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Silent Flame in Darkness

The knight moved towards her. Eishe knew what was coming, but she saw it too late. It was unavoidable. Her eyes widened as the figure drew closer and I couldn't muster a calm face anymore, the mask slowly falling away. I made a gleeful smirk as I took her bishop and set my own, horse-shaped piece in its place. “Check mate!" I exclaimed.

The dragon scowled at the board, but could only accept the result. It wasn't exactly a fair match, what with my prior experience, but still, she managed to impress me.

“[Odd game,]" she said. “[As] kantha, [we would play] urzeg'ha mero."

“[What is it?]" I asked while I fetched my pencil (which was a piece of charred twig sharpened to a point) and scribbled the unfamiliar words in my notebook.

“[You fly above a lake and want to] roskuul [the other in water.]"

I chuckled. “Well, I guess we won't be playing that."

Eisherath wasn't paying attention anymore. She was rummaging through the piles of hoarded curios which littered every corner of the cavern and, after a while, produced a fishing rod. “[What is this?]" she asked.

I rolled my eyes and laughed. And just like that, her interest in the game was gone. I had spent nearly an hour trying to explain the rules to her in my limited Draconic and all it took was a single match for her to move on to something else. I had studied the guttural language for weeks before I got a basic grasp of the vocabulary. It wasn't easy deciphering the half-destroyed dictionary. The pages were soaked and the ink smudged in most places, but enough of it remained readable for me to cram into my head.

The first time I addressed her in her own tongue, she stared in disbelief. She had just returned from one of her hunts, carrying the spoils in her claws and started processing them in the designated spot when I approached her. An'vor sholnr I said. “[Welcome home]".

Eishe forgot what she was doing and just watched me mutely. I unfroze her from her trance by showing her the book, explaining in rehearsed words why I had been studying it. She couldn't read the letters, but when she realized what it was, her eyes lit up.

“[Are you happy?]" was the first thing she said to me. It took a little refresher for me to decipher the sentence, but once I pieced it together it brought a tear to my eye. I cupped her cheek in my hand, smiling into her huge, burning eyes. Of course, my answer was: yes.

The second thing she asked was what a coat hanger was for.

One might think Eisherath's interest in hoarding relics from shipwrecks would dwindle after acquiring an actual stranded sailor, but no. It had redoubled! Every time she brough home a new trophy from the unforgiving coast, she showed it to me excitedly, asking about its purpose.

The shores of the Southern Reaches were deadly. 'Ship killers', we called them. Decades worth of debris littered the coastline, the sea sometimes spitting out flotsam from vessels years sunken. They became objects of interest for Eishe. Her whole life, she would collect trinkets and oddities from foreign lands, fascinated by their unknowable nature; dreaming of worlds beyond the ocean. And now, a piece of it had wandered into her life.

The Reaches were nothing like my homeland. A wild, untamed place. There were no humans here, at least according to Eishe. She didn't even have a word for my kind. And yet, somehow, we had managed to find each other in this dangerous, beautiful land.

She would have me tell her stories from my home. Asked about my life on the sea. Listened with curiosity as I explained each new item she showed me. We haven't even gone over half of her hoard and wouldn't for a while yet. Luckily, we had all the time in the world.

Once I cleaned up the chess set—and the rocks that substituted for the missing pieces—Eishe was already setting up a fireplace by the cave's entrance. After we had eaten and the night had fallen, I sat down near the flames with two books in hand. I scanned my notes and searched for the unknown words in the dictionary. I learned that Hal meant 'sky', Roskuul meant 'to knock down', and Kantha meant 'children'. Or 'hatchlings' as the author had put it, but I imagined it was all the same to a dragon. And just like that, our communication grew a little smoother.

There were a bunch of words I couldn't find as well. That wasn't unusual. The dictionary was incomplete and much of it was beyond saving, the pages shriveled and discolored as the book got washed up. Still, it remained remarkably legible. Whoever it had belonged to must have kept it safe in a bag or such before their ship sank. The volume was filled with odd scribbles and sketches of idols or carvings too, and contained languages from across the world. I imagined its owner a researcher, studying cultures and linguistics. They might have travelled to the Southern Reaches to uncover local tribes and mysteries… only to never make it to the shore. At the very least, their legacy hadn't been for naught.

I closed the books and put them back in their place. The fire was waning and the night air grew chill. The cave never got as cold as I would have expected, much thanks to the thermal spring flowing through, radiating warmth all around. Still, it was a cave and we were high up in the mountains. But despite that, sleep was never a problem.

I took off the furs I'd been wearing, followed by my old boots and pants. The fuzzy pelt which made up our bed felt soft beneath my bare feet. Eishe was already waiting. I stepped over her tail and laid down against her body, the heat from her obsidian scales pouring across my back as she laid her arm around me, clutching me to her chest. She curled up into a circle, her neck and tail wrapping around each other, before covering our forms with her wing.

Lying in darkness, the only point of light that remained was her eye. Vibrant red and highly reflective, with slitted black pupils, Eishe's eyes put me in mind of smoldering embers among black ashes. I reached for that dancing light and caressed her cheek. She closed her eye with a pleased exhale, the warm air from her nostrils brushing against my skin.

“[Good night, Eishe]," I whispered and she responded with a soft, purr-like growl. Together in that embrace, we slowly drifted off to sleep. Just like every night.

***

The next day wasn't quite as peaceful. Chill winds brushed my skin as I wandered the rocky hills surrounding our nest. My boots were holding up just fine after the few necessary repairs, which was a blessing as the jagged rocks that pierced the grassy plains were not pleasant to walk on bare footed. I clutched the furs tighter around my shoulders, scouring the hilltops for any shrubs or edible herbs I could find.

This was what I did for a living now. I couldn't complain, in truth. I was more than willing to take up the role of gatherer while Eishe spent her days hunting; I was far better at identifying the useful plants or shrooms than her. It helped that I was the only of us one who could consume them. I had been worried how we might endure winter as my foraging would be put on hold, but Eishe proved to be expert at hunting even in the cold and here, down in the south, true, lasting snow never came. Between a dragon to provide sustenance and the warmth of the thermal springs, I survived in relative comfort.

Now that spring came, it should have been easy. But my gathering was cut short by the whims of the weather. Again. I rushed back towards the nest, scaling the steep ascent to the cave mouth as the raindrops hit me, heavy as gravel. Thunder rumbled overhead. I shed my wet boots and damp furs, submerging my feet in the hot water. Finally relaxed, I pulled up my satchel and inspected the contents. Empty; save for a singular root.

I sighed and laid back on the stone floor when the beating of great wings disturbed me. Eishe barged in, spraying rainwater everywhere and radiating anger. There was a single small hare in her claws, which she laid aside irritably.

She saw me lounging with my feet in the water and her eyes narrowed. I stood up and walked over to her, eying the rabbit.

“[Welcome back,]" I said. “[No luck?]"

“[No,]" she answered quietly, eyes suspicious. “[You?]"

I presented my nearly empty bag apologetically. “[No Luck.]"

A low growl sounded from her throat. “[Then we go hungry.]" She scowled then moved to prepare the hare, leaving me to ready the firewood.

There was no direct word for 'I'm sorry' in Draconic. Dragons had other means to express their feelings. I stood there for a moment, trying to work out a way to diffuse the tension. “Uhm… [I regret you have to share food again…]"

Eishe turned her head with angry swiftness. Her eyes now appeared less like warming embers and more like a furious conflagration. “[Regret?]" she hissed.

I took a step back, surprised and confused. I chose the next words the best I could, trying to form a meaningful sentence. “[Have I wronged you?]"

“Kartha'sul maegr vhen'ta aergr druul!"

I blinked, my face contorting into a dumb grimace. It was an awkward feeling when your partner yelled at you and you had to go grab a dictionary. I scowled at the pages, eyes widening as I scanned the words. “[You do not mean that!]"

“[You ate our reserves!]" Eishe accused.

“[I was starving too!] I protested. [We had no other food.]"

“[You have your own! That which I can't eat]"

“[It is gone. Weather made gathering bad.]"

“[Lies! You have more left! I saw!]"

I sighed. I saw where the problem lied. I rubbed my eyes as I took a deep breath, mustering a calm voice. “[I know plants are the same to you, Eishe,]" I said, sympathetically, “[but I can't live on] basil."

The anger in her eyes softened. She hung her head low in shame and exhaustion, breath deep and heavy. I approached her and she pressed her head into my chest, my arm hugging her close. “[I am tired,]" she said.

“[I know.]"

Eishe closed her eyes as she leaned into me. She didn't have any words for apology. She didn't need them. I kissed her forehead and let my head fall against hers.

“[We will go down, to the lowlands. When weather is quiet.]" I spoke. “[Find food enough for another winter.]" She rumbled an approving purr.

We stayed like that for a while, as if afraid of letting the day's struggles get between us again. The warmth of her scales against me, her hot breath on my chest, spread comfort through my body, easing the tension that had built up in my muscles.

“[Thank you, my Equal.]" Eishe whispered.

I smiled and murmured in response: “[I treasure you, my Equal.]"

“[Like you are my own heart,]" she finished.

When I first got a grasp of Eishe's language, the first thing I wanted to say to her was to greet her as my lover. I was beyond disappointed when I never found a term for that in the dictionary. Not for 'lover', nor 'mate', not even for 'partner'. Only later have I learned that in Draconic, their word for that was 'Equal'.

As I taught her about the world beyond the sea, Eishe explained to me the intricacies of dragon culture. You could scarcely call it a society, for dragons rarely met up, preferring to keep to themselves or the company of their mates. When encounters did happen and decisions needed to be made, one dragon always deferred to another. In whatever interaction they were in, there was always a hierarchy, with every dragon being a Better or a Lesser to someone, according to a preconceived set of rules. When a dragon refused to submit, there was a fight, ending with one surrendering to the other's authority.

The only one a dragon accepted as an equal was their mate. In their eyes, deeming someone their Equal was the purest expression of trust and adoration possible. There was a kind of strange beauty to it.

The rest of our day was pretty uneventful. I sat by the entrance listening to the rain, while Eishe prepared what food she found. We ate, we talked, she bathed, I watched. Sorting through the stuff I had appropriated from her hoard, I packed what I needed for the upcoming trip. When it came time for sleep, it found us effortlessly. We had a long few days ahead of us.

***

“[What do you see]" I asked as I reached the rocky hilltop.

I laid my bag on the side and sprawled across the stone besides Eishe, looking out over the grassy fields and the horizon full of trees. My breath was heavy and my legs ached. Living in a safe and cozy cave atop a mountain where the view was unmatched and where no dangers could reach us had its downsides. Namely, everything was far away.

The highlands had too much edible vegetation for a single human to complain and Eishe could fetch most the of the rarer stuff herself, so on most days I left the exploration to her. There were times however, when a more thorough foraging needed to be made and a human's walking speed left much to be desired.

I did come forward with the idea of Eishe carrying me once but she quickly dismissed it. It wasn't a matter of pride or anything vain, but rather of safety. As much as I liked to fantasize of racing across the skies on her back, such an attempt would have proven extremely deadly as she was quick to point out. Dragon flight wasn't exactly a smooth sailing. It was a chilling feat of acrobatics, full of rolls and dives and sharp turns as Eishe constantly battled the gale winds at breakneck speeds. There's simply no way I wouldn't fall to my doom. I had no means of properly securing myself.

Even that one time she had to carry the unconscious me to her cave, she'd been awash with fear that she would drop me. When Eishe carried her prey, she used her claws to get a good grip. Trying to maintain a hold on my sweating form without hurting me proved to be a challenge, one that she would rather not repeat. Thus, whenever we wanted to get places, it took days.

It was the dawn of day three when Eishe signaled that she had sighted orcs. Her amazing predator eyesight allowed her to spot the band of shifting green bodies among green trees from high in the skies. This however, also made her plainly visible to anyone who looked up above their head. She made a misdirecting maneuver and vanished behind a group of hills off to the north before reappearing to my right, running up to a vantage point. It took a minute or two for me to catch up.

“[Greenskin,]" she snarled as I crawled to peer over the edge. “[North west. Near stream, bellow lake.]"

I opened the bag of curios from Eishe's collection and dug up one of my personal favorites: a monocular. It was amazing, the things you could find in a dragon's hoard. I followed her gaze as she crouched behind the hilltop like a cat and searched around until I found the aforementioned stream. There, perhaps two hundred meters away, was a band of orcs. Tribal warriors wielding spears and clubs, adorned with red and white warpaints of ash and blood.

I knew the sight well. They had caused us no end of troubles on my initial journey through the Southern Reaches. Luckily, our encounters with them since had been few and brief as we mostly managed to evade the prowling warbands. But the orcs never stopped thirsting for revenge.

At the moment, they appeared to be refreshing themselves, gulping down palmfuls of water or refilling their improvised containers. It was a big group. I didn't get an exact count as I couldn't fit them all into the lens's field of view, but it reached double digits. These guys were ready for war.

There was a figure that stood out. Even among the hulking orcs, it towered over the others. In contrast with the warriors—who were clad in simple loincloths or straw skirts—this one was completely shrouded in a tangle of skins and furs held together with numerous strings adorned with feathers and bones. The only skin he was showing were his bare hands and feet. On his head, he wore a carved wooden mask affixed with antlers and painted with white ornaments. Besides that, it remained completely featureless, with only two round holes where the eyes would be.

“[Who is that? The covered one?]"

“[A greenskin,]" Eishe answered curtly.

I rolled my eyes and refocused them on the figure. What I at first mistook for a spear turned out to be a staff of sorts, its branching tip decorated with carved beads and bird skulls. He was leaning on it, patiently watching the other orcs while they recuperated. Perhaps a war priest of sorts? Or a chieftain?

Whatever the case, the others clearly deferred to him, for after a while, the masked one gestured towards the mountains and the group promptly got up and marched away north. They took the bait. Which of course meant that they were indeed after us.

“[They head wrong. We go on feet,]" Eishe announced. No difference to me. At least we could walk side by side together. In my eyes that was well worth the tradeoff for aerial scouting.

Descending into the verdant grasslands, we continued our journey hidden by the tall canopy of the neighboring forest. The valley was much warmer than the mountaintops I had gotten used to. It was a nice change of air. And of scenery! Flowers bloomed, birds chirped from every branch, insects buzzed in the spring breeze. I loosened the furs draped over my shoulders and exposed my chest to the temperate climate. Overall, the place was rather stunning like this.

It didn't take long for Eishe to perk up, nostrils flaring at the scent of potential food. Even though dragons hunted from the sky, not unlike birds of prey, her sense of smell still humiliated a human's. Downwind, she might even sneak up on prey before it smelled her.

Disappearing into the tall, yellow grass way more smoothly than a being of her size should, Eishe quietly slipped out of sight. I left her to do her thing and proceeded with my foraging. I had already gathered a non-negligible amount of greens on the way down to the valley, but my diet was desperately lacking in flavor. I aimed to gather as much fruit and spices as possible on this trip, preferably something that could be dried to make it last.

Coming across a bush of berries, I set down my spear and started filling my pack. It was a properly made spear this time, with a head of chiseled stone on a length of a sturdy carved wood. I had yet to use it though, which I considered a good thing.

Something rustled in the shrubbery. I quieted down and peered over the berry bush for the source of the noise. A pair of antlers jutted out of the undergrowth, moving slowly and almost without sound like a fish swimming through a sea of leaves. Without looking, I retrieved my spear and circled around the bush. Perhaps this time I could bring home some game.

Advancing slowly, I gripped my spear backwards, readied for a throw. I meant to approach the animal from the side, but as I walked around, the antlers always turned to face me. It must have scented me. Nevermind then. So long as it didn't perceive me as a threat it should work just fine.

I pictured the cervine body to accompany the antlers and calculated the ideal position to strike. I was no hunter, but I gathered that somewhere a foot below the head was a good spot. When I glanced down at my imaginary target though, my hand froze mid throw. From between the shrubbery, two round, yellow irises stared at me, huge and far further apart than I expected for a deer. They were tracking me with the unmistakable forward-facing gaze of a predator.

Sweat broke out on my forehead. I didn't move. Didn't breathe. I swallowed dryly as the abyss gazed back at me from the bushes and thought up a quick prayer about careless wishes, for it was evident the creature before me did not perceive me as a threat.

I backed away slowly, careful not to break eye contact. Whatever the thing was, I didn't want it to think me defenseless—however defenseless I might have been. But as I walked away from the creature, I didn't seem to be putting any distance between us. With every step I took, the predator took a step closer. An arrangement of big, long teeth came into view, protruding out of its mouth from both jaws, followed closely by a wide feline nose. Then the creature lunged.

I threw the spear at the flying shape and heard a squealing roar as I rolled out of the way. The creature thrashed on the ground as it tried to pull the spear out of its shoulder. It had the build of a tiger but was covered in greenish scales, with antlers and a grey mane running down its back.

What was it? A kind of kirin? I didn't wait around to ask and took to my heels. The spear didn't dig in deep; it was a minor wound. Its scales must have been tough. Not as tough as dragon scales, luckily, but that was a high bar to meet. It would likely be after me in seconds.

Panicking, I shouted for Eishe as loudly as I could but it was a narrow chance she'd hear me. I contemplated climbing into a tree but given the thing's feline profile I decided against it. I instead headed out the woods and to the field. There was a small lake somewhere, I recalled. A hope sparked inside me that the creature couldn't swim. A bleak hope; but at least it shouldn't smell me underwater. The problem was remembering where it laid. The dry yellow grass was as tall as me and left cuts across my arms as I brushed it out the way.

“Come on, come on!"

There! A shimmer of water flashed between the stems! I emerged on a rocky bank surrounding a truly small lake. It was more of a pond, really. In fact, I could see all the way to the bottom. There wasn't all that much space to hide.

