Bahlaan

It was the voice of the active one that broke through his slumber, and caused the gigantic dragon's eyes to open slightly and just stare off into the distance, not actually looking at a thing. Hevnaar was not fond of these morning awakenings, and the active one knew this. Even if asking for help, Hevnaar was not sure if he actually was true and he mumbled back, his voice a deep and grand tone, not matching the attitude of it as he mumbled, "Mmm. When the sun is higher..."

But the human already had an offer up his sleeve, offering something in return. He didn't necessarily want to lose sleep, but if he was to gain something in return it least it wouldn't be a waste. Hevnaar stretched a big and got up from his sleeping spot and raised up his wings, to stretch them out in the sun, which was not necessarily hitting them directly at this particular hour. He flapped his wings, the air shifting causing the trees nearby to bend at the sudden wind before slowly moving back to their normal position, for another gust to reach. Before Hevnaar kicked himself up and was in the air, flying over towards north tower.

Hevnaar reached the spot and made sure he was low enough for the jump and catch to not hurt the active one before he let out a noise indicating his presence. So he could jump in time. He was ready to catch him at the very least, though he wasn't fully awake yet.​

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Verus awoke in a cave, staring up and very groggy. He kind of liked the space, a home of his dragon's that they acquired temporarily, but he almost missed the bed. Even if he tried to make it as comfortable as he could, it wasn't the same.

Especially since Iilah was a heat absorber. No, seriously. Maybe it was some sort of cold blooded reptile thing but Iilahkog always got cozy up next to him while he was sleeping and he'd wake up freezing cold. And it sucked. At least in the mountains here where it was cold. Verus sat on up to stretch and yawn and spoke, "Iilah, we should get up and get breakfast."

He stood up and walked over towards the edge of the cave, yawning, before turning around and raising an eyebrow, "Iilah?"
"Yeah I know. Look, I don't know what it is with humans but I like to stretch my wings out in the sun when I wake up and when it's this early..."​

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"I won't get you food then."

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Iilah immediately jumped up out of her spot and sprinted towards him. She was the size of a larger tiger, not something you necessarily want to see something run at you in a dark alley. She stopped just short of Verus, all energetic and ready to rumble as she said, "Okay okay, food is yummy I'll help."
"Nice. What are you in the mood for?"
"Eggs of some variety? Maybe some bird."
"Bird for breakfast?"
"Any time to get the animals out of dii su ginun."

Verus rolled his eyes and said, "Sure, get some good sized birds. I'll look for some eggs." and Iilah flew on up into the air and went on her search. Verus walked on over towards a nearby tree and went to go and climb up it. As he reached to get a grip, he couldn't get as good one as he could.

He dropped his hands down and stared at his left one and his missing finger.

Pact prices, some people had to lose way more. Some people had to lose way less. But a finger was definitely something he thought he wouldn't miss too much until he tried doing basic activities again. It took him forever to relearn how to hold objects, how to tie knots and his writing, while never the best because he was a peasant, needed an entirely new work around. But at least relearning a sword was not too hard.

After getting over himself, Verus tightened his hands up into fists and backed up a few feet. He took a few steps back and then charged at the tree. As his legs hit he whispered, one of the magic chants he'd at least gotten the hang of so far, "Goltefend, gaar zey."

Verus then, very easily, could run straight up the tree. When he reached the top, it was beginning to float above the destination. Like he was levitating briefly, he held onto a branch until he was safely over a very strong branch, near the nest, "Goltefend, lig eim zey zek."

Then the floating stopped, and he landed pretty heavily on the branch, shaking the tree a bit but it did not break. He reached over towards the nest, where eggs laid unprotected, and he took them quickly, before he made his way slowly off the tree. At this point, below the tree, Iilahkog sat there with four dead birds in her mouth. She looked up curiously at Verus, keeping an eye to make sure he was alright.

Once he was at the ground, Verus smiled and said, "I got eggs, let's go cook em." and the two headed on over towards the cave. Verus set up sticks and Iilahkog stared up the fire with no problems. As Verus cooked, Iilahkog laid down watching and said, "So today... I say we try to make our way closer towards the larger mountains. I keep seeing my kin heading that way. It might be our best bet."

"Maybe... I just... I was hoping maybe we could look somewhere out of their eyes? After those decrees from all the kings... I..."
"Pff, don't worry about those frul juns. They've got nothing they need to prove, ni med hi. Plus, half my kin would probably run off with the stone at whatever chance they got."
"What is this stone anyway... you always seem to avoid talking about exactly what it is."
"Well... what's the word... what's the word... ni do hin vun... mainly because.... ni do hin vun... there isn't a word in your vun... tongue... language! Language to describe it. And I can't think of something close enough. It is something that must be felt, it is something that humans cannot feel and therefore cannot possibly comprehend."

