Season of Storms and Shadows

There weren’t always dragons in the Valley.

Now it was filled with them, in their varied colourations and sizes, both on the ground and in the sky above, in the predawn morning.

All of their eyes were intent upon the flat top of a tall spire standing in the middle of the valley. Their eyes followed a lone hooded robed figure walking the periphery of the spire top, the figure silhouetted against the white marble from those looking above and against the brightening dawn sky to those from the ground.

The lone figure slowly circled the spire top, looking up and down at the creatures around them, taking in and feeling each of their intense gazes and the gravitas of the situation. After completing the circumference of the spire top, the figure went to the centre.

In the figure’s right hand, slightly covered by the sleeve of the robe worn, was an ornate bow. The left arm lifted, the hand pulling away the hood to reveal a matriarchal face with long silver hair. Her blue eyes took in her surroundings as she readied the bow and faced to the east and waited.

As soon as the sun’s light peeked over the horizon, she pulled back on the string, a shaft of glowing light appeared where an arrow would be. She spun around to the west and invocated “Scarleta Flit.”

The hue of the light changed to a brilliant red and the string was let go. The red light shot out, quickly followed by another, speeding towards the surrounding dragons.

And streaked pass them towards the horizon.

With a roar from the floating red hued dragons, they turned and gave chase to the speeding light to the hoots and calls of approval from the forest below.

The figure quickly repeated her shots, blue arrows to the east and green arrows to the south, each signalling a pursuit by the respective colour hued dragons

Her breaths coming fast, the woman pulled back the hood over her head and watched as the canopy of the forest below shudders as the treetops made way for larger dragons taking flight, one for each colour. They barked respectfully as they soared passed the spire top and followed the others.

The figure watched as the dragons flew beyond the valley edge and out of view. With the sky now empty and quiet, she waved her empty hand and turned to walk towards the middle, descending as steps formed as the floor melted down, forming a staircase.

As she wound her way down, she felt the familiar presence in her mind signalling warmth and affection. She made her way to the bathroom of her quarters in the spire while reaching out in kind to her Entwined, the other soul that shared her body.

“Good morning Khyrra.”

“Good morning to you as well, my Rosetta.” Replied the kindly voice. “Your plan to help bring order to the cohorts of fledglings has been enacted I see.”

“Well the chase will sort out the strongest, fastest and smartest one in each of the cohort and they all agreed to abide to follow catches the light.” Rosetta paused as she stifled a yawn. She felt humour come from Khyrra.

“It is a big day for you, my Rosetta. Today, the oldest of the younger ones have come of age and yet you also get to talk to the youngest, both dragon and human alike.”

It had been Rosetta’s idea from the beginning to bring up and teach the hatchlings along with human children to facilitate the finding of entwining pairs to help reduce the strain on the communities’ resources. Dragons could consume a great deal, but those cohabitating the body of a human were sated with far less resources. Beyond which, there were, of course, other benefits to such pairings.

Khyrra’s words snapped Rosetta from her musings. “Isn’t Nathaniel and his expedition due back today?”

“Yes it is. With the Season of Storms about to start, they would have left the ruins earlier this week in order to beat the weather. Their last sending indicated they were rather fruitful in the number of eggs recovered.” Rosetta looked at her reflection in the mirror.

“You look fine, dear and of course I don’t need to tell that you could easily make yourself look younger.”

Chuckling to herself, Rosetta replied. “It just wouldn’t feel right as I am well past a millennium in age thanks to you.”

“Well, I’ve existed for two of your millennia and I feel young as ever.” Again, Rosetta felt a pulse of warmth and humour. “Anyway, I’ll leave you to it while I commune with the cohort mentors on the progress of the fledglings’ races”

Rosetta felt Khyrra’s presence diminish to the background of her mind. She washed her face before returning to her table and chair, where she had written what she was going to say for the introduction class. As she sat down and gathered her notes, she looked over to the map of the world on the wall and then out of the north window to the brightening sky beyond, wondering on how Nathaniel and the expedition were doing.

