Author's Note: Sorry this took so long, but when fatality hit my family twice in short succession my working morale was…well, gone for a while.
Path 3
Bonesinger
The Apprentice 3
Yaidev had said her farewells to Ràtra'im Ilaria, who'd once more thanked the Stormrider for her visit, before returning to her books. The young eldar herself headed back home with somewhat mixed feelings. The visit to the Hall of Remembrance had let her sorrow fully resurface, but she was glad that she'd finally been able to say her goodbyes to her friend, as somehow she only now felt like she could completely move on from her former Path.
Funny how she'd not thought of this term as an Aspect Warrior, friend, but now, for all intents and purposes, he'd been just that. Yaidev was so lost in thought that she at first did not fully notice the eldar, who crossed her path at the exit.
"Honoured Warrior; how unexpected to see you in these halls."
The crimson haired woman looked up. "Naverhan." She replied surprised, recognizing the healer, who had tended to her twice thus far. "I could say the same for you. I was unaware that you're of the Windserpents."
He smiled. "Clan affiliations are of little importance to us healers; we treat all, for we have sworn to care for the children of Isha." Naverhan looked about, the smile still on his lips. "But we are not in the House of Healing, so I suppose I can now ask from which family you hail."
"Baharothaíes." She replied. "I am Yaidev, nionis an-Thalduin."
Naverhan swiftly bowed his head, his eyes having briefly widened with surprise. "I must say, I do not believe I've ever tended to one of such noble birth before. I'm honoured."
Yaidev lifted her right in a gesture to stop him. "My place has yet to be earned, but I thank you for your kind words." In these moments she missed the indifference of the Aspect Warriors concerning such matters; all warriors except for the Exarchs were equals, all were disciples of Khaine.
He straightened. "May I be so bold and ask what profession you now pursue?"
She nodded and now smiled as well. "I am being trained by one of your Bonesingers, Halandur, if you know him."
"Ah, yes. He has created quite a few of the Windserpents' weapons and armours; I have no doubt that he'll be a good teacher." He sighed and looked at her apologetically. "But I'm afraid I must be on my way, as I'm being awaited."
Yaidev hid the tinge of disappointment she was feeling; aside from Elowyn and Derahnim she didn't have many conversations with eldar roughly her generation. "Of course, do not let me keep you." She told him nonetheless.
This time he only bowed his head, still being respectful of her rank. "Elith, badb Baharothaís." Lady; it had been some time since someone had called her that.
"Elith, Naverhan."
Swift fingers ran over the ivory flute, her remained eyes closed. It was a joyful melody she was playing, while her mind was focused on plants. Yaidev pictured leaves swaying in the wind, grass, soft moss, anything that was green.
Her lessons had moved on and now included basic manipulation of wraithbone, no summoning, just the changing properties; which for her liking was challenging enough for the time being. Halandur had given her a shrub he'd created and instructed her to change the red leaves into green. It was something that sounded simpler than it actually was; otherwise Bonesingers wouldn't need extensive training and years of practise.
Currently she was seated on the floor of the attic again, cross-legged, her robes thankfully stretching far enough to allow this. Her lips were becoming dry, but she continued still; there was no fixed end to the melody she was playing, but it did not feel right to stop just yet. Halandur and Elowyn had spoken of a 'reverberation' of the wraithbone, but Yaidev, even though she tried, did not sense it.
And so she continued to play for a few more minutes, before she stopped with a deep and long tone, letting it fade away in the otherwise silent room. Yaidev opened her eyes again…and sighed disappointedly. The leaves of the bush in front of her had turned sky-blue.
Next to her Elowyn chuckled warmly, with unhidden amusement. "A lovely colour to be certain, but I would add a little yellow to it." She advised.
"It occurs to me too." Yaidev admitted somewhat dryly. Her first attempt had already yielded the same result. "I still do not see what mistakes I make. I play the melodies as I've been taught and I picture what I associate with the desired attribute."
For a moment Elowyn considered her words, a finger running over her lips. "That is likely the problem." She concluded. "Your visualisation and the music are two different things in your mind. You must conceive them as a combined entity, until you associate sounds, melodies with certain attributes and vice versa."
"I assume it will take much time until this comes naturally to me."
The blonde eldar gave her the hint of a shrug. "It comes more easily to some than others. Be patient; you have plenty of time to master this."
Yaidev merely nodded and absentmindedly let a few fingers run over the smooth, oval leaves. Perhaps meditation would help her with this task, but recently whenever her mind was unoccupied, her thoughts drifted to the coming of age ritual. In less than a handful of cycles would she, and a part of her clan, travel to a maiden world, so she could perform it; preparations were already being made.
And apparently she was an open book to her tutor. "Are you thinking of the Maida Rha'Kerunas again?"
Yaidev had told her and her father just today about the arrangements; after all her teachers needed to know where she would disappear to for a couple of days. She herself had only learned of the exact date last night, her father having finally made all necessary arrangements. Her fingers released the leaf they'd been holding on to. "I can't deny that it worries me; I may have earned the right to perform it, but now I must prove my worth for all to see."
Elowyn smiled encouragingly and resumed her own work, tending to the strings of a zither, an instrument that was lying in front of a seated musician as he was playing. "All have performed this ritual and many have feared the same as you, though I imagine that there is greater pressure on a chief's daughter."
"I thank you for reminding me of the circumstances I find myself in." Yaidev noted once more letting her voice sound dry and unamused, before she sighted.
There was a moment of silence, before Elowyn looked up once more, her smile gone, exchanged for an apologetic expression. "Forgive me; my words were inconsiderate."
Yaidev merely lifted her hand in a gesture indicating Elowyn to cease apologizing. Truth was she wasn't angry or even insulted; it simply wasn't an 'uplifting' prospect. "How did you fare?"
She thought about her reply for a moment. "It was a long hunt for me." The Windserpent confessed. "Fortune had not been on my side and my prey eluded me for days; I feared I would fail."
The Stormrider frowned. "If you are trying to raise my spirits me, I must sadly inform you that you are currently failing."
The musician smiled encouragingly. "You have bested orks and worshippers of Chaos; I believe you will fare fine against a single dragon."
Now Yaidev too managed to smile. She had indeed already faced worse, in placed where her life had been in far greater danger. That she was worrying too much was out of the question, but what she rationalized consciously didn't always appear to make it through to her subconscious, which seemed determined to keep her uneasy.
