General

Overall, Raya is relatively laidback in terms of temper. Sure, she gets into fights relatively easily, though she usually takes a sarcastic way out of it if she can

With the people she loves and trust, she isn’t afraid to admit when she’s in the wrong in order to deescalate any random argument that might happen between them

With people she despises, however, she wants to be in the right. She may start bickering with them and come across as playful, but she’s internally getting more and more frustrated and will get physical if it gets there

There are times where she has to be pulled back or calmed down in some other way in order to avoid a fight, regardless of the fact she can win the majority of them

Trust is not something that comes easy to her

She had trusted someone blindly once before, and it resulted in the world breaking under the wrath of human discord and, of course, the Druun

After she and the others managed to put the dragon’s gem back together again and the world became Kumandra again, (with the help of Sisu) she learned to start trusting people again

It’s still hard for her, considering she lost everything by trusting the wrong person, but she’s working on it

She can be very patient, though this mainly comes from her years training both under her father’s guidance and while she lived on her own for six years

However, she’s generally only patient with fighting because she knows that she could easily be overpowered if she didn’t choose her steps wisely

With other people, specifically after they’re all brought back from the Druun invasion, she learns to be patient, knowing there’s so much left to fix once everyone’s freed from their stone prisons

This girl is sarcastic, and that’s clear throughout the film, though she knows when to bite back her jokes and snarky remarks

Her humor mainly stems from the way she grew up joking around with her father

Loves dragon-based jokes, though she has to watch which ones she repeats around Sisu

Training was a daily thing for her growing up. She was meant to be the next defender of Heart, so of course she was brought up learning how to do so

Even after her father was petrified by the Druun, she still made sure to make it a daily habit to train on her own, working on her strength and strategy as she grew up alone over the years

She’s not one to back down from a fight, and she unfortunately initiates quite a bit of them because of her distrust in others. Even after she starts to let down her walls when the Druun are defeated, she can be snappy towards other people, even if they aren’t intentionally trying to upset her

Raya is a strong woman, both mentally and physically. She has a good head on her shoulders, and after being hardened by survival the six years she was on her own, her physical strength grew as well

She can hold her own in a fight (granted she’s not bombarded with a large group) and knows when to call for help

Aside from training, I can see her having a few random hobbies here and there. She couldn’t really indulge in them during the six years she was fending for herself, but she was finally able to experiment more after peace was restored to Kumandra

She would definitely like either collecting weaponry or coming up with designs for her own

Reading up about dragons is one of her favorite pastimes, and after she makes amends with Namaari, they’ll both indulge in it together each time the different lands come together for a meal or a meeting

Romantic

Love language (giving) would likely be acts of service and quality time

She enjoys spending time with those she loves, and she wants them to know that she’ll do anything for them, even something as trivial as taking care of their chores for the day

Love language (receiving) would be the same: acts of service and quality time

She wants to know that her girlfriend will do the same for her and is willing to put the same amount of effort into their relationship as she is

Not sure if she’d necessarily be touch-starved, but I also can’t see her being opposed to it as long as it’s offered by someone she loves and trusts

However, because of how much she endured those six years she was left on her own and how many attackers she had to fight off, she might be a little iffy on more intimate gestures of physical affection such as cuddling or sitting in one another’s lap

With a bit of time and patience, she’ll warm up to it and even initiate those forms of affection herself

Because of how isolated she was for years growing up, both before and after the attack of the Druun, she has no experience with romantic relationships

It’s not hard for her to understand how they work, though. She’s a fast learner and is able to tell the right and wrong things to do, as well as how to bring them to light

She’s not really impressed by most gifts, though if you give her something she’s shown interest in – such as a blade she’s had her eye on or a tapestry or book of dragons – she’ll adore it forever

Gifts won’t be refused by her, but she really only cares for them if they actually have a lot of meaning behind them

Arguments with her are random, though they’re usually nothing serious. They’re either small petty bickers, or they’re over something silly like forgetting to fold the laundry or something

However, there are a few times where arguments with her can get bad. If she’s worried that something is going to happen or someone is going to hurt you, she’ll get very protective to the point where she’ll keep you in her room until the threat has passed

Whether or not you know how to fight doesn’t really matter to her in those moments. All she wants to do is keep you safe

She had lost so much so quickly when she was betrayed by Namaari, and although things were fixed over time, she can’t help but still be paranoid here and there

If you grow tire of it and confront her, she’ll initially brush you off and tell you there’s nothing to worry about. If you continue to press her for an explanation, she’ll snap at you and essentially tell you she can’t trust you leaving the room because she won’t be able to keep an eye on you

A few harsh words might be shared in those moments, but once you both take some time apart to breathe and calm down, she’ll return to you with apologies for what she’s said to you

You’ll have to work with her on it, and with a lot of time, understanding, and long breaks to avoid another outburst, she’ll gradually feel more comfortable with you wandering about on your own

Her people are there to look out for each other, and she knows they’ll look out for you too

She’ll put her trust in them, but most of it is put into you

Although she can be fairly awkward at times, she’s able to cheer people up relatively easily, or at the very least she can reassure them about whatever they may be worrying about

There’s no exception to her ability to comfort people when it comes to you

She’ll stop at nothing to make sure you feel safe and happy

If you have any worries about being alone or getting hurt somehow, she’ll stay by your side until you feel better

If you’re feeling insecure about yourself, prepare to be bombarded with compliments and small stories of the things she adores about you

If you’re just having a bad day, she’ll have something set up in the bedroom to make you feel comfortable while you try to unwind for the night (i.e. extra blankets, pillows, your favorite books, a tray with your favorite snacks, etc.)

