"SO LISTEN CAREFULLY! ALL OF YOU!" I roared out to my underlings as we came to a stop atop a mountain. Its snowy peak melting alongside the stone underneath as I perched myself on it. My magic also making the air hazy with many seeable, colourless lines going about me.

My eyes carefully watching my underlings as they either came to a stop mid-flight or moved to perch. A smile soon on my face once I was sure that they were all ready to listen to me. But, just before I spoke, I turned my head towards the target of ours. It was so close and just wanting to clarify some things angered me...

They were so tantalisingly close to being dead at my hands. And, so luckily for me, there was no one and nothing near them capable of defending them. No smaller machines that could just fill my underlings with fatal injuries. No greater one capable of scaring even me off.

All that was there was that lonely machine with no strong magical signatures on it. Nothing stood out and the only one that did was so shakey that it was laughable. It made one really question the dominance of humans at the end of it. But, despite their personal weakness, there was strength there.

Just not here.

"LISTEN UP AND LISTEN WELL! DO NOT DESTROY THIS MACHINE! MERELY KILL ITS DEFENDERS AND THEN BRING THE HWARDGON TO ME! UNLESS I SAY OTHERWISE... YOU WILL FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS AND ME PRECISELY! NOW! FOLLOW!" I shouted out to them with a roar before launching up into the sky again. The mist of embers that I left hiding the molten rock I left behind. And soon I was parting clouds as I returned to the skies beyond them. A clear view all around.

But, while I was up here, I was going to enjoy it. So I let some of my anger go just so I could enjoy the sensation of beating my wings. Blasts of heated air and black smoke coming from me with every grand flap I made. And, sometimes, I would dip into the clouds and leave again.

Laughing all the while before I would come to a stop when I was by an open patch of sky. Carefully looking down from the spot I found just so I could stare. Stare at the machine carrying my prey and those aboard it. So clueless to my presence despite my draconic ways.

That was one thing that annoyed me, actually. How the humans forced this inane idea out that your magic should be controlled. Restricted and hidden away from those around you. The exact opposite of what a dragon or wyvern believed and practised.

Magic was our power, it was our gift and our privilege. It is what made us stand out from the rest of the world and it is what made us, us! Jaadagroen may have played a greater part in us of draconic origin, but, the result was the same. Species capable of using magic were chosen.

So humans just infuriated me as a result of it. Why would they not make it clear that they were gifted? Why did they train themselves to bottle it up!? If they truly were the greatest of all races then they should prove it openly!

Instead, they did not, and that would be their undoing...

"That one right there, they are mine." I said to my underlings as I unfurled a claw out. It pointing straight at the one that stood high above the rest. The only one with any kind of magic flowing out of them. So, naturally, the only one worthy of my strength.

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"Give that back!" I called out to Lari as she pranced about the deck of the airship. In her hands, both mine and Einervaene's hats. Beside me, Einervaene. Who was also annoyed at Lari taking her hat.

"Yeah! Ayi-chira! Please, this isn't funny, we have more important things to do!" Einervaene said in an effort to plead with the blue-haired woman. She had been doing this a lot lately, Lari, that is. She keeps doing stuff to get me near Einervaene. And, frankly, it worried me a little.

Did this have to do with what she told me in the bathroom...? I really wish it wasn't because I just did not want to confront it. Because, frankly, I was very paranoid about how that would play out. Would rejecting her spiral out of control...?

I did not know. And I did not know why Lari had just stopped either. It's like she was suddenly bothered by something. So, I guess my hat can wait for the moment.

"La-" I began to say before something very hot slammed into me. Forcing me through the airship and air until I stopped in the ground. Ground that had suddenly became molten and burnt. And I screamed in pain as I properly registered the flaming fist in my gut.

"SHIT!" I yelled out before I groaned in pain. One of my claws soon tearing off my mask so I could look at whoever attacked me. A glare quickly forming as this disinterested looking creature suddenly became curious.

"You are alive?" It asked me in a haughty tone as I recovered from the punch it gave me. My eyes flinching away the entire time as the heat I was in was unbearable. How hot was this thing!? God of Fire, please remove your blessing on this thing!

"YOU WON'T BE!" I yelled out in anger at the creature before I recklessly charged at it. Slamming my bulk into its near-equal one and just coming to a halt. Panicking as I was then picked up and tossed away. Stinging sensations all over my body along with distinct handprints.

"HAHAHAHAHA! You stupid... Human...?" It initially laughed out maniacally before it came to a stop to look at my face. A short-lived expression of confusion appearing on its face before it shook its head. Meanwhile, I was looking about trying to figure out what to do. I couldn't beat this thing in a fight! To say nothing of the heat!

"Lari!?" I then called out in panic as I turned away from the creature idiotically. Staring up at the airship in disbelief as I saw it disappear. Blasts of green surrounding it as one side burned brightly. I needed to get back up there.

But, I don't think I would be right now as I had just been smacked into the ground. A faceful of dirt before I was forced to eat it when a set of talons grabbed me and pushed. And as my arms flailed about in an effort to get myself out. I was let go off, more of that laughter filling my ears shortly after.

"You're pathetic, creature." I was told before I was kicked into a mountain. My breath having been lost in the way there. Let alone when I rolled down it after smashing into it. So I was just left coughing when it was all over.

I couldn't fight this thing... I needed to get out of here... Let Lari deal with it... Her water magic would make us win.

