Here Be Dragons

[EireWolf]

Nah, I knew it all along!

[true_noir_chloe]

Yep, I knew it too. *hehehehehe* ^-~

[Mimichan]

*Here is an update. Finally. I'm sorry it took so long, for those of you who actually still care to read this ^_^... It's probably not very good and its still not complete. Nevertheless, I hope you enjoy it.*


Where was the human? It had been almost an entire moon cycle and Fannie hadn't been able to catch even a scent of the creature. Well, that wasn't entirely true. It's scent still lingered from the last time--faint, nevertheless.... She looked in the direction she'd thought it had come from that fateful day. A small trail led northeastward, winding its way through the trees and foliage until it stopped somewhere at the river. Fannie didn't know what direction the path took at that point. She hadn't quite mustered up the courage to track the human down, but instead, she'd come to the place they'd first met--almost everyday--in hopes that it would be there once more. So far, she had been disappointed.
It was beginning to look like the human wasn't going to come back, and for reasons that she couldn't quite explain--that was unacceptable to her. Since they had met, the human had forever changed her perception of its kind. It had been intelligent and had looked at her with eyes very much like her own. In fact, the human was the antithesis of everything the den mothers had described. It baffled her, truly, that they seemed so afraid of the creatures. But she knew that it would be pointless to argue with any of them. Her sigh was upstaged by the sound of rushing water nearby.

Fannie gazed at the sky for a moment. The sun was not due to set for a few hours. As long she was back in the lair by nightfall there shouldn't be a problem. It was simply a matter of crossing the river and tracking the human's scent from that point. She set her jaw firmly in determination. If the human wasn't going to come to her--she would simply have to go to it.
****************************************************
The body lay in perfect stillness upon the altar, its claws folded upon the chest in peaceful repose. At first, there had been some murmuring amongst the dragons that the High Priestess had neglected to carve the ritual symbols into what used to be one of the most beloved members of the Clan. Maisige had wasted no time in reassuring the crowd.

"It is true. This body, which once housed the Guardian, does not bear the marks of death." She had admitted. " However, do not think that I would deny her safe passage into the next world...or her rightful place in godhood. For she has indeed earned such a position. Her nobility and her dedication have become well-known, so much so, that even in the world beyond they have heard of her. They have granted her safe passage and will allow her the privilege to go to them unmarred by the dagger. Though we are saddened to see her leave us in such an untimely way, we are assured that she is now ruling as she should--as a goddess with great power!" Maisige had then raised her claws regally in the air. "Come now, O dragons of Aiken'yar and bid farewell to the Guardian, bound to us no longer. Instead, bow your heads and welcome a new goddess--Mithaya!"

Tegaeya half-smiled as she remembered the speech. A goddess. Of all the things she had thought of to describe her friend, the word goddess had never entered her mind. Well, Maisige had done nicely with that little oration of hers. The crowd had been appeased and the ceremony had gone on just as expected. Of course, Tegaeya knew the real reason that there were no ritual scars upon the body. There were none because there was no dagger to make them with. Naturally, not any dagger would do the task. Only one dagger, blacker than obsidian with the ancient tongue carved upon it, had the power to cut through the almost impenetrable hide of a dragon. A dagger, which was normally kept hidden away in the temple, but now found itself tucked into a small pouch that was tied around the Captain Commander's waist.
She shook her head and tried to pay attention to what was going on. Tegaeya was not so much interested in the death ceremony of her friend as she was in finding the one who had killed her. The medallion that had been tied to the dagger's hilt indicated that it was a follower of Dagoth, though by appearances the assassin was one of their own. She clenched her teeth in frustration. Tegaeya really had no desire to be a part of these somber proceedings. She did not want to think about her friend lying there. She did not wish to follow the Clan to the Burial Caves nor did she have any desire to say goodbye. Tegaeya's breath stopped for a moment. She didn't want to say good bye at all. What she wanted was revenge.
Somehow the Captain Commander managed to get through the ceremony and eventually found herself walking along the path to the Burial Caves. They were a little ways from the lair and not many dragons bothered to venture out there unless it was absolutely necessary. The entire area was dark, foreboding, and many a superstitious tale had been told on its behalf. It had made the perfect exploring and hiding place when they were hatchlings...Tegaeya, Mithaya, and Mathain. Tegaeya sighed. Everything was different now. Mathain was gone. Mithaya was dead. "Ah, but you are a goddess now, aren't you, Mithaya?", she thought. Tegaeya's claw closed around the hidden dagger.
She waited until almost all of the dragons had bid their farewells, and then she approached the body of her long-time friend. The pouch that contained the dagger carefully concealed in her claw, she knelt before the Guardian of Aiken'yar.

"Mithaya, my greatest friend. I wish you safe passage into the next world and ask that you do not forget those who cared for you in this one. Be a light unto us in dark places and allow us shelter from the storms of life. Guard us as you always have. You are a goddess now. Power belongs to you. Therefore, I beseech you, grant me the power to avenge you! Give me permission to seek out those who brought you harm." Tegaeya whispered softly, but urgently.
"See, I have brought you something to take with you. No doubt there will be many goddesses and gods there awaiting you. Some will be friendly. But some will not. You may need protection and I can think of nothing better.. It is only fitting that it serve you now."
Tegaeya quietly removed the dagger and slipped it in the folds of the burial robe. She took a deep breath and rose to her feet. Even now, she couldn't bring herself to say goodbye.

