A young dragon could be seen traveling the forest at an easy pace, like a predator taking a stroll, marking trees as territory on his way to the river, almost as if knew not where it was going and was using said marks to find himself.
That is the assumption of all manner of beast’s in the forest that gave it a wide breadth, for the dragon wasn't even trying to contain its presence.
The less powerful beasts knew of an Apex and gave way to it.
The greater beast’s were warry. Their mana senses were more refined, its instincts more attuned to it, and what they felt was a confusing impossibility.
Its small size and features told of a very young dragon. Even its presence on the mana was that of a Hatchling, it told of curiosity, suspicion, hunger and survival, as if this was its first time out exploring the world.
Young Dragon was all but screaming ‘Hatchling’ to all that would listen.
But there was no hiding what was past the superficial presence.
A dept of ‘Flavor, Smells, Sounds and Colors’, that told of unfathomable experience, experience that could only come from an Ancient.
To fight a Hatchling was a doable challenge, to fight an Ancient was nothing short of death.
So they observed, took note of its territory and moved away with their Lessers.
*** *** ***
Kow knew something was different, the region around the river trap still got a ‘Feeling’ to it that he couldn't put his hands on, but his ‘Danger Sense’ isn't making him wary, and the Kobold knew to trust his gut, so he relaxed and told his companions the small river pool was safe.
He still kept looking, the surrounding area was quiet, not so quiet as to be suspicious, but as if every surrounding critter decided to take a step back from his location.
Kow knew releasing his presence made the lesser beasts take a step back, but he saw none of the Greater Beasts that would normally give him a look and take his measure … Something was different.
[Kow] -Las, can you feel this ?-
*Kow asked his more mana knowledgeable companion that was in the process of putting out her equipment out of wetting risk*
*Las took a deep breath, hands approaching the amber carved collar on the neck before she started looking around, eyes briefly flashing with color as she gazed at the Fish-Trap and into the surrounding Coconut Trees*
[Las] -Something was here for a while … something … Young … Ancient …-
*She shook her head, her technique failing*
[Las] -Sorry Kow, i can't make heads or tails of this, the trail is strong here, but fades out to the forest, almost as if it was right here moments ago, and the marks left are so densely complex that is giving me a headache, it's like trying to count leaves on a tree out in the wind … What are you feeling ?-
*She stopped taking her equipment out, hands going to the Amber collar, prepared, she gave Has a look, his hands also on his carved pointy tree branch, looking around.*
[Kow] -Nothing … that’s the confusing thing … I feel no danger from whatever came here to eat out of the fish trap and let this mess of blood … but if your ‘Mana Sight’ is giving you as much as my ‘Danger Sense’ … i guess we just lost our desert them -
*Shrugging his shoulders, Kow decided to lay down on a nearby shadow*
The group decided to relax, Has and Las were giving each other ‘looks’, as they got into the river water, all the while Kow looked at them with a smile on his face and a small pang of jealousy on the heart.
All in all, it was supposed to be a relaxing day, no village duties for a whole week, they could disappear for a whole week, gatter the resources they needed and be that little step closer to actually getting out.
The thought gave Kow that little bit more satisfaction for the day off.
Until something got out of the water mere rocks away from them.
Has and Las froze on each other arms, Has slowly pulling Las behind him, and Las moving her hands to her collar, waiting for her leader.
Kow froze, hand going into his trusty Bow, mind working a mile a minute, mana pulsing with each heartbeat.
Something most didn't know about his prided Skill, was that it was not just quick draw, no, that was just one aspect of it, a lesser one, what Kow was truly proud of, was giving himself time to Aim in the spam of that HeartBeat, not just a fast shot, but a precise one.
[[ Ba-Thump ]]
The world lost its color and sound, his vision got focused, everything else discarded, only the dragon remained.
[Kow] “Mana intent ? … As useless as before … Appearance ? Posture ? Probable Movements ? … Young Dragon, wary posture, surprised, knew we were here, ambush ? … Take aim on front, it will attack Has as the greater target … Try to clip its eyes with an Arrow Spray.”
