Chapter Text
Protector-Of-Fire remembered the night. She still flew in it, even though her wings ached and creaked. She still smelled it, even as her tracking abilities wavered. Her flames ached with the night, despite the gutter and sputter that followed every tongue of fire she brought to her foes.
Her flock had just gone to sleep, and she was patrolling the flock’s territory when she was tackled to the ground. She screeched out a warning as the other four-winged began to chomp at her. She remembered trying to reason with the other dragon, before realizing that the beast was not hearing any of what she said.
Finally, Protector-Of-Fire clawed deep into the throat of the other four-winged, causing them to fall onto the stone ground dead. And yet, as the regret and sorrow dampened Protector-Of-Fire’s inner-flame, the sounds of battle still rang.
She flew to the nesting grounds, the clash of teeth and growls growing louder and louder, soon overtaking the sound of her beating wings. She passed through the trees allowing her true sight of her flock.
The scene that Protector-of-Fire found is still etched into her inner-flame.
Dragons of all varieties fly and tumble across the tough dirt and stone, the melody of scraping scales underlying the chaos. Roars and screeches weave into the cacophony of noise, some of the tunes carrying language, most of it did not. The attackers rampaged and desecrated the dens of Protector-of-Fire’s flock, swooping in to grab egg and dragon-kin alike. And if a bounty was too difficult to grab, it was destroyed in whatever means was necessary.
Protector-of-Fire knew that the battle was encroaching on its end, her flock quickly losing its will and ability to fight on, and so she joined. She dove into a battle between several small-flame-bringers fighting a one-of-storms kin. She slammed her wings down, launching the tiny dragons away allowing her flock mate to join the battle.
She tore through several necks and slaughtered countless dragons. Many kinds of dragon blood seeped into the ground as she carved out her enemies, giving her flock the chance to recover and fight again. But, as the battle began to turn in the flock’s favor, Protector-Of-Fire heard a very familiar screech. Her head whipped to the side, body now on high alert, as she watched her Flame-Mate get crushed to ground. She watched as the dark blue small-flame-bringer, that she loved dearly, collapsed to the ground. A viscous roar ripped through Protector-Of-Fire, her inner-flame soaring in heat and flame, as she rushed to her Flame-Mate. But, before she could get there, another dragon jumped at her, tossing her to the ground and knocking her skull into the stone. And as she had laid there, her own blood coating the ground, she watched her love get picked up and flown into the sky, an offering for the Red-Queen-Alpha.
Of course she remembered that night, for her flame was split in two that night.
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Protector-Of-Fire stares at her Flame-Mate, her Fuel-Of-Fire. A desperate and aching part of her inner-flame tries to reject her own sight and smell, not wanting to open itself to more pain. But, as she lowers herself onto her haunches, pressing herself into the soft grass of the grove she knows that this is true, she had found her love.
“My Fuel-Of-Fire..” A deep rumble leaves her body for the first time in a long time, as she tilts her head. Fuel-Of-Fire quickly leaps off her perch and soars to the four-winged, landing near her and nuzzling the side of her crest with her own head. “Oh how I have missed you my flame…”
“And I you…” the larger dragon croons, nuzzling back against her lover.
There was silence for a long moment. There were many words that needed to be said between them, but for now they just needed to bask in each other’s company after so many winters.
An inquisitive young chirp catches the four-winged’s attention, as she looks to see a human hatchling stare at her in wonder while a very protective changing-scales slithers around the hatchling, stopping its movements. Fuel-Of-Fire follows her mate’s gaze and chuffs at the hatchling’s behavior, obviously familiar with it.
“Unseen-Hunter, you can let the boy go, Protector-Of-Fire will not hurt him.” The blue dragon hisses as she climbs up her mate settling on top of her crest. A soft rumble emanates from Protector-Of-Fire as she looks up, before turning her attention to the pair in-front of her.
Unseen-Hunter grumbles as they release the small human, who eagerly runs over to the new dragon, hissing excitedly “you’re so big!” His paws stretch to either side of him as he crouches low. “Like this big! And your wings!! There’s so many.”
Protector-Of-Fire rumbles happily at the hatchling’s antics, letting him get close so he could inspect her. Her own paw moves to then lightly tap the boy’s head, making him still instantly as he stares at it, eyes lit in wonder. “And you are so little, almost rivaling my Flame-Mate in smallness.”