[Lochaber Axe]

Okay, before I say anything constructive just let me do one thing that is out of character for me but will more than likely be want many of our more *coughfemalecough* of CAA writers will do... Ahem...
HOORAY!!! YOUR BACK!!!!

Now that we got that over with, very good update and it is good to see you writing again. When you're thrown off, you just get back on the saddle.

[Mimichan]

Okay, before I say anything constructive just let me do one thing that is out of character for me but will more than likely be want many of our more *coughfemalecough* of CAA writers will do... Ahem...
HOORAY!!! YOUR BACK!!!!

Now that we got that over with, very good update and it is good to see you writing again. When you're thrown off, you just get back on the saddle.

^_^ it's good to be back. I will try to have more updates within the next few days...no more unreasonably long wait times, I promise ^_~. I will finish this story before I'm old and gray...I WILL!!

[true_noir_chloe]

Woo hoo!!! Jumping in the air with ecstasy!:dance:

Great addition. Unflawed, as always, and a great section. I'm just waiting to see what happens next. I'm so glad you're writing again, Iesu. <--tears of joy

Okay, well until you write again, God bless.

[Razgriz]

very interesting, and pretty cool : D...I don't have any insight however...

[Icarus]

Just to let you know: YES, I read it.YES, I enjoyed it. And YES,I don't have any comments, except;

WELCOME BACK!

[EireWolf]

SWEEEEEEEEEEET!!!!!!

I'm so glad you're back, Iesu! And your story is awesome as ever!

[Mimichan]

I've run into some trouble with the storyline so this update isn't as long as I'd hoped it would be. In fact its much shorter than what I'd usually post. I apologize in advance, but I figured putting up a little of it was better than making everyone wait a ridiculous amount of time (like I usually do) Regardless, I hope you guys like it...and I hope to have more reasonably soon. Comments...Suggestions...Chocolate--are all welcome.


Everything was the same. Fannie looked around with a vague sense of disappointment. She had finally thrown caution to the wind and crossed the river, but once she'd explored the other side a bit it had become apparent that there was very little difference. What she had been expecting she couldn't quite say; nevertheless, she found herself oddly dissatisfied.

She had caught the human's scent briefly, only to lose it again the further she'd travelled. Fannie also had the added inconvenience of multiple scents assailing her nostrils--human upon human, layering, overlapping, and merging together--each coming and going in different directions. It took a fair amount of her concentration to sort through them all and pinpoint the one she was looking for.

Fannie wasn't certain if the human that called itself Mahtiin was typical of its species. If she were to come upon a village full of them, would she be able to find the one she was looking for? Or would they all look similar? And was Mahtiin the only human that could speak High Dragon? Alot of the dragons Fannie knew couldn't speak the ancient tongue. It was indeed strange to hear it coming from the mouth of a human. She wondered what the Elders would think.

The path she had been walking along stretched out endlessly before her. Fannie had been determined to find the human, but she had gone much further than she'd planned. In fact, she didn't think any dragon, besides a scout, had ever gone as far as she had. The den mothers would be beside themselves if they knew what she'd been up to and why. It took a few moments for the young dragon to admit defeat; but, it was painfully obvious--even to one as stubborn as she--that she was making no progress whatsoever. Perhaps, the human didn't want to be found. Perhaps it was hiding. It was a possibility that dawned on her a little later than she would have liked.

Fannie glanced at the darkening sky. She should have returned to the lair by now. In order to avoid a confrontation with one of the den mothers, she would have to hurry. There were probably things in the world much more horrifying than a den mother's lecture, but Fannie was hard-pressed to think of any. She looked around and in a last-ditch effort called out, "Mahtiin...?", her voice sounding out-of-place and much too loud--even to her own ears. "Mahtiin....Human....??" The only response that came was the angry chitter of a squirrel, who bristled its tail at her indignantly. Fannie sighed and turned to face the direction of home. It was clear to her that her efforts were in vain. Perhaps she would try again in a few days.

[Razgriz]

ooo..a human u_u...keep writing *waits to see what happens next*

BTW, I like your new name.

[true_noir_chloe]

*hands Iesu... um, Mimichan, a chocolate* I like your new name, Mimichan (Mimiru is so cool). ^_^ Great new installment! *thumbs way up*

I'll just be waiting here until you write some more. *whistling*

[EireWolf]

*Distributes chocolate abundantly*

So... what's this about trouble with the storyline? Anything your loyal fans can help with?

[Betafish]

I really really really like your story! Right from the beginning when I started reading it I thought to myself, "Oh, this is going to be good!" I'm looking forward to the next part of the story!

[EireWolf]

Me too. Mimichan! Where are you? Your loyal fans miss you!

Even if you don't have anything new written, come talk to us!