1 - Daughter Of The Storm

Azena - The Impulse & A Silly Test

14th day of the season of birth - Year 2447

During their stay in Illustra, the apprentices and their dragons had to fight for their basic needs. Eating, sleeping and staying calm proved to be daily challenges. The dragons that were the most enduring to the cold took care to hunt for the group. They traveled hours, sometimes during storms, all the way to the Gnawed Canyon where they would find pertinent preys such as wyverns and mountain rams. Master Ruvior was merely an observer; he did not help. Besides, he was often absent. Ariella had taken the lead of the group and had tried to teach the defenseless how to use their weapons. The dire wolves roamed constantly, but the dragons obliged them to keep their distance.

At the end of the ten days, the group began to doubt their master.

- How will we return to the academy if he does not return? Asked Katanor.

- He'll be back, Ariella said. He can't abandon us like that. Have confidence.

- Have confidence? It is difficult when it leaves us to our loss.

- It's a survival course. That's the point. Harden yourself if you want to be part of the army of the dragon riders. One day or another you will have to fight. Fighting is intertwined with our purpose.

Katanor looked down, frustrated.

- Continue to train, Ariella ordered. You're starting to improve.

She pointed to a tree flayed by blade marks and sat near Harath. A large fire danced before her and ravaged the snowflakes who melted effortlessly as it fell in the heart of the flames.

- You have more patience than me, said the red dragoness. He is insolent. I would have bit his neck until he would beg to show my dominance.

Ariella did not react. She stared into the blaze that threatened to burn her face. Azena noticed at that moment that the blonde possessed the potential of becoming a great leader. The latter had kept her companions alive, including her, in this desolace of a place and that was a feat to be respected. Azena also noticed that Katanor was throwing glares at Ariella and seemed to be growing more fidgety as if he was slowly losing his patience. Anyway, she went back to the cooking of the carcass of a ram which was tied to a solid tree trunk that was over a second fire, the latter much more modest than the original.

***

In the evening, Azena tried desperately to drown the complaining of her companions by observing the mysterious violet moon in the company of Tyrath who acted more or less like a watchdog and her friends.

- My friends, calm yourselves, said Ariella, waving her hands to show that her intentions were pure. I'm aware that this is the last day of our survival trip. Unfortunately, Master Ruvior has not yet shown a sign of life. It's very possible that he -

- That he died or he abandoned us, Katanor cut vehemently.

- There is a more solid reason behind his absence, retorted the red dragon rider with authority. There has to be.

The dispute continued for a long hour. Several worried apprentices expressed their desire to return to the academy now, but Ariella insisted that they had to wait. Azena, Fayne, Teriondil and their dragons were the only ones who did not participate in the debate.

- He'll come back, Fayne murmured as if she was trying to reassure herself.

The brunette was playing with a flower she had collected during an excursion with Teriondil, Buhrik and Ella two days ago. She intended to give it to Leith. Apparently it was a fairly rare flower with diuretic properties which led to an increase in urinary secretion. The petals gave Azena a strange impression of malice as if it was preparing to leap and bite. She did not like it one bit.