Skyking

Prologue​

A stark moonlight radiated in the crystal-cold air of a steep mountain range's higher plateau. The mountains themselves were known, by humans at least, as the Kelvelas Range. The dragons, however, knew it by the names Hunter's Nest, the Frozen Stones, or the Crystal Plateau. Among the highest points on Euthora- only beaten by Divinity's Peak- any human who dared come here would freeze to death or suffocate from the thin air that only a flying dragon could handle. From this point, almost the top of the world, too high to even have snowfall, a dragon could look out from the rim of the plateau and be greeted by miles of mountain, forest, ocean, and occasionally the lights of a distant city.

Here it was that a bereaved dragon sat, wings drooping and a pile of stones atop a hole that couldn't be too deep- even a dragon's claws had difficulty scoring the hard, rocky ground of the plateau. His scales were a cohesive mesh of blue and green to make a beautiful, iridescent teal color that glittered in the moonlight like so many sapphires and emeralds. Two long, tusk-like ivory horns and a sharp crest projected out from above dull amber-orange eyes that gazed out at the expansive and beautiful horizon, his demeanor slightly too dejected for such a spectacular view.

The sound of scaled wings flapping didn't arise him from his stupor, nor did a thudding impact that signaled that something very large had just landed behind him. The detail that finally did catch his attention, however, was the crystalline glitter- comparable to that of a diamond- approaching him from the side. The dragon spun around, defensive at first, but his narrowed eyes widened in awe at the creature before him.

It was a dragon. Fully three hundred feet long and with brilliant white scales that gave off a rainbow hue, accenting crystal-blue eyes that gazed down at the dwarfed teal with an ancient wisdom that radiated kindness and sorrow. The huge white shuffled its wings as it sat beside the teal, first gazing out towards the moons and then gently nuzzling the smaller dragon's back. The teal gaped at the other dragon, speechless for a moment.

"Sh- Shyr..." He managed to get out. The white gave a soft chuckle, but neither confirmed nor denied the teal's statement. There was no need to.

Shyr did, however, look down at the pile of stones the teal had used to cover a shallow hole. The sorrow in his eyes became more pronounced. The dragon spoke for the first time, his voice deep but soft, ancient but sympathetic. "Your partner?" The question was simple, but clear.

The teal cast his gaze back down, his amber eyes closing. The confirmation was clear in his renewed sorrow, and Shyr covered the smaller dragon with a protective, reassuring wing. A sigh breathed out from the great dragon's chest and there was a polite pause before Shyr posed his next question. "How long have you left?"

The teal hesitated, head tilted, though whether it was from gauging time or trying to get out the words was difficult to tell. "Eight hours. Maybe nine. I am not sure. The exertion from burying him probably took some time from me."

"Perhaps you need something to take your mind off of your situation." The sapphire eyes showed strain, his voice held an edge, the desire to ease his fellow dragon's pain was clear in his demeanor. The protective wing folded over the teal, like a bird protecting its young. "Perhaps a story, one rarely heard, rarely shared."

"A story?" The teal asked, his expression showing an understandable doubt.

Shyr gave a sad smile. "A story you may relate to." His gaze became distant, as if the dragon was drawing upon memories long ago created, never quite forgotten. "A tale of a dragon and his partner." He looked back down at the teal, his sad smile becoming comforting.

"I will tell you my tale."​

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Chapter One

As each gives strength, a creature forms
With blade-edged teeth and ivory horns
Coated with the strongest scale
From deadly claws to powerful tail

Wind spirit gives her gift of flight
Earth gives his strength and vicelike bite
Water adapts- her gift, the same
And fire's pride: his gift of flame​

Cor's light blazed high over a flat plainland. Furred predators stalked their fleeting prey through the tall, dry grass, while several beasts lounged under sparse trees or on the riverbank. Around midday, the sun's heat baked the savannha so that only the short-haired beasts and reptiles were truly active, and the constant low drone of insects played on the nerves. However, this and the heat were not enough to stop- or even hinder- a young woman from approaching the river with a clay-enforced basket. The lithe, tanned human was dressed appropriately for the harsh climate- her long, black hair was tied back, away from dark gray eyes, and a white dress showed most of her long but deceptively muscled arms. As she collected the water, she glanced up once to acknowledge a predator's attention before turning to head back to where she'd arrived from.

Her foot knocked against something lying limp in the grass, causing her to drop and spill the water basket. Muttering a low curse under her breath, the woman turned to pick up the fallen basket and spared a glance at the obstacle, thinking it was probably an animal carcass or a half-buried rock.

What she saw instead shocked her. Her eyes were met with dazzling white, the light playing in a rainbow hue across her vision until it adjusted, allowing her to see the creature for what it really was. It resembled a large lizard, but was fully three feet long and had a pair of small wings sprouting from its shoulders. The shining white that had nearly blinded her were in fact its brilliant scales, the white broken by black markings, spikes, and a crest. Its sleek head smoothly transitioned into a prominent snout and jaw, and its partially-open mouth revealed rows of small, but very sharp, teeth. Its paws were clawed and four-toed, but didn't seem adjusted to the savannha climate- it looked more like the claws of a creature which lived in rocky terrain. Most of its length was a whiplike tail, which tapered gradually before spreading out again in a smooth black-tipped spade.

All in all, it was a strange beast she had never seen before. Natural curiosity made her pick up the animal, and she was surprised at how light it was for its size- and at the fact that its shallow breaths marked it still clinging to life. Whatever it was, she stowed it in the still-damp basket on an impulse, and ran back home to see if her father or brother knew anything about this unknown reptile.

-----​

The woman approached a slightly older male- her brother- on her way back. He greatly resembled her, as was to be expected; upon seeing her running with what he assumed was a full water basket, he raised a black eyebrow and looked at his sister with disapproving eyes that were only a few shades lighter than her own. He held up a hand to stop her as she approached, and she slowed, cradling the water basket and keeping its opening toward herself.

"Woah, there, Isden," The man chided, glancing at the water basket. "Keep running around like that and you'll spill the water all over the ground. And then you'll just have to go get more."

"I'll have to get more, anyway," Isden replied, slightly breathless from the exertion.