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Skin and Bones {Solo}

Started by Celegwen, December 19, 2017, 03:44:03 PM

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Celegwen

"Baylrys," Lieutenant Forpyn Dronit said, removing his cap and walking up to the black dragon. "I've just received orders-"

"We've just received orders," Baylrys grumbled.

The middle aged man scowled slightly, clenching his jaw once. "No, I've just received them," he said. "You weren't present, so I expect you not to step in on this." The dragon huffed, but let his rider continue. "Anyway, there's a young dragon on the edge of Adela, threatening to cross into Serendipity. We know it isn't one of ours, but the Dragonriders have a responsibility to make sure dragons aren't terrorizing everyone. Get ready and meet me back here in ten minutes."

Baylrys sat right where he was. "If you weren't ready, you didn't need to come to me yet. I'm ready now." With a roll of his eyes, Dronit waved three other men over with Baylrys' gear. He walked away, and the dragon smirked. He didn't care that the man had nothing actually bad about him. The two just didn't get along, and Baylrys enjoyed making life difficult for the Lieutenant.

Celegwen

The dragon didn't give the other men any trouble. They laid out his custom harness on the ground, and Baylrys placed his front legs in it and stood perfectly still for them to use two small dragons. He had to give them credit for creativity. Putting a harness on a creature of his size was a difficult and time consuming feat, so using smaller dragons to help was actually a smart way to handle it.

In exactly twelve minutes, Dronit came walking back to Baylrys with his helm in hand. "You're late," Baylrys sneered at his rider.

"Don't start!" Dronit snapped. Baylrys lifted the man onto his back, and Dronit situated himself on the harness. "Let's get going. We're running behind."

Baylrys smirked. And whose fault is that? He thought to himself. He glanced around him to make sure everyone within a 200-foot radius was clear, then flapped his wings and pushed into the air.

Celegwen

The team flew towards the edge of Adela, reaching it in about three hours because Dronit was afraid of letting Baylrys hit his top speed. The large dragon saw a smaller one spraying green gas from its mouth. He narrowed his eyes. "Keep us clear of the gas," Baylrys said.

"I know how to fly, thank you very much," Dronit said. "Dive!"

Baylrys dove downward with a cry that would make even the bravest shit their pants. The other dragon was caught by surprise, but quickly made a dash in the opposite direction. Baylrys pulled up in time to avoid crashing and circled around. He could've easily swung around and pinned the smaller dragon to the ground, but Dronit directed him straight. "I can get him!" Baylrys snapped.

Dronit huffed. "I'm in charge, Baylrys! Follow me!"

The dragon scowled, but decided to keep his mouth shut. They rushed the smaller dragon, but the thing's maneuverability was far greater than what Baylrys' size would allow. If he turned to the left, he could grab the dragon's tail. But Dronit directed him to the right. Baylrys followed his rider's instructions and flew to the right... Right into the other dragon's spray.

Baylrys whipped around with his wings extended to block the toxic spray from hitting his rider. He could almost hear his eyes burning, and he screeched, crashing to the ground in pain. "I warned you!" Baylrys cried, rubbing his eyes excessively. He breathed heavily, trying to blink away the pain. His vision was blurry, but he could see the smaller dragon approaching victoriously.

Celegwen

Dronit leapt off of Baylrys' back to examine the dragon, but Baylrys whirled around, clamping his strong jaws around the other dragon's neck. A horrible scream escaped from the other dragon, as blood spewed from the shredded neck. Several people looked in terror and Dronit stood helplessly, while the black dragon released the thrashing dragon. It fell motionless, and Baylrys hissed with blood dripping from his chin.

He looked at Dronit with a plea for help in his eyes, then everything faded to darkness.

Celegwen

By the heat from the sunlight, Baylrys could tell it had been at least four hours before he heard the sound of flapping wings. He lifted his head from the ground, smelling the air. Four dragons... He didn't recognize three of them, but one was an old friend of his. The dragon went to stand, but stopped when he heard his friend's telepathic voice. "Baylrys," the other dragon started, "be still. We've come to help."

The dragons landed around him, the riders dismounting. They brought out a large chain with hooks and clasps all over it. "Tell me that night has fallen, Dromida," Baylrys said desperately, not wanting to believe what he already knew. "Tell me night has come."