A soft hiss is heard from above the large dragon’s head as she feels a bap on her head. A warmth fills her at the action, a memory of tiny claws tapping her head in the exact same way, chases away the decades old ache in her bones. Her Fuel-of-Fire was back.
But an excited hiss brings her attention back, as she watches the small hatchling clasp onto her paw, “Your my mom’s Flame-Mate?” He excitedly hissed, bouncing on his back paws.
Fuel-Of-Fire chirped an agreement, “Yes my hatchling, Protector-Of-Fire is my Flame-Mate, has been for many winters.”
This seemed to only excite the hatchling more, making him rush over to Unseen-Hunter and excitedly jumping in front of them. “We have a new flock-mate, Unseen-Hunter. New flock-mate! New flock-mate!”
Fuel-Of-Fire and Protector-Of-Fire had repositioned themselves closer together and away from the frolicking child, who rushed around the clearing excitedly chirping all the plans he had for this new flock-mate. And as the two watched the small youngling play, they felt their Inner-Flames burn bright, bellowing fiercely in a way they hadn’t felt for a long time.
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“Time has not been kind to you, has it my roaring flame?” the four-winged asked as she nuzzled the small frame of her lover who sat near the lump that was the hatchling.
They all had moved to a small alcove within the basin, except for Unseen-Hunter who was out hunting for food. Clever-Paws was under some hides in the alcove, curled into more furs than truly necessary for the small boy, the obvious handiwork of Fuel-of-Fire.
Fuel-Of-Fire looked towards her mate, a soft breath leaving her maw as she returned the nuzzle. “No, it has not my blaze…” The sorrow is heavy in her hiss as she continues, “I have suffered under the paws of both the Red-Queen-Alpha and the humans, one after the other…” A deep growl fills the basin as the tiny dragon spoke, her massive companion curling closer to hide the alcove from the old horrors and dangers of the world. She continues slowly, her slitted iris rolling fondly at her mate’s behavior. “I will not tell you what those creatures did to me, for I know you, and the vengeance you would seek for me would take you from me. And I will not lose you again. So peace, my Flame. Peace.” Her claws scratch on the scales of the Four-Winged as she speaks ”peace,” pushing the word deep into the one that shares her Inner-Flame.
A soft puff of smoke leaves Protector-Of-Fire’s nostrils and fills the alcove momentarily as she exhales her calming breath. “But I can smell your weakness… It permeates your every breath…”
Fuel-Of-Fire looks into the large eye of her mate, not saying anything for a moment. “... There’s nothing to be done about this, it’s been this way since I found Clever-Paws. I hurt constantly, my breath is not as hot as before, and my wings do not take me as far as they once did.” Her hisses are quiet, trying to avoid waking the young one before her. “But in the end it doesn’t matter. My focus is on him. He needs me.” She looked down at the hatchling, her tail softly caressing his hair, a sleepy snuffle being the only reaction he gave.
The Four-Winged huffs softly, before bringing herself closer, nearing blocking out all natural light inside the alcove. “Then I will join you in your quest, my flame, as I always have. For we may have changed, we still burn the same flame.” Her head slowly came to rest near Fuel-Of-Fire’s body, her breath gusts warmly across the small dragon and her new charge. The little hatchling snuggles deeper into the furs, a deep happy sigh leaving him.
The small-flame-bringer just chuffs, curling ever closer to Clever-Paws as she hisses softly, “I assumed that was the case as soon as you started herding little Clever-Paws and me into the nest. You are not capable of subtly Protector-of-Flame.” Her final hisses more akin to chuffs as she pats the nose of her large companion humorously, whose ear flaps wiggled in slight embarrassment.
The dragon just chuffs at the smaller, carefully nudging her. “Just sleep my playful mate. I will watch over you both.”
The tired dragon hisses a sigh, her head finally resting into the furs as finally begins to relax after her decades long vigilance. She speaks nothing, but communicates everything as her breaths begin to slow.
And Protector-of-Fire watches, stands vigil, fulfills her duty that she had asked for decades ago. And slowly, she feels her Inner-Flame build, chasing the cold that had settled too easily in her many limbs. She was finally back in the hearth, and nothing would snuff it out again.
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The tiny hatchling screams and hollers into the roaring wind.
His joy was electric as he sat on the back of Protector-Of-Fire, the tiny Fuel-of-Fire keeping him seated, even as he wiggled eagerly.
