Visions in Ash

Walk like it was yesterday... Flint reminded himself. He stepped as casually as possible around the tables of conversing dragons, making his way to the bar. They’re not going to recognize you because you’ve “changed.” You’ll only get noticed when you give yourself away...

Kellan herself was arguing with a couple of shimmering Imperials.

“You’ll pay me for what you drank!” she yelled up at them (she was a large dragon, especially large for her breed, but everyone except a handful of Guardians had to look up to Imperials, and most dragons had to yell to be heard), “I can’t help it if your gut happens to be as large as those ships out in the bay!”

The Wildclaw stalked up to the left corner of the counter and watched their exchange down at the right. “You’re asking me to empty my whole purse for one flagon?” the larger of the two, obviously male, rumbled.

“One Imperial flagon.” she reminded him crossly. Flint smiled when he saw the gargantuan flagon in question nestled between the Imperial’s obsidian paws.

Flint called out to her, “Hey Swan, get me my usual, will ya?”

“Just a second, Flint!” she snapped. “Can’t you see I’m--”

The Mirror stopped abruptly, her barred shoulders falling limply, and even the other dragons currently at the bar counter lifted their heads. The Imperials just looked at her with cocked brows as she turned slowly, letting her two seeing eyes fall upon the brown Wildclaw at the other end of the counter. She stared open-mawed at him for a second before bounding across the bar in one leap, sliding to a stop in front of Flint’s face.

“It can’t be,” she whispered after she peered closely at him. She scowled, her extra long left fang poking out from underneath her wrinkled lips. The Mirror scowled. “What were the first words you said to me when you walked in those doors?” Kellan questioned, eyes ablaze.

“‘What a sorry sight you are, you dusty swan,’” Flint grinned.

“Who was the first dragon who’s head you broke one of my flagons on?”

“That blue Coatl who worked for Erik, he never told me his name,” he waved nonchalantly.

“The dragon who’s tooth you knocked out on that corner of my bar?”

“Ah,” Flint chuckled, pretending to remember the experience fondly. “Dani, wasn’t it? Oh yes it was, he had to get a replacement so he could keep up that mimic gig with his brother.”

Kellan gaped. “Your eyes--”

He beckoned her closer with a finger. She brought her ear to his lips and he whispered one sentence to her. “No.” she echoed, breathless. Kellan looked at him. “And she did it?”

“With the Warden’s help,” he said gravely.

She looked him up and down. “So you’re a--”

He flicked open his palm and a brilliant, crackling fire sprung up between his fingers. She gawked in amazement. “Well if that ain’t the tallest tale you ever told,” she chuckled.

“It’s true, Swan!” Flint insisted, hushed. “I told her I needed to change if I was gonna continue on living; I couldn’t put the lives of a whole other crew in danger again--just in case Gail got away or his ilk ever came looking for revenge!’

“You’re going back on the seas?!” she yelled.

“Well not by myself.” Flint said, flabbergasted that Kellan would even suggest it. He leaned on the bar and cocked a brow. “Know anyone looking to get outta town?”

Kellan’s laugh that time was so loud she attracted the attention of the whole tavern. “Do I know anyone who wouldn’t wanna skip town on your ship?! HA!”

“I need another ship too.”

“I can find you plenty of sailors, honey, don’t worry. Who wouldn’t wanna sail under Captain Flint?”

The pub went quiet, and Flint suddenly felt the piercing gaze of over 100 eyes boring into his back. Keep calm, keep calm, he steadied himself. He heard a chair being pushed back and the quick patter of feet out the doors. Flint felt his skin begin to crawl. Keep calm, keeeeeep calm.

Kellan continued, “I don’t know how much money you have to buy a ship, but I could swear someone would just give you one if you asked nicely.”

“I’m that popular, eh?” he said, keenly aware that he could hear the claws of the dragon who’d stood up clacking against the floorboards getting louder and louder as the dragon got closer and closer to Flint.

“Oh don’t make me laugh again, Flint, you’ll make me scare away my own customers.”

Flint nearly jumped out of his skin when a small grey shape jumped up onto the counter beside him.

Kellan turned to it, her demeanor abruptly motherly, even solemn. “Need something, Finny?”

A dark grey Nocturne hatchling was perched there, inspecting Flint’s face with a more scrutinizing pair of eyes than Kellan had. “Are you the Captain Flint?” she asked.

