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Behind Enemy Lines

"Listen, you two. This is not the time for heroism!" said Avet after they reached a natural cave overlooking the sea. "We are currently in your enemy's territory, and currently mine too when they found out I am escorting you two to the Argoon settlement. Those humans in that town...their mindset have been set. The moment they saw a dragon they'll try to kill it, no matter which side they are on."

"I wasn't seen, so does it count?"

"I thought you are better than this, Xiciro. Let me tell you something. In the South, there's another faction called 'Human Only'. This faction is the weakest and is near collapse, why? They don't like dragons at all. Your war is between enslaved dragons and free dragons, so it's a civil war, not a 'War against Darkness' like you told me! Human settlements with no dragons in sight are those that don't want any dragon at all. Trying to help them only enraged them."

"Because it reminds them that there's a stronger force in nature around them," said Avila.

"Human determination can go elsewhere, and it will be strong enough to the point of our race's extinction. Dragons know magic and was born with them, and they are also literate to a higher level, but they are too prideful. I know some of you don't think so, and Xiciro is obviously one of those dragons."

"I do not appreciate that."

"Because it's true. There are too much prideful dragon boasting that dragons are always superior while the humans won't be. They do not realize it until it is too late. If dragons are at ruthless as you are, Avila, they will still be using rocks! Right now, the intervention of dragons and their realization of their past mistakes halted the human's progress, but if this continued, we won't survive the next millennia."

Avet's explanation made Avila felt uncertain. It is true that Avila hated dragon slayers and her hatred caused fear. Yet, that was not what she thought now. Avet clearly had no sympathy with the humans. He preferred dragons more than humans and did not care if they wanted to support or destroy his race. Just like Xiciro, Avet believed in draconic superiority. Even then, Avila knew that humans had flexible mindset and had evolved to the point where reasoning had overtaken instinct, so they did not need to excessively going to war. Humans still had that tribal mindset and instinct, but not to the extent of territorial, individual dragons.

Seeing how the humans had hated the dragon to the point of their own self-destruction made her feel sad about them. They may be creative, but their body wasn't. Creativity won't have a legacy if it is destroyed in its early stages. No matter how distinguished the creator is, a work is not acknowledged if it does not prove itself. There may be others who will come up with the same theory, but the original is gone. Avila heard it from one of the Light Side humans back in the Dark Continent, and she took it by heart, knowing very well that dragons and humans have the same idea.

Her line of thought was interrupted when Avet tapped her with his claw and said, "From here, we have three days to travel to the settlement, then some more days to get to the dragon prison."

"Avet, do you know any other settlements that is not our enemies? We are bound to get to one of them and it won't be pleasant if they end up being our enemies."

"There are some settlement that did not care about the affairs, but don't expect a warm welcome. People in the South had been at odds with the dragons for thousands of years. Inlands are okay, but the sea dragons are competitive with the fishermen."

"So it's fine for us to go near one, then."

"I prefer not to. Unlike your region, we don't trust dragons. Many of the 'slaves' are bullying those settlements. They lost all respect with dragons, thinking them only as pests. The reason why they did not want to attack them was because of their own power and some dragon's allegiance with the Dragonsbane. I don't know much of it, but if you speak with the Elder of our race, you'll understand."

"Alright, that settles it then," said Xiciro looking at the sea. "I've never imagined living in the South like. I mean...you cannot trust anyone."

"Welcome to the South, old one," said Avet.

"It's kind of sad," said Avila.

"That's what living in the Outback feels like. Everything wants to kill you, whatever it is."

Despite of Avet's warning on interfering with the work of the Dragonsbane, Avila felt that, as one of the guardian of that continent, it should be her duty to try to save anyone. She felt as if this journey had become too confusing to continue, with all talks and no fight. Avet may had been cautious, but he was far too cautious. Not only that, she could not understand Xiciro's actions these days. It was as if the vile dragon she once knew changed personality into a heroic, sympathetic dragon.

"What the hell is happening in this journey? Everything I know is so different from what I imagined," thought Avila while savoring fish meat. "Xiciro would only dodge the question when I asked, and Avet is too cautious. It was as if he was expecting something and tried to avoid it. Why am I the only one in the dark here?"

Avila was also thinking on the selection of the dragons following her. By logic, it would be wise to take the Argoon dragon alongside her own race, but it was impossible for the three of them to get along, even though the travel progressed smoothly (except the part where Xiciro saved the harbor town). She would be more comfortable travelling with Sannourah or Yrelka, two of her trusted allies and best friends from the Dark Continent. Of course, Avet would be in the group due to his role as a guide, but Xiciro? She had started to trust him, but she did not trust him fully due to their history together. Also, despite of Avet's claim that the red dragon that received the message was only professional, it seemed that he harbored a kind of resentment for Avila, since he had tried so hard to avoid her and acted as if they had no personal attachment, only working together because of similar goals, with Avet wanting help from Westerns, and Avila wanting to find Seraphor. Xiciro, however, was more reserved in his goal.