It had taken many pleading hisses, and desperate hatchling croons for the dragon dam to allow the tiny human boy on the four-winged while she was riding the winds. It also required a long moon-filled night without the hatchling, where the flock discussed every possibility about flight with the wingless boy. But she did eventually acquiesce when her mate told her simply “Many dragons are without wings. Yet they have kin who show them their heritage. The boy does not have true kin, he has us. So we must give him our heritage, or else he will lack an anchor for his flame, my mate.” And so she agreed.
Yet, she required Clever-Paws to grab some rope from the humans and tie it to a tree and Protector-of-Fire’s tail so that the trio would “soar” on top of a small plateau. And even then, Unseen-Hunter was flying below them, ready at all times.
And despite his whining and grumbles about the safeguards, the hatchling was so happy and excited. It was the first time that the hatchling was given the true caress of the winds love across his skin and scales (late in terms of dragons, most hatchlings tumbling through the sky by their second winter, to the boys’ eight, but none of the flock speak of this fact). He hissed and yelled out his delight, using a few human calls to express himself also, a rare occurrence.
Eventually, the large dragon settles back onto the ground, slowly forcing the small kid back to the earth, Fuel-of-Fire slowly pushing him up and off. Clever-Paws eagerly runs up to Protector-of-Fire’s face, nuzzling into her face as he begins to softly hiss and roll his words together as he excitedly rambles about the flight.
Protector-of-Fire happily indulges in the little hatchling, her gaze focused near his hair. She then hears a click, which makes her look off to the sound, finding her mate sitting on the head of Unseen-Hunter. She flicks her head back to the forestline, before giving a play pounce on a fictional prey. The large dragon’s ear flicks amusedly at her mate’s actions, before lowering herself to grass as she watches her mate enter into the trees, Unseen-Hunter fulfilling their namesake and leaving sight quickly. Clever-Paws in all his excitement didn’t notice his flock leave, just continuing to his excitedly into Protector-of-Fire’s face as he slowly cuddles into her.
Eventually his hisses pitter patter out, and the excitement of the day bleeds into the slow contentment of the wind in the grand trees behind them. And the pair enjoy the quiet, though the large dragon is certainly aware that quiet with Clever-Paws is a rare thing, even in his sleep, (his sleep is filled with soft whimpers and angry hisses if Fuel-of-Fire is not near him. Protector-of-Fire’s wings still shake at the night she was only with the boy…).
And he eventually does the expected and softly asks “Ma…” a new development that still sends a flutter through the large dragon’s wings, “what is a Flame-Mate? Mom has mentioned it several times, but I don’t really know what it is all about…”
Protector-of-Fire rumbles slowly, a curious note under her deep gravelly vibrato as shifts the small hatchling between her legs, laying him down so she can carefully rest her head on his belly. “Well, my tiny one, that is a simple and yet difficult question. You know what your Inner-Flame is, yes?”
The hatchling huffs, patting his chest indignantly. “Of course I do! It’s our everything! Its what keeps us warm, helps us know who we are, and who someone else is! It is also what allows you and mom to breath out fire. Unseen-Hunter also says that their Inner-Flame gives them their ability to spit out their acid! Which is really really cool…” His gaze goes a little distant, before shaking his head and wiggling a little. “Oh! It is also what makes you all so so warm and nice to hug!” At this, the boy wraps his hands around the nearest ear flap of his mom, bringing himself in to cuddle her.
He is so cute. Is the only thought that crosses Protector-of-Fire’s mind as she nuzzles back into her ward. “You are very right, little one. Your Inner-Flame is you, your essence, your very breath. But, this flame is also connected to your flock, to us. Your flame has connected to me, your mom, and Unseen-Hunter, burning with their breaths. And, our flames burn with your breath also. It is why we are connected strongly, for the strength of our flames burn together. Do you understand?” The hatchling nods into the four-winged’s head. “Such a smart boy. Now, a Flame-Mate is a kind of Flame-Bond. And a Flame-Bond is similar to flocks in that your flames are so entwined with another that you share your fires. During the ceremony where you announce your bond to the flock your fires will become one, and then settle within yourselves. Your beings become one, you share each other. You are no longer one, you are two. The nature of a Flame-Bond is unique to the pair, or group, who share it, it just so happens that me and your mom share a Flame-Mate bond.”