Dates with her are common, though they’re more casual. She just wants to spend time with you, so even doing something as simple as taking a stroll around the village is considered to be a date in her mind. Here and there, she may take you to Boun’s family ship for a meal, or she’ll pay him a little extra to ride out to the rivers to spend time alone from the entire village

In a normal fight, of course she’s too focused on trying to watch her back to show off. She needs to keep her eyes on the target and make sure she doesn’t leave any part of herself vulnerable

During training, however, she can get a little bit flashy here and there if she knows you’re watching

She might exaggerate some of her movements, throw out a new trick she knows is better visually than it is strategically, or even just flex her arms a bit to show off the muscle she’s built over the years

യ𝅙𝅙﹒𝅙𝅙︵𝅙𝅙𝅙𝅙𝅙ᮬᮂ𝅙𝅙𝅙 𝓜 ｅｌ𝅙𝅙𝅙✿꯭🍯𝅙𝅙𝅙𓂂

𖥔     ۪     My name is Melissa, I'm 18 years old and I'm a lesbian. My pronoun is She/Her .ᐟ     ⊹

𖥻     ۪     You can call me Mel or Melie, and I take any requests for bots and fanfics about Marvel women. Mainly Carol Danvers, Kate Bishop and Kahhori .ᐟ     ⊹

𖥻     ۪     I can also write about genderbent, but only if it's a guy (example: Pietro Maximoff!Gb). I DO NOT WRITE about women's genderbent. I'm gay .ᐟ     ⊹

യ𝅙𝅙﹒𝅙𝅙︵𝅙𝅙𝅙𝅙𝅙ᮬᮂ𝅙𝅙𝅙 𝓛 ｕａ𝅙𝅙𝅙✿꯭🌙𝅙𝅙𝅙𓂂

𖥔     ۪    I'm Lunna, Mel's younger sister. I'm pansexual, non-binary, but I go by any pronouns .ᐟ     ⊹

𖥻     ۪    You can call me Lua or Luh. I write and make bots mainly for the women of Squid Game, Alice in borderland and Disney Princesses, but sometimes I can make bots from other fandoms too .ᐟ     ⊹

𖥻     ۪    I'm obsessed with angst and Se-mi, so I can make a LOT of related bots .ᐟ     ⊹

＋ ㅤ✧ㅤㅤㅤ❛   ○ △ □︐ㅤㅤㅤꮼ ㅤ⊹

𝅙  ⎯⎯   ᥫ᭡ㅤㅤִ       𝐂.𝐀𝐈 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐧𝐭

🎀𝅙𝅙𝅙𝅙𝅙┄𝅙𝅙𝅙𝅙𝅙 For u ♡  ㅤㅤ ᦂ    ✫

‼️𝅙𝅙𝅙𝅙𝅙┄𝅙𝅙𝅙𝅙𝅙This link will take you directly to the Google form. The account link is there!ㅤㅤ ᦂ    ✫

＋ ㅤ✧ㅤㅤㅤ❛   ○ △ □︐ㅤㅤㅤꮼ ㅤ⊹

𝅙  ⎯⎯   ᥫ᭡ㅤㅤִ       𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓

🎀𝅙𝅙𝅙𝅙𝅙┄𝅙𝅙𝅙𝅙𝅙Coming soon! We're still building this space. ㅤㅤ ᦂ    ✫

＋ ㅤ✧ㅤㅤㅤ❛   ○ △ □︐ㅤㅤㅤꮼ ㅤ⊹

𝅙  ⎯⎯   ᥫ᭡ㅤㅤִ       𝐑𝐔𝐋𝐄𝐒

⎯⎯   Enjoy .ᐟ ♡

-

ONE

-

"wow, raya! are you sick or something? you're looking at that human like how noi looks at golden and shiny objects." the dragon lady commented. raya hummed in a measle response. she pushed a lazy shoulder towards the dragon and let her hat loosely hang from her fingers.

at the day market, you were negotiating with an elder merchant. as you walked by her table, you noticed some sparkly crystal-beaded jewelry. upon further inspection, the beads were fake. nonetheless, you still wanted the jewelry, but not at the ridiculous price she was advertising.

"all's good, sisu," raya slurred her words. she shifted her weight to her back foot, letting the other stretch out. in a love-stricken daze, she put a hand in her pocket.

"yeah, right," namaari commented. she took the hat from raya's fingers. with light movement, she placed the hat on raya's head. namaari continued to smack the top of the hat with a bonk!

"hey!" raya huffed. she tilted the brim of the hat upwards. "what gives?"

"what gives is your longing. stop being a baby and ask them out already." namaari rolled her eyes. she crossed her arms over her chest while a merchant went around advertising homemade bao.

raya scoffed. "i have no clue what you're talking about."

"oo, raya has a crush! who is it? who is it?" sisu bounced around hon her heels, grabbing a bao as she looked up and down the street for raya's crush.

on cue, you walked over to the group holding five bracelets. "i finally got her to mark the price down some. that lady had a tight grasp around her 60 jade per bracelet."

"per bracelet?!" sisu exclaimed. she snapped her attention to the shiny objects wrapped around your fingers. you nodded. you took a blue and purple bracelet from your collection and wrapped it around sisu's wrist.

"yup. 60. she's crazy but im crazier. i made her change the price to 15 for one or 20 for 5."

"whoa," namaari added. "that's a crazy price drop. how'd you do it?"

"a magician never reveals their secret." you gave namaari a dazzling grin as you slid a firey red bracelet around her wrist. raya tilted her head to the side and hummed again. the polishing of the crystals had nothing against the shine in your eye.

-

TWO

-

"okay, so, i gathered information from tail to fang and no one has anything on fermented bean sprout powder," you announced as your walked into the designated meeting room of raya's home. raya and namaari were sat at the table.

raya and namaari, up to no good as usual, were making some sort of potion or maybe a dish that required outlandish ingredients like dusted jasmine flower and fermented bean sprout powder. you weren't even sure if those things existed.

raya groaned, leaning her elbows on the table. she held her head in her hands. "are you sure? no one has any information on anything?"