By the night, they set off to the Argoon settlement by the sea. Flying so near to the surface of water was not new for the three of them, but it was made harder with the presence of sharp rock structures jutting out from the surface of the sea. Avet's strategy of travelling to prevent detection inland was to travel under the sea cliff, which was essentially what they were doing. It was an exhausting night, mostly because of the wind, the risk of flying so near to sharp rock formation, and general darkness. To make her companions flew easier, she manipulated the wind around them so they could be aerodynamic and also giving a boost, but despite of her powerful wind, controlling it was harder than she thought. There were two occasions before they moved inland where she had a lapse and caused a powerful air pressure to push the three of them towards the cliff.

They managed to get out of the dangerous route and went back in land. Both Xiciro and Avila looked at Avet leading them, looking very alert. The two Western dragons were amused by how dedicated the Southern Argoon was to guide them, as if their lives depended on it.

"That young dragon seemed to know his way around enemy territory," said Xiciro. "It's like he has spent a decade travelling around."

"But it is strange. I mean, if the South really is the Dragonsbane main base, shouldn't we be finding more bases and settlement? We haven't even met any civilization for three days and everything I can see is red sand, rock structure, and occasional grassland. It's like this is the wilderness."

"Shit!" exclaimed Avet upon seeing a rock formation in the distance. "I misread!"

This sudden exclaim surprised Avila and Xiciro, but they immediately realized what he meant.

Their streak of not meeting any enemies have been broken.

Fire came out from above them, but they managed to fly to the side to dodge the attack. Avila made a turn so his back faced the ground, if for a moment. She could see the attacker's features. It was a dark brown dragon around the size of Xiciro, yet looked more like a wyvern than a dragon.

Avila turned again and dodged the oncoming fire. Avet had already flew upward and tried to attack the dragon, but to his surprise, the dragon was fast enough to dodge his short range claw attack, and in turn grabbed the smaller Argoon and threw him to the ground. If it wasn't for the height, Avet would've hit the ground and broke some bones. He managed to open his wings that acted like a parachute, stopping him before he could be injured.

"For a full-grown dragon, that was an impressive counter," said Xiciro while approaching Avet.

"Is it that hard to help?"

"I don't need to do anything if she's the one engaging him, right? You know a Dark Angel's capability, so trust her."

At the sky, however, Avila wasn't trying to fight the dragon. Both Xiciro and Avet may be smart, but they were less perceptive than her. Her unique permanent vision enabled her to see blood mark and physical state of a being, and despite of being blinded by the sun, Avila could still see that the dragon was bruising and bloodied from an earlier fight. It could be a dragon trying to take his territory, but the infected state of the wound proved otherwise, for she knew what kinds of weapon can inflict such damage.

"Stop it, dragon! I am not going to fight you!" exclaimed Avila before the dragon shot fresh fire towards her. "Let us tend your wounds."

He wasn't able to hear reasons, or did not want to. Apparently this dragon knew the bitter fact of betrayal, and its consequences. He kept shooting fire at Avila, but her wind blew them away from her. She wanted to stop the dragon with her ability to give fear, but she did not want it to lose control. Her power did not force an illusion or nightmare, but was to make it almost like the real thing, and it could be stronger in paranoid and cowards. She did not want to do it to the dragon, knowing that he was hurt, and putting fear to him would make things worse.

That's why, she resorted to the use of reasoning, and tried to talk to the dragon. She did not want to be ruthless again.

While she was thinking, the dragon stopped attacking her, staring at her with his eyes. Avila did not budge, staying in place while beating her wings. After a while of staring contest, the dragon started to talk.

"You don't look like them back-stabbing skags," said the dragon, with a slight accent. "You Argoon?"

Avila nodded.

"Well, far from home, eh, lassie? But don't think for one sec that you are out of the picture. I know them Argoon skags when I see one. Oi, you two! Fly up over 'ere!"

Avet flew first, but when he reached the dragon's reach, he quickly grabbed him and tried to throw him again, only for Avila to stop him.

"Whoa, wait! He's with us!"

"How can you be certain? Trusting one of them skags is the reason why we lose! Me wife is taken somewhere and I don't know where she is! Those bloody..."

"Okay, we get you! Just...let us treat your wounds and we'll be going, alright? We don't plan to stay long."

Despite of his reluctance, the dragon grunted and flew towards a direction, in which the three of them follows. They finally reached the rock formation before the sun set, to which the dragon flew upward and went inside from a cave opening. When inside, the darkened room made Avila able to see clearly.

It was a noticeably simple cave, with only a hay pile reserved for two dragons. Compared to the dragon settlement, his cave was very small and he didn't bother stashing gold, like some Westerns did. An object, however, took Avila's attention, and it was an egg.

"How old is it?" said Avila, referring to the egg.

