Chapter 8:

There's Another One

Surviving in Another World, Aided with Glimpses of the Future...

Scooped up from the ground by a body sized 'hand', with strong and steely black claws, Mai was whisked over the ground, fields and then many trees, before the large creature, carefully carrying her, hovered over an isolated grassy clearing, before firmly setting down on three of its big legs.

Opening the arm-sized claws, it let it's captured human out onto the short grass, and shuffle backward a little distance, before stamping the last foot to the ground below her shoes.

A mostly red head, with two sets of black horns, yellow underlines and underside scales, swung from its neck about to look down on the frail bi-pedal sitting on the ground beneath it, examining its caught quarry with light-orange eyes.

It's another one... red and yellow this time...

[I expected more resistance from one who had bested a noble dragon!]

Nobody would expect to be plucked into the sky by some random dragon... and why bother trying to get free then - especially when at a hundred meters or so above ground! And when did I defeat another dragon...?

Mai's hand went to her head, as a new batch of slightly jumbled images pounded inside it again, but what they revealed left her relieved, rather than anxious.

[Explain yourself - you insignificant creature.]

"Less volume, please."

Mai lowered her hand toward the ground slowly.

[Humph, very well...]

"Thank-you."

Mai smiled; glad this dragon tempered its 'speech' for her too.

[You're welcome...]

For being 'wild, vicious animals', these dragons had a tendency to be rather polite and considerate.

"Hello, I'm Mai Misaki, a pleasure -"

Mai was interrupted by the stockier creature, which had sharper overlapping scales that seemed to bristle and shake with displeasure.

[I care not for your name - just tell me how a feeble thing like you quelled such a mighty dragon?]

"Lygawa? ...she dose as she wishes, mostly."

Mai was a little confused; yes she had befriended the other dragon, but it didn't seem like that reveal would go down well with this one.

[Dose she not beacon to your will?]

"Well in a way..."

[Then you must have defeated her in some way! Tell me how?!]

I wonder why this one cares about Lygawa, could it be related... perhaps...?

"Who are you to Lygawa again?"

Mai instead asked, and it answered.

[All you need to know is that I am Lygawa's finest rival.]

"Sorry, I don't think she's ever spoken of a rival before."

The spiky creature crunched its teeth together, before whisking its head down to thrust one big orange eye right into Mai's face.

[You goad me at your peril, puny being! Now tell me what I want to know...]

"Alright... but there's not much to tell..."

The dragon's close stare continued at her as Mai recalled an instance of Lygawa submitting.

"Actually she did admit her defeat to me... once..."

[Do tell...]

The big dragon's eye blinked in place.

"It was after she snuck into my house, so I smacked her a few good times with a broom."

[Is that some special weapon I know not of?]

"No - it's generally used as a cleaning tool."

[What?!]

The bulkier dragon reeled back again, flapping the spiky tipped wings above its heavy body.

[Do not treat me as a fool human! Surely a mere house implement was not... enough...]

It stopped and looked away, possibly sensing something back towards the village. Suddenly the large reptile wrapped Mai up with the rough, red tail, plucking her from the ground and pulling her right to the nearest tree, before pressed her back up against the firm trunk's opposite side, while making sure the tail tip covered the human's mouth entirely.

[Remain quiet now, or I shall have to crush you!]

Mai could no longer see the creature, but felt it move its angle and position.

{Nullawhy!}

I think that's Lygawa's voice...

[So you sensed my presence... how keen you are.]

{Where is the human Nullawhy?}

Mai felt the ground and tree shudder from a nearby impact.

[Huh, what do you speak of?]

{Do not lie to me... I can clearly smell her sent, yes.}

I hope she means she smells the soap I use...

With the brief ruse up, the red dragon slowly slid Mai out from behind the tree, but kept a firm grip around her waist.

"Hi, is this a friend of yours Lygawa?"

Mai waved to the other dragon.

{An acquaintance... at best.}

[Oh, you flatter me.]

Lygawa was in her glorious 'true form', sleek and smooth, yet powerful and radiant - the perfect image of a majestic dragon from any fantasy game or show. Mai's current holder was much stockier, spiky, coarse and bulky, added with the clashing red, yellow and black colour scheme, this dragon was a much less 'polished' example.

{Now let her go...}

[Why are you so concerned for this lesser animal?]

Mai was wavered in the air lightly beside the bigger bodied reptile.

{Put her down and leave...}

Lygawa lowered her horned head and stamped forward a quick stride.

[Perhaps... I should do away with this tether that holds you here?]

Even Mai could feel the anger flare into the air, emitted from the irate silver dragon that returned her own threat.

{If any harm befalls her, your blood will coat this very ground!}

The red dragon lowered its own body down, flattening out more above the grass while bearing its many jagged teeth.

[Oh, such certainty from one who's never caused severe injuries before...]

Lygawa showed her sharp teeth too and spread her wings wide.

{Ha, I'll have you know; you live only because I've let you survive our little clashes, thus far...}

The red tail wrapping around Mai notably quivered.

While Lygawa kept her intimidating stance, the other crouched a little lower, before Mai found her feet touched the ground and the rough tail slip away.

[Fine, I... release it...]

Mai cautiously walked away from the large, still imposing dragon, as it gently sidestepped aside, but as she neared the silver one, Lygawa rushed over to loosely guard the human with her long neck protectively alongside Mai's body.

{Are you okay Mai?}

"Yeah, I'm all good."

The darker dragon watched on, but stayed still as Lygawa kept her green eyes focused on it.

Mai ran her hand gently along her neck, feeling the cool fine scales, far softer than expected under her fingers.

"Thanks for rescuing me. Come on, let's go back..."

The silver dragon lifted her neck, letting Mai continue to walk away.

[So you have been tamed by this lowly human -!]

This time Lygawa's rage almost appeared around her, as the very air wavered near her metallic body.

{Do I look tamed to you?}

Mai kept walking, a little more briskly, making sure to get clear of the colossal creatures, if they did come to blows, but while the sleek one looked ready to rumble, the other shied back again, not that it kept quiet about it though.

[I expected you'd crawl off under someone else's wing... but then again, it doesn't even have one of those either... so lame!]

The other dragon turned away to leave, and although a little underhanded, Lygawa had an opportunity to strike - and she instantly took it.

Firstly her tail swung round like a whip, cracking through the air and slapping the others flank with enough force to send it off balance. Next she leaned up high, while giving a swift and powerful kick from her back leg, catching the same side, with enough strength to set the other into the air and clear over the nearby trees. Out of sight it crashed loudly back into the forest beyond, failing to return to their sights again.

Content that the foe was dealt with, Lygawa shone bright, then in one great leap she reappeared in her mostly human form beside Mai again, looking worryingly at her.

"You are alright, yes?"

"Not a single scratch... see."

Lygawa took a good wide-eyed look over her whole body.

"Were you frightened then?"

The strong one held her hands before her with lingering concern, carefully watching Mai, till she gave her back a reassuring smile.

"No, actually - I knew you'd come."

Lygawa resumed her usual cheerful demeanour then.

"Shall we take a leisurely stroll home then?"

"...Sure, why not?"

"Oh, and we can take as long as we need to get back, yes, I took your cake out of the oven for you."

"Thanks again, I really appreciate everything you've done for me."

The silvery girl grinned even more.