I heard a rumble behind me and said 'screw it!' I threw my bag and furs from my shoulders and jumped in. I landed submerged up to my knees and had to wade through the water to reach the deep end which made a lot of noise.

I tripped on a big, sharp rock and fell shoulder-first into the pond. Propped up on my arm, I turned just in time to see the animal emerge from the grass; its freaky, yellow eyes fixed on me. I was ready for it to jump and tear right through my neck, but the creature approached the bank and seemed hesitant. It circled the water around, never letting me out of sight. I could practically see the gears turning in its head as it tried to work out how to reach me.

Hah! So I was right about something! A cat is a cat, even if you put antlers on it! I exhaled in relief as the thing inspected my bag and furs with waning interest. Then, my smile froze as the creature faced the pond again and carefully dipped its paw in the water. It appeared reluctant to enter, but after a few test-tries it seemed to have worked out that it could reach the bottom.

The creature took a step.

I shuffled backwards, my hands and feet milling the rocks and the muck as I struggled to get a solid footing. The beast advanced, slowly, as if pushing its limit with every step. I gulped and began to mumble my prayers. Heh! A praying prey! If only the beast had had a sense of humor.

I was about to dive in fully, hoping it might give up, when suddenly, a black blur descended upon the beast, splashing water everywhere. A wave hit my face, making me swallow a mouthful of murky water as I rolled around for a few thousand panicked heartbeats, trying to find the surface. When I emerged, gasping for breath, Eisherath was standing at the bank, jaws locked around the creature's throat. A small red trail swirled in the pond.

I exhaled franticly as my heart gradually calmed down. That was the closest to death I had been in a long time. I had practically stared it in the face! And I would have certainly died if it hadn't been for Eishe. Again.

I was torn out of my shaken state by deep, calming voice. “[Are you hurt?]"

“[No,]" I answered. “[I think.]"

She seemed to put no trust whatsoever in my judgement and inspected me allover as she took my hand and helped me out of the pond. My boots were filled and my breeches were soaked, but at least I could assure myself it was just water.

“[What was that!?]" I asked in the process of removing my clothes. I poured what water didn't leak out the holes out of my boots and left my trousers to dry on the rocky bank.

“Var'shan,“ Eishe responded, inspecting the spear wound at the beast's shoulder. “[You hunted a var'shan?]"

“[It hunted me!]"

“[You struck it,]" she shot back. “[You are brave.]"

“[The word you seek is] idiot," I rebuked.

As my adrenaline dwindled, I collapsed beside the dead beast. Up close, it really was quite astonishing. You would never see something like this back north. “[I mistook it for a deer.]"

“[It mistook you for weak prey.]"

“[I was.]" I objected. “[You saved me. Again.]"

“[You hurt it. You are not weak,]" Eishe proclaimed definitely.

There seemed to be no arguing with her. Conceding, I turned my attention back to the beast. “[Can we use it?]" I asked motioning to the carcass.

“[I can. Meat is tough. Bad for you. I will not let go to waste.]"

At least there's that. I had managed to procure some food after all; even if it was unsavory and only edible for my partner. And I almost died trying.

I traced my hand along the beast's scales. They were nothing like Eishe's. Hers were large and interlocking and very distinctly 'scale-shaped'. Like miniature shields covering her body. And they gleamed! These were small and angular and very matte, colored a faded green with yellowy stripes.

I retrieved my bag and pulled out a knife. I lightly tested the scales with the tip, then pressed harder when they wouldn't budge. It seemed the spear had somehow struck a vulnerable spot. In other words, I got lucky.

“[The hide is tough. Could make for good clothes,]" I commented absently.

Eishe stopped and turned. “[You want to wear scales?]" she asked in surprise.

I stammered, thinking my remark might have offended her. Instead, Eishe looked me over with a curious gaze, eyes narrowed, tilting her head this way and that. “[You would be as a dragon.]"

“Oh," I raised an eyebrow and struck a mock pose. “[Would green suit me?]"

“[Very,]" she remarked, stepping closer so her head hovered before me. “[Or you would be as a greenskin.]"

“[Should I paint myself with blood and ash, then?]" I joked back.

“[Your risk,]" she teased. “[Or I might mistake you for prey too.]"

I swallowed. She had that look again. Involuntarily, I caught myself taking a step back. I knew what typically followed. I had a distinct feeling that things might get a little exiting when we got home. “[Wait until we're back and you can find out how tough a prey I make…]"

I barely finished the sentence when my back hit the ground. Luckily, the rocky bank was mostly made up of small, round pebbles that yielded beneath my weight. Mostly. My more immediate thought however, was Eishe's hand pressing against my chest. She practically loomed above me, her ember eyes alight with live fire. “[Eishe, you… ow… really need to stop doing this! Let go!]"

“[No,]" she whispered. Eisherath leaned down until her muzzle hovered above me, her hot breath vaporizing the water drops right off my chest. “[We mate. Now.]"

“[What? Here?]" I stammered. I had no word for 'outside' other than 'away'. And Eishe's tongue on my neck didn't exactly make thinking easier either_._ “[Under the sky?]"

“[Greenskin gone,]" she growled between licks. “[And no beast goes near me.]"

“[That's not what I'm worrie…]" I managed but stopped short. What was I worried about? It wasn't public indecency if there was no public. Right? We were straight in the middle of nowhere, with not a soul in sight. Only chirping birds, grazing deer and prowling var'shan. Nothing weird.

I was still completely out of wind however. The chase has left me so aching and drained I wasn't sure what help I could be right then. “[I am tired. And hurting.]"

“[Not matter,]" she responded. “[This one is not tired.]"

I tracked her gaze down and had to acknowledge that she was right. The man of the hour indeed seemed quite roused. Yet, that didn't mean I would be able to, OH!

Easing the pressure on my chest, Eishe traced her talon down my midriff until she reached the hem of my underwear, a thin, pink line slowly appearing on my skin along its path. Never having gotten used to her claws near my privates, I quickly scrambled to pull the damp fabric off, sitting up while her muzzle prodded around my groin. Her jaws opened, the razor teeth within inches away from my vulnerable organ. Her long, warm tongue licked all around my shaft, making me shiver, my breath stuck in my throat for a moment. Then, taking me by surprise, her tongue encircled my member whole and pulled it into her maw, almost closing it around it.

This was new. I leaned back on my arms and relaxed, taking in the sensation. It was odd, but good. Simply indescribable, like a slick tentacle or a very oiled-up silken scarf trying to milk me dry as Eishe squeezed her tongue around me. There was just no way to put it into words and make it sound pleasurable, yet it was. My hips would thrust up involuntarily, bumping against Eishe's nose. She let out a pleased rumble at this, her version of a giggle. She was enjoying herself. She always did like making me squirm.

If you had told me six months ago that one day I'd love a dragon enough to let her do this… well, I would have tied you to the mast like a loony! Yet here we were. Leaning on one hand, I reached out the other and caressed her forehead. She was so warm! Her smooth scales twitched as she blinked her eyes, leaning into my touch. Her hand travelled up my leg, squeezing my thigh as her tongue worked her magic on me.

And magic it truly felt. Its inhuman length and Eishe's incredible muscle control proved a truly stunning combination. It wasn't anything like what a human woman might have done. Perhaps it was just my affection for her speaking, but I'd say that it felt better! Coiled around me like a constrictor, the steady pulses as she tightened and relaxed her muscles were driving me mad!

Groaning, my torso jerked up as one particularly intense stroke rocked my whole body. I collapsed against Eishe's head, breathing heavily against her hot scales. With my face resting between her horns, I snaked my arms underneath them and wrapped them around her head, holding it tight against my chest. I closed my eyes and savored the sensation, rocking slightly as she explored around my groin.

This only fed into her plan. Getting a better angle on things, Eishe's strokes became more expert, the motions smoother. She flexed the long appendage around my length, putting extra pressure on the underside, intentionally drawing out each stroke until my hips quivered. The tip was trapped against the roof of her mouth, massaged by the texture of its ridges with every move.

I could barely hold it anymore. Her heat caused sweat to coat my body, making my skin stick to hers. Her strokes seemed to grow more intense by the second, too. Maybe she sensed what was coming, or perhaps she had found the right technique, but either way I was hanging on by a thread.

She closed her jaws tighter, carefully sealing my member inside without nicking it with her teeth. Inhaling, she created a vacuum in her maw, combining her tongue-strokes with suction. That was the last straw and I came undone. Breaking, I moaned and groaned against her scales as the accumulated pleasure spilled from my body like an overfilled bag, finally emptying through a crack at the seams. She accepted it all. Her rumbling giggles vibrated my entire form as I pulled her closer by her horns, my hips thrusting against her muzzle in erratic jerks. I didn't stop until I unloaded my whole being into her insatiable mouth.

I laid there, splayed across my lover's scaly form, arms fallen over her horns. Slowly, she continued to milk and caress my shaft until I regained my breath and let go of her neck, planting a loving kiss against her forehead. Only then did she release her hold. Her jaws parted and she withdrew, her tongue connected to my member by a strand of silvery liquid that Eishe promptly swallowed.

I fell back against the pebbly ground, blissful and exhausted. “You…That was…" I mumbled, defaulting to Common while my brain recovered enough to start piecing together words in Draconic. “[That was incredible.]"

“[Good. I am pleased,]" Eishe responded in what was her 'cheeky tone' while she repositioned herself, the pebbles rattling beneath her feet. “[You can repay now!]"

I glanced up, blinking the sun out of my tired eyes. Eishe wasted no time and had turned to face the pond, lowering her chest to the ground while lifting her voluminous rear up high. Her head, laying sideways on the ground, shot me a mischievous glance as she moved her tail aside and out of the way.

Of course. It all made sense now. She would never pass up the opportunity to enjoy my special attentions. And I was happy to oblige!

Rising to my feet, I treaded over the smooth pebbles until I stood before her rump. Leaning down, I traced a hand along her shin, feeling the hard scales of her digitigrade legs and following them up to her muscular thigh. To bring into perspective just how thick it was, I wrapped both my arms around it, hugging it close. My hands barely clasped together. I kissed its inner side, her muscles shaking beneath my lips. A soft, low rumble emanated from deep within her chest.

Relaxing my grip on her, I worked my way higher and higher, my mouth leaving wet spots along her leg until I reached her center. I inhaled her scent, hovering over her entrance. The plump, vertical lips of her sex sat nestled below a tight triangular hole where her tail met her body. Already she was dripping moisture, her jet scales parting to reveal her pink folds.

Some might say it looked too human. Some might have expected it to take a more reptilian shape. But after spending such a long time around a dragon, I couldn't understand why people thought them to be reptiles. The big, slender, hot-blooded, intelligent creature I came to know was nothing like a lizard. They didn't even have the same number of limbs. If it weren't for their scales, none would ever liken the two together. Then again, there were still landlubbers who thought dolphins were fish.

Touching a hand to her scales I parted her opening, my mouth watering as I gazed into her depths. She shivered as my breath tickled her gleaming walls. I leaned in, my lips about to touch the velvety folds, when I paused.

You know what? No.

I withdrew, much to Eishe's chagrin and confusion. Placing my hands firmly against her flank, I pushed against her with such force which a dragon might consider a gentle pat. Of course, I could never move her myself, but Eisherath read my intent and dutifully rolled over. We had communicated this way long before I had deciphered her language. Seamlessly, she followed my directions as if it truly was me who was moving her with my nudges, molding under my hands like clay until she laid on her back, her wings outstretched, legs hanging in the air.

Eishe never quite understood why I liked to have her splayed before me like this, just chalked it up to a human quirk. Thinking about it, I couldn't really explain it either. There was something appealing about her lying on display, all for me to see; her arms hung in the air, wrists falling limply toward her chest, framing her expectant face. Right now, I simply wanted her to watch.

Sitting astride her tail, I retraced my kisses down her other thigh until arriving at my destination again. The whole time, Eishe never broke eye contact. She monitored my movements with intent expectation, waiting with bated breath for me to finally take the last step. It was fun teasing her back for a change.

Eyes still locked, I spread her lips again and gave them a long, careful lick. Her reaction was instant. Eishe's entire body shook, head falling sideways, teeth clenched and eyes shut. Deriving great satisfaction from this, I continued. Sneaking a few fingers into her tunnel, I pulled her walls apart, revealing the blueberry-sized nub between her folds.

While smaller proportionately to her body than a human's, it was a fact that Eishe's sex was big. Her slit was almost the size of my face, chin to brows. And most unlike a human, her clit was hidden inside her very tunnel.

Despite it being somewhat of a hindrance whenever I went down on her, overall, it had proved to be a very welcome quirk. While Eishe's muscle control alone made my side of things very pleasurable during sex, the sensitive part rubbing against my manhood was guaranteed to drive her insane. In fact, I suspected this was the only reason the two of us could couple normally.

It came as no surprise then that as I snuck my tongue between Eishe's folds and flicked it over the magic nub, her body exploded. Her hips shot up high and her back arched, her thrashing tail bouncing me around the rocky bank. She let out a lengthy roar, her claws drawing lines across the pebbles. Her breath grew loud and rugged; but I had just begun.

Changing my grip on her walls, I gently pressed my fingers against the bottom of her passage, earning another shudder as I moved them back and forth. My tongue formed an O shape around her nub and like through a straw, I sucked. That was a tried and tested technique I had learned early into our unconventional relationship and so I knew what to expect. I had hooked my legs around her tail, holding tightly against her bulk; so, when the inevitable thrashes of extasy came, I wasn't launched away like a rower in a high storm. I managed to hold onto her shaking form even while her tail bounced me around the shore, pebbles flying in all directions.

She wouldn't hold out for much longer. I could tell by the way her breathing had grown sporadic and her thrashes turned to a constant quivering that Eishe was approaching her limit. She was an open book to me.

I doubled down. Forcing my fingers deeper, I spread open her sex until I managed to reach my lips to her clit. Her eyes opened as I paused to catch my breath and she looked to me pleadingly. She didn't dare breathe until I resumed my assault. Massaging my digits across her tunnel in a back-and-forth motion, I encircled her nub with my lips, sucking in until it met my teeth. Eishe groaned as I opened them slightly, letting it press against their edges. As the final act, I flicked my tongue across the nub as I sucked on it, squeezing it softly between my exploring appendage and hard incisors.

This did it. A choked roar resonated through the air as Eishe threw her head back in bliss. The climax overtook her body like a tidal wave. Her back arched, lifting her chest high in the air, her thrashing wings creating whirlwinds of soaring dandelion seeds above the nearby fields. I fought to hold on as the whipping tail bounced me in the air. I had to withdraw my hand when her spasming muscles threatened to break my fingers, her quivering thighs holding my head against her lips.

It took over a minute for her to finally come down from her high. When it was done, her breath stable and muscles still, only then did I let go of her sex and crawled up her body, resting atop her heaving chest. I reached out to caress her neck as I kissed her immaculate scales, feeling her heart beat against my abdomen. The pleased rumble she emitted told me all I needed to know.

“[What did you ever do without me?]" I teased as her claws landed on my head, stroking through my hair. I spoke in jest, but as I thought about it, I grew curious. Though her fingers were as dexterous as anyone's, her talons were far too pointy to safely provide pleasure. The mere thought was painful.

“[I used my own tongue,]" Eishe enlightened me, unperturbed. “[Or my tail.]"

“Oh." My eyes widened. I didn't think she could be so… bendy. As much as I found this interesting from purely anatomical perspective, thinking about it caused blood to rush into my face. I marked this information down for later.

We didn't move or speak for a long time after that, resting together under the noon sky. Not until a change of air reminded us where we were and what we came for. We could have stayed there all day otherwise, soaking up each other's heat, the sunlight, the scents of the spring air. But alas. The distraction needed to come an end.

After washing ourselves in the pond (and, at least in my case, getting dressed) we continued on our resource hunt. Eishe quickly dropped the var'shan off at the nest, once again making me jealous of her wings, while I retrieved my spear and tried to fill up my bag with as much edible plants as I could gather. That was the whole point of the trip after all. Eishe could travel half the continent in a day if she tried hard enough. The trouble with hunting wasn't distance. It was a matter of luck.

I, on the other hand, needed to stockpile food if I wanted any greens in my diet. Dragons were carnivores, so Eishe never had a reason to pay them mind—though she did come to enjoy chewing on mint, a habit which she picked up from me and for which I was honestly somewhat grateful. Still, even now, she didn't have plants quite figured out yet and hunting was work enough. I needed to show I could put in some work too.

Occasionally, Eisherath would stop to check on me under the pretense of watching what I was doing. I knew plants didn't excite her, but her feigned interest made me smile nonetheless. And hey, perhaps she would finally learn to tell grapevines from poison ivy.

Come late afternoon, Eishe had carried several filled bags back to the nest, and even one small deer. Overall, I considered the trip to be a success. We could stay a day or two more, but chances were, I couldn't eat all that I've found before it went bad anyway, even if I dried it, and with orcs in the area, neither of us felt much incentive to linger. So, we found ourselves heading home.

The mountains rose from the earth before us like the spines on a dragon's back, reaching for the sky. It was hard to believe I came all the way from up there. It would take at least two days to get back.

We were walking beside each other across the straight grassy plain, Eishe's scales glimmering in the sun, when suddenly the skies darkened. The myriad little flames I had been watching vanished right from her body. I would have been grateful for the shade as the day had grown quite hot. Only, there were no clouds on the horizon.

Puzzled, I looked up and witnessed a colossal shadow blotting out the sun. The amorphous black silhouette doubled, then tripled in size as it descended upon us, the sound of beating wings filling the air. I knew what I was looking at even before I registered it.

