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Welcome To Dreamy-Dragons!

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Hey, dragon lovers, artists, and fans! Welcome to this fantastical group! The goal for this group is to unite dragon artists across DeviantArt. I want this group to become a safe haven for all dragon artists. Don't forget to check out the group rules and enjoy your stay in this group!
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Gallery Folders

Featured
Alexis by Fuulikoo
Cosmo Dragon by ReinaCastillo
Screenshot Meme by Nuwer-Arts
Leaving the Nest by Nuwer-Arts
Adopts, YCHs
Steller's jay dragon adopt [OPEN|$40] by Noxeorn
AUCTION CLOSED -  A lost forest spirit by Helga-BlueEyed
Frozen Erinyes-Lament Set -Adopt Auction{Closed} by mythrilflare
[OPEN] Sea Volcano Isomara Flatsale Adopt by SlayersStronghold
Animation
Animated icon YCH by Aomamesbeast
Speaking icon- Delta by AnnoyingMoth
Speaking icon- Island by AnnoyingMoth
Wofsona speaking icons [gif] by AnnoyingMoth
Artisan Crafts
Welsh felt plush dragon (commission) by Lukascreaturestudio
Etsy order: blue felt plush dragon by Lukascreaturestudio
Wren felt plush dragon by Lukascreaturestudio
Dragon Halloween felt plush (pumpkin) by Lukascreaturestudio
Comics
Daimon - First chapter by YearningHearts
Tears of a Dragon Cover by Kekreations
Fiery encounter [Page 1/15] by the-childofflames
Asks 19- Sleep Issues 3 by MaskedDragonLin
Digital Art
Sandman Dragon Sketch - Gift by AegisOwl
[Com] Stalking the prey by Noxeorn
Wings Of Fire Meme #1: Glory Had Never Seen... by impactbluefxdwg
winter soon by aceAlari
Literature
The Poorest ThiefWhiteout stared at the collapsed side of Agate Mountain. The early dawn was streaking bands of orange and red across the rubble. “This wound is fresh, not dried yet,” she said analytically. The other NightWing dragon kept looking around them, biting his lower lip. “Uhm, Dear?” He said. “Perhaps we should come back another time?” She smiled. Oh, Thoughtful. So amusingly nervous. “Don’t vibrate so much. Be still, for no one will see us here for a week.” He adjusted his glasses and swallowed. “If I heard that from anyone but you, I would be in the air right now. Are you sure we’re in the right place?” “Clearsight closed her old life here. There is a banked coal beneath these rocks.” “Darkstalker’s here?” His voice spiked in pitch, like a startled child. “My brother severed his grave from him. His skin is akin to the world’s crust.” “So he’s actually immortal and invincible? I heard the rumors, but I didn’t take them seriously.” “He sleeps enchanted. He can’t hurt me.” Thoughtful nodded. “You still want to do this?” “This line must be severed at both ends. Only I and my brother can do the cutting.” Whiteout unfurled a thick wool blanket onto the rocks. Laying down into the thick softness, she spread her white wings over her head. “No matter what you hear, do not step closer.” “Whatever you need, my love,” he replied as he stepped away from her and sat down on a rock, watching her. Sleep came easily, since she stayed awake for two days. She wanted to be this exhausted to insure that her sleep was as deep as it needed to be. The world slipped into muffled shadowy silence as she tapped into her buried animus magic. Her wings were wide open as she flew into a dream of swirling grey fog. She heard a faint breathing. Steady and slow. “Hello, Darkstalker!” She called out. She slowly landed on the grey rocks, as dream-flying was often ponderous. A moment later, the fog in front of her coalesced, darkened and raised his arms in greeting. (Whiteout! Wait…why can’t I talk out loud? It feels like I’m just thinking at you.) “That’s the language of dreams, dear brother. Voices without volume, only intent.” The curled-horned head dipped, disappointed. (So I’m only dreaming?) “Your dreams, vivid though they may be, could never truly have me in them until now. I have stepped into your private home, for we need to talk.” (WHAT? You have one of my dreamvisitors?) Tilting her head in confusion, Whiteout replied, “No. The scroll is rolling down the hall and the ink spatters out more secrets long hidden.” The fog-shadow roiled as it bumbled closer to her. (My scroll! Do you have it? Listen, you need to destroy it to….) A crack of lightning flashed behind her as her wings spread. “I am the guest in your home! Be silent!” Startled, he pressed on. (Maybe Clearsight still has…) “I looked in every corner and room! She is subtracted from you! I am all that is left from your old book. One page is still stitched to the binding.” Stepping away from his sister, Darkstalker asked, (How long has it been since you last saw me?) Sighing, she replied, “Two weeks. You are kept in slumber by another’s magic.” (Fathom did this to me. When I get out, I’ll have to repay him. Slowly.) The cloudy body darkened like a rain cloud. (I guess Queen Vigilance doesn’t have to worry about me taking over the kingdom anymore.) “The buildings are all empty shells. Father lies just as hollow on the stage.” (The city got evacuated? That seems like an over-reaction to me.) Whiteout’s tail slapped impatiently. “You were gathering knives, piling high and fast. Your blades were thirsty. The city had to dismantle itself before you could steal it.” (I wasn’t going to steal anything! I wanted to lead the world into the best possible future! I still do!) “You claim you want to add, but all you have ever done was subtract.” (I never took anything from you.) Whiteout scowled, her talons flexing. “Tar pours from your mouth. You don’t notice the level I’m on.” (I’m still wondering how you’re able to visit me. Are your powers getting stronger?) Taking a deep breath, she pressed on. “The latch on my past slipped off when you got buried here. I’ve finally recalled what you did on what was supposed to be my hatching day.” (uh…) “I now recognize the hands that kept me in my egg for an extra night. Thief’s hands. Hidden for years but now imprisoned.” (Are you sure that wasn’t a dream? I never…) “You subtracted me!” Whiteout yelled, blue eyes wide with fury. “Your supposedly beloved sister! You forced me to be less than what I should have been!” (That’s not true! I love you! Just as much as I love Mother or Clearsight!” “Your teeth are getting brittle from the lies you spit out so freely. When your hands slipped from my mind weeks ago, I felt my magic rise like firefly light. You only ever loved me because that light was smothered by you. I suppose it’s easy for anyone to love that which is no longer a threat.” Darkstalker’s smoky body darkened even further. (Are you forgetting that I rescued you from Father? He was going to sell you to his mother! You would have been a brood mare and then killed once Queen Diamond had her precious animus eggs!) She nodded. “There are so many powerful dragons that are scooped out and sad. So much power, so little happiness. When do those roads ever stop being so rocky? Are they ever worth traveling?” (I’m sorry that you were caught in the middle like that. You didn’t deserve any of the grief you got.) She looked at her brother for a long moment. “Maybe that was the truth. Perhaps that chimes from what little black sand remains within you.” (I’m not evil! If Fathom didn’t enchant that bracelet with a sleep spell and convince Clearsight to slip it on me, I would have been King in a day! I would have made sure that no one, but NO ONE would have ever messed with you ever again!) “Would you have done this out of what lies in your heart, leaking and rotted as it is? You can’t give what you don’t have.” Whiteout shook her head. “How can someone steal so much yet still remain so poor?” (Did you come here just to scold me? Would you have preferred it if I HADN’T rescued you?) Gritting her teeth, she said, “Did you know that Father still screams near me every night? That I can still smell his blood? I always hear the sound of his body expanding onto the stage! More stealing, Darkstalker!” Red eyes glowed in Darkstalker’s smoky head. (HE DESERVED IT!) Lightning cracked and flashed behind her as she pointed at her brother. “He deserved to be healed! You showed so much love for Mother and gave a queen’s wealth of kindness for her! Her lights have always glowed like the sun.” Wiping tears from her muzzle, she charged on. “You knew that Father’s magic burned holes into his soul and his heart. Why didn’t you try to heal him the way you would have healed her?” His eyes flickered like candles in the rain. (Uh…) Holding up a hand, Whiteout said, “Because you’re a thief. You stole my potential, you stole Clearsight’s trust, you stole Father’s life. I can only guess what you might have stolen from poor Fathom. I’m guessing it’s his lover, Indigo. Rocky travels, brother. Not the road you should have taken. But do you know who else you stole from?” The eyes winked out as he shook his head. (No.) “Yourself. You tried to fill your vault with riches, but you kept using the wrong key. You kept grabbing the sword rather than the olive branch, especially after Mother was stolen from us. That was awful, even I have to admit.” (Mother’s dead. Father let that happen.) “Only because you let Father rot like a fallen apple. You know the value of power, but not the value of life. You get what you give, Darkstalker. And you only ever gave nearly everyone subtractions. Empty vault.” (Is that it? Are you done?) She sighed. “If you stay asleep forever, you might dismiss our talk as a wayward dream, an idle fantasy. Something tells me that you won’t stay like this until the sun burns out, however.” Was that a smile forming in the head’s cloudiness? (I’m getting out of here, little sister. Sooner than you think.) “And when you do, you’ll probably steal even more and gain nothing again. So much intelligence, so little sense. Someone needs to subtract everything from you, big brother. All of your knives and your poisoned tongue. You need to get your black sand back.” (I can get that back on my own, don’t you worry.) Whiteout rubbed her shoulders. “If it were that simple, you never would have been buried in the first place. Our eggs should have hatched together, brother. Then maybe we both would have been immortal under the moons.” (When I get my scroll back, I’ll make you immortal. I can promise you that.) “A thief’s promises are less than nothing. I’m making my own wealth, Darkstalker. With Thoughtful.” (Oh! You got married?) “Unofficially, yes.” She smiled. “Officially, I’m pregnant.” His jumped excitedly. (That’s fantastic news! I’m so glad you finally found a happy life!) “I was hoping you would say something that wouldn’t smell like a lie. Lilacs. You told the truth. See how easy it is to give?” (Have you picked out any names?) “I was thinking Shadowhunter. If I have twins, maybe also Eclipse.” (Now wait just a minute! Those are the names of MY dragonets! Clearsight and I….) (…oh…) “Clearsight