October First. It's Threshing day. My leg is bouncing as I sit with Imogen at the table. " You'll be fine, you're badass, any dragon will bond with you." Imogen pointed out. " Yeah, but what if-" I felt a tap on my leg, and I looked down to see a shadow holding out a white rose. I let out a laugh and let my eyes travel to Xaden, who winked at me. " Oooo, what did lover boy send you?" Imogen craned her neck, but I hid the rose. " Nothing for you, nosy. Quinn, control your girlfriend." I teased. " Please, Quinn knows I'm the dominant one." Imogen gave me a pointed look, and I gagged. " Ew, Imogen, nasty." I gagged. " Like you've never fucked someone before." She snorted. I smiled, getting up. " Bye Imogen." I gave Quinn a wink and left to go sit next to Sawyer. " Oh yeah, Threshing!" Ridoc whooped. I grimaced, and Lana started yanking my hair back, braiding it. Once she was done, I handed her the white rose. I could feel her stare, but she said nothing and tucked it in securely. " Let's go!" We leave and start to walk a small hike, and I can't help my laugh as Ridoc upchucks this morning's breakfast. " Which one are you going for?" Lana whispers to me. " I don't know." I sigh. Lana grins. " Well, I saw this Red one I think liked me." She smiled hopefully. " Just be careful, ok?" I told her, concern filling my voice. " I will, don't worry." She smiled. "If you go in groups, you're more likely to be incinerated than bonded," Professor Kaori argues with someone near the center of the valley. "The scribes have run the statistics. You're better off on your own." "And what if we aren't chosen by dinner?" a man with a short beard to my left asks.
Barlowe looks straight at me and draws a line across his neck. I flip him off, scoffing. "If you're not chosen by nightfall, there's a problem," Professor Kaori responds, his thick mustache turned down at the ends. "You'll be brought out by a professor or senior leadership, so don't give up and think we've forgotten about you." He checks his pocket watch. "Remember to spread out and use every foot of this valley to your advantage. It's nine, which means they should be flying in any minute now. The only other words I have for you are 'good luck.'" He nods, sweeping his gaze over the crowd of us with such intensity that I know he'll be able to re-create this moment in a projection. Then he leaves, marching up the hill to our right and disappearing into the trees.
My mind spins. This is it. Ride... or be forgotten and an embarrassment.
"Be careful." Lana pulls me into a hug, her braids swinging over my shoulder as she tightens her arms around me. "You too." I squeeze her back and am immediately swept into another pair of arms. "Don't die," Ridoc orders. I laugh. " Same to you." Sawyer is the last to say goodbye, squeezing me tightly. " Be careful, okay Rosie?" He demands. " Of course Sawyer. I swear." I promise, and we part pathes. I can hear the rushing water coming from deeper into the forest, and I go sit by the water on the stones, peacefully mediating. I hear a jaw click, and I turn around to see a purple and white dragon. I gape. " You must be the hybrid." I remember. I scramble up. " Listen to me right now, young dragon. Go, and find somewhere to hide, there are people-" The bushes move, and loud voices come. " Where is it?" " We have to kill it now." " It's only a liability." Barlowe emerges from the trees, Oren and Tynan flanking him. Barlowe's eyes narrow on me. " Oh look, the two weakest links. Now we can kill both off. I take my sword from my belt and twirl it, stepping in front of the hybrid. " You might want to use fire now." I hiss at it, but it doesn't move. " Do you not any fire?" I groan. I feel a tingling in my back, and I don't have to glance to know it's Xaden. "I would strongly recommend you rethink your actions," a voice—his voice—demands from across the field to my right. Sgaeyl lets out a terrifying roar, and I couldn't be happier. Until I'm not. My hopes sink, and I slump a little bit. " There's nothing you can do, right? Wingleader?" Jack bellows. "It's not me you should worry about today," Xaden responds and Sgaeyl tilts her head, nothing but menace in her eyes when I glance over.
" You're really going to attack a squadmate?" I ask flatly, even though I know the outcome. "Squads don't mean shit today," he seethes, menace curling his lips into a sinister smile. "you should really be flying." I toss over my shoulder again, and the golden dragon chuffs low in its throat in response. "Great. Well, if you can back me up with those claws, I'd really appreciate it." It chuffs twice, and I spare a glance down at its claws. Or should I say...paws. "Oh, fucking hell. You don't have any claws?" Barlowe roars a battle cry, and I don't hesitate to stab the tip of my sword into his shoulder, making him cry out in pain and collapse. But Oren and Tynan have charged at the same time, and they're almost on me. I twirl, blocking Oren's attack with my sword and side stepping and kicking Tynan. Oren recovers quickly and swings for my ribs. I do a crescent kick and the knife he's holding fly's out of his hand. "She's destroyed my shoulder!" Jack cries, stumbling to his feet and distracting the others. "I can't move it!" He clutches the joint, and I grin. " That's what happens when you have brain cells." I smirk. "You know exactly where to strike."
