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Sequel is out here This is the first part of a mini series done for the fabulous Waldesschwinge A while ago we talked about his awesome characters, and he decided to have a little story depicting a struggle to find one's mate. The Rakura chronicles will take place in Waldesschwinge's universe, a place filled with magic, dragons, phoenixes, and plenty more creatures and worlds to explore! In this installment, Qyr'Zyel, one of the dragon Guardians of her world, travels to Earth to save her mate from the clutches of the humans. Trapped in a foreign world and a similarly foreign body, all he can do is wait for the rescue to arrive. Qyr encounters foreign and dreadful enemies along the way, but also discovers an unlikely ally. Will they succeed in rescuing their kin? Read and find out! There is a lot of plot and substance behind this story, along with fighting and tender moments. Give it a go, and I'm sure you'll enjoy it.Character ref sheets:Ref Sheet for Qyr--> http://rykaran.deviantart.com/art/Qyr-ziyel-Reference-Sheet-by-Drakaina-Queen-351621972Ref sheet for Arjirr--> http://rykaran.deviantart.com/art/Arjirr-reference... If the story is to your satisfaction, please consider the following: Fav if you read itVote if you liked itComment if you're feeling awesome***Qyr'Zyel, Guardian of the Skies and Talon of Vengeance

against those who threatened life crashed against the treeline like a youthful

hatchling. She tucked her pale wings close to her side and snarled as too many

branches scraped and broke in her wake. These fir trees were tall and strong,

and their embrace hard and unrelenting. They slammed their hard forms against

her whole frame like boulders, throwing her descent into a chaotic dance until

she finally met the soothing embrace of the ground.Qyr remained there, breathing hard through her half opened

maw. Her limbs hurt too much to shift under her aching bulk, and her wings

acquired too many scrapes to count. She flared them, tried to flap a few times,

then growled through bared teeth. Her joints felt tender and stiff, and the

wounds throbbed with renewed intensity. It was curious how nature could fight

back against those who broke its natural orders. Qyr was a guardian of the

skies. Her broad wings and leaf shaped tail allowed her to glide upon the

currents without any effort. She could sail through the skies day after day

without tasting injury or fatigue, but not here. She challenged the forest, and

the trees fought back. But she had been through worse, and her quest couldn't wait.

With a determined roar, Qyr found the ground under each of her clawed paws and

pushed. Her muscular limbs quivered under the strain of fatigue. Throbbing pain

tested her muscles under the impenetrable protection of her amber scales. She

was tempted to crash back and just rest until she recovered.But Qyr did not give up. She rose until her head stood

proudly above a few broken branches. Her wings no longer drooped on either

side, but tucked on either side of her flaming scales, complimenting the brown

tongues of flame running all the way towards the pale tail tip. She flicked

that too, testing the mobility with a few swishes. Qyr allowed another soft growl to escape her. Of course that

hurt. Too few muscles in her body felt as they should after piercing the veil

between realms. Traveling between worlds sapped a portion of the traveler's

strength and numbed their senses until they readjusted to the particularities

of the new world. Qyr had it easy. Earth felt the same as her own home world.

Similar gravity, friendly skies, and trees as tough as she remembered during

her life as a hatchling. Yet at the same time, something felt...odd. She felt

pain in the distance. The earth and its very inhabitants cried out their ache.The dragoness brushed the strange feeling with a shake of

her horned head. She had more urgent worries to ponder upon. Twisting her

serpentine neck, she inspected her wings, one at a time. Rivulets of indigo

blood trailed across the flame touched underside of her tan membrane. She

licked them quickly, ignoring the meager pain they produced. Her main concern

stood with Vharyias.It had been like that for more than she wanted to admit. Qyr

brought her tail around, cleaned her tip with a few tongue strokes for good

measure, then made her way between the trees. The uneven ground tripped her

paws, and portions of the forest were too thick to cross. Qyr had to take

detours, slinking wherever her great bulk allowed. The proud trees made for a

slow progress for a dragoness of her size. Qyr restrained her irritation

though. It was unfair to lash out at the forest for standing in her way. She kept shuffling through the vegetation despite pain,

fatigue, and her own impatience. Every step she took and every heartbeat inside

her chest reminded her of Vharyias. He was here. She felt the spark of his

presence right before the forest swallowed her. Quickening her strides, Qyr

crouched between two trees and finally emerged at the edge of a cliff.A whole valley stretched before her, lush as any forest from

her home world. She padded closer to the edge and took in the cold breeze of

the evening. Pine leaves mixed with the fragrance of wilderness, traveling

inside her flaring nostrils. There were many animals here, with scents as

diverse as a dragon's scales. Qyr blinked. When was the last time she ate? When

was the last time she rested? Answers avoided her like the sun hidden behind an

uneven patch of fiery clouds. She felt the warmth on her scales, soft and

uncertain like her own thoughts. "But he is here," Qyr snarled, scratching the bare rock with

her claws. "Nothing else matters now."With a roar, the dragoness leaped into the air. She beat her

wings thrice, thrusting herself upwards. She endured the biting wind and her

own throbbing wounds until she looked like a fireball inside the sun's embrace.

Qyr flapped again and again until she found herself above the thin clouds. The

warmth of the sun rarely felt so soothing. Its dying rays removed the chill of

the wind and caressed her wounds. Qyr flew upon the gentle currents of the high

skies, absorbing the nurturing warmth. Her focus returned, and her wounds

lessened the beat of their throbs. For the first time since the crash, she had

a firm grasp on her objective.Roaring eastward, Qyr pulled into a steep turn. Trees rolled

underneath her, retreating before the snowy peaks of the surrounding mountains.

Such a valley was perfect for raising hatchlings. The mountains offered plenty

of shelter, and the forest below protected a most diverse wildlife. For a

moment, Qyr's mind drifted towards her dreams, where she and her Vharyias

tackled and played while their hatchlings jumped on their backs like the little

pests they were. A wave of affection washed through her, and her heart

quickened with longing. "Focus," she blinked, dispersing the fuzzy feelings coursing

beneath her scales. She had been partaking in her fantasy much longer than

expected. Qyr didn't even realize the sun had set, or that night shrouded the

land with its dark veil. She focused back on Vharyias. His presence felt weak,

surrounded by a cage of...something else. Qyr dove deeper inside the presence.

She slowly slid past the edge of the mysterious wall and explored it with a

careful, measured prod. It lashed back quicker than she expected. The feeling had a

heaviness to it, a gloom dark as the skies before her. It wrapped its tendrils

around Qyr's mind, pulling it closer inside that pit of despair. A desperate

growl left her throat. What was the cause of such pain? She tried to isolate

it, but it had no single source. It came from everywhere at once, assaulting

her inner sight like a raging sea smashing against a cliff side. Qyr dropped from the sky. Her wings went suddenly limp, and

she lacked the strength to flap them. Weakness took her, along with that

terrible cloud of darkness.Focus, Qyr shouted

inside her mind. You control the

emotions. Choose where to gaze. Focus.But it was slightly hard to do so when so many living beings

were in pain. She felt everything, from the trepidation of the tiniest insect

to the pure terror of a hunted deer. Her inner sight saw through the feelings

of every living being, yet never before she felt so much sorrow at once. She tried to break free and fight. The ground approached

dangerously quick. Only a dozen heartbeats separated her from the forest below.

