FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 1

A sharp snap sounded in the darkness.

The sound bounced off the trees and startled the dragon from his sleep. Dervacor silently rose to a crouched position, listening intently, the fins on each side of his head quivering as he shook the restfulness from his mind and body. The blue dragon let his brilliant green eyes flash wide capturing the reflected moonlight as he tried to locate the source of the noise.

He held position crouched and coiled with his shek'har clenched tightly in his fist ready for violence. Dervacor waited out the moments; seconds ticking like hours.

It had been two weeks since he fled from his village. Trackers trailed him for some time, but it had been several days since he noticed any signs of being followed... He shook his head, it wasn't possible. Even still, he crouched in the shadows and peered over the rocks he had nested between, the sound had come from the clearing.

Moonlight danced across the twilight meadow as leaves rustled in the wind. It was half moon, a time of open ended possibilities. Half told secrets and half kept promises.

Two silver eyes opened across the clearing cutting holes in a long shadow. The eyes scanned the darkness for a moment before locking intensely on his position. Dervacor was out of the moonlight and hidden amongst the rocks and trees, but there he was locking eyes with a shadow.

He heard a shout as the black shape moved impossibly fast across the clearing and melded with the darkness at the edge of the tree line near Dervacor's position.

Hissing angrily Dervacor sheathed his weapon, slung his pack on his shoulder, and erupted into the air to grab a tree branch with both hands. He swung his lower body quickly into place with both feet under him to perch on the branch. He leapt into the darkness. Better to run for now, there was no telling how many were pursuing him.

Dervacor could hardly make out branches as he flew through the air to catch each successive one, his tail flowed behind him for balance. The dragon used his powerful legs and arms to propel himself from one tree to the next. Tales of winged dragons had always circulated amongst the children of his village, but he had never seen one. What he would give to have wings now!

Behind him he heard bark scraping, Dervacor turned his head for a moment spotting a billowing black shape closing in. The two were dancing across the canopy. Distracted momentarily the dragon's next step landed at an awkward angle. Unable to find purchase he found himself twisting violently in the air. His shoulder crunched painfully against the tree trunk and he cried out as he fell.

Darkness came swiftly, cradling him as he lapsed into unconsciousness.

Some time later the dragon groaned, his mind felt like it had been cleaved in two. Sitting up he felt warm fur skins covering him. A blanket.

Where was he? Dervacor took a moment, cradling his head in his hands as he came to. He found his wrists had been bound. Looking up he scanned his surroundings.

He was seated on a pile of furs. It was simple, but comfortable makeshift bedding. Stalactites dripped lazily from the ceiling and faint light from a fire pit in the center of the cave made their shadows play. He saw a proper nest across the cave, recessed in the wall and adorned with candles and trinkets. A brilliant emerald hung from the ceiling, in his village he had seen quite a few hung in bedrooms as they were said to absorb negative thoughts and prevent nightmares.

Pots and pans sat on a rack along the back wall of the cave. A spice rack and some dried meats were neatly tucked underneath the cookware. Various herbs and dried plants were hanging from another rack in the corner dangling above a small book shelf. A similarly small collection of hand bound volumes rested neatly between two beautiful jade bookends. Curled parchment was laid out on a short table, a pen and inkwell sat neatly to the side. A kneeling pad was stored underneath.

The cave smelled pleasantly of smoke and pine.

Moss and mushrooms grew in the corners, moisture condensed and beaded on the walls. Early morning light filtering through the cave entrance was causing the dew drops to glisten brightly.

By the entrance he recognized the smooth curved handle of his shek'har. The twin blades of the one-handed weapo were safely secured in their elliptical sheath resting on his pack of supplies. There was also a set of short hafted double sided axes.

The fire pit was smoking lazily. Flames burning low, not recently tended. The fire released a thin trail which wafted upwards through a bored hole in the ceiling. A grate which appeared to be used for grilling leaned against the edge of the pit.

He was alone.

Scrambling to his feet he started for the door, but stumbled as his legs buckled under him. A wave of nausea pushed him over. "Ash and cinder", he cursed just before the breath was shoved out of him when his chin and chest hit the ground. Dervacor was looking straight out the door laying flat on his stomach. Even stunned on the floor as he struggled for breath he heard footsteps outside.

The blue dragon was gasping and sputtering as she entered the cave with a fishing net containing her catch in hand. Her silhouette briefly illuminated in the doorway as she stepped in.

