Dragons of the Wild

[Lord Sia]

Cloud's mind raced, the information opening up several possibilities he had discarded. If the village was out of a protector - better yet, their previous protectors had left, fairly recently as well if no one else had moved in yet - then it should be fairly easy to step in and take over the role. And if the village was prosperous enough to feed a flock, even a small one, even if they left for meatier prey, they should have no trouble supporting the two of them. And this time he wouldn't trust the Enslaver kin.


Except... If they knew the traditions, then he would be forced to reveal his breath. Not only to Moon, but since the humans had previous experience with dragons there was a chance they knew about the strength of the flame. Cloud did not know which was worse, the thought of Moon abandoning him in disgust over his shame or the thought of being mocked by the breath-less mammals.


Looking at the dragonette he realised that actually, he did. And yet, it was inevitable that she would find out, sooner or later. Cloud felt as though his guts were trying to tie themselves in a knot. In the end, it was the sight of his companion that made his decision for him. While raiding the village for food would solve their problem for the next month or so without tying them up with any responsibilities, that would not be much of a help for his companion. She would need a year at least, probably more, in order to recover from her starvation. And the only way to get regular meals would be to either secure a prime hunting ground... Or humans to collect tribute from.


Sighing out loud, allowing himself a pained grin that probably came out more like a smirk, Cloud resumed his march towards their destination.


"We'll take over," he stated, sounding a lot more sure than he felt, all while his mind worked frantically on ways to convince the humans into accepting the bargain without having to reveal his breath.

 

[WolfOfProphecys]

Moon looked over at him, "How are we going to do that?" She asked softly, "I'm too small to defend anything" she whimpered sadly to him, looking over at him. Whilst they may take the protection of the Bigger dragon, but they wouldn't give her a second glance before they chased her off

 

[Lord Sia]

"Size's not everything," Cloud grunted, even as he went over the admission in his head, thoughts racing. Every dragon knew that it was the strength of one's breath that was the deciding factor. It was a lesson he'd had burnt into his flesh and memory time and time again... And one he lived to defy just as often. He could think of several reasons why she would make such a statement in spite of this, but two stood out.


First, as she had obviously had some previous experience with humans, she might know how they believed that size somehow determined the strength of one's fire. It was a belief he was familiar with, and one he had cheerfully exploited to its fullest, back before he was betrayed. It could even be that there was some truth to it with her kind; he had heard of stranger things... Seen stranger things, and her healing breath was at the top of that list.


Second, speaking of her breath... If he was wrong about her having multiple breaths. If she only had the one, her healing breath... Then that would explain why she was so submissive, why she acted so weak. It was wrong - she was strong, he knew, he'd felt it in her breath, even starved and weak as she was there was power in it. And doubly so, as creation was always harder than destruction. Anyone familiar with the tale of Bahamut and Tiamat knew as much.


Cloud forced himself to stop speculating and focus on the practical, and the practical was this; they needed the steady supply of food which a tribute would provide. There was nothing else to it. Decision made, he glanced back towards the dragonette and resumed talking.


"'Sides, I'm injured. Can't fight worth sparks." He grunted, the admission stinging his already battered pride. "They don't know that, though." He paused. "Together, we've got a shot. You ever bargain before?"

 

[WolfOfProphecys]

Moon shook her head, "N-Never had to" she whimpered softly as they slowly approached their destination. She wondered how well her ice breath would work to persuade the humans. Her healing breath was a weaker version of her ice breath, which could likely freeze an entire dragon if she was given the chance. Mist drifted from her mouth nervously

 

[Lord Sia]

"You know the forms?" Cloud grumbled. There were certain traditions to adhere to when negotiating, some of them more important than others.


For instance, they were supposed to approach on foot, to prove they weren't there to hunt. Normally, it was a bit humiliating for a dragon, but in their case it just as well. If the humans were willing to negotiate, they would be met by three unarmed people, who would be guaranteed safety for the duration of the negotiations plus one day. If the humans came out in force, then it would be up to the dragons to call the bluff and attack, or refuse the challenge and withdraw, not to bother them again for a year and a day. If the humans had protectors, they would be summoned, usually by blowing horns and lighting beacons - even ringing bells if they could afford a tower.


