arin's beginning

Chapter 10 Discovery

We spent most of the next several days walking along the border of the forest. Tag led us at a leisurely pace. He didn't seem to be in any hurry to get anywhere in particular. Each night Brann and Ax would land nearby before walking to where we had set up camp. Brann curled up and promptly fell asleep, Ax explained that the extra flying was taking a toll on her.

Tag, we need to adjust the plan. Brann can't keep up this much air time for much longer. She is too you and her wings aren't developed enough. Much more of this and she won't be able to defend herself or Arin if something happens. Ax raised his head from the ground and looked at Brann's sleeping form behind me. His face, like all wyverns was impassive and impossible to read. Tag didn't say anything as he stood up and stepped away from the campfire.

"What are you thinking Ax? What should we do?" I asked. I could feel Brann's exhaustion at the edges of my own mind. It had been hard to push it away today, and I had been more sluggish than before.

We need to find something and soon. Or we need to spend a few days resting so Brann can regain her strength. Being this far out away from Stormos or Ridershaven, it is important to stay vigilant. I look over to where Brann has her snout tucked under the crux of her wing. Her breathing is deep and even. I look back out over where I know the sea of forest to be, out to the west. The sun had sunk below the horizon a few hours ago and the last traces of color had faded from the sky. Or so I thought. There seemed to be some kind of glow left over from sunset directly west of us.

"Hey Tag," I called out.

He turned and looked at me. "Yeah?"

"Sunset was a few hours ago, so there shouldn't be any light in the sky right?" I point in the direction of the haze. Tag follows my direction, squinting into the darkness.

"I don't see anything, Arin." Ax swings his head around to peer into the darkness.

"I'd guess it would be back at the end of that valley we saw today." Tag folds his arms over his chest and strokes his chin.

"The back of that valley would be 12 miles from here," he says thoughtfully. "That's too far to cover in the dark." He looks up at Axlan, "What do you see, buddy?"

I do not see any light in that direction. Ax rumbles. There is a rustle behind us. I turn and see Brann stretching out. She extends both her forelegs out the way a cat does, even down to flexing her claws and carving deep furrows in the earth. She gets up and steps over to my side and peers into the darkness.

If you want me to get rest, maybe don't argue so loud next to me. Brann's voice slides across my mind, reminding me of the silken garments the merchants rushed to press into the hands of passersby back in Stormos.

Arin is right, there is something out there. The light flickers like fire. Her wings rustle softly as she adjusts herself. Tag, it is too far to walk, but it would not be too far to fly.

Tag looks at Brann, "Are you sure you are up for it? You've been flying for days already" Brann dips her head confidently and then turns to face me. I step toward her and begin tightening the harnesses of her saddle. "Well, I guess that settles that, then." I hear Tag adjusting Axlan's saddle.

"Before we take to the air, I want it clear, we are on observation only. Do not engage, do not take any unnecessary risk. Tonight we will do a flyby to see what we are dealing with. We can plan a more detailed reconnaissance later. This may be nothing altogether." Brann and I nod in sync. I spin and step into the foothold of Brann's saddle and swing my leg up and over her back. Tag lightly leaps up to Ax's elbow and climbs over his back into the saddle. Both draconids gather themselves and launch into the air.