told me a few months ago that those were the names you both were going to use. I figured that this way, you could give something back to this world. We’ve picked a spot in a corner of the RainWing Forest, far way from powerful monsters with hollow hearts.” (I hope you love them as much as I loved you.) She frowned. Did her brother ever understand what love really was? Would he ever know? Maybe if his black sand was ever poured into his empty heart again, he would know the joys his sister, his strange, slant-wise sister, felt every day for her lover. And would feel for her future dragonets. “I have to go now, Darkstalker. The rest of my life is waiting for me and I can’t carry you with me anymore. I have to be free and you need to rest and reflect. You can be so much more than the poorest thief I ever knew.” (Do you really believe that?) “I know I often speak in riddles, but I have never told a lie in my life. Not even to myself. Only warped mirrors tell untruths.” (If you ever see Clearsight again, which is a long shot, I know, tell her that I’m sorry. I should have been better to her. To everyone.) “It’s good to have regrets. They’ll hold you close and help you take a good look at yourself.” (I’m not very good company.) “Everything changes. You became something that needed to be buried. If you ever get unearthed, perhaps a smoother road waits for you. Perhaps not.” (That’s one thing I’ve always loved about you, sister. You keep on going no matter what people think of you.) Whiteout smiled. “I leaned that from you. Good night, big brother.” (Take care, little sister.) They turned away from each other as the fog thickened. She took flight into the waking world. Whiteout sat up, yawning. “How long was I away?” “About an hour, I’d say,” replied Thoughtful. “Did you find him?” “Yes. But he’s lost himself. I don’t know how he can find his way back.” Rubbing his neck, he looked at the rubble. “We all have our journeys to make, I guess.” “I know where we’re going, dear, “ Whiteout said as she stared at her belly, which would soon be swollen with her eggs. “Somewhere better than we’ve ever been before.” “We both deserve a chance at a better life.” Thoughtful sighed. “We’ve lost everything, after all. The only way for us now is up.” She rubbed a wing against one of his as he helped her onto her feet. “Up and over, round and round we go. Where do we stop?” Thoughtful kissed her on the lips, grinning at the delightfully strange dragon that he would share the rest of his life with and answered, “Nobody knows.” Deep within Agate Mountain, a dragon slept. And smiled. THE END...
ToD - A Girl and Her Dragon Remastered Ch. 4Tales of DyannorA Girl and Her DragonChapter 4 – EscapeBy J.C. Solis “So… your name is Jaegar, child?” wondered the great, black-scaled dragon as he mused to his new guest. “It is a rather bold and commanding name. I surmise that your sire gave it to you to preside authority, given your possession of Godlight.” The young lad looked up at this new caretaker: a beast that, by all accounts, was terrifying and perhaps should have killed him – though in hindsight, the dragon almost did. But the dragon was quite the character, given time to understand the creature and where it comes from. The two of them, a human lad and a great wyrm, remained within the cave deep inside the Azkhal Forest’s Haunted Mange, a place no one with the right amount of sense would dare enter on a whim. But the dragon chose this spot to call him home. Perhaps it was to keep as far away from hominid society as he could. The beast was larger than a regular dragon, so it must possess powers much greater than a more common drake. And yet this alone did not explain why the dragon chose a dangerous, and even deadly, place to reside. “What is your name, Sir Dragon?” responded Jaegar with curiosity. “I hope to address you by your actual name.” The dragon looked at the young lad with a smirk. It seemed only fair to share. “Uxyloth, my dear boy. My name is ‘Uxyloth the Great’, though I don’t have anything ‘great’ in terms of deeds to share for that title.” The dragon named Uxyloth then grumbled. “One thing that does interest me, though, is why those knights were coming after you. To have the Kyreem Blood Guard come after you must mean that you are of great importance. And your possession of Godlight only compounds my curiosity.” The dragon then bent his neck down to look at the child. “Tell me, boy, do you know why you are being pursued?” Jaeger looked down at the floor, not sure whether or not he could trust the dragon. But one look back at Uxyloth’s golden-red eyes made it clear that he demanded an answer, and would not take no for an answer. Given he was imposing on the dragon, and perhaps putting him in danger, there was no point in hiding the truth. “It’s a prophecy, Sir Dragon, that I have to fulfill,” admitted Jaegar. “I remember back at the monastery that was training me they said I was to challenge many great evils of this world. That there is an empire that’s harboring demons, and that only someone with Godlight could defeat them.” Uxyloth found this information intriguing. “And this monastery… where is it, and why are you so far away from it?” Jaeger looked down at the ground again, almost as though it was painful to recall the memory. “It’s in the northern part of the Azkhal Forest, but it’s gone now,” he whispered painfully. “Everyone is dead. The monks did all they could to keep me safe to the end. They just told me to run as fast and as far as I could, that the Godlight would keep me safe. When the Byammar soldiers ransacked the monastery, I ran deeper and deeper into the mange. And here I am now.” Uxyloth grumbled as he heard the full truth. It was a sorry state of affairs, for this lad to be so far from home and to have been hunted through it all. But in the end, there was nothing he could do. And the pain that a lad as young as him would remain for a while longer. What’s more, with the boy still alive and having such a major role to play, he knew that even more soldiers were on their way. The emperor would not allow someone who was a very real threat to survive. And even the dragon’s own life would be in danger as well. The child was sentenced to death, and anyone who remained with him shared that fate. But at the same time, Uxyloth was no friend of the Byammar Empire and to the Emperor. He remembered when Byammar conquered Drakengarde and the mass genocide of his people. Dragons are perhaps some of the most difficult creatures to kill, and yet the magic, machines, and weaponry that the empire used slaughtered a vast number of them. Many fled the capitol in fear and dismay, the fortress city of Drake’vil’kur falling to the empire. The King of the Dragons was forced to surrender at sword point, lest he join his fellow drakes in death’s embrace – and if he still didn’t, then the slaughter of his people would continue until no dragon remained in Dyannor. What was worst of all was that the Empire harbored demons. The Hells that contained the servants of Malumnus, God of Evil, were somehow open – though Malum himself wasn’t yet free. But with the power that the emperor had on display, it was hard to see where else it came from. But a possessor of Godlight could easily defeat this malignant power, and the fact that this child could be the key to destroying the empire gave pause to Uxyloth. Perhaps this was the reason the gods had sent this young lad to him, and why the empire was so dogged in its pursuit of the boy. But to challenge an empire so mighty as Byammar, there needed to be more allies. Uxyloth and Jaeger alone were far from being a match, even with the power of Godlight. They needed friends in high places, an army of loyal followers, and the resources to launch a campaign of war against the demonic forces of the empire. It would be far from easy, and it would mean traveling to realms within Dyannor that may not yet be willing to fight. Yet if the realm were to continue to be free, then it must be done. Uxyloth looked at his new charge, the tear that dripped down the boy’s eye as he was near the point of sobbing at the result of his fate and grumbling. Jaeger looked up at Uxyloth, a determined look on the dragon’s face. “I swear to you, Jaeger, that you will succeed in your mission. I will make sure that you succeed, so may the gods hear my oath,” said Uxyloth in a mighty voice. “The Empire of Byammar will fall, and with it the evil that has come to be released into this world. “Now come with me, Jaeger. We must prepare to leave. More soldiers of Byammar are bound to return, and we need to be ready to depart for another realm.” Jaeger’s face beamed, wondering what had become of his new caretaker. It had been so long since he last saw someone with such conviction, and the dragon was more than willing to fulfill Jaeger’s prophecy. It was almost as though the prophecy spoke of even more companions that the Hero of the Gods would acquire. But as to where they were going next, and what companions they would make, Jaeger just had one question: “Where are we going then, Sir Uxyloth?” The dragon smiled. He knew exactly where he needed to go next. “We go to Valenfarven. Last I heard that nation was still out of the Empire’s clutches, and We will need the help of the Elves of the Great Forest. And perhaps soon, we will go to the dwarven kingdoms in the Belmcar Mountains and then the North Dragon Kingdom of Draconium. All of these realms are in danger, and we will need their aid to fight back against Byammar.” The boy was intrigued by the Dragon’s plan. Though he had no idea how the Dragon would gather this much support from others – being that neither seemed to be of important status – he was more than willing to follow the dragon if it meant the prophecy coming true. “But first, we must pay a visit to the Dark Crystal,” noted Uxyloth. “And the Kingdom of Haerondir is currently under Byammar occupation. From what I know of Godlight, it will also need the power of the aid of Darkness. Light alone will not be enough to challenge the emperor.” “So… must we go to Milesbaen then?” wondered Jaeger with a bit of worry.The dragon nodded his head. “Yes.” The dragon mused as to the daunting task that lay before them both. “Our journey has yet begun, and already we face many tall tasks. I fear for our safety, but at the same time if we don’t fight then we are consigned to death. Whatever happens, Jaeger, I make this vow to you. Nothing bad will happen to you so long as we remain together. You came to me in search of help, and I almost killed you out of spite. Now, I must make things right by helping you fulfill your destiny.” The dragon extended his front talon to the boy. “Do you trust me?” Jaeger wiped the final tear from his eye. He never had anyone as powerful yet merciful in his life as this dragon. And though it seemed that the dragon