Riders and their dragons

Long ago dragons and elves made a pact to end a war. Later humans were added to the magic allowing them to be bonded to dragons. The wild dragons gained language and theor fierce nature was tempered by the elven influences. Even humans a brutal savage race had been tempered once bonded. Dragons came in every color each a solid single color but together as if the entire spectrum. Those bonded to dragons were called riders and were marked by the magic of the bond.

Together the riders and dragons were powerful and spread peace over the land. Until the dark emperor and his 13 servants destroyed the dragons and the riders. The final desicive battle took place at the riders greatest stronghold. The battle ended when an elven rider converted his body into energy through atomic fission and destroyed everyone fighting... all except the emperor and several servants...

The empire was formed and 100 years later the events of the great inheritance, the story of the rider who defeated the emperor unfold. That rider left the land for a new one to raise the new generation of dragons and protect them until they repopulated the species. In this far land across the sea the dragons thrived several generations pass and the eggs began to circulate. Through the land searching for the ones they chose to bear as a rider.

The eggs were presented to crowds of young people humans and elves in the hope one would hatch and they could become a part of the legend. The one rider never returned to the land of his birth and if an egg hatched and the dragon and rider had grown until the dragon could breathe fire they were summoned by the eldest dragons who bore riders to the place where they rested to train the new riders in their powers.

In time Magic had become highly restricted by laws the practice wasn't illegal but the limitations and punishments were severe. A fear of magic and several anti magic groups had grown out of the ashes of the fallen empire. Humans held enmity towards elves and dwarves for invading their homes during the times of the great inheritance further splintering the relationships between the races. The urgals a warlike horned race had begun to form warbands in search of honor to gain a a mate. The raids were brutal and none were left alive.

A young man touched a green egg and a glittering hatchling burst out. It squeaked in a feeble roar and he was taken to the rookery to begin his instruction in dragon care and riding. The rider and dragon were two minds and souls bound together. It was at the rookery where the young man met an elf maid who was also chosen.

(You are the elf and you pick the color of your dragon unless you want him to be the elf you are human)this is just a rough idea based on eragon)

The elf wasn't sure but she only reaches to touch a dark orange egg as it did the same as well, hating with a orange hatchling that was squeaking softly out. She blinks to look at it, carefully picking up the egg to look at it.

It looked up at her and sneezed a large amount of ambiotic fluid on her outfit and stumbled as it flopped around and tried to gain some balance as she carried its remaining shell away. Right away it explored following behind her and watching everything. The supervisors spoke amongst themselves scheduling the day she would arrive at the rookery to raise her dragon.

The mark was burned into her hand signaling her as a rider and as she cleaned up the dragon put its head into everything. Shw felt a tendril of thought as its mind reached out to communicate with her. It could only convey its feelings. Cold alive happy and hungry very hungry. She went to fetch meat and fed her dragon. It playfully snapped the meat from her fingers and soon it was all gone and it yawned in contentment and resumed its explorations

Well, at least the little dragon was happy and eating so that did good. She watches it eat but she will learn a lot when coming to helping the dragon grow. From a baby to a older dragon, that will take time and it will be the same for her too in the future.

Several weeks later they crossed the sea and the riders of that year were all taken to the rookery where the founder of their new order was raising wild dragons and guiding all the riders in their duties and responsibilities. The rookery was a gigantic mountain surrounded by forest. The sides of the mountain glitter and move as the dragons were above and living wherever they choose.

The mountain was so massive they were in its shadow before the young riders realized that the dragons were all ancient, massive in size and majesty huge caves were carved out for them to live in and below were riders and servants who tend to the dragons needs and keep the wild ones in line. The largest was on top of the mountain a glittering sapphire blue creature that watched everything. The stonework was unbelievable. Whole dwellings and cities were built into the mountain and the riders lived in these parts.

She keeps looking out wondering of this place and location. Maybe she will learn more about this place and the cities that loom or roam around it. That or be sue to find another that might be of some help for her.

"Little ones." Came a thunderous roar in their minds as the sapphire blue elder raised her head to look at the newcomers and welcome them. "Welcome to the dragon sanctuary. Here you will forget much you knew before your eggs hatched and your became riders. Here you will learn to hunt carefor and train your dragons while you both grow together. Remember the rider and dragon are never to be separated in the mind. Keep no secrets from your dragons and keep no secrets from your riders. The city is dangerous never go without a graduated rider else you may get stepped on and eaten. " the dragon let out a rolling throaty roar much softer and they all realized she was laughing at her own words. True as they might be.

