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Chapter 61: A moment for two great ones and their younglings to share at the top of a tower

Being on the dark blue scales of her guardian, surrounded by her grand wings beating slowly but powerfully, Ikarh remains ever peaceful, her gaze pointing at the horizon of this dull and mostly inert world, all wrapped from earth to sky in coldness and obscurity. And yet she always felt quite fulfilled since the great one began her flight, the hatchling loving her aura, the slow yet immense beating of her heart, as well as the nightwing's presence, the hybrid being more than close with a talon holding her neck and a wing covering her four winged form.

Truly glancing at nowhere, his mind full of thoughts and deeper feelings that shift and influence themselves even in these calmer times, it is after a long moment that Darkstalker finally decides to turn back, his companion's sight being quite inspiring and even nice for his young heart.

- "Enjoying the flight? Seeing you like that I could almost believe you wouldn't regret to stay on Akhanta's back with me, forever…"

With the blue and purple one leaning into him, her snout now rubbing his, the nightwing's smile can only grow, and it is in a sillier tone that he continues to voice coming his thoughts.

"You really love to be close to another, you know. Just like my sister…"

Staying in the other's embrace for a while, the hybrid of night is not sure what to think at the moment, nostalgic memories tainted by heavy regrets coming to his mind only to be rivalled by what he feels from his companion…

.

Approaching a tower whose flame seems… distinct, the magical kin shortly followed by her dark blue companion begin to diverge from her steady trajectory, the dragonesses beginning to lose altitude as they keep the building in sight.

- "Ashek lihotu ythias temylkose, ythe eiuf gretij mikest." Declares Akhanta to her younger passengers, her voice firm and even reassuring for the seer once the surprise has passed.

Taking time but not two much, the pair of great ones easily circle the lighting tower and come gradually closer to the ground, proving the agility and strength of their beings who did not falter even once in the void sky, nor will they as the two slither with their imposing form so closely to the darkened earth before absorbing a lighter shock, the kins now standing on it with natural pride.

Lowering her body's second half, her back talons folding while her long and finned tail curls around, the great guardian does not need words to make the ones she bears come to the floor, Darkstalker being eager to climb down from her scaly and mystical skin while his more passive companion get taken by the massive dragoness who quickly lays her on cold dust and rocks, but not without care…

"Cuxt iole ajek yl egado uthu hute meykin?"

To her partner's question, Ayirn partially turns back from the tower she was gazing upon, though her unfolding wings make it a tad harder to face her and see the full building and its rough details.

- "Iole soumnuv surh u jykon wulen egado…" She answers serenely as her being begins to gently muster its very essences.

Watching her walk forward, Akhanta decides to follow her kin, her power being mustered as well, an event that the young seer and his younger partner have grow very familiar with the act of catching, and so they too, follow their guardians, the ambiance of the scene being far from ominous, but getting a tad mysterious when the magical halts, her grand form stopping swiftly as her wings fully spread in face of the old frame bearing its flame.

- "Yth genjum th ajek mylmyl ythe esimte sim yle toijyle heij azyrtu ust alkara alvotail zait thee." Says the dark blue kin when she halts as well, settling at the other's side with a similar stance.

Turning to the younger ones, Akhanta waits not to guide them closer to the tower, over a somewhat polished spot more distant from them, but still offering a good view of what act they are about to commit.

"Ythias fenyz, muvol kovtur tsekat kes dusmi. Yth enyder uthue th surh tysnui uthuetias mylmyl."

Having warned the pair, the dark blue guardian turns away to join her kin, who with her, starts what they both had in mind, the two dragonesses remaining around the tower's front as they free some copious amount of power in little time and enact the creation of runic circle, a fairly simple one yet greater in size than a kin...

Staying near the imposing frame marked by decades of a merciless wind bringing dust and cold, the standing metal and stones being quite scared, Darkstalker watches his guardians do their ritual, his watchful gaze following their every movements, and all instances of essences being used. While on his side, the blue and purple rivals his captivated attitude, her feelings surprisingly many as if compensate for her primitive mind.

So that is how one may prepare vast quantity of essences, with a circle of symbols engraved on the ground itself, though another type of surface and its shape might be better. But that ritual does its best to guide and contain the essences unleashed by them, that I can not deny…

Finishing the grand ring of runes, the pair of kins immediately feel its effect strengthening, and so do the younger others. With their stances shifting slightly, Akhanta and Ayirn exchange glances, and soon words that the young seer barely hear, though he does perceive their deeper intent shortly before the dragonesses step back and settle again, the manner of which more fitting for the next step of their plan.