"Around three years old," said the dragon short. He walked towards the hay pile and lay on it, trying to sleep. But then, Xiciro approached him and used his darkness to try to mend the wounds. He then looked at Avila.

"Broken ribs, bruised body, lacerations...quite a fight, wasn't it?"

"Yeah, I did him good," said the dragon. "Hard fight, that was. Never thought his claws are sharper than mine. Anyway, thank you, lassie. You Argoons sure are great healers."

"Thanks...I'm quite flattered."

The dragon then turned towards Avet. "Sorry for the hostility, laddie, but I know skags when I see one. You were one of them before these two help you get away from them, right?"

"What I am is not important. More importantly, why are you tolerating us?"

The dragon looked at Avet with a serious face, while saying, "Look, lad. Just because this is the Outback doesn't mean you cannot trust anyone. Well, trust is a luxury these days with those skags around. Them Parusans are not to be trusted, but don't easily trust Cerbesans even if they are the oppressed. Cornered beasts bite back, but often not directly. Me? I'm just doing my job when some of them skags attacked me."

The dragon turned out to be one talkative one, but the three of them enjoyed his company. Avila realized that he was actually a lonely dragon with too much enemies around him, and he needed someone to talk to, preferably a stranger that did not know about the current condition in the South. From him, they got a lot of tips in traversing the treacherous plains in the South.

Sadly, despite of their desire to stay, it was time for them to fly away. The old brown dragon knew they must go, knowing that the two Western dragons were not there just for sightseeing.

"I wish the three of you can get to that settlement and do whatever you can do to stop them skags," said the dragon. "And of course, stay safe."

"We will. Be seeing you."

Avila knew that there would be a small chance for them to meet. It was the harsh reality of the Southern World. Not only of distance, but the civil war, the Dragonsbane's conquest, and general mistrust had somehow reduced life expectancy significantly. She wanted to go to the East for once. The description of the East given by the native dragons from around that part sound poetic, but fantastical and so beautiful at the same time. Not only that, the East is generally peaceful and the dragons there did not value violence as a way of life. She once heard from a dragon named Tsien that older dragons were philosophers and advisors for their kings, while younger ones become teacher of harnessing natural magic.

She wished that whatever she could imagine, she wanted to go to the East once and savor the beauty described by him. May be with Seraphor, or maybe with the Dark Sentinels.

She wished for Xiciro to open up, though. Hearing the way he talked to the old dragon, she could see a glimpse of his unfettered self: talkative and cheerful, so unlike his usual brooding and aloof self, with arrogance mixed into it. He may be reserved around her, but when talking to others, he would open up. She really wished he could open up more.

The night travel by that point had become far too dangerous to be conducted like what they did before. While the settlement was only two days away, outposts and patrols had become more frequent, and the constant need to stay undetected delayed them considerably and made them lost. Avet, despite of claiming to know much of the lands, could not believe he was lost in the middle of enemy territory.

They were in the middle of a vast land of sparsely vegetated drylands. There were thorns and dried bushes all around them and there were more trees the two Western dragon did not know. All in all, the grassland was not as bad as a barren desert like the one in the Central region, where any form of water was underground and no plants could grow except by a magically-induced soils.

The current state of their predicament, along with the unknown land, frustrated Avila enough to the point she started to think that Avet was deliberately trying to make them lost. Fortunately, Xiciro realized what's wrong with her and walked towards Avet slowly and whispered, "My daughter is extremely short-fused to a stranger."

"All the routes I know are either infested with dragon slaves or human dragon slayers carrying foul magical weapons!"

"Do you have anyone you can trust?"

"I've told you so many times. Do not trust a dragon in the Outback!"

"That brown dragon is right. We're screwed because we don't trust any dragons. Avet, not every dragon in the South is an enemy. In fact, trust us. If they are proven to be a turntail, we are going to 'clean the mess'."

"Are you that bloodthirsty? They'll know..."

"Shh..." Xiciro then beckoned Avila towards him and said, "Avila, would you be so dear and use Emero Carought?"

"Why don't you use your goddamn portal?" said Avila, exasperated.

"I can't use it if I don't know where I am going," said Xiciro. "Besides, with my level of magic, I can only open the portal to a maximum of 20 miles. By this point, we are in too deep."

"So why are you asking me to use the ability that imprisoned you?"

"To prove a point."

Avila sighed and looked towards the unknown plains. She then concentrated and extended one of her legs while she opened her feathered wings. All of the sudden a big portal opened in front of them, and was threatening to suck them all in. Despite of this, however, Xiciro turn to Avet and said, "Off you go!"

Avet nodded and to Avila's surprised, walked inside. Avila was so surprised that she almost lost her control.

"He'll be lost inside that place! What the hell are you doing?!"

"Like I said, to prove a point."

Avila wanted to believe that statement, but knowing how it trapped Xiciro for a hundred years, Avet could be trapped the moment she closed the portal due to exhaustion or lapse of concentration.

She hoped what Xiciro was trying to 'prove' could reach Avet.