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The original was posted on /r/hfy by /u/Undercover_Dragon1 on 2025-07-05 20:03:14+00:00.
First off I want to thank everyone for their patience! Last week I got hit with something really nasty and I was sick for the entire week. I am thankfully feeling much better and I hope you enjoy this weeks chapter!
— Chapter 44 —
It was declared that they would eat, celebrate, and sleep before pressing on towards the Queen’s lair and the destination that David dreaded most. Their celebration had been in excess as was a dragon’s way. The kobolds, and dragons all spent the morning catching, hunting, and bringing back their prey to share. The concept was alien to most of the dragons but Geloa had insisted they all spend a moment in appreciation for life. The massive wurm was almost sentimental about it but David didn’t get the opportunity to press him about it in private.
David focused primarily on consuming a massive Armadillo-Bear body that Serth had brought back. His belly ached and bulged and before long he rather loudly, and dramatically “acted” out loud. A few of the other dragons gave him a curious look and David’s confidence dropped a bit, but luck was on his side as his prompt hit him again at that moment.
Growth imminent. Advised to move to a safe location.
His mind and body fought once more as he pushed back against the growth. His body shook and trembled as he slowly but surely held it back. He had become fairly familiar with the routine to hold back the growth now, which made it easier, but on the other hand he could tell that he wouldn’t be able to push back forever. He had a time limit if he liked it or not.
“Onyx… you have reached your next growth?” Hissed out Serth. David blinked in surprise as he realized the massive wyvern was hovering over him.
“Yes. There was a trait I could not turn down and my body is telling me it is time.” David cautiously replied.
Serth was very clearly mad and frustrated as he snarled but nodded his head, “The Queen will not be happy. I did not believe you were close and she will blame me…”
Serth turned away and continued to murmur to himself in frustration. Serth’s temperament was not as volatile as Maunsi’docar’s at least, but David’s plan had still upset the much larger wyvern. David sighed a bit and hoped it was enough though to help expedite his way as far as possible away from the Queen when the time came.
“Praise be to your growth.” Usag chirped over at David and was soon followed by Amber with another congratulations.
“Usag still has many cycles before reaching growth. Many traits still to absorb. Did not realize Onyx was older, but you are very wise so naturally should have been obvious to Usag.” Usag continued and David simply offered the dragon equivalent of a smile and a nod. David mused about the fact that he was probably significantly younger than Usag but didn’t want to hurt the poor dragon’s ego. What made him absorb traits and grow quicker than most? Was the process not as obvious to the others? Did his Otherworldly property give him an understanding they seemed to lack? David wasn’t certain but maybe one day he could ask a dragon he knew he could trust these questions.
They finished their celebrations and with an expedited haste, most likely caused by David, they headed back towards the Queen’s lair. Serth led the way with what remained of their initial group, the twelve was now four. Kandrem and Geloa left their separate way and took what remained of the kobolds with them; only four dozen remained of the initial hundreds. They flew hard and steady but took breaks and slept appropriately. Sleeping was surprisingly rough on David as his evolution seemed to creep into his dreams and it made fighting against the consistent prompts harder and harder. After endless days with little talk their trip was rewarded with a familiar crossroads in the distance.
The massive valley’s scent hit David long before they even sighted it in the distance. The putrid rot, burned flesh, and undeniable smell of disease was overpowering. By the time they came upon the valley all of the dragon’s heads were screaming in pain from the overwhelming smell, and tears were welled up in everyone’s eyes.
“The smell is overwhelming. The battle must have been long and hard…” Rumbled Onyx as they soared over the crossroads. The corpses were endlessly diverse and there were still some twitching movements below. The sea of corpses grew denser the further they flew till they approached a familiar but vastly changed wall. The massive wall of crude stone that Ambass and David had started was now covered in bodies. Massive piles of corpses acted like stairs and created bridges over the trench dug in front of the wall. Some piles were so large that they even connected to the top at many different points throughout the wall’s length. Despite how bad it appeared there was movement still below. The group dived downwards slowly and were rewarded with a spry little dragon that quickly darted upwards to meet them.