Nathaniel felt a degree of optimism after the successful conclusion of the latest expedition to the ruins in the far north. He had watched as other members of the expedition enthusiastically broke camp after breakfast, with the knowledge that home was a matter of hours travel away.

He had ensconced himself in the front metal wagon with the unexpected last moment prize they had found in the ruins beyond the trove of material for his research and dragon eggs, of which many were indeed viable.

The wagon rocked steadily, as it has done for the past few hours. He went to look in once more to within the metallic tube, its contents visible by the glass inset of its door panel. He caught a glimpsed reflection of the mask and the hood he wore over his face and head. It served as a reminder of his place in the valley’s society, simultaneously within and without.

“A reminder but a necessity, young one.” Nathaniel heard his Entwined’s deep patriarchal voice as he let out a sigh.

“I know, Vykos. I know.”

“Take heart, the fledgings would now be in maturity and so we will not need to suffer our ailment for much longer.”

Nathaniel pulsed his acknowledgement, while placing his hand on the metallic tube. “What do you think they’ll say about this I wonder. Perhaps it’ll help with some unanswered questions.”

“Undoubtedly. You were lucky to find it as we were about to leave. It’ll have to be opened in a safe environment, so you did well in waiting.”

“Thank you, Vykos. I….“ Sharp knocks on front wall of the wagon curtailed Nathaniel’s reply.

Gingerly stepping to the front, he opened the panelled window. “What is it?” he asked.

A thickly accented voice was heard. “We weren’t sure earlier, Nathaniel, but you should take a look at the sky just to the north of us.” replied Erned, a friend and lead driver for the expedition convoy. Nathaniel had known Erned for all of the man’s 50 years and trusted him to know that he would not say something unnecessarily.

Nathaniel closed the panel window and went to the window at the side of the wagon. He drew up the coverings, opened the glass and put his head through to look up at the sky.

Dark clouds were overhead, looking ominous and broad. They had noticed at breakfast the first wisps forming but now it has fully formed. More disconcertingly, it had followed them and appeared to have drawn closer.

He was about to ask a question but his eyes answered for him. Lightning streaked intermittently along and through the clouds, the distant rumble emanating down to the convoy, throwing fleeting shadows on the ground.

Opening the door, he swung himself onto the roof and stood while looking back to the end of the convoy. With relief, he noted that the other wagons were making preparations for their defence.

“I had taken the liberty to signal the convoy.” shouted Erned.

Nathaniel replied back. “Good work.”

“You had best warn the valley.” Vykos’ voice was laced with concern.

It was then, with a crackling peal, the first lightning bolt struck to the left of the convey, quickly followed by two more further along to either side of the convoy. Then at the exact same spots, lightning rained down at the clouds drew down to the ground as large shadowy forms coalesced.

“I request a mindbridge to her, Vykos.” Nathaniel took the mask off his face, revealing a weathered but fair face inset with blue eyes, as he knelt down on the roof. “Erned, guard me.”

Nathaniel didn’t hear the reply as he felt Vykos’ presence grow within his mind. There was a pause but then his eyes suddenly glowed with energy.

“Done.”

“Well done, yes there are 3 primary colours of dragons…… who can tell me one?” asked Rosetta, as she took in the class before her, a mix of the youngest human children and dragon hatchling. She smiled as arms shot up and little wings fluttered as their owners vied for the attention of their community’s leader.

Rosetta picked a little red hatchling, who was hopping up and down on a desk. “Yes, Luka?”

The hatchling stopped and puffed out its chest. “Red, ma’am”

Rosetta nodded and smiled, her tied back hair swishing slightly. “Red is correct. Very good. The Red Dragonkin are the keepers of the flame and the fiery aspects of the world around us and beyond. Now, who can tell me another?”

A little blonde girl caught her attention. Rosetta gestured for her to answer. “Blue, ma’am”

“Excellent. The Blue Dragonkin…..” Rosetta trailed off as she felt Khyrra’s presence surging for her attention. She turned to the education coordinator standing off to the side. “Mykella, continue.”