*Claws were already biting into his hands a thin line of blood forming between it and the Bow*
[[ Ba-Thump ]]
[Kow] “No change in movement ? … Still wary, eyes up in the forest and out of the river, looking for a way out ? … Reconsider ?”
*Mana was being guzzled down out of his center, he could not keep this up for too long*
“Cancel and watch”
*The flow of mana stopped*
[[ Ba-Thump ]]
The world got back up to speed, the dragon stayed still for a few moments before it moved, claws digging into stone and gravel just as it would dig into dirt, it scaled up the rocks and got back to the forest.
[Kow] “I can’t lose this, that’s … that’s the opportunity of a lifetime … every kobold ever has dreamed of raising a young dragon … and that can be ME”
*Kow released the arrow he had in hand’s, aiming at the three right where the dragon head was going to pass*
The arrow hit the tree, momentarily sticking to it before the mana holding it together made it splinter out, small drops of blood hitting the dragon that didn't even seem to notice it.
[Kow] -HAS, LAS, PACK OUR SHIT AND MOVE-
*The small kobold almost roared, his companions moving before he even finished, im mere moments, they were back at it*
[Las] -Enhanced Smell-Sight-
*Las touched Kow head, mana moving in ways he would take at least a minute to do, he now could see a faint trail of his own sent in the forest*
The mixing of senses, the ability to ‘See’ with his other senses on command, what more could a hunter need ?
*Kow nodded*
[Kow] -You know the drill, come one, we can’t let it escape, that’s opportunity right in front of us, we need to catch it-
The group was moving fast, Kow was bouncing out the trees, keeping a solid lookout while Las was in Has back, the shaman riding a mount that could swing a bone breaking spear with the violence of a waterfall, all the while she made sure to keep her companions in peak condition.
[Kow] “The trees are visibly marked with claws, and the dragon is following it religiously … Does it not know the area ? … Why is it running so much ? … Why is its presence so confusing ?”
A faint roar could be heard in the distance.
Questions and more questions piled on the Hunter’s mind, finally, they were out of the dense forest and in front of a cave, the smell trail leading inside.
*** *** ***
Rei runned, and he didn't stop running, he was definitely not prepared to meet People and Civilization yet, he could barely control his body …
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
*On his cave, Rei stopped*
“That’s … not true … I can run … I can run so fast that I should have tripped, or smashed head first into a tree … but I did not … this was almost effortless … I'm not out of breath … I don't feel any exhaustion, I can react faster … my claws can effortlessly rip wood and open a coconut like nothing … Why am I afraid ?”
“Why the Fuck Shound I Be Afraid ?!”
-RAAW RWE ROW RAWAW RA RAWAI-
*On his cave, Rei roared, and as if it was second nature, fear got trampled by a tidal wave of anger*
For many people, fear can be boiled down to three actions, fight, flight or freeze. It's an instinct that can be trained, learned or unlearned, and one of the ways to deal with it, using something else to take its place. Fear gives you three options, Anger demands only ONE.
Rei was angry, very angry, angry at the fear itself, angry at himself for feeling fear, angry at his uncooperating body, angry at his confusing situation, angry at the Kobolds that startled him.
Anger was easy, almost too easy, and the flood of sensations on the Dragon’s body was different from what Rei was expecting, he knew how to calm down from another type of anger, the process was almost second nature. Get so angry that you are willing to take action, then consider your actions and think rationally, pros and cons, finally let the anger pass as you saw all the cons you didn't want to deal with.
Rei missed a step in the process, he wanted to HURT something, and was stuck on the step of how to make that happen.
But he was still a Dragon, so he stood at the center of his lair and waited for his opponents to Dare step foot inside.
*** *** ***
[Kow] -Something is different … Las-
*Kow stopped at the cave entrance*
Inside, he could see the dragon standing right in the middle, pupils narrowed to a slit and his presence promising pain, his Danger Sense making him uneasy.
