The Name of Names

~3: With A Dragon~

The sensation slowly subsided, and Vanya tilted her hand one way and then the other, admiring the finished circle, gleaming of it's own accord.

A small snout nuzzled her knee, where she had been kneeling on the bed, and Vanya glanced back at the small dragon. It squeaked again, clacking its teeth together and watching her eagerly.

Her smiled faded slightly as she realized that she would have to hunt for the dragon to eat. Of course, it wasn't hard anymore. Magic made that easy. But the sensation of taking a life that you had lived in... Vanya shuddered. It was like dying over and over again.

Vanya swung her feet around and stood up, going over to a corner of the room, where her bow was inside a case. Opening the case, she strung her bow, and slung her quiver over her back. Using a bow would make it harder, she knew. It would be easier to just invade the animal's mind and then kill it with a simple word of death, but that would involve going inside the animal's mind. Feeling it's fear, overwhelming as it realized that it would be dead soon.

Vanya shook the feeling aside and turned back to the dragon, and realizing a new part of her mind had seemed to form. A small bump, if you will, in the back of her mind, where she knew the dragon would contact her when it was ready.

"Stay here," she said firmly, knowing the dragon would understand, and then left the house, heading deep into the forest.

She arrived within the minute, and took a moment to appreciate the dusk air, and the rays of purple and orange in the western sky. Continuing on to her purpose, she used her mind only to spot a single doe, before withdrawing, and beginning to track it on her own.

Moving as quiet as only an elf could, Vanya tracked the deer, eventually coming up on it drinking water out of a small puddle from the rains earlier that week.

Vanya notched an arrow, watching the doe, and pulled the string back to her cheek, breathing in slowly. She let her breath out half-way before aiming and releasing.

Some sixth sense warned the deer just as the arrow was released, and it snapped its head up, alert for danger when the arrow struck. It gave a cry of pain, and stumbled over, laying there in pain.

"Jierda," Vanya murmured, and the doe's neck snapped, ending her life quickly.

Even without being in the deer's mind, Vanya felt the life force extinguish, and she shuddered, hoping the dragon would soon be old enough to hunt on its own—and most importantly without her own assistance.

Unstringing her bow, and returning it to its case—which she strapped on her back—she turned and ran back towards Elesmera, entering her home, and finding the dragon still on the bed, squeaking constantly.

Vanya smiled. "It's a wonder no one came in here to see what was going on."

The dragon swiveled its head, looking at Vanya crookedly before nipping at Vanya's hand. She jerked her hand away with a short exclamation, watching as a red welt formed.

"You've certainly got teeth," Vanya commented. "Waise Heill," she added quietly, healing the red mark on her hand and instantly taking away the pain.

"Come on then, let's go." Vanya reached over and picked the dragon up, placing it on her shoulder, where it readjusted itself slightly, getting comfortable.

Together, they started towards the forest, and on their way, elves noticing the dragon, and bowing their heads in respect.

The dragon at first felt confused, but eventually he began to enjoy it, and puffed up his chest slightly. Of course, that was just what it seemed like to Vanya.

"Vanya!" A familiar voice called out, and she turned, recognizing Vanir. He stopped when he reached them, first inclining his head to the dragon. Vanya raised a suspicious eyebrow as the dragon tilted his chin up, before peeking back at Vanya. She laughed, scratching underneath his chin.

Vanir watched the exchange with some amusement. "I take it you two have been getting along well."

Vanya raised an eyebrow at Vanir, "Ever heard of a Dragon and Rider who didn't?"

"I suppose not. Anyway, I came here to tell you congratulations. Or, at least that's what the humans say." Vanir added.

Vanya let out a yelp as the dragon nipped her in the neck, and Vanya's eyes widened just a tad as she could detect a hint of his emotions.

"Well, thank you," she said, massaging her neck, "but now we should be going. This one can't eat fruits and vegetables." Vanya's face sobered as she remembered the dead doe in the forest.

Vanir inclined his head, "Indeed. Queen Arya wishes to tell you that there is no need to report to her, and that you should spend as much time as possible with your dragon."

"And who wouldn't want to do that?" Vanya questioned, eyeing her dragon.

Vanir nodded, before turning and leaving in the same direction he came. Vanya and the dragon continued to the forest, where Vanya located the deer she had shot.

I realize that I am not good at finding good ending spots or titles for chapters lol ;) :P

Hope you guys are still enjoying this, and don't worry, action will be coming soonish!

<>Evara<>