Ashbringer

Chapter 1 - The Beginning

Vered looked down over the edge of the city at the miles of glistening sand below. The heat of the desert rose up at him, hot enough to make even a dragon uncomfortably warm.

The city was miles off the ground, slowly floating, circling the globe as it had for centuries before he came into existence, as he assumed it always would even long after he was gone.

The edge was the only place he really felt at peace, as the noise from the bustling dragons who lived there was constant. The city was alive and thriving, day and night. But to him, it was an unhappy sort of thriving. The city was doing well, but always at the cost of someone else suffering.

The scorching air looked so tempting. Of course, he himself, while looking like a Corsac fox, only five feet tall standing upright, was actually a dragon. The moment he felt ready, he could stretch out his wings and the heat of the wind would carry him aloft. If he didn't, he would strike the ground, probably causing himself some sort of injury, but Royal and Celestials, subgroups of the same species of dragons, could hardly be harmed by a fall from any height. He would easily walk it off. That was what running through his mind when his sister, Rebecca, tapped him on the shoulder, intruding on his silence as she greeted him, "Good morning, brother." She said, giving him a hug from behind. "You're up early."

"Oh, good morning," Vered said, a little surprised. She didn't usually come up to check on him, but it was always nice when she did. "I just wanted to get away from the noise."

"Mom says breakfast will be ready soon. The chef made your favorite." Rebecca said, letting go of him and stepping up to the edge to feel the heat rolling through the air, taking a deep, appreciative breath. "Want to go for a quick flight and then circle back to the castle?" She asked, giving him a playful smile. She was much younger than him at only a hundred years old and related by marriage between his mother, Queen Abra, and her father, King Tirzahvos. While she was also a dragon, her chosen form was a Mudi, a dog with a curly coat of creamy-white fur.

Vered tilted his head slightly. "Sure."

A flutter of yellow and silver wings heralded the arrival of their mutual friend, Khiro, a white bat. Even compared to Vered, he was rather puny at only four feet tall, but his wingspan was marvelous. Entirely all white, aside from his small yellow ears and nose leaf, he stood out amongst his kind. He was young, at least compared to them, only just turning twenty-three days ago. They'd known him for quite a few years.

"Hey, guys!" He called out in his usual cheery, upbeat voice.

"Hi, Khiro," Vered flashed that smile Vered was so well known for, his face lighting up like a candle seeing their old friend. He stepped over to him as he landed and gave him a hug without hesitation, patting him affectionately on the back. The little bat made a series of joyous squeaks. "What are you two doing out here?"

"Vered's moping. I just came out to tell him breakfast was ready." Rebecca said.

"I'm not moping, just thinking," Vered grumbled.

"You were moping," She insisted.

"I heard you guys wanted to fly?" Khiro interjected hopefully.

"A quick loop under the city, around, and back to the castle," She said, giddy with the idea.

"Let's go!" Khiro said jubilantly, spreading his wings again. They made him look a lot bigger than he was.

"Wait right this se-" Vered sputtered. Rebecca flashed a grin and fell backward over the edge, pulling Vered off with her.

He felt the air kicking up as they plummeted. Pushing Vered away from her, she opened her own wings to halt the descent. Vered rolled onto his back and watched the city recede as he freefell towards the sands, the thrill of the wind tugging at his fur and whistling in his ears, giving him pause. A smile crept across his lips as he closed his eyes.