"Don't follow!" I called out to it before I ran off. Jumping as fast as I could between mountains in an effort to lose it. Yet, even that would not work and it just sped into me as I travelled across the valley. Those long, curved horns just barely missing the opportunity to stab me as it hit me again.

"I'm going to kill you!" It told me before it roared fire towards me. Fire I just could not get out of the way of in time. So I covered my body with my arms like a scared child. Screaming in pain as the fire rolled over me and cooked me.

At least, until I brought up some kind of barrier with my magic that directed it around me. Hysterical laughter being my response from then on as the barrier went away. Laughter that quickly died off when the fires went away. Leaving me a somewhat clear view of my attacker.

"So you aren't as pitiful as presumed... Eugh, I hate that about humans and the lesser species. Always hiding your power and restraining it..." It muttered in annoyance before its right claw lit up with fire. And I was left somewhat enlightened, now that I focused somewhat. It became clear to me, this was all the power it had... And I was hiding mine...

"Noted..." I responded with as I backed away. Urging my body to let out magic as the ground behind me became rougher and bumpier. A soot-black mountainside soon pressing up against my back. Indicating to me very clearly that I needed to fight or run...

And just before it leapt at me to take another swipe at me, I brought forth my trusted magic. A long pole of magic I could hopefully use as a weapon to hit this thing with. I could avoid the burns and potentially kill it or something! But that laughter was unnerving...

Was it not enough!? Was it just going to break like it did when I played around with Lari!? No! It won't because I was not playing around this time!

"Waionr grant me strength..." I quietly said just before I moved to fight this creature.

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"Get inside! I'll hold them off!" Ayi-chira told me as she gestured me away from the deck. Just as another blast of wind sliced into the airship.

"THEY'LL KILL YOU!" I shrieked back at her as I stumbled about. Contrasting greatly with her calm demeanour where she seemingly danced about.

"I'll be fine, now, get inside!" she repeated to me just before she helped me up. A blast of magic from her putting out the fires caused by whatever took Nin. Then, more blasts of water magic which began to interfere with the attacks hitting the airship.

"Vadei!" I called out into the control room as I stumbled in. Each hit the airship took making me stumble as it would shake us violently.

"What's going on!?" Vadei asked me as she rushed out from wherever she was to meet me. Her body jumping when something smashed into the front of the airship. Its scaled arm and long claws tearing apart the machines near it as it tried to reach for something.

"Wyverns!" one of the slavers growled out just before I rushed over to the arm. My body transforming into lightning before I then grabbed the arm. Holding on for dear life as I was violently tossed about before it went limp.

"Wyverns!? What are you talking about!?" I asked as I placed a hand to my chest after returning to normal. My heart thumping powerfully inside me while my eyes lingered on that burnt arm. The arm of something I killed without much thought.

"You! Put hand in there! Get defence on!" the elder slaver then demanded of Vadei as he began to slam her. The spooked woman growling at him before she started moving towards the main chair. Her hands going to her head as she looked about with uncertainty.

"WHAT DO I DO!?" she cried out in tears while looking about with a red face.

"Hand in there!" the elder slaver repeated as he took her hand and put it into this machine. Her screams soon filling our ears as she clutched her arm.

"IT'S STABBING ME! IT'S STABBING ME!" she repeated over and over while crying. Her body naturally trying to pull away which only made her cry more.

"Hold her still!" I was then ordered before the slavers went back to controlling the airship. My arms soon wrapping around the scared, tailed woman so I could comfort her.

"Shhhh, shhhh, shhhh! It's going to be alright, just, do as he says." I say to her in as motherly a tone as I could do. Making sure I was holding on to her tight to keep her still and getting her into the chair behind us. One of her arms soon tightly holding on to her tail as she sat on my lap.

"It hurts..." she cried out while looking about in confusion. Her head occasionally shaking and twitching before the airship rumbled. A bubble of light surrounding us before various other lights lanced out from the airship.

"You're doing great, you're doing great. Just keep doing whatever it is you are doing!" I say to her in an effort to keep her calm. Looking over at the slavers as they went into overdrive and pressed and flipped away at the consoles. My eyes soon lingering upwards to these screens that had suddenly appeared. Lari clearly portrayed in them along with a few wyverns.

"Beat them, beat them..." I began to mumble over and over as I watched these somewhat human-looking creatures attack her. Only to be filled with relief as she effortlessly danced around them with smooth twists and sharp movements. Glowing water following her every move as she infuriated them. Their blows missing and magic overshooting and she did not even attack!

At least, until she started to throw small orbs at them. Some going straight through their bodies and precisely crippling or killing them. And then, she began to actually strike the wyverns and was killing them quickly. The final one having its head crushed after she kicked its head up and then slammed it back down with the same leg.

Her body soon washing itself off as she turned around and waved at us. A sigh of relief going through me before a loud bang was heard just behind us. The snapping of jaws making it clear one of them was still around. So, I urged Vadei off of me, despite her desperate attempts to keep me around.

I then gulped down my fear and stood before the damaged door. Watching it with uncertainty as this creature tore it off and charged at me. An orb of wind magic in its mouth before it collapsed to the ground suddenly.

"Sorry!" Ayi-chira said to me as she rush over to me. Another orb of water leaving her fingers just as she passed by its head. A bloody hole appearing and adding to the pool of blood now on the floor. And now that she was here, I went back to the chair and stayed with Vadei.

