The Storm Approaches

"The Storm Approaches" is a [SEASON NUMBER] thread written on [IRL DATE].
==Summary==
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==Full Text==
This takes place three days after “... And Straight on ‘til Morning”
Storm-Chaser: A loud roar erupts from the docks outside of the village, as if some angry beast had arrived from the depths of Helheim itself. A jet of flame shot high into the air, and the roaring continued.
Anyone at the shore would have stopped and gaped, for what they saw was a difficult sight to believe: a massive stormcutter towing half of a dilapidated ship.
Deoiridh Tuathanach: "Holy Hel." Deo murmured as she watches from a distance. She gives a sharp whistle and Barry Manilow soars through the air. She points at the ship and makes a few hand gestures. The monstrous nightmare swoops down and helps the dragon tow the ship to shore.
Storm-Chaser: Once they made the shore, the stormcutter thrashed and bellowed like a trapped animal - and so he was. This clawless beast has gotten tangled up in the rigging and lines of a partially downed mast. And based on the charring on the ship, he’d tried to burn his way out.
Deo: She held up a hand as she approached. "Easy, easy lad. Ah'm jus' gonna cut ye out, alright?" She says. "But ah can't really do that if yer thrashin' about like that." She says as she pulls out her knife and starts to cut into the rigging. Meanwhile Barry had had a sniff of the other dragon and something about it seemed strangely familar to him, but he couldn't place why.
Storm-Chaser: The stormcutter continued to roar and even shied away from the knife.
Away, it growled. Away from me!
Deo: She growled and flames began to surround her. "Look ye stubborn bastard do ye want to be stuck like this ferever or do ye want to get out?" She responded in dragonese.
Storm-Chaser: Foul two-leg! I am no fool - two-legs are cruel, two-legs are not to be trusted!
The stormcutter reared, baring his teeth and flapping the four of his wings in an effort to get Deo away from him.
Deo/Barry: Barry growled as he watched ready to jump in and destroy the dragon who dared hurt his friend, but Deo held up her hand. "Fine figure yer own way out. Ah'll be over here when ye need my help." She said before walking back a bit and sitting in the sand, starting to make a sandcastle.
Storm-Chaser: The beast roared and fought against the heavy ropes for a time, spitting fire until he couldn’t anymore.
Damned Star-ship! Damned Star-ship and two-leg sleeper!
Deo/Barry: Deo looked up from her sandcastle. "Ye ready fer some help now?" She called.
Storm-Chaser: The dragon growls savagely in response. As the noise dies down, Deo can hear something else.
“Help... help me...”
Deo/Barry: She perks up as she hears that and goes looking for the sound. "Where are ye?!" She calls out loudly.
Storm-Chaser: The man’s weak voice barely carries over the waves. “On deck... I can’t move...”
Deo/Barry: She uses a bit of fire to boost her jump and lands on the deck, looking around for him.
Storm-Chaser: The older man was trapped under a torn sail, his legs pinned under the heavy beam of the foot. His face was almost purple from the sun, and his lips were blistered and peeling. His large, feathered hat was flattened under his head. “Ahoy... over here...”
Deo/Barry: "Holy Hel." She muttered. "Barry, come get the beam! Someone go get Aria!" She shouted as she down next to the man. "It's gonna be fine, we're gonna get ye all patched up alright?" She said, putting on a comforting smile.
Storm-Chaser: “Been... adrift... for near a week... my crew’s dead.” He gasps for air and tries to move, but the beam keeps him from making any progress.
“A storm... and... a witch... Gods, this hurts...”
Deo/Barry: "Save yer strength." She says as Barry takes the beam in his mouth and tosses it out into the sea.
Storm-Chaser: The man groans as the pressure is relieved, and his eyes roll back into his head as he passes out.
The dragon on the beach continues to struggle, his writhing causing the half-ship to jerk and shake.
Deo/Barry: "Son of a bitch." She curses as she picks him up and places him on Barry's back as she hops off and onto the beach.
Storm-Chaser: Deo jumps off just in time. The only intact mast on this fragment of a ship began to crack audibly, and in a few minutes it had crashed into the sand - right on top of the stormcutter.
