The thrumming of the drums in her ears seemed so distant, despite them pounding in her chest. Or was that her heart? Her feathers bristled when she realized, she couldn’t tell the difference.
No dragon had made her feel this way in so long. It was not fear that made her this unsure, but rather, a kinship.
All the way across the ring, she could see the strong frame of Feuriah opposite of her. The smaller Shire was staring at her, holding herself with such strength and confidence that it made Athrenna’s chest swell with both pride, and sorrow. Soon, this ring would be drenched in blood, and she knew she would have to give this battle her all. Her all could possibly bring down the very dragoness the Queen had taken into Kurosia as a whelp. Athrenna blinked, and remembered the tiny little dragon child flapping her tired wings before her, staring at her with such shock and awe.
Now, she was her opponent. Now, one of them would fall, the other, stand as Queen of all Kuros.
Athrenna felt a knot in her throat. All the other females that tried to take her throne, or become her King, had been easy to fight. Females she had admired, males she challenged to dare rule alongside her. Feuriah…. had always been different to her. Not a daughter, not a lover. One she had spent a hundred years pushing to her limits, seeing if that this strange dragon would be the one to finally take her place. Seeing her grow into such a strong warrior made her feel that strange pride, but it also brought her a pain she never thought she’d feel.
Could she do this? Her jaw clenched hard, but she fought to keep her composure. Of course she could, she had to. She had wanted this in time, didn’t she? Athrenna saw Feuriah stretch her wings, flapping them a few times before shaking her horned head. Athrenna narrowed her eyes. Feuriah was just as torn over this, wasn’t she? Was she taking it seriously? Or was this a test, for her? To see her potential? No, that would be foolish. This battle was no test. It would bring her shame if she planned on walking away from this fight, not truly giving it her all. All dragons of Kurosia knew the fight to rule often lead to death. While it was not the goal to kill the other, it was to prove their strength, their wit, with all they had. This, would often kill a dragon, as it was more honorable to die than to walk away with the shame of losing.
Would she have to kill Feuriah? After all these years, giving the purple and black dragoness all the chances to gain experience and knowledge? Athrenna snorted a cloud of vapor before her in thought. Was the younger dragoness ready for such a crown? Was… Athrenna ready? Her options were so few; either she would walk away from this ring having killed the one dragon she had sunk so much time and effort into, or it would be her flying to the Veil beneath Bhailu’s magnificent wings.
Horns bellowed into the air, and the drums picked up in pace. Dragons roared and screeched with anticipation, filling the air with so much song Athrenna could hardly think. She closed her eyes and breathed. This, was it. Kurosia would have a change, or it would continue with her guidance. Feuriah let out a challenging roar above the music, breathing a jet of purple flame into the air. Athrenna unhinged her own jaw and roared back, spraying the air with a mist and twists of sparkling water. The challenge was accepted, and now, it was time to see if Feuriah was ready for her throne. The crowd began chanting, thumping their tail spades against one another, ready to see if they would bow to a new, stronger Queen. Athrenna took in a deep breath, letting her people’s song fill her. This battle wasn’t about her, it wasn’t about Feuriah. It was about Kurosia. It was about it’s people.
The horns played once more, and Athrenna launched herself forward. Her talons dug into the stone as Feuriah did the same, racing toward her with determined, narrowed eyes. Athrenna pushed out all the love and pride she felt for her opponent. The two mighty dragonesses reared onto their hind legs, roaring with their fangs bared and wings spread wide. As their chests clashed with a thundering CRACK, and their metal talons entangled into each other’s scales. The battle for Queenship began, and Athrenna gave herself into the flurry of water, fury, fangs, and blood.
I don’t think a drawing, or a short response would give this justice, so really short story it is! I want to dig into writing a bit more, despite me not being the best at, well, writing in general. Apologies for grammer mistakes and infamous spelling mistakes too, but I wanted to get this out while I was inspired to do it! I hope it was entertaining ^u^ also been listening to that song a LOT lately and imagining dragons preparing to fight, what a perfect excuse to write to it!
~Weird Hyenas
Weirdlanders 