AN1// This is part of the That First Step... (SI) series. If you have not read it, you may wish...
Living with dragons
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AN1// This is part of the That First Step... (SI) series. If you have not read it, you may wish to or you may be horribly confused. The previous part can be found here: Meddle not...
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I looked up from my book at the change in breathing. Jaina's head moved slightly but nothing further.
A couple of days since the ritual was completed and she was still out of it. Not that surprising, Targos said I was the same.
But she should wake up at any moment.
She was beautiful, bright blue scales and just starting to grow the curled horns on the side of her head. Her wings looked like they would be strong too and she was a little larger than me, but not by much.
Every single magical scan we ran over her told us that everything had gone well, but in truth, we wouldn't know until she woke up.
"How's she doing?" Sheila asked as she walked into the chamber.
I looked over at her. "Still asleep."
Nodding, she reached to scratch beneath my horn. "Going to stay here tonight too?"
"I should stay until she wakes up. It could be anytime now," I said and gave her a small nuzzle. "Tell Ren sorry for me?"
Sheila nodded and gave the tip of my nose a small kiss. "I will. Oh, I got a message from Zrazta. She says she will be back in a couple of days."
"Did she find anything?"
"Didn't say."
"Hope she did," I said and nosed at her, "There has to be native magical plants on this Plane."
Smiling, Sheila nodded. "See you tomorrow, love."
"Good night."
One last scratch behind my nose horn and then she walked out, wrapping her warm cloak around herself against the cool air.
I looked after her for a long moment. Our quarters were heated, but much of the tower wasn't any warmer than the early spring outside.
We should find a more comfortable place to live, Rengosa and I didn't care about the cold and actually rather enjoyed it and Zrasta didn't mind. Sheila, however, was cold everywhere but our quarters.
She never complained but…
I knew she didn't like it. The Red Dragonflight was speaking about moving to the desert across the ocean. Alexstrasza thought they could make it flourish and bloom.
I wasn't one to argue with her on that one. If anyone could do it, it would be the Reds.
It was about time anyway for the Flights to spread out across the world, this tower was built for the Blue Dragonflight and to hold the Wyrmrest Accord until a central location could be constructed.
The sound of movement drew my attention and I looked back to Jaina again. She was moving slightly, her claws shifting across the stone beneath her as her eyes slowly fluttered awake.
Pushing my book closed with a claw, I settled down to watch and wait.
She slowly moved her head, working her jaw as she blinked and looked around. "Gryium."
"Don't try to speak yet," I told her. "You need to learn to speak again, it's all in your throat now, the tongue is barely involved at all."
Jaina managed a small nod as she shifted clumsily as she tried to look herself over, her wings kind of twitching as she tried to move them.
"It'll come to you," I told her and shifted slightly to sit up. "If you are wondering, you look good."
She blinked at me. "Kalgh. K-kal…"
"Kalecgos?" I asked, and she managed a nod.
"He's resting," I said and padded over to pick up her meal to carry it over to her. "Without the Aspect to help and even with the simplified ritual, it took a lot out of him and he barely slept for a month. He'll be down for at least a couple of weeks. I promised to look out for you while he recovers."
She looked at me before she nodded.
Dropping the half-frozen deer on the floor before her and she blinked and stared at it before she looked at me again.
"Your dinner," I explained, "Take it slow, you have technically never eaten before."
Jaina blinked at me and looked between me and the deer before she stuck her tongue out and managed to cringe.
"Yeah, I wasn't overly enthusiastic about it either at first," I told her and moved to settle down next to her, "But it's good, especially the liver. Give it a try."
She looked at the dead animals. "…Ew."
"Lady Proudmoore! I think you just managed your first word!"
It's a wonder how much loathing you could convey with a single look.
Chuckling in amusement, I looked at her. "Want some help in getting going? Just trust your instincts and don't think about it. You have them, it's included in the package, I promise."
Hesitating, she then managed a nod.
Shifting, I reached to rip the deer open to cause its guts to spill out onto the stone.
Jaina just stared at it.
Why wasn't she eating? That smelled really good.
…Maybe I should have asked Zrazta for help with this. She was the one that had experience with whelps.
AN2// Many thanks to Pietersielie for betaing this section.
______________________
I looked up from my book at the change in breathing. Jaina's head moved slightly but nothing further.
A couple of days since the ritual was completed and she was still out of it. Not that surprising, Targos said I was the same.
But she should wake up at any moment.
She was beautiful, bright blue scales and just starting to grow the curled horns on the side of her head. Her wings looked like they would be strong too and she was a little larger than me, but not by much.
Every single magical scan we ran over her told us that everything had gone well, but in truth, we wouldn't know until she woke up.
"How's she doing?" Sheila asked as she walked into the chamber.
I looked over at her. "Still asleep."
Nodding, she reached to scratch beneath my horn. "Going to stay here tonight too?"
"I should stay until she wakes up. It could be anytime now," I said and gave her a small nuzzle. "Tell Ren sorry for me?"
Sheila nodded and gave the tip of my nose a small kiss. "I will. Oh, I got a message from Zrazta. She says she will be back in a couple of days."
"Did she find anything?"
"Didn't say."
"Hope she did," I said and nosed at her, "There has to be native magical plants on this Plane."
Smiling, Sheila nodded. "See you tomorrow, love."
"Good night."
One last scratch behind my nose horn and then she walked out, wrapping her warm cloak around herself against the cool air.
I looked after her for a long moment. Our quarters were heated, but much of the tower wasn't any warmer than the early spring outside.
We should find a more comfortable place to live, Rengosa and I didn't care about the cold and actually rather enjoyed it and Zrasta didn't mind. Sheila, however, was cold everywhere but our quarters.
She never complained but…
I knew she didn't like it. The Red Dragonflight was speaking about moving to the desert across the ocean. Alexstrasza thought they could make it flourish and bloom.
I wasn't one to argue with her on that one. If anyone could do it, it would be the Reds.
It was about time anyway for the Flights to spread out across the world, this tower was built for the Blue Dragonflight and to hold the Wyrmrest Accord until a central location could be constructed.
The sound of movement drew my attention and I looked back to Jaina again. She was moving slightly, her claws shifting across the stone beneath her as her eyes slowly fluttered awake.
Pushing my book closed with a claw, I settled down to watch and wait.
She slowly moved her head, working her jaw as she blinked and looked around. "Gryium."
"Don't try to speak yet," I told her. "You need to learn to speak again, it's all in your throat now, the tongue is barely involved at all."
Jaina managed a small nod as she shifted clumsily as she tried to look herself over, her wings kind of twitching as she tried to move them.
"It'll come to you," I told her and shifted slightly to sit up. "If you are wondering, you look good."
She blinked at me. "Kalgh. K-kal…"
"Kalecgos?" I asked, and she managed a nod.
"He's resting," I said and padded over to pick up her meal to carry it over to her. "Without the Aspect to help and even with the simplified ritual, it took a lot out of him and he barely slept for a month. He'll be down for at least a couple of weeks. I promised to look out for you while he recovers."
She looked at me before she nodded.
Dropping the half-frozen deer on the floor before her and she blinked and stared at it before she looked at me again.
"Your dinner," I explained, "Take it slow, you have technically never eaten before."
Jaina blinked at me and looked between me and the deer before she stuck her tongue out and managed to cringe.
"Yeah, I wasn't overly enthusiastic about it either at first," I told her and moved to settle down next to her, "But it's good, especially the liver. Give it a try."
She looked at the dead animals. "…Ew."
"Lady Proudmoore! I think you just managed your first word!"
It's a wonder how much loathing you could convey with a single look.
Chuckling in amusement, I looked at her. "Want some help in getting going? Just trust your instincts and don't think about it. You have them, it's included in the package, I promise."
Hesitating, she then managed a nod.
Shifting, I reached to rip the deer open to cause its guts to spill out onto the stone.
Jaina just stared at it.
Why wasn't she eating? That smelled really good.
…Maybe I should have asked Zrazta for help with this. She was the one that had experience with whelps.
AN2// Many thanks to Pietersielie for betaing this section.
"Careful." I said as I watched Jaina almost stumble, slowly moving around the chamber. Keeping herself from falling this time, she growled at me.
I watched her in slight amusement before going back to my work, the molten pile of silver floating before me as I moulded it and its enchantment with my mind and magic.
Slowly pulling it and twisting it, I worked my magic through it, slowly forming the matrix through it while I twisted the metal.
"Waruoin?" Jaina asked as she carefully laid down to watch.
"Slow falling ring horn." I answered as I translated her kinda' words, keeping my eyes focused on the metal while I shaped the circle of the ring and added some decorative patterns around the edge.
Jaina tilted her head in question.
"For you." I clarified and allowed the metal to solidify in its final shape while I slowly rotated it, scanning it for imperfections. "Not for now, but in a month or so you should be learning how to fly. That's difficult enough without fearing for your death and needing to keep a slow fall spell in mind all the time."
Not learning how to fly the way I did would be a good thing in my mind.
"There," I finally said and floated it over to her, slipping it onto one of her horns. "It's set to only activate if you move a certain speed fifty meters from the ground. That way you can learn how to fly without it bothering you."
Jaina blinked at me and tried to look up at the ring before she stared at me again. "Hod u dag?"
"Hmm? It's not that tricky. Just a slow fall enchantment with some conditional triggers. You know how to do those, Jaina, it's something any fourth year apprentice should be able to do without difficulty."
Staring at me for a moment she then settled down with her head on her front legs, looking slightly annoyed.
"I know what you're going through," I sighed. "Being unable to ask questions sucks. It gets better, I promise. A week or two and you'll be able to talk normally. Writing is worse, you'll need to either practice telekinesis magic or learn how to turn into mortal form."
She snorted.
"…Okay, admittedly they wouldn't have used three enchanting systems to do it and they would have used enchanting dusts and a rod and a finished ring and possibly also an enchanting diagram and if they were a real hack, maybe chanting or runes?"