Verus sighed and said, "Well, thanks for nothing."
"Hey. Don't worry okay." Iilah walked over and placed her head on his lap, "I'm here for you first, iilah zeymah. Not the stone."

Verus smiled at her and rubbed her head, "Thank you."​

 

As he wandered through the streets of town, an unexpected and yet welcome sight greeted the Elven dragon slayer, Naeric Kianar. A dragon, clearly beyond the point of sanity was ravaging the place. A slight smirk appeared on the elf's face. The dragon, while entirely unpredictable in its movements, was by no means clumsy. Here was a powerful dragon, and perhaps even the pact partner he'd long sought after. There'd likely be some good reward money for quelling the rage of the beast too, which was always a bonus. Being an outcast due to his ideals and goal, Naeric could use the cash. When you fought dragons for a living and dragons were as important to people as they were, you often ended up with damaged equipment and very few people who were willing to repair it for you without overcharging the heck out of you. Bloody humans, more trouble than they were worth.

Unsheathing the huge greatsword he carried with him, he stated its name. "Sullindale" he whispered, which translated to Windsong in the language of the humans. The blade was as much a part of him as any of his limbs, it being the sword he had used to kill his first dragon. The sword was nothing special in design, but merely an Elven Greatsword. It allowed slightly less magical energy to be required for his magic and spells, though it wasn't particularly noticeable. He'd named it after the dragon he had taken it from, who'd seemed to have an affinity with the wind. Naeric could only imagine how the dragon would have reacted if it had known that he was going to slay it with one of the possessions it had guarded for presumably a long time. Probably would've laughed, much as it had when a single elf had turned up with no weapon other than a pike and a bit of a short-tempered horse, demanding it made a pact with him. Ah, good times. Not so much for the horse, but good times nonetheless.

As he calculated the best route to take to intercept the raging dragon, the dragonslaying elf took note of the surroundings. People could get hurt if he fought it right there, so he should probably try to get the beast away from the town. He might have been confident in his own abilities, but he still respected the sheer power and destructive capability of a dragon. Admired it, really. He couldn't wait for the day where it would finally be joined with his own. Spurring onwards his horse, which he had affectionately named Rohan, he charged forward and towards his target.

 

Here we have the young Brynhild actively watching a deer that had been minding its own business. Like any old dear really, it just stood and started eating the plants around it. The young dragon watching the graceful creature used that as its chance to approach it. Carefully the small, pikachu sized dragon stalked forward til it was within what he perceived was the ideal striking range. Moments passed and eventually, when the deer raised its head, he jumped forth.

Its dragon fangs sunk into the deer's neck, who surprisingly didn't put up much of a fight against it. Surprising, but as far as Brynhild was concerned it just meant that he had killed it upon striking, quite the feeling of accomplishment it left him. It was a shame that he didn't realize was that the reason the deer hadn't put up any of a fight was because it had been shot in the head, right between the eyes to be exact, with a arrow. Killing it right before Brynhild's teeth had reached their target.

The arrow had come from from a lone tree that was within viewing range of the tree. Normally Arthur would've hopped down from the tree shortly after shooting the deer in the head in order to collect his prize and his dragon, but before doing so his attention was drawn away by the rising cloud of smoke he could see in the distance. Something must've been burning in that direction, which had Arthur wondering as to what could've the fire.

 

Elaine rushed across a snowy mountaintop. Her feet crunched on snow as the wind whipped through her hair, splaying it out behind her in her rush. A rocky crag was up ahead, breaking her path. She did not stop her run though, and as she drew closer she tensed her legs. Boldly she leaped over the gap, landing gracefully on the other side. Above her, the faint shadow of wings was cast upon the clouds above. He was catching up already! She ploughed on ahead, seeing a perilous slope below her, broken only by the occasional rocky outcropping. Throwing caution to the wind, the wild girl pulled herself into a slide. Snow parted as she hurtled down, a tiny avalanche of her own carrying her.

She had done this run a dozen times - She knew that there was a sheer drop soon, perhaps twenty metres down from here. But she also knew that there was a patch of deep snow not too far. If she could slow herself down fast enough, then she could pull herself on to a rocky outcropping and make the jump from there. With practised ease, she leaned herself into the mountainside and her descent slowed. Fur-covered arms reached out for the rock she was looking for and she swept herself on to it. She glanced up and saw clouds starting to part and an amused rumble coming from above. Faster. No more time Elaine. She quickly measured the jump and leaped - Only to realise too late that she had misjudged the distance. Had she only taken more time, then she'd have noticed another jumping point just a little further down. That extra distance would have carried her. She screamed as she plummeted towards the bare rock below her, feeling sick to her stomach and begging to any Gods out there for some miracle.
"Elaine, awaken." A bass rumble pierced the dream and it fell away, the mountainside around her disappearing, fading into the sky framed around the shape of a dragon before her. Startled, the girl sat up, panting. The ground trembled a little as the huge beast before her shifted position. Its neck craned so that the massive head of the creature could look down at her. "You do not rest well. Drem. There is time for excitement in the day. You need not disturb your rest with such trifles." Elaine's ears were well used to the booming tones of the dragon, but it was not welcome after having just woken up.
"Dreh hi lost wah kos ful shar?" She muttered in fluent Dovahzul, stretching her limbs and clambering out of her bedroll. "Niidro feyl." And too early for his yelling. Nevertheless, when the teacher called, she obeyed.
"Krosis." Ziilaasmir rumbled, quieter this time. She had known the dragon long enough that despite the inhuman form, she could tell some emotions. He was probably quite pleased with her use of Dovahzul, at a guess.

