Breeze awoke to the sound of footfalls somewhere outside the destroyed pub. The sun was just starting to peek above the tops of the buildings, washing the world in an eerie red glow. Tremor and Dalr were still asleep. The gold scaled dragoness' brother was curled up in a ball next to her, and the old dog, slumped against the far wall. Outsides the footsteps came closer.
The wind dragoness slowly drew to her feet and slunk towards the door, careful not to expose herself to whomever was drawing near. Risking a quick peek out, into the rundown streets. A cloaked figure strode towards the abandoned pub. Breeze's heart skipped a beat. She rushed back into the decrepit building and shook her brother awake.
He groaned, "Where's the fire?"
"Quiet," Breeze hissed back, "There's someone outside. They're coming straight towards us."
Tremor was fully awake after that, "Did they see you?"
"I don't think so."
"What is someone doing in this part of town?"
They both glanced at the dog, still asleep in the corner, then at each other.
"You don't think-" Tremor started.
"We're such morons," Breeze hissed, "We need to find another way out of here."
"But why would someone bother us?" Tremor hissed back, "It's not like we're prime targets for thieves any more."
The footsteps stopped right outside the old pub. Breeze hissed, "Well, would you like to ask him why he's here?"
Tremor just shook his head, then darted towards the counter. He was followed very soon by his sister. They both skidded to a halt behind the bar, just as the door swung open.
"Well," A gruff voice said, "It doesn't take you long to get back to sleep."
The siblings heard Dalr yawn, "Good morning Plomistis."
"Where'd they go?" The new voice sounded suddenly urgent.
They heard the dog slowly struggle to his feet, "They wer-"
"I left for five fucking minutes," The newcomer growled, "You said you could handle them while I was gone!"
"They can't have gone far i-"
"You're still paying me. I did what you hired me to. I found the brats."
Breeze's heart felt as if it were trying to escape. Who were these people? Why would anyone put a bounty on two orphans? Unless of course this man, Dalr, knew their father. The dragoness shuttered at the thought.
Tremor looked as terrified as his sister felt. And he clearly had even less of an idea why these two crazy non-draconics were after him. Breeze promised to herself, that if they made it out of this, she'd explain everything about their father to him.
"Of course I'll still pay you, but please help me find the kids first."
Breeze heard the newcomer grumble, but he didn't argue. The exchange was followed by the sound of Dalr's uneven footsteps, drawing ever closer to the sibling's hiding spot. Breeze tensed, ready to attack the dog if need be.
"I'll check outside," said the newcomer, "Shout if you find the-" before he could finish speaking, Dalr walked around the corner of the bar. The dog opened his mouth to say something, but Breeze didn't wait to see what it was. She called upon all of her elemental abilities, and summoned a hurricane force wind.
The dog was flung a good ten feet, before crashing into the far wall, and collapsing in a heap.
"Run!" Breeze shouted, as she lept over the bar, and sprinted towards the door.
Tremor didn't have to be told twice. In fact, he'd bolted the moment his sister had attacked Dalr.
On her way towards the door, Breeze caught a glimpse of the gruff voice's owner. A tall, cloaked panther, wearing a scowl so intense, the wind dragoness knew in an instant that this was not a man to mess with. She forced herself to run harder.
The two tore through the door, into the disused streets, and took to the sky. They both flew harder, and longer than they had in a long time. They didn't stop until they were almost to the far edge of the city. Finally the siblings stumbled to a halt in an abandoned alleyway, fighting for breath.
"W-who... who where they?" Tremor asked between gasps, "Why were they after us?"
Breeze was silent a moment, trying to figure out how much of her theory to tell her brother. She eventually decided on 'everything'.
"I think this Dalr guy knew dad."
Tremor blinked, "So?"
Breeze sighed, "Tremor... there were somethings dad didn't tell us."
The green scaled dragon raised an eye ridge, "What does that mean?"
"He... he founded Fire Claw."
14 years prior...
A tiny panther cub, barely nine years old, ran along the cobbled streets of Volans, struggling to keep up with his father's long strides. The young cat's eyes and mind were filled with wonder as he looked up at the tall, clean buildings, the busy, and chaotic streets, the spectacular and well kept statues of great dragons that seemed to dot every street corner. He'd never been in this part of the city before. He'd never imagined a place so wonderful, he'd never seen a street so free of filth and smell. He'd never left the slums he'd been born in.
As he trotted along, struck by the splendor of this new world, the young panther noticed that his father didn't seem to share his enthusiasm. Quite the opposite in fact, the older of the two cats wore across his face, something between a grimace and scowl. The smaller of the two didn't understand at the time, but he soon would.
