165 Lost but Not Alone
Prompt: 165 Lost but Not Alone
Universe: tevin_rasku; Original.
Genre(s): fantasy
Rating: PG/PG-13
Warnings: Mention of blood and death.
Word Count: 882
A/N: I hope this isn't too late to be considered for the monthly favorite contest. If not, yay, if so, oh well. I'd appreciate comments on it anyway.
The kid was dying. He could feel it with every wheezing breath that was inhaled and the warm liquid that continued to drip off his hand.
Teoti grit his teeth and held Tevin closer to him, his free hand curling around to block the wind. At this speed it would have blinded Tevin and Teoti doubted it would be good for him now that he was so… He was dying.
Even the crazy man hadn’t tried to take over, which had never happened before. The thing had taken every moment of Tevin’s weakness to try and take over.
If the thing in the kid wasn’t trying to take over it meant that he was lost. After all they had been through the kid was going to die. And that man had done it. He had been the only source of human companionship for Tevin and now he had just tossed him away. Teoti had always doubted that Jeccem meant what he said to Tevin. No man could give such encouraging words and then never touch the kid. Never smile except in that way that exuded such arrogance. He had only seen Tevin as a tool and when he thought the tool was broken, he had disposed of him.
But the kid wasn’t broken, he couldn’t be. Sure, the thing in his head had made him seem crazy every once in a while, but Teoti had glimpsed that voice, and anyone would sound mad having to deal with that all the time. Tevin was resilient, Teoti never doubted that. The kid had only tried to be the best tool for Jeccem-- he had only tried to please him.
He beat his wings even faster and ignored the protest from his muscles. Flying fast to escape had never been a problem, but this was a farther distance and he felt an aching within himself. The blood had slowed, or perhaps there was simply no more left in Tevin to flow out. The fields far, far below were still those of the rural farms; they were only halfway there. Teoti scanned his surroundings with a quick twist of his head and sneered. Empty skies: Jeccem hadn’t even tried to finish them off.
He thought Tevin was dead, then. Which could work to their advantage, a sneak attack would be that much easier.
But the kid had to survive.
Even as he rushed through the dawn skies images came to Teoti’s mind: a world without Tevin. It would not be any less green then, the skies would still be there to roam. Food would be there, only he would have to hunt for himself. There would be no scraps from Tevin’s meager cooking, or whatever the Tugar rebel cooks had prepared.
He would be alone. None of the rebels would listen to him; they wouldn’t be listening for his thoughts. They would hear him roar, certainly, but that would only sound like a threat to them.
Teoti lowered his eyes at the thought. He would be nothing more than a wild beast to them: something to scare off or tame.
And he ached at the thought of it. The kid was all he had - Tevin had been everything to him and until now he had only made disparaging commentaries of the mission they would run or the poor quality of the food or the weather. He had never realized how he felt so alone.
What would they do now? What would he do if Tevin did not survive? There were no stories that he could remember ever hearing about a dragon going from captivity to the great wilderness. It simply did not happen. Or, none of the dragons he had spoken to knew of it.
He was certainly not going back to the Guild. They killed his kind once they grew too old and they would take away his mind again, if they would even let him approach. Guaranteed meals and shelter were nice, but he would never give up his own mind. Not when he still drew breath.
The fields had disappeared and become forests, the leafy treetops covering the landscape. Teoti lifted his gaze to the mountain far ahead, his destination. He could make it that far, that would not be difficult. But he would have to slow down, or push his body to a limit he had not ever gone past. The kid had never asked so much of him, it had never been necessary. But Tevin was silent and still - had he stopped breathing? Teoti jerked in surprise and lifted the kid into his view, ducking his head down to see him.
There was so much blood, but he could see the barest movement of Tevin’s chest. Yes, he was still alive. And while he was still alive, there was still hope of a future. He turned back to flying to the Tugar base and clutched Tevin tighter. There would be no way to know what lay ahead of them, but whatever it was had to be kinder than a life alone-- one without the kid in it.
Teoti stretched his neck farther to keep himself more streamlined and breathed deeper. Every second would count--he was the only hope Tevin had of survival. And he would survive. They would both survive.