The class was held outside under a marquee covering and Rosetta hurried to its edge, away from the children. She closed her eyes for a moment and when she opened them once more, they glowed as Khyrra’s consciousness joined hers.

“Nathaniel Vykos has mindbridged to us.” explained Khyrra, worry imparted in every word.

Rosetta pulsed her acknowledgement to Khyrra. “You have our attention Nathaniel Vykos.”

“My lady, storm manifestations are forming near the convoy.”

“Show me.” Rosetta requested. She had been informed an hour ago that the outpost on the northern ridge of the valley was observing and tracking black clouds to the north.

Rosetta’s view changed from her immediate surroundings to the view through the eyes of Nathaniel. She took in the vista of black clouds above sparking with lightning, some of which struck down towards the three large forms coalescing in the distance.

They were called Fulmincarnates, incarnations of essences trapped in the atmosphere above, a by-product of a cataclysmic event from long ago. Their forms are fuelled by lightning strikes that come from storm clouds, their coalescent forms channelling the lightning to them. Until the energy of their forms were spent, they were capable of rampaging and destroying much in that time. They were the reason that the community in the valley always marked the beginning of the storm season.

This storm, however, was early.

“I see three Fulmincars forming behind the convoy.” Rosetta used the diminutive of the name, as she noted the preparations being made on the wagon rooftops. She felt Nathaniel Vykos pulse their agreement.

“For now, yes. But this storm is still brewing.” The view moved up to the sky, the edges of the storm thickening. “We are moving at best speed to the valley but we are still two hours away, although it matters nought when they attack.”

Rosetta tracked Nathaniel’s gaze towards the three Fulmincars, all nearly fully formed, shadows black as the skies above and wreathed with lightning. One had the form of a giant, while the other two were a simulacra of dragons.

“Hold as best you can, I will bring help. Keep the mindbridge open so Khyrra can track you.” The glow in Rosetta’s eyes dimmed to a faint light as she now noticed that she was surrounded by concerned faces.

“The returning expedition is under attack.” she offered in the way of explanation to their unspoken questions.

The question now for Nathaniel was how long could they realistically hold the Fulmincar off. The expedition convoy was exposed on flat open ground. He went over to Erned at the driver’s seat, offering his mask. “Keep this safe.”

“Is help coming?” asked Erned expectedly, taking the mask while watching Nathaniel check that his weapons were secured on himself.

Nathaniel nodded. “Yes, but they will be a few minutes away at best. Just keep the tauroaches moving forward and hopefully the other wagons can keep up.” He noted with satisfaction as he looked around that the expeditions outriders had come back to the convoy, following standing orders on what to do when the convoy was threatened.

Clambering to the back of the wagon, he saw his personal tauroach tethered there, following along, its six limbs moving in concert at the current pace. Its horned head looked up at Nathaniel in recognition.

Nathaniel looked at the creature, its hardy armoured form a fusion of a bull and a cockroach. They still caused him unease despite the centuries of their existence but he had grown fond of Berty. Noting that the riding harness was in place, he gestured to Berty to lower its head as Nathaniel untied the tether and stepped onto its carapaced back.

He deftly spun around to sit on the harness and, taking the reins, wheeled Berty around to head to the back of the convoy, in time to see the three Fulmincars closing on them, the first projectiles from the convoy and the outriders arcing towards them.

Riding past the following wagons, Nathaniel encouraged the drivers and guards to do their best.

Bringing up the rear was the expedition’s armoury wagon. As Nathaniel approached, he watched as the last two outriders were handed slings and pouches of ammunition, before they turned their tauroach mounts away. Nathaniel caught the eye of the woman giving out a pouch, who turned to him and saluted.

“Lord, the outriders have been each handed their slings and slingbulbs. They’ll focus on the giant for now, while I deploy the bulb launcher shortly for the flyers.” She held her hand to her eyes as a volley of slingbulbs flashed as they made contact with the Fulmincar giant.

