Redemption - Fourth Wing

47. "Fly away"

Chex's Pov
At dawn, we flew northwest, with Aotrom clutching Trager's body and Tairn Sila's. I felt sorry for their sudden deaths, and I shivered at the thought that hadn't it been for Aifos' lyre, my two bonded too could've had the same fate of our companions, and that we would be seeking a minor island on which to burn our farewell for them, as well.
It was a daunting realisation.
The ocean below us was darker than Sgaeyl's scales, and my shoulders ached, and Darna's wing was trembling more forcefully. She'd been quiet and aloof ever since we left Zenhylla, and no matter how much I wanted to tell her that the ocean was endless and that our Den could be residing on any islands and that our lives were long enough, I was closed off.
Aifos shifted on the saddle and glanced back, -Night's falling. Should we decide to go back, you dragons can make it, but I have some doubts regarding the gryphons-
-They'll keep flying forward,- I said, -For their friends.-
By the middle of the night, Tairn spotted land, and after a quick sweep above the hollow-tipped peaks, we landed in a northern beach which was as approximately wide as Tairn's wingspan. I jostled myself between the sea and Sgaeyl, trying to catch as much air as I could, and Aifos briefly wondered why the sand was black.
I looked down, and felt as if the power was more intense than in Zenhylla, but just half of the one residing in Navarre, and it seeped from the sand to our claws and boots.
And, alongside it, there was another feeling, some sort of tingle across my spine, which had me swivelling my head back and forth and tightening my wings, but apart from our riot, there was none else.
Aotrom fired up the hastily assembled pyre, and Drake said our goodbye, "Silaraine and Tragen Karis. With honour, love, and gratitude, we commend our souls to Malek."
I stepped close to Aifos, and they absent-mindedly patted my leg.
The fliers kept watch through the night, and by morning the flames sputtered low, and I saw Tairn staring off to the horizon. I yawned and got up, careful not to wake either Aifos or Ronny, and after a thorough stretch I walked to my guardian.
The first rays of sun gleamed on his onyx scales, and fell in his golden eyes. His shadow stretched out in front of us, and his voice was quiet, -We don't have much time left.-
-The sky ends where the horizon starts,- I said, -If I found my bonded ones, an ocean away, then we can find the rest of my and my sister's breed. We have time.-
-The war's raging, Golden One. This mission is only borrowed time. Just like Silver One's attempts at finding a cure for Dark One.-
-But he's getting better. He hasn't channeled since Deverelli. Not everything is lost, Tairn.-
-It was when your breed left us.-
I startled back at his bitterness, and dropped my eyes on the claw marks in the sand. When the waves rippled on them, I raised my own black claw and flexed it.
-I'm a Black Morningstartail, descendant of the cunning Dubhmaddin line, son of Fianclafui and Murtcuidam. I shouldn't bother myself with seeking other dragons for their advice. Dragons to whom, may I add, I hold no respect for.-
I tossed a glance to my sister, her scales blacker than Tairn's even in her sleep, and my voice was quiet, -Do this for her. She needs to see her own. We both do. And then perhaps we'll understand.-
-You won't. I'm not sure about you, but I know that she'll regard them as the family she's never had, and her heart will be splintered to shards when they'll refuse her. Don't make the same mistake.-
-How can you be so sure about our rejection?-
His sigh was slow, -Because you two got left behind on purpose, and I can't quite figure out why. I just know that it wasn't the one to build an army, because two isn't by far a number large enough for this. It's something else, but it keeps fleeing away from me. Like a hummingbird.-
I placed my wing on his, -You'll figure it out.-
He whipped his head when Sgaeyl woke up, and after a quick greeting he strode towards his mate. In the meantime, the sun was warm on my scales, and the waves rippled around my claws, and I saw other claw marks in the same place as before.
I chuffed at Tairn's exaggerated steps, and then the Riders stirred awake, and the fliers dropped their watch over the pyre to gather around the map of the isles Violet was holding. Aifos' hair was gathered in a quick bun, and they tried to stifle a yawn.
