The Fall of Dragon Haven - A Dragonkeeper Fanfiction

Dog Lady

Three weeks later when the flowers of spring began to give way to summer's dry winds, the cluster disbanded from The Winter Haven. It was the first time the cluster would be entirely separated since the end of imperialism nearly 500 years ago. It was an odd feeling as a mix of excitement and fear lingered. Danzi was confident everyone would be safe and they would all meet again in The Summer Haven before midsummers eve. All but Hei Lei and Sha shared his confidence.

After an excitable farewell each member of the party took their leave, flying in all directions. Anh, Hei Lei, Bong, Jiang and Lu Yu took leave east first towards the ocean. In the first week of their journey, Anh struggled to sleep at night. His mind was crowded with thoughts about The Summer Haven, Tinkling Village and Yara. Especially Yara. He knew Qin was under siege – but Tinkling Village bordered the near The Great Wall, and was quite removed from Xianyang, the capital of the Qin empire. They were closer to the Xiongnu than the capital. How much danger was the town in? Was Yara in danger? These thoughts kept him up at night often at the Haven, but the prospect of seeing her again with these thoughts were even more impeding.

"Anh?" Bong whispered next to him on the third night of their journey. "You awake?"

Anh shifted. "If I wasn't before, I am now."

"I'm going through an inner crisis right now."

Anh sat up and stared at Bong who was sitting with his hands rested behind his head on Jiang's belly. "Is everything okay?"

"No, Anh. Everything is not okay." He said – though Anh thought he looked rather relaxed for someone claiming otherwise.

Anh cocked his head. "What is it?"

Bong sighed. "You know how Minh Huyn said there was no more beef cheek pickle after dinner the other night? He was lying. There was more pickle!"

Anh groaned. Bloody Bong!

"You are a bloody princox!" Anh said pulling his blanket over his ears.

It didn't help. "I saw the bloody pickle, Anh. I saw it! It was in Minh Huyn's pack, and I bet you anything right now, he and Bai Xue and Sha are all gobbling it up right now while we have to salvage and scavenge for our meals..."

In the second week of flying Anh fell asleep on Hei Lei. This wasn't unusual – but normally he planned his naps and took safety precautions in the instance, such as tying himself down to Hei Lei with rope. On this morning he was untied and slipped.

Anh was woken by Hei Lei's screech. He then desperately clung to Hei Leis black scales, his fingers scrabbling against the dragon's rough skin, but he knew it was hopeless. He was going to fall.

He plummeted towards the ground, the wind screaming in his ears. He braced himself for the impact, but then, in a sudden blur, Hei Lei caught him. Anh looked up, dazed and disoriented, and saw that Hei Lei had caught him in his massive talons. The dragon's eyes, usually so fierce and unyielding, were soft with concern.

Practicing tricks again, Yu? Bong inquired as he flew Jiang above.

Funny way to go about it! Jiang said.

When they landed shortly after to catch a breath, Anh's legs wobbled. He had deliberately jumped from Hei Lei's back before, numerous times! But to fall asleep and fall like that was just irresponsible.

Lu Yu stood protectively over Anh as he got to his feet. You're not sleeping well? Anh shook his head.

Bong and Jiang had landed not too far from them. It's not uncommon to struggle with sleep on migration.

This was very true. On migration, the dragons fly, and the keepers... did absolutely nothing. They sat on the dragons back all day, and at night time, their energy was hyped. No one complained about gathering firewood, or preparing food, or exploring at night time because they had been bored out of their minds all day long. Sight seeing from above grows old very quickly, especially when there are clouds!