#tybal

Korst’s eyes widened. “Summon the clan, tell them to meet just outside the caves,” she growled at Radiance, who nodded and flitted away, leaving a trail of golden sparks in her wake. Turning to Madoc, she added, “You did well to find me immediately.”

Jorell and Bronwyn spread their wings, and roots and thorns surged up in a great wall in front of the creeping, glistening forms of the Shade dragons. Above them, Royeaux twisted through the sky, and bones broke out of the ground below her, fashioning themselves into long-fanged creatures woven with nightshade and dripping with mud and algae.

The bone creatures surged forwards, leaping over the wall and attacking the first of the Shade dragons, which screamed in a voice like broken glass and crumpled under their venomous claws and snapping jaws. Jorell whooped as he swooped along the wall, and Royeaux smiled shyly.

“Oh,” said the female imperial suddenly, “I got you something at market day!” 

Immediately, Tybal straightened up, his ears tilted forwards curiously. His mate reached into her back and rummaged around for a moment before removing a delicately crafted piece of jewelry decorated with glittering red wings.

“Bracelets,” Ixa said with a smile, and flicked her tail at the matching anklets wrapped around his hind legs. “They’re from the same jeweler as your anklets.”

“Thank you,” said Tybal, and took the bracelets from his mate’s claws. He fitted them around his own wrists, and flopped onto his side. After a moment, Ixa coiled down beside him and closed her eyes, and Tybal draped a protective wing over her. 

As soon as he thought the other imperial had fallen asleep, Tybal whispered, “I love you.” 

What to do today? As you step out into the sunlight, you find yourself looking at the caves high in the mountains, only black smudges from here. Korst says nobody should go up there, but she’s too cautious. If she could get treasure any way except fighting, you’d bet good money she’d stay underground all the time.

So of course, you spread your wings to the open sky and leap into the air with a few good beats, then spiral up towards the mountains on a warm draft of air. It’s sunny out today, but not too hot. As you draw closer to the caves, though, a chill seems to seep through your bones. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea, but you grit your teeth and keep going- you’re not scared. The thought’s ridiculous.

And so you land on the boulder-strewn mountainside, peering into the darkness. You aren’t sure if you’ll be able to fit into this opening, and as you snake your head forwards, trying to gauge the size of the cave, your spine prickles. Something is watching you. 

You frown, pulling your head back. You aren’t afraid, of course you aren’t, but your mane stands on end, bristling along your spine, and you bare your teeth.  “Who’s there?” you ask, and the thing inside the caves laughs, and it is the laugh of a child. You roar with shock, rearing onto your hind legs, and the laughter continues, and your limbs twitch in the direction of the cave, and it takes you a massive effort to tear yourself away, your heart beating faster than it ever has before. As you fly away, you glance back over your shoulder, and see a pair of golden-brown eyes glinting out of the shadows.

“I’ll say whatever I want, and just maybe that means me saying you’re an absolute bitch.” Radiance’s eyes were furious, devoid of her usual mischievous humor. “That nest was allied with us, and now we have a war on our hands.”

Tybal hissed and struck out, his long body moving fluidly as he lunged towards the small nocturne. Dodging the attack, Radiance sank her claws into Tybal’s neck, holding on as the imperial reared up and tried to shake her off. The warm blood in Tybal’s veins pulsed close to her claws, and she bit down viciously. Luckily for the imperial, the metal filigree around his neck deflected most of the blow, and he was able to twist around and tear Radiance off of his neck.

With a roar, Tybal threw Radiance away from him, but the nocturne twisted nimbly in midair. “You can’t fight worth a damn,” she taunted, as the edges of her scales began to crack and flake. “What are you gonna do when the harpies come after you?” Searing white light spilled out from her chest and the curves of her wings, and Tybal took an uncertain step back, teeth still bared.

“I can fight better than you,” he snarled, and lunged forwards again, seemingly heedless of the burning light rapidly overtaking Radiance’s body. His talons closed on one of the nocturne’s wings, and his paw-pads blistered as small bones snapped underneath the pressure. Radiance screamed, light pouring out of her mouth and washing over Tybal-

“What’s going on?” boomed a voice, and both young dragons staggered apart in shock. Radiance fell to the ground, and a column of golden flame shot up where her bloodied wing struck the earth. Singed and coughing, Tybal crumpled into a disconsolate heap and looked up at Korst’s scowling face.