Duty First..

[Ryu]

The explosion was deafening, the light blinding, and the heat scorching. Debris was catapulted in every direction, taking out a dragon and her rider beside him, sending them into the chaotic abyss of fighting below. Ryu couldn’t watch their descent, after seeing so many you learn not to look. He set his gaze ahead, taking his division deeper past enemy lines before an explosion mushroomed up from below, engulfing him in smoke and licking heat.

The sky is where Ryu belonged but it hadn’t always been safe. His wings angled the wind, powerful and leathery, beating against the invisible force to take his massive form higher into the sky. The evening sun was just above the horizon, painting the sky beautiful shades of pink and orange and making the air crisp with the smell of premature dew from below. Everything was lush and green, coming out of its dormant hibernation from winter to spring. He took all of this in, drinking in the splendor that he, just as much as his fallen comrades, had fought to make possible for the next generation. Speaking of, he swept above the village, low enough that his shadow was of life-like size, rippling over obstacles. A small group of children turned their attention up, chasing, laughing, and shouting up at him for as far and long as they could keep up. Ryu caught an updraft, taking a hard curve further into the sky as he approached the stronghold. He lowered slightly once coming close to the tower where the new recruits gathered, uncurling his legs to drag his talons across the roof, letting his weight shudder the roofing before kicking off back into the sky. He gained a small amusement from terrifying the young warriors.

With the precision of those long ago helicopters Ryu landed in the courtyard without disturbing the priest’s precious gardens. His leathery wings folded neatly against his sides before he took his first steps. Where could his impossible charge be on such a nice evening as this? She was just as hard to figure out as he was so it was no wonder that they had been paired together. It is said that even as an egg that the bond between charge and dragon (or gryphon) is evident. Each chose the other for a reason…it was destiny; if you believe in that sort of thing now a day. Ryu let out what could have been a purr when he was younger but now it sounded more like a resonating pulse, calling out for Aurelia.

[Aurelia]

Aurelia was faced with eternal damnation, her impurity danced before her eyes with a flowing dress of blue. Under those fabrics of cotton and sheep skin the female new was a freshly bandaged wound. Te scent lingered upon the zephyr as the young female wound her way in circles in a seductive dance. Music blurred together, laughter had turned to background noise. The bright lanterns dangled on cords around the gathering of teenage lovers, the miserly elders and the drunken fools. But she stood there like a beacon in Aurelia's sight, she could feel the skin she would never touch and taste the girl she can never have. A soft sigh left the mistress' lips, her tongue flicked over elongated teeth. Her retribution was here, her payment had been given and in clear chains she feasted upon animals like the humans who dwindled in her presence. It was a shame and at the same time an insult. The female leaned back in the shadows, her thought lingering upon the thrill of a hunt that did not exist. It went against her instincts and she lived her life in an eternal struggle Something drew her out from her day dreams, it was the distinct noise of something familiar yet she could only hear it faintly like the fly's buzz to human ears. Though her heightened senses told her before hand of the call that would come shortly.

The young vampiress turned with remorse, her cloak billowed behind her as she skirted down the streets with the ecstasy of a child in full dash. A sound reached her ears. Her Ryu had returned from his disappearance. In all likely hood he had simply gone to sedate his own large stomach and Aurelia could only hope to beech him to join her. It was clear that food currently took up her only thoughts but she could not help what was necessary to her existence. Her life had just begun for the day. This was her morning. Her breakfast was late. She slowed down once her feet began to click against stone laid paths. The fortress loomed before her with an ever present air of dignity. She had a momentary feeling of deja vu but it passed as easily as it came. The female drifted through the archway and into the courtyard where her sapphire friend waited. "Ryu." her voice was gentle, the sound of a whisper to a lover, "Where have you been."

[Ryu]

And she replied. Aurelia moved towards him as she did the night he had hatched. Ryu rather enjoyed having an immortal as a charge since it prolonged his retirement as well. A dragon may die and their charge receives a new one, the bond may not be as strong as the first though, but if a charge died then the dragon was forced to retirement. Though it was not a virtuous thing in some eyes, some protectors took their own life after losing their charge.
The soft lyrics that escaped past her lips to carress his ears broke Ryu of his thoughts. If music be the food of love, play on. His talons grated lightly along the path as each foot was raised and placed to close the space between the two 'monsters'. He swung his head down to Aurelia, gently nuzzling her side, allowing one moment to be sweet little Ryu. That was all though. His entire demeanor changed as he broke the physical contact and his eyes went back to their guarded depths. His own sound was not unique, gravely and worn like all other male creatures with the females only octive higher. Afterall it wasn't their job to talk, just to fight.
"I was feeding when I saw humanoids, but they're gone now." Ryu's gaze flickered to the horizon taking on a darker hue of blue, scanning the tops of the moonlit trees before looking back to Aurelia. Humans infected with the other worldly diseases that turned to vampirism or elf sometimes had the opposite effect and made them wandering mindless killing machines; thus earning the name of humanoid. "Your hungry..." It was no more a question than a statement. Ryu dipped his body to press against the cold earth and peeled his wing away to offer as a stepping stone up to his back. The further out he took Aurelia to hunt the more freedom she would have without running into a townsfolk by accident. Ryu understood how it felt to be absorbed and focused on the smell of prey that even if it was a loved one that was near they were as good as dead. Ryu's eyes, as clear blue as a sunny day now that he had eaten, searched Aurelia's for her reaction.

