Adapt

How could a human make it all the way into these mountains alone? Basan asked via mind-link, squinting warily at the glowing rune she and her companion Yukinba stood before.  This high, the mountains were generally considered the dragons' domain.  Even then, not every dragon found themselves suited for such high altitude and frosty temperatures.  The idea of a human hiking all the way to the top simply to carve a rune seemed audacious.

Yukinba turned toward Basan and rolled her golden eyes.  The truth was obvious to her, but then she had taken care to educate herself whereas Basan preferred to use brute force to get what she wanted.  

I know you are from that humid backwater to the south, Basan, so I will forgive your ignorance.  Yukinba spoke almost lovingly, as if to a hatchling.  Basan, although she knew she was being condescended to, craved the pale dragon's attention enough that she held her tongue.  It had not gone well earlier when she had back-talked.  In the cities, humans take dragons for their pets.  These sorry beasts are leashed.  They can never realize their full potential, and so they live a half-existence.  Hardly living at all, if you ask me.  

Basan blinked, perturbed.  She started to pace again, the concept disgusting to her.  Could a human really take something as mighty as a dragon for a pet?  Did they come in the shadow of darkness to raid nests?  Yukinba, though not normally a patient dragon, paused long enough to let the information sink in.  She rather liked watching Basan, all snow-covered and flustered.  A small smile tugged at the pale dragon's lips before she turned away, back towards the rune.

You see, Basan, such a pet would not object to carrying its rider to all sorts of locations humans ought not walk.  A slave, it has no choice in the matter, and worse its thoughts may not even be its own.  Humans sometimes attempt to bond with their dragon pets, though the end result is but a mockery of a true bond.  The result is an abomination.  Yukinba sighed, dragging a shining claw down the rune.  In the storm it will be difficult to track down a dragon.  Already the trail around this rune has become fully concealed.  Yet track it we must -- I will not tolerate such activity in my territory.

When they had initially been searching for the rune, Basan had doubted her usefulness.  Yukinba's mission had seemed like one she could easily accomplish on her own.  She was, after all, a remarkably independent dragon.  Now that the true scope of the task was revealed, however, Basan could not help but feel honored.  Yukinba trusted her enough to rely on her assistance to protect her home, the thing she valued most in the world?  Basan was not sure she could call herself the pale dragon's friend, but the idea of being so trusted made warmth stir in her heart.  She stilled her pacing at last to face Yukinba once more.

I will fight at your side, she assured the pale dragon.  The beast you speak of should be put out of its misery.  I will take pride in helping you bring about its end.

Yukinba smiled again, pressing the claws of one wing against Basan's cheek.  Again she was almost loving, practically buzzing with pleasure.  What pretty words from a savage, she hummed, sending her voice straight into Basan's mind with intent.  Basan, not experienced enough to block out such a link, felt every shift of emotion from the other dragon as if they were her own.  A shiver ran down her spine.

First, though, there is another we must find.  Yukinba pulled away, stretching her wings in preparation for flight.  Basan's heart suddenly sank.  She had thought it might be just the two of them on the task.  Her importance would be diminished by the presence of another.  Yukinba caught sight of her expression and laughed coldly.  Oh, don't look so pathetic.  Do you know these mountains like the back of your foot?  No?  Mulor does.

Mulor.  Basan was not familiar with the name, and it felt bitter the longer she focused upon it.  Don't YOU know these mountains well enough? she asked, desperately wracking her brain for a reason they could avoid looking for Mulor.  Yukinba leveled her with a withering look, so grave that Basan shrank physically away.

What a silly thing you are, Basan.  My territory is vast, but it does not take up the entire mountain range.  Mulor will be able to tell us from what direction the dragon entered.  She watches these things.  Such an attentive dragon...  Yukinba's words trailed off, her expression turning wistful.  It was all to get a rise out of Basan, of course, and she was not disappointed.

Pah.  You will regret the wasted time when this visit with Mulor yields nothing of use.  We should be tracking now, not yammering with some dragon who I'm sure would gladly snatch up your territory too given half a chance.

Yukinba snorted, amused.  You do an awful lot of yammering for someone who claims to tire of it so easily, you know.  

And with that, having gotten the last word, Yukinba flexed her webbed wings and launched straight into the air.  Basan had little choice but to follow after her, the mental link having been severed as soon as Yukinba took flight.  Her own feathered wings stretched wide, bringing her swiftly up and up despite the fierce wind howling through the mountain pass.  She wondered how Yukinba could stand the chill, so much worse in the air, when her hide was bare of any fur.  Basan's coat was thick and shaggy, yet the wind bit right through it into her bones.