"May I suggest something?" Elowyn interjected, apparently sensing how the crimson-haired eldar's thoughts. "Instead of returning home, I'd like to invite you to join me tonight; we will drink and speak of things other than bonesinging and family obligation. I feel you are in desperate need to get your mind of those things, at least for a few hours."
Already she felt easier; the idea was indeed appealing; it had been a long while since she had spent time with friends. "I would be delighted." Yaidev confessed. "Would you mind if I were to invite a friend of mine to join us? I gave him a promise, when I returned from the Path of the Warrior that I would not break contact with him again and I would loathe to break it." She had met with Derahnim only once more since her return, when she'd told him of her new Path. Hopefully he had time to spare.
Thankfully Elowyn didn't object to the idea either. "I do not mind at all, do invite him." Her smile returned. "But first we finish your practise; perhaps you can persuade these leaves to turn green after all."
Sometimes Yaidev hated the fact that she was ticklish. Eldar in general had very keen senses, but in Yaidev's case it came with an unwelcomed addition. She was trying not to think about it too much, supressed a smile or worse a chuckle, by instead trying to focus on observing.
The day of her Maida Rha'Kerunas had finally come and she was being prepared for the ritual. Anything but her undergarments had been removed, and three women of her clan were drawing runes and other designs on her skin with both colours and blood.
Her face was already done, covered with several red lines, one running from her lower lip to the tip of her chin, while her eyes were surrounded by black fields, creating an almost skull-like image.
Her arms were nearly covered as well and she looked upon intricate designs dominated by lines, triangles and whirls, though there were also lines of text, consisting of eldritch runes, which merged almost seamlessly with the rest. Even her hands were not spared and she watched the creation of a snake's head on each's back. And from what it felt like, the emblem of her clan was currently taking form on her back, fingers brushing over her spine.
These preparations were still being made on Saim-Hann itself and Yaidev was in her parent's home, though they would soon journey to Dashu Naris. It was tradition that this coming of age ritual, like many others, was to take place an Exodite World. The Maida Rha'Kerunas was only the first; those before were performed on Saim-Hann itself, usually in one of the forest that the botanists of their craftworld tended to with great care. After all, they had been recreated in the image of their ancient and now lost homeworlds. Over the millennia they had become sacred to the Wild Riders.
Even wildlife roamed those forests, though the eldar avoided direct contact with them as much as possible; the Saim-Hannian preferred to keep them as wild and unsubdued as their ancestors, just like the eldar of the craftworld liked to be seen by others.
Yaidev noticed that one of the women had finished her arm and set the bowl with red and black paint aside, for one with wraithbone-beads, which had been fashioned to appear to be made of nacre, and feathers of varying colours, mostly shades of brown and black. As she began to braid Yaidev's crimson hair, the young eldar thought back to her evening with Elowyn and Derahnim.
At first she'd feared the two of them would maybe not get along, but fortunately they had merely been somewhat reserved at first, Elowyn having even shown confusion by the fact that Derahnim had only a family, but not a clan.
Those feelings however had not lasted and afterwards her friends had succeeded quite well in distracting her, the three sharing a few beverages, Derahnim telling them of his work, the clan-less eldar having remained a poet so far, and a discussion he'd had with a fellow writer about the works of yet another from Iyanden, which a trader had brought to Saim-Hann.
Yaidev had to admit that the technical side of the argument had bored her somewhat, something it wouldn't have thirteen years ago, though she was curious to read the drama, if just for entertainment purposes. It was unlikely that it would ever be performed on Saim-Hann, since the Riders preferred those written by their own people, as they tended to reflect their own politics and personal struggles much better, than anything an outsider could write. The exceptions were of course the plays of the Harlequin, but those were unique, rooted in both history and myth, speaking to all eldar, no matter their origin or allegiance.
Afterwards Elowyn had surprised them with the news that she was to participate in coming race between the clans, a cherished annual event and at times a peaceful means to settle rivalries or disputes, though in some unfortunate cases also the place where they started. In any case, weapons were forbidden, yett the races remained dangerous. That Elowyn was allowed to be one of the participants for her clan spoke of her skill; it seemed the blonde eldar was more than just a musician.
The women moved on to Yaidev's legs, the rest of her body already painted and she was glad that the fingers had left her sensitive sides and abdomen. By now she was fighting the urge to move, having remained motionless for quite some time now. Yaidev could not tell for how long, though certainly far more than an hour.
She knew what would follow. She, her closest family and a few chosen from the clan, like the Stormriders' Ràtra'im would take a small ship to the webway, straight to Dashu Naris, were a tribe of the local Exodites were awaiting them. It wasn't the only world were these rituals were being held, but it was the world of choice for the Baharothaíes.
Yaidev closed her eyes and waited. She felt them work down her legs, until finally they wrapped the leather straps of her light sandals around her shanks. The other woman was done with her hair and began to help the young eldar into her light leather armour, one that had been worn by many of her family before, ceremonial but not truly protective, most of the straps it consisted of showing damage, cuts and scrapes. It was a two-piece suit, one half covering her chest, the other everything from her waistline down, though not quite to her knees. The designs were not to be hidden.
"You are ready, my lady." One of the women with raven hair announced, just after another had helped Yaidev into her vambraces.
The young eldar nodded and took a deep breath through her nose in an effort to hide her excitement and yes, nervousness. Today was the day.
For a moment bright light blinded her, colours raged, flickering like a firestorm that filled her entire vision. Her skin shivered as a light charge scurried across her body and suddenly the world became solid once more. The light faded, the song of birds reached her ears and Yaidev' eyes adjusted as she looked about.
It took her a moment to realize that she was standing in the hollow remains of a tree. It was easily ten meters in diameter, the shell mostly intact and closed far above her. The earth beneath her feet was as dark as the tree's wood around her and the air was humid, carrying the scent of moss.
Yaidev however had no time to investigate further, as her father, who had left the webway before her, was already leaving the shelter through a crack in the thick bark, his red robe billowing, the soft brown fur at the collar shivering in the morning breeze.
Alandis was by her daughter's side and more of their clan were emerging from the webway behind them. Yaidev wrapped her own cloak tighter around herself, which was as orange as the light of dawn, and followed Thalduin. They exited into a forest dominated by giant conifers, the ground covered by a soft bed of brown needles and ferns.
Trying to keep a serious demeanour and show confidence through her bearing, Yaidev kept herself from looking around too much, even though her curiosity was growing. She managed to keep her eyes pinned on Thalduin's back, though still took a deeper breath. This air had not been treated and refined for millennia on a craftworld, no; this was the air of a world of emerald green and clearest azure. As much as the craftworlds tried to simulate the conditions of a planet, at least the pleasant ones, it was not quite the same. In a strange way, Yaidev felt privileged to walk upon this ground and not just because of the ritual she was about the perform.
