Pyrius

Prologue: 3000 years ago, Humankind and Dragonkind lived in peace with each of them building their own civilisations. Dragons had their own ways of magyk. Firepower dragons lived on the land and could weaponize the burning breath. They could set off volcanoes and raze the land for clearing. They also cooked food for the other creatures via the burning breath.

Humans lived within clans across the land , always on the move, never settling. They bickered and fought over petty things. Loyalty to their clans was not always guaranteed. Brother slayed sister for a few weapons, Sister murdered father for a few carts. Whole clans would go to battle over the same field and then fight amongst themselves.

Dragons and humans often kept to themselves but sometimes formed temporary allegiances Firepower dragons would cook food for the humans in return for a pact to never venture on their turf again.

Dragons vowed to never be too involved in the affairs of humans. That’s why they never agreed to take part in their conflict. They would lie comfortably as humans pillaged and plundered each other over petty items. There was no conflict between the dragons either as conflict were settled with trade or duels.

Then one night something changed.

A young woman was seen running from her village, in the directions of her current enemies’ village with a stick. Except it wasn’t any old stick It was burning bright. Fire was now accessible to the humans. She had learnt to tame the burning breath. She raced forward to her foes hamlet and threw the stick over the canopy of the single room in which they all slept. New-borns, ancients, humans of all ages were burnt to a crisp. Her village came behind her and were stunned.

“See where ingenuity takes you” The young woman yelled out loud.

“I drew fire from rubbing two bits of old wood together and now you can too” .

The humans rushed forward with glee. They were excited to use their new superpower.

Soon they started using their new weapon and word spread. Human clan took on each other and other human clans with their new weapon almost overnight. The land was soon an inferno

But word also quickly reached the Firepower dragons who weren’t pleased to be usurped. They formed an emergency council wherein they decided that humans had stolen their precious gift and were to be annihilated. Hence began the Dragon-Human wars.

As the prejudiced humans started to see all dragons as the same, they in turn declared war on all Dragonkind. This conflict would go on for half a millennium when finally, the dragon reduced in numbers went into hiding. But it was not without vain, as they had obliterated the humans by three quarters too. It’s just that humans live shorter lives and breed like Humans. All Dragons live much longer lives but also reproduce like dragons. And now they only had one common enemy.

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Pyrius stalked his prey across the wooded land. All his life he had been taught to stay out of sight. It was one of the first lessons that he and his hatchmates had had. He had been told to avoid the small virus at all cost. The small virus was no bigger than a talon but dangerous. It can summon its friends with its call and soon they descend upon you. They cannot be killed easily as if you kill one, another of its kind will stake the area and make it hard for every dragon out there. The small virus came in many colours and had small tufts of fur, not scales like he did. It also carried sharp blades. Some of them would fly and some can be thrown. But some could only hurt you if you were in its vicinity.

He was stalking an auroch who had been separated from its herd. The auroch may have known he was being followed and was walking further from the trees and into the open. In the open there was no shelter for the auroch. But not for him either. He let out a sigh of annoyance as the auroch made it to the edge of the woods and sprinted off.

He went over to the stream and bent down for a drink. His tongue turned the water into steam as he lapped it. He quenched his thirst. If only it had been his hunger, he thought.

Out of the distance, sky Auks flew in great numbers. Suddenly there was a smell. It was the unmistakeable stench of the small virus. Pyrius was fully grown but he could still camouflage. He curled into a ball and hid amongst the foliage.

Two small viruses were prowling around the woods with an even small bag.

“Nacro” the first began “If we dump her here, she will die for sure”.

The one presumed to be Nacro replied “Then her cousin will have to be crowned king. There is no other contender to the throne. And we will be paid handsomely”.

The first one looked into the bag and took out a sleeping round plump thing… Pyrius had no idea what it was.

Nacro asked “Is she asleep from the potion? Will she remember us? Because if she does ,Sylsia then we are off to the gallows”

Slysia laughed “Even if she was awake , there is no way that she will survive here. And besides no one saw us coming or going anywhere. No evidence”.

The small plump thing was left on the ground as the small viruses took off through the woods to their human kingdoms.

When their scent had cleared his nostrils, Pyrius crept out of his defence position and ventured out to see the thing.