“That’s me,” Flint said, relieved it was just this kid and not some real threat.

The crowd gasped collectively and began to murmur. The Nocturne ignored them; she pursed her lips and squinted harder. “How did you get away from the Emperor?”

The two Imperials Kellan had been arguing with visibly shuddered at the mention of the zombie-like creatures, but everyone else in the bar shut up and appeared to scoot several feet closer. Flint looked over his shoulder and found himself face to face with many more dragons who looked much more starstruck than the little Nocturne. If anything it should be the other way around, Flint thought. Well, time to work my magic.

Flint bowed his head, pressed his hand to his heart. “It was dreadful--”

“Finbar, don’t ask the man to relive his worst nightmare!” The obsidian Imperial interjected, craning his trunk-like neck over the room so he could bear down on the tiny Nocturne. “Please excuse her, Captain.” he pleaded, turning his mossy eyes on Flint. “She’s just a youngling, she has much to learn.”

“Especially regarding manners,” the female Imperial at his side interjected, regarding the tiny dragonling with disdain.

“She’s--she’s charming,” Flint chuckled. His charismatic smile helped lighten the mood; he could swear he saw a few dragons out in the crowd let out a sigh of relief for fear that they’d all offended him. The Wildclaw cleared his throat and addressed the Imperial, patting the Nocturne on the head (Finbar herself did not appreciate being pat on the head in such a manner), “Is she yours?”

“Oh no, Captain!” the Imperial started, straightening. 

He looked about so say something more but Flint interrupted before he could do anything more. “No? Oh, why such aversion, sailor?” He turned quickly to Finbar. “You must be a troublemaker, young lady, hmm?”

Finbar opened her mouth to reply when suddenly several voices from the crowd answered for her. “Rather troublesome.” “Troublesome’s too tame a word for her, I’d say.” “Not as troublesome as she is nosy.”

Flint looked out at the crowd with a slightly surprised look. “Hey, hey! Let the little lady answer for herself, eh mates?” 

Finbar hung her head and refused to meet his eye when he turned back to her. “How bout it, sweetie?”

“Yes Captain,” she mumbled, obviously saddened by her comrades’ remarks. She shuffled her shimmering green wings more in front of her body, as if they could shield her from their words.

“Who do you belong to?”

She shrunk down even more. “No one, Captain.”

Flint raised his brows. “No one, eh?” He flashed his eyes up at Kellan; she nodded gravely. “Well then,” he started, “how would you like to come work for me?”

Obviously the other sailors in attendance had mixed reactions regarding this proposal, but the starry look in Finbar’s eyes when her head shot up was simply unforgettable. “R--Really?!”

“Well I’d have to get a ship of course,” he continued, ignoring the cautionary waves of the surrounding dragons. “But a ship needs sailors--” he grinned. 

“Can Dash come too?”

Her question caught him off guard. “Who?”

“Me!”

A great whooshing sound caused Flint and even the other dragons to jump again. A small golden Wildclaw had appeared at Flint’s side from out of nowhere--how he’d done it was a complete mystery to Flint--and was grinning up at him with bright eyes. Flint could nearly swear he saw the electricity jumping around in those glittering orbs. 

“Uh, sure,” Flint said before he could heed the shaking heads of the others. Looking up really quickly, the elder Wildclaw saw the younger had somehow cleared a perfect path through the crowd. Either he’s strong enough to push everyone out of the way, he thought, or everyone’s terrified of him.

Dash laughed joyously, running a few victory circles around Flint. If he was quite honest with himself, Flint couldn’t even follow him when he moved. “I see why they call you ‘Dash’,” he smiled, putting a hand on his head.

“Now hold on you two--” he had to interrupt the frolicking wyrmlings while also speaking above the loud drone of the suddenly-talkative crowd. “We still need a ship--”

“Just steal one, you’re good at that!” Kellan laughed again, 

“Midrin has a ship!” Dash piped up. With lightning fast reflexes, he ran forward and straightened as tall as he could. “Midrin knows you’re here! She said to bring you to her! She has a ship for you!”

Flint wracked his brain, trying to remember a Midrin from his “past.” Oh yes! Midrin was that Guardian merchant who ran the largest trading hub in the whole of the Zephyr Steppes, perhaps the Plateau itself. Should’ve known she’d come up, he reasoned. 