They walked for only a few minutes before they reached a clearing, which for the time being was quite populated. Wherever she looked, Yaidev saw yurts, round tents covered with the multi-coloured skins of dragons. She had never seen such dwellings, but though they were simple constructs, they seemed comfortable and inviting.
The Stormriders were greeted by the Exodites, Dragon Knights lining a path to the center of the temporary village of these nomadic people, most seated on the bipedal reptiles Yaidev had seen during her first battle. She vaguely remembered riding one of these magnificent beasts, though she had merely been a passenger.
The knights wore armour made of leather and plates of bone, most holding lances or spears, their helmets reminiscent of those worn by the Dire Avengers, though with crests of feathers. The civilians were simpler garbed, their clothes in sober colours unlike most of their craftworld cousins. They had gathered behind the knights to watch the Stormriders' arrival, even the children, though they were very few in number, and perhaps even too young to have been alive the last time craftworlders had visited.
As soon as she and Thalduin had set foot into the village and reached the first Dragon Knights, they were approached by an Exodite flanked by two other eldar, appearently guards. Different from the knights surrounding him, the clothing he wore beneath the plates of beige bone was an auburn-coloured robe, his cloak made of emerald scales.
The green sash across his chest was adorned with small golden runes, almost too small to read them, more a shimmering line along the rim. Age was showing on the Exodite's face, a scar running across his chin as well, his green eyes calm and filled with confidence born from experience and endured hardship. There was even silver in his black hair. Eldar lived long lives, but not even theirs were eternal. This one had doubtlessly seen millennia.
Yaidev assumed that he was the Exodite Lord, the Athe-Sier, of this tribe, his bearing not unlike her father's, both surrounded by this regal aura that earned them the immediate respect of most, who crossed their paths.
The Athe-Sier stopped halfway down the path created by his knights to await his guests, Yaidev making sure that she was walking straight, so she would not be completely overshadowed by her father's presence. It was her day to prove herself after all.
When only a few meters separated them, a hawk-sized bird suddenly appeared from somewhere between the yurts, its feather mostly blue and green along its body, the longer ones of its wings greyish with black stripes. Its slim head was reptilian, almost like that of a lizard, yet it too was feathered, except for the snout, which featured sharp teeth. The long reptilian tail ended in a fan of long feathers, similar to those of its wings. It watched Yaidev attentively with dark golden eyes the moment it had landed on the Exodite Lord's shoulder. She had seen its kind before in Saim-Hann's gardens and forests, like her own kin a refugee of the ancient homeworlds.
It squawked once, when Thalduin stopped and Yaidev took her place beside him, the two bowing their heads respectfully the moment after the Exodite Lord had greeted them in the same manner. "Welcome to Dashu Naris Thalduin, chief of the Baharothaíes." The old eldar spoke. "And of course I welcome you Badb Yaidev; we are honoured to host your Maida Rha'Kerunas."
"And we are grateful you once more offer us your hospitality, Athe Delnaris." Her father replied for them. "Your kindness shall be repaid, be it in peace or war."
Lord Delnaris lowered his head anew, this time to convey is appreciation. Yaidev knew that long before her birth, the Stormriders and their allied clans had saved this Exodite World and thus this tribe from an invasion of Chaos worshippers, followers of She-Who-Thirsts. It had earned them the gratitude of the Exodites and so the assurance of their continued amity was of great significance. "We have prepared accommodations for your brothers and sisters; I hope you'll find them suitable."
"You have always been generous; I am more than certain that they'll suffice."
The Exodite Lord seemed pleased by Thalduin's response. "Now; shall we begin with the ritual?" He asked and his blue eyes meeting Yaidev's.
Her father nodded. "Yes, for the sun is still low. We should not delay any longer." Thalduin turned around to the other Stormriders behind them and passed a few orders, asking Alandis to oversee them. Yaidev didn't listen, her thoughts diverted. It was tradition that the ritual began in the morning, preferably at dawn; if they didn't begin soon they would have to wait an entire day.
When Thalduin had made the necessary arrangements Delnaris gestured with a wave of his hand towards the edge of the forest beyond the yurts, opposite from where the Stormriders had arrived. "Please, follow me."
Flanked by the Athe-Sier's guards they followed Delnaris through the settlement, past yurts of varying sizes and colours, some showing banners or trophies of successful hunts, like the skulls of the indigenous giant reptiles. Some of those dragon skulls were as long as she was tall, most having sharp teeth like daggers. Yaidev's hand touched the hilt of her own ivory blade, wondering if she would need it; after all, most of the Exodite World's fauna remained wild and untamed.
But Yaidev didn't dwell on those thoughts, as they now reached the edge of the village and a tent standing apart from the other structures. It was significantly smaller than the yurts and made of cloth rather than skins. The crimson colour seemed even darker in the early hours of morning, as it moved gently in the fresh breeze. It was surrounded by five posts, which were about as brought as an eldar, but a meter taller and Yaidev soon realized that each was a single bone. She suspected them to be the femurs, the thigh bones, of some large, long-necked herbivore. Runes had been carved into them, yet she had no time to study them more closely and so could only determine that most were blessings.
While the two guards took position outside next to the entrance, Lord Delnaris invited them in, allowing his guests to enter first. The ceiling was low, Yaidev almost touching the cloth with her head, making her instinctively lower her upper body. There was no furniture, only a skin on the ground and a small stove in the middle, with a kettle sitting on top, steam rising lazily from it, the air rich with the scent herbs.
She followed her father's lead and sat down, Lord Delnaris taking his place opposite of her. "Your dawn has long past and your morning is coming to a close." He spoke solemnly and took the ebony kettle, picking up a large, handle-less cup with his left hand. "You are ready for your ascension to adulthood, to take your place among your kindred."
The Exodite filled the cup with the hot tea and put the kettle back on the stove. He then retrieved a small sachet and holding the cup in front of him emptied its content into the tea. Yaidev didn't know what this fine powder contained, but from the smell she was guessing it to be a spice.
"You have been trialled by Kaela Mensha Khaine and passed his tests." Delnaris continued, still holding the cup, his eyes once more meeting hers. "Now it is Kurnous, Master of the Hunt, who calls you." He handed her the tea and slowly Yaidev took it, warmth seeping into her cooler fingers. "A true member of a clan is more than a warrior, but also a provider; you take life and you sustain it in equal measure."