Qyr forced her eyes shut and lashed back with all she had. Her conviction

flickered like a candle inside a dark cave. It provided a measure of light

against a gaping abyss. She tried again. Then again, throwing eons of training

against the clutching blackness.Nothing worked. The trees widened, ready to embrace her a

second time. With a final effort, Qyr shut off her inner sight. The heaviness

dispersed, allowing her wings to flare their impressive length into a gentle

dive. Her paws touched the top of the greater fir trees, sliding against their

leafy scruff. That was too close. She ascended back into the sky with broad,

measured flaps and calmed her fight. It had been too long since she felt such

raw emotions. If they could overpower a guardian, there was no telling what

they did to a normal Rakur.Qyr preferred not to dwell on such gloomy thoughts. She

ascended back above the clouds, where only wind whispered amidst the soothing

silence. Stars speckled the violet sky, bearing more colors than any of the

worlds known to her. Earth was indeed an odd place. Just now she stared at a

red blink. It had a certain rhythm to it, and unlike the rest of the blinking

specks of light, this one seemed to get bigger.Qyr surged towards it. Strange noise assaulted her ears,

along with a most unusual smell. Soon, her eyes fixed on a beast made of

shining metal. It slid across the air just like her, only that its fixed wings

purred with the most horrendous sound she had the displeasure of hearing. It

looked like nothing else she ever saw, and it was...alive! Somehow, multiple

entities resided in the belly of the beast. With her inner sight shut, it was

impossible to tell what. Growling, Qyr pulled into a steep dive. She respected life,

even if it contested and possibly threatened her domain. She hoped the

tranquility of the earth and the forests would offer a measure of peace.It didn't. Not a single tree rose on the flat hills rolling

ahead of her. Wide fields of small vegetation surrounded the strange

constructions that rose from the ground as far as her eyes could see. They

looked like shelters. Shelters for the wicked creatures living inside. Were

these the apex predators of Earth? The Humans that red scaled Rakur was talking

about? He mentioned their viciousness more than once. Hearing was one thing,

but seeing their defiance angered Qyr a lot more than it should. The vegetation

surrounding their dens was devoid of life, same as their shelters. Further

ahead, their territory became wider and wicked, with tall, shiny constructions

as tall as dozens of trees stacked upon one another. Qyr soared closer towards the devastation caused by these

humans. The earth was ravaged by fields and torn into strips to accommodate for

tall rows of stone-like dens. She didn't need her inner sight to weight their

intentions. Her eyes saw plenty, and her nostrils smelled the corruption with every

breath. Nature no longer had power here. The human stripped it away and changed

the balance.The female Guardian looked ahead. Gazing anywhere brought

her unneeded pain and concern. She knew of no creature who exploited and

destroyed nature for its own benefits until now. "Focus," she growled to herself again as the dens of the

humans grew taller below her. She was an offensive Guardian. Punishment was the

task entrusted to her along with the power and will of her kind, and her claws

itched for combat. Breaking the breakers tempted her with each breath of

choking, corrupted air. Only the thought of her mate kept her from lashing out. Qyr

opened her inner sight, catching a glimpse of Vharyias. The weakness tested her

again, but she warded off with a growl. Her mate was still far away, and the

quickest way lay through these human infested lands. The dragoness beat her wings and quickly picked up speed.

She looked ahead, ignoring the dreary sight, the buzzing, the screeching, and

the choking smells assaulting her senses from below. Each beat of wings was a

challenge until the purring picked up. Qyr scanned her surroundings. The sound came not from the

lights blinking below, but from the very skies. Two malformed metal birds

headed her way, their single wing spinning madly above their brown bodies. Qyr

muffled her roar and slapped the air with heavy beats of her wings. She

ascended higher into the higher skies, but the sound followed her. Now she had

a choice. Slay them as they deserved, or press on. With a seething growl, Qyr

picked the later. Vharyias was more important than retribution.Or so she thought. Not even several wing flaps later, three

metal wasps broke through the clouds and passed overhead. Qyr climbed even

higher, beating her wings furiously. She flew where no other being ever

followed her; where every gulp of air became a choking breath and every flap of

wings a heavy burden. Yet the shrill still followed her. A look behind confirmed

her suspicion. The wasps circled her, waiting for a moment of weakness. Qyr

opened her inner insight and felt the same overpowering gloom. It lacked vigor

when she hovered so high above the ground, allowing her to focus on the humans

inside the wasps. She brushed her mind against theirs, seeking passage inside.

Rakura communicated through their minds. It was only fair other sentient

creature shared this ability. But not the humans. Not even two heartbeats later Qyr felt

their selfish intentions, along with fears and doubts. They were afraid of her,

but also curious. Amazed even. She poked deeper into a human's mind until his

emotions became hers. She even saw glimpses of his memories, strange and

bizarre as they were."Greetings, creature. I am-"Qyr stopped. She felt the human's fear spike, along with the

hail of rocks it unleashed. The sound hit her like an avalanche, and the

pelting missiles passed just beneath a wing. Qyr tensed. She sensed their dark

intentions just before she withdrew into herself.They wanted to kill her. She spun in the air, unleashing a

beam of concentrated light energy upon the wasps. The metal fizzled and melted,

then exploded in a display of orange flames. The other two surged forward, but

they were slower than Qyr's beam. The blinding light caressed and popped their

hides, ending the humans inside along with them. For a Guardian whose purpose was to protect life, taking it

felt slightly sickening. Qyr roared her anger and ignored the wingless birds

that followed her. They were slower, and their vertical spinning wing allowed

for lesser mobility. She flew out of the range of their missiles, then dove

back down for a gulp of rich air. She took four, then looked right, towards the

quickest metal wasps she had ever seen. They were completely black, with a

sharp design to match their wickedness. Qyr flew away. She flew fast, yet even her greatest speed

was no match for these constructions. They unleashed their own breaths upon

her, pelting her scales with a hailstorm of tiny rocks. They scrapped against

her tough scales, but pierced her wings right through. Hissing in pain, Qyr

looked back. Something descended from their bellies. Something that burned and

flew towards her faster than she flapped her wings. She jerked back, took a

deep breath, and unleashed the last remaining energy left within her maw. The

dispersing warmth superheated the air, popping the missiles with a loud bang. A

wasp fell from the sky, but the other two merely readjusted their flying path,

coming on either of Qyr's side. The dragoness dove. She dropped until she met the tall

dwellings of the humans and curved her flight path between the tight passages.