They flew long past the time by which Basan became numb, her wings continuing to beat by instinct alone.  It was impossible to tell whether Yukinba was feeling the same.  The pale dragon seemed right at home in the icy skies, while Basan felt like her fur had become coated in the stuff.  The temptation to ask are we there yet? was painfully strong, but Basan could only groan in protest, the sound carried away by the gale before it ever reached Yukinba's ears.

Finally, finally, Yukinba started circling to descend.  Basan followed eagerly, though her movements were more erratic and clumsy in comparison.  Never before had she been so uneasy in the sky.  She felt almost drunk now, tipping this way and that.

Through the haze of snow the two gradually approached a mountain top.  As if expecting them, a specter of a dragon stood waiting, head tilted up.  Her feathered body shimmered with the changes in light each time the windblown snow picked up and died down again.  Mulor was an absolute vision, beautiful.  Basan's stomach sunk like lead with the realization.  There was something ethereal about this dragon, untouchable, a quality that Yukinba shared but Basan knew she herself lacked.

Yukinba landed in a cloud of snow some distance away from Mulor, taking care not to spray the other dragon.  Basan followed suit, though part of her wished she could have justified kicking up snow into the stranger's face.

Mulor, Yukinba reached out with her mind.  There was no guarantee that the primordial dragon would open a link to communicate, but the fact that she had even let them see her and approach was promising.  After a long silence, the link was made.

Speak, sister, Mulor's thoughts came in a scratchy, ancient tone.  Yukinba might have called herself The Snow Witch, but it was Mulor who sounded the part.  Basan watched the two quietly, all but biting her tongue and shifting from foot to foot.  The wind continued to whip around them, but both Mulor and Yukinba seemed unaffected by it.

A threat has encroached upon my territory.  A dragon which has been tamed by a human and is now kept as a slave.  Yukinba wasted no time getting to the point, only pausing briefly to let the information sink in.  I know you watch the skies, sister.  Have you seen such a one, carrying a human atop its back?

Mulor was silent for a long time, staring the two who had come to see her down all the while.  Basan found it unnerving, but Yukinba did not so much as flinch.  Apparently reaching a decision at last, Mulor nodded her head.  Indeed, I saw the pair approach from the east.  I wondered if they were merely passing through.  But if they have come to stay...

Yukinba snorted, raising her lip in a sneer.  Stay, indeed.  The human has left unsettling evidence behind.  He is in search of something in these mountains, something to use for dark purposes.  There was a rune, glowing.  The pale dragon quickly drew the rune in the snow with her claw from memory, Mulor watching all the while.  

Ah.  Mulor looked up at the sky, face turned utterly world-weary.  In that case, I shall come with you to face this pair.

WHAT? Basan butted in, taking several strides forward.  Yukinba flicked her tail at the imperial dragon testily, a warning.  Basan only looked over, hesitated a moment, and then shook her head.  We... appreciate your direction, but you need not concern yourself, Mulor.  A single human and a dragon.  Yukinba and I are perfectly capable of battling these two on our own.

A ghost of emotion passed over Mulor's face, perhaps amusement, but it was gone too fast to be sure.  Protective, hmm?  Basan felt her face flush hot, while Yukinba rolled her eyes.  I am afraid your skills are irrelevant.  A threat of dark magic in these mountains concerns me as much as it does Yukinba.  I shall go with you.  They passed over some time ago, and it is very likely they will soon hide themselves away and be impossible to find.  Tuck your pride away for now.  Company has never cheered me, but for this I will persevere.

Basan closed her mouth with a click of teeth, huffing air through her nostrils.  Mulor and Yukinba were both too pragmatic to argue properly with.  No emotion colored the primordial's words.  It was all so matter-of-fact.  Yukinba nodded her head swiftly, obviously in agreement and ready to carry on.  Basan wanted to say more, but again there was nothing for it.  What could she say?  She was not from this area.  Her decision to assist Yukinba was born of a desire to impress, and further argument would undoubtedly ruin the progress she had made on that front.

This way, Mulor urged.  After a running leap she took flight and immediately began circling upwards.  Yukinba followed suit, and then -- more reluctantly -- came Basan.  The latter did not especially fancy flying an indeterminate distance in the biting cold yet again, and grumbled all the way.  They made good progress this time, however.  Mulor really did know the mountains incredibly well, navigating them with practiced ease even with the snowstorm obscuring much of the terrain below.