It looked like a big turnip. It had four limbs, no wings and looked as if two pumpkins had been placed on top of each other .

Slowly he gained his confidence and pushed his talon in front towards the two pumpkins when it suddenly started emitting noises.

Startled he stepped back and broke a branch under his left leg. The noises stopped and the top pumpkin looked up at him.

“Where am I?” it demanded

To Pyruis’s shock he could understand the top pumpkin.

Pyruis just stood there in silence.

How could he understand whatever this creature was? He thought. It must be a trick.

“Where is nanny?” it wailed. “I want my nanny and my teddy”

The wailing grew louder. Worried that the two small viruses might return to the woods, Pyrius tried to speak with the creature. He had never spoken to any dragons outside his community , let alone one of other species.

“I am Pyrius, who are you?” He tried. Surprisingly the creature stopped wailing completely and said “Hi, I’m Princess Eleanor VI of Decemberine, I’m going to run this land one day so you better be nice to me”

It dawned upon Pyrius that this might be a small virus hatchling.

Pyrius knew nothing of small virus politics, but he knew he heard a regal tone in her voice such as that of an Arch dragon. He wasn’t sure what he’d let himself in for.

“Who are you? What are you? Can you take me to my castle”

Pyrius stood there and then thought that any minute know, him and his whole community would be wiped off the face of the earth by armies swarming all over to look for this child. She was born to rule after all. Maybe they were in the trees already listening to him and waiting to make their move.

He shuddered and was about to cry when he realised something else. The other two small viruses had been talking about abandoning and drugging this child to make way for another to be an arch…small virus type thing. He was holding the rightful heir of a small virus kingdom.

He was holding the rightful heir of a small virus kingdom and as such was holing a mighty weapon. A bargaining chip. Maybe he could use this to give dragons more power and make them come out of hiding?

Thinking very carefully to what the other small viruses had said he carefully planned every word.

“As I said, I am Pyrius and this is my forest. I am a” He began but quickly stopped. This was only a young one but who knows what she might have been taught about his kind.

“I am your fiend” he finished.

“Oh, my friend?” inquired the princess.

“Yes, and I am to return you to your home. But first can you come to my home?” he asked in the day you would address a young hatchling.

“Yes, but my nanny says that I shouldn’t go with strangers” replied Eleanor.

“But how can I be your friend if I am a stranger?” Pyrius laughed.

Eleanor giggled back. “You’re funny Pyrius”.

Yes, Pyrius thought, I am gaining this hatchling’s trust.

“Do you want to go for a ride?” he asked the child. Before she could reply he picked her up with his front right talon and put her on his back.

Then he sped off towards the clearing where he and his clearing mates lived.

He shared his clearing with two other firepower dragons. They were a mated pair and were co-existing in the same territory alongside Pyrius. Ignacia the female was preening her mate Kraka when they both first smelt, second heard and then later saw Pyrius emerge from the woods. They lowered their heads in greeting.

However, when they saw what was on Pyrius’s back they rose their mouth upwards in strike mode, ready to blast jets of fire. They had seen small viruses before and knew about their babies.

Upon seeing their attack formation, Pyrius stumped to the ground and covered Eleanor in his talons.

“Friends, do not be alarmed” he started “For this small virus is alone and is but a small hatchling itself”

As if on cue, Eleanor burst out of his talons and looked in wonder at the dragons.

It did little to quench their fear. They both would have blasted her to ashes if Pyrius hadn’t touched his forehead with his left middle talon. Secret. Will explain later.

The mated pair looked at each other. They had known Pyrius since he came onto their territory seeking refuge. He had been no fool, but no trickster either. What was he playing at? He himself had told them many times about the dangerous nature of the small viruses. So why did he knowingly bring one home?

Eleanor started off “ Wow , you guys look the same”

“Are you Pyrius’s kingdom?” she asked innocently

They looked up at him and he nodded.

“Yes we are” Ignacia replied.

“He is an arch dragon” Kraka added, trying very hard not to laugh.

“What’s an arch dragon?” Eleanor asked again.

Kraka who had some knowledge of small virus politics though for a bit.

“A king” he finally added.