We both turned sharply as the scaled figure landed behind us, dropping to all fours, its wings not-quite-folding beside its body. Held up high, they only exaggerated its already towering form. Its overall build and jet-black scales were reminiscent enough of Eishe, but that's where the similarities ended. For this being dwarfed her!

Double her size, the dragon could easily wrap their fingers around her neck if they so wished. Their head alone was larger than my entire body, the giant pair of black horns curving in a far more pronounced S shape then Eishe's. Atop that, instead of the striking red irises I was used to, this one's eyes were a place, icy blue.

As a child, I never believed in dragons. Like every boy, I grew up listening to tales of great beasts and mythic creatures, sneaking every opportunity I could to look at frescos and murals which adorned the public temples, depicting the most wondrous of the gods' creations. The true wonders of the world! And as I matured, I got to see some of them for myself. But before that, dragons had always remained shrouded in doubt for me. Even with everything I'd seen, I struggled to believe in creatures that could level whole cities, rain down fire from the skies or make even the greatest castles vanish in molten inferno. It wasn't until meeting Eishe that I realized just how exaggerated some myths could truly be.

Standing there then, I wondered whether they'd been exaggerated at all.

Eishe stared with an expression I had never seen before. Her body language that I had considered myself an expert on was a jumbled mess: fear, amazement, respect, anger and disbelief all fought for dominance over her stance. And yet, what she ultimately displayed wasn't any of them.

“Halrathorm," she cursed in whisper.

The dragon scanned over us, their gaze sending chills over my body. The cold eyes switched between Eishe and me, barely stopping to consider my diminutive form as their owner took in my worn clothes and the spear I carried. Then scoffed.

“[This?]" the dragon spoke to Eisherath. Their voice was thunder: booming, distant and emotionless; a force of nature in and of itself. “[You keep strange company,] echar. [Why dare be found with a worm like this?]"

Eisherath stood resolute. “[He is my Equal,] attra hes!" she exclaimed, putting herself between me and the other dragon as they slowly circled each other.

“[Equal?]" the dragon snarled, face neutral, demeanor cold, but there was venom in the words. “[Answer, child of fire, are you equal to a worm?]"

I wasn't yet sure what was happening, but a strange premonition was taking root. And Eishe was having none of it! “[Speak of him again so and I will] arghul as'tar [your] versoka!"

At this, the opposing dragon's bearing changed. The distant voice grew louder, searing; the shift of their shoulders into a menacing posture preceding the thundering voice like lightning.

“[Watch your tongue! You threaten your Better, child!]" the figure snarled. “[A broken egg you are, 'Rath, the brownskin is proof. Heed me as my Lesser, do not waste yourself on this thing, or you will drown in regret!]"

Chided, Eishe seemed to shrink beneath the dragon's ire. But as her body appeared smaller, her anger only grew. And I have had just about enough as well. This stranger has dropped by only to hurl insults like they are raining and thinks they have any say in my Equal's affairs? Scolding her until she cowers?

“[What is this about?!]" I shouted.

The dragon met my gaze for the first time, contempt simmering behind those eyes like magma beneath a glacier. I didn't need to be well versed in their ways to tell I was unwelcome in the exchange, but dragon code-of-conduct be damned, what kind of partner would I be if I didn't stand up for her?! And did they just call her 'Rath?

“[You do not get to insult us without reason! Who do you think you are to speak to her like that? Who is this?]" I turned to Eishe for an explanation. The other dragon simply watched, like they spat fire out their eyes instead of their mouth. If looks could incinerate, I would have been a pile of ash.

Eishe didn't look my way when she spoke, her gaze was fully fixed on them: “[He is my] attra,"

“[Your what?]" I asked.

But Eishe didn't respond. The other dragon beat her to it, my blood freezing as his chilling voice rang out in the air. For he answered me in Common: “Her father!"

I stared at him mouth agape. The dragon's face twisted in disgust, as if merely addressing me somehow fouled his tongue. He turned away, not wasting time on me further.

“[The thing is a pest; it does not belong. If you have sense, you will kill it!]" he said to Eishe without even looking her way, preparing to take to the air. “[I will be back. If the worm is still here when I return,]" he proclaimed, glancing back at us over his wing, “[I will devour it.]"

With that final remark, he stood on his hindlegs and leaped to the sky. I wanted to shout, to demand answers, anything! But no voice escaped me and the sheer force of his wings was enough to knock me off my feet before Eishe jumped in to shield me from the gale wind.

On the ground and coughing dust, I watched the dreadful shadow shrink into a black dot in the sky then disappear. And with it my future.

***

Eishe didn't speak much that day. For the most part, she wasn't even there. She remained quiet after her father left, not responding to my attempts at conversation. When I tried to touch her shoulder, she pulled away. That only hurt me deeper. After few minutes of walking in silence, she took flight and left. She never said where she went. All I could do was to continue alone, hoping she might pop back in.

It was half a day when I finally found her again, hiding in one of our shelters midway up the mountain. She laid curled up in a ball, blending into the shadows in the rocky crevice. By my estimations, it was past midnight.

I approached her slowly, like I would a cornered stray, not wanting to scare her away. “Eishe?" I tried, kneeling by her side. In all our time together, I had never seen her cry. I didn't think dragons could. Her soft, vulnerable shaking however, looked very much like its equivalent.

“[You should leave,]" she said, her voice not quite right.

“[I am not going and you need to talk to me,]" I responded, shuffling closer, sitting with my back against the rock wall. “[If you did not want to talk, you would be home now.]"

Her wing uncurled, revealing her distressed face, eyes shaking in their sockets. “[You should leave. Forever.]"

I felt broken. I didn't know what to do. What do you say to you partner at a moment like this? I couldn't leave! I wouldn't survive on my own out there, that has been proven time and time again. But more than anything, I just didn't want to. I didn't know how to be without her.

“[I cannot leave you, Eisherath.]"

“[You must!]" she said, leaning her face closer for emphasis.

I reached for her arm and she pulled away. “[I will not. I care for you, my Equal. And I do not care what others think!]"

“[Halrathorm will kill you!]"

I took a deep breath, looking out of the crevice at the starry sky. The reminder of our problem's cause made denial harder. “[That is his name?]" I asked. “Halrath-orm?" I understood the individual words, but together they made no sense to me. For one, they were both nouns. Sun-shadow? Sun-darkness?

“[It is when sun meets the moon and there is night in day,]" she supplied.

“Eclipse," I mumbled. Somehow, giving a name to the figure didn't help. I recalled the sky darkening above me, the shape of those colossal wings blotting out the sun. A shiver ran down my spine.

“[He is giant…]" I lamented. “[Will you grow that large?]"

“[No,]" Eishe answered. “[I am grown. I will not get much larger. Some dragons are big, some are small.]"

“[How do you tell a grown dragon then?]"

“[By horns. When your horns grow fully and start to curve, you are grown. The older you grow, the more they curve. Father's curve much because he is old.]"

The snarky remark made me chuckle. And here I thought it was a gender thing. I was glad to have gotten her talking again. But I wasn't sure how far I could push my luck.

“[What about your…]" I faltered, lacking a word, “[your father's Equal? Do you take more after her?]"

“[I never met my] kedra. [She is long dead. Before I was born.]"

I scrunched my forehead. “[Before you… you mean from your egg?]" Eishe nodded.

I sighed. That was grim. Dying in childbirth was not rare. Not frequent, but it was still an all-too-common story for humans. And some had lost their fathers sometime after being conceived. But losing your mother before even coming into this world, that was hard for me to wrap my head around. But I suppose, to the child left behind, it didn't make much difference.

“[How does he speak] Common?" I queried. The question had been weighing on me since the encounter. “[Why did he never teach you?]"

“[I do not know,]" Eishe responded, just as confused as I. “[I never knew he spoke your tongue. He never mentioned.]"

I could see the clear bewilderment in her and decided to give it a rest. The mystery was eating her up inside. There was no need to muse over it now.

“[Do you believe your father's threats?]" I asked. Eishe nodded grimly. There was no doubt in her mind about his sincerity. “[Could you make him reconsider?]" I suggested. “[Make him change his mind]"

“[No,]" she shook her head. “[He is my Better. He speaks and I obey. That is all he knows.]"

“[We could both leave. Go far away. Where he will not find us.]"

“[He will. He will follow me and he will catch you. You must go without me! Only then you live.]"

“[I won't. I cannot survive alone. You know it. I care for you, Eishe! I…]" Fuck! I appreciated the importance of gestures and body language for dragons, but damn it, sometimes I really wished I could just tell her I love her!

That was the problem, wasn't it? I fell in love with someone I really shouldn't have. With a being so much unlike myself that I couldn't even survive a day in her world without her aid. And it was going to cost me.

How had I ended up here? How could anyone ever end up in a situation like this? And—more importantly—how would I get out?

I shuffled closer to Eisherath and, to my relief, she opened her wing and curled up around me, letting me bask in the warmth of her scales. The night had grown cold and I didn't even notice how tired I was.

“[We will find a way, Eishe. I know we will.]"

It was a weak reassurance. I knew it, and so did she. But in the moment, it was the best I could do. We both needed a clear head for this. This wasn't a problem she could solve with force and it wasn't a problem I could hide from. So let's wait. Maybe if we give it time, a way out will present itself. In the meantime, I had a life to go back to. A home. A partner. And I was determined to stay strong for her, so that I could look her in the eye and assure her that nothing could ever tear us apart.

Until Eclipse came.

***

The journey back was somber. I had covered a lot of distance trying to catch up to Eishe the day prior and so we made it home before midnight. A whole day less than the way down. For some reason, every task had an overwhelming sense of urgency attached to it. Like we had no time to spare.

I had spent much of the following day in anxiety. Eishe was pacing left and right, flying in and out the cave with no clear goal. I felt much the same; occupying myself with processing the gathered plants, drying and preserving them in bulks just to focus on anything but the future. Still, I kept turning sharply to the entrance at every slightest noise, expecting the great dragon to barge in at any moment.

Eishe grew more irritable every time she returned. I wasn't sure if she knew at all what she was doing, or simply prancing around to not feel useless, but who could blame her. I was in the same place.

Drifting off to sleep wasn't the same anymore either. Our typical peace eluded me. Instead of the comfort and warmth Eishe usually brought when she curled around me like a living shelter, I was merely reminded of everything I was about to lose. When I woke up the next day, I was lying alone on the familiar pelt. That wasn't uncommon. Eishe would often leave hunting even before I woke up. When she hasn't come back long after noon however, I was starting to grow worried.

It was after dark when she finally appeared at the entrance, stirring me from my frantic jittering. She seemed positively elated. Bouncing left and right, her rumbling voice an octave higher than usual, I had trouble making out a word she said.

“[They are gone! The greenskin are gone!]"

“Wait, slow down," I interrupted. “[What happened? Gone how?]"

“[From the south! It is empty! You can go now! Go south! You will be safe! Be far! Be home!]"

“[South? Home?]" I repeated, not making a sense of things, when it hit me! “The canal…" I mumbled.

A way off the Southern Reaches.

When I first got stranded here, my plan was to make my way to the southernmost point on the continent, where a narrow canal separated two landmasses. It was a frequent route for trading ships of all kinds, close to the shore. Someone was bound to see me and rescue me if I waited there just a while. After I learned that the orcs had blocked it, ambushing any passing ship, my plan went up in flames. It was only thanks to Eishe that I hadn't fallen into their grasp. Without her, I wouldn't have even made it there in the first place.

And now they were gone. Had they been driven off by a fighter fleet? Some merchant prince who had lost too much cargo? Guild-hired mercenaries? It didn't matter. The way was clear. I could catch a passing ship. Depart back north. Leave the Reaches behind! Only…

In my time spent with Eisherath, I had all but forgotten about my original plan. I came to see this place as more than the hostile wasteland I had considered it. It was beautiful and full of wonders and, above all, above anything, I had managed to find something I never expected I'd find! I had built a life for myself here! This place had become my home. I didn't want to leave anymore. But I had to. There was no other way.

I sat down on a barrel by the cave wall, holding my head in my palms. Was this it? Was my time here finally over?

Reading my expression, Eishe laid down beside me, her face close to mine. “[You are sad.]"

“[I cannot leave,]" I said. “[Not anymore.]"

“[You must,]" she pleaded softly. “[There is no other way. You will be on water again. On the sea! You will be with your kind!]"

My kind. I scoffed. MY kind!? Half of my crew were non-humans. Ogres, gnomes, nagas; I had gotten along with each of them just fine! What makes a dragon any different? Aren't we all the same inside? If only a certain winged brute could understand that! Besides… my crew were all dead. “[I do not want to go back. I have all I need. I have you.]"

Eishe looked heartbroken. Downright tearful. But she leaned in closer anyway, forcing her face into my fogged-up field of view. “[I do not want you to go, Edmund]" she said. “[But I need you to!]"

I met her gaze as she spoke my name. The pained, pleading look in her scarlet eyes was breaking me inside. In knew she was right. I knew what needed to be done. But merely knowing something and admitting it to yourself were things worlds apart. She sneaked her head between my arms and gently licked my face. I slumped my head against hers, arms hugging under her chin, holding her close to me. I savored the feeling of her warm scales. Despite everything, they still brought comfort, even knowing that no matter my decision, I would be losing her.

“[I need to think on it,]" I whispered.

Eishe didn't say anything. She wasn't content with that answer, I knew, but she allowed me my time to reflect. With night already fallen, we didn't wait around and soon went to sleep. It was harder still. Laying huddled against her chest, encircled by her from all sides, I did what I could to not clutch her to me as tightly as possible. In my mind, I could already feel her slipping away.

***

Sleep was not helping. Every time I closed my eyes, I found my darkest fears taking shape right beneath my eyelids, only to wake up again and see the nightmare continue. I lost count of the times I had shaken myself awake and decided to get some fresh air.

Sneaking out from Eishe's embrace was tough, but in the end, I managed to disentangle myself from her. The surrounding air was much cooler than the bubble of warmth beneath her wing. Following the sound of rushing water, I found the hot spring near the cave entrance and dunked my feet in the warm water.

The moon was full and high in the sky. The cutout of the star filled horizon beyond the cavern was like a gateway to another realm, bathing me in its pale midnight light. I have had my fair share of such nights aboard ships and yet. There was simply something ethereal about that view.

Pulling my legs from the pond so I could sit facing the vista, I had caught a glimpse of my reflection on the surface. I have to say, I didn't look bad for a castaway. Finding a razor in Eishe's hoard wasn't hard so my beard was kept, I was clean and had gained much of my lost weight back under her care. That, coupled with my tattoos and earrings—a trademark of all sailors—meat that I could recognize myself with ease. Still, I couldn't say if it was the initial struggle of being stranded, the stress of the past few days or the eerie moonlight that finished the impression, but I seemed to have aged years.

“Well, it's a real pickle this time, eh?" I said to the man in the water even as I turned away from him. “What are the chances he's testing me, you reckon? To see if I'll fight for her?" I asked. “He's gonna come back and say: 'Well done lad! You've shown your courage and proven you are worthy of my daughter's hand! You are fit for a true dragon! Here's the dowry!'"

My voice echoed away against the quiet stone. Warily, I glanced back at the gloomy face staring at me from the pond. “Yeah…" I sighed. “I thought as much."

What now? I thought. I couldn't ask her to fight him off. He was her father! And besides, the man was monstrous! The biggest creature I had ever seen! Even if she was willing to fight him on my behalf, he could snap her in two! I couldn't put her in such danger! Not if I wanted to live with myself afterwards.

A million grave thoughts raced through my mind. I tried to suppress them, to relax, to calm down and go back to sleep but once I had voiced one, there was no stopping them anymore.

“What did you think you had going on here?" I yelled at the intruding reflection. “A life? A future? She's a dragon you bloody moron! You must have known it wouldn't last!"

Out of frustration, I reached for a random rock I saw lying around and chucked it into the pond. The splash rippled through the water, deforming the image. I exhaled a deep breath. The emotional turmoil alone had exhausted me. I sat there for minutes before I calmed down enough to speak. “It was good. It was fun. But it can't go on. You don't belong here and you know it. You never did. It is time to wake up."

Having reached something that approached acceptance, I felt at once numb and at peace. Or perhaps it was the numbness that felt peaceful. Bidding farewell to the starry horizon in more ways than one, I stood up and shambled back into the heart of the cave. I had made my decision. It was time to go home.

Tiptoeing back to the pelt I had been sleeping on for half a year, I was about to attempt sneaking back in when Eishe wordlessly lifted her wing for me. I almost chuckled. Of course she would have! Already, I started to miss her.

I laid back down in her embrace and she welcomed me in, never saying anything. What for? It would only ruin the moment. The best we could do was to enjoy today while it lasted. And tomorrow, I was going to leave my life behind.

***

After three days of travel, I could almost forget where we were headed. Almost. Saying Eishe was happy that I had agreed would be untrue, but perhaps she was… satisfied? Relieved? I had spent the next morning packing and, upon Eishe's insistence, we headed out the same day. It didn't take too long. There wasn't much I had to my name and what little I did have had come from Eishe's hoard. I mostly filled my bag with food, the monocular, a compass, a knife, spare fabric and every medicinal herb I could find, then grabbed my spear to carry along. Just in case. Oh, and lastly, I brought my notebook and dictionary.

She would accompany me to the canal. Let's face it, I likely wouldn't have made it through the first day without her; that much couldn't be argued. I should have been glad for every extra day we had, but in truth, her presence only made each step feel heavier.

Five days in, we had already passed a third of the way. I had sketched a map in my notebook according to Eishe's description. The terrain would only get better the further south we got, so if we continued at this tempo, we could get there in less than a week. Somehow, I didn't find that prospect comforting.

