I trotted away from Lilian feeling conflicted. On one hoof I understood where she was coming from, having to work quickly to help Alton before Salim could catch on. Sure, the whole thing had gone to hell regardless, but that didn’t change the fact that she’d still tried to help Alton. Was there a motive? Oh, most definitely. This is Lilian we were talking about.
Nevertheless, intellectually I understood.
BUT that didn’t stop me from feeling immeasurable pride towards Nakoda for finally growing a pair and telling her like it is. The secrecy could have led to Revalynd, mauling him, Wyrlynd eating Alton, or Sapphire killing Wyrlynd. And I couldn’t in good conscience believe that Lilian would care. Lilian cared about Lilian, and maybe Belkross. And if her secrets stood in the way of Nakoda and I saving our parents, I could only wish her luck in finding replacements for my brother and me.
The terrain became messier as we pushed forward. Even with the glowing fauna, I was tempted to light up my horn so as to make it easier for me to see my feet, but I didn’t want to accidentally attract any unwanted attention. Thankfully, it wasn’t too, too long before we reached our apparent destination. Together the tiger removed large pieces of bark and branches that had been used to hide a tall fissure running up a rock wall. It looked wide enough for Turtle and I to fit through, if just barely. The group would have to march into it in a single line, though.
Revalynd took a few moments to explain the situation to the group. The fissure led into a cave that belonged to two creatures. These creatures already knew that Chrys could translate for them. If they asked any of us a question, answer quickly and honestly. Under no circumstances were we to make any kind of deal with them outside of giving them the lizard meat that Paco carried. The goal was to stay in a line and get in and out as quickly as possible.
What could possibly go wrong? I could stop myself from thinking sarcastically.
We entered the cave. It opened up a few feet inside. Everyone’s footsteps echoed through the dark space. Besides that, all was silent. Unsettlingly so.
A pebble struck the ground to my left. Before I could so much as turn, two sets of big, bulbous black eyes opened. Fear took over. Light poured up into my horn and revealed two dark-furred, bat-like creatures, one on either side of the group. They were up high, perching upon two jagged cliffs overlooking the way through the cave. Even with my horn’s light, the creatures were barely discernable from the surrounding shadows. When one of the them smiled wide with yellowed fangs at me, I realized that the pebble hadn’t been a mistake. They had wanted to give their positions away.
Chrys slipped off Sapphire’s back and slowly took to the air, at the ready to translate for anyone who spoke. The bats continued to stare. By this point Revalynd had signaled for the group to stop. The bat to our left was growing progressively more excited, talons tapping energetically against stone. In contrast, its twin was as still as s statue, eyes unblinking.
“I told the truth,” Revalynd told them in a language that was neither common nor elven. My mind translated it just fine. It was the tongue of the wild. “And they will respect you. As you can see, the dragon is here. Speak and all will understand.” He closed his mouth and spoke no further, simply staring straight ahead with calm, determined eyes. Wyrlynd did the same, though his tail whipped back and forth with anxiety.
One of the bats-Lefty-slipped off the cliff and took to the air. It made no sound as it circled above us once, twice, and then swooped in. It latched to a stone wall that had been hidden by the shadows up to the point. Up close, I saw that Lefty was as big as I was, though most of that size came from its wings.
The bat made a chittering giggle before calling out to Chrys, “Dragon, what is your nature? What element do you control?”
I am a mechanical approximation of a dragon, the silver dragon answered. I am not an actual dragon. I am of no elemental domain, though I am capable of breathing fire.
Lefty’s eyes twitched in response. “…So you have no domain. You are…nothing more than their…pet, hmmm?”
I am a bonded symbiote attached to the sapphire unit. Chrys inclined his head towards Sapphire. This sapphire unit.
Lefty chittered again before turning to Righty, still up on its own cliff, watching. “Do you think then that if we kill the blue creature that the dragon would die?”
In response, Righty finally flew over. It landed on the other side of the group, gripping a wall closest to Sapphire. “The blue thing has no scent,” it said in a much calmer, more inquisitive voice. “And the pale one smells of…ash. Neither would taste very good, I think.” It then turned to Lilian, who was standing behind Sapphire. “Do you want to play?”
Uh-oh, I thought. Would saying ‘yes’ count as making a deal with it?
Lilian must have thought the same thing because she answered with a question. “What kind of game are you considering?”
“…Survival. Together we hunt. And if you get in the way of me being fed, I feed you to,” it turned to look at Lefty. “Unless we get something bigger, tastier, fresher…” Righty’s lips pulled back, revealing its horrible teeth. “Then we can share!”
Unfazed, Lilian replied, “Forgive me for declining, but I’ve already eaten.”
Motion out of the corner of my eye made me turn. Lefty had moved on over to be closer to Paco and Turtle. The gunslinger had his rifle out. “What does that do?” Lefty asked, its voice trembling with excitement by this point.
“This?” Paco said, holding up the gun, aiming it not quite at the creature’s face.
“Not good for slashing…Not good for hitting…No fishing…Fire?”