"What's going on, you two!? You know what these things are!" I then asked the slavers as the magic bubble lit up around us over and over. Clear signs that it was being attacked by these wyverns. Some kind of gauge and measurement even appeared before us and it was steadily getting smaller.

"We maaay haaave pissed aff same wyverns befare aaand they haaave been chaaasing us..." Heiya admitted nervously before she went back to work.

"Great!" Ayi-chira said in frustration as she brought her arms up before bringing them down again. Her eyes looking on with worry at the deck of the ship.

"How bad is it?" I asked her, having somewhat of an idea as to what it might be that is causing the issue.

"Outside of where Nin was taken... Most of it is just fine slices or cuts. We should be able to patch it up with the tools onboard."

"What about Nin!?" I then asked which made her freeze up.

"We can't help him..." she quietly said while looking away.

"Can't help him!? You beat the ones out there! We just need to beat the rest!"

"WHATEVER TOOK NIN HAS LIKELY KILLED HIM ALREADY!" she then roared out in tears. Something that made my heart feel like it had stopped.

"You don't know that..." I muttered with a trembling lip.

"Did you not feel the power of that creature!? It's too much for him to handle and we need to keep this airship safe which we can't do if we go out to help him!" she said to me.

"NO! HE MATTERS MORE THAN THIS AIRSHIP! GET THE SHIELD DOWN! GET IT DOWN!" I first screamed at Ayi-chira before I turned towards Vadei. Grabbing onto her and shaking her in a fit of rage just to get a chance to help Nin out. But, Vadei was too terrified to do anything and she just shook her head over and over.

"EINERVAENE!" Ayi-chira then shouted at me after she slapped me. A sharp sting going across my face before I placed a hand against the wet mark on my face. Magic was involved in that slap...

"GET OUT OF MY WAY!" I then yelled at her before I turned into lighting and charged her. Sending volt after volt into this annoying Ibenoroccon before she blasted me away with her aura. And then I was just staring in anger as she tried to sort herself out.

"Calm down... Please..." she asked me in tears before she slammed her head against the wall of the airship. Slowly getting up and then just dashing outside onto the decking of the airship. Leaning over the side of the airship railings and desperately looking for Nin. But all I saw was a mighty blaze down below.

There was so much destruction...

I needed to get to a better viewpoint, just somewhere where I could dive off the ship... But, then, I stopped and I bent over to pick up something. My hat and his... I then just cried into it before angrily staring at the shield protecting us.

"I'll kill you... I'LL KILL YOU!" I said quietly at first before yelling it out. A bolt of lightning leaving my hands and going through the barrier. And then... I was filled with a sense of relief as that could only mean one thing...!

I could get out of here and save him! I could save Nin!

"Don't do it!" I was told as a particular someone came running out to stop me. Just before I then leapt off the airship, summarily passing through the barrier. And then, as I felt heated air wash over me, I turned into lightning and went into the clouds again. Arcing across the gaseous water until I saw a fight down below.

"NIN!" I screamed out like thunder before I then shot down towards the figures in the fire.

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Did that thunder just say my name? Or was I just hearing things...? I might have been because now I was completely and utterly screwed... I was about to die, again...

Turned out my magic wasn't going to be of much use and now I was about to be cooked alive. At least until this creature was then struck by lightning which drove it into the ground. Like I have so many times throughout this fight. And there was only one person I knew with lightning magic...

"Einervaene...?" I mumbled in disbelief as I slowly got up. Her screams soon being heard just before the sound of rocks smashing was heard too.

"Another one? And here I haven't even finished with the last! But, enough playing around. I am done here." the creature began to say before it just flew up and away. My eyes tracking it towards the airship as I felt its power grow more violent. Was it going to destroy it...? It was, wasn't it!?

It was going to destroy my only way home...

"I WON'T LET YOU!" I roared up into the sky as I watched fire engulf the airship. That bubble around it disappearing steadily as it did so. I needed to hurry and I needed to get up there now!

So, I crouched down a little while trying to breathe out my pain. Growling long and hard as I let my magic gather up inside of me. And then, I went up with a bang that shattered stone and knocked over burnt trees. The air around me rippling as I went up before it too made a bang.

My magic soon extended out from my right leg, which I had cocked back. And while I was growing ever surer of the idea I might miss. I was not going to let this be how it ended. I would get home!

I WILL GET HOME!

And then, another bang filled my ears as I managed to hit something. Hard shards of something hitting me as I flew off before crashing on a mountain. The cold snow feeling ever so relaxing on my burnt and tired body. The screams of that creature filling the air.

"UNDERLINGS! GRAB HIM AND PULL BACK!" It then ordered before I was then picked up and brought beyond the clouds. Something being screamed up at me before my eyes just sort of closed. Yet, I hadn't fallen asleep or anything... I was just sort of in a tiredness limbo...

And it carried on like this until I felt myself, strangely, be put down gently. A soft and warm touch surrounding me before I was then brought deeper into some kind of cave. And after a short while of having something cuddle me... I woke up and showed as much confusion as I could.

My eyes quickly shooting themselves open when I saw what was huddled up on me. It was that creature that had attacked us and yet here it was... Sleeping on top of me and peacefully snoring away. A soft warmth emanating from it as it slept there.

However, much to my building fear, my chitters seemed to disturb its slumber and it woke up. I was borderline about to scream in terror before it just started licking me with its long tongue. From face to upper chest. That fear and terror quickly making way for the confusion that I let out just after.