“Good Dashelle, efficient as always.” shouted Nathaniel, one eye kept towards the Fulmincars while watching the rear roof of the armory wagon open as the bulb launcher rose to position. The bulbs were orbs of crystal and glass infused with the draconic energy that would release light and float when it came in contact with a Fulmincar.

Nathaniel was never sure if it hurt them, but the light produced seem to slow a Fulmincar down as its shadowy form was disrupted for a moment. Of course, the more light a Fulmincar is exposed to the greater the disruption and chance of its form dissipating.

“Of course a dragon would be more efficient.” intoned Vykos, as Nathaniel guided Berty away from the wagon and towards the giant.

“Yes I know but remember what happened last time. The others shouldn’t be far away.” Seeing the lead Fulmincar dragon close towards the armoury wagon, Nathaniel reached under his cloak and pulled out a curved flat implement. It was tipped at the edges with similar material to what was used for the making of the bulbs.

He gripped the implement at its end and hurled it towards the Fulmincar. The implement turned end over end as it spun and struck the creature in its midsection. The implement slowed in its spin for a moment before punching through.

The strike distracted the Fulmincar, letting out a deep rumble like the sound of a waterfall. Its head turned towards Nathaniel for a moment before turning back to the armoury wagon, only for it the catch a full barrage of bulbs right into its shadowy face.

It let out a roar with the sound of thunder, the volume diminishing as its form became fuzzy as it flew away. Nathaniel and the outriders let out a cheer that halted as lightning bolts flashed into the Fulmincar, solidifying its form once more.

“I hope we have enough of those.” he said to himself as he held out his arm to catch his returning implement. Catching it, he imparted some energy into it and held it ready. He looked off to the south but his gaze caught something off to the southwest.

“Hopefully, it’ll be enough.” thought Rosetta to herself, as she waited for the mentor of the Azurea cohort, Coval and the new leader, Safi to be armoured for the coming skirmish.

Since leaving the class behind to their educator to calm them down, Rosetta had dispatched orders via her assistants to prepare the Stormshroud, the valley's main protection against the storms, and to put the northern ridge outpost on alert. She was going to ask to be informed if any of the dragons returned, making a mental note that for the next chase to ensure some elders remained in the valley.

The dual beat of wings took her out of her reverie. Looking up, Coval and Safi neared her position and stopped, hovering above her. They both pulsed their readiness, as she noted the armour on their necks and wing tips.

“Ready?” asked Khyrra.

“Of course.” replied Rosetta. Her form glowed and became indistinct as it enlarged to encompass the form of a large white dragon. Pouncing into the air, she let out a bark to the other two as her wings beat through the air.

With the mindbridge, Khyrra Rosetta was able to gauge the distance and direction of Nathaniel. It helped that with her keen dragon eyes, she could make out the clouds and lightning. Khyrra pulsed to the two accompanying dragons to remain close while she prepared to directly teleport them to the sight of battle.

Just as she enacted the teleport, Khyrra Rosetta was distracted when she thought she saw gouts of flame near their target area. Shaking it off, she closed her eyes as she took herself and the two Azurea dragons into battle.

Nathaniel found himself in the middle of a battle as the two red dragons flew over the convoy. It was them that Nathaniel had spotted in the distance and they heralded their arrival in fiery flame that all but engulfed one of the flying Fulmincar to the point that it dissipated away before it could resolidify. However, this only resulted in three more manifesting in addition to the other remaining two.

He noted that the storm clouds had greatly diminished in the process but the level of vehemence of the attacks was something he had not encountered before. He had considered it lucky that only two outriders had been wounded, caught by a lightning blast from the, at the time, unengaged dragon Fulmincar.

The two red dragons had completed their turns and seemed intent on the two of the dragon Fulmincars coming for them. This meant that there were now the giant and two dragon Fulmincars intent on the convoy, numbers Nathaniel didn’t like. He rode towards the nearest cluster of outriders to right of the armoury wagon.

He watched as the two red dragons dodge and weaved as their prey unleashed streams of lightning that chased behind their wake.