Dash was pulling excitedly on his arm, trying to get the Captain to follow him via the newly-carved path through the crowd. “Catch you later, Swan!” he called over his shoulder, urged on by the very excited Finbar. “Gotta go say hello to some more old friends!”

AN: Finbar asking the real questions up in this ’hood.

Is Dash a v subtle Incredibles fan dragon? Nope. Nope, not at all, I don’t know where you would ever get that idea, it’s not like that’s the only movie I’ve watched repeatedly in the last four days, nope, nope, not at aaaaaaaaaaaaall.

Anyway~ >:D the chaos begins. 

@stardustwanderers @penner-fr @mesaifr @daringdragons also gonna ping you guys cuz you reblogged Flint 2.0′s bio post so idk maybe you’re a bit interested :3 @aquiserising @forever-fallyn @pmfolife @liah-fr @astori-fr 

“We can teach him everything. He’d make a great caravanner.”

“Oh yeah,” Hayden rolled his eyes and sneered, “A nature dragon was simply meant for a place like the Shattered Plain, don’t you think? He’ll fit right in!”

“Nature dragons don’t just deal with plants,” Lance sneered back.

“You talk like you are one!” Hayden scorned. “The ecosystems of Dragonhome are a whole lot different from the Labyrinth, Lance, be reasonable--”

“He’s not growing up in the Labyrinth,”  the Coatl growled, his feathers bristling. “He’s growing up in Dragonhome. This place has ecosystems of it’s own. He’ll learn to fit right in.”

“He might die before that happens--”

“He’ll die if we turn him out!”

The Skydancer twisted his lips in a vicious, crooked frown. He looked down at the weak chick, nestled in Lance’s feathers; it’s tiny yellow paws were balled into little fists, clutching the Coatl close. Hayden’s frown deepened. “Fine.” he spat. “Let Alex talk some reason into you.” He turned on his heels and stalked away on his long legs, tail flicking in rage.

Hayate watched him go with a look of rather mildly bored annoyance and shook his head. He peered closer at the little hatchling. “Are all Skydancers small when they’re born,” the Tundra asked, “or is he just the runt?”

Lance shrugged, concerned. “I don’t know anything about Skydancers, really...” he admitted sheepishly. 

“You better find out things about Skydancers,” Hayate warned as he caught the Coatl’s eye, nodding gravely. “Has he eaten anything?”

Lance’s eyes widened. “No.”

Hayate gave him a half-lidded look that spoke volumes. “If I was the Boss, you’d be fired.” he deadpanned. “It’s a wonder the thing hasn’t died already.”

“Stop calling him a thing,” Lance insisted.

“Then give him a name.” Hayate threw up his wings and stared at the sky in exasperation. “See about getting him some food first!” And with that the Tundra sauntered away, shaking his head and muttering “Earthshaker knock some sense into that kid’s dense head.” under his breath.

Lance was left alone in his tent with the chick. He hurriedly pulled the turban from his head and set it upside down on his sleeping rug. He placed the chick in the makeshift nest and poured all of his magical energy into the sleeping form. The little dragon squirmed a little but did not wake. That should sustain him until I can find him some food, Lance thought. 

With that, he spun out of his tent and hunted around their campground, gathering a little bit of everything he found that happened to be edible. He returned to the tent soon after with his newfound treasures laden upon his back. As he poured the food onto the ground, he realized he probably could have just asked Hayden what Skydancers eat. Just as well, he thought. He might’ve lied to me just for the hell of it.

His tongue flicked out, smelling the chick. It’s feather plumes twitched, but again it did not show any sign of waking. Lance hoped it wasn’t too late. He nudged it gently with his leathery snout. The chick squeaked and struggled to lift his head from under his wing. Lance gathered a piece of each food type and offered it all to the Skydancer. 

At the smell of food, his head shakily moved closer. He snapped up the vine leaves and cricket but left the vole and sardine untouched. He eagerly sniffed and prodded Lance’s hands, searching for more.