Fliers usually had problems inside a forest, but not these wasps. Whenever she

turned, they turned, puncturing her exposed wing in a dozen places. Qyr roared

in pain. She felt unreasonably fatigued. Solar breath took a large toll, and

during night she had no means to regenerate her reserves. After she rounded a

tall den, Qyr turned around, caught one of the wasps from behind and sunk all

her claws into its hide. Nothing happened. They slid and screeched while the

wasp still roared and fired. Qyr disengaged, then slammed her weight back on

top of the black metal beast. That threw it off its flight path, sending it

straight into the ground. Qyr flapped away from the explosion. Only one remained. Or a dozen. Her hearing was submitted to a raging chorus of unearthly

sounds. She looked left, then right, towards the cluster of birds and wasps

heading from all sides. How could there be so many? A twinge of fear slithered

across Qyr's spine. These humans were a reasonable match for her. If they could

destroy nature, maybe they could even-She didn't want to think about that. Qyr fled back into the

dark sky, thinking of a way out. These beasts had the advantage of speed. They

also had powerful breath, explosive balls of flame, and a hide as tough as her

scales. She stood no chance against them, injured and spent as she was. For the

first time in her life, Qyr had to flee.She beat her injured wings hard, ignoring the pain

blossoming throughout her punctured membrane. Every time she looked back, the

constructs approached. They were close enough now, and their barrage erupted

with the might of a rock fall. Qyr pulled into another dive, increasing her

speed. The beasts did too, following her every maneuver. Most of their stones

missed, but Qyr caught sight of multiple sparks of light erupting from below,

aiming right at her. Humans had defenses on the ground too!That sealed her chances for a quick escape. Qyr roared out

her anger and desperation. Her quest failed. She would die and crash on the

cold ground of a ravaged world, with the warmth of a mate far removed from her

lifeless body. She thought of Vharyias. It had been so long since she glimpsed

his beautiful scales or shared the warmth of his body. Thinking he would remain

trapped in his human shell in this den of despair hurt more than her inability

to leave a legacy behind. To mate and produce hatchlings.Qyr whirled around towards the metal beasts and spread her

paws. She deserved to perish in a fight, like any proper guardian. She flapped

once, twice, then froze mid-air as another roar answered her. The surrounding

clouds suddenly crackled with energy, and spears of light surrounded and

pierced the wasps. They exploded, one by one, crashing into the ground in a flaming

bang of scraps and debris.Qyr blinked. Her eyes watered, unaccustomed to the intense

light. A presence emerged from a thundering cloud. It had two wings, four legs,

and flew straight towards her. A dragon?  His hide still crackled with arcs of

lightning, and his golden eyes glowed menacingly in the surrounding darkness."You managed to stir quite a horde," the dragon said,

gliding closer to Qyr.She hovered in place, still shocked by the outcome. She

never expected another Rakur to save her, especially not an ordinary one such

as Arjirr. Nevertheless, she was thankful for his presence. She allowed him to

sail within her reach and touch her neck with the tip of his snout. Once she

felt his warm breath upon her trembling scales, Qyr lashed out and gripped his

smaller body with all of her fours. The male growled his surprise, but Qyr quickly silenced him

with a firm push under his jaw. "Were you expecting me, Arjirr?" she asked, nibbling around

his neck while they both fell in a heap of paws and wings."No," he growled again, earning another shove. "I just-" he

snapped at her, flicking his forked tongue.Qyr caught it across her cheek as she rubbed against the

male's head. She was overjoyed to feel and smell one of her own after facing

certain death."You may talk now," the female hissed softly."I'll talk when we're flying.""We're flying now.""Falling," Arjirr corrected, beating his wings suggestively."We have a bit more time," Qyr growled, squeezing him harder

against her chest. Arjirr kicked and flapped his wings uselessly. He was a

morose and solitary male, preferring the company of no one in particular. "We should...""Grrawr, maybe you're right," Qyr disentangled herself from

the desperate male. They both flapped their wings hard and flew back inside the

cover of clouds. It felt rather drab to be alone again. Arjirr was enticingly

warm, and fluffy too! Qyr nipped at his forked tail, earning a displeased

growl."I never took you for the squeamish type.""Stumbling upon a Guardian just before she got killed jolts

one's awareness," the male replied. "What madness brought you on Earth?""What brought you?" Qyr asked, emerging on his right. Arjirr looked at her, expecting another hatchling-like

assault. "Boredom," he admitted with a bow of his head. "My territory lacks any

sort of challenge.""And those monsters below provide what you seek?" Qyr

snarled."Sometimes. I have discovered and exposed many of their

weaknesses."That surprised her. Qyr knew of no other Rakur who visited

Earth. It was still a vastly unknown world, and for good reasons. "What are you planning, Arjirr?" She asked, squinting her

crimson eyes."Nothing," he matched her gaze. "Nothing until now. Your

presence here can change that, of course."Qyr opened her maw, licked her snout once when words failed

to travel along her tongue, then spoke. "I'm here for my mate.""Vharyias? Isn't he-""No," she snapped her jaws before he could say that dreadful

word. "I followed his presence all the way here. He's trapped in this torn

world, and I am going to save him.""A mighty goal, fit for a proper huntress," Arjirr smiled.Was that sarcasm? Qyr found out when one of his wings

slapped her left. Throbbing pain flared across her punctured membrane, forcing

a painful hiss out of Qyr's throat. "Mock me again, and we'll see who laughs last.""I am almost tempted to be scared," Arjirr took the lead.

"But even I know better than fighting a female, least an injured one.""You do have sense under this fuzz of yours!" Qyr pawed at

his tail. He flung it to the side, catching her on the neck."I have a lot more than that," he roared and surged forth. Qyr followed. He wasn't about to let a male get the better

of her, especially not one so cocky. Arjirr led her back in the wilderness,

enduring all manners of pestering. His fuzzy white fluff was thoroughly ruffled

and his wings acquired a few scratches of their own before he touched the

ground. They were in a small forest a good number of wing beats away from the

nearest clutch of human nests. Qyr inhaled the fresh air. It felt good to smell the scent

of leaves and feel the soft earth underneath her paws."It's always charming how Guardians express their

gratitude," Arjirr settled on his belly, coiling his great tail around a tree. Qyr settled beside him, snuggling under his wing. "We have a

smooth touch, fluffy Arjirr," she empathized that with a soft touch against his

furred shoulder.He turned his head around and pointed at a particularly deep

gash. "Smooth indeed! Next time I won't even save you."Qyr licked the wound, shutting Arjirr's maw."What makes you

think I'll need saving?"He was faster than she anticipated. His wing pushed

underneath hers and lifted it to allow his tongue to slide inside a puncture."This," he flicked his tongue back inside his maw. "It's

wide enough for even my claws to pass through!"Qyr hissed her irritation. "Just a scratch. It will heal.""With my help, yes." She was preparing a comeback when the male's tongue

returned, sliding against her stinging flesh with a slow and careful caress.

Qyr's words died inside her rumbling throat. That felt...good. Better than she

anticipated. Her eyelids slowly closed as her head drifted closer to Arjirr's

chest.He brought his head back, bumping against one of Qyr's many

curved horns."Don't stop," the dragoness growled softly. "Please..."An uncomfortable growl left his throat. Qyr never expected

him to be shy! She put one of her paws on top of his and rubbed her cheek

against his chest, delighting in the radiating warmth. "I...you can- I mean...""I don't want to know what you mean," Qyr said silently as

she slowly ascended to his neck. Arjirr shuddered. His wings quivered before

one of them settled protectively around Qyr. His tongue returned, resuming that

delightful treatment. Qyr lost herself in the softness of his touch. She slid

along his scales, and up...and up...until the top of her snout met one of his

curving horns. Arjirr paid no heed to her caress. He licked a particularly

painful wound, washing the blood away with quick prods of his forked tongue.Qyr couldn't care less about the pain. She pushed her head

past his horns and coiled her own serpentine neck around Arjirr. He was completely

engrossed in his task, seeking out punctures and cleaning them with trained

expertise. Qyr appreciated that. She appreciated a lot more than she should.