Then an elderly human with elf features stepped down from the alcove near her head and addressed them with a magically magnified voice. "Welcome new riders. I know you are all tired from your trip and have many questions. Eat and drink with us together then we will go to bed. Tomorrow your new lives and lessons begin." And he slowly walked back into the place where his room was.

The oldest dragons settle down and the wild dragons return to their games and fighting for supremacy. The new riders were escorted into the mountain and after a collosal tunnel the mountain opened to a cavern so large every dragon wild and rider-bound could fit inside even the elders. All gathered in time for the feast and many of the plates had fruits and vegetables as their only food. Meat was available on request

Everyone was shocked seeing this but they were already curious about it. Seeing the new location leaves them curious to what this place was. they all hurry along inside while being sure to keep them close to their dragons.

They saw the leader again walking down stairs to the great feasting cavern. "Welcome to the dining cave. Here is where you will be served meals. Elves don't eat meat and most older riders don't either. In time you will understand why. The meat is mostly for the dragons because they aren't willing to eat plants. You may have meat I'd you wish but I warn you never take meat from a dragon plate. It may be the last thing you do. After our feast we will retire to the sleeping caverns." He said sitting down as a roar was heard signaling the meal beginning.

Of course the other dragons heard this as the food was presented for the dragons that was already happy to start eating.

The noise was intense and some dragons were bickering In their way over food and proportions. The two newest riders watched in awe and ate quickly as a result. They bithbloved the food and when everything had been supped and drunk they all rose a d were lead to the sleeping caves to digest and rest.

The caves were immense the lowest ones were small for new riders and the highest couldn't be seen it was so huge that the lights used weren't traveling back to reveal where they had been. So the upper levels were lost to the spiraling lamps used to illuminate the walkway going up. They ere lead to their alcoves and she was happy she got to sleep near her new friend and his dragon. They had gotten to know eachither on the journey to this place and promised eachother that they would look our for one another.

Her orange hatchling let out a snort and went into the cave to go to sleep right away while his gragon did the same. The two however lay down at the entrance and look at eachother.

She looks at him not saying anything. He seems to look really calm and yet wondering of his new life. From everything that leaves it to something. He was only looking quiet while he was looking back. She seems nervous but was calm at the same time. They look to wonder about this since their dragons going to rest up.

As a young elf she was exceedingly beautiful even amon other elves for that is the way of elfkin their beauty is tempered by their age and life but for now she was the most beautiful student and approaching her adolescence truthfully her dragon hatched on the day she came to begin her bloom.

He was staring at her amazed that she was his friend and he told himself and his dragon he would do anything for hernin the vaults of his mind. He was nearly a man himself but the elves age slower so she was a good age older than him still very young by the standards of elves and he was like a pup to her.

She was happy and silently communing with her dragon about what she hoped to expect since among her race riders were legends and hadn't returned to the forest of her home since the eldest left. Her queen was a rider and she always wanted to be one too and now she was.

The two seem to have felt and shown the thoughts lingering in their minds. With the new life ahead of them, being riders could be a wild ride. She was looking at him but her eyes were sparkling from the light of the moon that came from some cracks. He did notice that and yet she was looking more curious seeing his face flushed pink. She really was beautiful and really pretty too.

"Sleeeeeep dreeeaam" came a potent deep female thought and the minds of the new riders were put to sleep. When they woke up the breakfast was served mostly fowl eggs and salted boar there were fruits and breads there as well. Most of the riders a year or longer were gone on their morning lessons while the new riders were sleeping.

Their first lesson was communication with their dragon. Understanding the images and sensations sent through the bond. Each dragon spoke in a different way none used words as of yet but feelings and impression. He and her talked to their dragon long before they came here so their dragons knew some words already.

It was rather like teaching infants which the dragons were and they came to rely on their rider.

They each tried to do this, looking to their dragons while doing this lesson. At least it was rather curious for a lesson.

It wasn't long before the dragons were using language and communicating simple ideas with words instead of images and feelings. A week of this with the dragon hatchling soaking up every word and they were able to convey their words in thought to their rider and eachother of they so choose. But they never reached out to other riders.

They were growing more and more every day and their appetites were growing as well. The orange and emerald green hatchling were very close as their riders had become and often they would visit eachother for the express purpose of making their riders spend time together.

Wake up!" Echoed a voice in the young man's thoughts

"Mmmm the sub isn't even up let me sleeep" said the rider as the emerald hatchling poked and prodded with its large snout and sharp clawed forelegs.

"Get up I wanna see them" the dragon said biting a corner of the riders tunic as he turned over to try and ignore the voice getting louder between his ears.

"Can't you wait for the sunrise?" The rider asks and the dragon snorts a plume of smoke into the riders face making the boy sit up and cough with tears flowing down his face.

