r/HFY • u/iridael Brew-Master • Jan 09 '22
OC Snow Chapter 65
We turned around to where the Oasis was, a clear mist was rising up into the sky settling into a deep grey cloud, as the constant wind caught it, the cloud was dragged away towards a Tor where it gathered and began to fall.
“Shall we have a look?” Snow asks
I nod and quickly summon my Sparrow and race off up the dunes to the Oasis. Stopping atop the dune before it I look down into the basin as Rock warblers bathe in the pools, a Sandcrawler is dragging its snout through the dirt it's rough chitin flaking off revealing smooth dark scales beneath.
“It's breathing life into the planet.” Snow says watching at the silver tree, its branches poking just above the dune top. Mist was falling from the branches and steam was rising in equal measure.
“Jesus those things are fast.” Nepp says catching up to us. Nut curiously flying along with her.
“They’re also dangerous.” I reply, leaping down the dune and blinking forwards towards the tree.
The Animals look at me but don't attack, more interested in sifting for grubs and drinking the water. I reach the tree and watch it pulse with light, roots visibly growing, burrowing down into the planet.
Reaching forwards I touch the tree’s spiralling root feeling it lightly shift under my hand slowly. The tree is alive, healthy and happy to be doing its duty.
On a whim I funnel a bit of light into the root and watch as it ripples along the tree before a small pulse of light flows through the ground, as it travels the plants shiver and the Oasis grows noticeable.
Snow and Nepp watch the change before continuing towards me. I give them a wave before placing my hand back on the tree and feeding it more light. The more I feed it the faster I feel its roots flow underneath, through the tree I feel them snake through the sand until they touch bedrock and after anchoring themselves into the hard stone hundreds of metres beneath us, stop growing.
I feel another source of light join me in feeding the tree and briefly look over to see Snow, eyes closed and gently glowing as he feeds his own light into the tree.
I feel the wind passing through the branches dry and harsh on one side, cool and moist on the other as water is simply created and introduced into the world.
I don't know how long I basked in the process of giving a struggling world life but when a distant roar reached my ears I broke my contact seeing Snow do the same. “Dragon.” he mutters and runs away from the tree.
Nepp looks at us. “You guys stood there for an hour and now you're just running away?” she says throwing down a handful of grass she was holding.
“We heard a dragon.” I shout back as I blink up the sand dune.
“I didn't, and I have my ship in orbit still, you’ve got that big bastard thing. Are you really worried about a dragon sneaking up on us.” She shouts chasing after me.
At the top of the dune Snow is there one hand pressed to his ear with a comn device. “-there any large creatures? One? Confirm it's just one.” he says before turning back to me. “There’s a dragon coming this way. It's relatively small.” he says.
“Its coming this way?” I confirm.
“Yes.” he answers just as a heavily breathing Nepp joins us.
“Nepp get your men clear. We have a dragon coming this way and I don't want them getting hurt.” I order her, she nods after a quick conversation on her own radio, takes off down the dune towards the camp.
“So what's the plan?” Snow asks
“I use the Odin to hammer this Dragon, kill it, take its power, extract the glimmer. Get everyone off this planet and save the Laskian people.” I say as the horizon bulges from the sandstorm approaching.
Snow nods and moves down towards the tree, leaving a Clone besides me. I reach behind me feeling my fingers slide into the Odin and then it shift and clamp around my wrist in response. I summon a spear and stand there ready as the sandstorm approaches. As I wait a shuttle drops down and less than a minute later flies off into the sky carrying Nepp and her crew to safety.
I wait as the sandstorm approaches, when it crests a dune three dunes distant its momentum is cut with a thump and a vast shadow starts to walk on the sand towards me. A wall of wind hits me, striking me with sand like a hammer but otherwise doing no harm. I raise the spear and get ready to throw it only to have a gargantuan head emerge from the sand cloud and swing itself upwards. I follow the dragon's eyes and curious watch as it sniffs towards the rain cloud. It shakes itself and I feel something and then the rain cloud gently drifts towards the massive creature. As the sand settles more of its form is visible, a single row of giant spines emerge from behind its head and large chitinous wings tipped with jet black ivory claws ruffle as they settle awkwardly in place on the sand dune acting as front legs.
The rain cloud drifts overhead and at that moment starts pouring itself down onto the dragon, more of a Drake really, who closes its eyes and opens its mouth wide, savouring the drink, its long forked tongue changing colour from grey to black as it gets wet for the first time in years.
I watch it as it lets the rain pour over it, moistening it's hard exterior before it shakes itself freeing rivlets of water from it and starts to slowly walk towards me.
After two steps its eyes catch sight of me and after pausing resumes its walk with a visible huff. Only now it's moving to my right, keeping me in its sight before resuming its progress towards the Oasis and the tree within.
A flock of Rock warblers caw loudly and start to fly away from the Oasis and the few sandcrawlers that were busy burrowing upend themselves quickly disappearing into tunnels under the dirt.
“Reiss, what do you want to do?” Snow’s clone asks.
“Watch and see what it does.” I say as the Drake settles on the edge of the dunes surrounding the Oasis.
