Fantasy Skies Ablaze

[narwhalright]

"We'd better keep you in the back, Kiah, or your little peg leg is gonna wake up the whole village."

Amidst the raucous laughter, Ukiah hobbled up to elbow Moose in the side of the head. Moose gasped, laying on the dramatics, and took a swipe at Ukiah, but Ukiah ducked and sprung headfirst into Moose's gut, tackling him to the ground and pinning him there. A mixture of a laugh and a groan escaped Moose as the air whooshed out of his lungs. "I can fly, dimwit," Ukiah sneered, smirking as Moose began to struggle for a breath of air. Moose began to wriggle and kick his legs until one knee burst free and jammed right up between Ukiah's legs.

A wordless shout escaped Ukiah as he crumpled in on himself, rolling off of Moose and assuming the fetal position in the dirt. The roar of taunts and jeering laughter was split down the middle with a shrill whistle.

"Enough fucking around, boys," Rhys said in a measured tone. "We have a job to do. If either one of you makes another move out of line, you'll be shoveling everyone's shit for the next month."

Once Ukiah recovered himself, he shoved himself back up to his foot and dingy prosthetic and brushed himself off. "Yes, Mother."

 

[endersheart]

“Adahlia Genevieve Cordier,” the princess curtsied politely, waiting until the escorts and court left the room. As soon as the door closed she stood, “father.” The King raised his hand, “is this important, Adahlia, or can it wait?” An uncertain look crossed her face, “that depends, Cordelia made something for you and she wanted you to see it.” Was his own daughter important enough. “Tell her I appreciate it, but it can wait. I’m busy working on things right now.” Of course not.

Nodding, she curtsied one more time, “my apologies then, for distracting you.” Turning on her heel she proceeded to leave, hurrying for the door before he could say anything else. “Oh, Adaliah,” shit, she paused in her steps, “yes, father?” She didn’t bother to turn around, she could feel his gaze burning into her. “We should talk about potential suitors soon, you are the eldest after all.” Her gaze dropped, but she nodded anyway, “of course, your majesty.”

Quickly stepping outside, she closed the door behind her. Giving both the guards a gentle nod of greeting before making her way down the hall. Since her mother bore no sons, it was her duty to find someone who could lead the Dragalia Tribe into the future. Not necessarily of wealth, but someone who had title and land. Still, how could he bring that up at a time like this. She was only fifteen.

Slamming the door to her room open, she seethed, “what is wrong with that man, Zeonna.” The black feathered dragon with a golden undertone lifted it’s head, “the King has his own mind, child, try to not let such things get to you.” She could sense the exasperation from Adahlia, she was her dragon after all. “It’s getting late,” the dragon turned it’s head to the dimming light from the princesses patio. Which was rather huge, due to the weight of Zeonna and the need for her to be able to get out and in through it. She looked back at the princess with soft, amber eyes, “perhaps you should try to get some rest.”

Adahlia nodded, deciding getting ready for bed might be the best course of action. So she did exactly that, washed up, changed into a nightgown, and went to bed. Tomorrow would be better.

 

[narwhalright]

By nightfall, the tribe that called themselves The Tempest had fallen into a silent rhythm on the way to the Dragalia homestead. A handful of tribe members, selected for their abilities, took up the front while the rest followed behind until they neared the border wall. Those who were not immediately involved in the plan took refuge in the shadows of the surrounding forest whilst the primary tribespeople gathered at the forest’s edge.

From the apex of the group, Rhys silently nocked an arrow and drew his bow, gaze fixated on the oblivious man who stood guard at the gate. When Rhys let it fly, the razor-sharp arrow sliced through the thick blackness of the night and straight across the night guard’s throat. Once the light sounds of struggle subsided and the man had collapsed and ceased to move, The Tempest advanced in practiced formation.

 

[endersheart]

Vibrant green hues snaked up the castle walls, scanning for an opening. She pointed, “the balcony over there, that’s hers, now I don’t know about you guys but I know how to climb a wall and I don’t want to take the guards head on unless we have to.” Her voice was barely above a whisper, loud enough the few around her could hear her but it would be inaudible to others. She had a sister to get home to, she wanted to make this night quick.

She scanned the grounds on the way to get to the area they would need to climb. There wasn’t too many guards, but enough they’d have to be careful in order to not alert them. This was going to be a smooth kidnapping, she needed it to be. Once they had the princess, The Dragalia Tribe was there’s for the taking. Everyone had heard of her abilities, she was marvelous and she was going to get them exactly what they needed for victory.

Waving to her companions to follow, she slid through the yard quietly and quickly, following the trail that led to the balcony. She used the bushes and trees for coverage when she needed it, her allies quietly disposing of the guards, she figured, as they went along. It wasn’t that she didn’t know how to fight, she was excellent with a sword, but this was a stealth mission not a suicide.

