Chapter 13: Flight
Xev looked up at the sky and noticed something he hadn't before, the large moon was moving just as it would in the human world although very slowly. They were about to pack up and move out after a few hours of rest for the horses and Zanir.
"I didn't know that the moon moved through the sky here as well. Since I've been here it looked as though it has only moved slightly. Why is this?" asked Xev as he walked over to help get Valon onto Zanir's horse.
"The days as you call it back home are much longer here. It takes about three human days for the moons to cross the sky and disappear for another three. This is how long it takes for one day here to complete. During the period of extreme darkness it is very dangerous to be outside of the cities because of the even more dangerous creatures that wonder about." Explained Zyra now getting up onto Ahwa and extending a hand to Xev.
"All this sounds amazing but we really should head out of here before anything gets us. You said three human days that must mean it is nearing that period of darkness, so let's hurry it up." said Zanir already edging his horse forwards.
"I agree lets double time this. As much as I find this world interesting, staying out in a forest for any longer than need be will drive me insane." Said Xev holding on to Zyra.
"What are you boys afraid of the dark or something?" joked Zyra. "We should arrive at our destination just before it falls into total darkness."
They continued running their horses as fast as they could for ages. They finally slowed to a speed the horses could maintain through the untraveled narrow pathways between the trees. No signs of ambushes were apparent during the trek. Nothing had been said between them for a long while. An echo of an animal that sounded wounded became more noticeable as they moved on. Xev had never heard the sound before.
"Can you hear that Zyra?" asked Xev. Zyra pulled on the reigns to stop the horse.
Zanir's horse stopped as well behind them. It became eerily silent except for the horses panting and a slight breeze. Then came the cry of the wounded animal again and again. It was quite close to them.
"I think I may know what it is. Not certain though." Said Zyra. "We shouldn't waste any more time if we are to arrive before darkness."
"What is it?" called Zanir from behind.
"We hear something. Might be an injured animal." Said Xev.
"Let's keep moving." Zanir insisted.
Xev felt compelled to see what the sound was coming from. He ignored their protests and jumped down from the horse and moved through the trees towards the crying animal.
"Xev what are you doing come back!" yelled Zanir.
Zyra got down from the horse and followed behind Xev. Zanir put his hands up in disbelief that they had just left him alone on the path with Valon still unconscious.
Xev followed the sound to a rocky outcrop some thirty feet high that rose above the trees. He crept slowly towards it and ducked behind a boulder. Zyra sat next to him and they both looked in the direction the cries were coming from.
He was shocked at what he saw. A fairly large dragon was sprawled out on its side in front of a cave set within the rocky face. Its left wing was broken and mangled underneath it. It was bleeding from areas that used to have horns and claws. A massive wound in its chest where its heart would be was opened up and a pool of blood was around its body. What hurt Xev even more was when he saw a smaller dragon at its side crying out into the air.
"It must be her hatchling." Whispered Zyra. "Looks like a group managed to kill the dragon and take its horns and claws to sell." She said and a tear rolled down her face.
"We can't just leave the baby here. It would surely die right? Questioned Xev a sick feeling welling up in his stomach.
"Yes. There is no way to control a young hatchling in this situation. It will stay next to its mother until it is forced to hunt for food itself. We could try to sooth the dragon with spells but it may have the opposite effect and make it feel threatened." Zyra said.
Xev got up and crouched slowly down towards the dragon stopping every few feet so as to not threaten the young dragon. He got closer and closer Zyra doing the same. The dragon continued to cry out and it turned to look at Xev and Zyra then its crying intensified.
"Zyra hurry try a spell to comfort the dragon." Pleaded Xev feeling restless.
She started to sing a spell whispering it into the air slowly the dragon's crying stopped and it slowly turned towards them. It crept like a cat head held low and then it opened its wings up wards to display its size hoping to frighten Xev and Zyra a few light growls escaped its maw.
Xev sat still and tried to slow his breathing to begin mediating. He thought that if he displayed a sense of calm and nonthreatening posture the dragon may feel less stressed. It continued moving slowly towards Xev stopping a few feet from him its eyes glowing silvery from the moonlight. It then made a roar that would of scared him senseless if the dragon were any bigger but since it was only up to Xev's knees he was not affected. It started to circle him sniffing the air then it ran back quickly to its mother's side.
"My spell didn't work for long I'm sorry. At least it knows we aren't threats." Zyra said.
"Let's find it some food maybe it will grow attached to us by providing it with nourishment." Xev said.
"Okay. You stay here and watch the dragon. I'll be back in a few minutes with something. It won't be long I promise." She slowly moved away and disappeared in the darkness of the woods.
Zanir was still waiting patiently along the path. Zyra came back to explain the situation.
"We found a young dragon hatchling but its mother has been killed. I'm going to go find it something to eat and maybe it will trust us enough to follow." Then she vanished into the forest in search of food a dragon would eat.
Xev sat in wonderment of the creature he was watching. He wanted to save the dragon and bring it with him on their travels. He had had pets before at his house a cat and dog so he knew how to take care of a smaller animal, once the dragon grew up though it would be hard to look after. He had no knowledge of how to raise dragons properly but Zyra and others at the rebel headquarters could help him out.
A short while later Zyra appeared silently next to him with one dead rabbit and another furry animal of similar size he had never seen before. She handed him both.
"Thank you Zyra. Hopefully the dragon will be interested in it." He said and held out the rabbit in one hand from its legs. He made a calling sound you would to a cat or dog.