Dromida, a multicolored dragon that normally stood only at Baylrys' shoulder, looked down at the great dragon for the first time. "Night's come, my friend." The sorrow was audible to anyone who could hear.

Celegwen

The chains were attached to Baylrys' harness, and he stood when he felt them being pulled. "We need you to fly," Dromida said to him. "We cannot lift you."

"Is anyone within my radius?"

"No, Baylrys. You're clear."

The large dragon flapped his wings, taking to the air. The other dragons assisted, as Baylrys' flight was unsteady to say the least. They guided him slowly back to the headquarters. He landed shakily, his knees buckling slightly when he touched the ground too hard.

"What will be my fate, Dromida?" He asked.

The other dragon sighed, shaking his head. "They will decide tomorrow," he told Baylrys. "More likely than not, you will be expelled from the military."

Celegwen

That night was the longest night Baylrys had ever experienced. It wasn't so much anxiety as it was pure dread. He had been an Adelan soldier for as long as he could remember: he didn't know anything else. The thought that his career with them was over haunted him.

In the morning, Dromida, his rider, and Lieutenant Dronit escorted Baylrys to the training field. The unfamiliar voice of one of the captains in the force came forth. "After a conference with my associates," she said, "we've come to an unfortunate decision.

"Lieutenant Dronit, your irresponsible instruction and flight habits has permanently disabled one of our best dragons. In addition to a suspension, you will be demoted and banned from flight service. We cannot risk something like this happening again, nor do we trust you interacting with the dragons anymore.

"Baylrys, with your sight gone, I'm afraid we cannot properly rely on your skills. You've served us remarkably, but I'm afraid your time with the Dragonriders has come to an end. This incident with Lieutenant Dronit was not at all your fault, but you've suffered the consequences. We will provide you with a caretaker, and you will be comfortable. On the behalf of everyone, I wish you the best of luck and good health."

Baylrys felt his heart sink, but he stood tall and proud, as if nothing had changed. The dragon nodded his head once, acknowledging the woman's speech.

Celegwen

Dromida helped Baylrys to a cavern in the Thunderblacks, away from danger and close enough to civilization for social interactions when desired. A man was assigned to care for the large dragon by bringing him food and water and making sure he didn't waste away. Blindness in a dragon, especially one of that size, was a dangerous thing because people aren't typically experienced on how to care properly for handicapped dragons.

The man that was assigned to Baylrys lied about his skills, claiming to be an expert on dragon care and rehabilitation, when really he was simply looking for a quick way to earn good money. He couldn't have cared less about the dragon's wellbeing because the Dragonriders were no longer monitoring Baylrys' care.

Over time, the man started coming less and less often. Baylrys felt himself slowly losing more and more weight over months to the point where he could barely stand on his own four legs. His wings thinned, and his muscle was being picked away by his hunger.

If another man hadn't shown up, the dragon was sure he would've died.

Celegwen

A man in rags with a matted beard sat with the dragon babies he was taking care of. He picked up a perfectly round rock and stroked it with a tender smile. "What's wrong, Spanky?" He asked the rock. "You seem distressed!"

"There's a dragon!" Soreyn heard the rock say. This voice of course didn't come from the rock, but the man believed that Spanky really was speaking to him. "In a cavern. The dragon's dying."

Soreyn audibly gasped, placing a hand over his heart and falling backwards. "We can't have that! No, no, no!" Grunting as he stood, he looked down at the two little dragons sitting where he had been. "Itsy, Bitsy, come along! We have a friend in trouble!"

He made his way to the cavern, poking his head in to see what he was up against. The two dragons ran in, smoking each other in a sibling rivalry. The cavern was dark, so Soreyn didn't even realize that the black dragon was much closer than expected. "Who are you?" Baylrys grumbled, opening his eyes. "I don't recognize your foul stench."

"Excuse the shit out of me!" Soreyn said. "I'm here to help! The name's Soreyn. Who are you?"

"Uninterested." Baylrys was too weak to really try to deter the man. He hoped his size and general appearance would be enough to get his message across.

Celegwen

"Rude," Soreyn said with a huff. Itsy and Bitsy scurried from the cave, hiding behind the man when they realized just how large Baylrys was. "I'm trying to help you! My rock friend, Spanky, said that you were dying."