This ritual, like so many others, was ancient. Nowadays no craftworld eldar needed to hunt to feed herself or provide food for her family, but it was kept alive by the Exodites. And of course Saim-Hann. The necessity of it was irrelevant. What counted was its cultural significance, the meaning behind those words and actions. To protect and to sustain; whether it was on a primitive world with simple weapons or out there in the galaxy with the most advanced technology her kin had to offer, those things never lost gravitas. To call this to mind with rituals had purpose and it instilled a sense of pride in Yaidev. She was proud to be part of this and her confidence grew.
"Today you will go and seek what we call a Nathaigean-Uishour." Athe-Delnaris told her. "A predator that reigns over the rivers of this world. It is grows larger than the bipedal dragons my kin rides, though it is somewhat similar in stature. Its claws are stronger and its snout is long and flat. This Nathaigean walks hunched on land, as it has adapted to hunt from and in the water, but never underestimate its speed. When you have slain it, contact us and my Knights will come to retrieve the body. You must only return with its head as proof."
Yaidev was reminded of the piece of wraithbone in her ear, just like the one she'd worn in battle to communicate with her fellow Reapers. She knew her father was wearing one as well and would await her call. Or he would try to contact her if the hunt went on for too long. Given that she would be hunting a predator larger than herself, there was a real possibility that she would not be returning. Not to mention the other dragons that roamed these forests.
For the first time the Exodite smiled, fleetingly, but nonetheless there had been a smile. "Drink now, young one. Focus and let go of your fears and doubts."
Yaidev did as he asked without hesitation and drank. It was still very warm, almost hot enough to burn the tip of her tongue, but she drank it all. She could taste a variety of herbs, more than she could name and warmth spread through her body, her mind clearing as if she'd finished a long session of meditation. It almost reminded her of the war-mask, yet it lacked the anger and lust for battle. Incidentally she was not allowed to wear the mask during the ritual; this was a trial of Kurnous after all, not Khaine.
Athe Delnaris rose and so did Thalduin, Yaidev setting aside the now empty cup first, before getting back on her feet as well. He then took something from the ceiling, something which at first glance had only appeared to be another of the tent's struts. In truth it was a lance, a long staff with a sharp blade at the end, similar to the ones she'd seen warlocks carry, though she was certain that this was no force weapon. He handed her the lance and Yaidev took it with both hands, her fingers feeling over the smooth bone until they reached the brown leather, which covered most of the staff to secure the wielder's grip. Her gaze quickly wandered back to the Exodite Lord.
"Kurnous' blessing upon you, Badb Yaidev." Delnaris spoke one more time, the fingertips of his right hand lightly upon her forehead, before they moved in the shape of a crescent, as if to mark her with the god's symbol. "May he watch over you and guide your actions from this day forth. Hunt well and with purpose."
Yaidev bowed respectfully, her heart beating with excitement, though she didn't let it show, her voice calm and even. "In his name and for my kin. May he judge me worthy, never wanting."
The Exodite nodded satisfied. "Go now and return triumphant."
Morning turned into noon and Yaidev's progress was slow at first. Not because she was searching for a Nathaigean-Uishour, but because she took in the sights around her. While she'd been on planets before, she'd always worn her war-mask, which had dulled both the impressions and her reactions to them.
Back during her first visit to Nal'shadar, when the mask had still been flawed, she'd been somewhat mesmerized by the Exodite World's beauty and a little in awe, when she'd laid eyes on the Avatar…but now completely without the war-mask.
Her eyes found new things wherever she looked and even the simplest things fascinated her. Yaidev even once stopped at a fallen tree, which certainly had been lying there for years. It was not only covered with moss and lichen, but was home to all kinds of mushrooms, growing from its trunk and even a smaller tree was beginning to grow from its remains.
It was all so wild, so untouched and pristine, more than the forests on Saim-Hann. She loved it.
Still, what perhaps got to her the most was the freedom. She could have walk for days, weeks, even months without meeting another soul or wall. Above her were no struts, no windows or ceiling of any kind. Only leaves and between them blue sky with white clouds. There were no clouds on the craftworld; they were occasionally artificially created in a few domes, but that was not the same. With the curiosity of a child, Yaidev occasionally watched them travel with the winds, ever changing shape.
Still she never stopped for long, knowing that her clan and the Exodites were waiting for her. A shame that they wouldn't stay once the ritual was concluded. She carried little with her, except for her weapons; the lance, a sword and a dagger at her thigh. Her rather conspicuous orange cloak had been left behind at the settlement and so she wore nothing but the brown leather armour, which she doubted would do much to protect her from a dragon.
Aside from these she only carried a little pouch with water; everything else she would have to provide for herself, including food and shelter if need be.
In the afternoon she came across the first dragons, bulky herbivores that walked on four legs and looked quite distinctive with three horns and a large bony frill, protecting the neck like a shield. Not knowing just how aggressive they were, Yaidev kept to the shadows and watched the small herd as it moved slowly through the forest, ever eating, or cleaning their horns at the trunks of trees. How many more species walked across this world?
Yaidev sighed, knowing that her curiosity would not be satisfied today, but already planned to visit Saim-Hann's libraries and address the matter once Nizerah and her fellow Outcasts visited again. Now she smiled; she herself would have a lot to tell this time.
Yaidev walked downhill, her footsteps making no sound on the soft ground and noticed that the light was already dimming. She hadn't even come across a river, merely streams, not nearly big enough for something like her prey. This was certainly part of the test, to see how well she could survive and orientate herself in a foreign environment.
The wind turned and she heard a branch break. Instinctively she tightened her grip around the lance, her heartrate speeding up. Stopping in her tracks she looked around, listening intently. Her keen eldar senses did indeed pick up noises, quiet and slow footsteps. And there was more than one beast. Trees and shrubs restricted her vision and the dimming light was not improving matters. The noises were now coming from at least three sources around her and came closer. Yes, she had definitively become the hunted.
The shrub to her right shuddered, branches broke. A growl was the last warning she got before a shadow brisk up to her, yellow eyes and white teeth flashing. Without thinking Yaidev brought her lance around, the blade burying itself into the chest of a bipedal dragon, the impact's force pushing her back, feet digging into the ground. It was just like the bipedal dragons the Exodite Knights rode into the battle; she'd come across a feral pack.
The dragon collapsed, having leaped right into her lance with full speed, but now the blade was stuck in its flesh and the others were not about to wait. Yaidev spun swiftly around, pulling the lance out, a foot on the dragon's body. Four more were breaking out of the covert, snarling, sharp claws outstretched to grasp and tear her apart.