Jaina sighed and then looked at me again. "Kalgo? Been ow ays."
I shook my head. "Still haven't woken up for more than a minute at a time to drink and eat a elk."
"Wanna see hiem."
"If you can make it there," I said and got up. "And that was much better. You'll have this entire talking thing down soon. Practice helps."
"Anoynn." she snorted and struggled onto her paws.
I nodded. "And frustrating. Trust me, I know."
Standing up, she took a few careful steps and tried to keep her wings from dropping. "Less og."
"This way," I told her and lead her out from the chamber, keeping a slow pace so she could keep up. In all honestly, she was doing well. It's surprisingly difficult going from two to four legs.
The instincts and soul adjustments helped with that.
Luckily it wasn't a long walk, just some thirty meters down the hall to the ritual chamber. Partly because I didn't want to have the dragon-kin transport Jaina too far, but mainly because nobody could really move Kalecgos.
The dragon-kin guard by the door pulled the large oak door open to reveal our Flightleader where he was laid out across the chamber, deep asleep.
Not that I blamed him after staying up for the better part of a month.
Jaina carefully moved inside and put her frontpaw on his snout. He didn't react so she moved to curl up with her side against him.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Jaigosa," I told her. "Get some rest."
She shot me a look at that and I chuckled.
"Don't like? Nothing say that you have to change your name."
Shaking her head, she rolled her eyes and then closed her eyes again, putting her head back down.
I ducked my head in a small, respectful bow before leaving them for now.
"Tell me if she tries to leave, please?"
"Of course, World Walker." he answered with a small bow.
…What time is it anyway? I haven't seen the sun or sky for like four days. I should track Sheila and Ren down.
Turning into mortal form, I started down the tunnel towards our quarters. That's a good place to start.
Because quite frankly, they require thanking for putting up with me for these last few months and especially for the last four days and that's best done in person and with great enthusiasm.
Maybe if I'm real lucky, Zrazta will be back tomorrow.
AN// Many thanks to Grey Rook for betaing this section.
I watched her in slight amusement before going back to my work, the molten pile of silver floating before me as I moulded it and its enchantment with my mind and magic.
Slowly pulling it and twisting it, I worked my magic through it, slowly forming the matrix through it while I twisted the metal.
"Waruoin?" Jaina asked as she carefully laid down to watch.
"Slow falling ring horn." I answered as I translated her kinda' words, keeping my eyes focused on the metal while I shaped the circle of the ring and added some decorative patterns around the edge.
Jaina tilted her head in question.
"For you." I clarified and allowed the metal to solidify in its final shape while I slowly rotated it, scanning it for imperfections. "Not for now, but in a month or so you should be learning how to fly. That's difficult enough without fearing for your death and needing to keep a slow fall spell in mind all the time."
Not learning how to fly the way I did would be a good thing in my mind.
"There," I finally said and floated it over to her, slipping it onto one of her horns. "It's set to only activate if you move a certain speed fifty meters from the ground. That way you can learn how to fly without it bothering you."
Jaina blinked at me and tried to look up at the ring before she stared at me again. "Hod u dag?"
"Hmm? It's not that tricky. Just a slow fall enchantment with some conditional triggers. You know how to do those, Jaina, it's something any fourth year apprentice should be able to do without difficulty."
Staring at me for a moment she then settled down with her head on her front legs, looking slightly annoyed.
"I know what you're going through," I sighed. "Being unable to ask questions sucks. It gets better, I promise. A week or two and you'll be able to talk normally. Writing is worse, you'll need to either practice telekinesis magic or learn how to turn into mortal form."
She snorted.
"…Okay, admittedly they wouldn't have used three enchanting systems to do it and they would have used enchanting dusts and a rod and a finished ring and possibly also an enchanting diagram and if they were a real hack, maybe chanting or runes?"
Jaina sighed and then looked at me again. "Kalgo? Been ow ays."
I shook my head. "Still haven't woken up for more than a minute at a time to drink and eat a elk."
"Wanna see hiem."
"If you can make it there," I said and got up. "And that was much better. You'll have this entire talking thing down soon. Practice helps."
"Anoynn." she snorted and struggled onto her paws.
I nodded. "And frustrating. Trust me, I know."
Standing up, she took a few careful steps and tried to keep her wings from dropping. "Less og."
"This way," I told her and lead her out from the chamber, keeping a slow pace so she could keep up. In all honestly, she was doing well. It's surprisingly difficult going from two to four legs.
The instincts and soul adjustments helped with that.
Luckily it wasn't a long walk, just some thirty meters down the hall to the ritual chamber. Partly because I didn't want to have the dragon-kin transport Jaina too far, but mainly because nobody could really move Kalecgos.
The dragon-kin guard by the door pulled the large oak door open to reveal our Flightleader where he was laid out across the chamber, deep asleep.
Not that I blamed him after staying up for the better part of a month.
Jaina carefully moved inside and put her frontpaw on his snout. He didn't react so she moved to curl up with her side against him.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Jaigosa," I told her. "Get some rest."
She shot me a look at that and I chuckled.
"Don't like? Nothing say that you have to change your name."
Shaking her head, she rolled her eyes and then closed her eyes again, putting her head back down.
I ducked my head in a small, respectful bow before leaving them for now.
"Tell me if she tries to leave, please?"
"Of course, World Walker." he answered with a small bow.
…What time is it anyway? I haven't seen the sun or sky for like four days. I should track Sheila and Ren down.
Turning into mortal form, I started down the tunnel towards our quarters. That's a good place to start.
Because quite frankly, they require thanking for putting up with me for these last few months and especially for the last four days and that's best done in person and with great enthusiasm.
Maybe if I'm real lucky, Zrazta will be back tomorrow.
AN// Many thanks to Grey Rook for betaing this section.
Sighing, I rubbed my eyes before pushing the diagram away. Nope, it wouldn't work. Close, but not quite.
Damn. No fixing it either.
"No luck?" Ren asked and put her head against my shoulder as she peered over it.
"No exactly, no," I agreed and gave her a small nuzzle. "Have to start over from scratch. Again."
Rengosa frowned slightly. "You have been working on that for two weeks now."
"I know," I said and reached to run my fingers through her hair. "But I always run into some kind of problem that simply isn't fixable and need to restart."
She nodded. "Couldn't you rebuild the original ship?"
"Well, I could," I admitted and sighed, turning to get up from the chair and crossing my workshop to pull out a set of blueprints to put on the bench. "They were strongly flawed."
Ren frowned at me and got up as well. "It flew perfectly."
"Until it didn't. It was a rush job with multiple single points of failure," I complained. "It needed tons of really rare materials, a titan-made power storage device that doesn't exist anymore. Lose one wing and it went down like a brick."
Ren rolled her wings. "You are much too picky."
I pointed at her. "When lives depend on it, being picky is a good thing."
Nodding, she walked over to look at the blueprints. "Well, sadly you are on your own on this one. I'm not a bad enchanter but I can't make heads or tails of this."
"Not that complex… which is honestly the problem. Like I said, rush job and I learned a lot making it. Next one will be better," I said and slipped my arm around her waist. "If I ever figure it out, that is. I hate it when things get like this, I feel like an idiot for not being able to figure it out."
Ren just shook her head and nuzzled me. "Well, you'll figure it out. You're the best I know at these things. I'll leave you to your work."
"You don't need to go."
"No, but if I keep distracting you, you'll stay up all night with this," She said with a smile. "And Zrazta will be back early tomorrow and I'm sure she wants you awake for that. Have fun, love."
Pulling her close, I stole a kiss. "Don't deserve you."
Winking, she pulled back and walked out.
Damn, I love that dragon.
Turning back to look down at the blueprints for my old ship I shook my head and sighed, rolling them back up and putting them back on the shelf.
Useless!
Leaning back against the work bench, I crossed my arms in thought. The power source was the main problem and the Orb of Black Ice was gone. I couldn't even examine it to try to replicate it again.
But that would make creating the ship itself look easy.
From what I had of it since I made The Weapon, I already knew it was hilariously complex and I didn't have anywhere near enough to remake it.
I would need to almost rebuild it from scratch.
Well, that or fill most of the cargo space with power crystals which just wasn't viable. I suppose I could go seek out Rai again, she was an awesome Artificer, she might know something. But then again, her world was a bit behind when it came to power sources, it all depended on that Aether stuff.
"Atregos, can you have a look at this?" Targos asked as he walked inside through the open door. "This doesn't make sense, does it?"
"Hmm?"
"Enchanting diagram, I have been experimenting with integrating the enchanting system from Tyria with the standard Azerothian system."
I blinked at him as I took the chart. "I already do that, you know that, right?"
"Yes. But I want to figure it out myself," he answered with a grin. "Just have a look and see if I'm on the right track."
Chuckling, I nodded and looked it over for a couple of minutes before I nodded. "Yep, seems to work. I would switch out the power regulation for a pure Azerothian one, though, instead of trying a mix. It's more efficient unless you also mix in a Nirnian system. This one would run out of power pretty quickly."
He slowly nodded. "Makes sense. Thanks. So, what are you working on?"
"Ship."
"Again? Any progress?"
Sighing, I shook my head and handed back the chart to him. "Sadly no. Every single one I've drawn out would need more power than I can provide it with using what we have now."
"Ah. That is a problem. If you mixed in mechanical systems it would lessen the power drain. Even the Gnomes managed to do that." Targos said and rolled his chart up.
I scowled. "Wonder how many were turned into chickens trying it. Bunch of trial and error hacks. I'm not going to cheat with propellers!"
He grinned. "Well, the Gnomes are out and the Scourge is definitely out. Didn't you speak of airships at Kaladesh?"
"They have those," I agreed. "But their power source is literally in the air over there and we are back at the same place as before."
Targos slowly nodded and frowned in thought. "Well… there is the Draenei. Their cities flew to Azeroth from their old homeworld."