"mm, nope." you placed the collection of papers you had in your hand on the table. beside the paper was a stack of books. "hey," you ran your hand across the thick leather cover of the first book. it was as thick as box of juice, its cover dusty and scratched up. the title of the book was intelligible. "can i scan through this to see if i can find anything?"

namaari, who's been quiet this whole time and enjoying the daze looked in raya's eye, turned her head towards the Heart princess. "yeah uh," raya sat up in her chair. she cleared her throat and scooted the chair closer in. "of course." with a thank you and a sweet smile, you sat at the table. you took the thick book off the top of the stack. it landed on the table with a thick thud. a puff of dust erupted of underneath. you simply swatted the dust away before reading.

raya tilted her head, resting a cheek in the palm of her hand. she was at the end of the table while you were on the opposite end and on the side. the same side namaari was sitting on. namaari was in the chair closest to raya.

raya let out a quiet, dreamy sigh. switching her head to her other hand as you flipped to another page. namaari groaned. she sat back in her chair and pinched the bridge of her nose. "seriously, you're still hung up over this? i thought you were done."

snapped out of her thoughts, raya glared at namaari. "may i remind you why we're here in the first place? no, I'm not done. stick a cork in it."

"stick a cork in it? stick a cork--" namaari stood from her chair. the chair scruffed against the flooring. the sound rang through the echoey room, but you paid no mind. raya grabbed her wrist and shoved her back down.

"stick a cork in it."

-

THREE

-

"i don't know, there's just, something about them," raya spoke to the stars. she sat at her bedroom window. she had the doors opened, curtains pulled back, and rested an arm on the seal. she sat on the cush cushions of the bench her father made her when she was young.

at first, it was so she could look at the stars without going on her tiptoes, but now it was a place for her to collect her thoughts and talk to the sky.

"i feel different around them. it was the same way i felt with namaari when we were little, but stronger somehow," she spoke out to the sky. "like, when i first met namaari, i was bursting with excitement. i was making a new friend, she was nice, and also a dragon lover. obviously, that feeling turned into hate for a little while, and I'm not saying i hate them or namaari--" she interrupted her ramble by groaning. she dramatically let her forehead fall to her arm.

she took a deep breath. "saying these feelings are so much harder than thinking them," she mumbled into her hand. she lifted her head up, placing her chin on her arm instead. "what i have with them is different than what i have with namaari. it's the excitement, the giggling, and the dizziness i get when I'm around them that's so addicting. i didn't get that with namaari. what i had with her was simply platonic." raya looked up into the sky. a cluster of stars gathered by some leaves of a tree. a soft breeze brushed her skin, forcing raya to take another deep breath. she closed her eyes. she let her shoulders come up to her ears and then deflate. she slouched, feeling a pull towards the ground. slow, she opened her eyes again. she was refreshed, renewed. she knew what her feelings meant now.

when she looked back into the sky again, a star that led the cluster twinkled. raya smiled, the breeze brushing past her ears. "yeah, i get it now. thank you."

-

FOUR

-

finally, the last time raya daydreamed about you co-sided with the time she realized you daydream about her.

there was a party at Heart. it was summer and Heart used every excuse they could to throw a party. Heart's Annual Summer Bash was something all the regions participated in. before the whole, saving the world thing with sisu, a sprinkle of people from each region would come, but since then, everyone came!

raya stood by the food table, resting on the half wall behind. with a fond look in her eye, she scanned the party. there was a couple dancing with their kid in the middle of the dance floor, kids running around with food all over their faces, and then there was you, happily talking to sisu. whatever you were talking about, it excited you.

your eyes lit up, their color even more vibrant than before. the apples of your cheeks puffed up because of how much you were smiling and laughing. raya felt like her chest was going to explode. she wanted to cup your face and kiss it, make you smile more. she wanted to hold your hands and feel how soft they were. raya wanted to do so many things with you, but she couldn't. she didn't want to creep you out.

"raya," her father said as he walked over with a smile. he was dressed up in his party wear, his hair in his usual man bun. snapping out of her trance, raya matched her dad's smile. she pulled him into a hug.

"hi, dad!"

"raya," her dad resumed. he pulled away from the hug. "this party is amazing. you and namaari outdid yourselves." raya waved him off with a sheepish chuckle.

"oh, it was nothing."

"nonsense. this party is better than any one i orchestrated." chief benja laughed, shaking his head. with a happy sigh, he leaned against the wall. "are you okay, dewdrop? i saw you spacing out earlier."

raya's smile softened. she turned around to lean her forearms on the wall's edge. she looked out the opening. she could see the bridge and sparkling water. even from far away, she could see the leaves moving in the wind. "yeah, I'm okay."

chief benja's smile matched hers. he rubbed the small of her back. "you saw them, didn't you? why don't you confess and tell them how you feel? it's been seven years--"

"-- six actually." raya stood upright. she held onto the wall as she rocked herself back and forth. "it's been six years since i had a crush on them. won't be seven until two months."

chief benja laughed. he put his hands up in defense. "oh, excuse me. six years." he opened his mouth to speak again, but from the corner of his eye, he saw a certain young adult walking up to them while fidgeting with a beaded bracelet. "oh, i think someone is calling my name," he told raya. "I'll catch you later."

"okay, dad--"

"hi, raya."

