Chapter 4:Journey Through The Wild Pt 1
He was now up against the elements and the very nature of Avalar's valley. But this was merely one of many adventures that Asher once took with the Alpha mercenaries. Learning about the wild and what it has to offer them in terms of survival during long trips. He had put at least a mile or two between him and the Cheetah town, and at long last, it was time to embrace his own true journey. Warfang was to the east, and it's a whole day away by flight, and he couldn't fly the whole time.
So after a few moments more of flying through the clouds and great blue sky. He needed to descend and find a place to land where he could rest his wings and continue on foot. That was no problem, he was ready for the wild, he was not that squeamish hatchling any more. So as he floated down through the clouds and back into the wild, he was prepared. As he found another cliff to perch himself on as he saw the view of forests to his left and right, separated by a grand river.
His objective was to follow the grand river, it would lead all the way to Warfang. Once he was close to the shoreline, go two miles north, and Warfang would be sitting there nice and pretty. So there was no time like the present, and nothing would be gained by just standing around to look at the view. So he took a breath in, and leaped off the cliff before driving his feet into the cliff. Letting his claws drive into the rock side and slow his fall as he slid down the shear drop.
The wind rippled through his red long coat and the dust littered his legs and the armor around them. He raised an arm in front of his face to mask any dirt that flew at his eyes. He remained steeled and focus, mistakes in such position would end in death by shattered bones upon impact. His eyes aimed for the soft dirt and grass below, there were even some dandelions for style. He closed his eyes, and released his grip on the cliff side and did a single front flip.
Before he felt himself slam down with shocking force that rattled his ankles a bit. While dirt exploded all around him along with a cloud of grass that whipped through a breeze. His feet were almost submerged into soft cold dirt before he released a breath and slowly stood. His ankles felt a bit shaken up, but they weren't broken or currently all the way up into his gut. So he was able to show that he still remembered his training, and his experience under the guide of mercenaries.
"Ok…! That's one obstacle of many out of the way…"Asher assessed and took one last look at the forests around him and the shimmering clear river three feet to his left.
Before he began to follow the river, he first needed some water from it for the road. So he pulled out his canteen and walked slowly to the side of the river, letting it's glimmering light entice him a bit. He stuck his canteen in, and waited for a solid two minutes until the canteen grew some heft. The water would not be his only acquired goody, for his keen eyes spotted something right in front of his canteen. On instinct, he went zero to sixty, shooting his free claw forward with his wrist spike at the ready.
In a flash of blinding speed, the water exploded from his punch and the spike made it's mark. As it violently pierced and hooked into an impressive sized salmon that tried to fight him. But he was out of the water in a flash with Asher's wrist spike going clean through it's mid section. He stood up and moved away from the river with a filled canteen, and now he had some lunch. He sipped a bit of water from the canteen before hooking it to his belt, and started to walk with the fish.
Quickly, Asher threw a quick punch to it's head to kill it quick and put it to peace. He then used his claws to cut and carve the fish's head clean off and leave it behind for the vultures to feed on. Then he could happily eat the fish, normally he'd eat it after some hot cooking time over a fire. But he still had a lot of ground to cover before he could settle down, so he went with raw for now. Besides, fish was a better lunch, quick and full of protein, he'd save cooked food for something bigger.
So he simply took hunks out of the fish's body as he continued walking next to the river. It's rushing waters were like a very simple tune to make him feel at ease for this trip. Even after also hearing the faint crunch of a fish flesh and bones in his jaws with every second of chewing. He felt a bit relaxed now, and he could think about the journey he was on, and why he was going on this journey. He began to think of the dragoness he longed to see, her face would not be forgotten now.
He had a photo within his bracelet that he could look at all he wanted during his travels. It would give him a boost of courage and determination to continue on his search for her. He grasped the bracelet in his right claws, as he looked to the river that burst with sudden life. More Salmon was swimming through the river in swarms, he let a small smirk of interest shine for them. These salmon had to be on their way to the shoreline where they could get to the sea to continue their lives.