The mountain range traced the eastern coast all the way to the canal. Since Eishe couldn't walk through the thicket and we wished to stick together, we followed the line where the forest encroached upon the rocky foothills. We also left no footprints that way. Call it paranoia.

Where the rocks had gotten impassable and I had to detour through the jungle, she flew. She tended to avoid flying where she could; like I would fall in grave danger the moment she let me out of her sight. There was a precedent, I had to admit. The only occasion when we both descended into the canopy was camping. A fire out in the open would attract attention and the smoke would give us away during the day. We only kept the fire going long enough to cook, then doused it. There was no use keeping it. The nights were never cold with Eishe around.

The setting sun shimmered on the lake's surface. We had come across a small body of water cradled between the foothills and the forest line; and so, weary and in a need of a wash, we decided to rest early today. We deserved a little relaxation in the light of the inevitable future.

Trying to cleanse my head of dark thoughts, I watched the rings form on the water as I threw another rock, skipping it on the lake's surface; a pastime I had not engaged in in a long time. Eishe had observed me curiously, working out the mechanics, before picking up a rock of her own. It made one measly skip before sinking to the bottom. Her technique wasn't bad—she understood the method quickly—and neither was her choice of rock; it was her anatomy that betrayed her. Her hand was dexterous enough, though maybe a bit too big, but her limited shoulder movement hindered her attempts.

Seeing another stone splash and sink, I stood at her side and guided her. “[You need to spin it,]" I said, laying my hand against her side, holding her wrist with the other. I translated the movement to her body as I mimed a throw; she needed to swivel her whole torso to achieve the motion but seemed to get the hang of it well enough. I stepped aside and let her make the toss. The stone skipped twice on the water before disappearing in the dark beneath. Eishe shot me an excited, wide-eyed look before hurriedly grabbing another stone and repeating the action.

She quickly got more invested in the rock skipping than me. Before long, I retreated back and laid on the grassy hill behind, merely watching the thrilled dragon at her new game. It was peaceful. Perfect.

As night fell, we huddled together between the surrounding peaks, looking over the quiet land. “[What is this one?]" Eishe asked me eventually, motioning to one of my tattoos.

I glanced down to my shoulder to see what she was pointing at: a hand dropping two coins into an open, predatory maw. “[It is called] 'Sailor's toll'," I answered. “[A man paying Death to pass him by.]"

“[Why do you have it?]" she followed up. “[Tell me the story!]"

I thought back, quiet for a moment, then obliged her. “[Once, when I lived on the sea, we travelled to islands on the east. We were asked to bring rare materials to and from there. Nothing unusual so far. Hours before departing, an old man approached us. He said he heard which route we were to go and warned us, saying that any who venture there never return. He spoke of a beast in the water, one from myth.] A sea serpent." I frowned, missing a word. “[What do you call an animal: small, scaly and without legs?]"

“Eshka," Eishe answered.

“[It is like that, but big—bigger than you! And lives in the sea.]" Eishe listened attentively, only a hint of skepticism in her face. “[The man said he barely escaped it with his life while his companions perished; that the creature sinks and eats all who cross it. Unless we throw something precious to it as offering; a piece of what we carried. Our Better called the man a fool and told him to begone! He said no such creatures exist and that any who believed him would be left behind on shore. We remained quiet after that; but as we travelled further, fear began to spread. Nearing the place where the monster dwelled, the crew pleaded with our Better, begging him to make an offering, but he refused. He would not give away any of our cargo, or he wouldn't get rewarded for what was missing.]"

I got lost in reminiscence as I recounted the tale. Suddenly, I felt a great nostalgia wash over me; remembering the moment as if it was yesterday. I shuddered to admit it, but I missed the sea.

“[What happened then?]" Eishe asked, prompting me to continue.

“[Two members started to argue,]" I spoke, stoking the scales on Eishe's forehead. “[Each had a treasure—something precious to them—and each wanted to throw the other's to the ocean as a sacrifice.]"

“[Like the metals in your ears?]" she interrupted.

I chuckled. “[Not quite, but close enough,]" I responded. Sailor's earrings were almost sacred as far as seamen were concerned. The trinkets in question were useless and sentimental, though made of expensive enough metals to be considered treasures.

I recalled explaining the meaning behind my earrings to Eishe. It wasn't until months after the shipwreck that she discovered they weren't a part of my body! It was an amusing memory. Her sheer incomprehension of the concept of material value never failed to make me smile. She was only interested in what they meant to me.

Receiving another nudge from her, I shook off my reminiscing and I continued: “[I was sitting high above, watching as the men began fighting, the others gathering around them to watch; they all secretly feared the monster and wanted one of the two to win. Then, as the fight got more violent, our Better approached them and took both of their tressures. He screamed at them for being gullible, then threw both treasures in the water. He told everyone this was a lesson for believing in mythic tales and most of the onlookers left, feeling ashamed.]"

I paused dramatically. “[Then, as they all quieted and I climbed up to the crow's nest, I saw it! A giant tail rose from the water in the distance, then vanished back in the dark sea!]" Eishe shot me a disbelieving look, leaning over me, but I simply nodded. It was true. “[I never told anyone. I didn't want others to panic and our Better would have scolded me. But it happened.]"

“[I am the first to know?]" she inquired, sounding flattered. I confirmed. She nuzzled her face to my chest and I hugged her tightly. “[Your life was thrilling. You have traveled so far and seen so much!]" she said. I suppose I couldn't argue. “[Are you thrilled? To see what new stories you will have?]" She asked, sounding happy for me. Had it been half a year earlier, I might not have detected the concealed sorrow in her tone.

My content demeanor faded. Being reminded of the imminent future quickly drained my enthusiasm. I couldn't tell what was more unnerving though: the knowledge that I was leaving, or the thought that she might be right. Still, a darker notion overshadowed the others. Visions of another life. Of an impossibility that I tried not to dwell on.

“[What is it like?]" I asked as we were dozing off. “[Being a dragon?]"

“[Don't understand,]" Eisherath responded confusedly.

“[You can go anywhere. Do anything. Cross the continent in a day. Fly in the sky.]" I gestured with my hands as I laid on the ground, reaching out towards the stars.

Eishe mused for a moment. “[It is all I have known. I never thought about it.]"

True. Why would she? I have never contemplated being human until meeting her either. She had all that power at her clawtips and she had never questioned it. It was second nature to her. No; it was her nature. What did that make me then? How could I ever compare to someone like her? And she called herself my equal…

“[You are brooding.]"

“[No,]" I lied.

“[Again.]"

Sighing, I turned on my back to avoid her gaze. “[If I was a dragon, this would not be happening,]" I observed.

“[Do not speak the thought!]" she interrupted. “[It is not your fault that this has come.]"

Right. I knew who was to blame; but it didn't help. “[I wish I could be like you. Big. Strong. unbreakable. I wish I could help you too, not just the other way around! To rely on myself! To travel the skies!]" I shouted, but my voice stayed low. I had often fantasized about being like her; what our life could have been like if I hadn't so frail, so unable to keep up. But in these past few days, those thoughts had turned from a harmless daydreaming to a consuming regret.

“[And do you hate what you are?]" Eishe asked. I frowned. She always knew just what to say to throw me off.

“[I never did,]" I answered. Not until now.

“[Then do not start.]" Her tone had left no room for debate and to emphasize this, she clutched me tight to her chest, squeezing together every inch of our bodies that she could. I wasn't going to argue then. No matter how I felt.

***

The sixth day we ran into an issue. The map I was studying was depicting a river cutting across our path somewhere in the near future. The hills had gotten untraversable, so we were walking across sparse copses of hardy shrubs interlaced with wide fields of short grass. Everything was damp. There were big, round boulders scattered everywhere. Piled up high, and completely overgrown with grey moss, they resembled stacked bodies of some fallen giants on the battlefields of the gods. Climbing over them proved harder than it looked, the moss slippery and unstable. It was about midday when we finally ran into the river. Only, I had never expected quite what we found.

“[It is endless!]" I shouted as I gazed down the rift. My head spun just looking at it. The river had eroded a ravine in the ground! I could barely make out the white water rushing down at the bottom, only its thundering sound.

“[I never noticed,]" Eishe explained. “[It looks small from the sky.]"

Honestly, the problem wasn't its depth anyway, but rather its width. The other side of the ravine was about thirty meters away; maybe forty. And no way across for miles.

“[There is path to west. Half day your speed,]" Eishe informed. She was still breathing heavily from the recon flight.

But the path she suggested was simply too long. And it would put us off course. It's not that I was anxious to leave the Reaches, but truthfully, I was already sweating cannonballs. Every time the sky dimmed, goosebumps would break out over my body. I kept looking up at every passing cloud, every distant noise, expecting the stalking shadow to swallow me whole. At least one thing would get better once I was gone.

“[Or I could carry you,]" Eishe suggested.

I took one quick look down the abyss. “[No.]"

Her tone had been cheeky, but she rolled her eyes still. “[Are you afraid? It was your idea.]"

“[You said it was dangerous. That you couldn't hold me safely.]"

“[It is only for a heartbeat.]"

“[Your heartbeat in flight above that is ten of mine!]"

“[You think sky is less dangerous? Why suggest if you fear?]"

This was useless. It could go on all day. I pinched my nose, preparing my retort, when a new voice disturbed us. A warcry.

I looked back the way we came and froze in dread. Orcs were making their way through the field, materializing from the maze of rocks like apparitions. Their soot-painted faces and grey fur adornments blended in with the ghastly surroundings, like the earth itself had risen to haunt us. I swallowed. They must have seen Eishe as she was searching for a way past!

Armed with obsidian spears taller than a man and clubs that looked heavier than one, the brutes spread out to cut off our escape routes, trapping us against the cliffside. I had counted seven warriors in total. They laughed and snarled at our predicament, but it wasn't any one of them who had been speaking.

Up on a ledge of rocks, an eighth figure loomed; taller than even the warriors themselves—or any orc I had ever seen up north—fully covered in skins and furs. A wooden mask hid his face, bleached antlers framing it from both sides. Its only features were two round eyeholes, the barest glimpse of yellow irises peering from within.

If there's been any doubt that this was the warband from before, it has been erased. Though certainly not their full force. They must have split up into recon groups to cover more ground in their search for us. Their leader—whatever he was—inspected us from above, leaning onto the carved branch he carried, dangling charms rattling in the wind. Nails like claws, he reached out a hand and hissed a command: “Dhuri zuur! Balgu hutaar!"

I had no clue what it meant and I didn't plan on asking. Backing away behind Eishe, I allowed her to take up her combat pose, limbs apart and body close to the ground to protect her vulnerable underside, shielding me with her wings. She circled around to put herself between me and our assailants, but the orcs were smart. Of all the dragons in the Reaches, she was the only one who couldn't simply fly away when outnumbered. They knew she would try to protect me and would use that fact to get to her. They had done so before.

Careful of the ravine behind me, I slowly sidestepped to the left, staying covered behind Eishe's wing. She shielded me from the orcs' sight to give me a chance to sneak away, but they weren't thick enough to fall for it. The leftmost warrior followed suit, blocking Eishe's path as the group closed in on us. There was a change in her breathing. I readied myself. Feigning a claw lunge, Eishe baited the orc into charging at her, spear raised, only to turn and swipe him with her tail instead, sending him plummeting down the rift.

This was my opening. I made a run for it and managed to slip the attackers' blockade. Eishe swiftly jumped over the orcs that ran to intercept her and blocked their path, giving me enough time to put some distance between myself and the danger. My flimsy spear would do nothing against a force like that. Even one on one, an orc could easily end me. Better to wait this one out.

I hid behind a stack of rocks and peered over them at the unfolding skirmish. Eishe fought like devil to try and keep them from slipping past. The orcs were more careful now, reluctant to rush in without me to use as a distraction. They had lost their advantage.

One of the savages sneaked up to her from the side and raised his club against her wing, trying to ground her by shattering its bones. She was faster, withdrawing it from the bludgeon's arc and clawing the wielder across the chest. Another orc had used the distraction to hurl his spear at her neck. Eishe ducked and the tip rebounded off the scales of her back, landing harmlessly in the bushes.

I winced as I saw the weapon touch home. I remembered the damage they could do. My hand reflexively clutched my bag, making sure it was still there.

The leader jumped down from his vantage point with a thud. He moved slowly, entirely unperturbed by the ongoing fray, as if every step he took was somehow an honor we were unworthy of. The warriors blazed with courage as he joined their side. Reinvigorated, they launched such an onslaught at Eishe, she had trouble pushing back against their attacks and had to retreat.

Losing ground, she backed up nearly all the way to my hiding spot. This only encouraged them further. A daring orc had slipped underneath her guard and swung his club upwards at her chin. That didn't work out well for him. Eishe moved aside, then opened her mouth and caught his arm in her jaws, teeth carving scarlet lines into his flesh. She lifted him in the air and with a shake of her head sent him flying over his compatriots. His body shattered as it rolled over the ground, slumping down unmoving.

The leader watched the fighter fly by with little reaction. The others it only angered more. Refusing to yield further ground, Eishe resorted to desperate measures. She hated using fire for violence. She spoke of it as a divine gift to dragons, a way to ensure warmth in the night and light in darkness, their command over it a proof they were more than beasts. Other mortals had learned it from them and thus gained wisdom to rise above base instinct. But when survival was at stake, enough was enough.

First came the sound. A low rumble built up inside Eishe's chest as she sucked in air. The sound seemed to make the very wind stop. The leader approached fearless, cutting through the throng of orcs even as Eishe stood on two legs, towering over the warband. The orcs rushed behind the masked one as he held his staff forth, propping it against the ground like a ward. Then, flames engulfed them.

I partly turned away to spare myself the sight of incinerated flesh, then stopped to stare in utter astonishment. Even against the searing heat of the fire I felt goosebumps rise up. Where the orcs should have stood ablaze, the cone of flame parted, washing over a bubble of empty air like a river over a rock. When the blaze subsided, they all stood without a singe.

Terror ran through me as understanding dawned.

Eishe stared at the circle of uncharred moss with shocked offence. She let out a scream of pure rage and lunged herself at the masked orc. I wanted to shout warnings, but it was too late. The shaman raised his staff aloft, runes glowing, and Eishe crashed against a wall of invisible force. Robbed of momentum, she tumbled straight down. Before she found her footing, the mage swung the branch like a club and a surge of unseen power rammed into her like a giant fist, sending her backwards in a ragdoll flight.

I turned back to stare at her limp form, clawed feet slipping on the wet moss as she failed to rise. The masked shaman walked afore the warband, approaching the fallen dragon like a cornered prey, the myriad trophies hung about his attire chiming with each step. I could not simply let the events unfold anymore. Anger overcame my fear and I vaulted the rock I'd been hiding behind, charging at the leader spear first. The orc simply thumped his staff against the ground without sparing me a glance and I bounced off his force field like I had ran into a wall, the stone tip of my weapon bending sideways before my head rebounded off the mystic energy.

I fell on my back, twinkling stars blotting out my vision. I felt nauseous. Concussed, I tried to gather myself as a looming shadow fell over me. The shaman's antlered shape coalesced above me as my vision cleared, tilting his head as he examined me. He used the butt of his staff to turn my face sideways; the sharpened end of wood digging into my skin made me feel like a specimen on a dissection table. I could read no intent from that black outline. He simply watched. Then, as if unimpressed, the orc lifted the staff, poised to skewer me with the spike to end my feeble existence.

A giant mass of scales rammed into the shaman from the side, swatting him away. Eishe had managed to stand and punched the orc with her powerful wing, sending him crashing against a rock wall, limbs bent at impossible angles.

I felt a momentary glee before it quickly turned to desperation. Even before I stood up, he was already rising. Bracing against Eishe's bulk, I watched in abject horror as the shaman's bones quickly snapped back into place, reforming themselves like a twisted joke against nature. The orcs weren't shaken by their leader's state for long either. They were already converging on us. Cutting off our escape routes and backing us up closer to the cliff edge.

I looked back and swallowed down more nausea. The situation was looking worse for us by the minute. Between the roiling waters down below and the unnatural powers of the orcish shaman, the abyss was starting to look like the better option.

Eishe must have had the same idea. Turning her back against the horde, she grabbled me under my arms with one hand and ran straight at the edge of the ravine. “[Hold strong!]" she said.

“No, wait!" I shouted my protests, but she was already halfway into a jump, wings spread and gliding. I screamed as the ground disappeared beneath me. My vision filled with a bottomless chasm, the thundering sounds of the water rising from deep below. I did my best to hold on to Eishe without dropping everything, but my arms were sweaty and shaking and the orcs wouldn't make it easy on us. Not halfway through, a spear flew by and I felt Eishe swerve. Dodging the projectiles, she lost her balance and her grip on me was slipping. She couldn't use her claws without hurting me and I didn't have any to hold on with, so she grabbed the furs I was wearing tied over my shoulders instead, hoping they would carry my weight.

They did not.

The laces untied and I screamed in horror as I fell freely through the air and into the endless ravine before suddenly, grass appeared beneath me as my momentum had carried me the rest of the way to the edge. I rolled around the ground, miraculously avoiding impaling myself on my spear as it tumbled away along with my bag. Eishe collapsed right after me, tired and shaken more than myself.

Breathing through the experience, we turned back to see the warband pout in irritation at their prey escaping. The orcs had congregated around the fallen warrior Eishe had sent flying, staring defiantly at us as his broken from rose and fell with weak breaths. The shaman, fully moving and on his feet, stood over the wounded orc. Kneeling down, he reached out a hand, his claw-like fingers touching down at the warrior's chest. Then, the fallen orc stirred.