As the Coatl fed the little chick, he tried to think of a name for it. “What do you want to be named, little one?” Lance asked it. “I’m your new brother, so maybe your name should match mine. Hmm, ‘Landon’?” He took one look at the chick and shook his head. “No, no, much too serious for you. You are a Skydancer; you’ll grow to be a noble Nature dragon, probably a great salesman.” The chick, deciding his belly was bulging enough, nuzzled and rubbed his head along Lance’s hands lovingly. “Hmm... Maybe something to do with the Labyrinth?” 

It lifted it’s head and Lance saw that’s it’s eyes were peeled open, showing only a hairline crack of brilliant green. The Coatl’s breath caught in his throat. “Well,” he mumbled, a little speechless. “Hello there.”

The chick seemed to smile. It chirped at him and he flicked his tongue back at it. In that moment, the two seemed to understand each other.

"Well, well.”

The smooth, fiendish voice made Lance jump.

“How sweet.”

“A-A-Alex!” Lance stuttered, scrambling to his feet. “I-I d-didn’t know you’d be back ssso sssssss-s-soon.”

The hooded Mirror shrugged in that entitled way of his. He had appeared at the entrance to the tent so soundlessly one would have thought he’d always been there, a menacing stone sentinel set to frighten away any intruders--or keep the current residents of the tent from ever leaving it. “They wanted to haggle.” He nonchalantly waved his paw, it’s black, razor-sharp claws gleaming dangerously in the lantern light. “I made them an offer they just couldn’t refuse.

“But enough about my day,” Alexander hissed. “What about yours?”

He’s using that voice; he’s trying to butter me up, oh Earthshaker help me, Lance prayed. 

“I heard you decided to adopt a chickadee,” the caravan leader purred, stalking into the room and eyeing the Skydancer hatchling with mild interest. He looked to be contemplating which meal he should eat it at.

“I-I fffffffound him washed up on the-the--ssssssshore,” Lance sputtered, willing himself to have more courage. It was hard to be courageous though when he knew what Alex would do to the chick if he happened to say the wrong thing at the wrong time. “I-I--” he cleared his throat and set his jaw, determined to be brave for the chick’s sake. Everything he sees is crucial to his development, he thought. From now on I am his mentor. “I thought he could t--travel with us.” 

When Alex didn’t reply--hell he didn’t even move--Lance began to panic. “We could use another member, and as a Nature dragon he’d be a valuable a-asssset to our group because he-he’d get to know the ecossssssssystems of the Plains a-and the Rest a-a-and the B-B-B-Breach--” He could feel himself lapsing into Coatl and that only served to make him more nervous. Alex couldn’t stand the sound of the feathered drake’s mother tongue, and if he got the caravan leader upset he’d likely want to take it out on the hatchling.

Alex flashed Lance a steady gaze of stone out of the corner of his eyes that seemed to say “Shut up.” Lance clamped his jaws tight, his lips quivering. After a while, the Mirror shrugged--again in that signature way of his. “Sure.”

Lance stared blankly at him for a moment. “‘Sure’?”

“He’s welcome to stay.”

The Coatl sat speechless for a while. As the realization hit him, a smile so genuinely happy spread across his round face. “Oh Alex thank you! I promise I’ll look after him all the time, you won’t even know he’s here! I’ll teach him everything he needs to--”

“If--”

“--know...” Lance’s crest faltered a little. “‘I-I-If’?”

Alexander flashed another one of those signature looks, but this time Lance was certain he saw a glint of joyful malevolence. “--he can keep up.”

With that, the Mirror turned and padded calmly towards the tent entrance, leaving a dumbfounded Coatl staring horrified after him. Alex nudged the tent flap open and was halfway out when he stopped and looked at Lance over his shoulder. “We leave for the Pillar at dawn,” he said, the setting sun outlining him in a particularly wicked shade of red. “The little guy can ride with Janto if he gets tired,” cooed Alex. 

The caravan leader smiled and turned on, leaving Lance and his new “brother” in terrified silence...

1am is the best time to post lore chapters, amirite? ;)

I’m so ready to write more of Alex’s character, man what an asshole, he’s great. I’m also really excited for Janto, he’s got some really cool lore worked out and I’m excited for the caravan to interact with the clan in the next chapter!! ^u^ 

I went ahead and included a size chart below just because it’s fun to look at :3 Oh and considering this is the start of New Lore TM, I figured I’d start a new pinglist! Go ahead and let me know if you’d like to be pinged for new lore updates :D