Chapter 6 – Damn Slavedriver

I awoke to a familiar sight, or lack thereof, as I was wrapped underneath my Mother’s wings. I stretched out my hand o pure darkness as I lightly tapped my Mother’s wing, and emerged as it lifted for my exit.

I noticed I still retained my Beast-man form as light washed over me.

Good to know I still retain my form. I noted.

I recalled all that has happened to me in the brief time I had been alive. Firstly I of course emerged from my egg, fainted shortly thereafter, awoke to find I had a strange power, retained two new forms other than my true Dragon form, and discovered I was the Heiress of the entire Dragon race. Not a bad start considering my age.

As I continued pondering my short life I remembered something important, something I should have never forgotten. I had two siblings, one of pure gold and the other of regal violet.

I turned to my now yawning Mother and asked with my still groggy and undeveloped voice; struggling with the word I asked, “Sib…li…ngs?”

My Mother lazily shifted her eyes in my direction, and answered, “They are with your sire.”

I titled my head, puzzled, “Why….not…here?” I asked, the grogginess slowly fading from my still weak voice.

Mother sighed briefly but answered my question nonetheless, “They are training.”

I continued to pry, feeling a strange pull to know as much about my siblings as I could, “Why?”

“Because it is their duty. Come daughter, I can explain while we move. Change into your Dragon form.”

I complied, quickly allowing the light to sweep over me, and shifted to my draconic form. After it settled I quickly trotted over to my Mother’s lowered wing and nestled on her back yet again.

After a few minutes of navigating the dauntingly complex halls, my Mother continued her explanation, “As is your duty to lead and protect our people, it is your brothers’ duty to protect you.”

Brothers, huh? I smiled, happy to know more, even if only a little.

I wanted to ask a question but was unable to in my current form. I prepared to morph yet my Mother seemingly guessed it before I needed to, “If you are wondering where my guards are, we do not bother with such measures while in our own walls. There is magic here, both seen and unseen, that would make even the most hardened of assassins, become aught but dust if they merely thought of harming me.”

As we continued through the halls we once again passed dragons of various shades and sizes, each either nodding or bowing as we passed.

Mother ignored them and continued her explanation, “Your brothers train even as we speak, both far and near with your sire, whom you will meet when the time is right. However do not assume we are but fragile beings who need only to be protected,” Mother growled low, showing a mix between a snarl and a smile as she continued, “We are dragons! Our hide is strong leather, our scales are unbreakable armour, our claws and teeth sharp as the strongest of steel. We are no mere prey.”

My Mother’s snarl quickly dissipated as we reached the same platform we had previously. I looked around as the same beauty as before yet focused only on my Mother, who smiled wickedly at me, mischief shining in her blood-red eyes.

I sighed, knowing no matter how I fought whatever she was planning would surely come to fruition. Noticing I was resigned to my fate Mother’s eyes only shined brighter with mischief.

She once again through me off the side of the mountain, yet I was prepared. I quickly pulled out of the nose dive and levelled off. Flapping my large, leathery wings to keep my altitude.

After a few moments I heard the sound of wings beats from behind me. Strong, large, and if I was correct most defiantly pure black wings. I tentatively snaked my head around, landing my eyes upon a giant, black, red-eyed dragon right on my tail, a large feral smile planted on its face.

With a large laugh, she yelled, “You’d best start flying faster, pup! You never know what might get singed off!” As she finished large embers of yellow and blue started glowing from her belly, looking at past experience with Mother I guessed only one thing: trouble.

I quickly dove, picking up large amounts of speed.

“You’re going to have to do better than that!” Mother roared as she dived, falling much quicker than I did. As she grew closer fire bellowed from between her maw, roaring forth, closing quickly...directly towards me.

As I felt the enormous heat gaining distance upon me I quickly levelled out, using the strong amount of force I obtained from my extended fall to quickly shoot out of range of the terrifying heat. Dodging by a mere hair I managed to escape. Mother and her fire quickly dropping past me.

Noticing the difference in our altitude, Mother quickly extinguished her flame and pulled out of her dive, using the force to rise on even level with me.

We circled each other for a long while, each gaining and dropping altitude to confuse the other.

I thought on why she is doing this. Clearly it was some kind of test, and even if by some small chance my Mother was crazier than I thought she was, and was aiming to kill me, she could have easily done so by now. This was clearly some sort of test, she murmured something about Dragons before, and how we were not mere prey. I laughed at the thought of how prey like I was right now, and decided on my course of action.

I quickly gained altitude, using various drafts to rise as quickly as I could, Mother followed suit, eventually rising just above me. Exactly what I wanted. I abruptly broke out into a dive, and Mother easily took my bait, either intentionally or she was so excited over the prospect of burning me.

