The blood of witches ran through her veins and with it came the curses and blesses associated with it. She knew well what three-fold harm would do to her should she seek to harm or kill an ancient and majestic beast such as a dragon. But the challenge had not required she pit her strength against something so grand.
With that in mind she summoned the electrical energy, picturing the currents and twining them about her, braiding them together into a rope and using it to yank her to her destination: the Southern Glen, reputed home of dragons.
Immediately upon arriving she was greeted with the sight of a powerful and massive silver dragoness lazily basking on a stone near the lake, tail twitching. Curiosity would bring the great head around to eye the young witch and she would gulp back a swallow at the proximity to such ancient power. She knew nervous energy was radiating off of her in waves and she desperately sought an approach that would place her in a favorable light, but she only managed a weak, ?umm...hello.?
The Shimmerscale Matriarch flared her nostrils as she caught the young woman?s scent. She?d offer a rumble of, perhaps, welcome. Taking it as such, Tia?tari would approach on soft steps, careful to keep the spelled shield in place should the dragon grow irritated with her boldness, ?I?m sorry to bother you, but I... I need your assistance.?
?Aye? what sort o assistance, lass?? The dragon would question with an arching of an eye ridge.
"I was told that the dragons kept a graveyard ... a cemetery if you will...where they bury their dead.?
Two young dragons would gallivant free from the lair and down the path drawing the flicker of serious grey eyes. She hoped that she did not offend with her questions.
Despite the alien nature of the dragon?s features it was clear that her question had brought a solemnity to the creature that had not been there before, ?why woul' ye be askin o sacred grounds??
As she brought her gaze back from the youthful antics of the young dragons fairly prepared to lie about her intents she found herself nose to snout with the beast and floundered, ?It's for scholarly purposes.. a better understanding..,? the boring gaze would dry her throat shut ?..of..of.of. of...dragons.?
The dragon would wait for her to expand on her explanation and Tia would debate her options and weighed the truth, the lie, or the varnished tale a mix of both. As if reading her body language easily the dragoness would reply, ?Ah'd recommend the truth, lass..? The words were soft, but held a slight edge to them.
She?d answer with truth after another uncomfortable swallow, ?I don't really know, to be honest, I was set upon a quest for proving myself. I need to recover a dragon's bone but I could never seek to harm so majestic a creature and the only thing I could think of was perhaps finding one that was no longer needed.? She blanched and hastily continued, ?I realize that might mean desecration and...?
Rows of dagger-like teeth were exposed in a smile as Moon Lyght laughed at the young woman. It was a beautiful sound, but one that frightened Tia within an inch of her life, ?I am so sorry. I shouldn't have come here... I shouldn't have asked such a thing.?
And with a suddenness that astounded, the silver dragoness stood abruptly and turned tail, with a growled, ?Come with me.?
Tia froze and contemplated fleeing, but curiosity (the bane of her existence), and the dragon?s commanding presence would win over her fear and self preservation. Following the silvery form through the Southern Glen she was oblivious to the beautiful scenery that unfolded before her.
She was unsure how long they traveled, lost in contemplation of the dragoness herself, and upon cresting a small rise, they would come to a stop. The silvery form settling back on its haunches like a majestic cat, tail coiling sedately around her taloned feet as she waited.
Upon reaching the top, Tia could only stare in wondered awe at the valley that spread out before her. A gesture of her great horned head to the small valley below, where there was tick brush that had in many places been trodden down by the great beast herself, the ground was littered with shed scales, a few broken claws and the occasional horn, Unlike mast dragons hers ocasionally fell of to regenerate anew. The dragoness eyed the girl: ?Ah'll nae take ye tae th' graves, but might this do??
Tia felt a flare of hope, a flash of something excited as she surveyed the littered valley with avid eyes, ?I appreciate this! I do! Most sincerely!? Her gaze flying from one discarded talon to another, searching, seeking her prize.
Moon Lyght watched the girl as she searched through the cast off scales and such: ?Ah'll ask ye ah favor in return, Tia'tari? Her tone was not harsh, but she sounded stern at the same time.
Tia paused, frightened eyes flashing back to Moon Lyght, as she considered the boon a dragon might ask of her before slowly nodding.
?Dinna allow another soul tae learn o' this place. there be those who woul' use such thin' fer ill.?
Tia sighed at the request as this she could do easily enough, her head whipping in a quick nod of agreement, ?of course, I won't.. I will excavate what I need by myself so as not to reveal its location as you wish.?
?Ye will alow yerself tae be bound?? This query held a curious note, hinting magic would be involved.
Tia?tari paused, she was familiar enough with the arcane to know what Moon Lyght requested was more than a simple word from her, those nervous grey eyes would narrow slightly as she weighed her answer considerably before nodding again. ?You have my bound word that I will tell no one of this location, nor willingly allow myself to be followed. This location shall forever be my secret to hold.?
Moon Lyght reared up, her wings splayed in an awesome display of power. The great dragoness inhaled and aimed her maw at the girl exhaling a torrent of black flames, and the world went dark. They now seemed to be just the two of them floating in space, though their feet would be firmly on the earth. ?Swear it upon pain o death, lass? Came the resoundingly echoed request.
She would stumble back from the majestic display, nearly falling to her knees but able to right herself, a deeply sharp inhale dragged in as she sought to ignore the urge to flee from the darkness, drawing her chin up she'd manage a firm if slightly soft response, ?I swear upon pain of death.?
The girl would, upon swearing, feel the light sensation as if being tied by invisible ribbons, not uncomfortably, but irrevocable. The world righted itself and she would appear unchanged, but be bound.
Tia released a shuddery sigh as the world righted itself, and a shift of her shoulders as she felt the ties to her essence binding her to her word and her promise to Moon Lyght. To deliver the location of this place to any would result in her immediate death and the thought was a frighteningly heavy one.
?Take yer bone then, lass,? The words would rumble out with a nod of approval.
?Thank you Dragoness.? Her slender body descending into a curtsy reserved for royalty.
?Moon. mah name be Moon.?
Tia?tari would give a shy smile, ?Moon...? obviously a little surprised to be on such familiar terms with such a magical and ancient creature.
Moon Lyght smiled back: ?Take care, little one tae use wisely what ye 'ave.?
?Yes, Yes Moon. I will.? Nodding and moving toward that slope and the valley that beckons, pausing long enough to whisper an arcane spell to cloak her location so that none may simply find her and therefore the location.
She would descend upon the valley and eye the upcoming work with a weighted glance, she was in for a long excavation but she felt comfortable in her choice of actions, even with the bound weight of Moon Lyght's arcane oath upon her.
((Chat logs sent to Arkon))
((Thank you Moon Lyght for the assistance! ;) ))