-

FIVE (technically one)

-

she just had to stand like that. with her thumbs in her pockets and her back against the wall.

you were proud to say your crush on raya has been a successful secret. no one, absolutely no one, knew you liked her. not even namaari, the girl who swears she knows everyone's secret. she was too wrapped up in her own life to notice yours. not that you were complaining though.

you had a crush on raya for years now; you didn't know the exact number.

there were many opportunities where you hinted your crush on her. like earlier this week, you bought her a bracelet. then, you volunteered to find that ingredient she needed, and now, you were at her party having the time of your life.

okay, so, maybe you weren't the best at hinting at your crush on her but today you had a plan. you bought an extra bracelet for her. you spent your free time during the week creating a personalized charm. it was a heart with your initials engraved into it along with a plus sign. it was the perfect gift to confess. or maybe it was creepy. you hoped she didn't see it as creepy.

"hi, raya," you spoke. your voice was soft and quiet. if you two weren't so close, you were afraid raya wouldn't hear you.

"oh," raya turned around. she stood up straighter, a smile spreading across her face. "hey, you. you enjoying the party?"

your heart was racing. her beautiful brown eyes were staring directly into yours. you could only dream of this moment. her, smelling of fruit and forest, and the strands of her hair neatly pulled back and braided. she even had a half bun to match her dad's.

swallowing hard and wondering where the heck the moisture in your mouth went, you nodded. "yeah! um, I'm having a good time. i actually came over here to talk to you about something."

"uh oh, that doesn't sound good." raya chuckled. she waved you over to join looking at the view with her. you obliged. you stood next to her and instead of looking at the view, you looked at her. "what's up?"

you took a deep breath. there was no time but now to confess. "i made, well, bought this bracelet for you and added the charm." you handed the bracelet off to her. as she grabbed it, her fingertips lingered on yours.

you felt fizz burst up and through you. it was like she knew the effect her touch had on you. your ears were ringing and goosebumps spread to your arms. raya chuckled softly, her own cheeks changing in color.

she inspected the bracelet. she dragged her fingers against the small and cool beads. "this is really cool, thank you."

anxious, you watched as her eyes scanned the item. she finally took notice of the charm. she brought the bracelet closer to her eyes, squinting to read the text. the new color on her cheeks got worse. her dazzling eyes met yours and then looked back at the charm.

"this... this is..."

"raya," you let out a breath. "i like you. i've liked you for some time now and keeping my feelings a secret, while wildly successful, it's also wildly stressful. i lay awake at night hoping and wishing i get to see you and hang out with you." you glanced up at her. she was staring at you now. her face was hard to read. you couldn't tell if she was intrigued or grossed out. either way, you continued. "and if the gift isn't your style or maybe I'm not your style, but i thought you deserved to know how i feel about you so," you trailed off. how else were you supposed to end that? she still hasn't said anything.

raya didn't have anything to say. she realized a few nights back that actions mean a lot more than words. after you confessed, she thought of all the times you were there for her or gifted her something. how couldn't she notice? you were right there. all the time

she held up her wrist to show off the purple bracelet you bought her earlier that week. with a teasing smile, she took it off. she slipped the new one on. after putting the old bracelet in her pocket, she held your hand up to hers. your bracelet on the wrist she held up. she intertwined your fingers, her teasing smile now a grin. "i like you too, jewels."

you laughed. the ringing in your ears calmed down, but that didn't stop the fuzzy feeling in your stomach and the roaring warmth on your cheeks. "jewels?"

she nodded. "you have a knack for buying me jewelry," she cooed. "it's cute, but you don't have to keep buying stuff for me anymore. so, no more hassling old ladies to make sure you got a great gift for your super cool and attractive crush." she poked your nose.

you swatted her hand. "hey, no teasing!"

"ahh," she let go of your hand to wrap her arm around your shoulders. "no can do, jewels. you have a crush on me, it's only fair to tease you."

"oh, so i can tease you back?" you held the hand that was around your shoulders.

"not necessarily, but, i can give you something in return."

confused, you scrunched your eyebrows together and tilted your head. she pulled away from you with a laugh. after digging in her pockets, she pulled out a necklace that had a mini glass bottle hanging from it.

"it's uh, it's forever powder. mari and i found out about it while searching through old books. legend has it that whomever you give this concoction to, you swear your friendship and loyalty to them." she gestured to the necklace, silently asking if she could put it on you. you nodded. raya carefully took the necklace and wrapped it around your neck. she fixed your clothes to make sure the necklace was showing off.

"it looks like we both have a thing for gifting jewelry," you teased her. a grin spread across your lips. raya gave you a dry laugh. she wrapped her arm around your shoulders again.

"seems like."

FIN.

Screaming and crying can be heard for miles as the sky turns red from ash and smoke. People trip and drop their valuables as they flee their homes before they’re burnt to the ground and crumbled into ruins. Just outside the city, the forest and farmlands turn to dust as dragon fire tears through it all.

This isn’t right. They aren’t like this. Some are kind but solitary. Some only leave their caves or abandoned castles for additions to their hoards. Some even work alongside humans, helping them and nurturing little villages, wanting nothing more than success for their little human friends. They got along with humans well enough but now it’s all wrong.

Something is spreading, tearing the minds of dragons apart and leaving them as primal bloodthirsty beasts. It doesn’t matter what branch of the species. Drakes, Wyrms, Amphitheres, Wyverns, no matter the size or age, it ends the same. Once they’re infected it’s only a matter of time. It could be hours, days or even months, you don’t even know, eventually what makes them who they are is torn away and a monster is left in their place. They can’t help but kill whatever or whoever is in their path.

The ground quakes as the city starts to crumble around you, chunks of rubble falling and crashing throughout the streets as you try desperately to get people out. The cobblestone cracks beneath your feet, making the paths ahead uneven and dangerous, one wrong move and you could fall on your face.

“Head towards the river!” You shout, freeing more humans trapped in their homes by the melting stone of the building. Overhead a massive dragon passes, tearing up the tile roofs underneath them with their flaming breath, swiping their claws at any protrusion they missed.

