Dragons of the Wild

[Lord Sia]

Cloud could only rumble in response as Moon - His mate! He would never grow tired of those two words - nuzzled against him. Her cool exhalation brought him shivers as it washed over his hot scales, her tongue gently caressing his snout. The whole thing felt so dream-like, he almost found himself wondering if he had really woken up in the first place.


Was he still dreaming? The faint aches in his body, the odd moment of discomfort when Moon shifted and rubbed against his healing injuries, the faint smell of the dead cow - all of them told him that it was no dream and that he was very much awake. That it was real, not a fever-dream brought on by sickness and starvation, not a hallucination from loneliness and despair - real. It was real. She was real.


And then he would focus on the dragonette in his arms, remember their meeting - only the day before! - the negotiation with the humans, and their mating dance - mere hours ago! - and finally waking up by her side, he would find himself wondering again. The words "too good to be true" echoed in his mind, bitter experiences warning him that nothing good ever happened to him except to set him up for bigger disappointments - but he shouted them down, the triumphing roar of a newly mated alpha echoing in his skull, drowning out all lesser memories.


Still, even as he reveled in the fact that she had chosen him, he had to wonder. Why had she been all alone? She was gorgeous - unusual in appearance, but still nothing short of beautiful - and her breath was as strong as any he'd seen, ever. She was also very kind and gentle, and while not exactly the most respected of dragon virtues, they were good traits from a flock's perspective. She was unlikely to challenge the alpha, and would probably make a great guardian for the dragonlings, not to mention mother herself...


'Oh, that's right,' Cloud realised, once more numb with shock, 'I'm going to be a father.' For a moment, he fell completely silent.


Then the cave began to rumble with the force of his purr.

 

[WolfOfProphecys]

Moon gazed up at her mate as she heard the strong rumble of his purr, and watched his eyes, noting them light up. She purred softly back, her gentle tune no match for his joyful rumble.She fluttered her wings gently against his, careful not to hurt the healing alpha, her alpha. She never even believed, nor dreamt that she would be as lucky as to find a mate, let alone a gentle, but strong giant like Cloud.


Slowly, so as not to startle him, Moon moved from under his wing, her muscles tight. She needed to stretch, and knew the two could not simply lay there all day, even when she wanted to. She would love to lay there, curled up in the warm, protected embrace of her mate, but even so moved away into the cold air. She gazed at Cloud, and gave a small smile, licking her alphas head before she padded slightly away, over to the ice columns. Breathing gently upon it, she stopped the ice at the top from melting.


Then she stretched out her thin body, her muscles tensing as she worked to get the tiredness from her wall body. She stretched out her wings with a wide yawn, flicking her tail

 

[Lord Sia]

Cloud childishly whined with displeasure as his mate disentangled herself from his embrace, but let her go. She had the right of it - they couldn't spend all day lazing about in each others arms, pleasant as the thought may be. His rumbling purr resumed as she licked his forehead, and he slowly rolled over on all four so that he could watch her sashay over to refreeze the slowly melting pillars of ice.


As she began to stretch, he found himself marveling over his change in fortunes, almost as much as he marveled at her beauty. Was it only yesterday that they had met? It felt like it had been a different life, a nightmare which he had only just woken up from.


He pushed himself off the ground, stretching and spreading his wings as he followed his mates example and yawned.

 

[WolfOfProphecys]

Moon purred happily with her glistening eyes closed as she stretched out her thin, elegant though weak body. She made soft happy noises as she felt her tense muscles loosen, gaining her smooth movements back. Fluttering her wings in the cold, creating a gentle breeze that flew around the cave and twinkled against a few loose icicles on the ceiling, that wobbled and clinked against each other in a small tune, yet didn't fall.


Turning around once she was finished, she blinked as she noticed her mate do the same thing. She smiled, moving slowly over to him and breathing softly on his outstretched, healing wings, smiling and purring softly

 

[Lord Sia]

Cloud rumbled in approval as the cool, healing mist flowed over his wings, and he rewarded his mate by nuzzling her gently. Folding his wings back down he turned his head toward the carcass of the cow. He was getting a bit hungry again - a single sheep was only really enough to take the edge off his starvation - but she needed it more than he did. On the other wing, if they didn't deal with it, it was going to start rotting, and that was not something a dragon should have to deal with in their nest.


