Prologue part 8: A necessary cooperation
one and a half hour later…
Life at the camp in the middle of the desert seems normal with dragons working in their crude buildings, others training and the rest enjoying their free time the best they can. With its active population, this oasis appears almost civilized and worth living inside for even the longest time if one wants to.
But the ten dragons arriving with their strange prize begin to attract attention and disrupt the ongoing activities. Deepmarine of the seawings along with others prepare to take what the team have. The icewing soldiers stops their training as the team bring their corpse to the oasis itself, then each member undresses and splits up a little before resting their exhausted body.
Now that the dragon corpse is laying surrounded by water, the new group of dragons gently unroll the mesh, exposing the naked body and unfolding all its parts. Only talon-steps are heard as the accumulating mass of dragons watches the event, remaining speechless. It is like everyone is staring at a ghost, captivated as their mind wonders by the sight of such a lifeless yet well conserved creature.
For all his life and time as a captain, Nordclaw is more than a little shocked as he sees the result of this expedition. Wasting no time, he goes to the seawing and skywing who he knows participated in all of this. Approaching the two dragon with his most serious expression, he tells his words to them with authority.
- "Windful, Waveborn, was this turn of event in your plan?"
The two are struck with fear a split second at the sight of the captain, but calm down and find their answer despite the struggle.
- "Yes it was. Retrieving the best corpse in the place into the camp." Answers the skywing first.
- "And since when was that planed? Just this morning?"
- "Just this morning." Answers the same one. The two dragons are still a bit frightened, trying not to look into the captain's eyes, but he won't let that gesture block his way.
- "What directives were you given at the beginning? What orders and goals?"
The seawing and the skywing look at each other, staying silent. Their reaction frustrates Nordclaw, who looks at the floor, thinking. Hearing no word for a moment, he realizes he won't get anything more from them without spending much more time, so he decides to go meet another dragon, but not after saying some words.
"I know it's difficult to answer these kind of questions, but please remember next time to communicate and to not let doubt remain in someone if you know enough."
Still keeping his mind calm, Nordclaw marches towards Frostteeth who spots him and shift all his focus to him. Not wanting to start on bad terms, he gathers his courage and speaks seriously to the imposing icewing like an equal, taking a more antagonistic stance like he used to in the past.
- "What do you want to know?"
Unimpressed, Nordclaw replies with his answers without any time to pause.
- "What was ordered to all of you since the beginning. What is the idea behind all of that"
The icewing with scars is surprised, even impressed by such questions.
- "Why such desire to know despite your role and position? I don't think I am the one that should answer your questions."
The icewing is having none of it, he know he will get his answers no matter how reluctant at first the members are to give them.
- "You and others will be enough. I'm not here to take control of the ongoing operation, I just want to be informed of some important things, the lives of myself, my dragons, and maybe yours depend on it you know."
Seeing he won't back down, Frostteeth reluctantly takes a necessary action to solve the situation.
- "Fine, follow me."
The two icewing now walk to the seawing that led the team in the temple's ruin, Abysswatcher. Seeing their arrival, the dragoness shows a curious expression, not stressed at all by the two captains.
Hiverna also comes to her side, ready to participate into what concerns her.
- "I'm here for answers. Tell me if you can, what is the plan behind all of this, so we can put an end to this confusion." Says Nordclaw with an imposing but not oppressive tone. Hiverna is going to answer him when Abysswatcher raises a talon, she can handle the situation.
- "The plan is to explore Telunabris and get the most important things quickly. That's why we rushed to its center and have retrieved the most preserved corpse."
- "So you didn't explore bit by bit, slowly but surely the temple like you told me?"
It is Hiverna that is now answering, not even flinching as she admits the truth. It is her domain, what she has been preparing for since many years, she won't let that stop her.
- "No, I lied and they lied, because things have to be done faster. We aren't too worried in the moment, but we should be as our operation can draw the attention of the most greedy and powerful. Beside, we still take precautions and respect safety rules."
A simple feeling of betrayal rise in Nordclaw's mind, born from his fear of the unknown, of realizing the safety of him and his soldiers may be compromised, but looking again at Frostteeth being just beside him, he controls his anger by focusing on continuing to get his answers.
- "So you have hidden your plan from me because you wanted to keep the operation a secret at all cost, is that right?"
- "Not exactly at all cost, but that's the idea. If we don't need a dragon to know about it, we don't tell them. We were just betting events would not require to tell you about it. If they did, we would have informed you in no time." Says Abysswatcher bluntly, which makes Nordclaw chuckles a bit, and makes Frostteeth looks at him worried in the moment.
- "You really are stupidly brave, then so be it. But know that withholding important informations from a key individual is pretty risky. You asked of me to come here with my soldiers to protect you, so it wouldn't it be better to not roll the dice and tell me the truth so I can make less errors in doing my job."
At this answers, it is Frostteeth who speaks in a stressed but good enough tone.
- "It is… unfortunate that it has come to this. I am sorry to have allowed these mistakes to accumulate, despite them being others' fault. I'll try next time to correct the others' actions, even if I must stand up against more experienced and high ranked members."
- "I would like that."
And with these words, the icewing captain leaves the three others dragons with a somewhat frustrated mood. The two icewing and the seawing look at each others, Frostteeth seems confused as Hiverna is mostly annoyed and Abysswatcher remains calm. After a moment, Frostteeth breaks the silence and ask a question.
