A Dragon's Bond

The Rounds

      I awoke in the morning feeling more peaceful than I had in a long time. Everything has been progressing so well. The people are gaining hope. New members come in troves every day, with each person that joins the cause everyone's courage rises.

     The members of Retribution have become strong and united, bonding with every step of the process. Every time they need to come together to build a house, or dig a pit, they are bonded that much closer.

     The castle was being finished and perfected with each passing day, its mighty walls and towers stood tall and resolute as the sun glanced of its back creating a halo around it. We had built this patch of dirt into a formidable base, one that the Queen would have a hard time attacking. I was proud of Retribution, but most importantly I was proud of myself. I had never wanted to be in charge of such an important thing. There were countless times that I wanted to simply run away and hide. But I didn't, and now I was glad.

     I got out of bed and made my way over to the window, my room was near the top of the castle and it gave me a wide landscape view of the land, I could see the Kingdom of Dragon's Heart and our old town. Birds chirped and sang throughout Retribution and a cool breeze blew in through the cracks causing me to shiver slightly and pull my clothes tighter.

     The room itself was enormous, probably the biggest room I had ever been inside, it was meant to make room for Draioct. Along the wall there was a large opening that led to the balcony, making it easier for him to get directly into the room. Most rooms and buildings had something similar so people could interact with their dragons. The sides of the castle were full of balconies making it look like branches on a tree. Draioct had left earlier in the morning, presumably to go hunting so I hopped into his eyes to see what he was up to. He was currently circling high in the air over a group of deer in the forest. He was waiting for them to make their way into a clearing so he could shoot downward and grab one of them up.

"Good morning Adam." his eyes glancing from the deer for an instant, and back towards the castle zeroing onto my balcony.

"Good morning Dree. I am going to make some rounds through the base and take care of some logistics today. Are you still planning the trip to the other shrine?"

     He was again focusing on the deer as it finally made its way into the clearing. He shot downward, folding his wings back as the wind began whistling past at a magnificent rate, the sound becoming so loud it was almost deafening. He closed the gap between himself and the deer within seconds, smoothly lifting the deer from the ground and heading back into the air. With his full concentration no longer needed he returned his attention to me.

"Yes. We have not met a single water dragon and I am beginning to worry. I can feel a force pulling me to the location. It is similar to you locating me, only without the line. I will head there today and see what I can find. I'll be sure to stay in touch."

     I nodded my head in agreement and smiled at his reassurance, he could feel my hesitance to be separated from him. I made my way back from the window and further into the room where I dressed and got ready for the day. A sense of pride and accomplishment always filled me when I put on my armor and crest. We were doing the right thing here. I decided it would be a good idea to get down to the training area to check on the troops.

*****

     An hour later I was in the Blacksmithing area where Jack was currently giving a class to some of the newest members, we needed people making weapons and armor for the large army we now had. The new members that wanted to help would be taught to work the forges and make everything from simple pieces to the larger weapons.