I laid on my bedroll watching the bright morning sun slowly melt then snow that had fallen during the night. I rolled and looked at Vili who slept peacefully by my side, my tender lips and body were a reminder of the night we shared together, we had barely slept. He was naked apart from the black fur that covered the lower half of his body. I took the time to admire the tattoos that covered his body, the black tribal markings with ravens and runes lined his hands, arms and chest, they suited his massive arms and body well. His rough black hair was slightly swept to the left of his face, his long beard needed a comb through it. I smiled, we were connected. Body and soul now. I decided to dress and take a walk around the cliff, last night was beyond my wildest dreams but I had a threat at hand that needed my attention. I needed to make sure the Knights haven't launched an attack. As I walked out of the cave and down to the snow covered ground below, I took a deep breath in, the smells of my surroundings filling my lungs. By the smell and sound, there was no attack yet, but it was sure to come. I walked over to Vili's black mare who stood in the warming sun trying to find some grass shoots to eat, I stroked her long main.
"Surprised to see you awake so early." Vili said as he made his way down from the cave.
"I could say the same about you, I can still smell the mead on you." I joked as he walked to me and embraced in a hug. His warmth radiated through me and a sense of calm and peace flowed through my body. As he broke the embrace, he pulled my face up for a strong but soft kiss, as if making a statement.
"We must get back, fathers funeral is today, we need to hurry." Vili said after we broke the kiss and made his way over to the black mare. He grabbed his saddle and threw it up onto her back.
"What are you doing?" I asked as I watched him with a smile.
"We need to go, my rose. The ride will be at least a full day, I don't know if we will make it." He said as he quickly tightened the straps. I smiled as I turned and walked towards the clearing, Vili turned and looked at me.
"What are you doing? We need to leave." Vili said.
"And we will, but your forget what our connection means." I said as a black mist started to form around me, I watched as Vili's eyes light up and his jaw dropped. My body shifted normally with a few pangs of pain, I was still growing larger which was odd. Each shift I noticed small changes, as if I were evolving. After my shift was completed my body fell forward and my wings come down as legs, Vili's black mare reared and bucked in freight. The heat from my nostils made small gusts of steam as I brought my head down to Vili. My inner beast immediately recognised his scent as my chest vibrated and purred as I nudged him. Vili reached his hand out as my head turned into instantly, he stumbled back in shock.
"By the Gods." He said as he looked at me in disbelief, he had only touched my beast once but never like this. Without my consent, my body dropped a shoulder and wing as I leaned forward, indicating for him to get on. He looked at my offered wing and back at my red eyes, his startled face slowly lite up as he realised what was about to happen. He walked towards my wing as he slowly started to climb it, treading carefully as he did. I tilted my head so I could watch and see when he was comfortable. He sat in the centre of my back with his legs folded under him and braced on my spikes, he held on to two of the smaller ones that traced my spine. He looked at me wit a devilish smile, he has fantasied about this for some time.
I picked my lowered wing up off the ground and shook my snow covered body, I let out a loud hiss as I walked towards the forest, there was a small cliff near by that was just big enough for a jump. Within three minutes we stood by the edge of the cliff, the ground below us looked so far away. My vision sensed the heat signatures of the animals below us. I heard as Vili's heart beat begun to quicken at the sight of the fall. I looked back at him and showed him a large fang smile, as best as I could, he faced looked mortified at my attempt of a grin. I turned my large head back to the cliff before us, the skies were blue and clear and the cold air served as a fuel to my heating body. I placed my large talon feet on the edge of the cliff and jumped off my wings, spreading them into the morning breeze, I felt Vili tense and hold on. I let out a ground shaking roar as I jumped from the cliff and dove for the ground.
"HOLY FUCK!" Vili yelled as we fell, almost screamed. I hugged my wings against my body as we dove towards the ground, but before we hit it I stretched them out and we shot up towards the sky. Vili's laughter filed my senses as we climbed towards the skyline, my massive black wings carried us with speed and might. After awhile we reached a comfortable height, I out stretched my wings and let my body glide through the cold winds. Vili's heart beat had calmed as he looked around us, admiring the view.
"I have dreamt of this for years, centuries. It consumed my thoughts for so long, and now here we are. I... I have no words for what I am seeing..." Vili said quietly and lost for words. We flew through the air with ease until a loud gust of wind brushed against my body from above. In a second I barrel rolled, tilted my wings up to carry us higher to find my attacker. Swooping us then flying down low was Keon, his large red dragon glowed in the morning sun. He let out a roar as he looked back at me, a silent laugh in his mind. My heart race peaked as I forgot Vili who was on my back, I felt his body hugged against mine for dear life. I let out a sigh of relief, Odin forbid he had fallen off in the first flight. Keon and I flew side by side for sometime, looking over our home lands.