Once she made her way to the wall, she scrambled through her bag, searching until she found the grappling hook. Sure she knew how to climb walls, but did the others without a rope. She looked up, she’d need someone with an arm if they were going to toss it all the way up there. This is about the time you might need a dragon.

 

[narwhalright]

Ukiah approached Esme from behind as quietly as he could on foot and grabbed the grappling hook from her hand, replacing it with his own wadded-up shirt--which he had barely remembered to remove to avoid reducing yet another shirt to shreds as his wings sprouted from his back. He unfurled and stretched his wings to their full span of roughly twenty feet across, took several paces back, and leapt into the air with a running start. He aimed himself toward the princess's balcony, fluttered and landed silently on the wide, stone landing, and anchored the hook securely against the ledge, allowing his companions to scale the wall with ease. Folding his wings behind his back, he crept into the princess's room around the sleeping dragon and waited for his team members to arrive.

Edrie took control over the princess's slumber, forcing her to stay soundly asleep as Rhys bound her body rigidly unto itself. The others congregated in utter silence around the dragon, ensuring that it didn't awaken--and if it did, that it would be overpowered. Once there was no hope of the princess awakening or fighting back, Ukiah lifted her small frame--silently thanking the powers that be that she didn't weigh more than a hundred pounds--and bundled her until she was fully covered in her own bedsheet. He took one last survey of the room and the sleeping, magnificent dragon before creeping out the way that he came, using his wings to descend, but doing so slowly enough that Rhys and Edrie could keep pace with him, staying within range to keep their powers over the princess in his arms.

 

[endersheart]

Esmeray watched as her fellow tribe mates ascended up the wall, after all of them were up she waited. She was tactful and above all, loyal, staying down here was the smarter move. She could keep an eye out, they could get the princess. It didn’t take them too long to arrive back on the ground, the princess asleep in Ukiah’s arms. She grinned, “you like kidnapping girls huh, Kiah?” She gave him a light wink before nodding towards their exit, “let’s go guys.”

—

Adahlia eyes opened, taking in the scenery around her. She had to put a hand on her mouth in order to repress a scream. Where in the hell was she. The walls here were different, they were dirtier, cobble. Her thoughts were going wild, what time was it? How did she not wake up? Zeonna, could she hear her?

Looking around, she hurried to sit up, her eyes landing on a girl. Short, curvy, dark, curly hair and dark skin. She grimaced, what was this? “Excuse me, who are you?? Where am I?” For somebody who was kidnapped, her voice was awfully sweet, gentle. Even though she was scared, worried, she still made it a point to make a good first impression. To be a decent person.

Her father had taught her to demand what she wanted and if somebody didn’t give it to her, to take it. He had taught her being cruel was the easiest escape. That everybody listened to threats, to death. But she didn’t want to rule that way, she wanted her people to love her. To remember her reign as queen when the time came.

She stood up, this had to be a mistake. “My name’s Adahlia.. I... wait,” she glanced around one more time. “Is this.. am I being held hostage?”

 

[narwhalright]

Ukiah couldn't have rolled his eyes harder if he had taken them right out of his head. Esme really was oblivious sometimes. Everyone knew he'd rather be kidnapping a cute guy, but sometimes the cards just weren't stacked in his favor.

—

Edrie guffawed when the princess started off by introducing herself. "I know who you are, sweets," she said in a rich, sugary Southern drawl. "Everyone does. Beautiful name, by the way. Goes with a beautiful girl."

She grinned, shaking her head in amusement at the girl's naïveté. "Naw, I wouldn't say hostage. Leaves a bad taste in the mouth. Think of it this way: you're home now. Welcome home, Princess Adahlia. I'm Edrie, by the way." She held out her hand for the girl to take if she pleased. "Sorry to startle you, but I figure it's better than forcing a soft introduction. Wouldn't be genuine that way." A brilliantly white grin lingered on her face as she watched the girl. It was, admittedly, part sadistic amusement, but also part genuine joy birthed by the young girl's very presence.

 

[endersheart]

— "Everyone does. Beautiful name, by the way. Goes with a beautiful girl."

She hesitated, obviously everyone knew who the princess of the Dragalia tribe was. Was she coming across as stupid? She really was smart, just a little confused. Bringing a finger up to her lips, she scanned over the girl, “thank you, I think.” Was she being too nice, she always thought it was better to win others over with kindness.

“Home.. so basically, if I’m understanding this, I’ve been kidnapped?” Her strength was wavering, she sat back down on the bed, contemplating. She listened closely to every word that fell from the women’s lips, understanding what was going on more and more. “You want something.. or this tribe wants something... nice to meet you, Edrie, may I ask..?” She paused, inspecting the situation, “where am I?” There was only one group that absolutely despised hers, the Tempest.