Yaidev didn't need to consider her options to realize that she could not face them in combat.
Deciding quickly she threw the lance, but not at a dragon. The blade dug into the trunk of a tree not far away and she ran. The dragons were gaining, their hissing close behind her. Yaidev leaped and to her own relief managed to grasp the shaft of her lance with both hands. Using her momentum she swung around and landed on her weapon, her feet almost slipping. The flexible bone gave in a little and as she jumped again, catapulted her further up.
Yaidev reached out. Her eyes widened when her right hand couldn't quite reach the first of the branches above her, her heart, which had beaten so loudly in her chest before, seemed to stop dead. Jaws shut just beneath her dangling feet. Then the fingers of her left hand wrapped themselves around the crooked wood. She released a breath she hadn't been aware of holding.
Ignoring the snarls beneath her, Yaidev pulled herself up just enough to grasp the branch with both hands and then lifted the rest of her body, until she sat secure in the treetop. Leaning herself against the trunk, she only now allowed herself to look down.
She was several meters above ground, too high up for the dragons to reach and they knew it. Hissing almost angrily they circled the tree. One jumped and tried to climb it, razor-sharp claws digging into wood, but it slipped down almost immediately.
Yaidev took a moment to catch her breath. It was unfortunate that her lance was now down there; she would have to retrieve it somehow, but not while those predators were waiting for her. She needed to get them away or be more patient than them. The former was certainly more appealing.
The herd. The idea was suddenly in her mind like a flah and she looked uphill. Yes, it was possible. Carefully Yaidev got back on her feet, balancing on the smooth branch, while holding on to another with one hand. As soon as she was stable she pushed herself off and ran.
More accurately she was leaping from branch to branch, pushing twigs out of her way, making as much noise as she could. The brown and green scaled dragons naturally noticed this and followed bellow, as Yaidev ran from treetop to treetop. She was reminded of the obstacle courses during her training as a Dark Reaper; it was decidedly easier without the heavy armour and two-handed weapon in hands. Suddenly her vision was blocked by leaves and unable to stop she had to jump blindly.
She felt how her left foot touched on the next branch, her eyes closed as leaves and twigs brushed her face. And she slipped. Her feet went too far and swiftly she opened her eyes again, only to have a twig poke into one of them. Ignoring the pain, Yaidev reached out, hoping for a branch above her head and just managed to catch herself, before she could tumble to the ground.
Her near-accident let leaves and broken wood rain down on her pursuers, one of which jumped in an attempted to seize her by her feet. Yaidev hissed when the powerful jaws slammed shut mere centimetres beneath her toes again. This was far too close for her liking. Her arms hurt from having caught and stopped her full weight and groaning quietly she pulled herself up once more. Her right eye had not yet fully recovered either, tears streaming from it.
Hopefully it wasn't far anymore.
Yaidev kept running and finally heard the stamping of heavy feet. With a devious smile on her lips the young eldar pushed herself further. The brown scaled herbivores were now beneath her, but while they had been calmly eating a moment ago, panic was now spreading among them. She heard them howl and looked down to see a dozen of the three-horned beasts form a circle, some swaying their heads threateningly.
The dragons that had been pursuing Yaidev stopped dead and seemed confused at first. It lasted for maybe a second or two before they began to hiss and snarl at their herbivorous relatives, heads lowered, as if they were ready to leap forth on a moment's notice.
One of the beasts suddenly rushed forth, separating from the group. A terrible mistake. The bipedal dragons took the opportunity without hesitation. Two flanked the bulky animal, leaped forth and landed on its back, claws digging into flesh, while the third remained in front.
Yaidev was glad to be removed from this battle as the beast fought for its life, shaking its heavy body, trying to impale the one in front of it with its horns, but the carnivore was much too agile and kept out of range. She was just about to return to recover her lance, when another animal separated from the group, rushed towards the fight and rammed one of the dragons that was still clinging to the wounded beast's back. A horn cut across the spine, the bony frill knocking it off and to the ground.
The dragon lifted its head as it laid there to snap defiantly, just to get trampled by its attacker. Bones were crushed and blood seeped into the grass. It did not fail to have a desirable effect. The other two dragons let up on their prey, both quickly disappearing back into the forest. And thankfully not back to where Yaidev had slain the first of their pack. She had seen enough and this should have given her enough time to recover her weapon.
The distressed calls of the three-horned beasts followed her most of the way, but in the end it got silent once more. Yaidev left the treetops and pulled the lance out of the trunk, the blade undamaged, but partially covered with dragon blood. Slowly she let a finger run through the now dry substance. How unnecessary; this weapon should have only tasted one creature's blood. She had been sloppy. At least some of the smaller predators and scavengers would feast well tonight.
As night approached Yaidev continued on into the darkness.
…
Insects chirped loudly and the river flowed lazily, its surface reflecting the moonlight. A few hours after her encounter with the dragons, Yaidev had finally reached a great river, certainly large enough to be home to a Nathaigean-Uishour. But that wasn't the first thing on her mind.
After having examined the river, Yaidev had appeared from the shadows to refresh herself, her throat dry after her long journey, her small pouch empty. The water was cool and clear, yet different from the one she got on the craftworld. Here her fine senses could pick up faint traces of rock and plants. It didn't make her dislike it, not in the least, but she could not help but notice them.
Using her hands as a cup she drank for a while, allowing herself to rest. When she found her prey, she would need all the strength she could muster, of that she was certain. Yaidev looked at her reflection in the water and smiled. She had not seen herself since leaving Saim-Hann and so she only now saw that there was indeed a green crescent on her forehead, where Athe-Delnaris had touched her, a mark of Kurnous.
What his moon must have looked like from their ancient homeworld.
Yaidev looked up to the sky, her view clear as the trees stopped at the river and she gazed upon Nashu Daris' companion. She'd never truly seen one, green or otherwise, only celestial bodies from afar when the craftworld had past them on its endless journey. But this was beautiful.
It wasn't quite yet a full moon, but he was dominating the sky, the light he reflected of purest silver. She could even see the craters covering his surface, grey spots like splashes of paint. Surrounded by the stars, a few white clouds slowly drifting across the sky, it was a mesmerizing view. If only she could linger.
Reluctantly Yaidev tore her gaze from the moon and back to the river. Now she only needed to follow it, if Morai-Heg was kind. Still, should it be hiding in the water, it certainly wouldn't be wise to stay too close to the bank. She wanted, she needed to strike first.