- "So this is it…" Mutters the nightwing as he watches the great ones rising, their majestic forms standing up until the two join their front talons, a personal gesture quite surprising for him.

But more surprising however, is how Ikarh wants to lean closer to them, the crowned hatchling slowly but truly approaching her intensely powerful guardians as they start to use all of the essences around, a detail the night dragon catches on, if only later than he would like.

"Ikarh, please come back, you don't know…"

Catching up to the blue and purple one, Darkstalker lets her do a few steps before stopping her, his coming and whole forming an obstacle she almost bumped into. Looking at her with a more suspicious gaze, the hybrid of night speaks again, his voice clear despite the great ones generously channelling their essences behind him, the presence of their ritual and its relative closeness putting the tower's flame to shame.

"This is where that path ends my dear, we were there to stay as Akhanta told us, and sorry, but I will make sure of it, whatever you want it or not."

But the hatchling cares not for words she does not understand, nor for his voice, the formation of a little sphere resembling a moon by her devoted guardians being far too touching. And as time passes while the nightwing refuses to move, Ikarh seems to be losing patience as she pushes him with her immature yet matching body.

At first annoyed by his companion's action, the dragoness not having thought of going around him even once, Darkstalker is forced to take her by the neck with his wing when she deviates to the side quite recklessly, an attitude that he can in no way ignore.

"Getting quite stubborn are you? I guess you just can't listen when you don't want to..."

Feeling almost overwhelmed by the other whose whose wilfulness is not to be underestimated, the four winged one doing her best against his body to the point his wing starts to hurt, the young hybrid finally decides it is enough. So that is why seconds later, Ikarh finds herself standing up against her will, the nightwing having taken her by the chest's underside and brought her body's first half to be disconnected from the ground itself.

"Now you stop what you're doing, or I force you to be like that the time Akhanta and Ayirn finish what they are doing." He says, his voice now firmer while the ritual behind is approaching its end, a light getting stronger behind them...

Giving the last drops of essences, it is with a sight of relief that the dark blue kin, followed by her partner, fully accomplish their task, the smaller celestial body now totally formed while the great dragonesses take the time to relax, the first clearly more concerned by this mild exhaustion of her being than the second, the blue and green scales of the magical one even retain some of that ritualistic aura the two had.

But turning back to check on the younger ones, Akhanta is mildly shocked to find the one of night rivalling the enchanting one, his standing body doing more than holding the other with such strength she can only be confused, desperate even.

- "Toijyle, heij ajek uthue surh feshur ghyt?" She asks almost immediately, her voice hinting at her surprise and tainted by worry.

Blinking as he realizes their ritual is over, the nightwing tries to let go of his immature companion, such an act almost failing, but hopefully for him nobody has gotten hurt when the both of them could have with such a rough clash. Thinking of properly thanking the moons later, Darkstalker finally turns to face his guardians and humbly stands despite their quite intimidating sight.

- "Sorry, but Ikarh was being careless… She is too young to understand the risk." He says with partial reluctance, his voice more than a bit twisted and lower, quieter than it should, as if he had to speak despite his pride taking a blow.

Casting a quick glance at his partner, the dark blue kin waits not to approach the pair and better check on them, her gaze watchful and even a bit stressed as her mind fears what might have happened to each of them. Fortunately, none have wounds nor any form of sickness, a fact that brings a sight of relief and a little smile on her snout when she realizes it.

- "Thee surh wulkon, yth moxon iole okarn… Lieju uthu muka u dusmil ust heij hute sitrilm?" Asks the other great dragoness in a voice reflecting her far calmer attitude, while her mind wonders the ones she did not forget to watch.

Feeling relief when he gets Akhanta, and Ayirn to a lesser extent, do not hold a strong doubt against him or even his partner, it is with a more sounded mind that the young seer remains and listens to their being, though not for long as the presence of the four winged hatchling makes him realizes he can not ignore her after what they have done.

You don't feel too well now? That's more than understandable...

Staring at his quieter partner, her attitude a more cautious one with her mind coloured by raw and more… negative feelings he clearly gets, Darkstalker remains only observant for seconds before he begins to lean into her... Slower at first in his approach, the hybrid of night hesitates not to bridge the gap when realizes Ikarh needs him more than anything, the crowned and far younger dragoness being all but refusing of his coming and touch.

- "You know what? I am sorry I made you so confused, even if you had to be stopped. I promise, I'll try to be better so next time you don't have to be stopped so crudely…"

Having said his words, the young hybrid is quite surprised at what his heart can tell, but that is for the better, he quickly concludes while enjoying the moment with his companion and the reassuring presence of Akhanta when she decides to surround them both with her imposing and graceful form, leaving them a moment of fulfilment before turning back.