The shaman looked at the sky, hand shaking as the body beneath it spasmed and twitched in visible pain. The orc's screams carried over the ravine and the rumbling of the river as his shattered limbs began to reform, wounds closing, bones growing back together right before our eyes. In seconds, the process was done. The shaman withdrew his hand and stood, leaning on the steaming staff, the runes along its length smoldering like embers. The orc's body laid on the ground without a mark, chest rising in deep breaths. Then, like nothing had happened, he rose.

A pit grew in my stomach as I witnessed the warrior stand up from the ground without a scratch. Calmly, he was handed back his weapon by his comrades, joining back in their ranks. He looked at us over the rift and smiled. They all did.

Without another word, the group rushed away, running along the edge in the direction of Eishe's detour. It would take them at least half a day to cross and another to backtrack into this spot. It didn't seem like such a lot of time now. Getting up ourselves, we hurried out in search of shelter before they could track us down again.

***

By nightfall, I sat against a rock wall, morosely tinkering with my weapon. The wood that held the stone tip had splintered lengthwise as it collided with the shaman's barrier, leaving the rock loose and bent sideways. Wrapping the affected part around with spare fabric, I tried to affix the point back into place in a funerary mood.

Magic! The orcs had MAGIC! Whenever you thought you had an edge over them the bastards would whip out some new disaster to plague you with! I slumped against the wall, the spear as restored as it was going to get, wondering what on Earth was it supposed to do against something like that?

Eishe had joined me in my brooding this time. We had found a shelter among a maze of jagged rocks up in the foothills. The orcs couldn't track us over stone and Eishe had spent some time leaving false trails through the forests and fields, exhausting herself further. We dared not light a fire. I carried some ready-made food in my bag for the both of us, but it didn't matter. Neither of us felt like eating anything. It was hard to stomach food so soon after being so close to death. And the worst part was: it was my fault again.

“[Have you seen it before?]" Eishe broke the silence suddenly. “[An] Adrak'hasz? [Beyond the sea?]"

I reminisced. Eishe knew of magic, but she had never seen it done before. The day's events had left her very distressed. “[Once. He was…]" I trailed off, struggling to find the words. “A performer. [He made pretty things happen and people watched. Colorful sparks. Fire that did not burn. Flying butterflies made of light. I have never seen one fight.]"

“[Father spoke stories of them,]" she explained. “[He said, if I flew too far,] Adrak'hasz [would catch me and eat me. Never he spoke of light insects or cold fire.]"

I chuckled. “[When I was small, mother told me if I walked too far a dragon would come eat me.]"

Eishe found this very amusing! The distinct narrowing of her eyes and subtle change in her breathing betrayed it: her equivalent of laughter. “[Eat you? Why? There is no meat on you! I would] turgah'n [more strength hunting you than I would gain from you!]"

She was speaking in good nature—and I always appreciated her humor. I found it endearing. But my own laughter had been one of grim irony. She seemed to realize it then, her tone changing to one of reassurance. “[Halrathorm will not touch you! I will bring you to safety, this I promise!]"

“[What was he like?]" I couldn't resist asking. “[Halrathorm. As a father.]"

There was a moment of silence. “[Stern. Quiet. Protective. A dragon,]" Eishe spoke and I listened. “[I was a single egg. I would fly with other children I met. He would watch. Wait. He taught me what I needed and was there when I needed. And no more. He was a good father.]"

It was fascinating to hear how different the idea of good parenting was to humans and dragons. Others might have called him distant. Cold. Uninvolved. But Eishe seemed to hold her father in high regard. She genuinely loved him and was grateful for all that he had done for her.

And now, he demanded I die. Talk about a family drama.

The problem was, he wasn't wrong! All he had done was for her own good. He never hurt her—not that I knew of—and his wrath was justified: I was a pest! My presence in Eishe's life had done nothing but bring her misery. She needed to rearrange her whole life to accommodate me and all I did in return was drag her into danger. Ate her food. Parasitized off of her kindness. A pest all right.

“[He is right to want me gone,]" I said, earning Eishe's bewildered look.

“[He is not!]" she protested in outrage. “[You are my Equal! He has no right to say otherwise!]"

“[To you, that is an insult!]" I shot back. How could I, in clear conscience, call myself her equal? “[Today was my doing. If I was not here, you would never be in danger. You should not have to protect me. As long as I am here, I will always bring you harm.]"

She scowled at the words. “[No! Do not speak so! This was no fault of you!]"

“[It was!]" I insisted. “[Before me, you never had to fear! You never had to fight! You get in danger because of my presence! You always have to worry about protecting me because I cannot protect myself! Because I am useless! A useless] human [who needs to be watched over like a hatchling!]"

“[It is not a vice to be what you are,]" she said gently but stridently. Eishe rolled over on the stone ground to better face me and continued: “[I am strong, but even I cannot fight all. There will always be a bigger] arzugh. [There are fights you should not fight. None can face a bigger creature. That is no shame.]"

“[You are wrong,]" I said. “[My kind fought bigger creatures for ages. You know how?]" I shook the spear aloft as answer. Eishe's words, while kind and their logic sound, were simply at odd with reality. It wasn't hard to recall all the stories of ancient humans hunting enormous beasts or armies of valiant knights prevailing over great monsters. “Humans [are warriors! They do not hide or run from danger. They fight, they hunt and they win! I cannot even defeat a var'shan! It is me who is a failure! What you say cannot be done—what I cannot do—others of my kind have done since always!]"

I chucked the spear to the side in resignation. I felt completely, utterly defeated. Perhaps now Eishe would finally see how pathetic I truly was, how better off she would be without me. Halrathorm was right: I did not belong.

“[Alone?]" she asked.

I raised my head in incomprehension. Of all the responses I'd been preparing myself for, this one was not on the list. Seeing my confusion, she elaborated. “[Greenskin hunt me because they are many. They are a pack. As a pack, a smaller creature will achieve what alone it cannot. They can hunt bigger creatures.]" She leaned over so I couldn't avoid her gaze as she repeated her question: “[Did your kind do it alone?]"

I swallowed all my objections and resistance before quietly answering: “[No.]"

“[They too are a pack. And in a pack, each has a role. When you were on the sea, you were part of a pack. You gave it a name.]"

“A crew," I filled in.

“[And you had a role.]"

I nodded along as I explained, filling in words in Common where Draconic failed. “A topman. [I sat high above and cared for] rigging and sails. [That which made us move.]"

“[You did not lead or fight, but without you, none would go forward.]"

“[There were six of us, actually.]"

“[But you needed to stay as a pack. All of you were necessary.]"

I wanted to go on about backup crewmates and levels of redundancy, but my vocabulary was running dry and my arguments seemed weaker and weaker by the second. So, I simply agreed. This pleased her. She shuffled some more across the ground, placing a huge, clawed hand on my leg. Her eyes embodied affection.

“[I am not many,]" she proclaimed, her voice pure gentleness, “[but I am strong. I can do for you what alone you cannot. I am happy to be your pack.]"

My heart melted hearing this. Her words were making my vision blur. “[Then what is my role? How do I contribute to our 'pack' if you do everything?]"

“[You are wise. You know things. Saw the world beyond the sea. Tell stories!]" Her voice grew more fervent as she listed things. “[You saved me from Unseen Death!]"

“[That was once! And long ago,]" I countered. “[How do my stories help? What does my presence contribute?]"

Eisherath looked me dead in the eyes, her response loosening something deep within my soul: “[You made life worth it.]"

I couldn't believe this woman. It took all my effort to suppress tears this time as she leaned forward and pressed her muzzle against my forehead. I did not have the will fight her anymore. Somehow, she could truly make me believe that I deserved her. Oh, how I would miss her when I was gone.

I wanted to thank her again, for all that she had done for me, but she silenced me with her tongue on my face. “[No talk,]" she said. So, I didn't. I hugged her huge head close to me, kissing her forehead in turn.

Even as we sat there, huddled together in silence, something was gnawing at my mind. “[Will you be alright?]" I asked. “[When I go?]"

Eishe turned away, her eyes deeply saddened. “[Better to see you go than see you fall. I will be fine.]" She said it with as much conviction as she could muster, but it hardly concealed the truth. There was hurt in her voice.

Before I've met her, Eishe had been alone. For a long time. I reckoned I might have been the only other living creature to ever enter her home. I knew I shouldn't have pried; her relationship with other dragons had always been a touchy subject for her. But I needed to know. “[Will you be alone again?]" I queried. Eishe closed off, a look of quiet resignation creeping across her face. “[You said you used to play with other children when you were young. We call it] friend. [Where are they now? What happened?]"

Momentarily, the sadness in her face was replaced with anger. At first, I thought I had overstepped, that she would slip into an outburst. But her frustration wasn't aimed at me. “[They left,]" she said simply. I was not satisfied with that answer and she saw it. “[It is not you who is broken. I am. A broken egg. To be avoided.]"

Her pain was palpable as she explained. I felt horrible making her feel like that, but it was too late now. “[A broken egg,]" I repeated. “[Halrathorm called you that. What does it mean?]"

Her mood wasn't lightening, but her reluctance to talk seemed to have gone. “[I told you of the dragon way. Each obeys their Betters and commands their Lessers. That is their role. If both refuse to listen, they fight, until the fallen submits. To defy your Better is to defy all. None can trust a dragon that does not heed to rules. They are] mur'dharn. [To be avoided. Untrustworthy. Broken.]"

“[Is that what happened?!]" I listened in astonishment and felt like a fool. Even as she explained the dragon social dynamics to me for the first time, Eisherath never seemed like one to follow such a one-sided pact. “[You stood up to your father and he abandoned you! Left you alone!]"

“[No! Not him! Never him! Everyone else!]" She lamented. “[When all others abandoned me, he alone stayed! He should not talk to me, should not see me. That is the way. But none dare defy him. There is no dragon here who is his Better!]"

Great. So, my de-facto father-in-law was the 'Dragon King of the South' or something. Good to know.

Seeing Eishe like this felt wrong. She was never this crestfallen before. In response I hugged her tight to me, receiving an affectionate, deep rumble as she wound her wing and tail around me. “[What if you apologized? Accepted you Betters? Would they not take you back?]"

“[They would,]" she replied, gaze hardened. “[But I won't! I have no regrets. I have defied many, and they deserved it! They were fools and brutes! Why should I let others decide who I obey?! would rather heed a wise weakling than strong tyrants!]"

There was my Eisherath! Seeing the fire return to her eyes made me feel proud. “[That is how we do it,]" I said, stoking the scales of her forehead. “[It is a wise way to live.]"

“[It is not the dragon way. It makes me a failed dragon.]"

I lifted her chin, turning her head to face me. “[You would be a great human.]" She took the compliment in stride, enveloping me in her warming scales. “[Can't you come with me? Beyond the sea?]" I tried, one last time.

“[No. Father will find me. He will not allow I stay with you. And your kind would not want me. Not want us.]"

I knew she was right, but I still felt at odds with that answer. She had no one beside me. I couldn't just leave her by herself! “[I don't want you to be alone.]"

“[I will be fine. And so will be you,]" she reassured me. “[You will be on the sea again. With your kind. You will find a pack. An Equal you deserve. Not one you chose out of loneliness; because there were no others to compete.]"

“[What are you talking about?]" I spat, shocked, the wheels in my mind grinding to a halt. “[I didn't choose you out of loneliness! I care for you! You are strong, generous and beautiful, the greatest woman I have met!]"

“[You know that is not true,]" she said kindly but regretfully. “[You would not have chosen me if there were others of your kind here. You stayed with me because you had nowhere to go. A choice between one is no choice at all.]"

I had no words. Was that really what she thought? That I loved her out of desperation? Because she was the only friendly face here? That was insulting to the both of us! “[Is that how you see me?]" I asked, heart sunken. “[Like your only choice?]"

“[No! I chose to abandon my kind. You were ripped from them. My feelings don't relate to my solitude; I could always go back. Could change my mind. You were stuck. With me or alone. I took advantage.]"

“[I didn't have to choose anyone! I never chose anyone even when I wasn´t alone! Yet I care for you!]"

“[That only proves it. You were careful in your choice when you could. Now your choice was me or solitude. You were lost and attached to the first you met. It is not a fair choice. You would not have chosen so if you had your pack. Your kind.]"

That was absurd! If being stuck with someone was all it took, I would have fallen in love long ago! I had spent years on a ship. I could hardly imagine a more claustrophobic environment than the crew deck. I was forced to share a world with my crew for countless months at a time! Men, women, humans, non-humans; I was friends with many, liked most and loved none. I mean, sure, the crew got switched around every now and then, and there were always shore breaks; plus, there wasn't much in terms of privacy on a vessel, but still! And even before the crash, I was always open to advances from other races. Of course, I never would have expected to fall in love with a dragon—the very suggestion would have seen crazy to me—but after all that's happened, everything we've been through, all the times she had saved my life, all that I owed her… No! That wasn't how it was! That couldn't have been all there was to it! Could it!?

Could it?

The thought made my head spin! I decided to dismiss it now, before I started to question my very existence and told Eishe as much. Reassured her of my feelings until she relented. But even as we were falling asleep, it wouldn't stop eating away at my subconsciousness.

I tried to distract myself by studying the dictionary for all the new terms I have noted, making out the manuscript under the pale light of moon. I wasn't able to put the book down, fearing the lurking thoughts, until I exhausted everything else that was on my mind. Shutting the damaged scripts, I snuggled under Eishe's wing trying to get some shuteye.

Now, however, there was a new thought that wouldn't give me sleep. Adrak'hasz. Eishe's word for mage. It meant 'Heart-thief'.

***

The journey had gotten quieter. And faster. Perhaps it was the lurking threat of being pursued, perhaps it was the easing terrain, but we had crossed the remaining distance nearly two days earlier than anticipated. And come the evening, I found myself gazing at our destination. The canal. The end of the Southern Reaches.

It looked like a warzone. There was flotsam strewn all around the beach, pieces of ships mixed with large, humanoid skeletons, remains of weaponry lay tossed in their vicinity. Everywhere I looked were burn marks. Large, black patches covered the sand; grass and moss burned clean off the ground, wooden wreckage scorched to charcoal. I swallowed dryly. Never have I seen enough black powder to cause such destruction. There were songs of famous naval battles with less collateral. Whatever fleet did this was packing some serious weaponry.

The seaway itself was still littered with debris; half-collapsed wrecks stuck on the shallows like gravestones. Beyond the narrow strip of sea, the Farlands filled the horizon, the shores of the world's southernmost continent similarly full of ship husks and other rubbish. Yet where there used to be a visible blockage, the center of the canal was clear of all hazards. There was traffic flowing again.

I walked along the beach, looking out over the sunset-colored waters. Seeing the open sea, after so much time, was stirring something in me. I was feeling its pull again. This time around however, instead of being willfully swept up in its call, it felt like the ocean was trying to tear me in half.

With my head in the clouds, I barely noticed all the death around me, if only for a moment. I almost walked right into a skeleton, obviously orc judging by its tusks. And its size. There was a hole in its ribcage; a cannonball about the size of my fist has plowed a path through the earth behind, firmly embedding itself in the ground. Unlucky.

“[How did they do this?]" I mused. Blocking the canal would have been relatively simple: all it would take was a well-timed incendiary arrow and the sinking ship would create the obstacle on its own. But actually getting at the loot was a different story. The destruction didn't seem proportional to what the orcs were capable of.

“Adrak'hasz," Eishe answered. The shaman. Of course. That explained a lot! That's why we haven't seen him once in all those months I had spent here. He was at the canal, directing the assault. And with the orcs driven off, he was back in the inland. Back on the hunt. Things would only get more dangerous from now on. I needed to get away before something truly bad came to Eishe.

“[This is where you go?]" she asked. “[Where your kind will come?]"

I nodded. “Ships [will not pass in the night,]" I remarked. There were no lighthouses here, nothing to mark the path. Trying to traverse the canal in the dark would be suicide, even when not littered by debris. “[We will find shelter. Return in the morning.]"

Eishe had thought ahead. She already had a spot picked out in case the waiting prolonged. Climbing back up the diminished foothills, we soon found a seaside cavern lodged in the rocks. It offered a good lookout over the eastern side of the sea, exactly where my own ship would have come from had we reached this far. It ensured we would see any approaching ships long before they reached the canal. I could make it safely to the shore to signal them with time to spare.

Now for the tense part. The waiting. Being left in silence with nothing better to do than give in to my own thoughts was not working out well for my psyche. During the journey I could at least focus on the path ahead. But now, haunting vistas flooded my mind. Even through the ever-present fear of the sky dropping on my head, or the orcs catching up, another realization had manifested itself with inescapable clarity: I was going to leave.

The prospect I had long kept suppressed, of never seeing Eishe again, now crushed me beneath its weight. I had a life here. A home. Filled with hardship as it was—and danger, discomfort, uncertainty and not the best food—I had worked hard to maintain it and it was mine! How could I just leave all of that behind?

As easily as I had left the sea behind. Being a sailor used to be my one purpose in life. My whole being! What was half a year compared to half a life? I had sacrificed everything in pursuit of that career and yet, when life took a turn, I had simply moved on. Adapted. Perhaps Eishe was right. Perhaps I would find my purpose again. My passion. Find love. Make a life for myself.

Eishe sensed my soured mood as easily as a turn of the weather. She could always read me with ease. “[It is fine. All will be good. You will see.]" She laid down beside me, resting her hand on my thigh as always.

“Yeah," I said to myself. Perhaps.

And perhaps not. Perhaps it was alright to mourn the loss of what I had before diving into what was to come. Perhaps I deserved my somber moment. Perhaps—just for now—the life I had built here in these past months deserved to be mourned. My vision blurred as I embraced my sadness. I could not stop the tears this time.