Brilliant silver eyes studied him; wide with shock for a moment, then amused. Her snout was long and beautifully curved, she smiled mirthfully. Two ivory horns circled attentive wide tapering ears, each horn curling in on itself at her jaw line. Scales shimmered grey, black flecked with brilliant white spots across her shoulders and hips. Her slender body moved with an intimate and confident grace. Her tail was sleek and ended in a well-groomed white and black tipped tuft.

She had wings! Beautiful wings were decoratively bound and held in place folded across her back. They were large, but neatly held close to her body. Prominent muscles corded from her chest across her shoulders to her back, compact and powerful.

Dervacor lay stunned as he regained his breath, uncertain what to say or do.

She paused for a moment and burst out laughing as the blue dragon on her floor chuffed and sputtered to his feet before sitting heavily back on his bedding, tucking his tail under him. His shoulders slouched, defeated. Eyes smouldering he glared at his captor, "who are you?"

Her voice trilled gently, "you are in my home you clumsy fool of a dragon. You were fleeing in the darkness like some kind of criminal, I should be asking who you are." Cocking her head as she made her way further into the cave she tossed the fish toward her cooking gear and sighed, "since one of us should have manners, my name is Flicker." Crossing her arms and sitting down cross legged in one smooth motion her tail gently swished to one side. She simply watched the blue dragon and waited.

He sat brooding a moment longer.

She glared at the ungrateful dragon before her, "direct your anger elsewhere, you have only your own clumsy feet to blame. I tried to call out to you when you took off like a rabbit bolting in the darkness."

Dervacor relented, his eyes softened and he relaxed and looked at the ground, "I thought you were someone else." He paused a moment, his fins relaxed from their aggressive expression to fold more gently by his head, his tail stopped flicking quickly and settled in a more neutral position.

Looking up at his captor he held up his wrists, "my name is Dervacor, I come from Talair, a small village two weeks travel north from here." He nodded, "will you unbind me? I don't mean you any harm."

She relaxed a little, but still appeared suspicious, "it is good, I was uncertain who I had brought back to my home, we will get to your bindings in a moment." Flicker's brilliant eyes flashed across his features, appraising him properly for the first time now that they were speaking in the light.

Dervacor was tall, but not uncommonly so. She guessed his height was 11 hands to her 9 and one half.

His base color consists of deep blue scales which shimmer with a certain brightness when the light catches them, though they typically appear matte. Several deep ebony stripes taper their way around his limbs

His most striking feature is the curved black horn resting on the tip of his long snout. Thick black scutes join smoothly together flowing from his horn before jutting into a segmented crest between his eyes. The crest continues over his head tapering all the way down his back. These same thick dark scales adorn his throat, chest, and belly.

Those pleading green eyes shine with intensity framed in black scales, even though he sits bound and uncertain.

He is a fine specimen, but he is clearly no match for her. He seemed adept, but unpracticed at combat. She nods to herself and pauses for a moment.

"Why are you in my forest?" Flicker asks gently.

Dervacor sighs, his eyes water a moment before he blinks, "I cannot say, I could not stay at my home."

Flicker chrrs soothingly, "and why is that?"

The blue dragon looks up matching her gaze painfully. "You would think me a monster." His fins lower, he thinks a moment as Flicker waits patiently for him to ball up the courage to continue. There really isn't any point in resisting, he realizes. He's been caught. He has run out of places to be.

Defeated the blue dragon says softly, "I blew fire."

A moment of silence fell like a blanket across the small cave. It seemed like even the birds outside had fallen silent.

Fire breathers were universally feared. Almost mythical. It had been several generations since the last flame was spit in his village.

It was said fire breathing was a corruption of the mind and soul exhibited in the body. A fire breather would grow mad as the blaze within boiled their mind.

Flicker watched the dragon for a moment, her expression was relaxed. She showed no fear, but moved towards him.

Dervacor started to slide back, he wanted to curl into a ball and ignore the world, but he was bound and stuck in this cave with nowhere to go. No more running. He closed his eyes behind his hands and was waiting for a blow that never came.

Flicker slid next to him, her hands reaching his hands she pulled them down gently. She was on her knees next to him, her warmth was reassuring as it was terrifying. She whispered gently, "relax, open your eyes."

His green eyes opened slowly, he looked into hers. She glanced away for a moment, then leaned away from him.

As he watched her in confusion she inhaled. A moment later a thin stream of brilliant blue flame jetted straight from her lips rekindling the flame in her fire pit.

She looked back at him, their eyes locked for a moment and she laughed. Suddenly the tension lifted and the world seemed brighter.

Dervacor sat stunned for a moment before he burst out laughing himself.