had much more to hide, there was no other choice. Jaeger put his hand on the palm of Uxyloth’s talon, and the two closed hands and shook them. Jaeger looked up at Uxyloth with a beaming smile, one that knew that everyone would be alright. And Uxyloth couldn’t help but smile as he looked at the joy that he had brought to the lad. Now that a covenant was forged, their new journey together would take hold. It was time to build on their powers and forge alliances with the free nations of Dyannor. Their journey now begins… The evening was now upon Serena and Lezerath as the happenings of the previous day were all but a memory, and little Serena was growing accustomed to her new life with her guardian dragon. It was a position that many a child would be envious of, to be able to spend their time reminiscing in the care of a benevolent dragon, much less one as powerful and talented as Lezerath. It was also curious that the dragon was also a Dark Knight, given that he wore dark plate armor whenever he was in human form. To think that a dragon would dedicate their time to the chivalric code of honor was something that the little girl thought would be unheard of – though in truth, dragons becoming knights, sorcerers, wizards and the like were not as uncommon as the world would have one believe. And being that a dragon could live up to a thousand years and that Lazareth had barely lived a quarter of that time, he had a load of stories to tell from his long and storied life. He told tales of battles he fought in the armies he took part in, of the friends he made in brotherhood and those whom he had lost due to the cruelty of war, and even the sweet taste of victory and the bitter taste of defeat when either or came. He witnessed the worst of the nature of the Hominid, though he also had seen acts of goodwill and generosity that would restore one’s faith in mortals once again. These stories were all so interesting for Serena to hear, but she was also thrilled to be learning magic from Lezerath as well. Her skill was slowly improving, with her ability for telekinesis being adept enough to pick up and fling objects from the other side of the room. It was something that astounded Lezerath, not having met a human who was this good at channeling Magicka so early on. And yet this little girl did it so effortlessly and without difficulty. Many a sorcerer or wizard would be hard-pressed to have had the skill that this child had early on – even though many indeed were quite talented in their earlier years. But Lezerath refrained himself from teaching her attack spells. She was still too inexperienced to master such magical weaponry, and he was honestly afraid that she’d set his study on fire, or even cause a cave-in inside his cave as a result of an explosion spell. The evening was upon them, and Serena was starting to grow sleepy. Her yawns were a note of how tired she must have felt. Using magic, no matter how skilled one was with it, was often draining mentally. Many aspiring wizards or witches had to build their mental fortitude to use such advanced spells, and the little girl was no different. And so, he decided it would be best to bring her to bed. There was much to deliberate as to what to do in the days to come. “Come, Reshznoz, it is time for bed,” said Lezerath. “Okay, Lezerath,” replied Serena as she hopped off of the sofa cushion in the den. But as Serena headed down the pathway that led to the bedchamber, Lezerath thought that he felt a breeze from the nearby entrance to his den. He turned around to walk over and inspect it. Nothing appeared to be out of the ordinary, but at the same time, he didn’t want to dismiss it. There was no telling if there would be an assassin who managed to infiltrate his den. Now, then again, an assassin who enters a dragon’s den practically would cosign their fate to be burnt to a crisp, torn apart, or worse. Serena went over to the changing screen and got into her pajamas, to which she then climbed into bed. The warm blankets were tucked above her by Lezerath’s careful arms, making sure she was comfortable for sleeping. “Sleep well, Little One,” said Lezerath as leaned forward to plant a kiss on her forehead. “May your dreamscape be pleasant and calm.” “Good night, Lezerath,” the little girl replied. “What will you do in the meantime?” “I have to return to my study and use the scry orb to do some inspections. I won’t be long before I too return to sleep as well.” With this reassurance, Serena closed her eyes and tried to go to sleep. There was nothing to fear now, at last being safe within the cave of the great wyrm. But as she tried to drift off to sleep, Serena could feel a presence within the room. Bad memories were starting to creep up, and she opened her eyes and lifted her head to look around the room. She almost wanted to cry for Lezerath to come and save her from whatever was hidden in the dark. In an act of bravery, or perhaps curiosity, she climbed out of bed to see where the presence was coming from. And when she approached a nearby bookshelf, she saw something flicker from it. There was a stone, the bluish-white stone that the paladins who rescued them had entrusted her with. It was her last memory of the paladins. And, deep down, she hoped that the two of them were still safe. Suddenly, a hand grabbed hold of her, with one reaching and covering her mouth before she could let out a yell. She expected to die right then and there, the assassin plunging a knife into her neck or perhaps even snapping her delicate vertebrae with a swift twist. But her fears were swayed when she heard the supposed assassin speak. “Don’t yell, lass. Tis us,” said none other than the voice of Lezroff. “We’ve come to get you out of here. I’ll let you go, but don’t say a peep.” Serena was let go, and when she turned around she saw none other than the knights Lezroff and Gaiden, the two knights as swift and brave as ever. “Lezroff? Gaiden? Tis you?” said Serena in wonderment. “Yes, lass. Tis us. Now we must leave before that dragon comes and makes a meal of you!” whispered Gaiden rather hastily. “But Lezerath wouldn’t eat me,” she protested back. “He’s protecting me. He’s even teaching me magical spells.” “Trust me, lass, when the Blood Guards come, even a dragon won’t be enough to stop them,” urged Lezroff. “Now hurry! We must make haste!” At that moment, a puff of smoke filled the area where Serena and the knights were, followed by a bright light and a roar that shook the entire room. “So, you’re the presence that I felt earlier. I must say, I congratulate you knights for your bravery in entering my cave,” said the rumbling voice of Lezerath in his dragon form. “But your journey has come to an end. Prepare to die, curs!” The smoke then parted, revealing the black dragon as he lifted his talons to strike. But before he could, Serena stood in between him and the knights, crying out as loud as she could: “Don’t kill them, Lezerath!” she cried out in pleas. “These are the knights who rescued me! They’re good men!” “Step aside, Reshnoz, so that I can skewer them!” he commanded. “Please, Lezerath, listen to me!” “She’s right, Dragon,” replied Lezroff. “We just want to rescue her. She’s in far too much danger around here, especially in the company of a beast like you!” “You not only attempt to take my charge from me but insult me as well?!” gawked Lezerath at the insolence. “And how do I know that you will protect her, hmm? You let her loose as soon as you freed her. She would have been eaten by wolves had she not been discovered by me!” At this, Lezroff stood up and addressed the beast. “To be honest, we could have been sent to assassinate her on the contrary, given her grave importance to the empire. She is the key to releasing great evil into the realm again, dragon, and if that were to happen, then all of Dyannor would be doomed,” admitted Lezroff.“But we are not here to kill her. Rather, we want to take her as far away from Kyreem as possible. She must not fall into the hands of the emperor.” Lezerath bowed his head, looking at the earnest faces of the knights. Though he knew of Serena’s importance, he didn’t know how important she was just yet. Could it be possible that her descent from the hero Jaeger Valorwood was the reason why she was being pursued? But even if she was, why was she specifically being chased and not other descendants of Jaeger? There were still so many questions floating in the air, and yet Lezerath was not any closer to finding out the truth. “How do I know that the empire is on its way? How can I trust you two with My Reshznoz’s life?” asked Lezerath. “Look at your scrying orb and see the Blood Guard about a league away,” noted Lezroff. “They are here to kill us all and take Serena back kicking and screaming if need be.” Lezerath turned around with Serena and the knights in tow as he went to the main chamber, summoning the central orb to see if there was truth to this. The map that he was shown showed a small army of soldiers, all of them wearing heavy armor, marching on the way, and being no more than a League away. It was clear that precious time was of the essence. And they needed to escape. “Ye Gods, it’s the Blood Guard,” noted the dragon. He then turned around and nodded his head to the knights. “I see you’ve been speaking the truth. But though I now believe you, I will not allow Serena to go alone. I will accompany her and keep her safe. I fail not to remember how you callously abandoned her after having rescued her, and I will not stomach to see that again.” “So be it,” replied Lezroff. “For now, prepare to leave this place, and take only the necessities. I doubt you will be able to return once we leave.” Lezerath turned into his Dark Knight form and took Serena into the bed chamber. He ordered her to pick an outfit fit for traveling from the wardrobe, one which would keep her warm in these cold autumn nights and for the winter that was quickly approaching. Serena did just that, asking the wardrobe for an outfit, to which it began to shuffle things inside. When she opened the door she was greeted with traveling clothes. She quickly grabbed the first few items she could before heading to the changing screen. Lezerath, meanwhile, went to grab a nearby sack of sorts and filled some of it with some more clothes and thick coats so that she would have a more extensive change of clothes for the long journey. When all was said and done, Serena came out of the screen and asked how she looked. Serena was wearing a black dress, with purple tights underneath her dress, red sleeve gloves, brown boots, and a black pointed hat. She looked the part of a little witch or sorcerer, which was apt considering her studies with magic. After gathering some clothes, Lezerath headed to his study to pick up some important documents and books – including the beginner’s spell book that Serena was being