Elaine got herself changed and fed herself with some berries that she had scavenged yesterday for the morning. When all that was done, and she was prepared, she took a seat on top of a nearby hill. Her legs were crossed and folded over themselves, her hands resting atop her knees with the palms faced upward with her thumbs and middle fingers touching. She closed her eyes and breathed in deeply, feeling the land around her. Through her connection with the dragon, she began to attune herself to the ebb and flow of life. The blades of grass around her as they swayed gently in the light breeze, a thousand insects crawling in the ground, rabbits bouncing along out of their burrows to seek food for this new day and much more besides. And within all that, she felt it. The calling.
"Pruzah. You have learned well." Internally, Elaine beamed. The dragon's praise was hard won, and it had taken her a long time to get to this point. "You feel its call, do you not?"
"Bahlaan." She uttered the name that she could feel etched into its summons. The mere presence it had radiated the word, demanded that they know its name. Bahlaan. Worthy. "Why does it wish to be found?"
"This is unknown, even to I. Which is why we must find it." Her partner confessed. She sensed a lecture, and so did not speak. "Ro do lund. Ro do laas. These precepts are essential. Such a thing will disrupt, Vodrem, this balance. We will take Bahlaan, care for it. Guard it. Such a thing cannot be allowed to be misused. Both human and dragon are capable of Paar ahrk Nax." She nods in understanding. It must have great power for it to have called to them, and its call couldn't help but be noticed by others like her. Other dragons, and their partners. Ziilaasmir's words filled her with a sense of responsibility. She still felt the world around her as nature went on its way. Whatever power Bahlaan held could not be allowed to be held by ambitious kings or lords, or anyone. She and Ziilaasmir were the ones who watched, who studied the way of the world. She opened her eyes and met her teacher's gaze.
"Where do we start?" ​

 

Naeric's ears heard the plea of the stranger a short distance away as though she were standing right next to him. To many, the voice would have been inaudible, but the abilities of an elf were far superior to that of a mortal man. Cautiously, he turned to look at the direction the voice had come from, only to see that the girl was holding her head. She was suffering a panic attack, he was certain of it. Perhaps the dragon's attack was the cause of it; it wouldn't surprise him if it was. The dragonslayer was yet to see any creature stare down a dragon without a trace of fear, himself included. He didn't fear death, but he did fear the idea of never gaining the pact partner for himself.

"Ta nauva taken malia en, rima a' safety re'na lle sal' caela i' val um- ikotane" (Run to safety, if you still have the power to do so) he called back, his voice no louder or quieter than usual.

However, the girl seemed to not be listening, in fact she was running very much not away from the dragon, all trace of the panic on her face gone. Her ability to suppress her emotions was stupendous, but her lack of concern for her own safety would surely get her killed unless someone intervened. Thankfully, someone was there to intervene. Sheathing his huge sword, he took in a deep breath and focused his mind purely on the surroundings. He could feel the wingbeat of the dragon, the heat of its breath as it neared him and the girl, could hear every step that the elven girl took and could even feel the small insects that were crawling along the ground. He needed this focus, for he was about to attempt a magic that he had used several times before, but was by no means practiced with. He was good with defensive magic, not anything that was even slightly offensive. As Naeric began channeling the very essence of nature throughout his body, his magical energy surged into action. Leaves and dust around the elven man was picked up, first skittering along the ground a little bit and then floating freely around his torso as his mouth opened and he said a mere one word.

"Sularrna!"

The word itself was merely the word he chose to use to cast that particular spell. The word translated to 'Windstorm' in the common language, and had no special properties of its own, though one would be forgiven for thinking any differently with what came next. The moment the breath used to speak the word left his body, so too did the leaves and debris as it flew straight towards the one who had asked for his help. The gust of wind went straight towards the girl with tremendous speed, but the moment it would have impacted her its caster slowed the mighty breeze, slowing it just enough so that it lightly pushed her out of the way of the dragon that sliced through the air only seconds later.

As the magnificent beast turned around and roared, a burst of flame flew straight towards its prey. Acting swiftly once more, Naeric called upon more of his magic and shifted his stance as though he was holding a tower shield in front of him.