He ripped another piece out of the fish and spit out a bit of fish scales. Watching the natural activity in the river, it was like his mind was able to finally take a break for once. He was able to enjoy the sights and the calming nature around him, but he would not lower his guard. For the wild held all sorts of dangers to it, it's beauty was not to be taken as harmless. So he began to scope the trees to his left, there was no telling what could be laying in wait for him.
But so far, all he could notice about the trees was how they moved gracefully with the wind. It looked almost like the trees were dancing to the river's gentle water rushing tune. It was like nature was blessing him with good graces for his adventure, but he was wishing that he could already be at Warfang. But he needed to exercise some sort of patience, too much impatience could lead to insanity. His obsession was not to become twisted and unhealthy, but he needed to keep it close at least.
He then finished his fish, only the tail fin remained while the rest of the fish was skeletal. He tossed it into the river, while he then caught the scent of something sweet. Almost like a sugar sweet milk perhaps, he needed to track the scent of this sweet and succulent smell. He quickly rushed down the river, following his nose at it's side and feeling the sweet smell grow stronger. Quickly, he made a sharp turn to the left and went straight for the line of trees.
Where he then spotted a standing out tree that had a sweet and dangerous treat for him. A beehive was perched at the mid level of the tree, and there had to be almost a hundred bees flying around the hive. Honey from a hive would be good for energy in the morning, if he could retrieve it. After a moment of thought, he decided to accept the challenge of retrieving honey from the hive. It would be dangerous, but unlike all the other mercs, Asher was a dragon, and dragon's had thick skin.
Asher pulled out his knife before he jumped and latched onto the tree to start climbing. His claws held firm as he scaled the tree with ease, though his weight was a bit disconcerting. It definitely got the tree creaking a bit as bees caught on to his approach, and wasted no time rushing in. But Asher kept going, and braced as bees started to pelt him with their stingers. Only to bounce right off him like tiny pebbles flying at his face, annoying, but by no means painful or crippling.
They fell off his body, littering the ground below from losing their stingers in the battle. While Asher casually got all the way up to the hive and drove his knife deep into the hive. Honey immediately oozed while he then quickly went for a little vial he had in his belt.
"Feels good to have the kind of hide that even some common swords can't damage,"Asher admitted to himself and started to chuckle a bit with entertainment to see the bees trying in vain to stop him,"Sorry, but I could use a little bit of your sweet nectar for breakfast you angry fruit flies."
He waited till his vial filled all the way up with eight ounces of sweet honey. After that, he was willing to stop making the bees attack and die against an impervious enemy. So he simply let go of the tree and corked up the vial before flapping his wings for a slow and gentle landing. He landed softly and put his vial away, before he then saluted the bees for their contribution. The black dragon then began to move on, and continue follow the river, as something caught wind him, and watched the dragon from the shadows.
But Asher was feeling good now, and able to carry on down the river to Warfang. With the river giving him a nice tune to enjoy, and a fertile area to hunt and harvest for resources. He appeared to have a smooth venture down the river as he went peaceful, and remained deep in thought.
This occupied him for the next several hours, he was quiet, still listening to the river. But now he could hear hawks chiming in as well as they circled the skies for any source of food. But they manage to find it in the form of the salmon that still swam next to him in the river. Splashes erupted from the water, salmon jumped, only to get pounced upon by the hawks. And carried far away where they could get devoured or fed to the new generation of predator birds.
The late afternoon sun was starting to beat down on his dark back that even a red coat could not protect. Especially when he had black iron armor around his arms and legs, not a good thing to wear in such heat. Thankfully He spotted a mile wide plain that separated the two chunks of the forest. And beyond that smaller cluster of trees, there in lied the coastal area that lead to the ocean. Once he had reached the edge of the forest, all he needed to do was go north and in ten or twenty miles, he'd be at Warfang.
