05-14-2019, 10:03 PM
Ophanim
He does not sleep, even after the sun’s last rays creep beneath the horizon and plunge them into the depths of night. Castile had issued the orders as soon as Leliana had left their borders. He kept is short and sweet, turning his head to Wolfbane and Ophanim. “Burn them to the ground.” The words echo in his ears as he watches Malone sleep, curled in a ball next to his mother. The stars across their bodies glimmer softly as a reflection of the sky above them. He takes a deep breath and kisses his wife goodbye. The angel boy didn’t have the heart to tell her about the orders and he doesn’t intend to now. She deserves not to worry.
He slinks away and spreads his wings as he picks up into a gallop. Ophanim pumps his wings once, twice and then the ground shrinks beneath his hooves. His gold and ivory body turns ink black so he’s little more than a blur across the night sky. His scales reflect hardly any light as he glides along the warm drafts of air toward Tephra. The angel turned dragon looks over his shoulder to make sure he’s being followed by the others before he tucks his wings, sending him into a dive.
When he’s close enough, his wings snap open to carry him into a lower glide. He feels the warmth gathering in his throat and he takes a deep breath as he reminds himself this is for his children. This is for Starsin. No one can endanger them and go unanswered, he tells himself when he exhales. The power behind his fire breath shakes the limbs of their tropical trees and catches their leaves on fire. Ophanim continues to gather more and more heat, exhaling further with each breath until he hears the trees crackle and burn. He doesn’t have to be graceful or beautiful to destroy their home the way their queen tried to ruin his. He finds some peace in that fact.
He lands next to their stream and breathes his fire across their grasses, stopping only when his lungs heave for breath. Smoke billows from his lips as he folds his membranous wings against his back and searches for the others. Their answer is loud and clear as the torched branches begin to crumble and fall, shaking the ground as their snapping echoes across the kingdom.
He slinks away and spreads his wings as he picks up into a gallop. Ophanim pumps his wings once, twice and then the ground shrinks beneath his hooves. His gold and ivory body turns ink black so he’s little more than a blur across the night sky. His scales reflect hardly any light as he glides along the warm drafts of air toward Tephra. The angel turned dragon looks over his shoulder to make sure he’s being followed by the others before he tucks his wings, sending him into a dive.
When he’s close enough, his wings snap open to carry him into a lower glide. He feels the warmth gathering in his throat and he takes a deep breath as he reminds himself this is for his children. This is for Starsin. No one can endanger them and go unanswered, he tells himself when he exhales. The power behind his fire breath shakes the limbs of their tropical trees and catches their leaves on fire. Ophanim continues to gather more and more heat, exhaling further with each breath until he hears the trees crackle and burn. He doesn’t have to be graceful or beautiful to destroy their home the way their queen tried to ruin his. He finds some peace in that fact.
He lands next to their stream and breathes his fire across their grasses, stopping only when his lungs heave for breath. Smoke billows from his lips as he folds his membranous wings against his back and searches for the others. Their answer is loud and clear as the torched branches begin to crumble and fall, shaking the ground as their snapping echoes across the kingdom.