Ok! And we are back with chapter two! Look at me go. Stayin' motivated. Must be a new record for me hahaha.
Commentators: Pyramus: You will just have to wait and see, my friend. :)
Let's get straight to it then!
CONTENT WARNING: THERE WILL BE CURSING, SEXUAL BASED INSULTS AND OTHER SUCH SLURS IN THIS STORY! THAT IS WHY IT IS RATED "M"! IF THIS TYPE OF LANGUAGE BOTHERS YOU, THEN PLEASE DO NOT READ IT.
"I have never seen anything like that!"
Fiori was still in awe at how Stargazer had handled himself in the duel. He was so casual about the entire thing! And to sit down right there! Talk about being confident in one's abilities. He seemed to know his limits and almost immediately came to the conclusion that he could win that fight without even breaking a sweat… or even trying. It made the red dragoness wonder how skilled he was, and what his limits were. She suddenly halted in front of the doors of the Great Library and stared at the ground at her feet. Stargazer turned around, confused.
"What is it?"
Fiori then brought her head to look directly into his eyes. Those glowing indigo orbs were full of confusion and worry as they flicked between the rubies staring into them.
"You don't breathe fire, do you Stargazer?"
The crystal male blinked and looked down at the ground, his head drooping and his once proud demeanor gone. When he spoke, he sounded defensive yet nervous.
"No. I do not breathe fire." He replied nervously. "I do something very… different. I am surprised you have never heard my tale. Perhaps a book or scroll within the Library here can teach you something about me…"
Pushing the massive doors open, Stargazer strode into the library with Fiori in tow. Eyes immediately snapped to observe the newcomers even though no words were said. After a few seconds of everyone observing one another, Stargazer reached out to every Rider and their dragon's minds within the library to address them.
"Hello my two-legged friends and fellow kin. I mean you no harm nor do I have any hostile intent in being here. I am merely looking to recruit five dragons who will train alongside my wild kin and I to become my personal envoy. If you wish to join my brethren and I in the wild for a time, meet me tomorrow an hour before sundown in front of the council hall. Remember, there can only be five. I am sure you will choose your candidates wisely amongst yourselves. I look forward to meeting my trainees."
With that, Stargazer and Fiori made their way back outside. As they walked down the steps in front of the library, Fiori yelped in surprise as she was tackled and then pinned by a large mass. Snarling, the dragoness fought back against her assailant and slammed her head into their chest. A grunt was heard by her and she heaved herself upwards, throwing her attacker off. Stabilizing herself once more, the red dragoness whipped around and lunged at her assailant, sending both of them crashing to the ground. She bit and clawed at the dragon she clung to as they tussled, hearing the pained roars and snarls they let out. Fiori suddenly felt a set of jaws clamp onto the base of her neck and she could feel herself lifting off of her opponent. The poor dragoness was then slammed to the ground and a male voice snarled into her mind:
"Don't move if you value your life, whore."
Fiori froze in fear.
That was not Stargazer.
A thunderous roar of rage shook the ground and a blue blur streaked across her vision. The weight pinning Fiori down disappeared as a force yanked her adversary off her and a vicious snarl was heard. Fiori heard the sound of stone being crushed and sent crashing to the ground. A shadow blotted out the sun and a mental presence embraced her mind with such gentleness the female nearly shed a tear at how much they cared. The words she heard spoken by her savior sent chills down her spine from the condescending tone they were uttered in.
"No one touches her. Touch her and you die."
A new voice, female, rang out then.
"What is going on here and why in the blazes is my partner buried under the remains of a grain warehouse?"
Her savior's voice, which Fiori recognized as Stargazer's and exhaled a shaky sigh, rose again. Anger, protectiveness, determination and confidence radiated from him as he spoke accusingly.
"Tell your runt of a partner to keep his paws off my chosen mate. If he refuses, I will rip his malehood from his body to keep scenarios such as this from happening again."
"And just who do you think you are to speak to me in such a way, dragon? You do not command me or my dragon."
Cries of alarm and terror were heard, and Fiori weakly rolled her head so she could see what was going on. The dragoness's vision was slightly blurry, but she could see her k- no. Her mate. Stargazer was snarling down at the fear-stricken face of a female elf who was pinned under one of his enormous paws. The tail of a yellow dragon buried beneath several tons of stone and rubble could be seen sticking out. Reaching out with her mind, she noticed the dragon was simply knocked unconscious. Completely out cold. Several surrounding Riders had their iridescent swords drawn and nocked arrows in bows were aimed at the crystal male. Their bonded dragons had formed a ring around Stargazer but he didn't seem to care about them. He only had eyes for the elf pinned under his claw. Said glowing indigo eyes, now burning with clear hatred and disgust, met the elf's wide golden ones. Stargazer then uttered a phrase that no dragon but him could say in the ancient language.