They walked a few more blocks in silence. The younger panther's mood had taken a slight hit upon discovering his father's discomfort, even so, the strange and wonderful world he found himself in was too enthralling for the cat to stay anxious long. Or at least it was until he noticed the looks he and his father are receiving from the locals. It was at that moment the kitten realised that the only people milling about were dragons. No other felines, no other bipedals, only dragons. And said dragons didn't seem happy about the odd ones out.
"Daddy," The kitten asked, "Why's everyone looking at us like that?"
The father forced a smile, a smile which didn't reach to his eyes, "They're just not used to people like us."
"Why not?"
The father thought a moment how to reply. Finally he said, "Some people think that dragons and... people like us shouldn't be together."
"Why's that?"
The father glanced around, making sure no one was in earshot, then quietly said, "Some dragons think that they're more important than everyone else. The dragons around here tend to be like that."
The young panther glanced around at the dragons, their glares making so much more sense. The father seemed to see the worry on his son's face because he then added, "Don't worry. We're here to talk to a dragon who stands up for people like us. We're almost to his house."
The rest of the walk didn't take very long at all. Soon the two found themselves standing outside the largest manor they'd ever seen. The younger wouldn't even have called it a house. It was a castle.
They walked across the courtyard, full of neatly trimmed hedges, marble fountains and tall statues. Servants, most of which were dragons, though a smaller number were cats or moles, milled about, trimming bushes, measuring the grass, polishing statues. The kitten wasn't sure what to make of it all.
The two panthers made it to the entrance, a massive oak double door with an elaborate knocker shaped like a dragon's head. The kitten would realise latter that it was modeled after Spyro. The father knocked. A moment passed. Then the doors were flung open so suddenly the young panther started. Standing in the entryway was a tall, well dressed canine maid. She smiled at the father, "Mr. Bao, I presume?" she then noticed the smaller panther, "And who might this be?"
"This is my son, Plomistis," the father said, draping his arm over the kitten's shoulder.
"What a fine name for such a handsome young man," The maid beamed at the small panther, then added, "Come in, come in, you two must be freezing out there! Mr. Viento will be with you shortly."
She led the two panthers into an entry hall, at least twice the size of Plomistis' family's house. Warmth washed over the kitten, and he noticed an elaborate fireplace blazing in the far end of the room. His house had only ever been this warm in the middle of summer.
"Flora, shut the door," Plomistis turned to see a small, gold scaled dragoness, no more than two or three years old, "I'm cold."
"Breeze, where are your manners," The maid asked, even as she shut the door behind Plomistis' father, "Say hello to our guests."
The young dragon smiled, "Hallo~"
Plomistis' father smiled back, "Hello there, little one."
Flora added her own smile to the pile, "Now run along. I think Felicia could use your help in the kitchen."
"Yay~" The little dragon scampered off, causing both adults to chuckle.
The maid led the two panthers into a lavish living room, decorated with the most beautiful furniture either had ever seen. Crimson colored armchairs sat around a grand fireplace, portraits of important looking dragons, and non dragons alike lined the walls, an elaborately carved oak coffee table sat in the center of the room.
"Can I get you something to drink while you wait?" Flora asked, "Coffee, tea? Coco for the little one?"
Plomistis wondered what coco was.
"Oh, no," Plomistis' father replied, "We're intruding as is. You needn't-"
Flora interrupted him, "You're not intruding. I promise. Now do you like coffee or tea."
"...Coffee," said the panther sheepishly.
"Cream and sugar?"
"J-just cream. Thank you."
The maid left, then returned a few moments later with coffee and a mug full of a warm, softly colored, sweet smelling liquid Plomistis didn't recognise. "Enjoy," she said with a smile, then turned to Plomistis' father, "Viento will see you now Mr. Bao."
The two panthers stood up. The maid then added, "He wished to speak to you alone, sir."
Plomistis' father nodded, and turned to his son with a smile, "I'll be out in just a few minutes," he the gestured to the drink the maid had brought Plomistis, "Make sure to drink that before it gets cold. It's best that way."
And with that, the father turned and followed the maid out of the room. Plomistis didn't know it at the time, but his father was meeting with one of the most dangerous dragons alive. And this meeting would drastically change both of their lives.
A/N: Where have you been?
*something, something* Zelda *something, something*
Zelda's been out for a month, and you've been gone for 8.
*something, something* Fire Emblem *something something*
._.