Her own tongue poked out of her maw, sliding across Arjirr's cheek with a long,

wet lick. He drew back with a sudden jerk, growling his surprise. Qyr

blinked. She hasn't realized what she did until both dragons stared at each

other with obvious surprise."W-was that...?""Your reward? Yes!" Qyr answered rather awkwardly. "I can't have

you do all the licking while I wait and stare like a lazy hatchling." "You did more than that," he looked elsewhere to avoid her

gaze."Like what?" He didn't reply immediately. Instead, he looked at Qyr

again, then rubbed his snout under her chin. "You did this..." he slid across her

neck, nuzzling into her chest. "And this, and it felt..." he growled

uncertainly. "I don't know how it felt, Qyr. I never had a mate to call my

own."Qyr thoroughly enjoyed his attention. She had been lonely

for far too long. For a few blissful moments, she remembered how warm the touch

of a mate felt. How it stirred her instincts, and how it quickened her blood.

She looked at Arjirr, wanting to nuzzle and comfort him. He deserved to have

that cold hide of his warmed by a mate, and she couldn't be the one.With great reluctance, Qyr pulled away, untangling her

wounded wing from his. "It's never too late to claim one, Arjirr. Me and

Vharyias...we've been apart for a very long time." "So I heard," the male gave her an uncertain glimpse and licked

between the toes of a fore paw. "From who?""A red eyed male with black scales and crimson wings,"

Arjirr said between licks. "He had a few things to say about Earth.""He mentioned Vharyias too!" Qyr shot on her fours, wings

trembling with excitement. "He told me he's here on Earth, but I have no

precise location.""I can help," the fuzzy male perked his head. "I spent

enough time here to know my way around.""Did you happen upon my mate?""One out of millions?" he growled mirthfully. "Slim chance

for that to happen. I lack that sight within sight of yours."Qyr looked at the ground. She wasn't eager to open herself

up to that pain again. "I don't want to look," she settled herself in front of

Arjirr and brought her tail around a forepaw. "It will give us a direction," the male suggested."Not now," Qyr shook her head. "I am quite spent as it is

and..." Qyr hesitated for a moment. "I had enough coldness coming from these

humans."Arjirr cocked his head. "Is it that bad?""Worse than you can imagine," Qyr shook her head. "They

kill, change and destroy everything. Nature is powerless against their beasts

and tools. Even I was powerless to defend myself!" she growled her irritation.Arjirr looked at her, stunned. For a couple of heartbeats,

both dragons looked at each other, with only their breaths disturbing the song

of the crickets. "It...it happens when you travel between the worlds."Qyr flapped her wings and perked her head. "How do you know

I was weakened?"Arjirr uncoiled his tail and started to groom his luxurious

patch of fluff. Qyr hissed and grabbed one of his paws between her jaws. "You will tell me," she slinked her tongue underneath the

rough pads. "Or you'll experience a most annoying tickling."All dragons hated that. Arjirr's eyes widened and his other

paw pushed Qyr's neck away while his own teeth worked around Qyr's jaws. She

flicker her tongue underneath his toes, summoning a desperate growl from the

male's spasming throat. "I-ll...I will-"She stopped."I followed your scent," he admitted as he retrieved his

paw. "But not because I wanted to...enjoy your company. More like, protect you.

Protect you from the perils of humans."He sounded more unconvincing than a hatchling. Qyr bowed her

head, accepting his words nonetheless. Rakura followed trail scents all the

time. Only during mating season they stalked one another, waiting for the

desired mate to make the move. Arjirr knew about Vharyias, there was no doubt

about that, yet...was concern his only reason?"Tell me more about these humans," Qyr demanded, head

vanishing underneath a wing. "How they live, how they fight, how we

can...incapacitate them," she avoided the word 'destroy' even if that was the

rightful punishment for their atrocities. Arjirr waited a moment, then spoke. "Humans are odd. They

have many flaws and shortages complemented only through their crafts. You have

seen their dens and machines.""I did, yes," Qyr answered, somewhat distracted. She lifted

one of her flanks and pushed the tip of her snout against the base of her tail,

inhaling the scents through flared nostrils."Those are their greatest strength," Arjirr said. "They

build and change the world to suit their needs. Electricity is a great force to

use against them. It..."The male's words vanished under the grip of primal

instincts. Qyr pulled her head back, almost choking under the pungent assault

of her own scents. The fertility traveled deep inside her nostrils, whispering

of her desire to mate. "Should I continue?" "Y-yes you may," Qyr licked her nose, then rubbed it against

the scales of a fore paw to rub off the intense aroma."Is there another wound you're hiding?" Arjirr extended his

serpentine neck."Don't-"Too late. His nostrils twitched, inhaling a part of that

intense fragrance. The male blinked two times, then exposed his fangs, tasting

the potent aroma. "Oh dear," Qyr rubbed his snout with the leafy tip of her

tail. Strange things happened with males that acquired samples of that

particular scent. Arjirr seemed eerily calm though. His snarl subsided, and he

vigorously shook his head off that dangerous scent. "My fault," Qyr crawled away with an amused growl."Yes..." Arjirr said. "Tempting a lone male like that when

your own mate is away should be punishable by tickling!"Qyr got pounced before she realized what happened. The

lighter male had the advantage. He trapped her underneath his muscular paws,

but Qyr was the bigger female. With a powerful shove of her paws, she sent the

male stumbling back and seized the opportunity for her own pounce. "You win," Arjirr said, sliding the claws of his forepaws

along Qyr's shoulders."What do I get?" she released his neck and soothed the bite

with several licks and nuzzles."Mrrrr, don't know," Arjirr rumbled. "You pick."Qyr looked into his eyes. "Cuddles."Arjirr kicked her off, but to no avail. His position did not

allow great leverage. He retaliated too, but Qyr easily fended off his feeble

strikes. "I'm not changing my mind," she insisted.The male dropped his head on the grass. "Cuddles then...you

vile temptress." He added once Qyr removed herself from his trapped bulk."I heard that.""Intended!" Arjirr answered. Qyr lifted a wing, welcoming the male with eager nuzzling

and a warm, draped wing. Spending a cold night in the company of her kin

certainly made her stay on Earth a lot more bearable. She fell asleep quickly,

thinking of Vharyias before her thoughts turned to hatchlings and mating. Qyr woke to the scent of blood and a soft, caressing warmth.

