©Avalon Lee, 2014. All Rights Reserved.

Rokevir

~~~

"No way!"

"Rokevir . . ."

I stared at the little two-leg in disbelief. She gazed back defiantly, still cradling her injured arm. I sighed heavily, exhaling smoke.

"Magpie, they'll kill you," I stated bluntly.

"Not if I am a valuable prisoner," she retorted.

"Valuable how?" queried Qara, suspicion in her tone.

Rowan didn't answer the question. "Just trust me on this. I'm not asking for your trust, Qara. Not yet. But Rokevir--"

I felt my heart sink when she said my name. Her strange eyes were boring into me. Pleading, determined, sad. All at once.

"Please. Trust me. Let me come with you," she implored, her mental voice a whisper.

I tore my gaze away. "You would be safer at your stone-hold."

A small paw turned my head so that I had no choice but to face her. Rowan's expression was as unyielding as stone. "I'd rather be a prisoner of dragons than of men."

I knew now that there would be no changing her mind. With a begrudging grumble, I gave in. "Alright . . ."

Rowan's demeanor changed instantly. Her face lit up with her familiar smile as she made a happy noise aloud. I marveled at how unfazed she was at having to soon face an entire Clan of dragons. The worry of how my Clanmates would react to the strange little two-leg still refused to leave my mind.

I was aware of someone-an extremely annoying someone-watching me. "What?" I growled at Qara, hiding my words from Rowan.

The scarlet female gave me a smug look. "You're like her tame-slave. You just can't say no to her."

Her words struck a blow to my pride. "I AM NOT!" I roared in rage, recalling the stories of how two-legs kept docile animals for entertainment and so-called companionship. The idea was utterly demeaning.

It was then that I realized that I had forgotten Rowan's presence entirely. The two-leg in question had stumbled back, eyes wide and stance fearful.

"I, er--"

My hackles rose at hearing Qara's laughter. I gave her a warning hiss, which she blatantly ignored.

I returned my gaze to Rowan, and the brows above my eyes shot straight up at seeing that she was laughing with Qara. Seeming to find my reaction amusing, the two-leg female giggled even more, her previous fear nonexistant.

"Alright, knock it off. Are we going back to the Clan or not?" I snapped impatiently, feeling heat flood my face in humiliation.

"Y-Yes . . . we are," Rowan answered between her receding chuckles.

"But how? Useless here can't exactly fly, and I am not carrying her again," interjected Qara, having recovered from her bout of mirth. Rowan looked down, all semblance of confidence gone from her.

"Then I will."

It was a long moment before I realized that the words were my own.

Rowan raised her head, eyes filled with initial excitement, then hesitation. A thousand emotions flickered through her mind, too many for me to process all at once.

"Are you sure?"

Her voice was small, still clinging to a remnant of hope. I lowered my head to her level. "Of course, Magpie."

"Stop calling me that," she complained, though there was more amusement in her voice than annoyance.

"Both of you, stop talking and start flying," interjected Qara, opening her wings with a whoosh. Crouching down, she took off thunderously, rocketing up toward the sky. She hovered above expectantly.

I rolled my eyes at the impatient female and looked back at Rowan. She already had her eyes closed and head bowed. With a jolt, I realized that she was blindly trusting me.

She trusts me.

It was a strange feeling, one that made me uneasy and grateful all at once, and I shook my head as though I could rid myself of it. I now understood Qara's earlier uncertainty when faced with the prospect of literally having a life placed in her paws.

Noticing--rather guiltily--that the raven-haired two-leg still held her injured paw gingerly against her chest, I knew that there was no way she could ride atop my back. I had no choice but to carry her, as her body language was telling me to.

Why are two-legs so small and fragile? I growled silently, wondering how in Sky Clan's name they had managed to survive for so long as a species. They broke so easily. Rowan had likely shattered all the bones in her paw just from punching my scales!

I have to protect her.

I had no choice. I had taken it upon myself to keep this tiny, little, breakable two-leg safe. Part of me wondered why. Why bother? She's the enemy, after all.

I ignored the dark and troubling thoughts and approached Rowan, tentatively taking her in my forepaws. I winced at hearing her inhale sharply; whether it was in pain or fear, I did not know.

I unfurled my wings and kicked off from the ground to join Qara in the sky. She looked at the two-leg in my grasp and chuckled lowly.

"Tame-slave . . ." she taunted, her tone teasing.

I bit back a retort and turned in the direction of the Clan, whipping my tail to show my agitation. I increased my speed, fast enough to hopefully leave Qara behind, but not so fast as to endanger Rowan. I glanced down at her every so often, unable to read her thoughts. She had her face pressed against me, hiding from the world.

The joy I usually felt while flying was absent now, chased away by Rowan's apparent unhappiness. Did she not love the sky? I couldn't help but feel disappointment. She didn't give even a passing glance to the wonderous view below.

"She's not afraid, if that's what you're wondering."

I swerved in my flight, caught off guard by the voice. Crimson scales glittered at the edge of my vision as Qara flew to my side.

"What do you mean?" I muttered. How was it that she was able to read me so easily?

There was no need to hide our words from Rowan; she had severed the heart-link and shielded her thoughts. This added to my concern.

"I know that you're worrying, Rokevir," said the scarlet female. The expression on her face told me that there was no point in denying it. "She is not afraid."

"How do you know?" I asked accusingly, uncertain of how she had suddenly obtained this knowledge of Rowan.

Qara appeared as though she wished to reply with her usual sarcasm, but forced patience into her voice. "Her scent, idiot. When I carried her, her fear-scent was constant and overpowering. But now, nothing. She isn't afraid when she's with you."

I tasted the air briefly. She was right. There was no sharp tang of fear-scent. Her words brought me unexpected comfort. From Qara, no less!

"Oh . . ."

There was silence for a moment.

"Aren't you afraid?" asked Qara finally. There was something different about her voice now. It held no disdain, but . . . concern? "You know that the Clan will not react well to you bringing a two-leg into their midst. They will turn against you."

I closed my eyes momentarily, picturing how my uncle would react. The thought of disappointing him was more fearful than anything. The Clan rejecting me was nothing new; I was used to it. But what truly frightened me was the thought of Rowan coming to harm.

"Yes, I'm afraid. Not for myself, but for Rowan," I admitted, knowing the utter truth in my words as I spoke.

If Qara was surprised by my answer, she didn't show it. "I don't understand you, Rokevir." Before I could question her statement, she added doubtfully, "For your sake, I hope this all works out."

The silence returned once more, bringing with it thoughts better left to the darkness.