The negotiations themselves boiled down to two things; first, the dragons asserting their ability to take what they wanted, and the humans asserting their ability to defend it. Once their respective strengths had been established, they progressed to the tribute itself. Even if a dragon or flock could not defeat the humans in an all-out battle, there was little humans could do to stop them from taking cattle or burning down fields and buildings. Agreeing to a tribute gave the humans a measure of protection and allowed them to limit what they lost to the dragons, while ensuring that the dragons did not have to worry about being ambushed and killed - in theory, at least.


The sticky point in their current situation was their ability to pose a credible threat to the humans. Cloud was used to relying on his size and a lot of bluffing, but according to tradition dragons were supposed to show off their breath - much like they did when meeting one another. The fact that he had yet to show Moon anything was strange, bordering on the downright rude, but as long as she did not seem to mind then neither was he going to complain.

 

[WolfOfProphecys]

Moon whimpered softly, and nodded silently. She'd watched negotiations once, and she still didn't like it. But they would have to if they wanted food. She nodded silently as they approached the town on foot, the smaller dragon puffing out her chest in a proud manner, mainly to make herself look bigger and stronger. Her wings folded over her thin sides, making her look bigger, and not a thin

 

[Lord Sia]

Cloud noticed Moon's threat display, and was torn between wincing and forcibly cuddling with her. Her display was downright adorable, like a wyrmling trying to imitate their parents. Luckily, the humans would probably not see it that way, but he reluctantly made a note to teach her how to properly intimidate others for when they encountered other dragons. Reluctantly, because her current expression sent pleasant tingles of mirth and adoration all the way into his tail-tip.


In response, however, Cloud began his own threat display. He slowed down slightly, carefully stomping down with each step - hard enough to emphasise his size and weight, without looking like he was actually stomping on the ground. He also clawed at the ground, tearing holes in the earth and trailing crumbling dirt with each step. He arched his back and puffed up his chest, flexing his shoulders and half-opening his wings; even in their current state they added greatly to his apparent size. He began to swish his tail lazily back and forth, in a manner reminiscent of a hunting cat - he'd found that humans unconsciously recognised the motion, and it made them quite nervous. Finally he applied the finishing touch, allowing traces of smoke to emerge with each breath, his eyes glowing blood red as he pushed his magic into them.


Judging from the expressions on the approaching trio, as well as the militia behind them and the half-hidden crowd in the village itself, it was working - which was good, because they would need all the help they could get. The village was fairly large, bordering on a small town, and surprisingly well defended. In addition to the normal bow- and spearmen in the militia, he counted no less than twelve scorpions and even three arbalests, mounted on raised platforms like small towers - and those were just the ones he could see. He would give them good odds of driving off or even killing any lone dragons which tried to raid them, and even small flocks might be scared off, thinking them more trouble than they were worth... Which would explain why no one else had taken over after their last set of protectors left.


Negotiations would be hard.


With barely twenty paces left between them and the humans, Cloud suddenly had an idea, one which he was somewhat hesitant about - and yet found immensely appealing. But there was no time to explain it... He could only hope she wouldn't mind.


"Play along." He muttered quietly.

 

[WolfOfProphecys]

Moon watched his threatening display, and found herself awed by him. She attempted to copy, or at least some of it, making mist escape her mouth, thick enough to look like smoke, with each breath. Her elegant tail copied his, twitching back and forth in a lazy manner. She narrowed her eyes into an almost glare, unsure of how he had made his eyes glow, and wished she knew so she could copy.


She looked over the village with her forced, piercing gaze, and walked slowly beside the bigger dragon, continuing with her threat display, which looked no where as threatening as her fellow dragon. She looked at him as he spoke, and gave a brief nod

 

[WolfOfProphecys]

(You fixed it! Thank you! *Hugz* Can we continue now?)