I blinked at him.
I'm such an idiot!
AN// Many thanks to Grey Rook for betaing this section
Damn. No fixing it either.
"No luck?" Ren asked and put her head against my shoulder as she peered over it.
"No exactly, no," I agreed and gave her a small nuzzle. "Have to start over from scratch. Again."
Rengosa frowned slightly. "You have been working on that for two weeks now."
"I know," I said and reached to run my fingers through her hair. "But I always run into some kind of problem that simply isn't fixable and need to restart."
She nodded. "Couldn't you rebuild the original ship?"
"Well, I could," I admitted and sighed, turning to get up from the chair and crossing my workshop to pull out a set of blueprints to put on the bench. "They were strongly flawed."
Ren frowned at me and got up as well. "It flew perfectly."
"Until it didn't. It was a rush job with multiple single points of failure," I complained. "It needed tons of really rare materials, a titan-made power storage device that doesn't exist anymore. Lose one wing and it went down like a brick."
Ren rolled her wings. "You are much too picky."
I pointed at her. "When lives depend on it, being picky is a good thing."
Nodding, she walked over to look at the blueprints. "Well, sadly you are on your own on this one. I'm not a bad enchanter but I can't make heads or tails of this."
"Not that complex… which is honestly the problem. Like I said, rush job and I learned a lot making it. Next one will be better," I said and slipped my arm around her waist. "If I ever figure it out, that is. I hate it when things get like this, I feel like an idiot for not being able to figure it out."
Ren just shook her head and nuzzled me. "Well, you'll figure it out. You're the best I know at these things. I'll leave you to your work."
"You don't need to go."
"No, but if I keep distracting you, you'll stay up all night with this," She said with a smile. "And Zrazta will be back early tomorrow and I'm sure she wants you awake for that. Have fun, love."
Pulling her close, I stole a kiss. "Don't deserve you."
Winking, she pulled back and walked out.
Damn, I love that dragon.
Turning back to look down at the blueprints for my old ship I shook my head and sighed, rolling them back up and putting them back on the shelf.
Useless!
Leaning back against the work bench, I crossed my arms in thought. The power source was the main problem and the Orb of Black Ice was gone. I couldn't even examine it to try to replicate it again.
But that would make creating the ship itself look easy.
From what I had of it since I made The Weapon, I already knew it was hilariously complex and I didn't have anywhere near enough to remake it.
I would need to almost rebuild it from scratch.
Well, that or fill most of the cargo space with power crystals which just wasn't viable. I suppose I could go seek out Rai again, she was an awesome Artificer, she might know something. But then again, her world was a bit behind when it came to power sources, it all depended on that Aether stuff.
"Atregos, can you have a look at this?" Targos asked as he walked inside through the open door. "This doesn't make sense, does it?"
"Hmm?"
"Enchanting diagram, I have been experimenting with integrating the enchanting system from Tyria with the standard Azerothian system."
I blinked at him as I took the chart. "I already do that, you know that, right?"
"Yes. But I want to figure it out myself," he answered with a grin. "Just have a look and see if I'm on the right track."
Chuckling, I nodded and looked it over for a couple of minutes before I nodded. "Yep, seems to work. I would switch out the power regulation for a pure Azerothian one, though, instead of trying a mix. It's more efficient unless you also mix in a Nirnian system. This one would run out of power pretty quickly."
He slowly nodded. "Makes sense. Thanks. So, what are you working on?"
"Ship."
"Again? Any progress?"
Sighing, I shook my head and handed back the chart to him. "Sadly no. Every single one I've drawn out would need more power than I can provide it with using what we have now."
"Ah. That is a problem. If you mixed in mechanical systems it would lessen the power drain. Even the Gnomes managed to do that." Targos said and rolled his chart up.
I scowled. "Wonder how many were turned into chickens trying it. Bunch of trial and error hacks. I'm not going to cheat with propellers!"
He grinned. "Well, the Gnomes are out and the Scourge is definitely out. Didn't you speak of airships at Kaladesh?"
"They have those," I agreed. "But their power source is literally in the air over there and we are back at the same place as before."
Targos slowly nodded and frowned in thought. "Well… there is the Draenei. Their cities flew to Azeroth from their old homeworld."
I blinked at him.
I'm such an idiot!
AN// Many thanks to Grey Rook for betaing this section
"Well?" I asked Sheila, "What do you think?"
She looked thoughtful, "That's a good idea. I haven't heard of any of them still working, but it might help."
"That's what I thought as well," I said with a grin, "You could visit your parents as well."
Sheila sighed, "I said it was a good idea, not that I could come. I just have to much to do. Especially with the Flights looking for new places to live."
"Oh," I said and pulled her close, "Can't put that on hold for a bit?"
That earned me a look, "No," she said, sounding annoyed before she sighed and reached up to run her fingers through my hair, "Atregos, I would love to go with you and see my family again, but I can't right now."
"…I'm not leaving yet for a week or two. Not until Jaina have move fully on her own."
"Still."
Sighing, I nodded and nuzzled at the top of her head, "Okay."
She smiled a bit up at me, "Ask Ren or Zrazta. They might be less busy."
Zrazta shook her head from her place by the table, "I can't," she said where she was cataloguing samples of plants she had been gathering while she was away, "I need to get these analysed properly."
Sheila nodded, "Suspected as much," she said and pulled back from me to sit on the edge of the table by Zrazta, "Atreus, you are pretty much one of the few involved with the flight's below Wyrm that's more or less left to do whatever they want. The rest of us have jobs to do."
"Luckily, part of my job is keeping Atregos from doing something that get him killed," Rengosa said as she walked inside, "I'm going."
"…I wanted company, not a babysitter," I grumbled before I got distracted as Ren walked up to steal a quick kiss on her way past,
"When do we leave?" she asked with a playful smile as she moved out of range before I could catch her, "And where are we going?"
"Azeroth," I answered, "Going to go look at draenei magitech. And not yet, a week or two, need to wait until Jaina is able to handle herself."
She nodded, "Nice to see Venir again," and pulled a book of the bookshelf, "Yes, this is what I needed."
"What are you doing?" I asked as I walked up to her.
"Looking for a book on basic elemental magic for the whelps to read," she explained and showed it to me, "It help to have illustrations for your explanations."
"True," I agreed and hmmed, "Don't we have a scroll with those here somewhere?"
"We do, but I can't find it. This will have to work," she answered and then smiled, "I need to get back before they get themselves into trouble again. See you tonight."
"See you then."
Ren left again, and I sighed. Sheila was already gone again, leaving me with Zrazta and if I tried to bother her when she was working she'd growl at me and not in the fun way either.
To be fair, I should likely get back to Jaina anyway, she should be waking up soon and if not I better wake her so she can eat her deer. She needed the energy.
"I should get back too," I said and risked a quick kiss at the top of Zraztas head, "See you tonight."
"Mhmm," she answered as she peered at a flower in a small bottle, "See you tonight… hunt then?"
"Sounds good," I agreed with a smile and then left before sighing as I got out into the hallway, turning back to my real form as I walked.
I really miss the time when we could just go out and travel.
Sure, it was never quite that simple and I was technically free to do so other than when Kalecgos had tasks for me or I needed to do pickups or drop-offs, but… doing it alone would be neither safe nor anywhere near as fun.
Oh well, at least there was a plan to getting the ship up and running now and I would get to see Venir again. I couldn't help but wonder how she was, I had not seen her in ages and to be fair, I felt slightly bad for not checking in on my oldest friend since I dropped her and the others that needed to go back off at Azeroth again.
"Is she awake yet?" I asked the dragonkin as I reached the door to the ritual chamber.
He nodded, "Some movement, World Walker. Started just a few moments ago."
Nodding, I moved inside and past him to see Jaina sitting and watching Kalecgos as he slept. Moving up to sit down next to her, I looked at the new mage, "How do you feel?" I asked her quietly.
"Btr," she managed to answer before she sighed, her wings shifting slightly, "Slebt."
"Your speech is getting better too," I said softly, "Come on, let's get you something more to eat. You need to gather your strength."
Jaina didn't seem overly happy at that idea but she finally nodded and very carefully moved to get onto all four again, "Nn dee."
"Yes deer," I said and moved to give her room to clumsily turn around, "It contain everything you need and is quite tasty at that."
The look in her eyes indicated that she didn't quite agree with that assessment.
AN// Unbetaed because I'm a big derp.
She looked thoughtful, "That's a good idea. I haven't heard of any of them still working, but it might help."
"That's what I thought as well," I said with a grin, "You could visit your parents as well."
Sheila sighed, "I said it was a good idea, not that I could come. I just have to much to do. Especially with the Flights looking for new places to live."
"Oh," I said and pulled her close, "Can't put that on hold for a bit?"
That earned me a look, "No," she said, sounding annoyed before she sighed and reached up to run her fingers through my hair, "Atregos, I would love to go with you and see my family again, but I can't right now."
"…I'm not leaving yet for a week or two. Not until Jaina have move fully on her own."
"Still."
Sighing, I nodded and nuzzled at the top of her head, "Okay."
She smiled a bit up at me, "Ask Ren or Zrazta. They might be less busy."
Zrazta shook her head from her place by the table, "I can't," she said where she was cataloguing samples of plants she had been gathering while she was away, "I need to get these analysed properly."
Sheila nodded, "Suspected as much," she said and pulled back from me to sit on the edge of the table by Zrazta, "Atreus, you are pretty much one of the few involved with the flight's below Wyrm that's more or less left to do whatever they want. The rest of us have jobs to do."
"Luckily, part of my job is keeping Atregos from doing something that get him killed," Rengosa said as she walked inside, "I'm going."
"…I wanted company, not a babysitter," I grumbled before I got distracted as Ren walked up to steal a quick kiss on her way past,
"When do we leave?" she asked with a playful smile as she moved out of range before I could catch her, "And where are we going?"