Eishe watched in bewilderment as the droplets of moisture coalesced in my eyes then slowly trickled down my face. “[What is it?]" she asked in low voice. She had never seen me like this before.

“Tears," I answered.

“Teerz," she repeated. “[Why?]"

“[Because I am sad.]"

Watching the pearlescent drops with fascination, Eishe leaned forward and opened her maw, her warm tongue licking away the tears tumbling down my cheek. “[Don't.]"

Don't. It was as easy as that for her, wasn't it? What had dragons to cry about? They were all-powerful. Invincible. To imagine such a creature being brought down by her own emotions! Or, more likely she just hid them better. Dragons weren't as easy to read as humans in many regards. I had to learn it through practice. And I could see, underneath her mask of concern and composure, she was hurting too.

I brought my hands up to her face, cradling her scaly cheeks. Her eyes! It was always those damn eyes! They looked at me with such compassion, such warmth, such pure and bottomless affection! None other had ever looked at me this way. How could I not have fallen for her?

I guided her head closer and kissed her on the tip of her mouth, earning a lick across my face in turn. Her encouragement had worked. I wasn't miserable anymore. Not then. All I focused on was that giant, loving face in front of me. Those enchanting crimson eyes reflecting the evening light like a pair of rubies.

In full motion, I continued along the side of her face to her neck, stroking my hand on one side as I planted a trail of kisses down the other. Through my lips, I felt Eishe's throat flex as she swallowed emptily. We were both growing restless. Reaching her chest, I felt her heart pummeling against her ribcage, her pulse faster than even my own. There was no stopping us now.

As I threw off the furs around my shoulders, Eishe put her claws to my chest, pressing me standing against the cave wall. Sandwiched between cold stone and hot scales, I began to sweat. My pulse pounded in my ears at my desperate desire for the woman in front of me. I wanted nothing, but to be one with her!

Her yearning eyes looked down at me, her head hovering above so that I had to crane my neck to lock our gazes. I traced my hands down her throat and chest as she leaned down to lick my neck—her sharp teeth gently nibbling it—supporting herself against the rock with her free hand. The claws of the other descended down my torso until they reached my waist. There was an obstruction holding the hem of my pants up when she tried to pull it down, forcing me to let go of her and intervene.

Once my trousers and undergarments were on the ground and kicked aside, only then did she let me go. Eishe walked closer, her forelimbs ascending up the wall until she stood almost completely upright, as much as the cavern ceiling allowed her. Her hindlegs remained slightly bent, putting my face in level with her hips. I examined her strong form as I had never seen it before. From this entirely new perspective she only seemed more starkly feminine: her hips broadening down from her thin waist, her enormous thighs muscular yet shapely—in their widest point as thick as my shoulders.

I stepped forth and wrapped my arms around it, feeling the softness beneath the hard scales. Her tail swished slowly across the floor in delight at my touch. I found my head dangerously close to her center, her scent driving me wild. I kissed her inner thigh as I slowly fell to my knees, caressing her along the way, even as her leg bent into her toned shin, then her digitigrade feet. I dared not leave an inch of her surface unexplored.

She lowered herself and stepped back as I reached the bottom, pulling away from my grasping hands. From the darkness, Eishe snatched my furs and spread them across the floor. Grasping my shoulder in her claws as I stood to observe, she pressed me down again, gently guiding me back to the ground to lay across it.

The fur felt comfortable against my bare skin. I wondered what she had in mind for this position, even as her tongue returned, ascending up my thigh and all the way up to my face again. She narrowly avoided my crotch, skirting closer each time, but only enough to provoke.

I endured her slow, sensual teasing for what felt like minutes. Growing slightly irritated, I reached for her cheek to try and maneuver her closer and was rewarded with her hand clasping my wrist and pressing my arm to the ground above my head. With her face above me, she held my other arm down on my side and shot me a mischievous look. The tip of her tongue snaked from between her jaws and gave me the slightest lick on my nose.

She enjoyed this; I had no doubt. How helpless I could be in her clutches, left entirely to her will. And she knew I did too. I couldn't help it. Something about the level of trust we put in each other was simply too enthralling to me! I would let her do anything she wanted to me and I knew she would never do anything I didn't want!

Growing sated with my squirming, Eisherath finally ceased toying with me and withdrew. I felt dismayed that she left me hanging (or perhaps standing), but my feelings were soon overshadowed by a spark of excitement. Letting go of my arms, Eishe walked forward to stand above me until her huge form occupied all of my vision. I was greeted with the sight of her domed chest and narrow abdomen passing above me, muscles flexing under her scales as her limbs moved, until she came to a halt with her sex hovering above mine.

Realizing her intent, I suddenly felt a pinch of trepidation beneath my flaring arousal. Though a creature of flight—slender and aerodynamic—I had no illusions about how heavy Eisherath must be. Even if she never meant me harm, the slightest misstep could be dire with her on top. But I calmed myself. I knew that, however risky it might seem to me, she would never willingly put me in danger.

And even if so, it was wort the risk!

She bent down her neck to look at me, our eyes locking in mutual desire. She was barely containing herself, her chest quivering in irregular breaths. With a broadening smile, I gave her a nod.

Eishe breathed out and lowered her hips. Her front rose as she straightened her forelimbs, bending and spreading her hindlegs in a careful manner, maneuvering herself upon me. Reaching out, I helped her align ourselves, placing a steadying hand on her mound. A shudder ran through her as we touched. Her incredible heat radiated from her opening; the sweet, velvety folds almost burned as my tip parted her scaly lips.

I felt her nervousness in the anticipation. I found she was much more sensitive than a human woman in this regard. I spoke her name and she opened her eyes, then gave her my go ahead.

Our moans echoed through the cavern as we joined in mutual extasy, my stammering grunts mixing with her strained, high-pitched growl. I felt her walls quiver and squeeze me as I entered her, twitching sporadically with her spasming muscles. Her crushing weight pressed down on me. Though only a fraction of it, it had rendered me completely immobile as the massive scaled rump enveloped my hips.

Eishe's claws scraped against the stone floor as her reflexes kicked in. Her need to anchor herself to the ground during mating was evidently something deeply rooted in her nature. Her fingers would clutch against anything if need be, so long as her talons sunk in. Even her own lover.

As her breaths stabilized, Eishe slowly began to move. Carefully rocking her hips, her sex lifted from mine until we almost disconnected, then fell back in a gentle rhythm. Her tunnel clamped down on me while she rose, then relaxed when falling back down; the hard, internal nub tracing the length of my member with every stroke, sending flares of pleasure through her body. It felt incredible! I was glad she managed to find a secure position; even if she faltered, her ankles would catch her fall, sparing me from her full weight.

My heart fluttered as we fulfilled our union. After weeks of brooding and anxiety, the world temporarily ceased to exist for me. I cared for nothing but her. There was no future, no past, only the moment. I yearned for it to last forever.

I could see it in Eishe too. She looked back at me, head upside down, as I began to caress her body, eyes empty of all but now. My hand travelled down her oscillating thigh—so big and powerful, muscles bulging whenever she rose, yet soft and malleable when they relaxed—the other ascending up her abdomen, thin but toned and vibrating with her shuddering breaths. They were familiar sensations. Over these past months, I came to know each and every part of her body intimately and to the smallest detail, memorizing every shape, texture and movement until I knew her like I would know a human woman. My only regret was that I would never able to hold all of her at once.

Eishe repositioned her foot and picked up the pace. She was insatiable in her need, pushing the boundaries of what we could handle. We disconnected by accident a few times, but I quickly fixed that and we continued seamlessly until we fell in a new rhythm. The twisting and creasing folds of her tunnel worked to drain me with a marriage of instinct and practice, Eishe having long since grown as familiar with my anatomy as I had with hers. She knew exactly what she was doing to me and she was proud of it!

But while I never wanted this moment to pass, and as much as I could sing odes to Eishe's skillful passion, it seemed her efforts were being a little too effective. I didn't know how long we were at it, but when I eventually felt myself getting close, the telltale signs of Eisherath's impending peak were nowhere to be seen. It was her damn teasing! She had primed me for bursting before we even began.

I didn't want to disappoint her. I let my hand sneak down between her legs, finding her entrance. As my fingers wandered around her scaly lips, I felt a shiver run through Eishe's body. She hesitated, slowing down for a moment, until I hooked a single finger inside her sex, snaking it upwards through her tunnel. When my digit met with her clitoris, her back arched. A wheezing growl escaped her and she resumed her pivoting, driving herself deeper on my exploring appendage.

With my manhood rubbing her knob again, I let my finger massage it independently in quick, probing movements while the rest caressed her outside, adding a new, overlaying rhythm to our coupling. Eishe's head fell back, roaring against the ceiling. Her wings spread, shrouding my entire view of the cavern, then fell to the ground as Eishe stood on all six, supporting herself with all she had. With nothing but her in sight, she became my world.

Still, I couldn't stop what was coming. Eishe realized it too, reading my sounds and movement, but she didn't try to stop it. Instead of relaxing, she doubled down, determined to deliver me my release. I couldn't help myself anymore. My hips rose of their own accord, thrusting into her depths along with her own grinding. We no longer adhered to any tempo. We were locked in a wild, unrestrained passion; a dance without order, bereft of any rules.

It didn't take long. My finger slipped out of her and my breath caught as I was sent over the edge. I felt around her body as my eyes closed shut, getting a grip on her hips while my own went berserk. My back arched as I slammed against her in forceful, sporadic motions, before she lowered herself down and trapped me against the ground until all of my liquified pleasure became hers.

My vision swam. I laid panting on the ground until my senses returned and I found Eisherath's crimson eyes lovingly looking down at me. I returned her smile, caressing her abdomen as high as I could reach.

Before I could utter any apologies, I was scooped up by her clawed hand and held tightly against her chest while she rolled over on her back. We never separated, remaining joined in our afterglow. I felt her heart slowly calm underneath me and laid my head down to listen, rising and falling with her labored breathing. So powerful, it felt.

Eishe's hands wrapped around my back, her claws lightly caressing me. I glanced up to find her gaze fixated on me, those fiery eyes observing my slumped form like a watchful guardian. She leaned forward, dragging her tongue across my forehead and I melted. I wanted more of her. Of her love, her touch! I rose on my elbows to reach her face proper, leaning into her licks, but the position was straining and I had to finally exit her. Climbing up her chest, our faces met again. Her appendage danced around my face and I savored every second of it, every inch of me it explored.

Once Eishe paused to catch her breath, I pushed forward and kissed the tip of her muzzle. I held the action as long as I could until her maw opened and her tongue darted across my mouth, briefly parting my lips. Electricity ran through me! Seeing that I wasn't going to withdraw, Eishe continued. I planted another deep kiss on her scales just as she licked again and, for a fleeting moment, our tongues met.

We both hesitated. Locking gazes with her, I signaled my approval and she proceeded, her jaws parting. Taking my chance, I put my hand on her cheek and let my tongue snake inside her lipless mouth, feeling the tips of her sharp teeth as the tapered tip of her own long appendage breached inside mine. My breath caught and my heart threatened to jump out of my chest. It was a hasty connection, barely a few seconds long, but it felt like an eternity.

When it was done, Eishe withdrew, her look cryptic. “[Is this what your kind do?]" she exhaled, heavy breathed.

“[Yes,]" I confirmed with a smile when I recovered my speech, only to have it stolen again.

Hearing all she needed, Eishe dove back in, her tongue forcing its way past my lips and meeting mine once more. I hardly had time to react, so passionate was her response. Encouraged by her initiative, I soon answered, finding my way back inside her draconic maw, letting our tongues entwine. It was a little awkward at first, what with her total lack of experience or even theoretical knowledge, but I had taken charge, guiding her moves, and we soon managed to fall into a rhythm.

It became a game. Our tongues danced as she probed my tiny mouth while I accessed her long muzzle. It was more than I could ever explore and I knew it, but that didn't stop me from trying. We tilted our heads naturally, And I leaned deeper between her parted jaws, letting my tongue map out a part of her that I had only known nebulously, while relishing every time our tongues slid against each other whenever we had to resurface.

I let my hand caress her face while we made out in the starlit cavern. I was ecstatic! How had we never done this before?! After all the time I had devoted into knowing all of her, it was like discovering an entirely knew part of her to memorize. And I wouldn't be satisfied until I did.

I delved deeper inside, examining my inhuman lover's reaches, when I felt Eishe's claws twitch, the tips stinging the skin of my back. After a while, she removed her other hand entirely. I saw her holding it dangling in the air, clenching it into a fist until it shook, her breath coming in soft rumbles. A clear sign of pleasure.

As I was starting to question this development, I felt something brush against my foot. Glancing behind, I saw the tapered tip of her tail probing between her folds, parting her scaly lips and sinking inside. This got a reaction out of me. I had never seen her do this before and the thought of Eisherath pleasuring herself while we kissed made my pulse soar. My shaft pressed against her belly scales. I hadn't yet softened since our lovemaking and now she ensured that I wouldn't still.

Grabbing my face with her free hand and turning it to face her, Eishe planted another lick across my cheek before pulling me back into a kiss. I was beginning to suspect that she liked this more than I did. I redoubled my efforts as I charted her maw but either way my mind kept wandering back to what was happening down lower. Every shuddering breath made her chest quake below me until I couldn't keep myself focused. We broke off one last time, feeling each other's breath in our faces. Sweat dripped down my forehead. Even the air in her lungs was growing hotter, almost unbearably so.

Giving her one last peck on the nose, I slid back down her chest until I knelt between her legs. Her tail was now buried inside her until it roughly reached my thickness. It didn't so much thrust in as wriggle, the twisting motions no doubt massaging her ever-sensitive nub that I myself often exploited. Her strained expression and blissfully closed eyes indicated as much too.

With a steadying hand on her thigh, I leaned down and kissed her mound, feeling her hot scales move as her tail did its work beneath. She likely took this as her que and slowly ceased her pleasuring. The tip of her tail withdrew from her depths covered in evidence of our coupling, then slithered back from between my legs and out of sight. It was my turn.

Eishe raised her legs to make space for me and I took my position astride the thick base of her tail right where it joined her body. The sight of it never failed to fire me up. With a hand on her abdomen, I pushed back in, parting her drenched lips and her slick, soft folds until I was anchored deeply within her again. Her moan reverberated against the stone ceiling, the walls of her tunnel squeezing the life out of me. I was still on a hair trigger from everything the night had brough—but so was she. What was to come would be short and spectacular.

With careful effort, I began moving. Eishe reacted immediately; fists clenched, head falling sideways as she exhaled. Her clit pressed against my shaft as I thrusted slowly and deeply. I felt her clench in a sporadic manner—more aligned with the twitching of her legs than the rhythm of my practiced strokes—and knew I was doing good work. Eishe's breaths were coming in quick and deep, her rising chest obscuring her face from my view every second. This wouldn't take long.

As my own breathing grew more labored, I had to steady myself against her legs. I put my hands high on her thighs, right below her bent knees and leaned into them as I pounded her dragonsnatch, the slapping sounds of our love resounding through the shelter. I doubted I had enough strength to actually move her legs—even dangling in the air as they were—but in either case, she raised them further, Eishe's tail lifting me to my feet as her rump ascended from the ground. She growled a purr of pure pleasure.

I was thrusting mercilessly now; my efforts having grown into a relentless assault. I knew I didn't have much time left. I needed to bring her to her peak before my body gave out.

I first noticed the signs when her limbs began to tremble; her tail threatening to throw me off as it whipped around in jerky motions behind me. Not a moment too soon either as I was barely staving off my own zenith. I was just becoming familiar with our rhythm when a particularly strong tremor overtook her and her legs twitched open, slipping from beneath my hands, and I tumbled onto her belly as her rump hit the ground.

Reacting quickly, I broke my fall with a hand, preventing my head from impacting with her chest. Making a swift recovery, I continued my efforts in this old, familiar position, my body cradled closely against hers. One of her arms draped over my back again, pulling me closer into her embrace, Eishe's face popping into view as she raised her head to meet my gaze. I was more than happy with this arrangement.

Without stopping, I craned my neck towards her, prompting her to lean in and grace me with another lick across my face. She had to raise herself on her wings to achieve this, but it was far from uncomfortable. I noticed her spare hand clenched strongly in a fist by my side. Without anything to grab onto, her claws were digging into her own scales, her other hand digging slightly into my shoulder. Breaking off, Eishe tried to get a hold of the furs I wore to use as padding, but she couldn't reach her hand behind her wing.

I wouldn't ruin this for her. Grabbing her hand, I held it by her wrist and placed it on my back, right next to the other. She shot me a quizzical look, as if asking for reassurance, so I simply nodded, smiling. My back was a mosaic of shallow scars from all our past lovemaking and I would lie if I said I wasn't oddly proud of it. Eishe blinked a reluctant confirmation and so—to emphasize my permission—I drew her face in and kissed her, my tongue slipping into her moaning maw and coaxing out her own to follow.

Just this. Just this position, this connection, was enough to almost make me fail. Joined at our very cores, with our tongues entwined and hips dancing to a slamming rhythm, I felt more complete than ever before, even as my lover's claws began to burrow beneath my skin. I wanted this moment to last forever and I wanted to bring it to its conclusion, no matter how incompatible those wishes were.

It couldn't last though. No matter how much I strained against it, one of those wishes was coming to fruition.

Our tongues were still joined when I felt the first shudder. Eishe broke off abruptly as a flood of extasy rippled through her body in powerful, unceasing waves. Her head fell back as her wings gave out and she clutched me closely to her chest while a quick flash of fire momentarily illuminated the cavern, almost blinding me in the process. I still saw stars when Eishe's climax overtook her in earnest—her claws sinking deeper in my back—and I allowed myself to follow her. Her quivering legs squeezed me against her center as I came pouring out into her one final time. Her tail was raising havoc and her wings slapped against the ground until we both came down from the clouds, our joint cries filling the night skies. And so, our union was complete.

