Thread: To Train A Dragon Rider (Distain2003 & darkangel76)

As they closed in on their destination, putrid smells immediately began to hit Lianas nose. The smell of burnt skin, ash death. She had all she could do not to vomit, so she bit down on her lower lip to help keep anything wanting to come up, down where it belonged. It was hard, but she had to try. For her body to give in now to such a thing would only make her appear even more useless and hopeless than she already did. Especially since they hadnt even landed yet. She wondered where exactly the dragon rider was taking her. Wherever it was, the smell alone let her know that it wasnt somewhere pretty and she wondered if it was the frontlines of battle, where Azur and Pheir clashed against each other the most often. More moments passed as they flew on top of the dragon. Liana didnt even know when exactly theyd landed, since her eyes had been clamped shut and her face had been buried against the dragon riders back. But she knew it had to have been before he grabbed at her waist and pulled her off the beast as he dismounted. The moment her feet hit solid ground, she felt her knees wobble and then give out. Clumsily, she fell onto the ground. Embarrassed, she refused to open her mouth. Instead, she just got up again, her legs still shaky, only this time she managed to keep herself upright. The dragon rider didnt seem to notice Lianas stumble. He was too busy communicating something to his dragon, which then took off to the skies. She watched it fly away with graceful ease, leaving her to stare after it in complete awe. If I tell you to hide do so... And do so with haste or you wont live to train, the dragon rider said, his voice harsh. Liana just nodded. Glancing about, she could see the lands littered with dead bodies. Humans and dragons alike. The stink of their rotting flesh, only being made worse by the fiery heat, rose into the air mixing with the ashen smells of burnt wood and charred stone. She felt her eyes prickle with tears as she took in the sight of so much death, so much blood. But she managed to hold them back. She could see several dragons flying overhead, engaging in an aerial battle of some kind. The gruesome sight of it make a shiver creep along her spine. Just then, Liana felt something touch the base of her back. It was his hand, the dragon riders hand. He led her through the maze of dead bodies strewn across the blackened lands, taking pause when he came upon a dragon he seemed to recognize. He stopped and touched it, as if paying some sort of respect to the beast. Liana felt horribly at the sight of seeing the creature in this state. It looked like itd died a painful death. Again, she felt the bile rise. And again, she barely managed to keep it all down. Trying to focus on something so that she didnt feel sick, she looked over at the dragon rider. What she could see of his face looked solemn. It took her aback a little to see him this way. He then patted the dead beast, causing her heart to stop a moment. The way the dragon rider appeared to actually care made her wonder despite how horrid hed been to her earlier. Is there a man who can feel underneath that black soul? Liana thought to herself. The dragon rider walked around the dead beast and hung his head when he saw the body of the man lying next to it. His face grew even more somber, touching Liana somewhat to see him this way. Immediately, he walked over to the dead man and knelt down by his side. He removed his gauntlet and stared at the ring on his finger. The dragon rider looked over at Liana and spoke. His name is Richard Watts, he was 29 years old and had a family who cared for him deeply. Slowly, he stood back up, his eyes still fixed on her. He was one of my closest friends, last night while most of your nation was safe in their beds i killed him, he then added. Liana gasped. He killed him? How? she thought to herself. She didnt see him drive a blade into the mans heart or order his dragon to rip the man and his beast apart while up in the skies. His words confused her, though she could see that he was trying to make something he felt important very clear to her. This is why they call me the Angel of Death, The Black Rider, the dragon rider said, continuing where he left off. Your people fight because they are heeding the call of your nation to defend its lands. I fight because it is all I know, it is all Im good at. That is why they chose me to train you because there is no rider on either side who is better at what we do than I. Liana felt her blood run cold, a wave of pity stab at her heart. This dragon rider knew how to feel. Underneath the blackness, there was the hint of a soul. A soul hed forgotten he had, a soul he wished to keep buried away and out of sight. With all that hed seen and done in his life, hed had no choice but to turn away from anything that radiated warmth or light. He needed the blackness to survive, to cope. Again, Liana felt her eyes prickle with tears. Only this time, she let them spill. She wasnt saddened by the death she saw all around her, nor was it the fear of dying or the putrid smells of battle that had gotten to her. No. It was seeing a man such as this resorting to hiding his true self from everyone, himself included. Losing himself in the ways of war and fighting. Liana walked over to the dragon rider and looked up at him, her eyes glittering with tears. Im so sorry, she spoke softly.