Deo/Barry: "Fuckin' Hel." She mutters. "Barry the mast!" She calls the mast gets the same treatment as the other one. She goes about checking the the stonecutter.
Storm-Chaser: The dragon snaps at Deo. Come not near me, two-leg...
Deo/Barry: She sighed and suddenly she disappeared from sight and the ropes began coming undone.
Storm-Chaser: As soon as the last rope breaks free, the dragon attempts to crawl away. However, without the claws on his wings, he barely manages to make it a few feet before ending up face-first in the sand.
Deo/Barry: Barry comes over and offers the dragon help. Meanwhile the man from the boat slides down his back and floats towards the top of the beach.
Storm-Chaser: With one powerful push of his wings, the stormcutter manages to get his head out of the sand. His eyes narrow as he looks around. Damned land-speck. Damned water. I need the bright flashes and the fierce winds, not this... clear sky...
Deo/Barry: "If you are not happy here you are free to leave. Find your storm elsewhere." Barry growled.
Storm-Chaser: The massive stormcutter cocks his head to one side and takes in a powerful inhale. He gazes at the nightmare from under his lightning-cracked crest, then his eyes drift in the direction of the village.
So many... past-known smells. Dragon and two-leg, should be long dead. But not...
Deo/Barry: "I thought you smelled familar." He growled. "Have you been here before?"
Storm-Chaser: This land-speck? Nay. Never. I know these smells with the smell of blood and salt and mud... the smell of mine-fire and others...
“Then why do I know your scent.” He asks as he approaches the stormcutter looking at him threateningly.
Storm-Chaser: The stormcutter bares his teeth. Back down. He snarled. I have only known such scents when the teeth of my kin were wet with the blood of their trusted.
Deo/Barry: Suddenly something clicked. “You!” He roared as he pounced on the dragon.
Grey/Shadow: “Over here, Chief,” a soldier shouted. Hroar had sent him to retrieve Grey, Brandt, and Shadow the minute the strange dragon appeared on the island with the ship.
“Is this dragon aggressive?” Grey said as they came onto the beach. 
“He’s shown aggression to Deoiridh,” the soldier replied. “But he appears to be alright with dragons.”
“Okay, well, maybe Shadow can–” the Chief stopped at the shoreline dead in her tracks as her heart leaped into her throat. It was a stormcutter, and not just any stormcutter…the dragon looked like he hadn’t age, but those prosthetic talons…they were missing…
Shadow narrowed her eyes and sniffed. As soon as she recognized the scent and the dragon, she immediately growled and narrowed her eyes into slits getting into a defensive stance in front of Grey. 
“Storm Chaser…?” Grey whispered shakily.
“You know this dragon?” Brandt asked. 
Grey looked at her husband with a look full of fear as her hand slowly traveled to her neck. Brandt didn’t know the dragon or the rider…but he knew of the madwoman and the stormcutter…who almost murdered his wife during her rebellion days and the nightmare Grey had from time to time. 
Storm-Chaser: Storm-Chaser (for indeed it was he) let out a roar as Barry pounced, and promptly sank his teeth into the nightmare’s wing. 
Insolent kin! he hissed. Fouled by two-legs, you were!
Deo/Barry: Barry let out a roar of pain but sunk his teeth into the dragons neck. “And what of you your murderous two-legger friend?”
Storm-Chaser: The stormcutter stiffens, and a shudder of grief runs through him. My strange one… my two-leg dragon… dead and gone… dead and gone…
Deo/Barry: Deo reappears. “Grey take care o’ this guy.” She said as she approaches the fighting dragons. “Tha’s enough.” She calls to Barry.
The Dragon whips his head around. “But-.”
“Ah said that’s enough Barry.” Giving him a hard look. She approached Storm-Chaser. “Ah’m sorry teh hear about Satine. But now yer free from the net so ye can get on yer way if ye so choose. Do ye need anything? Food, a place teh rest?”
Grey/Shadow: “DEO! GET AWAY FROM HIM!” Shadow roared and jumped in between Storm Chaser and Deoiridh glaring at the stormcutter. “What are you doing here?!”
