Some kind of dragon au

[occulthymns]

[Before you lies a picturesque kingdom of forests and fields and farmlands. Mountains rise up in the distance, and set at the edge of a massive lake is an elegant castle with tall spires. It looks out over the land - forests surrounding the lake, a small but pleasant medieval town pushed up against the castle walls, farmer's fields further out.

The land itself is fertile and full of wild game, unsual plants, and natural wonders like crystalline caverns and waterfalls. Rivers of all sizes wind their way down from the mountains, which alternate between covered in fir trees and bare, jagged rock with mazes of caves hidden within.

Dragon AU go!]

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[showmeanguish]

Shut up! Just head back to the forest!

[But as soon as he can rumble that, the humans finish wheeling their odd looking machine out. It's pointed upwards at an angle, with two wooden and iron pieces that stick out to the side. On one side was a crank, and a lever.

Six humans were hurriedly pointing it towards the two dragons, while another two stepped up and loaded a long iron bolt into the main shaft. Then another two began working the crank, pulling the bolt back against the bottom piece.]

[didneyworl]

[ He doesn't get why Vanitas is suddenly so insistent and panicked about this. There doesn't seem to be anything special about whatever the humans are doing down below to Ven... But he's not exactly keen to go swirlign down there to check them out either, so with a small snort he works harder to bring himself up, twisting his body so he can swoop after the other and follow on his currents. ]

What's wrong?? Why are we going so fast--??

[showmeanguish]

[Before Vanitas can respond, there's a sudden 'whang!' noise from below, followed by a rushing whistle.

Vanitas looks down, and immediately changes his altitude and angle again, swooping to the side to avoid the large iron bolt that comes shooting their way.]

[didneyworl]

[ Ven's not as fast or agile, and the sharp whistle headed their way shocks him more than it alerts him to change his course. Luckily it doesn't hit him, but it streaks through the air only a few feet away and practically knocks him out of the air for the great shock it gives him, whirling and panicking as his wings beat as the air and carry him haphazardly in a different direction than Vanitas. ]

[showmeanguish]

[With the first bolt a miss, the humans scramble to quickly reload the weapon and begin cranking it back for a second shot.

Vanitas rights himself once it passes, only to glance behind and see that Ventus is missing. His eyes quickly scan left and right, before he spies the gold a good two dozen meters away, floundering in the air. He leans to the side again, flying in an arch to close some of the distance between them.

Unfortunately, it's not quick enough. Right before he reaches the other dragon, the second bolt fires. That whistling comes at them again, and Vanitas is forced to back off as the bolt shoots between them.]

[didneyworl]

[ The screech of air as it strikes the air near them has Ven crying out in alarm. He's thrashing more than flying now in his scramble to get further away, wings beating harder and with less precision. It's an easy mistake for a greenhorn to make when startled; Ven hasn't yet had time to acclimate himself to flying for prolonged periods of time nor during instances of great stress or duress.

He's putting out more effort than he's seeing returned and by the time the third bolt's ready he's already zigzagging without purpose as he slowly loses altitude.

It's not Ven they aim for though, easy target that he makes. It's for Vanitas, awaiting his swoop towards the younger dragon before they launch their third shot. ]

[showmeanguish]

[It makes sense; he's the larger and therefore the easiest target to hit.

Vanitas should end it, there. He should just turn and leave the other dragon to flounder back to the ground. After all, he'd been nothing but a nuisance, and what was it to him if someone who could grow into a more challenging opponent died?

And at first, it's a difficult decision to make. Part of him does say to just turn and cut his losses, and it's tempting to listen. He hesitates, unsure.

But another part of him knows that even if he's annoying, Ven is young. He may be a goldscale, too, but he hadn't done anything to deserve death. So at the last second, Vanitas alters his flight path and pumps his wings in a sudden burst of speed.

His claws come out as he reaches the other and intersects him, paws reaching and grasping the other about the sides. The smaller dragon may get some nicks and scratches in the process, but it's better than having a metal spike in the throat. And as soon as he has him in his grip, Vanitas falls to the side, feinting and spinning before his wings pump again in another burst back towards the treeline.]

[didneyworl]

[ The third bolt sails past, but just barely. The feint's the only thing that keeps them both from being taken out, and Ven doesn't help by barking and flailing when Vanitas first grabs him. His pupils are thin with fright and for several tense seconds he even tries to gnaw and claw his way out of the blackscale's grip.

Several times he cries out like he would for his broodmother, but he's silenced by a fifth bolt that sails below them; they're too far out for a straight shot, and the workers seem to have realized it. ]

[showmeanguish]

[Those gnaws and bites actually hurt, but Vanitas doesn't let go. He's grown in some of his adult scales, but they haven't toughened enough to prevent the other's teeth from opening small wounds along his forelimbs, that begin to drip blood.

There's a small noise in the back of his own throat when the pain registers, but if anything he just wraps him tighter in his grasp as his wings pump double-time to make up for the added weight. It's like trying to haul up a whole buffalo, and it's a good thing he's as strong as he is or else they'd be in a nose dive.

It's still a struggle, but somehow they escape imminent danger and soar over the treeline. Vanitas takes them a mile or two further, before he's finally too exhausted to keep flying, and takes them down. Unfortunately, there's no suitably cleared spot for a landing, so there's a few broken branches and clipped boughs in their wake.]