 

[Lord Sia]

Cloud felt a flash of relief at Moon's consent, which was quickly overshadowed by the worry that she might change her mind when she discovered what he intended. He quickly shrugged off those concerns as they came to a halt rather less than one body-length away from the humans - which was in itself another trick, one he'd learned the hard way. It was custom to stop one body-length away - just outside of easy range with claw and tooth - so when he'd first started out he'd tried giving himself some extra space, hoping to trick the humans into thinking he was bigger than he really was. As it turned out, it worked the other way around. He wasn't sure if he just seemed bigger up close, or if humans were just not that good at judging distances, or if it was something else entirely - but either way, the counter-intuitive way worked better, so that was what he did.


For a moment, they stared at one another; dragons and humans. The representatives consisted of one elderly male - only male humans had that much facial hair, and silver-white was usually an indication of age - one mature female - judging from the prominent chest bumps, mammals were weird like that - and one of indeterminate gender; probably male, judging from the short-cropped mane, but no facial hair, so he wasn't certain.


The staring contest went on for while, both sides sizing each other up. While their intent stares made Cloud feel uncomfortable in his wounded condition, he forced himself to actually show off his wounded wings. Appearances was everything in negotiations like this, and the only thing worse than weakness was to show weakness - and conversely, the only thing better than strength was a show of strength.


"I am Cloud, and this is my mate, Moon." Cloud put some extra rumble in his voice as he spoke. He would probably pay for it with a sore throat for the next few days, but he needed every advantage he could get. A stray thought wondered if Moon's breath would work from the outside, or if she would have to breathe it down his throat - which led to the strangely picturing the two of them, nose to nose. He quickly pushed it to the back of his head - he didn't have time for daydreams right now. Hopefully, Moon would not protest his declaration, in a way that the humans would notice at least. His bluff depended on it, and between his condition and the town's defences, that was all he had.


If he tried really hard, he might even convince himself that the hollow feeling he felt in his gut at the thought of her rejection was just the anticipation of future hunger.

 

[WolfOfProphecys]

Moon copied him, the smaller dragon opening her wings to make herself look bigger, whilst also somehow hiding her thin sides. She folded them back to her sides as he spoke, and her ears twitched lightly at the declaration, but then they had been going that at every small noise made by the humans. Knowing this depended on it, she gently nuzzled his throat as if to assure herself he was still there and licked his cheek gently, her gentle mist like breath fluttering over his scales before she moved her whole body closer to him and watched the humans, acting shyly beside her big, strong 'mate'.

 

[Lord Sia]

Cloud did not jump when Moon started nuzzling him following his declaration, but it was a close thing. Then she actually licked his cheek, her cool tongue tracing a path of icy fire on his skin, and his body betrayed him. A rippling shiver working its way down his spine, and he felt his skin flush with heat that had absolutely nothing to do with his magic, and everything to do with hers. He was suddenly immensely grateful that humans were completely blind to heat, and silently prayed to his ancestors that they would not notice how shaky his legs had suddenly become.


Moving with forced nonchalance he wrapped one tattered wing around her, hugging her close to himself. Her cold body was a strangely perfect fit at his side, and he could feel the warmth seeping into her petite form, leached away from his own body. Pausing for a moment to steady himself - to focus past the soothing cold against his bruised flesh, and the even more distracting sensation of her smooth scales rubbing against his own rough hide - he turned his gaze expectantly on the human representatives.

 

[WolfOfProphecys]

One human stepped up. He was a man, of around 45 years of age, with greying hair and a stern expression. They had had dragons here before, but none had managed to get past them. He huffed at their small show of love and rolled his eyes, "get a room you two" He growled, "What is it you want?" He asked, slightly calmer than his last declaration as he stood at the custom distance from the dragons. He stood with his fellow humans behind him. He took keen note of the wounds of the bigger dragon, but also the rareness of the female, and certainly her breath, which seemed to make a few cuts on the larger dragon heal. They could use a creature like her, but if they came as a pair, then the male would have to show his worth, and the female her strength also. There was no use a dragon who could heal but not fight.


