Drakon

flight arrangements

[♘a l i s t a i r    s e l w y n♘]

After a brief nap and an equally brief breakfast, I stumbled back to Dragon Tower, only to discover that everybody had already arrived, even Celeste. I rubbed my bleary eyes. "Sorry guys," I panted, "I'm still half asleep. I just woke up." I almost collapsed on the floor right there and then in exhaustion. Ironfang just rolled his eyes, curling up in a not quite successful attempt to catch a few more minutes of sleep.

"I just arrived as well. Those two almost chewed my head off." Celeste pointed at Terris and Kia, who were chatting animatedly about what sounded like Dagat politics. "Well, mainly Terris did the talking. Kia looks kinda sad and half dead, if you get what I mean." She gave Kia a side glance then looked back at me for what seemed like confirmation.

The ebony-haired girl was slouching, violet eyes rimmed with red. Was she thinking about that 'Ash'? My fists clenched and unclenched, and I suppressed the urge to punch something, or someone.  "She'd better not be." I grumbled to myself. Celeste shot me an odd look, but I ignored her. I couldn't stand the thought of both of them together, even though he left her. Worst of all, he kissed her! Even though I knew she pushed him away, I couldn't help but be angry. Once again, my fists clenched unwilling, and I tried to stop thinking about them, to stop thinking about her. She wasn't mine- she was a free girl, and she had her own choice to do whatever she liked.  Damn.

Suddenly, a hand appeared in front of my face, waving in front of my eyes. "Ahem. Alistair. Earth to His Highness Prince Idiot. I swear to the gods, if he's not listening, I'm going to kick him in the nuts." It was Terris. Only she'd say something like that.

Snapped out of my reverie, I shook my head, blinking. "Pardon? I wasn't listening."

Terris snorted. "Duh, of course you weren't listening. Of all times, you choose to zone out now. We were talking about the most important things, and you were just standing there like a statue."

"A very moody statue." Celeste piped in. "A very moody and grumpy statue who looks like he wants to murder someone. I do hope it's not going to be me.  I'm only fifteen."

"Don't worry, I'm not going to kill anybody." I assured her. "Yet." I muttered darkly to myself. Kia still seemed oblivious, laughing along to something Ironfang had said in her mind. I frowned, staring at the two in minor distaste. I knew Kia was a human and Ironfang a dragon, but I still couldn't help being annoyed. But I had no reason to be, so I tried to shut the thoughts out of my my mind. 

Hey Alice, interrupted a familiar baritone voice, Kia wants to know why you're pissed. She told me Terris said you have a 'pissy cloud' hovering above your head. "I'm not pissed." Sure, very believable. The second voice wasn't Ironfang's- it was obviously feminine, a voice I heard almost everyday. Yeah, it's me, Kia. Ironfang's projecting my voice into your mind because I sound absolutely disgusting at the moment. I looked over, where Kia was furiously rubbing her bloodshot eyes, trying to hide her face with her hair. "Stop rubbing your eyes. It'll only make them more red." Carefully approaching her, I tenderly lifted her hand away from her face, keeping my expression neutral as she sniffled slightly. She pulled her cloak closer around her and I longed to comfort her, to offer her support. But she was like a wild animal; scared and alone, she was dangerous and unpredictable. So I kept my anger inside, I didn't let them see, didn't let them know.

"Are you serious? I'm trying to talk about the seating arrangements, and you two are flirting!" I opened my mouth to retort, but Terris scowled, continuing. "Okay, I've decided. Since you two have so much to talk about, you two are riding Ironfang. Since Brighttail can't fly far, that leaves me, and oh gods no, her." Terris pulled a face, looking disgusted. Starfire let out an irritated snort, blowing fire at Celeste. I paled. I had to ride with Kia? Not that I minded, but with me still rather unwilling to admit that Ash held feelings for Kia, I wasn't sure how I was going to cope. I let out an anguished groan.

"Jeez, did you get possessed by the baby of a cow with digestion problems and a constipated duck or something? That sounded so weird!" Celeste giggled, the wind carrying the annoying sound right to my ears. I resisted the urge to hit someone, to take my anger and frustration out. She attempted to recreate the unidentifiable sound I made, and I shot her a harsh glare. She shut up instantly, taking a step back with a terrified glance at me.

"Weird noises aside, let's get flying. We're wasting precious time." Terris hopped on Starfire, staring impatiently at Celeste who was struggling to get on the sleek green dragon. In the meantime, Ironfang set himself down on the floor, silently waiting for Kia and I to get on his back. Pulling myself up onto the saddle, I offered a hand to Kia, who for the first time accepted it. I had a brief moment to savour the feeling of her smaller hand in mine before she let go. Terris cheered. "3, 2, 1, liftoff!" We set off towards the sky, wings of the dragons flapping.

For the first half of the flight, everything went perfectly fine for me, although not so well for others. Kia sat behind me, her slim arms wrapping firmly around my torso. I enjoyed the proximity, although I didn't tell her... how could I? Terris on the other hand, did not enjoy her flight arrangement. Celeste kept on blabbing on about fashion, even though Terris was giving her not-so-subtle hints to stop. "Hey, Terris- AHHHHHH!"

Starfire banked sharply to the left, sending the blonde toppling off and tumbling into the sky. "Sorry Alice! She got annoying!" Terris shouted a little too gleefully. Celeste was falling through the sky, shrieking and screaming as she went. "I'm sitting with Kia- you take Celeste!" Kia promptly agreed, standing up on Ironfang and placing a hand on my shoulder to steady herself. Starfire flew towards us, and I grabbed her hips, hoisting her up onto Starfire's back.

Oh god, time to get that blonde pest. Ironfang groaned in my mind as we plummeted down, trying to get a hold of Celeste before she landed on the ground with a splat. Fortunately for her, I caught her, placing her in front of me. "Thanks Alistair!" Celeste chirped. "I thought I was going to die!" If I was in a bad mood, I'd leave her falling to her death. I couldn't help but laugh at my cousin's misfortune.

"Hey Celeste?" I asked her as politely as possible.

"Yeah?" She replied. "What's the matter?"

"Do you mind shutting up for the rest of the trip?" She grumbled to herself, huffing and sticking her nose up in the air.

Good job, buddy.  You basically kicked your baby cousin's imaginary puppy.  Ironfang drawled.  But I applaud you.  My cousin was a brat but I never had the guts to yell at him as a kid.  Was that a compliment, or an insult? Neither, just a statement. 

I grunted, staying quiet for the rest of the trip.  Ironfang and Celeste did the same.