David couldn’t help but grin as he spotted Ambass approaching, “You look awful there, Ambass.”
The sinister hiss of Ambass filled the air as the battered and tired fey dragon eyed up the group, “You have no idea little Onyx. Now… tell me? You were successful, yes? The dead have slowed.”
The massive wyvern nodded his head with a grin, “The traitor is dead. We have lost many, Maunsi’docar included, but the Queen will be happy.”
Ambass snickered, “The arrogant youngster fell huh? How unfortunate… Moving on to her Majesty?”
Serth simply nodded his massive head as he shared a look of mutual understanding between the two.
Ambass spoke up again, “Can I borrow Onyx for a bit? We could use his talents just in case more dead come before we are relieved.”
Serth seemed to debate for a moment but sighed and offered a firm nod before looking at Onyx, “We are scheduled to rest anyway. Onyx you may use your affinity as you deem.”
“I will help.” David responded as he dived downwards. His curiosity and desire to see his old squad was worth the delay, even if he would pay the price later in more headaches. The view closer up was as expected and they had clearly fought for their lives and the security of the valley. Bodies of the living dead and countless wyrmlings, wyrms, and even a few lesser varieties of dragon were scattered around.
“Master!” Beamed a small kobold as David landed nearby. He couldn’t help but offer a warm smile down at Emerald.
“I am glad to see you are still alive. Where are Okraz, Ari, Serthic and Slath? What about Shooter?” David asked curiously.
Emerald’s warm smile subsided a bit, “Okraz was injured badly. Ari and Slath are both okay but resting. Not sure about Serthic but Shooter is okay. They didn’t stop Master. They were endless.”
David nodded his head and leaned down to press his head against Emerald’s. They both stood there in silence for a long moment before they were interrupted by Ambass a moment later.
“Oh my… careful now little Onyx. Some might see that as weakness. Come now I will show you to the injured.” Ambass hissed out in his usual sinister laugh before turning and floating away towards a makeshift stone building in the distance.
David simply shook his head as he gave Emerald one last nod, “Remember the directions I told you?”
Emerald nodded swiftly.
“Good. Things are going to change fast after this so you and Okraz need to be ready. Good luck Emerald.” David rumbled as he turned to follow Ambass.
The makeshift building was clearly inspired by the wall and while crude it was sufficient to house a whole cohort of wounded, bleeding dragons of a wide variety. David glanced at Ambass who simply replied, “The Queen needs her children functional. She will be thankful for this.”
David sighed a bit as he stepped forward and primed his affinity.
The healing took a few hours and by the end of it David’s reserves were down to a single charge. Okraz and the other dragons all packed inside the hut were sufficiently healed that they would all survive at least, and that was the best David could do without losing anyone. Their wounds were all brutal and many had infections from the foul rotten bits of the dead. He did make sure to give Okraz a bit more attention than the others but left before she woke up.
Serth and the others had settled nearby while David worked so were sufficiently rested by the time he found them. Ambass had left long ago to return to his guard duties overseeing the wall. The group left just as quickly as they arrived and David unfortunately wasn’t even able to see anyone else before they resumed their hurried flight.
The winds and currents seemed to be on their side that evening as they drove on with a rapid pace. As they settled for the night they were close to the Queens mountain and the anticipation was giving David anxiety. Serth and the others seemed to be on edge too as they laid together and David took a chance.
“Serth…” David quietly rumbled to the large wyvern nearby, “Why do you serve her majesty?”
The massive wyvern opened a singular eye and stared at David with a long gaze before answering, “Ambass said you were a thinker. Dangerous questions result only in dangerous answers for both of us. We all are born from her and have the honor of growing alongside her.”
David could feel the tension building …
Content cut off. Read original on https://old.reddit.com/r/HFY/comments/1lsiq0t/a_draconic_rebirth_chapter_44/
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