The rest of us dragons were sent to patrol high up in the sky, and I dipped down and snatched a fish to eat.
-This chain of islands comes from an old volcano,- said Ronny up above, and Sgaeyl sharply turned, -It doesn't match anything on the map.-
-There's land an hour's flight due west,- pointed out Tairn, -With what appears to be sizable cliffs. I'll rely it to Silver One.-
I pumped my wings and caught up to them, and I brushed Sgaeyl's wing with mine.
-Shadow Wielder's glad to have the Alagaesyan as his sibling,- she said, -They're a great asset.-
-I know.-
But in front of us, Tairn grumbled when we were told of Violet's plan of splitting us into six groups, which separated Tairn and Sgaeyl from each other, because she believed that their bond was strong enough to keep them in contant during the sweeps. Sgaeyl was fairly annoyed, too, so I fell back to Ronny, and while we were turning back, Darna cracked an eye open and stated that she wanted me with her.
-Why? You have Tairn, and Aotrom.-
-I'm the head of your Den,- she huffed, -And now, don't bother my sleep anymore.-
I growled annoyed, and -Worry not,- said Ronny, -The sky lacks any threat.-
-Last time you said that, you flew into a trap. Or have you forgotten it?-
-That was an exception. And besides, this island has known peace for too many a century.-
-If you say so.-
-It's glaringly obvious, Chex.-
When we landed, Aifos walked up to me and I pushed my snout on their chest. Their hand cupped my jaw, -We'll be back in a bit.-
-I don't enjoy this idea,- I grumbled, and they rubbed my scales, -Your sister asked for you, so it's best if you remain here.-
-I know. Just... Be careful, alright?-
-I will.-
I watched them taking off and heading west, and then I had to duck away from Tairn's swinging tail as he stomped towards the forest. Aotrom and Ridoc ran in the water, and I laid next to Darna, my chin on my crossed claws.
Aotrom sprayed Ridoc from head to toe, and Violet rested her back on Darna's shoulder.
"Not fair!" Screamed Ridoc, "I'm still winning. That doesn't count! Because we're on a mission!"
Aotrom walked into the wood, and Ridoc reached Violet, telling her about the pranks he'd been pulling with the Brown Swordtail. Then, he trudged away bootless, and Violet turned to us, "Don't get any ideas."
I chuffed at her and rolled my eyes: my mate and I's ongoings weren't her business.
Then, the ground shuddered, and she started, "I swear to Amari, Tairn, if you spray me down with water-"
The steps grew louder, and I whipped my head up when I saw fresh claw marks, but no dragon in sight. Violet raised slowly, a dagger in her hand, and I found myself getting on my feet and taking a step forward, while Violet sidestepped around my sister's shoulder and positioned herself in front of her neck, us dragons' most vulnerable point.
The sand moved and furrowed, and the air before us shimmered and rippled into sky-blue scales.
I let out a surprised hiss and flicked my Sword-tail forward, my mind reaching out to my bonds, -They found us!-
They both picked up my thundering heartbeat, and through them I could feel Ronny's body performing a sharp turn, -Who?-
-The irids!-
-We're coming,- he snarled, -Should they lay a claw on your scales, they'll feel our wrath. It wouldn't be my first time killing a dragon.-
-Vindr, moi und flauga nosu nios tapula!- Ordered Aifos, and a sudden tailwind howled under Ronny's stretched out wings.
By the time I retreated from their minds, five other dragons had appeared, and one of them was tilting her head at me. I remembered the claw marks in the wet sand this morning, and I understood that it'd been one of them all along, and they were as large as Sgaeyl, and Ronny.
For some reason, I dug my claws in the sand, and flicked my tail again.
-Hello, human.-
Violet drew back and stared at the blue irid, and three heads swung to Ridoc, "What is going- oh, shit. Are we happy? Are we scared?"
She just nodded, and I raised my chin at the red irid's eyes.
-Why do you not answer me?- Asked the blue dragon, and I spotted a rustling motion from
Darna's side.