"Whats that over there?" Vili asked, catching my attention. To the north was a strange black patch within the snow covered grounds. I hiss and growled at Keon, perking his interests. We both turned out bodies and headed towards the strange formation. I tilted my wings down as we dove closer to the tree lines, since there was no cloud cover for us this was the best option. As we flew closer to the darkening ground, a thick black smoke begun to fill the skies. I drew in a large breath, every sense absorbing the smell and picking it apart. My sense pricked at the familiar scent, almost non existent, every fibre in my body burnt with life. Dark Knights. I looked over to Keon's red beast who sensed the same, his green eyes danced in flames. We both picked up speed as we headed towards the thick smoke, soon realising that the grounds were alight. My body twitched and shivered, I felt as a burning sensation filled my chest and body.
"Freya?" Vili called out, his body grew tense as he knew what was about to follow. As the warmth filled though my long neck and into my throat, I felt the tips of my horns, spikes and wings grow warm. As my rage grew in my beast, these points becoming a glowing red, a sign I was ready for battle. Keon and I flew into the black smoke, side by side, our eyes adjusted immediately to the haze. Vili, however, begun to cough and shelter his face from the smoke. The smoke wall dropped and an army of dark knights marched towards the south, my mouth filled with burning liquid. The army paused as the spotted us, before they could react I unleashed the liquid burning my neck eager to get out and destroy my enemies. A thick gush of fire flew in the air and at the ground below. Fire balls ripped through the knights as Keon and I unleashed our flames against the Knights. I ended my fire as I flew up to turn and catch my breath, knights begun to throw spears at us. Their weapons have always proven weak against us. As I turned and saw the battle field below us, I saw Keon letting his fire rip through the forces of the Knights, melting and turning to ashes as the fire burned them. I let out a blood curdling roar as I circled back around, letting loose another fire storm.
"Fuck yes!" Vili screamed and chanted as we flew over the top of the burning bodies and ash, the excitement he felt soon engulfed my own body. I could feel his emotions now. I turned back around and swooped in for a second time, but as I turned I noticed two figures flying towards us from the west. I let out a roar to signal Keon, his eyes followed mine and landed on the two dragons. Koba and Ivarr flew side by side towards us. Within seconds, I knew their intentions were hostile, there was no communication or emotions coming from them. I felt a pang of fear for Vili who sat on my back, I turned and looked back at him quickly.
"I can handle it!" He yelled over the roaring wind and screaming cries of the Knights who were perishing in the fire. Most of the army was burning, the others fled to the hills where they would be killed by my warriors. My mind focused in to my companions who flew at us full speed, their minds are plagued and they didn't know what they were doing. A momentarily idea caught my mind, I pulled my wings up to stop as I turned my body. Keon following my sudden movement. I headed straight for the ocean in front of us, it was risky but it may just work. With my size and power, I was the only dragon able to dive, swim and re surface. I was going to drown my companions, and bring them back with a clear mind. As Keon and I dove and flew quickly towards the water, I looked over at his beasts green eyes. I dove as close as I could to his body, I used every ounce of my power to reach out to Vili. Our connection was there but it was new, communicating telepathically was difficult. I reached his mind, urging him to jump to Keon. I felt his body tense as he gripped me tighter, the impact I hit water with, would surely kill him. After a few seconds, he let go and slowly crawled across my body. Keon nudged closer for a second as Vili jumped, landing onto his back. Within seconds Keon turned and headed towards the kingdom.
I hugged my black wings against my body as I dove towards the water, with their minds fogged, they would follow me blindly into the water. I drew a large breath just before my body plunged into the water, my body was engulfed with freezing water. The oceans in the north were unforgiving, and as if on time, two crashes into the ocean shortly followed. I swished my wings to turn my body and face my two companions. As soon as their bodies connected with the water, their minds freed. They frantically begun trying to swim to gain air, but they were not timing themselves. With a thrust on my wings in the water, I was carried up wards, catching my companions by my two large talon feet. As I re surfaced, I flapped to carry my body just above the water as I dragged my companions to the shore line. As soon as I placed their cold bodies upon an ice bank, they shifted into their human bodies, coughing and choking as they gained their own minds again. I landed on the ice shore, my wings coming down hard and acting as front legs as I walked towards my companions who laid on the ground exhausted and drained of life.
"I'm so sorry Freya." Ivarr cried as he struggle to stand, black ink flowed down his face, a black ink that once clouded his eyes. I looked at him and tilted my head slightly with a purr. This wasn't their doing or choice, but I knew they were going to blame themselves. I stepped closer to them, offering them a wing for a trip home. Ivarr grabbed Koba and carried him to my back, Koba looked ill. After they had both gotten comfortable, I took flight.
"Freya." Koba called with a weak voice, my ears pricked at his words.
"Its Rokii, he has betrayed you. He has let the armies in, hes been planning it for months. He awoke 2 months before us to plan this." Koba said between deep breathes. Disappointment and rage begun to fill my body, I should have killed him. But every fibre in my body told me not too, and look where it has gotten me. With the kingdom in site I begun to pick up the pace.
"Freya... Si... Sigi... She's been helping Rokii." Ivarr said. My body pained at the statement, I was suspicious but I didn't think it was true.
"She's created a weapon Freya, one that can and will kill us. She... She trialled it on Koba." Ivarr said, his voice laced in pain for his sick brother.
I will kill them both, I will kill them all.