"Do you think you can eat more?" He asked, his voice still feeling a bit raspy from the previous day. "Otherwise I should smoke it. Or maybe you could freeze it?" He wasn't sure if Moon would like smoked meat, or if she had even tried it. He was still coming to terms with her strange - yet beautiful and powerful - breath.

 

[WolfOfProphecys]

Moon blinked at him in confusion for a few seconds, "Smoked?" She asked, unsure of what he meant. She had never met smoked meat in her life, all her food was either warm and fresh, or cold and tasteless. She was willing to try anything if it meant not freezing the dead cow, and thus making it tasteless and horrible. She smiled at him softly, nuzzling gently back as she blew a soft breath onto his neck, hoping to help the rasp in his throat, unsure that it would work through his scales, or if she'd have to breath down his throat, the idea of which made her blush.


"Smoke it if you like. I'm not hungry" moon said softly, "Are you?" She asked, worrying for him

 

[Lord Sia]

Cloud was slightly stumped by Moon's confusion, but only slightly. Of course, he realised, with her breath she couldn't really smoke the meat now could she? He found himself strangely proud at there being at least one good thing about his breath compared to hers, only to flush slightly with shame at the thought. It was silly, doubly so as she had been nothing but kind to him, even more so since she had actually submitted to him as Alpha.


"You... Cook the meat in smoke. Drying it out. So long... As it stays dry, it can keep... For weeks." Cloud explained, haltingly, somewhat distracted by the dragonette who was once more nuzzling his neck.


Upon hearing her reply, he hesitated only briefly before replying.


"Not really," he stated evasively. In truth, he could easily eat more, but with more food to come he decided that he could tough out the discomfort to make sure his mate would not go hungry until their next tribute. "I guess I'll smoke it then."


He slowly began making his way over to the carcass, hugging Moon close to him as a silent plead for her to continue her ministrations on his aching neck.

 

[WolfOfProphecys]

Moon nodded contently at his reasoning. It seemed like a good idea, an would preserve their food, likely in a better fashion than if she herself had frozen it. She watched him as he spoke, and smiled slightly at her alpha with a purr and nuzzle.


She had a feeling that he was Lying to her though, when he said he wasn't hungry. It seemed to be an instinct that she had gained, and she gave a soft mewling noise toward him as if to ask if he was sure.


But he gave up when he led her along toward the carcass, and stayed pressed to his warm side, licking at his scales

 

[Lord Sia]

Cloud only grunted in reply to Moon's questioning mewl, before thinking better of it and turning to give her a quick lick across the snout, before turning back to the carcass.


"This will take a while," he warned and started to claw at the ground, before pausing in realisation. "And it's best done outside, unless you want the whole cave to smell of smoke?" He didn't mind, but he was a firedrake; fire was literally in his blood. He wasn't sure if Moon was as fond of the smell of lightly burnt flesh.

 

[WolfOfProphecys]

"Outside then" Moon said softly. She was quite fond of her cave's scent, which was like a cold, crisp morning. She moved forward, hips swaying unintentionally as usual, as she tried to get a grip on the carcass to pull it from her home so that her alpha could smoke it outside. Besides that, she felt like she needed to go out, even briefly, to stretch her wings a little. She needed some freedom after all, and looked up at her mate as she began to drag the dead creature from her cave slowly

 

[Lord Sia]

Nodding in agreement, Cloud followed his mate closely, first her swaying with his eyes and then her movement with his own. With his longer stride he soon caught up with her, and picked up the other end of the carcass she was dragging out of the cave. Of course, this led to him unintentionally - very intentionally, actually - pulling a bit - more than a bit, really - on the dead cow, trying to trip Moon into his side while his bright red eyes twinkled with mischief.

 

[WolfOfProphecys]

Moon glanced at him as he caught up with her, but didn't take any true notice of him as she continued to pull at the carcass. She frowned as he tugged upon the other end, and squeaked through her hold on the dead creature, unintentionally falling into his trap and falling against his side, growling softy. She licked his cheek, then returned to dragging the carcass outside, smiling at her alphas antics. He reminded her of a hatchling, even as big as he was, his gleaming eyes and mischievous actions mirroring that of a child. She wondered if their own younglings would take after their father

 

[Lord Sia]

Cloud chuckled briefly as his ploy worked, hugging his squeaking mate to his side with his wing - only to shiver lightly and blush as she licked his cheek. Shaking it off, he resumed helping her carry the carcass outside, bumping against her every other step.


