Kyera watched from Ivory's back as Raina sat down at the Zither on the cliff. She could tell the child was nervous and Kyera would be lying if she said she wasn't. Raina would ride down from that cliff, Kyera wasn't worried about that.
The Storm Twins has already made it clear if no dragon Claimed Raina, they would. Though they very much doubted that there wasn't a dragon in the trench that's heart would thrum to the sound of Raina's heart song.
What Kyera didn't expect was her own heart to be tugged at by the music that began to fill the air.
Raina sat on the wooden bench, her hands poised over the Zither strings. Several seconds passed before she began to move. There was no music, Kyera had been clear about that. She just had to let her hands stroke the Zither in a way that moved her.
That's exactly what she did. The slow, beautiful melody was soft, like the first breeze of snowfall, gentle and a hint of what's to come. Then the music deepened, if filled the air but more than that, it told a story of one lost, then slowly gained confidence. Once it it that stride, it flowed freely. It was music that warmed their hearts but made them feel intense sadness at the same time.
Many of the onlookers stared at the ledge where the Zither Player sat, rather than gazing at the canyon below. What had caused a 8 year old child to write such music? None of them understood but Raina continued on and there was a rustle of wings.
The storm twins sensed it before Kyera did, the chill in the air followed by an updraft of wind. An ice blue dragon rose from the depths, riding the wind as it climbed higher. Raina never noticed as the dragon circled several times, other dragons joining into the path. They were watching the music bringer, sensing her for more than just the physical realm. Raina's pale blue essence poured from her body, swirling around her as the emotions awakened that power. The dragons watched… and while Raina was occupied with her song, the dragon landed.
The crowd held their breath, watching as the dragon slowly walked forward. Kyera watched as the dragon listened and slowly tilted its head slowly. Music slowly ebbed and Raina raised her head to look into a pair of sapphire blue eyes ringed in a thin golden ring.
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Raina slowly raised her head, her heart was fluttering hard and fast. What If she had failed? Would the people still accept her if she couldn't complete this ceremony?
As she slowly raised her eyes and all those thoughts vanished. There was no room for thought as sapphire and gold, reptilian eyes that seemed to hold the world at their depths met hers. The dragon's face that accompanied those eyes was different than the storm twins, beautiful, but different. Where Ivory and Ebony seemed to be made of clouds and thunder, that is to say stream line but smooth and curved, this creature was delicate and angled. The scaleing on it was so fine and delicate they could hardly be seen in the low light of dawn. The scales were so light blue they may have been pearlescent white, but there was no pink playing off those tiny mirrors.
"Hello, Young One." The dragon greeted, eyes taking in every inch of the child before it.
"Greetings, I am Princess…" Raina began but the dragon interrupted her.
"Princess Raina, Daughter of the Storm Queen. I have seen you before." The dragon offered, its voice was soft and crisp. Every syllable enunciated perfectly. "I am Tempest, the Snowy Sky Dragon."
"I am pleased to meet you, Tempest of the Snowy Sky. Are you here to answer my cry for companionship?" Raina asked and Tempest's eyes seemed to shine.
"If you will enter into the agreement with me." Tempest agreed, her heart still beating to the melody of Raina's song. Raina looked back at the storm twins, and Ivory landed so Kyera could dismount.
"The song has brought you two together, shall you take flight as one?" Kyera asked as custom dictated. Tempest bowed to Kyera and the Storm Twins.
"I will be her wings, My Queen." Tempest agreed and Ember and Ivory watched.
"Raina?" Kyera asked and Raina stood coming to stand beside Tempest.
"And I shall do my best not to lead her astray." Raina agreed bowing to her mother. Kyera nodded.
"Then you are welcome among the Storm Kin. Ember, Ivory, Tempest prepare for flight." Kyera ordered as she turned to mount Ivory. The dragon allowed Kyera to take her place on her back.
As Ivory stepped away and Tempest knelt so Raina could climb on, Ember turned to her as if walking around Tempest. He stopped near her head just far enough for Kyera not to hear.
"A gentle flight. The Queen is with child, and if you do anything to jeopardize her, I will act." Ember warned softly. Tempest nodded as Raina settled onto her bare back.
Ember flew to the crowd, and waited patiently for Clovis to separate himself from the cloud. "No wild wind business." Clovis warned as he climbed into the saddle with ease. The dark dragon laughed a laugh filled with mirth and amusement. He had wondered how long the human would take to say so.
"Of course. The Lady is in the sky. We can't chance rough Winds blustering her." Ember replied and Clovis nodded as Ember leaped into the sky, his great wings catching a powerful down stroke, wind crashing over the bystanders below. There were cheers were heard from the crowd from his show of strength.
Then, they all took flight. The clouds darkened and swirled in thin wisps but did not let loose the snow. The Storm Twins and their niece, the Snow Sky dragon took to the air their riders in toe.