Snow and Romance and... danger (Destella)

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I'm sick of being tossed around by storms....
Snowscale painfully got up, his left foreleg bent at an odd angle. He snarled quietly to himself and promptly fell down a hole into a large, spacious cavern.
"Oh fantastic..." he muttered under his breath, fully aware that he was dead meat if a monster found him.
He wandered for a few moments, keeping his injured forearm close to his body. After a moment he could take the pain no longer, and fell to the ground with a roar of dismay.

Destella blushed a bit when Ronin said that she saved him. She didn’t like attention much, but she could bare it this time. Then Rayga said that her and Snowscale must be important. What made them important? Was it Firebrand’s interest in them. She just looked at Rayga, not knowing what to say.

Rayg smiled, clearly sensing her confusion. "To put it another way, I just think it's interesting we're even considering bringing you to the Dark Town. Last time we had nearly five times our current numbers. I mean... well who knows. We may get lucky.
Maybe it hasn't grown much yet."
"We can only hope," Ronin agreed grimly.

Destella still looked confused, especially at the mention of the “Dark Town.” ”Where is the ‘Dark Town?’”

Rayg paused for a moment. "Somewhere in Lightwing territory. Underground." He wasn't really looking in particular: he seemed to be giving a rough estimate.
"And Deathollow is already there," Ronin added, his face set like stone.

Destella still looked curious, but seemed to shake it off after a moment. She did begin to wonder what this, “crash course” that was mentioned earlier would be like. This also led her to wonder about Snowscale’s mystery question. What was he wanting to ask her that was so important, yet had to wait until after training?

While she thought of this, she decided to ask about the training. ”So...what is this ‘crash course?’”

Ronin glanced at Rayg. "Generally we reserve those for when a situation is dire. I'm not really allowed to go into detail, but basically you'll learn the fundamentals to what we fight about forty percent of the time: demons."
Rayg nodded. "I actually took down my first one before I even joined up. The blasted Cryxian armies summoned one and set it on my patrol with Ace and Dynamo, which was not a smart idea. Fortunately,
only a few pistol.... er crossbow shots put it down.
With some help from Ace's rune cannon and Dynamo's lightning cannon." He projected an image of him with two metal beings, fighting a humanoid bull his mind called a minotaur. Rayg's crossbows looked... different somehow, for you couldn't even see the ammo when it fired.
Ronin smiled. "I remember when we first met your mother, Queen Stormwall. Nice, for the ruler of a kingdom. A lot better than my father."
"Understatement of the century. You know full well the Cygnar, my mother, Willow and myself all fight for the good of Immoren. It's the Cryx that are like Deathollow."
Snowscale looked at one then the other. They seemed to be just talking to each other if someone just walked in, but it was clear that this was for the the two dragon's benefit. "What now? Who?"
Rayg smiled. "I come from another world myself, called Immoren. A land of machines and magic, and my mother is the Queen of the Cygnar.
My father is who gave me my abilities. In my land,
I am what is called a warcaster, who casts spells to aid his or her allies. Mostly, to my mom's dismay, I prefer to use my magic in combat."
"And isn't Deathollow Ronin's family?"
Ronin nodded. "Sadly, yes. They are wretched scum, they. Lucky thing I turned out different."
"Well, you at least know who you are and where you're from." Snowscale wasn't sure why he said that; it just sort of slipped out.
Ronin shrugged. "I guess. I did teach me how to resist intense levels of pain. But sometimes I wonder what it would have been like if my mother had hidden me away after I was weaned."
Snowscale shook his head. "Take it from me, some family is better than no family."

Destella listened carefully to what the pair were saying. They may not have been able to tell her and Snowscale what the crash course had in store, but they told the dragons what they would be training to fight.

DEMONS! The thought of fighting one made Des go pale. Even so, she continued to listen until hearing her love mention knowing who you are, or where you come from. While she didn’t speak up, mostly due to Ronin and Rayg, but once Snowscale had say ”...some family is better than no family,” the serpent leaned into him a bit, and twined her tail with his.