"Tinechor!" (Shield) he shouted, just as the fireball collided with his forearms, shrouding his body in flames and yet he remained unscathed externally by the powerful blast, standing up easily the moment the flames vanished. If anyone had looked carefully, they would have seen a very slight glow appear on Naeric's skin as the fire had hit. He had cast a protective ward on himself, creating a shield of wind on himself to defend against the fire. The dragon wasted no time, however, surging straight towards the elf that had dared to defy him and toppling down more trees in the process.

The dragonslayer had an idea form in his head, one that would expend some of his energy but allow him to minimise the amount of magic he would need for taking down his prey. Rushing over to the thickest tree in the path of the creature, he yelled out "poldora!" (force) and then with his bare hands punched a very small hole in the tree. Repeating this process, he began ascending the tree with greatsword in sheath, creating small handholds as he went so that he wouldn't fall down. Once he had gotten relatively close to the highest point of the plant, he looked behind himself at the dragon that was still as hellbent on slaying him as it had been from the beginning. "I think it's time you and I introduced ourselves!" he called out, using all the strength in his body to propel himself backwards at the giant lizard.

As he felt the cool breeze on his face pass by him, he reached over onto his back and unsheathed the greatsword in mid-air, before raising it above his head as he rapidly approached the dragon's far side of the dragon's back and plunged the blade straight into it, making full use of the force spell he had just cast. "I'm Naeric Kianar, and you're going to become my pact partner!" he declared, pulling the blade free and beginning to run along the creature's back, going towards the head and making sure not to fall.

Here is the translator i'm using for Naeric​

 

Brynhild was much too preoccupied with gnawing on the meat of the deer to notice the smoke pillowing into the sky. This is where Arthur choose to speak to his partner. Brynhild, I'm going to need some magic. His partner looked up from the deer and towards his pact partner, noticing the arrow as well. That killed some of the proudness that he had felt at making the kill himself. A sort of glare was shot in his direction, but it looked no more than a simple pout given the tiny frame of the dragon.

What for? Even mentally the annoyed tone in his voice was still heard clearly through Arthur's head. There were two ways that Aruthr could've gone about handling this, A) shoot an arrow in the direction of the smoke or B) tell his partner to look up. Really an easy choice when they were placed side by side.

Look up. And so he did and finally saw the rising smoke. That's why.

At that point there wasn't much need for anything else to be said, Arthur simply readied himself another bow and fired it off in the direction of the smoke. This arrow being fueled by the magic of Brynhild flew much farther than normal and slowly took the shape of a see through bird that Arthur would be able to see whatever it was that it saw. Like the burning manor for example. Hmm, interesting. Too late to do anything about the fire, but not too late to try and find the cause.

 

"Or perhaps someone really wanted to learn how to cook one of my kin over a spit?" Hevnaar asked, not seriously contributing to the scenario. He flew over to the town and began to fly over and circle. He stayed pretty high, as his shadow was huge, and he wished it to be small for purposes of not causing fear. As he flew over, Hevnaar seemed to snarl a bit and spoke with no care for not being understood, "Fos los sukaat do daar pus gein. Zu'u vis hon honaat do ok drensepaal. Fos los bal do fus grin?"

Hevnaar was silent for a bit before saying, "It appears to be a grah-do-bal. I believe your kin call it duel for steaks. Er... a duel with stakes. Pardon. But something is off. I think you may understand. Hold tight, soszeymah." Hevnaar then angled himself so it was easier for Alexander to get a look. Basically he was at a 90 degree angle.​

 

The spectral bird scanned the area nearest to the burning building in search of either the cause of the fire or anything that could be considered eye catching. Though even if they did find something, given their current location, it wasn't like they would be able to get there quickly. That was something that Arthur's partner wasted no time in pointing out.

Why so interested in this, we can't change anything.

True, but that didn't mean he couldn't gather any information to be used later. Arthur was never fond of direct confrontations as it was part of the reason his weapon of choice is the bow. If he did need to be more direct with things, then he liked to be prepared in any way possible. Including scouting out for any information he could get his hands on.

Don't say that, this method is precisely how we came to be partners. Unless you'd rather me ignoring you back then.

The silence in their mental link clearly gave way to the answer. Brynhild had also groaned, not that Arthur would've been able to hear it in the first place. The spectral bird continued to make its rounds before spotting a peculiar sight. A decently sized dragon and what he could assume to be its blond haired rider. An additional bit of magic was used to hear what they were saying, but it was only enough to hear the end of it. Magic did help in understanding what they were saying (priase be the pikachu sized dragon), but what he heard didn't completely sound accurate. Well the last word did at least. Hmm, wonder what it is that they're referring to. The bird found itself a sturdy branch to perch as it continued to watch the dragon and elf pair.