"Azeroth," I answered, "Going to go look at draenei magitech. And not yet, a week or two, need to wait until Jaina is able to handle herself."
She nodded, "Nice to see Venir again," and pulled a book of the bookshelf, "Yes, this is what I needed."
"What are you doing?" I asked as I walked up to her.
"Looking for a book on basic elemental magic for the whelps to read," she explained and showed it to me, "It help to have illustrations for your explanations."
"True," I agreed and hmmed, "Don't we have a scroll with those here somewhere?"
"We do, but I can't find it. This will have to work," she answered and then smiled, "I need to get back before they get themselves into trouble again. See you tonight."
"See you then."
Ren left again, and I sighed. Sheila was already gone again, leaving me with Zrazta and if I tried to bother her when she was working she'd growl at me and not in the fun way either.
To be fair, I should likely get back to Jaina anyway, she should be waking up soon and if not I better wake her so she can eat her deer. She needed the energy.
"I should get back too," I said and risked a quick kiss at the top of Zraztas head, "See you tonight."
"Mhmm," she answered as she peered at a flower in a small bottle, "See you tonight… hunt then?"
"Sounds good," I agreed with a smile and then left before sighing as I got out into the hallway, turning back to my real form as I walked.
I really miss the time when we could just go out and travel.
Sure, it was never quite that simple and I was technically free to do so other than when Kalecgos had tasks for me or I needed to do pickups or drop-offs, but… doing it alone would be neither safe nor anywhere near as fun.
Oh well, at least there was a plan to getting the ship up and running now and I would get to see Venir again. I couldn't help but wonder how she was, I had not seen her in ages and to be fair, I felt slightly bad for not checking in on my oldest friend since I dropped her and the others that needed to go back off at Azeroth again.
"Is she awake yet?" I asked the dragonkin as I reached the door to the ritual chamber.
He nodded, "Some movement, World Walker. Started just a few moments ago."
Nodding, I moved inside and past him to see Jaina sitting and watching Kalecgos as he slept. Moving up to sit down next to her, I looked at the new mage, "How do you feel?" I asked her quietly.
"Btr," she managed to answer before she sighed, her wings shifting slightly, "Slebt."
"Your speech is getting better too," I said softly, "Come on, let's get you something more to eat. You need to gather your strength."
Jaina didn't seem overly happy at that idea but she finally nodded and very carefully moved to get onto all four again, "Nn dee."
"Yes deer," I said and moved to give her room to clumsily turn around, "It contain everything you need and is quite tasty at that."
The look in her eyes indicated that she didn't quite agree with that assessment.
AN// Unbetaed because I'm a big derp.
"Atregos." Wrathion said in greeting as he came in to land across my dead elk from me. Raising my head, I nodded to him in return as the smaller Black Dragon folded his wings. "Wrathion."
He dug his claws into the frozen ground and then moved around the elk and laid down next to me.
As it seemed like he didn't feel like talking yet, I went back to my meal. Wrathion rarely went looking for me unless he wanted something, be it a favour or just going hunting.
"I heard you were returning to Azeroth." He finally said.
Licking some blood off my nose, I nodded, "Research project into draenei magical constructs," I confirmed. "Not to stay."
He rumbled in agreement before shifting forward a bit, ripping a big chunk out of the rear leg of the elk. I didn't protest. Not like I could eat an entire elk anyway.
Besides, Flightleader. Not mine, perhaps, but still.
"I wish to come."
I blinked at him. "Really? Why?"
Wrathion snorted and shifted his wings, licking some blood off his muzzle. "…Anduin," he finally admitted.
Ah. That made sense.
"Miss your Consort?"
Wration nodded. "Yes. It's been a year since I last spoke to him."
"You can come if you like," I agreed and laid down. "Not sure how long we can stay, but a month or two is likely. Think you can be away that long?"
"Can you?"
That was a very good point. Any more and the next delivery to Skyrim would be late, but at the very least I no longer needed to do deliveries to Meereen.
Which technically left a slot open in my schedule that I would like to fill.
As soon as I got back from Azeroth and did the delivery, I really needed to go exploring again… or maybe set one up on Ravnica.
"I checked with Alexstrasza," I said, "She said there were no meetings with the Wyrmrest accord planned for that time."
Wrathion nodded in agreement. "It will be good to see our old world."
"Just remember we can't be known as dragons," I reminded him. "Dragons have to be gone, completely gone from the world."
That got a growl from him. "As opposed to when we used to live on Azeroth and revealed to everyone all the time who we were?"
"Hmh. True. Will Umbria be coming?"
"No, she will be covering my duties here," he answered and nosed toward the liver. I growled at him.
There are limits. My kill!
Wrathion pulled back and rested his head on his front paws.
"Good," I said and started on the liver before he could get any ideas. "She would be recognized by someone in Stormwind."
Wrathion blinked at me. "…You spent a lot more time in Stormwind than I. Your hair is blue. Hardly common among humans."
I gave him a sharp-toothed grin. "I'll use an illusion on it. And blue hair or not, I'd stand out less than Umbria. If I was in this form and she were in mortal form, she'd still stand out more. You notice Umbria."
Wrathion bared his teeth with a growl. "Have you been watching my Consort, Atregos?"
"Everyone has been watching your Consort, Wrathion," I answered with a growl in turn. "Like I said, noticeable. In both forms."
He looked more than a little smug at that as he settled down. "I had expected more challenges." he admitted.
I snorted and ripped out what was left of the liver. "Probably because of your ages. Most who are our ages would never dare to challenge a Flightleader. Let alone think they would impress Umbria enough for it to be worth the risk. Just wait a hundred years and you're both Dragons, you'll see your challenges, even as powerful as you are."
Wrathion snorted but didn't argue as he settled down while eyeing me. "Most Drakes."
"Sheila would kill me and to be honest, she's a lot scarier than you are."
That got the other Drake laughing, "She does have a way with fire, I give you that." he admitted and put his head back onto his paws.
Licking the blood from my snout, I got up and stretched my wings wide with a yawn. "Well, we're not going soon. Need to wait until Lady Proudmoore is able to handle herself. Or at least get her used to eating food."
She was able to walk and almost run by now. Flying shouldn't be too difficult, I mean I picked it up easily enough. As soon as she could fly, she could also hunt on her own.
Can't rely on me or the dragon-kin to keep catching her dinner. She would have to learn how to find and take down prey sooner or later. That's much easier if you know how to fly.
Kalecgos will be out of it for another good long while. He basically woke up, ate, nuzzled Jaina and then fell back asleep.
AN// Many thanks to Grey Rook for betaing this section. Posted early due to early morning tomorrow.
He dug his claws into the frozen ground and then moved around the elk and laid down next to me.
As it seemed like he didn't feel like talking yet, I went back to my meal. Wrathion rarely went looking for me unless he wanted something, be it a favour or just going hunting.
"I heard you were returning to Azeroth." He finally said.
Licking some blood off my nose, I nodded, "Research project into draenei magical constructs," I confirmed. "Not to stay."
He rumbled in agreement before shifting forward a bit, ripping a big chunk out of the rear leg of the elk. I didn't protest. Not like I could eat an entire elk anyway.
Besides, Flightleader. Not mine, perhaps, but still.
"I wish to come."
I blinked at him. "Really? Why?"
Wrathion snorted and shifted his wings, licking some blood off his muzzle. "…Anduin," he finally admitted.
Ah. That made sense.
"Miss your Consort?"
Wration nodded. "Yes. It's been a year since I last spoke to him."
"You can come if you like," I agreed and laid down. "Not sure how long we can stay, but a month or two is likely. Think you can be away that long?"
"Can you?"
That was a very good point. Any more and the next delivery to Skyrim would be late, but at the very least I no longer needed to do deliveries to Meereen.
Which technically left a slot open in my schedule that I would like to fill.
As soon as I got back from Azeroth and did the delivery, I really needed to go exploring again… or maybe set one up on Ravnica.
"I checked with Alexstrasza," I said, "She said there were no meetings with the Wyrmrest accord planned for that time."
Wrathion nodded in agreement. "It will be good to see our old world."
"Just remember we can't be known as dragons," I reminded him. "Dragons have to be gone, completely gone from the world."
That got a growl from him. "As opposed to when we used to live on Azeroth and revealed to everyone all the time who we were?"
"Hmh. True. Will Umbria be coming?"
"No, she will be covering my duties here," he answered and nosed toward the liver. I growled at him.
There are limits. My kill!
Wrathion pulled back and rested his head on his front paws.
"Good," I said and started on the liver before he could get any ideas. "She would be recognized by someone in Stormwind."
Wrathion blinked at me. "…You spent a lot more time in Stormwind than I. Your hair is blue. Hardly common among humans."
I gave him a sharp-toothed grin. "I'll use an illusion on it. And blue hair or not, I'd stand out less than Umbria. If I was in this form and she were in mortal form, she'd still stand out more. You notice Umbria."
Wrathion bared his teeth with a growl. "Have you been watching my Consort, Atregos?"
"Everyone has been watching your Consort, Wrathion," I answered with a growl in turn. "Like I said, noticeable. In both forms."
He looked more than a little smug at that as he settled down. "I had expected more challenges." he admitted.
I snorted and ripped out what was left of the liver. "Probably because of your ages. Most who are our ages would never dare to challenge a Flightleader. Let alone think they would impress Umbria enough for it to be worth the risk. Just wait a hundred years and you're both Dragons, you'll see your challenges, even as powerful as you are."
Wrathion snorted but didn't argue as he settled down while eyeing me. "Most Drakes."
"Sheila would kill me and to be honest, she's a lot scarier than you are."
That got the other Drake laughing, "She does have a way with fire, I give you that." he admitted and put his head back onto his paws.
Licking the blood from my snout, I got up and stretched my wings wide with a yawn. "Well, we're not going soon. Need to wait until Lady Proudmoore is able to handle herself. Or at least get her used to eating food."