It slid along her snout, stopping only when it reached the snowy horns

decorating the top of her head."Vhari..." she murmured softly.The warmth paused, then slowly vanished. "I am disheartened

to disappoint, Brightness," a gentle growl caressed Qyr's ears. It was deeper,

slightly more different than her mate's calm rumble."What?" Qyr lazily opened her eyes. The azure male drew his

head back and slid his tongue back inside its toothy prison."I'm not him, but we may have thought alike in this regard.""What regard?" Qyr yawned lazily.Arjirr crawled back a few steps to reveal the impressive

bulk of a dead cow. "This one," he traced his lengthy tongue over its ravaged

neck.Qyr licked her snout. She hadn't eaten meat in a while. The

sun sustained her and curved her appetite for meat and meager nourishments.

Ending a creature's life for her own benefit felt slightly selfish when other,

more appropriate means fit her status as a Guardian of Life."I can't," Qyr shook her head."You can," Arjirr pawed at her head. Drowsiness made her

slow, and Arjirr managed quite a good grip behind her horns. Qyr growled as her

snout met the cow's hard back. She rolled to the side and caught the following

swipe between her jaws. Arjirr hissed. The pressure around his paw gave hint to

Qyr's intentions. "It was suffering, Qyr. Death was a mercy compared to the

mockery of a life these animals are forced to endure."Qyr released his captive foot. He licked it with two broad

tongue strokes, then lessened the distance between them. His intentions were

true. She had no need of her inner sight to feel the genuine concern in his

eyes or the affection shared between their rubbing scales. "I made a mistake for telling you my weakness."Arjirr rumbled happily as he squeezed under Qyr's upraised

wing. "A proper term for a fierce huntress.""One you continue to exploit.""Only because you allow me to," the male rubbed his snout

along her neck. There was a certain rhythm to his caress, and his inquisitive

sniffs hinted at deeper implications. Qyr didn't mind. She liked the contact with her own kin, and

Arjirr's breath made for a delightful caress. 

She pushed back, leaning into the soft rubbing. "Are we feasting or...doing something else?"Arjirr pulled back with a curt growl. That question

definitely took him by surprise. "Feasting, definitely. But you know a soft

touch works up an appetite.""I know now," Qyr rumbled in acknowledgement. She slid one

of her forepaws along Arjirr's neck, surprising the male with her gentle touch.

He closed his eyes, enjoying the tantalizing caress."And since this is your prey..." Qyr flexed her fingers behind

Arjirr's horns. "It is only fit you feast first."The male was still lost in his bliss when his head was

violently pushed into the tough carcass. He growled and snapped, shaking off

the devious paw. "Point made," he said curtly before ripping the tough hide

apart with his claws. He lapped the blood, then shot Qyr a suggestive glance."No.""I insist," he slapped his tail on one of her flanks.Qyr returned the favor twice harder. Her tail lacked weight

behind it, but she still summoned an audible hiss from the resilient male."I insist harder," Arjirr pinned her tail. "Those wounds

will heal faster with proper nourishment.""I can forage-""Can't," the male interrupted. "Real forests are scarce and

few in between human settlements, and chances of finding your berries even

slimmer.""I mentioned nothing about berries!" Qyr snapped her jaws."Berries, apples, melons, it's all the same," Arjirr said with

a flap of his wings. "Humans changed everything. What you saw yesterday is only

a single scale on a Crystalisk's hide."Qyr shook her head. "I'm still not eating a cold corpse

raised by those humans.""Even if that cold corpse will help you save Vharyias?"That was a sharp maneuver. Qyr opened her maw, but only a

growl left her throat. Yesterday's failure returned to her. All the panic she

felt, the powerless, and the pain and suffering of every living being harmed by

the humans turned into bitter, seething anger. Qyr lived long enough to purge

the taint of such dangerous emotions from her thoughts, but she wasn't

impervious to them. Her growl deepened and became jagged, turning into a full

blown roar. She pushed Arjirr's approaching head with a swipe and tore into the

succulent flesh. Arjirr did the same. They ate without any words or touch

shared between them."Forgive my mistake," Arjirr said, clogged blood dripping

from his soaked maw. "It's behind me," Qyr replied curtly, licking her oozing

snout. "Besides, this meat is delicious.""Yet the taste of my words remains bitter."Qyr looked at him, then plunged back into the ribcage to

munch on the soft organs. "You worry for nothing.""I worry for you!" he growled, bumping his snout into Qyr's.

His eyes widened, and he pulled back like a startled hatchling. "And- and for me. And Vharyias," he quickly added. "We are

powerful, but not immortal, Qyr. If we go against the full might of the humans

unprepared...""What can happen?""We'll die."Qyr remained unconvinced. She bared her fangs, snarling. "They

will be the ones quivering before the light of retribution." "In due time."The short debate ended in complete silence. Both dragons

busied their mouths with meat until they are their fill. Once the carcass has

been reduced to bones and a few scraps of meat, they retreated near the cluster

of trees. They each settled a tail's length from each other, grooming

themselves until Arjirr approached...and approached...slinking forward each time

Qyr's gaze drooped on a forepaw. His touch surprised her. He slid his tongue under her chin,

washing away all the mess from an area infuriatingly difficult to reach. Qyr

growled her gratitude. She too joined in the mutual grooming, cleaning Arjirr's

scales with meticulous strokes of her tongue. It had been long since she

engaged in such sensual contact. Too long. Each stroke ignited forgotten warmth

inside her. Arjirr's ice-like scales sparkled beautifully in the sunlight, and

his unique scent caressed her nostrils in the same manner his snout caressed

her neck.Qyr lost herself in the surrounding warmth. Her scales

itched with a need for deeper affection. She slid her head along Arjirr's neck

and cupped his jaw between her maw. A soft, needy moan escaped her, teeth

gently grazing the sensitive scales surrounding his lips. Arjirr said nothing.

He shook her off gently, then assaulted her own neck with a flurry of licks and

soft bites. Such displays of affection were often reserved for siblings

or mates, yet it was not uncommon for two dragons to engage in a healthier,

more lustful display. Arjirr descended, treating her chest and her paws before

slithering under her belly. Qyr enjoyed every touch, every lick, and every nip. She opened

her maw, breathing in the cold air. Her whole form felt caressed by fire, and

the serpent slithering towards her lower belly rubbed her in all the right

places. Qyr tensed. She lifted a hind paw, claws gripping one another as a jolt

of pleasure raced through her form. With a whimpering growl, she dropped on her

side. Her free paw pushed the presence away, but it kept returning, pushing

warm gusts of air above her shuddering sex. Qyr felt unreasonably weak. Her

body gave up, wanting to be taken by a male."Ar-arjirr," she hissed, slapping her tail on his neck. He seemed to pay attention before his tongue poked between

his lips. It flicked at her sex, failing to reach its mark.Qyr kicked him again and again, yet her strength betrayed

her. Claws refused to clench around his snout, trembling uselessly each time he

approached her exposed sex. Qyr snapped her jaws, but to no avail. A rush of

pleasure made her stiff as the ground below her. Arjirr licked her once, twice,

tasting her essence upon his silky tongue. His fourth lick was the deepest. Qyr

threw her head back, roaring her lust as several squirts of liquid pleasure

oozed below her shivering tail. Her fire shot forth, spluttering like a warm

blanket on the ground and even on top of a clenching hind paw. Arjirr pulled back. His eyes were half closed, and his

