The Exiled Dragon
Black Griffon

Creed

"You promised, remember?" Odessa's hands rubbed my chest, parting my unshaven chest hair. My hands cupped her cheeks, kissing her forehead, then touching it with my own. "I've never broken one, not to you."

"Yeah, well, don't do it anytime soon either or you'll be in big trouble!" She chastised.

"Trouble? What happens when I get in trouble?" My heart hurt to think she would be angry with me. Her worried face faded, a smile appearing.

"You won't replace out as long as you keep your promise."

We stood on a large platform that could have been meant for dragons or maybe large squadrons of faes and fairies to land and depart on. Amora stood by Nicholas. They whispered into each other's ears. Amora's dragon was yet to fly long distances, so she would stay behind us and ride in our wind-stream.

Amora was nervous. Her dragon pranced in her body stronger than it ever had done before. She wanted to see light from Adam's eyes leave this world and Nicholas and I would be the ones to grant it.

"Come now, Nessa. The quicker he leaves, the quicker he returns." Daine pulled one arm of my Fawn. Her hand reached out, touching every inch until our fingertips finally left each other.

"I love you," she mouthed. "Don't forget me." She worried so much that I would forget her, but my dragon never would. Whatever this powder, this dust that dares to break memories would not waver what I knew. That I was Odessa's mate and that I would seek revenge for Amora, my mother, and stepfather, who also died unjustly.

"She will be safe," King Orion stepped up. "She's stronger than even you think," he whispered, staring at several fae gearing up for the flight. Orion was sending scouts to intercept the werewolves that Sadie had already ordered to be present for the altercation. They would have to know of my father's possible arrival and to keep a keen look at the situation with memory powder. Wolves would be no match for my father, let alone the dragons in the tribe.

"Her dragon is bringing back the magic," he whispered. "She may never have the fight in her as you do, but her dragon brings all things lost from long ago." I nodded, now understanding why he was looking at her so intently just the day before.

"She's in safe hands. Return with honor." Orion slapped my back, having me look at him wide-eyed. Did he just slap me?

"Ready?" Odessa looked longingly at me once more as the three of us let our smoke engulf us. Black for me, navy for Nicholas, and light green for Amora. Our dragons reared their heads back, roaring loudly a battle cry that could be heard for miles. If Adam was lucky, maybe he could prepare himself.

"Now Nessa, you need to explain to me why a hot, smokin' dragon man can talk. Tangle wouldn't let me open my mouth yesterday and it's killing me!" Daine pulled Odessa away from the platform, but her eyes didn't leave my body until we took to the sky.

The skies were cloudy this day, not usual for the Light Kingdom. The gods must sense the despair of the blood that will be shed amongst the tribe. Three dragons alone fighting an entire tribe looked like madness, but two bonded male dragons that were strong before the mating would prove just. There was a reason Adam kept us in the dark, why he did not kill us before our memories or bond blocked magic. It was because he could not kill us.

Our hides thick, scales impenetrable. He would suffer. We would let the whole tribe watch as he crumbles at our claws. The elders would not be far behind. Each one, even the ones that knew of whispering of what was happening, would be destroyed by being mute.

The winds picked up as we neared the mountain. The snows of the north had filtered down into the valley in which the tribe stood. Thick flakes brushed along our scales, large gusts of wind blew by, causing Amora to hang back further. Nicholas, being a fit mate for her, stayed behind while I led the front.

Three large strokes of my wings, a burst of feathers hit my side, causing my dragon to roll on our backs, the rocky cliffs coming closer. Nipping at the large talons around the base of my neck, an eagle's cry left a black beak. His eyes were red, thirsting for blood, his head as large as mine if not bigger. The beast was massive, its hindquarters already trying to latch on to my hind legs.

Letting out a fire, burnt feathers wafted through the air. The black eagle's screams had me wince at the severity. My teeth latched onto its neck, rolling the beast with me, hitting the jagged rocks of the cliff. The three talon claws held me by the neck, shaking my head to get rid of the black spots in my vision. I gained my first look.

