The Dragon and the Fox

Kira trotted to keep up with Deya, who had to slow down frequently for the little fox. Even though the dragon was huge, her footsteps were completely silent.

“Where are we going?” Kira panted, practically tripping over her own tail.

Deya paused to let her catch up. “We’re going to get you to fly, Kira.”

“What?” Kira said. “You’re--you’re going to teach me how to fly?”

“Yes,” Deya replied, looking meaningfully at her. “Me, and a few of my acquaintances.”

“We’re going to meet other Dragons?” Kira asked excitedly, wagging her tail.

“Not exactly.”

Kira frowned, disappointed. If they weren’t going to meet other Dragons, where were they going?

At least she knew that Deya could be trusted. She was a goddess, after all. Immortal deities tended to know what they were doing.

Which raised another question: why was Deya doing this? How did it benefit her? Did she just see an emotionally scarred fox kit and take pity on her, or was there more to the story? It didn’t seem like a goddess would descend from the sky just to help Kira, of all fox kits. She didn’t even have a companion yet.

Plus, didn’t Dragons have utterly important god things to do, like smile and wave at their worshipers, take up offerings, and bestow luck and good wishes upon Cyalia?

Kira shoved those thoughts into the back of her mind. Questions could be asked later. Much later.

They continued for a long time, occasionally pausing to drink or munch on some berries and fish. Deya ate surprisingly little for how big she was.

Finally, long after Kira’s paws had deceased, they halted at a huge, raging river. It was bluer than the sky, and schools of salmon hopped in and out of the current between the rocks. On the other side of the bank, several trees grew and offered shade. It was about 20 feet across.

“We’re at the Nexus?” Kira asked, bewildered. The Nexus was the river that divided the borders of the different kingdoms.

Deya nodded. “Follow me.”

“I can’t swim,” Kira confessed.

Deya smiled at her, then dipped her neck so Kira could clamber on. Her paws hung on tight to Deya’s spikes as best as they could. Deya walked slowly so as not to rattle the little white fox.

Kira peered through the crystal water of the river, watching the fish swim and the plants wave. She caught sight of her reflection for the first time, and stared into her own eyes. She couldn’t believe how tattered she looked. Her fur was covered in sticks and leaves.

But it was the new additions that startled her. The wings resting on her back, white with teal, gold, and magenta feathers, the colored markings under her eyes and on her legs and tail, it all showed that this was no normal fox.

“Hey Deya,” Kira realized. “We match.”

Deya laughed, a tinkle that sent good shivers down Kira’s spine. “You’re right, Kira. I think the magic in my tears affected you.”

Kira’s tail wagged. “You mean I could do magic?”

“It’s a possibility.”

Kira had no time to think about her possible abilities, because they had reached the other side of the Nexus. Beyond the trees Kira had seen before was a plain that stretched to the horizon.

“Welcome to Avaye, the Bird Lands,” Deya said with a fluttering of her wings.

As Kira watched, the sun dawned. It started out as a few beams of light at the edge of the horizon, reaching towards the sky, but then it quickly turned into a ball of light that lit everything with a cheerful, golden glow. The sky turned from navy blue to a gentle fade from orange to light blue.

Deya scanned the plains, although what she was looking for was a mystery to Kira. Any living thing out here would be spotted from a mile away.

Deya whistled through her teeth, the call echoing across the landscape. It wasn’t as good as her singing, but it was still a captivating melody.

The wind whistled through the grass. The bugs buzzed louder, and flower petals circled in the breeze.

Finally, an answering screech came from high above, in the sky. Kira craned her neck upwards to see a winged shape descending upon them.

“Ozzy!” Deya cried as the bird landed on the ground next to them.

“Deya.” The bird inclined its head to her, and Kira saw that it was a golden eagle. He was almost as big as she was, if not bigger. His wingspan was twice as large as Kira’s. His eyes were a piercing gold, glittering in the sunrise. The eagle’s sharp beak was hooked at the end, and his talons were as black as obsidian.

“What brings you here?” Ozzy said in a mellow voice. “I haven’t heard from you in so long.”

“A threat has breached Cyalia,” Deya responded. “A rogue Black Dragon, commanding the forces of the Myth Continent. He recently wreaked havoc upon this little fox here.”

Kira recounted how her village had been destroyed, and how only she was left standing.

“Oh no.” Ozzy shook his head, feathers ruffling. “What should we do?”

