FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Scales and Honor: Swirling Storm

Chapter 11

The next year dragged incredibly slow for Ramakox, testing his patience, mental fortitude, and it tugged ever so much at his soul. The first thing that he had done following the nightmarish encounter with the lich was contact the Emerald Lady. He was not going to screw around, if anyone could find Infinity it would be her. He flew all the way to her palace with Jandar upon his back. He had insisted the human follow him, never leave his side since that night. He had burst through her palace doors once again, praying that she would not mind the intrusion.

When he found her, she was currently laid out on a stone slab with a white gryphon beside her. She had her green tail curled around him as her eyes were focusing on a red dragon with tan underscales before her. Ramakox had just caught the tail end of the conversation, but from what he heard the dragon was looking for a dragoness by the name of Sheondranta. There was talk about it being his mate, and he had seen the cracked egg. The red dragon was insisting that Emerald Lady help find the wrymling that might be his offspring.

Ramakox was acknowledged by the Emerald Lady with a quick nod and glance in his direction. The blue dragon had sat down onto his haunches, and waited for the red dragon to finish his inquiry. Emerald Lady had told the red dragon that there was nothing she could do, and the wrymling in question was beyond her sight. The red dragon had held his head in acknowledgment, thanked the green dragoness and left her palace sulking.

When Ramakox was asked why he was in the forest this time, he had explained his case to the curious dragoness. He told her every heart wrenching detail from that night. From the lich, the spell casting, the defeat, and the capture of the wrymling Infinity. He even told her how broken he had been, defeated, and how his heart had nearly crumbled when he reached out for small dragoness.

Emerald Lady had listened intently, nodding the entire time he had spoken. Her gryphon by her side had even offered kind words in an attempt to sooth the blue dragon's aching heart, but of course they did not. To his terror the emerald dragoness revealed something that he had not known. She explained with immense regret that she could not scry on everyone. Nor could she see into everyone's future in the tapestry that was time. She had wrinkled her snout as she explained this Infinity, and the lich must have had some sort of charm to prevent such location spells. She had merely told him that she would keep her snout to the ground, and listen for any clues on the whereabouts of the dragoness.

Ramakox left the forest the same day with his optimism crushed. His mind was in a daze as he had bounded into the sky to Jandar's soothing voice, and flew towards their home. The entire journey home he had eaten very little, spoke even less, and had sleepless nights where he tossed and turned. Even Jandar trying to comfort him did not help, even when his cave was within his sights he felt no joy grace his thoughts.

His mood remained sour the rest of the year, broken up in moments of crushing sadness. He would spend days at a time, secluded from the teen. He would meditate on his failure, and vow that it would not happen in the future. So he had gone about trapping his home with different magical devices, and wards to prevent entry by the undead monster that had taken Infinity away. He made sure that if the lich were to show it's twisted face in his lair, the creature would be destroyed within a moments notice, never getting a chance to utter it's wicked hiss.

The only time during the year that Ramakox broke free of his paranoid, sour mood, was when the day came for Jandar to depart on his adventure. The dragon had flown him to the edge of his territory, and stopped right outside the closest village. He had made sure to provide the teen with various scrolls, potions, and several magical items for his protection.

The teen stood before him, blue scales now dominating most of his body. His eyes too had started to turn a tad dragon like. The spheres of his had even started to shift into a silver like color, very much like Ramakox's own. It had seemed the fight with the lich had sped up his bodies transformation into something akin to a half-dragon. Jandar had not minded the transformation, not even caring when his nails sharpened and turned into talons. He had just smiled and welcomed each change, seemingly delighted when two small horns had started to sprout through the hair on his head.

"Do you have your bedroll? The one with the dragon stitched into it?" Ramakox asked, shifting his gaze from the afternoon sun to the beaming human before him.

"Yes." Jandar rolled his eyes. The dragon had already been asking him these sort of questions all morning, including just moments ago. "I have the coins, my pack, the scrolls, the wand, and the potions." the human crossed his arms, counting off each item with an extended digit. "I got the protection amulet, a change of clothes, and yes, even my cloak. Honestly Ramakox, you're starting to sound like your my mother or something....Trust me." Jandar laughed. "I'm going to be fine."

"That remains to be seen." The dragon snorted, inspecting the human one last time. When he was satisfied nothing was out of place he raised his snout and drummed his talons on the worn dirt road. His eyes went wide to the collection of mortal buildings in the distance, the first stop for the mortal that would spread his name far and wide. Ramakox narrowed his eyes and flicked his tail. This was supposed to be a joyous day for the dragon, one where he should be smiling and roaring his happiness for all to hear. Instead his heart was throbbing, and felt like it was being pulled in two different directions as he shifted his weight uncomfortably. He realized that despite his plans, despite the future, he did not want to see Jandar leave.

