The familiar sensation of wind beating against Dagon's ears and face was something comforted him, even if the wind was bitter and cold, leaving his skin raw and numb. Ice began to build up and cling to his hair, as well as the fur of his coat.
Off on the horizon, the sun had begun to peak out through the clouds, shining it's light across the blinding white of the shimmering, glittering tundra of snow and rock. The land truly was desolate, not a sign of life for miles and miles, being nothing more than dead, snow coated empty space, only being broken by rocks jutting from the earth or small patches of trees, or, rarely, small bodies of water, their surfaces coated with ice.
The clouds above were dull and gray, and flakes of snow drifted lazily down from them, pelting Dagon's face and building up in Sephtis's scales as he soared through the air. They had been flying for roughly three hours, and they still could not see any signs of civilization other than a road here or there. At one point Dagon actually saw a wagon rattling along the road, leaving lines in the snow where it had gone through. It was being pulled by two Adliths.
Adliths were creatures similar to horses but they had scales and fur running down their manes. Their heads were that of a horse but two horns pointed up from their heads and curved forward, ending in a sharp point. Their feet had two small hoof-like talons with one larger hooked talon that let them gain traction and speed easier, especially in ice and snow. They had two tails that ended in tufts of fur.
*What do you think the chances of us actually being attacked are?* Dagon asked Sephtis.
*Low. Unless it's by Drakes, I doubt we will come under attack. It would be foolish for any human to attack a group of dragons and riders.* Sephtis answered.
*But it's not impossible.* Dagon added.
*No. It's not.* Sephtis agreed after a long pause.
The entire rest of the flight, Dagon was paranoid about crossing paths with any soldiers who may attack them. He was so engrossed with the thoughts of what he'd do if he actually had to kill them.. how would he handle that? Would he be able to do it? And what about the guilt that would come with it? He just didn't know. He didn't even notice the city beyond on the horizon when they drew near to it.
It was only when Sephtis began to angel downwards that Dagon noticed. Before him now was an immensely high wall of stone, and behind it were spires and buildings. Everything was made of either wood beams or stone blocks, slabs and pillars. Upon the walls, Dagon could see armor clad soldiers carrying an array of weapons, but all of them had horns. They were all Dragon Kin!
Dagon couldn't help but let his jaw drop. He could not remember the last time he'd seen so many of his own kind, and now here they were, standing before him as if they'd always been.
Sephtis followed Shiratt and Ellira, with Gena behind, as they soared over the wall, the soldiers below peered up at them. Then Dagon could see the city streets, which were filled with Dragon Kin, and maybe one or two humans here and there.
The dragons slowed their flight through the winding city, twisting and turning between buildings and below stone bridges and archways. Along the entire flight, Dagon would cling to Sephtis's spine as the dragon spun and twisted through the air between the structures and over streets filled with Dragon Kin. Dagon could only wonder how many of them there were..
Eventually, the dragons came to a halt, shooting out from between two buildings and out into an open area. The dragons spread their wings wide, slowing their flight as they alighted upon the ground. The ground was a stone pathway that led up to a series of three raised platforms with stone staircases leading up to a dragon sized archway, the entrance to the main most castle of the city.
Sephtis bent low to the ground, allowing Dagon to dismount. He stared up at the massive building before him, glistening glass windows brimming in the sunlight with a blinding shine.
"Well, what do you think?" Gänhir asked, hopping down from Shiratt.
"It's amazing!" Dagon exclaimed.
"I didn't realize there were so many Dragon Kin left… when you said you saved some of them.. I never could have imagined.." Bella mumbled, looking down from the stairs at the bustling streets behind them.
"How did you manage all of this?" Gena asked, twisting her head around to observe the surroundings.
"Well, the king here, Renuk, was a tyrant, so it wasn't hard to turn his own people against him from the shadows. And I was in charge of communications between the kingdoms, so when the people were revolting against Renuk, I simply told the other kingdoms that things were as usual. They only found out the truth recently when Odniyr requested counsel with Renuk." Gänhir explained.
"Odnyir?" Dagon asked.
"Yes, I'm guessing Gena hasn't taught you of the politics or informed you of the kings and such, but Odnyir is the King of Meagaus, Kingdom of the Malletriad region, which is the far South." Gänhir said.
"Yes, and that's something I'd like to ask about, Gena," Shiratt growled, "why have you not taught all these things to Dagon?"
"Because." Gena growled. "I never planned for him to be a part of this war to begin with."
"So what then?" Ellira hissed, "lock him away all his life and hide him away from all this? Keep him from seeing through on his father's wishes? Keep him from his destiny of being Dragon King? How selfish can one dragon be?"
"It would have kept him alive. I was protecting him until I felt the time was right." Gena insisted.
"Gena, while I'm grateful to you for everything, that is not what I would have wanted." Dagon said, turning to her. "And it isn't what my father would have wanted either."