The large dragon narrowed his eyes at the dirty man. "Your rock friend?" He snorted, turning his head away. "You truly are a madman."

"Quite so! Now," he clapped twice, "I have a friend who will be here to help you soon. Give it an hour and she'll be here."

"Make yourself scarce, and I may accept her help."

Celegwen

After an hour, Soreyn saw the familiar shadow of Kandri, his friend's favorite dragon, which meant that Freisae was on her way. Itsy and Bitsy sprung into flight and got Kandri's attention. The large dragon turned to follow them to Soreyn.

Baylrys just stayed in the cave, his eyes closed and breathing shallow. The large dragon had pretty much given up, not caring whether or not he recovered. At that point, he just wanted to left alone. Kandri landed near the cave, which attracted Baylrys' attention. If he had the strength to lift his head, he would've, but he simply took a long breath in for the scent.

Soreyn strolled over to the snow dragon with a slight skip and a definite trip. Kandri grinned at the funny man, laying down for Freisae to safely jump off. She gave an exaggerated bow to Soreyn, which he happily returned. The duo weren't exactly friends, but she was probably the only person who could tolerate his insanity, and he was the only one who had a similar influence on dragons.

"My lovely Freisae," Soreyn sang, giving her a kiss on the back of her hand. "I have someone you would love to meet!"

Celegwen

Kandri remained a decent distance from the cave, entertaining the tiny dragons and transforming into his human form so he didn't accidentally step on one of them.

Freisae walked with Soreyn, her long legs making him almost have to jog to keep up with her. "What happened?" She asked. "You haven't given me a dragon since Xedor, and he wasn't even born at the time."

"Best to let you see for yourself," Soreyn said, an unfamiliar gloom in his voice. They approached the entrance to the cave, and Freisae peered inside, the darkness making it nearly impossible to see. "Uninterested?" The man called into the cave. "You awake?"

The woman glared at the man and shook her head. He was annoying, but quirks defined people, so she tolerated it.

"Leave me be, you foul, little man," Baylrys' low voice echoed.

Soreyn smiled at the woman with a short nod. "He's awake."

Celegwen

"My name is Freisae," she said, ignoring Soreyn's comment. "I'm here to help."

"So was the man who abandoned me here," Baylrys started, "and my rider who stole my sight, and the woman who cast me out of the military. What makes you think I need any more help from a fucking human?"

Working with dragons, especially injured and ill ones, Freisae learned that patience was the only virtue you really needed when it came to the large reptiles. His hesitance was expected, as was his distrust. "You were in the Dragonriders, then?" She asked rhetorically. "I've known a few dragons from the Adelan military. Even trained one of them."

"No, you didn't," Baylrys said quickly.

Freisae smirked with a nod. "No, I didn't. Had to make sure you were listening to me."

Celegwen

The large dragon let out a long huff, smoke puffing out of his nostrils. "What do you want from me, Freisae?" He asked.

She crouched down, resting her elbows on her knees. "I don't want anything from you. Well, perhaps you could tell me your name?"

"His name's Uninterested," Soreyn chimed in. He earned a hard glare from the woman, which immediately shut him up.

There was a moment of silence. "Baylrys."

Freisae nodded softly. "Can I come in, Baylrys?" She asked. "I'd like to see you better, if you wouldn't mind?"

"Very well," Baylrys grumbled.

Freisae pulled a small torch from her satchel, then walked down to the two dragons playing near Kandri. "Itsy, can you light this, please?" The little dragon blew a short stream of fire, which caught onto the torch. "Thank you," she said, returning to the cave.

Celegwen

Freisae shot Soreyn a warning glance. "You follow me in, I set you on fire," she said. "Clear?"

"As my mind!" Soreyn said, which just got him an eye roll in response.

She walked into the cave, the torch casting barely enough light to see where she was walking. Something about the cave made it almost like entering a dimension ruled by darkness. It was an uncomfortable feeling, and she was extremely unfamiliar with it.

Stepping closer to the dragon, Freisae was able to see just enough to know that he was absolutely unhealthy. "Am I allowed to touch you?" She asked softly. The dragon gave a half-hearted groan, which Freisae took as permission.