Its long furred tail with a plume of fur shook behind him. Feathered wings continued to flap, pushing me deeper into the rocks while they rolled onto me. Gripping my neck with its talons, I growled.

"Let me go!" Shaking about, my dragon grew in frustration. My belly, consumed by fire, rumbled inside my body to let it out. Never in my life had I been pinned, except for the day I lost my voice. Today would be different. I would not let this predator win.

I realized the feathers, the fur, and the eagle-like head, the same description my mother had given me of my father. "You!" My dragon let out a purr. The griffon's eyes softened upon hearing my plea.

"Father?" I purred again, the vibrations reverberating through the rock and his chest. "Mate to Ondi, I am your son Creed." My body relaxed, thinking my father would let me go, but he didn't. His grip tightens, his beak now trying to peck out my eyes.

"NO!" I growled, using all the strength in me. Silver dust exploded from my scales, causing my father's beast to choke.

"You seek revenge?" My dragon emotions rattled through my chest. The bond was growing between us. I could feel his anger, sadness, the deepest emotions one should not have to feel for another person. Again, my dragon lets out its strong purr, the same comfort that it gives my Fawn when she is upset. A whimper left the beak of my father. Its claws barely hang on to the cliffs.

My taloned wings grabbed hold just before he let himself fall down the side of the highest mountain before we met the Toboki tribe. Nicholas and Amora sat perched on a nearby cliff, watching the interaction. Amora's dragon pranced, wanting to fly to me, but Nicholas understood what had to be done.

I need to speak with him, not fight. My own emotion rolled down into his body, his bird's head leaping up to mine. The spark of realization had his eyes filter back to black as he clawed his way to the cliff where we could perch.

My dragon hung back, waiting for my Father to gain his senses. For a griffon, he was a beautiful creature. However, he was gaunt, his ribs showing and his feathers misplaced or no longer growing back. A large scar ran down his face, the same scar I had before Odessa. Clipping his beak several times, smoke plumed around him until he was in his full human form.

It was true. I looked just like my father. His thick black hair was braided down to his lower back, his long beard decorated with beads, braids, and silver cuffs. His body was dirty, the cloak he wore only to cover his nakedness was covered in blood.

Feeling no more threat, my dragon willingly shifted for me. My human body now stood in front of my father, the last blood I have on this world. "Creed?" His ragged voice shook. "Y-you didn't?" Shaking my head, not understanding his statement, he came forward, putting both hands on my shoulders.

"You didn't kill your mother?" I growled.

"I would never do such a thing," I snapped, showing my fangs. He wept. He pulled me into his embrace, patting me on the back.

"I don't know what happened, my blood, my hatchling." Gripping my father's back tightly, he heaved a heavy breath. "I awoke, like I 'ad stayed in a dream. She called for me 'ery night, I do not know who she be? Then, I saw 'er, plain as the light one night. She called me, called for me to wake up and replace 'ye." His grip grew tighter when I tried to pull back. Staying, my dragon purred heavily into him, his griffon cooing the same.

"I found 'er tribe. The boy said she were dead. That 'ya kill'ed her." My fists tightened, my grip becoming unbearably tight upon his shoulders. My father's tears dripped down my now bloodied back. "I didn't believe e'm, Ondi said 'yer waiting fer me, but de bastard, he threw this dust." Growling, he pushed me away, not letting go of my shoulders.

"But then I felt 'ya. I felt ya here," he patted his chest. "Yer dragon is part griffon, da feathers, yer talons on yer wings. Yer my hatchling." His hands were placed on both of my cheeks. "My hatchling." His forehead met mine. "But I need te' know. Who killed 'yer mother, my mate?!" My fangs lengthened, his feathers plumed down his back, half shifting.

"Adam, the boy Alpha." Our beasts spoke with each other, growling, mourning for the time lost. He had lost my childhood, he lost his mate all while he was under the deep spell, keeping him away for all these years.

