like your world has. Marvelous!” Then her expression changed and she growled deep and low, “Though I feel this knowledge could be disastrous if obtained by wrong group.”
For the first time since Noir had seen her in her true form, Fafnir stood up and stretched her limbs and wings. The wings were so massive that she could not stretch their full width out in the huge chamber. She took the few steps it required to get next to Noir. The massive appendages moved up and down next to Noir and he was surprised to see they moved silently and with great hidden agility. She stopped and swung her head toward Noir. “I believe you, boy. No one could concoct a story that bizarre. We will stop your training until the morning, though today was mostly just story telling. Come, the smell of cooking rabbit has whetted my appetite.”
Fafnir continued forward through a chamber. Noir had not expected the lack of response that she gave him after he was finished with his story. The growl of his stomach convinced him to put the question off for another time.
Noir limped behind the massive creature, still marveling at her size and beauty. The hall led around a curve and to the outside air. He could now smell rabbits cooking as well. Though Noir would have preferred fast food from back home, his hunger made him less picky.
Noir walked out into the evening air to find Adeel, Ratt, and Elrid sitting around a small fire. Three of the rabbits were on sticks over the flames.
They greeted Noir as he exited. Fafnir said to the group, “The smell of your food has made me hungry. I am going to hunt. I should not be long.” She walked a few large steps away from the group and spread her massive wings to their full, immense span. Then, with a gust of air, she flapped the mighty wings and leaped at the same time. As she shot upwards, her wings blossomed out with the air filling them. She flapped a few more times to gain height before she was lost from view, hidden by the trees.
“I'd hate to see what she hunts,” joked Noir. The other three were looking at him oddly. They must not have gotten the joke. “I mean, I hope it’s not people or anything.”
“Don't be foolish,” snapped Adeel with surprisingly harsh words.
Elrid said, “Fafnir is an elder dragon and deserves more respect than that, Noir. She has lived thousands of years.” He flipped the rabbits over for the other sides to cook, then continued. “Anyway, she is probably going to hunt goat. There are many in these mountains.”
“I'm sorry, I did not mean....” Noir trailed off.
“Forget about it,” replied Elrid plainly. “Come and sit. I think they are just about ready.”
The four ate the berries and rabbits and talked together peacefully. There was a sense of security knowing that Fafnir was nearby to protect them. Noir was grateful that Adeel and Elrid seemed let Noir’s foolish joke go.
Noir asked Adeel about Fafnir's training. She said that all he had to do was follow her instructions exactly and try hard and he would be fine. She said it had taken her only a couple months before she was using lux effectively. Noir's heart sank when he heard that. He could not wait that long to go find his family. If that was to be the case, he would have to leave before he finished his training.
Ratt told Noir about how he had killed a rabbit with a rock and sling with Elrid's guidance. They traded other stories as they ate. Elrid was in the middle of telling a story about catching a Chiron scouting party near Talik when Fafnir returned. Dust blew in their eyes and the cook-fire nearly blew out as she gracefully landed.
“I surveyed the path out of my territory,” Fafnir said as she pulled in her wings and walked toward the group. “I saw no signs of any more straghs, so you should have safe passage tomorrow.” Noir looked at the dragon's head as it hovered above him. For the first
For the first time since Noir had seen her in her true form, Fafnir stood up and stretched her limbs and wings. The wings were so massive that she could not stretch their full width out in the huge chamber. She took the few steps it required to get next to Noir. The massive appendages moved up and down next to Noir and he was surprised to see they moved silently and with great hidden agility. She stopped and swung her head toward Noir. “I believe you, boy. No one could concoct a story that bizarre. We will stop your training until the morning, though today was mostly just story telling. Come, the smell of cooking rabbit has whetted my appetite.”
Fafnir continued forward through a chamber. Noir had not expected the lack of response that she gave him after he was finished with his story. The growl of his stomach convinced him to put the question off for another time.
Noir limped behind the massive creature, still marveling at her size and beauty. The hall led around a curve and to the outside air. He could now smell rabbits cooking as well. Though Noir would have preferred fast food from back home, his hunger made him less picky.
Noir walked out into the evening air to find Adeel, Ratt, and Elrid sitting around a small fire. Three of the rabbits were on sticks over the flames.
They greeted Noir as he exited. Fafnir said to the group, “The smell of your food has made me hungry. I am going to hunt. I should not be long.” She walked a few large steps away from the group and spread her massive wings to their full, immense span. Then, with a gust of air, she flapped the mighty wings and leaped at the same time. As she shot upwards, her wings blossomed out with the air filling them. She flapped a few more times to gain height before she was lost from view, hidden by the trees.
“I'd hate to see what she hunts,” joked Noir. The other three were looking at him oddly. They must not have gotten the joke. “I mean, I hope it’s not people or anything.”
“Don't be foolish,” snapped Adeel with surprisingly harsh words.
Elrid said, “Fafnir is an elder dragon and deserves more respect than that, Noir. She has lived thousands of years.” He flipped the rabbits over for the other sides to cook, then continued. “Anyway, she is probably going to hunt goat. There are many in these mountains.”
“I'm sorry, I did not mean....” Noir trailed off.
“Forget about it,” replied Elrid plainly. “Come and sit. I think they are just about ready.”
The four ate the berries and rabbits and talked together peacefully. There was a sense of security knowing that Fafnir was nearby to protect them. Noir was grateful that Adeel and Elrid seemed let Noir’s foolish joke go.
Noir asked Adeel about Fafnir's training. She said that all he had to do was follow her instructions exactly and try hard and he would be fine. She said it had taken her only a couple months before she was using lux effectively. Noir's heart sank when he heard that. He could not wait that long to go find his family. If that was to be the case, he would have to leave before he finished his training.
Ratt told Noir about how he had killed a rabbit with a rock and sling with Elrid's guidance. They traded other stories as they ate. Elrid was in the middle of telling a story about catching a Chiron scouting party near Talik when Fafnir returned. Dust blew in their eyes and the cook-fire nearly blew out as she gracefully landed.
“I surveyed the path out of my territory,” Fafnir said as she pulled in her wings and walked toward the group. “I saw no signs of any more straghs, so you should have safe passage tomorrow.” Noir looked at the dragon's head as it hovered above him. For the first
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