Moon smiled softly at him, noting his reaction with a soft smile, and watching the human who stepped forward with shy eyes

 

[Lord Sia]

Cloud steadfastly tried to ignore the dragonette at his side and the feelings she evoked in him, and thus missed her expression. What he did not miss was the comment from the bearded human. The flash of embarrassment and anger it caused helped clear his head, and he silently congratulated himself for pulling off the first - and easiest - part.


"Tribute." Cloud rumbled in reply, a puff of black smoke punctuating the word as he glared down at the human. Pointedly, he raised his head and swept his gaze across the town and the gathered crowds in the distance, before turning back to the negotiators. He decided not to add 'for your safety', as it would not do to antagonise them too much. Yet.

 

[WolfOfProphecys]

The man snorted, "Why shoulder tribute to you? You are like many other dragons that have come here." He said, glaring back at the large dragon, not even flinching. He didn't mention that the dragonette at the large dragons side would be useful for healing wounds, or the large dragon for scaring others off

 

[Lord Sia]

While Cloud was fairly sure the man's contempt was - mostly - just a front, he did not bother hiding the rumbling growl that rose from within his chest at the two-legs' apparent challenge. Moving just slow enough that the watchers would not misinterpret it as an attack, Cloud stretched forward, his head reaching down to where he was just above the level of the humans.


"Because," he rumbled, his hot breath ruffling their hair and false-skin clothes, "you don't scare us." Not so easily at least, he did not add, unlike the others.

 

[WolfOfProphecys]

The man held back a flinch, and glared back at the dragon, not moving from where he stood, "And you don't scare us " He growled, a few people behind him shakily nodding in agreement with him, though they all seemed rather scared of the dragon and had taken at least one step back from the others


Moon watched silently, letting a soft, cold mist escape her mouth as she lashed her tail back and forth slowly, in a non-threatening manner. She growled softly at the mans defiance, smelling the scent of fear upon him

 

[Lord Sia]

Cloud's ears twitched with amusement. He made a show of closing his eyes and sniffing, before drawing back and leaning into his beloved's - pretend beloved, he reminded himself - side.


"Indeed." He forced himself to bare his teeth in a mocking imitation of a human grin. "Foolish." He added, and turned to face Moon. So far she was playing along, and she didn't seem angry or resentful. In fact, she seemed to mostly have abandoned her adorably awkward threat display in favour of hugging his side - probably enjoying the heat, Cloud told himself. His eyes drank in the contrast between her bright, lithe form, whole and hale if not unhealthily thin, as compared to his own dark bulk, scarred and torn yet still padded with enough meat and fat to keep him going for weeks.


Weeks of torment, slowly starving to death, unable to hunt, his only option to find someone weaker than him to feed on or someone stronger than him to give him a quick death. And naturally, in keeping with his blighted luck, the first other dragon he finds manages to be at once stronger than him but somehow seem even worse off. And of course, she did not finish him off, but healed him!


The feelings surged in him, confusion mingled with gratitude, annoyance mixed with growing fondness. As she met his gaze, his own glowing red orbs reflected in her shimmering silver pools, he decided to add to the charade of them being a couple. A surge of warmth went through him at the thought, and he had to fight the blush threatening to light him up to her eyes as he moved his head towards hers.


He completely forgot about his frill, which was rapidly spreading in a mating display, blood red skin marked with brightly coloured patterns as it was stretched taught between bony spurs on his neck.

 

[WolfOfProphecys]

(Just re-reading our other rp xD )


Moon nodded quietly in agreement at his words to the humans, but then blocked them out as she stayed close to his side, enjoying the gentle warmth of his scales against her coldness of her own. She noticed his eyes scanning over her and her shy self threatened to show, as she looked away from his searching gaze, likely finding each of her weaknesses to be some of the opposites of himself, such as their differences in bulk and size.