taught from. It seemed strange that the bag Lezerath had didn’t seem to fill, almost as though it was bottomless. But there was no time to worry about magical items, the last item he grabbed being the Scrying Orb. With everything necessary for the escape now ready, Lezerath, Serena, and the two knights prepared to make their escape. And Lezroff made sure to drop his blue Seeker stone and destroy it. But as soon as he chucked the stone into the nearby fire and was about to ask Serena for her stone, a loud banging could be heard coming from the door – a sign that some unwanted guests had finally arrived. “Blooming bollocks,” cured Gaiden. “We’re trapped here!” And on saying those words, the knights pulled out their swords and got ready for a fight. “There’s no need,” answered Lezerath. “They may break through the door, but that’s not the only exit out of here.” Lezerath turned around and went for a nearby bookshelf. He pulled a book which then led to the sound of a locking mechanism unlocking. The bookshelf then opened to reveal a secret passage. “I’m not foolish enough to have just one exit. Let’s just say that I had already planned for when I would need a quick escape.” He then beckoned the others through. “Quickly! This tunnel leads to an exit on the top of the hill. Just watch your step, and make sure to keep going up!” The two knights entered, followed by Serena. As the last one to enter the passage, Lezerath closed the door behind him, leaving nobody the wiser. But as soon as the door closed, a loud eruption could be heard coming from the other side, along with the sound of twisting metal. The Blood Guard brought explosives with them, and they were willing to use them to blast their way through any impediment. The four escapees fled up the tunnel, the luminescent stones along the way lighting the path and giving them notice of any step to climb up. The tunnel seemed to spiral upward, a marvel of carving and stonework. But as they reached the end, they could see a hatch of sorts above them, one which was latched shut. Lezerath pulled the hatch and swung the door up, revealing the nighttime light as they got out in the open. Though it seemed that they had escaped their pursuers, they needed to flee as quickly as they could before they’d all be slaughtered. “They’ve got horses and riflemen,” whispered Lezroff as he peeked over the hill to spy on the guards. “We won’t be able to flee on foot.” “Then we shall fly, then,” answered Lezerath.In an instant, Lezerath transformed into his dragon form, this time using darkness as a means of transforming instead of a blinding light. He was now a mighty dragon again, and he was more than capable of carrying three with him. “Knights, climb onto my back. I’ll carry Serena in my talons.” “Must she be carried off like prey?” protested Gaiden. “She would be safer to ride with us.” “Now’s not the time to argue, Knight,” replied Lezerath. “Hop before I leave you and your friend behind,” the dragon commanded. Lezroff and Gaiden had no choice but to climb onto the dragon’s back. All the while, Lezerath beckoned Serena into one of his clawed hands. “I won’t hurt you, Reshznoz. I’m happy to finally be able to show you how a dragon flies in the air,” he said with a smile. “Okay, Lezerath,” replied Serena worriedly. She allowed herself to be enveloped by the dragon’s talons, gently being squeezed and made snug into the dragon’s grip. With the knights on his back and his charge close in hand, Lezerath crouched down before jumping high into the air, his wings opening wide as they flapped downward. The great gust of wind lifted the four up even more, and with sufficient height, he took off for the skies above. As the black dragon flew away, the sounds of charging hoofs could be heard, followed by the sound of multiple gunshots as the Blood Guard tried their best to hit Lezerath in a critical spot. But the guards’ horses were not fast enough to catch up with the flying dragon, and he flew away at breakneck speeds to leave his old home behind, along with everything he had gathered over the years. It was a bitter parting for Lezerath, but in the end, the life of the little girl meant more to home than some trinkets he gained from past wars. But as the four flew off, Lezroff thought he heard a sobbing sound coming from down below. He leaned over the side to check on Serena – only for horror to fill his face at the sight of blood. “Dragon! Halt!” cried the knight. “Serena’s been hit!” “What!?!” the drake roared. And with that, Lezerath lowered himself down into a clearing within the Azkhal Forest, hoping that the wounds were not serious. Lezerath’s heart as he put Serena down to see that her left leg had indeed been hit by a rifle bullet. Poor Serena only sobbed gently instead of wailing in pain, but mainly due to loss of blood – her left leg was covered in crimson as she had indeed lost a whole load of vital fluids. “Reshznoz, stay with me!” he urged. “I’ll try to heal you.” With that, Lezerath transformed back into his dark knight form, and he reached into the bottomless bag to pull out a pair of tweezers to use in extracting the bullet. Though it hurt Serena to have him dig into her wounded flesh, there was nothing that he could do about that. He dug his tool as gently as he could, hoping to reach the offending piece of lead before sealing the wound. And after a few tense moments, he managed to pull a large caliber bullet from the wound – one which hardly deformed after having hit the flesh of the little girl. Lezerath then pulled out a vial of fluid before spraying some of it onto the wound, a healing potion that acted as a disinfectant to keep the wound. Finally, He then extended his gauntlet hand forward and channeled the flow of Magicka, a green light emanating from his hand. The wound began to close, causing Serena to sob gently as it seemed she no longer felt any more pain. Lezerath had successfully tended to her grave wound but sadly could do nothing about the loss of blood that she underwent. It would be a while before her blood would replenish itself naturally, and she would be extremely weak and unable to walk from now on. “Reshznoz,” whispered Lezerath worriedly. “I’m sorry.” Serena smiled at Lezerath before she closed her eyes, her body too weak to be able to do anything else. And the dragon and two knights were left with having to carry her the rest of the way onward. “I apologize, Sir Dragon,” said Lezroff solemnly. “It hurts us too to see little Serena like this.” Lezerath turned to look at them, though he could not muster the spite to rebuke them. Instead, he took their solemn at face value. “So be it. I know it be not your fault, but if you truly wish to help me take care of Serena, then tell me where in the bloody we can go to keep her safe,” he demanded. “I will not leave her in this sorry state, and less in the hand of you two.” Gaiden pulled out a map from his pouch, hoping to provide the answer. “We are to head for Hemlock Lake, deep within the Azkhal Forest. There is a sanctuary there that the Knights of the Enchyron use as a safe house,” he answered. “There we can contact the head of our order and make plans for what to do next.” “Like it or not, Sir Drake, but we are all in this together,” reminded Lezroff. “We are all in danger, and Serena is in the gravest danger of all. The empire will not stop till it has her. And if they get a hold of her…” Lezerath bowed his head. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but he knew when he was over his head. “Shall we fly there, then? I know where the lake lies.” “I recommend we travel by foot,” said Lezroff. “The Empire had many dragons and winged beasts in its employ, and they will bring us crashing down if we go in the air.” Lezerath grunted as he then picked Serena’s limp body from the ground. “So be it.” With Serena back in his arms, Lezerath made it known that he intended to carry her to the lake, which was perhaps a day’s march away from their current location. For now, it was just good that they gave the empire the slip. Though, he did not dismiss the Blood Guards’ doggedness as a threat. So long as Serena remained alive, she would be in danger. No matter where they go, they will have the empire at their heels. This was the cold reality of their situation. This was the fate that befell the Dragon as he took charge of this little girl’s life. But no matter what, even if the demons of the hells were pursuing them, Lezerath would not stop until Serena was finally safe. He had to find a way… Commander Wellingarde looked throughout the cave with fury, unable to stomach the idea that his quarry had escaped him. His men had found loads of evidence that the dragon who was responsible for taking the girl belonged to the Order of the Enchyron, though when he discovered the secret passage his rage grew even more. And if he were to return to Sollermun emptyhanded again, then he would meet a cruel and terrible fate. The Blood Guard may be in his command, but they were loyal to the empire first of all, and they would not hesitate to hang him from the nearest tree nook if the mission proved fruitless. But as he looked into the smoldering fire in the center of the chamber, he noticed a blue stone that he recognized well. It was a Seeker Stone, one which would show him the exact location of the girl if indeed she still held the other one. This was his chance to redeem himself, so he mused. And Josias was not about to let the lass slip out of his hand like last time. With this in mind, he turned around and ordered his men to get ready to ride. There was a long journey ahead of them, and the girl was going further and further away from their grasp. With that, Josias clutched the stone to turn it on, guiding him in the direction of the girl. He was going to prove why he bore the moniker of “The Hound”. And he was going to punish the dragon and the knights for getting in his way…