enraged roar overtaken by lust. He analyzed the female's fertility inside his

nostrils, temporarily stunned by such a sweet discovery. Qyr shuffled on her fours. She still felt terribly weak, but

her premature release washed away a fragment of the fire raging within her. She

found the ground under her trembling limbs and leaped awkwardly. Arjirr barely

put up a fight. He fell on his side, with Qyr on top of him. He looked at her,

then licked her snout with quick, lustful dabs of his tongue.Qyr forced her instincts into submission and clamped her

jaws around the male's neck. She pressed harder, and harder, until Arjirr

growled in pain. Qyr felt that terrible sting as her own. Inflicting harm upon

Arjirr was sickening when his touch was always so gentle and considerate. "Y-you can stop now," the male said between chokes. Relief washed over Qyr. "Good. I didn't want to hold you a

heartbeat longer." She withdrew the sharp clutch of her teeth and licked around

the oozing punctures. "I don't think that's considerate after-""It will not happen again," Qyr said, jumping off the pinned

male. "I have greater control after-""Please don't say it," Arjirr hid his head underneath a

wing. "You sound like a Rakk pinched your tail.""Worse," he slapped his tail and lifted his wing to reveal a

pair of blazing golden eyes. "I licked you and...even caught your taste...""Many others did," Qyr said."Irrelevant. You have a mate, and we both knew it. What

happened was a....a...""A lapse," Qyr strode in quickly and raised the male's head

with her own. "It happens, Arjirr. Instincts are what define us too. We

shouldn't be too quick to lay blame when their workings take a stray path.""You're right," Arjirr said softly. "I just missed another's

touch for a bit too long.""That goes for both of us," Qyr pushed herself closer and

snuggled comfortably under Arjirr's wing. "Now, I believe you had some plans to

share with me.""Aside from mating?"They both shared a rumbling laughter and spent a few good

moments piled into each other before taking to the skies. Mating still lingered

in Qyr's mind, and her nether lips still twitched in remembrance of that silky

tongue thrust. Why did it feel so good?Qyr dispersed her lustful thoughts with a quick dive. She

danced around Arjirr, enticing him in a sky race. Few things competed with the

raw excitement of competition. Rakura loved to prove themselves, and Qyr was no

exception. She flapped her punctured wings quickly, searching for the favorable

currents of the high skies. That's when Arjirr rammed into her. With a roar, she threw

herself against him. He swooped in a half circle then banked right, twisting

upon the currents. Qyr engaged him there, quickly pulling her paws back when a

surge of electricity stung her sensitive pads. How unfair! She still surged

forward for a second assault, diving under the male. Arjirr swerved to the

side, and Qyr followed. She waited until he steadied himself, then gripped him

like a huge, scaly prey. "I thought this was a race," Arjirr's roar cut when his

throat found itself between Qyr's jaws."Rules changed."He kicked at her, and both dragons disentangled long before

they met the ground. Arjirr roared another challenge, but Qyr was pleased to

just sail above the clouds and absorb the rich warmth of the morning sun.

Arjirr flew by her side, throwing her the occasional glance."How are your wings?" "Better," Qyr flapped them once. "Still sting a bit.""Opening your inner sight will sting a lot more."Qyr resisted the temptation to growl. "I don't have to.""You do. Can't hope of finding Vharyias without it."He had the right of it. Human cities were loud and reeked.

They dulled every other sense aside from her inner sight."The pain will become more bearable, Qyr," Arjirr continued.

"You don't have to get used to it. Just bear it a little longer.""I know what I have to do.""Now," Arjirr pulled into a steep dive.Qyr hissed her annoyance and followed him to a small human

establishment. Arjirr was right. The suffering lost its edge, yet this was only

a small den surrounded by vegetation. Huge cities were a different matter.

Nonetheless, Qyr took in the pain without resisting. She had to learn to detach

herself. To sail amidst that blackened sea and flow between the heavy ripples.

She didn't succeed at first. That's why Arjirr led her from one settlement to the other,

each bigger than the last over the following days. The opening of her inner

sight proved an exhausting experience, and Arjirr's presence became a soothing

beacon of light. He encouraged and supported Qyr even to the point of

annoyance.On the fifth day, she finally learned the name of Vharyias'

prison. A gloomy cage going by the name of Opportunity stretched far and wide

across the sun-baked plains of the west. It was a fit name for the end of her

journey. Qyr's scales itched with restlessness. The day passed too slow, and

Arjirr insisted  attacking under the

cover of darkness. Qyr waited, and waited. And waited, until the sun slowly

disappeared between the shining towers of the humans. They rose like behemoths,

defying the sky itself with their impressive height. Qyr looked at them.

Glorified sticks, holding countless humans captive inside their bellies. For a

moment, she thought about punishing the humans for their insolence. They

declared dominion over the land and almost killed her for no feasible reason. She shook her head. Retribution could wait a bit longer. Qyr

perked her head. Still no sign of Arjirr. She settled on the city's outskirts,

far enough to avoid drawing any suspicion while Arjirr scouted the city.

Solitude felt rather boring when she tasted another's company. Qyr growled

softly and busied herself with a paw. She cleaned all four, looked at the sky

again, then drew symbols in the grass with a claw until Arjirr landed behind."You took long enough," Qyr greeted him with a nuzzle.Arjirr brushed past her and stretched his neck towards the

city. "They are getting persistent. We have little time before they realize

their birds flew away for good."He settled near Qyr, and pointed a paw towards the highest

tower, a thin behemoth that challenged the clouds themselves. "Looks like a big stick," Qyr said nonchalantly. "An important stick," Arjirr brought his tail around, twitching

the heavy tri-horned tip. "My tail harnesses and enhances lightning. That stick

does the same.""On a much larger scale," the female observed."Precisely," Arjirr bowed his head. "A blast from that tower

can blacken the whole city, allowing you to search Vharyias without attracting

unwanted attention."Qyr rumbled an amused growl and nuzzled the male's neck. "I

attracted you without too much effort. The biggest pest of all."He rolled on his back, pawing towards the sky. "Does the

fair Guardian forget the humans who trapped her?""I am never trapped!""Looked that way from above.""Then you should look harder!" Qyr pounced that irresistibly

exposed belly. Playing turned her thoughts away from her tasks and allowed time

to slide much quicker. She bested Arjirr four times by the time the sky turned

completely black. That's when playing turned into stalking. Both dragons kept

to the ground, approaching the city through the vast fields of surrounding

greenery. Qyr trailed behind, heart pounding with apprehension. Arjirr was a

silly hatchling most of the time, but his demeanor turned eerily serious when

talking about humans. He spoke with fright of their big canons mounted on the

circling wall, dangerous weapons, and defense mechanisms, whatever those were.

