GnG: Dragon's blessing

It doesn’t matter where you look, you will find frozen peaks. There is not much flora around here and the fauna is usually very stealthy and elusive. We haven't found a single humanoid creature so far and we have been travelling for two days now. April, Marble and I are all alone in this cold place. We got some warm clothes before getting here, knowing that the clothes we were wearing before wouldn’t be appropriate for a trip through Skyer.

The terrain is getting more difficult as we keep walking, we have to stop and take breaks more often. It’s both physically and mentally exhausting, we have to cross dangerous paths. Earlier we almost fell from a small path that’s bordering a cliff. 

April gets a fire started and I build a temporary shelter around us to shelter us from the snow and the wind. The small trees grow around us, making fine walls and ceiling. It’s not too big but it has enough space for all of us. We decide to rest for the evening and night. April makes a burrito of herself and opens a book. I practice my shapeshifting by trying to transform in some of the fauna we have seen here.

We keep going early the next day, as soon as the sun is up. The nights are harsh and even if the sun does not seem to warm that much, it’s a really big difference. We’re tired of the cold weather already. When we think we might be close to the borders we get more mountains and we get discouraged everytime. At some point we reach another path that’s bordering a cliff, with a dangerous bridge in the end. The bridge is moving a lot because of the wind and it looks old and as if it will break any moment. I have been practicing my shapeshifting a lot lately, even before getting to Skyer so I could shift into a big bird in case some of us falls. I wanted a bird that would be strong enough to carry someone, since I’m travelling with April. I only found magical creatures so far, and it was even more difficult to successfully shift into one of them since I only have pictures and stories. I managed to transform into something similar which is alright with me, I only need it for Skyer. 

I shapeshift into a huge white bird, with long legs that end in claws. I have read that they were used by Nyanarr tribes some time ago. They had something like a symbiotic relationship; the birds helped the Nyanarr to move around the tricky terrain and the Nyanarr took care of them in return, providing food, shelter and protection from other creatures. The legends say that at some point both creatures ended up having such a strong spiritual bond that they became one same species; Air Nyanarrs.

Marble gets into a pocket from April robes and I wrap my claws carefully around her arms. She secured the grip by grabbing my legs and we took flight. It’s easier this way, after the last time we decide it’s better to just fly, even if April is afraid of heights. She said it’s worse to just walk in a 20 cm path and take a bridge that looks like it would break at any second. She trusts me enough to let me take her flying on top of frozen peaks and dangerous cliffs. I’m happy that she joined me, I feel we became good friends on this journey.

When we reach safe land again, past the bridge, I let April down and shift back. We sit down for a bit, regaining our breaths. It’s tricky to fly with this wind and on top of that carry someone. While we sit, April suddenly gets up and points towards the path ahead. She prompts me to follow her and I see someone laying on the path, half covered in snow. We rush towards them. They look like a young humanoid with pointy ears. They have long silky white hair, almost shining. They’re unconscious and they seem to be suffering from hypothermia, their lips blue.

We look for somewhere to make camp and we improvise a shelter again. While I work on building it, April takes the humanoid and wraps them with all the blankets we have. When the shelter is done she starts a fire and I get close, ready to heal the stranger. I realize there’s something wrong with their right shoulder and back, as if their shoulder blade is broken, but it feels weird. It takes a bit since they were in a very bad state, but between my magic and a healing potion the back wounds get healed, they regain a healthy color again and their breathing stabilizes. 

It’s not until the next morning when the stranger opens their eyes. We’re already awake and wondering if we should stay longer in the camp when we hear something. The stranger looks at us, startled. They look around them and when they realize they’re not in danger they relax a bit. 

“Did you save me? The last thing I remember is falling… I took this form so it wouldn’t hurt but it didn’t help.” 

I looked at April to check if I was seeing things but by her face I didn’t imagine it. The stranger was whispering right into our minds, not moving their mouth besides making faces.

“Your heart is pure, I can feel it. You’re good Nyanarr. You have my gratitude and my thanks, and I’m sure my mother will be pleased to hear about this.” They got up and the blankets fell on the floor “Please, come with me so you can be properly rewarded”

We don’t feel any malicious intent, so we undo the camp and we follow them. They have something around them that screams “magical” being. They stop at the border of a cliff and turn around to face us.

“My name is Lumiprax, I’m the youngest son of the Ancient Dragon that reigns on this land. Some call her the Mother of Dragon” We see how he shifts into what should be his real form, a young white dragon. He’s huge compared to us and I wonder how big his mother is. I remember some tales about her when I was studying to get ready for this trip. I thought she was long gone, since the tales are from the first wars of the Gods.

He prompts us to get on his back and we do it with great reverence. Now I understand what was wrong with his back, surely he injured a wing. We enjoy the flight. The wind is cold but he’s warm and irradiates magic that makes us feel at ease, comfortable. April and I talk about our journey since he asks a lot about the outside world. He’s very curious so we spend the time talking.

We’re approaching the highest peak and soon we’re flying over the clouds. The sun is setting, hiding behind the mountain and creating such beautiful colors. Suddenly, a gigantic figure appears on top. The remnants of light create such a magic aura around the figure, they look like they’re shining, like they have a halo around them.

There is a flat part of the peak, bigger than we initially thought. We land in front of the Mother of Dragon and we feel small. Not only physically small, but also in spirit. She’s huge as a mountain and old as the Gods themselves. 

We don’t say anything, intimidated. Instead Lumiprax explains that he got injured in one of his explorations and that we saved him. The Mother of Dragon looks at us for a bit, not saying anything.

“You have saved my youngest child, and therefore you shall have my thanks. What would two Nyanarr want as a reward? Riches, power?” We freeze, not knowing what to say.

“Oh, Mother of Dragon, we don’t ask for a reward. We only did what we thought that should be done.” I don’t even know how I could even speak in a situation like this.

She looks at us and I see something different in her gaze.

“You have noble hearts. Compassion is needed in this world.” She spreads her wings and we try not to fall on our butts because of the sudden wind. “You will have my blessing.”

I feel something touching my mind. It feels like a delicate silk blanket caressing my shoulders, like if I was flying under the starlight. 

“Thank you and good luck on your travels, Nyanarr.”

We blink and when we look around we’re at the foot of the mountains. We see a sign that points to a path, no longer covered in snow. It says “Mosough”.

I look at April and we stay still for a bit, trying to process what had happened.