So the plain was perfect for setting up a campfire and sleeping for the night. He made good time by non stop walking, so a break for the night was warranted, but now he had work to do. It took him almost an hour to finally reach the plains, and by that time, his legs were starting to get weary. So upon arrival, he simply pulled out his blanket and laid it out twenty feet from the edge of the larger forests. Doing this would ensure that nothing could sneak up on him without being spotted or heard.
Blanket was a bit small, but it would be able to get almost his whole body on it. But now Asher needed to get a fire going for warmth, thankfully he wasn't too far from the trees. And he already had the tools for chopping down some trees and cutting up some logs for a camp fire. That was his two pairs of bare claws and his staggering and unnaturally great strength he possessed. And he knew how to use all that fast and efficiently, where he lacked skill with his fire, his physical prowess more than made up for it.
But before he went for a nice work out with his fists and some nice chops at the trees. He went to the river side and selected some large but smoothly refined stones, nice and oval shaped. They would make for a good pit for the wood to go in, and due to their size, the fire pit could be big. So he collected at least a dozen big stones and held them in his strong arms as he carried them back to the set up. He lined them up in a nice sized circle right in front of his blanket, mere inches separated them.
When the stones were ready, the time had then come for Asher to get the wood and some leafs. He popped his knuckles and marched right to the trees, using the orange light that glowed from the sun. He needed to ready the fire before the evening was in full motion and darkness would fall. Fire would be his friend through the night, scaring away beasts and keeping his cold blood warm. So he wasted no time getting to work as he began to prepare, and swing some well aimed karate chops.
His claws went through the first tree like butter, and then he just needed to give it a light kick. Before the tree went down like a loose broken tower ready to fall over from the damage. The ground underneath him trembled a bit from the tree slow falling and kicking up dirt. Asher waited for the dirt to settle and walked to the top of the tree to find some branches thick enough for a long lasting fire. He pulled some of the thicker branches out and cut them down to a good size.
Leafs were also a requirement, but a claw full of leafs was more than enough to start the fire. So the wood was more important, and it needed to be handled first before all else. He was fully focused on collecting the wood, and missed a faint couple of growls from the woods. Eyes were watching him, golden yellow and red eyes glared at him as he snapped the branches off. Before the eyes backed away and into the Shadow, and that's when he finally heard the warning, a mere snap of a stick, and a rustle of the bushes.
"Huh? Company…!"Asher shot up and the mere small sounds, and his worries were truly confirmed when everything around him went dead silent.
In the wild, a dead silent area meant only one thing, predators in the vicinity, and they're hungry. So his defenses were up as he scoped out the edge of the forest, just waiting for the next move. Then he heard a faint growl, as he lifted his claws up and into fists with his wrist spikes at the ready. Then a rustle to his far right drew his attention, and he was then set up for an attack. His eyes left his front view, and that's when he was blind sighted in a flash of teeth and silver fur.
A loud bark came with the explosion of leafs and bushes, a large wolf appeared. It slammed into Asher and put him on his back before it tried making a vicious go for his neck to quickly kill. But Asher was quick to react by putting his arm forth and letting the wolf bite down on his thick scaly arm. That bought him the time he needed to get his free arm up as the other fought with the beast. He brought his free claw up and rammed his wrist spike into the side of the wolf's neck.
He shrill whimper came out of the furry beast before it slowly began to drop dead. But not before Asher threw the creature off and on it's side, giving Asher a chance to roll to his feet. He then looked down to the attacking beast, just as it died within a minute, dead from a spike in it's throat.
"Great wolf…! Pack hunter, one of the top predators of the Avalar forests,"Asher assessed his attacker before catching the rustles of bushes that then allowed the pack to appear,"And here comes the rest of the brood…!"
The wolves ran out like roaches exposed from their home, and they were hungry. Asher backed away a bit before the wolves started to surround him and look for their opening. These beasts were big, so they would be able to overwhelm him if they were given the chance. So he was cautious and waited for them to make the first move, never make the first move, remain unpredictable. Patience paid off, and three wolves made the first move as they attacked his front and sides in triangle formation.
