//------------------------------// // Beast from the East: Appearance // Story: Spike: The Last Draconian // by Maneiac //------------------------------// Dameion          “Alright guys, thanks for breakfast again! I’m off to Valara’s in order to train.” I called back to the medium-sized patio I had just stepped off. It was raised off the ground a good five feet, with steps leading up to the deck. The structure had an octogonal shape with a wooden gate around the edges. One of the gate could swing open and led to a flight of stairs, which I had descended prior to calling back at the Murdok's who were lounging about on chairs.         “You do this every. fucking. day. We couldn’t care less, about you visiting that shamaness! What you do on your own time is your business, not ours.” Maxxis snapped. I chuckled at his antics.         Living with the Murdoks has taught me numerous things about them. It’s been a long five days, but it was enough time for me to generally get to know them. For instance; Maxxis loves to go around without any article of clothing on. It’s viewed as savagery to those with status within Zistral, but it’s not indecent to others. In fact, the male’s reproductive organs are concealed underneath our scales near the crotch. He’s in no way violating moral code, but some drakes and dragonnesses cry bloody murder when he’s out and about. Personally, I would never strut myself about in the nude. Some of us have, more or less, esteem.         Arma’s a pretty nice girl. Turns out, she’s actually the eldest of the two. It’s only because Maxxis is taller than her, that she calls him her ‘big brother’. In any case, they’ve been living here as nobility for about ten years, having to console each other when their parents died in a war or something along those lines. These two have had quite, the life. “There’s still the matter of that Dread Tournament everyone is talking about. I need to focus...and train, if I ever want to have a shot at beating this...Lady Crimson.” I looked up to notice that I had exited the city’s gates. I must of been really out of it, for it normally takes approximately twenty minutes in order to cross the marketplace, let alone make it to the gates. All in all, the little voyage should have taken at least thirty-five minutes, but it only felt like five. The gates were closed; which was no surprise, seeing as how their massive. Maxxis and Arma have taught me how to open them so that I may go see Valara, so getting them open wouldn’t be a problem. The gates are voice activated and only respond to the ancient dragon/draconian tongue. No one speaks it fluently anymore save for the few words that are useful, like the one for opening the gates. “NIF!” I yelled the draconic word for ‘open’ loudly. The gates budged, a tremble rocketing through my body as the slowly began opening. Everything seems to be fine so far! Leaving Zistral during the days of the Dread Tournament was a severe offense against the crown. Whatever. The gates had, by this time, opened themselves about halfway. I smiled in knowing that my training for today would begin the moment I left the walls. But, seeing as how my patience is thin, I prematurely began walking through the opening, only to bump into a heavily robed black figure. It stood about on two legs, equal in height with me. Every part of it’s body was concealed underneath the dark and drab clothing. Two grey straps made an ‘X’ formation upon it’s chest, binding the fabric against it’s body to showcase it’s bulging twelve-pack. It’s pecs were noticeable, easily making whatever was in front of me male. The real question is, however... “I’m sorry for bumping into you. My name’s Dameion, rightful Ruler of Zistral and all Draconians within the land of Mythril.” Quite the introduction, no? The hooded drake, however, showed no interest in it whatsoever. I had hoped that sounding intellectual and friendly would persuade him to not get hostile. During the time of the Tournament; challenges are allowed to happen anywhere in the city. You move up in rank for each battle you win. I’ve yet to see battle, and I would prefer to keep it that way until I finish my lessons with Valara. I had done some studying during my stay in Zistral. I came to realize that Zistral wasn’t the name of my country, but rather of the Capital City. Mythril is the name of this country that’s supposed to be mine, and it’s a rather large country indeed. The only country bigger than this is Equestria, which lies in the far Northwest, after the Dragon Lands. Arma would have gutted me like a fish if I haven’t learned that at least. “My name isss Fei-Kuu of the Eassst. The pleasssure’sss all