A pulse of caution came forth from Vykos to the large of the two red dragons, who, if they weren’t mistaken, would have been Fiera, the mentor of the Scarleta red dragon cohort.

The reply that came back quickly as a warning to Nathaniel to look to the outriders.

Watching in consternation as one of the streams of lightning strayed and strafed along the ground, Nathaniel yelled out a warning for the outriders to disperse. Nearly all avoided the stream except for one outrider, whose mount was clipped in the rear legs and was tripped, causing the rider to be thrown to the ground.

Nathaniel urged his mount towards the individual who was slowly standing up, clearly dazed by the fall. Holding out a hand as he neared them, Nathaniel saw one of the dragon Fulmincar lining them up, with its mount open and crackling with sparks in a prelude of what was to come.

Planting his feet to either side of the harness in a crouch, he jerked the reins to the left to steer Berty away from the coming attack, then quickly let go and leapt towards the dazed outrider, colliding with him. They both hit the ground hard and rolled just as the Fulmincar unleashed a lightning stream at them.

Nathaniel had the presence of mind to cover himself and the outrider with his cloak just as the lightning struck their position. He felt his cloak heat up as its lining dispersed the energy, the same lining that contained and hid his draconic energy.

The moment passed. Nathaniel lifted his cloak and stood up, pulling the dark haired outrider man with him. He noted the shock on the man’s face

“Thank you, my lord.” he offered.

“We are here to protect one another.” Nathaniel replied, now seeing they were corralled by outriders and guarded from the air by Fiera.

The outrider went to his mount gingerly, while Nathaniel called for Berty, who dutifully came up to him. Quickly remounting, he saw the convoy had come to a standstill, just as the Fulmincar were making attack runs.

Nathaniel yelled to convoy “Forward!” just as the creatures neared but all suddenly turned away as a bright light blazed into existence above the convoy. As the light faded, a white dragon and two blue dragons surged forward. Nathaniel felt relief, with the feeling mirrored by Vykos.

“That was a little close.” imparted Rosetta to Khyrra, feeling of relief evident. “It has been a while since we’ve done that.”

“Indeed, my Rosetta. Now let me concentrate…. “ Khyrra paused as she barked at the red dragons. “What are they doing here?” She pulsed to the two Azurea dragons to engage at will, while she held back as she waited while Rosetta communed with the red dragons and letting out a stream of energy from her mouth at any Fulmincar that dared approach the convoy.

After a few moments, she heard Rosetta. “Khyrra, Fiera is here with the chase champion for the Scarleta cohort. They were coming back when they saw the dark clouds and sent the cohort home with what they were seeing, while they would investigate.”

“Well I cannot fault them for that.” Khyrra stopped as she spun in the air to avoid simultaneous lightning blasts from the giant and two dragon Fulmincars. “It appears we have been singled out.”

Khyrra took evasive manoeuvres as she was chased by two Fulmincar dragons while circling around the convoy. She saw that she and her dragons had taken the focus of the Fulmincar away from the expedition convoy, which was now moving again with speed.

She could feel Rosetta tracking the battlefield, advising the dragons. Khyrra watched the red and blue dragons working in concert, the armored Azurea coming in close with claws and cold blasts, freezing parts of the Fulmincar, while the Scarleta sensibly kept moving at a distance and melting the frozen parts to slough away. The armour worn by the blue dragons kept them safe from the touch of the Fulmincar, but a dragon's speed in the air was the main defence against any possible strikes.

The Fulmincar she engaged with seemed to be attacking her at random so much so that it was nearly too late when she realised the danger she was in. Khyrra was impressed as much as irritated to have been played and wondered at the mind that guided the Fulmincar.

A lightning blast from the giant below erupted in her path causing Khyrra to twist and slow to a near stop while dodging a second blast from the rear. Her actions had momentarily stopped Rosetta’s tracking of the battle and blinded her from the second Fulmincar dragon coming from behind and below her.

Khyrra realised then that her lack of combat practice had her seconds away from a costly mistake.