Universe: tevin_rasku; Original.
Genre(s): fantasy
Rating: PG/PG-13
Warnings: Mention of blood and death.
Word Count: 882
A/N: I hope this isn't too late to be considered for the monthly favorite contest. If not, yay, if so, oh well. I'd appreciate comments on it anyway.
The kid was dying. He could feel it with every wheezing breath that was inhaled and the warm liquid that continued to drip off his hand.
Teoti grit his teeth and held Tevin closer to him, his free hand curling around to block the wind. At this speed it would have blinded Tevin and Teoti doubted it would be good for him now that he was so… He was dying.
Even the crazy man hadn’t tried to take over, which had never happened before. The thing had taken every moment of Tevin’s weakness to try and take over.
If the thing in the kid wasn’t trying to take over it meant that he was lost. After all they had been through the kid was going to die. And that man had done it. He had been the only source of human companionship for Tevin and now he had just tossed him away. Teoti had always doubted that Jeccem meant what he said to Tevin. No man could give such encouraging words and then never touch the kid. Never smile except in that way that exuded such arrogance. He had only seen Tevin as a tool and when he thought the tool was broken, he had disposed of him.
But the kid wasn’t broken, he couldn’t be. Sure, the thing in his head had made him seem crazy every once in a while, but Teoti had glimpsed that voice, and anyone would sound mad having to deal with that all the time. Tevin was resilient, Teoti never doubted that. The kid had only tried to be the best tool for Jeccem-- he had only tried to please him.
He beat his wings even faster and ignored the protest from his muscles. Flying fast to escape had never been a problem, but this was a farther distance and he felt an aching within himself. The blood had slowed, or perhaps there was simply no more left in Tevin to flow out. The fields far, far below were still those of the rural farms; they were only halfway there. Teoti scanned his surroundings with a quick twist of his head and sneered. Empty skies: Jeccem hadn’t even tried to finish them off.
He thought Tevin was dead, then. Which could work to their advantage, a sneak attack would be that much easier.
But the kid had to survive.
Even as he rushed through the dawn skies images came to Teoti’s mind: a world without Tevin. It would not be any less green then, the skies would still be there to roam. Food would be there, only he would have to hunt for himself. There would be no scraps from Tevin’s meager cooking, or whatever the Tugar rebel cooks had prepared.
He would be alone. None of the rebels would listen to him; they wouldn’t be listening for his thoughts. They would hear him roar, certainly, but that would only sound like a threat to them.
Teoti lowered his eyes at the thought. He would be nothing more than a wild beast to them: something to scare off or tame.
And he ached at the thought of it. The kid was all he had - Tevin had been everything to him and until now he had only made disparaging commentaries of the mission they would run or the poor quality of the food or the weather. He had never realized how he felt so alone.
What would they do now? What would he do if Tevin did not survive? There were no stories that he could remember ever hearing about a dragon going from captivity to the great wilderness. It simply did not happen. Or, none of the dragons he had spoken to knew of it.
He was certainly not going back to the Guild. They killed his kind once they grew too old and they would take away his mind again, if they would even let him approach. Guaranteed meals and shelter were nice, but he would never give up his own mind. Not when he still drew breath.
The fields had disappeared and become forests, the leafy treetops covering the landscape. Teoti lifted his gaze to the mountain far ahead, his destination. He could make it that far, that would not be difficult. But he would have to slow down, or push his body to a limit he had not ever gone past. The kid had never asked so much of him, it had never been necessary. But Tevin was silent and still - had he stopped breathing? Teoti jerked in surprise and lifted the kid into his view, ducking his head down to see him.
There was so much blood, but he could see the barest movement of Tevin’s chest. Yes, he was still alive. And while he was still alive, there was still hope of a future. He turned back to flying to the Tugar base and clutched Tevin tighter. There would be no way to know what lay ahead of them, but whatever it was had to be kinder than a life alone-- one without the kid in it.
Teoti stretched his neck farther to keep himself more streamlined and breathed deeper. Every second would count--he was the only hope Tevin had of survival. And he would survive. They would both survive.