We laid there for what could have been forever, breathing heavy as our bodies caught up to the expression of our feelings. My head rose and fell on Eishe's chest in a soporific motion. The pounding of our hearts as they beat against each other was almost painful in my chest until they soothed themselves. I stirred when Eishe withdrew her hands and tended to the wounds she had inflicted upon me with her tongue. It felt oddly relaxing. The pain—and the relief that followed—was a familiar and cherished aspect of our lovemaking. I couldn't imagine going without it.

With neither of us willing to move, we didn't bother settling into our usual sleeping position. I forced my head up and gave Eisherath one final kiss on her closed mouth, then fell exhausted onto her chest. I do not remember disconnecting, nor was I ever sure if we did at all. Hugging me close with her arms, Eishe closed her wings around herself, enveloping me in a cocoon of her protection. And like that, with her everywhere around me, we finally fell asleep.

***

No nightmares haunted me that night. For the first time in a while, pleasant dreams had welcomed me into their embrace, if only for a moment. I was woken back to the harsh reality by gentle claws shaking my shoulder. As usual, Eisherath had already been awake awhile, the rising sun shining its golden rays into the small cave from high in the sky. And right underneath it, a small dot made its way steadily through the ocean of blue.

Rising quickly from her embrace, I rummaged in my bag for the monocular and spied with it the approaching vessel. They had hoisted the colors of the Merchant's Guild; the very same flag I had once sailed under. A friendly ship. My way out.

“[They here!]" Eishe exclaimed with all the joy that had just escaped me. “[They came! You can go now! Be safe! Be home!]"

Right. Home. That mystical concept that seemed to change its coordinates as often as the wind changed its course. I sighed. Rising slowly from the ground, draping the furs I had recovered back over my shoulders, I watched the tiny, dark silhouette shake as the waves rocked its hull to the rhythm of the sea. The rhythm of freedom. Or at least, that's how it used to feel. The language of the ocean, once a second nature to me, now seemed distant; its call the voice of a stranger who shouted your name with confidence but whom you didn't recognize.

It would all come back to me, I knew. Even as I brooded over lost yesterdays, I never doubted that new tomorrows would bring back all the joys I used to feel. I needed only to take the plunge. The time has come. I was going home.

I turned to Eisherath, meeting her sorrowful but encouraging gaze. I handed her the bag filled with things pinched from her collection along with some leftover plants and herbs. “[This is yours.]"

“[Keep it]," she said. “[It is yours now.]"

“[I can get hordes of them beyond the sea. To you, they are priceless.]"

She laid the bag open on the ground and considered it in silence, before lifting her eyes back to me. “[Take this. As memory.]"

I looked where she was pointing and paled. The dictionary, along with my notebook. I carefully picked them up and looked at their familiar leather bindings, the pages between them wavy and stained. I smiled a bittersweet smile. “[Thank you,]" I said, laying the volumes on the ground.

Making a swift decision, I reached with my hands towards my ear and unclasped one of my earrings, the big golden loops common among sailors. Eishe had been fascinated by them since she first learned of them. They were my only possessions of value. The perfect gift.

“[This is for you,]" I said. “[As memory.]"

Eishe eyed the jewelry skeptically. “[Are they not important? Will you not need it?]"

I might. Those two pieces of gold made up my entire capital; at least until I made a withdrawal from the nearest bank. They were meant for exactly such situations when I would lose all that wasn't on my person (or to finance my funeral if anyone found my body). I was effectively giving away a miniscule fortune. It was likely I may need to pay for a lot of things before I got back. But I didn't care. One would do. “[I want you to have it.]"

Eishe reached out her hand tentatively, as if the metal ring was truly alive. It must have seemed like being offered a piece of me. I considered putting it on her horn, but the protrusion was too thick and uneven and it would easily slide off. So instead, I took her massive hand in mine and slid it on her finger. The symbolism wasn't lost on me. But Eishe, blissfully blind to the implications, simply regarded it as an intriguing gift, so I shoved the rising emotions deep down and ignored them. She turned her hand in the air, examining it with unbridled excitement. I smiled.

She thanked me with a lick across my cheek. “[I will treasure it,]" she announced, cuddling me against her chest. There were no words for goodbye in Draconic, the language ever so unaccustomed to pleasantries. Her touch was her farewell. “[You go now. They will not come if they see me.]" She was right of course. No ship would attempt a rescue if they saw a dragon lurking on the shore. I needed to go alone.

Reaching for her face, we pressed our forehead together as a final send-off. I kissed her softly just below where her horns sprouted, feeling the warmth of her scales on my lips one last time. Tears welled up behind my eyes again as I whispered to her in Common: “I love you. I will never forget you."

I held her until she pulled free, worried I would miss my ticket out of here. Fetching my spear, I held it up for Eishe and she let out one quick burst of her fire, setting the cloth-wound tip ablaze. Forcing myself to turn away from her, I retrieved the books in my free hand—clutched them close as if they somehow retained her essence—then quietly walked out of the rocky shelter. I didn't feel sadness anymore as I made my way down to the beachside hill; nor anger or fear. I didn't feel anything at all.

Standing before the grassy peak, I observed as the ship slowly entered the narrow seaway. They were bound to see the smoke. Once I showed myself—perhaps waved the spear a little—they would spot me and anchor down near the shore, then send a boat out onto the beach to get me. No seaman I had ever sailed with would have hesitated to rescue a castaway. I was but a few steps away from freedom. From the sea.

Peering at the vessel over the hill, I felt the sharp knife of nostalgia twist inside me. The call was getting louder. Deafening. All my thoughts were silenced as buried memories assaulted my mind, rising from the grave of oblivion. I recalled the thrill of adventure as I boarded my first ship; the sea wind in my face as I stood at the prow; watching the horizon from the crow's nest; afterhours dice games on the crew deck.

The hazing whenever I transferred ships. Singing shanties as the sea rocked the hull. Getting my first sailor's tattoo. The pox breakout out on my very first voyage. The endless laboring long into the night. The baking midday sun and freezing ocean nights. Earning my first payment only to make a hundredth of what the captain made. Surviving on measly rations while the mates dined like kings each night. Being promised promotion the next voyage only to be turned down and showered with excuses whenever we docked. The captain's endless insistence that he knew better than anyone on the ship even though the bilge rats could have done a better job of it. Falling asleep day after day hoping the next one might be different.

The crash. The horror of watching the ship sink, realizing everyone I knew was going to die. Waking up on the shore, battered and bruised, cursing the occupation I had chosen. The fear and uncertainty as I made my way blindly through the unknown land.

The crippling terror and stunning awe when I first laid eyes on a dragon. Eishe's incredible power saving me from the orcs' ambush. Her menacing form watching over me on my travels. Falling asleep beneath her wing, the heat of her scales hot against my skin. Our first union. The first time I spoke to her in her own tongue, her attentive gaze as I told her of the world beyond, the excitement in her eyes whenever she brought back a new artifact to inquire about. All the days I had spent with her, waiting to see what the next day would bring. My contentment as I laid against her scales, watching the stars in the night sky. The love. Happiness.

I blinked in denial. Was this really all it was? How it's always been? Was there nothing more to my life than an eternal chase of a romanticized dream, always in sight but never quite within reach?

I shook my head, breathless. They say your life flashes before your eyes in perfect clarity when you find yourself facing death. I knew then where I was standing. I could stay and perish, or leave and lose my life.

The ship was making way through the canal at a steady pace. My flame was flickering out. The lookout was sure to be watching the thread of smoke rising from behind the hill. All I needed to do was show myself. If I took a step forward, I would be rescued, taken off this untamed land and back into civilization. I would live.

And I knew, if I did, I would regret it for the rest of my days.

I watched the vessel sail through the narrow seaway, slowly disappearing in the distance; its form became reduced to a silhouette, then finally vanished behind a cliff. The spear fell to the ground, its fire burnt out. I had made my decision.

Left standing alone on the coast, I watched the tranquil sea shimmer in the morning sun as if in a final farewell, until loud, running footsteps approached me from behind. Eishe's distressed voice called my name and I faced her, turning my back on the sea once and for all. “[What are you doing?!]" she demanded. “[You let it get away!]"

“[I chose,]" my lips said.

“[What? What do you talk about?]" Her voice was practically wheezing. She was stressed out of her mind.

“[You said it was an unfair choice. That I was forced to stay with you. Now I had a proper choice: between my kind and you,]" I explained, reaching my hand to her face. She almost pulled away. But couldn't make herself. “[I chose you. I don't want the world beyond if you are not in it. No matter how big, without you it would be no more than emptiness.]"

She just stared. Disbelief and amazement mixed in her face in equal part, but she shook herself out of it. “[Were you hit in the head? Did you forget why we came? Halrathorm will devour you!]"

“[Then he can choke,]" I replied, my voice unfazed. “[I will face him when he comes. If he thinks me unworthy of you, he must tear us apart himself!]"

“[He will!]" Eishe screamed. “[You] faerghr nehrt! [Do you not fear death?]"

“[It is less scary than leaving you.]"

She was out of words; afraid and defeated and—above all—relieved. Her many conflicting emotions battled against each other, until finally, acceptance won over. “[We can stay here,]" she pleaded. “[In the shelter. Others will come. You can think more. Decide. Be ready to escape when he is coming.]"

I didn't have the will to argue at the moment, plus the prospect of travelling back with orcs on the loose was less than appealing. So, for now, I agreed. If it helped calm her, we could stay here until I convinced her otherwise. I kissed her between the eyes, relishing in her warmth again as if it had been ages, and—after the briefest hesitation—was rewarded with a lick across my face. My mouth twisted in a smile and her eyes followed.

Slowly and quietly, we made our way back towards the foothills, the grassy soil beneath our feet turning to hardened, rocky grounds. I felt happy. For the first time since that day, I felt like I wasn't marching towards the gallows. And in that exact moment, like an omen from the heavens, a shadow fell over us.

We both froze in horror as we turned to watch the dragon descend from the sky, landing a stone toss in front of us. His cold eyes focused on me with all the loathing in the world. “[You should have left,]" he growled, the words dripping venom.

My books dropped onto the ground. I could not believe it. Why was he here? Why now? My chest felt heavy, like a massive boulder had fallen on me, crushing me. I couldn't breathe.

“[Have you been following us?]" I accused. “[This whole time?!]"

“[No,]" Eishe interjected, equally stupefied. “[He would have fought the greenskin.]"

She was right, of course. I could scarcely imagine he would have left his daughter to fend for herself against the warband just to be rid of me. This didn't make any sense! How did he know where to find us? Where to look?

“[You have no right, father! My Equal's] arva'khr dhev [is no matter of yours!]"

“[You had no right,] echar! [By rules! Many times! Yet it did not stop you from doing as you believed was right!]" The fury in his voice was palpable. I cringed as I saw Eishe shrink back from his outburst. “[I gave it a chance 'Rath. Now the worm dies!]"

“Liar!" I muttered under my breath. The dragon turned. His gaze made me sick to my stomach, but I couldn't ignore the discrepancy in his claims. “A chance? A chance for what?! I was stuck in this place for months with no way off the land! The orcs prevented it! The only reason we were able to get here was because somehow, after all this time, they finally got their green asses kicked hard enough that they decided to ditch. Just at the right time!"

Halrathorm listened, quietly seething at my words, then replied; he too in Common: “And who did you think drove them out?"

I was stunned. Eishe stared in incomprehension at my shocked face, left completely out of the exchange. “That was you? Just so I could leave?"

“I knew 'Rath would not have the spine to do what needed doing. She would never let harm come to you!"

“You knew we would come. You were waiting to see me off."

“And you wasted my time!"

I looked around at the shore, seeing the trail of destruction in a new light. My blood ran cold. Suddenly, I understood exactly what kind of man I was dealing with. There was no line he wouldn't cross for her. No cost too great, no atrocity too vile if it constituted the good of his daughter. He antagonized other dragons to keep seeing her, commenced such a single-handed slaughter, all just so she would have an easier time letting me go.

“You care for her," I said. “Clearly, you do! Can't you see what you are causing her? If her well-being is such a concern for you, why not let us be? Why won't you let her be happy?"

“Enough of your pathetic squealing!" he roared. His forelimbs shifted, readying to strike, when Eishe jumped between the two of us. “[Move aside,] echar!"

“[No. I will not let you! To strike him, you will have to strike me!]"

“[You are lost, child! You do not know what you do!]" he admonished. “[The thing is vermin! To be rid of! It is no better than greenskin! A pest on our existence! If you keep it, it will bring us nothing but pain!]"

That's it! I have had enough! His insults till now stung, but this was just uncalled for! And I was growing very tired of his lack of answering. How was I as bad as an orc? What have I done to earn such labels? And how does he speak Common anyway?!

There was something in his speech that nagged at me. 'Pest'. He kept coming back to that word. The bile with which he spat it, the simmering, buried hate. It was an old feeling, tearing through the cracks and spilling onto the surface. All against something so mundane. Vermin. Something that inconvenienced! Bothered! Plagued! Hurt…

I felt a stab of anxiety around my heart. I looked into his face as he lectured Eishe, the dragon's gaze furious and remorseful and mourning. “You're from the north, aren't you?" I spoke. “Was it a human that killed her? Your Equal?"

If I thought I had seen wrath before, it had nothing on the vengeful conflagration that ignited behind his eyes. In split second he was upon me! Barreling through Eishe as if she wasn't even there, he pinned me to the ground like a ragdoll, squeezing the life out of me with a single hand.

“Do not speak of her, creature! Your worthless breath defiles her memory!" My vision blurred. My head was throbbing and my back burned with lacerations from the scattered rocks. Eishe charged at the massive dragon in a frenzy, but he caught her pounce with one wing then flung her out of my sight.

“Greenskin, brownskin, you two-foots are all the same! You come in your floating nests, with fire-dust and metal-spewers! You destroy and kill and take! When you took my Zahraverra, I carried our egg here, far south, far away from your wretched kind! Yet you haunt us evermore, like a sickness that keeps spreading! But this time your plotting ends! I will not let you take Eisherath too!"

I couldn't draw breath. He wasn't holding me by the throat—his claws could encircle my body if he wished—merely pressing down on my ribcage, preventing me from inhaling. He could squash me like an insect at any moment. But he wouldn't. He didn't just want to kill me; he wanted me to feel it! To understand!

I could tell. I recognized that malignant hatred from his face; for I knew it. I had felt it before. Back shortly after the crash, when that one orc stabbed Eishe. I remembered it well: her scream; her expression, contorted in pain; that gleeful smirk in his face! How I wanted him to hurt, to pay; him and every one of his brood, down to the last miserable orc! I struggled to admit it, but I understood him all too well.

With effort, I reached out a hand between his crushing fingers, placing it on his arm. I expended the last breath I had remaining before he squeezed it out of my lungs and rasped: “I'm… sor…ry."

My condolences had left him unmoved. I foresaw him telling me where I can shove my apologies when a flying blur glanced off his spine, stopping him mid-word. He craned his neck to my right and as he did, he eased his grip on me.

Desperately gasping for breath, my ribcage aching like the hells as it returned to its natural shape, I turned in the direction of his gaze and froze. Orcs. Everywhere I had seen were orcs! One green body after another, they came spilling from the foothills like a torrent, weaving their paths between the tall rocks. My stomach twisted at the sight. I had never seen that many of them from up close, not even in orcish taverns back north. A loud, guttural chant sounded from above, accompanying their charge. Turning my head, I witnessed the unmistakable form of the shaman overlooking the horde from atop the highest outcrop, arms outstretched, reciting his warcries like a mantra.

I shut my eyes in dejection. That's why it took them so long to catch up to us. They were gathering their full force. At least forty orcs were currently barreling down a hill towards us, all intent on ending us.

Somehow, the wrath in Halrathorm's pale eyes seem to deepen still upon seeing the horde—like the dragon was naught but a bottomless well of ill will. Eishe scrambled up from the ground and rushed to stand in between me and the charge. A few projectiles got deflected by her scales away from me, landing safely on the ground.

That was a mistake. Fully releasing me from his clutches, Halrathorm stood on his hindlegs and—his wings spread wide to appear even larger than he was already—he let out the most bone-chilling roar I had ever heard. A few orcs staggered in their charge. Then, with barely any warning, blue-hot flash of flame erupted from his mouth before fanning out and cooling into the familiar orange blaze. The orcs dove for cover as the inferno rained down on them, hiding behind the very rocks they used to surprise us. This wasn't the wound-up fire breath Eishe performed. It was a lightning-fast burst—like he didn't even need to breathe—gone as quick as it came and leaving nothing behind wherever it hit, the very stone blowing up smoke.

Still coughing up a storm, I stumbled away on all fours as the colossal dragon tore into the oncoming wave, scything down attackers like death itself. Watching him at work felt numbing. Bodies were flying after each swing of his claws, trailing ribbons of blood through the air. This is who I have had the courage to face. To make an enemy of.

I shot a glance at the rocky peaks and to my horror found them empty. The shaman was gone. I could only hope Halrathorm would prove more of a challenge than we did. With a little luck, the wizard was dead already.

As I scoured the foothills for the familiar figure, another orc emerged from the craggy peaks, in his hand the distinct shape of a bow. If you've never seen an orcish archer, you do not now dread. Those arrows could skewer an elephant! I watched him draw the weapon and take aim, trailing the predicted trajectory towards his target. Eishe.

My stomach dropped. Currently holding off an offshoot of the horde with her flame, she did not see the marksman above her. I shouted a warning as loudly as my lungs allowed but she did not hear me in time.

