Half Breed

Ice of the North

"You had to choose the worst possible region to go to? What about the Crag? Or the Gale Islands?" Audax the Reckless, a nickname coined by many of his friends for his behaviour shrivelled hesitantly when he realised my idea of adventure was to visit the home of the ice dragons, Glacier Crest. Father laughed at his complaining and my pleading.

"It can't be that bad," I taunted him a little.

He scoffed and looked at me, his reptilian slits for eyes staring into mine with a contemptuous glare, "Can't be that bad?" he mocked, "it's hell! Why do you think the only creatures there are haughty ice dragons?" he questioned, turning his head away.

"Are you afraid?" I asked, a humiliating yet condescendingly caring way, "It's okay to be scared," I comforted, laying the traps for him. He replied virulently, claiming he feared nothing and even wanting to prove it.

I mounted him, quickly taking the chance, but still assuring him there was no shame in his cowardice. He had to be thoroughly persuaded in order to commit to the full trip. His pride would disallow him to turn back.

We ventured through the Crag and travelled for about a week to the north. Hunger would weaken us if not for a little tweak I made to my green pills that fooled our brains into thinking we were full. And much worse, hypothermia would set in if I didn't create a specialised lava pill, one orange in colour that regulated body temperature. The red pills would give his body a huge boost and allow him to fly over longer distances.

Finally, we landed onto the main chunk of ice that lifted the land of Glacier Crest. Audax immediately nosedived into a cavern for rest. The pills kept his muscles fed with nutrients and strength, however, I failed to prepare any that dismissed the charms of seduction utilised by somnolence.

After I tended to the dragon with a few pills, I transmuted some icicles into firewood and enchanted them so they'd last through our much-desired slumber. I blew fire onto the wood and made a campfire in the cavern large enough to satisfy Audax, however, he still shivered a little, having to lie on ice. I placed both palms on the ground and replicated the warm earth salamanders are so fond of in Emberscale. The nearby walls were also transmuted to a more suitable place for him, I also found it quite homey.

I slouched up against his side for extra warmth and we both fell asleep the moment we rested our heads. After resting about twelve hours, we continued our journey, spotting the main mountain that earned this land the name Glacier Crest. Even though we flew, I couldn't see the summit. Thankfully, we came across some grounds in which we could rest. Already, there were many ice dragons flying about, some perched in rather bizarre crevices along the mountain's slippery walls.

"What now, Emily? Do we continue? Or ask one of them?" Audax posed the question, to which my answer was to continue, but I held that thought within me instead. I'd rather have ended this journey as quickly as I could, but fate wasn't so compliant.

"Hello?" I called out, but they only showed clear distrust. Some flew away, some slithered back into their caves and others outright ignored me. Audax laughed at me, concreting the fact that they believe they're better than humans and dragons alike. How cheeky.

I decided to fly farther upward again, between the unnervingly deep valleys. Suddenly, an ice dragon, almost hornless, cut in front of us and landed on the side of the mountain, digging its claws into the earth to ensure grip, "Outsiders," he hissed, "are not allowed beyond this point. You cannot continue."

"Fine then," Audax spoke out for me, knowing I'd have trouble projecting my voice over the distance and echoes of the hollowing wind, "but tell us, what does the ice dragon clan know of Samael Winter?"