FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Scales and Honor: Swirling Storm

Chapter 4

"Arrg!" Jandar angrily threw up his hands and stepped out of Ramakox's cave. The dragon watched the boy of ten vent his frustration into the air. Ramakox drummed his talons along the cavern floor as he watched the child stomp around and cross his arms. It had been months now since they had started their training in the magical arts, and Jandar was showing no signs of magical talent. Ramakox frowned as his fantasy was slowly fading away with each passing day.

The blue dragon snaked his head down towards one of the numerous old books he had found in his lair on the subject of basic magic. His eyes scanned the drawings of a human female going through various poses and stances that were required to tap into the magical energy required for the spell. But for some reason you can't tap into it. Ramakox opened his maw, and with a slight breath let lightning dance around his teeth. When he was finished with that he resettled his wings against his back and followed the boy into the afternoon sun. He found himself thinking about what he could say or do to raise the boy's spirits. After all, he needed the child to believe he could do it if he had any hope of him becoming a mage and adventurer.

He did the meditation to prepare the spells...He did the movements rights...He said the correct words.....He even helped create a spell book ....he should be able to do something...anything..._The dragon narrowed his eyes as irritation rose up in his mind. He could not think of any tale or story that could help him right now. For all his time on this planet he had never heard of something like this. He was almost certain he was told and read that _anyone could do magic with enough practice and heart. But for some reason Jandar.. He watched the boy pace in front of his lair in the cold air. You can't do anything. He wrinkled his snout at the idea that he would never be able to cast magic. Never able to spread the word of Ramakox, and never fit into the dragon's plan.

"Jandar." he spoke softly, his words lingering in the air. He made sure to show restraint and calmness. The last thing the child needed was a snarling or growling dragon. Something he had done previous weeks ago to show his frustration. It had reduced Jandar to tears, and made the dragon roll his eyes and embrace him so he would stop.

"What do you want?" Jandar snapped to him with eyes full of sadness, with a voice that was ill fitting to be spoken to a dragon. Ramakox ignored it with a slight flick of his tail and a sigh. "I don't even know why you even bother. I can't do anything right."

"Its not your fault." Ramakox held his head up, his voice turning stern once more. "You're doing everything right...It must be something else stopping you.....Something I have never heard of before."

"Like....a sickness?" the human wrinkled his nose as the thought. "Cause that sounds awful."

Ramakox passed the boy, his tail gently brushing him as he looked to the countryside that had started to have it's colors fade away. The land that was preparing itself for the much colder weather, and the white blanket that would soon be covering it. "It certainly could be something like that...but I doubt it." The dragon gave a heavy sigh as he started to drum his talons on the stone once more, the sound of his clicks bringing comfort to his confused mind. He glanced back to the boy, who had his head hung down. The dragon felt his heart start to stretch, and feel pity for the human child. To never be able to cast magic? It would be like a dragon unable to fly into the sky. He shook his head with a snort. He knew someone that could help the boy. But I don't know if I want...their help.

"How much do you want to cast spells?" he asked, lowering his snout towards the saddened child.

Jandar raised his head to look to the dragon, "I want to do it more than anything I have ever wanted before." His words were filled with such honesty, it made Ramakox sigh again as he sat down beside the human and curled his tail around him.

Besides...if you do get help...and the boy does become a grand adventurer....you will reap the rewards.. "I know someone who could help you with your inability to cast magic." he said after a moment of silent contemplation.

"Really?" the boy held his head up, his eyes filling with hope for the briefest of moments.

"Yes..but." Ramakox's eyes went to the collection of small brownish dots in the distance. The place that Jandar had called his home. "I will need permission to take you to see them from your home...because I really do not wish to deal with dragon hunters...Or the Queen of this land declaring me an evil dragon."

"What if my grandmother says no?"

"How could she?" the dragon chuckled in his throat, as if the idea she could refuse him was ridiculous. "How could she deny her blood the chance to better himself? It sounds ridiculous."

"Maybe they won't trust you?"