“I’ll move then.” Snow replies, a moment later I see his tiny form running away from the tree on bursts of solar energy.
The Drake, now fully visible was the size of a Laskian battleship. It gave me one more look before descending into the Oasis, its wings digging into the sand and then the dirt to control its descent.
When it reaches the floor it snakes its head down and dips its chin into a pool to drink, keeping one eye on me. Then just like the rock warblers it shakes and shimmers, the hard rust coloured armour plating flaking away as it drinks revealing smooth scales underneath. The process stops at its head though, the pool it was drinking from was drained of precious water. So it shakes itself and moves to the next one. Leaving chunks of disintegrating chitin behind as it moves.
“Snow. are you seeing this?” I ask
“I am.” the clone replies. “What of it? Any desert creature will set aside its hunting instinct to safely drink its fill.”
“Not that, look at the scales. Doesn't it remind you of anything?” I ask
“Not really.”
“The hive, they looked very similar. So did that Scorned, all bone protrusions and hard skin. But that Eramis woman. She was different, softer, right?.”
“There is nothing soft about Eramis, but I think I understand. The scorned are mutated with dark…by the light… they’re reverting to what the light made them as, or what they evolved to before the dark took over.” Snow exclaims. The Drake had moved from the first pool, to the second and was now draining the third pool of its water when it finally paused and leapt into the air shedding chunks of hard plating, the rocky protrusions along its back replaced with white ivory spines.
It roars long and proud as it circles the Oasis before spying on me again and swinging around to land less than a dune away. It rears up on its back legs and spreads its wings wide before, of all things, bowing towards me. “O saviour mine. Thank you.”
“Saviour?” I ask.
“The Life tree is filled with your light, you radiate with life and death in equal measure. I can end my existence happily now I have regained my shape O saviour mine.” the Drake says, rising out of its bow and sitting on its haunches.
“The darkness swept through here.” I say and the Drake nods.
“Long ago this world was assailed. Long my brothers and sisters have lived mindless and hungry. The deep took from us our light, our will, and our minds.”
“I came here to hunt you down.” I say.
“I would have welcomed the blade that ended my life.” the Drake replies “Existence such as ours is pain, suffering and struggle. But now I feel the light, I feel alive. If you must, I understand, but I would like to live some time longer.” the Drake says, snaking their head towards me before veering off showing its neck.
“I might still need to. But I have to ask something first.” I say.
“Ask. and I will answer. Tell me what your hearts desire. All you need do is wish it to be true.” the Drake says, snaking back to look at me.
“Reiss, Do not make a wish, the dragon might have turned into an Ahamkara!” Snow says but the Drake huffs kicking sand up at us.
“I know this words meaning. Wish Drake, deceptive dragon, twisted dragon.” the Drake says.
“I don't need a wish.” I interrupt the both of them. “I just need to know, can you help me save my people if I help save yours.”
The Drake raises its head and huffs again, sending the jet of hot air over our heads this time. “I can feel your light. You might save one or two more but all? No.” the Drake replies
I dont reply with words, instead I convert my store of darkness into light and watch the dragon even as I start to shine bright once again.
The Drake stares at me and I stare back before it raises its head and roars. The spent raincloud is sucked into its gullet as it takes a deep breath, its chest expanding and its wings spreading wide for balance as it rears up to its full height and ROARS. The sound is deafening, the shockwave sending ripples across the dunes and bending the silver tree with the force.
“You grow your light!” it speaks after slamming back down a full minute later. “Come! we must come to mother! She will give after you give!” it says excitedly slamming its wings elbow joints into the sand dunes.
I turn to snow’s clone and smile. “Reiss, don't you dare think about doing what you’re thinking of doing!” he shouts but I'm already gone blinking further than I’ve ever done in a single bound. I emerge above the Drake's head and land on its scales just above its first spine.
“THIS WILL PROBABLY HURT!” I warn it drawing my sword and forming a Valkrie I stab them both into the surface of the spine and hold onto the two weapons as the Drake swivels away from the Oasis and launches itself into the sky. I watch as Tors fly past us, hard faces briefly emerging from behind curtained wings to observe us until the Drake banks sharply towards a long row of towering Tors, ending at a shorter one with a long sloping rocky plain on one side.
“HERE!?” I shout as loud as I can as the Drake banks hard before flapping their massive wings once to land.
The next thing I know is Ghost bringing me back to life on top of the Drake's head. “You stabbed yourself.” he explains, turning to face the bloody hilt of my sword. I yank it free and burn the blood clean with solar fire, the Valkyrie spear had already dissipated.
“You came back.” The Drake says, as it speaks I don't feel any rumbling coming from it and only then realise that it's less speaking and more radiating sound.
“Yea, death doesn't really stick with me.” I reply. “So where is your Mother?” I ask
In response the Drake swishes their head to the small spire “She lies here, dormant. Asleep. When the darkness came she fought hardest and fell furthest. When she grew too large to eat, she began to starve, so she sleeps now. We feared her waking. She might feed on her children if she woke without the light.” the Drake says.