Grey quickly ran to the gentleman on the beach and helped him to his feet glaring at the stormcutter. “If he’s here, then Satine…isn’t too far behind…” she hissed. Her family…her village were in grave danger. “Deo…I don’t want that dragon anywhere near here!”
The villagers murmured amongst themselves. Never once had they seen the Chief…in this way. Whoever this dragon was…it was clear that the Chief had something against him…especially when the Night Fury acted the same way.
Storm-Chaser: Storm-Chaser regarded Shadow with something akin to a cold respect.
Shadow, he lowed. Trapped I was, in this… Two-leg thing. I saw this land-speck, and came here to free myself. 
He bowed his head in an attempt to show no hostility. I am here against choice.
Deo/Barry: “Y'all need teh relax. Ah can take care o’ myself first off Shadow. Secondly Satine is dead Storm-Chaser said so ‘imself. If ye don’t want ‘em ‘ere fine, yer the boss, but ye don’t need teh be a bitch about it.”
Storm-Chaser: “Why don’t I believe you?” Shadow growled to Storm Chaser completely ignoring Deoiridh. She refused to let him anywhere near her or Grey’s family. However when she heard Deoiridh berate Grey for being upset, she turned to the young girl. “Excuse me?”
Grey/Shadow: The Chief furrowed her eyebrows together as she stared at Deoiridh as if she slapped her across the face as Brandt watched the scene unfold. Grey scoffed. “You know what, you’re right,” Grey said. “Let’s just welcome the dragon, whose rider…almost murdered me and Haddock…twice! And how do we know for sure that Satine is dead? This is probably a trap!”
Storm-Chaser: Storm-Chaser roars in fury, his wings beating and kicking up sand. SPEAK NOT OF MY STRANGE ONE! MINE! I WATCHED HER DANGLE AND DANCE FROM A TWO-LEG VINE, AND THEN THEY COVERED HER WITH LAND!
He bares his teeth. My strange one is dead and gone, little Shadow. The land has iced over many times since. I knew not you were here - I do not keep with the two-legs anymore. I do not keep with my kin anymore. I… am alone.
Deo/Barry: Deo looks over at Grey. “We’ll discuss this later.” She said. “Well in that case ah imagine ye’d like teh get movin’. Are ye sure ye don’t want any food before ye head off?”
Storm-Chaser: Leave me to lick my wounds… Storm-Chaser lifts a wing to reveal a long, deep gash from thigh to rib, with a few pieces of wood sticking out. I have no kin left.
Deo/Barry: She frowns. “Yikes, ye sure ye don’t want someone teh take a look at that? Looks pretty serious.”
Grey/Shadow: “Deo…” Grey said with a warning tone in her voice, “be careful…”
“Maybe I can help,” Ingrid said as she walked up to her daughter.
“Mom…” Grey said with worry all over her face.
Storm-Chaser: While the women speak, Storm-Chaser attempts to delicately pull the wood fragments out with his teeth. However, with no front talons to balance on, he falls forward and lands on his neck with a mix between a irritated growl and a pitiable whimper.
Grey/Shadow: While listening to Grey and her mother speak amongst themselves, Shadow perked at hearing Storm-Chaser fall over and whimpering in pain. Her face fell at the sight as she slowly walked over to the dragon. As much as she hated Satine and what she tried to do to Grey, Storm-Chaser was hurt, and if they helped him…then he would get to leave. 
She crooned over to the Chief and her mother, causing them to look over, and their faces fell as well seeing Storm-Chaser on the ground in pain. 
Storm-Chaser: A time there was, little Shadow, he intoned, his large green eyes peering from under his crest. When you and I were not foes. When I had hurt my strange one, and you comforted. When you and the Grey-lady took me in. Why is now different?
Grey/Shadow: Shadow’s ear flaps flattened against her head. Storm-Chaser was right. Years ago, before she and Grey got to come back to Haligan Island, when Storm-Chaser came to them for help, she and Storm-Chaser got to talking, and she comforted the stormcutter. Now, she reacted quite hostile toward him. 