"Ehhhhhhhh...!?" was all I could say or get out at all as this happened. A soft, gentle laugh leaving the creature before it looked at me with a familiar gaze. What it would likely call a loving one but I saw as blatant lust... What had I done?

What had I done!?

This thing had been trying to kill me and now it was just lying on top of me. Like Rose would have once upon a time before we got to the Academy. Thankfully, it stopped licking me and it began to get off of me. Only to seductively stretch itself out before me.

Admittedly, if I wasn't terrified and quaking in my boots, I might have enjoyed the show before me. As, it turns out, despite the blatantly odd and strange scaly and reptilian portions this creature had. It was a very voluptuous and beautiful thing... With its human-looking parts being soft and bountiful in all the right places.

"I take it you are impressed by what you see, hm?" It asked me as it came back down on top of me. Slowly dragging its enormous breasts across me before it put my face in them. My uncontrollable chitters seemingly contributing to the soft moaning it was making. Thankfully, it backed off again.

"W-Where am I...?" I asked It. Yet, I was under the impression I might not get an answer. I don't know why, it must have just been my fear talking...

"You are in my... Your cave, Mate." It began to say before it stopped itself. A loving sigh leaving its mouth after it called me 'Mate.' And while I did not show it, inside I was fuming with frustration as this meant... Yeah, it could have only meant one thing...

This was going to be Rose all over again...

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"What do you mean by... Mate?" I then asked It as it returned to laying on me. Bringing, admittedly, a much-desired warmth as this fear was making me more suspectable to the elements. Her own body shivering before one of its reptilian claws rubbed its head. Dried blood falling from it as the claws passed over.

"You broke my horns... That means I am now yours to do with as you please. Any desire you have, my body will satiate." she explained just before she rubbed against me intensely. One of her claws slowly picking away at my clothes and tearing them off.

"Noted, can you get off?" I said to It before I started to slowly get up as I was free of her once more. A long sigh leaving me before I was then hugged from behind with arms and wings. Her large breasts that were very much greater than Einervaene's cushioning my back. Her giggling entering my ears shortly after.

"Mate, just to make it clear, I am available whenever you want me..." she told me with evident lust in her words before her tongue licked me again.

"My name is Nin..." I then told her as I stepped out of her grip. Something that surprised me in that it wasn't as strong as I thought it was going to be.

"So the man who broke my horns is called Nin..." she said slowly as she walked up to me, her hips swaying side-to-side as she approached, "The man who can use me however he want is called Nin?" she finished with as she stopped just before me. Her eyes nearly in line with mine which bothered me somehow.

I guess I was used to being the very tall one, not the slightly taller one...

"Yeah..." I quietly said as I resisted the urge to back up.

"Well, Nin, my mate, the one you will be making scream is called Salahma. Remember that, I might want you to say my name when we have sex." she explained with a smirk before walking off. Her thick tail guiding my head so it was pointed at her rear as she walked off. Even if I was looking away. But the laughter she was letting out certainly got me to look at her.

My body freezing up slightly as I was had seen those orange eyes of hers looking back at me. She had been watching me look away... Was that bad? Was this going to anger her?

"Don't worry, as long as you are assertive around me, you won't have to worry about a thing." I was told just before she went away. These words having a different meaning to me as I had just felt sharp stings throughout. Painful stings they were, lots of them there was. In pain I would be for a while now...

"Why am I not healing...? Isn't she stronger than me? Ah!" I questioned while looking down at my body. An incredible sensation of discomfort filling my gut as I stared at the burns on me. It had made my otherwise black-ish carapace pale and goopy. Had she melted it in our fight...?

I need to find a means to heal myself, though, if I don't get these injuries sorted then I am... Well, the meaning might change a little as she had been quite blunt about why I was here. But, I was screwed if that was the case. Screwed in two ways.

But, I suppose I can handle it for now, just play it safe and the others should find me. Perhaps, going by how this place was just filled with magic aura's... I could just let my own magic out? Let it be a great torch to guide the others closer and closer towards me...?

Assuming they are still alive, I don't recall much of what happened after I landed on the mountain top. Had the others been killed? Was Einervaene likely dead? I remember she came down to help...

"Einervaene!" I then let out suddenly as I sprang into action. Panting out the pain as I went on a brief dash about in hopes of finding her. But, I just couldn't keep it up and I slowed down so I could hiss. The pain having built up too much.

And, unfortunately, it might be the case right now that I have to linger around this Salahma. Maybe her magic will help me heal up. Of course, it was unlikely going by my current state. Or maybe that just meant I was her near equal?

And that she only beat me because she was more skilled with magic...? No, that couldn't have been it. I felt feeble before her and my attacks did nothing but that last one. When I broke her horns...

When I was filled with nothing but rage at the prospect of losing my chance to go home. I had it in me, but, would I be able to get it all out? I was going to die in that fight yet that power just did not come out. I thought I had gotten over this issue with Lari but maybe it was a little more complex?

I then suddenly jumped as a jaw loudly snapped itself near me. A chorus of mocking laughter following it as I straightened myself out. As I did so, I became timid and looked at the mockers with tightly-knit movements of my claws. Cautiously keeping an eye on them as they moved closer.

Their green scales and colouring making it clear that they were a lot different to Salahma. Maybe it was because of their magic? She was orange-reddish and used fire but these creatures coming up to me were green. So did that mean it was all wind magic...?

"You best watch yourself, one slip up and the Mistress will be mine!" one threatened me with before another thing started attacking it.