Snowscale felt Destella lean in to him and twine her tail with his. Rayg glanced at the two, his expression turning into something Snowscale couldn't read. Sadness? Envy? Regret?
Snowscale wondered what had brought all of these incredible beings here. A prince, a halfling, five werewolves, and an owlbear. What were they here for? Firebrand?
Rayg shot Snowscale a look. "You know, Snowscale has a point."
Ronin sighed. "You wouldn't say that if you died at the hands of your family."
A silence settled over the cavern, and Snowscale noticed the five werewolves seemed to be listening to something. Rayg had his head cocked sideways, and he shot a questioning look at Ronin. "Am I going crazy or do I hear some sort of weird noise?"
Ronin had paled considerably. "No,
I hear it too. It's here. And it's not in Lightwing territory. It's right below us."
Snowscale was confused. "What's right below us?"
Ronin turned to him, wearing a grim expression. "I hope you're ready. Griselwood, the Town of Darkness, is right below us. And with it, two of Straven's demons. Looks like you'll have to get some on-the-job training."
"Hold it Ronin," Twilight snapped. "They don't have to go if they don't want to. I'm not about to order two dragons to their possible deaths."
Ronin winced. "Sorry."
Snowscale wasn't sure. From what he had seen in the minds of the Vilidin, this would not be pleasant. He looked at Destella, and wondered if he could survive.
A voice inside told him that this was the only path to his future. Snowscale jumped slightly; he didn't recognize the voice.
"I'll go. The more allies you have the better."

Destella felt bad for Ronin when he said he died at his family’s hand. It was sad to think about having family who cared that little of you, but something else caught her attention. The werewolfs were acting weird.

Rayg then said he heard something, and Ronin said it was under them. The dragoness got curious, and laid her head against the ground, trying to hear what they did. Even though she couldn’t hear anything, the serpent was shocked to hear what was underneath them.

Then Ronin said they might get “on the job training,” which Rayg seemed to disagree with, or at least forcing them to. Destella really didn’t know what to think. From the few images she had grasped, Griselwood wasn’t the best place to visit. She wondered how they could even help given their limited experience.

But then the serpent’s love shocked her by saying he would go, but it made her think. They did need help, and she could at least provide cover for a retreat. She looked at Snowscale before speaking. ”I-I’ll go.”

Twilight nodded once. "Alright. We set off immediately. The longer we wait, the stronger it will become. If there is anything special either of you need to say to each other, now's the time."
Shade looked at Snowscale. "I think we should clear out." The Vilidin, Ronin, and Rayg all left, leaving Snowscale and Destella alone in the cave.
Snowscale smiled at Destella. "Well,
I do owe you a question, don't I?" He took a deep breath and continued. "Would you be my mate? Be with me until our death? Be what I hold closest to my heart?"

Des was caught slightly off guard when Twilight said they had to leave right then. It made her even more worried when he said if her and Snowscale had anything important to say, now was the time.

Destella thought carefully, trying to think of anything she may have needed to say, but she did notice everyone other than herself and her love had left. Snowscale then flashed her a smile, saying that he owed her a question. She wondered what it was for a second before the white dragon asked it.

Destella was excited and shocked by the question. Did he really just ask her to be his mate? Destella kept her shocked expression for a moment, though her red and blue feathers turned golden yellow as she looked. A smile quickly came to the serpent’s face as she slid up to the dragon a nuzzled him, practically ready to cry for joy. ”Yes! I love you, Snowscale, and I couldn’t imagine spending my life with anyone else.”

It was hard for Destella to believe. She had actually found a mate. And to think she may have never found him if it wasn’t for a freak storm.

Snowscale's heart felt ready to explode with happiness. His life had had practically no meaning until he met Destella. And the two had survived, despite Firebrand, despite a bullette, despite Straven.
Snowscale knew full well that the worst was yet to come. Griselwood seemed to be a dangerous place, but Snowscale was determined. If the Vilidin Howlpack could survive it,then two dragons could too.
Snowscale wrapped his tail and wings around Destella, afraid that if he spoke he would burst into tears of joy.