Asher was quick to make his next few moves count, and be ready to do a lot of moving. He reared back, and went for the one coming right for him from the front, a full force hay maker was prepared. He swung it forth, and let it smash into the side of the canines jaw, he felt the jaw bone shatter. Before it yelped and flew back, skipping in the grass till it crashed back into the trees. Quickly he then jumped back and spun to avoid getting jumped on from the sides, one wolf went under him, the other went over.
The one under him almost manage to nip his hip as he spun through them and landed. Before doing a quick and hot spit once more, letting it melt through the back of a wolf's head. It yelped and face planted, and this became a trigger for the rest of the pack that quickly joined in. They charged in with snarls and wild barks, their claws ripped up the dirt and grass. As they rushed the dragon, hoping to overwhelm him, but he was at worse odds a couple times as a teenager.
He vaulted right over the back of one, and drop kicked a wolf that came behind the first. It was enough to crack it's neck in two and send it rolling across the grass dead. Before Asher landed and turned around to see another wold tack him to the ground, but he got his right claw under it. Plunging them into the beast's chest, making it shriek as he back rolled and tossed the body off him. He got back to his feet before back handing another wolf across the jaws, and putting it on his side.
He put a foot down on it's neck, just in time to catch a charging wolf to his left. He snatched it up in his grip, letting his spike drive right into it's neck and crush the wind pipe in it's throat. While his foot easily crushed the neck of the other to rubble, he then tossed his captured wolf aside. Only to miss another lunge and cut the side of his right arm open with it's long dagger like fangs. Asher yelled with pain as he watched a bit of blood splash onto the slow moving grass.
"filthy overgrown, pups!"Asher growled as three final wolves lined up together right in front of him.
It was like they heard and understood his insult, they all growled and stared him down. As a heat began to build in Asher's mouth, the wolves attacked in perfect sync with each other. He growled, straining his body and using all the muscle he could use to try and make this next move count. As the wolves jumped for him, hoping to grab his arms and his neck for a take down. Asher closed his eyes, remembering what he was now fighting for, what drove him to leave his home, the sound of her voice, her emerald eyes.
"Cynder…!"Asher bellowed, and snapped his eyes opened before he unleashed his fiery fury.
Fire gushed out of his mouth, and engulfed the faces and heads of the wild canines. They howled and yelped before they fell back, crashing to the ground with their heads inflamed. This left Asher short of breath, but satisfied with the destruction with the last of the grunt wolves. That only left the alpha wolf to deal with, and he knew exactly how to handle an alpha once the grunts were dead. Slowly the dragon stood tall to catch his breath, before looking back to the forest just in time.
The big bad alpha of the wolf pack exited the woods, all covered in black fur that complimented his silver fangs. It's growls were more primal as it's ruby eyes glowed like underworld fires. It's size matched that of Asher's and it was only on four legs, and it's larger size meant more strength. But Asher already had that part taken care of, and he wasted no time going for the wolf. The alpha dog accepted the challenge and roared before charging at the dragon, ready for furious fight.
The battle was fierce, glorious, and honorable, but it ended in half a minute. After a flurry of claws, teeth, punches and even a little bit of fire that burnt the dirt just a little bit. Blood stained the grass, and the ending was a grim sight for mother nature to see, and it needed cleaning up. Asher was willing to do that a little bit after an hour of collecting wolf bodies and taking them to his camp. And it was almost another two hours before he took "proper" care of the pack of hard fought wolves.
First he needed to take care of the wound on his right arm, as he sat comfortably by a campfire he made. He made sure he was relaxed on his blanket around a nice blazing campfire as he used string that was torn off by his coat. While a strong pine needle was plucked from a rare iron pine tree. Together he was able to tie them together, and start fixing his wound, he didn't even bite down on a stick. He went raw and braced for pain as he dug the iron needle into his scales, and started to stitch the wound closed.
He growled, and panted, hoping to keep himself calm and not think about the pain much. He kept focusing on the dinner he now had, a nice big hunk of meat roasting over the fire. Two forked sticks, and a sharpened thick branch driven through the meat allowed for it to be cooked evenly. It's sweet succulence was savory, a bit of special plants he found helped to keep the meat moist. It was almost too much for him to resist, but the dinner had to be perfect, it did help him though.