She was able to walk and almost run by now. Flying shouldn't be too difficult, I mean I picked it up easily enough. As soon as she could fly, she could also hunt on her own.
Can't rely on me or the dragon-kin to keep catching her dinner. She would have to learn how to find and take down prey sooner or later. That's much easier if you know how to fly.
Kalecgos will be out of it for another good long while. He basically woke up, ate, nuzzled Jaina and then fell back asleep.
AN// Many thanks to Grey Rook for betaing this section. Posted early due to early morning tomorrow.
"Ren?" I asked as I opened my eyes.
She let out her breath and shifted a little, her eyes opening as her claws scratched against the stone floor. "Mhmm?"
"…Sorry, did I wake you?"
"… little…," she mumbled and rested her head on the back of my neck.
Shifting to rest my head across her forelegs in turn, I nuzzled her and said, "Sorry."
"Is fine… what's on your mind?"
Sighing, I shifted a bit closer to her side. "Was thinking… maybe we should just visit Azeroth quickly and drop of Wrathion and visit Venir and then move on to explore."
Rengosa shifted to look at me in the dark. "…Wasn't the entire point of going to Azeroth to examine the Draenei cities?"
I nodded. "That was the idea. But as fascinating as it would be… and useful…, I can't help but feel going exploring would be more productive. Their cities will still be there later, but we might be able to find something amazing."
Ren seemed to consider that for a long moment before she nodded. "It might. We might also find nothing."
"True," I admitted and shifted closer, nosing along her neck. "But I kind of miss it."
"…Me too. Let's do it," Ren agreed and nuzzled in turn at the top of my head. "We should still have a lot of currency at Stormwind through Venir, we may simply be able to order books and other information from the Draenei."
"…Thing is, I'm not sure they know how it works fully either…" I said and then nodded. "But that is a good first step. Who knows, it might still contain enough information for me to figure it out."
Ren nodded in agreement and nosed along the top of my head. "Mmm. Gives us time to explore for a couple of months. I miss it too, it's fun."
I glanced up at her. "…I take it you're not tired anymore."
"…Not tired, no…"
XXXXXXX
Kalecgos opened his big eyes slowly. "…Atregos."
I quickly looked up from my book. "Kalecgos," I said and got up, brushing my pants off and putting my book down as I got up. "How do you feel?"
"Tired," he sighed, "that was… exhausting. How long has it been?"
"Five thousand years."
His eyes widened for a second before he chuckled and shifted a little. "Funny."
I grinned and patted the tip of his massive snout. "I thought so. A couple of weeks actually. You have been awake a couple of times before. Remember?"
Kalecgos shook his head a little. "No. But I think I feel better."
"You look better too," I said and motioned towards the side where there was a pile of frozen dead elks. "Food."
"Jaina?"
I grinned at him. "She's fine. She's walking, running and starting to talk now. Everything seems to be a complete success."
He let out a small sigh. "Her magic?"
"We only tried a couple of simple spells, but her magic seems to be identical to before the change. She just has to get used to casting it without hands."
"Where is she?"
"Asleep right now, we just got back a couple of hours ago. I was teaching her about her wings, it'll take some work, she's not used to another set of limbs yet," I explained. "She's a couple of rooms over."
Kalecgos closed his eyes and I felt his already strained magic move.
"Wait, you can't just…!" I protested before I was interrupted by his magic activating the spell and he disappeared in a cloud of spell smoke.
It quickly cleared to reveal his mortal form, on his hands and knees while coughing his lungs out.
Biting back a curse, I rushed over to him and put my hand on his back, channelling my magic into him. "What the fuck!? You're magic drained and barely awake! Why would you try to…"
…Actually, I knew exactly why. Fucking damn it, I would have done the same.
Shaking my head, I sighed and helped him to his feet, putting his arm over my shoulders. "Come on, this way."
"…Thank you, Atregos."
Supporting him, I helped him to the room close by where Jaina was deep asleep. I had worked her hard to try to get her flight ready, it was more than understandable why she was out like a light.
Jaina opened her eyes when we entered and she blinked, getting to her paws. "Kaleg?"
He smiled at her and I gently let her take the weight as he put his arms around her neck and she settled down to let him lean against her. "Jaina."
She nuzzled softly, and he closed his eyes.
"Jaina," I said after a couple of moments and she looked at me. "I'll go get him something warm to eat. Make sure he stays put?"
She nodded a bit and nuzzled at his side.
AN// Many thanks to Pietersielie for betaing this section. Posted early due to early morning tomorrow.
She let out her breath and shifted a little, her eyes opening as her claws scratched against the stone floor. "Mhmm?"
"…Sorry, did I wake you?"
"… little…," she mumbled and rested her head on the back of my neck.
Shifting to rest my head across her forelegs in turn, I nuzzled her and said, "Sorry."
"Is fine… what's on your mind?"
Sighing, I shifted a bit closer to her side. "Was thinking… maybe we should just visit Azeroth quickly and drop of Wrathion and visit Venir and then move on to explore."
Rengosa shifted to look at me in the dark. "…Wasn't the entire point of going to Azeroth to examine the Draenei cities?"
I nodded. "That was the idea. But as fascinating as it would be… and useful…, I can't help but feel going exploring would be more productive. Their cities will still be there later, but we might be able to find something amazing."
Ren seemed to consider that for a long moment before she nodded. "It might. We might also find nothing."
"True," I admitted and shifted closer, nosing along her neck. "But I kind of miss it."
"…Me too. Let's do it," Ren agreed and nuzzled in turn at the top of my head. "We should still have a lot of currency at Stormwind through Venir, we may simply be able to order books and other information from the Draenei."
"…Thing is, I'm not sure they know how it works fully either…" I said and then nodded. "But that is a good first step. Who knows, it might still contain enough information for me to figure it out."
Ren nodded in agreement and nosed along the top of my head. "Mmm. Gives us time to explore for a couple of months. I miss it too, it's fun."
I glanced up at her. "…I take it you're not tired anymore."
"…Not tired, no…"
XXXXXXX
Kalecgos opened his big eyes slowly. "…Atregos."
I quickly looked up from my book. "Kalecgos," I said and got up, brushing my pants off and putting my book down as I got up. "How do you feel?"
"Tired," he sighed, "that was… exhausting. How long has it been?"
"Five thousand years."
His eyes widened for a second before he chuckled and shifted a little. "Funny."
I grinned and patted the tip of his massive snout. "I thought so. A couple of weeks actually. You have been awake a couple of times before. Remember?"
Kalecgos shook his head a little. "No. But I think I feel better."
"You look better too," I said and motioned towards the side where there was a pile of frozen dead elks. "Food."
"Jaina?"
I grinned at him. "She's fine. She's walking, running and starting to talk now. Everything seems to be a complete success."
He let out a small sigh. "Her magic?"
"We only tried a couple of simple spells, but her magic seems to be identical to before the change. She just has to get used to casting it without hands."
"Where is she?"
"Asleep right now, we just got back a couple of hours ago. I was teaching her about her wings, it'll take some work, she's not used to another set of limbs yet," I explained. "She's a couple of rooms over."
Kalecgos closed his eyes and I felt his already strained magic move.
"Wait, you can't just…!" I protested before I was interrupted by his magic activating the spell and he disappeared in a cloud of spell smoke.
It quickly cleared to reveal his mortal form, on his hands and knees while coughing his lungs out.
Biting back a curse, I rushed over to him and put my hand on his back, channelling my magic into him. "What the fuck!? You're magic drained and barely awake! Why would you try to…"
…Actually, I knew exactly why. Fucking damn it, I would have done the same.
Shaking my head, I sighed and helped him to his feet, putting his arm over my shoulders. "Come on, this way."
"…Thank you, Atregos."
Supporting him, I helped him to the room close by where Jaina was deep asleep. I had worked her hard to try to get her flight ready, it was more than understandable why she was out like a light.
Jaina opened her eyes when we entered and she blinked, getting to her paws. "Kaleg?"
He smiled at her and I gently let her take the weight as he put his arms around her neck and she settled down to let him lean against her. "Jaina."
She nuzzled softly, and he closed his eyes.
"Jaina," I said after a couple of moments and she looked at me. "I'll go get him something warm to eat. Make sure he stays put?"
She nodded a bit and nuzzled at his side.
AN// Many thanks to Pietersielie for betaing this section. Posted early due to early morning tomorrow.
"You sure?" Sheila asked with a small frown.
I nodded. "We'll drop of Wrathion, see if Venir's contacts can get what we want and then move on to explore for a month or two before returning the same way."
Sheila crossed her arms before she nodded in turn. "Just be careful, okay? When do you leave?"
"Tomorrow. We should have everything we need and Jaina is doing better."
"Kalecgos?"
I smiled. "Him too. He's awake at least, if still magically exhausted."
"It really took a lot out of him, didn't it?"
"It did," I agreed and moved up to put my arms around her, resting my forehead against hers. "…Have you thought about it some more?"
She sighed softly and slipped her arms up around the back of my neck. "…Yeah. I don't know yet, it's a big decision."
"Yeah, I know. Don't want to push you, Love."
"…And not sure Kalecgos would be up for it anytime soon anyway."
I smiled at that. "True."
Sheila turned around and leaned back against me and I pulled her a bit tighter. "…It's not just the entire dragon thing either," she admitted after a moment.
"What's on your mind?" I asked and nuzzled at her hair.
"It's my magic," she explained and glanced up at me. "During the transition, I would be changed from the core of my soul and out. I'd only have my own magic after it's done. I'd lose my Fel magic."
I nodded. "You would."
Sheila shook her head. "I worked… for a long time to harness those forces. My magic… my own magic is barely enough for a frostbolt and then I'm out. Atreus, on my own, I'd be useless."
I growled at her at that and squeezed her closer. "You'd never be useless."
"I won't be able to make soulstones. I couldn't travel with you."