"You..can stay....To train some more you know...Never hurts to prepare some more..so-" The dragon circled a claw in the dirt as he looked away from the human.

"Ramakox." Jandar interrupted, by placing a hand to the dragon's chest. He ran the hand up to Ramakox's snout when the dragon lowered it. "I need to head out, start my path." he smiled up at the blue dragon, whose eyes were starting to mist. "Thank you for watching me all these years...But I need to do this..."

"I know." Ramakox wiped away a tear as he looked away from the human to try and hide it.

"I promise to return and share my stories with you....are...are you crying?"

"No." Ramakox lied, swishing his tail and offering the human a loud snort. "Just..something in my eyes..Stings something awful."

"Course there is." Jandar looked over his shoulder and swelled up his chest. "I think it's about time."

"Are you sure? We can always go-"

"Ramakox."

The dragon shut his snout, and snatched the human up quick as a flash. He pulled him into a tight hug that nearly crushed the mortal in his limbs.

"T-thought you hated these." the teen laughed weakly, struggling to free himself from the tight embrace of the dragon.

"They are appropriate during very emotional times." Ramakox flicked his tail again as his scales shivered. "And since I am going to miss you, this qualifies as one of those times."

"Hey." Jandar patted the blue scales softly. "I'm going to miss you too..But think about the bright side..all the good cheer that will be said in your name...all the tribute people will bring...You can't say that doesn't sound good."

Ramakox sighed as he pictured all the things the human had just said, and it made him smile. IT even fought off the sadness lurking in his heart for a brief moment. "And." the dragon said sternly, his good thoughts evaporating like water on a scorching day. "If you find anything about.." His thoughts went to Infinity as Jandar nodded knowingly.

"I will...always look out for her."

"Good." Ramakox moaned, pushing the human gently away with his snout. "You best be off now. I grow tired of your presence...Will be good to get some peace and quiet around the cave for a change." He rose his head to look away from the smug looking mortal.

"Uh-huh."

"It's true...You annoy me to no end." the dragon snorted, closing his eyes and giving the human a small grin. "This will honestly be the best thing that has happened to me."

"Then let me get out of your scales!" Jandar laughed, giving the dragon a salute. "See you again...I'll be sure to bring loads and loads of stories when I visit."

"You better do that...Or I will be cross with you." he bared his teeth playfully at the human, tears already starting to well up in his eyes. "I might even reconsider you leaving...Force you to stay here until your ready."

"Ramakox." Jandar said, turning back and offering the dragon a warm smile. "I love you."

The dragon felt his chest fill with pride, such warmth he could not help but let out a crying pleased trill into the air. "I love you too, you stupid human." he cried, "Now get out of here before you see a grown dragon cry more than he should. Like I am some mother watching her hatchling leave the nest for the first time." But it is like that isn't it?

"See you again!" the human waved, as he turned around and started his way towards the village, with a confident stroll. Jander even started to whistle a joyous tune as he strolled away to meet his future.

Ramakox watched the human walk slowly away with a heavy heart. "See you again...Son of mine." the dragon whispered softly. Joyous tears slid down his face unhindered when he spread his wings and flew back towards his home. Ramakox returned to the cave and settled down on his soft bed, and looked around to his treasure. He let out a heavy sigh, and for the first time in awhile, Ramakox was alone.

* The days passed much slower after the human's departure. The routine he had worked with the boy suddenly falling away into nothing. The dragon often found himself bored, his tail flicking onto the ground as he contemplated what to do with all his free time. He would try to fill it with hunting, flying around his domain, and even visiting east cliff. However at the end of the day he would return to an empty cave, and wish that Jandar was there to keep him company.

When he could stand that routine much longer the dragon took a more proactive approach to the lands that he called his. He would land inside east cliff, talk with the leaders of the village, and work on how to best protect his land. In return they would send little gifts up to his lair, little tokens of gratitude for the work he was putting in for them. He even continued up with his magical aid to the place, and he found himself growing closer and closer to the people that lived there. He eventually would spend his time in the village when he was not busy doing a myriad of other things. This at least kept him occupied, and happy while his teen was gone.

The months passed, and the seasons came and went around the dragon. He relaxed and delighted in the warm summer months, often sunbathing in the fields around his home. During the fall he would dart above the trees and admire the multicolored trees that dotted the landscape. When winter came he made sure to have spells ready to heat his home, that way he did not fall prey to the scale biting cold that snaked it's way under his scales and felt as though it jabbed at him with a knife. During this season he would often find himself looking to the human's bed near his own, and with a grumble lamenting that is was empty now. Eventually the cold winter left, and the snow that had blanketed the countryside in white had melted away.