-Perhaps the human female lacks intelligence,- commented the female on the right.
-She's just surprised,- said my sister, while she rose on her feet but kept her head level with the others, and quickly glared at me until I mimicked her, -And you're in her face.-
The six irids took a step back, and I watched how the one on my left caught my golden glimmer through her red, and how the green one darkened her shade. I studied the twists of a male, so similar to Darna's they made me wonder if they were related. If she'd found the family she was looking for, and I hoped that her wings would be lighter, now.
Then, my scales pruned uncomfortably, but there was none apart from us.
"You speak our language?" Asked Violet.
-We are magic.-
Ronny had told me so, too.
"Did they just respect your personal space?" Asked Ridoc through a whisper, "What was that?"
-It is rude to speak as though we cannot hear you.-
-It is more offensive to lift a blade at us.-
"I don't know you, and I'm not going to let you hurt her," glared Violet to the green irid, whose nostrils flared, -And you feel a dagger is sufficient. I believe you are right, Dasyn. The human female lacks intelligence.-
The sky-blue male tilted as he studied my sister, -You are irid.-
Her scales flickered from black to the same green of the forest around us, only to ripple to his same shade of blue, -I am irid.-
I dropped my eyes on my black claws, and tightened my wings around my flanks. I couldn't choose my scales' colours.
-Yet you choose black as your resting colour?- Asked the female from Darna's right, and she said, -It is acceptable in my ho- in Navarre.-
I swivelled my head to her and widened my eyes.
Wasn't Navarre her home?
But she kept her eyes fixed on the irids, and ignored me, and I couldn't find enough strength of voice to ask her and draw the irids' attention on me.
-She is the criterion.-
The other five flinched and drew back, and I had barely the time to wonder what that irid diagonal from me had meant that a shadow fell on us and wingbeats filled the air, and Tairn landed as heavily as thunder. His black claws dug in the sand to Ridoc's left and Darna's right, and his wing pressed against mine.
I looked up to the sky, but it was now empty.
-Where are you?-
-Nearly there.-
-My human,- Tairn snarled, but after he snapped his teeth at the irids, my sister scrambled away from his leg and pivoted, -They won't hurt her. They're my family.- She turned to face the others, -She's my human, too.-
I lowered my head and wings, because weren't we her family?
I quickly glanced at Tairn, but his fiery eyes didn't waver from the others, and I took a slight step back.
-Are humans so rare in Navarre that you must share?- Snapped the female on the left, and I asked myself if they knew about the Shur'tugals at all.
-Perhaps the other one belongs to the halfblood,- said the red one, and I didn't have time to wonder why she'd glanced at me that Aotrom slithered forward and let out a low, menacing growl.
-We have no interest in humans,- the sky-blue male cut off the Brown's snarl, -And no quarrel with either of you. We've come only to speak to the irid.-
-Andarna,- corrected Tairn.
-Andarna.-
-And she isn't the only irid. Chex is so, too.-
The green female flickered her eyes to me, and even though she said nothing, the disinterest in her gaze led me to mimick Tairn and step back. Both Tairn and Aotrom levelled their heads just above their Riders, while I kept my eyes down, to my claws.
Darna swung to face us, clear excitement in her eyes, and the female on the right let out a sharp gasp, -Oh, my.-
-What have you done to your tail?-
My sister craned her neck to study her tail, -Nothing. It's fine.-
-Tell us what they've done to you.-
-They're all feathertails,- grumbled Ronny, and immediately I lifted my head and recognised the sound of his wingbeats as he drew a circle above us.
-Why didn't you feel their minds before?- I asked, and annoyance flashed through Aifos' bond, -Apparently, when they camouflage their scales, so do their minds.-
-That's... Disheartening,- I said, and Ronny grumbled, -Or better yet, a headache.-
But then my scales prickled as if an insect was crawling on my legs and back, and immediately I rustled my wings. A flash of golden gleamed in the periphery of my sight, but when I turned around I saw nothing, and thought it must've been my scales.