We repeated our earlier act of flaming cat and diving mouse, as she dove right after me. However as I levelled off my dive I waited until she passed me yet again, and quickly dove yet again.

Folding in my wings as she levelled out I picked up a vast amount of speed, as I closed in on her I raked out my talons and roared as loud as I could muster.

She abruptly looked up at me and…smiled. I forcefully collided with her back, trying to work my talons in between her enormous jet-black scales. But found no mark through the perfect jewels.

She laughed at my attempt but made no attempt to dislodge me, “Very good, cub. However in the future, go for the neck.”

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I lay panting atop my Mother’s back as she lazily flew around the mountain range, seemingly not even breaking a sweat from our earlier sparring, if we could even break a sweat that is.

After my initial half-victory, we continued the exercise a many a time more, each time my Mother grew harder and harder to beat, executing complex manoeuvers, either forcing me to retreat or spinning me out of control.

I barely even registered the presence of another dragon flying beside us, rumblings some sort of jovial conversation towards Mother, no doubt at my expense.

As we grew closer to a large river Mother set down at a clearing right beside it, lowering her wing after her descent. I slowly tumbled down, then tracked the seemingly endless journey to the water, regardless of it being a mere few steps beside me.

I greedily gulped down the water as Mother warned, “Slowly. Drowning yourself as you drink will do you little good.”

I obeyed her as slowly drank a few more mouthfuls and plopped down next to a nearby tree.

Mother lazily strolled over to the river, not even a little winded, and slurped a few mouthfuls down herself.

Damn slavedriver.

After a few precious minutes respite she lowered her wing again, “Come, we have more to do.”

I glared at her in response, letting my eyes speak the million words I couldn’t.

This elicited a deep chuckle from Mother, “Don’t worry, no more flight drills. Let us see exactly what this gift of yours is shall we?”

My previous fatigue seemed to wash away at this new development and I quickly bolted up on Mother’s back; earning another chuckle.

We flew rather lazily towards our destination, excitement still bubbling in me, I grew impatient. Wanting to reach our destination faster. I was sure I could fly faster than this, I even would have launched off Mother’s back if I knew where to go.

Slowly passing through more halls, nodding and bowing dragons, and stopping by to scoff down large amounts of meat. We arrived at our destination: the Elf’s room.

I smiled and quickly morphed into my Beast-man form, waiting for the doors to permit me access I bolted through the small crack as it opened.

The Elf was sitting on her bed, reading a large, thick book. She was so engrossed in its contents she did not even notice the large stone doors opening, let alone me. I stealthily snuck up next to her, slowly closing in on her as if she were prey.

After a few padded steps I launched at my objective, ensuring victory.

I let a strong leap shoot through my legs, large but accurate I landed precisely on target…right onto her lap. In doing so I quick, but large yelp burst forth from her lips, and she dropped the thick book onto the ground with a thud.

I sat there, facing her with a large grin, and darting tail, “Got you!” I exclaimed in my delicate voice, chuckling as I did so.

Her previous shock dissipated as she grasped the situation, making way for a small grin, “Dear, be careful who you sneak up on in the future,” her grin turned slightly vicious, and her hands gripped my cheeks hard, “You hear me?”

I nodded swiftly, and the clamping hands released me and the previous viciousness turned soft again, warm and safe.

Mother, then passed by the doors, which were now fully extended to grant her access, “My daughter seems to be quite the mischief maker…I wonder where she gets that from?” she asked, showing a toothy grin.

The Elf, sighed, “I wonder indeed.” Her gaze turned upward to Mother as she continued patting my head, “You come to test out this strange power of hers then?” The Elf asked.

Mother’s grin faded, “Yes.” A one word answer.

The Elf then turned to me, still rubbing my sore, red cheeks, “This is going to feel a little strange, okay? Promise me not to squirm too much.”

I didn’t like the sound of that, yet I nodded my head slowly.

Her hand gently touched my forehead, and a blinding gold light emerged from beneath her palm.

As the light emerged I felt a strange, uncomfortable probe snake through my mind, sifting through from the front straight through to the back. It continued its journey down past my neck, spilling in two and working its way up and down my arms, causing them to tingle as they did so. It then worked its way down my sides and through my stomach, snaking its way down to my legs, prickling and flowing the same way as it did my arms. Then the probe shifted up to my chest and stopped.

I felt nothing for a few brief moments before it felt as if it exploded through all my pores at once. Shooting through in all directions as it touched the centre of my chest, I screamed the immense pain, only to be drowned out by an earth shattering roar.

Then all faded to black.

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Author Note:

And there we have it. I met one of my promises today.

Enjoy another chapter.