“I am Princess Eleanor VI of Decemberine, I’m going to run this land one day, so you better be nice to me” Eleanor replied. It was a line that she had rehearsed, and most people could tell.

The two mates stood back in fear. Tufts of fire escaped from Ignacia’s snout.

“Oh, and also I’m sleepy” Can I have a bed?”. She didn’t seem to have realised the reaction from the others. She seemed to be a master of giving instructions.

Ignacia and Kraka communicated with their eyes. They both were fill of fear. What was this? A arch dragon small virus? This was someone of high value! Any minute now a search party would be heading to their hideout. Any minute now they would have to flee for their lives.

However, their eyes caught those of Pyrius. No fear. Trust.

For what seemed like an eon they did not look down at the hatchling. Anger and fear clouded their judgment.

Suddenly, the hatchling seemed to have lost interest. It was coming up to Pyrius and curling up in a camouflage position. Before long it had started its slumber.

The two dragons were about to flee when Pyrius spoke.

“I came across this spawn by accident. It was abandoned for a reason”.

He told them about the other two small viruses and what had happened.

Slowly their eyes lit bright.

“If we bring this child back to the small viruses unharmed, we can perhaps forge a treaty with them” began Ignacia.

“Then maybe this conflict will stop” added Kraka “They can see that dragons saved this important child and one she will lead her kingdom. She can become our greatest ally”.

“We just have to make sure we imprint on her successfully” said Pyrius.

Then began their mission of taming the small virus.

The next day Eleanor awoke, still tried from her potion. The dragons began their questioning. They soon found out that she had just recently turned four. They also found that her parents had perished as soon as she was born and that her cousin (She called him big brubba) was ruling the kingdom until she became old enough to take over. She had a nanny and a maid and legions of soldiers and some assorted stuffed animals. She really liked playing and people adored her.

The dragons then started gathering food and water for her. She originally hated the taste of the woodland creatures but soon began to acquire a taste. She played with the dragons, and they grew to love her .

She seemed content but one question kept coming up repeatedly

“When are you going to take me to my home?” she often demanded.

Eventually Ignacia came up with a trick.

“The day after tomorrow “she told the toddler.

Hence everyday Eleanor would ask when she was going back and every day, she got the same answer. Because tomorrow always came, the day after tomorrow was far away.

One day Eleanor was feeling very homesick and started crying.

“I miss my nanny. Where is she? When is the day after tomorrow?”

The dragons looked at each other and thought about returning her.

Had she learnt enough about the creatures? Would she remember them when she goes back?

They knew that if they were seen in the open with her there would be an onslaught of arrows. But there was no way that she could be expected to return to the castle by herself. There was also another factor that Kraka had picked up on.

“Her cousin is currently arch dragon and he doesn’t intend to go quietly. He also has some support from the other small viruses” he noted.

“We have to think of a master plan” replied Ignacia.

They brooded over their master plan as they watched their toddler friend grow . It had been spring when Pyrius had found her. Now it was nearly autumn. Time was ticking by fast.

Eventually they agreed that they would test her of her love for the dragons.

One morning Ignacia come up to the princess and said in a very mellow voice “Eleanor do you know what love is?”

Eleanor looked puzzled and then replied, “ I don’t know”.

The dragons looked tense

“But I love my nanny, and I love this forest and -I LOVE YOU”

The dragons’ eyes burst into tears of joy. Within a few minutes there was a steady trickle coming out of their oval eyelids.

The dragons , when they dried their eyes after what seemed like forever knew that their job had been done. They also knew that the small viruses and dragons had the same speech.

“What day is it?” asked Eleanor.

“The day after tomorrow” blinked Pyrius.

Although they were sure this child, would perhaps start the long and complicated reconciliation process between the two species, they couldn’t let back into the cousin’s hand. And if they killed him, everyone would be on the brink of another war. They decided that Pyrius since he had found the child and was most attached to her was going to approach the small virus kingdom. But it would be risky.

They had known that they castle was guarded from all directions and sharp pointy projectiles would be coming his way. He couldn’t just go in straight away. That would be a suicide mission. Instead, he decided to ask the princess to sing loudly. Very loudly.