*Las nodded and focused on her eyes, looking at the dragon, and mana surrounding it*
-Its angry, too angry, its angry at being too angry, it's getting angrier and angrier, its thinking of ways to hurt us, is not thinking fleeing, eating or survivin, it wants only to HURT something and it's waiting for us to be that something-
*Las voice was fearful she knew that was not a mind of a beast*
Its anger had purpose, It knew it was angry, It knew what anger is as an emotion, it knew it was feeling, it considered It’s feelings … no, the Dragon was no longer It, They … They were considering how to hurt us … They were considering what the new sensation was, where did it came from, They saw her eyes, they Knew it was something she was doing, They knew she was getting information, They hypothesized that she was reading his intentions, somehow getting into their head … They flooded Her mind with INTENT.
[Las] - … They are looking at me, they are thinking about what i’m doing … they know …-
*Las voice was barely a whisper*
The Female kobold gave a small startled shriek, her pupils dilated like she saw death in a multitude of ways, she jumped to the ground while her colleagues huddled around her, looking at the dragon full of apprehension.
[Las] -It’s too much, too fast, too vivid … he ripped out my arm, crushed my throat, bashed my skull with a rock, snapped my spine, disembowel me with his claws … -
*Las was breathing fast, mid panic before a wave mana clamped down on it*
[Las] -What’s the plan Kow … they are getting angrier and angrier, their own control will slip and i’m making it worse reading their intent, i didn't know someone could be this angry without going berserk …-
[Kow] -They ? … -
*Kow whispered, mind instinctively accelerating*
[ Ba-Thump ]
How can a Dragon so Young already be a they ? How can it overwhelm Las mind with intent like this ? She was trained to resist bloodlust, I trained her to resist it, but she never did try against a berserker … Can a Dragon be a berserker ? They are too young, for sure it can't be trained, this will be predictable, and they will gas out quick, Has can thank a few hits while I make sure they need to keep moving, they will be too angry to dodge, too focused on him, I can cripple its movements with some well placed shots, we can take it down and when it calms down, we can try to form a pact from a position of power … Lucks gift Kow, don't waste your shot, don't waste your shot …
[ Ba-Thump ]
[Kow] -Has, keep it occupied, defense only, I’ll keep you covered, Las, full protection, focus on making sure Has can keep up, we don’t know what they can do, eyes open for everything, they are young and just losing control of their anger, expect full aggression, Las, if you see us getting overwhelmed, use the potion, potion-
*Kow gave the orders*
One of the most impressive things about Kow that not many in the tribe knew, was how quickly he could come up with a plan, as if he had more time to think than anyone else, they knew he had a fast Wit about him, not many could come up with the perfect response for every insult in a conversation if they didn't, but Kow took it to another level, too bad he didn't have the true power to back his speed up.
That’s where Has and Las came up, both were made for each other, and that’s not talking only about their obvious love, but they truly shined when fighting together.
No matter what Kow tried, they could not do the HeartBeat like him, they couldn't make a whole moment out of a single heartbeat like he could, so they didn't.
They could only take small blinks out of it, so they used more heartbeats, they focused each blink on a single thing, Las would think faster, Has would move faster, and Las would connect both so she could guide Has.
The difference was, they could use it for much, much longer them Kow, in some ways, a improvement on his own masterpiece.
They both were better than Kow, and Kow knew it, knew deep in his heart, and he feared it more than death itself.
When they surpass him, they will leave, so he was always trying to stay that one step ahead, that little bit further up, that littlest bit that would make them both keep looking at him with that Look of utter trust and confidence in the skills he didn't have.
He knew Has would become a greater warrior than he ever could be, he was born for it, had such a wealth of talent and potential that the little bit Kow digged up already made him one of the most feared warriors in the tribe, not many could wield that tree branch with such power and speed, not many could look in the face of a Greater Beast and not even finch, because his friends were behind him, he was a Mountain one could hide behind and be sure that they were safe, Kow would never be that strong, would never be that dependable, all he could do was be elusive and try to do damage with his arrows, a task of ever increasing difficulty, for the greater hunts got ever greater defenses that he just isn't powerful enough to pierce.