"Nobody else needs Fel to make them. You would still be able to use Land magic like everyone else. Even if your personal magic isn't much, you'd have Land magic."
"…land magic is difficult and not very versatile."
"Neither is Fel magic."
Sheila frowned and then sighed. "I suppose you are right. But it's different. I have been using Felmagic since I was fifteen. Yes, I could learn how to use Land magic for everything, I bet that Black or Red mana could be used for most of my spells. But I would need to relearn how to do everything."
"…True," I admitted. "It would require you to find and bind at least two Lands if not more of the right type."
She turned to face me again, looking up at me. "You see why I hesitate?
I nodded. "I did this at first to fix my magic. It would completely mess up yours," I said before I smiled a bit down at her. "You know, most people would be more caught up on the entire 'scales' thing."
Sheila grinned a bit. "There is that too. It's just a very big thing to decide to go through with."
"Don't I know it."
"Not sure Kalecgos would agree to go through with this anytime this year anyway," she said and patted my chest. "But I'll talk with Jaina while you and Ren are away."
"She would know the most," I said and hugged her tight. "I just don't want to lose you."
Sheila nodded before she giggled against my chest. "…You know what, I think I better go through with it. How in the world would you make it without me? Not sure Ren and Zrazta are up for the stress of keeping you from doing something stupid on their own."
I so didn't pout at that. "I can handle myself!"
Reaching up to stroke my hair, she smiled up at me. "Sure you can."
When I growled down at her, she went onto her toes and gave me a kiss before dropping back down with a smile. "I'll talk it over with Jaina and Kalecgos while you and Ren are exploring."
"No pressure," I said and ran my fingers through her hair. "…I should likely figure out if we have everything we need before needing to rush through it tomorrow."
"Might be a good idea," she agreed. "Do that, I'll try to find Ren and see that she has her stuff."
"What, you trust me to figure out what to bring on my own?" I teased with a grin.
She smiled up at me. "You know your toys better than anyone else and can be trusted to bring them. I just need to check that you remembered clothes and such later."
I growled at her at that. "Is that so? I'll get you for that..."
Sheila winked at me. "Tonight. Not now, now I need to go find Ren," she responded and pulled away before heading out of my lab. "See you in a bit."
I looked after her for a bit before I took a deep breath and went to start getting everything ready. Human or not, she'd outlive me at this rate.
That woman will be the death of me!
AN// Many thanks to Pietersielie for betaing this section.
I nodded. "We'll drop of Wrathion, see if Venir's contacts can get what we want and then move on to explore for a month or two before returning the same way."
Sheila crossed her arms before she nodded in turn. "Just be careful, okay? When do you leave?"
"Tomorrow. We should have everything we need and Jaina is doing better."
"Kalecgos?"
I smiled. "Him too. He's awake at least, if still magically exhausted."
"It really took a lot out of him, didn't it?"
"It did," I agreed and moved up to put my arms around her, resting my forehead against hers. "…Have you thought about it some more?"
She sighed softly and slipped her arms up around the back of my neck. "…Yeah. I don't know yet, it's a big decision."
"Yeah, I know. Don't want to push you, Love."
"…And not sure Kalecgos would be up for it anytime soon anyway."
I smiled at that. "True."
Sheila turned around and leaned back against me and I pulled her a bit tighter. "…It's not just the entire dragon thing either," she admitted after a moment.
"What's on your mind?" I asked and nuzzled at her hair.
"It's my magic," she explained and glanced up at me. "During the transition, I would be changed from the core of my soul and out. I'd only have my own magic after it's done. I'd lose my Fel magic."
I nodded. "You would."
Sheila shook her head. "I worked… for a long time to harness those forces. My magic… my own magic is barely enough for a frostbolt and then I'm out. Atreus, on my own, I'd be useless."
I growled at her at that and squeezed her closer. "You'd never be useless."
"I won't be able to make soulstones. I couldn't travel with you."
"Nobody else needs Fel to make them. You would still be able to use Land magic like everyone else. Even if your personal magic isn't much, you'd have Land magic."
"…land magic is difficult and not very versatile."
"Neither is Fel magic."
Sheila frowned and then sighed. "I suppose you are right. But it's different. I have been using Felmagic since I was fifteen. Yes, I could learn how to use Land magic for everything, I bet that Black or Red mana could be used for most of my spells. But I would need to relearn how to do everything."
"…True," I admitted. "It would require you to find and bind at least two Lands if not more of the right type."
She turned to face me again, looking up at me. "You see why I hesitate?
I nodded. "I did this at first to fix my magic. It would completely mess up yours," I said before I smiled a bit down at her. "You know, most people would be more caught up on the entire 'scales' thing."
Sheila grinned a bit. "There is that too. It's just a very big thing to decide to go through with."
"Don't I know it."
"Not sure Kalecgos would agree to go through with this anytime this year anyway," she said and patted my chest. "But I'll talk with Jaina while you and Ren are away."
"She would know the most," I said and hugged her tight. "I just don't want to lose you."
Sheila nodded before she giggled against my chest. "…You know what, I think I better go through with it. How in the world would you make it without me? Not sure Ren and Zrazta are up for the stress of keeping you from doing something stupid on their own."
I so didn't pout at that. "I can handle myself!"
Reaching up to stroke my hair, she smiled up at me. "Sure you can."
When I growled down at her, she went onto her toes and gave me a kiss before dropping back down with a smile. "I'll talk it over with Jaina and Kalecgos while you and Ren are exploring."
"No pressure," I said and ran my fingers through her hair. "…I should likely figure out if we have everything we need before needing to rush through it tomorrow."
"Might be a good idea," she agreed. "Do that, I'll try to find Ren and see that she has her stuff."
"What, you trust me to figure out what to bring on my own?" I teased with a grin.
She smiled up at me. "You know your toys better than anyone else and can be trusted to bring them. I just need to check that you remembered clothes and such later."
I growled at her at that. "Is that so? I'll get you for that..."
Sheila winked at me. "Tonight. Not now, now I need to go find Ren," she responded and pulled away before heading out of my lab. "See you in a bit."
I looked after her for a bit before I took a deep breath and went to start getting everything ready. Human or not, she'd outlive me at this rate.
That woman will be the death of me!
AN// Many thanks to Pietersielie for betaing this section.
Reality crashed back down around me in the way of a mirror shattering in reverse. Spreading my wings to catch the air, I caught the wind, stopping the fall and turning it into a glide.
Looking down, I slowly banked.
Where the fuck are we? It's Azeroth, but this didn't look like somewhere I had been before. Large craggy peaks, very little plantlife.
Very little in the way of wildlife as well.
Whatever, don't need to stay for long, we'll portal from here. This was pretty good, actually, we won't be spotted here.
Going into a glide, I started to slowly circle lower through the air, taking aim at a somewhat flat area close to the top of a hill.
Pulling out, I flared my wings before beating them hard as I pulled back. Triggering my transformation just as I touched down.
Rolling my shoulders, I looked around.
…And the price of the least hospitable place on Azeroth goes to…
Reaching into my satchel, I pulled out a pair of Soulstones, giving them a pulse of magic before throwing them a short distance away. They shifted and dissolved in fire and smoke as Wrathion and Ren reformed.
Ren gasped and almost stumbled, catching herself just in time. Wrathion wasn't quite as lucky, he was in mortal form and faceplanted onto the ground before he could catch himself.
Trying not to laugh, I patted Ren's neck before walking over to over him my hand. "Takes a bit getting used to, I've heard," I told him.
The glare could have melted lead, but he still took my hand and I pulled him onto his feet, handing over his bag.
"…Thanks. Yeah, it does. Do you ever get used to it?"
Ren shook her head. "No. It's just as unpleasant every time. But you do learn to handle it better."
I frowned slightly at her before I handed her bag over in turn. That's something I hated about this. Everytime I Walked and somebody came with me, it hurt them. I knew exactly how it felt, I'd gone through a Soulstone once.
It was being set on fire, if just for a couple of seconds.
It almost made me want to suggest traveling alone, but I knew for sure that that would be shot down instantly from all sides.
As Ren and Wration got dressed, I turned to look around. There was something about this place? It felt… not nice.
Undead. That's what it felt like.
Nothing in sight, but it felt like a tomb. Maybe it was something magical, maybe it was the lack of sound other than the wind. No insects, no birds.
We should leave soon. I didn't like this at all.
Pulling a ring from my pocket and slipped it around a finger on my left hand, my hair changed from blue to black. Why cast an illusion when I could enchant a random ring to do the same thing permanently for the same kind of effort?
Especially as it couldn't just be dispelled.
"Ready?" I asked as I turned to Wrathion.
He finished shrugging on his robe before he nodded. "Ready."
His mortal form was dark skinned and bald with a short goatee. His clothes of choice wasn't any kind of armour, but instead he went with dark robes. These one in particular were purple.
A master of blending in, my friend was not.
Then again, somebody who normally has blue hair likely don't have a leg to stand on.
Grinning, I raised my hand and channeled magic into the portal key stone built into my gauntlet. Destination…
Portaling straight to Stormwind would be stupid. Targos's shop no longer existed as a safe landing ground.
Instead I picked one a couple of kilometers outside the walls, in the forest. The dot in the air shimmered with arcane energy before slowly growing into a circle of a dark forest half a world away.
Middle of the night there.
As I drew it fully open, Ren finished getting dressed, wearing an actual dress this time instead of her armour and an illusion.
Throwing her pack over her shoulder, she headed through the portal. "It'll be good seeing Venir again."
"It will," I agreed as Wration followed her through. I took up the rear and allowed the portal to close behind us.
The forest smelled much better than the desolate landscape we'd just left. Just like I remembered it actually.
Wrathion looked around before he nodded and headed towards the right in the direction of the road to the city.
Rengosa stretched and took a deep breath before she looked over at me. "Let's go?"
"Let's go." I agreed with a grin.