And so Yaidev returned to the treetops and moved on, ever following the broader growing stream.
Almost an hour had past, when she came across the first animals again. It was once more a herd, though this time they were slimmer than the previous herbivores. Their front legs were also a bit shorter, their tails longer, yet their heads were equally strange. They were slender, crowned by a large, elaborate cranial crest, somewhat like a long curved tube, projecting upwards and back from the skull. Their leathery skin was brown, though some animals had blue scales along the back and especially the crest. Despite the late hour most were still grazing or drinking, while some swam in the river, shaking their bodies from time to time in an effort to clean themselves.
The scene however did not remain peaceful for long.
Knowing she was looking for a predator Yaidev stayed for a while and observed from a branch a few meters above. Her patience was sooner rewarded than she'd expected. Morai-Heg was generous tonight.
Suddenly the water boiled and one of the herbivores howled, the sound strangely reminiscent of a horn. The herd reacted immediately, the ones still in the water getting out as quickly as they could, the rest running into the forest. And the waters turned red.
The howling died as the animalwas pulled down. Yaidev couldn't see much of the battle, only a fury of limbs, whipping tails. Bodies turned and twisted for a couple of minutes, before it stopped as suddenly as it had begun. Then she finally saw it.
The body of the herbivore was torn, at least one limb was clearly dislocated and shattered, but next to it appeared another creature. It was just like the Athe-Sier had described, its long, crocodile like snout appearing first from the depths. Since she could see the tail as well, Yaidev judged it to be about eight meters in length, thus approximately four times as long as she was tall.
This would be even more of a challenge than she'd anticipated. Did all Saim-Hannian have to kill such a dragon? Or was each candidate given another prey, depending on some criteria? As she contemplated this, the Nathaigean grasped a chunk of meat and began to throw its head around, tearing it out of its prey. Apparently it couldn't properly bite something off.
Yaidev took her lance and positioned herself directly above it. Now was the perfect moment to strike; it was distracted and had likely spent a lot of strength drowning its prey. If she landed on top of it and managed to drive her weapon immediately into its neck or the back of its head, she might be able to slay it swiftly and without much of a fight. And she would be behind those powerful jaws. She had no desire to be at the wrong end of them.
She cowered down on her branch, ready to jump. The lance's blade pointed downwards as she was holding it in front of her with both hands, the sharp edge at the left. Then she pushed herself off.
Yaidev fell a few meters, her feet landing on the Nathaigean's shoulders. The impact caused the beast the throw it head up and roar fiercely, the eldar falling forward, her knees at its neck. Her lance was already down and touched the neck at the right side, cutting into it and to the left. Blood spat merely a second after she'd landed and the Nathaigean reacted immediately. It rolled.
Just in time Yaidev managed to take a breath, when the world was suddenly on its side, before she was engulfed by cold water. Instinctively she wrapped her legs around the Nathaigean's neck, clinging to the lance, but the force dislodged the blade and tore it from her grasp. Her ears only heard water rushing, her eyes were closed and blindly she now wrapped one arm around the neck as well. Frantically she went through her limited option, her entire body strained, focused on not getting bucked off.
Frightened she realized that she wouldn't be able to hold her breath for much longer, it hadn't been that deep, and the moment she became unconscious, her grip would loosen and those powerful jaws would come down on her.
Hastily she went searching with her remaining free hand. Her sword would be useless underwater, her movements were too restricted, but her dagger. Yes; it was small enough to be of use.
She grasped the hilt, and pulled it out of its sheath, which was attached to her thigh, just as the Nathaigean had rolled back to their original position. Before it could make another spin, Yaidev pushed herself forward, until her arm was around its larynx, her chest against the back of its head. She gasp for air, eyes opened just enough to make out shapes and then water surrounded her yet again, the giant body of the dragon winding, determined to throw her off.
As it continued to spin over and over again, Yaidev moved her dagger along the skull, from the back further and further to the front. She held on to it with all the strength she could muster, her hand hurting from the tension in her muscles.
Then she felt it. The depression she'd been looking for. Without hesitation and completely blind she rammed the blade into the skull. The water dulled the defiant roar, the body twisted a few more times beneath her.
And then there was nothing. Yaidev would have held on to the dragon a while longer, her body completely stiff, hadn't she been out of air. After what felt like an eternity, the young eldar let go and her head broke through the surface, cool air welcoming her. For a minute or so Yaidev was panting, greedily drawing in oxygen, leaning on the floating body of the Nathaigean. Her own was shaking, adrenaline still rushing through her, her heart still racing.
Slowly she let her head sink, until it rested on the still warm flank of her prey. Yaidev looked around. The water was red with the blood of two dragons and her dagger…her dagger was still buried deeply in the Nathaigean's eye. There was a deep cut in its neck as well and she remembered that her lance was somewhere on the riverbed below.
Tired and cold she ran a hand through her wet hair, some strands having gotten loose, as she calmed down, deciding to rest for a while first. Her muscles still felt strained and needed time to relax, or every movement she made would hurt, even if the cool water was making her shiver.
After a few minutes she dived down to retrieve the Athe-Sier's weapon and placed it on the bank, before she pulled out and cleaned her bloody dagger. Tentatively she touched one of the dragon's teeth, which while not sharp were certainly pointy, meat hooks designed to grasp and never let go. Even in death this beast frightened and fascinated her; she never had seen it's like before.
Almost gently she ran a hand over the Nathaigean's snout, as she drew her sword with the other. She moved back to the neck, where it was already wounded and lifted her blade. "As Kurnous decreed; life for life." Yaidev whispered and brought her sword down, cutting deeper into the neck, feeling resistance when she hit the spine. "Yours for my kin, a sacrifice not in vain." The second strike separated the head neatly from the body. It would have been easier with two hands, but the water made it difficult, forced her to hold on to the body with her left hand. She certainly wasn't strong enough to pull the dragon out. Given its size she estimated it to weigh about a ton.
Thankfully she only needed to carry the head back to the settlement, which was heavy enough by itself. How fortunate that she was used to carrying heavy armour and weapons.
With her hands carefully positioned between its teeth, she left the river, dragging the head with her. The scent of blood would sooner or later attract other predators, but she rested for a moment to gather strength and unfold a large bag the Exodites had given her. After letting the head bleed out a little, she managed to get it inside without much difficulty.
She heaved it onto her back, the bag's straps intersecting on her chest once she'd fastened its clasp. With her weapons secured and the lance in hand she was now ready to return. She contacted her father and disappeared to the treetops, the perhaps savest place at the time.