Halrathorm did. Hurling himself towards her, he pulled her to the ground, the arrow flying straight over her head, then pushed the archer back with a burst of his fire. The man was a menace! I could not believe the power he had, the control! It was like he commanded the very element, shaping it to his will! I could easily imagine him liberating the canal now. All he needed to do was stay in the air and rain down death from the sky. But he couldn't do that now. Not while Eishe was here, not without risking catching her in the collateral. And she wouldn't leave while I remained.

Crouching by the stone wall, I sneaked by the ongoing melee, quietly slipping to safety. I was a dead weight. Perhaps Eishe could then run off too, leave Halrathorm to deal with the fighting. Once I was out of sight, I got up and broke into a sprint, finally away. I didn't make it five meters when suddenly, I tripped over nothing, tumbling into a clumsy roll. I tried to get up and found I could not. My legs felt stuck, as if held down by a thick rope.

Turning, I saw what I had feared: the shaman stood near the edge of the fray, the runes in his staff smoldering as he pointed it at me. Twisting it, I felt the same heavy force engulf my body, squeezing me like a wet sock. Ground disappeared beneath me as I rose slowly to the air, my body following the movements of the staff, then pain exploded in my shoulder when I slammed against the rock wall. I would have screamed if I wasn't held in a stasis.

I waited for the orc to strike me down, to end me, but he did not. All he wanted was my pain. I was a bait. His plan had worked a little too well, for Eishe materialized out of thin air, snatching the orc with her teeth and smacking him against the wall too.

With his focus broken, I was released and fell to the ground. I yelped as I tried supporting myself with my arm, the pain jumping sharply back into my shoulder. Still, I was faring better than the shaman. Eishe had gotten a jump on him and was pressing the advantage, giving him no quarter to push back. She was relentless! A few times, he had managed to get a strike in, but in no time, she was back on top. Biting into the enormous orc's shoulder, Eisherath flailed him around by her teeth, smacking him into every rock at hand whilst he desperately tried to wrench himself free.

Gathering up power, the adrak'hasz knocked Eishe on the face with his staff, the impact loud as a canon. Eishe reacted similarly, recoiling as if the branch that hit her had been a whole tree. His grey and brown attire torn and streaked with red, the orc moved as if entirely uninjured and instantly doubled down, sending another invisible strike her way. Eishe took the hit to her face, then turned the movement into a wing punch, sending the orc to the ground. Her claws sank deep into the tattered furs and skins, the orc dropping his staff as Eishe thrashed him around again, leaving bloody smears all around her until, at last, the clothes gave way, sending the shaman flying across the jagged ground, his mask falling at my feet. He rolled to a stop, myriad streaming wounds closing in seconds and, practically unimpeded, he rose.

Correction: she rose.

I gulped as I finally gazed at the face behind the mask. In my defense, there was little to no difference between orcish men and women; with the only two obvious tellers covered, I could hardly be blamed for getting it wrong. Her figure was every bit as powerful as any other of the fighters, the muscles practically popping through her skin. She stood even taller than the others, her fangs sculpting her face into a self-absorbed snarl. A single tail of black hair rose from her otherwise shaven head, conforming to their common style.

But what gave me pause were the veins. Sharp, black lines grew outwards from her yellow eyes, crisscrossing a fearsome web across her entire body. Though clearly cultural, I couldn't tell whether her attire was meant to cover the discoloration or her gender or simply to signify her status, but if her nudity was in any way scandalous, there were no orcs to witness it. We were far enough away from the fray. With me on the sidelines, it was only between the two of them now.

With the snap of her fingers, the staff flew through the air and straight into the shaman's waiting hand. I might have imagined it, but I thought I saw the veins pulse as she did it. Rearmed and recuperated, the leader of the warband roared her battlecry and charged at Eishe, the two colliding in a flurry of green skin and black scales.

It was hard to keep track of them. The shaman chained together attack after attack, leaving Eishe no space to strike. She countered that with her size, getting a hit in with her tail while the orc focused on avoiding her claws, then switching around to keep her on her toes. She tried to use her fire a few times, but the orc simply blocked it with her unseen barrier.

Crouched behind a rock—the biggest threat to me a few stray arrows—I watched the fight unfold with bated breath. The two were trading blows like coin! I had to stifle a triumphant shout whenever I saw Eishe get a major hit in, but my enthusiasm waned as I soon noticed a problem. Each time the shaman suffered an injury, by the next one, her wounds had all but vanished. Eishe's did not. No matter how much she hurt her, the shaman could simply wear her out.

My heart moved faster the slower Eishe got. Her former ferocity was fading. She was bleeding from several places—the wounds small but numerous—and avoiding putting her weight on her right side. The shaman used this and rushed in. She held her staff backwards, stabbing at Eishe with the sharp end once, twice, thrice, narrowly missing each time, then, as Eisherath moved to retaliate, simply turned her staff again and hit her with a shockwave to the face.

Eishe backpedaled as she was thrown aside, then slumped to the ground. Anger flared in me. I moved with a speed I didn't know I had and pulled one of the stray arrows from the ground. It was as big as a harpoon and I used it as such. Making the throw with my good hand, the massive projectile flew directly at the shaman, before shattering against a wall of energy.

Facing me, the orc pointed her staff my way and I found myself flung aside; but it'd been enough. Eishe used the distraction to gain her footing back, lunging at the shaman's neck from behind. The she-orc roared as she was thrashed around again, blood spilling across her body. She crossed her arms across her chest, gathering up power in her staff, the runes glowing bright like stars, then released it in an explosion of force all around her.

Free from the dragon's clutches, the shaman struck again. Before she even had time to orient herself, Eisherath was hit with another mass of force, then another and another. Fury burning in her eyes, the leader of the orcs was expending all of her power at once to pummel the dragon down, blocking Eishe's desperate claw slash with a force field, before finally throwing her flat on her back with one massive swing of her staff.

Time slowed to a crawl. Leaning weakly against a stone, I watched with leaden stomach as my love laid helpless on the ground; willing her to rise. She did not. I wanted to help her, to rush to her side, to fight! To do anything! But I was too frail; barely standing. My skin crawled when I heard Eishe's pained wheeze as the shaman laid a foot on her injured neck, pressing her down to the ground.

Then I noticed what else I heard: nothing. Eishe's groan rolled over the quiet hills as the orc loomed above her. Caching a glimpse of something gleaming, she turned over the dragon's hand with her staff, examining the golden loop around her finger. Disregarding the oddity, the shaman then raised the weapon high, its sharp bottom ready to pierce her prey.

A giant tail appeared out of nowhere, striking the shaman like a whip. She was sent flying with blinding speed over the hills, impacting against a rock wall with a force that should have reduced her to a crimson smear.

Turning back, I found Halrathorm standing over Eisherath, bloodied, tired and angry! A trail of carnage followed him beyond the hill he'd emerged from, green and red splattered to all sides. There was no movement in sight.

Heaving on her knees, the shaman supported herself by her staff as her shattered bones slowly mended together, her body streaked with lines of red form invisible sources. A low cracking resounded as she put her weight on the weathered branch. With a defiant snarl, the orc slammed the staff to the ground and summoned her barrier just before the flame washed over her. Not giving his enemy time to recuperate, Halrathorm breathed in, then unleashed the greatest firestorm I had ever seen and held it! The stream engulfed the shaman and flowed around her bubble of protection like a river of fire. I couldn't imagine anything enduring under that blinding ball of death!

Then, after a few eternal seconds, the barrier shrunk. Unrelenting, the dragon kept up the assault as the magical ward slowly crumbled, growing smaller, then smaller again, until finally it collapsed. Untamed flames flooded the empty space, scorching everything in their path. I gazed at the desolation when the hellfire finally receded, knowing full well that I wouldn't find anything left behind.

Winded and drained, Halrathorm all but fell from exhaustion, barely managing to stay on his feet. The fighting must have worn him out. His eyes were narrow and unfocused, gazing into nothing for a minute before he managed to move. Shaking off her concussion, Eishe stood up and limped to his side. Her eyes widened in horror as the larger dragon lifted his wing, revealing the arrows piercing the softened scales at his side. He grunted in pain as he pulled them out one by one, rivulets of blood flowing from the wounds.

“[Father…]" Eishe lamented, voice broken by sorrow. “[Father, I am sorry!]"

She placed a tentative claw to his shoulder, but he practically shook her off. “[It is nothing!]" he barked, irritated. “[I have survived worse.]"

Eisherath was unplacated, her tone urgent. “[You do not understand! It is Unseen Death!]"

He froze and, after a moment, Halrathorm's eyes widened in understanding. He gazed down at his shaky limbs as his mind raced visibly, then nodded in grim resignation.

My heart was rent looking at the scene. Draconic was a language where most phrases consisted of combinations of other words. It had no direct translation for 'poison' in its vocabulary. Shagra Maudr they called it. 'Unseen Death'.

The beaten dragon reached out a hand to Eishe's face before his limbs betrayed him. Lifted on an elbow, he leaned his face toward her instead, their foreheads joining in a silent farewell.

Eishe pulled away and looked at me with hopeful pleading in her eyes. She didn't say anything. She never would have. I had no incentive to help him and she knew it. He tried to kill me! To tear us apart! I owed him nothing. I could simply stand there and wait and I would be free again; free to be with her, free to go home. We could stay together forever just like we wanted! Why should I try to save his life? What was he to us?

Family. He was her family. Even after all that's happened, she would always love him.

Decided, I looked into her eyes and nodded.

In seconds, Eishe was in the sky, her uninjured wings carrying her towards the seaward shelter. Left behind, Halrathorm's watery eyes focused on me. Contempt consumed them again. His anger, manifested anew, flooded his mind like the poison in his veins.

“[You,]" he growled, voice little more than a hoarse whisper. “[Gloating in your triumph, are you?!]" I faced down the behemoth with quiet composure. Slowly, he tried putting his forelimb beneath his fallen form but he slumped to the ground again, unable to rise. “[How lucky you are… to see me fallen before your feet!]" His eyes stared right by me now and off to the distance, unable to focus. “[Brought down by foul trickery!]"

I knelt down, observing the struggling dragon as he attempted to gather himself, and spoke in a calm and collected voice: “[I am going to help you.]"

“[Help me?!]" It was a bark, mocking and callous. “[You! Help! You take me for a] harrdurg!" He crawled along the ground towards me, his claws scratching deep paths into the dirt. “[You two-foots are all… the same!]" His voice was trailing away. “[You bring nothing… but destruction!]"

He could barely move anymore. I faced him stoically and waited, even as the dragon made weak attempts to summon flame, his breath lost in fits of choked coughing—until Eishe landed heavily beside me, dumping my bag on the ground. I inspected the contents, finding all the medicinal herbs I needed. Then I got to work.

“[This will ease the pain,]" I said calmly as I prepared the antidote. Eishe paid close attention to the process; she wasn't conscious for it the last time. Laying out strips of torn fabric, I applied the mixture of crushed medicinal herbs, berries and chewed up roots to them. Halrathorm was big and had lots of blood to spare, but hopefully the bandages would staunch the bleeding. Still, it would help of I got him to ingest some of the antidote as well, but I wasn't that naïve. Perhaps Eishe could arrange that once he lost consciousness.

[Do not… touch me, worm!]" he hissed as I stood and grabbed my waterskin.

“[I need to clean the wounds,]" I stated. I approached his injured side, expecting him to try and attack, but he withdrew, attempting to shuffle back.

“[No! Stay… away…]" he whispered. He was terrified.

Foggy of mind and drained of strength, he did not manage to resist as I tended his injuries. After washing them, I applied the treated bandages, letting the antidote seep into them. His only reaction was his pained, irregular breathing. And before I was done, it steadied into the rhythmic breaths of unconsciousness.

***

It was nearing midnight when he finally awoke. We rested around a waning campfire, tiredly keeping watch over him. I didn't feel comfortable sitting among corpses, but there was no way for us to move the colossal dragon. So we waited.

He had stirred a couple of times throughout the day, Eishe sprinting to his side, but fell asleep again and apparently didn't remember. We knew it wasn't a false alarm this time when he attempted to rise. He looked around, disoriented, when his gaze settled on Eisherath. The two embraced, pressing their foreheads together in brief.

“[What happened?]" he stammered, testing his motorics. Eishe started explaining while he took in the bandages affixed to his side and the field of death around him, visibly remembering. His face twisted in a scowl as he recalled the morning's events. Then he spotted me.

“[You!]" he growled, advancing my way “[What have you done to me?]"

“[He saved you!]" Eishe interjected.

“[He brought this upon us!]" Halrathorm retorted. “[I swore when I saw him next, he would die.]"

I observed their interaction in silence. Eishe jumped in her father's way, taking a stand between us and growled back firmly: “[You owe him life! He is your Better!]"

Halrathorm's eyes widened in disbelief. He glanced between the two of us, clearly shocked by the proclamation. “[He is not a dragon!]" he riposted in outrage, not knowing which of us to yell-down first. “[You hide behind rules you deny!]"

Eishe weathered the antagonism without flinching. She responded something in Draconic I couldn't quite distinguish and would not move away. Emotions warred within Halrathorm. There was rage; an evident desire to just kill me and be done with me. But he made no move. I knew his kind. He would bend the rules to get his way, but he wouldn't break them. He couldn't. Despite his fury, there was a part of him—some deeply dragon part—that would not allow that. Whatever else he may be, he was honorable.

Face twisted in discomfort, Halrathorm's cold eyes switched rapidly between us, radiating conflicting feelings: anger, loathing, betrayal, hate, sadness. For a moment, I worried the storm might break free of his mind and overtake his body, slaughtering me despite all. Then, he shut his eyes and let it die. When he opened them, there was but a cold resignation.

“[Very well,]" he said to her finally, emotion leaving his voice. I never noticed how tense Eishe's muscles had been until they relaxed and she gave her father a blink of acknowledgment. Or perhaps gratitude.

Then he turned to me and exhaled. “[I owe you life,]" he stated, dryly. “[You will not see me again.]"

I nodded to him and, as if dismissed, he turned to leave. Recuperated and alert, he tested his wings, giving them a few experimental flaps. Eishe wormed her way under them, pressing her head against his side in a final farewell. He returned it only faintly.

In a safe distance and poised for takeoff, he turned his head and shot me a meaningful look. “Care for her!" he said to me.

“Like she is my own heart," I answered, but he was already taking off. Stood on his hindlegs, he jumped and with a few mighty flaps of his wings, the black dragon disappeared into the darkness of the night sky.

He was barely out of view when I got tackled to the ground. Eishe's tongue assaulted my face, showering me with loving licks until I held her head in both hands and pressed my face against hers. It wasn't a day since the last time, yet it felt like ages. I kissed her forehead, relishing her warmth on my lips again. I had no idea how long have we stayed like that before I threw my head back and laughed, a full and hearty laughter. It was over. It was finally over. We could go home.

Eisherath withdrew and helped me to my feet. She still had my earring on her finger. It was dirtied and bent out of shape, but it only made it fit the form of her digit better. I smiled at that.

“[Do you want it back?]" she asked.

“[No,]" I shook my head. Holding her hand in both of mine, I brought it to my lips and kissed it. “[It suits you.]"

She smiled with her eyes as she squeezed my fingers softly. “[Then I will never take it off.]"

My heart soared. “I love you, Eisherath," I whispered as I caressed her huge cheek. It was more to myself than to her, yet she registered the words, repeating them clumsily.

“[You said it before. What does it mean?]" she asked.

In response, I Pulled her closer until our faces met. She wasted no time, slipping seamlessly into a kiss, deep and passionate like all the previous ones. “[It means this,]" I answered as we cradled our foreheads together, heads in the clouds. Her eyes lit up. I had to explain no further.

“Aaigh luuve oou, Edmund," she rumbled and, in that moment, I knew with absolute certainty that I would never again leave this place. I would never want to.

Under the light of the stars—with my bag packed and my books safely recovered—we made our way back towards the seaside shelter. It was late and we were both tired, yet we didn't sleep that night. There were too many emotions to address first. With our bodies entwined once more, we didn't separate until the first rays of dawn bathed the small cavern. I didn't mind. We'd have all the time in the world to catch up on lost sleep.

***

Epilogue

The shaman arrived crouched in a ring of smoking grass. First, there was heat as her shield began to fail; then darkness, the ground vanishing beneath her feet. Then, she was elsewhere.

Standing up straight, she found her body healed already. She glanced at the blackened staff as it crumbled in her hand. The displacement hex had burned away the remains of her wooden catalyst. No matter. She would craft another.

There came a choked shout as the servitor who saw her appear from thin air fell to her knees. A crowd quickly gathered as others rushed to inspect the sudden commotion that arose in the middle of the village, hunters and caretakers alike emerging from within or behind the leather tents; then, one by one, they echoed the woman's cry and bowed. A smirk twisted the shaman's lips. She stood before them as nature made her, yet none dared sneak a look. To gaze upon her flesh was heresy!

Unmasked and dressed only in blood, she passed through the walled settlement, relishing the trail of prostrated bodies that preceded her. It almost made her forget her fury! The beasts had won this time, but she would see herself victorious! She had done it before! She would taste another!

The hails started when she neared her tent; screams arising from the gathered throng, praising her being. “Hail the Great Chieftain of the plains!" “The Ascended!" “The One who's will shapes the world!" “She who had feasted on a dragon's heart!!!"

The she-orc smiled as she stood before her tent, the structure large and gleaming in the sunset. She knew she was close to prevailing. She had found her mark and uncovered its weakness. The frail one was the key! There remained only to exploit it! Confident, the shaman threw aside the flaps of her abode and vanished in the dark beyond.