The Morning Star

It soon became apparent that her sleeping pattern was distorted. Kayla slept during the day and woke for only a few hours at night. It hadn't been that long since she regained her consciousness - only two nights ago - but she had seen her brother only once and very briefly. She hadn't even woken up properly at the time he had visited but he had told her about Dras Leona, the amazing Dras Leona, and the two younger riders. She would have paid more attention, honestly, but she was too tired. The only thing she did notice was that her brother's appearance had changed slightly. Kayla couldn't put her finger on what it was yet. He seemed different, maybe more mature.

The next day she really did try getting out of bed during the day, but the action seemed to require too much energy. Instead she decided to wait until night and when darkness fell, it was indeed easier. Her movements were more steady and precise and everything was silent which she greatly enjoyed. She walked to her usual place on the deck and gazed at the vast dark ocean, which appeared to have no end.

Kayla took in a deep breath and the salty air tingled her nostrils. More than a month had passed since they left Alagaesia and she hadn't even been able to say goodbye. Not that it mattered much, though. She had exchanged her farewells with the only person she cared for.

Most dragons who were on deck, were sleeping, apart from her purple and the black dragon she had encountered the previous day. The black creature - the biggest of the four young dragons - started approaching her slowly, sniffing the air around her. Kayla felt her heart beat quicken and purple let out a warning growl.

I can slice part of his wings' membranes, purple suggested, speaking in her mind and glanced at her sharp, long, black talons appreciatively.

He doesn't seem to have bad intentions, Kayla replied studying the black creature intently.

Maybe not. But you don't approach another dragon's rider without asking for permission first, the dragon continued and she appeared insulted.

Just then Kayla heard footsteps behind her and she turned around to see a young man approaching. The lightning was dim but she could tell that he was tall, slender and muscled like an elf. He had horns above his ears that protruded above the river of straight, long, black hair. She wasn't certain of the race to which he belonged.

He walked close to where she was and approached the black dragon. The man's hand extended slightly and then the two of them started circling each other, in a dance-like movement. Then all of a sudden the black dragon rolled in the air, the man managing to caress the dragon's belly and then the rider scratched the creature's ears and it looked pleased. The man smiled.

What was that?, Kayla asked Purple. Her dragon shrugged and walked closer to her, but not too close.

"I apologise if I, or my dragon startled you. However he did inform me that you were awake and since this is the time I always wake, I decided to meet the elusive forth rider" the man said, a strand of black hair falling in front of his eyes. "I am Laer and this is Onyx. You have a beautiful dragon. What is her name?" he asked.

Kayla shivered slightly and pressed the blankets she had on her shoulders, closer to her skin.

You have seen them before, I take it?, she asked her dragon.

Of course, the creature snorted in her mind.

What do you think of them?, Kayla asked and was surprised to find that she actually cared for the dragon's opinion. A month ago she would have laughed at this thought.

They would be foolish to attack us, Purple said, murdering intent coursing through the bond and Kayla laughed, surprising both herself and the creatures around her. Laer and Onyx looked at her, perplexed. The movement made her lungs hurt slightly, but it had been so long since she had last laughed, that she couldn't help herself. After a few moments she stopped and straightened up, looking at her dragon again.

I do not think they pose any danger either, but what I was asking was whether they are nice or trustworthy…

Better be careful than sorry. However, there is no harm in answering their questions and finding more about them.

Kayla nodded and went to reply, but just then, she realised something. She looked up at the purple dragon, suddenly feeling extremely guilty.

You do not have a name.

The dragon gazed at her - an intent set of violet eyes - almost accusingly.

No, I have not.

She let out a breath of air, almost in regret, and went to talk to Laer.

"It is nice to meet you, Laer, and your dragon, Onyx. I am Kayla but I am still searching for a suitable name for my dragon" she replied and the other rider nodded.

"Yes, finding a name for my dragon was probably one of the hardest things I have ever done. It's not easy finding something that will describe both the personality and the image" he said and went to stand next to the deck, close to where she was. Kayla nodded, but what she didn't add was that she hadn't even tried finding one.

"You used an impressive amount of magic in the battle against the Shade" Laer commented and studied her carefully.

"It was irresponsible" Kayla replied and shivered, a tremor of cold passing through her body, remembering the lack of energy.

"But necessary. You would have died if you had not done so. Few riders have managed to stand against a Shade and live to tell the tale. True, he was a young Shade, inexperienced, but still a Shade"

She nodded and wondered if she was receiving her first compliment. Kayla knew well enough that what she had done was probably the most dangerous act a rider could do, so she had not anticipated to receive praise or approval.

"How long has it been since your dragon hatched for you? He seems quite big" she asked, trying to change the subject.

Laer smiled.

"My town was one of the first they brought the eggs to, around the start of the summer. Onyx should roughly be about two months old" Laer said and looked proudly at his dragon.

