leo-likes-books

[leo-likes-books]

hc that Kaz mourns all the dregs hes lost every night

[leo-likes-books]

Jesper and Jaskier would bond over their morally grey besties/crush

[leo-likes-books]

DRAGONS: CHOSEN

PART II

||It's the morning after the Choosing Ceremomy. Our Rider goes flying for the first time. But who is she? Ailill? Or someone else?||

《disclaimer - I am irish and pagan so this is loosely based on irish folklore (names etc.) My dragons are a mix between Chinese dragons and Western dragons. I'll have fun reels etc. on my Instagram leolikesbooks_ go follow (shameless plug there lol) 》 ENJOY!!! I wake up in my new bed the morning after Choosing Day. Every candidate moves into a new room the day after the Choosing. Riders get their own rooms, with a large balcony for the dragons to perch. Everyone who isn't Chosen moves to the training barracks, where they'll train for a year before joining the Ground Force.

I look out the glass doors to see a large, black dragon head resting on my balcony. I grin. Today is my first day as a Rider. Blackthorn chose me. I didn't even have to hear her say my name, I felt our connection inside the moment she looked at me.

My room is huge, at least three times larger than the room I shared with Bháin as a candidate. The walls are a pale purple and the furniture is dark grey all over. The bedding is so soft, I felt as though I was sleeping on clouds all night.

I cross the room and open the tall double doors to the balcony. Blackthorn blinks up at me. 'Is it morning already,' I hear her grumble in my head.

"Good morning, Blackthorn," I say to her out loud.

'Let's go for a fly before breakfast,' she responds.

"Are we allowed?"

'I say we are, so yes.'

I laugh at her. "Alright then, give me two minutes to gear up." We were given our riding equipment yesterday, after the Choosing. We have thick, leather wraps for our legs to give us good grip. The leggings are padded and fleeced for comfort and warmth. The top is thick and made of wool, with emergency wings attached, in case we fall. We wear goggles and a special mask to protect us from the wind and thin air. A thick hood was given to us as well, should we need it. Our gear was designed specifically for each of us to match our dragons, with pockets for our preferred weapons. I was given a quiver to match. My leggings are grey, while my top is purple. My gear is black with purple accents, all to match Blackthorn. I was also given new arrows, with purple feathers.

I dress and step back out onto the balcony. 'Are you ready yet?" Blackthorn grumbles. I grin in response and she allows me to climb on. I sit at the base of her neck, just before her wings. This is my first time flying a dragon. Of course, we did flight training as candidates, but to be on a real dragon is completely different.

She lifts off, and I can feel her muscles rippling with every movement she makes. I hold on tightly to the Rider's Horn, a barb right in front of me, sized perfectly for a Rider to hold. Blackthorn soars up above the House, where the Riders and dragons live and train. We rise until the clouds are right above my head. I cautiously take one hand of the barb and reach up to touch the clouds. Blackthorn looks back at me, smiling. I smile back at her. This is everything I could have imagined it would be. This is my dreams come true.

'Grip with your legs and let go. Trust me, Ailill,' I hear Blackthorn say.

I do trust her, I trust her with my life, and so I let go of the barb. I hold my hands out on either side and I holler with joy. Blackthorn joins me with a roar, as we glide over the sea. We dip down low, and we turn sideways. Blackthorn's wing and my hand trail through the water, spraying miat up behind us. I feel connected to Blackthorn, in a way I could have never imagined. It feels as though we're one. Every move she makes, I think it with her. We are seperate, and yet we are one.

[leo-likes-books]

DRAGONS: CHOSEN

PART I

||Ailill has been training for this day all her life. Her only dream is to be Chosen. To form a bond with a dragon and defend her home. Will her dreams come true?||

《disclaimer - I am irish and pagan so this is loosely based on irish folklore (names etc.) My dragons are a mix between Chinese dragons and Western dragons. I'll have a pronunciation guide on my Instagram leolikesbooks_. I'll also have fun reels etc. go follow (shameless plug there lol) 》

ENJOY!!!

For as long as I can remember, there have been dragons. And with them, dragon riders. I hope to join them today. I have been training for eight years. To be a dragon rider is the greatest honour one can be bestowed. Today is Choosing Day. There are seven dragons. And 23 candidates. On Choosing Day, the dragons see into our souls. They see who is worthy, who is good, and who is deserving. They see who is a dragon rider.