She disliked how her eons of knowledge accounted for nothing on this wretched

place called Earth."How do we get past those?" Qyr asked, itching to nibble on

Arjirr's swishing tail."Stealthily. The heart of the city will be crawling with-"Qyr's heart almost leaped from her chest when four light

beams focused on them. A loud noise blared from the wall, and humans ran along

the parapets with great frenzy."Stay hidden," Arjirr hissed. A few flaps of his broad wings

carried him away before Qyr even breathed. The humans unleashed fire as soon as

they spotted him. Qyr crouched. She heard a few buzzards coming in, but her

attention was focused on Arjirr. He spun and twisted between the spectacle of

burning hail, then unleash a blinding wave of electricity. A good section of

the wall went black, and the roar of the canons stopped. Qyr leaped. She brought her wings down with great force,

joining him on the ramparts. "There goes our stealth," she sent a human off the wall with

a swish of her tail. "We'll trade it for speed then. Follow close."Arjirr surged ahead, and Qyr followed. The metal wasps

zipped ahead, trying to get a lock on them. Qyr twisted between the buildings,

passing with sleek grace below the bridges built between them. Her eyes were

wide open, and focus flared her senses. Everything became vivid. The whistling

noise of the wasps, the growl of the city, and the blinking lights that moved

in erratic patterns around the images flashing on the side of the towers. The information overloaded her senses, and Qyr barely

avoided slamming into the sharp point of a glass building. "Destroy them," Arjirr's voice roared in her mind. Qyr

blinked. They already agreed vengeance was not their main objective. She

prepared a reply when a force took her straight between her legs. It expanded,

sending her through the thin glass of the opposite building. Qyr roared. Her

wings tucked as her paws skidded along the crumbling ground. Humans screamed

around her, running in every direction.Qyr snarled and rushed back towards the hole. Big metal

slugs slithered along the ground, spitting big, explosive rocks in the air. "Qyr?""I got hit," she jumped off, wings flared."Bad?""Barely felt it." Barely. Her membrane stung under fire's

piercing lick, and her morning meal almost came out. She suppressed the nausea

and dove straight towards the slugs, incinerating them with a superheated

blast. Where one exploded, another took its place.Qyr kept blasting the pests, avoiding their retaliation as

best as she could. The buildings provided good covering against the swarm of

metal beasts. Three performed a loop and headed straight towards Qyr. She

opened her maw again, unleashing a frontal heat wave. The projectiles fizzled

and popped, and bright flames engulfed the wasps. Qyr twisted between them, keeping an eye on the central

spire. She opened her inner eye for a heartbeat, catching a glimpse of her

mate. "How close are you?""Reached it," Arjirr replied. His roar thundered across the

city like a storm cloud. "Hide behind something.""Now?""Now!"Qyr flew on top of a building and curled around herself. A

blinding rush surged through the central spire, dispersing into blanket of

fizzling electricity that expanded outwards. It passed through Qyr like a jolt,

cutting her breath for a moment. A heartbeat later, everything stopped. The

wailing ceased, along with the howling of the metal beasts and the spitting of

human weapons. At least for a few, frenzied heartbeats. A moment later,

several lights blinked in the darkness. Then a dozen. The buildings remained

darkened, but the machines powered back on."Arjirr, it didn't work. You have to-"Her head turned towards the central spire, and the storm of

fiery projectiles launching towards it. A heaviness washed through Qyr, making

her limbs twitch and stumble. "ARJIRR!" She roared and took to the skies, destroying the

nearby fliers with a straight beam of concentrated energy. Another pulse

launched from the tower, doing little against the remaining wasps."Storm's frozen bite, I'll have to overload the whole grid."Qyr felt his rising apprehension. "What does that mean?""Destruction. Time," Arjirr paused. "And all of my

strength.""Don't," Qyr said quickly."They'll come after you unless I stop them.""Don't!""Find Vharyias." And with that, the bridge between them

collapsed, becoming as dark as the city. Qyr hovered in place, too numb to

think until stinging hail spilled over her right wing. She hissed in pain and

turned around, incinerating the rogue wasp. It crashed on the ground, where

more slugs pointed their turrets at her."Don't die, you stupid male," Qyr whispered and disappeared

inside a darkened corridor, where no fliers could follow. After several turns, she opened her inner eye. Misery

crashed into her like a raging blizzard, chilling her scales. Once she glimpsed

Vharyias' location, she closed it with an audible growl. The heaviness had a

hunger to it, sapping her strength every time she gazed into it. Qyr felt like

she has been flying for days in the darkness when she finally reached Vharyias'

meager building. Serveral wasps and metal birds with vertical wings rounded

appeared between the buildings. Qyr summoned her energy and directed it towards

the scythe-like claws of her front paws. Their sharpness proved ineffective

against metal before, but sun energy gave them a deadly edge. Qyr flew behind

cover. A storm of fire and metal assaulted her, breaking through glass and

stone alike. She dived towards the ground, waited until the roar of pelting metal

ended, then surged back into the sky. The humans were not prepared for a close-up assault. Qyr

spun into the air, cutting the first bird in half. Her claws sheared through

its hide as if it was meaningless sand, leaving behind a fiery gash. The others

turned tail and dispersed, but none were safe from her fury. Qyr leaped from

one construct to the next, severing their pitiful bodies before they

retaliated. It was a spectacle of fire and dust, fit for a proper huntress. Qyr ended her last quarry with a mighty blast while it fled

and descended back towards Vharyias' location. She crashed through the glass

skin of the dwarf and rolled on the ground, breaking doors and fragile walls

until her momentum came to a stop. Few humans remained inside to scream, including

her chosen one.He emerged behind an upturned wood, staring at her with wide

eyes."You- You're- I mean what... what are you?"Qyr collected herself and charged towards the babbling

human. She snapped her jaws to shut his mouth, gripped him in one paw when he

didn't expect, and flew back into the sky."Tight," he squirmed inside his grip.Qyr didn't loosen her hold despite his chokes. "It will

remain that way. I didn't search a dozen worlds just to lose you again.""Wh-what?" He choked."There is a time for words, and a time for vengeance," Qyr

evaded a projectile and blasted the slug that launched it. "Vengeance?" he squeaked like a mouse, vastly different from

the roar she was used to."Later, Vhar," Qyr said. "I'll explain everything once we're

safe."He mewled at that, lessening his struggles. At least he had

some sense into that thick human shell of his. Qyr opened her mind to Arjirr,

but he still had his firmly shut. Qyr flapped higher, following a corridor

until she reached the central spire. A large force was deployed at its base,

pelting the thin sections with a barrage of roaring missiles. Qyr had no idea

how to approach. Wasps flew around erratically, searching for the menace

meddling with their electric power. The air crackled with electricity, and she

felt her scales vibrating with energy.Qyr approached, only to have a dozen lights flashed around

her bulk. Wasps broke their formation, zipping towards her.She gathered as much energy as she could within four

frenzied heartbeats, then unleashed it with a roar. The blast dispersed into

the air, pelting the metal hide of the wasps with drops of pure energy. Several

fell, but a good number still flew.Qyr fled. She danced madly between any cover she found,

wincing every time rocks found their way inside the defenseless flesh of her

wings. Big booms were easier to avoid. Qyr exploded them with only  a flick of her tail and a sliver of energy,

but the hail rarely stopped, and her energy was dwindling. Instincts took hold

of her. Amidst the haze of pain, a voice shouted louder than the rest.Flee. Survive.That's exactly what she intended. With desperate flaps, Qyr

sought the edges of the city. The wall was not far. She pulled into a dive,

sacrificing cover for speed. The whistling of the wasps followed close behind,

but she was close, so closes. The ground approached. She noticed the tiny

lights of the defenders surrounding the huge maw of the canons. Within ten or

twenty wing beats, she would be way beyond them.She pressed Vharyias closer to her chest, then roared in

sheer panic as a groan reverberated throughout the city. Light blazed from

below, and the canon she stared at stared back defiantly, muzzle red with

energy.  Qyr spat whatever

warmth she had left. Her beam burned the humans, but left the canon intact.

