For the past eight days we followed a rather simple routine.
Starting with a small meal at the large lake, followed by a whole day of me flying around stacks, mixed with occasional game of tag around the island, in the forest or through the various stone formations on and around the island. Afterwards we would go eat some fish and go to sleep.
My stamina, while still a problem, increased to a comfortable, for common flight, degree. It's no longer an inconvenience in normal activities, but my limit when it comes to complex maneuvering, like our game of tag, continues to fall short of a minute for continuous flight.
Regardless of my internal dissatisfaction with my own weakness, Skyshot seamed quite impressed when she took note of my, apparently, almost supernatural for a dragon recovery speed. "You know, this feels like cheating, Zoya."
"Why? With how hard our scales are, if anything does actually hurt us, beyond simple scratches, we would end up dead or captured, anyway." She sighed and explained her point of view. "Yes, but your recovery also affects your stamina and taking into account just how ridiculous it is in that aspect and the fact that most dragons have similar rates of recovery for stamina and spark..."
"Hmm?" I raised a silent question. "A collective name for whatever a dragon uses to fuel their breath. I heard that dragons from the Far East call it dragon blood, maybe this chirps more in your tune" 'As in 'ring more/any bells'? I'm starting to like this bird theme.'
I nodded at that to not make my lack of common sense to obvious. 'There is a big difference between 'caged up for half your life' and 'not knowing anything'. I don't want my backstory to be to ridiculous as faking PTSD is not on my to-do list.'
"...It does sound a little broken when you put it like this. Most dragons would probably go dry before me..." "Exactly my point." Agreed Skyshot, though it felt like she was the one with super regeneration with how proud she looked.
We talked like this 'till noon and cancelled the rest of my training for the day. This was, because we wanted some more time together before Skyshot left.
She was supposed to stay one more day, but the local flock of Skrills inhabiting this island started to get restless. Apparently winter is their season and they already postponed that for a month or so, to let things settle after the bewilderbeast fiasco not to long ago.
They are also to blame for the 'storm wall' around the island. At first I thought it was just a momentary thing, but a week passed and it never went away, so I asked.
According to Skyshot, that's what happens when you have a large amount of Skrills staying in one place for extended periods of time.
"Ok, end of lazing around. We agreed on no training, but that doesn't mean doing nothing, so- Tag, you're it!" And she flew of into the forest. "No you don't!" I shouted, jumping after her.
Although we started it as a creative training method, we ended up loving it, if just to casually run after eachother with no real speed behind it. Now however, it was game.
I made a few jumps in the direction she fled, to pick up some speed and flew after her. Weaving through the forest and slipping between the tree trunks, which was difficult even after over a week since I had to accommodate for my almost fifteen meters of wingspan!
In the dense forest, as I snaked around the trees, I could only praise my catlike reaction speed. Something I'm sure I got from this body. And even then it was barely enough.
"Come here!" I roared, finally having her fully in sight. "Nope~!" And she dived into one of the many cave systems on this island, ripping through some loose hanging vines, covering the entrance.
Not to be outdone, I dove right after her. The narrow tunnels didn't allow us to fully spread our wings and Skyshot, while still restricted, made up in experience and gained some distance.
It would be weird to find caves like these normally, as they were carved in old and hard crystalline rock. However, like I said, they were carved. No stalactites, no dripping water. Just some loose rocks, but that was it.
I asked Skyshot, but she said she didn't know which dragon made this specific cave system, as there are quite a few species that can do something like this.
We continued in the dark caves for a while longer, having to rely mostly on hearing and some very faint light that still left us mostly blind. 'If the nests made by bewilderbeasts are anything like in the films then I have to know how they get the light to travel below all this ice and rock.'
Finally, I saw the light at the end of the tunnel, but Skyshot was already far away and I had to give it up for the moment. My stamina almost drained, I plopped down at the caves entrance.
"This would have been more fun had I more endurance to work with." I commented, a little dejected, when I heard the dragoness swoop down from above the trees. "Can't say no to that, but all the more reason to get back in shape as fast as possible."
"It still irks me to no end, how you ended up in a cage like this!" She puffed up recalling the story I established for myself. "I'm just glad to hopefully never end up caged like this again..." We fell into silence, but it wasn't an awkward one.
"Have you considered looking for a mate just yet? You know, with how rare you guys got over the last century, you might as well start a bit early. It wouldn't be surprising to end up with nothing after a decade or two." Skyshot asked casually.
"I think I'm good, but I will still keep a look out. I heard that there was a Fury in that battle between bewilderbeasts, so I will check there first." I said noncommittally, but it made the dragoness squirm awkwardly, so I gave her an inquisitive look.
She struggled internally for a good minute, before starting. "Well..., remember when we talked about that?" At which I raised an eyebrow, as much as a dragon can, but asked in the end. "You mean the bewilderbeast's fight?" "Uhuh."
I nodded at her confirmation and swayed my tail from side to side as she collected her thoughts. "I didn't say the whole thing then. I mean I didn't lie, just omitted a few things..." She stopped there, looking for some reactions on my face.
"Which are...?" I encouraged. "Well, you see. A day before the battle happened, I ate some nice sweet fruits, that might have been fermented a little since they smelled a little funny and I felt a little dizzy and tired afterwards..." Her voice growing quieter as she spoke, but my astoundingly good hearing still caught the whole sentence.
I sat there stunned. "..." This was just that ridiculous. "So you're saying, you slept through the battle of a century, because you got drunk a night before while eating fruits...?" I said slowly, hoping she would deny it, but she just avoided my gaze.
Finally she buckled and whimpered. "Can I hide behind that rock for a day or two?" With some pity in my voice I answered after she hid there. "I will call you when it's time for you to leave."
After some time, as the sun approached the horizon, she peeked out from behind the boulder. "I suppose that would be about it." I commented and smiled teasingly. "Though, maybe we should go for a quick snack before you leave, so that I don't remember you for those fruits?"
Skyshot almost jumped me with joy at the suggestion, but restrained herself to a small thanks. We ate a fish each, so that she can still comfortably fly and got ready to leave.
I escorted her to the 'gate'. A big stack, almost a small island, standing in the storm wall, serving as a point of safe passage through this dragonmade barrier.
We said our last goodbyes and I sat there, watching her leave... and for a while longer...