Modern Dragon Riders Chapter 6

Modern Dragon Riders

Chapter 6: The Feuding Tribes

When we last left off, our young riders found themselves cornered when DSI increased the number of cameras in the forest. For the past three weeks, they had to resort to restricting their resources to around their fishing river. At the same time, they agreed that should they need to abandon the hideout, they were to head to Riders’ Haven. But little did they know of the unexpected alliances they were to form.

River side. Day. Ren and Celestia finish filling the water jugs and strapping them to their dragons.

Ren: That's the last one. *gets a shiver*

Celestia: What's wrong brother?

Ren: Whenever I get a shiver it means there's a harpy nearby.

Celestia: Then we'd better get out of here before we're seen.

Ren and Celestial climb on their dragons and head back to the Hub.

Luca: *sees Ren and Celestia come in* Glad to see you made it back safely.

Ren and Celestia: So are we. *puts their markers back*

Dan: You didn’t come across any harpies or Cyclopes did you?

Celestia: Brother knew there was a harpy nearby the second he shivered.

Ren: Yeah, we were lucky that we already filled the water jugs or that harpy would try and slow me down the second she saw me.

Dan: You… do know there are male harpies too… right?

Willis: Plus, if you were on the south bank, a harpy won’t come after you.

Ren: My shivers are never wrong, it had to have been a female harpy!!! *begins to lose his temper*

Celestia: Oh dear.

Dan: Whoa, I never said it wasn’t, just making sure you were aware of it!

Willis: But in all seriousness, the harpies never go to the south side of the river. Same with the Cyclopes going to the north side.

Ren: Then there must be something going on.

Flare: It would seem so.

Willis: All we know is that they’re pretty much in a means of cold war.

Dan: Yeah, and they’re not kidding about not crossing the river. I remember a harpy saying he would rather, and I quote, “get my feet ripped off by ravenous wolves than step on Cyclopsian soil.”

Marina: What exactly is behind their feud? Do you know?

Luca: We don’t, and we have very minimal information on their leaders. Just that the harpy princess, Scylla, and the Cyclops prince, Thebes, are fierce warriors, and aren’t afraid to fight anyone or anything.

A very loud scream like roar is heard

Ren: That better not be what I think it is.

Marina: And that would be?

Ren: A Screaming Death.

Said dragon bursts out of the ground outside startling a few harpies.

Jacobsons: Whoa, that’s scary.

Luca: I’ve never seen harpies come this close to the mountains. They must be having hunting problems.

Marina: Well, we have plenty of food. Maybe we can share?

Willis: As kindhearted as that sounds, Miss Davis, we don’t get involved with either tribe.

Marina: Why not?

Dan: You kidding? With their feud, whoever we help might blab to the other and they come after us, forcing us away from our primary water source.

Flare: *hears various screams outside* It seems that the harpies are under attack by the Screaming Death.

Marina: Feud or no feud, I’m gonna help them. Let’s go Azulito! *hops onto his back*

Azulito runs out of the cave and takes off

Ren and Celestia: Wait for us! *both get on their dragons and fly after Marina*

The Screaming Death attacks in a rampage breathing fire at the harpies

Marina: Let’s see if we can’t distract it.

Azulito: On it. *flies around the Screaming Death shooting fireballs at it*

Screaming Death: *gets annoyed by the fireballs and begins to shoot fire at Marina*

Celestia: FIRE IN THE HOLE!!!!!

Nezuric: *unleashes a fireball at the Screaming Death's open mouth*

Screaming Death: *gets wide-eyed after swallowing the fireball making it unable to shoot its fire and collapses on the ground*

Ren: *chuckles* The oldest dragon trick in the book and that overgrown snake fell for it.

Flare: Indeed.

Harpy 1: Why did those humans help us?

Harpy 2: Who cares?!

Harpy 3: We better tell Princess Scylla about this. *flies off with the other harpies*

Screaming Death: *gets up and retreats into the hole it made*

Ren: We won't be seeing him for about a month or more since it will need time for it to recover from the old fire in the hole trick.