She had only survived because of her will to keep going, and she had only truly lived because of the miracle that she had found a river. However, soon enough that river had been deprived of fish, and she easily found the reason to be humans, who had placed nets upstream to catch their own. She had in fact, been on her way to her cave when she had found Cloud.


She squeaked softly as his scales seemed to heat slightly, and she looked up at him, only to widen her silver eyes as his frill spread for her, recognising it for what it truly was. He wanted her to be his, and somehow the panic of the moment disappeared, as Moon slowly opened her wings to their full size, her fin like tail doing the same as she displayed her small body to him in response

 

[Lord Sia]

Intending to nuzzle Moon the way she had nuzzled him, maybe give her a lick or two - it was only fair he returned the favour, after all - Cloud forgot about needless charades and thinly-veiled justifications when she suddenly began spreading her wings, her body turning to show off the similarly splayed out tail fin.


She's presenting herself, Cloud distantly realised, his mind fogging over as baser instincts took hold, in a mating display. His already-growing attraction to the dragonette was suddenly overshadowed by simple lust, roaring to life like a wildfire; he shivered, his body burning hot, and he began to respond in kind, his mind clouded by smoke. Three languid steps carried him between her and the source of potential threat, completely heedless of the sudden shouts and alarm of the two-legs. A sharp flex spread open his wings to their fullest, the width and breadth impressive even if their condition was not. The tattered membranes and odd cracked or broken phalanges sent sharp spikes of pain in protest, but he paid them no heed, his mind and gaze locked on the female before him.


The moment began to stretch into infinity as he drank in the vision, every detail hoarded into his memory like the priceless treasures they were. The glitter of the sun across her scales, dancing and playing as she shifted. The sinuous motions of her body and limbs, taught muscles flexing and relaxing in turn. The branching patterns of the veins in her wings, back-lit by the sun as she spread them wide. The claws, sheathing and unsheathing, short but sharp, viciously hooked and completely at odds with her demeanour. The pink tongue, darting across her lips, triggering the memory of its touch, of icy fire that sent a shiver of pleasure down to his very tail-tip. A puff of white mist, her healing breath, the perfect opposite of his own useless black smoke-


Old insecurities suddenly rose to the fore of his mind, bringing with it pain no longer forgotten. The icy chill they brought doused the fires of passion long enough for Cloud to remember the situation at hand, and he was suddenly made aware of the shouts and alarm of the humans behind him.


... Bugger.

 

[WolfOfProphecys]

Moon paid no heed to the humans as Cloud presented his own body to her. Immediately her eyes glanced over his large body, taking in each valuable piece. His wings, though torn and hurting, were huge and engulfed her sight of whatever was behind him, watching the great appendages move as he opened them to their fullest. His scales, whilst slightly dirty from where they had been travelling, were still shining in the light, making him seem to glow with power. She watched his body, the way he moved to protect her made her blush and move closer to him, keeping her wings open.


Her body shivered, her instincts having taken over as her body temperature dropped like her powers, and pale frost like patterns began to spread over her chest and spine, coating the membranes of her gentle wings, the thin layer of ice gleaming in the light.


She was however, startled out of the moment when there was a particularly loud shout from the humans, and her ears flattened, her wings immediately falling to her sides as she shrank back, unable to be seen because of Clouds large body blocking the humans view

 

[Lord Sia]

A sudden shout, far louder than the others, seemed to break the spell of the mating dance over his companion, and Moon almost seemed to collapse, folding in on herself and hiding behind the cover of his bulk. With his partner no longer in the mood, the hormones lost their grip on Cloud's mind as well. Even so, it was still an effort of will to force his crest down and turn away from the dragonette - but he did it, whipping around in a raging mix of anger, embarrassment and frustration.


Staring at the humans, Cloud snarled, both at his own foolishness - this was no time for a mating dance! - and at their interruption - damn it, it was the first time someone had been interested in him! Even though it sent a spike of disappointment through his guts, he was grateful that Moon had come to her senses and backed down; he wasn't sure he'd be able to control himself if she hadn't. He could barely keep hold of his urges as it was, and half the humans all running about like scared rabbits - setting off his hunting instincts - while the other half seemed to be preparing for a battle - triggering his fighting instincts - did not help. At all.