The girl placed her hand on the dragon's side, feeling his ribs directly beneath his skin. She felt how shallow his breathing was and how little muscle or fat he had on his body. There was an immediate feeling of hatred that rushed over her for the man who left the dragon there to die.

Celegwen

"Baylrys, I want to take you with me," Freisae said, plainly.

A weak laugh escaped the dragon. "Yes, that should be an easy feat. I'll spring to my feet and follow at your heels, like a pup would his master." He sighed. "I'm not worth the trouble. Let me die in peace."

The girl clenched her jaw a few times, placing the torch on the ground and being careful not to let it go out. She put both of her hands against Baylrys' side, a bright light suddenly illuminating the cave in a blue glow. It was a more extreme healing energy than she had ever cast onto a dragon, so she wasn't sure how well it would work.

Almost instantly, Baylrys lifted his head, feeling a burst of energy. Struggling slightly, the dragon got to his feet. Standing was shaky for him, as he hadn't stood in nearly two months. He took a few steps, his left front leg buckling briefly.

Freisae watched with a smile, as the dragon began to emerge from his cave, touching the sunlight for what she assumed was the first time in a very long time. Kandri looked up, while Itsy and Bitsy stared in awe. Though he couldn't actually see the light, Baylrys stretched his head upward with his eyes closed, feeling the warmth soak into his now grey skin.

Celegwen

Kandri herded the little dragons out of the way, as Baylrys walked out of his cave. He was unsure in his footing, but managed to get clear of the cave. Freisae watched each movement, frowning suddenly when she saw the extent of his starvation.

To say the dragon was emaciated would be an understatement. Baylrys looked like a charred skeleton, and his black skin was an ashy grey color.

"It seems I have sprung to my feet," he said, "so I suppose I must now follow at your heels."

Freisae shook her head. "You don't have to do anything. It's completely your choice."

After a brief silence, Baylrys bent down, moving his head to seem like he was looking at her. "I'm coming with you."

She smiled, looking at Soreyn and Kandri. "Soreyn, take Itsy and Bitsy away. Thank you for your information, but I have it from here. Kandri, we're going to need your help."

Celegwen

Soreyn disappeared with his rock and the two dragons. Kandri shifted into a dragon and approached Baylrys, who sneered slightly at the new dragon's scent.

It was a slow and unsteady flight that lasted just under an hour, but they made it to Freisae's base. Five new dragons emerged, eager to see their leader's return. A light blue and white dragon sprung into the air from the lake he was lounging in. Seeing the unsure flight of the massive dragon, the other decided he should try to help.

"Baylrys," Freisae said, "another dragon's flying towards you. Don't get startled." Freisae's directions through the flight were extremely helpful, as Baylrys hadn't flown since he was blinded.

With the help of the other two dragons and Freisae's verbal guidance, the black dragon was able to land gently. His strength was wearing thin, so Freisae told Chandro to find food, as Freisae, Kandri, and Seiken - the blue and white dragon - helped Baylrys to his new den.

Celegwen

Over the next month, Freisae spent time with Baylrys to help him get his strength back and get him to trust her. It was definitely a process, but they learned off of each other. Having served in the Dragonriders, the dragon was intelligent and determined, but he was already past the age of easily learning something new and was still unaccustomed to blindness.

He agreed to being outside of the cave for two hours everyday, and Freisae knew not to push him further than that. He slowly gained more of an appetite and would allow the girl to help heal him for a few minutes daily.

Freisae felt better and better everyday, watching him return to his former glory. She didn't know him before his deterioration, but she began to see just how powerful he really was. His arms and legs gained muscle; he grew slightly in size; his wings thickened; his grey skin darkened to be the consuming black that it was supposed to be. Baylrys was back.

Celegwen

Freisae woke up one night at the sound of slipping rocks. She ran out of her hut, wrapping a cloak around her quickly. In the faint light of the sliver of a moon out that night, she saw Baylrys climbing down from his cave. Deciding to stay silent, she watched to see what he was doing.

The dragon stood in the large clearing, stretching his head upward for a reason she couldn't make out. He stood on his back legs, leaning forward and coming back to all fours within thirty seconds. Shaking his body, like a dog out of a lake, the dragon spread his wings and moved them slowly in the high wind speeds.

The girl smiled to herself, biting one of her nails. He wants to fly, she thought.

"Hey," she said softly, careful not to scare him.

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