Stonewings

The Gelo River

I woke up the next morning with pain in my neck. I was used to sleeping on something hard but it was different sleeping on a dragon. His scales were hard and unlike the ground, he kept moving. Didn't help that my pillow could easily move. That's also what roused me from my sleep. He moved his leg and I fell to the moss. 

"Ow," I muttered. I opened my eyes and sighed. Yup, still in a dragon nest. 

But the place was full of Wingers, more than I had ever seen before. Around thirty of them, some still sleeping, others just waking up. They spread their wings, unwrapped their tails and let out a yawn that showed off their powerful teeth. Some were already flying around, coming in and out of the tunnel or the holes in the side of the mountain. All of them various shades of blue. From light sky blue to the darkness at midnight. They were beautiful. 

The Winger looked over at me, seemingly confused. I rubbed my neck, trying to work out the pain. I sat up, rubbing my shoulder. The Winger did his own stretches, unfolding his wings and shaking his head. He turned back to me and nudged me. He was trying to get me to turn again. If he bit me again, I would completely destroy my dress that was barely hanging on. 

"No," I said. I held a hand out, making the Winger retract. It stepped down from the platform, watching me curiously. "No, we're not doing that." It still looked confused. I sighed and stood up. I was still sticky from the fish oil yesterday. I spread my arms. The Winger seemed to understand. He launched into the air and made another quick turn. I turned my head to see him coming back around. He dove back down, his talons spread. I prepared myself, clenching my body. His talon wrapped around my middle, lifting me into the air. 

I gripped the talon. I still didn't like the fact that my legs were hanging loosely. The Winger titled upwards, heading to the openings in the wall. He tucked his wings in close. He brought his feet back, making me squeal as I was brought backwards. 

My feet scrapped the bottom of the rock as we passed through the opening. The Winger unfurled his wings and caught a current. He floated on the breeze for a moment. I looked up and saw his eyes closed, his wings relaxed. He loved flying. Loved the feeling of it all. 

I closed my eyes, trying to  understand. I could feel the wind as well, brushing against my face, soft but strong and cold this high up. It pushed my hair out of my face, making me fly out behind me. I wanted to relax into it, into the feeling of the wind and the air. The sharp talons around me squandered that possibility however. I wasn't free. 

The dragon tilted us so we were turning around the mountains. I looked around. A few other dragons were coming as well. They were all heading in the same direction. I looked around. We were going deeper into the Struknauf Mountains, towards the rising sun. I blinked against the brightness. 

Then he dove, going into the valleys between the mountains. I felt my ears pop from the pressure change. I squinted against the sudden rush of air. I saw something below, the Gelo River that crossed and carved its way across the continent. The same river that flowed into my village. I felt myself relax at the sight. Even the small sight of it... it brought a sense of home. 

I paused. The same river... I could follow the river home. I could go home. I smiled. The Winger dove deeper, getting closer to the ground. He spread his wings carefully and flapped them a few times to slow down. He got close to the ground and I lowered my feet beneath me. He released his talon and I dropped. I landed on my feet but I had to catch myself with my hands. I was just a few feet from the river. 

The Winger landed behind me. The weight and height made me startle once more. I turned to the giant beast behind me. He nudged me with his head towards the river. I gave him a tight smile and walked to the river. I kneeled down and placed my hands in. The water was so cold. Too cold to swim in. Looking at the speed too... I'd need a raft of some kind. And some form of protection for the time when the river went through the Iber Hills where the gryphons lived.