The intruders, when they circled down for the fourth time and caught sight of them at last, did not look particularly impressive.  They were perched upon a ridge, a feathered umber dragon and the tiny shivering form of a human behind it.  Both looked a bit like they were in over their heads.  When they caught sight of the three dragons circling overhead the human visibly flinched and the umber's gaze shot sharply skyward.  The roar that escaped its jaws was a desperate one.  Not willing to engage on the ridge, it took its now-yelling human master up in its jaws by the back of his leather armor and attempted to make a break for it.

Catching Yukinba's eye, Basan forgot the cold and her irritable mood.  This was her favorite part of any hunt: the chase.  Seeing her excitement echoed in the pale dragon's gaze, too, was exhilarating.

Hurry, Mulor's voice breached their thoughts.  Urging them forward, she led the charge as they swooped after the fleeing umber.  Their quarry was clearly exhausted, wings jerking hard with each flap.  Basan dove aggressively at it, snapping playfully at its wings and plucking a few feathers out.  She could not resist teasing the beast, which would need to land soon if it wanted to avoid plummeting to its death along with its master.

Apparently reaching the same conclusion, the umber let itself descend and crashed into a nearby snowbank.  It dropped its master, who scrambled upright as best he could.  He clutched a dagger in each hand, but he certainly did not look like he was in fighting condition.  Dirty and worn, he had great bruised dark circles beneath his eyes and was shaking like a leaf.

Basan, Yukinba, and Mulor landed in a semi-circle surrounding the pair.  They had backed themselves up against a sheer cliff-face without means of escape.  Yukinba let out a guttural laugh at the sight of the daggers.  Basan snapped her jaws, weaving back and forth before the pair to intimidate them.  Mulor was quiet and still, watching carefully.

The umber dragon lunged to stand in front of his more vulnerable master.  A dark shadowy energy began pooling in his jaws, leaking out like ichor.  

How brave, Yukinba scoffed, glancing in amusement at Basan.  The joke, of course, was that neither believed the dragon before them had enough autonomy left to feel much of anything.  They thought it a puppet, unthinking but for its master's desires.  That master in his panicked state would of course use his pet as a shield to protect himself.

Consequently, it came as no shock when despite Basan's aggressive behavior, it was the umber who struck first.  His master had backed up against a rock, trying to make himself small.  The umber snarled, lunging at Basan with a quick bite before backtracking to make sure his master was protected on all sides.  Basan lost a few feathers of her own in that moment, but she retaliated by lashing out with the claws of her feet, striking the air as the umber retreated.

Make it quick, Mulor told her two companions, nodding gravely.  She pressed closer, Yukinba quickly doing the same.  A sadness settled in the primordial's eyes.  There was little honor in three facing down one dragon and one seemingly ambitious but powerless human.  There was no point to making them suffer.

Basan had other ideas, however.  She continued her playful nipping and clawing, driving the umber into a frothing, truly beastial state.  Yukinba seemed torn.  She clearly enjoyed Basan's antics -- they were a large part of the reason she had asked the imperial dragon to join her -- but she also wanted to impress Mulor, who was looking  more and more troubled by the minute.  

Yukinba finally made the decision to go in for a killing blow when the umber staggered, its already-depleted energy fully flattening out.  Its breath came in choking, wheezing gasps.  The human was curled to make himself as small as possible, his daggers forgotten in the snow.  Just as Yukinba moved to stand over the umber, however, her jaws poised to strike, Mulor's voice rose up:

Wait.  Leave him.  I see no evidence of corruption.

Yukinba was already salivating, and Basan whipped around to glare at Mulor on her behalf.  You say so now?  No.  No!  If you have no stomach for this, leave now.

Mulor would not be dissuaded.  She let out a low growl and shook her head once, with finality.  Leave him, Yukinba.

Torn, Yukinba stared heavily down at the beast before her.  It was not even trying to fight back at this point, its eyes turned towards its master with an obvious love.  Love and sorrow in equal measures.  The umber was near death, but in its final moments it did not look relieved at the prospect of being freed from its mockery of a bond.  It had not fought robotically either, in the way one would expect on a thrall.  

Finish him, Yukinba! Basan's voice broke through Yukinba's thoughts in sharp contrast to Mulor.  Finish him, or if you cannot, I will.

Yet Yukinba hesitated.  She felt frozen, even as Basan started to move in herself...