The moons had been long, and their training had been intense. After the Bonded pair successfully made it through the Cave of Dragons, they'd set off to find themselves a makeshift home where they cold safely spend their nights on Eowyn. The best they'd managed to find was a cave too small for any dragon, but enough space for the youngsters to wedge themselves into during the night. During they day, they practiced their wildlife skills. Mae had stuffed his backpack full of supplies, but even that only went so far. The two spent an ample amount of time learning to hunt for their food. Needless to say, the first few nights had them going to sleep with empty, grumbling bellies.
But as time progressed, the two became more accustomed to outdoor living. Mae learned how to light a fire with practically nothing, how to stalk silently and stealthily across the sands, before his dinner could even recognize he was there, and of course, how to escape a battle he couldn't win. They didn't meet many during their hunts, usually only Drakein that turned their noses up at them, so the two youngsters kept to themselves mostly, finding comfort in knowing that at least they had each other.
Then came the day that Mae decided he was satisfied with what he'd learned so far. He'd come to Eowyn in the hopes of getting stronger, and meeting a few others and really seeing what the world was like. He hated to admit that he didn't much care for what he saw, but there still wasn't much he could do about it on his own... For now, he'd simply have to return home. He could deliver a few of his collected orbs to Aevah, and maybe she would grant him a bit more strength, despite how Maeron didn't trust the woman at all.
There wasn't much to pack, having used most of it in the course of his stay, but he did have a few things to throw in his backpack as they headed out. He'd heard of (and had carefully observed over the moons) a ferry that came by a few times a week. He'd definitely have to stow away, for sure, but it was his best chance of getting back home. He and Darke set out across the sand. It would be a few hour's walk to the ferry, but they were more than capable of making the trek now.
They chatted a bit as they walked. Darke had picked up the idea of actual speech a bit better, though Mae was still eager to return home to crack open a few dictionaries and really have his companion study the art of language with him. He was sure Darke would love that.
Or not.
The sands radiated heat from beneath them, and the sun blazed above. Despite the time they'd spent here, the elements still affected them. Mae was sweating quite a bit by the time the twinkling ocean came into view. "There it is, Darke." He breathed in relief, already slipping down the sloping dunes to reach the beach. But something flying overhead stopped him. Very briefly, a shadow crossed the sun, though the Orderite boy saw nothing when he looked up. Still, he nodded to Darke, and the two ducked against one of the dunes, gazes shifting wearily to find their predator.
Mae heard it land against the sand overhead. He was sure it was sniffing about for them, just waiting for them to pop out in fear... But the Orderite boy had no plans of going down here, not when the ferry was right there. If he didn't dispatch of it quickly, he'd lose this chance to make it home... He slipped his blade free of his holster. As the metal scraped against his sheath, the rustling coming from the Dragon paused as he listened. Mae didn't want to give it the opportunity to find him first. He threw himself from behind the dune, flicking his blade open to wield it more like a sword.
The dragon was clearly surprised, though not at all threatened. It roared and a blast of fire erupted from it's mouth, a dangerously heat stream that singed the sweeping ends of Mae's coat as he rolled to the side. He crouched, staring up at the beast to plot his next attack. It was so much bigger than him... With a silent signal from the boy, Darke and Mae charged forward simultaneously. The dragon was clearly unperturbed by the combo attack, and it swung out with its claws at Maeron. The Orderite slipped in closer to the beast to avoid its first attack, slashing out with his word to land a scratch against the dragon's breast.
It planted itself in the sand as it braced for its next attack and roared, letting loose another stream of fire that Mae ducked to avoid. The heat burned against his head and back, but as it ended and he straightened, he found that he was still in tact. It was then that Darke dove to his side, looking pleased with himself. Mae grinned as he spotted the Keindred's handiwork. While the dragon was planted firmly in the sand, the youngster had darted over and frosted his feet down. Darke's magic was weak, and this was a Firani... It wouldn't hold for more than a few seconds, but they didn't need much more than that to make an escape.
The two ducked back down into the cover of the dunes, slinking low against the sand so that neither the Firani, nor the crew from the ferry would spot them. They were too close now. Mae was too eager to return to his homeland.
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