Once they emerged from the cave into the soft, warm light of the early morning, he quickly began looking for a good place to build the smoke pit. Pausing as his eyes catch the light reflecting off of his mate's shiny scales, his thoughts scattered on the breeze. Beautiful as she was in the mystic light of the cave, she was ten-fold times as beautiful in the light of day.

 

[WolfOfProphecys]

Moon paused for a moment from dragging the carcass outside, and looked to her mate, the scales along her snout and neck warming as she realised he was looking at her, and her own eyes scanned her partner in appreciation, purring softly at him, before returning to the subject at hand, "What now?" She asked curiously, tilting her head, flicking her finned tail about.


She gazed about, unsure of what her alpha was looking for, but looking anyway

 

[Lord Sia]

Cloud blinks slowly, pulling his mind back together and shaking the spell Moon cast over him merely by being.


"N- never mind." He stuttered slightly, before blinking again in surprise. Did he just-? He did. He shook his head more forcefully, dispelling the confusion, and cast one last glance of longing mixed with adoration and a little apprehension, before turning back towards the forest. He forced himself to focus on the meat, the way Moon's neck moved as she tore into the sheep- damn it!


"We... Should build the smoke pit, away from our- home." Cloud grumbled, hesitating only briefly at the last word.

 

[WolfOfProphecys]

Moon nodded his head, giggling a few soft chirps at his stutter and his distracted state, slightly proud that she had been able to impress her alpha that much. She nodded again, "Lead the way Cloud" she said softly, nuzzling him gently on the jaw, giving a teasing nip to the area, before she returned to picking up the carcass

 

[Lord Sia]

Cloud closed his eyes briefly in pleasure as Moon nipped at his jaw. As he joined her, he returned the favour by running his wing over her back, pressing down lightly in a show of possessiveness and dominance.


"Tease," he grumbled, nuzzling her neck. "Down wind," he rumbled quietly in her ear, nudging her towards the east. "A mile should be enough."


Then he lifted his wing, gave her a playful nip of his own, and started dragging the carcass away.

 

[WolfOfProphecys]

Moon leant into his touch, a low rumble escaping her chest as she nuzzled him and as he nuzzled her. She was aware of his dominance and possession over her, and she found that she liked it. He wasn't cruel or forcing in his wishes, even when he was allowed as her alpha, and he was instead gentle and loving, and, in her words, a great big softy, at least toward her. She wondered why he loved her so much, why such a large, dangerous dragon, even without flame, would be interested in something as small as her, with her healing and her ice. She didn't ponder upon it long though, and instead chirped at him.


She squeaked as he nipped at her, and fluttered her wings, as she helped him drag the carcass. She couldn't believe that they now had so much food that they could store it for a later date. Only yesterday she had been struggling to even find a mouse or a fish, hardly enough to feed a human, let alone a fully grown female dragon, yet now they had enough to fill the bellies of two dragons, and a leftover cow. The reminder made her purr, happy that she now had a mate, food, and soon to be hatchlings

 

[Lord Sia]

As they walked, Cloud tried to focus on the surroundings, learning the lay of his new land. Not only was it only proper, but more importantly, if or rather when he would one day have to defend it, knowing the right places to hide or lay an ambush might be the difference between life or death... And now that he had a mate - a flock of two isn't really a flock - to be responsible for, it was doubly important. However, he found himself struggling to pay attention to anything other than his mate.


His mate.


Those two words fanned the flames inside of him, filled him with a fire he had never even in his wildest dreams imagined that he could feel. He still had trouble believing it. Just one day ago, he was slinking through the underbrush, starving, wounded, marching on out of sheer stubbornness. And then... In a matter of hours, he had a tributary, food, the best lair he'd ever seen... And even better, the cutest - and nicest, and probably most powerful - dragonette he had ever met for a partner.


His mate.


Not only was she of an unusual colouration, but he had never even heard of a dragon whose breath was healing and ice. Fire, yes of course, lightning, had even seen one or two storm-drakes, acid, there were rumors about that swamp north-west of his egg-nest... But ice? And healing. A few puffs of white smoke, and the aches in his body faded - and even now, almost a day later, they were still but a pale echo of what they had been. The food and rest also helped, but it was more than just that, and either way it was all thanks to her.


His mate.


