Chapter Text
The flap of wings signal that Presentation has ended and therefore so has Cath’s nap.
It is possibly his least favorite day of the year after Threashing. Too many humans that think they can select their dragon. And that was high on the list of things that irritated Cath. And he had been extra irritable as of late.
The reds who agreed to bond this year swoop back into their den. One by one landing with thuds that shake the ground beneath Cath's head. Out of all the caves in the Vale, this is the hottest. And, in Cath’s opinion, the nicest. Not that the dragons spend a lot of time in den’s that aren’t their own.
Cath has a lot of time to appreciate the den as of late. Unless he has an obligation with his rider, he's spent every waking daylight hour in the cave system claimed by the red dragons. It is expansive, veins of tunnels connecting large caves to each other. Fires scattered among the various larger chambers. Most reds are spending the last tolerable days outside before winter sets in, giving Cath plenty of alone time.
As the returning red dragons settle into places, Laiser, one of the den elder, opens his mouth and lets forth a fireball to commence the meeting that follows every Presentation Day. Cath doesn’t need to be present but he’s got a spot by his favorite fire and he won’t give that up for anything.
Across from him, a dragon with a scarred wing curls up near his fire. Of all the members of his den, Thoirt had always been the one who got under his scales most. No one else would be so bold as to attempt to share a fire with Cath. Younger than him by a decade, she is small by dragon standards. But what she lacks in size, she makes up for in stubbornness.
“Those who are choosing to bond, I trust that you will select riders that will make our den proud.” Laiser surveys them all with a glare so intense some of the younger dragons draw back. Cath’s sire cuts an impressive figure, even in his old age. “Remember. Each dragon is free to do as they wish. But not at the expense of Empyrean secrets. Some of you may select riders who already know about the true nature of their war.”
The tension in the room grows thick. The most recent reminder of the Dark Ones still haunts them. A pang of sadness flows through Cath that he feels down to his talons.
“That is your right.” Laiser continues in a disapproving tone that betrays his true feelings. Among the Empyrean, he is one of the strongest voices for staying behind the wards. Of maintaining their safety. Cath sees the wisdom in his father’s viewpoint. “But you are not to inform your riders if they do not already possess the knowledge.”
The small strawberry red’s tail flicks. Cath’s eyes narrow. He knows Thoirt can see his disapproval at the open display of disdain.
It is not any one dragon's place to reveal the existence of venin. When the human rebellion ended, it was part of the agreement for accepting the rebellious dragons back into their dens. It was to protect them all, to establish order.
“Tomorrow, after you bond, you will go to the flight field. The humans will ask for a name, you are to give them one. Be it your true name or a false one, that is your choice. But you are not to disgrace our den.” The elder finishes before retreating further into the cave system. He did not spare a look for his offspring.
Thoirt stretches lazily, unbothered by their elder's warnings. Her fearsome talons leaving marks in the ground.
“You’re going to bond this year?” It is difficult to imagine her flying in formation with a riot.
“I am.” Thoirt said, tilting her head. “Is that a problem for you, Cath?”
“What changed?” A small portion of dragons refuse to ever take a rider. They claim to want no part in human affairs, to enjoy their freedom. For a while she loudly proclaimed to be one of them.
“The sister of Deigh's rider has presented herself.” Thoirt’s tail flicks lazily. “She is mine.”
Cath lets out a huff. He knew of whom Thoirt was referring to. It is seemingly impossible for his rider to tear his eyes away from that human woman. Whenever Dain looked at her too long, which was often, their bond had been flooded with a strange mix of guilt and something else. Something Cath had never felt before. It was a soft feeling but it burnt when examined too long.
“Do as you wish.” It did settle something in him to know that a dragon had claimed the girl. Though he had wished it would’ve been with a less reckless red. But truly, the human tempest that is Sloane Mairi and Thoirt are a perfect match.
“Oh, I intend to. Tell me, Cath, do you still feel as though staying behinds the wards is the path forward?” Thoirt is picking at a wound and she knows it.
“My rider and I are already flying patrols.” Something he knows the smaller dragon already knew. That despite his sorrow, Cath was maintaining his responsibilities to the den and dragonkind by keeping the enemy away.
But yes. The stability of the wards is valuable. If Deigh had stayed behind the wards, he would still be with them.
“Yes…but how long till you run into a horde of Dark Ones? What will your memory thief do then?”
