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Chapter Two: An elf and a dragon
In the sky above the forest Masheth ?Tiir, a young green forest dragon rode the thrashing winds below broiling clouds of a pink shade. From atop this dragon?s neck long green hair billowed behind a wood elf. He was about 5?2 and was heavily tattooed as was custom for a blade dancer. His narrow, elegantly mysterious face was drawn into a smile of enjoyment and exhilaration. His pale skin appeared creamy in the setting light. He clenched his legs tighter about the scaled neck. This was only his 34th flight with Aeries, his adopted dragon. Already she flew well and was daring; learning nimble evasive tricks that would give her the upper hand in combat. The wood elves light green eyes quickly surveyed the surrounding forest and sky in an expert glance. Aeries suddenly dove down towards the ground, veering up once more at the last moment when she snatched an unwary boar in her clawed hand for a shared dinner with eh elf. The dragon grinned wickedly at the boars panicked struggle, and twisted into a few evasive maneuvers. The boar went limp in her clawed hand. Knowing the game was over she touched down in a grassy meadow, putting the boar off to the side, and allowing the elf off. Talose slid off with natural grace, and rubbed a hand along the dragon?s neck lovingly. He started a fire with his previously collected stack of wood, and drew one of his long swords. It sang out of its sheathe, glowing a magical blue as Talose advanced on the boar. Dexterously, he cut a portion off of the boar and placed it on a spit over the fire. He wiped his blade on the grass and slid it back into its sheathe, while watching Aeries greedily devour the rest of the boar. The dragon rose once more, and leaped into the sky, stretching her wings expanse to gain air. He moved back to the fire slowly knowing Aeries hunting trip would be roughly an hour. The boar sizzled over the fire, casting about a tantalizing aroma. If his camp attracted any unwanted attention, the foolish monster would be quickly cut down.
The light was quickly dimming now, as the sun had reached the mountains, and was already two thirds covered. This did not bother Talose, being an elf, his lowlight vision practically kept his sight as if it were midday. An owl passed overhead silently; Death in wait for an unlucky rodent. Somewhere in the distance, the shrill scream of a deer rose, likely becoming his dragon?s main course. Talose took the boars meat off of the spit cautiously, before it could burn. The insane flickering of the fire and a heavy blast of wind announced Aeries presence once more. He slowly devoured the meat, enjoying the taste before outing out the fire. The elf messed up the camp, scattering the fires remnants, and making it seem he had ever been there. He strode silently into the forest gloom, becoming part of it as nature depicted him.
He was in harmony with his surroundings, like another animal of the forest, his passing unnoticed. Sweeping like a light breeze through the trees for a long three hours, he stopped suddenly at the sound of goblins in the distance. Stealthily, he moved onward through the light foliage, just a shadow among shadows. A goblin sentry shuffled noisily in a bush. He was armed with a wooden spear and oaken round shield. Talose slipped silently past the unwary creature, taking position on a high branch halfway between the sentry and camp. The tree was dense and leafy, with white bark, and a good view of both camp and goblin sentry. Goblins were stupid creatures with little passion, and a love to kill. They were weak and effective in combat only in great numbers. He drew out his composite longbow and drew back an arrow, taking careful aim at the back of the sentries neck. The arrow was then loosed and thudded silently into the goblins neck with such speed and momentum that it burst completely through, to and amongst the soil. The goblin fell without a cry to warn its companions. Talose turned to examine the camp. Five goblins sat about a blazing fire chatting in their guttural tongue. He drew another arrow, and drew it back on the bow. The arrow flew into the farthest goblins forehead. Its head snapped back with a crack, and its companions stared at it stupidly as blood flowed freely down its forehead from its new wound. In a moment two more green skins fell dead with arrows jutting out of their heads from the elven bow. The last goblin stood, then ran screaming goblin obscenities. It met the talons of a diving Aeries. Talose strode up to his grounded dragon, and climbed up her neck. Once he was comfortable, they took to the air, heading eastwards back to his former camp. Calling out into the dragons ear he asked, ?Are we to go to Hradnir to purchase an emerald for the Swanara Ritual, or to Argodin for a large ruby?? The dragon rumbled back with a tone of laughter intermingling in her voice, ?Did we not get an emerald last year?? The elf?s retort was defensive, ?But emeralds are always good. However, I suppose your suggesting the ruby this time?? She mentally smirked and answered cunningly, ?Not at all! I?m in favor of the emerald once more.? Talose rolled his eyes, ?Then to Hradnir we fly.? They veered to a more Northerly course, taking full advantage of a gust of cold wind.
The moonlight played over the two magical creatures navigating the night sky, making them seem all the more exotic. Unlike humans, the long lived elves did not require sleep as often, and they rarely dreamt. A wolf howled at the moon some distance away, and was soon joined by a chorus of wolf cries. Aeries put in more altitude into her flight, bringing them a short time later over the clouds shining brilliantly with reflected moon beams. Up here the world was a silver white land of puffy hills, all clouds. They continued on at this height for a few hours, before breaking below the cloud cover. In the distance, mountains stood rigid, tall and proud, towering over the neighboring foothills with ease. Surrounding the foothills were forests then the plains the two were currently sailing over. The foothills contained many valleys, and various habitats. It was in one of these valleys, the dwarven surface city Hradnir snuggled peacefully. Many of the nearby under mountain dwarven cities brought valuable minerals here for trade.
A heavy blast of wind hit them from the front, making them concede a few feet lower. Aeries brought her head up with an intelligent suggestion, ?We should make camp on these plains ?till three hours after first light. We would make a highly suspicious pair to be coming here at night.? Talose nodded agreeing with the logic, and tensed his legs for a better grip. Aeries brought them down smoothly, and promptly curled up to nap. Talose remained on her neck, his light weight not disturbing the dragon.
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