ToD - A Girl and Her Dragon Remastered Ch. 3Tales of DyannorA Girl and Her DragonChapter 3 – A Place to Heal the HeartBy J.C. Solis Though the cave was nice and cool for someone to try and get a comfortable rest in, Serena just could not bring herself to fall asleep all that well. The trauma of the previous days has left the poor girl in a daze and confusion. When she woke up she expected her mother to be by her side, with the gentle and caring woman caressing her daughter after hearing the horrible screams and shouts that the girl gave throughout the night – desperate for her to find comfort in someone whom she was close to. She expected to wake up in her room, to see the sunrise and the start of a new day of chores and play to take hold, of her to be back in her usual life of bliss and happiness. But this morning would not be that morning, nor would it ever be a morning like that ever again. On opening her eyes, Serena was faced once again with the cold and hard reality of her situation. She was in a dark cave, sharing a place with a dragon of all creatures. And she didn’t know what the future would bring her. At that moment, little Serena almost wanted to cry, her sorrow welling up from deep inside her heart as she was starting to get overwhelmed with emotion. Life, at this point, didn’t seem fair. It was too cruel and unjust, even for children like her. This is not the kind of life for any child to grow up in. She wanted her mother back. She wanted to be back home with her two older siblings and make the most of their life in their village. The distraught feeling of loss was not easy to overcome, and poor Serena would have to live with the pain of loss for time to come. At the very least, Serena was grateful for the kind and caring dragon who had taken her into his home. She loved the idea of being with a dragon, especially one as kind and as caring as Lezerath. But at the same time, she wondered about the seemingly benevolent drake and his efforts to make her comfortable. She wanted to know more about him, and even more so about dragons as a whole. It was when she began thinking these thoughts that a wonderful smell began wafting into her bed chamber. It was the familiar scent of home cooking and one that made her feel rather nostalgic for the food that she had back at home. Her stomach even began to grumble a little bit, noting how starved she was and how these past weeks in captivity had only allowed her disgusting meals that would barely keep starvation at bay. Hopping off of her bed, Serena walked out of the dimly lit bed chamber and went to where the smell was coming from. But she already had an idea as to who was responsible for the smell. Serena walked into the main antechamber of the cave, where Lezerath could be seen cooking in the kitchenette of the cave. He had a Dutch oven that had a pan of what appeared to be cooking meats and eggs. It was a wonderful sight and one that caused Serena’s stomach to grumble rather loudly. Lezerath quickly turned to the little girl, smiling as he saw his charge now up and about. “Ah, Reshznoz, you’re finally awake,” noted Lezerath. “I imagine you are hungry. Mind taking a seat at the table while I get our food in order?” Serena wondered if she should approach the dragon knight as he cooked for her. She didn’t feel like imposing on him, though when her stomach growled again she conceded. It was best she got food in her belly – and a proper meal at that. Weeks of living off of gruel and stale bread left her with an appetite that was rather ferocious for her size. And the fact that she was having meat again was something that she simply couldn’t refuse. The poor, shy girl went up to the table and pulled out a chair, sitting on top of it as she waited for her meal to be finished. When all was said and done, Lezerath brought her a plate with a large chunk of ham, a side of grated potatoes, and some scrambled eggs. It was a hearty breakfast and one that would satisfy her cravings. Lezerath also handed her a drink – a cup of milk that felt rather cool. With food ready, Serena immediately began tucking into her food, forgoing the fork and knife that were to her side and instead eating like a starved animal. Lezerath took his seat across from her on the table, and unlike her, he actually used proper etiquette by using his utensils. It was only when Serena looked at Lezerath that she realized what she was doing. Feeling rather embarrassed that she allowed herself to lose control, she paused and grabbed a small towelette on the table to wipe her hands and her face, which was covered in juices and sauce from the ham steak. “Sorry,” said Serena rather bashfully. “I’m just really hungry.” “Think nothing of it, Little One,” replied Lezerath as he tucked into a bite off his plate. “I’d be ravenous with my food as well had I not eaten for a long while. But rest assured that I hold no judgment on you. Eat however you will.” But Serena was not about to resume eating the way that she had. Having been raised better by her mother, she grabbed the fork and knife and ate with more proper manners. Mother, thought Serena woefully. She had forgotten how much time had passed since she had been taken. And it was likely that she’d never be able to return to her village again. Just the thought of no longer having a home made her upset, and it was something that she wasn’t handling well. The tears that began to drip down her face were evidence of that. But this time, she wasn’t alone anymore. “Why the tears, Reshznoz?” asked Lezerath with sincerity. “Don’t cry too much. You’ll get tears all over your food.” Serena looked at Lezerath and his serene face. His interest in her was found, his red eyes looking at her with warmth and care. “I’m sorry, Lezerath,” she replied. “I just… I just really miss my home.” To this, the dragon’s smile dimmed down as he found out the reason for her sadness. But still, he was interested in her and why she was feeling this way. “Care to tell me your tale then, Serena? I promise I won’t get angry or the like,” he offered. “Let’s just say I want to help you get your weight off your chest.” There was no harm in doing so, so Serena figured. “Start from the beginning, lass,” suggested Lezerath afterward. “I want to hear your whole tale of woe and how you ended up around these parts.” Serena recounted her story to him, telling how she was at home in the evening, in her homely little village as nightfall was approaching. She came from a semi-well-to-do family in the village of Dartford, explaining how she knew etiquette that most girls her age didn’t have. Her mother, Sylvestra, was a seamstress of good fame, one who oftentimes had to travel to Milesbaen to make clothes for people from wealthy backgrounds. But though she was proud of her craft, the mother charged fair for her prices, though perhaps they were somewhat elevated when she had to make clothes for the rich beyond belief. She also had two more siblings, both of whom were older. Her brother Jon, the eldest, was about to enlist in the Haerondir Army as part of a recruitment campaign that Haerondir was promoting. Her older sister, Hanna, was in line to be a seamstress like her mother, and she was learning the tricks of the trade so that she too could charge extortionate prices from the rich for their tailoring needs. But Serena, being that she was still young, was still in the age of play and happiness. She hadn’t much experienced the poverty of the real world, and its many dangers as well. But Serena was also responsible and diligent, telling of how she enjoyed helping around their home, and even helping her mother with sewing. She was not yet permitted to use needles, but she eyed her mother’s technique with the hope that she could one day follow in her footsteps as well. Lezerath smiled at hearing this. It seemed that Serena’s life was full of joy up until this point.But that joy would go away with what she said next. On that fateful evening, with her mother having just tucked her into bed the church bell of the village began to toll loudly, followed by the sound of marching footsteps. The air was filled with the sound of people screaming and crying out in pain, as well as the familiar scent of char and smoke. Serena got out of bed and went to find her mother, wondering what was happening to her village. But as she climbed down the steps of the second floor she heard a commotion inside of the house. And when she reached the ground floor she came across a horrific sight that has since been etched into her memory. Her siblings Jon and Hanna were slain on the floor, with Jon’s corpse clutching onto the sword that he used for training. And Hanna’s body was horrifically disfigured, having been slashed and cut without mercy. Then again, though Jon was more intact he suffered worse as he had been beheaded. And in front of her was Sylvestra, the mother standing in front of four men wearing dark armor and wielding blood-stained swords. Though she tried her best to fight back against the men, all it took to bring her down was a sword rammed through her abdomen, the weapon piercing her body and coming out the other end. The men then reached for Serena, and though she tried to turn around to run she was immediately caught and brought kicking and screaming from her mother, The woman lay on the floor as she desperately tried to reach for her daughter despite the mortal wound. This was the last sight that Serena remembered before a wet rag with noxious fumes was placed over her nose, the girl falling unconscious as she was then dragged off to meet her fate. This was everything that little Serena could tell, and the gripping story left Lezerath with a foul taste in his mouth. For a young girl to suffer through such brutal hardship so young was inexcusable. But the fact that she lost her family during the raid brought a tear to Lezerath’s eye. This tear was enough to convey to her his emotion. It was truly a tale of suffering and woe. “I’m sorry to hear that you went through so much, Little One,” stated Lezerath at last, wiping away the tear that dripped down his eye. “I know the hardship of battle well. I’ve fought in many wars and have seen much bloodshed. But to see your kin be slain in cold blood is something that I never forgive anyone for doing. I’ve killed my soldiers who’d stoop to such a low.” Serena looked at him, seeing that anger boil in his blood. His face had a glassy look to it, almost as though he was recalling moments like this. But he shook his head before long. “I promise you this, though, Serena. While you are under my care, I will not let a single ingrateful bastard even so much as touch a hair of your head. I’d sooner tear them apart with my talons or bite their bloody heads off than allow for someone to hurt you like this again,” he vowed, with a bit of his anger bubbling up again. “I hope that you’ll be comfortable with me. I don’t want the little girl whom I promised to protect to come to any harm. Otherwise, I’ll have failed in my oath to you from earlier.” Serena smiled at the strong words of her guardian. She truly had nothing left to fear. The two commenced tucking into their food, which by this point had grown slightly cold. But they both polished off their plates entirely, with Serena feeling revitalized after having had such a wonderfully filling meal. Lezerath took both their plates to a nearby washing tub, and the two headed to the main chamber to sit down on some seats. In the center was a good-sized orb, one which was spinning around on an axis. The little girl had never seen a contraption such as this, and she wondered if the thing was a decoration or if it had some sort of use. After asking him what it was, he then responded with: “This is my Scrying Orb,” He answered. “I use it as a map and as a means of browsing the general area of wherever I