"Elves like stars and the moon she would enjoy your company let's move " it said impatient and blew another stream of smoke. More coughing and the boy sat up and chased the little dragon with the intention to wring its neck for choking hi. With smoke. The dragon was fast and evaded capture u til they both reached the orange dragon and the elf who was its rider.

She giggled seeing the two playing well the dragon was playing the human was swearing and trying to catch his dragon. Her dragon said "foolishness" and turned its gaze to the stars once more. The moon was about to come up and finally the emerald dragon settled next to the orange one wagging it's tail happily having completed its goal to get its rider here.

"You really should be nicer to your dragon. It only wishes to be near us. I think it likes our scent" the elfmaid said stifling a giggle with her words but smiling sweetly in the starlight. She seemed to glow in the stars and he came up short and stammered.

"W-well maybe it should go to bed earlier if it wants me to get up earlier" He said and she giggles again.

"True I'm glad you came because I really like being around you. The other human riders aren't like you they don't think close to elves like you do. It's almost like you are one." She said and he looked at the stars.

"I just can't get music out of my head and sleep has always been hard to find for me. Maybe that's why." He said not sure why his mind was so different.

"Mmmm maybe. We will find out in time." She said and she reached out and took his hand in hers. "I mean it I'm really glad you're here. I'm too young to spend time with my kin so having a friend is really nice." She said and he squeezed her hand gently

"Meanwhile I would give anything to be away from mine. They just don't understand alot of the things I think about or they tell me not to think about it because they don't have the capacity to ask the same questions to themselves that I do." He said and she smiled sweetly. She noticed and she liked he questioned everything trying to out things together logically.

"Well, at least you are with someone that understands." she smiles to him with the other giving a light nod.

"Yeah, I'm really happy for that. So thank you.." he smiles as she did the same. The two looks up at the moon together while sitting down but she already keeps her dragon near her while petting it's head as the other just relaxing to look up too.

"I think we should name the dragons" He said and he was shocked he didn't think of that before. The dragon was cleaning its nails and looked at him with a curious look. Did he even know if it was a male or female yet? The orange one looked first at the boy and then it's rider with the same look almost asking for a name.

"Well, what would we name them?" she wonders this herself, looking to her dragon with a gentle smile as the dragon rests near and against her hand feeling calm. Her dragon was always loyal after a while and she was happy for it.

He said a fee names to his dragon through their bond and the dragon rejected them all. He was trying to keep it themed to his color or heroic legends from long ago. Finally theale dragon responded with a skwak of excitement and he said it and the man said it out loud. "Wyrden" She recognized the suffix meaning fate but the common word for dwelling at the end. And she focused on naming her dragon.

She looks to wonder about it, thinking of a name for her own. Thinking for a bit, she looks to it. "How about Chusi?" she asked looking to her dragon seeing her own blink but the tail wags slowly while resting near the elf maid.

Chusi seemed happy about her name and the two dragons were a bit more complete as a sense of identity came over them. It was a short night and the emerald dragon was nuzzling his rider and trying to keep him awake before the elf maid decided ot would be good to go back to bed.

Slowly they walk back and she grabbed his tunic to stop him from turning the wrong way twice. She giggles seeing how lack of sleep makes him fuzzy headed and even a bit irritable. He thanked her each time feeling embarrassed while their dragons trot behind them happily enjoying the company.

That night her waking dreams were of a vast shadow slowly spreading in the sea. Fierce dragonlike creatures called nidwhal told of in only legends would leap out of the sea and snatch dragons flying too low and pull them down. She did not stir because she knew it was a dream and elves didn't sleep persay they entered a state of deep restful meditation like sleep but not.

The dream was not about her but of a looming threat in general.

She smiles seeing Chusi liked her name while the same for Wyrden who follows the two. She didn't know of the threat but it did leave her unsure about it.

She rose before the waking time and looked over at Palawan he was still sleeping and his dragon wyrden was twitching in his waking dreams of flying and hunting. That morning was a run to the initiation space then a morning meal after they took their oaths of secrecy and loyalty to the new riders.

He woke after her still before the waking time as saw her watching him. "Did you sleep?" He asks and she shakes her head.

"Elves don't sleep. We.... "she looked for words to explain it. " we sink into the deeper part of our mind and let our minds rest and rebuild while we have a waking dream." She said and he understood sitting up and petting warden who let out a long yawn and turned over putting his head under his wing.

Chusi was watching them all with rapt attention absorbing every word. Her partner was deeply interested in this human and he was just a hatchling like her making her rpartner seem a little foolish to her mind. She kept these thoughts consealed from the elf who bonded to her and learned everything.