Clashing Claws

Chapter 2

The morning didn't see any warmth, light drizzle soaked the bones of the traveler, his body clamy despite the mostly dry wagon. The mare outside shook off droplets, flicking her tail and eager to move on. The traveler rubbed away the grain in his eyes, his limbs stiff from sleeping in such hectic weather, getting up, he opens a jar hidden away between two barrels, finding a clean spoon stacked in a small lockbox, he scoops out some to eat. Curried garlic, warming and full of flavour, his normal morning pick-me-up. Closing up the jar and livking the spoon clean, he wipes it off on a cloth before setting evreything back and reasoning his coat.

As he stepped out, the ground squished underneath his feet, making him sink into the flooded grass. Pulling his feet up as he stepped out, he opens a wooden box on the side of the wagon, pulling out a bag of feed for his mare.

She could recognise the sound and started fidgeting in place, kicking up water and mud. The ground despite its water logged state smelt fresh, the clouds overhead scattered as the last dribbles of rain ceased and the sun started to warm the land.

Patting his mare on the back, the traveler got back on his wagon and guided her back on the path, the dirt road now slippery with mud and puddles.

The sounds of the land graced their ears as they went. The wind rushing past their ears at a steady pace, birds songs sparked beauty in the open air, colourful specks flitting about as they went about their life. Bushes and trees rustled too, adding a gentle background noise to the landscape.

A fox burst out the bushes suddenly, making the mare stop and step back in fright. The orange and white critter dashed to the other side of the road, its Paws brown from the mud with a little bird in its mouth. "Woah-" said the traveler, holding tight on the reins "-easy , easy, only a fox, girl, your ok." The mare, though spooked got calm quickly, walking onward despite her worried glances toward where the fox disappeared. "There you go, good girl" He praised her, smiling under his bandana.

Time passed Leisurely, no dragons yet much to the relief of the traveler. He's heard of the dragon riders before, but never actually saw one. With the quiet peace of travel, his mind went inward, remembering snippets about dragons.

Growing up, his sister wanted to join the Winguards, the supporters to many a rider. She sometimes snuck out late at night to go to the capital just to look for a Winguard to talk to. He quirks a nostalgic grin remembering the tougnue lashing their father would give her when she returned home. Nowadays she is a medic, not as glamorous as a Winguard, but still highly sought after.

Once he heard about an invasion attempt by beasts called Dwellers, whatever those are. Apparently they're like squid but with Stonesnout heads, thinking about how that would look made him unsettled. From the rumours, riders were sent out to repel the vile things, there were ones that bellowed toxic gas behind them, some blew up on death, blue ones could fire ignited saliva, then there's the behemoths, bloody great big red beasts that act as a shield to others.

A memory floats into his thoughts, when he was catching up with a friend at the HecklePop tavern. His friend had met a Thornweaver when he got lost trying to find some rare plants. She was beautiful, tall, pale skin and no irises in her eyes, blonde hair and antlers that put some bucks to shame. Her dragon was just as beautiful apparently, bark like scales, smelled of freshly cut grass and was coloured like a birch tree, whenever she moved ,it moved with her like they were connected. His friend went on about her more, he was planning on going back to try to find her and ask her to a date, the traveler didn't know much, but he was pretty sure a Thornweaver wouldn't be interested in a local alchemist.

Taking a look up, the sun shone directly overhead. The ground had dried a bit by now, he will need to stop soon, he's got some cured meat and bread he can eat. Leaning back and reaching into his wagon, he grabbed a rolled up piece of venison.

Suddenly, a roar from nowhere makes him jump, dropping the meat and making his mare halt in place, ears alert. Looking into the sky, he sees the source flying past at a blinding speed, colliding in the air with another creature.

Nightsnaggers...