“I’m sorry,” she crooned. “I didn’t mean to. It’s just…you being here…kind of shocked Grey a little,” she looked to the Chief, “and…Satine has kind of…haunted her for a while in her dreams after she and I came back to this island. It’s just…I think we both thought that Satine was coming back to do some damage, and Grey…kind of has a family now…her mate and hatchlings of their own.”
Storm-Chaser: My strange one was bloody, I’ll not deny. It was… her nature, as is mine to ride in the dark clouds and bright lights. She was the one who saved me, and I saved her in my way. She is not like other two-legs.
He lets out a soft sigh as he tries to roll on his side. My strange one is a dragon - my dragon. She follows her nature, as we do. Other two-legs… they hunt. They hunt us and they hunt each other for no reason. And she had been hurt by the two-legs, as I had. He eyes his crudely amputated talons.
Grey/Shadow: “I understand, Storm-Chaser,” Shadow crooned, “but Grey and the Rebellion did nothing to Satine. Yet she tried to kill them…for no reason. Believe me, I know humans hurt. I lost my parents to bounty hunters, but Grey and her family don’t deserve that hatred when they’re innocent. Like I said, she…we also have a family now with her mate, Brandt and their hatchlings. She has every right to defend them if Satine were to ever try again…if she was still alive.”
Storm-Chaser: I do not deny this, he replied. She was bloody. She sought to hurt because she  hurt. It is a... feral thing, but it was her nature. I take no pleasure in harm, unless those I harm, harm my kin. But I take... took pleasure in protecting her. In being her kin, and in her being mine. Perhaps the closest to a mate as I will ever find, despite her being two-leg.
“I can understand that,” Shadow crooned. “Look, you’re injured. Will you let Grey’s mother look at you? She’s a healer, and she can look at that cut. She won’t hurt you.”
Storm-Chaser: Storm-Chaser gives Shadow a level stare. She may remove the splinters. Nothing more. I shan’t bother your two-legs - I know when I am unwanted.
Grey/Shadow: “We’ll talk about that later,” Shadow said before turning to Grey and Ingrid who were staring at her waiting. “Ingrid, he will allow you to remove his splinters.”
“I think he’s going to let you help him, Mom,” Grey said astonished. The last time he had done this was…25 years ago when they were in the trial with Midgardsormr. He allowed Hunter to help Satine. 
“It seems so,” Ingrid said as he walked toward the dragon with Grey and Shadow right behind her. 
Storm-Chaser: Storm-Chaser watches the approaching contingent, the expression in his blue-green eyes inscrutable. I am trusting you, little Shadow… he rumbles.
Grey/Shadow: “Don’t worry,” Shadow crooned softly. “This woman means no harm. I’ve practically grown up with her. She’s a second mother to me.” Shadow turned to Ingrid smiling and gesturing to Storm Chaser. 
“Mom, I’m here if you need help,” Grey said quickly as she walked over to Storm Chaser by his head as her breathing began to quicken.
“It’s alright,” Ingrid said gently. “This won’t take long.” She knelt down next to Storm Chaser. “Hello, you’re quite a handsome beast, aren’t you?”
Storm-Chaser: Storm-Chaser eyes Ingrid for a moment, before nodding his head once in acknowledgement. He then turns to Grey, his eyes calm.
Greetings, Grey-lady… he croons. It has been some time.
Grey/Shadow: Grey breathed shakily seeing Satine’s dragon. It had been 25 years, and with all the nightmares and some of the trauma from almost being murdered by his rider, the Chief was almost sure that somehow, someway she and Satine would cross paths again. Now that she was face to face with her dragon and supposedly dead…she couldn’t bring herself to feel angry or scared. Satine was the one attempting to kill her, Haddock, and Akkey. Storm Chaser did none of that, and she sighed as she gently placed a hand on the dragon’s snout.
“You’re really alone, aren’t you?” she whispered. 
Storm-Chaser: Storm-Chaser hesitates at her touch, a soft, reflexive growl coming from his throat. He closes his eyes and rests his head in the sand. I am… alone. My strange one is under the land for many snows. I… I ache at her absence.