Watching the events unfolding above with increasing horror, Nathaniel realised it was a mistake to have stopped the outriders from engaging the Fulmincar. Nathaniel and Vykos knew what they had to do.

Nathaniel Vykos sent through the mindbridge, their twin voices surging intently. “Khyrra transmute now. Then get all of the dragons away” He stepped once more onto the back of his mount, cast off his cloak and leapt. His form turned indistinct as it grew into large craggily white dragon with shadowy motes coming off as his colour turned to grey.

Vykos realised that Khyrra understood his intentions, as her form shrunk down to a human and fell away from the line of the Fulmincar’s attack. He watched long enough to see her reform as a dragon, landing safely before taking off and flying away, the other four dragons disengaging and following.

With the two Fulmincar dragons now close to each other, Vykos drew his breath before unleashing a blast of lightning flecked light that pierced through the two Fulmincar.

Holding the blast as he flew through the two dissipating forms, the lightning intended for them being absorbed by Vykos. He flew up into the storm clouds into a gentle spin, that sent his stream throughout the clouds all the while gorging on the energy thrown his way. He exhilarated at the power but was suddenly cast out as the remaining storm cloud funnelled down into a spin that touched the ground.

Vykos levelled his flight and went for a tight turn towards the forming tornado. “Enough, Vykos.”

He continued flying but was stopped by an abrupt. “Enough I said. And keep your distance from the others as well.” He turned to look at the others but was ultimately stopped by a voice projecting out of the tornado.

“I am Aureluxos. You have taken the Awakened Dreamer. There will be consequences if they are not returned to where you acquired her. This is my first and final warning.”

Vykos went to respond but before he could, the tornado slowly disappeared, leaving the air and the sky empty and clear. He felt consternation and unease coming from the other dragons. They had heard the name Aureluxos, the dragon that caused the world’s near end centuries ago, a dragon that died in the name of acquiring power.

He also felt their curiosity regarding what had been taken. He felt in his gut that it was the identity of what was within the long metallic tube with his wagon. Either way, one too many revelations for one day and not just for himself.

“Are you alright?” Rosetta Khyrra’s twinned voice came through.

“We will be. Can I leave the expedition to your safekeeping?”

“Of course. I will have Erned taken with your mask and cloak to your abode. The young ones have seen you and will be talked to in due course. As for Aureluxos, what have you brought upon us Nathaniel?”

Vykos Nathaniel saw Erned on the ground grab and lead Berty away, the cloak covering the riding harness.

“My actions were a necessity in the circumstances. Regarding your question, I do not have an answer. For now, I will speak to you later.”

Vykos looked to the five dragons arrayed at a distance, red and blue flanking the white. He nodded his head before turning to the west and flew away.

It was later in the evening that Rosetta finally sat down in her quarters. It had taken time to bring the expedition home and deal with the resolution of the raucous made by its arrival. The name of Aurealuxos could not be taken lightly.

She went over to the map of the world that she had placed on a wall. Eyeing the name NERA DRAKONEA, she touched the surface where the E and A were at the end. Those were the only original lettering on the map, the original three following letters long consigned to a past that existed before the rise of Aurealuxos, indeed a past before the dragons had been rediscovered by men who delved too far looking for a solution to a different problem.

The world had indeed been a different place back from when she grew up alone.

Rosetta felt the mindbridge being formed. It had been decided that this would be best to how to communicate with Nathaniel as he examined what he brought back with the expedition. She went to her favourite chair and made herself comfortable. Their meeting in person will have to wait for now.

She had seen the inside of Nathaniel's abode to know she was in the laboratory but the view was dominated by a metallic tube. The glass window on the door came into sight and what or rather who she saw surprised her.

Within was a woman, whose face Rosetta had in many dreams since she had brought them all to this land, following the falling stars half a century ago. She remembered what the being claiming to be Aurealuxos said referring to the Awakened Dreamer.

Pushing down her curiosity, she brought her focus to Nathaniel, pulsing a greeting.

There was this and other matters of import to examine and discuss.

And prepare for.