Soul of a Dragon

14

Taehyung found, upon reaching the fresh air above ground, that the storm was well past gone. The sky was clear and ironically bright for that which he himself had just learned.

The world had to be laughing at him.

It had just thrown the overwhelming combination of learning that he was part phoenix somehow, and that the mysterious youth his band had 'rescued' from a dragon was in fact, the dragon he was rescued from. Not to mention that now, there was a powerful sorcerer bent on world destruction thrown into the mix, about to let loose a demon that would destroy all of creation unless said dragon could be rejoined from where it had been split into two bodies sharing the same soul.

Oh yes, it must be quite hilarious right about now.

After his initial shock, Jin, as he much preferred to call the deity, had given him a few moments, and allowed the soldier to recover from his absurd surprise, and begin the process of gathering his company together again.

Volunteering the information that both his and Jungkook's Equestrian's were under his care, Jin suggested that he ride out to meet them. Fortunately, no one had been injured, so they only needed to wait for Jungkook to wake. Taehyung vaguely wondered what the earth spirit would tell him when he woke up. Part, whole, or none of his apparently very interesting life that he knew nothing about.

With a wave of his hand, a tunnel had appeared that would lead to where the steeds were being cared for. A simple thought had all of his weaponry, save for the long sword, laying at his feet. Taehyung had aimed a questioning glance at the notable absence, and the earth spirit had merely shook his head with an annoyingly mysterious, "It's not ready yet."

Instead of offering some sort of offense, Taehyung merely picked up the items, and shrugged with minimal difficulty into them, relying upon the fact that should something arise, he would be able to handle himself with a long dagger, and the boot knife despite his less than perfect physique at the moment.

Turning on his heel, he'd traveled down the long tunnel with easy, yet determined strides, the walls alight with a soft glow that seemed to diffuse from the very rock.

A more steady and bright light filtered from ahead, and he finally emerged into a cavern equal in size to the one he'd just left. It was divided into two sections, one Equestrian in each, and the light came from overhead, where the pocked ceiling opened up to the world above. A glance was all that was needed to see that the mounts were being very well cared for. Their saddles were off and hanging on a stalagmite that jutted from the floor in an so convenient place that he didn't even bother to wonder about it.

Taking hold of his Equestrian's saddle and bridle, he tacked out the white steed in a matter of moments, his sore muscles easing into the movements with little to no protest, though they would voice their opinion at times.

His Equestrian nudged him gently as he worked, whickering softly, and he decided then and there to give the mount a name, seeing as the beautiful animal belonged to him now.

"Cheonma." He murmured, pausing to give the beast's silky strong neck a gentle pat that looked beyond what he was capable of showing when emotions were considered. It was overall, something that seemed meaningless, but Taehyung had always believed that things once named, 'could better understand', and in turn be understood better.

After that brief show, he mounted the newly christened Equestrian, who pranced about beneath him as if it felt some sort of new energy bequeathed unto it simply by being given a name.

A long upwards angled ramp of packed earth lay across the room, and he kneed Cheonma towards it, the stallion tossing its head and mane in anticipation of being in the open again.