You roll your eyes as you notice a rather portly balding man dragging a large sack, gold and jewels spilling out onto the pavement from the poorly closed opening as he prioritises wealth over his own stupid life. Growling at him, you snatch the bag from his greedy ash covered hands, throwing it into a pile of burning thatch with ease. “Get to the fucking river” you sneer at the greedy man as he tries to gather what you’d thrown from the fire. For a moment you think he’s gonna to fight you, his glaring eyes locking onto you when he realises there’s nothing he can do to retrieve what you threw.

“Fucking bitch” he curses before running off to join the crowds running to the river.

Part of you thinks that humanity deserves this. Nature just taking control and eradicating the pests that tear her apart. If it wasn’t taking the minds of your friends and family, you’d probably even support it.

“Help!” A little voice cries somewhere above you and you step back, your sharp eyes darting around the taller buildings. High up, hanging from the ledge of the bell tower, a little girl cries. Her hands slip bit by bit as the base of the tower starts to crack. “Please help!!” She screams, her little legs flailing to try and find purchase.

Breaking into a sprint, you race toward the tower, your human legs so much slower than your normal method of travel. You leap up the wall, grabbing ledges and dislodged stones to pull yourself up to the little girl barely holding on. The satchel at your side flails wildly as you practically throw yourself up the building, covering the distance within seconds.

Just as her fingers slip, you reach her, wrapping your arm around her waist to stop her decent toward the rupturing ground. “It’s ok, I’ve got you” you whisper as she buries her face in your neck refusing to look at the distance to the street, her arms holding onto you for dear life. “I need you to hold on, ok?” You whisper and she holds on tighter, nodding as her tears stain the shoulder of your shirt. “Shit” you curse at the sight of a Wyvern heading straight for you, her mouth opening as she prepares to burn the tower to the ground.

Without a second thought you release your grip on the stones, plummeting toward the cobble stone below. The little girl screams as scorching hot flames burst above your head tearing through the top of the bell tower and toppling it. though you’re not sure if she’s screaming cause of that or the fact that you’re both falling nearly fifty feet to the street below.  

Taking the brunt of the fall, you protect the girl’s head as you roll onto the ground. Forcing yourself up and back on your feet, you stumble through the streets toward the river as the buildings fall around you and the path warps beneath your shoes.

The way ahead is blocked as more debris falls onto the path, so you turn onto the next street, hoping desperately for a way around, only to come face to face with a massive Drake using their claws to tear down a wall to get to a human who’s screaming for the lords help on the other side.

Sniffing in the air, the wingless dragon pauses, and you realise too late that the little girl in your arms is bleeding. Her little palms and shins scraped from trying to keep herself from falling from the building. You hadn’t even noticed it with the smell of blood currently covering so much of the city’s cobblestone.

The Drake snarls as their eyes lock onto you, their massive claws digging into the stone as if it were clay. You prepare yourself to use your magic, to shift back into your true from to defend against the imminent attack, when a horn blares in the distance.

Immediately everything seems to fall silent as the deep ominous tone echoes between the destroyed buildings. The Drake before you races down the street without another thought to you, running in the direction of the horn. the sound of wings overhead slowly fades as they too follow the sound calling to them.

The haunting cries of loss and devastation wail like a bean sídhe. Around you people call for their loved ones, heartrending screams following as they find their loved ones crushed or scorched in the remains of their city.

You’re barely registering any of it though as you stare to the east where the dragons collectively went, following the sound of the horn as if a crew of pirates to siren song. Everything is so wrong.

In your arms the little girl writhes as she tries to free herself from your hold. You snap out of your trance, placing the girl on the ground to watch her run, calling to her mother as she passes through the devastation, flakes of ash catching in her hair as she goes. As soon as you wonder if you should follow, a woman scoops her up, holding onto her for dear life as they cry.

“Oh, my baby. I’m so glad you’re okay” you hear the woman sob out, even from how far you are.

“That woman saved me mama” the little girl says, pointing at you amidst the rubble.

‘Thank you’ the woman mouths out before taking her child to safety, smiling through her tear-stained cheeks trailing through the soot on her skin.

I need to figure out what’s happening. You think as you look back to the east. There was at least half a dozen different dragons tearing the city apart and they just… stopped, following that horn without hesitation. You thought the disease spreading through your brothers and sisters was turning them into mere beasts but clearly there’s something more to this cursed sickness. Something sinister.

To spare the humans more fear you race down the streets and outside the city walls into a scorched vineyard, still smouldering. Heated fruits squish under your boot as you make your way through the destroyed lines of grape vines, and their sweet smells swirl to meet your nose.

You pull off your clothes, stuffing each piece into the satchel as you set it on the ash covered ground. Finally, once the last piece of your clothing is packed away in your bag, you take a deep breath through your mouth.

As you exhale slowly black smoke billows from your nostrils, forming a small whirlwind around your body. The thick dark cloud grows as cyan magic sparks from within it, shifting you from your human form into a massive wyvern with a nearly thirty-foot wingspan.

You stretch your wings out as your tail swings, each movement stirring up the ash that’s settled on the ground.

It’s been a while since you turned yourself into a human, probably the longest you’ve ever been in that form. Because of that your natural body aches as if you’d been sleeping on a pile of stones for a century.

Using the talons on your foot, you delicately grab your satchel, holding it tight as you take off.

You hear the horn sound once more, with more dragons making their way toward it. Keeping your distance you follow them east, wondering how far they’re going and why.

—————

You’ve been flying for nearly a week, far enough behind the other dragons to not be spotted. You have a feeling getting to this point would have taken less time if the dragons ahead of you didn’t leave destruction in their wake.

You stopped at ten different villages and two cities, shifting back into a human to help those in need as their homes burnt around them. Eventually it got to the point that you couldn’t understand the language people were speaking, having to cast a new translation spell just so you could understand them.