mine.” Woah, that guy has the world’s strongest lisp! “I come ssseeking ssstrong oppnentsss in the Dread Tournament. I ssseek no titlesss or other meaninglesss positionsss that are awarded with winning. Could you be a friend and essscort me to the Colissseum?” I could see his off-white tongue flick out from underneath his hood. “Is he smelling me right now? That’s...Disturbing!” I shuddered, hoping that he hadn’t seen me do exactly that. “I’m sorry, my friend! I'm actually exiting the city in order to do some training.” I nodded my head with a smile on my face as a farewell before I began walking past him. I didn’t take two steps before I felt something on my shoulder. I stopped and looked back to see a scaled, three-fingered hand grasping my shoulder. “Pleassse my friend; allow me to accompany you. This isss my first time in Zissstral, which meansss that I’m unfamiliar with it’sss streetsss. I would become horribly lost; ssso I’m asssking if you’d be able to essscort me when we return from your training.” I could hear the desperation in his voice. I still suspect him of foul play, but those words were genuine. “He doesn’t appear to be the type that gets lost easily.” I raised an eyebrow, which made him squeeze my shoulder. “I’ll even help you train! I’m begging you!” The sand-colored hand released my shoulder and slid back into the sleeve from which it came. “That’s pretty cool.”  I thought in amazement at how large those sleeves were. “I don’t see why not!” I said with a smile. Even though I couldn’t see his face, I knew he was smiling. He just seemed like the type to do so. “Mossst joyousss of daysss! The All-Mother be praisssed!” He said in happiness as I continued walking; a new friend on my right side. --- “Thisss ssscenery is ssstellar! I’ve never ssseen ssso many vibrant colorsss!” I smiled at Fei-Kuu’s wonder. The Enchanted Forest on the outskirts of town was where the shamaness made her home. I’ve been to her house four times already, so I’m somewhat familiar with the path to get there. She calls it the Vermilion Pass. due to the many red oak leaves that litter the air and ground. The path led to a giant oak tree, which I could see from where we were. The pass was convenient, for trekking through the many branches would have been problematic and annoying. Some of the plants are quite notorious for their neurotoxins, after all. “Speaking of toxic things...” “Hey, Fei-Kuu.” I called out to him. “Hmm?” He said in response. “Mind letting me see your face. I really can’t get comfortable without knowing what you look like. Call me crazy, but I can’t shake the feeling that you’re hostile for some reason.” I know it’s wrong for me to say. I shouldn’t call someone I recently met hostile, because it’s rude to do so. “Heh.” He laughed dismissively. “Don’t worry about it.” His arms came up and two hands came out to pull back his hood. It was currently sunset, but that did nothing to hide the (I’m not homosexual) handsome features of my traveling partner. Fei-Kuu confirmed my theory of him being a snake, for his scales were pronounced and matched his hand with color. He looked like a desert on two legs. His eyes were a dark brown, complimenting his color scheme nicely. He looked at me with his tongue still flickering in and out. He smiled.   I couldn’t help but notice the red collar with gold spikes around his neck. That thing must have cost a pretty shilling! “I’m not much to look at, am I?” Fei-Kuu asked me sarcastically and with mirth hidden in his voice. “I don’t bite...much. But, I can sssay that you’re in the sssame ‘unattractivenesssss boat’ that I’m in.” His smile compressed into a smirk along the tip of his mouth. i scowled at him playfully and slugged him on the shoulder. He laughed playfully and pushed me back, hurtling me into some nearby trees. My head smacked into one of the trunks, making me see stars and splintering it along the middle where I made contact. I groaned in pain, rubbing the violated spot with a hand. Fei-Kuu rushed over and helped me up, only taking a step back after catching me from falling back down. My mind and eyes were being invaded by weariness and darkness, which is oh too familiar. “You have a concusssion!” He exclaimed in shock. “Captain Obvious: Moving at the speed of Duh!” I mentally quipped as I felt my eyes flutter. Fei-Kuu slapped me across the face, waking me up and simultaneously making me angry. “OW! What the blazes is wrong with you!” I snapped at him. “You could fall into a coma if you fall asssleep. Ssstay awake and you won’t have to worry about getting ssslapped, my friend.” Fei-Kuu said with a serious face, his smile from earlier long forgotten. My face contorted into a grimace as a pounding headache worked its way in from nowhere. Not missing a beat, Fei-Kuu began making progress along the path again. I looked up, noticing how close we were to Valara’s Tree House.           “I-I can’t...anymore.” Darkness took me.         ---                  I awoke on a white-hammock, surrounded by bookcases on every side that looked handmade. Everything was brown; other than the hammock I was in. This only meant that I had found my way into Valara’s treehouse/mansion. I don’t know what time it is, seeing as how I’m in a completely wooden room with no windows or clocks. A shamaness/druidess probably knows the exact minute of every hour...naturally.         The good news is that I no longer feel pain in my head, so she must of healed me the moment I came. I jumped out the hammock and onto my feet; fully rejuvenated and ready to face anything! “Palm Technique: Double Dragon!!!” The wall in front of me, which had the only door, bursted into wood shrapnel as a furred body rocketed through my vision. Time slowed as I saw the face of Valara passing by my head, making me widen my eyes in shock and my mouth to fall open. Her eyes were shut in pain and her beautiful robes were torn in certain areas. Time went back to normal as she impacted the the wall just behind me, nearly going through it as her body burrowed into the wood. When she fell out, an imprint in her shape was left with some adjacent cracks. I snarled in anger, whipping my head to identify the would-be-attacker. I did a double-take; for a familiar, black-robed figure stood in my field of vision. “Fei-Kuu!?” I shook my head in disbelief. I could just barely see his dark-brown eyes glowing underneath his hood. “What’s the meaning of this outrage!!?” That came out as more of a demand than a question. The figure had both sleeves up in a parallel manner. He was also in some type of stance where his knees were bent. Fei-Kuu released a long breath that I wasn’t aware he was holding in; then rose from his weird posture. He kept his concealing clothes on, but I knew it was him all right! “Ssso the rumorsss are true. There’sss  ssstill a disssgusssting Worgen in Zissstral!!! You!” He raised a claw at me and pointed with his index finger, revealing the sand-colored appendage form underneath the baggy sleeve. “You never told me the Ssshamanesss wasss a Worgen female!!! Do you know what thisss filth doesss!!!???” Fei-Kuu yelled at me in hostile anger. “You just hurt her!” I yelled out unintelligently. “Attacksss aren’t sssupposssed to tickle, dumbasssss!!!” He yelled back in irritation. “Fuck you! Now I’m pissed! You’re going to find that fighting me is the biggest mistake that you’ve ever made!” “S-stop.” Valara’s shaky voice caused me to whip my head away from Fei-Kuu and face her. She was resting on a knee, taking ragged breaths that somehow made themselves visible. There were wood chippings and small cuts all around her body, making me rush to her side and help her up. She slapped my hand away and snarled at me. “I thought *pant*, you were my friend!” Valara’s yelling didn’t contain its original format. I had learned in my studies with Arma that she spoke in ‘Haiku’, which originated from Equestria. My eyebrow rose at Valara’s sudden speech difference, to which she widened her eyes and placed a hand over her mouth. She stuttered and appeared to be puzzled, as if trying to figure out what to say next as a cover-up! “You were lying the entire time, weren't you!?” I yelled, distancing myself from her and snorting in disgust. If there’s one thing in this world that disgusts me; it would be liars. She reached out a hand pleadingly as I continued backing away from her until I stood the perfect distance between Fei-Kuu and her. “I lied about my race, okay!!! I admit it! That also goes for the way I talk, but I’m a druid and shamaness through and through! I’ve never harmed anyone in my entire life, but this...’Sqwerg’, insists that I’m some type of monster cause I can use magic! It’s preposterous and shameful for a warrior of his caliber to be so prejudiced against mages!” Valara yelled at me in panic, noticing how the murderous intent form Fei-Kuu rose from saying that word. The hell’s a Sqwerg, anyway!? “Furred Bitch! I’ll teach you to call me such thingsss!!!” Fei-Kuu hissed as he lunged past me faster than I could follow with my eyes. I just barely grabbed him by the back of his robes and yanked him forcefully backwards. I heard him gag from suddenly being stopped in mid-lunge. I gave a mighty yell as I tossed him with all my might with that one hand, sending him flying through the shattered wall. I heard a loud crash and deep reverberation, like a large pot was knocked over. I winced as I nervously turned my head slowly to look upon Valara for her reaction. She looked at me with eyes so full of fire, that I sincerely thought I would spontaneously combust. “YOU TWO ARE RUINING MY HOME!!!” Valara yelled at me, her hair swinging just enough to cause my face to turn red. My sudden blush did not go unnoticed, for she inclined her head to follow my frozen gaze. Once she saw her bosom in the open, her face took on a cherry hue as well. “S-stop looking! Pervert!” She yelled as her arms crossed over her breasts.          “The damage has already been done! AND I’M NOT A PERVERT IF YOU FLAUNT IT!!!” I yelled back in embarrassment and some anger to boot! “I’m not about to play ‘hero’, either! Especially to a female that I don’t even know "Anthro Snakes and Worgens fought each otherall the time! I don’t think you comprehend the situation!” My face became the very definition of indifference as I inclined my head just so; allowing only one of my eyes to peer at her from over my shoulder. “Our races hate, each other! He’ll fucking kill me!?” Valara asked in a way that I could only describe as stating the obvious. It wasn’t a question; just and obvious statement in question form.         I snorted in bemuse as I thought of a witty response. To see this lying sack of fecal material grovel at my feet, practically begging for help in a fight that’s not mine, made me angry. I narrowed my eyes as I jerked my leg from her grasp, my dusty but royal robes billowing about in an unseen breeze. Looking back on that moment, I can definitely say that I appeared a little...         “Hmmm, what did Maxxis say it was?” I thought inwardly, still keeping my icy gaze upon Valara. “AHA! Badass! Yes, that’s what it was alright!”  Yes, I looked positively badass in every sense of the word. I also just figured out my words that were to be said to the lying wench below me. I really have no patience for them, liars that is, for they are only in things for their own benefit. They’re cretinous scum that don’t belong in this world; even if they are dead and rotting!  Disgusting creatures, those liars.         “Don’t be cross because I don’t care for you anymore. Be cross that at one point I did; but you were too blind to see it.” I turned my head, gave a guttural yell and broke the wall without any resistance from it. I proceeded to jump out of the hole and begin the twenty-foot plummet to the ground. I thought back on Valara’s teachings on the natural magics. One of them, being wind, allowed me to displace the wind around me or others for certain amounts of time. I focused on my feet, feeling the cool sensation of magic running through my body and to my desired extremities, accumulating in great number at the balms and waiting for my say so. The ground was right below me, making me yell out the words in panic! “POK!!!” I yelled,feeling the magically created wind explode from the balms of my feet. With a mighty and deep whooshing sound blasting about, I felt the ground meet my feet as blades of grass and loose dirt fluttered about form underneath me. The bottom of my robes blasted me in the face, whipping my head back from the sheer force of the hits. But, just as quickly as the magic came out, it went away. MY robes returned to normal and my eyes quickly displaced that gathering moisture in them, causing the tears to roll down my face. I sighed in exhaustion, for my magic was not honed to its full potential yet. A simple wind spell like that had exhausted about three-tenths of my reserves. I heard a snake hiss and a loud whine of a canine before taking off down the path. “YOU WILL NOT ESSSCAPE!!! I WILL FIND YOU...AND I WILL KILL YOU! EVEN YOUR FRIENDSSS WILL SSSSUFFER A PAIN WORSSSE THAN DEATH!!!!” I could hear an enraged Fei-Kuu behind me, as if he was right behind me and yelling into my ears. I don’t know what happened to Valara, but I can take an educated guess “WIAP!!! WIAP I SAY!!!” I yelled the word for ‘fly’, immediately feeling the fires around my feet to roar to life, propelling me forward away from Valara’s treehouse. My feet had taken me about halfway through the Vermilion Pass, but they began to sputter as the gates of Zistral came into view. My face appeared as though there was a boulder upon my back, with me trying to hold it up as I force myself to channel more magic into my feet. The compound channeling caused two things to happen. 1. I couldn’t slow down! 2. I hit the wall with the top of my head at untraceable speeds! My face scrunched up in agony as my neck bent, causing the rest of my body to scrunch up in shock as consciousness was taken from me once more.