[didneyworl]

[ It's rough, but it gets the goldscale to stop struggling and thrashing as he curls inward to protect himself from the sudden whaps of branch and tree. The sound of snapping wooden limbs makes him flinch, so much so that even when they finally touch down and land he's an anxious little ball, huddled up tight. ]

[showmeanguish]

[Vanitas drops him the last few feet, letting him land in his little ball as he crashes against some bushes and comes to rest.

His breaths are coming fast through his nostrils, snorting and rumbling faintly in both irritation and pain as he picks himself up out of his rough landing and finds a more comfortable spot against the ground. He licks at his wounds, eyes glaring slightly at the smaller dragon as he does so.

You are way more trouble than you're worth, runt. B(]

[didneyworl]

[ Oh my gosh not his fault okay )8 as soon as he comes to a rolling stop Ven spends another few seconds in his tight little ball quivering until he finds the nerve to pull his head up and hastily scans the skies and their immediate surroundings.

No catapults, no humans. Just him, Vanitas, and a whole bunch of broken trees.

Hopefully Vanitas wasn't hoping to have space all to himself to deal with those wounds because as soon as Ven's ears catch the sound of one of the snapped branches falling to the underbrush below he's scuttling over to Vanitas as quickly as possible with an anxious series of grunts let him under one of those paws okay )8 he needs to wiggle between you and the ground. ]

[showmeanguish]

[In response, the larger dragon hisses and flares out his spines again, moving a few steps back.]

Idiot. You could've gotten us both killed.

[didneyworl]

[ Ven shrinks back and flattens to the ground as he's hissed at, crooning sadly and curling his tail around one leg. ]

I didn't know--I'm sorry! [ Paws at the ground towards Vanitas ): moooooooom let him iiiiinnn ]

[showmeanguish]

How do you not know humans are dangerous?

[HE'S NOT YOUR MOM, HARUMPH. And that beseeching little cower will not work on him--he's immune to your adorable hatchling act.]

Just how young are you?

[didneyworl]

[ YOU'VE BEEN ADOPTED DEAL WITH IT. And deal with his sad moooom crooning too, because he's going to give a few more of those too as he flattens his earstalks back guiltily. ]

I've never seen any before! I didn't know they had metal breath... [ He doesn't even know the correct word for what they'd been fired at with. THAT'S HOW LITTLE HE KNOWS. Ven drops his chin to the ground and whines. ] I only left my nest a little while ago...

[showmeanguish]

[Ghhhhhhhh... his worst fears are realized. This thing really is green--just his luck.

Vanitas continues to lick the cuts on his forearms, watching the other through slitted pupils and narrowed eyes. What to do with him? The runt's still practically helpless, and he's already gotten attached to the blackscale, judging by his behavior.]

Figures.

[Huffing through his nostrils, he straightens himself, standing back on all fours before he shakes himself off. His wounds are still bleeding slightly but they're starting to close--no thanks to Ven and his sharp little teeth.]

Forget about finding food. You're on your own.

[didneyworl]

Huh?? [ Ven's head lifts abruptly, but his body language is anything but perky as he looks up at the older dragon in surprise and alarm. He can't really mean-- ]

Don't go! I won't go near anymore humans, I promise! [ He's on his feet a moment later, shying forward a few steps in a quick dart until he remembers he got hissed at last time for trying to impose on the other's space. ]

[showmeanguish]

It's not just humans--I don't have time to hatchling-sit you.

[He has better, way cooler things to do. Like gather treasure and cool off in his river okay.

The dart forward also gets him another bristle, before the larger dragon moves past him, into the thicker trees. Of course, since Ven is smaller he won't have a hard time following, if he's brave enough.]

Go bug someone else.

[didneyworl]

[ Biggest butt ever.

But Ven's butt, and you bet he's brave enough to follow--or in reverse, spooked enough by their recent encounter with trouble to want to stick near the other, bristled spines or not. Ven's on his heels almost immediately, yapping once at him, imploring. ]

You don't have to look after me, I'll be good! I'll take care of myself!

[showmeanguish]

Right. 'Cause you've done such a good job of that, so far.

[He doesn't even turn around, just grumbles that at him as he walks, ruffling his wings a bit before his tail lashes in a thwap.]

[didneyworl]

[ It bowls the goldscale right over and sends him tripping over himself as he tries to get his feet under him once again, but Ventus persists and hops after the larger dragon quickly with another imploring croon. ]

I said I was sorry... I won't do it ever again, I swear.

[showmeanguish]

[Suddenly, the larger dragon stops, and turns, head arching back around as his wings lift higher off his body. His lips pull back, revealing his very, very sharp teeth and canines as he snarls.]

I said... Get. Lost. Now.

[didneyworl]

[ This time Ven practically flattens himself into a pancake on the ground as his eyes widen and his own wings do the opposite and tuck in close. That definitely wasn't the reaction he'd been expecting if the expression on his face is anything to go by, and after a moment of staring up into Vanitas' sharp maw he actually skitters back a few shuffled steps as well.

Definitely cowed now, Vanitas is the boss :c ]

[showmeanguish]

[Vanitas chuffs once in response, and turns back, slinking through the bushes and trees more hurriedly. Several ground birds scatter in his path, flying towards the higher branches to escape his determined march away.

Back towards the river he'd first come from.]