am. It’s a handy device and one that didn’t come cheap. But with this, I never have to worry about being lost, nor ambushed by people who are coming close.” He leaned back in his seat as he recalled something. “In fact, this was how I was able to detect you while you were running from both your captors and those pack of wolves. It’s proven to be worth every single golden Daltmer that I’ve sunk into this thing, that’s a fact.” Serena got off of her seat and went over to look at the orb. It gave off a soft white glow, one that looked quite warm and inviting. But she knew better than to reach out and touch it. The thing with magical devices was that one didn’t know what they could do when someone tried to use them. On the other hand, Lezerath stood up and walked towards Serena and grabbed her hand gently, encouraging her to reach out and touch the device. With his blessing, Serena went up to the orb and touched it with the tip of her fingers. To her surprise, the device was cold to the touch, almost as though it had been pulled out of a cold and barren region up north. The orb responded to her, a flicker of the light that it gave off that seemed almost like it waited for her command. Lezerath told her to ask the orb if it could show her the map of the nearby area and touch it again. The little girl did as she was told, telling the device to show her a map as she reached out and touched it again. To her amazement, Serena was presented with a holographic display of a map, almost like she was looking at a floating piece of transparent parchment. The map of the area was in front of her, showing everything from the trees and even as detailed as the nearby fauna. Deer could be seen skipping through the map, and the bushes and trees swayed in the wind that was blowing gently through the air. When Lezerath extended his arm out and flicked the map to the side, the landscape changed and moved around as Serena flicked the little map with her hand. “Wow, this is wicked!” cried Serena as she turned to Lezerath giddily. “I love this a good load, Lezerath. It’s a good little device.” The dragon in human form smiled as he patted her on the head. There was so much more that the Orb was capable of, but for the meanwhile, he was happy to show her how the map worked. The two left the orb and went for the nearby study area, where there appeared to be a small library’s worth of books behind a study desk covered with all sorts of writing utensils. There were all sorts of scrolls and pieces of rolled-up parchment that were off to the side, with a quill pen and an inkwell off to the side of the desk that had what appeared to be a piece of paper that someone was writing on. And the bookshelves behind the desk were filled with so many books that perhaps had so much to discuss and describe. Perhaps there would be one that Serena was able to read. The little girl walked over to the small library and glossed over the many tomes that were present. Most of the books looked too difficult for her to read, as some of them were more suited for people with a scholar’s level of intelligence. But there was one book that caught her attention. And when she pulled it out, the book was even more to her liking than she had expected. The book was the “Beginner’s Guide to Spells and Incantations”. It was a book that taught people how to use magic, mostly spells that anyone, even those who are daft to the arcane arts, can be able to cast. Though this was a world of magic, the people who knew a great deal of spells were mostly people who were into studies and Academia. That didn’t mean that the layman or everyday person couldn’t learn to cast magic, as magic was an innate and fundamental force within the world. It was just that for some people it took longer to understand the principles of spellcasting than it did for others. Serena remembered that her mother knew a great deal about spells and that she would often use them around the house. The late mother was rather proficient with all of her spells, using them to some degree of mastery – including self-defense spells that came in handy whenever the family would travel. This affinity was something that the little girl hoped she had inherited. Perhaps magic was in her blood as it was to others who were adept at spell-casting. “Ooh, Lezerath, can I borrow this book?” she asked him, her interest obviously piqued. “I want to cast some spells like levitation. Can you teach me how?” Lezerath smiled after being asked to offer her help. “But of course, Reshznoz,” replied Lezerath with his draconic pet name. “Let’s see if we can’t make a mage out of you.” Serena was about to hand him her magic spell book, but the dragon knight walked over to a shelf that was off to the side. He pulled out a somewhat long, thin box with what sounded like something rattling inside of it. He turned to present it to the little girl. “I think this will help you out greatly,” he said, not yet revealing what the box contained. “Since you will be studying magic, that means you will need something to help channel your Magicka much easier. Most children struggle with spells early on, so this might be of help.” He then opened the box saying finally: “Don’t lose this, now. This wand holds a load of sentimental value to me.” Serena’s eyes bugged open as she saw what appeared to be an oaken stick. The material of the wand looked worn and rather dusty, but one could still clearly see the engravings on the sides of it. And at the tip was a small gem, perhaps a cheap crystal of some kind – though a diamond wasn’t out of the question, albeit one that looked worn and cloudy after much use. Serena picked up the wand in her hands and felt a power come over her through her hands. The wand, no matter how many times it had been used, still possessed a fair amount of power, and was the perfect first wand for a budding mage like her; perhaps even a bit too powerful for her current abilities. “Wow! What a beautiful wand!” she cried out. “Thank you so much, Lezerath! I promise to take extra good care of it,” she assured. “Good, because what you hold was the very first wand that I had when I was just a hatchling,” noted Lezerath. “I made so many memories with that stick of wood, so I’d appreciate it if you take rather good care of it. And who knows, maybe it’ll serve you well on your adventures as well.” “I promise, Lezerath!” the little mage trooped. With that, Serena cracked open the book and blew away at the dust on the first page. An author’s note was on the front offering instructions on how to proceed, given that this was typically the book that a novice spellcaster would be using. The first spell on the page afterward turned out to be the simple spell that Serena wanted to learn at first: levitation. “First off, like any magical spell, you’ll want to channel a good deal of power,” noted Lezerath. “To use magic, you have to draw on a power that is innate to the whole world. To do so, just think of what you want to do, to grab the strings of Magicka that float around you right now and use them to channel the spell that you want to cast.” Lezerath then steadied Serena to point her arm to the small writing quill that was on the desk. “When you see the item of interest, channel the power of Magicka and think of wanting to levitate it up in the air. Magic is as simple as that: whatever you wish to do is what will happen so long as you will it.” Serena did as she was told, following the good bit of advice her mentor was teaching her. Indeed, she could feel the strings of Magicka start to fill her body as she thought of trying to gather them. Her body began to flow with power, and as she gathered what she felt was enough, she pointed her wand to the quill and thought about lifting it. While sending her gathered Magicka through the wand, she mentally commanded the magical spell to lift the quill into the air. And the quill obeyed her command, the little feathered pen floating upward just as she wanted. “Good. Don’t let up the magic, otherwise, it will fall,” urged Lezerath. Serena kept her magical channeling steady, trying her best to steady the quill as she lifted it further and further upward. Though she was ecstatic to see herself perform the feat, she maintained her focus to keep the quill up. The spell was doing its job. But as Serena began to put down the quill, she felt a little weary. A small bead of sweat had formed on her forehead without her even noticing it. It seemed that even a simple spell like this was enough to tire her out for the moment. “Tuckered out now, aren’t you?” teased Lezerath. “It’s all well. Remember that casting spells takes a toll on your mental stamina, just like a sword and a battle axe take a toll on one’s physical body. It is only through practice and training that one builds their magical strength.” “Yes, Lezerath,” she understood. But though Lezerath looked content with the progress of the Mage in the making, in reality, the dragon was flabbergasted. That wand had long since been a dud for as long as he remembered. Even with the magical capabilities that dragons had, he still struggled as a hatchling to cast spells that could be considered significant, let alone exceptional. And to top it all off, he was also amazed by how easily the little girl was at summoning Magicka around her. There was even the danger that she could end up overwhelming herself and get hurt from having summoned too much energy, or worse. But that fearful event never arrived. And Lezerath could only surmise as to how naturally talented this little girl was at the magical arts. Perhaps she was a great sorceress in the making. Lezerath continued to show Serena the rest of his vast collection of books, though some of them were either too difficult to read or were in a foreign language that was different from the common tongue. And yet, Serena never ceased to be amazed by what these books contained, even if she was too young or too uneducated to grasp the principles behind them. Yet she also proved a quick learner and coupled that with Lezerath’s patience, she was able to understand even some of the more complex principles in whatever tome he had in his hand.The two had spent a good deal of time discussing the books that evening arrived, with the sun now setting below the horizon. Now obviously, being in a cave prevented one from checking where the sun necessarily was at, but Lezerath knew via the Scry Orb. “I wonder if it is time for you to go sleep now, Reshznoz,” surmised Lezerath. “I can tell that you’re still exhausted from all those days spent in captivity. It’s best if you went off to get some sleep.” “But Lezerath… *yawn* I’m not tired yet.” Serena tried to protest, but a loud yawn that she let out while stretching her arms betrayed her objection. But the dragon knew better than to fight back with a stubborn child. If she wasn’t as tired as she claimed she