Ascent of a Dragon

Through the eyes of a studious monkey

"Your name!" "Noom... No onersahn" "Me Lyla. You?" "Mee... iss mee." "Uugh!" The warrior attentively studies the strange tongue of the bright one, trying to grasp the strange words and concepts being expressed. He hovers his palms above the pyre of flames, the warmth washing away the chill etched further into the winds as they approach a large spire of stone in search of the path down. Perhaps it wasn't just the wind however, as he recalls the strange pillar of white they had appeared on, warped and misshapen as if the carcass of an enormous beast. Yet surely, no beast could be so large.

I must not discount the possibility. My eyes are small, and the world is vast. If such a beast exists, I must simply gain the strength to best it. He grips the meat roasting atop the pyre, breaking a piece for the bright one and leaving the majority for the emissary. The emissary has gained size these past two rests. Is it perhaps destined to match the grandeur of such titans? A match between such beings... A mere glimpse would be worth more than my lifetime of training. "Hey! You -- listening --?" "Hyessh." These sounds are difficult. So many clicks and hisses to learn and practice. No matter. To learn the tongue of these beings is worth the effort.

The emissary wolfs down its portion, heartily tearing off chunks and letting them fall into its belly. The bright one eats slower, methodically peeling away at the fibres of muscle and steadily clipping of and chewing off tiny chunks with precise motions. The warrior simply grasps and bites, spending little effort on appearances as he chews at his own pace. After all, there is little need for formalities among those who know not your customs. Just look at the emissary, who... is already finished. I still chew my first bite... What is this beast's appetite?

Finishing second, the warrior awaits the bright one, who finishes last. Snuffing out the flames with a clap, he rises, following alongside the emissary as they set off. "Birds!" The bright one announces atop the emissary, pointing up to creatures which walk the sky. "Errs!" The warrior mimics, still not having figured out consonants. It seems when there's many, a hiss is appended. What a fascinating concept. It seems far more efficient than simply repeating the word as we do, yet I wonder then how they denote for words already ending in a hiss? The terrain shifts as they approach the spire of grey stone, black crystals giving way to more and more grey stone and green moss.

The warrior observes the landscape, enraptured by the unfamiliar sights. I have long since wondered what lies at the depths of the serpent's tunnel. To think such a sprawling domain lay here... There appears to be less life here, fewer trees, more sparse creatures. For what reason do we fear this land? The titan is long dead, but are there more? Their gait halts. The emissary peers around with an attentive gaze, scanning the environment. Be there an enemy? The warrior grasps the air, gripping it like a handful of strings as he listens to the winds.

To the left. A great serpent. It has yet to notice us. The emissary seems to still search. I suppose my range is greater? With a quiet tap, the warrior motions towards the serpent as it crests a hill. Their eyes lock, the serpent regarding the trio a with cautious yet hungry gaze. It raises its head, deciding whether to consider the strange creatures before it as a threat, or food, but shortly settles its decision. On food. The serpent plunges forth, winding and rippling its body as it hastily approaches the trio.

Before the others can take action, the warrior jumps ahead. "Allow me!" He howls, charging onward to meet the beast head on. Thump! He plants his feet ahead of the beast. Thoom! Thoom! He slams his chest, startling debris into the air as he challenges the approaching serpent. Crash! Hands clasp to jaws, halting the charge and holding back the fangs which threaten to consume him whole. The serpent flicks its head up, tossing the warrior into the sky. Allowing the motion, he grasps the air, moving his trajectory and boosting his descent as he slams into the beast's neck. The ground cracks and the beast strains, but no injury breaks through its tough scales.

With a loud hiss, the serpent coats itself in essence, glowing red as it thrashes the warrior from its body. As he lands, he grasps the earth, and pulls. The terrain flips, rocks and debris spread everywhere as the serpent loses its... Does it count as footing if it has no feet? Sure, it loses its footing. Whipping its long body, the serpent leaps towards the warrior, charging through the falling debris as he fires more earth towards it. As he prepares to meet its charge once again, his grin falters and the world shifts.

The serpent grows distant as he's carried away by the emissary, who tosses him behind to land on its back. I don't understand... The fight had only begun. He raises his head, peering back at the still charging serpent. Oh...

Through the eyes of a fleeing dragon

"Hey, isn't this how we met?" "We met after you were chased! And there was only one that time!" "Oh yea! Fun times." "You almost died! And these ones are bigger! Why are you so calm?!" "Well I can actually see this time. Also I'm way faster than back the- Uaah! Fuck! It bit me! How'd it get so close so fast!" Aether surges through Aleph's limbs as she bolts away at max speed. A dozen large serpents chase her, one particularly huge serpent eating into the terrain as it follows behind the pack. "Why are there so many?! I thought snakes were solitary hunters!" "Why would you think that! Basilisks have always been pack hunters!" "This world is stupid!" "Honestly, fair."