With his mind distracted by the sweet cooking meat, he was able to smoothly rinse and repeat with the stitches. Needle went through one side of the skin, went across to the other, pull it out, and do it again. Once he made it from one end of the open wound to the other, criss cross and go back the other way. His breathing was all the rest of the help he needed to complete the routine. Before he was then able to pull the wound together nice and tight, blood seeped out of the wound as a result.
But that wasn't something a little pressure to the wound and a splash of water from the canteen couldn't fix. Once his wound was cleaned, he was able to slow his breathing down and relax. After all, he now had a large black cover made of black wolf fur to keep him even more cozy. He looked over his wound, seeing that it appeared to be all sealed up, so he finished it by tearing off another piece of his coat. Using it to wrap his wound up, and finally leave it to heal.
This gave him a chance to turn his slab of meat a bit over the fire to cook another angle. Before he then look to the bracelet that once belonged to his sister, he sighed peacefully and grasped it. Rubbing it's refined metal surface before slowly reaching for the photo inside it. He pulled it out of the bracelet, and spent the next few minute gazing at it, seeing his sister as a hero alongside Spyro. As much as it prided him to see the change she underwent after once being corrupted by evil, it only offered so much.
As much of a good life she more than likely had, none of it felt like enough to him. He only had memories of her torment and pain, and her sorrows for him before the darkness took her. The lost dragon wanted something more, memories of happiness were what he truly wanted. That was the true fuel to his obsession, a desire to know her, to see her smile with happiness after all the pain she endured. To finally hold her, and make memories that were full of peace and love.
"I'm coming… I've been a couple decades late… But I'm coming for you…"Asher promised in his heart as he slowly reached for the stick and pulled his dinner off the rack to enjoy.
He took slow bites while lazily gazing at the photo for the longest time. He then took a small glimpse at one last piece of art that he made from the wild beasts that tried to eat him. He smirked, seeing a little creation known as effigies, decorations used for intimidating predators. Nothing like severed wolf heads stuck on top of sharpened branches to scare away any thieves or predators. He would be able to sleep peacefully with those effigies set up and slowly being set on fire.
After a half an hour of eating at the crisp clear night, he was able to finish his dinner. He was then able to toss away his stick and lay back on his blanket while getting cozy in his wolf fur cover. He turned to his side and continued watching the photo, hoping to find what he needs in Warfang. And hoping he could at long last find the one he lost so long ago, he was ready to promise himself that he'd never give up. As he slowly fell asleep looking at the photo, and sleeping through the hope filled cool night.
Cheetah Town
While things were cooling down for Asher under a star filled night full of calming moonlight. Things were getting beyond heated back in the Cheetah town, for a mercenary's corruption was building. It was much like the fireplace that mercs were around, some were even arm wrestling. Others watched and cheered for the ones they had money on, as they drank without restraint. But Felious was in no mood to drink, his mind was too chaotic and distraught from the departure of his dear Asher.
The dragon left him and his family of mercs, one of their best just gone like that. Who did he have to blame, himself perhaps, or maybe it was Hunter and his means of appealing to Asher's interest? He held up the green gem that remained with him, letting his mind offer up the question. For a bit now, he sat there at the table, wondering if he should drink or just wait for an answer. Then his temptation to try and embrace some sort of entertainment with the others grew stronger.
But what was the point? Without the dragon around to be the watchful one or even the wholesome fun one, always being aware of activity around the world. There was just no point, nothing felt the same without Asher, and he felt that it was the fault of Hunter, and maybe even Asher's. After all, Asher had pestered about his lost sister at times, and begged for ways he could learn about her. His ambition with this obsession was stronger than supporting the ones who raised him.
"These thoughts of yours are justified, but there's clearly nothing you can do. He's gone now…!"Suddenly the voice of the gem spoke to the mercenary leader at long last after so much silence.