You hate seeing the humans dealing with such devastation, and though you’ve been trying so hard to help, you can’t undo what’s happening to them. As much as you’ve learnt from the grimoire you keep in your satchel, you know that even if you could bring back the dead, you shouldn’t. You just hope that you’ll find a cure for the dragons wherever they’re heading, and the humans will understand it isn’t the dragon’s faults. You hope the reputation of your species isn’t tarnished permanently.

You’d lost the hoard of dragons about two hours ago, too busy tying to help the people of the island city in the middle of the river after the hoard had torn up the place with their flames.

You’re glancing left and right, your wings a steady beat as you fly southeast over the river toward a large stone arch. You swear you spotted a familiar wyvern heading this way… The black with green gradient caught your eyes moments after you’d left the city that the people called Fang. You haven’t seen your brother in years, but you’d recognise him anywhere.

You’re not sure how you’d lost sight of him, he was right ahead of you, flying effortlessly toward the stone arch alone. You’d glanced away for only a second, casting your eyes toward the horn sounding out once more, but when you looked back he was gone.

You pause above the river, looking around to catch any sight of his green and black wings around the arch and forest. Your own wings beat powerfully, holding you in place high above the water.

Without warning fangs sink into the shoulder of your right wing, a massive weight crashing into you from above. You try to get him off as his weight sends you plummeting towards the river below. You snap and snarl at him, desperate to get his claws out of your back and his sharp fangs from your shoulder.

Cursing internally, you cast the magic to shift back into a human, slipping from your brother’s violent grasp. You barely get a hold of your satchel before you crash into the water below.

—————

Raya’s POV

The brush in her hand passes gently over the paper, her words filling out the letter to the leader of tail. It’s the final part of her assigned duties of the day before she can finally go meet Sisu and her friends to enjoy her birthday.

Six years have passed since the Druun were defeated, and everyone was freed from their statuesque prisons. Everyone who lives on the dragon shaped river system have come together, finally uniting after years of conflict and mistrust. She knows she was the same, anger and hatred filling her as she searched for Sisu down every river. She had to grow up alone and fast, how could she possibly turn out any other way.

It was hard for everyone, adjusting back into the world with people who’d been stone for years. She cried far too many times with her father, mourning the years they never had together. With all those years lost she worries, even now, that her father will never truly know her. She’s done her best though, to act like everything is fine, like the years alone aren’t a permanent scar on her soul.

As she signs off the letter she grins, hurriedly cleaning her brush of ink and propping it up to dry safely so she can race down and meet her friends at the bridge.

“Raya, have you finished your duties?” Her ba asks when he spots her passing the kitchen doorway, an eyebrow raised in her direction.  He’s been preparing her to be leader of heart, continuing the training he’d started so many years ago. He’s been steadily giving her more duties, allowing her to learn to balance them and her life.

She pauses just the other side of the doorway, stepping backward to peek back at him. “Yes ba. All the letters to leaders from Head to Tail are written and drying.” She starts, walking in to stand by her father while he helps craft lunch. “I’ve listed out possible solutions to farmer’s requests for better access to the river water and made sure the imports and exports are flowing smoothly.”

“You’ve taken to leadership quite well these past years.” Her father smiles, his pride for her practically radiating from him, but also the familiar sadness. “I am proud of the woman you’ve become. Now go, enjoy your birthday, but make sure you’re back for lunch.”

“Yes ba, thank you” she bows to him, showing her father the respect he deserves.

————

Her people greet her and give birthday wishes as she makes her way down through the market to the bridge that connects Heart to the mainland. Conversation and laughter fill the air as men and women trade in the market and little kids stand by their parents, rolling their eyes as their conversation goes for way too long.

She smiles as she spots Namaari and Sisu, excited to see her friends after months of focusing on her duties to Her home and people. The others haven’t arrived yet but she’s sure they aren’t far behind, a couple of them have to be brought by their parents after all.

“Hey!” She smiles, hugging Sisu then Namaari, the dragon almost crushing her in excitement.

“Happy birthday Raya!” Sisu says with a sharp toothed smile, her excitable personality shining through, especially strong on birthdays. 

“Happy birthday.” Namaari follows, her smile far more placid.

“The others won’t be here for about another hour, maybe we can….” Sisu starts, pausing at a weird noise echoing through the air.

High above the river, a reptile like creature pauses, it’s giant bat like wings steadily beating as it scans the area for something. 

From the tips of its wings a deep purple spreads like lighting into the black of its body. The scales down its stomach are light blue, maybe cyan, standing out against the blacks and purples of the rest of it. Like a bats wings, its giant ones are like skin stretched between long fingers, with massive claws at the joint. Its back legs hang down with its long tail. One of its taloned feet seems to be clenched shut, while the other flexes.

 A dark dot appears high above it, steadily growing as it seems to plummet straight for the creature above the river. 

In a blink another creature like the first but with green crashes into it, sinking its teeth into the wing of the purple one and digging claws into its back. The purple one snaps and snarls as the two plummet toward the river, its neck not long enough to reach around to bite the other. Raya and her friends watch in mute horror as the beasts fall, not even sure what they are.

A dark cloud of smoke swirls around the creatures and one seems to just vanish within it.

“Shit, shit, shit!” They hear a woman shout, her nude body suddenly falling from the dispersing smoke, desperately clasping at a bag falling with her. Her body crashes into the rushing water below, and Sisu dives into the water after her.

Raya and Namaari race down to the riverbank, helping Sisu as she drags the coughing woman back onto land. Above the other creature watches the events happening below it, then simply flies away as if it means nothing now.

“You shouldn’t… have… done that.” The nude woman coughs as she pulls herself onto her knees, staring at the dragon who saved her. The wounds she should have from the attack shrink into tiny scars as she gasps for breath, trying to rid her lungs of the water she most likely breathed in.

