295 AC - Royal Capital of the Vallarama Empire

Emperess Draenesella's POV

Emperess Draenesella watches as her many grandchildren spar below her. She was 77 years old, but she only really felt her age when looking at her Grandchildren. It had been almost a decade since she'd been able to pull a bowstring back as effortlessly as Vahaerion did or swing a sword like Saelaeh just did. Her grandchildren made her very proud, they also made her feel very old.

Though, only her beloved Elaeyls made her feel as ancient as their dragons. Elaeyls, at only 15 years old, could scale some of the tallest towers with ease. She made sword fighting look like dancing, as she twirled left and right, practically hiding her sword and daggers in the skirts she wore. She could draw and launch an arrow or throw a spear while flipping over enemies. Her flexibility made many drop their jaws and stare. She rode her dragon standing sometimes, arms out to the side, laughing as her hair flew behind her. Elaeyls was very alive in everything she did. From weaponry to martial arts, her educational studies, her music lessons, to her various hobbies of baking and artistic drawings. She make a fine Empress one day, but for now, she'd left her heir to enjoy herself. Even if it made her feel ancient.

However, all perfect moments even eventually.

A roar rips through the sky, causing all of her grandchildren to stop sparing and spin towards the noise. She could see them coming, all 16 of their dragons. Even young Kirses, who was only 3. They were all yelling, a mixture of fear and warning. The servants around them froze in place. Their dragons were never like this. Even those with no experience with the reptiles would recognize the seriousness of this moment.

Her Grandchildren dropped their weapons, and all started running out of the courtyard. Their various guards all started cursing and running after them. She pushed herself up, cursing her arthritis, and started running after them. Their guards were all following suit. It took a moment, but they made it to the large open field where Reka was waiting for Elaeyls. Inva was circling their city, with little Kirses trying to keep up with her. Ythi, Gysess, Nienda, and Emyrry had joined in the patrol, spacing themselves out and putting an even distance between each other. They'd protect their people, as well as their riders. Whatever this threat was, the dragons had decided who would join in the search.

"Elaeyls, wait!" She continued to curse her elderly body and the gods. If her daughter, Elaeyls' mother, were still alive, she'd be able to stop Elaeyls from flying off after something that scared their dragons. Or maybe she wouldn't be able to. Her daughter had been just as stubborn as Elaeyls. Perhaps, it wouldn't have been easier for her daughter to stop her granddaughter. She shakes her head and picks up speed just a little bit. Her daughter was dead. Thinking about what-ifs would not help anyone.

She focused back on the potential threat. It couldn't be another dragon, only the Targaryens and their relatives had dragons after the doom, and they had lost them over a hundred years ago.

Elaeyls, true to form, ignored her and climbed up her dragon's saddle. None of her other Grandchildren tried to stop her, they knew better than to try when she got like this, nor did her guards, who were still terrified of Reka's large form.

By the time she got there, Reka was already in the sky, Elaeyls along with her.

Caldre landed down next, turning her huge head towards Vahaerion.

"Grandmother?" Vahaerion shoots his eyes between her, his dragon, and then back to her.

"Go. If they're all here it must be something important."

Vahaerion nods and goes to his dragon, climbing on just as fast as Elaeyls had. Caldre took off, just as her grandson sat down in his saddle.

Vervi came down next, the rest of the dragons keeping themselves airborne above them.

She turns to the rest of her Grandchildren. "Erinssa, Taedor, Draenesella, Syros, Matamyx, we're going back to the castle."

Taedor gaps at her. "Why do we have to go back?"

"Because you're too young!"

"Elaeyls is going!"

"Yes, and she's three years older than you. Regardless, your dragon made that decision for you, all of you actually, seeing as they're patrolling instead of waiting for you. So, to the castle."

Taedor glances up at Kirses, who's still trying to keep up with Inva. "Alright."

She nods to the guards, who sweep around her children and start using them back to the castle. Two more of her grandchildren were already in the air, and the last two were about to join them.

As she guided her grandchildren back to the castle, her son and daughter, along with their spouses go past them. It made her feel a little calmer, knowing the four of them would be in the skies too.

She turned back to the family she could currently protect, praying to the Valyrian gods to protect the ones she couldn't.