He knew Las would become a shaman any tribe would bend over backwards to get, she was so much smarter than him, she figured out stuff in weeks that took him Months of training, and then, she figured out new tricks that he never thought of doing, reading intentions after training to resist bloodlust ? … a straight up better version of his Danger Sense … Making presence a spell that could be targeted to talk with others via Intent ? … Practically knowing that the opponent would do as he just thought of doing it … Getting the hardest part of HeartBeat and also making it last longer ? … Kow took almost years to get this level of control of his Skill … she did in months … all the while learning to be a competent Shaman, capable of fortifying, healing, potion making, and the few spells Kow knew and others she herself made … everything Kow had to teach, she learned and developed further to the point he was playing catch up even with his greater experience.
He would never be that, he would never have that well of potential to draw from, but it didn't matter to him, he would try, he would bleed his fingers, rip his muscles, crack his bones, stuff his brain and bet his life on every tiny bit of advantage he could get.
If his well of potential was that shallow, he would just dig it deeper, and he would keep on digging to the point where he would NEVER become obsolete to his friends.
[Las] -But the potion its our …-
*Las tried to speak but was interrupted*
[Kow] -I know … this is it, this is our shot, give it all, nothing gets left in the bag, nothing short of our lives … I won't waste my shot …-
*Kow said, determination in his eyes*
Las gave him a nood, Has never taken a step back from his spot in front of the group, they were ready to use everything they got, even their trump card.
*** *** ***
The potion was something they made as a trump card, if they ever got in too much danger or if Kow ever decided to try to overthrow the Chief.
It is made from a flower that only blooms during high season in a Groove that even Greater Beasts give space to, Kow got it nonetheless with a lot of preparation and a very big rope so Has could drag him out.
Different from the Forest Groove the tribe was close by, that lure in prey with bountiful trees and plants, making sure to eat from the inevitable constant fights that would happen in its grounds. The Flower Groove lures prey with its smell, so intoxicating and appealing that many lessers become trapped on its grounds, senselessly happy or mindlessly mating with others that were trapped, until starvation killed them and the Groove could eat.
It was a life threatening danger that even Kow the Bold was afraid of, and had fallen prey to despite all of his preparation, if it wasn't for Has, he would be done for.
He prepared for the smell, he thought that if he didn’t breathe in the smell, he wouldn't get trapped, he was wrong, not smelling it only makes the effect slower and more insidious.
Breathing in gets you immediately, not breathing in lets your body absorb it slower and in low doses. You get happier, relaxed, friendlier and comfortable as it slowly makes you as mindless as everything else, until you are humping at the ground foaming at the mouth in exhaustion, thirst and hunger.
There is a component of control and willpower in resisting the Groove’s effect, some Greater Beasts challenge themselves on the Groove to refine their own control and will power. Kow got a taste of it and was properly humbled, he didn't know everything, his plans were not foolproof, because even he, sometimes was a fool. He vowed to get back and Challenge the Groove properly, but that’s something a long way away, something he knew the Chief could do, and one of the reasons, Kow thought, the Potion may not work on him.
*** *** ***
[Las] -They lost it, HAS -
*Las said, extending a wave of mana to Has while she retreated a few steps*
*Has lowered his body and dashed to meet the Dragon head to head, Pointy Tree-Branch in hand, mind open to his lover, feeling the information flooding in like they trained*
[Has] -Going in-
*Has mumbled, his voice grave and dry, Has didn't talk much, but he did speak with his actions*
*** *** ***
Has knew he wasn't smart, he knew he wasn't talented, Kow tried to make him change his mind, even Las, his beloved, tried to say how great he was, but Has knew that they both were so much better.
Kow was so small but carried so much authority that no one could tell him what to do, even the Chief had to be careful in what he made Kow do, and Kow always got something out of it, Chief may be Chief, but or Kow ? He is just another Kobold to make deals with, he was just so Smart, so Fast, he always knew what to do, and always had a plan right there for everything.
Kow even made Has into a good enough warrior, that's how great he is.