Ramakox had not thought of that predicament. Surely I had proven myself to them by now..The undead from years ago..the tales the boy must have already told the others.."I will simply have to put the dragon charms on her." he grinned, spreading his wings wide.

"We are heading out now?" stammered the boy as his eyes traced along the white spider webbed membranes.

"But of course little Jandar, might as well take advantage of this on the wing decision. Here.." he held out his limb and gestured to the boy to come over.

"I always hate this part." the boy stepped over, fear apparent in his voice.

"I won't drop you...Have I not proved that the countless times that I have brought you back to your village's edge?" He let out a sigh, and nudged the boy gently. "Perhaps one day we will rid you of this phobia of yours. Then you will be able to look out to the countryside, and see it's beauty from above like I do."

"I...can't help it." the boy fidgeted slightly.

"Then here." the blue dragon softly picked up the child in his forelimb and pulled him snug against his dark blue scales. "How about that?" he curled his neck down to see that the child had pressed his cheek tightly against him, his eyes closed.

"Better."

Ramakox sighed again as he gave his wings a might test flap. Oh well...We will definitely have to work on this some more. The dragon bounded into the air with a flap of his wings, his beats carrying him above the mountain and towards the village.

"Jandar...you should look." the dragon said reassuringly as the wind caressed them through the open sky. He gave another disappointed sigh when the human would not do as he said, and instead just held his limb tighter, and refused to trade his view of the dragon's scales for the countryside below. How is he going to be an adventurer like this?..Perhaps you will learn a spell or something to overcome this fear....Course that is if I am unable to cure you of it before you are grown.. Ramakox grumbled in the back of his throat as he avoided a white fluffy cloud. "Would it cure you of your fear if you could fall from any height and be fine?" He asked, thinking to a spell called feather falling. One he had heard that would allow such a feat to be preformed.

"Y-yeah..I think that would do it." Stammered the child, who would not unclench his eyes.

One day... Ramakox returned his eyes to the village that was nearing with every pounding of his wings against the air. He spread his wings into a glide as he observed the small dots of people going about their business. It occurred to him as he glared out to the collection of dull brown and grey buildings that he had never known what the boy's nest looked like. And I don't want to make a fool of myself by going from nest to nest. "Jandar! What does your nest look like?"

"It's a small building made of wood! Has a tan roof, and has one window!"

Ramakox sailed over the village, it quickly becoming apparent that is what most of the buildings looked like. He saw elves, humans, and wolven glance up in his direction, point and no doubt start telling others about how great he looked flying high above their village. How happy they must be that the defeater of the undead graced their vision. He angled his wings, and began to back-wing to the collection of gasps of his mortal viewers. The gusts that he created cast up any loose dirt, grass, or anything else that was not held down. His claws settled down onto the worn dirt as he held his head high. "Greetings mortals." he spoke proudly.

"A dragon!" a grey furred wolf clad in leather armor shouted out when the gust settled down. The other mortals just looked to him with various looks of amazement or shock.

"Hes so big!" came the shout of another man.

"Are you sure it's a he?" an elderly woman shouted out, waving her gnarled walking stick.

"Yes mortals I am a dragon...The great Swirling Storm." he swelled out his chest, unfurling his wings and waiting for the praises and blesses.

"The who?" the wolf in leather asked, tilting his head to the side.

Ramakox curled his neck into the shape of an S as he snorted his disappointment. He glanced around to the mortals that should have been praising his name, looking to him with fondness at his presence. However on their faces were just confusion, surprise, and some even had fear in their eyes. This was not supposed to be how it is. Has it been so long that they are not used to dragons walking among them? "Do you not know who I am?"

"Uh..no." the guard gulped. "Should we Swirling Storm? Interesting name for a dragon that is."

"It is a title..not my name." Ramakox wrinkled his snout in irritation as he glanced to the boy. "Surely you have heard of me from this boys tales."

"We...we thought he was pretending this entire time...you know how kids can be."

Ramakox shifted uncomfortably from side to side. Surely it had not been so long they had forgotten me completely? "Do you remember the undead armies that I helped your country defeat?" He fought the urge as his irritation continued to grow.

