(Book 1) Legends of the new world: The snow empress and the horned king

Chapter seven: the dragon in shining armor

Velkhana awoke within her den, groggily opening her eyes. The previous day had been quite the day for her. She had barely escaped Nergigante, saw her only friend die, and much more. Velkhana stretched her wings and stood up. Her ribs had finally healed after her encounter with Thor, the fulgur anjanath. She left her den, keen on finding something to hunt in order to satisfy her newfound hunger. As she hunted down and killed another popo, she began to feel wind blow across her back. Velkhana turned around, but saw nothing. As she grabbed the popo carcass and dragged it back to her den, she began to feel wind blow across her back once more. She turned around, and caught the silhouette of an elder dragon hiding in the nearby trees, staring at her. "I can see you. Come out at once." Velkhana said sternly. The silhouette moved out of the trees to reveal a kushala daora, about her age. Velkhana recognized the kushala daora from the elders recess, one that was particularly quiet from what she knew. "Who are you? I have never seen elder dragons like you in the hinterlands" the kushala daora said. "Velkhana. why are you following me?" Velkhana asked with slight suspicion, beginning to wonder if the kushala daora had followed her to the hinterlands for "other reasons". I know what your thinking Velkhana, I am not here to do anything as disgusting like that." The kushala daora said in a reassuring tone. Velkhana sighed in relief to herself internally. "Well that is a relief, but how did you know what I was thinking?" Velkhana asked. "I can tell from your facial expression. It's quite easy actually" the kushala daora said. "Well, you might as well come with me, if you do not wish to face the wrath of Nergigante." Velkhana said, flicking the end of her tail forward as a sign to follow her. The kushala daora did not argue and followed her instructions. As the two returned to Velkhana's den, Velkhana sat down and made herself comfortable while looking at her new guest. "So tell me, who are you, and why did you come here?" Velkhana asked. The kushala daora cleared its throat. "My name is valomyr. I was called here by a strange song coming from an unknown land, so I followed it to investigate. However I happened to come across your path, and followed you to see if you were the one singing." Valomyr said. "Well clearly I am not the one singing." Velkhana said. Valomyr had a small look on his face that he hid well. "If I may ask, why did you think I was going to commit a heinous act like that?" Valomyr said. Velkhana sighed. "Before Nergigante chased me here, nobody in the elders recess noticed me as a fellow elder dragon. Whenever they did notice me, it was only because they couldn't keep their eyes off of my body" Velkhana said, beginning to tremble with anger. "Every day I was forced to endure harassment from elder dragons who couldn't control their sexual urge to reproduce. They had the audacity to touch me as if I was just an object to be used to satisfy their sick and twisted thoughts." Velkhana said, beginning to growl. Valomyr was horrified to learn about what the elder dragons had done to her. "I-I'm sorry, I didn't know that happened to you" Valomyr said in a calming tone. Velkhana looked up at him. "Thank you, I needed to hear that" Velkhana said. "Well, I believe I should be on my way, I must figure out the source of that song." Valomyr said. "Oh, take care." Velkhana said. As Valomyr spread his iron wings and took to the sky, something began to flow through Velkhana's veins. Now Velkhana felt lonely without Valomyr's presence. Velkhana knew she wanted to see Valomyr again, and begged the sapphire star to protect Valomyr until he could return.

As Valomyr flew through the sky, he thought about the charming elder dragon he had met. "She seems to be quite assertive doesn't she?" Valomyr said to himself. He knew Velkhana took a liking to him, and had a feeling that she wanted him to return. Valomyr didn't mind the thought of it. In fact, he was quite keen on returning to Velkhana's den later, and forming a relationship with her. It was quite mushy to Valomyr, but he liked Velkhana, and nothing could change his mind in that.

Nergigante had been resting just outside of the vale when he felt the wind from a kushala daoras wings chill his body temperature. Nergigante looked up to see the kushala daora, and he began to chuckle to himself. "Val" Nergigante said, thumping the back of Val's head with his tail. "Ow, why would you do that?" Val said. "Do you see that kushala daora?" Nergigante asked. "Yes, why?" Val said. "That elder dragon is the key to finding where Velkhana is hiding" Nergigante said. Nergigante continued to watch the kushala daora, formulating his plan to find Velkhana and end this hunt once and for all.