~~~

The heart of the forest came into sight all too soon. My heart began to pound thunderously, warning of impending danger.

I looked down and realized that Rowan had removed the wall protecting her mind. A pair of frightened eyes gazed back at me.

"Are you still sure about this, Magpie?"

There was a moment of hesitation before an ice-cold resolve returned to Rowan. "Yes."

I growled in frustration; I had hoped that she would change her mind. I always seemed to be the unluckiest dragon in existence when it came to the two-leg.

"Rokevir," came the voice from my side.

I didn't turn my head. "I know." The massive clearing that was our home was within landing distance now. Normally, it was welcoming.

But now, all I felt was dread.

Rowan clung tighter to me as I folded my wings to my sides and dove. The wind whistled, then howled in my ears as the ground came ever closer. I was careful to keep total control of my descent, mindful of the fragile burden I carried.

The other dragons looked up at hearing our approach. I desperately sought out Myanor, knowing that he could keep the Clan calm. Hopefully. My eyes searched for the familiar golden dragon, but to no avail. I could tell that Qara shared my anxiety, though she was significantly better at hiding it than me. She locked eyes with me, silently bolstering my courage.

The crimson dragon landed first, head held high as she regarded our Clanmates.

I landed gently, not letting Rowan go. She was hidden from the view of the Clan--for now.

"Hi, Rokevir!" greeted a small dragon, his scales the color of dying embers. I recalled his name being Djavec.

Rowan peeked out from my paws at hearing a new voice, and I tensed. How could she be so foolish? Djavec retreated backwards at seeing her, eyes flashing in fright.

"Two-leg!" he screeched in alarm.

Every dragon slowly turned to look at me, Qara, and lastly Rowan.

Oh no, was my mind's only coherent thought.

My friend escaped my grasp and stood before the Clan, trembling. I crouched behind her protectively, baring my teeth at the gazes directed at us.

"Remind me to kill Djavec later," I growled to Qara under my breath.

The stunned silence the Clan had been trapped in finally shattered. Their protests rose in a combined roar.

"What is it doing here?!"

"Kill it!"

"Look, the Clan Leader's heir!"

"Why isn't he killing it?"

"Attack it!"

"Why aren't we killing it?!"

Rowan backed away from the angry multitude of dragons until her back was pressed against my foreleg. I felt her tiny frame trembling. Her heart was beating frantically, as fast as that of trapped prey.

A large male lunged forward, clearly intent on reaching Rowan, but he never got his chance. With a snarl, Qara intercepted him, her claws raking across his muzzle. The male hissed in pain and glared at her in angered confusion.

The others were getting closer; too close. The entire Clan was advancing toward us. Why had they turned upon us, their own kin, so quickly? A new fear raced through my mind. There was no escape.

Before another dragon could move, a roar thundered out, louder than the rest. It echoed with force, power, and an unquestionable command.

"ENOUGH!"

It seemed as though time itself had stopped to obey this power. A path cleared through the now silent crowd of dragons. And making his way down that path was none other than my uncle.

His golden eyes were blazing.

I ducked my head in a feeble gesture of respect, awaiting his tirade. I felt Rowan stiffen.

"Hello."

The voice was small, timid, and unmistakably Rowan's. A simple little word, and still a cry of astonishment rose from the Clan in response.

"Quiet!" Myanor snapped. There was immediate silence. "Nephew. Explain, now. Why have you brought a two-leg, a talking one, here?"

A two-leg paw on my muzzle stopped me from answering. "She can tell you herself," I said instead.

Myanor's eyes narrowed.

I felt the air grow colder when Rowan left my side. Still visibly shaking, she faced the great golden dragon. The whole Clan watched her, unblinking. "I am Rowan. I've come here not as an intruder, but as a prisoner. I am valuable to the two-leg race, and with me in your possession, this war has turned in your favor."

She must have then added something none but my uncle could hear, for I saw his expression of ferocity waver and soften. Rowan bowed her head.

Myanor addressed the Clan. "The two-leg is our prisoner. She shall be guarded, but treated well. Any cruelty dealt to her will be reciprocated to the offending dragon. And any opposition to this will answer to me."

I felt relief wash over me like the wave of a calming river. I relaxed from my defensive stance, letting out a heavy sigh. My breath ruffled Rowan's head-fur, and she fixed it with her paws, shooting me a look. I gave her an impish grin in return.

Ta da! An update. Hope you enjoyed it.

-Avalon