"You think I don't know that…?! You think I'm that unaware of what just happened before my eyes…?!"Felious snapped at the gem as it glimmered green and let some green fog pour out of it's edges.
"Of course not… I'm just say… It's over between you and the dragon. As far as he's concerned, you're all dead to him,"Felious was ready to just toss the gem against the wall and hoping it would shatter,"You need to do something about him, however…! All he can now do is dishonor your group of professionals."
"No… Not after the way we've taught him…! He knows better!"Felious growled and argued with the voice as his eyes grew bright with green light.
"He is a dragon. Dragons tend to follow their own path without regards for others. They don't remain at your side forever,"The voice argued back and explained another side that dragon's,"Just look back to the origin of Spyro. His dragon fly parents raised him, and he left them for his own desires…! Now it's as if they do not exist to the purple dragon!"
"This is different…! He's not like the purple dragon…! He's so much more!"Felious slammed his forehead down on the table as the gem only chuckled at him.
"Only more reason that he would want to leave you. He's a great dragon of immense potential,"The voice continued on, slandering the relationship Asher and Felious shared,"Why would he want to keep being a part of a simple group of petty mercenaries? Why would he even want to respect your ways when he thinks he's so much more…!?"
"You think so, do you? Ok…! We'll settle this then…!"Felious growled and stuffed the gem back into his pocket.
He got out of his chair and looked around to the crew that was present, he needed the services of one. Someone who could move fast and had the most keen of eye sight for spotting targets. One who also had much experience with patience and skill in a tight situation. Then the chosen merc just now came down from the rooms upstairs, garbed in a signature black hooded robe, laced with bronze. He always wore this attire for the night shift, and his timing couldn't be better.
"Leo! I need you for a little trip!"Felious announced as the top shot archer stood tall and at attention.
"Yes sir? Is there something troubling you?"Leo remained cool and contained, even when his leader was storming over to him like he was about to start a bar fight.
"I need you for something…! Since you were so kind to give Asher money for his…departure,"Felious started out right in the brave clouded leopard's face,"I want you to get out there, track him down, and follow him all the way to Warfang."
Leo was immediately taken by interest to be instantly put on a sudden undercover mission. Hunting down the dragon they all valued and following him all the way to the dragon city. Sounded like quite the curious adventure, but the purpose behind it seemed unsavory.
"I want to know what his intentions are after he finishes in Warfang, and what he plans to do after he's found his sister,"Felious explained a bit quietly so none of the others became alerted and tense from the information,"I want to know if his loyalty will at least remain to us after this obsession is satisfied…!"
"Of course… I'm sure we will always be the family he is loyal to, but if you insist,"Leo quietly spoke and bowed before noticing the glow in his boss's eyes, it chilled his spine,"I will… Gather supplies and set out within the hour sir…!"
"Good… Be careful out there. And find my dragon…!"Felious grumbled as Leo slowly nodded and turned around with great unease before leaving to get a pack to gather supplies.
With that, Felious stormed away from the stairs and went right back to his table. Where he could sit there and think about the actions he was carrying out for this troubling issue. He now wondered if the things he now wanted to do were right, and if he would get the closure he was hoping for. But what he wanted above all else was to prove the talking gem wrong, for it's words were ancient, and sounded wise. And a wise voice destroying all hope of keeping his dragon merc seemed horrifying.
As much as he hated the idea of listening to such an ignorant gem full of harsh words. He could not help but pull out the gem the moment he sat back down at his table with a sigh. Turning and viewing the gem from all sides, both anger and fear were in his enchanted eyes.
"We'll see where my dragon's loyalty lies. And we'll see if your words are truly wise,"Felious spat before putting the gem down on the table and turning to the bartender,"Maidens! I need a heavy ale over here! I need my dose of pain numbing nectar!"
This was merely part one, by now I'm sure some of you know where this story is truly centered around. It's the mere adventure, the chain of events, and the harrowing obstacles that will be thrown at this protagonist. So saddle up and get ready for quite the journey, the journey to Warfang is only the beginning. Stay awesome every one.