Dododex

ARK: Survival Evolved & Ascended Companion

Pandora

• Chapter 4 •

Bria jerked awake with a small gasp, her lilac eyes opening wide. The memory of her nightmare quickly faded, and she looked over her ledge to see Pandora sleeping below her.

She rubbed the back of her wrist over the side of her head, breathing out a small sigh, her thoughts still fuzzy with sleep. She looked down at her wing and talon for a long moment, turning it over slightly.

There was a flash of blood in her vision, and she blinked quickly. Then it was gone.

A noise caught her attention. She turned her head, hearing a muffled scuffling about outside. She quietly hopped down and padded towards the entrance before climbing outside, tipping her head as she listened for the sound.

“Great Vardiland,” A Wyvern was cursing.

She poked her head into the dim light of early dawn to see a Lightning Wyvern with his talon and wing caught tightly in a crevice in the ground. He looked up and spotted Bria, dark blue eyes blinking. “Oh– hey there,” He said, quickly acting normal, his wing twisting uncomfortably as he straightened.

“You need help?” Bria asked, pulling herself out of the entranceway.

“...Yes,” He admitted lamely.

She huffed in amusement and went over to him. She stopped and bent her neck down, using her own wings to push at his. He hissed through his teeth and pulled as she pushed, before his claws scraped free and he pulled it upwards. The Wyvern exhaled quickly in relief, bringing his gaze up to her. “Thankyou!”

“No problem,” Bria said.

“Hey, you’re… Pandora’s sister, right?” He asked.

“Is that really my label nowadays?” Bria asked wryly, her tail twitching.

“Ah. Sorry.” He said. He straightened once more and held out his scraped talon to her. “I’m Rainstone. But you can call me Rain, I guess. I hope you’ll take my formal introduction as a sincere apology for wasting your time and forgetting your name.”

“No need to apologize,” She said with a smile. “I’m Bria.” She lifted one wing and locked her claws momentarily with his in a small shake.

Rainstone’s scales were dark gray with bits of black and blue, like a heavy stormcloud. He looked about her age, nearly an adult with a lean build. He let out a quiet trill as she said her name. “Nice to meet you, Bria.”

Wyerns began emerging from up and around the ravine, taking in the fresh and cold air of the morning. Rainstone fluffed his wings slightly. “I heard you were made a hunter recently. What’s it like? Have you met Toxin yet?”

She let out a small huff of amusement, flicking her tail. “Not yet, no. You know King Toxin enough to know that’s the last thing he’d be interested in doing. Maybe soon, though.”

He nodded, smiling slightly at her words. She continued on, sitting down as she spoke. “And it’s great so far.”

“What’s the inside of the palace look like?” He asked.

“Simple. Mostly just wood and glass and some abstract art. They’ve changed it up a bit.”

“Nice. I used to sneak inside it all the time when I was younger,” he admitted with a small breath of laughter, small fangs gleaming. “It sounds great now. Being a hunter must be cool. I… Your father was a great one, by the way.”

Bria’s smile faded a bit. She felt a small pang in her heart at the mention of her father. “He was.”

“It was sad to hear when he died in that landslide,” He went on gently.

“No need to bring it up.” Bria said with a small shake of her head. She turned and looked up at the mountains, their edges tipped with sunlight as the morning grew. “The sun’s rising quickly. I should get going.”

“Oh. Of course.” Rainstone said.

She lifted her wings to take off, pausing to look at Rainstone. “It was really great talking with you, Rain.”

“It’d be nice to talk again sometime if you like,” He suggested with a small smile.

“Yeah. If I have time.” Bria said, before lifting herself into the air.

She smiled silently as she flew upwards over the ravine, having liked her conversation with the Lightning Wyvern. She’d have to tell Pandora about him when she got back.

She spread her wings wide as she soared over the tip of the palace. The sky was clear above her. She looked down at the corners of the structure, before spotting a far away form of a dragon on one of the balconies, pacing back and forth and speaking to what seemed to be another Wyvern.

“There’s Toxin,'' said a voice from behind. She heard wings flapping and immediately recognized the pigeon-like colors of General Forn as he flew up to her side. “Seems to be talking with the one and only Poison General herself! Hm. How are you doing, Bria?”

“Good,” Bria answered.

“Shall we get on with it?”

She nodded, following after him as he dived towards the group of Wyverns waiting outside the palace. She landed with a thud and lifted her head, ready for today.