Coated in violet, she charges straight for the mountain ahead. Earth shatters beneath her feet, the loud cracks and thuds of each step muffled by the tremendous rumble of the approaching serpents. "Why are we charging towards the smoothest looking mountain? There's nowhere to hide there! We should be going to that craggy pillar!" "I have a hunch! It's a risk, but I can't just ignore something like this either!" "Fine! Whatever! But if I get eaten, I'm blaming you!"

The mountain grows closer, and the air becomes oppressive. This is Aura... Rock lizards reveal themselves from hiding, scampering away from the approaching horde of giant serpents and the dragon heading the charge. The ground trembles and cracks, claws digging into the rock as Aleph leaves behind a trail of shrapnel, and scales ploughing through and melting the earth as the serpents close the gap.

The atmosphere quakes, and ripples shatter across the terrain as gravity warps, pushing all interlopers back. The mountain opens its eyes.

Begone

No words spoken. No sound but the tremendous shock-wave emanating from the titan before them as it begins to stand. Only pure intent, a hostile declaration aimed at those who strayed too far from their own territory. The serpents halt their advance. Every fibre of their being is consumed by primal fear, every instinct screaming at them to be anywhere but here. Even the largest, imposing as it is, pales before the enormity of the titan before it. They scatter, fleeing in random directions as they leave the trio behind.

Aleph stands her ground, meeting the titan's gaze head on. Aura presses on the trio, gravity beckoning them to fall back, and its eyes bear down, taking stock of the brave, or foolish, creature before them. Goldy trembles, a mixture of fear, awe, and excitement in his grin. Lyly... waves her pedipalps like fists, egging the mountain on. "Come at me bro! 1v1 me right, uh... I forgot the rest." One vee one? Sounds familiar, is it a dance? No, wait. Priorities. Aleph flares her own Aura, pushing back as she expresses her own intent.

"Don't show hostility. I want to talk to it." Lyly pauses her waggling, shooting Aleph an inscrutable look. "Talk? How? Do you speak rock?" "No, but I speak Aura." "That's a language?" "Not really, but it works in a pinch. You got the big guy's message just fine." "Point taken. Aura away then." Pushing will into her Aura she instils it with a thought.

Curious

Enemy

No

Ally

No

The titan pauses, contemplating the being who responds its intent. "How's it going?" "I think it's going great!" "Oh that's good. Why are we talking to it again?" "It has an awakened soul, but something's odd. It seems way too... young, for something so old." "Right... Young... That's one of the words I would use for this. So what do you plan to ask it? You know, with your Aura?" "Ah... I didn't think of that. The way down maybe?" "Sure. Maybe ask for a plate of food too while you're at it." "I'll try." "Please don't..."

Purpose

Oh, well that simplifies things. Now how do I express descending to the next layer? Way down? Descend? Too complex... How about just...

Down

Aleph points down with her tail, her eyes never leaving the titan's.

Curious

Limbs sprout outward from the body of the mountain, each leg pressing a small city's worth of an imprint into the stone. The wind becomes a gale as the body of the titan is lifted from the ground, its peak pressing into the ceiling above. Soil and debris tumble from its sides, creating several waterfalls of earth across the rim of the beast. Its amber eyes peer down, below the cavity it formed.

Proceed

Did I just win the staring contest? Hell yea! The win streak continues! Gravity alters its pull, lessening their burden and beckoning them to the centre of the crater, where wind continues to gush forth. "Fucking time travellers and their plot bending bullshit..." "Did you say something?" "No, nothing."

Aleph sets off, pushing against the ever-growing gale of wind as gravity weakens its pull, as if offset by the sheer mass of the titan. The sky turns dark as she steps beneath the belly of the titan, the ground loose and shifting, threatening to make her slip if not for the intense winds pushing her back.

"Wait, how do we know it's not going to just squish us while we're down here?" "it won't. I can tell." "I swear, if this is some kind of honour between warriors bull-" "No, I can literally tell it has no malicious intent. It's been covering us in its Aura this whole time. Also it could probably kill us if it yelled loud enough, I doubt it would go to so much effort just to squish us." "... Okay, I see your point, but also... What if it like... slips or something. It's gotta have just been sitting there for years. That's gotta make your legs all wobbly and sleepy." "Ah, true. I did see a leg wobble a bit." "What?! Where?! Agh, we're so going to be crushed here!"

Aleph giggles as she's ushered forward by the panicking spider, steadily approaching the hole in the centre, leading straight down. The tempest emanating from the hole reaches its peak, drowning out all sounds as air bursts forth with almost enough force to lift the dragon. For a moment, she hesitates. Standing at the edge of the sheer drop, gripping the earth to avoid being pushed back by the force of the wind.

Her pause is driven to a halt as the dim light under the titan begins to fade, the ceiling swiftly closing in. No hesitation allowed I guess. She leaps, Lyly clinging to her horns, and Goldy grasping her neck as they descend to the next layer.