- "Ythetias fenyz, pelyle ignum ythetias vulnekon. Th ajek yl fefmyl prita sif ezdum oem ythetias olmiry..."

Having heard the words of the magical kin, it is her matching companion who gently invites the pair to follow her as she makes a few humble steps and gazes almost straight above, to the spot in the obscure sky now occupied by something too big to be a star or a flame, yet unable to rival with the older celestial orb, its light being strong even there and full of nuances, like a combined signature of all dragons still living in the realm...

So a "moon", even if it will be a far less ambitious project, can be created with only two of your kind? That was the finality of their ritual, one I had easily guessed, but it still remains quite fascinating...

Turning to glance at his four winged companion, the nightwing finds her staring at the new moon, then at the other, a light sense of confusion colouring her mind as she tries to grasp the two at once, the lesser one and its crude form making a clash that unsettles her primitive mind.

- "Toij Ikarh… Ujaie uthu zikos oje iole?" Asks Akhanta in a lower voice as she stares at the youngest one, her face and behaviour quite expressive despite her size and spirit, or at least expressive enough to be spotted by her guardian's sharp gaze, as well as that of her kin.

Leaning forward with a single step, Ayirn observes the hatchling for seconds before looking above, where her new creation is. And after a long moment of wondering about it, the young seer getting quite in details how much she sees of the recent celestial sphere and all of its nuances, the dragoness turns back to her kin, and it is in a relaxed tone that she voices her concluding thoughts.

- "Za ajek Zyetias tekeis, eriusen tey almu olmukara, th hute surh sif surh ojteahen tha soumeiuf zikos oij netia ythetias heia inyt yfushka surh."

Turning to the side and lowering her gaze, if only at a slow pace, the elder fully comes to the blue and purple one, and exchanging gazes, the magical kin abruptly decides to grab her. Now on the blue and green scales of her back, Ikarh quickly learns to be familiar with the magical guardian and stays there, all calm and quiet as her great bearer moves, the dark blue kin and her nightwing following naturally.

- "Cuxt prita oij alest mylmyl uthu kasarh sif peloa tha ythias ryna?" The great dragoness asks, her blues eyes not forgetting about the immature youngling, just like the hybrid of night staying to her side as they all march around the old tower.

- "Aqerh… wulen mylmyl prita tha sif eciun nestoq yth hajunun."

Having answered without trouble, though her tone did seemed a bit uncertain, Ayirn continues to move forward without really looking for a moment, her mind filled with pictures of the crowned one's egg and younglings in the far past, the mix of both somewhat erratic and even confusing. But finally, the dragoness of blue and green decides to answer, her voice no longer hinting at doubts.

"Hie, u aeisto eciunan lumu vuya ust mylmyl, ikul yth tunis yafin th ofemyl, kes iole ajek aftomer tysnuihen."

Hearing such words from the magical elder, Darkstalker can sense how she seems to sooth herself more than a little, her body relaxing as her movements get a tad slower and wider, but not any less fluid.

- "Lieju uthu kasarh sif eximn nolmytu u yfena?" Asks the dark blue kin almost abruptly, though not without attention and care, her gaze far from cold.

Marching close to his favourite guardian, the seer of night watches the blue and green other smile a little, then answer with sincerity and even a spark of affection, her mind remembering not just dragonets closer to her when she she was younger, but also what all of her kins were far before.

- "Ythe hute surh almu yfenaz kes yfenoz, ythe heia tunis estrerak iole."

Having made her kin dream if only for seconds, Ayirn soon slows down on the way, her imposing and majestic form mustering its essences as she unfolds her wings, a move that the four winged hatchling can only appreciate…

Now settled on the colder ground, the group finding themselves farther from the still standing tower and its radiant flame, the young hybrid remains against the dark blue scales of Akhanta, at first looking around and even above, all to check his surroundings and the new moon, and even feeling good about it, before gazing back at the second dragoness and the one she bears, his vision of the blue and green no longer antagonistic at all, at least for now if not for the future...

Rising her claws, the magical kin waits not to let them fall with a bit of her magic freed over the inert stones and dust blown over by the icy wind, a move that she repeats again and again, as if to kill the silence the time she finds the will to speak again, the great one not minding the somewhat confused gaze of Darkstalker nor the observant yet relaxed one of her matching companion.