He was never going to grow tired of those two words, much less of the one to whom they referred. He would never understand why she hadn't joined a flock before now, why she would pick him - and half-dead smoke-breather! - when she should by all rights have a flock of males competing for her favour... But he wouldn't question his luck. Life had taught him many lessons, and first and foremost was to grab every opportunity and hold on to his treasure. Because that is what she was.


"Treasure."

 

[WolfOfProphecys]

Moon, already knowing the area like the back of her paw, didn't bother with looking around, instead glancing occasionally at her alpha, smiling, and turning back to facing the way in which they were travelling. Her ears, however, were like radars, attempting to pick up any little sound that would scream danger to her. Because a threat could be disastrous, now or in the future. Now, it could kill her mate, or her unborn children, or even both, and she wouldn't be able to live with herself afterward, if she survived.


Or, later in life, when her hatchlings had been born, when they chirped hungrily for food, when they played excitedly beneath the sunlight and their parents gaze. if they were to be threatened then, she knew she wouldn't live. She wouldn't let them touch her babies, she'd protect them with her dying breath, for the soft mist that brought life, would one day be her last breath of fresh air, perhaps given up to protect her babies and their future.


But if she died like that, then she'd be happy. Happy and proud that she had died for a good cause. But she hoped, wished that she would see them grow up to be big and strong like their father, with the body to wing ratio of their mother, and the intelligence of both intertwined. Even as she walked, she imagined them. She imagined them laughing and playing, without a care in the world. She imagined them climbing over their father and curling upon his back, sleeping there, where it was warmest.

 

[Lord Sia]

Seeing as how he was struggling to pay attention to anything but her, it was not long before Cloud noticed that his mate was drifting off in thoughts, at least as much as he had. For a moment he worried that she would realise her mistake, regret what she had done and leave him, but he shook it off. He would not, could not let himself doubt her - she deserved better, and he wasn't going to blame his problems on her. Second, she seemed anything but regretful - she seemed almost bouncing with happiness, actually.


Cloud wasn't sure why, but luckily, he had a cunning plan...


"Why so happy?" He asked, his throat still upset with him after the previous day's theatre.


He probably needed to work on his subtlety.

 

[WolfOfProphecys]

Moon turned her head to look at him, frowning at the rasp in his voice, deciding she'd have to fix that after she had answered his question. She smiled at him then, pleased to find he was interested in what made her do happy, and hastily replied, "Our hatchlings". With that, she gave a pause, and then elaborated, "I..I was just thinking about us and them, and them sleeping on top of you for warmth, and us protecting them" She rambled, pausing again to look up at him, "Y-You do want that…right?" She questioned, making sure she wasn't just assuming. She wasn't sure what she'd do if he said no. She couldn't leave him, but she didn't want to get rid of her babies anytime soon either.

 

[Lord Sia]

Hatchlings.


Cloud was struck dumb by the images that flashed through his mind. The thought of Moon, slowly swelling as the eggs matured in her. The thought of her nesting, curled up protectively around the sensitive shells. The thought of the shells cracking, breaking, as her hatchlings - their hatchlings, hers and his! - broke free, their tiny chirps echoing in the cave. The thought of lying absolutely still, for fear of crushing their fragile little bodies, as they climbed all over him while Moon watched in amusement...


Cloud did not drop the cow. He threw it aside, and turned back to Moon with eyes burning red and his crest flaring bright.


"Do want," he rumbled crudely, not so much because of his aching throat as it was because he couldn't think straight, "let me show... How Much."


With that, he lumbered towards his mate, intent clear.

 

[WolfOfProphecys]

Moon watched him carefully, unsure of how he was reacting. All she could really tell was the look of thoughtful shock on his face. Had he not realised that they were going to have children? Little scaled babies, miniature mixes of their mother and father. She looked uncertain of his looks, keeping an eye on him warily. She didn't think he'd attack her, but when she was young her mother had told her never to mate with a male who didn't listen to her needs, an to further prove her point had told Moon about a young dragonette she had known, who had done so, and when her mate had found her pregnant, had attacked her and had ripped her stomach to pieces in rage.


The idea scared her, and she shrunk away as her mate threw the cow, but sighed in relief when he told her his opinion, and paused as he approached her. She smiled, and nodded, allowing him to as her tail find flared

 

[Lord Sia]

Cloud saw his partner smile and nod, her tail fin flaring as she reciprocated his desire, and it was only out for fear of hurting the much smaller dragonette that his subsequent pounce was metaphorical rather than literal.


And then he didn't do any more thinking.