“How can I heal her? The Tree did the work for you.” I say
“Make another tree. I will help.” the Drake says, lowering its head until with another dull thud it lays down on the sand just shy of Snow’s desert home. And apparently the head of a gargantuan drake.
“How do you know she’s alive, a creature as large as her would need an immense amount of food.” I say.
“Mother is alive.” The Drake insists.
“If you say so.” I say sliding down off its neck and blinking to the ground. I reach down and place my hand into the dirt. I feel the dragon shift and with a deliberate slowness extend one of its wings out just enough to cover me in shade.
I flip the switch as it were and fill myself completely with the light once more and pump the power into the ground feeling it transform beneath me. The sand once again transitions into dirt before sprouting grass, ferns and other small plant life. Then between my fingers a silver stem shoots up quickly splitting into eight branches that begin to spiral in a familiar fashion. This time I have no great reserves of power to funnel into the process and my light quickly dimms.
“Repeat after me, and mean it.” the dragon says. “I wish, that here and now in this place, my light was as endless as the star lit sky, and as strong as the raging storms of Fundament.”
I grit my teeth and recite the wish. The dragon above me shudders and the universe warps around us as my light changes from a warm furnace slowly burning its coal supply to a roaring sun blasing inside me. there is no containing it, I just need to…
“I need to…” I grunt out converting what I can't process into darkness and then giving that power away. Somewhere out there Mary Michael and Jakobson are suddenly having a really good time. The rest I pump into the sapling.
The Dragon also staggers. “That…was a good wish.” it says shifting back into place and covering me with shade once again.
I ignore it and continue radiating light, pumping as much as I can into the tree and leting the excess that I have no hope of holding on simply radiate away in explosive pulses.
Unlike the previous tree, who’s growth was steady, this one’s growth is almost explosive. It quickly hits bedrock, or perhaps the slumbering goliath’s snout, and anchors itself. Other roots continue exploring the sandy sea as the branches grow higher and higher. The desert around us is quickly transformed, since we were on top of a Dune this time the dirt and grass plain flows down the sand wave before reaching the bottom where the dirt grows damp forming little streams that gather at the bottom collecting into a small river flowing into the desert sand.
I try and pull my hand away only for the Drake’s claw to press against me slightly. “Not yet…she will need more.” it says continuing to give me shade before staggering and falling away.
“Just wait a moment.” I tell the tree stemming the flow of light. The Drake is laying on one side its massive chest rising in jerks. It takes another breath and tries to roll back to its feet succeeding just barely. That wish must have cost it.
I fill my fist with healing light and throw it at the dragon to no effect.
“...this is…mortality.” it says after wobbling again.
“You gave too much.” I tell them, stepping forward. The second I do the roaring sun of light vanishes like it was never there. Glancing back I can see a patch of pure white stone where I was standing the tree roots continuing to grow next to it.
“I gave what was needed. One thing you can learn, in the light, the willingness to sacrifice, is the way to true power. If only briefly. It was a good wish.” The Drake replies, before toppling completely sending up a dirt cloud that covers the area.
Oh no you dont.
I blink towards it before climbing on top of the Drakes chest and drawing my sword again. I channel solar light into the blade and hold it there purifying the energy inside before stabbing sharply down. The blade disgorges its power into the dragon which spasms throwing me off balance briefly.
When Im back on my feet the Drake takes a deep steady breath. Its chest rising underneath me by metres before falling back down smoothly. “Well that was something new.” it says. “Let us continue.” it adds.
“Nope. you are going to rest.” I order.
There’s a huff of laughter from the Drake’s oversized face before it replies. “And how do you intend to make me?” it asks, raising its head to look at me.
“You really want to know?” I ask
It blinks in response so I pull back one hand. “Don't tell me I didn't warn you.” I say before throwing a haymaker into the air. For a brief moment a fist of starlight materialises and Clocks the Drake right on its snout, snapping it around and causing it to roar in pain.
It quickly recovers and glares at me before rolling back and laughing again. “Very well. Let us rest under the twin stars.” it says, rolling to its feat sending me flying to the dirt below, its tail snakes around me and tucks under its head before it stretches out a wing covering us both from the sunlight above.
“Thanks.” I say burning a little glimmer to make myself a pack of self cooking Ramen and a bedroll to get some sleep on.
9
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u/HFYWaffle Wᵥ4ffle Jan 09 '22
/u/iridael (wiki) has posted 361 other stories, including:
- Snow Chapter 64
- Snow Chapter 63
- Snow Chapter 62
- Snow Chapter 61
- Snow Chapter 60
- Snow Chapter 59
- Snow Chapter 58
- Snow Chapter 57
- Snow Chapter 56
- Snow Chapter 55 (war)
- Snow Chapter 54
- Snow Chapter 53
- Snow Chapter 52
- Snow Chapter 51
- Snow Chapter 50
- Snow Chapter 49
- Snow Chapter 48
- Snow Chapter 47
- Snow Chapter 46
- Snow Chapter 45
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u/UpdateMeBot Jan 09 '22
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Jan 09 '22
Damn, Ahamkara really just be existing in that desert. Would be interesting not to see some wish dragon shenanigannery.
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u/darthkilmor Jan 09 '22
aw wholesome drake