With spring came the wet months followed. This also brought animals that had been in hibernation, bright colors, and the warm weather. The spring had also brought something with it, for it had been a year since Jandar's departure, and the boy came back home with a great big smile. He had strolled into Ramakox's cave like he had never left. His simple vest and clothes he had left with had been traded in for much more refined traveling garments. They were regal, the dark brown cloth broken up with bright blue runes stitched into the fabric. They even seemed to allow the teen much more movement. The blue scales had made their way to his face now, and his eyes had turned to a perfect match for dragon eyes.

"Jandar!" Ramakox had shouted, bounding towards the human with a flap of his wings. He plucked him up from the ground and hugged him tightly against his chest. All the feelings of loneliness that he had felt fading away with the beating of his human's heart. "How have you been!"

"Good to see you too." The boy chuckled, rubbing the blue dragon's snout gently when he started to nuzzle his chest. "My..You're much more affectionate than when I left...Are you sure you're Ramakox? And not some impostor?"

"You're not much of a comedian." Ramakox snorted,narrowing his eyes as he placed the human onto the ground. "Now...You promised to tell me all of your tales since our departure." He swung his tail around the human,and started to guide him deeper into his cave with a wing, until the human plopped down onto his bed with a pleased sigh."

"Forgot how comfy these things were." The teen sighed, lying down onto his back and closing his eyes. "Had nothing but taverns and my bedroll for the past year..This..is...divine."

Ramakox rolled his eyes as the human looked more and more like a lazy dragon then the blue dragon had ever looked. Or at least that was what he thought anyway. "Ok...Ok." He nudged the human with his nose, causing him to try and push the insistent dragon away. "No you don't.." he pushed Jandar with one of his paws, firmly enough to rouse him from his relaxation. "You promised to tell me your tales. That was part of the bargain."

"Oh yes." Jandar yawned. "How the tables have turned in such a way. Now you are the wrymling that is asking me for stories, instead of the other way round."

Ramakox sighed deeply, as he did not care who was doing the questioning. The only thing on his mind being that a story was going to be told. One that he would catalog down in his memory so he could write it down for later. "Just get on with the story Jandar, before I change my mind of letting you head out on adventure."

"Let me?" The human gave him an amused grin. "I thought the whole point of me going out on adventure was to spread the name of the great swirling storm? Or have you forgotten, and miss me so much as to change your plans?"

Ramakox said nothing as the human picked apart his emotions and hit the dilemma right on it's head. He was about to tell the human that he was right, and that he wished he would have stayed. However as he looked to the cheerful human and the saw the joy in his eyes he fought the urge. "I have not forgotten." he grumbled. "And have you spread my good name?"

"Yes I have! You should hear me every time we help anyone out." Jandar swelled up his chest and held up a finger. "And you should thank the great dragon called Swirling Storm. It was he that allowed us to succeed this day." the teen laughed folding his arms. "You should hear my friends complain about it, says it stings their ears to hear it so often."

Ramakox nodded, stretching himself back among the gold coins. "It is good you can at least follow instructions...It won't be long now till I have tributes lining the entrance my cave, and people crying out my name in wonder." The dragon slunk his way to his bed to curl around himself, trading the hard coin for the soft bed. "Now about the stories...Tell me about the glorious things that Jandar the great has gotten himself into."

"Well you see." the teen held up his hands as he told his tale right at the beginning, and how he had stumbled upon three adventurers to be his friends. There was a wolven female called Rain. She had tan fur, and could fight better than anyone the human had ever seen. He described her as carefree, happy, and how he was always glad to have her sword by his side. Then he spoke of a dwarven cleric of Thor, and how he would go on and on about Thor this and Thor that. Jandar laughed that it actually reminded him of how he always spoke such fond words of the blue dragon. Ramakox had merely grumbled, and scattered the teen's hair with a snort of air. Lastly he described a Siigonis by the name of Graox. The teen described his forest green scales, and how he was always quick to the point, and hardly ever made a joke. Jandar laughed and described how the lizard talked about them as if they were already part of his tribe, and then discussed how he could shift his form and use nature magic to aid him.

Jandar went on and on for hours it seemed, describing in detail events that excited the dragon's heart. From goblin attacks on villages, getting lost within a cave filled with zombies, to exploring a tomb to the north east. The teen even laughed how in the royal marsh they had come across a dragon calling himself the Resplendent Overlord. Jandar explained how they had been there for several days, listening to the green dragon with copper splotches on his wings. How the dragon had seemed a tad strange, but glad for their presence within the marsh.

"But isn't it a swamp?" Ramakox asked, tilting his head to the side. "I am almost certain the area you are talking about has trees...That would make it a swamp. It should be called the royal swamp instead.