The dragon had kept an eye on them the whole while and it began to sniff the air. It noticed the rabbit Xev had dangling from his hand and advanced cautiously. Once it was close enough it hesitated then quickly snatched up the rabbit and chomped away swallowing. Then the dragon eyed the other furry creature and it began to make a sound similar to a cat purring.
"Ah, you want the other one as well. Hungary aren't you." He whispered to the little dragon.
Xev brought the second animal out in front and he began to back away slowly trying to edge the dragon further away from its mother. He stopped a short distance while the dragon followed him.
"Here you go. You can have it now if you want." He said and gave it a wiggle then tossed it up into the air.
It leapt up about four feet and caught the animal in its mouth then flapped its wings a few times to slow its landing. Xev was unsure if it was old enough to be able to fly. He watched while it finished eating then held his hand out calling it forward. It extended its head and sniffed his hand for more food. Xev was able to slowly pet its head between two small white horns. It made a funny sound and blew some smoke out of its nostrils.
"You're such a wonderful creature." He smiled.
"We should slowly back away and see if the dragon will follow us." Zyra said.
They did and as they got further the dragon followed but stopped and looked back at its mother and looked unsure of what to do. It looked back and Xev and Zyra and then it skipped over to them.
"You can come with us if you'd like." Xev offered in a cheerful and encouraging voice.
It seemed to like his voice and considered them friendly. They made their way back to where Zanir was waiting, the dragon following them all the way hiding behind trees when Xev or Zyra turned to make sure it was still following. Zanir had a look of amazement when he saw the little dragon.
"Is it dangerous? Does it bite?" asked Zanir in awe.
"Well it hasn't tried to bite us so far you on the other hand I'm not so sure." Joked Xev continuing to edge the dragon towards the horses.
Zanir's horse panted and back away once the dragon was in its sight but Xena's horse did not seemed too bothered although it kept an eye on the little creature.
"Can it fly?" asked Zanir trying to calm his horse down. "Shh easy now." And patted its side.
"We aren't sure." Said Zyra. "We'll find out soon enough."
Xev and Zyra mounted their horse and they both started slowly down the path looking back at the dragon. It had stopped at the edge of the narrow path between the trees. The dragon looked as if it was about to pounce at Zanir's horse as he rode by.
"I'm not having that following behind me you guys take the rear." Said Zanir and rode past them.
"Hold on Zyra. Don't go too far." Xev said then he turned to the dragon, "Come on. It's alright. We won't leave you here. You'll be safe with us."
The dragon didn't move it just sat their staring at Xev.
"Okay slowly start heading away." Xev said.
Once they were about fourty feet the dragon ran along the ground and leapt up into the air flapping its wings that could just fit between the trees in the narrow path that was about eight foot across. It soared upwards and caught up flying overhead circling them.
"Yes! Faster so we can match its speed." Xev said joyously.
Xev's neck was sore from turning to look as the stunning creature flew above them. Its dark scales reflecting the moon light. It must be a great hunter because of its black scales acting like camouflage against the sky especially during the extreme darkness that occurs here.
They continued riding for a while longer when Xev looked up to find the dragon missing above him.
"Wait! I can't see the dragon any more. Hold up." he said nervously looking around the sky then in the woods.
An unnerving amount of time passed before flaps of wings sounded and the dragon reappeared over the tree tops swooping down with something hanging from its mouth and landed with a light thud. It proudly walked over next to Xena's horse and stood on its hind legs with the front legs rested on the horse's side then extended its head toward Xev as if to offer the dead animal to him.
Xev wasn't sure what to do, "Thank you. I was quite hungry." He smiled and petted the dragon on the head and it started to purr deeply.
"Take a bite out of it. Don't hurt its feelings." Zyra said managing to hold back a laugh.
Xev pretended to eat the gross animal that was dripping blood everywhere, "Mmm thank you. Would you like the rest?" his mouth was covered in blood.
He handed the animal to the dragon. It looked confused by turning its head to the side then it took the animal in its teeth and gave it to Zyra.
"Oh thank you how kind." She reluctantly did the same as Xev getting blood on her face then gave it back to the dragon which ate the entire thing in one gulp.
"Hey, why don't I get any? Zanir said ahead of them.
The dragon looked at him and sniffled shaking its head blowing smoke from its nostrils. Then it looked up on the horses back where Xev's lap was. It looked like it wanted to jump up. There wasn't much room between Xev and Zyra for the dragon to sleep.
"No no there's not enough room up here." Xev said but the dragon leapt up.
Its claws grappled onto Ahwa's back but not enough to draw blood the horse whined and nearly threw them all off.
"Shh. It's ok Ahwa" Zyra said trying to calm her.
The dragon tried to wrap itself up in between them but realized it wouldn't work so it awkwardly laid across the horses back resting its head on Xev's right thigh. Xev started to pet the dragon.
"I guess its tired." Chuckled Xev.
"Are we good to go?" asked Zyra, "We need to pick up time."
"Yes I think so. Not sure how this will work out." Said Xev sitting as far back as possible while at the same time close enough to hold on to Zyra.
"I'll start Ahwa moving slowly." Zyra said.
They started and the dragon didn't seem to be bothered by the movement of the horse. Ahwa picked up speed. Xev held on to the dragon around its back with his left arm to make sure it didn't fall or cause any harm to Ahwa's hide.
Xev was thinking of a name for the young hatchling. He wanted it to fit the dragon's dark scales. After some thinking during the travels he had settled on the name Svarturvog, meaning black scales. As they continued towards the rebel camp Xev couldn't keep his attention from the dragon asleep in his lap.