 

[narwhalright]

Edrie let her hand fall back down, her elbow resting on the back of the dingy wooden chair which she straddled, sitting in it backwards. Her smile faded as she carefully deliberated how to phrase her answer. "You're in The Tempest camp now," she said gently, kindly. She cocked her head a few degrees to one side, surveying every detail of the girl's being and body language. She didn't seem nearly as upset as Edrie and her tribe had anticipated. "You seem...awfully composed," Edrie observed aloud. "And it ain't just your training. You almost seem...relieved, in a way. What's going on in that pretty little head?"

 

[endersheart]

Adahlia grinned, the Tempest had kidnapped her. This was so going to piss her dad off. She wish she could see his face when he heard the news. She knew Azrael was going to tell her all about it the next time they saw each other. Which if she got her way would be soon and she should get her way, if they wanted her to do something for them that was.

She stood, beaming. Turning to the tribe member she walked up to her and reached a hand out. “I’m sure this is probably a weird request, Edrie, but may I get clothes that aren’t pajamas.”

 

[narwhalright]

Edrie let out another booming laugh. This girl continued to surprise her. She stood, shook the girl's outstretched hand, and shook her head in disbelief. "Of course," she said. "Sorry, we should've thought of that already. Let me call someone to get you something else to change into."

She walked to the door, salvaged from a junkyard along with its secondhand hinges, and pulled it open by the hole where the knob should've been. She shut it behind her and stood directly in front of it, just in case the princess got any funny ideas--even though Edrie could sense that the girl had no ulterior motives of escape. She cast her gaze toward the campfire where a dozen or so tribes people had congregated, and singled out Novy, who appeared to be about the same size as the princess.

"Hey, darling. You think you could go and bring me some clothes for Princess Adahlia to wear?" Novy nodded and disappeared in the direction of her and her sister's hut. A moment later, she emerged with a couple pieces of neatly folded clothing. "Thank you, sweetheart," Edrie said, taking the proffered clothes. Novy nodded again, then turned and half-jogged back to Esmeray's side. The girl was basically inseparable from her older sister.

Edrie ducked back inside the princess's temporary room and handed her the clothes. "These should fit," she said. "They're plainer than what you're used to, I'm sure, but so is everything else about our tribe." Edrie smiled, then turned toward the opposite corner of the room so the princess could change in privacy.

 

[endersheart]

Esmeray noticed her sisters form disappear, odd. She hadn’t heard Edrie’s call but when she looked up she met the women’s gaze, she probably had her fetch something for the princess. She turned back to the campfire, her sister wasn’t helpless and as long as she wasn’t going to go get into trouble she wasn’t going to chase after her. She put her arms behind her, laying her hands against the back of the log she was sitting on. She wondered what the princess was like now that she was awake. They’d all meet her soon enough.

Feeling someone’s presence next to her again she grinned, “what’d she have you do, Novy?” She turned her gaze to her sister, they were four years apart and a little after Zinovya was born Esme had to learn sign language. Her sister was mute, so it was a necessity in order to communicate with her. Normally she had to tell the others what she was saying, which, wasn’t the biggest ordeal.

They were close, like two peas in a pod. A familiarity not everyone had. But Adahlia had it, with two friends, Zeonna and Azrael. Maybe her and everyone in this tribe weren’t so different.

Adahlia smiled when Edrie came back in, taking the clothes gently and nodding at her words. When she turned around the princess made short work of getting changed, slipping her nightgown off and putting the new clothes on. She checked herself out in the dirtied mirror placed carefully in the corner of the room, admiring the plain, but cute clothes. She could never wear a style like this before, she had to be proper, kept. The pants were torn, brown, and baggy. The top a little high cut, black in color, and somewhat tight. It might have been messy, but it was a nice change for her.

Spinning to look at Edrie, she bounced a little, “they’re perfect, oh.. you can turn around now, what do you think?” She faltered, grabbing a rubber band out of her nightgown pocket and pulling her hair up into a messy ponytail. It fit the look. “Also, this is off topic.. can I call my dragon?”

 

[narwhalright]

'Got some clothes for the princess,' Novy signed. She sat back on the log beside her sister and flopped one leg across Esme's lap. Her stomach hurt a little, and the scent of the meat roasting over the fire just made it worse. Meeting new people was one of her least favorite things to do. And her tribe just had to go all out to welcome this newcomer... They had a veritable feast prepared, with lamb. Novy despised lamb, and she felt herself getting less and less hungry by the minute. She gazed into the fire and tried to lose herself in the dance of the flames. 'I wish we could just get this over with.'