was, then he would simply have to complete her wish. “Well then, in that case, let us read the book on Lycanthropy and its many nominations.” He then picked up a book titled: “Lycanthropy, Worgen-hood, and the Mystery of Canid Men”. He began: “There are many tales of werewolves and the like, those savage half-wolf, half-man creatures who stalk the night to find their meals among the poor creatures of the forest, or perhaps even an unfortunate hominid. But the truth about this is that Lycanthropy, especially in this day and age, is now far more nuanced than it was many eons ago. With the civilization of most beast folk and tribesmen, even the werewolves of yesteryear began to civilize themselves into…” But as Lezerath tried to carry on with the book in his hand, he heard a slight snoring sound coming from his side. Serena had now fallen asleep, the poor lass unable to hold back her tiredness as she began to breathe slowly while huddled up next to him. The dragon in hominid form could only smile as he gently put his arms around her picked up off the seat and clutched her in his arms to take her off to bed. He carried her into the bed chamber and placed her onto the sheets before tucking her underneath the blankets. Thinking about it more, he felt rather tired from training Serena in magic while also showing her his vast collection of books and tomes. It would be good to rest to be able to teach her anything else that she would like to learn about. The more he thought about Serena’s aptitude for magic and studying the more he began to realize that the little girl was far from being an average simpleton. For her age, she was far more capable of magic than even most adults. And to top it all off she was using the useless wand he had that offered little benefit toward casting Magicka. How Serena was able to channel magic through that worthless stick still eluded him. The final point he tried to deduct was just how quickly she was able to channel the strings without it overcoming and even consuming her. A normal child should not be capable of handling this amount of energy so much and so well. The more he thought about all these things the more befuddled he became. Perhaps Serena was merely a prodigy child, one who had a superior mind and was able to understand such heavy concepts and use magic to greater affinity than someone her age should be able to. But at the same time, he felt it as his duty to teach her skills that would come in handy – especially skills that would come in handy as to whatever dangers were around the corner. The Byammar Empire was still after her, of course, so perhaps he'd need not dillydally with teaching her basic spells and get her to understand offensive magic, like Fire, Lightning, or even curses. All of that would happen with time. For now, Lezerath turned into his full dragon form and curled up on top of the rug in the room. Sleep would be just the thing that Serena needed to rest after having been through the ordeal she had been through. There was still a lot to deliberate, and Lezerath needed to know the truth about this little girl. Was she truly kidnapped just to be a slave? Or was her supposed Heroic Ancestry the reason why she was targeted by the empire, had her village burned, and her family slain? All of this would be answered on the following day. For now, resting was in order. The future would be what would reveal the truth. A grand adventure was unfolding. Though it may not be one that was welcomed… The Volcanic City of Sollermun couldn’t have been placed in a more ominous place. Having been founded right on the slope of an active volcano, and with the magma from inside the small mountain pouring in lava flows through some of the streets, it was a miracle that people were able to make a living in such an inhospitable place. But the people made do with what they could, using clothing made out of insulating material or charmed with frost spells to keep them cool, and making sure they didn’t touch the infernal lava as it made its way downward. But the people of Sollermun could always rely on the Kyreem Guar to stand watch, or at the very least stand to watch as tax collectors drained the populace dry as slaves were forced to do severe manual labor at the whim of their masters. It was no wonder that the city was oftentimes described as an infernal place to life, being given the flattering moniker of “The Mortal Hell”. And yet it was Sollermun that was the capital of the great Byammar Empire, and the Kingdom of Kyreem – the empire’s controlling nation. Kyreem had always been known for being a hard-handed nation, one that valued strength of body and the strength of one’s steel. With the volcanic region being rich in minerals and metals, it was no wonder that the country was known for forging strong steel and other metals. It was this advancement in metallurgy that allowed it to build both its army’s supplies and weapons as well as its war machines and ships. But though one in the Byammar army would be happy to have such strong weapons and armor to help fend off the soldiers of other nations, one would not want to be within the Sollermun Imperial Keep Dungeon to have the same metal being used against them in the form of torture devices. But such a fate befell the men who had recently failed in their important mission, and none of them were spared from punishments that would have made the death seem like a mercy. The only one among them who was spared was none other than their fearless leader: Josias Wellingarde. But the commander could only wait with bated breath to see if he truly would be spared from punishment as he was dragged into the throne room of the Emperor and with the members of the Imperial Duchy. Fortunate for him, Emperor Lovencroft was not present to give him a stern sentence. But still as unfortunate was the woman who was sitting on her throne to the right of the emperor’s seat. “So, a dragon has claimed ownership of the girl,” said a woman wearing a red, fiery dress as she sat on her purple throne, with her advisor – a cock-eyed looking, venomous old man – standing next to her. “It is unfortunate that your mission came this close to failure. Had it come that far, I imagine your fate would have been much worse.” Commander Josias kneeled before the woman, his face bruised and with a broken, bloodied lip. “I know that we can retrieve the girl again, My Liege,” offered Josias some hope. “But my men were ill-equipped to deal with them. Not to mention that those blasted knights of the Order of the Enchyron got in our way. It is not my fault that we had interlopers within our ranks.” “Excuses, excuses!” cried out the shrill man in a shrill tone. “Do you realize what you buffoons came so close to failing? We could become a power that would put the world to our feet had the girl been brought safely to us! Do you think we’d suffer you ignorant piece of fighting meat to ruin what was by far our most important mission of all time?!” “Enough, Squill,” said the woman as she called to her advisor. She stood up and walked over to the commander, standing as imposing as ever. “I suppose that we must offer you greater aid. I will offer you another chance to succeed in this mission. I will send the Blood Guard to join you in slaying this dragon, along with some of the most powerful weapons we have at our disposal. But if this turns out to be another failure on your part, I cannot imagine that Emperor will allow any more leniency than what I have given you.” Commander Josias bent his head, knowing full well the consequences if he failed a second time. “I understand. And it will be done,” he said. “Good. You may now take your leave. I trust that there will be no more failures,” said the woman. Commander Wellingarde bowed one final time before turning around, with the two heavily armored guardians who were keeping watch over him guiding him out of the throne room. This truly was his last chance at redemption. If he failed again, he might as well turn his blade on himself. At this, the woman took her seat on her throne and began to ponder how the fates had turned. This must have been the working of the gods, to want to keep the empire’s plan from succeeding. But then again, there were plenty of mortal organizations who knew full well the scope and magnitude of their mission would be a success. And the evil that the empire would invite back into the world if they succeeded, would bring about chaos and death at a level that hadn’t been seen since two thousand years ago – since the age of the Old Byammar Empire. “Do you suppose that the soldiers will succeed in this new mission, Your Highness?” wondered Squill the Royal Advisor. “I’d have said to have had Commander Wellingarde executed for his failure and sent a more capable man along with the Blood Guard to go after the girl.” “Commander Wellingarde is a fine soldier, lest you forget,” replied the woman. “He is our finest tracker and is more than able to go after the girl to the ends of the earth if need be. I will not have such a specimen of a man to be put to death when he can still prove his worth. There is a reason why he was named “The Hound of Kyreem” in his earlier days.” But the woman leaned back as she scratched her chin. “But I cannot protect him from Emperor Lucian if he is to fail us again. And with the stake snow this high, he will be sure to track down this girl and dragon or commit suicide if he does fail.” “That he most certainly will,” snickered Squill. “In the meantime, let us meet with His Majesty and tell him the news of our hunt. He will be most interested in hearing about this misstep after he’s had his evening meal. Not to mention, we have to worry about the Order of the Enchyron. That group is bound to be a more constant thorn in our side than we realize.” “I’m certain they will.” And with that, the Advisor helped the lady come off of her throne, addressing her by her name afterward. “So whatever you command… …Duchess Viktoria…”
The Ranger is Annoyed by Betty-Adams
Pixelated
Art of Misty by Silverdapple359
Coiled Pixel by MaskedDragonLin
Hazy dreams by Aquivi
LUCIGONS [group avatar] by SUSHIROLLED
Sketches, Lineart, and WIPs
Dragon(Mirroar) by NightPie225
Chinese Dragon(practice) by NightPie225
Silco Dragon Sketch by Nightindrake
Traditional Art
Meeting by NightPie225
Inktober + Monstober 2022 Day 31: Farm/Haunting by Nightindrake
Inktober + Monstober 2022 Day 5: Flame/Mangled by Nightindrake
Warm fur by NightPie225
3-Dimensional Art
First flight of The Last Dragon Rider by DuneDrifter
Commission Journals and Advertisements
Navy Blue and Brass Dragon - COMMISSION by AegisOwl
Action Contest Entries
Contest plus Remake by BlackDragonKill
Dramatic Poses Contest Entries
Goatta Catch That Ball by Eternity9
Weekly Challenge - Archive
Peach Bliss by xHybridus
Halloween Contest Entries
Trick or Treat by xHybridus
Mature Content