"Eka vindr Könungr un skulblakakönungr. Show your loyalty now, my fellow kin." (loosely translated to: I am King of the Wind and King of the Dragons)
Every dragon surrounding him suddenly stiffened and began to bow their heads to him. The bowing dragons' Riders relaxed from their combat stances, sheathed their weapons and knelt before the crystal male before them. An arrogant male voice then bellowed from the direction of the council hall.
"What in the- WHAT IS GOING ON HERE? WHY IS THERE A DEAD DRAGON LAYING IN THE STREET AND WHY IS ONE OF THE GRAIN WAREHOUSES DESTROYED?! WHO DID THIS? WHO IS THE ONE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS POINTLESS BARBARIC DESTRUCTION?"
A large white dragon then stepped out of the hall and spotted Stargazer. His eyes widening, he quickly brought his head down to what appeared to be his fuming Rider.
"Vrael! Show that dragon respect!" Umaroth hissed.
"Why should I?" Vrael questioned. "He's been nothing but-"
"Defensive. He has been nothing but defensive until now." A new voice interrupted the newly instated Lead Rider.
All eyes and heads turned toward the voice, revealing an ancient female elf with a silver circlet upon her brow and a kindly smile etched on her face. Stargazer hummed as he noticed his old, and to be honest only, elven friend.
"Stargazer," she began sternly, yet her eyes danced with mischief and amusement. "I thought we had grown past petty squabbles and pointless fighting, my friend."
Said male stepped forward until he was standing directly in front of her. He proceeded to lower his massive head until one great glowing indigo orb was at her level and he simply blinked. Stargazer gently brushed against the elf's mind and raised a bony eyebrow ridge.
"Oh you wish to speak with me? After centuries without a word, you suddenly wish to speak with me now that you see me?" the elf asked in mock anger.
Stargazer merely snorted in amusement and his eyes glowed brighter… until he heard a groan behind him. The male whipped his head around and walked back over to the injured and dazed Fiori. He pressed his nose to her cheek, purring, and laid down next to her. The dragoness began to slowly pull her battered body up onto his back and once she was done, Fiori let out a great sigh and relaxed. Her eyelids closed and she fell asleep laying on his back. The crystal male heard a brief snort and he turned his head back around to see his friend snickering softly behind her hand. Giving her a smirk and a subtle wink, Stargazer turned to Vrael and Umaroth who were watching the scene unfold with interest. The crystal dragon looked Umaroth in the eyes and asked a silent question with nothing but a flick of his eyes to the ring of mountains surrounding the island.
Umaroth seemed to understand the question and nodded, saying, "Of course you may select one of the many caves, Stargazer. And know that none shall intrude upon your privacy nor will we trespass onto your chosen residence here. No matter how long you leave for, the cave you choose for yourself will remain yours and nobody will enter it without gaining your approval first."
"Thank you, Umaroth." the crystal dragon said. As he began walking away, Stargazer abruptly paused, turned his head back slightly and told Umaroth, "You are just like your dam and sire, Umaroth. And that is not a bad thing. Despite the position you now have, remain who you are. For there will come a time when darkness and corruption will blind even the wisest."
With that out of the way, Stargazer began walking into the vast forests on the island, hunting for a cave to turn into a home for both himself and his new queen. His nerves began gnawing at his mind while he searched and he thought of one thing:
"I just hope she doesn't freak when she learns of the responsibilities she'll have… that will be one long conversation with her and a splitting headache for me."
Stargazer then froze at that thought and groaned, leaning his forehead against a tree.
"What kind of mess have I gotten myself into..."
Author's Note:
Well damn. Slightly longer than chapter one, but now we're getting somewhere. Don't worry about Stargazer and Fiori's relationship progressing too quick either. There won't be any mating between those two until ten or fifteen chapters in. That doesn't rule out teasing though.
Oh yeah. I'm that kinda evil bastard to do that and there's nothing you guys can do to stop me!
Anyway. Things are really heating up now here on the Isle of the Riders. And we meet the Five next chapter!
Any guesses? Leave em in the reviews!
Until next chapter, peace.