Marina: Do you think the harpies will come back?

Luca: *flies by with Lavender* Not likely. They’ll more likely avoid this area of the forest now.

Ren: I'm glad that none of them look at me.

Marina: Why haven’t you tried negotiating with them? Maybe they can even get rid of the cameras.

Luca: I do see your point, but their leaders are vicious warriors.

Marina: I still say we try and talk to them. Two of us can go to the harpies, and two can go to the Cyclopes.

Luca: There’s no way I’m talking you out of this, is there?

Azulito: Not one.

Luca: *sighs* Very well. I’ll take the south side of the river. If rumor is true, Scylla doesn’t take kindly to male humanoids outside of her own kind. Let me inform the others. *flies back to the cave*

Marina: *turns to Ren* I take it you’re going with him since harpies creep you out?

Ren: Yeah since the Cyclopes fear me it would make it easier for me and Luca to convince them.

Marina: *turns to Celestia* I guess that leaves you and me against the princess.

Celestia: Yes.

Luca: *returns with Lavender and the others’ markers* We better get going.

Marina, Ren, and Celestia take their markers and follow Luca and Lavender

Later at the river

Marina: *lands with the others* So this is where their territories are split?

Luca: Yep. Now we wait for someone from one of the tribes to come by.

Male voice: Harpy trash!

Female voice: Cyclopsian scum!

Everyone looks to see a harpy and a Cyclops on opposite sides of the river

Luca: Now we give them a head start, and follow accordingly.

The harpy and Cyclops get up and leave; Marina and Celestia begin to follow the harpy while Luca and Ren fly to the other side of the river and begin to follow the Cyclops

Later with Marina and Celestia

Marina: *is looking through binoculars* Crud. I think we lost her.

Nezuric: *smells the air* Not quite, this way.

Azulito follows Nezuric down the trail. Several harpies hide in the shadows of the trees watching the dragons.

Azulito: Hey… anyone else feeling like we’re being watched?

Marina: It’s probably just a Changewing, buddy.

Azulito: Yeah… that’s probably it. *a snare encloses around his leg* What the-

Marina: Whoa! *falls off Azulito*

Nezuric: *smells the air* It seems that the harpies were expecting us.

Marina: Apparently… *gets up* Hello? We would like to speak to someone about something.

Female harpy: *peeks out from behind a branch* Who sent you?

Marina: We came on our own accord. Could we please speak with your leader?

Male harpy: Why do you seek audience with our benevolent leader?

Celestia: We wish to form an alliance.

Whispers are heard in the branches, then a young male with a high ponytail flies down, cutting the snare off of Azulito’s leg

Harpy: My name is Milos. I shall lead you to the princess.

Meanwhile, with Ren and Luca

Flare: *smells the air* We're close but the Cyclopes are hiding. They know about Ren.

Ren: GET OUT OF YOUR HIDING SPOTS AND TAKE US TO YOUR LEADER OR I'LL FORCE YOU OUT!!!!!!!!!!

Several Cyclopes run out from behind the trees and flee. A single female with long blond hair and a brown eye steps out.

Cyclops: Please forgive them. Your reputation precedes you in our territory.

Flare: I'm surprised that there's one Cyclops that isn't afraid of Ren.

Cyclops: I have only heard rumors mostly. I was away when you first encountered Prince Thebes.

Luca: So you know the prince well?

Cyclops: I am his lifelong friend. Charybdis is my name. As for the prince, he is not necessarily afraid of you, though he does have some respect for you. No known being has ever disabled him in a fight.

Lavender: Well Miss Charybdis, may we please speak with him? We wish to form an alliance with your tribe.

Charybdis: I shall take you to him.

At the harpy village

Milos: *walks through the village with Marina and Celestia and kneels before a throne* Princess Scylla, these two wish to have an audience with you, wanting to form an alliance with our tribe.

The princess, shadowed on the throne, stands up to reveal her long hair decorated with ruby-colored rings, emerald eyes, and royal purple feathers. Atop her head is a gold circlet with a single ruby in the center.