"She'll be mine!" it said before more and more started joining in. A fight quickly breaking out between them as they all debated one thing. A thing that was likely going to be getting very angry if I was to guess...

"STOP FIGHTING UNDERLINGS! AWAY! THE LOT OF YOU!" Salahma roared in anger as she came on over towards us. Her body pressing up against mine as these underlings of hers dispersed. An annoyed growl in her mouth before I got another lick.

"Are they always like this?" I asked her as I watched them watch me with envy and displeasure. A very unnerving atmosphere if I was to say. It being clear they would likely kill me in my sleep. Maybe that is why Salahma slept on me as well?

To stop my assassination...

"Only whenever someone gets a chance to get inside me." she whispered to me as her claw grabbed my private spot. Thankfully, my osibindah biology saved me as theirs was locked away behind carapace. Well, at least until they wanted to use it. Something I ended up discovering when showering one day...

Lari just sort of appeared in my thoughts and it popped out... But, thankfully, that was in private, away from her. Even more thankfully, I was too scared to get those kind of thoughts right now. Even with such an impressive bust consuming my arm.

"Someone has been inside you before?" I then just sort of asked without much thought.

She backed away as if she was embarrassed, "I got desperate and I let an underling... Actually, little one! Little one!? Come to Mama!" she then began to call out. But I got the meaning even if she did not elaborate much. She got horny one day and did it with one of these underlings.

Though I suppose now she would never be horny!

"Heh..." I ended up letting out as I just sort of thought of a means to at least alleviate my worries.

"What's funny!?" Salahma asked me, her tone making it seem like she thought I was laughing at her. Well, I was, just not at what she had said.

"Nothing..." I squeaked out before chittering rapidly.

Her glare coming very close to my face as I did so, "Mama!" something then said to get her attention. Her expression milding out as she turned to face it.

"Hello, little one." she greeted in a calm and apathetic tone as she bent down to pick it up. A little creature like her in her arms as she turned around to face me. It was closer in look to one of the underlings, though. Green scales and all that with the human parts being distinctly boy-like.

"Hi." I said with a small wave as I stared at the nervous creature. Not really sure what to make of it as it felt odd looking at a half-reptile half-human thing. Even if Salahma's attractive body helped me ignore it, it still bothered me. Which, I suppose I had no right to do given my body...

"This is my son." she explained before a loud snap filled my ears. My eyes becoming practically glued to the limp body now in her hands. Everything about me had frozen up. I did not even follow the body as it was thrown away.

The sounds of tearing flesh and crunched up bones following it...

"Tha... Th... That was your son!" I barely got out at first until I just forced it out. But, this cruel thing before me, this Salahma. She just walked up to me as if what she did was erotic!? She was now trying to seduce me after murdering her son!?

"Was, now I get to have many more sons and even daughters with you. I hope you can last a while, because I am going to be very busy with you." she whispered into my ear with her hot breath being followed by her tongue. If I could still do it, she'd probably be tasting nothing but my sweat. However, instead, she just tasted my carapace and the flesh under it.

A taste she seemed to quite enjoy as even though it did not feel nice for me, mostly because I was scared. She kept guiding her tongue between my carapace and slobbering over my twitching flesh. If I was not terrified, I might have asked her to stop. But, for now, I was just going to let it happen.

Thankfully, she was done quite quickly, so I could relax a little. Well, I say that, but, the reality was clear and blatant. I would do no relaxing around here, especially given what I just saw. So I could only pray the others got here quickly...

By the gods... Someone save me, I can't get out of this on my own. Running would see me butchered and that assumes I could run! I was too injured to do anything right now...

Actually, how did she expect me to have sex with her when I was struggling to walk!? Actually... Maybe this was my opportunity!? To see if I can convince her to help me heal with her magic, or to at least take me somewhere where I can!

"Salahma..." I started off nervously as I began to walk with her. My eyes sometimes moving to the edge of their sockets. It was clear we were being followed.

"Yes, my Nin?" I was asked back with just as she pressed herself up against me again.

"So you want me to have lots of sex with you, yes?" and the moment I said the breeding word. The underlings began to, well, squawk in fury.

"QUIET!" Salahma roared at them before doing a complete tonal shift, "Until your back breaks and my hips dislocate." she whispered as her tongue prodded my mouth.

"How am I going to do that exactly, like this...? I am in a lot of pain right now and I can't exactly do well in, you know if I am..." I said to her before gesturing to my various burn marks and points of melted carapace. Screaming in my head as I was hoping so badly that she would take it and heal me.

"You make a good point..." she said ponderously before she then picked me up and rushed us to somewhere. A cloud of grey puffing up into the air around us before she then went on top of me with a smirk.

"Wha..." I let out in utter confusion. Some disappointment as well as it seemed like she was not going to heal me.

"We'll just do it here then! You can rest your strong, fertile body on this soft ash and I can do all the work... Don't worry, I don't mind, so long as a child is in me once we are done." she explained as she slowly went back and forth on my crotch. A slight blush appearing on her face as she leaned back.

"I'll bear this in mind, but, give me some time to at least heal, okay?" I then asked her in hopes of getting her off of me. Only for her to then stop moving before she then slowly moved her claws up. And, once they had passed her breasts, the scaley bra-like parts of them disappeared into flickering embers. Her darkly coloured nipples protruding outwards once her claws were out of the way.