It had taken her half a day to return to the settlement, a journey that had fortunately been without incident. Only a few of the reptilian birds, like the one that had been sitting on Lord Delnaris' shoulder, had watched and sometimes followed her, yet they had never dared to get too close. She could see the yurts between the trees and with a relieved smile climbed down the tree she was on back to the ground.
Yaidev hadn't been worried about getting lost, but the Nathaigean's head on her back was feeling much heavier by now and her shoulders were beginning to hurt. But the sight of the settlement lifted her spirits, so she picked up the pace one last time.
She walked uphill, but even before she'd reached the settlement's borders the trumpeting of a horn broke the silence. Doubtlessly it was announcing her arrival and the young eldar wasn't exactly surprised that she'd been noticed by the Exodites; she wasn't hiding after all.
The first yurts were now in front of her behind a last line of trees, she pushed aside the branches of a shrub blocking her way and so she finally reached her destination. Yaidev had only past a few tents, when she met the first Exodites, most guiding her with simple gestures to a location near the centre of the settlement. None spoke to her, but neither did she pay much attention to them, not when she saw the first of her clan among the gathering eldar. Holding her head up high she kept walking, hiding any hint of tiredness or pain; the scales of the Nathaigean had cut into the unprotected areas of her legs, something she had only noticed after the adrenaline had worn off during her journey. At least with the red paint the blood was not truly conspicuous.
Eventually Yaidev reached what appeared to be the largest of the tents and saw that she was already being awaited by Athe-Delnaris, along with a dark-haired woman Yaidev assumed to be his Cildaris, the one he was bonded to, as well as her parents. Stormriders and Exodites watched from the sidelines, Dragon Knights keeping them back, giving the young eldar and nobles space.
Confidently Yaidev stepped forth, stopping only about two meters in front of Delnaris and Thalduin. She laid down the lance beside her, removed the bag and placed it next to her, kneeled down and uncovered the Nathaigean's head. None of those before her showed any reaction, except for her mother Alandis, who subtly nodded, a corner of her mouth pulled up to give her daughter a soft smile and it felt like a whole reward in itself.
Yaidev remained on her left knee, her arms resting on her right thigh, head bowed respectfully as she waited. It was Exodite Lord Delnaris, who spoke first. "And thus you return, Yaidev, daughter of Saim-Hann." He approached her, but Yaidev kept her head lowered; she had been walked through the details of the ritual a few times in the past weeks. A hand was placed on her head. "The proof of your success lies here before us, for all to see and so Kurnous, Lord of the Hunt, has deemed you worthy; gladly we call you kin." The hand was removed. "Rise, Stormrider."
Yaidev complied without delay. The other three stepped up to her as well and she saw only now that the Exodite Lord's possible Cildaris carried a simple casket in her hands, which strangely enough was made of dark wood. But first it was her father's turn and she held out her hands, palms up, for she knew the next part as well. He placed a rune in her hands, the glyph for growing, maturing, and while he began to wrap an emerald ribbon around her hands, as if he wanted to tied them and the rune together he spoke. "Warrior, protector, provider, daughter, sister in blood and arms." Thalduin wrapped the last part around her wrists, before he placed his hands on hers. "You have taken the final step to leave behind your childhood and take your place among us."
Well, almost. Yaidev knew that to gain her full rank within the Stormriders and become worthy of being Thalduin's heir, she would need to fight alongside her clan as a Wild-Rider. But at least she was now an adult in the eyes of her people.
"Do you embrace all responsibilities and burdens imposed upon you?"
"I'll carry them gladly." Both were speaking loudly enough for all to hear them.
"Will you show humility with the privileges given to you?"
"I'll honour them; never shall I defame myself or my clan."
"Will you fight with your kin in their times of need?"
"With pride I will stand beside them, until the end of my days and beyond." Of course like all eldar she hoped that her soul would never be called from the Infinity Circuit.
Thalduin nodded. "Then you are truly kin; Stormrider in blood and spirit." She saw the briefest of a proud smile. "And as you stand with us, we shall never fail you, Yaidev Baharothaís." He let go of her hands and unwrapped them. As soon as her hands were free Thalduin drew his dagger and ran the blue shimmering blade across his wrist. A fine red line appeared, a few drops gathering at the edges. It was customary on Saim-Hann that kinsmen would drink blood from each other's wrists, usually before riding to battle. It was a symbol of their bond, a bond that was now consolidated.
Obeying the custom, Yaidev took his hand and drank a few drops from the wrist. Briefly she wondered what eldar of other craftworlds would make of this. Certainly they would be confused; just another proof of Saim-Hann's barbarism. Frankly Yaidev didn't care too much for the taste of blood either, but at the same time she was glad to finally participate in this tradition. She let go of his hand again and her father stepped back. He seemed satisfied, though reading him had always been difficult.
Now at last the Exodite holding the casket spoke, taking a step towards Yaidev as Thalduin made room for her. "In honour of your accomplishment we have a gift for you, nionis an-Thalduin d'Alandis." She opened the wooden casket and revealed an earring, fashioned from what appeared to be a dragon's claw. It was curved and maybe as long as the smallest of her own fingers, displaying several shades of brown, almost as if it too was made of wood, however it still looked sharp and smooth. "Only those who have done service to our people are allowed to wear such an item. The old Nathaigean-Uishour had been feeding on our livestock for quite some time and even on the younger of its own kin." The Exodite bowed her head to display her gratitude. "Now both eldar and dragons may thrive again in these parts; for that you have our thanks." She closed the casket and presented it to the young eldar.
Yaidev took it and bowed her head as well. "Your gratitude honours me and I shall wear this token with pride, Badb-Sier." She meant every word. The elation she felt…no victory in battle, no accomplishment in her training or education had ever given her the amount of exhilaration she experienced now. Such appreciation. This day Yaidev truly felt that she belonged and she would remember this day in all those centuries to come.
The Stormriders left Nashu Daris the following morning, of course not without reassuring the Exodites of their gratitude and support once more. They returned to Saim-Hann and their halls to impart the events and outcome of the Maida Rha'Kerunas to the rest of the clan, before the day would culminate in a modest celebration.
Yaidev herself left the Exodite world with mixed feelings, a part of her wishing to see more of Nashu Daris still, another wishing to return to her studies and cease being the center of attention. It had been pleasant for a while, but after an entire day of everyone trying to speak to her, trying to congratulate her personally, it was starting to get tiring. At least after tonight it was over, but until then all she met would continue to offer their congratulations and blessings and the entirety of the Stormriders numbered in the hundreds.
