Alionse had never been to Ayr, but since he had told his father about his intention to become a warrior his father had started taking him everywhere. Ali couldn't help feeling excited to travel to new places and meet new people Though in actuality he hadn't really met anyone besides his father's contacts. Well until recently. Vesper had been the first Oblivionite he had met and now he was meeting his first Dovaa.
The Dovaa was older than him, in a stage between a child and adult. In a way he reminded him of Jana, maybe a bit older, though still just as annoying. The man reached out and ruffled Alionse's hair. Ali slapped his hand away.
The Dovaa arched an eyebrow. "Fiesty, aren't you?" Then he looked back at Alionse's father. "Why don't I take him out hunting? It's a good time for Ayr dragons."
His father frowned, looking between the two. "I don't know..."
"Oh, come on. I'll take care of the little one-"
"I'm not little," Alionse said, interrupting, though he knew that he was indeed small for his age.
"Sure you're not," the Dovaa said and reached over to ruffle Alionse's hair again.
Ali glared at him.
The Dovaa laughed and rose up his hand defensively. "Fine, fine." He turned back to Alionse's father. "Come on, Mitos, let the kid spread his wings a little. I'll be right there to make sure nothing happens to him. Besides, it's not like you can take him to D'jent."
"Why can't he?" Alionse asked, confused.
"Technically I can," his father said. "I just wouldn't want to. The D'jent people are cautious of Orderites."
"But you're an Orderite," Ali said as if his father might have forgotten.
"Your father has connections," the Dovaa said with a wink.
Alionse just stared at him. He still wasn't sure if he liked him or not. Then his gaze shifted to the horns protruding from the man's head. It was so strange, but also so exotic. He sort of liked them. He considered asking to touch it, but decided against it. He figured it would be the same as if someone asked to touch his wings.
"Ali?"
Alionse broke his attention away, turning back to his father and from the way he looked it was clear that this wasn't the first time he had called his name. Heat rose up in his cheeks and he glanced at the Dovaa to see he was looking amused. So he had noticed Alionse staring. Alionse felt his cheeks flushed more, but decided that as long as the man wasn't offended then he was fine.
"Yes?""Do you want to go hunting with Mishuel? I'll leave it up to you."
Mishuel. So that was what the Dovaa was called. Alionse thought over the question. He had never seen an Ayr dragon before. He glanced at the Dovaa then back to his father. His father looked worried, but Mishuel was at least right about one thing, He needed to be able to spread his wings and the windy peaks of Ayr seemed the perfect place.
"I'll go," Alionse said.
"Great!" Mishuel said and slapped Alionse on the back, causing him to jerk forward. "Let's go hunt some dragons.
An hour later Alionse and Mishuel were heading off while his father turned in the opposite direction to D'jent. His father looked worried, but Alionse gave him a firm nod and patted the borrowed sword at his side. He turned and headed off with Mishuel. He would like to say he felt confident that he would be fine, but he was nervous. It didn't help that he was starting to think that the only reason Mishuel had invited him was to be his personal pack mule.
"Sorry I have you carrying so much, but I need to have my body free if something attacked. The way the wind blows here, just a little extra weight to unbalance can determine whether you win in a battle."
"Are you planning to be attacked," Alionse asked as he shifted the large and heavy pack on his back.
"No," Mishuel said lightly, then leaned in close. "But no one ever plans to be attacked."
Then they were off. They had traveled a ways when they reached a long and rickety bridge, gaping over what looked like clouds. "There's a small nest just across the bridge. We'll move a little past it to the Ayr hunting ground, perfect place to carry out a hunt of our own."
"Why not the nest?" Alionse asked.
Mishuel shook his head. "Too dangerous. The nest is more crowded and the dragons protecting their eggs can be pretty vicious. Best to avoid unless you have an entire group."
Alionse nodded, putting that information away for later.
"Well hold on to the bridge. In these winds it's easy to topple over."
"Thanks for the warning," Alionse said dryly as he stepped upon the bridge. He had never felt nervous about being up high, but now he couldn't help it. Sure he had wings to help him glide, but he wasn't sure how much help they would be from this height. He silently wished he could sprout his full wings so he could fly and then shook his head. How foolish would it look for an Orderite to be afraid of heights?
Mishuel was already walking across the bridge, without a care, and he didn't even have wings. Alionse set his face in determination and stepped on the bridge. His hand gripped the frail rope railing as he moved across, hurrying his steps to keep up with the Dovaa.
After a while, some of the nervousness seeped away and there was almost something soothing about being up there. He grinned and closed his eyes, letting the wind brushing across his face.
"Alionse!"
Alionse's eyes snapped open and he turned to see Dovaa looking panicked. "We have to run."
Alionse turned to see what was wrong and then he saw them. Three dragons flying towards them. Their skin looked like storm clouds. The dragons were small, but their wings strong and they were moving towards them quickly. As they got closer the wind grew chaotic. Alionse looked at Michuel.
"Come on!" The Dovaa shouted and turned to run down the narrow bridge.
Alionse ran after him, his steps weighted down by the pack on his back. He knew it would help if he dropped the pack, but he would have to slow down in order to undo the snaps. There was no time, then suddenly there really was no time. The dragons were there and with them came a wind that tossed the bridge, yanking it to the side. Alionse grabbed tight to the railing.
"Hold on!" the Dovaa shouted and then he was standing in front of Alionse, his sword raised as he slashed at the beast. As his swung, his hand glowed and with it so did his gray eyes. Another wind came up pushing at the dragons. Alionse's eyes widened. Wind against wind. The dragons let out a cry and one whipped down, sliding under the bridge and moving behind them.
Before he could think better of it, Alionse was on his feet and grabbing for his borrowed sword. He swung it at the dragon, clipping it The dragon shrieked and pulled back, only to quickly surge at Alionse , it teeth snapping at him. Alionse dodged out of the way and the dodged worked, but it worked too well. With the added weight of the pack, Alionse only had a moment to realize he was off balance before he was toppling over the bridge.
"Alionse!" Mishuel shouted.
Alionse could do nothing. He tried to push his wings out, something to catch his falling. His hands scrambled over he pack and then he hurriedly unsnapped it, letting it fall away as he spread his wings. His wings caught, slowing his descent, but Alionse knew it wouldn't be enough.
I'm going o die.Then a gush of wing was catching him. For a moment he saw Mishuel, his hand raised, his face schooled into concentration. Hope blossomed in Alionse's face, until he saw the dragon. The Ayr screeched towards him. Alionse raised up his sword, having only a moment to be amazed that he still managed to hold it in his hand, before the dragon came barreling towards him. He swung. The strike clipped the dragon, but not enough to do more than irritate it. The beast swung its tail, slamming it into Alionse. Alionse twisted in the air, but his movements were sloppy and uncoordinated and he was slammed through the air and towards what looked like a mountain. He tried to adjust his wings, but Mishuel's wind must have still been on his side, because he was caught before he hit too hard against the stone though he couldn't avoid it completely. Pain lashed through his body and he scrambled for purchase.
Surprisingly he found it. His eyes widened at the sight of the small cave. Using whatever energy he had left, he heaved himself into the hold. It was a tight fit, but he wiggled through. Behind him he could hear the screech of the dragons, but even their small stature wasn't small enough to fit inside. Alionse took a breath as he wiggled in deeper. He moved further and further until he couldn't go any deeper, then he collapsed.
He laid there and just breathed.
Word Count: 1577
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