-Done to me?- echoed Darna, now with a defensive edge, -I chose my tail. As is my right upon transition from juvenile to adolescent. My brother chose his tail, as well.-
A strained silence fell, and I twitched my tail, and wished that Ronny would come down and that Aifos would press their hands on my scales.
The sky-blue male laid down, his feathered tail coiled around his torso. His eyes were fixed on my sister, -Tell us how you came to choose it.-
She lifted her head to her full height, and the other irids laid down, one by one, and I did so too only when Tairn couched down, swiftly followed by Aotrom.
-I think you should come down here, too- I said to Ronny, whose voice was tight, -Not yet.-
Darna sat down and swished her tail in the sand, -I blinked in and out of consciousness in my shell years/-, and I put my chin on my crossed claws, but my body was still tight.
As she tried to convey to her captive audience her urgency to fly beyond the Black Den ever since she was a hatchling, I heard a female voice who hadn't yet spoken, and the sand rippled on my right, -Follow me, halfblood.-
Halfblood.
I perked my head up, because I remembered another irid calling me so.
-Aifos?- I tentatively asked, and Aifos said that they were now landing, -Follow the irid. We think... We think she's here for you.-
-I am,- said the dragon, now a bit further off, -Do what your mate says, and come over. I've been watching you since Zehylla.-
I snapped my head up, and Tairn huffed at my sudden movement, his wings briefly twitching, but I ignored him altogether, my attention turned on the direction of the sound, -What? So that was you?-
-It has always been.-
The sand furrowed, and I silently crawled away, but Tairn raised his head and called me with a sharp hiss. I swivelled my head and bowed it, then went after the claw marks, which led me deep in the forest.
I'd never enjoyed walking around forests, though, because lianas kept coiling around my horns, and my tail kept slamming against trees. A branch snapped on my snout, and I let out a muffled yelp. I rubbed the sore scales with my claws, then narrowed my eyes on the air I thought might actually be the irid, but jumped when her voice sounded on my left, -Don't get lost.-
-I wouldn't if you showed yourself!-
A flash of gold, then with a sigh her scales rippled and shifted into a deep purple. Four slashes cut across her neck; she was the only irid with a scar, as far as I knew. Aifos' mind was sharp in mine, and they whispered that she had my same rounded snout.
-She does,- I said.
She raised her head, but I saw the flex of her talons when the leaves rustled, and Ronny's slow steps thrummed in the ground. Aifos briskly walked towards me, but as I lowered my head to greet them, the irid snapped her fangs at me, then swung her head and growled at Aifos.
Ronny did the same, and I took a step forward, -Don't you dare ever again.-
-Your ignorance has been your blessing,- she said, sharply, -But it has also been your downfall.-
Aifos flexed their fingers, and Ronny grumbled in the depth of his throat.
-Do you know why I led you here, halfblood?-
-No.-
-So that you can righten up your mistakes.-
I bared my teeth, -What mistakes? And why do you keep calling me a halfblood?-
Her scales shifted deeper, and her eyes gleamed, with bitterness or amusement, I couldn't tell, -Ironic, isn't it? That you've bonded with the same Shur'tugal who has your same mixed blood, and whose partner is the dragon bloodied with the blood of our parents.-
A tiny voice, -No.-
I turned around, and saw Ronny, and his eyes made him almost young, wide and full of something which was caught between guilt and hope to have misheard.
-That's the truth,- said the irid, -Mother remembered you. Your wounds killed her.-
His wings skimmed the ground, and his head was low, and  Aifos hesitated, as if torn between the two of us.
I remained rooted in the ground, because Ronny had killed strangers who should've been my parents, and I didn't know what feelings I should have.
-Who were they?-
It was Aifos. Their shoulders were straight, and their jaw was tight, and I wanted to fly far, far away from here. But where?
I didn't know if I would have the strength.
The purple dragon tightened her voice, -His mother was my own.-
-And the father?-
-Belgabad.-
I remembered him. We'd flown over his skeleton months ago.