Mature Content

Missy Hissy by Shon2

Recent Journal Entries

Hey, it's the admin here! It's been a long time since I was last active here, as many of you have definitely noticed. For more info on that, please read the journal on my profile; I've attached it below.
Um, this website has changed A LOT since I've last been here, so I was wondering if people really participated in groups anymore? If there's enough interest, I would love to revive Dreamy-Dragons. I'll have to redo quite a few things, but I guess it's worth asking about. I remember everyone here being wonderful, and very enthusiastic about their craft. I'd hate to just leave that all behind again...
There probably won't be too many things like contests and whatnot (at least, for now), but I would just want to rebuild this place as a gallery for dragon artists and enthusiasts.
Anyway, thanks to everyone who stuck around here. Again, please read the journal below if you haven't. I definitely didn't mean to leave this place on a sour note. Have a great rest of the day... or night! :D
,
Hey folks!  Its Nuwer-Designs here coming at you with a little update.

We recently have had a few mature works submitted into the group over some time.  Nightindrake and I were talking about it and we decided to officially make a new folder dedicated solely to mature artworks.  So as long as the piece is nothing too extreme in content, it is welcome to be entered into the folder.
More Journal Entries

Admins

Dreamy-Dragons is a great place for dragon artists to come together! Here, deviants should encourage and respect one another. Enjoy your stay in this fantastical group!

Founder


:iconnightindrake:

Co-Founders


:iconreinacastillo::iconsweettartdutchad::icontiraserphina::iconnuwer-arts:

Affiliates

Any dragon or fantasy related groups are welcome to affiliate with us!


:iconstardivider1plz::iconstardivider2plz::iconstardivider2plz::iconstardivider2plz::iconstardivider3plz:
:iconall-wings: All-Wings All dragons are welcome! :iconalldragonsforever: AllDragonsForever please do not feed the dragons :iconcamelhotssquaretable: CamelhotsSquareTable Blazing Dragons Fanclub :icondragons-forever101: Dragons-forever101 :iconthedragontavern: TheDragonTavern :iconlantern-spirits: Lantern-Spirits Ink your imagination free :iconlantern-dragons: Lantern-Dragons temporarily closed for remodelin :iconfantasyenchanted: Fantasyenchanted Imagination running wild! :icondragonsandnagas: DragonsAndNagas Club for both Dragons and Nagas! :iconwe-write-fantasy: We-Write-Fantasy Magical Storytelling

Comments


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:iconnightindrake:
Nightindrake Featured By Owner Sep 29, 2017  Student Digital Artist
There isn't a definite limit set. No one has spammed anything to the group, so I'm not worried about that right now. ^^
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:iconeternalparody:
EternalParody Featured By Owner Sep 29, 2017  Hobbyist Writer
Alright. I was thinking of posting the rest of Athe as well, but I dunno. (Yeh, there's more to it.)
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:iconnightindrake:
Nightindrake Featured By Owner Sep 29, 2017  Student Digital Artist
Hmm... How about sending a couple of chapters a day? That way, everyone can read a little at a time. ^^

Also, from what I read yesterday, your story seems really interesting. :D
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(1 Reply)
:iconnightindrake:
Nightindrake Featured By Owner Sep 28, 2017  Student Digital Artist
Your writing is really nice! I'll put it in the group. :D

Also, you don't have to worry about sending your work beforehand. I can read it before I accept the request. ^^
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:iconeternalparody:
EternalParody Featured By Owner Sep 28, 2017  Hobbyist Writer
Right, I forgot that's how it worked. :)
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:iconeternalparody:
EternalParody Featured By Owner Sep 21, 2017  Hobbyist Writer
This definitely seems interesting... It seems like every group I find an interest in turns out to be dead by the time I get there, though... Hence my caution. I'd just like some proof that this group is still kicking before I attempt to join. ^^;
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:iconnuwer-arts:
Nuwer-Arts Featured By Owner Sep 25, 2017  Student Traditional Artist
Yep, we're still running the show  lol  Really glad to hear you are interested  :)  
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:iconeternalparody:
EternalParody Featured By Owner Sep 26, 2017  Hobbyist Writer
Alright. And thanks for the invite. Saved me a step.
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:iconnuwer-arts:
Nuwer-Arts Featured By Owner Sep 30, 2017  Student Traditional Artist
No prob  :)
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