Cath showed her his rows of teeth in warning. “Reconsider how you speak of my rider. He did was he believed was honorable and in the best interest of his den.”
“I’m sure Deigh found great comfort in that.” The cave seems to grow quieter at her words.
White hot anger flows through Cath. A cloud of steam blows over Thoirt. It is another warning she ignores. “I speak the truth. The time is coming for us all to take action. Which side will you be on? The honorable one or the cowardly one?”
For the first time in many many hours Cath stands, drawing up to his full height. There is no doubt that every single dragon in the den is watching their exchange now.
“You forget yourself.” His words are not bellowed as they once might have been. Cath is still a red and his temper is well-known. But the months of grief have worn him down.
Thoirt matches his stance. While she is at least a head shorter than him, she is not intimated by him. “Wallowing doesn’t suit you.” She takes a step closer to him. Those yellow eyes reflect the fire burning next to them. “Deigh wouldn’t want this.”
All of the fight leaves him with her final words. In lieu of a response, he just stalks out of their cave. Past the other dragons around their fires, he can feel their eyes following him. The autumn air is harsh against his scales after the comfortable heat of his cave. But he could not tolerate another moment of Thoirt.
As if he could sense his dragon’s distress, Dain choose that moment to lower his shields. ‘Cath?’
‘Yes, Wingleader?’ He did not know what others called their riders. But he knew of the importance of rank to his bonded. He can feel the spark of joy each time Dain was called it.
‘Presentation seemed to go well on the human end.’ The anxiety that had been plaguing his bonded seems to have subsided but another negative emotion lingers. One that he knows all too well.
‘And on the dragon side.’ Cath will not reveal more details and Dain knows better than to push.
‘Good. That’s good.’ Through the bond, Cath can see that Dain is sitting alone in the mess hall. And staring at a group of first years that include Thoirt’s future rider. He sees how Dain tracks the curve of her lips as she smiles at something a comrade says. That soft feeling returns to the bond.
‘You have prepared them all as best you can for Threshing. Now you have to trust that they can handle the rest.’ Cath echoes his advice from last year. He pauses for a beat before adding ‘You have done well, Wingleader.’
He feels his rider’s gratefulness through the bond. The loneliness he was feeling seems to have gone too. It is mutual.
Frequently the only thing lightening his mood is seeing Dain excel at his wingleader duties. It is proof that no matter what errors his rider has done in the past, he can still make amends. Dain has taken to giving the Mairi girl special combat training and he gave her extra attention during Gauntlet preparation. All out of misplaced guilt but it is admirable.
Perhaps it’s the bond, but he cannot blame his rider for revealing the information to his sire. He is all too aware of Dain’s deep desire to please his father, to prove himself. To do what he thinks is right while maintaining order. It is after all, one of the reasons he choose the human.
Cath settles in a small clearing in the Vale. He keeps the bond open, his only source of comfort. There are too many rocks and soon it will be too cold to spend the nights here. But he hasn’t been able to be in the den at dusk when the rest of the dragons gather.
Nights in the den feel incomplete since his brother died.
They had been close once. Sharing an egg will do that. But then Deigh's rider joined the rebellion and he left Cath. As an unbonded dragon, Cath was free to do what he wished. He choose his den. At the time, he thought being on opposing sides of the same conflict and the rift that followed was the worst experience of his life.
Now he knows better.
The cracks in their relationship have calcified forever. Never to improve. It’s felt as though part of his soul has been lost. It was a pain only comparable to losing a bonded rider. As if every scale has been ripped off him, leaving him exposed.
The grief has been paralyzing. A weigh that has made getting up difficult, let alone flight. He did his best to hide it from Dain but he can tell the human worried. Cath was impatient to return to resting, often cutting the post-flight checks short. He's withdrawing from others, neglecting his hygiene, sleeping too much.
As loathe as he is to admit it, Thoirt is correct. Deigh would not want to see him like this. And this is not a sustainable way to carry his grief.
'You will let me decide where we patrol during Threshing.' Cath feels Dain's surprise at the sudden order. Usually the dragon is indifferent and will to defer to the human commands. It’s simpler. The structure and order providing clarity as human and dragon navigate this delicate process.
'Cath, our orders are-” “I care not. The route of our supervision will be decided by me. You will trust my judgment on this.'
He feels the returning flicker of anxiety from his bonded. But Dain does not press the issue.
Deigh was one who took care of his own. And that would've extended to his rider’s little sister. Tomorrow, Cath will ensure that she bonds safely.