Marina: *gets off Azulito and kneels, Celestia quickly following suit* Princess, I understand that we are outsiders to your land, but we must speak to you about a grave matter.

Scylla: *walks up to them, looking them over* Are you by any means allied with those across the river?

Marina: No.

Scylla: You may stand.

Marina and Celestia stand

Scylla: Come.

Marina, Celestia, and their dragons follow the princess through the village, Milos closely behind them

Scylla: So what is this alliance that you are hoping to forge?

Marina: Before we discuss that, if it’s alright I would to know why you feud with them.

Scylla: “Them” being those barbarians across the river?

Marina: Yes…

Scylla: … Truth be told, the reason for the rivalry of our tribes has been lost in history. All I know is they can’t possibly be trusted.

Azulito: Why even fight them then?

Scylla: It’s just in our nature. Now, what is it that you wish to discuss?

Marina: Firstly, have you seen anything odd in your territory?

Scylla: Odd? How so?

Celestia: Like something that's used to spy on something.

Scylla: One of my scouts found something not too long ago. Milos, do we still have it?

Milos: I believe so. I’ll go retrieve it. *walks off*

Scylla: Is there anything else you need to discuss?

Marina: … Is it at all possible to convince you to ally with the Cyclopes?

Scylla: Not one. The brutish creatures are less likely to be trusted than griffins.

Milos: *returns with a busted camera* Here it is, Princess. *drops the camera in front of him*

Marina: It’s just like the one near our hideout.

Scylla: I’m sorry?

Marina: Your Highness, this is something known to us humans as a camera. Some people use them to survey or spy on something.

Scylla: Hmm. One of my sentries thought it was originated from across the river. Now I know that you are to blame.

Marina: No. It’s not ours.

Scylla: How am I to believe you? You said it yourself that these are used for spying.

Marina: I haven’t lived anywhere near a camera in over 5 years! And not all cameras are for that purpose.

Scylla: *looks cross* If not you, then who?

Marina: *deep breath* It’s someone who hunts and kills dragons. He’s been using these cameras to try and find us. If you could please hear us out, perhaps we can find a way to get rid of these, for the good of everyone who call this forest home.

Scylla: *looks deep in thought* I’ll admit, your words have swayed me, but there is too much bad blood to even consider an alliance. I’m sorry. Now, if that is all, you may go. Milos will see you to the outskirts of our territory. *walks off*

Marina looks at the ground in disappointment

Nezuric: They might hunt your people as well.

Scylla: *stops* My people are more than capable of defeating any human. Dragon killer or not. *leaves*

Milos: Please excuse her. She’s always been this way since childhood. I’ll lead you to our border.

Marina and Celestia get on their dragons and follow Milos

Marina: I can’t help thinking we failed.

Azulito: Maybe the others will have better luck.

Celestia: With brother's temper, they might.

At the Cyclops village

Charybdis leads Ren and Luca through the village. Almost every Cyclops cowers upon seeing Ren. A brunette male with a circlet of thorns approaches them.

Charybdis: Prince Thebes.

Thebes: *looks at Ren* I’m surprised to see you here. It has been a while since our last encounter.

Ren: Yeah, but I'm not here to play catch up. *says in a bored voice*

Thebes: If that purpose is to insult me, I suggest you leave then. *turns and begins to walk away*

Luca: Ren! *gets off Lavender and walks up to Thebes* Please excuse him, Your Highness. We came here to negotiate an alliance.

Thebes: I will not do any such thing with those sirens across the river.

Luca: I never said-

Thebes: You didn’t need to. An alliance usually indicates two or more civilized groups combining efforts. While I am not calling you riders uncivilized, I know a mere dozen doesn’t count for a society.

Luca: *sighs* I know your history with the harpies is not a happy one, but can’t you consider-

Thebes: I’m afraid I can’t. The seeds of distrust between us and them were sown long ago.

Luca: Then listen to me about this: have you encountered anything out of sorts in your territory lately?

Thebes: One of my huntsmen found something on his rounds. We suspected it was something made by them for espionage. And before you ask, we have disposed of it already, so you can’t see it.