Destella was quick to copy Snowscale, wrapping her tail and wings around him as well. She continued to nuzzle him as she thought about what was next for them. Griselwood didn’t sound nice, but the Vilidins survived. Her and Snowscale could as well, right? Either way, she knew Snowscale would be there with her.

Shade popped in silently. So Snowscale went through with it after all. Well, I'm not about to go judging.... I was just as happy when Stream and I became mates.
Shade slipped out as silently as he came in.

Snowscale heard someone enter. "Alright,
you two. It's time. Pyro found the pathway there.
Who knows what awaits us in the dark town?" It was Twilight, and he seemed anxious.
Snowscale didn't want to let go, but he did. "We're ready. Take us to Griselwood."

Twilight nodded, and soon the two lovers where following behind them. The tunnel was unnaturally misty and foggy, and once Snowscale thought he heard a bit of scurrying right in front of them. The Vilidin must have thought so, too, for Rayg blasted a bolt of lightning at the source of the sound. The echoes of the blast rang through the tunnel, and was replied by a barely audible whisper; "Turn back..... you head for the home of Death...."
Ronin looked surprised. "Would one of Laskar's books be here?"
"He's made it convenient for us so far," Twilight commented.
"True. But then, what are friends for?"
They reached a huge cavern opening, and the group could see the place called Griselwood. Each building looked surprisingly normal, but a sense of deep evil was here. A winged creature flew above the town, and made an approach on the two dragons. It did't get far, however, when Rayg blasted it to smithereens with a single bolt of lightning.
"One down, one left. Pyro, take Snowscale and Destella to see what's left. If you get separated, you know what to do."
"Of course. The ******* won't know what hit them."
The two dragons were led away by the sand-colored wolf, and soon they were surrounded by fog.
Snowscale desperately tried to see through the thick fog, but it seemed to envelop him, and he suddenly found himself in a cavern covered in crystals.
He heard a growl off to his left. A horrifying animated decayed body lurched into view, very clearly a dragon. Its eyes glowed with some sort of energy, and it lunged straight for Snowscale's throat.
Snowscale was barely able to dodge. Suddenly, as if following him, Shade was there. His hands were enveloped in black flames, and when he blasted the undead creature these black flames consumed it.
"So healing isn't all you do."
"I try to be skilled in more than one field."
A second form lurched into view, another dragon. It too was consumed by the strange black fire, and then it seemed as if Shade dissipated in a puff of blue smoke.
Yeah, I'll check on you later. Rayg's in trouble.
Snowscale poked around the cavern for a moment before finding a very strange crystal: it was perfectly round. Snowscale picked it up curiously and froze.
This was no crystal.
Snowscale was holding an egg.

Destella was sad that the moment had to end, but they did have a job to do. She also knew that it would dangerous, yet she never felt more... comfortable about doing anything close to this.

As they left, she followed slightly behind Snowscale. It was eerie. The path underground was full of fog, and even a small noise seemed dangerous. It seemed like the others agreed since Rayg attack one of the sounds, spooking her.

As they continued, there was a strange whisper, then one of the demons! Thankfully it was quickly dispatched. Then they followed Pyro deeper in.

It seemed to just get foggier as they went, and Des had resorted to a held back light breath to see. Then something move. It looked like a dragon, but not a living one. It was like it had died long ago, yet it was alive! She was about to Flash before Shade showed up, burning two of them. She then noticed something odd.

Snowscale had stopped, and was looking at something. The serpent slowly slid up, not sure what to expect. ”Snowscale? What is... by Pyyrai...” What she saw in his talons was an egg. She carefully placed her tail on it, just to be sure it was real. She then looked at her new mate, confused by the sight. ”W-what’s an egg doing here?”

