#briilokven

[cruisingheightswithdragons]

These prompts are really fun to think about, so I ended up writing some more with Dah’ni!

1. An encounter with a dragon

A brisk wind drifted through the air, messing up the tidy fur that Dah’ni had so carefully brushed through that morning. Hissing with annoyance, they unsheathed their claws and combed through the ruffs of fur on their cheeks.

“Agh, and I had just fixed up my hair, too…” From behind the khajiit, the nord Lydia sighed from the sight of her disheveled brunette hair that clung to her steel armor.

Another khajiit, Kharjo, slowed his pace with the other two in order to be just behind Lydia. “Perhaps it would be best to put it in a braid, yes?” Taking off steel plated gauntlets and placing them perched underneath his arm, his grey furred hands combed through Lydia’s hair, pulling it out into three equal pieces before tossing them together into a braid.

“Thank you.” Lydia glanced back at the taller cat with a grateful look painting her eyes. “I’m afraid that autumn in Skyrim is always windy.”

Dah’ni couldn’t help but let out a smile seeing the two of them get along. At this point, Kharjo had only been with the team for a week, and was still getting acclimated to the ways of the dovahkiin and their housecarl. However, it seemed as though he was starting to warm up, which Dah’ni appreciated. A hot feeling surfaced, blooming in their stomach and moving to their face, as if by a comforting fire. Behind their dense coat of pale fur, Dah’ni could feel heat flushing their cheeks.

Shaking away the sudden feeling, the khajiit perked their ears forward, listening for anything that may lay ahead as the trio travelled down a mountain path in the Rift. The air was still, and no birds sand their songs as they passed orange-leaved trees. It was oddly quiet, which made Dah’ni wonder.

A shadow zipped overhead, casting the amber grasses in brief darkness before letting the sun shine on them once more. Their fur stood on end, bristling their tail to twice its size as Dah’ni looked up at the sky. For one destined to slay dragons, the sight of one always struck fear into the dragonborn’s heart.

Kharjo brought out his sword, and Lydia her battle axe. Dah’ni readied their war axe as well as soon as the dragon landed just in front of the party. Dust bellowed outward from the impact of the lizard’s weight, catching in Dah’ni’s eyes. They blinked, but held their ground, ready to take on the foe.

Strangely, the dragon did not attack. Now that Dah’ni could get a decent look at it, the dovah was actually much smaller than the others they have fought, only about half the size. It’s smooth scales were small and tightly packed, shining a brilliantly deep purple, with amethyst eyes to match. It had no horns, instead it was equipped with fins like a blood dragon, letting Dah’ni know what type it was.

It let out a voice, expectantly higher pitched than an average dragon. “Which one of you is dovahkiin?” It asked.

Dah’ni tensed, keeping their firm stance, they tightened their grip on their weapon. “This one!” They growled. How odd it was that the dragon could not sense its own kind within the khajiit. They felt their dragon blood course through their veins, their heart beating rapidly.

The dragon raised its neck, standing tall. “I am Briilokven!” It roared, baring fearsome rows of teeth, sharp like daggers. “I have come to you! Yes, this fire that burns within Briilokven… she shall see if you are truly worthy of taking the name of dovah!”

Dah’ni gulped down their fear. “Very well, then! Khajiit will dance on your bones once I have felled you!”

Briilokven rumbled a low growl. “Arrogant pest… this defeat will not mean death, whoever will take it.” She turned to Kharjo and Lydia. “Stand back!”

The two looked at each other before sheathing their weapons, understanding that this battle will be fought by dov, with no kill to decide the match. It was surprising to see a dragon show mercy over others. Who was this Briilokven, to be so unlike a dovah in nature?

Stifling back a sigh of relief, Dah’ni stood firm. “Then I will show you my power!”

Their dragon soul danced to life as Dah’ni concentrated their breath. “Yol!” A thundering cry erupted from their lips, followed by a wall of flames that charged towards the dragon.

Briilokven cringed as the fire hit, radiating against her scales as they glimmered like stars against the heat. “You truly do have the voice…” She reared her head back. “But can you stand against mine?!” She shouted, letting her own flames burst forth.

The fire engulfed Dah’ni, and it was hotter than that from any other dragons they had encountered. Scorching their fur that turned from a pale grey to a charred black, Dah’ni quickly held up their left hand, summoning a ward to block the flames. Once the rocket of embers ceased to lick at their body, the khajiit strengthened their ward, waving it against Lydia and Kharjo as it planted in front of them as a wall, now having exhausted their magicka supply. “Enjoying the show, yes?”