Sheer panic pushed her wings against the cold air. She beat once, and twice,

eyes fixed on those terrible metal spitters. Within less than a heartbeat, they

fired. Time slowed down for Qyr. Her slits narrowed in the bright roar of the

blazing energy. It shot right at her, but pain registered only in one of her

wings. The membrane fizzled and melted, allowing the beam to pass right

through. A roar left Qyr's throat. She pulled her tail to the left,

aiding her ravaged wing as best as she could. The canons kept firing, but that

sizzling touch never returned. Did they miss? Qyr had no way of knowing. She

passed the wall and slowly plummeted towards the ground. "Ghhh kaaaaaaah!" Vharyias screamed. "Vhar?" Qyr hissed. She brought him before her tearing eyes

and quickly inspected him. She smelled no blood aside from her own, burned

flesh. He wasn't hurt, but he seemed to be in pain, all tense and strained. "Vhar!" Qyr gave him a quick nudge. Metal groaned from

behind, attracting her attention. The wasps slid into each other or plainly

crashed, while the canons were ripped from the wall by an unseen force."Haah!" the human gasped and went limp. Telekinesis. He

still had his powers! Qyr pushed him closer to her chest, impressed by his

power and determination. Even in his human shell, he obliterated all the treats

she failed to destroy. Their escape was now assured. Each wing beat brought Qyr

closer to freedom, wobbled and awkward as it was. She maintained her flight,

even if her joints burned and her injured felt numb with pain. Qyr fought back

tears and fatigue until she reached the lush valley. With the aid of her inner

sight, she found the portal and crashed on the bank of the river running below

its reach.She collapsed on her side, taking the pain for herself

rather than allowing Vharyias to fell prey to injury."We're...free," she softly nuzzled into his unconscious form.

"You're mine now. Mine. Nothing will keep us apart, my mate. Nothing!" After

his form was thoroughly soaked in her saliva, Qyr settled him on the soft grass

and cared for her injuries. One wing lay almost in tatters while the other had

a sizeable gap between her joints. She licked them quickly, then waited. The

need for rest became dire. Her body begged for rest, but she still kept her

eyes open and her claws twitching with purpose. Arjirr had yet to arrive, and

she stared at the blinking stars until a familiar shape shadowed them. She

blinked, making sure her fatigue wasn't meddling her senses.It wasn't. Arjirr crashed a few steps away from her with a

long, painful growl. Blood filled Qyr's nostrils, along with the smell of

burned flesh. She approached tentatively, taking in the dreary sight. The proud

dragon she met looked nothing like the one splayed before her. His white tufts

were burned to nothingness, and his scales bent and torn by too many wounds.

Punctures covered one wing, while the other barely moved. When she lifted her

head, Qyr knew why. A bony sliver protruded from the side joint, sinking into

the torn muscle. She licked it once, prompting a whimper from the wounded male."Leave it," Arjirr hissed. "Main joint is unharmed, and that

looks worse than it feels.""That's a terrible lie," Qyr inspected his other wounds. He

had a nasty gash near the flank, severing the scales in a straight line. "Qyr," Arjirr placed a paw on her shoulder and looked into

her eyes. "Leave those. I can..." he paused as he swished his bloody tail. "I can

still fight.""Fight? Has the human craze seeped under your scales?"Arjirr did not have to answer her. She heard it. That

dreadful whistling preceding the black wasps of the humans."No. They just followed me," he bowed his head then turned

around. Qyr pawed at him. She missed. "Can't fight, you stumbling

fool." She latched both forelegs around his flanks, but her grip was weak.

Arjirr jerked out and freed himself."And you can't even keep me here," he growled softly.Unwise words. Qyr pounced him, injured as she was. None had

any energy left for kicking or grappling, so they just tumbled on the ground in

a rather painful way. Arjirr collected himself, leaping out of her reach before

Qyr completely recovered. "Stop that.""I intend to stop them, yes.""Not them, Arjirr," Qyr roared, getting irritated. Why

couldn't he understand? "You. Flee with us. Take the portal before the humans

end us."He turned around and padded towards Qyr. "I never thought

you cared that much," he joked. A poor attempt at removing the heavy burned

weighting Qyr's scales."I always do where life is concerned. Now stop being dense

and follow us before those things get to us.""Can't.""Why?!" She snapped, catching his neck between her jaws.

Arjirr gently shook off her grip and nuzzled under her chin."Because one of us has to hold them back," he said softly,

without any trace of hesitation. "The humans are resourceful. Bright, and

greedy. That makes them dangerous. If they find the portal, they can build a bridge

across.""I-"Arjirr interrupted her with another touch along her cheek.

"With time, they can do anything. Earth is living proof of that.""We can fight them together...""Not like this," Arjirr pushed her back. Qyr didn't even

realize that. Her mind was too occupied with plans and solutions. "It's night,

your strength falters, and your mate needs you more than I do.""I'm not leaving!" Qyr dug her claws between the pebbles. "I

did not find one of my kin just to lose another!"Arjirr blinked.  Qyr's

roar surprised him, but did not pierce his fortified conviction. A sparking

tear rolled from his blazing eyes. "Yes you are."Motes of electricity shot from his maw. The portal drank in

the energy, expanding with the gentle howl of a gale. Qyr growled something,

but her words vanished from her maw. Arjirr charged forth, sending her straight

into the portal. Qyr gasped. Her insides seemed to switch places and the ground

vanished. Darkness took her for a fleeting moment before her crumbling weight

found something solid behind her. Qyr blinked. The portal. It was still opened, humming with a

soft sparkling radiance. She crawled towards it. Arjirr. She had to save him.

Protect. Defend life, and save her kin. She took one step, and another, before

Vharyias shot from the portal, rolling until he met one of her paws. Qyr caught

him and pushed against the ground with a final, determined roar. Her limbs

surged forth with one last ounce of strength and carried her towards the portal

a moment too late.Crackling energy shimmered and forked around its surface,

cracking it until it vanished like a drop of rain inside a vast lake. Qyr

collapsed on her side, lacking even the strength to form a proper roar. A

mournful growl reverberated from her throat as she stared where the portal

lingered just a few moments ago. The fabric between the worlds was soft and

fragile, and Arjirr just closed it. Days could pass, even months before it

opened again. Qyr failed. She saved her mate, only to doom another of her

kin to the cold embrace of the humans. She tried to rationalize and think.

Arjirr was cunning and resourceful. He had the strongest element. He this and

that. One by one, thoughts slipped from Qyr's exhausted mind, and tiredness

claimed her before she had a chance to fight back.