Birth of a Dragoon

Epilogue

I rose from the cavern floor unsteadily but quickly, the instant I came to a decision. Cearúil blocked my attempted escape when he realized I was trying to leave the cavern.

"Gwen, what are you doing?"

"You said you mother was dying. She's still alive right? Even if just barely?"

"That is correct. And yes, she is yet living. Why?"

"Well, let's go then."

Cearúil prevented me from leaving again when I tried to pass him and enter the hallway sure to lead out of the cavern.

"We can't leave, Gwen. It's not safe. Especially in these forms."

My brow creased slightly as I peered over my right shoulder at the new appendages I had. "Is there a way to hide the wings?"

"Yes, when I change it will cause you to as well."

"So you control what form I take?"

"In essence, yes."

"Why don't you just change then?"

"I can't. I am…unsettled. Perhaps in a few years I will be able to once again."

My jaw dropped as my eyes widened in shock. "Years? Why…? How…?"

"It took a lot to save you, Gwen. Not only that, but now that we are essentially one it takes a while to readjust. To grow accustomed to each other's strengths and weaknesses. The next few years are going to be trying for both of us. I will also have to teach you what is necessary for our survival. Including how to win battles. For now, however, we must stay here until we are able to protect ourselves once again."

I shook my head fiercely as I tried to force myself past him once more. "I don't care what the norm was for the others. Your mother needs you. You should be at her side, not hiding in a cave. C'mon, let's go before it's too late and you regret it for the rest of your life."

"Gwen, we can't. I don't even know where she is. We need to stay here until we have better control…"

"Excuses."

I stated as I finally dodged past Cearúil's blocking attempts. "If you know she is dying, then it can't be all that hard to find her location. As for the whole control bit, well…you've always exuded enough control for the both of us, so I don't see how it's going to be a problem. Let's go…time's a wasting away."

"Gwen, this isn't wise. Stop!"

Cearúil quickly rushed past Gwen to prevent her departure once more, barely a foot from the exit. He lowered his head down until his face was inches from hers. Before he could finish his newest objection, he watched Gwen's brow crease in confusion.

"What's wrong, Gwen?"

She tilted her head slightly to the left. "I mean no disrespect, Cearúil. But you seem a hell of a lot smaller than you were the last time I saw you in dragon form…"

He blinked once before amusement filled him. "Of course I am. I changed just as much as you have, Gwen. We both changed to better suit each other's forms. We are not at our peak strength, Gwen. Not even close to it. We should stay here and recover."

Gwen stubbornly shook her head again. "No. You need to find your mother and help her if you can and you know it. Nothing else, at least, be by her side. Afterwards you can help me with my desire."

"What desire would that be?"

Gwen's eyes glowed in fierce determination. "I want to find and enact vengeance on those responsible for attacking the Mage's College."

"Gwen, that's not…"

"No, Cearúil. The Mages were the only beings who dared to take me in and raise me. They deserve to be avenged."

I sighed deeply at his look and the emotions now roiling within him. "Cearúil," I stated as I placed a hand on the soft silver scales above his snout.

"I'm not deranged. It's just…the Mages were the only family I had. It may not have seemed like it, but they did care for me in their own way. You know this, I'm sure during the years you lived here you noticed this. …Please, Cearúil? They deserved better than annihilation."

Cearúil was quiet for a long time, while he thought of Gwen's request. She didn't seem to be in the same shape as Celestia was. Gwen was being somewhat rational with her requests, though he wasn't about to allow her second one.

"We'll see, Gwen." Was the best he could come up with at the moment. Cearúil had to admit she was right about his mother though. He should be there for her during her last moments. It was going to be hard, but perhaps they would be able to find her before it was too late.

Cearúil stopped in the middle of the clearing he had spent so much time with Gwen in and turned around to face her. Amusement filled him while he lay upon the ground as he anticipated her reaction.

"Climb on, Gwen. And we will see if we can't locate my mother."

"Climb on?"

Further amusement filled him when confusion filled her eyes as she stared up at him. Moments later, her eyes widened in shock, evidently she figured out what he meant.

"You can't be serious…"

"It is the most common form of travel for Draco and their Dragoons. Especially before the Dragoon learns how to use their wings. Climb on, Gwen. Or are you afraid that I will allow you to fall?"

"It's quite possible…" She mumbled as she approached him.

It was hard to hold still and not attempt to help as Gwen tried to scale up onto his back. She didn't know quite how to do it correctly, causing rumbles of laughter to roll through him, which didn't help either. The sixth time Gwen landed on her rear, Cearúil decided to carry her in his hands instead. They had time enough to learn how to fly that way later on.

Gwen wasn't happy with his claws constricting around her, but at least she made an attempt not to be frightened over it. Making certain he had her securely against him without injuring her in any way, Cearúil leapt into the darkening sky with a fierce cry of joy.

It was going to be strange now, sharing his life with another, not only that but being dependant on that other being to continue existing. This was definitely going to be interesting. He only hoped he could handle it.