Paco shook his head. “No. No fire.”
Lefty tilted its head, looking stumped. “Does it help?”
“Oh, it helps,” Paco chuckled.
“You or me?”
“Definitely me.”
“Will it help you help me?”
“Well, what do you want help with?”
“I’m always sooooooo hungry,” Lefty groaned before licking the front of its teeth with a long, grey tongue.
Paco shrugged. “I can help you with that.”
Lefty perked up. “Really?! Then get in!” And it opened its mouth. But instead of getting in, Paco produced a large piece of meat, balanced it on the barrel of the rifle, and held it out. Everyone tensed immediately. I could practically hear Lilian cursing in her head, and every hair on Revalynd’s body was standing on end. Obliviously, Lefty slurped the meat off of Paco’s gun. Paco had to hold on tight to keep the weapon from being yanked out of his hand.
“Sooooooo goooood!” Lefty exclaimed. Practically swooning, the bat took to the air and returned to its cliff to finish its meal.
It was only then that I realized that Righty had moved. While everyone had been distracted, the creature had flown upwards and was now hanging upside from the shadowy ceiling above. He stared directly at Belkross. “You smell, too,” it told him. “Of blood. So much blood. That blade in your hand…how many beasts have you killed with it? Any that look like me?”
Belkross shrugged a shoulder, unfazed as saliva trickled from the bat’s teeth and landed on his chest. “I’m not sure if I’ve killed any monster of your kind,” he said. “I usually hunt prey with…different kind of wings.”
“Do you think that you could slay me?”
Talk about a loaded question. This time Belkross took a moment before answering, “If I do not care if I die as well. Then perhaps that is a possibility.”
Righty opened and closed its mouth repeatedly before grimacing, as if disappointed that the mercenary had answered correctly. Its head then jerked all the way around and its eyes locked on me.
No.
Not me.
Nakoda.
Oh, no, I groaned inwardly.
Righty stretched its neck forward, towards the little Rider. Just as I’d thought, the bat ignored me completely, asking Nakoda, “That creature you ride? Can I have it?”
“Huh?” Nakoda said, looking down at me and back up at Righty. “This is Don, my brother! My best friend!”
“What if I…take him and let you go?” Righty pressed. “What if only one of you could go? One stays, one goes.”
Oh, no, I thought again. Oh, no, no, no…
But before I could say or do anything, Nakoda raised his arms like a baby wanting to be picked up by his mother. “I know Don’s special,” he declared. “But there are other Riders of the Wing for him to partner up with maybe.” He chuckled sadly. “We’re on our way to go get one now. So-”
He stopped speaking suddenly and glanced over at Lilian. I followed his gaze. She mouthing words. Words that only Nakoda could hear. “But, uh,” he continued in a stilted voice, slowly repeating the words she was whispering into his mind, “Don and I are linked spiritually and cannot be split.” He lowered his arms and took ahold of my reins once more. “Of one mind, one soul, and one heart. We are the Drakes! And you know what happens when you mess with Drakes? You get the teeth!”
Judging by how she rolled her eyes, I’m pretty sure Lilian didn’t tell him to say that last part.
Nakoda finished with, “Sorry,” and settled back into my saddle.
Righty’s eyes bulged. The bat opened its mouth to bite the halfling’s head off.
Only to get a mouthful of lizard meat instead courtesy of Paco.
“YOU’RE RIGHT!” Righty called out to its sibling. “IT’S SOOOOOO GOOOOD!!!”
It returned to its own cliff. Revalynd didn’t waste any time. He signaled for everyone to start moving. The sound of tearing meat followed after us, but eventually silence prevailed. A speck of light appeared. The exit. Once we were finally outside, I nearly collapsed from the built-up stress. A gentle breeze ruffled my mane, almost like a mother’s hand, as I focused on slowly getting my heart back under control.
Nearby Revalynd collapsed to his knees. “Next time, you are all on your own,” he growled, glaring specifically at Nakoda.
“Huh?” he said. “What did I do?”
“Stop being so ready to sacrifice yourself, Drake!” Lilian snapped. “I know you wanted to protect Don but remember our conversations back on Smuggler’s Shiv. If you die now, you can’t help other people later.”
I turned to her, gave a snort. I then asked Chrys, “Hey, Chrys, can you translate something to Nakoda for me?”
Yes, answered the silver dragon, still hovering by Sapphire’s shoulder.
“I’m a little tired. If he could get off and walk for a bit, that’d be great.”
Chrys relayed the message. Nakoda perked up. “Oh, yeah, Don! No problem.” He climbed out of my saddle. “Rest up, bud-!”
I turned my butt towards him, and donkey kicked him in the chest. The impact sent him rolling. He would have slammed into a nearby tree if Belkross hadn’t grabbed him time. I then called over through Chrys, Nakoda, if you ever do anything like that again, I will stomp your face in. End of message.
“…Message r-received,” Nakoda groaned, eyes spinning in his head. “Oh…uh, I-I think I can…can taste my k-kidney…”