Father's feathers retracted, his face softening, his hands falling from my shoulders. He swayed until I pulled him to my side so he could lean on me. Nicholas and Amora flew quickly, shifting and helping me get us all to a shelter.

The fight with Adam and the elders was put on hold. My father, who was lying in a makeshift nest, grumbled as he slept. Amora had caught several deer. Nicholas and I dressed the meat, so we were ready to eat. We had little time. The sun was now passing mid-day and the wolves would expect us.

"What do you want us to do, Alpha?" My head whipped at Nicholas like I had been bitten by a snake. "It's true, you are the next Alpha." Shaking my head, I threw the knife in the slab of meat.

"I will not be alpha," I grumbled. Amora's hand touched the back of mine. "You are next in line," she murmured. "You and Odessa."

"I. Will. Not. Be. Alpha," growling for the first time at Amora. The pained look had me regretting my words, but I was to be no alpha.

"Too many hurtful memories." I cut the meat, dipping it back in its own blood, trying to feed my father. He took it gladly in his sleep, chewing and swallowing almost whole. "I wish for a peaceful life with Odessa. I do not want to be a leader of a tribe that shunned me, hated and belittled me, even if it was under some black magic." My father finished half the deer meat, his face already getting color.

"I just want to live peacefully, away from it all. Odessa seems to want the same." I smiled at that, just her and I on the outskirts of the tribe. Only coming in for our fledglings to attend lessons or maybe barter. Living within the tribe, being one with the tribe, was no longer an option.

My father groaned. He sat up with his eyes blinking like those of a bird. "Son?" I walked towards him, sitting next to the nest. "You passed out. We brought you here. We have to kill Adam and get back." Standing, father pulled my hand. "You 'ave to tell me how the magic broke before, how I 'membered." I sighed, sitting back down.

"I found my mate," I chuckled. "Once we bonded, it broke the spell and whatever spell that was tied to me, which was part of you because we are blood." Father's dirty face widened.

"Yer mate," he sighed. "I've missed much." he ran his hand through his hair. "I'm glad ya have bonded," his smile faded. "Wish I was with yer mother though. She weaves the tendons of mah heart." He rubbed his chest longing. "She wishes it too. She told me about you, to come to replace you. Worried that you would kill the tribe," Father scoffed.

"She knew me so well," he sighed. "After only a moon cycle of knowing 'er."

"You stalked her though," I laughed. Father's face turned red.

"She knew I watched her bathe? She told ya that?" I let out a loud laugh. Nicholas and Amora watch the interaction, only smiling at both of us.

"Yes, she did. She loves you, loves you still. She is waiting for you." Father hummed, rubbing his face.

"I will have no other than 'er. I know dat." The burden on my chest lifted. Hearing that he would wait for her too, not taking on another mate, but what a life it would be, a long one at that, if he just kept on living.

"I'll 'elp get rid of Adam and who 'e're responsible for this mess. Then I'm leavin', hatchling. I'm leaving to meet yer mother. You have yer mate, and I crave mine."

The first reaction I wanted to argue. My dragon did as well. Now that I had someone, a family member that was my blood and would not cast me aside and love me because I was a part of them, engorged my heart. Now, just moments after meeting him, telling him what happened to his mate, he wanted to leave and disregard his son.

Then I think of how his eyes lit up when I told him I had a mate. He didn't get his chance. I was conceived out of a bond, a miracle in itself in the ways of dragon biology. Having Odessa was the greatest gift, she was my everything. I could not imagine living a day without her, and here my father was, now waking up to replace out he had a mate all along, who died at the hands of another dragon.

I couldn't beg him to stay as much as I wanted, because I would do the same. If my fledglings all had mates, I would leave too if something happened to my precious mate.

Amora looked longingly at both of us. The heat of her stare had me wishing Odessa was here, to hear her words. She spoke about how happy her father was now that he was united with his mate he never met when she was alive. They are now with each other between the awake and the dreams.

"Alright," I put my hand on his knee. "If that is your wish."