"Are you sure?" she asked me as her tongue rolled out of her mouth and slithered down. Its end so very close to flicking away at the hardened bit of flesh at the tip of her breasts. Her claws soon pressing into them to squish them and elicit pleasure from her. Those moans adding to that question of hers...

Are you sure?

Yes, I was sure, and I was going to answer.

"Not now." I told her before flinching back slightly. Expecting this to suddenly get forceful, but, no, she obeyed and moved off of me.

"Of course, sorry for pushing you too far." she said to me before rubbing up to me with a soft purr. Embers once again flashing about her breasts before she went off. Those scale bra things back before a growl came from her. Not her mouth, though.

"Hungry?" I then ended up asking her, just so I had something to get my mind off of what just happened.

"I am... But are you? You come first!" she said to me as she walked away and stopped. Her eyes looking at me with anticipation. Her body just as eager to go and do something.

"I'm fine..." I said to her with a mutter, "Let's just get you something."

"We don't have to do anything, the underlings, your lessers can do it." she explained before she began to guide me elsewhere. Towards what must have been closer to the entrance as the air felt stronger this way. Or, as I was soon to find out, no. It was because the underlings were fighting.

Something that infuriated Salahma but not enough to make her shout so close to my ear. So, instead, I had to stay quiet as a burning sensation went over me. Her aura was doing the shouting for her and I was now wishing she had just shouted. As I was in a lot of pain right now while I was in this aura...

I felt like I was being cooked alive! Yet, all this behaviour I had seen from Salahma made me keep my shouts in. I did not want to be perceived as weak in a place where the weak were clearly killed off! Something that would happen to me if I did not clearly show myself as strong...

But how was I going to show myself as strong when I was currently struggling to stand!? How can I even act strong when my body is covered in burn scars and melted carapace!? The best it seems that I could do was just not react to the pain. But even then, I was still twitching and raring to swear to the orbital-halo above.

"Now! Bring us some food!" Salahma then said with a booming voice before she turned to me with a smile. Her aura having died down in intensity before she then brought us to a... I don't know what it was. Some of those underlings seemed to have shaped themselves into a piece of furniture.

And I was quiet the entire time I was forced to sit down on it. Trying my best to ignore the growls coming from the underlings before I was then sat on. Or, rather, sprawled out on as she wanted to cover each bit of me. I also hope it was not to annoy the underlings under me.

I did not want any part in these power struggles, I just wanted to get out of here and go on home. Of course, how I would get home now was an issue... I saved the airship, I must have. But, how would I even get back to it...?

My body is in no position to handle the strain of a long journey now. If I come across more valley-riders, I am dead. If I find another earth shaman, I am dead. To say nothing of getting away from this place!

What was I even going to do...? Seriously, what was I going to do? I guess I could pray for help, but how would the gods hear me? They can only clearly hear you near a shrine or a holy artefact...

"Right..." I then let out as my head went down slightly. Unintentionally, putting it directly before Salahma's face as she looked up at me. Her face doing all the expressions I have seen Rose try before. I was even having to put up with some erotic grinding from her.

She was really relentless in this, wasn't she...? She might have been even more eager than Rose was back in her flower... Which was probably a bad thing. My body was not strong enough to resist.

At least with Rose, I could gently force her away. Salahma, however, would roughly force me as close as she could. She'd probably snap my back in two in the process as restraint doesn't seem to be something she knows. Let alone understands.

"I wonder what you want to do with that arm?" I was asked suggestively as I was forced to pull it out from under her breast. Her lips being chewed on as I had to exert myself just to slide it on through. And I was just going to pretend I never heard that squeak she made when it just went past her. Having caught on one of those scale bra things as I got it out.

"There you are..." I mumbled while looking at my bracelet which was thankfully fine. Even if the arm around it was all messed up by my prior fight with Salahma.

"What's that little thing?" I was asked by Salahma as she carelessly prodded away at it with her tongue.

"It's a gift from a friend." I answered with before she then moved to take it off of me. Her eyes narrowing as she looked at it more intensely. Something that left me uncomfortable as that was mine... It was a gift from Motrtha, she said it would protect me...

And I really would like some divine protection right now...

"These are symbols for the Goddess of Mothers... Why would you have something like this?" she then asked me as her face showed her anger. And I most dearly hoped it was not anger directed at me.

"I just said it was a gift from a fri-"

"More like a lover." she interrupted as she rose up. Her chest becoming clear for me to see before her claws rested themselves on my chest. Steadily pressing down on them to the point it began to hurt in and of itself.

"No, it was just a fri-"

"No she isn't, if she gave you this she wants to be a mother." she quietly told me before leaning down.

"You don't know what you're talking about..." I quietly said while looking away. My left eye watching those teeth of hers carefully as they got closer.

"Possibly, but, in the event that I am right. I will give you all the reason in the world and beyond to want me instead." I was told before her tongue came out and went over my face. A thin trail of saliva having been left by it before she smiled. Her mouth soon gently suckling on my carapace. A grand contrast of how we felt, she wanted to have sex, and I was terrified and scared for my life.

"Can I have the bracelet back?" I asked her, mostly thinking she was going to say no.

"I suppose, you do seem a lot better with it on." she whispered into my ear. A frown forming shortly after when she said that. Another time that has been said by someone. Maybe I needed to look into this more seriously...

It can't be coincidental that another woman has said these kind of things with the bracelet on. But, if what I was thinking about was correct, then... Why did most people I come across hate me so badly? Or did it only do something to those who had a positive view of me...?