Has could never thank Kow enough for teaching him, but even when Has tried to repay his kindness, Kow did something even better to Has, he presented Las to him, made sure to tell Has what to say, how to say it, how to act, where to go with her, Kow always gave Has the confidence he never had.
Because if someone that great trusted Has ? Then Has must be worth something.
And now he had the most beautiful, most sweet, most smart Kobold ever as his beloved, and Has couldn't even imagine how he would ever pay Kow back. He was big, he was strong, he could take the hits his friends could not, he could carry the beasts and rocks and herbs and equipment back home, and that was enough for him.
He was satisfied in being a rock they could get behind, each wound was that little tiny bit of payback to what he Owed them, and he was happy to get his debt that bit closer to being paid back.
*** *** ***
[[ Ba-Thump, Ba-Thump, Thump, Thum, Thu, Tu, T … ]]
[Las] “The dragon … He is moving too low to the ground, Has can’t hit it that well with the trust of his spear, he will have to swing it like a Staff … The dragon is favoring his right, his movements fluid but somehow not naturally, it’s trying to get his claws off the ground and still run, it’s posture and intent says it ways to pounce low to the Ground and attack Has Legs, ignoring him and coming directly … at … me, Swing in front, this will give Kow an opportunity”
*Las passed the intent to Has*
*Has changed his momentum that tiny little bit that made all the difference, the Dragon’s Claw scraped against his Knee tendon, his Mana compresing into place and making his skin that much stronger, the Dragon had no mana in its Claws, but still scratched the skin, now as tough as the best bronze armor one could find.*
[Has]-Ghuuuu-
*Has Grunted in effort, his muscles tightening against his scales, the Tree-Branch moving with enough speed to create winds, it would hit just were the Dragon will be, right in the Head, maybe enough to stun it*
But it was not to be, instead, the dragon saw it, or maybe it was never his intention to commit to the attack, his Tree other limbs gripped the ground, Tallows digging the rock, all of his momentum stopped.
The Branch smashed into the cave ground, cracking the solid rock below, and leaving Has with barely enough time to Duck, as the Dragon's Tail momentum did not stop with his body and now almost hit him in the head, snapping with such a speed that it made a CRACK against the Air itself.
*** *** ***
Las knew that she needed to be protected, she was a female, she was almost as small as Kow was, and had not even a tenth of his skill.
But she wanted to be useful, useful to the one that saved her from starvation, useful for the one that saved her from being a Breeder for the Chief like many others, useful for her teacher, that knew so much about everything, that she was sure he would be able to figure out how to make anything he wanted a reality.
But even as she gave it all to learn what he taught her, she knew she would always need to be protected, the dangers of the forest too great, it’s Beasts too powerful, too cunning, she always feared the day he would go out, and let Her behind, for she could not protect herself.
So she trained, learned, experimented, she made potions, she woven vests, she tanned beasts, she made his Bow, one of the things she was most proud of.
She learned not to freeze, learned how to move, learned how to have enough time to think and how the beasts thought, all to be more that bit more useful.
And then, he presented her Has, a beloved all for her, everything she could ever want in someone, someone she could help to her heart’s content, someone she could bond over the Dept both had, someone she could help payback, and also help herself at the same time.
Someone she learned to deeply respect and love, and that loved her back just as much, someone who trusted her so implicitly, that his mind was open for her, every intent, every insecurity, a mind open for her to guide and influence, she could do many unspeakable things with him, just like the Tribes shaman did to others like her, and he Knew it.
He still trusted her nonetheless.
They both owed Kow so much, that when he said they needed that Dragon, they knew the Dragon was as good as caught, it just didn't know it yet.
*** *** ***
[Las] “Kow will shoot, duck further”
*Has ducked that bit lower, exposing his face to the dragons range*
But before the dragon could pounce, an arrow almost nicked his smooth scales.
The Dragon’s dodge was a small back Dash, the encounter back to Neutral.
The first round had passed.
Also, i am actually a fighter, so i'll try to keep it as real as possible with the Mana Madness, hope yall like it.
Next Chapter, the DRAGON side of things.
