tried to use. I then tried to use my physical abilities but they shocked me again… The collar is seeping my energy. Looking around me I see that the others in my herd had collars. Myshka had one... But I am glad she is up and standing. I saw that the rest of my group had to stop fighting so I myself had to be smart and stop…

I looked at where my brother was and I saw him running away into the darkness of night... He ran away...

I was so angry and disappointed... But knowing father instead of being upset that his pup has been captured. He would blame me for being so weak to fight against them. When I looked into the distance I was whipped by a human. I tried to turn around and bite them and hopefully chop one in half. I wanted to kill them so badly! However, he whipped me again. I noticed that our new collars created a draconium mag chain that connected us. The dragons in armour started laughing at us... They never spoke anything to us. Not during the fight and not now... they just laughed... We were a joke to them. The humans were talking as well but I could not fully understand them. Their language is not like ours... They speak with words as us dragons speak in tones. The humans once they were done talking climbed onto their dragon saddles and began herding us in a particular direction. They had their whips out in full force and they were prepared to use them.

As we walked I did notice the direction that we were going... We are going west.