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Chapter 4: Dragonrider

Year 1872

Wind, wetness and cold passed through her senses as they went through the clouds again, Rina and Reizei. She was once again riding on the huge dragon's back, but this time the trip wasn't calm. They were in a hurry, and for good reason.

Rina had a large and stuffed bag over her shoulder, along with her heavy and sharp swallow. Her ground-color cape flew with the wind, her hands and feet freezing under the rough leather gloves and boots she wore. She was more than used to the cold after those last few years in the north though.

But her and Reizei's latest discoveries were more disturbing than they anticipated. For that reason, they were now flying back to the south, to the kingdom of Suzaku, as fast as Reizei could go. Rina had to warn them before it was too late; she had to warn them of the imminent danger. Haruna would remember her, Haruna would remember her best friend. She would believe Rina, for sure. Haruna would believe her and take the information to her father, the king. They would be prepared and Rina wouldn't have to see any more places that were once prosperous completely turned into ruins.

After a while though, Reizei started to descend very quickly, and Rina knew they weren't even close to the castle yet. She held onto the dragon as they flew down under the clouds and headed to the mountains below. Once Reizei finally landed at the top of one of those rocks, Rina looked around her to see the rocks and the endless forest. They were back in Suzaku, yes, but still far away from the main Suzaku city and the castle where she would find Haruna.

- Why are we landing here?

"It's dangerous to fly further."

- What do you mean? - Rina tensed as the deep dragon voice reverberated in her chest - What's happening?

"I sense danger. I'm afraid we may be too late, Rina."

- Please don't say that.

She climbed down the scales and jumped down to the rock where the dragon landed, standing by his side. Only when she squinted her eyes she managed to see the silhouette of the castle far, far ahead; a tiny thing in the distance. She could see very small spots of light, but there was no telling the situation in the city. There was a long path of rocks and dense forest in between her and the castle she wanted to reach.

"Look who finally came back."

Rina turned around in a jolt at that sudden different voice to see another white and silvery dragon just like Reizei; an older dragon just climbing the top of the rock they were in. A dragon she knew very well, but who she hadn't seen in three years.

Taigen looked down at her and then at Reizei, in silence for a moment.

"I did not expect to find you here, Taigen." Reizei said, moving his head to watch the fellow dragon, his long tail moving around his body "What are you doing so far from our lair?"

"I am not far. Many things changed while the pair of you were out." Taigen answered, and somehow Rina thought he sounded even older, more bitter than he did the last time she saw him. "We had to move deeper into the forest, and to the higher rocks."