"Trust me...He insisted it was a marsh, got mad even." Jandar waved it off, and returned to his tales of adventure and excitement. This continued into the night as Jandar spun tale after tale that brought such warmth to Ramakox's heart, and made him oh so proud of the human sitting before him. The night eventually wound down, and the teen could no longer speak about his deeds. Jandar had let out a long drawn out yawn, and collapsed onto his bed. He then sighed, closed his eyes, and drifted off to sleep. Ramakox curled around himself, and with a sigh of contentment, joined the human in his slumber.

Jandar had stayed the week, spending time with Ramakox like it was the years passed. The dragon showed him around the domain that he called his, and talked about how he was taking an active approach to helping those he protected. When he was not doing that, the teen still had no end to his tales, and would share them once in awhile as they went through books, fished, or practiced magic a few times. Ramakox had smiled as his mortal had vastly improved throughout the last year in that regard. He still did not have the raw power of the greatest of mages, but he did have the talent and the heart. The dragon spent every night of that week with a warm heart, and an eased mind. He even one night pulled the human against him, and nestled the teen close to his scales, like he was a wrymling. Things could not last forever though, and Jandar needed to leave once more.

The dragon had watched him leave with his collection of adventuring friends on dark grey furred dire wolves. He would have insisted that he carry Jandar to their next spot, but decided against it when he saw his mortal laughing and joking around with the others. He instead wished him well, and gave the human a lick farewell, rumbling his approval that it caused the human embarrassment. "Just make sure to be back again with more tales...and stay safe." The human agreed, and headed out with the adventurers once more. Disappearing beyond the horizon in a matter of minutes

*

One year passed again before the dragon's eyes. Just like before Jandar returned with stories, good cheer, word that he spread in Ramakox's name, and trinkets or tributes to the great dragon that had taught him so much. One year then turned into two, then to three, and then to four. Each time his mortal coming back for weeks at a time, the stories getting grander and grander to the dragon's approval.

It was on the fourth year he started the morning like he usually did. He stretched his limbs out,gave a tongue curling yawn, unfurled his wings and then refolded them against his back. He had just got done with that when he padded over towards the entrance to his cave. What he found there made him smile and his heart grow warm. For outside his cave was a collection of mortals from all over. They were all dressed in different clothes, and appeared to be from different castes of life. They cheered for the mighty Swirling storm, and presented him with treasure after treasure, thanking him for the mortal he had sent to solve their problems. He accepted each one with a grin, and a swollen chest of pride. This continued every month,with different peoples coming each time from far off lands. The furthest one that he got was from the northern city of whitedell in Lumara. That one had brought a rumble of approval from his throat as he thought they did not like dragons up there. However when the man offered him such kind words and trinkets of gold and silver how could he refuse?

Ramakox would gaze out from time to time after the mortals had left, and the excitement of praises had worn away. He would watch the sun, the trees, or trace the mountain side with his eyes and just think. His thoughts would go to Jandar, the mortal that had gotten him what he had wanted. Trinkets, people praising his name, and fame. The great dragon thumped his tail, wondering where in the world his mortal was, and what glorious adventures he was having in the dragon's name. He would also fight the thought in the back of his mind that would beg the mortal to stay.

One such time he had sat down by one of the rivers by his home, letting the spring breeze wash against his cheek. He gave a pleased sigh as he basked in the warm sun, taking in the alluring scent of the flowers that made his scales shiver. He had just sent Jandar on his way, more proud of him than he had ever been. Apparently the now man had helped save the very queen from some dark cult or another. He grinned to himself, wondering how the royals would repay the kind great dragon that provided them with such a successful adventurer. He watched the running water, his eyes finding fish that were darting around in the liquid, reminding him of all the times he went fishing with Jandar. He let out a sigh as he twitched his tail. It seems not that long ago...

"If you're going to stare at it so intently, you should just hop in and swim around in it." came a singsong voice that made him jump in surprise and unfurl his wings. For sitting right beside him was a sea foam scale covered dragoness with orange underscales and wing membranes. She was sitting on her webbed paws, with her tail curled around her casually. It gave a slight thump against the grass as she gazed at him with her royal purple eyes.

"H-how did you sneak up on me!" he burst out, refolding his wings and trying to settle his rapidly beating heart. "You're lucky I did not accidentally strike out at you!"

"Oh right."the dragoness smacked her snout with her front claw. "You were so lost within thought, I figured I'd just slink in and introduce myself...Although I forgot to do that bit." She wrinkled her snout, and turning her white horned head towards the river. "My name is Fremra." She curled her snout into a grin. "And you must be Ramakox...The mighty Swirling Storm."