She shook her head, unseen by anyone as they walked towards the dome of her kindred. No; one of the things she'd wanted was the respect and backing of her kin, the sense of family and belonging. The last thing she should do, now that she received it, was to complain. She shouldn't be ungrateful.
Upon their arrival Thalduin led her and a small group to the gardens. In a way it was the equivalent of the Windserpents' Hall of Remembrance, a place to remember and honour all of their clan. No one quite knew when they had begun to plant a tree for each newborn eldar, only that it had started before the Fall, but by now the gardens had turned into quite a forest, not dense, though branches from different trees would often touch one another. Trees were never removed, unless they died after several millennia, which was very rare or an eldar was cast out. Yaidev had only seen a banishment once, when she'd been but a little child, too young to have known why and she'd never dared to ask.
But she remembered how they had torn the tree from the earth, how they had cut the rune of the Stormriders out of every piece of clothing…and flesh. Every tattoo earned in the clan's name had been removed. Yaidev had never forgotten those images and she was glad never to have seen it since.
Thalduin guided them to Yaidev's tree, not far away from his own and those of his predecessors. Compared to them, hers was still lean and short, its bark almost pure white, its leaves as crimson red as her hair. A few banners were hanging from its branches, one for each coming of age ritual she had already completed, as well as for the Paths she'd walked; frankly the black banner of the Dark Reapers stood out the most against the bright bark.
The three of them, Thalduin, Alandis and Yaidev herself, made room as soon as arrived for the two eldar carrying the most dramatic symbol of the young eldar's success.
The Exodites had worked fast and delivered a clean and polished dragon skull by dawn. Runes had been carved into it, a brief summary of her hunt, the details of which she'd shared with them during the previous evening, so that even in centuries to come the skull could stand testament to the passed ritual. With ribbons as white as the tree they mounted the long skull at the trunk so it would always occupy a central position. Standing in front of the tree, one got the impression that the Nathaigean was looking back with a threatening gaze. Somehow Yaidev liked it.
Once the two eldar were done they bowed respectfully to their chief and the two women, before they departed, heading back to the main dome.
"It is a fine specimen." Alandis noted approvingly. "I myself brought down one of the three-horned beast you've described. It almost trampled me before I could pierce its heart with my spear."
Thalduin looked at his spouse, his Cildaris, with a smile. "I am glad it failed, Cheritaris."
"As am I. If I remember correctly, your prey hunted you for quite a while before you engaged it in battle."
Yaidev listened with great curiosity. These stories were only shared among those who had already passed the ritual; every eldar was supposed to meet the challenge as unprepared as possible that was to say without advice or specific knowledge of other hunts, so one's wits and skills would truly be tested.
"Indeed." The clan chief confessed and turned to his daughter. "Like yours it was a large predator, but one that did not dwell around water. Finding its tracks had been simple enough, but what I had not anticipated was to be ambushed by such a beast. It was a valuable lesson in not underestimating one's opponent."
Yaidev looked around; on their way to her tree she had already studied the trophies of others and noticed something. "Athari, I have seen few skulls like this or yours in these halls." She had seen her father's trees on several occasions and the skull mounted there was not as large as the Nathaigean-Ushiour's. "Most are not only smaller but appear to have been taken from herbivorous dragons. Why did my prey differ?"
"You performed the ritual later than is customary." Her father began to explain. "Thus you required a more difficult test. Besides, as my daughter you will be expected to grow into both a capable warrior and leader; the simple truth is, the higher your rank and people's expectations, the more you must prove yourself."
"The skull on your tree is of a smaller carnivore." It was a bolt statement, but it had already slipped of her tongue.
Thankfully her father did not seem to mind. "As the son of a high ranking family a carnivore was mandatory, but I was not meant to lead, merely the second choice. Thus my prey was not as prestigious. Had my brother not fallen in battle I never would have become the Stormriders' chief as you know." For a moment he looked to a tree not far away to his left. Neither Alandis nor Yaidev spoke, until a minute or two later Thalduin turned to them again. "Come; our clan wishes to celebrate your ascension. As do we."
His words ignited a flame of bliss in her heart. But there was something, which she had deferred long enough. "With your permission there is something I'd like to do first, something I have not felt ready for until now." Meaningfully she looked to yet another tree.
Thalduin knew what she was looking at and nodded in understanding. "We will wait for you at the gate." He told her and there was a ghost of a smile. "J'in Chernionis." He and her mother left, disappearing between the trees, until not even the rustling of grass could be heard anymore.
Once they were out of sight Yaidev moved on in the opposite direction. She walked past her father's tree and stopped in front of one next to it, where she kneeled down between violet flowers and placed a hand gently on the white trunk. "Shadira, my aunt. Please forgive me to have taken so long…"
Eldar Language:
Ràtra'im= Keeper/Preserver (based on Gaelic)
Athe-Sier= Exodite Lord (Eldar)
Athe= Lord (Eldar)
Badb= Lady (Eldar)
Nathaigean= Dragon (based on Gaelic)
Uishour= Water (based on Gaelic)
Cildaris=(a female) Spouse; the one bonded to through the Aonaidril/Saraonaidril(based on Gaelic)
Athari= Father (based on Gaelic)
J'in= My (Eldar)
Nionis= Daughter (based on Gaelic); CherNionis= beloved daughter
Cheritari= (a male) beloved; Cheritaris= (a female) beloved (based on the eldar word Cherital=love)
...
Eldar 'Dragons':
When eldar are talking about dragons, we shouldn't really think of the fire-breathing kind, but more of dinosaurs, at least when it comes to appearances. Everyone who's seen pictures of the Exodites will have seen them riding on large version of the Utahaptor, Sauropods carrying heavy weapons into battle and so on.
So if you have your character on a world home to these creatures, how can one not take a bit advantage of that. First we have the 'birds' inspired by the 'Archaeopteryx', though they can actually fly and not just glide. It's obvious that the theropods hunting Yaidev in the forest were 'Utahraptors' as well and I think the 'Triceratops' was easy enough to identify too. At the lake we had the 'Parasaurolophus' and last but not least Yaidev's actual prey.
As basis for that dragon served the 'Baryonyx' and 'Suchomimus'; both are more or less smaller relatives to 'Spinosaurus', though without the fancy sail. It's assumed they all lived semi-aquatic, so here the Nathaigean-Uishour got to behave somewhat like a crocodile, which by the way have the most powerful bite in the animal kingdom; staying behind the head is very recommended.