“Would you rather she let you drown?” Raya asks, her cheeks warming as she tries to avoid looking at the naked woman before her.

“No, and I… am grateful, but…” she sighs, hugging her soaked satchel to her chest and looking back at Sisu. “You may have just doomed yourself…”

“What do you mean?” Namaari asks, taking her words as a threat toward Sisu, placing her hand on the sword at her hip.

“You’re a type of dragon, right?” She asks Sisu, ignoring the humans present, and the dragon nods. “So am I. And there is a terrible disease coursing through our species.”

Raya’s concern about the nudity before her vanishes, the warmth on her cheeks fading as fear for her friend and the rest of the dragons takes hold.

“What do you mean?” her eyes locking on the beautiful nude woman before her. 

“Look, I don’t really have time to explain things here, I’m on borrowed time as it is.” The woman coughs, pushing herself to her feet. The woman’s legs wobble and Raya reacts, reaching for the woman before she collapses.

“You just breathed in a bunch of water, at least catch your breath.” Raya can see the argument in her eyes as she holds her up way too close.

“fine” the woman sighs, pulling away. Raya’s skin tingles where the woman had touched, so warm and soft despite being soaking wet. Her cheeks heat once more as she realises, she was holding onto a very beautiful, very naked woman. She glances to her friends, hoping they hadn’t noticed but they very much had, both of them smirking at her. or at least she thinks Sisu is smirking… “shit” the woman curses, staring dejectedly into her satchel.

“What?”

“My clothes are soaked.”

—————

[Y/N] POV

Six months ago, the first dragon fell victim to a terrible sickness that now runs rampant through the species. A growing Drake, still in his birth cave with his siblings and mother, started acting different. He became snappy, angry, lashing out at even the littlest things. His mother chalked it up to him being a growing young dragon, that he’d soon leave the nest and find his way in the world and all the attitude would mellow out.

One day he just… snapped. He tore apart two of his sisters and there was nothing his mother could do to stop him; she couldn’t bring herself to hurt him. He began to run rampant, burning down the villages nearby and eating any human or farm animal he found until the humans finally put him down.

Eventually the rest of his family started showing symptoms too, and so did others that came into contact with them and him. It was spreading so fast, and there was no way to know who was infected until it was too late.

In moments of lucidity, as the disease seemed to tear into them, some explained they could hear whispers and screams as their minds started to go. Some shook their heads, and clawed at their skulls, trying to get the disease out as if they could feel it writhing within them.

Three months into the spread of the illness the first of your family begun to show symptoms. The irritation over nothing, jumping at sounds that don’t exist, attacking shadows, and eventually the total loss of their higher thinking.

You’d watched in horror from a distance as one by one, your own family joined the hoard of rampaging beasts that used to be highly intelligent dragons.

You studied the grimoire you were gifted when you were a hatchling until your eyes hurt, trying desperately to find a cure using the magics inside. But what could you do? You were one wyvern, barely considered grown to some despite being twenty-five in human years. 

The only other dragon even capable of helping eventually went mad too, succumbing to the sickness and killing the few humans that had offered their aid.

All you could do was follow along, help who you could and search for a cure along the way. You’d done your best to keep your distance, but you know it’s only a matter of time. You’d come in contact with too many that had turned for you not to be infected too.

Every step forward you thought you had taken wound up being two steps back. You searched libraries, consulted with witches and thieves for just a tiny piece to this ever-growing puzzle. Nothing seemed to be enough. And you’re starting to lose hope it ever will be.

———————

You wait in silence for their responses, sitting on the stone windowsill of Raya’s room. She’d handed you some clothes after sneaking you in, and you’d told the horrible story of the past six months as you pulled on the simple brown pants and yellow sleeveless shirt. Not exactly a colour you’d usually wear but you don’t have a choice until your clothes are dry.

“How many other infected dragons are gonna be heading this way?” Raya asks, breaking the fearful silence.

“I was following a group of about fifty, but if all the infected are heading this way, then hundreds could show up.” You sigh, watching as Raya starts pacing the room in front of you. “The ones I was following dispersed after attacking a city northwest of here on the river, Fang I think they called themselves?”

“Wait, Fang was attacked?” Namaari practically shouts, leaping up from where she was sitting. “I need to go home and help my people.” She says, grabbing her satchel and quickly hugging Sisu and Raya.

“Of course, be safe.” Raya smiles. “Find the others and tell them to head back and warn their people too.”

“Sisu, you should warn your family and any others. They need to know to stay away from any dragons coming from the west.” You pipe up before Namaari leaves.

“Of course, yes!” The dragon in human form says, fidgeting as she rises from her cross-legged pose on the bed. “I’ll give you a ride, Namaari.”

You move forward before the dragon has a chance to leave, grabbing her arm to stop her. “Keep your distance when you do…” you tell her sadly “you don’t want to be the reason they get infected…”

She looks like she’s about to cry as she nods, making her way out with Namaari. It makes you sick to think that you could be the reason that she’ll become like the other dragons, that her saving your life could be what seals her fate.

From the half hour you’ve known her you can already tell she’s incredibly trusting and caring, you’d never want to see someone like that be torn away.

“I’m sorry” you tell Raya once it’s just the two of you left in her room.

“for what?”

“I could be the reason your friend loses herself, that you lose her…” you breathe, sitting down heavily onto her bed. “That was my brother that attacked me above the river… part of me was hoping… some of him was still in there. That he’d lead me the right direction and help me save him.” You tell her, running your fingers into your hair, feeling the pull against each strand. “But I was wrong… he’d realised I was following and lured me in to attack me.”

“I don’t blame you.” She says, taking a seat arm’s length from you. “Even if Sisu knew, she probably still would have saved you from the river. She’s like that” She smiles, her dark brown eyes showing great fondness for the dragon. “I’m sorry you had to go through that”.