- "So… Do we change the plan?"
- "No, but we'll have to put in our reports what captain Nordclaw has learnt and how he reacted." Answers Abysswatcher with neutrality.
Since the moment the corpse has been laid on the water, no icewing soldier has dared to do something else other than watching the scene unfolding before them and discussing about it. Staring at a dead dragon is never easy, even for a trained individual, but the way that corpse looks almost more alive than dead, with no blood dripping from it, no body part torn in pieces, only nasty burns that appear to be insufficient to kill a dragon.
A seawing and a sandwing are taking care of it, studying the creature with utter focus, passing their paws and many tools around the body. A skywing takes notes, communicating and writing anything down without saying any word that betray his feelings, only what is necessary.
All of the actions taking place around the skywing remains only strengthen the vision of a dragon thrown into the deepest slumber, waiting for fate to awaken them. The various colourful veins on his body, drawing new motifs over his scales also help to suggest that magic is at play.
While none of the dragon in the camp have a strong aversion to the corpse, many will be marked for life by the event. If there is anything that can be as marking as facing a monarch at their prime, it would be that...
Flying trough the desert steadily, Dryseed and Venomtail approach their target with five others sandwings, an ounce of confidence in their heart. Once they are near enough of the oasis, the seven dragons land and begin to walk, all showing only a neutral expression, enough to be imposing, but not hostile and even a bit welcoming.
Spotting the seven new dragons, the population of the camp reorganizes with the two icewing captains lining up the icewing soldiers and holding a halberd each. But the sandwings continue to go forward without a visible reaction, so the armed force moves forward and stops at the camp's limit.
A moment later, the small group of sandwing is close enough to talk. Dryseed, being the closest, take his breath and initiates the conversation with a loud and neutral voice.
- "I am Dryseed, leader of the Hidden Pyramid organization. Please lower your weapons, I and my dragons come here to discuss important matter."
After a minute of silence, captain Nordclaw walks forward, still holding his halberd, Frostteeth follows him just behind. While Nordclaw's expression remains neutral, the other can't suppress that hint of fear his head shows.
Now that they are closer to each others, Nordclaw answers in the same tone as Dryseed's one, seeking to be as imposing as the organization leader's is.
- "I am captain Nordclaw of the icewings, here on my right is captain Frostteeth of the icewings, and behind me are my soldiers. What is it that you want to discuss with us leader Dryseed?"
Whatever reaction the sandwing might have, he doesn't show it, only answering with a welcoming tone.
- "I wish to talk with the ones running this camp and its operation."
- "About what subject?"
- "About the discretion and hiding of everything that is happening here."
Nordclaw thinks about what to say for a moment, his lack knowledge restraining him when it come to diplomacy. Frostteeth sees that and tells the captain to remain doubtful.
- "Why do you think they would want to talk with you about that?"
- "Because I and my dragons know enough about what is going on here to be a group not to neglect if they want to succeed in their goal."
Nordclaw looks at Frostteeth who hesitates. After a stressful moment for the icewing with scars, he accepts.
- "Fine, you can come to the oasis and talk with us."
As he finishes his words, the other captain orders his dragons split up and make a way for the sandwing group to enter.
When the new group arrives, the members working at the camp are gathered around the oasis, some are surprised, shocked, others more neutral and calm. Out of all the dragons in the camp, two stand out, Abysswatcher and Sulfurbreath.
Approaching them, Dryseed initiates the discussion, a bit more relaxed than before.
- "Salutation, I am Dryseed of the Hidden Pyramid, but you at least know me by my reputation."
- "I understand who you are. More than a bit shocked you came here personally." Answers Sulfurbreath, not too stressed by the new guest.
- "Well, we had to join your camp quickly, and for what we were to ask of you, it wouldn't be the best if I hadn't come here straight up."
- "Make sense. So what do you ask of us this time?" Replies Sulfurbreath directly.
- "A common plan. I want not just that we cooperate to hide the operation concerning Telunabris and all its result, but also that we take decisions together when words get out into Pyrrhia."
- "I see the appeal. Okay, I will inform you about what we have, just look over the water to get an impression of it." Says Sulfurbreath with a small grin.
The leader and his dragons take a step forwards, allowing to see the oasis more clearly. When Dryseed finally spots the corpse, he can't hide his shock like his members except for Venomtail who shows curiosity more than anything else.
- "Well, that's for sure interesting, a bit more difficult to hide though." Says the high ranked dragoness while chuckling a bit.
- "And that is only the beginning, what the temple's ruins contain and the potential of that corpse are worth more than you can imagine." Replies Hiverna bluntly.
- "It complicates a lot of things, but we can manage." Ask Dryseed a bit panicking by this sudden revelation, but still being calm enough.
- "Then follow us in the main building, where we can clearly discuss about the common decision to take." Says Sulfurbreath.
So Dryseed goes to the building with Venomtail, ordering his five remaining sandwings to stay outside, but not without casting one last glance at that beautiful and mystic remain of a skywing.
And so dragons talk about the best course of actions, debating how to control at least for a time the beginning of something that will change the Pyrrhia forever. With the rebirth of animus magic at stake, it is now or never for the many organizations to all work together, to have a real chance at obtaining the power necessary for their greater goal...