AN// Many thanks to Grey Rook for betaing this section.
Looking down, I slowly banked.
Where the fuck are we? It's Azeroth, but this didn't look like somewhere I had been before. Large craggy peaks, very little plantlife.
Very little in the way of wildlife as well.
Whatever, don't need to stay for long, we'll portal from here. This was pretty good, actually, we won't be spotted here.
Going into a glide, I started to slowly circle lower through the air, taking aim at a somewhat flat area close to the top of a hill.
Pulling out, I flared my wings before beating them hard as I pulled back. Triggering my transformation just as I touched down.
Rolling my shoulders, I looked around.
…And the price of the least hospitable place on Azeroth goes to…
Reaching into my satchel, I pulled out a pair of Soulstones, giving them a pulse of magic before throwing them a short distance away. They shifted and dissolved in fire and smoke as Wrathion and Ren reformed.
Ren gasped and almost stumbled, catching herself just in time. Wrathion wasn't quite as lucky, he was in mortal form and faceplanted onto the ground before he could catch himself.
Trying not to laugh, I patted Ren's neck before walking over to over him my hand. "Takes a bit getting used to, I've heard," I told him.
The glare could have melted lead, but he still took my hand and I pulled him onto his feet, handing over his bag.
"…Thanks. Yeah, it does. Do you ever get used to it?"
Ren shook her head. "No. It's just as unpleasant every time. But you do learn to handle it better."
I frowned slightly at her before I handed her bag over in turn. That's something I hated about this. Everytime I Walked and somebody came with me, it hurt them. I knew exactly how it felt, I'd gone through a Soulstone once.
It was being set on fire, if just for a couple of seconds.
It almost made me want to suggest traveling alone, but I knew for sure that that would be shot down instantly from all sides.
As Ren and Wration got dressed, I turned to look around. There was something about this place? It felt… not nice.
Undead. That's what it felt like.
Nothing in sight, but it felt like a tomb. Maybe it was something magical, maybe it was the lack of sound other than the wind. No insects, no birds.
We should leave soon. I didn't like this at all.
Pulling a ring from my pocket and slipped it around a finger on my left hand, my hair changed from blue to black. Why cast an illusion when I could enchant a random ring to do the same thing permanently for the same kind of effort?
Especially as it couldn't just be dispelled.
"Ready?" I asked as I turned to Wrathion.
He finished shrugging on his robe before he nodded. "Ready."
His mortal form was dark skinned and bald with a short goatee. His clothes of choice wasn't any kind of armour, but instead he went with dark robes. These one in particular were purple.
A master of blending in, my friend was not.
Then again, somebody who normally has blue hair likely don't have a leg to stand on.
Grinning, I raised my hand and channeled magic into the portal key stone built into my gauntlet. Destination…
Portaling straight to Stormwind would be stupid. Targos's shop no longer existed as a safe landing ground.
Instead I picked one a couple of kilometers outside the walls, in the forest. The dot in the air shimmered with arcane energy before slowly growing into a circle of a dark forest half a world away.
Middle of the night there.
As I drew it fully open, Ren finished getting dressed, wearing an actual dress this time instead of her armour and an illusion.
Throwing her pack over her shoulder, she headed through the portal. "It'll be good seeing Venir again."
"It will," I agreed as Wration followed her through. I took up the rear and allowed the portal to close behind us.
The forest smelled much better than the desolate landscape we'd just left. Just like I remembered it actually.
Wrathion looked around before he nodded and headed towards the right in the direction of the road to the city.
Rengosa stretched and took a deep breath before she looked over at me. "Let's go?"
"Let's go." I agreed with a grin.
AN// Many thanks to Grey Rook for betaing this section.
Wow.
Venir was doing great. The warehouse she used to use were no longer where it used to be. Now it was a compound full of warehouses with walls around it and actual guards instead of dockworkers.
I could see two masts sticking up behind the warehouses. That was also a big cargo ship, larger than the one we were on once.
Wrathion had left for the castle as soon as we entered the city. I could more than understand why. I wasn't completely sure what he had planned, and I didn't really want to know, but I suspected it was similar to Sheila and Ren when Zrazta and I got back from our so-called Vacation.
Following Rengosa's lead, I headed for the gates and the pair of guards standing outside it, looking bored. Both of them wearing armour with a blue circle on the chest.
"Hello there, I'm looking for Venir," I told the closest guard. "Mind letting her know Atreus is here?"
They looked at each other in surprise before the one I spoke to nodded. "Of course, if you would follow me, Lord Atreus."
That's also a bit better than last time we visited.
Rather nice to be greeted nicely for once.
It's a big massive fucking trap, isn't it?
Slipping my hand down to rest close to my dagger, I glanced at Ren. She shrugged a little as we followed the guard into the main building.
He took us past a gnomish contraption, a bunch of scribes shuffling paper and writing what was presumably a lot of numbers.
We headed up a set of stairs and through a pair of oak doors. The office was nice and warm, the walls curved like a Draenei building. The desk was covered with neatly stacked piles of paper, a couple of bookcases along the walls. A circular window was overlooking the harbour and the large ship outside.
Nobody inside.
Looking around, I turned to the guard. He nodded and backed out, closing the doors.
Frowning, I walked over to look out the window. The ship was being loaded below, the masts doubling as cranes as the sailing vessel loaded large piles of cargo.
"Seems to be going well for her." I commented to Ren as she walked up next to me.
She nodded. "It does. Last we travelled with her ships, it wasn't as big as that one."
"It wasn't," a voice said and I turned to see Venir walk inside with a smile. "Atreus!"
Grinning, I stepped up and pulled the Draenei into a big hug. "Good to see you again, Venir."
She hugged back tight before looking over at Ren. "Hey."
Ren grinned and took over the hug when I let go.
Venir looked good. She was wearing a dark blue dress with white ornaments along the lining and a silver necklace, her hair was pulled back in some sort of complicated style that showed of her horns.
After becoming a dragon, I had gotten a whole new appreciation of horns. Venir had nice ones, if a bit small.
Turning to me she frowned. "…Is something wrong? I thought after the… move, you didn't want to come back here."
"And you still told your guards let me in. Thank you."
"It's that or have you get in anyway?" she said and leaned back against her desk with a smile. "Not like they could keep you out if you wanted in. Besides, you own half this stuff."
"So, you say," I sighed and then shook my head. "Well, as for why we're here, I'm actually interested in you."
Venir raised her eyebrows. "Not going to happen. I'm married."
I stared at her for a moment before I facepalmed. "…Not like that. Your people, how they got here. Your ships!"
She blinked at me in surprise. "Ships?"
"Cities. Your cities. The ones that flew from Dreanor to here."
Venir nodded. "Oh. That'll be difficult."
Nothing is ever easy, is it? Bloody damn it.
"Secret knowledge?" Rengosa asked and crossed her arms. "Kept from everyone but a few?"
Venir shook her head. "Not at all. We didn't build them, we have no idea why or how they work. At least I don't think any of us have more than the barest idea."
"…Awu?" I asked as I blinked at her. "…What? How can you not… your people travelled here on them!"
She nodded. "We did. Still have no idea how they actually work, we neither built nor flew them. They were constructed and navigated by the Naaru."
I stared at her for a second and then crossed my arms. "…Oh."
I had heard about Naaru before, but honestly, I didn't know much more than the basics. They were basically gods of Light. Small g.
That was essentially the end of my knowledge when it came to them.
"…Damn it," I sighed. "There went the easy way, didn't it?"
Venir tilted her head in question. "Easy way?"
"Asking if you knew who we could pay for everything known about the flying city ships like the Exodar so we could move on to explore instead of heading out there to study it. While interesting, I feel like I can't really bury my snout into magical lore right now instead of finding something new."
"Ah. Well, that I can do," Venir said and walked around the desk. "I'll send word to the Exodar and see what shake lose, but I can't promise it'll give as much as you'd like. Otherwise you'd have to ask one of the Naaru."
"Worth a try," Ren said with a smile. "If it works, it works. If not, we can always go there some other time."
I nodded and sank down in the chair across from Venir. "Yeah. So, Venir… what's this about you being married?"
AN// A bucket of thanks to Grey Rook for betaing this section.
Venir was doing great. The warehouse she used to use were no longer where it used to be. Now it was a compound full of warehouses with walls around it and actual guards instead of dockworkers.
I could see two masts sticking up behind the warehouses. That was also a big cargo ship, larger than the one we were on once.
Wrathion had left for the castle as soon as we entered the city. I could more than understand why. I wasn't completely sure what he had planned, and I didn't really want to know, but I suspected it was similar to Sheila and Ren when Zrazta and I got back from our so-called Vacation.
Following Rengosa's lead, I headed for the gates and the pair of guards standing outside it, looking bored. Both of them wearing armour with a blue circle on the chest.
"Hello there, I'm looking for Venir," I told the closest guard. "Mind letting her know Atreus is here?"
They looked at each other in surprise before the one I spoke to nodded. "Of course, if you would follow me, Lord Atreus."
That's also a bit better than last time we visited.
Rather nice to be greeted nicely for once.
It's a big massive fucking trap, isn't it?
Slipping my hand down to rest close to my dagger, I glanced at Ren. She shrugged a little as we followed the guard into the main building.
He took us past a gnomish contraption, a bunch of scribes shuffling paper and writing what was presumably a lot of numbers.
We headed up a set of stairs and through a pair of oak doors. The office was nice and warm, the walls curved like a Draenei building. The desk was covered with neatly stacked piles of paper, a couple of bookcases along the walls. A circular window was overlooking the harbour and the large ship outside.
Nobody inside.
Looking around, I turned to the guard. He nodded and backed out, closing the doors.
Frowning, I walked over to look out the window. The ship was being loaded below, the masts doubling as cranes as the sailing vessel loaded large piles of cargo.
"Seems to be going well for her." I commented to Ren as she walked up next to me.