"I-I don't know. D-do you think that...
Could the parents be....?" Snowscale didn't dare finish the thought.
He jumped as the egg rocked suddenly.
Snowscale looked at Destella, feeling useless. The only hatching I've witnessed was my own.... am I supposed to do something?

"I-I don't know. D-do you think that...
Could the parents be....?" Snowscale didn't dare finish the thought.
He jumped as the egg rocked suddenly.
Snowscale looked at Destella, feeling useless. The only hatching I've witnessed was my own.... am I supposed to do something?

Destella jumped along with Snowscale as the egg moved, not having enough time to answer his question. The thought that this little one didn't have a family did sink in though. Who would take care of him or her? She noticed Snowscale had no idea what to do, and admittedly she only had secondhand knowledge from her parents. Hopefully it was enough. "Ok, my mother mention from time to time that you shouldn't help unless you have to. Other than that...."

Snowscale nodded and very gently set the egg back down. "Oh." Some sounds of battle came from outside, as well as the roaring sound of fire. Pyro backed into the cave in hybrid form, his hands blasting twin jets of flame at a creature that looked very similar to Straven. "Now is not the time to admire crystals!"
A lightning bolt hits the Straven-like creature, reducing it to dust. "Remind me how you got to be second-in-command?"
Pyro rolled his eyes and looked at what Snowscale and Destella had between them. "Great Lupus above! An egg???" He looks at the two dragons. "Erm.... Is it yours?"

Destella blushed a bit at the thought, though it was alone. Should her and Snowscale take it from here. Were the parents really... gone. She looked at mate, then at the egg, then back at her mate. She wondered if there was anything else that could harm the unhatched dragon. "If there are any more of those thing, if Snowscale's ok with it, and there are no parents, it may have to be At least for now."

Despite the "have to" words she used, her voice showed what she really thought. She was scared for the egg, especially knowing about Snowscale's past.

Pyro nodded. "Straven Would not have taken it if it were no important. Okay, change in plans.
We stay here. You get to safety."
"What?? NO!! Wait--" Snowscale shouted in vain to stop the werewolf, but he, Destella, and the egg were all enveloped in a strange white fire. When Snowscale's vision returned, he saw he was in the main room of his cave. "No...."

Destella just looked shocked when Pyro said they should leave. They had just come all they way to help. Scared or no, she wanted to help. Plus, she had begun to worry about the werewolfs as well. "Wait! But what if...."

Before she could finish, her, Snowscale and the little egg where transported back to her mate's den, which kinda made it her den too, she guessed. She could hear Snowscale. He sounded worried, sad, and a bit helpless. Des slid up to her mate, wrapping her tail around his, and nuzzling him.

The egg rocked again and then shattered into a hundred splinters. Snowscale nearly leaped in surprise, but instantly his heart warmed upon seeing her.... yes Snowscale judged that it was a female.
"Welcome to the world little one," Snowscale murmured. The hatchling was perfect in every way, with purple scales and eyes. Her wings ended in pink crystals, and when she sat up from the ground where Snowscale had lain her a moment before she looked up at them and peeped.
Snowscale felt his heart melt.

Destella quickly turned when the egg shattered. She was worried at first, until she saw the little hatchling that had come from it. The serpent was pretty sure the little dragon was a dragoness. She was so cute that. The little hatchling had already stolen the feathered dragon's heart. It looked like she was made of gems with a beautiful purple and pink color.

Then the hatchling peeped, causing Des's red and blue feathers shifted to yellow as she fell in love with the little one. She then slid closer, giving the hatchling a small nuzzle. "It's nice to meet you, little one."

((heyo, tis me. This is probably a one-time thing, with me being in Florida, but I've been slowly going insane not being able to respond. Hopefully I'll be back Sunday with my sanity intact))
The little hatchling flopped over from Destella's gentle nuzzle, and she meeped happily before trying to get up. Snowscale gently lifted the hatchling into the air and back onto her feet, and she squeaked happily. She grabbed at one of Destella's feathers and missed, landing on the hard stone floor with a wail. She accidentally got flipped onto her back, which st off a round of whimpering.