Clever-Paw's eyes widen and an awed chirp leaves him. “Wooooah… Will… Will I have that?”
Protector-of-Fire easily nods, nudging the boy softly. “A sweet boy like you? You almost certainly will.” She nuzzles the boy, snuffling into his belly, causing the boy to start giggling and hissing, protesting loudly. He playfully bats at the dragon’s head, trying to push her off and yanking a little at her ear flaps. “NoOooOOoo!! Mama!! Stop iiiIIIit!”
Of course, the dragon does not do that, she continues, happily chuffing at the joy her hatching was in. Because a giggling hatchling is a safe hatchling, and that was the greatest joy for Protector-of-Fire.
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Protector-of-Fire beats her wings at a sedate pace, her gaze steady on the crashing waves and the cloudy horizon. She makes a small bank, directing herself around the edge of her territory. She notes the small shadow of a wooden craft that the humans used, floating outside the typical locations that the humans traversed, knowing that she would now need to monitor this part of her territory to see if more humans came this way.
She steadily finishes her patrolling, passing behind the mountain and the human dens, and then dipping down into a forest clearing. Waiting there as Unseen-Hunter, who was eating from a sheep. “Ahhh I see you decided to partake in the humans’ harvest today.” The four-winged teasingly hissed as she settled herself into the grassy glade. “I assumed you were quick and sneaky?”
Unseen-Hunter scoffs, stuffing their head into the corpse as he grumbles, “Of course I did… who do you think I am?”
The larger dragon chortles at the petulant youngling’s grumbles, before she speaks again. “Any reason for the sudden appetite for sheep flesh? If I remember correctly, you have a particular fascination with salmon, often hoarding it whenever we go on hunts… So, what happened to change your mind?”
The changing-scales ducked their head deeper into the sheep, a low hiss leaving their fangs, “...revenge…”
At this, the four-winged gave a soft chuff, resting her head closer to the sullen dragon. “Ahh, you're still not happy about Clever-Paws’ injuries from yesterday are you?”
The green vine-like appendage of the changing-scales flicks unhappily. “The boy is not treated well in the human dens… It is rare for him to come home to us without smelling of pain…” an angry hiss leaves them as they look up at Protector-of-Fire. “I do not like this. We need to remove the hatchling from them.”
Protector-of-Fire gives a soft look to Unseen-Hunter. “You know we cannot do that, we have discussed this many times, my kin. The boy still has a flock there. And he was hatched under the care of their Alpha. It is too dangerous. If we try to take him from here, we can not assure that he will be safe, especially with the Red-Queen-Alpha. At least while we are here we can protect him.”
Unseen-Hunter growls, fully removing themself from the carcass now. “But he is not protected! He is injured and bloody nearly every day. And his nights at the den are getting more frequent.” Their claws dig into the ground, pulling at a root near their paw. “And while I obviously appreciate them staying near us, I worry about why he does not stay with his true kin. And from what I have seen of the humans and their treatment of him… I worry his sire is worse.”
Protector-of-Fire stands, moving close to the agitated dragon. Resting a paw carefully on their back, they state softly. “Peace my warrior. We can not make assumptions about the sire. My mate states that the man has been spending time with the boy and has never raised a claw at him. And while yes, I would love to remove him from those dens and ill-tempered humans, we can not do so without his desires. Hatchlings must learn what they need and communicate those needs, we can not assume them for him.” A soft hiss leaves the large dragon now. “And you know as well as I, that Fuel-of-Fire can not search for new nests at this current moment. Now, what did you discover during your patrol?”
Unseen-Hunter hisses out their report, their voice still laced with sadness, but understanding the points of their elder. The pair softly discuss any changes they will need to make in accordance to the movements of the humans, and the Red-Queen-Alpha’s flock. Their position on the island of the humans put them in a precarious situation where the dominated flock of dragons were not focused on them and so did not care to capture them truly, but in turn the humans were always in position to possibly capture them. Luckily, the flock was fully capable of flying this course, and had the will to do so for their hatchling.
As the pair were discussing the recent cutting of trees, they heard the crunching of branches. Both dragons suddenly stand up, spreading their wings or shifting scales. Then, the sounds of human hissing and hiccups reach them, and the pair give each other considered looks. Those noises were too familiar to them.
Without a hiss, the hidden dragon slinked after the distressed human, and then large Four-Winged went off towards their den, prepared to handle any threat that could have chased their ward.