But then why did Rose abandon me if that was the case? Why did Einervaene before Lari spoke to her? Was I just overthinking this? Did they just think I looked better with it on...?

I probably was overthinking this but I would rather overthink than think on my current problems. Even still, knowing what Einervaene had said to me, maybe I should look into it. See if I can ward off the problem of her opening up to me by... Just proving it was because of magic or something.

But what would I do if she kept up with it? What if these feelings existed despite the bracelet? What would I do then? Would I just have to take it head-on and unfortunately have to tell her the bad news?

Lari was the one who I had my eyes on. And, while Einervaene was a loving, beautiful, sexy woman in her own right... She just did not make me feel the same way as Lari did. Lari was there for me at my worst and made me better, I can't just ignore that.

Can I...? Can I ignore it and just let my feelings for Lari slide just so I can leave Einervaene happy? But why did I have to compromise myself just for someone else? Hadn't I done enough sacrifices for two lifetimes!?

"Undwote find me already..." I then moaned out against Salahma's face.

"You won't need him to find you, but these lot might!" she said to me with a purr before she turned around to snap her jaws. A large portion of meat quickly being flown in before Salahma snatched it. That same meat being offered up to me tenderly the next moment just afterwards.

"Thank you..." I said to Salahma quietly before I went to take off a strip. Something that made her look at me with confusion before she then just bit into it. A bloody chunk coming off as she moved her head back. A sight that made me uncomfortable as while I knew cooked meat was easier to tear...

It was just very nauseating to see it eaten so viciously. Especially when the spilt blood was being licked off of me and her face with blissful moans. And, if I was honest, the sounds following the death of her son... Well, they had put me off of meat if I was honest.

But, I was hungry, very hungry, so I ignored it and ate. Taking slow bites while also tearing off little strips while she kept taking chunks. A relaxed expression on her face before she began to suckle the bone with a blush. It was clear what she was alluding to, but I just could not enjoy the thought of it.

Even if she did not quite pick up on that. Instead, she just brought the bone closer to my ear so I could hear it more clearly. The way her wet lips smacked together and the way her tongue went about it all. And, of course, the pop at the end when she took it out of her mouth.

"Tasty..." she whispered into my ear just after she was done with that bone. And following that she began to look down with a smirk and move a claw down. Her body paying close attention to the envy our chair was letting out. A knowing smile being directed at me that I wish she did not.

I was doing that a lot recently, wishing. Wishing for so much but I really should know by now it would get me nowhere. I just had to do it myself. So maybe for now I should try that.

"Excuse me." I wheezed out in pain as I got up, her body clinging on to me for most of the way.

"Where are you going, Nin? You haven't eaten much! Nin?" she began to say as I hobbled towards where the entrance must have been. A disappointed expression on my face once I got there. This cave we were in was at the top of a mountain just in line with the clouds. I could not see a way out and I could not test a way out either...

"Someone, please..." I muttered before I collapsed to the ground. My eyes flinching and twitching as the pain just felt much worse now. It hurt a lot and so much of it would just not go away. I needed a strong magic source...

Like when I reached the top of the mountain Thrurstradtur is on... Or like how when Vapooliar or Einervaene healed me after a fight. Practice or to the death... I just needed someone or something that could heal me...

"Why are you out here? Stay close to me in future." Salahma said to me. None of her care being directed towards my injuries but rather if I was near her or not... A detail that infuriated me to no end. Yet, I could not let it out as I was too scared.

Too scared of a potential death and further injury, "Can you take me higher, please?" I then just sort of asked her while I laid on the floor.

"Okay? Yes, I can!" she answered unsure at first before she became confident. Her claws quickly holding on to me before her wings took us up. Relaxing winds in my face before she then put us down on some water. Or, well, melted snow by the looks of it.

"Thank you." I said to her once I was in a somewhat comfortable position. My claws did need to dig in, though. She wasn't just melting the snow, the stone was becoming sloppy as well. Something that surprised me if I was honest. I was putting up with that kind of heat when she hugged me...?

Magic really has changed my body, hasn't it? There once was a time a heated pan made my skin burn and scar. But now, now I needed to be hit by someone who casually made stone start to melt slightly. That is what it took for me to be burned nowadays.

But enough on burns, that seemed to make my injuries hurt more. Instead, I wanted to focus on the clouds I saw. Unfortunately, it was nothing but clouds and I could see no land beyond some more mountain tips. Or, they just soared straight past the mountain.

I did find some enjoyment from this, though, if I looked carefully, I could just make out Thrurstradtur. And, of course, the big mountain whose name I can never remember. Now if only the winds coming from it reached here. I needed some strong magic near me to heal and it seems like Salahma didn't want to help...

"So why did you want to come up here?" my attacker asked me as she tightened her grip on me. Her head soon resting on my upper chest while one of her claws fiddled with one of mine.

"To get away from them." I somewhat lied with a quiet voice. My eyes focusing on the smoke that left her mouth after she laughed. A hearty cloud of smoke from a hearty laugh, great.

"Why? You are so much stronger than them. My horns being broken by your strength is proof of that."

"Last I checked they aren't covered in burn marks and melted bug shell." I bitterly commented. Her response making me particularly angry. She looked at me to roll her eyes...

"These injuries will heal, don't worry about them. I haven't spent so long with a fine set of horns just to lose the one who broke them."

"Ignoring the pain itself, it is very difficult to move because I have fused together body parts... This won't heal on its own."