"Kill her!" Jack orders, still clutching his shoulder as he backs away a few steps, then turns and runs in the opposite direction, disappearing into the tree line in no time. " That's right, BITCH-" A slice to arm makes me focus back in as I slam my sword towards Tynan's head, but he blocks, and we're stuck there for a second, battling back and forth with strength. " Behind you!" Xaden's shouts, and I kick backwards, making Oren stumble back. I slam my sword down on his head, and I hear a sickening crack before he falls to the ground, unconscious. "You can't interfere!" Tynan shouts at Xaden, but I don't dare look away from him. "No, but I can narrate," Xaden retorts. I smirk. " You're sliced, Sorrengail." Tynan hisses. " Wow, I couldn't tell." I glare sarcastically. He kicks my stomach, and my sword goes flying. Just as Tynan reaches up to two-hand his sword, preparing for a killing blow, I catch a glimpse of movement to my right. It's Xaden. And rules be damned, he steps forward as though he intends to stop Tynan from killing me. It's the split second that gives me long enough to knee him in the groin, and force his head down. " I will be the last think you ever see before I fucking murder you." I growl, taking my knife, and throwing him back. Tynan lets out a blood curling scream, and I stab the knife in him too many times to count.
That's enough, White One.
I look up and nearly scream myself. The biggest white dragon is towering over me. " Holy shit-" This cannot be happening.
It is happening.
Think of a color. Blue!
Blue.
Favorite food! Ice Cream.
Ice Cream.
Worst nightmare?
Hippopotamus riding a bicycle.
He just chuckles.
Thank you, Rhoswen Sorrengail.
It bowed. It freaking. Bowed. TO ME. ME, of ALL people!
" Thank me for what?" I squeak.
This is my child.
I gape. " AWWWW!!!" I squeal, and the child yips happily, rolling around.
Her name is Khione, and she want's to bond to you.
My mouth drops even further.
" But you're talking to me, which means...."
Which means I've chosen you, yes. But I trust you, and I would prefer if my child not be bonded to some stranger.
I just nodded.
Now come on, Rhoswen-
" Uh, Rose or Rosie please." I wince. He just chuckles.
Sure, Rose. My name is Glaciesvernaderr, but call me Glacies.
" Ok..." I muttered. " Let me try something." I waited and reached out in my mind, and I felt the shimmering bond between me and Glacies.
Is there a barrier between us and the third and second years?
No White One, why?
I immediately stopped and bolted over to Sgaeyl, who put out her leg. I wrapped myself around her leg, giving our version of a hug.
You did well, little one.
A soft female voice said. I looked up at Sgaeyl. " D-Did-" Sgaeyl nodded.
I can hear you and talk to you.
" But how?" I muttered.
She is my mate.
I shrieked. " Sgaeyl!" I gasped, than ran around, jumping and squealing.
I've never seen a rider this bouncy. Glacies mused.
I glared at him.
Get on than, White One.
Listen, I know that's I'm white, but-
Heavens child, I know what race you are, now get on my back.
" Geez, sorry." I glared, than ran up his leg. seating myself perfectly. " Good form." He mused. " Well, I was taught by the best." I looked over at Xaden, and then I realized. " Oh shit." I mumbled. He grinned. " Fuck. If Sgaeyl and Glacies are mates, and I'm connected Sgaeyl, then-"
Hello there, flower.
I screamed. " No!!" I whined. Glacies snorted. That's what I said when I found out who she bonded too. I couldn't help but laugh at that.
Xaden glared at us.
Do you know how to ride?
I nodded.
Good. Here we go.
Glacies lifted off, and we spiraled into the air.
You know, my first rider was your great great grandfather.
My jaw dropped. " Wait, that means-" Glacies chuckled.
Yes, You have three signets.
Hello there! A small voice chirped.
I whipped my head around to see the hybrid.
Hello Khione.
What's your name?
My name is Rosie.
Hang on tight, White one. Before we land, I will tell you, my full name is Glaciesvernaderr, son of Burlacul and Viostoton, decended from the powerful Varnish Line.
I blinked. Woah.
Hang on tight, we're going to put on a show.
I squeeze all my muscles tighter, and we do a series of twirls, flips and spins before we land in a field. I suck in a breath. There are tons of dragons. "They are divided between those still in the quadrant who chose in years past and those who chose today," Glacies tells me. "We are the seventy-first bond to enter the fields." My heart drops. My mother will be here. " Your mother will not touch you, or I will rip all the skin from her bones." Glacies growls. I can't help but smile. People shriek and run as we land. I grin as I see the shocked faces of everyone. " ROSE!" I look to see Lana. " LANA!" I slip of Glacies, and run to her. I knock her over, and we fall on the ground. " Holy shit Rose, look at you!" Lana gasped, and we stumbled up. " Did you bond?" I ask, worried. Lana nodded, proud. " A green, her names Verte." I squealed at Lana's dragon, who bowed to me.
Why are they bowing to me?
You will all see in time, Young one.
" Holy hell!" A rider exclaims. I turn to him. " Is that-" " Yep." I grin, patting Glacies. My side stings, and I look down to see red dripping down my side. " Oops." I wince, and we walk across the field. "Is that really—" Commandant Panchek starts, hovering at the edge of the dais with more than a dozen other uniformed, high-ranking officers, all gaping. "Don't say it," Mom hisses, her eyes on Glacies, not me. "Not until she does." I roll my eyes. " Glaciesvernaderr." I state. "I can't believe he bonded. Rose, he's a legend." I nod, and I keep my head held high. " And Daggernech." I nearly throw up. " Rhoswen? Are you all right?" " And Daggernech." I croak. " Two dragons?" She gawks. I nod, and holy heavens, I've never seen that many people scream.