"Uh..you mean the tales from long ago...like several hundred years?"

_ Has it been that long already?_ "Yes..Yes." Ramakox waved casually to the man. "Those are the ones..surely you remember me from those tales..The great Swirling Storm, the defender, defeater of undead."

"We...we thought you was dead." the guard winced as Ramakox frowned. "So...Swirling Storm...what brings you to our village?"

"I..." Ramakox pushed the irritation from his mind and focused on his task. This was why he would help the boy after all. So that the mortals would know his name once again, and this embarrassment would not happen again. I could also visit them more often. "I have come to visit Jandar's grandmother if you must know."

"Well...just be sure to mind your manners...If you mean us no harm, we won't bother you....Although expect some gawking faces dragon."

"Mind my manners?" Ramakox snorted, thrashing his tail as his blood began to simmer. "I saved your little dirt of a.." he caught himself when he heard several people gasp and back away from him. "Ah...regardless.." he took a deep breath to settle his nerves. "I will behave as it were."

"G-good."

Ramakox turned his attention from the guard to the boy. "Now Jandar....Would you lead the way? So I can spend as little time in this....Wonderful village of yours."

Jandar nodded and started leading him through the collection of houses that did not even come up to Ramakox's head. To his surprise of the dragon, despite the ground being simple dirt the villagers had managed to keep it clean. There was no sign of any debris, leaves, animal droppings, nothing for the dragon to worry about stepping on. They passed several more groups of mortals that gawked at his scales. To his irritation they seemed just as ignorant about who he was as the first gathering. Not one single human, elf, or wolven seemed to have any inkling of who he was.

"Just get me to your grandmother." Ramakox growled softly.

"I'm sorry no one knows you." Jandar hung his head as they came to a house that looked exactly like the others. How the lad could tell the difference from the others was beyond him, but he shrugged it off as the boy opened the door and told him to wait for a moment.

Ramakox sat on his haunches, curling his tail around him and ignoring another group of villagers passing by on their horse sized wolves. His eyes narrowed as he could hear whispers among them. They were asking about who the dragon was, and why he was there. Jandar can not get old enough sooner. Ramakox thought to himself. And my name will be spread far and wide once more. He glanced around at the village, making a vow to make himself more known to them locally. J_ust need to remind these mortals just who their protector is._

"Here he is Mimi." Jandar brought an elderly looking woman out of the house. Her face was so wrinkled that Ramakox wondered how she could see through the rolls of skin.

The dragon explained who he was to her delight. She remembered who he was, and that made him swell up his chest in pride. He thumped his tail and spoke of Jandar's talent, but how something was blocking him from magic somehow. She seemed interested so he went further on about how he knew a friend that would of course be able to help her grandson with his problem. He watched her think it over for several minutes, looking to the face of Jandar, who was practically begging her to go.

"You can." she smiled, causing Jandar to bound into her arms and clutch at her tightly. She guided the boy inside after some joyous thanks, and asked Ramakox to wait while she gathered the boy some things for the journey.

Ramakox did not have to wait long before the boy was back in front him with some food, spare clothes, a warm cloak, and a backpack made of leather. "Come on." Ramakox crouched low for the child, and gestured to his back with his tail. "It might be a tad easier for your nerves."

"N-No thanks.." the boy trailed off, fear still in his eyes.

Oh well. Ramakox sighed to himself as he carefully plucked the boy like he was a wrymling who had yet to fly.

"Keep him safe!" the woman shouted. "Or I will kick you in the balls so hard you will go cross-eyed!"

Ramakox was going to correct her but found himself rolling his eyes and taking flight instead. His next flaps brought them above the village in a near instant to a myriad of shouts. He angled his wings and turned so that he was heading to the north.

"Who is your friend?" the boys voice lingered with curiosity after several minutes of flight. Jandar still had his face buried in the dragon's chest.

Ramakox thought to the land before them, and the great seer they were out to go see. "She calls herself the Emerald Lady, and if anyone can solve your problem it will be her.