Grey/Shadow: “You must miss her, huh?” Grey said sadly. It made her think about how Shadow felt when she sacrificed herself to save her at the Middy trial…how her Night Fury would’ve missed her terribly if she passed without her, and how she would feel the same if anything happened to Shadow. It went without saying that Grey and Shadow were inseparable, and the fact that death could be a strong force to do just that…scared the Chief.
Storm-Chaser: I prefer not to dwell… my heart aches on its own even without. The dragon winces as Ingrid attempts to remove a large chunk of wood.
Grey/Shadow: “Shhh…shhh…it’s alright, Storm Chaser,” Ingrid said as she poured some herbs on the wound before slowly removing the splinter. 
Shadow crooned sadly at Storm Chaser and gently nudged him as Grey looked on sadly. 
“You can stay here, Storm Chaser,” Grey said aloud not once thinking about what she was saying. “I’m…I’m sorry, you know your rider and I had…a rough history.”
Storm-Chaser: Storm-Chaser hides his face in the sand as Ingrid works, not wanting to betray any pain to those watching.
Storm-Chaser remains still for a time, trying to let Ingrid work without his interference. When she finally steps away, he raises his head and meets Grey’s gaze. I will keep to the borders, Grey-lady, he rumbles. I know what I am to your ilk, and I do not wish another mob. 
Deo/Barry: Deo shrugs. “Ah mean if ye wanna come get some food er somethin’ we can supply it.” She offers.
Storm-Chaser: The dragon cocks his head towards Deo. I prefer the hunt and chase. I am not helpless.
Deo/Barry: She shrugs again. “Oh ah know bud. Ah ain’t helpless neither, but ah do appreciate a helpin’ hand now and again.”
Storm-Chaser: Storm-Chaser spreads his wings, and the light diffused through them shows a multitude of scars. He eyes one of the scars where his talons once were. The price of help is too steep from most. I will stay to the edges - away from this cursed Star-ship.
Grey/Shadow: “So long as your rider isn’t looking to trap us,” Shadow crooned slightly suspicious. She and Grey knew that Storm Chaser and Satine had bad experiences with humans, but that still didn’t sit with the Night Fury. Was it all simply a coincidence that Satine’s suddenly showed up after all these years?
“Okay, I think that should do it,” Ingrid said as she stood up as soon as she dressed Storm-Chaser’s wounds.
“Thanks, Mom,” Grey said as she eyed Storm Chaser. She still felt horrible that his rider was gone, but all she could remember was that his rider had attempted to murder her…twice. She could only imagine what King Haddock would’ve thought if he was alive for this. They had rarely talked about Satine after the rebellion, but after working with him for so long, they always seemed to understand that it was something that haunted both of them just as she discovered with Akkey.
“Is this the dragon?” Ingrid asked.
Grey could only nod. The only reason her parents knew about Satine was because of the nightmares that plagued her mind. Ingrid had never met Satine, and Sven would never get the chance. However, Ingrid had grown resentment toward the woman who almost murdered her only daughter…and yet pity for the kind of experiences the madwoman had.
“Good dragons under the control of bad people do bad things,” Ingrid whispered. “Perhaps, it’s his second chance.”
Grey could only nod again. She then noticed his prosthetics were missing. Brandt seemed to catch on and smile. “You know,” he began, “if we give him some new talons, he’ll be able to go wherever he pleases.”
“Yeah…that…that’s a good idea,” Grey said as she gently patted the Storm-Cutter.
Storm-Chaser: Thank you, Grey-mother, Storm-chaser lowed. He turns to face the remnants of the hull he had dragged ashore. Begone, cursed Morning Star…
With a growl, he begins to butt his head into the ship, as if trying to push it back into the ocean. And who could blame him? He’d been tied to the ship for who knows how long….
Grey/Shadow: “Whoa, whoa, wait a minute, hold on, big boy!” Grey said gently placing her hands on the dragon to calm him down. 
“Storm-Chaser, wait!” Shadow crooned jumping on the top of the wrecked ship. “Grey and I need to see this ship!”
Storm-Chaser: Storm-Chaser looks at the remnants of the ship, his expression almost akin to dubiousness. This thing is a husk... what value can it have?
Category:BOTGD 2
Category:Events
Category:Act I
Category:Storm-Chaser
Category:Grey Bergman
Category:Shadow