“Can this one really face a dragon alone?” Kharjo yelled out, placing his hand on his blade’s hilt, ready to draw it.

Dah’ni laughed, bellowing out hot smoke. “It is not every day a dragon challenges this one to a battle that does not result in death!”

Briilokven growled. “Enough of your squabbling!” She unfurled her wings, beating them down and taking to the skies. A roar pierced the heavens, cracking the air as she let gravity take her down. Her wings tucked into a dive, Briilokven spewed hot fire as she passed by the group overhead. It hit Dah’ni before they had the chance to regain some magicka to put up another ward, and baked their leather armor. The dragon spun around, and as she charged towards Dah’ni, the khajiit let out another shout.

“Fo Krah!” An icy wind sliced through the sky, striking the winged foe with intensity.

“Gah!” Briilokven tumbled to the ground, crashing into the dirt that now formed a crater from the impact. Chunks of ice littered the ground. She turned around to face her opponent, baring her teeth.

Before the dragon had time to react, Dah’ni had already charged ahead. They sliced their war axe against her purple muzzle, blood erupting from the gash and glossing the dirt below. The khajiit struck again, grabbing at giant bared teeth as they sank their blade in Briilokven’s jaw.

Briilokven hissed a snake-like sound, shaking her head sharply. Dah’ni dislodged themself from the dragon, collapsing into the earth. Giant fangs found their way to Dah’ni’s arm, clamping down and staining their fur red. The dovahkiin let out an anguished cry as blood welled from their wounds.

“Let us help you!” Lydia readied her weapon as the ward dissipated, ready to charge at the adversary.

With their free arm, Dah’ni felt that they had enough magicka for their spell. Their digits twitched, and a ball of flame bellowed from their hand and swallowed their entire body. The dragon unlatched her teeth and flinched back, giving Dah’ni a chance to stand.

“A flame cloak!” Kharjo’s eyes glistened against the light before turning to Lydia. “They are intent on keeping us out of it, no?”

The nord tensed her shoulders, readied weapon clasped in both hands. “What a fool!” Lydia shouted, and Kharjo knew she wanted Dah’ni to hear as well.

Briilokven staggered back, her footprints leaving deep divots in the ground. She exhaled a breath, smoke trailing in the wind. “You have strength, ronit,” She huffed through labored breaths, “I will part now, having had a taste of your thu’um.” She curled her lips, baring her blood soaked teeth. “But make no mistake, this is not the last you have seen of me.” Before anyone could respond, the beastly foe spread her wings and climbed into the sky. “Wuld Nah Kest!” The shout let her tear through the air with incredible speed, and the deep purple shape was nothing more than a black dot on the horizon.

Fatigue hitting them like a war hammer, Dah’ni fell to their knees as their fire smoldered into nothingness. It took most of their energy to get some rattled breaths in and out. Their fur was scorched black, and their arm was red with gushing blood. In fact, Dah’ni was sure that the dragon’s teeth hit bone, the wounds searing in pain like fire. The pain was so great that the dragonborn had not even noticed Lydia and Kharjo rush to either side of them until they spoke.

“You prideful idiot,” Lydia scolded with worry etching her voice, “What made you think you could take on a dragon alone?” She wrapped her arms around Dah’ni’s back, and the khajiit ungracefully fell limply into her touch.

Kharjo took out a large, red bottle. “Khajiit has to agree.” He uncorked the bottle, forcing Dah’ni’s mouth open and letting the red liquid cascade onto their tongue. “We are a team, yes? Let us help you when you are in trouble.”

The sweet nectar of the potion set to work, giving Dah’ni enough energy to pull themself up. Their bleeding started to slow down, and their charred fur began to heal. “It only wished to test my strength,” They said, “I wanted to oblige! A sparring match between dovah and dovahkiin… how could this one pass up the chance?” They strained as they stood up, Lydia supporting their weight.

The nord lass peered into the sky, turning a milky orange as the sun began to slide towards the horizon. A wind blew, rustling the autumn leaves to sing their melodies. Lydia placed a firm grip on their khajiit thane. “I doubt that’s the last we’ll see of that dragon,” She concluded, “But right now, we need to find somewhere for you to rest.”

Kharjo hummed. “Ivarstead is down the road,” He noted, “Let us stay there for the time being.”

Dah’ni hissed under their breath. They wanted to explore, not rest in an inn! However, they let Lydia and Kharjo help them along the cobbled road, limping their way to the small town. Though exhaustion gripped them tightly, the dragonborn wanted nothing more than to face Briilokven again.

[cruisingheightswithdragons]

Briilokven may be smaller than your average dovah, but she's just as fierce!