She nodded. "It does. Last we travelled with her ships, it wasn't as big as that one."
"It wasn't," a voice said and I turned to see Venir walk inside with a smile. "Atreus!"
Grinning, I stepped up and pulled the Draenei into a big hug. "Good to see you again, Venir."
She hugged back tight before looking over at Ren. "Hey."
Ren grinned and took over the hug when I let go.
Venir looked good. She was wearing a dark blue dress with white ornaments along the lining and a silver necklace, her hair was pulled back in some sort of complicated style that showed of her horns.
After becoming a dragon, I had gotten a whole new appreciation of horns. Venir had nice ones, if a bit small.
Turning to me she frowned. "…Is something wrong? I thought after the… move, you didn't want to come back here."
"And you still told your guards let me in. Thank you."
"It's that or have you get in anyway?" she said and leaned back against her desk with a smile. "Not like they could keep you out if you wanted in. Besides, you own half this stuff."
"So, you say," I sighed and then shook my head. "Well, as for why we're here, I'm actually interested in you."
Venir raised her eyebrows. "Not going to happen. I'm married."
I stared at her for a moment before I facepalmed. "…Not like that. Your people, how they got here. Your ships!"
She blinked at me in surprise. "Ships?"
"Cities. Your cities. The ones that flew from Dreanor to here."
Venir nodded. "Oh. That'll be difficult."
Nothing is ever easy, is it? Bloody damn it.
"Secret knowledge?" Rengosa asked and crossed her arms. "Kept from everyone but a few?"
Venir shook her head. "Not at all. We didn't build them, we have no idea why or how they work. At least I don't think any of us have more than the barest idea."
"…Awu?" I asked as I blinked at her. "…What? How can you not… your people travelled here on them!"
She nodded. "We did. Still have no idea how they actually work, we neither built nor flew them. They were constructed and navigated by the Naaru."
I stared at her for a second and then crossed my arms. "…Oh."
I had heard about Naaru before, but honestly, I didn't know much more than the basics. They were basically gods of Light. Small g.
That was essentially the end of my knowledge when it came to them.
"…Damn it," I sighed. "There went the easy way, didn't it?"
Venir tilted her head in question. "Easy way?"
"Asking if you knew who we could pay for everything known about the flying city ships like the Exodar so we could move on to explore instead of heading out there to study it. While interesting, I feel like I can't really bury my snout into magical lore right now instead of finding something new."
"Ah. Well, that I can do," Venir said and walked around the desk. "I'll send word to the Exodar and see what shake lose, but I can't promise it'll give as much as you'd like. Otherwise you'd have to ask one of the Naaru."
"Worth a try," Ren said with a smile. "If it works, it works. If not, we can always go there some other time."
I nodded and sank down in the chair across from Venir. "Yeah. So, Venir… what's this about you being married?"
AN// A bucket of thanks to Grey Rook for betaing this section.
10
Reality crashed down around me, and I rested on my wings, instantly weaving a blur spell around myself.
The sky above was a nice shining blue with just a few white fluffy clouds.
Below was a mountain range that turned into plains and some wooded areas to the south. This had potential.
No giant dark cavern filled with spiders larger than me. No dark plains with floating glowing crystals and a red sun taking up half the sky.
No drifting green plains of dust.
This place looked like somewhere there might be people. At least those trees down in the valley was a good sign.
Banking, I half-folded my wings and went down for landing by the tip of the closest mountain, the snow nice and soft beneath me and I sank down almost to my stomach as I folded my wings.
Quickly padding in a circle, I cleaned out some of the snow before triggering my transformation and turned into my mortal form before blinking at the wind tugging at my hair.
Ah, that's nice. It must be like thirty below freezing here. Good thing Sheila wasn't along, she'd hate this, but for Ren and me, this was comfortable.
Sure, we could handle anything up to the same as any human, but at anything above fifteen degrees above freezing it started to get more and more uncomfortable.
This was nice.
Reaching into my satchel, I activated Ren's soulstone and tossed it over. She reformed in flame and smoke.
She stumbled and rubbed her forehead before she blinked and got up, looking around as she rubbed her arms before stretching. "Mmm. Not a desert. Nice."
"I know, right?" I said with a grin. "Even down in the valley, it doesn't look too hot. This might be a world we are actually comfortable in."
Ren nodded and walked up next to me, looking down over the valley. "There is Skyrim… and the northern parts of Westeros aren't that bad."
"True. But we have run into way more deserts than I'd like."
"Mhmm."
"…That beggars the question of where to go now, though?" I asked and slipped my arm around her waist. "We could just go flying and see where we end up, I suppose."
Ren nodded. "I don't see anything especially interesting from here, so I guess that's good of a plan as any."
I nodded in turn. "We should try to find a river, people build around rivers. Water, transportation…"
Pulling away, Ren moved to take my bag to dig out her set of armour. "I should probably put something on for when we turn back again."
"Good plan. Might not be a massive fan of it, but good plan anyway."
Ren smirked a bit and winked before she handed my satchel back and started to put her armour on.
Mmm.
Shrugging my bag back on, I grinned, stretched and moved a bit further away before channeling my magic to turn into my real form, spreading my wings to feel the wind across them.
Settling down in the nice cold snow, I waited for her to finish. Casting her own spell, she was covered in spell smoke for a second before her real form was revealed.
She moved up to nuzzle, laying down next to me and I leaned against her side.
Ren was the smallest of my consorts, not counting Sheila, but she was still larger than me. Just not by the a full third like Zrazta.
Maybe…
…Maybe this could turn into the relaxing vacation it could have been when I was out with Zrazta. No Alexis getting in trouble here, so there was that.
But there is no way I'm that lucky. Would be nice, but no way.
As long as there aren't giant fucking spider demons or something, I'm happy.
Settling down, I rested my head across her forelegs as I folded my wings. She nuzzled at the top of my head.
"I thought we were about to leave?" she purred.
"…Can wait a little. Walking is tiring. Quick rest?"
Purring softly, Ren rested her head across the back of my neck. "I suppose that won't hurt."
Closing my eyes, I relaxed as the wind buffeted at us, throwing the loose snow against our sides, the snow gathering in our windshadow.
The sun shone bright above, the sky a clear blue and it was nice and frosty with wind and drifting snow.
Perfect lazing around weather.
We even had a great view. That's it, unless this place came with some insane drawbacks, this would be our new vacation spot in the future.
AN// Many thanks to Grey Rook for betaing this section.
The sky above was a nice shining blue with just a few white fluffy clouds.
Below was a mountain range that turned into plains and some wooded areas to the south. This had potential.
No giant dark cavern filled with spiders larger than me. No dark plains with floating glowing crystals and a red sun taking up half the sky.
No drifting green plains of dust.
This place looked like somewhere there might be people. At least those trees down in the valley was a good sign.
Banking, I half-folded my wings and went down for landing by the tip of the closest mountain, the snow nice and soft beneath me and I sank down almost to my stomach as I folded my wings.
Quickly padding in a circle, I cleaned out some of the snow before triggering my transformation and turned into my mortal form before blinking at the wind tugging at my hair.
Ah, that's nice. It must be like thirty below freezing here. Good thing Sheila wasn't along, she'd hate this, but for Ren and me, this was comfortable.
Sure, we could handle anything up to the same as any human, but at anything above fifteen degrees above freezing it started to get more and more uncomfortable.
This was nice.
Reaching into my satchel, I activated Ren's soulstone and tossed it over. She reformed in flame and smoke.
She stumbled and rubbed her forehead before she blinked and got up, looking around as she rubbed her arms before stretching. "Mmm. Not a desert. Nice."
"I know, right?" I said with a grin. "Even down in the valley, it doesn't look too hot. This might be a world we are actually comfortable in."
Ren nodded and walked up next to me, looking down over the valley. "There is Skyrim… and the northern parts of Westeros aren't that bad."
"True. But we have run into way more deserts than I'd like."
"Mhmm."
"…That beggars the question of where to go now, though?" I asked and slipped my arm around her waist. "We could just go flying and see where we end up, I suppose."
Ren nodded. "I don't see anything especially interesting from here, so I guess that's good of a plan as any."
I nodded in turn. "We should try to find a river, people build around rivers. Water, transportation…"
Pulling away, Ren moved to take my bag to dig out her set of armour. "I should probably put something on for when we turn back again."
"Good plan. Might not be a massive fan of it, but good plan anyway."
Ren smirked a bit and winked before she handed my satchel back and started to put her armour on.
Mmm.
Shrugging my bag back on, I grinned, stretched and moved a bit further away before channeling my magic to turn into my real form, spreading my wings to feel the wind across them.
Settling down in the nice cold snow, I waited for her to finish. Casting her own spell, she was covered in spell smoke for a second before her real form was revealed.
She moved up to nuzzle, laying down next to me and I leaned against her side.
Ren was the smallest of my consorts, not counting Sheila, but she was still larger than me. Just not by the a full third like Zrazta.
Maybe…
…Maybe this could turn into the relaxing vacation it could have been when I was out with Zrazta. No Alexis getting in trouble here, so there was that.
But there is no way I'm that lucky. Would be nice, but no way.
As long as there aren't giant fucking spider demons or something, I'm happy.
Settling down, I rested my head across her forelegs as I folded my wings. She nuzzled at the top of my head.
"I thought we were about to leave?" she purred.
"…Can wait a little. Walking is tiring. Quick rest?"
Purring softly, Ren rested her head across the back of my neck. "I suppose that won't hurt."
Closing my eyes, I relaxed as the wind buffeted at us, throwing the loose snow against our sides, the snow gathering in our windshadow.
The sun shone bright above, the sky a clear blue and it was nice and frosty with wind and drifting snow.
Perfect lazing around weather.
We even had a great view. That's it, unless this place came with some insane drawbacks, this would be our new vacation spot in the future.
AN// Many thanks to Grey Rook for betaing this section.