Ren: *loses his temper and smacks Thebes so hard his head ends up buried in the dirt* WILL YOU JUST SHUT UP AND LISTEN ALREADY!!!!!!!!!!

Flare: And that is why you should never make him mad.

Thebes gets up and starts swinging his spear around, barely missing Ren and Luca.

Charybdis: *grabs hold of Thebes’s spear* Thebes, stop!

Thebes: *lowers his spear then points it to Ren and Luca* You… are to leave my lands at once… and you are NEVER… to return AGAIN! *storms off*

Charybdis: Thebes…

Luca: *looks at Ren angrily* I nearly had him. Way to mess it up.

Charybdis: I am sorry. I knew bringing you here might upset him.

Ren: *sighs* Sometimes I hate it when I lose my temper.

Luca: We better get going. Though Marina probably won’t be happy about how we did.

Charybdis: I will see if I can get Thebes to reconsider. I shall let you know if I have any luck. *walks off*

Ren and Luca mount their dragons and take off

Meanwhile

Milos: *stops walking* This is as far as I’ll go. I am sorry; Scylla has always seemed harsh, but she does what she feels is best for the clan.

Marina: It’s not your fault. But if you don’t mind, could you maybe get her to reconsider the alliance?

Milos: I will do my best. Farewell. *takes off towards the village*

Marina and Celestia take off and arrive back at the hideout, replacing their markers

Willis: Any luck?

Marina: ‘Fraid not. At least we were able to warn the princess about the cameras.

Nancy: Maybe she’ll come around about the alliance.

Rosa: I don’t know, they don’t particularly like the Cyclopes.

Luca: *enters the Hub* At least you weren’t banned from their territory.

Marina: That bad huh?

Luca: If someone gave me more time, I might have been able to get Prince Thebes to consider.

Ren: Yeah I know, really sorry about that.

Luca: *sighs* No, it’s all right. I mean, some people have violent tempers, and that’s something that can’t be changed.

Vulcan: Same with dragons.

Rosa: Wow, Vulcan actually admitting his temper.

Vulcan: You’re lucky I don’t hit she-dragons, or you’d regret that.

Rosa sticks out her forked tongue

Azulito: Did you at least tell them about the cameras?

Luca: Thebes told me that something was found in his territory, but he didn’t say what it was or what it looked like. Just that he thought the harpies were using it to spy on them.

Marina: At least they know about them, even if they don’t know who is truly using them.

Luca: I did get someone close to the prince to get him to reconsider. Or better yet, she offered.

Marina: Same here. I just hope they’re not in danger because of that.

At DSI

Man: Mr. Drago, one of our disabled cameras was able to transmit a signal.

Mr. Drago: How’s that possible?

Man: We’re not sure. However it was only an audio transmission, but still useful. *taps on his tablet when static is heard*

(Whole conversation garbled)

Marina: It’s just like the one near our hideout.

Scylla: I’m sorry?

Marina: Your Highness, this is something known to us humans as a camera. Some people use them to survey or spy on something.

Scylla: Hmm. One of my sentries thought it was originated from across the river. Now I know that you are to blame.

Marina: No. It’s not ours.

Scylla: How am I to believe you? You said it yourself that these are used for spying.

Marina: I haven’t lived anywhere near a camera in over 5 years! And not all cameras are for that purpose.

Scylla: If not you, then who?

Marina: *deep breath* It’s someone who hunts and kills dragons. He’s been using these cameras to try and find us.

Transmission ends

Man: That’s all we could recover, sir.

Mr. Drago: Sounds as if one of the riders was trying to get the harpies to play for them. They’ll probably attempt the same with the Cyclopes. Have any more cameras gone offline?

Man: Only a couple from each side of the river.

Mr. Drago: Let me know if that number increases.

Man: Yes sir!

Mr. Drago and the man part ways.

Agent Draco: *disguised as a worker, pulls out a recording device* Just learned that the splinter group has contacted other groups in the forest. Be sure to mention this to the parents. *walks off*