"It will, now quit your moaning or I will treat you like an underling if you want?" she said with a slight growl. My silence satisfying her to the point she rewarded me with a nose rub. If I wasn't scared for my life, I'd probably have been sarcastic about it. But, well, I was very much scared for it.

I then sighed and loosened my grip on the stone, "Why did you attack us?" I asked her as I slid down.

She tightened her grip on me and pulled me closer, "Those hwardgon on your machine. They had stolen something valuable from me. But, I have put it aside because I now have something so much greater." she explained as her tongue licked at me again.

A very slight sneer on my face as she did so, "And what did they take from you?"

"An underling of mine, proof of my power. An attack on my draconic pride."

"Draconic?"

She then suddenly got embarrassed, "Yes, I know I am a wyvern... Not a dragon. But that's just the word for it, okay!?" her tone getting increasingly defensive.

"I can't say the difference matters much to me." I said to her as I genuinely did not understand the finer aspects of it.

"It matters to me, though... It matters a lot... I am strong, I know I am. But... I am just strong amongst the weak..." she then said to me as she put her mouth next to my carapace. Her ember-filled breath feeling particularly warm.

"I think I get you." I commented after some thought. Memories of how easily I was beaten in that arena coming back. When that fight first started, I thought I might have been able to win. I was so disproportionately strong up to that point...

With the exception of Brewbrt, of course. But he was an exceptional, exceptional exception in my life at that point. So was Vapooliar, I suppose. I never bested her in anything regarding strength.

Unless I wanted to be dishonest regarding what happened when I escaped the hive. When I beat that earth shaman by driving a broken leg into his eye. Of course, I couldn't be dishonest about it, it mattered too much to me. I knew full well I only won because it lost its staff on the way down the mountain.

Yet, now that magic was on my mind again, "So how come you never let your magic calm down?" I asked her.

"Undraconic. I am strong... We who descend from Jaadagroen are strong... We must make sure our strength is always present. And you will need to learn that, too." she explained before she stared intently at me.

"You want me to just let my magic flow uncontrollably?" I asked her as I returned the stare. Moving my head back slightly when she pressed her near-human face on my osibindah one.

Her warm breath going over me before she said anything, "Yes, please do so. Let me get used to your strength." she said with anticipatory excitement. A ghost of a smile forming as I thought on it. I had been working for nearly a year to not do that...

But, fine, "This better?" I asked as I felt my body relax in a non-physical manner. And, it felt odd, I had gotten used to having a finer sense of control with my magic. But now I was just letting it all out. It was odd and out of place.

"I am surprised you broke my horns if I am being honest." she said to me with disappointment. Just before she transitioned from a pout to an eager smile.

"Maybe I am just keeping some of it in? Just letting it out isn't what I have been taught to do."

"Then I guess that your mate will have to teach you the right way of doing things." she said before she licked from my chin to the tip of my snout.

But, I could see this being useful indeed, "I implore you to teach me well, then." I told her while I focused on the others. Would this help them find me easier? If I just let my magic flow they might find me? Were they familiar enough with my magic, though?

"There is a lot I will have to teach you, some of it you will learn on your own, though." she said to me as she moved my claw closer to her breast. Forcing it to take its weight and squeeze it.

"That sounds more like a learning experience for us both." I replied with before I tried to move my hand off of her breast. A mixture of reasons in my head as to why I wanted to do so. Yet, interestingly enough for me... I just felt uncomfortable touching such a place with an osibindah's claw...

"Why are you not eager to have your way with me? I am pure-skinned, voluptuous, fertile, busty... And, as some humans have said, sexy. So what is holding you back? I have already made it clear I want you, and that you can do, anything to me." she said as she pressed herself tighter against me. As if to emphasise her willingness to have sex with me.

"I just have things on my mind." was what I said to her as I did not want to say what it actually was. Just because I was not close to her, she had no right to know. I did not know her or care for her. I hated her.

"When we were fighting, before I left you under the assumption you were weak, I was attacked." she began to say, something that made me want to snort in annoyance.

"When the lightning struck you?" I said, knowing she was probably on about Einervaene.

"Yes, she was desperate to help you. Just like I would be if you were defending me. Are you perhaps still thinking of her? Have I not won you over?" she asked me while frowning. Those questions made me want to frown, too. Mostly because it made me think of Einervaene's confession.

"No, you have not won me over. I did not break your horns intentionally."

"Wether or not you broke them intentionally is of no concern. It just matters to me that you did, but, if that is the case, then, I have some work to do, don't I?"

"What are you planning?" a slight glare forming in my eyes.

"Nothing, admittedly, I am just curious. If she is keeping your mind off of me, then, well, I guess we will have to make it obvious where you are?"

"You want to fight her?"

"Not just fight her, I want her to submit to me. If you want more mates, that is your right, but I will have your attention, not her." Salahma declared to me with confidence.

I looked off in the distance after she said that, then I looked at my aura, "Well, let's hope she comes then." I commented for different reasons. Maybe, just maybe, I could be the one saved this time. I didn't have to save myself or save another, they can save me.

Einervane and her majestic lightning that boomed across the sky to strike Salahma down. Vadei and her snappy barbs to distract this wyvern and gash open her pride. Lari to douse all her fires and make the burns go away... I wanted that to happen so bad.

So I looked at the confident wyvern who looked at me with lust. And I made what should be my final wish for the day. I wished she would die a horrible death at their hands. That I could finally be on my way home again.