I make my way over to the cliff, where the Choosing will be. The Dragon Masters have a flair for the dramatics. My brother, Cormac, says the dragons will fly up the cliff face and "do a few whirls," as he says. I name the dragons in my head as I walk. Namashi, Blackthorn, Caracos, Lmain, Poir, Blijka and Helupos.

"Hey, look! It's Breallill!"

"Hello Carlos. You're looking awfully smug. Who did you scam this time?" I reply.

"You shouldn't encourage him, Ailill," Cormac says as he comes towards me.

"I can't help it, Cormac. He just gets on my nerves."

"I get it. Are you nervous about today? I sure am."

"Of course I am. You better not be Chosen and leave me alone."

"We go together, Ailill. Always," he replies.

We approach the cliff. My best friend, Bháin, joins us and we line up. Carlos and his group of friends show up. Soon, all the candidates are standing in two rows, looking out over the ocean. The Dragon Masters file in slowly. The Masters are 5 elders who were once legendary dragon riders.

"Welcome, candidates! Today seven of you will be chosen by the dragons to train with them, and defend our people against threats. Those dragons are: HELUPOS! CARACOS! POIR! BLACKTHORN! BLIJKA! NAMASHI! LMAIN!"

As the Master calls out their names, each dragon flys up and looks at us. Helupos is the oldest of the group. He's wise and has fought in many wars. Caracos is young and impulsive. Poir is the mother of many dragons. She and Helupos are mated. Blackthorn fought in the Last War. She's older than Caracos, but still young by dragon standards. Blijka, as far as I can tell, is a peacekeeper. He doesn't like to engage and prefers to stay away from the other dragons. Namashi is brave and reckless. She likes to know what's happening in the country. Lmain is intelligent. She prefers dragon speak, but can tell you of dragon history from the beginning, if you ask nicely. I wonder who shall be chosen by each dragon.

Poir, a small pink dragon, flies forward. I feel her gaze on me. I wonder what she sees. She looks at me only for a second before moving on to the next candidate, but it feels like an hour. "Laska," I hear the mother dragon say. I recognise the girl as she runs forward and places her forehead against Poir's snout. Laska is kind and friendly. She knows a lot about healing. Laska stands to the side and Poir moves back in line with the other dragons. The ceremony continues but I can tell neither are paying attention to anything but each other.

This time Helupos moves forward. Helupos is large and grey. His eyes are completely white, as he was blinded in the First War. He looks at all the candidates. I now know what it feels like, but it still takes me by surprise. "Harston." Harston is a good fighter. He towers over everyone. He steps forward and nods to Helupos, before joining Laska.

Blijka is next. He's a pale blue, so pale he looks almost white. He takes longer Choosing than the others. "Kara." Kara is shy. I've never spoken to her, other than a polite "good morning." She timidly steps forward and looks him in the eye. He nods slightly and she steps away.

Caracos flies forward now. He's large, and an angry red. His eyes look like flames. His gaze feels almost judgemental. He doesn't take long to call out a name. "Carlos." Carlos walks towards him smugly. And stands and looks at the dragon for a second before joining the others.

Namashi darts forward. She's also red, but it's a softer, more friendly red. Her underbelly is white, where Caracos' is the same colour as the rest of him. "Cormac!" My brother runs forward and throws his arms around her neck. They laugh together. I'm overjoyed for him. I just hope I can join him.

Lmain is small and blue. She takes longer looking at each of us. She says her riders name so quietly I can't hear it. But her rider can. Bháin walks forward and places her hand on Lmain's snout. "Hello, friend," I hear her whisper.

The final dragon flies forward. I'm nervous. Blackthorn is black all over, with purple underwings, eyes and tail-barb. Her face seems harsh, but her eyes are kind and she looks at us all. She opens her mouth.

[leo-likes-books]

Kaz: no one will know we were there until its too late *scheming face*

Kaz not long after: GET A TANK!!!

[leo-likes-books]

Nina would go to Belgium expecting everyone to eat strictly waffles and be so disappointed

[leo-likes-books]

Jesper would buy every instrument he sees and play very loudly and very badly whenever he sees kaz you cannot convince me otherwise

[leo-likes-books]

Jaskier really went hard in s2 huh

[leo-likes-books]

Yen: this is my boyfriend Geralt. And this is Geralt's boyfriend Jaskier.