“First, we need to teach Kira here how to fly,” Deya said. “Then, we rally the other Dragons and strike back.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Ozzy asked nervously. “I mean, with your father and all—”

“I’ll be fine,” Deya said firmly. “We can’t let something like this slide.”

Ozzy nodded, still looking a bit anxious.

Kira frowned. What was going on with Deya’s father? Goddesses could have parents? What was Ozzy about to say, and why did he look so nervous when Deya mentioned the other dragons?

“Come one, Kira,” Deya said. “Let’s get you to fly.”

Ozzy led them to a large rock formation jutting out of the ground. It was twice as tall as Deya. “This should be a good takeoff point,” he said.

Kira licked her lips nervously, then marched to the top. Her tail flicked as she peered over the edge of the rock. Deya and Ozzy seemed so far away. What if she fell off? What if her wings didn’t work? What if Deya couldn’t catch her?

She couldn’t do it.

Just then, a force picked her up and carried her to the sky. She struggled, stunned and wordless, but eventually she stopped—if whatever was carrying her let go, she would plummet down to oblivion.

She felt talons around her sides. Was it Ozzy that had picked her up? Her brain started to slow down as she lost her breath the higher they went. Her ears popped painfully.

As she was about to black out, the force let go, and Kira fell. The wind whistled in her ears, louder than anything she had heard before. Her fur flapped in the air, and her tail was whipped behind her painfully. Tears were pulled from her eyes as she spun and twisted in the sky, so she closed them. Her wings flopped back and forth on her sides.

Her wings.

Her wings.

Kira snapped open her eyes, despite the pain. She twisted her neck, and saw the ground approaching fast. She squinted in concentration.

A shape flew beside her, and she heard a faint voice. “Fly!”

Her wings popped open, and suddenly she wasn’t falling. The ground rushed below her paws, but it couldn’t touch her. She was flying. She was free from the ground. If Kira wanted, she wouldn’t have to travel that way ever again.

There was a whoop from her side, and she saw Deya flying beside her, white webbed wings extended to their full length. “You got it!”

Kira grinned, the adrenaline catching up with her. “I did!”

Ozzy flew to her other side, shaking his head. “Amazing. Amazing.”

Kira gently glided to a stop, stumbling over her paws because of her momentum. Deya and Ozzy landed next to her.

“That was awesome!” Deya rejoiced, beaming.

Kira was about to smile back, but then she remembered something. “Who carried me up into the air?”

Another bird landed in the group. It was a raven, with sleek, black feathers that shimmered in the sunlight. His midnight eyes scrutinized her with obvious intelligence. He was even bigger than Ozzy, which made Kira wonder how old the eagle was.

“My apologies, little one,” the raven said softly, in a deep voice. “But you did not look like you were going to jump off of the rock. I decided to help you. I am sorry if I startled you, but I would have caught you had you not spread your wings.”

“Just don’t do it again,” Kira said. The raven nodded in understanding.

“Who are you?” Kira asked.

“I am Gael,” the raven answered. “Chief of the raven clan. I heard Deya’s call as well, and came as fast as I could.”

“It’s great to see you,” Deya said warmly. Kira felt a momentary pang of jealousy. She wished Deya talked to her like that.

“What is the crisis?” Gael asked. “I know you would not signal unless something was truly wrong, Deya.”

Deya nodded, and then she explained everything to Gael. “We need to gather the other Dragons,” she concluded.

“Are you sure they will listen to you?” Gael tilted his head to look at Deya. “Considering your status among other Dragons, is this entirely wise?”

“I appreciate the concern, guys, but really,” Deya said exasperatedly. “We need help. They can provide it. End of story.”

There it was again. Something between Deya and the other Dragons was going on. What was it? Kira was tempted to ask, but Deya’s stormy expression shut her up. She was surprised that Gael and Ozzy weren’t cowering below the elegant goddess.

“Wait,” Kira realized. “Can’t you just use your goddess powers on them and make them listen?”

Deya frowned down at her. “Goddess powers?”

“Yeah.” Kira fluttered her wings. “You know, the death lasers and lightning and fire and stuff. Not to mention that you live forever.”

Now Deya looked concerned. “Kira, where did you get this idea?”

Kira looked at Ozzy and Gael, who looked uncomfortable, then back to Deya. “What do you mean?” Realization struck. “You’re....you’re not a goddess.”

“No, I’m not.” Deya continued to frown. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”