That the trio of negotiators standing almost two body-lengths away, having hastily withdrawn from his sudden movements, was staring at him with thinly veiled amusement set off his pride as well.

 

[WolfOfProphecys]

Moon stayed hidden behind Cloud, clearly embarrassed and upset that the humans had watched her present herself to Cloud, of whom she was definitely interested in. She watched as a human child, tiny and curious, ran toward the dragons, and the female dragon slowly moved toward it, keeping low to the ground as it moved close to her, giggling. She found this to be adorable, as the little male looked up at her with bright green eyes and smiled. The gentle creature lowered her head to his height, and gently nudged his outstretched hand, allowing him to stroke over her scales.


She would never in a million years allow a adult human to even touch her, but this was a adorable, harmless mini-human, and she gently breathed a fine mist over the boy, simply to amuse him. It worked, and he ran in circles, giggling excitedly even as his mother ran up, scooped him up, glared at Moon, and backed away to the safety of the other humans. The female dragon watched as the child began to wail as it was pulled away, and the dragon slowly moved back to Clouds side, watching the humans.


It may not of been a show of strength, but it was proof that Moon herself wouldn't fight them, unless they attacked first

 

[Lord Sia]

Focused on the threat of the agitated warriors and the insult of the bemused negotiators, Cloud was caught by surprise when a small, fast thing suddenly darted past them, causing them to yelp with surprise and alarm. He could only stare as one of the human children ran up to him - his mother in pursuit- and dodged around him to get to his companion. Frozen in place, he could only turn his head to track the fearless youngling as it ran up to Moon and started petting her, with the innocent curiosity only a child can possess. She responded by giving the annoying runt a taste of her healing breath, causing another gasp from the crowd of humans before they realised that it was harmless. The runt, of course, noticed nothing of this, and proceeded to let out a high-pitched giggle as it began running around in circles, mindlessly chasing the wisps of white mist as they dissipated into the air.


Cloud was entirely to shocked to care that he was jealous of a human, let alone one barely big enough to run around on his own.


Stunned by the sudden turn of events, he moved out of the way of the mother following the little one, the power of her glare - so like that of his own mother, whenever he did something stupid - caused him to react without conscious thought. Quickly, the female human grabbed her child - who began to wail in response - and, with a final glare toward his companion, and then made a hasty withdrawal back toward the safety of the crowd.


Cloud felt the last of his hopes to salvage the negotiations disappear, vanishing into thin air like the traces of his partner's breath. He really couldn't think of a way to cement the humans' fear and respect, not without either doing something he knew his companion would disagree with - especially after that last display; not that he was all that eager to branded a monster himself, never mind the fact that it would make the humans actively seek a way to hurt them - or turning on his companion - needless to say, not even an option.


Which meant he would have to improvise. With the humans holding practically all of the advantages.


Damn it! This is not how it was supposed to go!

 

[WolfOfProphecys]

Moon turned her silver eyes onto Cloud, looking sheepish. She seemed to realise that her past movements with the child in fact hadn't helped at all, and instead she had shown a slight weakness to the humans. She lowered her head, and nudged Clouds side, urging him to do something, hoping he could convince them. After all, this was his idea. She noticed a few of the humans eyeing her, as if deciding that they would capture her simply so her healing breath could help them. She clearly didn't like that and gave a small roar in their direction, ears flat to her head as she forced herself to look bigger.


She couldn't afford to look weak in front of the humans, and once again looked to Cloud, before roaring once more at the men, eyes narrowing and mist once again pouring from the corners of her mouth like streams of smoke. She looked angry, and rather defensive of herself and her companion, which was rather what she had hoped for. After all, the humans were looking for someone to protect them, and if she acted so protective, maybe they would see that she and Cloud could help