On the Backs of Beast

Chapter 5

Tommy stood in the watchtower, only Ranboo and Tubbo there with him. He was a bit early, so it wasn't surprising that not many people were there, but it was very awkward. Tubbo and Ranboo were talking to each other, seeming like best friends, while Tommy stood in silence. He punched down the jealousy and loneliness he got when he saw how close the other two were, a part of him longing for his old friendship. He took a deep breath and shook his head lightly, ignoring the feelings he was having.

He thought back to the clearing and the waterfall, letting himself remember Mellohi and the times there. He gave a small smile, the thought of his scaled friend helping to ease the pain of his lost friendship and the ones he could never gain. He glanced over at Tubbo and Ranboo when he didn't hear them talking anymore, surprised to see that Ranboo was looking at him with a curious expression. He didn't look for long, since Tubbo had started talking to Ranboo again.

Footsteps sounded from the stairs, and the three looked over to see the rest of the trainees, Sam, and Fundy. Fundy was one of the main watchers, since he wasn't all that good of a fighter. He was good at what he did, and he was never taken by surprise with a dragon. Fundy had been friends with Wilbur, so he and Tommy had known each other for awhile. The red head was one of the few people who didn't show any real distaste or annoyance towards Tommy.

The lesson passed faster than Tommy could register, though maybe that was just because it was so boring. He already knew most of the stuff, his father and brothers having taught him when he was younger, so it wasn't the end of the world if he didn't pay attention. Besides, he kept seeing Ranboo looking over at him and it was a bit distracting. What did the dual-haired boy want from Tommy? And why was he being so weird about it? The taller had never shied away from talking to Tommy before, and he still ate dinners in the great hall like Ranboo, so it was confusing to Tommy. He didn't think he had done anything that would catch Ranboo's attention.

He looked down, seeing a horse lying on the ground. There weren't many horses on the island, but there being a horse wasn't what caught Tommy's attention. Instead, it was the leather on the horse's back. An idea popped into his head, and he smiled brightly. This would be amazing if he managed to accomplish it, and he knew he could do it. Looking down at the horse, Tommy didn't spot the blonde man in the trees watching him. The others, already halfway gone, didn't see him perched up there either.

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The building/crafting part was relatively easy, though Tommy had always been good at that kind of thing. He and Tubbo had learned a lot about it with Schlatt when they were kids, and he never stopped making things. It was relaxing to him, and since his family never let him out to fight during raids, he would make things in his room to relax. He wasn't the best at the metalwork or machinery, that was more Tubbo's expertise, but he was good at pretty much every other part. He knew Mellohi's measurements pretty well too, so things went pretty smoothly.

Getting the dragon to wear it was a bit of a different story. Tommy could tell she didn't actually hate it or not want to wear it, she just found it fun to have the blond chase after her as he tried to put it on her back. She would laugh every time he got close and she kept away, or at least did the dragon version of a laugh. Tommy would glare at her every time, though they both knew he wasn't really angry at the night light. After a while, Mellohi finally allowed Tommy to place the item on her back and secure it.

He had been very careful to make it as comfortable as he could for the dragon,and it seemed like his work had paid off. She seemed perfectly fine with it on her, and even though Tommy made sure it was tight and secure on her back, she didn't seem at all uncomfortable. The leather actually looked good on her, the designs Tommy carved into the sides and the top complimenting Mellohi's scales quite nicely. Tommy praised his handy work silently, giving Mellohi a scratch behind the ear.

He looked at the saddle once again, smiling lightly. He took a deep breath, and started to move himself up onto Mellohi's back. He was slow and careful, just in case the dragon didn't want Tommy on her back. She seemed surprisingly okay with the whole situation, even moving around slightly to help Tommy. Tommy sat on the saddle and grabbed the rope he had attached to it. He pulled the rope in multiple directions as hard as he could to both make sure it would actually help him hold on and that it wouldn't hurt Mellohi in any way.

"Okay girl, you ready?" He asked softly, hoping the night light would go along with his plan. She gave a huff and flicked her head slightly, before beginning to crouch down. Tommy's breath caught in his throat as Mellohi extended her wings and gave a giant flap to push the two up into the air. Tommy held the rope as tightly as he could as the two rose up into the air, the ground becoming farther and farther away.

The air became slightly thinner, but Tommy could still breath just fine. He looked around him, the height sending chills from fear, excitement, and adrenaline through his whole body. He could hear Mellohi laughing at his wide-eyed expression and smiled, leaning down to pet the top of her head gently while making sure he wasn't at risk of slipping off. He knew that if he fell Mellohi would catch him, but he didn't want to risk the chance that she wouldn't. Also, he just wasn't really in the mood for a near death experience today.

He let out a long exhale, sitting up once again. Steadying his nerves, Tommy raised a hand to touch the sky above him, clouds seeming to float only inches away from his fingertips. Mellohi's head shook slightly and he placed his other hand on it, forgetting about the danger and rope in the moment. She slowly ascended upwards so the blonde could graze the clouds with his fingers, and he involentarly shivered at the cold and wet nature of them.

"It's all so beautiful..." Tommy breathed out, his voice barely above a whisper. Was this what dragons saw whenever they flew? The view, the feeling, it was all so intoxicating. He gave out a happy and content sigh, every part of him feeling complete in a way it never had before. Maybe his family had lied to him and this whole time he had been part dragon. He laughed softly at the thought, and he saw Mellohi glance at him with a happy look in her eye.

This was his life, and if it was up to him he would share every moment from here on out with her. He hoped the dragon felt the same, and a part of him was sure she did. He didn't know how he managed to understand Mellohi or why the two bonded so well. Maybe the gods didn't hate him, maybe they just set him on a difficult path because it was the right path for him. Wilbur would always talk about stuff like that, saying that the easy path in life was never the one you should go on and that the hard path was always more rewarding.

Tommy looked at Mellohi, gently petting her scales, as questions began to race through his mind and cut away at his good mood. Why were Vikings and dragons even at war in the first place? How long had the two been killing each other? Would the bloodshed and violence ever end, or would Tommy be forced to keep the best part of his life a secret? Would he be forced to choose between his family and village or his best friend? What... what would he choose?

He closed his eyes tightly, trying to stop the tears that had been falling for a while without him realizing. He heard Mellohi make a concerned noise, and he could feel as the two began to descend. Soon they were on the ground in their clearing, and Tommy stumbled off with his legs feeling like he lost his bones. He let out a sob, and fell to the floor. Mellohi put her head up against him, and Tommy wrapped his arms around the dragon.