"Yth pyteya tujem… iole ythetias eltoam opyute hute diltuv alikus sim iole peuj akeju almeku ythe hute ghyt estid yl Almuceytne surh ryneia." She says as she remembers herself and all her kin planning to do far more than just concentrate essences, abstract ideas leading to all kinds of small and big rituals, the greatest crystal getting covered in frail and innocent flesh until a life came to be incubated inside.

But also listening to the mind closest to him, the young seer is somewhat surprised to find Akhanta does not share the same memories as her kin, her thoughts centred instead on his coming. From the first time she saw him, all wounded and horribly sleepy, in need of healing demanding intensely both knowledge and skills, to his awakening…

- "Cuxt heij shounit uthu kasarh sif lumu ythias ryna?" The dark blue kin asks, waiting for her answer as she glances at the nightwing who quickly looks away from Ikarh to turn and grin at her gaze.

Wondering about such a question, the magical elder halts her talon, and after seconds of staring at a ground that would look far nicer with more essences, it is in a more confident tone that she replies, her green eyes now gazing upon both her companion and the far younger follower.

- "Uyl ikus sim yl uyl uthu hute meykin."

Hearing that, Akhanta blinks, but waits not to have all kinds of little good things coming to her mind, of countless tiny sparks colouring her thoughts to the extent she starts to lean forward, and chooses to complete her step toward the other, with the young seer not minding such a shift despite his lack of knowledge, his attitude a somewhat quiet one.

- "lieju uthu surh geska?"

Seeing Ayirn nod in response, the dark blue dragoness hesitates not to join her, moving her impressive form to settle around the other with grace and mild excitement, a decision the youngest and silent one can definitely not be against while the nightwing catches up to his guardian, a bit of confusion marking his watchful stance.

"Cuxt uthu kasarh sif lioshes tey yth vaieb?" The kin asks to her partner in a not so serious tone, her majestic wing extending to cover the scales of the other as well as the one she still bears.

Having watched her all along, it is after turning away to look deep into the desolate and obscure landscape pierced by little stars that the magical guardian answers, her tone similar if only more certain and mockingly prideful.

- "Uthu heia surh upist. Ankonalmirh geyt lefria yth sif janubt prita uthutias oxeminan nestoq leaqise tomerz..."

Leaning into Akhanta's beautiful form, a move not grand yet impactful, such a the gesture unsettling the enchanting hatchling but not for long, Ayirn completes the embrace with her partner, bringing feelings of affection to grow in the mind of both as they stay just like they are, doing little at the moment except turning their long neck to chose what they should gaze upon.

- "Kes yth genjum ythias ymiltuhan disut thutias ekyzu?"

Remaining between his two guardians, the nightwing sees them chuckle and laugh out of all things he expected, the lack of seriousness pushing many thoughts and more complex elements in the back of their minds. And it continues like that for a good moment, each of the great dragonesses having something to tell in a varying tone that can never get too pressing, with the concept of their god distant but never leaving the discussion, an oddity Darkstalker does not succeed in grasping the nuance of…

But in the end, the hybrid of night is quite happy about that turn of events, the sight of the magical one in joy generating a dark feeling quickly compensated by that of her kin and Ikarh's presence, the crowned dragoness naturally harder to focus on yet it is clear she remains content over the great dragoness' scales and heart.

Fortune seems to finally be on my side for good. Looking at all of you, I could almost believe you are a family, a family… I should have had. Unfortunately, Ayirn has to play an important in there, if only…

Would the other great dragons be that much better? Kraydirn would, and he would make a very supporting figure if I could put aside his more erratic and wild persona. Azykan… has done some efforts, even if his complicity and that mocking smirk is something he should pay for, if only a little. As for Xamirh, I… haven't seen a that much of him, especially lately. It is just weird to have others think of him in such a peculiar manner, with such doubts and worry, yet not having him there or close, and in action…

But I guess, with almost all things considered, that my situation has improved quite a lot, and it will be with pleasure that I will remain in your path dear Akhanta, while you will follow my trail, no matter how silly you can be Ikarh…

And so the young seer remains in peace, surrounded by two kins who have found the way to be on the same page lately, the pair gazing upon the sky where their celestial spawns bring light to a world that is so desperately in need, their spirits holding eagerly into hope and even pride, feelings the nightwing can get no matter what words they say in their curious whispers.

So this is it, a blatant proof you have been together for long enough I struggle to imagine… I guess that I can judge as much as I want, but at the end of the day, I am stuck with you all, great dragons of a lifeless world.

So be it, as long as I am here, I am, with the hatchling you birthed, to help you going out of that misery, and if Akhanta is to be with us, then I will gladly follow the path she guides me on...