[Soar] Odd Winds - CHAPTER 3

Rolling thunder clouds had dominated the sky above the North Island. Land below them was casted in hazy, rainstorm streaked darkness that was occasionally lit up by a flash of lightning. During those lightning bursts the creatures battling in the storm became more visible. A monster of a titan scale, its slender body looking like a massive shadow, clawing with its four arms at the smaller flying figures around it and trying to maul them with its sharp teeth. From its behind billowed a tail of smoke, as gloomy as the dense clouds above. Here and there the smoke veil was pierced by creatures flying through it as they attacked the monster's legs. The monster roared in pain and anger, its screech carrying all the way to the East Island despite the distance and the loud thunder.

Few dragons sat in the canopy of the rainforest, some alone, some huddled next to their kin, all looking towards the battle zone. Aie watched how a lightning bolt hit the monster’s neck and it roared again. But it didn’t seem too hurt by the soarians and their efforts to banish it back to the portal.

The crackling portal on western horizon was still as large as a mountain and the sky around it was veiled by silver and rosey colored auroras. It would have been a beautiful vista, Aie thought, had it not a week ago spat out dragons and griffins with peculiar mutations. And then this enormous monster had crawled through.

Branches below Aie’s perch rustled. Katke’s jewel crowned head poke through the leaves and soon the rest of her.

“Phew! It’s a long climb!” She huffed and puffed for air. Being healer for her entire life Katke didn’t have much skill or physique to climb trees. Aie smiled a bit and helped the green dragoness find a sturdy place to sit. Still feeling like she was about to fall, Katke crouched down like a big jungle cat. Her gaze found the wall of dark clouds and the battle.

“Is that it? The portal monster?” She quietly asked. Aie nodded.

“Neith called it a Wyrm.” Aie told. “Apparently, it has been visiting the isles for some time. Treating it like a get-away place. All the arguing a few weeks back got to its nerves so it ‘threw a tantrum.’”

“Hm, a tantrum… Some nerve it has to whine about things that aren’t its concern! Our bickering isn’t destroying acres of land.”

“The war with griffins left its scars on the isles.” Katke wasn’t sure how to answer and silence creeped over them.

Sun was past its highest point when Aie and Katke noticed a flight of dragons rising from one of the rainforest clearings. Helming the flight was Sio’s white form. The blue and red colored prostheses that covered her missing front limbs showed brightly against her scales. Behind her Aie saw seven other dragons from their village, Meadow being one, and behind him was Neith. Roars and bellows from the clearing wished the fighters good luck for the battle and for a safe return - a crowd of other villagers must have come to see them off.

“I’m surprised she agreed to join the fight.” Katke said with respect in her voice.

“Who? Neith?” Aie turned to look at the four winged silhouette. The flight was quickly disappearing into the horizon.

“Yes. By first impression she didn’t seem like one to disagree with the Wyrm.”

Watching how the giant shadow of the Wyrm breathed an entire forest to flames, the orange winged dragoness replied: “I don’t think she was expecting destruction of this size. Knowing how much damage something can cause changes creatures' minds.”

Katke gave a rueful smile. “Ay, that it does….”

Having most of the fighters now away Aie felt worry and anxiety tickle her scales. “We should get everyone back to the village. Just in case the battle moves closer. Monster of that size can easily leap over from island to island.” Taking flight, and spooking Katke by accident, Aie went from dragon to dragon who were still sitting on the canopy and asked them to get back home. The crowd in the clearing, those who were families and friends of the fighters, were hardest to coax into leaving. With Katke’s help everyone finally agreed to leave.

Deep in the jungle, in the dense heart of it, hid a small but growing village. It didn’t yet have any name, for things that have a name are much easier to find. This nameless village was a home to dragons who felt wary of the outside world. On this day that fear was more reasonable than ever.

Same worry that had gotten under Aie’s scales hung in the air when she looked around the faces of the villagers. There were a handful of able dragons left - most of them being scouts like Aie - and the rest were the old, the young and the broken.

“I think some tea and chocolate stones will do everyone good right about now”, Katke said and couldn’t hold back in a concerned sigh.

“I’ll see Meadow’s mother back to her nest.” For the entire way home Aie had held out her wing to support the oldest dragoness in their village. Her scales were washed out minty green and once proud hatched like horn had worn down into a nub. She had insisted on seeing her only son off despite the walk to and back making her legs shake and breath wheeze.

“My little Nuppu. My sweet little Nuppunen”, had been all she had uttered during the way back. Meadow was almost three times the size of his mother, and Aie wasn’t sure if the old dragoness’ words made her feel sadness or adoration.

Walk, or rather waddle, to Kielo and Meadow’s nest took a long time but spotty dragoness didn’t have any rush. She watched how other scouts ran errands from one end of the village to other, making sure everyone was safe and sound. Katke and two other healers were handing out encouraging words, tea and chocolate covered pebbles. Band of unruly hatchlings reminded everyone that a war with portal deity didn’t stop them from trying to free the chickens. No one had the heart to tell them that chickens preferred not to leave the village and thus were never truly free.

 “Here we go, Kielo.” Aie comforted the rattling dragoness and helped her to lie down. “I’ll go fetch you some tea and sweets. And please, try not to worry yourself to the grave. Meadow will want to see you in good health when he returns..”

Pale dragoness gave a weak nod. “Bring me some extra of those sweets, will you Aie. Meadow always liked them. I want to surprise him with some when he comes back home to me.”