The moment of emotion disappears quickly from her eyes as the worry for her friends and the other people of the region sobers her emotional thoughts.

“What was your plan?” she questions, shifting to face you better.

“I didn’t really have one… I was just following, and I guess hoping I’d just find the way to help them.” You admit, staring at your bare feet as you flex your toes.

“Well, you said the group you were following dispersed when they reached this river, maybe…”

“Raya, are you in here?” a man called freezing at the sight of a stranger in Raya’s room. “Oh, who’s this?”

“Ba, this is….” Raya starts, pausing awkwardly, realising they hadn’t asked your name when they told you theirs.

“[Y/N]. My name is [Y/N]” you bow, the same way you’ve seen a nobleman bow to a king. They both look at you oddly but say nothing, you assume it’s because woman usually curtsy?  

“An honour to meet you.” He bows his head before turning to his daughter. “Raya, I just saw Sisu and Namaari leave, is something wrong? The celebration lunch is almost ready.”

“Celebration?”

“oh, It’s my birthday.” Raya says almost dismissively. “How about we sit down and have lunch while I fill you in. Ok ba?” She practically drags the man, her father, from her room, gesturing for you to follow.

Unsure, you glance out the window. You really should continue trying to find where the hoard of rabid dragons went. You’re not sure if this detour is in your best interest, your time feeling far too limited. Yet you find yourself following Raya nonetheless. It sounded like she might have an idea and it might be better than the nothing you’re working with…  

-----

You’re fidgeting, your leg bouncing as you stare out the window carved from the stone. You didn’t have time to explain it the first time but now you’re waiting for Raya to explain it all again to her father. He’d placed a bowl of some kind of soup before you, Raya and himself, then settled down as if there wasn’t a massive war breaking out so close to his home. You’ve barely touched it despite your hunger and the delicious spicy taste. All you can focus on is saving your family, your species.

Your mind goes back to your brother as the two humans talk. He’d attacked you, no hesitation or recognition. You hadn’t seen him since long before everything started happening. He left the cave when he turned twenty, you were only fifteen, still a baby in your mother’s eyes. He visited a few times after, but once you too left the nest you hadn’t seen him again.                                                        To see him like that… it fucking hurt both emotionally and literally.

What are you supposed to do?

“I want to help her” you hear Raya say over your thoughts and your eyes shift to her brown ones that seem to be seeking your approval.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea… it didn’t end well for the last humans that tried to help.” You don’t want a repeat of that, and you definitely don’t want to be the one that causes it. just being here is already a risk.

“You said there was a horn that called the dragons this way, right?” she recounts, making sure she remembers what you had said.

“Yes…” you hesitate, wondering where she’s going with this. It’s been a constant, for a while the dragons attack places then the horn blares and all carnage stops. The raging dragons simply follow the sound as if all else vanishes.

“So, maybe we can find the source of that?”

“I’ve been trying find the source. But I’m not taking you. I’m not risking any more human lives.” You tell her, glancing at her father as you rise from your seat. “Not only am I at risk of getting attacked, but I could also be infected. I don’t want to be the cause of another death.”

“Do you have any of the symptoms?” her father askes and you shake your head no. “how long after symptoms show do they fully succumb to this illness?”

“Anywhere between a few days and a month.” you sigh, pinching the bridge of your nose in an attempt to remember certain details. “My friend theorised that it’s based on age or size… the smaller and younger ones snapped fastest I think.”

“You think?” Raya questions, the air of unimpressed at your uncertainty.

“He wrote it down, but his notes were lost when he died.” You tell her, rolling your eyes as you look out of the window overlooking to river, your palms leaning on the near smooth stone frame.

“How did he die?” you can hear the frown in her voice so you’re pretty sure she guessed the answer already.

“Burnt to death by one of the dragons he was observing. It doesn’t matter.” Dismissing the line of thought as you turn to face her once more. “What does matter is that I don’t remember his notes and I’m not willing to risk someone’s life if I’m wrong.” 

“I think you should stay out of it, Raya, we will seek shelter if needed, rebuild even, but we don’t know enough of these western dragons to help.” Her father states, a sense of finality to his words. but instead of backing down, the young woman glares at him.

“Ba, I spent six years alone, I can make my own decisions.” You notice the way the man seems to flinch at her sharp words, though you don’t understand the full meaning behind them, you can clearly see it upset them both. “She could be the only one trying to find a cure at this point, if she succumbs to it then there will be no one, she needs help!” She left her seat as she spoke, grabbing your wrist and pulling you closer to drive her point home.  “we can’t let this happen to the dragons.”

“Raya” her father warns, glaring at her as he too stands, the soups on the table forgotten.

“You told me a leader always does what’s right. I did what was right when the Druun took over and I will do it again now.”

You watch her as she speaks, her determination and passion clear as day. It’s probably her love for Sisu driving her to care so much about this dangerous plague. Maybe her love for her people making her want to stop the carnage before it comes to her door.

“You’re not gonna take no for an answer, are you?” you ask her, her dark brown eyes meeting yours with a smirk on her lips. There’s a fire in her eyes and you swear it rivals that of a dragon’s mighty breath, it makes your heart beat just a little louder at the sight of it. She’s determined and strong willed, clearly no matter what you or her father says she will help.

“no” she says, finally releasing the firm grip she had on your arm. “I’m gonna help, ba. You should make sure our people are ready for if… when the dragons come this way.”

She seems so sure of herself, though you’re not sure if that’s a good thing. You have missed having help… maybe she really can spot something that you can’t… I’m gonna regret this you think to yourself, listening to her ideas as you follow her back to her room.

You just hope you’ll be able to get her out of the way if something bad happens, cause she’s clearly coming with you.