The princess looked baffled by his request but started singing her favourite song. But sound could only travel as far whilst a large shape moving across the barren land would be spotted from even the smallest tower. He soon regretted his actions. Suddenly an arrow whizzed past his left ear as the princess stood on his back. Then he had another idea. He breathed smoke and let it disguise himself .Finally He himself shouted.

“I AM MIGHTY SMOKE, LORD OF THE PYRE”

His voice bellowed across the fields. The small viruses didn’t know what to make of it.

They had never seen a smoke talk like one of their kind before.

In their confusion he ran forward. He galloped like a crazed unicorn towards the castle. There were no projectiles thrown as the moving smoke was simply too new a concept to be comprehended.

When he reached the castle, he revealed himself.

The small viruses quickly overcame their surprise and surrounded him. Then they saw what was on his back.

“I am Princess Eleanor VI of Decemberine, I’m going to run this land one day, so you better be nice to me!” yelled the princess upon reaching her kingdom.

The crowd gasped.

“It’s the princess, but how so. We thought she was dead! “Many of her subjects cried.

The princess herself looked sad. “Me , dead? How is that possible. I was eating some cake and then I was found by my friends in the woods. They have been looking after me and feeding me”.

“Impossble” cried one subject

“Dragons are monsters,“ cried another.

“Dragons only take, like they have taken my little cousin,” cried a man. He looked different than the rest. He had an aura of superiority over him and wore different decorations to the others.

Pyrius knew who this man was. He was the current arch dragon, or king as they called him.

The King tried to show concern, but it was obvious that he only worried for his throne.

He knew he was being watched and judged by everyone. One wrong step and it would be the last step he would ever take.

Arrows and javelins were aimed at his body. Knights on unicorns back were brandished their swords at him angrily.

Slowly he opened his mouth.

“You are not the rightful king, he said to the cousin. You orchestrated a plan to give yourself power by deposing of this little baby. With her out of the way, you would no longer be first in line but the next king”

“Outrageous lies” said the King “See, the dragon only deceives ”

“On my command strike” he yelled to his subjects

“NO” cried Eleanor. “You will have to kill me if you are to kill Pyrius”.

A gasp fell upon the land.

“Eleanor , come home cousin. I will rule until you are of age”. Then the throne is yours. Don’t let this beast trick you any further”.

Eleanor thought for a while during which the crowd watched.

“NO. THIS IS MY FRIEND PYRIUS AND HE IS MY NEW BIG BRUBBA”

Enraged, the King lost his cool and lunged at the dragon.

His sword pierced Pyrius flesh and Pyrius screamed in pain.

Elanor lunged off the dragons’ back and ran over to his wound. She then faced the King

“YOU are the monster”

“Oh you annoying little insignificant brat. Why didn’t you die like I planned for you to” snapped the King, enraged by her insolence. He instantly regret his lapse in judgement.

This was the moment the crowd turned and set themselves upon the King.

However, the King was well versed in many combat arts. He took on a few of his former subjects and managed to keep battling.

Meanwhile Pyrius ‘s wound was causing him much pain. He started bleeding profusely.

Eleanor stood there oblivious to the battle surrounding her. All she cared for was her dying friend.

Finally, the king made a wrong step and fell. At that moment a volley of arrows pierced his neck.

The whole kingdom then rushed to their old princess, but she was preoccupied with Pyrius.

“Help him” she shouted.

But none of them knew how to treat a hurt dragon, only perhaps to kill or maim one.

Pyrius closed his eyes.

It was the twentieth anniversary of the day the two species had first started their friendship. Eleanor now betrothed to King Harald of Novermbine, stood at the edge of the tallest tower in her Kingdom. Farrow the dragon now 11 years old stood by herside.Her brother Pyrius II stood on the other side. Their parents Kraka and Ignacia were on tours as dragon ambassadors.

After hearing of the selfless sacrifice of a dragon to save a human girl, word had got around that dragons and humans could co -exist. Many were against it and there were even many times when the dragon-human wars could have erupted again at the slightest mistake. It wasn’t easy but slowly kingdoms and dragons were slowly but surely forming alliances.

Eleanor stood proudly as the pioneer who started this process.

Pyrius II and Farrow were also waiting eagerly . They were waiting for a very special dragon to come back from his own ambassador tour. Pyrius’ namesake the original Pyrius.