"Where is your town?" Kayla asked, interested, hoping to find some more information about Laer's parentage but he suddenly pressed his lips together, his dragon growling in hostility. He almost seemed surprised as if he had not expected to say what he said.

He shook his head, perplexed and then smiled.

"I would rather not talk about the past and concentrate on the present" he said.

Kayla didn't press any further and nodded. Instead she looked at the night sky, something she had always loved looking at. Then she turned her gaze to her purple dragon who took off and started flying close to the water's surface, looking for food underneath.

She caught two big fish in a matter of minutes, her jaws snapping together as she crushed bones and meat against her teeth. Satisfaction coursed through the bond and Kayla was just happy to share the experience.

It was actually surprisingly easy to lose herself into someone else's world and thoughts.

You are a good huntress, she commented appreciatively.

The she-dragon snorted.

If a dragon cannot catch its own food then it's no dragon at all.

Kayla smiled and then sighed, thinking of potential names. Nothing seemed to suit the she-dragon though and she wasn't surprised. She watched carefully as the first rays of sun rose in the horizon and most of the stars disappeared, apart from one.

Laer noticed her looking at it.

"Aiedail" he said.

"The morning star" Kayla nodded.

"There were various legends amongst the races about it, but they now seem to have mingled into one story. Would you like to hear it?" Laer asked and she nodded. Her dragon was paying attention even though she was flying further away, with Onyx.

"Aiedail was a female elf, renowned for her hunting abilities amongst her race. She decided never to join with another male and instead live in the forest, amongst the trees and the animals. As she was hunting one day, she saw the Urgal God, Ahno the Trickster, and as is the nature of these things she fell deeply in love with him. But Ahno was neither moral nor good. He kept killing the animals she so dearly loved for no apparent reason. One day she was so angry that she set a pack of wolves against him. Ahno was so enraged after this, that he cursed her with unsatisfiable sexual desire. This led to her having many lovers from amongst the races. Ahno had been clever, if nothing else to place such a curse upon her. The man she cared for the most, however, was Orion. Orion was a human hunter who had accidentally seen her bathe naked in Leona Lake. It wasn't soon after that they became lovers and Aiedail did not need to turn to anyone else for her needs. However, Orion was a human and a mortal and the elf knew that he would soon die. She begged the gods to grunt him immortality and they agreed. Ahno had been with them when they were making their decision and he noticed a fault in her wish. Aiedail had forgotten to ask for eternal youth as well and so Orion became immortal indeed, but aged with each passing year until he was no more than an old, withered man with back pains and all the sorts of illnesses that come with old age. Orion pleaded to Aiedail to end his life, unable to keep on going. The arrow from her bow went straight through his heart and in the process Aiedail killed herself as well, possibly through magic. Realising the mistake they had made, the Gods decided instead to preserve the lovers' souls and make star consolations out of them. Orion's soul had been preserved quite well and the Gods made a big star consolation for him but Aiedail's soul was almost drained when they found her. Hence, why she has just one star for her, but it's a bright and important star. Aiedail hopes she will see Orion every dawn and she waits patiently. Sometimes her light fades but in the night they meet each other again and she sparks brightly. The star signals the start of a new day and gives hope to the most desperate of us" Laer ended and his voice shook slightly in the end. He quickly cleared it and smiled.

"Such a sad and beautiful story" Kayla commented, as she saw the morning start shining brighter in the sky. She couldn't exactly describe the feelings inside her chest. Some of them were happy but most were sad.

"Yes, it's my favourite story. My mother…" Laer begun but then stopped himself abruptly and appeared perplexed.

He looked at Kayla with big eyes and she was just about to ask him what he was about to say when her purple dragon spoke in their minds.

How good a huntress was Aiedail?, the dragon inquired, reaching both her's and Laer's mind and they looked up surprised, just as she landed on the ship's deck, pushing her silver wings against her sides.

Laer smiled.

"She was the best" he replied out loud and the she-dragon closed it eyes briefly and stood in front of the first rays of light from the sun and the star. There wasn't a single scale that didn't glow at that moment and everyone present stared at her.

Repeat the name, she said in Kayla's mind, in a very serious tone.

Aiedail, Kayla said, once, and made it sound as clear as possible through their mind connection.

The dragon's wings moved and glittered, the colour, a liquid silver – a great contrast to the dark purple and grey of her scales - and she rose into the sky flying towards the star.

Kayla smiled and Laer looked at her, smirking.

"Have you found a name for your dragon?" he asked and his black hair, moved to the right hand side.

"The morning star"

Once again, review, follow/fav it will take less than a minute and it will keep me going :)! All comments are welcome, whether good or bad and you can always pm me if you have any other questions/comments. Currently working on the next chapter... Don't want to spoil anything but I will just say that the riders finally arrive on the island :P.