--

Edrie chuckled. "You wear it well," she said. She spoke the truth. Not only did the clothes fit her like a glove, but the Princess was so strikingly beautiful that she could make anything work for her.

"Your dragon? Yes, of course." Edrie smiled warmly. "We've already prepared a spot for her to sleep. Don't worry; this room is just temporary. Now... How do you feel about meeting the rest of the tribe?"

 

[endersheart]

Esme grinned, ‘you want to ditch, go hunting or something?’ she signed back. She would have just said it but she knew if someone heard her they’d probably get all melodramatic. The tribe took this seriously, they really wanted the princess on their side. Esme couldn’t care less, she hated people. Leaning back she shook her head, ‘never mind they’d have a conniption.” A low chuckle escaped her lips, once this princess was on their side they had better skip the pleasantries. They wanted the Dragalia Tribe, that was the goal, why wrap themselves up in anything else.

—

When Edrie mentioned meeting the rest of the tribe, Adahlia felt a little warm. So she wasn’t really to be considered a prisoner at all, more like a guest. That was nice. Maybe for the first time in forever she wouldn’t be looked up to as higher than everybody else. Change was a good thing.

She was also happy to hear that had a spot set up for Zeonna, hopefully they had taken her size into consideration. She would have asked about Azrael but she figured it was too soon. They might consider him a threat, he was a human being not a creature. Although, in some ways, Adahlia would say Zeonna was stronger than Azrael. Pulling herself together she nodded, “let’s get to it, I’d love to meet everyone.”

 

[narwhalright]

Edrie's brilliant grin brightened up her entire face. "Great! They're dying to meet you." She waltzed up to the princess's side and hooked their arms together. "Let us begin."

She opened the door with her free arm and led Adahlia through toward the bonfire. "Everyone," she announced, "meet Adahlia of Dragalia. Adahlia, meet everyone."

No sooner did the princess's name leave Edrie's lips than the tribe erupted in cheers, whoops, and applause. Figures jumped up and down, fists pumped in the air, someone even ripped their shirt off and lassoed it around in the air. Edrie found herself giggling uncontrollably as she joined in on the applause, for no other reason than the contagious joy that emanated from the group like heat from the flames.

--

'I think I'm gonna be sick,' Novy signed, remaining seated as everyone around her leapt to their feet. Someone's leg bumped into her arm and she elbowed them sharply in the shin. Folding her arms, she glared at the so-called princess. What right did she have to be so special that her very presence disrupted everything?

--

Ukiah took a wide leap off a log, fluttering his wings in midair just to feel the air between his feathers. He landed near the princess and took a melodramatic bow. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance," he said, grinning as he met her eye. "I'm Ukiah. Wow. You're even prettier when you're awake." Letting out a loud laugh, he pulled her into a tight hug with a firm pat on the back before she could think to respond.

 

[endersheart]

— “Everyone, meet Adahlia of Dragalia. Adahlia, meet everyone."

The cheers that surrounded her took her by surprise, she didn’t want to be anything special. She didn’t even know if she wanted to be acknowledged as a princess here. What did they see her as? She wondered. She spotted two girls on the side, they seemed unamused and unenthusiastic. They stood out to her compared to the others, because they appeared, in an awkward way, unapproachable. It was a nice change.

When Ukiah appeared in front of her, bowing in all his glory. She giggled a little, this part was more like home, in a warming sense. She almost picture Azrael, it seemed like something he would have done jokingly. His words made a pink flush spread across her cheeks and nose, pretty, huh? Feeling his arms wrap around her, she instinctively hugged him back. It wasn’t like she knew all the people she hugged at court, it was actually a luxury to know them.

Pulling back after a minute she smiled, “it’s nice to meet all of you.” She hoped she could make a home here, wrapped around all of the new figures in front of her. Maybe this time she would find something that felt better, like an actual family.

—

Esmeray winked at her sister, ‘it’s not every day you see a real life princess.’ It was a joke, honestly she knew her and Novy felt the same way about this little get together. When the princess looked their way, her smile faded into something of annoyance. Looking elsewhere, she rolled her eyes, what a nuisance. If they had to show her around because the princess took a liking to them over this she might riot.

 

[narwhalright]

When the girl met her eyes, Novy darted her gaze away. Looking toward Esme, Novy rolled her eyes so far back in her head that they nearly rolled all the way around. She signed 'princess' with utter disdain and flared her hands out near her hips, rocking her hips back and forth in mockery of a princess's distinguished gait. She gestured toward the crowd and mimicked kissing the ground, then sneered and stuck her tongue out in disgust.

--

Seeing Adahlia hug Ukiah back and smile, appearing surprisingly genuine, Sawyer maneuvered through the surge of tribes people and extended his hand outward to shake hers. "Sawyer," he said. "Nevermind Ukiah. We can never seem to keep him in his cage."