[Aurelia]

Her hand went to both sides of the ruby scales that made up his skin. She stroked the glimmering skin gently, enjoying the feel of them underneath her hands till it was taken from her. She had only half listened to his next sentence till the word humanoids came from his bestial mouth. At this her attention once more became intent upon the possibility of an attack. "How many? How far out where they?" She muttered back quickly, the vampire glanced around her to ensure that there were no others around them. The corner of her lips where dragged into what could appear to be a slight smile. Aurelia had to admit there were more aspects of war that she found appeasing then not. The thought of being able to drink the blood of humans sent a tantalizing tingle down her spine, of course, that was only when her captors could not see, and on the battle field, anything goes.

He spoke again and her attention strayed from her thoughts of blood lust. She nodded simply, there were no ifs ands or buts about it. It was a fact. The uncurling of his wings brought with it the gentle breeze and for a moment her locks of ebony rustled in the passing air. She reached out and gently put her her foot upon the touch part of his wing. She was careful, his wings where the only delicate thing about him. though often in their battle he had protective covering, now, he had none. Still only moments passed before she was sitting comfortably upon his back. They had saddles for this kind of thing but they were only worn during war time. Pain had little hold on the vampire as it did humans and so the chafing didn't bruise her ivory legs.

[Ryu]

Ryu waited ever so patiently as Aurelia seated herself on his back. The no saddle thing was just one more reason he was more than happy to have a vampire as his charge. A dragon should never be subjected to feeling like a common work animal. A light chuckle rumbled in his chest. “We will find them.” Humanoids were quick suckers that if they weren’t trying to eat you alive would actually be fun to hunt. Considering his flight ability and Aurelia’s lack of death, humanoid hunting was a prime meal for her blood thirst. It was the closest to human blood she could come since war. His leather wings crinkled, dragging close to his body before extending out as far and high as they could go. “Hold on.” He loved this part. With as much care as he took in landing to not flatten anything, it was all quite literally thrown to the wind. His wings came down and his legs curled, shooting them up in a vertical line, the great gust of wind created by his wings flattening all garden life. The priest would be cross later.

The sun had settled beyond the horizon and left the moon the sole orb in the sky. His dark color blended easily with the dark sky. Aurelia was lucky, or perhaps it was another link to the bonding theory, that he was not ‘cursed’ with the green, red, or red coloring of some of the other dragons. Ryu doubted a gryphon would have survived the first two years with Aurelia. He retraced his previous path, using the currents to glide easily back over the town of Reves. There were supposedly boundary rules after this hour…and rules about going in search of humanoids. Whole towns were known to have been wiped out because humanoids followed their attackers back without the group knowing. Tricky bastards. Ryu’s ears swiveled back to listen for Aurelia’s tune as he carried them past the cloud threshold. It was brighter above the foggy clouds, the moon reflecting brightly off the tops. His legs dropped slightly to let his talons drag through the wispy mess. “Have the graduates chosen their eggs yet?” He was always keen on the new hatchlings because of their vulnerability and more over to know what little monsters he was expected to help teach when they became old enough.

[Aurelia]

Aurelia's grip onto the lizard creature tightened swiftly, she leaned forward till her breasts were pressed against his scales, they had less resistance this way and thus were bound to move much faster. A simper tugged at her lips once more at Ryu's reply. 'We'll find them.' The words echoed in her mind with the promise of dinner far better then wildlife. Her stomach fluttered with anticipation and again her tongue lingered on pointed teeth. She hardly had much time to relish before she felt his body tense, her grip tightened even further as he launched into the air, her hair whipped past her cheek and in moment she was faintly aware that the cold was nipping at her cheeks though she had an inability to feel it. They burst through the clouds, evening out and now a smile lit her form with glee. Her grip loosened, the vampire sat up and leaned back slightly, her gaze peaceful on the ivory disc in the clear sky. Her gaze was intent upon the sky and the stars, this being her favorite place. Her hand idly stroked his scales as the other one was used to keep her grip onto her mount, just in case.

Aurelia heard Ryu's question but hesitated on answering, jarred only slightly from her state of idle peace. "Hardly." She replied with a soft laughter. "They are on their last week, Lucius is still trying his hardest to weed out some more. He says there are too many." Her musical laughter sounded again at the thought of the general. "He's very annoyed with it. The nurses are a bit worried, they don't think they have enough critters for everyone, of course they haven't told Lucius that one just yet, because that would just tell him that he has a reason to be annoyed." Aurelia shook her head, although she was hardly out during the day, she often looked onto the trainee's sessions, within the next few days Lucius would through her in there to scare them further. She shrugged slightly, "The nurses say they're going to hatch any day now. They're impatient."

The vampire sighed, glancing down at the clouds moving below them. "Ryu, the world is too peaceful." She complained, stalking the shadows had bore her. "Life is slowing to a dwindle, I waste my days away!" She sighed again, an eternity of nothing had occurred to her and the wars where her only options of excitement anymore, especially since her hunting had become restricted. She now looked to her only friend for answers.

[Ryu]

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