-Yes,- whispered Ronny, detached, -I remember him now. His death was my pride.-
(-Ronny's claws are the bloodiest,- Saphira had said to me.)
The thrum of my heart was faint in my ears, and the ground was too soft.
-You should leave them. They killed our parents. There's the blood of our family on their claws. Leave them, and let me have my revenge.-
Ronny closed his eyes, and I couldn't breathe.
-No!- Aifos unsheated Heill and pointed it to the irid, a stranger, my actual sister, I didn't know, -It is not our time to die yet.-
It happened all so suddenly, my muscles remained completely frozen.
The irid lurched forward with sharp talons, Ronny ducked his neck, Aifos followed the irid with their sword.
"Waise neiat!"
Be not.
The ground shuddered when the purple dragon crumbled down, and her scales rippled grey.
As if a venin had channeled into her.
Aifos' breathing was laboured, and my heart was painfully tight in my chest, and Ronny stumbled back. Fear and heartache rippled through our bond, so sharp and intense they squeezed my ribs and lungs and I struggled to breathe.
Aifos' shoulders were tight, and I remembered the Brown Scorpiontail Ronny had killed. It seemed a lifetime ago.
Their voice was as old as the sky, -Fly away, Chex.-
...What?
-Fly away.-
No! Why?
-Kid?-
I swivelled my head to Ronny, whose wings skimmed the ground. His scales were so dull they looked dusty, and he looked so old and worn out I feared again he couldn't take up to the sky anymore.
I could still see behind my eyes the hole in his right wing I'd healed during the ambush.
Aifos glanced at me from behind their shoulder, and their sword glimmered copper, and annoyance flashed in their eyes so intensely it was pain.
"Fly away!"
They sharply spun around and snapped their arms up, their fingers tight as if ready to slap my face, perhaps in a jest to persuade me to do as they told me. I staggered back, and I could see every scar across their forearms, and their voice broke,  "Away! Please!"
Tears gleamed in their eyes, and fear twisted into fate.
They were my mate, the love of my life, and the stars had showed me the path towards them, and the few times I'd left them on their own they always bled out.
Never again, I promised.
So, I could do nothing but kiss them, and the echo of their plead got choked away, and I curled my claw around them so they could go nowhere but to my chest, between my wings.
-Shut the fuck up,- I said, as they gulped breaths, -You two are mine, and such you'll be until my last fire.-
Aifos shook their head, -I killed your last living relative, Chex! Your family!-
-You are my family! For how long must I remind you of this before it gets into your fucked up skull? There's just one bond stronger than anything else, and it's ours. Only death will separate me from you. And if that is your wish... Then kill me.-
-No! Are you fucking stupid?- They thrashed, but they couldn't break my grip. Ronny was silent at the edge of the clearing.
-Ronny and I will die! Our death is written in my, our, Name of Names and I will not let you, so bright and young and full of life, rot because of us! Because of me!-
-It's war, Aifos. I may rot nevertheless.-
-Not now. Not today.-
-What is a rotting corpse but the decay of flesh? And what is a rotting heart but the decay of love? Should you break the bond, my soul will rot, and my wings will shrink and my chest grow cold. You are etched in my soul so strictly you've become my whole life. And we're dragons, and we decide the course of life, not the other way round. So you will let me stay. Please?-
Aifos hung low their head, and I turned to Ronny, who had my mate's same position. His talons were deep in the soil, and I was glad Aifos' arms were restrained by my talon.
-If you remain,- they whispered, -You will die with us.-
-So let it be. With you next to me, I will not be afraid.-
A scratchy, old voice, -But I am.-
Ronny's eyes were so dark to be nearly black, -By bonding to Aifos, I gave them my burden. They do not want to make the same mistake with you.-
-Mistake?-
-Why do you think they scar their own skin?-
-Why do you think they've ever flown?-
Silence fell, and the dragon-slayer sobbed once, and I knew they'd both let me stay.

A/N
Hi guys! I decided to switch the plot up a bit because there's no story without the trio 😭 so now i'll go on following OS. Stay tuned!